Legislators, community leaders and supporters gathered inside the Keiki Zoo to share the project with visitors and caring citizens of Hawaii, and invited them to join the initiative.  Those attending the ceremony were enchanted by a traditional Hawaiian Entry Protocol by the students of Kamaile Academy, and the children and youth who were present participated in the dedication of a native ‘Ohi’a Lehua tree.  One by one, children as young as two years old filled a spade with soil and added it to the base of the tree.

Many who attended the event did not go home empty handed.  Hundreds of people are now proud owners of an endangered, native Hawaiian gardenia called Na’u.  A total of 400 Na’u were given away to those who pledged to care for it and also join the Million Trees of Aloha project.  Half of the gardenias were distributed at the Honolulu Zoo, and half were given away at the annual Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii Teddy Bear Drive.  The Honolulu Zoological Society also offered free compost and hands-on educational displays, Blue Planet offered ways to use clean energy, and the Bishop Museum joined the Oahu Invasive Species Committee to provide samples of plants and animals harmful to our state.

Meanwhile, on the West side of O’ahu, Kiwanis, a global organization of volunteers, launched the Caring For Our Beaches Project with a cleanup at Oneula Beach Park.  Nearly 100 volunteers roamed the shore, scouring the sand for trash and debris.  By the end of the day, they removed dozens of bags of trash and several truckloads of large items including car hoods and water heaters.

Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, who organized the project, co-convenes the State Legislature’s Keiki Caucus which sponsored the last Children and Youth Summit.  Senator Chun Oakland said it is at that Summit that children and youth decided that planting more trees and caring for the state’s beaches should be priority.  Since then she has transformed those priorities into a statewide service project.

“We have a wonderful opportunity as a community to positively impact the future of Hawaii by planting trees that will provide life sustaining benefits for years to come,” Senator Chun Oakland said.  “I am proud of the children and teens who  made this a priority at the Children and Youth Summit in 2009.”

The goal is to plant one million trees by October 2010, which is also Children and Youth Month.  Each Hawaii resident, school, church, business, community organization and many others are encouraged to participate in the initiative by planting non-invasive trees, preferably native or food bearing, throughout the state.  Residents are also being urged to clean up beaches throughout Hawaii by picking up trash. 

So far, hundreds of Hawaii residents have joined the commitment and have come together on Kanu Hawaii’s website that supports Hawaii’s unique island values.  Those who have committed to planting trees have joined the project by visiting www.kanuhawaii.org/milliontreesofaloha; and those who have committed to help clean up the state’s beaches have joined by visiting www.kanuhawaii.org/caringforourbeaches.  Members can share what they have done, see how many trees are being planted, organize beach cleanups and even post pictures and video.  The website also brings together various resources and provides members with access to them. 

“People from all walks of life are making a difference,” Senator Chun Oakland said.  “One person at a time, one family at a time, one organization at a time … planting native and food bearing trees across the State and cleaning all our beaches on each island.”

The Keiki Caucus, along with business and community leaders, yesterday gathered in support of SB 2405 and HB 2352, which would allow Hawaii to implement the streamlined sales and use tax agreement and collect taxes on out-of-state sales. Currently, Hawaii is unable to collect sales tax on out-of-state purchases, including those made through catalogs and over the Internet. The proposed measures would adopt amendments to Hawaii tax laws to implement the existing streamlined sales and use tax agreement.

The amount of sales and use tax revenues that have remained uncollected is significant. “Last year, the National Conference of State Legislatures calculated that $245.5 million was not collected by our state,” said Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, chair of the Human Services Committee. “At the same time, hundreds of thousands of children and youth in Hawaii are being impacted by the cuts that have already been made in public education, child care, higher education, public health services, youth services and public assistance, to name a few.”

“Think about furlough Fridays,” suggested Representative John Mizuno. “If we had collected that $245 million, would this even be an issue?”

Mizuno also stressed that, “This is not a new tax. It is just uncollected tax.”

For the business community, there is also a concern that businesses selling via catalogs or over the Internet and do not collect the sales and use tax enjoy an unfair advantage. “For us, it’s all about competition,” said Dick Botti of the Hawaii Retail Association. “If somebody can order something from the mainland over the Internet and avoid the taxes, it creates an unfair playing field, and this helps level it. We need this type of legislation.”

