Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More The city’s Department of Design and Construction announced a new road rehabilitation project beginning in Mililani Mauka This is in addition to an ongoing rehabilitation project that began in October 2024 Construction is set to begin April 28 and will last about 16 months The project includes resurfacing and reconstruction of asphalt pavement on streets (see map) root pruning and new pavement striping and markers black and tacky; walking or driving through uncured pavement can result in serious burns or tracking marks on driveways/sidewalks the contractor may delay access through hazardous construction areas during work hours for the safety and protection of the public.” Crews will also reconstruct sections of existing concrete sidewalks curbs and gutters to enhance access for pedestrians To minimize public impact and keep traffic moving as much as possible the contractor will perform work in smaller phases the contractor is responsible for coordinating and managing local area traffic for businesses and residents “No Parking” signs will be placed along roadways to notify the public of upcoming construction one week before work begins Those who park on the street are asked to take note of the dates and times of construction since vehicles parked on the streets at that time will be towed at the owner’s expense Residents should anticipate detours and lane and road closures and allow extra travel time Direct any questions or comments to the Department of Design and Construction at 808-768-8400 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’m committed to focusing on workforce development affordable housing and child care to help middle-class and working families thrive in Hawaii.” Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions about where they stand on various issues and what their priorities will be if elected Democratic candidate for state House District 37 Her opponent is Republican Taylor Kaaumoana Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot What is the biggest issue facing your district The most pressing issue facing District 37 residents is public safety and the growing perception that Central Oahu is becoming less safe This concern stems from an increase in homelessness several highly publicized crimes and emergencies like wildfires that have threatened our community I believe that addressing public safety effectively requires close collaboration with law enforcement and the community we brought our neighborhoods together by hosting a public safety community event including Chief Logan from the Honolulu Police Department and the mayor This initiative led to the establishment of 10 neighborhood security watches in the district fostering a stronger sense of safety and community I hosted a wildfire prevention and disaster preparedness workshop for the Central Oahu community We also cleared the largest homeless encampment in Kipapa Gulch addressing a significant safety and public health concern I will continue to engage with my constituents to address critical issues and craft responsive legislation My office remains committed to being accessible and working hand-in-hand with my community to build a safer Central Oahu 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 strongly support tax reform that lessens the burden on local families especially low- and middle-income families The recent income tax cut enacted via House Bill 2404 reforms Hawaii’s tax code by doubling the standard deduction that state taxpayers can claim beginning next year It also adjusts income tax brackets and standard deductions upward in a series of steps as Hawaii’s minimum wage increases This means working families will see their take-home pay increase by several thousand dollars a year HB 2404 will be implemented over seven years which gives us ample time to monitor implementation and secure adequate funding for critical state services As a community champion and advocate for working families I am committed to ensuring that tax relief does not come at the expense of essential services addressing government spending and considering other revenue-generating proposals we can maintain the balance between providing tax relief and preserving the quality of services that our community needs.  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 Having worked as a journalist investigating corruption in the Philippines I have witnessed firsthand the damage that corruption can cause This experience has deepened my commitment to transparency and disclosure especially regarding relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers While state lawmakers have made meaningful progress in addressing pay-to-play politics by enacting laws that restrict fundraising and contributions from lobbyists during the legislative session we still lack robust enforcement and punishment for those who violate these rules we must fully fund and staff the State Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission ensuring they have the resources to implement harsh penalties for those who betray the public trust I strongly support requirements to scrutinize the connections between lobbyists and lawmakers to maintain integrity in our government 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 would back good-government proposals even if it meant going against House leadership My voting decisions are guided by the needs and voices of my constituents and I actively engage with the community to inform my stance on various issues I have always supported proposals to strengthen campaign financing laws reform election procedures and improve transparency and accountability within government This year I championed the passage of Senate Bill 2687 which prohibits the distribution of deceptive and fraudulent deep fakes during an election period While artificial intelligence can benefit us in many ways its potential for misuse cannot be ignored Deep fakes are manipulated media of a person’s voice depicting actions or statements they never made This can be damaging not just to candidates but to any individual when used irresponsibly SB 2687 also protects our elections by preventing deep fakes from eroding public trust in government through the spread of misinformation Do you support comprehensive public financing of elections for candidates who choose to participate Hawaii already has a partial public financing option that requires candidates to receive a certain number of $100 donations to qualify I support this public financing option for candidates who choose to participate because it gives qualifying candidates additional matching funds from the state to help them run for office public financing is not without its challenges One of my concerns is the cost to taxpayers because the state currently does not have the resources to fully implement comprehensive public financing successfully I will be supportive of full public financing if we can truly commit the resources for a program that is carefully designed to prevent potential abuse Research indicates that small donors tend to be more ideologically extreme than average voters which can result in more extreme candidates gaining prominence This trend is exacerbated by the nature of online fundraising where extreme positions covered by the media often generate more donations and attention it is essential that we continuously evaluate and improve our systems to ensure they effectively promote fair and democratic elections without unintended negative consequences Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process I do not support a statewide citizens initiative process While I see the value in giving voters the opportunity to pass measures that may not receive legislative action or funding I am concerned about this tool being used to advance special interests we’ve seen how this process can be misused by well-funded groups to push their own agendas Big Tobacco spent $12 million to block a ban on flavored tobacco products in San Francisco oil and gas companies spent $40 million to defeat measures that would have increased regulations on drilling near homes and schools The high costs associated with running initiative campaigns often mean that only wealthy groups can effectively utilize this process I don’t believe Hawaii currently has the resources or capacity to effectively implement a statewide citizens initiative process It is essential that any such system we consider truly serves the public’s interests 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 I support term limits for state legislators While I recognize the value of keeping effective incumbents in office I also understand the community’s frustration with the lack of progress at the state level Introducing new energy and perspectives can benefit the Legislature I support placing a constitutional amendment before voters to decide on legislative term limits I believe in a staggered timeline to balance continuity and effective turnover allowing both parties to recruit strong candidates I propose a limit of up to 16 years for the Senate and up to 12 years for the House This duration allows members to gain valuable insight and leadership experience while preventing the stagnation and lack of urgency that can come from long-term incumbency.  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 Campaign contributions from lobbyists are already prohibited during the legislative session designed to promote transparency in government meetings requires advance public notice of all meetings and the ability for the public to attend and testify it is not practical for the state Legislature due to our size and condensed schedule The legislative process is packed into just a few months making it challenging to comply with these requirements and still function effectively I do support limiting the number of bills considered each session This approach would allow lawmakers more time to thoroughly consider each proposed bill and effectively champion certain issues while providing the public with better opportunities to be informed and voice their opinions 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 I believe that many of the hurdles standing between our state and a fully transparent legislative process stem from the short legislative calendar Unlike the year-round schedules of our local county councils our Legislature’s condensed timeline requires us to consider a vast amount of legislation hold numerous hearings and make critical decisions in a limited period restricting the number of bills each legislator can submit can help ensure that more time and attention are given to each proposal.  I also appreciated the House’s initiative to provide greater visibility into the final stages of the legislative process where critical decisions and compromises are made new conference rules required chairs to disclose the changes made to the bill what the differences were between the House and Senate versions and how much is being agreed to if funding is involved.  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 While diversifying our economy is important the reality is that no single industry currently matches the spending and tax revenues generated by tourism to balance economic stability and quality of life for local residents This includes diversifying within tourism by developing sectors like ecotourism and sports tourism we need to manage tourism in areas that impact local neighborhoods trail degradation and trash left behind are significant concerns One of my priorities has also been to focus on workforce development and sustaining industries with competitive salaries Investing in education and training programs will equip our workforce with the skills needed for high-demand fields such as skilled trades By creating a skilled and educated workforce we can attract and sustain industries that offer competitive salaries and long-term growth supporting local businesses to grow and succeed while encouraging innovation can stimulate economic diversification Providing incentives for startups and small businesses can foster a more resilient and varied economy.  An estimated 60% of Hawaii residents are struggling to get by a problem that reaches far beyond low-income and into the middle class What ideas do you have to help the middle class and working families who are finding it hard to continue to live here I’m committed to focusing on workforce development affordable housing and child care to help middle-class and working families thrive in Hawaii kids had a 90% chance of doing better than their parents; today This decline in opportunity makes it hard for our youth to stay in Hawaii Creating an educated and skilled workforce will help our youth build careers here with minimal debt local jobs and provide affordable housing so families don’t spend more than 30% of their income on housing leaving little room for savings or emergencies I’ll also tackle the everyday costs that burden our paychecks including the rising costs of property taxes I understand what’s broken with the system and I won’t give up until we fix it about 66,000 children under 5 need care while their parents work Prioritizing child care and after-school care will help parents stay in the workforce Expanding state-funded prekindergarten programs to more families will also enable more women to return to the workplace and contribute to our economy 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 is a nod to tradition and offers a taste of what’s next Mililani’s Kaomaʻaikū Neighborhood Park now has the extended hours of 5 a.m The new hours came about after a discussion among the Mililani community facilitated by the Mililani-Waipio-Melemanu Neighborhood Board No "Extending park hours at Kaomaʻaikū Neighborhood Park isn’t just about a schedule change; it’s about Mililani’s quality of life,” said Danielle Bass and roller skating — even after a long day This change reinforces our community's commitment to a healthier creating a vibrant space where every resident can stay active The 12.38-acre park is at 95-1000 Makaunulau Street in Mililani Hawaii — The local skate community at Mililani Skate Park can now continue having fun after the sun sets thanks in large part to the installation of eight 40-foot-tall lights donated by local electricians The topic of the park having no lights was brought up at Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s 2024 town hall meeting held at Wahiawa Elementary School earlier in the year The discussion led to a community collaboration resulting in a $20,000 gift of materials and labor from A-1 A-Lectricians The project was approved through City Council Resolution 24-200 and hastened to completion with the assistance from staff in the city Department of Parks and Recreation Design and Construction and Environmental Services Celebrating the project completion earlier in the week at Mililani Skate Park were Blangiardi members of the Mililani Neighborhood Board local skaters and staff from A-1 A-Lectricians “When we initiated our townhall meetings last year and this year one of our primary objectives was to directly engage our diverse communities and empower them through information and collaboration,” said Blangiardi in a news release “The installation of these skate park lights is a perfect example of that goal in action “A generous local business saw an opportunity to enhance their community but it required the coordination and support of multiple city departments to make it happen Thanks to the dedication of A-1 A-Lectricians Mahalo to everyone involved for making this project such a success,” Blangiardi said After extending her appreciation to all parties involved in the project “Private-public partnerships like this are a tremendous resource for the community as philanthropic support like this often makes a lasting impact in the community. Previously parents were using make-shift lighting or car headlights to light the park after dark With these new lights our keiki will be safer as they continue to skate into the evening ensuring this project will be enjoyed by the community for many years to come.” Mililani Skate Park is one of 15 skate parks and roller rinks on Oahu located in the 21.23-acre Mililani District Park the request to further develop and expand the skate park at the George F Wright Wahiawa District Park was also raised by a skateboarder and his son the Hoʻoulu Wahiawa Group is partnering with the city on the project and invites the community to a third public meeting at the park’s Hoʻokipa Building on Oct Two earlier meetings developed a list of proposed park improvements that included an expanded skate park in a new area within the park 22 meeting will provide a tentative timeline of the feasible improvements Sarah Yamanaka covers news and events for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com. highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems Megan currently serves as Only In Your State's Manager of Editorial Megan received a degree in Mass Media in her home state of Minnesota before living in Honolulu escaping into the mountains for long scenic drives Share LinkHere Are The 9 Best Cities In Hawaii To Raise A FamilyDiscover the top nine places in Hawaii ideal for raising a family each offering unique benefits like excellent schools It was voted the best town for young families by NerdWallet and Mililani High is home to some of the best faculty in the state Take a driving tour through beautiful Mililani Town: commercial and industrial center of the island A plethora of outdoor activities for the weekends makes it a great place to spend time with your kids and city and state government offices makes this the perfect place for young families and a bustling Church of Latter-day Saints community Laie Elementary has been recognized for its Every Day Math program and all have shown remarkable dedication to education and young families the percentage of residents over the age of 25 with a high school diploma rose more than 30 percent – to 86.4 percent – in just ten years There are also more job prospects for young parents What do you think? What are the best cities for raising a family in Hawaii in your eyes? