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03. Waiʻalae-Kāhala NB Regular Meeting
Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse, 404 Kapahulu Avenue, 2nd Floor, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, 96815, United States, Honolulu
WAI‘ALAE - KĀHALA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 3
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2026 at 7:00 P.M.
ALA WAI GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE
404 KAPAHULU AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR, HONOLULU, HI 96815
AND VIA WEBEX
WEBEX MEETING LINK: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m90ba0cc0c06385379f06455c91322e2f
MEETING NUMBER/ ACCESS CODE: 2499 473 0796
PASSWORD: NB03 (6203 from phones and video systems)
JOIN BY PHONE: +1-408-418-9388
Other available options include participating by WebEx and phone; instructions listed above.
Meeting Materials: Find a monthly archive of handouts and referenced materials concerning to the Waiʻalae-Kāhala Neighborhood Board No. 3 at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17LXJxz95TzKD5-I_NellIitTwSrY6MBr
Recordings of Board Meetings can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/@NeighborhoodCommissionOffice
Rules of Speaking: Anyone wishing to speak is asked to raise their hand, and when recognized by the Chair, to address comments to the Chair. Speakers are encouraged to keep their comments under three (3) minutes, and those giving reports are urged to keep their reports under three (3) minutes. Please silence all electronic devices.
Note: The Board may take action on any agenda item. As required by the State Sunshine Law (HRS 92), specific issues not noted on this agenda cannot be voted on, unless added to the agenda. A two-thirds (2/3) vote six (6) of this nine (9)-member Board is needed to add an item to the agenda. Items may not be added if they are of major importance and will affect a significant number of people.
I. CALL TO ORDER — Chair Christian de Quevedo
II. CITY / STATE MONTHLY REPORTS (3 min. each)
a. Honolulu Fire Department
b. Honolulu Police Department
c. Board of Water Supply
d. Department of Transportation Representative — Casey Abe
III. FILLING OF VACANCIES One Vacancy — Subdistrict 1. Residents interested must provide current proof of residency or contact Neighborhood Assistant Anson Wu (anson.wu@honolulu.gov) in advance.
IV. REPORTS OF MEMBERS' ATTENDANCE AT OTHER MEETINGS
V. ELECTED OFFICIALS' REPORTS (3 min. each)
a. Governor's Representative
b. Mayor's Representative
c. Councilmember Tommy Waters
d. Representative Mark Hashem
e. Representative Tina Grandinetti
f. Senator Stanley Chang
VI. RESIDENTS' COMMUNITY CONCERNS (3 min. each)
VII. BOARD BUSINESS / UNFINISHED BUSINESS / PRESENTATIONS
A. Board Business
a. Approval of Thursday, March 19, 2026 and Thursday, April 16, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes
b. Election of Board Secretary
c. Recess Reschedule
d. Update — Alternative Venues for Future Board Meetings
e. Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) Update — Primary Urban Center Development Plan (PUCDP) and East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan (EHSCP)
B. New Business / Presentations
a. American Heart Association — 2026 Honolulu Heart Walk Presentation by Kamy Arakawa, Event Planning Director (Hawaiʻi), American Heart Association.
b. Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts — Wahi Pana Event at Triangle Park, June 12, 2026 Presentation by Marion Cadora, Curator of Public Art, on a free community evening event featuring artist TJ Tario's recreation of a historic mele about Lēʻahi.
c. 235 Kulamanu Place — SMA Major Permit Application SMA Major presentation by Hugh Brady (Planner) and Keola Cheng, Wilson Okamoto Corporation, on a proposed two-story single-family residence on a vacant residential lot in Subdistrict 4.
d. Waiʻalae Country Club — Office Extension, SMA Major Permit Application (SMA) Major presentation by Nicholas Capria, Ethos Architects LLC, on a proposed office extension at Waiʻalae Country Club.
e. Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design — Operator Update and Community Correspondence Scheduled operator update by Shangri La representatives, with receipt and discussion of community correspondence submitted by Board Member John Williamson regarding a recent incident at the property.
f. Climate & Resiliency Mandate for East Oʻahu (CRM-EO) Presentation by Board Member Aloha McGuffie on the draft Climate & Resiliency Mandate for East Oʻahu, carried forward from April 16, 2026. Possible board action.
