Uuummmm, a question.

Who is supposed to be on the receiving end?
I am guessing an email inbox with auto-reply that some underpaid city clerk might check once a year.
Something like our legislature.

With the way our reps ignore our e-mailed testimonies this year I would think they are doing this just to make it easier for them do continue to ignore our e-mails. JMHO

...
Yeah, exactly.
The new system will make ignoring tbe public so much faster and more efficient.

open ag land to high density housing

1. NB gives people an opportunity and venue to meet the other people in their community and discuss shared issues.  Taking away NB seems like this further isolates people from their neighbors.
Most that attend already know each other and are attending for a common goal, usually something that has been going on for a long time.
Go to the NB website and view agenda's and minutes and you'll find the same complaints and issues meeting after meeting.
For us it's the Bus route/schedule, flooding (seasonal annually), park's  and  their bathrooms, and of course, the homeless and of course "Invision Laie". (If you are unfamiliar with this "private for profit  institution" and would like to know more, I would be happy to inform you).

2. NB brings government officials to their neighborhoods and provides a venue where communities can hold their officials accountable.
Government officials or their reps attend occasionally, but not always.
'hold their officials accountable" ?      
Again, go to the NB and NBC website and view agenda's and minutes to see all of the complaints against NB as well as NBC members.
You'll see the community member always loser or it's a slap on the wrist for the offender

   
3. An email inbox or a web form where people can submit something to government workers is a one way conversation, not a 2 way conversation.  It is much easier to ignore an email than ignore a person when they are standing in front of you.
But you can get more Emails to a person than you can get to attend a meeting or fit in a room and it will be in your own words, not written as translated by the NB secretary.
Emails are direct, tangible countable and recordable.
With the NB, the majority of the community can say what they, but the board will vote and report to the city based upon there vote, regardless of community input. 
Electorial votes anyone ?   
 

Having been to many, many neighborhood board meetings, I would say this would be a mistake.

I may disagree with Knudsen on many things, but I can say that I believe he truly cares about the community and its concerns. The rest of the board is the same.

It also represents an opportunity we otherwise wouldn't have to voice our  concerns to people in government that can actually do something about it, without a filter. Every meeting I have attended is also attended by state and C&C representatives, Senators, and council members. This is the only grass roots forum we really have to express our concerns without proxy.

If the boards aren't there it will be that much easier for them to ignore us.

Aloha 2A members,
   
    On May 16, 2016 a Permitted Interaction Group of the Honolulu Charter Commission recommended that the Charter Commission place on the general election ballot the following question: “Should the City increase citizen participation in the decision of government though the use of electronic communication, such as television, Internet, and email, and eliminate the Neighborhood Board System?’ 
    The Charter Commission will be considering this recommendation at their meeting on May 26, 2016 at 3:30 p.m.

    Seeing how some members of some neighborhood boards may not be truly committed to the wants and needs of the community 's they represent,  (meeow ) I think dissolving  the neighborhood boards thereby taking out the "middle man" is a GREAT idea ! 
   Direct communication to the city via Email would not be skewed as it has been in the past with neighborhood boards and its members  pushing their own personal, political or self serving  agenda.
(Obviously, if you are a board member receiving this Email, I believe you to  be excluded from the above opinion)
Citizens would have a tangible, traceable, countable  input directly to the city. 
     
   Please join me in showing your SUPPORT for the Elimination of Neighborhood Boards by attending this meeting to SUPPORT this recommendation or by submitting testimony to the Honolulu Charter Commission in SUPPORT of this recommendation to Eliminate Neighborhood Boards.
Testimony may be submitted online here and it's super easy
Be sure to indicate you are testifying on agenda item III where it say's "Agenda Item"
http://honoluluchartercommission.org/submit-testimony?form_id=1&show_form_title=1&show_form_description=1&utm_source=newsletter_3128&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=honolulu-charter-commission-elimination-of-neighborhood-boards
   
PLEASE  SUBMIT  TESTIMONY  on Agenda  Item III SUPPORTING   THE  ELIMINATION  OF  ALL  NEIGHBORHOOD BOARDS !

     JI808, I usually agree with you but after reading your post, I wonder how much you have been involved with yours or any NB