DISCOVER THE PUBLIC'S POWER IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

 Free Workshops on the Legislative Process coming to Hawaii Island September 9-13

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi - Ever wonder how laws are created in our state and how you can have an influence on them? The Public Access Room (PAR) will be visiting Hawaiʻi Island from September 9-13 to demystify our state's legislative process and teach citizens how they can have a say in which bills become law.

"How-To" guides, informational handouts, and other resources will be available. Workshop times include:

Kailua Kona

West Hawaiʻi Civic Center Liquor Conference Room; 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Highway

Monday, Sept. 9, 6 to 7 p.m.  

Ocean View

Ocean View Community Center; 92-8924 Leilani Circle

Tuesday, Sept. 10, noon to 1 p.m.

REPRESENTATIVE DALE KOBAYASHI ASKS GOV. IGE TO NOT PROVIDE STATE FUNDS FOR THE ALA WAI FLOOD PROJECT

Mānoa lawmaker says $125 million expense was rejected by House last session

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Rep. Dale T. Kobayashi has sent a letter to Governor David Ige urging him to reconsider his decision to provide State funds to pay a $125 million portion of the federal Ala Wai Flood Mitigation Project.

"As you know, during the 2019 legislative session the House rejected SB 77 which would have provided the city's share of funding," Kobayashi said in the letter. "This vote reflected the will of the chamber and of our respective constituencies to not provide state resources for this effort."

Earlier this week the City Council approved a resolution to move forward on the Ala Wai project after Mayor Caldwell expressed confidence the State would come up with the approximately $125 million match, via the issuance of Certificates of Participation.

Robert Yu, Deputy Director of the State Department of Budget & Finance, confirmed that the funding is already in the works, bond counsel has been hired, and the State is soliciting bids for the underwriting. 

CIP FUNDS RELEASED FOR HONUAʻULA FOREST RESERVE

$1.3 million earmarked for fencing, new access road

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – State Representative Nicole Lowen (D-North Kona) is pleased to announce that Governor David Ige has release $1.3 million in Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funds to benefit the Honuaʻula Forest Reserve.

The funds will be used to repair and install fencing, and to create a new access road for the North Kona reserve.

"I want to thank the Governor for releasing these funds for this important project," said Rep. Lowen. "Honua’ula Forest Reserve is the primary watershed for the North Kona area and these funds will help to protect our drinking water supply, and to preserve important habitat for native flora and fauna. As the current stewards of our environment, it is our responsibility to preserve and protect places like Honuaʻula."

The Honuaʻula Forest Reserve was established in 1906 to preserve the forest and manage the watershed and today covers 8,489 acres.

SECOND TIME CAPSULE INSTALLED AT THE STATE CAPITOL

Senator Brian Taniguchi, his grandson Roycen Strom and Hawaiʻi State Archivist Adam Jansen place the time capsule in the wall at the State Capitol.  

Contents to be reveled in 2069 during 100^th anniversary commemoration ceremony

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – When the Hawaiʻi State Capitol was dedicated on March 15, 1969, a time capsule was placed in a concrete wall and sealed with a bronze plaque. As part of the 50^th Anniversary celebration of the Capitol building this past March, that time capsule was opened and the contents reveled.

Today, a new time capsule with mementoes of our own era was placed in the northwest corner column of the Capitol rotunda and the original dedication plaque reinstalled.

"This is living history. The objects we have sealed in this wall today will be removed someday and provide insight into our lives in the early 21^st Century," said Senator Brian T. Taniguchi, chairman of the 50^th Anniversary of the Hawaiʻi State Capitol Task Force. "Time does not stand still, but by placing this time capsule, a moment in time has been captured."

REP. MATAYOSHI, HOUSE LEADERSHIP TO HOST LAWMAKERS LISTEN EVENT

WHO:             Representative Scot Z. Matayoshi

                        House Speaker Scott K. Saiki

                        Vice Speaker Mark M. Nakashima

House Majority Leader Della Au Belatti

House Majority Floor Leader Dee Morikawa

WHAT:          Lawmakers Listen for State House District 49

WHEN:          Wednesday, August 28

                        6:30 p.m.

                       

WHERE:       Ben Parker Elementary School Cafeteria

                        45-259 Waikalua Road, Kāne‘ohe

                       

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Residents of Kāne‘ohe, Maunawili, Olomana are invited to join Representative Scot Z. Matayoshi and House leadership during the next Lawmakers Listen at Ben Parker Elementary School August 28. The event is an opportunity for the community to discuss important issues and learn about the significant bills passed during the 2019 Legislative session.

Matayoshi will be joined by House Speaker Scott K. Saiki, Vice Speaker Mark M. Nakashima, House Majority Leader Della Au Belatti, and House Majority Floor Leader Dee Morikawa.

HEALTH COMMITTEES TO DISCUSS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

WHO:             Representative John Mizuno, Chair, House Committee on Health

Senator Rosalyn Baker, Chair, Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health

WHAT:          Informational Briefing on building Hawaiʻi's healthcare workforce for the 21^st Century

WHEN:          Wednesday, August 21

                        9 a.m.