g. Malamaʻumae Hui — Mauʻumae Park Greenspace Preservation — DEFERRED Continued discussion with Dr. Grace O'Neil, MD, and the Malamaʻumae Hui regarding preservation of Mauʻumae Park's open greenspace and the proposed kyudo facility — deferred to a future meeting.
h. Department of Education Property at 22nd Avenue / Puu Panini Avenue — Maintenance and Access Update from Barrett "Barry" Francis on the recent site meeting with the DOE Assistant Superintendent for Facilities and Operations regarding tree-line maintenance, green-waste disposal, and pedestrian sidewalk access. Possible board action or referral.
i. Department of Transportation Services (DTS) — Pedestrian Safety Response Status update on Board Member John White's letter to the DTS Deputy Director regarding pedestrian safety at Kahala Avenue / Diamond Head Road near Triangle Park; formal DTS response remains pending.
j. Waiʻalae Nui Channel Improvements — Notification to Neighborhood Boards Receipt of informational notice regarding upcoming Waiʻalae Nui Channel improvement work, forwarded to the Board through Pat Lee (Nuikoa).
k. TheBus Service Changes — Effective Sunday May 31, 2026 Informational notice from DTS Public Transit Division regarding islandwide TheBus service changes effective Sunday, May 31, 2026, including the new Route 317 (Ahua–Lagoon Drive).
l. Kilauea Avenue — Chronic Vehicle Occupation and Street Maintenance Concerns Continued discussion of long-term vehicle occupation along Kilauea Avenue and resulting impacts on street parking, street sweeping, and Monkeypod tree maintenance. Possible referral to HPD and the Department of Facility Maintenance.
m. Waiʻalae Nui Stream — Homeless Encampment Response Update from HPD and/or the Mayor's Representative on the status of the Request for Immediate Services and Response (RISR) submitted regarding encampments within the Waiʻalae Nui Stream corridor.
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Next Regular Meeting: Thursday, June 18, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse, 404 Kapahulu Avenue, 2nd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96815 — and via WebEx.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Waiʻalae Kāhala Neighborhood Board
A mailing list is maintained for interested persons and agencies to receive this board’s agenda and minutes. Additions, corrections, and deletions to the mailing list may be directed to the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) at Kapālama Hale, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96817; Telephone (808) 768-3710 Fax (808) 768-3711; or call (808) 768-3710 or e-mail. Agendas and minutes are also available on the internet at www.honolulu.gov/nco.
All written testimony must be received in the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours, written and/or oral testimony may be submitted directly to the board at the meeting. If submitting written testimony, please note the board and agenda item(s) your testimony concerns. Send to: Neighborhood Commission Office, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160 Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96817. Fax: (808) 768-3711. Email: nbtestimony@honolulu.gov.
If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability or an interpreter for a language other than English, please call the Neighborhood Commission Office at (808) 768-3710 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or send an email to nco@honolulu.gov as soon as possible, preferably at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. If a request is received with fewer than three (3) business days remaining before the meeting, we will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or accommodation, but it may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.
DRAFT REGULAR MEETING MEMORANDUM FOR VIDEO RECORD
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026 at 7:00 P.M.
ALA WAI GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE 404 KAPAHULU AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR, HONOLULU, HI 96815
AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING
Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3F3JPmxkP4
Reports & other meeting materials can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17LXJxz95TzKD5-I_NellIitTwSrY6MBr?usp=drive_link
I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:01]: Chair De Quevedo called the Waiʻalae-Kāhala Neighborhood Board No. 3 meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Quorum WAS NOT established with 4 members present. Note – This (9)-member Board requires (5) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action. Board members must be in-person or have video access.
Members Present: John White, Christian De Quevedo, Lee Castonguay, and Colin Fujiki.
Members Absent: Peter Dudgeon, Richard Turbin, Brian Wong, and Aloha McGuffie.
Guests: Firefighter (Honolulu Fire Department); Lieutenant Taro Nakamura (Honolulu Police Department); Lorna Heller (Board of Water Supply); Jen McVeay (Hibiscus Half Marathon); Casey Abe (HDOT); Patti Jette (Governor Josh Green's Office); Honglong Li (Mayor); Jeff Zukernick (C.O.R.E); Councilmember Tommy Waters; Jane Taylor (Representative Mark Hashem); Zephanii Smith Eisenstat (Senator Stanley Chang); Bob Dewitz (HKF); Barb Low, Bob, Barrett Francis, Keenan and Chris Kinimaka, Bruce, Traci, Dalen Kam, Randall Port, Grace Chen, Paul Hogan (Residents); and Anson Wu (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were approximately 53 total attendees.
