Votes at a glance: April 16, 2025 Hawaii County Council — confirmations, budget and program transfers, and settlement approval

The following is a concise summary of formal actions the Hawaii County Council took on April 16, 2025, based on the meeting record. Where the transcript listed exact vote tallies those are shown; where individual roll call entries were not captured for every item the recorded tallies are used.

Nominations/Confirmations - Ben C. Dalawidao to the Hamakua Community Development Plan Action Committee (GOAC 28 / Communication 198): Motion to confirm; moved by Councilmember Kagiwara; second by Councilmember Villegas. Vote: motion carries, 9 ayes. Outcome: confirmed. - John P. Kometani to the Environmental Management Commission (GOAC 29 / Communication 199): Motion to confirm; moved by Councilmember Eustace; second recorded. Vote: motion carries, 9 ayes. Outcome: confirmed. - Rebecca Kavehi Inaba to the Leeward Planning Commission (GOAC 30 / Communication 200): Motion to confirm; vote recorded as 5 in favor, 3 opposed, 1 excused. Outcome: confirmed (see separate article for full discussion). - Josephine (Jojo) Tanimoto to the South Kohala CDP Action Committee (GOAC 31 / Communication 201): Motion to confirm; vote recorded: motion carries, 9 ayes. Outcome: confirmed.

Resolutions and budget transfers (selected) - Resolution 104-25 (intergovernmental agreement with the FBI to continue collaboration with the Hawaii Police Department): Approved (moved by Councilmember Kagiwara; seconded by Councilmember Eustace). Vote: 8 ayes, 1 no (Councilmember Villegas voted no); motion carries. - Resolution 105-25 (adopt 2025–2029 Consolidated Plan and 2025 Annual Action Plan for HUD programs): Approved (moved by Councilmember Kagiwara; seconded by Councilmember Eustace). Vote: motion carries; 9 ayes recorded. - Resolution 106-25 (transfer $5,212 to Animal Control / Grant to Action for Animals): Approved (moved by Councilmember Kleinfelder; seconded by Councilmember Eustace). Vote: motion carries, 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Resolution 123-25 (accept donation of footwear from Olukai to Fire Department, est. value $15,110): Approved. Vote: motion carries (8 ayes, 1 excused). - Resolution 124-25 (5‑year leases for 7 multifunction copiers for DPW): Approved. Vote: motion carries (8 ayes, 1 excused). - Resolution 125-25 (transfer $5,300 to support workforce advancement initiative — EVALU Industries): Approved. Vote: motion carries (vote later adjusted to reflect attendance; final recorded 7 ayes, 2 excused in roll call notation). - Resolution 126-25 (transfer $3,150 to replace Keiki ID equipment for Hawaii Police Department): Approved. Vote: motion carries (8 ayes, 1 excused). - Resolution 127-25 (transfer $7,000 for police public safety awareness and radar equipment): Approved. Vote: motion carries (8 ayes, 1 excused). - Resolution 128-25 (transfer $4,000 to HIPA program; amended with communication 217.1): Amended and approved; motion to suspend the rules to proceed was approved; final vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused. Outcome: approved as amended. - Resolution 129-25 (transfer $450 to Office of Aging for Outstanding Older Americans luncheon): Approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Resolution 130-25 (transfer $1,591 to support DARE Hawaii East Hawaii DARE Day): Approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Resolution 131-25 (grant $5,000 to Kona Historical Society for regional beekeeping exhibit): Approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Resolution 132-25 (transfer $3,000 to remove three pencil trees on walking path at old Kona Airport Park): Approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Resolution 133-25 (grant $2,005 to Lions Club of Kona / Kona Waena High School Leo Club educational outreach): Approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Resolution 134-25 (grant $6,000 to Aloha Animal Alliance for spay/neuter mobile equipment): Approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Resolution 135-25 (grant $3,000 to Grassroot Community Development Group for Hilo Lei Day Festival): Approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Resolution 136-25 (grant $8,500 to Merry Monarch Festival): Approved. Vote: 8 ayes, 1 excused.

Bills and ordinances (first readings and final actions) - Bill 21, draft 2 (nepotism code amendments to align with HRS section 84‑13.2): Approved at first reading. Motion carried, 9 ayes. - Bill 36 (Salary Ordinance 2025, pay patterns and appointed employee rates): Approved at first reading, 9 ayes. - Bill 37 (amend operating budget to appropriate $70,000,000 for temporary hazard pay related to COVID‑19 pandemic period): Approved at first reading, 9 ayes. - Bill 43 (increase GO bond authorization to $52,000,000 to enable larger SRF loans for Hilo wastewater): Approved at first reading, 9 ayes (see separate article for details). - Bill 35 (appropriation of State substance abuse prevention coordination grant of $7,100): Adopted at second and final reading; motion carries, 9 ayes.

Executive session and settlement - Communication 205 (Aaron Mitsue Yoshida et al. v. County of Hawaii, Civil No. 3CCV‑23‑0000038): The council entered executive session to consult with counsel and later approved an updated settlement recommendation and the settlement amount contained in a corporation counsel memorandum dated April 16, 2025. Motion to approve the recommendation passed (8 ayes, 1 excused). The clerk then moved to close file on the communication; motion carries (8 ayes, 1 excused). Outcome: settlement approval recorded in executive session and closed to public by statute.

Notes and next steps: Many of the resolutions were small transfers from council contingency accounts to nonprofit partners or department accounts for specific events and program supplies; those passed largely on unanimous or near‑unanimous votes with one notable roll‑call division on the FBI MOU resolution. Bill 43 and the Inaba nomination drew sustained discussion and are covered in separate articles.

Provenance: Each action above is recorded in the April 16 meeting transcript; the items above cite the motion language and vote outcomes as announced by the chair and recorded by the clerk.