Committee advances five mayoral nominations and approves $25,000 grant for GoFarm Hawaii

KONA — The Hawaii County Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs advanced five mayoral nominations to the full council and approved a $25,000 agreement with the University of Hawaiʻi on April 15 during a meeting at the West Hawaii Civic Center.

The committee voted to forward mayoral nominees for seats on the Leeward Planning Commission, the Board of Ethics, the Cultural Resources Commission, the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC), and the Real Property Tax Board of Review. Members also voted to authorize county funds to supplement GoFarm Hawaii, a University of Hawaiʻi program that trains beginning farmers.

The mayor’s nominees drew questions about local experience and priorities for each commission. Micah Alameda, executive assistant to the mayor, introduced the slate and provided biographical details for each nominee. Council members asked nominees about how they would balance competing interests — from community access and cultural protections to housing and land-use planning — before voting to forward the nominations to the full council with favorable recommendations.

Alexandria "Lexi" Ayers was nominated to the Leeward Planning Commission to represent South Kona, replacing Barbara DeFranco, for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2029. Ayers, who told the committee she grew up in South Kona and plans to remain there, said the decisions made by planning bodies “may not affect us right now, but it is going to affect my children, your children, our grandchildren.” Council Member Inaba moved to close the file and forward the nomination with a favorable recommendation; Council Member Eustace seconded. The committee recorded nine votes in favor.

David F. Bruno was nominated to the Hawaii County Board of Ethics to replace Denise Nakanishi for a term expiring Dec. 31, 2029. Bruno, a practicing attorney who described a long family history on Hawaii Island and said he would recuse himself from matters involving close personal connections, disclosed that his wife, Kendra Bruno, is counsel aide to Council Member James Eustace. Council members praised his legal background and experience; Council Member Inaba moved to forward the nomination with a favorable recommendation, seconded by Council Member Eustace. The committee voted 8–0 in favor with one member excused.

Darde M. Gamayo was nominated to the Cultural Resources Commission to replace Natalie Kurashima (term to Dec. 31, 2029). Gamayo described long family ties to Waipio Valley and said protecting unmarked graves, heiāo and other cultural sites motivated her to seek the seat. She told the committee she and community partners have discussed creating an overlay or zoning protocol to protect culturally significant areas. Council members expressed support; the nomination passed 9–0 on the committee.

Maya K. Godoni (also spelled in testimony as "Gudoni") was nominated to the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission to replace Cromwell Oplunkett for the remainder of a term ending Dec. 31, 2025. Godoni described her work in watershed management and conservation and said watershed stewardship requires systems-level thinking. Gail Bern Baber, testifying remotely, urged the committee to confirm Godoni and said, “She’s an excellent choice.” The committee voted 8–0 to forward the nomination with a favorable recommendation with one council member excused.

Kim L. Lin was nominated to the Real Property Tax Board of Review; the nominee was not present at the committee meeting and will appear before full council. The committee voted 9–0 to forward that nomination with a favorable recommendation.

On the funding item, the committee approved Resolution 121-25 authorizing the mayor to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the University of Hawaiʻi Office of Research Services and to provide $25,000 from the county Department of Research and Development to support GoFarm Hawaii. Deputy Director Dennis Lynn said the GoFarm program trains beginning farmers in classroom instruction, on-farm technical skills and business planning; he told the committee the program "takes somewhere between 20 to 25 farmers per cohort per year" and that since 2012 the program has graduated over 250 participants. The committee voted 9–0 to forward the resolution with a favorable recommendation to the full council.

Votes at a glance

- Communication 2-26 (Alexandria "Lexi" Ayers) — Leeward Planning Commission nomination; motion to close file and forward with favorable recommendation (mover: Council Member Inaba; second: Council Member Eustace); committee vote: 9–0; term to expire 12/31/2029. - Communication 2-27 (David F. Bruno) — Board of Ethics nomination; motion to close file and forward with favorable recommendation (mover: Council Member Inaba; second: Council Member Eustace); committee vote: 8–0 (one excused); term to expire 12/31/2029. Bruno disclosed a household connection to a council aide and said he would recuse himself where appropriate. - Communication 2-28 (Darde M. Gamayo) — Cultural Resources Commission nomination; motion to close file and forward with favorable recommendation (mover: Council Member Kimball; second: Council Member Eustace); committee vote: 9–0; term to expire 12/31/2029. - Communication 2-29 (Maya K. Godoni) — Public Access/Open Space/Natural Resources Preservation Commission nomination; motion to close file and forward with favorable recommendation (mover: Council Member Inaba; second: Council Member Eustace); committee vote: 8–0 (one excused); term to expire 12/31/2025. - Communication 2-30 (Kim L. Lin) — Real Property Tax Board of Review nomination; motion to close file and forward with favorable recommendation (mover: Council Member Inaba; second: Council Member Galimba); committee vote: 9–0. Nominee absent; expected to appear at full council on May 7 in Hilo. - Resolution 121-25 — Authorize mayor to enter agreement with University of Hawaiʻi Office of Research Services for GoFarm Hawaii; $25,000 from Department of Research and Development; motion to forward with favorable recommendation (mover: Council Member Inaba; second: Council Member Villegas); committee vote: 9–0.

What the committee discussed and directed

Committee members questioned nominees about balancing community access, cultural protections, affordable housing and planning documents such as community development plans and the county zoning code (Chapter 25). Several members encouraged nominees to pursue continuing education on native Hawaiian law and to work closely with the planning department and stewardship organizations. No substantive changes to county code or new county policy were adopted at the meeting; the committee’s actions were limited to forwarding nominations and recommending the GoFarm agreement for full council approval.

Background and next steps

The county will send the committee’s favorable recommendations to the full Hawaii County Council for confirmation. The GoFarm funding requires an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the University of Hawaiʻi Office of Research Services; if approved at full council the $25,000 will supplement GoFarm Hawaii’s training cohorts in East Hawaii.

Ending note

Committee Chair Jen Kaguada adjourned the meeting at 10:42 a.m. The committee indicated its May meetings will return to Kona after a set of budget hearings in Hilo.