April 17th, 2010
by Senator Will Espero
District 19
Mahi mahi, salmon, ahi, aku, akule, opakapaka, ogo, limu, shrimp, tako, crab, squid luau, poke. Sauteed in garlic, with wasabi glaze, stuffed, pan-seared, broiled, grilled, with butter-shoyu sauce, covered by teriyaki or miso sauce, deep fried patties, steamed and finished with hot peanut oil /soy sauce / ginger, carpaccio style, or with tomato concasse, chili pepper water, konbu broth and truffle butter – any way you like it. Getting hungry yet?
Surrounded by the ocean, to fishermen’s and seafood lovers’ delight, Hawaii residents consume an average of almost 45 pounds of seafood per person per year. That’s almost three times the amount eaten by on the mainland. Seafood is an important part of our island cuisine. Attend almost any party or buffet and you’re likely to find a fish dish along with the chicken, pork, or beef. Who doesn’t have their favorite recipe or restaurant entrée choice for seafood?
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April 15th, 2010
by Senator Mike Gabbard
District 19
How’s this for an interesting piece of trivia? The first car that arrived in Hawaii in October 1898 was a Woods Electric owned by Henry P. Baldwin.
I was on Energy Futures, a live call-in radio show on Hawaii Public Radio hosted by Donalyn Dela Cruz, last month to discuss future plans and legislation I introduced to help push for the purchase of electric vehicles. Other guests were Mark Piscioneri, Oahu manager of Hawaii Electric Vehicles, and Maria Tome, transportation and renewable energy program manager for the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
Last year, as Energy and Environment chairman, I worked on laws that helped set the stage for a large-scale introduction of plug-in electric vehicles. Act 156 set aside 1 percent of parking spaces for electric vehicles in parking lots totaling more than 100 stalls; Act 114 authorized $45 million in special-purpose revenue bonds so that Better Place can put in necessary infrastructure, such as charging stations for electric vehicles.
This year I authored SB 2231, which helps attract electric vehicles and electric-vehicle infrastructure to our state by giving companies and car dealers a general excise tax exemption for the sale or lease of electric vehicles or electric vehicle charging stations.
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April 12th, 2010
The Senate has adopted a concurrent resolution calling for the continuation of the boarding program at Lahainaluna High School, despite a Department of Education proposal to eliminate the program as part of its budget reduction.
“This is a point where budget cuts really hit the community hard,” said Senator J. Kalani English. “Lahainaluna Boarding is a unique program, the only one of its kind in our public schools, offering students from rural areas a chance to excel in a different environment. It has a long history of success, and we can’t just give up on it.”
Senator Shan Tsutsui agrees that the legislature, governor and DOE should make an extra effort to preserve the program. “We know everyone has to make sacrifices, but this is a case where we need to look at all the impacts and all the alternatives before we make the proposed cut. Can we make up the cost some other way, and is the cost to the students too high? It’s definitely worth examining the possibilities.”
SCR 6 states that “the Lahainaluna High School boarding program allows students from neighbor islands and other areas of Maui to live in dormitories and attend the school in exchange for reasonable custodial and maintenance work on school grounds,” and “provides opportunities for students to grow and mature.” It requests that the DOE convene a Lahainaluna Boarding Program Working Group.
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April 9th, 2010
Senator Ihara yesterday delivered the following speech on the floor in opposition to HB 2003 Relating to Campaign Financing:
Madame President. I rise in opposition to HB 2003, with reservations.
I’d like to first thank the Judiciary Chair for responding positively to concerns that the previous draft did not have transparency requirements for corporate donations to candidates. The reporting requirement now in the bill will give the public access to information on corporate contributions made to candidates.
This information is critical for public understanding on the degree of influence corporations have with successful candidates who make policy-decisions for our state. This is good, but it creates a loophole by avoiding the $1,000 aggregate limit of corporate contributions to its own political action committee. Instead of using the existing corporate PAC reporting requirement, the new reporting requirement is designed to remove the $1,000 corporate aggregate limit and allow them to contribute directly to candidates to the same extent as people like you and me.
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April 7th, 2010
The Honolulu Advertiser on April 4, 2010 published the following op-ed by Senator Gabbard on Hawaii’s environmental review system:
by Senator Mike Gabbard
District 19
Smart planning takes patience. We have to get it right first time, because we know how time-consuming and expensive things can be when we get them wrong. Consider how much time and money we’ve spent fighting invasive species, fixing traffic problems, recovering endangered species or reversing climate change. In Hawai’i, with our fragile environment, it’s best to measure twice and cut once.
In 1969, Hawai’i became the first state to adopt an environmental review system. However, in the four decades since, the system has undergone only Band-Aid fixes. It needs a comprehensive overhaul.
