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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 26, 2012
COMMUNITY COALITION PLEAS FOR EDUCATION AND DIALOGUE
IN THE WAKE OF RECENT HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL DEATHS
Honolulu, Hawai`i – In response to the series of “suspicious” Hawaiian monk seal deaths in Hawai`i, a group of concerned citizens and organizations have stepped up efforts to educate the public about the plight of the critically endangered marine mammal. The group, identified as the Aloha Kanaloa Coalition (www.alohakanaloacoalition.org <http://www.alohakanaloacoalition.org> ) recently released a public service announcement video aimed at raising awareness about the critical status of the monk seal.
“The purpose of the PSA was to remind people that our Hawaiian kupuna K?`ulakai taught us the importance of sharing,” said Walter Ritte, Hawaiian community activist and coalition member. “We need to share our ocean resources with the seals. What happens to them happens to us.”
UH Professor and coalition member Jon Osorio agrees. “These are truly senseless killings. Kanaka who are pono do not kill for nothing. The pressures of a global market and local economic difficulties are making people behave in inexcusable ways and we must return to a more restrained and responsible lifestyle.”
While only recently formed, the group sees its recent success in the production of its PSA as a sign of its potential. “The public service announcement is a demonstration of how powerful and effective community can be when it comes together,” said Koa Kaulukukui, coalition member and PSA coordinator. “We hope to use the momentum of the PSA video to develop more opportunities to educate people about the value and importance of our Hawaiian monk seals.”
The Aloha Kanaloa Coalition currently consists of over a dozen individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The group anticipates that with the latest act of violence, more individuals and organizations are likely to come forward to join the effort to support Hawaiian monk seal education and recovery.
Individuals or organizations interested in joining the coalition are encouraged to visit the coalition’s website: www.alohakanaloacoalition.org <http://www.alohakanaloacoalition.org> or contact the coalition at info@nameahulu.org. The PSA is also available for viewing on the website. It can also be downloaded for viewing and distribution at the following link: https://rcpt.yousendit.com/1480545329/237b06c29bbfb17cb34251ce07360aa2
The Aloha Kanaloa Coalition currently includes KAHEA: The Hawaiian – Environmental Alliance, the Conservation Council for Hawai`i, the Hawai`i Wildlife Fund, the Marine Conservation Institute, the National Wildlife Federation, the Humane Society of the United States, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Moloka`i Community Service Council, Hawai`i Interfaith Power and Light, and other organizations and individuals.
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Media inquiries:
Koa Kaulukukui (808) 226-0370 or kaulu100@hotmail.com
Just wait till you are paying for a billion dollar plus high power electrical transmission cable to Maui. Civil Beat looks at the numbers. There are alternative. We can produce the power we need right here on Oahu.
This is posted for Hawaii Thousand Friends. It is supported by the Environmental Caucus but is not a position of the Democratic Party.
Dirty Dozen Update & Action Alert, hopefully for the last time…
SB 2927 & SB 2398 HD2 SD1
SB 2927 is being heard in conference tomorrow; Tuesday 4/24. Also see SB 2398 below the following:
Members on Conference Committees are usually members of committees that have heard a bill — but some how, mysteriously, Speaker Calvin Say appointed members of two totally-unrelated committees – McKelvey & Pine (from Economic Revitalization and Business Committee) and Joe Souiki (Chair Transportation Committee)! In short, this move adds two more proponents of the offending bill to the Conference Committee.
Phone and email as can, the following House & Senate conferees and tell them “Do not pass any form of SB 2927.” For more specific information, see our 4/19 em blast HERE.
SB 2927 Senate Conferees; Dela Cruz (chair) who introduced the bill; Solomon, Ige (co-chairs); Fukunaga, and Kouchi.
Donovan Dela Cruz
Senate District 22 – Kunia Village, Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa. Whitmore, Hale`iwa, Mokule`ia, Waialua, Sunset Beach.
Phone 808-586-6090
Fax 808-586-6091
sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov
Malama Solomon
Senate District 1 – Waimea, Hamakua, North Hilo, Rural South Hilo, Hilo.
Phone 808-586-7335
Fax 808-586-7339
E-Mail: sensolomon@capitol.hawaii.gov
David Ige
Senator District 16 – Pacific Palisades, Pearl City, Waimalu, Upper ‘Aiea, ‘Aiea Heights.
Phone 808-586-6230
Fax 808-586-6231
sendige@capitol.hawaii.gov
Carol Fukunaga
Senator District 11 – Makiki/Punchbowl, Ala Moana, McCully.
Phone 808-586-6890
Fax 808-586-6899
senfukunaga@capitol.hawaii.gov
NOTE: Les Ihara has been replaced by:
Kouchi, Ronald (D) – Majority Caucus Leader
Senate District 7 – Kaua’i, Ni’ihau.
Phone 808-586-6030 Fax 808-586-6031
senkouchi@capitol.hawaii.gov
SB 2927 House conferees: Chang, Cabanilla, McKelvey, Souki, Har Co-Chairs; Pine.
Chang, Jerry
House District 2 – South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha.
Phone 808-586-6120
Fax 808-586-6121
E-Mail: repchang@capitol.hawaii.gov
Cabanilla, Rida
House District 42 – Waipahu, Honouliuli, West Loch, Ewa.
Phone 808-586-6080
Fax 808-586-6081
E-Mail: repcabanilla@capitol.hawaii.gov
McKelvey, Angus
House District 10 – Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua, Maalaea, Kihei.
Phone 808-586-6160
Fax 808-586-6161
E-Mail: repmckelvey@capitol.hawaii.gov
Souki, Joseph
House District 8 – Wailuku, Waihee, Waiehu, Puuohala, Waikapu.
