Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board Meeting SEPTEMBER 2026 Minutes

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Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board Meeting SEPTEMBER 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, SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 at 6:00 P.M.
PRINCESS RUTH KEʻELIKŌLANI MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARY -- 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=S5in87nwqE4

Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1F4DdI9R8Er12TNf6Bl-yb4p4EW0-68vu

1. CALL TO ORDER -- [0:00:05]

Chair Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock called the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with nine (9) members present. Note: This nine-member Board requires five (5) members to establish quorum and to take official board action.

Members Present: Robert Armstrong, Hey Ho, Ross Isokane, Kevin Lye, Dan Mestas, Ian Nguyen, Nicole Shintani, Laura Sturges, and Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock.

Members Absent: None.

Guests: Firefighter J. Quitevis (Honolulu Fire Department); Police Chief David Lazar, Captain S. Matsumura, Sergeant B. Morris (Honolulu Police Department); Honolulu Emergency Services Department Deputy Director Ian Santee (Mayor's Representative); Nestor Garcia (Congressman Ed Case); Stephen Downes (Governor Green's Representative); Senator Karl Rhoads (Senate District 13); Will Duke (Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam); Sarah Liu (Representative Michael Covenant Ratcliffe); Kate Ozawa (Representative Kim Iwamoto); Iris Oda (Honolulu Board of Water Supply); Harry Cho (Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation); Kavika Puahi, Joshua Derrig, Nandi Ishikawa (Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center); Harlee Shim-Huckso, Robert Stellmacher, Richard Wollenbecker (Hawaii Department of Transportation); Theresa Dean (PBR Hawaiʻi); Adriane Truluck, Delphine Homerowski (AECOM); Executive Director Brooke Klejnot (Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District); Maia Mayeshiro (Books, Brews, and Beats Festival); Sage Murakami (CERENE Hawaiʻi); Patrick Smith, Robert Quartero, Kevin McDonald, Roberta Hickey-Gomez, Doug Pyle, Lyn Pyle, Dale Krupa, Shoushawna Laʻanui-Wilcox, Ave Kwok, Alisa Vincent, Konane Morikawa, Laura Adleman, Crissy Gayagas, Alex M.L. Chen, Andrew Perez, Macy Nagata, Xiping Huang, Dean Matsui, Rachel Roper-Noonan (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Names were not included if they were not legible. There were 61 total attendees.

