Five recipients are awarded $480,591 in grants – including a first time “People’s Choice Award” – to implement fresh ideas and create meaningful change in Hawaii

The Hawaii Community Foundation announced the second round of grant recipients from its Island Innovation Fund, which was created to serve as a catalyst for innovation within the nonprofit sector. From a group of eight finalists, a total of $480,591 was awarded to five recipients for projects that will: increase energy awareness through real-time energy monitoring web and mobile application tools; allow residents statewide to actively follow and monitor the Hawaii legislative process; distribute a replicable exercise and fall prevention program to Hawaii’s seniors; deploy a new access control mechanism to maintain public access to trails and pathways on Hawaii Island; and encourage schools to eliminate its waste to create green schools.

For the first time, a “People’s Choice Award” was also selected by the more than 200 nonprofits that submitted proposals over the first and second grant rounds.

“While the continuing stagnant economy forces nonprofits to do more with less while facing complex issues, it is increasingly important to create a culture for innovation that allows organizations to think out of the box to find creative solutions to challenges in our community,” explained Kelvin Taketa, president and chief executive officer of Hawaii Community Foundation. “The Island Innovation Fund is designed to foster new ways to solve the various problems that our state faces, by working together and building upon each others’ great ideas.”

In its first round of grants, a total of $461,119 was awarded to five recipients for innovative projects that addressed various issues from conservation of native forests to technology solutions that connect consumers to Hawaii farm products.

“It was exciting to build upon the successes and lessons learned from the first round of grants and to work with nonprofits in this second round to spur new, thoughtful ideas to create lasting change in our communities,” said Kina Mahi, senior programs officer at the Hawaii Community Foundation in charge of the Island Innovation Fund. “We were impressed with the exciting community engagement strategies and new technology ideas that have the potential to make a broader impact beyond the organizations.”

This is the second of three award rounds planned. The second round recipients of the Island Innovation Fund include:

Blue Planet Foundation (Hawaii Energy Tracker Phase II: “Show Me the Power”) – $100,000

Blue Planet Foundation will increase energy awareness and provoke action through its “Show Me the Power” (SMTP) and “The Island Pulse” innovations. SMTP, a new web application, will encourage households to change their energy habits by enabling users to see their real-time energy usage and allowing them to select from different scenarios (i.e. upgrading their refrigerator to an Energy Star appliance) that will show cost and energy savings. “The Island Pulse” is targeted to create energy consumption awareness in communities, businesses, and groups through an energy use public display in high-traffic locations (i.e. shopping malls and restaurants).

Hawaii Elections Project, Inc. (Hawaii Policy Portal) – $81,720

The Hawaii Policy Portal (HPP) allows residents statewide to actively follow and participate in Hawaii’s legislative process. HPP will help to simplify research, mobilization, and communication needed for effective advocacy at both the State and County levels, and the platform will have the potential to transform public participation in Hawaii’s policy-making process.

Giving Back (Move With Balance) – $100,000

Giving Back will offer a replicable exercise and fall prevention program for Hawaii’s seniors. The organization will distribute instructional DVDs and educational materials to individuals, caregivers, and senior centers, and a user-friendly interactive website will connect clients for sharing and further trainings.

PATH – People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawaii (Public Access with Kuleana) – $100,000

The project will pursue a community-managed public access model that provides a way for the public to enjoy activities like fishing and hiking on private lands, with a shared kuleana, or responsibility, to cultural practices, environmental sustainability, private property rights and community values. The grant will fund implementation of a six-part community-managed public access model consisting of (1) legal agreements, (2) risk management, (3) an access control and accountability system, (4) education and orientation of access users, (5) establishment of enforcement protocols, and (6) evaluation to improve the model and inform others who wish to apply this model to other places. Two locations in Pepe`ekeo, North Hilo and Keahuolū, North Kona have been chosen for the innovation.

People’s Choice Award – The Green House (Greening our Schools) – $98,871

The Green House will expand its school waste diversion and green jobs program that converts schools into zero waste sites where “waste” is kept on-site and composted into useable resources. Trained Environmental Educators at each site will ensure the sustainability of the program and provide mentor/mentee green jobs training opportunities.

The Island Innovation Fund was established in 2010 as a part of the historic $50 million commitment from Pam and Pierre Omidyar to the Hawaii Community Foundation. Details on the Island Innovation Fund are available at www.islandinnovation.org and the Hawaii Community Foundation website, www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org.

About Hawaii Community Foundation

With 95 years of community service, the Hawaii Community Foundation is the leading philanthropic institution in the state. The Foundation is a steward of more than 600 funds, including more than 160 scholarship funds, created by donors who desire to transform lives and improve communities. In 2011, more than $43 million in grants and contracts were distributed statewide. The Foundation also serves as a resource on community issues and trends in the nonprofit sector.

“We are delighted that the Republic of Korea has seen the value of partnering with Hawai’i on a mutually beneficial smart grid development project,” said Governor Abercrombie. “Partnerships like this show the world just how serious Hawai’i is about our commitment to building a leading clean energy economy through clean energy demonstration and implementation. We are building an energy legacy for our state that will benefit the people of Hawai’i for generations.”

Both Korea and the United States, specifically Hawai’i, have been conducting a number of relevant smart grid demonstration projects. Korea and State of Hawai’i recognize that it would be mutually beneficial to collaborate on smart grid research, development and demonstration projects in conjunction with public/private partners from Korea, Hawai’i and elsewhere in the United States.

