Public Access Room Training

This is for anyone who wants to testify or track legislation at the Legislature. Learn how to be an effective advocate.

I am writing to let you know that The Public Access Room (PAR) will be conducting presentations on the legislative process around Oahu beginning December 5th (this Wednesday). Please find attached a flyer listing the dates, times, and locations of our public outreach (I have also included this information below).

We will be offering two new presentations this year. The first presentation is geared towards newcomers and will provide an introduction to the state legislative process to get new participants ready for session. The second presentation was created for those that already understand how laws are made. For this presentation, we will provide advanced advocacy tips and discuss often overlooked online resources.  "How-To" guides, informational handouts, and other resources will be available. 

If you're interested in learning about how laws are created in our state or what you can do to have a say in that process, attend one of our training sessions.

Oahu Schedule

Kaneohe                          

Windward Community College, Hale Kuhina 106; 45-720 Kea'ahala Road

Wednesday, December 5th

5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Intro to the Legislative Process

6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.  Advocating at the Capito

A message from Save Our Neighborhoods

A message from Save Our Neighborhoods

Dear SONnies and Friends of O'ahu's residential neighborhoods,

Please forward this important call to everyone in your email list

 

PLEASE SEND TESTIMONY, ATTEND AND TESTIFY at this important Council Meeting:

Wednesday, Nov 1  10:00 am  Council Chambers Honolulu Hale (these resolutions are well down the agenda, so you should be safe arriving at 1:30 which is the end of the scheduled lunch recess)

Last week, the Honolulu City Council Committee on Zoning kicked the can down the road to the full council by passing ALL FOUR STR (Short-Term Rental) resolutions to this Wednesday's meeting.

Many of you submitted testimony and testified in-person at the Zoning Committee meeting - thanks very much.  Many of you did not. 

 

The 9,000 + illegal STRs are not only a blight on neighborhood life, STRs are one of the major causes of high rents and homelessness for the working poor.

 

These bills are the showdown for our neighborhoods and housing for everyone living O'ahu.  For a quick estimate of how many short-term rentals (STR) are in your neighborhood, click airdna.com and type in your 5-digit zip code.  Then scout around other O'ahu zip codes and you will see that there are THOUSANDS more.  This site may not be 100% accurate but also does not cover all hosting platforms - many operators are not listed on the major hosting platforms and are not shown.  Remember, most of these are ILLEGAL under Honolulu zoning law and are removing much-needed rental housing from local families.

 

There are two forces at work here; 1) Those trying to turn our residential neighborhoods into mini-hotels.  They will be supporting 163 and 301.  They include current-illegal operators, those providing services to illegal operators or otherwise making $$ from them, and their political backers who have friends/supporters in this industry, and 2) Those of us working to preserve/return residential-zoned housing for O'ahu's families and insisting that the City enforce the existing law forbidding short-term rentals.  We support 052 & 164.

 

 

Resolution 17-052 CD-1 (Menor - our favorite Reso)

• Changes the basis of the existing law from "provide" (a Short-term rental) to "offer", which will allow advertising to be used as proof.
• Allows neighbor to go to state court to force the DPP to enforce the law against illegal vacation rentals
• Fine proceeds to go to the DPP for enforcement
• Makes DPP’s records on enforcement open to public scrutiny
• Allow neighbor to directly sue the offending STR operator
• Requires hosting platforms to report STR property information to the DPP

Resolution 17-163 (Martin - permitting - boo)

• Adds a permitting process for new TVRs
• No neighbor community input in permitting process
• No specified limits on # of permits.
• Holds owner responsible for advertising content, which cannot be enforced without major investigation effort
• Adds Enforcement techniques untried and unlikely to work

Resolution 17-164 (Martin - enforcement only)

• Stricter rules for advertising
• Makes it easier for City to collect fines and liens against offenders
• Could be a good starting point for discussion.
• Some enforcement measures

Resolution 17-301 (Anderson - permitting - boo)

• No community input. 
• Would turn R5 neighborhoods into resorts without proper rezoning. Would work against long-term rentals and affordable housing. Also would work against the ADU bills just passed by the city.
• Who would enforce to ensure that the owner actually lives there and is on site full-time?
• Forcing people to have to file police complaints means they have to take time off of work to go to court. Puts additional burden on the police and takes them away from investigating serious crime.

