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

DOWNTOWN - CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 13


DRAFT REGULAR MEETING WRITTEN SUMMARY FOR VIDEO RECORD

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.

PRINCESS RUTH KE‘ELIKŌLANI MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETERIA -- 1302 QUEEN EMMA STREET, HONOLULU, HI 96813

AND VIA WEBEX TELECONFERENCING

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHGKSazHaU8

Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F4DdI9R8Er12TNf6Bl-yb4p4EW0-68vu

I. CALL TO ORDER -- [0:01:18]: 6:03 p.m.

Chair Ernest Caravalho called the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Quorum was established with eight (8) members present. Note: This nine-member Board requires five (5) members to establish quorum and to take official Board action.

Members Present: Robert Armstrong, Ernest Caravalho, Ross Isokane, Kevin Lye, Lori McCarney, Kevin McDonald, Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, Laura Sturges, and Sean Fitzsimmons (arrived at 6:03 p.m.).

Members Absent: None.

Guests: Firefighter Kaleo Kia (Honolulu Fire Department); Sergeant Kaleo Hosaka, Chief Young, Chief Lynch, and Acting Major Roberts (HPD); Mayor Rick Blangiardi, Anton Krucky, Kevin Auger, Ian Santee, Lloyd Yonenaka (Mayor Rick Blangiardi); Steven Downes (Governor Green); Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam, Jack Truesdale (City Council District 6); KITV 4 News; Sara Thorn (Senator Karl Rhoads); Kate Ozawa (Representative Kim Coco Iwamoto); Adam Reid, Arlynne Pasion, Walter Rodby, C. Trecker, Kent Walther, Nicole Shintani, Henry Pang, Rick Keene, Kuhia Smith, Jack W., Victoria Leah, Lyn Pyle, Doug Pyle, Pat Bemis, Yvonne Awai, Susan Anderson, Adam Blatt, Hannah Way, Patrick Woo, Randall Jadulang, Donna Matsumoto, Laurie VonHamm, Nolan Black, Ronald Higa, Mandy Hunag, Deborah King, and Jasmine Douglas (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 59 total attendees.

II. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS -- [0:02:20]

Honolulu Fire Department -- [0:02:23]: No representative at this time. A representative arrived after the Honolulu Fire Department report.

Member Fitzsimmons joined the meeting at 6:03 p.m.; 9 members present.

Honolulu Police Department -- [0:03:03]: HPD Sergeant Kaleo Hosaka provided the report and shared the monthly statistics for March 2025. In addition, details were provided for a project that HPD officers from District 1 during fourth watch has done in conjunction with State and City Agencies (City Department of Facility Maintenance, State Department of Transportation, and City Department of Parks and Recreation). The project consisted of efforts done to clean up the homeless encampment that was behind the Foster Botanical Garden and along the canal.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:05:08]

Hearing no objections, Chair Caravalho took the agenda out of order to hear Section II.A. Honolulu Fire Department at this time.

Honolulu Fire Department -- [0:21:31]: Firefighter Kaleo Kia provided the report and shared follow-up responses for questions raised at last month's Board meeting. Firefighter Kia shared the monthly statistics for March 2025 and the safety tip for the month regarding evacuation planning.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P2Qkshyi0atO1-rFc-Jxemb02keYMaYD/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:24:14]

III. PRESENTATIONS -- [0:25:30]

City & County of Honolulu Office of the Mayor Updates on Our Community and Oʻahu In General -- [0:26:36]: Mayor Blangiardi and two members of his cabinet were present to share recent key efforts that were made to improve Downtown-Chinatown district. Mayor Blangiardi highlighted key efforts such as: installation of new security cameras in Chinatown; initiating ‘Safe and Sound Program' and ‘Weed and Seed Hawaii Program'; HART working to open the second segment of the Skyline Rail; installation of bike lanes; district improvements for Iwilei area; and increase of police enforcement/patrol in the district. Mayor Blangiardi mentioned there will be action to address the conditions of the Chinatown Cultural Plaza and will be in discussion with the owners to improve the plaza given everything the City is trying to address in the urban core of the city. Due to prior commitments, Mayor Blangiardi was able to answer some of the public's questions before departing the meeting. Mayor Blangiardi introduced members of his cabinet that were present at the meeting Anton Krucky (City Department of Community Services) and Kevin Auger (City Department of Housing) who were both present in person to share current updates in the district and to take any questions that the community might have related to housing and homelessness in the district.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:30:10]

[0:50:02] -- Director Anton Krucky shared about the new shelter that had opened in the Iwilei area. There will be 75 more beds opening up before the end of June 2025. Mr. Krucky is working towards a vision of creating beds of many flavors to help provide treatment and specialized help for drug/alcohol addiction, mental health, etc. Mr. Krucky also shared about the bathroom improvements that are planned to be built in the district. Mr. Krucky shared he plans to keep the Board in the loop with updates by providing a presentation at a future Board meeting.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:52:00]

[1:02:50] -- Director Kevin Auger spoke about the City's process of building projects and is aware of the opposition for the housing project for Kamaliʻi Mini Park and assured everyone that there are no plans set yet for the property. Mr. Auger shared the history of the piece of the property and the City's plan to transform a longtime underutilized property. Mr. Auger also shared what (Request for Qualification) RFQ's are and the process of how they work to find a trusted and experienced development partner. Mr. Auger shared that there are no final plans in place, and emphasized it is still in the beginning of a community centered process. Projects undergo years of trials before a project is ever finalized and there will be multiple opportunities throughout the process for the public to provide input.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:12:45]

Member Shubert-Kwock left the meeting at 7:31 p.m.; 8 members present.

