Showing posts with label 2018 Legislature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2018 Legislature. Show all posts

Monday, January 29, 2018

Safe zones for homeless top Legislature's agenda, candidate filing begins Thursday, occupiers refuse to leave Coco Palms, full-face snorkel masks investigated in Maui drownings, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Demonstration homeless igloo ©2018 All Hawaii News
‘Safe Zones’ For Homeless A Hot Topic At Legislature. Meanwhile, advocates for the homeless want more money for programs that place people in permanent housing. Civil Beat.

US, South Korean Defense Chiefs Meet on Oahu. US Defense Secretary James Mattis says diplomacy must take the lead in the effort to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula. Hawaii Public Radio.

Missile scare caught hotels flat-footed. Star-Advertiser.

The starting gun for Hawaii’s official election year for federal, state and county offices goes off Feb. 1, the first day candidates can check out nomination papers. The last day for candidates to file is 4:30 p.m. June 5. Maui News.

For the second year, a bill is before the Hawaii state Legislature to create an independent airport authority. Hawaii Public Radio.

PUC probing tax impact on Hawaii utilities. The state Public Utilities Commission said Friday it has opened a new proceeding to investigate the impact on regulated utilities in Hawaii of the recently signed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Judiciary says those who want to speak Hawaiian in court will be able to use an interpreter. Associated Press.

The state’s only Hyperbaric Treatment Center able to treat divers suffering from decompression sickness is up and running again after several months offline, according to a release from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. West Hawaii Today.

Racial harassment alleged in workplace lawsuits at Hawaiian Airlines, Queen’s. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines has selected Lee Anne Wong, chef and owner of Honolulu’s Koko Head Cafe, to lead its in-flight dining program as the carrier’s new executive chef starting June 1. Star-Advertiser.

Iced coffee with partial Hawaiian name offends cultural groups. The name is King Kameha Iced Coffee. KITV.

Oahu

Plans proceed for offshore wind farms. Five years after offshore wind energy burst onto the scene as an intriguing new candidate in Oahu’s future power generation mix, the idea continues to quietly gain momentum. Star-Advertiser.

Botched Illegal Gambling Case Prompts Lawsuit Against Prosecutors. Tracy Yoshimura says that Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro charged him with crimes after he challenged him publicly in the press. Civil Beat.

Tour operators who want to make “recreational stops” at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park will soon be able to do so, but only if they get monthly permits from the city, under a Honolulu City Council bill up for a final vote Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A container of what appears to be a type of oil that first washed up on the beach at Kailua Bay during New Year’s Day weekend — along with tons of other marine debris — was taken away and disposed of by city workers Friday morning, three weeks after it came ashore. Star-Advertiser.

Workers strike at Waikiki Sheraton hotels over concierge plan. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly 2,300 Hawaii hotel employees didn't go to work Friday as part of a strike between UNITE HERE Local 5 members and Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts' four Waikiki hotels. Pacific Business News.

The botany program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa just completed a helpful expansion. Construction is finished on a new classroom which will be used to study Hawaii's rarest plants. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A bill introduced Wednesday would replace University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Office of Maunakea Management with a new entity, managed by a governor-appointed board. It also would limit the number of telescopes to nine by 2028. Tribune-Herald.

Astronomers are calling it “the most important delivery of the decade” at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. On January 26, during a small window between the snow flurries atop Mauna Kea, the observatory’s newest and most advanced instrument arrived. Big Island Video News.

Public offers mixed reviews of service as the cost of government grows. Since 2000, Hawaii County’s population has risen by 33.5 percent. The number of county employees has increased by 27.6 percent. But during that time, the county budget, adjusted for inflation, has doubled. West Hawaii Today.

While 2017 proved to be a dry year for Kona residents, it also tapped deeply into water department maintenance funds. West Hawaii Today.

The Hilo Drag Strip is slated to open the weekend of March 10-11 after being closed more than two years for renovations. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Safety questions surface for full-faced snorkel masks. Two recent ocean deaths linked to new mask design: Are full-faced snorkel sets safe? Maui News.

