Zoning & Planning - Regular Meeting

Aloha and good morning, everyone. It is Thursday, May 21st, 2026, and the time now is 1030 a.m. With the Committee on Zoning and Planning meeting, please come to order. I would like to welcome the following committee members, Vice Chair Waters, Council Member Cordero, Council Member Okimoto, and Council Member Tupoula. Although... Remote verbal testimony is being permitted. This is a regular in-person meeting and not a remote meeting by Interactive Conference Technology under HRS section 92-3.7. Therefore, the meeting will continue notwithstanding loss of audio-visual communication with remote testifiers or loss of the public broadcast of the meeting. Members of the public will be allowed to provide verbal testimony on all items on the agenda when each item is taken up in two ways, in person in the council chamber and remotely via video conference or phone. Before testifying, each person shall state their name for the record. Each speaker may not have anyone else read their statement and will be limited to a one-minute presentation per item. All persons who register to testify in person will be called upon first. Persons who did not register will be given an opportunity to offer testimony after the registered testifiers. Once in-person testimony has concluded, I will proceed to the remote testifiers. When I call your name or the last three digits of your phone number, please follow the prompts to unmute. As both English and Hawaiian are official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15, Section 4 of the Hawaii State Constitution and Section 113 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, members of the public may testify in either language. For verbal testimonies offered in Alelo, Hawaii, additional time, as may be necessary, will be allowed for the testifier to provide an English translation of their testimony. Written testimonies, including the testifier's address, email address, and phone number, will be available to the public as described in the posted agenda. As a courtesy, please turn off or silence all cell phones for the duration of this meeting. Thank you. For your information, item number eight, resolution 26-128 on page seven of the agenda have been canceled and will not be considered. Moving to agenda item number one for action, resolution 26-90. This resolution confirms the appointment of Micah Kim to serve with the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term to expire on June 30th. 2030. Mr. Kim is a compliance and data manager Pacific Resource Partnership. We have posted on the agenda a technical CD1 version of the resolution, which I submitted. For your information, a summary of the amendments is listed on the agenda. The Zoning Board of Appeals hears and determines appeals from the actions of the director of the Department of Planning and Permitting, the administration of the zoning ordinances at subdivision or and subdivision ordinances. I understand that Mr. Kim was not able to attend today's meeting, but he was at the full council first reading. Before I call up the administration, I would like to take public testimony. Proceeding first with in-person testimony in the council chamber. Clerks, do you have any in-person testifiers for this item?

Chair, there are none. Now moving to, well, first of all, I'm sorry.

Is there anyone else in the council chamber who would like to testify on this item? Please come forward to the podium and begin by stating your name.

Aloha . Good to see you again, Vice Chair Waters, committee members. Micah Kim is currently on vacation on the continent, so he sends his regards. He would be here if not for that pre-planned vacation. PRP stands on his testimony in support of the nomination of Micah Kim. He's an attorney at law, barred in the state of Hawaii. He's also got his MBA and is very familiar with the zoning laws of the city and county of Honolulu, and I think he'd make a welcome addition With his expertise and know-how, so thank you very much for allowing me to thank you members any questions.

Thank you so much Is there anyone else in the chamber who would like to testify? Seeing none proceeding on with remote testimony clerks. Do we have any remote testifiers chair there none? For the administration

Michael Catt for DPP. We stand in support of the proposed CD1.

And in support of the nominee, correct? Yes. Thank you. Does anyone have any questions for DPP? or have any discussion before I make my recommendation? Seeing no further discussion, the Chair recommends that Resolution 26-90 be amended to the post at CD1. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, the resolution has been amended to a CD1. The Chair then recommends that Resolution 26-90 CD1 be reported out for adoption. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. Moving to agenda item number two for action, resolution 26-102. This is another resolution involving the Zoning Board of Appeals and confirms the reappointment of Ryan Toyomura, to serve on the board for a term to expire on June 30th, 2031. Mr. Toyimura is currently the board chair and is an attorney at Ashford and Wriston, where his practice area includes litigation, appeals, land use, real property, corporate law, government affairs, and energy infrastructure financing. We have posted on the agenda a technical CD1 version of the resolution, which I submitted. For your information, a summary of the amendments is listed on the agenda. I understand that Mr. Toyomura was online to meet virtually. Clerks, is Mr. Toyomura still on? The appointee is not logged on, Chair. Okay. Colleagues and the general public, I apologize for the postponement of the hearing. There was a major accident on the Windward side today, and I was unable to get out of Kailua this morning. It took me a long time. Before I call up the administration, I would like to take public testimony, proceeding first with in-person testifiers. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

Is there anyone in the chamber who would like to testify? Seeing none, proceeding with remote testimony. Clerks, do we have any remote testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

For the administration? Deputy Director?

Good morning, Council. Brian Gallagher, Deputy Director of DPP. We support this candidate. We'd like your help in this.

