No 35 Mililani Mauka Launani Valley Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting May 2026
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35 Mililani Mauka-Launani Valley Neighborhood Board Meeting – May 21, 2026
Board of Water Supply Update and Toilet Rebate Program
The Board of Water Supply reported that there were no water main breaks in April within the Mililani Mauka Neighborhood Board district, a straightforward but useful indicator of system stability in the area. The main public announcement focused on a water conservation rebate for WaterSense-labeled toilets using 1.28 gallons per flush or less, with rebates now available for up to $200. The Board of Water Supply credited the Department of Environmental Services for increasing the rebate amount to $200 beginning in January 2026. Officials said these toilets can reduce water waste by 20 to 60 percent and save as much as 13,000 gallons annually, with applications available through boardofwatersupply.com/rebates. The agency also responded to a prior inquiry from a board member about a persistent wet spot on Wikao Street near the hairpin turn by the Spectrum building in Mililani Tech Park. Investigators checked the area on April 23 and found the roadway dry, with no visible water on the road, and asked for photos or more specific timing if the issue recurs so they can investigate further.
U.S. Army Garrison Hiring, Training, and Memorial Day Ceremony
The Army Garrison’s public affairs representative, standing in for Lieutenant Colonel Melander, announced a public hiring fair scheduled for June 24 at the M. Vets West Oahu Veterans Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Applicants were advised to bring two references, proof of identification, a Social Security card, and a resume. Special mention was made of child and youth services positions, which include benefits such as access to recreation facilities, discounted child care training, and commissary and PX privileges. The military also reported that training activity would continue in Central Oahu, with exercises occurring in East Range from May 18 through 27 and on Schofield Barracks from May 26 through 31. A prescribed burn conducted from May 11 to 15 was completed early, finishing by Tuesday of that week. For those with base access, the Army announced a Memorial Day service at Schofield Barracks beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the Post Cemetery.
Housing and Environmental Review Discussion
During questioning that followed the military presentation, board members and participants briefly discussed a large teacher housing development on Maui, clarifying that it is a Department of Education project and that the Department of Accounting and General Services handles construction for DOE on neighbor islands. The conversation then shifted to a local project referred to by a representative identified as Sherry, who said that once the environmental assessment is posted, the next step would likely be the 201H exemption process, which would proceed through the City Council. The board sought clarification on where the environmental assessment would be posted so the public could follow the project. It was suggested that the state Office of Environmental Quality Control is the entity that posts such assessments, and a commitment was made to provide the website information to the chair for circulation. The exchange reflected ongoing interest in transparency and public access to project documents as development proposals move through review stages.
Mililani Middle School Parking Lot MOU Still Delayed
The long-running issue of the memorandum of understanding for the middle school parking lot remained unresolved, with the chair remarking that it had been on the agenda for 20 years. Representative Trish La Chica said that in her most recent conversation with Jay Dean from the Department of Education’s Office of Facilities and Operations during conference committee, she was told DOE had completed its part but that the city wanted a change, suggesting the agreement had been sent back. Deputy Director Carrie Castle from the Mayor’s Office later provided a more current update from the Department of Parks and Recreation, saying the MOU was now back with DOE and that, according to the DOE superintendent’s office, it was undergoing legal review and should be released soon. This contradicted expectations from the prior month that the matter would already be completed. The chair asked Representative La Chica to follow up again with the superintendent’s office, reflecting the board’s continued frustration over repeated back-and-forth movement of the document without final execution.
Resident Concern About Tech Park Data Center Expansion
A resident, Paul Casey, asked that the expanding data center in Mililani Tech Park be added as a future agenda item, with a request that a representative from the facility come before the board to explain the scope of the project and what measures are being taken to address water and electricity demands. He said he wanted to understand whether the expansion could affect the local community through future utility strain or rate increases, noting that on the mainland data centers are often associated with major water and power demand. The chair responded that his understanding from the previous month’s update was that the work was being done under an existing permit rather than a new permit application. Carrie Castle added that the Department of Planning and Permitting had indicated no conditional use permit is required at this stage, but agreed it would be useful to invite the data center operator, identified as CERVPAC, to report directly to the board. The resident also suggested hearing from Hawaiian Electric and the Board of Water Supply so the community could better understand utility-side planning connected to such high-demand facilities.
