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Hawaii County oversight committee hears report noting 10 new senior rentals; Council Member Inaba asks auditor to reverify development credits
Summary
The Hawaii County Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee received a quarterly affordable housing report noting the addition of 10 senior rental units in Honokaʻa. Council Member Inaba asked the auditor and corporation counsel to reverify six excess housing credits tied to a Kona project before any rezoning request.
The Hawaii County Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee met in Hilo and reviewed the quarterly affordable housing report covering July 1 through Sept. 30, 2025, transmitted by housing administrator Kehaulani M. Costa and dated Oct. 2, 2025.
Hal Costa, who identified himself as the housing administrator, presented the required report and said there were no significant changes to the county’s housing credits list. "Only one change on this report, which is the addition of 10 additional rental units, developed by Hope Services in Honoka'a at Our Lady of Lords Catholic Church for senior rentals," Costa said.
Council Member Inaba raised a query about the Kona Country Club, saying the project appears to be listed as having received excess housing credits and that she believed six credits were being used by that project. "So I've asked the auditor and I wanna state now if your office and the corporation counsel can reverify that those 6 credits are in fact valid," Inaba said.
The clerk had introduced the communication on the committee agenda and noted the report was submitted pursuant to section 11-19 of the Hawaii County code. The committee discussed the report briefly, with the chair praising Hope Services for the new senior rental units and encouraging additional development.
The committee voted to close the file on communication 35.4. The chair announced the motion was moved by Council Member Inaba and seconded by Council Member Hughes; the vote carried with eight in favor and Council Member Villegas excused.
Next steps: Inaba’s request for the auditor and corporation counsel to reverify the six credits was made on the record; the committee closed the item and did not take additional action at the meeting, leaving any verification work to the auditor and counsel.
(Reported from the Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee meeting in Hilo; the meeting record did not specify a meeting date beyond the report date.)
