Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland Member Feed

HPD CHIEF CANCELS MEETING WITH HAWAII WOMEN'S LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS AND WOMEN HONOLULU CITY COUNCILMEMBERS

The Hawaii Women's Legislative Caucus today announced that they received a call from the Honolulu Police Department's (HPD) Chief of Police's office canceling Thursday's meeting with the Women's State Legislative Caucus and three women members of the Honolulu City Council.

A representative of the Women's Caucus spoke with the office of Chief of Police Louis M. Kealoha to ask that the commitment to meet with the women on Thursday be honored.

"The purpose of Thursday's meeting was for the Women's Legislative Caucus and the three women city councilmembers to have the opportunity to speak with Chief Kealoha directly," said Senate President Donna Mercado Kim, a member of the Women's Caucus. "We hoped to work cooperatively with the police to strengthen efforts to end domestic violence and keep victims safe. We wanted to discuss concerns and questions about HPD's internal policies and procedures regarding domestic violence cases, especially when one of their own officers is a suspect that has been brought to us by victims' service providers."

"The Women's Legislative Caucus and women Honolulu City Councilmembers asked for the opportunity to discuss these issues with Chief Kealoha prior to the public informational briefing so that he could be prepared to respond fully in public, and to, hopefully, open the door to improved partnerships and outcomes in domestic violence cases," said Senate President Kim.

A representative of the Women's Caucus was told the meeting was cancelled because the internal investigation was not yet completed. "We made it clear that the Women's Caucus understands that personnel investigations are confidential and that we have no intention of interfering in that matter," stated Senator Laura Thielen, co-chair of the Caucus. "We told Chief Kealoha's office that our concern and our meeting is to be focused on the broader HPD policies and response to domestic violence incidents."

Hawaii Women's Legislative Caucus calls for accountability of HPD in extreme domestic violence case involving its officers

Following the public release of a surveillance video showing a Honolulu Police Department (HPD) sergeant allegedly brutally beating his girlfriend in a Waipahu restaurant, the Hawaii Women's State Legislative Caucus and the three women members of the Honolulu City Council are calling on HPD to explain its policies and procedures for handling criminal actions involving its own officers and how the failure to act that occurred earlier this week is not repeated.

According to reports, HPD officers responding to the scene did not arrest the sergeant, nor did they file any reports of the incident that night. It was only on the following day, after a citizen provided HPD and the press with the surveillance video, that HPD took action to remove the sergeant of his police powers and begin an internal investigation into the incident, according to a Hawaii News Now report.

The Joint Women's Legislative Caucus and City Council members released the following statement:

"We are calling for a meeting with the Chief of Police, followed by an informational briefing with the Honolulu Police Department and Police Commission. The public has a right to know the department's policies and procedures for response to domestic violence or any other crimes when the offender is a police officer, particularly one who serves in a supervisory role.

"HPD officials must explain to the public why the alleged assailant was not charged and arrested given evidence of probable cause, including multiple witnesses who had to come to the woman's aide and a video surveillance depicting the appalling domestic violence assault.

"It is absolutely unacceptable that HPD officers chose not to enforce our domestic violence laws. The fact that the woman denied the incident is to be expected under the circumstances. Indeed, the responding officers' failure to take action clearly communicated that her safety will not be prote

LAWMAKERS HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND STATEWIDE COORDINATION AT INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING WITH STATE AND CITY AGENCIES
With the shortage of affordable housing options for the moderate income workforce, Hawaii lawmakers today held a joint Senate and House informational briefing to learn more about affordable housing needs in Hawaii.

Senators and representatives heard from various government agencies to learn about the status of existing and planned affordable housing projects, and their plans to address the growing need for affordable housing as the state's population and housing demands increase.

"We convened this informational briefing because there's an urgent need for affordable housing," said Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services. "And it's necessary that we get everyone involved at each level and at the same table to discuss where we are at, what we are doing and what needs to be done to meet the housing needs of Hawaii's residents."

In 2011, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) released the Hawaii Housing Planning Study which revealed 50,000 new units needed to be built between 2012 and 2016 to meet demands. Of that number, based on HUD income guidelines, about 19,000 are needed for household incomes of 80 percent of area median income (AMI) and below. (This is $43,250 for 1-person household, and $61,750 for 4-person household). HHFDC has procured a new updated study that will be released later this year.

"Hawaii's workforce deserves to live in housing they can afford," said Rep. Mark Hashem, chair of the House Committee on Housing. "Nearly half of Hawaii's homeless population are working persons who are unable to afford steady permanent housing. In addition to addressing the housing shortage for those at AMI, we also need to ensure there is enough help for hard-working low-income individuals to obtain housing units."

During the briefing, lawmakers questioned the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) about reserved housing requ

20th Annual Children and Youth Day Honors Hawaii's Keiki
The 20th Annual Children and Youth Day will be held on Sunday, October 6, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place on the grounds of the Hawaii State Capitol and its surrounding areas, Iolani Palace grounds, Punchbowl Street, the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, Kalanimoku Building grounds, and The Frank F. Fasi Civic Center.

Children, teens and families will have the chance to enjoy over 150 interactive, educational, and fun activities sponsored by community organizations. They will also be able to learn about the services and programs that are committed to keeping children and youth in their community excited about learning and exploring their talents and interests while keeping them healthy and safe. In addition, there will be six main stages of great entertainment and more than a dozen food vendors. View the media release to read more...

