April 11, 2018
Kaneohe/Kailua Complete Streets project
Aloha! I attended the complete streets project meeting last night. It was quite refreshing to see community engagement being the primary vehicle of input rather than the typical Q & A session.
We were first given a briefing of common-use terms from the traffic and planning industry. Then, they turned us loose to discuss in small groups made up of community members, supported by recorders, and subject matter experts who remained relatively silent until we asked them a question.
The resulting comments and suggestions were debriefed in a large group discussion for use in the upcoming planning design.
One more set of community engagement meetings to review and discuss the formed plans should take place sometime between June and December 2018.
When you read my platform page you'll see this is the type of planning and engagement to which I was referring. Projects that affects large numbers of people should use community input as a starting point.
December 1, 2017
Hawaii State Hospital Update
Welina me ke aloha,
I attended a meeting this week with HSH Administrator Bill May, Windward Community College Chancellor Doug Dykstra and WCC Vice Chancellor Brian Pactol.
The main reason for the meeting was to start discussions and brainstorm better and more efficient ways to notify the community of an escape. We spent some time on background data and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) before actually doing any brainstorming.
Data Points
HIPPA prevents the HSH from releasing to the public, patient information except for a very bland physical description. Law Enforcement is not bound as tightly under the HIPAA law and is able to issue a more extensive physical description and possible threat.
Two concurrent investigations are underway: A criminal investigation into the escapee's decision to leave the hospital - which is a felony and carries a 5-year prison term - and the administrative investigation considering the reasons why over a 10-hour period, HSH employees did not properly report the whereabouts of the escapee.
The investigations are being conducted by two separate teams of the state Attorney General’s office. I have no details as to when they might conclude their work and have reports available.
Because the investigations are underway, the HSH is unable to provide any real clarity about the issue.
Takeaway's
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HSH did not know the patient was missing for almost 10 hours.
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The HSH was not "sitting on the information" and was not waiting 10 hours to make the proper announcements.
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After the patient was discovered missing by other HSH employees, the proper notification process started.
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It's significant to me that that seven HSH employees were placed on administrative leave without pay. I don't believe HSH would act like this unless they felt there was an exceptional breach of security protocols.
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Because it took almost ten hours to discover the patient was missing, the proper notifications to HPD and then to NIXLE were not made in a timely manner.
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We discussed what an escapee's threat to the community might be and how it might be announced. - Going back to HIPAA, and the limited amount of information that might be put out, we discussed that if a patient left the hospital grounds for whatever reason, that person had committed a felony and should therefore be deemed dangerous. That seems to make good sense not to approach an escaped patient and to notify the proper authority.
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WCC has special circumstances of care since they are direct neighbors to the HSH. Possible improvements could be:
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enhancements to fencing by creating open but contained walkways.
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increased fencing heights on the perimeters of the HSH with better deterrents to climbing.
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use of monitoring devices for those permitted to walk the grounds.
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using an exercise escape scenario that flex's the reporting protocols from within the hospital, outward to HPD and Sheriffs and a "drill" NIXLE alert.
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We agreed to meet again soon – hopefully sooner, if the AG's office completes one or both of the investigations.
Aloha pumehana,
Mo Radke
Chair, Kāne‘ohe Neighborhood Board
April 12, 2018
Maunawili Estates for Bus Route 70
Aloha! Since we had a similar circumstance with bus routes at the Kaneohe Board meeting last month, I attended the Kailua Neighborhood Board Transportation Committee Meeting tonight to discuss the importance of Maunawili Estates Bus Route #70.
Forty-nine residents of Maunawili Estates showed up and provided their thoughts about the character, demographics, personal safety, public service and the importance of that route. The transportation committee adopted a motion to present to the overall board that the route remain unchanged! Kailua Board Chair Bill Hicks thanked the assembled group for their attendance and thoughtful comments and encouraged the same attendance to help send the message to the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services.
November 16, 2017
Chair Radke discusses Hawaii State Hospital patient escape
Seven employee's were put on unpaid leave while an investigation was underway. What situation would make an employee not do their job? It occurs to me that these employee's did not intend to go to work that day to simply allow a patient to walk away. During a TV interview on November 12, an unnamed employee described manning shortages, excessive overtime and poor working conditions. Not sure if those are real facts or not but it does beg a few questions: So:
1. Is it possible employee's are overworked to the point of lethargy?
2. What controls are in place to ensure HSH employee's follow the guidelines to keep our community safe and prevent other "walk-away's"
As Kaneohe Board chair, I've heard about clinical professional manning shortages in the past. However, I have never heard that people were shirking their duties. If this is indeed the case, accountability starts with the employee's proper performance of duties by making proper reports. If something is preventing them from doing that, the HSH administration needs to be made aware. If that does not solve the problem, their unions should be involved. Not performing duties affecting the safety and security of our community is unacceptable.
July 20, 2017
Radke facilitates challenging meeting with hot community topics
During a recent Neighborhood Board meeting, Radke effectively facilitated a meeting where over 80 residents voiced concerns and support about resolution relating to the Haiku Stairs and a proposed cemetery in Puohala. Using an open and fair approach at the meeting, all parties had the opportunity to express their opinions and positions resulting in a board decision to oppose with cemetery development and support a resolution for the Board of Water Supply to complete an EIS that fairly looks a managed access plan for the stairs.
Mo Radke Video's
July 18, 2016
K-Bay Regional Council meets to discuss commercialization of Kaneohe Bay
Mo Radke, a member of the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council believed that Holokai tours was operating a commercial entity beyond the scope of the Kaneohe Bay Master Plan and did not qualify for an exemption as an educational entity. Radke states, "The master plan was developed almost 20 years ago by ocean and business experts, conservation and environmentalists with the main idea of protecting Kaneohe Bay. "We shouldn't be trying to figure out ways around the plan but rather to support its intentions and keep Kaneohe Bay pristine for our next generations", Radke said.