Senator Mike Gabbard (D)

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are all doing well and looking forward to a wonderful Christmas and holiday season with your friends, family, and loved ones. If I can help you or your ‘ohana in any way, please contact me at (808) 586-6830, or send me an email at [email protected]. I also invite you to follow me on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.





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Listen Story Community Meeting

On Saturday, Jan 21, 9-10am I'll be hosting my first Listen Story meeting of 2023! The meeting is a hybrid, so people can attend either in-person at the Kapolei High School Teachers' Lounge, or via Zoom. Our Special Guest Kiran Polk, Executive Director of the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce, will be providing an overview of what initiatives the Kapolei Chamber is working on, and will share about the Business Revitalization Task Force and their priorities. There will be time for Q & A. Following Kiran's presentation, I'll give some quick community updates. Please send me an email at [email protected] to RSVP or for the link to join via Zoom.

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UH West O‘ahu Academy of Creative Media Grand Opening

The Academy of Creative Media at UH West O‘ahu had its grand opening on Friday, Nov 18, with over 300 guests! Although the facility was completed in 2020 with students taking classes in 2021, COVID delayed the much-anticipated grand opening. The $37 million-dollar state-of-the-art facility offers courses such as Mobile App Development, Game Development & Design, Social Media courses, Video Production, and so much more. Features of the academy include a mill shop for constructing projects that students dream up, a 100-seater Dolby Atmos screening room, and a gaming/e-sports room with 24 gaming stations!

The grand opening of this amazing facility goes hand-in-hand with UH West O‘ahu's fastest-growing degree program – the Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media. The Student Production Center is designed to encourage and support Hawai‘i's creative sector, which includes the state's ever-growing film and television production industry. This creative sector includes the film, music, digital media, and arts industries, and accounts for nearly 54,000 jobs across the state. You can read more about the degrees offered at UH West O‘ahu here: Creative Media - University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu (hawaii.edu) This academy almost makes me want to go back to school 😉

 (My Community Liaison Jhanavi Pomerantz with Governor Josh Green at UH West O‘ahu's Nov 18 Grand Opening of the Academy of Creative Media.)

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MA‘O Organic Farms Site Visit

I had a wonderful visit on December 10, to MA‘O Organic Farms on the westside of O‘ahu, with a group of 11 folks who had traveled here from across the country to attend The Council of State Governments National Conference (CSG) 12/7-10. Some of the conference attendees, in addition to being state legislators, were farmers as well. I thought it'd be fun to show them first-hand what an amazing operation we have here at MA‘O. So, on the last day of the conference, my staff and I, along with 11 visitors from Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin, even Saipan (largest island in the Northern Mariana Islands - about 120 mi north of Guam), piled into a mini-van for the hour-long ride from Waikiki to Wai‘anae…

MA‘O was born and founded by Gary and Kukui Maunakea-Forth in 2001. I first got wind of this amazing duo when I was on the City Council between 2003-2005. I was impressed with their vision, and even more impressed when I visited their farm. I spoke with some of the interns (18-25 years of age) who arrive for work while it's still dark, and wearing headlamps, harvest the micro-greens destined for Four Seasons, FoodLand, Whole Foods, and other hotels and businesses. I heard and felt the passion in their voices and hearts about doing something positive for their families and for their community, to counter the bad rap the Wai‘anae Coast sometime gets in the media and elsewhere.

The average age of our farmers in the state is 61. And we import about 90% of our food at a cost of around $3 billion, every year, which is just stupid. In my humble opinion, what MA‘O is doing just might hold the key to the future of agriculture in Hawai‘i and on the mainland. It's my sincere hope and dream that we replicate MA‘O Farms on each of the islands in Hawai‘i nei. I'll continue to champion policies that can support making this a reality.

Meanwhile, many mahalos to MA‘O Farms for teaching our youth the value of aloha, respect, aloha ‘āina (love for the land) and the willingness to work hard. Mahalo for connecting two of our most precious assets--our ‘āina, that which feeds, and our ‘opio, our youth. You're not just growing food, you're growing young leaders. Your efforts are empowering our community to move towards self-sufficiency.

(Senator Gabbard at a MA‘O Organic Farms tour on Dec. 10. (Pictured L-R: Rep. Denita Yangetmai; Rep. Sonya Harper and daughter, Sophia; Meg Turner, Office Mgr; Sen. Gabbard; Sen. Bill and Margaret Hansell; Rep. Laurie and Bill Lickley; Sen. Roger Victory; Gary Maunakea-Forth; Rep. Jodi (and Julian – not pictured) Emerson; Senator Gary and Amy Cammack; Paula Hicks Hudson.))

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Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa

Princess Abigail Kinohiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa passed peacefully at her Nu‘uanu residence on Sunday evening, Dec. 11, 2022, at the age of 96. Her passing was announced the morning of Dec.12, by the Kawānanakoa Family, the Hale O Nā Ali‘i O Hawai‘i royal Hawaiian society, and ‘Iolani Palace.

Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa was born on April 23, 1926, as the daughter of Lydia Liliuokalani Kawānanakoa and William Jeremiah Ellerbrock. Her mother was the daughter of Prince David Kawānanakoa and Princess Abigail Campbell Kawānanakoa.

Princess Abigail was the largest shareholder of the Campbell company, formerly known as the Campbell Estate. She was an avid supporter and funder of the beloved Merrie Monarch Festival. The princess saved ‘Iolani palace from destruction and maintained it with her personal funds, as well as being instrumental in donating the land that UH West O‘ahu stands on. We remember the princess and her countless humanitarian projects in the spirit of aloha. (Photo by Joe Pacheco, Bishop Museum, of Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawānanakoa.)

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CSG Conference

I attended The Council of State Governments (CSG) conference from Dec 7-10 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. It was the first time in 25 years that this National Conference has been in Hawai‘i! State leaders from across the country and from all branches of government got to experience our legendary aloha hospitality. Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments is the nation's largest nonpartisan organization serving all three branches of state elected and appointed officials. It was awesome meeting folks from all over the U.S. and being able to share our mana‘o – ideas and thoughts – with each other!

Sessions at the conference included a wide variety of categories, such as Education & Workforce, Leadership Development, Health Care, Technology, Elections, and of course my favorite…Agriculture 😉 A very important session was in anticipation of the next Farm Bill in September 2023, where a panel of state agriculture officials and experts in the industry discussed what to expect and highlighted key issues that various states have recently faced. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 – commonly known as the Farm Bill – reauthorizes through Fiscal Year 2023, and modifies Department of Agriculture programs that address a huge range of issues. Some of these include: trade and international food aid, rural development, farm credit, forestry, energy, and agriculture and food defense. It was great being able to discuss such an important topic in person at the conference. (Senator Gabbard attended the Council of State Governments (CSG) Conference from Dec 7-11.)

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New Governor

On December 5th, I had the pleasure of attending the inauguration and swearing-in of our ninth Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, Josh Green, M.D. Governor Green was sworn in at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, in front of a lively crowd of about a thousand people. The ceremony was also live-streamed on Facebook. Sylvia Luke was also sworn in as Lt. Governor for the State of Hawai‘i, making history as the first person of Korean ancestry elected to statewide office. AlohaCongrats, Gov! Looking forward to continuing working with you in your new role. If you get bored, come back to the Senate! (On December 5th, Senator Gabbard attended the inauguration and swearing-in of the ninth Governor of the State of Hawai‘i, Josh Green, M.D.)

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Red Hill: What's Happening Now?

Things aren't looking good for the Navy's credibility and their efforts to clean up the tanks at their Red Hill facility. Frankly, it's looking worse, especially for the folks that depend on those aquifers for their water. Probably most of you have heard of the PFAS leak by now… If I asked you this time last year, probably not. But we should have. In addition to the disastrous fuel leaks, we learned recently of yet another toxic leak at the Navy's Red Hill underground fuel facility. On Nov. 29, approximately 1,100 gallons of toxic fire-suppressing foam leaked at the Red Hill fuel facility. The firefighting foam contains toxic chemicals known as Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) - also known as "forever chemicals" because they won't easily break down in the environment. PFAS chemicals are also linked to cancer and other health problems. While the military says the cleanup of contaminated soil in the immediate spill site has been completed, PFAS has been known by the Navy to be leaking into our soil for over a year now. Why are we just now learning about this? Unfortunately, Red Hill's firefighting system has been dysfunctional for years, according to military records. Fortunately, according to the health department, the spill is not expected to have an impact on the water supply located 100 feet below the Red Hill tanks.

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Have any Bill Ideas?

Hard to believe our 2023 Legislation session is just around the corner! (Opening Day is January 18!) My staff and I are hard at work compiling the bills for introduction. Please take a few minutes, if you're so inclined, to get involved in the process by sending me an idea for legislation. It doesn't have to be a fully fleshed out idea… a few bullets will do. State the problem which is top of mind for you, propose a possible solution, and whether or not you think it will take funding to implement. Would love to get your input on what we can do here at State Government to improve our beloved Hawai‘i nei!

Aloha e Friends,

First, mahalo to all the folks in Senate District 21 who came out to vote. I'm thrilled for the win and honored to have been given another four years to call you my boss. To all who voted for me to continue serving as your senator at the State Capitol, I'll try my best to help you in any way I can. For those of you who didn't vote for me, or didn't vote at all, I'll be your voice in the State Senate for the next four years, so don't hesitate to contact me for any reason at (808) 586-6830, or [email protected]. I also invite you to follow me on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.






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Listen Story Community Meeting

On Saturday, Oct. 22, 9-10am I held my second in-person Listen Story since the shut down in 2020. The meeting was a hybrid, so people attended in-person at the Kapolei High School Teachers' Lounge, and via Zoom. Our Special Guest was Corporal Roland Pagan, who provided an update on the current staffing shortage of HPD District #8 and discussed how folks can get engaged in a Neighborhood Watch. We had a meaningful and lively discussion! Following Corporal Pagan's presentation, I gave some quick community updates. You can view the zoom recording by clicking here.

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Constituent Survey on Crime

I recently sent out a brief survey to find out how residents in District 21 feel about crime in our communities. Out of 30 responses: most of the people lived in Makakilo (17); followed by Kapolei (7); ‘Ewa, Kalaeloa (2); and Waipahu (1). Of the 30, 83% feel crime has increased over the past year. Almost half (42%) feel this is due to lenient judgments in the court system; 25% feel this is due to a lack of police presence. Only 38% said they've been personally affected by crime; 62% said they hadn't. Theft and break-ins are the biggest concern (77%) followed by drugs (10%) and other (13%): loud racing cars every weekend at night on Makakilo Dr. and H1; catalytic converter theft; and meth.

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Capital Improvement Project Funding Released (CIP)

I'm pleased to announce I received a letter from the governor today, informing me that he released $1.8 million in funding for CIP funds I requested to finance the construction costs to renovate the airport control tower at Kalaeloa Airport. The total estimated project cost is $2.8 million, and the estimated completion is in June 2023. In addition, $300K was released for the East Kapolei Transit-Oriented Development Master Plan, to finance the conceptual urban design schemes for DLNR's (Department of Land and Natural Resources) East Kapolei Lands, scheduled to be completed in June 2023. Mahalo, Gov! I heard your last day of work is Dec. 5 at noon. Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana in whatever path you choose. You're much too young for retirement! 😉

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DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach 10-Year Anniversary

As a former high school English teacher, headmaster of a small private school, and Community College Dean, it feels like teaching has always been in my blood. So, when I first learned that a new public charter school was opening right down the street from where I live in Kalaeloa, I couldn't help but take notice. On my daily walks, I'd check it out, as it was coming together… seeing the former Barbers Pt. NAS buildings being recycled into new creations has always been a cool thing to watch during the 18 years we've lived in Kalaeloa. And then, in Oct. 2020, I took my first tour of DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach Charter School.

Founded in 2012 by a group of committed educators, parents, and community leaders, DreamHouse really is a dream come true for the educational community it serves… After seven years of planning, development, setbacks, and wins, DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach, located on Franklin D. Roosevelt Avenue, adjacent to Barbers Point Elementary School and Wakea Garden Apartments, opened its doors to a founding class of 100 6th-grade children in 2019. With a new high school in the works, set to open in 2024, DreamHouse has become a safe, protected place of learning and leading, where students are encouraged to become the very best version of themselves.

It was my distinct honor and pleasure to present an Honorary Certificate on behalf of the 31st Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i to DreamHouse founder and CEO, Alex Teece, and the DreamHouse community, in recognition of their 10-year anniversary. Over 300 people turned out to celebrate at the Hoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, on Nov. 5. Mahalo to all involved for creating an educational environment that emphasizes respect, responsibility, and servant leadership. Our world desperately needs young people committed to continuously reflecting and improving to be their best, in service to their communities. We wish DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach many more years of growth and success.

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The Salvation Army Kroc Center 10-Year Anniversary

I enjoyed some special moments on October 29 at The Salvation Army Kroc Center on their 10-year anniversary and presented them with an Honorary Certificate on behalf of the 31st Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i. I was there in 2012 for their Grand Opening, so it was nice to be able to congratulate them on 10 years of serving the community. Mahalo to Major Osei Stewart (Corps Officer, Hawai‘i Kroc Corps & Community Center, Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division) for inviting me, and to Dan Abella, Development Coordinator; David Sayre, President Sayre Public Relations, LLC; and Betsy Kim, Director of Corporate Engagement and Government Relations.

Here's some info about this wonderful community center: The Salvation Army Kroc Center Hawai‘i in Kapolei was made possible by a $110 million combined capital and endowment grant from a bequest to The Salvation Army by the late Mrs. Joan Kroc, widow of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc. Kapolei had to compete with 19 other cities around the country to get our community center built. The 200,000-square-foot facility cost an estimated $69 million to build. On 15 acres of land in the West O‘ahu community, it's the largest community center of its kind in the state. To learn more, please visit The Salvation Army Kroc Center – Hawai‘i.

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2022 Stars of Oceania

As a 2009 University of Hawai‘i Stars of Oceania recipient, I was honored by the opportunity to speak at the inspiring Stars of Oceania event on Oct. 17 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. So many wonderful individuals, organizations, institutions, natural kin, and symbols of life were honored and recognized for their service that is rooted in aloha, mana, and ‘ohana. These Stars of Oceania were not all born and raised in Oceania, but their aloha and service are a testimony to their love and aloha for the islands, oceans, and Mother Earth. To watch my speech, click here.

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Red Hill Fuel Tank Advisory Committee

I've been a member of the Red Hill Fuel Tank Advisory Committee (FTAC) since 2014. The Committee was formed by the Hawai‘i State Legislature in response to a fuel release in January 2014 of approximately 27,000 gallons of jet fuel at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. The backstory is that twenty tanks were built into a mountainside near Pearl Harbor to store fuel during World War II, and the facility sits just 100 ft. above O‘ahu's primary drinking water aquifer. The release occurred following routine maintenance and repair work during the course of refilling Red Hill Storage Tank #5. The Navy reported the release to the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH), which led to a task force being created to investigate what happened to cause the release and what the Navy intended to do to prevent it from ever happening again.

After an arduous process, sparked by public outrage at every step, a long and tumultuous eight-year journey ensued. Sadly, it took disastrous consequences and a catastrophe so nightmarish, the Navy has been forced to concede responsibility and admit the absolute necessity of defueling the tanks. This past May, another fuel leak occurred which contaminated the Navy's Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam drinking water system, causing widespread sickness among the military families who used it. Finally, the Pentagon ordered the World War II-era fuel facility to be permanently shut down.

On Oct. 25, the Joint Task Force - Red Hill (JTF-RH) began the "unpacking" of fuel pipelines, emptying all the fuel from the lines connecting the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility (RHBFSF) with fuel points on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Approximately 1 million gallons of three different grades of fuel were removed. JTF-RH now enters the next phase of defueling: completing repairs, modifications and enhancements to the Red Hill facility before the actual defueling takes place, to reduce any risk during the defueling process. The Navy expects repairs to be completed by the end of 2023 and anticipates the actual defueling to begin in 2024, when they plan to drain 104 million gallons from the tanks in 4 months.

On Nov. 9, the FTAC held its 9th meeting since the 2014 debacle. The main takeaways were 1) There needs to be better community engagement; 2) There should be stronger coordination among the DOH, Navy, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other stakeholders; and 3) It's time for "all hands-on deck" …it's urgent that we all make this a priority.

Here's a brief video that describes next steps from the Navy's perspective. A detailed Red Hill Tank Closure Plan was submitted to the Hawai‘i DOH on Nov. 1. The plan contains 1) an analysis of the alternatives for permanent closure, with each alternative evaluated for engineering feasibility, practical pros and cons, schedule, and cost; and 2) a detailed schedule for cleaning each tank and the Spill Response Plan requirements for the cleaning task. In addition, the Navy will also explore options for non-fuel reuse. Rear Admiral Stephen Barnett said that future uses for Red Hill include storage, producing hydroelectric power, or even turning it into a movie set. In considering how to permanently close the facility, the Navy analyzed: 1) simply closing the facility, 2) closing the facility and using the tanks for a non-fuel purpose, 3) closing the facility and filling the tanks with an inert material, and 4) removing the tanks' steel liners and filling the tanks with an inert material. A third-party analysis of these four alternatives is being written and will be provided to the DOH in Dec. 2022.

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Aloha e Friends,

On Saturday, Oct. 22, 9-10am I invite you to attend my second in-person Listen Story Community Meeting since the shut down in 2020! The meeting is a hybrid, so you can either attend in-person at the Kapolei High School Teachers' Lounge, or via Zoom. Our Special Guest, Corporal Roland Pagan, will provide an update on the current staffing shortage of HPD District #8 and discuss how folks can get engaged in a neighborhood watch. Please feel free to send questions ahead of time! Following Corporal Pagan's presentation, I'll give some community updates. There will be time for Q & A. Please email [email protected] to RSVP.

My September Listen Story featured Special Guest, Ed Sniffen, Hawai‘i Department of Transportation's Deputy Director for Highways. Dir. Sniffen provided an update on the Makakilo Drive Extension from the State's perspective, along with DOT's revenue plans for highway maintenance. Please visit my YouTube channel to watch the zoom recording.

As always, please don't don't hesitate to contact me at (808) 586-6830 if I can help you or your family in any way. I also invite you to follow me on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.






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Hawai‘i Statewide Transportation Plan Public Engagement Survey

I recently received the below from the HDOT (Hawai‘i Dept. of Transportation) and thought you might like to participate. They're soliciting public input for their 2045 Hawaii Statewide Transportation Plan (HSTP). The survey will be available until the end of October 2022, online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J8RHRTT.

If you prefer to complete the survey via pdf form, contact my office. The completed pdf file or scanned survey can be returned by email to [email protected] or [email protected], or the survey can be printed and mailed to the Statewide Transportation Planning Office, Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, 200 Rodgers Boulevard, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819. Those who want to provide verbal responses to the survey questions can call (808) 440-0260 for assistance Mon – Thurs, 9 AM to noon, until October 27, 2022.

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Honolulu Rail Transit Project - Emergency Training Exercise

As part of the Trial Running test phase of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, Hitachi Rail Honolulu, and city's first responders will be conducting an emergency training exercise between the Kualaka‘i (East Kapolei) Station and the Keone‘ae (UH-West O‘ahu) Station on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 6:30am – 3:00pm.

Please do not call 911 as this is a first responder exercise. The exercise will simulate an emergency scenario involving a train that requires a public safety response. HPD, HFD, and Honolulu EMS will be participating. Certain travel lanes on Kualaka‘i Parkway and Keahumoa Parkway will be closed. Area residents and businesses may experience increased traffic congestion and noise during the duration of this exercise.

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Month of the Ant

October is "Spot the Ant, Stop the Ant Month" in Hawai‘i. This campaign is being conducted state-wide to educate residents of threats posed by Little Fire Ants, especially the painful, itchy stings the ant can inflict on both island residents and their pets. You can help participate in early detection surveys by collecting and submitting ant samples to the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture or OISC for identification. By testing once a year, you can ensure that you are either LFA-free or find the ants while the infestation is still small enough to isolate and eradicate. If you've never experienced the bite of these tiny creatures, count yourself lucky!

The LFA ranks among the world's top invasive pests, out of plants, animals, and insects! If you want to check your property for LFA, it's an easy experiment; all you need is some sticks and peanut butter. You can leave the sticks coated in peanut butter out overnight, and carefully deposit them into a Ziploc bag in the morning to examine for LFA's. During the month of October, you can also pick up free LFA test kits to collect ants at the following locations on O‘ahu:

Virtual Island Summit

On September 28, I was invited to speak at the fourth annual Virtual Island Summit which took place virtually from September 26 - October 2, with over 10,000 registered participants from 500 island communities worldwide.

The Virtual Island Summit connects global islands in order to share ideas, best practices, and solutions for sustainable development. The Summit featured over 160 expert speakers – heads of state, policymakers, development partners, entrepreneurs, academics, and NGO leaders – widely covering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other topics pertinent to island communities. My Session was titled: "Creating Vibrant Economies on Islands."

It focused on how different islands are working towards future-proofing and growing their economies. As the Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment, I was asked to discuss agriculture and food security in Hawai‘i.

To watch my seven-minute speech, please click here. It was exciting to hear about what others are doing globally in this arena. Heartfelt thanks to the Hawai‘i Green Growth, Hawai‘i Local2030 Hub, the AGHui, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, and MA‘O Organic Farms for their resources and knowledge. Huge shout-out for all you do to enhance ag and food security in Hawai‘i nei and to advance our progress with the 17 UN SDGs. So much momentum to be proud of and to celebrate!

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2022 Hawai‘i Ag Conference

On September 28, I attended the 2022 Hawai‘i AG Conference: "Collaborative Leaders as Agents of Change." Held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center September 27-28 and hosted by the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai‘i, it was their first in-person conference since 2019. I enjoyed seeing folks I hadn't seen in a while. Was especially nice running into these young Future Farmers of America! Lots of great booths and inspiring sessions.

Governor Ige presented a special message to conference goers which summarizes the true feeling of ag in Hawai‘i right now. Here's a brief excerpt: "Historically, agriculture has been at the heart and soul of Hawai‘i and has always shaped our commerce, social fabric and lifestyle. While economic factors have changed the landscape of Hawai‘i's agriculture over the centuries, the pandemic has dramatically increased the challenges we face. It has never been more apparent that we must do more to ensure local agriculture is able to thrive. Our goal to increase and enhance Hawai‘i's food security requires forethought and collaboration between all sectors of agriculture, including farmers, growers, ranchers, as well as industry and government leaders…"

Mahalo, Gov. I couldn't agree more. (Pictured with Future Farmers of America: First Row (L-R): Rona Duldulado and Nicholas Nishimura. Second Row (L-R:) Leila Gonzales, Ronya Malae, Jhanella Gerardo, Ynez Gaborno, Alaiza Alvarez, and Dalen Calistro.)

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Kupono Solar Groundbreaking

I attended the groundbreaking and blessing ceremony on Oct 7, for Kupono Solar, a huge new solar project coming up in Ewa, near my district. The project is a photovoltaic and battery storage facility that will help stabilize energy costs, lessen fuel usage, and improve energy independence. Kupono Solar will be located on approximately 131 acres of military land on the Navy West Loch Annex of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The project will eventually be large enough to power 10,000 homes. Also very cool, all parts made in the USA!

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Farm to School Month

Did you know that October is "Farm to School" month? These programs help to connect our keiki with their food and with the ‘āina, helping them to understand where our food comes from (no, not the grocery store!) and to gain more respect for the ‘āina which feeds and nourishes us. School leaders tell us that involving keiki in the food growing process is key to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among students. As the Chair of the Agriculture & Environment Committee, I've partnered with the Hawai‘i Farm to School Hui, UH CTAHR (University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources), Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation, Hawai‘i Ulu Cooperative, ‘Aina Pono, and others to introduce and champion numerous bills over the years that support and improve agriculture education within our Dept. of Education.

There were several Farm to School bills this past session, ranging from education coordinator positions, to funding cafeteria equipment, to providing staff training. Unfortunately, most of them died either in the Ways and Means (WAM) or Education Committee (EDU). I co-sponsored SB2182, which fortunately, we were able pass into Act 258, which established and appropriated $200,000 for a School Garden Coordinator position within the Department of Education's Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, to provide technical support and startup resources for schools interested in developing a school garden program.

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Hawai‘i Green Growth United Nations Local 2030 Hub Annual Partnership Meeting

On October 13, I attended via Zoom the Hawai‘i Green Growth United Nations Local 2030 Hub Annual Partnership meeting. It was a hybrid mtg at the East-West Center's Imin International Conference Center in Honolulu. One of the panels featured three of our four county mayors: Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino, Hawai‘i County Mayor Mitch Roth, and Kaua‘i County Mayor Derek Kawakami, (City and County of Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi was off-island, so Managing Director, Mike Formby stepped in). They talked about challenges faced by the counties in their efforts to achieve the state's climate, economic and sustainability goals by 2030.

The mayors made a public commitment to work together to combat the threat of climate change to our beautiful island paradise. They renewed our commitment to the Aloha+ Challenge which we launched in 2014, using an online dashboard (which measures different actions individuals can take to help reduce the negative effects of climate change) to foster a competition among themselves. (I heard them use a word for the first time—"coopetition," which means cooperation and competition, in a friendly way of course, to reach our climate goals.)

Listening to the mayors and the other speakers was inspiring. Amidst the talk of doom and gloom we hear all too often regarding the consequences of climate change, this meeting gave me hope. Hope that it's not too late to preserve Mother Earth. And that if we each do our part, we can leave her in good shape for our children and our children's children.…

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Aloha e Friends,

Please see below the HECO courtesy notice of the construction work scheduled for 9/12-15 and 9/19-22 along the Renton Road train tracks.

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Night Work Along Renton Road Train Tracks

"Starting Monday, Sept. 12, through Thursday, Sept. 15, Hawaiian Electric will be performing maintenance on steel utility poles along the Renton Road train tracks between Fort Barrette and Coral Sea roads, noted in yellow on the map below. Hawaiian Electric will work on additional poles between Forrestal Avenue and Fort Barrette Road starting Monday, Sept. 19, through Thursday, Sept. 22, noted in red. This work is being done to ensure continued safe and reliable electric service to customers. The work will be performed daily between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. Nearby residents may hear noise and notice light towers at the job site during work hours. There will be no scheduled residential power outages during this work. The westbound lane of Roosevelt Avenue will be closed during work hours on Sept. 12, 19, 20, 21 and 22, from Bougainville Street to Forrestal Avenue, noted in green. Flagmen will be present to direct traffic that will be contraflowed during this time. From Sept. 19 through Sept. 22 (7 p.m. to 4 a.m.), streetlights along part of Roosevelt Avenue and Fort Barrette Road/Enterprise Avenue will be taken out of service, noted in orange.

Listen Story Community Meeting

Please mark your calendar for Saturday, September 17 from 9-10am, at the Kapolei High School Teachers' Lounge, where I'll be hosting my first in-person Listen Story Community Meeting since the COVID shut down in March 2020. The meeting will be a hybrid, which means you can attend either in-person or via Zoom. I'm excited to welcome Special Guest, Ed Sniffen, Hawaii Department of Transportation's Deputy Director for Highways, who will provide an update on the Makakilo Drive Extension from the State's perspective, along with DOT's revenue plans for highway maintenance, and more. Following Dir. Sniffen, I'll provide community updates. There will be time for questions and answers. Please send me an email to RSVP. My last Listen Story in August featured guest speaker Roger Morton, Director, Department of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu. Visit my YouTube page to view the zoom recording. Please don't hesitate to contact me at (808) 586-6830 or mailto:[email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. I also invite you to follow me on social media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.

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Classical Conversations Student Visit

On August 22, I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of parents and 8th graders from the Ewa Beach "Classical Conversation Home Schooling" group who came to tour the Capitol and talk story in my office. The parents and students attended Special Session, where Judge Annalisa Bernard Lee was confirmed by the Senate and will serve in the District Court of the Second Circuit - Maui County. Alohacongrats! The 8th graders were able to get a glimpse of some of the legislative process as part of their studies on the Constitution. I hosted a meeting in my office afterwards and answered some great questions from the students, as well as discussed valuable opportunities available through homeschooling. (Pictured: Introducing students to Senate Colleagues during Special Session in the Auditorium.)

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Marisco New Preservation Facility

On August 26, I presented an Honorary Certificate on behalf of the Hawai‘i State Legislature to owner Fred Anawati at the blessing and Grand Opening of Marisco Ltd.'s new Preservation Facility (Sandblast & Painting). Founded in 1972, Marisco, Ltd. is located at Barber's Point near Campbell Industrial Park in Kapolei. Marisco, Ltd. provides a wide range of ship repair services to government and commercial entities, including our U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S Army, and Military Sealift Command, as well as industrial sectors of Hawai‘i. (Pictured: Sen. Gabbard and Fred Anawati, owner of Marisco Ltd, at the Grand Opening of Marisco Ltd.'s Preservation Facility, on August 26.)

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Hawaiian Humane Society Site Visit

On September 2, I kicked off Labor Day weekend with a fantastic visit to the construction site of the new West O‘ahu Hawaiian Humane Society in Ewa, schedule for completion in April 2023. I was invited on the tour by President and CEO, Anna Neubauer and Director of Community Engagement, Steph Kendrick. I was stoked to see the progress they've achieved so far. Amazing facilities will be available for the community, including open air housing with kennels for animals big & small, meet-n-greet areas for pet adoptions, secure drop-off areas for lost pets or strays that will be accessible 24/7, spay and neuter centers, classroom space for volunteers to learn about animal welfare advocacy, grooming stations, and so much more. The team has truly focused on creating amazing spaces with both the staff and animals' best interests at heart. Distinctive features such as solar tubes for natural lighting, individually drained kennels to mitigate any spread of sicknesses, a spacious food preparation kitchen, and outdoor shaded areas for the animals to enjoy are just some of the special aspects of the new facility. Mahalo Anna and Steph for the tour and mahalos to developer of Ho‘opili, D.R. Horton, who gifted the 5.5 acre parcel of land to the Hawaiian Humane Society in 2017. I can't wait to attend the Grand Opening! (Pictured: Sen. Gabbard with Dir. of Community Engagement, Steph Kendrick and President /CEO, Anna Neubauer.)

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DreamHouse Center

Currently the fastest growing public Charter School in the state, DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach celebrated their new high school's first Open House on Friday, September 9 in their temporary location at Kapolei Marketplace. It was wonderful to see the progress DreamHouse has made since I first visited their middle school two years ago in Kalaeloa. While the actual building that houses the new high school will be under construction for another two years, it was exciting to see how far they've come since I first visited and met with CEO Alex Teece, in 2020. The DreamHouse High School will be in downtown Kapolei on the corner of Kama‘aha and Manawai. In partnership with Avalon Development, DREAMHOUSE CENTER, a three-story, $33 million addition to the Kapolei community, is scheduled to open its doors July 2024.

During the Open House, I enjoyed talking with students and seeing firsthand the student learning spaces, programs, and teaching environment. They call their teachers "Coaches." Kaden Hieger, a well-spoken and composed 9th grade student, gave me a tour of the facility and answered my questions. Students at DreamHouse engage in a non-traditional approach to teaching and learning through building and utilizing leadership skills to unlock their academic potential. Students and coaches can interact with each other on a more personal level than a typical high school, through small group sizes, open communication, and features of the classroom like whiteboard tables. Yes. They literally write on their desks! As I approached the classroom, seeing this in action, I joked with Math Coach Phillippe Fernandez-Brennan, that I might have to tell the Principal they were drawing on their desks. 😉 The innovative approach to teaching and learning I observed at DreamHouse was both inspiring and empowering. (Pictured: DreamHouse student Kaden Hieger, 9th grade, and Sen. Gabbard at DreamHouse Ewa's Open House on Sep. 9. (New High school renderings in the background.)

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Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home (DKA SVH)

I was disappointed to learn that the DKA SVH would be delayed nearly a year due to supply shortages and shipment delays. Construction started across from Walmart in April 2021 and until recently, had been proceeding nicely. The Blessing and Groundbreaking was Memorial Day 2021. As of May 2022, it was 45 percent complete and on track for completion in April 2023. Unfortunately, the state Office of Veterans' Services is concerned that transportation complications and key equipment component shortages may push back the opening. The facility is being built to address a shortage of beds in veterans' homes. Of the roughly 118,000 military veterans in the state, approximately 85,000 live on O‘ahu.

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Scaling Up: Hawai‘i's Food Future

On September 8 I was invited, along with colleagues Sen. Laura Acasio, Rep. Amy Perruso, and Rep. Mark Hashem, to host a reception for the screening of a new film on Hawai‘i Agriculture: Scaling Up: Hawai‘i's Food Future, made by award-winning documentary filmmaker Kimberlee Bassford. As we talked story with each other in the courtyard of the William S. Richardson School of Law at UH Manoa prior to the screening, I couldn't help but flash on how different life had suddenly become. Instead of being locked behind our screens 24/7 in Zoom-world, we're actually out seeing and interacting with each other face-to-face. Here on our island paradise, this is hugely important for relationship building and the sharing of aloha. After the 27-minute film, we were treated to the excellent moderator skills of ThinkTech Hawai‘i's Jay Fidel, who led us in a thought-provoking Q&A with the following panel experts: Murray Clay, President of Ulupono Initiative; Kā‘eo Duarte, Vice President of Community and ‘Āina Resiliency at Kamehameha Schools; Haley Miyaoka, co-founder of Ahiki Acres in Waimanalo; and Janel Yamamoto, Director of GoFarm Hawai‘i. Mahalo to all involved, including event sponsors: College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources, Making Waves Films, Scholars Strategy Network, ThinkTech Hawaii, UHM School of Communications & Information, and Ulupono Initiative. It was a fun and inspiring evening and a true reminder of how much I love my job as Chair of the Ag & Environment Committee. 😉🤙 (Pictured L-R: Rep. Amy Perruso, Sen. Gabbard, Sen. Laura Acasio, and Rep. Mark Hashem.)

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HARC's Demonstration Site Visit

On September 9, Stevie Whalen, Executive Dir. of HARC (Hawai‘i Agriculture Research Center) invited me to tour their demonstration site in Mililani. HARC is experimenting with "agrivoltaic," – the combination of agriculture and solar working together on the same land. With the recent closing of the AES coal plant, coupled with the revelation of the lack of solar farms to make up the lost energy, agrivoltaics deserves serious consideration for our energy and agriculture future. Critics say ag land should be used for farming only, but why can't we do both? There's growing research that planting crops beneath solar panels can help prevent soil erosion and conserve water. Stevie said this idea is spreading among solar companies in Hawai‘i: "It's been funded by Mahi Solar and they're requesting other solar companies to support this approach as well. In France, the solar companies have formed an association to support and fund agriculture within their sites. Maybe Hawai‘i companies could be encouraged to do the same." Inspiring developments are happening out at the Mililani Agrivoltaic Systems Research Site. It was an excellent tour. We walked among the solar panels, interspersed with test crop varieties. They are currently demonstrating the economics of various shade-tolerant crops. Field days are planned to encourage farmers to take up these new crops and practices. There was taro, five high-value varieties of hydroponic lettuce, rainbow chard, and cantaloupe, as well as mushrooms, rosemary, and plenty of other seedlings.

I was joined on the tour by Wren Wescoatt, of Longroad Energy, Nicola Park, Consulting Manager of Clearway Energy Group LLC Origination, and Samuel Madrid, Solar O&M Manager of Clearway Energy Group. (Pictured L-R: Wren Wescoatt, Stevie Whalen, Sen. Gabbard, Nicola Park and Samuel Madrid.)

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Aloha e Friends,

Please mark your calendar for this Saturday, Aug. 20, 9-10am when I'll be hosting my Virtual Listen Story community meeting with Special Guest Roger Morton, Director, Department of Transportation Services for the City and County of Honolulu. Send me an email and I'll send you the link.

My last Listen Story was on July 9th, with Lori Kahikina, Executive Director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART). Mahalo to everyone who came to the event and helped to make it a success! If you missed it, please visit my YouTube page to view a recording of the meeting.






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Office Updates

I'm happy to announce we have a new Community Liaison! Her name is Jhanavi Pomerantz. Meg is moving up to be my full-time, permanent Office Manager and will oversee all operations. Jhanavi has a BA from UH West O‘ahu in Business Administration and Marketing. She's been teaching keiki and adult Taekwondo classes for the past 6 years, as well as running her own jewelry design business. Having grown up in Hawai‘i, Jhanavi has a deep appreciation for the environment. She's looking forward to helping serve the WestSide community and putting her business and creative skills to use. We're pleased to welcome her to my office. Former Office Manager, Corinne Gallardo, resigned to spend more time helping her mom as she faces continued challenges with dementia. Aloha and mahalo nui, Corinne, for your dedication and service to our community and state.

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Survey Results; Concerns, Issues, and Interests

You may have seen my survey questionnaire recently asking for your input on community-related issues and concerns. A big mahalo to everyone who took the time to answer! As our WestSide continues to expand, many of you brought up the need for more affordable housing, as well as the importance of additional health and education facilities. There's also a strong consensus that high-rise condominiums and hotels lead to unwanted traffic congestion and population density. The cost of living, affordable housing, healthcare, and public education are issues that affect everyone in our community. I'd love to continue hearing from you about specific ways I can address your concerns.

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Aloha Farm Sanctuary

On July 17, I toured the Aloha Animal Sanctuary in Kaneohe, arranged by the Vegan Society of Hawai‘i. Aloha Animal Sanctuary is O‘ahu's first 501(c)(3) non-profit sanctuary for farmed animals, founded in January 2019, by animal rights activists who wanted to help people form personal connections with animals that are killed by the billions every year. The sanctuary is a safe haven for animals who've been abused, abandoned, and/or neglected and have nowhere else to go. They can live out their days in peace at Aloha Animal Sanctuary, without being used or exploited. Please visit https://www.alohasanctuary.org to learn more about this amazing farm of aloha. (Pictured L-R: Jessica Palomino-Co-founder & Dir. of Public Relations, Sen. Gabbard, Lolita Ayala-Exe. Dir., and Korie Mijo-Dir. of Development.)

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UrbanPlan Scholars

UrbanPlan is a realistic, hands-on project experience in which participants—high school students, university students, or public officials—learn the fundamentals of property development. I was honored to participate in an UrbanPlan presentation on August 11. For a month, twenty-two high school and college students worked in 4 teams to create the winning proposal for a simulated 6-acre parcel at UH West O‘ahu. The design needed to be a combination of rental housing, dual-use office supported by a DOD contract, and high-tech farming in a greenhouse. Because UHWO is in my district, I was invited to be one of the judges. The teams presented before a mock "City Council" of which I was part of… Student planning and design had to address various real-world aspects of a development project, including zoning, rail, agriculture, funding, community feedback, etc. After the presentations, the mock "City Council" selected the winners. Teams were made up of local high school students from Iolani, Kalani, LeJardin, MidPac, Punahou, and St. Andrews. The students conducted outreach to stakeholders and residents in West O‘ahu and found affordable housing to be the number one community need. Proposals ranged from rooftop greenhouses and beekeeping to fully solar-powered facilities to integrating UHWO student and campus life.

The mock "City Council" included me, Duff Janus – Mayor, non-voting. Duff is the chair of the Hawai‘i chapter of ULI and trained in UrbanPlan, Bob Harrison – CEO First Hawaiian Bank, Jim Houchens – Chief Engineer Indo-Pacific Regional Operations Mitre Corporation, and Brennon Morioka – Dean of the UH College of Engineering. I was thoroughly impressed with the students, the program, and the event. Mahalo nui to Jon Wallenstrom for the opportunity. I'd be happy to participate again next year. Once a teacher always a teacher. 😉 Fantastic project and so impressed with our young folks! (Pictured L-R: Sen. Gabbard, Bob Harrison (FHB CEO), Jim Houchens (Mitre), Duff Janus (ASB), Brennon Morioka (UH Dean of Engineering School).