Bypass work to get an adjustment at busy Keawe Street intersection. Ige directs DOT to get community input for ‘best way to move forward’. Maui News.

Chief who brought lifeguards to Fire Department retires. Maui News.

Kauai

Hundreds Turn Out To Back Hawaiian Occupiers Of Famed Coco Palms Site. The 19th century home of Kauai’s last queen was later the resort where “Blue Hawaii” was filmed. Now a new resort is planned. Civil Beat.

Despite 6 p.m. deadline to move out, Coco Palms occupiers still there. The deadline has passed for activists staking their claim to the land at the Coco Palms resort on Kauai, but they're not budging. Hawaii News Now.

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Gabbard endorses Hanabusa for governor, legislator loses chairmanship in failed House coup attempt, arrest warrant issued for Native Hawaiian who refused to speak English in court, U.S. and South Korean defense ministers come to Hawaii to negotiate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Democratic U.S. Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard PC: Gabbard campaign
U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard endorsed her Democratic colleague U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa for governor Wednesday, saying Hana­busa has a “proven record of leadership. Star-Advertiser.

Gabbard Shakes Up Governor’s Race By Endorsing Hanabusa. The congresswoman takes the unusual step of backing her D.C. colleague in the Democratic primary. Civil Beat.

Congresswoman Gabbard backs Hanabusa for Hawaii governor. Associated Press.

Citing her “proven record of leadership”, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard today endorsed fellow Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa for Hawaii governor. Big Island Video News.

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Longtime state Rep. Ken Ito was removed as chairman of the House committee that deals with veterans and military affairs on Wednesday in fallout from an aborted attempt to reorganize the power structure of the state House. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Ken Ito was removed as chair of a House committee on Wednesday and he says it was his signature on a petition supporting Rep. James Tokioka as Speaker of the House of Representatives that cost him the title. Garden Island.

State lawmakers introduce bills dealing with helmets, passengers in pickup truck beds. Tribune-Herald.

Sex-trafficking advocates will be at the state Capitol for the "hotline poster" bill. KITV.

Secretary of Defense James Mattis will meet Friday in Hawaii with his South Korean counterpart, Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo, to discuss issues on the Korean Peninsula. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz plans to introduce legislation giving the U.S. Departments of Defense and Homeland Security the responsibility to notify the public of an incoming missile attack instead of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, which sent a false alert that panicked island residents and visitors for 38 minutes on Jan. 13. Star-Advertiser.

How does Hawaii’s Emergency Management System work? That was the focus at the Legislature today. Hawaii Public Radio.

This Is What Hawaii’s Missile Defense System Looks Like. The basic principle involves shooting a missile with a missile. But some want more assurance that the missiles don’t miss. Civil Beat.

State kicks off annual recruitment blitz for Hawaii teachers. Every year, Hawaii needs to hire from 700 to 1,200 public school teachers to fill vacancies — left by departures and retirements. Hawaii News Now.

DOE Official Fined For Using State Resources On Her Doctoral Work. The Department of Education has now opened its own investigation of Suzanne Mulcahy. Civil Beat.

The Study Hawaii Consortium is working to grow Hawaii’s international education market into a billion dollar industry. Hawaii Public Radio.

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement actions this year in Hawaii resulted in closures of 19 large capacity cesspools and over $500,000 in fines. Maui Now.

New study declares Hawaii the worst state to drive in. KHON2.

Oahu

Plan to burn recyclables at HPower placed on hold. The Honolulu City Council’s Public Works Committee voted to defer the resolution which would allow the city to divert recyclable materials it picks up at residences to the HPower plant in Kapolei where it would be burned to generate electricity. Hawaii News Now.

Owners of older high-rise residential buildings would be able to opt out of installing sprinklers under a draft fire safety bill approved by a Honolulu City Council committee Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

HART board defers decision to give HECO $20M to purchase special trucks. The board in charge of the city’s $8 billion-plus rail project decided Wednesday night to hold off approving $20.3 million in change orders for Hawaiian Electric Co. to purchase 15 specialized vehicles to deal with ongoing utility-line clearance issues. Star-Advertiser.

