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Home My WebLink AboutMIN LAAC 2026/03/03 (2024-2026)Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions 2111 Session Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii March 3, 2026 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Legislative Approvals and ORDER: Acquisitions was called to order at 3:15 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Hilo, by Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Chair Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Vice Chair Mr. James E. Hustace, Member Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member Absent & Excused: Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member 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. 752: REQUESTS FORMATION OF AN AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 WAIWAI NONPROFIT GRANTS-IN-AID AWARDS From Council Member Heather L. Kimball, dated February 11, 2026. Motion to Close File: Mr. Inaba moved to close file on Comm. 752. Seconded by Mr. Hustace. CHR. KIMBALL: Council Member Inaba. LAAC-21 March 3, 2026 MR. INABA: Thank you. This is our annual establishment of our permitted interaction group for the evaluation of applications for our County Grants -In -Aid (GIA), our Waiwai program. Volunteers, any members? I mean, how many years we've worked on this, Council Member Kimball. But I think we've been making a lot of progress and look forward to continuing in that progress. Thank you. CHR. KIMBALL: Do we have other volunteers? Council Member Hustace, so, you're willing to join our GIA Ad Hoc this year? MR. HUSTACE: Yes, thank you, Chair. I'm interested in joining. It was a good experience; grading and judging and going through reviews last year, going through that process. You know, learning more about the nonprofits and going after these funds and really supporting them. So, yes, I'm interested to participate. Thank you. CHR. KIMBALL: I will say that one of your predecessors, Council Member Richards, was always very active in the GIA process. So, you're following in his cowboy boots. Council Member Kagiwada. MS. KAGIWADA: I'm willing to join unless there's somebody else who really wants to be on. I'm happy to do the work and step up. CHR. KIMBALL: I don't see the doors being knocked down, but Council Member Inaba, if you would with the motion. MR. INABA: Sure. Move to create a Permitted Interaction Group for the purpose of investigating and making relevant inquiries to the nonprofit organizations that the Finance Director deems eligible and in line with Communication 752. The members of the committee being Council Member Kagiwada, Council Member Hustace, myself, and you, Chair Kimball as Chair of the Permitted Interaction Group. Motion to Approve: Mr. Inaba moved to approve the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee. Seconded by Mr. Hustace CHR. KIMBALL: Motioned by Council Member Inaba; seconded by Council Member Hustace for the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to examine the Waiwai Grant members stated in the motion. Any discussion on that motion? Seeing none, all those in favor please say "aye." Any opposed? Page 2 LAAC-21 March 3, 2026 Vote on Motion The motion to approve the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee to Approve: was carried by the following voice vote: (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, and Chair Kimball — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Villegas — 2. Excused: None. Motion to Postpone: Mr. Inaba moved to postpone Comm. 752 to the Call of the Chair. Seconded by Mr. Onishi. CHR. KIMBALL: Motioned by Council Member Inaba; seconded by Council Member Onishi to postpone Communication 752 to the Call of the Chair. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor please say "aye." Any opposed? Vote on Motion to The motion to postpone Comm. 752 to the Call of the Chair Postpone: was carried by the following voice vote: (Approved) Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Onishi, and Chair Kimball — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Villegas — 2. Excused: None. CHR. KIMBALL: At this time let the record reflect that I am going to pass the Chairmanship of this committee over to Vice Chair Onishi and recuse myself from the next two items on the agenda. Thank you. Relinquish Chair: At this time, the Chair relinquished the Chair to Vice Chair Onishi. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Mr. Clerk, I'll be chairing this at 3:19 p.m. BILLS FOR The Acting Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of ORDINANCES: business, Bills for Ordinances. Page 3 LAAC-21 March 3, 2026 Bill 130: AMENDS ORDINANCE NO. 09-44, WHICH AMENDED SECTION 25-8-33 (CITY OF HILO ZONE MAP), ARTICLE 8, CHAPTER 25 (ZONING CODE) OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION), BY CHANGING THE DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION FROM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL—10,000 SQUARE FEET (RS-10) TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL—10,000 SQUARE FEET (CN-10) AT WAIAKEA HOUSELOTS, WAIAKEA SOUTH HILO, HAWAI`I, COVERED BY TAX MAP KEY: 2-2-034:036 (Anolicant: CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union) (Area: 22.500 square feet) The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this request to change of zone amendment for a ten-year extension to Condition C (Complete Construction), amendment to Condition D (Dedication of Road Widening), and deletion of Condition E (Roadway Improvements) which would allow the applicant to construct a new credit union branch facility. The property is located at 533 Manono Street. Reference: Comm.736 Intr. by: Council Member Onishi (B/R) Comm. 736.1: ; and From Planning Director Jeffrey W. Darrow, dated January 8, 2026, transmitting a PowerPoint presentation for Bill 130. Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to recommend passage of Bill 130 on first reading. Seconded by Mr. Hustace. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Go ahead, Director Darrow. (Note: At this time, Planning Director Jeffrey W. Darrow came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. DARROW: Aloha, Acting Chair Onishi and Members of the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions. Jeff Darrow with the Planning Department. If I could direct your attention to our presentation. (Note: At this time, Planning Director Jeffrey W. Darrow provided a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of the presentation, see the DVD copy of the proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office, or online at http://hawaiicounty.granicus.com. A copy of the presentation is made part of the record, see Comm. 736.1.) ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Thank you, Director Darrow. Any discussion? Okay, all those in favor of approving Bill 130 and forwarding it to full Council with a positive recommendation please say "aye." Those opposed? Page 4 LAAC-21 March 3, 2026 Vote on Bill 130: The motion to recommend passage of Bill 130 on first reading (Approved) was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, and Acting Chair Onishi — 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Villegas — 2. Excused: Committee Member Kimball —1. Bill 131: AMENDS SECTION 25-8-33 (CITY OF HILO ZONE MAP), ARTICLE 8, CHAPTER 25 (ZONING CODE) OF THE HAWAI`I COUNTY CODE 1983 (2016 EDITION, AS AMENDED), BY CHANGING THE DISTRICT CLASSIFICATION FROM SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL—10,00Q SQUARE FEET (RS-10) TO NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL — 10,000 SQUARE FEET (CN-10) AT WAIAKEA, SOUTH HILO, HAWAI`I, COVERED BY TAX MAP KEY: 2-2-034:045 (Applicant: CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union) (Area: 22,500 square feet) The Windward Planning Commission forwards its favorable recommendation for this requested change of zone, which would allow the applicant to construct 41-stall parking lot for the proposed new credit union facility to be located on Tax Map Key No. 2-2-034:36. The property is located at 494 Hmano Street. Reference: Comm.737 Intr. by: Council Member Onishi (B/R) Comm. 737.1: ;and From Planning Director Jeffrey W. Darrow, dated January 8, 2026, transmitting a PowerPoint presentation for Bill 131. Motion to Approve: Ms. Galimba moved to recommend passage of Bill 131 on first reading. Seconded by Ms. Kierkiewicz. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Go ahead, Director Darrow. MR. DARRO W: Thank you Acting Chair Onishi and Members of the Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions. Jeff Darrow with the Planning Department. This may seem repetitive, but it is different. This is a change of zone instead of an amendment to a Change of Zone application. Our applicant remains the same, CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union. Page 5 LAAC-21 March 3, 2026 (Note: At this time, Planning Director Jeffrey W. Darrow continued with a PowerPoint presentation to the members of the Committee. For viewing of the presentation, see the DVD copy of the proceedings on file in the Clerk's Office, or online at http://hawaiicounty.granicus.com. A copy of the presentation is made part of the record, see Comm. 737.1.) ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Thank you, Planning Director Darrow. Great presentation. Okay, any discussion? Go ahead, Ms. Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Thank you, Vice Chair. Mr. Takamine, I was just curious if you could let us know the timeline for construction once all of this is settled at the Council level. Introduce yourself for the record and speak into the mic. I'm in full support of this. I'm just curious about the construction timeline, thank you. (Note: At this time, CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union President and CEO (Chief Executive Officer) James Takamine came forward to address the members of the Committee.) MR. TAKAMINE: Aloha, Council Members and Chair Onishi. Thank you for having me. I'm James Takamine, President and CEO of CU Hawai`i Federal Credit Union. Regarding the question on timeline. So, we're looking at starting the design project probably about two years from now. So, the reason for that is we're currently at the beginning stages of changing our core account and loan systems, as well as our digital banking platforms. So, that project which just started is going to take all of this year and all of next year. So, we'll probably begin the design process, given our resource constraints, about the beginning of 2028. So, we'll proceed as quickly as we can after that. So, I'm not sure how long the design bidding construction will take, but a few years at that point. But we won't be able to start that process for probably about the next two years. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Okay, thank you for the transparency, really appreciate it. Good to see you. Chair, I yield. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Okay, any other discussion? Hearing or seeing none, all those in favor of approving Bill 131 and forwarding to full Council with a positive recommendation please say "aye." Those opposed? Page 6 LAAC-21 Vote on Bill 131: (Approved) ADJOURN- MENT: Approved: March 3, 2026 The motion to recommend passage of Bill 131 on first reading was carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Galimba, Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, and Acting Chair Onishi — 6. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder and Villegas — 2. Excused: Committee Member Kimball — 1. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Go ahead, Ms. Kierkiewicz. MS. KIERKIEWICZ: Chair, I appreciate the latitude. Just want to wish all of my colleagues and women of Hawaii County, Happy Girls' Day. Keep it amazing, we love you. Thank you, Chair. ACTING CHR. ONISHI: Thank you. Okay, that concludes our meeting, and the time is 3:36 p.m. Thank you, we're adjourned. There being no further business, Acting Chair Onishi adjourned the meeting at 3:36 p.m. w Heather L. Ki ball, Chair Legislative Appro als and Acquisitions Committee HK/dt V1,672oNe ( ate) Page 7