Information Sessions For Potential O‘Ahu Neighborhood Board Candidates To Be Held

From our friends at the Honolulu Neighborhood Commission:

Honolulu – The Neighborhood Commission Office will host information sessions for people interested in being a candidate for the 2017 Neighborhood Board elections. There are 437 seats available for 33 neighborhood boards across O‘ahu. Candidate recruitment has begun and will end on February 17, 2017. Candidacy is open to O‘ahu residents who will be at least 18 years of age by February 17, 2017.

Three information sessions are scheduled for:

·         Wednesday, February 8, 2017 – HPU Aloha Tower, Multi-Purpose Room 3 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

·         Thursday, February 9, 2017 – Kailua District Park, Multi-Purpose Room from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

·         Monday, February 13, 2017 – Kapolei Hale, Conference Room A & B from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Neighborhood board members and Neighborhood Commission Office staff will be on hand to answer questions from potential candidates.

“Neighborhood boards serve as an important nexus for citizen and government interaction. We hope to get as many candidates as possible to increase civic engagement on O‘ahu,” said Shawn Hamamoto, Executive Secretary of the Neighborhood Commission Office. “It is important that we give the public access to their elected officials and other government agencies.”

The voting period for neighborhood board elections will begin on April 28, 2017, and end on May 19, 2017. Elected board members serve a two-year term, starting on July 1, 2017. All board members are volunteers.

The deadline for candidate applications is Friday, February 17, 2017. For more information, call 768-3781 or visit the Neighborhood Commission Office website at www.honolulu.gov/nco.

Charter Commission recommends elimination of the Neighborhood Board System

A Letter From Shawn Hamamoto, Executive Secretary,
Honolulu Neighborhood Commission

Aloha community members,

On May 16, 2016 a Permitted Interaction Group of the Honolulu Charter Commission recommended that the Charter Commission place on the general election ballot the following question: “Should the City increase citizen participation in the decision of government though the use of electronic communication, such as television, Internet, and email, and eliminate the Neighborhood Board System?’

The Charter Commission will be considering this recommendation at their meeting on May 26, 2016. I respectfully ask that you join me in showing your support for the neighborhood board system by submitting testimony to the Honolulu Charter Commission in opposition to this recommendation.

Update From The Honolulu Neighborhood Commission

CANCELLED MEETING -- The Honolulu Charter Commission has opted to cancel its May 26, 2016 meeting. We will let you know when they file a new agenda including items impacting the Neighborhood Board system. 

I believe that neighborhood boards represent grassroots democracy in its purest form, and strongly support their continued existence. Neighborhood boards serve as a feedback loop, ensuring that the City and State governments are aware of the impact their programs and services are having at the neighborhood level.

Testimony may be submitted online here: Submit testimony

Please be sure to indicate you are testifying on agenda item III for the 5/26/16 meeting of the Charter Commission

Mahalo for supporting the neighborhood board system!

Shawn Hamamoto, Executive Secretary

Honolulu Neighborhood Commission