Aloha neighbors and friends!

The opening of the 2010 Legislative session was greeted with many challenges.  Furlough Fridays for Hawaii's public school teachers and the tough economic climate are among several important issues troubling our residents.  As chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Housing, I am working with my colleagues to address those concerns.

To address Furlough Fridays, we have introduced bills aimed at authorizing funds that would return public school students to the classroom.  The measure would make an appropriation from the Hawaii hurricane relief fund to restore instructional days during the 2009-2010 school year and 2010- 2011 school year.

Given the state of the economy, we are continuing to cut funding across the board.   Budget constraints prevent us from moving forward on issues that need to be addressed in many areas, including providing more affordable housing and improving public housing.  Nonetheless, our committee is tirelessly seeking ways to stimulate the development of more affordable housing and rentals.

While we are working to find solutions to our state's current issues, initiatives to ensure a brighter future for Hawaii are also top of mind.  We hope to make Hawaii sustainable through use of our natural resources such as geothermal energy, the wind, waves and sun.  As a result, innovation to take advantage of those elements would stimulate the economy by creating clean energy jobs and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.  The initiatives would also preserve our precious environment.

Aloha and May God Bless You,

LEARNING NEVER STOPS

"Where we stand is not as important as the direction in which we are going."

OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, JR.

Our 2010 Legislative Session Staff

Back Row (Left to Right): Jacob Ng (former Committee Clerk & Senior Legislative Aide), Joanne Swearingen (Volunteer), Caroline Julian (Legislative Aide), Robert Arakaki (Volunteer), Christin Wehrsig (Legislative Aide), Allen Awaya (Committee Clerk), Valerie Ruiz (UH Legislative Intern ), Carol Pang (Volunteer), Cherry Torres (Office Manager), Front Row (Left to Right): Penny Sakamoto, Senator Norman Sakamoto, Erin Conner (Assistant Committee Clerk/Legislative Assistant)