KALIHI VALLEY NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 16

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026 6:30 P.M.
KALIHI VALLEY DISTRICT PARK
1911 KAMEHAMEHA IV ROAD
AND ON WEBEX

Meeting Link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m85ffcbba01c4fd0da28e4399a837660d
Meeting Number / Access Code: 2487 267 5875
Meeting Password: NB16 (6216 from phones and video systems)
Join by Phone: +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
Join by Video System: Dial 24940045995@cchnl.webex.com

RULES OF SPEAKING: Anyone wishing to speak is asked to click the “raise hand” icon, and when recognized by the Chair, to address comments to the Chair. Speakers are encouraged to keep their comments under 2 – 5 minutes, and those giving reports are encouraged to keep their reports under 3 – 5 minutes. Please ensure your microphone is muted unless you are speaking. Please state your first and last name for the record before moving into your comment or question. Written testimony may also be submitted via email using the contact information listed on the Neighborhood Commission Office website. Please silence all electronic devices. NOTES: The Board may take action on any agenda item. As required by the State Sunshine Law (Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 92), specific issues not listed on this agenda cannot be voted on, unless properly added to the agenda.
ARCHIVE: Find an archive of handouts and referenced materials concerning to the Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board No.16 at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Z1fHoHMtwv6GFUbyc3MTvOmGOo2FuwXO
VIDEO RECORD: Meeting Recordings can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1DZJTKor6TTNYiqx5U-P2w

1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Leialoha Tumbaga

2. CITY MONTHLY REPORTS (Three Minutes Each):
A. Honolulu Fire Department
(February – April 2026 monthly fire and emergency incident statistics, HFD safety tips, reminders, and any upcoming events)
B. Honolulu Police Department
(February – April 2026 monthly crime and incident statistics, HPD safety tips, reminders, and any upcoming events)
C. Board of Water Supply, Iris Oda
(February – April 2026 monthly water main break incidents and statistics, BWS tips, reminders, and any upcoming events)
3. RESIDENT’S AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS (Three Minutes Each):
4. PRESENTATIONS (Ten Minutes Each):
A. Hawaii Hazards Awareness and Resilience Program (HHARP) – Evan Mokuahi Hayes
B. Community Engagement for Resilient Neighborhoods (CERENE) – Sage Murakami
C. Kalihi Valley Homes Community Center Demolition Project Update – Ty Shiramizu, Noah Tabar, and HPHA
5. CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS (Three Minutes Each):
A. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – Bandmaster Clarke Bright
B. Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam – Constituent Services Director Lynn Robinson
6. STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS (Three Minutes Each):
A. Governor Josh Green’s Representative – Jill Radke
B. Senator Donna Mercado Kim – Office Representative Kathy Nii
C. Representative Ikaika Hussey

7. BOARD BUSINESS:
A. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
B. Consideration to Revert Joint-Communications Committee Back to 2 Separate Committees: Joint Committee and Communications Committee.
8. COMMITTEE REPORTS/ASSIGNMENTS
A. State and County Budget Committee Chair May Mizuno
B. Sidewalk, S-Curve, and Transportation Committee Chair James Soong
C. Beautification Committee Chair Randolph Franklin
D. Resolutions Committee Chair Randolph Franklin
E. Sustainability Committee Co-Chairs Simeon Rojas and Alan Kumalae
F. RPZ Committee Chair Alan Kumalae
G. Communications Committee Chair Chris Lualemaga
H. Joint Committee Chair James Soong

9. OTHER REPORTS
A. Chair’s Report

10. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 6:30 p.m. at Kalihi Valley District Park.
B. Broadcast Meetings: Neighborhood Board meetings aired on ʻŌlelo Channel 49 on the fourth Saturday of the month at 6:00 p.m., and the first and third Sunday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

11. ADJOURNMENT

2025-2026 Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board No. 16 Members:
Alan Kumalae – kumalaea001@hawaii.rr.com
Leialoha Tumbaga – leialt98@gmail.com
Randolph Franklin – bigvalley808@gmail.com
Simeon Rojas – simeonrojas@gmail.com
Michael Gatti — mcgatti@gmail.com
Chris Lualemaga — clualemaga@gmail.com
James Soong — jaysoong@outlook.com
May Mizuno – jojemay@yahoo.com
Ropati Liua – N/A

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 emailing nco@honolulu.gov. Agenda, documents, minutes are also available online: https://www.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, email nbtestimony@honolulu.gov, or complete the form on https://www.honolulu.gov/nco/board-testimony.

