House members, staff go head-to-head in Kickball fundraiser for P.A.R.E.N.T.S

House Majority Kickball Team

House Majority and Minority members and their staff went at it head-to-head in a kickball tournament fundraiser held by the non-profit organization P.A.R.E.N.T.S at the Kaneohe District Part this past Saturday. The competition was fierce with the teams battling to a 4-4 tie after the allowed 6 innings. The umpire allowed another inning to break the tie but neither team scored. With minutes to go before getting kicked off the field for other teams to play, the umpire ruled the first team to score as the victor. The House Minority went to kick first and brought in the final point. It was a fun day, and all for a good cause. Like Rep. Tom Brower said after the game, "Everybody was a winner!" (Check out the awesome photos from Star Advertiser's Dennis Oda)

P.A.R.E.N.T.S. Inc. is dedicated to strengthening Hawaii's families by providing services to prevent and stop child abuse and neglect. This was its first annual Kickball fundraiser.

Rep. Brower Judges the 2012 Miss Diamond Head Pageant

Rep. Brower brought the leather but not the lyrics this time— with Miss Hawaii 2011 Lauren Cheape.

Earlier this month, Rep. Brower accepted the invitation to be a judge for the Miss Diamond Head and Ala Moana Scholarship Program, preliminary pageants to Miss Hawaii 2012 and Miss America 2013.

Other judges included representatives of Hawaii Pacific University, Whole Foods, Halau Na Maka O Ka Laua'e and Mister Hawaii Manhunt International 2011.

Rep. Tom Brower (Waikiki/ Ala Moana) joined by panel judges at the Miss Oahu, Waikiki, Diamond Head and Ala Moana Pageants held Feb. 4 at the Japanese Cultural Center. 

The pageant contestants were judged on their readiness to represent Hawaii, ability to grow and be a team player, and whether they were up for the challenge— as exemplified in the swimsuit, evening gown, talent and platform question rounds.

 "We should have a pageant where looks don't count—oh, yeah. We have the elections." Rep. Brower

As a legislator, Representative Tom Brower is inspired by beauty pageants, which are like elections for attractive, ambitious women— without the sign-waving.

The winners:

Miss Oahu: Carissa Kitaoka (Piano/ Vocal)

Miss Waikiki: Sarah Correia (Hula)

Miss Diamond Head: Skyler Kamaka (Hula)

Miss Ala Moana: Courtney Gaddis (Piano)

To see the winners' picture or for more information: http://www.missoahu.org/index.html

Investment in Product

Leaders of the tourism industry came with clear messages to share with House lawmakers Monday at an informational briefing with the Tourism Committee: more money is needed for marketing Hawaii at more globally competitive levels and taxing complimentary hotel rooms hurts the industry.

The informational briefing was held to discuss the “Tourism Industry’s Major Pocketbook Issues”. Invited to the hearing were representatives from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the Waikiki Improvement Association, and the hotel industry.

"We scheduled this briefing to learn more about the history of tourism taxes in Hawaii and hear from some of the hotel industry leaders who often can't come to the Capitol," said Rep. Tom Brower, chair of the House Tourism Committee. "We wanted to know how our tourism laws are affecting their properties."

Compared to previous years, 2011 was a good year for tourism in Hawaii. However, despite the rise in visitors and revenues, industry leaders warned lawmakers against getting too comfortable.

“This great year we had in 2011 is fragile,” said Rick Egged, President of the Waikiki Improvement Association. He added that the next years may not be as fruitful.

Like his other colleagues mentioned in testimony, Egged said that 2011 was a good year for a variety of reasons, including uncontrollable factors that swayed in Hawaii’s favor. The first of which is the favorable exchange rate for international visitors, the second being the increase of airline destinations from Honolulu.

What can be controlled - and has been a success - is the “investment in product (infrastructure)”, the marketing efforts made by the state, and the amount of cultural and sporting events held throughout the year, he said. However, the state must constantly improve its product and marketing strategies to remain competitive.

Reiterated by many of the testifiers at the briefing was the fact that Hawaii’s infrastructure - specifically parks, beaches, and bathrooms – must be improved. A representative from HTA mentioned that in surveys of Hawaii visitors this category is always rated the lowest.

