Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran's Member Feed

February 2015 Legislative Newsletter

• Judiciary and Labor Committee
• Maui Visitors at the Capitol
• Senate Bill Update

Click here to read the February 2015 Legislative Newsletter.

January 2015 Legislative Newsletter

• Opening Day
• State of the State
• State of the Judiciary
• Senate Bills Introduced

Click here to read the January 2015 Legislative Newsletter.

MAUI SENATORS WANT MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON WASTEWATER SYSTEMS POLICY CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

With more than 77,000 cesspools, neighbor islands will be largely impacted

Sen. Roz Baker (District 6 - South and West Maui) has asked the Department of Health (DOH) to hold public hearings on the neighbor islands on proposed wastewater management policy changes, and to provide more time for meaningful comment. The changes will affect more than 77,000 homeowners on the neighbor islands and 11,000 on Oahu.

The proposed changes include prohibiting the installation of new cesspools and requiring sewer connections or upgrades of existing cesspools to a septic tank within 180 days after the sale of a property.

"There is no doubt in my mind that septic tanks are better than cesspools," said Sen. Baker. "However, the department should have been working with the community on a plan that could be supported. I also greatly appreciate DOH wanting to protect groundwater resources by reducing the number of cesspools in the state, but using the administrative rules process rather than actively engaging the affected communities is not the best approach. I would prefer a carrot rather than stick approach to give our community members a genuine voice in any proposal."

DOH has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday, October 2 on Oahu where only about 12 percent of all cesspools in the state are located. Video conferencing is also being made available on Kauai, Hawaii Island and Maui. Residents affected on Molokai, which has over 1,400 cesspools, will not be able to participate in the video conferencing.

In a letter addressed to Director Linda M. Rosen, she has asked DOH to hold public hearings on all neighbor islands, especially on Molokai where access to video conferencing is not available.

"There could be a lot of unintended consequences with these policy changes," said Sen. Baker, "such as

April 2014 Legislative Newsletter

• Time for Conference!
• Maui Soda & Ice Works Honored
• Visitors at the Capitol
• New Maui Mana‘o

Click here to read the April 2014 Legislative Newsletter.

STATEMENT FROM MAUI SENATORS ON $305.5 MILLION FOR NEW CAR RENTAL FACILITY AT KAHULUI AIRPORT

Maui's Kahului Airport will receive $305,500,000 in capital improvement projects (CIP) funding appropriated by the legislature. Governor Neil Abercrombie released funds for the construction of a new multi-level consolidated car rental facility and roadway improvements at Kahului Airport.

The car rental facility will include a customer service building, quick turnaround, ready return vehicle parking spaces, four 15,000-gallon fuel storage tanks, a people mover system to and from the terminal, site improvements, roadway connections to airport terminal roadways, additional employee parking spaces and potential flat-plate, non-reflective photovoltaic panels. A new access road to the facility will run from Hana Highway to Airport Loop Road.

"Residents and visitors alike will see improvements in customer service as the new car rental facility will streamline the car rental process," said Senator Roz Baker, who represents South and West Maui. "Airport modernization is good for Maui and the State, and projects like this will certainly improve our tourism industry."

"Right now customers have to drive through the terminal roadway system to get to the existing rental car facilities, causing congestion in front of the terminals," said Senator J. Kalani English, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, who represents Hāna, east and upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Kaho‘olawe. "A new access road from Hana Highway to Airport Loop will help to alleviate traffic congestion at the airport."

"I'm glad the governor released funds appropriated by the legislature for this large and important project that benefits all of Maui," said Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran, who represents Wailuku, Waihe'e, and Kahului. "It will create more local construction jobs, stimulate the economy, and improve the overall customer experience for residents and visitors. I am looking forward to work on this p

SENATORS SHOWCASE ART AT THE CAPITOL

Senators opened their doors for an evening at the capitol "museum" during the 6th annual Art at the Capitol event on Friday, April 4 from 4:30 - 7 p.m. Each senator brings a distinct perspective to the decor of their offices through the personalization of their walls according to interest and taste. The works of art are placed in public areas of the Capitol as part of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' "Art in Public Places" program, which was established in 1967, and was the first program of its kind in the nation.

Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran was not able to participate this year, but during a visit to the Capitol on any given day, he invites the public to notice "the rooster," what his office staff calls a piece by Margaret Barnaby named "Kink" portraying a Ti-leaf plant and a pheasant. It gets its name from the bend in the stem of the Ti and Kalij pheasant's neck.

"Even though pheasants are not indigenous to Hawaii," said Keith-Agaran, "they have become part of Hawaii's culture, and I enjoy seeing the beauty of Hawaii portrayed through art, brightening up the office every day. The artwork in my office was chosen either by me or my staff, and each piece gives great pleasure to all who visit."

