(Maunakea, Hawai‘i) –On Sunday and Monday a half-dozen Palila, hatched and raised at the San Diego Zoo Global’s (SDZG) Keauhou Bird Conservation Center, flew in the open air for the first time in their lives. Palila, a distant relative of finches are the last surviving members of sixteen species of finch-billed, seed-eating birds in the main Hawaiian Islands. They were once found on Kaua‘i and O‘ahu, but are now found only high on the slopes of Mauna Kea. Found only on the upper slopes of the largest mountain in the world, Mauna Kea, the critically endangered Palila has a vibrant yellow head, a strong bill, and a delightful call. This spectacular bird is an important part of our Hawaiian heritage worth protecting. The multi-year effort to try and boost their numbers and prevent their possible extinction involves a large number of collaborators, many of whom had representatives on hand to assist with today’s release into the Pu‘u Mali Restoration Area on towering Mauna Kea’s northern flank. Housed as pairs, in three separate release aviaries for the past several weeks, the Palila have been under nearly constant observation. They received daily food, and on May 17th were outfitted with radio transmitters attached to a backpack-style harness that will help researchers track them in the coming months. Feeding stations are placed within the release area to provide supplemental food to help the birds adjust to the wild. Lainie Berry, Hawai‘i Forest Bird Recovery Coordinator at the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), explains, “Currently Palila are found in one small isolated area on Mauna Kea. Having such a small population in one area puts the species at a very high risk of extinction. This release is the beginning of our attempt to establish a second population on the mountain to broaden their current range and reduce the extinction threat.” Like most native Hawaiian forest bird species, Palila have been affected by habitat loss and degradation, as well as introduced predators such as cats and mongooses. Habitat degradation caused by ungulates such as sheep and goats has had a significant negative impact on māmane, a slow-growing native tree species. Palila are a specialist species that depend on māmane for approximately 90% of their diet year-round, eating the seeds, flowers, young leaves, and caterpillars found on the tree. Māmane seeds are poisonous to other birds, but Palila have no problem eating hundreds of seeds daily. The Pacific Cooperative Study Unit’s Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project has conducted habitat management through predator control and extensive landscape scale restoration through outplanting of māmane and other dryland forest species to restore this important ecosystem, of which Palila are a part. “Restoration work at Pu‘u Mali has been ongoing since 2008 with thousands of māmane and other sub-alpine dry forest species planted between 5,000 and 8,000 feet in elevation to support the required elevational gradient of food Palila depend upon. The forest in and around the current release area has shown a significant response to the lower densities of sheep on the north slope and is a testament to the resiliency of Mauna Kea’s unique ecosystem. It is very exciting to be a part of what we hope will be another step towards the recovery of this species.” says Chauncey Asing, Maunakea Forest Restoration Coordinator. The American Bird Conservancy, one of the funders and collaborators on the Palila reintroduction project, has made the recovery of the six-inch bird a top priority for its Hawaiʻi program. Chris Farmer, ABC’s Hawaiʻi Program Director, commented, “The Palila is a gorgeous bird, but tragically there are now only about 1,000 left in the world. It is urgent that we do everything to stop its population decline and prevent extinction. The restoration and recovery made possible by protecting the forest, removing the ungulates, and this release are excellent steps in that direction.” “This milestone shows how we can avert the tragedy of extinction when we use years of research to guide conservation decisions.” said Koa Matsuoka, SDZG’s Hawaiʻi Endangered Bird Conservation Program, Senior Research Coordinator. “Taking a ‘One Plan Approach’ to conservation, field work, and managed care, has allowed us to move forward with saving the Palila. Our reintroduction efforts with this species can be a model for other efforts to fight extinction in the future.” “This step toward the recovery of Palila would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of the partner organizations over the last 30 years,” said Michelle Bogardus, Maui Nui and Hawaiʻi Island Team Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Recovering endangered species is a complex process that takes time, but the long-term efforts to restore habitat on Mauna Kea and breed Palila in conservation breeding centers is allowing us to take this next step forward.” The rapid decline of the Palila population has led