No 08 McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting September 2026
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8 McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board Meeting – September 30, 2026
Meeting Relocation and Board Business
Chair Morgan announced that this was the board’s final meeting of 2026 at its current location because the building will undergo renovations and will not be available again until 2027. Beginning with the next meeting, the board will meet at Makiki District Park, where the Makiki Neighborhood Board currently meets. Meetings will remain on the last Monday of the month at the existing start time of 6:00 p.m.; the chair corrected an initial reference to 6:30 p.m. Curtis was thanked for securing the temporary venue. Roll call established a quorum with 10 members present either in person or online. The board also invited any McCully-Mōʻiliʻili resident interested in filling its vacant seat to identify themselves, but no applicant came forward. Two planned presentations were postponed: Elmer was ill, and Navin’s presentation was moved to the October meeting.
Honolulu Police Department District 1 Crime Report
Sergeant Tsai presented District 1 statistics for August 2026 and compared them with July. Motor vehicle thefts increased from zero to five, burglaries remained at one, general thefts declined from four to three, unauthorized entry into motor vehicles increased from zero to two, and assaults rose from three to seven. Sexual assaults, graffiti cases, and drug cases were reported as zero in both months. Total calls for service increased from 451 in July to 474 in August. The increases in vehicle thefts, vehicle break-ins, assaults, and overall calls were the most notable month-to-month changes.
Trespassing and Unauthorized Structures in Community Gardens
A community garden leader asked HPD how to address people occupying permitted garden plots when the garden does not have a conventional street address. The discussion focused on the city community garden along the Ala Wai Canal at the end of University Avenue, where approximately 160 plots are organized into rows A through D and numbered from 00 through 39, with several plots removed because of underground sewer work. Each plot is separately permitted and rented to an individual, couple, or family, and the broader garden community includes roughly 200 people and five garden officers. Residents reported that unhoused or unregistered occupants have entered vacant or assigned plots, built temporary structures, and lived there. HPD explained that a trespass case may be difficult because the garden lies within a park open to the public, although the park is posted as closed from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Officers may instead be able to act on park-closure violations, illegal tents, or other offenses involving structures in public parks. District 7’s lieutenant agreed to research the issue, have park-patrol or ATV officers inspect the site, identify the particular numbered plots involved, and meet with the permitted plot holders or garden representatives. The lieutenant also agreed to email the garden leader to arrange a guided site visit and follow-up assessment.
Honolulu Police Department District 7 Report and Scam Warning
The District 7 lieutenant reported August statistics of 13 motor vehicle thefts, four burglaries, 22 thefts, five unauthorized entries into motor vehicles, and 6,251 total calls for service across the district. The monthly safety message concerned financial scams, particularly schemes that pressure victims to transfer money, pay supposed tickets or outstanding fines, wire funds, or purchase gift cards. The lieutenant said that unexpected requests for money received by email, telephone, or text are almost certainly scams and advised residents not to send money or gift cards. Anyone uncertain about a demand was encouraged to call 911 and have an officer review the situation. In response to a board question, the lieutenant said HPD leadership was working on the new police chief’s departmental plan and anticipated that more information might become available within roughly a month. He agreed to share any portions of the plan relevant to McCully-Mōʻiliʻili after its release.
Proposal to Modernize Oʻahu’s Power System with LNG
Representatives supporting JERA’s liquefied natural gas proposal described it as part of a broader effort to modernize Hawaiʻi’s energy system. They said Hawaiʻi remains the only state that produces most of its electricity by burning oil, with approximately 70% of current electricity generation coming from oil after the coal plant closed. Because renewable projects did not come online quickly enough to replace all former coal generation, much of the gap was filled with additional oil. The presenters characterized oil generation as both unusually expensive and highly polluting, noting that Hawaiʻi residents pay about three times the national average for electricity. Their proposal would use LNG as a transitional fuel that is still fossil-based but, in their view, less costly and cleaner-burning than oil while the state expands solar and other renewable resources.