“The Republic of Korea and the State of Hawai’i both share the common goals of clean energy and energy independence,” said Director Choi Kyu-Chong. “The language that we share is that of green growth, independence and prosperity. Through the development of advanced energy technologies, including smart grid, we can sustain and prosper.”

MKE and its Korea Smart Grid Institute (KSGI) have been at the forefront of the Korea Smart Grid Roadmap, South Korea’s plan to develop and implement a nationwide smart grid by 2030.

The MKE and KSGI are currently leading more than 170 South Korean companies in the development and deployment of the Jeju Island Test Bed, a planned 6,000 household smart grid community demonstration project in South Korea, with investments totaling more than $240 million between 2009 and 2013. KSGI is also currently implementing a joint Korea-State of Illinois project to install energy-saving equipment in at least four Chicago buildings with investments of more than $35 million by companies such as LG Electronics and KT Corporation (formerly known as Korea Telecom).

The goal of the partnership between Korea and Hawai’i is to develop a memorandum of understanding for a project in Hawai’i similar to those mentioned above. Such a partnership would help both partners achieve the mutual goals of smart grid development and deployment, which ultimately improves energy efficiency and promotes economic growth.

“The state currently has approximately 80 renewable energy projects in various stages of development in the queue,” added state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director Richard Lim. “Building a smart grid system will help us manage the power that is generated by renewable resources, which means more projects can come to fruition. That translates into more jobs for our local economy.”

The next step outlined in the letter of intent is for both parties to collaborate on a more defined memorandum of understanding by October 31, 2012, which will describe the project partners, scope, location and resource contributions.

This project is in addition to another smart grid demonstration project that is currently taking place on Maui, which was brought forward through an agreement with Japan-based New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in November of 2011.

For more information, visit www.energy.hawaii.gov

Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines, and Dave Barger, president and CEO of JetBlue, signed the agreement at JetBlue’s Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport amid a festive Hawaii-themed celebration of Hawaiian music, hula dancing, fresh flower lei and other special gifts from Hawaii for travelers transiting the terminal.

Dunkerley commented, “This partnership with JetBlue makes Hawaii more accessible than ever for our friends on the East Coast, and in June will put the islands at their doorstep with our new daily nonstop service between JFK and Honolulu.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Hawaiian Airlines and look forward to welcoming them to our home in the Big Apple later this year,” Barger added. “Our customers have long asked for options to the Aloha State, and today we’re proud to partner with Hawaiian Airlines to get them there in comfort and style.”

Seamless connections and new destinations

Effective this week, customers will be able to purchase single tickets combining travel on both Hawaiian and JetBlue, allowing for seamless travel between the carriers’ networks. Connections are available for immediate travel via Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where Hawaiian offers multiple daily departures.

In the near future, Hawaiian intends to codeshare on JetBlue-operated flights, placing its HA code on JetBlue-operated flights (subject to regulator approval).

The carriers plan to further expand their partnership on June 5, when Hawaiian launches the only nonstop service between New York City and Hawaii with its new wide-body, twin-aisle Airbus A330-200 aircraft seating 294 customers.

JetBlue to Welcome Hawaiian into its Home in New York

Hawaiian’s daily flights from Honolulu will arrive and depart from JFK Terminal 5, becoming the first of JetBlue’s airline partners to locate at the carrier’s acclaimed home. At Terminal 5 – JFK Airport’s newest terminal – travelers can take in a host of shopping options and unique dining experiences, enjoy the convenience of gate-side food ordering and delivery, and surf the web with free terminal-wide Wi-Fi.

Hawaiian Flight 51 will depart JFK daily at 10:00 a.m. and arrive at Honolulu International Airport at 3:00 p.m. The return Flight 50 (“Hawaiian 5-0″) will depart Honolulu daily at 3:05 p.m. and arrive in New York at 6:55 a.m. the following morning.

The new flight’s mid-morning New York departure will allow travelers in markets served by JetBlue up and down the East Coast, such as Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Raleigh/Durham, to make a seamless connection to Honolulu and arrive in time to enjoy a first afternoon on the beach, or to make another easy connection on Hawaiian to Kauai, Maui, or Hawaii Island and settle in for a beautiful island sunset.

Hawaii residents will also benefit from a new level of access from anywhere in the islands to popular East Coast destinations that are home to world-class attractions, historical sites and major sporting events, all booked on Hawaiian.

Customers may book their connecting travel by calling Hawaiian Airlines or by contacting their preferred travel agent. Both carriers plan to sell each other’s flights on their respective web sites in the near future.

New travel options for TrueBlue and HawaiianMiles members

Hawaiian and JetBlue have reached a preliminary agreement to allow members of each carrier’s frequent flyer program to earn and redeem loyalty points or miles for travel on either carrier. Under this agreement JetBlue’s TrueBlue members will soon be able to accrue points on any Hawaiian-operated flight, while HawaiianMiles members will be able to earn miles on any JetBlue-operated flights. Similarly, frequent fliers will be able to redeem their points or miles for travel on either carrier’s network, bringing new, much-requested destinations to each program’s loyal members.

The JetBlue and Hawaiian Experience

Travelers on JetBlue enjoy all-leather seating, the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline (based on average fleet-wide seat pitch), free in-flight entertainment at every seatback, and unlimited free snacks and drinks.

