Hawaii County Council approves series of nominations, community grants and budget items

The Hawaii County Council voted on a range of nominations, resolutions and budget measures at its March 7, 2025 meeting, approving a package of confirmations and community funding and advancing several bills to later steps in the legislative process.

The council confirmed multiple mayoral nominations and approved several small grants for community events and programs, moved forward with budget adjustments tied to affordable housing and approved both first- and second-reading measures. A few items drew extended discussion and were either postponed or failed on a roll call vote.

Among the confirmed appointments were Philip Ipiayona to the Board of Water Supply, Brian Cushni to the Fire Commission, Daniel Thomas to the Merit Appeals Board and Bruce Heidenfeld to the Banyan Drive Redevelopment Agency. The council also approved a lease negotiation resolution that would allow Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial Incorporated to develop a veterans center and housing at a Waikia, South Hilo site (Resolution 75-25).

The council approved several small community grant transfers: $5,000 to the Pahoa Lava Zone Museum for the Papaholua project (Resolution 84-25); $2,500 to the Lions Club of Kona for the Kona Waena High School Leo Club (Resolution 85-25); $5,000 to Bird n B Hawaii Animal Sanctuary for World Bee Day (Resolution 86-25); $10,500 to support a cultural entrepreneur hub in Pahoa (Resolution 87-25); $9,000 to the Alliance Club of Kona for the Kupuna Hula Festival (Resolution 89-25); $5,000 for an Easter Fun Day in the Kaʻū district (Resolution 90-25); and $5,000 for a Prince Kūhiō celebration (Resolution 91-25). The council approved a multi-year lease for a multifunction copier for the Department of Information Technology (Resolution 93-25).

On budget and housing measures, the council approved Resolution 94-25, which advances $451,221 from county housing accounts to repay federal HOME funds that could not be used because two self-help housing projects completed after a federal deadline. The related ordinance adjustment (Bill 33) was approved on first reading.

The council advanced several ordinance measures: Bill 10 (first reading) — authorizing a specific area in Kona for special activity permits for authorized commercial activities — passed at first reading; Bill 27 (first reading) — to codify use of a portion of the general excise and use tax surcharge for housing infrastructure costs — passed at first reading; and Bill 16 (second and final reading) — a rezoning and time-extension tied to the Hawaiʻi Island Agricultural Innovation Park and Food Systems campus — passed second and final reading. Smaller operating-budget amendments (Bills 25 and 26) also passed at second and final reading.

Several measures did not pass or were postponed. Bill 23 (amending the short-term commercial agricultural use dedication program to extend qualifying terms from three years to five) failed on a roll call. Bill 28 (a ban on commercial bicycle tours on a segment of Old Mauna Loa Highway) was postponed to the March 19 council meeting for additional review, including input from the State Department of Transportation and follow-up on enforcement provisions.

Votes at a glance (items acted on March 7): - Confirmation: Philip Ipiayona, Board of Water Supply — motion to close file and confirm; recorded voice vote; “Motion carries 7 ayes” (excused members noted in record). - Confirmation: Brian Cushni, Fire Commission — motion to close file and confirm; motion carries (record: 7 ayes with excusals noted). - Confirmation: Daniel Thomas, Merit Appeals Board — motion to close file and confirm; motion carries (7 ayes recorded). - Nomination: Chris Toofili, Leeward Planning Commission — motion to close file and confirm; roll call: 4 in favor, 3 opposed, 2 absent; motion fails. - Confirmation: Bruce Heidenfeld, Banyan Drive Redevelopment Agency — motion to close file and confirm; motion carries (7 ayes recorded). - Resolution 75-25 — authorize lease negotiations for two Waikia parcels to Hawaii Island Veterans Memorial Inc. for a veteran center and housing; motion approved (7 ayes recorded). - Resolution 76-25 — create one custodian/groundskeeper position for the Police Department’s new communications center; motion approved (7 ayes recorded). - Resolution 84-25 — $5,000 to Pahoa Lava Zone Museum (Papaholua project); motion approved (7 ayes recorded). - Resolution 85-25 — $2,500 to Lions Club of Kona for Leo Club outreach; motion approved (7 ayes recorded). - Resolution 86-25 — $5,000 to Bird n B Hawaii (World Bee Day); motion approved (7 ayes recorded). - Resolution 87-25 — $10,500 to Pahoa cultural entrepreneur hub; motion approved (7 ayes recorded). - Resolution 88-25 — $2,005 to DARE Hawaii for DARE Day (initial motion to table failed; final vote to adopt passed by roll call — recorded as adopted). - Resolution 89-25 — $9,000 to Alliance Club of Kona for Kupuna Hula Festival; motion approved (recorded vote noted in minutes). - Resolution 90-25 — $5,000 for Kaʻū Easter Fun Day; motion approved (recorded vote noted in minutes). - Resolution 91-25 — $5,000 to Hana Dalima Lahui o Kou for Prince Kūhiō celebration; motion approved (recorded vote noted in minutes). - Resolution 93-25 — authorize payment for a 5-year lease of a multifunction copy machine for Department of IT; motion approved (recorded vote noted in minutes). - Resolution 94-25 — transfer $451,221 to HOME program income repayment to return funds to the state; motion approved (8 ayes, 1 excused recorded). - Bill 10 (Draft 2) — amend county code to allow special activity permits in a defined area of Kona; passed first reading (8 ayes, 1 excused). - Bill 23 (Draft 2) — increase term for short-term commercial agricultural use dedication from 3 to 5 years; roll call failed (4 in favor, 4 opposed, 1 absent). - Bill 27 — amend county code to include housing infrastructure costs as an authorized use of the general excise and use tax surcharge; passed first reading (8 ayes, 1 excused). - Bill 28 — prohibit commercial bicycle tours on a section of Old Mauna Loa Highway; postponed to March 19, 2025 (motion passed to postpone). - Bill 16 (Draft 2) — rezoning/time-extension at Pono Pono, Hilo for the Hawaiʻi Island Agricultural Innovation Park and Food Systems campus; passed second and final reading (8 ayes, 1 excused). - Bill 25 — operating budget amendment for animal control travel; passed second and final reading (voice vote recorded; motion carries). - Bill 26 — increase federal grants for Housing Choice Emergency Voucher program by $250,000; passed second and final reading (voice vote recorded; motion carries). - Bill 33 — companion budget amendment returning $451,221 to housing production account; passed first reading (8 ayes, 1 excused).

Why this matters: the confirmations fill key openings on several boards and commissions; the small grants target community cultural, educational and safety programming; and the housing-related transfers address a federal compliance obligation that requires repayment and internal accounting changes to keep HOME funds available for future projects.

What’s next: several ordinances approved at first reading (Bill 10, Bill 27, Bill 33) will return for subsequent readings as required. Postponed or failed items — notably Bill 28 and Bill 23 — will require additional review or new motions if introduced again.

Speakers cited in council proceedings included Council member Kimball; Council member Kirkowitz; Council member Eustace; Vice Chair Onishi; Council member Galimba; Council member Kaguewara; Council member Kerkowitz; Council member Kimball; Chair (minutes identify presiding chair); and several administrative staff appearing for departments (Director Ono, Housing Administrator Kehao Acosta).