Author: koolaupoko

  • paper and plastic bags

    Once again Hawaii has an opportunity to lead America on an important environmental issue: we could be the first state in the nation to significantly reduce consumption of throwaway paper and plastic bags.

    We’ve reached a make or break moment – a pivotal point where a little public action could be enough to secure victory. The bill to impose a fee on most single-use paper or plastic bags, is really close to passage.

    We already pay for these bags, but the cost is hidden in the overall price of the products we buy. Experience in other states and countries has proved that once people are made aware of what these bags cost – by being required to pay a small fee per bag at the checkout- they change their behavior and start to employ reusable bags.

    The bill has just one last committee to pass, Finance, and then a vote in the full House and Senate.

    We think 500 emails, phone calls, or public calls for its passage would probably be enough to get it passed. Wouldn’t you like to be one of those 500?

    It’s really easy – just email all the Senators and all the members of the House of Representatives with a single click on each of these links below:
    sens@capitol.hawaii.gov
    reps@capitol.hawaii.gov

    Say something along these lines:

    • I strongly support legislative efforts to reduce the use of paper and plastic bags.
    • Over 12,000 plastic bags are used in the United States every second.
    • In this country we consume an astounding 100 billion throwaway plastic bags every year made from some 12 million barrels of oil.
    • These bags clog our streets, foul our open space, pollute our fragile marine environment and kill thousands if animals every year.

    Please pass SB1363 and protect Hawaii’s fragile environment from the millions of bags wasted each year.

    And once you’ve done that, could you recruit a friend or two to join in?  Forward this to everyone you know and have them click here.

    Bill Sager

  • Jeffrey Mikulina, Executive Director of the Blue Planet Foundation, will present: “Accelerating Hawaii’s Clean Energy Future.”

    NRS Members and Friends of NRS,

    On Tuesday, April 5, 2011, the Natural Resources Section (NRS) will hold its monthly brown bag lunch meeting from 12:00 to 1:00pm at the HSBA conference room (located on the 10th floor of Alakea Corporate Tower, 1100 Alakea Street).

    NRS will host guest speaker Jeffrey Mikulina, Executive Director of the Blue Planet Foundation, who will present:  “Accelerating Hawaii’s Clean Energy Future.”

    Prior to working with the Foundation, Mr. Mikulina served for ten years as the director of the Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter. His accomplishments in environmental advocacy include legislation that sets a binding cap on Hawaii’s greenhouse gas emissions, requires that all new homes use solar water heaters, requires returnable deposits on all beverage containers, provides incentives for renewable energy use, establishes curbside recycling on O‘ahu and increases the funding of natural resources through tourism taxes. Mr. Mikulina earned a Master’s of Science degree in engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studying decision theory.

    Mr. Mikulina’s discussion will explore some of the underlying drivers to accelerating Hawaii’s transition to a clean energy future, including policies in play at the state legislature and Public Utilities Commission, and he will share some of the programs that Blue Planet is launching to help people make smart energy choices.

    Sincerely,
    Jesse K. Souki, 2011 Chair
    Natural Resources Section
    Hawaii State Bar Association

  • Support Confirmtion of Bill Aila

    Aloha, everyone.  As you may have heard, the full state Senate will vote on GM  517: Appointment of William Johnson Aila, Jr. as Director of the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, this Thursday, March 3, 2011.  If you would like to email a brief statement of support to all of our state Senators, that would be appreciated.  Mahalo nui loa!