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

Honolulu Fire Department -- [0:01:50]: No representative was present at this time. This item was returned to later in the meeting.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD) -- [0:01:07]: Sergeant B. Morris and Captain S. Matsumura highlighted the following:
• Crime Statistics for August 2026 (compared to July 2026): Seven (7) motor vehicle thefts (5 in July); four (4) burglaries (2 in July); 19 thefts (22 in July); three (3) unlawful entries into motor vehicles (1 in July); 19 assaults (15 in July); two (2) sex assaults (2 in July); zero (0) graffiti cases (0 in July); 14 drug cases (4 in July); 88 motor vehicle collisions (88 in July); 2,054 total calls for service (2,055 in July).
• Motorcycle/Nightlife Enforcement: Three (3) loud-muffler citations and 13 additional motorcycle-related citations issued since the last meeting.
• Chinatown Substation Renovation: Tentatively beginning the week of Monday, September 21, 2026, with no firm completion estimate; the substation will close for the duration, though 911 response and access to the main police station will continue.
• Police Chief David Lazar Introduction: HPD Chief David Lazar made a special appearance to introduce himself to the board, having recently completed his ninth week as the first externally hired Chief of Police in 90 years. He outlined priorities including community policing, increased foot/bicycle patrol, expanded use of technology (drone-as-first-responder program, automated license plate readers, declining to use the Flock camera-data company), a strategic 3--5-year plan, and efforts to close the department's approximately 400-officer staffing shortage (reduced to about 275 net once academy trainees are counted), including a streamlined hiring timeline (down to roughly 3--4 months) and additional recruitment/background-investigation staff.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:08:55]
1. Office Morale, District Coordination & Ground Presence: Resident Ernest Caravalho thanked HPD for a recent drug arrest near his residence, urged more visible foot patrols so officers can build relationships with the community, and asked how District 1 would coordinate with District 5 (Kalihi/Liliha) given the interconnected nature of the areas. Chief Lazar affirmed the need for community policing and coordinated cross-district enforcement.
2. Open Drug Use & Prostitution Near Keʻelikōlani Middle School: Resident Doug Pyle described ongoing open drug use and long-standing prostitution activity near the school and Kukui Plaza, and asked how these persistent problems could be better addressed. Chief Lazar committed HPD's full support for enforcement, acknowledged officers should not simply drive past open drug use, and said he would work with narcotics/vice and District 1 leadership on a longer-term plan.
3. Technology Guardrails & Community Oversight: Patrick Smith, speaking individually, asked the Chief to maintain strong policy protections against misuse of surveillance technology. Resident Roberta Hickey-Gomez separately asked about data-sharing guardrails (including with federal agencies) and whether officers could be assigned to patrol the communities they live in. Chief Lazar confirmed that HPD has a public policy on real-time investigation/drone technology and will not use the Flock camera-data company, and explained that officer district assignments are governed by a union process allowing personal preference.
4. Officer-Involved Shooting Transparency: Resident Dale Krupa asked whether HPD would slow down and more thoroughly investigate before publicly defending officers after use-of-force incidents. Chief Lazar said the department would let investigations run their course before forming conclusions, while noting officers must make split-second decisions and receive de-escalation/crisis-intervention training.
5. Foot Patrols vs. DUI Checkpoints: Resident Lyn Pyle contrasted a lack of responsive foot patrol near observed drug activity on Kukui Street with a recent DUI checkpoint near Diamond Head, questioning the resource allocation. Chief Lazar affirmed support for foot/bicycle patrol and explained DUI checkpoints are grant-funded and targeted at reducing the island's 26 traffic fatalities year to date.
6. Community Partnership & No-Tolerance Policy: Resident Kevin McDonald thanked the Chief for his no-tolerance stance on drug abuse and homelessness and asked for continued in-person engagement with the board on legislative priorities. Chief Lazar committed to returning and working with the board on legislative support.
7. Theft Prevention & Open Drug Use: Member Lye inquired what techniques or new initiatives Chief Lazar plans to introduce in Hawaiʻi to help reduce crime, such as vehicle break-ins and open drug use. Chief Lazar identified three areas of focus: 1) leveraging technology, citing its success in reducing auto theft and break-ins in a state where he previously served; 2) ensuring HPD officers in the field have the resources they need to do their jobs; and 3) educating the public through safety campaigns to help residents stay vigilant and aware.
8. Staffing Shortage: Member Isokane asked for the HPD Chief's assessment of the recruitment and application screening process in addressing HPD's current staffing shortage. Chief Lazar noted working closely with the Department's Human Resources team and addressing certain areas and processes in the hiring process.
9. Substation Conditions & Police Commission Oversight: Member Armstrong raised long-standing complaints about the Chinatown substation's inaccessible public restrooms and inadequate signage, and encouraged the Chief to support strong Police Commission oversight. Chief Lazar committed to prioritizing repairs to the substation and affirmed his engagement with the Police Commission.

[0:41:33] -- At this time, Chair Shubert-Kwock called for a brief recess at 6:41 p.m.

[0:41:38] -- At this time, Chair Shubert-Kwock gaveled back in at 6:45 p.m.
Hearing no objections, Chair Shubert-Kwock took the agenda out of order to hear agenda item 2.1 at this time.

Honolulu Fire Department -- [0:41:45]: Firefighter J. Quitevis highlighted the following:
• August 2026 Statistics: zero (0) structure fires; zero (0) brush fires; six (6) nuisance fires; 25 activated alarms (no fire involved); 101 medical emergencies; zero (0) pedestrian MVCs; three (3) MVC collisions; zero (0) mountain rescues; three (3) ocean rescues; one (1) hazardous materials incident.
• Public Safety Tip -- Lithium-Ion Batteries: Provided everyday charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and keep homes and communities safer.
• HFD Fire Prevention Week Family Day: The event will be on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Honolulu Zoo. This year's theme is "Charge into Fire Safety." The event is free to attend and open to the public.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NTptMcH-gEfecKlpAjdUnNTTCbtit1UQ/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:45:05]
1. Plans for a New Fire Station: Member Lye asked about plans for a new Downtown Fire Station/Training Center; Firefighter Quitevis had no update and committed to following up.
2. HPD Presence: Member Lye asked if the representatives from HPD were still present in the meeting or had left. Chair Shubert-Kwock confirmed the representatives had already left the meeting.