Got it. Members, any questions for the administration? If not, and no discussion, the chair recommends that resolution 26-102 be amended to the post of CD1. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, the resolution has been amended to a CD1. The chair then recommends that resolution 26-102 CD1 be reported out for adoption. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. Moving to agenda item number three, this resolution for action, resolution 26-96. This resolution confirms the reappointment of Richard Davis to serve on the Oahu Historic Preservation Commission for a term to expire on June 16th, 2031. Mr. Davis is a retired cultural resources manager and historic preservation officer and will continue to provide representation on the commission in the archeology discipline. We have posted on the agenda technical CD1 version of the resolution which I submitted. For your information, a summary of the amendments is listed on the agenda. The Commission identifies, protects, and preserves historic properties and artifacts in the city, and formulates citywide comprehensive historic preservation policies, programs, and plans. I would like to call up the appointed to say a few words. Could you please introduce yourself and share a little bit about your current and envisioned future role on the Commission?

Aloha committee chair and committee members. My name is Richard Davis. I have been serving on the O'ahu Historic Preservation Commission since its initial setup in 2023. At the Commission, has had a very interesting time receiving many requests from the public and some requests from both state and city and county agencies for their consideration. So the council is beginning, the commission is beginning to feel like Beginning to understand the scope of what the community wants from us We are currently considering a draft of our initial set of administrative rules so that business can be conducted in a clearer and more orderly manner than it has in the beginning My contribution has mostly been kind of technical and administrative based on my career as a cultural resources manager for the Army, as a contractor to a different part of the Army, and as the Guam Historic Preservation Officer. So I think my fellow commission members have found my suggestions to be useful and my combing through technicalities of applying to the issues in front of us to be helpful as the commission as a whole tries to figure out what to do.

Members, any questions for Mr. Davis? No questions. I appreciate your background and actually having familiarity with both Guam and Hawaii. I appreciate your work in both places. including within the federal government. Okay, so before I call up the administration, I would like to take public testimony. Proceeding first with in-person testimony in the chamber, clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

Is there anyone else in the chamber who would like to testify? Seeing none, proceeding with remote testimony, clerks, do we have any remote testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

For the administration,

Michael Catt here for DPP. We stand in support of the reappointment of Richard Davis and the proposed CD1 and are available for any questions.

Okay, thank you. And I'm assuming that you guys are the ones determining the expertise that they bring. So archaeology was the appropriate term?

Yes.

Okay. Thank you. Members, any questions or discussion? If not, the Chair recommends that Resolution 26-96 be amended to the post at CD1. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, the resolution has been amended to CD1. The Chair then recommends that Resolution 26-96 CD1 be reported out for adoption. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. Moving to agenda item number four for action, resolution 26-100. This is another resolution involving the O'ahu Historic Preservation Commission and confirms the appointment of Lani Ma'a Lapalio to serve in the commission for term to expire on June 16, 2031. Ms. Lapalio is an attorney, cultural consultant, and owner of Aokahi Cultural Consulting, and will provide representation on the commission in the Hawaiian culture discipline. We have posted on the agenda a technical CD1 version of the resolution, which I submitted for your information. A summary of the amendments is listed on the agenda. I would like to call up the appointee to say a few words. Could you introduce yourself and share a little bit about your envisioned role on the Commission? And while she's coming up here, as I may have mentioned during the first reading, I have known Lani for a long, long time, since I was a junior in high school. She is from Mauna Wele, strong ties to Kaneohe and the Windward side. I need to let you know, as you all know, the issue of iwi kupuna and how to deal with iwi kupuna in all of our jurisdictions is so important. The issue was being raised at the Kailua Neighborhood Board by another commissioner, and sometimes I feel that when you're a commissioner, you have to be careful about whether you're speaking for the commission or your individual capacity. because for issues of iwi kupuna you should rely on the experts or the cultural practitioners of that area having said that i was leaving in the parking lot and i saw lonnie and we started talking a little bit and then i realized that there were vacancies on the commission and so i was delighted that she was interested in serving so anyway good to see you lonnie mahalo chair