According to Carol Pregill of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, “The retail industry in Hawaii employs about twenty-three percent of our workforce. This bill would give us the opportunity, the latitude, the revenue, the break that we need that we can continue to employ our Hawaii people in our industry.”

Since 1969, Hawaii law has required that buyers pay a tax whenever they purchase something outside of Hawaii through a catalog, the Internet, or by other means. However, the means has not been available to collect those taxes.

“With technology, we now have a way to help our tax departments collect the taxes that are due, help level the playing field for our local businesses, and help preserve those programs that are at the core of government services,” said Senator Carol Fukunaga, chair of the Economic Development and Technology Committee.

In 2003, Hawaii became a participant in the national Streamlined Sales Tax Project by enacting the Hawaii Simplified Sales and Use Tax Administration Act (Act 173, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003). In 2009, the State Legislature passed streamlined sales and use tax legislation by wide margins (23-2 in the Senate, 42-7 in the House) but Governor Linda Lingle vetoed the measure. Twenty-three states representing over thirty percent of the nation’s population have already been certified as being in compliance with the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The 16th Annual Children and Youth Day returns to the grounds of the Hawaii State Capitol, Washington Place, the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, the Hawaii State Public Library Grounds, Kalanimoku Building, Department of Health Miller Street Parking Lot, Punchbowl  Street, and the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center.

Date:   Sunday, October 4, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

FREE PARKING will be available at all neighboring State and County public parking lots.

The event’s primary sponsors are McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund, the Star Bulletin/Midweek, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. The State of Hawaii, City & County of Honolulu, Heather’s Inflatables, Hawaii Tents and Events and over 200 additional businesses and organizations are also providing substantial support.

Over 200 exhibitors and community organizations will offer free interactive, educational and fun activities for the whole family under the “Big Top” tents and on the grounds surrounding the Capitol, including:

• Sports, Games, and Rides: Ground Golf, soccer playing, inflatable bouncers for the keiki, Cyclone Swing, Giant Slide, Train Rides, Fire Truck Ride, Horse Carousel, “The Wild One” Obstacle Course, Hawaii’s Largest Mobile Rock Wall, Rope a Phobia
• Demonstrations and Tournaments: Aerospace activities (State Capitol Chambers) , Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament (bring your cards to Conference Rooms 325 and 329 at the State Capitol), Aloha Milk Caps Slam-O-Rama Tournament in Conference Room 309 and State Capitol Rotunda, and mixed martial arts demonstrations with Egan Inoue on the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center grounds;
• Hands on Arts & Cultural Activities: Craft making, lauhala weaving, Hawaiian storytelling, and other activities at Iolani Palace Grounds provided by halaus, Friends of Iolani Palace and the Mission Houses Museum;

• Free Tours of the Governor’s Ceremonial Room, Iolani Palace and Gallery, Washington Place, and the Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center;
• Non-stop entertainment featuring: Royal Hawaiian Band, the Honolulu Boy’s Choir, Danny Kennedy, Soranbushi, Jordon Segundo, Hyper Squad, Brother Noland, Kapena, Greg Gabaylo, Mehetia Productions, Mrs. Hawaii, Miss Hawaii and much, much more;
• “Teen Zone” focuses on secondary school students, including: Fashion and Beauty, Money Matters, Urban Art Show, Cheerleaders, Ancient World of Europe (Hawaii State Library Lawn); Ancient Worlds of Asia (Frank F. Fasi Civic Center), USTA Tennis, Honolulu Bulls and Rush Soccer, Hawaii Ultimate Frisbee, Law Enforcement, Fire, Ambulance and Civil Defense Demonstrations, PG13 Zone featuring DJ CHUNKY;
• “Green Zone” to promote recycling.  Aloha `Aina Earth Day Recycling island wide!  The RRR Recycling Services reverse vending machines will recycle bottles and cans (Punchbowl & King Street); Intrade Corp. will recycle cell phones, printer cartridges, and lap top computers, Goodwill Industries will be collecting household items, Nike will collect athletic shoes, Hagadone will be collecting telephone books and white paper.  Call 306-1876 for more info!
• Food/Drink vendors selling pizza, hot dogs, fried noodles, teriburgers, Hawaiian plate lunches, shave ice, slush floats, bubble pearl drinks, ice cream and water.

