County of Hawaii 1997 - 1998 Annual Report: Hawaii County Council

	Council Chairman James Y. Arakaki is a 1958 graudate of Hilo High School. He attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo and graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1965. He is the President of Dodo Mortuary Life Plan and currently serves as the Hawaii County Council Chairman. A United States Army veteran, he has been very active in many community organizations such as the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Island Japanese Community Association, Hui Okinawa, Hilo Junior Golf, Hilo Downtown Improvement Association, Ahualani Kumiai, Hawaii Allied Memorial Council and the Kanoelehua Industrial Association. He has also served on the State of Hawaii Contractors Licensing Board. Council Chair Arakaki and his wife, Grace, have two daughters and a son.
	Councilman Al Smith was elected to represent the lower Puna area in November of 1994 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Council and as Vice Chairman of the County Housing Agency. He is presently the Vice Chairman of the Hawai‘i State Association of Counties and the Vice Chair of the Public Lands and Steering Sub-Committee of the National Association of Counties. A resident of the community for over 30 years, he built a successful small business in Pahoa. He has helped start several youth programs including the Pahoa Little League, the Babe Ruth league, and Pahoa High School Baseball programs. He is a former President of the Pahoa PTSA, a member of Paradise Park Hui Hanalike, B.P.O. Elks, Lodge 759, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3642, and the Puu Wai Opio Softball Club. Councilman Smith and his wife, Jan, have two children and two grandchildren.
	Councilman Dominic Yagong is a 1977 graduate of Honoka‘a High School, and attended the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. He currently serves as the Hawai‘i County Council's Public Works and Parks Chairman. Councilman Yagong has been actively involved in several community and civic organizations throughout the Hamakua Coast, including Hamakua Lion's Club, Mauna Kea Jaycees, Vice President of Honoka‘a Elementary Association, Fundraising Chairman of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Founder of the Green and Gold Forever fund, and Chairman of the Honoka‘a School Centennial Celebration. Councilman Yagong is known as the "voice of the Honoka‘a Dragons,‘ as he does the broadcasting for Honoka‘a High School sporting events. He resides in Honoka‘a with his lovely wife Hilda, his daughter Chelsea and his two sons Jeremy and Rylee.
	Councilmember Bobby Jean Akane Leithead-Todd was born in Kokura, Fukuoka, Japan. She is a graduate of Hilo High School, the University of Hawaii and the William S. Richardson School of Law. In law school she received the prestigious Susan B. McKay Award, was a member of the National Moot Court Team and was the Editor of the UH Lawletter. Currently in private practice, she is a former County Legislative Auditor, Deputy Corporation Counsel, served on the Supreme Court Committee on Gender and Other Fairness and is a prior Chairman of the Hawaii County Board of Ethics. Councilmember Leithead-Todd served on the Board of Directors of the High Technology Development Corporation and is a member of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii State and County Bar Association, the Big Island Women’s Legal Association and Keaukaha Canoe Club, as well as numerous other community organizations. She and her husband Steve Todd have two sons, Kazuo and Christopher, and one daughter, Katherine, who keep them busy on weekends with soccer, baseball, football and canoe paddling.
	Aaron S.Y. Chung is a second term Councilmember of District 4 (Waiakea, Keaukaha, Panaewa and Downtown Hilo) and presently serves as Chairperson of the Committee on Finance. Born and raised in Hilo, he is a graduate of Hilo High School, the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, and the UCLA School of Law. He previously served as a law clerk for the Honorable Ernest Kubota, as a Deputy Corporation Counsel for the County of Hawai‘i and is currently an attorney in private practice. Of the various civic associations in which he has membership, Aaron finds most enjoyment in those which serve to further the recreational opportunities in the community, particularly for youngsters, hence his involvement with the Big Island Public Links Committee and numerous youth athletic organizations.
	Julie Jacobson was elected to the Sixth District Council Seat (Upper Puna, Ka‘u and South Kona) in November 1998. Julie was raised in Rochester, Minnesota, and has lived in Hawai‘i County since 1981. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin (Milwaukee) in 1975 with a BS in Deaf Education. She received an MS degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling in 1980 from Winona State University (Minnesota) and Licensed Practical Nurse certification from Hawai‘i Community College in 1990. Since 1976, Julie has been a public school teacher serving deaf, deaf/blind, developmentally disabled and severely multiply-handicapped children, as well as working as an elementary school counselor. She is currently on leave of absence from her special education teaching position at Honoka‘a High and Intermediate School. Julie and Bob, her husband of 24 years, have managed a property rental business since 1976. Mrs. Jacobson’s community involvement includes: Hawai‘i State House of Representatives’ Puna Community Service Award Winner (1996); Hawai‘i Special Olympics Aquatics Coach; Puna Wellness Coalition; Spear-headed Hawaiian Acres Community Association Survey (1995); Hawaiian Acres Planning Committee; Puna Outdoor Circle; Sierra Club; American Association of University Women; Co-Chair, Hawai‘i County Green Party (1997); Na‘alehu Mainstreet; Ka‘u Agroforestry Association; Volunteer LPN at the Keauhou Kona Triathlon (1998) and League of Women Voters.
	Councilwoman Nancy Pisicchio was elected to represent District 7 which covers the northern portion of South Kona and the southern portion of North Kona. She has lived in Hawaii since 1976. In 1992 she and her husband moved on to their eleven-acre macadamia nut farm in Keauhou Mauka. She is the chair of the County Housing Agency and is vice chair of the Committee on Finance. She sits on the Advisory Commission for the State of Hawaii’s trail program, "Na Ala Hele". Nancy is the co-founder of the Kona organization, Plan to Protect. She has also been active in the Kona Farm Bureau, the Kona Farmers Alliance, the Kona Hawaiian Civic Club and Pulama Ia Kona Heritage Preservation Council.
	J. Curtis Tyler III, 53, serves as a full-time member of the Hawai’i County Council, representing District 8 in North Kona. He is chair of the Council Human Services & Economic Development Committee and vice-chair of the Planning Committee. He is also a member of the Sustainability Leadership Team, Watershed Management Advisory Committee, Smart Growth Committee, and Energy, Environment and Land-Use Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties (NACo). Mr. Tyler is a 1964 graduate of Hawai’i Preparatory Academy and a 1968 honors graduate of Williams College in Massachusetts. He served as a line officer in the U.S. Navy and is a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. A lifetime Kona resident, Mr. Tyler has been a small businessman and community leader for over 25 years. He is a member and immediate past chair of the Hawai’i State Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities. His other community activities include memberships in the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, the Kona Hawaiian Civic Club, the Republican Party of Hawai’i and the National Conference of Republican County Officials. He previously served as chair of the Kailua Village Design Commission, president of Konawaena Elementary School PTSA, director of the Ironman Triathlon and member of the Kona Traffic Safety Committee. He and his wife Lesley reside in Kalaoa, North Kona and have a daughter, Mika, and a son, Jay.
	Leningrad Elarionoff, was born and reared in Kioloka'a, Ka'u. His ancestry includes Hawaiian, Russian, Irish and Chinese. Naalehu Elementary and Intermediate School and Ka'u High School satisfied his pre-college education. After high school, he saved money from working at the Hutchinson Sugar Plantation and the South Point Tracking Satellite Station to attend college in California. It wasn't long before his savings were depleted requiring him to work as a cabinet maker and attend college at night. His police career began as a Police Officer for the Santa Cruz Police Department in California before returning to Hawaii and joining the Hawaii County Police Department in 1968. For twenty-seven years he worked in the Waimea, Honoka'a and Kohala Police Stations with Waimea being his home. He and his wife, Paula, raised four children, Raena, Kehau, Grad and Chris. In 1994, Leningrad retired as a District Commander-Captain from the Hawaii County Police Department. Shortly after retirement, Leningrad entered the field of politics. When asked about that choice, "I enjoy every moment of it," he replied.
Photo Not Available	Al Konishi was appointed to County Clerk in December, 1999. Al is a graduate of Saint Louis High School, the University of Hawai‘i (B.A. - Journalism) and the University of San Francisco School of Law. Al has served in numerous State and County positions beginning in 1972. He has also worked in the private sector in law and economic development. Al has served as an officer or director of many community organizations such as the Keaukaha Canoe Club, Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i Island, East Hawai‘i Coalition for the Homeless, Hawai‘i Island Chamber of Commerce, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai‘i and Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawai‘i.
	Donald Ikeda was appointed Deputy County Clerk on December, 1998. He is a graduate of California State College at Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree in business with a major in accounting. Mr. Ikeda's work experience spans both the private and public sector. Prior to returning to Hawai‘i, he worked in the Audits Division for the State of California in Los Angeles. He also worked in the private sector for twenty years as the manager of S. Ikeda Factory, LTD. Mr. Ikeda's past positions with the County of Hawai‘i were as a Legislative Assistant and Fiscal Program Review Auditor in the Legislative Auditors Office, and County Clerk.
	Constance R. Kiriu, Legislative Auditor, graduated from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology and Education. She taught in the Minnesota, Washington and Hawai‘i school systems before working as Legislative Assistant with the Hawai‘i County Council for two years. Her move to the county Planning Department spanned a period for eight years. She was subsequently appointed as Deputy County Clerk for two years with the Council, and later as Legislative Auditor. Ms. Kiriu serves on the Board of Directors for Na Leo 'O Hawai‘i and is a member of the Big Island Women's Law Association.

