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Committee closes file on PONC stewardship recommendations after questions about oversight and inventories
Summary
The committee voted to close file on Communication 864 (PONC stewardship grant recommendations) after department staff said nine applications were received and five advanced; council members pressed staff on allowable expenses, management plans and the need for audits; the motion passed by recorded voice (8 ayes, one absent).
The Hawaii County Committee on Legislative Approvals and Acquisitions voted to close the file on Communication 864, the item presenting 2026 stewardship‑grant recommendations from the Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation (PONC) fund, after department staff answered members’ questions about applicant numbers, allowable costs and stewardship oversight.
Ben Shapiro, the PONC program manager, told the committee the program received nine applications this cycle and advanced five for funding. "We received nine applications this year and moved forward with five of them," Shapiro said. He explained that some recommended awards were lower than requested because transportation costs and similar items are not allowable under the county charter or code; he noted one applicant (Friends of Amy Greenwell) removed a $10,000 line item from its request.
Council members pressed staff on program oversight and long‑term stewardship. Councilmember Onishi asked whether stewardship and maintenance were included in PONC’s charter purpose and pressed for audits and inventories of equipment purchased with stewardship grants before issuing additional funds. Staff said stewardship grants were added to the charter in 2012 and that the department is working on standardized management plans, improved reporting templates and the possibility of conducting an inventory or audit of previously purchased equipment.
The committee took a voice vote and the clerk reported eight ayes; one member (Kaguata) was absent and the motion to close the file carried. The committee did not record amendments to the stewardship recommendations at this meeting. Staff indicated interest in expanding outreach to identify additional stewardship partners for PONC properties that currently lack designated stewards.
