Hawaii County voters asked to weigh in on proposals to make county operations more efficient, better continuity

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Voters in Hawaii County will have the opportunity to weigh in on three proposed amendments to the county charter in the upcoming election.

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These amendments aim to streamline processes related to filling council vacancies, appointing department heads, and extending reporting deadlines for government spending.

Amendment 1: Filling Council Vacancies
The first proposed amendment seeks to ensure that any vacancy on the County Council, occurring after an election, will be filled by the duly elected successor. According to the proposal, remaining council members would appoint a new member by majority vote to serve the unexpired term, thereby ensuring representation for all districts during critical decision-making periods.

Cindy Evans, a Hawaii County Councilmember who introduced the bill, emphasized the importance of maintaining constituent representation. “At all times, people should have their voices counted,” she stated, highlighting the potential impact of council decisions made between elections.

Amendment 2: Mayoral Appointment of Department Heads

The second amendment requires the mayor to appoint department heads within 30 days at the start of each term and within 60 days for any vacancies during the term. This change aims to improve the efficiency and operation of county departments.

Councilmember Holeka Inaba, who introduced the amendment, noted that timely appointments allow for greater community representation in government. “It just gives more voice to the community via the council,” Inaba explained.

Amendment 3: Cost of Government Commission Term Length
The third proposed amendment would increase the term length for members of the Cost of Government Commission from 11 to 22 months, while also extending the deadline for submitting reports from 11 to 20 months after appointment.

This amendment aims to give commissioners more time to evaluate county operations and develop meaningful recommendations for service improvement. Evans remarked that the changes were suggested by the commissioners themselves, indicating a need for adequate time to collaborate with the current administration.

Inaba added, “This really just allows the commission to do the good work to understand in what areas the county can cut back or can make better financial decisions.”

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Voters will have the final say on these proposed amendments in the upcoming election.

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