NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2026 at 6:00 P.M.
Kapālama Hale – Room 153
925 Dillingham Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96817
AND VIA WEBEX

This meeting location is open to public participation.
Other available options include participating by computer, phone or by video system.
WebEx and phone-in instructions are as follows:

Meeting Link: https://cchnl.webex.com/cchnl/j.php?MTID=m4ed0ce4c5871978ea94a35efd24063d1
Meeting Number / Access Code: 2482 418 5050
Password: NC00 (6200 from phones and video systems)
Join by Phone: +1-408-418-9388 United States Toll

Recordings of Commission meetings can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/@NeighborhoodCommissionOffice
Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LS8mfBOkIKp5hqr6Fwr5Kn1HCYCURUu0
Rules of Speaking: Anyone wishing to speak is asked to raise his or her hand, and when recognized by the Chair, to address comments to the Chair. Speakers are to keep their comments under two (2) minutes. Public testimony taken on each agenda item. Please silence all electronic devices.
Note: The Commission may take action on any agenda item. As required by the State Sunshine Law (Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes Chapter 92), specific issues not noted on this agenda cannot be voted on, unless properly added to the agenda.

I. CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDING OFFICER
A. Roll Call of Commissioners, Establishment of Quorum

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Monday, January 26, 2026 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record

III. PUBLIC CONCERNS – Limited to 2 minutes for items not on the agenda

IV. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT
A. HNL 311 System – Use the HNL 311 website (HNL311.com) and mobile app to report city issues. The new mobile app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The HNL 311 mobile app lets users report issues, manage service requests, and receive notifications, all from their smartphone – anytime, anywhere.

V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Request from Nuʻuanu-Punchbowl Neighborhood Board No.12 to move from subdistricts to at-large for the remainder of the 2025-2027 term
B. Review of City Charter Provisions
1. Charter Commission “Advanced” Proposals
a. P039 – change board voting schedule to even years
b. P259 – no commissioner may serve concurrently on NB
c. P263 – change title of executive secretary to executive director
d. P194 – require a percentage of board/commissions composition to possess certain Hawaiian attributes
e. P003 – modify quorum and other voting requirements (Tabled)
2. No decision as of Feb. 16, 2026
a. P171 – implement 8-year term limits (no more than four 2-year terms, consecutive or not)
b. P236 – re-evaluate board boundaries every 10 years and other items
c. P050 – change language of board mission
d. P213 – creates “Citizen Council – randomly selected residents
e. P254 – change “neighborhood” boards to Community District Boards
C. Review policy regarding Candidacy of Board Members
D. Response to Commission inquires
1. Past elections
2. Chair procedural actions
3. Past complaint issues

VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Neighborhood Plan Committee – Chair Larry Veray

VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Meetings: The next Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale and virtually via WebEx. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale and virtually via WebEx.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT OF SUNSHINE LAW MEETING

IX. ADJUDICATORY MATTERS – The Commission will exercise its adjudicatory functions in accordance with HRS § 92-6.
A. 2025-14 Cobian v. Dudley – Hearing

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 http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/boards.html

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 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 as soon as possible, preferably at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. If a request is received with fewer that 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
MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2026 – 6:00 P.M.
KAPĀLAMA HALE CONFERENCE ROOM 153 – 925 DILLINGHAM BOULEVARD, HONOLULU, HI 96817
AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLex0AVaThc

Meeting materials (Google Drive) can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LS8mfBOkIKp5hqr6Fwr5Kn1HCYCURUu0

I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:03]

Chair Smith called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with 7 members present.

Members Present: Mahealani Bernal, Christian de Quevedo, Naomi Hanohano, Angie Knight, James Logue, Patrick Smith, and Larry Veray.

Members Absent: Bill Clark and Harris Nakamoto.

Guests: Linda Wong, Michelle Matson (Diamond Head Neighborhood Board No.05); Kevin Lye (Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13); Tom Heinrich, Claire Santos, Greg Misakian, Jennifer Ibano, Angela Melody Young (Residents); Lloyd Yonenaka, Dylan Whitsell, and Travis Saito (Neighborhood Commission Office – NCO). There were approximately 18 total attendees. Name not included if not legible on sign-in sheet, not signed in and/or not participated in discussion.

