Kau kanawai

SB 1318 SD1 A bad bill

2009-03-15T23:14:00.001-07:00

REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE: SB 1318 SD1

Aloha All,

Some of you may not yet know of the existence of this measure, as it seems to have been flying 'under the radar' this session, but I would like to draw your attention to it now.

SB1318_SD1 proposes to eliminate the State Office of Planning by repealing HRS 225M and repealing outright HRS 205A, the State Coastal Zone Management (CZM) statutes.

The testimony of the Office of Planning spells out more fully the consequences of the measure, but in summary those consequences are:
The elimination of the Office of Planning
The elimination of the statewide coordination of geographical information systems (GIS)
The elimination of the governing 'umbrella' statutes -- all objectives and policies of the CZM program -- for the protection and management all lands in the state and the ocean to the limits of the state's police powers. In many cases these statutes are the basis for other state and county agencies' powers to manage the coastal zone, in terms of:
Recreational resources,
Historic and cultural resources,
Scenic and open space resources,
Coastal ecosystems,
Economic uses,
Coastal hazards,
Managing development,
Public participation,
Beach protection, and
Marine resources
The elimination of Special Management Area (SMA) permits
The elimination of Shoreline Setback Variances
The elimination of all Federal Consistency protections (the state's ability to oversee the federal government's use of Hawaii's coastal resources)
The elimination of the Marine and Coastal Zone Advocacy Council (MACZAC)

While the committee reports cite this as a "belt-tightening" measure, we feel this will cost the state far more than it will save: both in terms of the loss of federal funding for coastal programs; and in the long-term through the loss of our state's most precious land and ocean resources. These resources form the basis of not only our way of life, but also of Hawaii's continued economic viability through its ocean-based industries and its ability to continue to attract tourists to pristine and safe island settings.

As this bill passed out of the Senate today (3/10/2009, by a vote of 19-6) to the House, I humbly ask you all, individually and on behalf of your respective organizations, to examine the measure. If you deem it appropriate, please provide testimony if and when the bill is heard by the House (referral is expected to the Water, Lands and Ocean Resources Committee). Of course, you can also directly contact your Legislative representatives to share your thoughts and concerns.

Bills and Hearings effecting Coral Reefs

2009-01-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

Subject: FW: ANNOUNCEMENT: DLNR Public Info Meetings on Possible Fishing Regulations

FYI folks.

Not sure if you've been keeping up with the legislature-- but there are a
lot of things being proposed. The announcement below has dates & time for
public input on some of the fishing stuff. Also-- check out the list below.
Go to the www.capitol.hawaii.gov and download or I can send to you.

HB 191 -- Enhances the regulation of aquarium aquatic life collection in the
State.
HB 543-- Enhances the regulation of aquarium aquatic life collection in the
State.
HB 565 -- Enhances the regulation of aquarium aquatic life collection in the
State.
SB 75 -- Establishes limits on the kinds of aquatic life that may be
collected for aquariums
SB 274 - Enhances the regulation of aquarium aquatic life collection in the
State
SB 247 -- Bans the use of lay gill nets over a certain size for fishing;
HB 729-- Prohibit the killing of Manta Rays
HB 366 --Prohibit the killing of Manta Rays
SB 394 -- Prohibit the killing of Manta Rays
HB 1298-- Parrotfish and Goatfish
SB 378 -- Parrotfish and Goatfish
SB 247 -- Lay Gill Nets
HB 583 -- Opihi
SB 1 -- Opihi

-----Original Message-----
Subject: ANNOUNCEMENT: DLNR Public Info Meetings on Possible Fishing
Regulations

January 27, 2009
DLNR Public Info Meetings on Possible Fishing Regulations

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) invites the public to
participate in informational meetings to discuss possible regulations for
certain marine fish species.

The public discussion will center on using minimum size rules to protect
harvested resource fish that may be at risk of being over harvested, and
will focus on at least three main fish families that the DLNR feels may be
in need of updated regulations. They are: Parrotfish (uhu), Goatfish (weke),
and Jacks (ulua/papio). The Division of Aquatic Resources has not yet
drafted rule changes.

The schedule of upcoming meetings is:

Hilo- January 27 (Tuesday) from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the County of Hawai'i
Aupuni conference room at 101 Pauahi St.

Windward O'ahu - January 29 (Thursday) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Castle High
School cafeteria, 45-386 Kane'ohe Bay Drive.

Kaua'i - January 30 (Friday) from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kaua'i Community
College, Electronics Technology building, room 114.

Kona - February 3 (Tuesday) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Kealakehe High School
library, 74-5000 Puohulihuli St., in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i.

Honolulu - February 5 (Thursday) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Kawananakoa
Middle School cafeteria, 49 Funchal St.

Honolulu - February 12 (Thursday) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Waimalu
Elementary School cafeteria, 98-825 Moanalua Rd.

Leeward O'ahu - February 19 (Thursday) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Wai'anae
Public Library meeting room, 85-625 Farrington Hwy.

Meetings have already been held on Maui and Kaua'i.

The Division of Aquatic Resources plans to hold similar meetings on other
islands, and those dates and locations will be announced at a later time.

For more information contact Division of Aquatic Resources offices at: Maui
(808) 243-5294; Hawai'i (808) 974-6201, Kaua'i (808) 274-3344; Honolulu
(808) 587-0100; Moloka'i/Lana'i (808) 567-3778.

McCain supports French firm at expense of American Industry

2008-06-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

The Government Accountability Office gave American workers and the principle of fairness a victory when it ruled that that a multibillion-dollar Air Force tanker contract was improperly awarded to a consortium that included the French company EADS, makers of Airbus, and was backed by Sen. John McCain.

SB2646 Urban Sprawl Bill

2008-05-04T12:38:00.000-07:00

A list of all legislators and how they voted on SB 2646 with their phone numbers is at the bottom (or here).

Here's a wrapup of the legislature's efforts on environmental measures from the Honolulu Advertiser.

Support Solar Roof Bill

2008-04-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Aloha Friend of the environment:We really need your help. We have good news and bad news. The good news is the solar roofs bill (SB 644) passed out of conference committee late last Friday night. The final vote is this Thursday (May 1), the last day of session. The bad news? The House, in the most brazen political power play, forced the Senate to accept the farmland urbanization ploy (SB 2646) in return for the solar roofs bill. Now House leadership plans to hold the solar bill hostage on the final day of the session unless they get their pro-development bill passed.
Maddening, isn't it? Let's not let them get away with it. Your voice counts, so please take a second and make some calls or send an email. The list of legisators that need to hear from you is below. The simple message is "Please vote YES on solar roofs (SB 644) and NO on farmland urbanization (SB 2646)."
If you haven't made a call or sent an email yet this session, now is your best opportunity to influence the outcome. THE NEXT 48 HOURS ARE CRITICAL. PLEASE CALL/EMAIL TODAY.
CALL: Your legislator or any of those listed below. Call 'em all, if you can. Calls now are very important.
EMAIL: Click here for an email to key legislators (if that link doesn't work, try this one). Or email them individually from the list below.
ATTEND: Thursday's vote. The floor sessions at the Capitol should start around 10am.
Briefly, the solar roofs bill (SB 644) would require that all new homes starting in 2010 have solar hot water heaters installed, with a few exceptions. The bill also requires the development of standards to govern the quality and performance of systems installed. More details here.
The farmland urbanization bill (SB 2646) allows large landowners to urbanize a portion of their land in exchange for designating a percentage as “important agricultural land.” The bill also provides a corporate bailout to former plantations and large landowners and essentially provides state support for further water diversions. For example, should SB 2646 pass, Alexander & Baldwin could receive state tax dollars to finance their legal efforts to take water from East Maui taro farmers.
The key senators who can stop the farmland urbanization bill are:
NAME
PHONE
EMAIL
BAKER, Rosalyn (D)
586-6070
mailto:senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov
CHUN OAKLAND, Suzanne (D)
586-6130
mailto:senchunoakland@capitol.hawaii.gov
ENGLISH, J. Kalani (D)
587-7225
senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov
ESPERO, Will (D)
586-6360
senespero@capitol.hawaii.gov
FUKUNAGA, Carol (D)
586-6890
senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov
GABBARD, Mike (D)
586-6830
sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov
HANABUSA, Colleen (D)
586-7793
senhanabusa@capitol.hawaii.gov
IGE, David Y. (D)
586-6230
sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov
INOUYE, Lorraine R. (D)
586-7335
seninouye@capitol.hawaii.gov
KIM, Donna Mercado (D)
587-7200
mailto:senkim@capitol.hawaii.gov
KOKUBUN, Russell S. (D)
586-6760
senkokubun@capitol.hawaii.gov
MENOR, Ron (D)
586-6740
senmenor@capitol.hawaii.gov
NISHIHARA, Clarence (D)
586-6970
sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
SAKAMOTO, Norman (D)
586-8585
sensakamoto@capitol.hawaii.gov
TANIGUCHI, Brian T. (D)
586-6460
sentaniguchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
TOKUDA, Jill N. (D)
587-7215
sentokuda@capitol.hawaii.gov
TSUTSUI, Shan S. (D)
586-7344
sentsutsui@capitol.hawaii.gov
So who crafted this deal to force the pro-development bill? If you want to know, it's House leadership:Speaker Calvin Say, 586-6100Rep. Kirk Caldwell, 586-8475Rep. Pono Chong, 586-9490Rep. Blake Oshiro, 586-6340
Tell them this is unacceptable. Bills should be supported or rejected on their merits. We don't have the patience for ridiculous political gameplaying like this. Here are the other House members who need to hear from us:
NAME
PHONE
EMAIL
Awana, Karen Leinani (D)
586-8465
repawana@capitol.hawaii.gov
Bertram, Joe, III (D)
586-8525
repbertram@capitol.hawaii.gov
Brower, Tom (D)
586-8520
repbrower@capitol.hawaii.gov
Cabanilla, Rida T. R. (D)
586-6080
repcabanilla@capitol.hawaii.gov
Chang, Jerry L. (D)
586-6120
repchang@capitol.hawaii.gov
Ching, Corinne W.L. (R)
586-9415
repching@capitol.hawaii.gov
Evans, Cindy (D)
586-8510
repevans@capitol.hawaii.gov
Finnegan, Lynn (R)
586-9470
repfinnegan@capitol.hawaii.gov
Green, Josh, M.D. (D)
586-9605
repgreen@capitol.hawaii.gov
Hanohano, faye P. (D)
586-6530
rephanohano@capitol.hawaii.gov
Har, Sharon (D)
586-8500
rephar@capitol.hawaii.gov
Herkes, Robert N. (D)
586-8400
repherkes@capitol.hawaii.gov
Ito, Ken (D)
586-8470
repito@capitol.hawaii.gov
Karamatsu, Jon Riki (D)
586-8490
repkaramatsu@capitol.hawaii.gov
Lee, Marilyn B. (D)
586-9460
replee@capitol.hawaii.gov
Magaoay, Michael Y. (D)
586-6380
repmagaoay@capitol.hawaii.gov
Manahan, Joey (D)
586-6010
repmanahan@capitol.hawaii.gov
Marumoto, Barbara C. (R)
586-6310
repmarumoto@capitol.hawaii.gov
McKelvey, Angus (D)
586-6160
repmckelvey@capitol.hawaii.gov
Mizuno, John (D)
586-6050
repmizuno@capitol.hawaii.gov
Nakasone, Bob (D)
586-6210
repnakasone@capitol.hawaii.gov
Nishimoto, Scott Y. (D)
586-8515
repnishimoto@capitol.hawaii.gov
Oshiro, Marcus R. (D)
586-6200
repmoshiro@capitol.hawaii.gov
Pine, Kimberly (R)
586-9730
reppine@capitol.hawaii.gov
RHOADS, Karl (D)
586-6180
reprhoads@capitol.hawaii.gov
SAGUM, Roland D., III (D)
586-6280
repsagum@capitol.hawaii.gov
Shimabukuro, Maile S. L. (D)
586-8460
repshimabukuro@capitol.hawaii.gov
Sonson, Alex M. (D)
586-6520
repsonson@capitol.hawaii.gov
Takai, K. Mark (D)
586-8455
reptakai@capitol.hawaii.gov
Takamine, Dwight Y. (D)
586-6680
reptakamine@capitol.hawaii.gov
Takumi, Roy M. (D)
586-6170
reptakumi@capitol.hawaii.gov
Tokioka, James Kunane (D)
586-6270
reptokioka@capitol.hawaii.gov
Tsuji, Clift (D)
586-8480
reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov
Wakai, Glenn (D)
586-6220
repwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov
Ward, Gene, Ph.D. (R)
586-6420
repward@capitol.hawaii.gov
Waters, Tommy (D)
586-9450
repwaters@capitol.hawaii.gov
Yamane, Ryan I. (D)
586-6150
repyamane@capitol.hawaii.gov
Yamashita, Kyle T. (D)
586-6330
repyamashita@capitol.hawaii.gov

Information above is provided by the Sierra Club

Jessica Wooley for House

2008-04-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

Jessica Wooley is running for the House of Representatives from Windward Oahu. To see her website click here.

What do you know about her. I only know what I see on her website, but from that she looks like an excellant candidate.

Bill Sager

Constitutional Convention

2008-04-21T09:53:00.000-07:00

In November, the voters will be asked if there should be a Constitutional Convention.

This will be an important and far reaching vote.

This website has been set up to aide in the discussion.

http://www.hawaiiconcon.org/

Leg update from Sierra Club

2008-04-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

For more information on these and other pending measures, please see www.hi.sierraclub.org/capitol.

Solar on Every New House (SB 644)
We are very close to passing a bill that requires solar water heating on each new roof. Such a law would result in substantially reduce the carbon footprint of new construction--and save the homeowners money from day 1. The Building Industry Association and developers, however, are lobbying hard to stop this bill. We need to show legislators that this common sense policy should become law today. For more information on the solar bill, please visit our site, or read a story on the bill from the Advertiser.

Click here to email the key decision makers. Individual legislators listed below.

What to say:
I support legislation to make solar a standard feature on all new homes. With oil over $100 per barrel and the impacts of climate change already being felt in Hawai‘i, every home in Hawai‘i should be using the sun to heat water and more. Senate Bill 644 is a critical step in securing Hawaii’s energy future, reducing our contribution to global climate change, and improving the affordability of housing in Hawai‘i. Although environmentally friendly solar water heaters save homeowners money, the majority of new homes in sunny Hawai`i use fossil fuels to heat their water—despite the ease of installing them when the house is under construction. SB644 is a common sense policy requiring developers to have the long-term interest of new home buyers in mind.
Mahalo.

