Department of Parks and Recreation Ka ʻOihana Mālama Pāka a me nā Hana Hoʻonanea Aloha and welcome to the City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation We are responsible for the City parks and gardens all across the island of Oʻahu Enjoy a picnic at a regional park or lift some weights at a gym Swim laps in a pool or ride the ramps at a skatepark Copyright © 2025 Department of Parks and Recreation Wesley: Merrill Kelly found it to be just fine on Sunday windy days can make pickleball a much different game DBacksEurope: I am not worried, this is reality. The Diamondbacks can demolish any team and can struggle against any team. The Cubs series once again proved that That wind game was absurd and I’m chalking it up to the conditions rather than lack of execution I’m more concerned with Gallen failing to find any rhythm between starts - although that decreases his price and likelihood he accepts a qualifying offer Preston: I started to answer on Sunday morning but figured I would wait until after the game the only pitchers that struggled (even with the wind blowing out for two of the three games) were Gallen and members of the bullpen who instantly boarded a flight to Reno If the rumors are correct and Gallen and Strom were not working well together I’m thinking we may be glad in the long run that we haven’t extended him The bullpen didn’t allow an earned run in 7.1 innings after the ‘Wind Game’ Kelly/Burnes gave up 3 runs between them in about 6 innings each and Gallen had a Pfaadt-ish outing where he had a blow-up inning but was otherwise cruising through the majority of his 6 innings “It’s arguable that he is the best left-handed pitcher in the Diamondbacks bullpen.” “AJ Puk is the gold standard, meeting or exceeding the demarcation line for all five statistics.” It’s positive that in 5 innings pitched after 2 April, AJ Puk did not allow a home run. This AZ Snake Pit article noted a conundrum that after 8 games the Diamondbacks were one of the best three teams in allowing a low percentage of hard-hits and yet their home-runs-per-9-innings was second worst in the league the Diamondbacks remain better than average in allowing a low percentage of hard-hits while their home-runs-per-9-innings remains worse than average (albeit their rank improved) It remains to be seen if Jameson can have an impact Before he went down he was not exactly our strongest reliever wouldn’t be surprised to see Drey end up more valuable thank Puk would have been at the end of the day Preston: Jameson is a potential top-tier reliever who was really only optioned for roster management and to get him some game action with Ginkel in the eighth and Martinez in the ninth Kyle Backhus is earning a look at the major league level Andrew Saalfrank will be back in June (hopefully wiser for his experience.) And in case we’ve all forgotten Mantiply has been pretty bad before and gotten it figured out 1AZfan1: If Puk’s absence is limited to no more than 6ish weeks I’d say Jameson’s addition will be more impactful Starting to get him as many reps in the Bigs early in the season as possible is great to determine if he will be a reliable option for the 2025 stretch run/playoffs If Puk is gone for a significant portion of the year or this elbow issue becomes a recurring thing but I’m not expecting him to replace Puk one-for-one in 2025 Ben: I tend to agree that it’s losing Puk at this point He’s extremely experienced and has a great mentality as a reliever while also having a great repertoire that’s delivered excellent results since coming over I was encouraged by Jameson’s spring training and minor league results but he’s a very different pitcher who won’t really be able to “replace” Puk so much as give Torey another option out of the pen Makakilo: Many city connect uniforms are garish (obtrusively bright and showy) One exception is the Diamondbacks’ Serpientes uniform In the context that any uniform that distracts from watching baseball is not a good thing the Diamondbacks are scheduled for another city connect uniform Mentally I’ll be wearing my sunglasses while hoping to be pleasantly surprised Spencer: I think I’d like one that’s mostly red with lots of purple and teal piping (perhaps in the snake scale style of our A) Something that incorporates both eras of Diamondbacks colors but isn’t just the original uniform it can be a throwback every once in a while I like Serpientes so I hope that stays on the jersey City Connect means it should connect to the city the local team once a year plays in an Airborne shirt to honour the fallen in The Battle of Arnhem The Airborne shirt is maroon and Cambridge blue because of the 1st British airborne division I would say something similar should be possible to invent for Phoenix Grand Canyon…the first City Connect was a success the original Diamondbacks’ colors were chosen basically as a “city connect” with copper and teal (which has always been more of a turquoise in honor of one of Arizona’s products) being odes to Arizona a turquoise jersey with copper lettering (and maybe some purple around the lettering if the leaks are anything close to correct it looks like Nike is going with Grimace-vomit on black 1AZfan1: Here’s a screenshot of the leak Preston referenced It is truly terrible and I hope that this isn’t what we’re stuck with for the next few years I understood the “Serpientes” name and color themes - and appreciated their uniqueness - but it still felt a little performative rather than genuine connection with the Spanish-speaking population Makakilo: I love the idea of a Woman Pro Baseball League A great first step towards co-ed baseball would be exhibition games with a mix of women and men players (reminds me of mixed doubles in pickleball) Spencer: I hope we get full co-ed teams in my lifetime baseball feels like the easiest to facilitate that Maybe soccer too but even that’s more physical in a dangerous way (and in the US at least men would have a hard time accepting just how inferior at the sport they are…) baseball tends to be behind the times in the modern era so I expect there’s too much pushback from fans and people around the game for a long while A separate league is a great first step though DBacksEurope: Every sport where physical strength is important is a sport where a woman will not be able to compete at the same level as a man I am sure women will be able to compete with men The problem then is that women do not get paid the same as men for what they do But the substantial barrier to it is that the position with the most jobs available (pitching) may also be the position least likely for a woman to succeed but I suspect that due to skeletal differences women would encounter even more injuries than men when pitching A separate women’s league will answer that question 1AZfan1: I would absolutely be open to women in MLB I am doubtful that they will be able to match up physically at the big league level I fervently hope I get to see a co-Ed league of some kind in my lifetime Makakilo: Invite people to my house for homemade veggie pizza on an outdoor grill Spencer: Forgetting it’s Easter then frantically putting together a lamb dinner so when mom calls we can say we celebrated DBacksEurope: When I was young we would go on chocolate egg hunt Now I don’t have any traditions with my own family I’d try to do the egg tap with my kids and wife but my wife was never enthusiastic and my son doesn’t like hard boiled eggs so the tradition quickly faded away 1AZfan1: Church does a breakfast on Easter Sunday that we participate in is a nod to tradition and offers a taste of what’s next Hawaii Catholic Herald 09/11/2024 by Hawaii Catholic Herald Jude Church in Kapolei celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this year Just fields and fields and fields of sugar cane My dad would take us on the roof to watch the jets take off and land at Barber’s Point (now Kalaeloa) At night we would lie down in our driveway and he would point out stars On Sundays we woke up early to go to Immaculate Conception Church in Ewa Luckily the cane trucks were not working most Sundays Dad would take shortcuts through the cane roads We’d end up driving past the mango trees at Tenny Park Mom told me we were one of the first Makakilo families to join Immaculate Conception Church Father Bernard Eikmeier watched the number of Makakilo members grow Then he held a meeting with his Makakilo parishioners Father Eikmeier told them Makakilo will need a church of its own one day and the time to start planning is now The dozen or so members looked at each other and felt overwhelmed with a seemingly impossible task They prayed for strength and guidance and invoked the patron saint of impossible odds — St Jude Society of Immaculate Conception Church He petitioned Bishop Joseph Ferrario for more financial support Members in Makakilo offered their time and their homes for weekly catechism classes Sunday Mass at the Makakilo Elementary School cafeteria was a full house which became the norm thereafter whether the building was a cafeteria sai­min and huli huli chicken at carnivals We did Christmas gift wrapping at the GEM store until midnight And the Ewa parishioners from our mother church always coming with happy hands and hearts to help It was such a group of friends where everybody knew your name Lum Lees … so many more families from the Ewa plantation to the slopes of Makakilo There was a time when a situation arose that divided the St funds for the future church were misused and angry words were exchanged Those who remained prayed and persevered to recover and rebuild what was lost Jude heard their pleas and prayed with them for continued faith and courage The dark cloud lifted and the members of the St Jude Society prevailed with the light of Christ ever brighter in their hearts a gentle warmth of excitement and awe overwhelmed me I realized this church building is God’s miracle to us and especially to those first parishioners who decades ago prayed for the growing needs of the Kapolei community seeing how quickly the city of Kapolei is expanding the question of enough money to build a church of this magnitude And all we must do is pray and believe and let God work his miracle Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Kapolei, reflection, St. Jude Church Copyright © 2025 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More HONOLULU — The start of the 2024-25 school year next month will mark the official opening of 44 new public preschool classrooms across the state The new classrooms can accommodate 820 new students bringing the total inventory of public pre-K seats across the state to 1,767 Eleven pre-K classrooms were opened last school year Honowai and Wailuku elementary schools—will add an additional classroom due to high interest “This is the most public preschools the state has ever opened in one year,” Luke said at a news briefing at Kuhio Elementary School “It’s a testament to the need for early learning opportunities across our state to ensure that every child can be ready for their future The 820 pre-K seats being added this year is just one step in our continuous work to ensure that every keiki has the tools and learning opportunities to succeed.” Thirty-four of the new classrooms will open at Title I schools Included among the new additions will be the first Executive Office of Early Learning Hawaiian language public pre-K classrooms located at Blanche Pope and Lanai High and Elementary Several areas will welcome their first public preschool classroom this fall EOEL’s Public Pre-K Program now includes 74 sites and 92 classrooms across the state Each classroom can serve up to 20 students Priority is given to several categories of student those who are experiencing homelessness or unstable housing and those whose family’s income is no more than 300% of the federal poverty level.  