Opening Doors Critical To Legislative Success

Central Concerns …Rep. Feki Pouha

Aloha Kakou, I hope everyone had an enjoyable Easter holiday.

For the past 16 years, Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus has spearheaded the donation of Easter baskets to Institute for Human Services (IHS).

During this donation drive, hygiene products, school supplies, food items, first-aid supplies and other essential items were donated.

For this year’s event, I had the honor of dressing up as the Easter Bunny. In addition to spreading Easter joy throughout the Capitol, I helped collect more than 140 donated baskets. Mahalo to the caucus, IHS and all those who donated.

Turtle Bay Easement

Senate Bill 284 (SB284), which would extend the deadline and allow for completion of the Turtle Bay easement deal, was heard March 25 by the House Water and Land Committee.

As a committee member, I conveyed to my fellow members the significance of the deal to North Shore residents, and encouraged them to pass the bill out of committee.

Fortunately, it was a unanimous vote in favor. SB284 then passed a second reading on the House floor and is now scheduled to be heard in the House Finance Committee. As a member of the Finance Committee, I will continue to promote the necessity of the Turtle Bay easement agreement in a responsible manner.

(From left) State Rep. Della Au Belatti, Institute for Human Services director Kimo Carvalho, state Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland, state Rep. Feki Pouha, state Sens. Rozalyn Baker and Laura Thielen, and state Reps. Lauren Kealohilani Matsumoto and Cynthia Thielen. Photo from 2015 Women’s Legislative Caucus.

I want to express my thanks to all of you who sent in testimony and also emailed me and my fellow legislators. I love the civic engagement of our community.

Vacation Rentals

Senate Bill 519 (SB519) seeks to regulate transient accommodations by doing the following: 1) extending Act 326, SLH 2012, for one year, requiring registration numbers on all Internet advertisements for transient vacation rentals; 2) requiring the Department of Taxation (DOT) to submit an annual report to the legislature on the implementation of Act 326; and 3) authorizing the DOT to enforce civil penalties for operators and plan managers who fail to display the certificate of registration for transient accommodations.

SB519 has passed out of three House committees thus far, and has passed a second reading on the House floor. The measure now is being considered by the House Finance Committee.

To follow the status of SB284 or SB519, and any other measures you may be interested in, please visit capitol.hawaii.gov and type the measure number into the search box at the top-left side of the page.

Community meeting

Please join us for an informational briefing and community input meeting on the Honolulu Rail Project at 7 p.m. April 21 in the Waialua Elementary School cafeteria. Representatives from Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit will be present, as well as other area legislators. I look forward to seeing you there.

Contact Rep. Feki Pouha at 586-6380, by email at reppouha@capitol.hawaii.gov or visit his Hawaii State Capitol office in Room 319.