Rep. Kyle Yamashita: 586-6330 ((Maui toll free 984-2400 + 66330), repyamashita@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Carol Fukunaga: 586-6890, senfukunaga@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Marcus Oshiro: 586-6200, repmoshiro@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Roz Baker: 586-6070 (Maui toll free 984-2400 + 66070), senbaker@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senator Ron Menor: 586-6740, senmenor@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Maile Shimabukuro: 586-8460, repshimabukuro@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senate President Colleen Hanabusa: 586-7793, senhanabusa@Capitol.hawaii.gov
House Speaker Calvin Say: 586-6100, repsay@Capitol.hawaii.gov

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protect Hawaii's Farmland, Help stop SB 546

Give away the farm. That’s what Senate Bill 546 proposes to do. By giving large landowners a new option to bypass the public review process and gain urban development rights on 20% of their property in return for naming 80% of the land as “Important Agricultural Land,” this measure paves the way for urban development on farmland. For nearly 50 years Hawaii's state land use laws have assured careful consideration is exercised before agricultural land and open space is converted to urban subdivisions. As development pressure continues to increase, and lands needed to provide our people with food and energy are being lost to speculation, we need to be even more careful about which lands are designated for urbanization.

Click here to email the key decision makers. Individual legislators listed below.

What to say:
I strongly oppose SB 546. Please do not pass any legislation that facilitates the urbanization of farmlands or reduces public oversight of the land use process. Now, more than ever, we need to carefully consider any proposal to urbanize agricultural land. The environmental and public review systems should not be side-stepped to hasten urbanization. The legislature should do what it has been ordered to do by law for decades – designate and protect important agricultural lands. Vote “no” on SB 546. We do not support this giant step backward in farmland protection. Mahalo.

House Speaker Calvin Say: 586-6100, repsay@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Ken Ito: 586-8470, repito@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Sen. Jill Tokuda: 587-7215, sentokuda@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Sen. Clayton Hee: 586-7330, senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Rep. Clift Tsuji: 586-8480 (Big Island toll-free: 974-4000 + 68480), reptsuji@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Sen. Russell Kokubun: 586-6760 (Big Island toll-free: 974-4000 + 66760), senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Senate President Colleen Hanabusa: 586-7793, senhanabusa@Capitol.hawaii.gov

HB 2863

2008-04-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

Aloha,

It is urgent that you call your legislator and say, don't kill
democracy by passing HB 2863 as drafted by Castle and Cooke.

,

Castle and Cooke has proposed that DBEDT and DBEDT alone should
have the power to approve any renewable energy project that
claims they will build a 200MW facility, regardless of the size
they really will build.

DBEDT can override all state and county agencies, run rough-shot
over the public, and fast track the approval so fast that they
approve it before the EIS is completed, that is, approve it
pending their acceptance of the Final EIS.

All public participation is killed. All public hearings are
dead. There is no contested case hearing. There is alleged
county approval but DBEDT can override any objection.

Biofuel facilities are included as long as the developer first
claims to be building a truly massive facility.

Castle and Cooke wants all public participation and review of
their project to be eliminated.

One person alone, the Director of DBEDT, can override everybody
and everything in his way.

RAM RAM RAM

Castle and Cooke = Death of Democracy

HB_2863_HB3_SD3_Castle_and_Cooke_Proposed_CD1

Henry

-- Henry Curtis, Executive Director, Life of the Land, 76 N.
King Street, Suite 203, Honolulu, HI 96817. phone: 808-533-3454.
cell: 808-927-0709. Web Site:
http://www.lifeofthelandhawaii.org/
email:henry.lifeoftheland@gmail.com

Energy impacts on Hawaii

2008-04-13T20:49:00.000-07:00

This is an excellant site to keep current on Ocean Policies related to Hawaii. The current article describes the impact of fuel prices on Hawaii's economy.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/hawaiioceanspolicy/

Critical Habitat Designation Hawaiian picture-wing flies

2008-04-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

Aloha, everyone! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is holding
public hearings and taking public comments on the revised
proposed critical habitat for 12 threatened and endangered
Hawaiian picture-wing fly species. Copies of the proposed
critical habitat rule are at http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/.
For more information, contact Patrick Leonard at the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service in Honolulu: 792-9400 or fax 792-9581

Please testify at the public hearing on April 8 (Hilo) or April
10 (Honolulu), and submit written comments by April 25, 2008.
Support the revised and expanded critical habitat designation
for threatened and endangered Hawaiian picture-wing flies.
Oppose the exclusion of military lands on O’ahu from the
proposed critical habitat. (See Talking Points below.) Sorry for
the short notice. Mahalo nui!

Public Hearings

Tuesday, April 8 Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Mala ‘Ikena Room, 71
Banyan Drive in Hilo, 5-6:30 pm informational session; 7-8:30 pm
public hearing

Thursday, April 10 Queen Kapi'olani Hotel, Queen's Room, 2nd
Floor, 150 Kapahulu Avenue, 5-6:30 pm informational session;
7-8:30 pm public hearing

Written Comments

Please submit written comments by April 25, 2008

* Via email and the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
http://www.regulations.gov (follow instructions for submitting
comments)

* Via snail mail to Public Comments Processing Attn: RIN
1018-AU93 Division of Policy and Directives Management U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service 4401 N Fairfax Dr., Ste. 222
Arlington, VA 22203

Talking Points

* Support the increased critical habitat for the Hawaiian
picture-wing flies.

* Oppose exclusion of military land in proposed critical habitat
designation.

* The military should be held to the same standards as other
federal agencies.

* All federal agencies have a mandatory duty to conserve
endangered species.

* Live-fire training, maneuvers, and control burns threaten
endangered species and their habitat.

* There is no guarantee that the Integrated Natural Resource
Management Plan (INRMP) for O’ahu Army land will be funded
adequately or permanently and therefore benefit the endangered
picture-wings specifically.

* Ask the Fish and Wildlife Service to provide information on
the occurrence of picture wings and the plants they need to
survive on Army lands.

* Ask the Fish and Wildlife Service to provide information
supporting its finding that the INRMP will benefit the
endangered picture-wings and that the exclusion of Army land
from the critical habitat designation is justified.

Background

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently seeks public
comment on a revised proposal for critical habitat for 12
species of threatened and endangered picture-wing flies in
Hawai’i. Critical habitat is defined as areas that are necessary
to recover the species and which may require special management
or protection.

Some critical habitat for the endangered picture-wings is on
military land on O’ahu. Yet, in 2004, the military received a
special exemption from the federal Endangered Species Act and,
in particular, from critical habitat designation. The result in
this case is that Army lands in the Mount Ka’ala and
Lihu’e/Schofield Barracks area on O’ahu are excluded from the
proposed critical habitat. Military live-fire training,
maneuvers, control burns, and other related activities are among
the biggest threats to endangered Hawaiian species and their
habitat.

Interesting Facts

Picture-wing flies are endangered and unique to Hawai’i. Some
species are found in one valley or mountain. They are considered
to be a wonder of evolution.

As endangered species they require the protection of critical
habitat to help ensure their recovery. This means restricting
activities that may harm the survival of the species and
activities that would destroy or adversely modify critical
habitat.

Julie MacDonald, the ex-Deputy Secretary of Interior for the
FWS, was a pro-industry official, with no real conservation
background, who actually tampered with the findings and
interfered with scientists’ recommendations resulting in easing
environmental protection for endangered species. MacDonald was
forced to resign in disgrace after an investigation exposed the
extent of her abuses.

Several proposed critical habitat designations around the
country are being reevaluated in light of the MacDonald matter,
including the proposal for the Hawaiian picture-wings. The
initial proposed critical habitat for the flies was an
arbitrarily chosen mere 18 acres. The revised proposed critical
habitat is for 9,238 acres!

Two species of these endangered picture-wings are found on
military-occupied lands on O’ahu. But in 2004 the military got a
special exemption from critical habitat designations if it has
an Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP) that
benefits the species for which critical habitat is being
proposed.

Critical habitat for the picture-wings on Army lands in the Mt.
Ka’ala-Lihu’e/Schofield Barracks area on O’ahu is excluded from
the proposed critical habitat designation because the Army has
an INRMP for O’ahu. However, the mere existence of an INRMP does
ensure species recovery. Adequate funding, adequate staff, and
political will are essential to species recovery. We do not
support Congress’s broad military exemption from critical
habitat designation.

From: Marjorie Zigler, Conservation Council for Hawaii.

Ethanol demand and fuel costs drives up food prices worldwide

2008-04-01T06:04:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times leads with a follow up to the World Food Program's recent emergency appeal for more money and takes a look at how the worldwide phenomenon of rising food prices is leading to more hunger and food shortages. The WFP director calls it "a perfect storm" because not only does it cost much more for the agency to continue its current programs, but the number of people who need help is continuously increasing.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-food1apr01,1,5014433.story

Ho'opili community

2008-03-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

The public has until Friday to weigh in on the draft report for the proposed Ho'opili community on what's now 1,555 acres of active farm land in the heart of West O'ahu.

With up to 11,750 homes, Ho'opili would carve out a community the size of Mililani or Hawai'i Kai bordered by Waipahu to the east, 'Ewa to the south, Kapolei to the west and Makakilo and Kunia to the north.

Critics point to an already congested travel corridor that they believe will only get worse as other developers continue to fill in new homes in booming communities surrounding Ho'opili. They also decry the notion of displacing Aloun Farms and other farmers from what the state Department of Agriculture has defined as prime farming lands.

Leave your comments here and contact:
D.R. Horton-Schuler Division
828 Fort Street Mall, Ste 4
Honolulu, HI 96813

(808) 521-5661
www.drhortonhawaii.com

SB 2841 large stores take back HI-5

2008-03-31T05:49:00.000-07:00

Could you make a call today to help us pass a critical recycling bill? The House Finance Committee has yet to hold a hearing on SB 2841, a measure that requires large stores to participate in taking back HI-5 bottles and cans.

Please ask Chair Marcus Oshiro and Vice Chair Marilyn Lee to hear the bill and pass it out of committee.
Chair Marcus Oshiro: 586-6200, repmoshiro@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Vice Chair Marilyn Lee: 586-9460, replee@Capitol.hawaii.gov

HB 2518 and SB 2198

2008-03-27T23:19:00.000-07:00

Hello all.

HB 2518 and SB 2198 are both still alive and awaiting their final hearings in the Senate Ways & Means Committee (WAM) and the House Finance Committee (FIN), respectively. Both bills are in pretty good shape though they have a few minor differences. As is often the case, the Senate put its provisions into the House bill, and the House put its provisions into the Senate bill.

Please consider dropping a note or leaving a phone message for the WAM and FIN chairs encouraging them to hear these bills:

Senator Rosalyn Baker, Chair, Senate Committee on Ways and Means senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov (808) 586-6070 - ask for a hearing on HB2518 Relating to Land Conservation
Represenative Marcus Oshiro, Chair, House Committee on Finance reposhiro@capitol.hawaii.gov (808) 586-6200 - ask for a hearing on SB2198 Relating to Land Conservation

The bills have until next Thursday (4/3) to get a hearing in WAM and FIN. If even one of the bills gets through this last committee hearing and passes back to its originating body, this will set up a joint House-Senate conference committee process to work out differences in the bills.

Here are links to review the bills' progress to date:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus.asp?query=HB2518&currpage=1&showstatus=on&showtext=on&showcommrpt=on&showtestimony=on
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus.asp?query=SB2198&currpage=1&showstatus=on&showtext=on&showcommrpt=on&showtestimony=on

The biggest challenge this legislation will face is the diminished State revenue projections. Any tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in State revenues. In this economic climate, the Legislature and the WAM and FIN committees are scrutinizing all expenditures and revenue reducing actions.

Of course, other states have experienced significant savings from this kind of legislation while achieving their land preservation goals, e.g., tax credits for conservation easements are exponentially less costly to the State than buying fee titles and managing land itself.

Here again is a Q&A that describes the relevant points of this legislation.

Thank you again for your help in this process,

Mark

Mark Fox
Director of External Affairs
The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i
923 Nuuanu Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96817
ph (808) 537-4508
fax (808) 545-2019
mfox@tnc.org

2008-03-27T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Clean Water Act of 1972 implemented broad federal protections for all our nation's waters. But misguided Supreme Court rulings in 2001 and 2006 opened the door for polluters to contaminate various waters that had previously been protected – putting the drinking water for millions at risk!

Now, Congress has an opportunity to restore the original protections of the Clean Water Act with the Clean Water Restoration Act.

Contact your Members of Congress TODAY to insist that they support the Clean Water Restoration Act.

This legislation may seem like a no-brainer, but House and Senate Members are under pressure from developers and corporate polluters to allow them to continue to contaminate our precious water supplies.

The following is talking points you can use when contacting legislators:

If enacted, the Clean Water Restoration Act would restore the scope of protections Congress intended when the Clean Water Act was written. It would:

1. Restore protections to drinking water at risk for contamination.
2. Streamline enforcement among Federal, state and local governments providing better protection of sensitive areas.
3. Help ensure water and wetlands used for recreation and animal habitats are kept free of contamination, disease and bacteria.

Representative Abercrombie is a co-sponsor of the bill. Thank him.

Our other Congressional Members can be reached at the following:
senator@akaka.senate.gov
senator@inouye.senate.gov
mazie.hirono@mail.house.gov

Bill Sager, ED, Hawaii Conservation Voters
bsager@hawaii.rr.com
375-1114

Opposition to Adoption of “Steel on Steel” Rail Technology

2008-03-19T17:07:00.000-07:00

Citizens Against Noise of Hawaii
P. O. Box 270705 Honolulu, HI 96827
Honolulu City Council Public Hearing
Bill 80, CD1 and FD1

March 19, 2008

Testimony in Strong Opposition to Adoption of “Steel on Steel” Rail Technology

Honorable Chair Marshall and City Council Members:

Citizens Against Noise of Hawaii "CAN" asks you to carefully weigh the noise impacts
that proposed rail technologies will have on our health, quality of life, jobs and
businesses.

A study conducted for the European Union in its assessment of the impact of rail vs.
other modes of transport states that "rail transport shows a good environmental
performance except for noise costs which dominate the results for all rail transport."
We believe that noise factors were not given sufficient priority or study by the Expert
Panel when they selected "steel on steel" vs. the competing technologies. According to
the EU Study*, noise can have a damaging effect on human health by contributing to
"myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, hypertension, and sleep disturbance."
We live on an Island and many of us will never be very far from a rail line if one is built.
The rail technology decision must weigh the cost to our health and well being as well as
to our jobs and businesses, many of which depend on tourism.

