No 29 Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting July 2026
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29 Kahaluu Neighborhood Board Meeting – July 9, 2026
Honolulu Fire Department
Kahaluʻu Fire Station Captain Laurel reported that firefighters responded during June to one rubbish fire, one activated fire alarm, 24 medical emergencies, and one ocean rescue. The department’s monthly safety message focused on hiking during the summer: residents should select trails suited to their abilities, check rain, wind, and ocean-swell forecasts, remain on marked trails, avoid risking injury for photographs, hike with a companion, tell someone their plans, and allow enough time to return before dark. No major fireworks-related incidents were reported over the recent holiday period.
Honolulu Police Department
HPD reported no auto thefts during the latest reporting month, compared with one in the previous month; two burglaries, down from three; and two theft cases, down from three. There were no vehicle break-ins or robberies. In response to a question about an apparent increase in police vehicles around the community during the prior two days, HPD said it may have reflected enhanced holiday-weekend or fireworks patrols, although the representative could not confirm a specific operation. Christy Kaloheva, speaking as both a resident and Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi representative, thanked officers for conducting speed-reduction outreach near the base’s front gate, including displaying signs asking motorists to slow down, and said base leadership also appreciated the effort.
Board Vacancies
Sub-District 6 has had a longstanding vacancy, and the chair would like to convert it into an at-large seat, but the board lacked sufficient attendance to act and will reconsider the matter in August. Another vacancy is expected in Sub-District 4 because Chair Parker Spencer is moving to Maui before the next meeting. Sub-District 4 was described as extending from ʻĀhuimanu Road toward the back of the valley. Residents were asked to identify interested candidates from that area for possible appointment in August.
Election of Officers
As part of the board’s annual July organizational process, members elected the current presiding member as chair without objection and reelected Haliʻimai Kialoha as secretary. No one accepted or was nominated for vice chair or treasurer, so both positions remain vacant and will return to the August agenda. The chair emphasized that a vice chair is needed to preside when the chair is absent and to assist with correspondence.
City Council Legislative Initiatives
Council Member Matt Weyer’s office reported that Weyer and Council Member Radiant Cordero DeSoto?—identified in the transcript as DeSantis-Tam—introduced Resolution 26-160 urging the Hawaiʻi Legislature to prohibit harvesting aquatic life from state waters for the commercial aquarium trade. A related resolution from Council Member Esther Kiaʻāina and Council Chair Tommy Waters asks the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources to adopt rules prohibiting commercial aquarium collection. Weyer also co-introduced Resolution 26-161 with Kiaʻāina, requesting citywide minimum standards for resilience hubs funded through the fiscal year 2027 capital budget. The proposal asks the administration to establish design criteria, determine suitable locations, and identify the city office responsible for implementing the resilience-hub program.
Office of Economic Revitalization Cuts
The City Council overrode Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s line-item vetoes and allowed cuts to the Office of Economic Revitalization to remain in the fiscal year 2027 operating budget. The reductions eliminate 20 positions and more than $2 million from the office. Council Member Weyer opposed the cuts and supported the mayor’s veto, but the Council obtained enough votes to override it. His office said the reductions could jeopardize approximately $4 million in small-business recovery grants, along with proposed microloan and business-incubator programs. OER has supported economic development, workforce initiatives, small businesses, and farmers recovering from the Kona low storms. The board thanked Weyer for opposing the reductions and supporting affected businesses and agricultural producers.
State Wildfire Readiness
Governor Josh Green’s representative announced Operation Hoʻopau ʻAhi 2026, which is intended to enable rapid deployment of Hawaiʻi National Guard aircraft during wildfire emergencies and help prevent fires from spreading. With wildfire season underway, residents were reminded to remove dead vegetation from their properties and maintain at least 10 feet of clearance around campfires, grills, and similar ignition sources.