scientists and managers to take actions to restore the dry forest and evaluate the forest health over time and changes in environmental factors. Additional releases of Palila reared in conservation breeding centers are planned for later this summer, and translocations of wild Palila are planned in subsequent years. The Palila and māmane forest’s decline occurred over decades, so recovering the Palila will likewise take many years, but today’s release is an encouraging first step in this process. #maunakea #sandiegozoo #SDZG #KeahouBirdConservationCenter #PuuMaliRestorationAArea #LainieBerry #HawaiiForestBirdRecovery #DLNR #DivisionofForestry #DOFAW #Palila #HawaiiIsland #PacficCooperativeStudy #KoaMatsuoka #HawaiiendangeredBirdConservationProgram #MichelleBogardus #MauiNui #USFishandWildlifeService #Endangeredspecies

As Memorial Day approaches, the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and its traffic safety partners are reminding Hawaii drivers and passengers of the importance of wearing seat belts through the annual Click It or Ticket campaign. This year’s Click It or Ticket enforcement mobilization will run from May 20 through June 2, 2019. During the mobilization, all four county police departments will conduct increased enforcement of Hawaii’s seat belt laws. “Seat belts are essential for safe driving and riding,” said Hawaii Department of Transportation Director Jade Butay. “We want to remind everyone that buckling up every trip, every time might save their life.” In 2017, 21 of the 60 of motor vehicle occupants that died in Hawaii were unrestrained. Records also show the number of unrestrained motor vehicle occupant fatalities increased at night. HDOT has issued federal grants to the four county police departments for overtime enforcement of Hawaii’s seat belt and child restraint laws. During federal fiscal year 2018, the four county police departments issued 12,051 citations for failure to use a seat belt and 1,160 citations for failure to use child restraints. “We thank the four county police departments for joining us during the national Click It or Ticket campaign and for seat belt and child restraint enforcement day and night, year-round,” Butay said. “Not buckling up yourself or your keiki could cost morethan $102 if you’re lucky, and your life or the life or the life of someone you love if you aren’t.” In addition to the enforcement mobilization, HDOT will display “Click It or Ticket” on all available HDOT electronic message boards statewide and has distributed banners and posters to police departments statewide. Information on how to safely restrain children in a motor vehicle can be found at http://hidot.hawaii.gov/highways/safe-communites/child-passenger-safety/ or here. For more information on the national Click It or Ticket mobilization and national seat belt statistics, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot Hawaii’s Seat Belt and Child Restraint Laws Hawaii’s universal seat belt law requires that all front and back seat motor vehicle occupants buckle up. Adults and children must use their seat belts and child passenger restraints at all times. The fine for unrestrained occupants on Oahu, Hawaii and Maui is $102, and the fine on Kauai is $112. Drivers will receive one citation for every unrestrained occupant in the vehicle. Violators convicted of the child passenger restraint law are required to attend a four-hour class and be assessed a fine between $100 and $500, depending on the number of convictions. Hawaii’s Child Passenger Restraint law requires children under 4 years of age to ride in a child safety seat. The law also requires children 4 through 7 years old to ride in a child restraint or booster seat. #ClickitorTicket #HawaiiDepartmentofTransportationHDOT #HDOT #JadeButay #PassengerSafety #Seatbelt #ChildPassengerRestraintLaw

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige today recognized winners of the Governor’s Awards, designed to honor state Executive Branch employees, managers and work teams who exemplify the highest caliber of public service and dedication in serving the people of Hawai‘i. The statewide program is administered by the Department of Human Resources Development. “Public employees have consistently made important contributions to our continuing efforts to improve the efficiency and quality of government services,” said Gov. Ige. “We are honored to work with such dedicated individuals and we appreciate all that they do each and every day.” Gov. Ige presented the following awards: STATE MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Dr. Ronald Cambra, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa * Photo courtesy of Governor Ige's Office Having dedicated over 40 years of service to the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Dr. Cambra championed four campus-wide initiatives that guide students toward completing their degrees within four years. As a result of his leadership and vision, the UH increased its four-year graduation rate