3. PUBLIC CONCERNS -- [0:46:47]

Homeless Outreach, Hotel St. Signage & Bus Reliability -- [0:47:00]: Resident Ernest Caravalho reported connecting an unhoused woman with resources to return home, asked for larger/more legible "no driving" signage on Hotel Street, and raised chronic 30--60-minute delays on TheBus Routes 2 and 4 during rush hour, requesting the board's assistance in raising the issue with City Council and Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS).

Rail-Related Transportation Planning Committee -- [0:48:45]: Resident Doug Pyle proposed the board consider forming a committee (e.g., "transportation access and connectivity") to proactively plan for the impacts and opportunities of the incoming rail line.

Chinatown/Downtown Boundary & Rail Coordination -- [0:50:10]: Patrick Smith reported that a possible boundary change between NB13 and the adjacent Kalihi-Kāpālama Neighborhood Board is not feasible before the next redistricting cycle (earliest effective May 2029), and offered to help mediate a memorandum of understanding between the two boards on rail-related issues.

Hotel Street Two-Way Traffic & Coordination -- [0:51:25]: Maunakea Marketplace Owner Ave Kwok raised concern about a possible future conversion of Hotel Street to one-way traffic, citing impacts on tour-bus access and merchants, and suggested closer coordination between Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) and the Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District on shared safety information.

Union Plaza Squatting -- [0:53:50]: Resident Lyn Pyle asked what the city is doing about an aggressive individual squatting in the vacant Union Plaza building on Union Mall.

Oʻahu Resilience Hub Learning Community -- [0:54:22]: Sage Murakami introduced the Oʻahu Resilience Hub Learning Community, a City and County-affiliated network offering CPR/first aid, shelter, psychological first aid, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) resilience certification, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, and invited the board to join a neighborhood working group or request a future presentation. Chair Shubert-Kwock invited a future agenda presentation.

Meeting Date/Time Reconsideration -- [0:57:57]: Member Armstrong asked whether the board's meeting date, time, and location for the current term had been formally finalized on the agenda as previously discussed. Chair Shubert-Kwock stated the two-year term schedule would remain unchanged and declined to place the item on a future agenda.

4. PRESENTATIONS -- [1:00:20]

Books, Brews, & Beats Festival -- [1:00:30]: Maia Mayeshiro (Event Organizer) requested board support for a community book-exchange and live-music event on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Fort Street Mall (site of the regular farmers market), with an estimated 500 attendees, no road closures, and no alcohol service.

[1:02:10] -- Lye MOVED and Mestas SECONDED to support the Books, Brews & Beats Festival as stated on the agenda. Further discussion followed. Hearing no further discussion, a roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was ADOPTED, 9-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Ho, Isokane, Lye, Mestas, Nguyen, Shintani, Sturges, Shubert-Kwock; Nay: None; Abstain: None) -- [1:02:42].