Aging Power Plants and Renewable-Energy Integration
The LNG presenters argued that Oʻahu’s aging power plants must be replaced regardless of which fuel is ultimately selected. Existing steam turbines can take approximately eight hours to start, cannot quickly ramp down during periods of high solar production, and may therefore force renewable electricity to be curtailed or wasted. Newer turbines could increase or decrease output within minutes, allowing solar generation to supply more daytime demand while thermal generation provides backup at night or when wind and sunlight fluctuate. Kauaʻi was cited as an example of a grid that can accommodate more renewable power because its newer plants can reduce output when solar production is high. The presenters said LNG would not eliminate the need for solar; instead, it would act as a flexible foundation or “bridge” supporting greater renewable penetration while preserving grid reliability.
JERA’s Proposed LNG and Power-Generation Projects
JERA was described as a Tokyo-headquartered energy company with a U.S. subsidiary based in Houston, extensive gas-to-power experience, a renewable-energy portfolio, and a corporate target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company signed a memorandum of understanding with the state in October 2025 and submitted a proposal in February 2026. It is pursuing two related projects: an estimated $500 million offshore LNG receiving and delivery system known as Longboard LNG and a separate approximately $1.5 billion, 500-megawatt combined-cycle power plant. The power plant would combine gas turbines with steam generation and would be designed to respond more quickly to changes in electricity demand and renewable output. JERA is considering Campbell Industrial Park and the Kalaeloa area for the plant because of their proximity to the proposed LNG landing point, although the final site and land arrangements had not been completed.
Offshore LNG Infrastructure and Environmental Permitting
Under the proposal, LNG would be delivered to a floating storage and regasification unit moored approximately three miles offshore from Barbers Point. The vessel would store the LNG and convert it back into natural gas when needed. An underwater pipeline would carry gas to Oʻahu, with the nearshore section drilled beneath the seabed to reduce disturbance to coral and limu. A small onshore connection would link the pipeline to Hawaiʻi Gas’s distribution system. The offshore vessel, rather than new land-based tanks, would provide storage and could eventually sail away at the end of its contract. The system could serve electricity generation and potentially refuel LNG-capable ships. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is the primary federal permitting body, while all applicable state and county permits would also be required. JERA was in FERC’s pre-filing process and expected to submit its formal application in late 2026 or early 2027. Additional FERC community open houses were expected within approximately three months, and the target was to deliver gas to Oʻahu by 2030.
LNG Costs, Consumer Savings, and 2045 Clean-Energy Goals
Board members questioned whether the project could recover its costs if LNG infrastructure begins operating around 2030 but Hawaiʻi maintains its statutory goal of transitioning to renewable electricity by 2045. JERA said it believed the project could produce an acceptable return during that 15-year period. The company estimated that LNG could lower generation costs by approximately 20%, although it could not guarantee that the full reduction would appear on customers’ bills because JERA would sell wholesale electricity to Hawaiian Electric. JERA intends to apply to become a regulated utility rather than operate solely as an independent power producer, which it said would subject procurement, capital spending, operations, pricing, and markups to continuing Public Utilities Commission oversight. Gas entering Hawaiʻi Gas’s system would likewise be handled through a regulated utility. The company said its savings estimate used global LNG pricing available around the time of its February 2026 state proposal and accounted for existing tariffs, but it offered to update the analysis.
LNG Supply, Jones Act, and Global Energy Conditions
JERA said the gas source had not yet been selected and would be competitively procured on the global market. Because Jones Act shipping requirements limit the practical use of U.S.-produced LNG, possible sources include Canada, Australia, or other international suppliers. Representatives could not say whether the eventual gas would be produced through hydraulic fracturing, prompting calls for greater transparency regarding upstream environmental impacts. In response to a question about war and other current events, a presenter said LNG had remained significantly less expensive than oil, while global conflict had increased oil prices. JERA also clarified that no new onshore LNG tanks were planned and that the pipeline could potentially carry a future lower-carbon fuel if a technically and economically viable alternative becomes available.
