No 28 Ko`olauloa Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting October 2025
Koʻolauloa Neighborhood Board Meeting
Meeting Opening and Quorum
The meeting began with the chair acknowledging limited board member attendance and the lack of quorum. Although official voting could not take place, the board proceeded with updates and community discussions. Online attendance was also noted, with some members and community participants tuning in remotely. Discussion focused on the necessity of establishing a quorum for substantive decisions and the importance of community input regardless of voting limitations.
Honolulu Fire Department Update
Captain Ryan Oakey from the Ha‘ula Fire Station provided combined September statistics for Ka‘a‘awa, Ha‘ula, and Kūku‘u Stations. There was one structure fire, four wildland brush fires, one nuisance fire, five activated alarms, 40 medical alarms, four motor vehicle crash responses, and one mountain rescue. The fire safety tip of the month stressed the importance of safe seasonal decorations, highlighting non-combustible materials, Underwriters Laboratories-approved electrical products, and careful use of candles, matches, and lighters. Captain Oakey also answered questions about Labor Day weekend fires believed to be linked to homeless activity. He noted that specifics regarding any arson investigations could be sought by visiting the Honolulu Fire Department’s website, where one can submit information requests and view press releases or incident maps.
Government Reports
Mayor’s Representative (City & County of Honolulu)
A representative of Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office provided five updates from the Mayor’s newsletter. They highlighted: the passing of a prominent local musician whose legacy shaped the island’s music scene; the first meeting of the newly inaugurated Honolulu Ocean Safety Commission; the welcoming of a Bloomberg City Hall fellow assisting with housing and regulatory initiatives; the Honolulu City Charter Commission’s call for public input on proposed charter amendments; and the expansion of Skyline rail service to additional stations, including the Honolulu Airport and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The October 2025 edition of the Mayor’s newsletter was referenced for further details.
The representative addressed last month’s question about including Asia-Pacific International School (APIS) on the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) tsunami evacuation map. Although APIS had been receptive to serving as a tsunami assembly site, sign installation was delayed by construction. The city plans to finalize a written agreement and proceed with signage once current contacts are fully briefed. Community members asked about upcoming city legislation, such as Resolution 56, which advocates more public notification for land activity and projects. Another question concerned making parking meters more user-friendly for older adults, with issues noted regarding coin slots, QR codes, and credit card requirements. The Mayor’s office pledged to forward these concerns to the city’s Department of Transportation Services. There was also a request for clarification on how close to the ocean new buildings are allowed, particularly regarding a concern in the vicinity of a recently built property. The Mayor’s representative confirmed these questions would be directed to the Department of Planning and Permitting.
Honolulu City Council Member’s Office
A staff member from Council Member Matt Weyer’s office gave an update on Bill 56 and Resolution 25-228, which both propose stronger public engagement in the land use process, specifically requiring applicants for minor Special Management Area permits and conditional use permits to present before neighborhood boards. Recent discussions with the Department of Planning and Permitting indicated a willingness to provide council members and neighborhood boards with regular lists of discretionary permit applications. As a result, the community would be able to comment sooner on potential developments before the Zoning Board of Appeals hears them. The representative also announced an upcoming Honolulu Charter Commission meeting scheduled at Sunset Beach Elementary School and another session planned online. Questions from board members and the public covered concerns about rising bus fares. The council member’s staff clarified that Bill 54, regarding fare increases, is under the Budget Committee’s purview, chaired by a different council member.
Governor’s Representative
The Governor’s representative shared that last month’s questions about tree trimming standards and scheduling had been relayed to Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO). HECO confirmed a minimum safety clearance of 10 feet from power lines for vegetation, as mandated by federal and state regulations, and apologized for any traffic impacts. Tree pruning remains limited to daylight hours for safety. Broader questions were raised about Kahana Valley, specifically a concern that residents on state-owned land hold leases that will eventually expire and could place longtime households at risk of displacement. Requests were made for the Governor to come to Koʻolauloa to address these issues directly and for the state to explore conversion of certain terminal leases to fee simple under existing statutes. The representative noted the concerns and took note of multiple community requests, including lowered bureaucracy and solutions for coconut rhinoceros beetle infestations, though detailed answers would require coordination with relevant state departments.
Congressional Updates (U.S. House of Representatives)
A representative from Congresswoman Jill Tokuda’s office acknowledged the potential federal government shutdown and assured constituents that congressional staff would continue responding to inquiries and providing assistance. The office announced a statewide telephone town hall to answer questions about federal services and benefits, including Social Security, HUD housing, and SNAP benefits. One attendee asked whether the annual homeless count through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development would proceed in January and requested updates on public transportation-related federal regulations. The representative took note of these concerns and committed to follow up.
