SENS. KIDANI AND DELA CRUZ TO HOST COMMUNITY MEETING ON HURRICANE SEASON PREPAREDNESS WHO: Sen. Michelle Kidani, Sen. Donavan Dela Cruz WHAT: Hurricane Season Preparedness Meeting WHERE: Mililani High School Cafeteria 95-1200 Meheula Pkwy WHEN: Thursday, July 6, 2017 7:00 p.m. State Senators Michelle N. Kidani (Dist. 18 – Mililani Town, portion of Waipi‘o Gentry, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia) and Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Dist. 22 - Mililani Mauka, Launani Valley, Wahiawa, Waipio Acres, Wheeler, Whitmore Village) are hosting a community meeting to provide Central Oahu residents with information on the 2017 hurricane season. The meeting will be held on Thursday, July 6, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. at the Mililani High School Cafeteria. Officials from various agencies will be present to provide information on the types of tropical cyclones, what to expect during the upcoming hurricane season, and how to prepare for any potential storm systems. "Our community needs to be prepared for the upcoming hurricane season," said Sen. Kidani. "Signing up for weather alerts, developing a family emergency plan, and building an emergency kit are all ways to be weather-ready." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Central Pacific Hurricane Center predicts a strong chance of a near- or above-normal hurricane season, which lasts through November 30. This means a probability of five to eight tropical cyclones that will affect the Central Pacific. An average season produces four to five tropical cyclones, which includes tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes. "This is the third season in a row that experts predict to be more active than normal. The community should utilize public resources such as the Central Pacific Hurricane Center or the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency to gather as much information as they can before we enter the latter months of the season," said Sen. Dela Cruz. Officials stress that the outlook is a general guide to the overall seasonal hurricane activity in the Central Pacific basin and does not predict whether, or how many, of these systems will affect Hawai‘i. For questions about the community meeting, please contact Sen. Kidani at 586-7100 or Sen. Dela Cruz at 586-6090. # # # #MichelleKidani #DonovanDelaCruz #Hawaiisenate #Hurricane #MililaniHighSchool #NOAA

Date: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 TIME: 10:30 a.m. PLACE: Conference Room 229 State Capitol - 415 South Beretania Street COMMITTEE ON HOUSING Senator Will Espero, Chair Senator Breene Harimoto, Vice Chair Senator Kaiali‘i Kahele Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran Senator Clarence K. Nishihara COMMITTEE ON HOUSING Rep. Tom Brower, Chair Rep. Nadine K. Nakamura, Vice Chair Rep. Henry J.C. Aquino Rep. Mark J. Hashem Rep. Joy A. San Buenaventura Rep. Sean Quinlan Rep. Bob McDermott A G E N D A The purpose of this joint informational briefing is for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to provide updates on its operations, projects, and goals; with a focus on building affordable or workforce housing. It will include a briefing on the Alder Street Housing project and judiciary components. The following individuals are invited to speak: Craig K. Hirai, Executive Director........... Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation Dee Dee Letts, Coordinator..................... Office of Project Management, First Judicial Circuit Limited public comments regarding affordable housing ideas. FOR AMENDED NOTICES: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda. If you require auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e. ASL or foreign language interpreter, or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the committee clerk at least 24 hours prior to the hearing so that arrangements can be made. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT (808)586-6360. #willespero #breeneharimoto #kaialiikahele #GilbertKeithAgaran #clarencenishihara #tombrower #nadinenakamura #henryaquino #markhashem #joySanBuenabentura #SeanQuinlan #BobMcDermott #criagHirai #deedeeletts #HawaiiHousingfinance

