No 09 Waikīkī Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting March 2026
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9 Waikiki Neighborhood Board Meeting – March 11, 2026
Sub-District Two Vacancy
The meeting opened with the Board addressing a vacancy in Sub-District Two. Two nominees were presented: Bula Eastman, a longtime Waikiki resident and former director of safety and security for various hotel properties, and former board member Jacob Wensek, a U.S. Navy reservist who has regularly attended neighborhood board meetings. Several members of the public offered opinions on the nominees, both supportive and critical. A roll call vote resulted in a 7–7 tie. A second vote also failed to break the tie, leaving the seat unfilled. Board members expressed that they would revisit the vacancy at the next meeting.
Honolulu Fire Department Report
A captain from the Waikiki Fire Station presented February incident statistics. He reported one structure fire, one nuisance fire, 23 activated alarms, 198 medical emergencies, one motor vehicle collision, one mountain rescue, one ocean rescue, and two hazardous materials incidents. The captain emphasized the importance of installing, testing, and replacing smoke alarms at least every 10 years. Board members had no further questions and thanked the department for providing safety tips and prompt service.
Honolulu Police Department Report
Led by a lieutenant and supported by a major, the Honolulu Police Department presented crime statistics for February. Robberies remained at three from the previous month; burglaries decreased from 11 to eight; thefts went up from 115 to 121; and unauthorized entries into motor vehicles went from nine to 11. Assaults increased to 36 from 31; sex crimes dropped from six to five. The department also discussed citations for speeding, parking, loud mufflers, and park closure violations. Board members raised concerns regarding possible over-response by multiple officers to minor calls and about a person impersonating an ICE officer around Waikiki. The major explained they are actively working on noise enforcement along Kalākaua Avenue, late-night bar crowd mitigation, and parking violations by large vehicles. The department also requested community help in locating an owner of vehicles repeatedly parked near the archery range on Pākī Avenue. Residents and board members asked questions about a growing number of tents on the beach near Fort DeRussy that fall under federal or state jurisdictions. HPD noted they would continue to coordinate with agencies responsible for those properties to ensure enforcement.
Citizen Concerns
Community members raised issues not listed on the regular agenda. One resident sought help documenting water overflow along the Ala Wai Canal during heavy rains. Another resident expressed frustration with a proposal (SB2151) that expands the definition of disaster emergencies and grants the governor more authority to suspend laws in such cases. The Board acknowledged the importance of tracking water runoff and informed those interested about opportunities to submit testimony at the State Legislature.
Major Parades and Street Events
The Board reviewed upcoming street closures and events listed on the city’s schedule, including the Salute to Youth Parade, Waikiki Spam Jam Festival, the Visitor Industry Charity Walk, and the Kanikapila Festival. An additional parade, the Honolulu Festival Grand Parade, was announced for March 15, with potential minor traffic disruptions. One community member clarified the fireworks for that evening would begin at 8:30 p.m. instead of 8:00 p.m.
Elected Officials – Mayor’s Office
A representative from the Mayor’s Office highlighted the Mayor’s upcoming town hall meeting in Waikiki, scheduled for May 21 at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse. Recent announcements included a $1 million public-private partnership donation from Hilton Grand Vacations to the Waikiki Business Improvement District to help improve Kūhiō Beach Park. The Mayor’s Office also reminded residents about the new 311 smartphone application for reporting city service issues and presented follow-up reports on complaints raised at previous board meetings. Questions arose about the difficult process of contacting certain city offices, such as the Department of Planned Permitting, and ongoing parking violations on Prince Edward Street.
Elected Officials – City Council
City Council Chair Tommy Waters spoke about improvements at Kūhiō Beach Park connected to the public-private partnership donation. He conducted a walk-through with the Business Improvement District to explore designating specific locations for street performers, explaining that a new draft bill may regulate busking with required permits and set performance areas. He welcomed input as HPD heightens enforcement of amplified music and sidewalk obstructions. He encouraged the Board to submit budget priorities and asked for feedback regarding issues such as surf rack replacements in Waikiki.
Elected Officials – State Senate
Senator Sharon Moriwaki detailed the progress of bills through first crossover at the Legislature. She explained measures targeting Kupuna care, family caregiver tax credits, and repeat offender sentencing. She noted that a bill proposing digital advertising in certain areas of Honolulu was amended to exclude Waikiki. The Senator discussed ongoing work with the Attorney General to develop a memorandum of agreement for shoreline management that involves public and private entities protecting Waikiki Beach. Questions arose concerning the Kaka‘ako Makai plan, and she described the state’s efforts to do a more comprehensive update of the area under the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority.
Elected Officials – State House
Representative Adrian Tam delivered additional updates about the House’s first crossover. He detailed a bill (HB1588) to make the noise detection camera pilot program permanent, changes to income tax proposals, and efforts to provide outreach services at state-owned areas near the Halekulani end of Waikiki Beach. A short discussion followed on how proposed laws restricting parking requirements for housing projects might affect affordability and public transportation within Waikiki.
Governor’s Office
A representative from the Governor’s Office focused on economic concerns arising from volatile oil prices and discussed potential rate changes from Hawaiian Electric. Attendees were informed that state revenues might be challenged by a significant federal funding shortfall, which was said to influence considerations of tax pauses and budget allocations. No immediate supply concerns were reported for shipments of petroleum to the islands, but the office advised that energy costs could shift rapidly.
Waikiki Improvement Association and Local Updates
A speaker congratulated the Moana Surfrider on its 125th anniversary and noted continued coordination with legislators to address beach erosion. Several board members and residents remarked upon the importance of projects along Waikiki Beach to ensure continued public access. It was noted that new restrictions on street festivals have resulted in fewer street closures for purely profit-based outdoor events. Residents also brought up questions about leftover construction debris, transient encampments near the beach, and the future direction of public access corridors.
Department of Transportation Services
The City’s Complete Streets Administrator provided a detailed overview of the Kūhio Avenue bus lane pilot project. Following two phases of implementation, there have been improvements in transit reliability, reduced travel times for many bus routes, and somewhat varied impacts on traffic flow. Complaints included over-parking of buses near the Waikiki Zoo entrance on Kapahulu Avenue and concerns about pedestrian safety with large vehicles blocking crosswalk visibility. The department committed to gather more observations, address driver layover practices, and continue refining pedestrian safety monitoring.
Federal Aviation Administration Airspace Modernization
A neighboring board member informed participants about the FAA’s Hawai‘i Airspace Modernization Project, which is intended to adjust flight routes statewide. Residents were urged to submit comments before the March 15 deadline. Proposed changes include moving flight paths offshore to lessen overhead noise in Waikiki and possibly instituting overnight curfews for certain smaller aircraft. The Board passed a resolution supporting requests that the FAA reduce local air traffic noise by rerouting planes and helicopters away from densely populated areas.
Legislative Committee Motions
A board legislative committee member raised several proposals for official board positions. The Board voted to support House Bill 1588, making the noise detection camera pilot program permanent. Another bill, Senate Bill 2367, aimed at forming public-private partnerships to improve the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, drew divergent opinions about privatizing harbor management. Members discussed whether such management would drive up fees or be a more efficient solution. Debate remained ongoing, reflecting different resident viewpoints about potential cost impacts and government stewardship of public lands.
The meeting concluded with an acknowledgment of time constraints and several topics requiring further follow-up at subsequent meetings, including the unresolved vacancy in Sub-District Two and multiple bills now headed for additional hearings at the State Legislature.