No 31 Kailua Neighborhood Board Regular June 2026
Listen to this article:
31 Kailua Neighborhood Board Meeting – June 5, 2026
Meeting Opening, Attendance, and Announcements
The Kailua Neighborhood Board convened its regular June 2026 meeting at 7:01 p.m. in hybrid format, with 12 members present at roll call, including eight in person and four remotely, establishing a quorum. The chair opened with several community announcements. The Kailua Chamber of Commerce’s 77th annual Kailua 4th of July parade and fireworks were announced as part of the nation’s 250th celebration, with the parade beginning on North Kailua Drive near Uilama Street, road closures starting at 9 a.m., the parade expected to start at 10 a.m., and fireworks at Kailua Beach Park scheduled for about 8 p.m. Shuttle service sponsored by Alexander & Baldwin will run every 30 minutes from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. between the Kailua Town parking garage and Kailua Beach Center. A Kailua Town Hall with elected officials was announced for June 29 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kailua District Park multipurpose room. Because of the Kamehameha Day holiday, neighborhood board committee meeting schedules were adjusted, with the Water Quality and Transportation Committees moved to June 10 and the Parks Committee moved to June 18.
Police Report, Crime Trends, and Traffic Enforcement Limits
Honolulu Police Department Lieutenant Sanford Yu presented May 2026 crime statistics for Kailua. Motor vehicle thefts dropped to zero from four in April, burglaries increased to four from one, thefts rose to 22 from 16, motor vehicle break-ins declined to one from two, and robberies increased to two from zero. Board discussion focused less on property crime and more on road safety and enforcement limitations. One board member asked about the status of the electric bicycle bill and whether HPD would have enough personnel to enforce any new rules once enacted; HPD said the governor had not yet signed the bill to their knowledge. Another member described an incident involving aggressive motorcyclists or riders performing wheelies on the highway toward Waimanalo and reported being placed on hold for about 20 minutes after calling 911, even while continuing to drive toward Sandy Beach. HPD explained that 911 calls are answered in the order received and that multiple operators staff the line, though they did not have exact staffing numbers available. HPD also said officers cannot pursue most fleeing riders because of departmental pursuit policies, creating a recurring enforcement problem. Video or photographs taken by the public could help officers identify operators and support a “traffic incident” follow-up and warning visit, but HPD stated they generally must personally witness a violation to issue citations or make arrests. Another resident asked about lane splitting, and HPD confirmed that it is illegal in Hawaiʻi and that an officer who observed it could stop the rider if it were safe to do so. The exchange highlighted continuing frustration over dangerous riding behavior, emergency response expectations, and the limits of current traffic enforcement tools.
Fire Department Activity and Hurricane Season Preparedness
Honolulu Fire Department Captain Picarro reported May 2026 response statistics for the district. HFD responded to zero structure fires, two brush or wildland fires, two nuisance fires, ten activated alarms, 84 medical emergencies, one motor vehicle collision, one mountain rescue, zero ocean rescues, and one hazardous materials incident. The department used its report to stress hurricane preparedness as Hawaiʻi entered hurricane season on June 1, which continues through November 30. Residents were urged to maintain a 14-day disaster supply kit, review whether their insurance policies actually cover hurricane and flood damage, secure window protection well in advance of any storm, and sign up for alerts through hnlalert.gov. The emphasis was on household readiness for extended disruptions to utilities and supply chains.
Ocean Safety Activity and New Facility Timeline
Honolulu Ocean Safety reported that the towers from Kalama Beach to Kailua Boat Ramp saw just under 100,000 beachgoers in May. Personnel carried out nearly 4,000 preventative actions, provided just under 900 minor first aid treatments, made 10,000 public contacts, and conducted 12 water rescues. Two notable rescues were highlighted: a windsurfer in distress off Kailua Beach who had swallowed water and was brought in by ocean safety personnel, and a man drifting about 200 yards offshore on a float outside Lanikai Beach who was brought in by rescue craft. During public questions, a resident asked when Ocean Safety would move into its new facility, and the response was that the department hopes to move in by the end of summer, though no fixed date was given.
