Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 10, 1 October 2012 — STATE HOUSE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STATE HOUSE

1) ln recent years, the Legislature has wrestled with providing exemptions to regulatory, environmental and cultural review requirements to support Hawai'i's eeonomie growth. How would you halanee cultural and environmental protections, and the community's opportunity for input with support for the state's economy?

I will evaluate any proposed exemption to regulatory, environmental or cultural protections on a case-by-case basis, after ensuring interested community members have an opportunity to provide input. Community input is vital prior to any decision on proposed exemptions to existing law.

Our current permitting and procurement laws and processes are designed to ensure that projects meet safety, design, environmental, cultural and public notice reguirements, and public funds are spent in a responsible and fiduciary mannen I would support legislation to increase and speed up projects designed to help our economy grow as long as it doesn't compromise protection of our environmental and cultural values, maintain the eommunities' right for input, and doesn't abuse procurement laws/processes.

I stronglyopposeAct 55 and the proposed DLNR rules at HAR 13-301, 302 and 303. If elected I would sponsor legislation to repeal Act 55, because, 1) it eliminates the reguirement for proper assessment of environmental and cultural impacts and 2) the state should not be in the for-profit development business in competition with private developers. We also need to streamline current environmental- and cultural-review processes.

txemptionsarenottneanswer. We must elean up existing laws where duplication exists between federal, state and county governments. Laws and regulations must fadlitate eultural and environmental protection. 0ur state agendes that manage cultural and environmental reviews must be fully funded and fully staffed to accomplish their missions. Legislative session rules must be modif ied. A conference draft (CD1) bill must have a scheduled public hearing prior to final approval by the Legislature.

As state representative, I would work to protect environmental, cultural and natural resources. As good stewards, we should be mindful of our land and resources. We should be respectful of our history and cultural sites. I would always consider the effect our progress will have on our heritage.

Recent legislative efforts to exempt projects from laws like Chapters 343 and 205A are misguided. If changes to these laws are warranted, I would address this through proactive changes to the system rather than attempting to bypass it altogether. We ean streamline without sacrifidng public input or protection for eultural and environmental resources. Failing to provide adeguate protections will burden future generations and negatively affect our economy andguality oflifeinthelongterm.

I opposed the "dirty dozen" anti-environmental bills last session. Hawai'i environmental and cultural review standards exist to protect our people and our 'āina from exploitation by outside interests and power-hungry politidans. The Hawai'i tourist economy is based on the attractiveness of Hawai'i eulture and environment. Development must serve the people. Hawaiian Homelands, affordable housing, foreclosures and homelessness are top priorities. For more information: www.fontaine4maui.com.

Instead of exemptions, I support periodic reviews of regulatory and environmental review reguirements because I believe that streamlining becomes more and more possible with new technology and communications between agendes. A streamlined process for every project, one with adeguate protections, should be the goal. This would keep exemptions to a minimum. If exemptions are proposed, they should not be at the expense of cultural and environmental protections.

As a freshman representative, the past two sessions have been a whirlwind of learning. Legislation providing exemptions to regulatory, environmental and cultural review reguirements were pushed through to spur eeonomie growth for Hawai'i. The intent was good, but the process was too broad and dangerous. I believe in cultural and environmental protections and that public input is integral to any legislation. Listening to our kūpuna is necessary and important to preserve Hawai'i for future generations.

I oppose exemptions and shortcuts to environmental, regulatory and cultural reviews. Our environment must be protected. No spedal treatment should be given to government or private development. Laws should be followed properly. Eeonomie development ean occur in a timely manner when environmental laws are implemented correctly. Good land use, zoning and master plans are important to create a positive and livable community.

Lawmakers proposed relaxing environmental regulations in the 2012 session only to further their own interests, not to support development and job growth. They have also sought to shut out public partidpation in dedsion making. Meanwhile, excessive regulation strangles fledgling private enterprises: witness the Superferry. See how the train advocates dismiss eoncerns about Hawaiian iwi. Balance is achieved by hearing from all parties, creating sensible protections and applyingthelaweguallyandfairlytoall.

I will oppose every attempt to reduce public or sdentific input in government (starting with repealing Act 55). Historically, environmental/cultural reviews have seldom lived up to the spirit of the law. lgnoring sdence and the public in the pursuit of short-term profits is the cause of our eeonomie problems, not a solution. Hawai'i's natural/cultural environment is the goose that lays the golden eggs. Killing the goose for a guick meal is cultural and eeonomie insanity.

To maintain the eeonomie recovery, the Legislature should explore ways to expedite the development of state projects, whieh would probably have minimal or no significant environmental or cultural effects. Such state projects probably would be those within the footprint ofanexisting state fadlity. (Exemptions should not apply to the dty's rail project.) For more information, please refer to my commentary on the subject in the Civil Beat edition of April 24, 2012.

