Hawaii County, HI

OUR COUNTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

Affordable Housing

• The Office of Housing and Community Development has increased the affordable housing pipeline from 1,200 to over 8,100 homes.

• Over 300 units completed, with 550 more slated for local, working-class families this year.

• Kaloko Heights project in Kailua-Kona will offer rentals at 30-60% of the average median income for a family of 4, approximately $500-1000/month.

• Future projects, like Kamakoa Nui in Waikōloa, will add over 600 affordable homes, cutting commute times and improving quality of life.  

• County-led projects will prioritize local working-class families.  

• Collaboration with County Council to draft legislation for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on existing parcels of land to alleviate housing shortage.

• Collaborated with County Council on Transient Accommodation Rental legislation to close loopholes, establish registration for short-term rental properties, manage the market (especially on Airbnb and VRBO), and increase housing availability for local families, prioritizing community needs over profit. Building Permitting.

• Reduced permitting time for single-family homes to an average of 42 days.

• Recent legislative changes, with help from the County Council, expected to further reduce times, possibly by a third.

Homelessness

• Comprehensive approach to homelessness, focusing on capacity building of service providers, increasing affordable housing, and balancing community needs.

• Committed nearly $19 million to programs and organizations addressing homelessness.  

• Completion of the first phase of the Kūkuiola Emergency Shelter and Assessment Center in Kailua-Kona, including 16 emergency shelter units, an assessment center, community facilities, and safe parking stalls.  

• The second phase to add 48 affordable permanent housing units.

• Renovations to Old Hilo Memorial Hospital for permanent housing and state Department of Health facility.  

• $300,000 granted to 808 Homeless Taskforce for Family Reunification Program, buying airline tickets for houseless individuals to return home.

• Partnership with Governor Green to bring additional Kauhale and Safe Spaces to both East and West Hawaiʻi for homeless individuals to receive services and shelter.

Parks & Recreation

• Commitment to parks' rules enforcement for safety of all park goers.  

• Completed ten Americans with Disabilities Act improvements across the island, with three more major projects ongoing.  

• Increased maintenance budget for all 302 facilities from $450,000 to over $4 million annually, proposing an additional $1 million increase in this year's budget.  

• Major parks projects planned, including playground and field upgrades, new community center, emergency swimming pool repairs, rodeo arena resurfacing, skatepark upgrades, grassing and resurfacing, and new pickleball courts.  

• Pickleball lines added to facilities during construction or refurbishment.   Investment in senior programs serving over 13,000 kupuna, including Meals on Wheels, nutrition sites, elderly activities, and free tax service.  

• Planning and design for projects like Kealakehe Regional Park, Hilo and Kahuku Skate Parks, Laupāhoehoe Boat Ramp, Pāpaʻaloa Playcourts, Isaac Hale (Pohoiki) Beach Park Improvements, and HPP and Kikala Keokea Park Master Plans.

Infrastructure

• Significant investments in infrastructure, including road paving, bridge repairs, wastewater system redesign, and utility upgrades.  

• Paved over 70 miles of county roadway, with plans to pave nearly 50 more miles.  
• Completed major roadway improvements on streets like Kalanianaʻole, Kinoʻole, Waiānuenue, Hina Lani, ʻAliʻi Drive, Henry Street, Kaloko Mauka, and others.  

• Reconstruction of 13 miles of roadway and 9 miles of waterline in lower Puna, destroyed by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.  

• Overhaul of Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant, largest single infrastructure project in County history.  

• Department of Water Supply improving water systems and conducting islandwide inventory of water laterals for clean drinking water.  

• Lālāmilo 10-million-gallon Reservoir Project underway to improve water system resilience and reliability, using wind power for energy.  

• Partnership with Lt. Governor Sylvia Luke and Connect Kākou Initiative to expand broadband infrastructure and digital literacy opportunities, providing high-speed internet access to 40 county-managed facilities and free public wireless access.

Safety

• Anticipated completion of new joint dispatch center for Police Dispatch and Fire Communications Control Center operations, improving coordination and communication between emergency personnel.

• Replacement of nearly all ambulances in fleet, addition of lifeguards to popular beaches, and replacement of Chopper 2 helicopter.  

• Initiatives by Police Department, including providing PPE to Vice Investigators and updating patrol uniforms for enhanced visibility.  

• Capital investments in response fleet for Hawaiʻi Fire Department, including new brush trucks, fire engines, tankers, and a helicopter.

• Efforts to fill every sworn position in Hawaiʻi Police Department, with plans to expand police services and reduce response times.  

• Pedestrian safety enhancements, including crosswalk tables and flashing signal lights in various areas.  

• Collaboration with Keep It Flowing LLC and local students to create impaired driving prevention murals throughout Hawaiʻi County.  

• Formation and collaboration with Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, educating community about dangers of fentanyl and distributing NARCAN to prevent opioid overdoses.

• Establishment of detox clinic and Behavioral Health Crisis Center, providing support for addiction and mental health crises.

• Partnership with National Alliance of Mental Illness and training of police officers to better respond to mental health crises.

• Expansion and strengthening of Animal Control agency, hiring staff and improving services to ensure community safety and animal welfare.

Mālama ʻĀina

• Acquisition of more land for Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation than any previous administration, preserving over 4,100 acres of land for future generations.

• Plans to acquire an additional 46.27 acres in Hōnaunau and 27.38 acres adjacent to the ocean in Waikōloa.  

• Anticipation of 4 new electric buses and 1 new hydrogen bus for Hele-On service through the next fiscal year.

• Funded by grants and federal funding, service will remain free for riders through 2025.

• Implementation of reusable food ware system in Hilo through a joint initiative with Zero Waste Hawai‘i Island, Perpetual, and University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant.

• College Program, supported by various grants, including a $1.5 million grant from the EPA.  

• Formation of new Office of Climate, Sustainability, Equity, and Resilience to ensure continuity of sustainability-focused initiatives beyond the current administration.

Hawaiian Culture

• Establishment of an Indigenous Data Science Division within the Department of Research Development.

• Initiative "Pehea Ka ʻĀina? Ola Ka ʻĀina!", focusing on transforming governance on Hawaiʻi Island by fostering a deep connection between the land and its people.

• Initiative "Kuʻikahi Naʻauao" providing county employees with opportunities to learn about Hawaiian culture, including lei-making, hula, oli (chanting), and significant events in Hawaiian history.

• Incorporation of cultural practices such as oli and piko protocol into County events, providing employees with a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture County Workforce.

• Creation of opportunities for greater work flexibility, including telecommuting, flexible work schedules, and an Alternate Work Schedule Pilot Program with HGEA.

• Exploration of new paths to rewarding careers in County government through the Professional Intern Pilot Program, with a target start date for the initial cohort beginning in July, aimed at providing professional career opportunities in County government for those whose personal circumstances may have otherwise prevented it.  

• Enhancements to the Tuition Reimbursement Program with increased funding and expanded eligibility criteria, in addition to $1 million dollars budgeted for the employee training fund, aimed at providing opportunities for workers to advance within the County and beyond.

Cost of Living

• Close examination of the budget's cost verifications and plans to ask the Council to decrease property tax rates for homeowners, reflecting a commitment to easing the financial burden on residents and ensuring a more equitable future for all.

• Potential decrease in property taxes, if successful, for the first time since 2009, with the aim of benefiting those who rent and giving local people some breathing room for personal or business endeavors, including investing in continued education.

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