Ka‘ū News Briefs, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022

    "Repeal HB499/Act 236 - Relating to lease extensions on public land; criminal justice/cash bail reform; increased public funding of state and county elections; legalizing the responsible adult use of cannabis; affordable housing for all local residents; food and energy self-sufficiency;
   
"Protection of our streams, coastlines, and mountains; ensure Hawai'i teachers are the highest paid, most qualified, and best in the world; and a tax structure that protects local residents and requires offshore investors and the wealthy - to pay their fair share."
    Hooser contends that "None of these goals are radical, or ground-breaking. There are models already in place elsewhere - we just need the political will and leadership to make it happen. This should be a slam dunk for a legislature dominated by Democrats such as exists here in Hawai'i.Term limits would need to be approved by voters but must be put on the ballot by the legislature. Fifteen states, including California presently have legislative term limits. Eighteen states have legalized the responsible adult use of cannabis.
Twenty-three other states have a higher minimum wage."
    Regarding the issue of clean drinking water and the contamination from Red Hill, Hooser said, "If a majority of our legislative leaders and the congressional delegation were willing to stand with the public at the gates of Pearl Harbor (either literally or figuratively) until the Navy agreed, you can be assured Red Hill would be closed tomorrow. There has never been a thorough evaluation of the military's collective impact in Hawai'i. Hawai'i residents deserve to know what those impacts are, and they deserve a say in
whether or not additional future expansion is needed or wanted. Hooser said that affordable housing, food and energy self-sufficiency, and protection of the natural environment require a long-term commitment, solid planning, and eternal vigilance.

    "Attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers is the single most important thing we can do to ensure the positive development of our children."
"Tax fairness can be achieved literally with the stroke of a pen. In past legislative sessions numerous proposals were put forth and passed, but then vetoed by the Governor. Without exaggeration 100's of millions of dollars are being left on the table each year.
"Hawai'i is flush with cash and just days ago Governor Ige announced his intention to put a billion dollars into the state's "rainy day fund. Yes, that's correct. We have a billion dollars extra on hand now and hundreds of millions more each year we are missing out on. We have the money, but just lack the political leadership to spend it where it needs to be spent - paying teachers more and building more affordable housing would be a good place to start.
Hooser said, "Citizen involvement is a prerequisite of political will. Without active citizen participation, the politicians are left only with the voice of big money and big business.....Make two calls and send two emails. One to your Representative and another to your Senator. Share with them your thoughts, your goals, and your expectations. You can find out who they are and their contact information by entering your address at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/fyl/."

HAWAI'I - PHILIPPINES BUSINESS ECONOMIC COUNCIL invites the public to a zoom meeting on Technological Innovations to Save the Planet. It takes place via zoom on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 4 p.m. Speakers are:
    Navkaran Singh Bagga, founder & CEO of AKVO, a company that created an atmospheric water generator to make safe and pure drinking water from the air. As statement from HPBEC says, "Its US partner is developing programs that ensure support in this innovative water generation technologies to establish its role as the world’s first solar water utility provider. This technology is now in California and is being introduced to Hawai'i. This is an alternative to current water sources that is now threatened by fuel-leaks and other catastrophic man-made pollutants."
    Rob and Mylene Reyes,who produce Kaivicide, an all-purpose cleaner, made and bottled  locally by the home medical supply provider owned by these Filipino-American entrepreneurs. "The key ingredient in Kaivicide is Hypochlorous Acid (HOCl) - a powerful oxidizer that naturally occurs in humans, in our  

white blood cells. Kaivicide uses HOCl instead of harsh chemicals to deodorize and clean. HOCl is an EPA approved active ingredient in most commercially produced disinfectant. Kaivicide is the only product in the market that is sustainable, eco-friendly, non-toxic and affordable," says the HPBEC statement.
   Carvey Ehren Maigue, a student from Mapua University and invented the Aureus, a technology that utilizes crop wastes to create solar biopolymer materials that can harvest UV light. "Its ability to capture UV light allows Aureus materials to function even during cloudy or lowlight conditions or even on areas facing away from the sun, making it applicable to windows, facades, or claddings in vertical developments such as buildings. The solar material can also be formed in various shapes allowing it to be integrated to textiles or vehicles in the future. The Aureus won the James Dyson Sustainability Award in 2020," says the HPBEC statement.