County Council - Regular Meeting

Thank you.

Yeah. All right, you ready? Morning, everyone. Welcome to today's county council meeting. Today's August 26th. Before we get started with the official agenda, we have a certificate presentation for a certificate sponsored by council members Holland and Kualii. Mr. Kualii is en route. He's got some traffic issues. So with that, Ms. Holland.

Thank you so much, Chair. I am presenting this certificate along with our mayor's team. So we'll invite Melania. And Melania, you can open the certificate. Proclamation.

Aloha nalani kawaii bruin from the Office of Economic Development on behalf of Mayor Kawakami and the administration. And today, I'm here to get out our Kleenex boxes and present a proclamation honoring Hakele, the last known wild akikiki here on Kauai. So I'm just going to read through this so you can hear the history of this and understand what it's all about. Whereas the Ake Kiki is a small, endemic honey creeper found only on the island of Kauai, and its survival is deeply connected to the health and vitality of Kauai's native mountain forests. And whereas Pakele believed to have hatched in 2019, became a remarkable member of her species, and was first documented by conservation biologists in 2020 while attending to a nest, beginning a lifetime of extraordinary reproductive efforts. And whereas throughout her life, Pakele demonstrated an exceptional instinct to sustain her species with 13 documented nesting attempts and six young successfully fledged from three nests in a single year, making her an important contributor to the future of the Akekeke. And whereas, as avian malaria and other threats contributed to the devastating decline of the Akikiki population, Pakele endured in the forests of Kauai long after other wild birds of her kind had disappeared. And her last known sighting on August 29, 2025, marked the end of an extraordinary chapter in the story of the wild Akikiki. And Whereas Kelly's legacy continues through her offspring, who are part of a conservation breeding program that offers hope for the eventual return of the Akikiki to Kauai's native forests. And the County of Kauai recognizes the dedication of the Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project, Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nature Conservancy, American Bird Conservancy, and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in working to protect and recover this treasured species. Now therefore, Derek S.K. Kawakami, Mayor, County of Kauai, does hereby honor the life of Pakele, the last known wild Akekeke, and recognizes her as a symbol of perseverance, resilience, and hope for the future of her species and the native forests of Kauai.

Thank you, Nalani. If we can get Justin and some of our bird folks up. I'll just continue a little bit honoring. It's very similar with the certificate here that we have, but the Kauai County Council also proudly honors Pakele's extraordinary life. And Justin, I know you have, it's upside down, but you have a picture of her. It's appropriate because that's how she was. Okay. Yeah, so thank you so much for being here. I just want to give you an opportunity to just speak a little bit about this and your work to try to save this species and to follow our last individual around. So I'll take it away, Justin.

Aloha. Thank you all so much for this. Listening to the mayor's proclamation just now really overwhelmed me. So just give me a moment. These birds are, it's so strange to be here right now speaking to all of you about this so much of the time. We are, myself and the other field biologists, we are kind of alone in the mountains in their forests interacting with them and just seeing their stories and their lives unfold slowly. And it's very, very separate from the rest of the human world, as it were. And so it's what I'm so honored to be part of this. And it's just so wonderful to be able to share the story of Pakele and the other akikiki. And so I do want to just say that this is, Marking this date, August 29, 2025, last year, is like the last day, kind of just a celebration of life for her. There's three people, Brendan Wang, Graham Taliber, and Kylie Omokawa, just spent an afternoon, went to her territory. It's deep in the Alakai. They spent the afternoon just in her territory, wandering around. She showed up on and off, here and there, doing her own thing. One of the most remarkable things about that day was that nothing remarkable happened at all. It was exactly like all of the other times that we've spent with her. And she just foraged through her trees. She called. She did her thing. She wandered up and down the valley. And so many field biologists got to know, of all of the yakikiki that we knew over the years, she was really one that just was near camp. And her territory is incredibly beautiful. high up in the watershed on the edge of the Wainiha. It's really, really a beautiful place. And just being able to, I'm sorry, all of my thoughts have gone out of me right now. But just, yeah, but she was a special bird. And just from the moment that we met her, like, all of the other akikiki do their normal thing. They breed when they can. They're always together. But she just had a singular focus on breeding, which was really just, I think, beautiful for us as we think how hard it has been for this species and watching the threats that they face and watching their population decline. And that just her and her alone really was like, I will breed. I will save the species. I will do this. And then all of us, so many people have worked really hard to save them. But really, it always felt like she was doing the most, more than anybody else out there to save her species. And just that in general, akikiki are wonderful and that they're going to be missed. And they were just, thank you very, very much.

