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>>MALIA: WEDNESDAY, THE HAWAI'I STATE LEGISLATURE WILL CONVENE THIS YEAR'S SESSION EMBARKING
ON FOUR INTENSE MONTHS OF DEBATESSING THOUSANDS OF NEW BILLS. TONIGHT, WE ASKED SOME OF HAWAI'I'S
POLITICAL LEADERS WHAT CAN THE 2014 LEGISLATURE DO FOR HAWAI'I.
>>MALIA: COMING UP NEXT ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, WHAT CAN THE 2014 LEGISLATURE DO
FOR HAWAI'I? ¶
>>MALIA: ALOHA AND WELCOME TO INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I. I'M MALIA MATTOCH. THE 2014 LEGISLATURE
WILL CONVENE NEXT WEDNESDAY TO SPEND FOUR MONTHS DEBATING THOUSAND OF BILLS, WHAT POCKETBOOK
ISSUES WILL OUR LAWMAKERS FOCUS ON THIS YEAR? WHAT IS IN STORE FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION? SOCIAL
SERVICES, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT? TONIGHT, WE BRING TOGETHER CROSS SECTION OF
HAWAI'I'S POLICY MAKERS TO OFFER THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE 2014 STATE LEGISLATURE SHOULD
DO FOR HAWAI'I. GIN OUR CONVERSATION BY CALLING, E MAILING OR TWEETING YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
NOW, TO OUR PANEL. WHICH IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN PLANNED BECAUSE TWO WERE UNABLE TO JOIN
US AT THE LAST MINUTE. WE THANK EVERYONE WHO IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT. CHRIS LEE IS THE
STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR KAILUA AND WAIMANALO. CHRIS IS CHAIRMAN OF THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION COMMITTEE. HE ALSO SITS ON THE POWERFUL JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AS WELL AS 3
OTHERS. SAM SLOM IS THE SOLE REPUBLICAN AMONG HAWAI'I'S STATE SENATORS AND SERVES AT SENATE'S
MINORITY LEADER. KANIELA ING IS THE YOUNGEST OF HAWAI'I'S STATE REPRESENTATIVES AT AGE
24. KANIELA WAS ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATURE IN 2012 AND RECENTLY CAUGHT PEOPLE'S ATTENTION
WITH A COMPELLING FLOOR SPEECH DURING THE SAME SEX MARRIAGE DEBATE. BLAKE OSHIRO IS
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO GOVERNOR NEIL ABERCROMBIE. BLAKE REPRESENTED AIEA FOR 11 YEARS IN THE
HAWAI'I HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND HAS BEEN SERVING AS MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER WHEN GOVERNOR
ABERCROMBIE ASKS HIM TO JOIN HIS ADMINISTRATION IN 2011. WELCOME GENTLEMEN. THANK YOU FOR
BEING WITH US. TELL US WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE HEADLINES FROM THIS SESSION? CHRIS, START
BY TELLING WHAT SCUTTLEBUTT ARE YOU HEARING. >> WHAT'S ON THE MIND OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT
NOW. A LOT OFFER TALK OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE NORTH SHORE, HOMES FALLING IN THE OCEAN.
A LOT GOING ON AROUND THE STATE. A LOT OF FOCUS ON SOLAR AND WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO GET
PV CONNECT THE TO THEIR HOMES. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT LATELY. WE'RE GOING
TO BE ADDRESSING THAT. >> GOING OFF OF LAST SESSION, BILLS THAT MAY
HAVE MORE DISCUSSION. I THINK THIS SESSION, WE CAN HELP TIE UP LOOSE ENDS. THERE'S SOME
DEBATE ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS GROWING INCOME INEQUALITY. NATIONWIDE DEBATE BEING BROUGHT
DOWN TO THE STATES. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN SEE THAT. SOME MEASURES TO HELP ADDRESS THAT.
THERE'S OF COURSE THE GMO DEBATE. SHOULD IT BE LABELED STATE LEVEL AND OTHER ISSUES FACING
THE COUNTY. ERODING SHORELINES IS HUGE ON MAUI, ALSO, AND SPIKE IN HUGE STATE OF SHARK
ATTACKS RECENTLY IN MY DISTRICT. MAYBE COULD BE SOME STATE SOLUTION FOR IT. MAYBE NOT.
JUST SOME PUBLISH OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. BUT DEFINITELY ISSUES WE'RE EXPLORING.
>>MALIA: SAM, YOUR THOUGHTS. >> MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE COME DOWN DURING
THE SPECIAL SERB AND MANY OF THEM ARE NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE. MANY OF THEM HAD NEVER
BEEN IN THE CAPITOL BEFORE. THEY ALL GOT, WELL, A LESSON IN DEMOCRACY OR LACK THEREOF
AND SO I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS GOING TO BE IF THOSE PEOPLE STAY TOGETHER, IF THEY
STAY COMMITTED, THERE IS THE QUESTION OF EROSION OF PERSONAL RIGHTS, CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
AND THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED AND DO THINGS. WE'RE THE ONLY STATE IN THE
UNION THAT HAS NEITHER INITIATIVE REFERENDUM RECALL OR TERM LIMITS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO THOSE ARING IT TO BE ISSUES THAT WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS. ALSO HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
AND THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED FOR EVEN MORE MONEY. THAT WILL BE ON THE FRONT BURNER AS WELL.
>>MALIA: BLAKE, YOUR THOUGHTS. >> FOR US, IT WILL BE A LOT ABOUT THE BUDGET.
AFTER WE HAVE HAD THE 3 YEARS OF SESSION, WHERE WE'VE BEEN CUTTING A LOT OF PROGRAMS
AND HAVING TO DO A LOT OF REDUCTIONS AN LOOKING AT TAX INCREASES. NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE
POINT WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING THAT. NO PROPOSED TAX INCREASES FROM THE GOVERNOR.
NO FEE INCREASES FROM THE GOVERNOR. AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE VERY HELICALLY POSITIVE BALANCE.
HEALTHY POSITIVE BALANCE. NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TO US LOOK AT WHERE WE WANT TO INVEST
AND PUT OUR MONEY IN GOOD PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE RIGHT GROWTH. WE ALSO WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE STORE UP AND BUILD UP OUR RESERVES THAT WE CAN WITHSTAND THOSE ECONOMIC
FLUCTUATIONS IN THE FUTURE. >>MALIA: HOW MUCH OF A CONFLICT DO YOU GUYS
ANTICIPATE THIS SESSION OVER TO SPEND IT OR SAVE IT? IS THAT GOING TO BE SORT OF A BIG
ISSUE THIS SESSION? >> I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE TOO BIG OF AN
ISSUE. CURRENT LEADERSHIP OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE SHOWN A WILLINGNESS TO STORE AWAY
MONEY, TO ADDRESS UNFUNDED LIABILITY. THAT WAS THEIR MANTRA FROM LAST SESSION ANNIE BELIEVE
IT WILL CONTINUE THIS SESSION. ADMINISTRATION IS ON SAME PAGE. SO ONCE YOU AGREE ON THAT,
THEN THE ISSUE IS WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE OTHER MONEY THAT'S STILL THERE. WE DON'T HAVE
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ON THE TABLE ANY NOR TOO MUCH. SO IT REALLY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
LOOK AT PROGRAMS. >> TALKED ABOUT THE THOUSANDS OF BILLS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT DURING THE SESSION. WHILE THE GOVERNOR MAY NOT BE PROPOSING TAX
OR FEE INCREASES, OTHER INDIVIDUALS LEGISLATURES WILL. SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE
TO LOOK AT. THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES THAT BLAKE IS TALKING ABOUT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY $25 BILLION. WE ARE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF UNFUNDED LIABILITIES,
PRIMARILY WITH OUR STATE EMPLOYEE RETIME. SYSTEM AND THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND HEALTH
SYSTEM. ADMINISTRATION DID MAKE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT LAST YEAR, LAST SESSION, TO START PAYING
THAT BACK. BUT EVEN AT THE AMOUNTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE, WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A 30 YEAR PERIOD TO PAY THAT BACK OR PAY IF DOWN. THAT'S VERY UNLIKELY BECAUSE
THERE'S STILL SO MANY VOICES AND SO MANY PEOPLE TRYING TO GRAB THAT MONEY. THAT WILL BE THE
DEBATE. >>MALIA: YOU MENTIONED TAX. IS THERE ANY ISSUE
ON THIS ISSUE THAT YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO LOOK AT TAX OR FEE OR DO YOU CATEGORICALLY
OPPOSE ANY INCREASE. >> MY POSITION IS DIFFERENT FROM MY THREE
DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES HERE, OF COURSE. THEY LIKE SPEND BEING, THEY LIKE TAXATION, EMPLOYEE
MANDATES. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS HAWAI'I SUFFERS FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO GROW ITS ECONOMY
OR EXPAND OR DIVERSE IF I. OUR NUMBER ONE ECONOMIC DRIVER IS VISITOR INDUSTRY. UNTIL
DECEMBER 2012, NUMBER 2 ECONOMIC DRIVER WAS CALLED DANIEL INOUYE. WHO ACCOUNTED FOR AT
LEAST $450 MILLION A YEAR. WE DON'T HAVE THAT NOW. IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET, FOR EXAMPLE,
I ATTENDED HEARINGS LAST WEEK, PRELIMINARY HEARINGS AND THEY WANT TO START A NEW PROGRAM,
NEW OFFICE TO TRY TO CAPTURE OR OBTAIN FEDERAL MILITARY EXPENDITURES. THEY WANT A NEW OFFICE
TO BE A BUFFER BETWEEN THE FAILED HAWAI'I CONNECTOR AND INDUSTRY. CONSTANT BATTLE OF
TRYING TO GROW GOVERNMENT BIGGER. THE PEOPLE OF HAWAI'I ARE SUFFERING RIGHT NOW. I DISAGREE
WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT SHARE THE OPINION THAT THE ECONOMY HAS TURNED AROUND. THAT WE
TURNED THE CORNER. AND I THINK THE COUNSEL OF REVENUES MEETING LAST WEEK WHERE THEY REDUCED
THEIR PROJECTION FOR THIS YEAR IS INDICATION THAT IN FACT, WE HAVE NOT. TALK TO THE MAN
OR THE WOMAN ON THE STREET AND THEY'LL TELL YOU, THEY'RE STRUGGLING AND I I THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE IN THE BIG SQUARE BUILDING DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>>MALIA: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, QUICKLY. WOULD YOU CATEGORICALLY SAY NO TO ANY INCREASES
OR TAXES OR FEE THIS IS SESSION. >> YES, I DO. CATEGORY GOICALLY BECAUSE I
CAN'T SEE THE NEED FOR MORE OF THAT. I DO SEE THE NEED FOR REDUCING SPENDING AND HAVING
THE GOVERNMENT LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS JUST LIKE MR. AND MRS. HAWAI'I HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN
THEIR MEANS. >>MALIA: ANY THOUGHTS IN TERMS OF HE PROJECTIONS
BEING OVERLY OPTIMISTIC? >> NO. WE THINK THE ACTUAL GROWTH THAT IS
SHOWN COUNCIL OF REVENUES SOMETHING WE AGREE THAT. SHOWING THAT TOURISM IT NUMBERS ARE
SOFTENING. AT THE SAME TIME, WE SEE INCREASES IN CONSTRUCTION AND SO THAT'S HELPING TO BUFFER
THAT LOSS. OVERALL, OUR FINANCIAL PLAN IS BASED ON THE
I'D WHY THAT WE DON'T NEED THE CONTINUATION OF THE TAXES THAT WERE IMPOSED DURING THE
RECESSION. AND SO THERE ARE A BUNCH OF FEES, TAXES AND FEES THAT WERE IMPOSED THAT THERE
WERE SUN OATS PLACE SUNSETS PLACED ON THEM. AUTOMATICALLY SET TO EXPIRE NEXT YEAR OR NEXT
2 YEARS. OUR FINANCIAL PLAN IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THAT. WE'RE VERY HOPE IFEL
THAT WE'LL SEE ECONOMIC GROWTH CONTINUE. >>MALIA: PEOPLE WATCH WILLING WHO ARE SAYING
GIVE ME GOOD NEWS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR ME, ONE ITEM IS TAXES, SOME TAXES WILL
BE SUN SETTING AND GOING AWAY. >> YES. ECONOMIC, THE INCOME TAX INCREASE
AS WELL AS CAPITAL GAINS. >>MALIA: WELL, THERE SAY MAJOR ELECTION THIS
YEAR. THERE POSSIBLY COULD BE A DIFFERENT GOVERNOR AND CERTAINLY WILL BE A DIFFERENT
LEGISLATURE. SO ONE LEGISLATURE CANNOT BIND FUTURE LEGISLATURE. EVEN IF YOU PASS LEGISLATION
WITH SUNSET PROVISIONS, THEY CAN BE CHANGED. AND OFF EMTIMES, IN THE PAST, WE HAVE SEEN
THAT. LEGISLATURE RELUCTANT TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE TAXES ONCE THEY'RE IN PLACE.
>>MALIA: I'M SO SAWYER, WE HAVE TO SAY TO VIEWERS WE DO HAVE A TECHNICAL PROBLEM RIGHT
NOW. WE ARE AWARE OF IT AND WORKING ON IT. SO PLEASE STICK WITH US. IN THE MEANTIME,
FOR THOSE WHO CAN HEAR, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, KANIELA, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS
SOME UNFINISHED BUSINESS FROM LAST SESSION WHAT FROM LAST SESSION WILL CARRY OVER THAT
YOU ARE HOPING TO GET RESOLVED THIS SESSION? >> SURE. LET RESPOND TO SOME THINGS. I DON'T
THINK THAT DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY HAWAI'I ARE ACROSS THE BOARD LOOKING TO SPEND MORE AND
TAX MORE. ACTUALLY F. YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE'RE ACTUALLY ONE OF THE
MOST CONSERVATIVE BUDGETS IN THE ENTIRE NATION. COMPARE US TO THE TEA PARTY STATES. THEY BREAK
IT DOWN PER FUNCTION. WE DON'T EDUCATION AND THE COUNTIES.
WE SPEND A LOT LESS PER CAPITA THAN YOU PROBABLY EXPECT. OUR FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE ACTUALLY
PUT, REFILL THE RAINY DAY FUND, HURRICANE RELIEF FUND, JUST BECAUSE THERE'S MONEY NOW,
IT DOESN'T MEAN WE NEED TO SPEND IT. WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS PRUDENT AS POSSIBLE TO BEST
UTILIZE THESE FUNDS AND MAKE SURE OUR CREDIT RATING STAYS HIGH AND THAT WE CAN PAY OFF
FUTURE DEBTS. DEBTS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WITH THE RETIREES, I DON'T THINK ANYONE LEADERSHIP,
I'M CERTAINLY NOT, SUPPORTING A PENSION TAX. AND OTHER LITTLE TAXES LIKE SUGARY DRINKS,
NOT NECESSARILY SUPPORTIVE THAT EITHER. >>MALIA: QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS IS IF WE HAVE
COME OUT OF THE VERY BAD ECONOMIC SITUATION WE WERE IN, WHAT DO WE DO NOW TO PREPARE OURSELVES
FOR THE NEXT TIME THAT COMES AROUND? WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN WE WERE
IN 2009. >> I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THE GOOD COLLEAGUE
FROM HAWAII KAI. EASY TO PAINT ALL DEMOCRATS FROM THE SAME BRUSH. YOU TALK ABOUT GROWING
THE ECONOMY WHICH I TOTALLY AGREE, THAT'S ONE OF OUR PRIORITIES THAT WE NEED TO MOVE
ON. WE CANNOT DO IT SIMPLY BY SAYING NO TO EVERYTHING AND CUTTING EVERYTHING. WE'VE GOT
TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT ALL THE OPTIONS ON THE TABLE AND FIGURE OUT
HOW BEST WE CAN MOVE AHEAD. SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, GROW
SECONDERS LIKE CONSTRUCTION, RENEWABLE ENERGY, LOOK AT AGRICULTURE. WHAT WE DO HERE REQUIRES
SOME STATE INVESTMENT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN TAKE THOSE STEPS THAT NEED TO
BE TAKEN TO HELP THE FARMERS, HELP THE FOLKS IN THE SOLAR INDUSTRY, HOPE THOSE PEOPLE CREATE
NEW MARKETS AND NEW JOBS. THEY CAN USE THAT ASSISTANCE.
>>MALIA: LET'S GET SPECIFICS HERE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS
GOING TO CHANGE, WHAT AM I GOING TO SEE OUTS OF THE SESSION. WHAT CAN YOU GUYS TELL ME
THAT WE MIGHT BE SEEING THAT WILL REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR PEOPLE'S LIVES.
>> WELL, GOING BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT A MINUTE AGO, A LOT
OF FOLKS HAVE NOTICED THAT SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLATIONS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE ROOF.
DOUBLING FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. QUARTER OF THE ENTIRE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. HUGE
BOON TO HAWAI'I AND IT SAVES PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY ON THEIR OWN ELECTRIC BILLS.
ONE OF THE ONLY WAYS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEP OFF THE 300, $400 A MONTH ELECTRIC
BILL AND CONTROL IT FOR THEMSELVES. WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE CAN MOVE AHEAD. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS THAT THE INDUSTRY ITSELF HAS BEEN
SETBACK BY A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES. PEOPLE HAVING PROBLEMS CONNECTING TO THE GRID. PEOPLE
FINDING OUT THAT THEY HAVE TREMENDOUS LINES AND WAITS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. WE NEED TO
FIGURE IT OUT WHAT THESE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES ARE, WORK WITH OUR UTILITIES, MAKE SURE WE
CAN MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TWEAKING AND LEGISLATION TO BE ABLE TO DO.
WE INTEND TO DO IT. >>MALIA: WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF NATIONAL PRESS
COVERAGE ABOUT HECO AND SOLAR AND THE GRID. IN SOME STATE REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS HAVE
COME OUT FOR THE SOLAR INDUSTRY AGAINST MONOPOLIES. ANY THOUGHT ON THAT HAPPENING HERE IN HAWAI'I.
>> I INTRODUCED LEGISLATION EVERY YEAR TO DEREGULATE OUR LARGEST MONOPOLY AND THAT IS
HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC. HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC GETS PAID WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE. THE RATE
PAYORS THAT DON'T HAVE SOLAR ARE SUBSIDIZING THOSE THAT DO. THE STATE HAS SPENT BILLION
DOLLARS OR MORE ON TAX CREDITS AND SUBSIDY FOR SOLAR. THAT'S WHAT IS DRIVEN THE CONSTRUCTION.
IT'S NOT REALLY AN ECONOMIC BOON OR ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION. IF IS BASED ON SUBSIDIES.
BASED ON TAX CREDITS. LET ME SAY AT THIS POINT, ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE REALLY GOING
TO MISS IS LOWELL KALAPA WHO UNFORTUNATELY DIED RIGHT AT THE END OF 2013. LOWELL KALAPA
WAS THE TAXPAYER'S WATCH DOG. HE WAS THE PERSON THAT KEIM TO BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, HAD
VERY CLEAR CONCISE INFORMATION WHICH DISPUTED A LOT OF THINGS THAT ADMINISTRATION AND MAJORITY
PARTY SAY. WE ARE NOT DIVERSIFYING OUR ECONOMY. WE ARE NOT DONE WITH THIS RECESSION. AND SO
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, WE INVITE PEOPLE DOWN TO OUR HEARING
EVERY YEAR. THEY TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF CREATING JOB. AND THEN WE THANK
THEM FOR COMING AND WE DO EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE LAST TEN OR 15 YEARS? IN TERMS
WAS BUSINESS AND PEOPLE PEOPLE CONCERNS, ONE THING MAO MIGHT BE ON THE TABLE THIS SESSION
IS MINIMUM WAGE. >> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THAT >> I KNOW, PRESUME,
THREE ARGUMENTS PEOPLE MAKE AGAINST MINIMUM WAGE. SOMETHING THAT PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS
LAST YEAR, DIED AT THE LAST SECOND. HOPEFULLY PASSED THIS YEAR. PEOPLE LIKE TO SAY THAT
BUSINESSES, IMPEDE THEIR ABILITY TO INNOVATE OR GROW, AND THAT IT WILL CAUSE MORE UNEMPLOYMENT.
