3rd May 2011
Posted in Updates

Every two years residents elect representatives to their local neighborhood board. The election period for the 33 Oahu neighborhood boards began yesterday and continues through Friday, May 20th.

These boards, including our own Ko’olauloa Neighborhood Board (#28), play an important role in helping to make government more responsive to community needs. There are five subdistricts in our area and a number of candidates are running for office. (Note: four candidates for the Hauula subdistrict — Nellie Fale, Nina Fale, Erin Kealoha and Roy Kevin Salts — have dropped out of the race. Although their names remain on the ballot, they are not seeking office or votes.)

To understand where each candidate stands on key community issues, in mid-April the Laie Community Association sent via regular mail, hand delivery and e-mail a survey to all candidates. Here are the survey questions (responses are both included in the image nearby and as a download):

Brigham Young University-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center provide nearly a third of all the jobs in Ko’olauloa. The presidents of these institutions have stated publicly that BYU-H and PCC are not sustainable and will need to grow over the next several years. In this context:

1.     Are you in support of the City’s draft plan to expand BYU-H’s  footprint to include land mauka of the university?

2.     Are you in support of the City’s draft plan to create housing for area residents, employees, and others on about a third of the land in Malaekahana mauka?

3.     Are you in support of the City’s draft plan to expand PCC’s footprint?

4.     Are you in support of the City’s draft plan to expand the area’s growth boundaries to promote economic development and growth in the Ko’olauloa area?

5.     Are you in support of the redevelopment and expansion of the Laie hotel (site adjacent to PCC)?

6.     Would you vote in favor of proposals to modify existing streams and outfalls to help alleviate drainage problems in Ko’olauloa?

7.     Are you generally in support of Envision Laie?

The results have been posted to to our web site and can be downloaded as a pdf.

We encourage all residents to vote, and to vote for those candidates that represent their views on these important issues. The long-term sustainability of our communities, including much needed housing and economic growth, is critical to the future of Ko’olauloa.

The City is mailing residents their voting passcodes and instructions now. All voting is done by internet or telephone. To view instructions, go to: http://www1.honolulu.gov/nco/trifoldfinalsample.pdf. Questions? Call the Neighborhood Board Commission Office at 768-3717.