Hawaii County Council, July 23, 2026
Approves Bill 126 Draft 3 Downtown Pahoa Commercial District, 8-0
How this board votes
The County Council approved 94% of 440 recorded land-use decisions this period. Most frequent dissent: James Hustace (21 of 46 recorded votes).
Parsed from the official meeting recordings. Verify against the official minutes.
See the full board record, member by memberWhat happened
The Hawaii County Council rejected Bill 165, Draft 2 (a charter amendment removing the $3 million cap on the PONC maintenance fund) on a 5-4 third-reading vote, failing the required two-thirds.
- Jurisdiction
- Hawaii County, HI
- Governing body
- Final authority
- Date
- July 23, 2026
- Decisions
- 13 zoning decisions
- Outcome
- Approved, 8-0
Projects in this meeting (1)
A project bundles every related decision, across hearingsHualalai Road, north side approximately 1,000 feet east of Kuakini Hig
ApprovedFree sample: decision 1 of 13
Confirmation of Shawna Kaulukukui to Cultural Resources Commission
Council closed file on GOEC 144, communication 946, and confirmed nomination of Shawna Kaulukukui to the Hawaii County Cultural Resources Commission. Vote 9-0.
The other decisions are listed below by title. The full write-up, verbatim conditions, and the audio at each vote are in Pro.
Meeting Summary
The Hawaii County Council rejected Bill 165, Draft 2 (a charter amendment removing the $3 million cap on the PONC maintenance fund) on a 5-4 third-reading vote, failing the required two-thirds.
Key Decisions (13)
Confirmation of Shawna Kaulukukui to Cultural Resources Commission
Confirmation of Jonathan Zeichner to Hamakua CDP Action Committee
Resolution 594-26 USDA wildlife damage management agreement
Resolution 595-26 USDA NRCS conservation easement agreement
Resolution 606-26 grant for For the Love Festival
Resolution 607-26 grant for Smoke It Up Festival (amended)
Resolution 608-26 grant for Honolulu Landing kipaipai ceremony
Bill 168 zoning reversion at Kealoli, North Kona (TMK 75-010013)
Bill 125 Pahoa Village Design District amendments
Bill 126 Draft 3 Downtown Pahoa Commercial District
Bill 163 Draft 2 property tax dedication for generational family lands
Bill 164 Draft 2 housing administrator council confirmation
Bill 165 Draft 2 PONC charter amendment (failed)
Zoning Changes (2)
Development Activity (3)
Kealoha Family Loi Conservation Easement
Other
Honolulu Landing preservation
Other
Kealoli zoning reversion parcel (TMK 75-010013)
Residential
Market Signals (4)
Commercial Demand
Council created the Downtown Pahoa Commercial special district to attract…
Housing Demand
The Bill 168 zoning reversion at Kealoli reduces potential residential…
Infrastructure
Community groups are pursuing a USDA-certified livestock/game processing facility in…
Sentiment
Bill 163's property-tax dedication for century-old generational family lands and…
Who Spoke (20)
On the record: the chair, 8 councilmembers, 2 staff members, 3 witnesses, and 4 members of the public.
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