Dear Friends,

Aloha! Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our state government.

I am honored to represent the 45th District. The past few years I have spent in public service have truly been rewarding.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance to you. I will work hard to bring your concerns to the Legislature.

Also, please subscribe to my free email newsletter for community and legislative updates by sending an email to: waianae-makaha-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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

TOPICS OF INTEREST

• Hoa 'Aina O Makaha Cultural Learning Center (Center)
  House Bill No. 1884, H.D. 1, which funds a Department of Education teacher position, would have ensured the continuation of a unique educational resource based at a farm located next to Makaha Elementary School. Here our keiki experience first-hand the world of plants and animals, and learn how to care for our 'aina. According to Representative Shimabukuro, "As a Waianae resident, I have watched this Center develop and implement a highly successful program that attracts hundreds of school children each year from all around Oahu. As a legislator, I am determined that shifting priorities within the DOE will not jeopardize this educational treasure." Unfortunately, this measure failed to gain Senate approval.
  
  
• Medicaid Eligibility
  House Bill No. 2043, H.D. 2, requires the Department of Human Services to set the medically needy income standard at the maximum allowed under federal Medicaid requirements. Representative Shimabukuro believes that this measure is critically important in expanding the number of people eligible for Medicaid benefits. However, this measure failed to gain legislative approval.
  
  
• Hawaiian Architecture - Waianae Gathering Practices -
  "This session, I have introduced two bills that tap into the host culture of our islands to further enrich our quality of life by encouraging indigenous traditions and practices," declared Representative Shimabukuro. House Bill No. 2928, H.D. 1, would have required the counties to adopt ordinances to allow the use of traditional Hawaiian architecture in the design and construction of buildings. Although this measure failed to pass, Senate Bill No. 3180, C.D. 1, a similar measure, was approved by the Legislature.
  
  House Bill No. 2930, H.D. 2, would have funded a pilot project in Waianae to set aside areas in public parks for using plants and trees for customary gathering practices. "As a Representative of a district in which Hawaiian practices are widely taught and cherished, I am pleased to sponsor legislation that reaffirms our State Constitution's mandate to 'protect all rights, customarily and traditionally exercised for subsistence, cultural and religious purposes'." Unfortunately, this measure failed to gain Senate approval.
  
  
• Community-Based Economic Development
  House Bill No. 2925, H.D. 1, appropriates $500,000 to provide grants to grass-roots entreprenuers and nonprofit organizations through the Hawaii Community-Based Economic Development Technical and Financial Assistance Program. According to Representative Shimabukuro, "I represent a community that is often left behind or lost in the shadow of the urban, big business segments of Hawaii's economy. For this reason, I introduced this bill, which recognizes and assists entities in our rural communities that contribute to the diversity of our economy and increase community control of assets and means of production." Unfortunately, this measure failed to gain legislative approval.
  

NEWS AND EVENTS

• 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)