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April 6th, 2010
The legislature’s Keiki Caucus and the Children and Youth Month Planning Committee are leading an exciting grassroots effort to create a more prosperous Hawaii. Join state legislators, community leaders and volunteers at a kickoff event on Saturday, April 10 at 10 a.m. at the Honolulu Zoo for the Million Trees of Aloha Project.
The public is invited to enjoy as well learn while participating in the following activities:
* Traditional Hawaiian Entry Protocol by Kamaile Academy Students
* Tree Planting & Dedication
* Native tree/plant giveaway – (limited quantities!)
* Free Compost! B.Y.O.B. (Bring your own bag or bucket)
* Educational displays & activities for the children
When: Saturday, April 10 at 10 a.m.
Where: Honolulu Zoo, near the Keiki Zoo
Admission Rates:
Adult (general) – $12
Kama’aina – $6
Children (4-12) – $2
Children (3 & below) – free
The project’s goal is to plant one million trees by October 2010 (Children and Youth Month). Each Hawaii resident, school, church, business, and community organization is encouraged to participate in the initiative by planting non-invasive trees, preferably native or food bearing, throughout the state. Residents are also being urged to clean up beaches throughout Hawaii by picking up trash.
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April 5th, 2010
Seagull Schools celebrated the blessing and grand opening for its Stone Family Early Education Center in Ko ‘Olina on April 3rd. This is the seventh Seagull Schools campus and will offer individualized, early childhood instruction for 180 children, ages 2-5 years old.
Senator Mike Gabbard said, “It’s great that Seagull Schools chose Ko ‘Olina for its newest location. With Disney coming in soon, this is definitely the place to be. Jeff Stone and the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation deserve a lot of praise for helping to provide additional early learning opportunities for West Oahu.”
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April 1st, 2010
by Senator Will Espero
District 20
“With all the punditry, all of the lobbying, all of the game-playing that passes for governing in Washington, it’s been easy to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated thing, to wonder if there are limits to what we, as a people, can still achieve. But today, we are affirming that essential truth – a truth every generation is called to rediscover for itself – that we are not a nation that scales back its aspirations. We are not a nation that falls prey to doubt or mistrust. We don’t fall prey to fear. We are not a nation that does what’s easy. That’s not who we are. That’s not how we got here. We are a nation that faces its challenges and accepts its responsibilities. We are a nation that does what is hard. What is necessary. What is right.” With those gallant words, President Barack Obama pronounced the historic new law of the land.
The United States is not a pioneer. Every other advanced industrial society has decades ago guaranteed its citizens the access to medical care. We are playing catch up.
The historic Health Care Reform law is actually made up of two bills, H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and H.R. 3509, the Reconciliation Act of 2010. Reform measures H.R. 4872 and S.R. 3590 are not perfect, but take this country in the right direction. These make health care measures affordable for the middle class, accessible for all Americans, and hold the insurance industry accountable.
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March 22nd, 2010
Senators J. Kalani English and Shan Tsutsui invite Maui community residents to talk story with them this Wednesday, March 24, 2010, from 5:30pm-7:00pm. The discussion will serve as a mid-session update and opportunity for both Senators to address thoughts and concerns regarding legislation and community projects.
“This talk story session is a great opportunity for us to touch base with our constituents and get their thoughts and concerns as we prepare for second cross-over” says Senator Tsutsui.
Senator English agrees and adds “This session has been extraordinary in many ways. I look forward to discussing where we are and our options with the people in my district.”
Both will be available to receive feedback, concerns, and questions from community members and to discuss current legislative issues affecting their Maui neighbors.
WHEN: Wednesday, March 24th
WHERE: Pa`ia School
955 Baldwin Ave.
Pa`ia, HI 96779
You can also view the Facebook invite. For more information, contact Senator English’s office at 587-7225 or Senator Tsutsui’s office at 586-7344.
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March 19th, 2010
- Senators Hanabusa and Taniguchi presented the `Iolani School Orchestra with a certificate of achievement
The Senate and House of Representatives today honored the `Iolani School Select Middle School Orchestra on the floor today during their respective sesssion.
`Iolani School Select Middle School Orchestra recently took top honors at the American String Teacher’s Association’s 2010 National Orchestra Festival in Santa Clara, California. `Iolani was one of six middle school orchestras from around the nation that were chosen to compete in the Middle School Orchestra division. This was their first application to a national event.
The National Orchestra Festival is an annual event bringing together orchestras from around the nation and providing a performance opportunity in a national setting. Seventeen orchestras from several states attended this year’s competition.
The ‘Iolani orchestra is under the direction of Orchestra Director Katharine Hafner and Assistant Orchestra Director Joan Wehrman.
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