No 09 Waikīkī Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting November 2026
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9 Waikiki Neighborhood Board Meeting – November 12, 2026
Opening and Quorum
The Waikīkī Neighborhood Board opened its November meeting with only a narrow quorum. Chair Finley welcomed attendees and board members introduced themselves by subdistrict and committee role. The meeting was supported by Neighborhood Assistant Anson and audio technician Jordan. The board confirmed that it will recess in December, making this the final regular meeting of 2026, with the next meeting scheduled for January 12, 2027.
Honolulu Fire Department Report
The Honolulu Fire Department reported October incidents within the board’s geographic area. Firefighters responded to one structure fire, four nuisance fires involving rubbish outside a structure or vehicle, one cooking fire, 23 activated alarms, 186 medical emergencies, one motor-vehicle collision, one ocean rescue, and one hazardous-materials incident. The department also offered holiday travel and home-safety guidance, urging residents to drive sober and alert, avoid cell-phone distractions and drowsy driving, arrange designated drivers or rideshares when alcohol is involved, use seat belts and appropriate child restraints, keep medications and emergency information accessible, turn off holiday lights, and close doors before leaving home or going to bed. No questions were raised by the board, public, or online participants.
Honolulu Police Department Crime and Enforcement Statistics
The Honolulu Police Department presented October statistics for Waikīkī. Police recorded two robberies, seven burglaries, 103 theft cases, seven unauthorized-entry-into-motor-vehicle cases, 44 assaults, and eight sexual crimes. Officers issued two speeding citations, 1,192 parking citations, 43 prohibited-noise citations, and 71 park-closure citations. HPD also made 10 arrests for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. Approximately 4,100 calls for service were handled in Waikīkī during the month, a substantial workload compared with many districts, though Urban Honolulu typically receives more calls. HPD noted that prohibited-noise enforcement had risen considerably compared with earlier months. Park-closure enforcement is handled largely by the ATV detail after midnight in locations including Kapiʻolani Park and the Kūhiō Beach area between the Waikīkī Walls and the police substation.
Park-Closure Citations and Arrests
In response to a question about when a person found in a closed park receives a citation rather than being arrested, HPD explained that the decision is generally left to officer discretion. An arrest becomes more likely when a person cannot provide an address, has an outstanding warrant, has previously been warned, or has already received a criminal summons. Otherwise, officers may issue a summons requiring the person to appear in court later.
Chemical-Spraying Assault and Community Reporting
A resident described a man who had allegedly been mixing household chemicals, including laundry detergent, in a sprayer and deliberately spraying the mixture at pedestrians, trees, and plants. Video posted online reportedly showed the individual preparing and spraying the substance. After an initial police response did not result in immediate action, the resident filed an assault complaint and the man was arrested, but a judge later released him under supervision and denied a prosecution request for a pretrial geographic restriction. The resident expressed concern that the individual appeared mentally unstable and might return to the area. HPD said the video had been important to the case and advised residents who witness dangerous or suspicious conduct to call 911, clearly state the location and activity, describe the person and clothing involved, and remain on scene if they feel safe doing so. Witnesses willing to identify themselves and participate in a case provide stronger support for probable-cause arrests and prosecution, although anonymous reports are still useful. HPD emphasized that police make arrests based on probable cause, while judges determine release conditions and later court proceedings.
Concerns About Released Violent Offenders
A board member reported seeing a man previously arrested in connection with a fatal stabbing walking along Kalākaua Avenue with a Safeway shopping cart containing sticks and other objects. The speaker said the person had been released because prosecutors were unable to obtain a complaint and urged police to monitor him, citing both the prior violence and the prohibition on shopping carts in Waikīkī. HPD agreed that the circumstances described were disturbing. Later in the meeting, board members also raised concerns with state officials about judges releasing violent or persistently disruptive offenders and asked legislators to use the longer judicial-confirmation period approved by Constitutional Amendment 1 to scrutinize judicial nominees more closely.
