No 09 Waikīkī Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting October 2026
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9 Waikiki Neighborhood Board Meeting – October 14, 2026
Opening, Attendance, and Meeting Procedures
Chair Bob Finley opened the October meeting by explaining that the September meeting had been canceled after the mayor suspended city events because of severe weather. Board members present included Melissa Felix, Vice Chair Lou Erdeshek, Bob Finley, Lisa Cabanero, Jeff Murr, Ralph Nordahl, Corey D’Orazio, Public Safety Chair Tim Hyke, Jillian Anderson, Wren Amu, Shannon Smith, Ken Jacob, and Daniel Jacob, with Cyril Wicks and other participants joining online. Anson Wu served as neighborhood assistant, and Jordan handled the meeting’s technical support. Members were reminded that state law requires Sunshine Law training every two years; anyone overdue was directed to complete the online training through the Neighborhood Commission website and send confirmation to Wu. Because of the large amount of testimony, community speakers were limited to two minutes and asked to use the room’s central microphone to avoid audio feedback.
Honolulu Fire Department Report
Acting Captain Ken Oishi of Waikiki Ladder 7 presented Honolulu Fire Department statistics for the preceding month. Waikiki recorded two structure fires, no wildland or brush fires, three nuisance fires, no cooking fires, and 16 alarm activations in which no fire was found. Firefighters responded to 157 medical emergencies, one motor-vehicle collision, no pedestrian collisions, no mountain or ocean rescues, and two hazardous-material incidents. With the holiday season approaching, HFD advised residents to use electrical decorations and devices certified by nationally recognized testing laboratories, follow manufacturers’ instructions, remain present and alert while cooking, and keep combustible materials away from heat and flames. Residents were also urged to remain attentive while walking and driving, particularly during low-light periods around dawn and dusk. No questions were raised.
Honolulu Police Department Crime and Enforcement Statistics
Lieutenant Cyrus Hanuna delivered the District 6 report alongside Major Okimoto, Captain Koma, and Lieutenant Trent. September statistics included four robberies, six burglaries, 108 thefts, nine unauthorized entries into motor vehicles, 52 assaults, and two sex crimes. Officers issued two citations for bicycles or skateboards on sidewalks, 17 speeding citations, 1,178 parking citations, and 20 citations involving loud mufflers or prohibited noise. Enforcement of park closures produced 99 citations and 18 arrests. District 6 handled 4,084 calls for service and recorded six arrests or cases involving operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.
Repeat Offender Sentenced After Waikiki Crime Spree
A resident described the case of Stanford Nihoa, whom he said had been arrested eight times in less than a month for a series of offenses around Waikiki. Major Okimoto explained that although the incidents were generally classified as lower-level crimes, police tracked Nihoa because of the repeated arrests and obtained surveillance footage showing him damaging cameras. Officers and detectives quickly assembled an arrest packet and made a probable-cause arrest based on the video. The prosecutor’s office considered the pattern of conduct, and Nihoa reportedly received a six-month jail sentence, which speakers characterized as unusually long for a misdemeanor. Police thanked residents for helping monitor and document the activity. His arrest history and name were confirmed as public information.
Special Class 10 Liquor Licenses and Late-Night Operations
Major Okimoto alerted the board to a Liquor Commission pilot program allowing selected establishments to operate under provisional Special Class 10 licenses for particular events. He expressed concern that admitting no new patrons after 2 a.m. while continuing to serve the same customers until 3 a.m. could encourage over-service. Other concerns included violence, patrons congregating while waiting for rides after closing, late-night noise, and public urination affecting nearby homes and businesses. HPD generally opposed expansion of late-night alcohol service based on problems experienced at legacy cabaret establishments and noted that police do not have sufficient resources, nor necessarily the primary responsibility, to monitor establishments’ internal alcohol controls.
Liquor Commission Administrator Jason White clarified that the pilot licenses are not cabaret licenses. Waikiki has five legacy cabaret licenses, four of which remain active, while Special Class 10 authority applies only to approved dates and special events. Licensees must submit security and sound-mitigation plans, stop admission and reentry at 2 a.m., end alcohol service at 3 a.m., and close by 4 a.m. Commission enforcement teams can immediately terminate an event if an establishment violates those conditions. Three establishments had been approved, with Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand and Tapas participating in the initial Waikiki test. White reported that the first monitored night was quiet, with only about 15 patrons at Hula’s after 2 a.m.; Hula’s had closed its Kapahulu-facing windows to limit sound. The commission planned additional monitoring during Pride events and Halloween. White acknowledged that the neighborhood board had not been adequately notified and agreed to provide information about future applications. He also reported that Liquor Commission enforcement staffing was at full strength and moving toward three shifts per day.