Questions About LNG Studies, Land Use, and Historic Resources
A board member asked about studies that had reportedly contained errors. Presenters said a State Energy Office analysis had used incorrect figures, later corrected, but still supported a strong economic case for LNG. A separate UHERO study was reportedly withdrawn because of a financial-modeling error and may have been corrected, although the presenters were uncertain of its final status. Other questions focused on Kalaeloa’s cultural history, historic-preservation review, and the cumulative effects of concentrating another major energy project in West Oʻahu. The company said the Kalaeloa location was preferred because fuel pipelines already come ashore there and because the area is near Campbell Industrial Park, but acknowledged that historic-preservation and other permitting reviews would be required.
Community Debate Over LNG, Accountability, and Renewable Alternatives
Several participants challenged the proposal’s environmental and economic assumptions. Concerns included disturbing ʻāina, introducing long-lived fossil-fuel infrastructure, the risk that a private company would seek to operate beyond 2045, the privatization of essential energy services, whether profits and tax benefits would remain in Hawaiʻi, and whether investment should instead go directly to solar, wind, geothermal, wave energy, and other renewable sources. One member noted that JERA is headquartered outside Hawaiʻi and asked what long-term accountability would exist after the initial outreach period. Another participant cited a reported $60,000 contribution by JERA to the governor and questioned whether the project already had political approval regardless of community opposition. JERA responded that regulated-utility status and PUC oversight would provide continuing public accountability. A candidate for state House offered a contrasting view, arguing that oil and coal should not be treated as inherently problematic, questioning conventional fossil-fuel and carbon-emissions science, and criticizing solar panels for intermittency, toxicity at end of life, and land consumption. The board asked JERA to provide notice of future public presentations and open houses.
Follow the Drop and Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Cyrus Howe of Hawaiʻi Green Growth presented the nonprofit’s Follow the Drop initiative, which seeks to reduce flooding, polluted brown-water runoff, and poor aquifer recharge through distributed green stormwater infrastructure. Examples include rain gardens, bioswales, rain barrels, trees, and permeable pavement. The Ala Wai watershed extends from the Koʻolau ridges to the reef between Diamond Head and Punchbowl, encompasses about 11 neighborhoods and eight neighborhood districts, serves roughly 200,000 residents, and has one of the state’s highest concentrations of impervious surface. The Follow the Drop mobile application, licensed by the city Department of Facility Maintenance’s Storm Water Quality Division, measures a property’s rainwater footprint. Users map roofs and other surfaces, and the app combines their square footage with average annual rainfall to estimate the amount of water reaching each downspout and identify appropriately sized stormwater improvements.
Rain-Barrel Program and One-Million-Gallon Goal
After assessing more than 100 homes, schools, churches, and temples in 2024 with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Hawaiʻi Green Growth began installing rain barrels. The organization is finalizing a grant-supported contract to install 100 additional barrels across the Ala Wai watershed beginning later in 2026. The new units will be 50-gallon barrels fitted with diverter kits that connect to a downspout through a small opening. The group’s goal is to intercept one million gallons of runoff by 2030, and it estimated that the 20 to 30 barrels already installed have achieved about 10% of that goal. Captured water is generally used for lawns and gardens, but residents can also retain it for emergency toilet flushing if a power failure disrupts water pressure. Condominiums and apartment buildings may participate when their owners’ associations, property managers, and residents agree. People signing up for assessments were also eligible to win a barrel painted by artist Mari Izumi.
Permeable Surfaces, Trees, Schools, and Watershed History
The board asked how stormwater work could go beyond barrels to reverse the continuing replacement of soil and greenery with concrete. Howe said 2024 property assessments showed that impervious driveways are among the largest opportunities for improvement and suggested stronger policies requiring permeable pavers or pavement in new construction. He described trees as infrastructure because their roots and surrounding soil help absorb water, making the recent loss of trees during storms particularly damaging. A board member recalled that Mōʻiliʻili historically contained inland ponds, loʻi kalo, fishponds, and abundant water and served as a central point between Mānoa and Waikīkī. Follow the Drop has also worked with schools, completing a visible project at Aliʻiolani Elementary, planning another at Lincoln Elementary in spring 2027, coordinating with Kaimukī High School, and hoping to partner with parks.
