No 25 Mililani-Waipi'o-Melemanu Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting August 2026
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25 Mililani-Waipio Neighborhood Board Meeting – September 11, 2026
Leadership Transition After Senate Appointment
Vice Chair Trevor Nagamine opened the meeting as chair pro tem and explained that former board chair Danielle Bass had been appointed by Governor Josh Green to fill the State Senate vacancy created by Michelle Kidani’s resignation. Because the Neighborhood Plan prohibits a board member from simultaneously holding public office, Bass’s Neighborhood Board seat and chair position were automatically vacated. Nagamine therefore presided over the meeting pending the selection of a new chair. The meeting was identified as the board’s August regular meeting, despite being held in September.
Fire Department and Mountain Rescue
During discussion of the Fire Department report, a board member asked whether a reported mountain rescue had occurred within the Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu district or was part of an islandwide total. The Fire Department representative confirmed that the rescue occurred within the board’s geographic district but could not identify the exact location or incident. The representative suggested that it may have occurred in a nearby gulch and offered to follow up with more specific information.
Police Crime and Collision Statistics
Lieutenant Scott Vieira, the nighttime watch commander for Wahiawa Police Station, reported statistics for the station’s jurisdiction, which includes Mililani, Wahiawa, and the North Shore. For the reporting period from July 21 through August 21, police recorded two assaults, no robberies, four burglaries, five unauthorized entries into motor vehicles or vehicle break-ins, and 53 motor vehicle collisions. Police handled 918 total calls for service during the period. Vieira’s shift operates from 6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., covering overnight public-safety needs across a geographically large service area.
Back-to-School Traffic Safety
With schools and the University of Hawaiʻi returning to session, HPD warned that morning congestion on H-1 and H-2 had returned to peak levels. Residents were advised to avoid peak travel periods when possible, leave early enough to reduce stress and distracted driving, and avoid risky decisions caused by running late. Drivers were also urged to maintain tires, inflation levels, and vehicle fluids to reduce the chance of freeway breakdowns. Vieira reminded motorists to watch for pedestrians and encouraged pedestrians to make eye contact with drivers before crossing, even when a vehicle appears to have stopped for them.
Handling Harassment Complaints
A resident expressed frustration that repeated requests to make harassment reports had instead been classified by responding officers as miscellaneous incidents, even after supervisors or sergeants became involved. Lieutenant Vieira said whether conduct meets the threshold for a criminal harassment offense depends on the specific facts, which he did not have. He advised residents who remain dissatisfied to request review by additional or more senior supervisors. The resident emphasized that being told to go home without receiving a harassment report left her feeling that a serious personal-safety concern had not been addressed.
Storm-Damaged Roads and Downed Trees
Board members asked HPD what residents should do when storms bring down trees, branches, and other debris that block roads. Community members and the Mililani Town Association had helped clear debris and used yellow tape to warn drivers during the recent tropical storm or hurricane-related wind event. Lieutenant Vieira, who worked that night, said police and fire dispatchers were inundated with calls. HPD responds when a tree blocks a roadway, establishes contraflow where possible, and may move smaller debris, but larger trees require assistance from the Fire Department or other crews. HFD also reached a point where it was moving from call to call and could accept no additional immediate workload. Vieira said residents should continue reporting blocked roads and noted that the city may need a stronger storm-response system involving road or tree-removal crews, because neither HPD nor HFD is primarily a tree-removal agency. Blocked streets prevented police from reaching some locations and could also delay ambulances, fire apparatus, and other emergency vehicles. HPD confirmed that calls from the storm event were included in the July 21–August 21 service statistics.
Move-Over Law for Disabled Vehicles
A board member asked how drivers should comply with the expanded move-over law when congestion prevents them from changing lanes around a stopped vehicle. Lieutenant Vieira explained that the law now applies not only to emergency vehicles but also to ordinary vehicles stopped on the roadside. Drivers should move over when they safely can and may need to slow or stop to create an opportunity, but they should not cut off another vehicle or cause a new collision if every lane is blocked. He said the law is principally intended to prevent high-speed traffic from passing dangerously close to motorists who are stationary on the shoulder.
