KĀNE‘OHE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 30

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 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
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 AND DISCUSSION (10 minutes each) 6:52 – 7:22
A. Department of Transportation (DOT) – Kionaʻole Road Repair Status (5min)
B. City & County of Honolulu G.R.O.W. program – Amber Unabia (10 min)
C. Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) / Hawaii Loa Property Acquisition update – Ron Sato (10 Min)
D. ULU Tree Presentation – Senator Awa’s office (5 min)

V. RESIDENT/ COMMUNITY CONCERNS (3 minutes each) 7:22 – 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 Kia’aina
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 July 2026 Regular Meeting minutes
B. Disussion Items
i. Candidate Forum
ii. Board Committees and Chairpersons

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 – VACANT
E. Transportation – Lam, Sakamoto
F. Military Affairs – Radke, Sakamoto
G. Haiku Valley & Stairs – Lam, Sakamoto
H. State Legislative – VACANT
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, September 17, 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, JULY 16, 2026 at 6:30 P.M.
WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE – HALE AʻKOAKOA – 113, 45-720 KEA‘AHALA ROAD, KĀNEʻOHE, HI 96744
AND VIA WEBEX

Video Recording of Meeting Link: https://youtube.com/watch?v=oIZ_tnrtVu8
Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1bP-j4YYw0YCi4sBV5QEZ8TwVGavf7v_K

I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:40]

Pro Tem Chair Radke called the Kāne’ohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 meeting to order at 6:31 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, Neil Fleitell, John Hewett, Adriel, Lam, Zachary Pilien, Mo Radke, Donald Sakamoto, Abe Toma, Greg “Maka” Quitevis (arrived at 6:34 p.m.), Elena Bryant (arrived at 6:37 p.m.) and David “Keoni” Shizuma (arrived at 7:25 p.m.).

Members Absent: Patty Yamashiro.

Guests: Captain Campbell (Honolulu Police Department (HPD)); Colonel Stephen DeTrinis, Sergeant Major Adon Moreno, Kristi Kaluhiwa (Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi (MCBH)); Diane Ako (Governor Josh Green’s Representative); Andy Kawano (Mayor Blangiardi’s Representative); Tolua Samifua (Representative Jill Tokuda’s Representative); Irene Limos (Councilmember Kia’āina’s Representative); Ethan Yamamoto (Senator Awa’s Representative); Representative Lisa Kitagawa; Representative Scot Matayoshi; Ardis Echenberg (Windward Community College (WCC)); Chris Salas (Hawaiʻi Bicycling League); Marie Samudio (Kāneʻohe Kahaluʻu Community Emergency Response Team (KKCERT)); Jersey Livingston, Rene Omori (Castle High School); Ale Rodas, Rocky Kaluhiwa, Michael Renda, Edward Andres Jr., Ann DeSilva Williams, Annette Tashiro, and Bryce Calpito (Residents & Guests); Chelsea Smith (Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO)). There were approximately 36 total participants.

II. FILLING OF VACANCIES ON THE BOARD – [0:00:49]
Subdistrict 2 – Crown Terrace: No volunteers.

Subdistrict 9 – Keapuka: No volunteers.

Subdistrict 13 – Kokokahi: No volunteers.

Subdistrict 14 – Yacht Club Terrace: No volunteers.

Discussion – [0:01:45]
1. Prior Election Confusion: Pro Tem Chair Radke briefly asked Neighborhood Assistant (NA) Chelsea Smith whether new board members were expected to be seated at this meeting, then clarified for himself that the next Board election cycle is not until next year.
2. At-Large Seat Recommendation Carried Forward: Pro Tem Chair Radke recalled that the Board had previously voted to forward a recommendation to the Neighborhood Commission that seats vacant for more than two meeting cycles be converted to at-large seats open to any interested resident, regardless of subdistrict. He indicated this topic would be addressed in more detail under Board Business.

III. CITY/STATE/COMMUNITY MONTHLY REPORTS AND DISCUSSION – [0:02:28]
Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – [0:02:32]: No representative present.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1us1SNi9Y59-52Z0NA1VK4xVthsE7Jyd0/view?usp=drive_link

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – [0:02:43]: No representative present.

Member Quitevis arrived at 6:34 p.m. – 10 members present.

Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi (MCBH) – [0:03:06]: Colonel Steven DeTrinis introduced himself as MCBH’s new Commanding Officer, having relinquished command duties elsewhere and having lived in Hawaiʻi since 2023 with prior assignments at Camp Holland McTyeire Smith and Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC); Sergeant Major Don Moreno was also introduced. Colonel DeTrinis outlined MCBH’s three main lines of operation — projecting power and building combat readiness, protecting and defending people and infrastructure (including the homeland-defense mission on the Windward side), and integrating with joint and local partners — and two supporting lines of effort focused on clear communication and making MCBH a duty-station and community of choice. He noted the Windward-side air show will return on a biennial basis. Pro Tem Chair Radke, Chair of the Military Laiason Committee proposed a meeting Colonel DeTrinis to communicate and assist with any processes they may have, Colonel DeTrinis welcomed the meeting. Kristi Kaluhiwa also announced cannon salutes audible from the base on August 10–11, 2026 (Monday and Tuesday) and that Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) training activities are expected to conclude in early August 2026. A base noise complaint line is available to residents.

Member Bryant arrived at 6:37 p.m. – 11 members present.
Member Pilien left at 6:35 p.m. – 10 members present.

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:06:52]
1. Base Access for Legally Blind Retirees: Member Sakamoto, a retired 21-year Marine Corps Community Services employee who is legally blind, explained that post-9/11 access restrictions limit him to sponsoring only one guest pass onto base. Colonel DeTrinis said he was not familiar with that specific regulation but would look into the approval and waiver process.

Windward Community College (WCC) – [0:09:19]: No representative present.

Office of Hawaiʻian Affairs (OHA) – [0:09:26]: No representative present.

Castle High School (CHS) – [0:09:33]: Jersey Livingston a Castle High School student representative, announced the school’s 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee celebration on Friday, July 31, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., open to the public with food vendors, live performances, and club/council booths. She also announced a “Hi-Five” recycling collection drive on Friday, July 25, 2026 from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., held on the fourth Saturday of most months, with proceeds benefiting the senior class hosting that month’s drive (typically applied toward graduation costs).

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:10:28]
1. Student Council Experience: Pro Tem Chair Radke asked Livingston what she enjoys most about Kāneʻohe, and what she would change if she could; she said she most values meeting people she otherwise would not have met, and asked to give further thought to an area for improvement.
2. Cafeteria Food and Bus Eligibility: Member Sakamoto, a Castle alumnus, asked about current cafeteria food quality and cost. Livingston described mixed quality (roughly half good, half not). Rene Omori reported lunches priced around $2–$3 for students and about $7 for adults, and noted the legislature is working toward providing free lunches for more students. On school transportation, Omori explained that general-education high school students do not have yellow school bus service (only special education students do); the city’s “Holo Card” express-bus program is available but requires attending one’s home school and living more than 1.5 miles away, which excludes many nearby students.

HPD – Continued – [0:14:13]: Captain Campbell apologized for arriving late, explaining the Chief was in a separate meeting with district personnel. He reported June 2026 statistics: four motor vehicle thefts (up from one in May); one burglary (down from two); nine thefts (down from 13); four unauthorized entries into motor vehicles (UEMV, unchanged); and zero robberies (down from one).

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:15:52]
1. Fatalities & Critical Statistics: Member Burbage asked if HPD has seen improvements since the release of the fatalities and criticals report. Captain Campbell responded that he has noticed an improvement but did not have the exact figure on hand to share and offered to follow up. He said traffic fatalities and critical injuries in the district are down to single digits compared to double digits during the same period last year, crediting proactive enforcement on distracted driving, speeding, pedestrian safety, and cell phone use.
2. District Commendation and Invitation: Member Sakamoto praised HPD’s coverage of District 4’s roughly 136 square miles and said the Chief of Police had accepted an invitation to visit a future Board meeting.
3. Out-of-State and Expired Vehicle Registrations: Member Lam asked whether an apparent seasonal increase in out-of-state plates and expired registrations reflects a real trend, noting many appear to belong to incoming military personnel who have a grace period to re-register. Campbell agreed it is likely seasonal and offered to provide enforcement numbers after checking with his chain of command.
4. Automated Enforcement Suggestion: Member Carstensen suggested exploring automated photo enforcement for expired registration and safety inspection stickers as a potential revenue source for the City. The officer said he was not certain whether that approach had been pursued but would raise it as an idea, noting HPD in the district already issues citations for expired registration and safety violations.

