Friday, August 12, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Aloha CSG West
Futurist Joel Kotkin is interviewed by David Adkins, Executive Director/CEO of CSG
Chris Watley, Director, CSG Washington DC Office interviewed by HPR's Wayne Yoshioka
CNN Senior Political Correspondent Candy Crowley delivers Keynote Address on 8/1/11
Candy Crowley and Rep. Marcus Oshiro, CSGWest Chair
Here are the links to news coverage of the CSGWest conference held in Honolulu July 30 to August 2, 2011:
Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Hawaii isn't Switzerland
Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Lawmakers Gather
KHON2 - Conference draws lawmakers
Honolulu Star-Advertiser - APEC
Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Fahrenkamp Award
Hawaii Public Radio - Debt Limit
Hawaii Reporter - Crowley Keynote
Hawaii Reporter - Fiscal Challenges
Civil Beat - Joel Kotkin
Hawaii Reporter - Joel Kotkin
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Charter School Task Force
co-chairs of the Charter School Governance, Accountability and Authority Task Force.
Task Force members are:
Robert Campbell
Tammi Chun
Don Horner
Megan McCorriston
Robert McKeague
Lisa Okinaga
Steve Sullivan
Ruth Tschumy
Gene Zarro
Establishing legislation: Act 130/SLH2011. Requires charter school budget requests for needs-based facilities funding to include a detailed explanation as to the formula used and the funding request breakdown by school. Allows charter schools to appeal denied reauthorizations to BOE. Requires charter schools and their local school boards to develop internal policies and procedures consistent with ethical standards of conduct. Requires the charter school review panel to conduct a multi-year evaluation of each charter school every six years, instead of every five. Establishes a task force to address issues on charter school governance, accountability, and authority. (CD1)
Task Force Objectives:
1) Develop legislation or administrative rules that clearly and definitively designate the
governance structure and authority between and among key charter school organizations and
the department of education, the board of education, and the office of the governor;
2) Identify how the governance structure connects and relates to the state education agency
and local education agency;
3) Identify oversight and monitoring responsibilities of the charter school review panel, the
charter school administrative office, and the local school boards and develop a process for
enforcement; and
4) Discuss funding-related issues, including but not limited to appropriate funding levels for the
charter school administrative office.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Minnesota's Automated House Chamber
From the land that first brought us scotch tape and Wheaties cereal, Minnesota's House Communications Office has put together a series of videos on YouTube about their history and innovations over the years. The Minnesota House Chamber has had a form of electronic voting since the 1930's. The electric voting boards are the original ones installed in the House and Senate from that time. Amazing!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Illegal Critters
Rep. Clift Tsuji moderated a panel on "Invasive Species" at the recent CSG-WEST conference, and as part of the presentation, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture brought some conviscated, illegal critters for "show and tell."
Leopard Gecko
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
Bearded Dragon
Bearded Dragon
Ball Python
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Australia's National Broadband Network - Worth the Watch
David Lassner, University of Hawaii's Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, shared this video on Australia's National Broadband Network with attendees at the recent Council of State Governments - WEST conference. His presentation was on what Hawaii has accomplished in the past few years on achieving access to broadband for Hawaii residents and businesses. Lassner served as Chair with Rep. Kyle Yamashita on the Hawaii Broadband Task Force. Yamashita chaired the CSG-WEST session on economic development.
This is a well done, informative and engaging piece on the benefits of broadband and how it will benefit your activities at home:
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Fact Sheet on Liberty Dialysis Merger
Fresenius Medical Care-Liberty Dialysis Holdings Merger Fact Sheet
1. Fresenius Medical Care, through its acquisition of Liberty Dialysis Holdings, will provide dialysis care to over 158,000 patients across the United States and continue its position as the largest provider of dialysis services in the nation.
2. The combined total number of clinics will be 2,086 across the United States.
3. In Hawaii the combined number of dialysis facilities will be 24:
Liberty Dialysis Hawaii Clinics:
i. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii –Kona, 78-6831 Ali'I Dr.
ii. Liberty Dialysis- North Hawaii, 67-1123 Mamalahoa Hwy
iii. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii –Hilo, 140 Rainbow Dr.
iv. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- Liliha, 2226 Liliha St.
v. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii – Kahana, 10 Hoohui Rd.
vi. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- Kailua, 25 Kaneohe Bay Dr.
vii. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- Kauai, 3224 Elua St.
viii. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- Leeward, 91-2137 Ft. Weaver Rd.
ix. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- Maui, 105 Maui Lani Pkwy.
x. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- Maui Home, 105 Maui Lani Pkwy.
xi. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii-Molokai, 28 Kamoi St.
xii. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii-Sullivan, 2230 Liliha St.
xiii. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- Waianae, 86-080 Farrington Hwy.
xiv. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- West Kauai, 4643A Waimea Canyon Rd.
xv. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii- Kaimuki, 3625 Harding Ave.
xvi. Liberty Dialysis Hawaii-Waipahu, 94-450 Mokola St.
