KĀNE‘OHE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 30

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026 AT 6:30 P.M.
WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE – HALE’AKOAKOA 101-105
45-720 KEA‘AHALA ROAD, KĀNEʻOHE, HI 96744
AND VIA WEBEX ONLINE PLATFORM

Meeting Link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m289f3083da584caabf8dad1d531b1ad6
Meeting Number: 2488 928 6851
Password: NB30 (6230 when dialing from a phone or video system)
Join By Phone: +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll
Access Code: 2488 928 6851
YouTube Recordings: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1DZJTKor6TTNYiqx5U-P2w
Material: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bP-j4YYw0YCi4sBV5QEZ8TwVGavf7v_K?usp=sharing

Rules of Speaking: To ensure the maximum opportunity for all attendees to be heard, the following guidelines apply: Anyone wishing to speak is asked to type their question in the chat box or raise their hand using the “raise hand” function in the online Zoom platform – which is indicated by a hand. If accessing the meeting using your phone and you have a comment, indicate this by pressing the symbols *3 – this will show the moderator that the person calling from that number wishes to speak. To mute/unmute your phone, press *6. Please wait until recognized by the chair to begin comments and address those comments to the chair. Please preface your comments by identifying yourself and your affiliation, if any. All official reports, comments or concerns shall be three (3) minutes or less.
Please Kōkua: To help all attendees the opportunity to hear presentations & comments, please place your device on mute until you would like to speak. When you are recognized, unmute yourself and make your comments. The Board may act on any agenda item. As required by the State Sunshine Law (HRS 92), specific issues not noted on this agenda cannot be voted on, unless added to the agenda. A two-thirds vote (12) of this 17-member Board is needed to add an item to the agenda. Items may not be added if they are of major importance and will affect a significant number of people.

I. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Mo Radke 6:30 – 6:31

II. FILLING OF VACANCIES ON THE BOARD (At-Large adjustment) 6:31 – 6:33
Interested residents must bring current proof of residency to the board meeting or contact Neighborhood Assistant Chelsea Smith (chelsea.smith@honolulu.gov) to verify residency before the meeting.
Subdistrict 2 – Crown Terrace
Subdistrict 9 – Keapuka
Subdistrict 13 – Kokokahi
Subdistrict 14 – Yacht Club Terrace

III. CITY/STATE/COMMUNITY REPORTS AND DISCUSSION (3 minutes each) 6:33 – 6:52
A. Honolulu Fire Department
B. Honolulu Police Department
C. Marine Corps Base Hawaii
D. Windward Community College
E. Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)
F. Castle High School

IV. BOARD BRIEFS & DISCUSSION (10 minutes each) 6:52 – 7:18
A. Department of Transportation – Kionaʻole Road Repair Status (5 min)
B. Hawaiʻi Youth Prevention Initiative – Zachary Caluya (7 min)
C. Hawaiʻi Job Corps Brief – Celeste Parker (7 min)
D. Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Brief – Joel Acevedo (7 min)

V. RESIDENT/COMMUNITY CONCERNS (3 minutes each) 7:18 – 7:32

VI. ELECTED OFFICIALS (2 minutes each for formal comments) 7:32 – 8:02
Note: The two minutes does not to include community Q & A
A. US Representative Jill Tokuda
B. Governor Green’s Representative
C. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative
D. Council Member Esther Kiaʻāina
Congressional, Governor, Mayor & City and County Q&A
E. Senator Jarrett Keohokalole
F. Senator Brenton Awa
G. Representative Lisa Kitagawa
H. Representative Scot Matayoshi
I. Representative Mike Lee
State Officials: Q&A

VII. BOARD BUSINESS 8:02 – 8:10
A. Approval of Thursday, August 20, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes
B. Disussion Items
i. Candidate Forum

VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS / ASSIGNMENTS 8:10 – 8:20
A. Attended Meeting Reports
B. Community Engagement Committee – Toma, Lam
C. Emergency Preparedness Committee – Carstensen, Fleitell, Quitevis, Sakamoto
D. Education Committee – Sakamoto
E. Transportation – Lam, Sakamoto
F. Military Affairs – Radke, Sakamoto
G. Haiku Valley & Stairs – Lam, Sakamoto, Radke
H. State Legislative – Radke
I. Environmental – Bryant
J. HPD Liaison – Carstensen, Sakamoto
K. Planning – Lam
L. Homeless/Kauhale – Burbage, Bryant, Fleitell, Hewitt
M. Kāneʻohe Bay Regional Council – Bryant

IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS 8:20 – 8:25
Next Regular Board Meeting: Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE – HALE ʻAKOAKOA 101-105, or using the virtual login credentials listed at the top of page 1 of this document.

