No 26 Wahiawā Whitmore Village Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting October 2026
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26 Wahiawa-Whitmore Village Neighborhood Board Meeting – October 20, 2026
Police and Community Safety Concerns
During follow-up discussion with the Honolulu Police Department, board members asked about security implications of the proposed pedestrian bridge between Wahiawā and Whitmore Village. HPD identified concerns about access beneath the structure, lighting, unauthorized use, and activity unrelated to pedestrian travel, noting that existing bridges elsewhere already create similar enforcement problems. Residents also reported vehicles parked along Kealani Avenue, from the tennis courts toward the Kane and Kealani intersection, including vehicles parked very close to a fire hydrant; HPD agreed to have the area checked after the meeting. The department was also asked whether it had been notified about a large November 8 community event at the Whitmore Fairgrounds. The representative did not know whether HPD had been contacted but said events requiring traffic control commonly must arrange special-duty officers and agreed to investigate.
Whitmore Fairgrounds Community Event
The event discussed earlier with HPD was later identified as the Keiki Construction event organized by Busy Services. Owner Kaimana Sasaki said it would be open to the public on Sunday, November 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Whitmore Fairgrounds. The organizer had coordinated with the Agribusiness Development Corporation, arranged special-duty officers and traffic control, and received authorization from NCTAMS to use Saipan Drive as the event entrance. Attendance was uncertain and could be similar to or lower than the prior year. Board members remained concerned that nearby residents, including kūpuna and families who use the park and surrounding streets on Sundays, had not received enough advance notice. The organizer said Aloha from Whitmore had helped distribute information and agreed to place additional flyers at stores and the gas station. The board was also awaiting information from ADC interim leadership, identified as Mark Takemoto, about the event and applicable permits.
Fire Department Activity and Holiday Safety
The Wahiawā Fire Station reported September 2026 activity consisting of one wildland or brush fire, two nuisance fires, four alarms that activated without a fire, 59 medical emergencies, and one motor vehicle collision. HFD’s October safety message urged residents to use electrical decorations and appliances approved by nationally recognized testing laboratories, follow manufacturer instructions, remain present and alert while cooking indoors or outdoors, keep combustible materials away from heat and flames, and exercise added caution while walking or driving between dusk and dawn. HFD directed residents to fire.honolulu.gov and the department’s neighborhood-board email address for further information.
Abandoned Makawao Avenue House
A board member asked HFD to inspect a long-abandoned pink house on Makawao Avenue, near the 60 Makawao area. The property was described as having been vacant for at least ten years, with overgrown vegetation, severe structural deterioration, and an appearance that it could collapse onto neighboring properties, one of which is being newly built or expanded. The condition was raised as both a structural and fire hazard. The HFD representative agreed to identify the property and follow up.
Fire Department Staffing and Response Times
In response to questions about traffic congestion and simultaneous emergencies, HFD said its stations are well distributed around Oʻahu and current staffing is strong. The department has hired many new personnel and is conducting approximately two or three recruit classes each fiscal year. HFD stated that its response times meet national accreditation standards. Although motor vehicle crashes can delay units, particularly amid severe H-1 congestion in urban Honolulu, the representative said Wahiawā response times remain good despite recent accidents and increased calls.
Army Employment and Training Activity
The Army representative announced that First Lieutenant Gogol was on maternity leave and that another representative would cover the meetings temporarily. The Army’s final hiring fair of the year was scheduled for November 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Aliamanu Military Reservation gym. Provisional hiring would be available, and applicants could bring or complete applications onsite; attendees were asked to bring two references, identification, a Social Security card, and a résumé if available. Child and Youth Services positions were highlighted for benefits including retirement, recreational-facility access, discounted childcare, and commissary and exchange privileges. Training at East Range was scheduled through October 23, aviation activity through October 30, and mortar and demolition training from October 22 through October 30.
