Saturday, July 26, 2014
Sunday, March 15, 2009
SB 1318 SD1 A bad bill
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Bills and Hearings effecting Coral Reefs
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.
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.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
McCain supports French firm at expense of American Industry
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.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
SB2646 Urban Sprawl Bill
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.
Here's a wrapup of the legislature's efforts on environmental measures from the Honolulu Advertiser.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Support Solar Roof Bill
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
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
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
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
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
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
Monday, April 21, 2008
Constitutional Convention
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/
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
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
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.
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
Friday, April 18, 2008
HB 2863
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
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
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Energy impacts on Hawaii
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/
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/hawaiioceanspolicy/
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Critical Habitat Designation Hawaiian picture-wing flies
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Ethanol demand and fuel costs drives up food prices worldwide
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
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-food1apr01,1,5014433.story
Monday, March 31, 2008
Ho'opili community
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
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
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
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
Thursday, March 27, 2008
HB 2518 and SB 2198
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
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
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
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
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Opposition to Adoption of “Steel on Steel” Rail Technology
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.
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.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Information sources re Hawaii Trees and Weeds
"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
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
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
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