I'm deeply honored and humbled to be here this morning, and I'd also like to mahalo and acknowledge Chair Kea'aina for encouraging me to bring my experience and cultural perspective to this work. So mahalo to all of you. Maka hana ka ike. Maka ike. Kamaupopo. Our kupuna left us with very sage counsel through their . Through action and work, knowledge is gained. I come to this commission as a native Hawaiian attorney, cultural practitioner, former director of the Kingkamehameha Fifth Judiciary History Center, and more than 30 years working as a cultural consultant to preserve, perpetuate, and our culture, our history, our traditional knowledge systems. Throughout my career, I have worked to bridge the worlds of government, project proponents, community, and cultural practice, ensuring that decisions affecting our aina and our wahi kupuna are approached with cultural sensitivity, cultural understanding, and deep respect for the ike of our kupuna. As Kanaka Maoli, our relationship to place is not simply historical. It is genealogical, it is spiritual, it is deeply personal. It is who we are. Our cultural sites, our landscapes, and our traditional practices connect us to our ancestors, to our identity, and to our generations that come after us. Historic preservation, therefore, is not simply about protecting the structures or documenting the sites. It is about safeguarding the stories, the values, the traditions, and the cultural memory that continues to live within these places. It is about honoring our kupuna, protecting what they entrusted to us, and entrusting and ensuring that future generations will always know where they come from and who they are. For me, this appointment is not simply a role, it is kuleana and deeply personal. Before closing, I just want to acknowledge for the privilege of bringing me here today and for blessing me with a wonderful wahana for the work that I do. Mahalo to the many inspirational and remarkable people who have walked before me, alongside me, that took the time to to impart wisdom and guidance and love and made me who I am. Also like to take the mahalo the people that supported me through submitting testimony. I believe that we stand on the shoulders of the folks that came before us and I'm deeply grateful. I look forward to serving this community and the city and commission with integrity, Ike and with aloha. Mahalo to all of you. Happy to answer any questions.

Members, do we have any questions? Council Member Cipolla.

Aloha, thank you for being willing and of course being encouraged to do this. I know it's probably a step out of comfortability, but I think it's something that we would really appreciate given your background. My quick question is about SHIFTI. So historic preservation, any of your thoughts or background in regards to working with that particular agency in the state?

Yes, plenty, right? I mean, they're very overwhelmed with the work that they do, very little resources, very few staff there. Like everything else, I think we just have to try our best to collaborate and talk story and get our agencies together and just figure out where the systemic gaps are, how we can work together to make that better. Just so many development pressures, as we know, It's all about trying to work out a solution, but I do know that they're really short staffed and overwhelmed, so we just have to do our best to work together with them.

I guess maybe in future conversations, just because they kind of hover around two websites that they use for a lot of the information that you have to look up. And actually, some of them are not even run by the state. These are like native Hawaiian websites that everyone uses to look up this stuff. I just kind of wanted to know, just because we're probably going to start building a repository of information based upon projects that you review. if there is any conversations that happen in the future about us trying to figure out either how to get on that same website to share our information in one place. I mean, I had to call Shifty and ask them specifically where they were getting it from. They sent me to the website and I was like, oh, this is very useful. who updates this? Oh, it's a nonprofit, and that's the one we use. So just thoughts, because I think as we collect information, as this commission is new, how are we going to keep our own history? How are we going to keep the lessons learned? And how do we keep it in the same space where other Native Hawaiians are actually writing down these same things about sites, about where they were collected, about where it was put, just so that we can all learn. Because like you said, turnover, not a lot of people working in Shiptee. I think for us as Native Hawaiians, we just have to be mindful of that, that yes, history came in the past and we should understand it, but we're building history right now. So we should write about it regularly and we should store it. catalog it regularly so that people who come after us can know the work that you guys did. So if there are opportunities for that and I can send you the websites that I'm talking about. I just don't know how we can kind of like the work we're doing can kind of coincide with that so that we're not making a new website because we don't want to do that. We kind of want to collaborate as much as we can with the groups that are already kind of doing a lot of the Hana. Mahalo.

Mahalo. Thank you. Members, any other questions? Lonnie, I actually wanted to follow up a little bit because it brought to mind the role of the burial councils. What are the role of the burial councils with regard to the various requirements under state law? Because I have a follow-up question, but I want you to maybe clarify for us their role in the overall process.

So as we know, there's island-wide borough councils, and the O'ahu Borough Council, well, actually all of them are governed under but also the HAR 13300 administrative rules. So their primary kuleana is the burial treatment plans. So they have to determine if burials are going to be preserved in place or allowed to be relocated. That's their primary kuleana. And there's a preference in the law that burials be preserved in place. Their other kuleana, they can advise on other matters, because folks like to come early to the council and get their mana'o before they start Archaeological Inventory Survey and all of the work that follows. But their primary kuleana is the burrow treatment plants.

And if they, for some reason, are unable to get quorum and are unable to render a decision, does that lack of action impede projects? Absolutely. So my question, the reason I'm raising this is the state legislature created the speed task force, which the director of DPP and myself are on. And I remember during the recommendations, they had just expressed concerns about the lack of quorum. And I had just thrown out as a thought in lieu of that, in lieu of quorum, because if you have that, then it's impeding, it's not just impeding for developers, it could also be for homeowners, it could be for small projects, right? So is there an alternative process that could be established in lieu of a lack of quorum? And by that I mean delegation of authority perhaps to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, or an institution with expertise to be able to help. Because it's sort of like how we are trying to address the backlog for permitting at DPP. If you don't deal with the source of the problem, then it's gonna be hard to move forward. And I'm a little concerned that not enough attention is given to the lack of quorum for the burial councils. Do you have any mana'o on that?