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DreamHouse Center

With a waitlist in the hundreds, DreamHouse Center, Hawai‘i's newest and fastest-growing public charter high school, can't come soon enough! For now, DreamHouse is temporarily located with 100 ninth graders in a renovated fitness studio in Kapolei Marketplace. I'm told by CEO, Alex Teece, that there's a waitlist of nearly 400 families. Ten new jobs have been created this year and they're closing in on their financing. DREAMHOUSE INC. and Avalon Development Co. are developing a three-story, mix-use building in West O‘ahu. The upper two floors will be occupied by the high school with the ground floor occupied by retail space. Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2023, with completion by June 2024. DreamHouse Center will be located on Avalon's 3-acre, master-planned Kapolei Pacific Center—a site that already includes the regional headquarters of the U.S. Social Security Administration and the Cole Academy preschool and will be anchored by public charter school DreamHouse Ewa Beach. DreamHouse will occupy 27,000 square feet and there will be an additional 10,700 square feet for retail space. They anticipate delays in the supply chain but have built that into the scheduling and budgeting for the project. A rendering of DreamHouse Center, a mixed-use building being developed in Kapolei Pacific Center. It will be anchored by the Ewa Beach charter school. (Courtesy: Design Partners, Inc.)

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Current Business Issues on Oahu's West Side

On July 28, I attended a breakfast meeting sponsored by the Salvation Army Kroc Center and Pacific Business News, with Panel Sponsors - Hawaiiana; Hawaii Pacific Health; Hawaiian Humane Society and supporting organization - Kapolei Chamber of Commerce. Panel Experts featured Jalene Kanani Bell, President & Creative Director, NOHO Home, Eliza Talbot, Board Member, Kapolei Chamber of Commerce, Anna Neubauer, President & CEO, Hawaiian Humane Society, and Major Osei Stewart, Corps Officer/Administrator & Hawaii State Capitol Liason, The Salvation Army Kroc Center Hawaii. The thought-provoking event centered on topics, such as:

National Farmworker Appreciation Day

August 6 was "National Farmworker Appreciation Day!" Coincidentally, as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Environment, I was also interviewed by Mark Ladao with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that day for a story on the future of agriculture in Hawai‘i. We covered a lot of ground during our discussion, including the best ways the new governor/administration can facilitate agricultural growth in Hawai‘i; what the governor and state lawmakers should focus on in the next 2-4 years to best improve agriculture in Hawai‘i; and how the governor and state Legislature did as far as improving agriculture in Hawai‘i during the last 5-10 years or so. These questions aren't easily addressed.

Clearly, what's lacking and what the state needs is a "big picture" vision and plan for an integrated food policy framework. It's crucial that we have a long-term plan and vision, and, of course, long- and short-term action items along the way to ensure we have food security. My hope is that the new governor will support and fund the process of developing and implementing a state level food system vision and plan (as is being done all over the U.S.), and as proposed last session in HB2431. This bill was introduced by Rep. Holt in collaboration with UHWO professor Albie Miles. It passed the House and WTL/AEN (Water Land /and Agriculture & Environment Committees but died in WAM (Ways and Means Committee). The bill encourages producers, retailers, members of the community, non-governmental organizations, and government agencies to partner to create a vibrant and resilient local food economy that enhances and sustains the environmental, economic, and social health of the community. In other words, we need to get out of our silos and do the kākou thing and work together… laulima—many hands… to get the job done! (Pictured at Aina Ola Farm on Maui in 2016, with Simon Russell, Vincent Mina, President of Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; and Bobby Pahia, world-class taro farmer.)

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Aloha e Friends,

Summer is here and hope you and your ‘ohana are well and enjoying the more laid-back season… I know I am… Still, there never seems to be a dull moment and there's a lot happening.






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AMVETS Hawai‘i HEAL Summit

Sadly, as many of you know, our veterans suffer greatly from PTSD, suicide, and a host of other issues. At the end of June, AMVETS Hawai‘i, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, held a 3-day summit in Ewa Beach, called HEAL, to shine a spotlight on the need to help support the well-being of local veterans. HEAL, which stands for Healthcare, Education, Advocacy, Legislation–was designed to provide attendees with up-to-date education on promising innovations in mental health, gender-based healthcare, the military transition experience, along with the latest updates on legislation and advocacy that impacts service members and veterans.

On June 25th, I was honored to be invited to recognize some of the key individuals who play a role in these services. I presented Honorary Certificates on behalf of the Hawai‘i State Senate to: Cigale C. Lemieux, Sgt, USAF Headquarters, Pacific Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; Janet Covington, Clinic Dir., Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Child & Family Service; Rolly Alvarado Spark Matsunaga VA Clinic, Center for Development & Civic Engagement; and Donovan Lazarus, State Commander AMVETS Department of Hawai‘i. It was truly an honor to meet active duty and retired service members, family members of veterans, caregivers for disabled veterans, mental health professionals, and organizations that support the military and veterans. BTW, my dad was in the Air Force for 20 years. I tried to enlist in the Navy in 1965 but was turned down because of a severe surfing injury I was recovering from.

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Listen-Story Meeting:

ICYMI, I hosted my Virtual Community Listen Story on July 9. Big mahalos to our special guest speaker, Lori Kahikina, Executive Director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART), for the update on rail. Mahalo to everyone who came to the event and helped to make it a success! Visit my YouTube page to view a recording of the meeting. My next one will be Aug. 20, 9-10am so SAVE THE DATE!

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Roosevelt Blvd. Opening July 31! Yay!!!

The construction team is still on target for opening the Kamokila/FDR intersection and two lanes of FDR on July 31. Hunt contractors have been working overtime 7 days a week to complete construction at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Ave. and Kamokila Blvd. intersection. Curbs, gutters, and sidewalks are being put in along the 1,300-foot stretch of Kamokila Blvd. There will be sidewalks on both sides of the road. The newly constructed Kamokila Blvd. extension will be a north/south roadway from the FDR/Kamokila intersection that connects with the realigned Boxer Road. Boxer Road is relocated south approximately 500 feet and will be an east/west roadway that connects the Kamokila extension with Copahee St. The Kamokila extension will also have two travel lanes going in both directions with bike lanes continuing down both sides of the roadway.

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Farrington Highway Widening

I was pleased to receive a letter from the Governor informing me that he was releasing $135 million in funding for CIP (Capitol Improvement Project) funds that I requested to widen Farrington Highway. The project will extend three miles from Kapolei Golf Course to Ft. Weaver Rd. The widening will add a center left-turn lane and will include new sidewalks, bike lanes, bridges, culverts, and major utility relocations. Estimated construction is set to begin October 2023, with estimated completion in July 2025.

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Ho‘omaka Marketplace Groundbreaking

After waiting 12 long years, on June 22, Ho‘omaka Marketplace finally broke ground! Ho‘omaka means "to begin, to set forth on a new endeavor." It can also refer to a keiki's first tooth or a fresh blade of grass. It is with this freshness and excitement that the marketplace begins, offering simple convenience to make our lives on the Westside a little easier to navigate. I was honored to participate in this momentous occasion. The 45,737- square-foot retail development will be located in the heart of the thriving hub of Kapolei, across from Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Ho‘opili Residential Community, at the corner of Kualaka‘i Parkway and Kapolei Parkway, just down the road from UH West O‘ahu. It will also be home to a 1,200 square foot facility for the Kapolei Community Development Corporation (KCDC), which will be an important gathering place and resource for the neighborhood. KCDC is a 501C3 nonprofit started in 2008 to serve the Kapolei homesteads in the areas of community, culture, education, and partnerships. Ho‘omaka Marketplace features an 18,000 square foot Longs Drugs, a Chick-fil-A eatery, HELE Gas station, and 7-Eleven. It has store spaces available for rent and provides opportunities to create jobs on the Westside. It will also help alleviate traffic congestion in other parts of Kapolei. Revenues will support Kapolei Homesteads, including the Kapolei Heritage Center and other Homestead programs that support beneficiaries. The complex is expected to be completed in 2023. Alohacongrats KCDC!

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District Reapportionment

Every 10 years after the census, the district maps are redrawn, based on population shifting numbers. All 76 seats in the Legislature are up for grabs—25 Senate and the 51 House seats. I first got elected in 2006, serving District 19, which included all of Campbell Industrial and about 1/3 of Ko Olina. During the 2010 Census, it became District 20, where we lost Campbell Industrial Park, Ko Olina and Honokai Hale. The new district formed as a result of the 2020 Census is District 21, which comprises a portion of Fernandez Village in Ewa, Kapolei, Makakilo, and Kalaeloa. We lost West Loch and Waipahu and added Honokai Hale neighborhood and Campbell Industrial Park. District 21 also includes the 41st, 42nd, 43rd, and 44th House of Representative Districts.

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Let's Celebrate Ag in Hawai‘i

I was stoked to be part of this bill signing on July 18th for two bills I introduced, along with my colleagues and partners who collaborated with me on the bills… first is the Farmer Apprentice Mentoring Program (SB 3197 ACT 304). It's been a long time comin' but I'm pleased to report that after working on this bill with the Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Federation and the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, it finally passed. The bill appropriates $300,000 to the HDOA to establish and implement a farmer apprentice mentoring program in order to increase farming in the State, ensure the continued use of well-developed farming methods, and provide for the cultivation of new farming methods. The average age of our farmers in Hawai‘i is 61. We need young people to consider farming as a noble profession, no less noble than being a doctor, lawyer, or business person. And we need to do all we can to support young farmers. This bill is a step in the right direction.

The Governor also signed SB 3004 into law as ACT 302: the Compost Reimbursement Program. This establishes and appropriates funds for a compost reimbursement program within the HDOA and allows for one full-time permanent compost reimbursement program manager position. According to the USDA, 30-40% of the food in the US is wasted. In 2010, food waste corresponded to 133 billion pounds and $l6l billion dollars! One way to reduce food waste is to compost it, which also leads to environmental benefits, such as reducing and eliminating chemical fertilizers; reducing methane emissions, promoting higher yields of ag crops; aiding reforestation and sequestering carbon. This makes permanent a three-year pilot program established in 2018. An appropriation of $945,000 was made for the program, plus $55,000 for the management position for the program. With an operating budget of almost $17B for FY23 and only 1/2 of 1% ($49M) going to HDOA, we've got to put our money where our mouth is, if we're serious about doubling our local food production by 2030, and decreasing the 85-90% of the food we import each year, at a cost of about $3B annually.

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Aloha e Friends,

Father's Day is June 21, so let's be sure to remember our dear old dads! I'll miss having some of my kids with me this year as 3 out of 5 are traveling.

Immediately following the last day of session May 5th (aka "Sine die"), school graduations took place across my district. AlohaCongrats again to all the graduates of Campbell High School, Kapolei High School, Waipahu High School, Island Pacific Academy, and American Renaissance Academy of Senate District 20. Also, to the Youth Challenge Academy grads! I wish you all much success in your future endeavors.






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Special Session for Judicial Appointments

With the end of the 2022 Regular Legislative Session, I'm now able to dedicate myself more fully to District 20 community issues, in addition to visiting farms, attending/speaking at conferences, and gathering ideas for new legislation. Interim is also a time when the Senate is often called back into "mini-sessions" to take care of things we need to do as a legislative body. One of those responsibilities is to review the Governor's Judicial Nominees. The state Senate will convene a special session on June 20-21 to review the judicial appointments of Jill M. Hasegawa and Joanna E. Sokolow to the District Family Court of the Third Circuit, Hawai‘i Island, and Gregory H. Meyers to the District Court of the Fifth Circuit, Kaua‘i. I’ve been meeting and speaking with them over the past week and all seem highly qualified.

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Listen-Story Meeting: Rail Update

Please join my Virtual Listen Story Community Meeting on July 9, 9-10 a.m. when we'll be getting an update on the rail from HART. Send me an email and I'll send you the link.

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Kapolei Middle School 2022 Graduation

I attended the Kapolei Middle School graduation ceremony on May 18. This was their first in-person event in over two years. My office prepared certificates for 189 "Po‘okela Award" winners –students who achieved a GPA of 3.60 or higher for each of the three quarters of the current school year. A special AlohaCongrats to these students whose future will undoubtedly be bright! (Pictured L-R: Christine Kerr, KMS Activities Coordinator; Sen. Gabbard; Rep. Sharon Har; and Principal Richard Fajardo.)

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Kapolei High School 2022 Valedictorians

On May 20, I attended the Kapolei High School commencement ceremony and presented Honorary Certificates to the KHS Valedictorians, as I do each year, on behalf of the 31st Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i. Following the graduation ceremony, I presented 6 of the 35 certificates, including one to Aaron Liwanag, who also gave the Commencement Speech. Then it started raining like crazy! The remaining grads received theirs in the mail with a personal letter from me, congratulating them on their success. (Pictured with Aaron Liwanag).

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Crumbl Blessing/Grand Opening

On May 19, Crumbl Cookies in Kapolei Commons, opened its doors to the public. They invited me to be part of the celebration and blessing where I, along with Rep. Stacelynn Eli and Sen. Kurt Fevella, welcomed them to the neighborhood with an Honorary Certificate on behalf of the House and Senate. In just five years, Crumbl has grown from a humble cookie shop to a booming franchise with over 360 locations in more than 40 states. Crumbl Kapolei has provided more than 50 jobs and will surely become a beloved part of the ‘ono-treat-loving Westside. (Pictured L-R: Sen. Kurt Fevella, Rep. Stacelynn Eli, Sen. Gabbard).

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NCSL Ag Task Force: MA‘O Farms

On June 3, I was invited to speak at the National Committee of State Legislators Ag Task Force meeting in Savannah, GA. The theme I chose to speak on was how to encourage youth to enter the field of agriculture and how to grow more farmers. I enthusiastically shared our unique program here on the west side known as MA‘O Organic Farms. According to the HDOA (Hawai‘i Dept. of Agriculture), the average age of farmers is 60.1 years. Hawai‘i also imports 85-90% of our food, at a cost of about $3B annually – this is a recipe for disaster. People sometimes think there's not enough land for agriculture… the reality is, we have over 800,000 acres of ag land, just waiting for farmers! So, our challenge has been: how do we attract people, especially young folks into farming? And how do we get rid of the negative stigma attached to farming?

In 2001, in Wai‘anae, Gary and Kukui Maunakea-Forth, owned a small 5-acre organic farm, and wondered how can we connect young people with the land in some meaningful way? On their little farm, Gary and Kukui started up a 2-year Youth Leadership Training program where young people ages 18-25, were invited to become involved in an internship where they work three days a week, from dawn until noon and go to college two days a week. They called it MA‘O Organic Farms. MA‘O is an acronym for mala (garden) ‘ai (food) ‘opio (youth) or youth food garden. It was founded on the belief that when we reconnect and restore the relationship between the land and the people, we're able to return abundance and prosperity to youth, to their families and to the community. And it's working!

On the farm, these young adults learn all aspects of farming: planting, harvesting, distribution, and marketing. The interns get paid a monthly stipend. The starting base pay for each intern working about 16 hours per week is $525/month. By the 2nd year, the stipend goes up to $675 per month, with a max of $725, In addition, they get their college tuition paid for! MA‘O farms has grown from an initial 5-acre plot leased in 2001, to 24 acres in 2011, to 281-acres in 2019, to 381-acres currently.

At 24-acres, they grew about 80 tons of produce per year, and now produce more than 125 tons. In addition to CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), MA‘O distributes their produce to Farmers' Markets, Grocery & Natural Food Stores, Hotels, Restaurants & Eateries across the island of O‘ahu, including Down to Earth Organic & Natural, Foodland, and Whole Foods Market. Annual sales were $1.08 million in 2021, with $1.35 million projected in 2022. Since they started, 130 students have graduated with Associate degrees and 43 with Bachelor's. Roughly 45 students are currently in the program, with 8 full-time staff on the administrative and education side and 14 full-time on the farm side. The word's getting out! I've been on several site visits, most recently the end of May and it was wonderful to see how much they've grown since I was last there. I encourage you to visit MA‘O Farms' website to learn more: https://www.maoorganicfarms.org/ (Pictured with Wei Fang, MA‘O Strategic Advisor & Project Mgr.)

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Kalaeloa Master Plan – Public comment period ends June 30

The original Kalaeloa Master Plan was adopted on March 1, 2006. Currently, Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA) is working to develop a Master Plan Update. They're committed to integrating community needs and interests into the redevelopment process and seeking community involvement during this comment period, which ends June 30. For those of you in the Kalaeloa area, please take a moment to view the following presentation and provide your feedback. Here's the presentation: June 6, 2022 Kalaeloa Community Meeting Presentation, and here's the draft plan: 2022 DRAFT Kalaeloa Master Plan. I encourage you to submit your comments to the project email at: [email protected]

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CIP (Capital Improvement Project) funds

CIP refers to construction-related projects or major deferred repair and maintenance needs, such as re-roofing a building, acquiring land, the design and construction of a new facility, etc. I was pleased to receive letters from the Governor announcing the release of funding for 1) Fort Barrette Road Improvements: $1,300,000 to finance additional construction improvements from the vicinity of Kama‘aha Avenue to the vicinity of Farrington Highway on O‘ahu; 2) Hawai‘i State Veterans Home: $1,226,812 construction funds for a new 120-bed nursing home and long-term care facility on O‘ahu; and 3) Hawaiian Home Lands Lot Development: $22,757,167 for construction of infrastructure for single-family residential lots for Ka‘uluokaha‘i, Increment II-C in Kapolei.

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Kalaeloa Construction Updates

Hunt contractors are working overtime and 7 days a week to complete construction at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Ave. and Kamokila Blvd. intersection. Hunt's construction team is working with Costco Kapolei management to increase traffic flow in the area and has installed additional signage to minimize driver confusion. Curbs, gutters, and sidewalks are being put in along the 1,300-foot stretch of Kamokila Blvd. Access to Costco Kapolei, Kapolei Judiciary Complex, and Barbers Point Elementary School remains open. The FDR Ave. and Kamokila Blvd. intersection is currently scheduled to reopen in late July.

FDR Ave: Changes from 2- to 4-lanes along the entire length of the project with two lanes in each direction. This new segment will have sidewalks on both sides of the road, which will increase walkability in the area.

Kamokila Blvd: Kamokila's 4-lane roadway extends into the Kalaeloa project. The Kamokila extension will also have two travel lanes going in both directions with bike lanes continuing on both sides of the roadway.

Construction on the Daniel Kahikina Akaka Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic is progressing as planned. The concrete foundation and underground utilities have been installed, and structural columns to support the clinic are being put into place.

Once Hunt Companies completes construction, the $120 million VA facility will provide specialized health care for 87,000 Hawai‘i veterans. The 89,000-square-foot facility will offer primary care, mental health, audiology, physical and occupational therapy, dental and prosthetic services. The clinic is scheduled to open in late 2023.

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Aloha e Friends,

The 2022 legislative session concluded on May 5th, and with it, a whole host of new events rushed in to take its place – school graduations, invitations to speak, site visits, and more. Such is the life of a Senator. 😉 Still, despite being busy, the pace is more manageable now, and I feel like I can breathe again… I was pleased that several of the bills I personally introduced passed the…






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Listen-Story Meeting: Legislative Wrap-Up

ICYMI, I hosted my Virtual Community Listen Story on May 14, from 9-10am, where I gave a Legislative Wrap-Up and shared District 20 Community updates. Visit my YouTube page to view a recording of the meeting and download a copy of the presentation in PDF format here…

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Mahalo nui loa to My UH Manoa Intern, Moani Pomare

Huge shout-out to my exceptional UH Manoa Intern, Moani Pomare. Moani got to experience the whole depth and breadth of the session this year when our Committee Clerk suddenly quit. I promoted his then-assistant to Clerk, and Moani became my Assistant Clerk. It was a whirlwind, but Moani was able to handle the transition with an amazing level of professionalism and grace.…

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Sine Die

On our last day of the legislative session, at the end of our respective Chamber meetings, the House and Senate gathered hands in tradition to sing Hawai‘i Aloha.

I introduced my staff in the Senate Chamber, then treated them to an ono home-cooked meal made by Carol. Our famous lasagna, garlic bread, basil pesto pate and salad… Accompanied by fake champagne 😉 and topped off with our, you guessed it, homemade Hawaiian Toffee Treasures. (Pictured L-R: Brian Davidson, Legislative Aide; Meg Turner, Community Liaison; Corinne Gallardo, Office Manager; Skylar Geasey, AEN Committee Clerk; and Moani Pomare, UH Intern and Asst. Committee Clerk.) We ended the day with a traditional photo in front of my office. AlohaCongrats and mahalo nui loa to my 2022 Session Staff on a successful and dynamic session!

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My 2022 AEN Bills That Passed the House and Senate

Now that it's all said and done, it's a bit of a waiting game to see which way the Governor will go as bills reach his desk. He can sign them, veto them, or do nothing and they automatically become law. I'm happy to report that 9 bills I personally introduced passed the House and Senate and have been transmitted to the Governor. Overall, these bills seek to…

Carbon Sequestration Pilot Program SB3325
This bill establishes the Hawaii Carbon Smart Land Management Assistance Pilot Program to provide incentives for farmers and foresters to manage their lands in ways that help to sequester carbon emissions…

Compost Reimbursement Program SB3004
According to the US Department of Agriculture, an estimated 30-40% of the food supply in the US ends up as food waste. This estimate corresponded to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 million worth of food in 2010! Most of us know that one way to reduce food waste is to…

Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program SB2990
The use of cover crops, green manure, and compost increases agricultural productivity and aligns with the State's integrated sustainability goals. Plants used for this purpose, including grasses and legumes, add nutrients to the soil, act as windbreaks, assist with water retention, provide habitats for beneficial insects, and help prevent soil erosion. This bill appropriates…

Farmer Apprentice Mentoring Program SB3197
The average age of our farmers in Hawai‘i is 61. In all my talks to young people, I encourage them to consider farming as a noble profession, no less noble than being a doctor, lawyer, or business person. We need to do all we can to support young farmers. I've been working with…

Food Safety Modernization Certification & Training SB2960
This is another bill I've been trying to pass for the last few years… It requires the DOA to partner with Hawai‘i's agricultural community to establish and implement a food safety certification training program to help small- to medium-sized farms comply with…

Healthy Soils Program SB2989
Soil health is critical to Hawai‘i's agricultural industry. I worked with the HFUU on this bill, which requires the DOA to establish a Healthy Soils Program. This also helps the State meet its sustainability goals by creating a statewide…

Hemp Producers SB2986
I introduced SB 2986 in working with the hemp farmers to lessen some of the regulations and make it easier for them to do business. In the end, because of concerns from agencies like the Attorney General and DOA, we weren't able to…

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Celebrating Happy Hemp Aloha Friday

On April 23, my colleagues and I celebrated Happy Hemp Aloha Friday at the Capitol. Did you know that there are over 25,000 uses for hemp, including: building materials like hempcrete and…

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State Budget

You may have seen in the news that this year we had a $2 billion dollar surplus. How did that happen? First, unexpected growth in visitor arrivals (from 0-30,000 in first 6 months!) Second, we had…

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are safe and well. We're half way through session and the Capitol is now open again to the public! Yayyyy! It's been a looooong two years operating remotely. It's so nice to see and hear people in person. As always, you can contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Instagram @GabbardAloha, Facebook, and YouTube.






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Bye, Bye Masks

So, after six months of being required by restaurants and businesses to show our vaccine card, or proof of negative COVID test, to enter, "Safe Access O‘ahu" has ended. However, it's not over yet. We're still told to keep the vaccine card handy – just in case. Also, on March 25, at 11:59pm the indoor mask mandate ends, in concurrence with the end of the gov's emergency proclamation. (The Federal Airline mask mandate is set to lift March 18.) Governor Ige says that he'll reinstitute the mask mandates if conditions warrant.

Settings where masks are still recommended indoors include:

Red Hill Update

In 2014, 27,000 gallons of fuel leaked from the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility tanks and gave us a preview of what we all feared at the time would happen—contamination of our water supply. In 2015, we established the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility Task Force to hold the Navy accountable to come up with solutions and push the federal government to get involved. I sat on this task force for the next five years. Unfortunately, the Navy didn't take the steps we called for to either double-line the tanks or move the fuel storage to another site. I introduced bills in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 in an effort to get the ball rolling and either put greater safety measures in place or shut down operations entirely. Unfortunately, none of the bills passed, and we were faced with what many of us saw as the inevitable leaking again of the facility and this time with the even greater devastating consequences we'd been forecasting for years. People in the area becoming sick, being rushed to the hospital and then forced from their homes to seek residence where they would have access to a basic need: fresh water.

After years of debate between the Navy, Hawai‘i Department of Health, and the legislators in highly publicized hearings, the Secretary of the Department of Defense finally announced March 7, that the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility will be permanently shut down! The Navy now says it'll take about a year to defuel the tanks and they're in the process of identifying alternative options for fuel storage. I'll continue to monitor this situation.

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Reapportionment

Every 10 years, after the census, district maps are redrawn based on population shifting numbers. All 76 seats in the Legislature are now up for grabs — 25 Senate and the 51 House seats — and candidates won't be able to file their nomination papers until the Hawai‘i Supreme Court resolves a legal dispute between a group of residents and the Hawaii Reapportionment Commission. On March 7, the state Reapportionment Commission created a special committee to help the attorney general defend it from a lawsuit filed by a citizen coalition, challenging maps featuring new political boundaries for the state Legislature and U.S. House. The court gave the state until March 11 to work it out, so it'll be interesting to see how this situation continues to unfold. I do plan to run again, so hopefully, we'll know soon what the new Senate Districts will look like.

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Consolidated Theatres Grand Re-Opening and Blessing

Sen. Gabbard presented a surprise proclamation from the Senate to Ellen Cotter, CEO and President of Reading International, Inc. (Consolidated Theatres is an affiliate of Reading International) on Feb. 26. (Pictured L-R: Congressman Kai Kahele, Sens. Kurt Fevella and Maile Shimabukuro, Ellen Cotter, and Rep. Sharon Har.)

My wife, Carol, and I had a date night at the reopening of the Consolidated Theatres, next to the vacant K-mart on Feb 26. I, along with several of my colleagues and their families were invited to the grand re-opening and blessing to watch the documentary "Waterman", a story of Duke Kahanamoku, which I highly recommend. Before the show, my colleagues and I presented a surprise proclamation from the Hawai‘i State Senate, to Ellen Cotter, CEO and President of Reading International, Inc. (Consolidated Theatres is an affiliate of Reading International). The sixteen theaters had eight converted to reclining seats, while the other eight had every other row removed to create more space. It felt almost normal again being out to celebrate this event.

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Roosevelt Ave./ Kamokila

Down the street, construction has been underway at the future site of the VA (ALOHA) Clinic near the intersection of Kamokila Blvd. and Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) Ave. Work has begun on the building's foundation and nearby road construction continues in the area. Crews have completed most of the new underground electrical system and have started work on the FDR Ave. roadway drainage system.

Additional road closures may be required in the coming months as Hunt Companies works to expand FDR Ave. from a 2-lane roadway to a 4-lane traffic pattern. Hunt's construction team has safety top of mind and continues to work diligently with engineers and respective government agencies to develop a plan to safely construct the new FDR Ave. and Kamokila Blvd. intersection.

Any changes to road closures or construction will be announced as they become available. FDR Ave. is two very skinny lanes right now, and a bit unnerving when a huge truck is coming in the opposite direction. So, please drive with care.

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Kapolei Roadway Rehabilitation Project

I received notice that the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) has contracted with Grace Pac LLC to rehabilitate the roads and sidewalks as indicated on the map below.

Paving work on Kapolei Parkway, east bound, is scheduled to begin on March 14, 2022, and anticipated to continue through March 30, 2022. Work will proceed between the hours of 8:30 am and 3:00 pm Monday through Fri. excluding State holidays. Partial road or lane closures will be necessary, so motorists and pedestrians should proceed with caution, observing and obeying all posted traffic control signs, pedestrian detours and safety directives.
On-street parking will be prohibited in active construction areas during working hours. "No Parking" signs will be posted in advance. Please observe the dates and times on the posted roadway signs as illegally parked vehicles will be towed, if necessary, at the owner's expense. The paving work is anticipated to take approximately three weeks to complete. GP's paving schedule is subject to change due to inclement weather or unforeseen conditions.

2022 Priority Bills

March 10 was First Crossover, which means all the bills we've been discussing/ deliberating on in the Senate that passed Third Reading are moving over to the House; and the House bills that passed Third Reading are coming over to the Senate. Please see below some of my priority bills that crossed over to the House.

Agricultural Emergency Special Fund (SB2969)
Establishes an agricultural emergency special fund to provide agricultural emergency loans.

Farmer Apprentice Mentoring Program (SB3197)
Establishes a farmer apprentice mentoring program. Makes an appropriation to the Department of Agriculture to establish and implement the program.

Green Fees (SB3192)
Establishes within the Department of Land and Natural Resources a visitor impact fee program to collect a fee to allow visitors to visit a state park, beach, state-owned forest, hiking trail, or other state-owned natural area. 2019 over 10 million tourists…they should help pay their share to keep paradise paradise…to help take care of our hiking trails, keep our beaches pristine, and coral reefs and marine life healthy and plentiful.

Little Fire Ant (SB2996)
Appropriates $600,000 to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for research, extension, and control of the little fire ant and other harmful ants.

Soil Health Initiative (SB2989)
This bill is also part of our environmental legislative caucus package. It will promote agricultural practices that improve soil health. Farmers that adopt these practices will sequester more carbon, increase water infiltration, improve wildlife and pollinator habitat – all while harvesting better profits and often better yields.

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Sen. Gabbard at Read Across America - Ewa Beach Elementary, March 4, 2022 (Pictured L-R: Sen. Gabbard; Ewa Beach Elementary Principal, Shayne Greenland, and Rep. Matt LoPresti.)

Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are safe and well. I'm in my 16th year of serving the people of West O‘ahu and I couldn't be more proud and grateful for this honor. The 2022 Legislative Session certainly took off with a bang. In addition to the unfortunate news of corruption at the Capitol and preparing to deal with another session of COVID restrictions, my staff and I were faced with the unexpected departure of my session Agriculture Environment (AEN) Committee Clerk! This is a pivotal position in making sure bills get heard and session runs according to schedule. Fortunately, I have a great team, and everything is coming together well.

We're almost half way through our 3rd session of being closed to the public…. until March 7, when, you probably saw in the news, the Capitol will open again. Legislators will still have the option to conduct hearings and meetings virtually. Those who continue to do business at the Capitol must wear masks and follow strict social distancing measures. Visitors must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours. More info to follow… Please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Instagram @GabbardAloha, Facebook, and YouTube.






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Climate Change Action

On February 17, 2022, I joined more than 250 local and state government officials, health professionals, small business owners, academics and environmental groups from 34 states plus the District of Columbia to send a letter to Congress urging them to quickly pass legislation to address climate change. Senate District 20, like most areas of Hawai‘i, is faced with climate impacts, such as sea level rise, increased temperatures, changes in rainfall, loss of native species, and coral reef damage. I was stoked that we were able to get our Climate Emergency resolution SCR44 adopted by both the Senate and House last session. As you probably remember, we were the first state in the country to do so, which is very important in terms of our state's leadership nationally and internationally on this issue.

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The Agriculture and Environment Committee

This session marks my 6th year as Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and 14th year as Chair of the Senate Environment Committee. The Agriculture and Environment Committee, which I chair, holds hearings every M-W-F from 1pm to 2:30pm. In the past, we've had flexibility in terms of hearing end times, but since we moved to a digital platform last session, there's a hard 2:30pm stop and we need to keep to a set schedule. Several of my priority bills are on their way to being voted on by the entire Senate. The bills that pass will cross over to the House on March 10.

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Get Involved in the Process

This year 1,386 bills were introduced in the Senate and 1,119 bills in the House for a total of 2,505 bills; the number is down compared to last session's total of 2,820. Each year, around 2,500 to 3,000 bills are introduced, and only 2-300 of them become law. Each committee has their own web page which lists all the bills the Committee plans to hear. It's critical to contact the Chairs and ask them to schedule any bills that are important to you. I encourage you to submit either written or oral testimony on the bills you're interested in. You'll need to sign-up via the Legislature's website at least 24 hours in advance. We set a two-minute timer on oral testimony. In the past I've always let people testify at my committee hearings without a time limit, but because of the strict timelines we've had to make adjustments. So, it will be important to summarize what you want to say, so that you can communicate your main points within the time limit.

Here's some important dates to keep in mind:

FEB 18 – FIRST LATERAL (BILLS) – All bills referred to more than one committee must move to their final committee in the originating chamber by this day. Committees reports must be filed by the previous day, February 17. This was a major milestone. Not all bills make it past First Lateral. I'm happy to report several of my priority agriculture and environmental bills passed first lateral, so they're still advancing. I briefly mention those below.

FEB 24 - MAR 2 – MANDATORY 5-DAY RECESS – We're currently heading into a 5-day recess. And no, we don't get a holiday… Hawaii's Constitution mandates a 5-day recess between the 20th and 40th days of the regular session when neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate convenes or assembles formally in chamber. However, committee hearings still take place.

MAR 4 – FIRST DECKING (BILLS) – The deadline for bills to emerge from all their committees (with committee reports filed) and submitted to the clerk is our next big deadline. This gives us time for a final review of all the bills before the "Third Reading" vote.

MAR 10 – FIRST CROSSOVER (BILLS) – If you remember how a bill becomes a law from your civic lessons, it must pass three readings (votes) in the originating chamber before it can move (or "crossover") to the other chamber. If successful, House bills are sent to the Senate and Senate bills are sent to the House for further consideration…. To be continued next month!

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2022 PRIORITY LEGISLATION

I think we can all agree that protecting our environment in beautiful Hawai‘i nei is critically important. I've introduced and championed legislation for the past 16 years to do just that. However, a huge passion of mine is actually growing young farmers! Did you know the average age of farmers in Hawai‘i is 61? We also import 90% of our food at a cost of over 3 billion dollars annually. This doesn't make sense. We have land, we have great weather… but we need farmers! Below are some of the bills I've introduced to support farmers. Several passed their final committee today, which means they'll make it to Third Reading when the entire Senate will vote to pass it over to the House, or let it die…

Agriculture education coordinator position (SB2959)
Appropriates funds to the UH for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to establish one full-time agriculture education coordinator position.

Agricultural Emergency Special Fund (SB2969)
Establishes an Agricultural Emergency Special fund to provide loans to farmers and ranchers for disaster recovery. Makes an appropriation. (SD1)

Beginning Farmer Training Program (SB3197)
Establishes a Beginning Farmer Training Program. Makes an appropriation to the UH for the Beginning Farmer Training program.

Compost Reimbursement Pilot Program (SB2955)
Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a three-year compost reimbursement pilot program to provide reimbursements to farmers and ranchers when purchasing compost from a certified processor, dealer, retailer, or wholesaler licensed to do business in the State. Establishes a temporary compost reimbursement pilot program manager position. Requires the Department to submit a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Compost Reimbursement Program (SB3004)
Establishes and appropriates funds for a compost reimbursement program within the department of agriculture and one full-time permanent compost reimbursement program manager position to oversee the program. Requires an annual progress report of the program to the legislature prior to each regular session.

Hemp Producers Licensing (SB2986)
Removes certain duplicative regulations imposed on hemp producers in the State. Allows hemp producers to sell biomass directly to consumers. Requires that hemp produced in the State be labeled as Hawaii produced and that hemp produced outside the State be labeled with the appropriate origin.

Little Fire Ant (SB2996)
Appropriates $600,000 to the Department of Land and Natural Resources (LNR402) for research, extension, and control of the little fire ant and other harmful ants.

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ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS BILL PACKAGE

As co-chair of the Environmental Legislative Caucus, I joined with Rep. Nicole Lowen, to introduce our 2022 ELC bill package. The Environmental Legislative Caucus was created in December 2019 to bring like-minded legislators together on important environmental issues facing Hawai‘i. Here are some of our priority bills that survived the First Lateral deadline and are awaiting a hearing in their final committee.

Soil Health Initiative (SB2989)
This bill will promote agricultural practices that improve soil health. Farmers that adopt these practices will sequester more carbon, increase water infiltration, improve wildlife and pollinator habitat – all while harvesting better profits and often better yields. As one of my priority bills, I'm happy to report that this bill passed out of the Ways and Means Committee (WAM) on 2-22, and is now headed for Third Reading, when it will be voted on by the entire Senate.

Carbon Positive Incentive Program (SB3325/HB2493)
This measure establishes the Hawai‘i agriculture and forest carbon positive incentive program. This will keep forests and working agricultural lands intact. This will also provide incentives for farmers to adopt practices that sequester carbon while supporting local agriculture.

Cesspool Conversion (SB368/HB1805)
This bill will require cesspool conversion within one year of sale of a property and establishes a tax credit for cesspool conversions to help offset the cost. WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-24.

Decarbonization Goals (HB1800)
This bill will update the state's decarbonization goals by requiring an economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 70% over 2005 levels by 2030 and will direct the Hawai‘i State Energy Office to analyze pathways and develop recommendations for achieving this goal.

Energy Efficiency (SB2963/HB1801)
This measure will require state facilities to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures and require that the construction of all new state buildings incorporate energy and water efficiency into the design and use building materials that reduce the carbon footprint of the project.

Green Amendment (SB2962)
This bill will add a provision to the Bill of Rights section of the constitution to recognize and protect the rights of all people to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and health environment.

Green Fees (SB3192)
This bill establishes a visitor green fee program to collect a fee to allow visitors to visit a state park, beach, state-owned forest, hiking trail, or other state-owned natural area. The Committee on Ways and Means (WAM) will hold a public decision making on 02-24.

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Capital Improvement Project Funding Released (CIP)

I'm pleased to announce I received a letter from the governor today, informing me that he's released $135 million in funding for CIP funds I requested to widen Farrington Highway. Funds will be used to finance land, and for additional design and construction to widen Farrington Highway from Kapolei Golf Course to Fort Weaver Road. This will greatly enhance driving conditions for those of us who travel these roads on a regular basis. In addition, the governor wrote to let me know he's released $1.7 million for Fort Barrette Road improvements! Funding will be used to finance construction for Fort Barrette Road improvements from the vicinity of Kama‘aha Avenue to the vicinity of Farrington Highway. Mahalo, Gov!

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Senator Gabbard donned his barong shirt and stopped for a quick pose before heading out to meet his colleagues and fellow members of the Filipino Legislative Caucus, who are mixed racially and ethnically, and have the common goal of helping the Filipino community who make up about 25% of Hawaii's total population. (February 22, 2022)

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Aloha e Friends,

Happy New Year! I hope you and your ‘ohana are safe and well as we head in to 2022. Please save the date for my next Virtual Listen Story meeting on Feb. 12, 9-10AM. I'll be sending out a meeting invite, so keep an eye out. ICYMI, you can view the recording from my December meeting here. The Legislative session officially starts Jan. 19. Unfortunately, the Capitol remains closed to the public due to COVID-19, so there'll be no Opening Day festivities. As always, please don't hesitate to contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at @senmikegabbard.