II. CITY / STATE MONTHLY REPORTS – [0:01:14]
Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – [0:01:26]: The HFD representative provided the March 2026 statistics and April 2026 safety tips and highlighted the following:
• March 2026 Statistics: 15 activated alarms, 39 medical incidents, 1 motor vehicle collision with a pedestrian, and no other fires.
• April 2026 Safety Tip: Evacuation planning – residents are urged to create an emergency preparedness plan, identify at least two escape routes from their home, plan a neighborhood evacuation path, sign up for emergency notifications at hnlert.gov, and maintain a go bag (a subset of the all-hazards 14-day disaster supply kit).
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:02:54]
1. Motor Vehicle Collision Location: White asked about the location of the motor vehicle collision with a pedestrian. The HFD representative stated that precise location details were not available in the statistical report but he can provide the location at the next meeting.
Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – [0:03:44]: Lieutenant Taro Nakamura provided the March 2026 statistics and April 2026 safety tips and highlighted the following:
• March 2026 Statistics: 3 motor vehicle thefts (same as prior month); 2 burglaries (same); 13 thefts (down from 22); 4 unauthorized entries to motor vehicles/UEMVs (up from 3); 5,697 total calls for service.
• April 2026 Safety Tip: Tsunami preparedness — residents are encouraged to visit hfd websites to determine their home and work address tsunami evacuation zones and to prepare go bags.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:05:49]
1. Burglary Trend in Subdistricts 3 and 4: White noted that four burglaries had occurred month-to-date in Subdistricts 3 and 4, compared to the usual one or two per month, and asked whether Lt. Nakamura was aware of a trend. Lt. Nakamura stated he had asked the community policing team for details but was not aware of any specific recent trend in the Kāhala area. He noted statistics remained relatively constant and acknowledged the persistent issue of vacant homes being targeted for burglary.
2. Commercial Vehicle Parking: Port raised concerns about a commercial vehicle parked overnight and for days at a time at Puu Panini Avenue and 22nd Avenue near the Department of Education (DOE) lot. He cited Ordinance 15-16.6, which prohibits commercial vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs or longer than 20 feet from parking more than 4 hours in a single spot on a public street, and asked for the best approach to request enforcement. Lt. Nakamura confirmed that the ordinance applies only to public streets, that officers will mark the vehicle and return within 4 hours to issue a citation, and that actual vehicle removal/towing falls under the city’s Abandoned Vehicle (AV) section rather than HPD.
Board of Water Supply (BWS) – [0:11:49]: Lorna Heller provided the report and noted one main break for March 2026 – an 8-inch line on Hale Koa Drive. She announced that Detect-a-Leak Week is currently being observed in partnership with City Mill, encouraging residents to check for household water leaks that cause wasted water and higher utility bills. A free community event will be held at Kāhala Mall this Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., where free toilet leak detection dye tablets will be distributed. Tablets are also available at the Board of Water Supply lobby, City Mill locations, and satellite city halls.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:14:26]
1. Residential Sprinkler Leak: Hogan reported that a residential sprinkler at 4240 Kaikoo Place has been continuously leaking for years. He had called BWS but was unable to reach a live person and left a message with no follow-up for a week. Heller obtained the address on the spot and committed to researching whether BWS had previously visited the property and to notifying the appropriate staff.
Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) – [0:16:46]: Casey Abe provided the report and highlighted the following: February 2026 action items, graffiti and potholes were addressed as of February 23, 2026, though overgrown vegetation has since replaced previously cleared trash and will be addressed by maintenance crews. During a field inspection the prior Tuesday, he also identified a missing tactile mat at the Hunakai Street intersection in addition to the previously reported Kilauea Avenue location, and maintenance crews are working to install new mats at both sites. Homeless encampments remain on state highway rights-of-way, and HDOT will coordinate with its deputy director and homeless coordinator to offer assistance or request relocation, while remaining graffiti will be painted over by maintenance crews. Finally, the recent Kona Low storm created numerous potholes within state highway jurisdiction, and maintenance crews are addressing them as quickly as possible.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:18:15]
1. Pothole Repair Acknowledgment: Chair De Quevedo commended Abe and HDOT maintenance crews for proactively patching storm-related potholes without being asked. He identified two locations still in need of attention: near Waiʻālae and Kilauea under the underpass, and near Waiʻālae and Hunakai close to Foodland Farms.
