NU‘UANU – PUNCHBOWL NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 12

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026
6:30 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=mc7a7040282033e0d2de2bc5b0070f6b9
Meeting number/Access code: 2497 187 9026
Password: NB12 (6212 from phones and video systems)
Join by phone: +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

Physical location: Pauoa Elementary School Cafeteria Dining Room, 2301 Pauoa Road, Honolulu, HI 96813

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

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 – Rae Gee, Chair

II. ROLL CALL – Neighborhood Assistant Zhoydell Magaoay

III. STATUS REPORTS – Three (3) minutes maximum, questions to follow.
Reports can be found on the board’s shared drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Y5eCxbwTKi-vMx3VSZYqwwhbV_WumRpq
A. Honolulu Fire Department (HFD)
1. April 2026 report found on the NB#12 shared drive.
B. Honolulu Police Department (HPD)
1. District 1 Report – Central Oʻahu (Downtown Honolulu, Liliha St. (below School St.)., Punahou St. (Roundtop Dr. – Ala Moana Beach & Aloha Tower, & Pali Highway))
2. District 5 Report – Kalihi (Āliamanu to the Pali Highway (west to east) and from the rim of the Koʻolau Range to the central southeastern shoreline of Oʻahu.)
C. Neighborhood Security Watch/Community Policing Report – Paula Kurashige
D. Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Jimmy Yanos
1. Dowsett Avenue/Puiwa Road WSI Project update
2. 2800 Pacific Heights Road BWS Water Tank – Update of the BWS plan to restore the grass.

IV. BOARD VACANCIES – Subdistricts 1 (Punchbowl) and Subdistrict 2 (Pacific Heights/Pauoa/Papakōlea) Invitation to the public to serve and call for candidates to volunteer.
A. There are four (4) vacant positions for Subdistrict 1 (Punchbowl). Appointment is through June 2027, three minutes per candidate.
B. There is one (1) vacant position in Subdistrict 2. Appointment is through June 2027. Community update.
C. Conversion of Vacant Seats from Subdistricts to At-Large Vacancies Discussion

V. REPORTS FROM NON-BOARD EVENTS – Brief announcements by board members and the public on events, activities and general information directly relating to the Nuuanu Punchbowl neighborhood areas.
A. Papakōlea Community Updates – Mike Lum/Lilia Kapuniai
B. Oʻahu Metropolitan Planning Organization Statewide Transportation Project Updates – April 1, 2026 meeting update see https://oahumpo.org/citizen-advisory-committee/

VI. RESIDENTS’/COMMUNITY CONCERNS – Limited to three (3) minutes each.
A. Nuʻuanu Valley Park – Requests to Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to: (1) change the Parkʻs “walking path” lights; (2) Hau Tree & Monkey Pod Tree Canopy Trimming DPR Division of Urban Forestry Update; (3) The Parkʻs parking lot light bulbs for safety need to be brighter. – resident Mike Ellis
B. 2502/2424 Pacific Heights Road Sidewalk needs repair – resident Beatrice Ku

VII. OFFICIAL’S REPORTS- Limited to five (5) minutes each, reports should relate to issues of interest to residents of the Nuuanu and Punchbowl areas.
A. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – Director Kim Hashiro
B. Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam – Lisa Leonardo
C. Governor Josh Green’s Representative – Kayla Setzler
D. District 13 Senator Karl Rhoads
E. District 27 Representative Jenna Takenouchi
F. Federal Elected Officers & Other Elected Officials
G. Office of Hawaiian Affairs Update

