When

February 5, 2026

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Where

Ke’elikōlani Middle School
1302 Queen Emma Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, 96813

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DOWNTOWN – CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 13

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 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. FILLING OF VACANCY (3 minutes)
3.1 Board action to fill 1 at-large seat

4. PRESENTATIONS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 10 minutes each)
4.1 Economic Driver – presentation will address the continued slowdown in economic activity in Chinatown, including decreased local foot traffic, limited tourism, and fewer young visitors, despite ongoing improvements in cleanliness and public safety. It will explore potential economic strategies and introduce the concept of a proposed Economic Driver to support merchants and residents while attracting visitors seeking authentic food, history, culture, art, and vibrant community experiences. – Ron Lee – President i2c realty LTD. [alohaaronlee@gmail.com]
4.2 Vietnam Statue – Erection of Admiral Hoang Co Minh Statue on College Walk presentation. – Mai Wilkes – Vice President of the Vietnamese Community Organization [mw0822@aol.com]
4.3 ACLU- The ACLU of Hawaii will provide legal information to the community and area business owners on current enforcement efforts by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. The ACLU of Hawaii is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting civil rights and liberties under the US and Hawaii constitutions. – Sergio Alcubilla [salcubilla@aclu.org]

5. PUBLIC CONCERNS (2 minutes each regarding issues not listed on the agenda)

6. BOARD BUSINESS
6.1 Chinatown Parade – Saturday, February 14, 2026
6.2 Neighborhood Board Clean up discussion

7. ELECTED OFFICIALS – Priority to be given to elected officials/representatives that are physically present at the meeting (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 5 minutes each)
7.1 Congressman Ed Case’s Representative
7.2 Governor Josh Green’s Representative – Stephen Downes [stephen.downes@doh.hawaii.gov]
7.3 Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – Ian Santee [isantee@honolulu.gov]
7.4 City Council (District 6) – Tyler Dos Santos-Tam [tdossantos-tam@honolulu.gov]
7.5 State Senate (District 13) – Karl Rhoads [senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov]
7.6 State House (District 25) – Kim Coco Iwamoto [repiwamoto@capitol.hawaii.gov]
7.7 State House (District 28) – Daniel Holt [repholt@capitol.hawaii.gov]

8. MONTHLY REPORTS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 3 minutes each)
8.1 Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Iris Oda [IODA@hbws.org]
8.2 Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) Harry Cho [harry.cho@honolulu.gov]
8.3 Chinatown Improvement District – Lee Stack [chinatownimprovementdistrict@gmail.com]
8.4 Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) – Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock [clskwock@gmail.com]
8.5 Neighborhood Citizen Patrol – Kevin Lye [kevinlye@gmail.com]

9. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (1 minute)
9.1 Approval of Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record (Thursday, December 4, 2025)

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
10.1 The next Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Keʻelikōlani Middle School and virtually via WebEx.
10.2 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>.

11. 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 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, December 4, 2025, 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=2E7vzXQtXCk

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 seven (7) members present. Note: This nine-member Board requires five (5) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Members Present: Robert Armstrong, Ernest Caravalho, Ross Isokane, Kevin Lye, Lori McCarney, Dan Mestas, Nicole Shintani (arrived at 6:04 p.m.), and Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock.

Members Absent: Sean Fitzsimmons.

Guests: Firefighter C. Yamaguchi (Honolulu Fire Department); Sergeant Freeman (Honolulu Police Department); Stephen Downes (Governor Greenʻs Representative); Will Duke (Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam); Senator Karl Rhoads (State Senate District 13); Representative Kim Iwamoto, Janel Fujinaka (State House District 25); Kelly (Representative Daniel Holt); Iris Oda (Honolulu Board of Water Supply); Harry Cho (HART); Barinna Poon (Hong Kong Business Association); Nathan Hokama, Lacey Shimabukuro, Audrey Awaya (Pacific Housing), Rona Fukumoto (Lanakila Pacific) Spencer Bates (WRNS Studio); Ed Korybski (Fort Street Mall Improvement District); Mike Buck (C.O.R.E); Zosimo Arista (Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities); Donald Sakamoto (Deaf & Blind Task Force); Patrick Smith (Neighborhood Commission Chair); Shoushawna Kahikikala Laanui Wilcox, Doug Pyle, Dorothy Aiwohi, Miriam Swann, Anthony Nagatani, Kevin Fujioka, Scott Ishikawa, Karen Arakawa, Justin Limasa, Annette C. Tashiro, M. Gibo (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 41 total attendees.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS – [0:01:00]