Funding and Broader Flood-Mitigation Planning
A community member emphasized that rain barrels should be part of a larger plan addressing surface flooding and riverine overtopping throughout the Ala Wai watershed. She asked how small neighborhood organizations could obtain grants for barrels, permeable surfaces, and low-cost measures that slow stream flow before storms cause major damage. Howe said current support comes from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. Broader funding for integrated watershed management had not yet been secured, but the nonprofit is monitoring requests for proposals and considering opportunities through green-fee revenue, the Climate Resilience Fund, city and state programs, federal sources, and private philanthropy.
Soap in Park Restrooms and Secure Waste Receptacles
The chair introduced a resolution urging the city to provide soap in park restrooms, modeled on a Kailua Neighborhood Board resolution adopted approximately two years earlier. According to a Civil Beat report, soap was installed in Kailua park bathrooms after that action, although board members did not have follow-up information about maintenance, vandalism, operating costs, or other consequences. A city representative agreed to ask the Department of Parks and Recreation about Kailua’s experience. The discussion also addressed newer secure public trash receptacles in Waikīkī that cannot be opened from the top. A resident said they had reduced scavenging and kept surrounding areas cleaner, while others noted that the units are more expensive and have lower capacity, requiring more frequent servicing. Members also learned during a recent cleanup that even when a mounting pole for a trash can exists, a can may be removed if it is not included on the custodial collection route. The board ultimately recorded no objections to a resolution supporting secure public waste receptacles; the transcript did not record a separate final vote on the soap resolution.
University Construction Runoff and Mānoa Stream
A resident reported continuing gray or cement-contaminated water entering Mānoa Stream near demolished University of Hawaiʻi dormitories. She said upstream water appeared clear but turned gray at the construction area, including on a Saturday when active work was not occurring. She asked the governor’s office and state facilities personnel to investigate and suggested that settling or containment ponds may be needed to prevent cement waste and silt from washing downstream into the Ala Wai Canal. She also later asked the state Department of Transportation to publish a complete schedule for cleaning all sections of Mānoa Stream, from the forest reserve downstream to the canal, because saplings and other vegetation are obstructing flow.
Kalo Many Park and Hāle Mōʻiliʻili Concerns
A community member requested follow-up on conditions at Kalo Many Park after a sign was changed, asking whether the change had produced any improvement. She also objected to the name selected for Hāle Mōʻiliʻili, arguing that the project should return to the naming commission and adopt a name more appropriate for seniors beginning a new phase of life in rental housing. She criticized the Stanford Carr development’s façade as heavy, dark, dense, and unwelcoming, with insufficient setback and little room for greenery along Isenberg Street. She urged greater aesthetic accountability for this and future projects.
Olivet Baptist Church Noise
A resident described continuing noise from Olivet Baptist Church, including children yelling in an open green area and loud events audible several blocks away. She said the Department of Health website appears to address construction noise rather than human-generated noise, while HPD typically does not intervene before 10:00 p.m. She asked which agency could require a noise study and measures such as a six-foot solid wall and trees, similar to barriers around playgrounds. The city representative said human-noise complaints fall under HPD but agreed to investigate the appropriate process for a formal study or mitigation requirement. Another resident suggested contacting the church’s parent or national organization and explaining that the local congregation’s activities are disrupting the neighborhood. The issue was also identified as one that could be raised directly with HPD at a future board meeting.
Infrastructure Priorities, Resilience Hubs, and Veterans’ Services
A resilience-hub advocate briefly sought to provide an update on local resilience work, although the transcript did not include a substantive presentation. During the related discussion, a resident urged public officials to coordinate with Senator Brian Schatz and redirect infrastructure appropriations from projects viewed as less urgent toward storm-damaged or vulnerable locations, including North Shore infrastructure and the Mānoa-Woodlawn bridge. Another resident praised the local Department of Veterans Affairs staff at Tripler and Kapolei. Although she described the overall VA system as burdened by severe red tape, she said local employees had been exceptionally helpful in securing disability benefits and services for her father, a Vietnam veteran.