    Email address for all Hawai’i state Senators:  sens@capitol.hawaii.gov

    WHY I SUPPORT MR. AILA AS DIRECTOR OF THE DLNR

    I support the appointment of William Johnson Aila, Jr., as Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources because he has the experience, skills, and proven dedication to the resource to be an effective director of this challenging department.  I am confident he will serve with integrity, provide much-needed leadership, and bring people together to solve the challenges we face protecting our sacred sites, cultural practices, ocean, freshwater, ceded lands, forests, watersheds, harbors, recreation areas, and habitat for unique Hawaiian species.
    I have known Mr. Aila for at least 15 years working to protect native Hawaiian plants and animals in the Wai’anae mountains and along the Wai’anae coast.  He is honest, fair, respectful, intelligent, and hard-working.
    Over many years and by many actions, Mr. Aila has demonstrated his commitment to protecting our land and resources.  He has worked with hundreds of Native Hawaiian practitioners, community leaders, active citizens, landowners, businesses, citizen organizations, agency representatives, and elected officials.
    Mr. Aila’s personal and professional background will serve him well as Director of the DLNR.  As harbormaster for Wai’anae and working at other state harbors as well, Mr. Aila is already familiar with our state harbors, boating, ocean laws and regulations, protecting ocean resources, and addressing conflicts that sometimes arise between ocean users.
    As a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner, fisher, hunter, and gatherer, Mr. Aila will also bring an important perspective to the director’s office.  He has worked on protecting Native Hawaiian burials, iwi, and traditions, protecting water quality and marine resources that feed people and sustain businesses, and preserving sacred and other important cultural sites.  For example, he worked with state and federal agencies, and the public to formulate policies to accommodate traditional and customary practices for the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Sanctuary in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.  He also worked to protect essential watersheds, native ecosystems, and habitat for unique Hawaiian species, including the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, Laysan albatross, and wedge-tailed shearwaters in the Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve.
    Mr. Aila has been honored with this most prestigious appointment, while being given the tremendous responsibility of leading the DLNR in difficult times.  I look forward to working with him and the department.  Please support GM 517 and Mr. Aila.  Mahalo nui loa.

  • Gary Hooser Confirmation Hearing

    Submit testimony in support of Gary’s appointment as Director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control.

    You may view the hearing notice here:

    http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/hearingnotices/HEARING_ENE_03-03-11_.HTM

  • Environmental Caucus of the HDP

    Environmental Caucus interview with Chair Gary Hooser will be broadcast Thursday evening on Olelo Channel 52 at 5pm. Its also streaming at Olelo on Demand, search for Malama Aina with Bill Sager. Tell your friends.

  • Bill Status 2/20/2011

    Agriculture

    HB 1545 HDI Bread labels – What could be better than fresh bread? Fresh bread that really is fresh! This bill ensures bread cannot be frozen and later sold as “fresh” by requiring the producers to add “Previously Frozen” to their labels. Hearing on WEDNESDAY in Room 325 @ 2:05PM.


    SB1295     (cross w/ HB1068) – This bill would remove the requirement for the Department of Health to adopt rules by the end of 2011 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Hawaii. The argument goes: “the EPA will do this so we don’t need to. Let’s wait and see.” But the EPA hasn’t adopted rules in decades. Meanwhile greenhouse gases are causing oceans to rise and destroy our beaches. Why not let’s act first and set an example? The committee(s) on ENE/HTH has scheduled a public hearing on 02-22-11 2:45PM in conference room 225. You can submit testimony by emailing and referencing the bill number, your name, address, and the date/time of the hearing

    OpalaHB 1364 – Please make sure this important bill is heard by the Finance Committee. This bill would remove the exemption for dietary supplements from the deposit beverage container program, thereby encouraging the recycling of popularly consumed drinks such as Red Bull and Monster. Currently the manufacturers are using a loophole to avoid being part of this successful beverage container recycling program. Email Representative Marcus Oshiro or call (808) 586-6200 asking him to schedule a hearing by FIN for HB 1364.SB 1059 – This week, the Big Island moved a plastic bag ban bill forward in the Hawaii County Council. This illustrates that a statewide ban is not only within reach, but at the forefront of Hawaii’s sustainability movement. State legislation is needed for consistency across the islands, a decision that would be supported by businesses, especially chains. Help Hawaii become the first to have a statewide plastic bag policy! SB 1059 will have its 2nd and final committee hearing on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 10:15 am in Conference Room 016. Please submit email testimony to JDLTestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov and indicate the measure ID, date, and time of the hearing, or at here. To avoid a late status, please submit by 11 am the day prior (Monday) to the hearing.

    HB 422 – Please help this bill get a hearing by the Finance Committee as well. This bill would apply the solid waste disposal surcharge to waste that is deposited in landfills, incinerators, or waste-to-energy facilities, whether the waste is disposed of in-state or transferred out-of-state. We support this bill, and feel that surcharge should be increased to fund statewide recycling efforts. Email Representative Marcus Oshiro or call (808) 586-6200 and ask him to make sure FIN hears HB 422.

