Honolulu committee reports out authorization to settle three lawsuits after executive session

The Chair of the Committee on International Legal Affairs reported out recommendations to authorize settlements in three lawsuits against the City and County of Honolulu following an executive session with city attorneys.

The committee met remotely under Hawaii Revised Statutes section 92-3.7 and convened a closed meeting under HRS sections 92-4 and 92-5(a)(4) to consult with counsel on "questions and issues pertaining to the powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and or liabilities of the city, the council, and its committees," the Chair said. The items read from the agenda were Marquez v. Yonayama; Kawahara v. City and County of Honolulu; and Hayslip v. City and County of Honolulu.

After reconvening in public, the Chair recommended that the committee "report out for adoption" the requests to authorize settlement in each of the three cases. The Chair asked if there was any discussion, objection, or reservation; none were raised on any item. The public record contains no roll-call votes or tally in the transcript and no monetary settlement terms or other settlement details were disclosed during the public portion.

No members of the public registered to testify in person or remotely on the agenda items, and the Chair reiterated that oral testimony was permitted in either English or Hawaiian under the Hawaii State Constitution and HRS. The meeting minutes and agenda cited HRS section 92-3.7 for remote meeting procedures and HRS sections 92-4 and 92-5(a)(4) as the legal bases for the executive session.

The committee adjourned after the Chair reported the recommendations. The transcript does not record subsequent formal votes, dollar amounts, or the next procedural steps; those details, if any, were not specified in the public record provided.