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At Your Service: My 2022 Session Staff

For the 2022 legislative session, my Office Manager is Corinne Gallardo, who oversees overall operations of my office. With 8 years at the Capitol and 12 years at City Council, Corinne comes to us with a wealth of experience. Meg Turner, who enters her 8th year with me in the Senate is my Community Liaison and Social Media Mgr. Meg and Corinne are my full-time year-round staffers. I have two session hires who will be with me, for the duration of the session. Michael Greenough, who's worked at the Leg. since 2011, is my Committee Clerk. He'll assist me with my Agriculture and Environment Committee that I chair, as well as the other committees I sit on: the Judiciary, and Gov't Operations Committee. Ms. Skylar Geasey worked in my office in 2020, under the Senate's Internship Program while attending UH Manoa. Sky graduated recently with a Political Science degree and is my Legislative/Committee Assistant for Session 2022. My legislative intern is Ms. Moani Pomare, via the UH Manoa Internship partnership.

Animal Protection Bills Go into Effect

Did you know local reef shark populations have declined by over 90%? Globally 71% of these magnificent creatures have declined with 3/4 of the species facing potential extinction. In 2010, Hawai‘i became the first state to ban possession, sale, trade, and distribution of shark fins, but we knew back then it was only a partial solution. So, I was happy when our Shark Protection Bill, (HB553, Act 53) was finally signed into law and went into effect Jan. 1. The other bill that went into effect on New Year's Day was my No Cosmetic Animal Testing Bill (Senate Bill 345, Act 160), making Hawai‘i the sixth state in the country to ban cosmetic animal testing!

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MY 2022 LEGISLATION

The bill introduction deadline is fast-approaching with a hard stop on January 26. Below are a couple of the bills I plan to introduce this session relating to my AEN Committee. Please be aware that these bills won't be numbered until later in the month. Stay tuned for updates via my social media and February Newsletter.

Catalytic Converters – this bill establishes the theft of a catalytic converter as a class C felony. A catalytic converter is an auto part that converts pollutant gas emissions into less harmful emissions. You may have seen on the news that theft of these auto parts has become rampant over the past few years. But not for their intended use. Thieves sell them for $200 to $1,000, for their precious metals. Unfortunately, it can cost thousands to replace these parts. Hopefully, you're not one of the many victims who have had yours stolen. This bill will mandate that scrap dealers require the seller's identity and, in some cases, take a photograph of the seller and a photocopy of their ID card. Putting more measures on the sale and purchase of catalytic converters, as well as making it a class C felony will hopefully deter the theft of these valuable devices.

Hawaii Farms to Food Bank Program – this bill will create a Hawai‘i Farm to Food bank program and provide a source of funding for the program. The purpose of a Farm to Food Bank Program is to (a) reduce food waste at the agricultural production, processing, or distribution level through the donation of food, (b) provide food to individuals in need, and (c) build relationships between agricultural producers, processors, and distributors through the donation of food (USDA.gov). This program will serve the State's food needs, provide local food producers with a market to support their operations, and keep moneys circulating within the State to boost the local economy. Buying local would be made easier. This bill would also create a Hawai‘i Food Assistance Special Fund if low-income and unemployed families and individuals experience food shortages. Supporting local food production starts with establishing access. This bill grants that opportunity.

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BIG ISLAND FARM TOURS, DEC. 28-29

As AEN Chair one of the best parts of my job is being out in the field and getting first-hand knowledge of who farmers are and what they're going through. The last week of December, I did a two-day site tour of Hawai‘i Island farms, which included several farms on the Hilo side in order to meet with farmers and talk story. The first three farms I visited were in Papaikou.

Ho‘ōla Farms has been run since 2015 by Emily Emmons and her husband, John, a military veteran. They specialize in natural agriculture educational training and hands-on experiences for veterans, caregivers, and their families, along with a variety of other programs.

Kama‘okū Kauhale: "Tiny" Homes Grand Opening

The Kauhale Tiny Home project in Kalaeloa (a few hundred yards east from where I live) celebrated their Grand Opening on Nov. 16. "Kauhale" (village), is a new approach to helping the chronically houseless find a place they can call home. The project in Kalaeloa was developed by HomeAid Hawai‘i largely through donations, led by Nani Medeiros, Executive Director. Nani is an extraordinary woman who persevered over the most challenging of circumstances during the past two years, to bring the first Kauhale community on O‘ahu to completion. During the public blessing and grand opening, the name "Kama‘okū" was revealed. The naming was thoughtful and intentional. Kama‘okū signifies a place where kindness is extended by all, without expectation and regardless of status; a place to thrive even in the most difficult conditions; a place to remember our ancestors and the places we come from; a place to stand tall. Nani and her team wanted to honor our koa kahiko (veterans) in a place of protection and peace where healing of spirit can be fostered. The 37 tiny homes (each just under 100 sq. feet) are located on 1 1/2 acres that contain community gardens and a common space. The cost for materials and labor for each tiny house is estimated at $20,000, including solar-powered air conditioning and electricity. A renovated, former Navy warehouse was turned into a communal kitchen, with bathrooms, laundry, and medical clinic. Residents pay monthly rents of approximately $500. To watch a brief video of the Blessing and Grand Opening, click here —> Blessing and Grand Opening

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Barbers Point Community Solar

Last week, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) published its final Environmental Assessment (EA). This is one of the first hoops that new development in Hawai‘i must go through to predetermine if their project would result in any negative effects to the environment. In July 2019, a Right-of-Entry permit was issued to Innergex Renewables to assess the potential of developing a solar project on DHHL's Industrial parcel in Kalaeloa. The terrain, lack of infrastructure, and proximity to Kalaeloa Airport, made the land difficult to homestead, so it was designated for industrial use. It was determined that the Barbers Point Solar Project could provide the Department much-needed resources to develop homestead lots, while also creating renewable energy for the public. Innergex presented a draft EA to HHC on Sept. 21 which was published Oct. 8. On Oct. 20, Innergex Renewables hosted a virtual public information meeting. Public comments were submitted over a 30-day public review and comment period Oct.8 -Nov.8, with a total of 26 comments received and incorporated into the final EA. The BPSP will consist of a 15-megawatt solar photovoltaic system coupled with a battery energy storage system. The total combined footprint will be less than 100 acres, with the solar panels covering approximately 45 acres. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2022 with major construction activities primarily occurring in 2023. Commercial operations are expected to commence in early 2024.To learn more about the BPSP and to view the final EA, visit dhhl.hawaii.gov/po/oahu.

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Dreamhouse Charter School Students Win 2021 Congressional App Challenge

The App Challenge is a national initiative in the US House of Representatives for middle and high school students to encourage them to focus their skills and creativity on developing, testing and analyzing new applications for real-world use. The 1st place winners for Hawai‘i's First Congressional District were 8th graders Jaylen Rabago, Kaden Hieger, Aureanna Inay, & Zaydi Willis of DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach, a public charter school in my district. Their teacher is Ms. Cerina Epple. Their app is called "Nani" (beautiful in Hawaiian) – a game young children play on the computer that encourages them to connect with the beauty and uniqueness of their culture. The app prompts the user to dress up a character in traditional Hula attire, using colors named for Hawaiian flowers. It promotes diversity and cultural exploration and provides keiki an opportunity to see themselves represented in an app. The eighth graders said, "… we knew that we wanted the main idea to be around mental health…a huge component of mental health well-being in Hawai‘i has to do with being connected to our culture. Hawaiian children are using social media and apps at a really young age these days and are exposed to mainly Western beauty standards and culture." The Challenge encourages students to learn code and inspires them to pursue careers in computer science. AlohaCongrats DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach!

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are safe and well and looking forward to a wonderful Christmas and holiday season with family and friends. Please Save the Date for my next Virtual Listen Story meeting on Jan. 8, 9-10AM. If you’d like to attend, email me and I’ll send you the zoom link. ICYMI, you can view the recording from my November meeting here. (BTW, that’s me at the beginning singing a cut off my 2002 album “Stand as One.”) Please don't hesitate to contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at @senmikegabbard.






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Red Hill Fuel Tank Info Briefing

The biggest issue on many peoples’ minds is of course the disastrous situation at the Red Hill facility on O‘ahu and the contaminated water in surrounding communities. Like everyone, I’m hugely concerned. You may have seen the article in last week’s Civil Beat, which mentioned that I’d introduced legislation in 2020 that would have effectively shut down Red Hill by 2028... unfortunately, the bill died. On Dec. 10, a joint hearing was called with the Senate Committees on Health; Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs; Agriculture and Environment; and the House Committees on Health, Human Services, & Homelessness; Corrections, Military, & Veterans; and Energy & Environmental Protection, to discuss the dire situation. Here’s a clip of my question to the Navy and their response. You can view the complete three-hour informational hearing on the Senate’s YouTube page here.

As one of the members who sits on the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee since its inception in 2016, we haven’t been able to move the ball down the field that much… until now. The U.S. Navy has been forced to shut down the use of the underground jet fuel storage tanks after numerous complaints from families that their water smells and looks like it contains fuel. Unfortunately, it’s taken a catastrophic event to finally shut down the tanks—for how long, no one knows.

A public hearing is set for Monday, Dec. 20, 8 AM via Zoom, in which the Navy says they’ll contest the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s emergency order instructing the Navy to drain the fuel from its 20 underground Red Hill fuel tanks. (Which relates directly to my question concerning their plan if the hearing doesn’t go their way.) The fuel facility that sits mauka (toward the mountain) of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam has long posed a risk to a major drinking water source for O‘ahu and is believed to be the source of the current petroleum contamination of the Navy’s drinking water system.

UH West O‘ahu Site Tour

My staff and I had a wonderful visit on Nov. 10 to the UH West O‘ahu campus in my Senate District 20, for a "Walk and Talk" around this beautiful, expanding campus. Hard to believe it was almost 10 years ago when it first opened its doors to students in 2012…. It was so gratifying to see the growth of this awesome campus! UHWO has experienced so many exciting changes, with many more to come! To see a brief video of highlights of our tour, click here!

We began the tour in the Administration Building where Chancellor Maenette Benham and her amazing team (Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, Jeff Moniz; Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Alan Rosenfeld; and Director, Institutional Research Office, John Stanley) gave us a brief overview of the UHWO: “Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Where We’re Going” including admission trends…

We were escorted by Wendy Tatsuno (Government Relations for UH West O‘ahu) and Ken Inouye (Executive Assistant to the Chancellor) to their beautiful, newly built amphitheater, where we met with Carrie Larger-Dir. of Admissions and Rouel Velasco, Student Life Coordinator. We saw the extraordinary focus these leaders exhibited when it came to their enthusiasm for and dedication to the students' health & well-being. They shared how the student population has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the support provided by their department. As we continued our “Campus Walk & Talk” I was amazed at all the new things there were to see and learn about since my last visit prior to the pandemic shutdown in 2020. We next met with Facilities & Planning Director, Bonnie Arakawa and James Shattuck for the "Mālama our Campus" portion of our walk & talk, where we got to view the future home of the Student Bookstore and Dining Hall Renovation, C-Building extension, Student Services Campbell Library Repairs, the East Plaza and Transit-Oriented Development Rail Station, just a 5-minute walk, adjacent to campus!

On the final stop of our tour, we were treated to the remarkable, brand new, high-tech Academy for Creative Media. This building really is the pride and joy of UHWO. I’m happy to have played a part in its completion, along with other campus improvements via our Senate CIP budget (Capital Improvement Projects) over the years… (including $35 million for the Creative Media Building and $7 million for the Admin and Allied Health Facility.) Recently completed, they haven’t yet had an opportunity to unveil it to the public with a Grand Opening due to COVID. Here, we met with Director Sharla Hanaoka and a couple of the students. It’s an amazing building that deserves an entire page of its own, due to all the high-tech components and incredible aspects it has to offer students interested in pursuing a career in film and creative media. I’m so proud of all UHWO has accomplished! This is one of the biggest highlights of my time in the State Senate—seeing our West O‘ahu campus in Kapolei finally come to fruition, grow and thrive.

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Youth Challenge Academy Class 55 Graduation

AlohaCongrats and Imua Class 55! It’s always very moving to see these cadets, many who come in with troubled backgrounds, unable to make it in traditional education for whatever reason, completely turn their lives around in only 5 ½ months. For those unfamiliar, the YCA provides 16 to 19-year-old non-traditional “At-Promise" youth a second chance to obtain their high school diploma and become productive citizens within the community. During each commencement ceremony, which I’ve been attending twice a year since 2013, the cadets sing and perform a song, unique to them. It was heartwarming to attend their on-campus commencement in person on Nov. 19 and watch them perform this song at the end of the graduation ceremony. I thought you might enjoy reading the words to the song: “That’s What Youth Challenge Is,” written by graduate Wengu (Lead Singer) & Director.

No matter how hard it gets, we goin’ stick through it
Keep our head up and handle it
Tomorrow we wake up with a second wind
Overcome it cause we champions
I know it seems so hard but remember one thing
Dream and Believe that you can Achieve

I see more changes
Wake up in the morning and I ask myself
Is the slack work living, should I ask for help?
Tired of being broke, even worse, I’m trapped
My soul hurts so I’m looking for a way to bounce back
The outs give a dang about a dropout
Now the challenge showed a way to make my family proud
Giving back to the kids every way we can
Gotta stay on track cause that’s God’s plan

That’s what Youth Challenge is….
Helping us change our ways….
That’s what Youth Challenge is….
OOOOH YEAH!

As I walk out these gates
I know that’ll appreciate
The better days and blessings that’ll come my way
The opportunities that I won’t hesitate to take
That’s why we tryna make a way
Gotta give thanks to the YCA
Sticking with the program really took a lot of faith
I thank the Lord above for always giving me the strength
Now we headed to the top
This is foreal and we ain’t gonna stop
Give us the courage to make it out there
Don’t worry if you fall, we got people who cares

Let us give thanks to the man above and all the staff for always helping us. Let’s not waste our time and go back to our old ways. Let’s start a new path for our future so we can see a change!

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Climate Change Summit

As we get closer to the 2022 Legislative Session which begins on Jan. 19, it’s typical for me to have numerous meetings with various environmental and agricultural stakeholders who request legislation. The Virtual Climate Action Forum I attended and spoke at on Dec. 4 provided the perfect venue to allow this to happen. The event was a follow-up to one held on Sept. 18 where we discussed our environmental legislative priorities. The virtual format made it so no one had to hassle with flying in from the Neighbor Islands and pay for parking downstairs, which was great. During the event, we focused on bill concepts specifically related to climate mitigation and adaptation measures. You can view my presentation here.

I want to mahalo all who were involved in putting this follow-up event together. Such a great idea… It just makes sense…inviting all the stakeholders to get together and talk story before session starts. We had some great speakers, including Dr. Chip Fletcher, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and Chairperson of the Honolulu Climate Change Commission. We also heard from my counterparts in the House of Representatives, Rep. David Tarnas, and Rep. Nicole Lowen. We heard from numerous environmental organizations, who sponsored the event including Hawaii Youth Climate Coalition, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Climate Reality Project, Climate Protectors, 350Hawaii, Hawaii Electronic Vehicle Association, Our Revolution Hawaii, the Environmental Caucus of the Hawaii Democratic Party, For the Fishes, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations and the Environmental Justice Task Force of Faith Action for Community Equity. The event was moderated by Ted Bohlen, a former deputy attorney general who has worked on environmental issues for many years and who’s passionate about mitigating the climate emergency and protecting coral reefs and clean waters. He’s also a founder of the Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition and Climate Protectors Hawai‘i. (I plan to hyperlink these various organizations).

The Climate Action Forum also featured seven breakout sessions where deeper discussions were held. Topics included: Carbon Pricing and Cashback, Visitor Impact Fee, Green Constitutional Amendment, Decarbonization of Electricity and State Buildings, Carbon Sequestration, Decarbonization of Transportation, and Local Land and Water. To learn more, click on the links to the individual presentations, and visit the website at HECA | Keep It In The Ground (keepoilintheground.com)

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Local Food Coalition

On Dec. 7, I was invited to discuss my agriculture legislative priorities for the 2022 session at the Local Food Coalition’s December 2021 meeting. The Local Food Coalition is an organization comprised of farmers, ranchers, livestock producers, investors and other organizations working to provide Hawai‘i’s food supply. Collectively, the coalition manages more than 1 million acres of land and produces the majority of food in our state. Solving our challenge of increasing the local food supply—putting more local food on local plates—can be best accomplished by “laulima” many hands working together—bringing people and organizations together who can work on the entire food value chain in a systematic way. Coalition proposals include critical issues related to land, water, finance, energy, market development, and other key concerns that members believe will help local food gain strength. The LFC is comprised of: Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Federation, Hawai‘i Farmers' Union United, Hawai‘i Food Industry Association, Hawai‘i Food Manufacturers Association, 4 Ag Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association, Hawai‘i Cattlemen's Association, and the Ulupono Initiative.

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HFUU Annual Convention

I always love it when I get to hang out with farmers. The Hawai‘i Farmers Union United Annual Convention was in Maui this year at the Hale Akua Garden Farm Eco Retreat Center Dec. 9-12. It was set up as a hybrid experience so that there was a group of us there in person, where we got to have the conference experience we all remember pre-COVID, combined with a virtual component where participants, and those not in Maui, were able to tune in and listen to speakers as far away as Columbia! Speakers included: Christopher Nesbitt of Agroforestry Systems Columbia; Maui Bees Kula Farm Tour Demo with Mark & Leah Damon; Lapa‘au Olinda Farm Tour Demo with Michael & Lauren Marchand; Dan Kittredge of Bio Nutrient Produce Meter; Hoku Nui Farm Tour Demo with Karin & Erik Frost; Kahanu Aina Greens Wailuku Farm Tour Demo with Vincent & Irene Mina; Ray Archuleta of 'Kiss The Ground' Movie; and the Soil Health Initiative video featuring Hawaii Taro Farm & Mahi Pono. There was time to learn and talk story and share visions for what Agriculture in Hawai‘i could be…

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Christmas Trees

Have you got your Christmas tree yet? Are you planning ahead on how to recycle your tree after the holidays? This can be done simply as part of your normal green waste pickup. Make sure the tree is bare (no flocking–that white, powdery mixture put on branches to make it look like snow, ornaments, or tinsel). Cut up the tree so it fits inside the can with the lid closed. If you have tinsel or flocking on the tree, you can cut it up and bag it and put it in the gray cart. If you have curbside collection, cut the tree into three-foot segments and put it out on your normal refuse day. Don’t put it out with bulky trash. You can also drop off whole Christmas trees at your nearest refuse convenience center. If you miss your green, recycling, or trash pickup day, wait until the next scheduled pickup.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. I'm getting ready for the upcoming session, which begins January 19th and working hard on drafting meaningful agriculture and environmental legislation. I'm also meeting with agricultural leaders across the state to look at ways to increase local food production and become more self-sustaining here in paradise. If you have any ideas for bills, it's not too early to send them to my office. They don't need to be fully fleshed out (we have lawyers who do that) but basic ideas and concepts are good.

In this month's Newsletter you'll find current COVID-19 updates and District 20 road and construction updates. You can also view my Listen Story Community Meeting video recording here if you weren't able to make it live. Please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at @senmikegabbard.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with your ‘ohana and friends.






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COVID Travel Restrictions

Farrington Highway, Kapolei

I received an update from State Deputy Director of Transportation, Ed Sniffen, on the Farrington Highway project which will extend three miles from Kapolei Golf Course to Ft. Weaver Rd. Construction will start August 2022. Improvement will include increased capacity through the corridor by adding one or two lanes. There will be new sidewalks, bike lanes, a 44-foot landscaped median strip, new bridges, culverts, and major utility relocation. Estimated completion is by August 2024.

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KAPOLEI: 4TH HOTEL

Well, folks we've got three hotels in Kapolei right now. The 175-room Hampton Inn and Suites opened in 2016 at the Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, about a mile down Kapolei Pkwy toward Ewa. Then the 180-room Embassy Suites was built in 2017; followed by the 183-suite Marriott Residence Inn in 2019. Now, here comes #4… a Utah-based partnership is seeking a city permit to build a 204-unit limited-service hotel under The Element by Westin brand at a cost of roughly $70 million on a 3-acre block known as Leihano at Kapolei, close to the Embassy and Marriott hotels. They'll be hiring about 130 employees. Besides the two existing hotels, the block includes the 84-unit ‘Ilima at Leihano assisted living complex, a Liliuokalani Trust children's center, C.S. Wo & Sons furniture stores, a Raising Cane's fast-food restaurant, a 7-Eleven store, Starbucks and a Hele gas station. Previously announced plans for the block also include a St. Jude Catholic Church, a National Kidney Foundation facility, a medical office building and a First Hawaiian Bank branch.

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Future Dog Park in Kalaeloa

And for you dog lovers....You may have noticed what looks like the makings of a dog park just mauka of the tennis courts in Kalaeloa. We did some digging and found out that yes! There are plans to open that fenced-in area and turn it into a park for our furry friends. However, there's a structure in the midst of the fenced-in area (hence the fence) that first needs to be removed before our furry friends can frolic there… another one of those old structures left over from the days of the navy – this one an old bath house – that needs to go! No timeline on this yet, but I'll keep you posted.

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Gentry Homes

Gentry Homes now has a name for this new project just down the road from where I live: Ka‘ulu – which means "The hill that absorbs the sun." Named after the ‘ulu tree, one of the first trees early settlers brought to Hawai‘i. When the original inhabitants arrived on O‘ahu they landed in Kalaeloa and planted the first ‘ulu trees. Gentry worked with Uncle Shad and other local kupuna to come up with a name, which highlights the origin of the first people living on O‘ahu, looking forward to beginning a new life. There were no archeological sites found on the site and it has been 100% approved by SHPD (State Historic Preservation Division). This is a special site that represents the establishment of new roots and a new life. Taken to heart, the meaning and history here are very appropriate. Some folks thought the homes were going to be high rises and were happy when they found out that's not happening. Gentry Homes, <ahem> I mean Ka‘ulu, is a 390-unit residential community, with 256 multifamily attached units, and 133 single-family detached units on a 30-acre parcel, and is bordered on three sides by future public roadways – Copahee Avenue, Saratoga Road, and Kamokila Boulevard. Hunt Companies plans to improve these roads to City standards, providing an environment where it's safe and convenient for people to utilize conventional and alternative modes of transportation, including use of rail, bus, bicycles and walking. The northwest portion of the parcel is adjacent to the future site of the ALOHA Vets clinic which is identified as Parcel 1C. Homes will be built in increments, with site work beginning in 2022. To the east of the project site is Barbers Point Elementary School (BPES) which serves approximately 500 students from kindergarten to grade 5. Southwest of the Project Site is a five-megawatt solar farm on land leased from DHHL. The first homes are expected to be complete in 2023.

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Advanced Leeward Outpatient Healthcare Access

The blessing and groundbreaking for the ALOHA "multi-specialty" VA Clinic was in May of this year. The (VA) awarded the 15-year lease to locate the $100M, 88,675 square-foot Advanced Leeward Outpatient Healthcare Access (ALOHA) project at Kalaeloa to be developed by Hunt. The multi-specialty VA clinic will provide primary care, mental health care, x-ray, laboratory, diagnostic, pharmacy, and specialty care for the area's veterans and 87,000 veterans on O‘ahu. The ALOHA clinic will bring approximately 400 jobs during construction and more than 200 new clinic jobs between the healthcare and administrative staff as they open. Hunt is investing more than $40M in infrastructure improvements in the Kalaeloa area, which began this summer. Development of the VA Clinic on Parcel 1 is progressing well. Mass grading was completed, and the project was turned over to the next contractor, Nan Inc. They will take over the rest of the construction. Overall the project remains on schedule to be completed late 2023 or early 2024.

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Landfill Locations

Waimanalo Gulch Landfill near Ko Olina has been open since 1989 and has about 10 to 12 operable years left. The state Land Use Commission ruled in 2019 that Waimanalo Gulch must close by March 2, 2028, due to environmental justice issues, and the city must select a new location by Dec. 31, 2022. Jerry Pupillo, Director, Department of Enterprise Services with the Mayor's Office said at the October Kapolei Neighborhood Board meeting that they are still evaluating options. The city has narrowed down the list from 12 to 4 locations in the white areas: Two of the remaining sites are near the North Shore, one is between Makakilo and Waipahu and one is near Wheeler Army Airfield. The new landfill would have a life span of 20 years, take up about 80 acres of land and cost about $210 million. In September, the state enacted Act 73, which prohibits any waste or disposal facility from being located in state conservation districts and requires a half-mile buffer between the edge of any disposal activity and the closest residence, school or hospital property line.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. With 70% of O‘ahu now vaccinated, we're seeing our numbers of infections starting to go down and the Governor and Mayor's COVID-19 restrictions are beginning to loosen. To learn more about the situation in Hawai‘i visit the Hawai‘i Department of Health's LIVE Dashboard: COVID-19 Dashboard. In my October Newsletter you'll find information on local COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites. I've also included some District 20 and Ag & Environment updates.

Please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at @senmikegabbard.

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.






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"Dial" 808!

Have you heard the news? Beginning October 24, we're required to include the 808 area code when dialing Hawai‘i phone numbers, no matter which island you're on. This is related to a new three digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, in response to a Federal Communications Commission order. Here's a link to additional information on Hawaiian Telcom's website you can review if you're interested in learning more: Hawaiiantel.com Residential Support Dial-808

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Free Vaccination and Testing Clinics

Kapolei Chamber, in partnership with Ko Olina Resort and Residence INN by Marriott - Kapolei is hosting a series of free vaccination clinics. Click here for details. FREE COVID‑19 Testing and Vaccination events will also be held at the Department of Hawaiian Homelands Hale Pono‘i Building beginning this Saturday, Oct. 2, from 2:30 pm-6:30 pm and every Saturday until November 13. The event is open to the public and pre-registration is recommended but not required. Bring your I.D. and your insurance if you have. If you are under 18 bring a parent and complete a Consent Form. If you have any questions, call 691‑2222 or visit covid.queens.org/vaccine.

The Honolulu Fire Department is providing free COVID-19 tests in the parking lot of the Consolidated Theatres Kapolei, at 890 Kamokila Boulevard, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. every Tuesday until October 26. Appointments are not required. Participants will be given the PCR or polymerase chain reaction test for COVID-19, which produces results in approximately 2-3 days. There's also free drive-thru testing in the parking lot area of the Ewa Mahiko District Park in Ewa Beach, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. every Thursday until Oct. 28.

Kaiser Permanente is offering drive-thru COVID-19 tests at the West O‘ahu Medical Office at 410 Kamokila Boulevard, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. To make an appointment, go to kp.org or the Kaiser Permanente mobile app. Use the Kealakapu Street entrance and bring member ID card, a photo ID, and wear a mask. Kaiser is also opening a new monoclonal antibody infusion site at West O‘ahu, by appointment only Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. this week. With the arrival of a FEMA team, hours will expand to seven days a week, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Patients must have a referral from their primary care physician or specialist. Kaiser Permanente patients are also receiving monoclonal antibody treatments at Moanalua Medical Center and Maui Lani Medical office in Kahului.

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International Day of Non-Violence and Mahatma Gandhi Day Celebration

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as "Mahatma", was born on October 2, 1869. He became the leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India and led India to independence through the pioneering use of nonviolent civil disobedience and passive resistance, inspiring various political leaders and civil rights movements across the world to the present day. Gandhi is commemorated annually on October 2 with a national holiday in India and with the International Day of Non-Violence worldwide, established by the United Nations General Assembly on June 15, 2007. In Hawai‘i, the GANDHI INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE was founded by Raj Kumar, Ph.D., with a mission to provide information, consultation, education, and training to resolve conflict in a non-violent manner. An initial effort to promote public awareness was a request to the Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i to commemorate the inspiration, tolerance, and enduring legacy of Mohandas Gandhi on the date of his birth. During the Regular Session of 2015, the 28th Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i unanimously adopted Senate Bill 332 proposing to designate October 2 of each year as "Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Day" as a day of recognition and observance, (not a state holiday.) On April 9, 2015, Governor David Y. Ige signed the bill into law as Act 5 (2015) -- making Hawai‘i the first state in the Union to so honor Gandhi.

I, along with Senator Brian Taniguchi, are honoring this occasion as we've done every year for the past seven years, with a Certificate from the State Senate. We congratulate Dr. Raj Kumar, who founded the Gandhi International Institute for Peace with a mission to provide information, consultation, education, and training to resolve conflict in a non-violent manner, and who was instrumental in advocating for and achieving the establishment of October 2 as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Day in Hawai‘i. It's fitting that persons who embody the Aloha Spirit actively serve to champion the cause of non-violence and the establishment of a culture of peace throughout the world. The Hawai‘i State Legislature joins in the celebration of the 152nd anniversary of the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and extends its Aloha and best wishes for continued success and achievement by the GANDHI INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PEACE in the fulfillment of its mission consistent with honoring the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi Center. October 2, 2021 marks the 152nd birthday of Mohandas Gandhi, the 16th annual observation of the International Day of Non-Violence, and the 7th celebration of Mahatma Gandhi Day in Hawai‘i. The program is being co-hosted with Still and Moving Center. The theme of the 2021 celebration event is "The human voice can never reach the distance that is covered by the still small voice of conscience." – Mahatma Gandhi. You can participate in the event by signing up here.

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Environmental Legislative Priorities

As Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, I was invited to share my environmental priorities for the 2022 session (which begins January 19th), at an online event September 18, called "Hawai‘i Environmental Change Agents." Seventeen Hawai‘i environmental organizations sponsored the event, which also featured my counterparts in the House, Rep. Nicole Lowen, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection; and Rep. David Tarnas, Chair of the House Committee on Water and Land. You can view the recording here: Hawaii Environmental Change Agents 9-18-2021 - YouTube. It was amazing to be able to all get together and voice our concerns, prior to the legislative session. When asked to provide my top three priorities, I asked for input from the environmental community and constituents…There were certain issues that came up more often than others, so these frequently raised issues helped me to formulate my top three priorities. Here they are:

Green Amendment (SB 502)
My first priority is the Green Amendment, SB 502, which passed unanimously in the Senate last session, but died in the House. Green Amendments are provisions added to the Bill of Rights section of a constitution that recognize and protect the rights of all people, including future generations – regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or income – to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and healthy environments. SB 502 would amend our state constitution to protect those rights and could be used in cases where those rights are being threatened. The State and counties should protect, and not infringe upon, those rights. Support for the constitutional right to a clean environment is gaining momentum in other states, as other Legislatures are beginning to recognize the power in including such basic, but strong legal language in a state constitution's bill of rights. Hawai‘i is one of 13 states considering a Green Amendment. Two other states, Pennsylvania and Montana, have already adopted Green Amendments. If it passes next year, with your kokua, the ballot question would appear in the 2022 election cycle.

Visitor Green Fees (SB 666)
Our beaches, reefs, ocean, forests, parks, and other natural resources are part of what makes Hawai‘i such a special place. These natural resources provide billions of dollars of value to the state's economy and are a vital piece of our tourism industry helping to sustain the well-being of our communities. But Hawai‘i's natural resources are being "loved to death" by too many visitors and will face new challenges with climate change. So, another big priority for me in 2022 is the visitor green fees bill, and I'm not talking about raising golf green fees… SB 666, which passed the Senate, but died in the House last session, established a green fee surcharge on transient accommodations for the purposes of funding workforce programs and services that promote certain environmental goals. The increased demand on our natural resources requires innovative funding sources, focused on reversing the decline in our ecosystems and the associated risks for our visitor industry and resident community. As a result, there's growing interests and support in the belief that visitors can and should contribute a green fee surcharge to help preserve our natural resources. This visitor green fee campaign could provide ways to enhance job opportunities in terms of creating thousands of green jobs and elevating the overall visitor experience as well. This truly is a no-brainer. We should all pay our fair share in protection of our island's beauty and bounty.

Sunscreens (SB132)
The third priority I'd like to share is related to sunscreens. The main factor contributing to the decline of our coral reefs is localized pollution, such as sewage, pesticide run-off, and yes, chemical sunscreens. In 2018, I'm proud to say, Hawai‘i passed the landmark first-in-the-world ban on the sale of sunscreens containing two chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate that are harmful to corals, other marine species, and humans. Since that time, scientists from around the world have shown that two other sunscreen chemicals, octocrylene and avobenzone, are also harmful to marine and human life. They are absorbed into our bodies, may disrupt our hormones, and may cause cancers. In order to protect human health and our precious coral reefs, I intend to reintroduce SB132, which bans the sale in Hawai‘i of sunscreens containing octocrylene or avobenzone, without a prescription issued by a licensed healthcare provider. Last session SB 132 passed the Senate but died in the House.

Finding and aligning with solutions that are best for our environment, our communities, our country, and our planet will take focus. It will take desire. It will take determination, and most of all, it will take "laulima" and aloha -- many hands, minds and hearts working together.

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Imagine a Day Without Water

On October 21, the Hawai‘i Board of Water Supply is hosting a nationwide campaign focusing on fresh water and infrastructure – check out their Facebook page and Board of Water Supply webpage. Join at noon for a live and interactive event with the directors from three city agencies discussing the importance of water and the need to invest in water infrastructure. If you'd like to submit a question to be answered during the forum, please email bws. You'll also have the chance to submit a question in the comment box once the forum is live and streaming. Win prizes on their Instagram Contest, such as a 35-gallon rain barrel, reusable totes, sink drain, shower timers, sunglasses, agency logo shirts (sizes vary), water jugs, and more...There'll be a GRAND prize, 2nd Place, and 3rd place winner!

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Neighborhood Board Meetings

The next scheduled neighborhood board meetings can be found here. You can log on remotely and they're open to all. You can also view minutes and video from past meetings.

Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. With close to 65% of Hawai‘i now vaccinated, hopefully we'll start to see our numbers go down. I've included some COVID-19 resources here and Westside vaccination events, for your information. I've also included a brief survey where I'm asking for your input on environmental issues in Hawai‘i.

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.






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August Listen-Story Meeting

In case you missed it, you can view the recording of my Listen Story Community meeting on August 28 on my YouTube Channel, followed by a Q & A session with participants. Topics covered community updates on roads, construction, and new building developments across the district, including Kapolei, Makakilo, and portions of Ewa, Kalaeloa, and Waipahu. Click here to see the PowerPoint presentation.

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Two Decades Later, We'll Never Forget

The 2,977 lives lost because of the unthinkable tragedy of September 11, 2001, will never be forgotten. The courage of those who risked their lives to save others is immeasurable. The events of that day – a day that started off like any other – couldn't have been imagined by any of us, and changed our lives forever… On the 20th Anniversary of this horrible day, let's remember how quickly life can change… to count our blessings and always try to be kind and loving to everyone.

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National Preparedness Month

Did you know September is "National Preparedness Month"? The Hawai‘i Department of Health (HDOH) has joined federal, state, and local agencies across the U.S. to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies. People are encouraged to create a plan with family and friends and to build an emergency kit. This is especially important during this pandemic when things we often take for granted may not be available. For information on hurricane preparedness tips, visit: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/weather/hurricane/. For information on September National Preparedness Month, emergency preparedness in Hawai‘i, and resources available to the public, please visit the websites below:

COVID-19 Updates

Here's some great resources on COVID-19:

Safe Access O‘ahu Vaccine Passport Program

Beginning Monday, Sept. 13, Mayor Blangiardi's "Safe Access O‘ahu" Vaccine Passport Program will go into effect for the next 60 days. To enter their business, certain O‘ahu establishments are required to have customers show proof of vaccination, OR a negative COVID test taken within the last 48 hours. Mayor Blangiardi announced the program amid an alarming surge in COVID cases in Hawai‘i that's wreaking havoc on Hawai‘i's people and our health care system.

The list of establishments affected by the mayor's order are:

Hawai‘i's Hospitals Over-flowing

Triage tents have started popping up across the state. Hawai‘i health leaders have teamed up with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bring in 550 medical staff from the mainland — mostly nurses, and mostly on the Big Island. On O‘ahu, hospital staff have been working double and triple shifts. According to the president and CEO of the Healthcare Association of Hawai‘i, Hilton Raethel, the most serious issue is the lack of ICU beds (224 ICU patients for 223 beds). About 100 of those patients have COVID-19.

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Unemployment Insurance

As of Sept. 4th the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC), and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC) programs ended. Only the regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) program is available. If you have PEUC, PUA, or FPUC claims that have been submitted prior to Sept. 4, and remain pending, your claims can still be processed. You may want to sign up for an appointment with the PUA or adjudication divisions to speak with someone to get your pending claim processed. If you have a problem with your claim, you can schedule a 30-minute phone appointment to speak with someone. To sign up, go to labor.hawaii.gov/ui/appointments.

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Time to Renew Your Hawai‘i Driver's License

Gov. David Ige's latest emergency proclamation, which waived expired identification documents, is set to expire at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 4. O‘ahu residents are urged to schedule appointments now to renew their Hawai‘i driver's licenses, identification cards, and learner's permits as soon as possible, ahead of a looming deadline. To make an appointment, go to https://alohaq.honolulu.gov/.

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LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Hawai‘i Environmental Change Agents
As Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, I've been invited to share my environmental priorities for the 2022 session, which begins in mid-January, at an upcoming free online event on September 18, 10 to 11:30 a.m., called "Hawai‘i Environmental Change Agents." Hawai‘i environmental organizations are sponsoring the event, which also features my counterparts in the House, Rep. Nicole Lowen, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection; and Rep. David Tarnas, Chair of the House Committee on Water and Land. You can register in advance at: bit.ly/HECA_Gabbard.

According to Clara Ontal of the Hawai‘i Youth Climate Coalition, and chair of the event planning committee, the event seeks to build collaborative relationships that will be effective in passing legislation to benefit the environment and the people of Hawai‘i. The environmental organizations sponsoring this event include Sierra Club Hawai‘i and Sierra Club Big Island, Environmental Justice Task Force of Faith Action for Community Equity, The Nature Conservancy, Blue Planet Foundation, Surfrider Foundation O‘ahu, Citizens Climate Lobby-Hawaii Chapters, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party, 350.org Hawaii, Center for Biological Diversity, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Our Revolution Hawai‘i, Pono Hawai‘i Initiative, Hawai‘i Youth Climate Coalition, Kaua‘i Climate Action Coalition, and Hawai‘i Electric Vehicle Association.


ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEY
As our January legislative session gets closer, I'm in the process of deciding what my environmental priorities will be for the 2022 session. I would like your input. Please choose your top priority out of the list below, and click on the survey here to fill in your response. (You'll need to login to your google account to access.) To learn more about each bill, click the bill number, which is hyperlinked below. This will take you to a Measure Status page, which gives the description of the bill, who introduced it, what occurred during session 2021 as the bill made its way through the legislature, links to testimony for the bill, and the committee report that was filed for the bill. The status page is a great way to learn more about bills!

Neighborhood Board Meetings

The next scheduled meeting for the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. You can logon remotely and it's open to all.

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Vaccine Events in and Around Kapolei

Noise Complaints?

Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are safe and well. With the Delta variant bearing down upon us full force, it seems it's all we hear about in the news these days. And with good reason. It's a scary and uncertain time. As much as we were all hoping for a reprieve, the bottom line is, it looks like this virus is going to be with us for some time.

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.