Applications for the EOEL’s Public Prekindergarten Program are available through the new online portal earlylearning.ehawaii.gov Families and caregivers can apply on a rolling basis HONOLULU — A rock quarry on Oahu is going to be mined for longer than previously permitted and look different upon closure under a final regulatory decision made Wednesday The state Land Use Commission voted unanimously to extend a special operating permit by 15 years for the roughly 200-acre hillside quarry in Makakilo owned by Grace Pacific LLC Other approvals granted by the commission will allow Grace to shift where excavation can occur to access higher quality rock without increasing the total area mined and permit a planned asphalt plant and a fairly new concrete production facility to run 24 hours a day on-site The concrete plant was also confirmed as a previously approved use on the property (function(d,s,n){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];js=d.createElement(s);js.className=n;js.src="//player.ex.co/player/bdc806f4-0fc1-40a1-aff0-a3d5239c169c";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}(document,"script","exco-player")); Grace sought the approvals in an application filed last year to amend its existing permit tied to the quarry established by a predecessor in 1973 on Puu Makakilo a hill zoned for agriculture and previously used for livestock grazing when sugar cane filled the landscape in adjacent areas that later became suburban parts of Oahu’s “second city” of Kapolei which is the largest paving contractor in the state and supplies aggregate and concrete for construction projects said its requested changes were critical for the local construction industry and could reduce costs for customers including the city The Makakilo quarry is one of three rock quarries on Oahu Hawaii and Oahu in particular would be in a very negative supply state for our aggregate needs,” Calvert Chipchase Chipchase said without some of the requested changes which was sold in November by Hawaii real estate investment firm Alexander & Baldwin Inc would have to import rock from the mainland or Canada at higher costs director of the city Department of Planning and Permitting recommended approval of Grace’s application So did the Honolulu Planning Commission after a public hearing The LUC considered those recommendations as well as input from the public DPP and the state Office of Planning and Sustainable Development the biggest issue debated was what the face of the excavated hillside which is visible from parts of the Ewa Plain and the H-1 freeway The Office of Planning wanted Grace to stick to a prior commitment it made in 2008 for the final grading of the excavated rock face to be a landscaped slope addressed community concerns about aesthetics of the hillside scar Grace instead proposed leaving four or five benches or stair-like cuts each spanning about 15 feet in the remaining face that Chipchase said would be covered naturally over time by vegetation land use division administrator at the Office of Planning asked the commission to make the previous final grading plan a condition for the other changes sought “We do understand that a commitment to a regrading plan that has more gentle slopes on which grass and vegetation would grow is more costly,” she said we believe that it is closer to the intention of what had been reached back in 2008 and what we think the community is interested in Chipchase said that since 2008 Grace concluded that a stepped face would allow more efficient and safe quarry operations while also resulting in a more stable final facade with better rainwater drainage and less erosion was endorsed by DPP and the Planning Commission suggested by the Makakilo-Kapolei­-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board was to produce an artistic stone relief carving on the excavated face told the commission about a resolution the board passed to seek such a carving reflecting Native Hawaiian culture an idea that has been conveyed to Grace to replace what the board calls an “eyesore.” “Our people want to see that unsightly wall beautified,” Dudley said adding that it could also serve as a visitor attraction Kapolei-Makakilo-Kalaeloa) expressed support for the carving idea in written testimony to the commission Chipchase said the type of rock on the wall face would not be suitable for a Mount Rushmore type of carving “It’s not an idea that we would accept or ask you to implement,” he told the commission Other issues that area community members have raised in relation to quarry operations include noise Daryl Tacey told the commission in written testimony that the quarry work is no longer tolerable and has damaged thousands of homes that have been developed around the site over the past 50 years “Shut this down and move it to a location away from the Second City as it has no benefit to the residents of Makakilo or Kapolei,” Tacey wrote Chipchase said there are no property damage risks and that Grace mitigates dust and noise which are subject to regulatory compliance Grace’s application received much support from construction trade organizations Commission Chair Dan Giovanni called the quarry a critical and needed industrial enterprise and said in his view Grace’s revised final grading plan was reasonable Wear a Lei was the theme of this year’s annual Kauai Museum Lei.. Members of the Waimea High School girls football team arrived home on Sunday from the 2025.. Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox The dry West Oahu neighborhood has just one way in and out A decades-long push to build another route has failed to gain traction The Lahaina wildfire disaster has heightened long-standing safety concerns in Makakilo where more than 20,000 residents face similar obstacles to evacuate and an effort to build a second exit out of the densely packed West Oahu neighborhood has languished for decades Many residents have pressed city leaders for years to build an extension of Makakilo Drive that would open another way out near the H1 Freeway east of the neighborhood they’ve watched as other road projects around the island have been finished while theirs has failed to get past the design phase It’s more obvious,” Makakilo resident Deborah Agles said “We’ve had fires out here for a long time … It’s a dry People are more fearful now that Lahaina happened and in part because we saw how disorganized (the evacuation) was.” City transportation leaders on Oahu say they’re reviewing not just Makakilo but also other communities across the island with similar challenges evacuating during a wildfire or other emergency The prospect of building a new road through the steep pass leading out of Makakilo remains daunting and expensive Makakilo residents were further reminded of how vulnerable they are to disaster in early September when a small wildfire broke out there.  based on the gridlock they encounter whenever there’s a bad vehicle crash Agles said she first heard of plans to extend Makakilo Drive and open a second access point when she bought her home there in 1983 said “it’s to the point now where it’s become comical” that the extension effort has stalled for so long while so many other local transportation projects have gotten built “It seems to me the people out here in Makakilo and Kapolei are second-class citizens and whatever they want downtown … we’ve taken a back seat to,” Ferreira said deputy director for the city’s Department of Transportation Services said that since the Lahaina disaster his agency has started talking to landowners around Makakilo to see whether the city might create a secondary emergency evacuation route that utilizes existing It might be similar to the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road — a network of gated roads that serves as an emergency alternative to Farrington Highway He did not provide specifics because he said talks are still in the early stages.  has presented several big and expensive design challenges The road would require a steep grade down the hill and would come into conflict with “historic resources” protected by historic preservation law Recent official estimates have put the MDE’s price tag at nearly $84 million. However, several weeks before the Lahaina wildfire, DTS Director Roger Morton estimated that the extension could cost as much as $200 million Federal highway dollars often cover most of the cost of such major local road projects The Makakilo Drive extension would run from where it currently dead-ends to a spot several thousand feet down the hill and connect with Kualakai Parkway That state-controlled street links to the H1 Freeway a short distance away in recent years the project has stalled in the design phase Residents say they’ve had a difficult time getting answers from the city about why the project can’t proceed to its next phase and seek out the millions of federal highways dollars needed to actually get built referred all questions regarding the extension project to the city the city had released $4 million of the $6 million allocated for that design work according to emails shared by Agles between Makakilo residents and a member of Councilmember Andria Tupola’s staff. The neighborhood is part of her district the project had two “incomplete plans” and a third one that hadn’t yet been started then a community liaison in Tupola’s office.  