Visit Art at the Capitol's Facebook page and follow on Instagram.

MAUI TEEN HONORED BY STATE SENATE

Mason Aquino recognized as Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i's Youth of the Year

The Hawai‘i State Senate yesterday honored Maui's Mason Aquino in a special floor presentation as one of five finalists for the Boys & Girls Club of Hawai‘i Youth of the Year. At a luncheon later that day, Mason was named as the Youth of the Year.

The annual award is a premier recognition program for exemplary Club members who give back to their community, achieve academic success and display strong moral character.

"Mason's leadership, resilience against adversity, academic achievement and commitment to his community is an inspiration to his peers," said Sen. Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, who represents Wailuku, Waihe‘e, and Kahului.

"The Boys and Girls Club on Maui really does contribute so much to our community, including influencing keiki to achieve great things," said Sen. Rosalyn Baker, who represents South and West Maui. "It shows in the next generation of leaders like Mason."

"We're so proud of Mason and all of his success," ad

March 2014 Legislative Newsletter

• Celebrating Education
• Grants-in-Aid for Maui Services
• One-Stop Shop for Aging Issues
• Visitors at the Capitol
• Maui Capital Improvement Projects

Click here to read the March 2014 Legislative Newsletter.

MAUI'S KEONE KALI CONFIRMED AS CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE HAWAII OFFICE OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY

The Senate today confirmed Keone Kali as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Hawai‘i Office of Information Management and Technology. Kali previously served as the State's Deputy CIO for operations and was appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to fill outgoing CIO Sanjeev Bhagowalia's position when he was appointed as Chief Advisor for Technology and Cyber-Security. Kali also served as the Director of Information Technology and acting Chief Technology Officer for the Pacific Disaster Center on Maui and the CIO for the City of Beverly Hills.

"I am pleased that my colleagues joined me in confirming Keone Kali as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the State of Hawai‘i," said Senator J. Kalani English, who represents Hāna, east and upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Kaho‘olawe. "With nearly twenty years of experience in information technology, business development and management, I believe that Kali is the best person to lead the State's 12-year technology plan to modernize its IT systems."

"Kali has a proven record of success," said Senator Roz Baker, who represents South and West Maui. "I have no doubt that under Kali's leadership, the State will improve the delivery of government programs and services to the people of Hawai‘i."

"Kali has the experience and skills needed to propel the State's e-gov goals," Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran, who represents Wailuku, Waihe‘e, and Kahului. "Embracing new technologies will improve government services and increase its accessibility to Hawai‘i's residents."

The plan also emphasizes open government, a concept that has been the centerpiece of Bhagowalia's IT career. It will reinforce the state's e-gov goals by improving mobile and online access to all government services, and the planning for it all will involve the people who actually do the separate jobs throughout the government.

SENATORS RECOGNIZE MAUI SCHOOL TEACHER ANTHONY KAMAKAEU WILLIAMS

Pā‘ia Elementary School Teacher wins Maui District Teacher of the Year

The Hawai‘i State Senate today recognized Anthony Kamaka‘eu Williams in a special presentation on the chamber's floor for being named the 2014 Maui School District Teacher of the Year. Williams is a fourth grade Hawaiian language immersion teacher at Pā‘ia Elementary School. Williams was one of seven District Teacher of the Year recipients and will receive a monetary award from the Polynesian Cultural Center and gifts of instructional software from SMART Technologies for this honor.

"I commend Kumu Kamaka‘eu for this great honor. His passion for the Hawaiian language and teaching students is inspirational to all educators," said Senator J. Kalani English, who represents Hāna, east and upcountry Maui, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i and Kaho‘olawe. "Just 30 years ago, the Hawaiian language was close to becoming extinct. The Hawaiian language lives on thanks to committed teachers such as Kumu Kamaka‘eu who have dedicated their lives to the Hawaiian Immersion Program."

"Congratulations to Kumu Kamaka‘eu," said Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran, who represents Wailuku, Waihe‘e, and Kahului. "In addition to classroom education in Hawaii, Kumu Kamaka‘eu leads extracurricular activities in order to provide a Hawaiian language environment to students outside of the school day. It is truly encouraging to see educators so invested in our keiki."

"This is a well-deserved accolade for Kumu Kamaka‘eu. He is an extraordinary educator who was also voted Maui Hawaiian Immersion Teacher of the Year in 2012," said Senator Roz Baker, who represents South and West Maui. "Kumu Kamaka‘eu plays an important role in keeping the Hawaiian language alive as well as maintaining the rigors of the Common Core standards. I admire his dedication to students and the community."