X. ADJOURNMENT 8:30

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, Hawaiʻi 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://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, 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
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026 at 6:30 P.M.
WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE – HALE ʻAKOAKOA – 101-105, 45-720 KEA‘AHALA ROAD, KĀNEʻOHE, HI 96744
AND VIA WEBEX

Video Recording of Meeting Link: https://youtu.be/bbn7qjKmSEI?si=EUT9BlQGeeN0U-1w

Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bP-j4YYw0YCi4sBV5QEZ8TwVGavf7v_K

I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:11]
Chair Radke called the Kāne’ohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Quorum WAS established with 9 members present. Note: This 17-member Board requires nine (9) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Members Present: Lora Burbage, Dale Carstensen, John Hewett, Adriel Lam, Mo Radke, Donald Sakamoto, Abe Toma, Greg “Maka” Quitevis, David “Keoni” Shizuma and Zachary Pilien (arrived at 7:22 p.m.).

Members Absent: Elena Bryant, Neil Fleitell, and Patty Yamashiro.

Guests: Lieutenant Sanford Yiu and Sergeant Nakagawa (Honolulu Police Department); Kristi Kaluhiwa (Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi); Chancellor Ardis Eschenberg (Windward Community College); Diane Ako (Governor Josh Green’s Representative); Andy Kawano (Mayor Blangiardi’s Representative); Makena Hurney and Tolua Samifua (Representative Jill Tokuda’s Representative); Irene Limos (Councilmember Kia’āina’s Representative); Representative Scot Matayoshi; Representative Mike Lee; Amber Unabia and Julie Leano (Department of Environmental Services Refuse Division); Ryan Kanakaʻole (Department of Land and Natural Resources); Ron Sato (Bowers + Kubota); Tai Bechta (Shaka Racing Hawaii); Jersey Livingston, Kalealoha Biven, Noah Akamine, Cameron Pierce and Rene Omori (Castle High School); Lisa Uyesato (Windward Neighborhood Security Watch Coordinators Group); Ale Rodas, Laurie Thorson, Robert Harter, Annette Tashiro, and Bryce Calpito (Residents & Guests); Chelsea Smith (Neighborhood Commission Office). There were approximately 45 total participants.

II. FILLING OF VACANCIES ON THE BOARD – [0:00:27]
Chair Radke reported that the Board’s letter requesting conversion of the long-vacant subdistrict seats to at-large status was before the Neighborhood Commission Office, which was scheduled to vote on it the following Monday, August 24, 2026; he anticipated the vacant seats could be filled with at-large appointments beginning next meeting.

Subdistrict 2 – Crown Terrace: No volunteers.

Subdistrict 9 – Keapuka: No volunteers.

Subdistrict 13 – Kokokahi: No volunteers.

Subdistrict 14 – Yacht Club Terrace: No volunteers.

III. CITY/STATE/COMMUNITY MONTHLY REPORTS AND DISCUSSION – [0:01:18]
Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – [0:01:22]: No representative present – reported to be out on a call.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P5s_uwqlcjlmvR9bTSr_k112_newi5TH/view?usp=sharing

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – [0:01:26]: Lieutenant Yiu and Sergant Nakagawa presented July 2026 crime statistics: no motor vehicle thefts, no burglaries, and no robberies; thefts decreased from ten to five; however, unauthorized entries into motor vehicles (UEMV)/vehicle break-ins increased from two to five.

Questions, Comments, and Concerns – [0:02:36]
1. Reason for Statistic Changes: Chair Radke asked what might explain the shift in numbers; Lt. Yiu said it could be due to a variety of factors, including repeat offenders being taken into custody or displacement of activity to other districts.
2. H-3 Speeding Follow-Up: Member Sakamoto followed up on a high-speed-vehicle incident he had reported to Captain Campbell involving roughly 52 vehicles turning around near Exit 11. Lt. Yiu explained he was on duty that night and that officers responded and cleared the vehicles from the district; he noted the incident occurred during rain, which is atypical, and that enforcement continues nightly on the H-3. Sergeant Nakagawa added that the prior night alone produced three excessive-speeding citations and 14 speeding citations on the H-3.
3. Roadside Tree Hazard: Member Sakamoto raised a resident’s concern about a large tree that could fall onto the roadway during a storm. Officers responded that depending on the tree’s size, HFD may be able to cut it down with available chainsaws; otherwise, it would remain until a road crew could remove it.
4. Definition of Excessive Speeding: Community Member Robert Harter asked how “excessive speed” is defined; officers explained it is based on how far a driver travels over the posted limit (for example, citing a 25-mph zone where a driver was clocked around 54 mph).

Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi (MCBH) – [0:05:05]: Kristi Kaluhiwa reported that Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) training noise impacts concluded in July 2026; the base hosted a canoe regatta with over 3,000 participants; fishpond interns completed a workday and visited culturally significant sites on base, including Mokapu; a junior lifeguard program was held with base lifeguards who are accomplished big-wave surfers; Kalaheo High School JROTC will hold its junior cadet program Friday and Saturday, September 11–12, 2026; a public 5K race series continues monthly, with pre-enrollment for the next event (a triathlon) due Sunday, August 30, 2026; and a QR-code noise-complaint reporting form is available to residents affected by training activity.
• Sound Reporting Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wks84oV0oNOwfZHYekfam3hCeQhvlrD-/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:07:43]
1. Base Access and Sandbar Coordination: Member Sakamoto thanked the base for following up on his base-access question and asked about the status of concerns previously raised about activity at the sandbar. Kaluhiwa said base staff attended a Tuesday, August 11, 2026 meeting on the issue; the marina’s general manager and lead staff also attended. She confirmed there is no intention to grow the current boat fleet (24 pontoons and nine Boston Whalers), that renters must be licensed and tested and can lose rental privileges for violations, and that two patrol boats remain on the water at all times to monitor rented vessels.
2. Sandbar Enforcement Jurisdiction: Member Burbage asked whether the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is the enforcement authority for the sandbar; it was confirmed that enforcement falls under DLNR’s Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR).

Windward Community College (WCC) – [0:10:34]: Chancellor Ardis Echenberg reported that registration is ongoing and Monday classes were beginning; the recent storm complicated registration timing but staff are encouraging students to register quickly to avoid missing classes. The Paniolo Barbecue will be held Saturday, September 19, 2026 with $15 barbecue plates, mostly free activities, and a small charge for horse rides. She also noted a statewide restructuring under consideration in which the community college subsystem would be absorbed into the University of Hawaiʻi system, with campus chancellors reporting directly to the University president by December 2026.

Questions, Comments, and Concerns – [0:14:21]
1. Budget Model and Carry-Forward Funds: Chair Radke asked about the college’s budget model and the incentive structure around unspent (“carry-forward”) funds. Chancellor Echenberg explained the system recently adopted performance-based budgeting; campuses may retain a portion of unspent funds (capped at roughly 20% of the operating budget) as a reserve, with the remainder redirected to system-level priorities. She gave the example of using carry-forward funds in prior years to purchase a truck and trailer to support the college’s Hawaiian studies canoe program.
2. WCC History and Infrastructure Needs: Member Sakamoto asked how old WCC is and what its most pressing infrastructure needs are. Chancellor Echenberg said the college was founded in 1972 (54 years old) and cited several active capital improvements needs: continued renovation of the Hale ʻAo building; the Alakaʻi administration building, which she said has not been renovated in decades; and Hale Ava (the former law library), which the college hopes to renovate to house its “middle college” early-college partnerships with two Windward-area high schools.

Office of Hawaiʻian Affairs (OHA) – [0:20:22]: No representative present.

Castle High School (CHS) – [0:20:45]: Kalealoha Bivven reported that the 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee celebration was well attended, with vendors, entertainment, and other activities; Noah Akamine announced a Castle Performing Arts Center (CPAC) garage sale that Saturday, August 22, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the auditorium parking lot; Akamine also announced Homecoming Week, Tuesday, September 29, 2026 – Saturday, October 3, 2026; Cameron Pierce listed upcoming community-service opportunities (an Okinawan festival, the Out of the Darkness walk, and elementary school fun fairs at Ahuimanu and Kāneʻohe Elementary), with those interested in volunteering are directed to contact Ms. Rene Omori to volunteer (omorir@knights.k12.hi.us).

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:22:21]
1. Storm Power and Wi-Fi Outages: A student representative (Joseph) asked what is being done to prevent extended outages before the next storm, noting CHS lost Wi-Fi for an extended period after the recent Hurricane Lala even though power was restored relatively quickly; he suggested the issue may involve Spectrum/Charter service. No formal response was recorded; Chair Radke thanked him for the question.
2. Cafeteria Food During the Outage: Member Sakamoto asked whether cafeteria food was preserved during the power outage. Rene Omori, Student Activities Coordinator, said frozen food was largely saved but some refrigerated items had to be discarded.
3. Robotics Program: Member Sakamoto asked about Castle’s robotics program; students confirmed an active Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)/robotics club that has competed nationally.
4. Support for Homeless Students: Member Sakamoto asked how many homeless or houseless students Castle serves. Omori explained that affected students are identified through McKinney-Vento (MV-1) forms and supported through an “angel account” funded by donations, which has covered items such as prom attire for a student in need; the school continues to welcome donations to the fund.

IV. BOARD BRIEFS – [0:26:51]
Department of Transportation (DOT) – Kionaʻole Road Repair Status – [0:26:51]: Chair Radke reported that the roadway to the church and golf course is now open and that paving of the H-3 on-ramp appeared close to completion. No representative was present to give a formal report.