H-1 Cap Park Planning Study -- [1:02:50]: Harlee Shim-Huckso (Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation project manager), joined by Theresa Dean (PBR Hawaiʻi, community engagement) and Adriane Truluck (AECOM, historic preservation), presented an early-stage feasibility study for a "cap park" (a deck built over a roughly half-mile segment of the H-1 freeway between Liliʻuokalani/Liliha and Queen Emma Streets), funded by a U.S. DOT Reconnecting Communities Pilot Grant Program, intended to reconnect the Downtown-Chinatown and upper Liliha-Nuʻuanu communities. The team shared comparison examples (Klyde Warren Park, Dallas, TX; Margaret T. Hance Park, Phoenix, AZ; The Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston, MA) and historical research on the area's pre-freeway agricultural, Chinatown, and displacement history. The team is holding community talk-story sessions throughout September 2026, with a first public community meeting the last week of September 2026; no cost estimate or construction timeline exists yet, though construction is not anticipated for roughly a decade. Contact information was also provided in the presentation.
• Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y9zOhUM71u1EhcTUbPmsELv1ninZ70CI/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:17:20]
1. Homelessness in Future Park Space & Botanical Garden Restoration: Resident Ernest Caravalho supported the concept but questioned the city's capacity to maintain a new park given existing homelessness challenges in current parks, and asked whether any land could be restored to Foster Botanical Garden, which lost acreage to the original freeway construction.
2. Project Cost, Timeline & Security Design: Member Lye noted the project was first presented to the board in October 2022 with a $2 million funding request, and asked for updated budget/timeline estimates and what design measures would prevent the space from becoming an unmonitored gathering spot, as has occurred under the H-1/Nimitz Highway overpass. Ms. Shim-Huckso said cost and schedule are not yet determined pending the conceptual design phase, and that security and maintenance concerns are being incorporated into the design process.
3. Environmental Considerations: Resident Robert Quartero noted potential odor/air-quality concerns from a nearby crematorium/mortuary near his residential building on River Street.
4. Safety Considerations: Member Armstrong asked what safety impact capping the freeway would have on traffic below; the team said this would be carefully studied during design.

Mobile Syringe Exchange Program Van -- [1:25:05]: Kavika Puahi (Acting Executive Director, Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center) confirmed the program's mobile van relocated away from the Kukui Street/Chinatown area in approximately October 2025 and has no current plans to return to NB13's neighborhood, citing community opposition; he did not disclose current operating locations, citing client-population sensitivity, but confirmed the program is not operating within NB13. He reported a statewide decline in syringe exchanges (as drug use shifts toward smoking) and no significant change in syringe-borne disease rates since relocating.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:27:51]
1. Safe Routes to Schools: Resident Doug Pyle shared he is supportive of the program but noted their van should not be parked near pedestrian routes students use to get to and from schools.
2. Program Funding & Community Concerns: Resident Kevin McDonald advocated for defunding the program entirely, characterizing it as enabling drug activity; Mr. Puahi cited over 200 supporting studies and reaffirmed the program's relocation in response to the board's prior concerns.
3. Needle Littering Data & Program Mobility -- [1:31:40]: Member Lye asked about the following: 1) data on the number of needles being exchanged; 2) where the program currently operates; and 3) the program's stance on distributing foil squares. Mr. Puahi said the program does not give out foil squares, declined to specify further locations where their program operates, and noted that they see a decrease in exchanges due to individuals shifting to smoking versus injecting drugs.
4. Disease Rates/Support for the Program: Member Armstrong expressed support for the program and asked whether disease rates had changed since relocation; Mr. Puahi reported no significant change but noted fewer people may be accessing services since the move. Member Nguyen expressed support and asked if their mobile program rotates in different locations. Mr. Puahi shared Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center (H3RC) currently has two vehicles that service the whole island.
5. Syringe Littering: Member Isokane also expressed support for the program's public-health rationale and noted the community's concern about syringe littering and asked whether there is data on how the program prevents syringe littering. Mr. Puahi said the program tracks syringes in versus out and littering is rare outside of sweeps/police intervention.

5. RESOLUTIONS -- [1:39:57]

Proposed Resolutions Regarding Mobile Syringe Exchange Program Services -- [1:40:00]: Member Lye stated the posted resolution draft contained transcription errors from his original submission and proposed introducing a corrected floor version.
• Resolution: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NXhjvpj60OtiNkR0T0_etI_chV97Wa3u/view?usp=drive_link

[1:43:13] -- Lye MOVED to introduce a floor version to provide corrections to errors on the draft that has been posted online in the NB13 meeting materials (Google Drive). The motion failed for lack of a second.

