Rep. Denny Coffman receives Energy Policy certificate

Rep Denny Coffman Legislative Energy Horizon Institute Certificate

Paulette Abe: Green Champion

The House Green Champion Team (Brandon, Paulette, and Merissa)

The January/February issue of the iConserve Energy Initiative's Green Champion Newsletter spotlights Chamber Coordinator Paulette Abe of the House Sergeant-at-Arms Office as a Green Champion. The iConserve Energy Initiative is a program developed by the State Energy Office, Department of Accounting and General Services, and NORESCO that encourages state employees to take energy saving measures at work to lower the overall energy consumption of the building.

In a fashion that is typical of her 26 years of service to the State of Hawai'i, Paulette credits her accomplishments to the House Green Champion Team. Merissa Sakuda of Rep. Denny Coffman's office and Brandon Masuoka of the House Majority Staff Office helped Paulette save thousands of taxpayer dollars by making the Capitol greener.

Selfless service and being a team player reflect the values Paulette learned from her parents and grandmother while growing up in Makaha. They also taught her the importance of energy conservation and stewardship for the land. Paulette reflects on her childhood, "We were taught at an early age to always pick up after yourself and take your opala leaving a place better than you found it."

Paulette's passion for the environment and the state of Hawai'i inspire everyone who comes into contact with this amazing woman. She has certainly made the Capitol a better place than it was when she found it. Mahalo nui loa Paulette.

Rep. Coffman becomes EEP Chair

The House of Representatives yesterday approved a resolution to appoint Rep. Denny Coffman as the Chairman of the House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection. He also serves as a member of the committees on Housing, and Water, Land & Ocean Resources.

Rep. Coffman, who served as the Vice Chair of the Energy & Environmental Protection committee since the 2009 legislative session, has been serving as Chair in an acting capacity since the previous Chair, Rep. Hermina Morita, resigned to become Chair of the Public Utilities Commission.

"I am honored that my colleagues and the leadership team in the House of Representatives have appointed me to be the Chair of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection," said Rep. Coffman. "Energy combined with environmental issues are major policy areas in transition. As a full-time legislator, I welcome the opportunity to help lead our state in developing energy and environmental protection policy."

Coffman represents District 6 – North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona and Honokohau.

$1.5 million released for Kealakehe Community Center

Rep. Denny Coffman today praised the release of $1.526 million in design and planning funds to Laiopua 2020, an organization under the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), to build a new community center and medical clinic in Kealakehe.

“This project was my number one capital improvement priority during the 2010 legislative session,” said Rep. Coffman (District 6 –North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau.) “In addition to creating construction jobs and permanent employment, the Laiopua Community Center will provide core government service facilities in a key location of the Kailua-Kona community. I want to thank my legislative colleagues for including this project in the CIP budget during a year when we face many fiscal challenges, and applaud the Governor for releasing the funds.”

The site is next door to the 1,500-student Kealakehe High School and nearby to the 800-student Kealakehe Intermediate School and the 1,000-student Kealakehe Elementary School. On the immediate north side of this 26-acre community complex, is over 325 Native Hawaiian homes with another 900 homes in the planning stage. On the immediate south side of the community complex is the planned Kamakana Villages Project; a 2,300-unit affordable housing development being planned by Hawaii Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC) and developed by Forest City.

According to DHHL, groundbreaking is anticipated to take place in July 2011. The community center is currently planned to include a computer lab and learning center, audio-visual center, after school and summer enrichment programs, culinary program and community kitchen, and space for community meetings and gatherings. In addition, the community center will include space for social service programs related to existing agencies.

“When completed, this project will provide childcare, healthcare, Hawaiian cultural, recreation and family support services,” continued Rep. Coffman. “The Big Island team of legislators believe that this is a model community project in the right place at the right time.”

Rep Coffman Selected as UH Legislator-in-Residence

State Representative Denny Coffman (District 6 – North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau) has been selected as a Legislator-in-Residence at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Rep. Coffman will join the College of Social Sciences during the Fall 2010 semester. Established in 2002, the Legislator-in-Residence program provides an opportunity for lawmakers to discuss issues that affect the community with students and faculty and to share information on how those issues may be transformed into policy through legislation.

“It is a great honor to be selected as a Legislator-in-Residence,” said Rep. Coffman. “I believe that this process creates a tremendous benefit for our communities. Much can be learned by having the legislature participating with the university to understand and solve current and real policy issues. I look forward to participating in this great program.”

