Hawaii's 19th Annual Children and Youth Day celebration is scheduled this year for Sunday, October 7, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the State Capitol. It's a free event featuring more than 300 fun, interactive and educational activities for the whole family. Mark your calendars for a day of nonstop entertainment, ono grinds, and games and rides for the kids. For more information, visit the event's official website, like HawaiiCYD on Facebook, and follow HawaiiCYD on Twitter. If you would like to volunteer as an individual or with a group or organization, sign up here.
2012 CYD Poster
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
In Hot Pursuit
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| From www.instituteforenergyresearch.org: Domestic production of natural gas is expected to increase by 12 % by 2030, according to the US Energy Information Administration. |
The Anchorage Daily News published an article Monday about
Alaska’s pursuit of Hawaii as a natural gas customer. Hawaii is already working
to decrease its dependency on petroleum by tapping into renewable energy sources,
including wind, solar, and biofuel power. Will Hawaii be importing gas from
Alaska? Doesn’t look like it will happen anytime soon, but it is an energy
alternative that both state governments are looking at. Read more here.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Hawaii Legislature receives top honors for Sergeant-at-Arms and website
Kevin has been with the House of Representatives for nearly 16 years. Prior to becoming the Sergeant-at-Arms in 2003, he was the chief clerk for the House Finance Committee. Kevin has been a member of the NLSSA since 2003 and has held the position of chair of region one, which is comprised of western states, and, most recently, as treasurer of the executive committee.
"I am honored and humbled to be recognized by my peers
through this award from the NCSL and NLSAA," said Kevin, "but we wouldn’t be able to provide the necessary services and
a safe and orderly working environment at the Hawaii House of Representatives
without the help of staff members at the House Sergeant-at-Arms. They’re very
much a part of helping make our institution function effectively and
professionally."
Also this week, the Hawaii State Legislature received the Online Democracy Award at the NCSL's 2012 Legislative Summit in
Chicago for having the top legislative website in the nation that makes democracy user-friendly.
The website was redesigned last year and includes a guide
for first-time users, feature explanations, citizens’ guide, legislative
glossary, and easy and accessible links, such as “Submit online testimony” and “Find
your legislator” buttons. The panel of judges also noted the website’s
easy-to-use layout, with frequently-used items in the center, search functions
on the left, and navigation tools on the right.
In a press release
sent out by the NCSL, Speaker Calvin Say is quoted saying, “As a state
comprised of islands, access to legislative information online is critical, and
encourages greater participation by the public in the legislative process. We
are so proud of our team in being recognized through the Online Democracy
award. Their excellent work in redesigning the website promotes greater
openness and transparency. With rapid changes in technology, we
understand that people are constantly seeking information in new ways, and this
website has now become an invaluable tool for lawmakers, staff, the media and
citizens of all ages."
"Let's 'gong' our legislators"
Hallelujah! I have been looking for an old newspaper column, a satire piece on the legislature, for several years, and I think I'm finally close. I had narrowed down the time frame, sometime between 1988 and 1992, and I was pretty sure I read it in The Honolulu Advertiser. I reached out to several writers who I thought may have written it, and to other old timers who may remember the piece too, with no luck.
So, this morning, I went down to the Legislative Reference Bureau Library, and the helpful staff there immediately pulled out a file of clippings on the legislature from that time period. What a great resource they are - and the stories immediately brought me back to the news of the day. Speaker Joe talking about his office being bugged, former Senator Richard Matsuura and the wiretapping investigation, Pat Mau Shimizu was hired as Chief Clerk, and more! But, I digress.
I came across three pieces that look like they are part of a wonderful series of columns by William Kresnak, then Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advertiser. I am almost positive that the piece I'm looking for is part of his series. They have the same humor and tone of the piece I am still trying to find. Bill is now living on the mainland and is the Government Affairs Editor of "American Motorcyclist" magazine. I'll be posting the ones I have found periodically and others if I find more. It sure seems like not much has really changed in the past 22 years. According to Bill, this was a popular one, dated 3-12-90:
The transcript:
Someone once said that there are two things you don't want to watch being made -- laws and sausages.
That may be true.
But observers of Hawaii's Legislature don't know, because when a sticky issue comes up on the floor the action comes to a screeching halt. Legislators then retreat behind closed doors to do their explaining, cajoling, yelling or whatever.
Then, sometimes hours later, they come back on the floor, make speeches and vote. Or they "recommit" the bill without debate, yanking it off the floor before a vote because they learned in the caucus meeting that the proposal doesn't have support.
THAT LEAVES observers scratching their heads.
The Advertiser Capitol Bureau think tank got to work on this "delay of game" problem -- and came up with a solution -- last week when the House Republicans proposed floor amendments to a couple of tax bills, forcing the majority Democrats to call a "recess" and go into the majority caucus room.
They returned what seemed like days later.
Instead of keeping the public stuck to their seats in the gallery waiting for the floor action to resume, we propose a few changes in the House and Senate rules. After all, there are no commercials to watch for entertainment, no halftime show, not even cheerleaders or team mascots.
AND THE public, not to mention the always-hungry press corps, can't rush out to grab a quick bite because nobody knows when the lawmakers might return to their seats and say something profound.
Of course, nobody knows when the lawmakers might say something profound, period.
We propose that Democrats and Republicans each should be allowed five 15-minute timeouts per daily floor session. If the Democrats exceed their time limit they should be assessed a "delay-of-game" penalty and the Republicans should be allowed to pass a free law.
Also, there should be a 45-second "shot clock" on the floor to limit speeches. That way there would be more exciting action, the sessions wouldn't drag out, and legislators would talk in perfect "sound bites" for television.
And there should be a big gong on each floor with guest gongers who would bang the thing when lawmakers stray from the subject of the bill under discussion in their floor speeches.