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! Also, check out the quietest and most peaceful small towns in Hawaii. Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe... Enjoy your own private fishing pond and then head to one of Missouri's underrated fishing spots with a stay at this cozy cabin. Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox! “A greater focus should be given to enforcing existing campaign finance laws to make sure that all parties are in full compliance.” The following came from Ken Inouye, Democratic candidate for state House District 37, which covers portions of Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, Koa Ridge and Waipio Gentry. His primary opponent is Trish La Chica Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot the most common concern is the high cost of living in Hawaii and the resulting economic pressures Hard-working families worry about their children’s chances of finding good-paying jobs that allow them to stay in our state We need to truly achieve economic diversification for our state but we need to make it a reality for our state’s economic strength and future we must become more food self-sufficient by growing more local foods and value-added food products with my experience in the Motion Pictures Association of America I believe Hawaii is a uniquely versatile location for the film industry We should invest in our people and create local jobs in the film industry here in Hawaii We should invest more in this sector to diversify our overall economy The tax cut is a necessary relief for residents facing Hawaii’s high cost of living I’m concerned about its impact on state programs this tax cut must be revisited to address potential budgetary shortfalls and cuts in essential state services in the future I think a greater focus should be given to enforcing existing campaign finance laws to make sure that all parties are in full compliance. Violators should be cited and violations should be made public and easy to find by members of the public.  I believe that we need to restore trust in Hawaii’s government and that an informed public is the best way to promote transparency in government.  Voluntary public financing of elections seems like a promising solution to the problem of money in politics I have some concerns about its implementation and overall effectiveness Given tight legislative budgets and at times taxpayers may oppose using tax dollars to fund campaigns especially for candidates with controversial issues or views.  6. Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizens initiative process I generally support the idea of statewide citizenship initiatives we must include safeguards to ensure transparency clarity and alignment with legal frameworks I’m concerned that special-interest or well-funded groups could manipulate citizen initiatives through advertising While citizen initiatives can address issues legislators often avoid and promote good government practices safeguards are essential to prevent misleading initiatives I believe the most effective way to ensure accountability is through an informed electorate that actively monitors their legislators’ performance and votes accordingly I do not support term limits because I believe that every election serves as a term limit in itself I have observed that significant achievements such as securing substantial funding initiating major projects or implementing impactful policies often require legislators to invest considerable time This investment is crucial to accomplish genuine progress and success within their state or district I strongly support the need to restore trust in Hawaii’s government honesty and integrity start with my own actions I have a history of holding myself accountable and will continue to do so with the public and especially the voters in our district including financial information and citations on interested parties involved in legislation I also support campaign donation filings from legislators and registered lobbyists I support banning campaign contributions during legislative sessions to reduce the likelihood of pay-to-play situations I feel that strict disclosure requirements on lobbying and lobbyists are key to helping improve public trust in the legislature I appreciate the Legislature’s recent expansion of its conference committee rules this year to announce the agreed upon and disagreed upon changes in the conference drafts of bills I repeatedly hear about our community’s worries regarding the future.  The cost of housing is the greatest factor in making our state unaffordable for the middle class original homeowners purchased their homes in the 1960s-70s for prices ranging from $80,000 to $130,000 Koa Ridge and Mililani Mauka are facing home prices ranging from $900,000 to $1.2 million resulting in monthly mortgage payments of $4,000 to $5,000 many renters are currently paying between $2,700 and $3,200 per month struggling to save for their own future homes.  These stories have deeply affected parents who are increasingly worried about the impact of Hawaii’s high cost of living on their children’s ability to afford to live here in the future.  My focus is on safeguarding our middle class and hard-working families by tackling issues like reducing housing expenses lowering grocery and energy costs and ensuring accessible and affordable health care and medications I support establishing living and prevailing wages that align with the rising costs affecting our middle class.  many O‘ahu neighborhoods become community attractions for their extravagant Christmas lights Here are a few we visited that took decking the halls to another level SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Happenings on O‘ahu By Christine Donnelly Editors' PicksFeatured Columns Household junk dumped near a Mililani park included a toilet which is partially seen next to discarded couches in this photo taken Tuesday by a reader Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading Question: Along Moenamanu Street in Mililani there is a growing pile of illegally dumped items This is the area where Mililani Middle School students wait for their morning bus and get dropped off in the afternoon This is adjacent to a playground where young children play I made a report on the city and county illegal-dumping report site It has been reported to the Mililani Town Association I am wondering what needs to be done to get this rubbish removed Please let me know what we can do to get this taken care of Answer: You did your part by reporting illegal dumping to the city and we’ve followed up to confirm a complaint was received We expect this junk will be removed shortly but suggest that you follow up with the city if it’s not gone by the end of the week emailed the city Monday and received the following response Tuesday from Harold Nedd a spokesperson for the city Department of Customer Services: “The Department of Customer Services tracks complaints that have been formally reported to the city via email (complaints@honolulu.gov) phone call (808-768-4381) or via the Honolulu 311 app “The department’s Customer Care Section found the complaint you referenced listed under a nearby street Our records show that the complaint was submitted via the city’s 311 app by an anonymous customer and it was routed directly to the Department of Facility Maintenance’s Division of Road Maintenance as Illegal Dumping for Non- Residential “The complaint was recorded as case number CAS-76148-B2C4R9; submitted on 3/20/25; and the case remains open customers are asked to allow departments 10 business days for a response; however if a customer contacts our Customer Care Section for an update an immediate follow-up request is made to the relevant department.” Ten business days after March 20 would be Friday When we followed up with you about the city’s response you said you had mentioned Moenamanu Street in your complaint so perhaps more than one person reported this mess which runs between Kuahelani Avenue and Kipa­pa Drive the city department responsible for disposal is aware of the problem We also called the Mililani Town Association and left a message for the general manager Although the city is the primary contact for this problem we want to ask the association about any concerns or suggestions it has regarding illegal dumping Q: Some time ago Kokua Line printed the number of people who had gotten retro­active payments under the Social Security Fairness Act When will they finish issuing back payments according to the Social Security Administration which updated its website Tuesday to say that staff are now manually updating records for complex cases which take much longer to process than simpler cases that were expedited using automation and have been paid The agency will release retroactive benefits and send new monthly benefit amounts as it processes each case “with the expectation that all beneficiary records will be updated by early November,” the website says The agency began paying retroactive payments in late February and by March 28 had automatically processed 2.3 million cases or 75% of the accounts that needed to be adjusted For more information about the SSFA and whom it affects Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813; call 808-529-4773; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com Hawaii — The champs are through to the Motiv8 Foundation/HHSAA boys soccer semifinals Mililani survived a dogfight with King Kekaulike on Pookela Tom-Makue’s header goal to a 1-0 win at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex; the Trojans advanced to Friday’s semifinals Tom-Makue flicked in a long throw-in in the 65th minute [Note: See below for more photos of the HHSAA Division I boys soccer quarterfinals.] who ran through the Oahu Interscholastic Association season without a defeat were tested with several chances for Na Alii “They're a tough team,” Mililani first-year coach Alika Cosner told Spectrum News took us a while to get that goal for a few chances that we let slip by In the other quarterfinal games held simultaneously at the fields outlying Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium: ILH champion Iolani scored twice in the second half of a 2-0 win over Castle; Campbell edged MIL champion Baldwin 6-5 on penalty kicks for a 2-1 win in double overtime; and Kamehameha topped BIIF champion Hilo which used a dominant defense to win its seventh all-time state title last winter Iolani (10-0-1) and Campbell (12-2-1) meet in the first semifinal at 5 p.m The Trojans similarly defeated Na Alii by a goal in the quarterfinal round last year and went on to win the title in a year that they yielded just two goals all season The task is to do it again with an entirely new back line Cosner acknowledged there is a different level of attention and stress in the role of defending champion find four new guys that were willing to commit to the style of play that we're going to commit to as a program,” Cosner said “I think the four that we have back there are doing extremely good job so we don't get there without those guys keeping those out of the back of our net I'm extremely proud of what they're doing.” Iolani is in pursuit of its 11th state title Kamehameha its third and Campbell its first The Division II semifinals were also locked in Thursday KIF champion Kapaa takes on ILH champ Le Jardin at 1 p.m followed by BIIF champ Kamehameha-Hawaii against MIL champion Seabury Hall at 3 p.m Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com 1. “Shall the state constitution be amended to repeal the legislature’s authority to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples?” Read Civil Beat coverage: Hawaii Voters Asked To Ensure Protection Of Same-Sex Marriage. “Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to make the appointment and confirmation process for district court judges the same as the appointment and confirmation process for supreme court justices and intermediate court of appeals and circuit court judges Civil Beat is supported by readers and donors who believe that news is a public asset that should be shaped and nurtured by the entire community TWO HAWAI‘I COMMUNITIES RECEIVE NATIONAL RECOGNITION AS THE STATE’S NEWEST TREE CITY USA (Honolulu)– Ohana Military Communities and Mililani Town were both named as 2018 Tree City USA by the State of Hawai‘i and the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of their commitment to effective urban forest management These communities achieved Tree City USA status by assembling a tree board for their community maintaining an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and by organizing an Arbor Day observance and proclamation Ohana Military Communities (OMC) encompasses 23 distinct and vibrant neighborhoods spread across O’ahu and Kaua‘i housing active duty and retired military personnel as well as federal employees and their families Tree City USA is an example of our commitment to the sustainability and livability of our military communities so OMC is making an effort to live our values and those of our residents,” said Justin Witty sits on the west side of the H2 freeway with over 20,000 community members in the center of O’ahu Mililani Town welcomed its new designation as a Tree City USA by planting the first of many fruit-bearing trees for its growing community fruit forest The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters With the guidance of  the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program the state of Hawai‘i has been proudly participating in the Tree City USA program since 1976 Trees not only help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood they are vital for climate change mitigation and provide wildlife habitat among many other benefits For more information on the state of Hawai‘i’s Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program please contact Shannon Noelle Rivera, Community Partnerships Coordinator at (808) 782-2676; [email protected] About the Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program: www.Kaulunani.org For more information on the Tree City USA program: www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA Kimchi Pork Chasu Fried Rice are just a few of the menu items that will be exclusively available at Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya’s newest location at Town Center of Mililani when it opens on March 5 The new 1,500-square-foot restaurant sits next to Five Guys and will feature inside and outside seating always-popular signature dishes and a lineup of new izakaya items including poke bowls torched salmon and Hamachi belly hand rolls crab sticks tempura and more exclusive to the Mililani location Featuring traditional flavors within a chic Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya was founded by entrepreneur Tina Wang who pursued her passion for Japanese ramen by continuing her education in Japan and training under a renowned Japanese ramen chef Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya has sister locations in Honolulu “We are excited to open in the Town Center of Mililani and to be able to serve even more island residents who have been craving our fresh and affordable dishes,” said Tina Wang “We can’t wait to share our new elevated izakaya and bar experience which guests will only be able to enjoy at our Mililani location.” Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya will offer the first 50 customers on March 5 a free bowl of ramen or rice bowl (excluding its Unagi and Chirashi Don) during its grand opening weekend from March 8 to 10 customers can enjoy happy hour specials on bar drinks all day long customers who dine in from March 5 to 10 and sign up for Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya’s e-newsletters will be entered for the chance to win free ramen for a year (two ramen dishes per month for 12 months) The restaurant’s signature ramen dishes include the Tanaka Classic and popular Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen Lunch and dinner items will be available for takeout as well as delivery via Uber Eats and Bite Squad Call 808-744-0127 to place an order or visit their website at tanakaramen.com Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com By Nina Wu Rendering of the new Straub Medical Center Clinic at the Town Center of Mililani slated to open in 2024 Leaders broke ground on the new Straub Medical Center Clinic at the Town Center of Mililani today will be Straub’s largest neighborhood clinic in Hawaii CEO Hawaii Pacific Health Medical Group; Shelley Morisaki Town Center of Mililani general manager; and David Thom Constructors Hawaii executive vice president Hawaii Pacific Health this morning broke ground on a new clinic at the Town Center of Mililani shopping center slated to be three times larger than the existing one 24,000-square-foot Straub Medical Center Clinic will serve people of all ages in Central Oahu The new clinic will offer primary and urgent care sports medicine physicians and dermatologists along with other specialists on a rotating basis Imaging and laboratory services will also be available “The communities in Central Oahu are growing and so are the needs of those who call these areas home,” said Dr “This new clinic will allow our physicians to treat an even broader scope of health care in one central The new clinic will be built in the parking lot between Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen and the Hele Gas Station which is just across from Straub’s current clinic at the Town Center at 95-1249 Meheula Parkway HPH said the new clinic will be Straub’s largest neighborhood clinic in Hawaii Subscribe! Honolulu Magazine | Honolulu Family Our hood is a series spotlighting the neighborhoods the Frolic team calls home Here are favorite places and eats in Thomas Obungen’s Mililani From the manicured lawns of Mauka to the rolling hills and cookie-cutter homes in Mililani Town I’ve always felt proud to call MillVille home As one of Oahu’s first master-planned communities Mililani is tailored to a T — a far cry from its former pineapple and sugarcane days Spanning 10.5 square miles of Oahu’s central plateau it was incorporated as part of the new towns movement a post-WWII building boom that advocated for purpose-driven community planning that catered to the needs of its residents The Town Center of Mililani was the center of my high school universe it’s a desolate pinkish-gray sea of medical and financial offices with a sprinkling of chain eateries Once you escape the humdrum of chain restaurants endless lines at Walmart and invites to your neighbors’ kids’ birthday at Rec 5 there’s a lot more to this bedroom community than your dentist’s office and another version of tableside caesar salad I escaped — all the way to the Golden State for a couple years That’s when my appreciation for my hometown soared Mililani’s hyper-local sense of community is unparalleled after getting our matching buzzcuts at Supercuts in Mililani Marketplace my dad would always treat me to a Pepsi Icee and some roast pork from Po Sing Kitchen A mainstay in the shopping center anchored by Safeway Po Sing is one of the few mom-and-pop establishments that have stood the test of time who can resist a window of crispy meat slabs begging to be hacked into bite-size pieces The skin crackles with an audible crunch to reveal tender layers of meat and fat that just melt on your tongue I dare you to find a crispier siu yuk outside of Chinatown And although the prices have crept up over time the roast pork still beckons me back to Central Oahu from time to time Golden Mart is one of those hidden nuggets I can’t believe I never discovered until recently It’s the best place to stop before a soccer game at 16 Acres to stock up on fresh poke boiled peanuts and some ice to cool down your 10-pack of Capri Sun I really enjoy Uncle Eddie’s spicy ahi poke which is a drier style than its mayo-laden cousin and uses Korean chili pepper flakes rather than Sriracha to kick the heat up It’s dotted with bits and pieces of limu and white onion for a crunchy contrast to the soft cubes of ahi The last new home in Mililani Mauka was sold in November 2008 a slew of new businesses have popped up at the bottom of the hill near McDonald’s Newcomer Taps and Apps answers Mauka’s dire need for a community brew pub — a place to catch the game and enjoy a flight of craft beers before walking back home With 36 beers on tap constantly on rotation including a couple more they brew in-house there’s only a negligible chance you’ll get bored with the choices signature burgers and other beer-friendly fare When I found out that the owners were the parents of my elementary school classmate it dawned on me just how small Mililani really is Some days my mom didn’t feel like cooking it’s easier to get takeout the whole family will enjoy Take a detour down Kuahelani Avenue to the quieter corner of Mililani Shopping Center where Roy Sakuma’s ukulele school is located you’ll catch an intoxicating scent wafting in the late afternoon breeze that lures you in from the parking lot where Rajanee and her son Kenny prepare a sprightly menu with noodle and curry staples; however it’s the specials like softshell crab drunken noodles you’ll end up shelling out for Delicate crabs are dunked in a light batter and fried up to a crisp before landing on a bed of saucy chow fun noodles Even when I’m way too full I ignore my stomach’s pleas to stop and have another bite or two Living the past two years in LA has forever shaped my tastebuds Tacos are no longer drenched with sour cream and wrapped in wax paper but rather act as apparatuses to funnel stewed or grilled meats into my mouth I knew I was leaving one of my favorite cuisines behind you’ll find me hypnotized by their rotating sizzling spit of pork al pastor every Saturday evening I’ll usually get a couple of tacos with pineapple and avocado salsa to stave off my hunger pangs until I can indulge in a plate of perfectly fried chimichangas (also filled with al pastor) The Mexican rice and refried beans seal the deal and take me back to nights at King Taco in Long Beach This All-America City (1986) may have won the hearts of the National Civic League for just one year but Mililani has a home in my heart forever Po Sing Kitchen • Mililani Marketplace • 94-780 Meheula Pkwy Suite E • 623-9878 Golden Mart • 95-119 Kamehameha Hwy • 625-2442 Taps and Apps Brewpub • 95-1830 Meheula Pkwy Suite C6 • 626-8277 Rajanee Thai Cuisine • 95-390 Kuahelani Ave • 853-4724 Surfin’ Salsa • 95-130 Kamehameha Hwy • 692-2471 Both candidates say the need for more affordable housing is a top priority but they have different ideas about how to accomplish that Marilyn Lee are vying to represent the central Oahu district of Mililani in the House setting up a race between one of the Legislature’s few current Republican members and the Democrat who served for years before her While Matsumoto is technically an incumbent redistricting has considerably changed the borders at stake in the Nov she has represented an area stretching from the western side of Mililani up through Schofield Barracks and Waialua as part of House District 45 Now – as part of District 38 – the western half of Mililani Town and a large chunk of Mililani Mauka occupy what’s essentially a district of their own “The new district does keep Mililani consolidated,” said Matsumoto What remains to be seen is how this change will affect the election especially when combined with the differences between each candidate’s set of priorities Here’s what the candidates have to say about how they would approach the job Mililani was Oahu’s first planned community a project undertaken by one of the “Big Five” landowners Castle & Cooke which had previously used the area’s fertile red soil for pineapple fields The company began planning for Mililani Town in 1958 and the first homes of this new idyllic neighborhood were sold a decade later But its agricultural past had reverberations – in the early 1980s pesticides were found in the drinking water prompting then-chair of the neighborhood board Sam Lee to push for solutions to this problem High-tech filters were soon added, and Mililani Town was designated an All-American City in 1986 for its local problem-solving a post he kept for about a decade before being succeeded by his wife referring to her late-husband’s health at the time he decided not to run.” Marilyn ran instead and won where she drew political inspiration from the town’s Democratic mayor-turned-congressman Samuel Stratton She became a nurse and met her husband in Washington Sam Lee worked in the foreign service at the time and after marrying and a career living abroad the Lees moved to Sam’s home state of Hawaii Mililani Town was in its early days as a community at that point “we could afford it at that time,” said Lee Mililani Town has become pricier since then Lee said her house cost $75,000 when they bought it decades ago; now Like most other Hawaii candidates, affordable housing is a priority for both Matsumoto and Lee. But their approaches differ — Matsumoto embraced ideas to help promote traditional home ownership, while Lee suggested new ways to approach the rapidly worsening housing market “A lot of time when we talk about affordable housing there’s talk about affordable rentals,” said Matsumoto Instead of worrying about how a rent increase will eat into somebody’s pay raise at work Matsumoto referred to a bill she introduced last legislative session that sought to help people save enough money for a down payment the idea being that they could set aside pre-tax income for this specific purpose The bill received support from over a dozen other lawmakers across the aisle but was ultimately deferred She sees the housing market’s ails as largely coming from offshore investors who buy up houses but mostly leave them empty and watch their values rise Sectioning off a local housing market would be key while acknowledging that it’s not constitutional to explicitly restrict the market to residents then you get that fee back,” she said.” Versus if you don’t live here and it’s just your vacation home then you’re going to be paying more in taxes.” Lee supports a rent-to-own scheme, endorsing former gubernatorial candidate Vicky Cayetano’s plan to offer renters ownership of their respective homes once their monthly rent payments totaled the cost “We have to think of new ways to house people,” she said And it’s prudent to consider other living situations – maybe homes with shared cooking or laundry facilities Both candidates support investment in agriculture particularly with waning interest in farming among young people Matsumoto said she’s seen the effects of this personally through her family’s century-old egg farm She’s eager to explore partnerships with the University of Hawaii to figure out ways to invest in more automated ag-tech Lee thinks encouraging more students through community colleges and Future Farmers of America would be worth an effort Matsumoto majored in film in college and made a documentary on beauty pageants that she said inspired her to enter beauty pageants paved the way for her interest in community issues and eventual run for office While Hawaii’s lush and dramatic scenery has been the site of the filming of popular productions like “Lost” and “Jurassic Park,” computer-generated imaging has made it easier to film elsewhere and Hawaii’s tax credit limit is hurting its appeal Matsumoto also is a proponent of cutting the general excise tax for food medical services and feminine hygiene products The lost state revenue could be balanced by modernizing state databases and financial systems making it easier to find and eliminate wasted funds Lee supports investing in the aerospace and astronomy industry saying that she supports building the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea Beyond the economy, Lee is concerned with how residents at each end of the age spectrum are faring. She brought up the closure of Wahiawa’s long-term care facility as a detriment to central Oahu “I was kind of surprised that people didn’t get more excited about that,” she said It can be difficult caring for aging kupuna or other loved ones especially if the caregiver needs to maintain a job at the same time Facilities like Wahiawa’s are able to help by providing full-time professional care And because many of Wahiawa’s patients were from the area it was a good location for their nearby relatives to visit Lee sees the facility’s closure as a loss for both the patients and their nearby relatives “people get so isolated just lying in a bed all day long,” she said She would put a focus on improving long-term care if she wins though she admits she’s not exactly sure what the solution is at this point is identifying the students who are falling behind or have even stopped showing up entirely so educators can focus extra effort onto them Lee was a state representative for 16 years before Republican Beth Fukomoto defeated her in 2012 and she has been trying to get back to the statehouse ever since But it will be difficult to overcome Matsumoto who has held her own as a Republican in blue Hawaii for 10 years and has a financial advantage Mink PAC as well as United Public Workers PAC Each contributed the legal limit of $2,000 to Lee’s campaign HONOLULU — Electric vehicle drivers in Mililani now have two more options to charge up thanks to a new Hawaiian Electric fast charging station at Town Center at Mililani The station has two fast chargers that can provide a 40-mile-plus drive range in 15 minutes This brings the total HECO owned and operated fast chargers to 27 — 15 on Oahu The