Loud Mufflers, Street Racing, and the New Waikīkī Traffic Detail
Residents said motorcycle and vehicle noise remains severe at night despite the increase to 43 prohibited-noise citations. One resident documented 33 separate noise events near Fort DeRussy on a recent Saturday, including loud motorcycles, amplified music, and groups totaling more than 100 motorcycles circulating until approximately 5 a.m. The resident said straight-pipe exhaust systems could be heard even through earplugs and asked for stronger enforcement and higher penalties, citing New York rules that can impose a $1,000 first-offense fine and treat a motorcycle audible from 200 feet as unlawful without requiring a sound meter. Specific speeding locations identified included an approximately 800-foot section of Kalākaua Avenue beside Fort DeRussy, where motorcycles were said to accelerate to 60 or 70 mph in a 25-mph zone, and Ala Moana Boulevard approaching Kalākaua.
HPD announced that Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan’s reassignment of officers from nonpatrol positions had provided District 6 with additional personnel. Major Paul Okamoto and Captain Toma consequently created Waikīkī’s first district-based traffic task force, consisting of a sergeant and a team of officers assigned exclusively to traffic enforcement in Waikīkī. Its priorities include speeding, impaired driving, loud mufflers, and reckless driving. The unit is also expected to conduct Friday- and Saturday-night roadblocks at varying locations. HPD supported discussion of stronger monetary penalties but noted that officers issue citations while the law and courts establish fine amounts. The department plans to report results from the new detail at a future meeting.
Foot Patrols and Police Visibility
A resident suggested that officers on foot could identify recurring loud vehicles and communicate descriptions to mobile units. HPD responded that foot patrols are not well suited to stopping fast-moving traffic, but announced that a new visibility initiative was beginning that night. Officers would park and walk in key areas of Waikīkī’s two policing sectors between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m., with posts near Kalākaua Avenue and the Princess Kaʻiulani Hotel/International Market Place area and near Kalākaua at Lewers and Seaside. The watch commander explained that only 12 officers were working that night, limiting how many could be assigned to fixed foot posts, but two would be taken out of vehicles for the new effort. HPD will evaluate the program after collecting operational data.
Electric Scooters and Bicycles on the Ala Wai Promenade
A resident reported that electric scooters and bicycles were traveling at high speeds, sometimes estimated at up to 50 mph, along the pedestrian promenade beside the Ala Wai Canal. Because the vehicles are quiet, pedestrians and people walking dogs may have little warning before they pass. HPD clarified that the Ala Wai promenade is intended exclusively for pedestrian use; bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, and similar devices are not permitted there. The department agreed to consider targeted enforcement and said that, beyond education, citations may be necessary to change unsafe behavior. The resident supported enforcement despite not wanting riders to get into trouble, emphasizing that the conduct had become aggressive and dangerous.
Peddling and Shopping-Cart Legislation
A new resident asked whether the proposed antipeddling measure would affect religious proselytizing and how police would enforce the antipeddling and shopping-cart proposals. HPD said active peddling operations were already taking place near the International Market Place and on the ocean side of hotels, where unauthorized commercial activity had expanded. Police were coordinating with Kūhiō-area businesses and others, but the officer did not have enough information to discuss the shopping-cart ordinance. Participants clarified that the shopping-cart measure had not yet become law. Later, a board member reported that the City Council had advanced it by a 7-2 vote and that it would return to Councilmember Augie Tulba’s committee before a final vote at the following month’s Council meeting. The board also urged the mayor to support and sign Bills 52 and 53, identified as the antipeddling and shopping-cart measures.
