DOWNTOWN – CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 13

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025, 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 the Agenda: The Chair prepares the agenda and includes agenda items based on the Chair’s discretion. Board members may make written request for the inclusion of a proposed agenda item to the Chair in advance of the agenda’s publication. Once published, proposals to change the agenda (e.g., proposed additions or changes in priority) should be made by written request to the Chair in advance of (and not during) the meeting.

Rules of the Meeting: The Presiding Officer (“PO”) is responsible for running the meeting to maintain order and efficiency. When the PO opens discussion for a listed agenda item, audience members are limited to (2) minutes and Board Members are limited to one (1) minute (with possible leeway or follow-ups granted based on the PO’s discretion). Requests for follow-ups should be made to the PO. For any proposed board actions not listed on the published agenda (i.e., proposed by a member during the meeting), the PO may or may not allow discussion/votes on such proposals based on the PO’s discretion and judgment. Further, the PO may call votes on any listed board actions or allowed proposals in the order the PO believes is most efficient for the agenda item and meeting (or may defer any item based on the PO’s discretion)

Rules of Presentations/Reports/Public Concerns: Presentation of materials is only permitted by individuals/organizations listed for the agenda item (or as otherwise allowed by the PO). Board members may not raise a matter during Public Concerns. Discussion on matters raised during Public Concern may or may not be allowed based on the PO’s discretion.

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. CHAIR’S STATEMENT
3.1 Chair’s statement on his intention to continue serving the community and serving in the position of Chair for the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board. To potentially be followed by a board vote to consider removal of the Chair, which shall require five (5) affirmative votes (under §2-14-121 of the Neighborhood Plan), if any board member wishes to make such a motion.

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (1 minute)
4.1 Board vote to approve NCO draft Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record (Thursday, August 7, 2025)

5. PRESENTATIONS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 10 minutes each)
5.1 Chinatown Improvement District: Presenting their annual Autumn Moon and Lantern Festival on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm at Smith Beretania Park, which will include cultural activities and live entertainment in Smith Beretania Park and lanterns hung at businesses throughout Chinatown – Lee Stack [kdesigns808@gmail.com]
5.2 Hawaii Energy: Presentation on the EmPOWER Grant Program which helps Hawaiʻi small businesses and nonprofits make energy-efficient upgrades more affordable and accessible. Through installing eligible upgrades, grant awardees can lower their electricity bill, save energy, and cut operating costs. Qualified organizations may receive up to $6,000 (potentially covering 100% of eligible project costs), depending on the equipment type – Energy Advisor Melissa Onishi [Melissa.M.Onishi@leidos.com]
5.3 Hawai’i Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk starting near Honolulu Hale at the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Registration begins at 9:00 am and program starts at 10:00 am – Dennis Hida [dennishida.afsphi@gmail.com]

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

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. QUARTERLY REPORTS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 3 minutes each)
8.1 Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS): Updates on BWS matters – Iris Oda [ioda@hbws.org]
8.2 Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART): Updates from HART and partners, including the announced five (5) year one-lane closures in both directions on Nimitz Highway – Harry Cho [harry.cho@honolulu.gov]

9. BOARD BUSINESS (including discussion on board/community inquiries; 5 minutes each)
9.1 Board vote on Resolution 2025-02 Urging City Officials to Support Community Events in Downtown-Chinatown (revisiting tenets from Resolution 2024-03 adopted during previous board term) – Board Member Ross Isokane
9.2 Board vote on Resolution 2025-03 Urging the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services to Reconsider Planned October 1st Eliminations/Truncations of Highly-Utilized Routes for TheBus in Advance of Skyline Phase 2 – Board Member Ross Isokane
9.3 Board vote on changing scheduled board meeting scheduled on Thursday, January 1, 2026, by either delaying to a later date in January or providing for a recess for the month

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
10.1 The next Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 2, 2025, 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

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. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.

[DRAFT] REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 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=vOdZAjxp13g

Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F4DdI9R8Er12TNf6Bl-yb4p4EW0-68vu

1. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:07]

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, Dan Mestas, Nicole Shintani, and Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock.

Members Absent: Sean Fitzsimmons and Lori McCarney.

Guests: Sergeant Osaka (Honolulu Police Department); Senator Karl Rhoads (State Senate District 13); Roy Miyahira (City Department of Community Services); Ian Santee (Mayor Rick Blangiardi); Peggy Mierzwa and Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam (City Council District 6); Allan Silva (Hawaiʻi Children Youth Day); Sophia Summers (Hawaiʻi Energy); Senator Karl Rhoads (State Senate District 13); Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto and Katie Ozawa (State House District 25); Harry Cho (HART); Damon Petrillo and Rob Washington (Tutor Perini Corporation); Ronald Higa (Neighborhood Board No.14); Laura Sturges, Deborah King, Mike Buck, Candice, Kimo, and Ooujuqua (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 18 total attendees.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS – [0:00:56]

Honolulu Fire Department – [0:00:56]: No representative at this time.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r0ayqenTivEk1pL9CnK1VD6n6zIemrUO/view?usp=drive_link

Honolulu Police Department – [0:01:08]: Sergeant Osaka reported on Crime statistics.
• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cog1QbvYmu4hb5XZmX2T7WDCpkZB5SaW/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [0:02:30]
• Candice, resident (online): Safety concerns
• Board Member Armstrong: Tsunami response
• Board Member Lye: National Night Out event
• Chair Caravalho: Homeless activity
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock: Critical areas

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [0:16:40]

Board Vote to Approve NCO Draft Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record (Tuesday, July 1, 2025) – [0:16:40]:

[0:16:45] – Board Member Lye requested the floor. Chair recognized Board Member Lye. Board Member Lye attempted to make a motion for board action not listed on the published agenda (to amend the agenda). Chair Carvalho declined to consider such motion based on discretion provided to the Chair under the board’s adopted rules.