Resolution Regarding Residential Broadcast Access and Building-Code Reform -- [1:43:54]: Robert Quartero presented a narrowed resolution requesting the state and county study requiring master-antenna infrastructure in new multi-unit housing to preserve free over-the-air broadcast access, citing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) data on channel availability, reception barriers in modern construction, precedent ordinances in Virginia, New Jersey, and California, and a pending Senate/House legislative draft from Senator Rhoads's office for the 2027 session.
• Resolution: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFKSP7-Y25pjLFIYpEMo7gYf4BXznz7E/view?usp=drive_link
• Support Packet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cWAE2KHg9AvOkzzFjuJF11UjLNKkbB0G/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:49:05]
1. Housing Regulations, Board Members' Stance, & Residents Affected: Member Isokane opposed the resolution as drafted, citing Hawaiʻi's regulatory burden. Member Lye and Vice Chair Mestas supported the underlying concern but recommended a narrower "antenna-ready infrastructure" study approach rather than a construction mandate. Member Armstrong voiced support, citing similar reception problems reported by Councilmember Dos Santos-Tam in his own residence.

[1:58:08] -- Chair Shubert-Kwock MOVED and Mestas SECONDED to support (as a simplified, broad statement of conceptual support rather than the full resolution as drafted) residential public access to over-the-air broadcasting. Following discussion, a roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was ADOPTED, 8-0-1 (Aye: Armstrong, Ho, Isokane, Mestas, Nguyen, Shintani, Sturges, Shubert-Kwock; Nay: None; Abstain: Lye) -- [2:04:38].

Resolution Regarding Hotel Street Painting and Signage -- [2:00:08]: This item was deferred to the October 2026 regular meeting at the presenter's request.
• Resolution: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZH3mWqC-j6yb6mt6Griv9rLb9Z5kMaAG/view?usp=drive_link

6. BOARD BUSINESS -- [2:05:08]

Board Vote to Approve Draft Written Summaries for Thursday, August 6, 2026 -- [2:00:22]: Member Lye noted submitting testimony in the public-facing Google Drive expressing concerns about the draft meeting minutes.

[2:07:07] -- Lye MOVED that the edits he recommended be incorporated into the draft minutes. The motion failed for lack of a second.

[2:07:56] -- Shubert-Kwock MOVED and Isokane SECONDED to approve the August 2026 minutes as written. Following discussion, a roll-call vote was conducted. The motion was ADOPTED, 8-1-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Ho, Isokane, Mestas, Nguyen, Shintani, Sturges, Shubert-Kwock; Nay: Lye; Abstain: None) -- [2:10:15].

[2:10:15] -- Following the vote, Chair Shubert-Kwock raised a prior complaint filed with the Neighborhood Commission and the Office of Information Practices (OIP) regarding late posting of the June 2026 minutes.

Appointment of a Secondary Representative to the Oʻahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OʻahuMPO) Citizen Advisory Committee -- [2:14:05]: [2:14:09] -- Hearing no objections, Chair Shubert-Kwock appointed Resident Doug Pyle as the alternate representative. Separately, Chair Shubert-Kwock appointed Vice Chair Mestas to lead a Transportation Committee to study rail-related transportation connectivity issues raised earlier in the meeting. 9-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Ho, Isokane, Lye, Mestas, Nguyen, Shintani, Sturges, Shubert-Kwock; Nay: None; Abstain: None) -- [2:14:38].

Due to the requirement in the Neighborhood Plan §2-14-111(c)(2), the appointment of Member Mestas and formation of the Transportation Committee fails.

7. ELECTED OFFICIALS -- [2:15:40]

Congressman Ed Case -- [2:15:40]: Nestor Garcia reported the Congressman's third-quarter newsletter and a district survey were shared via chat/Google Drive, and highlighted approximately $8 million in pending Fiscal Year 2027 House Appropriations funding for infrastructure improvements at Chinatown Gateway Plaza and Marin Tower on Nimitz Highway, pending Senate action. If you want to subscribe to receive E-Newsletters and stay current with Congressman Ed Case's work, please email ed.case@mail.house.com or visit https://case.house.gov/news/email/.
• 2026 Third Quarter Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wEA0n8itA9K5gK2G1lvehAJFHejgV9Fn/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:18:49]
1. Chinatown Gateway Plaza Elevator & Windows: Resident Ernest Caravalho thanked the Congressman for the infrastructure funding but asked for the building's long-broken elevators to also be addressed. Resident Shoushawna Laʻanui-Wilcox (Chinatown Gateway Plaza) separately described ongoing water intrusion through unsealed original windows causing an electrical/fire hazard and asked how the funding would address this; Mr. Garcia asked for details to be sent to his office for follow-up.
2. Public Forums & SAVE Act: Patrick Smith asked when the Congressman would next hold a public forum; Mr. Garcia said a communications plan was being discussed. Mr. Smith would like to know the reasoning behind Congressman Case's vote for the SAVE Act. Resident Kevin McDonald thanked the Congressman for supporting the SAVE Act and asked what further steps would address election administration concerns (wait times, ballot accuracy).
3. Jones Act Relief for Hawaii: Member Isokane asked whether the Congressman would consider seeking federal financial compensation for Hawaiʻi and Alaska given the cost impact of the Jones Act, as an alternative to full repeal.