Police Storm Preparedness
Major Okimoto said HPD had expanded advance planning under the new police chief for hurricanes and other major storms. Officers are placed on alert when forecasts provide warning, and the department develops contingency staffing plans for the duration of each storm. Police continue responding to calls, protecting neighborhoods, and attempting to keep beaches clear. During a recent storm, officers encountered people trying to enter beaches despite hurricane conditions. Okimoto said much of the preparation is not visible when a storm passes without a major incident, but residents should notice increased readiness when emergencies occur.
Parking Enforcement Follow-Ups
A resident named Gilbert renewed an August complaint that a hot dog vendor near the Ilikai was using public parking for commercial operations. He reported that the vendor had recently blocked two public stalls with cones and a cooler in addition to occupying the designated yellow-hatched vending area. Major Okimoto promised to follow up. The board also revisited a prior question about vehicles ticketed on Tusitala Street. The discussion suggested that no-parking signs may explain the citations, although the matter had not previously received a complete response.
Waikiki Beach Shower Improvement Project
Sunshine Salcedo of Corolla Engineers, working under contract with the Department of Facility Maintenance, invited the board to review preliminary concepts for improvements to beach showers 1 through 6, extending from the Waikiki police station to the area known as Walls. Up to two board representatives were invited to a stakeholder workshop at Mission Memorial on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Public review sessions were scheduled at the Hula Mound on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Jeff Murr volunteered to represent the board at the stakeholder meeting, where participants would preview concepts, offer design feedback, and convey community concerns.
Automated Curb and Delivery Enforcement Proposal
Waikiki resident and urban-infrastructure consultant Jacob DeFalco proposed an automated enforcement system to address morning congestion on Kūhiō Avenue, which he said becomes gridlocked around 7:30 a.m. when corporate delivery vehicles occupy bus stops and other curb space. He argued that ordinary paper citations do not deter large companies and that HPD lacks sufficient staffing for continuous enforcement. His proposal would use fixed artificial-intelligence cameras to automatically mail citations to corporate vehicle fleets, paired with a digital application that directs delivery trucks to available side-loading zones. He cited reported reductions in repeat violations of up to 86 percent in New York City and 95 percent in Pittsburgh. DeFalco estimated a $2 million installation cost, a $400,000 annual maintenance allowance, repayment within one year, annual net revenue of approximately $1.42 million beginning in the second year, and about $15.6 million over ten years for Waikiki road repairs or the Ala Wai bridge. He said the system could be financed without local taxpayer funding through private-vendor capital or federal infrastructure-safety funds and submitted a draft resolution requesting a Department of Transportation Services pilot study.
Shopping Carts, Shoplifting, and Bill 53
Community testimony supported City Council Bill 53, which would prohibit unauthorized use or possession of shopping carts. Advocate Tim said the original proposal faced council concern because it allowed fines of up to $2,000, but he favored concentrating on confiscating carts rather than imposing fines that unhoused people could not pay. He connected cart theft and shoplifting to higher food prices, citing the Kapahulu Safeway as having extremely high inventory shrink. He later stated that HPD and the city had recovered roughly 5,000 shopping carts during the previous year, with carts costing approximately $375 to as much as $1,000. He argued that retailers must increase prices to recover those losses.
During board debate, Lou Erdeshek opposed incarceration for cart possession as disproportionate, costly, difficult to enforce, and potentially a way of criminalizing homelessness. Council Chair Tommy Waters responded that the measure would create a petty misdemeanor, a lower-level offense, and would mainly give officers authority to confiscate carts and direct people to surrender them rather than make arrests. Other supporters said carts are private property, their theft has become normalized, some are used to conceal drugs or stolen goods, and a city ordinance would give police a practical enforcement tool. Testimony also noted that state law, HRS Chapter 633, Section 16, already prohibits unauthorized removal of shopping carts and allows criminal penalties or small-claims recovery, but there was no corresponding city-level measure. An online resident described stolen carts being stored and altered inside a condominium for residents’ use, arguing that the issue was not limited to homelessness. The board approved supporting Bill 53; the announced result was 12 votes in favor and one opposed.