This is the last step in the Council.  Resolutions passed will be transmitted to the Honolulu Planning Commission and then back to the Council in bill form for final consideration and then to the mayor for signing into law.

 

!!THE ILLEGAL OPERATORS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS WILL BE THERE IN FORCE!!

 

The main problem with enforcement has been lack of political willpower on the part of administration/corporation counsel/DPP over the past 20 years of the Internet.  For example, in a recent letter from the mayor to a neighborhood board member, Caldwell writes: "As you may know, the public is currently divided on whether short term rentals in stable residential neighborhoods is a good idea."   This is just not true.  Over the past 10 years, public opinion has swayed the Council and the Legislature in numerous showdowns that the residential public is adamantly opposed to this invasion of our residential neighborhoods, loss of housing, disruption, and the constant flow of overnight strangers.

 

MAKE SURE THAT YOU ATTEND AND TESTIFY ON ALL FOUR RESOLUTIONS

 

Even if you do not sign up in advance or at the meeting, you can still testify after all the registered speakers testify.

 

For the past 12 years, SONHawai'i has been pushing the city to enforce the land use laws to shut down these illegal hotel operations in our residential neighborhoods.  SONHawai'i's and the residential public's position is reasonable and clear:

 

TWO YEARS OF PROVEN EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT BEFORE EVEN CONSIDERING PERMITTING

 

That means shutting down the thousands of currently-illegal operations and putting the horse back in front of the cart.  Two of these resolutions (052 & 164) will help make that possible.

 

One minute PER Agenda item - 4 min total. 

 

Please also right now Submit the testimony form and add your own comments. This does not have to be word-for-word the same testimony that you give in person at the meeting. Remember, there are FOUR items to submit testimony, so submit the form FOUR times, once for 17-052 (SUPPORT), once for 17-163 (OPPOSE), once for 17-164 (SUPPORT and add comment to combine with 052) and lastly for 17-301 (OPPOSE).  The link to the testimony form is:  http://www.honolulu.gov/ccl-testimony-form.html which is sometimes slow to load - after you 'submit' for one item, hit the  <  (back button) to return to the previous page, change the reso number, fill the form again then click 'submit' again.

 

Some of last week's testimonies submitted through the above portal did not get posted on the Council website!

 

So, to make sure that all nine councilmembers see your written testimony, send them all an email of your testimony by pasting all the following addresses in the "to" line of your email: emartin@honolulu.gov; kmpine@honolulu.gov; ianderson@honolulu.gov; tozawa@honolulu.gov; akobayashi@honolulu.gov;
cafukunaga@honolulu.gov; jmanahan@honolulu.gov; belefante@honolulu.gov; rmenor@honolulu.gov Submit right away so that councilmembers will see it in time!

 

Please forward this important call to everyone in your email list. Include associations, housing & homelessness advocates, social organizations and neighborhood groups – this affects us all.

Like us on Facebook

　  We have prevailed each time in the past, but it takes some effort - especially YOUR effort

Please, help right now to Save O’ahu’s Neighborhoods

Larry Bartley,

Executive Director

sonhawaii@hawaii.rr.com

Legislation on social issues which you may want to testify on.

The following are bills which (as of 3/21/16) are still alive and moving through the legislative process.  For more information about these bills, check the Legislative Website at www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

Legislation helping our Kupuna

HB2252 complements the Federal discharge planning requirements by allowing admitted inpatients to designate a caregiver, provide written and oral instructions to designated caregivers prior to discharge, and requiring hospitals to notify designated caregivers prior to a patient's discharge or transfer. This bill crossed over to the Senate, was heard in Consumer Protection where it was amended with the language from a similar bill, SB2397, which AARP prefers. Your support and positive testimony is needed as this bill goes through the Senate.  More information about this bill can be found at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2252

HB1878 is part of 1999's Kupuna Care Program that addresses the needs of Hawaii's aging population. This bill sets aside $5 million for the program; $1,710,000 for the aging and disability resource center; and $32,000 for fall prevention and early detection services. It also establishes $485,880 for the healthy aging partnership program. In addition, it appropriates $70,000 for an Alzheimer's disease and related dementia services coordinator position, and $200,000 for its public-awareness program.

