No 18 Āliamanu-Salt Lake-Foster Village-Airport Neighborhood Board Meeting August 2026
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18 Aliamanu-Salt Lake Neighborhood Board Meeting – August 14, 2026
Salt Lake Shopping Center Noise and Police Presence
Residents near Salt Lake Shopping Center again raised concerns about disruptive vehicle noise, loud engines, and amplified music, particularly late at night and around 2 a.m. The disturbance reportedly affects nearby seniors, including regular patrons informally known as the “McDonald’s gang,” and has become a recurring, nearly nightly problem. Residents said that although they call police, officers often arrive 10 to 20 minutes later, by which time the vehicles have left. Board Member Omura proposed that the Honolulu Police Department consider leasing a vacant former dentist’s office in the shopping center as a small two-officer station or substation, which could improve response times throughout Salt Lake. The attending police representative agreed to raise the suggestion with command staff and asked for the shopping center management’s contact and leasing information. The request was later repeated to Council Member Radin Cordero’s office, which agreed to relay it to the council member. The board also thanked HPD personnel for serving multiple districts while short-staffed and working shifts reportedly lasting approximately 13 hours.
Warrior Award Postponed
The recipient of the Neighborhood Board 18 Warrior Award was not present. The board postponed the recognition to a date to be determined.
Operation Clean Sweep and Genki Ball Events
Salt Lake Waterways announced the return of Operation Clean Sweep, with a community cleanup and Genki ball-making event scheduled for August 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Salt Lake community and Honolulu Country Club planned to jointly make 2,000 Genki balls, with each partner contributing half of the materials or effort. Organizers had already prepared the cleanup site and asked volunteers to wear covered shoes, bring gloves and sunscreen, and participate in both the cleanup and ball-making activities. On August 29, also from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., volunteers will toss the 2,000 balls into the water during an event paired with a free pop-up market described as a small “Taste of Salt Lake.” Food and craft vendors, local organizations, and community resources are expected to participate. HPD community policing personnel plan to offer keiki and kūpuna identification services, the Honolulu Fire Department intends to bring a truck if it is not responding to an emergency, and HI-EMA representatives are expected to provide disaster-preparedness information. The pop-up market and food vendors will be part of the August 29 event rather than both dates.
Moanalua High School Homecoming Activities
The board announced a 2026 high school homecoming week themed “Mene’s Uncharted Into the Jungle,” scheduled from September 4 through September 11. Activities include a cheer competition announced for September 9 at 11:26 a.m. in Mene Square, a banner competition on September 8 at 8 a.m. in the school library, a floor show and trivia competition on September 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the gymnasium, and a song competition on September 10 from 8:50 to 9:50 a.m. in the gym. The homecoming parade is scheduled for September 11 from 3 to 4 p.m. and will travel through the Salt Lake neighborhood along Ala Ilima Street, Ala Nanala Street, and Likini Street before returning toward the school. Community members interested in judging one or more activities were asked to contact student activities coordinator Nelson Ishida.
Red Hill Registry Enrollment and Community Advisory Group
Megan Curtis, representing the Red Hill Registry, encouraged people affected by the Red Hill jet-fuel release to enroll and verify their enrollment status. The registry was co-designed with the community to track health outcomes, guide future fuel-exposure research and clinical recommendations, and connect affected residents with resources. Enrollment questions may be directed to 808-427-8260 or info@redhillregistry.org. The registry website also offers a “Dear Healthcare Professional” letter that participants can bring to medical providers. Residents interested in helping guide the registry may apply for its Community Advisory Workgroup through redhillregistry.org/CAW.
Helicopter and General Noise Standards
The board followed up on a complaint submitted by resident Andy Ha concerning helicopter noise and other forms of noise pollution. Although Ha was not present, the board made available information from Chapter 11-46 of the Hawaii Administrative Rules covering maximum permissible sound levels and the noise-variance fee schedule. The standards establish daytime limits from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and nighttime limits from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., with allowable decibel levels varying by zoning district. The information may help residents and organizations document complaints involving helicopters, golf-course parties, noisy vehicles, and other persistent disturbances. The board intends to retain the material for use when future noise concerns arise.
