State Hospital Plan & Concerns About Bars Mark Kaneohe Neighborhood Board Agenda

Expansion of the Hawaii State Hospital and community concerns about late bar closings will be on the agenda when the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board holds its July meeting.

The Board will meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 16, at Benjamin Parker Elementary School, 45-259 Waikalua Road. The agenda for the meeting is available online.

The Board will discuss forming a Public Information Group to review the State Hospital’s master plan. A new update of the plan includes building a 150-bed long-term care unit on hospital land at the southeastern edge of Windward Community College’s campus. The project would include demolishing an existing hospital structure known as the Bishop Building.

WCC would like to trade 6 acres at the college entrance for the 5 acres on which the Hospital plans to build. The college values the Bishop Building for its architecture, which matches that of many other WCC buildings, and because it wants to expand its campus to the southeast.

The Board also will discuss assigning one of its committees to review the concerns about closing time for bars. A resident told the Board’s June meeting that the 4 a.m. official closing time is linked to fights and drug deals, and urged that the time be moved to 2 a.m.

The Board also is scheduled to hear updates from RidePool Hawaii and the Blue Zones Project. In addition, representatives from city and state government, public-safety agencies, Marine Corps Base Hawaii and other civic organizations generally attend the Board meetings, and are present to hear community comments.

We hope to see you on the 16th.