Honolulu City Council

Council and Committee Meetings

When Does the Council Meet

When the Council Votes

Public Hearings

The nine councilmembers, each elected from one of Oahu's nine separate geographic districts; for a term of two or four years, make up the City Council.
	District 1 -  Kymberly Marcos Pine  Portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nanakuli, Ma’ili, Wai’anae, Makaha, Kea’au, Makua	Phone: (808) 768-5001   E-mail  kmpine@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report   (Current FY12-13)    Travel Reports
	District 2 - Ernest Y. Martin Mililani Mauka,Wahiawa, Mokuleia,Waialua, Haleiwa, Pupukea, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, Laie, Hauula, Punaluu, Kahana, Kaaawa, Kualoa, Waiahole,and Kahaluu.	Phone:  (808) 768-5002   E-mail emartin@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report (Current FY12-13)   Expenditure Report  (FY11-12)   Expenditure Report (FY10-11)   Travel Reports
	District 3 - Ikaika Anderson Ahuimanu, Heeia, Haiku, Kaneohe, Maunawili, Kailua, Olomana, Enchanted Lake, and Waimanalo..	Phone:  (808) 768-5003   E-mail ianderson@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report  (Current FY12-13)   Expenditure Report (FY11-12)   Expenditure Report  (FY10-11)   Expenditure Report  (FY09-10)   Travel Reports
	District 4 - Stanley Chang Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Aina Haina, Wailupe, Waialae-Iki, Kalani Valley, Kahala, Wilhemina Rise, Kaimuki, portions of Kapahulu, Diamond Head, Black Point, Waikiki, and Ala Moana Beach Park.	Phone:  (808) 768-5004   E-mail ccldistrict4@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report (Current FY12-13)   Expenditure Report (FY11-12)   Expenditure Report (FY10-11)   Travel Reports
	District 5 - Ann Kobayashi Kaimuki, Palolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Moiliili, McCully, and portions of Ala Moana, Kakaako, and Makiki.	Phone:  (808) 768-5005   E-mail akobayashi@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report (Current FY12-13)   Expenditure Report  (FY11-12)   Expenditure Report  (FY10-11)   Expenditure Report  (FY09-10)   Travel Reports
	District 6 -  Carol Fukunaga Portions of Makiki, Downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Alewa Heights, Papakolea, Fort Shafter, Moanalua, Halawa, Aiea, Kalihi Valley, and portions of Liliha and Kalihi.	Phone:  (808) 768-5006   E-mail cafukunaga@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report (Current FY12-13)    Travel Reports
	District 7 - Joey Manahan Kalihi, lwilei, Kalihi Kai, Mapunapuna, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Hickam, Foster Village, Ford Island, and Sand Island.	Phone:  (808) 768-5007   E-mail jmanahan@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report (Current FY12-13)    Travel Reports
	District 8 - Breene Harimoto Pearl City, Pearl City Peninsula, Waimalu, Crestview, Waipio Gentry, portions of Waipahu.	Phone:  (808) 768-5008  E-mail bharimoto@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report (Current FY12-13)   Expenditure Report (FY11-12)   Expenditure Report  (FY10-11)   Travel Reports
	District 9 - Ron Menor Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Mililani Town, West Loch, Iroquois Point, and portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach.	Phone:  (808) 768-5009   E-mail rmenor@honolulu.gov   Expenditure Report (Current FY12-13)   Travel Reports

The City Council is the lawmaking body of the City and County of Honolulu. The Council is responsible for serving and advancing the general welfare, health, happiness, and safety of the people through exercising its legislative power.

Officers of the Council are the Chair, Vice-Chair and Floor Leader. The current Officers of the Council are as follows: Ernest Y. Martin, Chair & Presiding Officer; Ikaika Anderson, Vice-Chair and Breene Harimoto, Floor Leader.

As the legislative body of the City, the Council performs the following major duties and functions:

*    Sets city-wide policies by enacting ordinances and adopting resolutions relating to municipal government programs and services such as police and fire protection, parks and recreation, affordable and special needs housing, sanitation and waste disposal, public transportation and other city government operations;

*    Initiates new municipal programs which the City may pursue or improvements to update and refine existing programs and services;

*    Adopts the annual operating and capital programs and budgets to fund the operations of the City and County and delivery of city services;

*    Adopts measures that will yield sufficient moneys to balance the budget including the setting of the annual real property tax rate;

*    Adopts a general plan for the City and land use laws establishing and amending the city's development plans and zoning regulations and processes;

*    Determines the necessity of taking property for public purposes and authorizes condemnation proceedings;

*    Confirms city department heads and board and commission members nominated and appointed by the mayor; and

*    Fixes fees and charges for all city services and the use of city property;

*    Authorizes settlement of claims filed against the city and against its officers and employees acting within the course of their duties;

*    Establishes fines and penalties for violations of city ordinances and laws; and

*    Accepts gifts and donations to and on behalf of the City of money, securities or other personal property, or real estate or interests in real estate.

COUNCIL MEETS YEAR ROUND

The Council meets at least once a month, but special meetings may be called at any time by the Council Chair, a majority of the councilmembers, or the Mayor. Except for public emergencies, notices of meetings are made public at least 6 days before the meeting time.

Regular Council meetings are generally held in the Council Chamber on the third floor of Honolulu Hale. Under current practice, each meeting is called to order at 10:00 a.m., by the Council Chair, who is the Presiding Officer. After roll call, the order of business is set forth in the meeting's agenda. Adoption of resolutions, bills, and committee reports, and the holding of public hearings are examples of the types of business conducted during a typical meeting.

All Council meetings, with the exception of executive sessions, are open to the public. Executive sessions are held principally for the purpose of discussing claims against the City when premature disclosure of information may adversely affect the City's position or when the Council seeks consultation with its own counsel or staff.

Most Council and Committee meetings are televised live on Oceanic Cable Channel 54 or TCI Channel 54.

Voting is generally given by a aye or nay vote. A majority of the nine councilmembers constitutes a quorum, and five supporting votes are usually required for an action to be taken. There are some matters, however, on which six affirmative votes are needed, for example, to override the Mayor's veto, initiate amendments or revisions to the City Charter, resolve in executive session, or take up a new matter not posted 6 days in advance.

Citizen participation in our government is vital if, according to the Preamble of the City Charter, "...the people of the City and County of Honolulu...seek to achieve in our time that righteousness by which the life of our land is preserved..."

The Council encourages public attendance at all Council meetings. You are urged to express your concerns and opinions on any issue before the Council, and to keep your Council informed of other matters requiring attention and consideration. Please call, write or e-mail your Councilmember.

Public hearings are held by the Council whenever the public's view on a matter is desired by the Council for decision making. There are certain matters, however, that require public hearings to be held before any final Council action can be taken.  These include the executive and legislative budgets; the real property tax rate; proposed improvement district projects; zoning ordinances; and the General Plan, Development Plans, and revisions or amendments to these.

For more details on the operations and functions of the City Council, please write to:

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