According to the "Wheel/Rail Noise Control Manual" prepared by the Transportation
Research Board for the US Department of Transportation in 1997, the high-frequency
sound level of over 1,000 Hz from steel wheels on steel rails is not effectively abated by
sound barrier walls, berms, or sound absorbing materials like plants. This means that
once the decision is made to use "steel on steel" technology there will be no remedy.
Capital and operating cost efficiency and reliability are important, but the recommending
committee fell short by minimizing or ignoring socio-environmental factors and external
factors such as public health, jobs and tourism over the long term. Transportation
solution alternatives that offer, or combine, rubber tires or technologies other than “steel
on steel” offer a quieter option, but these now seem to be off the table.

Therefore in the public interest, and before any decision is made, we respectfully urge
the City Council to authorize a more thorough and meaningful study of the technology
alternatives by comparing noise mapping studies of the competing technologies in the
urban and suburban environments along the transportation corridor, from Kapolei to
Aloha Tower to Manoa. We also suggest that "tourist friendly" be one of your noise
review criteria.

This would help encourage ridership outside the commute hours, thus absorbing capital
and operating costs, and making attractions like Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Waters and the
Pearl City and Waikele malls easier to visit.

In summary, we strongly encourage you to withhold your ratification of any technology
recommendation until a more complete study of the health and socio-economic factors
are fully weighed. Today we are at a critical crossroad, and CAN believes that newer,
quieter alternatives are better for our neighborhoods, our homes and our people than
past century/millennium retrofits.

Any new transportation system must serve Oahu for many decades to come. Please
make a wise decision with the best long term solution, in the interest of the public’s
health and welfare and for the greater public good.

Executive Board
Citizens Against Noise of Hawaii
Cliff Montgomery, President
Mark Smith, Vice-President
Michelle S. Matson, Secretary
Steven L. Montgomery, PhD, Director
Kathleen Kelly, Director
Gary Holt, Director
Michael Mueller, Director
*European Commission (2003). External costs. Research results on socio-environmental
damages due to electricity and transport.(EUR 20198). p. 9 &15.

Information sources re Hawaii Trees and Weeds

2008-03-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

"Common Forest Trees of Hawaii: Native and Introduced" by Elbert
Little and Roger Skolmen has been the bible of Hawaii foresters since
it was published by the USDA Forest Service in 1989. We have now
posted all the individual tree chapters on our website:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/Data/Common_Trees_Hawaii.asp
These cover 152 common trees in Hawaii, from tree ferns to koa to
eucalyptus. The full book, reformatted for easier reading, is
available at cost from CTAHR; order blanks are available on the web at
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/PIO/ForSalePubsDetail.asp?id=2

We have also posted all 146 species profiles from CTAHR's "Weeds of
Hawaii's Pastures and Natural Areas" by Philip Motooka and others (2003):
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/Data/Weeds_Hawaii.asp
Each profile contains information on identification, distribution,
environmental impact, and chemical management of the most common
weeds in Hawaii. The printed book also features a visual key to aid
in identification and is for sale from CTAHR; order blanks are on the
web at URL
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/PIO/ForSalePubsDetail.asp?id=5

For safe and effective methods of using herbicides in pastures,
forests, and natural areas, see the free CTAHR publication
"Herbicidal Weed Control Methods for Pastures and Natural Areas in
Hawaii", URL http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/WC-8.pdf

Thanks to Jody Smith, who created the index pages to make these books
available.

We have updated our web page on koa wilt:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/Data/Pests_Diseases/koa_wilt.asp
New research from Nick Dudley and Aileen Yeh at HARC and cooperators
Bob James and Richard Sniezko of the US Forest Service has shown that
the situation is more complicated than we had at first thought, and
that several species of Fusarium are pathogenic on koa seedlings, not
only Fusarium oxysporum. Their report, "Pathogenicity of four
Fusarium species on Acacia koa seedlings", is available on the above website.

Sincerely,
J. B. Friday

________________________________________
J. B. Friday, PhD
Extension Forester
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
University of Hawaii at Manoa

2007 Conservation Conference Videos

2008-03-16T12:46:00.000-07:00

If you would like to see many of the presentaitons of the 2007 Conservation Conference, including the Ecosystem Services talks, just go to http://hawaiiconservation.org/2007HCCVideos.asp

Encouraging land oners to protect mauka land

2008-03-16T12:40:00.000-07:00

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF INCENTIVES TO PROMOTE LANDOWNER PROTECTION OF IMPORTANT MAUKA LANDS

PURPOSE

This final report complies with House Concurrent Resolution 200, House Draft 1 (HCR 200) of the 2006 Regular Session, which acknowledges the importance, in Hawai‘i and throughout the World, of protecting and preserving natural resources that in turn provide ecosystem services to the communities surrounding them. Through this concurrent resolution, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) was directed to “conduct an analysis of local, national, and international incentive programs that promote landowner protection of important mauka lands and recognize the public benefits of the ecosystem services provided by those lands.” Furthermore DLNR was asked to generate ideas and recommendations, in consultation with relevant parties, to support effective stewardship of Hawaii’s diverse mauka lands, including intact forest, open woodlands, and pasture lands.

DLNR organized a project steering committee to aid in research, organization, and discussion related to this resolution. This Committee is committed to continuing to work on recommendations found in this report and suggest that this needed effort be continue and named the BEST Project - Benefits from Ecosystem Services Tomorrow.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Over half of the lands in Hawai‘i are privately owned and mauka lands, including intact forests, open woodlands, and pasture lands, and provide a significant amount of “ecosystem services,” that support all of Hawaii’s residents and visitors. These services include the delivery of clean drinking water, carbon sequestration that stabilizes the climate, components and plans for cultural practices, opportunities for recreation, and many others. These lands also play a critical role in supporting Hawaii’s unique native plants and animals. Therefore, it is essential to provide solid stewardship incentives for private landowners, especially for mauka lands that are critical in ecosystem service production.

While mauka lands provide life-supporting services of immense economic and cultural value, these services are often insufficiently monitored and undervalued in land use decisions. The responsibilities and costs associated with the production of ecosystem services fall largely upon mauka landowners, despite the broad benefits that accrue to the public. With over half of the land in Hawai‘i privately owned, there is a critical need to provide an array of incentives that meet the diverse situations of landowners to ensure a secure supply of ecosystem services for current and future generations.

The overall goal of this final report is to catalyze a major shift in the way we value natural capital and the ecosystem services it provides. The report is meant to implement a change in the way we look at the environment; not solely as a “free good” but rather promoting the understanding that by nurturing ecosystems, we are ultimately providing long-term benefits for everyone. The question is how will we accomplish this vast vision in the State of Hawai‘i?

Included in this report are a number of specific recommendations for enhancing mauka landowner interest in land use practices that protect and promote ecosystem services. The body of the report contains recommendations for both state and county government as well as numerous supporting documents to provide greater detail to the context of the work.

The HCR 200 Project Steering Committee recommends the following key initiatives to promote private landowner support for conservation actions and to establish incentives for landowner action.

• Expand the use and effectiveness of landowner assistance programs by continuing state funded programs, and working closely with federal counterparts to ensure programs work well together. Key actions include removal and reduction of disincentives to participation, increasing landowner access to information, and providing favorable cost share or other financial support.

• Establish state tax credits for donated conservation easements and landowner-funded activities that promote conservation on private lands. The combination of existing federal tax benefits and proposed state tax credits will stimulate expanded conservation on mauka lands.

• Expand Use of Real Property Tax Incentives. Programs are needed to remove barriers for landowners by reducing the financial burden of holding land with high economic potential for development, while simultaneously providing public benefits in its current use. Counties are encouraged to develop preferential property tax programs that provide landowners with tax incentives for preserving agricultural, ranching, forest, and conservation lands

• Fund pilot projects to quantify and value ecosystem services provided by mauka lands. This will require embracing new technologies, expanding research, and implementing on-the-ground projects to demonstrate costs and benefits of societal investment in ecosystem services.

• Establish an array of market-based funding mechanisms for ecosystem services, including launching a Hawai‘i Fund for Conservation to link buyers and sellers of ecosystem services.

• Dedicate a position to coordinate efforts among government agencies, stakeholders and experts to implement multiple new ecosystem service projects. A dedicated position for these efforts can also facilitate interaction among other important initiatives such as biofuels and green house gas emission reductions.

• Continue a planning and advisory committee to develop and promote ecosystem services in the State of Hawai‘i under the auspices of the BEST Project – Benefits from Ecosystem Services Tomorrow.

By acting upon these recommendations, we can take necessary steps towards valuing and protecting Hawaii’s ecosystem services for current and future generations.

Attached to this report are numerous supporting documents expanding upon all the recommendations, ideas, and discussion points presented in this report. Each topic is meant to encourage the continuation of this worthy effort and the vision from which it was created.

Record arctic sea ice melt

2008-03-16T12:26:00.001-07:00

August 10, 2007
Analysts See 'Simply Incredible' Shrinking of Floating Ice in the Arctic
By ANDREW C. REVKIN
The area of floating ice in the Arctic has shrunk more this summer than in any other summer since satellite tracking began in 1979, and it has reached that record point a month before the annual ice pullback typically peaks, experts said yesterday.

The cause is probably a mix of natural fluctuations, like unusually sunny conditions in June and July, and long-term warming from heat-trapping greenhouse gases and sooty particles accumulating in the air, according to several scientists.

William L. Chapman, who monitors the region at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and posted a Web report on the ice retreat yesterday, said that only an abrupt change in conditions could prevent far more melting before the 24-hour sun of the boreal summer set in September. "The melting rate during June and July this year was simply incredible," Mr. Chapman said. "And then you've got this exposed black ocean soaking up sunlight and you wonder what, if anything, could cause it to reverse course."

Mark Serreze, a sea-ice expert at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colo., said his center's estimates differed somewhat from those of the Illinois team, and by the ice center's reckoning the retreat had not surpassed the satellite-era record set in 2005. But it was close even by the center's calculations, he said, adding that it is almost certain that by September, there will be more open water in the Arctic than has been seen for a long time. Ice experts at NASA and the University of Washington echoed his assessment.

Dr. Serreze said that a high-pressure system parked over the Arctic appeared to have caused a "triple whammy" - keeping away clouds, causing winds to carry warm air north and pushing sea ice away from Siberia, exposing huge areas of open water.

The progressive summertime opening of the Arctic has intensified a longstanding international tug of war over shipping routes and possible oil and gas deposits beneath the Arctic Ocean seabed.

Last week, Russians planted a flag on the seabed at the North Pole. On Wednesday, Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, began a tour of Canada's Arctic holdings, pledging "to vigorously protect our Arctic sovereignty as international interest in the region increases."

HCR 219

2008-03-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

There is conflict within those who have been working with Kawainui Marsh for decades.

SB 3206
RELATING TO KAWAI NUI MARSH.
Establishes the Kawai Nui marsh advisory council; appropriates moneys to DLNR for the work of the council.

HCR 219 requests the department of land and natural resources to regularly consult with Ho‘olaulima ia Kawai Nui to coordinate efforts to protect, preserve, and maintain the natural, cultural, and scenic resources of Kawai Nui Marsh.

Well respected people are pushing each approach to managing the Marsh. Everyone agrees that there needs to be community participation in the management of the marsh.

SB3206 sets up a formal, quasi-governmental organization that DLNR is required to support and listen to.

The resolution recommends DLNR take advise from a specific group, Hoolaulima, and sets up an organization that will advise DLNR concerning Marsh management.

From my point of view both the bill and the resolution have good features. They are complimentary. If the bill fails, the resolution is a backup. Testimony should support both efforts although if the bill passes the reso would not be appropriate.

The bottom line, we need a community organization which can influence the management of Kawainui Marsh. Both the bill and the reso are efforts to acomplish that.

Bill Sager

Solar on all new homes

2008-03-16T11:19:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine every new home built in Hawai'i with solar on the roof? We could make it happen if SB 644 passes. Please submit testimony in support of this measure before the next committee votes on it Tuesday (18th). Sample testimony is below. Some things to think about:

Solar water heaters make economic and environmental sense for most houses in Hawai'i. They can save a typical household over $600 on O'ahu, over $700 on Maui, $900 on the Big Island, and over $1000 on Kaua'i. They reduce the carbon footprint of a typical household by about 2.5 tons of greenhouse gas.
Despite the robust and healthy solar industry in Hawai'i, most new and existing homes lack solar water heaters. While efforts have been made to get builders to include them as a standard feature in new homes, most houses still are built without them. Take a look at some recent developments on O'ahu with hundreds of houses that lack solar here and here. Now here's a development with solar on every unit (Navy housing).
Both Spain and Israel mandate solar on each new residence. The Navy and Air Force have made it a standard feature on the new homes they build in Hawai'i.
For more information, please visit our site, or read a story on the bill from the Advertiser.
Please email your testimony to the EDB Committee (EDBtestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov) before Monday night. Here's a sample for ideas (please try to put in your own words--points for originality):

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & BUSINESS CONCERNS
Tuesday, March 18th, 8:45am
Testimony in Support of SB 644 SD3 HD1

Chair Yamashita and members of the Committee:
I strongly support SB 644 SD3 HD1, mandating that new homes come equipped with solar water heaters where practical. This measure is a critical step in securing Hawaii’s energy future, reducing our contribution to global climate change, and improving the affordability of housing in Hawai‘i. Although environmentally friendly solar water heaters save homeowners money, the vast majority of homes in Hawai`i use fossil fuels to heat their water. Even more surprising, the majority of new homes built in Hawai‘i also lack solar water heaters—despite the ease of installing them when the house is under construction. SB 644 SD3 is a common-sense policy to require that developers have the long-term interest of new home buyers in mind.

Sincerely,
Your name and address

If you want to send an email to the entire Committee with personal comments about the measure's importance, click here. Or contact the Chair and Vice Chair directly:
Chair Kyle Yamashita, phone 586-6330, email repyamashita@capitol.hawaii.gov
Vice Chair Glenn Wakai, phone 586-6220, email repwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov

Exempting Utilities from EIS

2008-03-16T11:17:00.000-07:00

Imagine exempting large (200+MW) biofuel, pumped storage, and wind projects and interisland electric transmission lines from public review. The state House passed the bill, and it is now before a triple committee hearing in the Senate.