WCC – Continued – [0:21:03]: Chancelor Ardis Echenberg reported that the college’s campus location Hale ʻAo is being renovated faster than expected, with completion projected in under a year. Registration is open, and new freshman “career pathway” cohorts were highlighted: helping professions/psychology/mental health/social sciences, health pre-professional (currently full, with another cohort opening), Hawaiʻian studies, and a new skilled-trades exploratory pathway. The Hoʻolei Scholarship covers first-year tuition not met by financial aid for local high school graduates, and WCC is now extending a second year of tuition support to last year’s inaugural cohort. She shared that roughly 52% of incoming freshmen are first-generation college students, about 50% are Native Hawaiʻian, and about 43% are Pell-eligible, with Native Hawaiʻian and Pell-eligible students in the program graduating at higher rates than the overall student body.

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:25:15]
1. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Outreach Opportunities: Member Sakamoto asked about upcoming events where the CERT could set up an outreach table. Echenberg announced WCC’s Paniolo Barbecue on Saturday, September 19, 2026 a free community festival with music, hula, and family activities, and said outreach (non-fundraising) tables are welcome; she asked to be provided contact information afterward.
2. Follow-Up With Scholarship Recipients: In response to a follow-up question from Diane Ako, the representative confirmed the college had reached out to second-year scholarship-eligible students by email, text, postcard, and peer-mentor phone calls to ensure they return to complete their degrees.

IV. ELECTION OF OFFICERS TO SERVE FROM JULY 1, 2026 – JUNE 30, 2027 – [0:27:20]
Chair – [0:27:46]: Pro Tem Chair Radke welcomed nominations for the Chair position. Member Sakamoto MOVED to nominate Mo Radke for Chair, Member Fleitell SECONDED. There were no other nominations. Pro Tem Chair Radke conducted a roll call vote, the motion was ADOPTED and Mo Radke was re-elected Chair; 10-0-0 (Aye: Sakamoto, Quitevis, Fleitell, Hewett, Burbage, Carstensen, Bryant, Toma, Lam, and Radke; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:28:34]

Vice Chair – [0:28:37]: Chair Radke welcomed nominations for the Vice Chair position. Member Sakamoto MOVED to nominate Adriel Lam for Vice Chair, Member Fleitell SECONDED. There were no other nominations. Chair Radke conducted a roll call vote, the motion was ADOPTED and Adriel Lam was elected Vice Chair; 10-0-0 (Aye: Sakamoto, Quitevis, Fleitell, Hewett, Burbage, Carstensen, Bryant, Toma, Lam, and Radke; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:29:26]

Secretary – [0:29:27]: Chair Radke welcomed nominations for the Secretary position. Member Sakamoto MOVED to nominate himself for Secretary, Member Carstensen SECONDED. There were no other nominations. Chair Radke conducted a roll call vote, the motion was ADOPTED and Donald Sakamoto was elected Secretary; 10-0-0 (Aye: Sakamoto, Quitevis, Fleitell, Hewett, Burbage, Carstensen, Bryant, Toma, Lam, and Radke; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:30:00]

Treasurer – [0:30:23]: Chair Radke welcomed nominations for the Treasurer position. Member Burbage MOVED to nominate Dale Carstensen for Treasurer, Member Fleitell SECONDED. There were no other nominations. Chair Radke conducted a roll call vote, the motion was ADOPTED and Dale Carstensen was elected Treasurer; 10-0-0 (Aye: Sakamoto, Quitevis, Fleitell, Hewett, Burbage, Carstensen, Bryant, Toma, Lam, and Radke; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:31:15]

Outreach/Advertisement for NB30 – [0:31:32]: Member Carstensen reported that he was able to work with Mid Week and there will be a monthly notification in the Windward Highlights Voice section announcing when and where the monthly Neighborhood Board Meetings will be held.

