Kapolei board hears fire, police reports as residents press for crosswalks and tree care

Honolulu Fire and Police officials briefed Neighborhood Board 34 on public-safety trends and residents used the meeting to press for clearer timelines on pedestrian safety and tree care.

Captain Ting of the Kapolei Fire Station reported December incident activity including two structure fires, one nuisance fire and roughly 190 medical calls; he closed with home electrical-safety advice and an HFD contact for follow-up. Corporal Payton of the Honolulu Police Department’s District 8 told the board December totals for the district and urged residents ‘‘put your phones down, drive the speed limit, be courteous’’ to reduce fatalities and crashes. Payton also described community-policing steps—encouraging neighborhood security watches and camera-sharing—and said he would try to provide arrest and case-follow-up numbers at the next meeting.

The meeting quickly turned to long-running local safety problems on Makakilo Drive. Board members and residents described unmarked crosswalks and street lights located within narrow sidewalks that make pedestrian movement hazardous. Deputy director Deborah Zeisman, representing the mayor’s office, relayed Department of Transportation guidance that marked-crosswalk installations are evaluated against a ‘‘minimum pedestrian volume’’ threshold of 20 crossings per hour; the department’s study found that some intersections cited by residents did not meet that metric. Zeisman said the Department of Design and Construction is reviewing whether sidewalk widening behind the light poles could provide ADA-compliant access and expects to report back by the next board meeting.

Board members pushed for more aggressive traffic-calming measures. Member Mick Ferrer said officials should reinstall flashing pedestrian beacons and other visible protections, noting multiple deaths and near‑misses on the corridor. Longtime board member Doctor Dudley, who has repeatedly raised tree-health concerns, told the mayor’s representative ‘‘we are losing millions of dollars of trees’’ and demanded a mayoral inspection and a written report at the next meeting.

The board requested several follow-ups: HPD to provide arrest and theft-prosecution data at the next meeting, DDC to return with the sidewalk‑widening feasibility study, and the mayor’s office to confirm whether the DOT will re-evaluate crosswalk thresholds in high‑speed stretches. The board also unanimously adopted a separate resolution asking the city to achieve ADA compliance for sidewalks and public rights of way.

Next steps: HPD and HFD will be asked to provide written follow-up and the DDC study and any updates on the Makakilo Drive sidewalk work are expected at the board’s next regular meeting on Feb. 25.