East Kapolei Transit Zoning

At a glance

• What: three linked ʻEwa measures. Bill 37 (2026) reclassifies about 14.837 acres from the State Land Use Agricultural District to the Urban District. Bill 38 (2026) expands the transit-oriented development (TOD) special district to three more Skyline rail station areas, using the East Kapolei Neighborhood TOD Plan. Bill 39 (2026), CD1 rezones about 1,374.4 acres at Kapolei and Honouliuli.
• Where it stands: all three passed second reading September 9, 2026 and were reported out of the Zoning & Planning Committee on September 24, 2026 for third reading, 4-0 each (aye: Cordero, Kiaʻāina, Tupola, Waters; Okimoto absent).
• Concern: Bill 38 passed second reading with Tulba, Tupola and Weyer voting aye with reservations. Tupola cited the scope of the zone change, no prior consultation with her as the area's representative, conversion of all agricultural land, major landowner concerns, and a wish to keep opportunities for University of Hawaiʻi uses such as student and teacher housing.
• Deadlines: on July 8, 2026 the Council approved the Department of Planning and Permitting's requests for 120-day extensions on Bills 38 (D-445(26), 7-0) and 39 (D-446(26), 8-0).

Details from the September 9 hearing

• Bill 37: Kiaʻāina moved committee report 247(26). Robinson and Hulihee opposed; Billionaire and Nakamura gave general comment. 9-0.
• Bill 38: committee report 248(26); no public testimony. Tupola also questioned using "East Kapolei" rather than "Honouliuli" and asked DPP to evaluate each parcel. Kiaʻāina urged DPP to meet her before the next committee hearing. TOD Administrator Streitz said all eight city TOD plans are adopted, East Kapolei implementation is about halfway done, the Airport TOD area is next, and DPP expects to rezone all rail station areas by the time the third rail segment opens (filling vacancies would speed it). The proposed Festival Street near Honouliuli Station should stay private, as at Hoʻopili, so it needs no street-closure rules.
• Bill 39: committee report 249(26), 9-0, Robinson general comment.
• September 24 committee: Kam of Oʻahu Transit Riders supported Bill 38; no testimony on Bills 37 and 39.

Sources

• City Council journal (minutes), regular meeting of July 8, 2026 (adopted August 12, 2026): https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=28796
• City Council journal (draft minutes, not yet adopted), regular meeting of September 9, 2026: https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=29318
• Committee on Zoning & Planning written summary, September 24, 2026 (not formal minutes): https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=29269

Log

2026-10-07 - Regular Council

Bills 37, 38 and 39 CD1 passed third reading, 9 ayes announced. Testimony included a lineal heir concerned about consultation; Tupola raised pedestrian safety near the UH West Oʻahu station.

2026-09-24 - Zoning & Planning

Zoning & Planning Committee reported out Bills 37 (9:29 a.m.), 38 (9:45 a.m.) and 39, CD1 (9:50 a.m.) for passage on third reading, 4-0.

2026-09-09 - Regular Council

All three passed second reading 9-0 (Bill 38 with reservations from Tulba, Tupola and Weyer).

2026-07-08 - Regular Council

Extensions of 120 days approved for Bills 38 and 39.

2026-09-24 - Zoning & Planning

Bills 37, 38 and 39 CD1 each reported out for passage on third reading without objection.