VOL.17 Issue 17 December 31, 2017 In This Issue ► Message From Kalani pg 1 ► Annual APIL Board Of Directors Meeting pgs 1, 2 ► DOH Updates State Leaders 58th Meeting of the Association Of On Cesspools pg 2 Pacific Island Legislature (APIL) ► CIP Funds Released pg 2 Board Of Directors ► KBE Local Government Visits With Sen. English pg 3 Sen. English was honored to represent the ecutive Director, AYUDA Foundation; “Reach ► Senate Leadership and State of Hawai’i at the 58th Meeting of APIL, Out Pacific (REPAC): Our Work in Asia and the Committee Assignments pg 3 which was held from Dec. 6-8 in the House Pacific,” Hawai’i State Senator Glenn Wakai, Chambers of the Republic of Palau National President, REPAC; “Micronesia Youth Services ► Memorable 2017 Moments pg 4 Congress. During the Opening Ceremony, Network (MYSN),” Ivan Blesam, MYSN Board President Tommy Remengesau, Jr. welcomed Vice Chair and Kenny Rekiai, MYSN Member; the guests from: Commonwealth of North- “Payu-Ta,” Eddy Reyes, Vice Chair, Payu-Ta; ern Mariana Islands; Federated States of Mi- “Climate Change and Coral Reef” & “Policy Message from Kalani cronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap); Reform to Enhance Management and Fisher- Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Palau and the State ies Benefits to Pacific Islanders,” Dr. Yimnang As we bid farewell to 2017, let us give thanks of Hawai’i. The mission of APIL is to organize Golbuu, Palau International Coral Reef Center for what we have, remember those who have a permanent association of mutual assitance and Steven Victor, The Nature Conservancy; passed and create hope for the future. by representatives of the people of the Pacific and “Digital Society Foundation: Connecting In 2018, let us work together to move Hawai'i Islands. the Blue Continent,” Christopher Sampson, toward a sustainable future. With this in mind, Presiding over the meeting was APIL President President, Digital Society Foundation. I wish each and every one of you prosperity, Honorable Vice Speaker Robert I. Taulung of The Report on Hawai’i that Sen. English pre- good health and contentment throughout Kosrae. The meeting began with opening re- sented was an overview covering the econ- the new year. marks from each delegation, which was fol- omy, environment, culture and technology lowed by the Executive and Financial Reports. since the Christmas Island Meeting six months Presentations were given by APIL subsidiaries ago. The economy shows a strong tourism and partners, which included: “Pacific Islands industry with nine million visitors, upward Development Bank,” Aren Palik, President trends and unemployment less than 2.5 %. and CEO; “AYUDA Foundation: Programs and Environmentally, Hawai’i acceded to the Paris Vol.17 • Issue 17 • pg.1 • Dec. 31, 2017 Services to Micronesia,” Carlotta Guerrero, Ex- Accord; In June 2017, Act 32 was signed into continued on pg. 2 58th Meeting Of APIL Department of Health Updates State Board Of Directors continued Leaders On Cesspools law making Hawai’i the first state to enact legislation implementing parts of the Paris Agreement; The Act established the “Hawai’i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission” (Climate Commission) as well as assigning various tasks to the Commission, which was placed under the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) for ad- ministrative purposes; Commission members attended the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Cli- mate Change in Bonn, Germany from Nov. 6-17. COP23 was the second conference since the Paris Agreement in 2015; and during the upcom- On December 12, Sen. English was present at a briefing for State legis- ing 2018 Legislative Session, the Senate will propose that Hawai’i adopt lators on the issue of cesspool prioritization and replacement held by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Culturally, a officials of the Department of Health (DOH). Hawai’i has nearly 88,000 Commission (ACT 104) on the 13th Festival of the Pacific Arts was es- cesspools that release 53 million gallons of raw sewage into the State’s tablished and appropriated $500,000 to plan for the festival. Technolog- groundwater and surface waters every day. Cesspools are an antiquated ically, the necessity of using Blockchain in Hawai’i was discussed. Block- technology for disposal of untreated sewage that have the potential to chain is a distributed database that maintains a continuously growing pollute groundwater. However, it also presents a risk of illness to island list of data records that cannot be tampered or revised. Completing the residents and a significant harm to streams and coastal resources, in- list was the importance of titles and land titles; cryptocurrency and the cluding coral reefs. importance of connectivity. The Legislature has begun to address the serious health and environ- The final day of the Meeting was dedicated to the introduction of reso- mental impacts of cesspool pollution. During the 2017 legislative ses- lutions and assignment to committees, actions and committee