MĀNOA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 7

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026 AT 6:30 P.M.
NOELANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA
2655 WOODLAWN DRIVE, HONOLULU, HI 96822
AND ONLINE VIA WEBEX

Meeting Link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m0703b535a40c894de5b9cd9e2a50ae05
Meeting Number/ Access Code: 2483 095 1817
Password: NB07 (6207 from phones and video systems)
Join by Phone: 1-408-418-9388

Meeting Materials: Find a monthly archive of handouts and referenced materials relating to the Mānoa Neighborhood Board No. 7 at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NO7LXTCebl7VkAMZ8–ocGHcb14-omUL

Board Meeting Recordings can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@NeighborhoodCommissionOffice

Rules of Speaking: Address the Chair, be recognized before proceeding, and confine remarks to the subject under discussion. Speakers are asked to keep their comments under one (1) minute. Please listen for the direction of the timekeeper and mute yourself if not recognized by the Chair to speak.

Note: The Board may act on any agenda item. As required by the State Sunshine Law (HRS 92), specific issues not noted on this agenda cannot be voted on, unless added to the agenda. A two-thirds vote of 12 of this 17-member Board is needed to add an item to the agenda. Items may not be added if they are of major importance and will affect a significant number of people.

Neighborhood Board Boundaries: https://www.honolulu.gov/nco/boards-and-sub-district-boundary-descriptions;
https://honolulu-cchnl.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/cchnl::neighborhood-board-subdistricts/explore

I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Dave Nagaji (davenagaji@gmail.com)

II. FIRST RESPONDER MONTHLY REPORTS
a. Honolulu Fire Department (HFD)
b. Honolulu Police Department (HPD)

III. CITY MONTHLY REPORTS
a. Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Dominic Dias
b. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – Deputy Director Gavin Thornton
c. City Councilmember Scott Nishimoto

IV. STATE MONTHLY REPORTS
a. Senator Carol Fukunaga
b. Representative Andrew Takuya Garrett
c. University of Hawaii at Mānoa – Elmer Kaai
d. Governor Josh Green’s Representative – Laci Goshi

V. COMMUNITY UPDATES
a. Flooding in Manoa and on Oahu. Since the April meeting, there have been several written communications on this issue:
i. The letter written by Scott Snider and shared with the board at the April 2026 meeting, which suggested improved enforcement of existing laws, has been shared with Councilman Nishimoto’s Office and possibly circulated to others in the city.
ii. Aimee Grace and several cosigners sent a letter to the Governor and the Mayor, suggesting multiple proposals for flood mitigation, including policy changes and new infrastructure.
iii. The chair sent a letter to the State Legislature and City Council, requesting that funds from the State and City budgets be allotted for Manoa’s flooding relief and mitigation.
b. Manoa Banyan Court
c. Aria Lane
d. Ala Wai Flood Mitigation
e. UH Ewa Property Feasibility Study
VI. BOARD BUSINESS
a. Filling of Vacancies. Subdistrict 4 (One Vacancy): Residents interested in filling a vacant board seat must bring current proof of residency to the board meeting or contact Neighborhood Assistant Anson Wu [anson.wu@honolulu.gov] to verify residency in advance.
b. Reconsideration of the Sidewalk Resolution. In April 2026, our board passed a “Resolution Urging Construction of Sidewalks in Manoa,” with amendments. Several days after the vote, a board member contacted the chair, explained that they had misunderstood the topic of the vote, and requested that their vote be changed from a “Yes” to a “No.”
i. Motion to Rescind (Voting Item). This is a motion to reconsider the “Resolution Urging Construction of Sidewalks in Manoa.” According to the rules of parliamentary procedure, the board must agree on this motion before any votes can be changed.
ii. Change of Votes. If the above Motion to Rescind is passed, then all members present will be given the opportunity to cast new votes on that resolution from last month.
c. Presentation on Hawaii’s Environmental Review Process – Tom Eisen
d. Approval of the Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Meeting Minutes
e. Approval of the Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Meeting Minutes

VII. COMMUNITY CONCERNS (other concerns not listed on the meeting agenda)
Questions for HFD, HPD, BWS, city officials, and state officials should be asked after their report. Per the “Sunshine Law” (HRS 92), concerns not on the agenda may be presented, but the Board cannot take action.

VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Next Meeting: The next regular board meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in person at Noelani Elementary School Cafeteria and online via Webex.
b. Agenda Items for Future Meetings: Board members and residents may contact the Chair in order to request that a new item be added to the agenda. Due to mandatory deadlines, please make any such agenda requests more than a week in advance of the meeting.
c. Watch Mānoa Neighborhood Board Meetings:
i. Olelo Channel 49 (televised on the 4th Saturday at 3:00 p.m.) (https://olelo.org/tv-schedule)
ii. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfqRwVpRroonJXWsEipv9KdtRyQdcF87p

IX. ADJOURNMENT

A mailing list is maintained for interested persons and agencies to receive this board’s agenda and minutes. Additions, corrections, and deletions to the mailing list may be directed to the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) at Kapālama Hale, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160, Honolulu, HI 96817, by telephone on (808) 768-3710, fax (808) 768-3711, or emailing nco@honolulu.gov. Agenda, documents, minutes are also available online: https://www.honolulu.gov/nco/boards.

All written testimony must be received in the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours of the meeting, written and/or oral testimony may be submitted directly to the Board at the meeting. If submitting written testimony, please note the Board and agenda item(s) your testimony concerns. Send to: Neighborhood Commission Office, 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Suite 160, Honolulu, HI 96817, fax (808) 768-3711, email nbtestimony@honolulu.gov, or complete the form on https://www8.honolulu.gov/nco/testimony.

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability or an interpreter for a language other than English, please call the Neighborhood Commission Office at (808) 768-3710 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. or send an email to nco@honolulu.gov as soon as possible, preferably at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. If a request is received with fewer than three (3) business days remaining before the meeting, we will try to obtain the auxiliary aid/service or accommodation, but it may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.

NAME SUBDISTRICT CONTACT
Ellen Watson 1 (Woodlawn) pehi@hawaii.rr.com
Robert Zane 1 (Woodlawn) zanero9141@gmail.com
Whitney Bosel 1 (Woodlawn) wboselmnb@gmail.com
Elton Fukumoto (Timekeeper) 2 (Upper Mānoa) etfukumoto@gmail.com
Dave Nagaji (Chair) 2 (Upper Mānoa) davenagaji@gmail.com
Dave Fields 2 (Upper Mānoa) dave3@hawaii.edu
Christopher R. Moylan (Vice Chair) 3 (Middle Mānoa) drcmoylan@gmail.com
Diane Chong (Treasurer) 3 (Middle Mānoa) dchonghawaii@gmail.com
Joan Koff (Secretary) 3 (Middle Mānoa) joankoff@yahoo.com
Ellen Sofio 3 (Middle Mānoa) honsofio@aol.com
Philmund “Phil” Lee 3 (Middle Mānoa) philmund@gmail.com
Robert Fox 4 (Lower Mānoa) rfoxent@gmail.com
Patty Kawano 4 (Lower Mānoa) lowermanoa@gmail.com
Joseph Mishreki 4 (Lower Mānoa) joseph.mishreki@gmail.com
Lisa Carter 4 (Lower Mānoa) lisakealacarter@gmail.com
Jane Fyrberg 4 (Lower Mānoa)
VACANT 4 (Lower Mānoa)

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026 at 6:30 P.M.
NOELANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA – 2655 WOODLAWN DR, HONOLULU, HI 96822 AND VIA WEBEX

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPID74-RKNo

Meeting materials: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NO7LXTCebl7VkAMZ8–ocGHcb14-omUL

I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:01]: Chair Nagaji called the Mānoa Neighborhood Board No. 7 regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Quorum WAS NOT established with 8 members present. Note: This seventeen-member Board requires nine (9) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: Robert Zane, Ellen Watson, Dave Nagaji, Elton Fukumoto, Phil Lee, Diane Chong, Christopher Moylan, Robert Fox, Ellen Sofio (6:35 p.m.), Lisa Cater (6:36 p.m.), Joan Koff (6:52 p.m.), Whitney Bosel (7:06 p.m.), Joseph Mishreki (7:19 p.m.), and Jane Fyrberg (8:37 p.m.).

Board Members Absent: Patti Kawano and Dave Fields.

Guests: Sargant K. Nishimoto (Honolulu Police Department); Gavin Thornton (Mayor’s Representative); Representative Andrew Takuya Garrett; Heath Williams (Office of Councilmember Scott Nishimoto); Hector Venegas (Senator Carol Fukunaga’s office); Laci Goshi (Governor’s Representative); Patrick Smith (Neighborhood Commission); Anthony, Sharon Omizo, Tom Heinrich, Estrada, Wesley Oda, Aimee Grace, Cyrus Howe, Kenna Higa, Pi’ikea Miller, Noelle Grace, Vanessa, Daniel Simonich, Kelly Allen, Gali B. Linda Legrande, Stanton, Janyce Mitchell, bob, Glenn, Beverly Smith, Pedri, Ken I., Paul M., Solomon, Howard Luke, Brett Kurashige, Terri Yoshinaga, Betty, Scott Snider, Lydia Nakada, Anthony A., Keli, Laura Ruby, Michael C., Stacy Ujimori, Amber, Wes U., Kelly Allen, Joie, KI, Chiemi Kamaka, Teri Mitchell, Malia T., Rudy de Vre, Jonathan Kim, Cat Callejo (Resident); and Anson Wu (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name not included if not legible or stated for the record. Note: Name not included if not legible or stated for the record. There were 65 total participants.

