HomeMy WebLinkAbout('24) - 06-12-2024 - Meeting Minutes Eric P.Gee, Chairperson,Mayor Appointee �Ntv_oc k{� Mitchell D. Roth
Cheydon A.Naleimaile-Evangelista,Vice-Chairperson,Mayor Appointee �?•' �o
Hemi Martinez,District 1 'v" ��J'�l
Mayor
Sage Huston,District .� ;•
[Vacant]District 3 Deanna S. Sako
Benjamin Rudo,District 4
+r'•. N—M�•Kyla-Marie Turner,District 5 �rE oF'NpN ManagingDirector
Marquis P.Fonoimoana,District 6
Miliani Bunghanoi-Aiu,District 7 Robert H. Command
Peyton Haleamau,District 8 c
Abigail-Zoe Garan,Garan,District CoCountyOf Hawaii Deputy Managing Director
Damon Naga, Mayor Appointee Youth Commission
Gorctti Allen,District,Mayor Appointee
Hayden Konanui-Tucker,Mayor Appointee
Perseas Vanebo,Mayor Appointee
25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603,Hilo,Hawaii 96720 (808)961-821 1
74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy.,Bldg C, Kaitua-Kona,Hawai'i 96740 (808)323-4444
Meeting Minutes
DATE: June 12, 2024
TIME: 3:00pm
IN-PERSON LOCATION: Hawaii County Council Chambers —Hilo
Hawaii County Building
25 Aupuni Center
Hilo, HI 96720
1) Call to Order 3:09 pm- By: Chair Gee
District 1: Hemi Martinez
District 2: Sage Hutson
District 3: Vacant
District 4: Benjamin Rudo
District 5: Kyla-Marie Kauhaihao
District 6: Marquis P. Fonoimoana (Left Early)
District 7: Mililani Bunghanoi-Aiu
District 8: Peyton Halemau
District 9: Abigail-Zoe Garan
Councilmember: Jennifer Kagiwada
Mayor Appointee: Damon Nagata
Mayor Appointee: Goretti Allen
Mayor Appointee: Hayden Konanui-Tucker
Mayor Appointee: Perseas Vanebo
Mayor Appointee: Vice-Chairperson Cheydon Naleimaile-Evangelista
Mayor Appointee: Chairperson Eric Gee
Out of: 15
Present: 10
Excused:
Absent :
"Counting those present, we have a quorum."
2) Chairperson Announcements
a) Congratulations to all graduates, including our commissioners who graduated.
i) Commissioners Naleimaile-Evangelista, Fonoimoana, and Chair Gee
3) Statements from the Public/Testimony
a) None
4) Approval of May 8th, 2024 Meeting Minutes
a) Approved.
5) Old Business
a) Reconsideration of Youth Commission Meeting Times (May through September) (Times
TBD)
i) Kauhaihao asking for clarification on what the discussion is
(1) Kagiwada clarified that this is in regards to a 5-7 and that if there is no discussion,
then it would stay from 3-5.
(2) Time will stay as 3-5.
b) Selection of Adult Advisors to the Commission
i) Alana Barber
(1) Kagiwada:Have you had a chance to look at what the youth commission is about?
(Website, etc.) What would your contribution be?
(a) Ms. Barber: would help guide and build knowledge for the commission
around behavior and mental health, family systems, health.
(2) Kauhaihao: What motivated you to submit your resume to the commission?
(a) Barber: Talked with Mr. Ho about it and he recommended it because of her
background
(3) Kagiwada: Wondering if Vice Chair Naleimaile-Evangelista had a question for
Ms. Barber surrounding mental health.
(a) Naleimaile-Evangelista: Yes. How important do you believe mental health is,
and why do you think we should be talking about it?
(1) Barber: believes very strongly in mental health that her life has become
dedicated to it. Her life mission is to help people find resources and create
systems of support, so as to build access to mental health care.
(b) Rudo: What could we do under your advisory, such as a project, that could
have the most impact?
(i) Barber: Something that could work to build psychological safety in the
community, through providing awareness and maybe access to resources.
(4) Gee: Discussion.
(5) Hutson: Strong background and good resume
(6) Kagiwada: The only question/concern would be if her skills of knowledge are too
similar to Mr. Ho. Do we need to reserve a position for someone of a different
background?
(7) Naleimaile-Evangelista: May I have the resume?
(8) Kauhaihao: Feels that Ms. Barber is diverse enough from Mr. Ho that this could
be great. Also the third could be a cultural practitioner with a background in
forestry/agroforestry.
(9) Rudo: These two would be great, and would be open to having the third be a
cultural practitioner that is also a scientist of some sort in order to kill two birds
with one stone.
(10) Kauhaihao: Motion to approve her application
(a) Naleimaile: Seconded
(b) ROLL CALL VOTE: ALL Ayes
c) OUT OF ORDER—NEW BUSINESS
i) Discussion/Approval of Community Town Hall
(1) Talking about a Community Town Hall
(a) Gee looking up terms for commissioners
(i) DCC Wong: commissioners are not able to renew terms.
1. Mr. Ho: are they able to reapply?
2. DCC Wong: It is not explicit,but they my not be able. Will follow up.
3. Mr. Ho: Can an elected commissioner become a mayor appointee?
4. DDC Wong: It can be possible.
(b) Kauhaihao: Asking for clarification.
(i) Kauhaihao: We definitely should do a town hall for the purposes of
exposure and creating a legacy.
(ii) Kagiwada: Think about the day
(iii)Konanui-Tucker: Would it be during our commission meeting?
ii) SUMMARY OF THE CONCLUSION OF THE TOWN HALL DISCUSSION:
(1) Discussed the possibility of creating PIGS,but DDC Wong mentioned the
timeline of establishing PIGS and how long it takes. Because of this timeline, the
discussion moved to discuss different ways that we could plan the town hall, such
as creating two separate events possibly, one for Hilo side and one for Kona side,
as well the possibility of a virtual town hall. However, as we ran out of time, Mr.
Ho asked us to think about the purpose and intent of the town halls, and why we
wanted to hold them in the first place. This discussion took us to time.
d) Updates
i) Priority Updates
(1) Mental Health (Commissioner Evangelista)
(a) 988 Campaign Discussion
(i) Moved to the next meeting
(b) Food Sovereignty (Commissioner Turner and Commissioner Konanui-Tucker)
(1) Moved to the next meeting
(c) Native Plant Restoration (Commissioner Rudo)
(i) Native Plant Beautification Project Discussion
1. Finding a place
a. Moved to the next meeting
ii) Press Secretary
(1) Website Update
(2) Social Media
(a) Instagram started (hawaiicountyyc)
(3) Commission Introduction Video
iii) County Council Updates
(1) Moved to the next meeting
6) New Business
a) Election of Commission Sergeant-at-Arms
b) Discussion/Approval of Community Town Hall
7) Announcements
a) Next Meeting: August 14th, 2024, Hilo, 3-5
b) Food Bank Hawaii Island study
c) June 29th—Pride
8) Adjournment- 4:34pm