Neighborhood Board to survey residents

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Bureau

'AINA HAINA — Residents of the Kuli'ou'ou-Kalani Iki area will receive surveys in their mailboxes early next month.

The surveys, paid for by the area's neighborhood board, are designed to take the pulse of the community on issues such as highway construction, an East Honolulu police station, parks, education, access for the disabled and how to best use the state's tobacco settlement money.

The nine-question survey took more than a year to work out among board members, said Kevin Mulkern, a Kuli'ou'ou-Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board member.

"We're an elected body and reflect the grassroots community," Mulkern said. "Every time there's an issue, there's a task force, a blue-ribbon committee, that bypasses the neighborhood board. We want to know how the community feels about the board."

Neighborhood boards were formed almost 30 years ago as a forum for the community to bring their concerns.

The board makes recommendations to the appropriate government officials or agencies, according to the city mandate.

The last time the community was polled was about eight years ago, said Kimo Sutton, neighborhood board chairman.

He said the city provides a budget to each of the 32 boards to spend either airing meetings on Olelo or putting out newsletters.

"Rather than sending information out, we want information in," Sutton said. "A lot of times people try to have a meeting and only 50 people show up. This way, you can get thousands to respond."

The survey will be sent to people who live between the Kuli'ou'ou and Kalani Iki communities, including Wai'alae Iki and the Wai'alae Golf Course area. Mulkern will tabulate the results.

With every member of the neighborhood board elected by the community, issues before the board should mirror those in the community, Mulkern said.