Duane DeSoto of Na Kama Kai Visits the Capitol

By Olena Buriak, International Student Intern

Duane DeSoto is professional longboard surfer. He won the 2010 Oxbow ASP World Longboard Championship, defeating France’s Antoine Delpero in the Final at Makaha. Today he told legislators about his dream to create an ocean education center on the Waianae Coast. Duane is the founder of Na Kama Kai, which brings together ocean culture and lifestyle through innovative programs in a safe learning environment. All programs have been carefully designed by Duane himself to provide rigorous ocean programming for all.

L-R: Dane Wicker (aide to Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz), Olena Buriak, Sen. Shimabukuro, and Duane DeSoto.

Kamehameha Kilohana Waianae Program: Deadline 2/16/16

A new program is coming to the Waiʻanae coast this summer! Apply now for Kamehameha Schools Kilohana Waiʻanae, a 5-week summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) + ʻāina-based learning program that provides math instruction through Hawaiian culture-based education, college and career preparation, hands-on activities and field trips including visits to Oʻahu colleges and universities. Transportation will be provided.

Program dates: June 6 – July 13

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 16, 2016.  Application available: here.

For students entering grades 7 who reside on the Waiʻanae Coast and meet the required academic criteria.  Students who are enrolled in a Kamehameha Schools K-12 campus program are not eligible.

INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS:
Wednesday, 1/27 at 6:00pm at the Community Learning Center at Nānākuli
Wednesday, 2/3 at 6:00pm at Waiʻanae Intermediate School
Dinner will be provided.

Application assistance will be available at each meeting. Bring your student’s last year and current 1st semester report cards to complete your application.

Completed applications can be turned in at the meetings or to the Community Learning Center at Nānākuli during regular business hours or mailed to the specified address.

Hearing Notice: SB 2124, SB 2125

Nanakuli High Exchange Student Comes to Visit – Olena Buriak

Today we have a wonderful intern visiting us from the Ukraine – Olena Buriak (see the group photo below). She is part of a program of international high school students studying abroad for an entire academic school year. She is currently attending Nanakuli High School for her year abroad. The interns got to meet Governor Ige today, as well as sit in on a Senate (and House) floor session and be officially introduced to members of the Legislature. This wonderful program is called the Future Leaders Exchange.

The Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program encourages long-lasti…ng peace and understanding between the U.S. and the emerging democracies of the former Soviet Union. FLEX provides opportunities for high school students (ages 15-17) to spend a year in the United States, living with a volunteer family and attending an American high school. International Hospitality Center, founded in 1976, has been honored to receive U.S. Department of State Grantees on the high school level for the past 23 years.

A little bit about Olena: She is interested in pursuing a career in foreign languages and history. She enjoys ballroom dancing, skiing, skating, swimming, hiking, art. Her interests include: English and German Language Olympiads; Participated in an exchange program to Poland, France, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Olena hails from the Ukraine, lives her mother, their cat, and their dog. She has taken part in ballroom dancing since she was 5 years old. She aspires to continue her education at an American University. While in Hawaii, Olena has been active in sports at school, such as paddling and cross country, and will participate in the School Song Fest.

L-R: Christine West (Legislative Aide), Sara Perry (Committee Clerk), Tori McCann (Legislative Intern, UHWO), Olena Buriak (Student Intern from Ukraine), Sen. Shimabukuro, Colleen Teramae (Office Manager).

Hawaii Farmer’s Union visit: 1-22-16

David Wong, Ken Koike and friends from the Hawaii Farmer’s Union came to visit today to introduce Master Cho’s son to Sen. Shimabukuro. For more information, check out the Hawaii Farmer’s Union page: https://www.facebook.com/Hawaii-Farmers-Union-United-Oahu-Chapter-296416223865842/?fref=ts

 

More from Opening Day – 2016

A few more fun photos from Opening Day at the Capitol – 2016. Mahalo for making my day special by stopping in!

