Votes at a glance: Hawaii County Council approves multiple budget transfers, grants and ordinances including rezoning and land purchase steps

The Hawaii County Council on April 2 approved a cluster of bills, resolutions and budget transfers across public‑safety, land use, parks and community programs. The full meeting record shows votes on intergovernmental cooperation (Resolution 74, adopted as amended), two zoning and map changes, an authorization to begin negotiations to buy an 81.19‑acre parcel, and more than a dozen contingency relief grants for community events and nonprofit programs.

Why it matters: These votes authorize short‑term spending, grant awards and land‑use changes that affect community programs, parks, and planning. They also record the council’s position on cooperative agreements with federal law‑enforcement partners (Resolution 74), which generated extended public comment and debate.

Votes at a glance (item — outcome — key details):

- Resolution 74‑25 — Approved (adopted as amended). Council authorized the mayor and HPD to continue intergovernmental agreements and task‑force cooperation with federal partners, with an amendment clarifying that the MOUs do not authorize county enforcement of administrative immigration violations and requiring council review of substantive changes. (See separate coverage for extended debate.)

- Bill 30 (Zoning change at Waikaea / 900 Manono St.) — Approved at second and final reading. The council rezoned a 19,500‑square‑foot parcel in South Hilo from single‑family residential to neighborhood commercial to allow conversion of a dwelling to an accounting office; an amendment removed a DOT review condition because the roadway involved is county owned. Motion moved by Councilmember Kimball; amendment moved by Councilmember Kaguata; final vote recorded in the minutes.

- Bill 28 (Old Mauna Loa Highway — commercial bicycle tours prohibition) — Approved at second and final reading. The council adopted a local traffic restriction prohibiting commercial bicycle tours on a segment of Old Mauna Loa Highway in Honokaʻa. (Moved by Councilmember Kimball.)

- Resolution 95‑25 (land acquisition negotiations for Kapainui parcels) — Approved. The council authorized the director of finance to negotiate acquisition of approximately 81.19 acres in the Hāmākua coast area for preservation and public access; the parcel was identified as a priority by the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. (Moved by Councilmember Kimball.)

- Resolution 96‑25 (5‑year lease for midsize trucks, Parks & Rec) — Approved. The council authorized multi‑year leases for nine midsize 4x4 trucks for Parks & Recreation vehicle needs. (Moved by Councilmember Connolly Kleinfelder.)

- Resolution 103‑25 (grant to arts center for traffic‑safety fair) — Approved. Transfer of $2,500 from contingency relief to support a local traffic safety fair. (Moved by Vice Chair Onishi.)

- Resolution 107‑25 (grant to Hamakua Harvest for tax‑classification education) — Approved. A $10,000 contingency transfer to support community education about agricultural tax classifications; staff confirmed materials will be coordinated with the Real Property Tax Division. (Moved by Councilmember Kimball.)

- Resolution 110‑25 (grant to D.A.R.E. for Dare Day) — Approved. $2,000 grant authorization to support a D.A.R.E. celebration in East Hawaii. (Moved by Councilmember Kaguada.)

- Resolution 111‑25 (purchase goals/scoreboards for Hawaii International Futsal Cup) — Approved. Transfer of $4,300 to purchase equipment for an international futsal tournament; organizers said the event draws teams and spectators and benefits visitor‑economy spending. (Moved by Vice Chair Onishi.)

- Resolution 112‑25 (Aloha Aina grant to Paʻahǵna Oa Fishing Association) — Approved. (Moved by Councilmember Kimball.)

- Resolution 113‑25 (Parks & Rec summer fund programs) — Approved. Transfer to support Parks & Recreation summer programming and equipment. (Moved by Councilmember Kimball.)

- Resolution 114‑25 (grant to Hamakua Health Center for community festival) — Approved. (Moved by Councilmember Kimball.)

- Resolution 115‑25 (grant to Aloha Animal Alliance for community‑cat pilot) — Approved. $20,000 transferred from contingency relief to support a pilot cat‑management program (TNR and caretaker training) focused on a peninsula and park area; proponents said the funds will finance tracking software, caretaker certification and initial field operations. (Moved by Councilmember Kimball.)

- Resolution 116‑25 (Keiki ID equipment grant for East Hawaii policing) — Approved. $1,509 approved to buy keiki ID equipment to avoid long drives for equipment borrowing. (Moved by Councilmember Galimba.)

- Resolution 117‑25 (grant for Okaukaʻu Independence Day event) — Approved. (Moved by Councilmember Galimba.)

- Resolution 118‑25 (grant to Kona Historical Society — beekeeping video) — Approved. (Moved by Vice Chair Onishi.)

- Resolution 119‑25 (grant to Merry Monarch Festival) — Approved. (Moved by Councilmember Connolly Kleinfelder.)

- Bill 35 (first reading) — Approved to pass first reading. Appropriates $7,100 in a state substance‑abuse prevention coordination grant account to the operating budget. (Introduced by Councilmember Connolly Kleinfelder by request.)

What to watch next: Several of the contingency relief grants will be followed by staff review and event reporting. The land‑acquisition authorization (Resolution 95‑25) starts a negotiation process; no final sale was approved at this meeting. The amended Resolution 74 will require HPD and the mayor to return to council for substantive changes to the MOUs.