It was clear that the tourism industry representatives at the informational briefing were on a mission to educate lawmakers on the industry's financial issues and gain support for the measures currently being vetted at the Legislature.

A Senate bill (SB490) moving through the process will increase funding for HTA marketing efforts by $2 million every year until 2015. Last year HTA spent $80 million on the marketing of Hawaii. The measure advanced from the Senate Tourism Committee and will cross over to the House for consideration.

Lowell Kalapa, from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, opined on the new law passed last session that imposes a flat $10 transient accommodation tax on complimentary rooms. This law is “not helping the industry to survive,” he said.

Hotels are known to offer complimentary room packages and promotions to entice guests to stay at their property, and sometimes offer complimentary rooms  to charity organizations. Industry leaders noted that hotels leverage their comp rooms for a substantial return on investment, but they have seen a decrease in comp rooms given since the new law was enacted.

David Carey, from the Outrigger Enterprises Group, told lawmakers that taxing complimentary rooms are not going to achieve the State’s revenue goals, but it does affect the hotel industry's bottom line.

Rep. Tom Brower said that the Tourism Committee wants to look into the complimentary room tax. "Complimentary rooms are used to promote Hawaii as a visitor destination," he stated. "If less complimentary rooms are being offered, we may be hindering the desired results the hotel industry strives for in terms of promotion. I'm also concerned about how this affects Hawaii charities. We'll be taking a good look at the measure when it is heard in committee."

Pro Bowl Trophy

 Football fan/ Waikiki Representative Tom Brower with Representatives Sylvia Luke and Scott Saiki, Chief Clerk CJ Leong and NFL Cheerleaders.

Rep. Tom Brower, Chair of the House Tourism committee, joined the Pro Bowl Cheerleaders at Wolfgang's Steakhouse (Waikiki), the official home of the NFL Pro Bowl Trophy on January 23, 2012.

While there, he ran into Reps. Sylvia Luke and Scott Saiki and Chief Clerk CJ Leong, who were having lunch at the restaurant.

"The Pro Bowl Trophy, which was on public display at Wolfgang’s from January 24th -28th, was a great way to kick off Sunday's NFL Pro Bowl event at Aloha Stadium," said Rep. Brower.

For more information on NFL Pro Bowl Hawaii 2012, please visit http://www.nfl.com/probowl.

Brower brings the lyrics and leather

Rep. Tom Brower never disappoints when it comes to his lyrical performances. It all started in 2009…let’s take a trip down memory lane:

May 1, 2009 - “Untitled - Please bow your heads”
April 13, 2010 - “It’s Going Down”
February 15, 2011 – “Not in my House”
March 28, 2011 – “Info Brief your Ego”

This year, the Rapper turned Singer-Songwriter turned American Poet, best known to fans as the Tominator, again wowed his colleagues with a poetic invocation that created a smorgasbord of words about our favorite topic at the Hawaii House Blog, the Legislature.

His poem is a word play on the Order of the Day, which is a daily written agenda of measures being discussed during legislative session.(See lyrics below)

INTRO:
Feeling high from the momentum of his fourth place finish at last year's freshmen talent show, the artist from Waikiki, proving again he is more than a one hit wonder, brings the lyrics and leather, with a new compilation of free-verse poetry, entitled, "Rep. Brower Live: From the 3rd Floor to Your Backdoor."

The featured composition is about a legislator who feels he cannot always be himself or say the sophisticated things he really wants to. This prose is entitled, "The Order of the Day."


POEM:
Birth, death, love, hate,
Friendship, arrogance, respect, deceit:

I get used to the metamorphosis in every way.
Legislators need balance to survive the Order of the Day.

A public reception or private caucus meeting.
What's really there and if I care, people aren't always seeing.

Together we work, together we play.
None of us confuse the Order of the Day.

Read my book between the lines; you'll know the real me better.
Disregard my public persona and talking points on the cover.

While courteous, what I think can be different from what I say.
Behind the scenes I'm on my knees to the Order of the Day.