Heʻeia State Park Monday Closures
Senator Brenton Awa’s office reported that Heʻeia State Park remains closed on Mondays because neither State Parks nor the current permittee has enough personnel to open and supervise the grounds that day. Following the transition away from Kamaʻāina Kids, existing state staff assumed grounds-management and gate duties under the current arrangement. Although residents and board members offered to help open the gates, DLNR prefers the park to operate only when state personnel are present to oversee operations and public safety. The Legislature approved new State Parks positions during the past session, and DLNR expects the park may return to seven-day operation once those positions are established and filled.
Heʻeia State Park Construction and Contract Questions
Two construction projects are underway at Heʻeia State Park: one addresses a substantial landslide that affected part of the parking lot, while the other involves major repairs to a building. The work is not the reason for the Monday closures, and the park otherwise remains open from Tuesday through Sunday. A resident asked whether the contract covering management of the state park, including the Ulumau area or banquet facility, is publicly available and requested that it be provided to the board for review. Senator Awa’s office agreed to research the request.
Election Access and Voting Locations
Senator Awa raised concerns during a legislative informational briefing with Chief Election Officer Scott Nago about long lines at the limited in-person voter centers serving the district. Nago said counties are responsible for establishing and operating voter service centers and advised voters to arrive with the necessary information and documents to reduce processing time. Representative Lisa Kitagawa later announced that ballot drop boxes had been installed at Kāneʻohe District Park and that mail ballots were expected within the next several weeks. In-person voting at Kāneʻohe District Park was scheduled for August 3–7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale were scheduled to provide in-person voting from July 27 through primary election day, August 8.
Board of Water Supply Main Breaks
The Board of Water Supply reported several Kahaluʻu-area water-main breaks during June, although such breaks are generally rare locally. The most significant incidents occurred on Waiheʻe Road on June 25 and 26 and involved a 24-inch transmission main from Waiheʻe Valley and an adjacent 12-inch main; the representative said the failure of the larger pipe may have contributed to damage to the smaller one. A smaller main break also occurred on Kamehameha Highway in early June.
Water Quality Report
The Board of Water Supply’s semiannual water quality report has been mailed to customers and is also available at boardofwatersupply.com/WQR. The agency conducts thousands of tests each year on water sources and distribution systems to verify compliance with federal and state safe-drinking-water standards. The website includes testing results and explanatory materials concerning water systems and substances listed in the reports.
Kalahaku Bridge Water Main
A board member requested an update on the approximately five-inch water main crossing Kalahaku Bridge near ʻĀhuimanu Road, roughly a quarter-mile in the Kāneʻohe direction from Waiheʻe Bridge. High streamflow previously exposed part of the pipe, and a replacement project had been discussed. Because deterioration or loss of the bridge could also threaten the water line, the Board of Water Supply agreed to check the project’s status, email the findings to the board, copy Council Member Weyer’s office, and provide a brief presentation at a future meeting. The board hopes to coordinate the bridge and water-line issues across agencies.
Castle Complex School Supply Drive
Representative Lisa Kitagawa said her annual end-of-session newsletter is available at repkitagawa.com. She also announced the sixth annual Castle Complex School Supply Drive, organized with Representative Scot Matayoshi to benefit eight elementary schools, King Intermediate School, and Castle High School. Volunteers were scheduled to collect school supplies and monetary donations at the mall on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additional volunteers would sort and package donations the following week for delivery to schools before the new academic year.
Windward Community College Event
Although Windward Community College Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg was not present, the board announced that the college’s Paniolo BBQ is planned for September 19, tentatively from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents were encouraged to confirm the final details through the college’s online information.
Kāneʻohe Bay Boat Rentals and Invasive Species
Kāneʻohe Bay Regional Council member Keoni Machado reported increasing concern about the number of rental boats entering the bay from Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi and the possibility that boating activity could contribute to the spread of invasive anemones recently found in that area. He intends to raise the issue at the next regional council meeting and report back. Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi representatives were present and took note of the concern.
New Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi Leadership
Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi introduced its new commanding officer, Colonel Steven DeTrinis, and Base Sergeant Major Adan Moreno. Colonel DeTrinis has lived in Hawaiʻi with his family since 2023 and previously worked at Camp H.M. Smith. He described the base’s central missions as supporting the readiness and forward deployment of tenant units, protecting both the installation and the broader Windward community, and strengthening cooperation with military, government, and neighborhood partners. More than 1,500 Marines recently returned from over three months in the Philippines, while other personnel remained deployed to Diego Garcia. Base leaders expressed interest in attending neighborhood meetings, finding volunteer opportunities, and building stronger relationships between on-base and off-base communities.
Marine Corps Base Events and RIMPAC Activity
The base reported a well-attended July 3 celebration without significant problems and participation in the Kailua Independence Day parade. The Kaupiko–Hui Nalu Canoe Regatta was scheduled as an open-base event for the following Sunday, with preparations beginning earlier in the weekend. The base was also coordinating with the yacht club to separate RIMPAC activities from sailboat-regatta traffic. Residents were advised that RIMPAC would result in additional aircraft, extended air-terminal hours, and increased training noise. Community members may submit aircraft-related concerns through the base’s online reporting form, which is forwarded to airfield personnel so they can track effects on surrounding neighborhoods; the board requested the website link for its shared files.
Storm Preparation and Community Resilience
Board members urged Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi to assist with advance preparation and emergency response as El Niño conditions raise concern about stronger storms, particularly after the community’s experience with two damaging Kona low events. Suggestions included helping fill sandbags, supplying personnel before storms arrive, and coordinating with KEY Project as a resilience hub for Kahaluʻu and a larger part of Windward Oʻahu. Colonel DeTrinis said the base is experienced with storm impacts and is open to supporting advance preparation and immediate life-safety needs. Members also encouraged broader Pacific Rim disaster-resilience cooperation during exercises such as RIMPAC.
Military Emergency-Response Authority
A board member asked the base to establish a direct liaison with the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management. Colonel DeTrinis explained that active-duty Department of Defense forces operate under Title 10 and generally cannot create the type of standing civil-disaster support arrangement requested. Formal assistance must ordinarily be requested through the mayor and governor, routed through the National Guard and federal authorities. The base can nevertheless maintain strong working relationships among emergency managers, fire departments, and law-enforcement agencies and can respond to immediate threats to life, limb, or eyesight. Base community liaison Christy Kaloheva will continue helping connect the installation and neighborhood.
Military Housing and the Local Rental Market
The board revisited concerns about how many active-duty personnel live off base and compete in the Windward rental market. Colonel DeTrinis said the Marine Corps population at the base has declined since 2019 after two infantry battalions of roughly 1,200 Marines each were removed and replaced by smaller aviation and unmanned-systems squadrons of approximately 250 personnel each. Some members of those smaller units also deploy for parts of the year. Exact housing numbers fluctuate because Navy, Army, and other joint-service personnel may use Marine Corps housing, while Marines may seek housing on other installations. The base nevertheless expects to provide a reasonable estimate and discuss efforts to maintain on-base occupancy at approximately 95%–98%, although military homes have long waiting lists.
Housing Allowances and Future Construction
The commanding officer explained that military basic allowance for housing rates are public and vary according to rank, geographic location, and whether a member has dependents, but not by the number of dependents. Some landlords market directly to service members because the allowance is predictable and concerns about property damage can be taken through military chains of command. The base is encouraging personnel to use on-base housing and other military options, including Mānana housing. No new family housing is currently planned; construction priorities center on replacing and improving barracks for single Marines, including projects visible near H-3 Exit 15. The board requested links to the public housing-allowance information.