Phone 808-586-9444
Fax 808-586-9499
E-Mail: repsouki@capitol.hawaii.gov
Har, Sharon
House District 40 – Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa.
Phone 808-586-8500
Fax 808-586-8504
E-Mail: rephar@capitol.hawaii.gov
Pine, kimberly
House District 43 – Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point, Puuloa.
Phone 808-586-9730
Fax 808-586-9738
E-Mail: reppine@capitol.hawaii.gov
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HB 2398 HD2 SD1 (Coffman, Evans)
This terrible bill would transfer development rights of certain lands under the division of boating and ocean recreation and land division to the Public Land Development Corporation, Act 55, the law that “put in the basic wiring” for the The Dirty Dozen. Despite out best efforts, it passed and was signed into law by Governor Abercrombie last year. See Act 55 HERE. Read HB 2398 HD2 SD1 HERE.
Here, it seems that the legislature is playing poker with the public interest. Inside information tells us that SB 2398 (and other bills) are being held hostage by either the House or the Senate in order to get certain preferred bills passed. SB 2398 appears to be one of those bills. You will note that there are no Senate conferees. That is because the House conferees will meet with themselves to see if they can agree with the Senate amendments; i.e. the current bad language in the bill.
Maybe the House can agree with the Senate version — but we cannot because the exemptions are glaring. Nothing can be done to “fix” this bill and it should be shelved.
Call and/or email the following House conferees and all Senate members and ask them to kill this bill because, suffice to say here — it severely shuts out the public, thwarts due process, disfranchises citizens, corrupts public policies and generally undermines democracy.
House conferees: Chang, C. Lee, Har Co-Chairs; Coffman, Riviere.
Chang, Jerry
House District 2 – South Hilo, Waiakea Kai, Kaumana, Keaukaha
Phone 808-586-6120
Fax 808-586-6121
E-Mail: repchang@capitol.hawaii.gov
Coffman, Denny
House District 6 – North Kona, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Honokohau
Phone 808-586-9605
Fax 808-586-9608
E-Mail: repcoffman@capitol.hawaii.gov
Har, Sharon
House District 40 – Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa
Phone 808-586-8500
Fax 808-586-8504
E-Mail: rephar@capitol.hawaii.gov
Lee, Chris
House District 51 – Kailua, Waimanalo
Phone 808-586-9450
Fax 808-586-9456
E-Mail: repclee@capitol.hawaii.gov
Riviere, Gil
House District 46 – Kaena Point, Schofield, Mokuleia, Waialua, Haleiwa, Waimea, Pupukea, Sunset, Kahuku, Kunia Camp, Poamoho, Wheeler, Laie
Phone 808-586-6380
Fax 808-586-6381
E-Mail: repriviere@capitol.hawaii.gov
All Senators contact information HERE.
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Again, it would be very helpful if you contacted Governor Abercrombie’s office and tell him you are against any version of SB 2927 and SB 2398:
CONTACT:
The Honorable Neil Abercrombie
Phone: 808-586-0034
Fax: 808-586-0006
Email HERE
P.S. Please forward this em to your interested friends and associates, Mahalo!
BACKGROUND Courtesy of David Henkin, Earth Justice
In 1997, when the Legislature amended the state’s endangered species law to allow for the incidental “take” (killing, harming, wounding, and harassing) of endangered and threatened species through safe harbor agreements (SHAs) and habitat conservation plans (HCPs), it recognized the importance of keeping close tabs on activities that, if improperly managed, could drive Hawai‘i’s critically imperiled native plants and animals to extinction. Accordingly, the initial legislation established a five-year sunset on the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR’s) authority to issue incidental take licenses, SHAs and HCPs. While the Legislature has twice extended the sunset date, it has affirmed the need for periodic review of DLNR’s performance and consistently rejected requests to remove the sunset date altogether. House Draft 1 of SB 2277 would lift the sunset date, without providing any alternate checks and balances.
TALKING POINTS
1. Oversight is critical to ensure that DLNR acts responsibly in issuing licenses to kill and injure endangered species. Accordingly, the Legislature should either keep the sunset date in place or provide alternate oversight, so that future generations can continue to enjoy our unique native flora and fauna.
2. Proven, effective alternatives to legislative oversight exist. The Legislature should bring our state law in line with the federal Endangered Species Act, which has – since its inception in 1973 – encouraged citizens to take action to protect imperiled species.
3. Particularly in these difficult economic times, with government services being cut back, it is vital for the Legislature to encourage Hawai‘i’s citizenry to assist in preventing harm to our imperiled plants and animals.
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.
Aloha Members of the Environmental Caucus of Hawai’i,
As we enter this important next stage of our advocacy, the Steering Committee felt the need to set a testimony policy for those appearing on behalf of the Caucus. While individual members are always free to offer testimony on their own behalf, if you want to testify on behalf of the Caucus, we ask that you follow the policy we adopted at our last Steering Committee meeting.
I have included a copy of that policy below.
Testimony on Bills before the Hawaii State Legislature may be provided on behalf of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii as follows:
1) Subcommittee Chairs, their designee and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on all measures officially adopted as Caucus priorities. For the 2011 legislative session, there are 9 priorities and the intent is that there will be 9 identified Bills on which official Caucus testimony may be offered.
2) Subcommittee Chairs, their designee and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on all measures before the legislature that are substantially similar to those Bills officially adopted as Caucus priorities.
3) Subcommittee Chairs and or those members designated by the Caucus Steering Committee may offer testimony on behalf of the Caucus on any measures that have been otherwise approved by a majority of the Steering Committee.
4) Copies of all testimony given “on behalf of the Caucus” must be provided to the Steering Committee at the Steering Committee Meeting held following the presentation of the testimony.