Public safety in Hawaii local government
What Hawaii city councils, county boards and school districts are deciding about public safety — plain-English summaries written from official agendas and minutes, updated as meetings happen.
111 Hawaii meetings since 2024 covered public safety. Counts are directional — coverage varies by place and platform.
Places in Hawaii with the most public safety activity
- Maui County, HI (59)
- Hawaii County, HI (52)
Latest matching meetings
Council to consider charter amendment creating hybrid council-manager government
The council will take a first reading of Bill 158, which would convert the county to a hybrid council-manager system, and Bill 159 for biennial budgeting (negative committee vote). A final reading is set for Bill 66, adopting the General Plan 2045. Other items include an eminent domain resolution for Government Beach…
Committee to weigh charter amendment creating climate fund from hotel tax
The GREAT Committee is considering whether to recommend passage of a dozen proposed charter amendments on first reading, which would then go to the full Council and ultimately to voters. Items include creating a Climate Action and Resiliency Revolving Fund funded by 20% of Transient Accommodations Tax revenues…
Committee considers establishing a County Disaster Recovery Program
The Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-Being will meet to discuss Bill 157. This bill proposes creating a County Disaster Recovery Program to coordinate recovery efforts after major disasters.
Committee to consider penalties for prohibited noise violations
The Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee will consider Bill 119 (2025). This bill proposes amending Section 9.36.040 of the Maui County Code regarding penalties for prohibited vehicle noise violations.
Council considers $25.3 million contract for Hawaii Fire Fighters Association
The Hawaii County Council is meeting to vote on several resolutions involving public funding, land acquisition, and internal rule changes. Key items include a multi-year firefighters' contract and various community grants.
Committee considers settling police negligence lawsuit from 2023 incident
The Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee will consider recommending adoption of two resolutions: one to authorize a settlement in Charlotte Martin v. County of Maui (a negligence claim involving a police officer incident at Kepaniwai Park in February 2023) and another to increase compensation for…
Council considers charter amendment for hybrid council-manager government
The committee will discuss a charter amendment (Bill 158) that would restructure county government into a hybrid council-manager system, with an appointed manager overseeing some departments and an elected mayor overseeing others. It will also consider a bill requiring nonprofits to certify internal policies before…
Committee considers establishing a County Disaster Recovery Program
The Policy Committee on Health, Safety, and Well-Being is meeting to discuss Bill 157. This proposal would create a program to coordinate short- and long-term recovery efforts after major disasters.
Committee to discuss water fee restructuring, parking ban
The Water and Infrastructure Committee will receive a presentation and discuss Bill 76, which restructures the water system development fee based on average daily demand instead of meter size. No legislative action will be taken on this bill. The committee may also consider recommending Bill 49 on first reading, which…
Finance Committee to vote on $25.3M fire fighters union contract
The Finance Committee will consider several resolutions and a bill. A four-year contract with the Hawaiʻi Fire Fighters Association totaling $25,292,860 is up for approval. Other items include a multi-year housing assistance contract for Kinoʻole Senior Residences, stewardship grants, and a pesticide subsidy for…
Council considers housing, fire, and grant funding
The Hawaii County Council will consider resolutions authorizing funding for permanent housing, fire department leases, and disaster recovery grants, along with nominations to various county commissions.
Council to consider $2.97M in federal grants for 2026 Annual Action Plan
The Hawaii County Council will review several grant agreements, including federal funds for housing and disaster recovery. The body is also considering multiple board nominations and various real property leases and acquisitions.
Committee considers $967M operating budget and $359M capital budget
The Committee on Finance is reviewing two proposed budgets for fiscal year 2026-2027: a $966.9 million operating budget (1.4% increase from the prior year) and a $358.74 million capital budget funding 45 projects. The special meeting spans four days of departmental program reviews covering most county agencies…
Committee weighs $501K Kīlauea recovery grants and housing leases
The Finance Committee will consider several resolutions and bills, including a $501,100 grant program for recovery from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, a proposal to lease six properties for permanent housing at $10 per year, and a salary ordinance for county employees. The committee also will discuss a fire department…
Council to vote on $1.6M/yr wastewater plant construction management contract
The Hawaii County Council will consider a six-year, $1.6 million per year professional construction management contract for the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade. It will also vote on a $2.678 million FEMA grant to fund 12 firefighter positions, two bills to rezone properties on Manono Street for a credit union…
Committee to consider tying parking requirements to bedroom count
The committee may recommend passage of Bill 47 (2026) on first reading, which would change off-street parking requirements for housing from square footage to number of bedrooms, or file the bill. They will also discuss Bill 21, CD 1 (2023) regarding conditional zoning for emergency airstrip operations at Kapalua…
Council to consider new property tax tier for homes over $4M
The Council will vote on Bill 128, which would add a new 'Residential Tier Three' real property tax classification for properties with a net taxable value over $4 million. On final reading are Bills 122 and 123, which would reclassify 6.063 acres in Waimea from agricultural to rural/residential to allow subdivision…
Council to consider leasing eight properties for permanent housing for underserved
The Finance Committee will consider a resolution authorizing eight one-year leases at $10/year for residential properties to be used as long-term permanent housing for underserved populations. It will also take up a resolution and budget bill to accept a $2,678,274.60 FEMA grant for 12 firefighter positions, and a…
Council considers new real property tax tier for high-value homes
The Hawaii County Council will discuss establishing a 'Residential Tier Three' tax classification for properties valued over $4 million. The body is also considering several zoning changes, the creation of a construction code commission, and various small fund transfers.
Committee to act on 20 mayor nominations for county boards
The Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee will consider 20 resolutions to approve or disapprove the Mayor's nominations to various county boards and commissions. The Council must act by March 2, 2026, or the nominations will be deemed approved.