IT'S REALLY NOT A LOT OF EVIDENCE. VERY HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. LOW MINIMUM WAGES. WE ALSO SEE
STATE WITH VERY LOW MINIMUM WAGE AND HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. ACTUAL STUDIES DONE IN NEIGHBORING
CITIES THAT HAVE EXACT NUMBERS AND WITH MANY OTHER VARIABLES CONTROLLED. OF COURSE IT WILL
CAUSE SOME KIND OF REDUCED SOME PROFITS IN CORPORATIONS PERHAPS. BUT REALLY AT A BALANCE.
PROVIDE THESE WORKERS HOW MUCH BENEFIT WILL IT PROVIDE THE GREATER SOCIETY. RIGHT NOW,
TO ME, IT'S A MORAL QUESTION AS A SOCIETY, ARE WE OKAY WITH SEEING PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING
FULLTIME, SOMETIMES MORE THAN FULL TIME 2 OR 3 JOBS, VERY DISMAYED. SOMETHING WE NEED
TO RESOLVE RIGHT AWAY. MINIMUM WAGE HASN'T BEEN, I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT COMPARED TO 1960S,
AND INFLATION, VERY, VERY LOW. HAVE TO RAISE IT 4 OR FIVE DOLLARS TO GET BACK DO THE LEVELS.
>>MALIA: DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN MINIMUM WAGE IN THIS SESSION.
>> I HOPE SO. I CAN'T SPEAK. >> I HAVE AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE HERE THAT
HAD IS A MORAL ISSUE. MORAL ISSUE IS WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORCE PEOPLE
TO PAY SOMETHING THAT IS NOT RELATED PRODUCTIVITY. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES
IN THE LEGISLATURE HAVE NEVER MET A PRIVATE PAYROLL IN THEIR LIVES. IT'S A LOT DIFFERENT
IF YOU'RE IN BUSINESS. LETS AFFECT FORGET ABOUT THE BIG CORPORATIONS AND TALK ABOUT
SMALL BUSINESS. >>MALIA: WE WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE TECHNICAL
DIFFICULTIES AND WE ARE WORKING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. PLEASE BEAR WITH US. FEW QUESTIONS
FROM VIEWERS. IS THERE ANY TALK OF LEGISLATION THAT PROVIDE
TAX INCENTIVES TO NEW CORPORATIONS TO REGISTER THEIR COMPANIES HERE? SIMILAR TO DELAWARE.
ANYONE HEARD ANY TALK OF THAT? VIEWER QUESTION. >> NO. TALKED ABOUT THAT OVER THE YEARS BUT
NOT RECENTLY. >>MALIA: ANY CHANCE TAX INCENTIVES FOR TECH
START UPS TO HELP BUILD VIABLE TECH SECTOR IN HAWAI'I.
>> THERE'S BEEN TALK ABOUT THAT OVER THE YEARS. WE'VE HAD GRAND EXPERIMENT OVER THE LAST DECADE
OR SO WITH ACT 221 WHICH PROVIDED SIMILAR FUNDING AND FORTUNATELY, THERE WEREN'T ADEQUATE
METRICS ATTACHED TO IT AND DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IMPACT IT HAD DIRECTLY. IF WE'RE
GOING TO DOING S. THE TALK THAT I'VE HEARD IS FIGURING OUT WHICH INDUSTRY WE WANT TO
HELP, HOW DO WE PUT THE MONEY IN THERE, TARGET IT SO IT'S GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE SO THERE'S
METRICS SO WE KNOW THE DOLLAR IS WELL SPENT SO EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED RETURNS MULTIPLE
DOLLARS BACK TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE. WE'VE GOT TO DECIDE THIS YEAR EXACTLY WHEN WE'RE
GOING TO DO THAT. DIGITAL MEDIA, WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT. OTHER SORTS OF HIGH TECH START
UPS AND IT'S NOT JUST THERE. YOU COULD VENTURE OUT INTO OTHER INDUSTRIES THAT DON'T HAVE
A CHANCE TO GROW. EVEN INTO THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR, OTHER PLACES WHERE SCHOOLS NEED JUST
AS MUCH HELP WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPING NEW MODELS.
>>MALIA: HIGH CHANCE OR LOW CHANCE OF PASSING? OF THAT ACTUALLY MAKING IT THROUGH?
>> SAM'S SUPPORT, WE CAN PASS ANYTHING. >> ON THAT QUESTION BRIEFLY, GOVERNOR'S BUDGET
DOES HAVE $6 MILLION FOR HIGH GROWTH INITIATIVE. LAST SESSION, LEGISLATURE GENEROUSLY GAVE
US $6 MILLION. THAT $6 MILLION HAS BEEN FOUR TIME MULTIPLIER WITH PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
WE HAVE $25 MILLION THAT NOW BEEN PUT IN START UP COMPANIES. WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT
GROWTH. SECOND THING WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET IS $7 MILLION FOR HIGH TECH MANUFACTURING.
OFTENTIMES THE PROBLEM THAT A LOT OF HIGH TECH COMPANIES HAVE THEY GET MONEY FOR R AND
D BUT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO TRANSLATE THAT INTO THE NEXT STEP WITH MANUFACTURING. SO WE'RE
ASKING FOR $7 MILLION FOR THAT PROGRAM. >> WHEN BLAKE SAYS THAT THE LEGISLATURE GENEROUSLY
GAVE THIS MONEY, LEGISLATURE DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY. ONLY HAS THE MONTY TAKES FROM THE
TAXPAYERS AND PEOPLE WORKING HERE. AND I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH SOME PEOPLE IN THE GOVERNMENT
WHO THINK THEY ARE WISE ENOUGH TO SELECT THOSE BUSINESSES WITHIN THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT ARE
GOING TO DO WELL. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE RECORD OF OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND
SAY THE WORDS, SILINDRA AND OTHER 25 FAILED BUSINESSES. WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT, WHEN YOU'RE
TAKING MONEY, YOU'RE TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM CERTAIN BUSINESSES TO GIVE SPECIAL FAVORS
TO OTHER BUSINESSES. GOOD BUSINESS WANTS A HEALTHY BUSINESS CLIMATE, WANTS A FAIR AROUND
EQUITABLE WAY OF DOING BUSINESS. THEY DON'T NEED SPECIAL FAVORS. AND WE DO LOUIS ARMSTRONG
HARM TO THE EN WE DO HARM NOT ENTIRE ECONOMY DOING THAT.
>>MALIA: STEPHANIE WAIKIKI. IF TOURISM IS SO IMPORTANT, WHY DON'T WE BAN FISHING IN
WAIKIKI? TO ALLOW TOURISTS TO SEE OUR BEAUTIFUL RESOURCES?
>> MARINE, CONSERVATION DISTRICT. NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR. ONLY 3 MONTHS WHERE IT REMAINS
OPEN AND SUBJECT TO REGULATIONS. MOST OTHER TIMES, IT IS BANNED.
>>MALIA: ANY THOUGHTS, I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF CHATTER ABOUT SPEAR IF ING JUST OPENED.
HOW QUICKLY THE FISH POPULATION SEEMS TO DEPLETE. ANY THOUGHTS INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF TIME
REEFS ARE PROTECTED. >> THERE'S EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PACIFIC
REGION WHICH NUMBER OF NATIONS HAVE SIGNED ON TO. LOOKING AT HOW WE INCREASE OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES IN THE NEAR SUPPORT MARINE ENVIRONMENT AMONG OTHER PLACES. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REEFS
HERE IN HAWAI'I, WHERE OFTEN THE EXISTING FISH POPULATION DOWN TO A SMALL FRACTION OF
WHAT IT ONCE WAS. 5% SOME PLACES. SOME PLACE, PARTICULAR SPECIES ARE EXTINCT COMPLETELY.
IF WE OPEN THAT UP AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK WITH OUR FISHING COMMUNITY AND ALL THE
OTHER FOLKS IN THE AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN IN THE TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN SENSE BALANCE
OUR INTERESTS, AND CONTINUE TO KEEP US SUSTAINABLE POPULATION THERE, I THINK THAT'S HUGE. I THINK.
>>MALIA: THERE ARE SO MANY RESPONSIBLE FISHERMEN WHO ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH JUST THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THERE'S A FEW THAT REALLY TEND TO BE THE BAD APPLES THEY MAKE EVERYBODY LOOK
BAD. IN KONA IN PARTICULAR, OTHER PLACES AROUND THE STATE, REAL EXAMPLES OF BEING ABLE TO
SUSTAINABLY SET ASIDE CERTAIN AREAS FOR PERIODS OF THE YEAR, MUCH LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO DO
WITH WAIKIKI. TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE FISH POPULATIONS COME BACK. IT HELPS TOURISM. HELPS
OUR LOCAL FISHERIES AND HELPS OUR NEXT GENERATION WHO WANT TO PARTICIPATE.
>>MALIA: ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT IN TERMS OF MAUI?
>> YEAH, I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE SEE WITH SHARK ATTACKS HAVE TO DO WITH
FISHERIES BEING DEPLETED. ESPECIALLY THE FISH POPULATION. SO ANY CONTROL THAT WE CAN HAVE,
ANY WAY WE CAN GET THAT UNDER CONTROL, I THINK, WE SHOULD EXPLORE AND DISCUSS.
>>MALIA: BILLS ON THAT TOPIC. >> PERHAPS.
