Committee forms permitted interaction group to review FY2026–27 nonprofit grants

The Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions in Hilo voted to create a permitted interaction (ad hoc) group to review applications and develop recommendations for fiscal year 2026–27 nonprofit Grants-in-Aid (GIA). Councilmember Inaba moved the motion, which the committee approved by recorded voice vote.

The request (Communication 752, submitted by Councilmember Heather L. Kimball) asks the committee to form a small permitted-interaction group to evaluate applications the finance director deems eligible and to produce recommendations for award decisions. Councilmember Inaba described the item as the committee’s annual process for establishing the group and volunteered to serve. Another councilmember volunteered as well and said they had found the prior-year review process informative for understanding local nonprofits’ needs.

Why it matters: the permitted interaction group is the committee’s working body that performs the detailed review of grant applications, scores proposals, and brings recommendations back to the full committee or council. How the ad hoc is composed and the criteria it uses can shape which local nonprofits receive county funding.

Procedure and timing: after forming the permitted interaction group, the committee approved a separate motion (mover: Councilmember Woodhouse; second: Vice Chair Onishi) to postpone further action on Communication 752 to the call of the chair. Chair Heather Kimball then passed the chairmanship to Vice Chair Onishi and recused herself from the following two agenda items.

What’s next: the committee did not take final awards action at this meeting; the ad hoc group will review applications and return recommendations at a later date or when called by the chair. No public testimony was received at today’s session on this item.