from 16 percent to 32 percent, garnering national attention in the field of higher education. EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR: Mark Want, Energy Analyst, Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT) * Photo courtesy of Governor Ige's Office Mark has worked tirelessly to ensure that our state’s energy infrastructure is well-prepared to respond to and recover from any infrequent but catastrophic incidents, such as a hurricane. His ability to navigate the high stress, dynamic emergency management environments are noteworthy. STATE TEAM OF THE YEAR: UH Cancer Center Administrative Leadership Team, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa This dedicated 10-member team improved the efficiency and operational productivity of their individual units, resulting in improved faculty and staff satisfaction, cost savings and achievement of key mission-based objectives. Notably, the UH Cancer Center retained its designation as a National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center. “These individuals have selflessly given of themselves to enrich the lives of those they serve,” said Gov. Ige. “Their accomplishments perpetuate the aloha spirit and make our state a special place to live and work.” The three winners were selected from 54 exceptional groups and individual nominees. A volunteer Selection Committee of five prominent members of the community carefully reviewed the 54 nomination packets and rated them according to defined categories. The committee presented its recommendations for the three awards to Gov. Ige. The five members of this year’s Selection Committee are: Kurt Fey, Executive Director, Y. Hata & Co., Ltd.; Lisa Fowler, former President & CEO, Hawaiian Humane Society; James Horton, Director of Punchbowl Cemetery, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Lynette Lo Tom, President & CEO, Bright Light Marketing; and Marisa Yamane, Former Anchor/Reporter, KHON-TV. #davidige #ronaldcambra #markwant #UHCancerCenterAdministrativeLeadershipTeam #universityofhawaii #DBEDT

HONOLULU - Farrington High School’s Engineering Academy students unveiled their World Surf League (WSL) ‘legacy’ project this morning to a group of lawmakers, Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) leaders, community partners and alumni. The mobile merchandise trailer, built from the ground up by more than 200 students, will be used by the WSL to sell t-shirts, stickers and other merchandise at surf meets. “This is more than a trailer, it is a symbol of the potential of Kalihi students,” said Jeremy Seitz, head of FHS’ Engineering Academy. “This project has enhanced the reputation of our Academy and has given our students a valuable professional learning experience. The academy is excited and proud to finally unveil what they have been working on for the past 18 months, and hope that this will open the door for opportunities like this in the future with other major organizations.” The project is part of FHS’ ongoing partnership with WSL’s Hawaii regional office and was sponsored by the Hawaii Youth Surfing Development Organization (HYSDO) education grant and numerous community donors. The collaboration is much bigger than surfing; it represents the occasion for youth to explore career paths, the opportunity for hands-on, real-world business experiences, and the education to spark successful future paths and energize communities. The partnership between FHS and WSL Hawaii’s regional office began over three years ago when Farrington staff sought real-world collaborations for students to gain experience across multiple disciplines for career opportunities within Hawaii. The WSL took students behind-the-scenes of some of its largest events in the world, provided role-mirroring and in-class mentoring with students, and taught about job opportunities that exist within Hawaii's sport of surfing. For more information, view the HIDOE story about this project here. *Photos courtesy of the Hawaii Department of Education ### About Farrington High School Engineering Academy Farrington Engineering Academy is a student-focused academy that provides real-world, hands-on opportunities that focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and preparing students to be career ready. It is a high-achieving, skillful, hardworking, professional academy and provides high school students with hands on experience through innovative classes, collaborative learning and partnerships with real clients. This academy strives to teach its students to be diligent, to communicate well with clients and other people, to be open-minded, and other real-world skills that the students need to enter the workforce. About Hawai'i Youth Surfing Development Organization (HYSDO) Founded by Jodi Wilmott, Waialua resident and WSL General Manager of North America & Hawaii, HYSDO was created as a way to inspire local youth through the sport of surfing -- which has shaped every aspect of Jodi's life and is the lens with which she