Capital-Improvement Planning and Sunshine Law Concerns
Former Mānoa Neighborhood Board chair Dylan Armstrong urged the Waikīkī board to prepare capital-improvement requests before the compressed state and city budget windows. He noted that Senator Sharon Moriwaki serves as vice chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and could influence state infrastructure appropriations, including improvements to state-managed ocean and recreation facilities. He advised the board to organize requests soon after returning from recess in January because state bill-introduction deadlines arrive quickly. He also noted that incoming Councilmember Trevor Ozawa would participate in the city budget process, generally running from January through early March, and mentioned Representative Adrian Tam’s role at the Legislature. Armstrong additionally referenced litigation filed by resident Tim Garry against City Council members over an alleged backroom agreement and possible violation of the Sunshine Law. Several speakers later reminded officials and board members to comply carefully with open-meeting requirements.
Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor Towing and Parking Citations
Harbor users renewed objections to towing practices at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. A speaker reported that 2,586 vehicles were towed in 2025 while only 25 parking citations were issued. Although Senator Moriwaki sponsored a concurrent resolution encouraging the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create a ticket-first system, the resolution was not binding and DLNR had not established such a process. The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation was instead considering a license-plate-reading camera vehicle under a system that would issue two warnings followed by towing. Harbor users proposed two $40 citations before towing and challenged DOBOR’s description of a $100 first fine, arguing that $100 is the statutory maximum rather than the minimum.
Board members recalled previously writing to DLNR about towing vehicles without first offering a citation and agreed that little progress had been made. The matter was deferred from the crowded November agenda, but the chair agreed it could return in January, with supporters seeking placement on the January 12 agenda and offering a draft resolution. Another resident who parks at the harbor to surf at Bowls and Rockpiles supported a citation-first policy. Senator Moriwaki’s office said it would raise the issue at its next harbor stakeholder meeting and examine why towing, rather than ticketing, remains the first financial penalty. State officials also agreed that confusing parking boundaries, hours, signs, and space markings need improvement.
Ala Moana Park Towing Signs
A harbor user also reported that a friend’s son was towed from Ala Moana Regional Park, where only two small and badly faded towing notices could be seen near the entrances. Because drivers are entering while traffic is behind them, the speaker said the signs are easy to miss and requested an inspection and clearer notices stating when all vehicles will be towed. The speaker contrasted the park’s closing and towing schedule with the harbor’s 10:30 p.m. deadline.
Nāʻāhua Avenue Restroom and Kapahulu Conditions
A board member thanked the Parks Department for reopening the restroom at Nāʻāhua Avenue and reported that it had operated properly for several months. The member asked that pump-truck servicing be placed on a regular schedule so the system does not clog again. Parks spokesperson Nate Serota credited maintenance staff and Deputy Director Kehau Puu for working with contractors to complete the repairs. Other speakers cautioned that the reopened restroom had also become a gathering place for intoxicated and recently released individuals.
A separate concern involved encampments, trash, people lying near Rainbow Drive-In, and multiple shopping carts along Kapahulu Avenue and behind a water-pump station. A resident described the corridor entering Waikīkī as increasingly resembling “Skid Row” and asked the mayor and the neighboring HPD district to respond. The issue was noted as outside Waikīkī’s police district but directly affecting a major approach to the neighborhood.
Upcoming Parades, Runs, and Traffic Impacts
The chair announced events expected to affect traffic in Waikīkī, with starting and ending times subject to shifting by approximately 30 minutes. The Honolulu Marathon Clinic Turkey Trot and Fun Run was scheduled for November 26 from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., followed by the Waikīkī Holiday Parade on November 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Street Bikers United Toys for Tots Caravan was scheduled for December 6 from 10:30 a.m. to noon and was expected to generate motorcycle noise along Kalākaua before proceeding up the Ala Wai. The Pearl Harbor Memorial Anniversary Parade was scheduled for December 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the Annual Merry Mile Run for December 12 from 4:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The Honolulu Marathon was corrected to Sunday, December 13, running from 2:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade was tentatively expected on January 18 at approximately 8:30 a.m.; because it is a First Amendment event, its organizers are not required to apply six months in advance.
