HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 028 2019/08/06 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: August 6, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 386
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawaii
TIME: 11:32 a.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai'i County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning,to which was referred Communication No. 386, reports as follows:
Communication No. 386,transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim on July 18, 2019, submitted for the
Council's review his nominees to the Inaugural Hdindkua Community Development Plan (CDP)
Action Committee, which included Susan Forbes, Nicolette CB Hubbard, Carol R. Ignacio,
Dr. Tawn Isaac Keeney, Crystal Kua, Brad R. Kurokawa, Jeff McKnight, Robert T. Nishimoto, and
Rhonda Darling Pollard.
Chair Kierkiewicz stated that she wanted to entertain a Motion to suspend Rule 10 of the Rules of
Procedure and Organization for the Council of the County of Hawaii so that rather than each nominee
be voted on individually, all the candidates could be voted on as a single body. Council Member
Valerie Poindexter made the Motion, which was seconded by Vice Chair Sue Lee Loy and voted
unanimously in favor.
Appearing before Your Committee were the nine nominees along with Mayor's Executive Assistant
Rose Bautista, who introduced the inaugural group by stating they were outstanding individuals that
represented a broad cross-section of the Hdmdkua community. Ms. Bautista then proceeded to introduce
each candidate one at a time.
The first nominee presented, Dr. Susan Forbes,who received her doctorate in Public Health at the
University of Hawaii-Manoa and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Stanford University, is a
resident of South Hilo and a resident of Hawaii for 50 years. Dr. Forbes retired as Chief Executive
Officer of Hawaii Health Information Corporation and was a former executive with the Kapi'olani
Health Care Systems and Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children. She would serve a
three-year term that expires in 2022.
Nicolette CB Hubbard was introduced as a resident of North Hilo and born and raised on the Big Island
in Laupdhoehoe, where she has been an active community member. She holds a Bachelor of Science in
Agricultural Business and Speech Communication from Colorado State University. Her three-year term
to the Action Committee would end in 2022.
The next candidate, Carol Ignacio, was called out of retirement after 27 years with Statewide Office for
Social Ministry and Affordable Housing to work for Blue Zones Project Hawaii where she is now the
Government and Community Affairs Manager. Ms. Ignacio is a lifelong resident of the Big Island and
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PC-28 Page 2 August 6,2019
has spent her entire career in social services helping those in need. She is a member of the Democratic
Party, and her two-year term to the Action Committee would end 2021.
Dr.Tawn Isaac Keeney, who served the Hamakua community for 36 years as a family physician and is
the proprietor of the Honoka`a People's Theatre, obtained his medical degree from Creighton University
School of Medicine. Orignally from Kansas,he has been a resident of Hawaii for 42 years and is a
member of the Democratic Party. He would serve a four-year term on the committee which would
expire 2023.
Nominee Crystal Kua of Pepe`ekeo works for Kamehameha Schools as a consultant and
communications strategist. A graduate of Seattle University with Bachelor of Arts in Journalism,
Ms. Kua grew up in Keaukaha as a lifelong resident of Hawaii Island. Her term on the Action
Committee would end in 2023 after four years.
Brad Kurokawa, a resident of Honomu, was the next nominee to receive an introduction. Mr. Kurokawa
is the Principal Landscape Architect for Ki Concepts, LLC and a former Deputy Planning Director for
the County of Hawaii. Mr. Kurokawa has been a resident of Hamakua for 27 years and was
instrumental in its Community Development Plan. His two-year term would end in 2021.
Jeff McKnight, a 12-year resident of Hawaii County who currently resides in Pa`auilo, is a Senior
Certified Solutions Consultant for Bear Communications and current president of the nonprofit Olahana
Foundation. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and his term on the Action Committee would
expire in 2021.
Dr. Robert Nishimoto, a resident of Ninole, is a retired Aquatic Biologist after 32 years of employment
with Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources—Division of Aquatic Resources. He also
served as an adjunct professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and has his Ph.D. in Marine Biology
and Biological Oceanography from Florida State University. His four year term would expire in 2023
The last nominee, Rhonda Pollard, a ten year resident of Hawaii Island residing in Honoka`a, is a
Business Analyst with Hawaii Water Service Company. She holds a Masters of Public Administration
from the University of West Florida. She would serve a three-year term to end 2022.
All of the candidates each took time to express their appreciation for being selected for the
Action Committee and their commitment to its success. Council Members Valerie Poindexter,
Matt Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, Maile David, Karen Eoff, as well as Vice Chair Lee Loy and Chair
Kierkiewicz, each articulated their gratitude for the group and their willingness to serve the public.
The vote was taken on the motion to move the slate of candidates for the Inaugural Hamakua CDP
Action Committee to Council with a positive recommendation and passed unanimously with nine
"ayes."
Pursuant to Article 3, Section 16-5 of the Hawaii County Code, Community Development Plan Action
Committees shall consist of nine members with a primary residence in the area covered by the
Community Development Plan, and shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council.
PC Report No.28
PC-28 Page 3 August 6,2019
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Communication No. 386, and
recommends confirmation of the nominees to the Hdindkua Community Development Plan Action
Committee.
ck
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID X COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
EOFF X
KANEALI'l-KLEINFELDER x
KIERKIEWICZ X
LEE LOY X
POINDEXTER X ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS I X J PC REPORT NO.: 28
VILLEGAS I X I ADOPTED: AUQ 2 1 201§