HART board approves order that could save millions, then takes it back. Hawaii News Now.

Dozens filled the cafeteria as Pearl Ridge Elementary School for Wednesday night's community meeting to learn about changes in the Aiea-Pearl City Neighborhood Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Plan Station area. KITV.

Pearl Harbor soon will have two warships named USS Missouri. The Navy said the attack submarine USS Missouri will arrive Friday to become the sixth highly capable and much-coveted Virginia-class submarine based in Hawaii — the only location for Virginia subs in the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

NRG Energy breaks ground on 3 grid-scale solar projects in Hawaii. NRG Energy Inc. on Wednesday broke ground on what it calls the largest block of grid-scale solar power ever installed in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

One year from now, the sun over Oahu should be generating enough new electricity to power 32,000 homes from three solar farms being resurrected by a subsidiary of Houston- based NRG Energy at a cost of over $300 million. Star-Advertiser.

Kakaako tower developer to seek state assistance. A developer aiming to build a condominium tower in Kakaako plans to seek state financing assistance in return for making half the project affordable to residents with moderate incomes. Star-Advertiser.

$64 million project to improve Pali Highway. KITV.

An employee email security breach at the University of Hawaii at Manoa last fall potentially exposed the names, Social Security numbers and other sensitive information belonging to about 2,400 faculty, staff and graduate student applicants, according to a report to the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ag chief still willing to support state Health Department oversight efforts of Ookala dairy. Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s director is no longer offering to help pay for expanding environmental quality tests near a dairy farm accused of polluting gulches in Ookala. Tribune-Herald.

Subcontractor sues Naniloa’s general contractor, developer. A subcontractor who worked on the Grand Naniloa Hotel construction project is suing the hotel, its developer and the project’s general contractor, claiming nonpayment of $754,000 for work it performed during the Banyan Drive property’s makeover. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui judge issues arrest warrant over refusal to speak English. A Maui District Court Judge on Wednesday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kaleikoa Kaeo, a University of Hawaii Maui College assistant professor of Hawaiian studies, after he refused in court to acknowledge himself in the English language. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Telescope Protestor Battles Over Hawaiian Language Use in Court. Hawaii Public Radio.

A University of Hawaii professor on Maui says a warrant was issued for his arrest because he spoke Hawaiian to a judge in a Wailuku courtroom. Hawaii News Now.

Arrest warrant issued for man who refused to address Maui judge in English. KITV.

Judge issues warrant after man responds in Hawaiian instead of English. KHON2.

Use of Hawaiian in court leads to warrant. Haleakala telescope protester, refuses to identify himself in English. Maui News.

Warrant Issued for Man Who Spoke Only Fluent Hawaiian in Maui Court. Maui Now.

Kauai

After a heated debate at Wednesday’s county council meeting, a resolution inviting the City of Davao, Philippines into a sister city relationship with the County of Kauai was approved. Garden Island.

New workshop series helps ag businesses succeed. Garden Island.

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Media dissects Ige's State of the State address, tsunami watch canceled, HI-EMA officer retiring, annual homeless count begins, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hawaii House Democrats
Gov. Ige begins State of the State address PC: Hawaii House Democrats
Gov. David Ige used his fourth State of the State speech to request an additional $100 million from state lawmakers for housing, and says the state is “on track” to build 10,000 new housing units by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Ige touts accomplishments, ignores missile alert in State of the State address. Gov. David Ige touted accomplishments from his first three years in office in his State of the State address on Monday, including boosting pay for teachers and outfitting more classrooms with air conditioning, and vowed to keep tackling the state’s housing shortage. Associated Press.

In rebuttal to critics, Ige uses State of the State to highlight his wins. Hawaii News Now.

Governor delivers State of the State address for 2018. KHON2.

Education also ranked high on the governor's list in his State of the State speech. KITV.

Governor David Ige’s State of the State address covered what his administration has accomplished and what it’s going to do to help ease homelessness, build more affordable housing, educate keiki, protect the environment and invest in highways. Hawaii Public Radio.

