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

WAIK K NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 9

 

November 2022 Minutes

 

WAIKIKI NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD NO. 9

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - DRAFT

TUESDAY, November 1, 2022

WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER IN PERSON

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Robert Finley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. A quorum was established with 10 members present. Note: This 17-member Board requires nine (9) members to establish quorum and to take official board action.

Board Members Present: Robert Finley, Louis Erteschik, Lisa Cabanero, Kathryn Henski, Tommy Penrose, John Nigro, Jeffery Merz, Michael Brown, Melissa Filek, Daniel Jacob, and Ken Jacob (appointed).

Board Members Absent: Jacob Wiencek, Mark Garrity, Mark Smith, Robert Boyack, and Bowe Souza.

Guests: Honolulu Fire Department (HFD); Nola Miyasaki (Mayor's Rep); Senator Sharon Moriwaki, Representative Adrian Tam, Council Chair Tommy Waters; Dominic Dias (BWS);Margaret Murchie, Kevin Lye, Carl Mayfield, Debi Bishop. Johnathan Fuiz, Duance Fisher, Dave Willard, Lloyd, Lytle, Sarah Lytle, Carlino Giampolo, Denise Biosvert, Pam Walker, Ivan Culkan, Jillian Anderson, Greg Misakian, Michelle Bunwell, Ed Springer, Justan Tollerson, Katherine L., Noelle Wright, Tracy Camillo, Chad Snatner, Olelo, and Judi-Ann Smith-Kauhane - Neighborhood Assistant. In-Person Participants: 41

CITY MONTHLY REPORTS

Honolulu Fire Department (HFD): HFD gave the October 2022 report:

10 activated alarms, 225 medical calls, one (1) motor vehicle crash/collusions, one (1) ocean rescue and one (1) hazardous materials incident.

Safety Tip for November 2022: Christmas Tree Safety Tips. For more information visit www.fire.honolulu.gov.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed:

1. Surf Boards: Member Henski inquired about the Beach Boys Surf boards sticking out into 2450 Koa St. HPD will give a response at the next board meeting.

2. Medical Calls: Chair Finley asked if HFD uses Ala Wai Blvd for emergency medical calls. HFD responded yes.

Honolulu Police Department (HPD): No representative. No report given.

Board of Water Supply (BWS): Dominic Dias report no main breaks for the month of October 2022.

Water Tips: For more information go to www.bws.org. Board of Water Supply is hiring go to www.bws.org.

Fill vacancy in sub district 1 - Candidates Ken Jacob and Chad Snater applied for the sub district 1 position.

• Jacob gave an overview background and passed out a brief resume of his experience and reasons why he wanted to volunteer for the neighborhood board.

• Snater gave an overview background of himself and reasons why he wanted to volunteer for the neighborhood board.

Chair Finley explained the voting process to candidates regarding the requirement of nine-(9) quorum roll call vote in order to be elected.

Finley Nominated Ken Jacob and Chad Snater for the Sub District 1 Position. First Roll Call Vote Resulted in Jacob; 7: (Cabanero, Erteschik, Finley, Jacob, Brown, Henski, and Filek) and Snater; 3: (Penrose, Merz, and Nigro) vote in favor of Ken Jacob.

Due to the lack of the required nine (9) quorum, a second vote was taken.

Finley Nominated Ken Jacob and Chad Snater for Sub District 1 Position. Second Roll Call Vote Resulted in Jacob; 10: (Cabanero, Erteschik, Finley, Jacob, Brown, Henski, Filek, Penrose, Merz, and Nigro and Snater; Zero (0) in Favor of Ken Jacob.

Member Jacob was given the Oath of Office by NA Smith-Kauhane.

Chair Finley requested with no objection from the board, to take the agenda out of order to go to NEW BOARD BUSINESS.

NEW BOARD BUSINESS

Member Merz, an employee of G70, clarified he did not work on this project and voluntarily recused himself of any voting or decision making regarding this project.

New Tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village - G70: This presentation is to inform the Waikiki neighborhood board of a proposed new tower bring built at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The site context is on Ala Moana blvd. on the corner of Kalia Rd. former location of Kobe Steak House restaurant.

• 6000 square foot, 350 feet tall building with a valet entrance off Ala Moana blvd.

• Hosing ABC flagship store 6000 square feet

• 8th floor pool and fitness center connecting new tower to the Kalia Tower

• Monthly Hawaiian Cultural Arts Festival - Free stationed areas for Cultural artists/practitioners on Kalia Rd. and Ala Moana blvd

• Building design will be built with a Hawaiian Sense of Place - Sustainable programs and practices

• 45/day draft expected by January 2023. Applying for permit in 2023 pending EIS findings.

• Proposed construction in 2024.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1. View: Member Erteschik commented concerns of obstruction of view on makua side of the tower.

