Niu Valley Community Association

Neighborhood Board #2 Minutes (Dec. 2, 2004)

Jan 30, 2005

Because of overwhelming opposition by our community, the Kuli‘ou‘ou / Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board #2 at its Dec. 2, 2004 meeting, did not grant Bank of Hawai‘i and the Lucas Estate’s petition for approval of their access plan through the Board of Water Supply’s roadway to reach it’s property in front of the Niu Reservoir. Those residents in attendance did a great job in expressing their concerns about rock slides, water run-off, traffic and safety issues in addition to the possibility of further development.

The Board also unanimously supported the Law Enforcement Coalition’s proposed legislative package of bills for 2005, including the use of more DNA testing, a “Walk and Talk” and “Knock and Talk” Amendment and updating our current wiretapping laws. The LEC would also like to repeal portions of Act 161, passed by the 2002 Legislature, which requires first-time non-violent drug offenders involving possession or use to be sentenced to probation with drug treatment. As a direct result of this law, Niu Valley’s drug dealer Eric Waltz had to be given probation. It is absurd that even though he was responsible for distributing drugs in our neighborhood for two years in a McDonald’s drive-thru like fashion, incarceration for Mr. Waltz was not an option for the judge. Judges have gone on record (like retired Judge Milks) saying that all criminals should make sure they carry drugs so they can get mandatory probation.