No 12 Nuʻuanu-Punchbowl Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting September 2026
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12 Nuuanu-Punchbowl Neighborhood Board Meeting – September 16, 2026
Call to Order and Quorum
Chair Pro Tem Ray G. called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m., initially misspeaking about the board’s name before clarifying that it was Neighborhood Board No. 12, Nuuanu-Punchbowl. Members and presenters were reminded of speaking limits, videoconference procedures, and Sunshine Law requirements. The initial roll call counted seven members, one short of quorum, so the board began with reports but could not immediately take formal action. Member Paula Kurosige joined later, bringing attendance to eight and allowing the board to conduct elections, approve minutes, and consider motions. The chair noted the continuing difficulty of securing quorum for meetings.
Honolulu Fire Department Report
Firefighter Lokahi Kanahele of the Nuuanu Fire Station reported August 2026 activity. The station recorded no structure, wildland, nuisance, or cooking fires and responded to 10 activated alarms where no fire was found. Emergency responses included 54 medical calls, one motor-vehicle crash, and two mountain rescues, with no pedestrian collisions, ocean rescues, or hazardous-material incidents. The month’s safety message addressed lithium-ion batteries in phones, laptops, e-bikes, e-scooters, tools, vehicles, e-cigarettes, and other devices. Residents were advised to use manufacturer-approved chargers, charge devices on hard and flat surfaces, unplug them after reaching full charge, charge larger devices outdoors when possible without blocking exits, and stop using batteries that become hot, swollen, odorous, leaking, smoky, or noisy. HFD also announced a Fire Prevention Week family day at the Honolulu Zoo on October 3, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., under the theme “Charging for Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower.” Future questions may be submitted to HFD through its neighborhood-board email address.
Honolulu Police Department District 1
Sergeant Kasselbar presented District 1 statistics for August 2026 and compared them with the prior month. District 1 recorded one motor-vehicle theft, two burglaries, five thefts, two unauthorized entries into motor vehicles, five assaults, one sexual assault, two drug incidents, no graffiti incidents, and 26 motor-vehicle collisions. The corresponding prior-month figures were one motor-vehicle theft, three burglaries, six thefts, four unauthorized vehicle entries, one assault, no sexual assaults, no drug incidents, no graffiti, and 24 collisions. Total calls for service declined from 562 in July to 532 in August. The September safety reminder concerned stopped vehicles and emergency activity on freeways: motorists should move over one lane when they see flashing blue lights, tow trucks, or disabled vehicles on the shoulder, or slow down when changing lanes is unsafe.
Honolulu Police Department District 5
Sergeant Jason Allen reported August activity for District 5 beats covering Nuuanu and Pali. Reported incidents included no aggravated assaults, one auto theft, two burglaries, no robberies, two sexual assaults, two simple assaults, four thefts, and four unauthorized entries into motor vehicles. In July, the district recorded one aggravated assault, two auto thefts, one burglary, no robberies, no sexual assaults, one simple assault, five thefts, and four unauthorized vehicle entries. Total calls for service rose from 853 in July to 923 in August. Lieutenant Yamashiro clarified that one sexual-assault case involved acquaintances and was later withdrawn by the complainant, while the other occurred in Waikiki but entered District 5 statistics because it was reported after the victim was transported to Kuakini. Police again urged tourists and hikers not to leave valuables visible in parked vehicles. District 5 also announced a “Coffee with a Cop” event at the McDonald’s in Waikamilo Shopping Center, 1414 Dillingham Boulevard, on Wednesday, October 7, from 9 to 11 a.m.
Neighborhood Security Watch
The Neighborhood Security Watch report was initially deferred because Member Kurosige was not connected to the meeting when the item was called. Although she joined later and helped establish quorum, no separate security-watch report was subsequently presented.
Board of Water Supply Projects and Main Breaks
Board of Water Supply representative Jimmy Llanos followed up on the Dowsett and Puewa Water System Improvements Project. He confirmed that the State Historic Preservation Division’s approval letter was dated September 8, 2025, meaning approval had been in place for approximately one year. The project’s change order had not yet been finalized because BWS must request pricing, receive the contractor’s proposal, and negotiate the amount, a process that commonly takes two months or longer. BWS revised the design for service laterals to improve corrosion protection, reduce future leaks and main breaks, and eliminate modifications to the cathodic-protection system. Because this is a new BWS design approach, the agency sought technical confirmation from suppliers, manufacturers, and consultants before proceeding. Work would not begin in September because of material and workforce constraints, and BWS was still coordinating a start date with the contractor.