HCR10 urges government entities who manage and own land around each of the planned rail transit stations to consider and include in development discussions, to the greatest extent possible, affordable housing, child and family services, elderly services and other beneficial opportunities for the people of Hawai‘i.

Legislation benefiting our Keiki

SB2231 establishes the REACH (resources for enrichment, athletics, culture and health) program in the office of youth services to provide a standardized framework and funding for after-school programs in public, middle and intermediate schools.

SB2476 enhances early language services for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind.  Establishes a working group for the purposes of investigating issues related to resources and tools for parents of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and improvements to the statewide system of services that support age-appropriate language development for children from birth to age five who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. 

Legislation for Hawaii's Women & Children

HB1897 provides for insurance coverage for sexually transmitted disease screenings, including screenings for HIV and AIDS.  This bill assists the community in stopping the spread of these terrible diseases through early diagnosis.

HCR68 encourages the Department of Public Safety to continue to expand its community-based work furlough programs to assist formerly incarcerated female inmates transition back into society.  It has been reported that most women prisoners are guilty of nonviolent crimes and usually have substance abuse issues to overcome.  This transitional program will assist them in reintegrating into society as well as insuring that they can provide for themselves financially.

HCR69 requests that a paid family leave task force examine the benefits and costs of a potential paid family leave program in Hawaii.  The "sandwich generation" is now experiencing many stresses created by needing to care for elderly parents while minor children still live at home. This resolution will help determine how those families can get the time they need to care for their families.

SB2318 establishes the address confidentiality program to help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking to relocate and keep their addresses confidential.  We must protect the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.  These individuals have suffered enough. They should be able to lead a life of quiet enjoyment without having to worry about criminals targeting their home because they know where they live.

SB2321 requires any state or county agency who employs personnel whose job duties require or may require intervention in a domestic violence situation to provide those employees with a minimum of eight hours of domestic violence intervention training.

Above information is provided by Rep Cynthia Thielen, Mahalo

Marcy's Law guarantees vicitim's rights

Click on the resolution to get a larger version that is easier to read.

You can learn more about Marcy's law and the legislation which will place it on the general election ballot at http://capitol.hawaii.gov.  Just type SB3034 in the hear search field.

Victims and victims family's should be informed when the courts take action on a perpetrator's case and they should have standing in court to testify in any court action involving the perpetrator. Marcy's Law will make sure victim's rights are protected.

To learn more about Marcy's Law go to http://marsyslaw.us/about-marsys-law/

Memorial day and Noburo Kawamoto

Memorial Day is a day to honor our veterans.

Noburo Kawamoto is a World War II veteran who fought with the famed 442 battalion.

State bureaucracy prevents him from living with his wife in the Family Foster Care Home of their choice.

HB600 would have allowed he and his wife to live together while the state modified the rules to permit a married couple who do not qualify for medicade to live together in a Family Foster Care Home of their choice.

HB600 got stuck in the Conference Committee when Senator Tokuda, Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, refused to give her approval.

Now it is up to Governor Ige to correct this injustice.  Only he can order the Department of Health to issue a waver which will allow Mr. and Mrs Kawamoto to live out their years in a family care home of their choice.  Call Governor Ige at 586-0034 and tell him you want him to act now to correct this injustice.

We need to honor our veterans, not cause them heart ache.

Oppose Bill 47 to approve the Koʻolau Loa Sustainable Communities Plan

 

The Mililani/Waipio/Helemanu Neighborhood Board by a vote of 20-0-0 voted last night that they cannot support proposed changes to the Ko'olau Loa Sustainable Communities Plan (Bill 47) because the revised plan:1)conflicts with the Oahu General Plan policies directing growth to the primary and secondary urban centers; 2) allows for major urban development on agricultural lands outside of the existing urban growth boundary; and 3) fails to consider or mitigate adverse impacts resulting from increased traffic congestion along Kamehameha Highway from Haleiwa to Kaneohe. 

Mililani - Waipio NB 25 has taken a position against Bill 47.

