Category: Uncategorized

  • From Councilman Tom Berg

    If you want rail done right, please join me and submit testimony to stop the steel rail blunder and support Resolution 11-328 that allows HART to embark on the rail project – just not deploy steel-wheels-on-steel-rails. If the lawsuit to stop the rail is not successful, this reso is the best chance we got to get a superior rail project up and running. The hearing is this Wednesday, November 2, at Kapolei Hale starting at 10:00 a.m. You can submit testimony online – see agenda here that explains.

  • REMINDER: GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TOMORROW

    Aloha Members of the Environmental Caucus of Hawai’i,

    I wanted to remind you all that we have an important General Membership Meeting tomorrow, Sunday. We will be voting on a number of important issues, so please try to attend. Here are the details:
    Environmental Caucus’s next General Membership Meeting will be held:

    Date:             Sunday, September 18, 2001

    Time:             1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

    Location:       State Democratic Headquarters
    1050 Ala Moana Blvd, #2660
    Honolulu, HI 96814
    (808) 596-2980

    Neighbor Island teleconference number:
    (218) 632-0550
    Participant Access Code:
    473759#

    Proposed Agenda:

    o   1:00 Room Open
    o   1:30 Special Announcement from Chair Gary Hooser
    o   Report on Bylaw Updates and Vote to approve proposed changes

    • We would like to expand the Steering Committee so that each neighbor island has a voting representative
    • We have been told that now that our Caucus is official, we need to change the name of the Steering Committee to Executive Committee
    • We would like to create a way for absent Steering Committee members (or should I say Executive Committee members) to vote by proxy.  Currently, in order to vote, members must be present.
    • At the meeting, we intend to present these changes to you and ask that you vote to accept them

    o   Voting for new Executive Committee Members:

    • Christian Adams had to resign from the Steering Committee because of his ever-filling schedule. We will be looking to fill this position.
    • We would also like to vote for any new At-Large Neighbor Island Representatives should the bylaw changes be approved.
    • IMPORTANT: If you would like to be nominated to the Steering Committee, please contact lynnmariesager@gmail.com and indicate your interest.
    • We are still looking for someone willing to take on the job of Secretary. Mike has been swamped has had a hard time fulfilling his office.

    o   Overview of our Strategic Plan for the next legislative session, including the need for Primary Citizen Advocates
    o   Follow-Up on our “Roundtable Discussion Series, including “A Caucus Recommendation Letter” for moving forward.
    o   Announcement of Caucus Anniversary Event scheduled for the 22nd of October at 6:00 pm.

    As you can see by the proposed agenda, we have a lot of important information to discuss and vote on. Please make it a priority to attend.

    Finally, I am hoping to test a new computer teleconference option called Wiggio. If you cannot attend in person, are computer literate, and would like to try attending through video conferenceing, please let me know via email. I will send you an invitation to our video conference group on Wiggio. We will be testing it before the meeting (about 1:00). If all goes well, we will have the video conference connected for the entire meeting.
    Sincerely,

    Lynn Marie Sager
    Vice Chair
    Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i

  • Comments on Oahu General Plan due 8/30

    FYI, submitted by Kione Dudley

     

    “The current City administration thinks a nice four lane highway should be built around the island to accommodate all the fine new folks coming to the La’ie and Turtle Bay hotels.  They also think a beautiful Ho’opili development should line the freeway from Waipahu to Kapolei so that we can finally fill in those ugly gaps, and have a solid line of houses from one end of the island to the other, like a real city.  Koa Ridge needs to be paved over so big-city tourists headed up H-2 won’t be frightened getting so far away from civilization.  And the Rail…what fool would not want the Rail up there, screeching along in the sky, while we screech into personal and civic bankruptcy!   Every kid deserves a debt burden that will make his or her life more miserable, something he can proudly pass on to his own kids.”

     

    Click here to study the plan.