City & County of Honolulu G.R.O.W. Program – [0:27:23]: Julie Leano, Acting Recycling Branch Chief for the City and County of Honolulu Refuse Division, presented the Green Recycling Organic Waste (G.R.O.W.) program. She reported Oʻahu households generate approximately 60,000 tons of residential food waste annually, and that composting supports the City’s goal of 95% landfill diversion by 2030. Under the program, residents may place food scraps and wasted food directly into their existing green (compost/yard-waste) carts; a pilot began Wednesday, April 1, 2026 in Wahiawā, Nānākuli, Hawaiʻi Kai, Māʻili, Kāneʻohe, and Kāhala Mall-area routes, with island-wide expansion beginning Thursday, October 1, 2026. Collection days and frequency will not change. Accepted materials include fruits, vegetables, dairy, breads/grains, meat, seafood and bones, eggshells, and coffee grounds; prohibited items include liquids, plastics, glass, pet waste, and “compostable” packaging (due to PFAS/“forever chemical” concerns). Residents may self-drop food scraps and green waste at no charge at the Hawaiian Earth Recycling composting facility in Wahiawā; City transfer stations will continue to accept green waste only, not food scraps. She noted the program includes a Department of Environmental Services (ENV) G.R.O.W. webpage, FAQs, and public workshops, and that pilot participation and contamination data will guide the island-wide rollout.
• Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11yjWIealKr_kZvx6yooCafPosFEmUvVq/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:35:10]
1. Public Mailer and Bin-Cleaning Responsibility: Member Carstensen asked whether an official mailer will notify the community of the change and timeline; Leano said she would confirm with her office and follow up. He also noted concern about odor given Hawaiʻi’s heat and humidity and asked the City to clarify, since the carts remain City property, at what point the City becomes responsible for cleaning them rather than the homeowner.
2. Pilot Lessons Learned and Collection Frequency: Vice Chair Lam said he supports diverting food waste but asked what the pilot program has shown so far, noting that requiring residents to freeze scraps for up to two weeks may discourage participation; he asked whether commercial haulers would be allowed to collect food waste more frequently on residents’ behalf. Leano said the pilot is ongoing and that current program guidance (freezing scraps, best practices for odor control) reflects general public education; the ability to use intermediary haulers under the City program was not yet confirmed and she would follow up.
3. Accessibility and Home Composting Alternatives: Member Sakamoto, who is legally blind, asked that any mailed materials be accessible to blind residents and available in multiple languages consistent with Title VI requirements. He also asked whether the City offers a vermiculture (worm composting) program for residents who want to compost at home. Leano said the City does not currently operate such a program but that resources and workshops exist and could be shared with the Board; she noted the City is researching backyard/home composting options, including vermiculture.
4. Rodent Concerns: Ardis Echenberg raised concerns about attracting rats in the Kāneʻohe area given the community’s ongoing rodent issues, separate from odor concerns. Leano reiterated that layering food waste with green waste, keeping cart lids closed, and freezing scraps until collection day helps reduce pest attraction, and thanked the Board for its feedback as the program is refined ahead of island-wide rollout.

Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) – Hawaiʻi Loa Property Acquisition Update – [0:40:53]: Ryan Kanakaʻole (DLNR), joined by Special Assistant to the Chair Luke Sarvis and consultant Ron Sato (Bowers + Kubota), provided a status update on DLNR’s planned acquisition of the former Hawaiʻi Pacific University (HPU) Hawaiʻi Loa campus (approximately 132 acres) near the Kamehameha/Kalanianaʻole Highways intersection, envisioned as a consolidated conservation campus. The move is driven by a 2029 deadline for several DLNR divisions to vacate their current Waimano/Pearl City facility, which the Department of Health will take over. Under the concept plan, the existing academic center would become lab, office, and meeting space; dormitories would be renovated to house a nine-month Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DOCARE) training academy and support neighbor-island staff and visiting personnel; roughly 49,000 square feet of new storage would support field equipment, boats, and vehicles; softball and soccer fields would be retained; and the existing, nonfunctional tennis courts would likely be repurposed. A draft environmental assessment is expected around October 2026, with final environmental review in early Spring 2027 and Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) acquisition approval also targeted for Spring 2027. The State has appropriated $18 million toward the purchase; the appraised purchase price is approximately $21 million, leaving a $3 million gap, and DLNR is seeking approximately $30 million in this year’s capital improvement program (CIP) request to fund the acquisition and initial “phase one” renovations needed to meet the 2029 relocation deadline. The campus would house approximately 250 of the Department’s roughly 1,100 statewide personnel.
• Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yj1iN7NZR9raK393pZQ3avW5jVJxZfC_/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:51:53]
1. Property Ownership and Funding Structure: Member Sakamoto asked whether the current Waimano facility is State – or privately owned and how the acquisition would be financed. Kanakaʻole confirmed the Waimano campus is State-owned but under a Department of Health lease expiring in 2029, and that the Hawaiʻi Loa acquisition would be funded through the State capital improvement budget rather than bonding, pending legislative appropriation.
2. Auditorium and Facility Reuse: Member Sakamoto asked about plans for the campus auditorium; Ron Sato said the academic center, including the auditorium space, would be renovated to support agency offices.
3. Property Boundary and Encampment Responsibility: Vice Chair Lam asked whether DLNR’s jurisdiction would extend to the full 132-acre parcel, including wooded areas reportedly used for homeless encampments. Kanakaʻole confirmed the entire parcel would fall under its jurisdiction post-acquisition, and that as a conservation district, redevelopment will be limited and largely confined to the existing footprint left by HPU.
4. Local Economic Impact: Vice Chair Lam asked about the economic impact of bringing roughly 250 employees to the area, including where staff would go for lunch; Kanakaʻole said Kāneʻohe town is the closer option and that the campus’s renovated kitchen facilities are intended to also serve community partners.
5. Historic and Cultural Resources: Chair Radke asked whether any historic sites exist on the property; Kanakaʻole said an archaeological consultant found none, and that prior cultural impact assessments did not identify significant concerns, though a stream corridor bisecting the property will remain undisturbed.
6. DOCARE Enforcement at the Sandbar: Chair Radke noted (unrelated to the acquisition) ongoing concerns about over commercialization and lack of enforcement at the sandbar and asked whether DOCARE falls under DLNR. Kanakaʻole confirmed the jurisdictional overlap between its Forestry and Aquatic Resources Divisions and DOCARE and said the agencies are working together on the issue.
7. Vehicle and Fuel Storage: Robert Harter asked whether the site would include a motor pool or above-ground fuel storage tanks; Kanakaʻole said any fuel storage would primarily support backup generator power for sensitive research operations rather than vehicle refueling.
8. Tennis Courts/Pickleball Commitment: Rep. Matayoshi noted that during the original acquisition discussions, the community, including pickleball players, had been told the existing tennis courts would remain available for recreational use, and asked whether that commitment could still be honored rather than converting the courts to storage or shade houses. Kanakaʻole said cost and site placement (the area is within a flood/drainage basin) are factors but that a community recreational use could be explored contingent on funding from the City, County, or Legislature.

Member Pilien arrived at 7:22 p.m. – 10 members present.

Ulu Tree Presentation – Senator Awa’s Office – [0:59:51]: No representative present.

Chair Radke passed the gavel to Vice Chair Lam.

V. RESIDENTS/COMMUNITY CONCERNS – [1:00:46]
Windward Neighborhood Security Watch – [1:01:14]: Lisa Uyesato, of the Windward Neighborhood Security Watch Coordinators Group, announced an “Under 21, No Alcohol” sign-waving event on Friday, September 4, 2026 at the Windward Mall intersection of Hāʻikū Road and Kamehameha Highway; check-in is 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. near the Malasada truck/bus stop, with sign-waving from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.; participants (including high-school-age volunteers, who can earn two hours of community service) are asked to register by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2, 2026 via the QR code on her flyer. She also announced the group’s participation in the Kailua Emergency Preparedness Fair at Kailua Town Center on Saturday, September 12, 2026b from 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
• Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JkTvRjkFECakUEkDalWuIKmQGBupk4zm/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [1:03:38]
1. Volunteer Recruitment Update: Member Sakamoto asked whether the group’s volunteer numbers have grown since he last asked. Uyesato said the group continues recruiting additional neighborhood-watch coordinators, with its next meeting in October 2026. Member Sakamoto pointed residents to www.honolulupd.org for crime-mapping and other resources.

Vice Chair Lam passed the gavel back to Chair Radke.

Kailua Half Marathon Announcement – [1:05:35]: Tai Bachta, representing Shaka Racing Hawaiʻi, announced the Kailua Half Marathon on Sunday, October 4, 2026 starting at 5:30 a.m. at Kailua Beach Park; the course runs primarily through Kailua with a small overlap into Kāneʻohe (along Kalaheo Avenue, up Mokapu, and around Kāneʻohe Bay Drive). No road closures are planned; runners will use coned shoulders with HPD support, and most runners will finish before the roads see significant traffic. A 5K option is also offered. More information is available at www.ShakaRacingHawaii.com.

Deplorable Keaʻahala Road – Resident Email – [1:07:32]: Member Toma read into the record a resident email (received in the Board’s inbox and forwarded by Member Toma) describing 24 years of unresolved deterioration on Keaʻahala Road between Kahekili and Kāneʻohe Playground – potholes, patch failures after heavy rain, and damaged, unsafe sidewalks – and asking whether and when the road will be fully resurfaced.