II. FIRST RESPONDER MONTHLY REPORTS – [0:02:39]

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – [0:02:43]: No representative present, a report was provided.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m74zhwimBkzcKvnYiDTjybO5_cY7cqyz/view?usp=drive_link

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – [0:04:10]: Sargant K. Nishimoto provided the report and highlighted the following:
• March 2026 Statistics: 19 motor vehicle thefts; 3 burglaries; 12 thefts; 4 unauthorized entries to motor vehicles; and 5,697 calls for service. Further information can be found at honolulupd.org.
• Safety Tip for April 2026: In light of the recent storms, residents are urged to stay informed about watches and warnings. Residents are encouraged to visit the emergency management website to look up their evacuation zone and the location of nearby shelters.

Sofio arrived to the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Quorum was established, 9 members present.

Carter arrived to the meeting at 6:36 p.m. 10 members present.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:06:15]
1. Tree Debris and Citation Enforcement: Fox referenced a constituent letter describing the practice of placing pre-cut trees adjacent to Mānoa Stream so floodwaters carry the debris downstream. He reported that when police were called to investigate, officers declined to issue a citation because they did not personally witness the act. He called for a police department directive requiring officers to respond in person and issue citations or notices of violation based on address information alone, and asked HPD to advise on the appropriate next pathway for enforcement. Nishimoto clarified that if a reporting party personally witnessed the violation and is willing to be a witness, a police report or citation can be generated. He acknowledged that whether the offense is criminal or a civil fine determines what HPD can do. Chair Nagaji requested that the constituent’s letter be forwarded to HPD’s public relations office and asked HPD to return with answers at the May meeting.
2. Dead Albizia Trees: Sofio raised concerns about large dead Albizia trees visible above the valley, noting a glyphosate treatment program may have killed them. She asked who is responsible for removing dead trees from state or city land once they pose a stream-clogging risk. Nishimoto confirmed HPD has no jurisdiction over trees and directed the question to the appropriate land management agency.

Koff arrived to the meeting at 6:52 p.m. 11 members present.
[0:19:59] – Hearing no objections Chair Nagaji moved item 5a up on the agenda.

Flooding in Mānoa and on Oahu – [0:20:02]: Chair Nagaji noted that heavy rains caused severe flooding in Mānoa Marketplace and throughout the Woodlawn side of the valley. The item was opened as an open forum. Scott Snyder, who had contacted the Chair in advance, was invited to present first. Scott Snyder provided his testimony of living near Mānoa Stream; he organizes an annual invasive Albizia sapling sweep with the Koʻolau Mountain Watershed Partnership and Malama Mānoa, removing more than 3,000 saplings over four years; and raised two primary concerns of the City and County stream management: (1) Department of Facilities Maintenance (DFM) should proactively walk the stream and cite clear violations, as the current practice of requiring observed violations is inadequate – when his neighbor cut a tree into the stream and he called DFM, they came, took pictures, but declined to act because they didn’t witness it; and (2) DFM should extend maintenance responsibility to tributaries and privately owned stream frontage, as expecting over 100 private landowners to maintain their own segment of a contiguous drainage system is fundamentally flawed. He asked the board for guidance on next steps with his letter.

Bosel arrived to the meeting at 7:06 p.m. 12 members present.

