No 12 Nuʻuanu Punchbowl Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting April 2026
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12 Nuuanu-Punchbowl Neighborhood Board Meeting – April 24, 2026
Meeting Opening, Attendance, and Lack of Quorum
The Neighborhood Board No. 12 regular meeting was called to order in person at 6:33 p.m. at Pā‘ō‘a Elementary School. The chair explained that the meeting began earlier than some residents may have expected because the board only had use of the facility from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with the group required to leave the premises by 9:00 p.m. Roll call showed only five members present at the outset, which was not enough for a quorum, so the board proceeded with discussion-only items and reports but could not take formal action. The chair reviewed procedural expectations, including raising hands to be recognized, limiting board member comments to two minutes, keeping official reports to three to five minutes, and following Robert’s Rules of Order. The absence of a quorum shaped the entire meeting, preventing approval of minutes and any formal board decisions.
Honolulu Police Department District 5 Crime Report
A District 5 representative, Sergeant King from night operations, presented March 2026 crime statistics for reporting areas including beats 571, 572, and 573. The report showed two aggravated assaults in March, up from zero in February; one auto theft, up from zero; one burglary, down from two; zero robberies, unchanged; two sex assault or rape cases, up from one; two simple assaults, up from one; eight thefts, up from five; and three unauthorized entries into motor vehicles, down from five. Total calls for service declined to 779 in March from 833 in February. The report indicated a mixed public safety picture, with lower burglary and vehicle-entry numbers but increases in assault, theft, and sex assault cases across the district.
Scam Warnings, Flower Theft, Homeless Activity, and Neighborhood Watch
Board member Paula Kurashige used the District 5 discussion to raise several ongoing safety concerns from Subdistrict 573 and to fold in her Neighborhood Security Watch update. She warned residents about scam mail and phone calls, including fraudulent demands for money allegedly owed to police, and said such requests should be treated as scams. She also reported a recurring theft issue involving a white Toyota with license plate YAB-246, later corrected near the end of the meeting to AYAB-246, which she said had been seen entering yards and stealing flowers, allegedly for resale downtown and near the cemetery, and also taking flowers from Nu‘uanu Valley Park by Queen Emma Summer Palace. Kurashige said residents had also noticed fewer homeless individuals in some locations, including near O‘ahu Country Club, and described regular cleanup activity around Kapena Falls, where discarded household items were reportedly being removed by truck. She urged residents to stay alert for suspicious notes on mailboxes, abandoned newspapers, odd vehicle activity, and signs of possible drug transactions near parks, and she again offered help to anyone wanting to organize a Neighborhood Security Watch, noting that she has helped start 32 such groups since 1989.
Board of Water Supply: Main Breaks, Street Restoration, Pump Station Grounds, and Dowsett–Pu‘u Iwa Work
Board of Water Supply representative Jimmy Llanos responded to follow-up questions from prior meetings and gave a system update. Regarding the main break on ‘Alekā Avenue, he said that when the break first occurred, several homes may have been affected, but after crews isolated the break, the impact was reduced to one customer, with some nearby residents possibly experiencing low water pressure. He said permanent paving to restore the road surface on ‘Alekā Avenue was expected to be completed by mid-April, barring unforeseen circumstances. He also addressed concern about the grass patch at the Pacific Heights pumping station on Pacific Heights Drive, explaining that the area is slowly recovering after aggressive removal of heavy thatch buildup and remains in an early regrowth phase. On the Dowsett and Pu‘u Iwa project, Llanos reported that approval from the State Historic Preservation Division had been received. He said the Board of Water Supply was updating the design for service laterals to improve corrosion protection and reduce leaks and main breaks while eliminating modifications to the cathodic protection system. He described the revised approach as a new design for BWS, said compatibility had been confirmed with suppliers, manufacturers, and consultants, and stated that design revisions, a contractor change order, and construction were hoped to begin by September 2026. He also reported one March main break in the area, involving an 8-inch pipe at 65 Gartley Place.
Water Conservation and Rebate Programs
Llanos also used his report to emphasize summer water conservation despite recent storms. He said rainfall alone does not offset everyday water demand, especially during warmer months, and encouraged practical measures such as watering plants early in the morning, shortening showers, checking toilets for leaks, avoiding unnecessary faucet use, and applying for BWS rebates on water-efficient appliances and systems. The discussion prompted positive community feedback, with one board member describing a rebate for new toilets as effectively making the purchase free and saying the refund was received in seven days. Another resident asked about toilet leak-detection packets that had been distributed at another neighborhood board meeting, and Llanos said he did not have any on hand but could bring some to a future meeting.