experiences the world -- through regional youth opportunities. A 501c3 non-profit, HYSDO's mission is to deliver greater opportunities for Hawai'i youth in and out of the water, to harness the power of surfing to build careers, strengthen communities, and develop the future of Hawai'i's Sport of Kings. About the World Surf League (WSL) The World Surf League (WSL) is dedicated to celebrating the world's best surfing on the world's best waves through a variety of best-in-class audience platforms. The organization, headquartered in Santa Monica, is a global sport with regional offices in Australasia, Africa, North America, South America, Hawaii, Japan and Europe. The WSL has been championing the world's best surfing since 1976, annually running more than 180 global events across the Men's and Women's Championship Tours, the Big Wave Tour, Qualifying Series, Junior and Longboard Championships, as well as the WSL Big Wave Awards. The League possesses a deep appreciation for the sport's rich heritage while promoting progression, innovation and performance at the highest levels, and in doing so crowns the undisputed Men’s and Women’s World Champions across all tours. Showcasing the world's best surfing on its digital platform at WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL has a passionate global fan base with millions tuning in to see world-class athletes like Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright, John Florence, Lakey Peterson, Paige Alms, Kai Lenny, Steven Sawyer, Soleil Errico, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Courtney Conlogue and more battle on the most dynamic field of play of any global sport. About the Hawaii State Department of Education The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth-largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country. Established in 1840 by King Kamehameha III, today's public school system serves more than 170,000 students across 256 schools and 36 charter schools. The Department is committed to ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education and can successfully discover and embark upon their chosen path in life. #worldsurfleague #farringtonHigh #Engineering #jeremyseitz #FHS #HawaiiYouthSurfingDevelopmentOrganization #HYSDO #jodiwilmott #WSL #KellySlater #StephanieGilmore #TylerWright #JohnFlorence #LakeyPeterson #PaigeAlms #KaiLenny #StevenSawyer #SoleilErrico #CarissaMoore #GabrielMedina #CourtneyConlogue

HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige has appointed William J. Aila, Jr. as interim chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission/director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, effective May 17, 2019. Aila was confirmed as deputy to the commission chair in April. He has been serving as acting chairman since the departure of Jobie Masagatani on May 2. Aila served as deputy to the chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission from 2014-2018. Previously, he headed the Department of Land and Natural Resources and was harbor agent for the Wai‘anae Boat Harbor, Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation under DLNR. “William is a proven leader and steward of Hawai‘i’s natural resources. I am confident that he will continue to lead the department as it works to create vibrant homestead communities for native Hawaiians,” said Gov. Ige. “I thank Gov. Ige for this opportunity to continue to serve the Hawaiian community, and I look forward to working closely with homestead leaders to advance the vision of Prince Kuhio,” said Aila. Aila’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. #davidige #WilliamAilaJr #DHHL #DepartmentofHawaiianHomeLands #WaianaeBoatHarborDivision #GovernorIge #PrinceKuhio #jobieMasagatani #DLNR

The Hanapēpē-Eleele Hawai’i Hazards Awareness & Resilience Program (HHARP) will be honored as a disaster resilient community by local, state and federal officials during the Kaua’i Community Disaster Preparedness Fair being held this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Hanapēpē-Eleele HHARP is the first community group on a neighbor island to achieve this recognition. HHARP is a statewide program designed to guide communities through a disaster preparedness process that will empower them before, during, and after natural disasters such as a hurricane, flash flood, or tsunami. Completion of HHARP includes presentations on local hazards and guidance in creating a community emergency plan. The aim of the Hawaii Hazards Awareness and Resilience Program (HHARP) is to help communities prepare to be self-reliant during and after natural hazard events, improve their ability to take care of their own needs, and reduce the negative impacts of disasters. HHARP can enhance community resilience through education and outreach sessions that build awareness and understanding of hazard mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. State and county emergency management agencies have partnered to administer HHARP in support of community