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Honolulu Charter Commission holds first meeting; city leaders urge broad review
Summary
Dawn Sevcheck, chair pro tem of the 2025–2026 Charter Commission, called the first meeting to order and received brief remarks from Mayor Rick Landiardi and Council Chair Tommy Waters urging a comprehensive review of the city charter.
Dawn Sevcheck, chair pro tem of the 2025–2026 Charter Commission, called the first meeting to order and asked fellow commissioners to introduce themselves.
Mayor Rick Landiardi told commissioners he and city leaders were "thrilled" with the appointments and thanked them for volunteering their time. "Thanks for being the citizens you are and stepping up," Landiardi said.
Council Chair Tommy Waters of the Honolulu City Council said the commission’s work will be consequential and offered examples of matters the commission could consider. "If you think about it, the charter is equivalent to the state's constitution or United States constitution," Waters said. "You get to decide the roles and duties of the city council, the mayor, and every single department." Waters cited potential topics including term limits, how the police chief is chosen and disciplined, departmental organization and revenue-generation options.
Waters warned that many of the choices the commission makes will ultimately require voter approval. "You can determine how to generate revenue for the city," he said, and added that commissioners should prepare for significant time commitments because the work is a volunteer role.
The commission received no remote or in-person public testimony at the meeting. Commissioners Duarte and Aki were marked as excused. The chair pro tem said staff will publish the date of the next Charter Commission meeting once it is scheduled, and then adjourned the session.
No motions or formal votes were recorded during the meeting.