Balance must be achieved with community input and compromise. People need to get involved and learn to work with others. Hawai'i's value lies within our eulture and natural beauty. We must not forget that when these are destroyed, we cannot recreatethem. Our economy benefits by preserving nature. People eome from around the world to experience our natural beauty and culture. Our residents deserve wellmaintained infrastructure that respects the land.

A key issue Hawai'i isfadng is establishing and maintaining our eeonomie recovery. This process is important to and affects every Hawaiian. While developing the 2012-2013 fiscal budget, Hawai'i had a defidt of $772 million and a state debt exceeding $26 billion. It is clear from these budget shortcomings that the current leadership has misspent taxpayers' money. This election, choose those who will bring "eommon sense" to the table ... not self-interest.

Hawai'i's currentset ofenvironmental and cultural review laws are critical to protecting important public resources that are the foundation for a strong economy. These laws also provide certainty to the development process for the puhlie and development interests. I have not supported recent efforts to create wholesale exemptions, but I do support improvements to this review process where there are demonstrated needs and where government maintains its role of being a good steward.

Exemptions to regulatory, environmental and cultural review reguirements will hurt Hawai'i because it places the decision power into government's hands rather than the people. Therefore, I don't support SB755 because it grants the governor authority to waive regulatory review of state projects. We don't need government controlling our dedsions. We must streamline and cut red tape to promote growth. Our cultural concerns and environmental protections should include everyone's interest in mind, not a select group.

As the founder of the Heritage Caucus and creator of the first ever Historic Preservation Awareness Day, my dedication to preservation and support for environmental and cultural reviews is clear. My opposition to the "Dirty Dozen" is on record. Instead of exemptions, we must ensure we give the departments the necessary tools they need to get the reviews done guicker. Exempting important projects from review or the public input is detrimental to our islands' health.

LEGISLATURE

I MANA KA LEO | EMP0WER Y0UR V0ICE

DISTRICT 3 SŪUTH HILO-KEA'AU-HONU'APO FREDERICK FOGEL (L)

RICHARD ONISHI (D)

DISTRICT 5 NĀ'ĀLEHU-OAPĪAIN C00K-KEAUH0U DAVE BATEMAN (R)

DENNY COFFMAN (D) *

DISTRICT 6 HOLUALOA KAILUA-KONA HONOKŌHAU ROY EBERT (R)

NICOLE LOWEN (D)

DISTRICT 11 S0UTH MAUI GEORGE FONTAINE (R) *

DISTRICT 12 SPRECKLESVILLE-UPCOUNTRY MAUI KYLE YAMASHITA (D) *

DISTRICT 16 NI'IHAU-KŌLOA-KŌKE'E DAYNETTE 'ŪEE' MORIKAWA (D) *

DISTRICT 18 HAHA'IONE VALLEY-'ĀINA HAINA-KĀHAIA JEREMY LOW (R)

DISTRICT 20 PĀL0L0-ST. L0UIS HEIGHTS-KAIMUKl JULIA ALLEN (R)

DISTRICT 20 PĀL0L0-ST. L0UIS HEIGHTS-KAIMUKl KEIKO BONK (G)

CALVIN SAY (D) *

DISTRICT 22 WAIKlKl-ALA MOANA-KAKA'AKO TOM BROWER (D) *

MARCUS HESTER (R)

DISTRICT 24 MŪ'I LI'ILI-MAKIKI-TANTALUS DELLA AU BELATTI (D) *

I SAIAH 'KAUKA' SABEY (R)

DISTRICT 27 NU'UANU-LILIHA-'ĀLEWA HEIGHTS CORINNE WEI LAN CHING (R) *

lt is not prudent to exempt projects (government or private sector) from regulatory, environmental or cultural review. Projects like the Superferry and now the rail are examples of what happens when we try to take shortcuts around legal regulations. To improve our economy we need to make long-term eommitments in strengthening small business to create jobs in the private sector. Bypassing regulations to expedite government projects is not a tenable solution.

I advocate responsible eeonomie development and enhancing support to regulatory agencies to fadlitate the review process, whileabiding by cultural and environmental checks established by current regulatory framework Many of the exemption-related measures created the realistic potential for increased build-up, congestion, diminished eommunity input, adverse cultural impacts, invasive spedes and pollution - all negatively affecting our guality of life. Permanent conseguences to our eommunity culture and environmentforced me to oppose many of these measures.

Ratherthanwholesaleexemptions that unintentionally bypass environmental, cultural or other reguirements untavorably, identify hindrances in the approval process and lookfor corrections to prevent delays Concurrently consider establishing government time limits for project approval or denial. Ensure full transparency, and explore project review, input opportunities and testimony hearingsinjointmeetingswithpublic,agencies and all stakeholders tofurther streamline process time lndependentagency analysis maintained but process reduced by concurrent versus consecutive review.

