Tuesday, February 14, 2012 (agenda-pdf)

The North Kona district grew by 37% in the past ten years. Come, listen, and ask your questions about these important projects.

• Is our road infrastructure keeping up with North Kona’s growth?
• When will the Queen Ka’ahumanu phase two widening start and be completed?
• What County road projects are coming up?
• When will the Palamanui Campus road be finished?

Guest speakers:

• Roger Harris, Director of Government Affairs, Palamanui LLC
• Warren Lee, Director of Hawaii County Department of Public Works
• Sal Panem, State Department of Transportation Highway District Manager

Bring your questions to the Tuesday, February 14 Kona Town Meeting at the Makaeo Pavilion at the old Kona airport. It starts at 6 PM and concludes at 8 PM.

January 10, 2010

The Hawaii State Legislature begins its 2012 session on January 18, 2012.

• How will the Reapportionment plan and the pending lawsuits possibly change our Legislative representation next year?
• What are our West Hawaii Legislators planning for the upcoming Legislative session?

Michael Matsukawa—Reapportionment

Every 10 years, the State of Hawaii evaluates census data to redraw district lines for reapportionment. This task, as many of you know, has been filled with much controversy, some of which was due to the classification of military and college students as residents. The final decision had not been made as of this meeting. Possible new seats:

• 1 Senate seat — Big Island
• 1 Senate seat — Kauai
• 1 House seat — Big Island
• 1 House seat — Maui

You can keep informed of the updates in this process here.

State Representative Denny Coffman, Chair of Energy and Environmental Protection

 2012 Legislative Priorities

As Chair of Energy and Environmental Protection:

• Organization of Utilities that provide electricity: Consolidation—state-wide rates—role: transmission, distribution and reliability only.
• PUC directive to focus on replacing fossil fuel electric generation facilities with geothermal resources.
• Change laws to facilitate geothermal exploration, eliminate geothermal subzones and remove leases from EIS requirements.
• Single use bag fees to provide incentives for reusable bags.
• Transition our ethanol facility tax credit into a renewable fuels facility and agricultural bio-fuels feedstock tax credit.

As a Representative of District 6 (West Hawaii):

• Remain focused on planning and building of the West Hawaii Court House complex.
• Remain focused on supporting the building of the West Hawaii Community College.
• Remain focused on DOT projects: Airport modernization and Highway projects.
• New legislation to transfer state property in and around the Honokohau Harbor to the Hawaii Community Development Authority as a community development project.
• Obtain funding for a frontage road in NELHA to provide access to Ka’imi’nani Drive for egress into and out of the property after the widening of the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway to four lanes.

State Representative Cindy Evans, House Majority Floor Leader

Thank you for the opportunity to serve and represent you at the State Legislature. We begin this legislative session with high hopes and cautious optimism. Given the uncertainty of the global economy and cost of oil, the general feeling is the economy in 2012 will be flat.

The chairs of the House and Senate Committees have been working on legislation specific to their subject matter, such as, energy, health, and transportation. I anticipate lots of ideas to be considered and I’m hopeful that we shall make progress in economic growth, public safety, education, healthcare, government efficiency and accountability, local agriculture, renewable energy, workforce development, safe roads and infrastructure.

Having listened to concerns and ideas to improve quality of life, reduce government spending, and embrace innovation and technology, I’ve drafted legislation for consideration including, but not limited to:

• Driving under influence
• Aquarium fish
• Illegal vacation rentals
• Food safety
• Truancy
• Transitional housing
• Access to healthcare
• Outdoor recreation
• Land use

I know that our main goal is job creation and stimulating the economy. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. I hope you follow what subjects interest you and provide input.

State Senator Josh Green, Senate Health Committee Chairman

Two hospitals on Oahu closed with 900+ jobs lost.

