20230502-WaianaeNB

to our newest DHHL Leadership Chair Kali Watson & Deputy Katie Ducatt

After a thorough and rigorous confirmation process, Kali Watson was confirmed as the Director of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) as well as the ex-officio chair of the Hawaiian Homes Commission. He is joined by Katie Ducatt as Deputy Director for DHHL and form the newest team to move the organization into the future. They are pictured (see right) during their Kapolei Office blessing conducted by my Chief of Staff, Kahu Keahi Renaud.

POKA’I BAY REPAIRS GETS FUNDING

In working with Rep, Gates, we just secured $ 5,759,000.00

in capitol improvement funds for the Department of Land & Natural Resources is dedicated to repair the three jetties at Pōka’ī Bay to increase both the water circulation and chronic structural damages. All of these improvements along with ongoing testing is to create a more safer location to for recreation and traditional cultural practices.

$20 MILLION for FREE PRESCHOOL for the Wai‘anae Coast

3 and 4 year olds may be eligible for FREE pre-school under the expanded Pre-K program statewide after the governor appropriated $75 million to expand access to Pre-Kindergarten.

The Program intends to

(1) Support construction of new facilities

(2) Support renovation, improvement and expansion

(3) Increase accessibility of Pre-K programs statewide

The participating schools on the westside include:

• Kamaile Academy PCS: $20,000,000 (200 seats)

• Nanakuli Elementary School: $1,000,000 (20 seats)

• Wai’anae Elementary School: $1,000,000 (20 seats)

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leadership, broke into the limelight when they won first place with American Savings Bank’s 7th annual Bank for Education KeikiCo Business Plan Competition. It involved over 400 students across the state in all grade levels from 3rd to 12th. The Scrappahz Union 9792’s competition business plan consisted of shredding community cardboard to repurpose it into compost, sheet mulching, and easy compostable pots. The combination of students, community-involvement, and environmental conscious goals landed them the top high school business winners garnering them $25,000 award.

In addition to this most prestigious award, the Hawaii State Legislature recognized these budding business entrepreneurs from the gallery of the State Senate introducing them all while also entering their names into the official legislative journal. The celebration then extended into a wonderful pa’ina where they students were addressed by Senate President Kouchi and also presented with congratulatory certificates for their

dedicated work and ongoing commitment to reduce the community carbon footprint while creating a more sustainable business model and environmentally friendly lifestyle.. The members of this team helped provide an absolutely delicious meal for all the visiting legislators and honored guests !!

CONGRATULATIONS SCRAPPAHZ 96792

Nanakuli High’s Scrappahz Union 96792

under Kumu Michelle Pieper’s

Gubernatorial Nominee MAKAI FREITAS to the Hawaiian Homes Commission

My Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs endorsedand the Full Senate confirmed gubernatorial nominee Makai Freitas as our newest member to the Hawaiian Homes Commission. We all appreciate his dedicated public service and most certainly wish him all the luck and success in the future.

$250/Month Food Vouchers Available from WCCHC!

If you have been denied SNAP/EBT and are in need of food, you may qualify for a $250/month food voucher. Vouchers may be redeemed for free fruits, vegetables, proteins (includes eggs, poultry, fish, meats), honey, poi, and other Items without added ingredients like sugar, salt, etc.

Vouchers can be redeemed at Saturday Farmer’s market located at Waianae Mall 8a – 12p, and Tuesday Farmer’s market located at Waianae

Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC) main campus by the ER Dept from 9a – 12p. The program runs for 6 consecutive months.

Good News!

Westside Alternative Access Road

SR53 & HR179 has been ADOPTED! DOT is currently seeking agreement with all roadway owners to allow design & construction of “Pa’akea Rd

Improvements along with Lualualei Naval Road to Hakimo Road.”

Completion of this project requires removing the locked gates from Pa‘akea Road to make it part of the daily alternate access route.

(Pic L-R, Sen. Keohokalole, Mr. Freitas, Sen. Shimabukuro, Sen. Fevella, Sen. Richards)

(L-R: DOT Director Ed Sniffen, Sen. Shimabukuro, and DOT Deputy Director Tammy Lee.

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. ($200k)

~ 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. ($400k)

~ Ohana Zones (HB300 CD1) Appropriates $15 MILLION for the “Ohana Zones Pilot Program

~ Kauhale Bill (HB300 CD1): Appropriates $48M/year for projects aimed at providing supportive housing and services for unsheltered individuals. A possible Kauhale site includes vacant land behind Nanakuli Sack and Save.

~ Tax Relief (HB954): Increases the household and dependent care services tax credit for five years. Increases the refundable earned income tax credit for 5 five years. Increases the income thresholds and credit amounts of the refundable food/excise tax credit for five years.

~ 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 unit options for DHHL beneficiaries

Transportation

~ Alternate Route (SR53/HR179): Funding and Resolution in support of Project No. HWY-0-03-20, which creates an alternate route from Pa’akea 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.

~ Makau Street (SCR193 / SR198): Urges the City to improve the Keaau Beach parking lot and surrounding areas as possible places for a bus turnaround.

~ Kalaeloa Airport (HB300 CD1): Improvements ($12M)

~ Kalaeloa Harbor (HB300 CD1): Improvements ($2.5M)

Public Safety

~ Youth Challenge Academy (HB300 CD1): Upgrades and improvements ($3M)

~ Kaala Farm: GIAs for fire prevention grant administrator ($20,000)

~ Youth Mental Health Crisis Program (HB948): Establishes a two-year child and adolescent crisis mobile outreach team pilot program on Oahu and one neighbor island site to expand existing crisis response services. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 12/31/2025. ($3.5M)

Youth Suicide: Adding 2.00 permanent positions and adding $1,000,600 in FY24 and FY25 for positions to help administer Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention protocol in complex areas and Charter Schools.