Ku’ikahi Event 2/27/16

I wanted to let you know about this upcoming Community Event: Ku’ikahi Event, Saturday February 27th, 2016 at the Ka’aha’aina Café at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

 

Aha Moku Advisory Committee Visits the Capitol

On 01/21/16, the Aha Moku Advisory Committee (AMAC) visited the Capitol.  The AMAC promotes the Hawaiian system of natural resource management, which has been handed down in oral tradition and practice. It is based on the concept of `ahupua`a, the traditional land and ocean tenure system of Hawaii.  For more information, visit: http://www.ahamoku.org

 Artist Hanalei Hopfe of Wai’anae, Sen. Shimabukuro, and Charlie Ka’a’ai.

 AMAC member Georgianna Navarro of Makaha entertained legislators with song & dance.

 Sen. Shimabukuro posed with AMAC member Richard Hoopi’i.  Hoopi’i is a Grammy Award Winning artist, and an Ukulele and Falsetto legend.  “Richard Hoopi’i is a beautiful living treasure we were blessed to have,” Shimabukuro said.

AMAC Executive Director Leimana DaMate and AMAC member Georgianna Navarro danced for the legislators and Capitol staff.

2016 Legislative Priorities (1/22/16)

Aloha!

Listed below is a partial preview of some of the bill proposals I am working on. More proposals will be added through the end of January. I will also continue to support Capital Improvement Project (CIP) requests for schools, our health center, roads and other areas. Please check future FaceBook postings, neighborhood board reports, and 21maile.com for updates and additions to this list throughout the legislative session.

TRANSPORTATION

Extend the Nanakuli turn lane project so that it runs from Hakimo Road to Nanakuli Avenue.

Extend Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road (WCEAR), from Helelua Street to Piliokahi Avenue.

Study regarding how best to utilize $233m in potential federal funding to widen Farrington Hwy from Kalaeloa to Hakimo Road.

JUDICIARY

Automatic Voter Registration: Driver’s License; Identification Card; Opt-out. Requires that any person who is eligible to vote and applies for a new or renewed motor vehicle driver’s license, provisional license, instruction permit, or identification card shall be automatically registered to vote if that person is not already registered to vote; provided that the applicant did not affirmatively opt-out of automatic voter registration on the application form.

HOUSING

Remove limit of one Section 8 lease per TMK.

Bill to exempt payments from Section 8 home ownership program from food stamp income.

EDUCATION

Air Conditioning for Waianae Coast schools.

Bill to move campaign donations to private schools to the public schools/libraries category.

COMMERCE & CONSUMER PROTECTION

Require mortgage companies to notify home owner of intent to purchase insurance, and provide a reasonable amount of time for the home owner to provide a more affordable policy.

Prohibit homeowners associations from executing judicial foreclosures based solely on non-payment of fines which may be in dispute.

ENVIRONMENT

Land Use Violations: Allow for service of process of land use violation notices via posting on a searchable government website if reasonable attempts to serve by mail and in person are unsuccessful.

Appropriation for the Aha Moku Advisory Committee.

LABOR

Worker’s Compensation Treatment Plans: When the employee prevails in an appeal, requires employers to continue to pay for the employee’s medical treatment plans, even if the employer appeals the appropriateness of the treatment plan. Allows the employer to seek monetary damages from the employee’s treating doctor if the employer successfully shows that the treatment plan was inappropriate.

Provides statutory authority for the Employees Retirement System (ERS) to make direct payment of benefits to a former spouse of a member pursuant to valid court judgment, order, or decree for divorce. Allows for the ERS board to adopt rules to assess fees for filing, for processing costs, and an administrative fee.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

“Hopes Law” animal protection bill.

HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS

Legalize Hawaiian Indigenous Architecture/hale for residential structures.

Resolution to designate the kalo leaf as the official state dish and to establish kalo leaf day/month.

Appropriation of $500,000 to advance the use of Hawaiian language in the Judiciary’s website; funds will be expended by the Judiciary and the University of Hawaii.