Travelers on Hawaiian’s new flights between New York and Honolulu will enjoy Hawaiian’s signature “Hawaii Flies With Us” inflight hospitality showcasing Hawaii’s culture, natural beauty, and the Aloha Spirit of its people. They will also enjoy complimentary hot meals in all cabins, Hawaiian being the only carrier serving Hawaii that still offers this amenity.

Hawaiian’s A330s offer the comforts of a spacious wide-body interior, new generation seats with increased legroom, and a state-of-the-art, on-demand entertainment system in every seatback that offers a wide variety of movies and video programs, audio channels and video games. Each system also offers a USB port allowing system connectivity for personal media players. First Class customers enjoy larger in-seat LCD screens and iPod compatibility.

About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past seven years (2004-2010) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In addition, consumer surveys by Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and Zagat have all ranked Hawaiian the top domestic airline offering flights to Hawaii. Hawaiian was also the nation’s highest-ranked carrier for service quality and performance in the prestigious Airline Quality Rating (AQR) study for 2008 and 2009.

About JetBlue Airways

JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline™ with other focus cities in Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, and Orlando. Known for its award-winning service and free TV as much as its low fares, JetBlue offers the most legroom in coach of any U.S. airline* as well as super-spacious Even More Space seats. JetBlue is also America’s first and only airline to offer its own Customer Bill of Rights, with meaningful and specific compensation for customers inconvenienced by service disruptions within JetBlue’s control. Visit www.jetblue.com/promise for details. JetBlue serves 70 cities with 650 daily flights.

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, former Governors, distinguished justices of the courts, mayors, representatives of our Congressional Delegation, members of the Hawai’i State Legislature, other elected officials, honored guests, family and friends. Aloha.

One year ago, I stood before you to present the sobering fiscal reality facing Hawai’i. At that time, we faced an enormous deficit and the effects of fractured government services. The discussion was not about “whether” we needed to find additional revenues, but about “where” we needed to find them.

But by working together and through shared sacrifice, we have started to turn the corner. This past year has not been easy but we have accomplished our purpose.

I want to thank the Legislature for your collaboration.

Thank you to the public for weathering through those difficult choices.

Thank you, especially to our state employees, who agreed to labor savings and additional payments for health benefits.

There was no way for us to have balanced our budget and achieved today’s fiscally favorable outlook without the commitment of everyone. To all of you who came to work each day bearing the burden of cuts and slashes to your programs for the past three years; and to those of you who gave up furloughs because of your commitment to serving Hawaii’s people, I thank you. Mahalo plenty to each and every one of you.

Together, we are moving forward. And moving forward means leaving behind the drama of the recent past.

It is for that reason that I have again, requested that the Hawai’i State Teachers Association provide us with a proposal as soon as possible. After good faith negotiations achieving two agreements, the teachers still have not ratified a contract. I will continue to press for a resolution.

Nonetheless, we must continue our focus on our children and students’ performance. We cannot wait any longer. We wanted to cross the Race to the Top finish line side-by-side with the HSTA. Make no mistake we will cross that finish line. Our students deserve no less. We will be using all management, administrative, legislative and legal tools we have at our disposal to implement an evaluation system that not only measures, but achieves student growth; turns around low-performing schools; and supports teachers in increasing their effectiveness.

Just as we must concentrate on providing for our children’s future, it is critical that we continue the economic momentum we have achieved. Since last year, Hawaii’s recovery has been steady.

• The visitor industry – a key element – saw 3.4 percent growth in the number of visitor arrivals, and total visitor expenditures have grown by 15.1 percent, resulting in an additional $5 billion dollars flowing into Hawaii’s economy.
• A solid indicator of our growth is the average 8 percent increase in our general excise tax revenue compared to last year.
• Despite the unfortunate closing of Hawai’i Medical Center, our unemployment remains one of the lowest in the nation.
• Payroll employment increased 1.3 percent after three years of decline.
• Initial unemployment claims declined 8 percent in 2011.
• Bankruptcies dropped 15.9 percent.

Nonetheless, my budget team and House and Senate fiscal committees have warned, we must remain wary of the current national and European economic uncertainties, which continue to loom ahead. Earlier this month, the Council of Revenues projected a 3 percent decline in our revenue forecast, which amounts to $130 million.

The question then, is how do we address what could be a daunting fiscal picture.

Last year, when the revenue projections plummeted, we met the enormous challenge of our shortfall through shared sacrifice and collaboration. We instituted fiscal prudence and discipline, through tools provided by the Legislature. The result was a general fund balance of $126 million. This was the first positive balance achieved in three years.

Despite this budget success then, current fiscal uncertainties swirling around us mean that our supplemental budget proposal must reflect continued discipline. Through our strong management of resources in 2011, we were able to achieve nearly $86 million in general fund savings. It is these savings that we will use to propose initiatives that will support and strengthen our economic recovery.

The first is construction. All the signs show that private investment and construction appears hesitant and tentative. Therefore, it is the public sector that must step up to invest in repairs and maintenance, construction projects and infrastructure improvements. By aggressively putting these projects into action, we will ensure that job creation continues.

Our recent bond and refinancing sale of nearly $1.3 billion, along with $1 billion of projects that are already on the budget books and another $300 million proposed in this supplemental budget will spur an immediate rise in job growth.

