No 31 Kailua Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting October 2026
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31 Kailua Neighborhood Board Meeting – October 2, 2026
Opening, Quorum, and Community Announcements
The meeting opened without a quorum, with five members present in person and two participating remotely, so the board initially proceeded with reports and announcements without taking action. A quorum was later confirmed with 11 members. The board announced that the draft environmental assessment for the proposed Chick-fil-A Kailua project had been issued September 23 and would accept public comments through October 23; comments may be submitted to Dane Joblum of HHF Planners at CFA_EA@HHF.com. The annual Olomana Christmas Parade is scheduled for Sunday, December 20, beginning at 2 p.m. at Maunawili Elementary School, with Honolulu Police Department officers directing traffic. The city plans to modify the crosswalk at Kuʻulei Road and Aulike Street near McDonald’s and Kailua Elementary School in November by installing a pedestrian refuge island and curb extensions to shorten the crossing distance and make waiting pedestrians more visible. The work is expected to take one to two weeks and is intended as an interim improvement while the community continues waiting for a traffic signal. The final phase of the archaeological survey at the Kailua municipal parking lot is scheduled for November 2–6, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. The board also observed a moment of silence for Thomas Malone, who was killed in a shooting in the Target parking lot during the Kailua Fall Festival the preceding Saturday.
Honolulu Fire Department
The Honolulu Fire Department reported three nuisance fires, one cooking fire, and nine activated alarms during the previous month. Emergency responses included 92 medical calls, six motor vehicle collisions, two mountain rescues, one ocean rescue, and one hazardous-materials incident. Residents may view incident details and maps through HFD’s Fire Response Search Tool at fire.honolulu.gov. With the holiday season approaching, HFD advised residents to use electrical decorations and appliances certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, follow manufacturer instructions, remain present and alert whenever cooking indoors or outdoors, keep combustible items away from heat and flames, and exercise extra caution when walking or driving between dusk and dawn. Questions may be directed to hfdnhb@honolulu.gov.
Ocean Safety Operations and New Kailua Facility
The Honolulu Ocean Safety Department reported 21,865 preventive actions, 367 total incidents—including minor first-aid cases—and 84 rescues during the previous month. Ocean Safety’s new Kailua facility was expected to be completed October 30, with personnel moving in soon afterward. Officials described it as Ocean Safety’s first purpose-built facility of its own. In response to a community question about marine hazards, the department explained that jellyfish commonly appear seven to ten days after a full moon, while Portuguese man-of-war occurrences are influenced more by wind conditions. The representative did not have specific seasonal information regarding wana, or sea urchins.
Police Statistics and Kailua Homicide
HPD District 4 reported September 2026 crime figures showing three motor vehicle thefts, down from nine in August; five burglaries, up from three; 22 general thefts, up from 17; five unauthorized entries into motor vehicles, down from six; and one robbery, down from three. Captain Michael Campbell also addressed the fatal Target parking lot shooting. A female suspect was in custody, had been charged with homicide, and was being held on $1 million bail, but HPD could not disclose investigative details because the case remained active and would proceed through the court process. Captain Campbell emphasized that this was Kailua’s first homicide in more than three years and said patrol officers, special-duty officers hired for the festival, and private security had been adequately staffed. The people involved had been removed from the festival before the events outside the venue culminated in the homicide. HPD extended condolences to the Malone family and praised officers for rapidly securing the scene, rendering aid, and apprehending the suspect.
Festival Safety, Firearms, and Community Support
Board members questioned how large public events involving alcohol, dancing, and crowds can remain safe for families. HPD said organizers had used special-duty police and private security, including screening and wanding at entrances, but acknowledged that no staffing plan can fully predict individual behavior once people are inside or after they leave. Residents were urged to drink responsibly, avoid escalating disputes, and remember the purpose of community celebrations. Asked whether the firearm involved was registered, HPD said there was no indication it was a “ghost gun,” but the department would not confirm registration status while the investigation remained underway. HPD was not aware of a dedicated community trauma resource established specifically for the shooting, although Captain Campbell and Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina were planning a broader community meeting about crime and neighborhood safety. Representative Mike Lee later identified Hawaiʻi’s 24-hour 988 crisis line as a resource for anyone struggling emotionally after the incident and said his office would distribute additional support information.
