Hawaii County committee establishes ad hoc panel to review Chapter 11 (housing) of county code

The Hawaii County Council’s policy committee on planning, land use and economic development on Jan. 7 established an ad hoc committee to develop recommendations for revisions to Chapter 11 of the Hawaii County Code, the section of the code titled “Housing.”

Chair Ashley L. Kirkowitz said the request appears as Communication 63, dated Dec. 18, 2024, and cited council rule number 7 and section 92-2.5 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes as the procedural authority for forming the group. Kirkowitz said the ad hoc will work to “rewrite chapter 11 and dive a little bit deeper into some of the areas that we just did not have time for last year.”

Kirkowitz said an earlier ad hoc convened the previous year produced findings and a report (listed in the meeting as Communication 948.2) that identified ways to incentivize more affordable housing. She proposed continuing that work with a new ad hoc and asked members for verbal confirmations to serve. Council member Holaka Inaba, Council member Jennifer Kogiwada, and Council member James Eustice each confirmed willingness to serve; Kirkowitz said she will chair the ad hoc. Kirkowitz also said preliminary meetings with the county’s new housing administrator and deputy indicate the department is willing to continue supporting the effort. Deputy Corporation Counsel Sylvia Won and staff members Annie Bailey and Chelsea Johnson were also named during the discussion.

The committee took one recorded procedural action on the item: a motion to postpone Communication 63 to the call of the chair, moved by Council member Holaka Inaba and seconded by Council member Fresh Onishi. The chair announced, “Motion carries with 8 aye votes. Council member Kimball is excused.” The transcript shows no public testimony was received and records the meeting opening at 5:49 p.m. and adjournment at 5:53 p.m.

Kirkowitz said the ad hoc will meet for a time frame of seven months and is expected to produce a report for the committee and full council to deliberate on; the committee did not set specific meeting dates or a final report date at the Jan. 7 session.

The discussion focused on continuing previously developed recommendations and on staff support for a renewed drafting process; no ordinance or final amendment to Chapter 11 was adopted at the meeting.