No 21 Pearl City Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting April 2026
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21 Pearl City Neighborhood Board Meeting – April 29, 2026
Opening Ceremony, Scouts, and Community Recognition
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and remarks celebrating youth civic involvement, followed by updates from Cub Scout Pack 75. Scout leaders reported that the pack’s Camp Card fundraiser concluded in March and thanked Pearl City-area businesses Buffalo Wild Wings and Ben Franklin for supporting storefront sales. They also emphasized the value of the community members who took time to speak with the scouts, describing those interactions as confidence-building opportunities for the children. The pack also recognized support from Jamie Jensen Kapu and Matt of MDS Fishing and Outdoor, who invited the scouts to a fishing tournament and supplied rods and tackle so every child could participate. The leaders highlighted the hands-on mentoring the children received and noted that the same supporters had also responded to the recent Konalo storm impacts in Waialua with water, food, and necessities. The scouts further thanked Representative Greg Takayama for meeting with them before the board meeting to explain government structure and the democratic process. Looking ahead, Pack 75 said it would join other scout groups next month at Punchbowl Memorial to place flags and leis on every gravestone in observance of Memorial Day traditions.
Roll Call and Quorum
Neighborhood Commission staff conducted roll call and confirmed that 10 board members were present, establishing quorum. This allowed the board to proceed with reports, presentations, public testimony, and board business.
Honolulu Fire Department Report
The Honolulu Fire Department reported Pearl City incident statistics for March 2026. Fire calls were low, with zero structure fires, zero wildland or brush fires, zero nuisance fires, one cooking-related call, and 11 alarm activations where no fire was found. Emergency responses were dominated by medical incidents, which totaled 134. There were also five motor vehicle crashes, two mountain rescues, and no motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians, no ocean rescues, and no hazardous material incidents. The department used the report to stress evacuation planning, encouraging residents to maintain emergency preparedness plans for fires, natural disasters, and environmental emergencies. Residents were urged to identify at least two escape routes from their homes, leave early during emergencies, establish predetermined meeting places, sign up for alerts through hnlalert.gov, and keep go bags ready as part of a 14-day disaster supply kit. The message reflected continued concern about disaster readiness following recent severe weather events.
Honolulu Police Department Crime Trends and Pearl City Gateway Safety Concerns
Honolulu Police Department District 3 reported crime comparisons between February and March 2026. Motor vehicle thefts rose from 5 to 8, thefts increased from 20 to 22, and unauthorized entry into vehicles rose from 4 to 7, while burglaries remained at zero. Calls for service in the Pearl City area increased slightly from 1,401 to 1,420, while district-wide calls increased from 4,738 to 4,996. HPD’s safety message focused on situational awareness and personal vigilance.
A major discussion centered on recurring late-night disorder at Pearl City Gateway and other commercial parking lots. HPD said the Gateway parking lot has become a gathering point for younger crowds on weekends, with loud music, dancing, robberies, and a recent social-media-circulated incident in which someone brandished what was described as an assault rifle. HPD also described robberies involving gold chains being taken from people congregating there. Police explained that because the shopping center is private property, they cannot simply order people to leave unless the property owner or security personnel request enforcement assistance. Officers said effective intervention requires cooperation from shopping center management and their security teams, including enforcement of loitering restrictions. Board members questioned why major commercial operators such as Gateway and Walmart had not taken stronger action with private security, especially after repeated incidents. HPD confirmed that shopping centers can hire off-duty officers through special duty assignments if they choose, and board members discussed encouraging that step before summer begins and youth gatherings increase.
Board discussion also connected these issues to broader patterns of Friday and Saturday night activity in Pearl City, including car gatherings, loud sound systems, and racing on H-1 after midnight. Residents and board members referenced crime mapping and noted recurring thefts and break-ins in residential areas, including around Noelani Street near a small park where tree cover can muffle the sounds of vehicle break-ins. HPD reminded the public that crimemapping.com remains available so residents can track incidents by address.
Traffic Speed Enforcement and Street Safety Requests
During the police discussion, board members raised concerns about speeding and requested the return of mobile speed trailers in several areas. Specific requests were made for Komo Mai Drive between Waimano Home Road and Ho‘omawana Street, where drivers accelerate after the four-way stop, and on Ho‘omawana Street near the 880 block, where speeding around a curve near the recreation center creates danger. HPD asked for the intersection details to be emailed so the department could place speed trailers there.
