No 36 Nānākuli-Māʻili Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting December 2025
Waikīkī Neighborhood Board Meeting
Ocean Safety and Rescue Updates
Community members and Ocean Safety personnel began with a series of reports describing rescues and emergencies in November, highlighting an ongoing commitment to beach and ocean safety. Lifeguards responded to an unconscious diver at Ko Olina, administering successful resuscitation, and also aided a truck driver in Nanakuli who had difficulty breathing. Several car accidents required response from Tower 41 and Tower 42, with one incident involving a police officer struck by a bus. Lifeguards performed multiple assists involving snorkelers in distress, including a young woman who passed out underwater, and they tended to monk seal sightings at Māʻili Beach Park and Tracks Beach. Two seals were initially thought dead but were merely sunbathing. There was also a false alarm about divers in distress, underscoring how seriously first responders treat all calls. Ocean Safety officials introduced rescue operators and continued to discuss acquiring a storage container at Nanakuli Beach Park for essential equipment, though they were still determining the container’s final location to prevent damage to water lines or park sprinklers.
Emphasis on Community Training and New Initiatives
A firsthand account was given by a lieutenant of Ocean Safety who underscored the unique challenges along the Waiʻanae Coast. With over two decades of experience, he noted that local residents, from keiki to kūpuna, often require assistance. Tourists, particularly in the Ko Olina area, have also contributed to the increased volume of rescues. In the new year, Ocean Safety will join Honolulu’s other first responders in carrying and administering Narcan for opioid overdoses, further widening the scope of emergency support offered. Plans to expand lifeguard coverage at Paradise Cove Lagoon were also mentioned.
Junior Rescue Programs and Community Education
A community member raised concerns about teaching young fishers or beachgoers how to safely help each other without harm to themselves. Ocean Safety reiterated that it is critical to “see something, say something” and call 911 first. Boards and rescue tubes are increasingly stationed at unguarded beaches, often through partnerships with Lions Club and Rotary Club, to provide flotation devices in emergencies. Junior lifeguard programs were promoted, and attendees learned that surfing is now recognized as a school sport, requiring training that includes rescue and water safety, preparing the next generation to respond effectively.
Board Vacancy and Oath of Office
The meeting honored a departing board member, Naomi, and recognized her three-year service before proceeding to fill a vacant seat. A nomination was put forward for a resident who introduced herself as dedicated to serving the neighborhood through her background in social services. After a unanimous vote from the board’s eight sitting members, the nominee was sworn in with an oath of office. The new addition to the board pledged to collaborate with community partners, share resources, and fulfill her responsibilities faithfully.
State Official Reports and Traffic Safety Concerns
Representatives from state government delivered updates on various projects and responded to questions from board members. The Governor’s Office reiterated that lighting, signs, and other road improvements often incur lengthy timelines, but the board strongly urged persistent advocacy for safer pedestrian conditions, especially following a tragic accident involving a local resident. DOT Director Ed Sniffen’s initiative to add speed humps and illuminated crosswalks was noted as potentially beneficial, though community input via official state websites remains an important step. The board also asked for further conversations about homelessness programs administered by the governor’s homelessness coordinator, as the area has experienced challenges with unauthorized camps along the shoreline.
Legislative Updates from the District’s Officials
Several elected officials addressed critical issues set for the upcoming legislative session. Topics spanned traffic safety proposals, extended police enforcement, and introducing more severe consequences for speeding or running red lights. There was emphasis on squaring growing state allocations with the continued backlog in the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). Legislators promised to bring deeper oversight and accountability to ensure that large sums of funding translate into affordable dwellings rather than expensive projects that remain out of reach for beneficiaries. Concerns about “paper leases,” rising home price tags near $700,000 on leased Hawaiian Home Lands, and a mismatch between allocations and results fueled discussions about the need for auditing and new legislative measures.
Christmas on the Avenue and Operation Blue Light
Event organizers described the success of a large holiday celebration known locally as Christmas on the Avenue. This annual tradition merged resource outreach, holiday cheer, music, and keiki fun under the guiding theme “Kupu Kahi i Hoʻolamua – Unite to Move Forward.” Partnerships with Ocean Safety, schools, churches, local clubs, and small businesses turned the avenue into a hub of family-friendly activities, distributing 2,027 gifts to children through Operation Blue Light. Police officers joined in driving patrol cars with lights flashing and no arrests—only gift-giving—a way to humanize the relationship between law enforcement and the public. More than 400 senior pantry bags were also handed out, underscoring the event’s broader community service dimension.
Infrastructure, Connectivity, and Environmental Stewardship
City and county agency representatives reported on a range of infrastructure issues. The Board of Water Supply warned residents of ongoing scams and urged them to verify calls or requests for payment. A Navy representative highlighted continued funding for watershed protection and sustainability through partnerships such as MAʻO Organic Farms, dedicated to stewarding local lands, mitigating floods, and advancing food security. Meetings with the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting addressed concerns over an undersea telecommunications cable expansion, especially regarding its environmental impact on marine life and proper alignment with the region’s sustainable community plans.
Board Business and Committee Objectives
The board approved meeting minutes from several prior sessions, ensuring transparency and accountability for official records. Members also finalized their submissions to the Honolulu Charter Commission, calling for amendments that address issues like shelter enforcement for homeless encampments, equitable allocation of funds for historically underserved districts, better government efficiency during departmental transitions, and establishing rules preventing further landfill concentration in West Oʻahu. The board scheduled a special session to identify the area’s top legislative priorities, ensuring they are ready for the state legislative session’s opening in January.
Committee Reports and Next Steps
Following analysis by each of the board’s committees—spanning transportation, education, parks, Hawaiian affairs, public health, and safety—several immediate goals emerged. Plans include scheduling additional discussions on land use and environmental safeguards, addressing homeless encampments along beaches, maintaining and improving traffic safety measures, and supporting ongoing junior lifeguard and community rescue training. The board reminded residents that while they will recess from full board meetings in January, committee work will continue, and a special board session is set for early January to prepare official legislative requests. The next regular meeting will resume in February, where members and community partners will continue collaborating to address traffic concerns, public safety, and vital social services.