Mahakea Road Chicken and Dog Dispute
Several Mahakea Road neighbors raised a dispute involving a residential property where fewer than 100 chickens were said to be kept, although the owner stated that her permit may authorize as many as 250. Neighbors described rooster noise beginning around 4 a.m., noise during feeding, rats entering vehicles and damaging wiring, pests affecting fruit and appliances, frequent visits by people who keep chickens at the property but do not live there, and concern about property values. They also reported persistent barking by dogs, including one dog that was later removed and a smaller dog that remains. One neighbor said the noise interfered with working from home, while another played a recording made from inside a nearby living room. Residents emphasized that they wanted a definitive explanation of the applicable law and whether the permits are valid.
Mahakea Property Improvements and Runoff
Neighbors acknowledged that the new owners have significantly cleaned and improved the property since the deaths of the prior occupants. A formerly muddy driveway has been paved, reducing earlier problems in which sediment moved down the street, clogged drains, and contributed to runoff affecting lower properties. Some runoff concerns remain, but residents said conditions are substantially better. A family member asked neighbors to allow the new owners time to complete improvements while they continue dealing with the loss of their relatives and the responsibilities of becoming property owners.
Mahakea Permits and Enforcement
The property owner agreed to send the board her chicken permit, permits held by any other individuals keeping birds at the site, and a city or state inspection report that she said found no violations. A board member recommended that each permit holder also provide an accurate count of the chickens covered by the permit. There was disagreement over enforcement responsibility: one neighbor said the Hawaiian Humane Society had advised that it would act only if animals were treated inhumanely, while a board member cited Revised Ordinances of Honolulu animal-control provisions and said the Humane Society has contracted responsibility for crowing-chicken complaints. A possible requirement that chickens be kept at least 300 feet from property boundaries was also discussed, though the board did not make a final legal determination. Council Member Weyer’s office took notes and will investigate the applicable law, permit authority, setback requirements, and agency responsibility.
Mahakea Conflict De-Escalation
Testimony included allegations of harassment and a threatened physical confrontation arising from complaints about a barking dog. The chair stated that physical violence is never acceptable and advised the parties not to attempt further direct mediation if tensions have already escalated. Participants were asked to lower tensions, keep animals at reasonable noise levels, and direct future documentation through the board and city officials. The board will reconvene the matter in August if it is not resolved earlier, after reviewing the permits, inspection report, chicken counts, and legal guidance. Both sides indicated a desire to find a workable neighbor-to-neighbor resolution.
Lau’s Village Wastewater Matter
The planned update concerning a conditional use permit and wastewater variance at Lau’s Village, 47-649 Lamaʻula Road, was deferred to August because no new information was available. The applicant was believed to still be working with the Department of Planning and Permitting.
Punahou Cross-Country Meet
Punahou School announced that its annual cross-country meet at Kualoa Ranch is scheduled for Saturday, September 19. Attendance, including event workers, is expected to remain below 500 people. Participants will arrive between approximately 6:30 and 8 a.m. and leave by around noon, and they will remain on Kualoa Ranch property throughout the event rather than entering and exiting repeatedly. Punahou will hire off-duty HPD officers to manage the entrance and exit and reduce traffic effects.
Honolulu Century Ride
The Hawaiʻi Bicycling League announced that the Honolulu Century Ride will take place Sunday, September 27. Riders will start in Waikīkī and travel to the final turnaround at Swanzy Beach Park, while KEY Project will host the 75-mile turnaround and aid station. Organizers confirmed that the route will continue using Kahekili Highway between Hygienic Store and Haʻikū Road rather than Kamehameha Highway, consistent with changes requested for previous rides.
Special Management Area Hearing
The board announced a public hearing on Special Management Area Major Permit 2026/SMA-34 under Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Chapter 25 for the BOM residence at Kaʻapuni Bungalow. The hearing is scheduled for Friday, August 14, 2026, at 10 a.m. in the sixth-floor conference room of the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building, 650 South King Street. Interested residents may submit testimony on the application.
