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Aloha all,

Here is the link for tonight’s roundtable streaming video. Please try to be there in person if you can, but just in case you can’t please join us on the web.

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Live Broadcast by Ustream

This post is my notes on the steering committee meeting of July 13, 2011. They should not be considered official meeting minutes. They are my notes on things we need to do and subjects we discussed.

Bicycle and pedestrian safety. To discuss this subject for discussion click here:

The resolutions passed by the Oahu County Convention are posted here.  Half of those resolutions are resolutions submitted by the Environmental Caucus. We need to review each of those resolutions and decide what actions we need to take in order to implement them.

We discussed the first meeting of the clean energy workshops and agreed that that meeting was a resounding success. We recognize that given the time constraints of putting these meetings together in a relatively short time Gary has done an amazing job. Members generally expressed their disappointment that they had not had a greater part in recommending speakers.

We recognize the need for a better sign up sheet and Bill will develop one and circulated for steering committee review and suggestions.

We need to send a thank you e-mail to members who attended our meeting thanking them for coming and asking them to return with a friend to our next meetings and giving them the link to the meeting video that they can share with their friends.  Bill will assemble the email list from the sign up sheet.

An organization that advocates geothermal power development on the Big Island and an undersea power transmission cable tying the power generation grids of the Big Island and Maui to Oahu has generously contributed $1000 to the Environmental Caucus to help us pay for the clean energy meetings. However, as we understand our obligations in accepting this donation.  We understand the strings attached require us to display their banner, distribute their literature and publicly thank them for their support at each of our next clean energy workshops. The steering committee expressed a consensus with one dissenting vote that we can accept donations from any organization that wants to support our mission. However, we must not accept donations from any organization that wants to be a sponsor in return for appearing to endorse their program. In the present case, we must make sure that the donor understands that we are accepting his donation as support for the clean energy workshops and we can not  endorse the donor’s program or distribute their literature.

In my opinion, we should have a table where literature from any organization or business involved in clean energy can display their literature. We must make sure that we have invited as many businesses and organizations as we can reach to use this service all. We do not have room to provide a table to representatives from each organization. I have no problem with publicly thanking those donors who wish to be recognized. However, that recognition should be extended to each donor without regard to the size of the contribution. That could become an extensive list and the best way to acknowledge contributors might be in a printed list of supporters.

To add you thoughts to the discussion of our policy for accepting donations click here.

To be a part of our upcoming Round Table Conversation: Securing Our Future, click on the Streaming Video link below during our conference hours: Monday, July 11, 2011, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Hawaiian time.

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Live Broadcast by Ustream
If you log in early, you will get a blank screen. This means that we have not begun broadcasting, but you are in the right place.

You will be able to ask questions during the conference using the streaming chat features embedded in the program.

We look forward to your participation.

Great news for our Island Neighbors. Several of our Caucus members have stepped up to the plate to help us with Online Streaming of our upcoming special four-evening event on Energy Options in Hawaii. This means you will be able to watch the event online and send any questions to us through instant messaging.

If you want to receive our streaming video, be sure to contact me before the event so we can make sure you have access. To contact me, simply reply to this e-mail.

Once again, here is a link to the PDF flier for you to send to your friends.

Securing Our Future

Mahalo,

Lynn Marie Sager

We would love to see you, and all of your friends, at our upcoming special round table conversation Here are the details. To download a full size-PDF version of this flier to share with your friends, click on the following link:

Securing Our Future.

Mahalo

Aloha all,

As you know, this blog is about starting a conversation. We sometimes post information from our membership on bills about which our Caucus has not taken an official opinion. Last night, one of our members, Juanita Kawamoto, asked me to post her concerns about SB667. Here is her letter, feel free to make a comment and join the conversation.

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

Aloha Kakou,

As Subcommittee Chairperson of Food and Farm Sustainability, I would like to reach out to our members and rally their support for one of the most core values we as American citizens have the opportunity to commit – Activism.

I truly believe HB 667 regarding Food Safety certification is one of those times when government is not acting in a transparent manner and has created a potential for serious problems not only for agribusiness for so many other levels of community sustainability.

HB 667 should be vetoed by Governor Neil Abecrombie  because of the following reasons:

1. The federal government is exempting small family farms who produce less than $500,000 per year in gross sales – This would account for a large portion of the small family farms in the State of Hawaii if a survey would be done.

2      To date, there have been no surveys, outreach or workshops offered to small family farmers who would qualify under the current proposed exemption.

3      The bill is like a blank check for the Department of Agriculture. There are no funds available through the State for the implementation of this bill,  The only funding that could possibly appear would come from the Federal programs that are still debating who is responsible for Food Safety Certification – FDA or USDA.