Governor Josh Green's Representative -- [2:28:00]: Stephen Downes read written follow-up responses to prior-month questions: Hawaiʻi's absence from the 250th-anniversary National Mall celebration was attributed to logistics/funding constraints, with local events held statewide instead; the state's small-business ranking is being addressed through shared-use facility investment, workforce development, and infrastructure per the July 2026 newsletter from the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT); all 10 pilot noise cameras (including one at Pali Highway/Vineyard Boulevard) are now installed, with the River Street camera sited at an alternate location after a right-of-way issue, and data will be released after a six-month collection period; illegal roadway signs are removed on a five-week patrol cycle or upon report.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18K_UyaszuJAorscT0gsf4sru-urtYYDM/view?usp=drive_link
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BepkTtGAFZ75VTdOnkQq01REm6vSFpD7/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:33:13]
1. Affordable Housing Pricing Thresholds: Resident Doug Pyle asked whether "affordable housing" income thresholds used for developer tax benefits are sometimes set above market rate, undermining affordability, and whether the Governor would support correcting this.
2. Small Business Climate & Delegation Funding: Resident Kevin McDonald renewed concerns about Hawaiʻi's small-business rankings (highest taxes, utility costs, labor costs, and regulation per the CNBC study) and questioned funding a legislative delegation to a mainland conference while not funding a 250th-anniversary delegation.
3. Lai Fong Building Bird Droppings & Delegation Funding: Member Lye asked whether bird-dropping accumulation at the Lai Fong building rises to the level of a concern for the Department of Health, and asked about enforcement of illegally modified vehicle mufflers and air horns.
4. Makua Valley Land Return: Member Isokane asked whether Governor Green is pursuing the return of contaminated fee-simple federal land in Makua Valley (beyond the leased portion) along with full remediation funding.

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative -- [2:39:50]: Ian Santee (Deputy Director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department) provided written follow-up on multiple items: the Kekaulike St./Nimitz Hwy. bus-stop light was removed for HART guideway construction and a permanent relocation is pending; the City Department of Transportation Services (DTS) has no current plans to change Hotel Street's traffic direction; several Downtown streets have been repaved with more planned, including Hotel and King Streets; feral-chicken trapping has been requested at the Kamaliʻi Mini Park site; the Kamaliʻi Mini Park predevelopment/ground-lease negotiation is ongoing with no change; the 1027 Maunakea Street curb ramp cannot be flattened per prior City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) review; and the fire-damaged building at 901 Kekaulike/King Street and the vacant 1022 Bethel Street building both remain under active code-enforcement follow-up.
• Link to Sign Up for News Updates: https://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/newsletter-signup/
• News Release for Home Exemptions: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zL99WewZk0SCoNKtbwbcajUzelGdhA6a/view?usp=drive_link
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cg6s_XaVbGRJYJTZ-fABdwbpR54vx4y1/view?usp=drive_link
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DJxREbjKjyH8jVZ0-4afbpaSUm9dOjRB/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:44:35]
1. Bus Reliability: Resident Ernest Caravalho renewed concern about chronic delays on TheBus Routes 2 and 4; Mr. Santee confirmed the concern was received for follow-up.
2. Addressing Road Conditions & Small Business Support: Resident Kevin McDonald reiterated his question asking what the mayor's plans are to address the conditions of the roads and to help small businesses on Oʻahu.
3. Fallen Tree & Streetlight Outages: Member Sturges reported a fallen tree near the Kamaliʻi Mini Park bus stop on the Bishop Street side.
4. Liquor Commission Litigation Costs: Member Isokane raised concern about the City's mounting legal costs of defending against Honolulu Liquor Commission complaints tied to Scarlet Honolulu.
5. Exposed Utility Hole/Defaced Street Signage/Syringe Exchange Van Sighting: Member Lye raised concern about the utility hole that is partially covered with a piece of plywood near the corner of the intersection of S. Hotel and Alakea streets. Secondly, he noted two (2) street signs at the intersection of Nuʻuanu Avenue and Vineyard Blvd. covered with graffiti. Lastly, he asked HPD to clarify a report that the syringe-exchange van was observed traveling on, though not stopping on, Kukui Street.
6. Streetlight Outages: Member Armstrong reported multiple non-functioning streetlights (Hotel Street near McDonald's and Union Mall). Member Mestas asked for a solar-light option to be considered at 901 Kukui Street; Mr. Santee committed to following up with the City Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM).
7. Protest: Chair Shubert-Kwock protested against the findings from DDC regarding the sidewalk ramp in front of 1027 Maunakea Street.

