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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 5, 2024 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=SUATJsaRJ5s

Reports & other meeting materials can be found at:

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

I. CALL TO ORDER -- [0:00:01]: 6:00 p.m.

Chair Ernest Caravalho called the Downtown-Chinatown Neighborhood Board No. 13 meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Quorum was established with seven (7) 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, Sean Fitzsimmons, Ross Isokane, Kevin Lye, Lori McCarney, Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock, Kevin McDonald (arrived 6:19 p.m.), Laura Sturges (appointed at this meeting).

Members Absent: None.

Guests: Fire Captain Arakaki (Honolulu Fire Department); Lieutenant Arnold Sagucio (Honolulu Police Department); Ian Santee (Mayor Rick Blangiardi); Steven Downes (Governor Josh Green); Casey Abe (Hawaii Department of Transportation Highways Division); Guillaume Maman (City Office of Economic Revitalization); Mallory Meister and Jacqueline Davis (Congressman Ed Case); Richmond Luzar (Councilmember Tyler Dos Santos-Tam); Brayden Cheung (Senator Karl Rhoads); Iris Oda (Honolulu Board of Water Supply); Marissa Gonzales (Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation); Patrick Watson (Frank V. Coluccio Construction); Allan Silva (Children and Youth Day Planning Committee); Greg Payton (Maunakea Villages); Mark Tarone (Founder of Hallowbaloo 2024); Karen Awana (Kulia Academy); Kim Coco Iwamoto, Maria Rallojay, Jocelyn McMahon, Henry Pang, Ronald Higa, Rick Keene, Robert Quartero (Residents); Camilia Epa Gomes (Neighborhood Commission Office). Note: Name was not included if not legible. There were 43 total attendees.

II. FILLING OF BOARD VACANCIES -- [0:00:55]:

Downtown-Chinatown At-Large -- One (1) Vacancy -- [0:00:58]: Jocelyn McMahon and Laura Sturges volunteered to fill the vacancy in subdistrict. Neighborhood Assistant Camilia Epa Gomes confirmed she had verified the residency of both volunteer's residency in the district before the meeting. Both volunteers shared brief introductions about themselves.

[0:02:19] -- Isokane nominated Sturges to fill the Board vacancy. [0:02:22] -- Lye nominated McMahon to fill the Board vacancy. Hearing no other nominations, the board conducted a roll-call vote. Sturges was appointed; 5-2-0 (Sturges: Fitzsimmons, Isokane, McCarney, Shubert-Kwock, Caravalho; McMahon: Armstrong, Lye; Abstain: None) -- [0:7:33]

[0:07:30] -- Chair Caravalho called for a recess at 6:07 p.m. to have the Neighborhood Assistant administer the oath of office to Member Sturges.

Member Sturges joined the meeting at 6:09 p.m.; 8 members present.

[0:09:36] -- Chair Caravalho called the meeting back to order at 6:09 p.m.

III. PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTS -- [0:09:40]

Honolulu Fire Department -- [0:09:46]: Fire Captain Arakaki provided the report and shared the monthly statistics for August 2024. The safety tip for the month is in regards to moving over for emergency vehicles.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KCpyOpv0EetWsas8ux1OB7vwOX3pneXZ/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:12:10]

Honolulu Police Department -- [0:13:00]: Lieutenant Arnold Sagucio provided the report and shared the monthly statistics for August 2024. There were no criminal breaches to report. Lt. Sagucio provided details on both the assault cases as well as robbery cases for last month. The Mayor's 9/11 Memorial Walk will be Sunday, September 8, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There will be a Remembrance Ceremony at Tamarind Park on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 from 11:45 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. The ceremony is open to the public to participate and to remember the people and the first responders that were lost on that day. The safety tip for the month is in regards to securing loads on vehicles due to calls for hazardous debris on the roadways and freeways.

• Crime Mapping Statistics: https://www.honolulupd.org/information/crime-mapping/

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:16:00]

McDonald joined the meeting at 6:19 p.m.; 9 members present.

IV. PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION -- [0:31:55]: Chair Caravalho announced that the presentation of certificate of recognition will be deferred to next month due to the special guest unable to attend due to family matters.

