Senate Ways and Means Committee visits Hana

By Jan Welda Fleetham
Haleakala Times
November 19 -- December 2, 2003

Tuesday, October 4 was quite eventful for members of the State Senate Ways and Means Committee. On that morning, they flew into Hana airport and, together with many other people, began a tour which continued all that day and the next. They stopped at key places where state funding is needed, to see them firsthand and to talk with people who live and work in this remote, rural community.

The delegation was led by Senator J. Kalani English, and included the Committee's Chair, Senator Brian Taniguchi, Vice Chair Senator Russell Kokubun, Senator Shan Tsutsui, Senator Gary Hooser, Senator Cal Kawamoto and Senator Lorraine Inouye. Senator Rosalyn Baker also accompanied the delegation, as did Representative Sol Kaho'ohalahala.

Senator English remarked, "This is the first time a legislative money committee has visited the Hana community, and I am pleased to host the Senate Ways and Means Committee on a visit to my home. Hana has many important issues that are unique to our location and way of life. I also believe that by traveling from Hana by car, my colleagues will truly get a taste of what it's like to live in and commute from Hana."

They all met, together with many interested Hana residents, on the wharf at Hana Bay. The Hawai'i State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) recently closed the wharf to all traffic, and wants to demolish it because the structure is crumbling and unsafe; it would cost an estimated $15 million to rebuild. The importance of the wharf to the local community, and the possibility of rebuilding, were discussed, and the Senators were able to answer many of the resident's questions.

Senator English noted, "I learned to swim on the Hana wharf. It is a part of our history and I am hopeful that we can ensure that the proper adaptive reuse of this important structure becomes a reality."

Representative Kaho'ohalahala said, "It is clear that the people of Hana feel strongly about maintaining their pier, but how they accomplish that will depend heavily upon the quality of information we provide them, and realistic timeframes to work with. This project will require more than funding, commitment and persistence; it's going to need every ounce of Hana's will to endure her past, present and envisioned future. I believe we can do it."

After a tour of Hana town, the group met at Hina Malailena, a group of shops that were built about twelve years ago with the intention of giving residents a chance to sell their locally grown products and handmade items in a marketplace-type setting. The buildings are currently empty and in a state of disrepair; Senator English said he wanted the group to see it for themselves. The situation was discussed and all agreed that it needs to be resolved so that the original idea can be carried out, or that there can be some kind of closure on this project.

Next stop was the Hana Community Health Center. Senator English said, "I put funds in the state budget for the Hana Health Center every year. This year the money for the Health Center was in a bill that the governor vetoed. The Senate Ways and Means Committee had the courage and the wherewithal to say no; we overrode the veto. After touring the facility and talking with the staff, members of the Committee felt satisfied it was worth the veto override."

Representative Kaho'ohalahala agreed, saying that "rural health needs and services in Hana, Lana'i, Kalaupapa and Moloka'i are strongly supported in House Finance Committees as well."

In conjunction with this, Senator Baker, Senator Shan Tsutsui and Senator English drafted and introduced a bill to create an air ambulance for Maui County, "which the governor also vetoed and we also overrode Ð so, two bills that had a direct impact on Hana and on Maui County were put into law," Senator English related.

Hana High and Elementary school was next on the agenda. "Over $3 million has been approved for a new six classroom building. The children are very excited about it, but the funds haven't been released yet," Senator English related.

During a quick tour of the campus, Committee members spoke with the groundskeepers, who said they needed decent equipment Ð they get all their equipment second-hand from 'the other side.' Also discussed was the fact that in order to get gasoline for their lawn mowers, the groundskeepers have to bring empty five gallon cans to the central station in Kahului, fill them there and bring them all the way back to Hana.

Senator English said the Ways and Means Committee members plan to talk to the Mayor to see if the groundskeepers can be given permission to get their gas in Hana in the future.

"This could be worked out in an agreement between the state and the county.

By taking four hours to drive to the other side to get gas, we loose productivity and efficiency," stated Senator English.