Annual Military Exercise and Traffic
The Army reiterated that its major annual training exercise would occur from November 7 through November 16. Preparations were already underway, and residents were advised to expect increased military vehicle traffic, helicopter activity, and large cargo aircraft arriving at Wheeler Army Airfield. Primary exercise locations would include Kahuku Training Area, Kawaihāpai Airfield, Barbers Point, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Wheeler, and Schofield Barracks. Informational flyers were made available at the meeting.
Heavy Equipment on California Avenue
Residents near the Wahiawā Heights water tower reported seeing military-associated heavy equipment traveling on California Avenue between approximately 7 and 7:45 a.m. on two consecutive Sundays. The convoy reportedly included two excavators, a backhoe and another machine being driven directly on the road rather than carried on flatbeds. A white Ford F-250-type truck with light-blue lettering and flashing hazard lights followed the equipment, but no HPD or military police escort was visible. The equipment was seen entering military property near East Range and Lightning Academy. The Army representative agreed to determine whether construction was occurring there and whether the contractor should have arranged an escort.
Wahiawā Entrance Overgrowth and Encampments
The board requested coordinated maintenance of the heavily overgrown area near Exit 8 at the Wahiawā entrance, commonly called the dog park and marked by a “Welcome to Wahiawā” sign. California grass was estimated at eight to ten feet high. Ownership was described as divided among three parcels associated with city, state and military interests, although participants differed over the Army’s precise responsibility. The board cautioned that people are living in the area, with visible clothing lines and belongings, so vegetation clearing cannot safely proceed as a routine maintenance job. Prior cleanups required HPD support because residents of the encampment did not want to leave or have possessions removed. The board recommended coordination among the Army, State DOT, city agencies, Kealahou West Oʻahu, and homeless-health or resilience outreach providers so services, enforcement and maintenance can occur together. Makana Nani of Kealahou West Oʻahu offered to coordinate outreach and enforcement and provided the number 808-745-7880.
Army Taxes, Voting, and Transportation Funding
The Army had not yet obtained an answer to a prior question about whether it directly contributes to State Department of Transportation funding, but the representative said the inquiry had been sent to several offices and would be pursued again for the next meeting. Discussion also clarified that active-duty personnel generally pay state income taxes and vote according to their home state of record unless they choose to establish residency elsewhere. Service members may transfer residency, after which their tax and voting obligations would follow the newly selected state.
Navy Tours and Community Service
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam announced that Navy ship tours would resume in November and December after being paused in September and October because of operational commitments. Saturday morning tours are available to civic, military and school organizations, with groups of six to 20 people, by calling 808-473-2890. A Pearl Harbor “white boat” community tour was scheduled for October 30 at approximately 3:30 p.m. through the same contact number. The Navy’s Laulima program had recently completed a bicycle-path cleanup near Pearl Harbor and invited nonprofit organizations needing manual labor to request volunteer sailors. In response to the board, the Navy agreed to explore whether the program could legally assist with the Wahiawā entrance cleanup in coordination with the Army, state and city.
Navy Ship and Food Bank Updates
The USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. returned in early September from a record-breaking deployment with the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group after approximately 300 days underway. The Navy also decommissioned the USS Shiloh in late September after more than 35 years of service; it was described as one of the Navy’s last guided-missile cruisers. Navy Region Hawaiʻi additionally donated more than 400 pounds of food to the Hawaiʻi Foodbank. When asked what happens to a decommissioned ship, the Navy explained that usable equipment is removed for other vessels, after which the hull may become a museum, be recycled for metal, or be used as a target during military exercises. The ultimate disposition of the Shiloh had not yet been determined.
Water Supply and Power Outages
The Board of Water Supply reported no water-main breaks in the Wahiawā-Whitmore Village area during September. The agency explained that electrical outages limit its ability to pump groundwater into reservoirs, leaving only the water already stored for community use. During an outage, residents should restrict consumption to drinking, cooking and personal hygiene and avoid washing vehicles, watering plants or filling pools. Conservation should continue for a period after power is restored because pumps need time to refill reservoirs and normalize system pressure, especially following prolonged or widespread outages. Updates and alerts are available through boardofwatersupply.com and the agency’s Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor and YouTube channels.
