HONOLULU — The 2012 state Legislature opened Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol in Honolulu without much of the pagentry of previous years. After the initial address, legislators had lunch and at 2 p.m. they went to work,
HONOLULU — The 2012 state Legislature opened Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol in Honolulu without much of the pagentry of previous years.
After the initial address, legislators had lunch and at 2 p.m. they went to work, said Sen. Ron Kouchi, D-Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau.
“It was very quiet because of the lack of entertainment and all the pomp,” said Kouchi, adding that last year’s opening ceremony cost about $50,000. But times have been tough for everybody, he said, and it would not be appropriate and respectful for the people of Hawai‘i to spend that much money again on a fancy ceremony.
For the next four months, state representatives and senators will be making decisions that could ultimately affect Kaua‘i.
“The decisions that need to be made must have benefits that sustain beyond our existence,” Rep. Derek Kawakami, D-14th District, said. “The benefactors of our work are the keikis and the next generations that follow.”
In today’s world, shrunk because of technological advances, we have groomed ourselves for the wonders of instant gratification. But most great things have not happened overnight, he said. Often times the benefits will be seen down the road.
“This to me is what sacrifice is all about,” said Kawakami, adding that Hawai‘i’s residents make sacrifices on a daily basis.
Kouchi said he believes legislators should continue to move the economy forward by adopting the Senate majority’s position of stimulating job creation by emphasizing smaller projects to address aging infrastructure.
Such approach, he said, would maximize utilization and extend the life of state assets and facilities.
Rep. Jimmy Tokioka, D-15th District, said he supports the continued funding of the contra flow on the section of Kuhio Highway from Wailua to Hanama‘ulu on Saturdays.
“The request was made last year and the governor’s administration highways division, under the direction of District Highways engineer Ray McCormick, have been doing the work on Saturdays, alleviating the traffic on the busiest state highway corridor on Kaua‘i,” he said.
Another issue mentioned by Tokioka was Act 170, which allows the county
