No 14 Liliha ʻĀlewa Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting May 2026
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14 Liliha-Alewa Neighborhood Board Meeting – May 12, 2026
Opening Procedures and Meeting Schedule
The meeting opened with routine administrative reminders to silence cell phones and, for both in-person and Webex attendees, to raise hands when seeking recognition because online participants were difficult to see. The chair also offered a belated Mother’s Day greeting before beginning formal reports. During the meeting, the chair repeatedly emphasized that the board would not meet in June 2026, making the next regular meeting Monday, July 13, 2026, when the board also plans to hold a candidate forum. That scheduling gap shaped several comments, with board members noting that some pending issues would have to wait until July for updates.
Honolulu Fire Department April 2026 Incident Report
Honolulu Fire Department representative Derek Cook presented fire and emergency response statistics for April 2026 within the Neighborhood Board 14 area. HFD reported 2 structure fires, 0 wildland/brush fires, 0 nuisance fires, 0 cooking fires, and 4 activated alarms with no fire. For emergency medical and rescue incidents, the department recorded 98 medical emergencies, with no motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians, no motor vehicle collisions without pedestrians, no mountain rescues, no ocean rescues, and no hazardous materials incidents. Cook directed residents to the HFD Fire Response Search Tool at fire.honolulu.gov and to the department’s neighborhood board email for more detailed incident mapping and follow-up questions. He also gave a seasonal wildfire warning, explaining that Hawaiʻi is entering a period of heightened wildfire risk due to dry conditions, tall grass, and shifting winds. Residents were advised to clear vegetation around homes, avoid parking on dry grass because hot exhaust can ignite it, avoid spark-producing activities during hot and windy weather, and monitor conditions through fire.honolulu.gov and hawaiiwildfire.org. A resident asked about lessons from a recent fatal diver incident off Sand Island, and the HFD representative said he did not have specifics but would request that someone provide information at a future meeting.
Honolulu Police Department Crime Statistics and Speed Enforcement
Sergeant Cruz of HPD’s Kalihi Division reported crime statistics for April 2026 in the board area. HPD recorded 0 aggravated assaults, 4 auto thefts, 3 burglaries, 2 robberies, 0 sex assaults, 6 simple assaults, 16 thefts, and 5 unauthorized entries into motor vehicles. She noted that car break-ins tend to rise during the summer months as more younger people are out late, and she urged residents to lock vehicles and avoid leaving backpacks or visible personal items inside, since such items attract thieves. The chair used the report to publicly thank HPD for stepped-up enforcement on Nuuanu Avenue, where the board had requested monitoring of downhill speeding during the 6:00 to 8:00 period. He said officers had been actively stopping drivers and that he himself had received a warning, confirming that enforcement was visible and effective. He also suggested there may be a need for another speed hump somewhere after Judd Street and before the lower Nuuanu area to address the tendency of vehicles to gain speed on the downhill stretch.
Handicap Access Parking Problem at 1900 Bachelot Street
A substantial resident concern involved parking enforcement near 1900 Bachelot Street, in front of a care center where a curb ramp and posted no-parking signs are intended to allow TheHandi-Van pickup and drop-off for residents. Resident Fetu Tawakalio explained that vehicles regularly park there for extended periods, sometimes all day, making it difficult for disabled residents to use the ramp and access transportation. He said the problem is especially frustrating because some violators are visitors or delivery vehicles associated with the care facility itself. Sergeant Cruz responded that HPD would send an officer to monitor the location the next morning and would notify both the overnight and day watch shifts. Discussion then expanded beyond enforcement to signage. Board member Donald suggested that a simple no-parking sign is not sufficient because a ticket still allows the car to remain, while a tow-away zone designation would permit immediate removal and create a stronger deterrent. Tawakalio agreed and later returned during resident concerns to ask for the board’s support in requesting that the city change the location to a tow-away zone and repaint the faded red curb markings. The chair said the board would pass the matter to the appropriate city personnel and expected a report by July, since there would be no June meeting.