Billionaire David Murdoch is proposing the state's third largest energy project (after HECO's Kahe and Waiau power plants) and wants to ram his proposed project down the throats of Hawai`i's residents.

Murdoch would build a 300-400MW wind farm on Lana`i and ship the energy to O`ahu via an undersea cable.

DBEDT would (a) review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement; (b) hold no hearings; (c) grant no contested case hearings; (d) adopt no rules; (e) have no criteria; and (f) decide all state and county permits (except for a county grading permit and, if necessary, a PUC Power Purchase Agreement).

The inter-island transmission line shall be exempt from a public hearing or contested case hearing.

The House Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection split on the bill. Rep Saiki raised serious objections, but the Chair prevailed. The Committee Report states: ''There are problems with this bill at all three levels of government. ... the time constraints placed on PUC may be unrealistic ... it is unclear whether any overriding state-wide imperative exists to justify superseding existing local control over the site selection of a proposed renewable energy facility. ... Nevertheless, upon further consideration, your Committees find that continued discussion on this measure might prove beneficial.''

testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Senator Ron Menor, Chair

Senator Gary L. Hooser, Vice Chair

COMMITTEE ON WATER AND LAND

Senator Clayton Hee, Chair

Senator Russell S. Kokubun, Vice Chair

COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Senator Lorraine R. Inouye, Chair

Senator Shan S. Tsutsui, Vice Chair

DATE: Tuesday, March 18, 2008

TIME: 2:45 p.m.

PLACE: Conference Room 414

HB 2863, HD2 Establishes a renewable energy facility siting process to expedite the review and action upon state and county permits necessary for the siting, development, construction, and operation of a renewable energy facility. (HB2863 HD2)

--
Henry Curtis, Executive Director, Life of the Land, 76 N. King Street, Suite 203, Honolulu, HI 96817. phone: 808-533-3454. cell: 808-927-0709. Web Site: http://www.lifeofthelandhawaii.org/ email:henry.lifeoftheland@gmail.com

Kawainui Marsh

2008-03-06T23:29:00.000-08:00

This is unfortunately a controversial issue withing the conservation community.

Linda Paul make an excellant arguement for supporting the resolution and opposing the bill. At the same time Dr. Burrows has put his heart and soul into Kawainui Marsh and is a strong supporter of the bill.

Here is Linda's comments:

Aloha all,

The Kawainui Marsh Advisory Council bill has passed out of the Senate and crossed over. It will be heard in the House. I have pasted in below the Committee report and SB 3206, SD2.
The bill is still fundamentally flawed and should be deferred until the next year:

It does not mandate that DLNR consult regularly with either the proposed Advisory Council or Ho`olaulima ia Kawainui for purposes of coordinating efforts to protect, preserve and maintain the natural and cultural resources of the Marsh.
It does not mandate that DNLR meet with either the AC or Ho`olaulima on a regular basis (i.e. quarterly) to review and assess the progress and programs pertaining to the Marsh.
It does not mandate that DLNR give recommendations by the AC or Ho`olaulima any serious consideration, nor does it contain a process by which the AC’s recommendations on DLNR submittals to the BLNR shall be incorporated into all final submittals and thereby become part of the public record.
By becoming a state-sponsored Advisory Council the bill will result in the slowing down of the process of creating visitor and education centers, restoring habitat, etc., because the AC will be subject to all the state sunshine and notice and comment requirements, and meetings will be subject to the willingness and availability of DLNR staff to schedule and hold them.
The bill lists four things, and only four things, that the AC can do, there is no catch-all phrase i.e. “including, but not limited to….”
The Advisory Council members in the bill do not fairly represent the many organizations that have contributed time, effort and funding to preserving the Marsh over the last 30 years:
Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi gets two of the 11 voting seats, the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club gets one, the Kailua Chamber of Commerce gets one, and every other seat is subject to the political process. The two “community representatives” could very well end up representing existing month-to-month permit holders in the Marsh who do not share Doc’s or Ho`olaulima’s vision.
There is no decision needed from an Advisory Council regarding the use of the $4 million from the federal government. That money was earmarked years ago for the waterbird habitat restoration project. The 3:1 match was/is available because it was/is for an Army Corps of Engineers 404 mitigation project for work the ACE did in the Marsh that resulted in a net loss of wetlands. What has been holding up construction of the ponds is, of course, the land transfer.

When the bill is set for its first hearing in the House, please send in testimony requesting that it be deferred.
I have attached the latest draft of the Ho`olaulima resolution, which I hope Jill and Pono will introduce.
Mahalo,
Linda

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2836

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3206
S.D. 2

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa
President of the Senate
Twenty-Fourth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2008
State of Hawaii

Madam:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3206, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO KAWAI NUI MARSH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide continued community participation in the preservation and protection of Kawai Nui marsh.

Specifically, this measure creates the Kawai Nui Marsh Advisory Council within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and it will consist of representatives of community and conservation groups and government entities. The council shall review and assist in updating the 1994 Kawai Nui Marsh master plan and facilitate the implementation of the master plan. The measure also requires the Council to enhance education and cultural awareness of the marsh and participate in the protection and preservation of its natural and cultural resources. The measure also appropriates an unspecified amount to support the work of the council.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the City and County of Honolulu, and one concerned individual. Testimony opposed to this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Audubon Society. Comments on this measure were submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the Kawai Nui Marsh is the largest remaining wetland in the State. Among its ecological treasures are primary habitats for a number of species of endemic and endangered Hawaiian birds. It addition, the Kawai Nui Marsh was designated a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention for the marsh's relationship to surrounding cultural sites.

Your Committee further finds that, despite advocacy and restoration efforts from many devoted community groups, the health of Kawai Nui Marsh has declined. Your Committee believes that the involvement of the community in the planning and implementation of programs in Kawai Nui Marsh is critical to maintain and increase public support for preserving this important wetland. Your Committee also believes that the creation of the Kawai Nui Marsh Advisory Council will engage government entities and community groups together in management of the marsh and will preserve and protect it for the future.

Upon further consideration, your Committee has amended this measure as follows:

(1) By clarifying that membership of the council shall include a representative of the Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks Division, rather than the Administrator; and

(2) By making technical nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3206, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3206, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

____________________________
ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair

Report Title:
Kawai Nui Marsh Advisory Council; Establishment; Appropriation

Description:
Establishes the Kawai Nui marsh advisory council; appropriates moneys to DLNR for the work of the council. (SB3206 SD2)

THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
3206
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
S.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO KAWAI NUI MARSH.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Kawai Nui marsh, encompassing approximately eight hundred thirty acres of land in Kailua, Oahu, is the State's largest remaining wetland and an ecological and cultural treasure. It has been identified by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as a primary habitat for endemic and endangered native Hawaiian birds such as the ‘alae ke‘oke‘o, ‘alae ‘ula, ae‘o, and koloa maoli. In 2005, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands designated Kawai Nui marsh a wetland of international importance in part due to the wetlands relationship to surrounding cultural sites.
Act 314, Session Laws of Hawaii 1990 (Act 314), directed the transfer to the State of that certain parcel owned by the city and county of Honolulu and bearing tax map key number 4‑2‑16:1, which encompasses the bulk of Kawai Nui marsh. The parties were unsuccessful in completing the transfer.
Since the passage of Act 314, the health of the marsh has declined significantly despite the advocacy and restoration efforts of community groups such as ‘Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi, Hawaii's Thousand Friends, the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club, Kailua Historical Society, Kawai Nui Heritage Foundation, and the Windward Ahupua‘a Alliance.
Act 235, Session Laws of Hawaii 2007, again addressed the transfer of this parcel to the State, and the city and county of Honolulu is currently in negotiations with the State to complete the transfer of title.
The purpose of this Act is to ensure continued community participation in the preservation, protection, and future vision for Kawai Nui marsh.
SECTION 2. Chapter 171, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§171‑ Kawai Nui marsh advisory council. (a) There is established a Kawai Nui marsh advisory council, to be placed within the department of land and natural resources for administrative purposes only. The advisory council shall consist of eleven voting members appointed by the governor in accordance with section 26-34, and six ex-officio members as follows:
(1) One representative from ‘Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi or their designee;
(2) One representative from the Kailua Chamber of Commerce;
(3) Four representatives from environmental or educational nonprofit organizations;
(4) Two cultural representatives appointed by the Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and ‘Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi;
(5) Two community representatives;
(6) One landowner representative;
(7) Five ex-officio members representing the United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the department of land and natural resources forestry and wildlife division, the department of land and natural resources state parks division, and the city and county of Honolulu; and
(8) One ex-officio member who is a student representative from a Kailua area school as selected by a high school council.
(b) Each member representing an organization shall be appointed by the director or other chief executive of the member's organization within days following July 1, 2008. The members of the advisory council shall not receive compensation for their service but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel expenses, incurred in their duties relating to the advisory council.
(c) A chairperson shall be elected annually by the council from among the council's voting members; provided that:
(1) Only a nongovernmental member shall be elected as chairperson; and
(2) No member may serve as chairperson for more than two consecutive years.
(d) Six voting members shall constitute a quorum to do business and any action taken by the advisory council shall be validated by a simple majority of the quorum.
(e) The Kawai Nui marsh advisory council shall:
(1) Review and assist in updating and revising the 1994 Kawai Nui marsh master plan, which should consider the Hamakua wetlands, adjacent waterways that enter into Kawai Nui marsh from Maunawili and Kapa‘a valleys and flow into Kailua Bay;
(2) Facilitate implementation of the master plan;
(3) Enhance community education and cultural awareness of Kawai Nui marsh; and
(4) Participate in the protection and preservation of Kawai Nui marsh's natural and cultural resources."
SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 to support the work of the Kawai Nui marsh advisory council, including the revising of the 1994 Kawai Nui Marsh Master Plan.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2008.

Crossover Bill Status

2008-03-02T09:37:00.000-08:00

At cross over any bill that doesn't move to the other legislative body is dead. That doesn't necessarily mean that the issue is dead, because it may be alive in a bill that did crossover. All bills which are still alive will face a new round of hearings and bills that survive hearings will then have to be refined by a committee of both bodies into a finaly form that will go for votes on the House and Senate floor. A final hurdle is the Governor's Office where a bill may be vetoed or funding may be held up.

If you have a bill you are particularly concerned with, now is the time to intensify your efforts.

The governor's controversial proposal to buy the Turtle Bay
Resort is still afloat. It crossed over, although many lawmakers are skeptical of
its feasibility, simply because legislators wanted to keep the discussion alive. If you believe Malaikahana should be preserved from development, this is a particularly important bill to track.

Bills that are crossing over include:

Energy initiatives included a proposal to reduce the state's
greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, as well as a
measure that would require all Hawai'i residents to begin
phasing out the use of incandescent lights, replacing them with
compact fluorescent or light-emitting diodes.

Proposals to better prevent the spread of invasive species arose
following the controversial launch of the Hawaii Superferry,
which faced criticism that it would facilitate the spread of
foreign plants and animals from one island to another.

Measures to require takebacks at the big box stores, some good
energy bills, such as the lighting standard and increasing
funding for the greenhouse gas task force are still alive.

Some bills have failed to pass out of one body but are still alive in the other:

House version of a bill that would have required big box
retailers to redeem deposit beverage containers won't be sent to
the Senate, but the Senate's version could get a new hearing in
the House.

The demise in the House of a bill that would have removed limits
on corporate campaign contributions now shifts attention to the
Senate's version, which remains alive.

While major legislation remains alive, this week's crossover
deadline is more likely to sound the death knell for more
controversial issues, such as a ban on smoking in parks and
beaches.

Bills that where held in committee but still have a live version are particularly important to testify on because if a committee chair blocked a bill they are likely to block the crossover version as well.

Kawainui Advisory Council

2008-02-26T12:57:00.000-08:00

Aloha kakou,

Senate Bill 3206 to establish a Kawainui Advisory Council is scheduled for a
public decision making in the Ways and Means (WAM) committee on Tuesday,
February 26, 2008 at 10:00 am in Conference Room 211.

Ahahui Malama I ka Lokahi has publicly supported this bill because we
believe that this legislative mandated Kawainui/Kailua Ahupua'a Advisory
Council will be more effective in putting into immediate action oriented
projects to conserve and restore the long neglected Kawainui Marsh
ecological and cultural restoration projects that have languished for the
past 30 years. It will consist of a 11 membership council that will enable
both community NGOs partnering with governmental agencies that will have the
State legislative, administrative and DLNR powers and appropriations to make
things happen for the welfare of the common good in the Kailua Ahupua'a. The
Kawainui Advisory Council will work closely with a larger and inclusive
Ho'olaulima ia Kawainui Coalition group on matters and issues that pertain
to the resource management and educational programs of the Kawainui/Hamakua
Wetlands and related waterways of the Kailua Ahupua'a watershed.

I urge your continued support and even writing letters of testimony and
being at the hearings for SB 3206.

Here are links to assist you:
· Senate Bill 3206, Senate Draft 1, Relating To Kawai Nui Marsh:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/SB3206_SD1_.pdf;
· WAM Hearing Notice As stated on the notice, for this
decision-making, only written comments will be accepted; no oral testimony
will be accepted:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/hearingnotices/WAM_02-26-08_.htm;
and

· Email Address to Send Testimony: As indicated in the notice, you
can email your comments 24 hours prior to the hearing to the following email
address, testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov.

LCV Score Card

2008-02-26T12:42:00.007-08:00

This link shows what LCV is actively doing as a big group who is one of the few big groups known for having as a major part of their strategy, a voter score card on a few of the actions of the different Federal representatives.

View the C-Span - LCV Press Conference right away.

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=204130-1&tID=5

You can also see the score card at http://www.lcv.org

The Hawaii Conservation Voters plans to produce a similar score card for our legislators at the close of session.

It is interesting the Clinton and Obama each have scores of over 80% while McCain has 0%. He missed every important vote that LCV was tracking.

Alien Species - Imported sand

2008-02-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

This weekend there was a 455 foot ship, the CASTLE PEAK from Hong Kong that arrived in Kawaihae. This ship was filled with raw sand from China. This sand was just off loaded in piles from the five giant holds of the ship and placed on the pier of Kawaihae. This is the third shipload of sand brought to Kawaihae. South East Asia is loaded with sea snakes, land snakes, tarantulas, and other organisms, and micro organisms that can severely effect our delicate Hawaiian existence. In the transport from China the ship is like an incubator for snake eggs, bacteria and animals. On the pier at Kawaihae there did not appear to be anybody monitoring if snakes got away, spiders, tarantulas and a myriad of other possible invasive contaminants. In Kohala there is the question of why the corals in Kohala are dying. Could this be a problem. Importation of this sand should be prohibited!!!! Mahalo for your reading this. Please help protect these Islands from invasive species.

