No 03 Waiʻalae-Kāhala Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting May 2026
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3 Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board Meeting – May 22, 2026
Honolulu Police Department Crime Report and Public Safety Updates
Honolulu Police Department Lieutenant Miura reported the prior month’s neighborhood crime statistics, stating that motor vehicle thefts totaled 4, burglaries 4, thefts 12, and unauthorized entry into motor vehicles 8, with 5,614 total calls for service. He also urged residents to sign up for the city’s emergency notification system at hnlalert.gov, explaining that it provides customizable alerts by text, email, or push notification for severe weather, emergency information, road closures, ocean conditions, and water main breaks. The board clarified that HNL Alert is only a notification tool and not a platform for submitting complaints. Board members and residents discussed a recent drop in crime in parts of Kahala, especially in the area between the Kahala Post Office and Triangle Park, where one board member said month-to-date there had been only 2 vandalism cases and 2 fraud cases, with no burglaries, vehicle break-ins, or thefts, reflecting a noticeably quieter period compared with the prior month.
Parking Enforcement, Driveway Obstruction, and Public Right-of-Way Questions
A lengthy discussion focused on recurring neighborhood concerns over illegal parking. Lieutenant Miura confirmed that parking in front of a driveway remains illegal even if neighbors mutually agree to allow it, noting that blocked access can create safety and ADA problems for wheelchair users and children forced into the street. He explained that parking enforcement often depends on residents calling in complaints, especially because officers on routine patrol may not stop for every visible violation. Anonymous reporting is generally possible for straightforward parking complaints, although it helps when a caller can meet officers in person if the situation is unclear or difficult to describe. The meeting also addressed confusion over the grassy strip between sidewalk and roadway; a board member explained that this is generally city property, but the adjacent homeowner is responsible for maintaining it, much like sidewalk repair obligations. That arose from a resident complaint about someone setting up a lounge chair on the grass strip to enjoy an ocean view and claiming a right to remain there. The board’s discussion reflected broader frustration with how public space, accessibility, and enforcement intersect in a neighborhood where street parking is limited and curbside behavior can quickly affect neighbors’ daily routines.
Enforcement Success on Oversized Commercial Vehicles in Residential Areas
A resident publicly thanked HPD for responding to a longstanding problem with commercial vehicles over 20 feet long parking for extended periods on ʻApakaua and Pūpū Pānini Avenue. The resident explained that under city ordinance these vehicles are not allowed to park for more than four hours, but in practice they had been staying overnight and for multiple days, creating what residents described as an “industrial parking zone” in the middle of a residential neighborhood. After residents followed advice given at a prior board meeting and called HPD directly, an officer came out, measured and marked the vehicle, returned later that night, and issued a citation. The resident specifically praised Officer Camacho for following through, saying the cited vehicle had not returned. HPD acknowledged the compliment and agreed to pass it along, and the exchange showed how targeted enforcement on seemingly minor quality-of-life issues can quickly change neighborhood conditions.
Complaints About Vehicle Encampments and Homelessness Near Kahala Avenue and Kilauea
The chair raised complaints received from residents about people living in vehicles along Kahala Avenue, Kilauea Avenue, and near Kahala Mall, citing trash accumulation, unsafe living conditions, and related public health concerns. Lieutenant Miura said he would pass the issue along to the area sergeant for increased attention, including possible marking and towing where appropriate. This discussion tied into broader concerns later in the meeting about homelessness in the area and reflected ongoing neighborhood anxiety over street conditions, public sanitation, and the difficulty of sustaining enforcement when people are living in cars for long periods.
Board of Water Supply: No Main Breaks and Expanded Toilet Rebates
Board of Water Supply representative Lorna reported that there had been no water main breaks in the past month. Her main announcement concerned the agency’s toilet rebate program, which now offers up to $200 per toilet for WaterSense-labeled 1.28 gallon-per-flush toilets. She said these toilets can reduce water waste by 20 to 60 percent, with potential savings of more than 13,000 gallons of water annually. She noted that the rebate amount cannot exceed the purchase price and said the increase was made possible with support from the City Department of Environmental Services. Residents were directed to the Board of Water Supply website for more information. The announcement framed water conservation not as an abstract policy issue but as a direct household cost and resource management opportunity for Oʻahu residents.
