No 20 ʻAiea Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting February 2026
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20 Aiea Neighborhood Board Meeting – February 11, 2026
Board Attendance and Opening
The meeting convened at the Aiea Public Library and via online connection. Roll call indicated that some board members were absent, and it was noted that a total of seven members were present. With a quorum established, the meeting agenda proceeded. Several city and state agencies were acknowledged as either present online or unable to attend. The Chair welcomed all in attendance and reminded participants about the importance of submitting timely community concerns and updates.
Honolulu Police Department (HPD) Updates
A lieutenant from HPD provided crime statistics comparing December 2025 to January 2026. Motor vehicle thefts slightly decreased from eight to seven. Burglaries dropped from four to three, while thefts went from 26 to 22. Car break-ins rose by one, going from six to seven. Total calls for service in December reached 1,388, compared to 1,261 in January. Two recent burglary cases drew particular attention: a January 14th home burglary in which a safe containing valuables was stolen, and a January 31st restaurant burglary at Waimanu Shopping Center involving another safe. Both suspects, a 63-year-old man and a 51-year-old man respectively, were identified and arrested with charges pending. HPD stressed that surveillance video footage was critical in solving these types of crimes and encouraged community members to invest in camera systems.
Crime Concerns Near Public Housing
Residents questioned HPD about repeated shootings and violent incidents occurring near public housing in the stadium area. HPD responded that many offenders come from outside the area and may be involved in turf-related conflicts. Several individuals are juveniles who have acquired firearms through burglaries or by other illegal means. Due to poor decisions, disagreements among these youth sometimes escalate into violence. Concerns were raised about holding parents accountable, particularly if they live in public housing, and improving outreach efforts to stop juvenile offenders from committing further crimes. Community members requested the formation of a specific task force or outreach program at the housing complex to curtail youth-related crime, possibly requiring enhanced parental involvement.
Board of Water Supply Report
A Board of Water Supply representative reported two main water line breaks in the district: a 12-inch main break on Halawa Heights Road on January 9, and an 8-inch main break on Paiihi Street on January 14. Board of Water Supply also launched its 2026 Poster and Poetry Contest, with the theme “Everyday Conservation.” The poster portion is open to kindergarten through sixth grade, and the poetry portion is open to seventh through twelfth grade students. The deadline for entries is February 27, 2026. The representative also shared information on an Instagram contest called “Kauai Wednesday” that aims to promote water conservation awareness with trivia and prizes. Questions arose about sewer rate increases, and the representative clarified that sewer charges originate from the Department of Environmental Services but do appear on Board of Water Supply bills, resulting in visible cost increases that began in January 2026.
Mayor’s Office and City Agency Announcements
The Mayor’s representative, the Director of the Department of Design and Construction, highlighted items from the February Mayor’s Newsletter, including proposed renovations at Kahuku District Park, celebrating Black History Month, Honolulu Fire Department’s 175th anniversary, a new off-leash dog park in Makiki, and a new ultraviolet (UV) treatment system in Kailua meant to protect ocean waters. The representative encouraged residents to report issues through the improved HNL 311 system, emphasizing that it allows local government to identify and respond to problems more effectively. Specific neighborhood discussions included renewing the Neighborhood Security Watch in Royal Summit, HPD’s approach to community safety action steps, and improved bus frequency requests. The Department of Transportation Services indicated that resource limitations currently prevent expansions to certain circulator routes and bus schedules, while ridership statistics on various routes were provided to illustrate shifting transit needs. Residents also asked about dog-friendly parks and potential plans for restrooms at the Aiea Interim Park, referred to as Keolo‘o Aiea ‘Ohana Park. The Department of Parks and Recreation has no funded construction plans yet but is open to future development ideas.
Council Reports
Councilmember Okimoto’s office highlighted bills under the Budget Committee, including measures to establish fees in the Department of the Medical Examiner for non-mandated services, enhance government transparency through a searchable online database of city revenues, and enable real-time tracking of budget expenditures. The office encouraged the community to remain vigilant about feral chicken issues, utilize graffiti reporting tools, and provide testimony on budget matters. Councilmember Cordero’s report underscored ongoing projects, including sign repairs along local roads, tree stump removal and replanting near Pali Momi Medical Center, and safety solutions for crosswalks at intersections with obstructed views. Cordero also clarified discussion about lowering senior housing eligibility in a local complex from 62 to 55 years old, noting that the measure was removed from a council agenda at the request of the housing developer.
Department of Health Concerns: Catholic Charities Home
The Department of Health (DOH) updated the Board on matters surrounding a Catholic Charities-operated home for at-risk youth in Royal Summit. Residents cited repeated HPD visits, alleged incidents of runaways, and continued frustration with the facility’s population. DOH explained that Catholic Charities met contract requirements by maintaining staff on-site, though the manager may not be present every hour and is entitled to off-duty time. Residents questioned whether the facility’s operational policies for community safety were sufficient, including elopement procedures if youths attempt to leave the property. DOH stated that Catholic Charities has relevant protocols in place and that the series of policies, staff training, and continuous assessments satisfy standard risk management expectations. However, residents remain concerned about repeated disturbances and will continue raising these issues.
Aiea Community Association Update
The Aiea Community Association reminded everyone of its upcoming meeting scheduled for February 24 and encouraged residents to attend in order to stay informed and contribute to community discussions. No additional major updates were announced.
Hawai‘i Department of Transportation Report
A representative from the state Department of Transportation discussed ongoing projects on Oahu’s major highways, including continuous weekend lane closures for the H-1 eastbound from Middle Street to Likini Street. The closures are necessary for water main connections and lane widenings, aimed at relieving choke points. Projects such as the H-1 Salt Lake rehabilitation and the H-1 viaduct improvements near Pearl City will continue for several more months or even years, depending on weather-related delays. The Department of Transportation also paved the Moanalua Road near St. Elizabeth Church and will evaluate suggestions for better speed mitigation on Kamehameha Highway ramps where drivers often accelerate recklessly to merge onto Moanalua Freeway.
