Traffic A 38-year-old skateboarder was in critical condition after a crash Friday in Makakilo the skateboarder was heading south on Makakilo Drive when he hit a vehicle at a stop in the southbound lanes of Makakilo Drive near Palailai Street The skateboarder lost control and ended up in the intersection where he was struck by a car making a left turn onto Palailai The skateboarder was ejected onto the road Honolulu Emergency Medical Services paramedics treated him and took him to a hospital in critical condition A 25-year-old woman was driving the first car that was hit by the skateboarder The second car that struck the skateboarder was driven by a 65-year-old man and alcohol do not appear to be contributing factors in the crash 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 The 38-year-old skateboarder who crashed into a vehicle in Makakilo Friday evening has died The man was in critical condition after the crash and died from his injuries today according to the Honolulu Police Department’s Traffic Division police said the skateboarder was heading south on Makakilo Drive when he hit a vehicle at a stop in the southbound lanes of Makakilo Drive near Palailai Street This was Oahu’s 18th traffic fatality so far in 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 “I am a strong advocate for my community members and the people of Hawaii to always have a seat at the table.” Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected The following came from Kanani Souza, Republican candidate for state House District 43, which covers Kapolei and Makakilo. Her primary opponent is Sheila Medeiros Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot What is the biggest issue facing your district I was raised in Kapolei and spent over three decades calling Kapolei home I have resided in Kapolei since its infancy I genuinely understand our community issues one of the biggest issues facing District 43 is infrastructure such as the Makakilo Drive Extension (MDE) are critical.  I have already been working on these issues since I was elected to represent District 43 in 2022 I made it my mission to move the MDE into state jurisdiction because the project has stalled at the city level which required the city to transfer to the state the city’s authority to construct the MDE which would connect Makakilo Drive to Kualakai Parkway Moving the MDE forward collaboratively at the city state and federal level is vital to finally completing this project to provide an alternate route for the safety of Makakilo residents We also need to ensure that we place traffic lights at certain intersections that are currently four-way stops add crosswalks in areas that need them and add speed humps How do you feel about the massive income tax cut just approved by the Legislature and the governor Do you have any concerns that it will force reductions in state services in the years to come I supported the income tax cut because we need to ensure the well-being of our local families Many Hawaii residents are leaving the islands because they cannot afford to live here due to cost of living The income tax cut is one way to help our residents I am concerned that the income tax cut will force reductions in state services in years to come but we can combat that as we move forward and find other means of boosting our local economy Helping our local families now is necessary for them to thrive here for generations to come Hawaii continues to struggle with pay-to-play politics and corruption in government What meaningful reforms do you think would change state government for the better A meaningful reform that will help halt pay-to-play politics would be to expand the ban on government contractor campaign contributions such as officers and immediate family members should not be able to donate to candidates Candidates often say they will support reform proposals in the Legislature And yet major reform proposals don’t pass Will you back good-government proposals even if it means going against leadership can you point to an example of a reform that you supported I will continue to support reform proposals that will help our Legislature operate effectively with ethical standards and improve public confidence We work for the people of our districts and the residents of the State of Hawaii and it is a privilege to hold public office Conducting ourselves in a manner that is worthy of the public’s trust is paramount.  As a member of the House Judiciary Committee for the past term most reform legislation came through our committee my first year in office dealt with reform recommendations provided by the Commission to Improve Standards of Conduct This experience allowed me to have a broad vantage point of where our laws fall short in addressing the gamut of issues from ethics to campaign spending I have been very supportive of reform efforts such as banning campaign contributions from lobbyists during the legislative session Do you support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate I support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate legislation introduced regarding public financing did not properly address funding logistics bills are often multi-faceted and include many aspects that could hinder legislation from moving forward Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process I support a statewide citizens initiative process I am a strong advocate for my community members and the people of Hawaii to always have a seat at the table A statewide citizens initiative process is another route for public involvement in government Thanks to their campaign war chests and name familiarity incumbents are almost always reelected in Hawaii legislative races Should there be term limits for state legislators as there are for the governor’s office and county councils some legislators stay in office for many years if they continue to be voted in by their constituents and are effective and hardworking well into their tenure while others may not be as effective as time goes on and may just be holding on to their seat This is the dichotomy that term limits present as longevity at the Legislature looks different for every elected official voters can decide each election if they want to continue to elect their legislators Another issue when dealing with term limits that we grappled with at the Legislature is how long term limits should be We must also understand that building relationships in government takes time and having experience in the legislative process and policymaking matters What will you do to ensure accountability at the Legislature Do you support ideas such as requiring the Sunshine Law to apply to the Legislature or banning campaign contributions during session Finding ways to constantly evolve and strengthen our Legislature will ensure accountability and deter complacency I support applying the principles of the Sunshine Law (open meetings law) to the Legislature The Sunshine Law itself would need to be revisited and improved to apply to the intricacies of the legislative process I support banning campaign contributions during session but also recognize that campaign contributions in the interim could have the same influential effect 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 The Legislature can be more transparent and accessible to the public by first identifying where we can bridge the gap in creating a more open environment for community members to be heard I often read through the Rules of the House of Representatives and the House Administrative and Financial Manual to see where improvements can be made or where the rules are silent on issues that should be addressed I hope to bring forth ideas to improve these internal rules so we can make sure we are aiming for transparency and civility 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 but we need to diversify our economy and fully tap into other industries that will be lucrative for Hawaii and capitalize on our position in the Pacific a bipartisan caucus to explore Hawaii’s role in the new space economy that is slated to grow to $1.8 trillion by 2035 As other states position themselves to be a part of this market Hawaii needs to determine its role in the space economy and take necessary steps now to realize our potential in this realm Our caucus introduced the maximum two bills this past session to include HB 2153 which would formulate an air and space law program at the University of Hawaii William S which would re-establish the Ellison Onizuka Space Center While an undergraduate at the