KAILUA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 31

PLANNING, ZONING, AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
7:00 to 9:00 pm
In-person at the Kalama Beach Park’s Boettcher Estate Meeting Room

Chair: Donna Wong. Members: Jennifer Barra, Kelli Ann Kobayashi, Levani Lipton, Kalama Souza, Steve Trecker, and Gary Weller.

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes
3. Announcements
4. Resident and Community Concerns
5. Kihapai Hale 734-735 Kihapai Place city owned affordable housing project https://www.hawaiicdc.com/projects/kihapai-hale-kailua-oahu
a. Does the city need to develop a tsunami evacuation plan?
6. 330 Kuulei Rd. (Kuulei LLC) apartments – 60-foot building; in Ko’olaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan 40-foot commercial zoning height limit. Being constructed.
7. Kalaheo Hillside
8. Kawainui-Hamakua Master Plan Project
9. Marine Corps Base Hawaii
10. Dog park at Hamakua
a. DLNR is conducting an Environmental Site Assessment of the property
11. Ka’iwa Ridge (“Lanikai Pillbox”) Trail
12. Adventist Health Castle
13. Kailua Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant and Ocean Outfall
14. Kailua public schools land transferred from City and County to State DOE
15. New landfill location
a. At Mayor Blangiardi’s Windward Town Hall 5/8/25 meeting the Mayor said that the next landfill will not be at either of the 2 quarry sites
16. Manuiwa o ka Malanai proposed Fisheries Management Plan
17. Iwi kupuna Kailua
18. Kailua municipal parking lot changes
a. Archaeological study began March 2026
b. Will excavate 15 test sites
c. Eight parking stalls will be closed at a time
19. Building permit application in Kaopa silt basin
20. Charter amendment # 148
a. Amending the Charter to add historic preservation as an allowable use of monies in the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund and rename the fund Land, Natural Resources, and Historic Preservation Fund to better reflect the purpose of the fund.
21. Kinai`Eha programs at the Kawailoa Youth and Family Wellness Center Campus
22. Blackstone
23. Bill 17 (2026) – Relating to Affordable Rental Housing
https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=26972
a. Changes the maximum building height from 60 feet to the lesser of the maximum height for the underlying zoning district or special district, or 60 feet.
24. Bill 18, CD1 (2026) – Relating to Affordable Housing
https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=27355
a. Status: Passed 1st Reading, 3/3/26 hearing was held by the HPP Committee, was Amended by a CD1, but not approved out of Committee. Bill 18, CD1 was postponed to a date and time to be determined by the Committee Chair.
b. Summary: Amends the maximum building height to 60 feet or the maximum height for the underlying zoning district or special district, whichever is greater.
c. 3/3/26 Housing, Homelessness & Parks postponed to a date and time to be determined by the Committee Chair
25. Bill 7 Ordinance 19-8 (ROH Chapter 32)
https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/honolulu/latest/honolulu/0-0-0-37103
The original intent of Bill 7 (2019) was two-fold. First, to increase the supply of affordable housing rental housing in low-rise multifamily dwellings in apartment, apartment mixed-use, and business mixed-use zoning districts, and reduce the proliferation of monster homes in the residential zoning districts. Second, to make changes to the Building Code by creating new standards for special mid-rise residential construction to allow for the development of smaller parcels in high-density districts
a. Bill 7 Kailua housing projects
(1) 330 Kuulei Road
(a) Target population: family & homeless
(b) 5 stories, 38 units. Length of Affordability: 61 years
(c) Area Median Gross Income (AMGI) 30% to 100%
(d) Rents range from $642 (1 bedroom) to $2,237 (2 bedroom)
(e) Completion December 2025
(f) Commercial area 1,992 sq ft
(g) No on-site parking. Parking available in adjacent municipal lot, commercial lots, and street parking.
(2) 528 Wailepo Street
(a) Not for sale 7,248 sq ft lot. Estimated value $1,841,400
(3) 58 Kihapai Street
(a) Zoned A-2
(4) 614 Wailepo Street
(a) Multifamily, 38 units, new construction. Affordable for 61 years
(b) 4 story elevator serviced
(c) Available from 30% Area Gross Median Income (AGM) to 60% AGM
(d) Property owner AHE Group – Makani Maeva
26. Chick-fil-A proposed corner Hahani and Hamakua (4 lots)
27. Kailua Library $5 million in state budget for plans, design and construction for facilities and other related improvements
28. Sunrise Shack 130 Kailua Road liquor application public hearing 8/20/26 Liquor Commission
29. 320 Po’opo’o Place DEA comments due 8/7/26
30. Kailua public schools land transferred to DOE with the purpose to “generate revenue from uses for public purposes, such as workforce housing.” ACT 155 (2013) Effective July 1, 2022
a. Transferred under SB 2613 CD1 2026:
Ka’elepulu Elementary School
Kailua Elementary School
Kailua High School
Kalaheo Elementary and High School (2 parcels)
Maunawili Elementary School
Olomana School (portion)
b. Transferred under ACT 210 – 2018:
Aikahi Elementary School
Enchanted Lake Elementary School (portion)
Kainalu Elementary School
Kailua Intermediate School (portion)
Kailua Elementary School (portion
Keolu Elementary School (portion)
Lanikai Elementary School
Maunawili Elementary School (portion)
31. New Business
32. Adjournment

