Congratulations to DOCARE Officers’ Class of 2023
On 2/22/23, HI Senate Ways & Means Committee Chair Donovan Dela Cruz and I visited the largest in history class of 42 DOCARE officer recruits at the Honolulu Community College (HCC) Marine Education Training Center. Under the leadership of Lieutenant Carlton Helm and others, the recruits will be wrapping up 9 months of training on 3/17/23.
The Westside is well represented among both the DOCARE recruits and trainers (pictured above). Front row L-R: Dylan Kauiho, Noland Keaulana, me, Mel Puu, Kamakani Froiseth, Lokene Fao, Brandon Martin, Pieter Meinster, Kevin Allen, Tom Allen. Back row L-R: Terry Ahue and Kenji Gramberg. These recruits from across the state must complete a rigorous training, involving missions on both land and water, prior to going on duty. If you’re passionate about protecting Hawaii's natural, cultural, and historical resources, DLNR would love to work with you! DLNR’s nearly 900 employees work across the state in a wide range of job and career types across divisions including Aquatic Resources, Boating and Ocean Recreation, Bureau of Conveyances, Conservation and Coastal Lands, Conservation and Resources Enforcement, Engineering, Forestry & Wildlife, Historic Preservation, Land Division, and State Parks. At this link you’ll find jobs with partner organizations and volunteer opportunities: Link: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/jobs/
2023 Hawaii Senate Legislative Session
**Homelessness & Housing
~ Ohana Ola O Kahumana Expansion: GIA for Kahumana to purchase the 4.5 acre parcel next to its existing transitional shelter in Lualualei Valley. The land will be used to create a kauhale for approximately 80 individuals experiencing homelessness. ($6.89m)
~ Homeless Crisis Stabilization Beds: GIA for Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC) to provide six stabilization beds and assistance with transitional shelter placement, for unsheltered individuals. The project also includes a food distribution center and a Hawaiian Cultural Center. ($1.8m)
~ Kauhale Bill (SB1442): Appropriates $15m/year for the ohana zones pilot program, including expenses relating to operations, upkeep of facilities, provision of services, and administrative costs. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for the construction of facilities for the ohana zones pilot program. Establishes one position within the Office of the Governor that is responsible for the deployment of the capital improvement funds appropriated by this Act. Specifies certain exemptions shall apply to the ohana zone construction. A possible Kauhale site includes vacant land behind Nanakuli Sack and Save.
~ Rent with Option to Purchase (SB1040): Project aimed at providing DHHL wait-listers who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, with "rent with option to purchase" homes on the Waianae Coast.
~ Transitional Shelter: Utilize former military officer's housing for unsheltered DHHL wait-listers
~ Ulu Ke Kukui: renovate a former transitional housing project into rental units for DHHL beneficiaries
**Transportation
~ Paakea Road: Funding and Resolution urging the creation of a parallel route from Paakea Road to Lualualei Naval Road by removing the emergency access road gates
~ Contraflow & Turning Lanes: Add turn lanes at the Lualualei Naval Rd., Nanaikeola St., and Helelua St. intersections; extend the afternoon contraflow
~ Makaha Surfing Beach: Adopt the master plan by re-routing Farrington Highway further mauka to address sea level rise and improve safety
~ Speed Humps: Install speed humps at Princess Kahanu Estates, Nanakuli Valley Hawaiian Homestead, and other high-speed areas; lengthen existing speed humps to extend to shoulders.
~ Car Registration (SB1046): Exempt veterans from motor vehicle registration fees for one non-commercial vehicle
**Education
~ Cool Classrooms: air condition all Waianae Coast classrooms by the end of 2023
~ Papahana O Kaiona alternative learning center: establish a facility and operations at the old Kaiser Building on St. John's Road
~ Waianae Coast Swimming Pool: collaboration between Waianae High, YMCA, WCCHC, and others
~ Youth Mental Health (SB1044): Appropriates moneys to hire school-based youth mental health specialists
~ "Waterman" Movie: Urges DOE to accept the filmaker's free offer to show the Duke Kahanamoku "Waterman" movie to 7th graders, and incorporate its life and history lessons into curriculum
~ The Recruiters: GIA for Music Production Education and Promotion on the Waianae Coast $1.6m
~ Act 279 Extension (SB1582): Clarify that DHHL has until 6/30/25 to expend the $600m allocated in 2022.