Pedestrian Bridge Community Meeting
Honua Consulting, representing Kiewit Infrastructure West, announced a second public meeting on the proposed Wahiawā-Whitmore pedestrian bridge. It was scheduled for Friday, November 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Hale Koa Room at the Wahiawā Community Center/District Park. The meeting would focus on project design and construction, following an earlier session in Whitmore. Organizers planned to email materials to the board, notify elected officials, canvass the area and install banners. Board members requested that Senator Donovan Dela Cruz, Governor Josh Green, OHA, ADC and other officials attend and address questions about project authorization, funding, lighting, security, environmental impacts and the absence of vehicular emergency access from Whitmore. The board also asked OHA and ADC, both of which have substantial land interests in the area, to provide community updates at least quarterly.
Opposition to the Pedestrian Bridge
Board members and residents strongly reiterated longstanding opposition to the bridge. The board chair recalled two formal community meetings at which opposition was recorded at 202 to 1 in Whitmore and 201 to 1 in Wahiawā, with approximately 400 people participating overall. It was also noted that at least one or both supportive speakers were not local residents. Concerns included a planned width of roughly 12 to 14 feet, a length said to exceed Haleʻiwa’s Anahulu Bridge, continuous 24-hour access, activity beneath the structure, lighting, police calls, environmental impacts to Kiʻikiʻi Stream, and eventual maintenance and security costs. Participants said HPD is already approximately 420 officers short and feared that responsibility for a permanently open bridge would strain city resources. Residents asked why a project had continued despite documented local opposition and why funds could not instead create vehicular access for emergencies and evacuations, particularly given prior wildfire experiences.
Bridge Funding, Cultural Review, and Environmental Concerns
A former participant in a planning charrette explained that the project had been structured as a pedestrian facility more than ten years ago because a vehicular bridge would have had to compete statewide with other road and bridge projects, while the available funding was dedicated to non-vehicular or multimodal transportation. Residents nevertheless requested a detailed explanation of the funding restrictions and legislative decisions that allowed the project to proceed. The board also announced that a second Ka Paʻakai cultural analysis was being prepared and urged families with cultural, historical or genealogical connections to the project area to contact Honua Consulting and participate. Concerns were raised about aquatic life, including fish, ʻoʻopu, guppies and snails, and about possible concrete columns in the stream. Speakers worried that construction and the long-term deterioration of concrete could affect water quality for future generations. Kiewit’s representative clarified that the company’s immediate role was to present design and construction information but agreed to notify DOT and elected officials of the community’s urgency.
Center for Workforce Excellence Construction
Kiewit Building Group reported that work was underway on the new Center for Workforce Excellence at the former Wahiawā Library site. Road and utility construction on Līhuʻe Street was being performed under street-use and trenching permits from the Department of Planning and Permitting and the relevant engineering branch, with roadwork expected to finish by the end of November. The three-story building will include University of Hawaiʻi community-college classrooms on the third floor. Substantial completion was projected for May 1, 2027. Kiewit planned to provide a full project update with construction photographs at the November neighborhood board meeting.
Red Hill Registry and Health Education
The Red Hill Registry reported collaboration with the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health to publish an on-demand continuing-education course for healthcare professionals. The course covers the Red Hill fuel exposure, currently known health effects and clinical guidance for treating people affected by the drinking-water crisis. Registry staff also participated in a monthly cleanup at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum with a community partner. Enrollees may call 808-476-8660 or email info@redhillregistry.org. The Navy said it publishes Red Hill highlights at least every two weeks and requested agenda time for a broader presentation, potentially in November or January. Discussion referenced the lifting of a previous classification that the facility posed a significant and substantial environmental harm, reflecting a determination that the earlier high-risk conditions no longer existed, while a future presentation was expected to address questions including the reopening of Hālawa wells.
