HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Jill Tokuda and House Finance Committee Chair Sylvia Luke announced that qualified nonprofit and other organizations will again be able to apply for State Grants-in-Aid (GIA) that may become available and will be under consideration during the 2016 Regular Session. Previous grants were appropriated to nonprofit and other organizations for various public purposes that were recognized as priorities and seen as complimentary to state government functions, including health, educational, workforce development, and social services and cultural and historical activities. In order to allow the Legislature time to thoroughly review applications, the deadline to submit grant applications will be 4:30pm on January 22, 2016. Last year, the Legislature awarded nearly $30 million in grants to non-profits across the state. Information on the GIA process will be made available on the Legislature’s website (www.capitol.hawaii.gov) next week. Any questions, contact the Ways and Means Committee at 808-586-6800 and the Finance Committee at 808-586-6200.

Honolulu, Hawai‘i – Senator Tokuda’s Art Review (STAR) Program will once again be displaying the artwork of students from Windward O‘ahu at the Hawai‘i State Capitol. The artwork from students studying at Kamehameha Preschool at He`eia, Kaneohe Elementary Head Start, Pali View Baptist Preschool, and Rainbow School Kaneohe can be viewed in the chamber level of the State Capitol throughout the months of December and January. “As we take time to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, the artwork of our keiki remind us what is most important,” stated Sen. Tokuda. “Heading into the 2016 Legislative session, their creations will be an ever present reminder of who we represent, even our youngest constituents, and the values and priorities that are important to them.” The STAR Program was established by Senator Jill Tokuda (Dist. 24 – Kāneohe, Kailua, He‘eia, ‘Āhuimanu) in 2007 with the goal of showcasing the artistic expressions of students from Windward O‘ahu and providing them with an opportunity to share their art with the community. Since the spring of 2007, the STAR Program has displayed the artwork of over 2,000 Windward students, rotating annually between public and private schools on the windward side. These schools include ‘Āhuimanu Elementary, ‘Aikahi Elementary, Ben Parker Elementary, He‘eia Elementary, Ka‘elepulu Elementary, Kāne‘ohe Elementary, Ke Kula ‘o Samuel M. Kamakau, Kapunahala Elementary, Le Jardin Academy, Maunawili Elementary, Mōkapu Elementary, Pū‘ōhala Elementary, Hakipu‘u Learning Center PCS, Le Jardin Academy, St. Mark’s Lutheran, Windward Nazarene Academy, King Intermediate, Kamehameha Preschool at He‘eia, Olomana School- Hawai‘i Youth Correctional Facility, Castle High, Kailua High, Kalāheo High, and Windward Community College. The public is welcome to view the artwork at the Hawaii State Capitol, Chamber Level, during normal building hours Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (excluding holidays) and from January 20th, Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, call 587-7215.