These New Day Work Projects were chosen because they not only address critical infrastructure needs, but more importantly, they are primed and ready to go. We looked for projects that were not mired in permitting delays, or only in design and planning stages, but those that are ready to provide impact now.

After my initial discussions with the House and Senate, I know that we are all committed to looking at an aggressive budget schedule for these repair and maintenance construction projects. I am committed as well to working with you to make sure that we have a healthy and strong construction budget and a solid plan to continue our investment in our economy.

But, investment is not only about immediate impacts to the economy. It is about our long term vision towards the future. A prime example is the proposed Pohukaina project that is designed around the consolidation of mixed-use and mixed-income. To curtail sprawl and protect our precious available lands, we must focus on urban density and provide working families affordable housing opportunities. This is a central project, and the first step in future plans for further smart development along the ‘Iwilei to Waikiki corridor.

Not only is it important to emphasize brick and mortar, we must also build an infrastructure for technology to meet the demands of the 21st century. This is the intellectual and social infrastructure that we must have to provide opportunities and experience for our people to become an advanced workforce that can compete in the global marketplace.

We will move forward on our Hawai’i Broadband Initiative by requesting $2.9 million to enhance online services for eHawaii.gov, advance research for transpacific fiber landing stations statewide, and initiate a “one-to-one” laptop program for Hawaii’s public schools, to provide laptops for every student. Not only are these advances needed, but they are crucial in ensuring Hawaii’s global connectivity and technological advancement.

We will also be seeking to move oversight of telecommunications to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Telecom will now be regulated by one agency, rather than having multiple functions spread out over multiple departments.

Similarly, we are moving forward on our comprehensive plan to consolidate all of our state technology under the Office of Information Management and Technology, led by Hawaii’s first Chief Information Officer. For this important mission, we are requesting $10 million.

Finally, in this area of our economic future, we must never forget that we need to invest in being proper stewards of our Hawai’i nei. We must nurture our environment, not only because it is pono, but because it is an essential investment for kama’aina and visitors alike.

It is for that reason that I am proposing that we invest $5 million in protecting our watersheds. If we are going to nurture the ahupua’a of every island, if we are to keep our oceans blue, then we must save Hawaii’s forests and preserve our water resources.

Paradise is our home, it needs our devotion and care.

Our islands attract travelers from around the world. So too, the film industry also depends on showcasing the beauty and variety of our aloha state. We’ve seen what these islands can look like on big screen and television. Having top-rated television shows and award-winning films like “The Descendants,” speaks volumes about Hawai’i as a television/cinema venue.

It is for that reason that we will be requesting the legislature look at the TV and Film Tax Credit with the intention of drafting necessary changes in making it permanent.

All of our work comes down to one underlying purpose – to serve Hawai’i and its people. I mean it broadly and inclusively. It is part of our culture and our history. We are one ‘ohana, one family, one state. So, we create programs, establish services and pass laws to meet that obligation. In short, we best care for our people by investing in them.

That investment begins with our youngest children. Early childhood education lays the foundation for a lifetime of learning and results in productive citizens who will someday manage our businesses, build our homes and offices, welcome our visitors, care for the sick, make new discoveries in science, and lead us into the future.

We are at a crossroads when it comes to early childhood education. For too long, we have continued old patterns that treated early education as something that is optional, a luxury for only those few who have the means.

“Research shows that 85 percent of a child’s brain development takes place before the age of five and that children who have quality early experiences are more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and contribute positively to the economy. Yet, many of Hawaii’s children are entering school unprepared. It’s time to invest in our children, and invest in our future, so that our state can thrive.”

This observation from Be My Voice Hawai’i, illustrates without equivocation that early education is not just an option, it is a fundamental necessity if we are to set the broader educational stage for our children. It is not just about learning to read and write, it establishes healthy attitudes towards learning that will stay with them throughout their lives. We also know that early education greatly enhances a young person’s sense of self-worth and confidence that, in turn, positively affects learning.

Early childhood education must be the initial step on the education ladder. Failure to act now virtually ensures that our children will fall behind. If they are not our priority, then we no longer know the meaning of the word.

The state’s Early Childhood Coordinator Terry Lock has put together a team to create a unified framework. This early education plan for the state will be the guide for building a stronger quality early care and education system for our youngest children and their families.

Investing in the next generation is the wisest decision that we can make as a people. And make no mistake – it is an investment with long-term returns that will far outweigh initial costs.

Last session, I forwarded difficult proposals to address difficult times. In stark contrast to one year ago, as a result of tough-minded administrative and legislative action, the state finds itself in an all-too-rare financial situation of not having to pay for debt or to balance the budget by raising taxes.

We will continue on this path of strong fiscal management and strategic financial investments, as indicated in Opening Day remarks by President Tsutsui and Speaker Say.

We now have the luxury of weighing solutions to behavioral and societal issues on their own merit. We can ask ourselves what will be most effective and do the most good for our children without the distraction of having to balance the budget on a new tax program.

The fact remains that the link between sugar-sweetened beverages and health is undeniable. I have proposed the establishment of a task force, with members from the public and private sectors, to identify and then implement a solution to this very real health issue in our state. The group’s objective will be navigating us away from the path that has led obesity rates in Hawai’i to have doubled in the last 15 years. Sadly, more deaths and illnesses have occurred from chronic diseases than from contagious diseases in Hawai’i.

