Hawai‘i County Council fills Leeward Planning Commission seat with mother of a council member

The newest appointee to the Leeward Planning Commission was met with some concern by Hawai‘i County Council, but not because of her fitness for the position. It is because she is the mother of a council member.

During the council’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Council Chair Holeka Inaba recused himself from voting on the confirmation of Rebecca Kawehi Inaba to the commission seat, disclosing that she is his mother.

Mayor Kimo Alameda asked Kawehi Inaba to apply for the open seat on the seven-member Leeward Planning Commission, a body of community volunteers that advises on planning and land use matters within the districts of North Kohala, South Kohala, North Kona and South Kona.

Kawehi Inaba was confirmed, with council members Michelle Galimba, Jenn Kagiwada and Heather Kimball opposing the appointment.

With her confirmation, Kawehi Inaba will serve on the commission until 2029.

Before voting, some council members expressed their unwavering support and others voiced their uneasiness.

Kagiwada told Kawehi Inaba she had the utmost respect and “reverence” for her knowledge and involvement in uplifting the community.

Kawehi Inaba currently serves as the Executive Director of La‘i‘ōpua 2O2O, a nonprofit organization in West Hawai‘i that supports Native Hawaiians. She actively volunteers with the Daniel R. Sayre Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds to purchase equipment for the Hawai‘i Fire Department and the West Hawai‘i Mediation Center.

Kawehi Inaba has a diverse background that includes government service and strategic planning, as well as being a pilot and flight instructor.

She is the first Native Hawaiian woman to operate a certified Part 135 Air Carrier in the United States. She did so for Mokulele Airlines.

Kagiwada told Kawehi Inaba that her no vote had nothing to do with her qualifications, but the perceived consolidation of power in too few hands.

“It’s not the person, it’s the principle,” Kagiwada said.

Councilwoman Heather Kimball expressed similar sentiments, telling Kawehi Inaba that no one questions her integrity, but the optics of the situation.

“I don’t need to be convinced she’s a good candidate, I don’t need to be convinced she has integrity,” Kimball said. “But my rational brain cannot get around why this would be OK.”

Alameda said there is no direct conflict of interest in this situation as the commission and council operate individually. One does not answer to the other.

Kawehi Inaba disagreed with the idea that her being appointed to the commission was a conflict of interest because her son is the council chair.

“We are mother and son, but we’re also very independent in how we think,” Kawehi Inaba said.

Kawehi Inaba said she didn’t seek out a position on the commission. She was invited to apply by Alameda.

“I have the experience and time,” she said.

Despite the doubts voiced by three of the council members, Kawehi Inaba told the body she was set on serving on the commission to the best of her ability.

Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas expressed her support and admiration for Kawehi Inaba, saying in her six years on the council, she has never seen a candidate inspire overwhelming support with positive testimony for her appointment coming from all sides of the community.

Villegas encouraged her colleagues who had reservations about Kawehi Inaba to let them go.

“When it comes to perception or how things look, that is impossible to guard against,” Villegas said. “If there was caution coming from a legal standpoint, I think there would be cause for more concern.”

Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz also expressed her support for Kawehi Inaba, saying she is an outstanding candidate.

“Everything she does is with future generations in mind,” Kierkiewicz said, adding it’s difficult to find people willing to serve on these commissions.