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DATE: April 7, 2026 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br />Hilo, Hawaii <br />TIME: 12:00 p.m. <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawaii County Council <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />REPORT OF THE <br />COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br />Re: Comm. No. 744/Res. No. 475-26 <br />Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Resolution No. 475-26, reports as follows: <br />Resolution No. 475-26, transmitted by Housing Administrator Kehaulani M. Costa via <br />Communication No. 744, dated February 11, 2026, authorizes and directs the Director of Finance to <br />negotiate the disposition of certain real property by lease to nonprofit organizations for permanent <br />housing purposes. <br />This resolution authorizes the negotiation of six one-year leases with four one-year renewal options at <br />an approximate annual cost of $10 for six residential properties to be used as long-term permanent <br />housing for underserved populations. <br />Finance Committee Meeting of March 3, 2026 <br />Housing Administrator Kehaulani M. Costa, Assistant Housing Administrator Keiko Mercado, Deputy <br />Corporation Counsel Sylvia Wan, and Going Home Hawaii Chief Executive Officer Les Estrella were <br />present in chambers for questions. Ms. Costa provided a detailed overview of this measure. She <br />thanked the community of Makani Circle for their testimony and for expressing their concerns on this <br />matter as one of the properties of interest is listed there. <br />Committee Member Jenn Kagiwada requested information regarding the process of acquiring these <br />properties. Ms. Wan provided an overview of this process. <br />Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz acknowledged a failure by the administration in <br />community engagement stating that she needed to see more accountability moving forward. Multiple <br />Committee Members shared the same concerns and agreed with Ms. Kierkiewicz about the lack of <br />transparency. <br />Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi asked community member Lisa Akimseu to provide a <br />statement explaining how her property was acquired. Ms. Akimseu stated that she did not learn that <br />her property would be awarded to the nonprofit organization Going Home Hawaii until much later. <br />She stated that if she had known, she would never have sold the property as she was under the <br />impression that it would be used as a transitional home for people with disabilities, not for people <br />transitioning back into society after serving time in the justice system. <br />Mr. Estrella provided comments on his organization and the'services it provides to justice -involved <br />persons. He provided more details on the types of services the organization would offer, but overall he <br />stated that if the community is not in support of this program, he would like to withdraw his proposal <br />and find another location that would be a better fit for their program. <br />FC Report No. 136 <br />