Mayor’s Office Report
The mayor’s representative highlighted a surge in affordable-housing projects, the opening of three new emergency medical services stations on Oʻahu, and the December 5 opening of Honolulu City Lights at Honolulu Hale. Major Paul Okamoto, commander of HPD District 6, was selected as the Mayor’s Manager of the Year by an outside committee from nominees across 26 city departments and agencies. Board members congratulated him for work in both Waikīkī and Chinatown.
The Department of Facility Maintenance also responded to an earlier request about a leftover street-sign post in the Seaside Avenue median near Aloha Drive. The department was checking original plans and expected by the end of November to replace any noncompliant post with a Telespar post and correct signage. A board member urged the administration to prioritize infrastructure and maintenance in the 2027 budget and to revitalize the Biki bikeshare system, citing fewer available bicycles and deteriorating equipment despite recent additional funding.
Kūhiō Beach Beach-Boy Concessions
The Department of Enterprise Services responded to questions about beach-chair, umbrella, and canoe concessions at Kūhiō Beach. The city’s nonprofit Beach Boy associations are expected to generate more than $1 million annually in chair and umbrella rental receipts, although DES does not track nearby private businesses whose customers carry rented equipment onto the beach. The report did not specify what percentage of concession receipts returns to the city, and residents requested clarification about lease terms and revenue sharing.
DES said concessionaires may not preset chairs and umbrellas and has implemented a ticketing system intended to reduce the practice. It will remind the nonprofit associations of the prohibition during regular contract oversight. Residents were asked to report violations with the date, time, location, and photographs to DESConcessions@honolulu.gov. The two stands near the Duke Kahanamoku statue may rent umbrellas to customers between the banyan tree and the comfort station, while the stand near the Kapahulu groin serves the immediate surrounding area. Each nonprofit association may place one canoe above the high-water mark between the two principal stands near the statue.
Residents said the boundaries remained unclear and alleged that stands preset equipment daily, occupy excessive portions of the public beach, and in one case keep two canoes rather than one. One event organizer said a concession worker produced a map claiming exclusive year-round use of an area even though the organizer held a permit to place a tent there. Participants asked DES and the Parks Department to provide the official maps and explain enforcement responsibilities in January. Another resident warned that reducing Beach Boy activity could leave vacated sand vulnerable to encampments after business hours, while others maintained that permit holders and the public must retain access to public beach space.
444–448 Keoniana Street Affordable-Housing Project
The Department of Planning and Permitting addressed concerns about a proposed development at 444 and 448 Keoniana Street. The project was initially misstated as a 50-story building, but a resident corrected the description to approximately 50 units; the applicable Bill 7 height limit was said to be 60 feet. DPP reported that the development is being processed under Chapter 32 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, which does not require a neighborhood-board presentation and exempts the project from special-district requirements. DPP therefore cannot compel the developer, 444 Manifami LLC, to appear before the board. DPP also determined on December 2, 2022, under Hawaiʻi Administrative Rules Sections 11-200.1-15(c)(10) and 11-200.1-15(d), that no environmental assessment was required.
A nearby resident said large holes had been excavated, pile-driving had occurred, stormwater had collected in the site, and a fallen fence had left the property accessible to children. The resident also cited a crumbling sidewalk, graffiti, parking issues, and difficulty finding the project on DPP’s online list of Bill 7 developments. The resident questioned whether construction was advancing without adequate permits or neighborhood disclosure. Board members asked the mayor’s office to obtain the building-permit number so the public can review the permit file and establish what approvals, inspections, and environmental determinations apply.
Senator Moriwaki’s Office and State Capital Projects
Senator Moriwaki’s capital-improvement specialist said the office is developing projects along the Waikīkī shoreline from Fort DeRussy to the zoo. One project had already begun, and funding was available for a comprehensive plan expected to be completed around mid-2027, after which additional shoreline work could proceed. Residents and the board were encouraged to submit other state-park or state-facility priorities before the 2027 legislative session.
