VOL.11 Issue6 June 1, 2011 IN THIS ISSUE X Our “Green” Senate pg 1 X Message from Kalani pg 1 X Harvard Club Association pg 2 HAWAI’I STATE SENATE RECOGNIZED X Electric Cars Hawai’i pg 2 X Hawai’i Board of Education pgs 2-3 FOR GOING GREEN X CIP Update pg 3 Governor Neil Abercrombie recog- reduced the Senate’s paper usage by 80 X School Repair Update pg 4 nized Senator J. Kalani English and percent since the program was put in members of the Hawai’i State Senate place. During the 2010 session, only for their participation in the Hawai’i 1.5 million pages were printed, com- MESSAGE FROM KALANI Green Government Challenge on April pared to 8.3 million pages in 2007. 20, 2011. Over the last three years, the Senate has The 2011 legislative session was saved half a million dollars in purchas- unique. A new administration and The Hawai’i Green Government Chal- ing paper and copy Senate leadership brought about lenge, administered machine expenses. many initial changes. The budget by the State En- deficit we faced this year, forced us to ergy Office within For the public, partici- make difficult decisions on the vari- the Department of pation in the legislative ous competing and equally deserving Business, Economic process has become interests. I remained steadfast to my Development and more accessible, as core values and priorities. I worked to Tourism, provides The 2011 Green Business individuals are able to improve our schools, keep our health- an opportunity for and Green Government submit testimony by care facilities, ports and roads safe and government agen- Awards. April 20, 2011. e-mail as well as view accessible as well as ensuring that our cies to work towards all measures, commit- growing population will have afford- smart energy and tee reports, and tes- able, alternative energy produced in resource-efficient timony submitted on the islands for use in our homes. operations. This di- any measure via the In this issue, we showcase the final rectly benefits the Legislature’s website. days of the 2011 session with appro- government through Public hearing notices priated capitol improvement proj- reduced operational posted on the Capitol and utility costs. website are also inter- ects, some events and school repair active, containing links updates. As always, my office will In 2008, the Senate launched its Paper- to documents previously mentioned. remain open during the interim and I less Initiative with two goals in mind look forward to updating you again, in - to enhance public access to the leg- The Hawai’i State Senate is also sup- the issues to come. islative process by making sure more porting and participating in the Capi- documents are available in electronic tol’s conservation initiatives, including: format and to reduce paper waste gen- energy conservation, recycling, emis- erated by the Senate. sions reduction and water Vol.11 Issue6 pg.1 • June 1, 2011 conservation. The Paperless Initiative has significantly PACIFIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSION HARVARD CLUB ELECTRIC CAR MARKET GROWS IN HAWAI’I Senator J. Kalani English was honored Senator English joined Governor Aber- islands energy intake to a mere 30% to speak before the Harvard Club of crombie, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye by 2030.” Hawaii on April 19th at the Hawai‘i and various political and business Better Place is the world’s leading State Capitol. As Chair of the Senate dignitaries at the unveiling of Better electric car services provider. They Committee on Transportation and In- Place Hawai‘i’s electric car charging build the infrastructure and intelligent ternational Affairs, Senator English pro- network infrastructure. The installa- networks to deliver a range of services vided unique insight and knowledge tion of the first 10 charge spots across to drivers that enable widespread in discussing Hawai‘i’s relations with Oahu, five at the Sheraton Waikiki and adoption of electric cars and optimize the Pacific Island nations compris- five at three Hawaiian Electric sites, is energy use. The Better Place network ing the Compact of Free Association the result of cross-sector partnerships in Hawaii addresses the historical (COFA) with the United States. This between Better Place, Kyo-ya Hotels limitations to electric car adoption by agreement between the United States, & Resorts (Kyo-ya), Starwood Hotels providing unlimited driving range in a the Federated States of Micronesia, the & Resorts Waikiki, Hawaiian Electric convenient and accessible manner. Republic of Palau and the Republic Company and the Hawai‘i Renewable of the Marshall Islands grants govern- Energy Development Venture. mental concessions and privileges to The project includes seven electric the United States in exchange for the cars, of which Kyo-ya will operate two nationals of these Pacific countries and Hawaiian Electric will own five. free entry into the United States. In This collaborative project is approxi- addition, COFA migrants to the United mately $1.1 million, of which about States can obtain various other benefits $500,000 in funding was provided normally available to