     

    Express your opinion of the Oahu General Plan

     

    The survey is available on-line through September 1, 2011 (11:59 pm)

    http://honoluludpp.org/planning/OahuGenPlan.asp

     

    This is one of the tools being used to gauge public perception about the issues being considered for the General Plan Update.  Such issues, which are critical to residents’ quality of life, include economic health, regional population and growth, agriculture, affordable housing, and sustainability.  The survey is completely anonymous and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

     

     

    Send in your written comments by the September 1, 2011 deadline

    Tell us what you like about the current General Plan and what you would like changed, or let us know your comments on the Key Planning Issues and background trend reports (posted on-line athttp://honoluludpp.org/planning/OahuGenPlan.asp).

     

    Email comments to gp2035@hhf.com or fax to 808-545-2050 by September 1, 2011.

  • Coqui on Windward Oahu

    WAIMANALO (HawaiiNewsNow) – The coqui frog is tiny and tenacious. Its call in the wild has been heard all over Oahu.

    “There are a few sites on Oahu where they’re currently established. We’re working on that. I think there are three in Waimanalo and one in Hawaii Kai,” Neil Reimer said.

    He runs the state’s Plant and Pest Control Branch. He said between June 2010 and June 2011, inspectors located and eradicated coqui in 70 different areas of the island.

    Hear a coqui, call 832-0578

    Oahu Democrats passed a resolution pointing out that keeping invasive species out of Hawaii is vital and recommending that  the Plant and Pest Control Branch be fully funded.  They provide a vital service that protects public health, Hawaii agriculture and native forests.  This is a vital service that cannot be subject to the vagarious funding.

    A loud moth
    A Coqui quire can be as loud as a chains.

  • Kokua alert from one of our members

    One of our members, Marjorie Ziegler, asked us to pass on this public hearing information regarding Monk Seal Protection. Here it is.

    *********************

    Aloha, everyone.  I hope you can attend the town hall meeting or public hearing to learn how we can all work together to save the critically endangered ‘ilioholoikauaua/Hawaiian monk seal.  Please learn about the issues and speak out on behalf of our seal.  Mahalo nui loa.

    HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL RECOVERY ACTIONS PEIS – PUBLIC MEETINGS
    NOAA Fisheries Service invites you to join us for public meetings.  We will be holding two types of meetings:  Town Hall Meetings and Public Hearings.

    TOWN HALL MEETINGS – Informal Question and Answer
    NOAA Fisheries Service staff will provide a presentation on the status of monk seals and proposed recovery actions draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), and then be available to answer community questions and talk story about monk seal recovery.  For your convenience, at least two town hall sessions will be offered on each island. **Please note: These are informational meetings only; we cannot take public comments for the record at these meetings.

    PUBLIC HEARINGS – Formal Hearing for Public Comments
    NOAA Fisheries service staff will provide a brief presentation about the draft PEIS and then receive comments for the public record. The first 30 minutes will be an informal open-house where folks can talk story with NOAA scientists and managers involved in monk seal recovery.

    O‘AHU:
    Town Hall Meetings
    Saturday, August 20; 3:00-5:30pm & 6:00-9:00pm
    Ke’ehi Boat Club, 4 Sand Island Access Rd., Honolulu, HI

    Public Hearing
    Monday, September 12; 5:30-8:30pm
    Central Union Church, 1660 South Beretania St., Honolulu, HI

    LANA‘I:
    Town Hall Meetings
    Monday, August 22; 2:00-4:30pm & 5:00-8:00pm
    Hale Mahaolu Hale Kupuna, 1144 Ilima Ave., Lanai City, HI

    No Public Hearing

    MOLOKA‘I:
    Town Hall Meetings
    Wednesday, August 24; 3:00-5:30pm & 6:00-9:00pm
    Hale Mahaolu Home Pumehana, 290 Kolapa Place, Kaunakakai, HI

    Public Hearing
    Tuesday, September 13; 6:00-9:00pm
    Hale Mahaolu Home Pumehana, 290 Kolapa Place, Kaunakakai, HI

    MAUI:
    Town Hall Meetings
    Saturday, August 27; 3:00-5:30pm & 6:00-9:00pm
    UH Maui College, Pilina Building Multi-purpose Room, 310 Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului, HI

