Members in the News

Rep. James Kunane Tokioka was quoted in The Honolulu Advertiser and KHON-TV2 on the UH Athletics Department decision to allow UH employees an opportunity to reimburse the school for Sugar Bowl trip expenses. The decision was prompted by the upcoming release of names of those who received expense-paid trips to New Orleans in response to a Freedom of Information request from Hawaii media.

"I know we can't go back and change what happened, but I think it is an embarrassing situation now for the athletic department at that time not to think about what the policy was or was going to be," state Rep. James Tokioka, D-15th (Lihu'e, Koloa) told KHON yesterday. "I feel sorry for the employees who, in my mind, were innocent in the whole process."

Rep Cindy Evans was interviewed by Wayne Yoshioka, HPR News, at a meeting held with Windward veterans. Rep. Evans, Chair of the House Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, is holding statewide meetings this month to talk with veterans about the quality of services, especially medical services, in Hawaii. Hear the entire story here.

"When there's cuts in personnel, it's the neighbor islands that have suffered the most. Maybe you have to have a roaming counselor, someone to come out and provide services based on appointments, medical care, scheduling appointings, all of their services - it's kind of inconsistent and sometimes very difficult for them, and very frustrating for neighbor island people."

"Showing the respect for veterans will go a long way with young people. It's like, why would you want to enter the service if that's how they are going to treat you when you get out?"