2012 Legislative Priorities

• Strengthen Hospitals
• Doctors and RNs to rural areas via loan repayment and residency programs
• Reduce toxic contamination in tap water

1. Chromium-6.
2. Arsenic
3. Aspertane

• Clean Air by reducing toxic contamination
• Stricter DUI laws

Kona Town Meetings are held 6pm-8pm on the second Tuesday of each month, Sept through May at the Makaeo Events Pavilion at the Old Kona Airport Park (dates subject to change based on speaker availability and other scheduled events).  

Admission is free and everyone is invited to attend and participate.

Resources for the September 13, 2011 Kona Town Meeting

Article in West Hawaii Today

Honokohau Harbor and Kailua Kona Pier Projects Update

What are the DLNR’s plans to improve Honokohau Harbor?

Dan Mersburgh, agent for Honokohau and Kawaihae harbors, spoke on behalf of Department of Land and Natural Resources Chairman William Aila who was unable to attend.

Papers have been submitted to Federal Emergency Management Agency for repairs from the March 2011 tsunami:

• Kailua Pier, $1.4 million
• Keauhou Small Boat Harbor,  $550,000
• Honokohau Small Boat Harbor,  $12,000

“We will front the money to do the repairs and then be reimbursed by FEMA afterward,” Dan said.

The $591,000 project to replace the makai loading dock at Honokohau Small Boat Harbor will begin soon.

Kona Judiciary Complex Project Update

Where will the new State Courthouse be built in Kona?

Ms. Dawn West, Deputy Chief Administrator, Hawaii State Courts said there are seven possible sites located between Palani Road and Hina Lani Street. Each site is being studied for possible environmental impacts. Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Mark Recktenwald is expected to select a site in early 2012. The complex is slated to open in 2017.

West Hawaii Community College Project Update

When will the new West Hawaii Community College be ready?

Dr. John Morton, Vice President of Hawaii Community Colleges said the University of Hawaii officials remain committed to a community college at Palamanui. Work on the 78-acre Palamanui campus could begin as early as May 2012, assuming all necessary county permits are obtained. Construction is expected to take about 18 months.

Video interview of Dr. John Morton by Sherry Bracken

Resources of the September 14, 2010 Kona Town Meeting

Office of Mauna Kea Management

Stephanie Nagata, Interim Director

The Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) is the primary agency responsible for the University of Hawaii (UH) management areas on Mauna Kea.

The mission of OMKM is to achieve harmony, balance and trust in the sustainable management and stewardship of Mauna Kea Science Reserve through community
involvement and programs that protect, preserve and enhance the natural, cultural and
recreational resources of Maunakea while providing a world-class center dedicated to
education, research and astronomy.

Kahu Ku Mauna Council

Ed Stevens, Chair

Kahu Ku Mauna (Guardians of the Mountain) is a nine-member council named by the Mauna Kea Management Board (MKMB). The council advises the MKMB, Office of Mauna Kea Management (OMKM) and UH Hilo Chancellor in Hawaiian cultural matters affecting the Mauna Kea Science Reserve.

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

Ka’iu Kimura, Executive Director

Founded with the understanding of the need for a comprehensive educational facility, ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i showcases the connections between the rich traditions of Hawaiian culture and the groundbreaking astronomical research conducted at the summit of Maunakea.

‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i – bringing community together by weaving today’s newest astronomy findings and Hawai‘i’s cultural heritage into a compelling story of human exploration.

Thirty Meter Telescope

Sandra Dawson, Site Manager

Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), astronomy’s next-generation observatory, will be the most advanced and capable telescope on Earth. TMT will take us on an exciting journey of discovery that will explore the origin of galaxies, and uncover previously hidden details of our universe.

The Thirty Meter Telescope is committed to integrating culture, science, sustainability, and education into the project. The TMT project is an international partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and ACURA, an organization of Canadian universities. The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) began its participation in TMT in 2009.

The National Astronomical Observatory of China and the Department of Science and
Education of India has entered into TMT as Observers toward defining a future role in the
project.