Each Legislator-in-Residence is encouraged to develop a project of importance to the community, collaborate with faculty and students, take part in colloquium presentations, give lectures to classes, and develop policy that may result in legislative action. The activities serve to better connect the community and the university.

Rep. Coffman is Vice Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection. He serves on the committees on Finance; Water, Land & Ocean Resources; and Housing. He is a founding director and officer of Community Enterprises, a non-profit and non-partisan organization that organizes monthly Kona town meetings. For his Legislator-in-Resident project, he will be exploring how to move people to accept the changes needed to transition to clean energy and environment, including developing legislation for the 2011 legislative session.

20th Anniversary of the Public Access Room

Representative Denny Coffman today congratulates Suzanne Marinelli (left) and Virginia Beck (right) of the Legislative Reference Bureau's Public Access Room (PAR) on its 20th Anniversary.

PAR serves the citizens of Hawai`i by providing facilities, services and equipment to enhance their ability to participate in the legislative process. You are welcome here to track and affect legislation pending before the Hawai`i State Legislature.

The Geography of a Recession

Rep. Denny Coffman shared this interactive graphic map depicting the unemployment rates by U.S. county over time. It starts in January 2007 and ends at October 2009. The animated graphic was prepared by Latoya Egwuekwe based on statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor. Click on play and watch the visual deterioration of employment and the economy in America.

Reps in the News

The NELHA gate has been re-opened, allowing access to the beach at Kohanaiki. Rep. Denny Coffman and Sen. Josh Green held a public meeting on the issue a few weeks ago. Here's a report by Hawaii247.org. Here's the previous story by Hawaii247 on the meeting.

Speaker Calvin Say comments on Enterprise's new venture - purchasing a fleet of hybrid rental cars such as the Honda Civic and Insight, and the Toyota Prius.

Lahaina News writes an editorial thanking Rep. Kyle Yamashita and Sen. Shan Tsutsui for helping to keep the Friday Night Lights on for Maui high school football.

Manta Ray bill becomes law

Governor Lingle today signed a bill into law protecting Manta Rays within state marine waters. Rep. Denny Coffman (District 6 – North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau) introduced the bill as a way to ensure that these unique sea creatures, captured and in demand for various uses, do not become endangered in Hawaii. According to ocean resource experts, Hawaii is the top Manta Ray destination in the world because of limited natural predators.

House Bill 366 was signed into law as Act 92 (09). The new law establishes criminal penalties and administrative fines for knowingly killing or capturing Manta Rays within state waters. Exceptions are made for research and educational purposes.

The fines are: $500 for the first offense; $2,000 for the second offense; and $10,000 for the third or subsequent offense.

The bill provides an exception for special permits granted for scientific, education, management or propagation purposes. It requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to determine the allowed “take” under special permit circumstances.

The new law is now in effect. Prior to today, there were no laws protecting the Manta Ray in Hawaiian waters.

“I thought it was important to take action now before we face a serious loss of these magnificent creatures,” said Rep. Denny Coffman. “We are a state surrounded by water and protecting the Manta Rays is part of our role as stewards of the ocean.”

Manta Rays are not extinct, but considered “near threatened”, which means that they are in danger of becoming an extinct species in the near future. There are two small resident populations of Manta Rays in Hawaii under observation. One of the populations, about 150 in number, is located near the Big Island. The other is located near Maui and contains about 300. They are particularly vulnerable to extinction as they take a long time to reach maturity and they reproduce a single offspring every two or three years. The populations are relatively small.

Manta Rays are captured for display in aquariums, but their survival rate in captivity is poor. Manta Ray gill rakes and fins are also in demand in East Asia as a food delicacy.

Kona Lawmakers to hold End of Session "Talk Story"

The public is invited to a town meeting held by Majority Floor Leader Cindy Evans and Representative Denny Coffman, vice chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection. Lawmakers will brief community members on legislation approved this session. Community members are encouraged to come with questions, concerns, and suggestions for bill proposals for next year.

When: Thursday, May 28, 2009
6 – 8 p.m.

Where: Kealakehe High School Cafeteria
74-5000 Puohulihuli St
Kailua Kona, HI 96740

Legislature approves bill protecting manta rays in Hawaii waters

House and Senate conferees Thursday approved a measure that would prohibit knowingly capturing or killing manta rays within Hawaii waters. The proposed measure, House Bill 366, would only allow manta rays to be taken for educational, scientific, management and propagation purposes, requiring a person or organization to apply for a special "take" permit from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Representative Denny Coffman (District 6 – North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau), a freshman lawmaker, introduced the measure to ensure that Hawaii laws help to preserve the state's ecosystem and protect from extinction one of its many natural marine resources. Currently, there is no law protecting the small, distinct populations of Hawaii manta rays, including around 150 manta rays in Kona, Hawaii and 300 in Maui County.