Women’s Residential Treatment House
The chair provided an update on the proposed Hawaiʻi Behavioral Health Services women’s residential substance-use treatment program in upper Wahiawā. After difficulty obtaining information, the chair was told that the house in question was now being used solely as a rental residence and no longer housed the unofficial program that had concerned neighbors. The Mayor’s Office later clarified that the Hoʻomaha Street property lies in an R-7.5 residential district and that a group-living facility would require a major conditional use permit. Application 2026-CUP-46 was deemed incomplete and closed on September 29, 2026. If a new application is accepted, the Department of Planning and Permitting must hold a public hearing. The Department of Community Services was not involved in the project.
Kahuku and Whitmore Septage Facilities
The Department of Environmental Services presented an extensive update on Oʻahu’s septage receiving system. The island has seven sites, although Sand Island was closed, leaving six operating locations. Kaneohe, Kailua, Whitmore and Kahuku were being monitored by security guards, while Honouliuli was the only automated site using vehicle transponders. Kahuku closed on January 31, 2025 after a suspected petroleum-contaminated load disrupted the biological treatment process and reopened on September 28, 2026. Since reopening, it had averaged six loads and approximately 10,500 gallons per day. Kahuku previously handled about 12 loads and 26,200 gallons daily, and ENV expects its use to rise gradually as haulers become reacquainted with the site.
Whitmore Septage Traffic and Future Operations
Whitmore reopened on February 18, 2025 as an emergency response to the Kahuku closure and operates Monday through Friday. While Kahuku was unavailable, Whitmore averaged 19 loads, 31,300 gallons per day and approximately 1,650 gallons per load. After Kahuku reopened, Whitmore dropped to 12 loads, 17,800 gallons per day and approximately 1,480 gallons per load. ENV plans to keep Whitmore available as an option but hopes increasing Kahuku use will further reduce Whitmore traffic, odor and neighborhood impacts. The department will continue using blowers and chlorine tablets, tracking hauler activity, communicating traffic and safety rules, and meeting with haulers quarterly. Sand Island is expected to reopen sometime in 2027, which could reduce pressure on Whitmore further. Complaints may be directed to 808-768-3300, option four.
Bad Loads, Monitoring, and Facility Capacity
ENV explained that Kahuku can accept approximately 34,000 gallons of septage per day but does not accept portable-toilet waste because its relatively small treatment process cannot safely absorb highly concentrated “slug” loads. Household cesspool and septic-tank waste is allowed. The exact hydraulic capacity of the Whitmore receiving point was not available because it depends on the gravity sewer and the Wahiawā treatment plant’s capacity; ENV agreed to provide that figure later. At Kahuku, operators identified the 2025 contamination through an oily sheen and microscopic evidence that treatment organisms were lethargic and not settling properly. The city removed contaminated material, began reseeding the plant with activated sludge in June 2026, and reopened it in September. The closure was a proactive city action rather than an EPA order. Investigators narrowed the likely discharge period but could not prove which hauler or source supplied the petroleum-like material, preventing permit revocation or fines.
Security and Automated Septage Controls
Board members criticized the absence of guards at every receiving site, particularly after the long and costly Kahuku shutdown. Waianae is not continuously guarded, although ENV conducts random inspections, checks manifests and verifies permits. Security guards at monitored sites receive procedures for checking credentials and manifests, testing pH and rejecting loads with petroleum odors. ENV said its long-range “gold standard” is an automated system like Honouliuli, where each truck has a transponder, the equipment records the discharge, and valves automatically close if pH moves outside the permitted range. Officials acknowledged that planning, design and procurement take time but agreed that interim monitoring should continue to improve.
Pearl City/Waiʻau Septage Site Closure
Waste haulers and ENV discussed the closed receiving site near the Waiʻau power plant, commonly called the Pearl City or Waiʻau site. The location had been popular because it was centrally located and accommodated trucks of different sizes, but it sits in a State DOT right-of-way rather than on city property, was difficult to secure, and experienced illegal wastewater and solid-waste dumping. ENV said EPA and the Department of Health had raised concerns about the city’s inability to track loads and oversee the area. The board requested copies of relevant EPA or DOH correspondence for both Waiʻau and Waianae and asked whether the city could obtain jurisdiction or otherwise reopen the site.