North Shore Neighborhood Board has taken a position against Bill 47.

Kahalu'u Neighborhood Board has taken a position against Bill 47.

Kailua Neighborhood Board has taken a position against Bill 47.

Manoa Neighborhood Board has taken a position against Bill 47.

Ka'a'awa Community Association

Kahana Community Association

Punalu'u Community Association

Hau'ula Community Association

Kawela Bay Community Association

Sunset Beach Community Association

Waiahole-Waikane Community Association

have all taken positions and made Resolutions against Bill 47.

We request that you do not support Bill 47 as revised after the PAC June 2009 revisions DPP accepted and then changed to include:

That essentially means

  1)the addition of a new urban growth boundary on Agricultural lands in Malaekahana on Gunstock Ranch and/or other  Ag properties nearby. That was specifically rejected by the PAC after 2 years of work with the developer entities represented in the PAC;

Laie's expansion into 258 acres of 550 new residential units behind BYU-H had been approved since the early 1990's. Infill on the existing 4,356 PARTIAL COUNT of urban zoned lots already acknowledged  by DPP in the Kahuku and Laie area are not all HRI owned, but to buy Ag  land that needs to be rezoned into a new urban growth boundary to accommodate  a specific developer seems  

2) Turtle Bay Resort 300 % expansion on 851 acres was rejected also by the PAC,

 The Community wants the 5 miles of irreplaceable wild coastline from Kawela Bay to Kahuku Point to continue to be conserved as it is. The PAC allowed for Turtle Bay resort to be in a Special Planning area, and expansion within its existing footprint considered in light of the traffic impacts of the cumulative developments and increasing tourist influx to 7.5 million annually by 2023 (5 million now), plus the amount of housing over 20 degree slope and areas not yet counted of already zoned vacant urban residential lots in Ko'olau Loa that will be developed, but are not yet COUNTED by DPP. The totals increase the resident population by triple, then add the tourists on the sole 2 lane road of about 10,500 a day additional.  

Laniakea and Turtle Beach are not the only traffic congestion area. There is a proposed traffic impact study before the Policy Committee of the OahuMPO now that was voted the number one Overall Work Project for the year by the Citizens Advisory Committee. It is crucial to the area considered by Bill 47.    

We request that you do not support Bill 47 without eliminating these developments. 

Testify in support of a secure forensic facility at the Windward State Hospital.

Several patients walk away from the Windward State Hospital every year.  Some were a danger to themselves and to society.  Lack of a secure facility to house dangerous forensic patients is unacceptable in the Kaneohe Community.  Please testify in favor of SB2579

If you need help to submit testimony electronically, call the Public Access Room at 587-0478

SB2579 Hawaii State Hospital; Inpatient Psychiatric Facility; Appropriation RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH. Authorizes the director of finance to issue general obligation bonds for the department of health to develop a secure inpatient psychiatric facility to serve the mentally ill who need stricter security, and inmates and detainees who need a higher level of mental health care.

Secure Facility at Windward State Hospital

(S ) 1/24/2014 - The committee(s) on HTH has scheduled a public hearing on 01-27-14 1:30PM in conference room 229.

Concerned about B&Bs?

The Planning Commission will be considering a law to make administration of Bed & Breakfast accomidations which probably means consideration of legalizing existing B&Bs

PLANNING COMMISSION

Meeting of the Planning Commission

DATE: August 24, 2011
TIME: 10:00 am.
PLACE: Mission Memorial Auditorium, 550 South King Street, Honolulu, Hawaii

AGENDA

PUBLIC HEARING
Public hearing notice published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on July 29, 2011.

1. CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARING

Continuation of public hearing opened on August 10, 2011 for the following:

A BILL TO AMEND CHAPTER 21, REVISED ORDINANCES OF HONOLULU 1990, AS AMENDED (THE LAND USE ORDINANCE) RELATING TO REGULATION OF CERTAIN VISITOR ACCOMMODATIONS

The purpose of this bill is to improve administration and enforcement of Chapter 21, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, relating to Transient Vacation Units (TVUs) and Bed and Breakfast (B&B) homes.