Honolulu Fire Department – [0:01:06]: Firefighter C. Yamaguchi provided statistics and tips:
Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G_j0K-ZVmklZKQzeaNMrKSa35qQlOyQb/view?usp=sharing

Honolulu Police Department – [0:03:10]: Sergeant Freeman provided statistics

Member Shintani joined the meeting at 6:04 p.m.; 8 members present.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:04:11]
• City Council Settlement Decision (Sykap case): Board Member Isokane
• Hotel Street Enforcement and Collisions: Chair Caravalho
• Improved Signage for Bus-Only Lane: Resident Shoushawna Wilcox

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [0:09:40]

Board Vote to Approve NCO Draft Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record (Thursday, November 6, 2025 – [0:09:50]:

[0:11:08] – Lye MOVED to make various amendments to the written summary. There was NO SECOND.

[0:11:58] – Mestas MOVED and Isokane SECONDED to approve the November 2025 drafts. Lye objected.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:12:15]
• Recommendations to reconsider proposed amendments: Board Member Lye

Hearing no further discussion, the board conducted a roll-call vote on the motion to approve the agenda item. The motion was ADOPTED; 7-1-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Isokane, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Caravalho; Nay: Lye; Abstain: None) – [0:14:18].

4. PRESENTATIONS – [0:14:20]

The Inaugural 2026 Honolulu Hong Kong Festival – [0:14:30]: Barinna Poon (Hong Kong Business Association of Hawaii) outlined the 30th Anniversary festival series to be held Saturday, January 31, 2026 to Sunday, March 1, 2026.
• Festival Series Info Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dMwAlWFE8Q0qDAbt4PhZHrPUCxhLiEuD/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:26:00]
• Festival App for Dining Month: Board Member Lye
• Tour Registration Information: Board Member Mestas

[0:28:15] – Shubert-Kwock MOVED and Mestas SECONDED to support the Hong Kong Business Association’s 30th Anniversary Hong Kong Festival. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 8-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Isokane, Lye, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:28:40].

Fort Street Mall Lions Dance; Fort Street Mardi Gras – [0:28:50]: Ed Korybski announced:
• Fort Street Lions Dance: Friday, February 13, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (route will go through Downtown core)
• Fort Street Mardi Gras Festival: February 17 from 4pm to 10pm (funding not secured yet).

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:31:10]
• Event Scaling and Safety Measures: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• Financial Viability of Events: Board Member Armstrong
• DTS Resistance to Street Permitting for Events: Board Member Isokane
• Event Research for Other Jurisdictions: Board Member Lye
• Sponsorship Needs, Expenses, and DTS Resistance: Board Member McCarney
• Support for DTS Policies: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• Gratitude for event: Chair Caravalho

[0:42:50] – Shubert-Kwock MOVED and Armstrong SECONDED to support the Fort Street Mall Lions Dance Event and Fort Street Mall Mardi Gras Event. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 8-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Isokane, Lye, McCarney, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:43:27].

Kamaliʻi Mini Park Update – [0:44:00]: Representative from Pacific Housing (Nathan Hokama), Lanakila Pacific (Rona Fukumoto), and WRNS Studio (Spencer Bates) were present to share about the process; community concerns theyʻve heard; vision of the project; and site/design approach for the project.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:03:16]
• Cultural Sensitivity and Historic Use: Resident Shoushawna Wilcox
• Support for Housing and Project Timeline: Resident Anthony Nagatani
• Opposition to the Location of Project and Alernative Sites: Resident Miriam Swann
• Resolution to Save the Park: Resident Doug Pyle
• Continued Support for Housing: Zosimo Arista, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Eligibility for Section 8 Housing and Alternative Sites: Board Member Armstrong
• Unit Sizes: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• General Opposition, Disability Set-Asides, Rent Levels, Rooftop, Traffic: Board Member Lye
• City Council Approval, Public Hearing, and Process Timing: Board Member Isokane
• Gratitude for Information and Participation: Chair Caravalho

5. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [1:23:25]
1.
Drug Activity Near School Corridor and Kukui Plaza Frontage – [1:23:56]: Resident Doug Pyle

6. BOARD BUSINESS – [1:27:27]

State DOT Traffic Summit: Board Member Shubert‑Kwock reported on October 8–9 HDOT Transportation Summit

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:31:30]
• Supporting Bus Routes to Promote Safety: Board Member Isokane

7. ELECTED OFFICIALS – [1:33:30]: Priority is given to elected officials/representatives who are present
in person at the meeting.

Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [1:33:32]: Stephen Downes provided responses to prior meeting questions.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19rcfKAGPRx5QRHZzysUiXFpyXDS1e_gT/view?usp=drive_link
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XgQUhjV2KJgW-QbnDU_iCSKbngpaK9fs/view?usp=drive_link

[1:34:00] – Chair Carvalho asked Board Member Isokane to serve as Presiding Officer temporarily. Chair Caravalho was re-instated as Presiding Officer upon returning to his seat – [1:36:40].

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:36:50]
• Tree Canopy Preservation and Climate Plan Alignment: Resident Doug Pyle
• Short Term Rental Regulation and Housing on Maui: Board Member Isokane
• Safety Concerns at Iwilei Tiny Homes Village: Chair Caravalho

State Senate (District 13) – Karl Rhoads – [1:41:00]: Senator Rhoads shared updates.
• Questions or Concerns: Email senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov or call (808) 586-6130.
• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RZRP1PZ0-6aldMuFGvkyf4r1z5vRgOS/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:43:14]
• Invasive Species Control: Resident Shoushawna Wilcox
• Deaf-Blind Task Force Meeting Schedule: Resident Donald Sakamoto
• Judiciary Assisted Community Treatment (ACT) Implementation: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• Nuisance Noise Concerns: Chair Caravalho

City Council (District 6) – Tyler Dos Santos Tam – [1:53:19]: Will Duke provided updates.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:54:20]
• Affordable Rent Definition vs. Marked Rent: Resident Doug Pyle
• Position on Kamalii Mini Park: Board Member Armstrong
• Resolution 25-103 and Sykap Settlement: Board Member Shubert-Kowck and Chair Caravalho
• Hotel Street Repaving Timeline: Board Member Isokane

Member McCarney left the meeting at 8:02 p.m.; 7 members present.

Congressman Ed Case’s Representative – [2:02:13]: No representative at this time.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [2:02:22]: No representative at this time.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sPo0tGmi4j2s7hS4hHQfTgx5FSlTLBoK/view?usp=sharing
• Link to Sign-up for News Updates via Email: https://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/newsletter-signup/

State House (District 25) – Kim Coco Iwamoto – [2:03:21]: Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto provided updates.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:08:24]
• Immigrant Protection, ICE Documentation, Homeless Crisis: Resident Doug Pyle
• Ethics Issues Regarding Coercion and Seperation of Powers: Board Member Isokane
• Union Plaza Timeline and Safety: Chair Caravalho

State House (District 28) – Daniel Holt – [2:20:54]: Kellie Kala (Office Manager) provided updates.
• Questions or Concerns: Email repholt@capitol.hawaii.gov or call (808) 586-6180.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:24:34]
• Assigned Committees for 2026 Legislative Session: Resident Donald Sakamoto
• Native Hawaiian Advocacy: Board Member Isokane
• Sports Gambling Bill: Board Member Armstrong
• Homeless, Drugs, Kamali‘i Park: Chair Caravalho

8. MONTHLY REPORTS – [2:28:24]

Honolulu Board of Water Supply – [2:28:34]: Iris Oda provided updates
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_zDbc_IVmtjMUjyvqJclajzzdgs9O6Y-/view?usp=sharing

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:30:14]
• Smart Metering Availability: Patrick Smith (Neighborhood Commission
• Water Taste Differences: Resident Shoushawna Wilcox
• Red Hill Monitoring Costs and Federal Reimbursements: Board Member Isokane

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation – [2:36:10]: Harry Cho provided updates.

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:38:25]
• Public Restrooms at Stations: Resident Shoushawna Wilcox
• Dillingham ADA Sidewalk Compliance Contact: Resident Donald Sakamoto
• Lack of Community Input: Board Member Shubert-Kwock
• Workshop Voting, Emergency Protocols: Board Member Lye
• Design of stations: Chair Caravalho
• Nimitz Hwy to Bethel Street Turn Safety Concern: Board Member Isokane

Chinatown Improvement District – [2:45:23]: No representative present.

Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) – [2:45:29]: Board Member Shubert-Kwock provided updates
• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SQieNhlDlIG7S3incP7XgJGJRvl__Fn/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed – [2:50:00]
1. Public Needle Disposal Reporting: Resident Shoushawna Wilcox

Member Shubert-Kwock left the meeting at 8:52 p.m; 6 members present.

Neighborhood Citizen Patrol – [2:52:00]: 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, January 13, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

9. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [2:54:25]

Opening of New Distillery – [2:54:25]: Royal Hawaiian Spirits (RHS) 36 N. King Street, Honolulu, HI, 96817.

The Downtown–Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 will recess in January 2026. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 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.

10. ADJOURNMENT – [2:55:12] The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 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

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.