Mayor’s Newsletter and Storm Recovery
The city administration’s report highlighted Tropical Storm Lala, activation of the Emergency Operations Center and Joint Operations Center, the citywide response by public employees, expanded recovery assistance, and preparedness guidance for future disasters. Residents were directed to the September Mayor’s Newsletter on the city website. The board later discussed the pressure severe storms place on wastewater systems, including reports that approximately 700,000 gallons of wastewater entered the Ala Wai and approximately 23 million gallons entered Honolulu Harbor. The city representative explained that storms create inflow and infiltration, sharply increasing the amount of water treatment facilities must process, while power failures and equipment problems can compound the situation. He said the Department of Environmental Services takes the spills seriously and is examining ways to reduce future incidents.
Bus Delay and Cancellation Information
The city explained that bus passengers can monitor delays and cancellations through GPS-enabled mobile services such as Transit App and Google Maps or through the web at hea.thebus.org. Riders can also call TheBus Transit Information Office at 808-848-5555, select option two, and receive real-time route assistance between 5:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. daily.
Kūilei Place and Kapiʻolani Boulevard Traffic
In response to concerns about speeding and illegal U-turns near the Kūilei Place project at 2599 Kapiʻolani Boulevard, HPD said District 7 officers would continue traffic and speed enforcement. The Department of Transportation Services reported that the project’s access plan includes a dedicated left-turn lane from westbound Kapiʻolani Boulevard into the central driveway. The same driveway will permit vehicles to turn left out of the property, using a refuge area before merging into westbound traffic. DTS intends to wait until construction is complete and traffic patterns stabilize before considering restrictions on left turns from Mahiai Street onto Kapiʻolani Boulevard. Board and community members criticized DTS for not appearing at meetings despite a July crash and asked for representatives from the Complete Streets office or its public information officer to attend a transportation committee or community meeting. They cited the city’s Vision Zero and Complete Streets commitments and argued that action should not require another fatality.
Reporting Game Rooms, Chop Shops, and Other Crimes
HPD advised residents reporting suspected game rooms, chop shops, or other illegal operations to provide exact locations, dates, times, descriptions of people and vehicles, license-plate numbers, photographs, video, documents, messages, receipts, and any other relevant evidence. Information should be gathered only when it can be done safely and lawfully. Residents can help investigations by preserving original evidence, remaining available for follow-up questions, and avoiding public disclosure that might compromise police work. HPD noted that seemingly minor information may become valuable when combined with other reports.
HNL 311 Data and Public-Records Requests
The city said public HNL 311 datasets on data.honolulu.gov will remain limited to the most recent 30 days. Anyone seeking older information must submit a formal Request to Access a Government Record through the State Office of Information Practices website. The form is available under the website’s forms section and can be completed electronically. Board members asked whether the form could be linked directly through HNL 311 to make longer-term data requests easier.
Kaimana Beach Showers
The city confirmed that the showers at Kaimana Beach Park are under city jurisdiction and were installed in 2023. They were intentionally designed as low-flow showers with timed nozzles to conserve water, and Parks and Recreation staff inspect and clean them daily. If pressure appears abnormally weak even for a low-flow unit, residents may report the condition as a maintenance problem.
School-Area Traffic Safety and Enforcement
The board again requested traffic-signal or pedestrian-safety improvements around ʻIolani School and Ala Wai Elementary School and asked DTS to attend a future transportation committee or community meeting. No substantive DTS response was available, and the city representative agreed to follow up. HPD also reported conducting enforcement checks at University Avenue and Hāweo or Heʻeia-area intersections referenced in the meeting, including Kamoku Street, but said officers observed no violations during their visits and believed police presence may have deterred misconduct. A resident disputed the credibility of a zero-violation report and criticized what he saw as selective enforcement. Other participants advised documenting dates, times, locations, officer identities, and specific conduct and filing complaints with HPD’s Professional Standards Office, although the resident said his past complaints had rarely been sustained.