V. BOARD BRIEFS – [0:31:55]
Honolulu Century Ride Announcement – [0:32:04]: Chris Salas announced the 43rd Honolulu Century Ride on Sunday, September 27, 2026, expecting approximately 1,200 cyclists riding distances from 13 to 100 miles. Kahekili Highway will be coned from three lanes to two to provide wider shoulders, expected to return to normal by about 1:00 p.m.; the route now uses Kahekili Highway rather than Kamehameha Highway previously used, at the request of the Department of Transportation Services (DTS).
• Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18VQPS7rXOrFhEnD-4O_Cy0cQznDOwM-9/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:33:04]
1. Traffic Control Staffing: Member Sakamoto asked how traffic and rider safety would be managed. Salas said approximately 55 officers are requested for the event, mostly stationed in town with some posted throughout Kāneʻohe and the Windward side.

VI. RESIDENTS/COMMUNITY CONCERNS – [0:33:44]
Chronic Flooding and Neighborhood Safety Concerns – [0:34:02]: Mike Renda, a longtime Kāneʻohe resident, said his home has flooded repeatedly since a nearby construction project roughly eight years ago and that he has raised the issue with the Mayor’s and Councilmember Kiaʻāina’s offices without resolution. He urged that any new construction in Kāneʻohe be required to include a proper drainage plan given the area’s heavy rainfall. He also raised public-safety concerns, referencing the killing of Mike Chew and expressing concern about potentially unstable individuals being released into the community, and described mixed feelings about speed bumps (helpful for slowing traffic, but costly to his vehicle) and ongoing high-speed motorcycle and “crotch rocket” traffic near his home.
Questions, Comments, & Concerns – [0:36:52]
1. Clarifying the Flooding Complaint History: Chair Radke asked whether the flooding stemmed from a city or private construction project and how long the issue had persisted; Mr. Renda said he had been threatened by the contractor when he complained and that inspectors had been dismissive, and confirmed this was the first time he had raised it formally at a Kāneʻohe Neighborhood Board meeting, though he has raised it at other venues.
Illegal Commercial Boat Activity in Kāneʻohe Bay – [0:40:07]: Aunty Rocky Kaluhiwa reported that a Memorial Day event involved boats operating as a floating strip club in Kāneʻohe Bay and raised broader concerns about the volume of unpermitted commercial boat tour operators using the sandbar and marina area, noting that children are frequently present and exposed to this activity.
Dangerous Blind Curve on Kamehameha Highway – [0:45:42]: Resident Karen Fetzer who lives approximately one mile north of Heʻeia Kea Pier described a sharp, hazardous curve on Kamehameha Highway where northbound vehicles frequently travel around 40 mph with limited visibility, making it unsafe for residents to cross the street. Chair Radke explained anything North of Heʻeia Kea Pier is under the Kahaluʻu Neighborhood Board’s district, thanked the resident for bringing her concern to the Board and noted it would be documented in the meeting record for possible referral.
Kāneʻohe Bay Watch Monitoring – [0:47:14]: Chair Radke asked Rocky Kaluhiwa whether the operators of these boats are known. Kaluhiwa explained that a volunteer watch program (Makai Watch) monitors illegal activity on the Bay; while only a small number of legal commercial operators are supposed to be permitted, close to 100 are believed to be operating, and the matter is expected to come up again at the Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Kāneʻohe Bay Regional Council meeting.
Long-Standing Concern – [0:48:24]: Marie Samudio (KKCERT) said she has heard similar concerns raised about the Bay for 15–20 years without resolution from any responsible agency and voiced support for continued attention to the issue. Samudio asked to add related remarks to the Emergency Preparedness Committee report later in the meeting.
VII. ELECTED OFFICIALS – [0:49:08]
U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda – [0:49:13]: No representative present.

Governor Green’s Representative – [0:49:25]: Diane Ako reported: Governor Green’s monthly “A New Path Forward” newsletter is available at governor.Hawaii.gov/newsletter; the Department of Human Services’ Summer EBT (“SUN Bucks”) program for 2026 is open, providing $120 per eligible school-age child for summer grocery purchases (eligibility must be established annually; information at sunbucks.dhs.Hawaii.gov or 1-888-975-4667); the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is updating its Nā Ala Hele trail and access program plan for the first time since 1991, with public comment open through Friday, July 31, 2026 at dlnr.Hawaii.gov/recreation/nah; the State Procurement Office’s (SPO) small-business initiative helps small, veteran-owned, and Native Hawaiʻian-owned businesses register for state contracting opportunities (contact SPO at spo.Hawaii.gov or 808-586-0554); and a state job recruitment fair for the Departments of Human Services and Corrections will be held at WCC Hale ʻAkoakoa on Friday, August 7, 2026.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bWMh2zbur4bH4aHJjhqToHadNwLFsOv2/view?usp=drive_link

Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [0:53:49]: Andy Kawano, Director of the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services (BFS), reminded residents that real property tax exemption/credit applications are due by Wednesday, September 30, 2026 for households with combined gross and non-taxable income at or below $80,000; he noted Council members have discussed raising that threshold and that he has recommended the Board’s permitted interaction group review all proposed exemptions and credits together. On follow-up items from prior meetings: the administration confirmed it will not reestablish a Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities during this administration, citing existing committees; a new storage facility under construction on Kamehameha Highway was confirmed to hold valid City building permits and is a permitted use in its B-2 zoning district; the Department of Facilities Maintenance (DFM) found the Keneke Street bridge to be structurally secure, with the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) asked to make further recommendations; and no update was yet available on street-light outages related to overgrown trees on Kiʻonaʻole Road.
Councilmember Esther Kiaʻāina – [0:58:00]: Councilmember Kiaʻāina’s representative Irene Limos reported in response to Member Lam’s question from last month, the acting City Clerk clarified that the roughly 19,000 ballots referenced represent only the first verification step, after which custody transfers to the State Office of Elections for counting; the Council’s Committee on Zoning, chaired by Councilmember Kiaʻāina, passed Resolutions 26-159 and 26-160 urging the State Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) and the State Legislature, respectively, to prohibit commercial aquarium collection of marine life in Hawaiʻi waters, both expected to be heard at the Wednesday August 12, 2026 full Council meeting; a Windward Wildfire Town Hall is planned for Wednesday, August 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Kailua Intermediate School, with panelists from HFD, the City Department of Emergency Management (DEM), the State Fire Marshal, HPD, and Hawaiʻian Electric (HECO); and a land conservation workshop is planned for Monday, August 17, 2026 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at WCC Hale ʻAkoakoa, involving the City’s Clean Water and Natural Lands program, the State Land Legacy Program, DLNR, Trust for Public Land, and OHA.
Congressional, Governor, Mayor and City & County Questions – [1:01:32]
1. Property Tax Permitted Interaction Group Status: Member Burbage asked whether a permitted interaction group on property tax exemptions had been established. Kawano said the Budget Committee chair recently agreed to form one and that initial meetings are typically closed, with public briefings and a final public report to follow.
2. Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) and DEM Budget Figures: Member Carstensen asked for the City’s Fiscal Year 2026–2027 TAT estimate and the final DEM budget figure; Kawano estimated the TAT total at approximately $105 million (based on the City’s 3% share) and said he would need to look up the DEM figure separately.
3. Ballot Drop Box Security: Member Carstensen raised concern about an unsecured, unlit ballot drop box near the school gymnasium and asked how such locations are selected. Councilmember Kiaʻāina’s representative Irene Limos said she did not have an answer on hand and would follow up with the City Clerk’s Office; Chair Radke asked that the response be emailed directly so it could be shared with the Board and posted to its blog even if it arrives before the next meeting.
4. Storage Facility Traffic Blocking: Member Fleitell followed up on the new storage facility, asking whether its valid permits extend to blocking travel lanes on Kamehameha Highway with equipment during work hours, noting HPD officers on scene were not directing traffic. Kawano said he would raise the issue, noting the Board had not previously been briefed on the project. Chair Radke echoed his frustration with the traffic issues the project is causing along with his frustration that the project was never presented to the Neighborhood Board.
5. Ballot Processing: Vice Chair Lam thanked Councilmember Kiaʻāina’s office for the follow up regarding ballot processing. He added that he would like to know why final results are not available until three days after the election, when the the City had been consistently disclosing the number of ballots counted on a daily basis.
6. Independence Day Events and UH Civics Grant: Vice Chair Lam thanked the Mayor’s office for the 4th of July fireworks and the public reading of the Declaration of Independence, and asked the Governor’s representative to find out how a $1.6 million U.S. Department of Education grant to the University of Hawaiʻi for civic education is being used, offering to connect his own K-12 civics education classes with the program.
7. State Hospital Overcrowding and EV Registration Fees: Member Sakamoto asked the Governor’s representative to look into relieving overcrowding and staff-safety issues at the State Hospital, and separately asked her to relay concerns about high registration surcharges for electric vehicles, urging a more affordable structure for owners transitioning away from gasoline vehicles.
8. Disability Committee, Storage Facility ADA Access, and Housing Bills: Member Sakamoto thanked Kawano for the update on the Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities but expressed disappointment it will not be reestablished until a future administration, and asked Irene Limos to have Councilmember Kiaʻāina’s office elaborate on Bills 18 and 47 regarding removal of elevator requirements in walk-up apartment buildings, which he said disproportionately affects elderly and disabled residents. Limos said she could not speak to the bill details but would relay the question to the Councilmember for a response.
9. Aquarium Fishing Resolutions Appreciation: Member Bryant, speaking for the Board, thanked Councilmember Kiaʻāina and her co-introducers for advancing the aquarium-collection resolutions and for publicly acknowledging the Board’s and community’s advocacy on the issue.
10. Storage Facility Construction Damage Procedure: Marie Samudio (KKCERT) asked what process exists for neighboring property owners who experience damage from the storage facility’s construction activity. Kawano advised affected neighbors to contact the contractor directly, as notifying adjoining property owners is part of the standard permitting process, and to file a complaint through the Department of Planning and Permitting’s (DPP) website if needed.

