Senator Gilbert Kahele Member Feed

June 2015 Newsletter

June 2015

May 2015 Newsletter

May 2015

STATE BUDGET INCLUDES OVER $200 MILLION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ON HAWAII ISLAND

Funding includes monies for new Kona courthouse, schools, airports and highways

Big Island legislators secured over $200 million in Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding for various projects across the island in HB500 CD1, the state budget bill for the next fiscal biennium.

The proposed budget includes funding for various highway improvements, monies for Big Island schools, and continued financial support to complete the Kona Judiciary Complex. The measure is scheduled next week for final reading in both the House and Senate.

Hilo
"Our Hawaii Island Legislative delegation has worked very hard to secure funding for many of the much needed projects throughout our island," said Rep. Richard Onishi (Hilo, Keaau, Kurtistown, Volcano). "Although we didn't get everything we asked for and that is needed for our communities, our residents can be assured that we will continue to work hard during the interim to secure funding for those projects."

"We have been successful in securing funds for Capital Improvement Projects for Hilo although we were faced with fiscal restraints," added Sen. Gilbert Kahele (Hilo).

"For the last several years, I have been working with the tech community to increase the availability of jobs for Hawaii Island residents," said Rep. Mark Nakashima (Hamakua, North Hilo, South Hilo). "The $8.5 million available for the purchase of a Workforce Development Facility to support tech activities demonstrates the state's commitment to growing this important economic sector."

"House District 2 will see funding for schools, infrastructure improvements, and major construction for our airport, ha

BILL TO PRESERVE TURTLE BAY CONSERVATION LANDS APPROVED

SB284, CD1 passes conference committee, heads for final floor vote

House and Senate conferees today reached an agreement that preserves the future of conservation lands at Turtle Bay.

SB284, CD1 incorporates an agreement with the owners of the Turtle Bay Resort announced earlier this week by Governor Ige. The agreement establishes the protection of 665 acres from development, or nearly 79 percent of the open space at the North Shore resort, and resolves long-time development disputes involving the State, City and community. Under the public-private partnership, the price for the preservation deal was reduced to $35 million, down from $40 million.

"This is a good step in the right direction," said Sen. Gilbert Kahele (Dist 1 - Hilo). "It's reassuring to see that all groups can work collaboratively to protect and preserve important conservation lands for future generations."

Sen. Kahele is hopeful this legislation will be the framework for the preservation of conservation lands on the neighbor islands, which is estimated to be in the thousands of acres.

"On Hawai‘i Island alone, there is more than 1,100 acres protected under trust. The benefits for preserving these open lands are critical to the people of this state, their children and grandchildren," said Sen. Kahele.

$45.2M CIP FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR HILO

High schools, airport, harbors among funded projects

Hilo residents will see improvements at the airport, the harbor and at the high schools after a panel of state lawmakers reached an agreement Tuesday on the overall state budget for the current biennium, fiscal years FY2015-2016 and FY2016-2017. The current draft of the state budget bill includes $45.2M in funding for several key Capital Improvement Projects (CIP).

"Even though we are looking at a lean budget for the next biennium, the CIP funding provided addresses a wide range of much needed improvements for the Hilo community," said Sen.Gilbert Kahele (Dist.1 - Hilo).

The Hawai‘i Army National Guard is receiving a substantial amount of CIP funding. $30.212M is being appropriated for the construction of a new support maintenance shop complex that includes office, personnel and work area space and maintenance shop work bays.

Other CIP projects for Hilo include:

• $1.675M for the design and construction for renovation to the existing armory at Keaukaha Military Reservation for administration, classrooms, restrooms, storage, multi-purpose/dining area and other facility and infrastructure improvements

• $2M for the plans and design for renovations to Building A at Hilo Intermediate School

• $450K for the plans, design and construction for a new baseball batting cage at Waiakea High School

• $550K for the design and construction for replacing galvanized water lines and service laterals along Nohea Street and Santos Lane

• $7.390M for improvements to the airfield at Hilo International Airport

• $1.425M for plans to modify the turning basin, entrance channel and other physical features to improve navigational safety and operational efficiencies at Hilo Harbor

• $1.5M for the construction

April 2015 Newsletter

April 2015

About Senator Gilbert Kahele

Senator Gilbert Kahele was born in the fishing village of Miloli‘i in South Kona before moving to Hilo on Hawai‘i Island. Following his graduation from Hilo High School in the year 1960, Senator Kahele served in the U.S. Marine Corp until 1964 and graduated from Laney College in Oakland, California. After a few years on the Island of O‘ahu, he returned to his hometown in Hilo with his wife Linda in 1976 to raise their family. He retired from the Hawai‘i State Department of Defense after 33 year as the Director of Public Works, Pohakuloa Training Area.

On January 11, 2011, Governor Neil Abercrombie appointed Gilbert Kahele as Senator for the 2nd District, encompassing the communities of Hilo, Puna and Ka‘u on Hawai‘i Island. In Senator Kahele's first race for public office, he was elected in 2012 to represent the community of Hilo, now known as the 1st Senatorial District as a result of reapportionment.

Senator Kahele's 2014 legislative accomplishments includes over $50 million dollars in new projects for Hawai‘i Island through capital improvement projects and grant-in-aids. His most noteworthy accomplishment that session was collaboratively securing the $33 million needed for the construction of the UH-Hilo Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy building.

He also served as the chairman of the Hawai‘i County Police Commission from 1988 to 1992 and was the Democratic Party's vice-chairman for East Hawai‘i. He also served as a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Today Senator Kahele serves as the Majority Caucus Leader and is the Chair of the Senate Tourism and International Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the Senate committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection, Hawaiian Affairs, and Higher Education and the Arts.

March 2015 Newsletter

March 2015

Art at the Capitol 2015: What's on Your Wall, Senator Kahele

Join us for "Art at the Capitol" on First Friday, March 6, 2015 from 4:30-7:00 pm to view art displayed in the offices our state lawmakers.

Senator Gil Kahele talks about the artwork displayed in his office. The artwork are part of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' collection in the Art in Public Places Program.

Click through to view the video.

January 2015 Newsletter

January 2015