Gang Activity and Low-Profile Police Vehicles
In response to concerns about increasingly armed groups, HPD said specialized officers monitor gang activity and work with community policing and crime-reduction units to prevent violence, particularly among younger individuals at risk of making harmful choices. Captain Campbell characterized the shooting as an outlier, said it did not appear to be gang-related, and reported no significant increase in gang activity in Kailua or the wider District 4 area. HPD also clarified procedures involving low-profile police vehicles, which resemble ordinary cars but contain internal emergency lights, flashing headlights, sirens, and other police equipment. A driver who is uncertain whether a vehicle is legitimate should activate hazard lights to acknowledge the stop, proceed carefully to a well-lit public location, call 911 to verify that an officer is initiating the stop, and remain on the line until identification is confirmed. Officers are required to carry and display a badge, identification card, credentials, name, and badge number.
Chick-fil-A Kailua Project Overview
Chick-fil-A proposed redeveloping four parcels at the corner of Hamakua Drive and Hahani Street, including the existing Midas building, Lava Sports Bar, and an adjoining parking area. All structures within the four-parcel site would be demolished and replaced with a new restaurant; the neighboring building containing Paia Fish Market is outside the project and would remain. The plan includes a restaurant on the western side, outdoor seating, two drive-through lanes wrapping around the building, approximately 48 parking stalls on the eastern side, a refuse enclosure, landscaping, and two driveways—one on Hahani and one on Hamakua. The Hahani access would be restricted to right-in and right-out movements. Chick-fil-A described its owner-operator model, under which each restaurant is run by a locally involved operator rather than by a passive multi-store investor. The company could not promise that the operator would live within Kailua proper but said the operator would live within driving distance and be expected to work closely with employees, customers, and the community.
Cultural Resources and Project Review
The developer acknowledged that the site and surrounding area contain significant cultural sensitivities. Chick-fil-A said it had consulted descendants, the State Historic Preservation Division, and the Oʻahu Island Burial Council to develop a design that minimizes ground disturbance and lowers the risk of affecting cultural resources or burials. Construction would focus excavation on the building footprints and necessary utility trenches rather than disturbing the full site. The project remains subject to parallel community, environmental, cultural, and government-permitting processes. Councilmember Kiaʻāina later explained that residents could comment on the draft environmental assessment through October 23, provide input to the Department of Planning and Permitting during its special management area permit review, and testify again when the SMA permit reaches the City Council’s zoning process and full council.
Chick-fil-A Traffic Study and Drive-Through Operations
The developer said traffic was recognized early as the project’s central concern and that its team had consulted the city’s Traffic Review Branch and the State Department of Transportation while studying five intersections. According to the company, most projected customers would already be traveling on the surrounding roadway network—such as residents stopping on the way home—rather than making entirely new trips from distant parts of Oʻahu, although an initial novelty period could draw more visitors. The site plan was tested using peak queues observed at other Chick-fil-A locations, and the company concluded that anticipated drive-through traffic could be contained on-site. Under a worst-case overflow plan, the Hahani driveway could be closed, all vehicles would enter from Hamakua, and the site could stack as many as 51 vehicles without queuing in the street while retaining internal circulation. The two-lane drive-through could operate in several ways: both lanes could accept or deliver orders, the outer lane could serve as a bypass for customers whose orders are ready, and app-based orders could reduce ordering and payment time. The operator would adjust lane use based on demand.
