KAILUA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 31

PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND CIVIL DEFENSE (PSPHCD) COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
Thursday, July 10, 2025
7:00 pm to 7:45 pm
In-person at the Kailua District Park District Meeting Room

Chair: TBD. Members: Bill Hicks, David Laeha, and Levani Lipton; Kailua Alert & Prepared (BOD), Community Member Claudine Tomasa,

1. Call to order/Approval of minutes

2. Announcements/New Issues/Community Concerns
a. Kailua Alert & Prepared

3. Update/Report on Continuing Issues
a. Public Health & Safety
(1) Homeless in Kailua Subcommittee (Levani Lipton)
(2) Kailua Water Quality Subcommittee (Levani Lipton)
(3) Low Flying Commercial Tour Helicopter Flights Over Kailua
(4) January 1, 2022 Flash Flood in Kailua – Enchanted Lake and Kaelepulu Canal
(5) HPD Staffing Shortages and Public Safety Concerns
(6) Invasive Species/Little Fire Ants and Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB)
(7) MV-22 Ospreys flying over populated areas in Kailua
(8) Safety and Emergency Training for Kailua Neighborhood Board
b. Civil Defense
(1) Lack of Hurricane Shelters in Kailua
(2) Disaster Preparedness (Wildfires)
(3) Disaster Preparedness Subcommittee Community Point of Distribution Plan for Kailua
(a) Proposed Resolution supporting Community Point of Distribution Sites in Kailua
WHEREAS, scientific research has documented the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, with climate change identified as a significant contributing factor; and
WHEREAS, a destructive disaster on Oahu could result in prolonged isolation due to potential disruptions to supply chains and critical access points, including Honolulu Harbor and airports; and
WHEREAS, the Windward side of Oahu, encompassing communities such as Kailua, Kaneohe, and Waimanalo, is highly vulnerable to disasters that could lead to extended periods of isolation from emergency services and essential supplies (e.g., food, water) and loss of electricity; and
WHEREAS, to ensure residents have vital access to emergency provisions following a disaster, Community Points of Distribution (CPODs) for both post-disaster response and pre-disaster storage of extended shelf-life emergency food supplies should be strategically placed in secure, centralized locations throughout Kailua;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Kailua Neighborhood Board endorses the installation of Community Points of Distribution throughout Kailua as proposed by the PCPHCD/Disaster Preparedness Subcommittee on CPOD Planning.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Kailua Neighborhood Board respectfully requests the endorsement of CPOD sites in Kailua by our elected officials.

4. Adjournment

Public Safety, Public Health, and Civil Defense (PSPHCD) Committee
June 2025 Meeting Report

1. A committee meeting was held in-person on June 12, 2025, chaired by Bill Hicks and attended by committee members Levani Lipton, Claudine Tomasa, Kailua Alert & Prepared (KAP) Board of Director member – Clem Jung.

2. Announcements: Mr. Jung provided information about:
a. Emergency Preparedness Speaker Session & Presentation on Sunday June 22, 2025, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, at the Mid-Pacific Country Club. This KAP sponsored community event is free and open to the public.
b. An update on Kailua’s Community Point of Distribution Project was provided.

3. Update/Report on Continuing Issues
a. Public Health & Safety
(1) Homeless in Kailua Subcommittee (Levani Lipton) – quarterly meetings, next meeting August 2025. Plan to invite Rep. Lisa Marten to the August meeting.
(2) Kailua Water Quality Subcommittee (Levani Lipton)- see Chair Lipton’s report.
(3) Low Flying Commercial Tour Helicopter Flights Over Kailua – No update.
(4) January 1, 2022 Flash Flood in Kailua – Enchanted Lake and Kaelepulu Canal – No update.
(5) HPD Staffing Shortages and Public Safety Concern.- No update
(6) Invasive Species/Little Fire Ants and Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB)- No update
(7) MV-22 Ospreys flying over populated areas in Kailua- No update.
(8) Safety and Emergency Training for Kailua Neighborhood Board – Defer to the Neighborhood Commission Office.
b. Civil Defense
(1) Disaster Preparedness Subcommittee/Community Point of Distribution Plan for Kailua
The subcommittee is in the process of scheduling a meeting with agencies and the private sector to share information and request assistance.
(2) Lack of Hurricane Refuge Areas and Hurricane Evacuation Shelters in Kailua. June 12, 2025 Update from Senator Keohokalole’s office: To clarify, in the budget bill HB300 from this past legislative session, $3 million was proposed to be allocated for the retrofit of public buildings with hurricane measures throughout the state. We were told that the Kalaheo High School Wind Retrofit will be a priority project as part of this. Regarding June 24, that is the deadline for the governor to inform the legislature of his intent to veto (including line item veto) any bill that passed this session – he already published a list with HB300 included, so we can anticipate adjustments to the budget bill, but do not know what for at this time. The Governor has until July 19th to veto, let a bill become law without his signature, or sign a bill into law.
(3) Disaster Preparedness (Wildfires)- No update. Continue to monitor and assist.

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.