    Public Hearing
    Thursday, September 15; 6:00-9:00pm
    Kihei Community Recreation Center, 303 East Lipoa Rd., Kihei, HI

    HAWAI‘I:
    Town Hall Meetings (2 locations)
    Tuesday, August 30; 5:30-9:00pm
    Keaukaha Elementary School Cafeteria, 240 Desha St., Hilo, HI

    Wednesday, August 31; 3:00-5:30pm & 6:00-9:00pm
    West Hawai’i Civic Center, Community Meeting Hale, 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Kailua-Kona, HI

    Public Hearing
    Wednesday, September 14; 6:00-9:00pm
    Mokupapapa Discovery Center, 308 Kamehameha Ave., Suite 109, Hilo, HI

    KAUA‘I:
    Town Hall Meetings (2 locations)
    Friday, September 2; 5:30-9:30pm
    Hanalei Elementary School, 5-5415 Kuhio Hwy., Hanalei, HI

    Saturday, September 3; 3:00-5:30pm & 6:00-9:00pm
    Hanapepe Public Library, 4490 Kona Rd., Hanapepe, HI

    Public Hearings
    Saturday, September 17; 9:00am-12:00pm & 4:00-7:00pm
    Wilcox Elementary School, 4319 Hardy St., Lihue, HI

    NOAA Fisheries Service is pleased to announce the availability of the Draft Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for public review and comment.  NOAA Fisheries Service is proposing to implement specific management and research actions for endangered Hawaiian monk seal recovery in the Hawaiian Islands.  In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), NOAA Fisheries Service prepared the PEIS to evaluate reasonable alternatives, potential impacts, and proposed mitigation for this action.  A link to the draft PEIS can be found on the project website at:  http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/eis/hawaiianmonkseal.htm
    Public Comment Period: Comments on the Draft Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions PEIS will be accepted until October 17, 2011 and can be submitted in writing and mailed to NOAA Fisheries Service, Pacific Islands Regional Office, Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions PEIS at 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu, HI 96814 or e-mailed to monkseal@noaa.gov.

    Mahalo for your interest and participation in the Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Actions PEIS!

    To subscribe to the Mea Hulu Mea Hou listserv, please visit http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_hms_listserve.html
    For more information or to unsubscribe, please email monksealinfo@noaa.gov.

  • Hope you are planning to join our final Energy Discussion

    Aloha Members of the Environmental Caucus of Hawai’i,

    Just wanted to send you a quick reminder about tomorrow night’s Energy Discussion,

    As always, the location is at Ward Warehouse in the main meeting room of Democratic State Headquarters, here is a link to the address in case you have never been there.

    We have a great list of speakers lined up for our last evening

    Representative Denny Coffman – Opening Remarks
    Kelly King – Benefits and Challenges of Sustainable Renewable Fuel
    Robbie Cabral – An indigenous model of geothermal development
    Joshua Strickler, PUC – Vision for future
    Jeff Mikulina – energy security – oil depletion – climate change – paths/options/technology
    Senator Mike Gabbard – Closing Remarks

    The event starts at 6:00 and lasts until 8:00, followed by a small buffet of lots of good discussion. If you cant make it to the meeting in person, you can always join us online for our live online streaming. Here is a link to the online streaming. If you would like to ask questions during the live broadcast, simply click on the “social streaming” tab next to online video and type in your question. We will have one of our members ask your question for you.

    Hope to see you there, and be sure to forward this link to all of your interested friends.
    Sincerely,

    Lynn Marie Sager
    Vice Chair
    Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai’i

  • Kokua Alert from one of our members

    Aloha all,

    One of our members, Marjorie Ziegler, has asked me to pass the following Kokua alert along.

    *********

    Aloha, everyone.  Please attend a public hearing and testify in support of proposed critical habitat for the endangered ‘ilioholoikauaua/Hawaiian monk seal.  You can also submit written comments, which must be received on or before August 31, 2011 (see instructions below).  The federal government has announced public hearings in Hawai’i about its proposal to designate more than 11,000 square miles of coastal and marine critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals.  The proposed rule includes beaches and coastal waters on all the main Hawaiian Islands and expand critical habitat in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.  Critical habitat protection does not close areas, but it does prohibit federal actions that destroy or adversely modify critical habitat.

