UIPA.org

$428,000 Grant to Study Water around Puna Geothermal Venture

Request to:
Hawaii County Department of Finance
Law used:
State of Hawaii UIPA
Status of this request:
Information not held
Summary of Request
Back in 2024 the Hawaii County Council voted to establish and fund a $428,000.00 (Res. 443-24) grant to study the water around Puna Geothermal Venture. Puna Council Rep Ashley K received the funds but nothing has ever happened. 1. Please provide documentation of the $428,000.00 grant, including: a. A copy of the grant specifying where the money came from and who is administering the grant. b. A copy of all requests for payment and invoices for work performed with this grant. c. A current total of remaining grant funds and how they will be spent. d. A copy of all water monitoring results from this grant, including locations of wells tested

Messages in this request

From Sara Steiner (Laulima Pahoa)
Subject Records Request for Hawaii County Department of Finance: $428,000 Grant to Study Water around Puna Geothermal Venture [#1768]
Date July 21, 2026, 5:55 a.m.
To Hawaii County Department of Finance
Status Awaiting response
Attachments
Aloha, Pursuant to the public records law, I would like to request the following records in electronic format sent to my email address.
Back in 2024 the Hawaii County Council voted to establish and fund a $428,000.00 (Res. 443-24) grant to study the water around Puna Geothermal Venture. Puna Council Rep Ashley K received the funds but nothing has ever happened. 1. Please provide documentation of the $428,000.00 grant, including: a. A copy of the grant specifying where the money came from and who is administering the grant. b. A copy of all requests for payment and invoices for work performed with this grant. c. A current total of remaining grant funds and how they will be spent. d. A copy of all water monitoring results from this grant, including locations of wells tested
[... Show complete request text] Sara Steiner (Laulima Pahoa)
  1. 3 weeks agoJuly 21, 2026, 5:56 a.m.: Sara Steiner (Laulima Pahoa) sent a message to Hawaii County Department of Finance.
From Pacheco, Crystallene K – Hawaii County Department of Finance
Subject RE: Records Request for Hawaii County Department of Finance: $428, 000 Grant to Study Water around Puna Geothermal Venture [#1768]
Date July 21, 2026, 3:53 p.m.
Status Request resolved
Attachments
Aloha and good afternoon, Ms. Steiner, Please see attached Notice. Thank you, Crystallene K. Pacheco Secretary to the Director Finance Department 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2103 Hilo, HI 96720…
-----Original Message----- From: Sara Steiner < <name and email address> > Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2026 5:56 AM To: Finance < <name and email address> > Subject: Records Request for Hawaii County Department of Finance: $428, 000 Grant to Study Water around Puna Geothermal Venture [#1768] Aloha, Pursuant to the public records law, I would like to request the following records in electronic format sent to my email address. Back in 2024 the Hawaii County Council voted to establish and fund a $428,000.00 (Res. 443-24) grant to study the water around Puna Geothermal Venture. Puna Council Rep Ashley K received the funds but nothing has ever happened. 1. Please provide documentation of the $428,000.00 grant, including: a. A copy of the grant specifying where the money came from and who is administering the grant. b. A copy of all requests for payment and invoices for work performed with this grant. c. A current total of remaining grant funds and how they will be spent. d. A copy of all water monitoring results from this grant, including locations of wells tested Mahalo, Sara Steiner Laulima Pahoa
  1. 3 weeks agoJuly 21, 2026, 3:53 p.m.: Received an email from Hawaii County Department of Finance.
From Sara Steiner (Laulima Pahoa)
Subject RE: Records Request for Hawaii County Department of Finance: $428, 000 Grant to Study Water around Puna Geothermal Venture [#1768]
Date July 23, 2026, 7:49 a.m.
To Hawaii County Department of Finance
Dear Sir or Madam, I explicitly said what information I want, I gave you the year and the Act # and that I want to know what fund the grant money came from, copy of all requests for payment and invoices for work performed, total remaining fund balance and reports that resulted from the grant. We are waiting for years to do our water study, so let's see what is the hold up!!! ... Sincerely yours Sara Steiner
  1. 2 weeks, 5 days agoJuly 23, 2026, 7:49 a.m.: Sara Steiner (Laulima Pahoa) sent a message to Hawaii County Department of Finance.
  2. 2 weeks, 4 days agoJuly 24, 2026, 7:06 a.m.: Sara Steiner (Laulima Pahoa) set status to 'Information not held'.