Llanos also reported three water-main breaks during August. A six-inch cast-iron pipe installed in 1940 broke at 2150 Pantelis Drive on August 14. On August 20, an eight-inch cast-iron pipe installed in 1948 failed at 2225 Honolulu Street, and a four-inch asphalt-concrete pipe dating to 1900 broke at 4151 Nuuanu Pali Drive, Unit A. BWS additionally promoted the free “Imagine a Day Without Water” event on Saturday, September 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arc of Safety at Waianae Mall, 86-120 Farrington Highway. Organized with Representative Chris Muraoka’s office and more than 25 public and community organizations, the event was to include educational exhibits, games, giveaways, a rain-barrel workshop, and information about the “One Water” principle that all water resources are connected and should be managed together.
Tropical Storm Response and Disaster Preparedness
Mayor’s representative Director Kim Hashiro summarized the city’s response to Tropical Storm Lala. Emergency operations centers were activated, a public call center was established for non-emergency questions, and islandwide recovery operations were launched. The mayor’s newsletter also provided preparation guidance for future disasters. Officials emphasized that 2026 had already been an active weather year and that additional storm systems were being closely monitored.
Nuuanu Valley Park Lighting
The Department of Parks and Recreation submitted a work order to replace Nuuanu Valley Park’s high-pressure sodium pathway lights with LED fixtures. The request was forwarded to Department of Facility Maintenance electricians for evaluation and scheduling. No separate capital-improvement project had yet been established, and the city could not provide an estimated completion date. DPR said it would continue monitoring the work order and report when a schedule became available.
Pacific Heights, Ohai Lane, and Pali Highway Follow-Ups
The city had not yet responded to a request for the repair timeline for sidewalk drainage on Pacific Heights Road, and Hashiro said she would follow up with the Department of Facility Maintenance. Regarding a missing Ohai Lane street sign and allegations that runoff from Pali Highway and new concrete work were flooding neighboring yards, a Department of Planning and Permitting inspection on July 30 found no observable violations. The reported problem was at the rear of a property and required access through resident Peter Lee’s land. As of the city’s August 13 update, an inspection had not been scheduled because Mr. Lee was unavailable, but DPP intended to continue monitoring the complaint and complete the investigation. The city also had not yet received a DFM response about a large tree growing from or around a utility pole near Pali Highway, Wood Street, and the Dowsett Avenue bus stop. The governor’s representative later reported that the pole was Hawaiian Electric’s responsibility and that HECO would address it.
Nuuanu Avenue Pedestrian Improvements
The Department of Transportation Services reported that restoration and upgrading of the crosswalk at Nuuanu Avenue and Bachelot Street would reconfigure the mauka-bound side of Nuuanu Avenue into one through lane and a new left-turn lane at Bachelot. Work had been expected to begin around August 10. The project also includes delineators at the northwest, or cemetery, corner of Nuuanu Avenue and Judd Street to create protected waiting space for pedestrians.
Pali Highway Homeless Encampment
HPD District 1 checked a homeless encampment on the steep slope of the Kaneohe-bound Pali Highway off-ramp on August 8. Officers cited one man for trespassing on state land and violating litter-control laws, remained while he cleaned the area, and saw him leave without incident. He declined an offer of shelter services. A follow-up check on August 10 found the area clear. District 1 patrol and support units, including bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, administrative, and fourth-watch personnel, were developing a broader plan with the State and Department of Facility Maintenance to address recurring encampments and remove them more permanently.
Pali Highway Grass and Wood Street Visibility
Member Hidano reported that tall grass along the Diamond Head side of Pali Highway had again been cut before she needed to file another complaint. The vegetation had impeded people walking dogs and students from Hawaii Baptist Academy’s track team, sometimes forcing runners closer to the roadway. She then raised a sight-distance problem at Wood Street and Pali Highway, where vegetation at the corner made it difficult for drivers turning left to see approaching traffic without nosing their vehicles into the highway. Resident Mark Oyama identified the property as his home and acknowledged the concern. He explained that taller hedges helped buffer persistent crosswalk noise, but Member Hidano clarified that the immediate problem was vegetation extending over the sidewalk and obscuring traffic. Oyama said he understood and would consider the issue.