Traffic Concerns on Hamakua and Hahani
Board members remained concerned that Hamakua is a two-lane arterial and evacuation route and could not safely absorb the level of congestion seen at Chick-fil-A’s Beretania Street location. They cited existing backups caused by vehicles turning left into the former Midas site, especially during its morning opening period, and warned that restaurant traffic could create repeated breakfast, lunch, and dinner congestion. Particular concerns involved vehicles waiting to turn left from Hamakua into the restaurant, cars exiting and crossing traffic to head toward Enchanted Lake, backups extending toward nearby intersections, and the effect of gridlock during emergencies or large community events. Chick-fil-A said the existing turn pocket near the signal would serve vehicles entering the site, traffic-study results indicated acceptable levels of service, and two access points would provide operational flexibility. The company disputed the idea that severe queues would last all day, while acknowledging that some peak-period congestion could occur and emphasizing that keeping vehicles on the property was also in the operator’s interest.
Restaurant Hours, Access, Employment, and Policies
The restaurant would remain closed on Sundays, consistent with Chick-fil-A’s longstanding corporate policy, and was tentatively expected to operate from approximately 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. rather than 24 hours. No fence is planned around the property. Pedestrian access would be provided along the northern property line, connecting to Hahani Street, and would comply with accessibility requirements. A traffic consultant said the nearby signal timing can likely be adjusted, although the city controls those changes and the controller may eventually require modernization. In response to questions about discrimination and recent controversies surrounding the company, Chick-fil-A described itself as an equal-opportunity employer seeking hardworking, enthusiastic employees from Kailua and nearby communities. The presenter did not have the detailed written nondiscrimination policy available but said it could be obtained through the company’s website or corporate representatives. The company did not identify a fixed number of future Hawaiʻi locations, saying expansion would be gradual so as not to undermine existing locally operated restaurants.
Chick-fil-A Exit Motion and Construction Concerns
After quorum was established, the board considered a Planning, Zoning and Environment Committee motion recommending that vehicles exiting Chick-fil-A onto Hamakua Drive be restricted to right turns only. The committee had approved the recommendation 6-0 because of anticipated congestion and the difficulty of vehicles turning left across traffic, and members compared the concept to the right-turn-only exit at the nearby EZQ shopping complex. A resident of Kailua Gardens raised concerns about construction near Kawainui Marsh, including the high water table and possible soil contamination from decades of automotive activity at the Midas site. Chick-fil-A responded that environmental consultants would participate during construction, city rules require erosion, water, and spill-control measures, and the project is designed to minimize excavation. The resident also suggested using an existing vacant restaurant property in ʻAikahi instead, but the chair noted that site selection was outside the scope of the pending motion. The board unanimously approved the right-turn-only recommendation by 11 votes, while emphasizing that it was advisory rather than a final permit condition.
Water Main Breaks and Emergency Water Resilience
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply reported no water main breaks in September and one eight-inch main break in August. Residents were warned that electrical outages limit the agency’s ability to pump water from wells into reservoirs, leaving stored reservoir water as the only immediate supply. During outages, customers should restrict use to drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene and continue conserving after electricity returns so pumps can rebuild reservoir levels and pressure. BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Ernie Lau explained that the island uses approximately 145 million gallons of drinking water per day and relies on roughly 90 well-pumping stations and more than 90 booster stations. The system has only about 21 fixed or mobile generators, while many facilities require units ranging from 500 kilowatts to one megawatt. Fixed one-megawatt generators can cost approximately $5 million to $10 million, while mobile units may cost $500,000 to $1 million. BWS is seeking additional generators, federal support, FEMA equipment, and emergency funding, but warned that a catastrophic hurricane would likely prevent normal service in some neighborhoods. Residents were urged to store water before major storms. Windward Oʻahu has some gravity-fed tunnel sources, but the area also depends on water pumped from as far away as Punaluʻu. The agency had no construction update on the proposed water tank near Kalaheo High School and agreed to examine whether large emergency generators at the wastewater treatment plant could support nearby water infrastructure.