Nodding yes, but inside disagreeing.
A survival skill, for or against. What's my role? Is there real meaning?

Voters' choices aren't black and white -- but sometimes gray
When I am the public servant to the Order of the Day.

A bond to common purpose, a loyalty on the surface.
Leaders, dissenters, republicans, democrats, the corruption from innocence.

A fondness of each other, at times, distrust of one another.

At some point, will God have me pay?
For becoming a political pawn to the Order of the Day

Big Guns

A group of elected officials and other guests were invited to tour Pearl Harbor on Saturday to learn more about the Pearl Harbor historic sites. Elected officials above include Rep. Ty Cullen, Councilmember Stanley Chang, Rep. Tom Brower, Councilmember Breene Harimoto and Rep. Jo Jordan. The group is gathered here on the U.S.S. Missouri.

Capitol Blood Drive

Rep. Marcus Oshiro and Rep. Tom Brower joined many at the Hawaii State Capitol in donating blood to the Blood Bank of Hawaii to help save lives. The event was sponsored by Senate President Shan S. Tsutsui.

If you've never given blood, consider these facts from the American Red Cross the next time you hear about a blood drive:

• Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.
• Donating blood is a safe process. A sterile needle is used only once for each donor and then discarded.
• Blood donation is a simple four-step process: registration, medical history and mini-physical, donation and refreshments.

Hope to see you at the next blood drive!

Cultural Gems

Submitted by the Office of Rep. Tom Brower:

During the interim, Rep. Brower has been keeping busy with site visits to learn about our cultural gems across the island, which he often views from the perspective of Tourism Chair.

A. APEC Sites

Today, he joined the House International Affairs committee to visit the Honolulu International Airport, East-West Center and the Hawaii Convention Center and assess their "APEC readiness.

Of particular importance were the airport upgrades with moving walkways, healthier food and beverage concessions, and 1800-stall parking structure, part of the $2.3 billion modernization program approved in 2006 to improve passenger service and increase security and operational efficiencies.

(From Left): SMG General Manager Joe Davis with Reps. Evans, Brower, Awana and McKelvey. The Hawai‘i Convention Center has received its 13th consecutive Prime Site Award from Facilities & Destinations magazine.

B. Legacy Lands

This interim, Rep. Brower has joined Senate Vice-Chair of Hawaiian Affairs, Pohai Ryan, to visit Fong Plantation (Kaneohe), Sunset Ranch, Turtle Bay, and Hawaii Agricultural Research Station (Waipahu).

The Dept. of Land and Natural Resources "Legacy Land Conservation Program" (LLCP) provides grants to local organizations and agencies seeking to purchase and protect lands having these unique and rare valuable resources.

The 700-acre Fong Plantation, which is filled with tropical fruit, palms, ferns, and fragrant flowers, originally belonged to King Lunalilo. Former Senator Hiram L. Fong, who purchased it in 1950, is well-known for being the first Asian American presidential candidate (1964).

(From Left): Reps. Hashem and Brower, Hiram Fong Jr., Sen. Ryan and guest at the Plantation.

Paying for News

Yesterday, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser announced that they will be putting up a paywall on their website for certain parts of their online coverage. They did not provide details on what specifically would be behind the paywall or how much they are planning to charge.

Hawaii Business Magazine also covered the subject of "paying for news" in their June edition. It's a comprehensive overview of the Honolulu newscene from the perspective of news providers, news readers, and news makers. Rep. Tom Brower is in it and said:

“In some ways, there is more meaningful news out there if you know where to look for it,” says Brower, who reads the Star-Advertiser every day, channel surfs TV news and drops in on several websites.

“There are stories you won’t get on mainstream television and certainly not on commercial radio,” Brower says. “So I wouldn’t say it is all doom and gloom. It’s out there if you look for it.”

Brower worked in broadcasting for about 10 years during and after college, including local radio stations KSSK and KPOI. He started in radio at KGU on Seaside Avenue in Waikiki.

What's on your wall, Rep. Tom Brower?

Join us April 1, 2011, from 5-7 p.m. for Art at the Capitol 2011. View over 460 works of Art from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' "Art in Public Places Program."