City Council Updates
Lisa Leonardo, representing Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, reported that residents of the Kalawahine subdivision had asked about repaving Kapahu Street, Haalele’a Place, and Kamalalehua Place, which they said had not been repaved for approximately 30 years. The councilmember contacted the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and planned to report back. Beginning October 1, the city’s Green Recycling Organic Waste, or GROW, program will expand islandwide to households receiving automated three-cart collection. Residents will be permitted to place meat, seafood, dairy products, bread, fruits, vegetables, leftovers, and other food waste in green carts with yard trimmings so that more organic waste can be diverted from disposal and converted into compost.
Leonardo also reported that Bill 41-2026 had passed final reading. The measure updates Honolulu’s rules for e-bikes, scooters, mopeds, and other mobility devices to align with state law and clarify where they may operate. Councilmember Dos Santos-Tam was also developing illegal-dumping legislation that would give the city clearer authority to remove furniture, appliances, tires, construction debris, and other material from streets, sidewalks, roadsides, and public rights-of-way. The proposal would permit faster removal when debris creates health, safety, or drainage hazards and would allow the city to recover cleanup costs from responsible parties. The bill was still being reviewed by city departments.
State Storm Funding and Pali Highway Transportation Issues
Governor Josh Green’s representative Ashton Stallings reported that the administration’s newsletters covered Maui wildfire recovery, the 20-year military partnership between Hawaii and Indonesia, more than 1,000 Department of Hawaiian Home Lands lease projects awarded in July, storm recovery, and preparation for additional systems during an El Niño season. She said $18.5 million in federal funding would support electric-grid resilience and hazard mitigation on Maui, Hawaii Island, and Oahu.
Stallings also provided several Department of Transportation responses. At the Wood Street crosswalk, DOT’s testing laboratory will measure the thickness of the pavement striping that produces noise as vehicles pass over it. If the markings exceed specifications, they will be redone; if they are within tolerance, DOT does not anticipate further work. Testing was expected within a month, with the results to be reported to the board. Oyama, who lives beside the crossing, expressed dissatisfaction and said he felt pressure to pursue action himself if DOT did not resolve the disturbance. Regarding a reported four-inch curb or tripping hazard in the median, DOT’s traffic branch found no further action warranted because yellow detectable-warning mats identify where pedestrians should enter and leave the median. Member Kurosige disputed the practical accessibility of the crossing, explaining that wheelchair and walker users face difficulty on the Ewa side because the route leads toward a curb and wet grass rather than directly and safely toward the bus stop. Stallings agreed to seek further review of the Wood Street location.
DOT was still assessing Americans with Disabilities Act compliance associated with the 2024 Pali Highway resurfacing project. For the rock wall and hillside near the Kailua-bound on-ramp, DOT reported that the affected area is approximately 1,300 linear feet long and 50 feet high. No repair project or funding currently exists because the site is not classified as a high-priority rockfall location. Geotechnical staff are designing a fiber-optic monitoring system to detect where and when rocks reach the highway shoulder. Installation was estimated for early 2027, and the resulting data will guide cleanup and help define the most urgent limits of a future repair project.
Senator Karl Rhoads’ Report
Senator Karl Rhoads discussed the first proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot, which he authored to revise the timetable for judicial appointments. He said the existing schedule often requires the entire Senate, including neighbor-island members, to return during summer to confirm a single judge. The amendment would give the Senate additional summer scheduling flexibility and allow confirmations to be grouped more efficiently. He reminded voters that leaving a constitutional-amendment question blank is counted as a “no” vote, so supporters must affirmatively select “yes.”
Rhoads also reported an $814,326 Department of Education construction award to renovate restrooms in Buildings L and N at Nuuanu Elementary School. He advised residents that Hawaiian Electric customers generally have 30 days to file claims for losses associated with an outage and may receive repair costs or the depreciated value of damaged property, whichever is less, if the incident is found to have been within the company’s control. He noted a new COVID-19 variant and encouraged residents to consider an updated vaccine if eligible and covered by insurance. General-election ballots were expected to reach mailboxes by October 16. Rhoads said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision had blocked federal efforts to interfere with mail voting and emphasized that there was no evidence of widespread mail-ballot fraud. He warned that voting a ballot issued to a deceased household member can constitute a Class C felony carrying up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Rhoads said he had approximately seven weeks remaining in office and would continue assisting constituents during that period.
