Honolulu City Council adopts resolution reorganizing council leadership; elevates Councilmember Tupelo to vice chair

On June 17, 2025, the City Council of the City and County of Honolulu voted to adopt Resolution 25-170, a reorganization of council officers that will elevate Councilmember Tupelo to a leadership role as vice chair and rearrange other leadership posts. The measure was moved during the June 17 meeting by Council Member Nishimoto and recorded by the clerk as adopted with nine ayes.

The resolution moved quickly to a roll call after an explanation from Council Member Nishimoto. Council Member Nishimoto opened the item saying, “Relating to officers of the City, the Council of the City and County of Honolulu,” and formally moved adoption: “I move that resolution 25 1 70 be adopted.” The clerk announced the final result: “There are 9 ayes,” and the resolution was declared adopted. Several members vocalized “reservations” during roll call; the clerk nevertheless recorded the motion as approved.

The vote followed more than an hour of public testimony that split sharply. Opponents argued the reorganization was retaliatory and poorly timed after a contentious June 4 vote on sewer fees. Dale Vanderbrink, a member of the Ala Moana–Kakaʻako Neighborhood Board testifying as a private citizen, said he “stands in strong opposition to council member Nishimoto’s current resolution 25 1 70,” calling it “political revenge” tied to the sewer fee debate. Remote testifier Aria Juliet Castillo likewise urged members to “vote no,” saying the measure “gives the impression of political retaliation.”

Speakers representing community and civil-rights groups also opposed the measure. Abby Simmons, speaking remotely as chair of a local Stonewall caucus, told the council she and her members were urging a no vote, citing concerns about a candidate’s prior public statements and a perceived ethical lapse: “Please vote no on resolution 25 dash 1 70,” she said. Natalie Iwasa, a remote testifier, noted the high volume of submitted testimony—she said “over 600 testimonies”—and described the timing as “very interesting,” urging the council to focus on other priorities.

Supporters framed the change as a routine democratic reorganization and urged the council to move forward. Brandon Wolfe, speaking for ILWU Hawaii, said the union “is in strong support of this resolution” and urged respect for the democratic process: “Let them do their job.” Kika Bukowski testified in person that leadership reorganization is “a normal course of doing business” for the council and described the proposed change as consistent with past practice. Several other in-person testifiers, including OʻKouʻi Burgess and Tim Gary, spoke in favor of the resolution.

Council members debated tone and motive before the vote. Council Member Okimoto and Council Member Cordero voiced support for the measure as a way to form a leadership team they said could provide “clear direction” and “balance.” Other council members acknowledged the controversy and public concern; several urged colleagues to keep focus on policy priorities. Council Member Dos Santos Tam, while not opposing the measure outright, urged the council to prioritize pressing issues such as housing, homelessness, vacancies at HPD and potential federal funding cuts that could affect local programs.

Chair Waters opened the meeting emphasizing decorum and the difficulty of reorganization: “Reorganization is a difficult thing, it’s stressful, can be hurtful, but it’s definitely emotional,” he said, asking members and the public for respectful conduct during the discussion.

The council took no committee referrals or executive-session items on the matter. After the roll call and adoption of Resolution 25-170, Vice Chair Tupelo moved to adjourn; the motion was seconded and the council adjourned to its next regular session on July 9, 2025.

The measure drew sustained public attention because of its timing after the June 4 sewer-fee decisions and because speakers framed the change alternately as routine governance and as a politically motivated reshuffle. The council’s adoption of the resolution is now final per the clerk’s announcement; members and public testifiers said they will continue to press the council to focus on housing, infrastructure and other policy priorities in the coming months.