The board also discussed broader traffic safety issues around parks, schools, and neighborhood streets. These concerns tied into later public testimony and city reports and showed continued resident frustration with speeding, dangerous driving behavior, and the difficulty of securing timely traffic engineering changes.
Recognition of Pearl City High School Student Ambassadors and Chaperone
The board formally recognized Pearl City High School participants in the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council 2026 Sister State Study Tour to Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. A certificate was presented to chaperone Kobe Pakopak for guiding and supporting students during the exchange and for helping strengthen Hawaii’s sister-state relationships through cultural engagement. Mr. Pakopak spoke briefly, saying opportunities like this are among his favorite parts of being an educator because they allow him to support students’ growth, professional development, and global awareness.
The board also honored student ambassador Isabel Myers, who was one of only 42 students selected statewide. Her certificate noted her leadership, curiosity, and aloha during the Jeju trip, as well as her engagement with the island’s culture, history, and environmental resilience. The recognition specifically connected her participation to interests in climate adaptation and engineering. The board framed the exchange as both a personal accomplishment and a representation of Pearl City and Hawaii on an international stage.
Public Testimony on School Traffic and Crosswalk Safety
Public testimony included detailed concerns about school pickup traffic and pedestrian safety near Waimano and Ho‘olahe/Ho‘olehua area roads serving local schools. A resident said after-school pickup congestion is significantly worse in the afternoon than in the morning and suggested creating a temporary one-way traffic pattern from Waimano toward Ho‘olahe during pickup hours, approximately 2:00 to 2:30 p.m., because most vehicles are traveling in that direction to pick up children from both the elementary and intermediate schools. The resident described two boys nearly being hit while crossing that same day, saying parked and queued vehicles limit visibility and make small children hard to see.
The same speaker also described repeated near-misses while trying to cross at Ho‘olahe and Komo Mai, despite using the crosswalk correctly and making herself visible. She proposed an all-red traffic phase when the pedestrian walk button is pressed so that pedestrians can cross without turning vehicles entering the intersection. The chair noted that there is legislation under consideration to allow more protective crosswalk timing near schools and asked the board’s transportation lead to meet with the resident, collect contact information, and investigate conditions on site before pursuing action with the city.
Homeless Outreach, Service Resistance, and New Encampments
Makahanani Rivera from Kealoha West O‘ahu provided a homeless outreach update. She explained that the nonprofit serves unsheltered, sheltered, and at-risk homeless individuals across leeward, central, and north O‘ahu. For the March-to-April reporting period, the organization received eight community concern reports, encountered 62 people, and said 54 of those individuals were service resistant. The group assisted 20 people who newly entered its program and are now awaiting shelter or housing placement. The organization also announced it is hiring full-time street outreach staff and is specifically seeking to identify and assist people displaced by the recent Konalo storm, with the goal of linking them to shelter, housing, and supportive services.
Vice Chair Charmaine Doran raised a new concern about an encampment on a vacant lot next to public storage near the Walmart/Raising Cane’s area, saying several new tents had appeared very recently. The outreach worker said her team, which usually works Pearl City on Thursdays, would check the site. Additional discussion addressed people living near streams, culverts, and parks before the storms. The outreach representative said many people in stream-adjacent locations moved temporarily to higher ground during the storms, returned to family, or relocated, but some later came back. Board members also asked about the area under the Skyline guideway and the former “banana patch” area near Sam’s Club and the industrial area, where encampments had shifted after cleanups. Outreach staff said many individuals there remain resistant to services, though the team continues repeated engagement in hopes of eventually gaining trust and acceptance of assistance.
Transition to Chair Pro Tem and Board Leadership Development
Before moving to elected officials’ reports, Chair Larry Virey asked for board consent to turn the gavel over temporarily to board member Michael Taylor as chair pro tem. He explained that this was part of a broader effort to develop leadership experience among neighborhood board members and give them practical exposure to chairing meetings. The board agreed without objection, and Michael Taylor presided over the officials and presentation sections before later returning the meeting to the chair.