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [1:09:31]
1. Referral for Repaving Status: Chair Radke said community can use online resources to look into whether roads are scheduled under the City’s Complete Streets program and would follow up with Councilmember Kiaʻāina’s office. Representative Scot Matayoshi (inaudible) also added that Councilmember Kiaʻāina did give an update on Keaʻahala in a previous meeting.

VI. ELECTED OFFICIALS – [1:10:22]
U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda – [1:10:35]: Makena Hurney, the Congresswoman’s new constituent advocate/staff assistant, introduced herself and reported that Rep. Tokuda introduced two bipartisan bills: the Rural Hospital Security Enhancement Act (requiring a federal plan to train rural hospital staff in cybersecurity practices) and the RESCUE Act (ensuring Medicare payments for air and ground emergency medical services reflect actual costs). She also signed a bipartisan letter, joined by more than 60 colleagues, urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to improve telehealth reimbursement rates. She noted that military service academy nomination applications are open through Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Governor Green’s Representative – [1:11:59]: Diane Ako shared the link to Governor Green’s monthly newsletter and provided several follow-ups to questions from the prior meeting. On the State Hospital, she reported the facility has increased efforts to place patients in more appropriate settings (group homes, return to the Department of Corrections where appropriate, or skilled nursing) and has expanded staff training in non-violent crisis intervention. On the electric vehicle registration question, she clarified that the increase referenced relates to a proposed federal bill (HR 8870, the Build America 250 Act, Section 1129), which would create a new annual federal Electric Vehicle (EV)/plug-in hybrid registration fee ($130/$35 respectively, escalating over time to $150/$50); separately, she described the existing State Act 222 Hawaiʻi Road Usage Charge (HI RU) program, under which EV owners currently choose a per-mile charge (capped at $50) or a flat $50 annual charge, with mandatory enrollment in the per-mile charge beginning July 2028 and a full transition to road-usage charging for all vehicles targeted by 2033. She also confirmed she had connected Vice Chair Lam with the professors behind the $1.6 million federal civics-education grant, and provided a reminder that the deadline to request a penalty/interest waiver related to the March 2026 Koʻolau storm was approaching.
• Newletter: https://governor.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Ke-Ala-Hou-Newsletter-August-2026-FINAL-3.pdf

Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [1:19:01]: Andy Kawano, Director of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, reported that storm damage assessments are largely complete, with preliminary City property damage (mostly roads and bridges) estimated at just under $20 million; he noted the City had briefly geared up for a second storm system that ultimately weakened. He encouraged residents to have battery-powered radios on hand given cellular and utility outages experienced during the recent storm. He reminded residents that home-exemption and real-property-tax-credit (for households at or below $80,000 income) filings are due September 30. On follow-up items from the prior meeting: the storage-facility street-usage permit near the police station was confirmed to authorize staging only for concrete and lateral work, not general all-day staging – residents who see the road blocked outside that scope were encouraged to call the Department of Transportation Services (DTS); and the FY2027 Oahu Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) revenue estimate is approximately $16,674,000, with half directed to rail construction and half to the general fund.
• Newsletter: https://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/august-mayors-highlights-newsletter/

Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina – [1:24:06]: Irene Limos, representing Councilmember Kiaʻāina, thanked residents who attended the Windward Wildfire Preparedness Town Hall on Thursday, August 13, 2026. She encouraged residents affected by the recent storm to self-report property damage to the Department of Planning and Permitting (by email if unable to file online), noting that a damage report is informational only and not an application for disaster relief. She reported that the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden master plan was presented in near-final form on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 with a final plan expected this fall. She also announced that the land conservation workshop originally planned for Monday, August 17, 2026 (cancelled due to the storm) has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 29, 2026 from 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at WCC Hale ʻAkoakoa.
Congressional, Governor, Mayor & City and County Q&A – [1:26:04]
1. Housing Authority Fraud/Accountability Concerns: Member Sakamoto raised concerns about testimony he heard at a Thursday, July 16, 2026 Hawaiʻi Housing Authority Board of Directors meeting alleging fraud within federal housing assistance programs and asked what Congress is doing to ensure accountability for funding intended for disabled, veteran, and homeless residents. Hurney said she would relay the concern to Rep. Tokuda’s office.
2. Physician Shortage: Member Sakamoto described difficulty finding a new primary care physician after he retired and asked what the Governor’s office is doing to recruit and retain doctors in Hawaiʻi.
3. H-3 Viaduct Graffiti: Member Sakamoto reported graffiti underneath the H-3 viaduct pillars on the Windward side and asked that the Department of Transportation (HDOT) address it. Ako asked for more detail on the location; Member Sakamoto clarified it is on the Koʻolau-bound side near the tunnels and recommended to contact HDOT Deputy Director Robin Shishido of highways to have someone from his agency to investigate.
4. Elections Commission and Government Accountability: Member Sakamoto asked that the Attorney General’s office look into government accountability concerns generally, and separately asked that the (State) Elections Commission – inactive since its chair’s departure in the ending of June 2026 – be reconstituted so it can review this year’s primary election administration.
5. Storage Facility Briefing and Local Road Conditions: Member Sakamoto reiterated frustration that the Board was never briefed in advance on the storage-facility project and described deteriorating road conditions, overgrown vegetation, and erosion issues on roads near his home that were repaved in 2023, asking that Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) inspect the area.
6. Follow-Up on Bills 47 and 18: Member Sakamoto asked Limos for a response to his earlier question about Bills 47 and 18 (regarding removal of elevator requirements in walk-up apartment buildings), which he said disproportionately affects elderly and disabled residents. Limos said she had asked the Councilmember’s office and would follow up directly with Member Sakamoto.
7. Koʻolaupoko Renewable Energy Zone (REZ): Member Carstensen thanked Councilmember Kiaʻāina for the wildfire town hall and asked how she will work with the community to ensure the newly designated Koʻolaupoko REZ does not become an oversized solar development. Limos said she would follow up with the Councilmember.
8. Civics Grant Follow-Up and EV Taxation Balance: Vice Chair Lam thanked Ako for connecting him with the professors behind the America250 civics-education grant, noting he has since linked them with the Hawaiʻi America250 Commission. He also raised concern that EV owners face both a vehicle-weight tax and a new road-usage charge, asking legislators to consider a more balanced approach to funding road maintenance across vehicle types.
9. Ballot Drop-Box Access at Kāneʻohe District Park: Vice Chair Lam noted the exit near the Kāneʻohe District Park ballot drop-box is in poor condition and asked that it be patched before the November 2026 election.
10. Physician Shortage and Landfill/Civic Center Follow-Ups: Member Burbage echoed concern about the physician shortage and asked what incentives could help retain doctors in the state. She also asked Kawano about the status of a possible landfill site near Kailua (the quarry), and about renovation plans for the state Civic Center building near the Kāneʻohe police station; Kawano said the Mayor is exploring alternatives but that Act 73 restricts landfill siting near schools and parks and no final site decision has been made, and Ako confirmed that the Civic Center building is being renovated for Department of Human Services and social-service tenants.

Member Shizuma left at 7:59 p.m. – 9 members present.

Senator Jarrett Keohokalole – [1:40:53]: No representative present.

Senator Brenton Awa – [1:41:01]: No representative present.

Representative Lisa Kitagawa – [1:41:14]: Sent her regrets; Representative Matayoshi reported on behalf of both offices.

Representative Scot Matayoshi – [1:41:29]: Representative Matayoshi reported that Spectrum is offering free Wi-Fi hotspots (open to non-subscribers) at Windward-area shopping centers, including Windward Mall and Kāneʻohe Bay Shopping Center, for residents affected by storm outages, with sign-on instructions available through his office. He reported the Wilson Tunnel lights are out for an estimated three to four weeks due to a damaged power line that also affects nearby AT&T towers, causing dropped calls; he is coordinating with AT&T and urged caution driving through the tunnel at night. He announced a free legal clinic with the Young Lawyers Division on Sunday, August 30, 2026 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. at Windward Mall (second floor), including free notary service from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. He reported attending the Sandbar meeting and described potential solutions under discussion, including keeping a harbor master on-site seven days a week (on a rotating basis) and creating a lower-level offense (petty misdemeanor) to make enforcement easier to prove. On the landfill issue, he reiterated opposition to siting a landfill near the Kailua quarry, noting Act 73 currently prohibits it, and described an alternative technology proposal to convert existing landfill waste into a sellable commodity (carbon black), which could reduce landfill volume by roughly 95% and extend the current site’s life. He gave an update on the Kāneʻohe Civic Center renovation (funded in part by Representatives Kitagawa, Senator Awa, and himself), which will provide expanded social-service space (welfare, food stamps, a permanent IHS office, showers, and laundry facilities) along with new parking. He offered feral-chicken removal assistance to residents, and reported that Keaʻahala Road repaving is expected to occur later this year as part of the broader Kamehameha Highway repaving project.

Representative Mike Lee – [1:47:32]: Representative Lee, expressed hope that all families weathered the recent storm safely and noted his own roughly three-day power outage. He urged continued review of family emergency plans given the possibility of additional storms. He agreed with Rep. Matayoshi in opposing any change to Act 73 that would allow landfill siting near the Kailua quarry, and expressed support for exploring new waste-management technologies. He also shared that he is teaching ninth-grade social studies this school year in addition to his legislative duties.

