Makakilo to
share district with
Waipahu, Mililani

The new City Council districts keep
Kapolei with Leeward Oahu

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

Eight of nine members of the city Reapportionment Commission voted last night to make Makakilo a part of a City Council district incorporating Waipahu and Mililani.

Longtime Makakilo resident Mike Oakland, who opposed the panel's decision, was not surprised.

"It was done before it was ever started," Oakland said.

The panel approved remapping nine Council districts for the 2002 election, deciding to keep Kapolei with Leeward Oahu communities, excluding Makakilo. Commission member Max John Sword was excused from the meeting due to personal circumstances.

Most of those who attended the meeting last night opposed the decision.

Commission Chairman Kerry Komatsubara said: "We felt this was the best decision because Makakilo, for all intents and purposes, is a separate neighborhood. It's divided by the H-1 freeway.

"We felt that would be the better community to switch over," he said.

Makakilo residents said their children go to schools in Kapolei. Some belong to the Kapolei Rotary Club.

Rep. Mark Moses, who represents the Makakilo area, said, "We don't have anything in common with those areas (Mililani and Waipahu).

"The city and the state defines Makakilo as Kapolei," Moses said.

Kapolei has been called the "second city."

Makakilo resident Marshall Hill testified during the meeting, "We have to keep it as one."

Another Makakilo resident described Makakilo and Kapolei as a tightknit community.

Herman Young said: "I don't have nothing in common with Mililani. ... I think you should leave it alone."

The commission had killed an alternative plan that would leave Makakilo with the Leeward neighborhood and split Ewa into two communities.

Moses said he plans to take legal action against the panel's decision.

Oakland also said he plans to sue to have Makakilo remain in the same district as Kapolei.

Also, in previous meetings, some members of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board had said they were unsatisfied with the proposal to put Makakilo with the Waipahu and Mililani districts.

Member Maeda Timson had said Makakilo residents have worked for more than three decades to develop Kapolei to be part of the same community.

The commission will submit a written report to the city clerk. Those who plan to contest the decision have 45 days from the day the report is submitted to file a legal challenge.

Those interested in the reapportionment plan can go to the Web site www.co.honolulu.hi.us/ council/rcindex.htm.