MĀNOA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 7

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2025 at 6:30 P.M.
via WEBEX Platform and
Noelani Elementary School Cafeteria
2655 Woodlawn Dr, Honolulu, HI 96822
This is an alternate meeting location open to the public for those without private internet capabilities.

Meeting Link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m0703b535a40c894de5b9cd9e2a50ae05
Meeting Number/ Access Code: 2483 095 1817
Password: NB07 (6207 from phones and video systems)
Join by Phone: 1-408-418-9388

Meeting Materials: Find a monthly archive of handouts and referenced materials relating to the Mānoa Neighborhood Board No. 7 at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NO7LXTCebl7VkAMZ8–ocGHcb14-omUL

Recordings of Board Meetings can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/@NeighborhoodCommissionOffice

Rules of Speaking: Address the chair, be recognized before proceeding, and confine remarks to the subject under discussion. Speakers are asked to keep their comments under one (1) minute. Please listen for the direction of the timekeeper and mute yourself if not recognized by the chair to speak.

Written Testimony: All written testimony must be received in the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours, 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, 530 South King Street, Room 406, Honolulu, HI 96813. Fax: (808) 768-3711. Email: nbtestimony@honolulu.gov

Note: 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 of 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 Dave Nagaji

II. FIRST RESPONDER MONTHLY REPORTS
a. Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): (1) summary of fire statistics relating to the neighborhood and (2) Safety Tip
b. Honolulu Police Department (HPD): (1) summary of crime statistics relating to the neighborhood and (2) Safety Tip

III. STATE MONTHLY REPORTS
a. Senator Carol Fukunaga
b. Representative Andrew Takuya Garrett
c. University of Hawaii at Mānoa Updates – Elmer Kaai
d. Governor Josh Green’s Representative – Laci Goshi
e. Congressman Ed Case’s Representative

IV. CITY MONTHLY REPORTS
a. Board of Water Supply (BWS) – Dominic Dias
b. Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Office
c. City Councilmember Scott Nishimoto

V. RETURNING BUSINESS
a. Mānoa Banyan Court & Aria Lane.
i. Updates and Discussion
ii. Resolution Asking the State and City to Consider the Cumulative Impacts of the Mānoa Banyan Court Project and the Aria Lane Project at Any Future Proceedings
b. Ala Wai Flood Mitigation

VI. BOARD BUSINESS
a. Filling of Vacancies. Sub District 4 (Three Vacancies) – Residents interested in filling a vacant board seat must bring current proof of residency to the board meeting or contact Neighborhood Assistant Anson Wu [anson.wu@honolulu.gov] to verify residency in advance.
b. Approval of the Wednesday, April 2, 2025 Meeting Minutes
c. Update on the Primary Urban Center Development Plan
d. Creation of a “Follow the Money or Issue Committee” and Appointment of a Chair and a Vice Chair for it
i. Member Watson would serve as Chair of the committee.
ii. The subject matter of the committee would include topics such as the occasion in the past when the State did not have money to buy a telephone pole for a warning siren near the cemetery in the back of the valley, which required action by MNB #7 members to get the telephone pole and siren installed. The subject matter of the committee would also include topics such as HECO’s current contract to power the City’s streetlights. Other similar topics may be considered by this committee as well.
e. Report: Proactive Solutions Committee – Member Moylan

VII. PRESENTATION
a. Proposed Bus Service Changes for Opening of the 2nd Phase of Skyline – Dave Simpson on behalf of Department of Transportation Services
i. Experts will be standing by on Webex to answer any technical questions.

VIII. COMMUNITY CONCERNS
a. Other Concerns Not Otherwise Listed

IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Neighborhood Board Elections for the 2025-2027 Term: Voting began on Friday, April 25, 2025, and it ends on Friday, May 16, 2025. The only competitive election for the Mānoa Neighborhood Board will be in Subdistrict 1, where there are 5 candidates running for 3 available seats.
b. Next Meeting: Next regular board meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. It will be held in person at Noelani Elementary School Cafeteria, as well as online via WebEx, starting at 6:30pm. Please note that, since July will be this year’s summer recess month, the June 2025 meeting will be the last meeting of the current board term.
c. Agenda Items for the Next Meeting:
i. The City’s Department of Parks & Recreation is considering ways to make local parks more dog-friendly. To further its outreach on this issue, the City is asking the various Neighborhood Boards (including our own) to discuss the matter with our communities. DPR says it “would appreciate hearing back from your Board by Friday, August 29, 2025.” Therefore, this subject will be put onto the June 2025 agenda and August 2025 agenda.
ii. Other items may be included on the June 2025 agenda, as space permits. However, the Chair currently intends to keep the June 2025 agenda light.
d. Olelo Re-Broadcast: Watch on second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 3:00 p.m.,or every third Tuesday at 9:00 p.m, or online: https://olelo.org/tv-schedule/ or https://www.honolulu.gov/cms-ncomenu/site-nco-sitearticles/1657-board-meeting-videoarchive.html.