University of Southern California I minored in cinema/television (critical studies) I was able to immerse myself in the culture of the film industry in Southern California where numerous opportunities were available for me Growth in this industry will boost our economy and provide opportunities for local film students and everyone involved in the film industry 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 Hawaii residents are dealing with increasing grocery costs gas prices and our overall high cost of living Many locals also cannot afford to buy homes here and resort to moving to the mainland for more robust opportunities and the ability to own their own home Alleviating some of these issues would require the Legislature to explore further tax breaks first-time homebuyer tax credits (similar to the Mortgage Credit Certificate program at the federal level) down payment assistance programs and strengthening paid family leave child care assistance and caregiver assistance Listening to constituents’ concerns as I go door-to-door in District 43 sparks ideas for positive changes I look forward to continuing the work we started in 2022 and further create meaningful change together for the residents of District 43 and the State of Hawaii 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 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 “We truly need to establish a separate market dedicated to affordable housing for the hardworking individuals and families living in Hawaii.” The following came from Sheila Medeiros, Republican candidate for state House District 43, which covers Kapolei and Makakilo. Her primary opponent is Kanani Souza What is your district’s biggest issue District 43 has grappled with a significant issue: the completion of the Makakilo Drive Extension (MDE) which aimed to transfer authority over the MDE from the city and county to the state to secure federal funding for the extension failed to pass the House of Representatives during the recent 32nd legislative session I will promptly begin to establish relationships with key stakeholders in the state legislative branch to grasp the priorities of each legislator regarding their district and the 43rd district’s objectives for the MDE I acknowledge that each elected official advocates for their community’s interests and I appreciate the significance of understanding their priorities I aim to pursue resolutions that benefit each representative’s constituency any projected revenue decline from these tax cuts will not be paid for by reducing state services. Instead he proposes eliminating positions in state government that have been vacant for more than four years I support this proposal to make up for any decline in revenue because it will reduce the size of state government often attributed to unnecessary and/or wasteful personnel expenses/positions barred government contractors from giving politicians money to end pay-to-play contracting politics in which corruption has been tied to Democrat politicians wrote a loophole into the law that weakened it by applying the ban only to donations from the actual corporate entities that got contracts employees or related businesses were not banned from giving to politicians the case of former Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro and Mitsunaga & Associates and its owner who were all found not guilty in pay-to-prosecute corruption trial illustrates the current state of skirting this law and giving to politicians Meaningful reforms would be to expand the current law by eliminating this loophole which Democrats have repeatedly opposed at every legislative session because they are at the most significant risk of losing out on campaign donations additional resources and staffing are needed for the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission which operates with just five persons responsible for tracking these contributions. Greater accountability is required; the HCSC is ill-prepared and equipped to do this Good government proposals are necessary if good legislation is to be passed for the voters Democrat control of both houses has routinely failed or refused to pass meaningful legislation to achieve this end.  I support it as long as it’s approved by the voters Public financing allows candidates to run for office without relying on private contributions the current process for candidates to apply for support is overly complicated and the level of public funding is insufficient Public support for candidates has remained the same for almost 30 years and the spending limits of public financing are now too low for running competitive campaigns The Campaign Spending Commission has proposed a 50% increase in the maximum public funds available but little evidence suggests that this would have a meaningful impact The commission recommends that the Legislature allocate additional fiscal resources to improve the existing partial public financing system possibly through a super-match program or a full block grant or voucher system It’s crucial to ensure a level playing field for financing campaigns It allows citizens to bypass the state legislative process by placing proposed statutes and/or constitutional amendments on the ballot a caveat is that this process must be conducted with equal and fair information and complete transparency provided by all parties representing the pros and cons of the proposal Terms limits are supported by a majority of voters and offer fair and competitive elections because it prevents common persons from running for office without needing to run against an incumbent with a war chest and name recognition It avoids and/or minimizes large contributions from special interest groups It offers more choices for the voter with new and fresh faces and voices It reduces corruption by removing those incumbents seeking personal gain rather than serving their constituents.  I am committed to being inherently responsible to the constituents of my district To ensure I am completely in tune with the community’s needs and concerns I will actively participate in our neighborhood board meetings in person as my schedule allows I believe it’s crucial to engage with all segments of our district; therefore I will attend precinct meetings across all political parties reinforcing my role as a representative of the entire district Recognizing the importance of direct dialogue and input from our community I will take the initiative to establish them This approach will enable me to gather first-hand insights into the concerns suggestions and priorities of our constituents This community input will be invaluable as I draft legislation that accurately reflects and serves the best interests of our district I fully support banning campaign contributions during the session Provide more resources to Hawaii’s agriculture industry and prioritize hi-tech sectors by offering more tax incentives and remove or reduce over-restrictive and burdening state regulations provides a solution that I support: “Housing prices are up culture and heritage feel threatened and Lahaina broke our hearts This quote encapsulates the issues that Hawaii is currently confronting Housing lies at the core of many challenges as many have to hold down two to three jobs to afford rent or homeownership crime and physical abuse are all linked to the unreasonable strain placed on our people Our housing crisis is eroding our community’s well-being We don’t need to change what we’re doing in the housing market The solution is not solely to construct more housing Building new housing may be exacerbating the housing crisis We truly need to establish a separate market dedicated to affordable housing for the hardworking individuals and families living in Hawaii It’s important to understand that real estate markets are typically localized homes will be built and prices based on local wages assuming there’s no outside force driving up prices 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.. By Peter Boylan Crime in Hawaii Two men were arrested Monday night after they allegedly drove a stolen car into a police officer in Ewa Beach was allegedly driving a stolen car in Makakilo with Alan Bert Cordero Honolulu police officers “observed a stolen vehicle in the area of Makakilo” and pursued it “The vehicle stopped in the Ewa Beach area Officers approached the vehicle on foot and the driver of the vehicle intentionally accelerated the vehicle and drove it towards an officer causing the officer to fall on the hood causing him to sustain bodily injury,” according to a