leaders willing to implement the program. The Hanapēpē/ʻEleʻele Community Association is made up of concerned citizens living in the Niumila, ʻEleʻele, Port Allen, Hanapēpē, and Kaumakani communities that want to improve communications with the County of Kauaʻi and within the community for the betterment of our area. Previous communities honored included Waimānalo, Kailua, Joint Base Pearl Harbor, ‘Āina Haina, Mānoa, and Wai’anae. WHAT: Recognizing The Hanapēpē-Eleele Hawai’i Hazards Awareness & Resilience Program (HHARP) WHEN: Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. WHERE: Hanapēpē National Guard Armory WHO: Derek Kawakami, Mayor of Kaua’i Elton Ushio, Administrator, Kaua’i County Emergency Management Agency Luke Meyers, Executive Officer, Hawai’i Emergency Management Agency Brigadier General Retired Bruce Oliveira, Department of Defense #HHARP #hanapepe #eleele #Hawaiihazardsawarenessandresilienceprogram #HIEMA #disasterRelief #disasteremergency #derekkawakami #eltonushio #lukemeyers #bruceoliveira #Hanapepenationalguardarmory

Kahului, Maui) – Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English (District 7 – Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Kahoʻolawe) joined State, county and community leaders today at the Kahului Airport for the blessing and unveiling of a new consolidated rental car facility (CONRAC). Conrac Blessing Photo: (left to right) Rep. Kyle Yamashita , Governor David Ige; Sen. Rosalyn Baker (not pictured); HDOT Airports Division Deputy Director Ross Higashi; Kahului Airport Manager Marvin Moniz; Maui Mayor Mike Victorino; Senator J. Kalani English; Rep. Lynn DeCoite; Rep. Troy Hashimoto; and Kahu Kalani Wong participate in the blessing ceremony and untying of the maile lei for the new Kahului Airport Conrac. (Photo courtesy of the Hawai’i Department of Transportation) The new 1.3 million square-foot facility features a two-tram electric train system; space for rental car company offices; customer service counters; 4,500 parking stalls; 72 fuel pumps; quick turnaround service bays for oil, water and air; vehicle washing racks; ready and return rental car spaces; and upper-level airport staff parking. The tram will replace two dozen shuttle buses that carry passengers in an average of 85 trips per hour to rental car companies makai of the airport terminal. In 2010, Sen. English introduced SB2461 (Act 204), a bill that raised the daily motor vehicle customer facility charge (CFC) from $1.00 to $4.50. The bill also required that monies from the CFC be deposited into the newly established rental motor vehicle customer facility charge special fund for the enhancement, renovation, operation, and maintenance of existing rental motor vehicle customer facilities and the development of new rental motor vehicle customer facilities at state airports. (Photo courtesy of the Hawai’i Department of Transportation) The CONRAC at Kahului Airport cost $340 million and used no tax payer monies. Construction began in April 2016 and the project was completed earlier this year. “Over 2,000 vehicles are rented on Maui every day and a new facility was needed to accommodate the island’s rental car demands,” said Sen. English. “Both locals and tourists will be able to benefit from this project. I am proud to say that Maui’s CONRAC was on time and on budget.” #maui #SenatorEnglish #JKalaniEnglish #conrac #SB2461 #CustomerFacilityCharge #Governorige #davidige #kyleyamashita #rozbaker #lynndecoite #troyhashimoto #kalaniwong #mikevictorino #marvinmoniz #rosshigashi #ConsolidatedRentalCarFacility

2019-05-02 HTA RFPs to Support 2020 Community Programs.pdf HONOLULU – The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) today issued three Request for Proposals offering to provide funding support to qualified programs that will help to perpetuate Hawaiian culture, preserve and enhance natural resources and enrich Hawaii’s offerings through community-based tourism projects and events in 2020. HTA is supporting a total of 130 community-focused programs statewide in 2019. Applicants are encouraged to review and download the RFPs from HTA’s website for three programs – Community Enrichment, Kukulu Ola, and Aloha Aina – each of which are designed to help improve Hawaii’s quality of life for residents, while also enhancing the visitor experience. The three community-based programs for which HTA has issued RFPs to provide funding support in 2020 are as follows: Community Enrichment (RFP 20-01): HTA is supporting community-oriented projects, festivals and events in the niche areas of agriculture, culture, culinary, education, health and wellness, nature, sports, technology and voluntourism for the enjoyment of residents and visitors. Kūkulu Ola (RFP 20-02): HTA is seeking programs and events that enhance, strengthen and help to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture by supporting community groups, cultural practitioners, craftsmen, musicians and artists. Aloha ‘Āina (RFP 20-03): HTA is supporting community-based programs with an emphasis on aina-kanaka (land-human) relationships that help manage, conserve, revitalize and enhance Hawaii’s natural resources and environment. All inquiries should be directed to Ronald Rodriguez, HTA procurement officer and contract specialist, at contracting@gohta.net. [Full release here] #HawaiitourismAuthority #HTA #RFP #CommunityEnrichment #kukuluola #alohaaina #RonaldRodriguez #Tourism #NaturalResources #HawaiianCulture #Hawaii