Education

Nanakuli High & Intermediate School (HB300 CD1): CIP for performing arts center ($6M)

Nanakuli Elementary: Repairs and maintenance ($1M; HB300 CD1); 20 pre-k seats ($1M; Act 257 2022)

Nanaikapono Elementary (HB300 CD1): new sprinkler system ($85,000)

Kamaile Academy: 10 new classroom buildings ($3M; HB300 CD1); 200 pre-k seats ($20M; Act 257 2022)

Waianae Elementary: parking lot expansion ($1.25M; HB300 CD1); 20 pre-k seats ($1M; Act 257 2022)

Youth Mental Health (HB300 CD1): $5M for FY24 and FY25 to offer mental health services for public school students

Teacher Housing (SB941 and HB300 CD1): Appropriates $170M to develop teacher and educator housing.

The Recruiters: GIA for Music Production on the Waianae Coast $400,000

After-School All-Stars HI: GIA for after school care and activities $100,000

Read to Me International: GIA for $200,000

Hawaiian Affairs

DHHL (HB300 CD1): Infrastructure and R&M ($40M)

DHHL Housing Credits (SB1357 CD1): Extends Affordable Housing Tax Credits until 7/1/30.

OHA Budget (HB133 CD1): Appropriates $3M per year in general funds to OHA for beneficiary advocacy. Supplements $21.5M paid to OHA annually in ceded lands revenues.

Hawaiian Independence Day (Act 011 / SB731): Designates November 28 as Lā Kū‘oko‘a to celebrate the historical recognition of the independence of the Kingdom of HI.

Indigenous Peoples' Day (SB732 CD1): Designates the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day.

Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement: GIA for $325,000

Polynesian Voyaging Society: GIA for $200,000

Native Hawaiian Speakers: $30,000 in FY24 for DOE to support traditional native speakers of Hawaiian Waitlist Successorship (SCR104): Urging Congress to re-introduce HR Res. 9614, to lower the blood quantum for successors of leases and waitlist placement from one-quarter to one thirty-second.

Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property (SR196 SD1): Urging the establishment of a Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property working group.

Agriculture

Pig Farmers (HB300 CD1): hog, sheep, goat, chicken, and other small animal slaughterhouse at Kalaeloa ($4m CIP)

Kahua Paa Mua: GIA for Agricultural Education

Agricultural Warehouses (HB300 CD1): Budget appropriation: $5M

School Gardens (HB300 CD1): 1 permanent position and $110,133

Buying Local: Adding $450,000 in FY24 and $500,000 in FY25 for prisons to purchase more local agricultural products for food (Act 144 2022).

Environment

~ Pokai Bay Jetty: $5.7M CIP for re-design for improved circulation of Poka’i Bay Jetty

~ Nā Kama Kai (HB300 CD1): GIA for $250,000

~ Landfills (SCR57 / SR51): Resolution urging the City to exempt from real property tax those property owners of residential units within 1/2-mile of an active landfill

~ Ulehawa Canal (HR112): Resolution requesting the City to dredge and clean the Ulehawa Stream and Canal

~ Environmental Protection: Adding 4.00 permanent positions and $4.6 million in FY24 and 29.00 permanent positions and $4.3 million in FY25 for the enforcement of environmental conservation and protection. Red Hill: Adding 4.00 permanent positions and $117,210 in FY24 and $234,393 in FY25 for Navy’s Red Hill Contamination

~ Agricultural Warehouses (HB300 CD1): Budget appropriation: $5M

~ School Gardens (HB300 CD1): 1 permanent position and $110,133

~ Buying Local: Adding $450,000 in FY24 and $500,000 in FY25 for prisons to purchase more local agricultural products for food (Act 144 2022).

Health

~ WCCHC Emergency Room: GIA for operating funds ($2m)

~ Telephone Health Care Services (HB907): Temporarily allows for the reimbursements of services provided through telehealth via an interactive telecommunications system and two-way, real-time audio-only communication in certain circumstances. Defines “interactive telecommunications system”. Repeals 12/31/2025 be reimbursed.

~ WCCHC Family Medicine Residency Program: GIA for renovations and medical equipment to address shortage of primary care providers ($100,000)

~ 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.

~ KAMP Hawaii: GIA to help with over 1000 participants at 5 district parks on West Oahu. Kalaniana’ole Beach Park, Ma’ili Community Park, Pilila’au Community Park, Waianae District Park and Makaha Community Park. This is the 17th year providing the Healthy Lifestyle Summer program to these parks ($100,000)

~ Clean and Sober Homes (SR30 SD1): Urging the City and State to address the inequitable location of various supportive living homes across Oahu

Judiciary

~ Clean Slate (SB410 CD1): automatically remove expunged offenses from a person’s public record

~ Assisted Community Treatment Orders (HB950 CD1): Authorizes psychiatrists or advanced practice registered nurses, after examination of a person for assisted community treatment (ACT) indication, to request assistance from the attorney general to file an ACT petition. Authorizes the family court to use online hearings for ACT petitions. Clarifies provision of notice for ACT petitions. Authorizes any interested party to request assistance from the attorney general to file a petition for an extension of ACT. Extends the time period that a family court may order continued ACT. Reduces the time period that a family court needs to determine whether ACT should continue.

~ Juvenile Justice (SR202): Requesting the Judiciary to collect and share data on the assessment of fees in cases against minors.

~ Sex Trafficking: $400,000 in FY24 and FY25 for Sex Trafficking Victims Support

~ Narcotics: $152,420 for drug monitoring in narcotics enforcement.