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<br /> <br />REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON <br />GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br /> <br />DATE: June 16, 2026 Re: Comm. No. 914/Bill No. 164 <br />PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i <br />TIME: 9:01 a.m. <br /> <br />Council Chair and Members <br />Hawai‘i County Council <br />Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 <br /> <br />Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred <br />Bill No. 164, reports as follows: <br /> <br />Bill No. 164, transmitted by Council Member Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, via Communication No. 914, <br />dated May 4, 2026, amends Chapter 2, Article 13, Division 2, Section 2-69, of the Hawai‘i County <br />Code 1983 (2016 Edition, as amended), relating to the Housing Administrator. <br /> <br />Bill 164 requires Council confirmation for the Housing Administrator. <br /> <br />Governmental Operations and External Affairs Meeting of June 2, 2026 <br /> <br />Bill 164 was postponed to June 16, 2026, with seven “ayes,” with members Dennis “Fresh” Onishi and <br />Matt Kāneali‘i-Kleinfelder absent. <br /> <br />Governmental Operations and External Affairs Meeting of June 16, 2026 <br /> <br />Member Onishi began by explaining that the rationale for this bill came from the realization of how <br />much funding passes through the Office of Housing and that the Council does not currently have <br />oversight in the appointment of the Administrator. He mentioned that this bill will not go into effect <br />until the next term of the Mayor and will not impact the current Administrator. <br /> <br />Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz asked Corporation Counsel Renee Schoen if Council has <br />the authority to approve the Housing Administrator through Hawai‘i Revised Statutes. Ms. Schoen <br />said that there was nothing conflicting that she was able to find. Member Kierkiewicz asked if <br />Ms. Schoen was prepared to speak on behalf of the administration regarding this legislation. She said <br />she was not. Member Kierkiewicz stated her support of this bill. <br /> <br />Committee Member Heather L. Kimball and Committee Chair Jenn Kagiwada both also indicated <br />their support of this legislation. <br /> <br />Member Onishi proposed an amendment via Communication 914.1 regarding the date this <br />legislation will take effect. Member Onishi withdrew his amendment after the following discussion <br />took place. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> GOEAC Report No. 143 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />