June 1st, 2010
by Senator Will Espero
District 19
This has been an awesome year for the James Campbell High School (JCHS) Sabers. Tyson Tynanes-Perez successfully defended his state wrestling title. Chabrielle Gushi took the OIA Girls wrestling title. The boys wrestling team placed first in the OIA. Rudy Cabalar, Jr. is the new state golf champion. The robotics team scored first place titles at the Maui Invitational, Hawaii Region FIRST, West Oahu, Leeward Coast, and Northridge tournaments, as well as three Judges’ Awards for best robot, and other awards. The media team got top honors in Brown Bags to Stardom and E Ola Pono competitions, and other honors in many of its other contests. The Naval Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps has received the distinguished unit title for eleven consecutive years. Three students won Pacific Asian Affairs Council travel scholarships to Vietnam.
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May 20th, 2010
Senator Dwight Takamine and Representative Mark Nakashima will host post session community meetings to provide residents a summary of the work accomplished during this legislative session. Residents will also have an opportunity to share their concerns as well as provide input to the legislators.
“We would like to report on the results of the collective efforts of the community and legislators from this legislative session,” said Senator Takamine, who continued “It is always important to have citizen participation, but in light of the current fiscal situation the dialogue between policy makers and the public is of critical importance and we are hoping that many people will participate.” The legislators will also be sharing updates on education, budget and projects in the district.
DATES & LOCATIONS:
May 24 Mon. 5:00 p.m.
North Kohala
Kohala Senior Citizens Center
May 27 Thu. 7:00 p.m.
Rural South Hilo
Kalanianaole School Cafeteria
June 1 Tues. 6:30 p.m.
Waimea
Waimea School Cafeteria
More information is available at Senators Takamine’s legislative website.
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May 18th, 2010
by Senator Will Espero
District 19
The Teacher in Space Program was announced in 1984, with Christa McAuliffe selected in 1985. Art Kimura, who directs the Future Flight program, and Joe Ciotti of Windward Community College were Hawaii’s two candidates. Here are interviews with both:
ART KIMURA
What got you interested in space long, long ago?
As a child, I loved the old Buck Rogers movies and have been a science fiction fan for many years including the more recent Star Trek and Star Wars programs. I have grainy black and white photos of my black and white TV screen during the 1st moon landing of Apollo 11, while serving on active duty in the United States Air Force at Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama, and like many others throughout the world, I was awed by the idea that humans could step foot on another world.
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May 14th, 2010
by Senator Will Espero
District 19
Inspire
NASA has initiated an outstanding STEM education program for high schools called INSPIRE (Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research Experience). The goal is to provide 9th- through 12th-grade students with both online and hands-on opportunities to explore education and career paths in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with specific programs tailored to each grade level.
Applications for this program are currently being accepted through June 30, 2010, and NASA will announce its selections in September.
Students admitted to the INSPIRE program will participate in an “online learning community” facilitating interaction with peers and NASA engineers/scientists in diverse educational activities, discussion boards and chat rooms. In addition, INSPIRE students will be able to apply for residential experiences at NASA facilities and participating universities nationwide (during the summer of 2011) that will afford unique introductions to multiple career options in aerospace.
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May 13th, 2010
Senator Dwight Takamine and Representative Mark Nakashima will host post-session meetings to provide seniors a summary of the work accomplished during this legislative session. These meetings will provide seniors an opportunity to share their concerns and receive updates on projects affecting seniors in the district.
DATES: LOCATIONS:
May 14, 2010 Fri. 9:00 a.m. Laupahoehoe Seniors
May 19, 2010 Wed. 9:00 a.m. Honoka’a Seniors
May 25, 2010 Tues 10:00 a.m. Hakalau Seniors
June 8, 2010 Tues 9:30 a.m. Waimea Seniors
For more information, contact Senator Takamine’s office at (808) 586-7335.
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May 11th, 2010
An initiative to create a more prosperous and sustainable Hawaii is now officially underway with the support of hundreds of island residents. On Saturday, April 10, 2010 the Hawaii State Legislature’s Keiki Caucus and Children and Youth Month Planning Committee launched the Million Trees of Aloha and Caring For Our Beaches Project at the Honolulu Zoo.
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.
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May 3rd, 2010
Senators Dwight Takamine and Russell Kokubun, and Representatives Jerry Chang, Clift Tsuji and Faye Hanohano will be hosting a post session wrap up community meeting in Hilo to provide residents a summary of the work accomplished during this legislative session. Residents will also be given an opportunity to share their concerns about legislation and provide feedback and input to the legislators. “We would like to report on the results of the collective efforts of the community and legislators from this legislative session,” said Senator Takamine.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 4, 2010
6:00 p.m.
WHERE: University of Hawai‘i, Hilo
UCB Room 127
The legislators will also be sharing updates on education, budget and projects on the Big Island.
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April 24th, 2010
The Hawaii State Legislature has agreed on a bill that will provide funding to restore educational furlough days for the remainder of this school year and through next year, using $67,000,000 from the Hurricane Relief Fund.
House and Senate Conferees, meeting into the night on Friday, agreed to changes to Senate Bill 2124 that will provide the funding. In its current form, SB2124:
- * Appropriates $67,000,000 from the Hurricane Relief Fund to restore instructional days;
- * Specifies that the monies appropriated only be used to restore public school instructional days for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years;
- * Allows for release of the funds upon completion of all negotiations of parties necessary to execute the restoration pursuant to collective bargaining; and
- * Requires that funds that have been appropriated but not expended by the close of the 2010-2011 school year be returned to the Hurricane Relief Fund.
“Time is running out for this session,” said Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, who helped draft the measure. “If we were going to do something, we needed to do it now, and we were not going to let this problem persist without some kind of action.”
“Still, it was important that we preserve the collective bargaining process,” Hanabusa continued. “So we’ve provided the funding, specified its use, and let the parties know that the money is there if they can come to an agreement. It’s up to them now.”
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April 23rd, 2010
Senate committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs will hold a public hearing to discuss a planned jail facility to be constructed in Pu‘unene, Maui.
WHEN: Monday, April 26, 2010
2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Room 016
Hawaii State Capitol
Governor Lingle announced on April 21, 2010 that her administration intends to move forward with plans to build a jail facility in Pu‘unene at an estimated cost of $235 million. The project is expected to replace the aged and overcrowded existing Maui Community Correctional Center and provide for anticipated growth in the State’s inmate population. The Department of Public Safety will provide an update of current plans and design and the financial plan to complete the project.
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April 20th, 2010
Senator J. Kalani English today welcomed Amstar Group, LLC—the proposed buyer of the Hotel Hana-Maui—as the community’s new “corporate neighbor,” and expressed hope that the hotel’s new owner would continue the tradition of staffing the hotel with Hana residents.
“I am very happy to welcome Amstar and its subsidiary, Green Tea LLC, to the Hana community,” said English. “All of Hana has experienced the uncertainty surrounding the Hotel Hana-Maui’s financial condition, and I think we are all extremely satisfied with the plans we have seen for the hotel’s future.”
“My first job was at the Hotel Hana-Maui, so I personally welcome this step to preserve the hotel’s long-term presence in Hana.”
“Given the state of our local, national and worldwide economies, we in Hana are willing to face the unfortunate reality that some jobs at the Hotel Hana-Maui will be lost. We’re willing to acknowledge that Amstar’s business model may call for changes that will mean shifts in employment. However, having met with Amstar executives and speaking with them about their plans, I am comfortable that they intend to be good corporate neighbors and focus on having a positive impact on our community.”
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