City Council (District 6) -- Tyler Dos Santos-Tam -- [2:51:30]: Will Duke, citing limited remaining time, shared his newsletter via chat and took no live questions.
• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P_n_WFv6ViRMAMTc8cXEMaHkiR4-xP3w/view?usp=drive_link

State Senate (District 13) -- Karl Rhoads -- [2:52:19]: Senator Rhoads advised residents affected by recent storm-related power outages to file claims with Hawaiian Electric, reminded voters that general-election ballots are mailed by Friday, October 16, 2026, and encouraged in-person voting if mail delivery is disrupted by federal action, and, responding to an earlier question, described the recent primary election's line-management process as running smoothly.
• Questions or Concerns: Email senrhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov or call (808) 586-6130.
• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lp7WCdvuydcRX1ezb-BIIzVtrQu2tLxG/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

[2:55:16] -- Due to time constraints, the remaining Elected Officials items (State House District 25 -- Kim Coco Iwamoto; State House District 28 -- Michael Covenant Ratcliffe) and all Agenda Item 8 Monthly Reports (Honolulu Board of Water Supply; Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation; Downtown Honolulu Business Improvement District; Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Highways Division; Chinatown Business Community Association; Neighborhood Citizen Patrol; OʻahuMPO Citizen Advisory Committee) were not presented live; the Chair directed the public to review written reports on the Google Drive.

State House (District 25) -- Kim Coco Iwamoto -- [2:55:25]: This item was deferred due to time constraints.

State House (District 28) -- Michael Covenant Ratcliffe -- [2:55:50]: This item was deferred due to time constraints.

8. MONTHLY REPORTS -- [2:56:07]

Honolulu Board of Water Supply -- [2:56:07]: This item was deferred due to time constraints. A written report was submitted.
• Event Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bBqZZAuqp1rwFNsFOCIt3d1HzRSXWeOm/view?usp=drive_link
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/143ldNWeEJ_dttHFGc2j_tXwCmT7sbMIN/view?usp=drive_link

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) -- [2:56:07]: This item was deferred due to time constraints.

Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Highways Division (HDOT) -- [2:56:07]: This item was deferred due to time constraints.

Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) -- [2:56:07]: This item was deferred due to time constraints. A written report was submitted.
• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xQlPSB279auX94sVxd8H3BjdB46hI_Ss/view?usp=drive_link

Neighborhood Citizen Patrol -- [2:56:07]: This item was deferred due to time constraints.

9. ANNOUNCEMENTS -- [2:56:41]

The next Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at Keʻelikōlani Middle School Library and virtually via WebEx.

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

10. ADJOURNMENT -- [2:57:00]: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Submitted by: Camilia Epa Gomes, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Reviewed by: Zhoydell Magaoay, Neighborhood Assistant, NCO
Finalized by: Hey Ho, Secretary, Neighborhood Board No.13

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Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board Meeting SEPTEMBER 2026 Minutes

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