Hawai‘i State Capitol, Room 332 | Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Proudly serving District 8 - Kahakuloa, Waihe‘e, Waiehu, Phone: (808) 586-9444 | Fax: (808) 586-9499 Puuohala, Wailuku, Waikapū, parts of Kahului Email: [email protected] NEWS AND UPDATES FROM Representative Troy N. Hashimoto January 2019 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

Aloha! It is a new year and the Troy attending a briefing start of a new biennium (2-year legislative cycle) about transit-oriented here at the state Legislature. That means the bills development on Maui and we are considering are all new and can carry over other neighbor islands with into the next session if they do not pass this year. (L-R) Rep. , As part of my preparation for session, I have Sen. Rosalyn Baker, and been meeting with many community members Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran. and State Departments. I have visited, along with Senator Keith-Agaran, every school in our district, along with meeting on issues such as the status of Maui Memorial Medical Center. I have also been attending Finance Committee briefings on the governor’s budget proposals amounting to more than $30 billion over two fiscal years. Some of the bills I have been working on address issues like short-term rentals regulations, coastal protections, affordable housing development, Medicare eligibility, and ensuring our district receives its fair share of capital improvement Troy touring the Honolulu fish auction with projects. One would allow you to testify remotely (L-R) Rep. , Rep. Mark during the hearings we hold in Honolulu. Nakashima, Speaker , Rep. Dee As always, if you would like to share your Morikawa, and Rep. . thoughts on what we are working on here, please Troy with new House colleagues, (L-R) Representatives Stacelynn Eli, Rida do not hesitate to contact me. And remember to Troy on site submit testimony on any of the bills being heard Cabanilla Arakawa, , visits of public Speaker Scott Saiki, , Dale that interest you. The Legislature’s website has schools with Kobayashi, Tina Wildberger and Lisa information on how to do so, or someone in my (L-R) Wailuku office would be more than happy to help. Kitagawa. Principal I also have moved offices at the Capitol and Beverly Stanich, am now located in Room 332. Please come and Rep. Kyle Yam- visit anytime if you are on Oahu! ashita and Sen. I am honored to have been elected to represent Gilbert Keith- our district, and I look forward to serving you Agaran. this session here at the Legislature. Mahalo, Troy touring the site for Maui College’s Food Innovation Center with Maui College Director Karen Hanada and Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran

Troy touring the new monorail at the Kahului Visit me at the Airport. Capitol in Troy touring the Kahului Airport Consolidated room 332! Rental Car Facility. Mahi Pono, LLC Legislative land purchase calendar

Representative Hashimoto met deadlines with Mahi Pono, LLC and is optimistic about the company’s plans to January preserve agriculture on Maui. 16—Opening Day Mahi Pono plans to grow non-GMO 24—Bill Intro Cutoff food on 41,000 acres of land it Troy at Mayor Michael Victorino’s inauguration with recently bought in central Maui from February (L-R) First Lady Joycelyn Victorino, Sen. Roslyn Baker, Alexander & Baldwin. In addition to 7—Triple Referral Filing Mayor Victorino, Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran. land used to grow sugar until 2016, Bills referred to 3 committees must when A&B shut down operations, have passed out of its first committee. the purchase includes Kūlōlio Ranch 15—First Lateral Victorino inaugurated and Central Maui Feedstocks. The Bills with multiple committee company will offer jobs to A&B’s referrals must be on their way to their During his inauguration on Jan. 2, Mayor Michael current agricultural staff and does not final committee. Victorino stressed the importance of working for all people plan to use the land for nonagricultural to make Maui a better place, and said that his administration purposes. March would be “customer-service-oriented.” “With our purchase of this 1—First Decking “It’s not about me; it’s about we the people,” Victorino said. fertile land, we want to help ensure All bills that still need to go He also thanked his wife of 43 years, Joycelyn, for that Maui’s residents can produce through a third reading must pass sticking with him and being the pillar of their family. agricultural products for future their final committee. Members of the Maui County Council were also generations,” Mahi Pono President 7—Crossover inaugurated. For the first time in its history, women make Ann Chin said in a statement. The House and Senate exchange their up a majority of the Council. Mahi Pono’s plans also include remaining bills for consideration. offering training and educational 13—Budget Crossover programs for local employees; The House and Senate exchange making land and water available for their versions of the state budget small, local farms, and offering them for consideration. other resources; and a joint venture to own and operate East Maui Irrigation April Company. 11—Second Crossover Mahi Pono is a joint venture The House and Senate send back between California-based Pomona each other’s bills after they have Farming, LLC and Canada’s Public gone through their own committees. Sector Pension Investment Board. Its If they made amendments, the bills local team is lead by former Lt. Gov. have to go through another round of The 66th Chrysanthemum Shan Tsutsui. hearings to work out the differences. Festival with Baldwin High Gov. Ige’s inauguration School student Kara Nakahashi May Central Maui 2—Adjournment Sine Die The last day of the 2019 Session, and solar project the deadline for bills to pass before the second half of the biennium. AES Distributed Energy was chosen for a solar-plus-storage project on a site east of Kuihelani Highway Community Waikapu Community Association Meeting near Waikapu. The solar farm will generate enough energy to power events approximately 18,000 homes and use lithium-ion batteries for storage. WAILUKU COMMUNITY Construction is planned for 2020 with ASSOCIATION ELECTION commercial operation planned for AND REPORTS 2021 or 2022. The project will help the state The WCA will hold the election reach its 100 percent renewable energy for its 2019 board on Feb. 20 at 5 goal by 2045. p.m. at Wailuku’s Promenade Lobby Japanese Cultural Society Approximately 200,000 panels Plaza at 2050 Main Street. Kaisahan Christmas Party mochi making will take up 500 acres of type-D or type Featured speakers will also -E agricultural soil. A 25-year Power provide reports. County of Maui Purchase Agreement is being Planner Erin Wade will give an negotiated with Maui Electric Company. update on the Wailuku Civic Hub A community meeting was held Project. Kathleen Dimino, Complex last November. AES will announce Area Superintendent for the future meetings at a later time. In the Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Outgoing Office of Eco- meantime, questions and comments Area, will also make a presentation. nomic Development Di- about the project can be sent to The WCA urges members and Maui Farm Bureau Christmas Party rector Teena Rasmussen [email protected]. potential members to attend.