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Hawaii County committee forwards bill to name Waimea parcel La'e La'e Park
Summary
The Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-Being voted 6-0 on April 21, 2026, to forward Bill 148 — which would designate TAPSMAP key 66-001-010 in Waimea as La'e La'e Park and add an alcohol prohibition — to the full council with a favorable recommendation.
The Hawaii County Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-Being voted unanimously April 21 to forward Bill 148 to the full council with a favorable recommendation. The bill would designate a county-owned parcel in West Waimea (TAPSMAP key 66-001-010) as La'e La'e Park and amend the county code to add the site to the parks and recreational facilities schedule and to prohibit alcohol consumption there.
Council member Huestas, who introduced the measure, told the committee the property was formerly state-owned, is now county property and sits near the Waiakea Bridge between the Waimea Transfer Station and the Sandalwood Subdivision. "This is a space that was a state property that is now county property," Huestas said, adding the site could connect to the Waimea Stream Trail and provide recreational facilities away from other parks in the Waimea community.
Huestas said he worked with community members and Kumu Maika Kamoho Ali'i on the name and cited local mo'olelo tying the site to Pu'u La'ilai and legends about the goddess Vau and the god Makuakumana. "We decided in concert with Kumu Maika to name this space as La'e La'e Park," he said, describing the area's cultural significance.
Chair Fresho Nishiki noted there were no public testifiers and called for the committee's vote. The motion to forward the bill to county counsel with a favorable recommendation was moved from the floor and seconded by Miss Kalimba. The committee recorded six ayes and three excused members — Chair Inaba, Mr. Kane Lee Kleinfelder and Miss Veil — and the motion carried.
Under the bill text read into the record, the ordinance would amend Chapter 15, Article 8, Section 15-68.1 and Chapter 14, Article 1, Section 14-1 of the Hawaii County code (2016 edition, as amended) to list the site as a park and to prohibit alcohol consumption at any time in that location. The committee did not take public testimony and did not make any amendments; the measure will next be considered by the full council.
The committee adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
