[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6505950,"mediaKeyId","5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379","parentId",5448984,"title","Council committee forwards four community nominations to full council","audioSeconds",2352,"startMs",1420000,"endMs",3772000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379&start=1420&end=3772","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379/thumbnail_1420000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6505950/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Council-committee-forwards-four-community-nominations-to-full-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505950-51ea451aa21be7e86d8d85d96e70e516/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150580&Signature=dQjG7vuQqLoNXRvVR5K1rgp79ccgkc8YHZNr0pQvi2Kvv~389vscZRJ-SecdnBCjwCFg79FAXDEuUgX-uyoMaz75qyXDFptdvgdZ8q5nCDQZ9GYu5tw2qpoFD2X-ZyzriTWBmR1zxU4C1~AvtnppgdCk7aeY0tKFmG6oM2O9avK48teivVdoUeSOg4Nh3EnqS1AIyJsdHI36p48lSTYOt7nnP4mOrQfqWg-p7zKiWcRB4knCygIHxdJDxNRRzFiyRt-6qQaxWZXzhScgo1~YStqg5tGlaE6-B5NAUGnR4EgN0K09ZI9BR376PNTBoVMlBZ1Uf2iTP5EuxZPACYn~Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hawaii County","date","2025-07-22T10:35:00Z","article","The Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs voted to forward four mayoral nominations to the full Council with favorable recommendations.

Michael Alameda, executive assistant to the mayor, introduced the nominees. Justin Canelas was nominated to the Environmental Management Commission to represent Council District 6; if confirmed he would serve a term expiring December 2029. Canelas told the committee he operates an off‑grid farm in Nāālehu, works for Recycle Hawaii as operations director and wants to represent Kaʻū on environmental issues.

Gary C. Davis was nominated to the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (CDP) Action Committee for a term expiring January 2026. Alameda described Davis as a near‑50‑year resident of Kaʻū who recently retired from County Environmental Management’s solid waste division and volunteers with local food distribution and kupuna food programs. Davis told the committee he has been active in local CDP meetings and is pushing to keep the recently renovated Waiʻōhino transfer station open more days.

Ivana K. Wilcox and Bambi Lau were each nominated to the South Kohala CDP Action Committee. Wilcox, if confirmed to a term expiring January 2028, said she would push for progress on longstanding CDP priorities such as road improvements and water projects in Waimea. Lau, nominated to a term expiring January 2026, described herself as Waikoloa‑area human resources manager and community volunteer and said she would use her local networks to broaden CDP participation.

Committee votes:
- Justin Canelas (Environmental Management Commission): motion to close file and forward nomination — recorded as 6 ayes, 0 no, 2 excused (vote taken by voice).
- Gary C. Davis (Kaʻū CDP Action Committee): motion to close file and forward nomination — recorded as 7 ayes, 0 no, 2 excused.
- Ivana K. Wilcox (South Kohala CDP Action Committee): motion to close file and forward nomination — recorded as 7 ayes, 0 no, 2 excused.
- Bambi Lau (South Kohala CDP Action Committee): motion to close file and forward nomination — recorded as 7 ayes, 0 no, 2 excused.

Clerk notes show confirmations are required by Aug. 16, 2025. The committee repeatedly commended the nominees’ community volunteer histories and said the nominations will be considered by the full council at its next meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hawaii County - Governmental Operations and External Affairs Committee - Jul 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee forwarded four mayoral nominations — to the Environmental Management Commission and two Community Development Plan Action Committees — to the full council with favorable recommendations and recorded voice votes at the July 22 committee meeting.","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},6505955,"County representatives map state legislative priorities at HSAC briefing",1198,448000,1646000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379&start=448&end=1646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379/thumbnail_448000.jpg","/articles/6505955/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/County-representatives-map-state-legislative-priorities-at-HSAC-briefing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505955-83e45391a7f4f7a27b4d2cfc913606a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150580&Signature=RN9xYdYjNmYlxVqcCxaqp~AUtP8FbtwVN16JR6kM5r-5TD6F0Vnm18srzksDYNL3O-JV1kv2TsZRoAMKKMlHCnt-sqNvbvW4vlIR2wyxoJse8Y0l5zLZxqiBMtaoaitxPk0up8NuKOgeAgxwqd4FZEPUCvNOCd3v0vEmYAZRBjcD~7wHB7TK1SUfvHESsuYuNPuKM6yV77Lv7IoqQCnw3f6Nn8vTm2Y0irE5itR8~tRz9FxvKhHbEvq1SCsNezaOf6XNP1x7NXco~RrDhXybKgCYkCjyQfalHa~tzXmNMIbFZh69-qXp4oNTtviicV7cYPe-4xH6KueBBgqSV8HdiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs discussed recommended statewide priorities to carry through the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC), including investments in local food innovation, tailored approaches to cesspool conversion, disaster-preparedness financing and continued work on a state conveyance tax to fund housing and homelessness programs.