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
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026 at 6:30 P.M.
KALIHI VALLEY DISTRICT PARK – 1911 KAMEHAMEHA IV ROAD
AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

Video recording of this meeting can be found at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHg1_ebJYc8

Reports and other meeting materials can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Z1fHoHMtwv6GFUbyc3MTvOmGOo2FuwXO

CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:14]: Chair Leialoha Tumbaga called the Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board No. 16 meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. Quorum WAS established with 8 members present. (Note: This 9-member Board requires 5 members to establish quorum and to take official Board action).

Members Present: Alan Kumalae, Leialoha Tumbaga (Chair), Randolph Franklin, Chris Lualemaga, James Soong, Ropati Liua, May Mizuno, Simeon Rojas.

Members Absent: Michael Gatti.

Guests: Firefighter I Kaleo; Honolulu Police Department District 5 Lieutenant Yamashita, Sergeant Cambra; Board of Water Supply – Iris Oda; Mayor’s Representative – Bandmaster Clarke Bright; Senator Donna Mercado Kim – Office Staff; Representative Ikaika Hussey; Rona Mangayam (Kokua Kalihi Valley); Dana Yap, Sierra (KWO Homeless Outreach), Lynette Kumalae, Faatea (Residents); Neighborhood Commission Office – Jeffrey Jones (Neighborhood Assistant). Note: Name was not included if not legible on the guest attendance sheet. There were 30 total participants.

[0:00:33] Chair Tumbaga called for a moment of silence for a houseless resident who passed away. This houseless resident was at the Kilohana Stream Cleanup that Board Members participated in.

CITY MONTHLY REPORTS – [0:02:31]
Honolulu Fire Department – [0:02:33]: Firefighter I Kaleo provided the report and highlighted the fowing:
• January 2026 Statistics: 1 structure fire, 2 activated alarms, 49 medical calls.
• System Transition: Beginning January 1, 2026, HFD transitioned from the legacy National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) to the modern National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). This transition may result in fluctuations in incident category numbers compared to prior reports. The motor vehicle collision with pedestrian category is temporarily unavailable while a solution is being developed.
• Public Safety Reminder: Call 911 first in emergencies; do not drive to the nearest fire station as units may be out on other calls. HFD can also receive 911 text messages for those in areas with poor voice reception.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZWiDFbxNZR_rl7LaEmibbmMQ1oHtd_CI/view?usp=drive_link

Honolulu Police Department – [0:05:40]: Sergeant Dadoy provided the report and highlighted the following:
• January 2026 Statistics: 1 aggravated assault, 10 auto thefts, 1 burglary, 0 robberies, 0 sex assaults/rapes, 2 simple assaults, 6 thefts, 3 UEMVs, 593 total calls for service (compared to 605 in December 2025).