Mayor’s Office and City Department Follow-Up
Gene Albano, Director of Facility Maintenance, appeared on behalf of the Mayor’s Office and provided follow-up responses to questions raised at a previous meeting. On the Handy-Van issue, he said the Department of Transportation Services confirmed that the number of available vehicles changes daily depending on maintenance, repairs, and newly accepted vehicles. As of February 2026, the Handy-Van fleet totaled 218 vehicles, with 169 available for service and 49 undergoing maintenance or repair. He said retired vehicles are not counted in the availability calculation and stated that a previous claim that 101 retired vans remained in the system did not match current records. Residents with paratransit complaints were urged to contact Handy-Van customer service or DTS directly so the city can investigate individual cases.
Albano also relayed the Honolulu Fire Department’s response to a prior question about whether HFD has a signed code of conduct for off-duty personnel. The department said it does not maintain a separate standard of conduct for off-duty employees, though staff are reminded that their conduct is always subject to public scrutiny.
Roundabouts, Crosswalk Removal, and Central O‘ahu Regional Park Debris Site
Questions to the Mayor’s representative focused heavily on transportation and storm recovery impacts. Board members raised concerns about a roundabout in the area and said additional signage or visibility improvements may be needed because some drivers still act as if they have the right-of-way from the old traffic pattern rather than yielding properly. One member suggested brighter or modified signs and noted that modern vehicle windshield pillar design can create visibility problems for drivers approaching pedestrians.
The board also discussed the former use of Patsy T. Mink Central O‘ahu Regional Park as a storm debris staging site. Albano said the debris had been completely removed and transferred to the landfill, and that the contractor was now conducting testing to confirm that no contaminants remain that would affect public safety. Once that clearance is complete, further maintenance work will restore the field and reopen it for public use. He described the temporary use of the site as a nuisance but also a necessity to support emergency response and debris removal in heavily damaged areas such as Waialua.
Members also revisited a long-standing concern about the removed crosswalk near Manana Park on Waimano Home Road. They argued that bus stop spacing suggests a crosswalk should exist there and noted that the next available crossing is far away, near the Pearl City Police Station. The city representative said he expected to have a Department of Transportation Services response at the next meeting.
Council Member Val Okimoto’s Office: Legislation, Flood Policy, and Traffic Measures
A representative from Council Member Val Okimoto’s office provided a legislative and community update. Bill 34, relating to flood hazard areas, would amend local flood ordinances to align them with FEMA requirements so Honolulu can remain in the National Flood Insurance Program. Resolution 26-074 authorized roughly $17 million in COVID-19 hazard pay for Teamsters and Allied Workers Union members in recognition of essential pandemic-era service. Another measure introduced by the council member, Resolution 26-075, would strongly urge the city administration to immediately begin weekly soil testing at the Patsy T. Mink Central O‘ahu Regional Park debris site and make results public within 24 hours.
On traffic issues, the office said a request for speed humps near Pine Knoll Villas had been reviewed, but HPD did not find conditions warranted them. A speed feedback trailer may be considered instead, and DTS identified several signs in the area needing maintenance. The office also said it had asked the state to help implement two speed humps on Ho‘omai Mai Street and, in the meantime, requested that HPD continue monitoring the area. Board members used the update to press for park lighting improvements, especially for the baseball field at Pearl City District Park, and to renew complaints about problematic traffic signals and the need for stronger prioritization of fixes.
A resident also asked how flood hazard policies relate to visible stream conditions near Komo Mai Drive by the Children’s House area, where high water and unusual side flow near a bridge were observed during the recent storms. The council office agreed to follow up on which jurisdiction controls that location, an issue that also arose in later reports.
Governor’s Office: FEMA Deadline Extension and Storm Response Questions
The Governor’s representative reminded residents that the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance related to the Konalo flooding had been extended to June 14, 2026, for Honolulu, Maui, and Hawai‘i counties. He said FEMA had already received around 900 applications and that staff are actively working from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency site at Diamond Head.
