Senator Baker honored with National Distinguished Advocacy Award

Senator Rosalyn Baker recently traveled to Washington D.C. to accept the National Distinguished Advocacy Award. The award is the most prestigious honor given by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) in recognition of the Senator's years of relentless commitment to strong public health and tobacco control policies.


(L to R: Cory Chun, American Cancer Society Hawai‘i Pacific, Government Relations Director; Hawai‘i State Senator Roz Baker; Bernie Sakoda, from Kaua‘i, State Lead Ambassador; Mia Ako, from Kaua‘i, Ambassador Constituent Team (ACT) Lead 2; and, Keahu Matsumoto, Oahu, ACT Lead 1 at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Leadership Summit, National Distinguished Advocacy Award breakfast in Washington D.C.)

State Launches Mortgage Foreclosure Dispute Resolution Program

Victims of Domestic Violence

Mortgage Foreclosure (Act 48)

Mortgage Foreclosure (Act 48) - Reforms our foreclosure laws and provides a process for Hawai‘i homeowners to meet with their lenders face-to-face to try and save their homes from foreclosure and work out a mutually acceptable solution. The mortgage foreclosure dispute resolution program uses trained neutrals to facilitate communication between the parties to maximize the likelihood of a successful outcome. The program is administered by the State's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs with assistance from the State Judiciary's Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution. Although some lenders seem to want to disregard our laws, we believe the transparency, notice and consumer protection provisions of the law will assist homeowners whether in a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure action. For further information regarding this legislation and the resolution program, please visit the DCCA website for more information.

Kihei Community 2011 Session Wrap Up

Please click here to review some of our community projects as well as important legislation that passed during our 2011 Legislative Session.

Lahaina Community 2011 Session Wrap Up

Please click here to review some of our community projects as well as important legislation that passed during our 2011 Legislative Session.

Bill Signing - SB1520

On July 6, 2011, Governor Neil Abercrombie signed SB1520 into law which recognizes Native Hawaiians as the "only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli population" of these islands. The new law creates a commission of qualified members to take the first steps in creating a Native Hawaiian government entity and supports efforts of our Congressional delegation to achieve federal recognition. Senator Rosalyn Baker was proud to be among the 23 ayes in the Senate to send SB1520 to the Governor. (Photo courtesy of Senate Communications)

Bill Signing - SB219 and SB892

Senate Bill 219 protects female inmates and their unborn babies. The measure prohibits the physical and mechanical restraint, including shackling and handcuffing, of inmates who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery. The bill, which went into effect upon approval, was a part of the Legislative Women's Caucus package. Senator Baker, a member of the Legislative Women's Caucus, was a co-introducer along with lead sponsor, Senator Jill Tokuda. (Photo courtesy of Senate Communications)

Senate Bill 892, addresses the provisions in the Hawaii Revised Statutes regarding service animals that are either obsolete or inconsistent with federal law. By updating our laws, owners will be able to acquire new rights and properly protect those that had been offered before. The bill, introduced by Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, went into effect upon approval. Senator Baker is a member of the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Military Affairs and Government Operations, the lead committee approving this measure. Senator Baker is a longtime advocate for Hawaii's deaf and blind community. (Photo courtesy of Senate Communications)

CPN holds Informational Briefing on the PUC interim decision, 12/2/2010

From a recent PUC decision to open inter-island shipping lines to Pasha, the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held an informational briefing to gather more information on the impact of the decision. The briefing was well attended by many Neighbor Island business people. Please follow the link to read the article in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser:

"A recent state decision to open up regulated interisland shipping to competition might cause shipping rates to rise and service to fall, according to about 30 neighbor island business representatives who spoke yesterday at a Legislative briefing..."

Lahainaluna - History Lesson

Senator Baker's floor remarks on gubernatorial nomination of Katherine Leonard for Chief Justice (August 6, 2010)

The Senate convened in a special session to consider Governor Lingle's nomination of Katherine Leonard as the Chief Justice of Hawaii's Supreme Court. The Senate did not confirm this nominee and the following floor speech outlines Senator Baker's position on this nominee:

"Madam President, it is with regret and some sadness that I find I must rise in opposition to Governor's Message No. 4, the nomination of Katherine Leonard as Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court... By all accounts, she has been an able jurist during her short tenure on the Intermediate Court of Appeals. She is deemed very bright, writes well, and is considered a very capable legal analyst. But Madam President, the duties and responsibilities of the Chief Justice require more than just having a good legal mind..." Read more

Act 182 enhances allure of trust

The Pacific Business News today published the following article on Act 182, the Permitted Transfers in Trust Act:

"A new state law allows for the establishment of a type of trust that lawmakers hope will boost Hawaii's financial sector by attracting millions of dollars for its asset management business.

Backers of Senate Bill 2842, now Act 182, said the intent of the measure is to offer incentives to high-net-worth individuals throughout the United States and globally to transfer at least part of their liquid net worth into Hawaii for asset and trust management..." View full article

Sustainability