Fresenius Medical Care Facilities:
i. Fresenius Medical Care- Honolulul Dialysis, 226 North Kuakini St.
ii. Fresenius Medical Care- Aloha Dialysis, 1520 Liliha St.
iii. Fresenius Medical Care-Kapahulu Dialysis, 750 Palani Ave.
iv. Fresenius Medical Care- Windward Dialysis, 45-480 Kaneohe Bay Dr.
v. Fresenius Medical Care- Pearlridge, 98-1005 Moanalua Rd.
vi. Fresenius Medical Care- Ko'olau, 47-388 Hui Iwa St.
vii. Fresenius Medical Care-Kapolei, 555 Farrington Hwy.
viii. Fresenius Medical Care- Wahiawa, 850 Kilani Ave.
4. In Hawaii, Liberty Dialysis is a joint venture with St. Francis and a majority of the nephrologists. Only one shareholder is changing; the rest are staying on. In addition, the local management team will continue. The bottom line is that Liberty Dialysis - Hawaii will continue after the merger with its strong local connections and high quality dialysis care that have served the community for years.
5. The combined total number of patients cared for in Hawaii will be 2900.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Rep. Jordan's Summer 2011 Newsletter
Jordan July-August 2011 Newsletter Click on "Fullscreen" at the bottom of the blog post for a larger version of the newsletter, or click on the "Download" button to save the PDF version of the newsletter to your computer.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Telling Stories and Growing Industries
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| Ty Sanga in orange on the set of "Stones." - Photo from Honolulu Weekly online |
Ramsay Taum, of Pacific Islanders in Communications, said it best. He noted that the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Program should have been the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Program.
Beth Kammerer, director of Kahuku High School’s award-winning choir “Vocal Motion,” added that kids need enrichment programs. Our students absorb information in their math and science classes all day, she said, and in their music, film and art classes, they get to let things out, their feelings, their knowledge, and their stories.
Taum explained how Pacific Island cultures would tell their stories through song and dance, but today stories are and can be told through contemporary tools. We need to assist islanders to tell our cultural stories the way we tell our stories, he said, ultimately changing past interpretations of Hawaiian culture in the creative media industries.
An exciting addition to the discussion was Ty Sanga, a local boy from Kalihi and graduate of Saint Louis School whose short film “Stones,” which was filmed in Hawaii and adapted from a Hawaiian legend, was selected to be shown at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film was completed in 2008 as part of his thesis project at a mainland university. Sanga recounted to lawmakers how he had to persuade university advisers to allow him and his crew to film on location in Hawaii. They told me that I could just film it in California, I didn’t need to go all the way to Hawaii, he said. He wanted to film a story about Hawaii in Hawaii.
Hawaii’s creative industries has grown 10 percent since 2002, and today has a total workforce of 44,000 employees, said panelist Georgia Skinner, head of the Creative Industries Division at the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. She said since the division’s establishment in 2003 there has been 10 feature films, four television series, and several national commercials shot in Hawaii. The companies provide internships to local students and contribute in various ways to the communities in which they are filming. Hawaii Five-O takes on five interns per season.
Skinner also talked about the need for more integration of digital arts into the classroom, using digital media in biology and math courses at elementary, intermediate and high school levels to engage students in both the arts and sciences. She noted that given the economy and lack of funding for classroom courses, DBEDT is working on connecting creative industry communities and creating strategic public and private partnerships. DBEDT will be taking a survey of Hawaii creative industry sectors to see what they need. Results of that survey should be out by the end of the year, before the start of the 2012 Legislative Session.
This was the first of several meetings held by the House Committee on Culture and the Arts. The next one is tentatively scheduled for September 7, 2011. The committee is lead by Representative Jessica Wooley.