Questions, comments and concerns – [0:06:38]
1. PAL League Parking: Chair Tumbaga asked whether HPD vehicles could be moved from the parking lot to the street on Saturdays when PAL League tournaments are held, to free up more parking stalls for the community. Sgt. Cambra stated he would need to check with his commander, as blue-and-white units typically use the street-side stalls. Lt. Yamashita confirmed he would follow up to see if vehicles could be relocated to accommodate more public parking.
2. Deceased Individual Under Bridge: Chair Tumbaga asked whether HPD knew the cause of death of the homeless individual found under the bridge near the Kilohana-Kalihi cleanup site. Sgt. Cambra stated he did not have that information.
3. Mobile Crime Units for Kalihi: Franklin asked whether HPD would ever deploy stationary mobile crime units with 360-degree cameras in Kalihi, noting the community is frequently identified as one of the highest-crime areas yet lacks these units. Lt. Yamashita stated that existing units near School Street and Nimitz are privately funded, and no city-funded mobile units for Kalihi have been confirmed at this time; he will follow up with command.
4. Guard Shack Cameras at Public Housing: Franklin asked whether cameras would be installed at guard shacks at housing complexes such as Kam 4, noting that the shacks are staffed and powered 24/7, making camera installation straightforward. Lt. Yamashita stated the Department of Law Enforcement is currently working to coordinate camera installation at housing entrances and exits; questions about monitoring responsibility (DOL vs. HPD) are still being resolved.
5. Drone Deployment: Franklin asked why drones are not deployed more regularly over Kalihi, given officer shortages and the availability of programmable drones that can patrol and return to base autonomously. Lt. Yamashita acknowledged drone use is still evolving; the Major Events Division currently uses them and broader integration is anticipated in the future.
6. State Bill on Housing Cameras: Chair Tumbaga noted there is currently a bill before the state legislature to fund cameras and additional traffic arms at public housing developments.
7. Parking Violations and Towing on Kalihi Street: Liua raised a prior community concern about vehicles parking illegally on the Ewa side of Kalihi Street during the 6:30–8:30 a.m. no-parking window, and whether tow trucks could be called instead of issuing citations. Sgt. Cambra clarified that tow companies require a citation before towing on public streets; citations may be issued once per hour. Franklin added that under Hawaii law a vehicle may accumulate up to 30 tickets before becoming eligible for towing, and that proposed legislation would lower that threshold to five.
8. Speed Monitoring in Kalihi Valley: Liua asked about monitoring and enforcement of speeding in Kalihi Valley, particularly given the lack of sidewalks and the safety risk to elderly bus riders. Lt. Yamashita stated officers are actively conducting speed enforcement on Kalihi Street and encouraged Liua to contact the Department of Transportation about speed bumps or cameras, as those fall under DTS jurisdiction.
9. Crosswalk Parking: Franklin asked when officers would begin citing vehicles parked within 20 feet of a crosswalk under the new law passed in January. Sgt. Cambra stated the department would need to research the exact parameters of the law before enforcing it, though standard intersection parking rules are already enforced.
10. Parking Stall Clarification at District Park: Murro asked for clarification on whether the public can use the first five HPD parking stalls when they are empty, after a police officer told a lap swimmer she could not park there. Lt. Yamashita explained that HPD has an agreement with the Department of Parks and Recreation for the first 10 stalls on the Ewa side of the parking lot, to be available when officers return to complete reports; the officer may have miscommunicated the policy. He noted seven additional public stalls are temporarily unavailable due to playground resurfacing.
11. Kilohana/Kalihi Street Incident: Rojas asked about an incident at the Kilohana and Kalihi Street intersection on February 1, 2026, from approximately 8:00 p.m. through 12:30–1:00 a.m., involving multiple ambulances and officers, which occurred the day after the stream cleanup. Sgt. Cambra stated he did not have information on hand and would research the incident.
12. Officer Communication with Community: Liua shared feedback from a community member who was told by an officer to “move the trash bins yourself” when she complained about bins blocking the street. Liua asked that officers be mindful of respectful communication with residents.
13. Parking for Kupuna Water Exercise Class: Lynette Kumalae expressed frustration on behalf of elderly participants in the Tuesday/Friday water exercise class who struggle to find parking. She asked HPD to consider allowing the kupuna group to use HPD stalls during the 9:00–10:30 a.m. class period. Sgt. Cambra agreed that was reasonable and committed to looking into it.

Board of Water Supply — [0:29:57]: Iris Oda provided the report and highlighted the following:
• January 2026 Main Break: One main break on January 28 near 1621 Kino Street.
• 2026 Poster and Poetry Contests: BWS launched its annual conservation contests. The poster contest is open to grades K–12; the poetry contest is for grades 7–12. This year’s theme is “Everyday Conservation.” Deadline to enter: February 27, 2026. More information at boardofwatersupply.com/wcwcontest.
• Kai Wednesday Instagram Contest: BWS held a water trivia contest on February 4 and 11 at noon on the BWS Instagram (@bwshonolulu), offering a 35-gallon rain barrel and BWS swag bag as prizes. Visit boardofwatersupply.com/kavai for more details.

Questions, comments and concerns — [0:31:43]
1. Water Main Break Statistics: Yap asked whether BWS could track and report additional statistics on main breaks, specifically: how much water was lost, how long it took to repair, and how much water could potentially be retained or recycled. Oda stated she would pose these questions to the department and follow up with a response.
2. BWS Museum Status: Yap asked for an update on the BWS museum. Oda stated she had not received an update but would follow up and let the board know.

RESIDENTS’ AND COMMUNITY CONCERNS – [0:33:41]: No residents’ and community concerns shared.