company is building five more on Oahu that are expected to go online in the coming months To encourage daytime charging while solar energy is abundant Mililani’s charging station is the latest built by HECO under a pilot program Their goal is to obtain regulatory approval that would greatly expand the network in order to help the state meet its decarbonization goals HECO’s plan is to eventually construct 150 single-port fast chargers and 150 dual-port Level 2 chargers across five islands offering a new “With the number of EVs on Hawaii’s roadways more than tripling over the past five years there is clearly a need for more charging stations,” said Aki Marceau Marceau is Hawaiian Electric’s director of electrification of transportation “We hope our efforts will spark other providers to join the charging station build-out while we serve as a backbone of reliable charging for our community.” According to the Hawaii State Energy Office ground transportation accounts for about 27% of petroleum consumption and 20% of greenhouse gas emissions Replacing gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles is in line with advancing Hawaii’s decarbonization goals Hawaii’s four counties have committed to 100% renewable-fueled ground transportation by 2045 and 100% of all new medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2050 the target is 30% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2030 Sarah Yamanaka covers events environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii Nita Stone has learned that the Lord is in the timing as she strives to fulfill her calling as Mililani Hawaii Stake JustServe specialist “I have a lot of faith that Heavenly Father helps me a lot,” she said a project to help Mililani High School  “just dropped into my lap,” Stone said JustServe’s efforts have begun to grow in her town JustServe is a website and app that connects community organizations with volunteers Stone saw on a neighborhood website that Mililani High School student Zyler Tengan had started a petition to clean up the school campus — which had been neglected during the COVID-19 pandemic Stone contacted Zyler and the school’s principal to talk about how JustServe could help She then started spreading the word to wards in her stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and community groups such as Mililani Lions Club Rotary Club of Mililani and the Mililani Town Association One hundred and five people showed up on the day of the cleanup to rake the grounds “The principal was so amazed we got that many people They ran out of paint and had to go get more,” Stone said Many people brought their pressure washers — the area has a lot of clay red dirt that gets into everything “It was so nice to see families bring their children Those children will grow up to serve others as well,” Stone said Stone’s granddaughter Taylor Stone — who is a junior at the high school — helped take pictures of everyone working She said it also warmed her heart to see the children helping with cleaning “I saw parents teaching their kids the correct way to paint the walls heard little kids singing and telling jokes while working and even if they weren’t working at all they found some ways of entertaining the other adults,” Taylor said Taylor met new people and interacted with the volunteers encouraging her classmates to serve as well “I felt really happy and thankful for all the people who came and helped with the tasks,” she said “Being a student of Mililani High I can say that the service that these people have done for us has improved our campus a lot and has made it look even better than before.” Nita Stone said the school was so appreciative “He was very happy by how much the project grew,” Stone said They are planning another service activity with JustServe next year for the school’s 50th anniversary JustServe efforts grew from that service project in February Stone said the Mililani stake tries to participate in a JustServe project every month now “We have learned a lot and done a lot of projects We cleaned up another school since then — an elementary school in May in another town north of us We’ve learned and been able to do a lot of projects because of this one,” Stone said It’s like it says in Alma 37:6 she said: “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”  I rejected the request of Louis Kealoha to use city taxpayer dollars to pay for his defense attorney’s fees in federal criminal proceedings.” The following came from Ron Menor, candidate for Honolulu City Council District 8, which includes Waimalu, Newtown, Pearl City, Seaview, Crestview, Waipio Gentry, Koa Ridge, Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka. His opponent is Val Okimoto Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot One of my top priorities will be to continue my work in creating more affordable housing opportunities for our local residents I am greatly troubled that too many of our residents are unable to find housing that they can afford This is especially so for many of our young people who are having to move away from Hawaii because they cannot afford our high housing costs It will take a multifaceted approach which should include: approving more housing projects through the 201H process; utilizing city land; providing financial and other incentives for affordable housing development; tapping our city’s Affordable Housing Fund to refurbish distressed properties for affordable housing; and rehabilitating our city’s inventory of affordable rentals The Honolulu rail project: What should be done The scope and extent of future rail construction should be based upon actual and projected federal state and city revenues that will be available to cover construction costs state and county officials should undertake serious discussions about potential funding mechanisms and financial feasibility of extending rail beyond the Civic Center terminus that HART has currently designated serious problems have surfaced within the Honolulu Police Department there has been a significant push to beef up oversight of police and reform some practices What would you do specifically to improve accountability of local law enforcement Are you satisfied with the Honolulu Police Department I believe that the vast majority of our police officers are working their hardest to protect the safety of the public under difficult and stressful circumstances there will always be room for improvement in the management and operations of HPD Of particular concern is the apparent abuse of overtime by certain police officers city elected officials and Police Commission members need to play a proactive role and ask the tough questions in monitoring the performance of HPD and follow up on citizen complaints about the department that are brought to their attention The Police Commission also needs to evaluate ways in which it can more effectively carry out its important responsibilities under the City Charter which include appointing and removing the chief of police reviewing and making recommendations on HPD’s budget Honolulu has some of the lowest property taxes in the country Is it time to raise those rates to help meet city obligations I would not support increasing real property tax rates on local residents which would exacerbate our high cost of living city officials should seriously consider creating a significantly higher real property tax rate for outside investors in high-end residential properties What can be done to improve the quality of life on the island I am sensitive to the public’s concern that the recent spike in criminal activity is jeopardizing the safety of residents in our community It is imperative that our city government provides adequate funding and resources for law enforcement efforts city officials need to work with the leaders of HPD to immediately fill the approximately 300 vacant police officer positions which is an unacceptably high vacancy rate from the standpoint of protecting public safety one of my top priorities as a council member will be to ensure that our city government meets its obligation to provide important core services and improvements that our communities need and deserve park and sidewalk improvements; adequate police and fire protection; bus service; trash collection; and programs to support youth 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 The polarization that has occurred in our society is oftentimes the result of the unwillingness of individuals or groups of people on either side of a controversial issue to engage in a civil dialogue to find common ground or achieve a consensus position I always tried to craft legislation on contentious issues that took into account diverse viewpoints within the community I also supported the establishment of working groups comprised of different stakeholders to make recommendations on actions that could be taken by city government to resolve pressing issues I believe that as our society returns to normalcy we need to come together and move beyond this contentious issue and focus our collective efforts instead on the significant challenges facing our city on issues such as homelessness the City and County has had its share of corruption cases – from the police department and prosecutor’s office to the mayor’s office and the planning department What would you do to restore public confidence in our public officials What if anything needs to change about how the City Council operates and tougher laws against government corruption Elected officials also need to take a strong stand when government corruption is uncovered I rejected the request of Louis Kealoha to use city taxpayer dollars to pay for his defense attorney’s fees in federal criminal proceedings the council’s Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee which I chaired passed proposed charter amendments which strengthened the ability of the City Ethics Commission to enforce our ethics laws These amendments were approved by the voters in the 2020 general election it needs to maintain transparency and accountability in the legislative process Homelessness has been an issue for decades yet we don’t seem to be making much progress What new ideas would you suggest to control this ongoing problem There is no “silver bullet.” It will take a range of solutions to more effectively address this difficult and complex societal problem These should include: relocating homeless individuals to low-cost and building more truly affordable housing No one wants the island’s landfill in its backyard Should it stay on the West Side and Waimanalo Gulch be expanded The City Department of Environmental Services recently released a document entitled Draft-Oahu Landfill Siting Study and Landfill Advisory Committee Recommendations The council should carefully review the recommendations contained in this report in order to determine the next landfill site by Dec in accordance with the 2019 decision and order of the Land Use Commission City officials should continue to evaluate alternative technologies to process and dispose of waste outside of landfills 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 Oahu One of the consequences of the pandemic is that it heightened public awareness about the needs in our communities including the pervasiveness and devastating impact of housing insecurity In addition to the solutions which I outlined in my response to the above Question No our city government should also move forward proactively to develop and implement rent-to-own housing options the mayor and City Council should consider establishing a housing facilitator position which would have cabinet-level status and authority over other city departments The housing facilitator would be responsible for expediting the implementation of affordable housing projects state and federal governments with housing developers and housing advocates Her departure may leave the Legislature with fewer Republicans House Minority Leader Val Okimoto is planning to run for an open seat on the Honolulu City Council The Republican representative from Mililani and Mililani Mauka is seeking the Council District VIII seat which will be left vacant this year since Councilman Brandon Elefante is term limited The Council district includes Mililani Mauka Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Okimoto was running for Council District VII “Serving as a member of the Honolulu City Council offers unique opportunities to impactfully address some of the underlying issues in our communities and directly improve the lives of all our residents,” Okimoto said in a press release Friday announcing her candidacy If Okimoto ran for reelection in the House she would likely run against fellow Republican Rep That’s because proposed election maps from the Hawaii Reapportionment Commission would lump the two in the same district Okimoto was first elected in 2018 and took over as minority leader last year Her departure would leave just two Republicans in the House Rep. Bob McDermott, also a member of the GOP, is leaving the Legislature to run for a U.S. Senate seat. His daughter-in-law Kayla Ramos McDermott is running to replace him Kurt Fevella is the sole Republican in the Hawaii state Senate Blaze Lovell is a reporter for Civil Beat. Born and raised on Oahu, Lovell is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. You can reach him at blovell@civilbeat.org. Privacy Policy | About Our Ads has appointed Trish La Chica and Luke Evslin to fill the State House of Representatives seats on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi respectively after the seats were left vacant due to earlier cabinet-level nominations Trish La Chica will serve House District 37 (Mililani Mauka on O‘ahu; and Luke Evslin will serve House District 16 (Wailuā “I’m very humbled by this opportunity to serve,” La Chica said in a news release “I want to express my warm mahalo to Governor Green for this appointment Serving as a policy advisor on public health and housing and homelessness issues I’ve been able to develop a knowledge base on addressing challenges facing our state I look forward to working with the Governor and my colleagues at the Legislature to truly help make life better for our local families.” La Chica most recently served the City and County of Honolulu as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Homelessness she was Community and Government Relations Manager at AlohaCare where she facilitated a $1M community reinvestment program to help underserved communities She also has served on the Mililani Neighborhood Board and various boards and coalitions “Thank you to Governor Green for appointing me to represent district 16 in the State House,” Evslin said in the release “I believe strongly that effective policy can help solve some of the biggest collective challenges that we face — from housing to climate change And I promise to work relentlessly with the Governor and my new colleagues towards solutions that improve the quality of life for all of Hawai‘i Until recently a member of the Kaua‘i County Council Evslin is a longtime entrepreneur who has shepherded a successful business career and overcome tremendous personal challenges after suffering severe injury during the 2010 Moloka‘i Hoe he co-introduced legislation addressing the critical shortage of affordable housing; proposed creation of a county program to leverage $1.2M in Clean Water State Revolving Funds to provide free septic systems to homeowners “These two long-time public servants have stepped up at a crucial time for the people of our state and I have every confidence that they will work hard every day to represent the people of their districts,” said Gov The new House Representatives’ names were among six submitted to the Governor by the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i in accordance with state law (HRS 17-4) Evslin and La Chica succeed former State Representatives James Tokioka and Ryan Yamane Tokioka was appointed by