Archive for the ‘Sen. Kim’ Category

Senator Kim issues statement on audit of DBEDT

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Senator KimSenator Donna Mercado Kim, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, today released the following statement commenting on today’s report of the Legislative Auditor examining the practices of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and it’s director, Ted Liu:

“Today’s report on DBEDT’s operations is a fresh, but not unprecedented, indictment of Liu’s management. He and his department have manipulated grants, transferred funds to avoid compliance with regulations, and lied to investigators. They have attempted to hide files to escape scrutiny and, in the final analysis, demonstrated an attitude that they should be allowed to do whatever they please.

(more…)

Posted in Articles, Sen. Kim | No Comments »

Aiea/Pearl City Town Meeting Scheduled

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

Senators David Ige, Donna Mercado Kim, Clarence Nishihara and Norman Sakamoto and Representatives Blake Oshiro, K. Mark Takai and Roy Takumi will hold a Aiea/Pearl City Legislative Town Meeting on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 at the Pearl Ridge Elementary School Cafeteria from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. to discuss Hawaii’s economy.

Senator Nishihara

“We encourage the people of the Aiea/Pearl City area to join us to discuss how developments in the global financial crisis and widening global downturn have seriously impacted the Hawai‘i economy,” said Senator Nishihara.

Presenters will include Dr. Carl Bonham, Associate Professor of Economics and Executive Director of the University of Hawai‘i Economic Research Organization (UHERO); and Dr. Paul Brewbaker, Senior Economic Advisor, Bank of Hawai‘i.

Senator Kim

In addition to the presenters, Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Chair, Senate Committee on Ways & Means and her staff will explain the Executive Budget as submitted by the governor. “This is a great opportunity to express your ideas on how to balance the State budget,” said Senator Kim.

Contact Senator Nishihara’s office at 586-6970 for more information.

Posted in Articles, Capitol Meetings and Events, Sen. Ige, Sen. Kim, Sen. Nishihara, Sen. Sakamoto | No Comments »

It’s that time of year again

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Senator Tsutsui's Foodbank Raffle

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.

Posted in Articles, Sen. Chun Oakland, Sen. Espero, Sen. Galuteria, Sen. Kidani, Sen. Kim | No Comments »

Senators Challenge Cuts to Visitors Program

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Senator NishiharaCall 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.

Senator Kim

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.

Posted in Articles, Sen. Kim, Sen. Nishihara | No Comments »