Halawa Street and Private Property Maintenance
The board revisited a July concern from resident Lynn Wong regarding maintenance or damage near Halawa Street. Determining responsibility will require coordination with state agencies and other entities because jurisdiction is unclear. Damage located on private property would generally be the property owner’s responsibility; problems within a public right-of-way may be reported through the city’s 311 application for routing to the appropriate agency.
Mayor’s Office Updates and Emergency Preparedness
In the absence of a mayoral representative, the chair summarized a written report. Hawaii driver’s licenses and state identification cards have received their first major redesign and security enhancement in 17 years. David Lazar was sworn in as the Honolulu Police Department’s 13th chief. With severe weather approaching, residents were urged to prepare in advance and register at hnlalert.gov for HNL Alert notifications; the city planned public updates daily at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. until the storm passed. The Youth Climate Action Fund was also accepting applications for grants of up to $5,000 to design and carry out climate-related projects, with a September 7, 2026 deadline.
Salt Lake Emergency Medical Services Coverage
The Mayor’s Office responded to an earlier board concern about reductions in overnight advanced life support service that were scheduled to take effect January 4, 2026. The Honolulu Emergency Services Department said that since January it has maintained advanced life support coverage for Salt Lake and the Aliamanu area through a combination of the Salt Lake EMS unit near the airport and neighboring units when assistance is needed. EMS is planning additional staffing in the Salt Lake area over the next several months to improve the strength and consistency of coverage while continuing to manage finite personnel and operational resources.
Road, Weed, and Drainage Jurisdiction Issues
The Department of Facility Maintenance reported that severe potholes on Valkenburg Street near the Navy-Marine Golf Course fall under federal jurisdiction, possibly that of the Navy. The deteriorated far-right eastbound lane of Nimitz Highway is under the State Department of Transportation Highways Division rather than the city. A request concerning overgrown roadside weeds could not be investigated without a more specific location, and Board Member Omura was asked to identify the affected area. Jurisdiction also remains unresolved for the mauka-side ditch along Nimitz Highway between Camp Catlin Road and Valkenburg Street. Nimitz Highway is state-controlled, while some adjoining property is federally owned, and portions may belong to the Navy. The Department of Community Services indicated that HDOT owns parts of the corridor and is checking whether other sections are under Navy control.
Camp Catlin Road Encampment, Litter, and Pedestrian Safety
Board Member Omura identified the most urgent ditch concern as the mauka side of Nimitz Highway near Camp Catlin Road, across from the nearby hotel and McDonald’s. The area underwent a major cleanup approximately three years ago and remained relatively clear until a new encampment appeared and trash began accumulating again. Omura distinguished it from a longer-established encampment farther west near Valkenburg Street, which he said is periodically cleaned and has caused fewer concerns. He connected poor maintenance near Camp Catlin Road with public safety, noting that two elderly women walking to work or a bus stop around 5 or 6 a.m. were reportedly assaulted in the area within the past one or two years. Joint Base public affairs representative Chuck Anthony agreed to investigate whether the land is Navy property. HDOT representative Galen Wong requested the exact information in writing and agreed to consult Oahu District staff and road-cleanup crews before the next meeting.
Halawa Stream Maintenance and Dredging
Council Member Radin Cordero’s office reported that the Department of Facility Maintenance cleared Halawa Stream last year from Salt Lake Boulevard to the area behind 99-221 Ohekani Loop. Cordero has submitted a request for additional maintenance and is awaiting information from Congressman Ed Case’s office about possible federal funding for stream dredging. The issue has also been discussed by the Aiea Neighborhood Board. DFM asked Neighborhood Board 18 to identify precise problem locations so it can schedule a site visit and assess maintenance needs. The board also discussed $15,000 reportedly appropriated for a drone that could assist with stream inspection or enforcement. The chair asked whether public-property imagery could eventually be shared to show erosion or damage. Cordero’s office agreed to determine whether the appropriation was approved, whether $15,000 is adequate, and when acquisition may begin.
Salt Lake District Park Pool and Security Cameras
Council Member Cordero is working with the Department of Parks and Recreation district manager to support funding for the Salt Lake District Park swimming pool in the upcoming fiscal year. Residents with pool questions were directed to DPR at 808-768-3003. Cordero also appropriated $40,000 in fiscal year 2026 for security cameras at the park. The funding was approved, and DPR reported that it was acquiring the cameras. Once the equipment arrives, installation is expected to take approximately two to three weeks.