Support SB2919 Qualified Security at Hawaii State Hospital

Assure quality security at Hawaii State Hospital.  Support SB2919

Hawaii State Hospital Security

The Kaneohe Neighborhood Board cannot take action on this resolution until our 2/18 meeting at the Kaneohe Senior Center. However, every reader of this blog is encouraged to send this resolution as testimony in support of current legislation, SB2919

Its easy. Click here and click on submit testimony in the second block down. Follow instructions. Copy this reso to your clip board and paste it where the instructions ask for testimony.

RESOLUTION TO URGE THE HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDES FOR ADEQUETE AND PROPERLY TRAINED AND EQUIPPED SECURITY PERSONNEL AND PROTOCOLS THE HAWAII STATE HOSPITAL

WHEREAS, the Hawaii State Hospital houses patients who need to be kept in a secured facility for their own protection and for the safety of others; and

WHEREAS, some patients have been referred to that facility by the court system as a result of the danger posed to themselves and to others due to their psychological condition; and,

WHEREAS, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 is concerned that security personnel at the Hawaii State Hospital may lack the expertise and training necessary to ensure that the Hawaii State Hospital is a safe and secure facility; and

WHEREAS, recent escapes and assaults on staff have raised community concerns of the potential safety and security issues; and

WHEREAS, The Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 is committed to ensuring the safety of all residents.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30 strongly urges the Hawaii State Legislature to adopt legislation that would provide for and ensures adequate and properly trained and equipped security personnel and protocols, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of the resolution be transmitted to the Honorable Wil Espero, Chair, Senate Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee, the Honorable David Ige, Chair Senate Health Committee, the Honorable Donna Mercado Kim, Chair Senate Ways and Mean Committee, the Honorable Jill Tokuda, Senator 24th District, the Honorable Clayton Hee, Senator 23rd District, the Honorable Pono Chong, State Representative 49th House District, the Honorable Ken Ito, State Representative 48th House District.

Resolution on Slavery

At its meeting, Thursday 9/17, the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board will consider a resolution recommending legislation to strengthen Hawaii's laws against human trafficking. The proposed resolution follows:

Page 1 of 2

Human Trafficking Resolution
Neighborhood Board No. ____
WHEREAS, existing legislation and law enforcement activities in
Hawaii are ineffective to deter Human Trafficking. Effective
deterrents require bringing traffickers, and patrons or “johns” who
solicit services from trafficked persons, to justice, and

WHEREAS, no comprehensive, victim centered, law exists in Hawaii
that effectively penalizes the range of offenses involved in the
trafficking scheme, to create a significant and effective penal
deterrent to traffickers and patrons, while recognizing and
protecting the needs and rights of trafficked persons, and

WHEREAS, existing state laws fail to protect victims of
trafficking, who are often in Hawaii without proper documentation
or falsified identification and are frequently punished instead of
the traffickers themselves, and

WHEREAS, trafficked persons also often find it difficult or
impossible to report the crimes committed against them or to assist
in the investigation and prosecution of these crimes because they
are subjected to coercion and intimidation, including physical or
psychological control and debt bondage, and often fear retribution,
and

WHEREAS, adequate services and facilities do not exist in Hawaii to
meet the needs of trafficking victims for health care, housing,
education, medical services, and legal assistance, which safely
support the recovery and ability of trafficked persons to regain
control of their lives and also to assist with the prosecution of
traffickers, and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the ____________ Neighborhood
Board
No. ______ that:

1. In order to deter human trafficking, Hawaii must recognize
that trafficking is a serious offense, which is done by
prescribing appropriate punishment, giving priority to the
prosecution of trafficking offenses, and protecting, rather
than punishing, the victims of these offenses; and

2. The Hawaii State Legislature should enact a human trafficking
statute to allow local law enforcement and city prosecutors to
effectively combat the growing problem of Human Trafficking,
which is a contemporary manifestation of slavery, to ensure
the just and effective punishment of traffickers and to
protect the human rights of trafficked persons.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be
transmitted to:

The Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, the Lt. Governor of the
State of Hawai‘i, State of Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney
General, the City Prosecutor’s Office, Mayor of the City and
County of Honolulu, all City Council members, the Hawai‘i State
House of Representatives and the Hawai‘i State Senate.