II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [0:01:03]

Monday, November 24, 2025 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record – [0:01:03]: Chair Smith asked if anyone wished to offer amendments to the distributed minutes.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Amendment Request – [0:01:25]: Kevin Lye requested an amendment to section three, public concerns, second sentence. He noted that NCO had conveyed that the only things (plural) requiring board approval are the time allotted to board members and the community to speak, to clarify that he was not the one making the statement but rather NCO had conveyed this information.

Hearing no other amendments, the minutes were approved as amended; 7-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, de Quevedo, Hanohano, Logue, Nakamoto, Smith, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:03:30]

III. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [0:03:44]

NCO Brochure Concerns – [0:03:52]: Linda Wong raised concerns about an NCO brochure that referred to neighborhood boards as “neighborhood meetings,” contained wrong meeting locations for Diamond Head and Kahala Neighborhood Boards, and focused on plantings and cleanups rather than the boards’ legislative work. She found the brochure demoralizing and requested it be corrected.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. NCO Review – [0:08:52]: Chair Smith stated the NCO would review the brochure and report back next month. He requested that Wong send her specific concerns in writing to the testimony email address (nbtestimony@honolulu.gov).
2. Vice Chair Comments – [0:10:30]: Vice Chair Larry Veray noted he had seen the brochure and thought it was a generalized document that could be tailored to specific boards, though he acknowledged there may have been a misunderstanding in the presentation.
3. Source Questions – [0:13:36]: Greg Misakian asked if the brochure was available online. Dylan Whitsell confirmed it was not online but available in the lobby.
4. Responsibility – [0:13:48]: Michelle Matson questioned who wrote the brochure and expressed concern that it appeared on materials desks without board review or approval. She stated the Executive Secretary should be responsible for this.
Outstanding Requests and Complaint Status – [0:15:42]: Kevin Lye inquired about follow-up on the list of outstanding and unanswered requests for information sent to the Commission since 2022, and asked about the status of complaint 2025-12 filed in September 2025.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Chair Response – [0:16:21]: Chair Smith apologized for not including these items on the agenda due to the holiday and stated he would provide an update on the complaint status. He confirmed he had all the material on outstanding requests and proposed reviewing it with the Commission at the next month’s meeting.
IV. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT – [0:17:28]

General updates regarding monthly meetings with Chairs/Vice Chairs – [0:17:28]: Executive Secretary Lloyd Yonenaka reported that he holds monthly meetings with Chairs and Vice Chairs to go over office activities, remind Chairs of their responsibilities, and be available for questions. He noted these meetings occur monthly even though the Neighborhood Plan requires only an annual meeting.

HNL 311 System – [0:18:16]: Executive Secretary Yonenaka reminded everyone to use the HNL 311 app for reporting city issues such as potholes and stop signs. He noted that individuals get responses faster than waiting 30 days for the next board meeting, and residents have reported getting results right away.

Financial Disclosure Forms – [0:19:54]: Executive Secretary Yonenaka reminded commission members that annual financial disclosure forms are due.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Neighborhood Plan Question – [0:21:07]: Greg Misakian inquired about the reasoning for these monthly Chairs meetings, and asked if these monthly meetings fall under Neighborhood Plan requirements. Executive Secretary Yonenaka explained that he wanted to communicate on a regular basis, and they do not fall under the Neighborhood Plan or Sunshine Law because Chairs do not exist as a formal organization. Only two people from each board attend, and it is like having individual office meetings.
2. Camera View Questions – [0:23:18]: Linda Wong asked about seeing all Commissioners and the Executive Secretary on camera. Chair Smith explained the camera limitations and that some commissioners were joining online.
3. Monthly Chairs and Vice Chairs Meetings – [0:28:03]: Michelle Matson questioned why monthly meetings are called between Chairs and Vice Chairs without board members receiving reports back or knowing what is discussed. Chair Smith explained these meetings are called to assist and get information out to chairs and vice chairs, focusing on procedures and ideas about improving boards rather than substantive issues. Vice Chair Veray shared that he attends these meetings and receives summaries from the Executive Secretary, which he then distributes to all his board members. He noted there is nothing secret about these meetings and they provide good refresher information. Matson suggested that all board members should receive the same summary that Chairs receive. Chair Smith explained that Chairs get the summary and the intent is for them to distribute it to their boards. Kevin Lye noted this topic was discussed in 2023 when the Executive Secretary pledged to collate information for distribution to all board members. He emphasized the importance of having a data repository for current and new board members.

