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

Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9

 

August 2022 Minutes

 

WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 9

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - DRAFT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2022

VIA WEBEX AND WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Robert Finley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. There were difficulties with the meeting link via WebEx, which delayed members to join the meeting. A quorum was established with 12 members present. Note: This 17-member Board requires nine (9) members to establish quorum and to take official board action.

Board Members Present: Robert Boyack, Lisa Cabanero, Jeffrey Merz, Mark Garrity, Tommy Penrose (appointed at 6:30 p.m.), Robert Donaldson, Louis Erteschik, Robert Finley, Jacob Wiencek, Kathryn Henski, Melissa Filek, John Nigro, Mark Smith.

Board Members Absent: Helen Carroll, Bowe Souza, Michael Brown.

Guests: Lieutenant Troy Komoda (Honolulu Police Department); Keola Fisher and Council Chair Tommy Waters; Senator Sharon Moriwaki; Representative Adrian Tam; Scott Glenn (Governor David Ige's office); Rick Egged (Waikiki Improvement Association); David Uchiyama (Hawaii Think Tank); Mark Everson (Blue Water Shrimp); Kristy Copp, Curtis Miller, Carolyn Annerud, Katherine Li, Denis Boisvert, Isha Peralta, Dennis Furukawa, Kathy Murphy (Residents); Casey Ishitani (Neighborhood Assistant) 32 participants present.

FILLING OF VACANCIES - ONE (1) IN SUB-DISTRICT 1 AND ONE (1) IN SUBDISTICT 2

This item was deferred at this time.

BOARD SCHEDULE: Chair Finley reported that the Board may reschedule their November 2022 meeting due to the General Election and recess in December 2022.

CITY MONTHLY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): The following report was sent and read by Chair Finley.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD): Lieutenant Troy Komoda reported July 2022 statistics which may be found at https://www.honolulupd.org/.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.

1. Crime: Board raised concerns regarding the level of criminal activity in Waikiki, including a sword attack and firearms incidents. Residents also reported racing along Ala Wai Boulevard.

2. Noise: Residents requested that HPD officers monitor street performers and vehicles for noise violations.

3. Staffing: Resident raised concerns regarding staffing shortages within HPD.

Board of Water Supply (BWS): There was no representative.

Hearing no objections, Chair Finley had Agenda Item Filling of Vacancies at this time.

FILLING OF VACANCIES

Sub-District 1: Erteschik nominated and Chair Finley Seconded resident Tommy Penrose.

In a roll call vote, Tommy Penrose was appointed to the Board, 12-0-0 (Boyack, Cabanero, Merz, Garrity, Donaldson, Erteschik, Finley, Wiencek, Henski, Filek, Nigro, Smith).

The Neighborhood Assistant swore Penrose in. There were 13 Board members present.

Sub-District 2: There were no nominees.

RESIDENTS' / COMMUNITY CONCERNS:

Firearms: Residents raised concerns regarding repeat offenders acquiring firearms.

Noise Issues: Residents raised concerns regarding emergency vehicle siren and horn usage late at night in Waikiki. Residents reiterated concerns regarding refuse collection in pre-dawn hours.

Beach Closures: Residents raised concerns regarding beach closures for surf contests in Waikiki.

PUBLIC EVENTS: Chair Finley reported the events listed on the August 2022 agenda.



APPLICATION FOR LIQUOR LICENSE: Chair Finley reported businesses filing for liquor licenses on the August 2022 Agenda.

ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative: A report was provided to the Board.

• Mayor's Monthly News Letter: Chair Finley reported that the newsletter may be found at www.oneoahu.org/newsletter.

• Pavilion #4: Residents requested updates on Pavilion #4 on at Waikiki Beach. The City responded that it has begun stages to place a BIKI bike station.

• Lighting: Chair Finley requested an updated status on fixing the lighting in the Ala Wai Ballroom facility. Department of Facility Maintenance (DFM) reported that lighting work will begin in the second week of August 2022.

