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Home My WebLink AboutMIN GOEAC 2026/03/17 (2024-2026)Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs 30" Session West Hawaii Civic Center 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway, Building A Kailua-Kona, Hawaii March 17, 2026 CALL TO The regular meeting of the Committee on Governmental Operations and ORDER: External Affairs was called to order at 9:01 a.m., in the Council Chambers, Kailua-Kona, by Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Acting Chair. ROLL CALL: Present: Ms. Jenn Kagiwada, Chair (via videoconference from Hilo) Mr. Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Vice Chair Mr. James E. Hustace, Member Mr. Holeka Goro Inaba, Member Ms. Ashley L. Kierkiewicz, Member (came in later, via videoconference from Hilo) Ms. Heather L. Kimball, Member (via videoconference from Hilo) Mr. Dennis "Fresh" Onishi, Member Ms. Rebecca Villegas, Member Absent & Excused: Ms. Michelle M. Galimba, Member STATEMENTS The Acting Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of FROM THE business. Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: (There were none.) MR. HENRICKS: Thank you, Vice Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder. We don't have any testimony at this time. Shall I read in the first item? ACTING CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Yes, please. Thank you, Sir. COMMUNI- The Acting Chair directed the Committee to proceed to the next order of CATIONS: business, Communications. GOEAC-30 March 17, 2026 Comm. 773: NOMINATION OF ALAN OKAMOTO TO THE LIQUOR COMMISSION From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated February 27, 2026, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: April 12, 2026 (Section 13-4(k), Hawaii County Charter) (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda and the nominee came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Vote on Comm. 773: Mr. Inaba moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. Alan Okamoto to the Liquor Commission. Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Galimba and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. ACTING CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Next communication, please. Thank you very much for being here, Mr. Okamoto. MR. ALAMEDA: Mr. Chair, can we move Communication 774 to the bottom of the list. He was supposed to be here, Mr. Okumura, but he's not able to. I'm trying to get him to log into the Zoom. If someone in the Clerk's Office could text me the Zoom log in ID and the password, I will get that to Mr. Okumura and hopefully, we can line him up to go last. ACTING CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Alameda. Mr. Clerk, let's to Communication 775, please. Change Order As directed by the Acting Chair and with no object from the Council Members, of Business: the following items were taken out of order: Page 2 GOEAC-30 March 17, 2026 Comm. 775: NOMINATION OF STEVEN PAVAO TO THE COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated February 26, 2026, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: April 12, 2026 (Section 13-4(k), Hawaii County Charter) (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda and the nominee came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Vote on Comm. 775: Mr. Inaba moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. Steven Pavao to the Cost of Government Commission. Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Kdneali`i-Kleinfelder — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Galimba and Kierkiewicz — 2. Excused: None. Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. ACTING CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Pavao. Comm. 776: NOMINATION OF MAILE ANN LU`UWAI TO THE COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated February 27, 2026, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: April 12, 2026 (Section 13-4(k), Hawaii County Charter) Page 3 GOEAC-30 March 17, 2026 Vote on Comm. 776: Mr. Inaba moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Ms. Maile Ann Lu`uwai to the Cost of Government Commission. Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, Villegas, and Acting Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 8. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Member Galimba — 1. Excused: None. Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. ACTING CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Thank you, Mr. Alameda for providing us on why she's not here and working with us. I think the Council at this time is able to fulfil the request, given her emergency. Motion carries. Let's go to Communication 777, then we'll go back to the previous. Comm. 777: NOMINATION OF DOREEN L. RAYMOND TO THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated February 27, 2026, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda and the nominee came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Vote on Comm. 777: Mr. Hustace moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Ms. Doreen L. Raymond to the Veterans Advisory Committee. Seconded by Mr. Inaba and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, and Acting Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Galimba and Villegas — 2. Excused: None. Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. ACTING CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: That brings us back to our previous agenda item. Thank you very much, Ms. Raymond. Page 4 GOEAC-30 March 17, 2026 Return to Order The Acting Chair directed the Committee to return to the order of business. of Business: Comm. 774: NOMINATION OF DAVID G. OKUMURA TO THE GAME MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION From Mayor C. Kimo Alameda, dated February 27, 2026, requesting the Council's review and confirmation. Requires Council Confirmation by: April 12, 2026 (Section 13-4(k), Hawaii County Charter) (Note: At this time, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Micah Alameda and the nominee (via Zoom) came forward to address the members of the Committee.) Vote on Comm. 774: Mr. Inaba moved to recommend confirmation of the nomination (Approved) of Mr. David G. Okumura to the Game Management Advisory Commission. Seconded by Mr. Hustace and carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Committee Members Hustace, Inaba, Kagiwada, Kierkiewicz, Kimball, Onishi, and Acting Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder — 7. Noes: None. Absent: Committee Members Galimba and Villegas — 2. Excused: None. Mr. Alameda provided a brief narrative of the nominee's background and experience. Committee Members spoke in favor of the appointment. ACTING CHR. KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER: Motion carries. That brings us to the end of our agenda. Seeing no further business, we are adjourned at 9:49 a.m. Thank you. Page 5 GOEAC-30 ADJOURN- MENT: Approved: March 17, 2026 Seeing no further business, Acting Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder adjourned the meeting at 9:49 a.m. Ms erm kagiwada, C19ir Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs JK/dt JUL 2 0 2026 (Date) Page 6