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – More Hawai‘i schools will be getting a break from the heat following the signing of HB957 into law. The bill, now Act 57, authorizes the Department of Education to borrow money, interest-free, from the Hawai‘i Green Infrastructure Loan Program for heat abatement measures in Hawai‘i’s public school classrooms. The Department of Education is expecting significant decreases in energy use and electricity costs through heat abatement efforts including heat reflective material, trees, awnings and ceiling fans. The use of LED indoor lighting in public school classrooms is expected to result in a $4 million drop in energy costs annually. This Act comes on the heels of a $100 million general funds appropriation approved last year (Act 47) for the installation of and equipment for air conditioning, heat abatement, energy efficient lighting, and other energy efficiency measures. Education is one of the priority issues included in the 2017 Hawaii State Senate Legislative Program. “A big mahalo to our state legislators for their support of our efforts to cool the schools. Thank you also to the DOE for its hard work and for helping us to achieve our goal of creating a learning environment in which our students and teachers can thrive,” said Gov. Ige. Other measures introduced this past legislative session in support of education include SB423, which prohibits denying a student a meal for failure to pay within the first 21 days of the first semester of a school year while the student's application for free or reduced lunch is being processed or during the 7 days after the student's meal fund account balance is zero or negative. It authorizes the Department of Education to adopt rules or policies for the collection of funds for negative student meal balances. #heatabatement #hb957 #act57 #departmentofeducation #HawaiiGreenInfrastructure

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – In an effort to alleviate the backlog within the court system and reduce crime and recidivism, Senate Bill 718, which creates a Community Court outreach project in the City and County of Honolulu was signed into law. Intended to function as a mobile justice system for nonviolent offenders, judges go out into the community and have the flexibility to impose alternative sentences, community service and mandatory participation in appropriate rehabilitative programs. The goal of the project is to help nonviolent offenders who face problems such as drug abuse and mental health challenges to obtain basic services and necessities, like food and shelter. According to Honolulu City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, the pilot project has already proven a success. A total of 318 cases have been taken off the calendar. Twenty-one individuals to date have participated in the pilot project with seven completing their community service sentences and five placed in short and long-term housing. The legislature intends to evaluate the community court outreach project during its operational period and determine whether the project should be expanded to other counties of the State. SB718 (Act 55) aligns with the 2017 Senate Legislative Program which committed to supporting efforts for transforming justice to assist the state’s incarcerated and homeless population. #Jilltokuda #KarlRhoads #sb718 #Act55 #KeithKaneshiro #CommunityCourt

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – Hawaii’s coral reefs are in danger of disappearing due to something other than climate change. According to scientific monitoring, the reefs are dying from the toxic effects of local pollution. Researcher Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory and a member of the International Program for the State of the Ocean (IPSO) scientific working group on Personnel Care Product (PCP) pollution, provided details of his latest findings on the stressors putting Hawaii’s coral reefs at risk of extinction at a recent public meeting at the State Capitol. Recent data shows coastal reef sites near populated areas across the state are showing high death rates and diminished redevelopment rates. Studies show nitrogen waste from landscaping and sewage are attributed to coral bleaching, along with water temperature. However, according to Dr. Downs, chemicals such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, listed as “endocrine disruptors” which impact the reproductive and developmental health from corals to humans are adding to the diminishing health of Hawai‘i’s coral reefs. Dr. Downs said this can be easily solved by substituting these chemicals with less harmful ingredients in personal care products. Several bills were introduced this past Legislative Session to mitigate the impact of pollution from oxybenzone. Although they did not pass, Sen. Will Espero (Dist. 19 - ‘Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, ‘Ewa by Gentry, Iroquois Point, portion of ‘Ewa Villages) said he hopes to continue work on legislation to remove the risk of oxybenzone pollution “not only for the protection and preservation of our oceans, but also for our state’s economy and tourism industry.” # # # #willespero #CoralReef #HaerecticusEnvironmental #StateoftheOcean #Oxybenzone #octinotate #endoctrinedisruptors #DrDowns #CraigDowns

