Lawmakers and police push for Makiki neighborhood crime watch

Lawmakers and the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) are offering an opportunity for Makiki residents to learn about community policing and organizing Neighborhood Security Watch programs to create connections between police officers and community members to prevent, deter and reduce crime in the community.

The meeting will be held on Monday, January 24, 2011 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the Christ United Methodist Church Educational Chapel. Community policing promotes partnerships to address the immediate public safety concerns of a community, such as crime, social disorder and fear. It empowers residents and the Makiki community to become active in increasing the safety and security of their homes.

"Community policing provides residents with a greater sense of security,” said Representative Della Au Belatti, District 25 (Tantalus, Makiki, McCully). “Residents can aid police in combating crime in our community by acting as extra eyes and ears of HPD. It also increases community pride and unity.”

On Oahu, property crime rose 5 percent while violent crimes decreased 1 percent in 2009. The spike in property crimes ended a six-year trend of declining offenses.

According to an annual report released by HPD in June 2010, there were 33,375 property crimes on Oahu in 2009, compared with 31,781 in 2008. Violent crimes show a slight decrease with 2,537 reported in 2009, compared with 2,575 the year before. Police have said in the past that crime tends to go up during tough economic times. Despite the increase, the current crime rates follow years of declining crime numbers, police emphasize.

Residents of more and more neighborhoods, from the North Shore to Manoa, have been coming together in recent years to form community policing groups to watch out for one another. Lawmakers and police are hoping to kick start new groups in the Makiki area with this introductory meeting.

“Crime prevention is everybody's responsibility,” said Sergeant Lawrence Santos. “Community policing reduces crime and improves the quality of life. It also addresses community concerns and can assist in the development of a community warning system.”

“Security watch groups are residents taking their community back,” Santos added. “It’s a proactive approach against crime and other social problems within the community. In addition, it not only serves residents, but has huge benefits for local businesses in the area.”

This event is hosted by Makiki's state and city legislative delegation, including Representative Della Au Belatti, Senator Carol Fukunaga, and Council Members Ann Kobayashi and Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo, and HPD District 1 Community Policing Team.

A local-style potluck will immediately follow the meeting. Christ United Methodist Church is located at 1639 Keeaumoku Street (between Wilder and Heulu). Please call Berna at 586-9425 or send email to b.fo@capitol.hawaii.gov for the meeting agenda or if you will attend as part of a group or organization.

Pre-Session Forum with Wahiawa Representative Marcus Oshiro

What:
Representative Marcus Oshiro will hold a Pre-Session Forum for residents of Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, and Poamoho (District 39) to discuss community issues and share ideas for upcoming legislation. Light refreshments will be served. Call 586-6200 with questions.

When:
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
6 – 8:30 p.m.

Where:
Wahiawa District Park – Hale Koa Room

Disaster Preparedness Training Class in Hau’ula

The public is invited to a State Civil Defense Disaster Preparedness Training Class on Windward Oahu. The class will focus on a four-phased disaster preparedness plan for Hau'ula.

Please contact the Office of Representative Jessica Wooley at 808-586-8540.

When: Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.


Where: Hau’ula Elementary School Cafeteria

Community meeting for residents with concerns about Hale Kipa

A community meeting will be held in Manoa to discuss concerns raised by residents regarding Hale Kipa facilities in the area.

Residents have frequently raised concerns about the therapeutic group homes for troubled teenagers over the years. Two boys, who were residents of a Hale Kipa home in lower Manoa, allegedly beat and killed a taxi driver on May, 1.

City and State lawmakers and representatives of state agencies will be at the meeting to hear resident concerns and complaints and respond to any questions.

Date: 

Monday, June 28, 2010

Time: 

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Place: 

Manoa Elementary School Cafeteria
3155 Manoa Road
Honolulu, Hi 96822

For more information, please contact the Office of Representative Isaac Choy at 586-8475.

*Click on links above for related news articles.

Lawmakers Explain How the Budget was Balanced

WHAT:

The House of Representatives Finance Committee will make a presentation to the Hilo community on the 2010 state budget bill and how they resolved a $1.2 billion shortfall. Information will also be provided on major capital improvement projects for East Hawaii.

WHEN:

Wednesday, June 16, 2010
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

WHERE:

UH Hilo UCB 127 (Ho’oulu Terrace)


WHO:

House Finance Chair Rep. Marcus Oshiro will be joined by Rep. Jerry Chang, Rep. Clift Tsuji, Rep. Faye Hanohano, and Rep. Robert Herkes.

