Newsmaker

Name: Charlie Rodgers
Age: 58
Position: Chairman, Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board
Education: Oklahoma State University, B.A.
Pastimes: Computer, "Internet junkie"

"I thought I'd help solve minor things like a stoplight on this corner, trash pickup on that date," Rodgers said.

But now in his third year as board chairman, Rodgers finds himself and his neighbors embroiled in issues that time and again have brought islandwide attention to an area residents proudly proclaim "a bedroom community."

In the past month alone, Hawaii Kai has been the hub of three disputes:

• The city's settlement negotiations with Bishop Estate and two other landowners related to the downzoning of property across Sandy Beach.
• The lease-to-fee conversion battle between Kuapa Isle lessees and their Bishop Estate titleholders.
• The liquor license granted to the Friends and Family Mart near Kamiloiki Elementary School near Kalama Valley.

And in the Hawaii Kai settlement dispute - the biggest controversy of all - Rodgers has been trying to play the impartial guy. He's had to be careful on the topic because he's also on the city's Planning Commission, which will make a recommendation on the settlement proposal later this year.

Still, it may not be hard to figure which way Rodgers is leaning judging by his comments: "Most of us (living in Hawaii Kai) feel we are fully developed."

Despite being in the thick of these newsmaking issues, Rodgers still finds time for those smaller problems he thought he'd be handling.

He and others were able to get Costco officials to promise to repaint their building in earth tones. Now he's looking into the disappearance of the familiar sign and flagpole that used to front Kalanianaole Highway near Hawaii Kai Drive.

There's never a dull moment in Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood.