Happy New Year!

It has been an interesting ride this year in politics and government, with many changes, endings, and new beginnings. As the New Year approaches, let's say goodbye to 2012 with one of Hawaii's beloved songs that reminds us to live each day with the Aloha Spirit we cherish in the islands. Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year from the Hawaii House of Representatives!

 

Rep. Jo Jordan's December 2012 Newsletter

Rep. Jo Jordan's December 2012 Newsletter

‘Ulu‘ulu: The Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawai‘i

`Ulu`ulu: The Henry Ku`ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawai`i from Jo Jordan on Vimeo.

The next episode of Jordan’s Journal is an exciting one, and one that may have you glued to your computer hours after watching it. 

Former House Rep. Heather Giugni appears with Rep. Jo Jordan to talk about ‘Ulu’ulu, an online repository of Hawaii film footage dating as far back as 1928. 

After watching the episode, I browsed the website, http://ulululu.hawaii.edu, and found a number of moments in our Hawaii history that I would never have been able to see before. Take a look at this political goodie, it’s a roundtable discussion with the candidates for the U.S. House 1st Congressional District special election to replace US Rep. Cecil Heftel for the remainder of his term in 1986. You’ll recognize Hawaii politicians Democrat Steve Cobb, Republican Patricia Saiki, Democrat Mufi Hannemann, and Democrat Neil Abercrombie. This is the election that took Abercrombie to Congress. 

The website is part of ‘Ulu‘ulu: The Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawai‘i at UH West Oahu. Its mission is to “perpetuate and share the rich moving image heritage of Hawai‘i through the preservation of film and videotape related to the history and culture of Native Hawaiians and the people of Hawai‘i.”

At “The Archive,” they collect donated moving images related to Hawaii and its history from local businesses, organizations, and individuals, and staff work to catalog, preserve, and give the public access to these historic items. 

The videos online are just a few of the 17,000 videos, including 500 films, that “The Archive” holds. Because of copyright you won’t be able to watch the entire videos online, but you can view 10% of each video. If you find something that you are interesting in learning more about, the website instructs you to contact them or the original owners of the copyrighted material. 

You can watch this episode on ‘Ulu’ulu on Vimeo above, or catch it on Olelo Channel 54 on the following airdates: 12/16 - 8:30 p.m., 12/17 - 1:00 p.m., 12/24 - 1:00 p.m., 12/31 - 1:00 p.m.

Access to Justice Commission Meeting in Wai'anae

Wai'anae Access to Justice Meeting

Tis the Season to be on Facebook

 Each year the creative elves in the House Chief Clerk's Office put on display a themed Christmas tree for everyone to enjoy. This year they're going big. World Wide Web big. The elves want their Christmas tree to go viral. Let's help them out!

Go down to the parlor area of the House Chief Clerk's office in the Chamber and help our friendly elves make their Facebook-themed Christmas tree (Mr. Tree from here on out) go viral by signing your name on a "like" ornament and hanging it on Mr. Tree.

Also, check in with Mr. Tree throughout the week as he may just have a new status update to share with everyone. (You'll find the timeline of status updates near the "like" ornaments on the table)

This was yesterday's update. Mr. Tree sure looked thirsty.

And this is today's status update from Mr. Tree.

We at the House of Representatives are so lucky to have our friendly elves in the Chief Clerk's Office who every year put up an amazing tree for all of us to enjoy. The word in elf town is that Neal was responsible for getting the perfect tree, and that Denise and Tammy came up with the theme and decorations. Show your mahalo by liking Mr. Tree in person or on the House of Representatives Facebook page!

Rep. Richard Onishi to Hold Community Meetings

Public Invited to Community Input Sessions

 with Rep. Richard Onishi

WHAT:            Newly elected State Representative Richard Onishi (District 3 – South Hilo, Keaau, Honuapo) will host Input Sessions for community members to share their ideas and concerns about the district as well as their priorities for the 2013 Legislative Session. Info: 808-586-6120

WHEN/WHERE:         

                        Wednesday, December 5, 7-8 pm – Volcano Art Center

                        Friday, December 7, 7-8 pm – Hilo AJA Hall

                        Sunday, December 9, 7-8 pm – Pahala Community Center

                        Monday, December 10, 7-8 pm – Kea’au Community Center

Access to Justice Commission on next episode of Jordan's Journal

Rep. Della Au Belatti, Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald, and Rep. Jo Jordan

On the next episode of Jordan's Journal, Rep. Jo Jordan sits down with Rep. Della Au Belatti and Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald to discuss an upcoming Community Briefing on the work of the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission as well as to gather input from the community planned for the Leeward Coast. The shows special guests share the history of the Commission and what community members can expect from the meeting. Belatti and Recktenwald are appointed members of the Commission.

