Episode 91: Dylan Whitsell and Dylan Buck on the Neighborhood Board Elections

by Brandi Higa, Honolulu NCO, December 19, 2024, One Oahu Podcast

On this week’s episode of the One O‘ahu Podcast, Dylan Whitsell and Dylan Buck of the Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) join host Brandi Higa to talk about the role of NCO and how folks can get involved, common issues that come up and direct examples of change brought about by the Neighborhood Boards, plus how to register for the 2025 Neighborhood Board Elections.

What is the Neighborhood Commission Office?

The Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) falls under the Office of the Managing Director. It supports all 33 active Neighborhood Boards in the City and County of Honolulu and its approximately 400 members. The NCO also helps to support the Neighborhood Commission, a nine-member body that oversees the neighborhood board system.

“We also take a lot of calls at our office, and emails, from residents who have questions about the boards. We’re really like a first stop for information about the Boards,” added Dylan Buck, NCO Community Relations Specialist. He goes on to say, “We want to create a helpful system of information for the residents to have, so that they can follow along with the meetings.”

Neighborhood Boards are a key component in communicating the community needs and desires regarding government services, economic development and land use questions.

Common issues

A Neighborhood Board meeting is a monthly open forum between government representatives, elected officials, and members of the community. Members of the public have the right to submit testimony on any and all agenda items. Some common issues that come up include, but are not limited to, public safety, capital improvements and zoning concerns. 

“Sometimes, it can even be things such as downed signs in the neighborhood or needing to repaint some sort of road,” explained Dylan Whitsell, Neighborhood Commission Office Deputy. “But it’s always really important and it’s those small things that if those things can just get tweaked and fixed, then it really makes a big difference in the communities.”

The neighborhood boards are advisory in nature.

2025 Neighborhood Board Elections

The Neighborhood Commission Office (NCO) announced that individuals interested in running for a seat on their Neighborhood Board can register for the 2025 Election beginning Friday, December 20, 2024. Applications should be submitted online and are available at https://web5.hnl.info/nbe.

The office term for the 2025 election runs from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027.

Important Dates:

Friday, February 21, 2025 – Candidate Filing Deadline
Friday, April 25, 2025 – Voting Begins
Friday, May 16, 2025 – Voting Ends

Who Can Vote?

Anyone can vote including military personnel, military family members, and legal resident aliens
Must be at least 18 years of age by Friday, February 21, 2025
Voted in the last general election or register with the NCO to vote specifically for the Neighborhood Board Elections

Voting for the election will be conducted online, however, those wanting a paper ballot or more information on the election please contact the NCO at https://www8.honolulu.gov/nco, by email: NCO@honolulu.gov, or by calling (808) 768-3710.

All current board members of the 2023-2025 Board term will need to register for the new term. Registration and candidate profile forms will not roll over from the previous Neighborhood Elections.

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Candidate Registration for 2025 Neighborhood Board Elections Coming Soon!

News Release from Honolulu NCO, Nov 19, 2024

All current board members of the 2023-2025 Board term will need to register for the new term. Registration and candidate profile forms will not roll over from the previous Neighborhood Elections.

Important Dates:

• Friday, December 20, 2024 – Candidate and Voter Registration Begins

• Friday, February 21, 2025 – Candidate Filing and Voter Registration Deadline 

• Friday, April 25, 2025 – Voting Begins

• Friday, May 16, 2025 – Voting Ends

For more information visit https://web5.hnl.info/nbe or https://www8.honolulu.gov/nco/

Contact us at NCO@honolulu.gov or call 808-768-3710