Board members used the opportunity to press the state on flood response and infrastructure responsibility. Questions focused on who controls the stream and bridge area near Komo Mai Drive, whether the city’s previously cited “10 feet on each side of the bridge” jurisdiction leaves a gap in responsibility, and whether the state can clarify where its maintenance duties begin. There was also frustration over the perception that state and city crews only respond after flooding damage is done. The Governor’s representative responded that agencies do wait until conditions are safe before deploying crews because of electrical hazards, landslides, and other risks during active storms, though he acknowledged that this can appear to the public as delayed action. He also noted that the Hawai‘i National Guard had been active in lifesaving response in Waialua during the storm.
Board members further argued that recurring flood disasters require preventive work rather than repeated post-disaster cleanups. One member contrasted waterways such as the Ala Wai Canal and Moanalua Stream, which discharge more directly to the ocean, with Waialua’s more constrained situation, saying the “path of least resistance” principle shows why flooding there repeatedly worsens. Another member asked why the zipper lane had been shut down during one of the storms, noting that the closure worsened traffic and questioning whether the decision had been made by the state or its contractor. The Governor’s representative said he would look into that issue. A member of the public also asked that the Governor veto House Bill 1961, HD2 SD1, which the representative agreed to relay.
State Legislative Updates: E-Bike Safety, Vaping Enforcement, and District Measures
Representative Greg Takayama said the Legislature was in its final two weeks and that this is the point in session when lawmakers determine which bills survive conference. He highlighted ongoing e-bike safety legislation that could require helmets for riders under a certain age, prohibit stunts and wheelies on public roads, and potentially hold parents responsible for unsafe conduct by minors. He also highlighted legislation aimed at reducing youth access to e-cigarettes and vapes, noting that Hawai‘i has one of the highest youth usage rates in the country. He said one goal is stronger state enforcement of the existing law that bars sales to people under age 21.
A representative from Representative Cory Chun’s office attended and said the office would take back any questions, though no substantial update was given because of the intensity of end-of-session work.
Representative Trish La Chica’s office reported that only about 21% of bills remained alive in conference and thanked residents who completed the office’s mid-session survey. The office said the representative still had five bills and four resolutions alive and highlighted Senate Concurrent Resolution 162, which asks the Department of Education to develop an action plan to establish a K-12 Kaiapuni Hawaiian language school in Kapolei. The office specifically thanked Vice Chair Doran and the board for their support on that resolution. Budget highlights included continued capital improvement funding for the Mililani Public Library and planning funds for a possible Koa Ridge Elementary School, along with additional support for Mililani educator housing and kitchen upgrades across the Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua complex. The office also noted recent community events such as an alcohol awareness rally ahead of graduation and summer season and an Earth Day Art Contest winner from Mililani Middle School.
Leeward Community College and UH West O‘ahu Updates
Leeward Community College Chancellor Carlos Peñaloza, who is also serving as interim chancellor at UH West O‘ahu, delivered a broad update on higher education achievements and development on the west side. He announced that for the fourth consecutive year, Leeward has received the American Association of Community Colleges’ Dale Parnell Outstanding Faculty Award, this time for automotive faculty member and Leeward alumnus Nolan Mihara. The recognition was presented as a major national distinction among more than 1,000 community college members represented by the association.
The chancellor also highlighted the seventh cohort of the college’s ‘Āina to Mākeke food innovation program, saying participants were preparing to showcase products at Wai‘anae Moku and that ChefZone was exploring opportunities to test and potentially sell some of the products. He singled out a Pearl City High School senior who entered the program through an early college certificate in management, is now marketing his own ice cream, and has committed to attend UH West O‘ahu. He also announced that the University of Hawai‘i Board of Regents approved an honorary doctorate for Kumu Hula Robert Cazimero, nominated by Leeward, with formal celebration planned for the college’s fall convocation.
Peñaloza reminded the community of upcoming commencements, noting that Wai‘anae Moku’s ceremony would be held May 8 at 3 p.m., Leeward’s on May 15 at 5 p.m., and UH West O‘ahu’s on May 9 at the Stan Sheriff Center. He again encouraged use of Skyline for easier travel. He said Leeward and UH West O‘ahu are investing in outreach and media to raise awareness of the educational opportunities available on the west side. He also described a new exhibit at Leeward’s Hō‘ikeākea Gallery celebrating genealogy and Hawaiian ancestry through recorded stories from kūpuna, open to the public Tuesday through Saturday for two months.
