HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN CRCOC 2026/01/06 (2024-2026) Committee on Communications,
Reports, and Council Oversight
1511 Session
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii
January 6, 2026
CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Communications, Reports, and
ORDER: Council Oversight was called to order at 10:49 a.m., in the Council Chambers,
Hilo, by Ms. Michelle Galimba, Chair.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Chair
Mr. James E. Hustace, Member
Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member
Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member
Mr. Matt Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member
Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member
Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member (came in later)
Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member
Absent& Excused: Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Vice Chair
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE Statements from the Public on Agenda Items.
PUBLIC ON
AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.)
COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS: Communications.
Comm. 35.4: QUARTERLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING REPORT: JULY 1 —
SEPTEMBER 30 2025
From Housing Administrator Kehaulani M. Costa, dated December 2, 2025,
transmitting the above report pursuant to Section 11-19 of the Hawaii County
Code.
Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 35.4. Seconded
by Mr. Hustace.
CRCOC-15 January 6,2026
CHR. GALIMBA: Administrator Costa, could you please come forward to
present this report? Thank you.
(Note: At this time, Housing Administrator Kehaulani M. Costa came
forward to address the members of the Committee.)
MS. COSTA: Good morning. Kehau Costa, Housing Administrator. Here we
are again, quarterly report required by ordinance. There are no significant
changes since our last reporting to the list of housing credits. Only one change on
this report, which is the addition of 10 additional rental units developed by HOPE
Services in Honoka`a at our Lady of Lords Catholic Church for senior rentals.
CHR. GALIMBA: Council Member Inaba.
MR. INABA: Thank you. I did put an inquiry out to our auditor yesterday
regarding Kona Country Club. I believe they're coming forth with a rezoning
extension request to the Council shortly and their plan, they had received excess
credits and they are listed here. I think this might be the first project that is going
to be using excess credits, so I've asked the auditor and I want to see now if your
office and the Corporation Counsel can reverify that those six credits are in fact
valid. I believe a correspondence from Office of Housing back in 2012 verified
the transfer from Suffolk, which is another Kona development. But I just want to
make sure that prior to them coming here we know the six credits are good.
MS. COSTA: Okay. Yeah.
MR. INABA: Thank you.
MS. COSTA: Yes.
CHR. GALIMBA: Seeing no other lights, I just wanted to commend HOPE
Services for the 10 rental units. Any movement on that front is very welcome.
Hopefully we can see more and more as we go along. And all those in favor of
closing file on Communication 35.4, please say "aye."
Vote on Comm. 35.4: The motion to close file on Comm. 35.4 was carried by the
(Filed) following voice vote:
Ayes: Committee Members Hustace, Inaba,
Kagiwada, Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Kierkiewicz,
Kimball, Onishi, and Chair Galimba— 8.
Noes: None.
Absent: Committee Member Villegas— 1.
Excused: None.
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CRCOC-15 January 6,2026
CHR. GALIMBA: And that brings us to the end of our agenda. Thank you
much, Administrator Costa.
ADJOURN- There being no further business, at 10:53 a.m. Chair Galimba adjourned the
MENT: meeting.
Approved:
C MCP
Ms. MichN . Galimba, Chair (Date)
Communications, Reports,
and Council Oversight Committee
MG/tk
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