Hawaii 2050

2008-02-15T07:45:00.000-08:00

When it comes to the environment, the task force wants to boost
energy from renewable resources from the current 5 percent of
all energy use to 20 percent by 2020.

In addition, by promoting recycling and other waste reduction
strategies, the panel wants to divert half the waste from the
landfills statewide by 2020, up from the 31 percent that is
currently diverted.

To bolster the economy, the plan calls for creating more
technology-related jobs, which currently have an average salary
of $47,262. By 2020, the task force wants the innovation sector
to comprise 7 percent of all private-sector jobs.

Agriculture should also see a boost, if the state pushes for
more locally grown food. Today, about 15 percent of food
consumed in Hawai'i is grown in the state. The goal for 2020 is
to increase that to 30 percent of food — including 85 percent of
fruits and vegetables.

A major failure in the plan is its failure to anticipate the
impacts of ocean rise due to climate disruption. All low lying
areas (Waikiki, Moiliili, Mapunapuna, etc.) are at risk of
flooding as oceans rise and water tables are forced upward. The
chances are high that this will occur with in the time frame of
the Hawaii 2050 plan.

While many who consider environmentalists to be a bunch of tree huggers believe we are anti-business we recognize that we must have a healthy economy in order to afford to take care of the place we live. The balance we strike today between the needs of people and the ability of nature to provide those needs will determin the quality of the future we leave our kids.

Water Quality Conference

2008-02-14T22:51:00.000-08:00

The Hawai'i Association of Conservation Districts is pleased to announce our annual Water Quality Conference:

2008 Hawai'i Water Quality Conference - Protecting Resources Throughout The Islands
Monday, March 24 to Tuesday, March 25, 2008
at the Honolulu Country Club

This conference is an chance for agencies, researchers and community members to share ideas and facilitate discussions geared toward improving the health of our waterbodies. Our 2008 conference will feature watershed restoration efforts, current research on resource management, and reports on recent TMDL projects, as well as updates from Hawai'i's sixteen Soil & Water Conservation Districts.

Registration information, including the conference schedule and prices, are posted on our new website: http://www.hacdhawaii.org/. Deadline to pre-register is March 17, 2008.

The conference is open to the public, so feel free to pass along this email to anyone that may be interested in attending.

Questions? Please contact Michelle Watson (michelle.watson@hi.nacdnet.net) or Corrin Cunningham (corrin.cunningham@hi.nacdnet.net) by email or call our office at 483-8600 ext. 120.

Hawaii Superdelegates

2008-02-14T11:48:00.000-08:00

If you are confused about Superdelegates join the club. The best article I've seen on Hawaii Superdelegates is at http://starbulletin.com/2008/02/13/news/story12.html

hawaii2050

2008-02-11T22:22:00.000-08:00

The Hawaii2050 final plan is now available at:
http://www.hawaii2050.org/

Democratic Caucus 2/19/08

2008-02-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Democratic Caucus 2/19/08

To find out where to vote go to:

http://www.hawaiidemocrats.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=371&Itemid=92

You have to know your District. If you don't go to:

http://www4.honolulu.gov/vote/

To paricipate you will have to join the Democratic Party. That
is a problem for me because I cannot support the entire
Democratic Ticket. However, I'm not going to let them
disinfranchise me simply because I cannot support every
Democratic candidate on the ticket.

This is the most important vote I will make in my life.

SB3225=HB3330 AQUARIUM FISH BILL

2008-02-09T12:10:00.000-08:00

Aloha,
The first of two important fishing bills limiting the rapacious
harvesting of Hawaii's exotic reef fish by international aquarium
collectors will be heard before the Senate Water & Land Committee,
Senator Clayton Hee, Chair on Monday, 2:30, Room 414 Supporters of
this important bill will hold a press conference (below) at 12:30 at
the Queen Lili`uokalani statue. Representatives of the Maui County
Mayor Charmaine Tavares' office, Hawaii Audubon, KAHEA, the Marine
Conservation Biology Institute, the Big Island Invasive Species
Committee and others will participate. The media release text follows.

If at all possible, please consider submitting testimony and attending.
READ SB 3225 hearing notice at: www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/
hearingnotices/WTL-TIA-ENE-JDL-IGM_02-11-08_.htm
READ HB3330 at: www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/HB3330_.htm
READ SB3225 at: www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/SB3225_.htm

SAMPLE ADDRESSING FOR TESTIMONY
Committee on Water & Land
Senator Clayton Hee, Chair
Senator Russell S. Kokubun, Vice Chair
Testimony for 2:30 p.m. Monday, February 11, 2008
Conference Room 414

Aloha Chair Hee, Vice Chair Kokubun, and Honorable Committee Members,

My name is Jane Doe and my testimony is in support of SB 3225. [YOUR
BRIEF REASONS HERE].

Sincerely,
Jane Doe
808-xxx-xxxx

HOW TO TRANSMIT TESTIMONY
In person: 1 copy to the committee clerk, Room 228, State Capitol.

By fax: Testimony (less than 5 pages), to the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms
Office at 586-6659 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor
islands), at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.

By Email: Testimony may be emailed (less than 5 pages) to the
Legislature's Public Access Room at testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Indicate which committee the testimony is being submitted and the
date and time of the hearing. Email sent to individual offices or any
other Senate office will not be accepted.

MEDIA RELEASE (text)

CONTACT: JOAN LLOYD - 808-269-0102 - joanl@snorkelbob.com

AQUARIUM FISH BILL WOULD LIMIT RAPACIOUS COMMERCIAL EXTRACTIONS
Hawaii's Reefs Are Being Picked Clean of Fragile "Ornamental" Fish By
International Dealers

OAHU, HAWAI`I: JANUARY 8, 2008 — Supporters of two aquarium bills,
Senate Bill 3225 and House Bill 3330, will hold a press conference at
the State Capitol on Monday, February 11 at 12:30 at the Queen
Lili`uokalani statue. The bill will be heard before the Senate Water
& Land Committee on Monday, 2:30, room 414. The two bills propose
bag limits for aquarium collectors of 20 "ornamental" fish per day
per person, with five Yellow Tangs Yellow_Tang> maximum in the mix. Rocky & Jerry Kaluhiwa of the
Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club will be at the press conference to
take questions on their views regarding aquarium collection in
Kane'ohe Bay. Representatives of the Maui County Mayor Charmaine
Tavares' office, Hawaii Audubon, KAHEA, the Marine Conservation
Biology Institute and the Big Island Invasive Species Committee and
others will also participate.

Robert Wintner, Executive Director of the Snorkel Bob Foundation
said, "Our reef fish are being poached in record numbers with
millions being exported and sold annually to European, Australian,
and U.S. mainland collectors." Supporters will show that massive
extraction for commercial gain and the resulting barren reefs are an
affront to the Hawaiian way.

The aquarium industry reports a catch of $1-2 million, though the
estimated poached catch may push gross revenue to $20 million.
Wintner noted, "That's serious money for this small group of people.
Water-based tourism generates 500 times that amount for thousands of
people working in the engine that drives Hawaii's economy. Aquarium
collecting leaves many of our fragile reefs picked clean and our reef
systems should not be considered ‘fisheries'". Wintner also said the
bill lists certain species as "no-take", because they are known to
starve to death in captivity. Still, they are being taken. "This
industry has never been regulated in its catch and we are now being
asked why Puffers should
not be taken" Wintner said. "A Puffer on a reef may be enjoyed by
hundreds or thousands of tourists — or that Puffer may be captured
and shipped out for a sad, short life and a dollar. A dollar. You
want to talk science, or plain common sense?"

"One source of opposition to this fish bill is an aquarium
collector's chat room in Utah. Wholesale clients were urged to clog
the email & phone lines of Hawai`i legislators by a wholesale
distributor of wild reef fish and ‘responsibly collected wild
corals'. This distributor is in Utah. If you go to coralplanet.com
you'll be asked for your personal information for referral to a
reseller. If you want to be a reseller, you'll be told: ‘We currently
have more customers than we can handle.'" "Obviously, we're not here
to safeguard the economy of Utah — or of France or Australia,"
Wintner said. "We're here for Hawai`i. A few weeks ago, we saw a gala
event on O`ahu, hailing the International Year of the Reef. Because
we love and cherish our living reefs, we must begin to defend our
reefs from exploitation. We recognize our reefs with Aloha, as the
place where life began."

Read HB3330 at: www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/HB3330_.htm
Read SB3225 at: www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/SB3225_.htm
-###-

SB 2404 Relating to Invasive Species

2008-02-09T09:57:00.001-08:00

Aloha, all. Please submit testimony in support of SB 2404 Relating to Invasive Species if you can.

The bill is being heard by the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, Senator Ron Menor, Chair, Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:45 pm Room 414

SB 2404 requires that 50% of the inspection, quarantine, and eradication service fees and charges collected be allocated to DLNR for the invasive species committees

SB 2404 also raises the fee for inspection, quarantine, and eradication of invasive species contained in any marine or air commercial container shipment from $1 to $10 per 20-foot equivalent unit per container or other appropriate unit per container

Bill: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/SB2404_.htm

Hearing notice: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/hearingnotices/ENE-TSG_02-12-08_.htm

Email testimony to: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

Sample testimony:

Testimony Submitted to the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment
Hearing: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 2:45 pm Room 414

Supporting SB 2404 Relating to Invasive Species

Aloha. My name is... I support SB 2404 for these reasons. It will raise the inspection fee to help cover what is costs the state and the taxpayers to inspect shipments to prevent invasive species from entering Hawai’i. The bill also establishes a permanent funding source for the Invasive Species Committees on each island, which work with private landowners and government agencies to control invasive species mostly on private land. The Committees do very good work and need permanent adequate funding. The bill also authorizes inspection fees for air shipments. Currently, inspection fees are collected only on marine shipments. Please pass this bill out of committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

SB 2316 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN A PERIMETER FENCE TO PROTECT THE MAUNA KEA FOREST RESERVE.

2008-02-09T06:14:00.000-08:00

SB 2316 MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN A PERIMETER FENCE TO PROTECT THE MAUNA KEA FOREST RESERVE.

The bill is being heard by the Senate Committee on Water and Land, Senator Clayton Hee, Chair, Monday, Feb 11 2:30 pm Room 414.

Please testify in person too if you can. This one’s important. Mahalo nui loa!

Talking Points/Background:

* $5-6 million are needed for the DLNR to build a new Mauna Kea perimeter fence to protect the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve, mämane-naio dry forest, the endangered palila bird’s critical habitat, and unfenced endangered Mauna Kea silverswords higher up the mountain.

* The old forest reserve fence is down in many areas. The federal government is building new sections of fence here and there, but we need state funding to rebuild the remaining sections of the fence and to maintain it.

* Feral sheep and mouflon in large numbers are present in the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve and palila critical habitat, in violation of the palila federal court orders in the 1970s and 1980s. Apparently, herds of goats are back in the forest as well, which hasn’t been the case for many years.

* Public hunters and the state can only do so much to remove the sheep, mouflon, and goats from the forest reserve and critical habitat. As long as miles of fence are down or in disrepair, controlling ungulates will be a constant uphill battle.

* Palila are being released on the mountain, and recovery is possible. But we have to protect the habitat from browsing and grazing ungulates. The palila depends on the mämane-naio forest on Mauna Kea for survival.

Bill: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/SB2316_.htm

Hearing Notice:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/hearingnotices/WTL-TIA-ENE-JDL-IGM_02-11-08_.htm

Email testimony to: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov

Ha'iku Valley cultural park

2008-02-08T04:44:00.000-08:00

Posted on: Thursday, February 7, 2008
Bills call for Ha'iku Valley cultural park

• Legislature 2008

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

The future of Ha'iku Valley, with its Hawaiian and military historical sites, is before the state Legislature this week with lawmakers considering a bill to create a cultural preserve and education center there.

The House Water, Land, Ocean Resources and Hawaiian Affairs Committee voted 8-0 yesterday to advance House Bill 2704. Three Senate committees will discuss the companion Senate Bill 2727 at 2:45 p.m. tomorrow in Conference Room 414.

The bills call for establishing a commission that would set policy for and have oversight of a Ha'iku Valley Cultural Preserve.

The measures have widespread community support, said Rep. Ken Ito, D-48th (Kane'ohe), who heads the Water, Land, Ocean Resources and Hawaiian Affairs Committee.

"This cultural preserve will really enhance Kane'ohe and protect traditional cultural landscapes," Ito said, adding that the area has a high potential for educational purposes. "It's going to be a treasure for the Windward side."

The valley has cultural and historic importance to Native Hawaiians and is renowned for its archaeological sites, according to the bills. But the valley's ownership is split among several entities, which places the resources at high risk.

"Preserving the valley's cultural and historic resources and educating the public about these resources are of paramount importance," the bills say.

Tucked up against the slopes of the Ko'olau Range in Kane'ohe, the site was home to a military radio station from 1942 until 1997 and is known to have taro lo'i, a heiau and burial sites. Native and endangered species are also present.

Recent history there has been tied up in controversy over the Ha'iku Stairs, a 3,922-foot metal stepladder to the top of the Ko'olau Range. The ladder was repaired in 2003 by the city for public use.

Before the city could open it, as many as 200 trespassers a day would reach the area through neighboring properties, clogging streets with parked cars, littering, and arguing with residents.

Some residents think the city, which has jurisdiction over the stairs, will dismantle the bottom segments of the stairs.

City spokesman Bill Brennan was unable to verify that, but said the city has security at the stairs to keep people from climbing it.

Mahealani Cypher, a member of the Ko'olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club and the Ko'olau Foundation, said if the stairs are dismantled, neighbors would be less likely to oppose the reserve. A charter school has leased some of the old facilities and a farmer is growing crops there, Cypher said. The community, civic club and the foundation have created a plan calling for a passive park and education center that would offer programs, she said.

The bills are part of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs legislative package and the agency has agreed to work with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which owns much of the land in the valley, and Kamehameha Schools to secure an access that would be acceptable to neighbors, Cypher said.

"All of those different entities have to come together plus the Legislature has to support it, plus the governor has to agree to cut a couple million out of her North Shore acquisition to allow Kane'ohe to have a little piece of the action," she said. "It's a work in progress."

