DOWNTOWN – CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 13
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 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 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. MEMBERSHIP VACANCY (5 minutes)
3.1 Board vote to appoint an individual of requisite qualifications to fill vacancy to serve remainder of the board’s current term ending in June 2027 – Residents interested in filling a vacant board seat must bring current proof of residency to the board meeting or contact Neighborhood Assistant Camilia Epa Gomes [camilia.epa@honolulu.gov] to verify residency in advance. Map: https://www.honolulu.gov/nco/boards-and-sub-district-boundary-descriptions/
4. CHAIR ELECTION (5 minutes)
4.1 Board vote to elect Chair and Vice-Chair successors to serve remainder of officer term ending in June 2026
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (1 minute)
5.1 Board vote to approve minutes and NCO draft Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record (Thursday, May 7, 2026)
6. 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)
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]
6.7 State House (District 28) – Cov Ratcliffe [repratcliffe@capitol.hawaii.gov]
7. PUBLIC CONCERNS (2 minutes each regarding issues not listed on the agenda)
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 Business Community Association (CBCA) – Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock [clskwock@gmail.com]
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS
9.1 The next Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 2, 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 Board>.
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, HI 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, MAY 7, 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=Vmpo-Z-tyKY
Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F4DdI9R8Er12TNf6Bl-yb4p4EW0-68vu
1. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:20]
Chair Pro Tem Sean Fitzsimmons called the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with eight (8) members present. Note: This nine-member Board requires five (5) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.
Members Present: Robert Armstrong, Sean Fitzsimmons, Hey Ho (Appointed), Ross Isokane, Kevin Lye, Dan Mestas, Nicole Shintani, Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, and Laura Sturges.
Members Absent: None.
Guests: Captain Mark Bates (Honolulu Fire Department); Interim Major Paul Okamoto, Deputy Chief Brandon Nakasato, Captain Scott Matsumura, Lieutenant Lane Nugawa, Lieutenant Chad Botilla, Sergeant Kaleo Osaka (Honolulu Police Department); Adam LeFebvre (Governor Greenʻs Representative); Senator Karl Rhoads (Senate District 13); Kate Ozawa (Representative Kim Iwamoto); Iris Oda (Honolulu Board of Water Supply); Ed Korybski (Fort Street Mall Improvement District); Patrick Smith (Neighborhood Board Commission); Michael Gray (NextDoor Honolulu); Kevin McDonald, Ronald Higa, Jane Turner, Melissa G., Johnnie-Mae L. Perry, Nicole Reid (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 40 total attendees.
2. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS – [0:01:10]
Honolulu Fire Department – [0:01:20]: Captain Mark Bates provided statistics and tips:
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LI5JlW_oEi_yazrU6Ebs1N0hKDDyizGJ/view?usp=sharing
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:03:00]
• HPD Downtown Substation: Member Lye
Honolulu Police Department – [0:03:57]: Sergeant Osaka and Interim District 1 Major Paul Okamoto reported statistics.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:06:50]
• Implementing Tower Lights for Bar Closure time + moped and truck parking: Member Lye
• HPD Recruitment & Retention Task Force: Member Isokane
• Unauthorized Vehicles on Hotel Street + Cinco de Mayo Event: Chair Pro Tem Fitzsimmons
• Weekend Bar Crowds Blocking Hotel Street + HART construction: Member Shubert-Kwock
• HPD Police Chief Selection: Resident Kevin McDonald
3. MEMBERSHIP VACANCY – [0:21:00]: Chair Pro Tem Fitzsimmons opened the floor for individuals interested in filling the vacant board seat. Three candidates introduced themselves.
[0:33:11] – Isokane nominated Charles Johnson; Mestas nominated Hey Ho; Lye nominated Dr. Diane Nomura. A roll-call vote was conducted. Hey Ho was elected to fill the vacant seat; 5-2-1 (Ho: Fitzsimmons, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Sturges; Nomura: Armstrong, Lye; Johnson: Isokane) – [0:34:54].
[0:35:07] – Chair Pro Tem Fitzsimmons called for a brief recess to swear in new member.
[0:35:22] – Chair Pro Tem Fitzsimmons called the meeting back to order.
4. CHAIR ELECTION – [0:35:45]
[0:35:48] – Fitzsimmons nominated Isokane; Mestas nominated Shubert-Kwock; Lye nominated Mestas, which Mestas declined; Lye nominated Fitzsimmons, which Fitzsimmons declined. Two roll-call votes were conducted in succession (both resulting in identical ties), no chair was elected; 4-4-1 (Isokane: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, Sturges; Shubert-Kwock: Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Ho; Abstain: Lye) – [0:42:16].
