[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6631677,"mediaKeyId","2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e","parentId",2679703,"title","County housing administrator reports 200 new rental units; online dashboard and project updates provided","audioSeconds",183,"startMs",4287000,"endMs",4470000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e&start=4287&end=4470","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e/thumbnail_4287000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6631677/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/County-housing-administrator-reports-200-new-rental-units-online-dashboard-and-project-updates-provided","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631677-ccbef289ae55ad3b032c262d6b62e234/orig.mp4?Expires=1775135539&Signature=VYZZ7OZNsfXYxv~Mrnpo5BGW57EjnYu0y4VUveTW2QiTUwqQIeaqcZ2Co7C4~Zvk09WH03UkK3aItmwBT4e-YTcbG~tYD6bIMJSOiromuFGl8PZodIYwNl22BQlZT7aFpOHpmrDppyHKv2VUdvFxkVooKyW1de-DOHK2vaUdhvMnPN5PVlIW185IHAF801Dj16EaYmYtJu9O8rWiPrhgA-OZo8uvrhTha92lH5b81NwXXrtTcAa~BvzR1n407YRA4aglVMnIFHNHQ7kwam9KO884mI6o4MWcSxmpT0nHpO-Pw7pzUH9-mhlDvWW8jQceGB-rYpmycpIxrUE41eTxwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii County","date","2025-03-18T13:00:00Z","article","Hawaii County’s housing administrator presented the quarterly affordable housing report (Oct. 1–Dec. 31, 2024) at the Communications Reports and Council Oversight Committee meeting on March 18 and said two projects added about 200 rental units to the county inventory.

Housing administrator Kehaulani Am Costa said the two projects reporting new rental inventory were Nakoa Hale (Hale Nakoa) in Hilo on Ka‘u‘i Drive and Kauhale Ke Kula‘oka (formerly Kaloko Heights) on the west side. The administrator said all units at Kauhale Ke Kula‘oka are open for move‑in and lease‑up is underway. She said the property contains about 75 project‑based Section 8 vouchers and that lease‑up had reached more than about 50% of voucher units at the time of the meeting.

Why it matters: the county’s affordable inventory and voucher placements affect placement of low‑income households and veterans and feed into planning for shelters and supportive housing. The administrator also told the committee the county’s affordable housing dashboard is updated live on the county website and can be used to see project status between quarterly reports.

Council comments and requests: Councilmember Inaba asked for confirmation that all units were available for move‑in at Kaloko Heights; Costa confirmed. Councilmember Inaba also requested a QR code linking the written quarterly communication directly to the live dashboard for future reports. Councilmember Lee Kleinfelder flagged an entry for student housing listed at 20% AMI that appeared inconsistent and asked the administrator to review that listing and report back.

Document items and supplemental exhibits: Costa said the quarterly submission included three reportable items required under Chapter 11 of the Hawaii County Code: (1) a list of developers in possession of excess affordable‑housing credits (no change since the prior report), (2) the current affordable housing inventory (updated list provided), and (3) an accounting of significant actions taken under Chapter 11. She also noted the packet included two supplemental exhibits — an inventory of emergency and transitional shelters and an inventory of permanent supportive housing, substance‑abuse treatment and medical respite facilities — provided at the council’s request although those exhibits are outside the Chapter 11 reporting requirement.

Committee action: Councilmember Kaneo Lee Kleinfelder moved to close the file on Communication 35.1; Councilmember Kaguewata seconded the motion. The committee recorded 7 ayes with Councilmembers Michelle Galimba and Ashley Kurkowitz excused and closed the file.

