"Voters can’t force the commission to act."  Au contraire mes amis, voters can force the commission to act.  Honolulu County has an initiative process.  See the Revised Charter of the City and County of Honolulu, Article 3, Chapter 4: http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/cor/rch/Online_Charter_v02.25.16.pdf

Ballot initiative anyone?  ...Anyone? ...Vive la revolution? ...Anyone?  Anyone?