4      The HB6667 is reactionary to potential guidelines that have not been defined clearly at the Federal level.  How can we initiate any action when things are so vague and non transparent.

5      The current 3^rd party inspection of small family farms and the coaching currently provided for fees that are costly to small family farms  by the UH CTAHR have not provided relief to our small family farms but instead have created a non realistic , sterilized , laboratory environment which makes organic or natural farmers unable to pass the ridiculously stringent certification.  The natural and organic farmer utilizes the ahupua’a and natural ecology to cultivate our food source and has done so since the first Hawaiian landed in Hawaii.

(I believe if this program existed when the Hawaiian Mahi`ai first planted the first Kalo, the farmer would have had the Ali`i wage a war against the inspectors!)

Please help us keep small family farms alive and thriving, Veto HB 667.

Mahalo Nui Loa,

Juanita Kawamoto

Aloha, everyone.  Please help protect, maintain, and restore our ocean, island ecosystems, coastal, and Great Lakes natural resources for present and future generations by giving the National Ocean Council your feedback on their strategic action plans. Come out to the Listening Session and share your thoughts. Conservation Council for Hawai’i will be participating in any way possible. Let’s show out in force and let the federal government know that Hawai’i is important and that we need support protecting our ocean.

 

This is posted by request of our esteemed member:

Marjorie Ziegler

Executive Director

Conservation Council for Hawai’i

808 593-0255

 

When: Thursday, June 16, 1:00pm-4:00pm

Where: Honolulu, Hawai’i

The Neal Blaisdell Center

777 Ward Avenue

Honolulu, Hawaii 96814

Neighbor Island Satellite locations at bottom of message

For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177568722300668

<http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177568722300668>

or contact Jeremy Personius jpersonius@hotmail.com <http://jpersonius@hotmail.com/>

or Sarah Winter Whelan sarah@littoralsociety.org <http://sarah@littoralsociety.org/>

 

Whether you’re concerned about healthy and sustainable fish stocks or protecting our Monk Seal, whales and honu or making sure that offshore energy facilities are sited properly- now’s your chance to speak out!

The government is hosting regional public listening sessions to discuss how to fix some of the most pressing problems facing our islands, oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. And they want to hear from you.

 

Last July, President Obama created our country’s first-ever national ocean policy. Like a Clean Air Act for our air or a Clean Water Act for our water, we finally have a bedrock environmental policy to safeguard our seas. Now, a new National Ocean Council is now working to put this into action – and they need to hear from you!

 

The Council is developing strategies to fix our ocean issues and they’re hosting regional public meetings to discuss their plans so far. This is your chance to tell them what needs to happen in Hawai’i.

 

The first actions taken by the Council will set its tone for years to come – help them make our national ocean policy come alive.

STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN OUTLINES:

To see the outlines: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/sap <http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/sap>

 

To comment: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/sap/comments <http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/sap/comments>

 

Participating agencies on the Council will be hosting a dozen regional listening sessions between now and July 1 to allow for public input on the content of these outlines.

 

Neighbor Island Satellite locations

All times and dates are local*

 

Maui Community College (Ka’a’ike 103)

310 Ka’ahumanu Ave

Kahului, HI 96732-1617

June 16, 1:00-4:00pm

 

Kauai Community College (Learning Resource Center 121)

3-1901 Kaumualíi Highway

Lihue, HI 96766

June 16, 1:00-4:00pm

 

UH Hilo (Learning Resource Center 344)

200 West Kawili St.

Hilo, HI 96720-4091

June 16, 1:00-4:00pm

 

I have used this blog to share information and opinions that came to me from a variety of sources. I have not always been careful to indicate when the post represented an official position of the caucus and when the post was simply the opinion of the source and was posted to stimulate discussion.

In the future I will be sure to differentiate between the official positions taken by the steering committee or by the general caucus and those posts which are personal opinions of those making the post and are published in our blog simply to stimulate discussion.

In the future, I will only post issues which have been previously discussed by the steering committee or the general caucus.

This blog is a place for discussion. When we make a post there is always an opportunity for you to comment. It’s very important that you share your thoughts with the other members of this blogging community. It’s the only way that you’re steering committee can benefit from your expertise.

Bill Sager, Resource Management Committee Chair

this was sent to me by Michelle Matson.  Sorry to find out about this so late.

Community based management is the heart of traditional Aha Moku as it was conceived and practiced by the first Hawaiians.  It is also how we keep our leaders honest.  The Hawaii Community Development Authority has been deeply involved in creating a master plan for Kaka`ako Makai.  Now that planning is being undone by HB680.

This is an ill conceived bill pushed by developers who want high density development.  Rather than encouraging and supporting community based management, this bill will gag the peoples voice.

