Hawai’i County — In a significant meeting held on February 5, 2025, the Hawai’i County Council successfully passed first readings of several bills aimed at amending local laws and budget allocations.
The council convened to review a series of legislative proposals, with all bills receiving unanimous support among council members present.
Key Bills Passed:
Bill 12, which proposes amendments to the Hawai’i County Electrical Code, specifically exempting certain electrical work performed by utilities from code provisions. Council members expressed robust approval, with all nine present voting in favor.
Bill 15 (Draft 2)* garnered attention as well, proposing a change in zoning classification for properties at Waiakea House Lots from Single Family Residential to General Commercial, facilitating the development of a new production facility and visitor center for Big Island Candies, Inc. The bill also includes an eight-year extension for project completion requirements, which was also unanimously supported.
In a move to expand urban development, Bill 17 seeks to amend state land use boundaries by reclassifying an area in ‘Ouli, South Kohala, from Agricultural to Urban.
Similarly, Bill 18 (Draft 2) aims to convert the zoning of another parcel in ‘Ouli from Agricultural to Single Family Residential, allowing for the subdivision of the property into 43 lots, with one dissenting vote from Council Member Kaneali’i-Kleinfelder.
Financial matters were also addressed with
Bill 19, which allocates $3.6 million to the Old Hilo Hospital project through federal grants, and
Bill 20, allocating $1 million for the Rural Emergency Medical Demonstration Project, both receiving strong support from council members.
Finally, Bill 22 proposes amendments to allow hospitals and similar facilities as permitted uses in the Industrial-Commercial Mixed Zoning District, further expanding the county’s healthcare infrastructure.
The next steps include a second reading for these bills, which will be crucial for their final approval and implementation.