Board of Water Supply Main Break Report and Water Conservation
Board of Water Supply representative Iris reported one water main break in the neighborhood for April 2026, occurring on April 19 near 414 North School Street. She also focused on water conservation heading into summer, stressing that recent storms do not eliminate the need to use water carefully because rainfall alone does not offset everyday demand. Her recommendations included watering plants early in the morning to reduce evaporation, taking shorter showers, checking toilets for leaks, not letting faucets run unnecessarily, and taking advantage of BWS rebate programs for water-efficient appliances and systems. She reminded residents that the Board of Water Supply is partnering with ENV, and that available rebates are currently increased. The representative again distributed toilet leak detection dye tablets, explaining that if the blue dye appears in the toilet bowl after being placed in the tank, it likely indicates a faulty flapper valve. A resident on Webex confirmed that after using the tablets, she found a leak, replaced the flapper, and fixed the problem. The chair also asked for clarification about irrigation timing, and Iris said the key is to avoid watering during the hottest part of the day, generally between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., so evening watering such as 7:00 p.m. is acceptable, as is early morning watering. A question was raised about whether the Board of Water Supply still provides rain barrels through a class-based program; Iris said she would check and report back next month.
Recognition of Chair Wesley Fong
During resident concerns, Leigh Huizenga spoke not to raise a complaint but to recognize board chair Wesley Fong for receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award as this year’s distinguished honoree for outstanding contributions to the business community through the Chinese Chamber. She said she wanted the board to know because she would not be attending the dinner where he would be honored. The exchange added a ceremonial and community-focused moment to the meeting, and later in the evening another state representative also noted that Chair Fong had been confirmed to serve on the Hawaiʻi Sister-State and International Partnership Commission.
Candidate Forum Planning for July 2026
Board member Darren Cantrill outlined plans for the board’s July 2026 candidate forum, which will be held in conjunction with the regular July board meeting because there is no June meeting. He asked interested candidates to register by email and said his contact information would be included in the meeting minutes. Candidates who sign up will receive a list of questions in advance. The format is intended as a structured introduction rather than a debate, with each candidate given approximately five minutes to introduce themselves and answer one or more prepared questions. Darren noted that because the board must first complete its regular meeting and has limited access to the room, the forum would have to end by around 8:30 p.m. The chair explained that the board had originally considered using the city’s formal Permitted Interaction Group (PIG) process, but could not satisfy the required three-meeting timeline, so the board chose a simpler format based on his initial plan. A resident noted that the Chinese Chamber and United Chinese Society were also planning a July candidate event for House Districts 27, 28, and 29 and Senate District 13, with a table-based fair format similar to Lanakila’s, prompting clarification that the neighborhood board’s event would be more focused on candidate introduction and platform statements rather than direct debate.
Councilmember Tam’s Office: 7-Eleven Conversion and Park Projects
Will, filling in for the office of Councilmember Tam, provided several project updates. He reported that the former CVS on Nuuanu Avenue is slated to become a 7-Eleven, and that the Department of Planning and Permitting/CEB trenching permit had been issued that morning. Once the building permit is completed, construction can begin, with work hoped to start in about two weeks. He also reported that repair of the Alewa Neighborhood Park retaining wall is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2027. In response, a board member asked that the restoration of the park’s basketball court and hoop remain part of the city’s planning, noting that children in the neighborhood have long wanted that amenity restored and that prior city responses tied the court’s future to the retaining wall problem. Will said he would take that request back. He also said the Peter Buck Mini Park play court ADA improvements were moving forward, with the contractor mobilizing in mid-May 2026, and that the city plans to demolish and replace the restroom at Aala Park. Board member Donald thanked Councilmember Tam for previously sending him a detailed breakdown of project costs for the Peter Buck improvements.
Senator Karl Rhoads’ Office: Elections, Public Health, and Traffic Legislation
Jesse Fague, speaking for Senator Karl Rhoads, highlighted several election-related and legislative updates. He reminded residents that Primary Election Day is August 8, 2026, that ballots will begin arriving by July 21, and that mailed ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. on election day, not merely postmarked. For most Senate District 13 residents, the nearest ballot drop box will be at Honolulu Hale. On public health, he said COVID-19 cases were down but influenza B was increasing, and encouraged residents to consider getting flu shots. He then addressed traffic enforcement legislation, noting that SB 2146, which would have established a task force to study increased fines for traffic violations and had been developed with board input, died in conference. However, the senator did successfully advance a Senate resolution requesting the Department of Transportation to study a points or demerit system for traffic violations. That Senate-only resolution was adopted and sent forward even though the House did not jointly adopt it. He also noted several other traffic-related measures headed to the governor, including HB 2023, which works with the court system on an active intelligent speed assistance framework for motor vehicle infractions, HB 1692, which clarifies driver duties when approaching a stationary vehicle, and SB 2667, which imposes additional lane restrictions for vehicles towing trailers and seeks to keep the far-left lane safer and clearer. Several speakers thanked Senator Rhoads for his work and recognized that he is in his final months in office through the November 3 election, with broad praise for his legislative service and responsiveness.