Waste Hauler Access and Standpipe Problems
Paradise Lua owner George Grace said portable-toilet haulers have limited disposal choices because they cannot use Kahuku, while the closure of the central Pearl City/Waiʻau site forces longer trips to Honouliuli, Waianae or Whitmore. He said this increases mileage, traffic exposure, overtime and operating costs. Some trucks cannot effectively discharge at Honouliuli because the standpipe is too high relative to their tanks, and Sand Island had initially presented a similar issue. ENV said Sand Island’s roadway elevation was raised so its effective standpipe height would match Honouliuli at approximately 28 inches, but no similar modification had been approved at Honouliuli. Grace explained that smaller trucks are needed to serve farms and can be operated by non-CDL drivers, making the height issue significant. The board asked the Mayor’s Office and ENV to consider raising part of the approach or otherwise modifying the site and offered to write letters or advocate for funding and administrative action.
Whitmore Resident Response to Septage Changes
A Whitmore Village resident reported noticeable improvement since the prior meeting, including fewer trucks and less odor, although mud remained on the roadway and three separate operations continue to use the shared access area. The resident asked how public safety would be managed if the pedestrian bridge were built at or near the same entrance used by septage trucks and the food hub. She also asked whether Whitmore could eventually stop serving as a receiving facility, noting that in her 45 years in the village it had not been used this intensively until the recent closures elsewhere. ENV and haulers emphasized that the current burden results from limited islandwide alternatives and that improved communication among the city, haulers and community is essential.
Mayor’s Office Updates
The Mayor’s Office reported expansion of the CORE and mental-health response initiative addressing homelessness across Oʻahu. HPD selected Brandon Nakasato and Parker Bode as new deputy chiefs. The city deployed 20 employees to assist Kauaʻi following Hurricane Lowell, Central Oʻahu Regional Park reached a reopening milestone in Oʻahu’s storm recovery, and the Honolulu Zoo completed significant improvements to its penguin and hippopotamus exhibits. The office reminded residents that the general election was Tuesday, November 3, and that mail ballots should have begun arriving by October 16. Election information was available through the city elections website.
City Position on the Pedestrian Bridge
The Mayor’s Office said the pedestrian bridge is primarily a State DOT project, leaving the city with little control over whether it proceeds. However, the Department of Transportation Services may become responsible for maintenance after construction. Board members asked the mayor to consider the additional burden on HPD if the bridge remains open 24 hours and to seek funding for security at all septage sites. The Mayor’s Office agreed to follow up on both septage security and the Honouliuli standpipe concern.
Botanical Garden and Street Maintenance
Councilmember Matt Weyer’s office reported that most of the Wahiawā Botanical Garden was closed for assessment following Tropical Storm Lala. The entrance, visitor center, multipurpose room and main lawn remained open, and scheduled recreation programs and classes were continuing, but other portions were closed until further notice. The office also received complaints about the deteriorating speed hump on Walker Avenue near McDonald’s and requested repairs and restriping from the Department of Transportation Services. The speed-hump warning sign, previously found lying in the McDonald’s grassy area, had been reinstalled.
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle and Palm Loss
The Division of Urban Forestry crown-sprayed and treated royal palms around September 22, including annual injection treatments aimed at coconut rhinoceros beetle control. Royal Palm Drive had five palms cut to stumps and another five standing without crowns, for a total of ten dead palms. The city partnered with the State Department of Agriculture to complete injections. The city and Department of Agriculture were not directly collaborating with the military on base treatments, although the University of Hawaiʻi CRB response team was reportedly communicating with military personnel.
Parking, Speeding, and Road Conditions
Following complaints about parking on Cypress and Olive avenues, HPD checked the area and issued two citations. Officers will continue monitoring, while residents were advised to report active violations through the non-emergency 911 system. Renewed speeding complaints were also received for Road Street; the council office believed another traffic study might be possible and planned to contact DTS while asking HPD to increase patrols. A resident separately reported that the stone Whitmore Village sign at Kahikani Park remains cracked after being struck more than a year ago. Although the chain-link fence had been repaired and the damage was submitted through Honolulu 311, the wall remained a potential liability, and the council office agreed to investigate.