Questions on Board of Water Supply Design Changes and Environmental Concerns
Board members questioned the wording and substance of the Dowsett–Pu‘u Iwa project update. One member said the report appeared to contradict itself by describing both design updates and an entirely new design, and asked whether the original design had failed to account for DPP or historic preservation requirements, or whether the project had otherwise required correction leading to a contractor change order. Questions were also raised about why BWS was directly confirming compatibility with suppliers and manufacturers rather than relying solely on the general contractor. Llanos did not provide full answers at the meeting and agreed to follow up. Another question involved stream grates in Nu‘uanu and whether BWS had responsibility for them. The concern centered on native Hawaiian ducks, including rare koloa, with ducklings reportedly being sucked into grates. The speaker asked whether the grates could be redesigned to protect the birds.
Board Vacancies and Representation by Subdistrict
The board revisited its continuing vacancy problem and invited members of the public to volunteer. There were four vacant seats in Subdistrict 1, covering Punchbowl, with appointments running through June 2027, and one vacancy in Subdistrict 2, covering Pacific Heights, Pā‘ō‘a, and Papakōlea, also through June 2027. No one stepped forward during the meeting. To help clarify the need, board members described the geographic boundaries: Subdistrict 1 generally included the Punchbowl area below Lusitana Street and between Lusitana and School Street, with Nu‘uanu Avenue on the west side and the Punchbowl/Papakōlea side on the east; Subdistrict 2 was described as mainly Pā‘ō‘a Valley and Pacific Heights. The chair also briefly raised an ongoing discussion about whether some vacant subdistrict seats should eventually be converted to at-large seats, but no substantive discussion occurred because of time limits and the lack of quorum. The board encouraged interested residents to contact the Neighborhood Commission Office and emphasized that the positions are volunteer roles without pay.
Non-Board Event Report: O‘ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization Transportation Planning
The chair reported on O‘ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization matters even though she had missed the April 1, 2026 meeting. She noted that on March 30, 2026, the O‘ahu MPO Policy Board adopted the O‘ahu Regional Transportation Plan 2050, which is the list of transportation projects that may receive federal funding in the future through highway and related transportation programs. Residents were directed to the online plan if they wanted to check whether projects in or near Nu‘uanu-Punchbowl were included. She also summarized the Unified Planning Work Program, an annual planning document used by city and state agencies to seek federal funds and secure matching local funds through the City Council or Legislature. She said there were no projects specifically affecting the district in that program, but board members interested in Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School would find relevant general items there. Public comments on the work program were due April 29.
Nu‘uanu Valley Park Lighting, Tree Hazards, and Overgrowth
Resident Mike Ellis renewed concerns that had been on the agenda for months regarding conditions at Nu‘uanu Valley Park. He said the lighting problems remained unresolved and described the parking lot and walking-path lights as dim, orange-colored fixtures that do not adequately illuminate the area at night, even though the park remains open until 10:00 p.m. He also focused on a monkeypod tree overlooking the middle of the parking lot, saying its root system and lean suggested it could fall at any time, creating a serious safety hazard. He urged the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Urban Forestry division either to trim or remove the tree before it topples like other trees that have fallen near Pu‘u Iwa Road. Ellis also raised the issue of an overgrown hau tree near Queen Emma Summer Palace and the park’s basketball and volleyball or pickleball court area, saying branches had crept into the passageway to the point that access and visibility were becoming restricted. He said the unresolved question is whether the city parks department or the Daughters of Hawai‘i, which manages Queen Emma Summer Palace, is responsible for maintenance. Board members said they would note the matter for the mayor’s representative. Another member added that repeated attempts to contact Queen Emma Summer Palace had not produced concern about the hau tree and said the property line itself had never been clearly established.
Pacific Heights Truck Noise and Early-Morning Dumpster Activity
A board member placed on the record an emailed complaint from a resident at 1912 Pacific Heights Road involving West O‘ahu Aggregate and what was described as a turnaround or staging area for dumpsters. According to the complaint, dumpsters are reportedly slammed into place and left in the turnaround area at around 3:00 or 4:00 a.m., except Sundays, until pickup trucks arrive between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. The resident also alleged loud conversation and revving engines during those early morning hours. Because the exact jurisdiction was unclear at the meeting, the issue was noted for follow-up, with the expectation that it would be reported through city channels and likely appear in a future mayor’s report.