Broken Median Sprinklers on Kilauea and Malia and Weekend Reporting Problems
Residents and board members raised concerns about sprinklers running continuously on the median near Kilauea Avenue and Malia Street, beginning the previous Friday and apparently wasting water through the weekend. Multiple neighbors had reported the problem, and Lorna said she herself had called and emailed after seeing it from home. She explained that although Board of Water Supply communications staff do monitor weekend email to some extent, the city agency responsible for the median apparently lacks a 24/7 answering service. She said internal communications staff had already reached out to the responsible agency after receiving more than 10 calls and emails about the incident. The board emphasized the need for a better weekend contact method because the event was seen as a highly visible, avoidable waste of water at a time when residents are being encouraged to conserve.
Water Waste Reports at Private Properties
A board member also followed up on a prior report of what looked like a sprinkler leak at a residence on Kaiko’s Place, saying he had reached out directly to the resident through the Neighborhood Security Watch network. The resident had been unaware of the leak. This exchange highlighted the board’s informal role in solving smaller infrastructure and maintenance problems by linking concerned neighbors with property owners before issues escalate.
State Department of Transportation Maintenance, Graffiti Removal, and Homelessness Along State Right-of-Way
State DOT representative Casey Abe reported progress on several previously discussed issues. He said new tactile maps had been installed at the Kilauea Avenue and Hunakai Street intersections, graffiti that had been reported previously had been painted over, and potholes caused by heavy rains had been repaired by maintenance crews. During a recent field inspection, however, he still observed both graffiti activity and homeless presence on state right-of-way. He explained that the state’s homeless coordinator can only offer assistance and ask people to move when they are on state property and does weekly sweeps of the area. He also previewed a later agenda item by reporting that homeless individuals were present in the Waiʻalae Nui Stream area under an overpass. Because they move back and forth between state and city right-of-way, he said effective response will require a joint sweep with the city; otherwise, people simply move temporarily out of the state area and return once crews leave. His report underscored how fragmented jurisdiction complicates action on encampments, even when state and city agencies are both aware of the problem.
Board Vacancy and Board Administration
The board announced that it still has one vacancy in Subdistrict 1 and invited interested residents to apply. The chair used humor to encourage participation, but the vacancy reflects the ongoing challenge of maintaining full neighborhood board membership and representative coverage across all subdistricts.
Elected Officials: Governor’s Office and Mayor’s Office Representation Changes
The board noted that Patty Jett, formerly the governor’s representative, is no longer in that position, so no representative from the governor’s office was present. The mayor’s representative, Hong Lee, was also absent but reportedly informed the chair that issues previously raised with him had been addressed and that he had nothing further to report. The chair nevertheless praised Lee’s responsiveness. These updates showed both turnover in government liaison roles and the board’s reliance on those contacts for issue tracking between meetings.
City Council Update: Clerk and Auditor Searches, Youth Commission Opening, and Budget Process
Council Chair Tommy Waters gave a broad city update. He announced the retirement of Chief Clerk Glenn Takahashi, prompting a national search for a replacement, and said City Auditor Arushi Kumar had also left to return to the mainland to care for her parents, requiring another national recruitment. He stressed that both jobs are important to city government operations. Waters also said there is an opening for a Youth Commission appointee from his district because his current appointee, Asa Shimizu, who chaired the commission, is graduating from Punahou and heading to Brown University. The Youth Commission serves residents ages 14 to 24, with one appointment by each councilmember and five by the mayor, and makes recommendations to the City Council. On the budget, Waters said the city is wrapping up its annual budget process, with third reading planned for July 3, and invited any final requests, especially for capital improvement projects.
Proposal for a City “Rainy Day Fund” Amid El Niño Concerns
Waters said he is trying to create a more flexible city “rainy day fund” using unspent money from vacant positions, separate from the city’s Fiscal Stability Fund, which holds about $200 million but can only be tapped when the mayor issues an emergency proclamation. He noted that after the recent Kona low storms, the mayor had sought at least $5 million from that reserve. With an El Niño year anticipated, Waters argued the city should set aside easier-to-access funds for rapid repair and response when storm damage occurs, citing flooding on 16th Avenue as an example of why quicker access to emergency money is needed.
New Police Chief and Potential Charter Amendment on How Police Chiefs Are Chosen
Waters discussed the recent selection of a new police chief, describing it as somewhat unexpected. He said he had served on an interview panel for six candidates, all of whom were strong, and noted that the Police Commission ultimately selected a candidate from San Francisco. He also flagged a possible charter amendment that could appear on the November ballot to change the chief selection process so that the mayor appoints the police chief, subject to City Council confirmation. He described this as one of many ideas being considered by the Charter Commission as it reviews hundreds of proposals. Waters encouraged residents to follow the charter review process, noting that the city hopes to avoid putting an unmanageable number of questions on the ballot.