Medicare and Medicaid Enrollment Assistance
Marissa Kam, representing Representative Jenna Takenouchi, confirmed the Nuuanu Elementary restroom project and described the Medi-Medi program established by Act 287. The one-year pilot is administered through the Department of Health’s Executive Office on Aging and assists people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, including Med-QUEST beneficiaries, kupuna, people with disabilities, and residents who may qualify for low-income subsidy programs. A benefits coordinator will offer in-person help with applications, enrollment, coverage, and related questions at Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center, 1640 Lanakila Avenue, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Representative Takenouchi also planned a “Park Talk” at Nuuanu Valley Park on Saturday, October 3, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The informal event requires no RSVP and allows residents to ask questions, raise concerns, or meet neighbors. No Office of Hawaiian Affairs representative attended, so OHA’s quarterly report remained on the agenda for a future meeting.
Election of Board Officers
After Member Kurosige joined and quorum was confirmed, the board returned to officer elections for the term ending June 30, 2027. Ray G. and Vice Chair Mike Lum were nominated for chair, but Ray withdrew, and Lum was elected with eight votes. Kaulana Lee was elected vice chair with eight votes. The secretary election was deferred because current Secretary Jill Allen was reportedly ill and stranded on Hawaii Island. Larry Smith was elected treasurer with eight votes. The newly elected Chair Lum then assumed control of the meeting.
2041 Pua Waina Drive Development
Residents questioned developer Mr. Ferry about a proposed 12-home development at 2041 Pua Waina Drive. They raised concerns about whether DPP had approved the project, whether roof and site runoff would worsen existing street flooding, whether garbage collection could place as many as 36 carts along the road, whether existing sewer lines could handle the additional residences, and whether the development would intensify parking shortages. Residents said Pua Waina Drive already experiences sewer backups requiring city cleaning, has limited visitor parking, and attracts overflow parking from surrounding areas.
Ferry said the project remained under review by DPP and relevant utility, sewer, traffic, and environmental agencies. A civil engineer and other consultants were addressing drainage, sewer, traffic, power, water, and design requirements. Tree-removal and demolition permits had been obtained, while the cluster-development application and building permits were still pending. He expected approvals to take the remainder of 2026 and possibly extend into early 2027. Ferry repeatedly clarified that he was not seeking rezoning: existing zoning could permit as many as 19 homes, but the plan calls for 12 smaller, market-rate “attainable” homes, each with a two-car garage, plus some on-site parking. He said approximately 200 feet of frontage is also commonly used for parking.
Residents questioned whether the cleared area was large enough for 12 homes and said the current construction entrance did not match an earlier site rendering. Ferry explained that the visible entrance is temporary and that the permanent driveway has been coordinated with the city’s traffic-review branch but had not yet been staked, approved, or built. Residents also asked whether a possible roundabout, intended to address serious crashes, a reported death, speeding, and stunt riding near the corner, would conflict with the project. Ferry said the development would work with any design ultimately adopted by the city. At Member Young’s request, the board agreed to retain the project as a recurring agenda item so the developer can provide periodic updates and residents can continue raising questions.
H-1 Freeway Cap Park Planning Study
Representatives of the Hawaii Department of Transportation, AECOM, and PBR Hawaii presented an early feasibility study for a freeway “cap park.” A cap park is a deck constructed over a freeway to create public open space and potentially provide pedestrian and bicycle connections. Examples included Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Hance Park in Phoenix, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston. The approximately half-mile Honolulu study area extends along H-1 from Liliha Street to Queen Emma Street and is surrounded by schools, gardens, homes, businesses, and community institutions.
The study is supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program. Its objectives include reconnecting neighborhoods separated by freeway construction, improving pedestrian and bicycle mobility, restoring mauka-to-makai links associated with the ahupuaa system, recognizing the area’s cultural and ethnic history, expanding access to open space, and reducing environmental pollution. The team had already consulted the YMCA, Hongwanji, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations. Early concerns included financing, long-term maintenance, security, homelessness, construction impacts, and management responsibilities. A public meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, at 5:30 p.m. at Keelikolani Middle School.
The historical overview described the area’s development from a pre-contact fishing and agricultural community with a major trail through Nuuanu Valley, through missionary settlement, harbor and capital development, private land ownership following the Mahele, immigrant neighborhoods such as Chinatown, electrification using Nuuanu Stream, road and automobile expansion, the Chinatown fire, and twentieth-century urban renewal. Construction of the Mauka Arterial, now H-1, cut through established communities, condemned more than 500 properties, and divided Liliuokalani and Foster botanical areas. The cap-park study seeks to explore whether some of those lost connections can be repaired.
