Bills introduced by Sen. English deal with Native Hawaiian issues

One seeks funds to develop alternative energy on Kahoolawe

The Maui News
January 31, 2003

By MARK ADAMS
Staff Writer

HONOLULU — A bill that would establish a model alternative-energy demonstration project at a camp on Kahoolawe is being heard in the state Legislature.

The bill is one of several measures dealing with Native Hawaiian issues that have been introduced by Maui state Sen. J. Kalani English, whose district includes the former Target Island used for decades as a military gunnery and bombing range.

English is asking for $500,000 from the state that would be used to develop new ideas for providing energy as the island develops.

“We’re trying to say that we don’t want Kahoolawe to go back to old technology, like a diesel power plant,” English said. “Here’s an opportunity to showcase new technology as a seed project, and we’re hoping it will get some attention.”

Jurisdiction over the island is being returned by the U.S. Navy to the current steward, the Kaho‘olawe Island Reserve Commission, in November. A contractor hired by the Navy has been cleaning up the military debris, including shrapnel and unexploded ordnance, since 1997. Because of funding and time constraints, the Navy estimates that less than two-thirds of the surface of the island will be completely cleared.

English is asking for the establishment of 10 data collection sites, development of the energy system for a model encampment, and continued evaluation of long-term alternative energy solutions.

The bill is awaiting hearing in the Senate Energy and Environment Committee, which English chairs.

Another energy-related bill passed out of the committee Thursday would allow state and county governments to float bonds to pay for switching government buildings over to solar power.

The bonds would be repaid by money saved on electricity bills now paid to conventional power companies.

English said he first introduced the measure last year, when it didn’t receive much attention. Then the issue came up as a debate topic in the recent gubernatorial election between Gov. Linda Lingle and her challenger, former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono.

Both candidates said they supported the idea, English said, and he is hopeful that attention will improve the measure’s chances this time out.

Other Native Hawaiian-related bills introduced by Sen. English include:

* A bill aimed at preserving the accurate use of the Hawaiian language by requiring that all state documents and signs, when newly created or replaced by wear and tear, use the Hawaiian language, including proper Hawaiian punctuation, spelling, macrons and glottal stops.

The bill would require Hawaiian to be used along with English on all letterheads when government departments replace stationery, English said, which is occurring this year with the change in government administrations.

Since 1978, when the state established Hawaiian as one of its official languages, the Legislature has backed efforts to incorporate the language into official state writings, emblems and signs.

Using Hawaiian correctly “shows the deserved respect for the native language of the islands,” the bill states.

English said a similar effort on Guam has seen the Chamorro language used in official documents and on public buildings and other signs. Even the private sector has voluntarily gotten involved, with individual businesses using Chamorro in their signage.

* A request for $35,000 that would be used by the Maui County Task Force on Indigenous Hawaiian Architecture to assist in the testing of building materials and methods used by Native Hawaiians that could be used in new construction.

The money would be used to build four different types of demonstration construction posts and footings, and for the cutting and preparation of 25 different posts using five different species of wood.

* A bill appropriating funding and enabling the full implementation of the Hawaiian-language immersion program statewide.

* A bill that would allow digital media documentaries of Hawaii’s culture and history to be included when the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts makes funding decisions for “works of art.” 

In 1967, the state set aside a percentage of the annual capital appropriation for the acquisition of art to be placed in public buildings. The proposal would allow digital media, and not just sculptures or paintings, to be considered for funding. 

As an example, the senator said expanding the definition of “works of art” would allow a documentary on Kalaupapa to apply for state funding and be shown in state buildings.

In other matters, English said he introduced a bill that would take a portion of the state’s tobacco and alcohol tax money to provide a dedicated annual funding source for rural hospitals and medical centers that serve communities with Native Hawaiian populations, as in Hana and on Molokai and Lanai.

Now, the rural medical centers have to come in each year and ask for money to operate, English said, which creates too much uncertainty for their continued operation.

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