At the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, the office is coordinating with DLNR, the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, HPD, and other agencies on security and maintenance. Potential investments include security cameras, dock locks, improved parking areas, clearer signs, and general repairs. The senator’s staff agreed that parking regulations and wayfinding are currently difficult even for residents to interpret and said these concerns would be brought into ongoing stakeholder meetings.
Ala Wai Canal Debris, Dredging, and Flood Planning
Senator Moriwaki’s office is working with the Department of Transportation and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering on a funded, long-term design effort to intercept debris before it reaches the Ala Wai Canal and ocean. Concepts under consideration include detention basins on feeder streams that would temporarily hold stormwater and allow debris to settle before controlled drainage, scheduled cleaning of watersheds, enforcement of private-property maintenance obligations, and additional debris booms. Officials cautioned that any design must avoid worsening flooding near schools, homes, and private property.
Board members asked that the project be coordinated with DLNR’s regular canal dredging schedule to prevent duplicated work. A resident reported that the last dredging occurred during 2020 and concluded in early 2021. Another participant suggested revisiting a Sustainable Coastlines concept modeled on Baltimore’s current-powered “trash wheel,” which mechanically removes floating debris. State staff agreed to explore the idea.
The Army Corps of Engineers’ larger Ala Wai Flood Control Project was described as shelved rather than formally canceled. Senator Moriwaki’s office said it is seeking a lower-impact approach that could produce similar flood-protection benefits without the property and community impacts that prompted strong opposition to the Army Corps plan.
State Business Registration System
A resident raised concerns about the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ redesigned business-registration system. During a Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee briefing, legislators reportedly heard that the software transition and data integration were not working properly and that records submitted months earlier remained uncorrected online. The resident cited a July filing for the Kūpuna Council that had still not been updated, questioned project oversight and spending, and urged Senator Moriwaki to examine whether leadership changes were needed within DCCA. The senator’s representative agreed to relay the concerns.
Representative Adrian Tam’s Report
Representative Tam thanked voters for returning him to office. He reported that DOBOR was working with Secure Parking LLC to enforce parking laws and remove derelict vehicles at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. The harbor boat ramp was closed from November 2 through December 31 for floating-dock replacement.
Tam also announced a Liquor Commission hearing concerning the Class 10 Special License Pilot Program, under which approved liquor establishments may remain open two additional hours, from 2 a.m. until 4 a.m. The chief investigator was expected to provide a public overview. Tam’s office, like Senator Moriwaki’s, was undergoing renovation but remained available for in-person or virtual meetings.
In response to continued complaints about nighttime traffic noise, Tam said the state Department of Transportation expected to finish collecting data from noise-detection cameras by early 2027. The data could support legislation and enforcement mechanisms that allow the cameras to generate citations. Tam said he was continuing to work with Senator Moriwaki and intended to meet with Chief Logan about noise enforcement and possible stronger laws.
Waikīkī Improvement Association and Community Events
Trevor Ozawa, who became chief executive officer of the Waikīkī Improvement Association on July 1 following Rick Egged’s retirement, reported that the organization continues to manage the Waikīkī Business Improvement District, Waikīkī Transportation Management Association, and Beach Special Improvement District. The Aloha Festivals’ month-long program, including the parade and Hoʻolauleʻa street festival, drew large crowds and was considered successful, with plans to expand future celebrations.
The association also supported the July 4 fireworks display, which now costs close to $100,000 and is funded by corporate sponsors. The beach crowd was described as one of the largest seen in Waikīkī. For 2027, WIA wants to organize more resident-oriented activities and smaller street festivals, possibly using side streets rather than repeatedly closing Kalākaua Avenue. A board member proposed capitalizing on Honolulu’s position as the last major U.S. metropolitan area to enter the new year by creating a New Year’s Eve drop, possibly using a pineapple or surfboard rather than a ball. WIA supported developing the idea for December 31, 2027, while noting that sponsorship, city permits, police support, and a year of planning would be necessary.
