Last Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Meeting SEPTEMBER 2026 Minutes

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Last Kaimuki Neighborhood Board Meeting SEPTEMBER 2026 Minutes
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NEXT MEETING - Click here to read next meeting agenda scheduled for 10/21/2026.

With Permission / Courtesy of: City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office

KAIMUKĪ NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 4

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026 AT 6:30 P.M.

KAIMUKĪ PUBLIC LIBRARY MEETING ROOM -- 1041 KOKO HEAD AVENUE, HONOLULU, HI 96816

AND ONLINE VIA WEBEX

Meeting Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDj8jLUDW-8&list=PLfqRwVpRroom3zp43KJkZZ4nynu8uuap1

Meeting Materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Wt9pOrbakhHBtITFDEP84GlbdXeCis0s

1. CALL TO ORDER [0:00:00]: Vice Chair Hoe called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

2. ROLL CALL [0:00:00]: Neighborhood Assistant Curtis Hayashi conducted a roll call of board members. Quorum was established with 8 members present. This 11-member board requires six members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: Audrey Abe (Secretary), Kelsie Aguilera (Treasurer), Ann Castelfranco, Becky Gardner (joined at 6:31 p.m.), Calvin Hara, Paul Hoe (Vice Chair), Sean Koegel, Carole Mandryk, and Christine Otto Zaa.

Board Members Absent: John Arnest and Brian Kang (Chair).

Guests: Captain Minn (Honolulu Fire Department); Lieutenant L. Nishimura (Honolulu Police Department); Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply); Department of Information Technology Director Brian McKee (Mayor Blangiardi); Adam Doo (Council Chair Tommy Waters); Robert Stellmacher (State Department of Transportation); Eric McCutcheon (Kaimukī Vision Zero), Lori Yamada (EnVision Kaimukī), Melissa (Local Food Security Coalition), Jason Liang, David "Dave" Smith, and Sarah Chinen (Residents/Guests); Curtis Hayashi (Neighborhood Commission Office).

Member Gardner joined the meeting at 6:31 p.m.; 9 members present.

3. PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY REPORTS [0:01:52]

A. HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT (HFD) [0:01:57]: Captain Minn reported August 2026 incident statistics: zero structure fires, zero wildland fires, zero nuisance fires, zero cooking fires, five activated alarms with no fire, 50 medical alarms, and zero motor-vehicle-collision-with-pedestrian, motor vehicle crash, mountain rescue, ocean rescue, and hazardous materials incidents. The safety tip of the month focused on lithium-ion battery safety: use only the charging cord/charger that came with the device or one approved by the manufacturer; charge on a hard, flat surface rather than in bed; unplug devices once fully charged; charge large items such as e-bikes and power tools outside when possible and away from exits; and stop using any device that feels hot, swells, smells, leaks, smokes, or hisses. Captain Minn also announced the HFD Fire Prevention Week Family Day on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/149L4N5zo8XfMPSvshU_sagbhBqLVFrzu/view

Questions, comments, and concerns followed [0:04:21]:

1. Breakdown of Devices Causing Fires: Jason Liang asked whether a breakdown was available of which devices (e-bikes, phones, battery banks) were causing the reported fires. Captain Minn said the statistic was not currently available, but he would follow up with the HFD Chief.

B. HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT (HPD) [0:05:32]: Lieutenant Nishimura, representing HPD District 7, provided August 2026 statistics: six motor vehicle thefts, three burglaries, 28 thefts, nine unauthorized entries into motor vehicles (UEMVs), and 6,251 total calls for service. He reported that HPD has been monitoring a resident-requested speeding concern on Sierra Drive and hopes to have data at next month's meeting. The safety tip of the month highlighted the HNL Alert system, the City and County's official notification system, which provides severe weather information, road closures, water main breaks, and similar alerts (HNLalert.gov).

Questions, comments, and concerns followed [0:06:56]:

1. HNL Alert Limitations During Outages: Member Hara asked how residents are notified when recent storms knocked out both electrical power and internet service, preventing HNL Alert access. Lieutenant Nishimura acknowledged the limitation and noted his own cell service was also affected. He recommended residents maintain a backup plan such as an AM/FM radio.

