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Mayor Alameda stresses balanced approach as Cost of Government Commission is formed
Summary
At the council meeting Mayor C. Kimo Alameda described recruitment challenges and urged careful, impartial selection for the new Cost of Government Commission while council members urged expediting confirmations to meet the commission's tight timeline.
Mayor C. Kimo Alameda told the Hawaii County Council on Feb. 27, 2026 that forming the Cost of Government Commission will require finding committed, impartial volunteers and that the body must weigh fiscal realities when advising on wages and staffing.
Alameda said the administration is submitting nominees but that filling all nine seats will take time: "I could get a quorum, 5 members by the end of May," he said, adding that seating all nine could take until May or June. He said the administration is limited to five nominees per agenda and emphasized diversity and commitment as key selection criteria: nominees must be willing to "commit every month" and be able to assess issues from a neutral standpoint.
Council members pressed for an expedited process. Council member Karkowitz, speaking from Hilo and identifying herself as a former vice chair of a similar commission, urged cooperation with the council chair and clerk's office so the body can be "stood up" within its statutory timeline; she noted a prior charter amendment had changed a commission's timetable and that the work window can be brief.
Members also asked how the commission should balance recommendations on personnel wages with the county's debt obligations. In response to the chair's question about debt servicing, nominee Steven Paval, who will represent Council District 2 if confirmed, said the commission should take a "total consideration of income and expenses": "You have to look at what the debt situation is, what the county's income capacity is and cost," he said, adding that some licensed positions require competitive pay to retain staff.
The council forwarded two nominees for the commission during the session — Steven Paval and Maile Ann Luvai — sending both to council with favorable recommendations. The clerk recorded the votes and the session ended with routine adjournment at 9:49 a.m.
Next steps: the nominees will proceed to the full council for final confirmation; the administration and council leadership said they will coordinate to accelerate the seating process so the commission can begin work within the time allowed.