You can view a pie chart and corresponding tables for more information on how the budget was balanced HERE.

Talk Story with Representative Sharon Har

Representative Har will be holding a Talk Story to hear concerns from community members. The meeting will be in the teacher's lounge of Kapolei High School Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.

Catch up on what's been going on at the Capitol and in District40 - Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa at Rep. Har's newsletter website.

You'll find it at hawaiihouseblog.googlepages.com/repsharonhar or on the left column of our blog in the links section.

Manoa community meeting on state budget scheduled

Senator Brian Taniguchi (District 10) and Representative Isaac Choy (District 24)

Representative Isaac Choy and Senator Brian Taniguchi will be holding a community meeting to give a Powerpoint presentation explaining in detail how lawmakers balanced the state budget. The meeting will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Manoa Elementary School Cafeteria.

Community Meeting on McKinley High School Athletic Complex Master Plan

Honolulu residents, parents and students are invited to a community briefing to discuss the McKinley High School Athletic Complex Master Plan Monday, March 9, 2009 6-7:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Makiki Christian Church. The plan includes improvements to sports field, tennis courts, swimming pool, and other recreational and community facilities. McKinley High School Athletic Director Neal Takamori and planning consultants will be available to provide details on the plan and to address questions. Community members concerned about the impacts of the sports complex on surrounding areas should plan to attend the meeting.

Following the briefing will be a legislative update session with Senators Carol Fukunaga and Brickwood Galuteria, Representatives Tom Brower and Karl Rhoads, and Councilmember Duke Bainum. Lawmakers will talk about important legislation making its way through the legislative process and answer questions.

Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please call 586-6890.

Community Coffee Talk with Makiki Lawmakers

The public is invited to a Legislative Coffee Talk with Representatives Della Au Belatti and Karl Rhoads and Senators Brickwood Galuteria and Carol Fukunaga at the Makiki Community Library on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 from 6-8 p.m. The legislators will present their mid-session legislative update to the community and answer any questions about this year’s legislative session. The Makiki Community Library is located at 1527 Keeaumoku St. in Honolulu.

Please contact Rep. Belatti’s office with any questions at 586-9425.

Lawmakers to hold community meeting in Kihei

Maui residents are invited to a Legislative Talk Story with Senator Roz Baker and Representative Joe Bertram III to hear from residents and share with them the important issues that are currently before the Hawaii State Legislature. Information will be provided to update the community as to the progress of pending legislation.

When: Saturday, February 28, 2009, 9 – 11 a.m.

Where: Kihei Charter School Auditorium
300 Ohukai Road

Wooley to hold community meeting in Kahalu'u on HB 1713

The public is invited to a community meeting in Kahalu'u on a measure introduced this session that addresses hazardous conditions overhanging trees and clogged streams on private property. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at KEY Project, 47-200 Waihee Road, Room 103, in Kahalu'u.

Rep. Jessica Wooley, D-47 (La`ie, Hau`ula, Punalu`u, Kahana, Ka`a`awa, Waikane, Waiahole, Kahalu`u, `Ahuimanu, Kane`ohe), introduced the measure in the House and wants to get feedback from community members.

Residents who live near properties owned by landowner Genshiro Kawamoto have expressed concern about huge branches that hang over their yards and threaten their safety and homes. The landowner has been unresponsive and cannot be reached. This bill may also apply to streams that are clogged with vegetation and debris and contribute to flood damage.

The bill (HB1713) would allow the state to enter private property to protect public health and safety and will also need to address how the state can recoup costs from nonresponsive landowners.

Call Representative Jessica Wooley at 808.586.8540 for more information.

Legislative Hawaiian Caucus speaks with Native Hawaiian health community

By: Travis Quezon
Office of Rep. Mele Carroll

Rep. Mele Carroll and the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus met with leaders and practitioners in the Native Hawaiian health community at a meeting on Jan. 15.
Caucus members heard concerns from members of Hui No Ke Ola Pono, a non-profit that provides community-based health care services on Maui; Papa Ola Lokahi, a clearinghouse for data and timely information associated with the health status of Native Hawaiians; Mental Health Alliance; and Community Health Centers in Rural Areas.