2. Dog-Walking Enforcement: Member Castelfranco asked whether there had been any notice of stepped-up police enforcement against dog walking at the park, after hearing reports of citations being issued on recent weekends. Lieutenant Nishimura said he was not aware of the specific incident but noted HPD has received regular complaints about the issue from that and other East Honolulu parks, and that officers generally do not publicize enforcement actions in advance, though verbal warnings are typically given on-site.

3. Emergency Radio Communication: Member Koegel asked whether handheld radios have a channel residents could use to receive information if cell service fails during a storm. Lieutenant Nishimura said HPD does not broadcast directly over such channels but that the City's Civil Defense coordinates with radio and TV stations. Director McKee added that the City uses satellite phones, mobile-to-satellite-phone software, and push-to-talk radios across its fleets (e.g., ENV, Board of Water Supply), which remain functional as long as towers stay powered, while commercial cell networks typically fail within about four hours of a power outage.

4. Recommended Emergency Radio Station: Lori Yamada (EnVision Kaimukī) asked which radio channel to use during emergencies. Lieutenant Nishimura said he personally listens to KSSK, noting it is not an official City designation but is reliably on the air during major events.

C. BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY (BWS) [0:14:05]: Lorna Heller reported no water main breaks for August 2026. She announced the "Imagine a Day Without Water" event on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., featuring interactive exhibits, educational displays, hands-on activities, prize giveaways, and food for purchase.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed [0:15:22]:

1. Low Water Pressure on 21st Avenue: A resident reported ongoing low water pressure on the 800 block of 21st Avenue, first raised roughly 72 months ago. Heller apologized for not having an immediate update, said she would look into it and post a response in the chat, and would follow up with the information if unable to do so during the meeting.

4. ELECTED OFFICIAL REPORTS [0:17:03]

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative [0:17:03]: Director Brian McKee reported that the City continues cleanup from Tropical Storm Lala, having moved 660 tons of debris, with one home destroyed and 25 homes with major damage and 363 homes with minor damage. Hawaiʻi driver's licenses and state IDs have a new design with added security features. David Lazar was sworn in as HPD's 13th Chief of Police. The City marked the 250th anniversary of America with a parade and reading of the Declaration of Independence. School zone speed limits were lowered from 25 to 20 miles per hour. The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) received a national award for greener City parks.

• Newsletter: https://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/newsletter

Director McKee provided the following updates:

1. the Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) has iniated a work order (WO), WO# 40421, to repair the damaged catch basin nearby 16th Avenue and Noeau Street. Work will be scheduled to completed when man power and resources become available, but are anticipating to have work completed by the end of the year;

2. regarding the Queen Theater at 3588 Waiʻalae Avenue, the property is privately owned and was listed for sale on Wednesday, June 10, 2026; the City is not pursuing acquisition, and encouraged the owner to consider a voluntary condemnation process for possible public repurposing, which the owner declined;

3. the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) is investigating the pedestrian signal timing conflict at Makapuʻu Avenue and Diamond Head Road raised by Member Mandryk, to ensure correct timing; and

4. regarding bagged trash reported along 16th Avenue and Koko Head Drive, DFM determined the affected area falls under DPR's jurisdiction and has forwarded the work order accordingly.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed [0:21:05]:

1. Timing of Storm Debris Statistics: Member Hara asked whether the reported storm-cleanup statistics reflected conditions before or after the storm. Director McKee clarified the figures were post-storm cleanup totals.

2. Food Distribution During Storm Response: Member Hara asked about the more than half a million pounds of food distributed following the storm. Director McKee credited the Department of Community Services (DCS), which coordinates shelter outreach, including for individuals experiencing homelessness moved from at-risk locations such as stream beds and under bridges, and food distribution to those sheltered.

3. Queen Theater: Member Gardner clarified that her question was not about a City purchase, but whether the City could offer tax credits, permitting assistance, or other support to help a prospective private buyer bring the theater back into use. McKee reiterated the City's history with the property and did not identify a specific assistance program.

4. TheBus Route 200 -- Request for Meeting with Mayor: Juanita Liu thanked Director McKee for last month's Route 200 update and, noting that all three affected Neighborhood Boards (NB 6 Pālolo, NB 5 Diamond Head-Kapahulu-St. Louis Heights, and NB 4 Kaimukī) have passed resolutions on the issue, requested the City's help facilitating a joint meeting with the Mayor. Director McKee agreed to forward the request to the Mayor and DTS once received by email.