"Info Brief Your Ego"?

Rep. Tom Brower gave the invocation before session today. While some may have been expecting a rap, Brower explained to members that he has reinvented himself.

That's right, the Tominator, as he calls himself, has gone from Street Rapper to Singer-Songwriter to American Poet.

“This one is more philosophical, the 'Sergeant Pepper' of my invocations, or at least the White album,” said Brower.

---

"Info Brief Your Ego"?

This year's issues, the laughter, the tissues,

The civil unions, homeless solutions,

Animal abusers, winners and losers.

A financial depression begs the question:

Legislator, are you doing all you could this session?

Are you politicking? Or really giving?

Standing for something? Or just chest-thumping?

When others look bad, do you feel glad?

A hearing— to defer a bill? Rally the public for shock value thrill.

Is your "Change we can believe in" for a purpose?

Or an attention grabber? Just scratch the surface.

Being effective isn’t just [about] winning elections.

We are friends but let's not pretend

That the fishbowl we live in doesn't invite egotism.

Pettiness isn't pretty and real work isn't easy.

As a body, we are only as effective as people think,

Only as strong as our weakest link.

From Politician to Statesman… The realization you find:

It's sad to do the right thing, and thankless at times.

Together, if we want what's right, let's correct what's wrong, stand to fight,

sing our song.

Rise above for insight, wisdom and love.

Overcome the mud on our shoes. Do it for the right reason.

We may not win big, but we won't lose.

Because the real goal, isn't the voter poll. It's to humble yourself and save your soul.

The Making Of… The 2011 Staff Picture

Submitted by the Office of Rep. Tom Brower


When not working, Representative Tom Brower’s favorite hobbies at the Capitol are art, poetry and songwriting. He is also an avid photographer.

This photo is one of several outtakes he took for the 2011 House staff directory. In order to save taxpayer money, Rep. Brower tries not to hire too many session staff (among other cost-saving practices).

For the backdrop, Rep. Brower brought his favorite checkerboard sheet (bought from a local thrift store).
Practical props are also famous fixtures in his office: his muse, Attila, a gnome stool by Kartell, is also the office butler. The gunmetal gray Marais A chair by Tolix is based on designs from WWII French cafes. The charcoal portrait was given to him by a freestyle artist in the building.

Committee Clerk Lauren is standing on her head (maybe) next to Office Manager Cynthia (also the staff curator).

"We are proud to be in Office and work to keep it clean and colorful (like the Representative)," said Rep. Brower. “Studio 315” has a motif of bold and intense design and art. Vibrant hues sprawl the office showcasing a montage of works that range from photography, wall art, origami and furniture.

Field Trip

Submitted by the Office of Rep. Tom Brower
Written by Lauren Easley, committee clerk

Last week Representative Tom Brower joined fellow House and Senate members in a two-day, on-site, agricultural field trips across the island.

For Rep. Brower, the highlights were learning about natural farming and aquaponics. Both are techniques which are very similar to the ways early Hawaiians grew and cultivated their crops. Science has recently validated the success of food grown this way, which has proven to be more nutritious and of higher quality.

NATURAL FARMING

At the site visit to Mountain View Dairy in Waianae, Rep. Brower learned about "natural farming." In this context, "natural farming" comes from Han Kyu Cho ("Dr. Cho") of South Korea. He works with the organization, Natural Farming Hawaii, to educate backyard farmers and commercial farmers alike on the many benefits of switching to self- sufficient farming.

LINK: http://naturalfarminghawaii.net/

To fully utilize the concept of self-sufficient farming, you must use only resources found within the farm. In this way, you benefit by cutting down extra expenditures on fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. What replaces them? The use of natural fertilizers such as eggshells and fish bones contains minerals amino acids which lend support to enrich the soil. Indigenous microorganisms in the dirt also help to keep the crops nourished; bacteria, fungi, and protozoa can go a long way. Ultimately, a more rich and saturated soil can reduce the amount of water spent on the crops.

