No 30 Kāne‘ohe Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting April 2026
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30 Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Meeting – April 17, 2026
Call to Order and Meeting Guidelines
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Shizuma, who explained that several attendees arrived at an incorrect location before relocating to Windward Community College’s Hale ‘Ākoakoa. The board reviewed speaking protocols, emphasizing the use of chat and hand-raise functions for online participation. Phone participants were reminded of the star-three function to request to speak and star-six to mute or unmute. Board members asked speakers to identify themselves and any affiliations before commenting. It was noted that the board may act on any suitably listed agenda item, but items not on the agenda require a two-thirds majority vote of the 17-member board to add for immediate discussion or action. The board recognized sub-district vacancies in Crown Terrace (Sub-District 2), the Kohukai area (Sub-District 13), and Yacht Club Terrace (Sub-District 14). Although the board eventually reached nine members for quorum, there were no volunteers to fill vacancies, and that item was deferred.
Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) Report
A representative from the Kaneohe Fire Station presented statistics for March 2026, including one structure fire, one nuisance fire, 16 activated alarms with no fire, 125 medical alarms, one motor vehicle collision with a pedestrian, two motor vehicle collisions, one mountain rescue, one ocean rescue, and one hazmat incident. HFD emphasized evacuation planning and listed best practices for leaving early, mapping two or more escape routes from homes, and assembling a “go bag” for emergencies. Community members asked about HFD access to remote areas, including the road behind Ko‘olau Golf Course, which sustained damage and forced alternate routes through Ho‘omaluhia. HFD assured the board they are aware of the alternate routes and remain prepared for emergency response. A request was made for HFD to present more detailed wildfire risk maps of the Kaneohe area at a future meeting, and HFD representatives indicated willingness to coordinate and share this information once they receive relevant data.
Marine Corps Base Hawaii Update
A representative from Marine Corps Base Hawaii announced that multiple Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) groups would visit in the coming weeks and that a Coastal Defense Study Group is scheduled to tour the installation and other historic sites around O‘ahu. An incoming commander, Colonel Steven D—, will assume command on May 21, replacing Colonel Kouperakis. The base is preparing for RIMPAC exercises that will result in increased noise and temporary operational changes. A complaint line, accessible by a QR code, is under revision so concerns can be sent directly to the base. The Kaupiko Regatta will continue during RIMPAC and remain open to the public. Marine Corps officials noted that visiting foreign militaries often compete in canoe races, providing an opportunity for community engagement. Near the end of the meeting, the outgoing commanding officer expressed gratitude to the Neighborhood Board for the strong working relationship and said he would remain on island in a different position.
Oahu Pentathlon Presentation
A representative of the Oahu Pentathlon shared plans for its fifth annual event scheduled for August 8 and 9, 2026. The race course covers 135 miles in five stages—swimming, running, paddling, sandbag carrying, and biking—over 24 hours. Approximately 120 athletes are expected, divided between teams and individual competitors. The portion that affects Kaneohe is the run from Castle Beach to Kualoa Beach Park. Due to the event’s limited size, there will be no requested lane closures or police traffic control. Volunteers will manage crosswalks and guide runners across Haiku Road. The board had no objections, citing previous years’ positive experiences. The organizers received the board’s support to proceed.
Castle High School Updates
Students from Castle High School spoke about upcoming events. The Auto Club is hosting an auto show on April 25 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, still seeking car entries and vendor participation. Castle’s Polynesian Dance program is preparing for the Hui Ke Fest on May 2, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with two shows at 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Tickets for the shows are being sold for seven dollars each. Board members encouraged the students to report future concerns or successes in the community as part of their monthly presentations.
Windward Community College Report
Windward Community College Chancellor Artis Eschenberg announced Senior Bash on campus for nearly 300 local high school seniors to learn about college, financial aid, and scholarships before finalizing their post-graduation plans. She also promoted the Ho‘ole Scholarship, which covers any tuition costs not already provided by other financial aid for Windward-area graduating seniors. The college is hiring student workers, providing additional financial support for incoming freshmen. The college’s theater program is featuring an original student-written production, “J-Pop Killahs,” known for its action sequences and stage combat. The chancellor reflected on having recently facilitated a successful community town hall and thanked everyone for maintaining civil dialogue.
Neighborhood Commission Update
Patrick Smith, Chair of the Neighborhood Commission, described his visits to different boards to understand their operations and address board concerns. He clarified the process for adjusting board sub-district boundaries or moving to at-large seats when vacancies become a recurring challenge. He noted that the commission is updating its complaint and disciplinary processes to manage disruptive or contentious behavior. He mentioned that a proposal to limit the size of boards to nine or fewer members has been informally discussed. He reminded the group that states and counties are tracking legislation that would affect how quorums are determined, with pending state bills potentially changing how board attendance is counted for voting purposes. He encouraged Kaneohe members to explore boundary modifications if some sub-districts consistently remain unoccupied.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Report
A representative of OHA highlighted a recent emergency Board of Trustees meeting that approved nearly four million dollars in funding for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries affected by the Kona Low Storms. Details are still being finalized, and OHA’s website, oha.org, is the best source of updates. Three of OHA’s six legislative package bills are still moving forward, including one that addresses island burial councils, one closing a loophole in the historic preservation law, and a measure to ban aquarium reef fish collection for commercial sale. It was noted that the measure banning commercial aquarium fisheries would not affect other fishing or sustenance activities.