Meeting Schedule and Recesses
The Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board currently meets at 6 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at KEY Project and through Webex. The board may take three recesses during the July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 term, but members deferred selecting those recess months until August.
Oral-Testimony and Report Rules
The board reduced standard presentation time from 10 minutes to seven minutes and increased elected officials’ report time from three minutes to five minutes, particularly to allow adequate updates during legislative sessions. Community concerns will generally remain limited to two minutes per speaker, while questions and responses will remain at one minute each, subject to the presiding officer’s discretion. The board will ask the Neighborhood Commission Office whether agendas may include a request for elected officials to submit written reports in advance, allowing members and residents to review information and prepare questions before meetings.
Board Committees
The board reviewed its committees and noted limited community participation in several of them. The Legislation Committee, chaired by the board chair; Budget and Finance Committee, chaired by Dan; Hawaiian Affairs Committee, chaired by Kuu Poli; and Social Media Committee were discussed. The Social Media Committee must remain in place if the board is to continue official social-media outreach. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has participation but has not yet set its first meeting; it was reminded to provide an agenda to the Neighborhood Commission Office at least one week in advance and maintain its own notes. The Land and Natural Resources Committee’s report was deferred because its chair, Ian, was absent. The board will decide in August whether committees without participation should continue.
Meeting Minutes
Without objection, the board approved the amended regular meeting minutes of February 11, 2026, the amended minutes of May 13, 2026, and the regular meeting minutes of June 10, 2026.
Waiāhole Bridge and Sediment Concerns
Sub-District 1 requested that the State Department of Transportation attend the August meeting to provide an update on the Waiāhole Bridge project. DOT had responded after significant flooding by hiring local heavy-equipment operators to clear blockages near the bridge, and current clearing may be preparation for the bridge project. Residents along the shoreline have observed persistently brown water and increased sediment, although testimony noted that runoff could be coming from Waiāhole, Waikāne, Kalai, Waiheʻe, or other drainage points along the state highway system. The chair will invite Director Ed Sniffen or another DOT representative.
Power Lines and Storm Hazards
Residents expressed concern about trees encroaching on power lines along Kamehameha Highway, particularly between the bulldozer area and 7-Eleven. With forecasts for a strong El Niño and potentially more severe hurricane-season storms, they asked that vegetation and utility hazards be addressed before a major storm causes outages or damage. The chair plans to invite Hawaiian Electric to the next meeting to answer questions about the power lines and will also request participation from state and city transportation officials.
Unhoused Encampments
A Sub-District 3 representative reported an increase in unhoused people establishing camps in the hills across from Ulumau and the ESA park area, including what appeared to be increasingly developed living spaces. No specific public-safety incident was reported, but residents are concerned that the encampments are expanding and could begin affecting the surrounding community.
Dangerous Driving Near Canoe Club
The canoe club reported that low-rider trucks have been stopping traffic and performing burnouts on Kamehameha Highway near the bridge, Waiheʻe Road, and the club parking lot at approximately 4:30 p.m. Individuals reportedly exit vehicles and block traffic in both directions while the maneuvers take place. The timing overlaps with youth practices and children crossing the highway near Kahaluʻu District Park, creating a substantial safety concern. The board will ask both the State Department of Transportation and the city Department of Transportation Services to participate in discussions and consider measures such as child-safety signage. The board also plans to work on a resolution supporting faster delivery of a container unit needed by the canoe club.
Transportation Agency Coordination
Members emphasized that transportation responsibilities are divided between state and city agencies. Waiheʻe Road and the portion of Kamehameha Highway from Hygienic Store to Haʻikū are under the city Department of Transportation Services, while other sections are controlled by the State Department of Transportation. The chair agreed to invite both agencies so concerns involving bridges, drainage, sediment, traffic safety, and road jurisdiction can be discussed together.
Next Meeting and Adjournment
The next regular meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at 6 p.m. at KEY Project with online participation available. The July meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.