Children & Youth Day is the first major event during Children & Youth Month, celebrated each year in October.  For more information, please call Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland’s office at 586-6130, e-mail senchunoakland@capitol.gov, or go to http://www.kipchawaii.org.

Kaunakakai
Hana
Lanai
St. Theresa
Pauoa Elementary
Kalihi Waena
Kaiulani
Kaewai Schools
Auwaiolimu (Papakolea) Congregational Church
Congregational Church of Wahiawa
Waikane Congregational Church
Waimanalo Congregational Church
Ewa Beach Boys and Girls Club
Lighthouse Out Reach Program

There will be a gathering on Thursday, 13 August 2009 at 9:00 a.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol, in front of the auditorium, where a formal presentation of the backpacks will occur.

“This is an extremely beneficial program,” said Chun Oakland. “I am honored that members of the Legislature have the opportunity to present these backpacks to deserving students.  As we have seen the economy fluctuate over the last year, many parents have struggled to figure out how they will be able to purchase supplies for their children.  As another school year begins, public-private partnerships like this are even more important. As Hawaii’s NFWL Education Team Leader, I must commend the Office Depot Foundation on its efforts to make children’s lives easier when it comes to having basic school supplies, which many of us take for granted.”

This year, Office Depot and the Office Depot Foundation are celebrating the donation of the 2 millionth backpack since this program began in 2001.  NFWL has been partnering with the backpack program for four years and this year, the Office Depot Foundation will provide the National Foundation for Women Legislators with more than 18,000 backpacks for distribution by women elected officials in all 50 states.

The Office Depot Foundation will also donate backpacks to children in partnership with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association (CASA), the Kids In Need Foundation, City Year, Nourish America, Feed the Children and the Tony Stewart Foundation. These organizations focus on education, domestic abuse, national disaster relief and other vital issues and will assist in distributing backpacks to children across the country and internationally.

“Children who are poor or abused, or families who have suffered through a natural disaster do not need to worry about the stigma of not having school supplies,” said Chun Oakland. “This is a wonderful program and I look forward to working with the Office Depot Foundation in the future on behalf of the National Foundation for Women Legislators.”

The 2009 backpacks come in five different color schemes, blending orange, blue, red, purple, green and  pink. Specially designed to meet the needs of students in grades K-5, the backpacks feature two front pockets and wide, padded straps for comfort and support.  Each backpack includes a pencil pouch containing essential back-to-school items  a ruler, four crayons, a glue stick, a pen, a pencil, a pencil sharpener and an eraser.

The Hawai`i Foodbank kicked off their Annual Food Drive yesterday with the 2009 Kick-off Breakfast at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The Annual Food Drive, Hawai`i Foodbank’s largest fundraising effort, lasts from February 5, 2009 to April 18, 2009, which means there will be plenty of Portuguese bean soup and ice cream around the Capitol.

This year, Senator Michelle Kidani has stepped up to lead our fundraising efforts in joining the fight against hunger. Quoting a famous chinese proverb, ”If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else,” she challenges all Senators and Senate offices to find happiness and get involved.

Of the many fundraisers at the Capitol, Senate offices are already participating in charitable raffles for gift cards and ice cream fundraisers.

Coming up, Senator Will Espero’s office is pre-selling Valentine’s Day cookies for $1 while Senator Michelle Kidani’s office will sell Valentine Candygrams for $1 starting Monday. Offices of Senators Brickwood Galuteria and Donna Mercado Kim will be selling chili next week Wednesday at $3.01 a bowl.

So who will enjoy the ono chocolate-covered strawberry prize bouquet and bragging rights this month? Senator Donna Mercado Kim’s office is in the lead with Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland’s office in second and Senate Clerk’s Office close behind in third.

The Hawaii Legislature’s Kupuna Caucus has introduced bills relating to important issues facing Hawaii’s elderly population. 

The Kupuna Caucus first convened in 2006. The idea came out of the innovative 2005 Silver Legislature, attended by 150 seniors, who played the roles of legislators, lobbyists or observers. 20 bills were passed and delivered to the leadership of the real House and Senate. All have since become law.

Speaker Calvin Say and Rep. Cynthia Thielen made the suggestion to form a Kupuna Caucus, which was enthusiastically adopted and when the real legislature was convened.