Mahalo, Chair. This is a really long-standing problem. They have had trouble filling vacancies for a very long time for many reasons. I'm not sure where the backlog is, but it is a huge problem. The issue about delegating the kuleana to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has come up a number of times. But the issue is that they don't have administrative rules making authority. So that would be really hard because they need to enforce the laws. And so there's some things that need to be worked out before they can take on that kuleana.

Would they have to have, state law would have to be modified?

Yes.

Okay, because before you do rules, you would have to have authority given to you by the state, correct? Correct. Which they currently don't have. Correct. But do you think it's worth exploring? Oh yes, absolutely. Okay, thank you. Thank you so much. Happy to help you with that. Thank you.

Members, any other questions?

Okay, before I call up the administration, thank you so much, and thank you for agreeing to serve. I would like to take public testimony, proceeding first with in-person testimony in the council chamber. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

Is there anyone else in the chamber who would like to testify? Seeing none, proceeding with remote testimony, clerks, do we have any remote testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

For the administration?

Michael Catt here for GBP. We stand in support of the pointee and the proposed CD1 and are available for any questions.

Members, any questions? I just want to say, Michael, that hopefully with Lonnie's background, I hope that I already know that since the establishment of the commission, you guys have been endeavoring to strengthen your tie and collaboration with SHPDII, and I'm hoping that with her area of expertise and knowledge that she can help.

Yes, no, we're very excited to have her on board. And we are continuing to try and strengthen our relationship with Shifty. We meet with them pretty frequently. And so we're happy to collaborate with them on future projects.

Okay, thank you. Members, if there are no further, do you have any comments for discussion? Yes.

Thank you. Nothing for DPP. I wanted to give kudos to the administration for such an excellent appointment, but I actually have to give you the credit because this appointment is fantastic, and we're super lucky to have her. You know, I just also have to make, and thank you for bringing up the point. You know, the housing chair in the state house blames the city and this council for slowing down the process and wants to take power away from the council when they themselves are responsible for some of this slowdown, right? As you pointed out accurately, they're not giving them the ability to make the rules. And they're not funding SHPTI. SHPTI is chronically underfunded. And they really should pay attention to this. And perhaps I'll clip this and send this over to them to make the point that don't just blame the city for these backlogs when they have an equal responsibility. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. Thank you so much. If there are no further discussions, the Chair recommends that Resolution 26-100 be amended to the posted CD1. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, the resolution has been amended to a CD1. The Chair then recommends that Resolution 26-100 CD1 be reported out for adoption. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. I'm actually going to... Um,

Thank you. Resolution 26-96 confirms the reappointment of Hilary Alomar to serve on the Planning Commission for a term to expire on June 30, 2031. Ms. Alomar is the Director of Planning and Development in the Commercial Real Estate Division at Kamehameha Schools. Is Ms. Alomar here? Aloha, welcome. Would you like to say a few words? Hello, welcome.

Aloha, Aloha Chair Kealaina, Vice Chair Waters, and Council Members. My name is Hilary Alomar and I'm honored to appear before you regarding my reappointment to the Planning Commission. I was raised in Hilo, Hawaii and a proud graduate of Hilo High School and Hawaii Public Schools. I've lived in Honolulu for the past 33 years and currently reside in Puʻunui with my husband and three children. My educational background and more than 25 years of professional experience in land use, entitlement planning, development and community consultation have prepared me for service on the Planning Commission. I also understand the importance of public trust and ethical responsibility in this role and committed to recusing myself when appropriate to uphold the integrity of the Commission. Throughout my planning career in Hawaii, I have worked extensively in community-based planning processes where Native Hawaiian cultural practices, stewardship responsibilities, and traditional relationships to land and resources are important considerations in decision-making. In Hawaii, thoughtful planning cannot be separated from stewardship of aina, cultural resources, and community identity. Mahalo for the opportunity to continue serving on the City and County of Honolulu Planning Commission. If you have any questions.

Council Member Topolo. Thank you so much. Aloha. Thank you for being here, for your background and for your willingness. Have you ever served on any commissions or boards? And if so, what experiences have you had?

For the past, I think, four and a half years, I've been with the Planning Commission. I think in December of 2021 was when I was first appointed. I also serve on the Board of Trees for Honolulu's Future with Executive Director Dan Donnell that you guys probably, and have been really active in my kids' school boards over the years at different schools.

Thank you. And how has your experience been thus far with the Planning Commission? It's been great.

A great opportunity for me to share my community service, but also learn. I'm definitely a planning nerd, so reading all of these applications is a learning opportunity as well.

Thank you. Well, thank you for being willing to do it again. We appreciate it.

Mahalo nui.

