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SAVE KA’ULA ISLAND
BREAKING NEWS: click here
Kauai News HERE
Sierra Club of Hawai’i - HERE
The draft environmental assessment, which is more than 200 pages long, focuses on the effects on the land where heightened activity is proposed. This includes 7,659 acres at the missile range facility and 113 acres at Ka’ula Island.
The National Environmental Policy Act, a 1970 federal law, mandates that federal agencies assess the impacts of their environmental actions before making decisions.
Other impacts on Hawai’i Islands
Kaho’olawe
Pūhakoloa
Ka’ula
Red Hill
Waikoloa - Recognize Retreat Report
Testimony Due
Thursday, August 22nd @ 9AM
F-1: OPPOSE Terms & Conditions to Issue Aquarium Permits in West Hawaiʻi
Agenda
By Uʻilani Naipo
June 1, 2024
Lauʻīpala (yellow tang) is one of the species of Hawaiian reef fish highly coveted by aquarium fish collectors who will pay up to $250 for a single fish. Over the past four decades, millions of fish have been taken from West Hawaiʻi waters by the aquarium pet trade industry and, according to environmental law firm Earthjustice, fewer than 1% survive beyond one year.
- Photo: Kaikea Nakachi
TESTIFY!
F-1: OPPOSE Terms & Conditions to Issue Aquarium Permits in West Hawaiʻi
DEADLINE
Thursday, AUGUST 22nd @ 9AM
The hearing date is Friday, August 23rd @ 9AM
(Your 2-minute oral testimony makes a difference)
Written testimony to:blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov
Request for Zoom(8/23/24): blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov
For those not attending, watch it in real-time OR view it afterward at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvFwARB6RhS5CLnaALNif3w
PAST ACTIONS
PŌHAKULOA
DUE June 7th @ 11:59PM HST
SUBMIT TESTIMONY
HERE
Environmental Impact Assessment
Public comments are needed!
The US Army seeks to retain control of nearly 23,000 acres of State-owned land, which are currently leased to the Army and expire in 2029. Part of this process involves submitting an environmental impact statement (EIS) that assesses military impacts within the State lands. Public testimony on the EIS is being accepted until June 7th. The EIS and a link to public comments can be found here:
https://home.army.mil/hawaii/ptaeis/documents
Sample Testimony by Avalon P. here
SUBMIT TESTIMONY
HERE
WE OPPOSED SB3202
Review HULI PAC’s testimony here
SB3202 is still alive, we can continue to make a difference IF we receive enough testimonies quickly.
NO MENTION OF AFFORDABLE OR DISINCENTIVIZING INVESTORS AND OUTSIDE BUYERS FROM OUTBIDDING LOCAL FAMILIES!!!!
Spread the word and reach out to ALL LEGISLATORS by TOMORROW
9:00am, Wednesday, May 1
Please take action now!
(sample testimony within the auto-populated email link)
Email and/or call all Senators and Representatives by clicking here
Despite the evidence, including the local expert opinion below, that SB3203 does not create affordable housing, most of our elected leaders, including Hawai'i Island's Planning Director Zendo Kern, have consistently voted in favor of SB3202 and its companion HB1630. ‘A’OLE!
The last public video here
Zendo Kern’s oral support at 17:15 and 1:48 clarified going behind the County to pass the State level that will override home rule and our people’s voice.
Our efforts have greatly impacted the latest draft of SB3202 CD1. The subdivision of land to 1200 and 2000 square feet is gone from the bill! However, the bill still allows for at least 3 homes per lot, overriding the county's ability to control issues plaguing our dense working-class neighborhoods...more concrete, flooding, cars, and parking problems.
Despite evidence that this approach does not create affordable housing;
Affordable housing developer, Peter Savio, states, "If you think the cost of housing in Hawai'i is bad now, this bill will make it worse...It will not produce affordable housing for those who need it most, because there is nothing in the bill to address affordability."
Former state legislator and real estate broker, Gary Hooser, writes in his blog, "I know that nothing is sold "below market" unless required by government incentives or disincentives. If you believe that counting on the benevolent nature of real estate developers will result in increasing the supply of truly affordable housing - then I have a bridge to sell you."
StarAdvertiser > Eliminating single-family zoning isn't an affordable housing policy
Civil Beat > 5 tools to disarm the weaponization of affordable housing
There's no denying that we all want affordable housing. But we need common-sense planning and action. Most importantly, we need community input rather than just special interest groups. Community input is valuable and necessary, which is why our development and sustainable community plans should matter. Zoning/density decisions should remain at the county level to address different needs and incorporate residents' concerns and ideas.