Chair Jen Kaguada read communication 40.1, minutes from the HSAC executive committee, and asked council members for suggestions on a package of priorities the county should send to the HSAC executive committee for the 2026 legislative session. Council Member Heather L. Kimball, who represents the county on HSAC, said she will collect recommendations and bring a list back to HSAC for consideration.

Council Member Kerkowitz urged state investment in ‘‘food innovation hubs’’ modeled on an Oahu facility to help rural agricultural producers expand processing and food‑security capacity. She also asked the committee to press the state Department of Health for realistic, island‑specific timelines and assistance to support cesspool conversion in communities that may lack affordability.

Council Member Eustace said resilience and preparedness funding should get more attention alongside remediation funding, and suggested exploring tax incentives that would encourage household and community preparedness for disasters including wildfire. He also asked Kimball to provide additional detail from a prior HSAC discussion about vacancy taxes and related programs.

Council Member Onishi suggested that HSAC coordinate pre-session meetings between county representatives and state legislators, to identify bills legislators are willing to sponsor and improve the county’s track record of advancing county priorities at the State Legislature.

Council Member Galimba focused on state highway maintenance transparency, asking HSAC to pursue clearer public information about how State Highways prioritizes and funds repairs. Council Member Villegas highlighted two recurring constituent concerns: closing a state‑level loophole on flavored electronic cigarette sales and potential unsafe pesticide spraying along highways.

Kimball summarized items the county previously supported at HSAC, including conveyance tax proposals intended to fund housing, game‑management funding for wild ungulates, producer responsibility for solid waste, and multimodal transportation investments. She asked colleagues to submit any additional written priorities by August 1 for inclusion in HSAC’s next meeting.

The committee voted to close file on communication 40.1 and forward any recommendations Kimball compiles to the HSAC executive committee. The clerk recorded seven ayes; Council Members Inaba and Tanya Lee Kleinfeld were excused.","Members of the Hawaii County Council discussed priorities to advance at the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC), including food innovation, cesspool conversion, disaster preparedness incentives and conveyance tax support; the committee closed file on communication 40.1 by unanimous voice vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505940,"Committee postpones debate on Charter amendment to create Department of Building after questions on qualifications, costs and oversight",0,4151000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379&start=4151&end=4151","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379/thumbnail_4151000.jpg","/articles/6505940/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Committee-postpones-debate-on-Charter-amendment-to-create-Department-of-Building-after-questions-on-qualifications-costs-and-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505940-db737abb60280aab7b812095cb231e01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150580&Signature=CK5HB5GmsF7rQ~pg7g8h8ZSBfU~aVIxN15IkpaSWIDciycwg3tnaUI3O8l4xMus22E9Anrcl7mEriFVZZbrXxOJn8xfQ1qBLM7TsxJ69k8GyQ1ZckH9qZfZL~~d3XntH5OqGO1zxu63qotUkAfutLNYdStp5vaztHJ3GXgRb9VoohFFe5pIXLg1qCU3OkAAnroGDdGpTBXnY9LMinclLkCicIlUqYiEE6dtNaqHQ-Axm1Xj9ZMX4XBeYKXU~Pu4SKDTQixQxIiz7Ly4wB7PLS6eSyImMKzN9da0Koi9EOKNt1lAtSHeuFrbJUfIrP2cRY375oYfnlZ8mjByETQOCdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee held an extended discussion of Bill 68, a charter amendment proposal that would establish a separate Department of Building, create a mayor‑appointed director confirmed by the council and create a Building Codes Commission to advise the mayor, council and director on building, construction and code matters. Sponsors said the change would streamline permitting, improve engagement with code users and protect the county’s property‑tax base by making permitting more efficient.

Council Member Kerkowitz, the primary sponsor, said the intent is to move permitting out of Public Works and create a specialist commission that includes professionals who work with codes locally. ‘‘Codes that we receive are often more appropriate for the Continental United States and may not necessarily work or be in alignment with our geography and environment here,’’ Kerkowitz said.