X. ADJOURNMENT

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; Telephone (808) 768-3710 Fax (808) 768-3711; or call Neighborhood Assistant Anson Wu at (808) 768- 3706 or e-mail anson.wu@honolulu.gov. Agendas and minutes are also available on the internet at www.honolulu.gov/nco.

All written testimony must be received in the Neighborhood Commission Office 48 hours prior to the meeting. If within 48 hours, 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, Hawaiʻi 96817. Fax: (808) 768-3711. Email: nbtestimony@honolulu.gov.

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 at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.

NAME SUB DISTRICT CONTACT
Ellen Watson 1 pehi@hawaii.rr.com
Robert Zane (2nd Vice Chair) 1 zanero9141@gmail.com
Whitney Bosel (1st Vice Chair) 1 wboselmnb@gmail.com
Elton Fukumoto 2 etfukumoto@gmail.com
Dave Nagaji (Chair) 2 davenagaji@gmail.com
Clyde Lewman 2 Mico22@aol.com
Christopher R. Moylan 3 chris.moylan@honolulu.gov
Diane Chong 3 dchonghawaii@gmail.com
Joan Koff (Secretary) 3 joankoff@yahoo.com
Jason DeMarco 3 jddemarch@gmail.com
Philmund “Phil” Lee 3 philmund@gmail.com
Robert Fox 4 rfoxent@gmail.com
Patty Kawano (Treasurer) 4 lowermanoa@gmail.com
Joseph Mishreki 4 joseph.mishreki@gmail.com
VACANT 4
VACANT 4
VACANT 4

MAP: For a map of the Mānoa Neighborhood Board Sub District Boundaries go to: https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/nco/maps/07_Manoa.jpg.

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025 at 7:00 P.M.
NOELANI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA 2655 WOODLAWN DR, HONOLULU, HI 96822
AND VIA WEBEX

Video Recording of Meeting Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Gr21dx7I0

Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1NO7LXTCebl7VkAMZ8–ocGHcb14-omUL

I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:02]: Chair Dave Nagaji called the Mānoa Neighborhood Board No. 7 meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

Quorum WAS Not established with 7 members present. Note: This 17- member Board requires nine (9) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: Robert Zane, Dave Nagaji, Elton Fukumoto, Joan Koff, Clyde Lewman, Christopher Moylan, Robert Fox, Diane Chong (6:30 p.m.), Jason DeMarco (6:31 p.m.), Patti Kawano (6:31 p.m), Whitney Bosel (6:32 p.m.), Phil Lee (6:38 p.m.), and Joseph Mishreki (6:39 p.m.).

Board Members Absent: Ellen Watson.

Guests: Fire Captain K. Stephens (Honolulu Fire Department); Lieutenant Taro Nakamura (Honolulu Police Department); Senator Carol Fukunaga; Representative Andrew Garrett; Elmer Kaai (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa); Dominic Dias (Board of Water Supply); Deputy Director Gavin Thornton (Mayor Rick Blangiardi); Heath Williams (Councilmember Scott Nishimoto); Laci Goshi (Governor Josh Green); Ross Isokane (Empty Homes Coalition); Ross Isokane, Brenda, Lori, Linda Legrande, Janyce Mitchell, Thom Benedict, Dylan P. Armstrong; Laura Ruby; Beverly Smith; Teri Mitchell, Ellen, Adam, Stanton, Dave, Victor, Betty, Terri Yoshinaga, Paul M. Bonita, Howard Luke, Raymond Tabata, Glenn Otaguo, and Jolyn Okimoto (Resident); and Anson Wu (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name not included if not legible or stated for the record. There were 55 total participants.

Chong arrives to the meeting at (6:30 p.m.); 8 members present

[0:01:42]: Member Fukumoto asked for a moment of prayer for a fellow board member.

DeMarco arrives to the meeting at (6:31 p.m.); Quorum was established, 9 members present

Kawano arrives to the meeting at (6:31 p.m.); 10 members present

II. FIRST RESPONDER MONTHLY REPORTS – [0:02:29]

Bosel arrives to the meeting at (6:32 p.m.); 11 members present

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) – [0:02:29]: Fire Captain K. Stephens reported the March 2025 statistics and safety tips for the month of April 2025 regarding evacuation planning.
· March Statistics: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ulxNF40YFZ9AmwdMAj6DxLFRfCb1uOY2/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:04:19]

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) – [0:05:33]: Lieutenant Taro Nakamura reported the March 2025 statistics and a reminder of the City and County APP to receive emergency alerts.
· Crime statistics: https://www.crimemapping.com/map/agency/165#;
· For more information: https://www.honolulupd.org/

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:07:07]

Lee arrives to the meeting at (6:38 p.m.); 12 members present

Mishreki arrives to the meeting at (6:39 p.m.); 13 members present

III. STATE MONTHLY REPORTS – [0:10:25]
Senator Carol Fukunaga – [0:10:26]: Senator Carol Fukunaga provided the report and highlighted the following: Senator Fukunaga has been reaching out to schools and communities in response to federal fund cuts; information on Senate Bill (SB) 223 regarding fire protection; and SB 1146 relating to the Ala Wai canal flood control.

