Statement from Alex Santiago

"Maile grew up in Waianae, and has roots in this community. She also has experience under her belt and has achieved a chairship over the Human Services and Housing Committee. She is clearly the best choice for representing Wai`anae, Makaha, and Makua."
-- Alex Santiago
President of Health and Human Services Consultants
Former Chair, HI Democratic Party
Former State House Representative (1990-2000)
Makaha resident

Statement from William Ganiko

Email received in November 2006:

Mrs. Shimabukuro,

I am writing you this email because I came across it in one of the newspaper's that had your information and I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to thank you for all that you have done for us here in the Waianae area.

First of all, my name is Willie Ganiko and I am a 28 year old from Maili. I have been living here since our family moved out here when I was 2 years old. During my childhood and adolescent years, not too many things were done out here on the Leeward Side.

Seeing all the changes in the recent years with the increasing homelessness and poverty, I'm coming to realize this is probably how the Waianae Coast is going to be for a very long time. Not to put down our home land but it's just so factual I think. We are very low on the priority list of anything that the state has done. Complaints about the Waimanalo Gulch go unheard, just seems so unfair!

I could go on and on about many things but that is not my reason for emailing you. I just wanted to personally thank you for doing such a great job trying to do what is best for "Our People". This is by far one of the most hardest jobs representing the Waianae Coast but you really do a fantastic job! Taking the position that you have requires so much hard work and dedication. . .

I know you are a busy woman and I trully wanted to give you a big THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! I know that they're are others that feel just like me towards you and I hope I can speak well of them on my behalf.

Mahalo Nui Loa!

Sincerely Yours,

William Ganiko

UHPA Endorses Maile

Maile was very grateful to receive this message in December 2007:

Congratulations! You have been endorsed as a candidate in the 2008 election by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. . .This year, the Board of Directors, with the concurrence of the membership, voted to grant an early endorsement.

If you have questions, please contact UHPA at 593-2157.

Statement from Maralyn Kurshals

"Rep. Maile Shimabukuro knows the people and needs of the Wai`anae Coast. She has lived and worked here all her life, and her dedication and commitment is needed so that our voices can be heard! Maile has the intelligence and heart to represent us at the State Legislature and I fully support her."
-- Maralyn Kurshals

Statement from Rodlyn Brown

"Wai`anae needs Maile in office because she is truly dedicated to this Coast." -- Rodlyn Brown, Makaha Resident

Statement from Glenn Tokunaga

"Maile has done a lot to support our public schools. For example, she secured funding for air conditioning and got fans for our schools." -- Glenn Tokunaga

Maile's 2006 Election Flyer

Click on the image for a full-sized version.

Statement from Norman and Bonita Swift

"Rep. Maile Shimabukuro has supported Ahi Fever, Wai`anae Boat Fishing Club and the Fishing Community of Wai`anae and we are proud to support her in this coming election."

-President of Wai`anae Boat Fishing Club and Chairmen of Ahi Fever Fishing Tournament, Norman & Bonita Swift

Statement from Wade "Boo" Soares

Keeping Waianae's Schools Cool

Hardware Hawaii’s Corey Ann Bebb (left) and state Rep. Maile Shimabukuro accept a $10,000 check from Clifford Laughton for fans for Waianae classrooms. (Hardware Hawaii provided all the fans at factory cost and donated its profits.) Photo from Ray Sweeney.

The heat is on to beat the heat in Wai`anae's schools. Thanks to the aid of donations and volunteers, classrooms at Makaha, Leihoku, Kamaile, and Wai`anae Elementary, and Wai`anae High and Wai`anae Intermediate, are now cooler. With continued support, the goal of outfitting all classrooms in Waianae and Makaha with fans will be reached. Email Maile at maileshimabukuro@yahoo.com if you are interested in making a tax deductible donation to this worthy cause.

Click on the following links to read more:

• Residents along the Wai'anae Coast — one of O'ahu's hottest spots, downright sweltering in recent days — have mounted a drive to get a fan in every classroom.


• "Whenever you talk to the principals they say the portables are like ovens," said Shimabukuro. "For some reason, the way they are designed, they are the worst of the worst of the classroom spaces."


• Shimabukuro soon had an opportunity to feel the heat first-hand when she went to the high school campus to speak to the students. "I was just dying," she said. "My clothes were sticking to my skin. The heat was really unbearable."

'Ahi Fever' Fishing Tournament June 14-15

The annual "Ahi Fever" fishing tournament is scheduled for June 14-15 at Wai`anae Boat Harbor. Please support the event by making donations, such as purchasing an ad for the program. For more information, contact Norman and Bonita Swift at nswift9005@msn.com

Photo Galleries: Halloween Spooktacular, Friends of Maile Fundraiser, Makaha Surfing

Aloha- Please click here to view these 3 photo albums:

1) Halloween Spooktacular at Leihoku Elementary;
2) Friends of Maile Shimabukuro Fundraiser;
3) Maile Surfing Makaha (photos by Danny Kim)

Enjoy!

Click here to see all three albums.

Westside Stories March 2008

Click on the image to view the full size.

Legislative Update 28 Feb 2008

As we begin a new session of the Hawaii State Legislature, I have introduced many of the bills listed below. A number of them relate to areas in which I have special responsibility as Chair of the House Committee on Human Services & Housing. Others are intended to benefit District 45, which I have represented for the past six years. The list also includes bills introduced by my legislative colleagues—and which have my support.

