HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-04-28 Minutes of the Public Hearing FY27 Operating and CIP Budgets MINUTES
WATER BOARD OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2027 OPERATING BUDGET AND 5-YEAR
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY
April 28, 2026
Department of Water Supply, Hilo Operations, 889 Leilam Street, Hilo, Hawaii
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr.Michael Kekela Jr., Chairperson, Dist.
Mr. Colin Miura,Water Board Member, Dist. I
Mr. Guy Alameda, Water Board Member, Dist. 3
Mr.Philip Aiona,Water Board Member, Dist. 9 (via videoconference)
Mr. Keith K. Okamoto,Manager-Chief Engineer,
Department of Water Supply(ex-officio member)
ABSENT: Mr. James Lee, Water Board Member, Dist. 2
Ms. Emily Taaroa, Water Board Member, Dist. 5
Mr. Keith Unger, Vice-Chairperson, Dist. 6
Mr. Stephen Lopez, Water Board Member, Dist. 8
Director,Planning Department(ex-officio member)
Director, Department of Public Works (ex-officio member)
OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Diana Mellon-Lacey,Deputy Corporation Counsel
DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY STAFF:
Mr. Kawika Uyehara, Deputy
Ms. Shari Uyeno, Assistant Engineering Division Head
Ms. Candace Gray, Waterworks Controller
Mr. Gregory Goodale, Chief of Operations
Mr. Alvin Inouye, Water Operations Superintendent
Mr. Eric Takamoto, Mechanical Engineer, III
Mr.Warren Ching, Civil Engineer IV
Ms. Maraea Keamo, Senior Clerk Stenographer
(Chairperson Kekela called the public hearing to order at 9:30 a.m.)
CHR. KEKELA: Will the public hearing of the Water Board on the proposed 2027 Operating Budget and 5-year
Capital Improvements Budget for the Department of Water Supply please come to order? My name is Kapono
Kekela, Chairperson of the Water Board, and I will have the Secretary do a roll call of the Board Members present,
please.
(A roll call was taken for Water Board Members in attendance.Four Board Members were present: Messrs. Miura,
Alameda, Aiona, and Chairperson Kekela.)
CHR. KEKELA: The Water Board,under Section 8-2(c) of the Hawaii County Charter, shall adopt the Operating
and Capital Improvements Budget for the Department of Water Supply; and under the hearing and
advertising provision of Section 10-4, Hawaii County Charter, did publish public hearing notices in the
Hawaii Tribune-Herald and in the West Hawaii Today on April 14, 2026.
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 time concerns.
The hearing is now open for comments from the floor. Secretary,is there anyone registered to provide oral or
written testimony?
MS. KEAMO: There are none.
CHR. KEKELA: Hearing none, at this time I would like to declare this public meeting closed.
(Public Hearing adjourned at 9:32 a.m.)
Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY WATER BOARD
(May 26, 2026)
Page 2 of 2 April 28,2026,Water Board Minutes