reports, sion, the Legislature passed Act 125, which requires the replacement of adjournment and a group photo. A total of nine resolutions were ad- all cesspools by 2050 and directed the Hawai’i Department of Health to opted, they may be viewed at: www.apilpacific.com/currentissues. investigate the number, scope, location and priority of cesspools State- php wide that require upgrade, conversion, or connection based on each “Since the monthly testing of the statewide warning siren system that in- cesspool’s impact on public health. cludes a newly-activated Attack Warning Tone, intended to warn Hawai’i In upcountry Maui, there are more than 7,000 cesspools. Groundwater residents of an impending nuclear missile attack, we are reminded of nitrate levels as high as 8.7 mg/L have been measured, which is very close the need for global cooperation and goodwill,” remarks Sen. English. to the drinking water maximum contaminant levels (MCL) of 10mg/L. “I am proud because for more than 30 years, the Annual APIL Meet- DOH conducted an investigation to determine the extent, magnitude ings have brought together Pacific Islanders from nations and states to and source of the nitrate contamination in the area. Nearly all of the demonstrate our commitment to the pursuit of regional cooperation, wells sampled had nitrate concentrations higher than what could be ac- exchange and comradery to achieve the common good for all.” counted from natural and agricultural sources. The conclusion of the DOH investigation is that while nitrate in the groundwater captured by the current drinking water sources is significantly less than the MCL, Sen. English with Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. at the APIL parts of the aquifer are degraded by on sight disposal systems contami- Board Of Directors Meeting. Ngarachamayong Cultural Center, Koror, nation and that water from a well installed in these locations would re- Palau. Dec. 6, 2017. quire expensive treatment to meet drinking water standards. “Since cesspools pose a real threat to our drinking water and the envi- ronment,” states Sen. English. “The informational briefing by the DOH is a sign that the department is taking measures towards ensuring that the hazards of cesspools remain a priority.” Funds Released for Capital Improvement Projects $5,610,000 in funds was released by the Governor for Holdrooms A, B and E restroom improvements at Kahului Airport. $230,850 was awarded by the Department of Education, Facilities Development Branch, to Certified Construction for repair and maintenance work at Pukalani Elementary School. $20,000 in funds was released by the Governor for Roadway Im- provements and Consolidated Car Rental Facility at Kahului Airport. Vol.17 • Issue 17 • pg.2 • Dec. 31, 2017 Kili/Bikini/Ejit (KBE) Local Government Visits With Sen. English Members of the Kili/Bikini/Ejit (KBE) local government who were on an “It is always a great opportunity to personally meet with the KBE Local official visit to Hawai’i to meet with KBE citizens residing in the islands Government when they are in Hawai’i,” said Sen. English. “The continu- met with Sen. English on December 13. The KBE leaders provided Sen. ing relationship between Pacific Island governments are important to English with an update on various issues such as climate change, repa- protecting and maintaining the basic quality of life for all who live in triation, federal compensation and national survival. The meeting also the Pacific.” provided the KBE leaders with the opportunity to introduce Sen. English to their new attorney, Gordon C. Benjamin, who will be representing the KBE government as a liaison and lead negotiator with the United States federal government. The dialogue between Sen. English and the KBE Local Government be- gan eight years ago. Since then, Sen. English has remained in close con- tact with Mayor Anderson Jibas and members of the KBE Local Govern- ment on various issues that affect the people of Bikini Atoll. Twenty-Ninth Legislature, 2017-2018 Senate Leadership and Committee Assignments President: Ronald D. Kouchi Rosalyn H. Baker HOUSING (HOU) TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY Vice President: Michelle N. Kidani Brickwood Galuteria Will Espero (Chair) (TRE) Majority Leader: J. Kalani English Laura H. Thielen Breene Harimoto (Vice Chair) Lorraine R. Inouye (Chair) Majority Caucus Leader: Josh Green Will Espero (Vice Chair) Brickwood Galuteria EDUCATION (EDU) Kaiali’i Kahele J.Kalani English Majority Floor Leader: Will Espero Michelle N. Kidani (Chair) Clarence K. Nishihara Breene Harimoto Majority Whip: Kaiali’i Kahele Kaiali’i Kahele (Vice Chair) Maile S.L. Shimabukuro Assistant Majority Whip: Donovan M. Dela Cruz HUMAN SERVICES (HMS) Gilbert S.C. Keith Agaran Will Espero Josh Green (Chair) WATER AND LAND (WTL) Donna Mercado Kim Stanley Chang (Vice Chair) Karl Rhoads (Chair) AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRON- Breene Harimoto Mike Gabbard (Vice Chair) MENT (AEN) GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS Jill N. Tokuda Lorraine R.