Kyo-Dojo Proposal Withdrawn from Maunalua Nature Park
Waters reported that the city had pulled back from a proposal to place the Kyo-Dojo at Maunalua Nature Park, saying that site was not appropriate. He reiterated his willingness to work with the proposer to find another location, mentioning Koko Crater near the botanical garden as one possible alternative, but stressed that any future site should be discussed first with neighborhood boards and nearby residents. He referenced the large turnout of opponents in red shirts at prior meetings as evidence of strong public engagement. The chair later thanked Waters specifically for directly communicating community opposition to the proponent and helping prompt the project’s retreat.
Homelessness Strategy, Waikīkī’s “Safe and Sound” Model, and Possible Expansion to Kahala
In response to board questions about a recent site tour on homelessness, Waters described Waikīkī’s “Safe and Sound” strategy, under which people convicted of crimes there can be prohibited by court order from returning to Waikīkī during probation. He said judges use maps in court and require defendants to sign acknowledgments that they understand the exclusion area. Waters credited enforcement by police leadership and prosecutors for helping drive what he said was a 91 percent drop in “core homelessness” in Waikīkī, citing a newspaper headline. He suggested a similar approach might be possible in Kahala and said he had recently walked the neighborhood with the board chair and the city’s homelessness director, Roy Miyahiro, to identify hotspots. Board members discussed fears that enforcement in Waikīkī and Diamond Head can shift homeless populations into Kahala rather than solve the underlying issue. Residents also highlighted one long-term encampment mauka of Diamond Head and concerns about fire risk from open flame use there.
State Funding Cut for Kahales
Waters also disclosed that the Legislature had cut funding for kāhales, the transitional housing villages associated with homelessness response, and said he is looking for ways to make up the difference in the city budget. He described kāhales as useful transitional housing if located appropriately. This linked local street-level concerns to larger state budget decisions that affect available housing interventions.
Traffic Signal Problems at Pueo and Kilauea and Downtown Congestion Complaints
A resident thanked the city for finally fixing a malfunctioning traffic light at Pueo Street and Kilauea Avenue near Times Supermarket after what he said had been about two years of poor operation. The resident described long waits, frequent failure of the signal cycle, and a pattern of drivers eventually running the red light out of frustration. Waters suggested the recent improvement may have resulted from pressure placed on the Department of Transportation Services through Deputy Director Lee. The same resident also complained about poor signal synchronization downtown, particularly around King Street, Merchant Street, Queen Street, and Alakea Street, saying it creates severe afternoon congestion and undermines efforts to revitalize downtown. He criticized a bike lane on Alakea Street as underused and suggested restoring vehicle capacity there. Waters said he would look into the issue.
Overgrown Lots on Kahala Avenue and Illegal Seawall Work
Former board member and neighborhood leader Allison raised renewed concerns about overgrown vacant lots on Kahala Avenue, particularly in the 4400 block near ʻElepaio, where she said several lots that changed hands over the last five years had become heavily overgrown. She reminded Waters that he had previously helped change city law so the city could act against neglected lots of any size if they are within 200 feet of a developed residence, replacing an earlier standard that excluded many large Kahala lots. She warned that one of the lots also has a history of illegal attempts to rebuild a seawall and that overgrowth now obscures what may be happening there. Waters said he was already aware of one such lot through a Department of Planning and Permitting report and said the owners are being forced to address issues including iwi kūpuna and bird habitat as part of the permitting process. He also said the city could require yard cleanup through the special management area permit process and promised to inspect the site.
Candidate Announcements for City Council and House District 19
During community concerns, Jason Liang announced his candidacy for City Council and said campaign literature was available. Kahi Pakarō then announced his candidacy for House District 19, which includes part of Kahala as well as Kuliʻouʻou to Hāhāione. He said he had been walking the district and expected to return to the Kahala area by the end of July. In response to a board question, he said that if elected he would continue attending neighborhood board meetings out of respect for the process and because he values neighborhood boards as a model of civic participation.
Board Secretary Vacancy and Recess Scheduling
The board also discussed the still-open position of board secretary and deferred filling it. It then voted to make July the board’s summer recess month rather than June, while keeping December as the other regular recess month. This decision affects when ongoing issues will next be formally reviewed by the board.
