Honolulu Committee on Infrastructure, Transportation and Technology Meeting - August 26, 2026
Honolulu Committee on Infrastructure, Transportation and Technology Meeting - August 26, 2026
The Committee on Infrastructure, Transportation and Technology, chaired by Chair Cordero, met on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 9:01 a.m. The meeting was conducted remotely under Section 92-3.7, HRS. Members present: Chair Cordero, Vice Chair Okimoto, Councilmembers Tipola and Waters (virtually). Councilmember DeSantis TAM was excused. Two items were considered: a resolution accepting a gift of painted curb extensions and a bill regarding parking near public hiking trailheads.
Resolution 26-187 – Acceptance of Gift for Curb Extensions (Kaelepulu Elementary)
- Deputy Director Hong Li of the Department of Transportation Services (DTS) expressed support for the resolution, noting DTS appreciates the gift. City Street Administrator Renée Isplo explained the curb extensions (striping and delineators) were already installed by DFM last summer following a pedestrian fatality. The $4,000 gift from Kaelepulu Elementary School Parent Teacher Student Association covers artist fees (approx. $1,500) and supplies for a mural to be painted by volunteers. Maintenance expectations will be formalized via a form developed by the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The mural is part of a longer-term project to improve Kailua Drive; community members and artist Lauren Roth are committed to upkeep.
- Committee discussion: Vice Chair Okimoto asked about the gift’s coverage; Isplo clarified it is for artwork only, not infrastructure. Chair Cordero and Vice Chair Okimoto praised the community engagement and safety benefits.
- No public testimony was offered.
- Key Outcome: The resolution was amended to CD1 (OCS 2026-0496 / 8/18/2026, 1:43 p.m.) and reported out for adoption without objection.
Bill 54 (2026) – Amending Provisions Relating to Stopping, Standing, or Parking (Trailhead Driveways)
- Deputy Director Hong Li testified that DTS opposes Bill 54 in its current form. Main concerns: a proposed special curb painting program for driveways within one-quarter mile of public hiking trails would create confusion (motorists may think unpainted curbs allow parking) and impose significant maintenance costs. Parking within four feet of a driveway is already illegal. The city does not generally paint curbs for such prohibitions. DTS estimates hundreds of driveways could be affected island-wide, including at unofficial trailheads. The Deputy Director noted discussions with the bill’s introducer (Chair Waters) are ongoing but that DTS would work with DTS and DFM to estimate the number of driveways if needed.
- Public testimony: Dalen Cam of Oahu Transit Riders testified, supporting the intent to address parking issues but urging the city to also improve car-free or car-light access to trailheads, as many trails currently require driving. No other testimony was given.
- Chair Cordero indicated she wishes to move the bill forward for second reading and continue discussion before it returns to committee.
- Key Outcome: Bill 54 was reported out for passage on second reading and scheduling of a public hearing, without objection.
Meeting Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:22 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Will the Committee on Infrastructure Transportation and Technology please come to order? It is 9 01 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26th, 2026. I would like to welcome Committee Vice Chair Okimoto and uh via virtual virtually Councilmember Tipola and Councilmember Wire is on his way, and Councilmember DeSantis TAM is excused from today's meeting. Pursuant to Section 92-3.7, the Hawaii revised statutes, this meeting will be conducted as a remote meeting by interactive conference technology with the following procedures in effect for the meeting. Members of the public will be allowed to provide oral testimony on all items on the agenda remotely and in person in the council chamber when each agenda items taken up. Okay. Oh, yes. Um, as both as both English and Hawaiian are official languages of the state of Hawaii, pursuant to Article 15, Section 4 of the of the Hawaii State Constitution, HRS section 1-13, member members. Members of the public may testify in either language for oral testimonies offered in Olelo Hawaii. Additional time as may be necessary will be allowed for the testifier to provide an English translation of their testimony. Before testifying, each person shall state their name. Each speaker may not have anyone else read their statement and is limited to a one-minute presentation on each item. All persons who have registered to testify remotely by video conference or person or phone or phone will be called upon first. When your name is called, please monitor your screen and activate your audio feed when prompted. Please utilize a raise hand feature on Zoom to be called upon. For those who are joining us by telephone only, please press star nine to indicate your desire to speak. Um following the oral testimonies of the registered speakers. For now for written testimonies. Accepting a gift of painted curve extensions or bulb outs, which I love. Uh valued at $4,000 to the city from Kaelepulu Elementary School Parent Teacher Student. Well, hold on. Kaelepulu Elementary School Parent, Teacher Student Association to improve the visibility of pedestrians, uh reduce the speed of charting traffic, create a more vibrant streetscape, and foster a sense of stewardship of the improvements. Members, we have posted to the agenda a proposed CD one of the resolution identified as OCS 2026-0496 forward slash aid forward slash 18 forward slash 2026, 143 p.m. submitted by myself for your information. A summary of the amendments are listed on the agenda. With that, we have from the city administration, Deputy Director Hong Li with us. Morning, Chair Codero, uh, morning, committee member. Uh my name is Hongli. I'm Deputy Director of Department of Transportation Services. Uh we support these RISO. We appreciate the gift. Uh, if you have any questions, I have my uh Company Street Administrator uh Ridney ISPLO here uh to answer any questions. Thank you, Deputy Director. Uh Deputy Director, you know, we're still used to getting these gifts from the parks department, and so we know that it goes directly to parks, but when it comes to a department such as DTS, um do we does the department or does like the MD's office, mayor's office, or BFS assume the assume the gift or have responsibility for the gift. I believe the process is through MD's office. Uh once it goes through there, then DTIs would have access to the to the money. Okay, understood. And uh for the extensions themselves, um, we ensure that they are up to city standard. Uh can you repeat the question again? Um do we ensure that the uh curb extensions or bulb alts are going to be to city standards? Yes, uh, I I think the intent is really to improve the safety. Uh I'm gonna have Renee to answer the question. Thank you, Deputy Director. Uh good morning, Chair Cardero, member of the committee. Um so the striping and the delineators are already in. So the curb extensions are already there. Um our department of facility maintenance actually put them in last summer, right before school started. Um we did have a fatality um at one of these crosswalks a few years ago, so it's been an area that we've been trying to improve.
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