“It’s a rare occasion, quite frankly, that we have been invited to speak in front of legislators,” said David Peters of the Kaua‘i Community Health Center. “We at Papa Ola Lokahi look at new initiatives to integrate into Native Hawaiian health care systems. … Initially, you could count the number of researchers on one hand. Now there are nearly 150 researchers [working with us].”

Rep. Karen Awana asked if Papa Ola Lokahi and Hui No Ke Ola Pono looks into different kinds of alternative medicines.


“The whole idea of traditional healthcare practices are organic to the Native Hawaiian Healthcare Act,” Papa Ola Lokahi’s Hardy Spoehr replied. The Native Hawaiian Healthcare Act was created by Congress to develop outreach programs addressing the unique health needs of Native Hawaiians, who were found to have suffered greatly from the early onset of chronic disease and other adverse health conditions.

Tom Foye, Planning and Development Director of Papa Ola Lokahi, described how many non-profit healthcare organizations are at risk during economic times because they are dependent solely on federal funding.

“We’re very much at risk because we have one funding source in Washington: Sen. Daniel Inouye,” Foye said. He explained to the caucus that they should look at funding community healthcare organizations through diversification and solid strategic planning.

“We hope that we can continue this conversation in all forums,” Rep. Mele Carroll said to the healthcare practitioners.

Alex Santiago spoke to the caucus on behalf of the Mental Health Alliance. As part of ongoing budget cuts throughout state departments, the Adult Mental Health Services division announced in November that it will be cutting over $25 million from its FY2009 budget by cutting services.

“We are not going to stand by and watch as we try to balance the budget on the backs of the poor,” Santiago said. “What we are going to try to do is bring the word to you [the Legislative Hawaiian Caucus].”

Rep. Pono Chong said that lawmakers need to hear from the community where cuts would be better made. “The state, unlike the federal government, cannot borrow money to operate,” he said.

Santiago replied, “We’ve been doing a lot with less. We’re willing to do more with less. We’re willing to collaborate. However, we’re at the point where critical services for the most needy are being cut.”

Rep. Mele Carroll asked Santiago if finding new ways to generate money has been part of the discussion within the mental health community.

Santiago said that all options are being discussed. “Whatever it is we do to get revenue, we have to make sure the money is going to the things we care about,” he said. “There’s a willingness of everyone to come to the table to find a solution.”

Energy Forum in Honoka'a, Big Island

Residents of the Hilo/ Hamakua Coast should try to make it down to Honoka'a School Cafeteria tomorrow night at 7 p.m. for a special forum to talk with several energy companies that are proposing to build plants and other facilities around the area. The Board of Land and Natural Resources has given various energy producers long-term leases, including Hamakua Biomass Energy, LLC; Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC; Sunfuels Hawaii, LLC; Tradewinds; and Haina Hardwoods. Hawaii BioCrude, a corporation that is seeking state leases to grow trees that can be used as fuel for the biomass industry, will also be at the meeting.

Senator Dwight Takamine and Representative Mark Nakashima help set up the forum to give community members an opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns.

Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Honoka'a School Cafeteria

Hilo residents: Make your voice heard

Lawmakers from the Hilo area want their residents to join them at a community meeting next Monday to share concerns and discuss priorities that they believe should be addressed this legislative session, which convenes on January 21, 2009.

The meeting will be at the University of Hawaii at Hilo's UCB Room 127 on January 12, 2009 at 7 p.m.

Senator Dwight Takamine and Representatives Jerry Chang and Clift Tsuji will be there to listen to what you have to say. They encourage all community members to not be shy and just come down to tell them what's important to Hilo families.

Workshop on politics, legislature in Makiki

LRB's Public Access Room will be conducting another FREE Informed Citizen Workshop. This time it will be in Makiki. Come join others to learn about the legislative process and how to write effective testimony, and talk to your district lawmakers.

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Makiki Library Mezzanine
1527 Keeaumoku Street
Honolulu, HI 96822

The workshop will be hosted by Friends of the Makiki Community Learning Center, Hui o Makiki, Rep. Della Au Belatti, Rep. Karl Rhoads, and Senator Carol Fukunaga.