[0:19:47] – Chair De Quevedo announced the meeting would proceed out of order to accommodate guests who were not heard at the prior month’s meeting.
Hibiscus Half Marathon – [0:20:22]: Jen McVeay provided an announcement regarding the 18th Annual Hibiscus Half Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, May 24, 2026. The race follows its usual route through the Waiʻālae-Kāhala and Wailupe neighborhoods, and no roads will be closed. At least 44 HPD officers will be stationed along the course to assist with traffic and participant safety. The event begins at 5:30 a.m. and all participants will be completely off the course by 9:30 a.m. A 15K and 5-mile race option are also available for residents who prefer a shorter distance.
American Heart Association – [0:22:01]: No representative was present.
III. FILLING OF VACANCIES – [0:22:28]
Subdistrict 1 – One Vacancy – [0:22:32]: As quorum was not established, there was no discussion of vacancies.
IV. REPORTS OF MEMBERS’ ATTENDANCE AT OTHER MEETINGS – [0:22:37]:
Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) Meeting – [0:22:48]: Chair De Quevedo reported that the PIG held its first organizational meeting. Attendees included him, White, Colin Fujiki, Castonguay, and McGuffie. The group met to discuss the board’s PIG subcommittee mission to support the review of the Primary Urban Center Development Plan (PUCDP) and East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan (EHSCP). Officers were elected at the meeting. The next PIG meeting date is to be determined and members will be notified by email.
V. ELECTED OFFICIALS’ REPORTS – [0:23:42]
Governor’s Representative – [0:23:45]: Patti Jette provided the report and highlighted the following that a request has been submitted to the Governor’s Office for state homeless coordinator Jun Yang to meet with the board for a community walkthrough, with a response pending due to storm-related delays across state departments. She deferred to community member Randall Port for a more current update on the Department of Education (DOE) property at Pūʻupanini Avenue, noting that Port has been in more recent contact with DOE than she has regarding the property in need of landscaping. She affirmed that she has shared the board’s concerns — including Chair De Quevedo’s offer to provide a native plant landscaping design plan — with DOE contacts on multiple occasions. She acknowledged Chair De Quevedo’s request to include Councilmember Waters in future correspondence and committed to continuing to press DOE for a substantive response. Jette stated she is available to take any questions and to continue advocating on the board’s behalf.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:25:28]
1. DOE Property on Pūʻupanini Avenue Update: Port provided a detailed update reporting that after months of community pressure, DOE crew’s recently weed-whacked shoulder-high vegetation along the sidewalk adjacent to the 6.5-acre DOE lot, restoring public access for pedestrians, strollers, and wheelchair users. However, the cut weeds were blown out and left on the dirt strip rather than removed, and Port warned the debris will die and attract animals, continuing the reactive cycle the community has endured. He called on DOE to maintain the property consistently rather than responding only after community anger, and to commit to a permanent landscaping plan rather than temporary cleanup measures.
2. Request for DOE On-Site Meeting: Francis stated the community has sought a formal on-site meeting with DOE leadership to discuss long-term uses for the 6.5-acre property, of which approximately 4.5 acres are completely unused. He noted that a letter was sent directly to Governor Green on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 of the prior year and was acknowledged but never substantively answered, and that Representative Grandinetti had written twice to the DOE Superintendent requesting a meeting with no reply to either letter. He asked whether the Governor’s Office could apply pressure on DOE leadership to take the matter seriously and facilitate the requested meeting. Jette acknowledged the additional information and committed to sharing it with DOE contacts alongside all prior communications.
3. Chair De Quevedo’s Statement: Chair De Quevedo stated that if DOE does not provide a satisfactory response or send a representative to the next board meeting, he will personally go to the DOE building and knock on doors until he finds someone capable of making a decision.
