Category Archives: Uncategorized

Senator Clarence Nishihara and I are starting a new show highlighting businesses and organizations in Waipahu on Olelo Television.  We are trying to promote public awareness of the good things in Waipahu and encourage customers and the greater community to support these wonderful ventures.  We also want to find ways the legislature can help our businesses and organizations.

Today I filmed with Senator Clarence Nishihara at the Waipahu Community Association (WCA) and the Waipahu Festival Market.  Henry Aquino of the WCA showed us around their office.  We interviewed him on the background of their new office and the festival market.  The Senator and I played a role in appropriating funds for this project.  The federal government and private sector contributed funds as well.  We interviewed many of the vendors at the festival market ranging from gifts, flowers, value-added food products, sushi, Filipino food, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and meats.  I will let you all know the airing dates of this show on Olelo Television in a future entry.  I hope it will give you an insight of some of the businesses at the Waipahu Festival Marketplace, and I encourage you to come and buy some of the products.

From July 22 to 27, I was in New orleans, Louisiana where I attended the annual National Conference of State Legislatures.  I attended meetings, caucuses, and met with other politicians and leaders from the business and non-profit sectors.  On the the first night there, I attended an organized dinner with the Hawaii delegation.  In the middle of the dinner, a government relations businessperson took me over to another dinner hosted by the National Capital Coalition for Capital to stop by, which I did not RSVP for.  I said “hello” to a young successful businessman I had become friends with over the years and a number of other businessmen and some politicians from other states.  They surprised me with an award, the “2008 Champion of Small Business” from the National Coalition for Capital.  I received the award and made a small speech.

It will probably be years before I complete my strategy for compassion, happiness, and peace.  However, I want to share at least some of it with you by August 8, 2008 or 08/08/08 because it is an auspicious day.  Hopefully, by sharing with you my positivity on this day, happiness will reach all of you.

I just got word that I got endorsed by several business and union organizations.  Also, since June 2008, I received several thousand of dollars from a number of donors.  The cost of campaigning has steadily gone up over the last six years.  I was hoping, I could reduce the amount of money I spend in an election, which is about $40,000 or more.  I really feel uncomfortable spending so much money.  Since there are a lot of potential challengers, it looks like I will spend a comparable amount of money to get my message out, therefore, I will keep up my effort to raise funds.

I am continuing my usual grassroots style of campaigning like I have done in the past.  I can afford to lose 5 to 10 pounds but not 15 to 20 pounds like I did in the last 3 elections.  This is the eighth time I have come to visit many of you.  I have walked over 45,000 homes over the last 5 1/2 years.  Mahalo for all your advice and comments.

I really appreciate your support.  If you would like to help my campaign, you can:

Volunteer: Email me at jonriki@gmail.com

Donate: Checks payable to Friends of Jon Riki Karamatsu and mail it to P.O. Box 970146, Waipahu, Hawaii 96797

Yesterday, I had a meeting with a couple of union leaders at the Ironworkers office.

I also met with a nice lady and her two nephews who are about to graduate high school.  She read about me in the newspapers and wanted me to help motivate her nephews.  I told the two boys about myself.  I shared how I got involved in sports, community, business, law, and politics.  Since everything I do is strategized and planned years in advance, I showed them my strategy book and calendar.  I explained how I came up with my strategy to better Hawaii when I was in college.  I also shared that life is full of ups and downs and challenges, thus, I gave them an advanced copy of my summarized strategy to achieve, compassion, happiness, and peace.  It was nice to see how much their aunty cared for them.  I wish many good things for them!

I attended many Filipino community events this year.  Some of the notable events were:

1.  Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Legislative Listen – January 2008 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii;

2.  Hawaii State House of Representatives Filipino Caucus – About twice a month from January to May 2008;

3.  University of the Philippines Alumni Association Dinner – Early Spring 2008 at Hale Koa Hotel;

4.  I sponsored and presented the trophy to Ms. Terno Ball – Spring 2008 at Ala Moana Hotel;

5.  Greeted Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. and a Philippine Senator at Philippine Consul General Ariel Y. Abadilla’s residence – April 2008;

6.  Care Home Operators Meeting – Spring 2008 at Waipahu Intermediate School;

7.  United Filipino Council of Hawaii Golf Tournament – Spring 2008;

8.  Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s Filipino Entreprenuer of the Year and Scholarship Awards – April 5, 2008 at Hilton Hawaiian Village;

9.  I sponsored and presented the bouquet to United Filipino Council of Hawaii Mrs. Hawaii Filipina – June 2008;

10.  110th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence – Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at the Honolulu Country Club;

11.  Dedication of the Filipino House at the Children’s Discovery Center – May or June 2008?; and

12.  Filipino Chamber of Commerce’s 54th Annual Installation Banquet – Saturday, July 5, 2008 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

I attended the Waipahu Hongwanji Bon Dance.  I danced to the “Fukushima” song.  I thought of my grandma Karamatsu when I danced.  She used to dance with me and my sisters at the Jodo Shu bon dances.

