NU‘UANU – PUNCHBOWL NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 12

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
7:00 P.M.
Video-Teleconference: The Board will be making a good-faith effort to provide the public with the opportunity to observe the meeting as it happens and an opportunity to provide oral testimony without a physical presence in the physical meeting room, in accordance with the Governor’s Eighth Supplementary Proclamation, Related to the COVID-19 Emergency. Please ensure that your computer or phone is muted unless you are speaking.

Please join us by Webex
Meeting link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m22265d6903aed1cdfb69d62e9e22bc7c
Meeting number/Access code: 2493 014 7034
Password: NB12 (6212 from phones and video systems)
Join by phone: +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

Physical location: Kapālama Hale 925 Dillingham Boulevard, Room 153, Honolulu, HI 96817
*This is an alternative meeting location open to public participation.

Board Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Th_r5SpEofyVf6k1XoeuiP9z_Xfa77xN
Board Meeting Recordings: https://www.youtube.com/@NeighborhoodCommissionOffice/search?query=nu%27uanu

Rules of Speaking: Anyone wishing to speak is asked to raise his/her hand, and when recognized by the Chair, to address comments to the Chair. Our public and elected officials giving reports are encouraged to keep their comments to less than three (3) minutes, board member’s comments limited to two minutes for each order of business, presenters are limited to 10 (ten) minutes for the presentation portion and community member input is limited to two (2) minutes per participant. Please silence all electronic devices.
Note: The Board may take action on any agenda item. As required by the State Sunshine Law (HRS Ch. 92), specific issues not noted on this agenda cannot be voted on, unless added to the agenda. A two-thirds (2/3) vote (10) of this 15-member Board is needed to add an item to the agenda. Adding an item to the agenda, however, is not permitted if (1) the item to be added is of reasonably major importance and (2) action on the item by the board will affect a significant number of persons. Determination of whether a specific matter may be added to an agenda must be done on a case-by-case basis.

I. CALL TO ORDER- Chair Patrick Smith

II. ANNOUCEMENT OF SUNSHINE LAW RULES FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND PUBLIC

III. CITY MONTHLY REPORTS (Limited to three (3) minutes each)
A. Honolulu Fire Department – Monthly report; fire and emergency incident statistics for this community’s jurisdiction for February-March 2025, HFD safety tips reminders, and upcoming events, residential, commercial and wildfires, medical assistance as EMTs, road traffic accidents, hazardous materials, enforcement of fire codes and preventative measures in commercial buildings, open firehouse days and related activities, safety talks at schools and nursing homes, animal assistance, responding to vehicle accidents, fire alarms sounding/malfunctioning, gas leaks, lift-assist (helping uninjured citizens who are unable to get up on their own), hiker rescue, hazardous material spills/release, specialty rescues, down power lines, building flooding/water leaks, and police assist.
1. In addition to regular reports, please discuss the below listed questions.
a. Discussion: I have not seen solo riders on the Windward side and particularly on the H3. Can there be more of a presence there?
b. Sport motorcycles are joining in with the muscle cars going back and forth on the H3. Entering Kailua on ramp, exiting Kamehameha Hwy and repeating the loop.
B. Honolulu Police Department – Monthly report; crime and incident statistics for this community’s jurisdiction for February-March 2025, HPD safety tips, reminders, and upcoming events, daily patrol activities, emergency response and protocols, crime prevention measures, law enforcement and criminal investigations including evidence collections and witness interviews, traffic control and road safety, accident investigation, domestic assistance such as crisis intervention, disaster management, first aid and medical assistance, arresting suspected and their processing, swat operations, K-9 unit tasks, Detective Division tasks, court appearances and legal duties, community engagement and crime prevention programs, public safety and education functions, Neighborhood Watch coordination, youth outreach programs.
1. District 1
2. District 5
a. Nuʻuanu Valley Park Concerns – Paula Kurashige
3. Neighborhood Security Watch Reports – Paula Kurashige – Neighborhood patrols, mobilize and conduct neighborhood cleanups, provide information and crime prevention seminars to community residents, assist with homeless (or houseless), work with law enforcement officers.
C. Board of Water Supply – Monthly report; water main break incidents and statistics for this community’s jurisdiction for February-March 2025; BWS tips, reminders, and upcoming events, Clean water, water resources including aquifers, water safety testing including monitoring and regulating water quality standards, emergency responses to potential contamination incidents, infrastructure needs such as upgrading aging pipelines and waterline/watermain bursting incidents and resulting construction issues. public information campaigns and public outreach projects.