Governor Green signed and passed this into law!
THEY PASSED THIS BILL - NOT GOOD
THIS REMOVES HOME RULE AND OUR ABILITY TO ASSES THE IMPACT ON HOW OUR ISLAND GETS DEVELOPED….
UNDERSTAND HOW OUR HAWAI’I ISLAND LEADER THINK AND HAVE VOTED ON LAND USE THAT IMPACTS OUR COUNTY
Representatives Chris Todd (Hawaii Island) and Richard Onishi (Hawai’i Island), Poepoe, and Hashem are questioning Zendo Kern (Hawai’i County Planning Director) about circumventing the county council on 2/29/24
House Chamber Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy80Pu8EIYs
◦1:34:07 - Rep. Todd's comments regarding HB1630 (companion to SB3202), "I think largely community development plans, which are community-driven, are a mistake and have been a mistake. The reason being that no community is gonna willingly opt-in to have further development in a way that the state as a whole may need.”
•4/1/24 House Committee Hearing - HSG/WAL/JHA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-z97VV_Mng
◦1:49:10 - Rep Onishi asks Zendo what has stopped Hawai'i County from allowing for more 'ohana units and if he needs this bill passed at the state level because he can’t get it passed at the county level.
◦1:59:35 - Rep Poepoe asks Zendo if he is trying to circumvent county council processes and the different public processes.
◦2:03:45 - Rep Hashem asks Zendo "If you have so much support, why don’t you just go out and do it?” Zendo Kern replies, “It’s not as easy to get it done at the county level.”
•5/1/24 House Chamber Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bnRYEKIiYw
◦5:34:54 - Rep Onishi states that he is offended that Zendo is using SB3202 to circumvent the county council process.
WE OPPOSED
SB3202
Each county of Hawaiʻi should retain its home rule rights when it comes to zoning and density. We each have different needs, communities and infrastructure. However, under the guise of "affordable housing," the State Legislature is trying to take away that right with SB3202. It's a one-size-fits-all approach to eliminate single-family zoning in our urban state land use district, which basically covers most residential neighborhoods statewide. Most importantly, it's a way to circumvent and undermine community input and existing community development plans.
Supporters of the bill have asserted that "affordable housing" will be built if we allow for lots to be subdivided to 2,000 sq. ft. with 3 or more homes allowed on each lot. But, there is no language in the bill to ensure affordability and to disincentivize investors and out-of-state buyers from outbidding local families. Do we just hope that developers do the right thing?
There's no denying we need affordable housing. But we need common sense planning and action that should take place at the county level. Developer Peter Savio agrees that this bill will create UNAFFORDABLE housing - link to his oral testimony at 1:03:31, 4/1 committee mtg HSG/WAL/JHA.
Since oral or written testimony is no longer being accepted, please email and/or call your county Representatives, Senators, and Conference Committee Chairs to OPPOSE SB3202.
Conference Committee Chairs
repevslin@capitol.hawaii.gov
reptarnas@capitol.hawaii.gov
repichiyama@capitol.hawaii.gov
Please make your voices heard loud and clear! Let them know what island you reside on.
SAMPLE TESTIMONY:
I strongly oppose SB3202, all versions. Our state counties should retain their home rule rights since each county has different needs. We first need guardrails in place to disincentive investors and out-of-state buyers, along with sound affordable housing policy, before we increase density in our residential neighborhoods statewide. If not, we will further attract investors and out-of-state buyers, drive property value up, and price local families out.
IMPORTANT:
The currently approved draft seems harmless: SB3202 SD2 HD1. However, the bill goes to conference committee where there is a strong push to add back language from previous versions to subdivide property to 2,000 sq. ft. with a minimum of 3 homes per lot. And again, there is no language, or intention, to address affordable housing or to disincentivize investors and out-of-state buyers.
Here are the previous draft highlights:
SB3202 and SB3202 SD1
allow for a minimum of 4 homes per lot
allow for subdivision of parcels with a minimum lot size of 1,200 sq. ft.
no affordability language
allow for at least 2 additional dwelling units (3 or more)
allow for subdivision of parcels with a minimum lot size of 2,000 sq. ft. (pg. 11, lines 3-6)
no affordability language
MORE INFO:
We have existing housing stock to meet our housing needs. According to Governor Green in the StarAdvertiser on March 24, "75,000 of the 89,000 units in our STR market are 'not legal'...That represents more than 80% of the STRs here - and more than our entire statewide housing deficit of 50,000 units. By working with the counties to fully enforce existing laws and returning only half of these illegal short-term rentals to the long-term local housing market, we could solve most of our housing problem immediately...This will increase supply and bring down prices in a local market artificially and unfairly inflated by the global demand from visitors to our state."