​​​​​​​HONOLULU – The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) is seeking feedback on the first draft of a 2030 Promise Plan, which will guide the Department for the next decade, centered around five promises to students. An online toolkit for the community to provide feedback is available at HawaiiPublicSchools.org. Feedback will be gathered through August 1, with a first draft of the plan to be delivered in September. The availability of the toolkit was announced at the Board of Education’s General Business Meeting at the Nānākuli Public Library on Thursday. “Our students are too important for small promises,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina M. Kishimoto. “Our next phase of strategic planning will bring together stakeholder vision and purpose around public education as a change agent for Hawai‘i, fueled by our three strategies: School Design, Teacher Collaboration, and Student Voice.” Through the five promises to students, HIDOE seeks to build and expand upon gains that have been made over the last two strategic plans and innovate to solve persistent challenges. The aim is a thriving, sustainable state that embodies the values of HĀ. The promises are: Hawai‘i: Students will be educated within a public school system that is grounded in HĀ, powers a multilingual society, and honors Hawai‘i’s local and global contribution. Equity: Students will experience strong relationships and supports that mitigate disempowering differences to enable them to thrive academically, socially, and civically. School Design: Students will be immersed in excellent learning environments that are thoughtfully designed around a community’s power to contribute to a thriving, sustainable Hawai‘i. Empowerment: Students will develop their authentic voice as contributors to equity, excellence and innovation, by providing input on what they learn, how they learn, and where they learn. Innovation: Students will engage in rigorous, technology-rich, problem-solving learning that enables them to solve authentic community challenges and develop pathways to goals. The feedback to be gathered from HIDOE staff and the community revolves around what these promises look like and what it will take to get there by 2030, focusing on creative solutions. Complex Area Superintendents will be working with their principals and Assistant Superintendents with their offices to collect their insight. “We look forward to building equity, excellence, and innovation in every public school through the next strategic plan,” said Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami. “This is a great opportunity for the community to drive the conversation about their public school system.” The online toolkit (direct link: http://bit.ly/HIDOESP-P1) features a step-by-step guide to the process and supporting materials to help anyone in the community prepare, promote and host a feedback session. “I’m proud to be from Nānākuli. I’m looking forward to using the plan to make good on our promises to this community,” said Nānākuli High & Intermediate Principal Darin Pilialoha. “We are expanding our learning capacity through partnerships and building our core values of self-appreciation and appreciation for this place.” The conversation around the 2030 Promise Plan began in January 2019 when Supt. Kishimoto released her vision statement to encourage school communities and families to think about three guiding questions as we move into the next decade: What do we value in a PK-12 educational experience? Many will agree that what we value most in the school experience, which informs our understanding of student success, is not fully captured in an accountability system. How do we measure what we really value? We must take on the challenge of incorporating qualitative measures if we value students developing metacognition, empathy, and engaging in research and contributing to a knowledge base. How do we support each child to experience success? Learning structured around exploration, creativity, discovery and design is different from mandated content coverage and demonstration of isolated, discrete skills. More children are reached, engaged and supported by the former; it inspires lifelong learning. After a first draft of the plan is released in September 2019, another round of feedback in reaction to the plan will be gathered, decisions will be made regarding aligned benchmarks and metrics, and a final plan will be presented to the Board of Education early next year. #DEPARTMENTOFEDUCATION #hawaiistatedepartmentofeducation #2030 #HawaiiPromiseProgram #christinekishimoto #darinpilialoha #nanakulihighschool

