HONOLULU — Kaua‘i state lawmakers say they will focus this legislative session on education, affordable housing, infrastructure, energy and the environment. Democratic Sen. Gary Hooser said yesterday that he and state representatives Mina Morita (D-14th District), Jimmy Tokioka (D-15th District)
HONOLULU — Kaua‘i state lawmakers say they will focus this legislative session on education, affordable housing, infrastructure, energy and the environment.
Democratic Sen. Gary Hooser said yesterday that he and state representatives Mina Morita (D-14th District), Jimmy Tokioka (D-15th District) and Roland Sagum (D-16th District) will work as a team to keep funding successful programs and introduce a wide variety of initiatives specific to the Garden Isle.
As the state Legislature opens a new session today at the Capitol in Honolulu, members from the two chambers will start prioritizing a plethora of bills from county councils, constituents, law enforcement and women’s caucuses.
The 25 senators and 51 representatives have 60 working days in the midst of an election year to hammer out new laws before session adjourns May 1.
One priority, Hooser said, will be ensuring the state implements highway projects that the Legislature has already funded.
Two widening projects will make Kuhio Highway four lanes from Kuamo‘o Road to the Kapa‘a Bypass south entrance, helping to alleviate consistent traffic congestion. Some design work has been completed, but construction has not begun as the environmental process continues, state Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.
The Kaua‘i senator said he will also press for support for “major infrastructure work” at small boats harbors on the South Shore and Westside.
Portions of the Port Allen pier are condemned and some slips have collapsed. Kikiaola Harbor needs substantial work too.
Beyond boats, public schools and the University of Hawai‘i need funding for facility improvements, repairs and maintenance, Hooser said.
Especially on Kaua‘i, Morita said, it is a priority to make sure smaller schools get proper funding under the new student-weighted formula.
State legislators will honor the three University of Hawaii WAC championship teams for their hard work and dedication to collegiate athletics at opening day festivities this morning at the Capitol, a state news release says.
Other than infrastructure, Kaua‘i lawmakers will go green by working together to streamline renewable energy projects and make recycling easier.
“We’re looking at creating a special position that would be responsible for permitting renewable energy projects,” Hooser said. “Right now, you have to go to the state, the county … through a lot of bureaucratic red tape. A lot of projects are stalled because of this bureaucracy. This position will help unstick them.”
He said the initiative would address a “universal theme” that renewable energy companies have articulated — “permitting is very complex.”
On Kaua‘i, Gay & Robinson Ag-Energy last year unveiled a multi-faceted “energy plantation” and Green Energy Hawai‘i is working to secure permits for its proposed biomass-to-energy plant. Neither company has started construction.
“It’s not about cutting corners, just about maneuvering the maze,” Hooser said.
When asked how the state will make recycling easier, the senator said more facilities will be added to increase convenience.
There are no plans to implement curbside recycling, which he said is essentially a county decision.
Morita, who chairs the Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, said she plans to introduce a bill that would require retail stores more than 75,000 square feet to become redemption centers for the Bottle Bill.
“We have to make it convenient,” she said.
After the Hawaii Superferry fiasco, Morita said, there is more emphasis on state environmental protection law, Chapter 343.
The representative said she will pick up a 2006 initiative that stalled that year after the administration failed to encumber the funds to conduct a comprehensive review of the 30-year-old law.
Sagum said he signed a dam bill yesterday, along with the other three Kaua‘i legislators, that could protect the livelihoods of North Shore farmers who depend on water from Ka Loko reservoir. The state has threatened to plug it up if insurance concerns are unresolved.
“We shouldn’t let the liability issues overshadow the need for agriculture to be viable in Hawai‘i,” Morita said. “The first thing is public safety, but we can’t get so bogged down in liability issues that water needs aren’t met. There’s middle ground.”
The bill proposes a study that would provide background information on how best to manage reservoirs and irrigation, she said.
After passing a historic bill last year to significantly slash greenhouse gas emissions, the senator said local lawmakers will continue supporting that effort by investing in research to do the work that makes it a reality.
In an environmental proposal specific to Kaua‘i, Hooser said there are plans to introduce legislation that would require cruise ships to burn cleaner fuel when docked at Nawiliwili Harbor.
Niumalu residents who live near the busy port have advocated for such a law to provide relief from the pollution.
Critical to all residents and visitors, Sagum said, is a bill to fund the civil air patrol — a statewide system that assists with tsunami warnings.
Money is unavailable to train the pilots that fly out and caution people on beaches that are unaware there is a warning, the representative said.
Sagum also said he will support more funding for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, primarily a rural community hospital system. On the Garden Isle, these public facilities are Mahelona Medical Center in Kapa‘a and Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Center in Waimea.
The representative said he will create legislation to keep Koke‘e State Park leaseholders going and further long-term planning efforts there. Lawsuits continue to play out on the fate of numerous rustic Westside cabins prized by community members.
Hooser said he will push for continued funding for the “dwelling unit revolving fund” — which provides money for developers who build affordable housing.
The proposal provides $70 million in low interest loans for both rental and for sale projects statewide, he said.
The Kaua‘i County Council in its legislative package for this session proposed bills to improve liability protection for all counties and appropriate money for three local projects.
The county wants matching funds for a ball field and recreational facility light system retro-fit, habitat conservation plan and Wailua Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade.
The Women’s Legislative Caucus will unveil its 2008 package today.
“Our package is composed of a number of issues that support women and families in the community,” Co-Chair Rep. Marilyn B. Lee (D-38th District) said in an e-mail yesterday. “Domestic violence intervention is a major community concern, which a large cross section of the Legislature supports. The women’s caucus cannot survive without significant support from our male colleagues and we are confident that a large number of them will be signing on to our bills.”
Some of the caucus’ proposed bills push for stronger laws to stop abuse and human trafficking.
The Hawaii Law Enforcement Coalition on Monday announced its package of six bills designed to protect the public, to protect children and adults from sex offenders, to protect victims of domestic violence and to reform laws regarding testimony.
The state attorney general, prosecuting attorneys, police chiefs from all four counties and the U.S. attorney for the Hawai‘i district comprise the coalition.
Hawaiians and taro farmers are expected to protest genetically modified organisms and call for laws that stop this practice today at the Capitol.
Most legislators must also juggle re-election campaigns this session.
Voters on Nov. 4 will decide whether to renew terms for the entire House and half the Senate.
The Republican Party will try to add on to the 11 seats members now hold as Democrats work to keep their strong majority.