Mishreki arrived to the meeting at 7:19 p.m. 13 members present.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:28:05]
1. Letter Request from Councilmember’s Office: Williams from Councilmember Scott Nishimoto’s office requested that Scott Snyder send the letter to Councilmember Nishimoto and himself, and pledged to follow up from the council’s end.
2. Data Gathering Before Resolution: Kurashige suggested the board gather more information about the full scope of flooding before taking formal action. He proposed using the board as a forum to map where flooding actually occurred and where water overtopped stream embankments, noting that multiple intersections were closed across the valley. He stated this information would help the city and state understand the scale of the problem and take appropriate action.
3. Warning System and Post-Mortem Analysis: Aimee Grace described being turned away from picking up her daughter as flooding overwhelmed the school. She called for: a post-mortem analysis of the event; a dedicated flood warning system that communicates specific danger levels; regular stream cleaning with enforcement powers; and a study in consultation with Native Hawaiian groups on sustainable stream maintenance. She also asked whether Noelani School’s cafeteria, parking lot, and main office should be relocated to higher ground.
4. Chinese Cemetery Drainage and Pomona Road Flooding: Allen spoke on behalf of two daughters’ impact One daughter’s home abuts the Chinese cemetery, where neither the city nor the cemetery owner has cleaned the drain for 26 years, with the son-in-law performing that work voluntarily. He requested the city install a berm near the street. His other daughter’s home near Pomona Road flooded to two feet in the garage, totaling her vehicle, with confusion about who owns the drainage infrastructure in that corridor. Williams offered to investigate if the resident emails the address.
5. Stream Dredging Requests: Glenn reported his property narrowly avoided stream flooding. He has filed 311 requests for dredging at Woodlawn Bridge (Request No. R2026-11546) and Mānoa Valley District Park (Request No. R2026-11550).
6. Sewer Backup on Woodlawn Ditch: Michael C. reported chronic sewer backups during heavy rain events, with sewage geysers from manhole covers and sewage flowing inside homes through floor drains. He is sharing documentation with the Department of Environmental Services and Senator Fukunaga’s office. During Monday, March 23, 2026, the Woodlawn Ditch rose to the highest level observed in 26 years of residency, nearly overtopping. He expressed serious concern that the proposed Mānoa Banyan Court development upstream on Woodlawn Ditch would dramatically worsen these conditions.
7. Legslative Solution: Oda observed that the community has discussed stream maintenance for decades and the same issues arose after the 2004 flood. He called for creative legislative solutions and systematic, ongoing scheduled maintenance. He urged pressing legislators to take action rather than continuing to talk about the same problems.
8. Impervious Surfaces and Individual Action: Bosel urged residents to reduce impervious surfaces by planting native hedges (such as mamaki or plumbago) with dense root systems, using grass block pavers instead of asphalt, and not piping water off property edges onto the street. She noted that as impervious surfaces in Mānoa grow each year, storm impacts worsen for downstream neighbors.
9. City Department Coordination and DFM Staffing: Fox argued that if DFM only has five or six maintenance workers for the entire island, the city must hire more. He also noted that Parks and Recreation and DFM do not communicate, despite Mānoa Valley District Park sitting in the middle of the stream corridor. He urged the councilmember to investigate DFM’s staffing and organizational structure and suggested temporarily outsourcing stream inspections if staffing is inadequate.
10. P2 Preservation Property and Malicious Tree Burning: Omizo reported that a fallen umbrella tree from a neighboring P2 preservation property – whose out-of-state owner refused tree removal by email – diverted water into her backyard during the Monday, March 23, 2026 event, creating a large crater. Upon inspection, the tree appeared to have been maliciously burned at its base; she filed a police report with photos and samples of the burned wood. She called for P2 preservation property owners to be held accountable for fallen trees that impact neighboring properties and streams.
11. Traditional Watershed Stewardship and Fiduciary Duty: Estrada asked for evidence that Mānoa’s streams are being properly maintained and questioned whether officials are upholding their fiduciary duty to treat water as a public trust resource for current and future generations. She requested the board commit to a formal investigation by DFM, Department of Land Natural Resources (DLNR), and the Commission on Water Resource Management to assess whether mismanagement contributed to the Monday, March 23, 2026 flooding.
12. Community Hub Response: Callejo reported that a storm closet and community hub were established at the Mānoa Hub immediately after the flood, providing supplies and deploying volunteers to assist with cleanup, with support from One Love Ministry, Inside Out Reach, and Hungry Hungry Hawaiian News. She encouraged community members to visit and noted donations are still being collected.
13. Army Corps of Engineers Plan and Coordination: Fukumoto relayed that the Army Corps of Engineers has a flood mitigation plan that, if enacted, could have prevented water from moving down Woodlawn Drive, but the current version costs well over a billion dollars. He expressed openness to the idea of a formal investigation and encouraged residents with concerns to leave names and emails with the Chair for future resolution drafting.
14. Ala Wai Watershed Collaboration: Ruby described a presentation made two days before the flooding at an Ala Wai Watershed Collaboration meeting, proposing low-cost, high-impact fixes including two – to three-foot berms around schools to deflect water back into streams and ditches. She encouraged all to attend the next meeting and advocated for a holistic, nature-based approach rather than the Army Corps solution.
15. Power Outage: Kurashige reported that he and his immediate neighbors lost power on Friday, March 13, 2026 for four consecutive days during the Kona Low. He suggested inviting Hawaiian Electric to the May, 2026 neighborhood board meeting to address extended outages in Mānoa, noting the outage seemed disproportionately long with no apparent transmission line damage.
16. Legislative Urgency: Aimee Grace urged council, state, and legislative representatives to allocate funding – even $500,000 to $2 million – toward emergency warning systems, additional stream maintenance positions, and emergency preparedness, noting even modest sums could start to make a meaningful difference.
17. Noelani School Safety: Noel Grace, reiterated the fears of Noelani families, noting it has been 22 years since the 2004 flood with little improvement. She reported community members are saying they will not send their children to Noelani under the current system. She emphasized the need for a clear, distinguishable alarm system – not the routine flash flood texts that had been arriving for weeks – that would signal an immediate, serious threat and prompt clear action.
18. Need for Town Hall and Investigation: Sofio stated that someone could easily have died in the flood and called for a dedicated town hall in Mānoa attended by the highest-level state and city agency representatives and all legislators, to jointly address the floods of 2004 and 2026 and develop a coordinated response.