Illegal Peddling and Bill 52
The Legislative Engagement Committee reported that City Council Bill 52, which increases penalties for illegal peddling, had passed third reading unanimously on October 7. Mayor Rick Blangiardi had until October 23 to sign or veto it. At Council Chair Waters’s suggestion, the board voted to send the mayor a letter urging him to sign the measure. The announced vote was 12 in favor and two abstentions.
Senior Property-Tax Valuation Cap and Bill 67
The board considered Bill 67, introduced by Councilmember Val Okimoto, which would cap annual assessed-value increases for owner-occupied real property belonging to taxpayers age 65 or older. The cap would be the lower of 2 percent of the previous year’s assessed value or the inflation rate. The bill passed first reading in November 2025 but was postponed in the Budget Committee in July 2026 to an unspecified date. The board supported asking the committee to resume action so older homeowners could better anticipate annual property-tax obligations. The motion passed with an announced vote of 13 in favor and one abstention. The Legislative Engagement Committee chair was asked to prepare the resulting correspondence.
Scheduled Waikiki Events
The board announced two upcoming events, with setup and breakdown times expected to vary by approximately 30 minutes. The Princess Kaʻiulani Celebration, hosted by Outrigger Hotels, was scheduled at Princess Kaʻiulani Park on Friday, October 16, from 4 to 9 p.m. The Honolulu Pride Parade was scheduled for Saturday, October 17, from 2 to 6 p.m. No additional street events were identified.
Hula’s and Tapas Extended-Hours Pilot
The board held a broader discussion of Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand’s approved Special Class 10 dates at 134 Kapahulu Avenue. Several members supported the limited pilot because it applied to specific Pride and Halloween events rather than year-round operations, carried enforceable conditions, and could support local businesses on their most profitable nights. Members emphasized Hula’s long operating history at the Waikiki Grand Hotel and its generally positive safety record.
Hula’s vice president and general manager Brian Navarrete said the business had operated at the Waikiki Grand since 1998 and had a Waikiki presence for more than 52 years. He described Hula’s as a safe space with a policy allowing patrons to enjoy themselves only if they obey the law, avoid over-intoxication, and do not interfere with others. Hula’s planned security at the entrance, emergency exit, hotel lobby, and exterior, coordinated with the same company used by the Waikiki Grand. Tapas co-owner David said that during the October 3 test, staff denied entry to five or six people who appeared too intoxicated, stopped serving four or five others, asked them to leave, and voluntarily closed around 3:40 or 3:45 a.m. when attendance declined. Tapas also planned signs and staff reminders asking patrons to leave quietly and enter rideshare vehicles without disturbing neighbors.
The Liquor Commission reiterated that three Special Class 10 applications had been approved and another hearing was forthcoming. Hula’s dates included an initial test, Pride weekend, and Halloween. The commission also explained that hotel general licenses permit alcohol service until 4 a.m., although most hotels do not exercise that option except for occasional events such as New Year’s Eve. The board requested better advance notice, a future update after the October events, and a later briefing explaining the different liquor-license categories. No board vote was required.
ABC Store License Boundary Change
ABC Store No. 204 in the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel was reported to be seeking an amendment to extend its licensed premises into additional lobby space. The application concerned a change in the licensed boundary rather than a new late-night operating authority and was expected to come before the Liquor Commission.
Beach Concession Permits and Public Records
A resident asked how much revenue beach vendors at Kūhiō Beach generate from renting umbrellas, chairs, and canoes, what percentage the city receives, and what the permits say about vendors’ allowable footprint. She alleged that vendors routinely pre-set chairs and umbrellas despite restrictions and occupy space in ways that interfere with permitted community activities. The board said it did not directly control the concessions and referred the issue to the mayor’s representative. Another participant explained that concession contracts and permits are public records and can be requested through the city’s government-records request process. Neighborhood Assistant Anson Wu was asked to help provide the correct link and contact information.
444–448 Keoniana Street Development Concerns
Resident Greg Misakian renewed concerns about a proposed 50-unit development at 444–448 Keoniana Street, formerly occupied by two single-family homes. He said the project had been allowed to proceed under a special assignment inspection, which can permit work before final issuance of a building permit, and questioned whether a project of that size should require an environmental assessment or a waiver through the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. He also questioned how 50 units could be developed with little or no parking and asked that the project be placed on a future board agenda.
