Hawaii Future Caucus Panel

TULSI GABBARD AND HAWAII FUTURE CAUCUS PROMOTE

CALL-TO-ACTION FOR MILLENNIALS

HONOLULU – The Hawaii Future Caucus (HFC) hosted an informational panel with U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) today at the Hawaii State Capitol to discuss the importance of engaging millennials in the effort to increase government and political participation. HFC also introduced members of its newly formed advisory council and announced its 2014 initiatives.

In addition to Gabbard, panelists were HFC co-chairs Councilmember Stanley Chang and Representative Beth Fukumoto, HFC advisory council member Richard Mizusawa, and Millennial Action Project president and co-founder Steven Olikara with HFC co-chair Representative Takashi Ohno moderating the discussion.

"The panel was a reminder that both here at home and nationally our generation's apathy about government can't be solved through a single venture or a single person," said Fukumoto. "Legislation alone won't improve youth engagement. Our challenge is show fellow millennials that Hawaii's future is theirs to shape if they just get involved."

As part of a collaboration between public and private sectors, HFC formed its advisory council as way to expand participation past legislators. The advisory council is represented by emerging leaders in various industries who work in collaboration with legislative members to provide project direction in their respective expertise.

"The intent of the advisory council was to bring to the table young leaders who were already shaping their individual fields and channel that energy into a bigger vision for Hawaii," said Chang. "Their diverse backgrounds bring unique perspectives on how we approach goals from drafting legislation to finding new ways to communicate with the public."

The current members of the HFC advisory council include: Dennis Ducatt, Troy Hashimoto, Jamila Jarmon, James Larson, Christopher Loo, Kaipo Lum, Richard Mizusawa, Tessa Munekiyo Ng, Kyle Okamura and Jay Raymundo.

HFC also announced its 2014 ventures targeting the up-and coming generation of voters, including an educational campaign on the political process and improving voter turnout.

Later this year, HFC will launch a series of educational videos covering an introduction of federal, state and county government, then expanding to how citizens of all ages can become involved in the public process.

"We want to create an accessible way to reach a younger generation in a medium they're comfortable with," said Ohno. "The videos will share insight into the people, the process and the simple ways that anyone can get involved to make a difference."

Legislation was introduced in both the House of Representatives and Honolulu City Council targeting accessibility to voting. House Bill 2001 proposed to automatically register individuals being issued an identification card or driver's license to vote, with an opt-out option available. Additionally, Resolution 14-26, CD1 passed a full vote of the Honolulu City Council on February 19 urging the Clerk of the City and County of Honolulu to increase the number of early walk-in voting locations. HFC hopes that similar measures will be introduced for consideration in Hawaii's other county councils to promote accessibility throughout the state.

For more information on the Hawaii Future Caucus, please visit www.facebook.com/hawaiifuturecaucus.

Committee Passes Measured Response to HCDA

HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES FOCUSED AND MEASURED RESPONSE TO HCDA

Bills would increase public input, restructure the makeup of the board, and call for fiscal and management audit

The House Committee on Water and Land today passed several bills that seeks to improve the effectiveness of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA). Among the actions taken, the bills call for a restructuring of the agency’s board, increased opportunity for public input, greater legislative oversight, and a fiscal and management audit of HCDA. 

“After more than eight hours of public testimony on Saturday, the message to us was loud and clear that HCDA needed to make significant changes,” said Representative Cindy Evans, who chairs the House Committee on Water and Land. “But we also know that HCDA’s role is still a valid and important one if conducted appropriately and with more transparency and greater sensitivity to public’s concerns. These bills are intended to help HCDA right the ship.” 

The committee deferred several proposals including those to repeal HCDA and to impose a one year moratorium on the approval of plans and proposals in Kakaako. However, an amended version of HB1867 was passed out of committee for further discussion. Among the changes, the bill would codify current building requirements into law and in effect prohibit HCDA from granting variances for development. 

Another passed measure authorizes the ‘right of action’ that allows the public to challenge development actions by HCDA.

“The public discussion while sometimes heated and unpleasant is critical to what HCDA does,” said Representative Scott Saiki (Kakaako, McCully, Kaheka, Downtown) who introduced the bills relating to HCDA. “As these bills move through the hearings and are fine-tuned, they will give HCDA the tools needed to move forward.”

The following amended measures were passed out of committee. House drafts will be made available on the Capitol website once they have been filed with the clerk’s office. 

HB1863 HD1: Authorizes ‘right of action’ civil suits for persons who challenge the grant or denial of development permits by HCDA.

·     HB1865 HD1: Requires the state auditor to conduct a management and fiscal audit of HCDA.

·     HB1866 HD1: Incorporates a significant number of changes to HCDA operations; clarifies legislative approval requirements; authorizes the HCDA budget; restructures the HCDA board to diversify its makeup; and provides additional developer provisions.

HB1867 HD1: Requires additional public notice by the HCDA and enacts existing building requirements as statute.

