DOWNTOWN – CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 13
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.
Keʻelikōlani Middle School Library
1302 Queen Emma Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
AND VIA WEBEX
This meeting location is open to public participation.
Other available options including WebEx and phone-in instructions are as follows:
Meeting Link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m2eec5eabd07f32af605be6e0c6aac97b
Meeting Number / Access Code: 2490 552 4947
Password: NB13 (6213 from phones and video systems)
Join by phone: +1(408) 418-9388 [United States toll]
Meeting Materials Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F4DdI9R8Er12TNf6Bl-yb4p4EW0-68vu
Video Recordings: http://www.youtube.com/@NeighborhoodCommissionOffice
Rules of Speaking: Any audience member may raise their hand to speak on an agenda item at the announced time; when recognized by the Presiding Officer, questions/comments are limited to two (2) minutes. After the audience, Board members may raise their hand to speak with questions and comments limited to one (1) minute thirty (30) seconds. Audience/Board members should refrain from interruptions and/or disruptive conduct. Any individual not following these rules may be ruled out of order.
Rules for Presentations/Reports: Those providing presentations to the Board are encouraged to do so via PowerPoint presentation, and to submit the presentation to the Chair at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. To permit sufficient time for questions, those giving presentations/reports are urged to finish within the allotted time on the agenda. Subsequent responses during Q&A should be kept brief and direct (or may be addressed in private follow-ups).
Other Notes: Members of the Board may not raise a matter not listed on the agenda during Public Concerns (but may request the inclusion of an item on the agenda in advance of the meeting). Public testimony received in advance of the meeting may also be read aloud (during the listed agenda item or Public Concerns). A majority vote (5) of this 9-member Board is required to meet quorum requirements.
1. CALL TO ORDER
1.1 Roll Call
2. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 5 minutes each)
2.1 Honolulu Fire Department
2.2 Honolulu Police Department
3. PRESENTATIONS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 5 minutes each)
3.1 “Umi on Smith! – A celebration marking 10 years of art, collaboration, education, and the continued perpetuation of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiian Culture: Umi on Smith will occupy Smith Street on Friday, May 1st between Hotel & King streets. Expected closure times start at 6:30 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. Event programming will occupy the attached surface parking lot & offer the public a free concert with a roster of local talent. Kaiao space will celebrate 10 years of installations with art projections starting at 5 p.m. Food vendors & local artisans will pop up booths while a beer garden will be adjacent to the stage. This event mirrors one in Hilo hosted by Ola Brewing & Sig Zane. This event is a free community concert & art installation block party on Smith Street hosted by Kaiao space & Chinatown Social Club. Contact is Kennedy Augafa representing Chinatown Social Club/Sig Zane & Nicole Reid for Imagine & Create Foundation. [admin@manifesthawaii.com]
3.2 DoHo Night Market – Affordable Hawaiʻi Foundation 501(c)(3) dba Activate DoHo is throwing their second night market on Fort Street Mall. The event is free to the public and will feature local food and market vendors, live music, performances, and more! – Friday, April 17 from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Fort Streel Mall & Robert Wilcox Park. – McKinley Eads [Mckinleye@avalonhi.com]
3.3 Heart of Honolulu – No Alcohol – Saturday, April 11, 2026. from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Street closure is Nuʻuanu Ave, Chaplain Lane to Hotel, Hotel to King Street, and both sides of Pauahi Street to parking lot egress. – Only Bus reroute is #4 on Nuʻuanu Ave. – Sandra Pohl [foundingdirector@downtownarthi.org]
3.4 St. Patrick Day Celebration – Event to be held on Fort Street Mall between Hotel and King Street. No road closer. It will feature food, entertainment, and beverage stations. Also an ask to the board to help change the ordinaces to have the malls operate as a mall and not a street. As for now the malls must give a 90 day notice for events and thus they are treated like street closers. – Ed Korybski [ed@fortsbid.org]
4. PUBLIC CONCERNS (2 minutes each regarding issues not listed on the agenda)
5. BOARD BUSINESS
5.1 Neighborhood Board Clean up discussion. Vote on date and place of clean up.
6. ELECTED OFFICIALS – Priority to be given to elected officials/representatives that are physically present at the meeting (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 3 minutes each).