Education, innovation, and affordable housing were some of the main ideas found in Governor David Ige’s January 22 State-of-the-State address. The false missile alert that has consumed much of his time since January 13 was not mentioned. Big Island Video News.

Why no discussion of bogus ICBM alert in State of the State? Ige says he's talked about it enough. Hawaii News Now.

Media Isn’t Ready To Let Ige Put Missile Alert Behind Him. The governor wanted to talk about issues and accomplishments. Reporters were waiting with questions about the false alarm. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers: Ige speech lacks details. Affordable housing, creating quality jobs, education and traffic were top priorities Gov. David Ige spoke of during his State of the State address Monday from the State Capitol in Honolulu. Garden Island.

Full text: Gov. David Ige's 2018 State of the State address. All Hawaii News.

Hawaii Minority Caucus responds to Ige's address. KITV.

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HI-EMA executive officer Clairmont retiring this year. Toby Clairmont, the executive officer for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, is retiring by year’s end. Star-Advertiser.

False-missile probe to get ‘fresh pair of eyes,’ Ige says. Gov. David Ige on Monday defended his selection of the state’s deputy adjutant general to lead a probe of last week’s false missile alert and make recommendations for improvements, despite criticism from some lawmakers who contend the official is too close to the situation. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige told reporters Monday that part of the delay in notifying the public that the Jan. 13 ballistic missile alert was a false alarm was that he did not know his Twitter account password. Star-Advertiser.

National Weather Service requires two people to send alerts. KHON2.

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Social service workers, government workers and community volunteers fanned out across the islands Monday night for the first night of a census that will measure whether Hawaii is making progress in its efforts to reduce the country’s highest per capita rate of homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Awkward And Rewarding Task Of Surveying Homeless Begins. Volunteers around the islands ask personal questions of homeless people for the annual point-in-time count. Civil Beat.

An effort to document every homeless person in the state underway. Hawaii News Now.

Why Hawaii’s Unlicensed Elder Care Industry Is Out Of Control. Lawmakers have introduced a bill with the backing of the industry and some elderly-rights groups but the measure faces a long road to passage. Civil Beat.

Lawmaker says there's a rise in unlicensed care homes and calls it a "major health concern". KITV.

As government shutdown ends, Hawaii parks reopen. Hawaii News Now.

Thousands of federal workers in Hawaii are expected to be back on the job today after a short-term federal spending bill was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

State unemployment hits all-time low of 2%. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii was briefly under a tsunami watch early this morning following a magnitude 7.9 earthquake off Alaska late Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has cancelled the tsunami watch for Hawaii following 7.9 magnitude earthquake off Alaska. Hawaii Public Radio.

Economics of Home Solar Batteries: Affordable For Now. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Group of homeless providers take a stand: It's time to re-think 'compassionate disruption. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu residents will see their electrical bills jump $2.44 this month primarily due to higher fuel costs. Hawaiian Electric Co. said Monday that the typical bill in January for an Oahu household using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity is $144.26, up from $141.82 in December. Star-Advertiser.

Kapolei data center expands capacity by 70%. AlohaNAP's data facility is expanding its capacity by 70 percent, a move driven by demand from local businesses and international content providers, the Kapolei data center facility said on Monday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

‘Peter Boy’ act passes first reading. A bill introduced by two Hawaii Island state senators that would repeal the 10-year statute of limitations on all manslaughter cases except for vehicular manslaughter passed its first reading by the full senate Monday. Tribune-Herald.

DOH hits Sheraton with notice, $20,000 fine. The operator of a new eatery at Sheraton Kona and spa is facing a hefty fine for operating without a valid state Department of Health permit. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hawaii lawmakers introduce bill to keep Maui apartment complex affordable. Hawaii lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that directs the state housing finance agency to acquire a 142-unit apartment complex on Maui in an effort to keep rents there affordable for low-income tenants at the Front Street Apartments in Lahaina. Pacific Business News.

A trial is set to begin Wednesday for one of six protesters arrested last year while trying to block a large vehicle convoy carrying equipment to the summit of Haleakala. Maui News.

