KAHALUU NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2002

KEY PROJECT 

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Daniel Bender called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.  A quorum was present. 

MEMBERS PRESENT – John Reppun, Moana Lee, George Okuda, Arthur B. Machado, Jr., Robin-Gay Makapagal, George Fernandes, Daniel A. Bender, John Michael Piper, Mary Peddie, Richard Vermeesch. 

MEMBERS ABSENT – Emil Wolfgram, Gilbert Silva, Kurt Mench, Wayne Panoke, Amy Luersen. 

GUESTS – D. Keala Naluai, R. Endler, Lori Murakami (Ola Pono Awards), Frank E. Shivers, Lt. Barry Bright (Honolulu Police Department, Kaneohe Station), D. Rodriguez, Cecilia Piper, John Whalen (Plan Pacific), Captain Doug Silva (Honolulu Fire Department, Kahalu’u Station), Gerald Hagino, Major Chris Hughes (Marine Corps Base Hawaii), Randy Fujiki (Director, Department of Planning & Permitting, Mayor’s Representative), DorothyRose Babineau, Lacene Terri (Representative Charles D’jou Office), Shannon Wood (Koolau News), Senator Bob Nakata, Carole Mulford, Kaipo Faris, Ms. Nola Frank (Neighborhood Commission Office staff). 

INFORMATIONAL SESSION:

HONOLULU POLICE DEPARTMENT (HPD) – Lt. Barry Bright reported the following: Statistics for the month of September in Beats 471 and 472 were 8 burglaries; thefts -15 thefts from automobiles, 3 auto accessories, 10 others; 5 auto thefts.  

 Questions, answers, and concerns:  (1) Several Board members expressed concern regarding the handling of traffic flow by police officers last Friday, during a major shooting incident.  Lt. Bright described how  all Kaneohe police officers were involved with the incident.  Solo Bike police officers were called in to manage the traffic.  He will follow up regarding traffic management.  (2) A Kaaawa resident commended police response to break-ins in his area. Lt. Bright noted that the District Resource Unit will train community members to become involved in reporting what they see without confronting anyone.  Contact person for this unit is Sgt. Chang at the Kaneohe Police Station.

Reppun arrived during the above portion of the meeting.  (10 members present)

HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT (HFD) – Captain Silva reported four fires and thirty-one emergency calls for the month of September.

Questions, answers, and comments:  Piper questioned the manpower on duty tonight.  The manpower at the station tonight is 1/3, meaning one captain and three firefighters. There is one vacancy.

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII – Major Hughes reported that the Waikane Valley E.I.S. is moving forward as requested by the board.  The project will start with an Environmental Assessment (EA) and he requested community input. An invitation was extended to Board members to meet the staff at the Base. 

Questions, answers, and concerns:  The cause of heavy air traffic last Sunday night was due to troop deployment turnover, which occurs every six months, using commercial airlines. 

KANEOHE REGIONAL COUNCIL – No report. 

ELECTED OFFICIALS: 

MAYOR’S REPRESENTATIVE – Randall Fujiki responded to prior questions, and announced his leaving the City for a private sector position in Kailua: 

1.         DPP required Conditions on the Kahalu’u Pond Wedding Chapel –The Board’s concern pertained to community groups. A handout was circulated stating conditions on the application: the applicants shall provide controlled access to the fishpond to community and school groups for purposes of viewing the historical site; the applicant will encourage development of educational programs, and the use of the ancient Hawaiian fishpond. 

2.         Mail Boxes – Federal regulations permit mailboxes to be placed on the pavement edge.  Mail Boxes are exempt from local laws. 

3.         Vision Meeting, Saturday, October 12, 2002, Neal Blaisdell Center Pikake Room, from 10 a.m. to noon.   

4.         The Department of Design and Construction (DDC) may reduce the Neighborhood Boards’ Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget from $1 million to $500,000. The completion of on-going projects will be recommended.  Copies of the Capital Improvement Projects list were distributed to Board members.  Future projects may be limited to road repaving. 

5.         Thanked Board member Art Machado for doing a good job organizing 30 residents for a meeting regarding Iuiu Street resident concerns. 