Board Resolution Reaffirming Support for a Traffic Signal at Ulupii Street and Kalanianaʻole Highway
The central action item of the night was a board motion requesting a traffic signal at Ulupii Street and Kalanianaʻole Highway to improve access and safety for the Olomana community and Maunawili Elementary School. The motion cited several layers of past and current support. It referenced an April 2026 Olomana Association poll in which 119 of 330 households responded, with 100 in favor and 19 opposed, or 84 percent support. It also cited results from the 2026 I Love Kailua Town Party survey, where 170 respondents supported the light and 27 opposed it, or 86 percent support. The motion further recalled that on September 4, 2014, nearly 12 years earlier, the Kailua Neighborhood Board had already adopted a resolution asking the State Department of Transportation to install an appropriate signal at the same intersection. The new motion reiterated that request, framing it as a matter of safe egress for roughly 1,200 Olomana residents.
School Community Views on the Ulupii Traffic Signal Proposal
Maunawili Elementary School Principal Kauʻi Tanaka presented survey feedback from the school community rather than an institutional endorsement. The school has about 363 students, 264 families, and 62 faculty and staff. The survey drew 78 responses from faculty, staff, parents, students in grades three through six, and community partners such as the PTO, SCC, Kūpuna ʻĀina, and Olomana School. Of those respondents, 69.2 percent supported adding a traffic signal at Ulupii and Kalanianaʻole, while 30.8 percent opposed it. Principal Tanaka summarized concerns raised by stakeholders on both sides. Supporters pointed to multiple accidents, including three within her first week as principal, one involving preschool students leaving school and another involving a faculty member. Other supporters cited the difficulty and danger of exiting Olomana, especially making a left toward the Pali or crossing the highway, which can force motorists into risky U-turns near the Women’s Community Correctional Center. Opponents worried a new signal could worsen congestion on Kalanianaʻole Highway, create backups past the school, disrupt current traffic flow, and encourage cut-through traffic inside Olomana as drivers avoid waiting at the light. Asked for her own view, Principal Tanaka said that before installation of the current speed humps and the no-left-turn arrangement she had strongly favored a signal, but at present she feels the existing setup is working. She also said only a small number of students, likely fewer than 10, cross Kalanianaʻole Highway on foot from the opposite side, and she confirmed there is a pedestrian overpass with a ramp.
Olomana Community Safety Testimony and Longstanding Access Problems
Public testimony strongly emphasized the day-to-day difficulty and danger of leaving Olomana. Crystal Branco, speaking for the Olomana Community Association, described years of worsening safety concerns as traffic volumes increase and natural gaps in highway traffic become less frequent. She recounted a severe January 27, 2026 T-bone collision at about 7 a.m. that left one vehicle tipped on its side roughly 30 feet from the community exit and sparked renewed community organizing. She noted that another serious T-bone crash involving a mother and two children occurred later as well. Branco described prior accidents near Maunawili Elementary, including incidents around school start times, and said the community’s basic request is not a full redesign but simply one safe exit point. She said all 17 of her own neighbors supported the light, and that some who opposed it did so mainly because they no longer commute during peak hours or do not use that route. She also raised concerns about the usability of the overpass ramp for families with large bikes or trailers. Lisa Doyle, a Maunawili Elementary parent and staff member, asked DOT to apply its technical expertise to model the interaction between a signal and the school’s morning and afternoon traffic, noting that more than 200 vehicles move through the campus area twice daily and that the school had not been asked to participate earlier in the conversation. Other testimony stressed that a safe signalized route could reduce reliance on the more dangerous existing exits and help newer drivers, families, and kūpuna.
