HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-23 Public Hearing MinutesPage 1 of 2
MINUTES
WATER BOARD PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED NEW COST OF POWER ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE September 23, 2025
West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, Bldg. G, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Michael Pono Kekela, Vice-Chairperson (via videoconference) Mr. Philip Aiona, Water Board Member (via videoconference, signed in at 9:46 a.m.) Mr. Michael Bell, Water Board Member
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto, Manager-Chief Engineer, Department of Water Supply (ex-officio member)
ABSENT: Mr. Stephen Kawena Lopez, Chairperson Mr. James Lee, Water Board Member Ms. Emily Taaroa, Water Board Member
Mr. Keith Unger, Water Board Member Director, Planning Department (ex-officio member) Director, Department of Public Works (ex-officio member) DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY STAFF: Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy Ms. Candace Gray, Waterworks Controller Ms. Kaʻiulani Matsumoto, Private Secretary Ms. Maraea Keamo, Senior Clerk Stenographer
(Mr. Keith K. Okamoto called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m.) Mr. Keith K. Okamoto: Good morning. We will call the public hearing of the Water Board on the
proposed new cost of Power Adjustment to order. I am Keith Okamoto, Manager-Chief Engineer for the
Department of Water Supply. For the record, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Michael Bell, present in
West Hawaiʻi Civic Center, Building G. Online we also have board member Mr. Pono Kekela. Mahalo to
both Michael and Pono for attending this public hearing.
Notice of the public hearing was published in the Hawaii Tribune-Herald and in West Hawaii Today on
September 2, 2025.
The Department of Water Supply is operated and controlled by this Water Board as provided by the
Hawaiʻi County Charter, Section 63 of Part III, Chapter 54, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes. I will not be
reading the statutes, but if people are interested, they may publicly look them up.
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We are here today to receive comments or testimony on the proposed amendment to the power cost
charge. The Department recommends increasing the power cost charge from $2.08 to $2.98 per thousand
gallons to reflect the increase in power costs.
As stated in the hearing notice, all comments or testimony were to be filed in writing before the time of
the hearing or register to have testimony included via web conference application. We would like to
follow this format as closely as possible; however, because there may be some of you who do not have
any written statements but would like to testify or comment, we would like to afford you this opportunity
to do so but would like to limit such presentations to three minutes because of the time limit.
The hearing is now open for comments from the floor. Secretary, is there anyone registered to provide
testimony?
Ms. Kaʻiulani Matsumoto: No.
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto: Alright, great.
There is no testimony, so, at this time we shall close this public hearing. Thank you for coming, Mr. Bell,
and mahalo Vice-Chair Kekela and Mr. Aiona (signed in via videoconference at 9:46 a.m.) for also
attending via zoom. I appreciate your time.
Public Hearing closed at 9:49am
______________________________ APPROVED BY WATER BOARD
Secretary (October 28, 2025)