Council Members, are there any other questions? I just wanted to let you know we have posted on the agenda a technical CD1 version of the resolution, which I submitted. For your information, a summary of the amendments is listed on the agenda. I'm proposing a verbal amendment to the seventh whereas clause to provide that Ms. Alomar will provide representation on the commission in the land use planning policies and principles category. Before I call up the administration, I would like to take public testimony. Proceeding first with in-person testimony, do we have any in-person testifiers? Clerks?

Chair, there are none.

Anyone else who would like to testify? Seeing none, do we have any remote testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

For the administration, we have a deputy director.

Good morning, Council. Brian Gallagher, Deputy Director of DPP. We again, we support this candidate.

Thank you. Members, are there any questions or is there any discussion?

Council Member Cordero. Thank you, Chair. I am proud to support the reappointment of Ms. Alomar. I've had the opportunity maybe from 2014 to sit in many of the meetings with DPP and Ms. Alomar when we would be discussing infrastructure in and around the Iwilei and Kalihi area, and know that she's taking a lot of those technical but also well-rounded expertise to the Planning Commission. So I just wanted to express my support for her. Mahalo.

Thank you so much. And of course, I'm pretty sure in the first hearings you heard that I had the privilege of working with Ms. Alomar when I was a land asset manager at the Kamehameha Schools. I am looking forward to what you guys are going to do in Kaneohe, so look forward to a briefing. I'd like to see some housing development occurring. We've been making progress in Waimanalo and Kailua, but It's very challenging in Kaneohe just because of the ownership of land. So looking forward to working with the Kamehameha Schools on that front. Okay. If there are no further discussion, the Chair recommends that Resolution 26-97 be amended to the post at City 1. As further amended as we discussed to amend the 7th Warehouse Clause to provide that Ms. Alomar will provide representation on the Commission in the Land Use Planning Policies and Principles category. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, the resolution has been amended to a CD1. The chair then recommends that resolution 26-97 CD1 be reported out for adoption. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. Moving to agenda item number six for action, resolution 26-105. This resolution directs the department, the director of the Department of Planning and Permitting to process a proposed amendment to the subdivision ordinance, ROH chapter 22, relating to the adoption of rules. The resolution was attached to Committee Report 76-2026, which involved the Committee's review and evaluation of City Charter provisions relating to the Planning Commission. The report was adopted by the Council at its meeting on April 15, recommending that Charter provisions establishing the Planning Commission be retained without amendment, but recommended that ROH Section 22-3.5 be amended to provide that the DPP director, not the commission, is responsible for adopting rules governing the subdivision or consolidation of land. This resolution and company exhibit A bill proposes to amend the subdivision ordinance to implement that recommendation. Under the city charter, amendments through the subdivision ordinance proposed by the council are processed by the director of the Department of Planning and Permitting, but are not reviewed by the Planning Commission. And the director is responsible for preparing and amending the subdivision ordinance and related rules. Before I call up the administration, I would like to take public testimony. Proceeding first with in-person testimony in the council chamber. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers for this item?

Chair, there are none.

Are there any remote testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

Thank you. For the administration, we have the Deputy Director.

Good morning, Council. Brian Gallagher, Deputy Director of DPP. We continue to support this resolution.

Members, any questions or is there any discussion? The chair recommends that resolution 26-105 be reported out for adoption. Any discussion, any objections to reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. Moving to agenda item number seven for action. Resolution 26-127. This resolution adopts a revision to the public infrastructure map for the primary urban center development plan area by adding a government building symbol to allow for the appropriation of funds to acquire the Queen Theater property, which is a 10,396 square foot zoning lot located at 3588 Wiley Avenue. Two years ago, the council adopted resolution 24-1676 CD1, which requested the administration to take the steps necessary to acquire the Queen Theater property for public use as a city-owned multi-purpose venue for theatrical, musical, and community performances, and if necessary, to prepare a resolution for the Council to initiate proceedings in eminent domain. The PIM amendment will allow for the appropriation of funds in the city's capital budget for land acquisition of the Queen Theater property, which is owned by Narcisco Yu Jr. and Adore Yu. The fiscal 2027 capital budget currently appropriates $4 million for this purpose. I will now defer to the introducer of this resolution, Council Chair Waters, for further explanation and comment.

Thank you so much for having a hearing on this today, but can we defer to the community first, and then I'll save my comments for after?

Okay, thank you. Proceeding first with in-person testimony in the council chamber. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers for this item?

Yes, Chair, we have a few standing by.

Okay, first testifier is Calvin Hara.

Okay, thank you. Aloha, Chair Kiana, members of the committee. My name is Calvin Hara from Kaimuki, born Honolulu, raised in Kaimuki. I support this resolution. It's time to bring the Queen Theater back for the community. For over 40 years, the theater has served no purpose, vacant, such a shame, and now there's a great opportunity for the city and county of Honolulu to move forward with a community gathering facility for keiki to kupuna. We talk these days about quality of life. Some of us talk story about the quality of life in yesteryears. Now in Kaimuki, we can talk about the future quality of life for our keiki. Many of our keiki up to age 40 never saw a queen theater that was open. While some may believe that this site is not feasible, the goals can be achieved with our due diligence of our municipal government. Having a community center will benefit our local community, local people, and not just for Kameke folks, but including Palolo, Kapahulu, and beyond. I strongly urge to pass this resolution. I'm available for any comments. Mahalo.