HONOLULU – Gov. Ige has set July 30, 2019 as the date he will sign the new rules for the state Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The new rules will take effect on Aug. 9, 2019. The Office of Environmental Quality Control (OEQC) and State Environmental Council (Council) submitted its final rules to the governor at the beginning of April 2019 after completing a nearly two-year effort to modernize the existing rules. The governor set the signing date so that all stakeholders have sufficient time to prepare for the adoption of the new rules. The OEQC publication date for The Environmental Notice on Aug. 8, 2019 will be the last issue under the current rules. The Aug. 23, 2019 issue will be the first one for the new rules. In developing the new rules, the Council prepared four working drafts and held about 30 public meetings, including nine public hearings with at least one on each island. “These rules strike the right balance to ensure public involvement in government decision making and the disclosure of activities that might affect our environment,” said Gov. David Ige. “The work that the volunteers on the Environmental Council and the OEQC staff have done to build consensus has been impressive. Setting the date for the end of July will give our state and county agencies time to prepare for the new requirements and to make sure projects have time to comply with the new rules,” said Scott Glenn, director, Office of Environmental Quality Control. The new rules would repeal the existing Hawai‘i Administrative Rule (HAR) Chapter 11-200 and adopt a new chapter called HAR Chapter 11-200.1. The Council sought to repeal and replace rather than revise the existing rules because the new rules reorganize the structure and make numerous revisions and additions. The new rules incorporate changes in the statute made by the Legislature and rulings by the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. They also clarify roles and responsibilities in the process, require agencies to publicly list their exemptions on a monthly basis, allow for exemptions for building urban affordable housing in certain circumstances, make considering sea level rise and greenhouse gas emissions explicit, and require a public scoping meeting at the beginning of an EIS, among other changes. For more information go to the OEQC webpage, which includes links to all of the rules documents and a timeline of the effort: http://health.hawaii.gov/oeqc/rules-update/ #ige #OEQC #StateEnvironmentalCouncil #EnvironmentalImpactStatement #EIS #Governorige #DavidIge #Hawaii #environment #ScottGlenn #HawaiiSupremeCourt

MAUI – Hawaii State Senator Roz Baker will host Talk-Story sessions in West Maui and Kihei this week. She will be joined by House colleagues to provide updates on the 2019 legislative session and discuss ongoing concerns with the community. WHO: Senator Roz Baker and Representative Angus McKelvey WHAT: Talk story to provide updates on 2019 Legislative Session WHEN: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 5-7pm WHERE: West Maui Senior Center 788 Pauoa Street, Lahaina WHO: Senator Roz Baker and Representative Tina Wildberger WHAT: Talk story to provide updates on 2019 Legislative Session WHEN: Wednesday, May 8, 2019 5-6:30pm WHERE: Kihei Caffe 1945 S. Kihei Road, Kihei For more information, contact the office of Senator Rosalyn Baker, (808) 586-6070 #rozbaker #roslynbaker #maui #talkstorysession #westmaui #kihei #legislativesession #westmauiseniorcenter #tinawildberger #kiheicaffe #hawaiisenate #hawaiisenatemajority

HONOLULU – Four Hawaii State Senator have sent a letter to the State Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, calling for an immediate statewide grounding of tour and commercial helicopter operations, or a ban on all commercial helicopter flights over residential neighborhoods until an investigation into Monday’s fatal crash of a tour helicopter in Kailua can be completed. Senators Stanley Chang (District 9), Jarrett Keohokalole (District 24), Gil Riviere (District 23), and Laura Thielen (District 25) signed the letter, stating, “As elected officials it is our responsibility to protect our constituents.” The site of Monday’s crash is located in Senate District 25. Monday’s incident, in which three people died, was the second helicopter crash in the District since an October 22, 2018 incident that left three people severely injured. Another commercial helicopter made a “hard landing” in Windward Oahu less than two weeks ago. “Residents throughout our State have long complained about the lack of flight plans and rules regulating commercial and tour helicopters,” the letter said. “Concerns vary from general annoyance to fears of aircraft falling from the sky. Today our worst fears were realized.” #HELICOPTERS #stanleychang #JarrettKeohokalole #LauraThielen #StateDepartmentofTransportation #FederalAviationAdministration #FAA