No 15 Kalihi Pālama Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting July 2026
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15 Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board Meeting – July 16, 2026
Call to Order, Attendance, and Meeting Rules
Chair Pro Tem Evelyn Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Room 153, with participation also available through WebEx. Although the meeting title identifies July 16, the chair announced the date as Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The initial roll call found only three board members present, so the board lacked a quorum and could not fill vacancies, elect officers, deliberate, make motions or decisions, approve minutes, adopt resolutions, establish committees, or conduct other official business. The chair explained that reports, public testimony, and community concerns could still be received. Another member later arrived, and the chair announced that quorum had been obtained, allowing the board to proceed with eligible agenda business. Speakers were directed to raise their hands in person or electronically, identify themselves for the record, and address remarks to the chair. Community testimony was generally limited to three minutes, while questions after reports were limited to one question and approximately one and a half minutes per person.
Honolulu Fire Department Activity and Hiking Safety
Firefighter Rocky Solo reported Honolulu Fire Department activity for June 2026 within the board’s geographic area. Firefighters responded to three wildland or brush fires, nine nuisance fires involving rubbish outside structures or vehicles, one cooking fire, and 24 alarm activations where no fire was found. Emergency responses included 203 medical calls, one motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian, five other vehicle crashes, and two hazardous-material incidents. Residents were referred to HFD’s Fire Response Search Tool at fire.honolulu.gov for incident maps and additional details. The department’s monthly safety message focused on hiking: hikers should select trails appropriate to their ability and stamina, consult official trail information at hawaiitrails.org, check rain, wind, and ocean-swell forecasts, remain on marked trails, hike with a companion, tell someone their plans, and allow enough time to return before dark.
Honolulu Police Department Crime and Traffic Report
The Honolulu Police Department reported District 1 statistics for June. Motor vehicle thefts decreased from four in the previous month to three, burglaries remained at one, thefts rose from one to three, and unauthorized entries into motor vehicles increased from two to four. Assaults rose from one to three, while sexual assaults and graffiti remained at zero. Drug cases increased from one to five. Motor vehicle collisions declined from 14 to 11, and total calls for service fell from 268 to 253. The officer also reported that another traffic fatality had occurred the previous day and urged motorists to slow down, avoid distractions, drive carefully, and “drive with aloha.”
Water Main Breaks and Drought-Tolerant Plant Sale
Board of Water Supply representative Iris Ola reported two water main breaks during June: one on June 9 near School Street and the roadway identified in the transcript as “Camembert Four Road,” and another on June 19 at Vineyard Boulevard and Pua Lane. She also announced the 2026 Annual Unthirsty Plant Sale, scheduled for Saturday, August 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Board of Water Supply’s three-acre Hālawa Xeriscape Garden, 99-1268 Iwaena Street. Admission and shuttle transportation from parking on Iwaena Street will be free, although purchases will be by credit card only. Local vendors will sell drought-tolerant and native plants, University of Hawaiʻi Master Gardener “plant doctors” will provide care advice, and informational booths will cover subjects including rain-barrel catchment. Free soil conditioner will also be available. Information was to be posted at boardofwatersupply.com/plantsale. Ola additionally confirmed that the agency had received an inquiry from a property owner at the old base, was developing a plan, and intended to contact the resident directly.
HART Report Availability
HART representative Gabby Camacho was attending another meeting and did not present in person, but she submitted a written report that the board planned to make available through its shared Google documents. Because the board initially lacked quorum, several agenda items were tabled. Rail construction and accessibility nevertheless became major subjects later in the meeting through public testimony, the mayor’s report, and comments from disability advocates.
