City Official Inaba Announces Council's Decision to Respect Mayor's Veto on Bill 59
Mayor Alameda Vetoes Controversial Bill 59 in Hawaiʻi County
Mayor Kimo Alameda of Hawaiʻi County vetoed Bill 59 on July 31, 2025, marking his first veto during his term. The bill aimed to prohibit pedestrians from soliciting or receiving goods or services within 15 feet of a roadway, but the mayor expressed concerns that enforcing such restrictions could impact public rights of way and disrupt "flag stops" used by county bus routes.
The vetoed bill would have imposed fines between $250 and $1,000 and community service requirements of 50 to 200 hours for violations. Repeat offenses within a year could have incurred stiffer penalties under Bill 59. However, with the veto, the potential fines and community service requirements for violations of the proposed law have been removed.
Alameda stated that while the bill aimed to address public safety concerns, care should be taken when restricting use or access to public rights of way. His concerns led to the veto, as he believed the bill could infringe on constitutionally protected free speech and lead to legal challenges against the county.
The Hawaiʻi County Council, led by Chair Holeka Goro Inaba who introduced the bill, ultimately chose not to override Mayor Alameda’s veto. Reasons for this decision include acknowledging the mayor’s legal and constitutional concerns about the bill’s potential to restrict free speech in public spaces and the risk of costly legal challenges for the county.
Civil rights groups supported the veto, viewing Bill 59 as unconstitutional and targeted at marginalizing people in poverty by pushing poverty "out of view," thus making it easier to ignore those in need.
In summary, Bill 59 was vetoed by Mayor Kimo Alameda on July 31, 2025. The reasons for the veto include potential violation of free speech rights, risk of legal challenges, impact on public rights of way, and concerns about equitable application. The Hawaiʻi County Council declined to override the veto, respecting the mayor’s constitutional and legal concerns. Civil rights advocates concurred with the veto as protecting constitutional rights and avoiding marginalization of vulnerable populations. The veto of Bill 59 raises the possibility of legal challenges, and the council consists of nine members, requiring a two-thirds majority to override a mayoral veto. The vetoed bill, Bill 59, was approved by the council with a vote of 7-2. Hawaii County Council Chair Holeka Inaba has announced that the council will not attempt to override Mayor Kimo Alameda's veto of Bill 59.
The vetoed Bill 59, originally aimed at regulating solicitation near roadways, has sparked discussions about policy-and-legislation and politics within the Hawaiʻi County community. With the veto, concerns over potential infringement of free speech rights and the risk of costly legal challenges were raised, attracting attention from general-news media and civil rights groups. The Hawaiʻi County Council, acknowledging the mayor's constitutional and legal concerns, decided against overriding the veto, thereby maintaining the status quo of business-as-usual on public rights of way.