>>MALIA: HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION. THIS QUESTION IS FOR SAM SLOM AND BLAKE OSHIRO. IS THE LEGISLATURE
GOING TO INVESTIGATE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY BECAUSE IT CAN INMATES ESCAPING AND
GUARDS HAVING SECOND JOBS WHILE ON DUTY. >> SO THERE ARE INTERNAL EFFORTS THAT ARE
GOING UP TO CLEAN UP THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT. BUT IF THERE IS SPECIFIC INSTANCES LIKE THAT,
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING MAYBE THEY SHOULD LET US KNOW. SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HIGH
WILL DISCONCERTING TO US. OVERALL, I WILL SAY DONE A LOT IN TERMS IT HAVE IMPROVING
OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC. BUT I'M NOT AWARE
OF ANY PARTICULAR INSTANCES. >> WELL, THE SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SENATOR ESPERO STARTED HEARINGS LAST YEAR. WE LOOKED INTO SOME OF
THE COMPLAINTS AND SOME OF THE THINGS AND I THINK THAT WILL BE ONGOING. BOY, IF WE'RE
GOING TO TALK ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS, WE HAVE THE STATE HOSPITAL AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
WE'VE GOT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I. WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF THINGS THAT WE CAN INVESTIGATE.
AND I THINK THIS GOES TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER ABOUT THE PUBLIC. PUBLIC IS GETTING
MORE UPSET WITH US BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SOLVING THESE PROBLEMS. WE GET A LOT MORE WHISTLE
BLOWERS THAN WE EVER GOT FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TELLING US THAT WHY AREN'T YOU DOING THIS?
AND I THINK OFTENTIMES, WE GET DISTRACTED BY THINGS LIKE MARIJUANA, PHYSICIAN ASSISTED
SUICIDE, GAMBLING WHICH WILL ALL BE TALKED ABOUT BEGINNING OF THE SESSION NEXT WEEK.
BUT BY HE THE END OF THE DAY PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ADOPTED. WE DO HAVE THESE THINGS THAT
WE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON AND PUBLIC SAFETY ONE OF THEM.
>>MALIA: PUBLIC SAFETY? >> I HAVE A THOUGHTEN ADDRESSING PROBLEM.
I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS WORLDWIDE IS GLOBAL WARMING. BECAUSE OF CHRIS SPOKE
ABOUT IT EARLIER, HAWAI'I IS NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF SOLAR WE HAVE.
AND MAUI LEADS THE WAY WITH 5.4% OF ALL RATE PAYORS. HOOKED UP TO PV. AND SENATOR SAID
IT HIMSELF, THAT THIS IS ONLY TRUE BECAUSE THE STATE WAS INVOLVED. AND I THINK THOSE
ARE THE KIND OF ENERGIES WE NEED TO FOCUS ON. THERE'S A PROBLEM AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT
WE CAN TO ADDRESS IT,EE KNEUBUHL ENERGIES. HAWAI'I IS LEADING THE WAY. DOUBLING EVERY
YEAR SINCE 2005. ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT GROWTH AND THAT LEADERSHIP WORLDWIDE LEADERSHIP IS
WHY WE'RE FACING THESE KIND WAS PROBLEMS BECAUSE WE'RE PIONEERS REALLY.
>>MALIA: LET'S STAY ON SOLAR FOR ONE SECOND. HOME OWNERS OUT THERE MIGHT BE LISTENING RIGHT
NOW WHO CANNOT FINISH THEIR SOLAR INSTALLATION BECAUSE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. WHAT CAN BE DONE
ON LEGISLATIVE LEVEL TO HELP THESE PEOPLE AND OTHERS WHO MIGHT FEEL FRUSTRATED RIGHT
NO NOW? >> FOR THOSE HOMEOWNERS ESPECIALLY WHO HAVE
INVESTED THE MONEY INTO A SYSTEM TO HAVE IT INSTALLED IN THEIR HOUSE, GOING THROUGH THE
PAPERWORK, COME TO FIND OUT VERY END OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY CAN'T CONNECT. OR THEY NEED
TO DO AN ADDITIONAL STUDY WITH THE UTILITY TO BE ABLE TO.
>>MALIA: WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT COULD COST THOUSANDS AND
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT, WORKED WITH THE UTILITY TO FIGURE
OUT, IS THERE TECHNOLOGY, INVERTERS IN SOLAR PANELS THAT WOULD ALLOW A SAFE CONNECTION
TO ALLOW A LOT MORE PV ON THE SYSTEM. THAT IS ONLY GOING TO GO SO FAR. WE BOUGHT OURSELVES
A FEW MONTHS. BEYOND THAT, WHAT NEED TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK AT GRID MODERNIZATION. THERE'S
A WE'RE LOOKING AT, 2 BIG COMPONENTS. >> FIRST IS TO ENSURE ANY STUDIES OR ANY SPEED
BUMS IN THE PROCESS AREN'T GOING TO BE EXTREMELY COSTLY. FIRST GUY WHO ENDS UP PASS THAT THRESHOLD
GIVEN COMMUNITY WHO WANTS TO CONNECT WON'T HAVE TO FUND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
FOR A STUDY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE TO FOLLOW. THAT'S GOING TO LIMIT TO A REASONABLE COST,
THE TIME AND THE COST OF THAT. SECOND THING IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT THE UTILITIES
CAN DO ON THEIR END TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FOLLOW THROUGH WITH A COMMITMENT TO TRUE 21ST
CENTURY GRID MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SMART METERS INSTALLED, THE GRID ARCHITECTURE IS UPDATED
SO FOLKS WILL BE ABLE TO CONNECT ENMASS INTO A GRID WHERE EVERYBODY GENERATES THEIR OWN
POWER AND SAVES MONEY. >>MALIA: IS THE POLITICAL WILL TO GET THOSE
KINDS OF BILLS PASSED IN THIS SESSION? >> I THINK SO. WE'VE HAD THIS DEBATE FOR A
COUPLE OF YEARS RUNNING NOW. TALKING ABOUT TAX CREDITS AND OTHER THINGS. INCENTIVES THAT
HAVE TO THIS POINT, TAKEN US THIS FAR. EVEN NOW, EVEN WITHOUT TAX CREDITS, WITHOUT A SINGLE
DOLLAR OF TAX CREDITS, INSTALLING RENEWABLE ENERGY IS OUT BECAUSE IT'S SO HIGH. THIRTY
SEVEN CENTS PER KILOWATT HOUR, THREE TIMES NATIONAL AVERAGE. PAY BACK PERIOD IS ONLY
A HANDFUL OF YEARS EVEN WITHOUT THE STATE SUPPORT. NO BRAINER. I THINK THAT'S WHERE
THE PUBLIC WANTS TO GO. AND THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GO.
>> LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE DIFFERENT IDEA ON THAT BECAUSE WE HAD HOUSE AND SENATE HEARINGS
BACK IN OCTOBER. >> INTERIM HEARINGS. WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.
HOME OWNERS WERE CAUGHT. HOME OWNERS WERE CAUGHT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO TAKE OUT LOANS
TO PAY FOR IT. THE CONTRACTORS WERE CAUGHT BECAUSE THEY HAD TO HIRE EXTRA PEOPLE AND
GO TO EXPENSE AND BUY INVENTORY. THE CULPRIT IS HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC AND THE MONOPOLY STATUS.
THEY DON'T WANT PEOPLE OFF THE GRID. THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET PAID. THE
ARGUMENTS THAT THEY MADE ABOUT IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN AND ALL OF THAT, FROM MY STANDPOINT,
IS I RED HERRING. THEY CHANGED THE RULES UNILATERALLY. IN SEPTEMBER. THEY DIDN'T HAVE HEARINGS ON
IT. THEY DIDN'T TALK IT PEOPLE ABOUT IT. THAT'S WHAT COST PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY. SO HAWAIIAN
ELECTRIC HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLITICAL PLAYERS IN THIS TOWN. IN THIS STATE.
SO WHEN YOU SAY DO WE HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL? YOU LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WENT FROM
IT LEGISLATURE TO POSITIONS IN HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC. AND MAYBE THAT'S YOUR ANSWER.
>> TOUGH TO TAG ON TO THAT. ACTUALLY DO AGREE WITH THE SENATOR.
>> OH, NO. PLEASE! >> THERE.
>> WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO? >> THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION HAWAIIAN
ELECTRIC THEY'RE BOTH A GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION. REALLY, WHAT THEY SHOULD BE IS JUST A DISTRICTS
MODEL. WHEN WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF GENERATION FOR INDEPENDENT
POWER PRODUCERS, THAT SHOULD BE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT INSTEAD OF LETTING HECO CONTROL
THE GENERATION. SO THAT IS WHAT HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IS SEPARATING
THOSE. >>MALIA: HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THEM ON THE
SHOW TO ENGAGE NOTICE CONVERSATION. THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE FOR THE SESSION.
>> HIGHLY. >> IS.
>>MALIA: HIGHLY CHARGED. I LIKE THAT. AND HERE'S COMMENTS FROM JACK IN KANEOHE WHO SAID,
SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT HIGH ELECTRIC RATES BY NOT FORCING HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC COMPANY
TO USE LOW SULFUR OIL RATHER THAN THE CHEAPER I'M, WE WOULD NOT NOTICE A DIFFERENCE IN THE
AIR QUALITY DUE TO THE LOCATION OF ISLAND. I'M GUESSING YOU DON'T AGREE WITH THAT.