The _______________ Neighborhood Board No. _____________ adopted

this resolution at its _______________________ meeting.


Approved by the ______________ Neighborhood Board on _____________
Date

_________________________________
Chairperson Signature

Support Kaneohe Bay Regional Council

The following resolution asks for the repeal of the HB586 C.D.1 which will sunset the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council as of June 2010.

Whereas: the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council was established to:

1. Facilitate the implementation of the Kaneohe Bay Master

2. Plan Review and periodically amend the Master Plan

3. Serve as a central coordinative clearing house of public and private activities in Kaneohe Bay

4. Facilitate productive interaction between users of Kaneohe Bay and the general public

5. Recommend research, studies, data collection and planning of activities designed to provide additional information on Kaneohe Bay.

6. Advise the State and County on matters regarding the use of Kaneohe Bay.

7. Develop short and long term goals based on the Master Plan

8. Educate the public and users of Kaneohe Bay about problems and programs in the Bay.

9.Serve as a public advocate

10 Initiate and maintain contact with public, private, county and state organizations, agencies and individuals engaged in activities in the Bay

11. Establish a Kaneohe Bay fishing panel to monitor fishing activities in the Bay.

Whereas HB586 C.D.1 sunsets the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council as of July 1, 2010

Whereas the Department of Land and Natural Resources in mandated by HB586 to continue to exercise full force and effect with respect to all plans, programs, or other policies adopted by the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council

Whereas the Department of Land and Natural Resources has been severely impacted by budget cuts to the point where it can barely maintain current key programs.

Whereas the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council has contributed thousands of hours of volunteer effort to developing and implementing plans for Kaneohe Bay.

Whereas the history of planning in Hawaii is that plans are developed only to sit on book shelves and be ignored.

Whereas plans, to be meaningful and useful, must be reviewed and updated on a regular basis

Whereas the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council serves as a voice for the Ko`olaupoko community

Whereas the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council is an advocate for plan updates and implementation

Whereas the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council is a model for community based management

Now be it resolved that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board supports the Kaneohe Bay Regional Council and believes its functions are important to Kaneohe and Kaneohe Bay.

Be it further resolved that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board recommend the repeal of HB586 C.D.1 and that this resolution be transmitted to our windward legislators and the Governor Lingle.

candidates' night

The Windward Chapter of the Family, Community and Education Organization will co-sponsor a candidates' night in conjunction with a Windward Community College political science class.

The forum will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at WCC, Hale Akoakoa,rooms 103-105.

Fish Replenishment Areas; Ornamental Fish

SB3225 SD2 Measure Title:
RELATING TO FISHING.
Report Title: Fish Replenishment Areas; Ornamental Fish ($)

Description: Requires the department of land and natural resources to establish a network of fish replenishment areas on Maui and Oahu with the option of establishing them on additional islands as warranted in the future. (SB3225 SD2)

The Kaneohe Bay Regional Council received testimony to the effect that the ornamental fish industry has had a major impact on the reduction of certain fish species in Kaneohe Bay.
The bill is opposed by fishermen because the bill could eliminate conventional fishing as well as commercial ornamental fish collection.

The Senate Bill was assigned to three house committees, WLH, JUD & FIN, and has been held in WLH. Bills have to be heard and passed out of all three committees before April 10, so it looks like this bill is dead.

Hawaiian Cultural Park in Ha`iku Valley

HB2704 comp SB2727 are bills which will authorize the establishment of a Hawaiian Cultural Park in Ha`iku Valley. These bills have crossed over and are currently referred to the respective finance committees (FIN & WAM) They must be heard by April 10 to pass forward to a Conference Committe.

we need letters to the House and Senate money committee chairs to support funding the Ha`iku Valley Cultural Preserve Commission - we've asked for about $2.5 million in capital funding and about $350,000 in operating costs (the latter amount is adjustable). We can't move forward without the capital improvement cost (fixing up the building and securing it) and at least some start-up staffing, security and operational funding.

It would be good, also, to "cc" these letters to the Governor, so that she realizes that the community strongly wants this project to be supported by her administration in the final analysis of the budget.

Mahalo,
Mahealani