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Makakilo ◦ Mililani Town ◦ Waipahu ◦ Waikele ◦ Royal Kunia ◦ Village Park |
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E Komo Mai … Aloha and Welcome |
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Key Meeting Dates
1/23, 2/20, 3/19, 4/16, 5/7, 6/4, 7/23, 8/20, 9/24, 10/15, 11/12, & 12/3
Full Council meeting at 10:00 a.m. at Honolulu Hale
Latest Council agenda
4th Wednesday of each month
Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board meets at Kapolei High School Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m.
Click here for Makakilo report
Mililani/Melemanu/Waipio Neighborhood Board meets at MTA Rec. Center III at 7:30 p.m.
Click here for Mililani report
4th Thursday of each month
Waipahu Neighborhood Board meets at Fil-Com Center Ballroom at 7:00 p.m.
Click here for Waipahu report
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Aloha, and welcome to my District 9 home page. This format allows me to provide timely information to the communities of District 9 using the tools of Internet technology. |
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Our focus will be on news and information from the City & County of Honolulu. We are also providing useful links to other sources of information such as the neighborhood boards that serve District 9.
As a local boy growing up in Waipahu, I have always felt a unique sense of pride and responsibility to give back to the community that made me who I am today. Whether as a legislator, businessman, or even as your neighbor, I consider myself blessed to have the opportunity and privilege to be in a position to help others.
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I hope you fully utilize this service to stay current with district activities and to communicate the issues that matter most to you. I look forward to your feedback.
Please feel free to email me at ngarcia@honolulu.gov or call me at my office at 768-5009 to share your thoughts and concerns or just to say "Hello!"
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Taking a Closer Look at the EzWay Proposal
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On October 14th, one of the mayoral candidates debut a competing plan to the City's proposed rail transit project.
Based on community comments in the days following the release of the EzWay Bus Rapid Transit plan, my staff and I drove the proposed EzWay project from Ewa through Downtown based on the description and map provided to the media, as well as from the computer modeling shown on the sponsor's website. We've included our observations in this attached Microsoft PowerPoint photo album showing the proposed EzWay route and the challenges facing this proposal.
Photo of existing single lane on-ramp near Honolulu International Airport showing the approximate size and width of the proposed EzWay single lane on/off ramp.
Although the Council has looked at iterations of a BRT bus based transit plan since 2005, the public has not had the opportunity to review the vast amounts of information provided to the Expert Panel and to Council members which led to the selection of steel on steel.
Toward that end, on October 23rd, the Transportation and Public Works Committee asked Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Director Gordon Lum to provide the committee, and the public viewing on Olelo, with an overview of the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan. As head of the Organization responsible for coordinating federal transportation funding for Oahu, Lum briefed the members on the process that transportation projects must meet to qualify for federal funds.
"ORTP 2030 is a fiscally balanced plan required by a number of state and federal mandates and requirements, which include the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users ("SAFETEALU"). These requirements, mandated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, verifies the eligibility of metropolitan areas for federal funds earmarked for surface transportation systems through the year 2030, and as such, projected costs must be balanced against anticipated revenues," Lum said.
"An elevated reversible HOV viaduct, similar to what was proposed last week is not on the ORTP 2030. The project approved by the Council and the Policy Committee of OahuMPO in April 2006 and May 2007 is for a 20-mile fixed guideway from East Kapolei to Ala Moana. In order to be eligible for federal funding, new proposals must be accurate and consistent with the ORTP 2030 (or its future update). The next update scheduled for the ORTP is anticipated to be approved by April 2011," Lum said.
Finally, both Honolulu dailies review the proposed alternate plan and have come out in support of the City's proposed transit project.
Click here for the Star-Bulletin's story and the Advertiser's editorial in support of transit.
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Mark Your Calendars… The next Central Oahu Sustainable
Communities Plan Review Update scheduled for November 6th |
On Thursday, November 6th, the Department of Planning and Permitting will conduct a discussion group meeting at Waipahu Elementary School at 7:00 p.m. with community stakeholders to discuss the transportation plans being considered by the City Department of Transportation Services and the State Department of Transportation for Central Oahu, with much of the discussion being focused on how best to proceed with the Plan Review update.