Planning, Zoning & Environment (PZ&E) Committee
July 2026 Meeting Report
Chair, Donna Wong

1. A committee meeting was held in-person on July 21, 2026, chaired by Donna Wong, and attended by committee members Jennifer Barra, Levani Lipton, Steve Trecker, and Gary Weller, and KNB member Bill Hicks.

2. Comments on the Sunrise Shack Liquor Application and the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for 320 Po’opo’o Place are both due in August. A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved by 4-0-0 to add these as topics. Any committee recommendation(s) to the Kailua Neighborhood Board will be placed on the Board’s August 6, 2026 agenda with corresponding public notice prior to any Board action.

3. Sunrise Shack Liquor License Application. Members discussed the pending liquor application Category 2, which includes live entertainment or recorded music and dancing for Sunrise Shack, located in the community center by Island Snow. Category 2 standard operating hours are 6:00 am to 2:00 am. With houses adjacent to the restaurant and parking lot, committee members are concerned about noise from entertainment and music and there does not appear to be adequate space for the required 150-foot dance floor. §3-82-47.2. The committee supports the granting of a Class C liquor license that allows businesses to sell beer, wine, and spirits for on-premises consumption. Hours are 6:00 am to midnight. After much discussion about the differences between liquor licenses and which would be more appropriate for this location, Steve moved and Gary seconded the following motion, which passed unanimously. MOTION SUBMITTING COMMENTS ON THE SUNRISE SHACK LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION: The Kailua Neighborhood Board submits the following comments on the Sunrise Shack’s application for a Category 2 Liquor License. A Category 2 Liquor License can provide for operations between 6 am and midnight, live music, a dance floor, and liquor sales which seems incompatible with the Sunrise Shack that has very limited floor space, sells smoothies, and closes at 7 pm. The Kailua Neighborhood Board is concerned that the intended operations must be compatible with the existing small location surrounded by residences. A Class C liquor license might be more appropriate for the Sunrise Shack.