description of the incident from police “The officer was treated and released from a medical facility,” Michelle Yu Pascua was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer in the first degree and car theft Cordero was arrested on suspicion of breaking into a car and promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree “Charges will be sought with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney,” according to Honolulu police and any other bullpen-related topics are welcome DBacksEurope: I believe it is such an issue because the Diamondbacks haven’t been able to develop it themselves nor have they made any significant signings on the free agency market If you opt to not sign any free agent relievers then you need relief arms coming up from the system or a couple of cast-offs to perform well although he is more useful than a strong asset That leaves the farm system as the sole producer for quality relief and the problems with developing pitching in this organisation is something we are familiar with but we don’t know the reason behind it Maybe the organisation is at a turning point and Justin Martinez is now the first of many more (probably not) if you look at the way the World Series rosters were constructed of the Dodgers and Yankees (per MLBTR) then you can see that the majority or all of the relief arms were obtained via either trade or free agency Mike Hazen hasn’t been a player in the reliever free agency market That is understandable because of the volatility of these arms I have presented many relievers that were certainly in reach of this team There were certainly good options but the team obviously rebuffed except for the terrible signing of Mark Melancon they are only players on the free agency market for “very aged” relievers and that is the even more risky part of it Despite the obvious lack of arms in the bullpen I don’t think the Diamondbacks biggest issue has been the relief corps We won many 1-run games and our “A-guys” aren’t the worst in the world get quality pitching from that and the “A-guys” should be able to take it over from there Makakilo: If I was GM of the Diamondbacks I would look for affordable relief pitchers who would likely pitch at least 30 innings per season with an ERA+ above 100 The following insights would guide my choices: James: Bullpen issues plague almost every team in the league Part of Arizona’s bullpen issue is relying on waiver claims instead of converting borderline/failed starters into relievers A very big part of the issue is that the starters have struggled a ton which has put extra pressure on the bullpen in the form of additional innings - many additional innings The Diamondbacks need to get some more depth from their starters if they are going to keep the bullpen in peak condition Mike Hazen probably needs to dip his toe back into the free agent reliever waters as well The problem with free agent relievers is that the “good” ones tend to cost a mint and all of them are still volatile There are two or three hitting the market this winter that are intriguing though I am not certain Arizona has the financial muscle to chase them The team’s best course of action might be to make a run at one of the better free agent relievers and then turn to the farm for the rest Start aggressively transitioning some starters plus keeping an eye on relievers like Sims I would hope they only trade for an eighth or ninth inning arm with at least two seasons of control they are better exploring the other options I’d like to see Hazen make a double move in the bullpen like Kevin Towers did to start his tenure Find a setup arm that can close and a closer and stick them at the back of the bullpen the team already has They need to be in on some of the free agents this year The team can’t afford another repeat performance of 2024 one element that was hidden amongst the noise: the instability in the rotation certainly impacted the relievers as they had to cover substantially more innings than in the past Does being given the title and job of closer inherently have more pressure that makes the job more of a psychological challenge than other bullpen roles DBacksEurope: The closer is one of the highest leverage jobs there are in baseball with a guy who knows he needs to make sure his team wins by not allowing a run to score More and more has been written about the difficulties of dealing with high pressure in baseball and the mental stress that goes with it You can probably see it in your job as well or the people you get into contact with: when they get into a stressful situation I don’t think it is an easy job to prepare for but you don’t know if you need to pitch in the game and if so you don’t know until the final innings who you might pitch against And if you allow that first batter to reach base or the tying run is at second or third the whole atmosphere builds the pressure up to spread that pressure over several who don’t feel comfortable being in that position every time Today I’m leaning against having a closer (although I may change my mind) a closer is simply a luxury for most teams but not for teams with honest World Series aspirations Arizona should be looking to find themselves a long-term solution for that role now so when th time comes for them to make the World Series push It is possible that Justin Martinez might eventually be that guy He’ll need to make some adjustments this winter if that is going to happen He still doesn’t have nearly the poise or command and control of his pitches needed to be a “closer” Closers need to be high leverage arms with ice in their veins ankle to get hitters out on both sides of the plate and who are not overmatched when facing the likes of Freeman It particularly helps if they tend to pitch mostly clean innings as well While it is certainly possible to succeed without a dedicated closer having one changes the competitive nature of the game If the starter can be relied on to allow only 0-3 runs through six innings and the closer can be relied upon to pitch a scoreless ninth that seriously impedes the opportunities for the opposition to put crooked numbers on the board having a reliable closer can force the opposing manager to go to their bench earlier trying to score to avoid facing the closer while tied or behind as if there is a stumble by the bullpen (even the closer) the opposition’s bench will not be as stocked and ready for late or extra innings Ben: Do teams need a high-leverage reliever that can be called upon in clutch situations That’s how I’d define a closer in today’s league I’m less convinced that it needs to be a single pitcher though I know the “closer by committee” isn’t as exciting or fashionable as a single player but having multiple high-leverage relievers that could be brought in depending on the situation and matchups would be crucial Wesley: I’ve toyed with idea of getting a bigfoot costume (or Chewbacca I suppose) with built in ½ foot stilts so I’m over seven feet tall Thought of doing similar with various comic accurate costumes that would utilize my height higher a doctor to “enhance” my performance spend a year in the gym with a personal trainer and nutritionist DBacksEurope: I don’t do costumes and never celebrate Halloween I’d probably pick something from the Día de los Muertos which respects the 1st of November of what it actually is (not some kind of a horror party) and does so in a graceful Makakilo: I’ve seen two memorable costumes: a grim reaper on stilts and a golf cart with a dinosaur shell I would improve the dinosaur shell to have realistic movements and add a sound system with terrifying roars the golf cart would have radar that beeps when the golf cart might collide with people or objects and it indicates their direction (like many new cars) I’ll go full nerd and say that I build my own jedi costume because that would be one of the more comfortable costumes while also being extremely recognizable to the broadest possible audience 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 Marcel Honoré is a reporter for Civil Beat. You can email him at mhonore@civilbeat.org 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: Additional closures scheduled for the Kapolei Interchange project for the week of July 14 HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) notifies Oahu motorists that the closure canceled on Thursday night 2019 on the westbound H-1 Freeway in the Makakilo area has been rescheduled to Wednesday night The H-1 Freeway will be closed in the westbound direction between the Makakilo/Kapolei/Kalaeloa