Public testimony included a Zoom speaker, Claudia Roar, who testified on Bill 68 and questioned proposed director qualifications in section 6‑11.2: she said a minimum of five years in the building and development industry, including supervisory experience, and the proposed allowance for a related degree are insufficient. Roar also objected that the draft does not specify appeals from a director’s final decisions nor amend the board of appeals to include a director from the new department.

Acting Public Works Director Neil Azevedo attended and described current staffing levels in Public Works, saying the department has 439 positions with 365 filled and noting the department’s existing workload across building, engineering, highways and other divisions. He said the department is functioning and that facilities and finance for a separate department would need review.

Council members raised multiple concerns: Council Member Campbell asked that the committee ensure professional oversight (engineer/architect expertise) remains part of any new structure, noting other counties place professional expertise in codes oversight even if the director is not required to hold a PE license. Council Member Kimball urged adding an appeals process for decisions of a building director, and suggested the committee consider a coordinated multi‑agency review approach for large permits to reduce project delays.

Sponsoring council members Kerkowitz and Eustace said they will refine the draft to include an appeals mechanism, clearer commission membership qualifications and will request a fiscal impact analysis from the Department of Finance. The committee voted to postpone Bill 68 to the Aug. 5 committee hearing to allow sponsors time to prepare amendments. The clerk recorded seven ayes and three members excused.","Council Members debated Bill 68, a proposed Charter amendment to create a standalone Department of Building and a Building Codes Commission. The committee heard public testimony raising concerns about director qualifications and appeals; the measure was postponed to Aug. 5 for further refinement and fiscal analysis.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6505945,"Committee backs resolution commemorating 80th anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings",808,3530000,4338000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379&start=3530&end=4338","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5448984-168de0ab07213ffa815c4dc6252b1379/thumbnail_3530000.jpg","/articles/6505945/Hawaii-County/Hawaii/Committee-backs-resolution-commemorating-80th-anniversaries-of-Hiroshima-and-Nagasaki-bombings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6505945-6931aaf7c524790b6b9fc373757fce8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150580&Signature=WVF3ow4z7r9PYW5PRvTIFHU3mYuysAqTSuxorDTJAvRceNrhRm46tmBJQfCnt~2SjnJIHDzGH2zgseF0WrDGGlgitEiY9NELsHHBbAF8AwqYbIRCa~0Wi45GhZn5i2KocLKXy73pQndJmHR3o7JttMIunC0~slAQbxyV94ibd-mA-NW01TxKfEViw4M00uZ0-GRx97vH3GaWQaLPpBL14ouTPtyST5e4wJ~MTbn2FOJw2ojrm-4eTyYa427yJZQNjnNcD5XNJZNPl27xqkjWNIMxRhI4QWQ~2v1srspTgxRqlP6L9zGkR9-b6Wc2ypDBgAhLuicj4XlpldHYgn~-cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs voted to approve Resolution 235-25, which commemorates the 80th anniversaries of the World War II atomic bombings of Hiroshima (Aug. 6) and Nagasaki (Aug. 9) and reaffirms a county commitment to peace.

Malia Lewis, Sister Cities protocol officer in the mayor’s office and Sister Cities International program director, testified in support of the resolution and said the sister‑city movement grew from efforts to restore international municipal relationships after wartime devastation. \"This is a prime opportunity for us to recognize and revitalize our commitment to this program,\" Lewis said, adding that Sister Cities ties have helped families reconnect to their roots in Japan and the islands.

Council Member Kaguada introduced the resolution and said she plans to help fund a peace pole in her district to mark the anniversary. After discussion, the committee adopted a proposed amendment to correct a few name and title references and to include additional local contacts for outreach; the amendment was moved by Council Member Kaguada and seconded by Council Member Houston and passed by voice vote.

Council Member Villegas said the anniversary is timely and urged attention to history as a guard against repeating tragedies. Multiple members thanked local Sister Cities volunteers and nonprofit partners for their work on peace initiatives.

The committee voted to forward the amended resolution to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The clerk recorded six ayes; Council Members Onishi, Tanya Lee Kleinfeld and Inaba were excused for the vote. The amended resolution is scheduled for full council consideration on the anniversary date.","The committee approved Resolution 235-25 acknowledging the 80th anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, adopted a minor amendment to update names/titles in the recipients list, and will send the resolution to full council for final reading on Aug. 6 and 9.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council committee forwards four community nominations to full council

County representatives map state legislative priorities at HSAC briefing

Committee postpones debate on Charter amendment to create Department of Building after questions on qualifications, costs and oversight

Committee backs resolution commemorating 80th anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings