Council committee forwards $6.48 million in Kilauea recovery grants after public testimony

The Hawaii County Finance Committee on Feb. 17 voted to forward Resolution 459-26 to the full council with a favorable recommendation after hearing extensive public testimony from Puna residents and nonprofit leaders.

Resolution 459-26 would authorize $6,478,873 in grant funds under the Kilauea Recovery Grant Program to nonprofit organizations for recovery, mitigation and resilience projects addressing damage from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Councilmember Kirkowitz, who brought the resolution to the committee, said the awards represent the third and final round of the program and are intended to keep resources and decision-making as close to Lower Puna as possible.

Multiple residents and nonprofit leaders described the grants as critical to reopening roads, restoring water systems and supporting local economic recovery. “We’re shovel ready and can now start as soon as Highway 137 is reopened,” Deb Smith said, describing her association’s need to restore more than seven miles of subdivision roads to provide access to about 150 properties.

Other testifiers said the grants support community assets and workforce. “These grants keep recovery dollars circulating within the Puna economy,” Gail Clark said, noting local hiring and contracting by nonprofits. Tim Rowan, president of Malama O‘Puna, said the awards will support infrastructure and economic development projects in communities devastated by the eruption.

Committee members asked staff and the Recovery Office for details about the application and vetting process. Recovery officer Douglas Namley (via Zoom) described a nine-month process that included grant-development workshops and a rigorous rubric-based review; staff said they received roughly $12 million in requests across 45 applications and recommended about $6.48 million in awards.

Councilmember Kirkowitz moved an amendment to the resolution (Communication 718.1) to address cases where recommended organizations did not yet have fiscal sponsorship capacity. Recovery staff said the amendment would allow time to secure fiscal sponsors for four projects totaling about $501,000 so work can begin without delay; the committee approved the amendment by voice vote.

After the amendment was adopted, the committee approved forwarding the measure with a favorable recommendation (voice vote recorded by the clerk as 7 in favor, two absent). The matter will go to the full County Council for final action.

Authorities and clarifications: the resolution implements awards under a program established by county ordinance (2019) and uses a state allocation of $20 million for Lower Puna recovery; staff said the program intentionally targets capital investments and economic recovery and that the grants are not general‑fund monies.

The committee’s action next sends the amended resolution to the full council, where members will consider final approval and any fiscal or programmatic conditions.