Prior State Studies, Data Gaps, and Final Board Vote on the Traffic Signal Motion
Discussion revealed that the State Department of Transportation had already studied the intersection three times, in 2007, 2014, and 2018, each time concluding that vehicle and pedestrian volumes at Ulupii did not meet warrants for a traffic signal. In 2024, the state reconfigured the area with speed tables to improve safety. Board members questioned whether the studies adequately measured the right times of day, especially school drop-off and pick-up, and whether traffic counts failed to account for latent demand from motorists who would shift from other exits if a safe signalized route existed. There was also interest in obtaining a comprehensive 10-year accident history for the relevant intersections. Cost was raised, with one estimate mentioned of about $250,000 for a traffic light in another Hawaiʻi project, while another board member said state signals are typically installed when federal funding becomes available. Several speakers argued that technical concerns over timing and congestion can be addressed, but safety must take precedence. The motion passed unanimously, 14-0, reaffirming the board’s request that the State of Hawaiʻi install an appropriate traffic signal at Ulupii Street and Kalanianaʻole Highway.
Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi Updates, RIMPAC, and Stormwater Permit Review
Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi reported that Colonel Stephen DeTrinis, the new base commander, and Sergeant Major Don Moreno will participate in the Kailua 4th of July parade. The base will host the Hui Nalu Kāneʻohe Canoe Regatta on July 12 as an open-base event. The base also announced that the RIMPAC exercise will begin at the end of June and continue through July into early August, bringing adjusted airfield hours and training activity in the Bellows area. Some weekends in July, Bellows beach will be closed and unavailable for camping because of training. The base further noted that the Department of Health will seek public comment on the renewal of Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi’s Stormwater Management Plan permit beginning June 24, with comments due July 24. The board discussed the importance of reviewing the permit through its Water Quality Committee, and contact information for both mail and email submission to the Clean Water Branch was provided.
Lanikai Transportation Management Plan, New Funding, and Immediate No-Parking Phase
A major presentation from Transportation Services Director Roger Morton updated the board on implementation of the Lanikai Transportation Management Plan. Morton announced that the Honolulu City Council had approved the city operating budget the day before, including $500,000 for Lanikai improvements. He said that after prior board discussion about whether to immediately add no-parking signage on both loop roads or wait until the full plan could be built, a resident suggested a third option. DTS reviewed it and concluded it was a practical intermediate step. The city now plans a two-phase implementation. Phase one would install no-parking signs and cross-hatching along Mokulua Drive, the primary outbound route, to provide immediate relief to residents who struggle to exit Lanikai amid visitor congestion. Phase two would later extend no-parking treatment to Aalapapa Drive, widen selected side streets, convert them to one-way traffic patterns, and create marked legal parking stalls. Morton explained that parking on unimproved shoulders is already technically illegal, but HPD strongly prefers posted signage before issuing citations, making signs an important enforcement tool. The city also plans to create several short-term pedestrian loading zones near beach access points so visitors can still be dropped off for beach use even as on-street parking is constrained.
Debate Over Lanikai Parking, Beach Access, and Emergency Response
Board members and residents expressed both gratitude and concern over the city’s revised Lanikai approach. Supporters thanked DTS, the council, and others for finally moving the long-discussed plan forward. Critics questioned why the city had previously asked the board to choose between immediate signs on the whole loop or waiting for all improvements at once, then returned with a new “plan C” after the board had rejected the early-sign option. Some board members worried this would effectively eliminate most loop parking before alternative parking arrangements are ready and would shift impacts onto surrounding streets. DTS responded that Mokulua Drive was chosen first because the most urgent problem is residents’ inability to exit, and officials said they will closely monitor the effects. Questions were raised about whether fines should be higher than the standard $35 and whether tow-away enforcement should be considered, especially because an equivalent statewide increase for bike-lane parking penalties from $35 to $200 had reportedly improved compliance elsewhere. A resident from Lanikai delivered especially emotional testimony, describing recent emergencies in which congestion allegedly delayed ambulance and fire response, including a fatal construction accident and another serious injury incident. Former city emergency management official Jim Ireland later said those response times were not as long as described but agreed congestion in Lanikai can delay access and complicate parking for emergency vehicles. The discussion underscored a tension between preserving public beach access and reducing the chronic gridlock that affects residents, emergency services, and overall safety.
