No 11 Ala Moana Kaka'ako Neighborhood Board Regular Meeting September 2026

The Ala Moana–Kakaʻako Neighborhood Board 11 regular meeting was held October 8, 2026. The Department of Design and Construction presented a Kapiʻolani Boulevard rehabilitation project between Ward Avenue and Atkinson Drive. The contract has a 545-calendar-day duration, with notice to proceed issued in April 2026; work includes asphalt paving and striping, curb and gutter reconstruction, limited sidewalk work, and tree-root pruning. Three of 152 exceptional monkeypod trees in the project area are recommended for removal and replacement, pending formal confirmation. The presentation identified a contractor and construction manager, but their names were unclear in the transcript. Board members raised concerns about uneven sidewalks, accessibility, and the project limits; staff agreed to follow up on the sidewalk concerns and provide updates if the schedule encounters substantial difficulties.

The board approved a resolution supporting establishment of a business improvement district (BID) in the neighborhood and formed a permanent interaction group to continue discussions with stakeholders. The BID resolution does not specify assessments or other funding details; members noted that business-community support and further development of the proposal would be needed. Members also discussed concerns about the inconsistent terms of development community-benefit packages, including a cited $6 million contribution associated with a project at 1588 Ala Moana Boulevard; Council Member Nishimoto said he was open to further discussion. The state senator reported $1 million for University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering work and $2.5 million for pilot projects related to flood and stream-management solutions. HART said funding is budgeted for rail construction to Cook Street, while extensions beyond that point remain subject to future funding. A discussion on homelessness highlighted service-capacity constraints and potential grants, but no related spending action was taken.