HOUSING
HB 2209 funds the Kaloko Housing Program in West Hawaii to provide housing for families impacted by homelessness
HB 2242 authorizes counties to impose an affordable housing requirement as a condition of permit approval
HB 2511 (SB 3172) provides rental assistance applicants up to 3 months to find a qualified dwelling
HB 2512 appropriates $500,000 to expedite by third-party review the processing of building permits for affordable housing projects
HB 2513 (SB 3174) authorizes issuing bonds and appropriating $30 million into the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund
HB 2514 extends the sunset date for allocating 50% of conveyance tax to the Rental Housing Trust Fund (RHTF)
HB 2665 allows HPHA to give preferential considerations to those who build or renovate public housing while concurrently developing adjacent property.
HB 3060 authorizes resale of reserved housing units by the Hawaii Community Development Authority, requiring units to remain affordable in perpetuity
HB 2238 requires that public & publicly funded housing projects remain affordable in perpetuity
HB 3403 (SB 2560) establishes a trust fund to help with technical assistance costs generated by self-help housing projects

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 2888 authorizes issuance of bonds to expand and renovate Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and other rural health centers
HB 3008 provides tax credit to improve to Federally Qualified Health Centers
HB 2795 offers improvements to the system whereby the Dept of Health pays & reimburses Federally Qualified Health Centers & rural health clinics
HB 3422 (SB 3205) expands indigent legal service funding by increasing the surcharge on initial filing fees for civil actions
SB 2459 permits dispensing pharmacies to operate in remote, underserved areas
HB 3400 makes the legal guardian of a qualified minor eligibile for aid under the TANF & TAONF family assistance programs
HB 2596 requires the department of Human Services to investigate reports of drug use in the home of a child within 24 hours
HB 2761 requires at least 6 months of post-partum & interconception care for women of child-bearing age participating in QUEST health insurance program

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
HB 2550 Net Energy Metering; increases the total rated generating capacity produced by eligible customer-generators
HB 2509 establishes a state program for recycling electronic devices
SB 2189 establishes a Makua Reserve Commission to oversee preservation & restoration activities in Makua Valley
SB 3138 funds continuation of baseline environmental study of Wai'anae Coast
SB 2629 prohibits polystyrene foam food takeout containers, effective 1/1/10

EDUCATION
HB 2770 expands the Bridge to Hope Program to enable heads of household receiving financial assistance and participating in the First-to-Work Program to pursue a full range of post-secondary education
HB 2051 provides educational stability for foster children in decisions regarding school placement; appropriates funds for school transportation services
SB 2246 extends the timeframe in which a former foster youth may apply for a higher education board allowance
SB 2164 establishes the Hawaii Charter School Facilities Fund for repair and maintenance
LCC/Wai'anae is ranked high on a UH priority list to receive funds to purchase land and structure near campus

CONSUMER PROTECTION
SB 1789 designates an access organization to oversee operation of cable television channels and requires the cable advisory committee to advise access organizations.

HIGH TECHNOLOGY
HB 3358 creates a high-technology park on the island of Oahu

AGRICULTURE
SB 958 imposes a 10-year moratorium on developing, testing, propagating, cultivating, growing, and raising genetically engineered taro in Hawaii
HB 2261 includes farm and aquaculture projects in existing loan programs
MA'O Farm: a $700,000 award, pending legislative approval, has been made by the Legacy Lands Commission to Waianae's MA'O farm for land purchase

AQUACULTURE, FISHING, & OCEAN ACTIVITIES
HB 1616 appropriates funds to explore feasibility of a quarantine & laboratory facility for aquatic species used in Hawaii's aquaculture industry.
SB 2196 grants regulatory authority to the Dept of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR) over certain commercial activities at boating facilities & on ocean waters
SB 3137 makes an appropriation to DLNR for akule fish monitoring

HAWAIIAN
SB 266 conveys certain parcels of land and transfers cash to OHA as part of the State's constitutional obligations to Native Hawaiians
SB 938 amends Hawaiian Homes Commission Act to require state to consult with beneficiaries on commercial development projects involving trust land assets

GOVERNMENT
HB 661 (SB 1068) creates comprehensive public funding for elections to any county council
HB 3013 would allow member states to determine the winner of a presidential election by "national popular vote."

PUBLIC SAFETY
HB 2071 requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish air sampling stations to monitor for levels of depleted uranium
HB 2034 makes it a violation of the statewide traffic code to leave a child unattended in a motor vehicle
HB 2816 requires the DOH to license clean and sober homes & establish standard operating procedures

TRANSPORTATION
HB 2524 requires the Statewide Transportation Council to comply with county transportation & general plans to prepare for the statewide transportation plan
HB 3406 Expands the authority of the Aloha Tower Development Corporation to assist in the development of the statewide harbors modernization plan by establishing the Harbors Modernization Group. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to issue revenue bonds to finance the harbor improvements.
SB 3149 Requires the remittance of general excise tax revenues from liquid fuel sales to the state highway fund. Repeals provisions authorizing transfers of revenues deemed excess out of the state highway fund; replaces the tour vehicle surcharge tax of $65 for each tour vehicle that falls into the over twenty-five passenger seat category, and $15 for the eight to twenty-five passenger seat category, with unspecified surcharge amounts. (SD2)

Pigs for Sale - Purebred White Yorkshire

4/20/08: Purebred white Yorkshire pigs for sale. Approximately 3 mos. old and 40-50 lbs. Excellent quality. Farm is located in Hilo. $150/each.

For more information, Email maileshimabukuro@yahoo.com or call 769-0404.