Why Neighborhood Wins Matter 🌺

Panorama of Punchbowl (Puowaina) to Mānoa and University area.

Too often, the headlines about our neighborhoods focus on what’s going wrong — traffic, crime, development pressures, or government gridlock. But every day, right here in our own communities, people are working together to make things better.

That’s why we’re launching a new series on Neighbor2Neighbor News called Neighborhood Wins.

What is a Neighborhood Win?

A Neighborhood Win is any time residents, schools, or community partners come together to:

• Solve a problem

• Improve the quality of life

• Celebrate creativity or culture

• Build stronger connections between neighbors

Some wins are small but meaningful — like a new crosswalk that makes it safer for kids to walk to school. Others are bigger — like a community partnership that transforms a school facility or holds agencies accountable for neighborhood concerns.

Each one matters, because these moments show the power of neighbors helping neighbors.

Our Starting Point

We’re starting the series with two stories:

• Makiki Neighbors Take Action on Street Racing: After months of sleepless nights, residents organized through their Neighborhood Board’s “Nice Neighborhoods” Committee, prompting HPD and the Honolulu Liquor Commission to step in.

• Washington Middle School Bandroom Transformation: With support from WMS alumnus Jake Shimabukuro and Good Tidings Foundation, a decade’s worth of school CIP appropriations, and school supporters’ leadership, Washington Middle School students returned in August to an inspiring new music space.

These are just the beginning.

Why This Matters

Neighborhood Wins remind us that progress isn’t only about legislation or large-scale projects. It’s about the everyday actions that make life better right where we live.

• They show that voices matter — residents can and do influence change.

• They highlight the importance of partnerships — between community members, schools, nonprofits, and government.

• They give us hope that, even in challenging times, positive change is possible.