Even as a business man, I do not support any action against environmental or cultural protections for revenue purposes, or any purpose. I believe as an elected official I should support and uphold all the regulatory, environmental, as well as cultural policies and laws that protect, and assure, that the rights and entitlements of the Native Hawaiian people are not compromised or neglected.

Theproblemwith expediting state projects and other projects isnot withthelaws themselves. If we increase eommunieahon and efficiency within and amongst the departments implementing these laws, we ean protect our public hearings and environmental and cultural reviews while improving the economy. We simply need better oversight.

ProtectingHawai'i'senvironmental and cultural resources is critical. I believe regulatory review processes should be looked at periodically in case they are outdated, and I am open to streamlining those processes, but definitely not at the expense of the environment and culture. Our mindset should be that protecting the environment is part of sound eeonomie development policy. We should be working together with community organizations to strike the right balance.

As someone of Native Hawaiian descent who was born and raised in Hawai'i, I believe it is a special plaee. I also believe eommunieahon is an important part of being a legislator. Over the past two years as a state representative I have always encouraged input from our communities, because it is important to listen and discuss different ideas that will impact us and our future generations.

Our state's unigue cultural and ecological heritage reguires that we take a different approach to issues of culture and eommerce. As a policy analyst at the Legislature, my approach has always been to reduce any conflict to the most important goal(s) of eaeh side, and try to find a eompromise that addresses those needs. An open mind, and respect for the importance of culture, the environment, and jobs will be my approach as a legislator.

Long-term comprehensive plan is the key to demonstrate measurable results in order to achieve and create sustainable eeonomie development. The cultural valuesand natural environment are the foundahon of Hawai'i's eeonomie growth. If we are honest to protect our values, hard decisions are needed to limit urban development, we must protect rural and waterfront areas for future generations. We must avoid development that offers short-term benefits while eroding our natural and cultural resources.

It is incumbent on the Legislature to preserve our current levels of environmental and cultural protection. Eeonomie growth ean be stimulated simply by eliminating repetitive government processes. This is not a matter of weakening environmental and cultural review, it is a matter of good government. If a review is done onee for the federal government, why does the state reguire the same review? Instead, the state should be filling the pukas, not reinventing the wheel.

Both Hawa i'i's eeonomie growth and cultural and environmental protections are very important matters. But it's imperative that we have the right balance that will achieve, and further, the interests of both issues. Community input is vital, and I would administer my legislative support with full-disclosure community forums/meetings on related issues, and applying that feedback/ input to my legislation and vote.

If this is in reference to Act 55, it should be repealed - legislation isforallandshouldbe fairforall. Hearings are always an opportunity for the community to have input and make a difference for the State of Hawai'i. Passing legislation that is poorly done, wastes all taxpayers' time and efforts and does not support the economy but costs the state in litigation fees. Exemptions are in plaee for a purpose.

As a Native Hawaiian I do not support relaxing any of the review reguirements whieh may lead to losing control and destiny of the current ceded or public lands by state entities. Instead, I would invite both groups: 1) partHawaiian and not eligible at this time for DHHL, and 2) those who are eligible to live on DHHL land to review both impacts through public input and the registry roll via electronic and public forums.

*Denotes incumbent

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DISTRICT 28 KAMEHAMEHA HEIGHTS-KALIHI VALLEV CAROLE KAUHIWAI KAAPU (R)

DISTRICT 31 FT SHAFTER-MOANALUA GARD-ĀLIAMANU AARON LING JOHANSON (R) *

DISTRICT 32 SALT LAKE-MOANALUA VALLEV GARNER MUSASHI SHIMIZU (R)

DISTRICT 33 HĀLAWA-'AIEA-NEWĪOWN SAM KONG (R)

DISTRICT 36 MILILANI-MAUKA-WAIPI'O ACRES BETH FUKUMOTO (R)

MARILYN LEE (0) *

DISTRICT 39 WAIPAHU-RŪYAL KUNIA-MAKAKILO TY CULLEN (0) *

DISTRICT 41 'EWA BEACH-WEST LŪCH ESTATES AOAM REEDER (R)

DISTRICT 42 KAPOLEI-MAKAKILO MARISSA CAPELOUTO (R)

DISTRICT 42 KAPOLEI-MAKAKILO SHARON HAR (0) *

DISTRICT 43 KALALELOA-KO 'OLINA-MĀ'ILI GLENN BUTLER (R)

DISTRICT 47 WAIALUA-KAHUKU-WAIĀHOLE 0. ULULANI BEIRNE (0)

DISTRICT 51 KAI LU A-LANI KAI-WAI MĀNALO HENRY VINCENT (R)