Proposed Transfer of Community Policing Funds
Council Member Cordero expressed concern about Resolution 26-173, under which HPD proposes transferring $280,000 originally appropriated to community policing teams for the purchase of all-terrain vehicles. The money was approved during the fiscal year 2027 budget to expand community policing operations and programs, including neighborhood outreach, security watches, citizen patrol groups, and promotional materials. Although ATVs may serve a legitimate operational need, Cordero’s office said redirecting the entire amount would change the funding from direct community-policing work to equipment acquisition. The resolution was referred to the City Council Budget Committee and was expected to be heard on August 25, 2026. Residents who want the money preserved for its original purpose were encouraged to submit written or oral testimony using the information in Cordero’s report.
Transportation Projects and School-Zone Speed Limits
The Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization is proposing several Council District 7 projects in the federal fiscal years 2025–2028 Transportation Improvement Program. These include Complete Streets design work for Dillingham Boulevard, a Sand Island Access Road truck wait station estimated at $21 million, and electric-vehicle facilities and microgrids for the HDOT Oahu Base Yard estimated at $11 million. Separately, in accordance with Ordinance 24-32, the city is lowering speed limits in school zones on city roads from 25 mph to 20 mph between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on school days.
Redesigned Driver’s License Online Service
Eligible Oahu residents may request a duplicate of the redesigned Hawaii driver’s license through a new city online portal rather than visiting a DMV office. The duplicate must use the name, address, and other information already on file; no information changes can be made through this process. The online duplicate fee is $7, and the card is expected to be mailed to the address on record within five weeks.
Crosswalk, Sidewalk, Parking, and Traffic Enforcement
The Department of Transportation Services completed a study of Ala Poha Place at Ala Napunani Street and determined that a marked crosswalk is warranted. DTS recommended installation and issued a work order to the Department of Facility Maintenance. At Howard Shima–Likini Street Mini Park, the city addressed a cracked sidewalk near the entrance to a shared weir used by DPR and the Department of Environmental Services. DPR was to remove the damaged concrete, expose and prune tree roots as necessary, and install a new sidewalk, with a temporary closure while the concrete cured. HPD also inspected Puu Kumauka Drive and Wanaka Street after complaints about cones being used to reserve public curbside parking. Officers removed cones from the public roadway, and residents were reminded to report active illegal parking through 911. At Ala Ilima Street and Ala Napua Place, HPD monitored traffic on June 23 and June 25 but observed no violations; residents were encouraged to continue reporting safety concerns.
Vehicle Sales, Auto Repair, and Abandoned Vehicles
The Department of Planning and Permitting conducted multiple inspections between February 6 and July 7 at 1036 Ala Lilikoi Street but found no evidence that an illegal used-vehicle sales business was operating there. Vehicles parked on Ala Lilikoi Street remain an HPD matter. Earlier in the year, District 5’s Community Policing Team cited vehicles for delinquent taxes and expired safety inspections, identified abandoned vehicles, and coordinated removals. Three vehicles on Ala Nanala Street were repeatedly investigated beginning in January 2026, but each had moved and therefore did not initially meet the abandoned-vehicle criteria. On July 21, however, District 5 officers checked the street and had two vehicles towed. DPP also inspected 1041 Aila Street on July 17 and found no illegal auto-repair business.
Fence Maintenance Near Ala Puu Uwa Place
The Department of Facility Maintenance reviewed a fence between 2912 Ala Puu Uwa Place and property identified as Popo Kolea Estates Ltd. DFM concluded that the fence is outside a city-maintained easement and is not maintained by the city.
State Follow-Up on Helicopter Noise
Senator Glenn Wakai’s office reported that it had contacted the Department of Transportation Airports Division regarding helicopter noise and was awaiting a response. DOT Airports was reportedly attempting to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration. Constituents were encouraged to document incidents and contact the senator’s office so the complaints can be forwarded to both DOT Airports and the FAA. Wakai’s office also said it is coordinating with Council Member Cordero on Halawa Stream erosion and highlighted capital improvement funding for a Radford High School band-room renovation and safer walkways at Makalapa Elementary School.