the Governor to serve as deputy director of the Airports Division of the Department of Transportation while Yamane was appointed by the Governor to serve as deputy director of the Department of Human Resources Development “It is time to speak about and commit to addressing the criminal and mentally ill homeless that affordable housing will simply not address.” The following came from Val Okimoto, candidate for Honolulu City Council District 8, which includes Waimalu, Newtown, Pearl City, Seaview, Crestview, Waipio Gentry, Koa Ridge, Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka. The other candidate is Ron Menor Our campaign’s theme is “A Fresh Voice for Our Future.” If elected I will focus heavily on economic development in our community and unleashing our district’s potential in the coming years — Diversify Central Oahu’s economics by maintaining important locations near the harbor/airport as industrial and growing areas of the Pearl City and Waipahu economic opportunity zones into centers of innovation — Public safety: Champion policies that will directly impact rising violent crime rates and address the issue of repeat criminals and the mental health elements of homelessness that go virtually unchecked — Economic relief: We all suffered from Covid-19 and now with inflation and rising business costs they are wondering if there will ever be a light at the end of the tunnel focus on providing immediate relief for working families The people of District 8 are looking for a fresh leader that will provide a vision we can all believe in — not politics as usual I will serve as a humble voice for my community while paving the way for an affordable Our residents should expect their public officials to take ownership of the project and find creative solutions before its projected completion at the end of the decade What it boils down to is the residents of Oahu were promised a functional rail system and fulfilling our government’s responsibility to our taxpayers has always been my priority I pledge to ensure that the completion of the rail is done expeditiously I pledge to ensure that the public taxes are used judiciously and only for community benefit I do not think anyone can say that they are fully satisfied with the Honolulu Police Department given its recent circumstances Despite the problems at the department level I remain fully supportive of HPD and the new chief of police to address them while continuing to protect and serve our communities We need to enforce the laws that are on the books and provide our law enforcement with the tools and support they need to keep our streets safe and sound for our community We need to make sure that our law enforcement efforts to serve and protect are not being done in vain and I am dedicated to seeing our police officers are properly funded and trained So many of our officers dedicate their lives and careers for the safety of their fellow community members; we can also acknowledge the corruption of the past and turn the page in a new chapter of our history one of my first priorities is to empower our police to recruit more highly qualified personnel and ensure funding for training Honolulu is a desirable place to live and to work What isn’t desirable is the burdensome permitting process and the cost to do business in Hawaii I am committed to making Honolulu – and especially District 8 – more business- and investment-friendly high-quality jobs with higher wages is a fundamentally better approach than creating or expanding new taxes Instead of raising taxes or creating new ones I believe it is time to expand the tax base so we can lower the tax burden on middle-class families We have the highest property values in the nation Raising the property tax will hit our middle working class the hardest and will likely devastate those living on fixed incomes it needs to be focused on those making over a certain income speculators or out-of-state investors as provided by law The middle working class cannot afford to take any more hits to their bottom line and don’t need pressure on their ability to survive in this abysmal economy I believe Honolulu is a safe place to live but it is time to get very serious about crime and enforcing the laws We take for granted that we do not experience the violence we have been seeing on the mainland but and I am going to take this matter seriously and begin to find solutions now and will do whatever it takes to make it safe to walk in our communities without fear of being assaulted Having been in the Legislature during the pandemic I saw firsthand the growing division and outrage this did not deter me from having respectful I am proud to say that I did not shy from speaking out when our government was overreaching Green during the pandemic; while we may not have fully seen eye to eye on every issue we were able to respectfully discuss and share our views I believe it was and is critical to maintain pathways of communication between my constituency and the executive offices I do not believe that a disagreement on policy should deter from the aloha we show one another I genuinely believe that example begins at the top I predict that there will be many enthusiastic debates in the days to come Should I be elected to the Honolulu City Council I will provide the same thing I did at the House of Representatives an open ear and an open mind to all sides of the issue and fulfilling the same local values my parents raised me with I believe the best way to restore public confidence is to be the example I truly believe that our local government needs new ideas and a fresh perspective on issues and how to solve them No disrespect to any of the other candidates in this race but they have been discussing most of the same issues we face today for decades with no real solutions I hope to change the way we look at and approach issues that affect our communities the most and our public at large are looking for new leaders that will provide a vision our communities can believe in — not the same old Hawaii politics it will be my mission for me and my staff to serve as that example Public confidence cannot be restored by any one public official – especially just one member of nine in the Honolulu City Council I offer my commitment to serve with the utmost integrity and to make my decisions as a council member for the benefit of our community members but it is only a piece of the problem we face with our homeless community and is certainly no panacea to the problem It is time to speak about and commit to addressing the criminal and mentally ill homeless that affordable housing will simply not address this demographic of homelessness goes largely unchecked and is growing It is critical that we address this issue now and in other areas of Honolulu to prevent the rise in crimes and to stop the potential spread into District 8 it will be my responsibility to facilitate conversations like this with my community and key stakeholders If no new location can be decided at this time I would not be opposed to discussions about special permitting for temporary extensions in Waimanalo Gulch I trust that the commission will continue to work diligently to find a balance between public health and a necessary landfill I look forward to working with all parties and expanding communication pathways to the community that will ultimately carry this weight for our island My One Big Idea is to capitalize on our district’s existing tax incentives along the rail line to promote local sustainable development for the next generation We want to bring Central Oahu into the 21st century and give our next generation the tools to pave a brighter future for themselves and their children I would support these areas as key centers of innovation Federal economic opportunity zones and local benefits from transit-oriented development make District 8 ripe with opportunity – especially as we see (hopefully) the final stages of rail’s construction I believe that these are tangible steps to diversifying Hawaii’s economy in a meaningful way that will bring necessary funds for critical programs For more information please visit my website Hawaii Catholic Herald 07/21/2021 by in the heart of Mililani Town in central Oahu John Apostle and Evangelist Church has brought people closer to Christ through its liturgies perhaps Hawaii’s most acclaimed modern architect to its collection of religious statuary and glasswork the parish has praised God mightily through the work of the artist’s hand The Mililani church marks the half-century anniversary of its dedication on Aug Mass presided over by Bishop Larry Silva who will install the new pastor Father Anthony Rapozo A reception will follow in the parish’s One Community Center The parish website describes the architect Ossipoff’s work as having a “seamless integration of building and site with elegant orchestration of circulation and creative mix of modern and natural materials.” John at the foot of the cross by the Demetz Art Studio in Italy Among the first artists of renown to enhance the church was the late muralist He created the church’s 14 Stations of the Cross 20-by-16-inch carved panels cast into the cement walls a Catholic who created much religious art once said the parish unveiled statues of the Blessed Mother and St abstract originals done in bronze by the famed Rome sculptor Francesco Bonanotte reaching out and following the Holy Spirit in flight The depiction of Mary shows her rising from the earth to her place in heaven The multi-colored faceted stained-glass window its nine sections forming a cross near the baptismal font was designed by well-known Hawaii artisan Erica Karawina Her work has enhanced other churches in Hawaii with its “purity and brilliance of color.” The church went through a yearlong renovation from 2003 to 2004 and built more storage and a handicap ramp into the altar area A new baptismal font was added at the church’s entrance a three-piece wood sculpture of Mary and St carved by the prestigious Demetz Art Studio in Italy What was once the cry room was redesigned as the Blessed Sacrament chapel Its etched glass windows and tabernacle were also fabricated at the Demetz Studio A benefactor donated a 36-inch statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe Marianne Cope in 2012 provided the parish with another opportunity to venerate God’s mercy through art The parish commissioned statues from Artesanos Don Bosco blessed in the church in 2010 shows him holding a cross shows her with children by her side and in her arms John Apostle and Evangelist Church on July 15 carving it out from portions of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Wahiawa and St Joseph Parish in Waipahu to serve the rapidly growing population in between Homes were replacing pineapple and sugar cane in a new central Oahu town called Mililani a planned community expected at the time to grow to 65,000 people within 20 years Father Anthony Pascale was the founding pastor He celebrated the parish’s first Mass on Sep Masses would continue there until a new church could be built The site of the new church was 1.9 acres the diocese had bought adjacent to the already constructed Village Center North Bishop Scanlan dedicated the church on Aug Concelebrating the Mass were Father Pascale Father Alan Nagai of Our Lady of Sorrows and Sacred Hearts Father Timothy Jacobs of St A neighborhood house served as a rectory until a permanent priest residence was constructed near the church and blessed in December 1979 Its last major building project is the One Community Center a multipurpose gathering place dedicated last year John’s congregation grew from a few hundred families in the early 1970s to 2,400 registered households in 1998 The parish today serves an estimated 12,500 Catholics Notable: Parishioners built the One Community Center to augment outreach to everyone in the Mililani community The parish actively engages with non-profits other churches and volunteer organizations to meet the needs of people in Mililani Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: , , Copyright © 2025 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in As gas prices rise in Hawaii and across the country even a few pennies saved per gallon can be a win But there's no need to burn money trying to find the best deal Find the 10 lowest-priced stations today in the Honolulu area below, along with a gas price map and a look at what a gallon cost in the recent past. The information is all powered by GasBuddy Did you know you can complain about an inaccurate gasoline pump? Contact Hawaii's weights and measures official. “Foreign investments could be taxed at a higher rate of property tax and assessed a greater percentage upon sale of the property.” Go to Civil Beat’s Election Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the Primary Election Ballot Lack of truly affordable housing and affordable rental units for working families city and county of Honolulu and private developers need to work collaboratively to increase the inventory of affordable housing and maintain these units ensuring that they remain affordable in perpetuity increasing down payment subsidies at the city level building affordable housing for teachers and emergency personnel providing state and city lands for affordable housing development purchasing and refurbishing existing units for affordable housing and having experienced developers maintain these projects under contract Finish the project in its entirety to Ala Moana and use public-private partnerships to finance Pearl Highlands Parking Garage It is essential to continue the open dialogue and tough scrutiny with HART’s board and CEO on the status of HART’s finances and monies spent More transparency and accountability to help restore public confidence While a cloud has been cast over the HPD and Police Commission due to recent events there has to be an acceptable level of confidence in the leadership of both HPD and the commission It is clearly a significant public safety issue when we are experiencing problems with recruitment and retention of police officers simultaneously with an upswing in crime We need to strengthen our recruiting and retention practices and provide competitive compensation for our police officers Working collaboratively with SHOPO to better understand the challenges and possible solutions could make a major difference No increase in taxes for our local working families Raising property taxes at a time when appraised values are increasing beyond the reach of our middle class is not the answer This would make it even more difficult for working families to find housing for purchase or for rent A tiered system is more equitable where high-end properties are taxed at higher rates especially with foreign real estate investments to increase our much-needed city revenue but with certain exemptions to prevent any unintended consequences and again Honolulu is a safe place to live but there is always room for improvement residents must feel safe in their homes and we can increase safety in the community through various actions — Increase HPD surveillance and patrols in higher crime locations We need to train and maintain more recruits and increase community policing teams who are familiar with the specific problems in each neighborhood — Residents can hui in neighborhood watches Neighbors looking out for each other’s homes and property and alerting police to suspicious activity is very effective in reducing property crime elimination of homeless encampments near residential areas and business locations and mandatory treatment of diagnosed mentally ill vagrants can greatly increase the public’s sense of safety and security Open communication and respect for differing opinions is key People should always be given the chance to be heard and finding a middle ground can go a long way to a peaceful resolution there is absolutely no tolerance for physical violence and government policies must