Committee to consider FBI joint terrorism task force agreement and affordable housing lease exemptions
The committee may recommend passage of Bill 92, CD1 (2025) to authorize the mayor to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the FBI for a Joint Terrorism Task Force. It may also recommend passage of Bill 116 (2024) to exempt below-market leases for affordable housing from certain bidding and grant requirements…
Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee meeting canceled
The meeting scheduled for February 9, 2026, was canceled. The agenda had included discussions on substance abuse care and the Maui Wildfire Exposure Cohort Study.
Council will approve a $1.6 million intergovernmental grant for workforce programs
The Hawaii County Council will consider several fund transfers and grant approvals, including a $1.6 million intergovernmental grant for workforce development. Members will also vote on nominations to the Fire and Police Commissions and on a zoning amendment that would allow residential dwellings in the…
Committee to consider accepting donated rapid‑deployable towers for fire department
The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee will review Resolution 26-5, which would authorize the County to accept a donation of four compact rapid deployable towers from STComms, Inc. for one‑year use by the Department of Fire and Public Safety. The committee may recommend adoption of the…
Committee to discuss FBI terrorism task force agreement and public safety technology
The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs, and Planning Committee will hold discussions on public safety and security matters. No legislative action will be taken during this meeting.
Committee to consider legal settlement and special counsel for police arbitration
The Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee will discuss two resolutions involving legal matters. These include a settlement for a wrongful death claim and the appointment of special counsel for a police department arbitration case.
Council to vote on rezoning 4.5 acres in South Hilo for 14 house lots
The Council will hold a final vote on Bill 111 to rezone a 4.4669-acre property at 1077 Ahe Street from Agricultural to Single-Family Residential, allowing subdivision into 14 lots. It will also consider resolutions urging a ban on commercial aquarium harvest, accepting 82 defibrillators for police, and a $68,000…
Finance Committee to consider five budget amendments accepting $480,128 in federal grants
The Finance Committee will receive several routine reports and consider five bills that amend the FY2025-2026 operating budget to increase revenues and appropriations for federal grants to the Hawaii County Police Department for roadblock, occupant protection, traffic enforcement, high intensity impact, and…
Committee to consider performance audit of housing and homelessness funding
The committee will discuss a resolution requesting the County Auditor to conduct a performance audit of real property tax revenues appropriated for housing and homelessness programs. They will also consider a nomination to the Fire Commission and receive minutes from the Hawaii State Association of Counties executive…
Finance Committee to consider $1.6M workforce budget amendment, wildfire grant
The Finance Committee will deliberate two budget amendments and a resolution. Bill 112 would increase federal workforce-training funds by $1.6 million, while Bill 113 and Resolution 426-25 would appropriate $68,000 for wildfire hazard mitigation planning. The committee will also receive reports on fund transfers and…
Maui County Council to consider multiple FY2026 budget amendments
The Council will discuss various budget adjustments for FY2026, including funding for parks, police facilities, and road safety. The body is also reviewing legal settlements and proposed changes to the West Maui Community Plan regarding building heights in Lahaina.
Council to consider three mayoral nominations, including two for Police Commission
The Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs will review and discuss three communications from Mayor C. Kimo Alameda nominating individuals to the Police Commission and the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee. The nominations require Council confirmation by January 8, 2026. Public…
Council weighs wildfire tax relief, $64.5M disaster projects
The council will consider first readings of bills establishing an income-based real property tax credit up to $10,000 and extending tax exemptions for Lahaina wildfire-damaged properties through June 2028. Second and final readings include a $64.5 million appropriation for countywide wildfire disaster relief projects…
Council considers delaying short-term rental ordinance until July 2026
The Hawaii County Council will hold second readings on bills to delay effective date of transient accommodations rules (Bill 98), reduce plastic waste (Bill 83), and set qualifications for the Civil Defense Administrator (Bill 89). First readings include allowing dwellings in MCX zones (Bill 63) and adopting the state…
County Council approves $6 million housing and homelessness grant program
The Finance Committee will consider a resolution to accept a $145,463 donation of professional services for resurfacing tennis courts at Lincoln Park. It will also consider a resolution authorizing $6,000,000 in grants for housing and homelessness programs funded by Residential Tier Two property tax revenues…
Council to consider $64.5M wildfire disaster relief appropriation
The Maui County Council holds first readings for several budget amendments, including a $64.5 million appropriation for countywide wildfire disaster relief projects funded by a state loan. They also consider a $1.1 million building renovation, zoning changes, and tax rate simplification. Second and final readings are…
Committee to consider $16.5M housing production budget appropriation
The Finance Committee will deliberate on several fiscal and housing items, including a resolution authorizing over $8 million in affordable housing grants and three bills. One bill would appropriate $16.5 million from the fund balance to housing production, another would allocate $1.49 million in federal emergency…
Council confirms auditor and approves $1.9M habitat restoration grant
The Hawaii County Council will confirm the appointment of a new County Auditor and approve a $1.9 million federal grant for invasive species management and shoreline stabilization in Puapuaʻa Iki. The body will also consider resolutions regarding road dedications, a new Human Resources Specialist position, and…
Committee to consider adopting State Fire Code as County Fire Code
The Policy Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit will consider Bill 107, which would adopt the State Fire Code as the County Fire Code and add administrative procedures for enforcement. This is the only substantive item on the agenda; the rest is procedural.
Committee will discuss water safety and drowning prevention
The Water Authority, Social Services, and Parks Committee will meet on November 17, 2025 to discuss water safety and drowning prevention in Maui County. The committee will receive comments from the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Fire and Public Safety, the State Department of Health, and the…