The Hawaii County Council on Monday will bid aloha to three council members before turning its attention to a new council term with three new faces.
The Hawaii County Council on Monday will bid aloha to three council members before turning its attention to a new council term with three new faces.
Among those leaving the council are four-term Hilo Councilman J Yoshimoto and four-term South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford. Both are term-limited.
Also leaving the council is one-term Puna Councilman Zendo Kern, who chose not to run for re-election.
Incoming council members are Maile David, representing South Kona/Ka‘u, Aaron Chung, representing Hilo, and Danny Paleka, representing Puna. Council members serve two-year terms.
David was the deputy county clerk. Chung served eight years on the council, including a stint as chairman, before being term-limited 10 years ago. This is the first elected position for Paleka, who owns a bed and breakfast and is auxiliary services manager for Hawaii Community College.
The council begins the day at 9 a.m. in Hilo council chambers with resolutions honoring the three departing council members.
At noon, the new council members will be inaugurated at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. Third Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra will administer the oath of office and Mayor Billy Kenoi will be keynote speaker. The inauguration ceremony is open to the public.
The council returns to Hilo council chambers at 3 p.m., when a council chairman, vice chairman, committee chairmen and county clerk will be voted on.
Unlike most council meetings, the two sessions Monday will not be available at the county’s videoconference sites in Kona, Pahoa, Kohala, Waimea, Ka‘u or Pahoa. Members of the public who want to watch or testify need to come to Hilo council chambers to do so.
County Clerk Stewart Maeda said Friday he decided not to provide videoconference access because the county staff will be in Hilo for the inauguration. He said he checked with council members and got their OK.
The council plans to keep Maeda as clerk. Under a charter amendment approved by voters Nov. 4, the clerk will serve a four-year term and can be removed only by a two-thirds vote of the council.
The council is slated to vote Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha as chairman and Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter as vice chairwoman.
All council members serve on all committees. Committee assignments that will be voted on are:
• Finance: North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff, chairwoman; Poindexter, vice chairwoman
• Planning: Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan, chairman; David, vice chairwoman
• Public Works and Parks and Recreation: Poindexter, chairwoman; Hilo Councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, vice chairman
• Environmental Management: Onishi, chairman; Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille, vice chairwoman
• Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability: Wille, chairwoman; Poindexter, vice chairwoman
• Public Safety and Mass Transit: Paleka, chairman; Ilagan, vice chairman
• Human Services and Social Services: David, chairwoman; Eoff, vice chairwoman
• Governmental Relations and Economic Development: Onishi, chairman; Wille, vice chairwoman
In addition, Onishi will serve as representative and Paleka as alternate to the Hawaii Association of Counties executive committee, subject to confirmation by the County Council.
Chung has said he asked that he not be named chairman to a committee.
While all council members serve on all committees, the chairman has the power to set the committee agenda, can delay items and can bump items up to the council level without a committee hearing, if he or she chooses. The council chairman names committee chairmen, selects the county clerk, subject to a vote by the council, and controls the meeting agendas.