Pre-Session Meetings on Big Island

Rep. Mark Nakashima talks about legislation on education and agriculture that he is drafting for introduction next year in his December 2008 newsletter. Don't forget that you can always go back to these newsletters by clicking on the Community Newsletter's link in the right panel. A schedule of pre-session community meetings on the Big Island with Senator Dwight Takamine and Rep. Nakashima is also listed in the newsletter. Both lawmakers invite Big Island residents to come and share their concerns about important issues and discuss key legislation being introduced this year. Here's what the schedule looks like:

January 5, 2009—Kohala, Kohala Senior Center, 6:30 PM
January 6, 2009—Rural South Hilo Community Council, Kalanianaole School Cafeteria, 6:45PM
January 7, 2009—Honoka’a, Honoka’a School Cafeteria, 7:00 PM
January 13, 2009—Energy Forum, Honoka’a School Cafeteria, 7:00 PM
January 15, 2009—North Hilo Community Association, Laupahoehoe School, 6:30 PM

"Informed Citizen" Workshops on Maui

Maui residents should mark their calendars this week for free "Informed Citizen" workshops starting tomorrow. The workshops are run by the Legislature's Public Access Room, a division of the state's non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureaus, and will help participants to understand and navigate the legislative process without having to leave Maui. Virginia Beck, the assistant public access coordinator, will also give tips on writing effective testimony and making sure it gets to where it needs to be.

Updated schedule of workshops on Maui:

Tuesday	12/2/08	6:30– 7:30 p.m.	Kahului Public Library
Wednesday	12/3/08	6:30 – 7:30 p.m.	Kihei Community Center
Thursday	12/4/08	6:30 – 7:30 p.m.	Wailuku Public Library
Friday	12/5/08	1:00 – 2:00 p.m.	Hana Public Library
Monday	12/8/08	6:30 – 7:30 p.m.	Pukalani Community Center
Tuesday	12/9/08	6:30 – 7:30 p.m.	MCC Lahaina Education Center

Call the Center for directions: 662-3911

Share concerns with Rep Marcus Oshiro at community forum

Representative Marcus Oshiro will be holding a pre-session forum on Tuesday, December 9, 2008 from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Wahiawa District Park, Hale Koa Room.

Here's the agenda:

6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. : Socialize/Refreshments
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.: District concerns and needs
8:00 - 8:30 p.m.: Final Questions and Answers
8:30 p.m.: Meeting Pau

Rep. Oshiro's district (39) includes Wahiawa, Whitmore Village and Poamoho.

Rep. Berg to host community forums

Representative Lyla Berg (D18-Hahaione, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Hawaii Loa Ridge, Aina Haina, Wailupe, Kahala) will be hosting two community forums in East Oahu to discuss the proposition of a Constitutional Convention and the fate of Maunalua Bay.

Wednesday,October 15, 2008
Community Forum: "Implications of a Constitutional Convention" from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Niu Valley Middle School
Voters will be faced with a decision in the November 2008 general election to determine whether there should be a Constitutional Convention in Hawaii. During a Constitutional Convention delegates propose revisions or amendments to the Hawaii Constitution. The forum will include guest panelists David Hagino, Annelle Amaral, Lehua Kinilau, and Joanne Maruoka.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Community Forum: "The Fate of Maunalua Bay" from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at Hahaione School Cafetorium
Maunalua Bay has been deteriorating over the past 50 years due to urban development. Malama Maunalua, a community-based organization, has been working with the Nature Conservancy to preserve and restore the region to what it used to be. The bay was once rich with coral reefs and fish, but because of freshwater discharge, alien species invasion and other environmental issues it has drastically changed. The forum will include guest panelists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Malama Maunalua and the Board of Water Supply. The public is encouraged to come and learn more about the history of Maunalua Bay, the problem it faces and the community efforts to preserve and restore it.

Please call the office of Rep. Lyla Berg for more info: 808-586-6510

Shimabukuro to attend public housing meeting in Waianae

Representative Maile Shimabukuro (District 45 – Waianae, Makaha, Makua) will be attending the Resident Community Meeting in Waianae to address various housing and community issues. The meeting is hosted by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) and the public is invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

When: Wednesday, September 10, 2008
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Where: Waimaha Sunflower Community Hall
85-186 McArthur Street
Waianae, Hi

Representative Maile Shimabukuro is the Chair of the Committee on Human Services and Housing.

Resident Community Meetings were created by the HPHA to address and discuss the following issues: new HUD (housing and urban development) requirements for asset management; resident association and resident issues and concerns; community, police, neighborhood board, nonprofit and elected official issues and concerns; HPHA staff and management issues and concerns; long-term public housing repair and maintenance needs; and possible solutions.