On Thursday, Nouchi said the project had hit a snag in 2019 when an updated environmental assessment for the project paused. That’s because key policy leaders on the island removed it one year earlier from a somewhat obscure yet significant list of projects called the Transportation Improvement Program Any local projects that require millions of federal highways dollars to get done need to be on the TIP Up to that point, the city and designers were pursuing a project that would fill parts of the steep gulch down the mountain to handle the road, Nouchi said. However, the extension still faced historic preservation issues because remnants of the old Waiahole Ditch Irrigation System which have wondered wether the recent influx of more than $1.4 billion to Hawaii through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act could help make the extension happen About $1 billion of that money is going toward transportation projects across the islands Nouchi said that the city would have to evaluate whether such a project meets the criteria for the grant funding before pursuing those dollars The extension would also pass right by a 50-year-old rock quarry carved into the hill. It’s run by Grace Pacific, and the company recently filed an application to expand operations with 24-hour asphalt production Grace also wants to extend the quarry’s closure date by 15 years a representative of Grace Pacific’s parent company said they don’t expect the proposed Makakilo extension to impact the operations Oahu’s transportation leaders first need to add it back onto the TIP The extension was placed on the list in prior years but later removed although Makakilo residents point to changing political priorities It was last on the TIP covering 2015 to 2018 executive director of the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization composed of elected and transportation officials labeled the Makakilo Drive Extension as its top priority project but that still failed to get it done Members of the advisory committee “have no clout whatsoever,” he said Genadio and several other Makakilo residents took Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and several other staff members on a tour through the neighborhood to show the need for the extension Genadio and others said this week that Blangiardi was open to the idea but noncommittal. They further raised the issue earlier this year at one of Blangiardi’s town hall sessions Blangiardi spokesman Ian Scheuring said that the mayor and Formby made clear to the residents that they support the extension efforts and that they encouraged the group to work with OMPO to make the extension a priority “There is no shortage of demand for federal funds so advocacy is important,” Scheuring said via email Currently, the extension project is listed as a “mid-range” project on a different OMPO list: The 2045 Regional Transportation Program That “mid-range” label means the city might pursue the project any time between 2026 and 2035 police say they arrested a juvenile and made a fourth-degree arson case for the Sept their investigation is currently pending further development a spokeswoman for the Honolulu Police Department Update: Civil Beat has updated its policy on pointing out updates in stories city officials on Oahu have issued at least 20 violation to property owners across the island for overgrown vegetation that could cause a fire None of those violations have gone to the owners of land surrounding Makakilo He said he doubts that the extension will get done in his lifetime Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Marcel Honoré is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can email him at mhonore@civilbeat.org Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Ronnie Cunitz takes paths less traveled for her university This story is part of the 2024 Journey to Commencement series which celebrates the pinnacle of the academic year by highlighting University of Mississippi students and their outstanding academic and personal journeys from college student to college graduate Veronica "Ronnie" Cunitz grew up in Makakilo where she attended Hawaii Technology Academy She succeeded in her early academic endeavors While she was initially nervous about starting college a couple of years early she was determined to find a good fit for her ambitions How she ended up 4,000 miles away from home in Mississippi "It's not as romantic as you might think," Cunitz said As if moving 4,000 miles away at 16 wasn't challenging enough Cunitz also began her college journey during the COVID-19 pandemic She quickly adjusted to her new environment, citing the in-person classes offered by the Honors College and her involvement in Alpha Omicron Pi sorority as opportunities that helped her acclimate. She also has volunteered on weekends at the Oxford Animal Resource Center helping care for the animals and giving back to the community that welcomed her The solid foundation she set helped prepare her to dive deeper into her field of chemical engineering through two summer research experiences A summer stint at the University of Southern Mississippi focusing on targeted drug delivery opened her eyes to the possibilities of research as a career, especially combining biology and engineering. Then, as a RISE scholar at the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst she worked on biopolymer aging and degradation Seeing the passion of graduate students and realizing how enjoyable research could be in the right environment Cunitz began to consider a future in scientific research – a path she hadn't envisioned before as industry routes are more commonly pursued in chemical engineering During her time at the university, Mike Gill, professor of practice in the School of Engineering "Ronnie has worked as hard as any student I've seen during my six years at Ole Miss," Gill said asks clarifying questions and then incorporates it "Ronnie started in chemical engineering as a 16-year-old and she's as polished as most industry professionals with 10 years of experience." Her work in the classroom also earned her the university's highest academic honor Cunitz credits Gill with significantly broadening her perspective on the diverse opportunities in chemical engineering Gill's down-to-earth approach and supportive guidance encouraged her to look beyond the traditional "ChemE" pathways "He reminded me that it's OK to be the only person to go to graduate school to pursue research," she said encouragement and recommendation letters as Cunitz navigated options Cunitz is excited about her upcoming transition to a doctoral program in chemical and biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania Her drive for research focuses on not only understanding the world around her she mastered the basics of production; now she looks forward to developing novel solutions and technologies in her field Cunitz appreciates the unique path she has taken She feels proud to represent Ole Miss at an Ivy League institution Her time at UM taught her the value of tenacity "I wish I could have known freshman year how well everything would work out," she said. "I've shown myself that I can hold my own "I know I've prepared myself as best I can for my next steps and I'm excited to see where I go from here." See more photos from Ronnie Cunitz's Journey to Commencement 662-915-7211 Copyright © 2025 The University of Mississippi. All Rights Reserved HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) notifies the traveling public that the service area for the Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) officially expands on the H-1 freeway westward to Makakilo Drive starting Monday The Freeway Service Patrol (FSP) program is operated by HDOT in collaboration with the City and County of Honolulu’s Police Emergency Medical Services and Transportation Services departments and reduce the risk of secondary crashes between 5 a.m Motorists can contact FSP by calling (808) 841-HELP (4357) FSP provides free emergency roadside assistance to motorists on the H-1 FSP will support motorists in moving the vehicle off the freeway so that a private tow service or other form of assistance may be contacted This extended service area will provide an additional four miles of coverage totaling a 26 mile stretch along the H-1 freeway from Ainakoa Avenue in Waialae to Makakilo Drive in Kapolei the service area’s western limit was in the vicinity of Kunia Road the FSP service area as represented in the map below is: The service area was officially extended following a soft launch of the expanded service that took place from Jan The soft launch allowed for evaluation of the patrol route and fleet management The Makakilo Drive interchange was selected as the westward limit of the service area based on availability of drop zones and projected response times along the route Area map for Freeway Service Patrol assistance as of Feb For more information on services provided, please visit the Freeway Service Patrol website at https://fsphawaii.com/ O‘ahu is full of notable neighborhoods Some are havens for urban singles and couples nightlife: Here are seven of our favorites Kapolei was designated O‘ahu’s “second city” almost 50 years ago though many people back then saw it as simply a cheaper place to live they still needed to work and play in Honolulu While the median sales price of single-family homes in the Kapolei area has remained lower than many other parts of the island the number of businesses and variety of things to do in the second city have increased making it an attractive choice for families.  “I would never move back to town,” says Cherif Guirguis who moved in 2017 with his family from Mō‘ili‘ili to Makakilo located just above Kapolei and covered by the same neighborhood board “And I was a townie my whole life.” But after a few months of living up against the mountain “I can go to Target, Home Depot, Costco in one run and then it’s gonna take me all of three minutes between each. … It’s all the restaurants I want up here. It’s just everything I want, less congested.” The 43-year-old owns Manoli Builders and moved his general construction company from Kalihi to Waipahu during the pandemic According to census information gathered by the City and County of Honolulu the area covered by the Makakilo/Kapolei neighborhood board is the third-most populated on the island (after nearby Waipahu and ‘Ewa) the number of housing units in the area increased 38.4% It’s also one of the more diverse places where the most-represented race (Asian alone) comprises only 28.5% of the population the lowest majority of all O‘ahu neighborhoods Compared to neighborhoods like Hawai‘i Kai and Mānoa both in terms of families and infrastructure which I love as an engineer,” Guirguis says.  