Ending: Councilmembers thanked the housing administrator for the report and suggested follow‑up items (QR code to dashboard, review of the AMI listing). Costa said her office would work with the trafficking presenters later in the meeting to align outreach and training for providers working with vulnerable populations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hawaii County - Communications, Reports, and Council Oversight Committee - Mar 18, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Hawaii County’s housing administrator presented the quarterly affordable housing report for Oct. 1–Dec. 31, 2024, and said two projects added about 200 rental units to the county inventory; an online dashboard is updated live on the county website.","taxTitle","Hawaii County, Hawaii","taxId",12825,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6631679,"Researchers, advocates urge expanded anti‑trafficking training and services on Hawaii Island",498,248000,746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e&start=248&end=746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e/thumbnail_248000.jpg","/articles/6631679/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Researchers-advocates-urge-expanded-antitrafficking-training-and-services-on-Hawaii-Island","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631679-7ad19b27834421b24172d4786aa91159/orig.mp4?Expires=1775135539&Signature=nm03oF6GyshVc3iy~pHXhz1eoDCs~kpstJd01vYS8tJEx6Du8YEfUkHL0h-ILZzJKmBNABBDnLIAF2aaYzpRBKQ0Z7JE~eskvXFz8LdyBhpLpWNwMjcqjuUuIaXVLAAeAm5WMK1-A3cPt2SRFXRJy5MXRDrUAcl5TMwhubkueC3cN4do40tirlyKEPH4CRq31NDnehBYBX0qu09NeTSD1rmLovrYtqCaBNyD4QgIfzJ0Rm6ivRTVbl~H0bfjKXqAsSMXmwiTEj4l0lgTGvuxbQfPbwZE96FpM6EZnFu74QgF9xHR9Z58tlWPr5MbdqBXbknHz~MbB~QxRjnTEZUQRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A team from Arizona State University and Tucson Police Department told the Hawaii County Communications Reports and Council Oversight Committee on March 18 that sex trafficking and exploitation are occurring on Hawaii Island and across the state and called for expanded, culturally tailored training and victim services.

The presentation, delivered by Dr. Dominique Rosepowicz, a professor at Arizona State University who leads the Office of Trafficking Intervention Research, and Sergeant Lawrence Hove of the Tucson Police Department, summarized multi‑year research and outreach conducted on Hawaii Island and other islands. Dr. Rosepowicz said the research included placing online ads to identify buyers, interviews with survivors, and surveys of providers.

The presenters said their research found high levels of local demand and victimization. “In Phoenix when I placed an ad ... 45 people individuals will call me within 24 hours. The ad that I placed here in Hawaii Island in 2018, there were 279 individuals called me within 24 hours,” Rosepowicz said. She said researchers also interviewed 22 survivors and surveyed 363 people across five islands; in that sample 26.7% reported having been trafficked.

Why it matters: presenters argued that trafficking in Hawaii is not solely an outside or tourist problem but is often local, with buyers and some traffickers drawn from the community. Rosepowicz said roughly 17–20% of traffickers in her research were family members, and she warned that victims can be as young as 4 in the sample used by Child and Family Services and HOPE Services. She said the average age reported in some datasets was about 11, with a youngest age of 4 and an oldest of 17 in that combined sample.

Details and evidence: Rosepowicz described multiple local studies: placement of undercover ads on Oahu and Hawaii Island in 2018; interviews with 22 survivors (7 family members of children, 15 adults); a 363‑person survey across five islands (26.7% reported trafficking); and a Hawaii Island study of unsheltered people using HOPE Services outreach, which found about one‑third had been trafficked. She said similar prevalence figures (33–56%) appeared in some Maui studies. Rosepowicz also described a housing program used in Arizona, Phoenix Starfish Place, a 15‑apartment facility with clinical programming.

The presenters outlined three action priorities: prevention and community awareness, specialized training for police and service providers, and building a coordinated victim response. Sergeant Hove, who described standing up a trafficking unit in Tucson, said his unit divides work among investigation, community outreach and undercover operations and urged building specialized detectives in Hawaii County and Maui Police Departments. He described plans to train officers in Hawaii: “We were set to train over 30 HPD members yesterday … and on Maui later this week we have over 60 people that are going to be attending.”

Council response and next steps: council members pressed for operational details and partnerships. Councilmember Kaneo Lee Kleinfelder moved to close the committee file on Communication 165 after the presentation; Councilmember Onishi seconded the motion. The committee recorded a vote of 7 ayes with Councilmembers Michelle Galimba and Ashley Kurkowitz excused, closing the file.

Presenters and local partners asked county departments and community groups to integrate trafficking screening and training into existing programs that see vulnerable people, including homeless outreach, shelters, schools and foster‑care services. Rosepowicz said the research had helped secure more than $5,000,000 in resources for programs on other islands and that the next step is implementation support: writing grants, training prosecutors and building culturally appropriate services for victims in Hawaii County.

What the speakers said (selected quotes)

“My name is Dr. Dominique Rosepowicz. I’m a full professor at Arizona State University and I run the Office of *** Trafficking Intervention Research,” Rosepowicz said, introducing the work. “It’s a person, anytime a person is under the age of 18 and they exchange *** for something of value, that’s called *** trafficking by our laws.”

Sergeant Lawrence Hove said the unit he built in Tucson dedicates roughly a third of its work to investigations, a third to outreach and education, and a third to undercover operations: “I have detectives that work this problem, and 33% of their job is investigating cases. 33% is community outreach and education … and the other 33 is they’re constantly working undercover.”

