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Wahiawā

Your Community, More Completely.
Friday, November 13, 2026 · Permanent link to this edition
Edition archive
Friday, November 13: Wilikina Drive sign-maintenance lane closures, last day (today)Monday, November 16: Whitmore food outreach; Army JPMRC exercise ends (3 days)Thursday, November 26: Wahiawā library closed for Thanksgiving (13 days)Friday, December 4: Wahiawā Town Santa Parade (21 days)
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Today in Wahiawā

Wilikina Drive has alternating lane closures for sign maintenance from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today, the last scheduled day.
The Army's JPMRC exercise runs through Monday, November 16, with more military traffic and flights around Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield.
Central Oʻahu Food Outreach distributes food at Whitmore Community Park Monday, November 16; line-up is at 8:30 a.m.
The temporary Wahiawā library will be closed Thursday, November 26, for Thanksgiving.
Civil Beat reported that HPD ended an agreement that let the IRS review license plate reader data.

NEW: newly reported developments or upcoming opportunities. UPDATE: later substantive information on a covered story. ONGOING: continuing useful information. RESOLVED: the reported issue has ended. BACKGROUND: dated historical context, not a new development or confirmation of current availability. UNCONFIRMED: a story, continuing story or detail that could not be confirmed against its cited source on the edition date; the note under the headline says what is not confirmed. Today and countdown lines carry "(unconfirmed)" for the same reason. All local times are Hawaiʻi Standard Time.

City, Roads & Planning

ONGOING

Wahiawā plant hosts wastewater technology pilot

A three-year pilot program is evaluating wastewater-treatment technologies at the Wahiawā Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water & Wastes Digest reported that the Hawaiʻi Onsite Wastewater Technology Evaluation Program was introduced August 26 at a technology showcase held at the plant.

The program is run by the University of Hawaiʻi Water Resources Research Center, which will provide reports to the state Department of Health to support its certification and approval process. Water Online reported that the first system being evaluated, Honu Hub, is designed to process sewage completely above ground. No completed certification has been reported.

ONGOINGWilikina Drive (Route 99), Wahiawā

Wilikina Drive lane closures for sign maintenance end today, Friday, November 13

The state Department of Transportation lists an alternating single-lane closure and lane shift, possible in either direction, on Wilikina Drive (Route 99) between Kamananui Road and the H-2 Freeway overpass for sign maintenance. The last scheduled day is today, Friday, November 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

One direction is to be closed at a time. The department says all projects are weather permitting.

Community & Culture

ONGOING

Wahiawā library closed Thursday, November 26, for Thanksgiving

The Hawaiʻi State Public Library System says all public libraries, including the temporary Wahiawā Public Library at Wahiawā Shopping Center, will be closed Thursday, November 26, for Thanksgiving Day.

The temporary branch is in the Wahiawā Shopping Center at 823 California Avenue, Suite A-11. Its regular hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

ONGOINGWhitmore Community Park

Food outreach at Whitmore Community Park set for Monday, November 16

Central Oʻahu Food Outreach lists a distribution at Whitmore Community Park on Monday, November 16. Line-up is at 8:30 a.m., and distribution runs from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. or while supplies last.

The next Wahiawa United Methodist distribution is Wednesday, November 25, at the same times. The schedule lists the food bank as closed Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27, for Thanksgiving. St. Stephen’s Emergency Food Pantry at 1679 California Avenue takes appointments at 808-330-3769.

Arts, Culture & Events

ONGOING

Wahiawā Town Santa Parade set for December 4; organizers seek entrants and donors

The Wahiawā Community & Business Association lists the 2026 Wahiawā Town Santa Parade from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, December 4. Schools, businesses, marching bands and community groups are invited to register to take part.

The association says expenses for permits, traffic control, public-safety coordination and other operations continue to rise, and it is working to secure additional sponsors, donors and community partners to help cover those costs.

AI in Your Community

CogniLocal tracks where artificial intelligence and related automated systems are already entering the institutions that serve this community, who is deploying them, what they are being used for and what changes next.

BACKGROUNDSchofield Barracks / Wahiawā

Lightning Surge used an AI mission system to streamline targeting data

Army reporting datelined Schofield Barracks says an AI mission system streamlined targeting data received from different sensors during Lightning Surge experimentation.

The Army article was published March 30, 2026.

BACKGROUNDHonolulu Police Department

HPD drone-response pilot serves Districts 1 and 5; islandwide expansion still under review

The Honolulu Police Department's Drone as First Responder pilot sends drones to certain 911 calls ahead of officers on the ground. HPD said the pilot would launch Wednesday, August 5, and initially serve District 1 (Downtown, Chinatown, Nuʻuanu, Makiki, Ala Moana and Kakaʻako) and District 5 (Kalihi, ʻIwilei, Kapālama, ʻAlewa, Moanalua and Salt Lake). Wahiawā is not among the areas HPD lists for the pilot.