Guirguis believes in IPA’s teaching philosophy and likes how the school engages the kids He also coaches a club soccer team at the Waipi‘o soccer park.  “That’s always a fun girls or guys night out for parents,” she says.  “Honolulu is so congested,” she says adding that everything she wants—the kids’ school we can go to the movies and shop and have lunch all in one day So don’t ask me to go to Honolulu,” she says with a laugh “unless you give me like three months heads up.” Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting Neighborhood Profiles Favorite Places in Kapolei/Makakilo: City and County of Honolulu Copyright © 2025 City and County of Honolulu Enrolling in Hawaiʻi’s public schools is a straightforward process that involves determining school eligibility and completing an application either online or in person We are committed to providing a high-quality education for all students and we look forward to welcoming your child to our school system. Learn how to determine your school through the SchoolSite Locator App The Department provides bus service in neighborhoods around the islands to ensure broad access to educational opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s students and serves about 25,000 student riders across the state.  Students who consistently attend school are more likely to achieve academic excellence students gain access to a world of knowledge and develop the confidence to reach their full potential.  educational specialists and staff to foster equity and excellence in our public schools skilled and passionate professionals who will help bring the Department’s Strategic Plan to life stories and events from Hawai‘i public schools 1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813Main Line: 808-784-6200Email By Andrew Gomes BusinessEditors' Picks Grace Pacific LLC seeks to expand operations in the roughly 200-acre Makakilo Quarry and extend the quarry’s 2032 closure date by 15 years Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading A rock quarry in Makakilo that has long aggravated some and appeased other residents in communities built around the 50-year-old mining enterprise is aiming to expand and extend operations operator of the roughly 200-acre hillside quarry is seeking city and state permission to amend several aspects of its permit One requested change would extend a required closure date by 15 years to 2047 Another is to run a planned asphalt plant and a recently established concrete production facility 24 hours a day on-site A third request is to shift the quarry’s 285-acre buffer zone by swapping equivalent land area between where excavation is allowed and not allowed a subsidiary of local real estate investment firm Alexander & Baldwin Inc. describes its proposed changes as relatively minor ones that should create no significant negative community impacts but are critical for the local construction industry and could reduce costs for customers including the city “We are currently conducting several technical studies to assess potential impacts but our initial take is that there will be minimal discernible effects on the environment,” the company said on its website “We’re committed to being good neighbors and do our best to monitor anticipate and mitigate potential nuisances “We’re proposing minor changes to Makakilo Quarry operations that will yield significant benefits for Hawaii and our local economy.” Some area residents are raising concerns reminiscent of a contentious effort about 15 years ago when Grace sought and received permission to expand and extend quarry operations Yet other neighbors support the company’s new proposal whose backyard fronts part of the quarry buffer zone said in a recent comment letter to the city Department of Planning and Permitting that existing Grace operations such as blasting and dust have damaged home foundations and paint “This permit is asking to move even closer to our houses and to do 24/7 operations?!” Pearson wrote I would like to know what action is available to the local residents that we can STOP this permit Do I need to organize a protest and march to city hall Should I contact my local representative?” vice chair of the Makakilo-Kapolei­-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board opposed Grace’s expansion plan in 2008 But the longtime Makakilo resident said the new proposal sounds acceptable to him as long as no noticeable noise emanates from the proposed operations at night “My feeling overall is they’ve been quite concerned about the community,” Dudley said in an interview DPP will make a recommendation on the appli­cation that then will be considered by the Honolulu Planning Commission in a process that will include a public hearing a final decision will be up to the state Land Use Commission which like the Planning Commission will accept public testimony The quarry was established in 1973 by Pacific Concrete and Rock Co zoned for agriculture and previously used for livestock grazing when sugar cane filled the landscape in adjacent areas that later became suburban parts of Oahu’s “second city” of Kapolei A predecessor to Grace acquired Pacific Concrete and Rock in 1984 and today the facility is one of three basalt aggregate rock suppliers on Oahu The Makakilo quarry produces around 1 million tons of stone annually for asphalt paving and general construction needs that include fill material and an ingredient for concrete Grace sought to amend the Special Use and Conditional Use permits governing the quarry’s operation so that it could enlarge the mined area by about 20% and operate the facility until 2032 Grace at the time said that it had nearly excavated all A-grade rock which is also an asphalt paving contractor and historically produced 70% of the A-grade aggregate used for asphalt paving on Oahu said the constraint led it to import rock from Canada at the time to meet demand To mitigate issues and help obtain expansion approvals sought in 2007 Grace agreed to move its hot-mix asphalt production and distribution facility from part of the quarry to Campbell Industrial Park in Kalaeloa This relocation was part of an agreement by Grace to cease all processing operations in a 55-acre portion of the quarry makai of the H-1 freeway adjacent to the Kapolei Knolls and Villages of Kapolei subdivisions by 2012 including altering contours of the quarry mauka of the freeway to reduce negative view impacts and in part led to the Villages of Kapolei Association board rescinding prior opposition to the plan and the company returned the quarry area makai of the freeway to more of a natural area with grading and landscaping Now some of the new changes sought by the company aim to reduce costs and extend business at the quarry which today includes a roughly 70-acre pit used for processing 30 acres for rock extraction and 100 acres with berms that include allowed excavation expansion areas Improving the financial performance of Grace has been a long-running objective of A&B which bought Grace in 2013 for $235 million and is trying to sell the business after disappointing results at times in recent years Some of the changes sought by Grace could improve the value of the company Grace said in its pending application that lease rent at its Kalaeloa asphalt plant and the need to truck in rock there from the quarry add to operating costs which would be eliminated by moving the operation inside the Makakilo quarry pit The company also said it seeks to permit its proposed relocated facility to run 24 hours a day every day because much of the demand for asphalt is from 6 p.m for paving jobs done at night to minimize traffic disruption “These cost savings would permit Grace Quarry to provide more competitive pricing and for City and County of Honolulu paving work would ultimately result in saving taxpayer dollars,” the application said Grace also wants to allow a ready-mix concrete production plant it established in the quarry pit in 2022 to have the same 24/7 operating hours instead of the current schedule of 6 a.m No change in operating hours is proposed for rock excavation The company said noise from the proposed nighttime activities shouldn’t be significant for residents and that asphalt plant emissions must comply with federal and state air pollution laws Grace isn’t seeking to enlarge the total area permitted for excavation but wants to shift the boundaries of its buffer and mining expansion zones The company wants to dig into 15.6 acres of buffer zone along the quarry’s western edge below homes in Makakilo and a hillside and in return add to the buffer zone 15.6 acres permitted for quarry expansion on the northern and southwestern rim of the quarry The company said in its application that the change would allow it to access a seam of higher-quality rock Grace is seeking a 15-year extension to its operating permit The company said this should allow it to fully exhaust the approved mine area based on current demand for rock and expected increases in recycling that reduces rock use from the quarry who has lived in one of the closest homes above the quarry for 15 years said he can feel when Grace blasts into the hillside about a half-mile away “You can feel the whole house shaking.” Spreg isn’t opposed to Grace’s proposed changes and he doesn’t expect they will result in noise or dust issues “They’ve been pretty good neighbors,” he said of Grace gives the company credit for being responsive to community concerns and minimizing impacts “They have a good relationship with the community,” she said Other residents do have issues with the proposed changes urged DPP to reject Grace’s application but not the daily blasts that shake our home and rattle our windows and have caused our foundation and rock walls surrounding our property to develop cracks,” he said in an Aug because we saw light at the end of the tunnel with the quarry permit slated to end increase the blasting cycle frequency and cause more damage to our home.” informed DPP that she has observed homes closest to the quarry develop interior wall cracks and expressed concern about cumulative effects from extended quarry operations Grace said in its application that Colorado-based vibration evaluation firm Detecht LLC concluded that the proposed excavation area change won’t have adverse impacts on surrounding properties Grace also said there would be a small increase in noise but nothing audible to neighbors Neighbors who want to contact the company with questions comments or complaints may call its quarry phone hotline at 808-671-4722 To read or comment on the application, visit honolulu.gov/dpp/public-input The city has removed 34 crosswalks since September 2016 despite protests from some