Ending: Council members and presenters agreed on the need for continued training and interagency cooperation. The presenters offered follow‑up support for training local police, prosecutors and social‑service providers. The committee closed the file on the communication after the presentation; council members asked administration and county departments to coordinate with community groups to identify gaps in victim services and to explore grant opportunities for implementation.","A team from Arizona State University and Tucson Police Department told the Hawaii County Communications Reports and Council Oversight Committee on March 18 that sex trafficking and exploitation are occurring on Hawaii Island and across the state and called for expanded, culturally tailored training and victim services.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6631668,"Hawaiian Electric outlines wildfire safety strategy for Hawaii Island, emphasizes grid hardening and situational awareness",79,5367000,5446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e&start=5367&end=5446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e/thumbnail_5367000.jpg","/articles/6631668/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Hawaiian-Electric-outlines-wildfire-safety-strategy-for-Hawaii-Island-emphasizes-grid-hardening-and-situational-awareness","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631668-a12fbfb9e1573ecc0553c093faac525c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775135539&Signature=TVCv68PAt2JprlYBYm3EAPKGey~P1kkyAdri2xTS0fJ3-lxMA6eZ8szzPRqh9BxIIjKvhYCtrVJJ0pp0NNOIzK94lZ~bjb3DQs2JyEBBkbKmr9YLD-nzoxe8CeWcY6PspjatFvhI6~0oBMvwW-ueeVnwxxGTb8lPTRbhSzGnGAxtqIyzgv4uOOIlj1~lOgvHaDAnUDsfWAzlx4Er7pcii2Y1bwzhBNmqy1wJbBVAzKHgcyika8KSxEelGMVYGGodEoIMvp21a~pdqsHICf3ePIJI57ri9MsUyPa2d158nxWtKWpxW7MJdPUat5NlEeRxtexesE6PfsfZn35pWlpXnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hawaiian Electric staff presented an updated wildfire safety strategy to the Hawaii County Communications Reports and Council Oversight Committee on March 18, describing ongoing grid hardening, vegetation management, situational awareness and operational changes intended to lower wildfire risk across Hawaii Island.

The company said it has spent about $120 million on wildfire safety work and has reduced wildfire risk attributable to its infrastructure by around 60% to date, with a longer‑term target of roughly 80% reduction where feasible while balancing reliability and customer costs. The utility said it filed an enhanced wildfire safety strategy with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in January built around four pillars: grid hardening, situational awareness, operational practices and stakeholder/community partnerships.

Grid hardening actions described by Hawaiian Electric included pole replacements (wood and alternate materials such as steel and composite), conductor upgrades (including replacement of older copper conductor with aluminum and evaluation of covered conductor), shorter spans where needed, current‑limiting fuses and surge arrestors designed to reduce fault energy and minimize potential ignition sources, and targeted undergrounding planning in high‑risk corridors. Transmission and distribution director Kurt Tsukiyama said covered conductor and other equipment used widely by other utilities were among the tools being assessed.

Situational awareness and operations: the utility is expanding weather stations and cameras, deploying drones and helicopters for inspections in hard‑to‑reach areas, installing fault‑circuit indicators to help locate faults and increasing inspection frequency in high‑risk (tiered) areas to at least annual overhead inspections. Director of Hawaii Island operations Kevin Waldjen said vegetation management in the highest‑risk zones will include level‑1 and level‑2 inspections and hazard‑tree identification with removal when needed.

Public safety power shutoffs and criteria: the utility described the public safety power shutoff (PSPS) framework as a last line of defense and said it has not enacted a PSPS on Hawaii Island since the program’s launch on July 1, 2024. The utility summarized PSPS triggers as a combination of factors — National Weather Service fire‑weather watches/red‑flag warnings, wind gusts (examples given: gusts above ~45 mph), sustained low relative humidity (examples given: below ~45%), situational reports from cameras and weather stations — and said the plan is a “living” strategy that will be re‑analyzed annually as grid improvements and situational‑awareness tools are deployed.

Community programs and federal funds: the company said it had identified $95 million in federal funding matched by utility funds for grid‑related resilience work; a separate $5 million set aside for community benefits tied to that federal package was reported as frozen by the U.S. Department of Energy at the time of the hearing, and Hawaiian Electric said it had notified prospective community partners. The utility said work in Waikoloa — a locally identified high‑risk area — has included aerial inspections, tree trimming and deployments of weather stations and cameras.

