Secretary Eric Shinseki Addresses Conference

Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki addressed the Military Relations forum at the 50th Anniversary of Statehood Conference at the Hawaii Convention Center. Secretary Shinseki indicated that the Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to insuring that the estimated 131,000 homeless veteran will be off the streets in the next five years.

"You see, to get to zero, we have to attack the entire cycle of downward spirals that end in homelessness -- the last step in the loss of hope. We can't solve it at the state or national levels, unless we attack jobs and education, health care and substance abuse, depression and suicides and housing."

Toward this end, Secretary Shinseki indicated that the Veterans Administration will spend $3.2 billion next year on homelessness, 85% of which will go toward improving mental health and treating substance abuse.

Native Hawaiians: Cultural Navigation in a Sea of Change

A panel discussion on the Akaka Bill resulted in a variety of opinions ranging from a feeling that something had to be done to protect Native Hawaiian Entitlements to a belief that the 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy was illegal and therefore any other action by the United States absent a treaty of annexation would therefore be void.

HCC Machine, Welding and Industrial Mechanics Tech Program

Mark and US Senator Daniel Inouye.

Hawaii Community College held a blessing for the recent expansion of the Machine, Welding and Industrial Mechanics (MWIM) Technology Program at the Mauka Campus. An advisory Council of people from impacted industries and students were instrumental in conducting an industry-wide survey that identified the workforce needs and student needs for the Big Island of Hawaii.

The support of US Senator Daniel Inouye has proven to be invaluable in the continued restructuring of the MWIN Tech Program. The most recent Rural Development Project grant of $315,421 will grow the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) option in the MWIM Tech Program. There has been more than $600,000 RDP funds in several grants that have created additional career choices for the students to pursue as well as fulfill the workforce training needed for the Big Island community.

This fall, the MWIM Tech Program is offering 43 credits in 18 different courses with an average class size of 15 students.

Public Safety Hearing

Rep. Henry Aquino, Rep Mark Nakashima, Rep Karl Rhodes and Rep. Karen Awana listen to testimony from Director Clayton Frank and Deputy Director Tommy Johnson.

The House Committee on Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs held a joint hearing regarding allegations of Hawaii inmates at the Otter Creek Correctional Center in Kentucky and plans to address these concerns and to insure prevention of future abuse. Most disturbing to committee members is that sexual assault is only a misdemeanor offense in Kentucky and the one case that has been prosecuted will result in a year or less in jail time for the perpetrator.

Public Safety Director Clayton Frank did inform the Committees that the majority of the female prisoner would be returned to Hawaii and will be housed at the Women's Correctional Facility and the Federal Detention Center. The Department of Corrections remains intent on closing the Kulani Correctional Facility in spite of growing opposition and reasons for maintaining this program as an essential part of the rehabilitation of inmates.

Waimea Hongwanji O-bon

Standing Room Crowd on Proposed Big Island Layoffs

Among those presenting testimony are Hawaii Island Farm Bureau President Delan Perry and Mr. Richard Ha.

A standing room crowd filled the Hawaii County Civil Service conference room to testify before the Senate Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Senator Russel Kokubun regarding proposed closure of Kulani Correctional Facility and the layoff of 14 of the 15 state agricultural inspectors on the island. The Senators invited myself and other members of the House to join then at the table.

Freshmen Caucus

Front row - Rep. Issac Choy - District 9; Rep Jessica Wooley - District 47; Rep Chris Lee - District 51. Second row - Rep Gil Keith-Agaran - District 9; Rep. Mark Nakashima - District 1; Rep ; Denny Coffman - District 6; Rep Henry Aquino - District 35.

Mark joined his fellow first-year legislators today in a meeting to map out plans and issues they would like to work on in the coming legislative session. Energy, education and revisiting the gaming tax credit were among the topics of discussion.