Task Force Designated To Study Fuel Tank Leak

Talking Story…Sen. Mike Gabbard

Aloha e Friends, I was stoked when invited to give the closing remarks July 22 at the sixth annual Hawaii Clean Energy Day. You can check out my speech by visiting capitol.hawaii.gov/member-page.aspx?member=gab-bard&year=2014.

A big congratulations to Makakilo Kapolei Youth Baseball League Mustang All-Stars (9to 10-year-olds) for winning the state championship on Kauai last month!

As always, please contact me at 586-6830 or sengab-bard@capitol.hawaii.gov if I can help you or your family in any way.

Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility Task Force

I was appointed last month to a task force that will study the effects of the fuel tank leak that occurred in January at Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Tank Facility. We’ll also hear from the Navy on its plans to keep this from happening again. The task force was created by SCR 73, which passed the Legislature during the recent session.

As you might recall, 27,000 gallons of fuel leaked from one of the 20 underground tanks, each of which is the size of a 20-story building. The tanks are capable of holding 12.5 million gallons of fuel. This facility is a critical part of our defense system. But at the same time, it’s very important that major changes be made to lessen the dangers that these tanks pose to our drinking water supply.

Groundbreaking for Heritage Center

I spoke at the ground-breaking and o’o ceremony July 24 for Kapolei Heritage Center. The Heritage Center is a community and cultural learning center being built by Kapolei Community Development Corporation on state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands property in East Kapolei. KCDC is a collaboration of Native Hawaiian communities working toward the betterment of the Kapolei homestead region. KCDC is comprised of beneficiaries from various homestead associations.

I worked with my colleagues at the Legislature to help secure a $1.15-million grant-in-aid in the current state budget for the project. The first phase will include a certified kitchen, two classrooms and a storage area, and it’s expected to be completed in August 2015. Phase 2 will include a covered halau. Additional phases may include affordable rentals and retail outlets.

Preparedness Fair Coming Soon

The “Get Ready Ewa Beach” fourth annual Emergency Preparedness Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Ewa Makai Middle School. This important event is organized by Ewa Beach Emergency Preparedness Committee. Participants will include the city Department of Emergency Management, state Civil Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. They’ll be giving away $10,000 in free disaster-preparedness merchandise.

For details, call Ewa Beach Emergency Preparedness folks at 682-0111 or email them at GetReadyEwaBeach@gmail.com.