Senator J. Kalani English
Chair, Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs
State Capitol, Room 205
Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813
Contact: Chris Vandercook 808-586-5886
vandercook@capitol.hawaii.gov

PRESS RELEASE
July 27, 2006

SENATOR ENGLISH ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC ISLAND LEGISLATURES

Senator J. Kalani English (D-Hāna, East and Upcountry Maui, Moloka'i, Lāna'i, and Kaho'olawe) is the new Vice President of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL). He was elected at the organization's General Assembly, held in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, in June. The newly elected officers are Senator Sabino Sauchomal for the Federated States of Micronesia State of Yap, President; Sen. English, Vice President; Delegate William Ngirakelau of the Republic of Palau, Secretary; and Senator Judith Won Pat of Guam, Treasurer.

Sen. English, who is Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Environment, and International Affairs, addressed the APIL General Assembly on the topics of renewable energy and the need for energy self-reliance. "It was a great honor to be elected an officer of this important body, and to address them on a topic of such vital importance," Sen. English said, "Hawai'i's government policies are studied throughout the Pacific, as local governments formulate their own policies to address their energy needs. I was very happy to learn that a number of the APIL member states have adopted the language of energy bills drafted in Hawai'i for use in their own legislation."

APIL, formed in 1981, is comprised of legislative representatives from 12 island governments: American Samoa; the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas; Guam; the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) State of Chuuk; the FSM State of Kosrae; the FSM State of Pohnpei; the FSM State of Yap; the Republic of the Marshall Islands; the Republic of Palau; the State of Hawaii; the Republic of Nauru; and the Republic of Kiribati. Sen. English said, "Pacific Island nations have much to gain through mutual assistance, and APIL is growing stronger every year. The years ahead should be productive ones for all our members, as we gain strength though unity."

Walden Weilbacher of the APIL Secretariat said, "We are proud to have Sen. English as our new vice president. His expertise and his unique perspective will be extremely valuable." The APIL website is http://www.guam.net/pub/apil/

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