The chairman of the Makakilo/ Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board has quit the board after a flap involving a controversial T-shirt worn by an audience member.

The city has asked a mediator to offer suggestions on how the board can function better.

Shad Kane, a retired Makakilo police officer who had only assumed the chairman's post in June, did not return several messages left on his cell phone.

But his Nov. 11 resignation letter to the city Neighborhood Commission cited the commission's "recommendation" that he receive training on conducting board meetings, in the wake of a verbal clash with another board member and audience members. He called the advice "punitive."

The eight remaining members of the board will try to elect a new chairman at its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Kapolei High School cafeteria.

At the center of the controversy are several complaints the city received from community members after the board's Oct. 24 meeting.

At that meeting, Makakilo resident Michael Golojuch Jr. went to a public podium several times to address the board and the community.

Each time, Kane asked Golojuch to either remove or reverse his T-shirt, a homemade shirt that included a photo of state Sen. Mike Gabbard, D-19th (Kapolei, Makakilo, Waikele) with a red circle around it and a slash through it.

Each time, Michael Golojuch Jr. refused and said it was his constitutional right to be able to wear the shirt. Board member Maeda Timson and Carolyn Golojuch, who was in the audience, also defended the right to wear the T-shirt.

The Golojuchs are leaders in the O'ahu chapter of Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. The Golojuchs historically have opposed Gabbard's political ambitions. Gabbard led the fight against legalization of same-sex marriage. Mike Golojuch Sr., Carolyn Golojuch's husband and Michael Golojuch Jr.'s father, is on the neighborhood board.

Commission executive secretary Joan Manke, in a letter she wrote to Kane Nov. 15 in response to his resignation, said the commission offered training after receiving six complaints "regarding incidents which happened at the October (b)oard meeting."

Manke, who could not be reached for comment, cited in her letter "many previous complaints" pending against the Kapolei board that were filed before Kane's tenure as chairman. "Our suggestion to work closely with you was only prompted by a desire to minimize further distraction of the (b)oard from its mandated service to the community."

Kane, in his resignation letter, said "I view the recommendation of providing me with training as punitive." He added: "I do not view this 'punitive' action as serving the needs of the community but rather the personal interests of Maeda Timson, Michael Golojuch Jr. and Carolyn Golojuch."

Michael Golojuch Jr., who wrote a letter of complaint to the city, said Kane sought to violate his civil rights by asking him to remove his shirt.

"We're talking about a city-funded, city-sponsored meeting where the public is allowed to, is expected to, express their opinions," he said.

Carolyn Golojuch, who also wrote a complaint to the mayor, said she thought Kane "acted inappropriately and without aloha for someone who represents himself as a cultural expert." Kane writes a column on the cultural history of Kapolei at honolulu advertiser.com's Kapolei community site.

Timson, who chaired the Kapolei board for the past eight years before last summer, said she did not file a complaint with the city but did write a letter to Mayor Mufi Hannemann asking to "please make sure that the chair understands the rules and the law."

Timson said she had no previous issues with Kane's leadership but believes that it was wrong for him to ask Golojuch to remove his shirt. "A chair violated his rights by saying he couldn't do something in public, that's where I was coming from," Timson said.

Timson said that during the meeting, she only spoke up about the issue when Kane suggested that all board members were offended by Golojuch's T-shirt. After that, she said, Kane tried to prevent her from speaking.

Board member Evelyn Souza said she was shocked that Kane quit over the incident. "I think it's a travesty, " she said. "The guy is an honorable man. He's well-intended, a gentleman. We thought he would be a bridge to the factions (on the board)."

Kane was elected chairman in June by a 5-4 vote over Brian Kanno, who was nominated by Timson.

Souza, who backed Kane as chairman, said Kane had attempted to restore a sense of decorum on the board.

Souza said she believes it was wrong for Michael Golojuch Jr. to wear the shirt, took offense, and passed a note to Kane asking that he request that Golojuch remove it. "It's not a matter of his rights, it's a matter of 'is it right?' "

Gabbard said he was saddened by Kane's resignation from the board. "I've got a lot of respect for him and the contribution that he makes to our community."

The freshman senator said he supports the First Amendment and the right of citizens to express themselves. "I don't take offense at a negative T-shirt or what people say," he said.

City spokesman Bill Brennan said that board Vice Chairman Kioni Dudley will assume the role of chairman at Wednesday's meeting.

The commission "has been in touch with a mediator to determine if there is some type of training that would help this board," Brennan said. The mediator will watch the board meeting on 'Olelo "and get back to the commission with ideas."

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.