NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION
INITIAL CONVENING MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025 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. PUBLIC CONCERNS – Limited to 2 minutes for items not on the agenda
III. INITIAL CONVENING BUSINESS
A. Election of Officers to serve from July 1, 2025 until June 30, 2026: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and any other officers the Commission determines it needs to conduct its business.
B. Determination of Meeting Date, Time, Location, and Format (Virtual Component)
C. Determination of Recess Schedule (Up to 6 per year)
D. Adoption of Oral Testimony Rules
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Monday, May 19, 2025 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Diamond Head Neighborhood Board No.05: Request the Neighborhood Commission to Change the Representation of the Members on Neighborhood Board No. 5 From Subdistricts to the District At-Large (per Neighborhood Plan §2-15-108)
• Diamond Head Neighborhood Board No. 5 adopted a motion to request the Neighborhood Commission to change one (1) vacant Subdistrict 2 seat to an At-Large seat for the 2025-2027 board term.
B. Makiki Neighborhood Board No.10: Request the Neighborhood Commission to Change the Representation of the Members on Neighborhood Board No. 10 From Subdistricts to the District At-Large (per the Neighborhood Plan §2-15-108)
• Makiki Neighborhood Board No. 10 adopted a motion to request the Neighborhood Commission to change the representation of all 17 board seats (from three subdistricts) to the district at-large for the 2025-2027 board term and future board terms.
C. ʻAiea Neighborhood Board No.20: Request the Neighborhood Commission to Change the Representation of the Members on ʻAiea Neighborhood Board No. 20 From Subdistricts to the District At-Large.
• ʻAiea Neighborhood Board No. 20 adopted a motion to request the Neighborhood Commission to change one vacant Subdistrict 1 seat to an At-Large seat for the 2025-2027 board term.
D. Pearl City Neighborhood Board No.21: Discussion of incorporating Pearl City High School students on a proposed committee on youth issues for Pearl City.
VI. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT
A. Regularly scheduled meetings with Chairs and Vice Chairs of all Neighborhood Boards
B. Update on NCO integrating an AI program to improve draft meeting minutes
VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Elections Committee – Chair Claire Tamamoto. Members: Bill Clark and Richard Oshiro (Ex-Officio)
B. Survey Committee – Chair Steven Melendrez. Members: Mahealani Bernal, Claire Tamamoto, Larry Veray and Richard Oshiro (Ex-Officio)
C. Neighborhood Plan Committee – Chair Patrick Smith. Members: Mahealani Bernal, Steven Melendrez, Larry Veray and Richard Oshiro (Ex-Officio)
i. Presentation of proposed modifications to the Complaints Provision (Chapter 18) of the Neighborhood Plan
VIII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Meeting: The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale and virtually via WebEx.
IX. ADJOURNMENT OF SUNSHINE LAW MEETING
X. ADJUDICATORY MATTERS – The Commission will exercise its adjudicatory functions in accordance with HRS § 92-6.
A. 2025-06 Lee v. Huls
B. 2025-07 Misakian v. Finley, Henski
C. 2025-08 Iwaki v. Finley
D. 2025-09 Misakian v. Finley
DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025 – 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=jn8uKsucdfU
Meeting materials (Google Drive) can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LS8mfBOkIKp5hqr6Fwr5Kn1HCYCURUu0
I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:06]: Chair Oshiro called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Quorum was established with 5 members present. Note – This 9-member commission requires 5 members present to establish quorum and to take official commission action.
Members Present: Mahealani Bernal, Bill Clark, Steven Melendrez, Richard Oshiro, Patrick Smith, and Larry Veray (6:46 p.m.).
Members Absent: Claire Tamamoto and James Logue.
Guests: Rafia Hasina, Winston Welch (Diamond Head-Kapahulu-St. Louis Heights NB05); Kevin Lye (Downtown-Chinatown NB13); Kathryn Henski, Greg Misakian (Waikiki NB09); Daisy Murai (Residents); Executive Secretary Lloyd Yonenaka, Dylan Whitsell, and Dylan Buck (Neighborhood Commission Office – NCO). There were 17 total attendees. Name not included if not legible on sign-in sheet, not signed in and/or not participated in discussion.
II. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [0:01:10]
Election Concerns – [0:01:21]: Rafia Hasina expressed concerns about the election process, noting that residents in her apartment building were confused about how to use their ballots. Hasina requested guidelines or training to help board members assist their communities with the voting process. Hasina also suggested more training and awareness programs for immigrant community members who serve on Neighborhood Boards.
Request for Information Process – [0:04:12]: Kevin Lye asked for clarification on who is responsible for acknowledging, registering, and responding to requests for information under Neighborhood Plan sections 2-11-103 and 2-11-401. He stated that he has submitted requests for information but received no confirmation of receipt or response.
Website Accessibility Issues – [0:05:46]: Greg Misakian reported ongoing difficulties accessing the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) website over the past month. He noted that while sometimes the front page is accessible, document access often fails. He received a 404 error when attempting to access the site through the Honolulu City and County website and expressed concern about security errors. He emphasized that website inaccessibility disenfranchises residents who want to participate in meetings.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [0:07:38]
Monday, April 28, 2025 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record – [0:07:44]: [0:07:57] – Smith MOVED and Clark SECONDED to approve the Written Summary for Video Record as written. Kevin Lye and Greg Misakian proposed amendments. [0:12:30] – Smith MOVED and Clark SECONDED to approve the Written Summary for Video Record as amended. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 5-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Clark, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:12:45]
IV. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT – [0:13:03]
Update on NCO Survey to the General Public – [0:13:03]: Executive Secretary Lloyd Yonenaka reported that he is still working with the survey company to analyze the results in greater detail. They are examining the data by demographic groups to better understand what different communities think about Neighborhood Boards. The purpose is to develop targeted marketing strategies to reach specific groups. He anticipated having more complete information in a couple of weeks.
Election Process Update – [0:14:23]: In response to concerns about the election process, Executive Secretary (ES) Yonenaka explained that the candidate names on ballots were not listed alphabetically by last name as required by the Neighborhood Plan. Instead, the system used the “how do you want your name to appear” field from candidate applications to determine the order. ES Yonenaka emphasized that no candidates were left off the ballots, though the order was incorrect, and noted that the candidate profiles also did not match the ballot order. ES Yonenaka stated that the election would proceed as is, with votes already closed, and any issues would be addressed after vote tabulation and certification.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:18:54]
V. COMMITTEE REPORTS – [0:31:13]
Elections Committee – [0:31:20]: No report.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:31:42]
Neighborhood Plan Committee – [0:48:50]: Committee Chair Smith reported that the committee is making good progress and anticipates having recommendations ready for the Commission to review in approximately two months. The committee is currently focused on complaint procedures.
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [0:49:25]
Next Meetings – [0:49:33]: The Neighborhood Commission will recess in June 2025. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Kapālama Hale and virtually via WebEx. The Neighborhood Plan Committee tentatively scheduled their next meeting for Monday, June 16, 2025, subject to committee member availability.
Chair Oshiro accidentally skipped the Survey Committee Report and took that item up at this time.
Survey Committee – [0:50:50]: Committee Chair Melendrez reported that the committee successfully presented their findings to the Commission and the Neighborhood Plan Committee. They asked the Neighborhood Plan Committee to consider incorporating their recommendations into revisions of the Neighborhood Plan.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [0:51:20]
VII. ADJOURNMENT OF SUNSHINE LAW MEETING – [0:53:28]: The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 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.