Thank you. Colleagues, any questions? If not, we're gonna move on to Oren.

Thank you for your attention to the Queen Theater, Council Chair, Vice Chair, Council people, people in the room. I basically lived in 96816 since I moved here in 1967. I used to walk to the Kaimuki Theater and the Queen Theater at different stages in my life, as people who know the history of the Queen will know. I think from looking at this from, I'm a design background and I've worked on community planning projects, that this is kind of a no-brainer and it's a wonderful opportunity to give a gift back to the community. This facility is surrounded by parking lots, it's surrounded by restaurants, stores, City Park is right across the street where 100 years ago the Royal Hawaiian Band used to play and there was political oratory and things like that. So if you just take a look at providing a community center, a place to bring people together, that's a huge thing. And then if you take a look a little bit beyond that, to the synergies that can be created when you try and add the park to it and things like that. I speak on the cusp of my opposition to Maʻo Maʻi Park and the aero guys who wanted to come in and take over a part of the land. And I think what we learned from that process is that the process that that went about was flawed and that the community...

If you could... focus your remarks on the issue at hand and summarize.

I am, I'm coming around to it. It's a talk story, small, kind of short. But getting the community involved in the revitalization of the theater and of the community is really a great opportunity that you have here. So I want to thank you folks for considering it and obviously support it strongly. Thank you.

Thank you. And I wanted to recognize a council member, DeSantis Tam. The next testifier is Becky Gardner.

Aloha chair, members of the committee. I just want to first thank all of you for staying committed to this issue and you have my testimony. I just want to stress, I used to live around the corner from the theater and it really was an eyesore and I didn't feel safe near it. The $4 million number, it really seems like a sticking point here, but we have to keep our eyes on the opportunity costs and how it's impacted the residents in the community. And I think it's important to think about what we might, what the future looks like. Because this, the Wiley Corridor really is like Main Street USA in Oahu. And we can do a lot to develop it and improve, as Calvin said, quality of life. And it's hard to put a price tag on that. And we have an opportunity to really boost the community. I'm here for questions. I've submitted long testimonies. There's a lot in there if you have any questions.

Members, any questions for the testifier? Thank you. Is there anyone in the council chamber who would like to testify in person? Clerks, are there any remote testimony?

Yes, Chair, we have a few standing by.

The first on the list is Christine Otto-Zha.

Good morning, Cherokee Aina and members. My name is Christine Aroza, and I enthusiastically and humbly ask for your support of the Queen Theatre Resolution. I'm showing my age now, but I have fond memories of going to the Queen Theatre as a child, back when they showed PG-rated movies. I was born and raised in Kamiki and Kapahulu, and feel blessed to have raised my son here as well. Kamiki's business district has always been a charming, family-friendly town. Over the years, it's mainly become known as a gathering place centered around food, which is a good thing. But restoring the Queen Theater as a gathering space for entertainment and the arts would make our community even more vibrant and nurturing. It could become a place to celebrate and showcase the creativity of our community from keiki to kupuna. With the Queen, we have an opportunity to merge the old with the new, to honor the theater's history while reimagining it as a space that can better serve and connect our community. Honestly, imagining Kaneki without the Queen Theater gets me emotional, and I think many feel the same. So I ask that you please save the Queen. Mahalo to Chair Waters for continuing to fight for the theater in our community, and mahalo to the late and great Sharon Snyder and her legacy organization, Envision Kamiki, Becky, Lori, for their many years of commitment, not only to the theater, but to envisioning an even better Kamiki community. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.

Thank you so much, Christine. The next testifier we have is Lori Yamada.

Thanks for having me. Chair Kiana, Vice Chair Waters and members of the Zoning and Planning Committee, my name is Laurie Yamada and I speak on behalf of Envision Kaimuki. I was born and raised in the Palolo and Kaimuki area and I testify today in support of Resolution 26127. I feel that amending the PIM for the primary urban center development plan is a logical step in preserving Queen Theatre. Since the owner of the Queen Theatre has put the property up for sale, this is an opportune time for the city to buy the property in order to save the historic building and turn it into something useful for the public. Envision Kaimuki has been aware of Queen Theatre becoming a blight in the neighborhood for many years. Queen Theatre's iconic sign and marquee has long been part of Kaimuki's small town charm, and now they are badly in need of repair. Ideally, the community would like Queen Theatre to become a functioning theatre again, but for now, our hope is that the building can be rehabilitated to keep it from becoming an eyesore and to keep our town safe from criminal activity. I hope that through this resolution, Queen Theatre can be restored to something we'll all be proud of. Mahalo for this opportunity to testify.