I CAN TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS OUT THERE. THERE ARE TWO CHIEF CONCERNS THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT WITH REGARD TO OUR ENERGY POLICY. ONE IS HOW DO WE GET A CONTROL ON COST. HOW
DO WE HAVE SOLID ENERGY SECURITY HERE IN THE STATE BASED ON OUR OWN RESOURCES WHICH IS
GOING TO SAVE US MONEY IN THE LONG TERM. SECONDLY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE STATE
MAKE BEING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE OKAY WITH THE TYPES OF ENERGY SOURCES WE'RE USING
WHETHER IT'S GEOTHERMAL OR WIND POWER OR SOLAR OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
>>MALIA: FUNNY YOU SHOULD SAY THAT. CHRIS QUESTIONS. HOW ARE THEY GOING TO END BIG WIND
ON LANAI? >> I THINK NOT TO GET TOO TECHNICAL, IN THE
LATEST ROUND AFTER ASSESSMENT, WHAT'S BEING LOOKED AT IS NOT SO MUCH BIG WIND PROJECT
ON LANAI, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO WITH OUR EXISTING RESOURCES, GEOTHERMAL ON THE THE BIG ISLAND,
WIND ON MAUI CURTAILED, THEY'RE GENERATING SO MUCH THEY CAN'T USE IT ALL THERE. OPTIONS
ARE LOOKING AT CONNECTING MAUI PERHAPS TO OAHU. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN WINDMILLS PERHAPS
ON LANAI OR MOLOKAI. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PLANS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND THAT'S A DISCUSSION
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE WITH THIS THAT.
>>MALIA: IS WIND A HOT TOPIC FOR YOU ON MAUI. YOU HAVE A STRONG WIND PRESENCE.
>> YES. TRYING TO MOVE TO BATTERY STORAGE AND HOW WE CANNER, BECAUSE MOSTLY RUNS AT
NIGHT AND THE SOLAR MOSTLY RUNS IN THE DAY. SO WE NEED TO FIRM UP OUR ENERGY. SO PEOPLE
ARE LOOK ALSO AT HALEAKALA FOR GEOTHERMAL. CONTROVERSIAL, NOT AS DEEP OR WIDE AS IT'S
BIG ISLAND SO. IT WILL TAKE OPENING UP WHICH SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO CALL FRACKING. BUT IT'S
NOT NECESSARILY IS. THAT WILL BE BIG DISCUSSION IN MY COMMUNITY.
>> BRIEFLY, GET TO ROBYN'S QUESTION. I WOULD SAY THAT THE CURRENT OWNER OF MOST OF LANAI
HASN'T EXPRESSED ANY INTEREST IN WIND AND LANAI. SO I THINK THAT WOULD ONE IMPEDIMENT.
SECOND THING IS WE STILL DON'T HAVE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL UP FROM THE PUC ON THE YOU INTERISLAND
CABLE. IF UNTIL WE HAVE THAT ACTUALLY FRAMED AND PENCILED OUT, WE WON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
MODELS, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE A HOOK UP DIRECTLY TO LANAI OR A SPOKE AND WHEEL TYPE
OF THING WHERE IT GOES TO MAUI AND THEN MAYBE A CONNECTION.
>> MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ON LANAI STILL OPPOSE THE CABLE AND STILL OPPOSE HAVING ISLAND COVERED
WITH WINDMILLS. THE PROBLEM IS THE PREVIOUS OWNER STILL SUPPORTS THAT.
>> I CAN SAY, FORGIVE ME I'M WRONG. ISN'T THE PORTION WITH THE WIND COMPONENT SEPARATE
FROM THE NEW OWNERS. >> CORRECT.
>>MALIA: RIGHT. SO IT'S BIFURCATED. >> WHEN THE GUY OWNS MOST OF LANAI.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ELECTRIC CABLE FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.
>>MALIA: IS THIS GOING TO COME UP THIS SESSION? >> YES. I THINK IT WILL.ER ACTUALLY, WE'VE
BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR YEARS. >> DON'T THINK THERE'S LEGISLATION NECESSARY
FOR IT TO HAPPEN. I THINK RIGHT NOW, BLAKE HAD MENTIONED, THERE'S AN RFP THAT'S GOING
TO GO OUT LOOKING AT WHAT THOSE PROPOSALS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE FROM THOSE COMPANIES.
>> THE PROBLEM IS WE GET ALL STARRY EYED AND TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS WITHOUT REALLY LOOKING
AT THE FACTS AND THE ACTUAL SITUATION. PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE UNDERSEA CABLE AS IF
IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE. WE DO HAVE UNDERSEA CABLES BUT THEY'RE COMMUNICATION CABLES. THEY'RE
NOT POWER CABLES. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN COST. ESTIMATES
WERE UP TO A BILLION DOLLARS IN CABLE. I TOOK A LOOK AT IT. I ANALYZED IT AND I SEE BETWEEN
1.5 AND $2 BILLION. IT'S A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF PRODUCTIVITY LOST.
YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE BATTERY SITUATION. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE, OR WHAT
HAPPENED IN KAHUKU WITH THE BATTERY FIRE AND ALL OF THAT. THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS THAT WE
HAVE TO GO THROUGH WHERE WE'RE GOING TO THIRD BASE WITHOUT TOUCHING FIRST AND SECOND.
>>MALIA: YOU PROPOSED SOMETHING ON THIS? WOULD IT BE SOMETHING YOU ACTUALLY INVOLVED WITH.
>> I THINK WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE PARTICULARLY ON LANAI AND MOLOKAI. I THINK
THEY WERE CROSSED OVER THE FIRST TIME AND PEOPLE IN HONOLULU WERE MAKING ALL THE DECISIONS.
NEIGHBOR ISLAND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT TOO MUCH.
>>MALIA: NO. I AGREE WITH THAT.
>>MALIA: VIEWERS JUST INJOINING US, TONIGHT WE ARE DISCUSSING WHAT SHOULD THE 2014 LEGISLATURE
DO FOR HAWAI'I. WE ARE TALKING WITH STATE REPRESENTATIVES CHRIS LEE AND KANIELA ING.
STATE SENATOR SLOMS AND GOVERNOR ABERCROMBIE'S DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, BLAKE OSHIRO. WE INVITE
YOU TO JOIN OUR CONVERSATION BY CALLINGS, E MAILING OR TWEETING YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
TO THE NUMBER AT THE BOTTOM YOUR SCREEN. LETS GET TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.
FROM DEBORAH IN MAKIKI. CONSIDER SOLUTIONS TO DECREASED TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON THE FREEWAYS.
DECREASED NUMBER OF ILLEGAL DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. OR TOLL FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC.
HAVE BEEN ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF TRYING TO HAVE BETTER ENFORCEMENT OF UNINSURED
DRIVERS AS THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS AT ONE POINT IN TERMS OF IT WOULD BE TIED SOMEHOW
TO HAVING TO HAVE PROOF OR A CHIP WHEN YOU GOT YOUR GAS REASON. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION
ABOUT THAT? >> NOT SERIOUSLY. ABOUT YOU IT IS A PROBLEM
BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAYBE 18 TO 20% OF DRIVERS AT ANY ONE TIME THAT ARE UNINSURED
AND WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN TRAFFIC AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
>> SURE. INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS BALKED AT THAT AND WET WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY
AND ALL THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO, NOT ROCKET SCIENCE TO BE ABLE MAKE SURE THAT
A PERSON'S INSURANCE COVERAGE IS CURRENT. >>MALIA: WOULD THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WANTS
THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD MOTIVATE PEOPLE TO GET INSURANCE.
>> THEY WOULD WANT IT BUT DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COST OF IMPLEMENTING OR OVERSEEING
IT. >>MALIA: WILL THE LEGISLATURE UNCAP THE ACCOMMODATION
TAX TO FAIRLY COMPENSATE THE COUNTIES FOR INCREASE IN SERVICES COUNTIES PROVIDE NOW
THAT TOURISM IS RISING. >> ADMINISTRATIONS WITH PLAN IT DON'T HAVE
ANY PLANS TO TAKE OFF THE CAP. WE BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION GOING TO THE COUNTIES
IS ADEQUATE. ACTUALLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT THAT GOES TO THE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS,
IN TERMS OF THE TOURISM ACCOMMODATION TAX, IT ACTUALLY IS MORE THAN THEIR TOURISM INCOME
GENERATES. SO THOSE BIG LOSER IN THAT EQUATION IS PROBABLY CITY & COUNTY OF HONOLULU. AND
SO BUT RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS ON CHANGING THAT.
>>MALIA: MAYBE THIS IS A GOOD THING TO MENTION. 3 WEEKS TIME, WE'LL HAVE ALL FOUR OF HAWAI'I'S
MAYORS ON THE SHOW AND THEY MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION. RIGHT, ON THAT ONE.
>> I'M SURE THEY DO. THERE WILL BE A BILL IN THE LEGISLATURE.
>>MALIA: DO YOU THINK IT HAS A CHANCE OF SUCCEEDING? >> IT HAS A CHANCE OF GETTING ON NEIGHBOR
ISLAND SUPPORT. THE ANSWER IS NO. >> NO.
>>MALIA: INTERESTING. TWITTER, ANONYMOUS ON TWITTER. WONDERING WHAT POLICY AREA WILL RECEIVE
THE MOST FOCUS IN THE GOVERNOR'S LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.
>> FOR US, BIGGEST ONE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ADVOCATING FOR, CONTINUES TO BE EARLY'D
CASE AND EDUCATION AND PRESCHOOL. PROBABLY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR US. WE HAVE A PLAN
FOR 32 CLASSROOMS IN VARIOUS D.O.E. SCHOOLS, HALF OF WHICH ARE NEIGHBOR ISLANDS. REQUESTING
$4.5 MILLION FOR THAT. WE'RE REQUESTING ANOTHER IT MILLION DOLLARS TO INCREASE FAMILY CENTER
INDEPENDENCE TYPE OF SITUATIONS. AND WE'RE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION FOR AN EXPANSION
OF PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS. SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR MODEST EXPANSION, TO ADDRESS THE FOUR
YEAR OLD GAP OF CHILDREN, ABOUT 5,000 OF WHICH WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE IN THE
MANDATORY KINDERGARTEN AT THAT AGE SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS GET EDUCATED.
