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

Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9

March 2021 Minutes

WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 9
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2021
WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER
WEBEX

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Robert Finley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. A quorum was established with 14 members present. Note: This 17-member Board requires nine (9) members to establish quorum and to take official board action.

Board Members Present: Raiyan Rafid, Jacob Wiencek, Jerome Bautista, Robert Boyack, Lisa Cabanero, Louis Erteschik, Robert Finley, Mark Garrity, Jeffrey Merz, John Nigro, Melissa Filek, Mark Smith, Kenneth Wilder, Michael Brown.

Board Members Absent: Kathryn Henski, Helen Carroll, Walt Flood.

Guests: HPD Sergeant Blake Arita and Lieutenant Steven Ono (Honolulu Police Department); Nola Miyasaki (Mayor Rick Blangiardi's office); Scott Glenn (Governor David Ige); Councilmember Tommy Waters; Senator Sharon Moriwaki and Kaley Vatalaro; Representative Adrian Tam; Rick Egged (Waikiki Improvement Association); Linda Frysztaki, Mike Motoki, Meredith Soniat (Complete Streets); Laura Ruby, Dave Moskowitz, Tim Garry, David Middendorf, James Browne, Matthew Morriarty, Amy Ammen, Atlas Cook, Kaley Vatalaro, John Deutzman, Renee Kinchla, Alison Schaefer, Yukiko Livae, Jermaine Berlinger, Chit Leong, Cory Chun, Midori Trent, John Liddle, Jean Cox; Casey Ishitani (Neighborhood Assistant). Name was not included if not legible on the attendance sheet.

CITY MONTHLY REPORTS
Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): HFD representatives submitted a report and safety tip. Information can be found at http://www.honolulu.gov/hfd.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD): HPD Sergeant Blake Arita and Lieutenant Steven Ono submitted a report and safety tip. More information can be found at https://www.honolulupd.org/.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.
1. Homelessness: Smith requested statistics of assaults involving homeless individuals. Wiencek requested HPD foot patrols to monitor homeless individuals along Ala Wai Boulevard. Filek raised concerns regarding homeless individuals occupying a restroom near the Waikiki HPD substation.
2. Noise Complaints: Rafid raised concerns regarding loud horns and requested a list of citations.
3. Electric Scooters: A resident raised concerns regarding electric scooters and the Lieutenant Ono responded that they would need clarification from Corporation Council.

Chair Finley called a two (2) minute recess.

RESIDENTS' / COMMUNITY CONCERNS
Construction: Nigro reported that there will be construction on Kalia Road near Hilton Hawaiian Village. There will also be construction through March 2021 on Hobron Lane and Ena Street. A resident inquired and Nigro confirmed that striping and paving will occur on Kalakaua Avenue near the Honolulu Zoo.

Cameras: A resident requested security cameras near public restrooms.

Newsstands: A resident raised concerns regarding homeless individuals occupying City and County of Honolulu operated newsstands.


ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS
Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative: Director of Customer Service Nola Miyasaki reported the following.
• 7-11: Residents and Board members raised concerns regarding continuing violence, theft and harassment occur at or around 1901 Kalakaua Avenue 7-11. HPD District 6 (Waikiki) Community Policing Team (CPT) has reached out to the 7-Eleven management by providing tips and input on how they can make their store locations at 1901 Kalakaua Avenue and 1922 Kalakaua Avenue safer. The CPT has also reached out to the resident manager of The Kalakauan, located at 1911 Kalakaua Avenue, in regards to being part of the Neighborhood Security Watch program. Since January 28, 2021, HPD officers issued approximately 45 citations and made multiple arrests. The citations were for COVID-19-related violations, sit-lie, and pedestrian offenses. The arrests included a No Bail Warrant and felony drug offenses.
• Complete Streets: Board inquired if there were Complete Streets incentives or initiatives. Department of Transportation Services (DTS) responded that residents may visit www.honolulu.gov/completestreets/waikiki for more information and future updates regarding the four (4) projects in development.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.
1. Capital Improvement Projects (CIP): Chair Finley informed attendees that inquiries of CIP passed Kapahulu Avenue are relevant to the Diamond Head No. 5 Neighborhood Board.
2. Federal Investigation: A resident requested updates regarding a Federal Investigation into HPD.