IV. FILLING OF VACANCIES
There are two (2) vacancies in Subdistrict 1 (Punchbowl).
(Proof of residency required, Oath of Office, as needed)

V. REPORT FROM NONBOARD EVENTS
A. OahuMPO (Metro Planning Org) – Rae Gee
B. Papakolea Community Updates – Adrienne Dillard

VI. RESIDENTS’/COMMUNITY CONCERNS (Limited to three (3) minutes each)

VII. ELECTED OFFICIALS (Limited to three (3) minutes each) – Topics include: Access to affordable and quality childcare, family leave, medical leave, housing affordability and access, youth issues, education, Lalihina housing and redevelopment issues, planning and permitting issues, infrastructure issues including electrical, water and streets and thoroughfares, climate crisis and impact on the island islands, wildfire prevention and management, affordable and access to healthcare, study and establishment of nuclear energy in Hawaii, pollution issues including pesticides in environment, proliferation of firework and prevention of import, protection and promotion of unions or the mitigation of abuses by unions, care of household pets, education for children and adults, traffic laws including such issues as helmet requirement statutes or ordinances, motor vehicle violations enforcement, unlawful entry of motor vehicles, assaults, sexual assaults and other sexual crimes, sex trafficking,
A. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – Director Kim Hashiro
i. Replacement Request of Pauoa Area Streets Signs – report by Paula Kurashige
ii. Cutting of Grass from School Street to upper Nu’u-anu – report by Paula Kurashige
B. Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam
C. Governor Josh Green’s Representative
i. Bus Stop on Pali on Ewa side of Road-Grass High – report by Paula Kurashige
D. District 13 Senator Karl Rhoads
i. 5-Year Plan for Evacuation thru Nu’u-anu Past the School – report by Paula Kurashige
E. District 27 Representative Jenna Takenouchi
i. 5-Year Plan for Evacuation thru Nu’u-anu Past the School – report by Paula Kurashige
F. Federal Elected Officers & other Elected Officials

VIII. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Board Member Phillip Soon – 3 meeting Absence Discussion and Resolution
B. Genesis Water Systems – Presentation of Water Production Device
C. Landlords and Tenants Resolution Presentation by Roberta Hickey-Gómez of The Mediation Center of the Pacific, Inc.
D. Discussion/Motion to Request to Receive the CIP Budget from the City and State Regularly – report by Paula Kurashige
E. Americans with Disabilities (ADA) and Wheel Chair for Sub District 3 – report by Paula Kurashige
F. ADA Standards for Dowsett Circle – report by Paula Kurashige
G. Red Fire Ants Near Roosevelt High School and Found on Wood Street – report by Paula Kurashige
H. Wood Street Light at Pali Highway – report by Paula Kurashige
I. Sidewalk on Pali at Moanawai Street Blocked for Blind Persons and Disabled – report by Paula Kurashige
J. Sidewalk on Pali Highway Does Not Allow Moving Past for Two People at the Same Time – report by Paula Kurashige
K. 2960 Pali Highway and Parking on Side Street Blocking Sidewalks – report by Paula Kurashige
L. Ducks Being Killed in School Zone by Speeding on Wood Street and Alika Avenue – report by Paula Kurashige
M. Update on Nuʻuanu Valley Park Operation and Security
N. Pali Highway Pedestrian Safety Concerns
O. Approval of Tuesday, February 18, 2025 Meeting Minutes

IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Regular Board Meeting- The next Nu’uanu/Punchbowl Neighborhood Board No. 12 meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
B. City and County of Honolulu and Hawaiʻi Foodbank are Partnering to Fight Against Hunger: Neighborhood Assistant Rachel Cristobal will be collecting donated canned goods at the next Neighborhood Board meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

X. 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, Hawaiʻi 96817; Telephone (808) 768-3710 Fax (808) 768-3711; or Email nco@honolulu.gov. Agendas and minutes are also available on the internet at www.honolulu.gov/nco

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 at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.

All written testimony must be received in the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours, 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, Hawaiʻi 96817. Fax: (808) 768-3711. Email: nbtestimony@honolulu.gov

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025 7:00 P.M.
KAPĀLAMA HALE CONFERENCE ROOM 260 – 925 DILLINGHAM BOULEVARD, HONOLULU, HAWAIʻI, 96817 AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g399TaHhmsQ

Reports and other meeting materials can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Th_r5SpEofyVf6k1XoeuiP9z_Xfa77xN

I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:03]

Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Neighborhood Assistant Rachel Cristobal conducted a roll call. Quorum was established with 9 members present [0:01:16]. (Note – This 15-member Board requires eight (8) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.) Member Easley Allen was noted online after the roll call; 10 members present.

Board Members Present – Patrick Smith, Michael Lum, Paula Kurashige, Sylvia Young, Mason Aiona, Rae Gee, Audrey Hidano, Meghan Kenny, Adrienne Dillard, Jill Easley Allen, Katherine Grebe (joined at 7:07 p.m.), and Kaapuni Kama (joined at 7:56 p.m.).