Homeless Encampment Near the Freeway
A board member reported a growing encampment with numerous tents near the freeway entrance, on the side opposite the “Welcome to Wahiawā” area. The council office said the parcel is state property. State crews had recently cleared the site, but people returned within approximately 90 minutes. The discussion acknowledged that individuals cannot generally be forced into services or treatment, and further questions about enforcement and outreach were referred to state agencies.
State Transportation and Freeway Projects
The Governor’s Office said recurring H-1 and H-2 closures affecting Wahiawā-bound commuters were likely connected to the H-1 Pearl City and Waimalu Viaduct Improvements Project. Delays resulted from loss of a noise variance, material shortages, rainouts and severe weather. Remaining work includes westbound grate replacement, final striping and finishing tasks, with completion estimated for March 2027, weather permitting. State DOT maintenance crews were also given locations of overgrown state property near the H-2 entrance to Wahiawā and would inspect and address them as appropriate. Previously reported illegal banners had been removed. A request to consider a firebreak along East Range and military lands was forwarded to the state fire marshal.
Wastewater Storm Preparedness
The Governor’s Office reported that the Department of Health works with wastewater-system owners, including county wastewater agencies, on emergency preparedness and resilience during major storms. Infrastructure owners remain responsible for physical improvements and operational preparations, while DOH provides regulatory support intended to protect public health and the environment.
Governor’s Support for the Bridge
Governor Green’s office stated that the governor understands community concerns but supports State DOT and Director Ed Sniffen’s efforts to construct the pedestrian bridge. The statement characterized the project as a way to keep pedestrians, from keiki to kūpuna, above highway traffic and provide another connection between Whitmore and Wahiawā for students, residents and state-facility employees. Board members said this position did not reflect the community’s repeatedly expressed opposition and requested that the governor attend the November 20 bridge meeting to hear directly from residents. The chair noted that a formal invitation should be issued on behalf of the neighborhood board.
State Property Maintenance
A board member reported neglected sidewalk and landscape maintenance at the state-acquired parcel next to the Value-Added Product Development Center, where the storefront school and former gas-station property are located. The neighboring center is maintained, but the acquired parcel has not received comparable trimming. The Governor’s Office agreed to direct the concern to the appropriate state personnel.
Avocado and Mango Street Properties
Senator Donovan Dela Cruz’s office confirmed that the senator has no affiliation with the Toyin property at 525 Avocado Street. At 123 Mango Street, Nicole Winters remained the owner, while the nonprofit DIGS was pursuing acquisition. DIGS received $600,000 in state grant-in-aid funding in fiscal year 2025 to acquire the property and establish a permanent Wahiawā facility providing affordable athletic training, educational courses, mentorship, and pathways into higher education and sports-related careers, including support for volleyball and jiu-jitsu athletes. The transaction was still in due diligence, with no firm closing date. Residents continued reporting unlawful activity there, and HPD reportedly lacked owner permission to conduct certain enforcement. Kealahou West Oʻahu said outreach workers had entered with permission from the prospective owner, offered services to occupants, and planned to return the next day. The senator’s office would coordinate with the eventual owner and HPD after transfer.
Legislative Listening Session
The local state representative announced that a joint Wahiawā listening session with Councilmember Matt Weyer, previously canceled because of rain, was rescheduled for November 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kaʻala Elementary School.
Board Business and Meeting Administration
The board unanimously approved the minutes of the September 21, 2026 regular meeting, with no opposition reported. No board-member disclosures or correspondence requiring announcement were identified. The chair reminded members that setting up tables and chairs is the board’s responsibility rather than the neighborhood assistant’s and said a rotating schedule should be developed before the next meeting. Members were also asked to limit repetitive or extended discussion so full agendas can be completed by 9:30 p.m., when the neighborhood assistant’s work period ends. The meeting was adjourned at 9:32 p.m.