offramp (Exit 2) and the Campbell Industrial Park/Barbers Point Harbor offramp (Exit 1) on Monday night A full closure of the westbound H-1 Freeway is needed to safely repave the bridge directly above the freeway Westbound motorists will be directed to Makakilo Drive via the Makakilo/Kapolei/Kalaeloa offramp (Exit 2) and may continue on Farrington Highway/Kamokila Boulevard and the Farrington Highway onramp to return to the westbound H-1 Freeway Additional lane closures for the Kapolei Interchange Project the week of July 14 include: Phase 2 project is estimated to be completed by late 2019 Full closures will continue to be scheduled on the H-1 Freeway until the new overpass structure is finished HDOT will notify motorists of major closures happening for the Kapolei Interchange project and updates will be posted to our HDOT website at hidot.hawaii.gov and to our social media websites Electronic message boards will be posted to notify motorists of the closures and detour Special Duty Police Officers will be on-site to assist with traffic control and safety procedures and TheBus have been notified of the full closure and will not be allowed through the work zone Motorists are advised to allow for extra travel time to get to their destinations and to drive with caution on the detour routes For more information on the Kapolei Interchange project please view the project website at https://kapolei-interchange.squarespace.com/ Funding problems are largely to blame for delayed construction of a road that many residents want built A planned extension for Makakilo Drive would connect to North-South Road It would provide an East-West Road early exit from the freeway for people on that side of Makakilo instead of forcing them to come all the way around and to exit and deal with the congestion of lower Makakilo But the project has been in limbo for several years The road now dead ends midway down the back of Makakilo and at the last house on the street There is no reason not to build the extension other than what color the money is Everybody has agreed the extension is needed Mayor Kirk Caldwell has spent a lot of money repaving the island but the paving of Makakilo Drive really wasn’t needed in a lot of residents’ eyes It is time to build the extension for safety reasons Towill and the other by the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services describe Makakilo Drive as being in a built-out area and there is nothing that can be done to make it safer There is only one way in and out of Makakilo More than 18,250 people call Makakilo home It impacts the overall quality of life which is deserved in Makakilo The redesign has lowered the construction costs to $30 million and there is a $300,000 shortage to complete the design land owners in the right of way like James Campbell Company and D.R Horton have to be consulted to give up part of their land via eminent domain for a right of way This is before the $60 million that is needed to build a three-quarter mile road If anyone would like to spearhead another campaign to at least get the rest of the funding to get the Makakilo extension design finished that would be great — $300,000 more dollars is what is short At one time the extension was the number one priority on the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization list Consider for a moment that there are no special tax districts here like they have in California where they charge developers per new house for the infrastructure needed to support their projects and it is passed on to the new homeowners Horton owns part of the land that the extension runs through The James Campbell Company owns the land Grace Pacific is using that is also needed Many folks were told by a model home sales person when buying a house that the extension was being built within four years Horton and the James Campbell Company have to be bought out since their building impacted upper Makakilo The rail project does serve the new Hoopili community All the money could have gone to finishing the extension is going to that What about an alternative of the companies paying for half as a partnership with Makakilo Or using =matching funds with the City & County Maybe instead of it being a city road extension of Makakilo Drive it can be converted to a state project extending North South Road Developers can help pay for infrastructure like this one via tax districts that can be subsequently created for just their neighborhood of homes starting with the next project to fund this a lot of thoughts are like this toward developers — if you profited greatly from developing and building out Makakilo or if you are impacting natural resources and are creating an eyesore tearing up the hill with a quarry perhaps there are reparations for that for the residents Now consider that our Council Representative for District 1 — Kymberly Marcos Pine — is in the middle of helping finding funding for the rail system or at least funding was in striking distance and the mayor pulled it to send to another district The Mayor is the holder of the purse strings so it would make sense to go directly to the mayor with this issue But why doesn’t the council member want to get fully engaged with this Contributors include everybody from D.R. Horton, which owns part of the right of way, to the James Campbell Company to R.M. Towill, which have been continually allocated millions of dollars to do the design work for the project and others. Take a look at the campaign contributors to Pine and it is a lot of developers we should be advocated for and going to them to get this done The council member may be running for mayor in a year and a half There is an aversion to not wanting this project to pop up and turn into a failure in the middle of a campaign or fresh on the minds of voters prior There is a need for personal survival politically for developers’ contributions to be propelled to the next level Two elements in an election a candidate doesn’t want to upset Keep the council member’s fingerprints off this issue Support her and lobby the outgoing mayor and ask for a project revision and subsequent state support It is my belief that Mayor Caldwell may plan on leaving office and is grooming the District 1 representative this may be a big coup for him to get a project done in that district There is a bigger groundswell forming among Makakilo residents who want the extension There is money that can pay for it by the people who own the right of way It can become a North-South Road extension and become the state’s kuleana James Campbell and Company owns what Grace Pacific is using and D.R A matching-funds arrangement is going to be the clearest path I can see Thoughts on this or any other story? Write a Letter to the Editor. Send to news@civilbeat.org and put Letter in the subject line. 200 words max. You need to use your name and city and include a contact phone for verification purposes. And you can still comment on stories on our Facebook page Community Voices aims to encourage broad discussion on many topics of community interest. It’s kind of a cross between Letters to the Editor and op-eds. This is your space to talk about important issues or interesting people who are making a difference in our world. Column lengths should be no more than 800 words and we need a current photo of the author and a bio. We welcome video commentary and other multimedia formats. Send to news@civilbeat.org The opinions and information expressed in Community Voices are solely those of the authors and not Civil Beat HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) notifies Oahu motorists that the onramps from Makakilo Drive in both directions onto the eastbound H-1 Freeway will be closed nightly The onramp from the southbound lanes on Makakilo Drive to the eastbound H-1 Freeway will be closed on Monday night with a contingency of Tuesday night work scheduled in case of rains the southbound lanes on Makakilo Drive will be closed between the H-1 Freeway and Farrington Highway and traffic will be maintained in both directions by a contraflow in the northbound lanes Motorists traveling in the inbound direction are advised to continue on Makakilo Drive and enter the eastbound H-1 Freeway by the Wakea Street onramp The onramp from the northbound lanes on Makakilo Drive to the eastbound H-1 Freeway will be closed on Wednesday night The northbound lanes on Makakilo Drive will be closed in sequence with the onramp between Farrington Highway and the H-1 Freeway with traffic being maintained in both directions by a contraflow using