5. City Charter Amendment Information: David Smith asked for a full list of the Honolulu City Charter amendments on the November 2026 ballot, noting he had found information on only two. Director McKee clarified there are two State Consitution amendment questions. He agreed to obtain and share the list of City Charter amendments before next month's meeting.

City Council Chair Tommy Waters (District 4) [0:29:05]: Adam Doo reported that there are 20 questions on the Honolulu City Charter ballot this year and shared https://www.honolulucitycouncil.org/oahuvotes. Regarding the partial ceiling collapse at Happy Days restaurant on Waiʻalae Avenue on August 8, the office received complaints that the restaurant was vacated without removing food or perishables; the State Department of Health inspected the site, contacted the property owner, and the owner has scheduled a cleanup; the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has also sent letters to the owner. Chair Waters introduced Bill 58, which would allow the City to remove improperly parked shared micromobility vehicles (e-scooters) from City property and roadways in the Waikiki special district without prior notice to operators. Chair Waters and the City Council also recognized the Aloha Tree Alliance for its native tree planting along the Kuliʻouʻou Ridge Trail and its partnership with Hui Mauʻumae to beautify Mauʻumae Nature Park.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15suZZunXKfHGibUUkRwaSraAh_zalNEC/view

Questions, comments, and concerns followed [0:32:47]:

1. Building Inspection Requirements for Older Public-Use Buildings: Member Aguilera asked whether DPP is required to periodically inspect older buildings that see regular public use, in light of the Happy Days restaurant incident, and whether other aging buildings in the neighborhood could be similarly at risk. Doo said he would confirm the answer and share it with the Chair and Vice Chair for distribution to the Board.

2. CERT Training Availability: Jason Liang followed up on a request from last month for more Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training information and availability to be posted online. Doo said he had no update this month but would follow up with Chair Waters' office, which could also contact Liang directly.

Governor Josh Green's Representative [0:35:04]: No representative was present.

Senate District 9: Senator Stanley Chang [0:35:22]: No representative was present.

Senate District 10: Senator Les Ihara, Jr. [0:35:22]: No representative was present.

House District 20: Representative Tina Grandinetti [0:35:38]: No representative was present.

House District 21: Representative Jackson Sayama [0:35:38]: No representative was present.

U.S. Congressman Ed Case [0:35:38]: No representative was present.

5. COMMUNITY UPDATES [0:35:58]

A. State Department of Transportation (HDOT) Update on the Koko Head Off-Ramp [0:36:06]: Robert Stellmacher presented an update on planned changes to the Koko Head off-ramp from the H-1 freeway (Hawaiʻi Kai-bound direction). Currently, two lanes both permit left turns while the right lane turns right; HDOT plans to split the ramp so one lane turns left only and one turns right only, in order to reduce the lane-hunting behavior that traffic engineers believe has contributed to a number of accidents. The adjoining Koko Head/Harding intersection will also change so the mauka-bound left lane on Koko Head becomes left-turn-only rather than left-or-straight. New traffic signals will be adjustable and tied into DTS's citywide signal system if backups develop. HDOT considered but rejected installing crash barrels in the median to stop vehicles from driving through it, concluding that barrels would provide only a visual cue and little actual crash mitigation given vehicle weight and speed; plastic stanchions will remain in place. Construction is planned for January 2027 through December 2027, with working hours of 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; the extent of lane closures during construction has not yet been determined.

• Slideshow: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EuWi-R5IBe3ZCLPFbPMEFNEq5LSpyv3O/view

Questions, comments, and concerns followed [0:39:57]:

1. History of Vehicles Striking the Median: Vice Chair Hoe noted this has been a neighborhood concern for four to five years, citing repeated instances of vehicles, including impaired drivers, crossing the median toward homes across the street, and stated visual cues alone would likely not deter such incidents. He asked HDOT to revisit and install stronger physical mitigation as originally requested. Stellmacher acknowledged the concern and said he would relay it, noting the modification could still be added later as a maintenance change.

2. Resident Notification of the Planned Changes: Member Hara asked whether the two directly affected households had been informed of HDOT's decision. Stellmacher was not certain they had been contacted directly; Hoe urged HDOT to do so as part of good communication with the community.

3. Night-Time Visibility: Secretary Abe who has driven the off-ramp regularly for 30 years said visibility at night is a factor in past incidents and suggested reflectors or barrels to improve nighttime visibility.

