Happenings at the Capitol and Around the State

• House Exceeds Goal in Assisting the Hawaii Foodbank

April 2006. The Legislature conducted its annual drive to raise funds and donations to assist the Hawaii Foodbank. Under the leadership of Representatives Kam Tanaka and Kyle Yamashita and their staffs, the members and staff of the House spearheaded numerous activities including a chili cookoff, bake sales, and even foot massages by Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro, generating over $8,000 and over 8,000 lbs of food.

The kick-off activity of the House of Representatives Hawaii Foodbank Drive was a contest to design a collection box. The picture to the right represents the winning collection canoe, designed and constructed by Representative Michael Kahikina and his staff.

• "The Clothes Off Our Backs" Collection Drive. Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu and Honorary Co-Chair Brittany Perrineau, with the help of Brittany's husband Harold Perrineau and fellow actor Daniel Dae Kim, both members of the cast of the mega-hit show "Lost", were the driving forces behind "The Clothes Off Our Backs" collection drive for clothing and other necessities for the survivors of sex abuse and sex assault. (More)

• National Consultant on the Single Payer Health Care System. A single payer health system is one in which one entity is responsible for financing all health care services for an entire population of consumers. The analysis presented by John Sheils, Vice President of the Lewin Group, provided policy makers with economic and policy analysis to allow them to fully consider this concept for Hawaii. (More)

• Science and Tech Day at the Capitol. Sponsored by the Hawaii Science & Technology Council, in partnership with the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, Hawaii Venture Capitol Association and Hawaii Pacific Entertainment, this year's Hawaii Science & Tech Day offered Hawaii's legislators and the general public an opportunity to view the latest developments in science and technology. (More)

• Caregivers Honored by the Legislature. The Hawaii State Legislature paid a special tribute to those who serve as caregivers as part of Caregiver's Day, held in the rotunda of the State Capitol Building and complete with free, live entertainment and care-related programs on display. (More)

• Talk Story/Circle Island Tour was held on March 11, 2006, with legislators from the Big Island. They met with the community in Hilo, Kea'au, Honaunau, Waimea, and Honokaa. The schedule was as follows:
  
  7:30a.m. - 8:30a.m. - U.H. Hilo (UCB 127)
  9:00a.m. - 10:00a.m. - Kea'au Elementary School Cafetorium
  11:30a.m. - 12:30p.m. - Honaunau Elementary School Cafetorium
  2:30p.m. - 3:30p.m. - Waimea Senior Center
  4:00p.m. - 5:00p.m. - Honokaa High School Cafetorium

• Hawaii Foodbank Drive. Please help those less fortunate by participating in this year's annual Hawaii Foodbank Drive. Click here for more information on how you can help!

• Lawmakers Listen. Representative Lyla Berg hosted a Lawmakers Listen community meeting at the Kalani High School Cafeteria on March 29, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. (Complete Details)

• Pearl City Town Meetings:
  
  March 30, 2006. Pearl City Town Meeting on the Kamehameha Highway Improvement Project. This event was held at the Waimalu Elementary School Cafeteria from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
  
  April 12, 2006. Pearl City Town Meeting on Education. This event was held at the Pearl Ridge Elementary School Cafeteria from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.