Search for Better Future Meeting Venues
Board members discussed possible alternative venues for future meetings with a preference for moving meetings back closer to the neighborhood rather than continuing at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse. Suggested options included the KCC Culinary School and Kāhala Elementary School. The discussion reflected the inconvenience residents face traveling to the current site, particularly through Waikīkī traffic.
Neighborhood Commission Office Permitted Interaction Group on Pigs Delayed
Aloha McGuffie reported that the May meeting of the permitted interaction group working on pig-related issues had been postponed and that the next meeting would occur in June, so there was no substantive update. Even in brief form, the mention showed that feral pig concerns remain active enough to require ongoing board-organized work.
American Heart Association Heart Walk at Kapiʻolani Park
American Heart Association representative Cammie Arakawa announced the organization’s annual Heart Walk for Saturday, August 15 at Kapiʻolani Park. The event will include a shorter survivor route around the park perimeter and a longer challenge route extending around Diamond Head Road. Event grounds open at 6 a.m., and attendance is expected to reach about 4,000 participants, followed by a health fair. She said the organization is working with roadway management contractors to post advance signs about possible traffic delays and had already mailed postcards to neighbors to notify them both of the event and of ways to participate or volunteer. The board praised the mailing as an unusually considerate step toward neighborhood communication about large events.
Wahipana Story Places Public Art Event at Triangle Park
A representative from the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts announced a June 12 event at Triangle Park tied to the Wahipana Story Places Public Art Project, specifically the Leahi poetry sign installation by Brandy Nālani McDougall. The event, scheduled for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., will feature a newly commissioned mele by T.J. Taotao, described as a Juilliard-trained Native Hawaiian pianist, based on a historic mele about Leahi uncovered in archival research. Organizers said the evening would include poetry, moʻolelo, piano music, food, and community gathering, with the main program beginning around 6:30 p.m. and ending around 8 p.m. A resident asked about anticipated attendance and parking pressure; organizers said they would monitor RSVPs and that public notice would be shared through social media, mailing lists, and city communications. A board member offered to circulate updates through a Neighborhood Security Watch email list reaching about 360 households. The chair praised the broader art project, including its historically direct interpretive approach and related bus-wrap educational materials.
235 Kulamanu Place: New Single-Family Residence and SMA Major Permit
Planning consultant Keola Chang of Wilson Okamoto presented a proposal for a new home at 235 Kulamanu Place, a vacant 13,664-square-foot flag lot near Cromwell’s in Kahala. The lot lies within the Diamond Head Special District but outside the core area, is zoned R-7.5, classified Urban under state land use law, and designated Low Density Residential in the city’s planning system. The proposed project is a two-story, approximately 3,920-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath single-family residence with outdoor recreation areas, a detached two-car carport, landscaping, utility connections, and limited site improvements. Chang said the site currently contains remnants of a previous home foundation and that the project is being processed through an SMA major permit, which will later go to the City Council after Department of Planning and Permitting review.
Neighbor Testimony on Prior Property Use as a Construction Staging Yard
The strongest testimony on the Kulamanu project came from adjoining neighbor John Black, an architect whose family has lived next door at 237 and 237A Kulamanu Place for over 70 years and who said his property shares 178 linear feet of boundary with the site. Black said he was not trying to stop development but wanted the owner put on notice that he would closely scrutinize every aspect of the project. He recounted that the property had previously been leased as a construction staging area for the new home built on Jim Nabors’ former property, and that this staging operation lasted for four years, not one or two. Black said his wife, who has advanced Alzheimer’s, has a bedroom window only five feet from the property overlooking the lot, and that for years they lived with dirt, diesel fumes, rats, feral cats, heavy equipment noise beginning at 7 a.m., and damage to utility connections. He also alleged neglect of trees and poor stewardship of the lot, including overgrowth and a broken beachside gate that he said has made the property attractive to trespassers and homeless individuals. His comments gave the board a vivid account of the cumulative toll that unmanaged construction impacts can have on immediate neighbors.
Questions About Ownership, Parking, and Conditions for Kulamanu Construction
In response, the project team said they could not verify all historical claims because they became involved only with the current design effort, but suggested that while the property remains within the same family entity, control had shifted because of deaths and internal changes. They said the current intent is for the home to be a full-time family residence rather than a vacation rental. The chair questioned the team closely on whether staging and worker parking would be kept off the narrow street, which neighbors said functions as emergency access and has no room for long-term vehicle use. The consultant said there should be no street staging or ongoing parking except minimal loading and unloading, and that contractors should be required to operate from the site itself, with city enforcement available if that fails. The board chair encouraged direct communication between Black and the applicant’s architect, arguing that professional-to-professional dialogue might help shape reasonable construction management conditions before the project reaches the City Council. The board deferred taking any position and asked that both sides return at the next meeting after attempting to work through concerns and after providing more detailed renderings of the proposed house.