FEMA Assistance, HNL Alert, and Memorial Day Activities
Representing the Mayor, Deputy Director Carrie Castle urged residents affected by recent severe weather to apply for FEMA assistance before the June 14 deadline, even if they are uncertain whether they qualify. She directed the public to disasterassistance.gov and the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362, and also highlighted oneoahu.org as a central source of recovery information. She strongly encouraged residents to sign up for HNL Alert, the city’s emergency notification system operated by the Department of Emergency Management, which provides text, email, and app-based alerts for severe weather, flooding, and other emergencies. Castle also announced the 75th anniversary of the Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony, to be held Monday, May 25, at 8:30 a.m. at Punchbowl, free and open to the public, with livestreaming on ʻŌlelo. She noted that the city was still seeking volunteers to help pick flowers and sew approximately 38,000 lei to ensure every veteran grave is honored.
Hazard Pay and TheBus COVID Pay Processing
A board member thanked the Mayor’s Office for earlier action on hazard pay for city and county employees and raised a follow-up question about COVID-related pay for workers at TheBus, who are employed through a contractor but are widely seen by the public as frontline transit personnel. Carrie Castle said the city’s payroll team is reviewing the information and is trying to get those payments issued, hopefully by the end of the fiscal year, though she did not provide a firm date. The exchange showed that compensation matters tied to pandemic-era service are still being resolved and remain of interest to workers and the community.
Council District 8 Legislative and Budget Updates
Councilmember Val Aquino Okimoto reviewed several active City Council matters affecting public safety, flood regulation, and the budget. She reported that Bill 8, dealing with animal nuisances, had advanced to passage on third reading as amended. She described it as a measure intended to better address animal-related disturbances, promote responsible pet ownership, and increase penalties for animals that pose a danger to the community. She also summarized Bill 34, which updates construction standards for flood hazard areas in order to help Honolulu remain eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program and the Community Rating System; that measure had been reported out for passage on second reading and public hearing. On the city budget, she explained that as Budget Committee chair she had overseen hearings throughout May and that the fiscal year 2027 budget was now with Council Chair Tommy Waters’ office, with a full council hearing scheduled for June 3 and final adoption required by June 15 under the city charter. She also highlighted localized street rehabilitation work in Mililani Mauka under Phase 24B, stating that the work was about 60 percent complete and ongoing in the third quarter of the 2026 construction period. She acknowledged the inconvenience of trucks and road closures but said she continues to advocate for additional road resurfacing in areas such as Ukuwai and elsewhere in Mililani Mauka.
Council District 2 Budget Priorities, Park Funding, and Storm Recovery
Councilmember Matt Weyer’s office outlined several proposed budget amendments, including $1 million for improvements at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center within Central Oahu Regional Park, aimed at various facility upgrades, and $500,000 for Wahiawa District Park renovations, including restroom work and improvements to the Hale Ho‘okipa building. Another $1 million was proposed for kupuna feeding and social support programs intended to keep vulnerable seniors nourished and connected. The office also highlighted assistance available through the U.S. Small Business Administration, including home disaster loans with interest rates as low as 2.875 percent for homeowners and renters seeking repair or replacement of disaster-damaged real estate or personal property, including vehicles, with a deadline of June 14. On storm cleanup at Central Oahu Regional Park, the office reported that temporary debris staging operations ended April 9, with nearly 2,700 tons of debris processed and diverted. Baseline and follow-up soil testing found no contamination around the debris area, though additional testing remains underway in coordination with the Department of Health before final site clearance can occur. The office also reminded residents that tax relief in the form of real property tax remission may be available through oneoahu.org, with a June 30 deadline, and said the Board of Water Supply is offering March and April water credits related to storm impacts.
Real Property Tax Remission for Storm-Damaged Homes
Prompted by a board question, Carrie Castle explained how the city’s real property tax remission process works for buildings damaged in the storm. Property owners must apply in order to be reviewed. If eligible, the Real Property Tax Division sends an appraiser to assess the building after damage and determine how much the assessed value has declined relative to the pre-damage condition. The city then calculates the portion of the structure that was destroyed or devalued and applies that percentage against the real property tax already paid, resulting in a tax credit if the application qualifies. She clarified that this process applies to the building itself and not personal property, and stressed that homeowners must file an application for the city to evaluate the damage and potential relief.