On Oʻahu, there are 122,000 residential lots that are eligible for an ADU. Let's provide ADU subsidies and incentives to homeowners much like we do for large developers.
Statewide, 23% of single-family homes and 29% of condos were sold to out-of-state buyers. Over half of condo sales on the neighbor islands were bought by out-of-state buyers. We clearly need to disincentivize out-of-state buyers.
StarAdvertiser > Eliminating single-family zoning isn't an affordable housing policy
Civil Beat > The State has no business forcing residential density on the counties
Civil Beat > 5 tools to disarm the weaponization of affordable housing
THEY DID NOT PASS
CLEAN ELECTIONS!
SAVE CLEAN ELECTION
Click SAVE CLEAN ELECTIONS! &
RSVP here, to join the rally
in Honolulu (2/22/24 @ 9AM).
* View Clean Election’s public stance here
Pōhakuloa, Kawailoa-Poamoho, and Mākua on the BLNR agenda for this coming Friday, April 12, at 9am!
Testimony Due Thursday, April 11th @ 9AM
Please submit testimony blnr.testimony@hawaii.gov
Click to access Agenda-240412.pdf
Testimony should reference the below agenda item:
D. LAND DIVISION
2. Informational Briefing Update on the United States Army Training Land Retention Efforts for the Pōhakuloa Training Area on the Island of Hawaiʻi and for Kahuku, Kawailoa-Poamoho, and Mākua Training Lands on the Island of Oʻahu;
And
Authorize the Chairperson to Negotiate, Approve and Execute a Contract for Appraisal Services to Determine the Fair Market Value Currently Leased by the United States Army, Tax Map Keys (1) 5-8-002:002, 5-9-006:026; 7-2-001:006; 8-1- 001:007 (por.), 008 and 012 (por.), 8-2-001:001, 022, 024, & 025; and (3) 4-4- 015:008, 4-4-016:005. 7-1-004:007.
Save Reef Fish from Aquarium Trade in West Hawaiʻi!
DEADLINE
Thursday, April 11th @ 9 AM
TESTIFY / SPREAD THE WORD!
Please submit testimony by clicking on the blue email link in strong OPPOSITION to DAR’s plan to reopen our reefs to the destructive aquarium trade.
Email: BLNR.TESTIMONY@HAWAII.GOV (AUTO POPULATED TESTIMONY)
One person killed this Resolution for Ceasefire.
House Rep. David Tarnas
Watch here
But do not despair. We still have the (stronger) Senate version, SCR13, which has crossed over to the House and is awaiting a referral to a committee. Given our recent experience with JHA, and given new information about the mood in the House, we have determined that routing SCR13 through the CAI (Culture, Arts, and International Affairs) committee gives us the best chance of getting the senate version passed in the House.
That means it's time to ask Speaker Saiki to quickly refer SCR13 to the CAI committee ONLY. This is called a "single-referral." It's critical that we insist on a single-referral and that we start sending emails and making calls today. We've updated our legislator contact tool to send a pre-loaded email message to Speaker Saiki (which you can edit how you see fit) and to patch you through to his office phone (a simple script is included).
Please take action right away using the button above.
OPPOSE Construction of TMT on Maunakea!
KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance - Tell the National Science Foundation Board not to fund construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea! Sign the petition and share with 10 others!
ACTION 1 - Sign the Petition: https://bit.ly/protectmaunakeanow
1) SAVE CLEAN ELECTION
Click SAVE CLEAN ELECTIONS! &
RSVP here, to join the rally
in Honolulu (2/22/24 @ 9AM).
* View Clean Election’s public stance here
2) SAVE OUR REEF FISH IN WEST HAWAI’I!
DEADLINE Thursday, April 11th @ 9 AM
PLEASE TESTIFY AND SPREAD THE WORD!
Agenda here
If DARs efforts on behalf of the aquarium trade are not defeated next Friday, DAR plans to ask the Board (in May or June) to issue AQ permits for West Hawaiʻi. Testify to save our reef!
ACTION 1 – Send in your testimony TODAY!