As interim chancellor at UH West O‘ahu, he said he has established a joint advisory group of faculty, staff, and students from both campuses to improve coordination, articulation, and student pathways. He pointed specifically to teacher education as an area that previously lacked a clean pathway but is now being improved so students can begin at Leeward, continue at UH West O‘ahu, and become licensed teachers in Hawai‘i. Board members urged the university to continue expanding programs locally, noting the difficulty west side students face commuting to Mānoa for just one class. They also asked about the return of popular culinary fundraising events and about trade and technical programs. The chancellor said pandemic-era enrollment declines in culinary arts had made large events harder to sustain, though smaller versions still occur and often sell out quickly. He also said the college is working to bring more technical offerings to the west side through partnerships, including EMT training and potential trade programs that otherwise require students to travel to Honolulu Community College. He added that West O‘ahu is seeking additional legislative support for agriculture programming and a possible biosecurity academy.
Congressman Ed Case’s Office: Disaster Assistance, Iran, Jones Act, and Federal Funding Requests
A representative from Congressman Ed Case’s office provided a federal update. She said that following the recent Kona Low storms, the President approved a major disaster declaration and advised those with losses to first file claims with their insurance companies before applying for FEMA assistance online, by phone, or through the FEMA app. She gave June 7 as the deadline to apply, a date that differed from the June 14 extension reported earlier by the Governor’s Office, suggesting that residents may need to verify the current deadline directly.
The office also summarized Congressman Case’s recent positions on Iran, saying he co-sponsored resolutions to require explicit congressional authorization for continued U.S. military involvement except in cases of imminent attack and supported a House resolution directing the President to halt the Iran war, though that resolution failed. On the Jones Act, the office said President Trump had signed a 90-day waiver extension for shipping energy products between U.S. ports in response to increased fuel costs linked to the Iran war. The office added that Congressman Case had submitted more than 600 appropriations requests for fiscal year 2027, including support for Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grants and Violence Against Women Act programs. It also noted that the Congressional Art Competition for high school students had closed on April 24 and that artwork would be displayed at Bishop Museum from May 1 through May 7, except on May 1 when the museum would be closed for May Day events.
City Environmental Services Green Organics Program
The Department of Environmental Services presented upcoming changes to curbside green cart use under its GROW program, which stands for Green Recycling Organic Waste. Residents with the automated three-cart system will be allowed to add food scraps and wasted food to their green compost carts. The pilot began on April 1, 2026, in Waipahu, Nānākuli, Hawai‘i Kai, Mililani, Kailua, and Kalihi, and the program is scheduled to go island-wide on October 1, 2026. Residents were told they do not have to wait until October to start participating, though the city is currently monitoring the pilot areas more closely.
The department reviewed what can and cannot go into the green carts. Accepted materials now include yard waste along with fruits, vegetables, dairy, bread, baked goods, pasta, rice, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, meat, seafood, poultry, bones, eggshells, nutshells, seafood shells, leftovers, spoiled food, table scraps, coffee grounds, and tea leaves. Prohibited items include liquids, paper products, plastic, metal, glass, fats, oils, grease, pet waste, coffee cups, takeout containers, pizza boxes, fast food wrappers, corks, dirt, rocks, bricks, and plant pots. Officials stressed that compost should be thought of as food for plants and that residents should avoid putting anything in the cart that would not be suitable in that context. They said adding food waste helps the city produce compost in about six months instead of a year and noted that workshops, tours, and outreach will be used to build understanding.
Suicide Prevention Presentation
Dennis Hida of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hawai‘i Chapter, gave a presentation on suicide trends and prevention efforts. He reported that in Hawai‘i, four people die by suicide every week and that suicide is the second leading cause of death over the course of a lifetime in the state. For ages 15 to 29, he said, suicide is the leading cause of death. He also shared that a recent conversation with a partner involved in youth mental health had highlighted nine youth suicides in the previous 40 days, which he described as alarmingly high.
Hida explained that AFSP operates in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and is organized around four pillars: research, education, advocacy, and support. He said much of what is known about suicide prevention comes from AFSP-supported research. He outlined several educational programs, including Talk Saves Lives for general audiences; versions of that training tailored to Black, Latino, and LGBTQ communities; It’s Real for middle school, high school, and college students; More Than Sad for parents and educators; Finding Hope for people supporting someone struggling with suicidal thoughts; and Caring Communities, a newer program that helps workplaces or organizations respond after a suicide loss. He said the Hawai‘i chapter has created a small local team trained to deliver many of these presentations and is currently focusing outreach on the construction industry, which he said has the second-highest suicide rate of any industry.