Community Concerns About Parking Design, Enforcement, and Next Steps in Lanikai
Further Lanikai discussion focused on what the revised plan will actually accomplish. Some questioned whether a no-parking sign without tow-away authority would meaningfully deter visitors when many already park on unimproved shoulders throughout the island. Others asked whether the city should instead create improved legal parking on shoulder areas before restricting current use, but DTS said there is no plan to widen the main loop roads substantially and that only selected side streets may be widened enough to allow one-sided legal parking. Officials said they do not yet know how many stalls that second phase might produce. Questions also explored whether bike parking, better transit, or even private paid shuttle service could reduce demand. DTS said it remains committed to the broader plan, including increased transit service and bike storage, but acknowledged that fully designing, regulating, consulting on, and constructing side-street changes will take time and may extend beyond the one-year life of the current city funding if not advanced quickly. The department did not bring the modified phase-one concept back to the board for a fresh formal recommendation before implementation, stating that it is seeking an immediate practical response while still moving toward the larger project.
Resident and Community Concerns Beyond Formal Agenda Items
During the open community concerns portion, Bobby Silva introduced himself as a longtime Kailua resident, paddler, parent, and caregiver and announced his candidacy for State Senate District 25. Another resident raised a roadway striping issue at the left turn from Kuulei Road onto Kailua Road near Oneawa, saying the semicircular lane separation marking has nearly disappeared and has led to near collisions. City traffic staff said they would issue a work order and restripe the area if warranted. Water quality advocate Cindy Turner congratulated the neighborhood board, especially the Water Quality Committee, for helping secure funding for two major projects: stream flow restoration at Kawainui Stream and a mangrove removal project in city-managed portions of lower Kawainui Stream and Kaʻelepulu Stream from the ocean to Kaʻelepulu Pond. She said these projects have been sought for more than a decade and will improve water quality. She also questioned whether the current mangrove removal request for proposals covers the dog park area with especially large mangrove growth and asked that city staff review that concern. Another resident asked for an update on Triangle Park and requested community engagement regarding funding reportedly secured for the public library, with an emphasis on a facility plan and public participation before decisions are made.
Triangle Park and Library Concerns
In response to questions about Triangle Park, city staff reported that they had inspected the site that day with the contractor, inspector, and designer. The seeded area is now green but only about 60 percent covered after roughly two months, so staff want additional watering and seeding. Sod remains an option if the seeded turf does not fill in sufficiently, though the city is still trying to make the current planting work first. Staff noted that the community had requested El Toro grass, but they are also testing Bermuda grass in a staging area because it appears to establish more quickly in the sandy conditions. The fence will remain until the city is satisfied the surface is established. On the library issue, a resident urged that any money secured for improvements should involve community engagement and an overall facility plan. Earlier side comments before the formal meeting suggested frustration that library improvements or replacement ideas had emerged without neighborhood board consultation, and broader concepts were floated about possibly rethinking the civic corner more comprehensively, including the aging library, fire station, and police station.
Governor’s Representative Follow-Up on Prior State Questions
Governor Josh Green’s representative, Aaron Connor-Jerome, provided detailed follow-up answers to questions from earlier meetings. On the Lanikai Pillbox trail project, DLNR said the maintenance project had gone out to bid but available funding was insufficient, so the Division of Forestry and Wildlife is revising the scope and hopes to begin construction in four to six months, with timing still flexible. The trail will be closed during construction, and a reservation system similar to Diamond Head is under development, though it may not go live until after work is complete. A previously requested lengthy response regarding military land leases was submitted in writing to be included in meeting materials. On state transportation matters, he said the new traffic lights at Uluʻoa Street and Ulumanu Drive are active, and HDOT is working with the city to continue adjusting signal timing. With the new lights installed, the older speed humps were removed, and HDOT plans repaving and restriping work in that section. Full repaving of Kailua Road from Kalanianaʻole to Hamakua had been planned but is on hold until the city completes the North Kalaheo Avenue bridge project, currently expected in October, to avoid compounding traffic disruption. Utility poles on Kalanianaʻole Highway also need bracing before resurfacing can proceed.