Email: BLNR.TESTIMONY@HAWAII.GOV
We auto-populated it by clicking the email link.
Oral Testify:
ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84400606532
Meeting ID: 844 0060 6532
VIEW LIVE STREAM: https://youtube.com/live/GeBFcLpUrxE
ACTION 2 - Spread the word!
To learn more, read this message from FOR THE FISHIES: click here
3) WE ALL SAVED Culture & Arts - MAHALO!
This bill would have eradicated all State Foundation for Culture and the Arts funding around culture/arts programming, DOE teacher training, organizations, theaters, galleries, and public art collections, marginalize outer islands even more, and impact 124 public/charter schools (over 10K children) on every island.
Over 1,195 written testimonies were received opposing HB1807 HD2. We packed the room, spilled over outside, and had many Zoom testifiers. By sheer numbers, we killed this bill!
They will try again, so vote for better leaders that reflect Hawaiian values!
- HB1807 HD2 - OPPOSE
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
4) Protect our Uhu to help save our reefs!
Recommended by ʻOhana Miloliʻi CBSFA in support of Fish Pono (fishpono.org)
- HB1689 - SUPPORT
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
5) SUNSHINE LAWS
BILLS BLOCKED BY House Rep. Tarnas
Transparency!
No more closed-door dealings!
- HB2021 - SUPPORT
- HB2635 - SUPPORT
- SB2281 - SUPPORT
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
5) Deep Sea Mining
Protect Hawai’i waters from seabed mining
- SB2575 - SUPPORT
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
6) Demand REUSE LAWS to pass first
before inviting more plastic bottles to HI!
(Recycle Hawai’i)
HB1688 - OPPOSE
SB2368 - OPPOSE
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
7) Biosecurity - say NO to invasive species
HB2758 - SUPPORT
SB3237 - SUPPORT
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
Testify to get Big Money Out of Politics!
Let's organize our neighbors to get Big Money Out
SIGN UP HERE TO BE A COMMUNITY CAPTAIN
OPPOSE THESE BILLS!
SB2764 / HB2565
Description: It would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Revoking and dismantling the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Commission. Requires the Governor, a non-expert in this field, to select the Executive Director of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, with the advice and consent of the Senate. ALL NON-EXPERTS in the field of culture and the arts. This is dangerous and reflects the darker history of humanity.
Dismantling the SFCA Commission, allowing
According to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), the State of Hawaii may not be eligible to receive funding from the National Endowment for the Arts without a community-represented board, council, or commission.
Also, from NASAA statistics, state arts agencies whose placement changed had an average budget decrease of 76%.
Losing the neighbor island representation of a commission defeats the SFCA's community-based decision-making and eliminates transparency and community-based decision-making, which is core to the Foundation.
This bill places Native Hawaiian culture in the economic and tourism perspective. Having an independent culture and arts organization allows for the perpetuation of authentic traditions by Native Hawaiians. Losing the Federally funded folk and traditional programs has greatly impacted Hawaiian traditions. This cannot be assured by attaching the SFCA as a branch of an existing department. The independent agency perspective must be maintained to ensure authentic traditions.
Introducers SB2764: WAKAI, KIDANI, Hashimoto, Moriwaki
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
Introducers HB2565: HOLT, KAHALOA, LAMOSAO
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
HB1807
Description: Repeals capital improvement appropriations for renovations of state buildings as a source of funds for the works of art special fund. It intends to eliminate the word “renovation” from the law. Consequently, most of the Art in Public Places Program support would end. This bill would end support for 13 art centers and 8 organizations that offer Native Hawaiian/Arts based programs that impact 124 public and charter schools on all major islands, along with outreach programs, to name a few impacts.
Introducer: YAMASHITA
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
Here is the impact report from the
State Foundation for Culture and the Arts:
Support for Native Hawaiian and local artists, galleries, and organizations
Hawaii Island
Donkey Mill Arts Center
East Hawaii Culture Center
Kahilu Theatre
Wailoa Center
Maui
Hui Noe’au
Lahaina Plein Air Painters Association
Maui Arts and Culture Center
Viewpoints Gallery
Kauai
Kauai Society of Artists
Oahu
Downtown Art Center
Arts and Letters
Fishcake
University of Hawaii Galleries
ORGANIZATIONS
Pu’uhonua Society
Hawaii Contemporary
Hawaii Watercolor Society
Honolulu Printmakers
Honolulu Theatre for Youth
Hawaii Handweavers Hui
Hula Preservation Society
NOTAE
Artists in the Schools arts education program serving 124 public and charter schools statewide.
