This is a digital version of Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s newsletter for March 2026. You can also view the PDF version of the newsletter here.

On a Friday morning in Waiʻanae last month, 12 residents of the Leeward Coast took the first step toward careers that will change not only their own lives, but the future of emergency care in their community.

The City and County of Honolulu’s Emergency Medical Services, in partnership with the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, has officially launched a new EMT training academy that allows aspiring emergency medical technicians from West Oʻahu to pursue their dreams without needing to leave the Waiʻanae Coast — breaking down a barrier and unlocking critical new career pathways for area residents.

All 12 members of the inaugural EMT cohort live in communities across Leeward Oʻahu, which means shorter commutes, stronger community ties, and an easier entry into a respected profession that offers both stability and purpose. The five-month academy, which began February 2, provides comprehensive training in lifesaving skills, from CPR and trauma response to patient assessment and emergency care in real-world settings.

Classroom instruction is being held in WCCHC’s newly renovated training room, through a collaboration with Ka ʻIke Ola, the health center’s education and training program. Clinical rotations will take place in WCCHC’s Emergency Department and at partnering hospitals across Oʻahu, ensuring recruits receive hands-on experience before graduation.

For generations, residents of the Waiʻanae Coast have faced barriers to career advancement, particularly in specialized medical fields. By bringing this academy to the community, the City and its partners are intentionally creating a pipeline that helps local residents earn professional credentials while also giving back by serving neighbors, friends, and family members in moments of crisis.

During the welcome ceremony, Mayor Rick Blangiardi praised the partnership and the recruits’ commitment to taking on such a demanding profession, noting that an EMT academy rooted in the Leeward Coast represents both an investment in people and in public safety.

By June, when the cohort walks across the stage on the WCCHC campus, they will have met all requirements for licensure as Emergency Medical Technician — Basic (EMT-B) in the State of Hawaiʻi and will be eligible to serve with the City and County of Honolulu.

For these 12 recruits, the academy is the start of a career. For the Waiʻanae Coast, it represents something even bigger: homegrown first responders, trained in their own community, ready to answer the call when their neighbors need them most.

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G.R.O.W. Recycling Program Launches on April 1

The City and County of Honolulu is taking an important step toward a more sustainable future with the launch of the G.R.O.W. (Green Recycling Organic Waste) pilot program, which begins April 1, 2026.

This new initiative will allow residents in Hawaiʻi Kai, Kailua, Nānākuli, Waipahu, Kalihi and Mililani to place food scraps alongside yard waste in their curbside green carts, helping redirect organic material away from H-POWER and the Waimānalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill and into local composting.

Food waste currently makes up about 20% of Oʻahu’s trash, totaling close to 160,000 tons each year. By separating food waste at home, residents can help reduce our reliance on landfills while turning discarded materials into nutrient-rich compost that benefits local agriculture and green spaces.

To help residents prepare, the Department of Environmental Services is hosting free public workshops demonstrating proper food-waste separation and tips for keeping green carts clean and odor-free:

• March 19 at Nānāikapono Elementary School Cafeteria, 7 p.m.
• March 20 at Waipahu Elementary School Cafeteria, 7 p.m.
• March 27 at Kailua Elementary School Cafeteria, 7 p.m.

Residents are reminded of one simple rule: if it didn’t grow, don’t put it in the green cart. Keeping plastics out ensures composting works — and our entire community benefits.

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From Sugar Mill to Senior Living

A new chapter began in ʻĀiea last month as community leaders, partners, and residents gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Aloha Iā Halewilikō, a 140-unit affordable rental community for kūpuna located next to the ʻĀiea Public Library. The ceremony included a Hawaiian blessing and dedication by Kahu Kordell Kekoa, marking the transformation of the former ʻĀiea Sugar Mill site into housing that allows older adults to age in place with dignity, stability, and connection.

Built on 3.45 acres of City-owned land, the community features 83 studio apartments and 56 one-bedroom units for residents age 62 and older earning 30%, 50%, and 60% of the area median income. The City and County of Honolulu contributed $6 million from its Affordable Housing Fund, ensuring long-term affordability for at least 60 years.

Developed by EAH Housing, the property includes landscaped walking paths, gathering spaces, and on-site services through a partnership with Lanakila Pacific, providing meals, wellness programs, and social activities that support healthy, independent living for Oʻahu’s kūpuna.

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Help Shape the Future of HPD Leadership

The Honolulu Police Commission is inviting residents and community partners to help guide the selection of Honolulu’s next Chief of Police. Public input will play an important role in identifying the leadership qualities, experience, and priorities our community values most. A brief, anonymous online survey is now available, and all responses will help inform the recruitment profile and evaluation of candidates. This is an opportunity for residents to share their manaʻo and have a direct voice in the process.

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A New Deputy Director for DTS

Mayor Blangiardi has announced the appointment of Honglong “Hong” Li, PhD, PE, as Deputy Director for the City’s Department of Transportation Services (DTS). The move comes as the department’s former Deputy Director, Jon Nouchi, transitions to serving as the City’s Director of Transit, focusing on advancing Honolulu’s multimodal transit system, including Skyline, TheBus, TheHandi-Van, and Biki.

Li is a nationally recognized transportation engineer and senior program manager with more than 28 years of experience in the planning, design, delivery, and operation of complex, multimodal transportation systems. He has served with DTS since 2014 and most recently led the City’s Rail Station Access Improvement Program, delivering critical first- and last-mile improvements across the Skyline system.

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Skyline Ridership Surges As Bill 60 Passes

The passage of Bill 60 (2025) marks an important step forward in shaping the future of transportation on Oʻahu, allowing the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) to begin planning and studying potential Skyline extensions beyond its current route. The measure, supported by Mayor Blangiardi, authorizes planning and design work for possible future service reaching areas such as the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and further into Kapolei, while requiring additional approvals before any construction funding is committed.

The action comes as Skyline continues to gain strong public support, with the system now averaging more than 12,000 riders each weekday. As ridership grows and the system expands, Skyline is emerging as a key part of Oʻahu’s long-term strategy to improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion, and better connect communities across the island.

—PAU—