Youth Commission Participation
The board recognized Ian Lowry, a Punahou junior and the Windward representative on the Honolulu Youth Commission. Lowry said the meeting had taught him about public forums and that he hoped to attend future board meetings in person or online. His participation reflected ongoing efforts to connect younger residents with neighborhood decision-making.
Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi
Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi reported preparations for shearwater fallout season, including education, reducing unnecessary lighting around hangars and airfield areas, and instructing personnel to report birds in distress. The base’s environmental department planned to return a rehabilitated pueo to Nuʻupia Pond after treatment on Hawaiʻi Island. Base leadership also emphasized bicycle safety and helmet use for students traveling to ʻAikahi Elementary, Kailua Intermediate, Kalaheo High School, and other nearby schools. The television program “Expedition Unknown” was expected to conduct research in Kāneʻohe Bay for an aircraft lost during the December 7 attack and associated with pilot Lieutenant Gordon Sterling. The base thanked HPD for partnering on National Night Out and Councilmember Kiaʻāina for organizing a land-conservation workshop. A resident studying Kailua Beach erosion requested historical wind-direction data from the base to test whether a long-term shift from northeast to easterly trade winds may be contributing to erosion; the base agreed to connect him with air-station weather personnel. Representative Lisa Martin also requested that a previously postponed visit be rescheduled to inspect remnant fencing on Keolu Ridge, and the base representative agreed to raise the matter with leadership.
Food Security Charter Amendment
Representatives of the Hawaiʻi Foodbank advocated for Charter Amendment 1 on the November ballot. The proposal would dedicate a portion of existing real-property-tax revenue to a new local food-security fund without creating a new tax and was estimated to generate approximately $8 million to $9 million. The Foodbank said the money could support farmers, agricultural production, disaster preparedness, local food distribution, and access to healthy food for vulnerable residents. Speakers noted that Hawaiʻi’s dependence on imported food leaves the islands exposed to supply disruptions and that approximately one in three families currently struggles with food insecurity. They also described school food pantries in Kailua and emphasized the relationship between nutrition, children’s ability to learn, and long-term health.
School Crosswalk and Pedestrian Safety
Kailua Elementary School PTSA representatives submitted a written statement about dangerous crossings used by children, older adults, and other pedestrians around Kailua Elementary, Kailua Intermediate, Kailua District Park, Aoloa Street, Kailua Road, and the McDonald’s intersection at Kuʻulei Road and Aulike Street. They said many students cross without crossing guards, motorists do not always recognize that they are entering a school area, and pedestrians often reach the midpoint of the Aulike crossing without knowing whether traffic from the opposite direction will stop. The chair referred the concerns to the Transportation Committee and invited the PTSA to its October meeting. The city’s planned quick-build project at Aulike and Kuʻulei will add a refuge island and curb extensions in November. A permanent traffic signal has been discussed repeatedly since 2014, and by 2022 the city had selected a contractor and authorized advance procurement, but the project encountered delays. Councilmember Kiaʻāina later said federal funding had fallen through, not that the project had been intentionally abandoned, and noted that the location is identified as a high-injury intersection.
Governor’s Office and Kawainui Marsh Monitoring
The Governor’s Office announced the Aloha Tower centennial celebration for October 15–16. The October 15 program includes a blessing and reopening of the observation deck, while October 16 will feature entertainment, food trucks, and a drone show. The office also answered an earlier question about Kawainui Marsh water levels. Department of Land and Natural Resources and Division of Forestry and Wildlife personnel monitor the marsh remotely during storms. Emergency protocols begin when the gauge reaches 10 feet, at which point the City Department of Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center is notified and becomes responsible for coordinating any needed evacuations. At 15 feet, the levee is considered compromised, with failure imminent or underway. Current and historical readings are publicly available through the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water Information System.