PRESENTATIONS – [0:33:57]

Kokua Kalihi Valley on Kalihi Ahupuaʻa Ride: Saturday, April 11, 2026 – Rona Mangayam – [0:34:01]: Rona Mangayam, Youth Services Coordinator of Kokua Kalihi Valley (KKV), presented a video showcasing the 2025 Kalihi Ahupuaʻa Ride, a multi-stop bicycle tour through culturally and historically significant locations in Kalihi including Kalihi Uka, the K Vibe bike shop, Pauoa Cemetery (site of the Joseph Kahahawai story), Bishop Museum, Loʻi, and Sandbox. The video featured youth participants sharing speeches, fixing bikes, and performing. Mangayam requested the board’s approval to support and participate in this year’s ride, scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2026.
• Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BwKMutbgUmyhhvepwt-AqvZd2W9eqeSP/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns — [0:42:06]
1. Board Sponsorship of a Stop: Soong asked whether the neighborhood board could sponsor one of the ride’s rest stops. Mangayam confirmed this is possible, noting that Councilmember Cordero’s office previously sponsored a stop at Kalihi Valley District Park by providing water and protein bars. She welcomed any support or sponsorship.
2. Purpose of the Event: Liua asked about the purpose of the ride. Mangayam explained it serves as leadership development for youth—participants repair and build bikes, deliver public speeches, and share their stories with the broader community. The ride also aims to reframe Kalihi’s narrative by showcasing the valley’s beauty and abundance through the eyes of its youth.
3. Community Benefit and Data: Liua asked whether KKV has data on how program alumni are giving back to the Kalihi community. Mangayam stated that many youth return to volunteer in KKV programs, Pacific Voices, and after-school initiatives; community members donate bikes and parts; and free bikes are given to residents who need transportation. Liua encouraged more peer mediation and community engagement efforts, and asked that youth engage critically with local history.

[0:49:06] Lualemaga MOVED and Liua SECONDED to approve the Kalihi Ahupuaʻa Ride. Hearing no discussion, a voice vote was conducted and ADOPTED with a vote count of 9-0-0 (Aye: Soong, Lualemaga, Kumalae, Gatti, Liua, Franklin, Rojas, Mizuno, Tumbaga; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:49:46]

[0:50:07] Liua MOVED and Soong SECONDED to approve the board’s participation in the Kalihi Ahupuaʻa Ride. Following discussion, a voice vote was conducted and ADOPTED with a vote count of 9-0-0 (Aye: Soong, Lualemaga, Kumalae, Gatti, Liua, Franklin, Rojas, Mizuno, Tumbaga; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:51:11]

CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS – [0:51:40]
Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative — Bandmaster Clarke Bright — [0:51:42]: Bandmaster Bright provided the report and highlighted:
• Mayor’s Newsletter: Kahuku District Park’s proposed renovations, Black History Month celebrations in Honolulu, HFD’s 175th anniversary, Ocean Safety’s new deputy chief, a new off-leash dog park in Makiki, and new UV systems to protect Pearl Harbor waters.
• HNL 311 Reminder: The new and improved HNL 311 system is available on Apple and Android devices or at hnl311.com. This makes it easier to report community issues and receive status updates.
• Monkey Pod Tree (above 1710 Kilohana Street): Tabled; DPR will report back next meeting.
• Kamaniki Stream Cleanup: Tabled; DFM will report back next meeting.
• Kalihi Uka Community Park (cars around the park): Tabled; DPR will report back next meeting.
• Bus Stop Tree Removal (Stop 3581, Kalihi Street and Emma Place): DTS reviewed and determined the tree is within the road right-of-way; request forwarded to both DPR and DFM. Report expected next month.
• Street Safety – 1827 Kalihi Street to Kalihi Uka Elementary School: Officers conducted checks on January 28–29 and observed no illegal parking or trash bins blocking the street. Officer Krill conducted a follow-up on February 3 and all bins were on the curb for trash pickup.
• Turnaround Area (near 1718 Lehua Street): Officers conducted checks January 27–29 and cited two vehicles for illegal parking. Officers will continue monitoring; community is encouraged to call 911 for further violations.
• Bob’s Barbecue Permitting: DPP provided a detailed response. Two outstanding items remain: installation of a permanent drain inlet filter and revision of an Appendix G form. The permitting process is ongoing.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XAOw5xtGw8_ovREXWh5qV-YL-NbWIka8/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns — [0:56:14]
1. Bus Fare Increase: Soong asked whether the mayor must sign the city council’s recently passed bus fare increase. Bright stated he believed the mayor typically must confirm it but would double-check. Soong noted the Kalihi Coalition plans to submit a petition opposing the increase. Liua asked for the reason behind the increase; Bright explained that the cost of operating transit has risen and the fare has not been adjusted in some time.
2. Mobile Crime Units for Kalihi: Franklin asked whether the mayor could work with the chief of police to have two mobile crime units assigned to Kalihi. Bright stated he would submit that request.
3. Honolulu Band Performance in Kalihi: Liua thanked Bright for a recent band performance at Pearlridge Mall and asked if the band could perform in the Kalihi area. Bright confirmed the band regularly performs in Kalihi at schools and events, and that community groups can call 768-6677 to request a performance. Liua suggested the Farrington Alumni 50th anniversary as a potential venue.
4. Landlord Property Tax Overcharging: Rojas asked whether it is lawful for landlords to overcharge tenants for property tax beyond what the landlord is assessed. Bright stated he does not believe this is lawful and offered to gather more information offline for any specific cases.
5. Kalihi Valley District Park Boxing Gym and Maintenance: Fatea asked about the status of the boxing gym, which has been in disrepair for over 10 years (broken building side, water damage, termite issues, limited gym access). He also noted the park has gone from three maintenance workers to one, with volunteers sweeping the gym floor. Bright acknowledged this is a longstanding concern; plans exist to address various sections of the gym but progress is slow. He encouraged the community to also seek information from the council members’ office on the timeline.
6. Parade Availability: Yap asked whether the Honolulu Band is still available for the upcoming community parade. Bright confirmed the date is currently available and encouraged the group to submit a request soon.

City Council (District 6) Tyler Dos Santos-Tam – [1:05:44]: No representative present.

STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS – [1:06:05]
Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [1:06:08]: Jill Radke introduced herself as the newly assigned representative from Governor Green’s office, appearing online. She noted she will attend future meetings in person and invited questions to pass along to the governor’s office.

Questions, comments and concerns – [1:06:35]
1. Absence of Governor’s Representative: Liua thanked Radke for attending and asked why a representative had not been assigned previously, noting the board had felt overlooked by the governor’s office. Radke stated she was unaware of the gap and took the assignment as soon as she learned of the opening.
2. KAM 4 Recreation Center: Franklin informed Radke that the board has been working to understand the status of the KAM 4 rec center, which is state-owned, has been slated for demolition and rebuilding for over 10 years, and lacks any state-run community programming for residents. He asked what the state is doing to uplift and empower housing residents and requested a status update at the next meeting. Radke clarified the two questions: (1) status of the rec center and (2) how the state is supporting housing residents, and committed to reporting back.
3. Safe Places for Youth at KAM 4: Soong shared that youth connected with KKV have expressed that KAM 4 housing does not feel like a safe place, with two active gangs in the complex. He noted youth have limited safe spaces (KKV, K Vibe, district park) and none they can call their own.
4. Why a Governor’s Rep Now: Lualemaga asked Radke to return next meeting with an explanation of why a governor’s representative is only now being assigned to this board, and to share the governor’s vision and plan for helping local communities, particularly Kalihi.
5. Hawaii Housing Authority Involvement: Rojas requested that the governor’s office help bring the Hawaii Housing Authority to participate in neighborhood board meetings, given the significant impact of housing issues on the community. Radke stated this is a high priority for the governor and committed to pursuing it.