VIII. MEETING MINUTES
A. Approval of the draft February 17, 2026 meeting minutes.

IX. PRESENTATIONS – Ten (10) minutes per speaker. Questions to follow. Discussion or action as needed.
A. None

X. BOARD BUSINESS – For discussion/action. Five (5) minutes per item.
A. Update on the Pali Highway Transportation Projects – Ryan Nakata, Department of Transportation (DOT)
i. Wood Street Crosswalk Noise Issue & Study Scheduling and Update – resident Mark Oyama
ii. Pali Highway and Wood Street Crosswalk 4-inch High Curb Trip Hazard Design Team Update – resident Pat Taira
iii. Pali Highway Crosswalk Flashing Pedestrian Beacons Installation Project Status – resident Pat Taira
iv. DOT Traffic Delineators & the Potential Switch to a Different Material.
v. 2024 Pali Hwy Resurfacing Project Update – ADA Sidewalks Compliance
Assessment Report findings
vi. Pali Highway Rockfall Safety – Pauoa Road/2004 Pacific Heights Road/Highway 61 On-Ramp Kailua-bound Direction request for DOT to mitigate future rockfalls
B. Punchbowl Cesspools Projects Update – Mike Lum

XI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Regular Board Meeting- The Nu’uanu-Punchbowl Neighborhood Board No. 12 will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
B. Hawaiʻi Foodbank Food Drive: City and County of Honolulu and Hawaiʻi Foodbank are Partnering up to Fight Against Hunger: Neighborhood Assistant Zhoydell Magaoay will be collecting donated canned goods at the next Neighborhood Board Meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

XII. 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, by telephone on (808) 768-3710, fax (808) 768-3711, or e-mailing nco@honolulu.gov. Agenda documents and minutes are also available online at http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/boards.html

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, or email nbtestimony@honolulu.gov

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 that 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.

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2026 at 7:00 P.M.
KAPĀLAMA HALE, CONFERENCE ROOM 153 — 925 DILLINGHAM BOULEVARD, HONOLULU, HI 96817 AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kealc1K90fk

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

CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:20]: Chair Rae Gee called the Nuʻuanu-Punchbowl Neighborhood Board No. 12 meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. No quorum was established with seven (7) members present. Note: This 15-member Board requires eight (8) members to establish quorum and to take official board action. Chair Gee deferred the chairmanship to Vice Chair Mike Lum for the evening, noting she would remain present throughout.

ROLL CALL – [0:00:49]: Neighborhood Assistant Zhoydell Magaoay conducted roll call.

Members Present: Jill Easley Allen, Audrey Hidano, Paula Kurashige (logged on at 7:05 p.m.), Mike Lum, Larry Smith, Patrick Smith, Kathy Grebe, Sylvia Young (logged on at 7:38 p.m.), and Rae Gee

Members Absent: Kaulana Lee

Guests: Sergeant R. Casabar (HPD District 1); Jimmy Yanos (Board of Water Supply – BWS); Lisa Leonardo (Councilmember Dos Santos-Tam’s Office); Kayla Setzler (Governor’s Representative – DCCA); Haleina Beltran (Senator Karl Rhoads’s Office); Representative Jenna Takenouchi; Ryan Nakata (Hawai’i DOT); Jordan Kapono Nakamura, Pat Taira, Ronald Higa, Mike Buck (C.O.R.E.), Trisha Nakamatsu, Gary Kikuchi (Residents/Guests); Zhoydell Magaoay (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: The names of any attendees who were illegible were not included. There were 26 total participants.

STATUS REPORTS – [0:03:36]
Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – [0:03:40]: No representative was present at tonight’s meeting.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRCunj3WDutc0REEs6OQ0llka-YpFRDO/view?usp=drive_link

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – District 1 (Central) – [0:04:06]: Sergeant Casabar reported the following statistics.
January 2026 Statistics: There was one (1) motor vehicle theft (previous: 5), one (1) burglary (previous: 5), one (1) theft (previous: 7), one (1) unauthorized entry to motor vehicle (UEMV) (previous: 6), one (1) assault (previous: 3), zero (0) sex assaults, zero (0) graffiti, zero (0) drugs, 28 motor vehicle collisions (previous: 21), and 555 total calls for service (previous: 595).
Speeding Enforcement: District 1 has been actively enforcing speeding, particularly in the Pali area. Six (6) arrests were made for excessive speeding and reckless driving in the month of January.
Announcements: Sergeant Casabar announced that the National Drug Take Back Initiative will be held April 25, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Honolulu State Capitol, HPD Pearl City, and Times Supermarket at Kahala Mall, and warned residents of a DMV text message scam, advising them not to click or respond and to block the sender.
Safety Tip: Sergeant Casabar reminded residents to always wear seatbelts and to never allow passengers to ride in the back of pickup trucks, noting a recent H-1 fatality involved a passenger seated in a truck bed.