The mayor’s representative later reported that the Department of Planning and Permitting inspected the property on August 28 and found no active construction. Special Assignment Inspection No. 2026-35 had been issued on February 10, 2026, allowing construction to begin, and the building-permit application was ready for issuance. The contractor was advised to remove graffiti from the fence, although DPP said no law required the cleanup, and inspectors observed no other building-code violations. Illegal street parking would need to be referred to HPD. Misakian continued to request information about any environmental review, Bill 7 or Ordinance 19-8 involvement, ownership by 444 Manofami LLC, and whether the project had received required public or council review. Council Chair Waters said the project had not come before the City Council and agreed to investigate.
Early-Morning Trash Collection
Several residents again objected to private and municipal trash collection beginning as early as 2 to 4 a.m., including backup alarms and scout vehicles that repeatedly wake nearby residents. The board had previously adopted a resolution supporting a 6 a.m. start time for both city and commercial collection. Mayor’s representative Nola explained that the city has raised concerns about pedestrian and traffic safety, congestion, operational costs, and the inability of collection trucks to complete multiple dump runs if they begin later during rush-hour conditions. Board members asked for evidence supporting the safety claims, including records of actual injuries or studies comparing nighttime and daytime collection.
Residents argued that presenting the matter as a choice between noise and safety failed to account for the health effects of disrupted sleep. Misakian cited Chicago’s 10 p.m.-to-7 a.m. restriction and $1,000 penalties and said he had suggested operational solutions to Honolulu Disposal Service. He also alleged retaliation by his condominium association after recording early pickups. The board favored another town hall with Managing Director Krishna Jayaram and relevant agencies rather than a brief presentation during a regular meeting. The proposed session would review progress, commercial hot spots, vehicle routing, backup alarms, plastic containers, safety data, and alternatives for reducing nighttime disruption.
Reports from Other Neighborhood Boards and HECO
Online participant Jason Liang reported on matters discussed elsewhere on Oʻahu. At a September 20 Hawaiian Electric town hall, he believed the utility offered excuses and promises without sufficient explanation. At the Hawaiʻi Kai Neighborhood Board, the Surfrider Foundation and Blue Water Task Force reported severe contamination at Kūleʻo Beach and advised people either to avoid the beach or visit at high tide. He also said the Hawaiʻi Kai and Kuliʻouʻou-Kalani Iki boards were considering resolutions supporting municipal ownership of Hawaiian Electric, based on the view that a non-profit public utility could redirect money from executive compensation toward grid resilience.
Houselessness and City Mental-Health Response
The mayor’s representative reported that Honolulu’s response to houselessness had expanded under recent legislation enabling emergency medical personnel, HPD, and partner agencies to move people experiencing serious mental-health crises from the street into treatment. She said the change was improving agencies’ ability to help people in Waikiki. The city also announced two new deputy police chiefs, Parker Bodie and Matt Kurihara, under Chief David Lazar.
Zoo Improvements and Election Reminder
The city had spent nearly $1 million upgrading the Honolulu Zoo’s penguin and hippopotamus exhibits. Residents were also reminded that the general election was scheduled for November 3, mail ballots were being distributed, and voting locations would begin opening the following week.
Kūhiō Beach Facilities and Street Hazard
The mayor’s representative confirmed that the Kūhiō Beach bathrooms reopened after repairs on September 8. The Department of Parks and Recreation had not yet established a date for installing a “no playing” sign at the adjacent water feature. Jeff Murr separately reported a rusty remnant of a removed street-sign post near the Diamond Head side of Seaside Avenue at Aloha Drive. The protruding metal had caused someone to trip and was described as a pedestrian hazard needing removal by the appropriate city agency.
Better Buildings Benchmarking Program
The city responded to questions about the Better Buildings Benchmarking Program, which applies to covered buildings over 25,000 square feet, including many Waikiki condominiums. Buildings must annually report electricity and water use so the city can establish performance baselines, compare similar properties, identify inefficiencies, prioritize upgrades, and measure progress toward climate goals. The city is targeting a 7 percent reduction in electricity consumption by large buildings by 2030 and net-negative greenhouse-gas emissions by 2045. Municipal buildings are included, while state- and federally owned buildings are generally exempt.
The city does not reimburse condominium associations for consultants hired to complete reports. One building reportedly paid about $4,500 for outside assistance. To reduce reliance on consultants, the city had conducted 30 training sessions since April 2025 and offered guidance, a help desk, and resources at resilientoahu.org/benchmarking. Reports were due June 30 each year, although extensions were available and the website reportedly showed an additional 60-day period. Board members said conflicting guidance had created uncertainty over deadlines and compliance. They requested a future explanation from the city administration and Council Chair Waters. Members also asked that detailed agency answers be submitted as written reports rather than read aloud during meetings.