Senator Jarrett Keohokalole – [1:17:34]: No representative present.

Senator Brenton Awa – [1:17:43]: Ethan Yamamoto, representing Senator Awa, reported that the Senator recently participated in a joint Senate-House Judiciary briefing with the Chief Election Officer regarding long wait times (some voters waiting more than six hours) at in-person voting centers, and emphasized the need for additional in-person voting sites given concerns about potential mail-ballot delivery delays. He also noted the Senator’s office continues to work with the DPP on constituent concerns about illegal vacation rentals in the district.
Representative Lisa Kitagawa – [1:18:57]: Representative Kitagawa reported that she and Representative Matayoshi completed their sixth annual Castle Complex school-supply drive, providing over 500 students with supplies this year (more than 3,000 students over six years), through donation drives at Windward Mall and volunteer sorting at the Windward District Office. She reminded residents that ballots will be mailed within the next week or so, and that Kāneʻohe is one of two Windward in-person voting centers (the other in Waimānalo), with in-person voting available at Kāneʻohe District Park from August 3–7, 2026 (Monday – Friday) 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. She added that, to her knowledge, collected ballots are removed from drop boxes daily and do not sit overnight.

Representative Scot Matayoshi – [1:21:14]: Representative Matayoshi reported on the district’s recent e-waste recycling drive (held on Saturday, June 20, 2026), which collected roughly two truckloads — by his estimate about four times the usual volume — of televisions, computers, and other electronics. He summarized several bills he worked on that were recently signed into law: a ban on disposable vapes; a ban on the sale of e-cigarette products not on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorized list, with new state enforcement authority; an e-bike regulatory framework including age restrictions and helmet requirements for higher-power e-bikes; and continued funding for free/reduced school meals. On issues raised earlier in the meeting, he noted that as an Electric Vehicle (EV) owner himself, higher EV registration fees are intended to offset lost gas-tax revenue used for road maintenance, which he considers a reasonably fair trade-off; on the State Hospital, he said he has pushed for years for expanded capacity (noting ongoing, non-public remediation efforts at the newer building and roughly $5–7 million allocated last year for safety fixes such as anti-ligature hardware), and that additional capacity is still needed for civil (non-forensic) patients who currently have nowhere else to go.

Representative Mike Lee – [1:27:02]: No representative present.