Army Hiring Fair at Helemano
Sergeant Olivia Cowart, representing the U.S. Army Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, announced a public hiring fair scheduled for September 15 at the Helemano Military Reservation gym from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Army expected to make job offers and provisional hires at the event. Opportunities included business operations, golf, bowling, food service, and Child and Youth Services. Walk-in applicants were welcome and were asked to bring two references, identification, a Social Security card, and a résumé or application. Advance information was available through the employment section of the Hawaiʻi Morale, Welfare and Recreation website. Child and Youth Services positions may include retirement benefits, discounted childcare, training, access to recreational facilities, and commissary and post-exchange privileges.
Army Training Noise and Community Advisories
The Army reported that its training advisory included aviation activity and artillery, mortar, demolition, and live-fire exercises at Schofield Barracks. The stated schedule included artillery, mortar, and demolition activity from August 14 through 29, followed by day-and-night live fire on August 30 and 31, including late-evening and early-morning hours. The aviation dates were read as July 26 through 28, although they were presented as remaining dates in the August advisory. Residents may request training notices by emailing usag.hawaii.comrel@army.mil and may report concerns through the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaiʻi community concern line at 808-766-7778.
Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center Exercise
The Army advised residents that a large Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exercise is planned for October and November 2026. The exercise is expected to increase military traffic and noise in Central Oʻahu. Additional details will be released as the event approaches, and the Army committed to sharing as much information as possible through its community-relations channels.
Army-Community Social Engagements
Board members asked whether the Army would resume pre-pandemic engagements between senior Army leaders and elected or community representatives. Before COVID-19, Neighborhood Board members, legislators, council members, and other local leaders had been invited to events such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day gatherings at the commanding general’s residence or large installation venues. Members said these relationships were valued and sought follow-up after raising the same question at an earlier meeting. Cowart was not aware of plans at her level but agreed to elevate the question through her command and provide an answer by email.
Water Supply and School Facilities
The Honolulu Board of Water Supply did not have a representative present. Sherry Nakamura of the School Facilities Authority attended but reported that the authority had no new updates, and no questions were raised.
Vacant Neighborhood Board Seat
Two residents sought appointment to the at-large seat vacated by Danielle Bass. Tara Sutton, who moved to Mililani in January, described degrees in anthropology, ethnic studies, and communicology from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, ongoing master’s-level study, work with the Red Hill Registry, and a family commitment to community service. Her active-duty husband is scheduled to retire in 2027, and the family intends to remain in Mililani. Michael Dow, a former Neighborhood Board 25 member, also requested appointment after previously serving for several years. Both candidates’ addresses and eligibility were verified during a recess. Two roll-call votes each resulted in nine votes for Sutton, nine for Dow, and one abstention. Because neither candidate reached the required 12 votes, the appointment was deferred to the September meeting.
Election of Board Chair
The board attempted to elect a chair to replace Bass. Trevor Nagamine and Marilyn Lee were the two candidates. The first roll-call vote produced 11 votes for Nagamine and eight for Lee, short of the 12 votes required for election. A second vote produced the same result. Because no candidate reached the threshold, Nagamine remained chair pro tem until the next meeting. The other officer positions were not reopened because no additional vacancies resulted from the chair vote.
Mililani High School Homecoming Parade
Danielle Castro, a student activities coordinator at Mililani High School, invited the community to the school’s annual homecoming parade on September 19. Staging was scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. in the upper high school parking lot, with the parade launching at 9 a.m. and ending at John Kauinana Stadium. The event was expected to last no more than about one hour. HPD would temporarily block intersections as participants crossed and reopen streets immediately afterward, limiting traffic disruption. Participation is primarily restricted to school groups, complex-area schools, and invited local elected officials because the parade is intended to remain student-focused. Castro said a first-aid kit would accompany the parade, staff members with CPR and first-aid certification would be present, and HPD would assist. These safety arrangements are included in the parade-permit process.
Mililani Presbyterian Church Noise and Security Concerns
Board member Sabrina Gustafson discussed complaints submitted to the mayor’s office and Councilmember Val Okimoto’s office concerning activities at Mililani Presbyterian Church on Kuahelani Avenue. HPD responded, but the complaints appeared anonymous and lacked dates, times, and other verifiable details. The church asked anyone with concerns to contact its office so it could determine whether the noise came from an authorized church event, vandalism, trespassing, unhoused individuals, or other unauthorized use of the property. Later discussion indicated that some complaints involved daytime noise, while residents also reported nighttime activity near a wall between the church and Mililani Shopping Center, including drinking, suspected drug use, people living in vehicles, and individuals accessing an unlocked bathroom. One unauthorized setup reportedly included chairs and a couch and was subsequently cleared by HPD. The church and Councilmember Okimoto’s office agreed to continue seeking specific information so legitimate church activities could be distinguished from unauthorized conduct.