the southbound lanes Motorists traveling in the northbound direction are advised to take a left onto Farrington Highway Following the completion of the repaving work, construction will begin the restriping phase, which is estimated to start in mid-April. HDOT will continue to keep the public notified of closures scheduled by posts to our roadwork page on the HDOT website at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/roadwork/ The Fort Barrette Road/Makakilo Drive Road Improvements project is anticipated to be completed by May 2020 HDOT advises motorists to plan ahead and allow for extra travel time to get to their destinations Electronic message boards will be in place to notify motorists of the closures and detours and TheBus have been notified and will not be allowed access to the onramps 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/ HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises Oahu motorists that the westbound H-1 Freeway will be closed between the Makakilo Drive overpass and the Campbell Industrial Park/Barbers Point Harbor offramp (Exit 1) during the overnight hours of 10 p.m A full closure of the H-1 Freeway is necessary for crews to utilize the westbound lanes to perform girder work on the Farrington Highway overpass as part of the Kapolei Interchange Complex An additional short notice full closure of the H-1 westbound between the Makakilo Drive overpass and the Campbell Industrial/Barbers Point offramp (Exit 1) may take place from Tuesday night 2018 to account for availability of necessary equipment for the girder work Motorists traveling on the westbound H-1 Freeway will be directed to Makakilo Drive via the Makakilo/Kapolei/Kalaeloa offramp (Exit 2) and may continue on Farrington Highway/Kamokila Boulevard Electronic message boards will be posted to warn motorists of the closure Special Duty Police Officers will be on-site to assist with traffic control and TheBus have been notified of the roadwork and will not be allowed through the work zone Other lane closures associated with this project are listed below HDOT advises motorists to allow for extra travel time and check traffic apps before heading to their destinations HONOLULU – The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation (HDOT) notifies the public of a full closure of the southbound Makakilo Drive onramp to the H-1 Freeway in the eastbound direction on Monday night for the installation of pavement markers and rumble strips Motorists wanting to access the H1 Freeway eastbound may continue southbound on Makakilo Drive and enter the H-1 Freeway eastbound by the Wakea Street onramp Tentative roadwork dates may be scheduled on an as needed basis during the week of Monday Motorists are advised to drive with caution and allow for extra travel time to get to their destinations Electronic message boards will be posted to notify motorists of the closure and detour Special duty police officers will be onsite to assist with safety procedures and traffic control TheBus and first responders have been notified of the closure and will not be allowed through Crime in HawaiiLocal The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office identified the two people in the murder-suicide case in Makakilo as Alan R was a gunshot wound and the manner of death was classified as a homicide was a gunshot wound and the manner of death was classified as a suicide Honolulu police responded to a residence in the 92-700 block of Nohona Street at about 5:45 a.m Deena Thoemmes of the Honolulu Police Department’s Homicide Detail said neighbors heard what sounded like two “pops” at about 4 p.m Sunday and thought the sounds were from fireworks neighbors became concerned about the residents in the home Two neighbors checked on the residents and found the couple dead in a bedroom Police said the man shot his wife before he turned the gun on himself Bills designed to protect Hawaii condo owners face a potential new life in the 2024 legislative session after stalling in 2023 Rosita Sipirok-Siregar admits her Makakilo home could be neater But the septuagenarian retiree says it was overkill for her condo association to hire Honolulu lawyer Kapono Kiakona to run up a $3,300 legal bill to collect just over $300 in alleged fines notifying Sipirok-Siregar that her association intended to foreclose on her property to collect past due payments Sipiro-Siregar acknowledges that her front stoop has at times been cluttered She also admits that her shoe rack doesn’t meet association specifications which her next-door neighbor also doesn’t follow But Sipirok-Siregar says it’s not justified for the Association of Apartment Owners of Westview at Makakilo Heights to force her to sell her home “They go after an old lady who’s single and living alone,” she says and I’m cited for having fricking shoes on the front porch.” While Sipirok-Siregar plans to contest the fines and charges levied against her in mediation legislators this session have the chance to look more broadly at the laws governing such disputes and condo associations in general A handful of bills carried over from the last legislative session would change the way condo associations operate One measure would provide an alternative to mediation for people like Sipiro-Siregar But whether such bills get any traction is another question.  Rep. Luke Evslin, chairman of the House Housing Committee, says he spent much of the summer working on other housing issues. He plans to introduce bills meant to allow more housing density in urban-zoned areas as a way to promote home building while preserving agriculture and conservation land he saw what he believes were excessive power grabs by homeowner associations at the expense of residents when he was a Kauai council member He said he helped pass county legislation limiting what the associations were doing Evslin said he hasn’t ruled out holding hearings on bills addressing condo associations on the state level this session Condominiums are generally private self-governing entities run according to various bylaws and house rules These governing documents are essentially contracts between condo owners and associations The boards typically hire management companies to oversee operations consultants and the like — all paid by owners.  Often likened to private governments, the associations have the power to raise money through fees and assessments, fine owners and in some cases foreclose on properties forcing people to sell their homes to pay debts to the association Owners often must pay the fees of the lawyers taking action against them on the associations’ behalf the associations are ultimately creatures of state law and must operate under the broad framework of the Hawaii condominium statute which is administered by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Real Estate Commission The nine-member commission is made up entirely of real estate brokers and lawyers One bill would change the way condo elections are held so they more closely resemble elections for public office. Another amounts to an open records law for condo owners giving them the power to inspect and copy a range of documents that the condo law requires associations to maintain.  A third bill would establish a condo ombudsman to serve as “a resource for members of condominium associations.” That includes helping ensure associations are complying with existing laws and association governing documents and helping resolve disputes without attorneys “I wouldn’t write off any of these bills,” Evslin said “But I would admit to not knowing the details of many of those bills and not being able to comment too specifically.” It’s easy to write off the bills simply because they often go nowhere Lawmakers didn’t grant the open records and ombudsman bills a hearing last session And bills that do manage to get hearings often face opposition from condo lawyers lobbyists and consultants that support the existing system several current association board members submitted identical testimony opposing the bill One of the few voices in support was Lila Mower an advocacy organization that has been pushing for legal changes designed to help individual owners.  