Hawaii County council committee postpones vote on Kailua Village paid-parking ordinance after broad debate

The Hawaii County Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit on March 17 heard vocal opposition from property managers and parking operators and then voted to postpone consideration of Bill 132 to May 19, 2026.

Supporters of the bill, led by Councilmember Villegas, said the ordinance is intended to curb what they called predatory paid-parking practices in Kailua Village and to protect the Kailua Village Business Improvement District’s small businesses and visitor access. Villegas told the committee she was open to amendments on hourly rates and free-hour allowances and flagged a separate, forthcoming countywide measure to prohibit new paid parking lots with limited exemptions.

The bill’s sponsor read into the record that Bill 132 would add an article to Chapter 6 of the Hawaii County Code to regulate paid parking facilities and set maximum rates for private parking facilities in Kailua Village. The clerk noted the bill had been introduced previously and that a motion recommending first reading had been on the floor.

Several members of the public and industry testified against the proposal. Manuel Martinez, a property manager with SVN Go Commercial representing small property owners in the village, said, “As written, it places the burden almost entirely on small land owners while large hotels and resorts remain exempt.” He urged the council to distribute responsibility more broadly, including evaluation of county-controlled lots.

Tyler Saines, testifying by Zoom as a Kona parking manager, said private operators implemented managed parking to ensure customer turnover and avoid long-term storage of vehicles. “Managed parking has restored access for customers and driven a 19% year‑over‑year growth with local visits to the village,” Saines said, and he warned that removing operator revenue without alternative funding would shift costs to customers.

Committee members pressed planning and building staff on the history and permitting status of several private lots in the Kailua Village Special Management Area (SMA). Planning Director Jeff Darrow said staff were compiling background reports on each parcel, including whether SMA review, sign permits or other approvals had been obtained, and that the review was nearly complete. Acting building chief Aaron Spielman said his division had not yet reviewed the bill and noted that off‑street parking requirements derive from zoning rules (Chapter 25) while signage is handled under building and sign code provisions.

A central point of debate was enforcement and administrative responsibility. Public Works Director Wes Segawa said the bill appeared to assign administration to DPW but cautioned that the department lacked enforcement capacity on the West Hawaii side: DPW currently has one parking-control officer based in Hilo. Segawa told the committee DPW was preparing a bid to expand the Triangle Lot by roughly 23 stalls and was searching for other sites to add municipal parking in Kailua Kona, but members and staff discussed other options including contracting third‑party towing or coordinating with police and environmental management for enforcement.

Given outstanding questions on jurisdiction, staffing and sign-permit compliance, Councilmember Villegas moved to postpone the matter to the committee’s May 19 meeting in Hilo; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote (eight ayes; Councilmember Inaba absent). The clerk recorded the motion as carried.

The postponement gives the council time to review the planning department’s parcel reports, continue coordination with DPW and building/code staff about enforcement responsibilities, and consider companion legislation that would alter the scope of county regulation of paid parking. The committee adjourned at 12:57 p.m.