Five of the nine County Council members will travel to Washington, D.C., this week for the National Association of Counties legislative conference.
Five of the nine County Council members will travel to Washington, D.C., this week for the National Association of Counties legislative conference.
The council members — Dru Kanuha, Valerie Poindexter, Dennis Onishi, Gregor Illagan and Karen Eoff — will attend the conference from Saturday through Wednesday, said council Chairman J Yoshimoto.
The event will provide the council members, most of whom are new, an opportunity to learn about issues facing counties across the country, he said.
“I have been to that before and I found it to be a very educational experience,” Yoshimoto said.
The council members will also meet with Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Mazie Hirono, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
The chairman said costs will include plane tickets at between $800 and $1,000 each, two rooms at about $500 each, and other expenses, including fees and meals.
“That’s the ballpark figure,” he said.
The association will pay for Onishi’s plane tickets since he is a member, Yohshimoto said.
The council members will submit a written report to Yoshimoto following the trip.
The chairman said the reports are public record and may be made available on the county’s website.