As our Director of the state Department of Health recently noted, obesity is not just about losing weight for our children… “It is a deadly accurate predictor of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other mental and physical ailments” that can follow our children throughout their lives.

For these early childhood education and health initiatives, we are requesting $1 million.

As important as these issues are for our children, the issues affecting our kupuna are growing in importance in conjunction with their numbers. Last year, the first of the Baby Boomers reached retirement age. Hawai’i acutely felt this demographic shift not only because of their sheer numbers, but also because Hawai’i enjoys one of the highest life expectancies in the nation.

That is why I am proposing $1.4 million to begin to create one-stop shops across the state for information on aging, to assist all of our kupuna who face the challenges of aging and restricted mobility. We are working with federal, county and community partners to establish Aging and Disabilities Resource Centers, which will serve as a single point of entry for all long-term care support and services in the state. The centers will streamline eligibility determination, minimize the need to navigate multiple bureaucracies, and facilitate informed choices about long-term care.

But this initiative to ease access to services is only the start. We need to have a further and deeper conversation about long-term care. Seniors want to age in their communities, they want to age in their homes. But more importantly, they deserve to do so. And they deserve to do so with dignity. That is why I am committed to strengthening our system of home- and community-based services. Their needs can no longer, and should no longer, be ignored.

The sudden shut down of two Hawai’i Medical Center hospitals on ‘Oahu at the start of this year emphasizes this issue and had widespread ramifications through the medical community and the state, including those who suffer from kidney-related illnesses.

An emergency appropriation for a grant of $1.8 million to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai’i will support this important health service. We pledge to help those who have stepped forward in the private sector to ensure that the people of Hawai’i have crucial medical care and expertise.

Our state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations immediately provided rapid response services to employees at both Hawai’i Medical Center worksites, giving them information on applying for unemployment benefits, health insurance options, potential workforce training programs and other services.

We appreciate all the assistance the department has received in putting together these opportunities, which will help workers transition. In Hawai’i, we must think of ourselves as ‘ohana first.

This spirit of aloha is deeply rooted in the diverse cultures of these islands. We must never forget that it is the culture of our Native Hawaiians that we so proudly share with ourselves and the world. The recent settlement in principle with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs directly addresses ongoing issues that have remained unresolved for decades. The proposed settlement transfers about 25 acres in Kaka’ako to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. OHA can use that resource to immediately benefit Native Hawaiians. In turn, the proposal provides approximately $200 million in value to settle claims against the state. More importantly, it brings closure to this longstanding rift allowing both the Native Hawaiian community and the state to move forward. It is my hope that this heals old wounds.

We have also begun to make progress in one of the biggest challenges faced by our community – homelessness. A coordinated approach and strong desire to help people has been the basis of a multi-pronged effort to assist the homeless in Hawai’i – to provide not only temporary shelter for those who need it but to help them to become productive citizens.

We have and we will continue to invest in the potential of those who are currently homeless. In July 2011, I signed an executive order that established the Hawai’i Interagency Council on Homelessness, a 24-member council comprised of community leaders, state department directors, and federal agency representatives to develop a unified plan on addressing homelessness. The Council aligns its efforts with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homeless, established by President Obama in 2009.

Led by the state’s first Coordinator on Homelessness, Marc Alexander, the council worked to bring together a patchwork of organizations that are now seamed together as a single quilt to meet their goals of 1) increasing transitional and permanent housing options, and 2) acquiring increased federal funding.

All these initiatives are not only about saving or spending money or programs and projects. It is about “how” to spend precious taxpayer dollars. A key example of this is the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. The data is clear that from 1997 to 2010, violent and property crime has steadily decreased by nearly half. Despite these improvements in public safety, the incarceration population has remained the same. We must change the way in which our laws work, change the way in which the system works, so that we can make a clear distinction between those who need to stay in prison to keep the public safe versus those who present little risk. But, we must also provide proper and consistent supervision to those who are released so that we act with dispatch when any offender fails to take advantage of the opportunity offered for a productive life.

After an unprecedented collaboration between the Governor’s Office, Justice Department, Public Safety Department, key lawmakers, the Judiciary and The Council of State Governments Justice Center, we will be proposing legislation that improves the criminal justice system utilizing the most up-to-date strategies. And we will do this with existing resources.

And when we talk about “how” we spend our money, we must ask ourselves about why we continue to send billions of dollars a year outside of our islands to meet our energy needs.

Two weeks ago, Tesoro Corporation announced it would be selling its refinery here in Hawai’i. This news was not a surprise. Over the years, I have indicated we are at risk given the rising cost of crude oil and the severity of speculation in the global oil market. I know that there is uncertainty for current employees at Tesoro as it starts the process of seeking an appropriate buyer. Our Department of Labor and Industrial Relations stands ready to provide job assistance for those who need it.

I also know there is uncertainty for those who are wondering what the sale of the state’s largest refinery means for the cost of fuel in the state. Well, Hawai’i has never had control over the high cost of energy. So, one thing is certain – and you have heard this before – we must lessen our dependence on imported oil.

This is not just an issue about sustainability. This is about the survival of our state. In moving forward on our path to advance a clean energy future, failure is not an option. Reducing our dependence on imported oil will take an equal commitment by government, business, community, family and individuals. We can no longer view energy production or distribution in an island-by-island context. We must be united on a statewide basis. My administration is committed to clean alternative and renewable energies for the benefit of all of our islands.