6.1 Congressman Ed Case’s Representative
6.2 Governor Josh Green’s Representative – Stephen Downes [stephen.downes@doh.hawaii.gov]
6.3 Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – Ian Santee [isantee@honolulu.gov]
6.4 City Council (District 6) – Tyler Dos Santos-Tam [tdossantos-tam@honolulu.gov]
6.5 State Senate (District 13) – Karl Rhoads [senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov]
6.6 State House (District 25) – Kim Coco Iwamoto [repiwamoto@capitol.hawaii.gov]
7. MONTHLY REPORTS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 3 minutes each)
7.1 Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Iris Oda [IODA@hbws.org]
7.2 Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) Harry Cho [harry.cho@honolulu.gov]
7.3 Chinatown Improvement District – Lee Stack [chinatownimprovementdistrict@gmail.com]
7.4 Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) – Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock [clskwock@gmail.com]
7.5 Neighborhood Citizen Patrol – Kevin Lye [kevinlye@gmail.com]
8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (1 minute)
8.1 Approval of Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record (Thursday, February 5, 2025)
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS
9.1 City and County of Honolulu and Hawaiʻi Foodbank are partnering up to Fight Against Hunger: Neighborhood Assistant Camilia Epa Gomes will be collecting donated canned goods at the next Neighborhood Board meeting.
9.2 The next Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Keʻelikōlani Middle School and virtually via WebEx.
9.3 Rebroadcasts of Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meetings are scheduled on ʻŌlelo channel 49 for every third Thursday at 9:00 p.m., as well as 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. An archive of past meetings may be found on https://olelo.org/olelonet/ by searching on <Downtown>.
10. 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, Hawai‘i 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 https://www8.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, 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 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.
[DRAFT] REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
THURSDAY, February 5, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.
Keʻelikōlani Middle School Library
1302 Queen Emma Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
AND VIA WEBEX
Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qIiprnGFZ4
Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F4DdI9R8Er12TNf6Bl-yb4p4EW0-68vu
1. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:01]
Chair Ernest Caravalho called the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with five (5) members present. Note: This nine-member Board requires five (5) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.
Members Present: Ernest Caravalho, Sean Fitzsimmons (arrived at 6:14 p.m.), Kevin Lye, Dan Mestas, Nicole Shintani, Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, and Laura Sturges (appointed).
Members Absent: Robert Armstrong and Ross Isokane.
Guests: Firefighter Kaleo Kia (Honolulu Fire Department); Sergeant Lee (Honolulu Police Department); Stephen Downes (Governor Greenʻs Representative); Will Duke (Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam); Nestor Garcia (Congressman Ed Case); Haleina Beltran (Senator Karl Rhoads); Representative Kim Iwamoto (State House District 25); Iris Oda (Honolulu Board of Water Supply); Harry Cho (HART); Ed Korybski (Fort Street Mall Improvement District); Mike Buck (C.O.R.E); Patrick Smith (Neighborhood Commission Chair); Ron Lee (i2c Realty Ltd.); Mai Wilkes, Thomas Anderson, Phan Thanh Phuc (Vietnamese Community Organization); Sergio Alcubilla, Mandy Fernandez (ACLU of Hawaii); Ziriela (Walk for Peace); Christina Whinnery (Kekaulike Courtyard); Jasmine Mancos (Proof Social Club); Lei Sakamoto (SHADE Institute); Roberta Hickey-Gomez, Kevin McDonald, Doug Pyle, Melissa Gibo, Ronald Higa, Casey Ishitani, Kevin Fujioka, Wilbert Lyn, Jane Turner (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 51 total attendees.
2. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS – [0:01:19]
Honolulu Fire Department – [0:01:19]: Firefighter Kaleo Kia provided statistics and tips.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19LNutOcJXC5Ueoi_lzeVB5jQK2An1CXs/view?usp=sharing
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:04:20]
• Fort Street Mall Fire Access Route: Chair Caravalho
Honolulu Police Department – [0:07:00]: Sergeant Lee provided statistics.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:08:17]
• HPD Coordination with Federal Enforcement: Community Member Roberta Hickey-Gomez
• HPD Walking Patrols in Chinatown: Resident Candice
• Questions on applicability/enforcement of various ordinances: Board Member Lye
• Nuisance laws enforcement: Vice Chair Fitzsimmons
• Sit-Lie Ordinance Enforcement and Public Drug Use: Chair Caravalho
• Sit-Lie Ordinance Enforcement: Board Member Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock
Member Fitzsimmons joined the meeting at 6:14 p.m.; 6 members present.
3. FILLING OF VACANCY – [0:23:28]
Board Action to Fill One (1) At-Large Seat – [0:23:28]: Laura Sturges and Kevin McDonald volunteered.