Senator Donna Mercado Kim: Legislative Session Wrap-Up and Olo Mea Street
Senator Donna Mercado Kim reported on the close of the 2026 legislative session, saying that 2,459 bills were introduced and 268 passed, including 135 Senate bills and 133 House bills. She also congratulated Chair Fong on his confirmation to the Hawaiʻi Sister-State and International Partnership Commission. On policy, she said she was especially pleased that the Senate maintained tax relief for working families rather than accepting the governor’s proposal to pause the scheduled tax cuts. She explained that individuals earning up to $175,000 and joint filers up to $250,000 will continue to receive the tax benefits enacted two years earlier. She highlighted passage of several measures, including an education workers safety bill to help protect teachers and school staff from assaults and improve access to protections such as restraining orders; a voluntary 1099-R tax withholding bill allowing retirees to pay taxes up front on certain retirement distributions; a feral chicken management bill providing funds to the city; a veterinarian prescription access bill to improve pet owners’ access to medications; and the Kupuna Care Kupuna Aloha pilot, which creates a Department of Health in-home support program for older adults. She also listed measures that failed, including the nepotism bill, Alzheimer’s and dementia research support at the University of Hawaiʻi, a bill to rehire retired teachers, and the University of Hawaiʻi name, image, and likeness funding proposal. On a neighborhood-specific transportation issue, she said the requested Olo Mea Street U-turn had been discussed at a town meeting with state transportation director Ed Sniffen, who estimated such a project would cost about $2.5 million and would require careful cost-benefit analysis before moving forward. She also reviewed the bill-signing timeline, noting that the governor has until July 15 to sign or allow bills to become law, with notice of intent to veto due by June 30, and that the legislature could hold a veto override session by noon on July 15 if needed.
Resident Questions to Senator Kim: GET Tax, Flooding, and Local Food Supply
A Webex participant, Janine Mae Perry, raised broader statewide concerns during Senator Kim’s appearance. She asked whether nursing home facilities are allowed to waive the general excise tax, questioned the state’s payment of $58 million for the Wahiawā Dam and whether that effectively represented a write-off for the Dole Company, and expressed concern that repeated flooding on agricultural land is undermining the state’s effort to provide more locally grown food in public school meals. She argued that repeated flood damage points to the need for stronger infrastructure responses such as reservoir work, berms, and other flood prevention measures rather than simply rebuilding after each event. Senator Kim said she would need to check on the GET question, but noted that Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, as Ways and Means chair and a farmer from Wahiawā, is very focused on water and agricultural infrastructure concerns. She said the school food system does include backup plans for emergency disruptions, so students will still be fed even if local produce becomes temporarily unavailable due to flooding.
Representative Ikaika Hussey: Campaign Finance, NIL, Tax Policy, and Nepotism
Representative Ikaika Hussey attended in person and gave an extended recap of the legislative session. He praised Senator Rhoads as a principled and justice-driven leader and highlighted SB 2471, a bill aimed at countering the effects of the Citizens United decision and limiting the influence of dark money in politics, as one of the year’s major achievements. Hussey said he had worked on an early draft and considered it a significant win for civic life. He also explained why he was glad the University of Hawaiʻi NIL endowment bill failed. In his view, using $4 million from the tuition and fees special fund to create NIL support would have unfairly shifted money paid by all students toward the economic benefit of a small number of athletes. He argued that if NIL creates value through endorsements and advertising, then private sponsors rather than students should supply the startup capital. On taxes, he said he was pleased with the resolution of debates over Act 46 and credited advocacy groups such as Hawaiʻi Appleseed for pushing an equity-focused approach. He specifically noted that the final tax bill, SB 3125, added a higher-income tax tier of $500,000 for single filers and $1 million for married filers, with a 2% surcharge, describing this as a step toward a broader wealth-tax approach. Hussey also addressed the board’s ongoing interest in anti-nepotism legislation, saying both Senate and House versions failed but that, from an employer’s perspective, nepotism undermines the ability to hire the best people. He said he would be willing to introduce such a bill again next session if reelected.