Residents, Naval Radio Station personnel and community leaders have called for the area's preservation for more than 20 years, said John Flanigan, a member of the Friends of Ha'iku Stairs. The Friends have not taken a stance on the bills but Flanigan said he supports them and so does former Navy radio operator, David Jessup, who has a Web site documenting his stay there at www.davewjessup.smugmug.com. "We're big on the military history and (Cypher's) people are big on the Hawaiian history, when you put those two things together, it's a no-brainer that it ought to be developed into a passive park," Flanigan said.

ban the use of plastic shopping bags

2008-02-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

Bills before the city and state that would ban the use of
plastic shopping bags were met with opposition by city
administrators and retail industry advocates yesterday, leading
lawmakers to defer action on the issue.

Full article at:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080206/NEWS01/802060403/1001/

Federal Budget

2008-02-05T11:57:00.001-08:00

WASHINGTON — President Bush yesterday submitted a $3.1 trillion budget for the next fiscal year that reflected his strategy for dealing with a costly war and a troubled economy: substantially boost military expenditures, rein in domestic spending - including for Medicare - and more than double the deficit.

Comment: It is the neo-con strategy is to bankrupt the country so the Federal Government can no longer pay for social programs they oppose. You are seeing their stratedgy pay off with the current cuts in medicare.

The budget proposal is a blue print for depression, inflation and a crashing dollar. How can you have depression and inflation at the same time? Wait and see.

HB2407 Haiku Valley Cultural Center

2008-02-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

Monday, February 4, 2008

Testimony supporting HB2704, RELATING TO HA‘IKU VALLEY

To the members of the House Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources &
Hawaiian Affairs:

My name is Chris Anderson, and this testimony is sent in strong support
of the long-overdue reopening of Ha‘iku Valley— as a managed cultural
and natural preserve under the stewardship of appropriate government
agencies, and in cooperation with committed nonprofits such as The
Friends of Ha‘iku Stairs, the Ko‘olau Foundation, and the Ko‘olaupoko
Hawaiian Civic Club.

I have lived at the primary “entrance” to Ha‘iku Valley for the last 25
years; my home is across from the gate that was built a few years ago
to prevent access into the Valley (after the Omega Station was
decommissioned). As I write this testimony, that gate, once again, is a
puka-filled, torn-up mess that, at best, merely slows the flow of
people into the Valley. It injures the clumsy ones, who fall off of it
or get snagged on the barbwire, and it diverts the others through
nearby holes, or onto adjacent properties, including my neighbors', who
are understandably frustrated and angry about the situation.

This has gone on for years. The gate has never kept out anyone but the
most timid, and it never will, because it is not permanently staffed or
maintained. Also, it is not 50 feet high, reinforced with concrete,
electrified, and patrolled by packs of starving, vicious guard dogs.
Please believe me when I tell you, that is what it would take, and even
then enterprising hikers, pig hunters and tourists would just find a
way around it. They have for years already, day and night. The desire
to hike the Stairway to Heaven or provide food for their families is
too strong, and it will not go away. I have watched people go in and
out of our Valley for a quarter century now, and there was never a
problem until the Coast Guard base was decommissioned and the Valley
supposedly “closed” to the public.

Before that, when access was properly managed, people arranged with the
Coast Guard for entry, parked up on the base, signed the appropriate
waivers, and enjoyed their visits to the aptly named Stairway to
Heaven, or to the Omega Station itself. Then they left. They didn’t
park on our streets, tramp through our yards, drink water from our
hoses without asking, or leave their rubbish on our sidewalks. This
began to happen only in recent years, after the haphazard attempt was
made to close the valley to the public.

In the 1980s, I hiked the Stairway with brownie scouts, Bermuda-shorted
tourists, and 65-year-old mama-sans. It was not a life-threatening
hazard then, and it is in better shape now, since the $1 million spent
on its repair. All we need to make Ha‘iku Valley a recreational success
again is controlled access, dedicated parking on base, and thoughtful,
long-term management.

I served on the citizens’ visioning committee that collaborated with
Wil Chee Planners back in the 1990s to develop just such a plan. It’s
been sitting in mothballs for a decade now because of the inability of
the City & County and the Dept. of Hawaiian Homelands to reach an
accommodation about exchange or sale of the land. Ever since, our
neighborhoods have paid the price for this governmental gridlock. But
our vision for Ha‘iku Valley was simple: you manage it basically like
you manage Hanauma Bay. Fix it up and maintain it, limit access,
provide security and parking, engage nonprofits to help with on-site
education and community activities, and charge reasonable fees for the
public to get in and use facilities like the Stairway.

Ha‘iku Valley can be the natural, cultural, historical and recreational
resource that we imagined then, and that HB2704 begins to envision now
through establishment of the Ha‘iku Valley Cultural Preserve
Commission. It’s time, finally, to conclude the stalled deliberations
that have left the Valley and our community in limbo for years,
generating frustration and resentment in my neighbors, allowing the
valley to go to seed, and allowing its former military facilities to be
vandalized perhaps beyond repair. It's time, finally, to stop depriving
the public of a unique cultural, recreational and educational resource.

It’s time, finally, to open the Valley again, properly.

I ask respectfully that you support HB2704, and ask your colleagues in
the House and Senate to do so as well.

Mahalo,

Chris Anderson

Haiku Valley Cultural Park

2008-02-05T01:57:00.000-08:00

The future of Haiku Valley hangs in the balance. The status quo is not likely.

Most of the valley is owned to by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The Department's mission is to provide home lots for Hawaiians and to generate income for them. It is reasonable to expect that they would develop the floor of the valley for homes and for light industrial purposes.

The Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club has a different vision for the valley. They want to provide a park that will celebrate the rich Hawaiian culture of the valley.

As part of the mitigation plan for disturbance caused by the construction of H3, There are several million dollars available to help create the park.

Two bills, HB 2704 and SB2727, will help implement the park.

Which vision for Haiku Valley, would you prefer? Should it be residential and light industrial development or a cultural park that would provide opportunities for education, recreation, and for the restoration of native ecosystems.

The Committee on Water Land and Hawaiian Affairs will hold a hearing on HB2704 on 02-06-08 at 8:30 am in House conference room 312. Your testimony is vital if a cultural park is to become a reality in Haiku Valley.

Submit testimony to: WLHtestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov

Lifting of $1,000 Corporate Contribution Limit

2008-02-04T06:36:00.000-08:00

You cannot have an honest legislature that works for your interests when members are obligated to big money contributors. Two bills, HB 2455 and SB 3141, lift the cap on Corporate contributions.

THESE BILLS WILL RESULT IN MORE LEGISLATORS BEING OBLIGATED TO BIG MONEY SPECIAL INTERESTS

Kaukanawai
****************

Posted by Voter Owned Hawaii = Kory 457-8622

Sample Email to Lists Re: Lifting of $1,000 Corporate
Contribution Limit

SUBJECT: URGENT ALERT – Oppose Bills That Would Open Floodgates
to Corporate Contributions

*Body of Email*

The Hawaii State legislature is fast-tracking two bills that
would create a thousand-fold increase the amount of money
corporations can contribute to political campaigns. Your help is
urgently needed to stop these bills!

CONTEXT

Corporations can donate to candidates running for political
office in several ways. They can donate to various different
kinds of non-candidate committees, and the board members or
employees of the corporation can also donate individually.

Even though corporations can donate indirectly in these ways, in
Hawaii they're also allowed to donate directly to the candidates
themselves. In 1907, the U.S. government banned these types of
direct donations from corporations.

Beginning in 2006, Hawaii limited those direct corporate
donations to $1,000.

Now, there are two pieces of legislation moving in the House and
in the Senate that would lift that $1,000 cap and allow
corporations to give anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000 to as many
candidates as they see fit.

WE STOPPED SIMILAR LEGISLATION IN 2006 AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN!

Here's how you can help

1. Send in Testimony – below are instructions and talking points

A. Write a quick testimony and file it away to use again. You
can begin your testimony simply by saying something like "I'm
testifying against HB 2455 (or SB 3141), which would lift a
$1,000 cap on corporate donations …" Remember, your testimony
doesn't need to be long, quantity is more important than
quality. Below are some talking points to write your own
testimony, or you can use the sample testimony.

SAMPLE TESTIMONY:

I'm writing in opposition to HB 2455. It's embarrassing that
we're lifting a $1,000 cap on corporate donations when event the
federal government banned these types of contributions in 1907,
101 years ago. Hawaii should be the leader in areas of
government ethics, sustainability, and other important subject
matters. This bill takes us in the wrong direction. It does not
perpetuate anything that is right or just.

Sincerely, ___________

TALKING POINTS (if you want to add to your own testimony)

I. Even the federal government banned direct corporate donation
all the way back in 1907. It's embarrassing that we even allow
them to give money at all. To lift the $1,000 cap would take us
backwards, not forwards.

II. The $1,000 cap on corporate donations is a proven way to
limit corporate interests, and make allows candidates choose
more grassroots style fundraising methods. Between 2004 – 2005,
Governor Lingle raised almost 1 million dollars, but in 2006,
with the $1,000 cap in place, that number dropped to only
$100,000, which is significant as well because 2006 was an
election year, when the fundraising amounts are usually higher.

III. According to a 2005 AARP survey, 86% of Hawaii's residents
of voting age "think campaign contributions moderately or
greatly influence policies supported by elected officials."
Given this fact, we should be working to limit corporate money
and encourage citizen participation. The current $1,000 cap does
both. If candidates can't go to corporations for money, they'll
resort to fundraising from their constituents instead. This is a
positive trend.

B. Email Your Testimony. Send the same email twice, and put a
different subject line in each email. One email is for the House
bill (SB 2455), and one email is for the Senate bill (SB 3141).
Your testimony does not need to be long. The most important
thing is to get something in. The more testimonies we have the
better!

1. Send on email to TO: JUDtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov (not
case sensitive), and reps@captiol.hawaii.gov

SUBJECT: Opposition of HB 2455

CONTENT: (Cut and Paste your testimony into the body of your
email)

2. Send another email to TO: testimony@capitol.hawaii.gov , and
sens@capitol.hawaii.gov

SUBJECT: Opposition of SB 3141

CONTENT: (Cut and Paste your testimony into the body of your
email)

2. The second thing you can do is call Rep Say and Sen Hanabusa
and ask them to oppose these bills

Rep Calvin Say – 586-6100 Sen Colleen Hanabusa – 586-7793

3. The third thing you can do is write a Letter –to-the-Editor
of the newspaper

A. Use the talking points or just use your testimony to write a
quick letter to the editor. You can begin your letter with
something like "Dear editor, I'm writing to voice my opposition
to house bill 2455 and senate bill 3141. These bills would lift
a $1,000 cap on corporate contributions to candidates running
for office …" or something like that.

B. Send your letters to

1. Honolulu Star Bulletin a. letters@starbulletin.com b. Use
Online Form http://starbulletin.com/forms/letterform.html

2. Honolulu Advertiser a. letters@honoluluadvertiser.com b.
Online Form: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/form/op/letter

C. If you want to, follow up your letter with a phone call to
ask if they'll print it.

IV. Forward this email to your friends!!

Public Campaign Financing

2008-02-03T10:40:00.000-08:00

The question is how do you get legislators who truely represent the public when they have to raise big money from special interests. One solution is provide public funding for candidates running for office.

Like so much in politics, the issue of publicly financed campaigns may finally come down to money.

Supporters of publicly financed elections are looking to the Big Island, hoping County Council members there and the county's lobbyist will lead the effort at the state Legislature this year to establish a system of publicly financed elections for that island's nine council races.

The Big Island council last month became the first elected body in Hawai'i to volunteer to try out the proposed new system, a step that could lead to Hawai'i's first fully publicly funded campaigns there in 2010.

The plan is to provide enough public funding to each qualifying council candidate to run a credible campaign without accepting any campaign contributions from special interests. To qualify for public funding, each candidate would have to collect a signature and a $5 donation from 200 registered voters.

The plan has some popular appeal, but Campaign Spending Commission Executive Director Barbara Wong offers some sobering cost calculations: If 50 candidates qualify for public funding in the council primary election, the primary alone would cost about $1 million.

How many people would want to run if they can use someone elses money rather than their own? How do you limit whose campaign will pay for to only viable candidates. One way would require a larger contribution from more registered voters.

Don't dismiss public campaign financing as just another impractical and expensive idea.

Public Campaign Financing may be the only way we will be able to get the big money lobbiests out of government and bring our government back to the people.

The question truely is money. How much are we willing to pay to have our government leaders accountable to us rather than to Big Business?

Beach Access

2008-02-03T10:32:00.001-08:00

In what may have been the biggest beach-access rally ever held on O'ahu, hundreds of people mobilized yesterday around the island with placards, shakas and pleas for passing motorists to support public access to the ocean.

There was a whole lot of honking, especially in Kailua, where locked gates have sprung up in recent years preventing beach access.

Is the future of beach access in Hawaii the same as we see on the mainland where beach access to public beaches is blocked by gated communities and walled beach homes? Add to this the effects of beach erosion resulting from rising oceans and we may be looking at a future where the only access to the water is a swimming pool or a boat.

Beach Access Hawaii is trying to assure that the general public can continue to get to the their beaches.

HB2833 - HB78

2008-02-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

The two bills would allow classification of Class D & E AG zoned land to Rural. Recognizing that D&E lands are primarily pasture and "pasture" lands include some of the best remnant native species outside of conservation districts, I see this as a very bad bill. What is your take?
Let us know what you think. To participate, you need to be a member so email bsager42@gmail.com for an invitation. Its free.

Water Use in Hawaii

2008-02-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

WAILUKU, Maui — Steve Holaday, the former manager of Maui's last sugar plantation, testified at Thursday's session of the Na Wai Eha contested case that more is involved than allocated water from four West Maui watersheds, The Maui News reported.

"My fear is that no matter what happens here, it's going to be the triggering event for what happens to use in East Maui, and the triggering event for the rest of the state. This is the tip of the iceberg," he said.

The result, Holaday said, could be the collapse of agriculture throughout the Islands.

This came on direct examination by Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. attorney David Schulmeister, who was trying to show the effects on the 36,000-acre sugar plantation if water from the four streams in West Maui known as Na Wai Eha are redirected away from sugar.

At the end of 90 minutes, Schulmeister asked Holaday, "Is there anything else you would like to tell Dr. (Lawrence) Miike?," the hearings officer.

"Not without getting tears in my eyes," Holaday said.