Senate District 17 Capital Improvement and Education Measures
Senator Donovan Dela Cruz’s office highlighted two capital improvement appropriations included in House Bill 1800, the state budget bill: planning and design funds for renovations to the Mililani Public Library and funding for a covered play court at Mililani High School. The office also pointed to Senate Bill 2802, which creates a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu. A brief legislative calendar update explained that the 2026 session ended on May 8, all passed bills are now with the Governor, and two key dates remain: June 30 for the Governor’s intent-to-veto list and July 15 for the final veto deadline.
House District 38 Homebuyer Savings Account Expansion
Representative Lauren Matsumoto’s office reported that a long-sought update to the state’s individual housing account program had finally passed after about six years of effort. The law allows first-time homebuyers to use pre-tax dollars, similar in concept to Island Flex, to save for a down payment more quickly. The program had existed since 1982 but had not kept pace with housing costs. The annual contribution limit was increased from $5,000 to $20,000 for individuals and from $10,000 to $40,000 for joint filers. The lifetime cap was raised from $25,000 to $200,000, a much more realistic amount in today’s housing market. More detailed information is expected in a district newsletter.
House District 46 Budget Pressures and Solar Tax Credit Controversy
Representative Amy Perruso said much of her post-session work has centered on the state budget and Senate Bill 3125, the measure used to provide revenue support for the budget amid what she described as major decreases in revenue linked to federal-level impacts, rising costs associated with federal policy, and revenue losses from Act 46. She said a major issue has emerged because this year’s funding approach relies heavily on what amounts to a repeal of the state solar tax credit, and that the elimination of safe harbor combined with retroactive application to the start of 2026 has placed projects already underway in jeopardy. According to her, around $420 million in projects statewide could be affected, including community health clinic projects and expected solar microgrid funding for Wahiawa. She said the potential fallout includes hundreds of lost jobs and major disruption in the solar industry. Advocates are now asking lawmakers to return in special session to restore safe harbor protections for projects already in process, and she said House leadership appears supportive while waiting for similar willingness from the Senate. When asked to define safe harbor, she explained that it would protect projects already permitted or under construction, where developers had reasonably relied on the availability of the solar tax credits.
Proposal for Legislation Addressing Physician Misconduct
Representative Perruso also said she has been working on legislation inspired by allegations involving Dr. McKenzie, an obstetrician-gynecologist well known to many families in the Wahiawa and Mililani area. She described concerns surrounding the ethics of his medical practice and said the proposed legislation is being modeled on work from Colorado to create legal guidelines preventing physicians from engaging in that type of conduct. While details were limited, the issue was presented as an emerging policy priority following public reports.
House District 37 AI Protections, School Bus Accountability, and Traffic Safety Near Kipapa Elementary
Representative Trish La Chica reviewed several bills from the 2026 session and focused first on a measure she has worked on for two years involving AI chatbot protections for minors. The bill, awaiting the Governor’s signature, would regulate AI companion applications such as ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Meta AI on Facebook and Instagram. It requires hourly disclosures reminding users that they are interacting with artificial intelligence, creates prompts directing users to crisis resources when suicide ideation or self-harm appears, and adds parental controls and related safeguards. She described these platforms as increasingly popular with youth, who often interact with them as though they were real people. In response to board discussion, she said the Department of Education, the Governor’s Office of Wellness and Resilience, and the Attorney General’s office are all involved in broader conversations about responsible use. She noted that DOE already uses vetted educational AI platforms and monitors use on school networks, while emphasizing that AI is already present and that policy must now focus on responsible use and prevention of harm. The board discussion reflected concern about youth becoming emotionally attached to AI systems, misinformation, the lack of true judgment or wisdom in AI-generated responses, and the need for age-appropriate guardrails.
La Chica also reported that a bill on school bus contracting and accountability is awaiting the Governor’s signature. She said not all school bus routes have been restored, specifically noting that one route in Mililani Mauka serving Mililani Middle School remains unreinstated. The bill gives the Department of Education authority to replace a contractor or transfer a route if the existing contractor fails to fulfill service for five consecutive school days, allowing quicker action without a full procurement cycle. She said the goal is to reduce disruptions for students and families. She also mentioned continuing work on proposals that did not pass this year, including efforts related to school roof coverage and pilot programs to open school playgrounds, facilities, and parking lots for broader community use.