ultimately favor the common good Current Sunshine Laws and reporting requirements imposed by law on the Honolulu City Council appear to be sufficient The public is afforded ample opportunities to weigh in on legislative matters before the council demonstrate the need for more trustworthy leadership Homelessness has been an issue for decades yet we don’t seem to be making much progress The list of things we have been doing and could do more of is a long one: – We need to focus on beefing up existing programs such as The Crisis Response and Engagement program with a focus on responding to the medical — We need to work closely with nonprofits to provide wrap-around services partnering with navigation hubs of city and nonprofit partnerships to connect homeless and mentally ill with services needed – We need a “one-stop shop” housing center where city and nonprofits housed under one location provide a range of services The fact of the matter is that the situation will remain the same as long as individuals choose to be homeless by refusing government and charitable help What is sorely needed is a more specific approach to each of the following three categories of the homeless population with government resources allocated accordingly: — Individuals or families temporarily homeless and in search of assistance who avail themselves of assistance with little or no intention of moving off public property — Those who are suffering from mental illness in need of medical assistance who are often a threat to themselves and others The Landfill Advisory Committee appointed by Mayor Rick Blangiardi has until Dec to recommend a site for the island’s next landfill I would be open to suggestions from the committee on this issue Not only would I have concerns for the community that resides in close proximity to the landfill but also related to the location of the landfill and possible contamination of a water source recycling efforts need to continue and expand as a small but important part of a solution to the need for landfills Climate change is adversely impacting many areas of the country with residents looking to relocate to a place safe from catastrophic flooding People with the means to relocate to Hawaii will displace residents who cannot afford escalating real estate prices To prevent Hawaii from experiencing the inevitable economic disparity Properties bought and sold within a specific period of time could be taxed at a higher rate with decreasing rates the longer a property is held by the current owner We could also explore various tax incentives for property owners to hold onto investment property as rentals rather than turning it over in relatively short time for a profit that affects the comparable values of surrounding properties Foreign investments could be taxed at a higher rate of property tax and assessed a greater percentage upon sale of the property which is now at 7.5% under Hawaii’s Real Property Tax Law Past estimates show 24% of homes in Hawaii were bought by out-of-state buyers Kauai and the Big Island showing over 40% of sales to non-residents Climate change will affect the real estate market in Hawaii in more ways than one After heavy testimony from the community and sparring between commissioners the final map was chosen to match the population change The Oahu Reapportionment Commission made its choice on Tuesday picking a map that largely keeps communities together by stretching each district from mountain side to the ocean Tensions were high as the nine-member panel sparred over the proposed three maps aimed at redrawing political lines based on 2020 Census data But ultimately the commission settled on an amended version of the Keana/Makapuu plan in a 7-2 vote after hearing testimony from the community James “Duke” Aiona and Commissioner Daniel Douglass were opposed The decision was important because it determines the makeup of the districts that choose members to hold the City Council seats will fully switch to District 9 that consists of Ewa Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka will be kept together under District 8 Generally the Windward and Leeward Coast would remain the same “It’s well crafted and it takes all of the testimony concerns into account,” Commissioner Natalia Hussey-Burdick said in an interview The commission is responsible for a once-in-a-decade task of redrawing Oahu’s political map with a goal of making sure that each district has roughly the same amount of people that communities aren’t split up and that there is no gerrymandering – an unfair practice that favors a political party or class The state and Hawaii County are still going through their redistricting process Four council districts are up for election next year Council members whose terms are ending are Brandon Elefante Council members up for reelection are City Council Chair Tommy Waters Council members up for the 2024 elections are Andria Tupola The commission now must craft a final report before a Jan “We need to be self-sustaining because you never know when hard times will come and we need to be prepared to take care of our families and friends There are many things that are hurting our state and communities such as crime political corruption and soaring inflation The biggest issue we are facing is cost of living Hawaii is already one of the hardest places to make a living and has among the highest cost of living in the U.S This is making it harder for the working people of Hawaii to make ends meet On the county level we can minimize taxes (not raising them) look at where all our tax dollars are going to see if they can be better utilized to benefit the community I believe that if the state and the county can work together to not raise taxes on individuals and businesses and be mindful of how we spend our taxpayer dollars and be transparent in it we can help alleviate some of the burdens that are hurting the families of our state I believe the rail with all its problems needs to be finished to Ala Moana and in the future to UH but without increasing taxes on the people of Hawaii The rail would alleviate traffic during the UH semesters if it was connected from UH West Oahu to Leeward Community College and eventually It would be a travesty to not finish what was started and it’s disheartening to find out that one of the biggest benefits to our community was removed I am committed to working with HART on finding an alternative for the Pearl Highlands parking garage and with the Department of Transportation Services to maximize public transportation in my community What would you do specifically to improve the accountability of local law enforcement I stand with the Honolulu Police Department there has been some corruption in its ranks over the past few years and those bad actors need to be removed and face consequences I believe the majority of the officers and leaders are doing a good job and sacrifice their lives daily for the safety of our community HPD has a shortage of 320 police officers and that is unacceptable It is impossible to keep our officers and community safe when there is such a shortfall of manpower I will do everything as a council member to read through the upcoming Department of Human Resources audit and implement real change to address the glaring city vacancies across many departments I support the Police Department and I’m committed to assisting where I can to fill their department as quickly as reasonably as possible I am not in favor of raising taxes for the local residents of Hawaii I am willing to tax nonresidents/vacant homes more Honolulu was ranked in the top 20 safest states to live I am still concerned for the safety of our officers and communities with the large vacancies in the Honolulu Police Department I’m also concerned with bills being passed in the Hawaii Legislature that decrease or diminish criminal consequences or accountability our job is to bring safety to our community the people of Hawaii were raised with aloha to love and respect each other even with different views We need to go back to showing aloha even though we have opposing views We need term limits and new people in office to get fresh new ideas which will make it more difficult for corruption to take root we need to stop other states from sending their homeless here we need to provide more housing and care for those who want to be helped mental illness has been plaguing the homeless for years we need to provide them the help they need food and medical care all in one place similar to Punawai Rest Stop If Waimanalo Gulch can be expanded safely without affecting the homes in the area then expand it Finding a spot to create a new landfill away from existing housing would be ideal so it will not bother the community or water table We rely too much on tourism and it showed during the pandemic I believe we should be farming on a large scale to provide food for our communities at a fraction of the cost along with an export to help keep Hawaii afloat if we ever have another pandemic again We need to be self-sustaining because you never know when hard times will come and we need to be prepared to take care of our families and friends Tourism is great but we need other sources of economic revenue O‘ahu is full of notable neighborhoods Some are havens for urban singles and couples nightlife: Here are seven of our favorites car-centric mazes and endless rows of identical tract homes So why are millennials moving there en masse Media like Curbed and Bloomberg point to suburbia not just growing single-family housing communities are popping up across the island with young families happily heading there to raise kids in homes they own What sets Mililani apart? The answer, interestingly, may be the same today as it was half a century ago, when the idea for the master-planned, spacious and accessible suburban community that would become Mililani was first hatched by Castle & Cooke Hawai‘i Despite its quintessentially away-from-town reputation Mililani bucks many of the characteristics that give suburban neighborhoods a bad rap It’s a remarkably walkable place with well-used trails and recreation centers with pools—the types of amenities that condo dwellers and other progressive urbanites yearn for they’re stretched comfortably over a 10-square-mile area Large-scale planning means additional space Especially for young families: For less money than a midlevel Kaka‘ako condo you can buy a house with spacious yards for pets and kids to tumble in And despite the image of cookie-cutter dwellings homes in Mililani come in a surprising range of styles from patio dwellings with connected back gardens and luxury townhouses with grand fireplaces to raised properties with front porches and wraparound lawns Mililani has been a “middle ground,” a place between the country and town (where she had worked) The townhouse she and her husband live in with their toddler has a spacious backyard It’s comfortably roomy enough for outdoor gatherings and a small tomato garden and there’s plenty of space for her dog to roam Johnson’s neighborhood is not bustling She lives within a few minutes’ walk of two elementary schools that are rated among the top 20 in the state A quiet jogging trail nearby ends right before a small shopping center with a coffee shop where she grabs lunch with her son after a walk Sources: Castle & Cooke Homes Hawai‘i She loves that Town Center hosts events for kids and that all of her neighbors also have children She loves the quiet and space and the safety she says she feels when she’s out on her evening walks the hip local shops and restaurants in nearby Wahiawā town and how some of the best beaches in the world are just 20 minutes away “It’s kind of in between,” she says “It’s a place for families.” And perhaps that is the best simplest way to describe Mililani’s appeal as an in-between place for urban millennials navigating life after young adulthood and before old age Favorite Places in Mililani: HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii Republicans retained five seats in the state House on Tuesday night with a win in the district that represents portions of Mililani town and Mililani Mauka Political newcomer Val Okimoto easily won in her bid for the seat against former Democratic state Rep Hawaii Republican Party Chairwoman Shirlene Ostrov said she’s seen new support for the GOP and started the evening optimistic that Republicans would pick up a seat in the state Legislature Democrat Matt Lopresti and Republican Kurt Fevella were neck-and-neck for the District 19 state Senate seat that represents Ewa Beach was also a toss-up going into the general election a former Mililani Town Association board member said her conservative values are a reflection of the community “My campaign has always been to look to the future and what we can look forward to and doing a fresh new approach I don’t discredit anything that she’s done I just want to give people a choice,” Okimoto said “They should pick me because I’m the best person to represent them I know the community much better than my opponent I’ve lived here very much longer than my opponent,” Lee said voters in the district picked then-Republican Beth Fukumoto over Lee Council Chairman Tommy Waters has won reelection Former Republican state Rep. Val Okimoto, attorney Matt Weyer and former construction lobbyist Tyler Dos Santos-Tam each won a four-year term on the Honolulu City Council on Tuesday, according to election results released Wednesday. Vote totals also showed that Council Chairman Tommy Waters will keep his seat Weyer secured 56% of the vote to Makua Rothman’s 44% In the race to represent downtown, Nuuanu and Kalihi, Dos Santos-Tam defeated Traci Toguchi She secured 57% of the vote compared to 43% for Ron Menor the longtime state legislator who sought a third term on the council Waters, the chair of the council for nearly two years handily fended off his challenger Kaleo Nakoa with 74% of the vote Waters pointed to his efforts to rein in monster homes and promote police accountability public beach access and affordable housing A former Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board member, Nakoa was perhaps best known for fighting against mask mandates at a Board of Education meeting this year With no endorsements and only $4,000 in donations raised Nakoa lacked the widespread support to unseat a generally well-liked incumbent The vast majority of votes have been counted but totals may be updated The new council members are expected to be sworn in on Jan if current District 6 Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga and District 8 Councilman Brandon Elefante win their races for state Senate and the council could choose to seat their successors early The nine-member nonpartisan council of lawmakers has jurisdiction over city spending Tuesday’s winners will sit alongside four incumbents who were not on the ballot this year: Andria Tupola they expressed their eagerness to address the issues residents are most concerned about including housing they will work with Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration to pass a new city budget in the spring Weyer will replace Councilwoman Heidi Tsuneyoshi who vacated her seat to run as a Republican for governor Weyer and Rothman were vastly different candidates A progressive attorney from Waikele Weyer has not held elected office before but has government experience He is on his third term on the Waipahu Neighborhood Board works on housing projects for the city and previously served as a county prosecutor The Mid-Pacific graduate has a master’s degree in public administration and is a self-proclaimed policy wonk Weyer was backed by Waters and Vice Chair Esther Kiaaina the Sierra Club of Hawaii and numerous labor unions including those representing teachers He said his priorities would include reducing the cost of living updating infrastructure and protecting natural resources Rothman also had not run for office before He is a Native