Noise Complaints, Motorcycle Standards, and Wastewater Advisory Confusion
The governor’s representative also addressed questions about nuisance noise and water quality alerts. For noise complaints, the Department of Health said residents should call the noise hotline, but if the source is traffic, vehicle, or moped related, those complaints belong with HPD or HDOT rather than DOH. DOH can document vehicular noise at a property and help direct complaints appropriately. On motorcycle noise standards, HDOT said changing standards in the safety inspection process could occur through legislation or administrative rulemaking, and the department’s periodic motor vehicle inspection office has been contacting county partners about enforcement and compliance. The meeting then returned to confusion around wastewater discharge advisories. Connor-Jerome explained that DOH sends advisory emails as soon as it gets confirmation of an incident, even when full details are not yet available, and updates information later. The state said the orange advisory polygons are intended to represent a general potentially affected region rather than a precise “do not enter” boundary. Chair Hicks and Water Quality Committee Chair Lavani Lipton said this remains too unclear because notices have referred both to the vicinity of the outfall pipe and to Kailua Bay as a whole, while posted signs have shown smaller red-circled areas. Lipton requested a meeting between the Clean Water Branch and wastewater plant operators to resolve how the public is notified about bacterial exceedances, especially in a coastal community where paddlers, swimmers, and visitors need clearer guidance. Gary Weller added that mainland treatment plants sometimes provide real-time sensor data online and argued for more transparency around exceedances, causes, and corrective actions.
Mayor’s Office Update, Homelessness, and MH-3 Behavioral Health Response
Representing the mayor, Jim Ireland addressed the board after initially having technical difficulties. He commented on the Lanikai construction fatality raised during testimony, saying emergency responders did not take 30 to 45 minutes to arrive as had been suggested, based on his own response and radio monitoring, but he agreed that congestion and parked vehicles in Lanikai can slow emergency access and make conditions difficult for fire and ambulance crews. Ireland also announced a city leadership change, with Managing Director Mike Formby having left and Krishna Jayaram now designated as managing director. He noted that David Lazar has been named Honolulu’s new police chief and described him as eager and humble. Ireland reminded residents that the deadline for federal storm-related assistance is approaching. He then highlighted the city’s homelessness initiatives, saying the latest point-in-time count showed around 600 to 700 fewer unsheltered homeless people on Oʻahu than two years earlier, though about 2,200 remain unsheltered. He described the city’s MH-3 pilot program under Act 219 of 2025, which allows a healthcare provider, with a police officer or sheriff, to involuntarily transport someone who appears to be a danger to themselves or others because of mental illness or substance use for emergency examination. About 70 such interventions have taken place so far, and about one-third of those transported are now permanently off the streets, some in Hawaiʻi State Hospital and others in housing or services. Ireland said the program, which started in Chinatown and expanded to Waikīkī, is now being used in Kailua as well, including near the district park, Walgreens, and the beach park. He also said the city would look into questions about water main break claim policies, sand erosion near the canoe club, and other pending local issues.
Council Member Esther Kiaʻāina on Bridge Traffic, Budget Priorities, and Emergency Management Staffing
Council Member Esther Kiaʻāina gave an extensive report focused on traffic management, infrastructure spending, and disaster readiness. She apologized for repeated traffic pattern changes associated with the North Kalaheo Avenue bridge project, saying they have been chaotic and confusing. Through June 12, a new contraflow schedule is in place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with two-way travel otherwise. From June 15 through July 31, the project is expected to revert to an earlier pattern with contraflow from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., then one-direction operation overnight. The overall bridge project will continue through October, though she said the level of traffic disruption should diminish after July. She asked the city to provide a clearer project breakdown and website information. On the city budget, she said the operating budget had passed 6-3, though it could still face a mayoral veto. She highlighted the inclusion of $500,000 for the Lanikai Transportation Management Plan and noted that Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements continue to receive major capital investment, including $62.2 million this year for multiple elements. She said she wants direct updates from contractors and the city because of the scale of public spending. Kiaʻāina also referred to the recent Marine Corps Base discharge and suggested that because the base is pursuing about $300 million in upgrades, it should consider interim steps similar to the city’s UV disinfection improvements. On resilience and preparedness, she said the Department of Emergency Management has only about 16 full-time staff serving a population of roughly one million, which she considers unacceptable. She therefore pushed for 13 new positions in the budget, nearly doubling staffing, so the department can strengthen disaster preparedness and community collaboration. She also said planning is underway for an August wildfire preparedness town hall.