Representative Andrew Takuya Garrett – [0:08:56]: Representative Andrew Garrett provided the report and highlighted the following: updates on House Bill (HB) 548 regarding the acquisition of the Saint Francis School Campus for the University of Hawaii at Mānoa; Governor Green releasing $1.5 million to Mānoa Elementary School; and $1 million to Noelani Elementary School.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Updates – [0:16:18]: Elmer Kaai provided the report and highlighted the following: responses to questions asked in the previous meeting.
· Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YqnFM4ksA9AHJe3DmXiGeIf_5MNkFUjl/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:19:13]

Governor Josh Green’s Representative – [0:14:13]: Laci Goshi provided the report and highlighted the following: the state launched the Akamai Arrival pilot program; modernizing Hawaiʻi’s Agriculture Declaration Form; and the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture opened a free treatment program for little fire ants’ infestation on residential property.
· Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IekCkjmgxsGXbDcUGkw5Yj5T7QJcoSa5/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:25:34]

Congressman Ed Case’s Representative – [0:26:34]: No representative present.

IV. CITY MONTHLY REPORTS – [0:26:50]

Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) – [0:26:52]: Domonic Dias provided the report and highlighted the following: 1 main break for the month of March 2025; no construction projects; and the general water announcement regarding Detect-A-Leak Week & Events.
· Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aPMY6D4ohzssUaW5geoF0amHid4RvV34/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:28:25]

Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s Representative – [0:32:27]: Deputy Director Gavin Thornton provided the report and highlighted the following: responses to questions asked in the previous meeting; Mayor Blangiardi’s town hall meetings across Oahu at Kalani High School Cafeteria on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. for Mānoa; and the Department of Parks and Recreation begins its annual push to hire staff for the city’s Summer Fun program.
· Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10Rbb46rUgg9m0bpviQc-_rQHw1xz3Ssv/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:18:06]

Councilmember Scott Nishimoto – [0:35:47]: Heath Willams provided responses to questions asked in the previous meeting.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:37:49]

V. RETURNING BUSINESS – [0:44:13]

Decisions from the City Department of Planning & Permitting (DPP) regarding the Mānoa Banyan Court and Aria Lane at the Former Saint Francis School Location – [0:44:18]: Chair Nagaji provided information regarding DPP’s decision for the Mānoa Banyan Court and the Aria Lane Development and plans to write a resolution in a future meeting. In January, the Department of Planning and Permitting issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Manoa Banyan Court. In February, the Department of Planning and Permitting issued a decision that approved the Aria Lane project subject to certain conditions.

Aria Lane at the Former Saint Francis School Location – [0:45:08]: Resident Luke provided an update regarding the appeal of the conditional permit for Aria Lane.

Ala Wai Flood Mitigation – [0:49:19]: Member Fukumoto provided the updates regarding the increased cost of the Ala Wai Flood Mitigation project and concerns regarding potential flooding caused by the narrowing of Mānoa Stream alongside Mānoa Valley District Park.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:54:09]

VI. BOARD BUSINESS – [1:01:35]

Presentation: Empty Homes Tax – [1:01:41]: Ross Isokane, from the Empty Homes Coalition provided information regarding the Empty Homes Tax Bill 46 and asked the board to adopt the resolution to support the establishment of an empty homes tax in Honolulu and support the current draft of Bill 64 (2024).
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:05:17]

Resolution: “Resolution Standing in Solidarity with Neighborhood Board No.13 in Support of Establishing an Empty Homes Tax in Honolulu” – [1:20:58]: [1:21:33] Bosel MOVED and Lee SECONDED to discuss the Resolution Standing in Solidarity with Neighborhood Board No.13 in Support of Establishing an Empty Homes Tax in Honolulu. Discussion followed.

[1:27:52] – Lee MOVED and Lewman SECONDED to adopt the Resolution Standing in Solidarity with Neighborhood Board No.13 in Support of Establishing an Empty Homes Tax in Honolulu as written. Hearing no further discussion, the board conducted a roll call vote. The motion WAS NOT adopted; 3-10-0 (AYE: Bosel, Lewman, and Lee; NAY: Zane, Nagaji, Fukumoto, Koff, Chong, Moylan, Demarco, Kawano, Fox, and Mishreki; ABSTAIN: None) – [1:28:33].