V. PRESENTATIONS -- 0:32:27]

Hawaiian Electric Follow up -- [0:32:50]: Chair Caravalho shared that the HECO follow-up will be deferred to next month due to HECO needing time to finalize responses to questions raised at last month's meeting.

Request for Temporary Road Closure for Children and Youth Day on Saturday, October 6, 2024 -- [0:33:40]: Allan Silva from CYD Planning Committee provided a flyer and information on the family friendly annual event that is open for the public. The event is from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will be held alongside Frank F. Fasi Civic Center, Kalanimoku Building, and Punchbowl Street. The event is free to attend and will have food, activities, and entertainment. The event is requesting Board approval for road closure on Punchbowl St. between S Beretania St. and S King St. from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Public notice will be posted the day before to notify the public of the road closure.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:35:03]

[0:36:48] -- Shubert-Kwock MOVED and Armstrong SECONDED to support the 2024 Children and Youth Day on Sunday, October 6, 2024. Hearing no objection, the motion was ADOPTED; 9-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, Lye, McCarney, McDonald, Shubert-Kwock, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) -- [0:37:05]

Dine, Art, Shop, and Love (DASL) Honolulu Fest Planned for Saturday, November 23, 2024, hosted by the City's Office of Economic Revitalization -- [0:37:18]: Guillaume Maman (regenerative tourism program manager) provided a PowerPoint sharing background information on the City's Office of Economic Revitalization, definition of regenerative tourism, priorities, objectives, partners, and the purpose of the project for the Downtown-Chinatown area. The event will have art performances, a fashion show, inside and outside performances, local shopping and food. This project is aligned with the O'ahu Destination Management Action Plan. The event is to help support local artists and business, foster community engagement, and continue contributing to Chinatown's ongoing revitalization.

• Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_52q2pzcgY37qlCGj9_WE6B0r7YXpsa_/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:46:39]

[0:54:37] -- McDonald MOVED and Sturges SECONDED to support the DASL Honolulu Fest planned for Saturday, November 23, 2024 hosted by the City's Office of Economic Revitalization. Hearing no objection, the motion was ADOPTED; 9-0-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, Lye, McCarney, McDonald, Shubert-Kwock, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: None; Abstain: None) -- [0:54:51]

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:55:00]

Autumn Moon Festival on Saturday, September 14, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Quarterly Report -- [0:55:38]: Lee Stack provided information on the event open for the public to participate. There will be no road closures for the event. There will be lanterns throughout Chinatown for the public to check out in front of local businesses and stores in the district. The event will have activities in Smith Beretania Park where there will be: lantern making, lion dance, moon cakes, riddles, stories, raffle, taiko drumming, and more.

• Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qWiXKXCUqClgtyiNNPyk4UpVmNF94TCh/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [0:57:40]

Updates on Plans for Hallowbaloo 2024 on Saturday, October 26, 2024 -- [0:59:30]: Mark Tarone (Founder of Hallowbaloo) provided details on this popular event for Downtown-Chinatown and shared the coordination and planning that is being done. City rules and regulations are being enforced. Mark addressed mistakes from the most recent Hallowbaloo event in 2022 and gave the plans and corrections that will be made to ensure the event does not repeat them again. Mr.Tarone ensured that if there are any violations at any of the entrances, the City has the right to shut down the event. Entrance for the event is free but there will be wristbands to purchase only for those aged 21 years old and older for those who wish to buy alcohol in the streets and for admissions to partnering establishments after 9:00 p.m. The event attracts a range of all ages and families are also welcome to the event. The event will start at 5:00 p.m. and towards the late hours, the crowds start to increase.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:05:19]

[1:21:15] -- Armstrong MOVED and McCarney SECONDED to support Hallowbaloo 2024 on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Further discussion followed. The board conducted a roll-call vote. The motion was ADOPTED; 8-1-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, Lye, McCarney, McDonald, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: Shubert-Kwock; Abstain: None) -- [1:24:11]

Shubert-Kwock left at 7:23 p.m.; 8 members present.

