Aloha neighbors and friends!
The 2009 Legislature will draw to a close on May 7. This is proving to be a very challenging year as chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Housing given the current economic situation. Even in a year when by necessity, we are cutting funding across the board, there is much that can be done to improve education and housing for our communities.
In education, bills to provide for early learning, charter schools, military dependent students, and teacher licensing are hopefully progressing to passage. Our proposed tax reform measure with a GET increase for education gained much more support than last year.
We hope to pass legislation to respond to the State Auditor's report on the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board. The report about problems in DOE procurement needs to be scrutinized and address the misperceptions as well as operational problems. Several bills and resolutions address procurement issues in State agencies for cost-efficiency.
In housing, we will likely pass bills to plan for housing as related to mass transit development, expedite the process for permitting, and increase affordable and public housing and rentals units.Budget constraints will keep us from increasing repair and maintenance and construction of public housing but recent publicity on the condition of some housing makes clear that we need to act decisively for the health and safety of our communities.
Outside of education and housing we introduced a bill and resolution to promote community service, coincidentally in keeping with President Obama's proposals to greatly increase federal support for volunteer service in America and globally. Both have been progressing well toward passage.
Please share with us your thoughts!
Aloha and May God Bless You,

LEARNING NEVER STOPS
"The beginning is the most important part of the work."
PLATO
Our Enthusiastic 2009 Session Staff
Front Row L-->R: Kevin Cheney, UH Legislative Intern; Senator Norman Sakamoto; Erin Conner, Assistant Committee Clerk
Back Row L -->R: Kiana Kauwe, Legislative Aide; Joanne Swearingen, Volunteer; Leatrice Galicinao, Administrative Assistant; Jacob Ng, Senior Legislative Aide; Allen Awaya, Committee Clerk; Cherry Torres, Office Manager; Christin Wehrsig, Legislative Aide; Lillian Miyao, Volunteer Missing Robert Arakaki, Volunteer
- Education Week Highlights
- FIRST Hawaii Regional Robotics Competition
- Economic Impact of the Armed Forces in Hawaii
- Hawaii Medal of Honor
- Pearl Harbor Shipyard to Sponsor UH Engineering Scholarship
- Completion of Puuloa Road
- Moanalua Performing Arts Center
- District Survey Results
- Find a Book With Lexiles Web site
- COMMENTARY - $14.5 in school reductions proposed
- COMMENTARY - Performance-Based Pay Raises for UH Administrators
- PowerPoint presented on OLELO
- Early Education Presentation
SUPPORTING AND VOLUNTEERING AT OUR SCHOOLS
- Military Partnerships

- Community, Business, Education Exchange (CBEX) UPDATE
- DOE Volunteers and Partners
Legislative Update & Monthly Newsletter (PDF):
Stay informed of news and events going on in District 15.
>>Download 2008 Legislative Update
>> Download June 2009 issue ![]()
Thursday, July 2
New Ewa Beach Makai Middle School Groundbreaking
10:00 AM
91-6291 Kapolei Parkway
Saturday, July 4
Army Reception to celebrate 233rd Birthday of America
2:00 PM
Schofield Barracks, Nehelani Banquet and Conference Center
Schofield Barracks Centennial Ceremony
4:45 PM
Sills Field
Independence Day Celebration
6:30 PM
Pearl Harbor
4609 Hale Alii, Quarters C
Monday, July 6
Change of Command Ceremony for Warrior Transition Battalion
4:00 PM
Schofield Barracks, Hamilton Field
Tuesday, July 7
Moanalua Gardens Community Association Meeting
7:00 PM
Moanalua Middle School, Room B1
Wednesday, July 8-Friday, July 10
Education Commission of the States (ECS) National Forum on Education Policy
Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel - Nashville, Tennessee
Monday, July 13
Aiea Neighborhood Board Meeting
7:30 PM
Aiea Public Library
Wednesday, July 15
Kalihi-Palama Neighborhood Board Meeting
7:00 PM
Kapalama Elementary School Cafeteria
Saturday, July 18
Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center ALOHA AINA DAY #58
Recycling Community Clean-Up and Fundraiser
Please save your recyclable waste for this date and help turn trash into cash for our senior center. See flyer for more information.
Thursday, July 30
Aliamanu/Salt Lake/Foster Village Neighborhood Board Meeting
7:00 PM
Aliamanu Middle School Cafeteria
AUGUST - Recess
Aliamanu/Salt Lake/Foster Village Neighborhood Board Meeting
Monday, August 31
Ala Hapuu NSW meeting
6:30-8:30 PM
Salt Lake District Park