Open Forum to Discuss Legislation and Make Suggestions or Requests to Area Lawmakers – [1:30:39]: Member DeMarco questions if the state has considered funding for the Power Demand to develop artificial intelligence (AI). Senator Fukunaga and Representative Garett provided a response. Resident Ella questions If there has been any controversy of AI specifically in surveillance. Representative Garett provided a response.

Selection of Recess Month for Summer of 2025 – [1:37:04]: [1:37:45] Moylan MOVED and Zane SECONDED for the Mānoa Neighborhood Board to recess on July 2025. Discussion followed. The board conducted a roll call vote; the motion WAS adopted; 9-4-0 (AYE: Zane, Bosel, Nagaji, Lewman, Lee, Koff, Moylan, Kawano, and Mishreki; NAY: Fukumoto, Chong, DeMarco, and Fox; ABSTAIN: None) – [1:40:08].

Filling of Vacancies: Sub District 4 (Three Vacancies) – [1:41:45]: No volunteers.

Approval of the Wednesday, March 5, 2025 Draft Meeting Minutes – [1:42:02]: [1:42:08] BOSEL MOVED and Zane SECONDED to adopt the Wednesday, March 5, 2025 meeting minutes with amendments. Hearing no objections, the motion WAS adopted; 13-0-0 (AYE: Zane, Bosel, Nagaji, Fukumoto, Lewman, Lee, Koff, Chong, Moylan, DeMarco, Kawano, Fox, and Mishreki; NAY: None; ABSTAIN: None) – [1:43:13].

Update on the Primary Urban Center Development Plan (PUCDP) – [1:43:34]: Heath Williams announced that the PUCDP cleared its finale hearing and will go back to the full council.

Update Regarding the Mānoa Valley District Park Pool – [1:44:48]: Chair Nagaji provided an update regarding the re-opening of the Mānoa Valley District Park Pool.

Creation of a “Follow the Money” or “Follow the Issue” Committee, as well as appointment of a chair and vice chair for this committee – [1:45:19]: Postponed to the next agenda.

Report: Proactive Solutions Committee – [1:45:26]: Member Moylan reported the issues that were discussed in the meeting and highlighted the following issues regarding traffic circles, street parking, the need for underground utilities, recycled water, the terrible quality of roads, and possibly putting sidewalks in areas where they’re needed.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [1:48:41]

VII. COMMUNITY CONCERNS – [1:49:50]

Miss Wall – [1:50:14]: Resident Tabata raised concerns that a chunk of wall in the Mānoa Stream on the Diamond Head side of Mānoa Valley District Park is broken or missing.

VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:52:03]

Neighborhood Board Elections for the 2025-2027 Term – [1:52:07]: Late February was the deadline for people to register as candidates for the Neighborhood Board system. Voting begins April 25, 2025; voting ends May 16, 2025. The subdistricts of the Mānoa Neighborhood Board are as follows:
a. Subdistrict 1: 5 candidates running for 3 available seats; there will be a competitive election.
b. Subdistrict 2: 3 candidates running for 3 available seats; no competitive election.
c. Subdistrict 3: 5 candidates running for 5 available seats; no competitive election.
d. Subdistrict 4: 5 candidates running for 6 available seats; no competitive election.

Next Meeting [1:53:33]: Next regular board meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. It will be held via the WebEx online platform and at Noelani Elementary School’s Cafeteria, 2655 Woodlawn Dr, Honolulu, HI 96822, staring at 6:30 p.m.; location and time subject to change pursuant to agenda item III(c).

Agenda Items for the Next Meeting – [1:53:46]: In May, there will be (1) a resolution asking the City and State to jointly consider the cumulative impact of Mānoa Banyan Court and Aria Lane during any future approval proceedings or appeals and (2) a presentation by the Department of Transportation Services on potential changes to TheBus routes. Other new items may be added, if space on the agenda permits.

Olelo Re-Broadcast – [1:54:11]: Chair Nagaji announced that ʻŌlelo rebroadcasts of the Board meetings may be viewed on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 3:00 p.m. or every third Tuesday at 9:00 p.m., or online: https://olelo.org/tv-schedule/ or https://www.honolulu.gov/cms-ncomenu/site-nco-sitearticles/1657-board-meeting-videoarchive.html.

IX. ADJOURNMENT – [1:54:29]: Chair Nagaji adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m.

Submitted by: Anson Wu, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relation Specialist, NCO
Finalized by:

To view agenda and minutes, visit our board website.

Event shows physical location; however, other options of participation may also include WebEx and phone.  If available, instructions for WebEx and phone can be found at the top of the agenda.