The Democratic Party despirately needs to have a platform plank supporting community based management based on Aha Moku as originally conceived.  The bringing together of the experts and stake holders to determine the future of their ahapua`a.

Bill Sager

A Message from Michelle Matson

YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP ASKED
TO STOP HOUSE BILL 680

SPECIAL-INTEREST LEGISLATION
CANCELS THE COMMUNITY VOICE
on the
FUTURE OF KAKA’AKO MAKAI

Aloha ELN members:
Tomorrow, Tuesday May 3, will be the final floor vote by the State Senate and House to determine the fate of House Bill 680. This bill repeals the Hawaii Community Development Authority’s requirement to collaborate with and consider the recommendations of the community-based Kaka’ako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC) on any plans for Kaka’ako Makai.

The CPAC has maintained their commitment to the future of Kaka’ako Makai in the public interest for this last remaining open shoreline area that will serve Honolulu’s growing urban population. The CPAC has worked diligently over the past four years to achieve community consensus in developing the Vision and Guiding Principles for the Kaka’ako Makai Master Plan and community consensus on the park features and public cultural facilities needed and desired by the community for this vital community cultural gathering place.

However, despite the CPAC’s achievements through community consensus building and stakeholder interaction, this year at the State Legislature the CPAC has been targeted with House Bill 680, repeal of the statute enabling the CPAC’s recognized advisory role in conducting public forums to communicate, collaborate and be consulted on the final Master Plan for the future of Kaka’ako Makai. Coupled with this bill were testimonies from certain development interests and their followers engaged in misrepresentations and misstatements to discredit the CPAC.

No valid reason has been given for this shocking attack on the democratic process intended to silence the community’s important public voice. But is now understood that known developers and the HCDA no longer want community-based planning to interfere with their own plans for high density retail and residential development alien to and apart from the community-based Master Plan.

Find below what the responsible community, including professional and community organizations, environmental and recreational groups, local business owners and concerned individuals say in response to this unwarranted and vicious attack carried out through House Bill 680.

If you are concerned with the ill-directed attempt of House Bill 680 to:
– Repeal Public Collaboration
– Restrict Public Participation
– Cancel Consensus Building
AND
Stifle the Public Voice in the Futureof Kaka’ako Makai,
please phone your own state senator and representative NOW, before tomorrow’s vote, and tell them:

“Please vote against House Bill 680.”

Locate your senator’s contact information HERE and
your representative’s contact information HERE

ALSO
PHONE, FAX OR EMAIL
House Speaker Speaker Calvin Say
phone: 808-586-6100
fax: 808-586-6101

PHONE, FAX OR EMAIL
Senate President Shan S. Tsutsui
phone: 808-586-7344
fax: 808-586-7348

QUOTES FROM EARLIER TESTIMONY
AGAINST HB-680

American Institute of Architects
AIA  Honolulu
“By eliminating the Citizen Advisory Council (CPAC) for Kakaako, this bill would remove public participation and the opportunity for public consensus from the planning of Kakaako Makai. … AIA Honolulu urges legislators to reject this bill as written.”

Office of Hawaiian Affairs
“The office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) OPPOSES HB 680 … We urge lawmakers, the HCDA and the community to explore alternative ways to make the CPAC more effective.  Therefore, OHA urges the committee to HOLD HB 680.”

Hawaii’s Thousand Friends
“Hawaii’s Thousand Friends opposes HB 680… We urge you to not silence the public’s voice and to hold HB 680.”

Sierra Club O’ahu Group
“The Sierra Club O’ahu Group (SCOG) strongly opposes HB 680 … we do not believe the Legislature would be serving the best interests of the citizens of Honolulu by silencing the voice of the community.”

Surfrider Foundation Hawaii
“… Please do not pass this disrespectful bill because it will only lead to anger and division in the community and similar demonstrations to the ones five years ago that helped Save Kakaako Makai. …”

The Outdoor Circle
“… You have a choice.  You can hold this legislation and affirm there is a place for public involvement in community planning or you can pass it and know that you are directly undermining the ability to attract citizens and legitimate stakeholders into future participation in projects of this type. …”

Dexter Okada, HCDA Board Member
“I am a member of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA … testifying as an individual who participated in the Save Our Kaka`ako coalition and a current participant of the Kaka’ako Makai Community Advisory Council (CPAC). Much of Kaka ‘ako Makai is public land and many in the public have shown great interest in the future of Kaka ‘ako Makai.  “CPAC’s meetings are open to everyone. … CPAC is the venue for public input and collaboration and all that is required is participation.”

