Senator Gilbert Kahele

SENATOR GILBERT KAHELE

December 2012 December

Hawai‘i State Capitol, Room 213 Phone: (808) 586-6760 Toll Free From Hawai`i Island: 974-4000 ext. 66760 Serving Hawai`i’s Email: senkahele@capitol.hawaii.gov Senate District 1 Hilo For an electronic version of this newsletter, visit Senator Kahele’s page at www.capitol.hawaii.gov

A Message from Opening Day 2013 Legislator of the Year Senator Kahele Aloha! The Hawaiì Psychological Association awarded Senator Kahele First and foremost, I would like to with the 2012 Hawaiì Psychological thank you for the honor and privilege Association Legislator of the Year to serve as your Senator in the Hawaiì Award for his outstanding

State Legislature. I am truly humbled fxÇtàÉÜ Z|ÄuxÜà ^t{xÄx contributions to psychology and by your unwavering support and vÉÜw|tÄÄç |Çä|àxá çÉâ àÉ ä|á|à mental health services in the State of remain dedicated to serving you and Hawai`i. our Hilo community. {|á fxÇtàx Éyy|vx yÉÄÄÉã|Çz à{x

For the first time in the 54 year history bÑxÇ|Çz Wtç VxÜxÅÉÇç of our state, Hawai`i Island will be represented by four State Senators. bÇ jxwÇxáwtç? As 2012 comes to a close and we embark on the 2013 legislative à{x DIà{ Éy ]tÇâtÜç session, our future never looked gãÉ@à{ÉâátÇw tÇw à{|ÜàxxÇ brighter! My colleagues and I remain ready and confident to take on the DE ÇÉÉÇ challenges we face as a state and a nation. [tãt|s| fàtàx VtÑ|àÉÄ

To you and your òhana Mele eÉÉÅ EDF Kalikimaka me ka Hauòli Makahiki Senator Kahele receives his award from Hou! g{x bÑxÇ|Çz Wtç VxÜxÅÉÇç ã|ÄÄ uxz|Ç tà Hawaiì Psychological Association President-Elect Darryl Salvador, Psy.D. DC tÅ |Ç à{x fxÇtàx V{tÅuxÜA TwÅ|áá|ÉÇ Hauòli ka manaò, and Jill Oliveira-Gray, Ph.D. àÉ à{x fxÇtàx ZtÄÄxÜç ã|ÄÄ ux y|Üáà vÉÅx? y|Üáà (Photo Courtesy: Hawaiì Psychological áxÜäxwA Association)

International Aviation Training Center Reapportionment

The Twenty-Sixth Legislative session was a productive one and New political legislative boundaries were redrawn this amongst the numerous initiatives that were accomplished there is past legislative session due to the reapportionment and one in particular that we remain extremely optimistic about. redistricting plan approved in March by the State Reapportionment Commission. Senate Concurrent Resolution 156 was passed urging the creation of an exploratory committee to consider the establishment of an Reapportionment occurs every 10 years to redraw voter International Aviation Training Center at the Hilo International district boundaries to reflect changes in the population Airport and an advanced aviation degree training program at recorded in the most recent U.S. Census. Due to the large Hawaiì Community College and the University of Hawaiì at Hilo. population increase on Hawaiʻi Island in the last 10 years, the new state reapportionment plan removes a Senate seat The committee members are: from Oahu and allocates a fourth Senate seat to Hawaiʻi  Dr. Ken Morris (UHH) Island. The districts and their newly elected Senators are:  Dr. Bruce Matthews (UHH)  Steve Santiago (DOT) District 1: Gilbert Kahele (Hilo)  Henry Bruckner (DOT) District 2: Russell Ruderman (Puna, Volcano, Pahala)  Noreen Yamane (HCC) District 3: Josh Green (Naʻalehu, South Kona, Kailua)  Joyce Hamasaki (HCC) District 4: Malama Solomon (North Kona, Kohala,  Jan Horike (HI County) Waimea, Hamakua)  Elizabeth Dykstra (HI County)  Bo Masuyama (Hawaiì Aviation)  Kai Kahele (Hawaiì Aviation)

Technical Advisors:  Donald Straney (Chancellor UH-Hilo)  Gerald De Mello (UH-Hilo Ret.)  Peter Quigley (UH/HCC)

Puainako Street Widening,

The Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration held a public informational meeting on October 16, 2012 regarding the Puainako Street widening, Komohana Street to Kilauea Avenue Project.