Thank you. Clerks, do we have any other remote testifiers standing by?

Chair, there are none.

Thank you to the testifiers for taking the time today to testify in support of this measure. For the administration, we have the deputy director.

Good morning, Council. It's Brian Gallagher, Deputy Director at DPP. Due to current and competing budget restraints, the administration would prefer to not purchase up the property at this time. However, there is always potential for future considerations.

Thank you. Members, do you have any questions for the administration? Chair Waters.

Thank you, I'm just looking at your testimony, and you know, I have to apologize in advance, you're just the messenger, but I gotta make the point. You're completely out of touch, right? Because one, you wanna put a cement building and a nature preserve in Kaimuki, and we have this cement building that's been deteriorated, and it's very emotional for us, but we've been fighting for this for years, and to come in and say no, I had a meeting with the mayor two days ago and he apologized to me. And I want to say this publicly in front of all of you. He said, we haven't listened to the council on ads, on council priorities. And he said he's going to do better. He said he's going to do better. And then you come in and say, no. So I'd like you to go back and talk to the mayor and say, hey, You said you're gonna do better, but you come in and you say no. You're not listening to the community. There's 33 testimonies in support of this, right? It's dilapidated, it's been falling apart. I wanna read from here in the testimony. Most significantly, the current property owner has been unwilling to proceed with voluntary condemnation proceeding. This is your testimony. That's false. She's completely open to it. I had a meeting with her and she said, yeah, I want the city to take over this. The idea is really to pattern this after the Palace Theater in Hilo where the city, condemned it, took it over, turned it over to a nonprofit who raised the money to fix this. And that's really the idea, right? The community, my community and me will raise the money privately to fix this theater and open it up for the community. There's so much testimony. Chair, there's 33 testimonies in support. And we started late, so I'm thinking a lot of the people couldn't testify in person or online. but strong support for this. I thoroughly support the city acquiring the Queen Theater as a community resource for the performing arts. The arts are the soul of a county and community. This is Sharon Gephardt. There's a wonderful letter in here from Sharon Snyder, who passed away, former chair of the Kamuki Neighborhood Board. We've been fighting for this forever. And I'm just disappointed that the city does not recognize that. So committee members, asking for your support. Hope the mayor is listening to this and you guys change your mind because it's something worth fighting for. It's something worth preserving. and it will benefit the entire community. As you mentioned, there's restaurants all around there. There's a park right across the street. There's a ballet studio, ukulele studio. Kalani High School doesn't have a performing arts center. They could use this for their plays for the graduation. We were at last night at Kalani High School's graduation at the Stan Sheriff Center. Wouldn't it have been cool to have it at the Queen Theater? Mitchell Taney is hopefully watching this as well. By the way, congratulations to all the graduates last night at Kalanee High School. But this community deserves this. We're gonna fight for it. I'm not gonna give up. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there any further questions?

Council Member Topolo. Thank you. Aloha, Deputy. Thank you for being here. I just wanted to further support my colleague and I hope he's okay with me saying additional comments. But I grew up in Hawaii, so for me, Kaimuki was like our town, Gecko Books, Harry's Music Store. I was up and down Waialae all the time growing up. Really, I feel like the people of Camuquí have lost a lot. The deterioration of the whole area, the lack of revitalization, and this is only one of many iconic places in Camuquí that's just either remained vacant or fell apart. Inside this departmental communication, it says the site itself is severely constrained with no parking area. These guys are testifying that there's parking. Obviously, we know there's parking. It's Camuquí, we know where all the parking lots are. So there's parking all over Kamuki, and Kamuki Community Park is like popping at night. It's a great area for people to gather. And again, just to reiterate what Chair Waters says, writing down things like the property owner has been unwilling, this department of communication needs to be revised. There's things that are written in here that show no effort, no research, nobody who actually met with the community, read any of the testimonies. Again, I don't think we're asking for a lot. A lot of us have asked for like a few things, and this has been one that he's been asking for a while. So at least revise this departmental communication to reflect what actually is happening there. And maybe instead of Jeff's opposition, it'd be great to say, hey, let's come up with a plan. Let's do this this year and then that this year. It would be wonderful if we had some type of compromise from the administration as opposed to just opposing every single idea we have. Thank you.

Any further discussion or questions? Council Member Dos Santos-Towne.

Thank you. As a practical matter, Deputy Director, I don't suppose you know the answer to this, but this building has a number of ground floor retail establishments. Are those fully leased up? Sorry, I don't know at this time. That's fine. According to the advertisement for this property, there are four retail spaces available along Wiley Avenue. The asking rent is somewhere about $6 per square foot, cam of two, so that's about eight. So putting this together, if we were to acquire it, there's potentially leasable space of about $160,000 a year for the city. Do we have a cohesive policy as to how we would lease out these city-owned properties?

I'd have to ask DHLM on that.