Triangle Park, Mental-Health Transport, and Mainland Reunification
A city representative reported that a contractor would landscape Triangle Park, remove rocks, and install sod over the coming weeks; the temporary fence would be removed after the sod becomes established. Updates on requested road restriping and other Department of Facility Maintenance matters were deferred. The city’s CORE outreach program has begun routinely conducting MH-3 involuntary transports for people who pose a danger to themselves or others because of mental illness, substance use, or alcohol. Dedicated Windward deployments occur approximately every three weeks, with additional responses to identified hotspots. Upcoming efforts were expected to focus around the Kailua Walgreens and McDonald’s, as well as locations in Waimānalo and Kāneʻohe. Long-term effectiveness depends on treatment and bed capacity. The city also plans to expand a program that returns people from outside Hawaiʻi to family or support networks on the mainland; approximately 200 people had participated during the year. A resident thanked the city for clearing vegetation and restoring visibility around retention ponds near city property, while stressing the need for continued maintenance.
Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina
Councilmember Kiaʻāina outlined the environmental assessment, SMA permit, Department of Planning and Permitting, zoning committee, and City Council stages through which the Chick-fil-A proposal must pass. She also announced plans for an October community safety meeting at Kailua Intermediate School with HPD, prompted by the homicide, a break-in that closed elementary schools, business concerns along Hamakua, and complaints from residents near Enchanted Lake Shopping Center. The first tenants at the 330 Kuʻulei affordable-housing project were expected to move in during mid-October. Kiaʻāina is working with Council Chair Tommy Waters on legislation or policy that could give residents who live or work near small affordable-housing projects a stronger preference, potentially using 330 Kuʻulei as a model for future Bill 7 projects. She reported overwhelming interest in the development. The September 29 land-conservation workshop was scheduled for rebroadcast on ʻŌlelo on October 8, 12, 13, and 14, and presentation materials from city, state, federal, nonprofit, and Hawaiian organizations were posted on her website. The workshop highlighted tens of millions of dollars in public funding that can acquire private land for conservation or agriculture. Nearly 200 acres in Maunawili were undergoing conservation-related processing involving Ho‘opua ʻĀina and Kauluakalana, and the city was exploring acquisition of private land around the Kapaʻa silt basin to improve maintenance and reduce access barriers.
Representative Mike Lee
Representative Mike Lee reported that he had returned to teaching high-school social studies and had participated in community projects including mangrove removal and the Kaʻelepulu crosswalk mural. A $6 million contract was awarded to COHA Builders for improvements to the Kailua High School baseball field, following earlier upgrades to the softball field. Planned work includes replacing natural grass with turf, installing an outfield retaining wall and padding, perimeter fencing, dugouts, a scoreboard, a booth, electrical improvements, and drainage. Lee also discussed the emotional impact of the Target shooting, noting that his own 16-year-old child was at the event. His office was compiling community resources and encouraged residents needing immediate emotional support to call 988. He also thanked first responders and said instructions would soon be distributed for a planned tour of the Women’s Community Correctional Center.
Representative Lisa Martin
Representative Lisa Martin reported completion of the Kaʻelepulu School crosswalk art project, which used community-designed pavement artwork to visually narrow the roadway near the location of a fatal crash approximately three and a half years earlier. The PTSA, residents, and elected officials participated, and the city’s Complete Streets program was expected to add protective infrastructure around the artwork. Martin was preparing legislation for the next session on invasive species, involuntary treatment for people with severe mental illness, homelessness, energy, and agriculture. After attending Climate Week in New York, she expressed concern that investing in natural-gas infrastructure could lock Hawaiʻi into fossil-fuel use for another 20 years. She was also scheduled to visit a proposed large-scale agricultural project intended to grow plant material for aviation biofuel and invited residents to submit legislative ideas.