State Officials Questions – [1:27:15]:
1. Thanks for Pre-Disaster Planning Response: Member Fleitell thanked Representative Kitagawa for being the only elected official so far to respond to the Emergency Preparedness Committee regarding the Board’s May 2026 resolution on pre-disaster planning and mitigation.
2. Electronic/Accessible Ballot Options: Member Sakamoto, chair of the State Elections Accessibility Advisory Committee since 2022, noted that in addition to mail and in-person voting, an electronic ballot option exists for voters with disabilities, allowing them to vote securely online rather than by mail or in person.
3. State Hospital Employee Safety and Kahekili Road Construction: Member Sakamoto referenced a friend working at the State Hospital who has experienced patient abuse due to overcrowding, and asked Representative Matayoshi to continue pushing for a resolution; he also asked for continued attention to ongoing road construction and coordination with the Department of Transportation on a Kiʻonaʻole.
4. Ballot Drop Box Placement: Vice Chair Lam followed up on the earlier drop-box discussion, suggesting the box at Kāneʻohe District Park be relocated to a well-lit area near the building (such as an unused turnaround) rather than its current dark location, which also occupies three parking spaces during busy weekend sports events.
5. Chair’s Media Appearance: Chair Radke noted he had appeared that morning on a KHON2 podcast “Unscripted” segment for neighborhood board chairs, discussing emergency preparedness, roads, permitting, and community input needs regarding conservation land recently acquired near Maunawili/Kawainui Stream watershed areas that feed into Kāneʻohe area wetlands, and floated the possibility of forming a permitted interaction group on that topic.
VIII. BOARD BUSINESS – [1:32:32]
Meeting Recess – [1:32:37]: Chair Radke asked whether the Board wished to conduct a short meeting and then call for a recess in December 2026 for its annual community potluck. The motion was MOVED by Vice Chair Lam and Member Fleitell SECONDED. There was no discussion. Chair Radke conducted a voice vote and the motion was ADOPTED; 10-0-0 (Aye: Sakamoto, Quitevis, Fleitell, Hewett, Burbage, Carstensen, Bryant, Toma, Lam, and Radke; Nay: None; Abstain: None.) – [1:32:57]

Approval of June 2026 Meeting Minutes – [1:34:25]: Member Sakamoto MOVED and Member Carstensen SECONDED to approve the June 2026 meeting minutes as AMENDED – [1:39:10]. The motion was ADOPTED; 10-0-0. (Aye: Sakamoto, Quitevis, Fleitell, Hewett, Burbage, Carstensen, Bryant, Toma, Lam, and Radke; Nay: None. Abstain: None.) – [1:34:57].

Board Vacancies and At-Large Assignements – [1:35:00]: The Board discussed converting subdistrict seats that remain vacant for more than two meeting cycles into at-large seats open to any interested resident. Consensus was reached that an at-large member seated this way would be able to continue serving through the following year’s officer-election cycle, at which point a resident from the originally vacant subdistrict could come forward to reclaim the seat; converting a seat to at-large does not increase the Board’s total membership beyond 17. Chair Radke said he would formalize this understanding in a letter to the Neighborhood Commission Office and would revise the next agenda to list vacant subdistricts with “(at-large)” noted in parentheses to invite broader interest. Marie Samudio (KKCERT) asked how the Board or Commission works to recruit interested residents; Chair Radke and other members said community outreach (attending community events, word of mouth, and media opportunities such as a potential Midweek newspaper interview on the topic) is primarily the Board’s own responsibility rather than the Commission’s.
Clarification of District Boundaries and Name Titles – [1:42:29]: Chair Radke said he located updated subdistrict boundary maps and would circulate them to the Board to confirm that place names used in practice match the official subdistrict names and boundaries shown on the maps.

Candidate Forum – [1:43:06]: The Board discussed hosting a candidate forum ahead of the November 2026 general election, likely in September 2026 as a standalone evening event (not combined with a regular meeting), on a weekday evening around 6:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Discussion covered prior format (submitted questions drawn randomly from a bowl for each candidate), securing a venue through WCC and the Neighborhood Commission Office, budget for the venue, and broadcast options; Vice Chair Lam agreed to check whether a Facebook Live recording of the event could be submitted to ʻOlelo for later broadcast (prior forums were streamed on Facebook Live only). Marie Samudio asked whether the forum could be coordinated with neighboring Kailua/Kahaluʻu boards and whether federal-level candidates would be included; the Board did not reach a final decision on scope, noting the format and invitee list depend first on confirming which candidates are running in the district.
Board Committees and Chairpersons – [1:51:50]: Current committee members confirmed their continued service on Community Engagement, Emergency Preparedness, Transportation, Military Affairs, HPD Liaison, Planning, and Homeless/Kauhale committees. For previously vacant committees: Vice Chair Lam volunteered to chair the Haiku Stairs committee, requesting it be renamed “Haiku Valley and Stairs” to reflect the broader scope of issues in the valley, including the recently acquired conservation land; Member Sakamoto asked to join that committee. Member Bryant volunteered to serve on the Environmental Committee and asked that the Board reinstate a Kāneʻohe Bay Regional Council committee, noting the Board holds a designated council seat; Chair Radke confirmed that the Kāneʻohe Bay Regional Council committee was never disassembled, but it had mistakenly fallen off of the agenda. Chair Radke noted that he will add the committee back to the agenda, and Bryant confirmed she will continue as the Board’s representative to the Council.