Broadband Hot Shots
This appeared in MidWeek this week:
Bill For Broadband Infrastructure
Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed House Bill 1342 June 21. The bill, now Act 151, expedites the permitting process for broadband infrastructure. With this measure, broadband providers are exempt from state and county permitting requirements for installation, construction and development of broadband infrastructure for a five-year period. Pictured (from left) are Norm Santos, Ret. Vice Adm. Robert Kihune, Everrett Kaneshige, state Rep. Kyle Yamashita, Abercrombie, state Sens. Carol Fukunaga and David Ige, and John Komeiji.
Rep. Herkes on Act 48
Rep. Bob Herkes is speaking today before the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce on Act 48, a new law passed during the 2011 session to address the mortgage foreclosure issue.
On July 17th, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser published Rep. Herkes' opinion piece. We've copied it here:
'Flaws' in Act 48 are actually teeth to protect homeowners
On Wednesday, this paper reported on a meeting sponsored by collection lawyers to discuss Act 48 — Hawaii's mortgage foreclosure reform ("Attorneys say flaws mar new isle foreclosure law," Star-Advertiser).
It appears this meeting was a gripe session for those who previously enjoyed a free ride on a fast track through a giant loophole in Hawaii's foreclosure law.
Act 48 has taken the wind out of their sails because of its explicit moratorium on a law from the 1800s. That law allowed a bank to sell a home at a foreclosure auction in just four weeks — without requiring the homeowner's knowledge.
Until Act 48, these lawyers used that law to steamroll through the vast majority of Hawaii's foreclosures. That process had virtually no consumer protections, nor any third-party oversight.
With the fraud, deception, mismanagement and mistakes that have come to light during this national foreclosure fiasco, I feel no sympathy.
It's clear these lawyers are going judicial because they have little faith in their ability to follow the new non-judicial law and the integrity it requires.
One lawyer said he receives up to 100 referrals a month. If compensated at Fannie Mae's bargain rate of $1,100 per non-judicial foreclosure, that lawyer could still bring in $110,000 per month. However, Fannie Mae only pays $2,200 per judicial foreclosure — money they might not see for a couple years. Plus, these lawyers actually have to show up and plead their case to a judge. What a hassle! No wonder they're so upset.
They should look at the bright side. The Legislature could have taken the approach the New York courts have — require lawyers to affirm they actually verified the accuracy of the foreclosure papers submitted to the court.
Well, as we say here at the Capitol, "we can fix it next year."
I wonder if the collection lawyers gave any thought to why Act 48 was passed. Let me enlighten them.
This law wasn't passed for the banks who, with the help of Fannie Mae, seduced the unwary, concocted complex investment schemes to line their pockets, pass on the risk, and cheat the investors — the very banks that required the taxpayers to bail them out and keep our economy afloat.
Nor is Act 48 for the unscrupulous real estate agents and mortgage brokers who encouraged people to purchase homes they couldn't afford — whose greed contributed to the inflation of a market wherein the hard-working families of Hawaii can hardly afford a home. Their indulgences added to a housing bubble that was bound to burst.
Certainly, Act 48 was not passed for the collection lawyers, whose fast-track, fast-money non-judicial foreclosure binge is now over.
Let me be clear: Act 48 was passed to protect the consumer. It creates a level playing field for the beleaguered homeowner. It has helped many deserving homeowners, and will do so for many more.
Foreclosures breed foreclosures; and before Act 48, they were pouring right through that non-judicial loophole from the 1800s. To the lament of the collection lawyers, that loophole is now tightly sealed. As chairman of the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, I have no intention of reopening it.
It is plain to see that the biggest whiners in a post-Act 48 Hawaii are those who can no longer make big fast easy money.
What the collection lawyers are calling the "flaws" of Act 48 are actually "teeth." They are so sharp, the lawyers are running scared into the jaws of the courts.
The people of Hawaii have my pledge that I will do all in my power to support the other branches of government as we address this crisis together — for the consumer.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Former BOE student member on "Jordan's Journal"
Air Date: Monday, August 1, 2011 at 1 p.m. - Olelo, ch. 54.
Repeat Date: Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. - Olelo ch. 54
Dannog, who was elected to the Board of Education as a student member on July 14, 2010, stayed on the Board after it transitioned to an appointed board and completed his term on June 30, 2011. Governor Abercrombie has since appointed a new student member. As he is the only person to sit on both appointed and elected boards, watch the show to find out which he prefers and why.
He believes that the student member may be one of the most important members on the board because the student is the only person on the board who is actually in the school system every day and can witness firsthand how the board's policies are being implemented. He also believes that most parents in the Waianae area are not involved with their children's education, and that the schools and students could perform at a greater level with more parent involvement.