Mayor’s Representative – [0:36:40]: Honglong Li, Deputy Director of the Department of Transportation Services (DTS), provided the report and highlighted the following: announced that the City launched a storm recovery website at oneoahu.org, with cleanup operations ongoing across Oʻahu — particularly on the North Shore — and all previously planned Mayor’s Town Hall meetings indefinitely postponed while the administration focuses on storm damage response. On prior meeting follow-up items, DTS confirmed that the pedestrian crosswalk at Hunakai Street and Waiʻalae Avenue falls under state HDOT jurisdiction, so the concern was forwarded to HDOT with DTS standing ready to assist with any proposed improvements. Kāhala Avenue and Diamond Head Road are included in the Rehab of Streets Unit 94 project by the Department of Design and Construction, within which DTS is requesting traffic safety features consistent with the city’s Complete Streets Ordinance. The flashing beacon at Kāhala Avenue and Pāpū Circle, previously reported as malfunctioning in Board Member White’s February 2026 letter, was repaired in late March 2026. Li also announced that at the board’s prior request, Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (C.O.R.E.) Assistant Chief of Operations Jeffrey Zukernick was present to provide a report on homeless outreach operations.
C.O.R.E. – [0:41:28]: Jeff Zukernick introduced C.O.R.E. by noting that Honolulu Emergancy Management Services (EMS) call volume has grown from approximately 33,000 calls per year in 1994 to 110,000–111,000 today — a 350% per-capita increase despite only a 25% population growth — a trend that prompted C.O.R.E.’s creation as a specialized homeless outreach and EMS decompression unit. C.O.R.E. operates through four core functions: providing shelter access via approximately 14 community health workers in three daily teams who interview roughly 180 individuals per week and shelter 15–20 per week; deploying 6 nurses to treat unhoused individuals at the scene to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions; augmenting EMS through 3 dedicated C.O.R.E. ambulances focused on unhoused individuals who can be diverted from the Emergency Room (ER) to shelters; and conducting crisis response that allows a licensed mental health professional and specialized officers to involuntarily transport individuals in psychiatric crisis to Castle Medical Center, Queen’s Medical Center, or the Behavioral Health Crisis Center. C.O.R.E. recently hired its first case manager to coordinate continuity of care following hospital discharge, ensuring individuals are placed into shelters.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:48:54]
1. Forced Treatment for Mentally Ill/Impaired Individuals: White asked what tools are available to compel treatment for individuals who are clearly impaired or mentally ill but refuse shelter, citing a prior experience at Triangle Park. Zukernick described the Mental Health (MH)-3 pilot program as a newer approach: a mental health professional and specialized HPD CIT officers’ conduct a physical interview, and if the professional finds the individual is a danger to themselves, involuntary transport to a hospital is permitted under law.
2. Family Contact Tracking: Resident asked whether C.O.R.E. tracks and contacts relatives of unhoused individuals. Zukernick confirmed a shared database is under development to include relative information, noting that most family members are ultimately unwilling to engage.
3. Community Member Experience with C.O.R.E. Services: A Resident described personally helping an unhoused woman obtain hospital care and Institute for Human Services (HIS) placement and now paying $150/month to maintain her there, and asked whether C.O.R.E. has resources for such situations. Zukernick declined to comment on the specific case but affirmed that C.O.R.E. is operating as “version 2.0” with improved protocols, case management, and a commitment to doing the right thing for the right person at the right time.
4. Survey Data and Demographics: Shala asked whether C.O.R.E. surveys individuals on reasons for refusing shelter and whether data exists on the ratio of locally-born versus mainland-born unhoused individuals. Zukernick directed her to “Partners in Care” for demographic data and stated the primary reason individuals decline shelter is resistance to rules, particularly restrictions on alcohol and drugs. He confirmed that a significant number arrive on one-way tickets from mainland states and that IHS operates a repatriation program for those willing to return.
5. Cost Per Mainland Arrival and C.O.R.E. Budget: Chair De Quevedo asked about the per-person annual cost to local systems of a mainland-born unhoused individual. Zukernick stated he would look up the figure and noted C.O.R.E.’s total operations cost approximately $3 million per year and announced that a HUD grant is expected soon to expand C.O.R.E.’s scope of services.
6. Best Community Practices for Reporting: Chair De Quevedo asked how residents should engage when they witness a homeless individual in need. Zukernick advised calling 911 for medical emergencies and using HNL311 or contacting C.O.R.E. directly for non-emergency chronic situations.