Council discussion: Councilmember Matt Chalker (public testifier earlier) and several councilmembers pressed for specifics for Waikoloa and for clearer responsibilities for landowners and utilities in vegetation management. Councilmembers suggested coordinating conduit/sidewalk projects with strategic undergrounding to reduce costs and improve public infrastructure. Several councilmembers thanked the utility for the transparent presentation and urged continued county‑utility collaboration.

Committee action: Councilmember Eustace moved to close the file on Communication 167; Councilmember Inaba seconded. The committee recorded 7 ayes and two excused (Councilmembers Michelle Galimba and Ashley Kurkowitz) and closed the file.

Ending: Hawaiian Electric said it will continue community outreach, coordinate with county departments and first responders, and update the commission and the committee as its living wildfire strategy evolves and as additional equipment and situational‑awareness assets are deployed.","Hawaiian Electric told the county committee on March 18 that it has spent about $120 million on wildfire safety and reduced utility‑infrastructure ignition risk by roughly 60%, and described ongoing grid hardening, vegetation management and situational‑awareness work to further lower risk on Hawaii Island.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6631673,"PONC annual report: county has conserved about 10,800 acres; commissioners asked for maps and filled vacancies",116,4839000,4955000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e&start=4839&end=4955","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2679703-d9225582aabd46e49a9a17a1c101670e/thumbnail_4839000.jpg","/articles/6631673/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/PONC-annual-report-county-has-conserved-about-10800-acres-commissioners-asked-for-maps-and-filled-vacancies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6631673-e57ccd3d56169a83979f4a1d5777a644/orig.mp4?Expires=1775135539&Signature=l-~a6qC2yeNpRGpVb9AxvnZom2r3XYoQi5-wHXcAecjZyHWas-Gwydskt5nwOaUrPyf96pqokRmwWOQcHGWMGZGt-BPKofF2y8WxdP2uWOSU~xWQaBPa69iPmkzR3--8YsTdHcIjwHbWapyrdfJtwJ1AdbQHBfO6RlljmoS5VAPll6KkoYARCV4FC6126OKpjpWjsbQmgN4m2cZmzLU-pipSMPV3IVzzGUfZRW9Rl9HgIiPjVR-Fz2UAAP6LDdp5TjWcif2~sTz~rRrtFLUSZU2Qscv3GeNLK6fIiyYg~PenPfYav-SWhqD4nvlkkplP9d0cPAEjWUJ0~BNp56yi4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission’s 2024 report, transmitted to the Communications Reports and Council Oversight Committee on March 18, records that the county has acquired roughly 10,800 acres through fee‑simple purchases and conservation easements and provides updates on land stewardship and a prioritized acquisition list.

Why it matters: PONC‑funded acquisitions preserve access, habitat and culturally important lands. Councilmembers praised the long‑term work of community volunteers and commissioners who review and score applications and urged improved public information and administration processes to keep stewardship and maintenance funding flowing to nonprofit trustees.

Discussion and follow‑up requests: Councilmember Kleinfelder noted the 6,000 acres in conservation easements and roughly 4,000 acres held in fee simple for a total near 10,800 acres. Councilmember Inaba thanked commission volunteers. Several councilmembers asked for an island‑wide map showing the location of PONC‑funded properties; Deputy Managing Director American Nishimoto said the administration would take the request back. Councilmember Kaguewata asked about current vacancies on the PONC and was told by EA (Executive Aide) Alameda that the commission had three vacancies (not including a new nominee) and that at least one candidate was scheduled to be added to the April 15 General Legislative and Administrative Committee (GLAC) agenda.

Committee action: Councilmember Inaba moved to close the file on Communication 166; Councilmember Eustace seconded. The motion passed with 7 ayes; Councilmembers Michelle Galimba and Ashley Kurkowitz were recorded as excused.

Ending: Councilmembers thanked finance and the administrators for recent changes to maintenance funding administration and for nonprofit stewardship partners who manage conserved lands. The committee closed the file on the annual PONC report and requested follow‑up on vacancies and an island‑wide parcel map.","The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission’s 2024 report showed approximately 10,800 acres acquired through county conservation efforts; councilmembers asked the administration for an island‑wide map of parcels and for updates on PONC vacancies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County housing administrator reports 200 new rental units; online dashboard and project updates provided

Researchers, advocates urge expanded anti‑trafficking training and services on Hawaii Island

Hawaiian Electric outlines wildfire safety strategy for Hawaii Island, emphasizes grid hardening and situational awareness

PONC annual report: county has conserved about 10,800 acres; commissioners asked for maps and filled vacancies