neighborhood groups Crosswalks are disappearing on streets across Oahu a move the city says will improve pedestrian safety But some residents argue the lack of crosswalks will just encourage people to take bigger risks crossing busy streets The city has removed 34 crosswalks since September 2016, when the Honolulu traffic engineers finished the Complete Streets Design Manual The manual guides infrastructure changes that make streets safer for bikes public transportation users and pedestrians The Honolulu City Council passed a Complete Streets policy in 2012 ushering in streetscape changes that include adding curb extensions known as “bulb outs” in Chinatown and bike lanes on the city’s major arteries Oahu residents have had a hard time adjusting Some doubt the city’s assertion that removing crosswalks makes conditions safer for pedestrians and other residents feel officials have ignored community input The city plans to remove seven crosswalks along South King Street a heavily trafficked five-lane road that runs through urban Honolulu The crosswalks in question are all at intersections that don’t have traffic lights Pedestrians can still legally cross at these unmarked intersections. But for safety reasons, the city wants to encourage them to walk one or two blocks to an intersection with a pedestrian crossing signal, Department of Transportation Services Deputy Director Jon Nouchi said in an email The city removed a crosswalk on Kapiolani Boulevard at the intersection of Pumehana Street near McCully Shopping Center But McCully-Moiliili Neighborhood Board Chair Timothy Streitz said people still scramble across the boulevard “It’s not realistic to expect pedestrians to walk hundreds of feet down to the nearest signalized crossing,” Streitz said Streitz is particularly concerned about a crosswalk at the intersection of King Street and Poha Lane just in front of the McCully-Moiliili Public Library and a bus stop It takes about two and a half minutes to walk to the nearest signalized crosswalks at Isenberg Street or McCully Street The neighborhood board passed a resolution in 2015 requesting the city add a pedestrian-activated signal at the intersection the crosswalk at that intersection is on the city’s list for removal Honolulu is required to follow federal guidelines to determine if it can add traffic signals If Federal Highway Administration criteria isn’t met at a particular crosswalk the city removes the crosswalks rather than adding more safety features Streitz invited a city traffic engineer to the board’s meeting next month to discuss the city’s plans Since the city removed four crosswalks along Makakilo Drive Kim Katjang of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board has made it her mission to get them repainted She and five other Makakilo residents are known as the “crosswalks moms.” “I feel like I’m working on my dissertation for my Ph.D.” The city’s Department of Transportation Services  has held a series of public meetings to gather community feedback on its Complete Streets plans The department is scheduled to host a Complete Streets meeting at 6:30 p.m Tuesday in the Maemae Elementary School cafeteria to discuss plans for the Nuuanu and Liliha area “The public is not always going to get what they necessarily want because you have to look at it holistically But we try to accommodate as best as possible the wishes and concerns that the community has,” said Andrew Pereira there’s a lot of thought and process that does go into it.” Natanya Friedheim was a reporter at Civil Beat You can follow her on Twitter at @natanya_hnl and Instagram at @natanyafriedheim Proposals to transform Hawaii’s current zoning laws would not even guarantee cheaper housing Denby Fawcett is a longtime Hawaiʻi television and newspaper journalist, who grew up in Honolulu. Her book, Secrets of Diamond Head: A History and Trail Guide is available on Amazon Opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat’s views Almost everyone wants more affordable homes in Hawaii to prevent residents from leaving the state But two bills advancing through the Legislature call for increased building density in almost all residential neighborhoods in the state while offering no promise of affordability they have the potential to greatly increase crowding in already overcrowded Oahu neighborhoods I wrote about the legislation before when it was first publicly presented at a hearing with very scant notice Since only a few people directly impacted knew about the legislation, nobody showed up to oppose it But what is new and different now is elected officials — specifically the Honolulu City Council as well as numerous neighborhood boards and members of the public who would be negatively affected by the legislation — are aware of the billsʻ impact and are starting to come out in force to stop what they see as a plan for unsustainable development.     And it is clearer now where the bills are coming from and who’s behind them Brian Schatz is among those involved in getting the legislation passed “Solving our state’s housing crisis is one the biggest challenges of this generation It will take our collective efforts — federal and county — to solve it,” Schatz wrote in an email He said he’d been working with many state and county officials including House Speaker Scott Saiki and Senate President Ron Kouchi The bills would overturn Hawaii’s current zoning laws to allow residents statewide to subdivide their single family lots into smaller parcels —  as little as 2,000 square feet — and be allowed to build at least three separate dwellings or even a single duplex or triplex apartment on the smaller lots one residential unit and an additional ohana or accessory dwelling unit are generally allowed on any lot 3,500 square feet or larger.  The bills would require counties to increase residential density by changing state zoning laws rather than letting the individual counties decide which of their own neighborhoods would be best for that the bills would be harmful to many of Oahu’s already overbuilt neighborhoods now struggling with problems of limited off-street parking aging water and sewer systems and the noise and traffic that come with the crowding.  the author and the chief backer of the House version of the bill agreed that many residential lots in Oahu are already maxed out with large home structures edging out to the boundaries He says the bill would give the homeowners more flexibility on whatʻs allowed inside their homes such as the right to build additional individual living units for family members or others without adding square footage to the lot that could mean many more people living in neighborhoods that are already stressed by crowding There is nothing in the measures to prevent investors and out-of-state buyers from outbidding local residents to buy residential properties They could then cover the properties with duplexes or triplexes or subdivide single family lots into much smaller parcels and then rent or sell them in one of the most expensive markets in the country There is also nothing in the bills to say the subdivided units would have to be owner-occupied which would do more to insure that local families could rent or buy them Evslin said in an email that local residents are already getting outbid by out-of-state buyers He says evidence shows smaller properties on smaller lots would be less expensive to rent or buy Supporters of the bill say similar laws to increase housing density have been enacted on the mainland The islands have limited buildable land and finite natural resources Backers of the bills say the counties would retain their power to deny permits when applications exceed the counties’ limits on building size and height and setback requirements However, in the Honolulu City Council’s Planning and Economy Committee meeting on Thursday Deputy Corporation Counsel Brad Saito questioned that interpretation He said the wording leaves it unclear if state law would trump county law if the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting rejected a  subdivision for not comporting with county building regulations The city’s rejection could lead to litigation DPP Director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna said the division that approves subdivisions is understaffed and would have a hard time dealing with the large number of applications expected if the legislation passes The committee adopted a resolution to oppose the state’s legislation The full council adopted the resolution on Monday Residents can build almost to the edges of their property. Oahuʻs land use ordinance requires only 5-to-11-foot side and rear setbacks a 25% permeable surface and a floor area ratio or living space of up to 70% of the lot size you could build up to 3,500 square feet of living space that can be split between a primary dwelling and an ohana unit or additional dwelling unit Even though Oahu residents have been allowed to put extra housing units on their properties for almost 10 years DPP said in an email that it has received 2,462 ADU applications since the ordinance was adopted in September 2015 Construction has been completed on only 1,119 permits DPP says about 122,600 additional dwelling units could be built on Oahu under current regulations And even now the City Council is moving legislation that would allow two additional accessory dwellings or a total of three dwelling units on qualified lots in  residential zoning districts So what is the rush to add the possibility of many more ADUs on a single small lot when eligible Oahu residents are not inclined to build them in the first place under current law it’s already possible to subdivide single family properties into smaller lots City Council Chairman Tommy Waters said at the meeting that the state proposal overrides years of careful planning for residential neighborhoods and sustainable and affordable housing He criticized its sweeping mandate for statewide residential housing density for failing to take into consideration the different needs of residential areas from Waianae to Kaimuki to the North Shore He said for any such densification to make a difference there has to be a provision guaranteeing affordability Evslin said in a phone interview that language requiring affordability was kept out of the legislation because such restrictions would discourage people from subdividing to build more units affordable housing requirements have increased the cost of dwellings not reduced it.                   Waters said at the meeting that a better way to generate affordable housing is to allow Honolulu to continue what it is already doing: concentrating on urban core areas that can handle increased housing density such as Oahu’s apartment and business zones and neighborhoods along the rail corridor the planning department is singling out some Oahu residential neighborhoods that could stand additional housing density I would add that since Oahu homeowners already can have one additional housing unit on their property and maybe two that it would make sense to incentivize residents with tax breaks or other bonuses to build them let’s steer clear of trying to change for the worse many of Oahu’s long-established and very crowded residential neighborhoods Honolulu Civil Beat is a nonprofit organization and your donation helps us produce local reporting that serves all of Hawaii Ideas is the place you'll find essays, analysis and opinion on public affairs in Hawaiʻi. We want to showcase smart ideas about the future of Hawaiʻi, from the state's sharpest thinkers, to stretch our collective thinking about a problem or an issue. Email news@civilbeat.org to submit an idea Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed “Residential and commercial development is trying to keep pace with burgeoning growth but solid infrastructure continues to lag behind.” Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected Democratic candidate for state Senate District 21 Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot What is the biggest issue facing your district Kapolei ranks as the third-fastest growing jurisdiction in Hawaii and the fastest-growing city on Oahu Its population has practically doubled in 10 years Residential and commercial development is trying to keep pace with burgeoning growth but solid infrastructure continues to lag behind I’m proud of the work we’ve accomplished over the past 16 years I plan to build on my record to effect positive change by introducing legislation to address these issues I’ll collaborate with the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce to help business revitalization advocate and support policies to increase jobs and help build a dynamic economy With three new schools coming online in the district I plan to build on my partnership with teachers and UHWO to introduce legislation to address the serious issue of school infrastructure and safety Many people have talked about diversifying the local economy for many years now and yet Hawaii is still heavily reliant on tourism should be done differently about tourism and the economy The pandemic opened our eyes to the critical need for alternative economic pathways besides tourism I support the new marketing direction taken by HTA to involve visitors in regenerative tourism I’ve championed the need to create a cottage industry with industrial hemp working with hemp farmers to lessen some of the regulations and make it easier for them to do business because of concerns from agencies like the Attorney General and HDOA it’s good the USDA hemp program can continue to 2025 but it’s unfortunate we couldn’t make improvements I’ll work with hemp farmers to come up with a new and better bill for 2023 to help move us closer to seeing industrial hemp as an alternate solution to help our struggling economy I’ve always said that Hawaii nei will become the global leader in hemp largely due to Hawaii branding An estimated 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by a problem that reaches far beyond low-income and into the middle class What ideas do you have to help the middle class and working families who are finding it hard to continue to live here I supported the minimum wage increase and will support legislation to implement a “green fee” on tourists The green fee is a no-brainer that will help bring more money into the state through tourists paying for different services they use where we get rid of the general excise tax on food and medicine Affordable housing is key for keeping our local people from leaving the state Hawaii has the most lopsided Legislature in the country with only one Republican in the Senate and only four in the House How would you ensure there is an open exchange of ideas transparency and accountability for decisions What do you see as the consequences of one-party control People are free to support the party of their choice We at the Capitol have far-ranging positions on the issues and often The fact there is a majority of Democrats doesn’t mean there isn’t an open exchange of ideas as many of us represent a wide continuum of values Different viewpoints do end up getting represented Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process our state constitutional amendment process has served as the closest thing to a citizen initiative process and it has been an effective way for people to be involved Implementing a citizen initiative process in our state will likely promote greater participation in the political process and would be a healthy addition to our democracy Thanks to their campaign war chests and name familiarity incumbents are almost always re-elected in Hawaii legislative races Should there be term limits for state legislators as there are for the governor’s office and county councils The major point that bothers me about term limits is that voters are denied the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice It’s a controversial issue that needs more conversations statewide 15 states have term limit laws on the books in the U.S I’m open to looking at the issue via a bill being introduced at the Legislature and hearing from all the various stakeholders Hawaii has recently experienced a number of prominent corruption scandals prompting the state House of Representatives to appoint a commission tasked with improving government transparency through ethics and lobbying reforms What will you do to ensure accountability at the Legislature Are you open to ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law and open records laws to apply to the Legislature or banning campaign contributions during session and only accept campaign contributions from individuals I disagreed with the governor’s decision to suspend our open government laws It never makes sense to close the public out of the policymaking process especially during a crisis when freedoms and civil rights can be trampled upon need to continue to make many improvements in allowing for remote public testimony to accommodate those who are working or can’t be at hearings in person because of where they live This will make a big difference in allowing people to know what’s going on in government and for getting them involved in the policymaking process How would you make the Legislature more transparent and accessible to the public Opening conference committees to the public Stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists How could the Legislature change its own internal rules to be more open One positive to come out of the pandemic was the reorganization at the Capitol to allow for virtual hearings and testimony live and on-demand on the Senate’s YouTube channel They can also contact the committee chairs ahead of time to request live testimony I support stricter disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists Hawaii has seen a growing division when it comes to politics What would you do to bridge those gaps and bring people together in spite of their differences many hands working together to get things done no matter what our positions are on the various issues The coronavirus pandemic has exposed numerous flaws in Hawaii’s structure and systems from outdated technology to economic disparity If you could take this moment to reinvent Hawaii to build on what we’ve learned and create a better state Please share One Big Idea you have for Hawaii We have plenty of ag land — but lack farmers The average age of farmers in Hawaii is 61 We desperately need a massive online/TV/radio/print campaign extolling the virtues of being a farmer — that being a farmer is a noble profession As the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee chair for the last six years I’ve been a huge supporter of Waianae’s MA`O Organic Farms’ Youth Leadership Program pays them a monthly $525 stipend and pays for their college tuition The program dramatically changes lives and encourages a new generation to consider agriculture as a career to help us become more food self-sufficient Albie Miles of UH West  Oahu to replicate a program like MA`O’s on the UHWO campus While it didn’t pan out (I haven’t given up on the concept) I envision continuing to support MA‘O in its amazing growth and success By Sjarif Goldstein starred as Lane Kim in “Gilmore Girls,” who battled with her strict mother has appeared in “Felicity,” “Shameless,” “Castle,” “House” and many other televison dramas over the past 30 years “Irony” is one of the most misused words in the English language It isn’t mere coincidence or bad timing as so many seem to believe (thanks it’s when the effect of an action is the opposite of what’s intended or when reality is at odds with what you’d expect it just so happens Hawaii has produced a living Keiko Agena is one of the most prolific television actors born and raised in Hawaii Along with seven years as a regular on “Gilmore Girls,” the 1991 Mid-Pacific Institute graduate has compiled an impressive list of credits in TV’s biggest dramas She’s co-starred with Sean Penn in “The First” and with Michael Sheen and Lou Diamond Phillips in “Prodigal Son” and appeared in “Better Call Saul,” “13 Reasons Why,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Scandal” and “E.R.,” to name just a few Among the shows Agena has not landed a role on? The “Hawaii Five-0” and “Magnum P.I.” reboots and the forthcoming “NCIS: Hawaii” and “Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.” — all shows that have filmed in Hawaii over the past decade An actress from Hawaii who gets cast in so many shows but none from Hawaii She wants a shot to do a show filmed in her home state “That would be the dream,” Agena said from her home in Los Angeles during a recent phone conversation that I was the right fit for a show that was filming in Hawaii … And my husband (musician Shin Kawasaki) would love it too I’m crossing my fingers that something will happen that I can be on a show that films in ­Hawaii!” Agena’s schedule opened in an unfortunate way a few months ago when Fox canceled “Prodigal Son” — in which she played medical examiner Dr While there’s a movement to get the procedural about a profiler whose father was a serial killer picked up on another network or platform Agena knows the odds against that are long “There are even now people who would love for us to have a third season (but) I don’t think it’s possible,” she