III. CITY MONTHLY REPORTS – [1:23:29]

Board of Water Supply (BWS) – [1:23:32]: No representative present.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [1:23:53] Gavin Thornton provided the report and highlighted the following: he encouraged continued use of HNL311 for immediate issues and mentioned a dedicated city website, Kona Low Recovery, where residents can report property damage to support potential disaster relief applications. He noted that $50–$100 million in resources are being mobilized for recovery. He provided follow-up items from the prior meeting: (1) DTS confirmed that parking on unimproved sidewalks is prohibited per Honolulu ordinance, but does not recommend installing no-parking signs, DTS will be asking the assistance of the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) to monitor the area for illegal parking; and (2) homeowners and contractors may apply for street usage permits to post temporary no-parking signage 24 hours in advance.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:27:41]
1. No Parking Signs: Fox pushed back strongly on DTS’s position, arguing that signage serves an informational purpose and that people need to know parking there is not permitted. He stated his disagreement with DTS’s recommendation and requested signs be installed. Thornton agreed to return to DTS and make the case for informational signage and offered to connect a board member to that conversation.
2. DFM Staffing: Fox raised concerns about DFM’s apparent understaffing and poor inter-departmental coordination, noting that Parks and Recreation does not communicate with DFM despite managing Mānoa Valley Park, which is adjacent to the stream. He asked whether the Mayor would review DFM’s staffing levels and organizational structure, and request a post-flood debrief on the Department’s capacity to walk the stream and cite violators.
3. Pigeon Infestation at Bus Shelters: Ruby reported hundreds of pigeons at the transit stop at Punchbowl and King Street, near Iolani Palace and the Veterans Memorial, describing it as a potential public health concern in a prominent historic district. Bosel noted that pigeons are no more dangerous than other birds, rounding them up is not feasible, and ecosystems support what they can.

[1:33:23] – Hearing no objections Chair Nagaji moved up item 4b up the agenda.

Representative Andrew Takuya Garrett – [1:33:35]: Representative Andrew Garrett provided his report and highlighted the following: he expressed shock at the suddenness of the Monday, March 23, 2026 flooding; he and Councilmember Nishimoto went to Noelani School to assist with recovery and acknowledged Wesley Oda of B Ready Mānoa for leading community recovery efforts. At the state level, he worked to place Hokulani Elementary students at Pālolo Elementary and Aliʻiolani Elementary with uninterrupted food service. He called for revisiting detention basins and flood walls, including proposals at Mānoa District Park and Kamanele Park above Hokulani Elementary and flood walls around certain bends of Mānoa Stream. While the full Army Corps project is too expensive, he argued that a more limited, targeted approach should be revisited with engineers. He stressed that life and safety must take priority, even if it comes at the expense of some recreational opportunities at parks.

Carter left the meeting at 8:06 p.m. 12 members present.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:36:30]
1. Native Plants and Host Culture: Sofio echoed earlier calls to learn from Native Hawaiian water stewardship practices and advocated for hybrid reforestation over defaulting immediately to Army Corps solutions. Representative Garrett acknowledged disappointment that the Army Corps study dismissed ecological options from the outset.
2. Los Angeles River Cautionary Tale: Bosel urged all to research what went wrong with the Los Angeles River, noting that concretizing waterways leads to water scarcity and aquifer depletion.

