The Honolulu City Council convened on April 16, 2026, to consider a lengthy agenda including the adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budgets, updates to flood hazard regulations, confirmation of board appointments, and multiple resolutions related to disaster recovery and gift acceptance. The meeting began with a message of aloha from Raquela Chu, Vice Chair of the North Shore Neighborhood Board, who emphasized community resilience and the need for authentic aloha in the aftermath of recent storms. Key outcomes included passage of the city's $4.85 billion operating budget (Bill 22) and $1.53 billion capital budget (Bill 23), both with amendments, and first reading approval of urgent flood map updates (Bill 34).
The meeting allowed remote testimony. Several testifiers reported difficulties with the city's online testimony system (e.g., submissions not reaching commissioners). The council acknowledged these concerns and encouraged follow-up.
Aloha and good morning, everyone. Councilmember Wire, would you like to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Pledge allegiance to the United States. Thank you so much. Also, Councilmember Wire, would you please introduce our honored guest who's delivering the message of aloha? Of course, Mahalo Chair. Today I have the honor of introducing Raquela Chu, who will be delivering this morning's message of aloha. Raquel's roots run deep throughout our North Shore community, where her life's work reflects her commitment to the people and places she serves. She's currently the vice chair of the North Shore Neighborhood Board, an ocean safety commissioner, a rancher and farmer, and dedicated community advocate involved in our schools and beyond. Through her roles in public service, she showcases her commitment to caring for the land, our ocean, and the well-being of our neighbors in Ohana. She speaks up for Kama, Kiki, farmers, rural communities, and is always grounded in Kuliana. And the aftermath of the recent storms that have devastated communities across district, too. Raquel has been a steadfast voice, advocating for residents, supporting every recovery effort, and ensuring that our community is heard. Her advocacy during these challenging times reflects her unwavering dedication to serving with aloha, and of course, bringing the North Shore into the chamber today, along with Lee from Little Plumeria Farms. I want to just ask everyone to join me in welcoming Raquel to the chamber. Thank you. Can you hear me? Thank you, Councilmember. Good morning, everyone. Aloha and Mahalo, Chair Waters, Vice Chair and Council members. I never thought I'd ever be nervous, but after that, I just gotta think. Did I die? Like, I don't know. But um thank you for the kind words and the opportunity to be in front of everyone here today. Um I was asked to provide this message this morning, it was a great honor. And it was prior to our Kona storms. And now we're post-kona storm, so I had all kinds of ideas. And now that we're post-Kona storm, all of the ideas come through your head. I can assure you that what I have to share is straight from the heart. I wasn't quite sure this morning what I was gonna say. As we drive out of the North Shore, there's so much emotion that comes into play as you drive through. But I think it's important to take these moments and go with them. The devastation of my Kay'ulu, the Wailua Moku, and the severe impacts felt by our neighbors on the west side, Koalaoloa and even Manoa, have left a mark that won't soon be erased. Life has changed as we know it. But the truth is no matter where you are throughout our Pai Aina, you felt a sense of emotion and kuliana and a vulnerability. Even if you weren't impacted. And Auntie Twinkle said, when you give someone kuliana, it wakens their amana. Well, let's add to that. The awakening of manna is spirited by your aloha. The aloha you have for each other and the duties you want to provide for your communities, your neighbors, your family, your kupuna. I think of aloha, and it's sometimes troubles, it sometimes troubles me that aloha, the word has been so commercialized, it sometimes loses its authenticity. But our kuliana is to ensure that authenticity. And you take it for granted until an event like this happens. We come into chamber, we come to city council, we go to the capital, and we understand we have a sense of aloha to share with everyone, and that aloha is also our knowledge and our perceptions and our drive to do what's right for each other. The aloha that stands out in my head comes from what we do for each other and the future and our ability to stay where we're at. Remembering why we are put in this place and the purpose and making it meaningful meaningful. We can often forget the importance of why we're here and what we want to do. When I look at my community, the aloha that's been poured out so much has just been overwhelming, but just unconditional. You go in and you have differences of opinion, you have differences of wants and needs and the way to do things, yet everyone comes into play and it works out smoothly, and everyone has helped each other. We've got people that very literally don't know where they're sleeping tonight, they don't know where their next meal is coming from.