July 2026: 'Ewa Beach Report

One of the greatest privileges of serving our community is seeing firsthand the incredible people who quietly make Hawaiʻi a better place every day. Whether they're mentoring our youth, preserving Hawaiian culture, protecting our environment, or simply picking up trash in their neighborhood, these acts of service strengthen our community in ways both big and small.

I want to begin by extending a heartfelt mahalo to everyone who volunteered at our recent cleanup surrounding Hawaiʻi's Plantation Village. Alongside City crews and community partners, volunteers removed tons of illegally dumped debris, cleared overgrown vegetation, reduced fire hazards, and helped beautify one of Waipahu's most treasured historic and cultural landmarks. Every bag of rubbish collected and every hour volunteered is an investment in our community and a gift to future generations. Thank you for demonstrating what can be accomplished when we all work together.

That same spirit of service shines throughout this month's newsletter.

We're celebrating the 20th anniversary of Kamahaʻo Canoe Club, whose members have spent two decades preserving Hawaiian culture, mentoring keiki, and serving the ʻEwa Beach community with aloha. We congratulate ʻEwa Makai Middle School's remarkable national drone champions, proving that Hawaiʻi's students can compete—and win—on the national stage. You'll also meet environmental champion Ray Aivazian III, whose passion for protecting our parks, beaches, and oceans has inspired hundreds of volunteers to care for the places we all love.

This issue also includes updates on repairs to the Waipahu Street Bridge, new legislation to improve safety for e-bikes and other emerging mobility devices, and a useful emergency preparedness tool that helps residents identify natural hazard risks in their own neighborhoods.

I recently sat down with Honolulu City Prosecutor Steve Alm and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Bell on Augie's Community Connection to discuss public safety, crime prevention, and efforts to protect our neighborhoods and kūpuna. Watch the full interview on our Council YouTube channel, @augietulbahnl.

Finally, don't miss this month's "Did You Know?" feature, where we explore the fascinating history of Hawaiʻi's beloved pastele stew—a uniquely local dish born from Puerto Rican traditions and Hawaiʻi's plantation era. It's another reminder that our islands' greatest strength has always been the people and cultures that came together to build the Hawaiʻi we know today.

Thank you for your continued support, your thoughtful ideas, and your commitment to making District 9 an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. My office remains committed to serving you, and we encourage you to reach out whenever we can be of assistance.

From my ʻohana to yours, thank you for being part of this journey.