Board members supported the reconnection concept but raised concerns about freeway clearance, tall construction vehicles striking overpasses, heavy-equipment impacts in a highly congested corridor, earthquakes, drainage, waterproofing, concrete spalling, structural loading from soil and landscaping, and the substantial long-term cost of maintenance. Members cited recurring leakage problems at city parking structures with parks or buildings above them, including the Fasi Municipal Building garage and areas near the Capitol. The project team said design concepts had not been selected and might cover only one or several smaller freeway sections rather than the entire study area. Raising existing bridges could be studied but would be expensive. Planning, environmental review, final design, and construction could take approximately 10 years. Depending on scale, costs could reach hundreds of millions of dollars, with federal highway and future grant funding among the possible sources. The team agreed to keep the board informed.
Proposed Federal Residential Reentry Center
A planned presentation by Hina Mauka was withdrawn because the matter was placed on the agenda before the Federal Bureau of Prisons completed its procurement process. The Bureau is exploring a residential reentry center at 1747 Pali Highway, near the point where Punchbowl Street traffic merges toward Pali Highway. The property was described as a 75-bedroom, low-rise apartment complex that could house federal parolees and provide support services. Hina Mauka had not been selected to operate the center and therefore declined to present while the request-for-proposals process remained open. The matter had been referred to the board by Senator Carol Fukunaga. The board planned to seek a Bureau of Prisons contact and invite an appropriate representative when the proposal is sufficiently developed.
Alika Avenue Drainage Grate and Hawaiian Ducks
Member Kurosige continued to raise concern about a drainage grate near 3148 Alika Avenue whose openings may be large enough for ducklings to fall into the storm-drain system. She disputed suggestions that all ducks in the area are mixed or nonnative and urged action to protect Hawaiian ducks. Discussion focused on which agency owns and maintains the grate. Members recalled that the Department of Facility Maintenance had previously denied jurisdiction, but others cited similar storm-drain cases on Booth Road and along Nuuanu Stream where DFM ultimately appeared responsible. The neighborhood assistant agreed to review prior mayoral reports and meeting records. The issue will remain on the agenda while the board seeks a definitive jurisdictional answer and requests a safer grate.
Nuuanu Valley Park Dog Access
The board considered a Department of Parks and Recreation request for formal input on extending on-leash dog privileges to Nuuanu Valley Park. Current parks in the area without dog privileges include Stevenson Recreation Center, Kawananakoa Neighborhood Park, Booth District Park, and Nuuanu Valley Park, while Auwaiolimu Neighborhood Park already permits leashed dogs. Supporters said Nuuanu Valley Park would give nearby dog owners a safer alternative to narrow neighborhood streets and that DPR could add signs and dog-waste bag stations. Opponents and undecided members cited prior objections from nearby residents, concerns about irresponsible owners, waste, and interactions with cats, chickens, and ducks, and requested broader neighborhood participation. A suggestion was also made to consider a more formal dog area at underused Auwaiolimu Park, although the motion concerned only leashed access at Nuuanu Valley Park and not an off-leash enclosure.
The motion to recommend on-leash dog privileges at Nuuanu Valley Park received six votes in favor and two opposed. Because eight affirmative votes were required under the board’s quorum and voting rules, the motion failed. The board agreed to retain the issue for its next meeting so nearby residents and dog owners can provide additional testimony before DPR’s requested November 2026 deadline.
Board Vacancies and Meeting Minutes
The board noted four vacancies representing Punchbowl and one in Puuwaena or the valley area, but no attendees volunteered for appointment. Members emphasized that filling vacancies would make it easier to maintain quorum and avoid situations where every present member must vote affirmatively for action to pass. With no corrections proposed, the board approved the draft minutes from February, April, May, June, and July 2026 as distributed.
Community Events and Next Meeting
Member Kurosige announced a neighborhood Halloween gathering for children on October 31. Organizers were seeking Community Policing Team volunteers and other residents to assist with crowd observation, child and parent safety, parking, and related logistics. A costumed dog parade was also being considered for approximately 10 a.m. in the Dowsett area, subject to confirmation. The board’s next regular meeting was announced for Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 7 p.m., with participation available in person at Kapalama Hale and online through Webex. The September meeting was then adjourned.