July 8, 2026, 10 a.m.
Honolulu Hale
To: Honolulu City Council
Tommy Waters, Chair
Andria Tupola, Vice Chair
From: Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
Ted Kefalas, Director of Strategic Campaigns
RE: Bill 35 (2026) — RELATING TO STREETS, SIDEWALKS, MALLS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES
Aloha Chair Waters, Vice Chair Tupola and other members of the Council,
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii supports Bill 35 (2026), which would repeal ordinances authorizing curbside tellers to encroach into public sidewalks.
Technological shifts in banking have meant that banks, credit unions and other financial institutions do not rely on curbside tellers to the extent they did in the past. Therefore, this cleanup bill would have minimal — if any — effects on the financial services industry.
But it would build on legislation such as Ordinance 25-22, which removed provisions aimed at regulating technologies used decades ago that are now obsolete.
Grassroot appreciates the intent of this measure and would welcome further Council actions to repeal outdated and redundant portions of the city code.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Ted Kefalas
Director of Strategic Campaigns
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
1050 Bishop St. #508 | Honolulu, HI 96813 | 808-864-1776 | info@grassrootinstitute.org
