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WAIMANALO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2008
HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD TRAINING AUDITORIUM
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Ho called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with a quorum of eight members of the total Waimanalo Neighborhood Board No. 32 membership of thirteen seats (with one vacant seat in Sub-District 4 – Banyan Tree) present: (Addington, Akeo, Buck, Ellsworth, Ho, Humphrey, Jamila, Spencer.)
MEMEBRS PRESENT: Beverly Addington, Nani Akeo, Michael Buck, Phillip Ellsworth, Wilson Kekoa Ho, Fred Humphrey, Andrew Jamila, Jr., Solomon Spencer, Cynthia Wahinekapu.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Peter Albinio, David Bettencourt, Mathew Chun,
GUESTS: Lani Ma’a Lapilio (Kuiwalu/Sandwich Isle Communication), Bobbie Kahalewai, Ikaika Anderson (Councilmember Barbara Marshall’s Office staff), Harriet Seaburg, Ofelia Carag (Pope Elementary), Diane Moses (BWS), Sandra Clarke, Rose Lani, Liana Abyayani, Karen Miller, Jaye Aquino, Constance Oki, Kim Kalawei, May Akamine, Mabel Spencer, Captain Tamara Duke (Bellows Air Force Station), Captain Paul Kahele (HFD); Lieutenant David Berg and Sgt. Antonio Bustamante Jr. (Honolulu Police Department – HPD); Major Chris Perine (MCBH), Annette Lee, Leimomi Kekina Dierks, Elwin Spray (Neighborhood Commission Office staff).
WELCOME AND PULE: Chair Ho welcomed the community to the meeting and thanked Anthony and Nancy Symiro for the presented leis. Chair Ho noted that the Board meetings begin with an open prayer, and if an offered prayer might offend anyone now would be the time to remove themselves from the meeting room. At Chair Ho’s request, Ellsworth gave the pule for the evening’s meeting.
FILLING OF VACANCY FOR SUB-DISTRICT 4 BOARD MEMBER: Chair Ho opened the floor to nominations to fill one vacant seat in sub-district 4, which encompasses the Banyan Tree area. Hearing no nominations the position was not filled.
HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT (HFD): Captain Paul Kahele represented the Waimanalo HFD Station and reported the statistics for the month of February 2008 included the following: thirty-five medical emergencies, four miscellaneous calls, one structure fire, and one personal injury that resulted in a death. He offered a monthly Fire Safety Tip on home cooking fires:
Cooking at home can be a fun family activity, but it can also be hazardous if safety steps aren't taken. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, cooking fires are the leading cause of house fires and fire injuries nationwide. The following precautions can be taken to minimize your chances of starting a cooking fire:
1. Do not leave cooking food unattended. If you must leave the kitchen, even briefly, turn off the heat, and take a spoon or oven mitt with you to remind yourself of the food on the stove.
2. Do not become distracted. Attending to children, answering phone calls, watching television, and answering doorbells can have devastating results when the stove is on and unattended.
3. Keep ignitable items, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, or curtains, at least three feet away from the range top.
4. Keep an ABC-rated fire extinguisher near the kitchen, and learn how to use it.
Chair Ho thanked Kahele for his report.
HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT (HPD): Lieutenant David Berg was present and introduced HPD Sergeant Anthony Bustamante. Berg distributed statistics for the month of February 2008, with highlights including the following categories: one aggravated assault, two simple assaults, one auto recovery, two burglaries, one disorderly conduct, three driving-under-the-influence, one motor vehicle theft, seven property damages, thirteen motor vehicle accidents, eleven thefts, one rape, five runaway cases, two runaway cancellations, and one simple assault. Berg also highlighted the monthly and annual comparisons of monthly totals down twenty-three per cent and annual totals down fifteen per cent, pointing to the drop in annual auto thefts by sixty-one per cent. Oki expressed concern over animals being kept in the parks by campers, pointing out that Honolulu Ordinances prohibit pets in parks, with Berg saying that recently seven citations were issued, including citations for some in the campsites, and he would look up the totals for a subsequent meeting. Berg explained that dogs within cars are not cited and that he was not familiar with ordinance restrictions on horses but that he was not aware of any Waimanalo-area concerns about horse use in parks or on beaches. Ellsworth noted that at past meetings there had been reports of HPD monitoring of houses while the residents were on vacation, with his explaining that he had provided notice to HPD. Berg agreed about the program, saying that the beat officers perform a property check of the house by walking around the home, with a vacation form needing to be filed two weeks before the vacation. Chair Ho thanked Berg for the report and thanked Berg and Bustamante for their attendance and service.
Board member Wahinekapu arrived at 7:50 p.m.; nine members present.
