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Hawai'i County Council Overrides Mayor's Veto on Bill 194

Yesterday, the Hawai'i County Council voted in a 2/3rd majority to override Mayor Mitch Roth's veto on Bill 194. The bill, which relates to conditional rezoning, was vetoed by the Mayor earlier this month. Council members Kimball, Kagiwada, Villegas, Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder, and the bill's sponsor, Inaba, voted in favor of the override, while Council members Galimba, Kierkiewicz, and Lee Loy voted against.

The Council's decision was based on heavy public testimony in support of the veto override. The bill received very few written testimonies against it. Mayor Roth expressed his disappointment in the Council's decision in a press release.

The Mayor stated that the bill is imperfect and will limit the County's flexibility to appropriately condition rezoning ordinances. He further added that the bill will add expense, uncertainty, and difficulty to the rezoning process, making Hawai'i County the most regulated County in the nation. However, the Mayor said that his administration will respect the Council's decision and move forward accordingly. If the language of the bill can be revisited, they will be ready to engage in that process.

Despite the Mayor's concerns, the Council believes that Bill 194 is necessary for the County's growth and development. The bill's supporters believe that it will make the rezoning process more transparent and easier for local families to access affordable housing.

Police Request Assistance Locating Teen

Hawai‘i Island police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating 17-year-old Kelis Garmon-Mercado who was reported as a runaway.

Garmon-Mercado was last seen in the 200 block of Kino‘ole Street in Hilo on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. wearing a yellow shirt and blue denim skirt.

She is described as Caucasian with a heavy build, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, 250 pounds, with black curly shoulder length hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with information on Garmon-Mercado’s whereabouts to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.

EPIC System Unavailability

The Electronic Permitting & Information (EPIC) system in Hawaiʻi County will be temporarily unavailable from April 28 to May 1, 2023, due to an annual update, routine maintenance, and functional upgrades aimed at improving workflow processes and access to historical permit records, according to the Hawaiʻi County Department of Public Works Building Division. During this time, the system will not accept new applications, plans, document uploads, or payments. The Department asks the public to be patient and understanding while the upgrades are being performed, with the EPIC system expected to be available again by May 1, 2023.

Sen. Schatz Announces Bills Introduced

Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) has reintroduced a bill to allow doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prescribe medical marijuana to veterans in states and territories that have established medical marijuana programs. Veterans are twice as likely to die from opioid overdosing as non-veterans, and though the VA has issued guidance allowing doctors to discuss medical marijuana with veterans in states where it is legal, doctors cannot prescribe it and it is unclear if veterans will be protected from federal prosecution or employment ramifications if they use it. The Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act creates a temporary, five-year safe harbor protection for veterans who use medical marijuana, and directs the VA to research how medical marijuana could help veterans better manage chronic pain and reduce opioid abuse. The Veterans Medical Marijuana Safe Harbor Act is supported by various organizations including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and National Cannabis Industry Association.

In another development, Senator Schatz has reintroduced legislation to avoid default by repealing the national debt ceiling, an arbitrary limit set by Congress on the amount of funding that the United States Treasury may borrow. Defaulting on the debt could cause an economic catastrophe for everyone. Congress has the chance to debate federal spending, and it’s well before the bill comes due. The fight over the debt ceiling is often weaponized as a manufactured political crisis that has nothing to do with fiscal responsibility and seriously threatens small businesses, workers, and the economy", said Senator Schatz.

Congresswoman Tokuda Announce Kona Town hall

FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 15 – APRIL 21

PLEASE NOTE:

Lane closure schedules may change at any time without further notice. All projects are weather permitting.

— KANOELEHUA AVENUE (ROUTE 11) —

1) HILO

Single lane closure on Kanoelehua Avenue (Route 11) will shift over either direction between mile markers 1.7 and 2, between Makaala Street and E. Puainako Street, on Monday, April 17, though Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for installation of traffic signal loop detectors.

— MAMALOHA HIGHWAY (ROUTE 11) —

1) PAHALA (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 49 and 51, in the vicinity of Ka‘Ala‘Ala Gulch on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

2) PAHALA

Single lane closure on Mamaloha Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 57 and 59, in the vicinity of Kuhua Bay and Kawa Bay on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

3) CAPTAIN COOK

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 11) possible in either direction between mile markers 89 and 90, near Papalani Road on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for tree cutting and mulching.

— KUAKINI HIGHWAY (ROUTE 11) —

1) HONALO

Single lane close on Kuakini Highway (Route 11) in either direction at mile marker 114, near West Honalo Road, on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., for Kuakini drainage improvements.

— HAWAII BELT ROAD (ROUTE 19) —

1) NINOLE (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 16 and 19, in the vicinity of Kauniho Road and Old Mamalahoa Highway, on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

2) PAPAALOA TO LAUPAHOEHOE

Single lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 23 and 28, between Middle Road and Stevens Road, on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for road resurfacing.

3) PAAUILO

Single left lane closure on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) in either direction between mile markers 37 and 38, in the vicinity of Hauola Road and Kalopa Road, on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Hawaiian Electric Company replacing poles and restringing overhead lines.

— KAWAIHAE ROAD (ROUTE 19) —

1) KAMUELA

Single lane closure on Kawaihae Road (Route 19) possible in either direction between mile markers 52 and 54, between Puumanu Place and Kekehau Street, on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

— KEAAU-PAHOA ROAD (ROUTE 130) —

1) PAHOA (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Keaau-Pahoa Road (Route 130) possible in either direction between mile markers 8 and 11, near Ka Ohuwalu Drive on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

2) PAHOA

Single lane closure on Keaau-Pahoa Road (Route 130) possible in either direction between mile markers 8 and 11, between Ka Ohuwalu Drive and Kahakai Boulevard on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

3) PAHOA

Single lane closure on Keaau-Pahoa Road (Route 130) possible in either direction between mile markers 9.5 and 10.5, in the vicinity of Kahakai Boulevard and Pahoa Village on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for concrete work in the median.

— PAHOA KALAPANA ROAD (ROUTE 130) —

1) PAHOA

Single lane closure on Pahoa Kalapana Road (Route 130) possible in either direction between mile markers 15 and 18, in the vicinity of Kaluahine Street on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

— MAMALOHA HIGHWAY (ROUTE 190) —

1) KAILUA-KONA (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 30 and 32, in the vicinity Makalei Drive, on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

2) KAILUA-KONA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 30 and 32, in the vicinity of Makalei Drive on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for vegetation cutting.

3) KAILUA-KONA

Single lane closure on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190) possible in either direction between mile markers 18 and 26, in the vicinity of Puu Lani Drive on Monday April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for shoulder extension.

— KOHALA MOUNTAIN ROAD (ROUTE 250) —

1) KOHALA (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) possible in either direction between mile markers 8 and 12, in the vicinity of Kohala Ranch Road, on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for shoulder work and tree trimming.

2) KOHALA

Single lane closure on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) possible in either direction between mile markers 8 and 12, in the vicinity of Kohala Ranch Road on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for reconstructing and resurfacing shoulder work.

3) KOHALA (WEEKEND WORK)

Single lane closure on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) possible in either direction between mile markers 9 and 13, in the vicinity of Puuhue Road on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for shoulder work and tree trimming.

4) KOHALA

Single lane closure on Kohala Mountain Road (Route 250) possible in either direction between mile markers 9 and 13, in the vicinity of Puuhue Road on Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 21, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for reconstructing and resurfacing shoulder work.