Member Kurashige logged on at 7:05 p.m. Eight (8) members were present, establishing quorum.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:06:52]
1. DMV Text Scams and Stored Vehicles: Member Kurashige asked on behalf of seniors whether a car stored in a garage could trigger DMV penalty notices. Sergeant Casabar confirmed HPD does not send such notices and that vehicles on private property are not subject to enforcement.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – District 5 (Kalihi/Pali Corridor) – [0:08:12]: No representative was present at tonight’s meeting; no report was provided.
Neighborhood Security Watch/Community Policing Report – [0:08:34]: Member Kurashige reported that beats 571, 572, and 573 have been relatively clean. An ongoing concern involves an individual driving a truck (license plate YAB-2464) who enters residents’ yards when no one is home and takes flowers, filling the truck bed. Residents were urged to call police if they witness this activity. Member Kurashige also requested that the public come forward if anyone has a garage with two electrical outlets available for Neighborhood Security Watch meetings, noting that other venues in the area charge 0 per hour, which is beyond the organization’s means.

Board of Water Supply (BWS) – [0:12:11]: Jimmy Yanos reported that the Dowsett Water System Improvements Project has received both SHPD and building permit approvals, and while BWS is still confirming component compatibility with suppliers and consultants as part of updated design changes to improve corrosion protection, work is hoped to begin by June 2026 pending finalization of a contractor change order. He also noted that the grass at the 2800 Pacific Heights Road Water Tank, which appeared unhealthy after ground crews cut it very short to eliminate heavy thatch buildup, is now slowly recovering. Yanos announced that BWS has launched its 2026 Poster & Poetry Contest with the theme “Everyday Conservation,” open to K–6 students for the poster contest and grades 7–12 for the poetry contest, with a deadline of February 27, 2026, at www.boardofwatersupply.com/WCWcontest.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r2fbiKbTvbrgMc4bEwS9BJUhw1sdoHQN/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:15:19]
1. Alika Avenue Main Break: Member Hidano noted a water main break that occurred the previous day on Alika Avenue and asked that it be noted for the record. Yanos confirmed the 8-inch pipe break was repaired and initially reported one house affected. Members Kurashige and Hidano clarified the break affected at least 3–4 homes, caused the street to lift approximately an inch off the sidewalk, and sounded like an explosion — noting this is approximately the 11th or 12th time that pipe has broken. Yanos agreed to take the concerns back to the team.
2. 2800 Pacific Heights Road Grass Condition: Member Patrick Smith disputed BWS’s explanation, stating only weeds — not grass — are returning and the condition defies the explanation that cutting the grass short was the sole cause. Member Grebe agreed the current state reflects poorly on BWS. Member Easley Allen requested that BWS come back not just with a report but with a plan of action to restore the grass. Yanos agreed to take all concerns back to the team and provide a plan of action at the next meeting.

BOARD VACANCIES – Subdistricts 1 & 2 – [0:23:57]
Five (5) vacant seats with appointments through June 2027: four (4) in Subdistrict 1 (Punchbowl/Papakōlea) and one (1) in Subdistrict 2 (Pauoa). No candidates came forward during the meeting. Vice Chair Lum announced that the Subdistrict 2 vacancy is due to the retirement of long-serving board member Mason Aiona, noting he has served the board for many years and will be greatly missed.

REPORTS FROM NON-BOARD EVENTS – [0:25:05]
Papakōlea Community Updates – [0:25:10]: Lilia Kapuniai was not present at the meeting. Vice Chair Lum noted he is also listed on the report but does not have a report to provide at this time. This item will be deferred to the next meeting.

Oʻahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Updates – [0:25:32]: Chair Gee reported attending the Oahu MPO meeting on the first Wednesday of February. The document currently open for public comment is the Oahu Regional Transportation Plan (ORTP), a 40–50-year plan covering federal highway and federal transit administration projects statewide. An Excel spreadsheet on the MPO website lists placeholder projects for federal funds, including the Pali Highway Rockfall Mitigation Project. Chair Gee encouraged the public to visit www.oahumpo.org/ortp/ to review projects and submit comments.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:27:29]
1. Pali Highway Rockfall Safety Urgency: Member Kurashige asked whether the rockfall mitigation project covers the area near the Ola entrance to the Kailua-bound direction. Chair Gee responded that specific locations were not listed in her review but directed the public to check the MPO website spreadsheet, and noted they can bring concerns directly to DOT representative Mr. Nakata. Member Kurashige emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that large lava rocks have been falling for approximately 13 years. She suggested DOT consider closing the outer lane and redirecting traffic to the inside lane until the issue is resolved, before someone is seriously injured.

RESIDENTS’/COMMUNITY CONCERNS – [0:29:25]: No new public concerns were raised. Member Grebe raised a potential correction to January minutes regarding the left turn traffic light location but was reminded by Member Patrick Smith that per the Sunshine Law, board members may not raise new issues during public concerns.
OFFICIALS’ REPORTS – [0:33:00]
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [0:33:09]: Director Kim Hashiro was not present at the meeting.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jfnWNd9ycbTrWF-uD5jzV0gJgdCjI4zm/view?usp=drive_link

Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam – [0:33:30]: Lisa Leonardo shared that the Councilmember introduced Bills 5 and 6 to update development standards to make it easier to build housing, including affordable units, near jobs and transit, while opposing Bill 17 — which he felt would undermine the city’s most successful affordable housing program — and voting against the bus fare increase in Bill 54, arguing that public transit should be treated as essential infrastructure rather than a revenue source given the burden higher fares place on working people, seniors, and people with disabilities. He also noted that following resident concerns about recent lane striping on ʻAuwaiolimu Street that reduced two lanes to one on both sides and caused congestion, DTS has acknowledged the issue and will monitor conditions over the coming weeks, with potential adjustments to the turn signal at ʻAuwaiolimu and Nehoa Street, noting the striping was originally intended to improve safety for pedestrians and parked cars and reduce speeds during off-peak hours.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1thvGQIkQQ7kAmAZpq64_nLUDfdCIk8zc/view?usp=drive_link

Member Young logged on at 7:38 p.m. There were nine (9) members present.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:38:05]
1. TheBus Route 121 Cancellation: Resident Jordan Kapono Nakamura, who has been canvassing the Nuʻuanu area and hearing concerns from residents, asked about the cancellation of TheBus Route 121, which served upper Nuʻuanu. Leonardo responded she was not certain of the details but would look into it and bring information back to the next meeting, or asked the resident to call the council member’s office directly.

Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [0:41:39]: Kayla Setzler of DCCA highlighted state efforts to lower the cost of living, affordable housing progress including expansion of Kauhale Tiny Home Communities, and the launch of a Hawai’i Wi-Fi program using Starlink for remote areas, with a DLNR Red Hill spill awareness survey available through February 28, 2026. She also clarified that HPD — not DOT — handles Pali Highway speed enforcement, that the Pauoa/Pacific Heights left turn issue will be referred to the City’s public information officer, and that billboard concerns should be directed to DPP with a photo, location, and description.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qElyfNzrNFPA870KXovQ2Wd5Yy6YsZc0/view?usp=drive_link
• DLNR Red Hill Survey: www.RedHillSurvey.com

District 13 Senator Karl Rhoads – [0:46:40]: Haleina Beltran announced that Hawaiʻi Energy has launched an appliance trade-up program to help Honolulu residents reduce energy use and manage rising electricity costs. Residents in ZIP codes 96817 and 96819 can trade in an old, inefficient refrigerator or freezer for a new energy-efficient model for as low as $250, with an application deadline of April 15, 2026. For more information, visit www.hawaiienergy.com or call 877-231-8222.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X6QDx3G2mhpZdP6A6qtGcIrJtQFKzS4d/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:48:22]
1. Brown Hawaiian Ducks in Nuʻuanu: Member Kurashige asked who in the legislature is responsible for the welfare and relocation of Brown Hawaiian Ducks in Nuʻuanu. She noted the issue had been raised previously with the Governor’s office, who indicated it was not within their purview, and she is trying to determine whether it falls under the senator’s office, DLNR, or another agency. Beltran stated she did not know but would bring the question to Senator Rhoads and follow up with Member Kurashige by the next meeting or via phone.

District 27 Representative Jenna Takenouchi – [0:52:02]: Representative Takenouchi announced that the Hawai’i Tourism Authority is seeking public comment on the O’ahu Destination Management Action Plan, focused on preserving natural and cultural landmarks through responsible tourism, with a Zoom meeting on February 18, 2026 from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. and feedback accepted through March 2, 2026. On the legislative front, with session approaching its first major committee deadline, she is pursuing two bills: one to fund DLNR for hazardous tree assessment and removal affecting public property, highlighted by a constituent whose house was recently struck by a fallen tree, and another to close legal loopholes around unlawful occupancy of vacant or rented properties, which passed the Human Services committee that day. Residents interested in submitting testimony or tracking bills were encouraged to contact her office.

Federal Elected Officers & Other Elected Officials – [0:56:41]: No federal elected officials or other elected official representatives were present at tonight’s meeting.
MEETING MINUTES – [0:57:01]
Approval of the draft November 18, 2025 meeting minutes: Vice Chair Lum asked if there were any corrections to the November 18, 2025 meeting minutes. No corrections were noted by board members or the public. Without objection, the November 18, 2025 meeting minutes were accepted as published.

Approval of the draft January 20, 2026 meeting minutes: Vice Chair Lum asked if there were any additions or corrections to the January 20, 2026 meeting minutes. No corrections were noted. Without objection, the January 20, 2026 meeting minutes were accepted as published.

PRESENTATIONS – [0:58:47]: None.

BOARD BUSINESS – [0:58:51]
Update on the Pali Highway Transportation Projects – [0:59:13]: Ryan Nakata, Hawai’i DOT, provided updates.
1. Wood Street Crosswalk Noise Issue: A raised crosswalk was installed at Pali Highway and Wood Street in Spring 2025. Resident Mark Oyama raised concerns about excessive vehicle noise over the crosswalk as well as pavement markings. An initial noise study was conducted but Mr. Oyama raised additional concerns about the testing devices and measurement locations used. DOT committed to a second round of testing, coordinated with Mr. Oyama. The testing lab has been unable to schedule the second round due to the need for good, clear weather with no rain or high winds. The lab has confirmed it will contact Mr. Oyama when the next testing date is scheduled. No date has been set yet.
2. Pali Highway and Wood Street Crosswalk 4-Inch-High Curb Trip Hazard: DOT sent an inspector to verify conditions at the Wood Street crosswalk. The inspector confirmed that where the crosswalk changes direction at the median, there are curbs on both sides that could pose a tripping hazard. A resident reported nearly falling into the roadway while crossing in the dark and rain. The matter has been referred to DOT’s traffic design section to evaluate additions or changes to improve visibility and prevent tripping incidents. Still being evaluated.
3. DOT Noise Study of Other Pali Highway Crosswalks: DOT only has plans to study Wood Street; no other crosswalk noise concerns have been reported.
4. DOT Traffic Delineators & Potential Switch to Different Material: Nakata stated he was not aware of the specific concerns about the type of delineators currently in use and requested that the board or public provide additional details on the nature of the concern so DOT can investigate appropriately.
5. 2024 Pali Highway Resurfacing — ADA Sidewalk Compliance Assessment: DOT conducted an assessment in 2024 measuring all obstructions along sidewalks on both sides of Pali Highway through Nuʻuanu, with photos taken. Nakata was unable to locate the report before the meeting. He will follow up and share the assessment results with the Board.
6. Speed Cameras Project Update: Speed camera enforcement on Pali Highway is limited to the Vineyard and School Street intersections with no expansion planned. Residents can check the DOT website for camera locations.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:06:46]
1. Pali Highway Pedestrian Safety and ADA Accessibility: Member Kurashige raised longstanding pedestrian safety concerns: narrow sidewalks near Lower Dowsett/Wood Street and St. Stephen’s Church force pedestrians into the roadway; vehicles travel at 50–59 mph. She urged expanded speed cameras and a comprehensive ADA accessibility review. Nakata agreed to take concerns back to DOT designers.
2. Flashing Pedestrian Beacon Lights at Crosswalks: Resident Pat Taira referenced a previous town hall meeting hosted by Representative Takenouchi where DOT Director Sniffen mentioned plans to install strobing lights at crosswalks to alert drivers that pedestrians are crossing. She noted that drivers do not know the crosswalks exist and continue to speed through them even when pedestrians are waiting or waving. She asked when these lights would be installed. Nakata stated he is not aware of any current plans to install flashing pedestrian beacons on Pali Highway and will inquire with his team and report back.

Punchbowl Cesspools Projects Update – [1:15:26]: Vice Chair Lum reported there is no update at this time. The Punchbowl area continues to rely on cesspools with no sewer connections currently in place.

Annual In-Person Board Meeting – [1:15:45]: The board voted to change the start time of the April 21, 2026 annual in-person meeting to 6:30 p.m., to be held at Pauoa Elementary School cafeteria in hybrid format through 8:30 p.m. Chair Gee will order banners to publicize the new location and start time, with Member Young suggesting they be posted as soon as the March 2026 recess ends to provide at least a month’s notice.
[1:24:08] – Member P. Smith MOVED and Member Grebe SECONDED to change the April 21, 2026 meeting start time to 6:30 p.m. at Pauoa Elementary School.; The Board conducted a voice vote, 9-0-0. (Aye: Easley Allen, Grebe, Hidano, Kurashige, Lum, L. Smith, P. Smith, Young. Nay: None. Abstain: None.) – [1:26:25]. The motion WAS ADOPTED

Motion to Temporarily Change Vacant Subdistrict Seats to At-Large Seats Until June 2027 – [1:26:43]: The board discussed five vacant seats — four in Subdistrict 1 (Punchbowl) and one in Subdistrict 2 — and whether to temporarily open them to at-large candidates. Vice Chair Lum raised concerns that Punchbowl’s younger, more transient population makes recruitment difficult, while Member Young supported converting Subdistrict 1 seats to at-large but opposed including the recently vacated Subdistrict 2 seat, feeling the community hadn’t yet had a chance to find a candidate.
[1:27:59] – Member P. Smith MOVED and Member Grebe SECONDED to temporarily change all vacant subdistrict seats to at-large seats until June 2027. Discussions followed. Hearing no further discussions, the Board conducted roll call vote; 5-3-0. (Aye: Easley Allen, Grebe, Hidano, Kurashige, P. Smith. Nay: Lum, Young, Gee. Abstain: None.) – [1:37:27]. The motion WAS NOT ADOPTED. Member L. Smith was unresponsive when called to vote.

Motion to Consider Permanently Converting Subdistrict Seats to At-Large Seats – [1:37:34]: Member Young suggested keeping the item on future agendas to allow further study and input from other neighborhood boards, proposing a hybrid approach that retains some subdistrict seats while adding at-large seats given the distinct demographics of each subdistrict. Member P. Smith noted he had submitted the item to the Neighborhood Commission agenda in advance, while Chair Gee clarified she placed it on the board agenda based on prior discussions. No motion was made.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:46:23]
Next Regular Board Meeting: The Board will recess in March 2026. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at Pauoa Elementary School Cafeteria Dining Room (hybrid).

City Charter Commission: Member Patrick Smith reminded attendees that the City Charter Commission is reviewing a number of proposed charter amendments. Since the board will not meet in March, he encouraged all residents and board members to review the proposed amendments and submit written testimony on any positions during the recess period.

In Memoriam: Member Young announced the passing of another former Board No. 12 member representing upper Nuʻuanu Valley. Services were held Sunday.

Chinese New Year: Member Kurashige wished everyone a Happy Chinese New Year.

ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:50 p.m.

Submitted by: Zhoydell Magaoay, Neighborhood Assistant
Reviewed by: Dylan Whitsell, Deputy
Finalized by: Jill Easley Allen, Secretary & Rae Gee, Chair

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.