In November, I signed two international agreements that demonstrate that commitment.

The first was signed during the APEC Summit with the Vice Chairman of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade to pursue mutual interests in clean energy development. This year, we will continue to build upon that relationship and, by April, I hope to have a more defined memorandum of understanding to advance projects that will result in business opportunities.

I signed a second agreement with Japan-based New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) to collaborate on building a first-of-its-kind smart grid demonstration project on the island of Maui.

For this project, Hitachi, NEDO and Mizuho are investing $37 million in advanced smart grid technology to improve integration of variable renewable resources into the electrical grid.

These agreements mark Hawaii’s emergence as the test bed of the Pacific for clean energy demonstrations and clearly indicate the promise that energy projects offer for economic growth.

Currently there are about 80 renewable energy projects that are demonstrating progress in becoming commercial enterprises that have the potential to help the State of Hawai’i achieve its collective energy goals. This Administration will continue to look at every option – wind, solar, natural gas, photovoltaic, geothermal, biofuels, ocean energy and other technologies. We will be aggressive but respectful in our approach to our island environment.

These projects are just the first step, and in the next few months we will be unveiling a comprehensive roadmap for the state, beginning on Hawai’i Island, for building a world leading, sustainable economy standing on our people’s history of self-sufficiency in both food and energy. It is time for us to work together to put willpower to our resources and make this a reality for the state.

That is why I have assigned Lt. Governor Brian Schatz to coordinate and support our energy priorities. We must stay the course when it comes to advancing our clean energy future and ensure that collaborative decisions are being made. Swift and appropriate regulation must take place, as well as healthy competition and local entrepreneurship, community involvement and integration.

The time of sustainability rhetoric is over. Bold action is needed now. We must address two critical issues to position ourselves for increasing use of alternative energy – reliability and infrastructure.

While Hawai’i has an abundance of natural resources to tap into, the system cannot maintain itself solely with sources that shift with changing winds or the sun hiding behind the clouds. The system demands a clear measure of reliability of energy to feed into the grid. Therefore, one of my primary energy initiatives will be to provide the Public Utilities Commission with the explicit authority to develop, adopt and monitor electricity reliability standards. This will include jurisdiction over how independent power producers connect to the grid. Currently, while the PUC can take on issues through its formal docket process, there is no comprehensive authority to oversee reliability standards. To ensure that we have control over the reliability of the energy feeding into the system, we need to give the PUC this authority.

But more importantly, we need to create the infrastructure for stability. This means making the long-term infrastructure investments that ensure our electric grids are stable, reliable and modern enough to integrate alternative and renewable energy technologies. Our investment now will benefit future generations. Had we made this commitment in years past we would be benefitting from it today.

One of those investments is an undersea cable that can connect our island grids to provide stable, reliable electricity between islands. This integrated grid will provide stable energy prices and equalize rates between the islands, which will benefit all of us. To pay for this critical piece of infrastructure, we are proposing legislation that will attract private capital resources and expertise. In today’s uncertain world, we cannot postpone Hawaii’s clean energy future any longer. We can only get there if we move now. There is no legislation more critical to our future.

I assure you, the energy debates that will take place this session will echo the debates that took place here when I was a legislator in these chambers in the 1970s. Let us not repeat a history of failure to act in 2012.

Whether these initiatives are aimed at reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, or to assist and uplift the homeless, or to help our kupuna or our children, all represent wise and prudent investments in our people. The cost of not taking action now will most certainly result in higher costs not only in dollars, but in social dysfunction as well.

I am deeply grateful to Speaker Say and President Tsutsui for clearly recognizing and delineating the opportunity to work together on these issues in their respective Opening Day remarks.
With the theme of “Pupukahi I Holomua – Unite to Move Forward,” they specifically referenced the main objectives – growing a sustainable economy, investing in people and transforming government. I want to extend my pledge to members of both the House and Senate here assembled, to work collaboratively with you as we serve all our constituents.

I know for many it is hard to see beyond today’s needs when today’s needs loom so large and immediate. But unless dealt with now, today’s challenges can only multiply in difficulty. This is not acceptable. We have the obligation to make a better future for our children. We live in paradise and taking care of each other is a value that is fundamental to the aloha spirit. This is about having aloha for one another and doing what is pono.

I want to close then with something that exemplifies what aloha for each other is all about. At one point when the way forward was not always clear, Representative Karen Awana gave me a note, the essence of which was “A’ohe Hana Nui Ke Alu ‘Ia” – no task is too big when done together by all. I keep it in my desk for those times when I can use a little reminder of the meaning of aloha for each other. Her kindness and goodness is truly aloha in every way.

I pledge my aloha to you all in that spirit. Mahalo nui.

The demonstration project, funded by the Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture and the Office of Naval Research, produces algae using recycled CO2 waste streams and wastewater by-product from Chevron’s refinery to cultivate algae in specially designed closed growing systems. Chevron’s role in this project is to serve as a host site and a source of recycled CO2 and wastewater for KAS to conduct its research.

“We believe this project is the first U.S. demonstration of refinery waste streams being recycled into valuable algae products” said Dr. Adelheid Kuehnle, founder and CEO of KAS. “We’re thankful to the Chevron Hawaii refinery for making their facility available to us as a host site.”