4. Basis of the Safety Analysis: Member Gardner asked whether HDOT's safety analysis considered the safety of vehicle occupants, or also the safety of the residents in the homes that have previously been struck, noting she was on the Board when a vehicle struck one of the homes and raising potential liability given more than one prior incident. She suggested HDOT consult past Neighborhood Board minutes documenting the issue. Stellmacher explained that crash barrels were assessed as unlikely to meaningfully slow a vehicle given the weight differential, and that engineers instead prioritized reducing lane confusion as the primary mitigation.

5. Barrels Combined with Signage: Member Gardner suggested that if barrels were installed, they could double as a low-cost way to post signage notifying drivers of the new lane configuration.

6. Construction Timeline and Closures: Member Castelfranco asked how long the changes would take to implement and whether the ramp would be fully or partially closed during construction. Stellmacher reiterated the January 2027-December 2027 timeframe and 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. working hours, and said the extent of closures was not yet known but that the Board would be informed once available.

7. Off-Ramp Mauka Lane Striping: David Smith raised a related concern that new striping directs off-ramp traffic mauka-bound into a single left lane despite three lanes being available (with no parking permitted in front of the library), which he felt could worsen backups at the Koko Head/Harding intersection during school dismissal and highway-bound traffic; he suggested allowing mauka-bound traffic to use all three lanes.

8. Phased Rollout and Physical Barrier Request: Lori Yamada (EnVision Kaimukī) suggested a temporary trial or training period to let drivers adjust gradually to the new configuration rather than changing all at once, and reiterated residents' request for a physical barrier, recalling a past instance in which a gap in the median went unrepaired for close to a year.

B. Kaimukī Vision Zero: Road Rights and Safety for Everyone [0:53:49]: Eric McCutcheon reported on the outcome of traffic-safety bills from the 2026 legislative session that Kaimukī Vision Zero had tracked. Of nine bills addressing intersection safety (including leading pedestrian intervals and school-zone crosswalk improvements), Senate Bill 3234 passed as Act 260, funding pedestrian safety improvements near schools and named in memory of a pedestrian killed in a collision. Of six bills addressing e-bikes, high-speed vehicles, and related safety training, House Bill 2021 passed as Act 259, adding educational and safety requirements for e-bikes and mobility devices. None of three bills that would have reduced minimum parking requirements for commercial or transit-oriented developments passed. None of six bills to expand free public transit passed. Senate Bill 3029 ("Open Streets") passed, which allows temporary closure of streets to vehicle traffic for community activities. House Bill 2023, requiring Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) technology for drivers convicted of excessive speeding or drag racing, became Act 260 [note: the same act number was cited for the earlier school-zone bill. McCutcheon reported 64 traffic fatalities statewide so far this year compared to 93 at the same point last year, zero bicycle fatalities statewide to date, and no traffic fatalities within the Kaimukī neighborhood area this year.

• Slideshow: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w5RzqYRQd4_phVOPuMH9MViycMBsJv_J/view

Questions, comments, and concerns followed [1:00:38]:

1. E-Bike Age Requirement: Secretary Abe asked whether there had been any change to the minimum age for operating e-bikes. McCutcheon confirmed that individuals under 16 must be under direct parent or guardian supervision to operate Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes.

2. Distracted-Pedestrian Law: Resident Sarah Chinen asked whether a law had passed prohibiting pedestrians from using their phones while crossing the street. It was noted that such a law may exist at the city or state level, though the specific statute was not confirmed during the meeting.

C. Presentation on Food Insecurity and City and County of Honolulu Charter Amendment No. 1 [1:03:01]: Melissa, representing Hawaii Public Policy Advocates, LLC on behalf of the Coalition for Local Food Security, reported that a group of about a dozen Kaimukī-area high school students has been visiting Neighborhood Board meetings to advocate for Honolulu Charter Amendment No. 1, distinct from the state constitutional amendment on the same ballot. The charter amendment would dedicate one-half of one percent of real property tax revenue to local agriculture, farmers, and food distribution for people in need, without raising taxes. She noted that unlike the state constitutional amendment, an unanswered charter-amendment question does not count as a "no" vote, so an affirmative vote is needed to register support, and encouraged the Board and community to vote yes on Charter Amendment No. 1.

