HomeMy WebLinkAboutKaapuni, Leilani Lindsey
Tsuneda, Kaci
From:Leilani Lindsey Kaapuni <lkaapuni@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, July 21, 2026 9:18 PM
To:Council Testimony; Inaba, Holeka; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Kierkiewicz, Ashley;
Galimba, Michelle M.; Kagiwada, Jennifer; hecht.deb@gmail.com; Kimball, Heather;
Onishi, Dennis; Villegas, Rebecca; Kekai, Malia
Subject:Please Oppose Bill 165! Preserve the Maintenance Fund Safeguards in the Hawaiʻi
County Charter
Aloha County Council members and Deputy Finance Director Malia Kekai,
I am writing in strong opposition to Bill 165 that would remove safeguards from the
Maintenance Fund for the care of PONC lands.
The following components must remain in the charter, where they can only be changed by
a vote of the people, to provide a framework for the county code that cannot be changed
by adverse councils or administrations in the future. These provisions will protect the
funding for non-profits whose kuleana it is to care for PONC lands and includes oversight
by the PONC commission and citizens.
1.Deposits to the fund must be added at least yearly, otherwise the Maintenance Fund may not
be funded at all.
2.Accounting details must be made public so citizens can WATCHDOG how our tax dollars are
spent. Details of how funds are spent must include where, why and for what purpose.
3.A broad outline of the process to provide a framework in the charter so that it is clear that the
PONC commission’s oversight is included and the Department of Finance and
the County Council participate in decision making.
I ask the County Council members to vote NO on Bill 165.
Sincerely,
Leilani Lindsey Kaapuni
District 2
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