[0:26:20] – Lye nominated Kevin McDonald to fill the vacant at-large seat. [0:26:27] – Shubert-Kwock nominated Laura Sturges to fill the vacant at-large seat. A roll call vote was conducted. Laura Sturges was elected to fill the at-large vacant seat. 5-1-0 (Sturges: Fitzsimmons, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Caravalho; McDonald: Lye) – [0:27:33].
[0:27:40] – Chair Caravalho called for a recess to allow the Neighborhood Assistant to administer the Oath of Office.
[0:27:44] – Chair Caravalho called the meeting back to order.
Member Sturges joined the meeting at 6:27 p.m.; 7 members present.
Chair Remarks – [0:28:00]: Chair Caravalho welcomed Laura Sturges to the board and acknowledged former board member Lori McCarney who resigned due to focusing on her service with the National Alzheimer’s Association.
4. PRESENTATIONS – [0:28:23]
Economic Driver – [0:28:24]: Ron Lee (President, i2c Realty Ltd.) presented a conceptual plan for revitalizing Chinatown through transit-oriented development and new economic attractions.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:44:45]
• Community Engagement and Tangible Steps: Board Member Lye
• Cruise Ships Economic Impact on Chinatown: Vice Chair Fitzsimmons
• Support for Local Businesses: Chair Caravalho
Vietnam Statue – Erection of Admiral Hoàng Cơ Minh Statue on College Walk – [0:51:27]: Mai Wilkes (Vice President, Vietnamese Community Organization), along with President Thomas Anderson and sculptor Phan Thanh Phuc, presented a proposal to install a statue of Admiral Hoàng Cơ Minh on College Walk (Downtown Honolulu).
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:00:10]
• Statue Permitting, Costs, Maintenance and Historical Significance: Board Member Lye
• Similar Statues in Neighborhood: Chair Caravalho
[1:05:22] – Shubert-Kwock MOVED and Sturges SECONDED to support the installation of the Admiral Hoàng Cơ Minh Statue on College Walk. A roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was ADOPTED; 7-0-0 (Aye: Fitzsimmons, Lye, Sturges, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [1:08:26].
ACLU of Hawaii – ICE Enforcement and Immigrant Rights [1:08:37]: Sergio Alcubilla (Director of Community Engagement) and Mandy Fernandez (Director of Policy), ACLU of Hawaii, presented on current ICE enforcement trends and the ACLU’s Campaign for Immigrant Justice at the Hawaii State Legislature.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:17:26]
• Deputization Legislation and Fire Departments: Community member Roberta Hickey-Gomez
• Secret Police Act and Due Process: Vice Chair Fitzsimmons
• Multilingual Outreach to Community: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• Upcoming Legislative Hearings: Kaili Morala
• Compliance with Laws: Board Member Lye
5. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [1:26:50]
1.
• Walk for Peace Honolulu: Community member Ziriela
• Security and Public Health Concerns at Kekaulike Courtyard: Christina Whinnery
• Fort Street Mall Events and Permitting Burdens: Ed Korybski (Fort Street Mall BID)
• Neighborhood Commission Updates: Patrick Smith (Neighborhood Commission Chair)
• Seeking Clarity on Perceived Inconsistency and Lack of Official Guidance from City Regarding Noise Ordinance Enforcement Against Proof Social Club: Jasmine Mancos (owner, Proof Social Club)
• Candidacy for State House District 28: Ernest Caravalho
[1:39:46] – Chair Caravalho asked Vice Chair Fitzsimmons to serve as presiding chair temporarily.
[1:40:12] – Chair Caravalho resumed as Chair upon returning to his seat.
6. BOARD BUSINESS – [1:40:23]
Chinatown Parade – Saturday, February 14, 2026 – [1:40:23]: The Board announced/discussed details on annual Chinatown Parade on Saturday, February 14, meeting at 3:00 p.m. as well as weekend events surrounding parade.
Neighborhood Board Cleanup Discussion – [1:42:24]: The Board discussed scheduling a neighborhood cleanup (potentially for March) to be discussed/finalized in future meeting.
7. ELECTED OFFICIALS – [1:44:56]: Priority is given to elected officials/representatives who are present
in person at the meeting.
Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [1:45:00]: Stephen Downes provided responses to prior meeting questions.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GhUqyAgw8I_hPIzlpsbh77DRJ1WaJTTP/view?usp=drive_link
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PNtJC1jiu20IxHARRi4_15mBO2ziOQ4j/view?usp=drive_link
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:46:30]
• Potential Prohibition on Cruise Ships and Impact on Chinatown’s Economy: Vice Chair Fitzsimmons.