Anybody who wants to say anything? We spoke about this last month so deeply and how much appreciate all the people who have dedicated their lives and the kind of economic support that's gone into keeping the birds alive. And I'm just going to still continue to hope that there's some that are out there that we've missed, that we're going to have a blessing and a surprise as time comes. But I thank all of you, all of you. And thank you for bringing the people from New Zealand and all the different efforts that have gone underway. And so, yeah, it's heartbreaking.

I had a question, actually. First of all, thanks for being here and bringing this forward. So that species is gone, as far as you know?

There's still several dozen, I believe, in the captive breeding flocks on Maui and on Hawaii Island. But yeah, in the forest here, she was the last known individual that was seen. And the crews have continued to work in all of the areas where they used to be over the last decade. And they just continue day after day to not see any more. So there could be more, absolutely. But this was just the last known individual. And we've watched dozens and dozens of other territories disappear over the years. And this was the last one.

Well, thank you. Thank you for your efforts.

All of you, thank you for your efforts.

Is there anyone else that wanted to speak? If not, yeah, we'll take a short recess and get a photo.

It will be shortly, huh? Yeah.

Let's get started So madam clerk can you read the notice for bill number 3,000 please I

Notice is hereby given that the Kauai County Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 8.30 a.m. or soon thereafter in the Council Chambers, 4396 Rice Street, Suite 201 in Historic County Building in Lihue. On the following, Bill No. 3000, a bill for an ordinance approving a collective bargaining agreement for Bargaining Unit 15 between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2029. This bill proposes to approve the cost items in the collective bargaining agreement For the Hawaii Government Employees Association Bargaining Unit 15, this is for ocean safety officers. for the period July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2029, based on an arbitrated... Motion carried.

Next item, please.

Chair, next item is on page two, the minutes of the following meetings of the council, the August 12th, 2026 council meeting, and the August 12th, 2026 public hearing regarding Bill No. 2998 and Bill No. 2999. Move to approve. Second.

Moved and seconded. Any discussion of public testimony? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried. Next item, please.

Next item is communications C2026-203, communication from the planning director requesting council approval to apply for, receive, and expend funds from the Hawaii State Department of Transportation in the amount of $500,000 to continue supporting the County of Kauai Safe Routes to School coordinator position, contributing towards continued funding for a period of five years.

Move to approve.

Second.

Move to second. Any discussion of public testimony?

I just want to just confirm, this is like $100,000 a year for five years, reoccurring grant.

It's not a reoccurring. It's applying for a new grant. The position has been funded from the same grant source for the last five years. But it's not recurring. It's a new.

But it's basically the same thing that we've done the whole time.

Anybody in the audience wishes to testify? Seeing none, the motion is to approve. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried.

Next item, please. C2026-204, communication from the Executive on Aging requesting Council approval to receive and expend federal funds in the amount of $129,802 and to indemnify the State Executive Office on Aging for the provision of rural health services Transformation Program Services.

Move to approve. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion or public testimony? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried. Next item, please.

C2026.205, communication from the fire chief requesting council approval to accept a donation of $1,000. on the altering vehicle valued at $10,061.25 from the Kauai Lifeguard Association to be used at the Hyuna Beach Park Tower to support operational readiness and emergency response.