The Hawai‘i Access to Justice Commission, created by the Hawaii Supreme Court Rule 21 in 2008, comprises judges, attorneys, legal service providers, governmental representatives, and members of the Hawai‘i legal community. The Commission's primary purpose is to substantially increase access to justice in civil legal matters for low and moderate-income residents of Hawaii.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 11, 2012 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Wai'anae District Park Multi-Purpose room. From 6 - 6:45 p.m., six service providers will be on site for a legal fair in which attendees will be able to get their initial civil legal questions answered. These service providers include:
Domestic Violence Action Center, Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Mediation Center of the Pacific, National Hawaiian Legal Corp, and
Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii. At 6:45 p.m., a formal presentation will be given by Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald and Associate Justice Simeon R. Acoba, Jr.

For a preview of what will happen at the Community Briefing and to learn more of the Chief Justice and Rep. Belatti, watch this episode of Jordan's Journal online (embedded below) or catch it on 'Olelo 54 on these air dates and times:

Mon 11/26 @ 1:00 PM

Sun     12/2 @ 8:30 PM

Mon  12/3  @ 1:00PM

Mon 12/10 @ 1:00PM

Episode 21 - Access to Justice from Jo Jordan on Vimeo.

Freshmen House Democrats Profiled

Listen to Hawaii Public Radio and Wayne Yoshioka's story on the House Majority Freshmen:

Freshmen House Democrats Profiled

Welcome to the House!

Aloha and Welcome to the House Majority Freshmen Class of 2013!  From left to right - Rep. Romy Cachola, Rep. Richard Onishi, Rep. Takashi Ohno, Rep. Nicole Lowen, Rep. Kaniela Ing, Rep. Bertrand Kobayashi and Rep. Gregg Takayama.

Rep. Choy's November 2012 issue of Prevailing Winds

Prevailing Winds November 2012

Informational meeting and talk-story session with the regional coordinator of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

Homelessness Info Meeting with Matthew Doherty, Fri. Nov. 9

Lahaina Bypass Soon to Become Reality

Kahoma Stream Bridge Topping Off –

Significant Milestone for Honoapiilani Highway Realignment

Lahaina, Maui.   State Representative Angus McKelvey issued a statement on the topping off ceremony held today at the Kahoma Stream Bridge.

 Kahoma Stream Bridge 

"The topping off of the bridge is a major milestone for improving traffic and road conditions for the residents of West Maui," said Rep. McKelvey.  "I am proud of the work by our legislative team to secure funding for the Honoapiilani Highway Realignment project, and thank our governor and transportation department for releasing the funds and starting the critical construction phase.  We are working together to get the job done."

The Honoapiilani Highway Realignment, popularly known as the "Lahaina Bypass Road", spans nearly a mile between Lahainaluna road and the Keawe Street extension.  Once completed, it will provide residents with an alternative route to go around Lahaina town and avoid congestion.  This first phase is expected to be completed by the end of next month, December of 2012.  

The reconstructed Kahoma Stream Bridge will showcase a new design with a low profile, minimizing the obstruction of views along the scenic drive.  It also eliminates the need for pillars below the bridge, leaving the stream itself unobstructed.

State Department of Transportation Director Glenn Okimoto gave opening remarks and Governor Neil Abercrombie and Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa provided remarks on behalf of the state and the county respectively.  Attendees also heard from Bob Pure, President of the Board of Directors for Lahaina Bypass Now, and William Wilson, President of Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc.  In addition to Rep. McKelvey, the legislature was represented by Senator Rosalyn Baker for the state senate. 

"This is a significant milestone in the construction of the first phase of the Lahaina bypass road,” commented Sen. Roz Baker (D-West and South Maui).  "I congratulate Wilson Okamoto Corp. for the fantastic, award-winning bridge design which preserves the gorgeous views from the roadway, is less intrusive on the landscape and preserves the functionality of the Kahoma stream channel.  Mahalo to Hawaiian Dredging, the subcontractors, and Hawaii DOT for working with the West Maui community to move this project forward.  We all look forward to opening the first phases of the long awaited road improvement later year and next January.”   

"The completion of this bridge represents the begining of the materialization of the Lahaina Bypass and for the community, a realization of a long-awaited need." said McKelvey, who explained that the bypass will not only give residents a more convenient way to access the homes and schools in the area but also serve as a much-needed emergency evacuation route if the main road be blocked by fire or other disaster."

The General Contractor of the Honoapiilani Highway Realignment project is Hawaiian Dredging and the estimated design and construction cost is $24.3 million.  The blessing was provided by Reverend Earl Kukahiko.  

Friends or Foes?

Happy Halloween from the House of Representatives! 

Friends...

or... 



Foes??

Governor Burns - Capitol Ghost Stories 2012

On the eve of Halloween, here's a capitol ghost story from Kendra Oishi, House Majority Staff Office, about Governor John A. Burns.  Of all the spirits, the presence of Governor Burns in and around the State Capitol, especially the aroma of his cigar smoke, is perhaps the most well-known.  The fact that Governor Burns oversaw the building of the state capitol and became the first governor to have his office in the building, makes these stories even more special.  Governor Burns was governor from 1962 to 1973.  He became ill before completing his last term; then Lt. Governor George Ariyoshi became acting governor until 1974 and won election to the governor's office that year.  Governor Burns passed away in 1975.


