NEIGHBORHOOD COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.
Kapālama Hale – Room 260
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/channel/UC1DZJTKor6TTNYiqx5U-P2w
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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Thursday, October 17, 2024 Special Meeting Written Summary for Video Record
B. Monday, November 25, 2024 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record
IV. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT
A. NCO Survey to Board members – distribution, timeline
V. 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)
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
A. Next Meetings: The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. on Webex, and at Kapālama Hale.
B. Neighborhood Board Elections: Candidate Registration for 2025 Neighborhood Board Elections Now Open until Friday, February 21, 2025. All current board members of the 2023-2025 Board term will need to register for the new term. Registration and candidate profile forms will not roll over from the previous Neighborhood Elections. Please visit https://www8.honolulu.gov/nco/ for more details or contact the Neighborhood Commission Office at NCO@honolulu.gov or call (808) 768-3710.
VII. ADJOURNMENT OF SUNSHINE LAW MEETING
VIII. ADJUDICATORY MATTERS – The Commission will exercise its adjudicatory functions in accordance with HRS § 92-6.
A. 2024-23 Finley v. Misakian
B. 2024-28 Tanaka v. Wood
C. 2024-29 Misakian v. D. Jacob
D. 2024-30 Suarez v. Watson
E. 2024-31 Misakian v. Finley
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 at least three (3) business days before the scheduled meeting. It may not be possible to fulfill requests received after this date.
DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
KAPĀLAMA HALE CONFERENCE ROOM 260 – 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=9-L_e1MEiVM
Meeting materials (Google Drive) can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LS8mfBOkIKp5hqr6Fwr5Kn1HCYCURUu0
I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:08]: Chair Oshiro called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Quorum was established with 6 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, Larry Veray, and Claire Tamamoto (6:05 p.m.).
Members Absent: Jon Ching and James Logue.
Guests: Representative Diamond Garcia; Representative Julie Reyes Oda; Greg Misakian (Waikīkī Neighborhood Board No.09); Chuck Lee (Makiki Neighborhood Board No. 10); Kevin Lye (Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13); Donald Sakamoto (Kāneʻohe Neighborhood Board No.30); Germaine Meyers (Nānākuli-Māʻili Neighborhood Board No.36); Brian Black, Jacob Wiencek, Tom Heinrich (Residents); Executive Secretary (ES) Lloyd Yonenaka, Dylan Whitsell, Travis Saito and Dylan Buck (Neighborhood Commission Office – NCO). There were 22 total attendees. Name not included if not legible on sign-in sheet, not signed in and/or not participated in discussion.
Chair Oshiro requested a moment of silence for Connie Herolaga, Waipahu Neighborhood Board No. 22, as she recently passed away. Herolaga served as the Chairperson and longtime member of the Board.
II. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [0:01:43]
Board Member Participation – [0:02:10]: Tom Heinrich reported that after meeting with multiple Chairs of Neighborhood Boards there were discussions on Board Member participation. Most meetings accommodate both in-person and virtual participation, and the question raised is if Board Members should be directed to attend meetings in-person.
Tamamoto joined at 6:05 p.m.; 7 Commissioners present.