Maui County begins nearly $2M project to repair Piilani Highway. Hawaii News Now.

DOT: Bypass realignment can be tweaked but cannot be stopped. Changes planned for the north end of the bypass at Keawe Street have run into plenty of opposition. Maui News.

Landslide Repair Work Begins at Nuanualoa Gulch. Maui Now.

Sunrise viewing, park operations back after spending bill passes. Maui News.

Event organizers today estimated number of people who turned out for the Women’s March Maui 2018 at somewhere between 3,500 to 5000 individuals. Maui Now.

Kauai

Another helicopter company to start flying. Maverick Helicopters is adding its own choppers to Kauai skies sometime in early summer of 2018, to the disgruntlement of some residents. Garden Island.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Full text: Hawaii Gov. David Ige's 2018 State of the State address as written

courtesy governor's office
Gov. Ige gives State of the State address PC: Governor's Office
Speaker Saiki, President Kouchi, former governors, distinguished justices of the courts, representatives of our congressional delegation, members of the Hawai'i State legislature, elected officials, military leaders, honored guests, family and friends.

Good morning and Aloha!

As a new legislative session opens, I want you to know I am ready to work with you on the issues that affect us all. 

The State of our State is strong. 

We are a resilient people and the future is bright.

As I stand before you today, I am struck by the beautiful and often challenging complexity that makes Hawai'i our home.

We really are the most beautiful place on earth. 

We are of many cultures and faiths, and we live together in greater harmony than any place in the world.

People from all over the planet come here to enjoy our environment, our host culture and their gifts to all of us: gifts of aloha, tolerance and respect, and the celebration of each other and our differences. 

We often need to be reminded of what makes us so special.

We are one of the healthiest states in the nation. People here live longer than anywhere else in the country.

We have led the nation in health insurance for decades, and in the current chaos, we stand firm in caring for each other.

We have the lowest unemployment rate in the nation.

We are strong financially. Our bond rating is the highest it’s ever been in our history, making it possible for us to get the most bang for our buck when we borrow money. 

This saves the state tens of millions of dollars, allowing us to make critical investments in our schools, housing and highways. 

And we have made our voice clear: Hawai'i will not stand for the hateful and hurtful policies of the Trump White House. We are doing more than any other state to stand up for what is right – such as DACA and the Paris Climate Accord – and stop what is wrong, such as the travel ban and stopping transgender members of the military from defending our flag and our freedoms.

And yet. . . 

So many of us are living paycheck to paycheck, relying heavily on our extended family to make ends meet.

Owning a home, is out of reach for many families, with housing costs rising faster than wages. 

Too much of our time is spent in traffic, affecting our families and quality of life.

The growing gap between those doing well and those who are not should concern all of us.

We depend too heavily on imported food and fuel.

We must find a just place in our relationship with our own history and with the people of the first nation of Hawai'i.

And the challenges to our island environment, such as global climate change, stare us in the face every single day.

I honor my predecessors, former governors, and I have built on what they have done. In doing so, I affirm three truths about Hawai'i and the way we govern.

First, I see Hawai'i as a place and a people that cherish our children, celebrate our diversity, and want a better life for the next generation. 
Second, I see Hawai?i as a place and a people where we believe in ohana, respect our kupuna and understand that our 'aina and our ocean are critical to our quality of life. 

Finally, I see Hawai?i as a place and a people where we still believe in the promise of Hawai'i and the prospect of limitless opportunities. 

This is the legacy of our host culture, the cultures of our immigrant families, and all those who choose to call Hawai'i HOME.

We have put these values and beliefs into action to chart the course to our future.

It is one thing to say our children matter; it is quite another to do something about it.

We have invested more widely in classrooms than in previous years. 

We promised to cool 1,000 of Hawai‘i’s hottest classrooms where soaring temperatures have hindered learning for years. I’m proud to report, that, with the Legislature’s support, we exceeded our original goal, and we're at 1,200 classrooms and counting.

I also promised to empower our schools so they can focus on 21st century skills and critical learning. 