Park Lighting, Insects, and Maintenance Reporting
The chair reported what appeared to be a large hornet or bee cluster near the Ala Wai baseball fields. The Fire Department said it was not responsible, while an HNL 311 request did not seem sufficiently urgent. The city suggested beginning with the Department of Parks and Recreation because the insects were within a park, and residents mentioned Honeybee Rescue as a possible resource if the cluster proved to be bees rather than hornets. The chair also elevated longstanding lighting outages at Old Stadium Park, the park at Kapiʻolani Boulevard and McCully Street, and the middle of Magic Island. Some lights had reportedly been out for at least a month, leaving heavily used areas very dark. The city agreed that the problem warranted follow-up and would determine the causes.
Community Park Cleanups
Councilmember Scott Nishimoto’s office thanked participants in a recent cleanup at Ala Wai Neighborhood Park, where volunteers painted park facilities and removed litter. The office hoped to attract more participants to future events and announced another cleanup at Ala Moana Beach Park on October 10 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. The council office agreed to send the chair a promotional graphic for distribution to board members.
State Storm Response, Tax Relief, and Preparedness Resources
The governor’s representative reported that state emergency operations were activated for recent severe weather and that the governor secured a presidential declaration before one storm arrived. Hawaiʻi Island suffered substantial impacts. The Department of Taxation may waive penalties and interest for taxpayers whose filings are delayed by storms, and people affected even when no broad formal tax-relief announcement is issued were encouraged to contact the department about individual relief. The Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, and county agencies have also made an emergency-preparedness handbook available at libraries and online. It addresses wildfire prevention, emergency planning and response, electrical safety, food and water safety, and emergency telephone numbers. Online versions are offered in several languages, including Vietnamese, Cantonese, Ilocano, and Korean, along with a children’s edition.
Children and Youth Day
The governor’s representative announced Hawaiʻi Children and Youth Day for Sunday, October 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center and the Kalanimoku Building in downtown Honolulu. The family event was expected to include activities for multiple age groups, community booths, entertainment stages, inflatables, goodie bags, food vendors, and costumed character appearances.
Emergency Shelters, School Maintenance, and Hawaiʻi Island Damage
A resident asked whether the Department of Education could identify schools with deferred maintenance so the public would know which buildings are safe during major storms. The governor’s representative explained that schools are normally closed during severe weather and that only officially designated shelters should be used. Shelter locations are announced through the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency, the media, and county channels. He agreed that the state could begin by examining facilities within the local school complex rather than attempting an immediate statewide inventory and suggested a future DOE presentation on school infrastructure. He also agreed to ask the Department of Transportation for an assessment of why a highway and other infrastructure on northern Hawaiʻi Island failed during recent storms and whether deferred maintenance, design, or rural development conditions contributed.
Ala Wai and Stream Improvement Funding
Senator Sharon Moriwaki’s representative reported that the state and city are coordinating on Ala Wai watershed work. Approximately $9.5 million has been directed toward joint projects involving streambeds and walls, slope regrading, and stream dredging, while another $5 million is designated for improvements to the Ala Wai Canal. Additional work concerns debris interception near the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. The senator’s office also invited residents to complete its community survey and submit comments on a proposed development near Ala Moana Boulevard and Atkinson Drive that would combine housing with a hotel reaching up to approximately 400 feet. Senator Moriwaki’s physical office will close temporarily for repainting and replacement of deteriorating cubicles, but staff will continue operating by phone and email during normal weekday hours.
Ala Wai Debris-Catchment Research
The University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and other agencies are examining improved systems to intercept roots, mattresses, and other large debris before or as it reaches the Ala Wai Canal and Small Boat Harbor. A resident proposed placing heavy cargo-net barriers at several points along Mānoa Stream so material could be captured upstream near accessible removal sites rather than requiring expensive crane work at the harbor. The senator’s representative said upstream catchment locations are part of the discussion and that technical experts are evaluating where and what type of systems would work best. A participant questioned why students rather than a private engineering company were involved, arguing that the project requires experienced professionals and should not burden students. Others responded that UH contains valuable expertise and that student participation can contribute to applied community research. The board requested a future presentation from the agencies and experts responsible for the canal and catchment work.