Mower said Sipirok-Siregar’s situation – where she faces an alleged $1,133 in unpaid maintenance fees fines and late fees and $3,366 in legal fees — is hardly an outlier “The situation where what she really owes is $1,000 but Kapono’s fees are three times that – that’s not unusual Sometimes it’s more than three times,” said Mower who was nominated by House Speaker Scott Saiki to a legislative working group established to study condo issues. “It’s sadly not unusual.” It’s important to make it easier to vote out board directors who bless such behavior “It’s excruciatingly difficult” to oust board members Sipirok-Siregar acknowledges she has occasionally left items like a broom or mop on her front stoop Her shoe rack also doesn’t meet association specs which call for a two-tier white or off-white rack But on a recent morning her rack was hidden from street view by a pillar as was a vacuum cleaner and trash can she had placed near the front door Sipirok-Siregar also admits she hasn’t opened many of the numerous letters she has gotten from Kiakona The association’s lawyer said he couldn’t comment on the pending matter without written authorization from Sipiro-Siregar But one letter from Kiakona that Sipirok-Siregar did open shows what the association is demanding and potential paths forward for her Titled “NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND INTENTION TO FORECLOSE” and dated Dec the letter says Sipirok-Siregar owes $4,499.88 in delinquent “assessments other charges and attorneys fees and costs unpaid to the association.” Although the letter says Sipiro-Siregar must pay $4,938 to bring her account current she can remove the lien on her property and notice of intention to foreclose by paying $438.49 The letter also says she has the right to submit a payment plan and request mediation It also suggests she hire an attorney to understand potential legal rights and defenses although that would mean paying two lawyers: her own and Kiakona Sipirok-Siregar expresses confusion about the situation including the sobering reality that the association can foreclose on her property to collect payment under Hawaii’s condo law she denies she has ever fallen behind on paying maintenance fees she’s hoping to sort things out in mediation Whether that results in an agreement remains to be seen Mower has collected reports published by the Real Estate Commission dating back to 1991 Those indicate that mediation results in an agreement in less than one third of cases Mower and other owner-advocates believe an ombudsman could be more effective in helping resolve disputes between owners and associations Regardless of whether that’s the best solution Mower said the current system of associations turning lawyers loose on owners – at the owners’ expense — benefits only the lawyers If the associations “want to be good neighbors Crews are responding to a brush fire in Kapolei prompting the closure of all westbound lanes of the H-1 freeway at the North/South offramp This photo was taken from Wahane Place in Kapolei Honolulu firefighters are battling a 10-acre brush fire just off the H-1 freeway about a quarter-mile before the Makakilo exit The blaze was triggered by an automotive fire that ignited surrounding brush according to Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt HFD responded with 12 units staffed with 28 personnel The fire was approximately 90 percent contained as of 4:45 p.m Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInImage: Hiilei ColburnImage: Shawn VerneMAKAKILO OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The brush fire that scorched nearly 1,000 acres in Makakilo continues to burn and it is heading north and away from residences Officials lifted the evacuation for Palehua residents at around 12:30 p.m even HPD with their contribution of their helicopter Everybody contributed to the successes so far of this incident," said Capt David Jenkins with the Honolulu Fire Department.According to HFD two young boys playing with lighters caused the large brush fire in Makakilo Officials say the two 7-year-old boys are brothers "We are here to say we regret what has happened Our children realize the consequences of their actions We want parents to realize this can happen to anyone and how important it is discuss fire safety with their children We will be participating in a fire safety program," said Troy Wright About 35 firefighters fought the flames on the ground while four choppers in the air dumped 150 to 200 gallons of water on hot spots on Sunday Approximately 60 firefighters battled the blaze on Saturday and more than 100 were on scene on Friday when the fire first broke out Twenty homes on Palehua Ridge were in danger The homes on the ridge are surrounded by tall trees making it very dangerous and difficult to protect Firefighters spent Friday and Saturday night staged at each house and other assets like phone towers in the area The wind has been gusting up to 20 to 30 mph There's are some inaccessible areas where the firefighters are unable to get to," said Capt Fire officials say that one home on Umena Street did sustain minor damages See...a lot of fire I can see from the mountains So it's not over yet." Ben Mascarenas said on Saturday Mascarenas' home was damaged by the flames I was behind my house and it was really...like 500 feet away Like...wow....it was...I can't tell you how the feeling was," said Mascarena's neighbor Ramon Sumibcay on Friday parts of the fire along the upper slopes and heavily forested areas were 20 percent contained Both the hill behind Umena Street and the Palehua Road area are contained There is a deep gully firefighters are trying to prevent the fire from going into Jenkins says it is possible that Palehua Road residents will have to evacuate again Water supply has been an issue because there are no fire hydrants at that elevation The Red Cross did open an emergency shelter for affected Makakilo residents at Makakilo Community Park located at 92-1140 Makakilo Drive in Kapolei The Honolulu Fire Department wants the public to know they have fire safety education available and they urge families at schools to participate in their programs For more information call HFD at (808) 723-7117 There have been no reports of any injuries be sure to stay with Hawaii News Now for more updates on this situation 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 HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises Oahu motorists of nightly closures for bridge work over the westbound lanes on the H-1 Freeway between the Makakilo/Kapolei/Kalaeloa offramp (Exit 2) and the Campbell Industrial Park/Barbers Point Harbor offramp (Exit 1) beginning Sunday with the last closure ending Wednesday morning Closures of the H-1 Freeway for this project may continue through the month of May HDOT will keep the public informed on a bi-weekly basis Motorists traveling in the westbound direction will be directed to Makakilo Drive via the Makakilo/Kapolei/Kalaeloa offramp (Exit 2) and may continue on Farrington Highway/Kamokila Boulevard Other project closures scheduled for next week include the nighttime closure of the Campbell Industrial Park/Barbers Point Harbor offramp (Exit 1A) from the H-1 Freeway in the eastbound direction Tuesday This closure is to support underground electrical utility work The first closure in the series will be between 10 p.m Eastbound motorists will be directed to the Makakilo/Kapolei/Kalaeloa offramp (Exit 1B) as an alternate route HONOLULU – The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) advises Oahu motorists that the H-1 Freeway will be closed in the westbound direction between the Makakilo Drive overpass and the Campbell Industrial Park/Barbers Point Harbor offramp (Exit 1) on Tuesday night A full closure of the westbound H-1 Freeway is necessary to set the bridge girders and temporary bracing over the westbound lanes the Makakilo Drive onramp to the westbound H-1 Freeway and the Farrington Highway offramp (Exit 1E) will be closed Motorists traveling on the H-1 Freeway will be directed to the Makakilo/Kapolei/Kalaeloa offramp (Exit 2) and may continue westbound on Farrington Highway/Kamokila Boulevard Additional closures associated with this project are listed below first responders and TheBus have been notified of the roadwork and will not be allowed through the work zone CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM A man who barricaded himself in a home on the 92-300 block of Akaula Street in Makakilo this morning peacefully surrendered to police ROSEMARIE BERNARDO / RBERNARDO@STARADVERTISER.COM The intersection of Nohona and Akaula streets was blocked off due to a barricade situation Honolulu police have reopened a section of Akaula Street sometime after 12:45 p.m after a man who barricaded himself in a home this morning surrendered to police A man who barricaded himself in a home on the 92-300 block of Akaula Street this morning peacefully