In meetings around the state, community members, teachers, staff and principals expressed frustration about top-down mandates and a one-size-fits-all approach to schools.

And so, with more than 3,000 parents, teachers and community members from around the state, we created a new Blueprint for Education. 

This blueprint for change is now in the hands of new DOE leadership. 

I also recognized that it is not enough just to say to our teachers, “We respect how hard you work.” That’s why, we have given our educators the pay raises they have long deserved.

Now, let's talk about housing.

When we say 'ohana, we truly mean nobody gets left behind.

For those who want to live in Hawai'i, probably no issue is more challenging than finding a decent, affordable place to live. And probably no issue challenges us as a society more than the daily sight of those who are now living on our streets and in our parks.

We have dedicated more money to mental health treatment and services, including to our homeless population.

We have initiated the largest annual increase in production of affordable housing with thousands of new units. 

We're on track to meet our goal of 10,000 new housing units by 2020, with at least 40 percent affordable.

I'm requesting $100 million to maintain the momentum and produce more affordable homes across the state.

It has been my firm belief that the state must remain committed to developing and delivering Hawaiian homelands to beneficiaries. In 2016, we provided  $24 million in funding to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. 

This was the highest level of funding in the department’s 95-year history and more than double what had been set aside previously. 

For its part, Hawaiian Home Lands has been ramping up development of vacant and turn-key lots. More than 220 lots were awarded in 2017 and that number will more than double in 2018. 

We’ve also worked hard with the department to spend down federal funds and identify alternative sources of revenue that can be used to sustain the agency over time.

Our “Housing First” policy focuses on transitional housing as a way to get people into permanent housing. The New Kaka‘ako Family Assessment Center moves families off the streets and into permanent housing in less than 90 days.

A “special team” in public housing reduced the vacant unit turnaround time from 267 days to just 7 days. 

And our landlord summits increased the number of landlords willing to rent to families transitioning out of homelessness.

Even in the tragedy that is homelessness, there are significant signs that these policies are starting to work. Homelessness is down 9 percent statewide – the first decline in eight years. 

There's more to be done for sure. We continue our efforts to offer services to those who have so far refused to leave the streets. 

We have set aside monies in this year’s budget to support more progress on the homelessness front. Our budget request also includes $15 million in additional funding for Housing First initiatives, outreach services and maintaining safety in public places.

We also know how important community partners have been in tackling this challenge. Take Kahauiki Village, a permanent housing project for homeless families launched by local businessman and philanthropist Duane Kurisu. Duane brought together city, state, nonprofits and businesses to make the village a reality in record time. The first 30 families recently moved in. Duane, please stand and be recognized.

'Ohana also means that you should be able to put food on the table and be home with your family to eat it. That means jobs that pay well and commutes that work.

Even though tourism is up and unemployment is low, many of our residents are living paycheck to paycheck, one health emergency or car repair away from a crisis. 

Some people may have two or three jobs to make ends meet. The challenge is not just creating jobs, it’s about creating QUALITY jobs and the training to go with them. 

I understand the frustration. 

That’s why I’m working to transform our economy to give residents a diversity of employment opportunities that pay higher wages and lead to a better quality of life.

We’re tackling another quality of life issue, and that’s traffic congestion. 

I have three goals: get projects done quickly, get them done inexpensively, and get them done with minimal impact to the environment. 

From zipper, shoulder lanes and other contraflow lanes, to safety around our public schools and truck-only routes, we are going to where the problems are.

We're reducing back-ups and bottlenecks – in West and Windward O'ahu, Kahului, Lahaina, Lihu'e, Hilo, Kona and other communities across the state. 

We must create a better life for the next generation – it is what we all want.

We all dream of our children succeeding here in Hawai'i. With my three children on the mainland, I know firsthand how hard it is to have them an ocean away.

My personal goal – the goal to which I have dedicated my service as governor— is creating a Hawai'i that gives all our children the CHOICE to live here. 

My grandparents came to Hawai'i in search of opportunities. It is not acceptable to me that many of our kids are essentially becoming immigrants in other places because we don’t have the opportunities here. 