Pearlridge Center Update
Pearlridge Center’s representative announced two new Islandwear stores—Fam Hawaii in the former Icee’s location near Arby’s and Na Koa opening in early March in the former Kalena store by Ross. Upcoming cultural events include Cherry Blossom Festival performances, Chinese New Year activities, a Blood Bank of Hawaii blood drive, and special activities for Easter with photo sessions. The center also shared details on a live Moanalua Middle School band performance in late March. A question arose regarding tent safety, as high winds had partially blown over a vendor tent onto Kamehameha Highway, prompting the center to reinforce vendor guidelines for securing tents in inclement weather.
Stadium Authority Update
A stadium authority representative described recent developments at the Aloha Stadium site. Swap meet operations continue, with occasional special events. An event in partnership with the city’s Department of Transportation Services promoted Skyline service and a limited-edition HoloCard. The Stadium team introduced new photo stations featuring recycled seating from the stadium, including a large pineapple sculpture repurposed from stadium seats. Demolition work is still slated to begin soon, with heavy equipment due to arrive by mid-February. The master development agreement is nearing completion, signaling progress toward the new stadium. Full stadium closure is in place, staff have relocated nearby, and initial dismantling efforts are expected to commence in March.
Navy and Department of Defense Update
Navy representatives reiterated their ongoing efforts to address Red Hill fuel storage issues and the permanent closure of underground tanks. The Navy is engaged in degassing and tank-clearing work at Red Hill, with a plan to host an open house in late March to inform the community about remediation progress, pipeline removal operations, and water quality updates. Additionally, the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam team is open to volunteering in local community events if partners can coordinate requests. Community members were reminded of the Red Hill Registry, which helps track health outcomes and fosters transparency regarding contaminated water concerns.
Hawaiian Electric Discussion
A Hawaiian Electric representative spoke on recent power outages and reliability concerns caused by high winds and aging infrastructure. Plans to replace underground cables in portions of Aiea with a modern conduit system are underway, including specific projects in the Keava, Nahele, Apala, Ulu, Kupu Kupu, Hapaki, and Piki streets. Hawaiian Electric responded to questions about solar battery energy storage systems, explaining that lithium-ion battery units equate to shipping-container-sized nodes often connected to solar fields. They are designed with built-in fire suppression systems to prevent or contain fires, though questions remained about the extent to which local fire departments could extinguish lithium-ion unit fires. Hawaiian Electric noted that the overall goal of battery storage is to integrate more renewable power onto the grid.
Community Concerns
Residents expressed gratitude toward the Aiea Junior League Football organization for their local youth programs, particularly those that include children from public housing. Concerns arose about congested parking along Kaahale Street near group practices. The organization pledged to work with the community to find an amicable solution and better manage crowding. Separately, a resident described safety risks posed by a temporary “jumper” cable obstructing sidewalks, which Hawaiian Electric confirmed is necessary until underground cable repairs and permits are completed. Residents stressed that such obstacles force pedestrians, including children, into the street, underscoring the urgency of a resolution.
Board of Water Supply Desalinization Presentation
A Board of Water Supply official delivered an update on the planned Kalaeloa seawater desalination facility. This $149 million project will use federal grants and loans to create a drought-proof water supply. The plant will situate in Campbell Industrial Park. Deep wells will extract saltwater, run it through reverse osmosis to remove minerals, and then reintroduce the desalination byproduct, or brine, into deeper cap rock strata. The project is slated to produce up to 2.55 million gallons per day and should be operational by 2028. Environmental considerations include foregoing an ocean intake or outfall due to ecological risks, and the complex will incorporate an educational green space acknowledging the history of the Kalaeloa area.
O‘ahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) Presentation
A presenter provided updates on plans to replace the aging OCCC in Kalihi with a modern facility located at the Animal Quarantine Station site near Halawa. The new jail, designed for detainees awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences, will separate populations more effectively, focus on rehabilitation, and provide better healthcare for inmates with mental and medical needs. The layout features intake, medical areas, administrative offices, and upgraded security and visitation facilities. Construction costs rose from earlier estimates to over $900 million, partly due to inflation and the continuing delay. The project is expected to proceed under a public-private partnership (P3) model, with a 30-year term for possible maintenance and operation agreements.
Feral Pig Management
A local business specializing in humane feral pig trapping and removal introduced its services. This method captures pigs alive using a villa-like steel trap monitored by cameras, and if needed, dispatches the animals off-site. The service charges a weekly fee and a per-pig rate. The representative explained that local associations, such as in Royal Summit, can coordinate with property owners to reduce pig damage and conflict. Another planned presentation from the Oahu Pig Hunters Association did not occur.
Board Decisions and Additional Business
Toward the end of the meeting, residents from Kekialii Street sought the Board’s support for a no-parking zone near the corner of Kaahale Street, citing an increase in parked vehicles that obscure sight lines. They gathered signatures from neighbors but explained that securing Neighborhood Board support was a step requested by the City to bolster their case. During a vote, quorum conditions and abstentions resulted in no formal resolution of support. The meeting also included a brief approval of the prior month’s written summary.
Upcoming Meetings and Adjournment
Legislative staff reported on various state bills concerning criminal justice, homelessness, taxation, elections, and consumer protection. State officials outlined capital improvement projects affecting Aiea and commemorated first responders for their efforts during the recent high-wind weather. The next Neighborhood Board meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the Aiea Public Library and online, with announcements about board business and community events to be posted. The meeting adjourned shortly before 10:00 p.m.