Questions About Drone Surveillance and Privacy
Board Member Omura asked whether government use of drones for law enforcement surveillance has been determined to be constitutional. He cited possible uses such as identifying illegal fireworks activity on July 4 or New Year’s Eve, while acknowledging concerns about privacy rights and unlawful surveillance. Senator Wakai’s representative agreed to follow up with the senator regarding drone use by HPD or other agencies. The discussion was distinct from the proposed stream-inspection drone and focused on broader surveillance authority.
Tropical Storm Lala and Park Closure
Representative Linda Ichiyama reported that Governor Josh Green had recently signed bills associated with the Kūpuna Caucus and Women’s Caucus. Her community update also included wildfire-safety information because Hawaii remained in the dry season despite an approaching storm. Salt Lake Elementary School advised her that Salt Lake District Park would close beginning at noon on August 15 for storm preparations, with gates potentially closed and equipment or trucks staged nearby. Residents were urged to sign up for Oahu emergency-management alerts and monitor updates concerning Tropical Storm Lala.
Feral Chickens and Other Feral Animals
Representative Garner Shimizu followed up on complaints about feral chickens, which he described as common throughout the community. In addition to the city’s eradication program, the Department of Health Vector Control Branch may be able to assist affected residents. Shimizu emphasized that feeding chickens, cats, pigs, and other feral animals allows populations to grow and transfers the consequences to surrounding neighbors. He asked residents not to feed feral animals and offered his office as a point of contact for Vector Control information.
Military Vegetation and Rockfall Responsibility
Shimizu scheduled an August 24 meeting with the Navy concerning private property in Moanalua Valley that borders military land. The discussion will address the Navy’s responsibility for controlling vegetation and mitigating potential rockfall hazards. He acknowledged that funding and jurisdiction may complicate the solution but said direct coordination would allow the parties to review conditions and possible remedies.
Speed Reduction Through Road Design
Speeding remains a concern on major neighborhood roads such as Salt Lake Boulevard, Halawa Heights Road, Halawa Drive in Foster Village, and Ala Mahamoe in Moanalua. For Ala Mahamoe, city transportation officials have proposed a first-tier treatment involving dedicated parking lanes on each side of the road. The narrower travel lanes are intended to cause drivers to slow naturally, an approach the city has used elsewhere. Completion was anticipated by the end of 2026. Shimizu encouraged residents to continue documenting speeding because repeated community reports can lead transportation agencies to analyze and respond to problem corridors.
Graffiti Cleanup Safety
A Lions Club interested in removing graffiti from a Moanalua Valley drainage channel sought city approval but was told the work could not proceed because drainage canals are prohibited volunteer-work areas due to safety hazards. The city welcomes volunteer and nonprofit assistance with graffiti cleanup in appropriate locations, but groups must obtain authorization. Shimizu’s office offered to help organizations navigate that process.
Support for Kūpuna Living Alone
Representative Shimizu discussed encounters with kūpuna who live alone and may be unable to care fully for themselves or obtain needed support. He directed residents and families to the City and County Elderly Affairs Division and its Kūpuna Helpline, announced during the meeting as 808-768-770, as well as elderlyaffairs.com.
Aloha Stadium Events and Swap Meet Operations
The Rebel Souljah concert held August 8 in the upper Halawa parking lot attracted a strong crowd and concluded without major operational or public-safety issues. The Labor Day Unity Picnic, normally held at the Waikiki Shell, will take place September 6 in the stadium’s upper Halawa lot, providing more room, parking, and Skyline access for attendees from West Oahu. The event will feature local entertainment, food booths, keiki games, and a community drive. No major changes were reported for the Swap Meet and Marketplace, although operators were monitoring the approaching storm and advised visitors to check the stadium website for schedule changes.
Aloha Stadium Community Mural
The stadium’s Project Art Committee and art director finalized plans for a large lei-themed mural on security fencing around interior stadium areas, generally extending from the Swap Meet and Eshman entrance toward the mauka freeway exit. Work is expected to begin in fall 2026 and finish by the end of October. Residents will be invited to participate in a weekend community painting event, adding brushstrokes to a mural intended to represent the generations, stories, and community involvement associated with Aloha Stadium. Online registration, event dates, and volunteer details will be announced later.