4. The committee reviewed the Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) for 320 Po’opo’o Place, which was triggered because improvements and modifications of a new driveway and roundabout would be within the Conservation Limited Subzone. The objective of the Limited Subzone HAR §13-5-12 is to limit uses where natural conditions suggest constraints on human activities: (1) Areas susceptible to flood or landslide, land undergoing major erosion damage, terrain with a general slope of 40% or more and (2) Owners must incorporate extensive engineering and mitigation measures to safely build on steep slopes or erosion-prone areas. After much discussion Levani moved, and Steve seconded the following motion, which passed unanimously. MOTION SUBMITTING COMMENTS ON THE 320 PO’OPO’O PLACE TMK (1) 4-3-002:001 NEW DRIVEWAY DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (DEA): The Kailua Neighborhood Board submits the following comments on the DEA for the construction of a new concrete driveway, turnaround area, and landscaping, portions of which would be located on residential property and portions on conservation property, at 320 Po’opo’o Place. The comments are in bold print:
(1) The DEA does not provide information on the slope percentage at the turnaround. This information is critical because if the slope is 40% or greater the area could be susceptible to flooding or landslides. The slope percentage and protective measures against flooding and landslides should be in the FEA and other state and county applications.
(2) The DEA states that the construction footprint will be away from the intermittent streambed but does not provide information on the distance of the stream from the construction sites or potential impacts to the stream from construction activities. This information should be in the FEA and identified impacts must be considered in future applications before the state and county.
(3) Existing concrete would be removed and disposed offsite with driveway alignment graded to generally follow existing terrain with an average cut of approx. 5 inches along a 20-foot wide by 80-foot-long section of the driveway extending upslope. In the FEA explain how often excess cut material will be hauled off site.
(4) Soil disturbance would be limited to max width of approx. 14 feet along the driveway alignment, no excess cut material would be stockpiled on site, temporary silt barriers would be installed during construction. In the FEA, identify all the measures that will be used during and after construction is completed to prevent stormwater runoff.
(5) Would use drought tolerant and hardy native vegetation at residential/conservation boundary. In the FEA identify the “tolerant and hardy native vegetation” to be used in landscaping.
(6) Applicants would submit a CDUA and SMA Minor Permit application to rectify the current non-compliant gravel/concrete driveway. Issuance of a CDUP and SMA Minor Permit “would result in a beneficial impact by becoming compliant with State and CCH regulations” “Therefore, it is not expected to have any short-term, long-term, direct, indirect, or cumulative impacts on land use, zoning and land classification. No additional mitigation measures are required”. Any state or county approved permit should contain strong and binding requirements to ensure that the applicant complies with state and county laws.
(7) Once vegetation is removed, exposed soils become susceptible to wind and water erosion, and uncontrolled water erosion can result in sedimentation of nearby drainage features. During construction, approximately 200 square feet of land would be temporarily disturbed for use as equipment and materials laydown area. Permanent ground disturbance associated with the proposed project would be limited to approximately 2,210 disturbances along the driveway alignment would be confined to a maximum width of approximately 14 feet. No excess cut material would be stockpiled onsite. The DEA does not identify the location of the 200 square foot laydown area in relation to the intermittent stream. In the FEA identify the location of the 200 square foot material laydown area in relation to the intermittent stream and identify the BMPs that will be used to prevent runoff from the laydown area into the stream.
(8) The proposed project design and construction activities would incorporate appropriate BMPs consistent with an approved Grading Plan and ESCP to minimize solid erosion and sediment transport. BMPs include but limited to, installation of silt barriers and coir logs prior to grading, stabilizing of exposed soils and maintenance of existing drainage patterns. The DEA does not state the length of time needed to remove the existing driveway material and construct the new driveway nor does it identify the months when construction activity will occur. This information should be in the FEA and CDUA and SMA applications to ensure construction does not occur during months that could impact pueo and Hoary Bats.
(9) Construction equipment could create a limited risk of wildfire ignition. Risk would be minimized by implementing standard construction BMPs – maintaining equipment in good working order, prohibiting open flames, properly storing fuels, promptly removing construction debris, maintaining a clean work area free of combustible materials. The FEA should explain why and how the BMPs listed in the DEA will be the most effective to limit the risk of fire.
(10) The proposed driveway would slope toward an existing gully and drainage culvert at the end of Poopoo Place. Stormwater runoff from non-permeable surfaces would be directed to adjacent vegetated areas designed to promote infiltration and reduce sheet flow. These two statements contradict each other. The DEA does not say where stormwater runoff is currently directed. The DEA does not identify the location, or the design of the vegetated areas designed to promote infiltration and reduce sheet flow or the methods that will be used to accomplish this. This information must be in the FEA and considered when reviewing CDUA and SMA applications and incorporated into any approved application.