Various Concerns – [0:03:56]: Kevin Lye raised the following concerns: (1) the Commission has not posted their approved written summaries for public review on their website since July 2024; (2) request for the Commission to publish multiple Findings of Fact regarding complaints to their website for public review; and (3) inquired if the new NCO website was proposed, designed and managed by the City and County of Honolulu or through a city-paid consultancy.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:05:30]
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – [0:06:11]
Monday, October 28, 2024 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record – [0:06:11]: Kevin Lye proposed amendments. [0:08:44] – Melendrez MOVED and Smith SECONDED to approve the October 28, 2024 Written Summary for Video Record as written. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 7-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Clark, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith, Tamamoto, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:09:02]
IV. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT – [0:09:10]
Recap of briefing with Chairs/Vice Chairs regarding agenda setting guidance from the Office of Information Practices (OIP) – [0:09:10]: Executive Secretary (ES) Yonenaka reported that he has a meeting scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2024 with all the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Neighborhood Boards regarding the Office of Information Practices (OIP) opinion that was sent to ES Yonenaka on Monday, September 30, 2024. ES Yonenaka announced the following topics that will be basis of discussion at the meeting: (1) Board Members cannot discuss an item at the meeting that is not listed on the agenda unless a member of the public talks about it first, and no vote can be had at that same meeting; (2) requirements for adding items to the agenda during the meeting; (3) according to OIP, Board Members cannot ask questions or discuss matters that are not clearly listed on the agenda; (4) reminder for Chairs to submit their agendas at least 7 days prior to the meeting; and (5) receive any feedback from the Chairs and Vice Chairs.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:15:51]
V. NEW BUSINESS – [0:30:18]
Kuliʻouʻou-Kalani Iki Neighbohrood Board No.02 – Request to temporarily reduce the number of seats from 17 to 13 for the remainder of the 2023-2025 term to achieve quorum by removing 1 seat from the following subdistricts (SD): SD5 (Wailupe Peninsula); SD6 (Aina Haina); SD7 (Niu Valley); and SD8 (Kuliʻouʻou) – [0:30:18]: Chair Oshiro introduced the topic and opened the floor for discussion. [0:31:45] – Tamamoto MOVED and Smith SECONDED to approve the request as presented. Discussion followed. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 7-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Clark, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith, Tamamoto, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:35:13]
ʻAiea Neighborhood Board No.20 – Request to temporarily change the designation of 1 subdistrict 4 seat to an at-large seat for the remainder of the 2023-2025 term to resolve the issue of filling the vacant seat – [0:35:23]: Chair Oshiro introduced the topic and opened the floor for discussion. [0:35:54] – Clark MOVED and Smith SECONDED to approve the request as presented. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 7-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Clark, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith, Tamamoto, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:36:20]
Resolution requesting that the Hawaiʻi State Legislature Amend Sunshine Law requirements for Neighborhood Boards Discussion and Allow Neighborhood Commission to Govern Sunshine Application for the Neighborhood Boards – [0:36:36]: Chair Oshiro introduced the topic and turned to Vice Chair Smith to further discuss the draft resolution. Vice Chair Smith presented the resolution and highlighted that this is a generalized recommendation to the legislature and is not intended to serve as verbatim statutory language.
• Draft Resolution: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yGrXG8i6dxVSqRm19hlcHymc9cdaCFGM/view?usp=drive_link
[0:38:13] – Smith MOVED and Clark SECONDED to amend the resolution by striking “from first responders, other city or departments such as Board of Water, elected officials, and members attending other nonboard events,” and replacing with “from third party entities,”. Discussion followed. Hearing no objections, the motion to amend the resolution was ADOPTED; 7-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Clark, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith, Tamamoto, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:41:34]
Vice Chair Smith clarified that there are 2 intentions with this resolution: (1) allow the Board Members to participate and initiate discussion from third party reports; and (2) allow the Neighborhood Commission to administer the Sunshine Law as it affects Neighborhood Boards instead of the Office of Information Practices (OIP).
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:44:43]
[1:15:13] – Smith MOVED and Melendrez SECONDED to adopt the resolution as amended. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 7-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Clark, Melendrez, Oshiro, Smith, Tamamoto, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [1:15:24]
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS – [1:20:03]
Elections Committee – [1:20:03]: Committee Chair Tamamoto reported that a flyer has been distributed using various channels which announces that the 2025 Neighborhood Board Election will be open for registration between Friday, December 20, 2024 through Friday, February 21, 2025. Committee Chair Tamamoto added that the flyer includes a timeline of significant deadlines.
Survey Committee – [1:20:55]: Committee Chair Melendrez reported that the previous meeting was successful in deciding how to divide the work across the committee in order to analyze the testimony received from Board Members in regards to the draft survey. Committee Chair Melendrez noted the committee will not establish a Permitted Interaction Group. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:23:02]
Neighborhood Plan Committee – [1:25:00]: Committee Chair Smith provided the report and highlighted that progress is being made on amending the proposed version section by section. The committee is considering prioritizing the complaint process and putting a hold on the rest of the Neighborhood Plan review process. The next committee meeting date has yet to be determined.
• Unofficial Website: https://n-plan.org/
Questions, comments and concerns followed – [1:26:30]
VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [1:28:57]
Next Meetings – [1:28:57]: All Neighborhood Commission meetings will recess in December 2024. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. on WebEx and at Kapālama Hale.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT – [1:29:25]: The meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
Submitted by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO
Reviewed by: Dylan Whitsell, Deputy, NCO
Finalized by:
DRAFT SPECIAL MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024 – 6:00 P.M.