This project involves the partial realignment and widening of Puainako Street from the east side of Kilauea Avenue intersection to Komohana Street.

Another informational meeting will be scheduled for March 2013.

If you wish to receive future newsletters and other community updates, such as the next Puainako Street Widening project meeting, please provide us with your name and email address to [email protected] with “email list” as the subject matter. New Senate District 1 Pupukahi I Holomua Unite to move forward Out and About... December 2012 December

Senator Kahele gives Governor Neil Abercrombie a first hand look at the dilapidated

Lanakila Homes Public Housing Units

Senator Kahele at the Hilo Medical Center Senator Kahele attends a Foundation 10th Annual Wine, Cheese, ceremony honoring the Nisei Chocolate & More event with Mayor Veterans of World War II with a Kenoi and First Lady Takako Congressional Gold Medal

Senator Kahele and Councilmember Onishi along with Bo Saiki and Luana Saiki Kawelu honoring their father Ron “Harpo” Saiki at Hualani Park in Keaukaha

Senator Kahele attends a luncheon at Washington Place honoring Senator Daniel K. Akaka’s 36 years in Congress

Senator Kahele at the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission Official Signing and Senator Kahele provides the community with a Celebration at Washington Legislative update at Hilo High School cafeteria Place

Senator Kahele presents Auntie Ann Ebesugawa Kaya with a Senate certificate Hilo Native BJ Penn opens the in honor of her retirement from Ebesu’s first signature UFC Gym in Senators Kahele and Solomon honors Gerald De Mello flower shop after 80 years of service Honolulu with a Senate certificate on his retirement from UH Hilo.

Hawai`i State Senate Leadership & Committee Assignments

AGRICULTURE (AGL) ENERGY AND JUDICIARY AND TRANSPORTATION Nishihara, Clarence K. (Chair) ENVIRONMENT (ENE) LABOR (JDL) AND INTERNATIONAL Kouchi, Ronald D. (Vice Gabbard, Mike (Chair) Hee, Clayton (Chair) AFFAIRS (TIA) Chair) Ruderman, Russell E. (Vice Shimabukuro, Maile S.L. (Vice English, J. Kalani (Chair) Dela Cruz, Donovan M. Twenty‐Seventh English, J. Kalani Chair) Chair) Dela Cruz, Donovan M. (Vice Legislature Thielen, Laura H. Chun Oakland, Suzanne Gabbard, Mike Chair) 2013‐2014 Wakai, Glenn Ihara, Jr., Les Ihara, Jr., Les Espero, Will Slom, Sam Slom, Sam Slom, Sam Gabbard, Mike Kahele, Gilbert

COMMERCE AND CONSUMER HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS (HWN) PUBLIC SAFETY AND Kim, Donna Mercado President: PROTECTION (CPN) Galuteria, Brickwood (Chair) MILITARY AFFAIRS (PSM) Kouchi, Ronald D. Shan S. Tsutsui Baker, Rosalyn H. (Chair) Kahele, Gilbert (Vice Chair) Espero, Will (Chair) Solomon, Malama Galuteria, Brickwood (Vice Hee, Clayton Baker, Rosalyn H. (Vice Chair) Slom, Sam Vice President: Chair) Nishihara, Clarence K. Kidani, Michelle N. Galuteria, Brickwood Donna Mercado Kim Solomon, Malama Shimabukuro, Maile S.L. Green, M.D., Josh WATER AND LAND (WTL)

Taniguchi, Brian T. Solomon, Malama Slom, Sam Solomon, Malama (Chair) Majority Leader: Wakai, Glenn Slom, Sam Shimabukuro, Maile S.L. (Vice Brickwood Galuteria Slom, Sam TECHNOLOGY AND Chair)

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HEALTH (HTH) THE ARTS (TEC) Dela Cruz, Donovan M. Majority Policy Green, M.D., Josh (Chair) Wakai, Glenn (Chair) Ihara, Jr., Les Leader: AND HOUSING (EDH) Dela Cruz, Donovan M. (Chair) Baker, Rosalyn H. (Vice Chair) Nishihara, Clarence K. (Vice Ruderman, Russell E. Les Ihara, Jr. Slom, Sam (Vice Chair) Chun Oakland, Suzanne Chair) Thielen, Laura H.

