East Honolulu board in flux

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer

'AINA HAINA — Changes are coming for the Kuli'ou-'ou/Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board, from a possible name change to a consolidation of some of the communities it represents.

Mark Terry, board chairman, proposed the name change at last week's meeting, and it will likely be considered when the board meets next on April 4.

"People have to know we represent the whole area," said Terry. "My first problem with the name is for those who live in East Honolulu, we know where Kuli'ou'ou-slash-Kalani Iki is, but there are many who don't know where we are."

Terry came up with these suggestions: Greater 'Aina Haina Neighborhood Board, 'Aina Haina and Vicinity Neighborhood Board, East of Kahala Neighborhood Board and East Honolulu Neighborhood Board.

But others on the 17-member community board say the name is fine and any change would confuse residents.

Board member Sheridan Spangler opposed Terry's idea, saying that the current name is specific to the area.

"I appreciate your attempt to change the name, but we are not the 'Aina Haina Neighborhood Board and East Honolulu is all of the area," said Spangler, who represents the Waialae Golf Course community and Kalani Iki Valley.

Terry said he was open to suggestions, and members or residents should call him with their ideas.

"I have long felt the name is a clumsy one," Terry said.

The neighborhood board represents the area from Kuli'ou'ou in the east to Kalani Iki along the west, and includes Wai'alae Iki Ridge, Wailupe, 'Aina Haina, Niu and the Waialae Golf Course area, across from Kalani High School. The board was formed in 1973.

Meanwhile, further details on the proposed consolidation of some board districts have been revealed.

Two months ago the board voted to reconfigure the districts because of difficulty in filling vacant seats. Since then, the board has filled two seats that had been vacant for nearly five months.

Meanwhile, the board's proposal was sent to the city's Neighborhood Commission staff, which reviewed the idea, comparing it to population figures for each area. Noting some changes in population, the commission, which oversees O'ahu's 35 neighborhood boards, accepted the board's recommendation to consolidate, but with some revisions to keep representation equitable.

Boards routinely readjust and reconfigure themselves as populations shift, said Elwin Spray, elections director of the Neighborhood Commission.

"It all comes down to one person, one vote," said Spray.

A public hearing will be held at the end of April on consolidation proposals and changes in representation:

• One would consolidate the two separate Wai'alae Iki Ridge districts with the Wai'alae Iki district to form one district representing all three areas, with a total of three members representing the new district. Presently, each district has its own representative, also a total of three.
• Another would combine the Wailupe and Kalani-ana'ole Highway makai areas with the 'Aina Haina area to make one district, with five members representing the area, compared to seven now.
• A third proposal would have two people represent the Waialae Golf Course and Kalani Iki Valley area, which currently has one representative, and four people represent the Niu and Niuiki Circle area, which has three.