Councilmember Tommy Waters – [1:06:01]: Councilmember Tommy Waters provided his report and highlighted the following: he thanked the board for helping defeat Senate Bill (SB) 2423, which would have allowed by-right residential lot subdivision down to 2,500 sq. ft., warned the bill will likely return, and discussed his prior work amending the Primary Urban Core Development Plan (PUCDP) to limit building heights above Kāhala Mall and constrain growth in the East Honolulu area, offering to continue working with the board’s PIG. He reported that he and city homeless coordinator Roy Miyahira accompanied Chair De Quevedo on a tour of Kāhala, uncovering encampments including individuals living inside a culvert near a local graveyard, and described his proposed legislation requiring substance abuse or mental health counseling for individuals picked up in parks along with his efforts to engage the new Chief Justice on judicial enforcement. He addressed the Mauʻumae Nature Park kyudojo, stating he can no longer support the project in good conscience given strong community opposition, and urged the Hawaiʻi Kyudo Foundation to seek a collaborative win-win solution with the community. Finally, he noted the City Council passed Resolution 26-62 keeping residential and business property tax rates unchanged, that the homeowners’ exemption has been raised twice under his chairmanship to help offset assessment increases.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:16:63]
1. Shopping Cart Ordinance Update: White asked for an update on the shopping cart ban initiative. Waters reported it is under review by an HPD commander to close definitional loopholes, noting that even carts labeled “Foodland” legally belong to the person in possession unless the retailer actively claims them. Waters confirmed that once introduced, the bill would ban shopping carts outside shopping center property and asked White to testify in its favor.
2. Bus Fare Increase: Kam asked why Waters raised the bus fare. Waters clarified that kūpuna fares were not raised – that was the compromise – and acknowledged that the Department of Transportation Services brought the increase to the council to cover rising operational costs. He expressed personal regret about the decision but stated sometimes hard choices must be made to protect kūpuna fares.
3. SB 3202 / ADU Legislation Update: Francis asked for an update on a SB 3202. Waters confirmed the subdivision provision was successfully removed and the ADU requirement was enacted locally via Bill 64, which requires one of the two ADUs to be a ʻohana unit rented to family, with setback and off-street parking requirements retained.
4. Density vs. Parking and Transportation Inconsistency: Castonguay raised a planning inconsistency: urban development plans do not propose increasing road or parking capacity, and in some cases reduce it through bike lane additions, while ADU policies simultaneously increase housing density and car ownership demand.
5. City Council Salary Increase: A resident asked about a recent city council salary increase. Waters explained that the charter-mandated Salary Commission sets council salaries outside council control; following a prior 64% increase, the community passed a charter amendment capping future increases at 5% tied to public service union averages. He stated the current 4.7% figure seems higher than the 3.5% that HGA and UPW received, and indicated he plans to donate or decline the most recent raise.
6. Stopping the Kyudojo Project: A resident asked what can be done given apparent forward movement from the Mayor’s Office. Waters urged community members to participate in the draft Environmental Assessment public comment process and in the Kaimukī Board’s Permitted Interaction Group, stating he does not believe the project is a done deal and encouraged residents to attempt to work collaboratively with Dewitz.
7. Appreciation for Homeless Walkthrough: Chair De Quevedo thanked Waters and his staff for the 2.5-hour van walkthrough of Kāhala homeless encampment sites alongside Roy Miyahira, and praised Waters for a 30-minute phone call with Aloha McGuffie in the rain on a Friday evening as a storm arrived. He stated he does not know any other politician who would dedicate that level of personal time to community concerns.
Representative Mark Hashem – [1:35:40]: Jane Taylor provided the report and highlighted the following Conference Committee begins the following week, with the Water and Land Committee working through 23 Senate bills and 23 House bills. She highlighted two legislative areas of particular interest to the Kāhala beach community: SB 2599 concerning stadium development, and coral reef restoration bills SB 2972 and House Bill (HB) 2599 — with the Senate bill focused specifically on coral restoration on Oʻahu and the House bill requiring Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to develop a comprehensive reef and native species management plan. Taylor praised the HNL311 mobile app as a widely used and highly effective constituent reporting tool. She noted that kūpuna and residents who find it difficult to use the app, call Representative Hashem’s office directly for assistance in reaching city departments on storm drains, road, or other issues.
Representative Tina Grandinetti – [1:38:05]: No representative present. Chair De Quevedo shared an announcement on her behalf regarding Art at the Capitol, a mini art festival scheduled for the following day from 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the State Capitol building. Her office, Room 304, will display art collections on loan from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, and the event will feature food, performances, and public engagement.
