Senate Majority Caucus

Demonstrators gathered at the Capitol Friday to rally for Aloha Airlines. Many stood along Beretania Street holding signs that asked passing cars to honk in support.

The carrier, which has serviced Hawai`i for over 60 years, declared bankruptcy on March 20. Jonathan Aoki (left) and Claire Sugawa were among the children participating in the rally. Aoki’s mother, Carolyn, is an Aloha employee.

Officials delivered speeches at the rally pledging their best efforts to help the airline stay in business. Sen. Rosalyn Baker, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, told the crowd that she flies Aloha to and from her district on Maui every week. Though Aloha announced it will halt all of its passenger operations effective today, the Senate is still considering two bills that would help the carrier. HB2860 exempts airlines from paying taxes on fuel sold from a foreign-trade zone for interisland air transportation. The bill passed a vote by the entire Senate this morning and legislators from the House and Senate will now meet in a conference committee to smooth out its details. HB509 would provide state loan guarantees for Hawai`i’s air carriers, and the Ways and Means Committee has scheduled decision making on HB509 for tomorrow.

Sen. Clarence Nishihara and Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland spoke with the rally’s organizer, pilot Randall Cummings, after the event Friday. “Hang in there,” Nishihara told the crowd in his speech. “…hopefully for another 60 years.”

Last Thursday, students from around the state followed legislators to session, hearings, meetings and various other events at the Capitol. The students were winners of the Leader for a Day essay contest, which required them to detail in 500 words what they would do to improve the quality of life in Hawai`i if they were state leaders. Abigail Macadamia of Waipahu Intermediate School joined Sen. Clarence Nishihara on the Senate floor.

Katie Snuggerud, right, accompanied Sen. Lorraine Inouye at a human rights awareness information fair. Snuggerud was the winner from Hilo High School and traveled from the Big Island for the event.

Twelve senators and 27 representatives hosted student shadows from their districts. At the end of the day, Sen. Brian Taniguchi enjoyed a meal with Lauren Au, a student from Noelani Elementary School.

Senate majority party members are working this session to guarantee proper government spending. Senate Bills 2824, 2825, 2826 and 2827, which are included in the Senate majority party bill package and seek to improve the state’s procurement practices, have passed through their committee hearings and will now move toward a floor vote and review by the state House of Representatives.

Senate Vice President Donna Mercado Kim (D-Moanalua, `Aiea, Fort Shafter, Kalihi Valley, Halawa Valley), who introduced the four bills, is also chairing a newly-created special Senate committee that is investigating a decision by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) to award a $8.7 million contract for a hydrogen renewable energy program.

On Sept. 25, 2007, DBEDT Director Ted Liu was directed by the state Procurement Office to rescind his selection for the contract. Liu had awarded the contract to H2 Energy LLC, though the company had been the lowest-ranking of three bidders in a procurement evaluation.

Sen. Clarence Nishihara (D-Waipahu, Pearl City, Crestview), vice chair of the new investigative committee, said that the committee was established to ascertain the facts of the contract decision and to maintain the public’s trust in government procurement.

Nishihara also chairs the Senate Tourism and Government Operations Committee, which was assigned to review the procurement legislation and passed all four majority package bills.

“The Senate will not hesitate to investigate practices that might not be in the public’s best interest. … State procurement should be open and equitable,” Nishihara said.

Maxamina Catian helps a child in the Keiki Steps early education demonstration to build with blocks.

Senators stressed the need for early childhood education this morning with visits to the annual Champions for Children event and a press conference discussing bills related to children and education. Organizations like Child & Family Service, YMCA and Head Start hosted educational booths at the Capitol, and the Keiki Steps program provided an example of a play-and-learn preschool group.

Among the bills introduced this session is Senate Bill 2878, which establishes a similar Keiki First Steps Program to educate children from ages 0 to 5. The legislation, introduced by Sen. Norman Sakamoto (D- Kalihi, Moanalua Gardens, Salt Lake, Aliamanu, Foster Village, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, Pearl Ridge,`Aiea), says that early learning systems will produce long-term benefits for children that include school success, reduced crime, reduced dropout rates and increased workforce productivity.

Sen. Will Espero visits with a representative from the PATCH child care agency at the Champions for Children event.

According to the bill, Hawai`i’s children need support and guidance starting at birth to reach their full potential as citizens. A comprehensive early learning system provides quality opportunities for young children. (more…)