Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board Meeting MARCH 2026 Minutes

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Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board Meeting MARCH 2026 Minutes
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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, March 5, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.

Keʻelikōlani Middle School Library

1302 Queen Emma Street, Honolulu, HI 96813

AND VIA WEBEX

Video recording of this meeting can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkww8I6luXA

Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:

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

1. CALL TO ORDER -- [0:00:01]

Chair Ernest Caravalho called the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meeting to order at 6:00 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, Dan Mestas, Nicole Shintani, Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, and Laura Sturges.

Members Absent: Sean Fitzsimmons.

Guests: Captain Harrison (Honolulu Fire Department); Sergeant Freeman (Honolulu Police Department); Stephen Downes (Governor Greenʻs Representative); Will Duke (Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam); Haleina Beltran (Senator Karl Rhoads); Kate Ozawa (Representative Kim Iwamoto); Iris Oda (Honolulu Board of Water Supply); Harry Cho (HART); Ed Korybski (Fort Street Mall Improvement District); Mike Buck (C.O.R.E); Nicole Reid, Kennedy Augafa (Umi On Smith); McKinley Eads (DoHo Night Market); Sandra Pohl (Downtown Art HI); Christina Whinnery (Kekaulike Courtyard); Anthony Nagatani, Julia Ogilvie, Charles Jonsson, Jordan Kapono Nakamura (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 41 total attendees.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS -- [0:00:54]

Honolulu Fire Department -- [0:01:01]: Captain Harrison provided statistics and tips.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11hRsoX8gp54pL0o67st_kB0icqkCzqEf/view?usp=sharing

Honolulu Police Department -- [0:03:05]: Sergeant Freeman provided statistics.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:04:18]

• HPD at Ala Moana Neighborhood Board: Dale Vanderbrink (Ala Moana-Kaka'ako Neighborhood Board)

• Kekaulike Courtyards Safety Concerns: Christina Whinnery (Kekaulike Courtyards)

• Foot Patrol Frequency: Board Member Isokane

• Drug Arrest Standards: Board Member Armstrong

• Noise Enforcement & Outstanding Requests: Board Member Lye

• Needle Van & Parking Concerns: Board Member Shubert-Kwock.

• Activity at Kekaulike Courtyard: Board Member Mestas

• Homeless Encampments on Bishop Street: Board Member Sturges

• Deteriorating Street Conditions and Need for Foot Patrols: Chair Caravalho

3. PRESENTATIONS -- [0:23:44]

Umi on Smith -- Kaiao Space and Chinatown Social Club -- [0:24:03]: Kennedy Augafa (Chinatown Social Club/Sig Zane) and Nicole Reid (Imagine and Create Foundation) provided information on the planned event, a community concert and art block party on Smith Street on Friday, May 1, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m

• Event Details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y4z34LYTE5XFeuaRRu5ojw0eX88ZM4Kg/view?usp=sharing

• Event Foot Print: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TiJhnkhgOKX6uqVmlrYfniaGFPQkxO8j/view?usp=sharing

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:29:44]

• Event Safety & Past Jaywalking Citations: Board Member Isokane

• Agenda Accuracy & Event Scope: Board Member Lye

• Sound Mitigation Plan: Board Member Shubert-Kwock

[0:40:00] -- Mestas MOVED and Armstrong SECONDED for the board to support the Umi on Smith event. Further discussion followed and a roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was ADOPTED; 8-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Isokane, Lye, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) -- [0:50:09].

Downtown Honolulu (DoHo) Night Market -- Affordable Hawaiʻi Foundation -- [0:50:20]: McKinley Eads (Activate DoHo) provided information on the second DoHo Night Market, scheduled for Friday, April 17, 2026 from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Fort Street Mall and Robert Wilcox Park.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:52:25]

• Event Safety Record: Board Member Mestas

• No Alcohol Confirmation: Board Member Shubert-Kwock

• DTS Requirements for Permitting: Board Member Isokane

[0:55:30] -- Armstrong MOVED and Lye SECONDED for the board to support the DoHo Night Market event. Further discussion followed. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 8-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Isokane, Lye, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) -- [0:57:28].

Heart of Honolulu -- Downtown Art HI -- [0:57:36]: Sandra Pohl (Director, Downtown Art HI) presented information on the fifth annual Heart of Honolulu festival scheduled on Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

[1:00:00] -- Armstrong MOVED and Mestas SECONDED for the board to support Heart of Honolulu Festival. Hearing no objections, the motion was ADOPTED; 8-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Isokane, Lye, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) -- [1:00:21].

St. Patrick's Day Celebration -- Fort Street BID -- [1:00:35]: Ed Korybski (Fort Street BID) presented the St. Patrick's Day event on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 on Fort Street Mall between Hotel and King Streets with no road closure.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:06:57]

• Burdensome Regulations on Events: Board Member Isokane

• Event Details: Board Member Shubert-Kwock

• Public Noticing and Pedestrian Malls: Board Member Lye

4. PUBLIC CONCERNS -- [1:11:54]

• Ala Moana Park Cleanup Announcement: Dale Vanderbrink

• Test case on prohibition around public concerns: Board Member Lye

Member Shubert-Kwock left the meeting at 7:15 p.m; 7 members present.

5. BOARD BUSINESS -- [1:16:13]

Neighborhood Board Cleanup Discussion -- Date and Place [1:16:13]: The Board discussed potential dates for a neighborhood cleanup. Chair Caravalho suggested that the Board join the Chinatown Lions Club on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Meetup location will be at Smith-Beretania Park.

