Ka`u News Briefs Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017

     A statement from Gabbard spokesperson Emily Latimer, who called the trip a fact-finding mission, said: "As a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, and as an individual committed to doing all she can to promote and work for peace, she felt it was important to meet with a number of individuals and groups including religious leaders, humanitarian workers, refugees and government and community leaders."

     Gabbard has been testifying in Congress and going on national television to support her legislation that would attempt to prevent the U.S. from regime change operations, particularly those that can lead to weapons ending up in the hands of terrorists and death to civilians. She said she told Trump during their meeting in Trump Tower that a no-fly zone in Syria, which some in the the Trump team have suggested, could push the U.S. into a war with Russia and possibly a nuclear war. She said that some half million people have already died in the nearly six years of war in Syria and that the U.S. has been quietly supporting allies of terrorists in its Syrian efforts.
    Gabbard also called the war expenditures unfair to Americans and tweeted yesterday, "We’ve spent trillions on regime change wars while communities across our nation face a severe lack of resources and dire need."

    Gabbard is a veteran of Middle East wars and a Major in the Army National Guard. She was the Veterans Day speaker on Nov. 11 at Kilauea Military Camp in Volcano and recently met with Ka`u farmers about promoting their agricultural agenda in Congress this year.
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RANKING MEMBER OF THE U.S. SENATE ARMED SERVICES Subcommittee on Seapower is a the title that will remain for Sen. Mazie Hirono during the 115th Congress. Armed Services Committee Chair John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) made the announcement today.
    Said Hirono:  “Hawai`i continues to be the center of America’s strategic interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. As Ranking Member of the Seapower Subcommittee, I will continue to advocate for a strong Navy and Marine Corps, and in support of our service members and their families.” The Subcommittee on Seapower is responsible for overseeing the vast majority of Navy and Marine Corps programs, Marine Corps ground forces, Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, Navy and Marine Corps research and development, and strategic sealift and airlift research and development programs.

Rep. John Lewis and Sen. Mazie Hirono, who tweeted that President-elect Donald Trump could learn from Lewis' example. Photo from Office of Sen. Mazie Hirono

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SEN. MAZIE HIRONO PUSHED BACK ON PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP'S comments on civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis this past weekend. Lewis said he would not attend the Trump Inauguration and declared the Trump presidency illegitimate.
     Trump tweeted: "Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district which is in horrible shape and falling apart."
    Hirono came to Lewis' defense and tweeted, "My friend @repjohnlewis is an American hero. A champion for justice and reconciliation.
@realDonaldTrump could learn something from his example." On Martin Luther King Day, Hirono tweeted "Everybody can be great....because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love." #MLKDAY".

     One reaction to Trump's tweet about Lewis, who represents Atlanta, with one of the world's busiest airports and a booming economy, was for more than 60 members of Congress to announce they will also refrain from attending the Inauguration ceremony for Trump in Washington, D.C. on Friday. 

      Ka`u's congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has traveled to Syria and Lebanon and it remains unclear as to whether she will attend. Hawai`i's U.S. Senators Hirono and Brian Schatz are expected to attend as is Hillary Clinton, who lost the electoral college vote to Trump.
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The Hawai`i Legislature opened today in Honolulu with programs in Hawaiian and English. Photo from Sen. Kai`ali`i Kahele

MAYOR HARRY KIM traveled to Honolulu for today's opening of the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature. In Harry Kim style, he takes the bus to and from the airport and the Capitol to save money.
      Kim said he also wants to keep more money in Hawai`i County by joining other mayors in asking for a higher retention of Transient Accommodations Tax. The TAT, which will fuel about  $19.5 million of Hawai`i County's budget, could bring in more money to each county government, if the state would take less of the total taxes raised from visitor accommodation rentals. The Legislature voted to take a higher percentage of the TAT from each county when times were hard. With a strong economy now, Kim reasoned, the counties should receive the  higher percentage again.
     However, Gov. David Ige, with a proposed statewide budget of $278.7 million, is asking the counties, and the Legislature, to let the state keep its current share of the TAT revenues. Said the governor, the TAT helps to pay for roads, bridges, airports, parks and other facilities across the state, which are used by visitors paying the TAT.

   

Mayor Harry Kim

  The TAT is 9.5 percent of the room, condo, cottage or house price charged by hoteliers, innkeepers, condo and homeowner who rent out units for less than six months at a time. The owners of the transient accommodation are responsible for collecting the TAT and the additional 4 percent sales tax and turning them over to the state.

     At the Legislature, the Hawai`i County Mayor made the rounds to Big Island state Senators and members of the House of Representatives, as well as leaders of various committees and state departments.

     The mayor, who is known for befriending houseless people and spending time with them, said he is also looking for solutions to homelessness. While not as big a problem as in Honolulu, where homeless people have lived on beaches and taken over parks and the sides of streets, homelessness in Kim’s view, could grow on this island and local government needs to get ahead of the problem, said the mayor.
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THE STATEWIDE HAWAI`I CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is camping out at the Hawai`i Legislature, testifying on many bills. A letter from its President and CEO, Sherry Menor-McNamara, says that the Chamber will promote its agenda “focusing on spurring economic development, investing in our future and lowering the cost of doing business. In addition, we will be reviewing more than 2,000 bills that will get introduced and identifying those that impact business.”
     Menor-McNamara said Chamber presidents are working across the country on “attracting, retaining and marketing to millennials, tax reform and improving state Chamber operations, with deep discussions on economic blueprint vision programs that focus on Chambers serving a 'futurist' role in this dynamic, challenging and ever-changing environment.” The Chamber is holding a legislative meet and greet function at SALT in Honolulu tomorrow. It also will sponsor a session “on the impact the new Trump administration and Congress will have on business priorities in Hawai`i and nationwide," on Friday in Honolulu. See more at http://cochawaii.org.

    The Ka`u Chamber of Commerce holds its annual meeting on Thursday, Jan. 26 at Discovery Harbour Community Center at 6 p.m.

     The Ka`u Chamber hosts an annual art show, essay contest and the production of The Directory, the annual business and community guide for Ka`u. It raises scholarship money for Ka`u residents in higher education.
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KA`U HIGH'S TROJAN SOCCER TEAM stood for its school photo this week. Head Coach is Crystalee Mandaguit. Assistant Coaches are Joenell Nullar-Freitas, Kayla Nishimura and Gennifer Shibuya. Athletic Trainer is Moses Whitcomb and Athletic Director is Kalae Nomohala. 

The Malolo, a koa canoe built in the 1920s was returned to Miloli`i Canoe Club last April when she was welcomed  by Rep. Richard Creagan, Sen. Kaiali`i Kahele and County Council member Maile David. The club welcomes new  members, young and old to start the 2017 season. Photo from Maile David

MILOLI`I CANOE CLUB is gearing up for paddling season and invites Ka`u and South Kona residents to travel for practice and races. The canoe club will meet for recreational practices now and officially on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. and on Saturdays at 8 a.m., beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at the Awa in Miloli`i Village.
      The Moku o Hawai`i race season begins in May and ends the second weekend of September with a long distance race in the waters near Miloli'i.
     A statement from the club says, "We are seeking energetic, steadfast, team spirited paddlers."
    Keiki teams are planned for ages 8 and over. Parental supervision is required during practice and race days for those age 8-14. All must know how to swim.