The live algae used in this project are sourced in Hawaii. KAS has designed and will operate the demonstration project through August 2012 to cultivate and evaluate different strains of algae at production scale.

Partners in this project include Rhode Island-based BioProcess Algae for test cultivation systems; Alabama-based Inventure Chemical for biomass conversion to a high quality intermediate fuel; the University of Hawaii’s Hawaii Natural Energy Institute for water recycling and bioplastics production from waste; and Honolulu-based AMEL Technologies for engineering support.

Hawaii’s Chevron refinery is one of only a few places ideally suitable for this particular demonstration project, due to the consistent sunlight associated with west Oahu and an available supply of CO2 waste streams, both ideal for algae cultivation.

Chevron has not made any financial commitments to KAS, nor does it endorse the technology at this early stage of the research project. KAS’ goals for this project include transitioning algae as a sustainable resource; linking industrial effluents for scalable algae production; and linking biomass produced from KAS algae species with highly effective conversion processes to produce biofuels.

About KAS

KAS is an emerging, privately-held clean technology company based in Hawaii that specializes in microalgae cultivar development for bulk live microalgae production and distribution. The company identifies algae with the most desired traits for specific production environments, and then produces the algae for industrial applications. KAS has been awarded numerous state and federal government contracts to accelerate the research, development and deployment of algae for renewable energy. In addition, KAS serves as a supplier to other firms engaged in algae research and large-scale production.

The “Hackathon” is a free event that is open to anyone with an idea or an interest in contributing to tools that can better connect citizens with government information and services. Whether focused on traffic, trash pickup, community events or neighborhood statistics, the possibilities are endless. And cash prizes, provided by event sponsors, will be awarded to the teams that develop the most innovative and useful apps.

The Hackathon builds upon the successful CityCamp held last month, which drew over 150 people to a number of brainstorming sessions at the University of Hawaii that explored how technology could both solve problems and create opportunities in Honolulu.

Modeled after successful civic hackathons staged in other cities, this first Honolulu competition emphasizes both creativity and agility. Teams will have 24 hours to quickly design and develop a working prototype of their applications, which means that several useful tools will have progressed from idea to reality by Saturday afternoon.

Going forward, the hope is that these apps will be made available to the public. A successful Hackathon will both enhance the lives of regular citizens, and also fuel opportunities for Honolulu’s burgeoning tech community.

The City has been working to make more of its massive datasets freely available, via the web and via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Just last week, a “GIS Guide for Honolulu Hackers” was published to accompany newly published Geographic Information System (GIS) map data, just in time for the Hackathon.

These efforts complement this year’s Code For America engagement, in which notable leaders in technology and e-democracy will spend time in Honolulu to help governments work better for everyone. Honolulu is one of eight cities that will host Code for America Fellows in 2012.

• Register for the Hackathon
• CityCamp Honolulu

Published by a jointly owned subsidiary of The Kālaimoku Group and PacificBasin Communications, MANA will adhere to professional journalism as it delves into topics such as governance, education, health, income and more.

“MANA provides a valued independent voice that is not tied to any organization or viewpoint,” said co-owner and co-publisher John Aeto. “We hope to inspire serious exchange, sharing contrasting opinions and ideas on the hard-hitting topics such as governance, education, health, income and more,” he says.

Stories will cover the range and diversity of Hawaiian voices wherever they live, including globe trotting Hawaiians.

The Kālaimoku Group is a Honolulu-based, native Hawaiian-owned business development firm founded by Aeto and Cedric Duarte. Both partners have extensive experience in Hawaiian community affairs and the media.

PacificBasin Communications is Hawaii’s largest, locally owned media company that publishes 11 magazines including HONOLULU Magazine. HONOLULU is Hawaii’s oldest magazine, commissioned under a royal charter from King Kalākaua in 1888 under the name Paradise of the Pacific. MANA emulates these royal roots as a voice for the native Hawaiian community.

“MANA hopes to reach active, engaged Hawaiians everywhere – in Hawaii, on the Mainland and around the world,” says Scott Schumaker, PacificBasin Communications president. “It offers a platform for all those who care deeply about the Hawaiian community and the important role it plays in making Hawaii, Hawaii.

“Our owner, Duane Kurisu, built PacificBasin to ensure the integrity of local journalism and continued cultivation of home-grown perspectives. His investment in MANA speaks to his commitment to growing our community’s capacity to speak with Hawai‘i audiences and offer an important forum for life in our islands.”

Schumaker is a co-publisher of MANA, with Aeto. Kurisu is the owner of aio Group, a locally owned family of businesses specializing in media, printing, technology, sports and food.

An advisory board for MANA is being recruited. The magazine’s owners and publishers are taking nominations to ensure community-based content and a statewide scope.

“Mana” in the Hawaiian language means power or authority, sometimes spiritual or divine power. The magazine’s name, MANA and its design are derived from the symbolism of the triangle in Hawaiian culture. Taken together, the triangles in the letters “A” of the logo symbolize the power and strength of the Hawaiian people.

To subscribe to MANA Magazine and its newsletter, visit: www.mymanamagazine.com. Nominations for the MANA advisory board are being accepted via email: info@mymanamagazine.com.