Mōʻiliʻili Public Library
Representative Ikaika Olds reported that the Mōʻiliʻili Public Library elevator had been out of service since Tropical Storm Lala. Otis evaluated it and found badly damaged components. The repair could be completed sooner if replacement parts are already on Oʻahu, but the previous major repair took two to three months because parts had to be shipped in. The closure particularly affects kūpuna because adult collections and services are upstairs. The library is also planning more functional and attractive fencing within approximately six months. A related priority is restoring an accessible after-hours book return, since the current drop box sits behind the fence and cannot be reached when the library is closed.
Teacher of the Year and Hurricane Preparedness
Representative Olds congratulated Chu Hong of Kaimukī High School, who was selected first as the Kaimukī-Roosevelt-McKinley complex Teacher of the Year and then as the 2027 Hawaiʻi State Teacher of the Year. He also reminded residents that hurricane season continues through the end of November. Residents were advised to photograph belongings before a disaster, review whether their insurance includes hurricane coverage, and document all damage and losses to support future claims.
Electric Kick-Scooter Rules
Representative Olds clarified the effect of Act 259 on stand-up electric kick scooters. The critical operating limit is 15 miles per hour; scooters capable of exceeding that speed are not permitted under the relevant category. Existing rental companies reportedly limit their units to 15 miles per hour. The scooters may use roads, streets, bicycle lanes, bicycle paths, and bikeways, but sidewalk and other public-property use may be further restricted by county rules. They are not allowed on freeways. The clarification also addressed rental scooters that are sometimes left in public spaces.
Condominium Elevators and Inspector Shortages
Representative Adrian Tam said storms and El Niño conditions have exposed persistent elevator problems in high-rise condominiums. He has met with the Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority and the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, which inspects elevators, to consider possible responses. Condominium associations remain responsible for arranging and financing upgrades because the buildings are privately owned and self-governed, and the state is generally reluctant to intervene in internal condominium matters. DLIR has reportedly made progress hiring inspectors, but candidates require nationally recognized certification, and Hawaiʻi does not offer the necessary training, so trainees must travel out of state. Older elevators create additional delays because discontinued parts often must be manufactured from scratch and shipped to Hawaiʻi. Condominium elevators must be inspected and certified by DLIR, including after certain breakdowns and repairs before service resumes. Representative Tam offered to help residents determine whether a delayed restart is awaiting parts, repair work, or a state inspection.
Occupational Licensing Questions
A resident questioned why Hawaiʻi can rely on national out-of-state certification for elevator inspectors while licensed workers in trades such as plumbing may face a lengthy process transferring credentials from another state. Representative Tam answered that licensing laws and technical requirements vary by jurisdiction. He compared the issue to real-estate licensing, which requires both national and state-specific examinations, and noted that elevator inspectors operate under a national standard through DLIR. He did not provide a specific solution for accelerating the transfer of plumbing or other trade licenses.
Waikīkī Flooding and Long-Term Resilience Planning
A resident asked which government is responsible for clearing Waikīkī storm drains and whether portable backup pumps can be staged and activated when surface runoff exceeds drainage capacity. She noted that Waikīkī’s extensive impervious surfaces leave rainwater with few places to infiltrate and cited emergency pumping used during a sewage spill. Representative Tam said drainage jurisdiction is primarily with the city. He added that his office and Senator Moriwaki are working on a Waikīkī Resilience Action Plan intended to guide the district’s resilience strategy over the next 100 years.
Closing and Next Meeting
The chair repeated that the board will not meet at the current building during renovations. Future meetings will take place at Makiki District Park, beginning with the next meeting, on the last Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Residents and board members were asked to email proposed agenda items to the chair as soon as possible.