Governor David Ige's Representative: State of Hawaii Chief Energy Officer Scott Glenn reported the following.
• Flooding: Residents were advised to remain cautious to flooding in light of recent catastrophic events on the North Shore of Oahu.
• Covid-19: The South African strain of Covid-19 has been detected in Hawaii.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.
1. Visitors: Smith raised concerns regarding stipulations for visitor entry into Honolulu during the Emergency Proclamation, requesting more testing consistency. Wiencek requested sustainable tourism plans from the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA).
2. Vaccinations: Filek requested updates regarding the timeline for vaccinations in Honolulu.

Councilmember Tommy Waters: Councilmember Waters reported the following.
• Safe Travels: There are CARES Act funded testing facilities at the airport.
• Crime in Waikiki: Councilmember Waters expressed support for legislation that would curb violence and panhandling in Waikiki. He also expressed support for increased prosecution of violent individuals and the addition of more HPD officers.

Questions, comments and concerns followed.
1. HPD Oversite: Merz raised concerns regarding HPD oversite. Wiencek requested updates regarding Federal investigations into HPD. Specifically the 38 million dollars in overtime pay.
2. Honolulu Hale: A resident requested that Honolulu Hale be opened for in-person testimony and Councilmember Waters responded that it will remain closed until restrictions are lifted. Testimony can be done online at honolulu.gov/ccl-testimony-form.html.

Senator Sharon Moriwaki: Senator Moriwaki reported that there are approximately 3000 Bills in the 2021 Legislative Session, including those related to services to the elderly and noise issues. Public testimony can be submitted at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/senate.aspx?testimonypanel=on.

Questions, comments and concerns followed. Unemployment: A resident requested an audit of the State of Hawaii unemployment system.

Representative Adrian Tam: Representative Tam reported the following.
• 2021 Legislative Session: Bills being considered include those regarding crimes against the elderly, electric scooters, vehicular noise and robocalls.
• 7-11: Representative Tam reported that he is looking into issues regarding the 7-11 at 1901 Kalakaua Avenue.

Waikiki Improvement Association (WIA): WIA President Rick Egged reported that due to sand replenishment programs the area near Kuhio Beach and the Royal Hawaiian Groin will be closed Monday to Saturday until completion. Smith inquired when the pathway near the Waikiki Sheraton will be reopened and Egged responded that it was closed due to erosion.

Federal Representative Ed Case: There was no representative.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Regular Meeting Minutes, February 9, 2021: Chair Finley inquired if there were any amendments to the Minutes.

Hearing no objection, the Minutes were ADOPTED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT, 14-0-0 (Aye: Rafid, Wiencek, Bautista, Boyack, Cabanero, Erteschik, Finley, Garrity, Merz, Nigro, Filek, Smith, Wilder, Brown; Nay: None; Abstain: None).

NEW BOARD BUSINESS
Kalia Plaza: Linda Frysztaki and Mike Motoki of DTS reported that a new proposed hub for the upcoming rail project will be at Kalia Plaza near Ala Moana. The transit center will have a mixed-use development and no new parking. Chair Finley added that he is on the Committee for this Agenda Item. More details can be found at https://www.honolulu.gov/completestreets/kalia.

Ala Pono (Ala Wai Bridge) Update: Infrastructure Planner Meredith Soniat presented the Complete Streets plan for the Ala Pono Bridge over the Ala Wai Canal. The bridge will function as a pedestrian walkway as well as an evacuation path. The project timeline includes a public meeting on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 as well as on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Merz requested updates regarding the implementation timeline. Erteschik raised concerns regarding the size of the bridge. Merz inquired what McCully-Moiliili Board No. 8 and Soniat responded that they have not taken an official stance.

Merz Moved and Cabanero Seconded to support the Ala Pono project.

Discussion: Moiliili resident Laura Ruby opposed the project citing parking concerns, while also questioning evacuation capabilities and claiming that homeless individuals will occupy the area under the bridge.

The Motion was rescinded.

Legislative Update: Erteschik provided updates regarding Bills supported by the Board during the 2021 Legislative Session.

REPORTS
Treasurer's Report: The remaining budget for the Waikiki Neighborhood Board was $183.45.

Sub District 1 Report: No report was given.

Sub District 2 Report: No report was given.

Sub District 3 Report: No report was given.

Chair Report: Board Election information can be found at http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/nbelections.html. McCully-Moiliili Board No. 8 has opposed the current Ala Wai Watershed proposal.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9 meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
View this meeting on Olelo Channel 49 at 9:00 p.m. on the 4th Tuesday each month, and at 6:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month. View online at: http://olelo.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=30

ADJOURNMENT -- The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. due to facility closure.

Submitted by: Casey Ishitani, Public Relations
Reviewed by: Naomi Hanohano, Neighborhood Assistant
Final Review: Chair Robert Finley

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