said While exploring what role might be next for her Agena has been doing some things she’s always done — taking classes and performing onstage to stay sharp (and did) even while I was working on ‘Prodigal Son,’ ” Agena said mentioning her participation in the bicoastal live shows “Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy” and “Asian AF.” But she’s also doing one thing she hasn’t done as regularly — writing part of the challenge of being Asian American is that a lot of times it behooves us to create our own content,” she said Having her ethnicity play a role in the work she got was something Agena never had to deal with growing up in Hawaii She worked on several productions through high school after winning her first role at age 10 in a production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” “I had four lines and I fell in love with it so much that I cried when it ended I knew instantaneously that this was what I wanted to do for my life,” Agena said Landing parts came less easily once she left Hawaii for Whitman College in Washington where she quickly learned that the colorblind casting she took for granted in Hawaii was not the norm “Hawaii is an incredible place to grow up as an Asian American performer,” Agena said and that’s not the same in other cities and it was not until I was in college that I truly understood that.” The summer after her freshman year at Whitman Agena visited her boyfriend in Los Angeles and it was clear that was where she needed to be “I just realized that it made more sense to stay because of the people I met the classes I was taking down here,” she said adding that she didn’t want to burden her parents with tuition given that they had three more daughters to send through Mid-Pacific Some parents might balk at the idea of their child dropping out of college but Agena’s had always been supportive of her pursuing her dream “It was never their wish to send me to Whitman,” she said “I was the one that wanted to go to Whitman because I knew that I wanted to have a chance to find my feet on the mainland … They never pushed college of any kind on me.” since it was a series of performance classes her mother enrolled her in — starting with a mime class that led to that first role — that put Agena on that path She always wanted her daughters to do a lot of after-school projects So I was always in some kind of class,” she said of her growing-up years in Makakilo and Pearl City Agena spent her freshman year at Pearl City High School but on the side she took a playwriting class from Brian Clark who also taught at Mid-Pacific and recommended she try to enter the school’s budding arts program “I kind of pressured (my mom) to think about that school,” Agena said “She actually went to work at Mid-Pac so we could afford for me to go there.” School employees got discounted tuition for up to two kids at a time it was a very big move and a big time investment on her part because she stayed there so that my sisters could go as well adding that her youngest sister is 10 years her junior “So she stayed working there at Mid-Pac for a long time.” Agena’s three years at the school saw her love for acting — and her skills — grow under the mentorship of Linda Johnson “She really changed my life … she really took me under her wing,” Agena said “I think a lot of my commitment to acting was very much reinforced by her and she definitely took care of me even outside of the acting program.” who’s currently the head of the school’s theater and film department saw something special in Agena from the beginning — her charisma emotional depth and effort were at a higher level than that of the average student “If I asked her to do a background for her character and say give me one page,’ she would give me four or five,” Johnson said She had that passion that was in her blood “There is training in theater — it’s not just learn your lines and get up on stage and perform,” she added “There is actual technique and training that goes into it Johnson’s guidance helped Agena win awards at the school’s Shakespeare Festival a Po‘okela Award nomination for featured actress in a play for Kumu ­Kahua Theatre’s “Manoa Valley” and a Presidential Scholar in the Arts award her senior year it led Agena to a career doing what she loves because I’ve done just a couple of short movies but television and especially getting to work on a character over the course of a couple of seasons is amazing.” Agena hopes to take that type of character exploration to another level with her own scripts “I’m interested in writing something where I am the lead,” she said “because that’s part of the challenge that I’ve found in my life is that even though I am very happy to be a supportive player I feel like I don’t always get to stretch out and find all the little nooks and crannies of this person that I care deeply about — this character that I care deeply about — and I wanna share all of that with the audience not just a tiny little sliver of that person.” Editors' PicksWeather CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM The Waiahole Poi Factory is flooded with stormwater amid a flash flood warning for Oahu Windward Oahu is under a flash flood warning vehicles drive through stormwater at the intersection of Kamehameha and Kalanianaole Highways today The radar today shows heavy rain clouds forming over Windward Oahu The day-long flash flood warning for Windward Oahu has expired recorded over 10 inches of rain within a 24-hour period The entire state will be under a flood watch from Wednesday “through at least Friday” as a kona low develops near the islands state Department of Transportation officials said that Kalanianaole Highway at Kapaa Quarry Road will remain closed in the Honolulu-bound direction overnight “Crews are removing loose material from the slopes so it doesn’t pose a hazard to the road Currently (estimated) reopening the lanes at or before 4 a.m.,” officials said in a social media post The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Windward Oahu until 10:45 p.m The warning has been in effect for the area since early this morning radar indicated that while heavy rain has largely diminished additional showers are developing along the windward shoreline,’ the updated warning said “Rain was falling at a rate up to 1 inch per hour Kapaa Quarry Road remains closed due to flooding.” A flood advisory for the east side of Hawaii island remains in effect until 9:15 p.m Hawaii Department of Transportation officials said the Pali Highway Kailua-bound after the tunnels has been cleared and the full closure of the Kailua-bound lanes was not needed Kalanianaole Highway at Kapaa Quarry Road in the Kailua-bound direction was expected to reopen shortly The Hawaii Department of Transportation reports that the Kailua-bound Pali Highway will be closed from Waokanaka beginning at 6 p.m for slope stabilization work outside the second tunnels Kalaniaole Highway at Kapaa Quarry Road remains closed Waiahole and Kaalaea Bridge is open along with the ramp to Kamehameha from the H-3 freeway The flash flood warning for Oahu has been extended until 7:45 p.m the radar showed rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour over Windward Oahu with the heaviest showers from Kaneohe to Waimanalo “Up to 8 inches of rain has fallen over the past six hours in the wettest areas and widespread impactful flooding continues Road closures remain in place in many areas Rainfall rates have decreased over the Kahana and Waiahole area and the stream gauges are showing a gradual decline in these areas,” forecasters said Heavy rains prompted the closure of Loop Road in Maunawili to all traffic near the Auloa Bridge according to the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management which crosses over the Maunawili Stream along Loop Road City officials will place barricades at the entrance to the road As flood warnings and advisories cover large swaths of the islands today National Weather Service forecasters have also issued a flood watch for the entire state for later this week as a kona low develops The flood watch will be in effect from Wednesday “through at least Friday,” they said this afternoon “A kona low developing north of the state will bring the potential for a prolonged period of heavy rain and thunderstorms over portions of the state from Wednesday through Friday and likely continuing through the weekend,” the flood watch says “Bands of heavy rain will bring a potential for significant flooding “Significant flooding may occur due to the overflow of streams and drainages along with property damage in urban or low-lying spots due to runoff Landslides may also occur in areas with steep terrain,” forecasters said the weather service extended the flood advisory for Leeward Oahu until 7 p.m radar indicated scattered heavy showers all across leeward Oahu and the north shore Rain was falling at a rate of up to 2 inches per hour Additional heavy showers are expected through the afternoon.” Flood warnings for Windward Oahu and parts of Maui remain in effect Today’s rain is from a lingering weather system that drenched much of Hawaii since late last week The flash flood warning remains in effect for Oahu until 4:45 p.m the radar showed heavy rain falling over Windward Oahu with the heaviest showers from Kaneohe to Waimanalo with rainfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour and landslides also reported,” forecasters said Parts of Maui are also under a flash flood warning until 5:15 p.m radar indicated very heavy rain over leeward West Maui near Kula and Keokea moving slowly west toward Wailea,” the Maui warning from the National Weather Service said “The heaviest showers are producing rain rates near 3 inches per hour Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly especially in normally dry gulches that flow through Wailea.” Flood advisories remain for Leeward Oahu and Hawaii island The flood advisory has been extended for the Big Island until 6:15 p.m the radar showed heavy rain falling over portions of Windward and Southeastern Hawaii island with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour prompting rapid rising water in the Paauau Gulch Heavy showers were also reported near Hakalau with widespread moderate rain elsewhere The Hawaii County flood advisory covers Hilo The flash flood warning for Windward Oahu remains until 4:45 p.m Hawaii County and Maui due to excessive rainfall The Oahu flood advisory is in effect until 4 p.m Minor flooding on roads and streams are expected along with poor drainage in certain areas the radar showed scattered heavy showers all across Leeward Oahu and portions of the North Shore