HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 515 Draft 01 2024-2026„SY Oi y
COUNTY OF HAWAI`I STATE OF HAWAI`I
RESOLUTION NO.
515 zs
A RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF HAWAI°I AND
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PRIORITIZE
AND EXPEDITE THE REPAIR AND RESTORATION OF KONAWAENA HIGH
SCHOOL, KONAWAENA MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND KE KULA `O
°EHUNUIKAIMALINO FOLLOWING DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE RECENT KONA
LOW STORM, USING AVAILABLE STATE EMERGENCY FUNDS.
WHEREAS, the recent Kona low storm brought severe weather conditions, including
heavy rainfall, flooding, and high winds, resulting in significant damage to infrastructure across
West Hawaii; and
WHEREAS, Konawaena High School, Konawaena Middle School, and Ke Kula `o
`Ehunuikaimalino sustained substantial damage from this storm event, causing campuses to shut
down from March 23 through 27 while remediation efforts took place; and
WHEREAS, preliminary estimates indicate that the cost of repairs across these campuses
may exceed $20,000,000, reflecting the severity of the damage and the scale of restoration
required; and
WHEREAS, these schools collectively serve a large population of students from rural
South Kona and surrounding communities, many of whom rely on these campuses not only for
education, but for access to essential services, cultural learning environments, and critical
support systems; and
WHEREAS, on March 30, 2026, Konawaena High School will transition to distance
learning with no scheduled return to on -campus learning, affecting approximately eight hundred
fifty students; and
WHEREAS, Ke Kula `o `Ehunuikaimalino plays a vital role in providing Hawaiian
language immersion education and perpetuating `ike Hawaii, making the timely restoration of
its facilities especially important to cultural continuity and community identity; and
WHEREAS, prolonged disruption to school operations disproportionately affects
students and families in rural and underserved communities, exacerbating existing inequities in
access to education; and
WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has access to emergency funding mechanisms and
disaster response resources that can be deployed to support the timely repair and restoration of
critical public facilities, including public schools; and
WHEREAS, swift action is necessary to ensure that students, faculty, and staff may
safely return to fully functional campuses and resume normal educational activities without
undue delay; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I that this
body strongly urges the Governor of the State of Hawaii and the Superintendent of the
Department of Education to prioritize, fund, and expedite the repair and restoration of
Konawaena High School, Konawaena Middle School, and Ke Kula `o `Ehunuikaimalino
following damage caused by the recent Kona low storm.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that this body urges the immediate allocation and
deployment of available State emergency funds and resources to support these efforts, ensuring
that all necessary repairs are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that the Council requests ongoing communication
and coordination with County officials and the affected community to provide timely updates on
repair progress and anticipated timelines for full restoration.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this
resolution to the Honorable Joshua B. Green, M.D., Governor of the State of Hawaii; Keith T.
Hayashi, Superintendent of the Department of Education; Roy M. Takumi, Chairperson of the
Board of Education; the Honorable Dni M. Kanuha, Hawaii State Senator, District 3; the
Honorable Herbert M. "Tim" Richards 111, Hawaii State Senator, District 4; the Honorable
Kirstin Kahaloa, Hawaii State Representative, District 6; and the Honorable Nicole E. Lowen,
Hawaii State Representative, District 7.
Dated at Hilo Hawai'i, this 8th day of April ,2026
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
41A
COUNCIL BER, COUNTY OF HAWAPI
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by
the vote indicated to the right hereof ado led by the COUNCIL of the
County of Hawaii on 92 2026
ATTEST:
aRTY �CLE CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
3
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES
I NOES
ABS
EX
GALIMBA
x
HUSTACE
x
INABA
x
KAGIWADA
x
KANEALI'l-KLEfNFELDER
x
KIERKIEWICZ
x
KIMBALL
x
ONISHI
x
VILLEGAS
x
9
0
0
0
Reference: C-817/Waived GOEAG
4
RESOLUTION NO.
LRB 25-185 C)6&8