Pacific Heights Road Sidewalk, Drainage Damage, and Flooding
The board discussed an emailed complaint from resident Beatrice Koo about a damaged area near 2424 Pacific Heights Road described as a major gash along the side of the road or sidewalk area. The chair said she had referred the matter to the Department of Facility Maintenance and also notified the mayor’s representative. Board member Patrick Smith, who lives in the area, provided added context, saying the problem dates back three or four years to repaving work associated with a Board of Water Supply project. He said there are drainage issues and that the damage appears to be related to flooding rather than a simple isolated pavement defect. He also said some of the drainage inlets or catch areas may have been partially blocked with asphalt during repaving, but by the time neighbors identified the problem, the contractor’s obligation to fix it had already expired. Another board member noted the long-standing complexity of responsibility along Pacific Heights Road, where some grassy shoulder areas may remain the obligation of adjacent landowners up to the white asphalt line even though the road itself became a city road. The board asked that the city investigate both ownership and drainage adequacy.
Mayor’s Representative Report: Storm Recovery, Resurfacing, and Outstanding Service Requests
Because the mayor’s representative, Director Kim Hashiro, was absent, the chair read her written report into the record. The largest citywide issue was continued recovery from multiple severe weather systems and Kona lows that caused flooding across O‘ahu. The city had launched the recovery website oneoahu.org to provide information on reporting home damage, health and safety guidance, assistance resources, and ways to support affected communities. Cleanup operations were still ongoing islandwide, especially on the North Shore, using dump trucks, heavy machinery, and dumpsters, with storm debris accepted at transfer stations, convenience centers, and H-POWER during listed operating hours. The report also said previously planned mayoral town hall meetings had been indefinitely postponed because of storm damage and weather conditions.
The mayor’s newsletter highlights included homegrown first responders being trained in Wai‘anae, the city’s annual Hawai‘i Foodbank drive, the launch of a grow recycling program on April 1, opening of affordable kūpuna housing called Aloha ‘Ia Halekauwila in ‘Aiea, the appointment of Honglong Kim as Deputy Director for the Department of Transportation Services, a public invitation to help guide selection of Honolulu’s next chief of police, and a note that Skyline ridership had increased following passage of Bill 60. On district-specific follow-up items, the report said a meeting about an illegal Henry Street car rental business had been scheduled for February 25 but canceled due to bad weather. DTS was investigating a request for a left-turn signal from Puohea Street onto Pacific Heights Road during the heavy 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. period, with review to include site inspection, collision history, and a turn study. The city also said that O‘ahu Avenue/Lusitana area speeding concerns had initially been addressed by restriping lanes to 10 feet to calm traffic, with additional measures such as speed humps to be considered after drivers have had time to adjust. On Puowaina Street, the report said overgrowth had been cut near 2077 Puowaina Street but mud and debris remained in gutters and storm drains because storm response had delayed cleanup. During the meeting, however, one board member noted that the issue had since been fixed.
State Senator Carl Rhoads’ Report: Measles, RSV, Influenza B, and Wastewater Disease Tracking
A representative from Senator Carl Rhoads’ office gave a short public health-focused report. The office noted that a case of measles had recently been reported in Hawai‘i and urged residents to make sure they were up to date on MMR vaccination. The office also said RSV and influenza B were active and reminded those over age 60 who had not yet been vaccinated to consider doing so. In addition, residents were directed to the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System through the website wastewaterscan.org, which allows the public to see whether infectious diseases are showing up in wastewater data for their zip code. The report was framed as a practical health advisory relevant to household preparedness and awareness.