Brief biography of Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland
Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland currently chairs the Senate Human Services Committee, which includes public assistance, the Medicaid program, vocational rehabiitation, pubic housing, homelessness, affordable housing, elder services, and early childhood education and care.

She also serves as a member on the Economic Development and Housing, Energy and Environment, Health, and Ways and Means committees.

Senator Chun Oakland is a proud graduate of McKinley High School and the University of Hawaii, double majoring in Communications and Psychology. She has served in the State Legislature for 23 years and currently represents Hawaii's 13th Senatorial District, which includes Liliha, Palama, Iwilei, Nuuanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Lower Tantalus, Chinatown, Downtown and part of Kaka‘ako. She has served in the Hawaii State Senate since 1996 and as a State Representative from 1990 to 1996.

She is the daughter of Philip and Mei-Chih Chun. Married on June 11, 1994 to Michael Sands Oakland, Senator Chun Oakland and her husband have three children: Mailene, Christopher, and Lauren Oakland. Senator Chun Oakland has four grandchildren: Mysha, Shayden, Lily and Jade.

Safe Places for Youth Mini Conferences Held at State Capitol
One hundred and fifty children and youth advocates gathered at the State Capitol today to attend a Safe Places for Youth Mini Conference. The conference provided an opportunity for members of the community to discuss the concept of the State's "Safe Places for Youth" initiative and receive community outreach and training.

Children, youth and community advocates identified the provision of "Safe Places for Youth" as a top priority during the 2012 Children and Youth Submit. As a result, Hawaii is embarking on an initiative designed to provide a network of safe places statewide where children and youth can seek help in a timely and supportive manner.

"Today's conference provided a great opportunity for members of our community to continue to discuss and build on our efforts to develop a network of places where youth can access safety and services," said Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, Co-Convener of the Keiki Caucus. "Protecting our youth from vulnerable situations, whether at home, school, or on the streets, is a top priority. Safe Places would give our youth a secure location to turn to when they need it most."

Senate Bill (SB) 391 and House Bill (HB) 395, relating to youth, were two measures introduced during the 2013 Legislative Session to help establish safe places for youth.

SB 391 requires the office of youth services to coordinate a two-year safe places for youth pilot program to establish a network of safe places where youth can access safety and services. It also establishes the position of safe places for youth program coordinator.

HB 395 requires the Office of Youth Services to coordinate a Safe Places for Youth Pilot Program to coordinate a network that youth may access for safety and

Governor Signs Measures to Support Hawaii's Kupuna
Governor Neil Abercrombie today signed into law several measures central to the continued support and protection of Hawaii's kupuna.

"I am appreciative to the Governor for signing these priority measures," said Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, chair of the Senate Committee on Human Services and co-convener of the Hawaii State Legislature's Kupuna Caucus. "As Hawaii's population ages, it remains incumbent upon us to offer the programs and tools necessary to make certain that our parents and grandparents are well taken care of. The enactment of these bills shows the State's continued dedication to serving Hawaii's kupuna, ensuring that they can continue to thrive."

House Bill (HB) 529, relating to care homes, requires all operators of adult foster homes, assisted living facilities, and expanded adult residential care homes to obtain and maintain a sufficient amount of liability insurance with respect to their operations.

HB 120, relating to health, requires the Department of Health to post on its website reports of all inspections at state-licensed care facilities occurring on or after January 1, 2015. It also establishes a Working Group on Licensed Care Facilities.

SB 106, relating to aging, establishes and funds a position for an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Services Coordinator. The measure also appropriates funds for programs and services that support the State's elderly population, including Kupuna Care and Health Aging Partnership and establishes the Task Force on Mobility Management.

Site Visit to Kokua Kalihi Valley
On May 3, 2013, Senator Chun Oakland along with Senator Ruderman, Vice Speaker Mizuno and Councilmember Fukunaga and other community advocates took a tour of Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services (KKV) to experience the broad array of comprehensive and holistic health care services provided to the Valley's low-income Asian and Pacific Island immigrant population.

KKV serves over 10,000 community members each year and through its programs and activities strives to create healthy environments in which relationships can flourish. The mission of KKV is to work toward healing, reconciliation and the alleviation of suffering in Kalihi Valley by serving communities, families and individuals through strong relationships that honor culture and foster health and harmony. Visit www.KKV.net to find out more about Kokua Kalihi Valley.

Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland's biography
Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland currently chairs the Human Services committee. She also sits as a member on the Economic Development and Housing, Energy and Environment, Health, and Ways and Means committees.

Senator Chun Oakland has served in the State Legislature for 22 years. She currently represents Hawaii's 13th Senatorial District, which includes Liliha, Palama, Iwilei, Kalihi, Nuuanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Lower Tantalus, and Downtown. She has served in the Hawaii State Senate since 1996 and as a State Representative from 1990 to 1996.

Married on June 11, 1994 to Michael Sands Oakland, Senator Chun Oakland and her husband have three children: Mailene, Christopher, and Lauren Oakland. Senator Chun Oakland has four grandchildren: Mysha, Shayden, Lily and Jade.

2012 End of Session Newsletter
Click here to read Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland's 2012 End of Session Newsletter