Palolo Neighborhood Board MARCH 2024 Minutes

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Palolo Neighborhood Board MARCH 2024 Minutes
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NEXT MEETING - Click here to read next meeting agenda scheduled for 4/9/2025.

With Permission / Courtesy of: City and County of Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office

PĀLOLO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 6

DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2025 at 7:00 P.M.

PĀLOLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA, 2106 10TH AVENUE, HONOLULU, HI 96816

AND VIA WEBEX

Video Recording of Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy6mLlklP_c

Google Drive Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mRIiZ-kR00PVW8z-q2zHi9L60YE1mXmR

1. CALL TO ORDER -- [0:00:09]: Chair Ranell Asuega-Fualaau called the Pālolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Five (5) members present. Quorum was NOT established. Note: This 13-member Board requires seven (7) members to establish a quorum and to take official Board action.

Board Members Present: Randolph Hack, Kaleolani Leo, Earl Shiraki, Darlene Nakayama, and Ranell Asuega-Fualaau.

Board Member(s) Absent: Juanita Kawamoto and Dean McColgan.

Guests: Firefighter 1 K. Vares (HFD); Lieutenant T. Nakamura (HPD); Warren Mamizuka (Mayor Rick Blangiardi); Kiele Amundson (Governor Josh Green); Dominic Dias (Board of Water Supply); Kylie Tokujo (Councilmember Scott Nishimoto); Leolani Iwaki, Juanita Liu (Bus Route 200 Presentation); Senator Les Ihara Jr. (Senate District 10); Rod Arias, Kelson Kai, Andrew Phomsouvanh, Keenan Tydingo, Travis Tagad, and Michael Zucker (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 21 total participants.

2. MONTHLY REPORTS -- [0:00:14]

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) -- [0:00:15]: HFD firefighter K. Vares provided the report and shared the incident statistics for February 2025 and fire safety tips for the month regarding power smoke alarms.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CsQGnvDMKSduTWE7TjXd173kPfUiwAON/view?usp=drive_link

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) -- [0:02:40]: Lieutenant T. Nakamura provided the report and shared the crime statistics for February 2025 and the safety tip for the month regarding the move-over law on roadways or freeways for first responder vehicles that have their lights and sirens on. Emergency vehicles means HPD, HFD, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Ocean Safety, Freeway Service Patrol, tow trucks, and even some State and County Vehicles while personnel are working.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) -- [0:04:30]: Dominic Dias provided the report and highlighted the following: there was one main break to report for February 2025; the waterline construction project on Waiomao Homestead Rd. is complete pending final testing for pressure and chlorination before it's put into service; follow-up responses were provided for a questions raised at last month's Board meeting regarding noise complaints by the BWS booster pumps on Keanu Street near 10th Avenue and water pressure complaint from residential property on Narcissus Street. BWS general announcement for the month is that BWS currently hiring for various open positions. To find more details on open positions and further information, please visit the BWS website at https://www.boardofwatersupply.com/jobs or call 808-748-5160.

3. BOARD BUSINESS -- [0:07:18]: Chair Asuega-Fualaau shared that they are unable to take action on any of the items in this section due to the Board not meeting the quorum requirement to vote. Therefore, hearing no objections, Chair Asuega-Fualaau skipped this section.

Approval of Regular Meeting Written Summaries for Video Record: Wednesday, November 13, 2024; Wednesday, December 11, 2024; and Wednesday, February 12, 2025 -- [0:17:20]: Deferred to next month.

Resignation from Board Member Dallas Ige -- [0:17:23]: Chair Asuega-Fualaau shared that former Board member Ige submitted his formal resignation letter from the Board this month and wished him the best in his endeavors.

Filling of 6 Vacancies -- Two (2) At-Large, One (1) Subdistrict 1, One (1) Subdistrict 2, and Two (2) Subdistrict 3 -- [0:7:47]: Deferred to next month.

4. PRESENTATIONS -- [0:08:14]

Bus Route 200 -- [0:08:16]: Juanita Liu shared that the Kaimuki Neighborhood Board and the Diamond Head Neighborhood Board held a joint transportation committee meeting to discuss bus route 200 and other issues. The Palolo Neighborhood Board Chair, Kaimuki's Mayor's representative -- Brian McKee (City Department of Information Technology Director), and Roger Morton (City Department of Transportation Services Director) attended the meeting. She shared speeding was a popular topic discussed at the meeting and addressing speed limits in the Kaimuki and Diamond Head districts.

5. REPORT FROM PERMITTED INTERACTION GROUP -- [0:11:31]

Palolo Trees Project -- [0:11:31]: Dan Dinell shared that the federal grant funding (US Forest Service) to the State Department of Land and Natural Resources is frozen. Mr. Dinell shared outreach events he has been participating in. There will be an upcoming tree planting event on Saturday, April 26, 2025 in partnership with the City Department of Parks and Recreation at Palolo Valley District Park. He shared a map of the plots in the parking lot where they will be planting trees. The event will take place in the morning (no specific time given).

• For more information and details on upcoming events, please email: treesforpalolo@treesforhonolulu.org

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:17:30]

6. RESDIENT/COMMUNITY CONCERNS -- [0:19:00]

Bus Route 200 -- [0:19:05]: Kelson Kai (Palolo resident) shared the positive impact the route has on his life as well as others who live in Palolo. He shared his concern on the proposed reroute of bus route 200 will affect the riders in Pālolo and increase the waiting times for them in the area by up to half an hour, especially during rush hours. He shared the re-route would create redundant service through areas that are already serviced by other routes such as: 1/1L/2/2L/3/7/14. The current Bus route 200 has been efficient and significantly decreased the wait times and transfers for Pālolo residents who rely on the Bus to get around the island and make it to their transfers on time. He understands the desire to reinstate the service along 18th Avenue that the reroute will put in the proposal, but he believes it could be resolved with extending the existing route 3 to its original terminus near Liliuokalani Elementary School at the Koko Head Ave./Waialae Ave. intersection. He also shared that there is little notification to the Pālolo community on the proposed reroute.