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COVID Restrictions

As cases of Covid-19 continue to increase across the Islands, Governor Ige has mandated a new executive order which includes the following, effective August 10:

Eviction Moratorium Extended to Oct. 3

The eviction moratorium was set to expire on August 6, 2021. However, an order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the extension of eviction ban moratoriums will continue until Oct. 3, or "until a county no longer has substantial or high levels of community transmission for 14 consecutive days," whichever comes first. The governor announced that this applies to "almost the entire state of Hawai‘i." To determine if you qualify go to the Eviction Protection Declaration. This past year, the Legislature passed HB 1376, which was signed into law as Act 57. As a part of the law, the Governor needed to notify both the Legislature and the Judiciary 20 days before he intended to end the eviction moratorium. He did this on July 15. According to Act 57, however, no one was to face eviction. It was only to begin a mediation process for those who owe 4+ month of rent. Landlords must give tenants 15 days to respond to a mediation notice and another 15 days to complete mediation. Those who are 3 months + behind in rent cannot start going through this free mandatory mediation process until September 6, 2021, those 2 month + behind on November 6, 2021, and those 1 month + behind on January 6, 2022. This was intended to not overwhelm the Judiciary and for more rental relief to be disseminated to those who qualify. This timeline also seeks to balance the needs of those who legitimately need relief with those who just have chosen not to pay any rent without a legitimate reason. For more information:

>> Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i: legalaidhawaii.org/i-cant-pay-my-rent-mortgage.html
>> Mediation Center of the Pacific: mediatehawaii.org/landlordtenant

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The Rental and Utility Relief Program

The City's Rental and Utility Relief Program reopened August 12 to accept 5,000 new applications. Please visit https://www.oneoahu.org/renthelp to see if you qualify. Only one person per household should apply. The program can pay up to $2,500/month for unpaid rent, electricity, water, sewer, and gas bills; $2,000/month for rent, and $500 a month for utility bills. For questions about the program, call (808) 768-CITY (2489). The City's call center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week.

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LEGISLATIVE NEWS

As Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, I was pleased to see the following bills pass into law. (*Denotes bills I introduced). Click on the hyperlink to go to the Status Sheet for each bill. To read the actual bill, click on the number at the top. For more help navigating the bills, contact the Public Access Room: https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/contact

Agriculture

Ag. Buildings Expansion (SB 489)
Increases the maximum area for each agricultural shade cloth structure, cold frame, and greenhouse that could qualify the structure for an exemption from building permit and building code requirements. Effective 1/1/2022. (CD1)

Ag. Loans* (SB 336)
Amends the maximum amount that the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture is authorized to approve for agricultural loans and aquacultural loans not to exceed $50,000 of state funds, rather than $25,000. (CD1)

Food Donation (SB 244)
Expands liability protection for donors to include donations of food and similar donations made to needy persons by organizations. Authorizes the donation of expired food when the donor reasonably believes in good faith that the food remains fit for human consumption. (CD1)

Restrictions Ag. Use (SB 186)
Disallows the enforcement of a re-recorded homeowners' association restriction if the restriction prohibits bona fide agricultural uses and activities on agricultural land. (CD1)

SNAP (SB 512)
Removes the $10 per visit per day cap on the dollar-for-dollar match received by supplemental nutrition assistance program beneficiaries under the Hawaii healthy food incentive program, also known as the double up food bucks program. Specifies that healthy proteins are eligible purchases under the program. (CD1)

State Department Produce Goals (HB 817)
Requires and establishes benchmarks for each state department to ensure that a certain percentage of the produce purchased by that department consists of fresh local agricultural products or local value-added, processed, agricultural, or food products. Requires a report to the legislature on each department's progress toward meeting these benchmarks. (SD2)

Subdivision and CPR Ag Lands (HB 247)
Amends certain land subdivision and condominium property regime laws related to agricultural land, as recommended pursuant to Act 278, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, to ensure certain condominium property regime projects within the agricultural district are used for agricultural purposes. (SD2)

Animals

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics* (SB 345)
Bans the import for profit, sale, and offer for sale of any cosmetic in the State if the final product or any component of the final product was developed or manufactured using animal testing performed on or after 1/1/2022 in a cruel manner. Effective 1/1/2022. (CD1)

Dog Tether (HB 416)
Prohibits specified trolleys, trolleys with swivels, pulleys, cables, or running lines designed to attach a dog to two stationary objects in a configuration that endangers the dog, including by depriving the dog of sustenance. Prohibits tethering or restraining a dog under the age of six months unless the dog is engaged in an activity supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner. Prohibits tethering or restraining a dog with a tow or log chain. Prohibits tethering or restraining a dog with a choke collar, pinch collar, or prong collar unless the dog is engaged in an activity supervised by its owner or an agent of its owner. (SD2)

Shark Protection (HB 553)
Establishes an offense of intentionally or knowingly capturing, entangling, or killing a shark in state marine waters, and provides penalties and fines. Provides certain exemptions. Allows the department of land and natural resources to establish rules. Effective 1/1/2022. (CD1)

Sport Fish (SB 1313)
Requires the division of aquatic resources of the department of land and natural resources to establish a pilot project to restock the Wahiawa public fishing area with northern largemouth bass, butterfly peacock bass, or both by 1/1/2023; provided that the board of agriculture places both species of bass on the list of restricted animals that require a permit for import and possession. (CD1)

Education

Farm to School HDOA to HIDOE (HB 767)
Moves the Hawaii farm to school program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education. Establishes a programmatic goal for the Department of Education that at least 30% of food served in public schools shall consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Creates an annual reporting requirement. (SD2)

Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism

Made in Hawai‘i (SB 263)
Transfers oversight of the "Hawaii Made" program for manufactured products and the "Hawaii Made" trademark to the department of business, economic development, and tourism. Outlines the department of business, economic development, and tourism's duties and responsibilities for oversight of the "Hawaii Made" program for manufactured products. Appropriates federal funds to the department of business, economic development, and tourism. (CD1)

Environment

Aluminum Cans* (SB 348)
Updates the federal law reference to standards established by the United States Food and Drug Administration regarding product quality standards for bottled water. Repeals the requirement that noncarbonated bottled water be transported, stored, processed, or bottled through lines or equipment through which only water is passed. (CD1)

Balloon Release (HB 1102)
Prohibits the intentional release of balloons inflated with a gas that is lighter than air. Effective 1/1/2023. (SD2)

OEQC/OP (HB 1318)
Establishes the Environmental Advisory Council. Transfers the rights, powers, employees, appropriations, and other personal property from the Office of Environmental Quality Control to the Office of Planning. Transfers all rules adopted or developed by the Department of Health, Office of Environmental Quality Control, or Environmental Council to the Office of Planning. Amends the ability for an applicant to appeal nonacceptance of an environmental impact statement from the Environmental Council to the Environmental Court. (CD1)

Invasive Species

Spittlebug (HB 237)
Appropriates $350,000 for fiscal year 2021-2022 to the department of agriculture for the mitigation and control of the two-lined spittlebug and recovery of the rangelands damaged by the invasive pest. (CD1)

Coffee Berry Borer (SB 855)
Extends the sunset date for the coffee berry borer pesticide subsidy program to 6/30/2023 and the program manager position, including the position's civil service and collective bargaining laws exemption, to 6/30/2024. Provides that no single coffee grower shall receive more than $12,000 for each pest per year in subsidies between 6/30/2021 and 7/01/2023. Requires the department of agriculture to compile a list of certain pesticides. (CD1)

Water and Land

Beach Restoration (SB 367)
Waives the requirement for section 401 water quality certification for certain small-scale beach restoration projects authorized by the department of land and natural resources. (CD1)

HDOA/DOH Non-Ag Lands Task Force (HB 469)
Establishes a working group to: (1) Ascertain the process and status of the transfer of non-agricultural park lands from the department of land and natural resources to the department of agriculture pursuant to Act 90, SLH 2003 (Act 90) and chapter 166E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, regarding non-agricultural park lands; and (2) Determine the challenges and potential remedies necessary to facilitate the process of fulfilling the purposes of Act 90. (CD1)

Sea Level Rise Adaptation (HB 243)
Requires the Office of Planning, in cooperation with each state agency having operational responsibilities over state facilities, to: identify existing and planned facilities that are vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding impacts, and natural hazards; assess a range of options to mitigate the impacts of sea level rise to those facilities; and submit annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation commission regarding the vulnerability and adaptation assessments for state facilities and the progress made in implementing sea level rise adaptation in future plans, programs, and capital improvement needs and decisions. Amends the Hawaii State Planning Act to include sustainable development, climate change adaptation, and sea level rise adaptation as objectives for facility systems. (CD1)

Surplus Military Land (HB 1352)
Requires the Office of Planning to submit a report to the Legislature containing: (1) an inventory of lands within the State that are leased to or controlled by the federal government; (2) any known contaminants or environmental hazards associated with the inventoried lands based on past environmental studies; (3) input from executive branch departments and agencies and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on proposed alternative uses for the lands that would be consistent with the departments and agencies' missions if the lands are returned to the State; and (4) its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, based on this information. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Health to submit reports to the Office of Planning. (CD1)

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DISTRICT 20 COMMUNITY UPDATES

Kapolei Interchange Complex – Phase 3
James Campbell Company, has had a public-private partnership with the Hawaii Department of Transportation to build the KIC since 2005. The growing number of businesses at the Kalaeloa Harbor and Campbell Industrial Park will soon be provided much-need relief. The first phase of the Harbor Access Road, a new State highway planned to connect H-1 to the Kalaeloa Harbor, via Phase 3 of the interchange complex, is now complete. Campbell Industrial is working with the HDOT to prepare Phase 3 as a "shovel ready" project to compete for the much talked about American infrastructure federal transportation dollars. Phase 3 will open the door for better flow in and out of the industrial park during peak travel times. Additionally, the interchange will provide a much-needed connection to Kapolei Parkway, relieving circulation and providing direct access to H1 from Kapolei's commercial core.

KES Groundbreaking
Kapolei Energy Storage Plus Power held their Groundbreaking on August 11, 2021. Plus Power is an independent developer of utility-scale battery storage projects developing a stand-alone battery storage project in Kapolei in response to the Hawaiian Electric Company's Phase 2 Requests for Proposals for Renewable Energy. Its 185 MW/565 MWh Kapolei Energy Storage project (KES) was selected by HECO as part of its recent state-wide renewable production and storage RFP. This project will provide grid support services and allow the addition of more renewable energy to the HECO grid. Located on roughly eight acres of land in the Kapolei Harborside industrial project, it will interconnect at a critical Hawaiian Electric substation adjacent to District 20 in Campbell Industrial Park. The June 2022 completion of the KES project will ensure that the AES coal plant – the last-remaining coal-fired generation in Hawai‘i – will end operations in September 2022, supporting the state's goal of shifting from fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy generation by 2045.

UH West O'ahu Uluniu Tour On July 14, I was invited to learn more about UH West O‘ahu's ‘Uluniu (‘ulu=breadfruit; niu=coconut) Project and to take a tour of the nursery. Mahalo nui to Indrajit Gunasekara and Manulani Aluli Meyer, UHWO Uluniu Project Leads, for inviting me and for the awesome visit. There are 500+ niu seedlings planted and now growing in their Niu Nursery that they are planning on giving away in 2022 to the community. We discussed Cultural Agro-Forestry in Hawai‘i and the importance of this project for food security in Hawai‘i. "The Uluniu Project is about responding to the kāhea, the call… We are answering a call for relationship with land and thus to awaken to ways we can feed ourselves from the food of this relationship. Growing ‘ulu/breadfruit and niu/coconut is one such response that will give us both — food and relationality." – Manu Meyer. To learn more about this amazing project, please visit https://bit.ly/UluniuProject

Hawai‘i Surfer, Carissa Moore, Takes Olympic Gold Medal
On July 26, history was made when Carissa Moore, the only Native Hawaiian Olympic surfer, won the first ever women's gold medal in surfing at the Tokyo Olympics. Gov. Ige honored Carissa Moore in a proclamation ceremony in the Ceremonial Room at the state Capitol and proclaimed August 5 as "Carissa Moore Day." Not only is she the youngest world surfing champion, winning her first title at 18 and three more titles since, but is the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal for surfing. John De Fries, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority president and CEO; and Billy Pratt, of the HTA Surfing Advisory Committee were also on hand to extend their AlohaCongrats to Carissa.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. It was nice to see COVID restrictions finally being relaxed a bit and heading back to normal here in paradise. Unfortunately, with the surge from the Delta variant, coinciding with the July 4th holidays, it didn’t last long. For the eighth day in a row on July 22, Hawai‘i’s new daily coronavirus case numbers hit triple digits. Hawai‘i is currently at a 53% fully vaccinated rate.

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.






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A Unique Special Session

Last month, we were informed that the Governor intended to veto numerous bills that had passed out of both the House and Senate. Due to Constitutional law, he had until June 21 to release his intent to veto list. Some of you may be wondering, “What in the world is an intent to veto list?” To answer that, let me give you some background on the overall picture. Each year, around 2,500 to 3,000 bills are introduced at the Hawai‘i State Legislature, and 200-300 of them become law. To become law, a bill must get to the Governor’s desk, and to get to the Governor’s desk, it needs to pass both the Senate and the House. Once a bill gets to the Governor’s desk, he has three options:

Save the Sharks!

I’m stoked to announce (in case you don’t follow me on social media), the passing of House Bill 553 Shark Protection Act! The Bill Signing took place in the Governor’s office on June 8, 2021. Eleven years ago, the shark fin bill was first introduced by Sen. Clayton Hee, which would become a landmark law to prohibit the finning of sharks and the sale of shark fins and fin products—a cruel practice that drives the massive scale killing of these important apex predators. Unfortunately, that effort didn’t extend to protecting whole sharks from commercial exploitation or intentional killing. I personally introduced this bill five times starting in 2017 but those versions didn't pass. Finally, this past session, Rep. Nicole Lowen and I were able to partner on the introduction of companion bills, HB 553 and Senate Bill 504. As co-chairs of the Environmental Legislative Caucus, we included the shark protection legislation this year in our Bill Package. HB 553 adds important protection to sharks, given that:

Benchmarks for Locally Grown Food

Did you know the Hawai‘i Department of Education spends about $45 million on imported food for our keiki lunches? I was happy to see the Governor signed HB767 (Act 175) into law. This law goes a long way in ensuring schools pour some of that money into local food production and definitely moves the needle forward in our efforts to support more locally grown food. Specifically, this bill moved the Hawai‘i farm-to-school program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education and established a programmatic goal for the DOE that at least 30% of food served in public schools shall consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Mahalo, Gov and to all my colleagues who supported this bill!

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Makaha Mountain Farm Tour

My wife Carol and I were invited by Director Daimon Hudson, founder of American Renaissance Academy, to learn about the indoor vertical farming efforts taking place there, a few hundred yards from our home! It was exciting to discuss the potential for Hawai‘i food security while observing the microgreens he had growing and hearing his plans for the future of Makaha Mountain Farms. Because the facility is indoors, they can grow fresh local produce without the use of any pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Makaha Mountain Farms has partnered with ARA to provide keiki with hands-on experiences in sustainable agriculture and the knowledge to grow indoors utilizing technological innovations. Very cool. Please visit makahamtnfarms.com to learn more.

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Kokua Hawai‘i Hale‘iwa Farm Workday & Tour

Did you know there is such a thing as an electric tractor? On June 5, which just happened to be World Environment Day 2021, I was invited to visit and tour the Kōkua Learning Farm in Hale‘iwa, North Shore. Jack Johnson, the musician, and co-founder with his wife, Kim, of the Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation, launched the farm and community center in December 2019. The e-tractor was donated to Jack Johnson and the Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation. Jack says Hawai‘i’s first solar-powered electric tractor makes it easier to be green.

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The Green Amendment

On July 6, I was invited to represent Hawai‘i during a special "Legislative Champion Spotlight Series" that was released on the Green Amendments For The Generations social media platforms on July 13, in honor of "Green Amendment Day." The day was dedicated to education and action items in order to spread the Green Amendment message. What is that message, you may ask? Green Amendments (often called “environmental rights amendments”) are part of a couple states’ constitutions. Likening rights of religious expression and speech to those of clean air, water, and a stable climate, these amendments serve to emphasize environmental health and safety as being part of our basic civil liberties. After lawyer and environmentalist Maya van Rossum helped land a legal victory against fracking around the Delaware River watershed, the Green Amendment movement was born, capitalizing on this long-ignored piece of Pennsylvania’s bill of rights.

Support for the constitutional right to a clean environment is gaining momentum in other states as well, as legislators are beginning to recognize the power in including such basic, but strong legal language in a state constitution’s bill of rights. Green Amendments establish a constitutional mandate recognizing a healthy environment as an inherent, indefeasible, generational legal right of all citizens. Pennsylvania and Montana are the only two states with enacted Green Amendments so far. As of today, 13 states have introduced Green Amendment language, including Hawai‘i. The 13 states are: Delaware, Washington, Oregon, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, Maine, West Virginia, Kentucky, Hawai‘i, Maryland, Vermont, Iowa. While my bill did pass unanimously in the Senate, it stalled in the House. So, we’ll definitely try again next year. To watch my interview and learn more about this groundbreaking legislation, please visit the new Hawai‘i Green Amendment website that Maya and her team put together: forthegenerations.org/actnow/hawaii/.

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79TH Annual Ceremony for the Battle of Midway and Rededication of the Naval Aviation Barbers Point Memorial

On June 6, community members, veterans, and elected officials gathered at the Naval Air Station at Barbers Point (NASBP) (now Kalaeloa) to commemorate the 79th Anniversary of The Battle of Midway. Did you know this battle was a major turning point which helped U.S. forces win World War II? I've lived in Kalaeloa the last 17 years, so it’s mind-blowing to reflect on the historical significance of this event. The ceremony unfolded amidst the dramatic background of the official unveiling of the NASBP Memorial - reconstructed at Barbers Point in honor of The Battle of Midway. Very cool seeing it finally come to fruition! I was invited by AMVETS Commander Donovan Lazarus to recognize the Restoration Committee responsible for making this happen and to honor each of them with a certificate from the Senate, followed by a ribbon-cutting celebration of the restored memorial. AlohaCongrats and mahalo to all who participated in this memorable event!

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Blue Zones Project Kapolei-Ewa Certifications

In 2018, I, along with Councilmember Kym Pine as Co-Chairs of the Blue Zones Project Kapolei-Ewa Leadership Committee officially kicked off the project at the Kroc Center in Kapolei. The day was designed to introduce the community first-hand to what the Blue Zones Project is all about. For those who may not know, Blue Zones is a well-being improvement initiative, funded by HMSA (Hawai‘i Medical Service Association), and inspired by the book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest, written by Dan Buettner. The book focused on the five places in the world – “Blue Zones” – where people live the longest, and are healthiest: (Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; and Nicoya, Costa Rica.) The book has now evolved into a global movement. The Project goal is to inspire people to live longer, more active lives with lower rates of chronic disease. The Project is dedicated to helping towns become better places to live, work and play. In the past three years, I’m impressed to see the number of wellness activities across schools, businesses and worksites on the west side, as well as those who were officially Blue Zones certified. A special AlohaCongrats to Island Pacific Academy (IPA), Barbers Point Elementary, Mauka Lani Elementary, Seagull School Kapolei, University of Phoenix – Kapolei Campus, James Campbell High School, ‘Ilima at Leihano, Down to Earth Café, Queen’s West O‘ahu Medical Center, Kalapawai Café, Foodland Kapolei, and Villages of Kapolei for this accomplishment.

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Kapolei Chamber of Commerce Talk Story Session

On June 18, I was invited to provide an Ag & Environment Legislative overview to the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce. As Chair of the State Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, I discussed bills that were introduced, deferred, and passed this past legislative session. In addition, I was invited to present to the Chamber’s newly formed Committee on Green Businesses and Sustainability on July 9. Please contact Kiran Polk [email protected] if you’d like more information, or want to become involved.

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Honorary Recognition to 2021 Grads

In addition to writing and performing a song online (http://bit.ly/GabbardAlohaCongrats2021) for District 20 grads, on June 29, 2021, I surprised American Renaissance Academy graduate, Kiana Sachi Tanizaki-Hudson, in the middle of her swim practice, with an Honorary Certificate from the Hawai‘i State Senate. Kiana is following in the footsteps of a family of outstanding achievers. At ARA (a private school in my district), she excelled in many subjects (with a 4.229 GPA!) and extracurricular activities. Her favorite subjects were Anatomy, Chemistry (the easy ones, right?), and Performing Arts. Kiana also enjoyed giving back to her community: She provided meals and performed at the Women and Children’s Homeless Shelter in Kaka‘ako, volunteered for the Hawaiian fishpond cleanup days, helped out at the Annual Toys for Tots Drive, participated at food drives for westside families, and helped to organize and raise funds for the Leukemia Foundation in honor of her grandfather Kenneth Tanizaki. Next year, she’ll swim as an NCAA student athlete at Chapman University and is focused on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France! Definitely someone to keep an eye on! Upon graduation from Chapman University, Kiana hopes to attend medical school and residency where she will study orthopedic surgery and sports medicine.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. I'll begin with an office update…Rock Riggs, my longtime friend, Office Manager and Committee Clerk is leaving Hawai‘i. Rock has been working for me since I first got elected to the Honolulu City Council in 2002. Then, he shifted over to the Senate in 2006 when I first got elected to the Legislature. He and his family are moving to Oregon, where he'll be a caretaker on a friend's farm. While we'll miss him, I'm happy to introduce you to my new Office Manager/Committee Clerk, Brandon Kim. Brandon comes to us with extensive experience, at the Capitol, including last session with Rock, Meg and me, and is an awesome addition to my office staff.

AlohaCongrats to all the graduates of Campbell, Kapolei, and Waipahu High Schools, along with Island Pacific Academy, and American Renaissance Academy in Senate District 20. These graduates deserve huge praise for navigating the difficulties they were confronted with over the past year and a half because of the COVID pandemic. I recorded a brief song to congratulate all the students on their achievements, which you can listen to on my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/GabbardAlohaCongrats2021). I also sent a short message to the UH West O‘ahu grads you can check out here: (http://bit.ly/GabbardUHWOCongrats2021).

AlohaCongrats as well to the Hawai‘i Army National Guard Hawai‘i Youth CHalleNGe Academy, which holds a special place in my heart. I was able to attend the cadets' graduation of Class 54 right down the street from me on June 10, as they're one of the few schools that held an in-person ceremony. (Pictured: On June 10, Sen. Gabbard presented the "Mike Gabbard Scholarship" for $500 to YCA Cadet Graduate CL 54, Acesyn-Leo Soderberg, who will begin studies at Windward Community College in Natural Sciences.)

Parents, you deserve praise, too, for the sacrifices you've made to support your children and for helping them to reach this milestone. Let's remember to honor and celebrate all the dads out there! Don't forget that June 21 is Father's Day.

I completed my 15th legislative session as your Senator on April 29. This was a unique session, given that myself and many other Senators conducted our legislative hearings almost entirely remotely via Zoom. Leading up to session, we were facing a $1.4 billion deficit over the next four years. Governor Ige had announced probable furloughs of thousands of state workers, including teachers, and the gutting of state agencies. We had record high unemployment. Thanks to the federal government we received over $1.2 billion in American Rescue Plan Funds. This prevented a catastrophic situation at the Capitol.

On May 25, Governor Ige lifted the mask mandate for individuals outdoors; however, wearing a mask is still highly recommended outdoors when in large groups. The indoor mask mandate remains unchanged. In addition, on June 4, the Governor announced that beginning June 15, all inter-island travel restrictions will be dropped. With 52% of the State fully vaccinated, the new travel benchmarks are as follows:

2021 Legislative Session Overview

There were a total of 2,820 bills introduced during the 2021 Legislative Session (1,397 in the House and 1,423 in the Senate). Of those, 265 bills passed the Legislature. The Governor has three choices for the bills that passed:

My Legislation

Below is an overview of the six bills I authored this session which passed the House and Senate.

Agriculture Loans (SB 336) – Currently, agricultural loans $25,000 or more are subject to the Board of Agriculture meeting process and approval. This bill streamlines the process for smaller agricultural loans by increasing the $25,000 threshold to $50,000 and allows loans up to this amount to be approved by the Director of the Department of Agriculture (HDOA) without Board input. The current law hasn't been updated since the 1980s and HDOA wants to amend the law to meet the needs to 21st century farmers. It makes sense to give HDOA more flexibility to provide small scale ag loans to farmers, especially in these hard-economic times.

Animal Sex Assault (SB 343) – Bestiality is banned in 46 states, but not in Hawai‘i. A study of more than 44,000 adult male sex offenders concluded that the sexual assault of an animal is the strongest predictor of the sexual assault of a child. Some studies have also drawn connections between the sexual assault of animals and serial homicide. This bill prohibits the sexual assault of an animal and will make it a Class C felony offense. In addition to the Class C felony, if the act is committed in front of a minor, or if a minor was subjected to sexually contact an animal, the offense will be a Class B felony. Mahalo Gov, for signing this into law on June 10. 🙂

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics (SB 345) – Non-animal testing methods spare significant numbers of animals from pain, distress, and death. And crucially, non-animal testing methods have higher relevance for humans compared to tests in animals, and thus ensure better protection of human health. This bill would make our state one of just six states (including California, Illinois, Nevada, Virginia and Maryland) to pass such a law. We'd also join over 40 countries around the world that have restricted animal testing for cosmetics in recent years. This bill would prohibit cosmetic manufacturers from selling in the state any cosmetic product involving new animal testing beginning on January 1, 2022.

Aluminum Cans (SB 348) – Existing state law prohibits carbonated soft drink, juice, and beer operations from using the same equipment to can noncarbonated bottled water (We're the only state in the country that has this law in place). This is a problem because companies like Ball Corporation and Maui Brewing Company, could be selling bottled water in aluminum cans which could reduce the use of plastic bottles. Unlike plastic bottles, 100% of the aluminum can is recycled. This bill would repeal the requirement that noncarbonated bottled water be bottled in or through lines or equipment through which only water is passed.

Beach Restoration (SB 367) – According to a 2012 study by the UH and the United States Geological Survey, 70% of beaches in Hawai‘i are eroding. Burdensome regulations and permit requirements for the beach restoration and maintenance projects discourage and prevent individuals, community organizations, and government agencies from initiating beach restoration projects. This bill would waive the section 401 water quality certification requirement for beach restoration and management projects that have received notice of authorization to proceed from the Department of Land and Natural Resource's small-scale beach restoration program. With this bill, DLNR would be able to issue permits for 5 years for these beach restorations

Greenhouses (SB 489) – This bill expands the allowable size of agricultural shade cloth, cold frame and greenhouse structures from 20,000 sq. ft. to 60,000 ft., which allows farmers to benefit from economies of scale and expand their produce production. As stated in UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources' testimony: "Given the known advantage of such structures, this bill has the potential to have a significantly large effect on Hawai‘i agriculture."

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Construction Funding for Senate District 20

I was pleased we were able to secure $40,632,000 in the state biennium budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2023 for the benefit of Senate District 20. Here's a quick rundown of that funding:

Hawai‘i State Veterans Home Blessing & Groundbreaking

Did you know we have over 117,000 vets in Hawai‘i and over one-third are on O‘ahu? With only one Veteran’s Home in Hilo, the need for a new facility is much needed. The Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home is named after the former Hawai‘i U.S. senator who championed veterans' issues. The project was awarded a $44.7 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and received $53.7 million in state funds for planning, design, construction and equipment.

Located on a seven-acre parcel of land across from Walmart, the facility will contain 120 beds with single occupancy rooms; support facilities that include rehabilitation rooms, therapy rooms, kitchen, dining, laundry, and administrative offices. Services will include: Skilled Nursing Care, Rehabilitation Therapies, Hospice Care, Long-Term Care, Geriatric Mental Health, Alzheimer's Care, Dementia, Adult Day Health and Respite Care. The groundbreaking and blessing took place on Memorial Day, which was fitting. Given the space and land available, Kapolei was a good choice for the location. Veterans from all over the state will be able to live in the new facility. As an additional benefit for Kapolei/West O‘ahu, the facility will provide approximately 200 healthcare and administrative jobs, along with internships with the UH West O‘ahu and with neighboring high schools. Completion date is estimated for 2023.

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CarWash808 Express & Pau Hana Express Convenience Store

I was honored to welcome the Price ‘ohana, (Ricky, Teresa, Chris and Brandon), proud owners of CarWash808, and Pau Hana Express Convenience Store, to the second city, with the presentation of an Honorary Certificate on May 1. CarWash808 is the newest, largest, fastest, and highest quality car washing facility in the state! The new CarWash808 and Pau Hana Express Convenience Store in Kapolei features an amazing 140-foot tunnel outfitted with the latest technology in carwash equipment and can wash more than 200 cars per hour. The site also provides 21 complimentary industrial strength vacuum cleaners. Next to the car wash is the Pau Hana Express, full-service convenience store, featuring a fuel station with all four grades of gasoline and diesel fuel, plus all the snacks, drinks, and goodies needed for your drive. (Pictured L-R: Sen. Gabbard, Rick Price, and Reps Sharon Har and Ty Cullen.)

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Kaiser Permanente Hawai‘i

We now have a brand new Kaiser Permanente West O‘ahu Medical Office at Kapolei. The facility officially opened on April 5 to a largely virtual audience. Then, on May 13, my colleagues and I were invited to an in-person tour by Kaiser's Government Relations Manager, Jon Ching. The beautiful and calming environment seems perfectly designed for healing. The facility is called "Kīpukaoha" – a combination of two Hawaiian words: "kipuka" - an area of untouched land surrounded by lava flows, and "oha" - flourishing growth. State-of-the-art "NextGen" technology incorporates high-tech information boards (similar to those in an airport) to let clients know at all times where they are in the process of being able to meet with their doctor. The new West O‘ahu Medical Office is 3x larger than their prior facility and more modern than anything we've seen here before. And BTW, their solar array over the parking structure takes them off the grid…so need worry, if the power goes off !!! I was honored to present a certificate from the Hawai‘i State Senate to Dr. Marcus Iwane, M.D, Chief Physician of their new facility. Mahalo for bringing more convenience and services under one roof to West O‘ahu's growing community. (Pictured L-R: Sen. Gabbard, Rep. Sharon Har, Dr. Marcus Iwane-M.D Chief physician, Dr. John Yang, M.D.,-President and Medical Director of Hawai‘i Permanente Medical Group Inc, Reps Stacelynn Eli, Cedric Gates and Ty Cullen.)

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State Spending

In case you've ever wondered how your taxpayer dollars are spent, the circle pie chart below will give you a pretty good idea. The 2021-2023 operating budget included a total of $31.2 billion in funding. Some of the major components include: 19% for Medicaid; 13% for Education; 7% for Transportation; 8% for UH; 8% for Debt Services; 7% for Health; 7% for Retirement Benefits; and 5% for Human Services. Note: As chair of the Agriculture Environment Committee I'm saddened by the less than 1% of the total budget that goes to our Dept. of Ag. If we're ever going to decrease our dependence on imported food (yes, we import 85-90% of our food at a cost of about $3 billion annually), we're going to have to put our money where our mouth is.

Aloha e Friends,

The 2021 legislative session concluded on April 29. We were fortunate to get through the session without any COVID-related outbreaks. One of our big actions right at the end was to pass Senate Bill 1350, which delays pay raises for the Governor, Lt. Governor, judges, state agency executive officers, and legislators until January 1, 2023. This was the right thing to do, given our economic situation.

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.

Me ke aloha pumehana,






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Listen-Story Meeting

You're invited to join my Virtual Listen Story community meeting on Saturday, May 8 from 9-10am. If you want to be added to the invite list, email me at [email protected] and I'll send you the Zoom link.

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Big Mahalo to UH Manoa Intern, Raniele Reyes!

There's a saying that an organization is only as good as its staff. I truly believe this, and I'm very appreciative of my staff for helping me make this 2021 Legislative session a success! This year, I was fortunate to have an exceptional UH Manoa Intern, Raniele Reyes, join our office ‘ohana. A life-long Kapolei resident, Raniele graduated Summa Cum Laude with academic honors from Kapolei High School in 2018.

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Kapolei High School Classroom Renovations Funding Released

On April 16, 2021, I was pleased to receive a memo from Governor Ige informing me that he had released $6 million to finance the design and construction for classroom renovations at Kapolei High School. Mahalo to Governor Ige for helping to support our district and our keiki!

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Construction Funding for Senate District 20

I was also pleased we were able to secure $40,632,000 in the state biennium budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2023 for the benefit of Senate District 20. Here's a quick rundown of that funding:

My 2021 Bills That Passed the House and Senate

Below is an overview of the six bills I authored this session which passed both chambers. Dates to look out for: June 1 – deadline for Governor to inform the Legislature of his intent to veto and July 6 – deadline for Governor to sign bills into law, let them become law without his signature, or veto.

Agriculture Loans (SB 336) – Currently, agricultural loans of $25,000 or more are subject to the approval of the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture. This bill streamlines the process for smaller agricultural loans by increasing the $25,000 threshold to $50,000 and allows loans up to this amount to be approved by the Director of the Department of Agriculture (HDOA) without Board input. The current law hasn't been updated since the 1980s and HDOA wants to amend the law to meet the needs to 21st century farmers. It makes sense to give HDOA more flexibility to provide small scale ag loans to farmers, especially in these hard-economic times.

Animal Sex Assault (SB 343) – Bestiality is banned in 46 states, but not in Hawai‘i. A study of more than 44,000 adult male sex offenders concluded that the sexual assault of an animal is the strongest predictor of the sexual assault of a child. Some studies have also drawn connections between the sexual assault of animals and serial homicide. This bill prohibits the sexual assault of an animal and will make it a Class C felony offense. In addition to the Class C felony, if the act is committed in front of a minor, or if a minor was subjected to sexual contact with an animal, the offense will be a Class B felony.

Cruelty-Free Cosmetics (SB 345) – With modern testing methods, we no longer need to test cosmetic products on animals. Plus, today's methods are more accurate and efficient. Non-animal testing methods spare significant numbers of animals from pain, distress, and death. In addition, non-animal testing methods have higher relevance for humans compared to tests on animals and ensure better protection of human health. SB 345 would prohibit cosmetic manufacturers from selling in the state any cosmetic product involving new animal testing beginning on January 1, 2022. This bill would make our state one of just six states (including California, Illinois, Nevada, Virginia and Maryland) to pass such a law. We would also join over 40 countries around the world that have restricted animal testing for cosmetics in recent years.

Aluminum Cans (SB 348) – Did you know that Hawai‘i is the only state in the country that has an antiquated law which prohibits carbonated soft drink, juice, and beer operations from using the same equipment to can noncarbonated bottled water?! This is crazy because companies like Ball Corporation and Maui Brewing Company, could be selling bottled water in aluminum cans which would greatly reduce the use of plastic bottles. Unlike plastic bottles, aluminum cans are 100% recyclable. This bill would repeal an outdated law, allowing us to reduce single-use plastic and save companies millions of dollars.

Beach Restoration (SB 367) – According to a 2012 study by UH and the US Geological Survey, 70% of beaches in Hawai‘i are eroding. Burdensome regulations and permit requirements for the beach restoration and maintenance projects discourage and prevent individuals, community organizations, and government agencies from initiating beach restoration projects. This bill would waive the Section 401 water quality certification requirement for beach restoration and management projects that have received notice of authorization to proceed from DLNR's small scale beach restoration program. With this bill, DLNR would be able to issue permits for 5 years for these beach restorations.

Greenhouse (SB 489) – This bill would expand the allowable size of agricultural shade cloth, cold frame and greenhouse structures from 20,000 sq. ft. to 60,000 ft., enabling farmers to benefit from economies of scale and expand their produce production. As stated in UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources' testimony: "Given the known advantage of such structures, this bill has the potential to have a significantly large effect on Hawai‘i agriculture."

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Prenatal to Preschool Baby Fair Coming in May

Family Expositions will be hosting a Prenatal to Preschool Baby Fair at Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center on May 14 and May 15 from 11am to 6pm. The fair will spotlight local vendors as well as an array of new products, services, and information relating to babies, toddlers, and parents. If you plan on attending, the organizers of the event ask that you please register online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/baby-fair-west-at-ka-makana-alii-center-may-14-15-2021-fri-sat-tickets-143193865707

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Celebrating Happy Hemp Aloha Friday

(Pictured L-R: Sen. Laura Acasio, Rep. Tina Wildberger, Rep. Patrick Branco, Sen. Mike Gabbard, Rep. Bert Kobayashi, Rep. Della Au Belatti, Sen. Joy San Buenaventura)

On April 23, my colleagues and I celebrated Happy Hemp Aloha Friday at the Capitol. Did you know that there are over 25,000 uses for hemp, including: building materials like hempcrete and textile, fuel oil, plastic alternatives; food and nutritional supplements (great source of protein, mineral and fiber), lotions, cosmetics, and hair care? In addition, hemp purifies soil and water by removing toxins and heavy metals. During the 2020 session, we passed legislation that now allows Hawai‘i farmers to apply to the USDA for licenses to grow, process, and sell hemp products. There are currently 70 licensed hemp farmers statewide. Mark my words…Hawai‘i nei will become the hemp capitol of the world. Hemp, Hemp Hooray!

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Celebrating Earth Day 2021

I was recently interviewed by Blue Zones Hawai‘i on how and why my wife and I started a garden. In honor of Earth Day, I shared a brief clip on my social media. You can also view it on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/lkdiITNCRZM

In addition to the video, I also made some remarks during our April 22 evening floor session at the Capitol, honoring Earth Day 2021: "Mr. President and Colleagues, as I'm sure you're aware, today is Earth Day, actually Earth Night now. Earth Day was first held on April 22, 1970 and is dedicated to raising awareness about environmental protection. It now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. Yesterday, Governor Ige was part of a virtual discussion with other governors on how states and the Biden Administration can expand economic opportunity through collaborative climate action. And President Biden is now pledging to cut U.S. greenhouse emissions at least in half by 2030. As your environment chair for 12 years, mahalo nui to you all for supporting malama ‘āina legislation this session and over the years! Aloha."

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Coral Restoration – What We Can Do to Help

In early April of this year, I came across an article in Midweek authored by Damien Beri, President of The Coral Conservancy. The Coral Conservancy is a nonprofit started by Damien in 2020. He's working to create a training platform, which will enable residents to engage in "community coral restoration events." In the article, Damien explains that thousands of rare and endemic Hawaiian corals are trampled and killed each year by tourists, yet there remains no stable platform, agency, or methods to save these creatures. Furthermore, Damien reveals that the current cost of coral restoration conducted by the state is over $3,000 per coral colony, and each of the coral grown had to have some source amount taken from the wild to seed the colony. There's currently no community restoration program in Hawai‘i. The Coral Conservancy is about to begin their first pilot project and are looking for volunteers. You can learn more by e-mailing [email protected], or calling (917) 543-2164.

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Urging Congress to Consider Funding Coastal Restoration Projects

In addition to introducing Senate Bill 367, which supports beach restoration, on April 26, I also signed on to a letter urging Congress to include $10 billion in funding with no matching requirements for state coastal restoration projects in upcoming infrastructure or stimulus initiatives. Over 130 members of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, representing 19 costal states, signed the letter. According to the letter to Congress, "Coastal states are home to about 40% of the population in the United States and are a major economic contributor nationwide. Simultaneously, coastal communities are severely, and often disparately, impacted by the effects of climate change, including sea-level rise, increased storm events, loss of marine and coastal habitats, coastal pollution, and lost tourism. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened these effects and underscored the need for federal funding to help preserve critical habitats, protect coastal communities, decrease greenhouse gases, and create thousands of jobs. Healthy coastal habitats protect coastlines from storms and hurricanes and remove 3 to 5 times more carbon from the atmosphere per acre than land-based ecosystems. These habitats protect our communities from the worst impact of hurricanes, and they serve as critical nursery grounds for species in commercial and recreational fisheries. Investing in coastal restoration projects would not only help protect coastal habitats, it would boost the economy and protect the lives of communities that depend on the preservation of those habitats."