VI. PUBLIC CONCERNS -- [1:24:22]

Kulia Academy -- [1:24:34]: Karen Awana (School Director) shared and provided a flyer about the new charter middle school in the district (2340 Omilo Lane, Honolulu, HI 96819) that just opened in August 2024. The announcement was to bring awareness of the new charter school and encourage parents/guardian to reach out to the school to learn more about the academy. The school is unique with its purpose to prepare students for top-paying jobs of the future and offer a comprehensive artificial intelligence and data science curriculum. The school accepts students from all districts. The school is currently at full capacity and is accepting applications for 6th and 7th grade next year.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:26:03]

VII. NEW BUSINESS -- [1:30:30]

Resolution 2024-04 Supporting Bill 46 (2024) to establish an Empty Homes Tax in Honolulu -- [1:30:41]: Member Isokane shared a brief introduction about the Resolution. Bill 46 (2024) was introduced by Councilmember Council Chair Tommy Waters and Councilmember Council Floor Leader Radiant Cordero. The Resolution is meant to address the affordable housing crisis.

• Resolution: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cZEpRLqb2dlkKpF9BWgZUJ5SOYzOnpet/edit

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:31:55]

[1:36:50] -- Caravalho MOVED and McDonald SECONDED to support Resolution 2024-04 Supporting Bill 46 (2024) to establish an Empty Homes Tax in Honolulu. Further discussion followed. The board conducted a roll-call vote. The motion was ADOPTED; 5-2-1 (Aye: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, McDonald, Caravalho; Nay: Lye, McCarney; Abstain: Sturges) -- [1:42:30]

Resolution 2024-05 Urging Additional Government Reforms Recommended by the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct -- [1:42:38]: Member Isokane share a brief introduction about the Resolution.

• Resolution: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1agVQWmGefWjc4Uwz4WhfvmjocUTq0y02/edit

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:43:50]

After discussion, Chair Caravalho withdrew the Resolution to allow time to revise the Resolution and for the board and public to review. The Resolution was differed to next month.

VIII. ELECTED OFFICIALS -- [1:45:55]

Congressman Ed Case's Representative -- [1:46:00]: Mallory Meister and Jacqueline Davis from Congressman's D.C. office provided the quarterly report and highlighted updates. The Congressman's Service Academy nomination process is open to applicants until Friday, October 11, 2024. The Congressional App Challenge is open until Thursday, October 24, 2024.

• Website: https://case.house.gov/

• Email: ed.case@mail.house.gov

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tkAx6NqE-IAAmoRlE77O-DQuKoBIRuOR/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:47:37]

Governor Josh Green's Representative -- [1:51:13]: Steven Downes provided the report and shared follow-up responses to questions raised at last month's meeting. stood on the report, and used the remaining time to provide responses to questions raised at the previous meeting.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uct_pGj1pxWrw_tbtlt7Zk4__knM37rl/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [1:55:53]

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative -- [1:58:02]: Deputy Director Ian Santee (Honolulu Emergency Services Department) provided the report and shared follow-up responses to questions at last month's meeting.

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bC9gVJLqZUq2TX-R8WA81wOfxVww9s3p/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:05:36]

City Council (District 6) -- Tyler Dos Santos-Tam -- [2:09:53]: Richmond Luzar provided the report and highlighted updates on the following legislation that Councilmember has introduced: Bill 51 (relating to adoptive reuse), Bill 52 (relating to electrical bicycles), Resolution 24-143 (establishing a task force on gambling rooms), and Bill 044 (relating to traffic safety).

• Newsletter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_5Kr1sTxw7RhBcO6jnzM08DIzSVKlbYQ/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:11:49]

State Senate (District 13) -- Karl Rhoads -- [2:18:44]: Brayden Cheung provided the report and shared covid-19 updates and used the remaining time to take any questions.

• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13NLVQI6OBFQl3CF5_Ox2ub0ibtsf6gQH/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:21:09]

State House (District 26) -- Scott Saiki -- [2:25:48]: No representative present. A report was submitted.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s0F4WZyUjHZrfyvnqXqcvDzJPh_g2eCR/view?usp=drive_link

State House (District 28) -- Daniel Holt -- [2:26:06]: No representative present.

IX. QUARTERLY REPORTS -- [2:26:10]

Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) -- [2:26:17]: Iris Oda provided the report and shared a flyer for ‘Imagine a Day Without Water' Event on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at Kapolei Regional Park from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public to join the Board of Water Supply and the various State agencies and community organizations for a day full of activities that educate everyone on the value of water.

• Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uQuBpSwwkc8bX9chFz1nVR-7dxYuAn2j/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:27:29]

Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Highways Division -- [2:28:25]: Casey Abe provided the report and shared news release on the Navahine vs State Department of Transportation Lawsuit.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:31:40]

Maunakea Villages -- [2:34:33]: Greg Payton provided the report and shared there has been 62 homeless individuals placed in housing since January 2024. The Honolulu Police Department has been conducting homeless encampment enforcements since Monday, August 26, 2024. Mr. Payton also requested to give a presentation about new projects at the next Board meeting.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14lHYEixFOJFZgiYIn8FS2zs9ArfYlkXe/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:35:54]

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) -- [2:36:23]: Marissa Gonzales (HART) and Patrick Watson (Frank V. Coluccio Construction) provided the report. The new City Center Guideway and Stations (CCGS) contract was awarded on Thursday, August 15, 2024 for Tutor Perini Corporation to start the design and construction of the next segment. The design work is expected to start in mid-September 2024 with construction anticipated to begin 2025. The completion of the downtown utility relocation timeline has been delayed to the first quarter of next year 2025 for additional utility work.

• Skyline Hotline: 808-848-5555

• Frank V. Coluccio Construction Company weekly e-blast and traffic updates in Downtown-Chinatown: https://eepurl.com/h1g2W5

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:38:15]

Chinatown Business Community Association (CBCA) -- [2:44:36]: No representative present. A report was submitted.

• Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lx_SURgDKTv_jjzipdyFDQgSetmb32Sq/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=111917663458444584436&rtpof=true&sd=true

Neighborhood Citizen Patrol -- [2:44:37]: Kevin Lye provided his report of various observations made by the patrol in August 2024. Lye invited the public to join the patrol, on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Diamond Head Tower lobby of Kukui Plaza, and help identify areas of concern within the Downtown-Chinatown community.

• Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GoLtoWkuqctrXNUiBNsA79IILccZZPrc/view?usp=drive_link

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:46:55]

X. APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- [2:47:48]

Tuesday, July 2, 2024, Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record -- [2:48:10]: Chair Caravalho provided a print-out of an email from the NCO office regarding the requirements for producing minutes for video record that complies with Sunshine Law.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:48:31]

Thursday, August 1, 2024, Regular Meeting Written Summary for Video Record: There was no further discussion under this item.

[2:50:35] -- Isokane MOVED and McCarney SECONDED to approve the Written Summary for Video Record as written for July 2024 and August 2024. Further discussion followed. The board conducted a roll-call vote. The motion was ADOPTED; 6-2-0 (Aye: Armstrong, Fitzsimmons, Isokane, McCarney, Sturges, Caravalho; Nay: Lye, McDonald; Abstain: None) -- [2:52:46]

XI. CHAIRS REPORT -- [2:52:50]

Chair's Decision on Whether to Include a Non-Specific "Board Member Concerns" Recurring Item to Future Agendas -- [2:52:50]: Chair Caravalho shared that the Office of Information Practice advised that board member concerns must be listed on the agenda and be specific if they would like to bring it up at Board meetings. Chair Caravalho shared Boards members can let him know specific concerns to add to the agenda before he sends out the agenda by the deadline date.

Chair's Decision on Whether the Board Needs a Chair-Appointed Position of a Parliamentarian -- [2:53:43]: Chair Caravalho shared that he reached out to other Neighborhood Board Chairs about the position of having a parliamentarian and came to the conclusion that the position does not exist on any of the Neighborhood Boards. Chair Caravalho shared that the advice and responses he received from different Chairs was that there is no need for a parliamentarian. Therefore, Chair Carvalho has decided he will not need a parliamentarian on the Board.

XII. ANNOUNCEMENTS

The next Downtown--Chinatown Neighborhood Board No.13 regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at Ke'elikolani Middle School and virtually via Webex.

YouTube -- An archive of video recordings of Neighborhood Board meetings can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/@cityandcountyneighborhoodc2559

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 <Downtown Chinatown>.

Questions, comments and concerns followed -- [2:55:44]

XIII. ADJOURNMENT -- [2:57:40]: The meeting was adjourned at 8:57 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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