Honolulu City Council

Honolulu City Council
Name	Honolulu City Council
House type	Unicameral
Body	Legislative branch of the City and County of Honolulu
Leader1 type	Chair
Leader1	Tommy Waters
Election1	2023
Leader2 type	Vice Chair
Leader2	Esther Kiaʻāina
Election2	2023
Political groups1	* Democratic (8) * Nonpartisan (1)
Meeting place	Honolulu Hale, Honolulu
Website	https://www.honolulu.gov/council

Honolulu City Council. The legislative body of the consolidated City and County of Honolulu, it is responsible for enacting ordinances, approving the municipal budget, and overseeing the executive branch led by the Mayor of Honolulu. Established following the 1907 consolidation of the Republic of Hawaii's former county governments, the council operates from Honolulu Hale in downtown Honolulu. Its nine members are elected from geographic districts across Oahu and wield significant authority over local governance for the entire island.

History

The council's origins trace to the Hawaiian Organic Act of 1900, which created the Territory of Hawaii and its county system. The City and County of Honolulu was formally established by the Territorial Legislature in 1907, merging the governments of the City of Honolulu and the County of Oahu. Early governance featured a Board of Supervisors before transitioning to a mayor-council system. A pivotal reorganization occurred with the adoption of the Revised Charter of the City and County of Honolulu in 1973, which solidified its modern structure and powers. Key historical figures in its development include former Mayor of Honolulu Frank F. Fasi, whose long tenure often involved dynamic interactions with the council, and charter commission members like Hung Wai Ching.

Composition and elections

The council consists of nine members elected on a nonpartisan basis from nine separate districts encompassing all of Oahu, from Hauula to Ewa Beach. Elections are held every two years, with even-numbered districts voting in one cycle and odd-numbered districts in the next, each serving staggered four-year terms. Candidates typically declare party affiliation, and the body has been predominantly controlled by the Democratic Party for decades. The current districting follows lines established by the Honolulu Reapportionment Commission after the 2020 United States Census. Members elect from among themselves a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson to lead the body.

Powers and duties

As the legislative authority for the City and County of Honolulu, the council holds the power to pass ordinances and resolutions, which have the force of law upon approval by the Mayor of Honolulu or by overriding a mayoral veto. Its most critical duty is the annual adoption of the city budget and capital improvement program, allocating funds for agencies like the Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Fire Department. The council confirms mayoral appointments to key boards such as the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, and it exercises oversight through investigations and audits of departments like the Department of Planning and Permitting.

Committees

The council conducts much of its work through standing committees, which review legislation, hold public hearings, and perform in-depth oversight. Major committees include the Budget Committee, which scrutinizes the fiscal plans of the Mayor of Honolulu; the Transportation, Sustainability and Health Committee, overseeing projects like the Honolulu Rail Transit; and the Public Safety and Welfare Committee, which engages with the Honolulu Police Commission. Other significant panels are the Planning and the Economy Committee and the Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee. Special investigative committees, such as those probing the Red Hill water crisis, are also occasionally formed.

Current members

As of the 2024 term, the council is composed of nine members. The Chair is Tommy Waters, representing District 4 which includes Kaimuki and Hawaii Kai; the Vice Chair is Esther Kiaʻāina of District 3 covering Halawa and Aiea. Other members include Val Okimoto (District 9 - Mililani), Matt Weyer (District 2 - North Shore), and Calvin Say (District 5 - Palolo). The body includes one officially nonpartisan member, Andria Tupola (District 1 - Ewa Beach), with the remaining eight identifying as Democrats.

Notable legislation

The council has enacted significant ordinances addressing local and regional issues. Key measures include the Plastic Bag Ban ordinance, which prohibited single-use plastic bags at checkout counters, and the Short-Term Rental Ordinance regulating platforms like Airbnb in residential zones. It passed the Honolulu Rail Transit funding bills to support the Skyline project managed by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii, it passed emergency measures for business relief and public health mandates. Other notable acts include the Complete Streets policy ordinance and zoning changes for developments in Kakaako overseen by the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

Category:Honolulu City Council Category:Government of Honolulu Category:Local government in Hawaii Category:Unicameral legislatures