While there is more to do, I am proud of what we have accomplished. We have more Early College programs so high school students can earn college credits, saving families money and making it easier to graduate with degrees. 

We expanded campuses and offer more courses at UH West O'ahu and Palamanui. The creation of Hawai‘i’s Promise scholarships helps to pay for the costs of attending UH community colleges. 

The Entrepreneur’s Sandbox in Kaka‘ako brings start-ups together in one shared space and helps with loans and grants. We also founded the annual "hackathon" competition, which enlists hundreds of professional and amateur code writers to develop solutions for the state’s biggest information technology challenges.

We must prepare our young people for jobs in this sector and that means supporting STEM education, focusing on science, technology, engineering and math. The good news is that it is expanding at all levels. 

The University of Hawai'i is one of the leaders in this work, with the Manoa campus increasing its STEM graduates by more than a third in recent years and the community colleges tripling theirs. 

Also helping to train students in our schools are partners like DevLeague, a computer programming and coding academy, founded by two local software engineers. They are working with the DOE and private foundations.

Together, they are teaching high school students advanced coding and cyber security. We’d like to recognize DevLeague’s founders, Jason Sewell and Russel Cheng.

To be sure that workers in Hawai‘i’s existing industries aren’t left behind, we’ve made available a wide variety of vocational training opportunities through the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. 

These programs match training with current job openings in fields ranging from computer science and shipyard welding to banking and food safety.
And within state government, as we ride the wave of modernization, we remain fully committed to retraining every worker to use the new computer systems and technology tools. Technology helps us be more responsive to the public we serve.

We have always been a state that cares about the elderly. We are making good on that.

I am proud that together we were able to pass Kupuna Caregiver legislation that provides assistance for full-time family caregivers who also have full-time jobs. This is a win for Hawai'i's families.

We also worked to make sure those who have served our state get to retire with the dignity they were promised and deserve. With the Legislature’s support, we took aggressive steps that will save us $1.6 billion over the next 20 years.

As our kupuna have taught us, paying our bills, honoring our obligations and saving for the future is how we build a brighter future. And we have done that.

One value that has guided this administration is to not simply pass on our debts to our kids and grandkids.

Together we have made tremendous strides in this task – building our Rainy Day fund to $310 million. 

We have gone after the tax cheats and collected millions from those who were not paying their fair share. 

And we are working to modernize our tax collection system to make it easier and fairer for the people of Hawai'i.

We have made needed changes to improve the system so we can collect the tax revenues we rely on for state services. I believe we’re on the right track to accomplish this major task.

We're also making great strides in protecting our 'aina and ocean resources. 

To date, we have protected over 40,000 acres of watershed forests on Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i and Hawai'i islands. 

We helped preserve and protect Turtle Bay lands from development.

A joint agreement with the US Navy is helping us reach our renewable energy goals. And together, we’ve established guidelines to use recycled water on food crops. 

Working with all of you here in the Legislature, we were able to provide tax credits for organic farmers, which means a healthier people and healthier lands.

You passed and I signed a law to abide by the Paris Climate Accord – the first state in the nation to do so. We understand deeply and fully what the future requires of us.

I also fought to give Native Hawaiians a seat at the table when it comes to the management of Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is now a cotrustee of the monument. 

Our goal of increasing local food production is another golden opportunity for Hawai'i. We are blessed with four growing seasons and a land-grant university with a College of Tropical Agriculture that has a long history of cutting-edge work.

With all these factors, Hawai'i can and must become the premier center for new agricultural technologies.

We already have ag tech startups going strong in Hawai‘i. One company that comes to mind is Smart Yields. 

They help small and medium farmers to increase their production with data analytics and other tools. The company received international attention when it was chosen to be a part of the Vatican’s first tech accelerator focused on global food production. 

At this time, I’d like to recognize Smart Yields CEO Vincent Kimura and his mentor, Hawai‘i Island farmer Richard Ha.

What we now need is the driver to make greater local food production possible. There is no better way than through our schools. I applaud the new leadership in the DOE’s Farm to School program, the leadership provided by Lt. Governor Shan Tsutsui, and the great cooperation of the Department of Agriculture and the State’s Procurement Office. Lt. Governor, please stand to be recognized.