Hawaiian world champion big wave surfer, musician and the son of Eddie Rothman, the notorious founder of the surf gang and apparel company Da Hui His campaign was backed by North Shore development interests and unions representing longshoremen He also received support from former journalist Brenton Awa who ran as a Republican for the state Senate former Republican gubernatorial candidate BJ Penn and “Aquaman” actor Jason Momoa He paid the councilwoman $32,000 this year for political advice through her company Hawaii Leadership Solutions Dos Santos-Tam won his race after years of building political connections This was his second run for the seat after losing to Fukunaga in the 2018 primary and subsequently serving as chair of the Democratic Party His resume also includes positions on the Liliha Neighborhood Board the Honolulu Neighborhood Commission and the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce He also co-founded the group HI Good Neighbor He is a graduate of Punahou School and Yale University A former lobbyist for the Hawaii Construction Alliance the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Dos Santos-Tam’s campaign was heavily supported by development interests including big-dollar donations from numerous labor unions developers like Castle & Cooke and Christine Camp and members of the Kobayashi real estate empire Dos Santos-Tam also received support from Honolulu’s political establishment including Waters and former mayors Kirk Caldwell and Mufi Hannemann Dos Santos-Tam said he would focus on addressing homelessness and affordable housing After the results were announced Tuesday evening Dos Santos-Tam told Hawaii News Now he is ready to get to work “I’m looking forward to putting together a team fairly quickly and being able to start on these big issues as well as the small issues that impact people’s day-to-day lives – the pothole in front of their kid’s school the street sign that’s missing,” he said Toguchi didn’t have much money to work with although she did get a last-minute boost from unions representing ironworkers and general contractors affordable housing and transportation safety Although she had never run for elected office Toguchi pitched herself as someone with institutional knowledge because of her position working in Fukunaga’s office who served the maximum two consecutive terms a former teacher and single mom of two who is in touch with the district’s needs she spoke about the importance of affordable housing well-maintained infrastructure and climate adaptation She has represented the Mililani area since 2018 as a state representative and has held roles in community groups including the Mililani Town Association She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Menor already served two terms on the council from 2013 through 2021 in District 9, representing Mililani Town and Ewa Beach. However, the district changed after the election maps were redrawn last year previously served as a state representative and state senator Menor ran on his experience and promised to bring “steady He was aided by a war chest of campaign donations totaling over $500,000 from his time as a council member He also secured endorsements from Elefante he touted his support for “Democratic policies.” Voters also made decisions on four proposed charter amendments which make changes to what is essentially the City and County of Honolulu’s constitution The first question pertained to the city’s affordable housing fund which automatically receives 0.5% of all real property tax revenue Asked whether the city should increase the fund’s allotment to 1% of property tax income The latest results show 51.7% of votes were no Another pot of money at the city –  the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund – automatically receives 0.5% of real property tax revenue supported a proposal to expand the use of that money With over 75% in favor, voters also overwhelmingly supported a proposal to require the Honolulu Planning Commission to have members with particular backgrounds the commission will need individual members with experience or expertise in Native Hawaiian practices law or land usage; land use planning; land development and construction; and climate change and sea level rise or environmental protection In response to the final charter question, 60% of voters decided to make the Office of Council Services a permanent agency under the charter which drafts legislation and provides legal guidance to the Honolulu City Council can no longer be abolished by the council alone Residents likely won’t feel the difference of the measure which one council staffer called a “housekeeping item.”  Braden Sakai thinks it’s time for Mililani to catch up with other communities that have emergency plans When hurricanes Iselle and Julio threatened the islands in 2014, Braden Sakai was serving as commander of the 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National Guard While he was making decisions regarding the safety of aircraft at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Being separated from his loved ones as potentially devastating storms approached led Sakai to inquire about Mililani’s disaster preparedness plan the Mililani resident of 45 years has dedicated himself to organizing the Mililani Disaster Preparedness Team He’s trying to recruit 20 residents to participate in training and create a community plan Disaster preparedness “should fall on the shoulders of the residents because that is the strength of Mililani the residents,” the former brigadier general said Sakai is aware of a few ad hoc plans within the community, and annual emergency preparedness fairs have been sponsored by the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management and City Council members in Mililani for the last four years But he said an overall community plan is needed On July 14, the Mililani Disaster Preparedness Team plans to begin training through the Hawaii Hazards Awareness and Resilience Program. The state program, administered by the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is intended to teach communities how to be self-reliant during and after a natural disaster and assists with creating a plan tailored to their specific needs Manoa and the Waianae Coast have completed the program Kauai and Hanapepe/Eleele are in the process “You need to know what your vulnerabilities are,” said Claudine Tomasa a member of the Kailua Neighborhood Board and creator of its disaster preparedness subcommittee As a coastal community, Kailua is vulnerable to tsunamis. Its neighborhood board decided to take disaster preparedness action after the 2011 Tohoku when Kailua beachside residents were forced to evacuate due to a tsunami warning Sakai said it needs to prepare for the threats that a direct hit from a hurricane would pose: flash floods and mudslides “Mililani will not only be isolated from the rest of the communities we’re going to be isolated from each other,” he said and its neighborhoods are spread out from Mililani Mauka to Mililani Town The preparedness team needs to make sure that shelter locations are easily accessible But Sakai also acknowledges that Mililani’s shelters may be filled with evacuees from lower-lying areas “We’re going to have guests in Mililani,” Sakai said if you think you’re going to jump in a shelter – our shelters in Mililani are not just for Mililani That’s something else Sakai’s team will need to address in its plan Be Ready Manoa’s president advises any communities in the beginning stages of creating a disaster preparedness plan to find a core group of residents who are committed to the cause Sakai has recruited 10 Mililani residents for his core planning team One of the team’s newest recruits is Marian Dean Dean moved to Oahu from Maryland in December and began renting a home in Mililani Mauka in February Having lived through numerous natural disasters on the East Coast she is excited about the chance to join Mililani’s new effort and views it as a way to contribute to the community and meet other residents “The benefit of the plan is having a sense of what you need to do and knowing that the other things that you can’t do and don’t need to do because someone else is covering them,” Dean said A list of basic disaster kit essentials is available on Ready.gov • Water – 1 gallon per person per day for at least three days • Food – at least a three-day supply of non-perishable items • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation • Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery —Honolulu Department of Emergency Management “We have over 40,000 people in Mililani,” he said that might just mean better preparing their own families for disasters “People can volunteer by building their survival kits doing that is half the battle,” Sakai said After Mililani’s preparedness team completes the 18-month state program, Sakai said he’ll look for an additional 20 volunteers to create a Community Emergency Response Team, which will participate in training by Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management. Sakai’s ultimate goal is to develop a sustainable volunteer task force that can also offer a helping hand to nearby communities like Waipio and Wahiawa Residents interested in becoming part of the Mililani Disaster Preparedness Team can attend informational meetings run by Sakai The next one is scheduled for Tuesday at Rec Center 6 (95-1010 Konaku St Additional meetings are planned for the same place and time July 12 and 23 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 Are bookstores on the way back? It certainly feels that way. The last six years alone have given us Da Shop, Native Books at Art & Letters, Bās, Village Books & Music and Skull-Face bibliophiles can add secondhand spots BookHouse and Poindexter’s Books to the list We stopped in at both bookstores to check out their offerings Event planner Sam Bergan set out to create a hub for booklovers when she opened shop at the end of September inside the Gather co-work space (where she’s also the program and events manager) in Hawai‘i Kai The cozy single-room nook offers thrifted fiction and nonfiction books for $10 or less including lots of bestselling and award-winning titles Entry is free if you’d just like to shop and you can purchase a day pass from Gather if you decide you’d like to stay and read And she’s looking to bring in authors for speaking engagements “It’s all about creating opportunities for authentic connections and building community,” Bergan says she’s also planning to offer a membership with library-style features and perks such as quarterly bookmarks designed by local artists 6600 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Suite 114, (808) 200-1205, @bookhousehi SEE ALSO: 6 Books That Left a Big Impression on Da Shop Staff in 2023 Family law attorney Rosa Flores’ bookworm status dates back to small-kid time when she toted a little bag of books everywhere and made frequent trips to Jelly’s and Froggies the mom of four is hoping to help others ditch their screens in favor of great reads “We hope that it allows individuals to enjoying the feeling of having a book in their hands,” she says “There’s a lot of pleasure in turning the pages turning that last page and closing the book.” it’s because the 2,600-square-foot space in Town Center of Mililani started out as two suites that Flores combined into one the shop feels warm and welcoming thanks to intimate seating areas scattered throughout vibrant local artwork and a sweet keiki area You’ll find a wide array of used fiction and nonfiction books Music and movie fans can dive into used DVDs Poindexter’s is happy to have you grab a snack and stay awhile Flores set up a small mom-and-pop-style snack bar where you can purchase candy Town Center of Mililani, 95-1249 Mehe‘ula Parkway, Suite B6, Mililani, (808) 425-4266, @poindextersbooks Read more stories by Brie Thalmann When it comes to the housing market in the Islands the 1970s were not much different from 2019 A population surge sent housing prices skyrocketing according to HONOLULU’s June 1978 issue HONOLULU dove into the numbers (and residents’ nightmarish housing stories) in its guide to renting Demand is gobbling up the inventory—particularly in single-family homes and pushing prices up According to the Multiple Listing Service figures for sales during the last half of 1977 the average cost of a single-family home on O‘ahu reached an all-time high of $100,000 where single-family homes are averaging $104,600 and condos $109,353 people are standing in line in hopes of having their names drawn from a hat for the privilege of buying a one-bedroom condo for $150,000 (double what it was four years ago when it went on the market) one-bath ‘patio home’ (single-story townhouse) in Mililani on a fee-simple 1,847-square-foot homesite Studies show that Hawaii will need around 85,000 new housing units by 1985 if current population growth patterns continue will people continue to pay them for the privilege of living in the islands “Probably,” says Vi Dolman (president of the Honolulu Board of Realtors) “my feeling is: It’s better to live in a grass shack in Hawaii than in a castle in Kansas.” a woman could get a nice pair of leather shoes for about $15 a gallon of milk was about $2 and most people in Honolulu paid about 80 cents for a dozen eggs all of which probably doesn’t sound too bad compared to today’s prices mortgage rates nationally were approaching 18 percent our interest rates are much lower but housing in paradise still isn’t considered affordable by most people’s standards We pay a monthly median of about $1,500 for rent and $2,300 for mortgage The Honolulu Board of Realtors reported that median sales prices for single-family homes went from $755,000 in 2017 to $790,000 last year A search on Trulia for homes in Honolulu shows sales prices easily topping $1 million Could you afford the $6.8 million five-bedroom eight-bathroom home in Kāhala or even the $2 million four-bedroom one-bathroom “fixer-upper” in Waikīkī One of the 1978 headlines might lend a clue—“The Great Delusion: Prices Will Come Down.” Five Guys Burgers and Fries is opening their first Hawaii restaurant in Mililani this Tuesday It’s more than just another burger spot it’s an experience that starts with peanuts while you wait and ends with a huge burger The cheeseburger ($10.39) comes with all the toppings you want responsibly sourced fresh beef (there are no freezers in Five Guys) I was introduced to Five Guys while in college up in Chicago A friend dared me to order a large fries and watched me devour a mountain equivalent to two large portions at any other fast-food joint hand-formed patties of fresh beef with more surface area than your classic fast-food burger puck paired with quality toppings of your choice Five Guys likes to say there are more than 250,000 ways to customize your burger When you enter the red-and-white checkered restaurants you always find a big box of peanuts with little snack trays so you can help yourself while waiting in line patrons discard their peanut shells on the ground Scoop yourself a handful and enjoy them while you wait It’s OK to throw your shells on the floor (but we didn’t) Five Guys stacks their potato sacks to keep the line at the counter orderly Owner Amannda Schneider says they’ll have even more sacks for their opening at 11 a.m Fifty-pound bags of potatoes are cut fresh for frying daily remember that in addition to the cup they’re putting them in they’re also dumping another scoop straight into your paper bag So the small is actually a very large serving The region and farm where today’s fries come from I’d recommend the cheeseburger with everything on it (mayo a little order of fries to share and a chocolate shake The burgers and hot dogs section of the menu so make sure you underestimate your hunger Five Guys is finally here and not only that they’re planning a second location in Kapolei late