NORTH SHORE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 27

CESSPOOL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025
5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION OFFICE
925 DILLINGHAM BLVD., SUITE 160
AND VIA ZOOM
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Rules of Speaking: Anyone wishing to speak is asked to raise their hand icon, and when recognized by the Chair, to address comments to the Chair. Speakers are encouraged to keep their comments under two (2) minutes. Please silence all electronic devices.
Note: The Committee may take action 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.
I. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Kathleen Pahinui
II. MEETING RULES (Virtual meeting)
A. Please identify yourself by name (and affiliation if any) in your Zoom profile
B. Please turn on your camera
C. Please stay muted at all times unless recognized by the Chair to speak
D. Please raise your hand to be recognized by the Chair
E. When recognized by the Chair, please address comments to the Chair
F. You will have two minutes to speak and /or ask your question
G. Please do not interrupt others when they are speaking; committees are less formal but we want every voice to be heard
III. COMMUNITY CONCERNS REGARDING CESSPOOLS (Limited to two (2) Minutes Each)
IV. COMMITTEE BUSINESS (Limited to maximum 10 Minute Presentation)
A. EM Hawaii Pilot Project Update
B. Legislative Update
i. Rep Amy Perruso
ii. Ted Bohlen
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approval of March 3, 2025 Minutes
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
VII. ADJOURNMENT
NORTH SHORE NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 27 TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025
CESSPOOL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA PAGE 2 of 2
A mailing list is maintained for interested persons and agencies to receive 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, Hawaii 96817; Telephone (808) 768-3710 Fax (808) 768-3711; or call Neighborhood Assistant Zhoydell Magaoay at (808) 768-4224 or e-mail zhoydell.magaoay@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, Hawaii 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 zhoydell.magaoay@honolulu.gov at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.

CESSPOOL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2024
5:00 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION OFFICE
925 DILLINGHAM BLVD., SUITE 160
AND VIA ZOOM

I. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Kathleen Pahinui
A. Chair Pahinui called meeting to order at 5:10 PM.
B. Members in attendance: Pahinui, Leinau, Andersen, Achiu
C. Members absent: Alexander, Cuaresma, McNulty
D. Guests: Yvonne Yoro (Rep Perrusoʻs office), Dennis Poma. Makana Lewis (Sen Awa’s office), Hiro and Kouri Nago (EM Hawaii)
II. COMMITTEE BUSINESS (Limited to maximum 10 Minute Presentation)
A. Removal of Casi Alexander from the Cesspool Committee
Casi has not attended for about a year and did not respond to an email from Committee Chair if she wanted to remain on the committee. Andersen moved and Leinau seconded to remove her from the committee. Motion passed and will move on to the North Shore NB #27 for final decision on removal.
B. Genki Ball Update – EM Hawaii
Hiro and Kouri Nago from EM Hawaii gave a presentation on how their product works, The powerpoint can be accessed at the North Shore NB google drive at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IHC_YHAUoI_2hPauiSJ1nbvIiMu5giyt
They are working with Sen Awa’s office to development a pilot project to destroy the bad bacteria and microbes from entering our aquifer and ocean by introducing this product into a home’s cesspool. If it works, then it may relieve some of the pressure to convert from cesspools to septic or other systems that cost a lot of money. For many homeowners, they cannot afford the conversion.
Questions / Comments:
• What types of organisms will this work on? Per EM Hawaii – most biological microbes and bacteria (pathogens and fecal matter). Works on aerobic and anaerobic through a fermentation process. More information can be found on their website at: https://www.emhawaii.com/
• Will it eat PFAs chemicals? No tests done on this though it is being studied.
• How will testing be done? Showing data can make for a stronger case for using this product. Surfrider is doing some independent testing on near shore waters in the area of the Ala Wai Canal. Testing shows it is coming back and is at almost 80% of meeting the State Dept of Health standards.
• How do you measure success? Will need a pilot project to see how it works in cesspools.
• How much do you use? Start with a diluted amount 1 time per week them move down to 2 times per month. Can use daily if you wish.
• Each cesspool is different – measuring success will vary but is important.
• The solution will eat grease and fat.
• Will this help achieve the State’s conversion goals by 2050. No this is not linked to that initiative.This is a treatment system that can be used by anyone to help lessen the affects of bad bacteria and microbes. This can be used until there are better methods or a program in place to assist the community with conversion.
• Group agrees that a pilot project should be designed and implemented. In the meantime, anyone who is interested can use this product. It won’t hurt your system and can be of benefit.
• Committee Chair Pahinui will work with Makana and EM Hawaii on a pilot.

C. 2025 Legislative Session Update
• Yvonne Yoro from Rep Perruso’s office provided updates 4 bills that are still in play at the legislature: HB 734, HD1, HB 735, HD2, HB 749, HD1and HB 879, HD1 (Ted Bohlen provided 2 more via email: HB 736, HD1 and SB 1232, SD2. Committee Chair Pahinui will alert the committee when they come up for a hearing.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approval of October 1, 2024 Minutes – Leinau moved and Andersen seconded approving the minutes. Motion carried.
B. Approval of January 7, 2025 Minutes – Leinau moved and Andersen seconded approving the minutes. Motion carried.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
V. ADJOURNMENT
A. Meeting adjourned at 5:47 PM.
A mailing list is maintained for interested persons and agencies to receive 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, Hawaii 96817; Telephone (808) 768-3710 Fax (808) 768-3711; or call Neighborhood Assistant Zhoydell Magaoay at (808) 768-4224 or e-mail zhoydell.magaoay@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, Hawaii 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 zhoydell.magaoay@honolulu.gov at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.