Professional Development for DOE Teachers
The Hawaii State Art Museum exhibitions and programming
Scholastic Art Exhibition
Young Artists of Hawaii
Hawaii Arts Alliance
Outreach programs:
Kahauiki Village
Institute for Human Services
RYSE Residential Youth Services and Empowerment
Family Friendly Programming for LGBTQ populations
LGBTQ Legacy Foundation
Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center
We need protection for our Uhu
so they can help save our reefs!
Recommended by ʻOhana Miloliʻi CBSFA in support of Fish Pono (fishpono.org)
HB1689 - SUPPORT
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
Aloha!
Mahalo nui to the many of us that put in effort to work the Herbivore Rules Package in 2023. It fell short of the adequate protection for our blue uhu that we wanted, but we have a bill here - HB1689
Amends conservation and resources law to prohibit: (1) Commercial sales of parrotfish that have been caught by spearing; and (2) The spearing of parrotfish in state waters after sunset or before sunrise.
The (2) prohibitions of this bill were derived after consulting with DOCARE (Oʻahu) related to the catch and sale trends of the blue uhu.
For more information and a testimony sample letter, see fishpono.org
“Ethic reforms are finally being discussed in the Legislature following a series of scandals in the last few years. These include the notorious envelopes of cash that sent two state legislators to prison and other corruption scandals at the state and county levels.”
”Hawaii’s sunshine laws, which require most public business to be conducted in public view, currently apply to the county councils, boards, and commissions, but curiously, not to the Legislature itself.”
~ Civil Beat, article By Russell Ruderman
March 28, 2023 · 5 min read
Sunshine Bills need to be heard.
They want this DEAD ON ARRIVAL!
- HB2021 - SUPPORT
- HB2635 - SUPPORT
- SB2281 - SUPPORT
SAMPLE TESTIMONY CLICK HERE
ACTION: Call & Email
Click here to email everyone
Demand these Bills be Heard!
CALL
Government Operations
McKelvey, Angus L.K.
Chair
Phone: 808-586-6070
senmckelvey@capitol.hawaii.gov
Gabbard, Mike
Vice Chair
Phone: 808-586-6830
sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Tarnas, David A.
Chair
Phone: 808-586-8510
Vice Chair
Phone: 808-586-6340
reptakayama@capitol.hawaii.gov
UPDATE
THE PETITION WAS ACCEPTED!!!
Watch the historical moment:
BLNR meeting: 4:52:48 / 10:19:42
Aloha, 12/10/23
We’ll take the Board’s unanimous vote to approve our petition prohibiting commercial AQ as a win!
We’ll also hold the Board and DAR to its commitment to the community to initiate the rulemaking process consistent with our petition and the overwhelming testimony in support of ending the aquarium trade!
Rene Umberger
Executive Director
https://forthefishes.org/
DEADLINE
Wednesday, December 6TH, 9:00 AM
TWO TESTIMONIES NEEDED
TO SAVE
OUR REEF FISH!
Join Rene Umberger, Kaikea Nakachi, Inga Gibson,
Kalanihale Miloli’i, For the Fishes, & HULI PAC
USE OUR SAMPLE TESTIMONY & PERSONALIZE IT
Agenda Items:
1) Agenda Item F-3: BAN AQUARIUM COLLECTION FOR GOOD HERE
For F-5, the testimony template was created by several community pono practitioners (from West Hawaiʻi) who came together in (2) meetings to summarize feedback
2) Agenda Item F-5: SET PONO RULES FOR HERBIVORES (REEF FISH) HERE
December 8th, the State of Hawaiʻi is considering new fishing rules to replenish our herbivore populations. Unfortunately, the rules have been weakened repeatedly since they were first proposed a year ago. Why? The forces of the status quo who do not want exploitation restricted have overwhelmed the voices of conservation. Please join Fish Pono—Save Our Reefs in submitting testimony in favor of saving our coral reef saviors.
Support the petitioners
Kalanihale
KUPA Friends of Ho‘okena Beach Park
Moana ‘Ohana
Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club
For the Fishes
DLNR - DOCARE Officers were present during this photo shoot in 2017.
BLNR/DLNR also admits the mass degradation of our herbivore species on our reef is at alarming numbers, so they support CBSFA programs. Yet commercial is allowed to take these fish for visual pleasure and food with looser limits if any.
At what cost do we allow jobs to dictate the collapse of our coral which supports 70% of our earth’s oxygen…