"This is a prevention measure," said Rep. Coffman. "We don't have a huge problem with people capturing and killing manta rays yet, but why wait until our small populations slowly cease to exist?"

These majestic creatures are susceptible to overfishing and are killed for their dried gill rakers in order to produce traditional Asian medicine as well as for food. There is no immediate threat to the manta population in Hawaii. However, new demand for manta rays has already threatened local populations in Indonesia, Mexico and the Philippines. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an authority on species extinction, has classified manta rays as a species threatened with extinction in the near future.

Because of their sweeping wings that can span up to 12 feet and breathtaking beauty, people are naturally curious about manta rays. This encourages the growing popularity of capturing these rare and exquisite creatures for display in national and international aquariums. Manta rays have low reproduction rates, reaching sexual maturity after 10 years and producing pups one every two or three years, making replacement of captured manta rays through natural reproduction a long process.

"Protecting manta rays in Hawaii is also beneficial for our ecotourism," Rep. Coffman noted. "The manta ray diving industry in Kona brings in around $2.5 million annually. There aren't many places in the world where you can see manta rays in their natural habitat."

The bill will go to the House and Senate for final full floor vote and then to the governor for signature.

Hawaii Foodbank Events Mar/April

More events to benefit the Hawaii Foodbank have been added to the calendar. Here are a few of the new additions:

White Elephant Sale on April 13 sponsored by Reps. Karen Awana, Joe Souki and Michael Magaoay.

Bento sale on March 25. Pre-order with Rep. Tom Brower.

Okuhara Deluxe saimin sale on March 30 with Rep. Denny Coffman.

Mistken Chicken Plate and Liliha Coco Puffs on March 31 sponsored by Rep. Corinne Ching.

Check out the calendar in House Links for more fundraisers sponsored by House and Senate lawmakers.

The Ledge: Manta Lovers

"The Ledge" is produced by the office of Rep. Hermina Morita. Here's the latest video on Manta Rays:

Representative Denny Coffman, a freshman lawmaker from the Big Island, talks about a pro-active measure he introduced this session that would make it illegal to kill or capture manta rays. Only 154 manta rays have been identified in Kona, Hawaii since 1992. These majestic creatures are susceptible to overfishing and are hunted and killed for their dried gill rakers in order produce traditional Asian medicine. There is no immediate threat to the manta population in Hawaii. However, new demand for manta rays have already threatened local populations in Indonesia, Mexico and the Phillipines. HB366 makes an exception for special permits granted for scientific, education, management and propagation purposes.

The Senate Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs will be hearing HB 366 March 18, 2009 at 3 p.m. in conference room 229.

Next on Kukui Connection

Rep. Marilyn Lee interviews two freshmen legislators on her cable access television show, "Kukui Connection" during the month of March. The show airs every Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. on Channel 54.

Meet Rep. Henry Aquino - March 1, 15, and 29. Rep. Aquino represents District 35 - Pearl City, Waipahu. He was elected in 2008 to the seat formerly held by Alex Sonson.

Meet Rep. Denny Coffman - March 8 and 22. Rep. Coffman represents District 6 - North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona and Honokohau. He was elected in 2008 to the seat formerly held by Senator Josh Green.

Freshmen on Hawaii Public Radio

Wayne Yoshioka, Hawaii Public Radio, interviewed 5 of the 6 majority freshmen last week and filed a report that aired last Thursday. The interview is on the KHPR website here. Following are some highlights from the story about their experiences as a new legislator so far...

Isaac Choy: "The learning curve is very steep here. It's worse than college."

Jessica Wooley: "We may not be able to succeed all the time, but we're going to see what we can do."

Denny Coffman: "I use the example of Mauna Kea eggs (not made in Hawaii)...We need to look at the brand names and make sure they meet the definition of made in Hawaii."

Henry Aquino: "I'm getting married, believe it or not, 11 days before Opening Day. That was one of the things my financee told me, I'll support you, but she's not going to consider changing the wedding date."

Chris Lee: "Here in the legislature, it takes more than one person, it takes a majority of votes to get anything done. I approached it from that angle and hope to work with everyone here."