City Councilmember Scott Nishimoto – [1:39:53] Heath Williams provided the report and highlighted the following: he echoed Representative Garrett’s words about community resilience, confirmed he is taking notes and will relay all concerns and suggestions to the council member, and offered to assist any resident in need. He reported that the council’s budget process has included stream maintenance positions and funding requests for District 5 for the past year, and encouraged residents to also contact the Mayor’s office, as the administration must execute council funding allocations.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:41:48]
1. Stream Maintenance Meeting with DFM: Watson asked Fox to recount his prior conversation with DFM about scheduling regular stream maintenance. Fox reported that DFM brushed off his request, saying they didn’t have time, with no follow-up from the city. He stated his intention to arrange a personal meeting with the DFM director to seek an explanation on the record.
2. Budget Request for Sidewalks: William noted that one of Councilmember Nishimoto’s budget requests was for sidewalks along Lowry Avenue.
3. Walkability and Sidewalk Gaps: Noelle Grace described the lack of any safe pedestrian path from her home to Mānoa Marketplace and the difficulty of navigating the street with a stroller. William confirmed the Council is aware of the sidewalk gaps. Chair Nagaji noted that a sidewalk resolution on the evening’s agenda addresses some of these concerns and that Moylan would present it shortly.

IV. STATE MONTHLY REPORTS – [1:46:54]

Senator Carol Fukunaga – [1:47:10]: Hector Venegas provided the report and highlighted the following: for residents and businesses who suffered losses, property damage claims should be submitted to state and county agencies, insurance providers, Hawaiʻi Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), and the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management, and the administration is pursuing a federal emergency disaster declaration to unlock Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. House Bill (HB) 2581 (HD2, SD1) – relating to emergency management – would clarify what constitutes a disaster or emergency, establish a Hawaii Community Resiliency Hub Program within the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to leverage federal, philanthropic, and private sector funding for disaster preparedness and climate resiliency, and require annual reports to the legislature. HB 2443 (HD1, SD1) – relating to disability services – would integrate the needs of individuals with disabilities into emergency planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, incorporating multilingual access, hard-of-hearing, and sign language broadcast requirements; both bills are alive and expected to be heard the following week. Additionally, a new company based at Mānoa Innovation Center specializing in real-time flood data for emergency decisions was offered as a potential future presenter to the board.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uo-tpLPaYE7vnGIihasWQddJUND_-a2H/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:51:21]
1. Insurance Education Forum: Fox raised the issue of residents being denied flood insurance claims because their policies did not cover stream-related flooding, noting many believed they had sufficient coverage. He urged Senator Fukunaga to facilitate a community forum to help residents understand what insurance they actually need. Venegas agreed to take the request back to the Senator and noted FEMA is releasing new flood insurance mapping in June.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa – [1:53:35]: No representative was present.

Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [1:54:03]: Laci Goshi provided the report and highlighted the following: Governor Green’s administration submitted a formal request to the President for a major disaster declaration to coordinate temporary housing for displaced families across all islands. If approved, the declaration would unlock critical federal funding through FEMA for debris removal, infrastructure repair, and direct resident assistance. The administration is working closely with county mayors, state legislators, the Hawaii National Guard, and community partners to accelerate recovery, with on-the-ground teams working around the clock to clear roads, deploy water resources to impacted communities, and set up mobile clinics. Residents in need are encouraged to call Aloha United Way at 211 or visit ready.hawaii.gov, where a dedicated Kona Low storm page is available.

V. COMMUNITY UPDATES – [1:55:29]

Mānoa Banyan Court – [1:55:36]: Chair Nagaji reported that he emailed Charles Wong, President of the Lin Yee Chung Association, the prior month. Mr. Wong replied that there are no updates for the project at this time. Bosel encouraged residents who live near or below the proposed Mānoa Banyan Court project on Woodlawn ditch to submit flooding evidence to the Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP). The planner previously assigned to the project transferred to another department and no new contact has been assigned. Bosel identified Alex Beatty at the planning or zoning department as a potential contact, noting that any person assigned would only have two weeks to review an application once submitted.

Aria Lane – [1:55:51]: Heinrich reported that information received within the last couple of days from the Zoning Board of Appeals indicates the actual contested case hearing for the Aria Lane appeal is currently scheduled for May 2029.

Ala Wai Flood Mitigation – [2:00:14]: No updates.

UH Ewa Property Feasibility Study – [2:00:23]: Heinrich relayed that Elmer Kai, at the Mānoa Neighborhood Board meeting on Monday evening, reported that the 15-acre feasibility study is expected to slow down while the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa searches for a new chancellor who should also have an opportunity to weigh in on this project. A new chancellor is hoped to be in place by September 2026.

VI. BOARD BUSINESS – [2:02:28]

Filling of Vacancies. Subdistrict 4 (Two Vacancies) – [2:02:29]: Jane Fyrberg volunteered to fill in the vacancy for subdistrict 4.