U.S. citizens. through the U.S. Department of Energy Senator English proudly discussed the and the Hawai‘i Renewable Energy numerous reasons and advantages Development Venture. of such an arrangement between our “Integrating electric vehicles into countries. Despite his busy schedule, Hawai‘i’s transportation systems is a Brian Goldstein; Better Place Senator English remained after his great way to lessen our dependence Hawaii Director, Senator English presentation concluded to answer any on petroleum,” said Senator English, and Jason Wolfe; Better Place North lingering questions participants had. “with an electric vehicle grid in place, America V.P. at the Better Place Car The Harvard Club of Hawaii is an we are on track in achieving Hawai‘i’s Charging Network Blessing, “filling alumni association that promotes Clean Energy Initiative, which aims to the tank” on an electric car. fellowship and continued learning decrease oil imports from 90% of the April 19, 2011. amongst its roughly 250 members who are Hawaii residents. Arkie Koehl, Vice President of Activities for the Har- APPOINTED BOARD OF EDUCAtiON vard Club of Hawaii and organizer of the event said, “This was perhaps the It was a historic day at the State Capi- best Harvard Club brown bag event tol on April 14, 2011 as Senate Presi- I’ve had throughout the dozens and dent Shan Tsutsui, Senators J. Kalani dozens over the years.” English and Roz Baker along with their twenty-two colleagues, voted to unani- mously confirm their first appointed Board of Education since 1966. Voters in the 2010 General Election approved a constitutional amend- ment calling for an appointed, rather than elected, Board of Education. Act 5, which was signed into law by the governor on March 14, 2011, gives Sen. English addresses the alumni the governor the authority to appoint at The Harvard Club of Hawai’i nine members: one member from the Luncheon. April 19, 2011. Senator English congratulates the new Board of Education County of Hawaii, one member from Chairman, Donald Horner. the County of Maui, one member from Vol.11 Issue6 pg.2 • June 1, 2011 April 14, 2011. continued on pg. 3 Vol.11 Issue6 pg.3 June 1, 2011 the County of Kauai, 3 members from the City and County of Honolulu, and three at-large-members, provided that the governor selects an at-large member as the chairperson. The Senate confirms the Governor’s selections to the now appointed Board of Education. Senators: Carol Fukunaga, Suzanne Chun Oakland, Malama Solomon, Donovan Dela Cruz, BOE members: Keith Ame- miya; At-Large, Cheryl Ka’uhane Lupenui; Oahu, Nancy Jo-Yamakawa Budd; Kauai, James Williams; Oahu, Wesley Lo; Maui, Brian De Lima; Vice Chairman, Donald Horner; Chairman, Charlene Cuaresma; Oahu, Senators: Michelle Kidani, Clarence Nishihara, Senate President Shan Tsutsui and Brickwood Galuteria. Back Row- Senators: David Ige, Will Espero, Gilbert Kahele, Governor Neil Abercrombie, Senators: Maile Shimabukuro, Jill Tokuda, Ronald Kouchi, J. Kalani English, Clayton Hee, Pohai Ryan, Les Ihara, Roz Baker, Josh Green, Sam Slom and Mike Gabbard. April 14, 2011. SIXTH DISTRICT 2012-2013 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS MAUI TOTAL: $ 29,487,000 Upcountry Watershed King Kekaulike High School (Plan, design, construction of a pipeline) 6,000,000 (Design and construction of a new auditorium) 1,950,000 Old Haleakala Highway Hana Highway, Huelo to Hana (Plan, design & construct sidewalk along one side (Construction to mitigate rock falls & landslides & of Kula Highway to Pukalani Street) 1,000,000 repair & upgrades to bridges & other facilities) 5,222,000 Hana Highway Hana Highway, Uakea Road to Keawa Place (Road widening and improvements at vicinity of 830,000 (Existing road widening) 290,000 milepost 28.1) Haleakala Highway Improvements Hana Highway Bridge Preservation Plan (Construction to install right turn lane at King 1,500,000 (Plans for developing a bridge preservation plan for 1,600,000 Kekaulike High School entrance) Hana Preservation District) Hana Highway,Hoolawa Bridge Hana, Haneoo Rd (Design & construction to regrade roadway to 80,000 (Install new outdoor warning siren) 85,000 redirect runoff) Hana Boat Ramp Kula Hospital (Plans, design & construction for improvements 3,125,000 (Elevator upgrades & new nurse call system) 2,505,000 to boat ramp, revetment) Makawao Veteran’s Cemetery (Land acquisition for expansion of burial space) 5,300,000 LANA‘I TOTAL: $ 36,451,000 Lana‘i Airport 35,111,000 Lana‘i Community Hospital (Runway Safety Area Improvements) (Plan & Design for ER expansion, fire, exhaust 1,340,000 ventilation system, repairs and upgrades) MOLOKA‘I TOTAL: $ 9,525,000 Moloka‘i Ohana Health Care Kualapuu Elementary School (Plan, design, construction to expand facility) (Design & construction for a new waterline for fire 2,750,000 500,000 suppression) Kamehameha V Highway Kamehameha V Highway (Drainage improvements) 450,000 (Makakupaia Stream bridge replacement) 3,750,000 State Highways Moloka‘i Irrigation System (Design & construct guardrail & shoulder 825,000 (Improvements) 1,250,000 improvements) TOTAL $79,463,000 STATE SENATOR J.