Okay. I would posit that the council's been working on establishing such a policy for more than a year now. Bill 35 was introduced over a year ago and hasn't moved. Bill 10, which I introduced for city-owned properties in Chinatown, was introduced in January and is the only bill from 2025 and 2026 that has not yet been referred. And so if we were to acquire this property without a policy for how we would lease out city-owned assets, it seems to me that we would be setting ourselves up for failure. And I think that this is something that we need to address concurrently while the city acquires, attempts to acquire this property.

Thank you. Thank you, Council Member. Any other discussion? Thank you. If there's no further discussion, the Chair recommends that Resolution 26-127 be reported out for adoption. Any discussion? Any objections or reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. The next agenda item, thank you very much for the community who took the time to testify today, both online as well as in person. The next agenda item number eight, Resolution 26-128, has been cancelled. Moving to agenda item number nine for action, Bill 7-2025-CD1. This bill amends the park dedication provisions of the subdivision ordinance, ROH Chapter 22, to allow the dedication of land for dog parks to be credited towards satisfying the requirements for dedicating land for park and playground purposes. We have posted a CD2 version of the bill which was submitted by Councilmember Topola. For your information, a summary of the amendments is listed on the agenda. I am proposing a verbal amendment requested by the Department of Planning and Permitting to amend the second sentence in the definition of privately owned parks and playgrounds by deleting the phrase or associate it with. So the beginning of the second sentence reads, If the privately owned park is part of the lot or lots on which a building or group of buildings containing or divided into three or more dwellings or lodging units is constructed. Amendments to the subdivision ordinance proposed by the council are processed by the Department of Planning and Permitting, but are not reviewed by the Planning Commission. The Council proposed Bill 70-2025 by adoption resolution 24-220. I will now defer to the introducer of the bill and the proposed CD2, Council Member Tupola.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you for your verbal amendments. I want to thank both departments, Department of Parks and Recreation as well as DPP for taking the time with me to fine-tooth every little detail in this bill. Looking forward to pushing it forward. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you so much. Before I call up the administration, I would like to take public testimony. Proceeding first with in-person testimony in the chamber. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

Are there any remote testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

For the administration, we have the Deputy Director, DPP Deputy Director.

Good morning, Council, Deputy Director, DPP, Brian Gallagher. We support passing this bill, and we would like to thank the Council and a member, Tupola, and her staff. Amazingly, for something that seems so straightforward and should be simple, it becomes very nuanced, especially once it gets into subdivision rules and requirements of participation. But again, thank you for being patient as we work through this because it actually has a domino effect on other divisions and departments. But yeah, thank you for your efforts.

Thank you. Members, any questions for the administration or any further discussion? If not, the Chair recommends that Bill 70-2025, CD1 be amended to the post at CD2 as further amended as we discussed to amend the second sentence of the definition of privately owned parks and playgrounds by deleting the phrase or associate it with. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, the bill has been amended to a CD2. The Chair then recommends that Bill 70-2025 CD2 be reported out for passage on third reading. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. Moving to agenda item number 10, for Action Bill 34-2026, CD1, this bill amends the Flood Hazard Area Ordinance, ROH Chapter 21A, to conform with current National Flood Insurance Program regulations and incorporate requirements to the community rating system which awards discounts on flood insurance premiums based on the community efforts to mitigate flood damage. We have posted on the agenda a CD2 version of the resolution which I submitted for your information. A summary is listed on the agenda. The CD2 makes technical amendments requested by the Department of Planning and Permitting. To continue program eligibility, participating communities are required to adopt and maintain adequate floodplain regulations consistent with minimum program standards. Since the updated flood insurance rate maps will become effective on June 10th, to maintain program eligibility and avoid suspension from the program, the city must meet this June deadline. I have stated previously before what is at stake. So I'm going to move forward by calling up the administration. Before I call up the administration, I would like to take public testimony. Proceeding first with in-person testimony in the chamber. Clerks, do we have any in-person testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

Any remote testifiers?

Chair, there are none.

Okay, for the administration, we have the Deputy Director.

Morning, Council. Brian Gallagher, Deputy Director, DPP. Again, we would like to thank Council's support of this bill and especially understanding what we have recently gone through with the recent storms and the timing. We've been putting in a lot of effort with Department of Land and Natural Resources and FEMA, but getting through this process and getting this bill passed will get us to a better place as we implement and administer this program.

Thank you. Members, any questions? Any further discussion? Seeing none, the Chair recommends that Bill 34, 2026, CD1 be amended to the posted CD2. Any discussion? Any objections or reservations? Hearing none, the bill has been amended to a CD2. The Chair then recommends that Bill 34, 2026, CD2 be reported out for passage on third reading. Any discussion, any objections or reservations? Hearing none, so ordered. Mahalo, everybody, for being here today, especially with the postponement to 10.30. There being no further business, this meeting is adjourned.