Stadium Dismantling and Reuse
Aloha Halawa District Partners presented photographs showing the stadium dismantling process. Interior partitions and amenities were removed first, followed by the upper sideline stands. Heavy equipment and tension cables were used to pull portions of the structure inward, while cranes cut the north and south end-zone sections into wedge-shaped pieces and lowered them individually. Materials are being sorted for reuse, landfill disposal, shipment, or hazardous-material handling. Portions of the north and south end-zone concrete structure, concourses, offices, locker rooms, bridge-storage areas, and lower levels are being retained, refurbished, and structurally recertified. Reusing these facilities is projected to save approximately $90 million on the new stadium. At the time of the meeting, the mauka sideline had been cleared to the foundation, and removal of the upper green roof and yellow section of the north end zone was expected to be completed by the end of the week.
RISE Bond Constitutional Amendment
The stadium team explained a proposed general-election constitutional amendment concerning “resilient infrastructure for shelter and equity,” or RISE, bonds. The amendment would authorize counties to issue bonds for public infrastructure in designated districts and repay them solely from future growth in property-tax revenue generated within those same districts, without increasing real-property-tax rates. The bonds would be excluded from county debt limits and subject to statutory accountability and oversight. Although state law can establish tax-increment-financing procedures, the Hawaii Constitution controls county bonding authority and debt-limit treatment, making voter approval necessary for the program to operate at scale.
Tax-Increment Financing for the Aloha Halawa District
Under the proposed model, a county would establish the current property-tax baseline for a designated district and estimate the higher revenue expected after infrastructure and development are completed. Bonds issued at municipal interest rates could then fund upfront water, sewer, road, and other public improvements, with repayment coming from the resulting increase in district property taxes. Aloha Stadium currently generates no real-property tax because it is state-owned and largely used for parking, but future commercial, residential, and other development could create substantial taxable value. Presenters said lower-cost public financing could reduce the infrastructure costs ultimately passed to tenants, residents, and other users. The county would determine the share of incremental revenue used and the financing period, potentially 20 or 30 years. Only added revenue within the designated district could be used, not property taxes from surrounding communities. Concerns raised elsewhere have included the adequacy of oversight and misconceptions that the proposal would draw money from neighboring properties; presenters said reporting and transparency provisions are included and that district creation would involve public disclosure and input.
Army Response to Helicopter Resolution
The U.S. Army provided a written response to the board’s resolution on helicopter operations. Army personnel said aircrews continually review routes, procedures, training requirements, safety, regulations, and operational needs, and that the board’s resolution prompted another review to determine whether adjustments are possible. Residents should document the date, time, location, and apparent direction of helicopter activity and report it to the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Community Information Line at 808-766-7778. The Army will coordinate with the Combat Aviation Brigade to determine whether an Army aircraft was involved and, if so, whether the flight complied with established procedures or requires corrective action. The Army noted that Oahu airspace is shared by military, federal, state, commercial, and private operators.
Army Training and Employment Events
Army training advisories were made available at the meeting. Most scheduled activity occurs between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., although one set of dates includes overnight firing. The Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exercise involving multiple military services is expected to operate in Hawaii throughout most of October and November 2026; an advisory incorrectly listed 2025, which the liaison confirmed was a typographical error. Public job fairs are scheduled for August 24 in the Helemano Military Reservation training room and September 25 in the HMR gym, both from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Applicants may obtain information in advance through himwr.com.
Wounded Warrior Canoe Regatta
The Wounded Warrior Canoe Regatta was scheduled for August 15 from 7:40 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fort DeRussy Beach Park in Waikiki. Established in 2009 with 67 teams at Pearl Harbor Marina, the event uses Hawaiian ocean activities to support recovering service members. It has since expanded to include a youth division and Gold Star families within the Wounded Warrior Division.