Waialae Country Club Administrative Office Expansion
Architect Nicholas Caprio of Ethos Architects presented a proposal for a 1,500-square-foot addition and interior renovation to the administrative offices at Waialae Country Club, located at 4997 Kahala Avenue. He said the club, which has existed for nearly 100 years, has outgrown its current office arrangement, leaving employees crowded into inadequate space or scattered around the property. The project would expand and reorganize office and conference areas, IT space, and workstations while fitting beneath the existing roofline so the historic clubhouse appearance remains largely unchanged. Caprio said the club does not anticipate hiring additional employees as a result of the project; rather, it would consolidate existing staff into a safer and more functional workplace. He also said the modest increase in square footage would trigger a few more formal parking spaces on site. The work is within the special management area and will undergo DPP and City Council review, but the applicant said no significant impact is expected on beach access, traffic, or neighborhood views because the addition sits internally between existing club components.
Questions About Club Parking, HVAC, and Future Use
Board members asked whether the project would include new restrooms or plumbing changes, whether new HVAC equipment would be added, whether a second story was planned, and whether there were any longer-term plans to convert the office addition to other uses. Caprio said no new restrooms are proposed, HVAC would be added into the existing roof infrastructure, there would be no second story, and the design is specifically tailored to office use. A neighbor asked whether the larger office footprint meant more employees and more parking pressure in the neighborhood; Caprio responded that staffing levels are expected to remain the same and that employees park on club premises. The board also asked whether construction workers would be contained on site rather than parking in surrounding streets, and the applicant said the intent is to keep staging and parking within the club grounds. The board then voted in support of the proposal, with several abstentions from members who are club members or felt they had a conflict.
Shangri La Event Traffic and Security Problems on Papu Circle
Although representatives from the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design were absent, a board member summarized complaints relating to an event held on February 24 that involved foreign dignitaries and federal security personnel. Residents on Papu Circle reported a large number of vehicles, backed-up traffic, and security cars left idling with lights on for hours. There were also complaints that some attendees walked into the venue instead of being shuttled as expected. The issue was reportedly raised with DPP as a possible concern under Shangri La’s conditional use permit, and museum staff later said they had not anticipated the scale of federal law enforcement presence and would try to coordinate better with the governor’s office in the future if a similar event occurs. The board discussion treated the matter as an unusual but disruptive one-time event rather than a larger ongoing compliance breakdown.
Representative Tina Grandinetti’s Legislative Update
Representative Tina Grandinetti joined late and gave a brief update after the close of the legislative session. She said a district-wide mailer would soon go out summarizing legislation passed and expressed pride in the session’s results, including budget work responding to federal cuts, measures she described as pushing back on Citizens United, and legislation aimed at protecting immigrant communities and due process. She said it had been one of the most meaningful sessions she had experienced, both as a former staffer and now as a second-year legislator. She then shifted quickly to an urgent district issue involving Kilauea District Park.
Kilauea District Park and Proposed Transfer to the Department of Education
Grandinetti addressed alarm over language inserted into a bill that would transfer Kilauea District Park from the city to the Department of Education. Residents asked what this could mean for public access and programs. She said she had been working with city and state officials and that DOE had since issued a statement saying it does not intend to follow through with the transfer, and that the bill’s language gives DOE discretion not to take the property. She said the governor’s office has assured her that a technical correction bill will be introduced next session so the situation is not left dependent on DOE goodwill. She emphasized that everyone involved wants the park to remain with the city and that there is currently no imminent danger of disruption to the kūpuna and youth programs held there. When asked how such language made it into the bill, she said the idea may originally have been part of a conversation about opening future state funding pathways for the facility but acknowledged there had not been adequate community consultation and that conference committee procedures can make accountability difficult. Council Chair Waters added that the relevant decision was made in conference committee behind closed doors and should have been corrected earlier.