V. NEW BUSINESS – [0:37:22]
Hawaiʻi Kai Neighborhood Board No.01 – Request to temporarily change Subdistricts 1, 7 & 8 (three total seats) to At-Large for the remainder of the 2025-2027 term – [0:37:31]: Chair Smith explained that Hawaiʻi Kai Neighborhood Board No.01 has 11 subdistricts and is having trouble filling positions in subdistricts 1, 7, and 8. The board is requesting to temporarily change these three seats to at-large for the remainder of the term.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Vacancy Support – [0:38:30]: Vice Chair Veray stated this is exactly the right approach when Chairs are having trouble filling positions. He noted that all board members work on community problems across the board, so no one should feel slighted by subdistrict changes.

[0:39:08] – Hearing no objections, the request was APPROVED; 7-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, de Quevedo, Hanohano, Knight, Logue, Smith, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:39:22]

VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS – [0:39:35]

Neighborhood Plan Committee – [0:39:35]: Chair Veray reported the following: the McCully-Mōʻiliʻili Neighborhood Board submitted a resolution suggesting the use of email to notify board members who have missed multiple meetings instead of using first-class and registered mail (this would save costs and be more effective, and this will be reviewed when the committee reaches section 2-14-106 of the Neighborhood Plan); the NCO will send an email to all Neighborhood Board Chairs asking them to work with their boards to review boundaries and adopt joint resolutions to the Commission by April 27, 2026 if they request boundary amendments; Chapter 18 (complaint process) is almost complete with one minor item remaining that Chair Smith is working on regarding the judicial portion of the plan; the committee started reviewing Chapter 13 (powers, duties, and functions of neighborhood boards) and topics discussed included political activities, standards of conduct, community forums, representative capacity of board members, membership, and concurrent holding of elected public office prohibition; and the next Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 9, 2026.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:
1. Charter Commission Update – [0:44:38]: Tom Heinrich reported that the Charter Commission advanced a proposal regarding quorum requirements, possibly lowering to Robert’s Rules standards. He also referenced Senate Bill 2397 introduced by Senator Carol Fukunaga on the same topic at the state level. Chair Smith proposed that the Commission review all neighborhood-related Charter Commission amendments at next month’s meeting. Angie Knight asked for clarification about Senate Bill 2397, noting confusion about whether the state governs NCO since the bill specifically singles out the City and County of Honolulu. The matter will be discussed at the next meeting.
2. Homelessness and Waste Management – [0:46:43]: Jennifer Ibano addressed the commission regarding sweeps and unhoused residents. She proposed separating people from trash (opala) by providing dumpsters designated for unhoused residents only, rather than conducting sweeps that displace people. She emphasized that unhoused residents need the basic human right of garbage pickup, as they accumulate trash just like anyone camping would but have no way to dispose of it. Angie Knight advised that the appropriate departments to contact are DFM (Department of Facilities and Maintenance) for trash pickup and DCS (Department of Community Services), as well as using 311 for immediate response.
3. Neighborhood Board Committee Structure – [0:50:24]: Angela Melody Young from Neighborhood Board No.15 proposed that Neighborhood Boards could benefit from more executive-level focus to help boards hear concerns, form committees (homelessness, public safety, education, health and human services), work on resolutions, and submit them to the city council or state. She emphasized taking advantage of all three tiers of government representation (county, state, and federal).
4. Subdistrict Boundaries – [0:56:37]: Linda Wong asked about subdistrict boundaries, who has authority to change them, and where they are documented. Chair Smith explained that Neighborhood Board boundaries are in Chapter 16 of the plan.

VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:01:13]

Next Meetings – [1:01:13]: The next Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting is rescheduled for Monday, February 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale and virtually via WebEx. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale and virtually via WebEx.

VIII. ADJOURNMENT OF SUNSHINE LAW MEETING – [1:01:51]: The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m.

Submitted by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Whitsell, Deputy, 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.