In my third State of the State address, I outlined plans to maximize Hawai‘i’s sound fiscal footing and improving economy by focusing on business innovation, food and energy security, early childhood education and kupuna care. To further our economic momentum,
In my third State of the State address, I outlined plans to maximize Hawai‘i’s sound fiscal footing and improving economy by focusing on business innovation, food and energy security, early childhood education and kupuna care.
To further our economic momentum, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui is taking a lead role in expediting construction, repair and maintenance projects, and public-private ventures statewide. These long-range investments — including capital improvement projects on Kaua‘i — are stimulating the island economy and generating local jobs while improving public infrastructure and facilities.
Hawai‘i’s unemployment rate continues to decline over the last year, falling to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.2 percent in December (the non-seasonally adjusted rate was 4.8 percent). The last time our unemployment rate was 5.2 or less was October 2008, prior to the height of the recession. On Kaua‘i, the non-seasonally adjusted rate was 6 percent in December, which is down from 7.8 percent just one year prior.
To strengthen the local agriculture industry, my administration is aggressively promoting state agency purchases of Hawai‘i agricultural products to provide a consistent and regular market for island goods. Efforts are also under way to increase access to capital for local farmers and ranchers by expanding the state Department of Agriculture’s loan programs.
In the area of energy, I have proposed increased use of liquefied natural gas and the establishment of the Hawai‘i Refinery Task Force to serve as a collaboration of government energy industries and utilities to immediately work on short- and long-term findings and recommendations. LNG in particular can reduce energy costs and reduce our carbon footprint because the resource is abundant, available, and the technology exists for us to use it now.
Early childhood education is a key cornerstone my New Day Plan, and I am committed to giving Hawai‘i’s children the best opportunity for school success through a strong early learning program. In addition, caring for our aging kupuna is another top priority. As such, I have asked the Legislature to increase the Kupuna Care budget by $4.2 million and make it permanent.
These and other initiatives outlined in my State of the State address provide a roadmap that leads us toward a time of greater opportunity for future generations of Hawai‘i.
Emergency Proclamation
in Response to 2012 Fires
Earlier this month, I issued an executive order allowing the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to proceed with emergency actions in response to the Kaua‘i fires of summer 2012, which were the largest and most significant wildfires on Kaua‘i island since the 1960s.
Having this emergency proclamation in place empowers DLNR to act swiftly to take the necessary actions to prevent further serious environmental damage. The order also aids in the conversion of a forest dominated by non-native species to a greater abundance of native forest and understory species for improved watershed health.
Between May to August 2012, approximately 3,000 acres burned in West Kaua‘i, including 1,012 forest acres that burned in the Na Pali-Kona Forest Reserve, Pu‘uka Pele Forest Reserve and Kuia Natural Area Reserve, damaging or putting at risk local wildlife and native ecosystems. Even prior to the emergency proclamation, DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife took critical remediation steps to reduce harmful environmental conditions and ensure public safety, including ongoing consultation with local and regional experts to develop a forest restoration management plan.
But additional immediate action is needed to stabilize and minimize the long-term ecological impacts to the mauka forests and marine ecosystems from heavy rains, downed woody debris and runoff.
The emergency proclamation’s principal objectives are to remove dead standing trees along roads, establish ground cover to stabilize soils that are exposed and prone to erosion, implement measures to prevent flooding, landslides and sedimentation on coral reefs, and offset invasive plant colonization with native plant establishment in open burned areas. It will also facilitate efforts to re-establish access to important hiking and hunting areas, restore hydrological and groundwater functions provided by upland forested watersheds and enhance native species habitat through reforestation efforts.
I invite you to read the emergency proclamation, as well as my entire State of the State address, at http://governor.hawaii.gov.
• Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s guest column runs monthly.