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Aloha e Friends,

Our legislative session will end a week early this year on April 29. So far, we've been very fortunate to avoid any COVID-19 outbreaks at the Capitol, which might have forced us to delay our work. By the way, the state Department of Health opened up vaccines for those 60 and older as of March 29. My next "Listen Story" meeting will be May 8, where I'll give a wrap-up of what happened this session.

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana.

Me ke aloha pumehana,






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COVID-19 Vaccination Sites Open

Two new COVID-19 Vaccination Sites opened in Ewa/Kapolei at the end of March. Here's an overview of each:

Queen's Medical Center - West O‘ahu
The Queen's Medical Center opened a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at its West O‘ahu campus on March 24. The hospital will immunize residents 65 and older, those with high-risk medical conditions and hotel, restaurant and bar workers in phase 1c in the Clinical Service Center Building from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, except on Mondays. Online appointments will open on Thursday at https://covid.queens.org/vaccine/ or schedule over the phone at 691‑2222.

Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente has partnered with Consolidated Theatres and opened a mass vaccination site in Kapolei, at 890 Kamokila Blvd. on March 30. Individuals who are part of phase 1c, which includes residents 65 years of age and older and frontline essential workers, will have access to COVID-19 vaccination appointments at the Theatres. Both Kaiser Permanente members and non-members are eligible. All shots are by appointment only, register at kp.org/covidvaccine. The large physical space and ample parking at Kapolei Consolidated Theatres will allow Kaiser Permanente to vaccinate up to 2,000 people per day.

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Makakilo Resident Stan Jones Turns 90!

On March 20, I surprised an old friend, Stan Jones, at his 90th birthday celebration with an Honorary Certificate from the State Senate, along with some of our famous, homemade Gabbard Hawaiian Treasures Toffee. Heartfelt congrats to Stan for making it to 90! Here are a few highlights of Stan's impressive resume: Eagle Scout at age sixteen, Masters and Doctorate degrees, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Speaking Professional, and Real Estate Broker. He's worked for the City and State government, as well as private enterprise. Stan has had an impact on many students as a teacher, public speaker, and a professional presenter on a broad range of topics at locations all over the globe, including several speeches given while at sea! He's honorably given back to his country through Active Duty and Army Reserves service with the Illinois and California National Guard. He's an accomplished author. Stan has lived in the Makakilo/Kapolei area for 21 years and has 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. Stan and his wife Karin met when she wanted to speak with the Honolulu County Genealogical Society while Stan was in charge of programing. Karin was a representative for Forever.com, a memory-keeping company. Stan invited Karin to lunch, which she thought was about business, however, Stan had other ideas in mind! Before getting married in 2019, Stan and Karin discovered that they were born within a one-hour drive from each other in Illinois. Stan is very engaged in Hawai‘i politics, keeps up-to-date on current events, and has been a valuable participant at my community "Listen Story" monthly meetings for over fifteen years. Mahalo nui loa to Stan for your contribution to the betterment of our community. Stan is one-of-a-kind and a true friend to the people of Hawai‘i.

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Sugarcane by Chai's Opens at Ka Makana Ali‘i

Rep. Cedric Gates, who represents portions of the Wai‘anae Coast, and I presented an Honorary Certificate from the State Legislature at the Soft Opening of Sugarcane by Chai's at Ka Makana Ali‘i in Kapolei on March 26. Sugarcane is a contemporary restaurant featuring Pacific Regional Cuisine, creative signature cocktails, and a state-of-the-art entertainment system to showcase nightly live music of all genres. Owner, Peter Maharaj, and President of Operations, Sean Tsai, have taken great care to assemble a superstar team to make Sugarcane the premier destination in West O‘ahu for dining and entertainment, including internationally-renowned, award-winning Chef Chai Chaowasaree, Sugarcane's Executive Chef Rodhel Ibay, who was handpicked by Chef Chai, notable Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival mixologist Kenny Lum, and Director of Operations Calvin Yao. Sugarcane serves unique, award-winning cuisine (including some tasty vegan items I sampled 😉) created by Chef Chai and Chef Rodhel, inspired by locally-sourced ingredients from the land and sea. The 4,982-square-foot restaurant provides a relaxing and exciting destination for elegant cuisine and live entertainment, in a beautifully designed interior and exterior space. As one of my fave American icons, Mr. Fred Rogers, used to say, "Welcome to the neighborhood, Sugarcane by Chai's!"

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Pet Kokua Grand Opening

Senator Clarence Nishihara, who represents Pearl City and Waipahu, and I co-sponsored an Honorary Certificate from the Senate congratulating the Hawaiian Humane Society upon the opening of Pet Kokua at the Fil-Com Center on March 10. After a gazillion zoom meetings, it was cool attending in person. Hawaiian Humane has run a pet food bank on its Mō‘ili‘ili campus for the last decade. Late in 2019, its newly formed Pet Kokua outreach team reimagined the pet food bank program to remove barriers for clients and provide additional services. Then came the COVID pandemic and resulting economic fallout. Between March 2020 and February 2021, they distributed 50,000 pounds of pet food, 160 percent more than the previous year. They realized that for many clients or potential clients, distance was an obstacle to getting help. While they continue to work toward a permanent second campus in Ewa, this crisis made it clear that they needed to expand access to services to residents of Central and West O‘ahu as soon as possible. The idea for Pet Kokua by Hawaiian Humane Society at the Filipino Community Center was born. The Pet Kokua program is a vital service in the prevention of owner surrender, animal cruelty, neglect and pet overpopulation. The mission of the Pet Kokua program is to keep pets and their people together and improve the quality of life of all animals by providing assistance to those who are in need.

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Aloha e Friends,

Good News! Mayor Blangiardi announced on February 23 that Governor David Ige approved the City and County of Honolulu's Order Implementing Tier 3 of Honolulu's COVID-19 Reopening Framework, which began at 12:01 am on February 25. Tier 3 allows some of the following activities and operations:

Key Agriculture Bills

As the Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair, I scheduled 75 bills for a hearing and passed out 70 by the First Lateral filing deadline on February 18. Of those 70 that passed the committee, 47 are related to agriculture. The First Lateral deadline refers to the point during the session when a bill needs to have passed the first committee and now moves on to the second committee for consideration. Our next big deadline will be when the agriculture bills have passed the Second Committee on the referral, which is either Ways and Means, Judiciary, or Commerce and Consumer Protection. The deadline for those bills to have passed those committees is March 5. Here are a few key agriculture bills that I authored that are still alive….

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Community Survey Results

In my February newsletter, I included a short survey and invited your input on three issues facing the Legislature. Here are the questions and the results I received out of 44 responses. Mahalo to everyone who weighed in.

COVID-19 Hotlines

Here are some helpful contacts for COVID-19-related issues that you may need assistance on:

Academy for Creative Media at UH West O‘ahu to Open Fall 2021

The Academy for Creative Media Facility at UH West O‘ahu will welcome students to its new Creative Media Facility for the fall 2021 semester. The 33,000-square-foot, high-tech building features a Dolby Atimos 100-seat screening room and mixing stage, e-sports arena, post-production suites, an emerging media lab, incubator space, and industry-standard sound stage. With the opening of this facility, students from all over the state, especially from the westside, will be able to study an array of topics such as video, animation, video games, design, social media, web and app development, virtual and augmented reality. I continue to support UHWO for their commitment to supporting local, underserved families from the westside and their commitment to providing opportunities with the film industry, a growing sector of our economy.

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Farrington Highway Improvements Update

I was stoked to receive notification from Governor Ige on January 20 that he had released $100 million to finance the design and construction for widening Farrington Highway from Kapolei Golf Course to Fort Weaver Road. The improvements include widening the road to 4 lanes, new sidewalks, bike lanes, a 44-ft. landscaped median strip, new bridges, culverts, and major utility relocation. Construction is planned to begin by May 2021. Mahalo to the Gov for looking out for Kapolei and Ewa!

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Honoring O‘ahu MVP for Invasive Species Awareness Month

February was Hawai‘i Invasive Species Awareness Month. During this month, the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council (HISC) works to bring attention to the problems invasive species cause in our islands. Each year, as the Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair, I participate in honoring people and organizations that have done an outstanding job in the invasive species fight over the preceding year. This year I presented HISC's 2021 O‘ahu MVP award to Kyoko Johnson with Conservation Dogs of Hawai‘i. Kyoko and her team are dedicated to supporting efforts to suppress the expansion of devil weed on O‘ahu by assisting with early detection and removal projects. Devil weed is an invasive plant spreading on O‘ahu that is very difficult to control. Finding new populations of devil week early is critical to controlling its spread. The method that Kyoko and her team use is innovative. They use trained conservation dogs that are familiar with the scent of devil weed in order to find this invasive plant. According to their website, these dog teams have found and removed over 500 devil weed plants. Kyoko and her team utilize volunteer dog owners in their searches, which is an opportunity for more members of the community to learn about invasive plants. All findings get reported to the O‘ahu Invasive Species Committee, or OISC. In addition to seeing the dogs as a way to find more invasive plants, OISC says the dogs make great, four-legged conservation mascots that get people excited about the fight against this invasive weed. Kyoko and Conservation Dogs of Hawai‘i were nominated by the OISC, a project of the UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. Congratulations to Kyoko, her team, and to all the dogs!

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are safe and well. Our 2021 Legislative Session kicked off January 20 and it's already radically different from any I've ever experienced in my 15 years at the Capitol. The Capitol is completely closed to the public—and all hearings and meetings are being conducted remotely. Session is also ending about a week early (April 29). Those who continue to do business at the Capitol must wear masks and follow strict social distancing measures.

The Agriculture and Environment Committee, which I chair, will hold hearings M-W-F from 1pm to 2:30pm. In the past, we've had flexibility in terms of hearing end times, but this year it's a hard 2:30pm stop. Because all committee hearings are via Zoom, we need to keep to a set schedule. In order to submit either written or oral testimony, you'll need to sign-up via the Legislature's website at least 24 hours in advance. For the first time ever, I'll be setting a two-minute timer on oral testimony. This makes me apprehensive, because I've always let people testify at my committee hearings without a time limit. So, if you plan to testify orally, it will be even more important to summarize what you want to say, so that you can communicate your main points within the time limit, and then let the next person speak.

As you know, our state budget situation is dire. The Governor announced last month that our state government is facing a $1.4 billion budget shortfall for each of the next 4 years. So, we as Committee Chairs got the message loud and clear from leadership that there's no money. This means bills that don't have a fiscal impact on the state's coffers will have a better chance of passing.

Please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Instagram @GabbardAloha, Facebook and YouTube.






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"Listen Story" Saturday, February 6th from 9-10 AM

You're invited to join my first Listen Story community meeting of 2021 when I'll be hosting a virtual meeting Saturday, February 6 from 9-10am, via Zoom. If you want to attend email me at [email protected] and I'll send you the Zoom link. Please include any questions or concerns you'd like addressed during the meeting and I'll do my best to help you.

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Community Survey

As session gets rolling, I want to get your thoughts on the following three questions. If you're interested in participating, simply click the survey link here.

My Session Staff

For the 2021 legislative session, my Office Manager/Committee Clerk is Rock Riggs, who enters his 15th year with me at the Senate. He oversees the overall operations of my office and helps me run the AEN Committee.

Meg Turner, who enters her 7th year with me at the Senate is my Community Liaison and will be the principal contact for all issues and constituent concerns related to Senate District 20.




Anya Anthony, who worked for 8 years as the Office Manager for my daughter, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, is my part-time scheduler. Former King David Kalakaua Middle School math teacher, Brandon Kim serves as a legislative aide and assistant Committee Clerk. Raniele Reyes, a Kapolei resident and junior studying political science and Philippine Language at UH Manoa, is a legislative intern in my office.

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Environmental Legislative Caucus Bill Package

As co-chair of the Environmental Legislative Caucus, I joined with Rep. Nicole Lowen, to introduce our first ELC bill package. The Environmental Legislative Caucus was created in December 2019 to bring like-minded legislators together on important environmental issues facing Hawaii. I authored four of the bills we're introducing and Senator Chris Lee, Transportation Committee Chair, was the author of the Clean Ground Transportation Goals bill.

• Clean Ground Transportation Goals (SB 500) – this bill would establish clean ground transportation goals for the State, with the ultimate goal of all light-duty state-owned motor vehicles running on clean energy by December 31, 2035, and all light-duty motor vehicles in the State running on clean energy by December 31, 2045.

• Energy Efficiency in State Facilities (SB 501) – this bill would mandate that all State facilities with an area of ten thousand square feet or more (not including Aloha Stadium) implement all cost-effective energy efficiency measures by January 1, 2024.

• Green Amendment (SB 502) – this bill would amend our state constitution to guarantee all individuals the right to have a clean and healthy environment. This would be the question on the ballot for the Green Amendment in 2022 if the bill passes: "Shall the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to provide that each person has a right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, healthy ecosystems, and a stable climate, and to the preservation of the natural, cultural, scenic and healthful qualities of the environment?"

• Sea Level Rise Disclosure (SB 503) – the bill would require that information about sea level rise threats be disclosed to potential home buyers. It makes sense for potential home buyers to know what's expected in the coming years as we face increasing climate change threats.

• Shark Protection (SB 504) – this bill would ban someone from knowingly capturing or entangling any shark, whether alive or dead, or kill any shark within state waters. The penalty for violation would be a misdemeanor with the following fines: $500 for a first violation; $2,000 for a second offense; and $10,000 for a third or subsequent offense. The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, using data thru 2019, reported that up to 57% of extant species of sharks are considered threatened and have been assessed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.

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Invasive Species Informational Briefing

All facets of life have been affected by COVID-19, notwithstanding our efforts to eradicate invasive species from our island paradise. While we face a critical budget situation, we can't afford to let our guard down as it relates to invasive species. We don't want pests to get out of control and invasives like little fire ants, coffee berry borer, coffee leaf rust, rapid ohi‘a death and even new ones wreaking havoc on our environment and quality of life. On January 25, I co-chaired a virtual joint informational briefing to give legislators and the community an update on the state's efforts to address the threats invasive species pose and to learn more about what challenges we might expect amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, and the UH College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources all made presentations. The committees involved were the Senate Agriculture & Environment and Water & Land committees and the House Energy & Environmental Protection, Agriculture and Water & Land committees.

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Catalytic Converter Theft

Have you ever been a victim of a catalytic converter theft? I've heard from constituents and news reports that thieves steal catalytic converters from people's cars and try to resell them as scrap metal. In response, last session I introduced SB 2742 to add catalytic to the same section of law that encompasses the theft of copper, beer kegs, and urns, making the theft of catalytic converters a class C felony. The bill passed the Senate but stalled in the House Judiciary Committee due to the COVID shut down. This session, I've reintroduced the legislation as SB 374. Hopefully, second time's the charm in getting this needed legislation signed into law. You can track the bill by clicking on the linked bill number.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. I extend my very best wishes, aloha, and Happy New Year! While 2020 has brought many challenges, I'm hopeful that in 2021 we'll get to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm happy to report that on December 27th President Trump signed a pandemic relief bill that provides needed assistance for families and businesses. Part of the bill includes a disbursement of a second stimulus check of up to $600 for eligible adults, plus $600 per dependent child. Eligibility is based on your 2019 adjusted gross income. Individuals who earned up to $75,000 will be eligible for the full $600 payment, while those making between $75,000 and $87,000 will receive reduced amounts. Individuals started receiving their second stimulus check in late-December.

The 2021 Legislative session starts on January 20. Unfortunately, the Capitol will remain closed to the public because of COVID-19, so there'll be no Opening Day festivities. In addition, we'll have live testimony via Zoom instead of in-person at the Capitol.

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @GabbardAloha or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Listen-Story Meeting

I'll be hosting a virtual Listen Story meeting on Saturday, February 6, 9am-10am via Zoom. I'll send out the Zoom link to my constituent email list closer to the date. If you want to be added to the invite list, let me know.

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Toys for Tots! in Kalaeloa

Sen. Gabbard helped deliver hundreds of brand-new toys to the Onelauena and Onemalu transitional shelters in Kalaeloa on Dec. 23. 2020. (Pictured L-R: Jr. Rich Allen, Vice Pound Keeper and Military Order of Devil Dogs Hawai‘i Pound 393; Commander Vernon Jarvis AMVETS Post III; Kealahou West O‘ahu, Executive Director, Tanya Tehotu; David Monalim; Sen. Gabbard; and Carl Vincenti USMC retired volunteer.)

They say the spirit of Christmas is meant for keiki and after my visit to the Onelauena and Onemalu transitional shelters in Kalaeloa, that saying certainly held true.... It was a very special Christmas afternoon watching the faces of keiki and grownups alike light up with joy as we distributed hundreds of brand-new toys to the families at the shelters on December 23. Mahalo nui loa to Kealahou West O‘ahu, Executive Director, Tanya Tehotu; Service Director, Danni Duseigneur; and all the staff who participated in helping make this day happen. And of course, a most special mahalo to Commander Vernon Jarvis AMVETS Post III; Jr. Vice Pound Keeper, Rich Allen, Military Order of Devil Dogs Hawai‘i Pound 393; and Carl Vincenti USMC retired volunteer, for reaching out to me with generous donations from the American Legion, Marine Corps League, AmVets Post #3, Veterans Movement Foundation, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Toys for Tots!

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Kauhale Tour

Sen. Gabbard toured the Kauhale Tiny Home Project in Kalaeloa on Dec. 18, 2020. (Pictured: Sen. Gabbard and Nani Medeiros, Executive Director of HomeAid Hawai‘i.)

You may have heard of "tiny homes" but did you know this concept has expanded to help provide a solution to the problem of homelessness? Well, the Kauhale Tiny Home project in Kalaeloa (a few hundred yards from where I live) is doing just that. Led by an extraordinary individual, Executive Director of the project's developer, HomeAid Hawai‘i, Nani Medeiros (pictured), who recently invited me to tour the area to learn more about the project first-hand. HomeAid Hawai‘i is a 501c-3 non-profit founded by O‘ahu's developers and building industry whose goal is to help address homelessness by providing professional pro-bono construction services to renovate existing structures or build new housing.

What I saw of the project so far definitely impressed me. The 36 tiny homes being built (each just under 100 sq. feet) are located on 1 ½ acres that will contain community gardens and a common space. The cost for materials and labor for each tiny house is estimated at $20,000, including solar-powered air conditioning and electricity. A renovated, former Navy warehouse will provide a communal kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, medical clinic and communal areas. Residents will pay monthly rents of approximately $200 to $300. The project is being developed by HomeAid Hawai‘i largely through donations. Once completed (estimated completion end of February 2021), it will be run by U.S. Vets located next door. This is an incredible project, modeled after a homeless program in Austin, TX, which focuses on micro-housing units and social services. Lt. Governor Green proposes a total of 11 of these Kauhale projects around the state, including Waimanalo, Wai‘anae, Kaka‘ako, Kona, and Hilo, with hopes to expand the idea to four more O‘ahu locations in 2020 and then onto the neighbor islands in 2021.

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"Drive Thru" Curb Side-Pick Up Food Distribution

Sen. Gabbard took part in the "Drive Thru" Curb Side-Pick Up Food Distribution event in Kapolei on Dec. 12, 2020. (Pictured: Sen. Gabbard, Patty Teruya, Rep. Kurt Fevella.)

On December 12, I took part in the "Drive Thru" Curb Side-Pick Up Food Distribution event at the old Kmart parking lot in Kapolei. It took many hands to coordinate and implement this wonderful event, and I'm grateful to have been a part of it. Many mahalos to Patty Teruya for organizing this event for our community, along with support from Word of Life West O‘ahu, Wai‘anae Coast Community Foundation, Hawai‘i Foodbank, Ewa Lions Club, and Campbell Estates. Mahalo to my colleagues, Senator Donovan Dela Cruz and Senator Kurt Fevella for stopping by and working the line with me and the other amazing volunteers. I also want to mahalo UH West O‘ahu, Message of Peace Ministry Outreach (MOPMO), and Ho‘ola Clean N Sober House for Men for their support. Over 600 vehicles came through to receive food for their families for the holiday season. Great job everyone!

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2020 Ala I ka Holomua Pathway to Success Program

Sen. Gabbard virtually attended the 2020 Ala I ka Holomua Pathway to Success Program ceremony on Dec. 15, 2020.

As a former educator, I wholeheartedly support initiatives that help our keiki grow and become the best they can be. On December 15, I had the honor to virtually attend the 2020 Ala I ka Holomua Pathway to Success Program ceremony, celebrating 58 students for their accomplishment of completing the program. I presented Honorary Certificates from the State Senate to each of them. The Ala I ka Holomua Pathway to Success Program is an early college partnership between the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu, James Campbell High School, Kapolei High School, Wai‘anae High School, and Waipahu High School. This innovative program is designed to foster college and career readiness, cultivate in students the skills needed to succeed as individuals, and contribute to Hawai‘i's workforce development in the field of Creative Media. With the support of a grant-in-aid by the Legislature in 2019, the Ala I ka Holomua Pathway to Success Program offers high school students the opportunity to not only obtain college credits, but also develop the latest creative media skills necessary to succeed, along with learning the traits required to tackle the economic challenges of the 21st century. The 2020 Ala I ka Holomua Pathway to Success Program participants showed an incredible amount of grit, resolve, creativity, and flexibility while overcoming the obstacles of these uncertain times. Congratulations to all participants for completing the program! We look forward to your future endeavors and successes.

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Kapolei Casino is Bad Idea

As you may be well aware, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Commission voted 5-4 on December 22 to approve a legislative proposal to authorize limited casino gaming in the form of a single integrated resort property in Kapolei. While I can appreciate DHHL's effort to identify revenue generating sources, I'm in strong opposition to their proposal to build a casino in Kapolei. I'd instead encourage DHHL to focus on those kinds of projects to raise revenue which are less controversial and have less of a social impact.

Gambling is a unique issue in our state for bringing together the right and left of the political spectrum in opposition. Many social ills are associated with gambling and it's simply not a good fit for the growing city of Kapolei, or for that matter, anywhere else in Hawai‘i. DHHL's proposal brings up many legal questions at the state level and even the federal level, given the fact that Native Hawaiians have still not received federal recognition like Native Americans. Community outreach is something that DHHL would need to do on a proposal like this and I haven't seen any evidence yet that that's happened. I reached out to some DHHL beneficiaries in my community and I heard from some who are opposed to the casino project and others who said that they want to get more input. Please consider providing testimony if and when the bill is scheduled to be heard in committee. I'll keep you updated with additional information as we progress through the session.

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Aloha e Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your ‘ohana. The 2021 legislative session is just around the corner and will start on January 20. Please let me know if you have any ideas for legislation to help improve our community or how our state government operates. I'll continue to serve as the Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair. This will be my fifth session as the agriculture committee chair and eleventh session as the environment committee chair. I'll also be a member of the Judiciary Committee and the Government Operation Committee.

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana. As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, YouTube, or Facebook at facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Youth Challenge Academy Graduation

(Pictured: Sen. Gabbard with newly elected Honolulu City Councilmember for District 9, Augie T., at the Youth Challenge Academy Graduation Ceremony on Nov. 25, 2020.)

I attended the fall 2020 graduation for the Youth Challenge Academy at their Kalaeloa campus on November 25. Youth Challenge has been especially fortunate because they've been able to continue on-site operations with the cadets during the COVID pandemic. As I do at each of their graduations, I prepared an Honorary Certificate for each of the 40 graduating cadets and also presented a $500 scholarship for one graduate from the Kalaeloa campus. I also contribute a $500 scholarship for one deserving graduate at the Hilo Youth Challenge campus.

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Recent Stabbing in Kapolei

You might have seen me on the KHON2 news on November 23 speaking about an attempted carjacking and stabbing that occurred in Kapolei. The incident took place on November 20 in the parking lot fronting Home Depot along Kamokila Blvd. where Panda's Express and Remax are located. The 36-year old suspect was fortunately apprehended by HPD and charged with attempted murder. With the loss of jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, people are getting more and more desperate. Please be safe when you're out and about. Check your surroundings getting in and out of your car. Focus and don't be distracted by your phone or other things.

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Makakilo Food Drive a Success

(Pictured: Sen. Gabbard with Lika Taumanupepe, PCNC (Parent-Community Networking Center) Facilitator for Makakilo Elementary School on November 21, 2020 dropping off a box of food for their Thanksgiving food drive.)

I met Lika Taumanupepe, PCNC (Parent-Community Networking Center) Facilitator for Makakilo Elementary School on November 21 to drop off a box of food for her Thanksgiving food drive. As the PCNC Facilitator, one of her duties is to build bonds between the students, families, and community businesses. Due to the pandemic, it's been difficult to do that along the usual channels, so she came up with the idea to do a food drive. Many of the families have lost pay or work and can't attend other food distributions in the Kapolei area. So, Lika organized the food distribution to bring the food to them! Mahalo to Lika for this aloha in action!

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Supporting the National Goal of Protecting 30% of Lands and Ocean By 2030

I signed on to a letter, along with legislators around the country, sponsored by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, on November 16 expressing my support for establishing a national goal of protecting 30% of lands and ocean by 2030 (30x30). This is consistent with the Hawai‘i Sustainability Initiative launched by Governor Ige in 2017, which includes commitments to protect 30% of priority watersheds by 2030 and to effectively manage 30% of our nearshore ocean waters by 2030.

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Hawaiian Humane Society Ewa Campus Update

(Pictured: Anna Neubauer, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society. Photo credit: Star Advertiser)

DR Horton announced on March 31, 2015 that it donated five acres of land to the Hawaiian Humane Society for a new facility and dog park in Ewa. The facility will be located on Fort Weaver Rd. about a half-mile from Queens Hospital – West O‘ahu at the corner of Old Ft. Weaver Rd. It will cost about $9 million to build and will have about 25 employees. The Humane Society received a $300,000 state Grant-in-Aid from the Legislature in 2018 to assist with the construction of the project.

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Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations (WA‘I) Working on Cesspool Solutions

I participated in a Zoom meeting with Stuart Coleman, Executive Director of Wastewater Alternatives and Innovations (WA‘I) and his team on November 24. WA‘I is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to reducing sewage pollution and restoring healthy watersheds by providing innovative, affordable and eco-friendly solutions to waste and wastewater management. They have partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and are searching for solutions to our cesspool problem and working with top leaders at the University of Hawai‘i Manoa's Water Resources Research Center, the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program, the University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges and the Hawai‘i Department of Health-Wastewater Branch.

There are more than 88,000 cesspools in our state, which discharge 53 million gallons of untreated wastewater into our groundwater and surface waters each day. (Yes, you should reread the previous sentence!!!)

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Groves at Kapolei Coming to Makakilo

White Label Ventures LLC is planning to develop an agricultural cluster development on 85 acres of land in Makakilo called the Groves at Kapolei. The project would be located at the end of Kuhili Street. The Groves at Kapolei would be the state's first true working farm development, transforming a dry, barren ridge into a viable food source, providing produce to local markets, supporting the state's effort to improve food security here in our islands. The project would have 50.5 acres in agricultural use and 32 to 35 farm dwellings. They plan to grow citrus, avocado, dragon fruit, turmeric, mango, and coconut. They would use only organic pesticides and herbicides and will have a farm stand and small amphitheater. Construction of the first phase of the project will begin in the 4th quarter of 2021.

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Holiday Party for Keiki and Families in Foster Care

I'll be participating in Family Programs Hawai‘i's 22nd Annual Holiday Party for Keiki and Families in Foster Care on December 6 at the former Kmart Kapolei parking lot. I'll be assisting with passing out prizes and food boxes to foster kids and their families. Up to 350 families are expected to participate in this event from 9am to 1pm that day.

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Fuel Tank Advisory Committee Meeting

(Pictured: Sen. Gabbard attended a Zoom meeting of the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee on Oct. 30, 2020.)

I attended a virtual meeting of the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee on October 30. The Committee was set up in 2016 by Act 244, which mandates a permanent, "advisory committee that shall study issues related to leaks of field-constructed underground fuel storage tanks at the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility, Kuahua Peninsula, Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands, Hickam Pol Annex, and Schofield barracks Military Reservation." I'm a member of the Committee as the Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee. The impetus for the creation of the Committee was the 2014 leak of 27,000 gallons of fuel at the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility operated by the Navy.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are safe and well. First, mahalo to all who voted for me to continue serving as your senator at the State Capitol. I'll try my best to help you in any way I can. For those of you who didn't vote for me, or didn't vote at all, I'll be your voice in the State Senate for the next two years, so don’t hesitate to contact me for any reason. (Note: Normally, state senators have 4-year terms, but because of reapportionment, all 25 senators will be up for re-election in 2022.)

A big congrats to Principal Keith Hayashi and the Waipahu High School ‘ohana for their five career academies receiving national certification from the National Career Academy Coalition. The honored academies are the Academy of Arts & Communication, the Academy of Professional & Public Services, the Academy of Industrial & Engineering Technology, the Academy of Health & Sciences, and the Academy of Natural Resources.

Best wishes to you and your ‘ohana for an awesomely aloha-filled Happy Thanksgiving! As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Tier 2: What does it mean for O‘ahu?

It was great news having O‘ahu move to Tier 2 in the City's 4 Tier Reopening Strategy on October 22. This means our daily COVID-19 cases were under 100 with a positive test rate below 5% for a four week period. Here are the changes Tier 2 implemented:

Second Special Session

The State Senate will hold our second Special Session to consider the confirmation of two judges from November 18 – 19. The two appointees are Circuit Court Judge Todd Eddins as a Supreme Court Associate Justice and public defender Stephanie R.S. Char as a District Family Court Judge for the Fifth Circuit (Kaua‘i). I'll participate in hearings as a member of the Judiciary Committee on November 16 at 1pm and decision making will be on November 18 at 10:30 am.

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Testimony on Bill 59 (Community Recreational Garden Program)

I submitted testimony to the City Council's Parks, Community Services and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on October 20 in support of Bill 59. This bill, which passed the Committee and will now go for Second Reading, calls for the expansion of the City's Community Recreational Gardens Program. As Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, I want to see more opportunities for people to grow their own food. There are currently only 10 community garden sites on Oahu and none on the westside. Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been faced with unemployment and economic hardships that have resulted in thousands of O‘ahu residents being more food insecure. I'm sure you've seen the long lines at food giveaways and also more demand for donations from the Foodbank. Community gardens are a great way to offer local residents an opportunity to grow their own food and help our island become more self-sufficient. During both World Wars of the 20th century, because of drastic food shortages, our nation launched the Victory Gardens program which was very successful in helping us get through those difficult times. We should do the same now! Our state has a renowned agricultural tradition, but today we are importing 85% to 90% of our food. By expanding the Community Recreational Gardening Program, we can grow more of our food here locally and also encourage people to consider agriculture as a profession.

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Transitional Housing in Kalaeloa

I wrote a letter to the City's Office of the Division of Purchasing on October 21 in support of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands' (DHHL) application for Federal HOME Investment Partnerships program funding. These funds could be used to assist beneficiaries of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act by providing transitional housing in Kalaeloa. DHHL and Partners in Care – Oahu Continuum of Care have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve services to the homeless population, specifically focusing on native Hawaiians on O‘ahu. This request for funding would build upon this MOU aimed at providing transitional housing for beneficiaries in Kalaeloa. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development study titled "Housing Needs of Native Hawaiians: A Report From the Assessment of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Housing Needs" noted the following: "Homelessness among Native Hawaiians" is prevalent. The funding to support transitional housing for beneficiaries in Kalaeloa would provide a mechanism to assist a segment of the native Hawaiian community that might not otherwise be served.

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Kapolei Parkway Affordable Rental Housing Development

I wrote a letter on October 9 to the Hawai‘i Housing Financing and Development Corporation in support of a consolidated financing application being submitted by Kapolei Parkway Partners, LLLP for the development of an approximately 400-unit affordable rental housing project. The Kapolei Parkway affordable rental housing development will benefit the community by providing more affordable housing. The project uses vacant City land, near the existing Mehana residential community on Kapolei Parkway.

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$500 Hawai‘i Restaurant Card Program

You might have heard that the Governor recently announced a new Hawai‘i Restaurant Card Program. The program provides a $500 prepaid debit card to aid unemployment insurance recipients with supplemental funds they can use at island restaurants statewide. Qualified recipients should be automatically receiving this benefit as of October 15, 2020 and the funds must be spent by December 15, 2020. No application is necessary. This program is being funded by $75 million of the Coronavirus Relief Fund. The program will help thousands of unemployed residents and also stimulate the local economy by driving business to dine-in and take-out restaurants and fast-food establishments. Here are some key points related to the program:

Business Pivot Grant Program

On October 20, the State and the Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i announced the launch of the Business Pivot Grant Program. This program will provide Hawai‘i small businesses $25 million in grants to help them adjust to COVID-19-related impacts The program will provide approximately 2,500 small businesses with reimbursement grants to cover expenses up to $10,000 that they incurred implementing changes to their operations, products, and services. Funded by federal CARES Act appropriations, the program provides qualifying businesses reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred since March 20, including investing in e-commerce, reconfiguring workspaces, adding safety equipment and implementing new business processes. The grant application period started on October 22 and will remain open until November 23, 2020, as funds are available. The Chamber of Commerce Hawai‘i will administer the program. To qualify for the grant, businesses and non-profits must meet the following criteria:

Climate Change Commission Meeting

On October 28, I participated as a member of the State Climate Commission in a virtual meeting. As the Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair, I'm suggesting the Climate Commission focus on two key areas. The first is encouraging Hawai‘i residents to adopt a plant-based, climate friendly diet based on the consumption of local produce. The second is recommending our farmers to switch to regenerative agricultural techniques that improves soil health. Check out the documentaries, Kiss the Ground and Cowspiracy, as good overviews of these important topics.

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Hawai‘i Farmers Union United Convention

The 10TH Annual Hawai‘i Farmers Union United (HFUU) "Virtual" Convention will take place between November 12 – 15. The theme of this year's Convention is "Celebrating Local Agriculture" and will focus on regenerative agricultural interactive presentations on the "Hawai‘i Theatre Livestream Platform" with keynotes, panels, breakouts, farm tours, and chef demos. There will be a FARM AID Style Hawai‘i farmer and musical benefit concert curated by Micah Nelson, the son of Willie Nelson. Members of HFUU can register for $65 and non-members will pay $125, which includes a membership for one year in HFUU. To register and for more information, visit hfuuhi.org

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are safe and doing well amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor recently announced that starting October 15 incoming transpacific travelers can bypass the current 14-day quarantine if they're tested for COVID-19 before arriving to our state. It's been a very positive thing that the COVID-19 infections have gone down and on September 24 Mayor Caldwell allowed our parks, beaches, and trails to be open for groups of 5 or less and many of our businesses to open back up again. Both of these decisions will help get our economy moving. Carol and I have been battling each other daily playing ping pong on our lanai…and we're both looking forward to some golf and tennis to get more exercise!

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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First Special Session

On October 5-6, the State Senate will convene the First Special Session of 2020 to consider the appointment of 8 judges to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, District Court, and Family Court. There will be a public hearing of the Judiciary Committee, which I'll participate in as a committee member, on the judicial appointees on October 1 at 1pm and the Committee will vote at a decision-making hearing on October 5 at 10:30am. There will be live remote public testimony via videoconference, as the Capitol building remains closed to the public due to COVID-19. This remote testimony option will also allow neighbor island residents to testify without traveling to Honolulu. Members of the public who wish to testify via videoconference should use the Legislature's website (capitol.hawaii.gov) to submit their written testimony and select "yes" when asked if they will be testifying remotely for the hearing. Written testimony is required to participate via videoconference and must be submitted at least 24 hours before the hearing. Additional information and details will be on the hearing notice and capitol website. The Senate will convene in a floor session on October 5 at 10:00 a.m. Final Senate votes on the appointments are expected on Tuesday, October 6 at 11:30 a.m.

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Farrington Highway Improvements Project Moving Forward

The City is moving forward with improvements to Farrington Highway for a 3-mile segment between the Kapolei Golf Course and Ft. Weaver Road. This past session the Legislature appropriated $100 million to fund the construction of the project. The Environmental Assessment for the project was completed in September 2020. The project will include widening this section of Farrington Highway from 2 to 4 lanes with new sidewalks, bike lanes, a 44-foot landscaped median strip, new bridges, culverts, and major utility relocation. Construction is expected to begin in May 2021.

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West Loch Munitions Annex Plans Raise Concerns

I represent the West Loch Fairways area, which is close to the Navy's proposed expansion of the Army's West Loch Ordnance Facilities. I got an email from Ewa Neighborhood Board Member and current West Loch Fairways resident John Rogers on August 30 expressing his concerns about how the West Loch Munitions Annex project would go beyond the existing footprint and requesting that I intervene to see if the Navy could hold a public hearing to better inform area residents. The military's plan is to relocate the existing Army munitions operations at Lualualei Annex in Wai‘anae and also build 24 new box magazines for storage of Navy ordnance. The project is supposed to be completed by September 2022. My office contacted the Navy on September 1 and got a response back from CAPT Gordie Meyer, the new NAVFAC Hawai‘i Commander, on September 3 who explained that the public can submit public comments, but gave no further evidence that they would hold a public hearing. On September 15, I sent out an email to over 3,000 of my constituents, including some living in Ewa Beach, alerting them to the close of the public comment period on September 18 on the Environmental Assessment on the project and urging them to get their comments in. I wrote CAPT Meyer on September 16 asking for the Navy to reconsider their position and to hold a public hearing to provide info to the public and to allow them to ask questions, but I haven't gotten any feedback yet. With COVID-19 happening, it'd be easy for them to do a Zoom meeting. What brings even more public concern to this issue is the fact that in 1944 a munitions accident triggered an explosion that rocked West Loch, leaving 163 men dead and nearly 400 wounded in what is considered Pearl Harbor's second-worst disaster in terms of fatalities. And this disaster was covered up by the Navy for several years. Obviously, the nearby residents of Ewa Beach and Waipahu are wary of another possible munitions explosion and deserve a public hearing to get some answers. The Navy should show some respect to their hosts here on O‘ahu and provide this opportunity. Why else do they have a Public Affairs Office?

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Rental Assistance Available

On September 8, 2020, Governor Ige announced the launch of a new program that will provide federal assistance for Hawai‘i renters at risk of eviction for non-payment of rent because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The State of Hawai‘i Rent Relief and Housing Assistance Program (RRHAP) assists Hawai‘i residents who are unable to pay their rent because they're unemployed or have had a reduction in income due to the pandemic. Funded by $100 million in federal CARES Act appropriations, the program provides renters at risk of eviction with assistance in making monthly rent as well as financial counseling. Applications are currently being accepted for housing payments due between August 1, 2020 and December 28, 2020. The program is administered by non-profit partners Catholic Charities Hawai‘i and Aloha United Way. To apply, go to hihousinghelp.com

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COVID-19 Household Hardship Relief Fund Program

Mayor Caldwell announced on September 23 that the City still has more than $20 million to assist O‘ahu residents under the COVID-19 Hardship Relief Program. This program uses federal CARES Act funds to offer quick financial relief to O‘ahu households impacted by the pandemic. The maximum benefit per household is up to $2,000 per month and up to $500 additional per month for childcare services. Eligible payments may include rent, mortgage, certain utilities, childcare providers recognized by Department of Human Services, and other emergency expenses. Payments will be made directly to the vendor. You apply through either one of the City's partners:

Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ohana are safe and well. The COVID-19 crisis continues to affect us all in so many ways. As I watch the evening news each night, I'm saddened by the discord, rancor, divisiveness, intolerance and violence being displayed across America. I'm hoping and praying that each of us will take personal responsibility for our own actions, and do our best to be humble, tolerant, kind, compassionate and loving to each other, as we seek solutions in the public arena, as well as in our own personal lives. It will take massive amounts of genuine aloha, but I'm confident we can do it. Hawai‘i should be the template for the world to follow in dealing with these chaotic times.

