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.

Education

University of HI William S. Richardson School of Law, Class of 2000

Colorado College, Class of 1992

'Iolani High School, Class of 1988

Political Office

State House of Representatives since 2003

Professional

Attorney, The Legal Aid Society of HI -- Wai'anae Branch (2003 to pres.)

Reporter, The Leeward Coaster (1992-1997)

State Health Ins. Prog. Specialist, Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Cntr. (1989)

Community

People's Path (events, fundraising, and volunteer/volunteer organizer)

MA'O Organic Farm (fundraising committee)

Drunk Driving Awareness (planning and fundraising volunteer for "Koa Paka Miles - Poina Ole ia" events)

Awards

2007 "25 People for the Next 25 Years" HI Business Magazine

2006 "Distinguished Supporter Award" UH Center for Hawaiian Studies

2004 "Best Up and Coming Legislator" Honolulu Weekly

2003 Asian Pacific American Women's Discovery Leadership Fellow

2003 Center on Women's Policy Studies Foreign Policy Inst. Fellow

NEWS AND EVENTS

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

• Conceptual Master Plan for Makaha Beach Park.
  
  
• Summary of the landfill issue plaguing the Waianae Coast. (Text)
  
  
• Representative Shimabukuro's efforts in addressing artifical reefs. (More)