    Resilient Habitats & Healthy Communities

    HB 379 Relating to Invasive Species – If passed, this bill would require the Invasive Species Council to periodically update an invasive species list. It would also impose additional penalties for harboring, importing or transporting invasive species with the intent to proliferate, sell or release invasive species in the state. Invasive species can endanger native species. This bill hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing yet. If you want it to stand a chance you need to contact the Chairs of the House Agriculture, Water, Land & Ocean Resources and Judiciary committees.SB 80 SD 1 Relating to the Climate Change Task Force – The purpose of this bill is to extend the existence of the climate task force until 06/30/2013. It ensures the task force will receive funds to continue its work tracking the impact of climate change on the visitor industry, intra- and interstate air and sea transport, existing buildings, health of the people and native plants, animals and ecosystems. Submit testimony in support of this bill here.



    HB1385 Big Island Stateland Coastal Setback is dead.
    SB120 terminating all special funds has been deferred by WAM

    Clean Energy
    SB1197 requiring alternate energy provisions be designed in new schools and major school renovations referred to WAM 2/14.

    Invasive Species
    SB169 provides for dogs to check containers for explosives. Referred to WAM 2/10
    SB170 provides container inspection for alien spp.  Dead
    SB1367 Repeal designation of feral animals and deregulate hunting.  single referral to WLH
    HB865 Inspection fee for container inspection referred to FIN

    Agriculture
    HB221 Related to deep ocean mariculture.
    SB1156 Committee to study need for farm coops – Dead

    Plastic Bags
    SB1059 Referred to JDL hearing scheduled for 2/22
    HB988 Referred to FIN on 2/18
    SB1316 Referred to WAM on 218

    For more information on any of these bills go to http://capitol.hawaii.gov.  Click on Bill Status & Documents and do a search on the bill number.

     

  • HB1385 – What now?

    HB1385  was the bill which would’ve protected the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Big Island. It provided for a 2000 foot shoreline setback on state land on the big Island. It didn’t get a hearing and is dead for this session.

    When it was first submitted to the environmental Caucus it was a proposal to provide a shoreline set back on state lands from Ulupo point to South point and around to Volcano national Park. That’s what the caucus voted on to support. The bill as submitted included all state lands on the Big Island.

    The purpose, which the caucus supported was to protect Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, protect public access to the coast and provide an opportunity to build a trail parallel to the historic Trail which would provide biking and hiking opportunities.

    The objectives are worthy of our continued support.

    Rep. Chang held the bill in committee because he wanted a resolution from the County indicating their support. It also appears we may have stepped on some toes at the Hawaii County Caucus. We should definitely have had their participation and support, but being new and inexperienced, we were not aware of many of the institutions on the Big Island whose support we should have solicited.

    Personally, I think this proposal is very complex and we  approached it without sufficient research. I think our legislators will want to have a plot by plot analysis detailing information about each piece of state land. I think they want to know things like:

    1. The geology of each plot and how subject the coast is to erosion and other impacts of sea level rise.

    2. Where the Ala Kahakai trail is in relation to the coastline.

    3. What species are present on the plot.

    4. What potential impacts might this proposal have on potential future developments.

    5. What maintenance costs are foreseen. For instance, will fountain grass need to be controlled in order to maintain access.

    With this kind of information are legislators will be better able to evaluate the projects impacts and benefits.

    In pursuing this project in the future we need to touch bases with as many organizations as possible. We need to know who our opposition is and the breadth and depth of our support.

    I do not think volunteers can gathered the detailed information the legislators will require.  Gathering this information will require funding.  I suspect that if the state was to contract this study the consultant would charge over $100,000. With todays economy that will be difficult to sell.

    A resolution asking UH Hilo Environmental Students to take on the study with a stipend for expenses, and perhaps a tuition scholarship would be a practical way to provide the needed information.

     

  • Oppose SB120

    SB120 is huge and has many aspects, but basically it wants to repeal certain special funds and transfer balances to the state general fund.


    In its wisdom, the State Legislature recognized that certain long range activities such as invasive species control, irrigation water projects, State Park maintenance, Natural protection and management and many others programs need a core base of funding.

    A good example is the work of the Invasive Species Committee on each island.  They are the emergency response team that controls incipient infestations of potentially catastrophic critters: harmful insects like the coffee weevil recently introduce in Kona, nuisances like the coqui, the little frog with a load voice that keeps locals and tourists alike awake at night and miconia, the invasive tree that can destroy our watersheds if not controlled.