I completed my 14th session as your State Senator on July 10. Given the pandemic, this was definitely the most difficult session of my time in the Senate. This newsletter serves as my annual legislative update to provide you with an overview of what happened at the Capitol during the 2020 Legislative Session. Please continue following all the mask and physical distancing recommendations and protect yourself and family during this pandemic. Stay safe!

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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2020 Legislative Session Overview

There was a total of 2,336 bills introduced during the 2020 Legislative Session (1,156 in the House and 1,180 in the Senate). Of those, 82 bills passed the Legislature. The Governor has three choices for the bills that passed: he can sign the bills into law, allow the bills to become law without his signature, or veto the bills.

The deadline for the Governor to notify the Legislature if he intends to veto any of the bills was August 31. September 15 is the deadline for the Governor to veto bills and for the Legislature to come back into Special Session to override any of those vetoes.

Please let the Governor know how you feel about any of the legislation by calling him at 586-0034 or filling out the "Contact Us" form here: https://governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/comments-on-legislation/

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Construction Funding for Senate District 20

Senate District 20 did very well with the passage of the state's capital budget in HB 2725. There's a total of $186,450,000 in additional projects for our community. Mahalo to Senator Keith-Agaran and Rep. Yamashita, as well as Senator Dela Cruz and Rep. Luke for their hard work on the construction budget. Getting these projects going will help stimulate our economy and also provide services for my constituents.

Here's a rundown:

Agriculture and Environment Committee Bills That Passed

HB 1819 (Hemp) - during our abbreviated legislative session (June 22-July 10), the committee chairs were given the opportunity to take up a few bills that didn't have a fiscal impact on the state. For years, I've been trying to get a commercial hemp program established… (ICYMI, Gov. Cayetano declared Dec.14, 1999 Hawai‘i Industrial Hemp Day. Then, hempwise, government fell asleep, as it tends to do sometimes. Fifteen years later, from 2014-2018, I introduced 4 bills that became law, which included a UH hemp research study and setting up a pilot hemp research program.)

My top priority during this past session was to pass a revised version of House Bill 1819, which would allow farmers to apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture directly to become licensed to grow, process, and sell hemp products. This would allow Hawai‘i to create a new industry, create jobs, and diversify our economy that now relies too heavily on tourism.

I'm happy to announce that on August 27, Governor David Ige signed this bill into law! Hemp hemp hooray! Hemp is an incredible plant that produces over 25,000 products. Now we can begin to make the Hawaiian Hemp brand a reality, not only in the U.S. but globally as well. Given the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our economy, the signing of HB 1819 is a bright spot that has big potential for Hawai‘i's agriculture. Soon, we'll have local farmers applying to the USDA for licenses to finally move forward with commercial hemp operations. It's been a long time coming… (Click to see Press Release).

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Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) Funding for Hawai‘i

During our legislative session from June 22 to July 10, we passed SB 126 to authorize the spending of $648 million in federal CARES Act funding to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The UH Economic Research Organization estimates that this plan would generate $1 billion for the state's GDP and support 6,500 jobs.

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Aloha e Friends,

We concluded the 2020 legislation session on July 10. As we start the month of August, we're seeing a record number of COVID-19 cases. So please take all the appropriate good hygiene measures and social distancing to protect you and your ‘ohana. Our public schools will be opening on August 17, two weeks later than originally planned, after a July 30 vote by the Board of Education.

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Agriculture and Environment Committee Bills That Passed

During our abbreviated legislative session (June 22-July 10), the committee chairs were given the opportunity to take up a few bills that didn't have a fiscal impact on the state.

For years, I've been trying to get a commercial hemp program established in our state. My top priority during the session was to pass a revised version of House Bill 1819, which would allow farmers to apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to become licensed to grow, process, and sell hemp products. This would allow Hawai‘i to create a new industry, create jobs, and diversify our economy that now relies too heavily on tourism. I'm happy to announce that we were able to pass the bill and it now goes to Governor David Ige to sign into law. Hemp hemp hooray! Hemp is an incredible plant that produces over 25,000 products and we're very close to making the Hawaiian Hemp brand a reality, not only in the U.S. but globally as well. To read more details, please click here: https://bit.ly/hemp_Gabbard2020

Here's a rundown of the other Agriculture and Environment bills that passed:

Hawai‘i is Hiring – Virtual Job Fair Coming Up!

The Hawai‘i Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Staffing Solutions of Hawai‘i and Kahu Malama Nurses on the Hawai‘i is Hiring Virtual Job Fair, which is coming up on August 12 from 8:30am to 12pm. Hawai‘i is Hiring is an innovative alternative to connect candidates and employers one-on-one, virtually, and will include virtual employer exhibitor booths, virtual peer-to-peer networking, virtual workshop sessions, and virtual professional development webinars. Attendance for job seekers is free but you need to register to participate, using this link: https://cochawaii.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/1112784. If you have questions, contact Tricia Fetui at [email protected].

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Pandemic EBT Food Assistance

The state Department of Human Services is getting the word out about the Pandemic EBT Food Assistance program. If your child received free or reduced-price meals this year, your child is eligible to receive up to $360 in food purchasing assistance. Check your eligibility status at pais-pebt.dhs.hawaii.gov/ or if you have questions send an email here: [email protected].

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Project Updates in Our Community

Here's an update on some projects that are happening in our community:

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Dreamhouse Charter School – DreamHouse ‘Ewa Beach Charter School was founded in 2012 by a group of educators, parents, and community leaders who were committed to developing and launching a charter school that would empower homegrown leaders for Hawai‘i, our country, and our world. They opened an original, stand-alone charter school in 2019 after seven years of planning, design, and development alongside the community. It served an inaugural cohort of 100 6th graders while operating out of temporary office space in the corner of a shopping plaza in Ewa Beach. They have now doubled the size of their school from 100 to 200 students, while adding a new grade (7th) and building out a $4 million newly renovated charter facility adjacent to Wakea Garden Apartments in Kalaeloa. The school will open August 2020. DreamHouse is applying for the Charter School Programs federal grant from the US Department of Education and I submitted a letter of support. (Pictured: Alex Teece, Chief Education Officer, DreamHouse Charter School.)

Foodland Farms Opens at the Grove at Ka Makana Ali‘i

I participated in a Sneak Peek event and presented an Honorary Certificate from the State Senate on July 13 in recognition of the Grand Opening of Foodland Farms at the Grove at Ka Makana Ali‘i in Kapolei. The official grand opening of the store was on July 15. The new 32,000 square-foot store West O‘ahu location offers exciting new food discoveries, exclusive grab-and-go and prepared foods, along with an abundance of healthy gluten-free, plant-based and vegan options. Exclusive to Foodland Farms Ka Makana Ali‘i is Mahi ‘ai Table, an in-store, full-service restaurant and bar with a menu of local farm-to-table dishes featuring surprising flavor combinations. In Hawaiian, "mahi ‘ai" means "farmer" or "farming", and in celebration of Hawai‘i's farming community, Mahi ‘ai Table uses the freshest ingredients procured from local farms, such as Mari's Gardens, Ho Farms, and MA‘O Organic Farms. Established in 1948, Foodland is Hawai‘i's largest locally owned and operated grocery retailer. Foodland was founded by the late Maurice J. "Sully" Sullivan as a family-run, community-focused company that puts customers first with an unshakable commitment to building both a better shopping experience and a better Hawai‘i.

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Aloha e Friends,

Hope you and your ‘ohana are well! The Legislature went back into session on June 22 and will conclude on July 10. During this time, we're taking up issues related to COVID-19, collective bargaining agreements, Board & Commission nominations, budgetary matters, and bills in the different committees that have no fiscal impact. It's definitely the most surreal time I've experienced in my 17 years as an elected official. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your ‘ohana as this COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold.

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Listen-Story Meeting

I'll be hosting a virtual Listen Story meeting on July 18 at 9am via Zoom. I'll send out the Zoom link to my constituent email list soon. If you want to be added to the invite list, let me know.

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Changes to 14-Day Traveler Quarantine Coming on August 1

You most likely heard in the news that the state has plans to provide an alternative to its current 14-day mandatory quarantine for transpacific travelers who arrive after Aug. 1. These plans are currently in development and the process and requirements are to be determined over the next few weeks. However, it's likely travelers will be given the opportunity to get tested for COVID-19 prior to their arrival, and show proof of a negative test result, to avoid the 14-day quarantine. Please check safetravels.hawaii.gov, hawaiicovid19.com or hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/ regularly as new information will be posted there as soon as it's available.

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Shark Protection

One bill that I'm hopeful we'll be able to get passed during our June 22 – July 10 legislative session is SB 2717. I introduced this bill in 2020 to protect our sacred mano, from unnecessary and intentional exploitation or killing. The bill would ban someone from knowingly capturing, possessing, abusing, or entangling any shark, whether alive or dead, or killing any shark in state waters. Sharks are apex predators whose presence and populations are critical to the health of our entire ocean ecosystem. The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, using data thru 2019, reported that up to 57% of surviving species of sharks are considered threatened and have been assessed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources reports that 12 of the 41 shark species in Hawai‘i waters fall under one of those three threatened categories, 11 are listed as vulnerable and 1 as endangered. It's important to note that this bill will NOT inhibit ongoing research on sharks or apply to any person, who in the lawful course of fishing, accidentally catches then releases a shark. That is exactly what ethical fishers do now. As a reminder, in 2010 we passed the nation's first, and still strongest, shark fin and fin product ban, which became a global model for shark conservation. With SB 2717 we have the chance to take the next necessary step in exemplary marine protection. I'll keep you posted.

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Waipahu Future Farmers of America

I included an article in my June newsletter about the Waipahu Intermediate Future Farmers of America Program being recognized on the National Future Farmers of America website in May. Senators Kidani and I honored Waipahu Intermediate FFA students, Sean Michael Valencia Monte and Mariah Pricella Quibol, in the Senate on January 30 for winning 1st place in the Environmental and Natural Resource Systems category at the 2019 National Agriscience Fair for their project on Bokashi Composting. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I've been collaborating with FFA students and Waipahu Intermediate Advisor, Ken Kozuma, on how their 300 student strong organization can help get our struggling ag sector back on track. Right now, the FFA students are proposing that Waipahu High host a food hub on their campus and recently gave a Powerpoint presentation to Waipahu High Principal Keith Hayashi. The students are also working with a grant writer to obtain funding for this potential project and are being mentored by a food hub expert. A food hub, as defined by the USDA, is "a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products." The students will be reaching out to Waipahu Neighborhood Board Chair Rito Saniatan about making a presentation on this proposed project to the Board.

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Passing of Senator Breene Harimoto

It's with great sadness that I share with you that my respected colleague Senator Breene Harimoto of Pearl City passed away on June 18 at the age of 66 after a long fight with pancreatic cancer. Breene will be remembered first and foremost for his deep faith in God. He was a very kind man and handled himself with incredible dignity in both good health and through the 5 years of his illness. Breene served as the Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee, and was a member of the Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee in the Senate. He was the Senate's representative on the O‘ahu Metropolitan Planning Organization Planning Board and was its Chair. He was also the Senate's alternate representative on the Hawai‘i Interagency Council for Transit-Oriented Development and Hawai‘i Interagency Council on Homelessness. Prior to his election to the Senate, Breene served on the Honolulu City Council for four years. He was chair of the Committee on Transportation where he championed rail, transit-oriented development, complete streets, smart growth, and health and safety issues. He was a member of the Board of Education for eight years and served two terms as its chairman. He was a former information technology professional and was a long-time community volunteer. He was co-founder and served as Executive Director of the Pearl City Foundation/Momilani Community Center. Breene was a life-long resident of his district. He and his wife Cheryl were graduates of Waipahu High School and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Breene is survived by three adult children and three grandchildren. Memorial services are pending. To view a brief video of my eulogy, click here: Eulogy on YouTube.

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CARES Act Spending

The Legislature passed SB 126 on June 26, 2020, to authorize the spending of $648 million in federal CARES Act funding to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The UH Economic Research Organization estimates that this plan will generate $1 billion for the state's GDP and support 6,500 jobs. Here's a breakdown of how the money is being spent:

$230 million – Department of Labor and Industrial Relations State Unemployment Insurance Weekly Benefit to Replace Federal Enhanced Benefits

Aloha e Friends,

Father's Day is June 21, so don't forget your dear old dad! Congrats to all the graduates of Campbell High, Kapolei High, Waipahu High, Island Pacific Academy, and American Renaissance Academy of Senate District 20. Even though COVID-19 threw things off a bit for your senior year, you definitely deserve praise for stepping up to face this huge challenge. Also, a shout-out to the Youth Challenge Academy grads! I wish you much success in your future endeavors.

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Listen-Story Meeting

We're coming back into session on June 15 for a couple of weeks. Please stay tuned, because I plan to have an in-person or virtual Listen-Story meeting to update you soon after that session concludes. I'll keep you posted!

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Current COVID-19 Situation

The positive is that our COVID-19 infection numbers have been very low during the last few weeks. Some days we have zero reported cases. Governor Ige still has the stay-at-home order in place until June 30, but the economy is slowly but surely opening up. Restaurants are set to allow dining on June 5. However, the negative has been that our economic situation is very dire. We've gone from the lowest unemployment rate of under 3% to the 3rd highest in the nation at 22.3%. Tourism has been a major facet of our economy and monthly airline arrivals have plummeted from 30,000 a day to now roughly 1,000 a day. This is greatly impacting our general excise tax and transient accommodations tax revenues that keep our state government going. It takes $677 million a month to run our state government. So we are looking at various ways to get our economy cranking again without sacrificing the health of our residents.

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Construction Budget for Senate District 20

Senate District 20 did very well with the passage of the state's capital budget in HB 2725. There's a total of $186,450,000 in additional projects for our community. Mahalo to Senator Keith-Agaran and Rep. Yamashita, as well as Senator Dela Cruz and Rep. Luke for their hard work on the construction budget. Getting these projects going will help stimulate our economy and also provide services for my constituents. Here's a rundown:

Hemp Top Priority Going into June Session Reconvene

We've been notified by the Senate President, Ron Kouchi, and House Speaker, Scott Saiki, that we'll reconvene for another round of sessions starting June 15. During that time, committee chairs will be able to choose a few bills for consideration that don't have an impact on the state's finances. My top priority will be industrial hemp as a way to stimulate our economy and help get farmers back on their feet. Hemp history in Hawai‘i goes back to 1999, when Gov. Cayetano declared Dec. 14 as Hawai‘i Hemp Day. Then government fell asleep for 15 years. I got the ball rolling again in 2014 when a bill I introduced passed into law setting up a UH study. I've been focused on allowing our farmers to grow and process industrial hemp and make some of the more than 25,000 products from this miracle plant. What I've been saying is that hemp has the potential to be a part of our economic recovery as a cottage industry. The idea of using our Hawai‘i branding with the guy playing ukulele under the coconut tree and hula girl dancing on the label and producing Hawai‘i CBD, Hawai‘i hemp shampoo, Hawai‘i hemp granola. All sorts of products! Right now, we do have a pilot hemp program under our state Department of Agriculture (HDOA) that allows farmers to grow up to 10 acres. But what we want to do is to set up a commercial program within HDOA through the passage of HB 1819 and set up a regulatory framework for the sale of CBD products under the Department of Health with SB 2050. To give you an idea of what we're looking at: Beau Whitney released a study in April 2020 estimating Hawaii's hemp industry will quickly grow to generating $33 million per year and employing hundreds of community members if we can pass HB 1819 and SB 2050. We need to take this opportunity to help our farmers and our economy! Hemp, hemp, hooray!

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Waipahu Intermediate Future Farmers of America Program Recognized

I was stoked to see the Future Farmers of America Program at Waipahu Intermediate, located in my district, recognized on the National Future Farmers of America website in May. The national FFA stated that the Waipahu Intermediate School FFA Chapter is regarded as a model FFA program in Hawai‘i. It's one of only two middle school FFA chapters in the state and the only middle school chapter on O‘ahu. My colleagues and I honored them this past January on the Senate Floor. Here's an excerpt from the national FFA's article:

Members maximize lawn space on the school grounds, build their own raised garden beds and grow their own vegetables as part of their supervised agricultural experience (SAE) projects. “One-third of our FFA experience is an SAE, and I require all my students to do an agriscience project,” says Ken Kozuma, the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Waipahu Intermediate School, which serves eighth-graders. “At their age, I think that’s the best SAE for them to do; they research and experiment. They are growing things from ground zero. A lot of times, in the beginning, I have to encourage them to just do it, just try something. Then they learn through trial and error.” Kozuma partners with Jeffrey Garvey, the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Waipahu High School just up the road, to create an agricultural education ecosystem that captures students’ attention at a young age, then excites them to continue to participate through high school. “In the last two years, our intermediate school classes were just introductory – the basics of agriculture,” Kozuma says. “But after attending a National Association of Agricultural Educators conference last year, I decided to focus this year more directly on agriscience and experiments.” The courses are similar to a core agriculture class offered at the high school and provide a nice, broad base for students who decide to continue ag education after eighth grade.

Aloha e Friends,

This has been a surreal and difficult time for all of us over the past several weeks dealing with the threat of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home/work-from-home orders. Since March 1, close to 224,000 people have filed unemployment benefit applications in our state. Thousands have had to wait weeks to get signed-up and receive their unemployment benefits. The State Senate and State House have stepped up with volunteers to help staff an unemployment benefit call-center at the Convention Center. One of my session legislative aides, Tonya Miller, has been helping with that effort. These volunteers have ramped up and are now helping to process 10,000 unemployment claims a day. To file for unemployment, please use the Department of Labor and Industrial Relation's website: https://labor.hawaii.gov/

As our COVID-19 infection numbers hopefully go down because of "social distancing" polices in place, new information will continue to come out. In order to get the latest detailed facts, I encourage you to tune in and access the information available online from the Senate Special Committee on COVID-19 here: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/

May 10 is Mother's Day and the good news is that florists can reopen on May 1. So, yay, we’ll be able to send mom flowers!

As always, please feel free to contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Stay-at-Home Order Extended Until May 31

Governor Ige announced on April 25 that he had issued an emergency proclamation to extend the stay-at-home order until May 31. Here are the details:

Residents may leave their homes only for various essential needs, including healthcare, purchasing food, medicine, gasoline, taking care of the elderly, minors, or those with disabilities, returning to a place of residence outside of Hawai‘i, picking up educational materials for distance learning, receiving meals or other related services.

•   Outdoor exercise is also permitted – including swimming, surfing and walking pets.
•   In addition, running, jogging or walking on the beach will be permitted, as long as social distancing requirements are observed.
•   Also extended through the end of May -- the 14-day quarantine for both visitors and residents entering the state and for inter-island travelers.
•   The eviction moratorium, which prevents any eviction from a residential dwelling for failure to pay rent, also remains in effect through May 31.
•   In addition, social distancing requirements remain in place across the state through the end of May.

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City Parks Opened on Limited Basis

Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced on April 22 that City Parks will reopen on a limited basis during the COVID-19 crisis. People can now use the parks for these reasons:

•   Engaging in outdoor individual activities of walking, running/jogging, and biking on roads and pathways
•   Using open comfort stations/showers
•   Accessing designated community garden plots
•   Traversing City Parks to engage in and return from ocean activities, such as surfing, solo paddling, and swimming

This is a welcome relief, because we all need to get our exercise during this very stressful time.

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Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act

The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act become law on April 24. This legislation provides $310 billion in additional Paycheck Protection Program funds to assist our small businesses in remaining open. The bill includes $50 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and clarifies that small farms are eligible for this funding. Additionally, the legislation provides $75 billion in funding to support hospitals and health care workers with personal protective equipment and COVID-19 testing.

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Early Learning Resources and Child Care Subsidies

The state Executive Office on Early Learning (EOEL) has created a new website that provides COVID-19 resources for families with young children. The website includes sections on available care, subsidy and scholarship information, other resources for those in need, at-home resources for families, resources for child care providers, and supply donations. You can access it here: https://earlylearning.hawaii.gov/. It's important to point out that EOEL and the state Department of Human Services have been able to partner to provide child care assistance for families during the COVID-19 crisis. Our state has temporarily changed its rules for child care subsidies that make many more families eligible. You can find more information about applying at Child Care Connection Hawai‘i here: bit.ly/ApplyCCCH.

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Touch 'N Go in Kalaeloa to Remain Open

There's been much concern from veterans in our community about the potential closure of the NEX Touch 'N Go in Kalaeloa. This would have been in addition to the unfortunate closure of Tamura's Market in Kalaeloa in April. I was stoked to learn that NEX signed a long-term lease with Hunt Development Group on April 20. This ensures that military families in the Kapolei area will continue to have this convenient NEX facility near-by. Mahalo to the Navy and Hunt for being able to sit down and come up with this lease agreement.

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Funding for Local and Regional Food Producers

On April 24, I joined with 128 state legislators from 34 states to send a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting the U.S. Department of Agriculture ensure that Hawai‘i local food producers have equal access to federal stimulus funding. Congress gave little guidance for how the CARES Act appropriation of $9.5 billion to support local food production should be spent. Meanwhile, many of our food producers selling into the local economy operate outside the traditional scope of many USDA programs and have suffered significant revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to urging Secretary Perdue to allow states to address the unique needs of their food communities through the use of block grants, the letter supported the recommendations of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) to:

•   Ensure that aid to local and regional food system producers is commensurate with expected losses of more than $1 billion;
•   Invest in and offer support to market development designed to foster the stabilization, growth and increased sustainability of the production of food for local and regional consumption;
•   Prioritize small- and mid-sized farms that sell directly into local and regional markets, with special attention to farmers historically underserved by USDA;
•   Provide funds directly to producers, including livestock contract growers, and not to integrators, packers or processors likely to be eligible for aid through other programs;
•   Ensure that information about applying for aid is readily accessible, provided in multiple languages and formats, and that assistance for applicants with limited English proficiency is readily available;
•   Not limit aid to farmers that are already participating in federal programs; farms should not be required to have an FSA number in order to receive aid;
•   Provide outreach to farmers about aid opportunities that is thorough and robust, including outreach to urban farmers, indigenous farmers, Black farmers, minority farmers, very small and limited-resource farmers, and farmers with limited English proficiency;
•   Guarantee that the Inspector General has all of the information to ensure a timely and robust audit of the implementation of the agricultural provisions in the CARES Act.

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Check out "A Climate for Change: The New Normal"

April 22 was the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day! This day is always a good time to reflect on the existing threats to our natural environment and to resolve to do our part as individuals and a community to make a positive difference. Anthony Aalto and Mike Hinchey of Green Island Films launched the first program of a 3-part documentary called "A Climate for Change: The New Normal" on this year's Earth Day. The first episode, which aired on Hawai‘i News Now features UH Geography professor, Dr. Camilo Mora, and his Hawai‘i Carbon Neutral plan to plant 1 million trees. Check out the first episode on KGMB on May 3 from 10:30-11:30pm and May 9 from 6pm-7pm. The second episode of the documentary will be on plastics, albatross preservation, coral reefs, and personal consumption reduction. The third episode will focus on plant-based food issues. The 2nd and 3rd episode air dates have yet to be announced.

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Grab-And-Go Meals for Students

The state Department of Education is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Hawai‘i Child Nutrition Program to provide free grab-and-go meals for students during the COVID-19 crisis. Schools will be providing breakfast and lunch free of charge to children under 18 years old. The breakfast service hours are from 7:30am-8am and lunch is from 11:30am-12pm Mondays thru Fridays, excluding holidays. Here are the participating schools in Senate District 20: Barbers Point Elementary and Kapolei High.

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Free, Nutritious Meals for Homesteaders

Kapolei Community Development Corporation and Kapolei Homesteads Associations are partnering with Alu Like, Inc., Kamehameha Schools, and the Kroc Center Hawai‘i to provide over 2,300 free, nutritious meals weekly to those of Native Hawaiian ancestry who are 60 years and older. In order to qualify, you'll need proof of age, ethnicity, and a birth certificate. For more information contact Alu Like, Inc. at [email protected]. You can also reach out directly to the individual Kapolei homesteads if you are a member of one of those communities. Here's the contact info:

Malu‘ōhai - Homelani Schaedel - (808) 520-2267
Kaupe‘a - Michelle Kauhane - (808) 630-0501 and Iwalani McBrayer - (808) 979-1455
Kānehili - Randy Akau - (808) 620-9169, Email: [email protected]
Kauluokaha‘i - Helen N. Wai - (808) 479-2330

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Farm to Car Program

Last month, the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau launched the Farm to Car program to connect farmers with consumers. The Farm to Car program has been successful and is basically a drive-thru Farmers' Market at the Blaisdell Center. Their online marketplace is open on Sundays and Thursdays at noon and they can accommodate up to 300 orders on each of those days. Minimum orders are $25 and there's a $3 processing fee per order. The orders are available for pick-up from 9am-12pm on Wednesdays (for Thursday orders) and Saturdays (for Sunday orders) at the Blaisdell Center along Ward Center, next to the Box Office (777 Ward Avenue). Please visit this website to place your order: https://hfbf.org/farm-to-car/ and call 476-0539 with any questions. Mahalo for the Farm Bureau for working so hard to help our farmers get through this difficult time!

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Opposing Proposed Changes to the National Environmental Policy Act Review Process

I joined with state legislators across the nation in writing a letter to the Mary Neumayr, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), in response to the CEQ's proposal to amend the regulations for implementing the procedural provisions for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). I believe the proposed changes by CEQ to NEPA would stifle both public input and science-based decision making in the federal environmental review process. They would put industry and developer interests before public health and safety, and before the health of our natural environment. State and local governments are already shouldering huge fiscal and human costs of environmental damages and will be forced to shoulder increasing costs in decades to come. Ignoring the significant role that federal agencies have in mitigating these impacts through the NEPA process is counterproductive to the state-federal partnership and dangerous to the well-being of the public. The proposed deadline changes for the preparation of Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements will also make it difficult for states to participate effectively in NEPA processes, as it could take multiple years of data collection to understand long term impacts. This will not only hurt the outcome of the NEPA process and state citizens, it will also directly limit a state’s ability to effectively participate in the review process. I urge CEQ to withdraw the National Environmental Policy Act Review Process and retain the existing NEPA implementing regulations that have effectively served the nation for more than 40 years. CEQ should instead work to increase funding and training for staff across federal agencies responsible for NEPA compliance. The single most important key to efficient and effective NEPA reviews is competent, trained, and adequate staff to implement the regulations.

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Aloha e Friends,

The Legislature announced on March 16 that we postponed our legislative session because of the coronavirus. We have no way of knowing if and when we'll come back into session. On March 19, Senator Clarence Nishihara was diagnosed with coronavirus. Since that time, my staff and I have been working remotely from home. I urge you to do all you can to help your family and friends take the necessary precautions to stay healthy and safe during this very difficult time for our state, country, and world.

As always, please feel free to contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Coronavirus Updates and Helpful Tips

During the last few weeks, more and more Hawai‘i residents have been diagnosed with this serious illness. On March 22, I joined with my Senate and House colleagues in sending a letter to Governor Ige urging him to take every preventive action to prevent COVID-19 from escalating into a full-blown public health crisis.
Here are some of the major announcements from our government officials that you should be up to speed on:

2020 U.S. Census Happening

The census is a count of every person who lives in the U.S. and its territories, and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. It happens every 10 years and we're currently in that process for the 2020 U.S Census. Your responses inform where over $675 billion is distributed each year to communities nationwide for clinics, schools, roads, and more. Your responses are used to redraw legislative districts and determine the number of seats the various states have in the U.S. House of Representatives. Every household will have the option of responding online, by phone, or by mail. Here are some important dates (some of which have already passed):

Construction Funding for District 20

I was pleased to be notified by the Governor that he released funding for the following construction projects from January to March of this year for Senate District 20:

Food-A-Go-Go Launches to Support Local Restaurants

In March, the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization created to promote agriculture and farming, launched the Food-A-Go-Go campaign to support all Hawai‘i restaurants that are open for takeout and delivery during this COVID-19 pandemic. The new initiative asks customers to consider takeout, delivery or curbside pickup as an alternative means of providing meals for their families in order to help our local restaurants that have had to close in-room dining. Customers can go to FoodAGoGo.org to find the latest up-to-date information on all restaurants that remain open with delivery, takeout or curbside pickup options. All Hawai‘i restaurants, from mom-and-pop to fine dining, are welcome to participate and can submit an online form with information on their services. The Foundation will use television and radio PSAs aimed at encouraging the public to consider takeout.

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Victory (Lanakila) Gardens: A Way to Thrive During a Crisis

I wrote the following op-ed that was published in Honolulu Civil Beat on March 25.

In times of crisis, we as a country put aside our differences, and work together. We did it during WWI and WWII, and as the coronavirus continues to rampage its way across the U.S., it's time we roll up our sleeves and do it again. During both World Wars, because of drastic food shortages here and abroad, Americans were encouraged to start Victory Gardens in their back yards to grow fruits and vegetables. For those without backyards, window boxes were suggested, or for high-rise city apartment dwellers, rooftops suddenly were transformed into lavish gardens, that everyone in the building contributed their time and energy into maintaining and then joyfully joined together in reaping the bountiful harvests.

At its peak during WWII, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture estimates that there were about 20 million Victory Gardens across the U.S. By 1944, Victory Gardens were responsible for growing approximately 40% of all the fruits/veggies in the country, which came out to an estimated 8 million tons of produce during the war. The federal government got involved by printing free recipe books that were distributed widely. Agricultural companies participated by offering tips on how to make home gardens flourish. Many other organizations, churches, and businesses pitched in to help the cause. The fact is, Victory Gardens not only fed our soldiers fighting overseas, and ourselves here at home, but they also boosted our national morale tremendously during a time of incredible danger and stress.

So, America, let's do this again. What a wonderful experience it would be for families across the country to plant and harvest our own food. Think of the incredible lessons and values to be learned by our children—many who are burning out on their video games, annoying their parents, twiddling their thumbs, or simply freaking out due to boredom. In Hawai‘i, we import 85-90% of our food, at a cost of about $3 billion annually. Our shipping companies assure us that during the current crisis, there will be no interruptions in service, and, of course, that's good to know. But what if? What if conditions change on the mainland and elsewhere, and our food supplies dry up?

Why not have our Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Department of Agriculture, UH College of Tropical Ag and Human Resources, and other related government agencies, as well as churches/temples/mosques and other non-profit groups do a "kakou thing" and assist families in starting their 2020 Hawai‘i Lanakila Home Gardens? People can plant fruit trees, herbs, and veggies in their yards or try out vertical gardening; commercial and condominium/apartment building rooftops can be used for the same.

Why not be pro-active, and do all we can to become self-sufficient? Why not set the example for the rest of the world to follow, working together with aloha as a community helping to feed our families and each other? Yes, Hawai‘i, we can do this. Let's start NOW and get growing!

https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/03/victory-lanakila-gardens-a-way-to-thrive-during-a-crisis/

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope this finds you and your ‘ohana well. As we enter the second half of our 2020 Session, after having introduced over 2,000 bills in January, we understand that what's important isn't how many bills we introduce, but how many – and which ones – make it to the finish line, which ends up being only about ten percent. But – we're getting ahead of ourselves…

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Legislative Process and COVID-19

First Crossover was March 5. This is when bills that passed Third Reading in their originating chambers cross over to the opposite chamber. Usually only a third of the bills make it past this first hurdle on their journey to becoming a law. Bills that survive this far have made good progress but still have a long way to go! We just received some new rules as well that affect the hearing process…

In an effort to curb the Corona virus, the Senate has taken steps to help make us safer here at the Capitol. While committee hearings will remain open to the public, you're urged to submit written testimony electronically and watch select hearings online to achieve "social distancing" and avoid spreading the virus. The amount of seating in the conference rooms will be reduced to allow those who attend hearings in person to maintain a reasonable distance from each other and keep the total number of occupants to a minimum.

Televisions will be placed outside of hearing rooms and testifiers will be encouraged to remain outside until the bill they are interested in is up for consideration. We will be implementing crowd control measures to ensure the orderly flow of testifiers in and out of the conference rooms during hearings. Signage will be posted on all conference room doors requesting the public's cooperation with these new procedures. Live streaming of all Senate floor sessions and select committee hearings will be available on YouTube and Facebook Live to allow the public to monitor proceedings from their homes or offices.

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Key Legislation

In my 4th year as Chair of AEN, and 14th session as your State Senator, I continue to be dedicated to growing more farmers, increasing our local food production, moving us in the direction of sustainable, regenerative ag, reducing the threat of invasive species, protecting our environment, and making district improvements. Toward those goals, key legislation that is making its way through the legislature includes: SB 2703, a beginning farmers and ranchers grant program within the Department of Agriculture to assist with start-up and organizational costs; SB 2713, a bill that establishes an invasive species rapid response trust fund to help address invasive species emergencies; and SB 2742, a bill to make theft of a catalytic converter from a vehicle's exhaust system a Class C felony.

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Hahaione Elementary Students' Microplastics Machine Floor Presentation

Distressed by the amount of debris on our shores after participating in a beach clean-up, Ray Avaizian III designed a machine that removes microplastics from our beaches. He calls it a Bouyancy Separation Device. He then went on to create a STEM-based curriculum for different grade levels which allows keiki to create a BSD, participate in a beach cleanup, extricate natural and synthetic material in the vacuum chamber, and then separate it into different size categories. This process will add to our understanding of shoreline marine debris accumulation.

Inspired by reading about Mr. Aivazian's mission and his inventions, Lucas and Sophia Magel, Hahaione Elementary School students, created a slideshow that they presented to their school's Parent Teacher Student Association, requesting funding for materials to build a few of Mr. Aivazian's devices with their classmates. The PTSA awarded Lucas and Sophia the funds. Their first BSD build-and-beach trial went off without a hitch. Eventually, Sophia and Lucas formally started a club called "The Green and Blue Crew." The crew started a new recycling program at Hahaione Elementary School, and they hope to eliminate plastic forks in the cafeteria.

On March 9, 2020, I co-sponsored an Honorary Certificate with Senator Stanley Chang to commend Ray Aivazian III and the Magel's for their work. Their efforts are an inspiration to others, creating a movement to spread awareness, rehabilitate our shorelines, and make a real difference in the world.

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Next Listen Story Meeting

Due to COVID-19, my Listen Story community meetings will be canceled until further notice. As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. Follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.

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Aloha e Friends,

Sen. Gabbard's awesome 2020 Session staff: Jami Chapman, HPU Intern and Legislative Assistant; Skylar Geasey, UH Manoa Intern and Legislative Assistant; Sydney Williams, Asst. Committee Clerk; and Tonya Miller, Legislative Asst.

Mahalo to everyone who came to our "Open House" on the first day of the 2020 Legislative Session January 15. I was stoked to see so many familiar faces, as well as new ones. Our collective island community filled the halls and rotunda at the capitol with echoing voices and moving songs. It was a pleasure to be a part of, not to mention an awesome way to celebrate my 72nd birthday 😉 Be sure to check out my Flickr album to see photos. (bit.ly/OpeningDay2020).

This session, the Senate introduced 1,180 bills, and the House (which has twice as many members as the Senate) introduced 1,156 bills. I introduced 99 bills, setting a new personal record. To view the complete list, go to bit.ly/bills2020.

My first "Listen Story" meeting of 2020 will be held on Saturday, February 29th from 9 am to 10 am at the Kapolei High School Teachers' Lounge, 91-5007 Kapolei Parkway Kapolei. This is a nice opportunity to come talk story and voice any concerns.

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard. Me ke aloha pumehana,






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My 2020 Legislation

In my fifth year as Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee (AEN), I continue to make it a priority to help our farmers produce more locally grown food and work toward protecting our environment. Below are some of the bills I’m introducing.

Public Trails (SB 2759)
I introduced this bill last year, and while it got tons of positive support from the public and in the media, it didn't get a hearing in the Judiciary/Ways and Means Committees (JDC/WAM) and died. You probably read in the paper about people being cited for entering Manoa Falls Trails illegally, even though there are signs saying the trail is closed due to dangerous conditions. Unfortunately, there are situations where individuals who trespass in county/state parks end up needing to be rescued by emergency personnel. Often, Government bears the responsibility for their irresponsibility. This bill would…

Silver Alert (SB 3123)
I introduced SB 3123 after learning about the disappearance of 76-year-old Milton Ishii of Makakilo back in November of last year. Milton has dementia and is a neighbor of my constituent, Kathy Davenport - who used to work for Councilmember Kym Pine and is currently running as a candidate for City Council District 1. Kathy and my office began to collaborate on this issue to see what the best strategy was for addressing this during the 2020 session. The bill would direct our Attorney General to implement a statewide silver alert program that would be activated when there's a missing senior. The silver alert program would be integrated with the existing MAILE/AMBER alert for missing children. The Committee on Human Services (HMS) passed the measure with…

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DISTRICT NEWS

Future Farmers of America
On January 30, my office had the pleasure of receiving a visit from the Waipahu Intermediate School Future Farmers of America (FFA) - a national youth organization that prepares students for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture. In the Fall of 2019, eight students from Waipahu Intermediate School …

HONORARY CERTIFICATE
On January 30, my colleagues and I recognized Waipahu High School students Sean Michael Valencia Monte and Mariah Pricella Quibol for outstanding achievements in their field. They won 1st place in the Environmental and Natural Resource Systems category at the National Agriscience Fair for their project on Bokashi Composting.

As an 8th grader, Sean Michael was a proud Future Farmers of America - FFA member, and was involved in Student Government, Youth?For?Safety, and National Junior Honor Society. He was a Bronze Presidential Service Award winner for putting in over 60 hours of community service and maintaining honor roll the entire year. He also traveled to Washington DC to attend…

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Aloha e Friends,

Happy New Year to you and your ‘ohana. Opening Day of the 2020 legislative session is on January 15 (which just happens to also be *ahem* my 72nd birthday). I invite you to stop by my office at 11:30am that day for refreshments. I continue to chair the Senate Agriculture & Environment Committee (AEN) with a focus on increasing local food production and dedicating more resources to protecting our environment. Carol and I joyfully celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary on December 27. We hope you and your families are well and that you have an awesome 2020 and beyond!

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard. Me ke aloha pumehana,






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At Your Service...

My staffing is set for the 2020 legislative session. My Office Manager will be Meg Turner, who will oversee the overall operations of my office and will be my scheduler. Former teacher, Tonya Miller, will assist Meg with office duties and constituent services. Rock Riggs will shift over from the Office Manager role to Committee Clerk to help me run the AEN Committee. Recent UH Mānoa graduate, Sydney Williams, will serve as a legislative aide and assistant Committee Clerk. We'll also have the help of two interns: Skylar Geasey, a junior studying political science at UH Mānoa, and Jamilyn Chapman, a sophomore studying Foreign Policy and Security Practice at HPU.