Council Chair Tommy Waters’s Report
Council Chair Waters praised the Waikiki board’s Legislative Engagement Committee and urged prompt delivery of the Bill 52 letter before the mayor’s October 23 deadline. He was consulting the prosecutor’s office on amendments to Bill 53 and planned to ask the Public Safety Committee chair to schedule it. He also agreed to speak with the Budget Committee chair about Bill 67 and to seek support for the shopping-cart legislation from other neighborhood boards. Waters said Bill 53 remained alive for the two-year council term despite not advancing beyond first reading.
Waters planned to attend the Waikiki beach-shower workshop and cited the poorly functioning Kaimana Beach showers, including inadequate water pressure and ponding, as evidence that better design was needed. He also encouraged residents to vote on November 3 and said he would post videos outlining the arguments for and against 20 proposed Charter amendments. When asked about a reported gathering of councilmembers to discuss his replacement and possible Sunshine Law violations, Waters declined to comment because he had not attended or known about the meeting, noting that the Office of Information Practices was reportedly investigating. He also explained that councilmembers’ “with reservations” votes often publicly signal concerns about a measure without requiring private vote-counting discussions.
Waikīkī Beach Restoration
Senator Sharon Moriwaki described a long-term beach-restoration initiative extending from the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to Kaimana Beach within the Waikīkī Special Improvement District. The state had adopted a resolution committing to preserve and restore Waikīkī Beach. Planning includes replenishing sand, designing aesthetically appropriate offshore groins or other retention structures, protecting the most vulnerable shoreline segments, and maintaining continuous lateral public access along the beach.
The Legislature appropriated $7 million from green-fee revenues for the especially vulnerable area near the Outrigger, Halekulani, and Kawehewehe or Gray’s Beach sector, plus $5 million for comprehensive planning along the full coastline. Moriwaki said the goal was to replace fragmented, lawsuit-driven repairs with systematic prioritization and ongoing maintenance. The Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority was selected to work with the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development as project manager.
Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor Conditions and Enforcement
Senator Moriwaki said the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor had been neglected partly because it is state-owned and does not contribute property taxes to the Waikīkī Special Improvement District. A legislative grant-in-aid was supporting the Waikīkī Improvement Association’s work on landscaping and cleanliness, with the longer-term goal of establishing funding in the Department of Land and Natural Resources budget. The state, HPD, DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, conservation officers, and the Department of Law Enforcement had walked the docks together in response to reports of abandoned boats, unauthorized occupants, prostitution, drug dealing, broken gates, and unrestricted access. Planned improvements included repairing gates, improving lighting and monitoring, and coordinating enforcement. Board members also requested clearer wayfinding, entrance identification, and parking signs so the harbor functions as a safer and more welcoming gateway to Waikīkī.
Ala Wai Canal Debris Project
The University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering, the Department of Transportation, and DLNR were collaborating on an Ala Wai Waterways Debris Clearing Project. Rather than removing debris only after major storms, the effort would seek innovative, ongoing methods to keep the canal clear, healthy, and usable. A university design studio was expected to develop ideas, and community participation would be invited.
Aloha Tower Centennial and Capitol Renovation
Aloha Tower was preparing to celebrate its 100th anniversary with public access to the renovated upper level, entertainment recalling the historic boat days, and events scheduled around October 16. Moriwaki encouraged residents to visit the harbor and tower. She also reported that legislative offices were temporarily operating remotely while the State Capitol was repainted and renovated. Meeting rooms remained available, and lawmakers expected to return around November to prepare for the next legislative session.
1588 Ala Moana Development
Senator Moriwaki called attention to a major condominium-hotel proposal at 1588 Ala Moana Boulevard near Atkinson Drive, on the former Macy’s-area corner. Although outside the immediate Waikīkī boundary, she said the scale of the project would affect surrounding districts. She criticized the limited community benefits associated with its density bonuses, citing 69 affordable units compared with 269 residential units plus a condominium-hotel component. A board member noted that the development area had appeared in previously approved transit-oriented development plans and urged residents to engage early when broad plans are written rather than waiting until construction begins. Moriwaki agreed that when substantial variances are granted, the public should seek stronger benefits such as additional affordable housing and community amenities.