In addition, La Chica reported on a traffic incident near Kipapa Elementary School in which a speeding SUV on Kuahelani Avenue ran over school road signs and a tree during recess, rattling teachers and students. In response, her office worked with police, community policing teams, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Transportation Services to install a speed trailer facing incoming traffic from the shopping center side of Kuahelani Avenue while replacement signs are arranged. She also announced grants-in-aid funding for Transforming Communities with Aloha, a group involved in neighborhood security watch activities across Mililani and in partnership with churches, allowing the organization to expand its work.
Outreach Services for Unsheltered Individuals in Central and Leeward Oahu
A representative from Kealoha West Oʻahu Outreach provided a report covering April through May. The organization, which serves districts from Waipahu through the North Shore and includes parts of Aiea and Pearl City, received 13 community concern reports and encountered 49 people during the reporting period. Of those, 38 were described as service-resistant, while eight people newly joined the program and are waiting for placement in shelter or housing. The group announced that HONU has moved to Kapolei next to Foodland in an empty lot and that outreach workers are currently focused on individuals living near the Karsen Thot Bridge area because Dole has posted notices and enforcement is expected there soon. The organization is also hiring for an outreach worker position and is seeking applicants with a valid Hawaii driver’s license who can pass a drug screening.
Public Testimony on Sign Removal and Alleged Theft
After the minutes portion of the agenda, resident John Mathias asked to testify despite missing the earlier opportunity and gave an extended statement concerning temporary signs placed on public medians and other right-of-way areas. He argued that temporary signs are a common and longstanding local method of community communication for events such as real estate listings, graduations, garage sales, and fundraisers. He said he is a volunteer organizer with a Mililani nonprofit that raises about $2,000 every three months through events promoted by seven or eight temporary signs placed for five to six days, mostly along the Meheula Parkway median, with all proceeds going back into the community. Mathias said he has used this method for roughly three years, four times annually, and had not previously experienced missing signs. He referred to testimony given at a February board meeting by a board member who said signs in the public right-of-way are illegal and must be removed, and who identified themselves using a Neighborhood Board No. 35 business card. Mathias said that after his April testimony on the issue, two of his signs placed on May 4 and 5—one on Meheula Parkway and one at Meheula and Kuahelani—were missing when he went to collect them on May 9 after his event ended. He said each sign costs $108 with tax, putting his loss at more than $200, and distinguished between confiscation by lawful authority and theft by unauthorized individuals. While he said he was not directly accusing a specific person of stealing because he lacked eyewitness proof, he stated that he inferred a correlation between the prior testimony and the disappearance of his signs. He urged that the behavior stop, said city agencies rather than private individuals should enforce sign ordinances, and warned that if future incidents occur, he intends to gather evidence sufficient for a police report and court testimony.
Education Committee Report on Mililani Middle School Activities and Summer Transition Program
The board’s Education Committee shared a report focused on Mililani Middle School and the final weeks of the school year. The report highlighted activities scheduled from May 22 to May 28, including Market Day, Fun Nights, and field trips to Town Center, Schaefer Bowl, Aiea Bowl, and McDonald’s. It also noted the end of fourth quarter at 2:35 p.m. and referenced Team 7C’s Town Center field trip from 8:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. The committee strongly encouraged families with incoming students to visit the Mililani Middle School website and register for the “Becoming a Blazer” summer program. The program consists of five two-day sessions designed to help students and parents become familiar with the campus, school systems, expectations, grading, and available programs before the school year begins. The committee praised Principal Thomas Schurl, Assistant Principal Nakasone, and several staff members by name for their work during the school year. It also noted the school’s fiscal year-end calendar, with Memorial Day on May 25, the last day for students on May 28, and the last day for teachers on May 29.
Meeting Conclusion
The board approved the April 21, 2026 meeting minutes without objection or recorded correction. Most standing committee reports were either not given or were noted as having no report, including Military and Civil Defense, Parks and Recreation, and Planning and Zoning. Transportation did not provide a report, and the transportation committee chair said the committee meeting had been canceled. The board announced that its next regular meeting would be held on Tuesday, June 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Mililani Mauka Elementary School and via Webex, and then adjourned.