Dear Friends,

Aloha!

Mahalo nui loa for the privilege of serving you for since 2003. I am happy to report that I will be the Vice Chair of the new Hawaiian Affairs Committee during the 2009-2010 Legislative Session.

I am also thrilled to be a new mother to my son, Keani, who was born on June 10, 2008. Keani is growing so fast, and reminds me every day of what is truly important – family, friends, and the relationships we have with each other. Spending time with the people we love is priceless, and we are so fortunate to live in a place that allows us to be close to the ones we love.

Thanks to my “techie” father, Professor James Shimabukuro, I now have a blog dedicated to the Wai`anae Coast, http://maile45.blogspot.com. If you would like to receive email alerts when there are new blog postings, please send an email to: waianae-makaha-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

I have an extremely talented and dedicated staff on board for the 2009 Session:

Colleen Teramae: Office Manager
Wally Inglis: Researcher/Legislative Aide
Kristin Kline: Committee Clerk/Legislative Aide
Anne Otteman: Legislative Aide/Committee Clerk
Dana Newman: Community Liaison

Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff, at 586-8460, or maileshimabukuro@yahoo.com, if you need assistance.

Mahalo!
Maile S.L. Shimabukuro
State Representative
45th District

TOPICS OF INTEREST

GOALS AND FUTURE VISION FOR THE WAI`ANAE COAST: “COUNTRY FOREVER”

I feel the biggest issue facing the Wai`anae Coast has been best articulated by community leader Eric Enos: the need to be in control of our own destiny, for example, in the areas of development, land use, and resource-allocation. I like what is happening in areas like the North Shore with land trusts for the public interest. Here in Wai`anae we have begun to do the same, with MA`O Organic Farm leveraging over $700,000 in Legacy Lands funds to purchase 11 acres in Lualualei Valley. I want to continue this trend, as well as address many of our community’s pressing needs. Some of my goals include:

• Self-Help Housing Farming Co-Op - apply for Legacy Land funds through a partnership with Self-Help Housing HI, the Oahu Land Trust, and other groups;
  
  
• Affordable Housing -create a grant program for expedited third party permit processing for affordable housing projects;
  
  
• Traffic Alleviation - allocate funds to complete turn Lanes at Haleakala and Nanakuli Avenues;
  
  
• Parks and Stream Restoration - apply for the City’s Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund to create more parks and restore streams;
  
  
• Cool Schools - continue to allocate funds for air conditioning, power upgrades and fans for schools;
  
  
• Renewable Energy - require that new construction utilize renewable energy;
  
  
• Illegal Dumpsites - shut down illegal dumpsites by working with EPA, the media, and concerned residents;
  
  
• Universal Healthcare - support government-funded universal healthcare;
  
  
• Job Training - support training programs for worker shortage areas, such as teachers, medical professionals, social workers, CDL, engineers, & other skilled workers; and
  
  
• Wai`anae Coast Pathway - use $5,000 AlohaCare grant for maintenance and beautification of pathway; continue to organize work days and seek funding and other assistance.

NEWS AND EVENTS

• Wai`anae High's Project Grad provides graduates a safe, substance free night of fun. (Article)

• Toys for Tots at Paiolu Kaiaulu Emergency Shelter on 12/6/08, 4-6pm.
  
  
• Conceptual Master Plan for Makaha Beach Park.
  
  
• July 26, 2006. Major study approved for the Waianae Coast ocean area. (Press Release)
  
  
• November 2005. Legislative update for Representative Shimabukuro. (More)
  
  
• Ongoing investigative series on the chemical weapons dumped at sea off Hawaii's coastline (mainly off the Waianae Coast of Oahu). (More)
  
  
• Letter submitted by Representative Shimabukuro requesting that the United States Army hold a briefing to inform residents of the Waianae coast on chemical munitions disposal operations. (Text of Letter)
  
  
• Summary of the landfill issue plaguing the Waianae Coast. (Text)
  
  
• Representative Shimabukuro's efforts in addressing artifical reefs. (More)