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [0:18:00]

• Board Member Lye: Motion for board action not listed on the published agenda

[0:18:00] – Board Member Lye attempted to make a motion for board action not listed on the published agenda (to consider an alternative draft written summary for video record). Chair Carvalho declined to consider such motion based on discretion provided to the Chair under the board’s adopted rules.

[0:19:30] – Chair Caravalho called for a roll-call vote on the listed agenda item (to approve the NCO Draft Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record for July 2025).

A roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was ADOPTED; 5-1-1 (Aye: Isokane, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Caravalho; Nay: Lye; Abstain: Armstrong) – [0:20:20]

4. PRESENTATIONS – [0:20:24]

4.1 City and County of Honolulu, Office of Housing: Current Homeless Situation in Downtown-Chinatown and the City’s Response. Mr. Miyahira will provide a status report on the homeless population in the Downtown-Chinatown area, including city services, shelter availability, and coordinated outreach efforts for Downtown-Chinatown and Oahu – Roy Miyahira – [0:20:35]

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [0:26:23]
• Candice, resident (online): Enforcement
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock: Gratitude
• Board Member Isokane: State partnership
• Board Member Armstrong: Informing the public
• Board Member Lye: Performance metrics
• Board Member Mestas: Extending help
• Chair Caravalho: Addressing homelessness

4.2 Hawaii Children Youth Day (“CYD”): Plans for CYD 2025 which will involve temporary closure of Punchbowl Street (between King Street and Beretania Street) on Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 7am to 4pm – Allan Silva – [0:42:01]

4.3 Hawaii Bicycle League: Presentation on the “Walk Bike Drive: Safer Streets for All” initiative, emphasizing public safety, pedestrian/cyclist education, and community partnerships across urban Honolulu – Paula Bender – [0:43:58]: Chair Caravalho announced that due to an emergency, the Hawaiʻi Bicycle League representative could not attend.

5. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [0:44:15]

• Deborah King (resident): Pressure washing sidewalks
• Sophia Summers (Hawaiʻi Energy Empower Grant):
o EmPOWER Grant Info Sheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sODFkFoCpQTqe_YqSpiTqzyR3rQXKX4T/view?usp=drive_link
o EmPOWER Grant Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rSIVGCVz3W8rZAZG-IQchywmEHfL-qMN/view?usp=drive_link
o EmPOWER Grant Webinar Recording Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiJrGeULttU

6. ELECTED OFFICIALS – [0:47:13]: Chair Caravalho announced priority will be given to elected officials/representatives who are present in person at the meeting and then proceed to elected officials/representatives who are present virtually on WebEx.

Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [0:47:25]: Adam Lefebvre, filling in for Stephen Downes, introduced himself as an information specialist with the Department of Health and a longtime resident of the area since 2013. Mr. Lefebvre was available for questions.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OvBEPLS30lws4tcL9NAK-eEcEkPdRQSL/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [0:48:00]
• Board Member Isokane: DOT energy security and waste reduction plan
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock: Reserves for funding cuts
• Board Member Lye: Condo association issues

Hearing no objections, Chair Caravalho returned to Section 5. Public Concerns to allow a member of the public to share his announcement.

5. PUBLIC CONCERNS – CONTINUED – [0:51:39]

• Dennis Hida (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hawaiʻi Chapter):
o Announced Out of the Darkness Walk 2025 on Saturday, September 13, 2025 near Honolulu Hale for Suicide Prevention Month and stated he would return next month with more information.

6. ELECTED OFFICIALS – [0:52:25]

State Senate (District 13) – Karl Rhoads – [0:52:25]: Due to technical issues, this item was skipped and returned to later in the meeting.
Congressman Ed Case’s Representative – [0:53:15]: No representative present.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [0:53:26]: Ian Santee was available for questions.
Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [0:53:30]
• Deborah King, resident: Dirty sidewalk
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock: Request for painted lines on North Hotel Street by DTS
• Board Member Armstrong: Tsunami response.
• Board Member Isokane: Empty homes tax study cancellation
• Board Member Lye: CORE program hours
• Chair Caravalho: Bird infestation problem

