On March 30, 2016 Representative Gene Ward announced the defeat of House Resolution 21 and related HCR54. The measure sought to exchange Bishop Estate lands with Hawaiian Homelands and would directly impact the status of the Great Lawn fronting Maunalua Bay by potentially making it available to development. [Gene Ward via Twitter] [Gene Ward on measure]
Wind and weather conditions brought down power on March 25, 2016. Outages were reported islandwide, including Aina Haina, Niu Valley and Hawaii Kai. Three generating units and the H-Power plant went down briefly, prompting Hawaiian Electric to issue a conservation order for a brief period of time. [Hawaii News Now]
Unnamed Honolulu City Spokesperson nixes North Shore playground built by volunteers. Cites decade-long Niu Valley process as proper and states that Niu Valley playground is slated for Summer 2016 completion. [KHON]
After a brief health scare earlier this month, Sam Slom (R-Hawaii Kai) was back on the job voting against a measure to reduce state judges’ retirement benefits. He was joined in his dissent by State Senators Maile Shimabukuro and Laura Thielen [CivilBeat]
Friends of Hanauma Bay has staved off a proposal to allow Roberts Hawaii to transport busloads of tourists to the site while screening the mandatory video in its buses. The proposal is believed to have been a means for circumventing limitations on daily visitors to the park. [Friends of Hanauma Bay] [Civil Beat]
From February 2016 Minutes of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board:
- A traffic sign “Yield to Pedestrians” will be installed at Keahole Street and Hawaii Kai Drive. The sign is the City’s response to the Board’s intersection concerns. The Board had proposed a more concrete solution, such as a turn lane.
- A bill to form a Maunalua Bay advisory committee has been deferred.
- Regulations are in place for homeowners to keep vegetation from hindering public access to beaches. These rules pertain to areas such as Portlock.
- Hahaione Elementary School Principal Shannon Goo is being recognized for the school’s prestigious “Blue Ribbon” status.
- Despite concerns over the appearance of the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center and its maintenance, the Board stressed that the land is private property and not within the jurisdiction of the Board.
- The Board has moved to support Senate Bill 2358 which would require proof by City contractors of legal dumping.
[Neighborhood Board Minutes – PDF]
Four Niu Valley Middle School students were among the finalists for the 2016 ‘Olelo video contest. Over 900 competed. Here are their entries:
- Reef Shaw: Rethink your Drink: Liquid Candy
- Alexa Waker & Alisiya Colby: Traffic Safety: Buckle Up
- Alex Centra: Be a Jerk (Anti-drinking campaign/message)