Police Drone as First Responder Pilot
Honolulu Police Department Assistant Chief Brian Lynch introduced a “Drone as a First Responder” pilot scheduled to begin August 1 in Districts 1 and 5, covering downtown, Kalihi, and Pālama. Under the program, drones may be launched in response to 911 calls while patrol officers travel by vehicle. A drone stationed near the main police headquarters could reach incidents along congested corridors such as Dillingham Boulevard faster than police cars and transmit information about crashes, fights, robberies, fleeing suspects, or missing and wandering individuals. Lynch emphasized that drones would respond to specific 911 calls rather than conduct general surveillance or search for violations without cause. The airborne view could help responding officers identify vehicles, travel directions, hazards, and the conditions they will encounter. Similar programs operate in all 50 states, and Maui Police Department already uses the approach locally. HPD is partnering with the state Department of Law Enforcement, and its pilots hold Federal Aviation Administration credentials, including authorization for beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. Policies and operating rules will be posted online for transparency. In response to a question, Lynch confirmed that recorded drone material would be saved and used for pilot and program purposes.
Rail Construction Accessibility and HART Follow-Through
Resident Lisa Hot continued to raise concerns about the lack of clear ADA-accessible pedestrian plans for HART’s Dillingham Boulevard construction. She said that despite nearly a year of advocacy, dating to September 11, the accessible route plans still had not been produced and blind pedestrians had no clear information about safely navigating the work zone. Senator Brian Schatz’s office had become involved, but she remained dissatisfied with the level of follow-up from HART, city officials, and elected representatives. She said one council office had simply provided the HART chief executive’s telephone number without broader assistance. Later, the mayor’s representative relayed HART’s statement that project personnel had engaged with Hot and disability organizations, had communicated with the city Equal Opportunity Office, the Disability and Communication Access Board, the Hawaiʻi Statewide Independent Living Council, and the Disability Rights Center, and had inspected Dillingham worksites on June 15, finding ADA conditions satisfactory. HART offered continued contact at 808-566-2299 or info@honolulutransit.org. Hot disputed the conclusion that conditions were accessible and asked who had approved that finding, emphasizing that the matter concerned community safety rather than a single meeting or individual complaint.
Disability Advocacy and Missing ADA Construction Guidelines
Donald Sakamoto, president of Citizens for Fair Americans with Disabilities Act and a member of the Oʻahu Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Citizens Advisory Committee since 2011, reinforced the concerns about HART’s construction practices. He said Camacho had stated at the May 13 board meeting that HART possessed the project’s ADA guidelines and would email them, but neither he nor Senator Schatz’s staff had received them. He recalled a meeting involving Hot, Representative Temple’s staff, HART safety personnel, and contractor representatives at which attendees could not locate the project’s ADA oversight plan. Sakamoto argued that contractors should be following a master accessibility plan and cited reports of a stair connection without a ramp and Dillingham bus stops lacking curb cuts for wheelchair, scooter, and walker users. He also noted that Department of Transportation Services Director Roger Morton discussed sidewalk and curb-access problems during a June 29 HART board meeting. The chair agreed to attempt to obtain the requested ADA guidelines or report.
Neighborhood Change, Costco Gas Station, Youth Services, and Food Support
Hot described wider concerns about changes in Kalihi after living in the community for more than 20 years. She said many small, locally owned “mom-and-pop” stores and other neighborhood businesses had disappeared. Although she did not oppose redevelopment itself, she objected to the way changes were being managed and said residents often did not feel supported enough to speak publicly. She opposed Costco’s proposed local gas station because of anticipated traffic congestion near a school. She also cited the lack of a nearby drugstore and the shortage of places where children can participate in activities. Hot thanked Representative Shirley Temple for helping pursue additional youth programming. She announced a food distribution at the Kahumanu Homes area beginning at 9:00 a.m. that Friday, with food brought into the parking lot for community distribution.