IV. PUBLIC CONCERNS -- [1:38:47]

Kamaliʻi Mini Park -- [1:39:40]: A resident shared his personal beliefs and mistrust on what the City will do to Kamaliʻi Mini Park.

V. ELECTED OFFICIALS -- [1:41:32] -- Chair Caravalho announced priority will be given to elected officials/representatives who are present in person at the meeting and then proceed to elected officials/representatives who are present virtually on WebEx.

Governor Josh Green's Representative -- [1:41:58]: Steven Downes submitted his report and was present to take any questions or concerns.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18hvAxCEJ1c8W3GCSR2arq-k3jWe_ebCt/view?usp=drive_link

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fuvv1kE-rJ0S069OuinZmt2bXY4-0_y1/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:42:27]

City Council (District 6) -- Tyler Dos Santos-Tam -- [1:43:44]: Councilmember Dos Santos-Tam provided his report and highlighted the following: Bill 50 (relating to parades, street festivals, and other activities) was signed into law; Bill 1 (relating to outdoor dining program) will be signed into law on Friday, April 4, 2025; bills that are related to illegal gamerooms are still in hearings; perspective on handling the City budget funds; and the discussion for the proposed sewer fees raise will be heard at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 and Bill 46 (relating to Empty Home Tax) will be heard on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DoLdL-9ttwfAChSraRLImoNuQX89oMni/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:49:16]

Member Fitzsimmons left the meeting at 7:52 p.m.; 7 members present.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative -- [2:01:00]: The Mayorʻs representative notified Chair Caravalho he will be leaving the meeting early but has submitted a memo in lieu of the report.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JyMqA5zz41lnNTt-aVaPtiXjNiFHzV43/view?usp=drive_link

Congressman Ed Case's Representative -- [2:02:09]: No representative present.

State Senate (District 13) -- Karl Rhoads -- [2:02:25]: Sara Thorn provided the report and highlighted the following: The Hawaii Department of Agriculture created an information sheet for the public, answering frequently asked questions about Little Fire Ants; and Senator Rhoads introduced Senate Bill (SB) 405 (relating to Neighborhood Board Meetings) and it was crossed over to the House to be heard.

• For questions and concerns, please call Senator Rhoads office at (808) 586-6130 or email senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov

• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uUbwaaW-9PU9bE0eEkhzukHEhBi4A_cM/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:03:40]

State House (District 25) -- Kim Coco Iwamoto -- [2:07:36]: Kate Ozawa was present and reminded everyone to complete the community survey which can be found on Representative Iwamotoʻs April newsletter.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bv3xbgPa67bWmm3jr3NCMD0_jvZ4HWf6/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:08:45]

State House (District 28) -- Daniel Holt -- [2:11:55]: No representative present.

VI. QUARTERLY REPORTS -- [2:12:07]: Chair Caravalho shared that there are no reports scheduled for this month.

VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- [2:12:22]

Thursday, February 6, 2025, and Thursday, March 6, 2025 Regular Meeting Written Summaries for Video Record -- [2:12:22]: Chair Caravalho shared that the approval of both minutes will be deferred to next month's regular Board meeting.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:12:31]

VIII. BOARD BUSINESS -- [2:13:30]

Board vote on whether to include items on next month's regular meeting agenda (May 2025) required under Neighborhood Plan §2-14-111(c): Board Member Lye's two (2) written requests received via email ([1] Proposal to re-implement equitable per-item and per-speaker on-screen timers for NB 13 as per best practices; [2] Motion to amend something previously deferred as stated in the October minutes: Written summaries for video record for Thursday, July 2, 2024 + Thursday August 1, 2024) -- [2:13:35]: Chair Caravalho stated he would not like to place both items on next month's agenda.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:14:53]

[2:43:35] -- Lye MOVED and McDonald SECONDED to defer consideration of implementation of written request for re-implementing equitable per-item and per-speaker on-screen timers. Further discussion followed. A roll-call was conducted. The motion was NOT ADOPTED; 3-4-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Lye, McDonald; Nay: Isokane, McCarney, Sturges, Caravalho; Abstain: None) -- [2:22:05]

[2:22:32] -- Lye MOVED and Armstrong SECONDED to place consideration and discussion of on-screen timers at the next Board meeting. Further discussion followed. A roll-call was conducted. The motion was NOT ADOPTED; 3-4-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Lye, McDonald; Nay: Isokane, McCarney, Sturges, Caravalho; Abstain: None) -- [2:26:18]

[2:26:48] -- Lye MOVED and McDonald SECONDED to amend something previously deferred as stated in the October minutes: Written summaries for video record for Thursday, July 2, 2024 + Thursday August 1, 2024). Further discussion followed. A roll-call was conducted. The motion was NOT ADOPTED; 3-4-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Lye, McDonald; Nay: Isokane, McCarney, Sturges, Caravalho; Abstain: None) -- [2:32:19]

IX. ANNOUNCEMENTS -- [2:32:20]

The next Downtown--Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Keʻelikōlani Middle School and virtually via WebEx.

Rebroadcasts of Downtown--Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13 meetings are scheduled on ʻŌlelo channel 49 for every third Thursday at 9:00 p.m., as well as 9:00 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of each month. An archive of past meetings may be found on http://olelo.org/olelonet/ by searching in archives <Downtown Chinatown>.

City and County of Honolulu and Hawaiʻi Foodbank are partnering to fight against hunger. Neighborhood Board Assistant Camilia Epa Gomes will be collecting donated canned goods at tonightʻs meeting.

X. ADJOURNMENT -- [2:33:06]: The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

Submitted by: Camilia Epa Gomes, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO

Reviewed by: Dylan Buck, Community Relations Specialist, NCO

Finalized by: Ross Isokane, Secretary, Neighborhood Board No.13

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