State Officials Q&A – [1:50:10]
1. Infrastructure Hardening and Security: Vice Chair Lam asked whether the Legislature is doing enough to harden and secure Windward electrical infrastructure against storms and against emerging security threats (citing recent incidents of well tampering and wildfire ignition). Rep. Matayoshi noted a securitization financing bill passed roughly two years ago directed funding toward grid-hardening projects, and acknowledged that infrastructure security is a nationwide vulnerability.
2. Elections Commission and Voter Turnout: Vice Chair Lam also asked about reactivating the suspended State Elections Commission and about the recent primary tie decided by a name drawn from a hat, suggesting a fairer tie-breaking method and more voter service centers to boost turnout, citing Kāneʻohe District Park’s roughly tripled turnout when it served as a voter service center. Rep. Matayoshi said Elections Commission appointments are largely a Governor’s-office matter rather than legislative, agreed the tie-break method could be reconsidered, and said additional voter service centers are more of a County-level decision that the Legislature could help incentivize.
3. Keaʻahala/Kionaʻole Road Cost and Housing Authority Follow-Up: Member Sakamoto asked Rep. Matayoshi to publicize, via email blast, the final cost and confirmation that the Kionaʻole Road project is open, noting neither the Mayor’s nor the Governor’s office had announced it; he also asked whether Rep. Matayoshi had reviewed the Hawaiʻi Housing Authority Section 8 fraud testimony he had emailed on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

VII. BOARD BUSINESS – [1:58:16]
Approval of Thursday, July 16, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes – [1:58:23]: Vice Chair Lam MOVED and Member Carstensen SECONDED to approve Thursday, July 16, 2026 Regular Meeting Minutes.

Discussion – [1:58:43]
1. Attaching Presenter Reports to the Minutes: Member Sakamoto asked whether written reports submitted to the Board by presenters could be attached to the minutes as permanent record, rather than relying solely on the video for accessibility. It was clarified that presenter materials are always added to the Board’s Google Drive and linked in the minutes, provided the presenters provide a copy of their reports/presentations.

[1:59:36] Chair Radke called for a voice vote, and the motion was ADOPTED; 9-0-0 (Aye: Sakamoto, Quitevis, Hewett, Burbage, Carstensen, Toma, Pilien, Lam, and Radke; Nay: None; Abstain: None.) – [1:59:43]

Candidate Forum – [1:59:46]: Chair Radke reported he had been traveling and had not yet been able to coordinate scheduling or a venue for a candidate forum ahead of the November 2026 general election; he said he would follow up.

Board Committees and Chairpersons – [2:00:15]: Chair Radke reviewed the committee roster to confirm it was accurate and asked whether anyone needed to be added. Member Sakamoto volunteered to join the previously vacant Education Committee; Chair Radke appointed Member Sakamoto to the Education Committee and asked NCO staff to update the committee assignments accordingly.

VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS/ASSIGNMENTS – [2:01:18]
Community Engagement Committee – HPD Strategic Session – [2:01:18]: Member Lam reported attending HPD Chief David Lazaro’s strategic planning session and providing feedback on the value of greater community involvement; she said the Chief was engaged and receptive, and that feedback would be reviewed over the coming months with a report to follow.

Emergency Preparedness Committee – Wildfire Town Hall and Community Partnerships – [2:02:07]: Member Carstensen reported attending the Windward wildfire planning town hall in Kailua, where the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization discussed partnering with communities of at least four homes on wildfire-management planning; presentations were also given by HFD, Hawaiian Electric (on grid hardening), and the City Department of Emergency Management. He also reported meeting with the Hawaiʻi Red Cross about a possible donated storage container/pod for use on the Windward side and said he would follow up.

HPD Liaison Committee – Chief Visit and Hoʻomaluhia Workshop – [2:03:13]: Member Sakamoto reported confirming an Thursday, October 15, 2026 meet-and-greet visit from HPD Chief David Lazaro; attending an Wednesday, August 5, 2026 Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden planning workshop alongside Councilmember Kiaʻāina, Representative Matayoshi, and Rocky Kaluhiwa, and voiced support for the garden’s long-term renovation plan; and attending a Kāneʻohe-Kahaluʻu Community Emergency Response Team (KKCERT) meeting featuring fire-department guests on fire-extinguisher and fire-alarm safety and disaster preparedness.

Homeless/Kauhale Committee – Storm Outreach Update – [2:04:20]: Member Burbage reported contacting the City’s homeless coordinator ahead of the recent storm to ask what outreach was being done; the City, State, and County reportedly coordinated efforts along waterways and causeways to warn unsheltered residents in advance, which she said she was pleased to learn. Chair Radke asked whether anyone had heard how the Kauhale fared during the storm; no update was available, and it was suggested the Board schedule a follow-up visit.

IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [2:05:15]
Next Regular Board Meeting: Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at Windward Community College – Hale ʻAkoakoa 101 – 105, or via the virtual credentials listed on the agenda.

X. ADJOURNMENT – [2:05:24]
The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Submitted by: Chelsea Smith, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Lindon Valenciano, Public Relations Assistant, NCO
Finalized by:

To view agenda and minutes, visit our board website.

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