Now that he has graduated from high school, Dannog plans to start college, and then serve time with the Air Force after college graduation. After he has fulfilled his military obligations, he plans to enroll in law school, and eventually to come back to Hawaii to serve his home state.
Rep. Jo Jordan (District 45 - Waianae, Makaha, Makua) will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting focusing on Education on Wednesday, August 17, 2011, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Waianae District Park Multi-purpose Room. For futher information call Rep. Jordan's office at 586-8460 or email her at repjordan@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Monday, July 25, 2011
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.
Rep. Marilyn Lee interviews Councilmember Stanley Chang
Coming up next on Kukui Connection, Rep. Marilyn Lee talks with freshman Councilmember Stanley Chang who represents Honolulu District 4. The district spans from Makapuu to parts of Kaimuki, circles around Diamond Head through Waikiki, and ends at Ala Moana.This show airs on Sunday, July 31st, 4:00 p.m. on Olelo Channel 54. It repeats on Sunday, August 7th. Here are some of the topics covered:
Personal story - Congressman Chang's parents, who immigrated to the U.S. from China, his education at Iolani and Harvard, his love for music and a stint at SONY BMG, and his strong ties to the Chinese community.
Top city issues - infrastructure, traffic, homelessness.
Young people and politics - why he decided to run, the value of life in public service, advice for young people looking at possible political careers.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Rep Aquino holds School Supply Drive
State Representative Henry Aquino will be holding a School Supply Drive to support the students of August Ahrens and Waipahu Elementary Schools. The drive will be held on the following dates and times outside the Longs Drugs at Waipahu Town Center:
Saturday, July 30, 2011 8:00 A.M. to 12 Noon
Saturday, August 6, 2011 8:00 A.M. to 12 Noon
"Many families going through difficult times are unable to provide basic school supplies for their children," said Rep. Aquino (District 35 – Pearl City, Waipahu.) "As a father with a young child, I know how important it is for students to have the supplies they need in order to do their homework and to learn effectively. We want to see every child going to class well prepared, so we are coming together, as a community, to help give them a good start."
The desired items include:
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Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Rural Outreach Services for North Hawaii Residents
The Rural Outreach Services initiative will hold its official opening at the North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC) on Thursday, July 21, 2011 starting at 10:00 a.m. The public is invited to attend and to learn more about the services provided.
Rural Outreach Services is a public/private consortium of agencies that provide a wide range of needed services for the community on a rotating basis. The purpose of the initiative is to make it more convenient or even possible for residents to receive services without having to drive long distances to Hilo or Kona. Services include employment counseling, job seeking strategies, assistance with online registrations, low income and energy assistance, housing services, youth tutoring and mentoring, eldercare assistance, long-term care assistance, college programs and application assistance, financial aid, small business solutions, veterans services and more. For many people, the improved access to critical services will have a great impact on their quality of life.
Governor Neil Abercrombie is expected to attend the opening, making good on the claim that his administration will not be "Oahu-centric". The Governor has been instrumental in ensuring participation by state agencies.
"Rural Outreach Services is an initiative that will turn lives around," said Rep. Mark Nakashima, a member of the coordinating committee, who also sits on the advisory board for NHERC. "Because of the long distances that people need to travel on the Big Island, many residents have not been getting the services they need, whether it be job-related, housing, or even healthcare."
"Our initial challenge was to bring the agencies together to establish a working schedule of volunteer services," continued Nakashima. "Now our goal is to make sure that the community is aware of the availability of these services, and the more they take advantage of the program, the more resources we will be able to provide for the future."
The organizations that are participating in the consortium include the University of Hawaii at Hilo – North Hawaii Education and Research Center, the Department of Labor – Workforce Development Division, Hamakua Partners in Elder Care, Kapulena Land Project and the Department of Education – East and West Hawaii Community School for Adults.
Other agencies volunteering their services include Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council, US Department of Labor – Veterans' Employment & Training Service, Hawaii Community College, Services for Seniors, Hawaii Adult Day Care, Hawaii Small Business Development Center Network, Hawaii Center for Independent Living, Arc of Hilo, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, and Office of Veterans' Services.
The participating agencies are available on a rotating basis on Wednesdays and Thursdays, with plans to increase days and times in the future. For more information or a schedule of upcoming services, contact the North Hawaii Education and Research Center at 775-8890.
View the link to the Rural Outreach Services calendar at http://goo.gl/fS9T3
Follow NHERC on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Hawaii-Education-and-Research-Center/91544554478
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