HC&S draws as much as 30 million gallons a day from Na Wai Eha — the Waihe'e, Waiehu, 'Iao and Waikapu streams. It gets as much as 300 million gallons a day from the East Maui Irrigation system, which taps watersheds from Ha'iku to Nahiku under permits from the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Hui O Na Wai Eha and Maui Tomorrow Foundation have petitioned the state Commission on Water Resource Management to set permanent instream flow standards for the Na Wai Eha streams that would reduce the amount now diverted to the plantation irrigation systems.

Hearings on 2/6

2008-02-01T22:43:00.000-08:00

AGR 8:30 Rm 325
HB2501 and HB2516 re biosecurity
HB2517 Prohibiting Sale of invasive species

JDL 9am Rm 016
Bills related to Campaign spending and reapportionment
SB2579, 2630, 2777 3140 3141

FIN 1:30 Rm 308
HB 2907 Ferile Pig Control

WTL 2:45 Rm 414
HB 2525 Providing access to Haena Beach Park
HB3206 Sets up Kawainui Marsh Advisory Council

Summary of Hearing Notices as of 1/31/08

2008-01-31T23:43:00.000-08:00

WHL/AGR 2/1 8:30 rm325

Several bills defining "important ag lands"

North Kohala coastline in Hawaii rezoned conservaiton

Allows rezoning certain ag lands as Rural

Addressing Fake Farms

indemnifies the owner of an irrigation system, dam, or reservoir
for tort liability under certain conditions.

Amends the state water code to support making sufficient water
available for agricultural activity on important agricultural
lands. Moritorium on drilling wells in ag land.

WLH/AGR DATE: Friday, February 1, 2008,TIME: 9:00a.m.PLACE:
Conference Room 325

Programs to help taro farmers

WLH DATE: Monday, February 4, 2008, TIME: 8:30 a.m., PLACE:
Conference Room 312

Establishes limitations on liability for damages for owners of
dams and reservoirs.

Increases the maximum penalty for violations within the
Conservation District

WTL DATE: Monday, February 4, 2008, TIME: 2:45 p.m.PLACE:
Conference Room 414

Provides the board and the department of land and natural
resources with the power to make rule changes and decisions
regarding hunting without going through the rulemaking process.

Enhanced tax credit for owners who dedicate their land to
non-development purposes

EEP DATE: Tuesday, February 5, 2008 TIME: 10:00 am PLACE:
Conference Room 312

Permits small wind energy systems in all land use districts
where structures of any sort are allowed except for the
conservation district unless permitted by the department of land
and natural resources.

Bottle recycling and redemtion

Electric vehicles

AHW/ENE DATE: Tuesday, February 5, 2008 TIME: 2:00 PM PLACE:
Conference Room 414

Related to endangered spp Prohibits the sale of plants
designated as restricted plants or noxious weeds.

Loan program for the development of sustainable energy by
farmers and aquaculturists.

appropriates funds for the department of agriculture's
biosecurity program

JUD DATE: Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 TIME: 2:00pm PLACE:
Conference Room 325

HB2455 Takes the cap of corporate campaign contributions.

HB2602 Doubles the amount a candidate can transfer from campaign
or surplus funds to a community or charitable organization. This
allows candidates to contribute to organizations that support
the candidate and opens the door to "swift boat" type
organizations.

Environmental Legislative Network Meeting

2008-01-31T10:24:00.000-08:00

the Environmental Legislative Network meets every Friday at noon during the session at the Sierra Club office Room 306 Richards Street YWCA to talk bills and
network.

SB2466 DOFAW declare hazardous fire areas

2008-01-30T19:46:00.000-08:00

SB2466, DOFAW declare hazardous fire areas during fire danger periods PSM on Thursday, 01-31-08 at 8:30 am

HB2005 tax credit to include solar electric energy systems

2008-01-30T19:45:00.001-08:00

HB2005, Expands the renewable energy technologies tax credit to include solar electric energy systems. Passed out of EEP and referral to FIN

HB2356 Fake Farms

2008-01-30T19:43:00.000-08:00

HB2356 Agriculture; Farm Dwelling max size house & lot; WLH/AGR on Friday, 02-01-08 at 8:30 am This is an effort to control fake farm lots

Sustainable Hawaii 2050

2008-01-30T15:11:00.000-08:00

Two bills deal with implimenting the recommendations of the Sustainable Hawaii 2050 Plan. HB2590 and SB2833

These bills are important to anyone concerned with the future of Hawaii.

Ka Iwi Coast - East Oahu

2008-01-30T15:03:00.000-08:00

Four bills have been submitted to prevent development on the Ka Iwi Coast of East Oahu. HB2984, SB2248, HB2470, HB 3267

You can track these bills by going to http://capitol.hawaii.gov In the right column look for Search, go down one line to Bills and click then put the bill number in the first blank. When you have a particular bill you want to track click the tiny orange box at the top of the status screen and subscribe to an RSS feed. You will get an email telling you of any change in the status of the bill.

Haiku Valley - Oahu

2008-01-30T14:04:00.000-08:00

Friends--

For your information and as a sample, I have attached a very good letter that has been sent to various legislators from three men who were sailors stationed at the Naval Radio Station--Haiku in the 40s and 50s. Attached also is a letter I have sent to my representative and senator, and a list of all senators and representatives, to save you the necessity of looking them up.

The attachments are all .pdf files. If you wish to have a .doc file, or if you wish for me to simply add the text to an e-mail, please respond. It is important for the legislators to understand that there is broad support for this proposal.

Remember that the House bill is HB2704 and the Senate bill is SB2727

You can look them up and check their status at

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/docs.asp

Aloha pumehana,

John Flanigan

Note from Moderator: If anyone wants copies of the attachments contact me at
bsager42@gmail.com and I'll send you the attachments. I'll post them to this blog iff I can figure out a practical way to do it.

Electric Cars

2008-01-28T08:02:00.001-08:00

Israel said last week it will support a large-scale project to put electric cars on the road as early as next year. An Israeli-American entrepreneur, Shai Agassi, is working with Renault/Nissan to test such a car (and supporting infrastructure) in the tiny country, where gasoline costs more than $6 a gallon. He sees small European countries like Denmark, where gas taxes are high, as ideal places to market the cars. Small is good, because these cars can run some distance on electricity alone, before they need recharging or a gasoline engine to kick in.

The Israeli cars will be able to go 124 miles on a charge. Usually the batteries will be recharged at home at night, when electricity is cheapest. But service stations will be able to recharge or change out the batteries. The cars – from Renault and Nissan – will be subsidized, with a monthly fee for service. Operating costs are expected to be half that of a gasoline-powered car.

Electricity from Ocean Waves

2008-01-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

Australia-based Oceanlinx Ltd. plans to generate 2.7 megawatts of power using offshore hydrokinetic technology. State lawmakers are considering allowing the company to sell up to $20 million in tax-free bonds. The company also is in negotiations with Maui Electric Co., which would purchase the wave-generated energy.

Climate Change

2008-01-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

Demonstrations are planned for this week in conjunction with the Major Economies global warming conferance at the East/West Center. This Advertiser article points out both the problems and some of the things going on.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/NEWS01/801280350/1001/

Climate Change Events

2008-01-27T04:08:00.000-08:00

Aloha kakou,
Are you interested in the near future? Do you feel as if shift happens? Well, Hawai`i is uniquely situated to be effected by shifts in climate. These changes are already affecting our economy, our ecology and our communities in new and quite different ways.

On 30-31 January, this week, our state will host the Major Economies
Meeting (MEM). Never heard of it? Well, neither had I. Then last
week, a rush of information and people came together and coordinated
a series of community outreach activities to provide some FOCUS to
our community conversation. These will take place during the week of
28 January to 2 February.

Please review the attached info and see if your schedule can accommodate any of the activities. The flyer summarizes the local activities planned during that week. Pass it along to your friends and encourage them to as well.

By-the-way, MEM is a gathering of international delegates as a follow-on to the Bali conference you've probably heard about in the News.

Believe me your future will be effected by this information. The sooner you understand what is happening, the sooner your `ohana can adapt.

See you there,

Mahalo,

Chuck

Please distribute to others on your email lists.

News Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 26th, 2008
CONTACT: Jeff Mikulina 226-4987

Events urge climate action
Series of community events on January 30 in conjunction with Major Economies Meeting being held at the East West Center aim to pressure United States to agree to significant cuts in greenhouse gas

HONOLULU – Students literally drawing a line on climate change, University experts speaking about global warming impacts and solutions, concerned individuals taking to the streets—all are planned on January 30th in conjunction with a White House meeting of 16 countries at the East West Center to discuss climate change. The goal of the events is to urge the United States to join the rest of the world through the United Nations process to agree to dramatic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Please see links to flyers for further details of specific events, or visit www.lifeofthelandhawaii.org/MEM/Hawaii_Events.html

EVENT 1: Public “United Front” demonstration

9am – 11am
Outside Kennedy Theater on UH campus (across East West Center). News conference to follow at 11am.

EVENT 2: Blue Line Project

3::30pm – 6pm
Old Stadium Park off King St.
Students will be “drawing a line on climate change,” using chalk to demarcate the extent of flooding from a 1 meter sea level rise through the McCully-Moiliili area.
News conference at 4:00 pm at the Old Stadium Park pavilion. Maps and other visual displays will be provided at the event.
See Blue Line Project flyer online.

EVENT 3: Law School Climate Change “Teach In”

7pm – 9:30pm
UH Richardson Law School
University experts, elected officials, community leaders, and others will discuss climate change science, impacts, and solutions in this fast-paced, interactive event.
See Teach in flyer online.

All events are free and open to the public.
--
Jeffrey Mikulina
Director, Sierra Club, Hawai'i Chapter
tel: 808.538.6616
www.hi.sierraclub.org
mikulina@lava.net

Establishes the Ha'iku Valley cultural preserve commission

2008-01-26T21:26:00.000-08:00

Establishes the Ha'iku Valley cultural preserve commission to have policy and management oversight of the Ha'iku Valley cultural preserve.

The bills have not yet been scheduled for hearings (house, senate), but have been referred. The committees may need some encouragement for the bills to be heard.

Important positives are the Valley's value in Hawaiian culture and history, wartime (WWII) military history, preservation of natural assets, need for access to more open spaces on Oahu, especially on Windward side, previous history of access.

Anyone prepping testimony or letters of support should address them to:

HB2704 (referred to House WLH (Water, Land, & Hawaiian Affairs), and Finance)
Rep. Ken Ito, Chair
House Committee on Water, Land & Hawaiian Affairs

SB2727 (referred jointly to committees on Water & Land/Ag & Hawaiian Affairs/Judiciary & Labor, and finally to Ways & Means)
Sen. Jill Tokuda, Chair; Kalani English, vice-chair
Senate Committee on Agriculture & Hawaiian Affairs

Sen. Brian Taniguchi, chair; Clayton Hee, vice-chair
Senate Committee on Judiciary & Labor

Sen. Clayton Hee, chair; Russ Kokubun, vice-chair
Senate Committee on Water & Land

And because Senate President Colleen Hanabusa sponsored the bill, perhaps she should be added to the list, saying that Ko`olaupoko area needs to have set-aside parklands like this one would be.

JMF

Clean Elections

2008-01-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

Hi Good Gov and Enviro friends,

We've learned that Sen Hanabusa has written a bill (SB 3141) that will
lift the $1,000 cap on corporate contributions, creating a situation
in which corporations can give unlimited amounts of money.

She tried to do a similar thing three years ago, and with a broad
coalition, we were able to stop her.

Our plan to counter her effort is below, and we're asking anyone who
is willing to sign on to the effort.

We will be issuing a press release on Monday with as many
organizations signed on as possible. Many of you were involved in the
last effort, and we hope you can continue your support.

IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER JOINING THE EFFORT TO STOP THIS
BILL, E-MAIL ME AT kory.payne@gmail.com AND WE'LL KEEP YOU IN THE
LOOP.

Actions and Timeline:

1. Craft Press Release this weekend

2. Send out press release on Monday morning.

3. Meet Monday evening to plan Press Conference for
Thursday morning ( Jan 31st )

Thanks for all of the great work you're all doing.

If you have questions about the bill or this issue, just call or email
me

Mainly, we're looking to have as many groups as possible sign on
to the press release to create better odds of stopping Hanabusa from
underming this very solid law (the $1000 cap).

Aloha

Kory Payne 457-8622

Voter Owned Hawaii

--
Kory Payne
Voter Owned Hawaii
Community Organizer
cell: 808-457-8622
http://voterownedhawaii.org/

Bills Scheduled

2008-01-25T21:33:00.000-08:00

HB2330 Electric Vehicles; Incentives 01-29-08 at 10:00 am in conference room 312.

HB2005 Renewable Energy Technologies; Solar Electric Energy 01-29-08 at 10:00 am in conference room 312

HB2292 Provides for purchase and lease of Galbraith lands in Central Oahu 01-30-08 at 8:30 am in House conference room 325

Internship Program

2008-01-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

INTERESTED IN CONNECTING LOCAL STUDENTS WITH YOUR PROJECTS?
UH-HIP IS NOW RECRUITING UH-HIP HOST AGENCIES FOR SUMMER 2008!!!

The University of Hawai'i Hawaiian Internship Program (UH-HIP) is recruiting host agencies and mentors for its 2008 summer program. This summer internship program focuses on giving kama'aina undergraduates, especially those of Native Hawaiian ancestry, the opportunity to gain valuable, paid internship experiences in conservation and resource management fields. The program recruits both interns and the host agencies to mentor them and facilitates that relationship throughout the summer. We hope this program, in combination with other efforts, will encourage more of our local students to pursue courses of study and careers related to our natural resources. This program has provided many research and management projects across the state the opportunity to link with local students and over its 11 years of existence has linked almost 140 interns with over 40 host agencies. Over 60% of our interns now have built on their experience by working in Hawaii’s conservation and science efforts after graduation or by going on to graduate school. Look next to you: there might be a former UH-HIPer!

If you are interested in hosting an intern, please complete the attached Request Packet (this is also available on the web at < www.uhh.hawaii.edu/uhintern>, follow link to Host Mentors and UH-HIP.) The packet includes an information sheet, which explains the process and details of becoming a host for UH-HIP for 2007, and a request form, which you need to fill out and return to us via email or fax.

Encourage use of hybrid vehicles

2008-01-23T21:47:00.000-08:00

The committee(s) on TIA/ENE has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-08 at 2:45 pm in conference room 224. SB2549, SB2365

Rep Chang in conflict of interest

2008-01-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

A Big Island state lawmaker ran afoul of the state ethics
code when he offered to exchange land in which he had an
ownership interest to help with a new motorsports complex at
Kalaeloa, the state Ethics Commission has found.