with rain falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour Additional heavy showers are expected through the afternoon >> Townbound of Kalanianaole has been closed in the area of Kapaa Quarry Road due to a landslide the ramp from the H-3 to Kamehameha Highway >> Right lane of Pali Highway Kailua-bound remains closed after the second tunnel the flood advisory is in effect until 5 p.m the radar showed heavy rain falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour over Windward Hawaii island especially over Hilo and Hamakua districts the flood advisory is in effect until 5:15 p.m the radar showed heavy rain falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour upslope areas of Leeward West Maui near Kula and Keokea The flash flood warning for Windward Oahu and the flood advisory for much of Leeward Oahu have been extended this afternoon radar indicated that heavy rain continues to remain nearly stationary over the Koolau mountains and many Windward areas,” according to the updated warning that is in effect until 4:45 p.m “Reports are indicating several road closures including the H-3 off-ramp onto Kamehameha Highway and Kamehameha Highway near Waiahole Heavy rain will likely continue to persist over the next several hours and additional flooding impacts are expected.” the flood advisory for parts of the North Shore and Leeward and West Oahu has been extended to 4 p.m. radar indicated scattered heavy showers all across Leeward Oahu and parts of the North Shore,” the updated advisory said “Rain was falling at a rate of up to 2 inches per hour A landslide has prompted the temporary closure of the right lane of Pali Highway after the tunnel on the Kailua side Motorists are urged to drive slowly and with caution The flash flood warning remains in effect until 1:45 p.m the radar showed heavy rain remaining nearly stationary over the Koolau mountains and many windward areas Heavy rain will likely continue over the next several hours and additional flooding is expected Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Waikane Motorists are advised to avoid Kamehameha Highway by Waiahole and Waikane Valley which is flooded due to heavy rainfall Both directions of 48-279 Kamehameha Highway have been closed from the bridge before Waikane Valley Road up until the Hygienic Store The H-3 off-ramp onto Kamehameha Highway off into Kaneohe has been closed after about a dozen vehicles were reportedly stalled on the flooded roadways Motorists are advised to use alternate routes and to drive with caution In addition to the flash flood warning for Windward Oahu Oahu is under a flood advisory until 2:15 p.m the radar showed heavy rain over Leeward and Central Oahu with the heaviest rainfall over the Waianae mountains with rain falling at a rate of 2 inches per hour Forecasters reported heavy rain showers likely increasing over the next few hours Some locations that will experience flooding include Waipio drainage ditches and low lying areas prone to flooding Rainfall and runoff will also cause hazardous driving conditions due to ponding reduced visibility and poor braking action,” forecasters said The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning for Oahu until 1:45 p.m the radar showed heavy rain staying over the Koolau mountains Heavy rainfall recently developed over Ahuimanu and Kaneohe to Waimanalo Forecasters reported rain gauges indicating occasional bursts of torrential rainfall with rates of 2 inches or more per hour falling over already-soaked soils Forecasters warned of flooding in drainage even if they are currently dry,” forecasters said “Do not cross fast flowing or rising water in your vehicle a flood advisory is in effect until 1:30 p.m the radar indicated heavy rainfall over the east Molokai mountains with rain falling at a rate of up to 2 inches per hour “Halawa stream gauge showed a rapid rise and flooding will be possible downstream of the mountain Additional heavy showers will be possible through the day,” forecasters said Some locations that will experience flooding include Pukoo The flash flood warning remains in effect until 10:45 a.m the radar showed heavy rain staying over the Koolau mountains as the areas of Ahuimanu “Public road closures possible in some areas Remember flash flooding can occur well downstream from the mountains,” forecasters said The National Weather Service has extended a flash flood warning for Oahu until 10:45 a.m today as heavy rain continues to soak windward areas radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain falling over windward Oahu with the heaviest rain along the Koolau mountains between Ahuimanu and Hauula,” the updated warning said There is increasing potential for flooding along Kamehameha Highway and road closures will be possible this morning.” The overall forecast for the state calls for “brief periods of slow moving showers over some islands through Tuesday,” the weather service said “Some of these showers may become heavy at times especially along the eastern slopes of Oahu and Maui and the southeastern slopes of the Big Island.” Forecasters are projecting a wet week ahead for Hawaii as the weather system that drenched parts of the islands since late last week is replaced with another system promising more heavy rain “On Wednesday the weather pattern trends more unstable as southerly winds develop over the state in response to a kona low approaching the islands from the north,” they said today “Deep unstable tropical moisture will move over all islands from the south The threats from flooding and thunderstorms will be elevated for all islands from Wednesday into the weekend.” The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Oahu as heavy rain from a lingering storm system drenched the windward side of the island radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain falling over windward Oahu with the heaviest rain along the Koolau mountains between Kahaluu and Hauula,” according to the warning Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.” Forecasters warn that flooding may occur in drainages Remember flash flooding can occur well downstream from the mountains,” the warning said Makakilo/Kapolei Youth Baseball League Mustang Division (ages 9-10) won the Hawaii Region championship on Maui as well as the title of Consolation Champion at July’s PONY League Western Zone championships I enjoy meeting Kapolei and Makakilo residents in the community — behind every smile I was very pleased to hear of two great stories of accomplishment by young athletes from our community This week I want to shine the Second City Spotlight on Leeward Boom Girls Soccer Team and Makakilo/ Kapolei Youth Baseball League your 2014 AYSO U-14 Girls National Soccer champions comprised of 15 girls (ages 13-14) from Leeward AYSO region 269 embodies the characteristics of a championship team The Boom finished the AYSO 2013 fall season as undefeated champions they won the Island’s Best Tournament championship They completed the AYSO 2014 Spring Select season as undefeated champs again before going on to win the 2014 Kirk Banks Tournament championship After dominating the competition in Hawaii where they competed against 30 teams from across the country in the U-14 division at the AYSO National Games They finished first in their pool with a 4-1-1 record defeating South Irvine California in the quarterfinals and Corona Del Mar (whom they tied in regular pool play) in the finals to capture the AYSO U-14 Girls national championship our baseball boys also rose to the occasion At the Oahu section tournament in early June the 15 members of Makakilo/Kapolei Youth Baseball League (MKYBL) Mustang Division (ages 9-10) All Stars excelled on the baseball field where they won the Hawaii Region championship the MKYBL All Stars traveled to California to participate in the PONY League Western Zone championships where they brought home the consolation championship Congratulations to Leeward Boom Girls Soccer Team and their coaches Randy Cain and Lawrence Hamilton and additionally Makakilo/Kapolei Youth Baseball League Mustang Division All Star Team and their coaches Dirk Fujii John Williams and Ben Yeung and all of their families for bringing great pride to our community Election: Honolulu City Council 2016 Email Address: DrKioniDudley@hawaii.rr.com www.facebook.com/Kioni-Dudley-for-Honolulu-City-Council-156147507763294/ I previously taught at Chaminade University and in the high schools of the Department of Education I have been very active in community affairs 1976 state House; 1994 governor; 1996 state Senate; 1998 lieutenant governor; 2011 City Council I have been elected nine times to the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board Other civic experience or community service Founder 2004 and current president of the Friends of Makakilo — 1000 plus members As FOM president I was an intervenor at the Land Use Commission from 2009 to 2012 I am also the founder and current chair of Save Oahu Farmland Alliance Anything else you’d like voters to know about you My campaign focus: reducing Leeward commute time We stand at a critical moment when this can be done The Star-Bulletin named me one of “10 who made a Difference” in the state in 2009 I will make a greater difference this time What makes you qualified to be a Council member Serving on the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale for 18 years Commuter travel time can be greatly reduced New freeway lanes will bring current traffic back up to “stable flow” if we temporarily stop building in Leeward and Central What steps should elected city officials take next regarding the rail project I now see that we need the elevated guideway (with rail Why has the city not been able to take more homeless off the street and what would you do to improve the situation I support the governor and mayor for current moves Each westsider spends $7,300 a year to sit in traffic for an hour each way a hidden but real cause of homelessness for many What steps can elected officials take to ensure city employees behave ethically Mayor Caldwell put cronies on the city Ethics Commission and drove Executive Director Chuck Totto out Also change RCH 11-102 which shields Council members from having to publicly declare “conflict of interest” campaign contributions before voting what would you do to improve the city’s affordable housing supply unscrupulous real estate agents and greedy home sellers have brought us outrageous prices our people can’t afford Although the price freeze years ago failed Only the world’s very rich can afford our houses The market itself desperately needs a successful You must be logged in to post a comment