This will be similar to the meeting held on Wednesday, September 3rd, with Mililani stakeholders at Mililani Recreation Center 6.
Sharing thoughts and opinions on traffic and transportation at the informal discussion group
Thanks you to Director Henry Eng and his departmental managers, who listened to our community's desire for later meetings and made this a priority for his department. Mahalo!
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Castle & Cooke celebrates Mililani's 40th Anniversary |
On October 24th, I joined my state colleagues, Senator Ron Menor and Representatives Marilyn Lee and Ryan Yamane in honoring Castle and Cooke on the 40th Anniversary of the Mililani community.
Representatives of Castle & Cooke Homes, Ron, Marilyn, Ryan and Nestor celebrate Mililani's 40th Anniversary
The planning for Mililani began in 1958 as representatives of Castle & Cooke, Dole Pineapple, professional planners, community leaders and hundreds of local homeowners and prospective buyers met to create Oahu's first totally master-planned, fee simple residential community. In the summer of 1968, the first increment of homes went on sale.
Currently home to more than 50,000 people in more than 16,000 residential dwellings, Mililani features seven recreation centers, numerous shopping centers and restaurants, and more than twenty parks on 3,500 acres of land, and was named Hawaii's only "All-America City" by the Citizen's Forum on Self Government of the National Municipal League in Washington, D.C. in 1986.
Click here to view a copy of the Mililani 40th Anniversary Honorary Certificate.
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Wahiawa Transit Center approved by Transportation Committee |
On Thursday, October 23rd, the Transportation and Public Works committee approved the long-awaited Wahiawa Transit Center lease between the City and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Location of the proposed Wahiawa Transit Center
When completed, this will be the sixth Transit Center constructed, joining Waipahu, Mililani, Kapolei, Waianae, and University Circle.
The Department intends to proceed with the completion of their EIS for the project which will include the construction of a two story parking structure. If all goes well, the project will be put out for bid in the summer of 2009.
This resolution is set for passage on Wednesday, November 12th at the full Council meeting. Your positive testimony in support would greatly assist in expediting the development of the project.
Please send your testimony to: http://www.honolulu.gov/council/emailccl.htm
Mahalo for your support!
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Waipahu's Lighthouse Outreach Church celebrates their 11th Anniversary |
Throughout Waipahu, the Lighthouse Outreach Center is known for being a dependable and community minded organization that does whatever it can for its neighbors, the residents and families of Waipahu. From October 17th to 19th, the Lighthouse Outreach Church in Waipahu celebrated its 11th Anniversary.
Lighthouse Outreach Church's Pastor Joe Hunkin, along with Keoni Adric and Alyssa Kane, after giving the Message of Aloha at the Council on September 24th
Lighthouse Outreach Center currently provides food, furniture and other assistance year-round to those-in-need. It is has "adopted" the lengths of Waipahu Street and Paiwa Street, and whenever graffiti appears we know that it will be quickly painted out by church volunteers.
Lighthouse is a key participant in the regular trash clean ups of the greater Waipahu area as evidenced by the 150 volunteers they brought out on October 4th as part of the City-sponsored Make a Difference Day in Waipahu, and is also well known for its annual pre-Thanksgiving feast for the hungry that draws hundreds from around the island each November.
In preparation of their weekend celebration, members of the church went out and conducted a beautification clean up and graffiti paint out of the Waipahu area leading up to their weekend events.
Members of the Soul Patrol out beautifying areas of Waipahu
Mahalo to Pastor Hunkin and the members of Lighthouse Outreach Church for all that they do in Waipahu.
Click here to view a copy of Lighthouse Outreach Church's Honorary Certificate.
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Waipahu graduate's artwork wins National Biotech recognition |
On Wednesday, October 15th, the Council honored 2008 Waipahu High School graduate Bryson Espresion for winning his age group category in a national poster competition for Indianapolis based biotechnology company Lily BioDreaming.