Farrington High School Noise and Campaign Litter
Resident George raised two neighborhood quality-of-life concerns. First, he said amplified announcements and sound from Farrington High School athletic events could be heard inside nearby homes even with the windows closed, disturbing children and kūpuna who were trying to sleep. Residents had attempted to work with the school for some time but had not obtained an effective response or mitigation plan. A board member asked George to provide his contact information so the matter could be followed up, and Hot, who serves as a parent representative on the School Community Council, offered to bring the issue before the council when school resumed. Second, George complained that candidates and campaign workers were leaving numerous election flyers on individual fences and throughout the neighborhood, with some properties receiving three or four copies. He characterized the excess material as litter and asked how the community could prevent campaign outreach from adding to local ʻōpala.
Kalihi Resilience Plan
James Sung invited the Kalihi-Pālama board to participate in the developing Kalihi Resilience Plan. He said the effort would include Kalihi Valley and Liliha-Pālama and asked the board eventually to designate at least one representative. No immediate decision was required. Sung had emailed the plan to the chair so members could review it before determining their participation.
Mayor’s Disaster Preparedness and City Leadership Updates
Stephen Courtney, deputy director of the Department of Information Technology and the mayor’s representative, summarized the July 2026 mayoral newsletter. The city is taking a coordinated, cross-departmental approach to disaster preparedness because meteorologists forecast an above-normal Central Pacific hurricane season while Oʻahu is also entering peak wildfire season. Courtney also announced John Barry as the new Honolulu Zoo director. Krishna Jayaram had assumed the role of managing director-designate, and Ian Sheeran had been appointed deputy managing director. Hawaiʻi driver’s licenses and state identification cards are receiving their first major redesign in 17 years, including enhanced security technology intended to reduce identity theft, fraud, and counterfeiting.
Affordable Housing Covenants and Displacement Risk
The mayor’s report addressed a resident’s warning that affordability covenants at several rental properties could soon expire, potentially allowing rents to rise to market rates and putting an estimated 1,600 families at risk of displacement. The Department of Community Services said it needed the names and ownership details of the affected properties to determine whether they were city-owned, state-owned, or connected to low-income housing tax credits. The department was not aware of imminent expirations at city-owned properties and said it routinely works with developers well before expiration dates to extend affordability periods or negotiate new leases so city assets continue to provide affordable housing.
Gulick Street Sidewalks, Park Maintenance, and Nuisance Activity
The mayor’s office carried forward several unresolved neighborhood service issues. A resident had reported that Gulick Street lacks sidewalks and cited three children struck near Kalihi Waena Elementary School and two elderly women who had fallen nearby. The Department of Transportation Services had not yet supplied a response, so the issue was retained for the August meeting. Hot had also reported that overgrown grass on McNeill Street near Kalākaua District Park and on Kawaiahaʻo Street near the housing area identified in the transcript as “Kawamata Homes” was blocking pedestrian access. The Department of Parks and Recreation said crews trimmed and removed the vegetation on June 3 and would continue monitoring the sidewalks. Regarding ongoing after-hours and weekend nuisance activity at 91 Gulick Avenue, including the return of wooden pallets, HPD said officers had made multiple checks but had not found evidence of criminal activity. Residents were advised to call 911 while suspicious or criminal conduct was occurring so officers could respond in real time.
City Staffing Shortages and Accessible Presentations
A resident had questioned city staffing shortages after Kalākaua District Park reportedly declined from three maintenance employees to one and HPD was said to be approximately 500 officers short. The resident asked why budgets continued to fund full staffing levels while vacancies remained unfilled and public fees increased without corresponding service improvements. The Department of Human Resources had not yet responded, so the item was continued to August; Courtney added that new Police Chief David Lazar was expected to prioritize recruitment. The report also addressed requests from Hot and Sakamoto that materials shown at neighborhood board meetings be checked for ADA accessibility, especially for blind and visually impaired attendees. The Neighborhood Commission Office explained that outside presenters frequently provide slides only at the meeting or do not send them to staff at all, limiting advance review. NCO nevertheless publishes presentation guidelines requesting ADA-compliant materials and the use of accessibility-checking tools. Residents were reminded to use Honolulu 311 for nonemergency city service requests and HNL.info for city updates.
