Hawaii County committee forwards Bill 129 to council after rejecting postponement

The Hawaii County Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit voted to forward Bill 129 to the full County Council with a favorable recommendation after rejecting a motion to postpone the measure.

The bill would amend Hawaii County Code chapter 24, article 10, division 5, section 24-280 (Schedule 28) to change no-parking rules and permit parking at certain portions of Aliʻi Drive fronting Kaluʻu Beach Park. The clerk read the ordinance language at the start of committee consideration and the item drew questions from council members about timing and outreach.

Director Segawa, director of public works, told the committee the administration needed additional time to review the measure and to reach out to the community “so we can formulate our recommendations for this particular bill.” Aaron Takaba, division chief at the traffic division, summarized the technical concern: in the narrow portions of Aliʻi Drive near the park, pedestrians may have to walk in the roadway when cars park too close, and the proposed restrictions target those especially narrow shoulders.

Council member Connie Lee Kleinfelder asked whether the committee could forward the item while the department continued outreach so the measure would not be delayed. A different member moved to postpone the bill to March 17, 2026, to allow more time for community input; the motion was seconded. Council member Kurkowitz opposed postponement, saying due diligence should have been completed before the committee hearing and urging staff to present the engineering basis for the language if questions remained.

The clerk conducted a roll-call on the postponement motion. The clerk recorded that Council member Galimba voted aye; Council member Kaguata, Council member Connie Lee Kleinfelder, Council member Kurkowitz and Council member Kimball voted no; Mister Onishi voted aye; and Chair Hughes voted aye. The clerk reported the tally as three in favor, four opposed, and two absent, and declared the postponement motion failed.

The committee then proceeded with the original motion to forward Bill 129 to the full council with a favorable recommendation; the clerk announced seven in favor. Chair Hughes adjourned the committee at 11:41 a.m.

The bill will move to the full County Council for further readings; staff said they will continue community outreach and can submit recommendations before subsequent readings.