Senator Stanley Chang – [1:38:54]: Zephanii Smith Eisenstat provided the report and highlighted the following: she opened by acknowledging the evening’s discussion on homelessness and reporting that the office receives a significant number of constituent calls about encampments across the district, particularly on public sidewalks, with Office Manager Ruben actively coordinating with the Mayor’s Office, Governor’s Office, and HPD Commission — though cleared encampments tend to reappear, underscoring the limits of enforcement alone, while the longer-term strategy of transitioning individuals into supportive housing villages faces legal challenges that have slowed progress. She reported that Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is currently assessing infrastructure issues in the district, identifying overhead line sections connecting to underground systems that require maintenance, and encouraged residents to call HECO’s 855 number or use their website to report outages, which helps identify problem areas, including outages that have occurred with no apparent heavy wind or storms. With regard to storm relief, she previewed an upcoming newsletter covering relief options for impacted homeowners — including flood insurance, the Federal Housing Administration, and the Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) — and encouraged residents with flood insurance to file claims as soon as possible.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:45:37]
1. Homeless Issue Walkthrough: Chair De Quevedo asked Eisenstat to relay that he recently encountered the Senator at a coffee shop and looks forward to scheduling a walkthrough to discuss the district’s homeless concerns together, including a visit to Kāhala encampment areas. Eisenstat acknowledged the message and said she would relay it to the Senator immediately.
VI. RESIDENTS’ COMMUNITY CONCERNS – [1:46:21]: No concerns
VII. BOARD BUSINESS / UNFINISHED BUSINESS / PRESENTATIONS – [1:46:46]
A. Board Business – [1:46:49]
Approval of Thursday, February 19, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes – [1:46:51]: Due to quorum, this item was deferred.
Election of Board Secretary – [1:46:56]: This item was deferred.
Update – Alternative Venues for Future Board Meetings – [1:46:58]: This item was deferred.
Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) Update – Primary Urban Center Development Plan (PUCDP) and East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan (EHSCP) – [1:47:00]: This item was deferred.
B. New Business / Presentations – [1:47:02]
Kīlauea Avenue – Chronic Vehicle Occupation and Street Maintenance Concerns – [1:47:10]: Chair De Quevedo noted ongoing reports of individuals experiencing homelessness living in vehicles parked along Kīlauea Avenue, causing disturbances near public parks. This was observed firsthand by Chair De Quevedo and Councilmember Waters during a recent community walkthrough.
Waiʻālae Nui Channel Improvement – [1:47:50]: Chair De Quevedo announced, as positive news related to recent flooding, that capital improvements are planned for the Waiʻālae Nui Channel. Construction upgrades under Ray Santos’s leadership will make several large improvements to the channel, which runs from the valley all the way to the ocean, to assist with flooding damage and increase water-processing capacity. Chair De Quevedo expressed appreciation that action is already being taken on this issue.
Mālamaʻumae Hui – Mauʻumae Park Greenspace Preservation – [1:48:55]: Bob Dewitz provided a presentation on the proposed kyudojo at Mauʻumae Nature Park and highlighted the following: the facility occupying approximately 0.57 acres – less than 2% of the 30-acre park – that would include a permeable gravel parking lot, a publicly accessible meeting room, an open-floor wooden shooting gallery, and a target house with a sand berm, all to be donated to the City upon completion and operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation. He provided historical and cultural context, explaining that kyudo has a 125-year presence in Hawaiʻi – supported by a dozen clubs prior to WWII before wartime internment and equipment confiscation nearly destroyed the practice – and that the last public kyudo facility at Kapiʻolani Park was shut down approximately 10 years ago, making this proposal an effort to restore important cultural heritage. The project is consistent with the Primary Urban Center Development Plan policies. On safety, Dewitz stated that a professional engineer’s computer-modeled all possible arrow vectors, two of three barriers are being upgraded to metal, a supervising range master will always be present, and the design mirrors systems used in hundreds of dojos in dense urban Tokyo, resulting in no vector for an arrow to escape the facility. Project will not contribute to the existing flooding problems. A professional archaeological and cultural assessment found the site was extensively altered 70–80 years ago with 1–3 feet of overfill, with no storied places, traditional cultural practices, or heiau identified within the project area and most existing vegetation identified as invasive species. He closed by noting the project is not a done deal.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [2:10:35]
1. Archery Usage Hours: Castonguay asked what percentage of a typical 10-hour park day would be used for archery. Dewitz stated the initial weekly schedule would total approximately 12 hours: one weeknight session (7–10 p.m.) and two weekend sessions (one Saturday and one Sunday, afternoon or morning).