Baker, Rosalyn H. Nishihara, Clarence K. Gabbard, Mike Slom, Sam Majority Floor Chun Oakland, Suzanne Slom, Sam Tokuda, Jill N. Leader: English, J. Kalani Slom, Sam WAYS AND MEANS (WAM) Will Espero Thielen, Laura H. HIGHER EDUCATION (HRE) Ige, David Y. (Chair) Wakai, Glenn Taniguchi, Brian T. (Chair) TOURISM AND Kidani, Michelle N. (Vice Majority Caucus EDUCATION (EDU) Kahele, Gilbert (Vice Chair) GOVERNMENT Chair) Leader: Tokuda, Jill N. (Chair) Ige, David Y. OPERATIONS (TSG) Chun Oakland, Suzanne Ronald D. Kouchi Kidani, Michelle N.(Vice Chair) Kidani, Michelle N. Kim, Donna Mercado (Chair) Dela Cruz, Donovan M.

Ruderman, Russell E. Kim, Donna Mercado Kouchi, Ronald D. (Vice Chair) English, J. Kalani Shimabukuro, Maile S.L. Majority Whip: Tokuda, Jill N. Espero, Will Espero, Will Gilbert Kahele Slom, Sam Slom, Sam Galuteria, Brickwood Kahele, Gilbert

Hee, Clayton Kim, Donna Mercado Majority Whip: HUMAN SERVICES (HMS) Kahele, Gilbert Kouchi, Ronald D. Jill N. Tokuda Chun Oakland, Suzanne Slom, Sam Ruderman, Russell E.

(Chair) Thielen, Laura H. Minority Leader/ Green, M.D., Josh (Vice Chair) Tokuda, Jill N. Floor Leader: Kidani, Michelle N. Slom, Sam Sam Slom Taniguchi, Brian T. Slom, Sam

Hilo Medical Center Staff Members

On November 29, 2012 Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the release of more than $3.7 million in For the 2013 Session, Senator Kahele has capital improvement projects for Hilo Medical Center. As part of the Hawai‘i Island delegation, Senator compiled a staff of diverse backgrounds Kahele was instrumental in requesting the release of these funds. The funds will be used for various which provides a comprehensive outlook on improvements and upgrades at the Hilo Medical Center which is the largest facility in Hawaiì`s public the various issues that come before them. hospital system and one of the largest employers in Hilo. Allotment of funds will be used to complete the Our office manager, Linda Menda, has 6 following projects below: years of legislative experience and has been  $1,052,000 - Construction and required works of art to renovate the acute care hospital at Hilo Medical with Senator Kahele since his appointment Center, including renovations to bathrooms, replacement of inoperable and corroded facility doors, by Governor Neil soundmasking to reduce noise, and other repairs as necessary Abercrombie on  $728,000 - Design and construction for the replacement of the medical center’s atrium walls and roof, January 11, 2011. which need to be repaired to address the water leakage causing damage to the hospital interior Our newest staff member is Micah  $650,000 - Planning, design and construction to repair leaking roofs of the West Wing, Hospital Cottage Alameda, a Hawaiì  $350,000 - Replace chiller pipes more than 25 years old to prevent loss of air conditioning for the Island native. Micah hospital. was born in Hilo and  $235,000 - Parking lot improvements/renovations, such as re-designation of parking to accommodate raised in Keaukaha. He patient and visitors’ needs, signage, fencing and lighting. is our Legislative Aide.  $233,000 - Materials abatement, relocation of utilities, and demolition of an old two-story building on Together, Senator the campus that has partially collapsed, and an obstacle to the helipad adjacent to this structure. Kahele’s staff will work  $200,000 - Construction to bring existing storage tanks into compliance with new EPA regulatory diligently towards standards; project includes construction of a concrete footing, metal roof overhang, and installation of helping the people of new chain link fence. our state, Hawaiì Island, and more so the  $160,000 - Equipment to replace an existing washer, which is more than 25 years old and is no longer communities of Senate District 1. They operable. will continue to work hard each day and look forward to working with Senator  $134,000 - Design and construction to replace existing chain link fence with a higher masonry fence that Kahele to help serve his constituents. will increase security for the behavioral health unit and additional privacy for patients.