Senator Donna Mercado Kim – [1:14:33]: Senator Donna Mercado Kim provided the report online and highlighted the following:
• Ahihi Street Footbridge: Senator Kim raised the Ahi Street footbridge issue with Mayor Blangiardi at a recent meeting on affordable housing and property tax exemption deadlines. The mayor acknowledged it was not among the top three bridge priorities but promised to review it and report back.
• Education Committee Leadership: Senator Kim now chairs both the Higher Ed and Lower Ed (K–12) committees, following a merger. She highlighted several bills before the legislature:
1. Senate Bill 3332 – Moratorium on State-Funded Travel: This bill calls for a moratorium on non-essential state travel, prompted by findings that DOE alone made 14 trips to South Korea over three years at a cost exceeding $700,000, and that one University of Hawaii employee took 61 trips in a single year totaling over $30,000.
2. Senate Bill 2877 – Story Maker Bill: Targets eight Title 1 schools in Kalihi. The pilot program would allow 5th graders to design and publish an original online book using platforms like Mixbook or Shutterfly, building writing, communication, critical thinking, and digital literacy skills.
3. Senate Bill 3334 – Elimination of Complex Area Superintendents (CAS): The bill proposes eliminating the CAS layer, which the senator described as problematic in placing the right school leaders. Community members, teachers, and students from Kalihi and Farrington High School have contacted the senator with concerns about current leadership and its disconnect from the community.
• Community Engagement: Senator Kim encouraged residents to testify online in support of these bills; her office can provide step-by-step guidance. She also asked those who haven’t returned their community survey to do so, using the QR code in her monthly report

Questions, comments and concerns – [1:23:45]
1. Student Art Projects: Chair Tumbaga shared a related concept where students’ artwork can be printed on merchandise (mugs, t-shirts) and suggested this as a lower-cost complement to the Story Maker bill.
2. DOE Travel Spending: Franklin expressed outrage over the DOE’s travel expenditures, stating that these funds should be directed toward community needs such as the CAM 4 rec center. He stated his intention to write an op-ed on SB 3332 and attend future hearings. Senator Kim confirmed the issue extends beyond DOE to multiple state agencies and urged community members to testify.
3. DOE Local Food Purchasing: Rojas noted that DOE has a $70 million food budget but spends only $5 million locally, and asked Senator Kim to push for more local purchasing. Senator Kim acknowledged bills are in place requiring DOE and the University of Hawaii to increase local procurement, and that Central Kitchen initiatives are underway to support local farmers.
4. Agricultural Education Resources Locally: Rojas suggested that rather than sending teachers to South Korea for agricultural training, the state could draw on University of Hawaii faculty and local farmers, including community members who can participate in STEM and ag technology programs.
5. New Housing and School Planning: Soong asked whether DOE is aware of and planning for the student population increase that will come with new housing developments (KPT, Kahumana Homes). Senator Kim stated DOE is aware of these plans; urban area schools are actually declining in enrollment while west side schools are overcrowded—some urban schools may face closure.
6. Safe Place Program in Schools: Soong asked whether the Safe Place program could be expanded into elementary schools, noting two recent middle school suicides at Dole and Farrington that might have been prevented had students known about available resources. Senator Kim agreed DOE should implement such programs proactively without waiting for legislation, and pointed to the Board of Education’s public meetings as a venue for community advocacy.
7. Kalihi Advocacy: Liua thanked Senator Kim for her advocacy on behalf of Kalihi, noting her work is being widely shared on social media, and encouraged continued community action.
8. Kayavi Stream Project and School Leadership: Lynette Kumalae thanked the senator for fighting to restore the Kayavi stream project and expressed concern about current school leadership at Farrington High School, noting that students report not feeling a sense of belonging. She supported eliminating the CAS structure.

Representative Ikaika Hussey – [1:38:00]: Representative Hussey provided the report and highlighted the following:
• Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Funding: Representative Hussey shared that he has an internal deadline with the House Finance Committee to submit CIP funding requests. He held a meeting earlier that day with KKV and neighborhood board members (Kumalae, Chair Tumbaga, and others via Zoom) to begin developing the district’s request. He will formally email the board the notes/minutes from that conversation and requested additional feedback by Friday so the final CIP submission reflects the full community’s input.
• Gambling Bills: As vice chair of the Economic Development Committee, Representative Hussey voted against two gambling-related bills heard that day: one to legalize sports betting via mobile apps, and one to allow cruise ship gambling.

BOARD BUSINESS – [1:41:36]
Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 – [1:41:38]
Chair Tumbaga noted a correction to the prior minutes: the street name for the BWS repaving acknowledgment should be corrected from “Robot Street” or similar to the correct street name (to be verified from the official report).

[1:41:41] Soong MOVED and Lualemaga SECONDED to approve the regular meeting minutes. Following discussion, a voice vote was conducted and ADOPTED with a vote count of 9-0-0 (Aye: Soong, Lualemaga, Kumalae, Gatti, Liua, Franklin, Rojas, Mizuno, Tumbaga; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [1:42:31]

Approval of Education Committee with Chair Ropati Liua – [1:42:43]: Chair Tumbaga proposed the establishment of an Education Committee chaired by Ropati Liua, which could also address topics such as the Kayavi stream project.