>>MALIA: I RAN INTO A FRIEND THIS MORNING ACTUALLY WHO HAD A CHILD WHO FALLS INTO THIS
CATEGORY. SHE WAS SAYING I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAN. WILL
THIS PASS OR NOT PASS? WHAT DO I DO? DO YOU THINK THERE IS A STRONG CHANCE THIS WILL COME
OUT OF THIS SESSION? >> PROBABLY WILL BE A MODEST CHANGE. BUT NOT
WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED LAST YEAR. NOT WHAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE AND THE ADVOCATES
AND THE LOBBYISTS FOR THIS PROGRAM, THIS PROGRAM IS NOT FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS. FOUR YEAR OLDS,
3 YEAR OLDS, TWO YEAR OLDS ONE YEAR OLD. WE'RE NOT TALKING EARLY EDUCATION.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUBSIDIES, STATE SUBSIDY. AND HEARING THAT WE HAD THE AUDITORIUM LAST
WEEK. SENATOR THIELEN ASKED SOME VERY GOOD QUESTIONS. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GO AHEAD AND
SELECT 32 CLASSROOMS WHEN A, YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING IF FROM THE LEGISLATURE, AND B,
THERE'S CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO VOTE ON IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
THAT HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE WILL BE ALLOWED TO UTILIZE PUBLIC FUNDS FOR
PRIVATE PURPOSES. IF THAT DOESN'T PASS, OR THE SUBSIDY OR THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
DOESN'T PASS, THEY'RE LEFT WITH 32 CLASSROOMS. THEN YOU HAVE MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE VERY
UPSET IF ONE OF THOSE CLASSROOMS IS NOT IN THEIR DISDIRECT. THERE'S A LOT OF POLE PARTICULARRINGS
INVOLVED. POLITICS INVOLVED. WE'RE NOT TALKING EDUCATION. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SUBSIDIES.
>>MALIA: YOU THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU THINK IT WILL BE A TOUGH ONE. I THINK BLAKE IS VERY SKILLFUL AT NAVIGATING
SOME THINGS BY AND END OF SESSION, ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WILL BE SINGING KUMBAYA SINGING
HOW WONDERFUL IT WAS. >> 32 SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN BASED OFF AGREEMENT
WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND PRINCIPALS. >>MALIA: THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRESS SAYING
THERE WAS CONSTITUTION P THAT SOME PEOPLE FELT THEY HADN'T BEEN PRESENTED SORT OF A
COMPLETE PACKAGE. DO YOU FEEL THAT IT IS NOW COMPLETE PRESENTABLE COMPLETE PACKAGE YES.
CHRISTEN SIX WE REQUESTED MONEY DIDN'T HAVE A PLAN. THIS YEAR, WE CAME FORWARD WITH A
PLAN. CRITICISM NOW IS THE PLAN IS PREMATURE BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.
>>MALIA: FEELING FRUSTRATED. >> SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL QUESTIONING
THE PLAN. YES. >>MALIA: MARY IN HONOLULU. UNFUNDED MANDATES
ARE LOOMING VERY LARGE OVER OUR STATE. WHY SHOULD WE TAXPAYERS PAY FOR HEALTH CARE COSTS
FOR STATE RETIREES SPOUSES? WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CHANGE THIS SO ONLY STATE RETIREES RECEIVE
BENEFITS? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S EVEN BEING DISCUSSED?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS DISCUSSED. THE ISSUE IS HAS TO BE ONLY PROSPECTIVE. ANYONE
THAT HAS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, STATE CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO TAKE AWAY. HAWAI'I SOUP RELATE
COURT EVERSON CASE, SAYS YOU CAN'T TOUCH IT ONCE THEY'RE VEST. IF WE'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING
WITH SPOUSES IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PROSPECTIVE WITH NEW EMPLOYEES ONLY.
>>MALIA: WOULD THAT HAPPEN IN ELECTION YEAR. >> UNLIKELY THIS YEAR BUT SOMETHING WE CONTINUE
TO DEVELOP. >>MALIA: LEGISLATURE DID PASS A BILL 2 YEARS
AGO, ACT THAT CHANGES SOME OF OF THE ABOUT ENFITS IT AND REDUCES SOME OF THE BENEFITS.
AGAIN, FOR NEW EMPLOYEES. IT'S NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT MUCH OF OF AN IMPACT.
STILL STUCK WITH THAT UNFUNDED LIABILITIES. >>MALIA: ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE AROUND HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
>>MALIA: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT AT YOUR GUYS AGE, YOU ARE YOUNGEST MEMBERS IF
NOT THE YOUNGEST MEMBER. WHAT SORT OF FRESH HOPES OR FRESH IDEAS DO YOU THINK YOU BRING
TO THE SESSION AND HOW HARD IS IT TO SAY HOPEFUL ONCE THIS POLITICS AS USUAL START?
>> I USED TO BE THE YOUNGEST MEMBER. THEN THIS GUY CAME IN. QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK THAT
WE HAVE ACTUALLY AS GROUP, THERE'S A LOT MORE THAN JUST US WHO ARE RELATIVELY NEW AND I
DON'T THINK IT'S AGE DEPENDENT BUT RATHER NEW TO THE PROCESS, OFTEN OFFERS A NEW% PARTICULAR
TIFF ON THINGS. WE HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN POLICY. WE'VE ADDRESSED ISSUES THAT
HAVE NEVER SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY IN SOME TIME TALKING ABOUT GMO'S AND LABELING AND QUITE
FRANKLY, TODAY TALKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH IS A HUGE DEAL WHICH DOESN'T HAVE AN
IMPACT TOMORROW ON US, BUT IT WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT NOT ONLY OUR STATE BUDGET
BUT ECONOMY. AND ALL OF OUR LIFESTYLES. >>MALIA: ENVIRONMENTAL.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> YOU KNOW, EVERY POLITICIAN SAYS THEY DON'T
WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE AND TRY TO MAKE IT MORE, OR
LESS ABSTRACT BY SAYING, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO BE 20 AND 50 YEARS FROM NOW. I'LL BE STILL
AROUND 50 YEARS OR HOPE SO AND UNLIKE SOME GERIATRICS,.
>>MALIA: TALK ABOUT GMO'S. IS THAT GOING TO COME OUT, OR IS THAT NOW SORT OF IN THE COUNTY'S
HANDS. >> COUNTIES HAVE PARTICULARLY THINK KAUAI
AND THE BIG ISLAND, MOVED AHEAD WITH THEIR OWN COUNTY LEVEL ISSUES. MOSTLY FOCUSED AROUND
PESTICIDES. I THINK MAUCY NOW TAKING UP SOMETHING. WE
HAD A, TWO SEPARATE I THINK DISTINCT DEBATES THAT WE'VE HAD HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE IN
THE PAST YEAR. ONE IS LABELING OF FOOD. HOUSE PASSED A BILL OUT LAST YEAR WHICH WOULD REQUIRE
LABELING OF IMPORT THE GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD. OTHER SIDE OF THE DEBATE IS PESTICIDE
USE AND WHAT WE'RE GROWING HERE LOCALLY. THAT IS YET TO SURFACE IN A BIG WAY I THINK, BUT
IT MAY THIS YEAR. >>MALIA: LET'S GET FEW ADDITIONAL COMMENT
IT'S. PETER FROM THE NORTH SHORE. HAS THE PANEL CONSIDERED LOWERING TAXES? ANY TALKS
WAS LOWERRERRING TAXES? >> ONLY MY BILLS. I DON'T GET ANY SUPPORT
OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THAT. THAT'S WHY I MADE THE STATEMENT EARLIER. YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T
BELIEVE ME, ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS POSITION HERE, THEN LOOK AT NATIONAL PUB PUBLICATIONS NATIONAL
RATING SERVICES THAT ALWAYS RATE US SECOND OR THIRD HIGHEST IN TAX BURDEN. THEY RATE
US 49TH OR 50TH IN BUSINESS CLIMATE. ALL OF THAT. BY THE WAY, I GOT TO SAY SOMETHING SINCE
BOTH OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE BROUGHT UP GLOBAL WARMING AND CLIMATE CHANGE. IT'S ABSOLUTE
WHETHER I HILARIOUS WE HAVE THIS GLOBAL WARMING RESEARCHSHIP STUCK FOR 2 WEEKS IN ANTARCTICA.
IT'S IS THE UPPER. DOWN THERE TO SHOW HOW THE ICE HAD MELTED AND HOW WE HAVE LESS ICE
AND ALL OF THAT. THEY GET STUCK IN 15 FOOT DEEP ICE.
>>MALIA: YOU'RE NOT CONVINCED THERE IS GLOBAL WARMING.
>> NOT PEOPLE, NOT PEOPLE CONTROLLED. AND IF LOOK AT LONG TERM TRENDS AND EVERYTHING
ELSE, SCIENCE DOES NOT SUPPORT THAT. BUT IT'S WONDERFUL TO TALK ABOUT. THE GOVERNOR WAS
APPOINTED TO WHAT, A NATIONAL GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE. IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WIND, HOT
WIND, HOT AIR, COME TO THE STATE CAPITOL BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT S.
>> I WOULD DISAGREE. I THINK VEHEMENTLY WITH MY COLLEAGUE SENATOR SOLOMON ON THIS POINT.
WE CAN MOVE PAST THE DEBATE OF WHETHER IT'S MAN MADE INDUCED OR NATURALLY INDUCED. 99%
OF MOST CLIMATE SCIENTISTS AND OTHER SCIENTISTS AGREE MAN HAS A TREMENDOUS INTEREST IN THIS.
MOVING BEYOND THAT, WHAT'S CLEAR IS THAT OUR OCEANS ARE RISING. TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING.
THESE EFFECTS ARE HAPPENING AND WE'RE MEASURING THEM RIGHT NOW. WE HAD A HEARING IN FACT TODAY
AT STATE CAPITOL LOOKING AT WHAT THE EXPECTED IMPACTS ON HAWAI'I ARE GOING TO BE 10 YEARS
DOWN THE ROAD. 20 YEARS, 50 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD. AND WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THAT THEY'RE
TREMENDOUS ALREADY TO THIS DAY IN THE LAST 350 YEARS, WE'VE LOST 17 MILES OF BEACH HERE
IN HAWAI'I. HERE ON OAHU. THAT'S 25% OF THE BEACHES ON THE ISLAND. THIS IS HAPPENING STATEWIDE.