WHO: Sen. Will Espero, Friends of Hanauma Bay, Dr. Craig Downs, WHAT: Informational Meeting WHERE: Conference Room 229 Hawai‘i State Capitol WHEN: Wednesday, June 21, 2017 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon Senator Will Espero, in cooperation with the Friends of Hanauma Bay, is co-hosting an informational meeting on Wednesday, June 21 in conference room 229 from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the eroding health of Hawai‘i’s coral reefs due to pollution from personal health products such as sunscreen. During the meeting, Dr. Craig Downs, Executive Director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory will present his latest scientific findings on sunscreen pollution and its damaging impact on Hawai‘i’s coral reefs, including the creation of what researchers call “coral reef zombies.” “The health of our coral reefs is important not only for the protection and preservation of our oceans, but also to our state’s economy and tourism industry,” said Sen. Espero. “Efforts were made to mitigate the toxic effect of pollution from oxybenzone on our coral reefs through a number of bills introduced this past legislative session. Through meetings like this, we’ll continue to work collaboratively with scientists and stakeholders to address the protection of our reefs for future generations.” # # # #willespero #WilliamEspero #CoralReef #HanauaBay #CraigDowns #HaereticusEnvironmentalLaboratory #HawaiiSenate

State legislative leaders have informed the federal government that they will hold a special legislative session within the next two months to deal with providing a funding mechanism for Honolulu’s over-budget rail transit project. Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi and House Speaker Scott K. Saiki announced that they sent a joint letter to the Federal Transit Administration advising the agency of the Legislature’s commitment to convene a special session in July or August. They said no specific dates have been set for the session and no funding mechanism has been agreed upon. “After working with members of our federal delegation, it was deemed necessary and prudent to assure the FTA that the Legislature recognizes and understands the requirements under the Full Funding Grant Agreement between the City and County of Honolulu and the FTA,” according to a statement from Kouchi and Saiki. ** 20160629-3571 BSN HART RAIL CAR GRAFITTI PHOTO BY DENNIS ODA A rail car that was vandalized by graffiti has been wiped off with a solvent by 4 HART (Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation) workers using good old “elbow grease” as told by Dan Grabauskas (exec. dir. and CEO of HART). Grabauskas stood by the car that he said was as good as new as there were no scratches on the surface and the original painting and decals were not damaged after the graffiti was wiped off. The mass transit cars are stored in the Operations & Servicing Building at HART’s Rail Operations Center as seen in the photo. PHOTO BY DENNIS ODA. JUNE 29, 2016. #hawaiisenate #RonKouchi #RonaldKouchi #ScottSaiki #HawaiiLegislature #Rail #HonoluluRail #HonoluluRapidTransit #DennisOda #DanGrabauskas

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – Legislation to help ensure large information technology (IT) projects will have better success and optimal use of public resources was signed into law. Senate Bill 850 requires state departments to conduct independent verification and validation for large IT projects to control state expenditures in a responsible manner. “This came about with the Senate Ways and Means committee and House Finance committee really looking at how to do well with all of our IT upgrades,” said Senator Jill Tokuda (Dist. 24 - Kane‘ohe, MCBH, Kailua, He‘eia, ‘‘Āhuimanu) who introduced the bill. “I know among the priorities of the Governor is fiscal accountability, integrity and IT upgrades, so I think it’s great we can do this and be accountable.” Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) IT Governance Officer Todd Nacapuy, praised the Legislature and the Governor for taking a “proactive approach” to achieve the successful development and implementation of highly technical IT projects. SB 850 (Act 37), takes effect July 1. Other bills signed into law by Governor David Ige include House Bill 942 (Act 35) which authorizes the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to commission an artist to design and build a monument to honor and commemorate Filipino veterans of World War II. “I applaud my legislative colleagues for doing our share in righting the wrongs in neglecting these Filipino veterans, many of whom have passed on,” said Sen. Lorraine Inouye (Dist. 4 - Hilo, Hamakua, Kohala, Waimea, Waikoloa, Kona), who had relatives who served in the war. “I think it is so appropriate that Hawai‘i join the effort to correct this injustice. We can do our part in correcting the broken promises and discriminatory treatment of these veterans who served our nation so admirably during World War II,” said Gov. Ige. For a full list of bills signed by the Governor to date, visit www.capitol.hawaii.gov #technology #Senatebill850 #sb850 #JillTokuda #GovernorIge #HB942 #LorraineInouye