[2:03:20] – Bosel NOMINATED Jane Fyrberg to fill a vacancy for Subdistrict 4. Hearing no further nominations, A roll call vote was conducted. Jane Fyrberg filled the vacancy for Subdistrict 4; 10-0 (Fyrberg: Zane, Watson, Bosel, Nagaji, Fukumoto, Lee, Koff, Moylan, Sofio, and Fox; ABSTAIN: None) – [2:03:37]

[2:05:53] – Neighborhood Assistant Anson Wu administered the oath of office to Jane Fyrberg on the record. 13 members present.

Resolution Urging Construction of Sidewalks in Mānoa – [2:07:34]:
• Drafted Resolution: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tklW-rtOy62fMiEF60VvmrrFXOolfi1l/view?usp=drive_link

[2:11:42] – Moylan MOVED and noted a seconded is not required due to the resolution was created by the committee. Discussion followed.
1. Scope Concern: Watson argued the resolution is too broad and vague. She stated that on Lowry Street, a sidewalk on the park side only makes sense to avoid cutting large trees on the other side, and that streets like Oahu Avenue with wide grassy areas do not need sidewalks. She also raised concern that homeowners should not bear any cost.
2. Conflict with Flood Mitigation: Estrada argued the resolution is in direct conflict with the evening’s flood discussions and the goal of reducing impervious surfaces in Mānoa.
3. Impervious Surface Data: Sofio cited data indicating that every 1% increase in impervious cover boosts annual flood frequency by approximately 3.3%, and that a single acre of impervious surface can generate about 27,500 gallons of runoff from one inch of rain, increasing flood intensity and stream flows.
4. Amendment and Response: Bosel agreed with Watson that trees on the Mānoa side of Lowry should not be cut. Chair Nagaji and Moylan clarified that no homeowner cost is involved since no special improvement district is being created. Moylan noted that the impermeability added by a single sidewalk is negligible relative to the safety benefit for pedestrians and school children.

[2:23:57] – Fox MOVED and Bosel SECONDED to amend the resolution to specify that: (1) the sidewalk on Lowry Street be placed on one side only, and (2) no trees be cut in the construction of any sidewalks covered by this resolution. A roll call vote was conducted, the motion WAS ADOPTED; 9-0-1 (AYE: Zane, Watson, Bosel, Nagaji, Fukumoto, Lee, Chong, Moylan, and Fox; NAY: None; ABSTAIN: Sofio) – [2:26:27]. Note: Vote count recorded members who voiced their vote.

[2:27:52] – Hearing no further discussion, the board voted on the Resolution Urging Construction of Sidewalks in Mānoa with amendments. A roll call vote was conducted, the motion WAS ADOPTED; 9-3-0 (AYE: Zane, Bosel, Nagaji, Fukumoto, Lee, Chong, Moylan, Fox, and Fyrberg; NAY: Watson, Koff, and Sofio; ABSTAIN: None) – [2:28:15]

[2:30:06] – Hearing no objections Chair Nagaji moved agenda item 6d up the agenda.

Report on Behalf of the Neighborhood Commission – [2:30:07]: Patrick Smith, Chair of the Neighborhood Commission, provided the following: (1) Chapter 18 of the Neighborhood Plan governing the complaints and adjudicatory process for board members has been rewritten with assistance from Tom Heinrich and is nearly ready for board member review. Contact information for Patrick Smith is on the NCO website. (2) Chapter 14, covering board procedures including officer requirements such as Treasurer, is also under review, with antiquated provisions being considered for removal. Boards may suggest changes during this open review period. (3) Boards were asked to submit any geographic boundary change interests by the end of April 2026. (4) NCO has produced new brochures available for community outreach. (5) The Commission can help facilitate town halls, joint board meetings, or meetings with elected officials.

Watson left the meeting at 9:01 p.m. 12 members present.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [2:34:11]
1. Council of Neighborhood Organizations: Fox described a model he managed in Long Beach, California – a Council of Neighborhood Organizations for citywide coordination on issues like zoning and land use, represented by board presidents or vice presidents. He suggested Honolulu formalize a similar structure. Smith expressed interest and said it is worth consideration, noting the ongoing charter process as a factor.
2. Treasurer Requirement and Board Budget: Moylan suggested either eliminating the Treasurer requirement or giving boards a budget to manage. Smith clarified that the Commission’s philosophy is to trim mandatory officer positions while preserving board flexibility, and that specific promotional or outreach funding requests can be submitted to NCO.

