Senate Majority Caucus

In response to popular demand, the Public Access Room (PAR) has added a workshop in Lahaina on Tuesday, December 9th, to its Maui schedule. In preparation for the 2009 State legislative session, the PAR’s free educational workshops are designed to encourage public participation in the State legislative process. Virginia Beck, the Assistant Public Access Coordinator at the Public Access Room (PAR), a division of the State of Hawai‘i’s non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau, will present the series.

Updated schedule of workshops on Maui:

• Tuesday 12/2/08 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Kahului Public Library

• Wednesday 12/3/08 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Kihei Community Center

• Thursday 12/4/08 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Wailuku Public Library

• Friday 12/5/08 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Hana Public Library

• Monday 12/8/08 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Pukalani Community Center

New!…..Tuesday 12/9/08 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. MCC Lahaina Education Center (Call the Center for directions: 662-3911)

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In preparation for the 2009 State legislative session, free workshops designed to educate and encourage public participation in the State legislative process will be offered at numerous Maui locations in early December. The workshops will be presented by Virginia Beck, the Assistant Public Access Coordinator at the Public Access Room (PAR), a division of the State of Hawai‘i’s non-partisan Legislative Reference Bureau. 

Schedule of workshops on Maui:

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Day focuses on peace, abundance, unity and conservation.

Today marks the first official State observance of Makahiki Commemoration Day, which was designated for recognition by the 2008 Hawai‘i State Legislature. It is not a state holiday.

“Makahiki was a significant time throughout Polynesia,” said Senator J. Kalani English, the principal introducer of the bill that established Makahiki Commemoration Day. “Conflict and war were set aside for the four-month Makahiki season, and unity and peace prevailed. They also let the land lay fallow as they celebrated the harvest.”

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Assignments reflect “talents and interests” of Senators

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa today announced the members of the Hawai‘i State Senate committees that will consider legislation for the 2009 legislative session. “We have a very strong lineup,” said Hanabusa. “Our committee assignments let us make the best use of our Senators’ talents, interests, and experience. Everyone is aware that we are facing a challenging session, but our committees are ready to address the issues that will help our state move forward.”

The makeup of the fourteen Senate committees is:

Consumer Protection (CPN)
Baker, Rosalyn H. (Chair)
Ige, David Y. (Vice Chair)
Espero, Will
Green, M.D., Josh
Ihara, Jr., Les
Sakamoto, Norman
Hemmings, Fred

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Call on Tourism Authority to restore funding to high-visibility efforts.

State Senators who oversee Hawai‘i’s tourism industry today called on the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority to reverse its decision to slash funding for high-visibility visitor programs. Senator Clarence Nishihara, chair of the Senate Tourism Committee, and Senator Donna Mercado Kim, who was vice-chair of the Tourism Committee before being named to head the Senate’s Ways and Means Committee earlier this week, maintain that the cuts will threaten the state’s efforts to attract repeat visitors. They also say that this appears to be an effort by Governor Linda Lingle to micro-manage tourism.

The Senators were responding to a decision by the Tourism Authority on Thursday to cut special fund spending by about $17 million, which will threaten programs that provide Hawaiian entertainment and greeters at airports and harbors, as well as Sunset on the Beach, evening hula and torch-lighting in Waikiki, and the Waikiki by Moonlight event.

“These are high-visibility events that build warm and lasting memories for our visitors,” said Senator Nishihara. “They make Hawai‘i someplace special, and encourage visitors to come back. (more…)

• Are you interested in politics?
• Do you understand Hawaii’s legislative process? If not, would you like to?
• Do you want to learn how to get involved in the legislature without leaving Molokai?
• Would you like to be able to write good testimony and make sure it gets in the right hands at the right place and the right time?

Well the Public Access Room can help!

The Hawaii State Legislature’s Public Access Room (PAR) has scheduled an ”Informed Citizens” Workshop on the Island of Molokai on Monday, November 10, 2008, starting from 6:30 p.m. in the Department of Hawaiian Homelands Conference Room. 

For more details, please see the attached invitation.

The Hawai‘i State Senate today announced its leadership and committee chair assignments for the 2009 Legislative Session.

Leadership:
President: Colleen Hanabusa
Vice President: Russell Kokubun
Majority Leader: Gary Hooser
Majority Technology Leader: David Ige
Majority Floor Leader: Norman Sakamoto

Majority Caucus Leader: Shan Tsutsui
Majority Policy Leader: Les Ihara, Jr.
Majority Whip: Jill Tokuda
Majority Whip: Suzanne Chun Oakland
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