Award-winning artiste Bryson Espresion, along with mom, Gemma Espresion, and grandparents Rosendo and Rose Ancheta at the Council.
Sponsored by Lily BioDreaming and Dow Agro Sciences, the competition recognizes student artwork that conveys the promise and achievements of biotechnology. Hundreds of K-12 students from across the United States submitted posters that followed the theme of biotechnology's ability to enhance human health, food supply and the environment.
The top 12 winners like Bryson were invited to a recognition celebration at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis in July. The winners also had their artwork displayed on the Biotechnology Institute's website, at the Biotechnology Institute's Annual Conference on Biotechnology Education in San Diego, CA, and at the 2008 Biotechnology Industry Organizations Convention in San Diego, CA where over 20,000 attendees were able to view the student's posters.
Artistic accolades are nothing new to Bryson Espresion. His graphic depictions have been recognized both on a national level as well as locally. With awards ranging from "overall best-in-show" to "high honors," Bryson's art has been featured in exhibits at Carnegie Hall in New York, Honolulu Hale and in the O'ahu Yellow Page directory.
Click here to view a copy of Bryson Espresion's Honorary Certificate.
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5 Things to Consider about Transit
Congested State Facilities
Insufficient Federal and State Highway funds
HOT Lanes or Managed Lanes are not Transit Projects
Rubber Tire Systems have rails too
West Oahu residents already pay additional fees for infrastructure |
Whenever I've been out and about in our community over the past few years, people have stopped and asked me about my support of Transit.
Rail opponents have done a good job in confusing the public at large. It is my hope that people take the time to take an INTEREST in what's occurring around them, learn what the ISSUES are, and get INVOLVED to make our quality of life even better for our keiki.
When comparing alternate ideas against the City's proposed Transit plans, here are some things I ask people to consider:
1. The congestion that we experience at peak driving hours occurs on State facilities and not City roads.
o H-1, H-2, H-3, Kamehameha Highway, Farrington Highway, Pali Highway, Likelike Highway, and Kalanianaole Highway are State operated and maintained facilities.
o All federal highway funds available through 2030 ($3 billion) are already programmed for highway improvements including:
i. H-1 - Widening/Adding HOV lanes/PM Zipper lane
ii. New Roadways in Kapolei
iii. Road Widening
o About $90 million per year in federal funds expected for Oahu in the next four years.
i. Of the $90 million, only about $19 million per year are programmed for City sponsored projects.
Source: Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization & State DOT presentation, "Transportation Financing, August 20, 2008"
Click here to view a copy of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization's Regional Transportation Plan 2030 update.
Click here to view the August 20th State DOT presentation in its entirety.
2. There is not enough Federal and State Highway funds to construct additional roadway capacity in the near future.
o The federal funding used to build H-1, H-2 and H-3 is no longer available.
o The United States Highway Trust Fund, founded by the 1956 Highway Revenue Act, is a transportation fund with three accounts - the bulk composed by the 'Highway Fund', a smaller Mass Transit Account and a comparatively small Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.
o Money in the fund is raised indirectly via a federal fuel tax of 18.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents per gallon of diesel fuel and related excise taxes.
o Of those amounts, the Mass Transit Account receives a portion of the motor fuel taxes, usually 2.86 cents per gallon, as does the Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund, usually 0.1 cent per gallon. Most of the remaining funds go into the Highway Fund.
o Revenues for the Highway Trust Fund are expected to fall short of planned federal spending in 2009. Congress needed to infuse $8.017 billion into the Highway Fund in September to keep the fund solvent. A$16 billion shortfall projected nationally for FY 2010.
o The shortfall is attributable to Americans driving less. In comparing July 2008 against July 2007, the decrease was 3.6 percent less, or 9.6 billion miles fewer, and was the 9th consecutive monthly decrease in vehicle miles traveled.
o Since last November, Americans have driven 62.6 billion miles less than they did over the same nine-month period last year.
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