City Council (District 6) – Tyler Dos Santos Tam – [1:00:15]: Peggy Mierzwa, representing Council Member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, shared updates.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-EWP-kT6MpiddSkyHrpAhzD7XvMzreZd/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [1:02:07]
• Board Member Armstrong: Bird infestation problem
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock: Bill 51 (2025) Relating to Improvement Districts (BID)
• Board Member Isokane: Empty homes tax study cancellation
• Chair Caravalho: Change in Councilmember’s office representative
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock (follow up granted by Chair Caravalho): Bill 46 (2024) related to the empty homes tax

State Senate (District 13) – Karl Rhoads – [1:07:03]: Senator Karl Rhoads attended virtually and provided updates.
• For questions and concerns, please call Senator Rhoads office at (808) 586-6130 or email senrhoads@capitol.Hawaiʻi.gov
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r0ayqenTivEk1pL9CnK1VD6n6zIemrUO/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [1:09:13]
• Patrick Smith, resident: Rule of law
• Board Member Lye: Special legislative session
• Board Member Isokane: Interim work
• Board Member Armstrong: Legal process for committing homeless individuals

State House (District 25) – Kim Coco Iwamoto – [1:17:18]: Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto and Kate Ozawa, supporting Representative Iwamoto, attended virtually and provided updates.
• Survey Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfV2lOlV6CzADX1FxxHdBYc6vk60hFfo274mfwsx113rAsygQ/viewform?fbzx=-7184968830642358734

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [1:24:00]
• Candice, resident (online): Homeless outreach services
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock: Hawaiʻi Buddha Peace Festival invitation
• Board Member Armstrong: Request for IHS presentation
• Board Member Isokane: Issues Survey
• Board Member Isokane (follow up granted by Chair Caravalho): Online gambling bill

State House (District 28) – Daniel Holt – [1:33:08]: Chair Caravalho noted that Representative Holt could not attend but provided a report available on the Boardʻs Google Drive.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k6vMGbLasRFAnXruwKRUuQxUwbIvf-Ye/view?usp=drive_link

7. QUARTERLY REPORTS – [1:33:27]

7.1 Honolulu Authority Rapid Transit (HART) Update on rail progress (Downtown-Chinatown station status, budget development, and community impacts) – Harry Cho – [1:33:36]: Harry Cho, Rob Washington of Tutor Perini, project executive Damon Petrillo, and project construction manager Tom Jackson, provided an overview of their work from Middle Street through Iwilei and Nimitz Highway to the Civic Center station beyond South Street.
• Historic Preservation Workshop Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ejvk_BXiLOuwqSGLkEYHc1Er0O8nVH7L/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [1:36:48]
• Board Member Lye: Guideway design
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock: Request for feedback follow-up
• Board Member Armstrong: Need for escalators at stations
• Board Member Isokane: Potential cost overruns
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock (follow up granted by Chair Caravalho): ADA access during construction
• Chair Caravalho: TheBus service reductions

7.2 CBCA Report Summary of ongoing business development, safety concerns, and community initiatives being coordinated through the CBCA – Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock – [1:44:50]: Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock provided updates
• CBCA Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16XkzCGwTx45TuwF8e4BsxMVdgnGSmlyj/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true
• Hawaiʻi Buddha Peace Festival Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1acqlWKq3eQK9P8_YenIhx-f2-V3xWInW/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [1:49:21]
• Board Member Isokane: HPD commanders

8. BOARD BUSINESS – [1:51:18]

8.1 Board vote on Resolution 2025-02 Urging City Officials to Support Community Events in Downtown-Chinatown – [1:51:32]: Chair Caravalho deferred the item (Vice Chair Fitzsimmons request).

8.2 Board vote required under Neighborhood Plan §2-14-111(c) on whether to include an item on next month’s regular meeting agenda (September 2025): Board Member Kevin Lye’s written request via email (early-morning Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) leaf blowers in the downtown area near residential buildings) – [1:51:53]:

Chair Caravalho recommended a “No” vote on listing Board Member Lye’s requested item on a future agenda.

[1:53:15] – Lye MOVED and Armstrong SECONDED for the Board to consider the adoption of the requested item onto next month’s agenda.

Questions, comments and concerns on the listed agenda item followed – [1:53:53]
• Board Member Lye: Early-morning ICE leaf blowers
• Board member Mestas: Conversion to electric equipment
• Board Member Shubert-Kwock: Recommended deferral
• Board Member Armstrong: Recommended putting on future agenda
• Chair Caravalho: Recommended against putting on future agenda

Chair Caravalho called for a roll-call vote on the listed agenda item and recommended a “No” vote. A roll-call vote was conducted. The Motion was NOT ADOPTED; 4-3-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Lye, Mestas, Shintani; Nay: Isokane, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; Abstain: None) – [1:58:00].

9. CHAIR’S REPORT – [1:58:04]

Upcoming events – [1:58:04]
• Buddha Peace Festival – Chinatown Cultural Plaza on August 16, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Made in Hawaiʻi Festival – Hawaiʻi Convention Center from August 15 to 17, 2025 (Friday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Okinawan Festival – Hawaiʻi Convention Center from August 30 to 31, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Chair Caravalho also announced that the Board is communicating with the Department of Housing and Land Management regarding potential updates on Kamaliʻi Park for the September meeting.

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:59:13]

The next Downtown–Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 4, 2025, 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: The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 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.