HONOLULU, Hawai‘i - The status of the state’s affordable housing projects led the discussion during the recent joint informational briefing at the State Capitol with the Senate and House Committees on Housing. Committee members heard from Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority Director, Hakim Quansafi, who briefed state lawmakers on the variety of projects aimed at addressing the lack of available public housing for Hawai‘i residents in need of affordable housing. The State has identified a need for an additional 64,700 housing units to meet the projected long-term housing demand. To ease the demand, HPHA is hoping to add thousands of housing units along the Honolulu rail route through a public-private partnership. In total, 10-transit oriented development projects identified by HPHA could add up to 10,600 new housing units in the coming years. Two projects in the early stages of development include the redevelopment of Mayor Wright Housing in Palama and Kuhio Park Terrace in Kalihi. The redevelopment of the Mayor Wright parcel will feature up to 546 housing units and over 40,000 square feet of commercial space. The project would provide new housing for current residents and create additional affordable workforce housing and market-priced units “Unleashing the potential of Honolulu’s rail system with transit-oriented development projects like Mayor Wright will go far in addressing the critical housing shortage our working families face. I look forward to engaging with our state’s housing agencies to identify more state-owned parcels in the urban core that can be developed into high-density affordable housing projects,” said Sen. Espero. According to the HPHA, there currently is a 10-year, $815 million repair and maintenance backlog. In the last Legislative session, lawmakers provided $20.175 million to address the backlog and safety improvements. In an effort to address the affordable housing crunch, Lawmakers passed HB1179 which expands the types of rental housing projects that can be exempt from general excise tax, encouraging the development of rental housing projects targeted for low-income residents. The Legislature also passed SB1244 authorizing the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority to waive its right to repurchase affordable housing units and transfer that right to repurchase to a qualified nonprofit housing trust on the condition the units remain affordable housing units. SCR154 requests the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation to develop a plan to best leverage available state and county resources to develop affordable housing projects, including the transfer of a parcel of land on Maui for the purpose of developing a mixed-use rental housing project. # # # #WillEspero #KarlRhoads #ClarenceNishihara #BreeneHarimoto #hawaiisenate

Ho‘oulu Mea Kanu (Growing Plants), a workshop about sustainability and food safety and security, will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. June 24 at Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science Public Charter School in Pahoa. The event is free and refreshments will be provided. The workshop addresses the questions: What is sustainability? What is the role of state, county and community? How do we integrate traditional Hawaiian values of sustainability? Participants are encouraged to visit “hot topics” tables with information about rapid ohia death, food safety, little fire ants and food preservation. State Sen. Russell Ruderman and County Council member Eileen O’Hara will discuss sustainability, the Hawaii 2050 plan and state and county initiatives. Various presenters will discuss soil-building techniques and share specific knowledge about plant varieties that work for this island climate. Current efforts to build a more sustainable and resilient community also will be discussed. The school is located at 15-1397 Homestead Road. For more information, contact EJ Paterson at ej.paterson@gmail.com. #RussellRuderman #EileenOhara #RapidOhiaDeath #FireAnts #hawaiisenate #HawaiiIsland

