SENATOR MAILE SHIMABUKURO 2023 HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE

The passing of Governor’s Message (GM) 524 sent a message to the Governor that the Hawaii State Senate has made a decision to advise and consent Kali Watson as the Chairperson of the Department of Hawaiian Homes and for consideration and confirmation as the Chairperson, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Gubernatorial Nominee, for a term to expire 12-31-2026.

The Senate Floor vote is scheduled for 11:30AM during the floor session on Friday March 24, 2023

Click here for link to GM524

SB941 will be heard by the Housing and Education Committee on March 21, 2023 at 2PM

SB941 authorizes the School Facilities Authority to partner with public and private agencies to develop teacher and educator housing. Authorizes the School Facilities Authority to transfer appropriated funds to partner state agencies for the development of teacher and educator housing. Appropriates funds to the School Facilities Authority for the construction of teacher and educator housing. Specifies Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, Waipahu High School, and Mililani High School as initial locations for the teacher and educator housing pilot.

Click here for link to testify and get an updated status of SB941

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 41 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 wrapped up 9 months of training on 03/17/23. These recruits from across the state must complete a rigorous training, involving missions on both land and water, prior to going on duty. At the end, recruits will earn college credits via HCC.

More information, video, and photos of this amazing class can be found by clicking this link

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.

Click here to find information on jobs with DLNR and partner organizations, as well as volunteer opportunities.

Advise and Consent for Katie Ducatt as Deputy Chairperson for DHHL

A hearing has been scheduled for March 30, 2023 at 1pm in Room 224.

A Governors Message (GM) 526 has been submitted for consideration and confirmation as the Deputy to the Chairperson, Department of Hawaiian Homelands, Gubernatorial Nominee, KATIE DUCATT, for a term to expire 12-07-2026.

Click here for link to GM524

Testimony is needed to support SB1040

This bill could fall in line with hopes to build Kupuna housing on DHHL’s land near Waianae Comprehensive since “threatened with homelessness” is broadly defined. SB1040 is scheduled on 3/22/23. The bill “Requires the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to establish the native Hawaiian supportive housing pilot program on the Leeward Coast of Oahu to provide individual or shared micro housing units and services to native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, and who are on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands waiting list.” Please consider submitting testimony in support with amendments, asking to remove the “micro” unit requirement so that DHHL has flexibility in regards to the size of the housing units. Please submit testimony in support and spread the word!

Click here to submit testimony.

Good News! SCR59 / SR53 has been scheduled!

A hearing has been scheduled for March 23, 2023 at 1pm in Room 224. The resolution is the State of Hawaii, City and County of Honolulu, federal entities, and private land owners are urged to work together to immediately open the section of the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road extending Pa’akea Road out to Lualualei Naval Road to be used as a parallel route for the Waianae Coast on a permanent basis.

Click here to submit testimony.

Congratulations to Nanakuli-Waianae and Campbell-Kapolei District Teachers of the Year Nuikala Koerte and Leeann Manuel!

Education Week kicked off on 03/13/23, and the Senate honored five teachers on the Senate floor.

State Teacher of the Year

Michael Ida (Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani).

District Teacher of the Year

Nuikalā Koerte (Nānākuli-Waiʻanae).

District Teacher of the Year

Leeann Manuel (Campbell-Kapolei).

District Teacher of the Year

Keevan Matsumoto (Kaimukī-McKinleyRoosevelt).

District Teacher of the Year

Daphne Okunaga (Pearl City-Waipahu)

Waianae Moku Kupuna Council (WMKC) Offers the Senate "Moment of Contemplation"

On 03/13/23, Aunty Georgiana Navarro of the WMKC delivered the "Moment of Contemplation" to the State Senate. SR45 recognizes the WMKC as an advisory resource for elected officials. In closing we Kupunas know that you know Aunty Pilahi Paki's "The Spirit of Aloha Law" I'm looking at the eyes of our leaders today who has been reminded time and time again that when you DO "The Spirit of Aloha Law" then we our WMKC will support you. Mahalo and Aloha. Kou inoa mai au” - Georgiana Navarro

2023 Hawaii Senate Legislative Session Update

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.

~ DHHL Supportive Housing (SB1040): Project aimed at providing DHHL wait-listers who are homeless or threatened with homelessness with supportive housing and services.

~ Transitional Shelter: Utilize former military officer's housing in Kalaeloa for unsheltered DHHL wait-listers

~ Ulu Ke Kukui: renovate a former transitional housing project into rental units for DHHL beneficiaries

Transportation

~ Paakea Road (SCR59 / SR53): 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 1 non-commercial vehicle

~ Makau Street (SCR193 / SR198): Urges the City to improve the Keaau Beach parking lot to create an alternate bus turnaround

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 chopper (3x HFD’s current capacity)

~ Called 2 Impact, Inc: GIA for At-Risk Youth on the Waianae Coast $8,000

~ Clean & Sober Homes (SCR36 / SR30): Resolution urging the City to more evenly distribute clean and sober homes and mental health facilities throughout Oahu

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, & others

~ Youth Mental Health (SB1044): Appropriates moneys to hire school-based youth mental health specialists

~ Teacher Housing (SB941): Authorizes the School Facilities Authority to partner with public and private agencies to develop teacher and educator housing. Specifies Nanakuli High and Intermediate School, Waipahu High School, and Mililani High School as initial locations for the teacher and educator housing pilot.

~ "Waterman" Movie (SCR195 / SR200): 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 on the Waianae Coast $1.6m

Hawaiian Affairs

~ 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 (HB567): Provide DHHL with GET and School Impact Fee exemptions. Extend Affordable Housing Tax Credits.

~ 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.

~ Hawaiian Intellectual Property (SCR191 / SR196): Urging the establishment of a working group.

~ Hawaiian Language (SCR196 / SR201): Urging the appointment of a committee to plan expansion of Hawaiian language education in the DOE

~ Waianae Economic Development Council: GIA for Nanakuli Village Ctr digital hub & co-working space ($834,410)

~ Hawaiian Laws (SB16): Requires that the Hawaiian version of a law be held binding if the law in question was originally drafted in Hawaiian and then translated into English and if the law has not been subsequently amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in English.

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 / SR18): Urges state to recognize the 4th Saturday of every September as "Trash Fishing Day"

~ Kingdom Pathways: GIA for Environmental preservation $238,669

~ Landfills (SCR57 / SR51): Resolution urging the City to provide real property tax relief to residents within a 1/2 mile radius of landfills

~ Ulehawa Canal (SCR192 / SR197): Resolution urging the City to conduct quarterly dredging, and extend the seawall groin further