State Senate
A representative from Senator Brenton Awa’s office briefed the community on an upcoming pair of joint Senate committee briefings focusing on agriculture, food production, and potential federal policy changes that might affect Hawaiʻi. Released funds of $1.5 million for Kahuku Medical Center’s electronic health record upgrades were also announced. It was confirmed that construction work on the Kaipapa‘u (Ha‘ula) bridge should conclude by the end of the month or early in the next. Further queries were raised about encouraging more local students to enter agricultural programs at Windward Community College, as well as interest in local limu research and cultivation.
State House
Staff for Representative Sean Quinlan was absent, but a community member asked that the representative look into increased support for film, television, and music industries as sources of higher-paying creative jobs. Additional concerns included illegal short-term vacation rentals and whether these properties pay the required state taxes. Residents voiced the possibility that many of these rentals go unreported, impacting the tax base.
Community Issues and Concerns
Corazón Hawaiʻi Transitional Housing
Several residents and board members cited problems with a transitional housing program run by Corazón Hawaiʻi, which was granted a contract to help homeless or low-income families. Families placed there worried about having to leave within three months before obtaining permanent housing or sufficient wraparound services. Attendees questioned who held the contract—state or city—and requested closer coordination from relevant government agencies. The board asked the Governor’s representative to identify which agency oversees Corazón Hawaiʻi’s contract and to invite those decision-makers to a future board meeting to address the families’ concerns.
Kahana Valley Terminal Leases
Community members again emphasized the issue of terminal leases held by dozens of families in Kahana. They reported approaching the Department of Land and Natural Resources and expressed frustration that requests for fee simple conversion or extended leases remained unresolved. They also stated that the Cultural Living Park in Kahana offers significant agricultural and cultural opportunities but is forced to operate under uncertainty about future land tenure. The board agreed to gather more details and to seek further government involvement.
Parking Meter Usability
Community participants brought up issues with the design of new parking meters around O‘ahu, which elderly residents reported as difficult to navigate. Coin slots jam, QR codes pose a challenge for those with limited smartphone knowledge, and credit card slots can be awkward or require speed and grip strength that some residents do not have. This matter was forwarded to the City Department of Transportation Services for response.
Rising Bus Fares
Residents questioned the rationale for increasing bus fares, stating that higher fares disincentivize public transportation and might harm lower-income families by leading to more personal vehicle use. Attendees mentioned possible Title VI federal oversight obligations that ensure minority and low-income communities are not disproportionately impacted. The board was informed that discussion of fare increases typically occurs within the Honolulu City Council Budget Committee.
Presentations
Exceptional Tree Program
A representative from the City’s Division of Urban Forestry described the O‘ahu Exceptional Tree Program, established to protect significant and historic trees on both private and public lands. The presenter explained the nomination process, incentives such as a three-yearly tax deduction for pruning, and the standards for what qualifies as “exceptional.” Trees must remain properly pruned by qualified arborists to preserve their health. The speaker encouraged the Ko‘olauloa region, which has comparatively few designated exceptional trees, to nominate significant specimens to preserve and expand the island’s canopy.
Early Eviction Mediation Program
A mediator from the Mediation Center of the Pacific spoke about opportunities for tenants and landlords to resolve disputes without resorting to the courts. The center assists with payment plans, structured move-out arrangements, and direct negotiation. While the process is voluntary, it can save parties substantial time and expenses. Current rules do not automatically halt an eviction if only one side requests mediation, but a new state law, Act 278, will soon grant a mandatory ten-day mediation window before further eviction proceedings, starting in 2026.
Committee Reports
A board member attended the Traffic Safety Summit and reported on the Department of Transportation’s ongoing work to address pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, and related infrastructure improvements. The board also briefly referenced completed and nearing-completion infrastructure projects in Ka‘a‘awa and Ha‘ula, including bridge restorations. Concern continued regarding fecal bacteria levels in certain streams and coastal waters, prompting interest in more robust environmental protection measures.
Public Input and Announcements
Community members announced upcoming school events, including a Kā‘a‘awa School bazaar on November 15, open to craft and food vendors. A paddling organization representative thanked the board for supporting a city grant that repaired canoes and expanded youth participation. Discussions arose about building a hālau wa‘a or multipurpose cultural facility in Ko‘olauloa, with some urging that such developments consider broader community issues, including long-term lease rights. Several attendees repeated requests to invite city and state leaders, notably the Mayor and Governor, to witness local concerns firsthand.
Meeting Conclusion
The board could not vote to adopt items on the agenda due to a lack of quorum. Certain pending actions, such as appointing delegates to a joint neighborhood board meeting, discussing the Honolulu Charter Commission proposals, and moving forward on a dog-friendly park initiative, were deferred until a future gathering. Members thanked all participants for their input and set the next meeting date for November. The meeting concluded with expressions of appreciation for the community’s continued engagement and attention to critical local issues.