MAYOR’S REPRESENTATIVE: Cyndy Aylett represented Mayor Mufi Hannemann and reported on City issues from prior meetings, saying that campsite signs at Waimanalo Park had been adjusted to match the distributed maps and that the Department of Environmental Services (ENV) has awarded a sewer repair contract, with ENV planning to come to a future meeting to explain the repair and the mishap to the board. Chair Ho reported concerns about beach park camping, saying that homeless campers are not vacating the areas on Wednesday and Thursday, but are remaining and establishing more permanent sites on adjacent community property, including what’s now-known as “the Swamp” but previously was the Princess’s Bathing Grounds. Kahalewai asked about the distribution of funds from the Waimanalo Country Fair, explaining that part of E.K. Fernandez’s donation for clean up of the Waimanalo Beach sites was supposed to be for locks on the bathrooms, with Aylett saying she would follow up. Jamila reported a recent park users meeting where bathroom improvements, including the locks, were presented, explaining that the donation’s use has been prioritized for the bathroom’s titles, real doors on toilets, seats and the securing mechanisms, and also for cinders for the field and water heaters for the showers, adding that sports organizations are the primary members of the park users group. M. Spencer said that prior to the sports complex meeting the park priorities had been for playground equipment with Jamila explaining that the funding for playground equipment had already been set aside and a contractor is being sought. Chair Ho thanked Aylett for her report.
COUNCILMEMBER BARBARA MARSHALL: Ikaika Anderson, of Council Chair Marshall’s Office staff, represented Councilmember Marshall and submitted a community report, which reported background, concerns and alternatives about the Honolulu Fixed Guideway Project and announced planned community meetings, including one for 7:00 p.m. on April 9, 2008 at the Waimanalo Public Library. Chair Ho thanked Anderson for his report.
APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 0F NOVEMBER 13, 2007 AND FEBRUARY 11, 2008: Chair Ho ask for corrections or additions to the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 13, 2007, with Jamila moving and Humphrey seconding a motion of approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 13, 2007. Ellsworth said he would abstain since he was not at the meeting. Chair Ho announced the motion passed by a 8-0-1 vote. Aye: Addington, Akeo, Buck, Ho, Humphrey, Jamila, Spencer, Wahinekapu. Abstain: Ellsworth. Chair Ho ask for additional corrections or additions to the Regular Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2008, noting a need to change (at the bottom of page 5, Hirano’s name). Addington moved and Jamila seconded for approval of the Regular Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2008, with Chair Ho announcing the motion passed unanimously 9-0-0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
BOARD SUPPORT OF HUI MALAMA O KE KAI: Chair Ho noted proposed support for Hui Malama O Ke Kai, discussing that at the February Waimanalo Neighborhood Board meeting there was a request for support letters to enable applications for federal grants in support of safe and drug-free schools, with Chair Ho explaining he would produce the final letter. Jamila moved and Addington seconded that the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board support Hui Malama O Ke Kai with letters of support for proposed applications for federal grants for projects of safe and drug-free schools. Chair Ho announced the motion passed unanimously 9-0-0.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SANDWICH ISLE COMMUNICATION: Lani Ma’a Lapilio was present to introduce the Sandwich Isle phone system, which was set up to tie together the beneficiaries of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), with Sandwich Isle as the selected vendor for DHHL. She explained that Sandwich Isle is connecting the islands with cable and that a special informational meeting is set for March 6, 2008 at the Homestead Association. Chair Ho asked if it would include all 426 prefix phones or only homesteads, with the explanation that currently the project is limited to homes without phones until such time as the whole system is established. Addington asked about rates, with the answer that the initial project can not charge more than the currently existing rates, with that current rate then covering the new homesteaders.
RESIDENTS’ CONCERNS:
SHERWOOD FOREST (WAIMANALO BAY STATE RECREATION AREA): Rose Lani reported her support for Hui Malama but stressed the need for the Waimanalo Neighborhood Board to take the lead in asking for Sherwood Forest Park to be improved, saying that there are safety issues, that the park is no longer safe and that she had met with the City caretakers to express her concerns. She said the park was given to the City by a Governor’s Executive Order, that the Leeward parks are being supported but not these Windward ones where there is no manpower or equipment, expressing concern that it is an eyesore for the City. Chair Ho said that the City representatives have heard your concerns and need to work together with the Board, saying he understood that Lani had already started the process with a complaint into the Mayor’s Office, thanking her for bringing the issue to the community. Sandra Clark introduced herself as Lani’s daughter and offered background information, explaining that in 1979, the Bay park was cleaned and is now overgrown, with the City doing some cleaning but that a community effort is needed to cut the growth back. Chair Ho asked that Wahinekapu follow up on the issue.
96795 NEWS: Kehaulani Padilla announced that the 96795 News was an advocate for community events and organizations, with a workshop meeting on co-ops planned for later in the month and asking that anyone interested contact her at 224-9193.
MILITARY REPORT:
Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH): Major Chris Perine, representing the Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), reported the recent base visit of Castle High School Juniior Reserve Officers Training Corps to a JROTC Leadership Camp, participation in the Prince Kuhio Day parade, a support of base event for the end of the makahiki season and that five Marines were recently recognized by the Kaneohe Business group. Oki asked about a previous report where Perine had announced that cows had been brought onto the base to assist in reducing the undergrowth, with Perine saying the nine cows are gone and the experiment is being evaluated. Chair Ho thanked Perine for the report.