Representative Lisa Martin on Homelessness, Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle Supplies, and Legislative Town Hall
Representative Lisa Martin reported on housing, homelessness, and upcoming community events. She said Hawaiʻi has seen a 20 percent decline in unsheltered homelessness statewide and connected that to the creation of more acceptable shelter and service options. She specifically highlighted the recent blessing of 20 additional tiny homes in Waimānalo at the emergency shelter site, a project she said she had pushed for over five years and was finally able to advance after becoming chair of the relevant legislative subject area. With the tiny homes, the existing emergency shelter, and Auntie Blanche’s Hui Mahiʻai ʻĀina, she said the windward side now has more places where homeless residents can accept shelter and wraparound services, leading to visible improvements in the community and in individual lives. Martin also announced two June 29 events at Kailua District Park. From 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., there will be a free distribution of supplies to combat coconut rhinoceros beetles, including netting, pheromone traps, and two kinds of pesticide, one organic and one synthetic, with instructions from the University of Hawaiʻi’s CRB response program. Residents are encouraged to reserve supplies in advance through crbhawaii.org/community based on how many trees they want to protect, though some walk-ins will be accommodated while supplies last. Immediately afterward, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., she and other Windward legislators will hold a legislative town hall to discuss bills passed this session.
Representative Mike Lee on Labor Issues, Military Relations, and E-Waste Collection
Representative Mike Lee praised the way the Olomana community mobilized around the traffic signal issue and said that kind of government-community interaction is what makes Kailua effective. He reported that his Labor Committee is spending the summer on workforce modernization topics, including improvements to the unemployment insurance system, which he said has moved from paper-heavy outdated processes to a more accessible digital platform. He also said paid family leave will remain a major issue next session, with ongoing work to determine costs, needed staffing, and program design. Another concern is retaining government employees by staying competitive in compensation and working conditions. Lee said there has been a command change at Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi and that he intends to meet with the new commander to reinforce the importance of community responsiveness and of the military’s role as a guest within the broader Windward community. He also reported progress toward arranging a legislative visit to the Women’s Community Correctional Center, something previously raised by board members. Finally, he promoted a large electronic waste drop-off event at Castle High School on June 20 from 8:00 a.m. to noon, saying it consistently draws more e-waste than similar drives elsewhere on Oʻahu.
Representative Scott Matayoshi on Elections, Workers’ Compensation, Vaping, and Maunawili Falls
Representative Scott Matayoshi summarized several legislative accomplishments from the 2026 session. He said lawmakers passed a bill aimed at reducing the influence of dark money in elections, framing it as a state-level response to the effects of Citizens United, though he expects legal challenges. He also passed three workers’ compensation bills intended to streamline the system so injured workers receive medical care faster and can return to work sooner. The legislature also advanced two anti-vaping measures, which Matayoshi described as incremental progress in an area he has long prioritized, though not the full ban he has previously sought. Another bill restricts how AI chatbots may interact with minors, addressing cases where they encourage violence or self-harm. Matayoshi reiterated support for the June 20 e-waste collection at Castle High School and said it is significantly larger than other such events. On Maunawili Falls, he said the trail remains closed while the state undertakes restoration to make the area more of a cultural preserve and while negotiations continue for purchase of adjoining land. If that acquisition succeeds, the entrance could be relocated near the golf course clubhouse so hikers would no longer need to enter through the residential Maunawili neighborhood, improving access management for both residents and trail users. No new timeline was given.