Speeding on 10th Avenue -- [ 0:24:27]: Michael Zucker (Pālolo resident) shared his concern of the cars speeding along 10th Ave. between Carlos Long St.and Pālolo Chinese Home. He shared that the blind curbs make it hard for both pedestrians and drivers to see eachother. He would like to request a speed mitigation in the area such as a raised crosswalk.

Request for Illegal Trash Clean-up -- [0:26:50]: A resident shared someone dumped a large BBQ grill on the side of the street near the Carlos Long St./Palolo Ave. intersection and it has been there for two weeks. He is requesting if the city could remove it.

7. ELECTED OFFICIALS -- [0:27:48]

Congressman Ed Case's Representative -- [0:27:51]: No representative present.

Councilmember Scott Nishimoto -- [0:28:00]: Kylie Tokujo provided the report and highlighted the following: City Council has briefings for City budgets; Councilmember Nishimoto is co-sponsoring a park clean-up for Azama Park on Saturday, March 27, 2025 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• To sign-up for Councilmember Nishimoto's e-blast please go to: http://eepurl.com/dl6xMz

• For questions or concerns please email: kylie.tokujo@honolulu.gov or call the office at 808-768-5005

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative -- [0:30:04]: Warren Mamizuka provided the following highlights from the Mayorʻs monthly newsletter for March 2025: the Cityʻs Wahi Pana art initiative makes a debut; Kumu Ola Hou, a new transitional housing shelter for homeless individuals, opens at Iwilei Center; Mayor Blangiardi introduces Roy Miyahira, the Cityʻs new Director of Homeless Solutions; an important update for Oʻahu resdients on FEMAʻs updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM); and Honolulu gets designated as a "bicycle-friendly community". Mr. Mamizuka provided follow-up responses for questions raised at previous Board meetings.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1exiBKuTrqk7TJGwDWbFMOCe4wd7N7bWj/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:38:50]

Governor Josh Green's Representative -- [0:50:36]: Kiele Amundson provided the report and shared highlights from the monthly newsletter for March 2025: State Department of Law Enforcement has issued scam warnings; Governor Green signed an executive order to implement Operation Hire Hawaiʻi; State leaders announced the launch of ʻAkamai Arrival,' a pilot program that will digitize Hawaiʻi's Plants and Animals Declaration Form, to streamline the process for travelers arriving in the islands; On March 4, 2025 Attorney General Anne Lopez announced that the state of Hawaii has joined the 49 other attorneys general in a settlement against Walgreen Boots Alliance, Inc. and Walgreen Co. (together Walgreens); and National Consumer Protection Week Fair will be from March 3 to March 9 at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol in Honolulu.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DC_A48WlKuMk350f46ardTjrJAgIiLeG/view?usp=drive_link

Representative Jackson Sayama -- [0:45:50]: Representative Sayama provided the report and highlighted the following: the State Legislature has finished crossing over bills; monitoring of the Stateʻs current economic state due to federal budget cuts; potential to resume programming for Palolo Homes; recap of the Pālolo for Peace community event; announcing the Azame Park clean-up on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; for those who are interested in volunteering at the park clean-up, please bring your own gloves, water bottle, tools, and notify Representative Sayamaʻs office who will be providing bentos for those helping.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:49:10]

Senator Les Ihara, Jr. -- [0:50:50]: Chair Asuega-Fualaau shared that Senator Ihara had to leave early and sends his regards.

[0:51:00] -- At this time, Chair Asuega-Fualaau took the agenda out of order to hear a community presentation.

Recap of Pālolo for Peace Event -- [0:51:08]: Rod Arias (Pālolo resident) expressed gratitude to everyone who helped make the event that was held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 successful for the community and coming together to take a stand against violence in their community. There were members of the community, members of the Pālolo Neighborhood Board, Pālolo Elementary school, Jarett Middle school, Kaimuki High school, district churches, HPD, HFD, Representative Sayama, Senator Ihara, and Councilmember Nishimoto all contributed to the event.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed -- [0:52:46]

9. ANNOUNCEMENTS -- [0:52:55]

Next Meetings -- Pālolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 -- [0:52:55]: Chair Asuega-Fualaau announced the Pālolo Neighborhood Board No. 6 next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at Pālolo Elementary School and online via WebEx.

City and County of Honolulu and Hawaiʻi Foodbank are Partnering to Fight Against Hunger -- [0:53:10]: Neighborhood Assistant Camilia Epa Gomes will be collecting donated canned goods at the next Neighborhood Board meeting on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

ʻŌlelo Rebroadcasts: Rebroadcasts of the Pālolo Neighborhood Board No.6 meetings are scheduled each month on ʻŌlelo channel 49 on the fourth Thursday at 9:00 p.m. and the first and third Sundays at 12:00 p.m. and that an archive of meetings may be found online.

XI. ADJOURNMENT -- [0:54:05]: Chair Asuega-Fualaau adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m.

Submitted by: Camilia Epa Gomes, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO

Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO

Finalized by:

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Palolo Neighborhood Board MARCH 2024 Minutes

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