Waikīkī Homeless Count and Beach Encampments
WIA reported the results of its twice-yearly homeless count conducted with the University of Hawaiʻi. The latest count showed an approximately 5% decline from April 2026 and nearly a 25% decline from September 2022 across the broader survey area. In the principal Kalākaua Avenue, Kūhiō Avenue, and beach corridor, the count had dropped from approximately 111 people in September 2022 to 10 in April 2026, then increased to about 23 in the latest count. WIA stressed that the percentage increase from 10 to 23 appears dramatic because the starting number was small, while the long-term trend remains substantially lower. Fewer people were also found sleeping in vehicles around Kapiʻolani Park, possibly reflecting city and state housing programs.
A resident attributed the central-corridor increase partly to people sleeping on private beachfront property associated with the Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surfrider hotels, where enforcement requires a trespass complaint rather than a public-park closure citation. The resident also objected to church feedings that attract people from outside Waikīkī. WIA said it was already meeting with the hotels’ security teams, HPD, ambassadors, and service organizations such as the Institute for Human Services to address new hotspots. It emphasized that the reduction since 2022 reflects combined housing, mental-health, outreach, ambassador, and police-enforcement work.
Kūhiō Beach Park Improvements and Public Art
WIA said the Kūhiō Beach Park improvement project was nearing construction. Resort-grade artificial turf and landscaping were expected to begin once a final permit was obtained, with installation anticipated in late December 2026 or early January 2027. Art installations and other positive activations in areas associated with unwanted behavior were planned for early 2027.
One installation will be an approximately six-foot-high “Waikīkī” sign made from surfboard-shaped elements, intended as a recognizable photo location. A hand crank on the back will play different types of music, making the piece interactive. The installation will be movable and removable rather than permanently fixed, allowing it to be replaced or relocated after several years. WIA credited the Parks Department, the mayor’s administration, and the City Council for helping the project advance.
WIA Rebranding, Beautification, and Maintenance Coordination
WIA plans to consolidate the public identity of its several nonprofit entities through a rebrand expected around February or March 2027. The effort will create a common name, appearance, and vision for the Business Improvement District, transportation association, beach district, and related work.
The organization is also exploring hanging flower baskets on Waikīkī light poles, potentially beginning with its next fiscal year in July. It already supplements city landscaping on parts of Kalākaua and Kūhiō, including seasonal poinsettias. Other ideas include more attractive digital event signs, coordinated trash receptacle graphics, and a distinctive Waikīkī gateway or welcome sign.
WIA ambassadors document graffiti, send possible gang-related markings to HPD, remove graffiti from public rights-of-way, and work with private owners to secure permission for cleanup. The association was close to receiving 311 service requests directly so ambassadors could respond quickly to trash, power washing, graffiti, and similar issues within their scope. Sidewalk conditions were also discussed, including loose or missing flagstone and hazardous concrete patches. The city is gradually replacing some failing flagstone with more durable stamped concrete while attempting to retain Waikīkī’s visual character. WIA was also asked to help address overgrown grass and possible fire hazards along the Jefferson Elementary School fence line, a state-owned property.
Centennial and King Kalākaua Parks as On-Leash Dog Parks
The Department of Parks and Recreation asked the board to support designating Centennial Park and King Kalākaua Park as dog-friendly, on-leash areas. Before the department began its expansion effort, dogs were legally permitted to remain in fewer than 15% of the city’s 306 parks and gardens. The first phase doubled the number of on-leash dog parks from 36 to 72. Because the Waikīkī board had not recommended locations during that phase, parks staff returned with the two proposed sites. King Kalākaua Park is located where Kūhiō and Kalākaua avenues divide, near the King Kalākaua statue. Centennial Park was also recommended, although the department is consulting the Rotary Club, which helped establish and continues to maintain the site.