• Cyber-Security: Board raised concerns regarding cyber-security and the Department of Information Technology (DIT) responded that the City follows Federal rules and guidelines regarding information hardware and software.



Council Chair Tommy Waters: Keola Fisher took inquiries at this time.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.

1. Crime in Waikiki: Board requested that Mayor Blangiardi or Council Chair Waters address recent high-profile crimes.

2. Council Bill 43: Board requested updates regarding Council Bill 43.

Senator Sharon Moriwaki: Senator Moriwaki gave an overview of newsletter and highlighted the following.

• House and Senate Bills: Bills signed or vetoed by Governor Ige may be found at https://governor.hawaii.gov/2022-bills/.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.

1. Prosecution: Chair Finley requested stronger prosecution to discourage repeat violent offenders.

2. Homelessness: Chair Finley requested more services for homeless treatment as opposed to imprisonment.

Representative Adrian Tam: Representative Tam gave an overview of newsletter and reported the following:

• Feral Chickens: Residents are encouraged to report feral chickens to the Humane Society of Hawaii.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.

• Taiwan: A resident requested that the Hawaii State Legislature provide updates regarding tensions between China and Taiwan.

Governor David Ige: Scott Glenn sent a link for the Governor's monthly newsletter at https://governor.hawaii.gov/category/capitol-connection/.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.

1. Noise Levels: Smith raised concerns regarding noise levels on Ala Moana Boulevard near the Ala Wai bridge.

2. Inflation: Wiencek requested that the State mitigate inflation.



Waikiki Improvement Association (WIA): Rick Egged reported that events in Waikiki and on Kalakaua Avenue may be found at https://www.waikikiimprovement.com/events.

• Hoolaulea: The 68th Annual Waikiki Hoolaulea will take place on Kalakaua Avenue on Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. More details may be found at https://www.alohafestivals.com/waikiki-hoolaulea/.

• Siren Noise: Egged reported that tourists have complained regarding siren noise at night.

• Pavilions: WIA sent a request for proposal (RFP) to have lockers at the pavilions o Waikiki Beach.

Hearing no objection, Chair Finley had Council Chair Tommy Waters at this time.

Council Chair Tommy Waters: Council Chair Waters reported the following.

• Funding: City Council approved 12 million dollars to fund HPD patrols and to allow collective bargaining.

• Crime: Council Chair Waters proposed that the area near 7-11 on Kalakaua have extra security.

• Noise: Efforts were made to pass an ordinance discouraging amplified street performances.

• Abandoned Homes: An offer was made to the owner of 1615 Ala Wai Boulevard in order to avoid filing a suit to condemn property.

NEW BOARD BUSINESS

Regent Craft: Hawaii Think Tank President David Uchiyama reported that Regent Craft has proposed utilizing electric seaplanes for interisland travel. More information may be found at https://www.regentcraft.com/.

Shrimp Truck: Mark Everson of Blue Water Shrimp proposed a food truck service at Ala Wai Boat Harbor, possibly with live music.

Henski Moved and Wiencek Seconded to support the proposed food truck at Ala Wai Boat Harbor. The Motion was Adopted by Unanimous Consent, 13-0-0 (Aye: Boyack, Cabanero, Merz, Garrity, Penrose, Donaldson, Erteschik, Finley, Wiencek, Henski, Filek, Nigro, Smith; Nay: None; Abstain: None).

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Chair Finley inquired if there were objections to Adopting the Regular Meeting Minutes for Tuesday, May 10, 2022 and Tuesday, July 12, 2022.

Hearing no objections, the Minutes were Adopted by Unanimous Consent, 13-0-0 (Aye: Boyack, Cabanero, Merz, Garrity, Penrose, Donaldson, Erteschik, Finley, Wiencek, Henski, Filek, Nigro, Smith; Nay: None; Abstain: None).

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

Submitted by: Casey Ishitani, Public Relations Assistant

Reviewed by: Naomi Hanohano, Community Relations Specialist

Final Review:

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