Finance committee backs $125,000 for Hilo Bay aquaculture feasibility and permitting research

The Hawaii County Committee on Finance voted 8–0 on May 20 to forward Resolution 181‑25 to the full council with a favorable recommendation, authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement with the University of Hawaii Office of Research Services to provide a $125,000 grant to the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center for permits and preliminary research to develop an aquaculture project in Hilo Bay.

County staff and university researchers described the funds as seed money to support feasibility studies, preliminary environmental analysis and permitting steps (including coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, DLNR and other permitting agencies) required for open‑water bivalve and limu culture trials in the bay. Staff said the work could include tissue sampling, mooring feasibility, preliminary water‑quality monitoring and assessments of potential benefits (for example, bioremediation) and impacts.

Why it matters: Proponents said the proposed park could create a managed leasing area—modeled on state agricultural parks—where local residents and small operators could lease space, learn aquaculture practices and participate in commercial or restorative aquaculture without having to individually secure complex permits. Committee discussion tied the project to watershed restoration and to economic diversification around aquaculture.

What the committee heard: Glenn Sacco, an economic development specialist with county Research and Development, said the aim is to “set up something like the state ag parks where you have the permits in place, it's managed by an entity” so that individual residents could participate via leases or cooperatives. Rhiannon Chandler Yao, representing Waivaiola Waterkeepers, described prior oyster experiments in Hilo Bay and framed the work as both a feasibility and public‑health inquiry, noting a lack of routine tissue‑testing by the State Department of Health and the need to determine whether nearshore harvest is safe.

Permits, timeline and risks: Staff said an environmental assessment will be required and that permitting steps could include Army Corps approvals for submerged moorings, DLNR special activity permits and plant quarantine permits for cultured species. Departments estimated the work would likely produce useful progress in one year but said a fuller permitting and implementation pathway could take about two years; staff said regular progress updates would be provided to council.

Committee action and next steps: Councilmember Kirkowitz moved and Councilmember Galimba seconded forwarding the resolution to council; the committee vote was recorded as eight in favor with Councilmember Kimball excused. If the council approves the intergovernmental agreement, staff said the university and county will proceed with the feasibility work and permitting steps; the outcome of feasibility and public‑health testing will guide any later proposal to construct a managed aquaculture park or leases in Hilo Bay.

Community concerns: Public testimony submitted before the committee raised questions about whether staff had a formal grant request on file, how funds were approved, and whether the county was prematurely committing a portion of agricultural program funds without formal agreements. Committee members pressed staff on coordination with the Hilo Bay watershed project and said they expect stronger interagency communication and public updates.