Board of Water Supply Claims Policy
The Board of Water Supply presented its process for property-damage and injury claims arising from water-main breaks and other incidents. BWS averages approximately 350 main breaks and receives about 100 claims each year, although only a minority of breaks cause property damage. Claimants must file a form within six months of the loss under the Revised Charter and generally have two years from the incident to finalize the claim. Supporting materials may include photographs, police reports, repair estimates or invoices, plumber and contractor reports, and medical bills. BWS urged residents to notify their homeowners, automobile, commercial, or flood insurer promptly because private insurers may provide assistance more quickly while the agency investigates. Some policies classify water-main damage as flooding while others do not, so homeowners were advised to review coverage with their carriers and ensure exterior drainage directs water away from structures.
Liability and Discretionary Assistance for Water Damage
On September 28, the Board of Water Supply approved a claims-handling policy that formalizes consideration of prior breaks, notice, pipe age and condition, agency response, causation, and possible third-party activity. The policy allows the manager and chief engineer, with Corporation Counsel’s concurrence, to provide limited discretionary assistance in qualifying cases even when BWS denies legal liability. Officials stressed that reasonable maintenance does not mean the utility guarantees pipes will never fail. BWS maintains approximately 2,100 miles of pipeline, some more than 100 years old, and age alone does not predict failure. Its approximately $200 million annual capital program supports pipe replacement, corrosion reduction, leak detection, forensic analysis, pumping facilities, and backup power under a 30-year water master plan. The presentation followed a Kailua resident’s significant property loss from a main break; BWS said it had reached a proposed settlement with him but could not discuss details. The chair thanked the agency for using its expanded discretionary authority to help address the case.
DLNR Hawaiʻi Loa Campus Proposal
The Department of Land and Natural Resources provided an update on negotiations to acquire the former Hawaiʻi Pacific University Hawaiʻi Loa campus in Kāneʻohe from Adventist Health. DLNR described the property as a rare opportunity to expand and consolidate agency infrastructure, noting that its last major facilities expansion was the Kalanimoku Building in the mid-1970s. Several programs now occupy leased or borrowed space, including DOCARE enforcement, the State Historic Preservation Division, rare-plant and snail laboratories, watershed partnerships, and University of Hawaiʻi partners. A major lease expires in 2029, creating a deadline for relocation. DLNR intends to renovate approximately 120,000 square feet of existing buildings and potentially add about 49,000 square feet for boats, jet skis, field equipment, maintenance machinery, storage, and staff operations. Divisions expected to use the campus include DOCARE, Aquatic Resources, State Parks, Boating and Ocean Recreation, Forestry and Wildlife, and Historic Preservation.
Hawaiʻi Loa Training, Recreation, Traffic, and Timeline
The former dormitories would house DOCARE’s nine-month training academy, reducing the current expense of hotel lodging and weekly flights for recruits. When not used for the academy, the dorms could accommodate neighbor-island staff, visiting personnel, and agency training programs. At full buildout, the campus could support approximately 250 personnel, including University of Hawaiʻi programs. Plans also contemplate a city Emergency Medical Services substation near the highway, continued use of the soccer and softball fields through coordination with the Department of Parks and Recreation, pickleball courts in part of the lower parking area, public permit services, conference rooms, and after-hours meeting space for community organizations. Board members raised concerns about security, homeless encampments, streams, parking, and highway congestion. DLNR said DOCARE’s eventual goal is 24-hour coverage, although current staffing does not yet support a full overnight shift. The former campus had approximately 450 parking spaces, and planners are examining additional parking along internal roads and near existing structures. A traffic study will be included in the draft environmental assessment, and a traffic signal may eventually be needed as the campus is phased into use. DLNR expected to publish a draft environmental assessment in November, seek Land Board approval and environmental acceptance in spring 2027, begin improvements in 2028 if approvals proceed, and complete enough work for agencies to relocate by 2029.
Meeting Administration and Adjournment
No members reported attendance at outside meetings. The board approved the September 3 minutes without correction, accepted committee reports as published, and announced that the Parks and Recreation Committee would be in recess and would not meet in October. No committee membership changes were proposed. November committee agenda items were due to the chair by Sunday, October 25. The meeting adjourned at 9:47 p.m.