Open Park Bathrooms at Night
A resident reported that public bathrooms throughout Mililani appeared to remain unlocked overnight, despite an earlier community effort dating to the 1990s that established 10 p.m. park closures and contemplated locking restrooms. The resident linked unlocked facilities to late-night trespassing and other activity. Councilmember Okimoto agreed to have her staff examine whether current city policy requires those restrooms to be secured and to follow up with the relevant agencies. The discussion also distinguished between individuals engaged in illegal activity and an elderly man who lawfully parks near the church at night and was described as seeking a quiet place after a personal tragedy.
Red Hill Registry Enrollment
Tara Sutton, speaking as director of community engagement for the Red Hill Registry, reported that 2,895 people had pre-enrolled as of August 2026, approximately one year after enrollment opened. Only about 500 had completed the baseline or expanded enrollment process, creating concern that many participants may mistakenly believe pre-enrollment completes registration. The community-designed registry tracks health outcomes, supports future research and clinical guidance related to fuel exposure, and provides resources to affected people. Sutton urged pre-enrolled participants to contact the registry to confirm their status by calling 808-427-8260 or emailing info@redhillregistry.org.
Red Hill Eligibility and Long-Term Health Research
Baseline enrollment is intended for people who directly used the Navy water system during the principal exposure window from November 2021 through March 2022. Expanded enrollment includes people exposed before or after that period, people in surrounding buffer areas, and unexposed housemates who lived with exposed individuals. People participating in litigation remain eligible because the registry is independent of all lawsuits and does not provide legal case updates. The registry’s purpose is to create a long-term data repository that qualified researchers can use to examine health patterns in particular groups, such as pregnancies during different exposure periods. Sutton noted that some people already report health effects while others do not, making continued tracking over 10 or 20 years necessary to identify possible correlations.
Red Hill Closure Work and Public Resources
The registry coordinates informationally with the Navy’s Closure Task Force-Red Hill but remains a separate entity. Registry representatives attend Navy open houses to distribute materials, while the Navy manages work such as removal of approximately 10 miles of pipeline connected to decommissioned fuel tanks. The registry does not oversee closure safety protocols; its focus is health-data collection and research support. Sutton also highlighted the resources section at redhillregistry.org, including a Unite Us public directory. These free services are open to anyone, regardless of whether the person was exposed to the Navy water system.
Meeting Minutes and Committee Reports
The board approved the July 22 meeting minutes without correction or objection. Several committees had no report, including Community Recognition and Service Awards, Community Maintenance and Walk Audit, Parks and Recreation, and Education. Reports for the chair, Community Partnerships and Outreach, and Planning, Zoning, Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience were skipped. The Military Affairs and Emergency Management committee emphasized the need for continued emergency awareness following recent events. The Health, Houselessness and Human Services committee planned to coordinate with Gustafson regarding conditions near Kuahelani Avenue. No substantive transportation or Oʻahu Metropolitan Planning Organization update was presented.
Lithium-Ion Battery Disposal and Shipping
Governor Josh Green’s representative, Tony Schwartz, provided Department of Health responses to earlier board questions about lithium-ion batteries. The city reportedly uses a contractor to remove batteries from convenience centers and transfer stations monthly. A shipping company has an established process for taking electric-vehicle batteries off island, although the process is expensive, and additional shipping options are being evaluated. DOH said counties are working to remove batteries rather than leave them indefinitely stockpiled. A board member requested further information about non-vehicle batteries used in phones, uninterruptible power systems, and residential equipment, including how often they are shipped out of Hawaiʻi and how much is stored between shipments.
Battery Risks to Groundwater
DOH stated that lithium-ion batteries contain relatively small quantities of electrolytes or other toxic substances. In the event of leakage or corrosion, the agency expects the material generally to remain contained on surface soil or concrete, making direct groundwater contact unlikely. In a battery fire, water used by firefighters would heavily dilute the electrolyte, and DOH characterized the chance of that diluted runoff entering groundwater as very low. The board’s follow-up questions reflected continuing concern about storage and disposal practices for the growing range of consumer and household lithium-ion batteries.