HPD says the drones are deployed only in response to designated 911 calls or requests for assistance from HPD personnel, not for routine patrols or general surveillance, and that non-evidentiary footage is deleted within 30 days. The department says it will weigh operational results, community feedback and public safety needs before deciding whether and how to expand the program islandwide.

BACKGROUNDHonolulu Police Department

HPD policy sets 90-day purge for license plate reader data

The Honolulu Police Department, which patrols Wahiawā, uses automated license plate reader cameras affixed to assigned police vehicles. Its published policy says the systems are to be used only for official law enforcement purposes.

Under the policy, plate reader data is purged after 90 days unless it has become evidence in a criminal or civil action or is subject to a lawful action to produce records. The commander of the Criminal Investigation Division or a designee serves as the ALPR administrator.

BACKGROUNDHonolulu Police Department

HPD ended an agreement that let the IRS review license plate reader data, Civil Beat reported

Honolulu Civil Beat reported October 1 that the IRS reviewed license plate reader files from Honolulu Police Department cameras under an agreement signed in 2025, and that Police Chief David Lazar, who took over July 2, has ended the agreement. HPD patrols Wahiawā.

Civil Beat reported that HPD has 70 Motorola cameras in use: 10 fixed cameras in Waikīkī and 60 mobile cameras mounted on patrol vehicles. Lazar told Civil Beat the department will not share the data with anyone, but the new no-sharing policy is still being written. The report did not say which patrol districts use the mobile cameras.

Public Safety & Courts

ONGOINGSchofield Barracks / Wheeler Army Airfield

Army's JPMRC exercise under way through November 16, bringing more traffic and flights to Schofield and Wheeler

The Army's annual Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center exercise began Saturday, November 7, and runs through Monday, November 16, with training at Oʻahu sites, including Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield, according to the Army's October training advisory for Oʻahu ranges.

The Army says to anticipate an increase in military vehicle traffic, helicopter flights and large cargo aircraft flights, including C-130 and C-17 aircraft, during day and night hours. Questions can go to the Army's Community Concern Line at 808-766-7778.

Still Developing

The latest confirmed movement, the open question and the next checkpoint.

OPEN

Wahiawā Botanical Garden reopening

Most pathways, the gulch and other grounds remain closed until further notice after fallen trees and branches. The entrance, visitor center, multipurpose room and main lawn remain open, and scheduled programs continue. The city gives no reopening date.

Still unresolved: When the pathways and gulch can reopen.

Next checkpoint: A Honolulu Parks and Recreation access-change or reopening notice.

Source: Wahiawā Botanical Garden
OPEN

Replacement Wahiawā library

The library system continues to list temporary service at 823 California Avenue, Suite A-11. Its branch page says construction of the replacement library is underway and may take about two years, but it does not provide a dated opening schedule.

Still unresolved: A dated opening schedule for the replacement building.

Next checkpoint: A library-system construction or opening announcement.

Source: Wahiawā branch
OPEN

Wahiawā wastewater technology evaluation

A three-year pilot at the Wahiawā Wastewater Treatment Plant is evaluating treatment technologies. The University of Hawaiʻi reported that the evaluation program launched August 26 and that results will be provided to the state Department of Health. The announcement does not report a completed certification. No findings or certification decision have been published.

Still unresolved: Evaluation findings and subsequent certification decisions.

Next checkpoint: A published evaluation report or Department of Health decision.

Source: Water Online, September 9 report
OPEN

Kūkaniloko stewardship procurement

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs sought a steward to manage access, maintain the grounds and implement cultural programming at Kūkaniloko. The revised proposal deadline was September 8, and OHA’s schedule estimated an award and contract start in September or October. The current solicitation page does not identify an awardee for this procurement. OHA has not posted an awardee or a cancellation.

Still unresolved: Awardee, contract terms and actual start date.

Next checkpoint: An OHA award, cancellation or revised procurement timetable.

Source: solicitations and awards
OPEN

Wahiawā Shiva Temple October observance

Lotus Hawaiʻi’s September newsletter lists Wahiawā Shiva Temple Pooja Day for October 18 but does not state a start time for the October gathering. The noon time in the newsletter refers to the September 20 event and should not be assumed for October. No later notice gives an October start time.

Still unresolved: The start time of the October 18 pooja.

Next checkpoint: A temple or organizer notice confirming the October 18 time.

Source: September 2026 community newsletter

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