DOE Property at 475 22nd Avenue: Poor Maintenance, Limited Staffing, and Underuse
Resident Barrett Francis gave a detailed update on the Department of Education property at 475 22nd Avenue, a 6.5-acre site that has repeatedly generated complaints over the years. He said a meeting had recently been held there with DOE Assistant Superintendent Audrey Hirano and staff after intervention from Representative Grandinetti. The immediate issue was chronic overgrowth along the property frontage and easement area, which often makes pedestrian passage difficult and leaves the area unsightly. DOE had the area cleaned the day before the meeting and committed to weed-whacking at least every six weeks, though Francis said that is inadequate, especially during wetter seasons when growth is faster. DOE reportedly said it has only two employees maintaining the site when it really needs three, and residents offered to help with interim cleanup. Francis also said DOE promised to seek three contractor bids for possible landscaping but gave no parameters for those bids, raising concern that the lowest-cost option might be selected without regard for neighborhood value or long-term effectiveness.
Long-Term Questions About the DOE Site’s Future and Community Use
Francis said the larger problem is that most of the 6.5-acre DOE property remains unused or underused. He explained that the land had previously been used by the Hawaiʻi Department of Defense and the National Guard and was better maintained then because military crews periodically cleaned it. Around 2015, it was transferred to DOE along with other state properties under a policy intended to let DOE pursue long-term leases for revenue. He said the Board of Education later decided not to develop this site because it lacked enough sewer and water infrastructure. Since then, the site has sat largely idle, with some deteriorating buildings and broad portions of land not actively used even though one building on about an acre is still occupied by DOE curriculum staff. Francis argued that the property could potentially become a valuable community asset if DOE, the neighborhood, and elected officials could develop a constructive reuse vision. Board members agreed that the issue has recurred for years and discussed a stronger board response. The chair proposed seeking a permitted interaction group through the Neighborhood Commission Office to investigate the issue, explore possible community-oriented uses, and push for a more serious solution after what many described as more than a decade of neglect. Board members also criticized DOE’s handling of the recent meeting and its pattern of minimal engagement.
East Oʻahu Climate and Resiliency Mandate
Board member Aloha McGuffie presented a draft East Oʻahu Climate and Resiliency Mandate, developed through the KISCA Hui—the Kāhala Initiative for Sustainability, Culture, and the Arts—which is sponsored by the Kahala Hotel & Resort. She explained that the mandate is based on the Hawaiian ahupuaʻa concept and covers East Oʻahu from Kaimukī through Waimānalo, including six neighborhood board regions that all share the same Koʻolau watershed, streams, and marine systems flowing into Maunalua Bay and Waimānalo Bay. She said the need for a coordinated regional approach became especially clear after three recent Kona low storms brought flooding, strong winds, power outages, and coastal damage. The draft framework is meant to connect local ideas that already exist in different neighborhoods and sectors but often remain isolated from each other.
2025 KISCA Convening and Roundtable Findings
McGuffie said that in September 2025, KISCA hosted a two-day by-invitation gathering at the Kahala Hotel with about 100 participants and roughly 32 speakers, all supported through complimentary venue and food provided by the hotel. Roundtables covered 10 topics: green infrastructure and water management, coastal resilience, cultural heritage and Indigenous knowledge, disaster preparedness and emergency planning, education and youth engagement, waste management and pollution, food security and local agriculture, clean streams and storm drains, ecosystems and watershed reforestation protection, and policy alignment and advocacy. One concrete issue to emerge was that East Oʻahu is governed through several separate city plans and a Board of Water Supply plan, all on different timelines, making coordinated advocacy difficult. The draft mandate therefore includes detailed findings, pathways to action, and implementation metrics for each topic area, with the aim of making the document practical rather than symbolic.
Community Survey, Aloha Plus Alignment, and Next Steps Toward 2050
McGuffie said the draft mandate had already been aligned once with the state’s Aloha+ Challenge goals through consultation with Hawaiʻi Green Growth, and that after feedback from all six East Oʻahu neighborhood boards it would be revised again and sent back for further alignment. She framed the work around the values of mālama, kuleana, and hoʻomau, and said the intention is for the mandate to remain a living document through 2050. The next phase will involve neighborhood board discussions, followed by creation of a steering committee and then project committees that can start actual implementation work in 2027, such as coastal resilience projects, stream cleanups, or reforestation initiatives. She said a survey would be distributed before the board’s next discussion so residents could identify their local climate risks, resilience priorities, and ideas for community-supported projects. The chair encouraged participation and noted the Kahala Hotel’s significant local role, including its workforce and stewardship work.
Meeting Adjournment and Next Meeting
Because the meeting ran long and the facility had to close, the chair moved quickly to adjourn after announcing the next regular meeting for Thursday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse, second floor. He thanked attendees for their patience with the extended agenda.