6. ELECTED OFFICIALS -- [1:23:18]: Priority is given to elected officials/representatives who are present

in person at the meeting.

Governor Josh Green's Representative -- [1:23:30]: Stephen Downes provided rsponses to prior meeting questions.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jpMl1ShPEMNxyyZxuG6n0BoTbBptG1IW/view?usp=drive_link

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lqo4i-S-7RuIcQYcIk9-Y0dTNxvkRJie/view?usp=drive_link

[1:24:26] -- Chair Caravalho stepped away temporarily and asked Secretary Isokane to serve as presiding officer.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:25:40]

• Security in Chinatown: Christina Whinnery (online)

• Highway Signs Standards: Board Member Lye

• Tariff Impact on Hawaiʻi Economy: Board Member Isokane

[1:27:05] -- Chair Caravalho resumed as presiding officer upon returning to his seat.

Hearing no objections, the Chair took the agenda out of order at this time to return to Item 4. Public Concerns.

4. PUBLIC CONCERNS -- CONTINUED -- [1:29:50]

• House District 28 Candidate Announcement -- [1:29:50]: Michael Ratcliffe

• House District 28 Candidate Announcement -- [1:29:50]: Nadia Alves

Congressman Ed Case's Representative -- [1:30:52]: No representative at this time.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative -- [1:31:06]: Ian Santee provided updates.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_ZIMTNzZdnVPiMmMvg1OdDeNmsSGgqm3/view?usp=drive_link

• Link to Sign-up for News Updates via Email: https://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/newsletter-signup/

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:31:31]

• Short-Term Rental Enforcement: Board Member Isokane

• Programmable Street signs for Downtown: Board Member Lye

State Senate (District 13) -- Karl Rhoads -- [1:35:10]: Haleina Beltran provided updates.

• Questions or Concerns: Email senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov or call (808) 586-6130.

• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13Jb32qR5xvF5E_Q4Dfz-QR_zHsORa8-P/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:36:18]

• Contractor Campaign Contribution Disclosure Bills: Board Member Isokane

• House Bill 850 Condo Association Ballot Extension: Board Member Lye

City Council (District 6) -- Tyler Dos Santos Tam -- [1:39:40]: Will Duke provided updates

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TXr1IxOIDoA5D8LbXBKFt_1aaGmlKABw/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:40:42]

• Bill 7 (2019) & Section 8 Portability Loophole: Board Member Isokane

• Hotel St. Traffic Restrictions: Board Member Armstrong

• Kamaliʻi Mini Park Redevelopment & Condo Ballot Extension: Board Member Lye

State House (District 25) -- Kim Coco Iwamoto -- [1:46:09]: Kate Ozawa provided updates

• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1n4Hl8lm8SN1lJl3kGWTQMO2xnInK7pdq/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:47:00]

• Housing & Speculative Investment Bills: Board Member Isokane

• Sit-Lie Laws on State Capitol Grounds, HB890, HB850: Board Member Lye

7. MONTHLY REPORTS -- [1:51:00]

Honolulu Board of Water Supply -- [1:51:11]: Iris Oda provided updates.

• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VjPuExcKiA7FdWC1yOLU_ZAD6qZDA72z/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:52:21]

• Red Hill Spill Lawsuit: Board Member Isokane

• Untracked Equipment: Board Member Lye

• Water Outage at 1136 Union Street: Chair Caravalho

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation -- [1:54:37]: Harry Cho provided updates

• Design Workshop Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uVQe3SXKG_xhLbSaTgmxGtaJC053ULFx/view?usp=drive_link

• Lane Closure Notice: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_J3oDAFjOdnjkbm8sEkHXs6jDOjkPNr/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:56:28]

• Design Delay & HART Vehile Identification: Board Member Lye

Chinatown Improvement District -- [1:58:40]: No representative present at this time.

Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) -- [1:59:00]: Board Member Dan Mestas provided updates.

• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ka90pyn99iOSGQOjpNIfZUYdM72Nrb1J/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Neighborhood Citizen Patrol -- [2:01:20]: Board Member Lye reported on patrol observations. He invited public participation to join the scheduled patrol meet-ups that occur every second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. departing from outside the Diamond Head Tower lobby of Kukui Plaza (55 S. Kukui St.).

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:03:50]

• Growing Pigeon Populations: Board Member Armstrong

• Current Statutes for Feral Chicken Populations: Board Member Isokane

• Residents Feeding Pigeons: Board Member Mestas

• Pigeons, Roosters and Homeless issues: Chair Caravalho

8. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- [2:09:30]

Approval of Regular Meeting Summary for Video Record (Thursday, February 5, 2026) -- [2:09:30]: Board members discussed the level of detail in the written summary.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:10:00]

• Detail of written summaries: Board Member Armstrong

• Tradeoffs and modeling off of City Council: Board Member Isokane

[2:13:30] -- Hearing no objections, the Thursday, February 5, 2026 Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record was approved as written; 7-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Isokane, Lye, Mestas, Shubert-Kwock, Shintani, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) -- [2:13:32].

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:13:35]

• December 2025 Regular Meeting Written Summary clerical correction: Board Member Lye.

9. ANNOUNCEMENTS -- [2:14:16]

City and County of Honolulu and Hawaiʻi Foodbank -- Fight Against Hunger: Neighborhood Assistant Camilia Epa Gomes will be collecting donated canned goods at the next Neighborhood Board meeting.

The next Downtown--Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2026, 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 on .

10. ADJOURNMENT -- [2:15:10] The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 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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Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board Meeting MARCH 2026 Minutes

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