🌺 Pearl City Neighborhood Board Highlights & Community Updates

🌺 PEARL CITY LOCAL — BOARD HIGHLIGHTS & COMMUNITY UPDATES

From safer streets to new parks and preparedness — here’s what’s happening around Pearl City this month.

🚦 Top Safety Concern: Sam’s Club Bus-Only U-Turn Area

 

Neighbors flagged near-miss collisions where Kamehameha Hwy meets the new bus-only U-turn by Sam’s Club/Aiea. State DOT Highways is reviewing clearer right-of-way signage, temporary message boards, and ongoing HPD enforcement so the bus-only lane stays bus-only.

If you’ve witnessed confusion or crashes there, reply with the date, time, and details — it helps agencies act faster.

 

🐾 Students Wow the Board: Dog Park Concept for Blaisdell Park

 

Pearl City High School’s Architecture Program presented a two-section dog park design (small and large dogs) with benches, double-gate entries, water stations, and play features — all within budget.

What’s next: Parks & Rec will hold a work session with the students; $100k design + $100k construction funding already secured. If savings remain, a second dog park could come to Manana Community Park.

Love dog parks? Tell us what features matter most to you!

 

🌿 Cleaner Air and Water: Pesticide Transparency Push

 

A briefing on restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) highlighted community health concerns and data gaps. The board will consider urging public reporting requirements, larger buffer zones, classifying neonicotinoids as RUPs, and added soil/water testing on land transfers.

Share your experiences so your voice can be part of testimony.

 

🏛️ New Board Actions

 

• Legislative Priorities 2025 adopted: Safe Routes plans, helicopter altitude limits, care-home oversight, DOE swim-lesson funding, Komo Dr. rockfall mitigation, Pearl Highlands rail parking, and batting cages at Pearl City District Park.
• Charter amendments approved: stronger ethics rules, budget input, and enforcement tools for the Neighborhood Commission.
• E-bike & e-scooter safety resolution: age limits, registration rules, fines, and impound authority.

 

📅 Mark Your Calendar

 

Special Emergency & Disaster Preparedness Town Hall — Tuesday, Nov 25, Pearl Ridge Elementary. Regional boards and agencies will brief on hurricanes, wildfires, shelter capacity, and neighborhood readiness. Replaces the regular November meeting.

Board recess in December. Next regular meeting: Monday, Jan 26, 2026.

 

📰 Quick Government Briefs

 

• Automated traffic enforcement: speeding 11+ mph over limit: $167–$317; red-light running: $92. Both may apply to one incident.
• Pearl City Highlands hillside: City cleared overgrowth and confirmed property lines.
• Homelessness near transit center: multi-agency enforcement is ongoing.
• SNAP benefits: November’s federal shortfall covered temporarily via TANF funds.

 

📚 Library & Learning

 

• Friends of the Pearl City Library Book Sale: Sunday, 9 am–12 pm
• WWII Nisei Soldiers Talk: Sunday, Nov 9 at 10 am
• Digital Navigator Tech Help: Sundays & Mondays — walk in or call to book. Want the full monthly calendar PDF? Reply and we’ll send it.

 

🚓 Neighborhood Safety

 

Manana Neighborhood Security Watch — Thursday, Nov 13 (5:30 pm, 1511 Kulia St)
📧 manana.watch@gmail.com

Tip: Aim one camera toward the street — it helps HPD track vehicles and patterns.

 

🎶 Community Events

 

• PCHS Marching Band Festival: Mon 6–9:30 pm, Pearl City High School
• PCHS Craft Fair: Sun Nov 23, 9 am–2 pm
• Pearl City Shopping Center Event: Sun 9 am–2 pm

Peek the new mural along Kamehameha Hwy in Waipahu — oyster motifs nod to Pearl City’s heritage.

 

💧 Water Conservation

The Board of Water Supply asks for a 20% voluntary cutback due to low rainfall and high demand. Easy wins: 5-minute showers, turn off taps while brushing, water early mornings, and use hose nozzles.

Small changes make a big difference.

 

🌈 How You Can Help This Month

• Send feedback on the Sam’s Club U-turn
• Share input on the dog park design
• Add your voice to the pesticide transparency effort
• Attend the Disaster Preparedness Town Hall – Nov 25

 

Mahalo for keeping Pearl City safe, informed, and neighborly!