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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GOEAC 149 2026-07-22 2024-2026REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DATE: July 22, 2026 1i PLACE: Council Chambers Kailua-Kona, Hawaii TIME: 9:00 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawaii County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96726 Re: Comm. No. 958/Res. No. 603-26 Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred Resolution No. 603-26, reports as follows: Resolution No. 603-26, transmitted by Council Members James E. Hustace and Holeka Goro Inaba, via Communication No. 958, dated July 2, 2026, urges the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) to implement and enforce plant quarantine Interim Rule 26-1, regulating the transportation of Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB) host material on Hawaii Island. Member Hustace began by providing background and the urgent hazards facing Hawaii County due to CRB. He explained that this resolution is not asking the State to adopt any new regulations, rather urging them to implement and enforce the rules and policies that have already been established. Member Inaba introduced DAB Plant Quarantine Branch Manager Jonathan Ho who was present on Zoom to answer questions. Mr. Ho explained the efforts that are already underway by the State regarding Interim Rule 26-1, including that they are mostly complaint driven as they only have three staff members in Kona. Mr. Ho explained how their office is able to follow up on complaints of potential violations as they come in. He stated that they are working on setting up a website equip with education, training, and the outreach portion of the interim rule. Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Public Outreach Coordinator Kawehi Young was present in Kona to answer questions. She explained how the public can obtain traps by contacting their office and that the range for the traps are about a half mile. She said that additional information about how the traps work and where they are located is available on their website. Committee Member Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked if DAB has the means to address this concern. Mr. Ho explained further about a lack of treatments, limited staff, and limited enforcement options and ways they are trying to mitigate spread. He discussed future efforts for bio-control and that they are prepared to do treatments if additional CRB evidence is found. Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked if more funding is needed from the State. Mr. Ho said they only get .4 percent of the entire department's budget to address the needs of the Plant Quarantine Branch. Committee Member Dennis "Fresh" Onishi asked what state legislators have done in the last year to help DAB. Mr. Ho said that Act 231 in 2024 and Act 236 in 2025 both increased the budget and positions available, specifically some for Hawaii Island. This additional funding has helped with GOEAC Report No. 149 GOEAC-149 Page 2 July 22, 2026 various controls and research for numerous different invasive pests. Member Onishi suggested that this topic and additional funding should be included in the Hawaii State Association of Counties package for the upcoming legislative session. Committee Member Rebecca Villegas clarified that DAB received $36 million in the last two years and advocated for that funding to go to organizations doing the work in community. Mr. Ho said that he wasn't aware of that number and believed only $1.5 million annually was going directly towards CRB mitigation. Member Villegas said that she doesn't agree with importing plants to a tropical island eco-system. She encouraged businesses that are importing plants and community members that they need to take a proactive approach, to inspect and take measures to control these issues as County and state don't have the resources to manage this. Committee Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz asked Ms. Young what her thoughts were based on Mr. Ho's explanation of what DAB is currently doing to address the community's concerns. Ms. Young explained that their volunteers and organization doesn't get the same response or compliance as DAB does when contacting the big box stores. Ms. Young said that constant check -ins with someone at DAB would help their organization accomplish their goals with communication and inspection with the businesses. Mr. Ho said that it's important to note that CRB isn't the only thing that these folks are managing. He added that much depends on the number of compliance holders and that creating a schedule as it relates to the inspection process, and working with BIISC on this for those who are getting training would be needed. Member Kierkiewicz asked when this inspection process would begin and if BIISC would be compensated by the state for their support. Mr. Ho said that he is not sure how compensation for BIISC would occur. Member Kierkiewicz asked if a big box store is found to not be in compliance, what are the next steps. Mr. Ho replied that once they are made aware of what needs to be done, then it is a matter of working with them to create a process to store the soil properly, indoors or in a container. Member Kierkiewicz shared the same concerns about additional funding as her colleagues and mentioned that Governor Green cut the funding in half. Member Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder asked Ms. Young about her feelings about planting more coconuts. Ms. Young said that managed trees and managed groves will fare the best during the fight against CRB, and she agrees with additional planting. She reiterated that BIISC's role is in early detection and education. Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs is in accord with the purpose and intent of Resolution No. 603-26, and recommends its adoption. slm AYES NOES ABS EX GALIMBA X HUSTACE X INABA X KAGIWADA X KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X KIERKIEWICZ X KIMBALL X ONISHI X VILLEGAS X Respectfully submitted, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS JENN KA I A , CHAIR GOEAC REPORT NO.: 149 ADOPTED: AUG 0 5 20