Resolution Requesting the Undergrounding of Utilities on University Avenue between the United Methodist Campus Ministry and East Mānoa Road (Voting Item) – [2:38:00]: Chair Nagaji read the resolution.
• Drafted Resolution: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lpKUxfo32rVFFyA2Gx8G2wDp43zDfhez/view?usp=drive_link

[2:28:06] – Chair Nagaji passed the gavel to Vice Chair Moylan.

[2:41:06] – Nagaji MOVED and Fox SECONDED to adopt the Resolution Requesting the Underground of Utilities on University Avenue between the United Methodist Campus Ministry and East Mānoa Road. Discussion followed.

1. Resolution Amendments: Moylan proposed adding a clause referencing available subsidies, including those under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO’s) utility undergrounding subsidy program.
2. Proactive Solutions Committee Concern: Sofio expressed concern that the Proactive Solutions Committee is driving too much of the Board’s agenda without sufficient full-board deliberation, and that complex issues with significant implications are being moved through too quickly.
3. Clarification on Undergrounding vs. Sidewalks: Fox clarified that undergrounding utilities does not require sidewalk construction, citing his 34 years in Long Beach where utilities were placed underground with grass maintained on top. He emphasized that the Lahaina fire was partly caused by fallen power lines and that undergrounding is a critical safety measure. The resolution does not prescribe the city’s construction method.
4. Location Preference: Fukumoto expressed preference for undergrounding in the back of the valley where winds are strongest and a downed line could spark a fire driven by prevailing winds. He stated his intent to vote no on this resolution.
5. Flooding of Underground Boxes: Sharon Omizo cautioned that underground utility junction boxes in her Woodlawn Terrace neighborhood fill with water during rain events, and that some residents’ power was not restored after the recent outage because HECO could not access underground lines.
6. Support for Undergrounding: Bosel noted that above-ground utilities often lead to improper tree trimming causing tree death. Moylan echoed Bosel and Fox statement providing his own experience of improper tree trimming caused by above ground utilities and noted that the Lahaina fire resulted in over 100 deaths and emphasized that undergrounding is a serious safety imperative. Wanting it in one area does not preclude wanting it in others.
7. Pilot Project Framing: Fox explained that the University Avenue segment was chosen because existing underground infrastructure already terminates at the United Methodist Campus Ministry, making it the logical pilot project starting point. Fukumoto suggested that it should be indicated that it’s a possible pilot project in the resolution. Chair Nagaji agree to add the friendly amendment to include this rationale to the resolution.
8. Logistic Concerns: Sofio questioned the logistics of digging up University Avenue given its traffic volume and raised concerns the possibility of road widening. Moylan clarified that widening the road is not part of the resolution.
9. Outdoor Circle Support: Bosel added that the Outdoor Circle strongly supports undergrounding utilities wherever possible, as research shows it has a positive impact on trees and the visual landscape.
10. Resolution Clarification: Chair Nagaji clarified that the resolution does not plan to widen University Avenue Road.

[2:56:11] – A roll call vote was conducted to adopt the Resolution Requesting the Underground of Utilities on University Avenue between the United Methodist Campus Ministry and East Mānoa Road with the amendments. The motion WAS ADOPTED; 10-1-1 (AYE: Zane, Bosel, Nagaji, Fukumoto, Lee, Koff, Chong, Moylan, Fox, and Mishreki; NAY: Sofio; ABSTAIN: Fyrberg)

[2:58:16] – Vice Chair Moylan passed the gavel backed to Chair Nagaji.

City Legislation Relating to Housing Density and Transportation – [2:58:25]: This item was postponed to the next agenda due to time.

Approval of the Wednesday, March 4, 2026 Meeting Minutes – [2:58:31]: This item was postponed to the next agenda due to time.

Proactive Solutions Committee Report – [2:58:33]: This item was postponed to the next agenda due to time.

Board Member Three Absent Letter – [2:58:34]: This item was postponed to the next agenda due to time.

VII. COMMUNITY CONCERNS – [2:58:35]: This item was postponed to the next agenda due to time.
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [2:58:37]

Next Meeting – [2:58:39]: Chair Nagaji announced the next regular board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in person at Noelani Elementary School Cafeteria and online via Webex.

Meeting Broadcasts – [2:59:01]: Mānoa Neighborhood Board meetings are available on ʻOlelo Channel 49 (televised on the 4th Saturday at 3:00 p.m.) and on YouTube using the links provided on the agenda.

IX. ADJOURNMENT – [2:59:17]: Chair Nagaji adjourned the meeting.

Submitted by: Anson Wu, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
Finalized by:

To view agenda and minutes, visit our board website.

Event shows physical location; however, other options of participation may also include WebEx and phone.  If available, instructions for WebEx and phone can be found at the top of the agenda.