• State Marketing Funds for Chinatown: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• Sit-Lie Enforcement at State Capitol Grounds: Board Member Lye
City Council (District 6) – Tyler Dos Santos Tam – [1:49:38]: Will Duke provided updates.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:51:10]
• Road Conditions in Honolulu: Resident Kevin McDonald
• Kamaliʻi Mini Park Development Status + Feral Roosters: Board Member Lye
• Kamaliʻi Mini Park and Construction Gridlock: Vice Chair Fitzsimmons
• Chinatown Rail Station Bike Ramp Width Accessibility: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• Public Restrooms in Chinatown: Board Member Sturges
Congressman Ed Case’s Representative – [1:59:27]: Nestor Garcia provided updates.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:02:17]
1. Congressman Ed Case’s Position on ICE Enforcement: Vice Chair Fitzsimmons
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [2:04:55]: Ian Santee provided updates.
• Link to Sign-up for News Updates via Email: https://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/newsletter-signup/
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:05:48]
• Road Conditions: Resident Kevin McDonald
• Dangerous Sidewalk Cutout at 1047 Maunakea Street: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• Vehicle Accidents at Smith and Hotel Streets: Board Member Mestas
• Feral Rooster Cage Program: Board Member Lye
• Roosters Disregarding Appropriate Times and Residents’ Need to Sleep: Chair Caravalho
State Senate (District 13) – Karl Rhoads – [2:12:24]: Haleina Beltran provided updates.
• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13654v-fd05SjITs6oKrixiipwpR_BmJT/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:16:15]
• Parks Department Determination on Kamaliʻi Mini Park: Board Member Lye provided comments on the City Parks Department’s characterization of the park, noting it was a park for over 30 years with little investment. He thanked the Senator for pursuing this and making the response public.
• Kamaliʻi Mini Park: Chair Caravalho
State House (District 25) – Kim Coco Iwamoto – [2:18:00]: Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto provided updates.
• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S8tN-aQ-QCjp9m8B9KdG1Dx4QDo5Jis-/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:22:14]
• Free Bus Fare and Service Management: Community member Patrick Smith
• Legal Action Against ICE: Resident Roberta Hickey-Gomez
• Various Legislative Bills and Activities: Board Member Lye
• Request to Reconsider Feral Rooster Bill: Resident Richards
• Desire to Ensure Maintainance of High Quality Bus Service: Board Member Shintani
• HPD as Legal Observers of ICE: Vice Chair Fitzsimmons
State House (District 28) – Daniel Holt – [2:37:10]: No representative present at this time.
8. MONTHLY REPORTS – [2:37:36]
Honolulu Board of Water Supply – [2:37:40]: Iris Oda provided updates and responses to prior questions.
• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VjPuExcKiA7FdWC1yOLU_ZAD6qZDA72z/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:42:58]
1. Question on Red Hill Spills: Chair Caravalho
2. BWS Generator and Water Leaks: Board Member Lye
Member Fitzsimmons left the meeting at 8:45 p.m; 8 members present.
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation – [2:45:33]: Harry Cho shared updates.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m5AafUdtGA8Bjbodros7tGjWdoI_WmXR/view?usp=drive_link
Chinatown Improvement District – [2:46:40]: No representative present at this time.
Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) – [2:46:52]: Board Member Shubert-Kwock provided updates.
• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ImQU5Opj33KaOxEBwhBJVbqFRy4umdZP/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true
Neighborhood Citizen Patrol – [2:48:48]: Board Member Lye invited public participation to join the scheduled patrol meet-ups that occur every second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. departing from outside the Diamond Head Tower lobby of Kukui Plaza (55 S. Kukui St.); next patrol will occur Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Member Shubert-Kwock left the meeting at 8:49 p.m; 7 members present.
9. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [2:50:02]
Approval of Regular Meeting Summary for Video Record (Thursday, December 4, 2025) – [2:50:00]: Board Member Lye requested two amendments to the draft.
[2:51:30] – Lye MOVED and Caravalho SECONDED to approve the December 2025 minutes with the two amendments as stated from Lye. Hearing no objection, the motion was ADOPTED; 5-0-0 (Aye: Lye, Mestas, Shintani, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [2:52:15].
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [2:52:18]
The next Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Keʻelikōlani Middle School and virtually via WebEx.
Rebroadcasts of Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meetings are scheduled on ʻŌlelo channel 49 for every third Thursday at 9:00 p.m., as well as 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. An archive of past meetings may be found on http://olelo.org/olelonet/ by searching on <Downtown>.
11. ADJOURNMENT – [2:52:58] The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
Submitted by: Camilia Epa Gomes, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
Finalized by: Ross Isokane, Secretary, Neighborhood Board No.13
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