Clean energy is not only critical to air and water quality, it is important to our economy and our wallets as we work to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels imported from the mainland. 

Working with the Legislature, I was the first governor to sign into law a bill requiring 100% of Hawai‘i’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2045.

Again, this demonstrates what we can accomplish when we work together.

We want hydropower, sea water air conditioning, solar and wind energy, biomass and the fullest possible use of our waste streams. We celebrate the Hu Honua Power Plant on the Big Island as well as the new solar farms on other islands.

And this week we will join NRG Energy, Hawaiian Electric and Kamehameha Schools in celebrating three utility-scale solar projects on O?ahu. 
As a next step, we will grow a carbon market in Hawai?i. This way carbon polluters around the world can invest in restoring Hawai?i’s koa and ?ohi?a trees to offset their carbon emissions. 

We want the brainpower and the imagination of the world to continue to come here. They can help us find our way to 100 percent renewable energy sources for electricity, and in doing so, help the world find its way to 100 percent. Let us take the billions we export for fossil fuels, spend it here, and then export the energy systems we develop.

We are dreaming big and creating the promise of limitless opportunities. Anything less means we are letting down the next generation. 

Hawai'i has so much potential in this new globally connected world. We are already viewed as the ideal research base and testing ground for innovative, globally significant technologies such as telemedicine, smart cities, driverless vehicles and aquaculture.

Hawai'i is a leader in solving the issues of our time. Much of what we do here in Hawai‘i is ground-breaking. 

Hawai'i is home to many talented individuals breaking new ground every day. 

Hawai'i is full of stories of business innovators blazing the trail to create new products and services. 

The Big Island's Tina Fitch turned her start-up Switchfly into a global software platform used by almost every major travel and hospitality company. Now, she’s returned home and started a second company, HobNob. I’d like to recognize Tina, who flew in to be with us this morning.

In our own state government, employees are helping us improve our services to the public every day.  

One example is a team of young millennials known as "The Three Amigos" – Jodie Nakamura, Ryan Mercado and Liam Tobin – the wait time for workers' comp hearings has been cut in half. This 2017 Team of the Year from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations launched a project to digitize mountains of paperwork from some 20,000 claims a year. 

And there are many more dedicated workers just like them across the state. Jodie, Ryan and Liam – please stand to be recognized.
They’re just a sampling of our homegrown talent. We just need to do more to create the supportive environment around them that will launch and sustain their careers here in the islands.

I hope you’ll leave today knowing that we have laid important groundwork and that Hawai‘i is on the edge of something exciting.

At the beginning of my speech, I said Hawai'i is a beautiful and complex place. 

I believe that is our gift to our children and to our future.

Imagine a future economy for Hawai'i that isn’t reliant solely on tourism and the military. Imagine a future where local entrepreneurs are inventing useful products and services that are sold across the globe. 

Imagine that we use our temperate weather and four growing seasons to develop new hightech agricultural tools that increase yields for farmers from Hawai'i to India.

Imagine that we farm our nearshore ocean waters, too, feeding our own communities and the growing global demand for seafood. And with these new businesses, there’s new demand for scientists, technicians and marketing professionals.

And what does this mean for the people of Hawai'i? It means a healthier economy with quality jobs that enable us to improve our schools, take care of our kupuna and provide more affordable housing.

This future Hawai'i isn’t as far off as it seems. We’ve already set things in motion. We’ve put stakes in the ground and we’re making progress.

To face the challenges of the future, Hawai'i must seize opportunities, embrace change and identify the game-changing steps we need to take.

Together, the possibilities are limitless. I believe the qualities we treasure most about Hawai‘i are what will draw our children back to us.

When I ran for Governor four years ago I wanted to take my lifetime of public service and fundamentally change the path we were taking. 
I have committed my life to the people of this state. 

No matter what challenges we face, no matter what frustrations or issues we have with one another, I find my strength and courage in our shared sense of unity.

Mahalo and Aloha!!