Kauhale Audit and Emergency Procurement
Community members raised strong concerns about a state audit of the Kauhale housing program, alleging millions of dollars in improper or poorly controlled spending, unauthorized travel, weak contract scopes, and misuse of emergency-proclamation authority. Senator Moriwaki said the Senate Health and Human Services Committee planned a hearing in early November and that the audit appeared to reveal only part of the problem. Approximately $43 million had reportedly been provided over several years, and she said the investigation could result in referral to the attorney general or another enforcement body. Future legislation may require competitive bids and ordinary management controls even during declared emergencies.
Moriwaki cautioned against characterizing all government activity as corrupt. She explained that emergency proclamations temporarily waived ordinary procurement and civil-service rules to speed construction of Kauhale and ʻOhana Zone projects, but those waivers were allegedly treated too broadly. She said lawmakers would examine ways to preserve emergency flexibility while requiring multiple bids, clear contract authority, and compliance with state law.
Representative Adrian Tam’s Report
Representative Adrian Tam said his office had been working with the Hawaiʻi Green Infrastructure Authority on legislation to help older condominiums improve storm resistance through Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience, or C-PACER, financing. A resident objected that C-PACER debt is tied to property assessments, may carry unfavorable rates and fees, could be difficult to allocate among condominium units, and might complicate unit sales. Tam said discussions would continue on how to improve the program.
His office also referred complaints about unauthorized overnight parking at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor to DLNR, which was working with its parking vendor on enforcement. Tam reported no complaints from Hula’s or Tapas during the October 3 extended-hours test but said Pride and Halloween would provide more meaningful tests. He praised both businesses for appearing before the board and contrasted their engagement with Kelly O’Neil’s, which he said had not attended board meetings despite repeated fights associated with the establishment appearing on social media.
Governor’s Report on Storm Recovery and Grid Resilience
The governor’s representative said the administration’s recent focus had been storm recovery and electric-grid resilience. Governor Josh Green was working with the president to secure two major federal disaster declarations under a 75 percent federal and 25 percent local cost-sharing arrangement. FEMA assistance would supplement city and county recovery work.
Residents were also advised that the Public Utilities Commission was conducting statewide hearings on Hawaiian Electric’s proposed rate rebasing. Because the proposal could affect household electricity costs, the representative encouraged residents to submit testimony online or attend a hearing.
Kauhale Housing Results and Unsheltered Population Debate
The governor’s representative defended the outcomes of the Kauhale program while supporting investigation of financial misconduct. Citing administration figures, he said the statewide unsheltered count fell 13 percent from 2024 to 2026 and declined by more than 20 percent on Oʻahu. Kauhale and associated services had reportedly provided 900 beds and stable housing or support to more than 2,900 formerly houseless people, including medically fragile adults, older residents, and families with children. The governor’s office disputed some descriptions of approximately $6.1 million in unauthorized payments.
A resident questioned the origin of the 2,900 figure, noting that shelter counts showed only about 600 additional sheltered people over two years and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s overall houseless population had remained near 4,500 for many years. The representative said the figure was based on point-in-time count information but would need to provide further details.
Three-Unit Development Near Laniakea
A planning consultant for J.S. Sullivan presented a proposed three-unit condominium project on a long-vacant, approximately 4,500-square-foot site identified as 432 Kalaimoku Street near the rear of the Laniakea condominium. The parcel, roughly 50 by 90 feet, has reportedly remained vacant for about 25 years and lies within the apartment precinct of the Waikīkī Special District. Although the area permits buildings up to 300 feet, the proposed development would be a small, three-unit infill project.
Each unit would contain roughly 1,500 square feet. The ground level would provide one parking stall per unit, a small bathroom or shower area, and a compact flex or storage room. The second level would contain two bedrooms and two bathrooms, while the third level would contain the kitchen, dining room, living room, and powder room. An uncovered rooftop area would include a counter and sink for outdoor use. A driveway would run along the makai side, and landscaping would be installed wherever the constrained site permits. The site lies in flood zone AO, with a stated two-foot flood depth, but occupied living areas would be elevated above the ground floor. The contemporary design would use earth tones and natural materials to comply with Waikīkī Special District standards.
An environmental assessment was in preparation. Entitlements were expected to be completed in 2027, with construction possibly beginning toward the end of that year depending on building-permit processing. Unit prices had not been determined. The board approved the project concept while reserving the right to comment during environmental review; one member voted against it because of concern that the rooftop and layout could create a “party pad.”
Adjournment
After extending the meeting to complete the remaining agenda items, the board concluded following the three-unit development presentation and concept vote. The chair thanked attendees, agency representatives, elected officials, business owners, and community members for remaining through the lengthy meeting.