Reg White, Kewalo Basin Tour Market Stakeholder
Paradise Cruises
“… This poorly conceived bill is obviously promoted by a frustrated HCDA management that wants the freedom to run amok once again with the public’s asset.  This is about the last of the valuable waterfront property left in the Waikiki/Honolulu area and we will only get one chance to do this right, so let’s keep the safety valve of the CPAC oversight in place as originally intended by this legislature!  Hold this bill!”

Bob Miller, Advanced Restaurant Management Ltd.
“I oppose repealing the requirement that HCDA collaborate with CPAC when considering development of the Kaka’ako makai area.  … It would be the height of folly for the State to ignore the input of its citizens when deciding how to develop the Kaka’ako Makai area.  I urge you to recommend that this bill NOT be passed.”

Nancy L. Hedlund Ph.D
“It is with shock and disappointment that I learn that any reasonable citizen or public servant would advance a bill such as HB 680 to abolish ANY community citizen advisory group on any grounds… I respectfully urge you NOT to advance this most unfortunate bill. …  What kind of society do we live in, here in Hawaii, if the State government seeks to abolish the rights of citizens to speak and be heard on matters of direct concern to Hawaii’s well being, now and into future generations?”

Ricardo Trimillos
Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame
“This testimony opposes the elimination of the CPAC as an advisory body to the plans for Kaka’ako Makai.  The dedication of this area to cultural and public use is important for the stewardship of the wellbeing of Hawaiian culture as the host culture and the larger culturescape of local cultures in Hawai’i.”

Robert H. Richmond
Kewalo Marine Laboratory
“I am submitting this testimony in strong opposition to HB 680 which aims to repeal the requirement that the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) consults with the Kaka’ako Makai Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC… I hope the members of the Hawaii State legislature will consider the vision developed by the CPAC, and insure that this is the guidance used for this very special and important area of Honolulu.”

Ron Iwami
Friends of Kewalos
…”We believe in the intent of CPAC which is to bring the public voice to the table.  Please do not take this important right away. …”

Eric K. Keawe
“I am remitting my testimony in opposition to HB 680.  This is a very abrupt decision from which I do not know where it came… The current law requires CPAC to be involved in the development process by being the voice of the people.  This is a very rude bill and should be denied.”

Lydi Morgan Bernal
“I strongly oppose this bill….  I have personally been to many meetings where CPAC members have been involved.  … members that have spent HUNDREDS of hours in service and dedication to Hawaii’s people and the special place that is Kaka’ako Makai. … PLEASE do what is right and KILL THIS BILL.”

James M.K. Stone, Jr., President
Hawaiian Music and Dance Foundation
“… It is fair to say that the development of Kaka’ako Makai has experienced serious challenges which to a great extent have arisen form a sense that the community did not always have an opportunity to provide meaningful input … To the extent CPAC’s legislative mandate is withdrawn, an important voice of the people will be silenced.”

William Feltz, Community Performing Arts Stakeholder
East-West Center Arts Program Manager
“I testify in opposition to HB 680… I have been one of many (50+) community stakeholders faithfully attending the Community Planning Advisory Council for more than three years.  The CPAC has been a conduit for many diverse viewpoints, and it has come up with a solid consensus on guiding principles and a vision for the area that is community-based.  This CPAC has continued to this day to serve as the voice of the community, with the hope that this precious Kaka’ako Makai can eventually be a gathering place serving a wide spectrum of community needs. … Please do not approve legislation that inhibits, rather than encourages, community input!”

Elizabeth Reilly
“I testify in opposition to HB 680, relating to Kaka’ako Makai. … Without continued and formalized input, the HCDA risks departure from the community wants and needs; if this happens, once again there will be backtracking, as there was after the A&B “luxury condo” fiasco.  It is best to stay the course – do not support HB 680 as it is unfair legislation.”

Join the Environmental Caucus in

BRINGING CONSERVATION AND ALTERNATIVE
ENERGY to HAWAII

General Membership Meeting and Special Presentation Wind Fall Out
by Director Mike Walters
Informative and moving film about Lanai Residents
and the proposed “Wind Project”
OPEN to the PUBLIC 5:30 pm Democratic Headquarters

TONIGHT, APRIL 20, 2011
5:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Headquarters of the Democratic Party
1050 Ala Moana Boulevard, Suite 2150, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
(Ward Warehouse, 2nd Floor)

A special event for our
April Environmental Caucus General Membership Meeting

5:30 Informational film on Lana’i and Wind Energy
6:00 Steering Committee Reports and Legislation Review
7:15 Break and Chat
7:30-8:30 Special Presentation by Marine Corps Base Hawaii

“GET OFF THE GRID BY 2015”
Conservation, Recycling, Alternative Energy
Presented by Mr. Kent Murata
Director Installations, Environment and Logistics, MCB Hawaii