1.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [0:44:17]
[0:44:20] – Lye MOVED to divide consideration of the March 5, 2026 and April 2, 2026 minutes separately. Hearing no second, the motion failed.
[0:47:57] – Fitzsimmons MOVED and Lye SECONDED to postpone approval of the March 2026 and April 2026 minutes to June 2026. A roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was NOT ADOPTED; 2-7-0 (Aye: Fitzsimmons, Lye; Nay: Armstrong, Isokane, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Sturges, Ho; Abstain: None) – [0:49:33].
[0:49:34] Fitzsimmons MOVED and Mestas SECONDED to approve the March 2026 and April 2026 minutes as written. A roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was ADOPTED; 8-1-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Sturges, Ho; Nay: Lye; Abstain: None) – [0:50:10].
6. ELECTED OFFICIALS – [0:50:14]: Priority is given to elected officials/representatives who are present
in person at the meeting.
Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [0:50:37]: Adam LeFebvre provided updates.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rJn6r5gYicC2OwhSlKaiFipkT0gacIR-/view?usp=drive_link
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17K_UJBCg5lFPuJdThUilxNCV14H-CLc5/view?usp=drive_link
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:54:10]
• HECO Rate Increases and Lāhainā wildfire settlement timelines: Resident Kevin McDonald
• Noise Camera Placement Discrepancy: Member Lye
• Kauhale Internal Audit Response: Member Isokane
State Senate (District 13) – Karl Rhoads – [1:01:25]: Senator Rhoads provided updates.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12GgHWnWQlgPCyhSnkNYzjgb8Zbp5Tl-R/view?usp=drive_link
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:05:40]
• Farewell & House Bill 2413: Member Shubert-Kwock
• Legislature’s Overall Performance: Member Armstrong
• Supreme Court Nomination and Uncollected Traffic Tickets: Chair Pro Tem Fitzsimmons
Congressman Ed Case – [1:14:58]: No representative at this time.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [1:15:05]: Deputy Director Ian Santee provided updates.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rFAc92Q01nUHZzhd5bRwiamwSijlFpaW/view?usp=drive_link
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:19:25]
• Road Conditions – Mayor’s Accountability: Resident Kevin McDonald
• Half-Staff Flag Protocol, Vandalized Street Signs, Rooster Mitigation: Member Lye
• Hotel Street Bus Only Painting + Union Mall Lights + Kamaliʻi Mini Park Updates: Member Armstrong
• Faded Crosswalk Markings: Member Shubert-Kwock
• Empty Homes Tax + City-Owned Property Leasing Bill 10: Member Isokane
• Mayor’s Town Halls – Request to Resume: Chair Pro Tem Fitzsimmons
City Council (District 6) – Tyler Dos Santos Tam – [1:28:55]: No representative present at this time.
State House (District 25) – Kim Coco Iwamoto – [1:29:00]: Kate Ozawa provided updates
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:29:39]
1. Constituent Survey Results Timeline: Member Isokane
State House (District 25) – Michael Covenant Ratcliffe – [1:31:00]: No representative present. A written report was submitted.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x25JpP1Y17fXz3RbshgjYcHj1-MxfOV-/view?usp=sharing
7. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [1:31:27]
• Congressional Candidate – Representative Della Au Bellati [1:31:40]: State Representative Della Au Bellati
• Fort Street BID Transition & Upcoming Events – [1:33:25]: Ed Korybski and Brooke Knott
• Praise for Community Events – [1:39:50]: Resident Ernest Caravalho
• Speed Cameras on Pali Highway – [1:41:25]: Attendee Patrick Smith
• Umi on Smith Street Recap – [1:42:25]: Nicole Reid
8. MONTHLY REPORTS – [1:44:35]
Honolulu Board of Water Supply – [1:44:35]: Iris Oda provided updates.
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) – [1:46:56]: No representative present at this time.
Chinatown Improvement District – [1:47:09]: No representative present at this time.
Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) – [1:47:20]: Member Shubert-Kwock provided updates.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13TpmKMcaUnB_Lf_4D6jjUKn0qVUSmJCn/view?usp=drive_link
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:51:54]
• Tree Relocation Clarification: Member Lye.
Neighborhood Citizen Patrol – [1:53:40]: Member Lye provided updates and announced future patrols
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:57:13]:
The next Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Keʻelikōlani Middle School Library and virtually via WebEx.
Rebroadcasts of Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meetings are scheduled on ʻŌlelo Channel 49 every third Thursday at 9:00 p.m. and on the fourth Saturday of each month at 9:00 a.m. An archive of past meetings may be found at http://olelo.org/olelonet/ by searching <Downtown Board>.
10. ADJOURNMENT – [1:57:46] The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
Submitted by: Camilia Epa Gomes, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
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.
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