Kalākaua Park Lighting, King and Gulick Pedestrian Improvements, and District Funding
Dee Hayashida, representing Councilmember Radiant Cordero, reported that the lighting problem at the Kalākaua District Park basketball courts was more extensive than initially expected and would require a contractor. No completion date was available. At North King Street and Gulick Avenue, the Department of Transportation Services installed a “No Turn on Red” sign and a leading pedestrian interval, which gives pedestrians a brief head start before vehicles receive a green light. The crosswalk was also repainted. Cordero secured District 7 appropriations that included $500,000 for turf and electrical improvements and $150,000 for a dog park at Keʻehi Lagoon. The office also promoted Trees for Honolulu’s Future, through which residents can request free street trees or recommend planting locations to expand shade and reduce urban heat.
Summer Bash and Fake DPP Inspector Warning
Councilmember Cordero’s office announced Summer Bash 2026, a free family event scheduled for Friday, July 31, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at Makalapa Neighborhood Park. Parents and Children Together and partner organizations planned activities, refreshments, and back-to-school resources. The office also warned residents about fraudulent inspection notices, emails, and visits from people claiming to represent the Department of Planning and Permitting. Anyone approached by a purported DPP official can verify that person’s identity by calling 808-768-8000.
Handy-Van and Paratransit Compliance Review
Sakamoto asked Councilmember Cordero to seek a new City Council briefing on a 61-page paratransit review that, he said, identified deficiencies requiring correction by the Department of Transportation Services and Oʻahu Transit Services within 60 days. The last Transportation Committee update on TheHandi-Van, TheBus, and Skyline had occurred on August 22, 2023, when then-Chair Tyler Dos Santos-Tam indicated another briefing would take place the following year. Sakamoto said no such update had occurred and requested a progress review covering the entire accessible transit system.
School Opening, Early Learning, and Student Assistance
A community representative provided an update for Kalihi Waena Elementary School and the broader Farrington Complex. Although August 3 was publicly identified as the start of the school year, the schools would use that date as a professional collaboration day, so students were expected to begin on Tuesday, August 4. Children who turn five before August 1 must be enrolled. Families with younger children were encouraged to ask their schools about early-learning classrooms; Kalihi Waena Elementary was said to have preschool opportunities for four- and five-year-olds. Parents unable to afford school supplies were encouraged to contact their schools because community donors had provided materials for students in need.
Gulick Bridge Closure and School Traffic Planning
The board was warned that Gulick Bridge was expected to close in August or September for approximately one year to a year and a half. The closure would redirect traffic toward Likelike Highway, Middle Street, School Street, and other surrounding roads, affecting commuters, schools, and businesses across the area. A board member later asked Representative Temple’s office and Senator Donna Mercado Kim’s office to work with the Department of Education on possible staggered or revised school start times throughout the Farrington Complex. The request cited the bridge closure, new no-turn-on-red restrictions on North King and School streets, and the concentration of multiple schools whose morning traffic could worsen congestion. Representative Temple’s office requested a written summary of the proposal for follow-up.
Sewer Assistance and Reduced Transit Fares
A representative for Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam highlighted assistance programs intended to soften the effect of sewer-rate and bus-fare increases. The Department of Environmental Services CARES program will provide bill credits to eligible residential sewer customers, with applications accepted through October 31. The city’s Low-Income Transit Fare Program offers reduced fares to qualifying households, including rides costing $1.25. These programs were presented as resources for residents likely to be affected by increasing utility and transportation costs.
ʻIwilei Transit-Oriented Development and Accessible Housing
Sakamoto asked whether residents with disabilities and elderly residents would have opportunities to comment on plans for redevelopment around the ʻIwilei transit area. He urged the Department of Housing and Land Management to ensure that apartments are designed from the outset with accessible kitchens, showers, and other features rather than retrofitted only after problems arise. Councilmember Dos Santos-Tam’s representative agreed to contact the department’s director about applicable accessibility standards and whether public hearings or other avenues for disability-community input would be available.