Move to approve with a thank you letter to the Kauai Lifeguard Association.

Second.

Moved and seconded. Any discussion or public testimony?

I just want to, again, give gratitude.

With that, I will suspend the rules. Yeah, just to clarify.

Tommy Pasarello. Just to clarify, what's this vehicle used for? And is this the best way of getting a vehicle that we, quote, need? Because I see so many county vehicles sitting unused. So I don't mind them. If we're going to put a nice vehicle out there, let's put a recruiting sign on it for our lifeguards and public safety people. Let's wrap it. Does that make sense? It does. Use it for marketing if it's a used vehicle. We have a bunch of used vehicles sitting out in that parking lot that's hardly used. So let's step up the game and use it for recruiting lifeguards, also for getting the word out about our junior lifeguard program. We could probably get it done for free. Just a quick note.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else? If not, I'll call a meeting back to order. And just to answer the question, this is an all-terrain vehicle, a four-wheeler. that the lifeguards used to traverse the sand in a very quick manner rather than running. So it is brand new, and it is being donated by the Kauai Lifeguard Association. So this cost the county no money.

I'm just going to express gratitude to the Kauai Lifeguard Association and acknowledge that the biggest donors are the visitor industry. So basically the visitors are buying, visitors and others, but largely the visitor industry buys that mule or ATV to help the lifeguards do a more effective job. And so it's great. And we need, you know, they ride pretty hard and they're It goes to all the elements, so we need to replace them. And very grateful for the gift.

Thank you. Anyone else? Just one more thing. So I know I experienced it at KA, but at high end, I'm guessing it's the same. Basically, the beach is so long and far, and it goes around corners and stuff, that from the tower alone, they cannot necessarily see the entire beach that they're trying to make more safe. So from time to time, they just drive along the coast and go further away from the tower to do checks and make sure everybody's being safe and whatnot. So they really needed to cover more ground.

Thank you. Anyone else? If not, I'll just say thank you to Kauai Lifeguard Association, because I think over all the years, over a million dollars worth Assets have been donated, trucks and ATVs and powers. Yeah, so much mahalo to Kauai Lifeguard Association, and again, to our lifeguards for being out there. I cannot imagine operating without these ATVs. It's like having a cop without a car, walking the beat. It's the same thing. But it's always sweeter when someone else pays for it. So thank you, guys. With that, the motion is to approve with a thank you letter. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried.

Next item, please. Next item is C2026-206, communication from the Director of Finance requesting Council approval of the indemnification and the unspecified future obligation clauses contained in the TransUnion terms and conditions to be used for fraud prevention of the real property tax relief programs.

Move to approve. Second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion or public testimony? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried. Next item, please.

Chair, next item is on page three, committee reports from your committee on planning, CRPL2026-02. Move to approve.

Second. Move to second it. Any discussion or public testimony? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried. Next item, please.

Excuse me, Chair. I just want to flag that the hoike is not live.

The what?

The hoike is not live.

Okay. It's is it live on our website it is okay From your committee on finance and economic development see our FED to 0 to 6.7 T Let's go through second move that second in any discussion of public testimony Seeing none all in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carried next item please. I

Next item is a bill for second reading, bill number 2999, a bill for an ordinance amending Chapter 6, Coy County Code 1987 as amended, relating to establishing the Special Duty Police Officer Program fee account.

Move to approve. Second. Any discussion of public testimony? Seeing none, roll call.

Council Member... I'm sorry, I got it based on...

Okay. Roll call.

Council Member Bolasan. Aye. Council Member Cavaglio. Aye. Council Member Cowden. Aye. Council Member Holland. Aye. Council Member Kaneshiro. Aye. Council Member Kuli'i.

Aye.

Council Chair Opoto.

Aye.

Seven ayes.

Thank you. There is no further business on the agenda. This meeting is adjourned.