HONOLULU, Hawai'i - Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz joined 324 state legislators of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) in a bipartisan effort to call on President Trump to maintain designations of national monuments, following the president’s recent executive order calling for a review of the Antiquities Act. The move could jeopardize national monuments designated by presidents in the past two decades. Since being enacted, the 1906 Antiquities Act has been the subject of 157 designations of national monuments by nearly every previous president beginning with President Theodore Roosevelt, and includes such areas and places as the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Chaco Canyon, Olympic National Park, Muir Woods, and the Statue of Liberty. Presidential actions under the Antiquities Act in many instances led to subsequent congressional action to provide National Park status to these very special areas of natural and archaeological values, scientific and educational interest, and importance in our nation's history and culture. "Hawai‘i is home to four national monuments, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, which is the largest contiguous fully protected conservation area in the United States. Protecting these areas is critical to ensure a legacy of natural and archaeological resources for future generations as well as building resiliency against the effects of clime change." said Sen. Dela Cruz (Dist. 22 - Mililani Mauka, Waipi‘o Acres, Wheeler, Wahiawa, Whitmore Village, portion of Poamoho) Seven other Hawai‘i state legislators signed the letter in support of protecting public lands, including Senators Karl Rhoads (Dist. 13 - Dowsett Highlands, Pu‘unui, Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Palama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown, and Downtown) and Laura Thielen (Dist. 25 - Kailua, Lanikai, Enchanted Lake, Keolu Hills, Maunawili, Waimanalo, Hawai‘i Kai, Portlock). The letter initiated by Washington State Senator Kevin Ranker urges the president to work with Congress and state legislators to increase public funding for the management of all federal lands and water rather than pursuing a pathway that could lead to weakening protections for these important publicly owned areas and sites. "National monuments hold an important place in our history and culture in the United States. No president has attempted to revoke a national monument before," said Jeff Mauk, Executive Director of NCEL. "We urge the president to work with Congress and state legislators to increase funding for public land management and boost the surrounding local economies." Economic benefits also have value in outdoor recreation and tourism. According to the 2017 Outdoor Recreation Economy Report by the Outdoor Industry Association, public lands, including national monuments, national parks, and national wildlife refuges created a significant amount of economic output. "Public support for protecting special places is strong, and many small communities increasingly depend on tourism and the growing outdoor recreation economy," said Ranker. "The effort to eliminate or shrink national monuments risks $45 billion generated nationwide by public lands, including national monuments. NCEL Letter Below: # # # #DonovanDelaCruz #hawaiisenate #jeffmauk #NCEL #karlrhoads #laurathielen #kevinranker #Papahānaumokuākea

WHO: Sen. Will Espero, Rep. Tom Brower, Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority, Hunt Companies Hawai‘i Region WHAT: Joint Informational Briefing WHERE: Conference Room 229 Hawai‘i State Capitol WHEN: Thursday, June 15, 2017 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Senator Will Espero, chair of the Senate Committee on Housing and Representative Tom Brower, chair of the House Committee on Housing will be holding a joint informational briefing on Thursday, June 15, 2017 from 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. in Conference Room 229. The briefing will feature updates from the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) on its current housing program and future housing projects. HPHA, led by Executive Director Hakim Ouansafi, is tasked with developing and managing affordable rental housing, supportive housing, and public housing for the people of Hawai‘i. In addition to HPHA, the committees have invited Mr. Steve Colon, President of Hunt Companies’ Hawai‘i Region, to provide updates on their highly anticipated redevelopment of Mayor Wright Homes. The project is envisioned as one of the many transit-oriented development projects along the Honolulu rail transit corridor. “Unleashing the potential of Honolulu’s rail system with transit-oriented development projects like Mayor Wright will go far in addressing the critical housing shortage our working families face. I look forward to engaging with our state’s housing agencies to identify more state-owned parcels in the urban core that can be developed into high-density affordable housing projects,” said Sen. Espero. The redevelopment of the Mayor Wright parcel will feature up to 546 housing units and over 40,000 square feet of commercial space. The project would provide new housing for current residents and create additional affordable workforce housing and market-priced units. The joint-committee will allow time for public comment at the hearing. Agenda: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2017/hearingnotices/HEARING_HOU-HSG_06-15-17_INFO_.HTM ### #hawaiisenate #hawaiilegislature #WilliamEspero #willespero #Housing #HPHA #HakimOuansafi #SteveColon #MayorWrightHomes #HuntCompanies #HawaiiPublicHousingAuthority