Laura Manis, convener of the 2005 Silver Legislature says, “It has been wonderful to work with legislators of both parties and know they are concerned with the problems of health and safety of the seniors.”

Senator Chun Oakland, who first convened Kupuna Caucus with former Rep. Dennis Arakaki says, “It’s exciting to actually have a collection of all these people and organizations that really care about our elders and take action at The Legislature and with organizations’ and grassroots efforts to mobilize positive change.”
      
The Age Boom and Advocacy

By the year 2020, one in four of Hawaii’s citizens will be over the age of 65 – a trend across the nation. Baby Boomers are caring for their aging parents, and aging themselves. With organizations and initiatives like the 2006 Silver Legislature, Kokua Council, the Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs (PABEA), AARP, Hawaii Association of Retired Americans (HARA), and others, more concerned people are advocating to improve the lives of older adults. The Kupuna Caucus is giving Hawaii’s older residents a voice, and there’s much work to do.

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One of the key responsibilities of Hawaii’s lawmakers is caring for the children of our island home, ensuring that they grow up in the kind of environment that will allow them to take their place as leaders of the futrue. That responsibilitiy extends to a number of areas, including education, child welfare, youth development, and health care. The 1994 state legislature and Governor John Waihee, officially established the Keiki Caucus in recognition of our responsibility toward generations to come.

Caucus members include Hawaii State Senators and Representatives and a community resource group of children and youth advocates and providers, who have been critical each year in assisting the Caucus with identifying priority areas for children and youth in Hawaii. The Keiki Caucus’s vision is that all Hawaii’s children should be healthy, safe, and ready to learn and succeed. Toward that goal, this year’s Keiki Caucus Package of 42 bills addresses such issues as substance abuse, education, youth development, child welfare, child safety, childcare, health, and self-sufficiency. Between May and December of 2004, the Keiki Caucus Resource Group reviewed a variety of measures, assigniing priorities to those most urgently needed.

Substance abuse continues to be a major problem with Hawaii’s youth. One bill proposes to restore full funding for the Healthy Hawaii Initiative for fiscal year 2004-2005 from the Tobacco Settlement Fund. It further authorizes the appropriation of money for Healthy Start Hawaii from general funds. Another bill appropriates funds for high schools, middle/intermediate schools, and elementary schools for substance abuse prevention and treatment programs. Another bill gives the Department of Health funding to ensure that parents with children under the age of nineteen are allowed the option of taking part in residential substance abuse treatment programs. Another bill provides for parity of insurance payments for substance abuse and mental health benefits — to treat them the same as physical conditions.

Education is a priority issue this legislative session, and a number of Keiki Caucus measures are aimed at helping young people make the most of educational opportunities. One measure provides for additional career counselors at public high schools. Another appropriates funds for full-time student activity coordinators. Yet another bill appropriates $1.8 million for the Department of Education to purchase new textbooks and provide a sufficient number of textbooks for every student enrolled in public schools.

The Keiki Caucus worked to provide fun, meaningful and interesting opportunities for children and youth to explore their potential; pursue career, educational, cultural, and recreational interests, and, at the same time, address the problem of young people getting into trouble during non-school hours. Funds are being requested for after-school, before school, weekend, and holiday programs that offer healthy alternatives to gangs and drugs. Child safety is addressed through a package of bills aimed at chld welfare and the problem of abuse and neglect within families. Citizens will be allowed to check off a space on their income tax forms that delivers funds to the Hawaii Children’s Trust Fund, a domestic violence prevention special fund, and spouse and chld abuse special accounts. Another requires members of the clergy to report cases of child abuse to the police or the Department of Human Services.

Adolescent health is a growing concern, and childhood obesity is on the rise. One of the bills in the Keiki Caucus Package proposes to establish a school nutrition advisory council and establish nutrition standards fo food and beverages sold in schools. Another bill appropriates funds to provide full-time physical education positions in the Department of Education to imporve physical education programs and promote healthier living. Also relating to the health of Hawaii’s young people is a bill that appropriates $200,000 to the department of Health for a 24-hour Hawaii poison hotline.

A measure to promote economic self-sufficiency for youth and their families provides for an annual adjustment to the state minimum wage based upon federal cost of living allowance increases.

This is the thime to understand that the issues that affect young people affect us all. These issues are central to our quality of life. We owe the children of Hawaii, and ourselves, our very best effort.