The County Council was awarded the bid to host the NACo Western Interstate Region (WIR) conference in the year 2001 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. WIR is an organization composed of the municipal government legislators from 15 western states. Its purpose is education and networking. The conference typically generates nearly 500 delegates and guests nationwide and the host county can expect to experience significant direct and indirect economic benefits.

An initiative petition was submitted by the Parents against Irradiation Committee. The Elections Division verified 8,190 qualified signatures of registered voters. The Elections Division staff also participated in the statewide recount of the 1998 General Election Ballots.

Dominic Yagong	District 1, Hamakua, North Hilo, and portions of South Hilo (Hakalau, Honomu, Pepeekeo, Papaikou, Kaiwiki)

Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd	District 2, South Hilo (Amauulu, Puueo, portions of Downtown Hilo, Lanakila, Waianuenue, Kaumana, Ainako, Piihonua, portions of Waiakea Homesteads)

James Y. Arakaki	District 3, South Hilo (Waiakea Homesteads, Waiakea-Uka) and Puna (Keaau)

Aaron S. Y. Chung	District 4, South Hilo (Keaukaha, Panaewa, Waiakea Houselots, portions of Downtown Hilo, University and portions of Waiakea Homesteads)

Al Smith	District 5, Puna (Orchidland Estates, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Beaches, Pahoa Village, Nanawale, Kapoho, and Kalapana)

Julie Jacobson	District 6, Puna (Kurtistown, Mt. View, Volcano), Kau (Pahala, Naalehu, HOVE) and South Kona (Milolii, Hookena, and portions of Honaunau)

Nancy Pisicchio	District 7, South Kona (portions of Honaunau, Capt. Cook, Kealakekua) and North Kona (Kainaliu, Keauhou, Kahaluu, Holualoa)

J. Curtis Tyler, III	District 8, North Kona (Kailua, Kealakehe, Kalaoa, Puuanahulu)

Leningrad Elarionoff	District 9, North and South Kohala (Waikoloa, Waimea, Hawi, Halaula)