2. Variance: Member Henski commented concerns about parking and variances of sea level rise in the area.

3. Bridge: Member Jacob commented on a proposed pedestrian bridge to traverse over Ala Moana blvd.

4. Parking: Member Penrose commented concerns of the lack of parking spaces for hotel guests and employees.

5. Drainage: Member Nigro commented concerns of additional drainage needed for expansion. G70 responded, working closely with the City and County of Honolulu to adhe3re to strict guidelines with follow up repots in the future upcoming neighborhood board meetings.

Waikiki Business Improvement District Association (WBIDA): Dave Willard gave a recap the 2022 team accomplishments in a power point presentation. For more information go to www.waikikibid.org on quick clicks: October 2022 newsletter.

Questions, comments, and concerns followed: Mahalo: Member Merz express appreciation and mahalo to the WBIDA for their assistance.



ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHERS

Mayor Rick Blangiardi's Representative: Nola Miyasaki gave the following report:

Highlights:

• The City and County of Honolulu has developed draft plans for improvements to Ala Wai Blvd. The plans are available online at www.honolulu.gov/completestreets/waikiki and the public's comments are requested by 12/16/22. A copy of the presentation and recoding of the 10/26/22 community meeting is also available online.

• Newsletter Link: https://www.oneoahu.org/newsletter

• For the second year in a row, Forbes has distinguished The City and County of Honolulu among America's Best Employers by State, ranking #2 employer in HawaiÔi and #1 in the state for government services. To explore career opportunities at the City and County of Honolulu, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/honolulu.

Follow Up:

• Homeless: Member Smith asked for an updated status regarding 806 Wiliwili Street homeless individuals. Residents also reported homeless individuals at the intersection of Ala Wai Blvd and Kalakaua Ave, near the Waikiki Trademark. Department of Housing (HOU): drove by both locations on 10/23/22, and no individuals experiencing homelessness were observed. Due to individuals experiencing homelessness may move locations frequently, it may be best to contact the outreach provider directly for more timely assistance. The outreach provider for Waikiki is Institute for Human Services (IHS), and can be reached at (808) 447-2883. You may also contact the City's Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement (CORE) at (808) 768-2673. CORE responds to crisis calls, from or within the community, that are non-violent and do not require emergent medical assistance to Oahu's unsheltered community members.

• Surf Racks: Member Henski asked for an updated status on removing or rebuilding the surf racks on Kalakaua next to the Police Station. Department of Facilities and Maintenance (DFM): regarding surf racks is between DES and DPR. My understanding is that DPR has the funds and DES was assisting the restoration of the burned out surf board rack area.

• Tiki Torches: Member Brown asked for an updated status on lighting the tiki torches on Kuhio, by the Mahu Stones and Kalakaua. Department of Parks and Recreations (DPR): Tiki torches were removed and gas service has been terminated.

• Pay Phones: Member Filek asked for an updated status regarding the removal of pay phones in Waikiki: In front of Longs/Bank of Hawai'i / Aloha Brewery at Kalakaua and Beach Walk, Kalakaua mauka side at the park on Kapi'olani Park walking path across from the Dillingham fountain by the Elks club. DFM: Clarice Kam, PBEM Chief: Pay Phones are property of Hawaiian Tel. Hawaiian Tel is responsible for the removal of their property (pay phones).

• Flying Trash: Member Weineck requested an updated status of cleaning up flying plastic bags and trash in front of the Waikiki Pavilions. DPR: staff inspected the area and removed the debris. DPR staff cleans the area multiple times daily from 6:00am-11:00pm.

• Kuhio Beach: Member Brown requested an updated status on the Kuhio Beach Landscaping Project. DPR: In late September 2022, the Division of Urban Forestry (DUF) began preparations to replant in the bay between the third and fourth arbors along Kuhio Beach Park by removing built up excess sand, coconut roots, and remaining turf. All irrigation heads were replaced. On October 13, 2022, DUF completed planting of the area with pohinahina, a native woody groundcover.

Questions, comments and concerns followed:

1. Bill 43: What enforcements for amplified noise can residents expect?

2. Complete Streets: Chair Finley commented any concerns regarding Complete Streets project please write directly to the Mayor.

Council Chair Tommy: Waters: Tommy Waters gave the following report:

• Four (4) Charter Bills: Waters explained in further detail the four (4) charter bills on the voting ballot.

• Surf Certified: Department of Land and Natural Resources is not requiring certification for surf instructors.

• Bill 43: Ban amplified sound on streets.

Questions, comments and concerns followed: Bill 43: Chair Finley commented he will testify in favor of Bill 43.

Senator Sharon Moriwaki: Senator Moriwaki gave a quick overview of her monthly report. www.senstormoriwaki@capitol.hawaii.gov

Representative Adrian Tam: Representative Tam gave a quick overview of his monthly report. www.reptam@capitol.hawaii.gov

Governor David Ige: No representative. Capital Connection Monthly report was distributed during the meeting.

Waikiki Improvement Association: No Representative. No report given.

RESIDENTS' / COMMUNITY CONCERNS:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

October 2022 minutes were postponed to next meeting.

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Submitted by: Judi-Ann Smith-Kauhane, Neighborhood Assistant

Reviewed by: Lindon Valenciano, Public Relations Assistant

Final Review:

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