He also described AFSP’s community events, including Pause for Prevention, which had recently been held locally despite rain concerns; a Construction Hike for Hope scheduled for that Saturday at ‘Aiea Loop Trail; the annual Out of the Darkness walk in September, which is a major fundraiser; and International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day, which offers support and shared understanding for people grieving a suicide death. He additionally described Healing Conversations, a one-time call or meeting program that connects a person bereaved by suicide with a trained volunteer who has experienced a similar type of loss.
Resolution Supporting Responsible Housing Expansion While Protecting Community Character
The board adopted a resolution supporting responsible state action to expand housing opportunities for local residents while protecting community character. The resolution framed Hawai‘i’s housing shortage as a long-term crisis that has made homeownership unattainable for most local families, especially younger generations. It cited University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization findings that only about 20% of Hawai‘i households can afford a median-priced single-family home and said Pearl City’s median home value is now in the low $900,000 range, far beyond what would normally be affordable at local median household income levels. It also cited Census data showing Pearl City has an aging population, with approximately 27% of residents age 65 or older and only about 31% under age 30, indicating that younger families are shrinking as a share of the community.
The resolution encourages the state and city to pursue policies that make first-time homeownership realistic, including strong affordability requirements, transparent financing practices, and incentives for development oriented toward local residents. It states that preserving community character depends on enabling local families to remain in Pearl City and supports a balanced approach that addresses affordability, reduces commuter burdens, and avoids unchecked growth of oversized multigenerational structures. It also ties housing opportunity to the board’s repeated recognition of Pearl City students, arguing that honoring the next generation means ensuring they can later live and work in the community. The measure passed unanimously, 10-0.
Resolution Calling for Flood Prevention Action on Streams, Culverts, and Drainage
The board also unanimously adopted a sweeping flood-prevention resolution calling for immediate state and city action to clear obstructions and expand the capacity of streams, culverts, and drainage systems serving Pearl City. The resolution documented the intensity of 2026’s severe weather, noting that on February 21 a stalled rain band over the Ko‘olaus dropped 25 inches of rain in 24 hours, that back-to-back Kona Lows between March 10 and March 23 dumped more than 40 inches and pushed statewide damage estimates above $1 billion, and that a third Kona Low from April 8 to April 10 again triggered a statewide flood watch and disaster proclamation.
The resolution emphasized that much of Pearl City’s floodwater begins on state conservation land mauka and then moves through a patchwork of public and private systems including city channels, private ditches, and the Wai‘awa Stream. It said the board repeatedly hears complaints about clogged drains, overgrown channels, illegal diversions, and the vulnerability of neighborhoods with only one road in and out, especially Pacific Palisades. It also referenced the community’s historical memory of deadly flooding in 1960 and cited a 2021 incident in which HFD had to suspend a search in Pearl City Stream while city crews were chest-deep clearing drains and H-1 was flooding.
The resolution called for nine major actions: a regular inspection and maintenance schedule for waterways and channels, including those in parks; priority attention to systems serving single-access communities; immediate removal of vegetation and sediment; coordinated outreach and relocation support for encampments in waterways; dedicated funding for flood mitigation; improvements to Wai‘awa Stream at the Kamehameha Highway bridge and the Pearl City Harbor bike trail bridge; correction of two chronic runoff points on Komo Mai Drive in Pacific Palisades; upgrades to the Momilani residential culvert; and accelerated planning for emergency access roads. It also urged creation of a volunteer adopt-a-drain program and a public education campaign on legal and safe runoff management for private property.
Discussion around the resolution added more detail to neighborhood concerns. Board members described stormwater diversion from private properties into roads, runoff gouging slopes and causing landslides, and fears that if the Pacific Palisades access road were washed out, the neighborhood could become isolated from emergency response. Another member suggested that drone imagery could help identify blocked channels and culverts more effectively during storms. The resolution passed 10-0.