surrendered to police just before 12:05 p.m Honolulu police are responding to a barricade situation in Makakilo today Officers shut down a section of Akaula Street between Nohona and Aahualii streets before 8:45 a.m Office of the Specialized Services Division including police negotiators are currently at the scene This breaking news story will be updated when more information is available By Rob Shikina has been missing since leaving his Makakilo home on Nov Anyone who may have seen Ishii is asked to call police at 911 or CrimeStoppers Honolulu at 955-8300 A Makakilo family has searched for a sixth straight day Sunday without success in locating their missing family member a 74-year-old man with diabetes and dementia Milton Ishii was last seen leaving his Makakilo home about 8:30 a.m the family began searching long hours from Makakilo to Campbell Industrial Park in hopes of spotting him “It’s been exhausting,” Ishii’s son Shane Ishii said by phone Sunday “We’re worried 24 hours a day.” and doesn’t have his wallet with him He has a hard time making decisions because of his dementia But Shane remained optimistic and hoped his father was finding food at least once a day Shane said his father likes to walk and often went out for strolls in the neighborhood and his family would go out to get him if he didn’t return in about 15 minutes Ishii’s wife went to look for him after a few minutes The family has been searching by driving through neighborhoods and walking along pathways Police were notified and CrimeStoppers Honolulu issued a missing person bulletin for Ishii on Nov Ishii is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall He was last seen wearing a black shirt or jacket and blue jeans with a cap Shane said his father is physically strong and may have walked to the Campbell Industrial Park area where he used to work as a warehouse manager for Panasonic about a dozen family and friends searched in the Barbers Point Shane said police told him it is possible his father may have been allowed onto a city bus that took him to another neighborhood Shane asked that anyone who sees his father call police at 911 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 By Jayna Omaye A Makakilo brush fire that threatened nearby homes and prompted voluntary evacuations Monday has been fully contained a Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said Tuesday morning David Jenkins said crews are still on scene to extinguish hot spots The cause of the blaze that spread nearly 80 acres across a grassy area adjacent to the H-1 freeway is undetermined at this time HFD officials do not have estimates on damages yet which housed about 50 residents who chose to evacuate Jenkins said 67 firefighters from 20 companies responded to the brush fire at 3:15 p.m The blaze was considered 60 percent contained as of 5:30 p.m He urged residents on the Leeward Coast to exercise caution as the hot He recommended that residents keep their yards and property clear of brush.  “We want everyone to always have an emergency plan,” he said “Every family member should know their evacuation plan where their emergency meeting spot is…” the owners of more than 1,000 acres of land that burned in a Makakilo blaze last summer sued the parents of the twin boys who started the fire HFD officials had said two boys who were playing with a lighter they found outside their home started the fire in August HFD officials will hold a news conference at Magic Island May 27 to share tips on preventing wildland fires Before I get into talking about this week’s home When it’s 90 degrees but feels like 100 many of you are swearing you’ll never complain about the cold again Anuhea at Makakilo, developed by D.R. Horton–Schuler Division, is a small subdivision of 109 detached single-family CPR residences within the Palehua Community Association just a nine-minute drive from the H-1 Makakilo offramp and often described by residents as so cool you might need to wear a sweater The homes in Anuhea were designed with desirable floor plans and built with steel frames This 1,730-square-foot property has four bedrooms and two and a half baths with partial ocean views from the front bedroom windows.  The two-story home sits on a tree-lined cul de sac and is the epitome of suburbia with white vinyl fencing and a large backyard garden featuring papaya and calamansi fruit trees.  The current owners say they love nearby Mauka Lani Elementary School and have been impressed with the teachers and the school activities for their son “We have never seen a school where the principal is out manning the crosswalk and interacting with parents.” a walk-in closet and double sinks in the master bedroom suite It has been renovated with tobacco-stained engineered hardwood floors throughout the living areas and master bedroom stainless-steel Samsung Food Show Case refrigerator This home will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 13. Click here for details Got a suggestion for our real estate blog? Know of a fabulous open house? Fascinating story? We want to know. Shoot us an email at realestate@honolulumagazine.com Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More HONOLULU — The Department of Health has confirmed low levels of PFAS were detected in water samples at the Board of Water Supply’s Makakilo Well which is connected to the Ewa-Waianae water system The PFAS were found at levels below the DOH’s Environmental Action Levels Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) was detected in the Makakilo Well PFPeA is part of the group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).  PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they are very slow to degrade in the environment PFAS can be harmful to human health if they are consumed at a high concentration The DOH’s Environmental Action Level for PFPeA found in groundwater that is a source of drinking water is 0.8 micrograms per liter while the levels of PFPeA in the Makakilo Well ranged from 0.0021 to 0.0023 micrograms per liter these low levels of PFPeA are not an acute health risk but long-term consumption of PFPeA could be a health risk.  but a home filtration system for drinking water would reduce PFAS.  Last month, the DOH reported that PFAS were found in water samples collected in the BWS’ Waipahu Wells and in its Kunia Village water system According to Deputy Director of Environmental Health Kathleen Ho “Because PFAS chemicals are used in so many products and industries it is not uncommon to see them contaminating drinking water at low levels it is very important for the public to be aware of the presence of these contaminants.” PFAS have been used extensively in everyday products such as carpets, clothing, fabrics for furniture, paper packaging for food and non-stick cookware. They are also used in some firefighting foam. Aqueous Film Forming Foam, a firefighting foam, recently made headlines in Hawaii when it was spilled by the U.S Navy at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.  Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com “Residential and commercial development is trying to keep pace with burgeoning growth but solid infrastructure continues to lag behind.” 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 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 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 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 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 incumbents are almost always re-elected in Hawaii legislative races 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 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 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 “We have had Democrats running Hawaii for a very long time and many issues have gotten worse with no end in sight.” The following came from Anna Odom, Republican candidate for state House District 43, which includes Kapolei, Akupu and Makakilo. The other Republican candidate is Kanani Souza Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot Crime and road safety are major concerns for District 43 more local businesses fell victim to a smash and grab in Kapolei We need more programs in schools to help identify students who have what it takes to enter law enforcement upon reaching the age of qualification it’s important that these officers who train here work here in these communities for an extended period before taking that training to other states the cost of living makes it even more difficult to stay Ewa and Waianae need their own stations to help