Board Member Burbage Committee Report – [1:55:25]: Chair Radke corrected the agenda item label, noting the intended report was Member Burbage’s account of a MACRO (Hawaiʻi Military and Community Relations Office) “Community Conversations” small-group session she hosted at her home. Member Burbage reported that MACRO representative Randi Jeung led the discussion; takeaways included a greater shared understanding of the military’s role in national security, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response; a view that public awareness of the military’s community contributions could be improved; a call for tangible community benefits (such as infrastructure investment and greater use of local workforce, referencing lessons from the Red Hill response) to accompany continued military training activities; and continued emphasis on environmental stewardship and accountability for land conditions when military use of an area concludes. She noted MACRO’s community-conversation effort will continue beyond its originally expected end date.

Member Hewett left the meeting at 8:16 p.m. – 9 members present.

Comment Letter to DLNR Regarding Aquarium Fishing – [1:59:57]: Chair Radke proposed sending a cover letter to the Department of Land and Natural Resources reiterating the Board’s existing resolution opposing commercial aquarium collection, without the need to resubmit a new resolution, drafted by Elena Bryant. The motion MOVED by Member Sakamoto and SECONDED by Member Fleitell. There was no further discussion. Chair Radke conducted a voice vote and the motion was ADOPTED; 9-0-0 (Aye: Sakamoto, Quitevis, Fleitell, Burbage, Carstensen, Bryant, Toma, Lam, and Radke; Nay: None; Abstain: None.) – [2:01:54]

Kaneohe Bay Coral – [2:02:06]: Member Burbage announced that after a visit to Kaneohe Bay, the coral is growing beautifully.

IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS – [2:02:21]
Emergency Preparedness Committee – [2:02:29]: Member Fleitell noted recent Civil Beat reporting that the City had spent significant funds (including one study costing $450,000) on flood-prone-area engineering studies without follow-through action, which he said illustrates exactly the gap the Board’s May 2026 pre-disaster planning resolution was meant to address; he has written to the Board’s legislative delegation urging that recommended flood-mitigation work actually be funded and completed. Member Fleitell and Member Carstensen also attended a 10-hour Federal Emegency Management Agency (FEMA) “Community Planning for Disaster Recovery” course, describing it as a valuable networking opportunity with state emergency-management staff and County representatives from Hawaiʻi and Kauaʻi, but noted no one from Honolulu’s own Department of Emergency Management (DEM) attended. Member Fleitell reported that DEM recently (Friday, July 10, 2026) submitted its long-overdue after-action report to the City Council on the July 2025 tsunami warning event; after reviewing the 18-page report, he and Chair Radke found it inadequate and are drafting a letter to DEM Director Dr. Collins, which will require a future Board vote since it was not on this month’s agenda. Member Fleitell also noted a Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial he wrote on island-wide emergency preparedness.

Questions, Comments, and Concerns – [2:08:32]
1. Upcoming CERT and Preparedness Events: Marie Samudio (KKCERT), asking to add to the committee report, announced an island-wide Community Emergency Response Network meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 involving Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) and DEM (specifically Jeff Spencer) to coordinate community training, teen/young-adult program development, and programs for kūpuna and disabled residents; a Kūpuna preparedness pilot program on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at the Koʻolau area library, hosted by the City’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program; and KKCERT’s planned participation in WCC’s Paniolo event in August 2026.

Transportation Committee – [2:11:03]: Member Sakamoto had a report prepared but, due to time, deferred it to the August 2026 meeting.

X. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [2:11:12]
Next Regular Board Meeting: Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE – HALE ʻAKOAKOA 101-105, or via the virtual login credentials listed on the agenda.
XI. ADJOURNMENT – [2:11:20]
The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m.

Submitted by: Chelsea Smith, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Rachel Cristobal, Neighborhood Assistant, 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.