Resident and Community Concerns
A Neighborhood Security Watch representative reminded the public of the Malama 96744 graffiti removal and community clean-up rescheduled for April 25. Volunteers will meet at Kaneohe District Park’s pool-side area at 8:00 AM before tackling locations with graffiti problems. Another Neighborhood Security Watch coordinators’ meeting will also be held the same day to recruit and train watch members. Community members discussed frequent road and tree maintenance issues that have arisen due to multiple Kona Low Storms this year, and some requested consistent upkeep rather than short-term storm responses. Comments were directed toward city and state officials asking for more regular grass trimming, stream dredging, and potential re-prioritization of long-term environmental goals versus immediate infrastructure concerns.
Governor’s Representative Report
Governor Green’s representative, Diana Koh, mentioned that the governor’s newsletter, Ke Ala Hou, is available on the governor’s website. She followed up on a board member’s inquiry about resources to assist working parents in finding child care, citing the Department of Human Services’ child care subsidy programs. She confirmed that Kionaole Road repairs near the H-3 interchange will begin as soon as weather permits and should reopen within four weeks with new concrete box culverts and channels. She also announced that the IRS and state government extended tax filing deadlines until July 2026 for those impacted by severe weather.
Mayor’s Representative Report
Andy Kawano explained that upcoming blangiardi town halls have been postponed indefinitely due to the multiple Kona Low events. The mayor will be traveling to China and Taiwan to discuss potential revitalization of the dilapidated Chinese Cultural Plaza in Honolulu and expanding the Honolulu Zoo’s offerings, including exploring the possibility of a panda exhibit. The city council is finalizing its operating budget with a third reading planned for June 3. He reminded the community that people with storm-damaged property may submit applications for city real property tax relief. Neighbors asked for updates on particular illegally or dangerously parked vehicles, and the mayor’s office said HPD responded multiple times without finding violations. The city advised residents to call 911 if vehicles are creating an immediate hazard.
Honolulu City Council Report
Councilmember Esther Kia‘āina’s office provided materials about available storm-related resources, including a frequently asked questions document, locations to donate or seek assistance, real property tax relief processes, and discounted flood insurance options. She introduced Bill 34 for updating local flood ordinance regulations. That bill faces a June 10, 2026, deadline to maintain compliance with federal standards, ensuring continued access to federal disaster funds and mortgage loan guarantees. She confirmed that Kaneohe District Park served as an emergency shelter during the storms and noted there will be additional budget requests to strengthen Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management. She provided updates on Kamehameha Highway’s multi-phase upgrade project, clarifying construction timelines for areas stretching from Likelike Highway to Haiku Road, and indicated that Haiku Road, Kea‘ahala Road, and other thoroughfares will undergo improvements once the present phase of highway work is complete. She encouraged continuous community vigilance to ensure infrastructure improvements are coordinated across agencies and remain in official plans.
Legislative Representatives’ Reports
Staff from Representatives Jill Tokuda, Lisa Kitagawa, Scott Matayoshi, and Mike Lee shared that the recent Kaneohe Town Hall at Windward Community College was well attended and included updates on storm recovery, technology developments, and roads. Members of the public asked about filing deadlines for federal disaster assistance, seeking clarification on how to replace items such as lost passports and social security cards. Legislators emphasized that the 2026 legislative session is rapidly concluding, with remaining bills moving into conference committees. Several measures from each representative remained “alive,” including bills on issues such as workers’ compensation, fireworks safety, aquarium fishing bans, and updates to the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council’s structure. Each office pledged to provide end-of-session recaps after final floor votes.
Board Business and Closing
The board approved the March 2026 meeting minutes with minor amendments. They briefly discussed signage concerns for upcoming local parades, noting questions about banners along public-facing fences. Committee members committed to clarifying municipal restrictions on banner displays with the Department of Planning and Permitting. The Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization’s recent decisions removed some roadway improvement projects near the H-3 and Likelike Highway corridors from immediate funding, prompting discussion of whether near-term infrastructure repairs are delayed by broader environmental targets. At the conclusion, board members congratulated the Marine Corps Base Hawaii commander on his years of partnership and wished him well in his new assignment. The board announced that its next meeting will take place on May 21, 2026, again at Windward Community College, and reminded everyone of ongoing community preparedness fairs and events, including an emergency fair at Windward Mall on May 2. The meeting was then adjourned, with expressions of appreciation for community engagement and volunteer service.