Electric Utility Communication During Disasters
A board member praised the response by government agencies and elected officials to three consecutive disaster events but said residents received too little information during a four-day Central Oʻahu power outage. Representative Amy Perruso’s office eventually learned that 10 utility poles had fallen, and the member said knowing that specific cause earlier would have reassured residents even if it could not accelerate restoration. The Governor’s Office was asked to explore whether Hawaiian Electric could be required or encouraged to provide more specific, location-based explanations and restoration information during future emergencies.
Mail Ballots and Multistate Litigation
In response to a question about possible federal postal changes affecting mail-in ballots, Schwartz reported that Hawaiʻi had joined a multistate lawsuit filed that day to preserve existing election practices and procedures close to the election. The matter was awaiting a judge’s decision. Residents were advised to continue following instructions from Hawaiʻi election officials. A board member encouraged voters not to delay returning ballots, particularly given the state’s historically low turnout.
New Driver’s Licenses and Police Chief
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s representative, Jocelyn Doan, reported that Honolulu driver’s licenses and identification cards received a new design after 17 years, including enhanced security features. She also announced that David Lazar had been sworn in as Honolulu’s 13th police chief and had already begun learning about the department and participating in city activities before formally assuming the position.
Lower School-Zone Speed Limits
The city is lowering posted school-zone speed limits from 25 mph to 20 mph between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on school days. The change implements legislation approved by the City Council several years earlier. While installing the new speed-limit signs, the Department of Transportation Services will replace missing or faded school-zone signs. Because Honolulu has more than 200 schools, implementation will occur in phases.
Wastewater and Stormwater Planning Meetings
The Department of Environmental Services scheduled public meetings to gather input on the future of Honolulu’s wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. Meetings were announced for September 2 at Kailua Elementary School, September 3 at Kapolei Hale, and September 10 at Mission Memorial. The administration offered to provide the online link for additional information and participation.
Mālaekahana Falls Zipline and Bike-Trail Permitting
The Department of Planning and Permitting reported that a conditional use permit for agribusiness activities at Mālaekahana Falls was approved in June 2020, with minor modifications approved in October 2024. No building permits or site-development permits had been issued for the proposed zipline or bike-trail activities. Under the conditional use permit and applicable zoning, at least 50% of the property must be in active agricultural use before specified agribusiness development may occur. The landowner had submitted materials related to those conditions, and DPP was reviewing them.
Koʻokua Command Center
The city’s Koʻokua Command Center is initially being used by agencies such as the Department of Community Services, HPD, and the Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement program to check shelter-bed availability for individuals and families. A later phase is expected to provide access to homeless-service organizations, followed eventually by resources for the public. Physical offices are also being prepared to offer services involving elderly affairs and childcare coordination. A board member clarified that the public needs a basic online explanation of what the center does, when it will open, and how services can be accessed. Doan agreed to search existing city materials and request clearer information from the department.
Kipapa Elementary Crosswalk
The city reported no change in the status of the requested Kipapa Elementary crosswalk, which remained number 14 on the priority list. Councilmember Okimoto later added that the Department of Facility Maintenance had opened service request 77085 to inspect and address crosswalk signage on Kuahelani Avenue behind the school. A traffic survey determined that the location qualifies for a raised crosswalk and placed it in the implementation queue, but the project must complete design before construction can be scheduled.
Central Oʻahu Regional Park Debris Fence
A board member asked when fencing would be removed from Central Oʻahu Regional Park. The fencing surrounded an area used by the city as a temporary holding site for North Shore storm debris. The mayor’s representative did not have a current schedule but agreed to obtain information on whether the fence would remain in place or be removed soon.
Storm Cleanup, Tree Damage, and Sidewalk Repairs
Councilmember Val Okimoto thanked residents, the Mililani Town Association, city and state crews, Department of Education personnel, and first responders for helping the district recover from the storm. Her office distributed information on emergency preparation, green-waste collection, home damage, and insurance claims. She reported that a monkeypod tree in a median fell during the storm and that other trees were awaiting inspection and pruning. The city had explained that branches extending over a roadway do not by themselves justify tree removal, although storm damage may prompt reevaluation. Fallen trees damaged or lifted sidewalks along areas including Hīhīmanu, Kuaoa, and Kuahelani, creating hazards for children walking to school and sometimes forcing them into the street. Okimoto said school-area hazards were being prioritized, though major sidewalk repair could take time. Residents were asked to send photographs and exact locations to her office, use the Honolulu 311 application, or submit the board’s walk-audit form. Because some 311 users had not received responses, her office offered to follow up on unresolved requests.
