Tag: hawaii state,oahu,honolulu,senator district 12,sharon moriwaki

  • Bills become law, judges, jobs, Ala Moana Plaza

    Bills become law, judges, jobs, Ala Moana Plaza

    Aloha Neighbor,

    You may be interested in some items below at the state level  as well as a number of happenings in the district.

    AT STATE:  GOVERNOR SIGNS MORE BILLS. 
    September 15 was the last day the Legislature could override bills the Governor vetoed. The Legislature did not override any vetoed bills.  The following measures were signed into law by the Governor, among the other bills that became law. You can see them all here. If you have questions feel free to contact me:

    • HB1929, Act 034, Extends the deadline for the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to renegotiate an existing, or issue a new, ground lease for the Front Street Apartments affordable housing project before the corporation’s requirement to initiate condemnation proceedings is triggered.
    • HB2183, Act 042, Increases the Hula Mae Multifamily Revenue Bond authorization ceiling amount to continue financing affordable rental housing statewide.
    • SB2893, Act 065, Amends the definition of “chronically homeless individual” to provide clarity and improve the delivery and development of homeless services.
    • SB3117, Act 069, Extends the emergency department homelessness assessment pilot program and medical respite pilot program to 06/30/2021. Clarifies the lapse date for encumbered resources for the pilot programs that were previously appropriated.

    SENATE WILL CONVENE IN SPECIAL SESSION TO ADVISE & CONSENT ON  JUDICIAL NOMINEES
    The Senate will be going into special session early in October to confirm one Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge and seven District/Family Court judges.  The session itself will be October 5-6.  The nominees and positions are:

    • Karen T. Nakasone, Intermediate Court of Appeals
    • Karin L. Holma, District Court of the First Circuit
    • Tracy S. Fukui, District Court of the First Circuit
    • Bryant G.F.Y. Zane, District Court of the First Circuit
    • Andrew T. Park, District Court of the First Circuit
    • Courtney N. Naso, District Family Court of the First Circuit
    • Elizabeth Paek-Harris, District Family Court of the First Circuit
    • Thomas A.K. Haia, District Family Court of the First Circuit

    LOOKING FOR JOBS AND TRAINING IN CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY: Kupu Aina Corps
    As one of Hawaii Business Magazine’s 2020 “Top Places to Work in Hawaii,” Kupu provides service-learning programs to empower youth and build a more sustainable future.  Just launched, Kupu Aina Corps program is a new initiative funded by the CARES Act and provides temporary employment for anyone interested in botany, natural and aquatic resource management, marine biology, Hawaiian cultural studies, agricultural science, ornithology (study of birds), and more! Click here to apply.  For more information about Kupu, call (808) 735-1221 or email info@kupuhawaii.org

    MORATORIUM ON HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC DISCONNECTIONS EXTENDED TO DEC. 31
    The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has ordered a moratorium on service disconnections for nonpayment through Dec. 31. The company voluntarily suspended its collection in March so electric service would not be disrupted while many were staying home. Customers should continue paying their bills to the extent possible. Customers are urged to get financial help by calling 2-1-1 or click here.  For more information, call HECO at 548-7311, 7:30am – 6:00pm, M-F.

    EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY LAUNCHES YOUTUBE CHANNEL
    As part of the National Preparedness Month (NPM) festivities this September, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) debuts its YouTube channel. You’ll get information on disaster preparedness AND pandemic safety. For more information, call 733-4300 x529 or email Hawaiiema@hawaii.gov

    PROPOSED ALA MOANA PLAZA DEVELOPMENT—WEIGH IN AT THE KAKAAKO NEIGHBORHOOD BOARD: SEPT. 22
    Brookfield Properties is proposing a new mixed-use 400 ft. tower at 451 Piikoi St.  The project consists of 583 multi-family units of which 124 will be affordable, about 1,500 sq.ft. of commercial space, and 220 parking stalls. Click here to view the Ala Moana Plaza development plan.  The Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board is considering a resolution that expresses concerns regarding the project.  View the agenda and resolution here.  If you have input: EMAIL WRITTEN TESTIMONY TO: nbtestimony@honolulu.gov 48 hours prior to the meeting. You can also attend the board meeting via zoom.

    More background: The proposed 400′ tower of the Ala Moana Plaza would be allowable under the Ala Moana Neighborhood Transit Oriented Development 2016 Draft Final Plan ( see pgs. 130-131).  Current City rules set the building height limit for the proposed site to a maximum 100′.  Under the proposed TOD plan, the 100′ limit can be exceeded if adequate “community benefits” are included by the developer (pg. 138).  Under consideration at the City Council is Resolution 19-238 which would adopt the TOD plan but with some amendments that would allow more 400′ high rises to be built on the Ala Moana Center block.  The last hearing for that resolution was on June 18, 2020, but decision was postposed as the Council sought more community input. No future hearing has yet been set.

    CITY-SPONSORED OPEN MARKETS RESUME THIS SATURDAY: SEPT 19
    Certified farmers’ markets are considered essential businesses under the Mayor’s emergency orders, and with park parking lots reopened, open markets will resume.  Our district location was to be at Magic Island in Ala Moana Park but has been moved temporarily due to construction. It will be at the parking lot adjacent to the Canoe Hale on the mauka side of Ala Moana Park Drive just Ewa of Waikiki Yacht Club. The Market opens at 10 am starting this Monday, and will continue weekly thereafter:

    Ala Moana Regional Park (Magic Island)
    1201 Ala Moana Boulevard
    Every Monday
    10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
    *Currently relocated to the Canoe Hale Parking Lot due to a parking lot reconstruction project*

    View the schedules of all rotating sites here
    For produce types, and shopping tips, click here
    For more information, call the Department of Parks and Recreation, Nathan Serota at (808) 768-3046.

