Committee advances affordable housing awards and several state/federal grants for safety, housing and community projects

The Hawaii County Council Finance Committee on Jan. 7 forwarded a slate of resolutions and companion budget bills to the full council with favorable recommendations. The items covered affordable-housing development, homelessness-related production funding, public-safety grants for police data and traffic/pedestrian enforcement, a small grant for county sustainability storytelling, and local recreation support.

Key committee actions and outcomes

- Resolution 47-25 (Affordable Housing Production Fund): The committee forwarded the resolution that approves awards and program allocations from the county’s Affordable Housing Production Fund (AHP). The program’s current priorities emphasize “gap” households earning 81%–140% of area median income, homeownership incentives, and new construction/adaptive reuse. The AHP awards include funding for several projects and a request that the county continue supporting production. Vote: forwarded with favorable recommendation (vote recorded in committee: 8 in favor; one excused where noted).

- Bills and grants for public safety and police operations: The committee forwarded several resolutions and companion operating-budget bills to accept federal and state grant awards for Hawaii Police Department (HPD) programs. These included funds to support HPD records improvements through the National Criminal History Improvement Program, traffic and occupant protection enforcement, roadway roadblocks, and pedestrian/bicycle-safety outreach. Several grants include equipment and program costs; HPD told the committee the awards will fund items such as upgraded mobile data terminals, additional radar units, and 12 electric bicycles to deploy for community engagement and enforcement.

- Resolution 30-25 and Bill 3 (USDN storytelling grant): The committee approved acceptance of a $23,750 grant from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network to pilot a train‑the‑trainer, place‑based participatory storytelling program. The Office of Sustainability, Climate, Equity & Resilience said the project will train community-based organizations to gather and share local narratives about climate and sustainability; OHSECR will run an RFP to select community partners.

- Resolution 31-25 and Bill 4 (coffee pest subsidy): The committee forwarded a state grant of $135,000 to offset eligible pesticide costs for coffee growers dealing with coffee berry borer and coffee leaf rust. County staff explained the state program requires producers to submit applications and receipts; the county processes the payments through a manager coordinated with the state program.

- Resolution 45-25 (Roots Advocates for Youth skatepark): The committee forwarded a $50,000 Parks & Recreation grant to Roots Advocates for Youth for phase 3 of the Roots Skatepark at Kamehameha Park in North Kohala. Parks staff said phase 3 (a “bowl” addition) will add about 3,000 square feet of concrete and that prior council contingency funds had been used to buy materials.

How the committee handled the measures

Most measures were presented by department staff and moved without extended debate. Council members asked clarifying questions on specific items — for example, Council Member Kerkwitz asked OHCD about details of the AHP award process and priorities; HPD and traffic‑safety staff described how grant funds will be used to purchase enforcement and engagement equipment; transit staff explained change orders and added equipment on a bus purchase contract; and Real Property Tax staff discussed outreach around code changes for appeals.

Votes at a glance (committee)

- Resolution 47-25 (Affordable Housing Production Fund) — forwarded with favorable recommendation (committee recorded vote: 8 in favor; one excused). - Bill 14 (companion appropriation for Housing Trust / AHP-related federal funds) — forwarded with favorable recommendation (committee recorded vote: 7 in favor; two excused). - Resolution 32-25 and Bill 5 (National Criminal History Improvement Program / HPD records) — forwarded with favorable recommendation. - Bills 6, 7, 8, 9, 13 (HPD traffic, roadblock, occupant protection, STEP grants) — forwarded with favorable recommendations; committee discussed equipment purchases (MDTs, radar units, and bikes) and outreach components. - Resolution 30-25 and Bill 3 (USDN storytelling grant, $23,750) — forwarded with favorable recommendation. - Resolution 31-25 and Bill 4 (state coffee pesticide subsidy, $135,000) — forwarded with favorable recommendation. - Resolution 45-25 (Roots Skatepark phase 3, $50,000) — forwarded with favorable recommendation.

What council members asked for and next steps

Council members sought further detail in several areas: for AHP, they asked for clarification on which applicants were returning versus new and how priority criteria were applied; for HPD grants, members asked for planned deployment locations and how equipment (like electric bikes) will be used for community engagement; and for transportation-related change orders, members requested confirmation that added vehicle features will be standardized in future procurements.

All measures forwarded from the Finance Committee will be considered by the full council at upcoming meetings; OHCD, Parks, HPD and other departments agreed to provide requested supplemental materials ahead of the council votes.