The designation would allow people to remain in the parks with leashed dogs; under current rules they may generally pass through but not stop with their animals. Signs would be changed from “No animals” or “No dogs” to allow dogs on leash, and the city’s website and park rules would be updated. This proposal does not create fenced, off-leash dog parks, which require more infrastructure, usually including fencing and water access. Board members supported both locations and suggested that future off-leash areas could also be evaluated.
Concerns focused on uncontrolled dogs and owners failing to collect waste. The Rotary Club reportedly experiences continuing cleanup problems at Centennial Park and was not enthusiastic about the change. Parks officials said dog-waste bag dispensers had been tested at five parks without the anticipated supply problems and could be installed at Centennial Park, potentially in partnership with the Waikīkī Business Improvement District, which maintains dispensers along the Ala Wai. One resident objected to using tax dollars for bags and restocking, arguing that waste disposal is the owner’s responsibility. Parks staff responded that most owners act responsibly and that bags, education, and peer accountability can encourage compliance without judging all dog owners by a minority of violators. The board unanimously approved a motion supporting designation of both parks as on-leash dog-friendly parks, with the department expected to monitor conditions and provide a broader announcement in January.
Hawaiʻi Youth Drug-Prevention Initiative
The Hawaiʻi High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area prevention team presented its effort to reduce substance use among young people and community members and delay the age at which use begins. HIDTA is a federal grant program with 33 designated areas nationwide, primarily intended to reduce drug trafficking through collaboration among federal, state, and local law-enforcement agencies. Its prevention team focuses on community health and youth engagement.
A statewide Youth Summit is scheduled for March 8 at the Kroc Center. Organizers plan to invite five students from every public, private, and charter high school in Hawaiʻi, accompanied by two adults from each school: an administrator with authority to implement changes and a trusted adult such as a teacher, coach, or mentor. Youth sessions will address the importance of feeling that they matter, participation in community decision-making, grounding in Native Hawaiian and individual school or community cultures, and advocacy through neighborhood boards, social media, peer support, and social-norm campaigns. After the summit, community workgroups will bring participating adults and young people together to address locally identified issues, with youth expected to lead and adults providing resources and support.
Attendance will be free for students and school staff. The Opioid Settlement Fund was expected to help pay travel costs for neighbor-island participants, and the Departments of Health and Education had approved and supported the initiative. Organizers described it as a grassroots, community-by-community effort rather than a mandated government curriculum. They asked communities to become familiar with the program so returning students encounter support rather than having to explain and justify the initiative from the beginning.
Public Safety and Legislative Engagement Committees
The Public Safety and Civil Defense Committee reported that it met on September 17 in person and online, with the HIDTA youth-prevention presentation as its principal item, along with updates on earlier concerns and new laws. The committee normally meets on the third Thursday of every other month from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Waikīkī Business Improvement District office, 2270 Kalākaua Avenue, on the tenth floor, with an online option. Its next meeting was scheduled for November 19. The committee asked that committee minutes be attached to future full-board agendas.
The Legislative Engagement Committee planned a final 2026 meeting during the latter half of November at the same W-BID location. With the 2027 legislative session beginning in January and bill drafting already underway, the meeting will allow residents and board members to propose policies, brainstorm with legislators, and develop ideas raised during the board meeting.
Minutes, Board Business, and Elections
The board approved the October 13, 2026 meeting minutes without correction. It approved the August 11, 2026 minutes after correcting a resident’s name from “Greg Paul” to “Greg Misakian” and deleting language stating that voter intent “should control the litigation.” No objections or abstentions were recorded. No new subdistrict reports were offered, although an absent member recovering from surgery sent holiday wishes and urged everyone to remain safe.
The Neighborhood Commission Office is collecting donations for Toys for Tots. Registration forms for the next neighborhood-board election will become available on December 18, 2026, and voting will conclude on May 21. The board will not meet in December. Its next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, 2027, at 6 p.m. at the Waikīkī Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Avenue, with Webex participation also available.