LifeBoat | Photo by John Petrella, REALTOR®

“Realtor Raise: Project Playhouse” was held recently on the Big Island, a fun event to boost home ownership in Hawaii. Hawaii Life was one of four playhouse contributors, raising thousands of dollars to support the Habitat for Humanity mission.

The playhouses were generously donated, including the “Life Boat” from Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers. Wildly imaginative and solidly constructed, the playhouses were then given away to the lucky key holders. Leading up to and on the day of the event, key-chains were sold to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. The key-chains qualified the contributors to try their keys in the playhouse doors, and if they opened, they won the playhouse.

The Hawaii Island Board of Realtors (HIBR) also donated a playhouse to the fundraiser. Mealoha Kraus, who works in public relations with HIBR, “was overwhelmed by the number of people who came and waited for their turn to see if they had the right key.”

To ensure that the houses were were well-built, HIBR provided strict guidelines for the builders, and sparked competition by judging the playhouses in different categories. Habitat for Humanity’s President, Julie Hugo, won the Green Award for her entry, while Prudential’s Smurf House took Best Overall. Hawaii Life’s Boat Playhouse pulled out a respectable runner-up in the overall category.

The playhouse recipients on November 19 were not the only winners. The event brought in over $5,000 for the Hale Aloha O Hilo Habitat for Humanity. The Playhouse concept fits in perfectly with Habitat’s mission – that everybody deserves a simple, decent place to live.

The five thousand dollars will go towards the overall goal of ninety thousand that the HIBR is trying to raise. Through ongoing fundraising events they hope to reach their goal and be able to work with Habitat to build a house in East Hawaii.

About the Halo Aloha O Hilo Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a grassroots, Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to the elimination of poverty and substandard housing worldwide. It believes that every person deserves, at least, a simple and decent place in which to live. It builds or renovates houses in partnership with families who qualify for homeownership based on three criteria:  need, a willingness to partner with HFH, and an ability to repay a no-interest mortgage.

About Hawaii Life Real Estate Services LLC

Founded in 2008, Hawaii Life Real Estate Services LLC is a brokerage that offers real estate services for buyers and sellers on all of the major Hawaiian islands. Hawaiilife.com, the company’s website, offers access to the entire Hawaii MLS and provides tools for real estate searches. Hawaii Life also offers vacation rental listings.

Photos courtesy John Petrella, REALTOR®.

Seventy years ago today, a bright Sunday morning was darkened by the unprovoked attack on Pearl Harbor.  Today, Michelle and I join the American people in honoring the memory of the more than 2,400 American patriots—military and civilian, men, women and children—who gave their lives in our first battle of the Second World War.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families for whom this day is deeply personal—the spouses, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters who have known seven decades without a loved one but who have kept their legacy alive for future generations.

We salute the veterans and survivors of Pearl Harbor who inspire us still.  Despite overwhelming odds, they fought back heroically, inspiring our nation and putting us on the path to victory.  They are members of that Greatest Generation who overcame the Depression, crossed oceans and stormed the beaches to defeat fascism, and turned adversaries into our closest allies.  When the guns fell silent, they came home, went to school on the G.I. Bill, and built the largest middle class in history and the strongest economy in the world.  They remind us that no challenge is too great when Americans stand as one.  All of us owe these men and women a profound debt of gratitude for the freedoms and standard of living we enjoy today.

On this National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we also reaffirm our commitment to carrying on their work—to keeping the country we love strong, free and prosperous.  And as today’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come to an end and we welcome home our 9/11 Generation, we resolve to always take care of our troops, veterans and military families as well as they’ve taken care of us.  On this solemn anniversary, there can be no higher tribute to the Americans who served and sacrificed seventy years ago today.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection.

OTEC International LLC

Baltimore-based OTI has built its OTEC design on decades of innovation, combining proprietary technology with off-the-shelf components. Privately funded OTI has not relied on government money and expects to be first-to-market with a commercial plant.

OTI is currently negotiating a power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric Company for a 100-megawatt (MW) plant and with Caribbean Utilities Company and others for 25 MW plants. ABS, which sets standards of excellence and classifies marine-related facilities, has awarded OTI Approval-in-Principle for a floating renewable energy plant in both 25 MW and 100 MW models. It is ABS’s first for such an energy plant.

OTEC uses vast solar energy stored in the upper ocean to vaporize ammonia, producing electricity via a turbine and generator. Deep water cools the ammonia to liquid to be heated again in a 24/7 cycle, making it baseload or firm power.

The demonstration plant is slated for the NELHA’s Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park, in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Island. The demonstration will integrate the complete power system on a smaller scale to reduce risk for its first full-scale commercial project. Barry Cole, OTI’s executive VP, is director of technology development.

OTI was selected from four responses to NELHA’s call for proposal.

“We are glad the NELHA board recognized the careful planning of our excellent team,” said Eileen O’Rourke, OTI’s chief operating officer. “Our main funder, The Abell Foundation, has invested substantially in advancing OTEC research over the last 11 years, proving its commitment to this exciting power source.”

OTI will build a pilot plant at NELHA to produce net electricity, rather than simply test components. NELHA’s HOST Park has infrastructure in place to provide a head start for full-cycle demonstration.

“OTI’s demonstration plant will advance NELHA’s stature as the world’s premier research and development site for OTEC,” O’Rourke said.

Over the anticipated 30-year life of the demonstration plant, OTI intends to hone OTEC technology, components and operations.