take some of the pressure off of Kapolei Often these officers ticket parked cars but there is no means or presence to stop catalytic converter theft or even enough presence in Kapolei to deter burglary Road safety is a big concern as our neighborhood board has gotten nowhere in terms of any road safety improvement on Makakilo Drive Speeding is an issue along with no crosswalks visuals or police presence to curb the bad habits We need pedestrian activated lights and other visual and pedestrian safety measures in Makakilo We first need to educate tourists who come to our home The tourism industry along with the means of travel to get here need to work together in this The first step in changing tourism is to start changing the mindset of the tourist They need to be made aware of our environmental laws We need the relationship between locals and tourists to be a healthy one The biggest complaint I hear about tourists is how disrespectful to the land and people they are Let’s change this by making sure those who come here know the most important part of being here: aloha But we need to ease up on the crutch and allow other ways for the economy to flourish We need to be more self-sustained in food resources The less we have to import and the more we can export If we aren’t paying outrageous shipping fees these monies go back into our local economy All of us should have a say and I would love to hear back from the community on how we can diversify our economy and what is needed from the government to make this happen a problem that reaches far beyond low income and into the middle class The answers are in all the answers given to the many questions asked of people like myself on any given day We have to change a lot of things in many different areas to see an overall change that the people can see and feel As we try to correct the issues we have faced in a different way from what we hope from a more conservative Republican perspective Building the connection with the community on a daily basis is our job We need each and every voice and face etched in our minds This way when we walk into the Capitol and start making these decisions Staying connected and transparent is key to rebuilding trust with the communities Representatives serve Being available and having reviews of our decisions to be sure they meet the requirements without burdening the people is so important Many decisions are made and despite the poor outcome We need results that work and we need to acknowledge and fix the ones that have failed The outcome of a lopsided government can be seen daily We have had Democrats running Hawaii for a very long time and many issues have gotten worse with no end in sight People are forgiving and most like familiarity even if it’s uncomfortable We have become stuck in a one-way think tank We have to recondition ourselves to be able to make a different choice Then Covid-19 really shined a light on our issues The same old same old will not get us out of this What we hope for is true representation of our districts Conversation back in our state Capitol and an exchange of ideas is what will move us forward I for one love the idea of working with those who see things differently and working together to make our islands great for all of us without compromising conservative values or our constitutional rights I know many people have spoken about term limits but then every election cycle these same people are once again voted into office there are many variables to why people vote the same every election There is a system in place to prevent the cycle We need more people investing and voting in the primaries This is when we the people decide who in our parties will run on the general election ballot The power is in our votes but with all the conversation surrounding term limits I think it should be something we vote on and let the majority speak on that I believe everything we do must be something we have to answer for If we move in a way knowing it’s all out in front for people to see good honest people will want these positions to do good and not use our positions when elected for personal and financial gain at the expense of the rest of us We need to look over our current laws and fix loopholes that allow for less transparency and accountability Right now one set of voices feels left out We need to know our concerns and voices are heard and we all can feel like our issues are being handled within the confines of our constitutional rights the only real way to appease everyone is that we have choices More choices come from smaller government and less government interference The biggest thing we need here right now is financial relief Big government relief and more opportunities for local growth Revisit the Jones Act and help release us from high shipping costs for everything exported here We need a full financial audit to stop the wasting of money Parents should be leaders in their child’s education and have options that meet their child’s educational needs Get the rail running and start recouping the loss from it not being functional and poor design planning Hawaii used to lead in innovation and now we follow behind mega-liberal California We need to stop looking to the mainland for solutions and look here to the people and what we need and find a course to get us on a better path Vote in Anna Odom to have this clear mindset leading the way for a greater Hawaii Prosecutors charged a 23-year-old woman after she allegedly stabbed her husband in Makakilo Watson was charged Monday afternoon with second-degree attempted murder Police said a woman later identified as Watson and her husband were involved in an argument shortly after 4:35 a.m The argument intensified and turned into a physical altercation Police said Watson stabbed her husband in the neck and shoulder with a kitchen knife Police arrested her at a Panana Street residence on suspicion of attempted murder Officers recovered the knife from the home Her husband was taken in critical condition to a hospital Police said his condition has improved to stable condition 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 By Leila Fujimori Crime in HawaiiEditors' Picks Sharon Har was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving at 10:20 p.m Monday near Piikoi and South Beretania streets arrested for suspicion of drunken driving Monday night near Piikoi and South Beretania streets after being seen driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street Kapolei-Makakilo) was arrested at 10:20 p.m. and charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant Har said in a written statement that she has had an upper respiratory illness for several weeks now and has been taking prescription cough medication with codeine to control the symptoms I had a beer with my dinner,” she writes “I am extremely sorry for not anticipating the effect of this combination on my driving,” she said “I deeply apologize to my constituents and to the public for this failure on my part.” The Honolulu Police Department issued a statement that a 52-year-old woman arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant was observed driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street prior to the arrest From a review of online state court records and judging from her bail amount it appears this was Har’s first drunken driving charge Har further said in her statement: “I would like to express my gratitude to the officers of the Honolulu Police Department for the professional manner in which they conducted their duty in effecting my arrest I am grateful that no one was hurt.” House Speaker Scott Saiki said in a written statement: “This is an unfortunate incident We are wishing Representative Har and her family the best right now.” Har is an honorary member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving according to her profile on the web site of Bays Lung Rose Voss 2011 that she introduced the ignition interlock law after becoming the victim of a drunk driver in 2007 She said she “was very pleased when it was finally implemented on Jan She wrote at that time that the devices have stopped drivers with a blood alcohol content of more than .02 from driving on more than 3,200 occasions 500 Ala Moana Blvd. #2-200Honolulu, HI 96813(808) 529-4747 Evelyn Mae FaurotBirth date: Oct 5 Share a story where Evelyn's kindness touched your heart Describe a day with Evelyn you’ll never forget Photo/VideoCemetery DetailsHawaii State Veterans Cemetery45-349 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe HI 96744