    Mahalo nui loa to KAHEA, the Center for Biological Diversity, and others for speaking out for the monk seal.  If you would like to sign a petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service in support of the monk seal, go to CBD’s site http://www.change.org/petitions/speak-up-to-save-hawaiian-monk-seals-2 .  For more information on saving the monk seal, go to http://on.fb.me/mwHgmT  .  Mahalo nui loa!

    Public Hearings – Proposed Critical Habitat for the Hawaiian Monk Seal

    Moloka’i
    Monday, August 8 5:30-8 pm
    Mitchell Pauole Center
    90 Ainoa Street
    Kaunakakai, HI 96748

    Maui
    Tuesday, August 9 5:30-8 pm
    Kihei Community Center
    303 E. Lipoa St.
    Kihei, HI 96753

    Kaua’i
    Wednesday, August 10 5:30-8 pm
    Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall
    4191 Hardy St., Exhibit Hall B
    Lihu’e, HI 96766

    O’ahu
    Thursday, August 11 5:30-8 pm
    McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Park
    1201 Ala Moana Blvd.
    Honolulu, HI 96814

    Hawai’i
    Monday, August 15 5:30-8 pm
    Mokupapapa Discovery Center
    308 Kamehameha Ave., 109
    Hilo, HI 96720

    Tuesday, August 16 6:30-9 pm
    Kahakai Elementary School
    76-147 Royal Poinciana Drive
    Kailua Kona, HI 96740

    Comments on the proposed rule to revise Hawaiian monk seal critical habitat (76 FR 32026; June 2, 2011) received during these hearings will be part of the administrative record. People wishing to make an oral statement for the record at a public hearing are encouraged to provide a written copy of the statement and present it to us at the hearing. In the event that attendance at the public hearings is large, the time allotted for oral statements may be limited. Oral and written statements receive equal consideration. There are no limits on the length of written comments submitted to us.

    Written comments must be received on or before August 31, 2011:

    • Electronic Submissions: Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov .  Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

    • Mail or hand-delivery: Submit written comments to:
    Regulatory Branch Chief,
    Protected Resources Division,
    National Marine Fisheries Service,
    Pacific Islands Regional Office, 1601
    Kapi’olani Blvd., Suite 1110, Honolulu,
    with PROPOSALS
    Federal Register /Vol. 76, No. 135 /Thursday, July 14, 2011 / Proposed Rules 41447
    HI, 96814, Attn.: Hawaiian monk seal
    proposed critical habitat.

    Background documents on the biology of the Hawaiian monk seal, the July 2, 2008, petition requesting revision of its critical habitat, and documents explaining the critical habitat designation process, can be downloaded from
    http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/PRD/prd_critical_habitat.html or requested by phone or e-mail from the NMFS staff in Honolulu (area code 808) listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Higgins, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 944–2157; Lance Smith, NMFS, Pacific Islands Regional Office, (808) 944–2258; or Marta Nammack, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources (301) 427–8403.

  • Having trouble embeding the video, so here is a direct link

    Aloha all,

    So sorry, but this morning, my computer has been defeating me. I tried embedding the video onto our site twice, and both times I sent you dud links.

    Ah well, anyway, I decided to send you all a direct link to the site rather than keep sending you embed links that don’t work.

    Here it is the direct link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/environmental-caucus

    See you all tonight at 6:00.

    Lynn

     

  • That last link to the online straming doesn’t work…so try this one.

    http://www.ustream.tv/flash/viewer.swf
    Live broadcast by Ustream

  • Hope to see you tonight either in person or online…

    Aloha all,

    A gentle reminder about tonight’s round table discussion. In case you can’t join us at Ward Warehouse, here is the online link. We will be discussing the Under Sea Cable, and The Wind Project. It should be extremely interesting.

    Those who view the event online will be able to ask questions through the embedded chat feature located on the USTREAM website. Here is the link:

    http://www.ustream.tv/flash/viewer.swf

    Video streaming by Ustream