FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                            November 16, 2006

KALIHI-PALAMA NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD

DRAWS A QUORUM

            After five years of failing to muster a quorum at its monthly meetings, the Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board obtained a quorum last night and was able to appoint five new members to fill board vacancies.

            The board has 19 seats, and 10 members must be present for a quorum. Before last night’s meeting, only 10 of the seats were filled. That meant all 10 had to be present at the same time to comprise a quorum. That was not achieved until last night.

            Efforts by the sitting board members in conjunction with the Neighborhood Commission and the Neighborhood Commission Office contributed to this success.

            Joan Manke, executive secretary of the Neighborhood Commission, said, “After several instances where we were agonizingly close to having quorum, it is gratifying to finally have it. Now the board can proceed with its purpose of conveying the wishes of the community to the various government entities.”

             Mayor Mufi Hannemann added, “This shows the spirit of civic involvement is alive and well in the Kalihi-Palama neighborhood. I congratulate and thank all Neighborhood Board members for their willingness to serve their communities.”

            The Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board meets on the third Wednesday of the month at Kapalama School Cafeteria. The board will recess in December; its next meeting is January 17, 2007, 7 p.m.

            Honolulu’s 32 neighborhood boards serve as advisory sounding boards for government. Members are elected from the respective neighborhoods. The boards are governed by the nine-member Neighborhood Commission.

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Contact:

            Joan Manke, Neighborhood Commission Executive Secretary, 527-5749       

            Bryan Mick, Neighborhood Commission spokesman, 523-4768