The smell of cigar smoke
By Kendra Oishi

My story dates back to before I began working here (pre-2001), when Glen Grant was still alive and doing his Downtown ghost tours.

One of the stops on the tour was the Capitol steps facing the Queen Liliuokalani statue, where we all sat as Glen Grant spoke.  Mr. Grant was telling various stories related to the area, including how Governor Burns used to walk around the Capitol, often smoking a cigar.  He explained that even after Governor Burns was long gone, people would sometimes smell a cigar, even though no one was smoking in the area, and that it is believed that the cigar smell was a sign of Governor Burns' presence.

As Mr. Grant was transitioning to another story, I thought I sensed the aroma of a cigar in the air, but I kept that thought to myself and just brushed it aside as a figment of my imagination, influenced by the story I just heard.  Then, a young women sitting on the steps behind me leaned toward her friend and said, "Do you smell that?"  Her friend replied, "What?"  The young woman says, "I thought I smelled a cigar."  Then I realized it wasn't just me, and that perhaps Governor Burns was indeed in our presence.

Happy Halloween - Capitol Ghost Stories 2012

Mischievous Spirits

By Tammy Tengan

House Print Shop

House Print Shop - Hawaii State Capitol

I've had my share of little strange happenings in and around the spaces I've occupied in the Capitol.  I've been asked if it scares me, it doesn't.  I feel like they are protecting the area and if I'm in there, they are protecting me too.

My CD player

           

I had a CD player on my desk when I worked in the front office of the Chief Clerk's Office.  If I stayed at work later than usual, my CD player would stop playing.  I couldn't figure it out.

At first I thought it was the CD.  I changed the CD, but all the CDs wouldn’t play.  Funny thing, the next day they would all play fine – until about an hour after my shift ended. 

I had a cheapy CD player – so I figured it was the player – I got a new CD player – but the same thing would happen.   Then someone told me maybe it's the outlet; I unplugged it and plugged into another outlet – it would play fine during the day, but at the end of the day my player would stop playing.  Not turned off or anything – just stop playing.  It was like "enough already -- you're making too much noise – go home."   So when my CD player would stop playing, I would say, "okay, I'm going home."  

Some speculated that it was just the electrical connection in my cubicle, but it also happened when I moved into the Journal office.  I gave up on playing music on my CD player, I tried my computer.  My Computer can play CDs.   I don't do that anymore – that night my computer froze – just stopped, so I went home.  It hasn't happened to me in the Printshop – but then again I don't listen to music in here – the machines are too loud.

Printshop Incidents

Josette and I were in the Printshop during an interim sometime ago – I was using all four big machines printing up documents.  Josette was in the corner.  All off a sudden – and it wasn't a power surge or anything – but all four machines jammed at the same time.  I was like "whoa, somebody's upset.  What's going on?"   I went to tend to the machines got them up and running.  I later found that about the same time as my machines were all jamming – there was a stabbing incident up on the Rotunda level.  I guess it was their way of having Josette and me stay in the Printshop.

Mischievous Sprits

In the Printshop, during a special session, I was printing up the bills and the regular staff was going to come in and collate.  I printed up a bunch of bills, placed them on the table to get ready for collating.  The first time I came back to the table, there were 3 or 4 bills on the floor.  I picked them up thinking I must have brushed the table and some fell off.  After that, I was being extra careful not to make the bills go flying, but again when I came back to the table with another batch of bills -- a few would be on the floor.   After the third time—I said out loud, "stop it, I'm busy and we have to get this finished" The next time I came back to the table – no bills were on the floor. 

Wahiawa pre-legislative session forum with Rep. Marcus Oshiro

Wahiawa Pre-session Forum 11/20/12

Domestic Violence Awareness on "Kukui Connection"

Because October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, on the next “Kukui Connection” Rep. Marilyn Lee will talk with two advocates of domestic violence awareness about the month’s planned events, and call-to-action plans and initiatives for domestic awareness. 

Rep. Lee is joined by Veronika Geronimo, executive director of the Hawaii State coalition Against Domestic Violence (HSCADV), and Ana Maring, a private consultant working with the HSCADV. Geronimo has previously worked in Los Angeles with immigrant communities, and Maring has spent 16 year in the domestic violence field. 

Some of the other topics to be discussed on the show include:

• Act 206, a state law that prohibits discrimination by employers against domestic violence survivors
• Domestic violence education and outreach in schools
• Community engagement initiative that will give the people the capacity to respond to domestic violence situations
• Overcapacity of domestic violence shelters

The show will air on Olelo Channel 54 on:

• Friday, October 19, 8:30 p.m.
• Sunday, October 21, 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 28, 4:00 p.m.

Please visit dvamhawaii.wordpress.com or hscadv.org for more information about Domestic Awareness Month.