Representative Jenna Takenouchi’s Report: Speeding Town Hall, Storm Recovery Help, A+ Registration, and Drug Take-Back Day
Representative Jenna Takenouchi attended remotely and reported on several matters. She thanked residents who attended a March 11 speeding town hall at King David Kalākaua Middle School, where HPD, the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, and city transportation officials discussed speeding concerns across the district. She said speeding remains one of the top issues her office hears about and that her office prepared a comprehensive recap of the event, including agency presentation links and a summary of community questions. She also highlighted state resources prepared after the Kona low storms, particularly guidance from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs on insurance claims and post-storm recovery. Families were reminded that A+ after-school program registration for public school students in kindergarten through sixth grade would open on Wednesday, April 22 at 3:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, with the state continuing efforts to expand access where school staffing shortages have limited availability. Finally, she announced National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the nearest drop-off site for this board area at the Hawai‘i State Capitol on South Beretania Street, plus sites at Times Supermarket in Kahala and the Pearl City police station. Residents were told to remove identifying information from prescription labels before dropping medications off for safe disposal.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Presence
A representative from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was recognized during the meeting, but the transcript does not capture a substantive report. The board acknowledged the representative’s attendance and attempted to return to that agenda item after other interruptions, but the surviving record mainly reflects the transition rather than detailed OHA content. Even so, OHA’s presence showed continued agency engagement with neighborhood-level issues.
Pali Highway Transportation Issues: Noise, Crosswalk Conditions, Delineators, ADA Review, and Rockfall
Under board business, several unresolved Pali Highway concerns remained on the agenda, although no state Department of Transportation official attended to provide formal updates. Resident and frequent participant Mr. Oyama gave the latest information regarding the Wood Street crosswalk noise issue. He said discussions with the DOT sound team had revealed that accurately measuring rumble-strip noise is technically difficult and that even federal transportation guidance does not identify a standardized accepted method. He also said it had been hard to find a reference location on the Pali because similar striping exists up and down the route. The board said it would keep inviting DOT staff, particularly Ryan Nagata, so the issue can continue to be discussed publicly.
The chair also summarized several other unresolved Pali-related concerns. One was the four-inch-high curb trip hazard at the Pali Highway/Wood Street crosswalk, raised by resident Pat Tyra. Another was Tyra’s report that at Representative Takenouchi’s speeding town hall, DOT Director Ed Sniffen had said pedestrian flashing beacons would be installed at a Pali Highway crosswalk, though DOT staff attending this board previously did not recall hearing that and were expected to clarify later. The board also mentioned damaged traffic delineators on Pali Highway that leave stumps in the roadway after being hit. Although the chair initially said they remained a concern, Oyama responded that he believed DOT had in fact repaired them, only for them to be struck again soon afterward. He added that sound readings previously taken near the delineators had reportedly shown levels high enough to raise concern about possible hearing damage from even brief exposure on the sidewalk. Additional unresolved issues included findings from an ADA sidewalk compliance assessment associated with a 2024 Pali Highway resurfacing project and a request for DOT to address rockfall hazards near the Pā‘oa Road/2004 Pacific Heights Road Highway 61 on-ramp by the gas station on the Kailua-bound side. No fresh state update was available on those items.
Punchbowl Cesspool Conversion Project
The board briefly revisited the Punchbowl cesspool project. Vice Chair Mike Lum said there was no real update and summarized the current status bluntly: there is still no sewer. The chair referenced a legislative bill and a recent Civil Beat article but said no funding had been appropriated at this stage. The issue remains a continuing infrastructure problem for the area and stayed on the agenda for future discussion.
Corrections to February 2026 Meeting Minutes
Because the board lacked a quorum, it could not approve the draft February 17, 2026 meeting minutes. Before leaving early due to pain, board member Paula Kurashige placed a correction on the record. She said that on page two of five, first paragraph, the flower theft vehicle license plate had been recorded incorrectly and should read AYAB-246 rather than the version previously stated. The board agreed to defer action on the minutes until the next meeting, while noting her correction for inclusion.
Announcements, Next Meeting, and Community Recognition
The board announced that the next regular meeting would be held on May 19, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in a hybrid format, with in-person participation available at Kapālama Hale and virtual participation also allowed for board members and the public. The chair also honored the recent passing of former Governor George Ariyoshi at age 100 and asked for a moment of silence in recognition of his service to Hawai‘i. Additional announcements included an upcoming Kuakini Medical Center community resources fair on May 16 and a food drive by the National Association of Letter Carriers in May, though the volunteer deadline had already passed. The board took time to thank Pā‘ō‘a Elementary School and Principal Tim Posada for allowing the meeting to be held there without charge, providing electricity and welcoming the community back into an in-person setting for the first time in about four years since the COVID-era shift away from such gatherings. A resident, Mark James, introduced himself as a Pacific Heights resident and member of the Honolulu Board of Realtors’ City Affairs Committee, explaining that he planned to attend future meetings to monitor issues such as taxation, land use, housing, and property taxes. The meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m. after the board proposed taking a group photograph to mark the return to an in-person meeting.