Questions, answers, and comments:  (1) The process to see if the Kahalu’u Pond Wedding Chapel has complied with the conditions of the application would be to call the Department of Planning and Permitting.  (2) Antenna site proposal – Reppun asked for the status regarding this proposal for an antenna site to be placed on the Ajifu property at the June meeting.  The Board was in opposition to this, as well as other sites, until a master plan for all cell sites is complete. He informed Board and guest that the Planning Commission would be conducting a hearing for a Special Use Permit (SUP) regarding this site on Wednesday, October 16.  Fujiki noted that the Department of Design and Construction is in charge of this study.  Two permits are required for this project.  An SUP asks if the project is inappropriate use in an agriculture district or not.  The answer is no.  However, the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) will determine, visual impact and impact to the community.  Follow up would be done on this concern. 

COUNCIL MEMBER HOLMES – A representative was not present. 

SENATOR BOB NAKATA – Senator Nakata reported the contract bid for the Kahekili roundabout would be let out to bid in week or two. 

REPRESENTATIVE COLLEEN MEYER – A representative was not present. 

REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES D’JOU – Lacene Terri had not report, but was available for questions. 

GOVERNOR’S REPRESENTATIVE – A representative was not present.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS/PUBLIC INPUT: 

APPLICATION TO REZONING FROM AG-2 GENERAL AGRICULTURE TO COUNTRY – John Whalen, consultant, Plan Pacific, presented information for a zone application change at 47-433 Waihe’e Road, owned by Alice Higa, from AG-2 agricultural to country.  The purpose for this is to allow the area to continue for rural use.  Surrounding neighbors to the above address are zoned as country.  If the zone change is permitted, the intent of the owners is to build another home on the property.  Application for this zone change has not yet been filed. 

Questions, answers, and comments:  (1) When the surrounding neighbors were zoned for country, the lot mentioned above was not included.  (2) A neighbor to Mrs. Higa spoke in favor of the zone change.  (3) It was suggested that when Mr. Whalen returns to the Board, responses from surrounding neighbors regarding this change be available. 

OLA PONO AWARDS – Lori Murakami, distributed brochures and highlighted the following:  (1) The Department of Education, HMSA and the Attorney General’s Office are sponsoring the Ola Pono Awards, which honors those who make a difference in the community by promoting a safe, healthy, and drug-free lifestyles.  Nominees may be individuals, groups, team, volunteers or youth.  A letter of two pages or less must be received for each nomination.  Deadline for entries is Friday, November 15, 2002.  The Ola Pono Awards luncheon will be held on February 7, 2003 at the Hawaiian Village Hotel, where finalist will be awarded $1,000 to be donated to a charity of their choice.  Nominations may also be done online at www.hmsa.com. 

Reppun moved and Machado seconded that the Kahalu’u Neighborhood Board No. 29 Eldean Kukahiko and Families Against Drugs group be nominated for the Ola Pono Awards.   

Discussion – Reppun volunteered to draft the nomination letters. 

The motion carried unanimously. 

TREASURER’S REPORT – Vermeesch reported the Operating Account balance to-date is $1,039.32, the Publicity Account to-date is $1,341.00, and $120.00 remains in the Refreshment Account.  

Reppun moved, seconded by Piper to authorize and support expenditures up to $150.00 for a Kahalu’u Neighborhood Board banner to use with attachments. 

Discussion:  (1) It was suggested that a Board banner with the Board’s logo be made and put up informing the community of dates and times of Board meetings, website, etc.  (2) A suggestion was made that a three by six foot banner costs approximately $99.00  (3) Vermeesh suggested $200.00.  (4) Machado questioned as to where the banner would be placed.  Several areas were suggested where the banner could be placed.  (5) A friendly amendment was made to allocate $250.00 for the banner.  (6) This task was given to the publication committee. 

Reppun moved, seconded by Piper to authorize and support expenditures up to $250.00 for a Kahalu’u Neighborhood Board banner to use with attachments.  The motion carried unanimously. 

APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 12, 2002 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – The approval of the minutes were deferred. 

APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 11, 2002 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – The following corrections were made:

• Page 1, Guests, add-on  “Randy Fujiki”. 

• Page 1, Executive Summary should read, “Bill 53, Relating to Lease-hold Conversion – The motion carried 12-0-1, with Makapagal abstaining”. 

The minutes were approved as amended. 

COMMITTEE PRESENTATIONS:  There were no committee reports. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS – Next Board meeting, Wednesday, November 13, 2002. 

CANDIDATE FORUMS – Fliers were available announcing the Country Candidate Forum, which will be held on Tuesday, October 15^th and Thursday October 17^th.  

ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m. 

Submitted by,

Nola Frank

Neighborhood Assistant