Other City Maintenance and Community Updates
Okimoto reported that a real-estate kiosk and four abandoned vehicles had been removed in response to community concerns. Her office continued to monitor church-area complaints and public restroom security. She also highlighted the Mililani High School softball team’s third consecutive state championship and the baseball team’s state championship, both recognized at Honolulu Hale. Coaches Mark and Rosie were thanked for their work with students and the community. The city also dedicated a van for the Honolulu Fire Department Explorers program to support youth excursions and field trips. Krishna Jayaram was confirmed as the city’s managing director after previously serving as deputy managing director. Okimoto noted that the next full City Council meeting was scheduled for September 9.
Resilience Hubs and Disaster Assistance
Councilmember Matt Weyer’s office reported that Resolution 26-161 would create minimum standards for resilience hubs financed through the fiscal year 2027 capital-improvement budget. The City Council is investing $16 million in these facilities, which are intended to serve residents during emergencies. The resolution was postponed to allow additional coordination with city agencies. The city also relaunched OneOahu.org so residents and businesses could report storm damage and connect with recovery resources.
Protection of Marine Life
The City Council passed Resolutions 26-160 and 26-159 during its August full Council meeting. One urges the Hawaiʻi Legislature to prohibit the commercial aquarium harvest of aquatic life from state waters. The other asks the Board of Land and Natural Resources to direct the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources to adopt rules imposing the same prohibition.
Senator Danielle Bass’s District and Storm Response
Newly appointed Senator Danielle Bass addressed the board after 19 years of Neighborhood Board service. Governor Green appointed her on August 9 to represent Senate District 18, covering Mililani Town, Koa Ridge, Waipio Gentry, Crestview, Seaview, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Kunia, and part of Waipahu. Within her first five days, she contacted community associations, school principals, and partner organizations across the district. On her sixth day, Hurricane Lala struck. Bass visited the state hurricane shelter at Mililani High School during and after the storm, met with emergency personnel and HPD, surveyed damage throughout the district, and relayed information to state and city emergency centers and Hawaiian Electric. Her office learned that 10 utility poles were down in mountainous terrain, which contributed to prolonged restoration work. She also joined a Waikele Community Association cleanup that collected approximately 200 bags of debris. Bass confirmed that the special election for the Senate seat would occur concurrently with the November 3 general election.
Food Security and Farm-to-School Programs
Senator Donovan Dela Cruz’s office reported on the July 27 Nourishing Hawaiʻi Summit, which brought together state officials, food-service professionals, educators, farmers, and community leaders. Discussions included expanding local agriculture, strengthening food security, developing regional ʻĀina kitchens, advancing farm-to-school programs, and building relationships that can increase the use of locally produced food in student meals.
Community Policing and State Policy Outreach
Representative Lauren Matsumoto recognized Mililani’s community-policing teams, which were honored at a recent event. Residents may join their neighborhood walks, with schedules posted through her social-media account. Matsumoto also became vice chair of the Council of State Governments West, representing 13 western states. Recent policy discussions focused on wildfire response, disaster preparedness, education, and data centers. Hawaiʻi last hosted the organization in 2011 and is scheduled to host it again in 2028. Her office will distribute its annual community survey within two months to gather ideas for the next legislative session. She also clarified that the Friday Mahiku Farmers Market is located in the deeper, upper portion of the Mililani shopping center, across from the Foodland side near the dental-office area.
Agency and Legislative Attendance
No representatives were available from U.S. Representative Ed Case, State Representative Trish La Chica, or State Representative Amy Perruso during their scheduled report periods. No separate report was given by the office of the other listed federal or state officials beyond those who appeared.
Next Meeting and Broadcast Schedule
The board announced that its next regular meeting would be held on Wednesday, September 23 at 7 p.m. in H Building at Mililani High School. Recorded meetings are scheduled to air on ʻŌlelo Focus Channel 49 on the second Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. and on ʻŌlelo Views Channel 54 on the first and third Saturdays of each month at 9 a.m.