Archive for the ‘Sen. Kokubun’ Category

Hilo legislators to host mid-session community meeting

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Senators Russell Kokubun and Dwight Takamine, and Representatives Jerry Chang, Clift Tsuji and Faye Hanohano will be hosting a mid-session community meeting in Hilo to provide residents an opportunity to share their concerns about legislation in progress and community issues. Senator Takamine says “this meeting is an opportunity for residents to engage in an open dialogue with their legislators and participate in the conversation about projects affecting people the Hilo area.”

WHEN: Tuesday, February 23, 2010
          7:00 p.m.
WHERE: University of Hawai‘i, Hilo
          UCB Room 127

The public is invited to attend and participate in the open forum to inform and educate their legislators on issues that are affecting their communities. The legislators will also be sharing updates on education, budget and projects on the Big Island.

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Hilo area legislators seeking public input for upcoming legislative session

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Senators Russell Kokubun and Dwight Takamine along with Representatives Jerry Chang and Clift Tsuji are hoping to get an earful from the community. The Hilo area legislators have scheduled a joint community meeting on Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s UCB Room 127. The purpose of the meeting is to give the public a chance to express their concerns and priorities for the upcoming legislative session.

Senator Russell Kokubun

“This is a chance for the public to educate legislators on their major concerns,” said Kokubun, who serves as the Vice President of the Senate. “We all know that the state’s budget and economy are critical issues, but we also know that we need to maintain our focus on a variety of other issues that are important to the community, including agriculture, education and healthcare, among others.”

Chang, Chair of the House Higher Education Committee and a member of the Education Committee added, “Building our economy also implies ensuring that educational opportunities are available at every level,” Chang said. “In our community, that means everything from public elementary and high schools to UH Hilo and Hawai‘i Community College.”

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Senator Kokubun to be on Island Insights

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Senator Kokubun

Senator Russell Kokubun will appear on Island Insights tonight as 7:30 p.m. He will appear along with Kirk Caldwell to discuss issues including the transit tax and options for addressing the state’s budget crisis.

You can join in on the discussion by calling in or emailing your questions  ahead of time to insights@pbshawaii.org. For more info, go to PBS Hawaii’s official website.

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On proposed Hamakua biofuels leases

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Senator HeeMembers of the Hawaii State Senate Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs will conduct an informational briefing and public hearing in Hilo on Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. at the University of Hawaii-Hilo, UCB Room 127.
      
The meeting will focus on Hawai‘i Revised Statutes section 171-95 (as amended in Act 102, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2002) regarding an expedited process for alternative energy development and the subsequent action taken by the Board of Land and Natural Resources at their meeting held on Friday, November 14, 2008 in Honolulu. A probable outcome of the meeting may be proposing amendments to HRS sec. 171-95—which relates in part to the granting of leases to renewable energy producers without public auction—to allow other alternative energy entities to participate in a process prior to selection, to provide better public notification of pending applications, and to hold the decision-making meeting on the island where the project is proposed to occur.

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Senate Committees Hear Bill that Standardizes Permissible Dwellings on Designated Ag Lands

Thursday, February 23rd, 2006

kokubun2  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 SB 3097 on February 22nd. The bill, introduced by Senator Russell Kokobun, calls for counties to standardize requirements for building homes on state ag land and grandfathers in existing dwellings and previously authorized projects.

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