HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 111 2025-12-02 2024-2026DATE: December 2, 2025
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 1:00 P.M.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Re: Comm. No. 618/Res. No. 397-25
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 397-25, reports as follows:
Resolution No. 397-25, transmitted by Housing Administrator Kehaulani M. Costa via
Communication No. 618, dated November 12, 2025, authorizes the Office of Housing and
Community Development to award grants for programs addressing housing and homelessness.
This resolution proposes 12 grant awards to 8 different nonprofit organizations for a total of
$6,000,000 in funding derived from Residential Tier Two property tax revenues, pursuant to
Section 19-90(f) of the Hawaii County Code.
Housing Administrator Kehaulani M. Costa provided a brief introduction to the topic at hand. Project
Oversight Manager Michelle Hiraishi then presented an overview of the grant award nominations and
recommendations from the Office of Housing and Community Development for Council approval.
Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi thanked Ms. Costa, Ms. Hiraishi, and Assistant Housing
Administrator Keiko Mercado for meeting with him and addressing all his questions prior to this
meeting. Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada also expressed her gratitude for the meeting and noted
that she would be asking questions for the benefit of the public during this session. Ms. Kagiwada
asked to clarify where they identified the greatest need for services and where homeless individuals
are located on the island. Ms. Hiraishi responded that the highest concentration of unsheltered
individuals is on the Hilo side, followed by the Kona side. Ms. Kagiwada commented that she
believes a more balanced distribution of services in other areas could help reduce the concentration of
unsheltered individuals in one location.
Committee Member Rebecca Villegas stated that she sees the same awardees on these
recommendations that she has questioned this before. She further stated these organizations continue
to receive funding for their programs, yet there is minimal impact and questioned the statement made
regarding unsheltered individuals on the Hilo side versus the Kona side, and where that data came
from. Ms. Hiraishi replied that the Hawaii County Homeless Engagement Hui collects the data.
Ms. Villegas commented that the numbers may be flawed, as she knows the engagement hui is unable
to reach all individuals.
Committee Member Holeka Goro Inaba expressed concerns regarding line items in several
applications and mentioned that there may be instances of "double dipping" and requested the
department to investigate this matter before the next meeting.
FC Report No.111
FC-111 Page 2 1December 2, 2025
Committee Member Michelle Galimba inquired about the oversight process. Ms. Hiraishi explained
that the engagement team and the organizations conduct regular site visits, both announced and
unannounced, along with regular reporting and community practice activities.
Committee Member Ashley Kierkiewicz expressed several concerns about the use of funds, noting
that homelessness in her community has increased, which has made it difficult for her to take her
children to the park. Ms. Kierkiewicz shared her frustration because she does not see a significant
impact from these programs and how they spend these awards. Ms. Costa acknowledged that changes
are being made in the unsheltered community and understood these concerns, however, she raised the
question of what would happen if funding were to be withdrawn, despite the positive changes
observed. Ms. Kierkiewicz stated that she would be interested in speaking with Ms. Costa to discuss
how they could use these funds more effectively, noting that it may be time for a radical reset of this
program and of how we help people.
Ms. Kagiwada requested that Executive Assistant Erin Samura provide a brief overview of the data
that Housing and Community Development Specialist Sharon Hirota has collected, and requested
Ms. Samura, Ms. Hiraishi, and Ms. Costa to present the data needed to evaluate all the programs at the
next meeting.
Acting Committee Chair James Hustace requested an overview of the scoring metrics used for
evaluating applicants and also inquired why many applications did not include services for rural areas
such as Ka`u or Kohala. Ms. Costa explained that some organizations are stretched too thin to provide
coverage in those areas.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 397-25, and
recommends its adoption.
iu,
AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
GALIMBA
X
HUSTACE
X
INABA
X
KAGIWADA
X
KANEALI'I-KLEINFELDER
X
KIERKIEWICZ
X
KIMBALL
X
ONISHI
X
VILLEGAS
X
Respectfully submitted,
i U0-1ZU M
f-CJkEPORT NO.: 111
ADOPTED: DEC 1 7 2025