The commission, in an informal advisory opinion, found
that state Rep. Jerry Chang, D-2nd (S. Hilo), should not have
represented the company that owned the land before the state
Legislature because he was a company director and had a 25
percent ownership interest. Chang also should not have
represented the company on an issue that he worked on as a
lawmaker.

The commission found that Chang's actions were "beyond
dispute" but chose to resolve the charge through the informal
advisory opinion to help educate other lawmakers rather than
proceed to a formal, contested-case hearing.

For full article see:

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Jan/23/ln/hawaii801230375.html

Super Ferry

2008-01-23T16:01:00.001-08:00

One more example of the terrible planning associated with the Super Ferry project. What more surprises are coming?

The state Department of Transportation said 10 weeks of daily tugboat service — at a cost of $350,000 — is needed at Kahului Harbor to support Hawaii Superferry operations.

The tug service is necessary to keep a state-owned barge snug against the end of Pier 2C during ocean surges and to provide safe loading and unloading of passengers and vehicles, according to a request filed Friday to exempt the contract from state procurement rules.

No one but surfers thought about the power of north shore waves to destroy loading facilities.

Bicycle Safety Resolution

2008-01-23T13:25:00.000-08:00

Having ridden bicycles as a primary mode of transportation for at least 10 years, having been forced of the road many times and nearly killed twice this is a subject that is important to me. I suggest you get as many people as possible to send a version modified for your local situation to your local legislators. There is still time to for your legislators to submit resolutions.

Bicycle Safety Resolution
Kaneohe Neighborhood Board No. 30
WHEREAS, the voters passed City Charter Amendment 8 by approximately 77% in the 2006 general election asking the city to make Honolulu a pedestrian and bicycle-friendly city, and
WHEREAS, there are a large number of bicyclists that ride through the Kaneohe neighborhood and surrounding area, and
WHEREAS, many of the roads used by bicyclists and residents are poorly maintained, and
WHEREAS, it is the duty of the state and county to ensure that the roads and paths that are marked as bike routes are safe and well maintained, and
WHEREAS, there has been an increase in area traffic in the Kaneohe neighborhood and the surrounding communities bringing a greater chance of accidents with bicyclists occurring, and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City and County of Honolulu and State of Hawaii to encourage people to exercise, especially children, and
WHEREAS, the year-round good weather makes it possible to commute to work and school by bicycle, thus decreasing the number of cars on the road, and
WHEREAS, the Koolaupoko Sustainable Communities Plan states that one of the planning principles is to “encourage . . . bicycle travel, particularly to reach neighborhood destinations such as schools, parks, and convenience stores,” therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Kaneohe Neighborhood Board asks the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu and its relevant Departments and the State of Hawaii’s Department of Transportation to improve conditions for bicyclists by:

1. Developing new bike paths, routes or bikeways in all communities.
2. Maintaining and improving all existing bike lanes, routes and paths.
3. Placing bike racks in all city, county and state parks.
4. Implementing procedures for the safe placement of residential garbage receptacles and temporary construction signs and equipment so as not to intrude in bike lanes.
5. Enforcing existing parking regulations.
6. Restriping, painting and cleaning the existing bike lanes and routes on all major streets and roads.
7. Regularly trimming trees, bushes and grass and clearing sand and gravel that encroach on bike lanes and shoulders along all major streets and roads.
8. Including input from the bicycling community on ways to improve safety for bicyclists during construction projects and the final design.
9. Maintaining and not paving over traffic sensor loops at intersections in order to allow bicyclists to easily trigger a change in signal lights.
10. Including additional bicycle safety questions in the state driver’s license exam.
11. Continuing funding for the Hawaii Bicycling League’s BikeEd program, which has been educating fourth grade students how to ride bicycles safely since 1988.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Bicycle Safety Resolution be transmitted to: the Governor of the State of Hawaii, State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, City Council members, the City Department of Transportation Services, Department of Planning and Permitting, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Facilities Maintenance, all Neighborhood Boards, Hawaii Bicycling League, Senators Hee and Tokuda, and Representatives Chong and Ito.

Preserving Ag Land

2008-01-21T14:46:00.001-08:00

State Sen. Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), is
proposing a bill that would enable lawmakers to designate
certain agricultural lands with historical, cultural and
visual value as "historic agricultural landmarks."

The measure would designate Galbraith Trust's 2,100 acres
of former pineapple land in Central O'ahu as a historic
agricultural landmark. The use of such areas would be
restricted to agriculture.

Rep. Marcus Oshiro, D-39th (Wahiawa), is proposing
legislation that would enable the state to acquire the
Galbraith lands and said he's seeking partnerships with public
and private agencies to help with such a purchase.

Keana Point

2008-01-21T10:15:00.000-08:00

Nothing is ever simple. Fisherman access to Kaena Point is the downside of trying to protect the area from off road vehicles that have been tearing up the area for years. What is at stake? Both Hawaiian graves and endangered plants and birds are being run over and distrode by irresponsible off roading.

Off road vehicles have been largely ignore, but recently DOCARE has been issueing tickets to trespassers both off road vehicles and fisherman vehicles.

Carol Cox has a detailed and fairly balanced article at:

http://www.envirowatch.org/KaenaPT.htm

What he didn't cover and what has ulua fishermen even more upset than vehicle access is that if they set up a bed for the kids with a mosquito net over it they are being sited for camping and removed from the beach. Seems like an unreasonable interpretation of the camping regulations, but what's new in a buracracy?

The proposal to fence the extreme end of Kaena Point to protect birds and endangered plants from preditors will exclude fishermen's vehicles. They are going to have to pack their gear in if they want to fish.

Kaena point represents some of Hawaii's most fragile ecosystems. In the controversy between fishermen access and protecting the birds, I side with the birds but expect strong opposition to the fencing project.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARADE "VIP" HONOREES ANNOUNCED

2008-01-21T09:51:00.001-08:00

2008 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARADE "VIP" HONOREES ANNOUNCED
Mayor Mufi Hannemann
Environmental Advocates Senator Gary Hoosier and Carroll Cox,
President of EnviroWatch

State Senator Gary Hoosier (Kauai) was selected for his dedication to
protecting Hawaii’s environment. Hoosier has actively advocated both
as a citizen and as an elected official to protect our state’s
delicate environment and to promote solar energy and other critical
sustainability issues.

Carroll Cox, President of EnviroWatch is being honored for his many
years of bold advocacy for Hawaii’s environment and issues related to
animal protection. Cox' willingness to stand up and "speak truth to
power" has made him one of the most-respected environmental advocates
in Hawai`i.

Ka Iwi Ridge

2008-01-21T09:45:00.000-08:00

For Opponents of Development on East Oahu's Ka Iwi Ridge,
There Isn't Much Good News By Rep. Gene Ward, 1/19/2008
4:03:46 PM

Due to the confusion created by missed communications
between the developer's attorney William McCorriston and the
Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board members and a 60-day rule, the
Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board was forced to call an emergency
meeting on Jan. 8, 2008, instead of the normal meeting
scheduled for January 29th to hear about the cabins proposals
on the Ka Iwi Coast.

The meeting started off with a briefing and a sour note by
Mr. McCorriston, lawyer and spokesman for QRM LLC, who said
upfront, "The cabins are not located on Ka Iwi, if so, Aina
Haina is also on the coast."

While his definition was quickly disputed his ensuing
comments cut to the chase: "QRM does not intend to go away,"
suggesting this was going to be a long and protracted affair.
The options? "You either buy out my client, or let him build
the cabins, or we'll sue you and keep this in court," is the
best summary and paraphrase of the gist of the entire meeting.

For the entire article see:

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?32057de2-c7fe-444c-aadc-3d6f2ae54781

Then tell us what you think

Mite could cost farmers million

2008-01-21T00:20:00.000-08:00

A honey bee mite threatens to wipe out bees in Hawaii.

Without bees to polinate their crops farmers face huge losses.

This Advertiser Article discusses the problem:

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/BUSINESS11/801200328/1071/

This is another example of the careless introduction of alien species to our state costing us millions of dollars.

The article doesn't mention the potential effect on native species nor does it point out that the Super Ferry could easily move the mite contamination to other islands.

Changes to EIS trigger

2008-01-20T23:57:00.004-08:00

Interpretation of the recently passed legislation to permit Super Ferry operation without an EIS requires an project that fronts on a state or county road to do an EIS.

It is causing a major burden on small projects. On the other hand, patching the EIS law with a band aide may also have unintended consequences.

This article in the Advertiser outlines the problem pretty well and interview people on both sides of the issue.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080120/NEWS02/801200357/1001/

I cannot post it because of copyright issues so take a look at it and let us know what you think. It is a complicated and potentially damaging issue. I'm always leary when an administration want to push through a "fix" without adequate discussion.

Governor Lingle has created a major mess when she circumvented EIS requirements for the super ferry. Also, she refused 2 years ago to release funds for a study of the EIS requirement. Neocons in the Bush administration have done all they can to gut the federal EIS law. Looks like Lingle is in step with the national.

No one intended that an EIS be triggered simply because a project fronts on a publick road, but what are the consequences of a quick fix?

Feral Pig Control

2008-01-19T23:14:00.001-08:00

HB2121 Generated on 1/19/2008 9:11:45 PM

Measure Title: RELATING TO FERAL PIGS.

Report Title: Invasive Species; Feral Pig Control; DLNR

Description: Directs the department of land and natural
resources to establish, implement, and maintain a pilot program
to identify and reduce problem feral pig populations. Program
terminates on June 30, 2010.

Package: Kupuna Companion: Introducer(s): MIZUNO, BELATTI,
CHING, MARUMOTO, MEYER, SONSON Current Referral: WLH, FIN

SB631 prohibits snaring pigs

2008-01-19T23:09:00.000-08:00

SB631 Generated on 1/19/2008 8:58:02 PM

Measure Title: RELATING TO HUNTING. Report Title: Body Grip
Traps; Hunting; Ban; Penalties Description: Prohibits the use of
body grip traps while hunting. Establishes penalties.

This bill will prohibits snaring pigs.

Snaring is an important tool for managing pig populations in
remote native forest where it is difficult for hunters
effectively control pig populations.

Snaring has been critisized because traps may not be
access often enough to prevent unreasonable sufffering by the
animal.

It comes down to which is more important. Preventing an
animal from suffering in a trap for days or preventing the
destruction of native forest.

Certainly, where more humane methods such as hunting are
effective, snares should not be used. But in areas where hunting
can not control pig population and native ecosystem destruction
is out of control snaring is a vital tool to control pig
populations.

EEP Hearing 1/24/08 8:30AM

2008-01-19T22:21:00.000-08:00

EEP Hearing 1/24/08 8:30AM
HB2330 Incentives for electric vehicles
HB2005 Tax credit to include solar energy systems

Organizing Hawaii Conservation Voters

2008-01-19T16:20:00.000-08:00

Lots of people ask why an effective conservation voters’ organization needs three separate branches. It doesn’t sound very efficient, and it adds overhead. However, the IRS, as well as the laws relating to political activities, dictate the limits on what each organization can do. Thus, three separate organizations are required:

1. A political action committee (PAC) can advocate for individual candidates. No other organization can do that. Contributions to a PAC are not deductible.

2. A 501(c)3 is a nonprofit organization limited politically to organizational and educational activities. A 501(c)3 can advocate for issues with up to 20% of its budget, but it cannot advocate for candidates.

3. A 501(c)4, on the other hand, can advocate for issues as well as lobby legislators with only one restriction; a 501(c)4 cannot recommend a specific candidate. Specific candidate recommendations must be done by a PAC. Also, contributions to the (c)4 are not tax deductable.

The Hawaii Conservation Voters is our 501(c)4. We are forming a political action committee called the Hawaii League of Conservation Voters. The name is well branded and recognized by people and the press. It should be well received in new releases and advertising.

We need to organize a 501(c)3, so we will be able to accommodate contributors who need a tax deduction. We have not yet determined the name of our (c)3 and suggestions are welcome.

Okay -- so that explains how the Hawaii Conservation Voters is organized and why the organization needs to be so complex. Now we need you to participate;

VOTE intelligently;
Share what you know with us and with your friends.

Your donations of time and money will help us pay the expenses of volunteers, pay legislative monitors when necessary, publish a legislative score card, and buy advertising for the coming elections.

If we are going to make our grassroots concerns heard over the shouting of big money lobbyists, we are going to need all the support you can give. The National League of Conservation Voters has agreed to provide a matching grant of $10,000 if we raise the matching amount from individual donations. Please help us to meet this goal.

Hawaii needs informed and concerned voters who know what their candidates for office have done regarding environmental issues in the past. It’s not what candidates say that is important, it is what they do and have done.

HCV knows their records and positions; we want everyone else to know as well.

National League of Conservation Voters - Presidential Voter Guide is availabe on line at: http://www.lcv.org/voterguide

Bill Sager

Welcome to Hawaii Conservation Voters

2008-01-19T15:21:00.000-08:00

Our mission is to inform voters concerning environmental issues in Hawaii and to elect candidates to office who support a conservation ethic.

Come here when you want to know about environmental issues and candidates. We will do our best to keep you informed. You are welcome to share your ideas, concerns and knowledge. To do so, you will have to set up a gmail account and be invited to participate. Once you are logged in you will be able to comment on posts and make your own posts on any appropriate subject.

We are non-partican. We encourage a broad range of views and hope your participation here will help you make informed voting decisions.

Tell your friends about this site and encourage them to become environmentally informed voters.

We need all the help we can get, both of your time and expertise and of your money. If you can contribute financially that is great. But, the most important thing you can give us your time and knowlege.

We need to spread the word. We need to develop a rapid response communications net work using phone trees and e-mail. We need a phone bank of people who will contact voters and find out if they are concerned about the future of Hawaii and want to stay informed. On election day, we need to man a phone bank to make sure that everyone we talked to who does care about Hawaii gets out to vote. We need people who can monitor legislation and provide testimony on important issues before the legislature. And, we need fund raiser.

Hawaii Conservation Voters is a C-4. The League of Conservation Voters is our PAC and next summer we plan on setting up a C-3 which can accept tax deductable funds. Contributions to the C-4 or to the PAC are not tax deductable.

If you have questions or have trouble logging in to this blog, contact Bill Sager at 375-1114 or at bsager@hawaii.rr.com