    REMINDER:  DON’T FORGET TO COMPLETE THE US CENSUS
    The 2020 Census counts everyone who lives in the U.S. as of April 1, 2020.  Mandated by the US Constitution, the Census statistics help determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and how billions of dollars in federal funds are allocated by state, local, and federal lawmakers every year for the next 10 years. Census takers are currently doing door-to-door visits to get census responses. The national self-response rate is 66.0% whereas the Hawaii self-response rate is 62.4%. Help Hawaii get its fair share of federal funds –especially now – go NOW to: my2020census.gov. Mahalo!

    Take care & stay safe!

  • COVID Dashboard, Measures helping women signed, Lost wage benefits

    COVID Dashboard, Measures helping women signed, Lost wage benefits

    Aloha Neighbor,

    WE’RE STARTING TO GET HELPFUL DATA: DOH & COVIDPAU
    Some of you have been asking for more data from DOH.  New leadership at DOH is bringing useful data online in a DOH COVID-19 DASHBOARD. Data address the four actions needed to overcome the virus: prevention, detection, control and treatment. Just launched the dashboard is a DOH-UH partnership plus many others contributing data to the dashboard at:  https://hawaiicovid19.com/dashboard.  While check out the updated website that contains so much more — how best to adjust your personal lifestyles, business policies and protocols; and survivor stories that will bring meaning to the numbers.

    If you want even more data, the Hawaii COVID Collaborative, created by the House Select Committee on COVID-19, launched the COVIDPAU project to get the virus under control. It contains data, resources– from health to childcare and financial assistance– to the latest county emergency orders. It’s very helpful visit: https://covidpau.org/.

    GOVERNOR SIGNS 4 BILLS & EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROTECT WOMEN

    The Governor signed four bills to protect women at home and in the workplace. He also signed an executive order directing the Department of Public Safety to implement the community-based work furlough for women “in perpetuity,” which keeps open the Fernhurst Facility.   Governor was joined by Senator Moriwaki and the Legislative Women’s Caucus and many other organizations in the virtual signing of the following bills that became law today (9/15):

    • HB2054, Act 17, prohibits nondisclosure of sexual harassment or sexual assault in employment agreements and an employer retaliating against an employee for disclosing or discussing sexual harassment or sexual assault.
    • HB2060, Act 18, helps women by allowing family courts to withhold from public inspection any record of a denied temporary restraining order or denied protective order
    • SB2638,Act 19, provides an early intervention to reduce domestic violence by establishing a petty misdemeanor offense for abuse of family or household members. The 5-year pilot project will be evaluated by annual reports submitted by the court.
    • HB2425 , Act 20, adds “coercive control” to the definition of “domestic abuse” between family or household members.

    LOST WAGES ASSISTANCE (LWA) BENEFITS DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 20
    If you are now receiving UI or PUA benefits with at least $100/week in benefits, you may qualify for LWA benefits– a federal FEMA sponsored program that adds $300/week of unemployment benefits for up to five weeks. But you must submit your certification by September30. Click here to learn how to enroll in the LWA program. Log on using your account number.  For more info, more FAQ visit: here

    HAWAII FOODBANK FOOD ASSISTANCE: In the District
    If you or someone you know needs food assistance, two distribution sites are in our district, but call first as operation hours may change at a moment’s notice:

    • First United Methodist Church

    1020 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96814
    Mondays & Thursdays 2:00pm – 4:00pm
    Phone: (808)522-9555

    • Waikiki Community Center

    310 Paoakalani Ave., Honolulu, HI  96815
    Tuesdays, 1:00 – 3:00pm
    Phone: (808)923-1802

    For more locations, click here (updated 9/12).

    HCDA WILL DECIDE ON NEW DIRECTOR: SEPTEMBER 16
    The Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) will meet virtually on tomorrow (Wednesday, September 16, 2020), 10:00 a.m. for decision making on whether to confirm the hiring of Deepak Neupane as the new HCDA Executive Director. HCDA monitors and coordinates public and private sector community development projects in Kakaako and other Oahu areas.

    KAKAAKO: PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OVER ALA MOANA BLVD
    The State transportation department (HDOT) is proposing a federally-funded  pedestrian walkway over Ala Moana Blvd. to provide a safe and efficient way for pedestrians to cross over the busy highway and reduce vehicle-pedestrian collisions. The proposal is to:

    • Build a new, elevated mauka-makai oriented walkway over Ala Moana Boulevard to remove pedestrian traffic out of the existing at-grade Ward Avenue and Kamakee Street intersections.
    • Be accessible via both stairway and an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) path that connects to the Ala Moana Blvd sidewalks and other pathways on either side of the structure.
    • Build an observation deck on the makai side of the bridge to allow users to capture both upland views of Kakaako and the makai view of the harbor channel.
    • Include a central pier to support the walkway structure and be placed in the highway median.
    • Start construction in January 2022 and be completed by June 2023.

    Click here for more details along with a location map showing the general project area.  Send your comments or input to DOT.HWY-AlaMoanaPed@hawaii.gov.

    MOILIILI: SEWER RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
    The City’s contractor (The Limtiaco Consulting Group) is scheduled start test drilling work on Hausten Street on tomorrow (9/16), which will take up to three consecutive days to complete.  All work will be performed during the day, and a drill rig and other construction equipment will be used, which will result in some construction noise.  The contractor is required to provide for pedestrians and access to private driveways during the work.  No lane closures or detours are anticipated.  After the testing, the contractor will have to wait 4 weeks before they can complete testing and continue with the project.  If you have any questions, you may contact jason.n@tlcghawaii.com.  Click here to see a map of the construction area.

    Take care & stay safe!