Beyond natural farming in the agricultural aspect, livestock can also partake in the process. Cho has also found ways to reduce the smell, flies, and cleaning requirements in pig farms. A dry litter is used to soak up the waste left by the pigs, and the waste is then left to break down the manure. Microorganisms which are cultivated in the soil aid in the manure break down process. The pigs are also fed with self-sufficient goods; agricultural waste such as sweet potatoes, macadamia nuts, and bananas are used.

AQUAPONICS

At the site visit to the Marine Agrifuture in Kahuku, Rep. Brower learned how the ponds, which are used to cultivate sea asparagus and ogo, create a symbiotic relationship which essentially fertilizes each other crop on their own. The micro algae generated by the sea asparagus helps the ogo to grow in cleaner water, and in turn, the ogo increases the oxygen needed for the sea asparagus to grow.

Self- sufficient farming is a way that Hawaii can learn to grow, and to minimize costs spent on cultivating agricultural goods. As the Chair of the committee on Tourism, Representative Brower hopes to raise interest in a new form of tourism that is taking off, agritourism. Agtourism draws visitors to tours, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, fairs, and festivals that are centered on local agricultural businesses.

Tourism Chair on Homelessness

Representative Tom Brower, Chairman of the House Tourism Committee, recently held a informational briefing on Hawaii's homeless problem on the tourism industry. The Star Advertiser story about the meeting is here.

Below is Rep. Brower's thoughts on the meeting and issue:

When talking about tourism, the issue of homelessness must also be addressed. It is a growing problem in Hawaii's major tourist destinations, including Kakaako.

During the informational briefing, we listened to guest speakers Marc Alexander, the governor's newly appointed state homeless czar, Darlene Hein of the Waikiki Care-A-Van, of Waikiki Health Center, and Anthony Ching, Executive Director of the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

It's clear that Hawaii has several incentives for addressing its homeless problem: for residents, visitors, and the homeless.

At the latest Ala Moana/ Kakaako Neighborhood Board meeting, Executive Director Anthony Ching presented HCDA's latest efforts to address the homeless encampment at Kakaako Waterfront Park.

Kakaako Waterfront Park has been the home of many kinds of homeless— newly arrived from cold weather states, local chronic homeless and CoFA migrants— and of many health/ public safety complaints from residents and visitors, who feel displaced by them and, as a result, avoid visiting one of the State's most popular parks.

HCDA's strategy is rooted in the new philosophy, "Hand up instead of hand out," and includes the following elements:

• Work Training: Homeless are trained to provide trash removal, janitorial and landscaping services, allowing the opportunity to learn job and people skills that will help them obtain future employment as well as to give back to their community. Mr. Ching notes that, for the first time, the park's bathrooms are cleaner than ever. He was impressed with their dedication.

• Matching: The homeless can receive a 50% match towards housing security deposit, enabling to move into their own home.

I urged Mr. Ching to consider safe zones as part of his multi-faceted approach.

Finally, I am grateful for all the attention on safe zones and the Kakaako homeless issue.

In particular, the Star Advertiser published two articles:

• A Sunday editorial was in favor of safe zones.

• In a previous story, the newspaper reported the increase of homeless in the Kakaako.

TB Rap

Members,

In my evolution from street rapper

to singer-song-writer,

I'd like to share with you,

A message of hope, entitled…

"Not in My House"

If, You, Want, Some Innovation in the Invocation

Invite Chair Brower for the celebration

Separate, Church and State, that's a debate

But I'm finding time to write God a rhyme

Think about, important things, you believe in

While our soldiers die, for peace and freedom

The people who, separate – make a facade

What they really show me, is denial of God

So let go the pride, keep faith alive

Without freedom of expression - you got no direction

Leadership Speaker, Joey - Cindy – Blake

Let's show the world, we're Aloha State

Keep the invocation, for the times we live in

So we'll have less hate, in our floor debate

If the dollar bill, can say in God we trust

Than why can't I say a prayer at lunch

Believe, in life, there's a higher power

Let love guide the House, to its finest hour

Thank You

Star Power

Left to right: Cuba Gooding, Jr, Rep. Angus McKelvey, Bradley Cooper, Zach Braff, Rep. Tom Brower and Adrien Brody. The Hollywood stars were in town to support legislation on motion picture tax credits.