Election Deadlines, Ballot Tracking, and Voting Access
A representative for Senator Karl Rhoads reminded residents that primary-election ballots were expected to arrive by July 23. Requests to have a ballot sent to an alternate location were due August 1. The representative identified the primary election as August 1 and the general election as November 3, while also making an inconsistent reference to an August 10 receipt deadline. The central warning was that ballots must be received—not merely postmarked—by 7:00 p.m. on election day. Voters were encouraged to mail ballots early, use official drop boxes when deadlines approached, or vote at voter service centers. Drop-box information is available through the city elections website, and voters can use elections.hawaii.gov to sign up for ballot notifications and confirm that their ballot was received and accepted. Residents were advised to check early enough to correct any processing issue before the deadline.
COVID-19 Activity and State Capital Funding
Senator Rhoads’s representative reported a renewed but already declining round of COVID-19 activity. Residents at higher risk were encouraged to consult their physicians about vaccination. Wastewaterscan.org was identified as a resource for tracking community-level viral activity through wastewater data. The representative also summarized fiscal year 2027 capital and grant funding, including $40 million for a revolving affordable-housing and predevelopment infrastructure fund, $135,000 for minor foundation work for radio station KNDI and the Carl Smith facility, and $160,000 for Institute for Human Services homeless shelter support. Sakamoto again asked whether an elected official or staff member could attend the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority board meeting scheduled for the following morning to monitor Section 8 and housing program issues.
North School Street Sewage Repair and E-Bike Regulation
Cassandra Cockett, the new office manager for Senator Donna Mercado Kim, reported on a sewage-pipe break on private property along North School Street. The city Department of Environmental Services could not make repairs because the line was privately owned, but a Department of Planning and Permitting plumbing inspector confirmed that the repair had been completed. Residents were encouraged to use the 311 application for future sewage reports. Cockett also announced that House Bill 2021, an e-bike safety measure, had been signed by the governor. The law establishes three classifications: Class 1 covers pedal-assist bicycles, Class 2 includes pedal assist with a throttle and a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour, and Class 3 includes pedal assist, a speedometer, and a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour. It also requires e-bike registration and direct parental or guardian supervision for riders under 16 operating Class 2 or Class 3 bicycles.
Education, Teacher Pay, Housing, and State Budget Legislation
Senator Kim’s office summarized several measures signed into law. House Bill 1888 strengthens protections for educators and school employees against harassment, intimidation, and workplace threats. House Bill 1890 establishes annual salary-step increases for public and charter school teachers. A Hawaiʻi Promise Scholarship measure and housing-agency restructuring legislation were also discussed, including changes to the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation’s employment authority, leadership, and compensation structure. House Bill 2296 addressed more affordable Department of Education school meals. The supplemental budget, House Bill 1800, was signed, as was legislation transferring $50 million into the state emergency reserve fund. House Bill 2344 created a temporary commission to study possible school consolidations, realignments, and closures. Senate Bill 3262, which would have required Senate confirmation of the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority executive director, was vetoed.
School Meal Affordability
Hot asked for more detail about the school-meal legislation, noting that many working and middle-income households narrowly exceed eligibility limits for free or reduced-price meals even though they cannot comfortably afford breakfast and lunch costs. She said children should not go without food because a household exceeds an income cutoff by only a few cents or dollars. Senator Kim’s office agreed to provide additional information and asked Hot to email her concerns so they could be forwarded to the senator.
Sand Island Cleanup and UH Sports Partnerships in Asia
Senator Glenn Wakai’s office reported that the Department of Land and Natural Resources had begun removing World War II-era debris exposed by shoreline erosion at Sand Island State Recreation Area. Work was taking place Monday through Friday during park hours and was expected to continue through October. Portions of the western beach near the channel would be temporarily closed. Wakai was also pursuing expanded opportunities for University of Hawaiʻi collegiate athletics in Asia. After taking the UH baseball team to Japan and Taiwan earlier in the summer, he hoped to develop corporate sponsorships, build a regional fan base, establish a potential recruiting pipeline, and eventually expand travel to Korea.