Deferred Support Letter for Former Fireworks Enforcement Director Mike Lambert
The board deferred a proposed letter of support related to Honolulu Police Commission interviews for the next police chief or related leadership, because the identities of the five candidates under consideration had not yet been officially announced. The chair said he had hoped former state law enforcement and fireworks enforcement official Mike Lambert would be among them, but did not think it appropriate to send a letter until the list became public. He praised Lambert’s impact on Pearl City, particularly through fireworks enforcement, and remarked that his own area of Waiau had been unusually quiet recently until a loud explosion the day before, which he interpreted as a sign that some were testing whether enforcement pressure might ease.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and Red Hill Updates
Representatives from Navy Region Hawai‘i and Navy Closure Task Force Red Hill provided military-related updates. The Navy announced that RIMPAC 2026 will run from June 24 through July 31 and will involve approximately 40 surface ships, five submarines, 140 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel. Officials said the exercise theme is “Partners, Integrated, and Prepared.” The board noted that this will bring a large military presence into the area during the summer months.
The Navy also reported that about 35 sailors, civilians, and Air Force personnel recently participated in the biannual Pearl City bike path cleanup as part of the Lalima Navy community service program. The chair used the opportunity to ask whether the Navy could help publicize an upcoming community cleanup at Pearl City Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery scheduled for Saturday, May 9, from 7:00 a.m. to noon.
On Red Hill, the closure task force said Tank 11 degassing began on April 27, 2026. Officials stated that hourly updates during degassing would continue through the task force app, with daily updates posted online. They also reported that the Environmental Protection Agency had issued its final drinking water assessment on the Navy’s enhanced monitoring of the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam system and concluded that no fuel contamination remains in the Joint Base or Aliamanu Military Reservation drinking water systems. That finding allows the system to return to normal drinking water compliance procedures.
Board of Water Supply Report
The Board of Water Supply reported one water main break in March 2026: a 12-inch main break near Waimano Home Road and Ho‘omalu Street on March 9. The agency used the report to remind residents that despite recent heavy rainfall, water conservation remains necessary because rain alone does not offset regular summer demand. Residents were advised to water plants early in the morning, take shorter showers, check toilets for leaks, avoid letting faucets run, and take advantage of water-efficiency rebates. The board also received follow-up responses to prior questions. One involved a parcel near Costco in Kapolei that the Board of Water Supply intends to retain for a future operational base yard and brackish desalination facility, though that project is deferred indefinitely pending funding. Another explained that annual customer confidence reports reflect water quality testing data from the previous calendar year because sample collection, laboratory analysis, quality checks, and federal reporting timelines create unavoidable delays. A board member requested that the agency bring toilet leak-detection tablets to a future meeting and shared that a barely noticeable toilet leak had caused dramatic water use increases in her own home.
Pearl City Public Library Renovation and Temporary Pop-Up Branch
The Pearl City Public Library reported continued movement toward a temporary pop-up location while renovation plans advance. The library said architects are still working toward the construction phase and that another delay had occurred, but staff hope to announce a firm closure and pop-up opening date by the next meeting. The temporary site will be in the former movie theater area of Pearlridge, near the former Funtastic Kid Zone location and across from the restrooms, in an area with nearby bowling, golf, and snack tenants. The chair noted that the move could also help increase foot traffic in a quieter part of the mall.
The chair also asked the library to think ahead about possible wall space after renovation for two display shadow boxes: one recognizing the history and work of the Pearl City Neighborhood Board, and another for the Pearl City Lions Club, including a plaque listing presidents dating back to 1965.
Pearl City Foundation and Community Events
A brief community update announced that the Pearl City Craft Fair will be held at Don Quijote on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The board also noted that Pearl City High School graduation will take place at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center on May 17 at 5:00 p.m.
Approval of Minutes and Closing Announcements
The board approved the minutes of the March 24, 2026 meeting as written. In closing announcements, the chair said the next Pearl City Neighborhood Board meeting will be held in hybrid format at Momilani Community Center on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, with June to be a recess month. He reminded the public that meetings are broadcast on Olelo Channel 49 on the second Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and the first and third Fridays at 1:00 p.m. He also encouraged donations to the Hawai‘i Foodbank, noting that items can be dropped off through board contacts. The meeting then adjourned.