2. Reason for Presenting to This Board: Castonguay asked why Dewitz was presenting to the Waiʻālae-Kāhala Board. Dewitz explained that community members in opposition brought the matter here, viewing Mauʻumae Nature Park as a regional asset for the broader area, and he wanted to ensure this board had the opportunity to hear both sides of the issue.
3. Procurement and Labor: Fujiki asked whether the Hawai‘i Kyudo Foundation (HKF) is using the Hawaii State procurement process to build the facility through public sector or private construction with nonunion work. Dewitz clarified that because they are building a new facility then donating it to the City and County of Honolulu, public procurement rules do not apply, however they have lined up union contractors to do the project.
4. Community Giveback beyond the Project Site: Fujiki asked whether HKF is providing broader community benefits. Dewitz cited the upsized irrigation system designed to support park reforestation efforts and public restrooms.
5. Partnership Term and Public Use: Fujiki asked about the lease length, whether HKF is bonded and how are they making the facility available for other public use. Dewitz confirmed there is no lease — HKF holds a 25-year partnership agreement; the facility becomes city property upon completion and is maintained by the city; a non-performance clause allows the city to terminate HKF and take over; and no bond is required to be given that the city assumes full ownership from the outset. The initial hours will be based on the number of users one session for classes to teach new people, one session for existing clubs, and another session that is open to people that have passed the safety qualification for open shooting. As demand grows, they will adjust the schedule for Kyudo. The meeting room or the use of the kyudo facility can be booked through the Department of Parks and Recreation website.
6. Religious Organization Status: Chair De Quevedo asked whether HKF is a religious organization. Dewitz answered: not at all.
7. Public-Private Partnership Precedent Concerns: Chair De Quevedo expressed hesitancy about public-private partnerships where the community is left with maintenance obligations if a foundation becomes insolvent, citing Doris Duke’s property as an example of a $14 million liability inherited by the state.
8. Supporting Constituents: De Quevedo asked if Dewitz has brought in anyone that would like to speak in support of the project. Dewitz noted that his constituents decided not to attend the meeting to not create controversy.
9. Kaimukī Board Decision: Chair De Quevedo asked if the Kaimukī board already voted for the project. Dewitz clarified that the Kaimukī Board had already voted in support of the October resolution, was recently presented a resolution to oppose the project but was voted down, and then took action to establish a PIG.
10. No Vote Taken: Chair De Quevedo confirmed no vote will be taken at this meeting due to lack of quorum and the ongoing Kaimukī Board process. The board will reach out to the Kaimukī Board prior to the May 2026 meeting and carry this item forward.
11. Opposition: Multiple residents of Kaimukī voiced opposition to the proposed kyudojo stating that community outreach and survey is lacking; a contract was signed with the city in May 2025 without broader public awareness, the project was not publicly known until November 2025, nature trails at the Park will be lost; flooding risk persists if engineering assumptions prove incorrect, proposed driveway creates a significant traffic safety hazard, leaving the park as natural as possible and allowing only passive recreation, the development could affect the permeability of the watershed and reduce aquifer recharge, expressed concern about placing any arrow-related activity near neighborhoods where children play and residents walk their dogs, prioriti29 environmental protection, and suggested kyudojo be built in an alternative sites.
[2:29:21] – Chair De Quevedo disclosed a conflict of interest financially with Dr. Grace.
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [2:30:05]
Candidate Announcement – [2:30:13]: Kahi Pacarro introduced himself as a candidate for State House District 19, running against incumbent Representative Mark Hashem. He announced a talk story event on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Kuliʻouʻou Beach Park and encouraged community members to attend and speak with him before or after the meeting, noting this is his second or third consecutive board attendance.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [2:31:13]
1. District Candidates: Chair De Quevedo asked who is Pacarro running against. Pacarro clarified that he is running against Representative Mark Hashem. Chair De Quevedo opened the floor for other candidates.
Next Regular Meeting – [2:31:57]: Chair De Quevedo noted the board will not take a recess for May 2026 and will have a meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026, 7:00 p.m. at Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse, 404 Kapahulu Avenue, 2nd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96815, and via WebEx.
IX. ADJOURNMENT – [2:32:02] – Chair De Quevedo adjourned the meeting at 9:45 p.m.
Submitted by: Anson Wu, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
Finalized by:
To view agenda and minutes, visit our board website.
Event shows physical location; however, other options of participation may also include WebEx and phone. If available, instructions for WebEx and phone can be found at the top of the agenda.
