December is a time to reflect on the year that is drawing to a close and look forward to the coming new year. I am very grateful to be the newly elected State Representative for the communities of North Kohala, South Kohala and North Kona that comprise House District 7. The long campaign was very educational as voters told me their priorities and concerns. With all that advice, I am now preparing for the upcoming legislative session that starts on Jan. 16 and continues until the first week of May.
There are many important issues that the legislature must address including taking steps to increase the supply of affordable housing, to support our public schools, to increase traffic safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and reduce domestic violence. Constituents have told me that the legislature must work to support diversified economic development, increase local food production and increase the supply of renewable energy. Other community members have emphasized the need for better management of Mauna Kea, stronger protections for watersheds and forests, improved management of fisheries and better protection of our coral reef environment from the negative effects of sedimentation and excess nutrients from coastal runoff and seepage from cesspools along the shoreline.
Many families have shared with me their personal stories of sons and daughters in prison because they got addicted to harmful drugs and lost their way, leaving children to be raised by grandparents or foster families. These personal tragedies demonstrate that substance abuse should be treated as a health issue, not a criminal issue because putting nonviolent drug offenders in jail doesn’t help them heal and may make things worse.
The list of issues is long and legislating solutions to these many challenges won’t be easy. But, I am grateful for the opportunity to be your State Representative. I’ll do my best to work with the other legislators and make progress on these public policy issues. Please understand that it is important for you to share your input and advice with me and the other legislators as we go through the legislative session.
Since the election, I’ve been busy meeting with community groups about particular issues like traffic safety improvements at Pololu lookout and assisting Puako residents to convert their cesspools to better wastewater treatment. I’ve met with a variety of advocacy groups about particular issues and have learned the plans of local groups preparing to submit Grants-in-Aid to the legislature. I am also getting up to speed on important Capital Improvement Projects in District 7 that are currently in planning, design and construction, including the Waiaka Bridge Replacement, Kamuela Vacuum Cooling Plant improvements, Saddle Road Extension and the Waimea Regional Safety Project (formerly the Kawaihae Road Bypass Project), intersection improvements to the intersection at Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kawaihae Road, improvements to Kawaihae Commercial Harbor, improvements to the Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor and public school projects in North Kohala, Waimea and Waikoloa.
Legislative committee assignments were just announced, and I am serving as a member of three committees: the Education Committee, which is responsible for all public schools including the university and community colleges; the Energy and Environmental Protection Committee, which covers energy policy, climate change issues and many environmental issues; and the Water, Land and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, which is responsible for all matters related to water quality, coastal erosion, land use and the whole range of important issues facing our native Hawaiian community.
As I write this column, I am working to set up my office in the Capitol, finalize hiring of my legislative staff, meet with other legislators and write the bills I intend to introduce next session. In next month’s column, I’ll introduce my staff and highlight some of the bills I’ll sponsor.
Thanks to West Hawaii Today for allowing me to write this monthly column to update the community on our work at the legislature. Please visit me at our House District 7 office at the Capitol and contact me by email or phone anytime at 586-8510 and reptarnas@capitol.hawaii.gov.