this summer or early fall I may just miss my Waipio exit on the way home this week and end up in Mililani Five Guys is in Mililani Town Center next to Ninja Sushi and the theaters where Radio Shack used to be is considering a run for the House of Representatives The offspring of Hawaii’s political elite may get elected easily enough the first time around — only to find that higher office eludes them It seems the children of elected officials often are defeated when they seek a higher office than the one they previously held especially if that office is beyond the Legislature and Honolulu City Council Their lack of success might be explained by Hawaii’s political version of the Peter Principle — a management concept saying employees rise in the company hierarchy to the highest level of their incompetence rather than competence I’m not arguing that these politicians are incompetent but that voters perceive them as lacking the required abilities knowledge and experience for higher office which contributes to their failure at the polls A highly competitive race between equally qualified candidates and of course scandals can also result in defeat for a political scion Inouye could be said to be following the much earlier example of Matt Matsunaga who served in the Senate with Inouye’s father for more than two decades Matt Matsunaga was a highly regarded state senator for 10 years between 1992 and 2002 after first running unsuccessfully in 1990 at the age of 31 for his father’s former seat in the U.S legislative accomplishments and close ties with the Democratic Party leadership was defeated in two subsequent attempts for the House in 2003 in a special election following the death of Patsy Mink and again in 2006 He also failed in a bid for the lieutenant governor’s office in 2002 Other offspring also have had mixed results the son of another highly respected and popular U.S senator — Republican Hiram Fong — served as a GOP member of the state House of Representatives and Honolulu City Council before losing in a race for the U.S who both were state legislators like their fathers Menor’s father Ben was a state senator between 1962 and 1966 and later was appointed to the state Supreme Court as the first Filipino not just in Hawaii but in the nation served in the Legislature as a representative and senator from 1982 to 2008 and two terms in the Honolulu City Council until 2021 Kahele was appointed and later won a special election to the state Senate after his father House in 2020 but left last year after a single term to run for governor He came in third in the Democratic primary after Josh Green and Vicky Cayetano Arguably the most politically successful scion of an elected official — and the only woman — is former U.S She served in the Legislature and the City Council before being elected to the House four times between 2013 and 2021.  But Gabbard lost her bid for president in 2020 with voters seeming to realize was well beyond her level of competence Tom Gill — who was once City Council chair was defeated in the last election for an open seat in the state House by Jenna Takenouchi.  While it was her first attempt to seek office having served for 10 years as an administrative assistant for the prior representative told me she attributed her electoral success to door-to-door campaigning so that constituents in the district encompassing Nuuanu Pacific Heights and Liliha would be familiar with her when the primary election came up.  Besides being the son or daughter of an office holder long-time observer of the local political scene former University of Hawaii West Oahu history professor Dan Boylan contended in an article written about 30 years ago that incumbency is the most significant factor in electoral success in Hawaii.  He emphasized the clear advantages it brings to a candidate in name recognition and campaign fundraising office are giving up those benefits of incumbency the political Peter Principle becomes especially relevant for them.  I would argue that incumbents no longer have the stranglehold on office they used to have until the 1990s because many of them have been defeated The most recent notable example is former Gov Neil Abercrombie who lost his reelection bid in 2014.  Boylan specified ethnicity as another major factor in local electoral politics He maintained that every group in Hawaii engages in bloc voting: “When they have the chance Inouye will likely benefit from Japanese bloc voting in next year’s election but La Chica can similarly count on Filipinos supporting her in the primarily Japanese and Filipino district The challenge for her will be to make sure her supporters do vote.  we will know if the Inouye name still carries political cachet more than a decade after Dan Inouye’s death His son Ken told me he has no plans to seek higher office beyond the Legislature and it remains to be seen if he will be embraced by voters Honolulu Civil Beat is a nonprofit organization and your donation helps us produce local reporting that serves all of Hawaii Jonathan Okamura is professor emeritus at the University of Hawaii Manoa, where he worked for most of his 35-year academic career, 20 years of which were with the Department of Ethnic Studies. He continues to research, write and lecture on problems and issues concerning race and racism. Opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Civil Beat’s views. You can reach him by email at jokamura@civilbeat.org Ideas is the place you'll find essays, analysis and opinion on public affairs in Hawaiʻi. We want to showcase smart ideas about the future of Hawaiʻi, from the state's sharpest thinkers, to stretch our collective thinking about a problem or an issue. Email news@civilbeat.org to submit an idea Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed Some residents question whether the benefit of wider shoulders between Mililani and Waipio outweighs the loss of a traffic lane Scott Snider bicycles from Waipio to his job in Red Hill He’d like to bike all the way from his home in Mililani but instead he drives the first leg of his 11-mile commute before parking his car A narrow stretch of Kamehameha Highway between Mililani and Waipio deters the avid mountain bicyclist from risking his safety Now the Hawaii Department of Transportation is looking to make a nearly mile-long section of Kipapa Gulch safer for bicyclists by widening the shoulders and adding a median “Kipapa Gulch is the Holy Grail of passages that cyclists have been wanting and fighting for a Mililani Town resident of 14 years and an advocate for the Hawaii Bicycling League “It’s so needed and so wanted.” because the planned shoulder widening will come at the cost of one of the two northbound lanes of traffic along the often congested stretch Members of two neighborhood boards are concerned about slowing down motor vehicle traffic — and they don’t think state officials have been transparent about their plans “We made it clear that we’re not against bike lanes or anything like that,” said Dean Hazama chair of the Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Neighborhood Board “But I think when you come up with solutions like this especially when you take away a vehicle lane.” “The whole intent of this project is to improve the safety in that route” said Ed Sniffen The bridge currently consists of one lane in each direction restriping will be done north of the bridge to the highway’s intersection with Lanikuhana Avenue reducing the originally three-lane highway with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane to one lane in each direction for about eight-tenths of a mile While the DOT insists that the project is aimed at improving safety for all users — motor vehicle drivers bicyclists and pedestrians — the changes seem most beneficial for bicyclists since this portion of the highway is the only viable route between Mililani and Waipio for them “It’s a harrowing experience,” Snider said of bicycling the route bicyclists are forced to take the lane and pedal as fast as they can to avoid blocking the cars behind them Entering Mililani on the same route is even more dangerous The widening of shoulders would provide more room for cyclists to ride at a safe distance from cars A travel-time demonstration was conducted by the DOT over a two-day period in early April to determine whether the removal of a motor vehicle lane would significantly impact traffic patterns The study revealed that the average travel times when the highway was reduced to one northbound lane increased by 15-34 seconds Some members of Mililani’s two neighborhood board have complained about a lack communication from the DOT Sniffen gave a presentation on the project at the Mililani/Waipio/Melemanu Board’s March 28 meeting The very next day, a press release announcing the April traffic study was posted on the DOT’s website A period for public input was open from March 30 to April 15 45 of which were in favor of the restriping and 22 that were in opposition “When you’re (the DOT) presenting it to the board it’s kind of late in the game already,” said Zuri Aki a member of the Mililani/Waipio/Melemanu Board and a candidate for the state House of Representatives District 36 seat “One of the biggest criticisms coming from the board was that you’re presenting this and we have little opportunity to comment and change the plan.” While the Mililani/Waipio/Melemanu Board heard a DOT presentation on the project in March the Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Board did not receive one until Tuesday Hazama sent a letter to the governor on behalf of his board in opposition to the project A reply was sent May 23 addressing the board’s concerns but not suggesting there would be any changes in the project “We’re somewhat at a disadvantage because we haven’t been presented any details on the project itself,” said Hazama prior to the DOT’s recent presentation to his board the residents are not going to like that lane being taken away.” Even after the DOT’s presentation Tuesday the Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Neighborhood Board still has concerns about the project and intends to send another letter to the governor As for improving communication in the future the DOT plans to send a senior manager to all the neighborhood boards on the island once a quarter “I think DOT has gotten our message as far as they need more transparency in what they’re doing who is also running for the same state House seat as Aki These roads affect surrounding communities as well.” The rehabilitation of the Kipapa Stream Bridge and the adjacent Kamehameha Highway was slated to be completed in July but the date has recently been extended to September or October Restriping of the highway north of the bridge has yet to begin Efforts for Starbucks locations to unionize have gone off across the nation and one Mililani location is trying to become the first unionized Starbucks in Hawaiʻi Staff at the Mililani Shopping Center Starbucks won’t know if they have the votes to unionize until next week “People just want to get to the count already the vote would turn out any other way than ‘yes,’ because I think that we have the majority,” Jaramillo said Tuesday “But I'm not going to assume that we've won.” It all began back in January when the Mililani store was expected to close for about a week Baristas and staff members were temporarily reassigned to nearby stores But that one week turned into three weeks of shifting schedules among the three stores And when they came back to their original store “It took a lot to go to work and know that it wasn't going to cut it for that week,” Jaramillo said “Your wages were going to be cut because of hours not being given to us.” At the same time, employees saw national news coverage of a union vote at a Starbucks in Buffalo, New York. NPR reports around 220 Starbucks stores nationwide have sought elections University of Hawai’i Law Professor Ron Brown said what happened at the Mililani Shopping Center store was two-fold: one part motivation and one part inspiration “The first observation was that they felt very unhappy about losing their job at their location that maybe they live near and their wages and all that stuff,” Brown said when employees want to improve themselves and improve their economic well-being And then they were probably inspired by seeing Amazon and the other coffee places Jaramillo reached out to the Starbucks Workers United union to learn more about how they got their start “I was really curious about what unionization would need from us to happen or like what it would take to do out here because no other stores had really made a push for it," Jaramillo said began discussing what it would mean to organize Mail ballots went out about two weeks ago and the final count is slated to be announced Monday About 13 members are eligible to vote at the store with managers and shift supervisors excluded a Starbucks spokesperson wrote that the company is better together without a union but will respect the rights of employees to organize as required by the National Labor Relations Board The NLRB region based in Phoenix has sued Starbucks for allegedly retaliating against three employees who were involved in organizing a union, NPR reports A cheerful way to celebrate is to attend a Christmas parade Spectrum News Hawaii rounded up some of the best parades happening across the state Check out the list below for more details.  Join the festivities as the community of Wahiawa celebrates the holidays with its annual parade civic organizations and others will make their way from Kaala Elementary School up California Avenue to North Cane Street December gets off to a fun start with this community holiday event The parade starts at Haiku Road near Windward Mall 36th Annual Mililani Holiday Parade & After-Party Line the streets to see the Mililani High School Band beauty queens and Santa Claus as they make their way from Mililani High School to the Town Center of Mililani where the family is guaranteed to have fun Bring a toy to donate to Toys for Tots too along Kipapa Drive past Mililani Shopping Center onto Moenamanu Street Be a part of the kick-off to the holidays and head to Honolulu Hale for Honolulu City Lights with the City Lights Block Party on Punchbowl Street followed by the Public Workersʻ Electric Light Parade starting at 6 p.m and the Tree Lighting Ceremony at approximately 6:30 p.m There’s also the Wreath Contest exhibition and Skygate Concert from 7 p.m and photos with Santa starting at 7:30 p.m Lights on the 50-foot holiday tree and outdoor decorations will stay lit from 6 p.m Head to the westside for Kapolei City Lights with the theme “A Westside Wonderland,” featuring a block party proceeding down Kapolei Parkway to Kapolei Hale This year’s theme presents decorations inspired by historic cultural and recreational aspects of the Leeward communities from Waipahu to Kaena Point Decorations will be lit and open to the public Share in the holiday spirit with the community as 60 bedecked units with 3,000 performers make their way through Lihue 63rd Annual Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade Welcome the holidays with this annual community tradition featuring over 60 lit entries including trucks and big rigs starting from Waimea Park, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2. This year’s theme is “E Lauhoe Mai Na Waʻa” or “Everyone Paddle the Canoe Together” with Grand Marshall Pete Hendricks. Visit the parade website for road closures and parade route This year’s 37th Annual Kailua-Kona Christmas Parade presented by Rotary Clubs of West Hawaii and the Kailua Kona Community Parade Association highlights the theme of “Tutu’s Kalikimaka, Through the Eyes of our Keiki,” 5 p.m. Dec. 9. Visit the website for street closures/parade route The holiday fun continues with the 8th Annual Lighted Boat Parade in Kailua Bay Food and beverages will be available for purchase at aboard Body Glove docked at Kailua Pier