Airport-to-Skyline Accessibility and Signage
Sakamoto asked Senator Wakai’s office to address poor wayfinding and accessibility between Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and the Skyline station near Lagoon Drive. He said signage on the state airport side was inadequate in both directions, making the route confusing even for sighted travelers and particularly difficult for blind people and other passengers with disabilities. He cited a blind airport vendor who struggles to move between buses, Skyline, and airport terminals. Wakai’s representative did not have access to the senator’s direct email and asked Sakamoto to resend his June 26 message to the office manager and staff for follow-up with the state Department of Transportation.
Kūpuna Support Pilot and Major District Projects
Representative Michael’s office highlighted the new Kūpuna Aloha Pilot Program, funded with $2 million and effective July 1 through the Department of Health. The free program is intended for a “gap” population of older adults who earn too much for Medicaid but still lack sufficient resources or support. It will connect kūpuna and caregivers with supportive services and available state programs, reducing sole reliance on adult children for daily assistance. The representative also identified five major projects under continuing review in District 28: redevelopment of Chinatown Cultural Plaza, redevelopment of the Maunakea senior center, the proposed Costco gas station, and two rail-station-related projects. Community outreach included a June 22 town hall at Maunawili Elementary School, as identified in the transcript.
Predatory Towing Practices
Representative Michael’s office described ongoing work with the Department of Transportation on towing companies that allegedly exploit vehicle owners. State law requires towing companies to accept card payments, but some operators reportedly claim their card equipment is broken and direct customers to nearby ATMs that charge fees, including a cited $6 transaction fee, on top of towing charges that may approach $200. The office was attempting to locate and meet with VIP Towing concerning legal compliance. Its registered Sand Island address had reportedly been vacant for approximately six months, and neighboring businesses suggested it might have moved to Kapahulu. The representative said the state was considering regulatory options involving the Public Utilities Commission or Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, though agency resources and jurisdiction remained complicated.
Human-Trafficking Awareness Training
Ed Thompson, reporting for Representative Shirley Temple, highlighted House Bill 1960, a priority of the Women’s Legislative Caucus. The law directs the Department of the Attorney General to create or approve human-trafficking awareness training for workers in the transient-accommodations sector. The program is intended to help tourism and lodging employees recognize and respond to signs of trafficking occurring through or around visitor-industry facilities.
Hawaiʻi Foodbank Distribution at Kahumanu Homes
Representative Temple’s office promoted a Hawaiʻi Foodbank and Pālama Settlement distribution program that needs at least 100 eligible participants to remain viable. Upcoming dates were Friday, July 17; September 18; October 16; and November 20. Registration was scheduled from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., and food would be distributed at Kahumanu Homes on a first-come, first-served basis. Hot clarified that participants could not park on the property and would need to enter on the Waiakamilo side, across from the former Meg’s Drive-In location. She also mentioned a program called Reach Me Internationally and invited schools interested in learning more to contact her.
Public Housing Authority Oversight
Sakamoto repeated his request that lawmakers or their staff attend the Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority Board of Directors meeting scheduled for 9:00 a.m. the following day. He said the agenda included Section 8 and other tenant-related housing program actions that warranted legislative observation. Senator Kim’s office said the senator’s schedule was tight but would explore whether she or a staff member could attend. Representative Temple’s office also agreed to locate Sakamoto’s email and review the online meeting information.
Announcements and Adjournment
The next Kalihi-Pālama Neighborhood Board No. 15 meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale. Recordings of the board’s meetings are available on ʻŌlelo Channel 49 and at olelo.org/live, airing on the first Monday of each month at 9:00 p.m. and on the second and third Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. The meeting was then adjourned.