                       

WHERE:       Hawaiʻi State Capitol

                        Room 329

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi –The House Committee on Health and the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health Committee will hold an informational briefing on Hawaiʻi's healthcare workforce development for the 21^st Century at 9 a.m. Aug. 21 in room 329 at the State Capitol.

Hawaiʻi became a leader in healthcare reform in the 1970s when the state required healthcare coverage for eligible employees working at least 20 hours per week. Today the state is faced with maintaining its healthcare workforce, with many physicians and healthcare workers leaving the field of healthcare.

The briefing will highlight four goals:

REPRESENTATIVE GREGG TAKAYAMA APPOINTED CO-CHAIR ON NATIONAL DISASTER RECOVERY STUDY GROUP

Bi-partisan committee focuses public-private cooperation in emergencies

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Hawai‘i State Representative Gregg Takayama was appointed Co-Chair of a national steering committee on public-private partnerships on emergency management at the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit last week in Nashville, Tennessee.

The newly formed committee is intended to provide legislators and private sector partners a chance to engage on the future of disaster mitigation and recovery, and pursue coordination between federal, state and private sectors over the next 18 months.

"Although both the federal and state governments have demonstrated a clear emphasis on this issue, coordination and cooperation between these levels of government, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors, needs improvement," said the NCSL Foundation in announcing the formation of the committee.

"Hawai‘i is known nationally for the wide variety of emergencies we’ve faced, from volcanic eruptions to floods to brushes with hurricanes. I look forward to working with our Democratic and

HOUSE TECH SUPPORT OFFICE RECEIVES NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Team recognized at legislative summit for technological work, internal website redesign 

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi House of Representatives Tech Support Office has been awarded the Legislative Staff Achievement Award from the National Association of Legislative Information Technology (NALIT). 

The award was presented at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Nashville yesterday. Team members were presented with a plaque and recognized at the NALIT Business Meeting at the summit.

"IT Director Craig Nakahara and his hard-working staff continually come up with creative and innovative solutions which improve the way legislators and their staffs operate," said Hawaiʻi House Speaker Scott K. Saiki. "This team is doing great work and deserve this recognition."

REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS LEE ELECTED NCEL VICE PRESIDENT

National non-partisan group focuses on environment, climate, energy policies

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – This week at its annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, Hawai‘i State Representative Chris Lee was elected to be the Vice President of the National Caucus of Environmental Leaders (NCEL).

NCEL is a non-partisan organization of 1200 Republican, Democratic, and independent State Legislators from all 50 states, territories. It is a 501(c)(3) organization that was created by and for state legislators to exchange policy ideas and work collectively toward improving environmental, climate and energy policy.

The NCEL Board of Directors, on which Rep. Lee has served since 2015, is comprised of 14 members, a majority of which are sitting state legislators. As Vice President Rep. Lee will work with newly-elected NCEL President and former Alaska House Minority Leader Beth Kerttula in leading and building an even stronger Caucus.

“As a national thought leader on policies that transition states to renewable energy, cleaner air and water, and sustainability for the future, Rep. Lee has been an invaluable mentor to his peers in the Caucus looking to replicate the success he has had making Hawai‘i a national leader on climate and energy policy,” said Jeff Mauk, executive director of NCEL. “NCEL is fortunate to have such a visionary leader bolstering our efforts to create a healthier environment for all.”

HOUSE SPEAKER SAIKI NAMED PRESIDENT-ELECT OF NCSL

Bipartisan group provides research, technical support for lawmakers nationwide

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – House Speaker Scott K. Saiki has become president-elect of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a bipartisan organization serving the nation’s 7,383 state lawmakers and more than 20,000 legislative staff, at the annual Legislative Summit in Nashville.

Speaker Saiki, the current NCSL vice president, succeeds Speaker Robin Vos (R-WI.), Speaker of the Assembly from Wisconsin, who will become NCSL president. NCSL alternates leadership between the two parties each year. Saiki will be named NCSL president at the 2020 Legislative Summit.

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve as President-Elect and look forward to continued collaboration with my colleagues from around the country,” said Saiki. “NCSL has afforded legislators and staff an unrivaled opportunity to learn from the experiences of other states, exchange ideas and come up with policy solutions that can help propel our respective states and, ultimately, our entire nation forward. I look forward to continued work with our Washington office to ensure federal policies are in line with state priorities.” 

KALIHI CHURCH OFFERS SHELTER TO HOMELESS AS STORMS APPROACH

Rep. Mizuno seeks community, state support to create 'Ohana Zone' for church, farm

Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – With two major storms approaching Hawaiʻi, a Kalihi church already known for helping homeless people, is offering to provide shelter for an additional 50 people at its 4-acre Waiʻanae Valley farm, according to Representative John Mizuno, Chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee.

Rep. Mizuno (Kalihi Valley, Kamehameha Heights, portion of Lower Kalihi) is working with Pastor Duk Hwan Kim of Cedar Church Kalihi to quickly assist dozens of homeless people pushed out of Kakaʻako this week with emergency shelter before Hurricane Erick and Tropical Storm Flossie hitting Oʻahu in the next few days.

"These people are wandering the streets with no place to go and two storms approaching," said Mizuno. "They need help and the church is offering to provide them shelter. I'm hoping this can happen before anyone is hurt."