Senator English mentioned "a very innovative" program run by Rick Rutiz called Ma Ka Hana Ka 'Ike, which teaches the students a life skill such as carpentry. "They've built a number of portable classrooms on campus, really nice ones, with stained glass windows, hardwood floors. It's been extremely successful. The kids have a salary; they leave the program with a highly desirable skill and their own tools. More importantly though, it builds their pride and self esteem.

"We had a wonderful lunch Ð Rick Rutiz is also a chef, and teaches kids how to prepare balanced meals from the vegetables they grow in the garden at Hana school."

The elementary children did a protocol, with chants, and Representative Kaho'ohalahala chanted in response, on behalf of the legislature, and we all had a discussion about Hana School's wish list," Senator English said.

Afterward, they visited Wainapanapa, where the Committee members drove through the park. Senator English said, "DLNR has a 25-year management plan to expand the park and build more cabins, and will be asking for money to do it. The road through the park is private, partially owned by the families living there, and they are opposed to expansion. We need to recognize the delicate balance of that place."

Pua'a Ka'a state park was the next stop; state workers were cleaning the rest rooms when the committee drove up, and they were able to talk with the workers about their needs, and see the area for themselves.

Kaumahina state park, where the rest rooms had burned down a couple of years ago, was visited next. $1.5 million was allotted to replace the restrooms, but right now there are only small, rented Porta-Potties for residents and tourists to use. "The monies lapse in June '04 if not used; the problem is that the restrooms must be hooked up to the government water supply and that is where the expense comes in; my idea is to install compost toilets," Senator English said.

Ke'anae School, the smallest school in the state, was the next stop; the legislators got a brief tour, and photos were taken. No students are in attendance this year, but it's being kept open because it's the only public facility for the nearby villages, and is used as a sort of community center.

Currently the DOE is in discussions with the residents of Ke'anae and Wailuanui about the future of the school. Both Senator English and Representative Kaho'ohalahala are actively involved with this discussion.

"Part of our group then went to Pa'ia School to see the cafeteria; it's quite old, and we're trying to get appropriations to build a new one," Senator English went on.

"We all met again at Makawao Public Library. $3.5 million in capital improvement funds for this project are allocated; I put it in the budget, but the monies, again, will lapse in June '04. Unless the governor releases the money soon, this project will be lost. This is the second busiest library in the state, averaging 500-600 patrons a day, the senators were amazed at how jam-packed it was.

The committee was given a tour by the head librarian, who explained the great need for this expansion. Senator Taniguchi noted the Senate Ways and Means Committee's support for the project, and Senator English added, "This is a unique project because I included everything in it Ð land purchase, planning and design, construction, and furniture. It would be a shame if the administration does not release the money, or only releases part of the funds. The whole project is badly needed by all of Upcountry, and people of Upcountry deserve this expansion Ð in total."

From there the Committee drove to the Kihei Community Center, and had a productive, well-attended 'town meeting', discussing issues such as Ma'alaea and Lahaina Harbor improvements, Maui Economic Opportunity's Youth Bank, and the controversial proposal for county-based school boards.

The following day the committee met with the Maui Hotel Association in Lahaina for a very informative meeting about cruise ships. Later on Wednesday, Lahainaluna School, Maui Memorial Hospital, Maui Economic Opportunity and Maui Community College all were visited.

All in all, it was a very interesting, educational and productive tour.

Representative Kaho'ohalahala said, "The real value of participating with the Ways and Means Committee of the Senate is being able to convey the true sense of need to the House Finance Committee as well. And that is my job."

Senator Taniguchi thanked the Maui delegation, Senators J. Kalani English, Shan Tsutsui and Roz Baker for their hard work on behalf of Maui County, and also expressed his appreciation to the people of Maui County for sharing their concerns with the committee. "I am impressed by Maui's ability to come together and to work for all of its districts," noted Senator Taniguchi.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Finance Committee "include those programs relating to overall state financing policies, including taxation and other revenues, cash and debt management, and statewide implementation of planning, programming, budgeting and evaluation, government structure and finance," according to the State Legislature's website.

To contact them, or learn more, please visit www.capitol.hawaii.gov.

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