Board Members Absent – Phillip Soon.

Guests – Lieutenant Creighton Hatico – District 5 (Honolulu Police Department); Firefighter Dean Shimokawa (Honolulu Fire Department); Jimmy Yanos (Board of Water Supply-BWS); Director Kim Hashiro (Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative); William Nhieu (Governor Josh Green’s Representative); Payton Haygood (Senator Karl Rhoads’ Office); Lisa Leonardo (Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam’s Office); Representative Jenna Takenouchi; Gary Kikuchi, Larry Smith, Mike Ellis, Pat, Ronald Higa, Terrie Easley (residents and guests); Rachel Cristobal (Neighborhood Commission Office-NCO). Note:
Name was not included if not legible. Total of 31 participants.

II. ANNOUNCEMENT OF SUNSHINE LAW RULES FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND PUBLIC – [0:01:22]

Chair Smith provided a clarification that during public concerns when a public raises a concern that is when the Board can weigh in on their thoughts.

III. CITY MONTHLY REPORTS – [0:01:50]

Honolulu Fire Department – [0:01:56]: Fire Fighter Shimokawa reported the following:
● Monthly statistics for the month of January 2025
● Fire Safety Tip: Power Outage Preparedness
● Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1heCJqO_BQS5qDHgRhT2JvlWEEHlHKMn6/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:04:47]

Honolulu Police Department – [0:05:45]:
● District 1 – [0:05:50]: No representative present.
● District 5 – [0:06:13]: Lieutenant Hatico reported the following:
○ Monthly statistics for the month of January 2025
○ Conducted numerous traffic enforcement along the Pali Highway near the Nuʻuanu area. 141 citations were provided for excessive speeding, 1 citation for driving without a license, and 1 citation for driving with no insurance.123 out of 147 of the citations were individuals that lived outside of Pali Highway/ Nuʻuanu area.
○ Provided hard numbers on citations, so that the Board/Community could provide information to the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation to possibly get some type of traffic calming measures installed to prevent speding.

Member Grebe joined at 7:07 p.m.; 11 members present.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:09:29]

Neighborhood Security Watch Reports – [0:10:07]: Paula Kurashige reported the following:
● A duck was hit and run a few days ago. A mother duck was also killed that day in a school zone area. The ducklings were in the stream, so Member Kurashige’s boss’s daughter saved 3-5 ducklings.
● Pigs were located in the upper Nuʻuanu area.
● No suspicious activities

Board of Water Supply (BWS) – [0:16:58]: Jimmy Yanos reported the following:
● No updates on water system improvements projects
● No water main breaks for the month January 2025
● Water Waste Hotline: If the community sees that water is being wasted such as a broken pipe that they are asked to report it.
○ Call: (808) 748-5041
○ Email: contactus@hwbs.org
● Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12IoR8PuoZRJuV6mX1yshJ1Yns4ZnTRbs/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101205618811575423434&rtpof=true&sd=true

IV. FILLING OF VACANCIES – [0:19:36] – No volunteers.

V. REPORT FROM NONBOARD EVENTS – [0:20:27]

OahuMPO (Metro Planning Org) – [0:20:32]: Vice Chair Gee reported the following:
● Oahu Work Plan – Document for 2026-2027; Open for public review:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xj4DinbGlUm6nYdFIBZxYIYEje51SL48/view?usp=drive_link
○ Regional Planning Studies/Programs (80/20):
○ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1021CFc1DWaM8ahYUNo7hr7VRQjxA8nSC/view?usp=drive_link
○ Budget Summary by Task & Summary of Funding and Programmed Expenditures: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fU6IsHhaMAO3AX897iMURRmq0UcHHJ1m/view?usp=drive_link

Papakōlea Community Updates – [0:26:18]: Member Dillard reported the following:
● Papakōlea ʻOhana Health Fair 2025: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SGHwuzXr1uRyH-zG9GnoQf4fBF2mjnuu/view?usp=drive_link
● Kickoff event to introduce to the community that they’re planning a Kupuna supportive living center.

VI. RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS – [0:27:27]: None.

VII. ELECTED OFFICIALS – [0:27:48]

Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [0:27:54]: Director Hashiro reported the following:
● Highlights from the Mayorʻs Newsletter:
○ Hundreds attend a memorial service in Kakaʻako to honor Jeff Fiala, a Honolulu firefighter killed in the line of duty
○ Mayor Blangiardi and members of the mayor’s cabinet are sworn into office, beginning a new four-year term
○ A new 90-unit Bill 7 affordable housing development breaks ground in Makiki
○ Repairs begin on the seawall and walkway at Queen’s Surf in Waikīkī near the Barefoot Beach Café
○ The City unveils a new ʻōpala truck for Leeward Oʻahu parks and beach parks
● Registration for the 2025 Neighborhood Board Elections
● Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LJubbpyZlAeFCnjMP3NBNmxG5ZaM60R0/view?usp=drive_link

Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam – [0:29:50]: Lisa Leonardo reported the following:
● Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tamʻs roles in the council committees.
● Suspected game room on Nuʻuanu Avenue
● Updates on speed humps/speed bumps installation

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:33:05]

Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [0:33:34]: William Nhieu reported the following:
● Highlights from the newsletter:
○ Delivered the State of the State Address
○ Affordable Housing and Cost of Living
○ Homelessness
○ Healthcare AccessPublic Safety
○ Climate Action
○ Maui Recovery
● Outreach initiative featuring expedited State hiring processed
● Kolowalu Dog Park Grand Opening
● Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sNkZ5zCOiGgfIXS9vkjRMNvKmlNij3Br/view?usp=drive_link

District 13 Senator Karl Rhoads – [0:38:26]: Payton Haygood reported the following:
● Updated 2024-2025 Covid vaccine has been approved for use.
● Capital Improvement Project funds was released to Nuʻuanu Elementary
● Oahu Invasive Species Committee
● Legislative Updates
● Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RsLKMuPeCyzo4kg7VFdTbxODEakhisee/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101205618811575423434&rtpof=true&sd=true

District 27 Representative Jenna Takenouchi – [0:41:14]: Representative Takenouchi reported the following:
● Town Hall meeting regarding speeding during the month of January 2025
● Community bills that were introduced such as having the age of 16 years old and under to wear helmets while riding a skateboard and funding to help the Department of Land and Natural Resources to remove hazardous trees that were abutting residential properties.
● The Judiciary is doing its annual call to look for Court interpreters.

Federal Elected Officers & other Elected Officials – [0:46:39]: Member Young asked if the Neighborhood Board members were allowed to speak because she believes that they are considered other elective officials [0:46:59]. Chair Smith explained that the City does not consider the Board members as elective officials, but he will forward the inquiry to the Neighborhood Commission Office’s Executive Secretary.

VIII. BOARD BUSINESS – [0:49:34]

Sunshine Law Related Restrictions on Board Activity – [0:49:34]: Chair Smith shared that there are bills relating to Sunshine Law and he had received examples of agendas on how other Boards have been adjusting their agendas so that the Board Members are able to ask their questions.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:52:28]

Member Kama joined at 7:56 p.m.; 12 members present.

Sales of Potentially Illegal Marijuana Products at Stores in District & Legalization of Recreational Marijuana Presentation – [1:07:46]: Larry Smith expressed his concern about stores selling vapes with THC. He asked if the City and the Honolulu Police Department could do something with the stores that sell vapes with THC. Due to the Mayorʻs Rep section was done and Director Hashiro had left. Lisa Leonardo from Council Member Dos Santos-Tamʻs office offered to help.

Member Kurashige left at 8:12 p.m.; 11 members present.

Pali Highway Pedestrian Safety Concerns – [1:16:19]: None.

Resident Mike Ellis asked what happened to items that were skipped. Chair Smith and Member Young explained that the items in question were discussed in the previous month’s meeting. Mike requested if the item regarding the security could be put back onto the agenda for an update because there has been a lot of activity – [1:17:03].

Pali Highway Pedestrian Safety Concerns (Continued) – [1:20:13]: Member of the public, Mike Ellis announced that he made numerous attempts to contact HPD to check in at a residentʻs address at 2960 Pali Highway because he thinks there is an illegal bed and breakfast, but the individuals park in the driveway. Driveway extends out to the pedestrian sidewalk. He expressed a concern that if someone is using a wheelchair, it’ll be dangerous. Member Hidano shared that she has also been contacting HPD for years regarding the situation, but nothing has happened. It was asked if Council member Dos Santos-Tamʻs Representative could take back the information to have this looked into.

Approval of Tuesday, January 21, 2025 Meeting Minutes – [1:23:57]: MOVED by Member Dillard and SECONDED by Member Gee to amend the January 2025 minutes to state that Representative Takenouchi helped the bridge to be built [1:29:32]. A voice vote was conducted; the motion was ADOPTED 11-0-0 (Aye: Aiona, Easley Allen, Gee, Grebe, Young, Dillard, Hidano, and Kenney; Nay: None. Abstain: None) [1:29:52].

IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:30:24]
Board Elections Deadline of Friday, February 21, 2025 at 4:00 P.M.
Next Regular Board Meeting – The next Nu’uanu/Punchbowl Neighborhood Board No. 12 meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

X. ADJOURNMENT – [1:32:35]: Chair Smith adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m.

Submitted by: Rachel Cristobal, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Lindon Valenciano, Public Relations Assistant, 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.