6. DISCUSSION / RESOLUTIONS [1:06:32]

A. Discussion on Obtaining Regular Reports / Updates from Hawaiian Electric (HECO) [1:06:32]: Member Hara requested HECO to attend a future Neighborhood Board meeting following storm-related outages, similar to the Board of Water Supply, addressing outreach to kūpuna (elders) and residents without social media and varying restoration timelines. He noted the utility is privately owned and regulated by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), suggesting future discussion with the Governor's representative.

1. Prior HECO Presentation Request: Member Gardner recalled the Board's discussion last month, including several members' interest in the undergrounding of utility poles and the Governor's representative's offer to help arrange a HECO presentation, and asked that the minutes reflect that request and the continued need for follow-up.

2. Transformer Failure: David Smith explained that the August 2026 outage in Kaimukī resulted from a transformer failure on Paula Drive near Koko Head Avenue that affected residents uphill of the failure point, and noted a roughly three-hour gap between when Hawaiian Electric crews left the repair site and when power was restored, which he attributed to standard safety-verification procedures. He attributed regional crew shortages to simultaneous storm-response deployments to the Big Island and Kauaʻi, and identified wind-driven transformer damage as the primary cause of outages.

3. HECO Public Ownership Proposal: Jason Liang reiterated a proposal he raised last month to explore making HECO a publicly owned utility, citing Kauaʻi's cooperative model, HECO's discontinuation of net metering, and rising costs to ratepayers, and invited board members interested in researching the idea to contact him.

4. Request for More Information Before Board Action: Member Koegel said he would like to learn more about how the Kauaʻi cooperative model compares to HECO before the Board considers any resolution, noting that Kauaʻi's utility also experienced widespread outages during the recent storm, and that details would need to be carefully reviewed before any vote.

7. COMMUNITY CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS [1:14:12]

Hawaiian Electric Public Ownership [1:14:24]: Jason Liang restated his interest in bringing forward a resolution to make Hawaiian Electric a publicly owned utility, claiming the current for-profit structure creates disincentives to harden the grid, and again pointed to Kauaʻi's cooperative model and HECO's elimination of net metering as points of comparison. He invited interested community members to contact him to help with research. Member Koegel reiterated his comment that a detailed comparison to Kauaʻi's experience, including outages there during the recent storm, would be important before the Board considers voting on any related resolution.

8. BOARD BUSINESS [1:18:13]

A. Approval of Written Summary of Video Record: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 [1:18:13]: Member Castelfranco requested the written summary to refer to Amy Brown as "she" rather than "he."

[1:19:59] Member Castelfranco MOVED and Member Hara SECONDED to adopt the amended Wednesday, August 19, 2026 written summary. Without objection, the motion was adopted; 9-0-0 (Aye: Abe, Aguilera, Castelfranco, Gardner, Hara, Hoe, Koegel, Mandryk, and Otto Zaa; Nay: None; Abstain: None).

B. Report of Transportation Committee [1:20:21]: Transportation Committee Chair Abe stated the committee's update was covered earlier under the Mayor's Representative Report regarding TheBus Route 200.

C. Reports of Board Members Attending Other Neighborhood Board and Public Meetings [1:20:51]: No reports.

9. BOARD ANNOUNCEMENTS [1:20:59]

• City and County of Honolulu Planning Commission public meeting (remote and in-person) on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., at the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building, 6th floor conference room, 650 South King Street, regarding a special use permit for the Waiawa Correctional Facility.

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Kaimukī: The Honolulu Emergency Services Department anticipates basing an ambulance unit in Kaimukī beginning October 2026 to reduce response times (ambulances currently serving Kaimukī travel from Waikiki or Wailupe). An official announcement is planned for later this year. Questions may be directed to Shayne Enright at senright@honolulu.gov.

• Next Meeting: The Kaimukī Neighborhood Board No. 4 is scheduled to hold its next regular meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., in person at the Kaimukī Public Library meeting room and online via Webex.

• ʻOlelo Broadcast: Meetings can be viewed on Channel 49 at 9:00 p.m. on the second Sunday.

• Reporting Neighborhood Issues: Use the Honolulu 311 App (HNL311.com) to report City issues.

• YMCA: A resident acknowledged the Kaimukī YMCA director and staff in attendance and encouraged community members to join YMCA programs.

10. ADJOURNMENT: Vice Chair Hoe adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m.

Submitted by: Curtis Hayashi, Neighborhood Assistant, Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO)

Reviewed by: Rachel Cristobal, Neighborhood Assistant, Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO)

Final approval by:

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