KAPĀLAMA HALE CONFERENCE ROOM 260 – 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=NaoUl80EHn8
Meeting materials (Google Drive) can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LS8mfBOkIKp5hqr6Fwr5Kn1HCYCURUu0
I. CALL TO ORDER – [0:00:01]: Chair Oshiro called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Quorum was not established with 4 members present. Note – This 9-member commission requires 5 members present to establish quorum and to take official commission action.
Members Present: Mahealani Bernal, James Logue, Richard Oshiro, Larry Veray, and Patrick Smith (6:13 p.m.).
Members Absent: Jon Ching, Bill Clark, Steven Melendrez, and Claire Tamamoto.
Guests: Margaret Murchie, Michelle Matson (Diamond Head Neighborhood Board No.05); Kathryn Henski, Sarah Worth, Greg Misakian, Daniel Jacob, Ken Jacob, Robert Finely, Jeff Merz (Waikīkī Neighborhood Board No.09); Robert Armstrong, Ernest Caravalho, Kevin Lye (Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13); Adrian Tam (State Representative District 24); Jacob Wiencek, Gerard Garcia, George Lee, David Becker, Natasa Petrovic, Melissa Filek, Amanda Zepeda, Stephanie Easley (Residents); Executive Secretary (ES) Lloyd Yonenaka, Dylan Whitsell, Travis Saito and Dylan Buck (Neighborhood Commission Office – NCO). There were 38 total attendees. Name not included if not legible on sign-in sheet, not signed in and/or not participated in discussion.
II. PUBLIC CONCERNS – [0:02:14]
Testimony on behalf of Greg Misakian – [0:02:45]: Antonio Vierra provided testimony on behalf of Greg Misakian relating to the petition to recall Misakian from the Waikīkī Neighborhood Board.
Smith joined at 6:13 p.m.; 5 members present. Quorum was established.
Request for Guidance – [0:05:10]: Sarah Worth explained her history of requesting guidance from the Neighborhood Commission and Executive Secretary of the Neighborhood Commission Office, Lloyd Yonenaka. Worth expressed her frustration that the recommended avenue for her to receive an official opinion regarding her inquiries was to file a complaint.
Concerns regarding the Waikīkī NB – [0:08:50]: Greg Misakian spoke in favor of Worth’s testimony and further noted concerns he shares with the operations of the Waikīkī Neighborhood Board.
III. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY’S REPORT – [0:11:58]
Chairs meeting scheduled for Monday, November 4, 2024 – [0:11:58]: Executive Secretary (ES) Yonenaka reported that he has scheduled a meeting with the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Neighborhood Boards to discuss the contents of a recent letter from the Office of Information Practices (OIP), and how that information will affect current Neighborhood Board meeting operations. ES Yonenaka highlighted that the formal opinion from OIP is centered around how the agendas are worded and what guidelines the Board Members should follow.
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:16:20]
IV. NEW BUSINESS – [0:24:17]
Petition to recall a Waikīkī Neighborhood Board Member – Greg Misakian – [0:24:17]: Chair Oshiro introduced the topic and asked ES Yonenaka to provide his report on this matter after reviewing the petition in comparison to the requirements for such, which are outlined in the Neighborhood Plan 2-17-404 Recall of a Board Member. ES Yonenaka summarized the requirements for a petition to recall a Board Member, and noted that in this specific case the minimum requirement for signatures of residents within the particular sub-district is 86. ES Yonenaka noted that the NCO was able to verify 42 names/signatures, and provided a few examples which could explain the discrepancies.
• Petition: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UGqiZXqiznV7agCohUKAgAvJoLG_su_T/view?usp=drive_link
[0:31:12] – Veray MOVED and Smith SECONDED to reject the petition. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 5-0-0 (Aye: Bernal, Logue, Oshiro, Smith, Veray; Nay: None; Abstain: None) – [0:31:44]
Questions, comments, and concerns followed – [0:32:10]
V. ANNOUNCEMENTS – [0:49:37]
Next Meetings – [0:49:37]: The next Neighborhood Plan Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. on WebEx and at Kapālama Hale. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 28, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. on WebEx and at Kapālama Hale.
VI. ADJOURNMENT – [0:50:03]: The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 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.