Bellows Air Force Station: Captain Tamara Duke reported participation in the recent school career day and that an environmental assessment (EA) is being developed for the proposed new cabins on the station. She introduced Tiffany Patrick from the Hickam Housing Office who is developing the EA and the plans. Patrick explained that there had been significant cultural finding in some areas of Bellows and that the intended EA was for the development of 48 cabins would be in areas where the ground had already been disturbed and not of cultural significance. She said the intent was for construction of 16 cabins to start as early as next year but that there was no timetable for the rest of the cabins, as well as no funding anticipated, but the whole project was included within the EA. Patrick explained that this was only the first look at the project and there would be additional opportunities for input. M. Spencer commented that the first comments were for sixteen cabins not the forty-eight being discussed now. Patrick stressed the need to include the maximum possible size in evaluations included in the EA. Jamila asked about sewage planning, commenting on concerns about injection wells. Patrick agreed that the analysis would be part of the EA which should include a new septic system. Jamila also stressed concerns about leechfields, saying additional information is needed; Patrick said the EA would include those concerns, as well as additional concerns of cultural resource survey information. Buck noted the need for a long range plan to fit items such as increased sewage needs into the current concerns about injection wells and cultural survey. Duke said the Master Plan is being done to include all planned project, with the intent to preserve the rustic nature of the base. Chair Ho expressed concern, saying that the base is 4000 acres, with 175 acres having been promised to balance out community concerns about ceded lands, mixed with the issue of Marine training needs not balancing out the concept that the Air Force seems to be moving back to operation – and expansion – of a resort. Duke stressed that this is planning, to see what might be possible, and that no funding is anticipated, with Chair Ho pointing out that government can find funds if it decides to move in a certain direction. Jamila suggested a power point presentation, with Duke explaining that this is the whole plan for right now, with the funds not from appropriated budget but from earned funds. Jamila commented that the community would not like the base to feel comfortable about possible base expansion. Perine offered to come back to a future meeting with the Bellows Master Plan, saying that it includes some long range plans, including fire prevention and fire breaks. Addington asked about design and footprint of the cabins, stressing that 48 was a large number, with Duke saying the EA would be completed before the designs. Chair Ho thanked Duke and Patrick (and Perine) for the report.
EDUCATION: POPE SCHOOL, WAIMANALO ELEMENTARY & INTERMEDIATE KAILUA HIGH: Pope Elementary School Principal Ofelia Carag thanked the community for the support of schools and of the teachers. She reported that school assessments would be done on April 3, 2008, that the School Council would be conducting parent workshops and that a new math program would be brought into Pope for the coming year. Chair Ho thanked her for her report.
GOVERNOR’S REPRESENTATIVE: There was representative from the Governor’s Office.
HAWAII JOB CORPS: There was no representative present.
SENATOR FRED HEMMINGS: A representative of Senator Hemming’s office had left a written report.
REPRESENTATIVE TOMMY WATERS: There was no representative present.
WAIMANALO HOMESTEAD: No report.
WAIMANALO HEALTH CENTER: May Akamine, Executive Director of the Waimanalo Health Center (WHC), thanked the Board for its letter of support for a grant-in-aid to renovate its building, explaining that they have received another grant for $250,000 but that the renovations (and the grant-in-aid) are required from before that grant can be used. She also addressed a prior question (from Addington) explaining that there is no cost for those who wish to participate in the health programs offered be the Center, using as examples the stop-smoking or diabetics-support groups. She reported the recent issue of 96795 News has an article on the Health Center and also a coupon for a free gift. Chair Ho thanked her for her report.
BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY (BWS): Diane Moses reported that there were no water main breaks in the month of February , and provided background information on water system improvement projects. Chair Ho thanked her for her report.
BELLOWS AFS RESTORATION: No report given at this time.
FRIENDS OF WAIMANALO: No report given at this time.
OCEANIC INSTITUTE: No report given at this time.
HUI MALAMA O KE KAI: Leimoimi Dierks reported on recent activities, saying that the weekly beach clean ups are continuing, that an ohana day is planned for March 15, 2008, and water quality testing is being done by the youth in the area between Bellows and Sherwood, with the intent to then go to test other areas including the Ala Wai, Waikiki and Kailua. She also reported the Hookulea to be in dry-dock, that a visit had been made to the Windward Community College Imaginarium, and that health and wellness projects are continuing. Dierks reported she was proud of the keiki involved in the program and believes that she has seen growth. Chair Ho thanked Dierks for her report and asked her to invited Rose Lani (and her family) to be involved (regarding the need for a Sherwood Forest cleanup).
KOKUA OHANA: No report given at this time.
WAIMANALO BEACH PARK RECREATION AND EDUCATION: No report given at this time.
WAIMANALO WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT: Mabel Spencer reported on the status of the Waimanalo Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade project, saying the State Department of Land and Natural Resources – DLNR (project contact is Eric Hirano) may take the site from the City. Chair Ho suggested obtaining information on injection wells and information from the Waimanalo Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), with a possible site visit considered for May 2008.
WAIMANALO AGRICULTURE ASSOCIATIONS: No report was given at this time.
NEW BUSINESS: No new business was reported at this time.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Ho adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Submitted by Elwin Spray, Neighborhood Commission Office staff