(11) A storm drain is also located at the end of Poopoo Place, which receives stormwater via an intermittent streambed from the upland conservation lands. The intermittent streambed is located on the applicant’s conservation parcel and at its lower extend is within the road and utility easement. The DEA does not provide information on the “lower road” or “utility easement” i.e. ownership, maintenance responsibility, and impacts from construction of the driveway on the intermittent stream. The DEA does not identify the location of the “intermittent streambed” in relation to the existing and new driveway. The DEA does not provide a description of the “intermittent streambed” i.e. dimensions of stream bed, water flow, and flora and fauna. The DEA does not provide information on impacts from deconstruction and construction of the driveway on the “intermittent streambed”. This information should be in the FEA and considered when reviewing CDUA and SMA applications and incorporated into any approved applications.
(12) The concrete driveway component of the proposed project would overlay approximately 300 square feet (4.5 percent) of the 6,720 square-foot easement at its northernmost boundary and the end of Poopoo Place. The proposed project would likely be complimentary to any future use of the road and utility easement should it be converted into its allowable use. The DEA does not identify the owner(s) of or who is responsible for the maintenance of the undefined road and utility easement. The DEA does not explain what is mean by “converted into its allowable use.” This information should be in the FEA and considered when reviewing CDUA and SMA applications and incorporated into any approved application.
(13) The State listed Hawaiian Hoary Bat (Opeapea) could potentially be at or in the vicinity of the project and may roost in nearby trees. Hawaii’s Hoary Bat is listed as endangered. The following must be in the FEA and any approved state or county agreements to protect Hawaii’s vulnerable bat. Any required site clearing should be timed to avoid disturbance to bats during their birthing and pup rearing season (June 1 through September 15). During this period woody plants greater than 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall should not be disturbed, removed, or trimmed. Barbed wire should also be avoided for any construction because bats can become ensnared and killed by such fencing material during flight. Artificial lighting can adversely impact seabirds that may pass through the area at night by causing them to become disoriented. This disorientation can result in their collision with manmade structures or the grounding of birds. For nighttime work that might be required, DOFAW recommends that all lights used to be fully shielded to minimize the attraction of seabirds. Nighttime work that requires outdoor lighting should be avoided during the seabird fledging season, from September 15 through December 15. This is the period when young seabirds take their maiden voyage to the open sea. Permanent lighting also poses a risk of seabird attraction, and as such should be minimized or eliminated to protect seabird flyways and preserve the night sky.
(14) The State endangered Hawaiian Short-eared owl or pueo could potentially occur in the project vicinity. Pueo are most active during dawn and dusk. The DEA is silent on any protections for the pueo. The FEA should contain best wildlife protections such as before clearing any vegetation pre-construction surveys by a qualified biologist must be conducted. If pueo nests are found the applicant must notify DOFAW and establish a buffer to prevent clearing until nesting is completed. These requirements should also be in any other state or county approved permits.
(15) Hawaiian seabirds may traverse the project area at night during the breeding, nesting and fledging seasons (March 1 to December 15). To avoid fallout and disorientation from outdoor lighting should be in the FEA. Fully shield all outdoor lights so the bulb can only be seen from below bulb height and only use when necessary. Install automatic motion sensor switches and controls on all outdoor lights or turn off lights when human activity is not occurring in the lighted area. Avoid nighttime construction during the seabird fledging period, September 15 through December 15. These recommendations should be in the FEA and incorporated into the project.
(16) The DEA is silent on types of plants that will be used in landscaping. The FEA should contain the types of plants to be used in landscaping preferably native plant species that are acclimated to the climate for the climate are historically appropriate.
(17) The DEA is silent on movement of plant and soil materials between worksites which may contain pathogens, invasive pests, or invasive plants all of which can harm native species and ecosystems. Information on how on-site efforts will minimize the movement of plant or soil material between work sites should be in the FEA.
(18) The Project is within a Special Flood Hazard Area (high-risk area) where the owner of the project property and/or their representative is responsible to research the Flood Hazard Zone designation for the project. Flood zones subject to NFIP requirements are identified on FEMA’s Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). The DEA does not provide any information on flooding or identify the property flood zone. Since the construction site is on a steep hill and in the Conservation Limited Subzone information on impacts from flooding on applicants and surround homes and terrain must be in the FEA and any other state and county approved document.
(19) Other than mention of long-term landscaping that would act as a fire break between the residential area and the conservation parcel and factors that contribute to elevated wildfire risk the DEA is silent on fire protection. Due to the arid climate and risks of wildfires impacts on humans and native plants and animals the FEA must contain more information on fire protection efforts such as: Creation of a fire department access road that will extend within 50 feet of at least one exterior door that can be opened from the outside and identify available water source capable of supplying the required fire flow for fire protection.

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.