What's Happening in our Community & at the Capitol

Aloha!

We are in the thick of Session and have had a flurry of committee hearings this week. As the Vice Chair of the Water and Land Committee, I've helped to move forward several important bills that would advance natural resource protections. This week was also the deadline for all triple referral bills to pass out of their first committee; otherwise, they are essentially considered "dead". I am excited that the following triple referral bills from our Legislative Package passed through their first Committee:

HB622: Establishing a task force to reduce the suicide rate among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

HB905: Requires the University of Hawaiʻi to develop a flexible model for setting sustainable groundwater yields inclusive of the needs of traditional and customary Native Hawaiian practices, climate change history and projections, and groundwater seepage at the shoreline.

HB907: Conforms the State's law regarding telehealth to the medicare standards by clarifying that telehealth services provided by way of an interactive telecommunications system be reimbursed.

HB908: Increasing the amount of conveyance taxes to be deposited into the land conservation fund.

HB909: Establishing the water neutrality turf replacement program providing financial incentives to replace irrigated turf with turf or other plants that use less water.

HB582: Expanding the period by which a civil action for childhood sexual abuse may be initiated, including an otherwise time-barred action. Authorizes a court to require personnel of legal entities to undergo training on trauma-informed response.

HB1212: Establishes the water neutrality task force to develop a plan for Hawaiʻi to become water-neutral by 2050.

HB1405: Requires a research study on limu to understand the impacts of groundwater use on groundwater-dependent ecosystems.

Tomorrow, these bills will be heard in their second committees:

HB622: Establishing a task force to reduce the suicide rate among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

If you have time, testimony is always appreciated and needed for these very important measures. Click on any of the bill numbers to find out how to submit testimony and find out when the next hearing is.

If you have any concerns or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out by calling our office at (808) 586-6490 or by emailing us. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

Me ke aloha,

Mahina

Fuel Spill on Haleakalā

Approximately 700 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at the summit of Haleakalā on January 29th. At a press conference on Monday, military officials said a lightning storm caused a power surge damaging a float within the generator's main fuel tank, causing the spill.

Rep. Poepoe will continue to monitor the clean-up and issued the following statement to the media the day after the spill:

I'm greatly alarmed a significant fuel spill occurred on our sacred 'āina entrusted to the United States Military. Poor stewardship is not acceptable, and there is absolutely no legitimate excuse for continuing to create environmental emergencies. More information is needed about the extent and cause of the spill. However, this type of incident cannot keep occurring. We need to hold the military accountable for protecting our land from future degradation.

Reimbursement Program for Compost

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is accepting applications for the Compost Reimbursement Program, which may reimburse agricultural producers for purchasing compost, including transportation costs.

Under the reimbursement program, compost must be purchased from a certified processor, retailer, or wholesaler licensed to do business in Hawaiʻi. In addition, certified Hawai`i processors are limited to those companies regulated under the Hawaiʻi Department of Health Solid Waste Management Program.

Qualified agricultural operations include commercial agriculture, aquacultural facilities, livestock, poultry, apiary, and landscaping activities. Applicants must also provide a W-9 tax form, sample invoice, and proof of compliance with federal, state, and county tax and business regulations.

The deadline to submit invoices is May 1, 2023.

For more information and to download the application forms, go to:

https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/pi/main/compost2023/

Welcome to Our Office!

It is always a pleasure to have constituents and colleagues stop by our office.

If you are at the Capitol please don't hesitate to drop in.

The limu hui came by to talk story about Rep. Poepoe's legislation on limu research (HB1415)

Members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association from Maui and Molokai dropped by last week to talk about educational concerns and programs in our District.

Looking forward to seeing you! Visit Room 331 at the State Capitol.

Great to have Chief Ventura from the County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety drop in and say hi!

Mahalo to the members of the Molokai High School Secondary Student Conference for stopping by the office! You are all incredibly inspiring.

Left to right: Rep Poepoe, Mele Kāneali'i, , Tamara Yamazaki-Gray, Sheniah Halle Agcaoili, Laiku Landford

Public Hearing!

Lanai Water Company Rate Increase

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will hold public hearings relating to the Lanai Water Company's application for approval of rate increases, revisions of rate schedules, and changes to its tariff.

Two public hearings have been scheduled:

In-Person Hearing

Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.

Lanai High & Elementary School Cafeteria

555 Fraser Avenue

Lanai City, Hawaii 96763

Virtual Hearing

Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 5:30pm

Online (via web browser or Webex mobile device app) Link:

https://hpuc.my.webex.com/hpuc.my/j.php?MTID=m044248d09c5df7d67691681f83a5c8c8

Meeting Number: 2557 950 4103

Meeting Password: cjGGXyXJ443

Telephone

Dial-in Number: +1-650-479-3208

Access Code: 2557 950 4103

Meeting Password: 25449995

Written Statements

Statements may also be submitted through the Commission’s public comments webform, e-mailed to puc.comments@hawaii.gov, or mailed to 465 South King Street, Room 103, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

All written statements should reference Docket No. 2022-0233.

Summary

LWC is a public utility authorized by the Commission to provide:

(1) potable water distribution services on the island of Lanai to Lanai City, Koele, Kaumalapau, Manele-Hulopoe, Lanai Airport, Miki Basin and Palawai Basin, Kaupili Road and Upper Kaumalapau Highway, and Upper Manele on the island of Lanai; and

(2) non-potable (a.k.a. brackish) water distribution service to the Manele-Hulopoe area on the island of Lanai.

LWC seeks to increase its revenues from its potable water distribution services by $2,103,729 (an approximate 357% increase from present rates), based on a 2023 test year. LWC seeks to increase its revenues from its non-potable water distribution service by $155,276 (an approximate 50% increase from present rates), based on a 2023 test year. LWC proposes to implement this increase over five years.

In addition to requesting a revenue increase, LWC requests that the Commission approve proposed revisions to its potable and non-potable tariffs by, among other things, imposing a service charge for dishonored/returned checks and establishing certain criteria to qualify for its proposed new Agricultural Potable Water Rate for potable water distribution customers.

The Commission will investigate whether LWC’s proposed relief is just and reasonable.

For more information on LWC’s present and proposed rates, including the proposed five-step implementation schedule, see the Commission’s Notice of Hearing.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Legislative Calendar

Deadlines for the 2023 Regular Session are set and the legislative calendar published.

The calendar can be found under the Public Access Room's (PAR) “Events” tab. It is also available on the Public Access Room (PAR) website on the “Current Legislature” page, where you’ll also find the famous “Which Deadlines Apply to My Bill?” handout.

You can access the calendar here.

Come Visit the Capitol!

The Capitol is completely reopened to the public. However, it will continue to offer hybrid options for hearings and testimony. Following is specific information that may be helpful:

Capitol Hours: Building hours for the State Capitol are 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. Photo identification is required for entry into the building. All guests will receive an entry wristband upon completing the security checkpoint.

Paid Public Parking: The Capitol parking lot has reopened for paid public parking.

Spread the word...let your neighbors & friends know we'd love to share our newsletter with them!

Rep. Mahina Poepoe

District 13 House of Representatives

415 S. Beretania Street Room 331

Honolulu, HI 96813