[1:42:55] Lualemaga MOVED and Soong SECONDED to approve the Education Committee with Ropati Liua as Chair. Hearing no discussion, a voice vote was conducted and ADOPTED with a vote count of 9-0-0 (Aye: Soong, Lualemaga, Kumalae, Gatti, Liua, Franklin, Rojas, Mizuno, Tumbaga; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [1:43:21]

Vote to Merge Joint and Communications Committee into Joint-Communication Committee – [1:43:32]: Chair Tumbaga proposed merging the Joint Committee and the Communications Committee into a single Joint-Communication Committee, with Soong and Lualemaga serving as co-chairs. The rationale was that Soong, who coordinates with multiple organizations and events, receives event information before it can be posted, and combining the two committees would allow for more timely posting of community information on social media.

[1:44:10] Liua MOVED and Soong SECONDED to merge the Joint and Communications Committees into the Joint-Communication Committee with co-chairs to be confirmed at the next meeting. Following discussion, a voice vote was conducted and ADOPTED with a vote count of 8-0-1 (Aye: Soong, Lualemaga, Kumalae, Gatti, Liua, Rojas, Mizuno, Tumbaga; Nay: None; Abstain: Franklin) – [1:47:23]

COMMITTEE REPORTS/ASSIGNMENTS – [1:49:15]
• State and County Budget – May Mizuno: No report given.
• Sidewalk, S-Curve, Transportation – Member Soong: No report given.
• Beautification – Member Franklin: No report given.
• Sustainability – Members Kumalae and Rojas: Rojas reminded gardeners of available micro-grants: $5,000 for residential/garden sustainability projects and $10,000 for organizations. Residents may reach out via the Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board No. 16 email for assistance with applications.
• RPZ – Alan Kumalae: No report given.
• Communications – Member Lualemaga: No report given.
• Resolutions – Member Franklin: Franklin reported that he is in the process of writing to every organization and county chair to whom resolutions were sent, requesting to know why they did not respond. He also intends to write to the mayor.
• Joint Committee – Member Soong: The Joint Committee held a “talk story” meeting last month attended by Soong and Laura from PAT; The Kalihi Coalition held a meeting the previous day at the Elder Street Juvenile Detention Home. Notes from the talk story are available on Google Drive; coalition notes have not yet been submitted but will be.
• Education Committee – Member Liua: Liua thanked the board for approving the establishment of the Education Committee.

OTHER REPORTS – Chair’s Report – [1:55:26]: Chair Tumbaga noted that February 11 is “2-1-1 Day.” She encouraged community members to call 211 or (808) 275-2000 any day from 7 a.m.–10 p.m. for health and human services resources. Residents can also text, chat, or email Aloha United Way 211, or visit auw211.org.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:56:00]
1. Member Franklin: Shared first-draft board t-shirts bearing the board logo and invited members to review and provide feedback. A t-shirt manufacturer is available to produce any design the board approves.
2. Member Liua: Requested the board update his contact email on the agenda from the Farrington High School address to ropati1985@gmail.com, and asked that the N/A designation be removed. He also noted that Representative Hussey was cut off before receiving community thanks and suggested the chair enforce time limits consistently across all presenters. He asked participants who are attending virtually to turn their cameras on when speaking. He also personally thanked Representative Hussey for assisting the Kalihi Valley community when the power went out at their church.
3. Member Rojas: Thanked everyone who participated in the Kilohana and Kalihi Street cleanup, including Board Members Soong, Liua, and Kumalae, Representative Hussey, and Councilmember Dos Santos-Tam.
4. Resident Yap: Thanked the board for moving the meeting to Kalihi Valley District Park (closer to home), and suggested the board arrange a tour of the rec center facilities so members can better understand the specific requests being made. Also noted an upcoming Easter egg hunt event at the rec center.
ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:59:37]
1. Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 6:30 p.m. at Kalihi Valley District Park.
2. Broadcast Meetings: Neighborhood Board meetings aired on ʻOlelo Channel 49 on the 4th Saturday of the month at 6:00 p.m., and the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 9:00 a.m.

ADJOURNMENT – [1:59:50]: The meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Submitted by: Jeffrey Jones, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
Finalized by:

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.