    In the instance of Miconia, The adult trees have been eliminated, but follow up will be required for years to control the keikis.  It takes 3 years for Miconia seedling to start producing seed.  If those seedlings are not remove before they seed a decade of work is wasted.  This scenario plays out over and over for many different projects.

    We urge you to not use a broad brush, but look carefully at the purpose and value of each of the special funds you are proposing to eliminate. Will the projects eliminated by these cuts result in wasting decades of effort and hundreds of thousands of dollars already expended?  Will termination of a special fund  make it impossible for technologies which are just reaching fruition to get the capital funding they need to implement innovative technologies?  Will cutting programs put more families in tents exacerbating our serious homeless problem?

    Please look at the value of projects funded by special funds. Evaluate what will be lost if a project is terminated.  Understand the impacts on fledgling industries with the potential to make Hawaii the world leader in alternate energy, aquaculture, mariculture and software development.  Recognize that when state support is removed from a project the economic uncertainty caused by that action makes securing venture capital more difficult and in many cases impossible.

    Yes, close special funds if after careful consideration you decide there mission is no longer valuable, but do not destroy years of effort and allow the devastation that will result from terminating programs that protect which are necessary to protect our islands and our people and don’t cut the foundation from under promising technology that has the potential to make Hawaii the world leader in new technologies.
     

    SB120 will effectively shut down many DOFAW programs and make it impossible for the state to match Federal funds. Gov Abercrombie has stated that he wants to aggressively go after matching federal funding.  Many of these special fund projects where set up so that matching funds would be available to fund matching grants.

    SB120 goes way too far. It would eliminate most of the special funds that support the state’s environmental programs, like the Natural Area Reserve fund (funding all of the state’s conservation work), the Energy Security special fund (funding the state’s renewable energy efforts) and the Food Security fund (money from the barrel tax designed to encourage local food production)

    A short list of important special funds that would be cut include:

    • Hawaii historic preservation special fund,
    • Aquaculture development special fund,
    • Agricultural park special fund,
    • Irrigation water development special fund,
    • Beach restoration special fund,
    • State parks special fund,
    • Natural area reserve fund,
    • Forest stewardship fund,
    • Energy security special fund,
    • Public utilities commission special fund,
    • Energy systems development special fund,
    • Sanitation and environmental health special fund,
    • Clean air special fund

    In particular, the State’s Natural Area Reserve Fund, which is the funding stream that provides monies to numerous Division of Forestry & Wildlife Programs & operations such as:  Forest Stewardship, Natural Area Reserves, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Watershed Partnerships, Youth Conservation Corps, Invasive Species Committees and many more.  This would certainly impact Federal programs such as Forest Legacy, Urban & Community Forestry, Forest Health, Invasive Plant Management, and numerous Department of Interior Fish & Wildlife programs.
    In summary, special funds were set up to fund programs that must have a stable source of funding in order to be a variable program.  Do not kill programs that are vital to the future of Hawaii. Do not waste years of effort by canceling programs prematurely. Support technology that is import to the future of our state.

  • Action alert HB1385 Shoreline set back

    Contact you Mayor and County Council members and ask them to support this bill.
    Juanita Kawamoto spoke to Representative Denny Coffman and he stated he and Representative Jerry Chang found that the need for the Hawaii County Council to create a resolution requesting for the set back was needed prior to the State requesting for the bill to be able to give the bill a stronger support from all the various County and State entities.  Rep. Coffman apologized for not mentioning this to you sooner but that right now they are heavily into the session with alot of work piling up.  If you need to talk to Juanita about the meeting which happened this afternoon around 5:30pm She can elaborate but the comments he made seemed to make sense to Juanita that they want to be sure that the county is in full support via resolution and then the State can reaffirm the support by finishing with the bill. I hope this will be of help to you. I did not meet with Rep. Chang as it was stated by Rep. Coffman that the county resolution was the holding point and would remain as long the county did not respond.
    a hui hou,
    Juanita Kawamoto Brown
    Subcommittee Chair
    Food an Farm Sustainability
    Environmental Caucus
    of the Democratic Party of Hawaii

  • HB379 re Quarantine

    Requires the invasive species council to periodically update an invasive species list. Requires council to update list prior to 6/30/12. Provides an additional penalty for anyone who possesses or intentionally transports, harbors, or imports with the intent to propagate, sell, or release in the State, any invasive species on the list.