AND IT'S PROJECTED TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. WHICH MEANS THE EROSION WE'RE SEEING KAILUA BEACH,
MAUI, NORTH SHORE, WITH HOMES FALL NOTHING THE OCEAN, SOMETHING WE WILL HAVE TO DEAL
WITH. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE PLAN TO TAKE A BIG STAB AT BECAUSE IF WE LOSE OUR BEACHES,
WE LOSE OUR ECONOMY. WE LOSE OUR WAY OF LIFE. AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CANNOT, CANNOT STAND.
THAT'S ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG. WE'RE LOSING OUR FRESH WATER SUPPLY AS OUR TRADEWINDS
ADAPT. THESE THINGS ARE BEING MEASURED NOW. >> ONE. BENEFITS OF NOTABLE WILLING THE YOUNGEST
MINIMUM OF THE LEGISLATURE IS MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE IS YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO
LOOK AT THINGS OVER TIME, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. FOR EVERY STATUSSISTIC THAT'S CLIMATE
CHANGE PEOPLE PRESENT, OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, LOOK AT THE LONG TERM TRENDS YOU
FIND OUT THERE HAVE BEEN VERY LITTLE CHANGES. EROSION, YOU'RE NOT SUGGESTING EROSION IS
CAUSED BY GLOBAL WARMING. >> IT'S INFLUENCED VERY MUCH SO.
>> WELL, OKAY. THEN IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, WE CAN TALK ABOUT EROSION AND WE CAN LOOK
AT WHAT OCEANOGRAPHERS HAVE SAID WHAT THE PROBLEMS ARE, THE MAN MADE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE PUT OUT TO TRY TO CONTROL WAVES AND WATER ACTION. THAT'S VERY REAL THING. THAT, YOU
CAN LOOK AT. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER TREND IT'S, YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK
LONGER TERM. >> THE GOVERNOR WILL BE PROPOSING SOME TAX
CREDITS TO OFFSET COSTS FOR SENIORS LOW INCOME SENIORS PARTICULARLY THOSE ON FIXED INCOMES
BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MET THEM. RECENTLY ABLE TO LOWER THE UNEMPLOYMENT TAX.
ASSESSMENT THAT GOES TO EMPLOYERS WHAT THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE. WE'RE
GOING TO BE ADJUSTING THAT SCHEDULE AS WITH WELL. SAME SEX MARRIAGE ISSUE BECAME A HISTORIC
MONUMENTAL MOVE FOR THE STATE. DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANYTHING IN THE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE COMING
FORWARD THAT COULD BE HAVE THAT KIND OF HISTORIC STATUS OR WAS THAT A ONE OFF ADMINISTRATION.
>> I THINK THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS WHAT YOU'LL SEE AND HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR
IS HE DOES HAVE PLANS FOR SENDING SOME OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS SO THAT WE CAN
ACTUALLY PUT LANDS IN OPEN SPACE IN PERPETUITY, SPECIFICALLY IN TURTLE BAY. WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE THAT THAT DISPUTE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES. WE WANT TO RESOLVE THAT. AND MAKE
SURE WE CONTINUE THAT IN OPEN SPACE AND ALSO BE LOOKING AT THE LAND TRACKINGS OUT OF DOLE
AREA, AS YOU DRIVE OUT TO HALEIWA AND KEEPING THAT IN AGRICULTURE AND OPEN SPACE IN PERPETUITY.
>>MALIA: ALL RIGHT, THIS IS FROM GILBERT IN WAIALUA. WILL THE PANEL, THEY SUPPORT SENATOR
SLOM'S MOST IMPORTANT STATEMENT HECO NEEDS TO CEASE BEING A MONOPOLY. IS THAT IT? EVERYONE
HERE WOULD AGREE WITH?. SURE. WELL, WE THINK I THINK IT'S INEVITABLE
THAT WHAT BLAKE SPOKE OF, NO LONGER GOING TO BE A DISTRIBUTER AND NO LONGER PRODUCER.
I THINK AT LEAST WITHIN MY LIFETIME, WE'LL SEE THAT.
>> THINK EVEN HECO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ITS BUSINESS MODEL NEEDS TO CHANGE IN THE FACE OF OUR REQUIREMENTS
FOR ON OUR HAWAI'I CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVE OF BEING 70% RENEWABLE BY 2030. MORE IMPORTANTLY,
BECAUSE THE MARKET IS CHANGING. YOU HAVE SOLAR COMPANIES OFFERING BATTERY STORAGE AT HOME.
TECHNOLOGIES COMING ON LINE WHICH ARE REMOVING PEOPLE POTENTIALLY FROM THE GIDEON GRID IN
LARGER AND LARGER NUMBERS EVERY YEAR. A MODEL FROM OF SELLING ENERGY TO PEOPLE DOESN'T
CHANGE, TO BE WILLING ONE OF MANAGING AND DISTRIBUTED GRID, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE
QUICKLY FINDING THEM ISES OUT OF BUSINESS. >>MALIA: WILL THEY BE THE SOLE MANAGER OF
OF THE GRID. >> EXACTLY THE QUESTION. NUMBER OF BILLS WE
HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST. FROM OUR COLLEAGUES AND THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. THAT I'M WORKING
ON RIGHT NOW THAT ADDRESSES THIS AND TRIES TO GET A NUMBER ONE, WHAT IS THE BUSINESS
MODEL GOING FORWARD OF UTILITY? ARE THEY VIABLE THROUGH THIS TRANSITION? WE'VE GOT TO MAKE
SURE THEY ARE BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE STATE WILL HAVE TO STEP IN AND BAIL THEM OUT BECAUSE
WE CAN'T NOT HAVE ELECTRICITY. HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY TRANSITION TO BE A COMPANY
THAT FAIRLY REGULATES ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION? IS IT THEIR GENERATING POWER PLANTS THAT CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE POWER INDEFINITELY OR DO WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW DISTRIBUTED GENERATION IN MANY FORMS,
COMPETE AGAINST DID SELF FOR THE LOWEST COST CLEANEST ENERGY.
>> DOES THE GOVERNOR HAVE A POSITION ON THAT? >> OH, YES. DEFINITELY SUPPORTERS THE NEED
FOR US TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF ENERGY. GOVERNOR IS A BIG BELIEVER ACTUALLY IN NATURAL
GAS. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT. WITH THE FRACKING ISSUE AND ALL OF
THAT. WE DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS A VERY VIABLE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCE THAT CAN BE USED
AS A BRIDGE TO RENEWABLE ENERGY FUTURE. THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL BE HEARING US PROPOSING.
>> PART OF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WHENEVER YOU HAVE A REGULATED INDUSTRY, YOU HAVE A MONOPOLY
LIKE HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC, AND YOU HAVE STATE GOVERNMENT GUARANTEEING THEM A RATE OF RETURN,
A LOT OF BUSINESSES WOULD LIKE THAT. THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A GUARANTEED RATE OF RETURN.
SO WHEN MY COLLEAGUES SAYS, THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE BAIL THEM OUT, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD
NOT BE BAILING OUT HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC. DOESN'T NEED BAILING OUT. WHAT WE NEED IS DEREGULATION
AND WE NEED COMPETITION. THE PUC HAS BEEN LAX IN THE PAST. IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY,
THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. I THINK WE ALL SUPPORT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY. BUT IT
MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. >>MALIA: AGAIN, WE WOULD LIKE TO
>> I HOPE WE DON'T HAVE TO BAIL THEM OUT. THE WHOLE POINT I THINK IS TO AVOID THAT DAY
COMING SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THE UTILITY IS ON TRACK TO TRULY TRANSFORM INTO A DISTRIBUTED
GRID OF THE FUTURE BEFORE WE GET TO THAT POINT, BEFORE THE MARKET FORCES THEM OUT OF BUSINESS.
>>MALIA: BEFORE WE GET TO FEW OTHER TOPICS, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HECO ON AND HAVE THEM
TELL THEIR SIDE OF THIS WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THEM REPRESENT THE TONIGHT. FROM KAHUKU CALLER.
ELECTIONS GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP THE FILM INDUSTRY GROW HERE? CAN THEY HAVE THE
FILM PRODUCTION DONATE OR HELP OUR SCHOOLS IN ANY WAY? FURTHER FOR SUPPORT THE FILM INDUSTRY
WHICH SEEMS TO BE DOING QUITE WELL CURRENTLY IN HAWAI'I. WE HAVE A LOT OF PRODUCTIONS.
ANY FURTHER HELP NEEDED FROM THE LEGISLATURE. >> WE HAVE INCREASED TAX CREDIT LAST YEAR.
>> WE'RE COMPETING WITH OUR PRIMARY COMPETITION IS LOUISIANA AND GEORGIA. AND OF COURSE, TORONTO.
AND THEY HAVE HIGHER RATES. SO THE QUESTION IS SHOULD WE BE CONTINUING TO INCREASE TAX
CREDITS AND MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVING? CERTAINLY, WE'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED WITH THE NUMBER OF
MOVIES AND NUMBER OF TV SERIES AND ALL OF THAT. THE QUESTION IS THOUGH, THAT TOTALLY
DEPENTDIDN'T ON DEPENDENT ON TAX CREDITS OR UNIQUENESS OF HAWAI'I. WHAT WE NEED TO
DO IS IMPROVE OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE PARTICULARLY FILM STUDIO.