Congressional Assistance and FEMA Deadline Reminder
A representative from Congresswoman Jill Tokuda’s office reminded residents that the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance related to the Koʻolaupoko storms had been extended to June 14. The office encouraged homeowners, renters, and others who sustained damage or losses to apply and said district staff can help direct residents to the appropriate federal resources if needed.
Kailua Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Projects in 2026
City and consultant representatives presented an overview of two major capital projects beginning at the Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, building on prior completion of the upgraded UV disinfection system. The first is biotower rehabilitation, a roughly $24 million project by Hawaiian Dredging, designed by Brown and Caldwell, involving the two large secondary treatment structures visible from K-Bay Drive. The plant was originally built in 1965 and significantly upgraded in 1994, and these units are now due for major rehabilitation. Work will include removing the geodesic domes, replacing internal media and components, and upgrading ancillary pump station elements. Notice to proceed was issued in August, the project has been in pre-construction since then, and construction is expected to last about 3.3 years, though staff hope to finish in about 2.5 years. The second project is a new dewatering building, a roughly $68 million contract with Nan Inc., designed by Community Planning and Engineering, to improve solids handling. The plant currently removes solids from sewage and produces sludge “cake” that is shipped to H-POWER; the new system will remove more water, making transport easier and setting up future conversion of biosolids into reusable Class A fertilizer product. That work will also include digester and pump upgrades and is expected to last about three years. Staff said major construction activity will begin this month. Noise, odor, and traffic impacts were discussed, with officials saying contractors must comply with noise permit restrictions, monitor odors, and route heavy traffic primarily via H-3 rather than through local neighborhoods. One board member pointed out an inconsistency in handout language about permitted construction hours; staff clarified weekday work is generally 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday work on one project is allowed 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. under a noise variance. Another board member asked whether all plant functions are now connected to the centralized emergency generator plant, and staff said an additional electrical upgrade completed since an earlier board tour has now tied the entire facility into the backup system. Staff also said another public tour could be arranged after the projects are complete.
Hawaiian Electric’s Renewable Energy Zones Initiative
Hawaiian Electric presented its Renewable Energy Zones initiative, which is tied to Hawaiʻi’s 100 percent renewable energy target and to 2025 directives from both the governor and the Public Utilities Commission requiring identification of two large renewable energy zones on Oʻahu by June 2026. The utility stressed that designation of a zone does not mean immediate development, but rather identifies broad areas where future renewable generation and related transmission may be more strategically concentrated. Hawaiian Electric said it evaluated potential zones using factors including generation potential, cost efficiency, transmission maintenance burden, known developer interest, state land availability, and equity considerations so that the island does not overconcentrate facilities in a single region and can improve resilience through geographic diversification. The company explained that it wants to identify concentrated areas to avoid a scattered “spaghetti” pattern of transmission upgrades and instead pursue a more efficient and potentially less disruptive approach. Residents were directed to an online map and comment tool where they can identify opportunities, concerns, or barriers in specific places. A board member raised concern about already high electric rates, estimating current costs at roughly 45 to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, and asked what residents might be paying by 2045 once the renewable buildout is complete. Hawaiian Electric said it cannot predict a specific future rate now, but argued that the transition is intended to stabilize costs by reducing dependence on volatile imported fuel prices. The company said it would take back the request for more concrete future rate information.
Attendance Issues, Committee Business, and Adjournment
Near the end of the meeting, the board addressed attendance requirements for members who had accumulated three absences. Jeremy Treskin’s absences were attributed to work travel out of state or overseas, and the board accepted that explanation. Steve Trecker’s absences were attributed in part to medical issues, and the chair emphasized his long record of service and continued value to the board. A third member, Malia Tomes, had also reached three absences but was not present and had not responded to the board’s letter, so that matter was deferred to the next meeting. Committee reports were accepted as published, approval of minutes and committee membership changes were deferred for lack of time, and the chair reminded committee members that July agendas are due June 21. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.