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Get Involved in the 2020 Legislative Session

As the Legislative Session gets underway, I hope you'll take the time to weigh in with testimony on legislation that you think is important to you and your family and to the future of our state. The first step is to visit the State Capitol website -- capitol.hawaii.gov, where you can get signed up to "submit testimony", "hearing notifications" and "measure tracking." Here are some key dates for the session:

•  January 23 (Bill Introduction deadline)
•  February 14 (First Lateral)
•  February 28 (First Decking)
•  March 5 (First Crossover)
•  March 6 (Resolution introduction deadline)
•  March 20 (Second Lateral)
•  April 3 (Second Decking)
•  April 30 (Final Decking)
•  May 7 (Sine Die – session concludes)

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My 2020 Legislation

I'll be introducing many bills/resolutions in 2020. Here's a quick rundown of some of that legislation. Please be aware that these bills won't be numbered until later in the month. So stay tuned!

Agricultural Appraisers - there are currently no certified agricultural appraisers in the state. Commercial appraisers lack the specialized knowledge required to accurately appraise agricultural properties, which can result in appraisals for private agricultural lands that are far higher than their actual value. This bill would appropriate $118,540 to the Department of Agriculture to establish one full-time equivalent agricultural appraiser position.

Animal Fur Ban - more than 100 million animals are violently killed each year solely for their fur. Existing laws provide relatively little oversight of the fur farming and fur trade industries. This bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of animal fur products in the state. There are exemptions for a fur product by a nonprofit organization, a used fur product, a fur product required for use in the practice of a religion, a fur product used by a member of a recognized Native American tribe, and a fur product where the activity is expressly authorized by federal law.

Bottling Water in Aluminum Cans - this bill was inspired by a visit to the Ball Corporation in Campbell Industrial Park. The basic issue is that existing state law expressly prohibits carbonated soft drink, juice, and beer operations from using the same equipment to can noncarbonated bottled water. This is a problem because companies like Ball could be selling bottled water in aluminum cans which could reduce the use of plastic bottles. Unlike plastic bottles, 100% of the aluminum can is recycled. This bill would repeal the requirement that noncarbonated bottled water be bottled in or through lines or equipment through which only water is passed.

Beach Restoration - according to a 2012 study by UH and the United States Geological Survey, 70% of beaches in Hawai‘i are eroding. Burdensome regulations and permit requirements for the beach restoration and maintenance projects discourage and prevent individuals, community organizations, and government agencies from initiating beach restoration projects. This bill would waive the section 401 water quality certification requirement for small scale beach restoration permit applicants that have met the conditions of the small-scale beach restoration regulations and qualifying criteria and have received notice of authorization to proceed from the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Invasive Species Rapid Response – this bill would establish an invasive species rapid response trust fund with a $1 million appropriation to be administered by the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council (HISC) to mitigate and eradicate invasive species threats. If HISC determined that a new invasive species poses a substantial threat to the agriculture, commerce, economy, environment, or public health of the state, then they would submit a request to the Governor to declare an invasive species emergency. Once this action is taken, then HISC could take action and expend moneys from the trust fund.

Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility - this resolution urges the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health to reject the approval of a single wall tank upgrade alternative option for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility and support the secondary containment tank upgrade alternative option, or, if secondary containment is determined to be infeasible, the relocation of the fuel tanks away from the aquifer.

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Informational Briefing on Department of Agriculture Budget Coming Up

As the AEN Committee Chair, I'll be co-hosting an informational briefing with Ways and Means Committee Chair, Donovan Dela Cruz, on January 16 at 9:30am in Conference Room 211 at the Capitol on the Department of Agriculture's budget. This info briefing will give me and other legislators an opportunity to hear from the DOA on their budgetary priorities for the upcoming 2020-2021 Fiscal Year, which is from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The DOA's share of the state budget is currently only 0.4%. This is woefully inadequate given the pressing need for our state to increase local food production so that we can be more sustainable.

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Youth Challenge Academy Graduation

I honored the graduates of Class 51 of the Youth Challenge Academy's Kalaeloa program with Honorary Certificates from the State Senate in recognition of their graduation at the Pearl City Cultural Center on December 12. While I wasn't able to be there in person for the cadets' graduation, I recorded a short video that was presented during the ceremony. This year, Tristin Thompkins, was chosen from the 70 graduates of the Kalaeloa program as the $500 "Mike Gabbard Scholarship" recipient. Congrats Class 51!

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Grant Application Released

Each year, the State Legislature awards funding to non-profit organizations that are doing good work in our community. During the 2020 legislative session, the Legislature will provide funding for Fiscal Year 2021 (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021). In order to be eligible, the non-profit will need to fill out the application form in its entirety, which can be accessed at the State Legislature homepage (capitol.hawaii.gov) under the "Legislative Information" tab. A completed original of the application would need to be submitted to both the House Finance Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The deadline to submit the application is January 17, 2020 at 4:30pm. For more information, contact the House Finance Committee at 586-6200 and/or the Senate Ways and Means Committee at 586-6800.

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Dementia-Related Workshops

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i will be hosting a free dementia workshop at the Catholic Charities Hawai‘i Community Hall (1822 Keeaumoku Street) on January 10 from 4:30pm-6:30pm, directed at caregivers of persons with memory loss. The topics will include presentations on "Health Brain Aging and Dementia" by Dr. Kamal Masaki and "Dementia, Depression, and Delirium: Knowing the Difference" by Dr. Aida Wen. There will be light refreshments and parking instructions will be provided to registrants. To register, please click here, or contact Jody Mishan at 295-2624 or [email protected].

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Honouliuli Educational Fair

There will be a free Honouliuli Educational Fair at Island Pacific Academy (909 Haumea Street) in Kapolei on January 11 from 9am to 11am. This event will feature educational resources for Native Hawaiian ‘ohana in ‘Ewa and Kapolei. Educational workshops and resources will be provided by Kamehameha Schools, INPEACE, PATCH, Keiki O Ka Aina, and Ulu A‘e Learning Center. IPA will host an open house and will share scholarship opportunities. There will also be free health screenings to identify developmental, hearing, and vision screenings in young learners.

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808 Cleanups at Nimitz Beach

808 Cleanups will have its first monthly stewardship of 2020 at Nimitz Beach on December 7th from 9am to 11am. Nimitz Beach is located on Coral Sea Road, where the Coast Guard comes closest to the ocean. They'll focus on removing illegal dumping and litter and removal of invasive species. This event is kid-friendly and open to the public. All cleanup supplies and tools will be provided. In order to participate, you'll need to sign the online waiver form here: 808cleanups.org/waiver/. Park along the concrete barricades on the ocean side when you arrive.

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Take the Plant Slant! Healthy Cooking Class

Blue Zones Kapolei-Ewa will be holding a healthy cooking demonstration to teach people how to prepare ono, plant-based recipes on January 6 from 10am-11:30am at Keahumoa Place (91-1451 Keahumoa Parkway #3801) in ‘Ewa Beach. One to three recipes will be demonstrated by a chef, cook, or registered dietician. Participants will be offered a sample and recipe card for each of the prepared recipes. Please register here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/bzpkapoleiewa/events/. As a 47-year vegetarian and now vegan, I can vouch for the benefits of a plant-based diet. By the way, during the 2020 legislative session, I'll be introducing a resolution to request the Department of Education to adopt a "Meatless Mondays" school lunch program to promote environmental conscious and healthy plant-based eating.

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Aloha e Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your ohana.

Governor Ige and first lady, Dawn Amano-Ige, are inviting the public to a special Christmas Open House at Washington Place on December 20 from 5pm to 8pm. There will be Christmas trees and holiday decorations on display. The Priory Chamber Choir from St. Andrew's Schools will perform a musical program from 6:30pm to 7pm. Reservations are required for this event: http://bit.ly/ige_christmas. All adults have to present a picture ID upon entrance to the property and are subject to a bag inspection. Free parking will be available at the state Department of Health (Kina‘u Building) parking lot.

Also, the Ewa Beach Community Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival will be on December 21 from 9am to 1pm at Pohakea Elementary School. The event is being sponsored by TeenBuilding USA and will include a Meet & Greet with Santa with food vendors, keiki activities, entertainment, and last-minute gifts.

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard. Me ke aloha pumehana,






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Ideas for Legislation

As noted in my November newsletter, our 2020 legislative session will begin on January 15. I'm interested in your ideas, if you'd like to offer suggestions for changes or improvements in how our state government operates. You don't have to have a full-fledged bill written out, just a few bullet points to get us started and we'll take it from there. Please let me know. The deadline for introducing new bills is usually one week after session starts.

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Habilitat Christmas Tree Fundraiser

As of November 30, Habilitat is holding a Christmas tree fundraiser at the old Kapolei Kmart parking lot (500 Kamokila Blvd). The trees can be picked up from noon to 9pm each day until they are sold out. The available trees will be fragrant Douglas firs (4-10 feet), dark green noble firs (2-9 feet), soft and silvery grand firs (2-10 feet), and bright green Nordmann firs (6-10 feet). The proceeds will help Habilitat's participants that are struggling with substance abuse and homelessness. For more information, go to https://www.habilitat.com/christmas-trees-hawaii/

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Hāpai Pōhaku Scholarship Application Period Now Open

Kapolei Community Development Corporation has announced that the application period for the Hāpai Pōhaku Scholarship is now open. The Hāpai Pōhaku Scholarship Endowment fund was established in 2018 by Kapolei homestead leaders to assist students residing in Kapolei homestead communities who are pursuing higher education opportunities. A $2,000 scholarship is awarded annually. The requirements are that you be a:

Aloha e Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your ohana! I can't believe a year has gone by but am looking forward to another feast of Thanksgiving tofurkey and stuffing with family and friends on November 28!

A couple of days later on November 30, the City will host Kapolei City Lights. This is a free event with keiki games & activities, photos with Santa, and entertainment. The West O‘ahu Electric Light Parade will be from 6pm-7pm, starting at the intersection of Ft. Barrette and Kapolei Parkway and ending at the intersection of Kama‘aha Avenue and Kapolei Parkway. The Holiday Courtyard festivities will be from 5pm to 10pm.

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard. Me ke aloha pumehana,






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Ideas for Legislation

Our 2020 legislative session will begin on January 15. I'm interested in your ideas, if you'd like to offer suggestions for changes or improvements in how our state government operates. You don't have to have a full-fledged bill written out, just a few bullet points to get us started and we'll take it from there. Please let me know. The deadline for introducing new bills is usually one week after session starts.

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Marriott Residence Inn Opens in Kapolei

A big welcome to Marriott for their Grand Opening of the Residence Inn in Kapolei on November 1. The 183-suite hotel will be located near Kapolei Parkway off Ft. Barrette Road. Residence Inn properties are designed as all-suite hotels that offer studio and one- and two-bedroom suites for stays of five nights or more. Each suite also has a fully equipped kitchen with a coffeemaker, microwave oven and residential-sized appliances. The hotel is pet-friendly and provides guests with business services, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, an outdoor fire pit, barbecue grills and bocce ball court. The hotel also features an in-house electronic concierge offering numerous activities in the O‘ahu area.

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REAL-ID Compliance Deadline October 1, 2020

An important heads up: As of October 1, 2020 you'll need a REAL-ID compliant driver's license or state ID in order to pass TSA check points at airports in order to fly and also to access federal buildings and military bases. A compliant REAL-ID has a gold star on the upper right corner. At this point, over 300,000 driver's licenses and 200,000 state IDs need to be updated on O‘ahu alone. So please look into this as soon as possible for you and your family! For more details, check out the City's Department of Customer Services here: honolulu.gov/csd.

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Navy Not Doing Enough to Protect Our Water at Red Hill Tank Facility

As the Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, I stand with the Board of Water Supply and the community in continuing to urge the Navy to move forward with either double-walling the Red Hill Fuel Tanks or moving them altogether in order to protect our drinking water supply. I was very disappointed that at a recent meeting of the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee, chaired by the state Department of Health, the Navy pointed out that they don't plan to double-wall the fuel tanks and want to delay upgrading or shutting the tanks down to 2045, instead of 2037 as has been planned. I recently provided comments to the EPA and the Department of Health stating my objection to the Navy's plan. The Navy's position that the considerable risks associated with storing nearly 200 million gallons of fuel 100-feet above our sole-source aquifer is sufficiently mitigated by simply continuing with the status quo is a decision that these regulatory agencies should not accept. If tank within a tank secondary containment is not feasible, then the fuel should be relocated away from the aquifer. I plan to introduce legislation related to Red Hill once again in 2020.

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Aloha e Friends,

October is when our cold and flu season really ramps up! So you might be interested in getting the latest medical facts. Queen's Medical Center – West O‘ahu will host the "Speaking of Health: Sinusitis vs. The Common Cold" free lecture in their hospital lobby in Ewa Beach (91-2141 Fort Weaver Road) on October 17 from 6pm to 7pm. Reservations are required via the Queen's Referral at 691-7117.

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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City Road Improvements in Downtown Kapolei

The City has contracted Grace Pacific LLC to do road improvement work in downtown Kapolei over the next 5 months. So expect some delays! The road improvement project will include Kama‘aha Avenue, Manawai Street, Haumea Street, Wakea Street, Nau Place, and Alohikea Street. Improvements will be: rebuilding broken pavement, resurfacing, fixing manhole covers, rebuilding curbs & sidewalks, putting in pavement markings, improving vehicle detectors to make stoplights more efficient, and pruning & removing dying trees.

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USDA Disaster Assistance for Farmers

As the Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair, I'm happy to let you know that as of September 11, agriculture producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can apply for assistance through the United States Department of Agriculture's Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus…

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Motorsports Facility Coming to Campbell Industrial Park

I was recently notified that BTT, LLC is moving forward with the development of a privately funded, privately owned motorsports facility called Circuit Hawai‘i in Campbell Industrial Park to serve the local, national, and international community. For many years, the auto racing community on O‘ahu has been wanting a race track, so this is definitely music to their ears. BTT, LLC has obtained a license agreement to lease 51 acres of land owned by Par Hawai‘i to build the motor sports facility. The owner of BTT, LLC is Michael Kitchens and the design of the facility will be done by Driven International, Ltd.

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Footsteps to Transition Fair 2019

Footsteps to Transition 2019 is a free event with the goal of assisting students with disabilities to make the important transition from the Department of Education into post-graduation and adulthood. This event brings together various state and private agencies to share information about their services to students, parents, and families. The event will take place on November 2 from 8:30am to 12pm at the Kapolei High School cafeteria…

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Waipahu Aloha Club's 7th Annual Benefit Fundraiser

The Waipahu Aloha Club, which provides psychiatric rehabilitation program for adults living with serious mental illness, is hosting its 70s' Night Fever 7th Annual Benefit Fundraiser on October 18 from 5:30pm to 9pm at…

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9th Annual "Bowl for Boobies" No-Tap Bowling Tournament

The 9th Annual "Bowl for Boobies" No-Tap Bowling Tournament will be at Barbers Point Bowling Center in Kalaeloa on October 27 from 10am to 2pm. Proceeds from this event will go toward the fight against breast cancer…

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Mauka Lani Funtastic Carnival

The Mauka Lani Funtastic Carnival will be on November 2 from 4pm to 8:30pm at Mauka Lani Elementary School (92-1300 Panana Street). The event is open to the public and the proceeds will go towards student activities and services. Wristbands, which includes unlimited access to all rides, will be available for…

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2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors students in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service. The deadline for West O‘ahu youth to apply for the 2020 Prudential Spirit of Community awards is November 5….

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Blood Drives in West O‘ahu in October

I'm helping to get the word out about the Blood Bank of Hawai‘i's blood drives in West O‘ahu during October. The requirements to be a blood donor are:

Alema Max Kauhike‘imaka‘okalani Pa‘o Lowe's Court of Honor

I honored Alema Max Kauhike‘imaka‘okalani Pa‘o Lowe with a certificate from the State Senate at his Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony in Makakilo on September 21, 2019. Son of Chris and Fa'i Lowe, Alema has been involved with scouting since the age of 8-years-old beginning as a Cub Scout, moving on to Webelos, and then setting off on the Boy Scout trail with Troop 265. With hard work and focus, Alema has now earned Boy Scouting's highest honor--Eagle Scout…

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‘Ulu‘ulu: the Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive 10th Anniversary

I joined with Rep. Ty Cullen in honoring the Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive—named after Native Hawaiian public servant Henry Ku‘ualoha Giugni, Senator Daniel Inouye's longtime legislative aide and the United States Senate Sergeant-At-Arms —with a certificate from the State Legislature upon their 10th Anniversary celebration at UH West O‘ahu on September 7. Also known as ‘Ulu‘ulu, the Hawaiian word for "gathering" or "assembling," the archive's mission is …

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Aloha e Friends,

In July/August, I attended four legislative conferences (State Ag and Rural Leaders 2019 Legislative Ag Chairs Summit in Calgary, Canada; Council on State Governments-West 72nd Annual Meeting in Montana, National Caucus of Environmental Legislators 2019 National Forum and National Conference of State Legislatures 2019 Legislative Summit, both in Nashville). I was able to bring back a lot of ideas for legislation. The average age of our farmers is 60.1 years old. Since becoming Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee 4 years ago, recruiting young farmers into this noble profession has been a top priority. I was stoked that we were able to connect with the National Young Farmers Coalition at NCSL. Their main mission is helping young farmers across the country. They're going to help us put together some legislation to help us support young farmers. Please stay tuned….

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Waipahu Family Fair

The Department of Education Complex and Weed & Seed are sponsoring the Waipahu Family Fair on September 21st from 10am to 1pm at the Waipahu Intermediate School Cafeteria. There will be over 30 organizations and schools sharing their services at the event. It will also include free entertainment, door prizes, and parking. For more information, please contact Lorrie Kanno at [email protected].

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Hemp Update

I've been meeting with different folks and getting the latest update about hemp since the 2019 legislative session ended in May. At the NCSL 2019 Legislative Summit in Nashville in August 2019, Sonia Jimenez, Deputy Administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service gave a presentation about hemp. She said the following:

Green Passport Initiative

In late August, I met with Ann Botticelli, Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at Hawaiian Airlines and Dr. Kamana‘opono Crabbe, former Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO. They are with Hawai‘i Executive Conference, which is on a journey of "Rediscovering Hawai‘i's Soul." The Hawai‘i Executive Conference was originally established in 1963 to provide executives from Hawai‘i and the Pacific with a forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. They are challenging business executives, elected officials, community advocates, and Native Hawaiian leaders to commit to a future grounded in culture, good values, collective collaboration, and courageous leadership to address the complexities confronting Hawai‘i….

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Special Session

The State Senate will hold a Special Session on September 16-17, 2019 to consider seven judges who've been nominated by Governor Ige and State Supreme Court Chief Justice Recktenwald to fill vacancies. Under the State Constitution, the State Senate has the responsibility of confirming judges. During the confirmation process, I'll also be participating in Judiciary Committee hearings as a member of that committee on these nominees.

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Community Project Updates

Kapolei Public Library 15th Anniversary

I presented an Honorary Certificate at the 15th Anniversary of the Kapolei Public Library on August 24th. Kapolei Public Library first opened its doors on August 16, 2004. Kapolei Library was built on land provided to the state in trust by Campbell Estate, and has more than 48,000 registered patrons and visitors. At 35,000 square feet, it's the second largest public library in the state! Looking back, almost 25 years ago, in 1997-1998, $9.34 million in funding was appropriated for the construction of the Kapolei Public Library. The Groundbreaking Ceremony took place on December 15, 2000 and in the spring 2002, construction of the library was completed. In Fiscal Year 2003, the Hawai‘i State Legislature funded 5 positions, which included the Library's first permanent branch manager, Richard Burns on July 01, 2003. Later that year, four other positions were filled and by August 2004 the majority of the 24 positions were filled. In addition to the 24 full-time staff, there are nine student volunteers. With a collection of approximately 143,000 items Kapolei Public Library has become the busiest library on O‘ahu! (Pictured L-R with Kahu Kelekona Bishaw, Councilmember Kymberly Pine and State Librarian, Stacey Aldrich.)

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Kulana Hale Ground Breaking

I spoke at the ground breaking of the $130 million Phase 2 of Kulana Hale mixed-use affordable senior and multifamily apartment community in Kapolei on August 28th. This Phase adds a second 13-story high-rise tower with 143 affordable units for families and approximately 2,300 square feet of ground floor retail space and will be completed in April 2021. The project is being jointly developed by Highridge Costa, Coastal Rim Properties, and the Hawaiian Community Development Board. Now under construction is the 13-story Phase 1 that has 154 affordable units for seniors, including 22 studios, 109 one-bedroom apartments, 22 two-bedroom apartments and one 1-bedroom manager's unit. Phase 1 will be completed in April 2020 and will also include 7,500 square feet of commercial space.

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Villages of Kapolei Mauka Hall Grand Opening

I presented an Honorary Certificate at the Grand Opening of the Villages of Kapolei (VOK) Mauka Hall in Kapolei on August 24th. The Mauka Hall was a joint venture with Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation and was designed by Cooke and Castle. The Villages of Kapolei Association recently took possession of the Mauka Hall in July 2019. It includes 3 conference rooms that can accommodate up to 160 people each and a catering kitchen. The Villages of Kapolei are comprised of eight villages which lie on 888 acres of land. The villages are: Kumu ‘iki, A‘eloa, Malana‘i, Kekuilani, Iwalani, Malu‘ohai (Hawaiian Homestead), Kapolei Kai, and Kaupe‘a (Hawaiian Homestead), and include approximately 5,000 units. The new recreation multi-purpose center, Mauka Hall, was built for the eight communities in the Villages of Kapolei, and is open to the public to use for community events and outside the community with a Board of Director's sponsorship.

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Aloha e Friends,

Wow, it's August already, which means it's back to school time. As a former teacher, my appreciation and respect goes out to all the hard working and dedicated teachers who are educating our keiki. I wish you well on an amazing 2019 school year. Our teachers deserve our praise and support, and better salaries!

If you're currently looking for employment, you might want to check out the 7th Annual Hire Leeward Job and Career Fair at the Great Lawn on the UH West O‘ahu campus on August 10 from 9am – 1pm. The event is sponsored by Councilmember Kym Pine--it's free and open to the public!

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Next Listen-Story

My next Listen-Story meeting will be on Saturday, August 24, 2019, from 9 am to 10 am at the Ewa Mahiko District Park Meeting Room.

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Kalaeloa HCDA Field Office to Close

I was notified on July 24 that the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority closed their Kalaeloa Field Office as of July 31. HCDA's stated reason is that they want to consolidate their resources for the various HCDA development districts, which include Kaka‘ako, Kalaeloa, He‘eia, and Halawa. This decision is very disappointing and will negatively impact the growing Kalaeloa community. We need HCDA's eyes and ears out in Kalaeloa and I hope HCDA will reconsider this shortsighted decision. I've worked closely with the HCDA Field Office since 2006 and am convinced they should have a physical presence in our West O‘ahu community.

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Kapolei Kaiser Permanente Office Building

I participated in the groundbreaking for a planned Kaiser Permanente medical office building in Kapolei on July 2. Kaiser Permanente is investing $60 million to expand care for West O‘ahu residents. The 40,000-square-foot medical office will include primary and specialty care, as well as prevention and wellness programs, on 5.4 acres of land at the corner of Kapolei Parkway and Kamokila Boulevard. Kaiser purchased this land in 2008. The project is scheduled to be completed in early 2021.

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West O‘ahu Road Construction Updates

At the June meeting of the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board, Curtis Matsuda of the state Department of Transportation provided these two important updates on road improvements in West O‘ahu:

American Youth Soccer Organization National Games in Waipio

I presented an Honorary Certificate from the State Senate at American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) National Games 2019 Opening Ceremony on July 1 at Waipio Soccer Peninsula in Waipahu. Our state hosted over 11,000 players, parents, and volunteers from across the country from July 1-7 for the National Games. AYSO first came to Hawai‘i in 1974, but was established in 1964 out of a garage in Torrance, California. AYSO is the oldest national youth soccer program in the U.S. Beginning with only nine teams and a handful of soccer enthusiasts, AYSO was born in an effort to ensure that all kids in the U.S. have the opportunity to be introduced to the wonderful game of soccer. AYSO now has over 850 individual programs, or "regions," across the nation—and internationally in the Virgin Islands, Trinidad, and Tobago—engaging more than 400,000 players and 100,000 volunteers. Over the years, traditions have been added as each region wove a bit of its own spirit into the standard AYSO fabric. The National Games are everything AYSO represents. They reflect the excellence, tradition, and spirit of its players, volunteers, spectators, and philosophies, which are: Everyone Plays, Balanced Teams, Player Development, Positive Coaching, Open Registration, and Good Sportsmanship.

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Aloha e Friends,

Happy 4th of July to you and your ohana. You might want to check out the Ko Olina Westside Summer Fest. It's from 9am to 12pm on July 14th at Ko Olina's Ulua Lagoon Grand Lawn. The Summer Fest will feature the best of O‘ahu's westside (Kapolei to Ka‘ena), from cultural artisans and fresh-farmed produce, to local musicians, halau and food truck favorites.

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Next Listen-Story

My next Listen-Story meeting will be on August 24, 2019, from 9 am to 10 am at the Ewa Mahiko District Park Meeting Room.

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Governor's Potential Veto List

On June 24, 2019, Governor Ige released a list of 20 bills, as required by the State Constitution that he might potentially veto. Those bills included SB 1292 which would require vacation rental platforms, such as Airbnb, to collect taxes from vacation rental owners.

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Ball Corporation Tour

I toured the Ball Corporation aluminum packaging facility in Campbell Industrial Park with Senator Fevella on June 5th. Ball Corporation, founded in 1880, is the world's largest aluminum beverage and aluminum aerosol can maker. They employ 18,300 people in 90 manufacturing locations with operations in North and Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

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Kunia Loa Ridge Farm Lands Tour

I had the opportunity to get a tour of Kunia Loa Ridge Farm Lands with Senator Gil Riviere on June 20th. Kunia Loa is a non-profit organization, formed in 2013, and has 854 acres of agricultural land, subdivided into 99 Lots on 99 year renewable leases. The lots range from 5 to 35 acres. Kunia Loa is located at the northern edge of my Senate district, accessible from Kunia Road through a gated entry, neighboring Fat Law Farms, Syngenta, Monsanto, US Army, and across from Hawai‘i Country Club.

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Volunteer for Kapapapuhi Point Park Restoration

HOH808.org is a non-profit organization that's mission is to improve Kapapapuhi Point Park, located in West Loch in Ewa Beach, through the following activities: restore park shoreline & historic fish ponds, educate, paint gazebos and picnic tables, and remove trash & invasive species. They have many community work days coming up and need your help. Be sure to wear clothing that you don't mind getting dirty.

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International Yoga Day Celebration

I presented an Honorary Certificate from the State Senate to the Gandhi International Institute of Peace to recognize their work in organizing the inaugural Hawai‘i Celebration of International Yoga Day at the Still & Moving Center yoga studio in Honolulu on June 21st. I was the author of SB 267 in 2019, which designates June 21 of each year as International Yoga Day in Hawai‘i. The companion bill, House Bill 349, was introduced by House Speaker Scott Saiki and has the same noble purpose. HB 349 passed the Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Ige on June 25, 2019. International Day of Yoga was declared unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014.

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On June 13, Sen. Gabbard participated in the 7th Annual Po‘okela Awards Night at Kapolei Middle School.

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Aloha e Friends,

I completed my 13th Legislative Session as your State Senator on May 2, 2019.

On May 2, Sen. Gabbard celebrated 'Sine Die,' the last day of our Legislative Session, with his staff. L-R: Sen. Gabbard, Thomas Rounds, Shelly Wilkinson, Meg Turner, Rock Riggs, Sautia Tanoa.

Some of the session highlights included passing legislation to set up a vote-by-mail system starting with the 2020 elections, creating an Hawai‘i Correctional System Oversight Commission, establishing an electric vehicle charging station rebate program, and implementing the kupuna caregivers program. Here's an overview of the session and things happening in our community that may be of interest to you and your ‘ohana.

A big congrats to all the graduates of James Campbell High, Kapolei High, Waipahu High, Island Pacific Academy, American Renaissance Academy, and Youth Challenge Academy. I wish these graduates great success in their chosen paths in life.

Sen. Gabbard presented Honorary Certificates from the Hawai‘i State Senate to the Kapolei High School Valedictorians on May 24, including this surprised graduate, Shannelle Baliguat-Lamoya, and her family.

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Listen-Story Meeting

My next Listen-Story meeting will be on August 24, 2019, from 9 am to 10 am at the Ewa Mahiko District Park Meeting Room.

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Kalaeloa Heritage Park Stewardship

I was stoked to learn that the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority is moving forward with plans to sign a stewardship agreement with the Kalaeloa Heritage and Legacy Foundation for the Kalaeloa Heritage Park. The park is located on 77 acres of land in Kalaeloa off Coral Sea Road and is home to many well-preserved archaeological artifacts. Last July, I was contacted by the KHLF Board regarding their concerns that HCDA was planning to terminate their lease at the Kalaeloa Heritage Park. I held a series of meetings with HCDA and KHLF in the hopes that KHLF could continue doing their cultural and historical restoration work. As the State Senator for the area and a 15-year resident of Kalaeloa, I'm convinced that it's critically important that we support projects like the Kalaeloa Heritage Park to preserve our community's cultural identity and military history.

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2019 Legislative Session Overview

There was a total of 3,142 bills introduced during the 2019 Legislative Session (1,597 in the House and 1,545 in the Senate). Of those, 303 bills passed the Legislature. The Governor has three choices for the bills that passed: he can sign the bills into law, allow the bills to become law without his signature, or veto the bills. Here are the next major deadlines:

My Legislation

Below is a short overview of the eight bills I authored this session which passed the House and Senate.

Construction Funding for Senate District 20

I was pleased we were able to secure $182,253,000 in the state biennium budget for Fiscal Year 2000–2022 for the benefit of Senate District 20. Here's a quick rundown of that funding:

Agricultural Land — plans, land acquisition, design, and equipment for acquisition and development of lands in Kunia - $15 million

East Kapolei Middle School — design, construction, and equipment for the completion of phase 3 of East Kapolei Middle School. The first phase of the school for 6th grades will open in Fall 2020 - $20 million

Fort Barrette Road Improvements (Roosevelt Avenue to Farrington Highway) — construction for congestion mitigation and auxiliary transportation facilities along Fort Barrette Road - $3 million

Hangar 111 Acquisition — plans, land acquisition, design, construction, and equipment for the acquisition of Hangar 111 in Kalaeloa - $11,650,000

Hawai‘i Army National Guard Physical Fitness Center — design, construction, and equipment of a physical fitness center for National Guard soldiers and personnel in Kalaeloa - $2.1 million

National Guard Readiness Centers and Facilities Upgrades and Improvements — design and construction of improvements and upgrades to National Guard Readiness Centers and Facilities in Kalaeloa - $9,552,000

Kalaeloa Airport Improvements — design and construction for facility improvements to Kalaeloa Airport - $13,451,000

Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor Improvements — plans, land acquisition, design, and construction of projects that will provide for safer, more efficient use of existing and/or additional operational areas in the Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor - $104 million

Kunia East Bound On-Ramp — plans, design, construction, and equipment for Kunia East Bound H1 On-Ramp - $100,000

Kunia Wells — plans, design, construction, and equipment for an exploratory well in Kunia - $1 million

Blood Bank of Hawai‘i — plans, design, construction, and equipment for a new facility to permanently house a center for blood component production, a reference testing facility, storage, and distribution in Kapolei - $1.1 million

National Kidney Foundation of Hawai‘i — grant-in-aid for assistance in completing the building of the Senator Daniel K. Akaka Community and Kidney Clinical Resource Center in Kapolei - $600,000

Special Olympics Hawai‘i, Inc. — grant-in-aid for construction for sports and wellness center in Kapolei - $700,000

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Villages of Kapolei Road Dedication

It's been a long time coming, but the Hawai‘i Housing Finance and Development Corporation is now moving forward with dedicating the roads in the Villages of Kapolei under their jurisdiction to the City. During my time in office, this has been a big frustration because it has made maintenance of the roads and upgrades very slow to happen. On May 6, 2019, I received the following update from HHFDC's Executive Director, Craig Hirai, on their progress:

On March 28, Sen. Gabbard introduced 83 cadets from Class 50 in the Senate Chamber on the 50th Anniversary of the Youth Challenge Academy in O‘ahu.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. If you read the newspaper, you know our 2019 Legislative Session finished up with a bang. ;-) This session I was fortunate to have eight bills that I authored pass the Legislature. The Governor has until June 24 to notify us of his intent to veto. Below is a short overview of each of them.

As always, please feel free to contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Sine Die

It's tradition to take a staff photo outside my office on "Sine Die" – signifying the last day of our Legislative Session, when we say goodbye to our session staff and prepare to spend more time out in the District, and engage in various events and site visits. Mahalo nui loa to my staff for all your great work, and to my session staff (Shelly, Thomas, and Sautia), may you carry away with you the memories and friendships you've made and the skills you've developed along the way. Ke Akua me ke aloha! (Pictured L-R: Sen. Gabbard, Thomas Rounds, Shelly Wilkinson, Meg Turner, Rock Riggs, Sautia Tanoa.)

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Next "Listen Story"

My next Listen Story community meeting will be held together with Representative Sharon Har, this Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Kapolei High School Teachers' Lounge. We hope you can join us!

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My Legislation

Below is a short overview of the eight bills I authored this session which passed the House and Senate. The Governor has until June 24 to notify us of his intent to veto.

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Plastic Reduction (SB 522) — This bill would establish a plastic source reduction working group to make recommendations to reuse, reduce, recycle, and recover plastic waste. The ultimate goal is to eliminate plastic bags, polystyrene containers, plastic straws, single-use plastic bottles, plastic utensils, and plastic packaging.   In October 2018, Sen. Gabbard visited aboard the Greenpeace USA's Arctic Sunrise ship to discuss how to reduce single-use plastic.

On April 26, Sen. Gabbard participated in the Global March for Elephants event. (Pictured R-L:) Tony Hunstiger – Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor; Madalyn Purcell; Matt Jisa - Board of Directors, The Vegetarian Society of Hawai‘i and Cathy Goeggel -President and Founder of Animal Rights Hawai‘i.

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Construction Funding for Senate District 20

I was pleased we were able to secure $182,253,000 in the state biennium budget for Fiscal Year 2000-2022 for the benefit of Senate District 20. Here's a quick rundown of that funding:

Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. Now that we're beyond the half way point of the 2019 Legislative Session, all the bills and resolutions must be passed out of their respective committees by April 5th. The deadline provides for a mandatory 48-hour period allowing committee members to review the bills before third and final reading in their non-originating chamber. I encourage you to visit capitol.hawaii.gov to track the bills you're interested in and weigh-in if you want to. As always, please feel free to contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Next "Listen Story"

My next Listen Story community meeting will be held, together with Representative Sharon Har, on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Kapolei High School Teachers' Lounge. We hope you can join us!

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25 Years of Excellence!

On March 28, I had the honor and privilege of recognizing the Hawai‘i Youth Challenge Academy which hails from Kalaeloa, formerly Barbers Point NAS in Senate District 20, a.k.a. "God's Country" on their 25th Anniversary. With campuses in Kalaeloa on O‘ahu and Hilo on Hawai‘i Island, YCA provides 16-19 year-old "non-traditional at risk" youth a second chance to obtain their high school diploma and become productive citizens within our community and state.

We had 83 of YCA's O‘ahu Campus Class 50 cadets in the Senate Chamber Gallery, as well as their staff. I introduced the Leadership Team on the Senate Chamber floor, where they were greeted individually by all 25 Senators. After being recognized in the Senate, the cadets marched across the Capitol Rotunda to be introduced in the House Chambers.

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50th Anniversary of the Hawai‘i State Capitol

The 50th Anniversary of the dedication of the Hawai‘i State Capitol on March 15, 1969, was celebrated last month with music, dancers, speakers, and the unveiling of a time capsule. To add to the magical feeling, hundreds of rose petals fluttered down onto the rotunda, released from school children above.

The Capitol building is unique. There's no other state capitol like it in the country. Totally open all around and up to the sky, it's designed to symbolize an island. The surrounding reflection pool represents the Pacific Ocean. The open roof and volcano shape, of course, represents a volcano and the number eight is hidden everywhere. There are eight columns surrounding the structure, eight on the rotunda, eight on the balcony, eight near the Governor's office, and repeating all across the top... Can you guess the significance of the number eight?

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Tax Season!

I hope everyone is getting their taxes done on time, including me 😉. Just so you know, the Villages of Kapolei Association is offering a Free Tax Service, via AARP, on Tuesdays until April 16th.

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Eagle Scout

On March 12th, I attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor and presented Paul Keith Dulan III, a.k.a. "Kihei," with an Honorary Certificate from the State Senate. Kihei was joined by his parents, Paul and Mylyn Dulan, his grandmother, Munci Pe‘a, and his great grandfather, William Ligsay. Kihei, an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, held multiple leadership positions, including being president of the Kapolei Ward Deacon's Quorum. His most challenging task during his journey to Eagle was his Eagle Scout project.

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Art at the Capitol

This Friday on April 5th, please stop by my office for the 11th Annual Art at the Capitol between 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. as we celebrate "The Capitol is Art." Art at the Capitol begins with the opening program in conference room 329, where the public is introduced to the artists and special guests. Self-guided tours start at 5 p.m. and the galleries of the Senate and House are open to view videos about various art objects at the Capitol and the building of the Capitol in 1969.

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9th Annual Leeward Music Festival

The Leeward Music Festival spotlights outstanding musical talents, elementary through senior citizens, singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments. The festival has become a "Festival of Champions" with several performers having won state, national, and international competitions. It is usually sold out in advance, so please call Doris Dudley for tickets at 672-8888 so you don't miss out. The Festival is also videotaped and shown on the four ‘Olelo stations throughout the year.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ‘ohana are well. It's been a busy session with 3,142 bills being introduced—1,545 by the Senate and 1,597 by the House. That's 800+ more than last year. First Crossover is March 7 when the bills that pass Third Reading in the Senate will then be heard by their respective committees on the House side and House bills that pass Third Reading will be heard by the Senate.

I encourage you to visit capitol.hawaii.gov to track the bills you're interested in and weigh-in when you can, either by submitting written testimony or by showing up in person to testify. As always, please feel free to contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Next "Listen Story"

My next Listen Story community meeting will be held March 23, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Ewa District Park.

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Ag Day at the Capitol

On February 6, I participated in the 12th Annual "Agricultural Day at the Capitol." There were dozens of agriculture, environment and eco-friendly groups and organizations providing information to the public, hosting interactive activities, serving food, and giving out souvenirs. Mahalo to all the Chairs and Vice Chairs, the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture for hosting the event. Special kudos to Lindsey Allred, a volunteer with ‘Ōlelo Community Media, for shadowing me while I visited and talked story with representatives at the various booths and getting it all on video! We'll share the finished version on my YouTube channel, so stay tuned. ??

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Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council Awards

The Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council (HISC) aims to implement statewide invasive species prevention, early detection and control programs for terrestrial and aquatic invaders. The efforts of HISC partners are crucial in controlling invasives, the greatest threat to Hawai‘i's economy and natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawai‘i's people. But they aren't doing it alone! I was honored to present the Oahu MVP 2019 award on February 15 in the Governor's office to Pauline Sato and the Mālama Learning Center and the Business Leader 2019 award to Kamehameha Schools.