Get gonged three times and you sit in the penalty box for the rest of the day.
THESE CHANGES would save a lot of time.
Or, as an alternative, maybe lawmakers should just discuss the measures in the open on the floor when the bills come up for a vote.
So, this morning, I went down to the Legislative Reference Bureau Library, and the helpful staff there immediately pulled out a file of clippings on the legislature from that time period. What a great resource they are - and the stories immediately brought me back to the news of the day. Speaker Joe talking about his office being bugged, former Senator Richard Matsuura and the wiretapping investigation, Pat Mau Shimizu was hired as Chief Clerk, and more! But, I digress.
I came across three pieces that look like they are part of a wonderful series of columns by William Kresnak, then Capitol Bureau Chief for the Advertiser. I am almost positive that the piece I'm looking for is part of his series. They have the same humor and tone of the piece I am still trying to find. Bill is now living on the mainland and is the Government Affairs Editor of "American Motorcyclist" magazine. I'll be posting the ones I have found periodically and others if I find more. It sure seems like not much has really changed in the past 22 years. According to Bill, this was a popular one, dated 3-12-90:
The transcript:
Someone once said that there are two things you don't want to watch being made -- laws and sausages.
That may be true.
But observers of Hawaii's Legislature don't know, because when a sticky issue comes up on the floor the action comes to a screeching halt. Legislators then retreat behind closed doors to do their explaining, cajoling, yelling or whatever.
Then, sometimes hours later, they come back on the floor, make speeches and vote. Or they "recommit" the bill without debate, yanking it off the floor before a vote because they learned in the caucus meeting that the proposal doesn't have support.
THAT LEAVES observers scratching their heads.
The Advertiser Capitol Bureau think tank got to work on this "delay of game" problem -- and came up with a solution -- last week when the House Republicans proposed floor amendments to a couple of tax bills, forcing the majority Democrats to call a "recess" and go into the majority caucus room.
They returned what seemed like days later.
Instead of keeping the public stuck to their seats in the gallery waiting for the floor action to resume, we propose a few changes in the House and Senate rules. After all, there are no commercials to watch for entertainment, no halftime show, not even cheerleaders or team mascots.
AND THE public, not to mention the always-hungry press corps, can't rush out to grab a quick bite because nobody knows when the lawmakers might return to their seats and say something profound.
Of course, nobody knows when the lawmakers might say something profound, period.
We propose that Democrats and Republicans each should be allowed five 15-minute timeouts per daily floor session. If the Democrats exceed their time limit they should be assessed a "delay-of-game" penalty and the Republicans should be allowed to pass a free law.
Also, there should be a 45-second "shot clock" on the floor to limit speeches. That way there would be more exciting action, the sessions wouldn't drag out, and legislators would talk in perfect "sound bites" for television.
And there should be a big gong on each floor with guest gongers who would bang the thing when lawmakers stray from the subject of the bill under discussion in their floor speeches.
Get gonged three times and you sit in the penalty box for the rest of the day.
THESE CHANGES would save a lot of time.
Or, as an alternative, maybe lawmakers should just discuss the measures in the open on the floor when the bills come up for a vote.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Hawaii Health Connector Executive Director Coral Andrews on the next Kukui Connection
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In July 2011, Governor Neil Abercrombie signed into law a
measure outlining the establishment of a health insurance exchange, which is
mandated by the federal government’s Affordable Care Act. A health insurance
exchange is an electronic marketplace where uninsured people can compare and
purchase health insurance and receive federal subsidies for the cost.
Andrews likens it to the buying of airline tickets on travel aggregator websites such as
Kayak.com.
Hawaii was the first state to
declare its intent on developing a health insurance exchange, and most recently,
has issued a request for proposals for construction of the online
marketplace.
Learn more about Coral Andrews and the Hawaii Health
Connector by watching the Kukui Connection on the following air dates on Oceanic 'Olelo Channel 54:
Friday, August 17, 2012 – 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 19, 2012 – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 26, 2012 – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 2, 2012 – 4:00
p.m.
You can also learn more now by visiting
www.hawaiihealthconnector.com.
Monday, August 6, 2012
"Dedicated to education, but not precious about it"
That's how education leader, Dr. Paul Kelley, described his impression of Rep. Roy Takumi, Chairman of the Hawaii House Committee on Education. They attended a conference together and ended up being at the same round table discussion on education and school hours.
Rep. Takumi was challenging the notion that schools require a certain number of hours of classtime, or "seat time" as some prefer to say, without any regard for the achievement of success. If students achieve the academic goal in 30 hours instead of a standard 300 hours, "shouldn't we be focusing on the success and not trying to make students achieve in a certain way?" said Takumi.
After listening to the speaker and understanding his direction, Dr. Kelley was surprised to find out that the person behind the name tag was not an educator, but a politician.
Dr. Paul Kelley, according to his bio, is one of the U.K.'s best known education innovators. Read more of Kelley's "Making Minds" blog post on Rep. Takumi.
Rep. Takumi was challenging the notion that schools require a certain number of hours of classtime, or "seat time" as some prefer to say, without any regard for the achievement of success. If students achieve the academic goal in 30 hours instead of a standard 300 hours, "shouldn't we be focusing on the success and not trying to make students achieve in a certain way?" said Takumi.
After listening to the speaker and understanding his direction, Dr. Kelley was surprised to find out that the person behind the name tag was not an educator, but a politician.
Dr. Paul Kelley
Dr. Paul Kelley, according to his bio, is one of the U.K.'s best known education innovators. Read more of Kelley's "Making Minds" blog post on Rep. Takumi.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Car Collector Appreciation Day
If you missed Car Collector Appreciation Day, check out the video by House Accountant Roger Tyau, Jr.!
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