Legislators Form Hawaii Aerospace Caucus

Former Governor George Ariyoshi with legislators at the announcement of the Aerospace Caucus

HAWAII AEROSPACE CAUCUS EXPLORES

THE ‘FINAL FRONTIER’

Initiatives include studies for a space exploration R&D park, international flight training center and a laser optical communications ground station in Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii –State Senate and House legislators today announced the formation of the Hawaii State Legislative Aerospace Caucus.

Among the measures it has introduced this session are bills that call for studies for a space exploration research and development park; an international flight training center and associated aeronautical training programs at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College; and a laser optical communications ground station in Hawaii.

Other measures call for the banning of unmanned aircrafts, except by law enforcement agencies, to gather information, and exempts from the general excise tax amounts received from the construction of a space launch facility in the State to help reduce the overall cost of such construction.

The caucus is a joint bipartisan effort in collaboration with the private sector to develop a strong, secure and internationally competitive aerospace sector in Hawaii. It will be a highly visible, proactive and solution oriented organization ensuring academia, industry and government are in step with programs and policies which support a robust aerospace economic sector. 

The caucus is co-chaired by Senator Will Espero, Senator Glenn Wakai, Representative Angus McKelvey and Representative Gene Ward. The legislative membership also includes Senator Russell Ruderman and Representatives Isaac Choy, Cindy Evans, Richard Fale, Faye Hanohano, Sharon Har, Ken Ito, Derek Kawakami, Bob McDermott, Mark Nakashima, Calvin Say, Clift Tsuji.

“This collaborative effort is a significant step forward in building upon the aerospace industry that we are establishing here in Hawaii,” said Representative Angus McKelvey, Chair of the Consumer Protection & Commerce Committee.

The group also includes the Aerospace Advisory Committee and Starlight Reserve Committee—advisory councils made of public and private space industry experts. At the announcement, the founding charter members also voted to include former Governor George Ariyoshi, a member of the Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES) board and champion for aerospace growth in Hawaii, as an honorary member of the Hawaii Legislative Aerospace Caucus.

“Hawaii can be at the forefront of this industry by ensuring a strong, secure and viable aerospace sector,” said Senator Will Espero, Chair of the Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Committee. “It starts by bringing together community members from the education, business and government sectors to help create good policy that will help us meet competitive challenges to support a robust aerospace economy.”

“Nothing ignites the imagination like space. Hawaii needs to boldly move forward into this area,” said Senator Glenn Wakai, Chair of the Technology and Arts Committee, “There are many sectors in technology that can be replicated in other parts of the world. When it comes to aerospace, Hawaii is ground zero. This is an industry that cannot pick up and leave the islands. It provides infinite economic opportunities and will ignite exploration in the minds of our keiki.”

"Aerospace can be a game changer for our economy,” said Representative Gene Ward. ”One of the main purposes of the aerospace caucus will be to highlight those opportunities and promote legislation and regulation of an enabling environment."

The primary purpose of the Aerospace caucus is to promote legislation that will develop a robust, growing aerospace field in Hawaii. 

House passes measure for state control of Hawaii Health Connector

The House Committee on Health passed a number of measures addressing transparency, accountability and sustainability issues nagging the Hawaii Health Connector since its start up. The Health Connector is the state’s enrollment portal for coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA).  The Connector was created to match low-income residents with subsidized health plans under ACA.

“I want to be clear that these measures are a work in progress and allows us to continue to establish a better framework and foundation so that the Health Connector can successfully move forward in fulfilling the goals of the Affordable Care Act,” said Representative Della Au Belatti (Makiki, Tantalus, Papakolea, McCully, Pawaa, Manoa), who chairs the House Committee on Health.

“Even as the healthcare landscape changes around us, we need to be able to respond to the developing rules and regulations to allow the Health Connector to move forward in achieving its mission.” 

The centerpiece for the package of amended and approved bills is H.B. 2529, H.D. 1, which converts the Health Connector from a private non-profit entity to a State agency and initially places it under the Office of the Governor.

“It says something about the importance we place on this agency and the work it does on behalf of the people of Hawaii when we place it under the direct auspices of the Governor,” Belatti says.

The bill also creates a task force whose primary goal will be to draft a request for waiver that will allow the State to be more innovative in its approach to fulfilling the requirements under the Affordable Care Act. A provision in the act allows for alternative approaches suggested by the states under unique circumstances.

“Given the low uninsured rate that Hawaii has enjoyed because of Hawaii’s groundbreaking Pre-paid Health Care Act, we believe that we have a good case to put before health officials in Washington D.C.,” Belatti said.

One of the more serious concerns of the committee was the current board’s inability to come up with a workable sustainability strategy for the long term. The creation of a sustainability fee would address some of those concerns over the next two years after federal funding ends in December 2014 and as the task force works on a more long-term solution.

The bill also changes the makeup of the Health Connector’s board of directors and who appoints its members, which include the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House under the proposals of the bill.

The H.B 2529, H.D. 1, along with other companion bills, move on to hearings in the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.