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Legislative Priorities

My priorities for this legislative session continue to be to increase local agriculture and to reduce single-use plastics. I'm hopeful that Senate Bill 522, a measure I introduced to decrease the use of plastics, will make it to the finish line. This bill prohibits the purchase, use, sale, or distribution of plastic beverage bottles, utensils, stirring sticks, polystyrene foam containers, and plastic straws by state and county agencies after July 1, 2021, and by businesses selling food and beverages after July 1, 2022. It also bans the distribution or sale of plastic bags after July 1, 2023 and creates the Plastic Source Reduction Working Group to make recommendations for eliminating single-use plastic packaging, and appropriates funds.

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RiceUp Farmers, Inc.

Dreams can be made with only a handful of pesos. Just ask Elvin Laceda, who as a young farm boy in 2016, left the Philippines with a meager $47.81 that his grandmother gave him, and traveled to the U.S. He came to Hawai‘i to study at BYU Laie with the aid of a scholarship grant, and in 2017, RiceUp Farmers, Inc. was born. Its vision is to improve the livelihood of Filipino Farmers through innovative agriculture. They accomplish this by empowering farmers through training, helping them embrace innovative technology, and enriching their lives through integrated family farm practices. From the initial 50 farmers who joined the RiceUp network, there are now more than 300 farmers benefiting from the program. By the end of this year, there will be 2,800 farmers that will be part of the social enterprise.

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Aloha e Friends,

The 2019 legislative session is off to a running start! Mahalo to everyone who stopped by my office on January 16th, Opening Day, to meet and talk story, and enjoy vegan pupus and homemade toffee. Be sure to check out my Facebook and Flickr album to see pictures from Opening Day. As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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"Listen Story"

My next Listen Story meeting will be held March 23rd from 9–10 a.m. at Ewa District Park, 91-1205 Renton Rd, Ewa Beach, HI 96706.

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LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Sen. Gabbard was interviewed by Waipahu Intermediate student, Rachel Ross, during the Opening Day festivities January 16, about his Legislative Priorities for the 2019 Session. Assisting was ‘Ōlelo staffer, Justin Kuwamura and Waipahu Intermediate student, Ashley Wegesend.



Session Priorities
My top two priorities for 2019 as AEN Chair are to increase local food production and decrease our use of single-use plastics.

Local Food Production
The Governor has a goal to double local food production by 2020. I wish we could say that the proposed budget had an increase in funding for the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA), but that didn't happen. The HDOA budget is still at 0.3%. I was encouraged that the Governor is proposing $7.5 million in FY 20 and $5 million in FY 21 for the Agriculture Loan Revolving Fund. I continue to agree with HDOA that their most important program is the "Ag Loan Revolving Fund" because it helps farmers get up and running and assists them in times of natural disasters.

Key Legislation

Food Security Metrics System (SB 488)
This bill directs the HDOA to conduct a study to accurately determine how much food is produced locally and how much is imported. The study would analyze dollar value in terms of total sales and weight of locally-produced food. HDOA would need to submit a report to the Leg. before the 2021 session. The bill would appropriate $400,000 in FY 19–20 to HDOA to study and consult with a firm specializing in local food production metrics.

Single-use Plastic Reduction
Plastic pollution is greatly impacting our oceans, marine life, and environment in general. (See the CBS special on 60 minutes: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-cleaning-up-the-plastic-in-the-ocean-60-minutes/ and check out their recent report on plastic pollution around the world.) To bring attention to this problem, Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise ship sailed to Hawai‘i on October 11, 2018, after visiting the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—the largest accumulation of ocean plastic in the world, located between Hawai‘i and California. Greenpeace reported that microplastic particles, which are not easy to clean up, make up the majority of the Garbage Patch, which now stretches for a distance twice the length of Texas.

Zero Waste (SB 522)
Most of the world's plastic waste is generated in Asia, but America, Japan, and the EU are the world's largest producers of plastic packaging waste per capita. The world's ability to cope with plastic waste is already overwhelmed as seen by the closing of recycling markets in China and Thailand. Even when recycling markets were open, only 9% of the 9 billion tons of plastic produced has been recycled. If the growth in plastic production continues at its current rate, the plastics industry will likely account for 20% of the world's total oil consumption by 2050.

Get Involved!
I encourage each of you to participate in the political process. You can track bills, get signed up to receive hearing notices, and submit testimony at the Capitol website: www.capitol.hawaii.gov/.

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DISTRICT NEWS

Academy for Creative Media
UH West O‘ahu held a groundbreaking for the Academy for Creative Media building on January 11th. The $33.3 million, two-story building is scheduled for completion in June 2020 and will be the seventh structure built on the Kapolei campus. UH West O‘ahu moved to its current home in 2012 and for the past two years has been named the fastest-growing public baccalaureate institution in the nation.

Got Junk Vehicle?
Want to get rid of that old vehicle you no longer use? You can request the city haul it away for free by filling out the appropriate form at Satellite City Halls, or online at: http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/csd/onlineforms/cslmvr202.pdf. Bring your plates, registration, and title to any Satellite City Hall. Remove any debris or rubbish from the vehicle, and make it so that it's easily accessible for the tow to remove it. The vehicle must also have at least two inflated tires, either in the front or the rear, depending on which end is accessible to the tow truck. The vehicle may be parked at the owner's home or it can be legally parked on a public street or public property.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your families are well. Wow, what a momentous way to say goodbye to 2018 for the Gabbard ‘ohana. Carol and I celebrated our golden 50th wedding anniversary on December 27 with family and it was so nice to have the kids and grandkids around for simple family time.

Happy New Year to you and your ‘ohana. Opening Day of the 2019 Legislative Session will kick-off on January 16. Please drop by for refreshments that day at 12 noon. During the upcoming 2019 session, I'll continue to be Chair of the Agriculture and Environment Committee. I'll also serve as a member of the Judiciary Committee and the Labor, Culture, & the Arts Committee. As Chair of AEN, my priorities in 2019 will be to continue working to increase local food production and to reduce single-use plastics.

As always, please contact me at (808) 586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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At Your Service…

My staffing is set for the 2019 legislative session. My Office Manager will be Meg Turner, who will oversee the overall operations of my office and will be my scheduler. A former teacher, Shelly Wilkinson, will assist Meg with office duties and constituent services. Rock Riggs will shift over from the Office Manager role to help me run the AEN committee, which I chair. Thomas Rounds, an attorney from California, will serve as a legislative aide and assistant Committee Clerk. We'll also have the assistance of an intern Sautia Tanoa, a senior studying political science at UH Manoa.

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Get Involved in the 2019 Legislative Session

As the Legislative Session gets underway, I hope you'll take the time to weigh in with testimony on legislation that you think is important to you and your family and to the future of our state. The first step is to visit the State Capitol website--capitol.hawaii.gov, where you can get signed up to "submit testimony", "hearing notifications" and "measure tracking."

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Informational Briefing on Department of Agriculture Budget Coming Up

As the AEN Committee Chair, I'll be co-hosting an informational briefing with Ways and Means Committee Chair, Donovan Dela Cruz, on January 7th at 10am in Conference Room 211 at the Capitol on the Department of Agriculture's budget. This informational briefing will give me and other legislators an opportunity to hear from the Department on their budgetary priorities for the upcoming biennium, which will run from 2019–2021. The Department's share of the state budget is currently only 0.3%. This is woefully inadequate given the pressing need for our state to increase local food production so that we can be more sustainable. One of the most important programs under the Department is the agricultural loan revolving fund. This loan fund provides assistance to new and struggling farmers and also to those who have been impacted by natural disasters. I'm hopeful that we can dedicate more state funding to agriculture this time around.

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Hemp, Hemp Hooray!

(Pictured with Gov. Ige at the signing of Senate Bill 2659 - Act 228 on July 7, 2017, one of the four hemp bills Sen. Gabbard authored that became law.)

I was stoked that President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law on December 20, 2018, which included removal of industrial hemp from the Schedule 1 Controlled Substance List, thus legalizing it and paving the way for a successful hemp industry in Hawai‘i. It's been a long time coming since Governor Ben Cayetano, declared December 14, 1999 as "Industrial Hemp Day of Hawai‘i." Since that time, I've authored four hemp bills that have become law, including Act 228 (2016), which established a 5-year industrial hemp pilot program. Today, there are farmers growing hemp statewide under the pilot program and the potential benefits that this amazing plant offers for our economy, sustainable agriculture, environment, and human health are truly incredible. My vision has been for a cottage hemp industry using Hawai‘i branding, with the hula girl underneath the coconut tree and the guy strumming his ‘ukulele… Hāna hemp granola - Hanalei hemp toothpaste - Honolulu hemp aloha shirts - and Hawai‘i Island hemp CBD tincture, are just some of the many products that could be coming our way. The signing of the 2018 Farm Bill signals a great leap forward for our state and nation in realizing the benefits of keeping an estimated annual $820 million in retail value of hemp products that we can be growing and producing here.

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Need Input on Polling Places and Precinct Boundaries for 2020 Elections

I received a letter from Chief Election Officer, Scott Nago, letting me know that the Office of Elections is in the process of preparing for the 2020 Elections. He said that they are reviewing current polling places and precinct boundaries to determine if they are convenient and accessible to voters. He asked for my input, so I'm reaching out to you to see if you'd like to share any comments. You can contact my office about this or call Rhowell Ruiz, of Election Support Services, at 453-VOTE.

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Aloha e Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your ohana. I'm celebrating my Golden 50th Wedding Anniversary with my wife, Carol, on December 27th. I'm lucky to have been able to raise a family and spend my life with such an amazing woman!

News flash: the City plans to start resurfacing Kapolei Parkway between Kamokila Blvd. and Kalaeloa Blvd. fronting Costco, starting on December 10th. Hooray, no more potholes!

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Ideas for Legislation

I can't believe it, but we'll soon be coming to the end of 2018. This means our legislative session, which begins on January 16th, is just around the corner. As always, I'm interested in your ideas, if you'd like to offer suggestions for changes or improvements in how our state government operates. You don't have to have a full-fledged bill written out, just a few bullet points to get us started and we'll take it from there. Please let me know.

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Improvements to Ft. Barrette Road

I'm stoked that the state Department of Transportation is moving forward with Operational Improvements to Fort Barrette Road in Kapolei. The improvements will include modification of signal timing/phasing, resurfacing/restriping, the addition of a shared-use path, an upgraded railroad crossing, and installation of a new traffic signal at Roosevelt Avenue intersection. A highlight of this project will also involve the addition of a dedicated right-turn lane for makai bound commuters at the Kapolei Parkway intersection, as well as additional through-lanes at the approaches on Kapolei Parkway. This important road project will be advertised for construction bidders in March 2019 and construction will begin in June 2020.

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Waipahu High's Phi Theta Kappa Chapter

A big congratulations to Waipahu High School for becoming the first high school in the nation to charter a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for two-year colleges. This honor is tied to Waipahu High's Early College program, which brings professors onto high school campuses to teach college courses. Fifty-six Waipahu High students were inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society on November 9th. This is a huge honor!

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Kapolei City Lights

Kapolei City Lights will be held at the Kapolei Hale on December 8th from 5pm to 9pm. The West O‘ahu Electric Light Parade will start at 6pm. The parade route will start at the Kapolei Parkway/Ft. Barrette Road intersection and will proceed down Kapolei Parkway to Kama‘aha Avenue. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be at 7pm. Entertainment will include Kapena, Del Beazley & Friends, Lehua Kalima, and Shawn Pimenta. You'll also have the opportunity to win 1 of 2 ESPN 2-player basketball games at the HDS Smile Zone booth at 8:45pm.

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Ulta Beauty Grand Opening at Kapolei Commons

I joined with Rep. Stacelynn Eli and Rep. Sharon Har to present an Honorary Certificate from the State Legislature to Ulta Beauty upon their Grand Opening and Blessing Ceremony at Kapolei Commons on November 9th. Ulta Beauty, the largest beauty retailer in the U.S., also has stores in Kailua, Pearl City and Kahului. Since opening its first store in 1990, Ulta Beauty has grown to operate more than 1,100 stores across the U.S. At Ulta Beauty, customers can explore the fun of beauty with more than 20,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging brands across all categories and price points, including its private label Ulta Beauty Collection. There is also a full-service salon in every store featuring high-quality hair, skin, and brow services. Ulta Beauty is recognized for their commitment to personalized service, for their fun and inviting stores, and their industry-leading Ultamate Rewards loyalty program. Ulta Beauty is devoted to creating career opportunities that foster peak performance, reflect the diversity of the community, support a healthy work/life balance, and empower associates to "wow" their guests.

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Kapolei Elementary Turns 25!

I wrote a short song and performed it, as well as presented an Honorary Certificate from the State Senate at the Kapolei Elementary Songfest and 25th Anniversary Celebration on November 16th. Kapolei Elementary opened its doors on September 1, 1993 with just 208 students. The "Second City" was just beginning to grow into the booming town it is today. In 1993, three buildings were officially opened to begin the new school year. Enrollment doubled the very next year with two more buildings being added to house the students. In 1997, six portable buildings were dedicated to the school as KES transitioned to a multi-track school. On May 9, 2003, KES held their first Songfest to commemorate their 10-year Anniversary. During the school year 2014-15, KES transitioned back to a single-track school. Currently, KES has 837 students. The Vision is simple, but powerful: Kapolei Elementary School is a place of excellence. KES's mission is to provide a safe and nurturing environment with a meaningful standards-based curriculum. Their philosophy is to provide an environment that will promote and enhance a sense of self-worth and belonging. Kapolei is a part of the global family, that will show respect, appreciation, and understanding for the world.

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Screening of Moananuiākea, One ocean, One people, One canoe

I presented an Honorary Certificate from the State Senate at the worldwide debut screening of the documentary, Moananuiākea, One ocean, One people, One canoe at the Hawai‘i Theater as part of the Hawai‘i International Film Festival on November 18th. This powerful and awe-inspiring film is the creation of Nā‘ālehu Anthony, Bryson Hoe, and Maui Tauotaha, respectively director, writer, and editor. They each served as crewmembers on the voyaging canoe Hōkūle‘a, dedicating years to capturing the voyage from the deck of the canoe. The film brings the experience, values, and message of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage of the legendary Hōkūle‘a to audiences all over the world. Moananuiākea, presented by the Polynesian Voyaging Society and ‘Ōiwi Television Network, in association with Palikū Documentary Films, and in partnership with the voyage's education sponsor Kamehameha Schools, is the next step in the long and exciting journey of the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage. The project significantly illustrates the crucial role of indigenous voices and perspectives in both storytelling and in creating paradigm-changing solutions to the world's most pressing problems. Moananuiākea stunningly captures the historic circumnavigation of Hōkūle‘a and crewmembers from the Polynesian Voyaging Society that connected with over 100,000 people in over 150 ports all over the world. It's a record of the ten years of planning and work that went into the Mālama Honua Worldwide Voyage and the tireless efforts of individuals from the local community and across the globe including educators, businesses, government, conservation partners, top watermen, and cultural leaders. Dedicated to the 500 crew members who have sailed Hōkūle‘a over the years and the hundreds more who have had a crucial role on land, Moananuiākea depicts how the successful revival of a traditional art that was nearly extinct has created a resurgence of pride and respect for native cultures and encourages the active rediscovery of forgotten cultural practices.

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Aloha e Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your ‘ohana. I hope you'll spend time with friends and family and reflect on the many blessings we have living in Hawai‘i nei.

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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West O‘ahu Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicle Fair

I partnered with Senators Jon Yoshimura and Glenn Wakai in hosting the West O‘ahu Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicle Fair on October 13th at Ewa Makai Middle School. The Fair included presentations by renewable energy/energy efficiency experts and vendors. I was Chair of the Energy and Environment Committee (ENE) from 2009 to 2015. When I became the ENE Chair in 2009, our state was spending $3 to $5 billion annually on importing dirty, fossil fuels, which is not good for the environment, our future sustainability, or our pocket books. We were paying electricity bills that were three times the national average. Fortunately, we got a big victory in 2015, when as ENE Chair, I helped in getting our state's first-in-the-nation 100% renewable energy by 2045 target in place (HB 623, Act 97, 2015). In September 2018, California, the 5th largest economy in the world, followed Hawaii's lead and set a 100% clean energy goal by 2045 as well. Here's a status report of our renewable progress:

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Special Session

Waipahu Intermediate School Social Studies Department Parent Night

I joined with Senator Clarence Nishihara and Rep. Ryan Yamane to participate in the Waipahu Intermediate School Social Studies Department Parent Night on October 24. The theme of the event was the Elections and "How YOU Can Make a Difference." I spoke to parents and teachers about my efforts to encourage our young people to consider agriculture as a profession, so we can be more sustainable and grow our own food. The legislation I also spoke about that I'll be reintroducing (SB 2575 from 2018) in 2019 would expand the MA‘O Organic Farms model.

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Taste of Waipahu

The Waipahu Community Association will host the Taste of Waipahu at August Ahrens Elementary School on November 3rd from 4pm to 10pm. This event will coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Elementary School. There will be food trucks and games in the parking lot, entertainment in the cafeteria, and a book fair and activities in the C Pod. Admission is free.

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Good Samaritan Foundation-Hawai‘i Cedar Church

I spoke at a luncheon in honor of the Good Samaritan Foundation-Hawai‘i Cedar Church at the Ala Moana Hotel on October 11th. They house about 30 homeless individuals on their church property in Kalihi and provide farming work for them on a 4-acre lot in Wai‘anae Valley. They are a testament to the Christian values of giving to others and showing aloha to those who are less fortunate. I've always said that our churches need to step up and do their part to confront our homelessness problem. By housing homeless people at their church and putting them to work in agriculture to help us produce more food, they are doing incredible work for our community. Mahalo to Senior Pastor Duk Whan Kim and his team. I dearly appreciate their efforts.

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Keiki Education Living Independent Institute "Hope for Healing Hearts" Fundraising Gala

I attended the K.E.L.I.I (Keiki Education Living Independent Institute) "Hope for Healing Hearts" fundraising gala at Ke‘ehi Lagoon Park on October 6th. K.E.L.I.I's mission is to help individuals with genetic and neurodevelopmental disorders to achieve a higher quality of life through teaching independent living skills, while they transition out of the Department of Education system and into adulthood.

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Aloha e Friends,

I hope you and your ohana are doing well! The 2018 General Election is just around the corner on November 6th and our Office of Elections needs volunteers to help staff the polling places, deliver election equipment & ballots, and answer telephone inquiries. Polls will be open from 7am to 6pm that day. This is a good opportunity to do some public service and also earn some money--$50 to $95. You need to be at least 16-years-old by June 30, 2018, registered to vote in Hawai‘i, and able to read & write English. To sign-up, call 453-VOTE or email: [email protected]. Let's work together to make sure this Election goes well and we have a good turnout!

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Town Hall Meetings

Instead of my regular "Listen Story" meeting, I'll be co-sponsoring two Town Hall Meetings in October. Here are some quick details:

  •  West O‘ahu Energy & Electric Vehicle Fair with Senators Jon Yoshimura and Glenn Wakai - on October 13 from 10am - 1pm at the Ewa Makai Middle School Cafeteria.
  •  West O‘ahu Town Hall Meeting with Councilmember Kym Pine — on October 18 from 6:30pm - 8pm at Island Pacific Academy Multi-purpose Room.

I hope you can join us!

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UH West O‘ahu Scholarship Awards Luncheon

I attended and spoke at the 2nd Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon at UHWO on September 14. In 1976, the first permanently endowed scholarship was created at the UH Foundation to benefit students attending UH. Since then, providing access to higher education through private gifts has become a tradition. Today, the Foundation manages more than 1,650 scholarship accounts. Last year, the UH Foundation distributed more than $20 million in student aid to students at all ten UH campuses. The purpose of the luncheon was to acknowledge scholarship donors and celebrate their generosity and partnership with UHWO. This special event provided the 120 scholarship recipients an opportunity to personally thank those responsible for their scholarships. These donors are making a tremendous impact in the lives of our students and their families.

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Kulana Hale Groundbreaking

I spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for Kulana Hale in Kapolei on September 20 at Wakea Street in Kapolei across from Island Pacific Academy. The project is a 13-story high rise with approx. 7,500 sq. ft. of commercial space, which will be built in three phases. The first phase will be a $64 million affordable mixed-use project with 154 senior apts. The developers of the project are Highridge Costa Companies and Coastal Rim Properties. The apartments for seniors will be reserved for individuals 55 and older who earn no more than $49,020 for a single person or $55,980 for a couple. Maximum monthly rents for about 100 one-bedroom units would be $1,131. Maximum rents for 22 studios would range from $528 to $968. The project also will have about 20 units with two bedrooms that could rent for up to $1,357 a month. The first phase of the project will be completed by early 2020.

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Annual Festa Portuguesa

I participated in the Annual Festa Portuguesa at the Waipahu Plantation Village on September 22. This event marked the 140th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of Portuguese immigrants to Hawai‘i from Madeira in September 1878. More than 16,000 Portuguese immigrants, many of them from the offshore islands of Madeira and the Azores, arrived in Hawai‘i from 1878 to 1911 to work the plantations. While many Chinese and Japanese workers arrived in the islands as single men, the Portuguese came as families, with plans to stay. Upon completing their labor contracts, many Portuguese started their own businesses or farms. Some opened restaurants and bakeries while others became paniolo, working the ranches on horseback. Today, the Portuguese influence on Hawaiian culture is found everywhere from restaurant menus featuring comfort food to favorite Portuguese bean soup, to the distinctive plucking of the Hawaiian steel guitar. As the Portuguese community grew, it strengthened the Catholic Church in Hawai‘i and loaned many of its traditions to local island culture. Portuguese foods like malassadas, Portuguese Bean Soup, pao doce, and Portuguese Sausage Hot Dogs remain popular with all ethnic groups. Arguably, the most important Portuguese contribution may be the ‘ukulele. Adapted from a Portuguese stringed instrument called the braguinha from Madeira or cavaquinho from mainland Portugal, the ‘ukulele was played by King Kalakaua. I commend and celebrate the contributions of the Portuguese to the culture of Hawai‘i.

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Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Kaihepono K. Saizon

I presented an Honorary Certificate to Kaihepono "Pono" K. Saizon in recognition of his Eagle Scout Court of Honor celebration at the Makakilo Stake Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kapolei on September 26. Pono, son of Mark and Angel, has been actively engaged in scouting since 2013. Pono's most current leadership position is as one of the Troop Guides, who has the important responsibility of acting as a mentor to the younger scouts. Pono's Eagle Scout project involved improving a taro patch in Kahulu‘u, which is just a few miles from his grandparents' home. He wanted to do something that would give back to his culture and teach about it at the same time. Pono's project included planning and coordinating the cleaning out of a traditional Hawaiian taro patch. This taro patch is used to teach about the importance of using the land and its resources efficiently. On the day of his project, Pono was able to get a large group of friends and family to come out and lend their support. The workers came and worked really hard under Pono's supervision. At the end of the day, they had cleaned out three large patches of weeds, removing old and dead plants. After all the work was completed, Pono's family provided an ‘ono Hawaiian meal to show his heartfelt appreciation. I commend Pono for his determination and dedication to the Scouts, thereby earning him the esteemed title of Eagle Scout.

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Aloha e Friends,

Whew , that was a close one! We here on O‘ahu were very fortunate to escape the wrath of Hurricane Lane. However, the people of Hawai‘i Island weren't so lucky. Amazingly, Mountain View received a record 52.02 inches of rain from 8am on August 22 to 8am on August 26. My prayers and thoughts are with Big Island folks and also those on Maui who were impacted by the Hurricane Lane-related wildfires. It's important that we do all we can to stay prepared for hurricanes, because hurricane season doesn't end until November. I hope to see you at the 8th Annual Get Ready Ewa Beach Emergency Preparedness Fair, which will take place at Ewa Mahiko District Park on September 8 from 9am to 1pm.

A big shout-out to Little League World Series Champs, Honolulu! They did Hawai‘i proud by defeating South Korea 3-0 on September 26.

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Upcoming Town Hall Meetings

Instead of my "Listen Story" meeting, I'll be co-sponsoring two upcoming Town Hall meetings. Here are the details at this point. I'll include more information in next month's newsletter.
  •  West O‘ahu Energy & Electric Vehicle Fair with Senator Jon Yoshimura — on October 13 from 10am - 1pm at the Ewa Makai Middle School Cafeteria
  •  West O‘ahu Town Hall Meeting with Councilmember Kym Pine — on October 18 from 6:30pm - 8pm at the Island Pacific Academy Multi-Purpose Room

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Pueo Site Visit

I went on a site visit with scientists and researchers from the UH's Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Management and the state Department of Land & Natural Resources at UH West O‘ahu on August 21. The purpose of the visit was to get an update on efforts to research and protect the pueo owl in our state. The good news is that UH has secured $150,000 to do additional studies on the pueo, including a Navy-led project in Lualualei Valley, Wai‘anae and a USDA grant to study the effectiveness of pueo as biocontrol agents. I also plan to reintroduce legislation in 2019 to dedicate state funding for pueo breeding and foraging studies.

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National Drive Electric Week

I participated in an interview for Hawai‘i News Now's Lifestyle Program for National Drive Electric Week at HECO's Fast Electric Charging Station next to Ruby Tuesday's at Kapolei Commons on August 27. National Drive Week will be September 8-16 and is a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today's widespread availability of plug-in vehicles and highlight the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric cars, trucks, and motorcycles. As background, I served as the Chair of the Senate's Energy and Environment Committee from 2009 to 2015. During this time, we were ramping up our efforts to switch to a clean energy economy. So in April 2011, I purchased an all-electric Nissan Leaf because I thought it made sense for the ENE Chair to "walk the talk." Just a year later in 2012, there were 751 electric vehicles in our state. However, I'm pleased to say that we continue to make progress and as of July 2018, there are 7,497 EVs and close to 600 EV charging stations across the state. That makes us 4th in the country behind California, Washington, and Oregon in per capita EV ownership. And, BTW, my Leaf has 80K miles and runs like a charm. Though if my kids bought me a Tesla Model X, or even better a Porsche Taycan, I'd gladly add their names back to my last will and testament. Just sayin'!

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Pop-Up Legal Clinic in Waipahu

I met with Angela Kuo Min, Executive Director, and Grant Teichman, the Volunteer Coordinator, of Volunteer Legal Services of Hawai‘i (VLSH), on August 28. I got information about their Legal Pop-Up Clinic that's taking place on September 15th from 9am - 12pm at the FilCom Center Ballroom in Waipahu. VLSH is a non-profit legal service organization, established in 1981, that provides legal assistance to the community through education, legal advice clinics, brief services, and referrals to pro bono attorneys for direct representation. The Pop-Up Legal Clinic is free to all low and moderate income individuals. Volunteer attorneys will be available to meet with area residents to provide legal advice on cases involving family law, estate planning, bankruptcy, District Court, and veteran benefits. In order to see if you qualify and to reserve your spot, please call (808)528-7046 by September 7.

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Aloha e Friends,

In case you've had your head buried in the sand and missed the inundation of candidate debates, political ads, campaign signs, and sign-waving--the 2018 election is upon us and is heating up every second. While I'm not up for re-election this time around, there were many other important races that will be decided in the coming months. Hawai‘i has the lowest election turnout in the nation…wouldn't it be cool to go from worst to best in 2018? It's up to you… Here are some important dates:

  •  Early Walk-In Voting/Late Registration: July 30 - August 9, 2018
  •  Mail Ballot Request Deadline: August 4, 2018
  •  Primary Election: August 11, 2018
  •  General Election: November 6, 2018

For more information, visit the Office of Elections website: https://elections.hawaii.gov/

As always, please contact me at (808)586-6830 or [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Senate Special Session

I participated as a member of the Judiciary Committee in a Senate Special Session to confirm four judges on July 9 and 10. The votes for each nominee were unanimous. Here's a quick overview of the judges.

•  Kristine Y. Yoo - District Court of the First Circuit (O‘ahu) - has been a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Honolulu, where she has 14 years of experience
•  Kenneth J. Shimozono - District Family Court of the First Circuit (O‘ahu) - has been practicing criminal defense law as a partner in the law firm of Takemoto & Shimozono, LLC. since 2005. He has also served as a per diem judge in the District Family Court of the First Circuit.
•  Mahilani E.K. Hiatt - District Family Court of the Third Circuit (Hawai‘i Island) – has been a partner at Hiatt & Hiatt, where she concentrates on commercial litigation and employment law. She has also served as a per diem judge in the District and District Family Courts of the Third Circuit.
•  Wendy M. DeWeese - District Family Court of the Third Circuit (Hawai‘i Island) - has been a Deputy Public Defender in Kealakekua for the past 11 years.

(Pictured are the Hawai‘i State Senate and Judges Mahilani E. K. Hiatt, Wendy M. DeWeese, Kenneth J. Shimozono, and Kristine Y. Yoo.)

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Kahi Mohala Playground Blessing

I attended the Sutter Health Kahi Mohala Playground Blessing on Old Fort Weaver Road in Ewa Beach on July 16. Sutter Health Kahi Mohala is Hawai‘i's only not-for-profit psychiatric hospital with a focus on children and adolescents. Since 1983, Kahi Mohala has provided treatment to people in need through innovative, quality and effective behavioral health services. The new playground was funded by a $125,000 grant from the City and County of Honolulu which allowed Kahi to replace aging equipment that had been removed in 2016. The new ADA-compliant playground includes ground protective surfacing and ample shade to ensure keiki have a safe environment for outdoor recreation. (Pictured with Leonard Licina-Kahi Mohala CEO and Quin Agawa -Kahi Mohala CFO.)

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Waipahu Tower Blessing and Rededication

I gave a short speech and presented an Honorary Certificate at the Hawaiian Blessing and Rededication Ceremony for the Ahe Group's $17.7 million acquisition and rehabilitation of Waipahu Tower on July 19. Built in 1972, the 64 unit apartment complex (62 affordable, 1 market rate and 1 managers unit)., was acquired by Ahe Group in 2017. (Pictured: Rep. Henry Aquino and Sen. Gabbard presented an Honorary Certificate at the Waipahu Tower Blessing on July 19 to Makani Maeva, President and CEO Ahe Group.

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Pineapple Crate Grand Opening

It was great to participate in the Grand Opening of the Pineapple Crate on July 7 in Wahiawa. The Pineapple Crate is a co-working space designed to provide technological support for both industries and farmers proactively seeking solutions to their current and potential problems regarding food safety. As farm production increases in Central O‘ahu, the Pineapple Crate's role is to spur collaboration between farmers and tech developers for ag-tech applications. (Pictured L-R: Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, Damien Morales–President of Whitmore Economic Development Group, Brandon Askew–Director of the Pineapple Crate and Sen. Gabbard.)

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Chuck Larson's Retirement Party

Rep. Sharon Har and I presented Seagull School's Chuck Larson with a surprise Honorary Certificate from the State Legislature at his Retirement Party at Lanikuhonua in Ko Olina on July 14. Chuck is the founder, CEO, and executive director of Seagull Schools, which has facilities in Honolulu, Kailua, Kapolei, Ko Olina, Ocean Pointe, and at the Mauna Lani Resort on Hawai‘i Island. The mission of Seagull Schools is to respond to the early educational needs of Hawai‘i's diverse community by providing early education programs of the highest value.

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Aloha e Friends,

Happy 4th of July to you and your ‘ohana! We're so lucky to call Hawai‘i home and live in a country where we enjoy our cherished rights and freedoms. During the fireworks, festivities, and fun please take a moment to reflect on this wonderful community, state, and country we live in...And please, don't forget...BE SAFE!

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or email [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Next Listen-Story

My next community Listen-Story meeting will be at the Ewa Mahiko District Park Meeting Room on Saturday, July 21st from 9 am to 10 am.

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Kalaeloa District Road Improvements

Great news! Maui Kupono Builders, LLC has been contracted by the City to rehabilitate many of the streets in the Kalaeloa area. The contract started on June 4, 2018, and will go until February 2019. The project includes reconstruction, milling and resurfacing of the asphalt concrete pavements; reconstruction of identified curbs and/or gutters; tree mitigation by a qualified arborist that could include pruning, trimming and removal; adjustment of utility frame and covers to finish grade; installation of permanent pavement markings and vehicle loop sensors.

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Kalaeloa Boulevard Improvements Completed

I spoke at the completion celebration of the Kapolei Boulevard Improvement Project in Kapolei on June 20. The Kapolei Properties Division of the James Campbell Company and the City partnered on this $50 million road project, which began in the summer of 2015 and improves daily access for the more than 40,000 vehicles that drive to and from the Campbell Industrial Park, Kapolei Business Park, and Kalaeloa Harbor on a daily basis.

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Governor Ige Releases Funding for Kapolei Middle School

I was pleased to receive memos on June 20 from Governor Ige informing me that he had released construction funding for improvements to Kapolei Middle School, which includes...

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Kapolei Middle School Annual Awards Night

I attended the Kapolei Middle School 6th Annual Po‘okela Awards Night on June 14. The Po‘okela Award (po‘okela means "champion") goes to top performing students in grades 6-8. To earn the award, students need to be on the principal's list for the first 3 quarters, have a 3.6 or higher GPA, and be a national award winner in one of three categories: Art, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), or Media (Video production, etc.) Approximately 160 awards are given, out of 1500 total enrollment. In addition, the Kuli‘a I Ka Nu‘u award, which means "Strive to Reach the Summit" is awarded. The recipient of this award must have been on the Honor Roll (GPA 4.0 and above) for the entire 3 years that they've been in Kapolei Middle School. The 2018 winners were Noah Anderson and Aaron Liwanag. As a former teacher, principal and lifelong educator, this was an incredibly special evening. Mahalo nui loa to the administration and staff of Kapolei Middle School, especially Terry Bunkley and Ari Ernestberg for all your hard work and help arranging the evening. It was such a pleasure meeting the students and their parents!

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Blue Zones Project Kapolei-Ewa Kick-Off

I joined with Councilmember Kym Pine as Co-Chairs of the Blue Zones Project Kapolei-Ewa Leadership Committee to officially kick off the project at the Kroc Center in Kapolei on June 16. The day was designed to introduce the community first-hand to what the Blue Zones Project is all about. Blue Zones is a well-being improvement initiative, funded by HMSA, and inspired by the book, The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who've Lived the Longest, written by Dan Buettner.

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Honoring Animal Rights Activist James Aspey

I surprised James Aspey with an Honorary Certificate to welcome him to Hawai‘i at a speaking engagement at ‘Iolani School on June 7. The event was organized by the Good Food Movement and sponsored by Down to Earth Hawai‘i and the Vegetarian Society of Hawai‘i. James was on a speaking tour to promote animal welfare and a culture of nonviolence. He's from Australia, dedicates his life to compassion and nonviolence, and is a prominent voice for young people to promote the vegan lifestyle grounded in a foundation of morality and ethics. After being diagnosed with Leukemia at age 17, he was told that he only had six weeks to live. Little did his doctors know that James' most meaningful life would begin in the years after his diagnosis. James underwent chemotherapy treatments and survived. He became addicted to drugs and survived again.

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76th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway Commemoration Ceremony

Did you know that U.S. Marines stationed at Ewa Field (7 miles west of Pearl Harbor) in Kalaeloa were the first to fire on Japanese planes before they attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941? On June 2, American Veterans "AMVETS" Hawai‘i and Barbers Point Riding Club hosted the 76th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway at Ewa Field. The Battle of Midway was one of the most decisive naval battles of World War II. By solving the Japanese codes, Admiral Chester Nimitz figured out the Japanese plans and our brave Navy service members inflicted a devastating blow on the Imperial Navy, from which they were never able to recover. I was invited to give the welcome speech at the Commemoration Ceremony held at the Barbers Point Riding Stables in Kalaeloa to honor all veterans of Midway and all those who gave their lives in service to our country. I also presented the AMVETS Silver Helmet Award to Dr. Gerard Akaka, who accepted it on behalf of his father, the late U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka. The award is a unique silver replica of the World War II GI helmet and has acquired a reputation as the most prestigious of all the awards given by veterans organizations. It is the "Oscar" of the Vets.

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Aloha e Friends,

I completed my 12th legislative session as your State Senator on May 3. It's been an honor and privilege serving you all these years and I look forward to the years ahead. Congrats to all the high school graduates of James Campbell High, Kapolei High, Waipahu High, Island Pacific Academy, and American Renaissance Academy. I wish these graduates great success in their chosen paths in life.

Please feel free to contact me at 586-6830 or email [email protected] if I can help you or your family in any way. You can also follow me on Twitter @senmikegabbard, Instagram @sengabbard, or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/senmikegabbard.






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Listen-Story Meeting

My next Listen-Story meeting will be on July 21, from 9 am to 10 am at the Ewa Mahiko District Park Meeting Room.

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2018 Legislative Session Overview

There was a total of 2,260 bills introduced during the 2017 Legislative Session (1,153 in the House and 1,107 in the Senate.) Of those, 220 bills passed the Legislature. The Governor has three choices for the 220 bills that did pass: he can sign the bills into law, allow the bills to become law without his signature, or veto the bills.

Here are the next major deadlines:
June 25 - Deadline for the Governor to notify the Legislature if he intends to veto any of the bills.
July 10 - Deadline for the Governor to veto bills and for the Legislature to come back into Special Session to override any of those vetoes.
Please let the Governor know how you feel about any of the legislation by calling him at 586‑0034 or filling out the "Contact Us" form here: https://governor.hawaii.gov/contact-us/comments-on-legislation/

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How You Can Help with Disasters

Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the recent flooding disasters on O‘ahu and Kaua‘i and the volcanic eruptions on Hawai‘i Island. Donations to Red Cross Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small, including the recent floods and ongoing lava threat. To send a contribution, mail your check to American Red Cross, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, 96816, make a secure online donation at redcross.org/hawaii or call (808) 739-8109. Donations can also be made via Hawai‘i Community Foundation's Hawai‘i Island Volcano Recovery Fund & Kaua‘i Relief & Recovery Fund at https://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/.

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East Kapolei High School Groundbreaking

I was stoked to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for East Kapolei Middle School on May 10. The school will be off Maunakapu Street behind the Kroc Center and is planned for a 2020-2021 opening. It will serve 1,050 sixth - eight grade students. The school will be built in phases. The Legislature appropriated $90M for the project in the 2017-2019 biennium and we'll need to fund another $30M in upcoming sessions to complete the school.

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Key Agriculture and Environment Bills

I had four bills that I authored pass the Legislature during the 2018 session. Another key bill that I helped shepherd through the legislative process as the Agriculture and Environment Committee Chair was SB 3095. Here's a short overview of each. Click more for a short overview of each.

Pilot Hemp Program Special Fund (SB 2556)
This bill completes the creation of our hemp pilot program which occurred in 2016 and 2017 by establishing a Special Fund, where the licensing fees and potential fines can be deposited and used for the program's operation. On April 18, the Department of Agriculture began accepting applications from farmers to start growing hemp. The first licenses are being issued this month and will continue to be issued on on a quarterly basis.

Sen. Gabbard wrote a short song about banning oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka

Senator Akaka lay in state at the Hawai‘i State Capitol Rotunda May 18–19, where people had the opportunity to pay their last respects to this incredible leader. He was the embodiment of aloha and served his country honorably in the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1947, in the U.S. House from 1977 to 1990, and the U.S. Senate from 1990 to 2013. He was also Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs during the 111th Congress. My family was blessed to have known Senator Akaka and his beautiful wife Millie.

My daughter, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, actually had the privilege of working in his U.S. Senate Office as a legislative aide from 2006 to 2008. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time. We lost a true ambassador of aloha on April 6. We'll miss you, Uncle Danny. Mahalo nui for your friendship and wisdom over the years. And most importantly, mahalo for the genuine aloha you imbued in Tulsi when she worked for you in DC. Ke Akua me ke aloha!

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