Field Trip

Last Saturday, Rep. Tom Brower participated in a Leeward Oahu Field Trip hosted by the Nature Conservancy. As a 28-year Waikiki resident, Rep. Brower does not travel to the leeward side as much as he would like.

The day started with a morning tour of the Hale Wai Vista Affordable Rental Project in Wai'anae. The complex consists of 83 two- and three-bedroom units for families earning up to 30 percent and 50 percent of the HUD area median income. A typical family of four earns between $28,550 and $47,550. Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC), a non-profit entity which specializes in the development of affordable rental housing, developed and owns the project. The project was financed through various private and government sources including $5,500,000 from the Rental Housing Trust Fund, which is funded through conveyance tax collections and legislative appropriations.

The group then visited MA'O Organic Farms in Wai'anae and took a guided tour with Kamuela Enos, the MAO Farms' Education Resource Specialist. As a returning member of the Agriculture Committee, Rep. Brower appreciated the farms' contributions to the State: fresh fruits and vegetables (pesticides are not used), high school students working there as part of MA'O's High School Internship in Organic Agriculture and Food Systems and, of course, its commitment to food security and preserving Hawaiian culture.

Finally, spent the rest of the day hiking to Ka'ena Point, a natural area reserve, where Rep. Brower got a scenic photo of albatross sea birds.

In photo from left to right is Rep. Tom Brower; Emma Yuen, DLNR’s Natural Area Reserves System; guest Betty Lou Larson; and Mark Fox, The Nature Conservancy.

Written and submitted by Cynthia Nyross, Office Manager to Rep. Tom Brower
Photos courtesy of Cynthia Nyross and Rep. Tom Brower

SNAPSHOTS: Beards Appeared and Artistry

Rep. Tom Brower with Governor Neil Abercrombie on Opening Day of the 26th Legislature.

Visitors on Opening Day admired the artwork, created by Rep. Brower, on his office walls.

• On the left wall is his “things that fly” decals, which include birds, insects and fairies.
• The center wall features Piet Mondrian’s “Composition 2” from 1930, a piece that helped popularize the neoplasticism (De Stijl) movement. Art from this movement is characterized by the use of (only) primary colors and values, and straight (horizontal and vertical lines) and rectangular forms, avoiding symmetry. Supposedly, Mondrian designed this piece with the Golden Ratio in mind. A few visitors got their picture taken in front of it.
• The right wall features Verner Panton’s well-known black/white piece, “Geometri,” of 1960.

Teddy Bear World

I missed this when it first came out, but here's Rep. Tom Brower and Diane Ako at the "White House", in a feature on Diane's Honolulu Star-Advertiser blog "Small Talk". The event was the grand opening of Teddy Bear World, a stuffed animal museum in Waikiki.

Lawmakers talk art, music and the future of Hawaii at Fresh Café

Representatives Tom Brower and Marcus Oshiro joined Neil Abercrombie, Colleen Hanabusa, Kim Coco Iwamoto, Jon Osorio, Mari Matsuda, and Ramsay Taum for We Value Hawai‘i, an evening of art, politics and music at Fresh Café on Queen Street last Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. The event was hosted by Creative Modern Activism Hawaii (CMA HI) to address the big issues that Hawaii faces, including public education, the future of the arts, tourism and the environment. CMA HI was inspired to sponsor the event because of the recently released book The Value of Hawai'i, edited by Craig Howes and Jonathan Kay Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio.

Photo (l-r):  Rep. Marcus Oshiro, Rep. Tom Brower, Kim Coco Iwamoto and Senate President Colleen Hanabusa answer questions from the public about the future of Hawai'i during a forum at Fresh Café.

A panel discussion titled "Creating Hawai'i: The Future for Arts and Artists" was held from 6-8 p.m. The public joined scholars, activists, and politicians for a discussion of the future of creative arts in Hawai'i, with a focus on the problems many young artists face in our economy and a second focus on solutions. The questions the panelists considered: What do we value about the arts in Hawai'i, and what are we willing to do to protect what we value? What do we value about Hawai‘i?