>>MALIA: DOES LEGISLATURE PLAN TO DO ANYTHING ON COST OF LONG TERM CARE. YOU MENTIONED TAX
CREDITS FOR SENIORS. ANY FURTHER HELP? >> WE DEFINITELY HAVE A LONG TERM CARE STUDY
THAT WILL BE COMING BACK. PREVIOUSLY, UNDER PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, THERE WAS A BILL THAT
TRIED TO IMPOSE A LONG TERM CARE TAX. IT GOT VETOED. DIDN'T GET OVERRIDDEN AND SO SINCE
THAT TIME, THE LEGISLATURE HASN'T REALLY TAKEN UP THE ISSUE. BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
DEFINITELY NEED TO ADDRESS. AND SO YOU'LL BE SEEING THE RESULTS OF A STUDY THINK COMING
OUT VERY SHORTLY THAT WILL PROPOSE A NEW MODEL AS TO HOW WE ADDRESS LONG TERM CARE.
>> WONDERFUL THING ABOUT HAWAI'I IS WE ARE THE STUDY CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. WHENEVER THERE'S
A PROBLEM, THERE'S A BLUE RIBBON PANEL. THERE'S A COMMISSION. AND THERE'S A STUDY. IF YOU
GO TO THE LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE BUREAU, THEY HAVE A DIRECTORY OF STUDY OF STUDY US. WE
DO THESE STUDIES AND WE DO THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. PROBLEM IS WE DON'T DO IMPLEMENTATION.
>>MALIA: I WANT TO GET TO MANY OF THESE COMMENTS AS I CAN. FROM FRED, YOU MENTIONED THAT MORE
CONSTRUCTION IS NECESSARY FOR CONTINUED GROWTH. HOW MUCH OF THE ISLAND WILL WE PAVE OVER WITH
CONCRETE AND HIGH RISES BEFORE GROWTH IS NO LONGER A GOOD TIDE YEAH. THIS BRINGS UP SOME
OF THE ISSUESES AROUND KAKAAKO AND HOW PEOPLE ENVISION KAKA'AKO LOOKING. QUICK CONVERSATION.
HOW HOT OF A TOPIC IS THAT GOING TO BE IN THE LEGISLATURE?
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MY GENERATION THEY DON'T REALLY WANT TO LIVE IN THAT HOUSE WAY FAR
AWAY FROM EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING AND YOU HAVE TO DRIVE YOUR CAR TO GET TO A BASE YOU
CAN NEED FOR GROCERIES AND JUST TO GET TO WORK. THEY WANT TO LIVE SOMEPLACE COOL.
>> URBAN CORE. >> PEOPLE IN KIHEI, THERE'S A GIANT MEGA MALL
PROPOSED. OUTMALL, STRIP MALL. AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO GET JOBS. BUT TO ME,
REALLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL COME IF AWE BUILD NICE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE, WALKABLE,
GREENWAYS, BIKE PATH, DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE FAR. WHEN YOU DO, PLEASANT DRIVE. NOT A LOT
OF TRAFFIC. THESE KIND OF THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN IN A LOT OF AREAS. YES, GROWTH IS PROBABLY
INEVITABLE IN SOME PLACES ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE ENOUGH HOMES THAT CAN SUPPORT
THAT I CAN AFFORD AROUND REDUCE. >>MALIA: DEVELOP KAKA'AKO URBAN AREAS AND
TRY TO KEEP THE OUTLYING GREEN AREAS. >> ALL ABOUT SMART GROWTH. YEAH, LOOK AT CITIES
LIKE SAN FRANCISCO AND SEATTLE AND PLACES THAT PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE. YOU BUILD IT, THEN
THE BUSINESSES WILL COME. >>MALIA: LAU ABOUT HOMELESSNESS. FROM STEPHANIE,
SO MANY EMPEOPLE ARE NOW LIVING IN OUR PARKS, BEACHES ROADS. WE HAVE BECOME OBLIVIOUS TO
THEM. CONSTANT BEGGING ON ALA MOANA BOULEVARD. ARE WE GOING TO SEE SOME HOMELESS MEASURE
THIS IS SESSION? >> THERE'S ALWAYS MEASURES. WE'VE HAD, AGAIN,
COMMISSIONS. WE'VE HAD BLUE RIBBON PANELS AND AWE OF THAT. THE PROBLEM IS GOVERNMENT
APPROACH HAS FAILED. THE GOVERNMENT APPROACH IS ONE SIZE FITS ALL. WITHIN THE HOMELESS
POPULATION, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS, PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL PROBLEMS, A
LOT OF VETERANS. A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND.
>>MALIA: LET'S GET INTO SOLUTIONS. IS THERE GOING TO BE A SOLUTION?
>> NO. THERE WILL NOT BE A SOLUTION. >>MALIA: ANYONE, IS THERE GOING TO BE ANY
SORT OF SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE. >> UNLESS YOU PUT ALL THE HOMELESS ON THE
RAILS TO NOWHERE AND LET THEM RIDE BACK AND FORTH.
>> WE WILL BE PUTTING IN SOME PROPOSALS FOR ADDITIONAL HOUSING FOR SOME OF THESE HOMELESS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT STILL WON'T BE ENOUGH AND EVEN IF YOU DID HAVE ENOUGH ROOM
FOR THEM, A LOT OF THEM WOULDN'T WANT TO MOVE IN THERE ANYWAY FOR REASONS THAT SENATOR NAMED.
>> PROBLEMS. >> YES.
>> FROM BERNARD IN WAIMANALO. HAS IT'S LEGISLATURE EWA DRESSED OVERPOPULATION IN OUR STATE, CAUSE
OF MOST OF OUR PROBLEMS TRICKY ONE. HOW DO YOU SERVE?
>> ACTUALLY, HUGE DISCUSSION ON IT ITS OWN. ACTUALLY, LOOKING AT WHERE WE WANT TO GO,
DO WE AND THE TO DEVELOP INDEFINITELY OR DO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON SMART GROWTH LIKE KANIELA
HAD MENTIONED. DO WASN'T TO KEEP ADDING LANES TO OUR FREEWAY OR TRANSITION, THAT'S NOT A
WORD, DO WE WANT TO TRANSITION TO URBAN MODEL THAT HELPS FOLKS LIVE IN A SMALLER GEOGRAPHIC
AREA, SO THEY'RE NOT DRIVING 20 MILES JUST TO GET TO WORK. THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT
WE HAVE TO ASK TODAY AND TO COME UP WITH A FIGURE OF WHERE WE WANT TO BE DOWN THE ROAD.
PLAN 50 YEARS AHEAD FIGURE OUT WHAT RESOURCES WE WANT TO COMMIT AND WHAT WE WANT TO SAVE,
VIEW PLAINS, AG LANDS, THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
>>MALIA: LEE FROM MAUI. GLOBAL WARMING WILL HAPPEN. WE SHOULD STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT
WE SHOULD CHANGE NOW AND WORRY MORE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE.
PERHAPS OMINOUS THOUGHT. YOU WERE SAYING THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED.
ONE OF THE MAJOR BILLS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON, LOOK AT HOW TO ENACT ADAPTATION PLAN.
YET TO BE DONE. ONE OF THE LAST COASTAL STATES IN THE NATION TO DO THAT. IF WE START TODAY.
TWO OR 3 YEAR TIME FRAME, WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE ACTIONABLE POLICIES WE CAN BEGIN TO IMPLEMENT.
TO PREPARE US FOR 2050, AND BEYOND. >>MALIA: FROM ANGELA ON THE NORTH SHORE. LEGISLATURE
ADMINISTRATION SHOULD COMPLETE THE CONSERVATION PLAN AT TURTLE BAY. PROTECT ENDANGERED SUPPOSE'S
AND ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC. FINAL MINUTES OF MINUTE, GO AROUND EVERYONE COULD GIVE ME IF YOU COULD
HAVE ONE THING BE ACCOMPLISHED OR COME OUT OF THIS SESSION, ONE OR TWO THINGS, WHAT WOULD
BE? WHAT'S ON THE TOP OF YOUR LIST? >> SHORE UP RESERVES, MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
STRONG ECONOMIC BACKBONE TO WITHSTAND IN THE FUTURE AND PRESCHOOL.
>> IMPROVE THE BUSINESS CLIMATE AND REWARD INCENTIVE, BUT ALSO WE DIDN'T EVEN TALK ABOUT
PROTECTING THE CHILDREN. WE SAY EVERYTHING WE DO DOWN AT THE CAPITOL IS FOR THE KEIKI.
IT'S NOT TRUE. WE'VE ALLOWED OUR CHILDREN TO BE ABUSED AND ASSAULTED AND EVERYTHING
ELSE WITH THE NEED FOR TOUGHER LAWS. >> WHAT WOULD BE THE ONE THING YOU WOULD DO
FOR BUSINESS IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE.
>> I WOULD END CREDITS AND SUBSIDIES AND ALLOW BUSINESSES TO SUCCEED ON THEIR OWN. AND ALLOW
THE INFORMATION THAT THEY PROVIDE. >> REALLY QUICK.
>> CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IMPORTANT TO ME WITH THE LOWEST VOTING TURNOUT IN THE NATION. YOUNG
PEOPLE WORSE. 18 TO 25. I THINK IT'S ABSURD THAT WE LIVE IN 2014. I CAN BUY CARS, AIRPLANES,
DO OUR TAX ON LINE BUT CAN'T VOTE OR REGISTER ON LINE. WE'VE GOT TO FIX THAT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. ALLOW ONE STOP VOTING. >> SAY GOOD NIGHT. CHRIS, I OWE YOU A THOUGHT
ON THE NEXT SHOW. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WEEK ON INSIGHTS, HAWAI'I IS KNOWN FOR ITS ALOHA SPIRIT.
THE KINDNESS COURTESY AND STEWARDSHIP THAT BY OUR CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE PART OF OUR
DEALINGS IN BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT ACROSS THE ISLANDS. SOME MAY SAY THAT HAWAI'I HAS
LOST THAT ALOHA FEELING. ON THE NEXT INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I, WHAT IS THE ALOHA SPIRIT AND
DOES HAWAI'I STILL HAVE IT? THAT'S NEXT TIME ON INSIGHTS ON PBS HAWAI'I. I'M MALIA MATTOCH.
A HUI HO