Committee considers nomination of Alan Okamoto to Hawaii County Liquor Commission; motion made to recommend confirmation

On March 17, 2026, the Hawaii County Committee on Government Operations and External Affairs met in Hilo and West Hawaii chambers to consider Communication 773, a nomination from the mayor's office for Alan Okamoto to serve on the Hawaii County Liquor Commission.

Vice Chair Connolly Kleinfeld called the meeting to order at 9:01 a.m. and the clerk read Communication 773, which the record shows was dated Feb. 27, 2026, and nominates Alan Okamoto for council review and confirmation. The clerk reported there was no public testimony.

A motion was made "to close file in communication 773 and for the nomination of Alan K. Okamoto to the council with a favorable recommendation," moved by Councilmember Inaba and seconded by Councilmember Eustace. The transcript excerpt ends before a recorded vote or formal outcome is shown.

Michael Alameda, executive assistant in the mayor's office, introduced the nomination. "My name is Michael Alameda, executive assistant, office of the mayor," he said, and noted that "if confirmed, Mister Okamoto will serve a term to expire on 12/31/2030." Alameda also said Okamoto had been nominated nine months earlier to fill a vacancy and that confirmation would allow him to serve a new five-year term.

The committee discussion in the provided transcript focuses on the nomination and the procedural motion to forward it with a favorable recommendation. The excerpt does not record a committee vote or further debate on the nominee; next steps implied by the motion would be transmittal to the full county council for final confirmation, but the transcript does not show that action taking place within the excerpt provided.

The committee continued with its agenda after the nomination was introduced; the transcript ends before a recorded committee decision on Communication 773.