Navy Environmental Meetings
The Navy announced a Restoration Advisory Board meeting for September 9 at 6 p.m. at the Oahu Veterans Center in Foster Village. The public forum allows community involvement in environmental-remediation issues. Navy Closure Task Force–Red Hill will also hold an open house and town hall on September 17 at the AMVETS Center near Kapilina. The event will begin with informal access to subject-matter experts on Red Hill closure, water, and related matters, followed approximately one hour later by a structured town-hall question-and-answer session. The Navy also intended to support the August 15 Genki ball event with volunteers, although storm preparations could reduce participation.
Board of Water Supply Update
The Board of Water Supply reported no water-main breaks during the previous month. It also invited the public to the 2026 “Imagine a Day Without Water” event on September 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arc of Safety at Waianae Mall, 86-120 Farrington Highway. Organized with Representative Chris Muraoka’s office and more than 25 public, nonprofit, and community organizations, the free family event will include educational exhibits, games, hands-on activities, giveaways, a rain-barrel workshop, and food for purchase. It will promote the “One Water” concept, which treats all water sources as interconnected resources requiring coordinated management.
Agricultural Water, Recycled Water, and Long-Term Supply Planning
Board Member Omura asked how agricultural water differs from potable public water and how the water system is preparing for population growth. The Board of Water Supply representative explained that potable water may be used for irrigation under an agricultural rate, while a separate recycled-water system in the Kapolei area supplies non-potable water for irrigation and similar uses. Developments near that system may be required to use recycled water. The representative could not immediately say whether 2026 has been drier than normal but agreed to follow up. BWS is updating its Water Master Plan, which was previously published around 2015, using a planning horizon of at least 30 years and considering population growth, demand, infrastructure replacement, and future costs. A prior target called for replacing approximately 1% of water pipelines each year. Omura asked for continuing updates on how population changes will affect water rates, capacity, conservation, and the timing of pipeline replacement in Salt Lake.
GROW Food-Scrap Recycling Program
The city’s Refuse Division Recycling Branch presented the Green Recycling Organic Waste program, known as GROW. The initiative expands use of the green compost cart beyond yard waste to include food scraps and wasted food, addressing nearly 60,000 tons of waste generated on Oahu each year and supporting the city’s goal of 95% diversion by 2030. The presentation described pilot service in Waipahu, Nanakuli, Kapolei, Mililani, Kailua, and Kalihi, with islandwide expansion scheduled for October 5, 2026. Accepted food waste will include meat, seafood, leftovers, loose coffee grounds, tea leaves, bones, shells, nuts, cheese, and yogurt. Liquids such as milk and melted ice cream will not be accepted.
Green Cart Preparation and Collection
Food and green waste must be placed loosely in the cart rather than inside plastic, paper, or compostable bags. Compostable utensils, plates, and similar products are also excluded because of concerns that some may contain PFAS “forever chemicals”; the city is awaiting additional testing and regulation before accepting them. Residents were advised to collect scraps in a sealed reusable container, repurpose containers such as yogurt cups or coffee cans, freeze scraps until collection day, and use baking soda or coffee grounds to control odor. Food scraps should be buried within green waste to absorb moisture and deter pests. Green-cart pickup will remain every other week, and residents whose cart lids do not close properly may contact the city for repairs. Hawaiian Earth Recycling, the city’s contracted composter, will accept up to two residential loads per day free of charge and convert the collected material into compost for individual and agricultural use. City convenience centers will continue accepting green waste but not food waste. Condominium residents served by private haulers must ask their hauler whether a food-waste collection arrangement can be established. Program information is available at honolulu.gov/env/grow.
Quorum, Attendance Concerns, and Next Meeting
Because the board lacked a quorum, it did not approve the previous meeting’s minutes. No chair assignments or board reports were presented. Board Member Omura criticized inconsistent attendance by city and state representatives, saying board members and residents often have questions that legislative offices cannot answer on behalf of executive agencies. He requested that the concern be entered into the record and that absent offices be reprimanded or contacted. The chair said the board would reach out while acknowledging those offices’ past cooperation. The next Aliamanu-Salt Lake-Foster Village-Airport Neighborhood Board meeting was announced for September 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the National Guard Association Building, 891 Valkenburg Street. Recorded meetings air on Olelo Channel 49 on the fourth Saturday of the month at 9 p.m. and on the second and fourth dates identified in the announcement at 7 a.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.