Civil Legal Services

Prince Kuhio Day Parade application

 

 

DHHL Launches Beneficiary Consultation on Proposed Rule Changes

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is kicking off a series of statewide meetings seeking beneficiary input on proposed rule changes related to the following topics:

•Genetic Testing: Proposes DHHL accept DNA tests to establish family ties in order to qualify for the Hawaiian Home Lands program.

•Lease Transfer: Proposes a process and requirements for transferring a vacant homestead lot (i.e. a lot with no home or other improvements built upon the land).

•Subsistence Lots: Proposes a new option in DHHLʻs agricultural program that supports a subsistence rural lifestyle.

The DHHL is currently re-examining the Administrative Rules governing department operations, and proposing to remove, add, or modify these rules to meet the changing needs and priorities of our beneficiaries. The department plans to propose several rule changes throughout the course of this administration. This first round of proposed rule changes are in direct response to beneficiary feedback the department received over the years.

The rulemaking process could take up to two years to complete. The schedule of meetings is on their website here: http://dhhl.hawaii.gov/2015/10/26/dhhl-launches-beneficiary-consultation-on-proposed-rule-changes/

Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization (OMPO) needs testimony!

I have submitted written testimony to OMPO regarding ORTP priorities for projects on our coast. These are road work projects, such as adding an extra lane on Farrington Hwy. You can submit your own testimony as well! Their next meeting is April 13th, so please submit by March 28th for it to be included! You can submit directly via the website, or by following the instructions at the bottom of this post. Here is my testimony, which you can use as a model:

Aloha Oahu MPO:

Several ORTP projects fall within State Senate District 21(Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Waianae Coast):

— Road-widening from Kalaeloa to Hakimo Road (Project 54/351);

— Waianae by-pass road (Project 708);

— multiple safety improvements (Project 51); and

— Farrington Hwy. realignment at Makaha Surfing Beach (Project 50).

I want to express my support for these as well as any and all projects that further motorist and pedestrian safety, ease traffic congestion, improve commutes for residents, bring better road infrastructure, and increase transportation access for the Leeward coast in general.

As you know, Farrington Hwy. is the only access for residents of Makaha, Waianae, Maili, Nanakuli, Ko Olina, and Honokai Hale. With only two lanes in each direction, even minor issues like a stalled vehicle can create hours of traffic backlog, adding to an already brutal commute. Subsequently, with our ever worsening traffic problems, residents are pleading for fruition of an alternate route or by-pass road, highway widening, and other traffic improvements to be moved forward on the timeline of ORTP projects. I would like to urge the Board to consider this edit in their upcoming review.

Specifically, I ask that you consider the Kalaeloa to Hakimo Road widening (Project 54/351) on the draft ORTP 2040 be changed from the “Long-Range Projects” to the “Short-Range Projects” list. It is imperative that planning, design and construction work begin on this project immediately, due to resident concerns and the horrendous traffic encountered on a daily basis, at all hours. My understanding is that DOT is also urging OMPO to bump up Project 54/351 as an extension of their current turn lane project in Nanakuli.

I woud also like to see Project 50 (included on the Table 3: project list for “Short-Range Projects” or “Mid-Range Projects”) adjusted in level of priority on the ORTP 2040 and NOT listed under the series 700 “Illustrative Projects” which have no potential for funding. As recently covered on TV news, erosion continues to pose a serious safety threat at Makaha Surfing Beach. Moving the highway further mauka could vastly improve safety. (See: http://m.hawaiinewsnow.com/hawaiinewsnow/db_349774/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=56Z77jOG)

While one geographic area should not have higher priority solely because of traffic, I would like to point out that nearly every other community on Oahu has some sort of an alternate access route. The Waianae coast is lacking that completely. (Note: Kole Kole Pass and the Waianae Coast Emergency Access Road offer only very limited emergency access).

I would like to thank OMPO for all of your hard work, and for taking the time to hear my testimony. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at the above phone and email.

Aloha ,

Senator Maile Shimabukuro

http://www.oahumpo.org/get-involved/public-review-and-comment/march-2016-review-of-draft-documents/

Submit comments to the website (above), by emailing OahuMPO (OahuMPO@OahuMPO.org); by fax at (808) 587-2018; or by mailing written comments to:

OahuMPO

attn: ORTP2040

707 Richards Street, Suite 200

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Hawaii State Judicary Warns Public About Court Phone Scam

 

Hawaii State Judiciary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2016
Hawaii State Judiciary Warns Public About Court Phone Scam
HONOLULU, HI – The Hawaii State Judiciary has received a report of a new phone scam. A caller claiming to be from the courts asserts that an individual’s driver’s license has been suspended due to unpaid traffic citations. The caller asks for the individual’s credit card number to pay for the citations so that the driver’s license suspension can be removed. The caller’s phone number may appear blocked on a phone’s Caller ID.

Hawaii residents are advised not to provide any personal information or credit card numbers to callers claiming to be from the courts. In general, the public will not be contacted the Hawaii State Judiciary for official business by phone or email.

 

If you have received a phone call that you think may be a scam, please contact the Hawaii State Judiciary Communications and Community Relations Office at pao@courts.hawaii.gov or call (808) 539-4909.

You may also visit the Judiciary’s website where a list of reported scams is posted: http://www.courts.state.hi.us/general_information/scam_alerts.html

LCC student Raezheen Pascua interviews Sen. Shimabukuro for class paper

On March 4th, 2016, LCC student and Makaha resident Raezheen Pascua interviewed Senator Maile Shimabukuro as part of Professor Joanne Little’s (Social Work program) course at Leeward Community College. The interview covered Senate Bill 2560 SD1 and also clarified the senator’s position in support of it.  

SB 2560 “Requires and appropriates funds for the department of health to provide treatment and care for homeless individuals with serious and persistent mental health challenges as a part of its comprehensive mental health system. (SD2).”  Here is a link to the bill’s status:

http://capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2560&year=2016

Disaster Preparedness Workshops

ARE YOU PREPARED?!?!? Attend FREE Disaster Preparedness Workshops every 3rd Wednesday of the month.

@ Waianae District Park
85-601 Farrington Hwy, Waianae, HI 96792
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Topics:
• Waianae Coast Disaster Readiness Team building
• Hazard Awareness (Tsunami, Hurricanes, Flooding, etc.)
• Disaster Preparedness
• Understanding Disaster Risks
• Developing a Community Emergency Plan

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Wednesday, March16, 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2016

For more information, contact us at:
Tel. 808-255-8669 or Email: arockda@aol.com

Happy Girl’s Day from the Senate

Yesterday was Girl’s Day or Hinamastsuri in Japanese dates back to the to the Heian Period ( 794-1185 A.D) from the custom hinanagashi. Hinanagashi or “doll floating” is custom where dolls are set afloat down a rive to take away bad sprits. This practice was stopped after fishermen ended up catching the dolls in their nets. As a continuation of the tradition  girls are given ornamental Japanese dolls. The office Senate Maile Shimabukuro hopes that all the girls had a wonderful Girl’s Day.