Senators Russell Kokubun and Dwight Takamine, and Representatives Jerry Chang and Clift Tsuji will share the results of the 2009 Legislative Session with the community at a joint community meeting on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s UCB Room 100 auditorium. The legislators’ goal is to give the public a chance to discuss the recently-completed legislative session, community concerns and priorities for the future, and possible vetoes of bills pending before the governor. They will also be joined by Robert K. Lindsey, Jr., trustee of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
“We’ve completed the 2009 regular legislative session, but there’s still much to do,” said Kokubun, who serves as vice-president of the Senate. “There is no substitute for having a direct conversation with the community to gain from their insights about what has been accomplished and what requires further attention.”
“This is a chance for the public to continue to educate legislators on their priorities,” said Takamine, who chairs the Senate Labor Committee. “We did a lot to address issues like ceded lands and the economic picture, but there are also the enduring issues like health care, jobs, and education. We have the Council on Revenues issuing a new report at the end of the month. The time between sessions is a period when we consider a wide range of possibilities for our communities. We don’t stop working—and listening—just because we’re not in session.”
Big Island legislators Sen. Russell Kokubun and Sen. Lorraine Inouye will host “Legislators Listen” community meetings this Saturday and March 15. The events are also sponsored by seven Big Island representatives from the state House and will meet meet at various locations across the island. The legislators welcome community input.
In response to state-wide concerns regarding residential development on designated agriculture lands, the Senate Committees on Water, Land and Agriculture and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, heard testimony on 