~ OHA Kakaako Lands: $6m for an environmental study regarding the 30 acre Hakuone project by allowing up to 350' multi-unit residential affordable housing development on 3 lots; commercial development; Hawaiian Cultural Center; and open space preservation for the $200m settlement
~ Grants to Non Profits (SB1609): Provide grants to non-profits serving Hawaiians in areas of economic development, online marketing, and burial repatriation.
~ Housing Credits & Exemptions (SB448): Provide DHHL with GET and School Impact Fee exemptions. Extend Affordable Housing Tax Credits.
~ Enforcement Officers (SB490): Provide $500,000 and 5 positions to enforce laws and policies on Hawaiian Homestead lands, under the umbrella of the Department of Law Enfocement
~ Waitlist Successorship (SB738): Grant DHHL waitlisters who are terminally ill or aged 60 and over a lease which can be passed on to successors who are at least 25% Hawaiian. Allow heirs of wait-listers who are deceased to make a claim for a lease. This will preserve an ohana's place on the waitlist, even if surviving heirs are less than 50% Hawaiian.
~ Independent Legal Counsel (SB1014): Allows DHHL to hire independent legal counsel for cases against other state agencies
**Environment
~ Pokai Bay Jetty: $5m CIP for re-design for improved circulation
~ Makua Management System (SB1258 / HB1267 / SCR39 / SR33): Requires DLNR to develop and implement a management system for Ka‘ena point state park, Makua, and Keawa‘ula regions
~ Flood Mitigation: Collaboration between Navy, City, State, and community groups in Lualualei Valley
~ Limu (SB1037): Designates Limu Kala (Sargassum echinocarpum) as the official Hawaiʻi state limu
~ Ocean Waste (SCR23): Urges state to recognize the 4th Saturday of every September as "Trash Fishing Day"
~ Kingdom Pathways: GIA for Environmental preservation $238,669
~ Landfills: Resolution urging the City to provide real property tax relief to residents within a 1/2 mile radius of landfills
~ Ulehawa Canal: Resolution urging the City to conduct quarterly dredging, and extend the seawall groin further
**Agriculture
~ Pig Farmers (SB1246 / HB946): hog, sheep, goat, chicken, and other small animal slaughterhouse at Kalaeloa ($4m CIP)
~ Kalo (SB1498): protection of taro lands
~ Local Farmers (SCR24): Urges state to pursue exemption to the commerce clause for agricultural produce grown or raised in HI
~ Waianae Moku Navigators: GIA for Food Security ($763,505)
~ Kahua Paa Mua: GIA for Agricultural Education
~ Solar Farm Low Income Housing: Resolution urging solar farms to raise panels and build units for homeless individuals under them
**Health
~ WCCHC Emergency Room: GIA for operating funds ($2m)
~ Telephone Healthcare services (SB1038 / SCR37 / SR31): permanently allow for patients in rural and underserved areas to access behavioral health services through telephone only means
~ WCCHC Family Medicine Residency Program: GIA for renovations and medical equipment to address shortage of primary care providers ($500,000)
~ Dialysis (SB473): Exempts drug manufacturers, wholesale prescription drug distributors, and third-party logistics providers of home dialysis drugs, supplies, and devices from the license, registration, and permit requirements for pharmacies; provided that certain conditions are met.
~ Midwives (SB1047/HB955): Makes permanent the existing exemption for birth attendants to continue to practice without a license, under certain conditions. Expands qualifications for licensure to include the North American Registry of Midwives portfolio evaluation process. Modeled after Oregon legislation.
~ Reproductive Care Workforce (SCR38 / SR32): Urging JABSOM to prioritize efforts to strengthen HI's reproductive care workforce in rural areas
**Judiciary
~ Clean Slate (SB410): automatically remove expunged offenses, and delete dismissed traffic citations, from a person’s public record
~ Mental Health Crisis Centers (SB1594): Court diversion program for unsheltered and other individuals experiencing mental health instability
~ Tenants' Rights (SB393 / SB26): Requires landlords to provide opportunity for mediation prior to eviction. Prohibits evictions where landlord caused unit to become uninhabitable.
**Public Safety
~ Fire Prevention (SB409): $1.5m per year for a statewide fire prevention program
~ Kaala Farm: GIAs for fire prevention ($500,000) and fire prevention grant administrator ($50,000)
~ HFD Helicopter (City Initiative): Twin-engine 280 gallon bucket fire fighting helicopter (3x HFD’s current capacity)
~ Called 2 Impact, Inc: GIA for At-Risk Youth on the Waianae Coast $8,000
~ Clean & Sober Homes: Resolution urging the City to more evenly distribute clean and sober homes and mental health facilities throughout Oahu
