County auditor outlines 2026'027 audit plan, says office is tracking 99 recommendations

County Auditor Claire McAdam presented the Hawaii County Communication Reports and Council Oversight Committee with her office's annual audit plan and a set of process changes intended to speed reporting on prior recommendations. "We are currently tracking 99 recommendations," McAdam told the committee during her presentation of the plan.

McAdam said her office will continue to monitor the external financial audit performed by Acuity LLP for fiscal years ending 2025 and 2026 and is conducting an audit of the Office of Housing and Community Development's management of housing and homelessness funds. She listed two additional planned audits: the Department of Environmental Management's wastewater division and the HPD evidence storage facilities, and said the office is instituting semi-annual follow-up reviews so departments and the council see more timely implementation data.

During questioning, a council member asked for a timeline on the Office of Housing audit. McAdam said the audit team has received a large volume of documentation and will request additional financial records and conduct site visits; she said the office is "pushing to get this done by the end of the year," but that timing depends in part on whether needed records are held by grantees.

The committee voted to close the file on Communication 963, with nine in favor.