Tourism Taxes and the Visitor Economy
During discussion with Representative Hussey, board member Donald questioned why the state continues increasing taxes on tourists while also saying Hawaiʻi needs visitors. Hussey responded by laying out a broader critique of the current tourism model. He said airfare to Hawaiʻi is often surprisingly cheap, that many hotels are owned by outside private equity interests so much of the money spent by visitors leaves the state, and that one of the few direct local benefits is wages paid to workers, which is why labor standards and unionization matter. He said he would prefer a tourism model with fewer visitors who spend more, rather than heavy visitor volume that creates congestion and environmental stress. He noted that before COVID, visitor levels reached about 10 tourists for every 1 resident, which he considers too high. He also said that industry lobbyists routinely warn that raising the transient accommodations tax will reduce visitor numbers, yet past tax increases have not caused the predicted drop-off. He argued that the state has not yet reached the point where those taxes are suppressing demand, and that using revenue from the new “green fee” framework to prepare for future climate and environmental threats is a sensible policy direction, even if he disagreed with some details of the final budget.
Military Flyover Issue Remains on the Agenda
The chair asked whether the board still wanted to keep on its agenda the issue concerning the elimination of military flyovers over Honolulu residential areas, and members confirmed that it remained a concern. Though no detailed discussion followed at this meeting, the exchange showed that the issue is still active and has not been resolved to the board’s satisfaction.
Damaged Fence at Lanakila Health Center
A resident raised concern about a damaged chain-link fence at the corner of Lanakila Avenue and Kuakini Street, on the makai corner of the Lanakila Health Center property. According to the testimony, the fence appears to have been knocked down in a car accident more than two years ago and remains unrepaired, creating an eyesore in the neighborhood. There was some uncertainty over whether the responsibility lies with the city because of the roadway or with the state because of the health center, and the chair directed that the matter be sent to both state and city representatives so jurisdiction could be determined and the issue followed up.
Board Administration: Roll Call and Approval of Minutes
Before moving into the latter part of the agenda, the chair called for a roll call because no formal business had yet been transacted and he wanted the attendance record established. Ten board members were recorded as present. The board then took up approval of the April 13, 2026 meeting minutes. One spelling correction had already been provided to staff, and with no other objections, the minutes were approved as corrected without a formal motion.
Unresolved Proposal on Alewa Park Hours
Under new business, the chair briefly revisited the previously raised proposal to change the park hours for Alewa Park, referencing prior complaints about people partying there during late-night or early-morning hours. No member of the public or agency came forward to discuss the matter at this meeting, so the chair said he would leave it on the agenda one more time and remove it if no one appeared to pursue it further.
Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center Update
Carol provided a report on Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center activities and related service developments. She said Catholic Charities’ grant-in-aid request had been approved, but only for about half of the amount requested, meaning the organization would need to address the shortfall. She added that Catholic Charities is also helping flood survivors, though that work is separate from Lanakila’s own operations. At the senior center, a new brain health initiative is being launched with support from the Atherton Foundation. Rather than existing as a standalone class only, the plan is to train instructors across multiple programs so that brain health concepts are integrated into many offerings. A new MediMedi program is also being developed to help seniors better understand and choose among Medicare options. In addition, Lanakila’s own candidate fair is scheduled for July 8 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., using a table-based format that allows candidates to speak one-on-one with attendees. The chair asked whether the brain health programming would include memory improvement, and Carol said the idea is to help keep the brain functioning well as people age. The chair jokingly replied that his wife would say he needs such a class and asked to be informed once the schedule is set.
Liliha Library Friends and Delayed Open House
A brief update from the Friends of the Liliha Library indicated there was no formal report at this time. The chair used the opportunity to ask about a long-discussed open house that had reportedly been in the works for quite some time. The response was that organizers were still checking on it and would share a date when available. The chair noted, with some impatience, that this had been under discussion for about two years.
Adjournment
The chair closed by thanking attendees and reminding everyone again that there would be no June meeting. He said the board would reconvene in July for both its regular meeting and the planned candidate forum. The meeting adjourned shortly after 8:00 p.m., with a lighthearted request for those in favor to help move the tables back before leaving.