Below is my speech for the Honolulu Central Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Festival of Religious Freedom.  I freestyled so I went a little off the written speech.

Aloha and good morning,

My name is Jon Riki Karamatsu and I am a State Representative from District 41, which comprises of Waikele, Royal Kunia, Village Park and Waipahu.  I am honored to be here today to participate in your Hawaii Festival of Religious Freedom.

Your festival gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate the importance of religious freedom, and to spread the aloha spirit, a spirit of hospitality and compassion.  A unity of all people of diverse backgrounds makes us stronger in our quest to better our world.

I want to thank your church for all the work you do to teach compassion.  I truly believe that compassion can lead one to happiness, and ultimately to peace within.  When a majority of the people are compassionate, happy, and peace, a majority of the world will be at peace.  That is how we can achieve world peace.

I have been a strong advocate for peace.  In the 2007 Legislative Session, my Peace Day Bill, House Bill 345 was signed into law as Act 023 by the Governor on April 18, 2007.  The law establishes September 21st annually as Peace Day in Hawaii to promote peace programs, improve international relations, and increase educational awareness of peace.  I was inspired to create this bill after being approached by the Hawaii Federation of Junior Young Buddhist Association members, who presented a similar resolution to their state council.  I chose September 21st because it was already designated as the International Day of Peace by the United Nations.  I am looking forward to celebrating our second Peace Day celebration on Sunday, September 21st and hope you will be able to participate in our celebration.

I would like to extend my best wishes and warmest aloha to all of you.  I hope you have a very successful and rewarding weekend.

Thank you.

Yesterday, I talked to a constituent in regards to the possibility of building a new school in our area.  She used to work in Duty Free Shoppers(DFS) in the customer relations department and knew my grandpa Maurice Karamatsu who was vice president of that department.

Not to long ago, I met one of the former DFS presidents who is now an Honorary Consul General for Denmark.  Another former DFS president attended one of my Peace Day Committee meetings in June 2008 and is now leading a non-profit corporation promoting peace.  They were all friends with my grandpa Maurice Karamatsu.

Today, from 10:00 A.M. on July 11, 2008, I attended the House Finance Committee and Senate Ways & Means Committee Hearing on the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation.

I had a lunch meeting with Rep. Ken Ito and a very visionary businessman in insurance, technology, and development.

Yesterday, in the afternoon of July 9, 2008, I also attended the Hawaii Lodging, Hospitality & Foodservice Expo at the Neil S. Blaisdell Center.  Every year I attend this expo to look for new products for my business or just to see what is the latest happenings in the industry.  There is another Douglas Trade Show that I attend that have more retail type products.

This morning, I welcomed the Waipahu Adult Education class to the Hawaii State Capitol.  I greeted them in the House chambers.  I talked about my background and legislation.

I made my biggest mistake in my life last year with my DUI.  I called the police, stayed by my car, and cooperated with the police when they arrived.  I really got blasted by the media and some individuals that remained anonymous.  The media made mistakes in their reporting, took my quotes out of context, quoted politicians against me without citing their names, and one reporter through a political insider tried to link the situation of my palm pilot that was stolen to my DUI incident, which didn’t make sense.  In politics and entertainment, everything is magnified and sensationalized by the media.  Opponents capitalize on any sign of weakness.  Dissappointed with myself, I resigned as Vice Speaker of the House with the blessing of Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say.  I still feel really bad about my mistake.  I have increased my reflection on myself.

Following my DUI incident, a number of high profile people got into DUI incidents such as television actor Daniel Dae Kim who helped me raise donations for the Sex Abuse Treatment Center, local entertainer Kimo Ka’ahoano who I met through mutual friends and we participate in many events, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee John Waihe’e IV, a friend of mine who helped support my bill that became law supporting the Ni’ihau shell lei-makers, my colleague Senator Ron Menor who has helped me on a number of my legislation, especially in the area of renewable energy.  The only person I did not meet was playwriter Lisa Matsumoto who had done wonderful plays that lifted the spirits of our community.  Maybe if there was more time, I would have met her? 

I converted all the negative energy towards working on laws and appropriations for my community and state.  I passed five personal bills: 1. Protection of personal information by the government; 2. Harassment by impersonation; 3. $35 million in special purpose revenue bonds for Sopogy Inc. to build a solar farm on Oahu; 4. Requiring tow trucks to drop your car if you arrive on the scene; and 5.  $1 million for resort beach restoration that requires private sector matching funds.  I also got appropriations for my community that were not released by the governor, re-authorized in the budget bill.  I worked on two constitutional mandates that has not been resolved since 1978.  We came close to defining the 20% revenue from ceded lands.  Most importantly, we triggered the process in identifying important agricultural lands.

I reflect back to May 29, 2005.  I was feeling disenchanted with politics after getting worn down by several House chairs and a couple of senators who lost their temper.  I was also exhausted with the power jockeying of the dissidents in the House who were in control of the three most powerful committees at the time.  Financial and personal stresses were on my shoulders as well.  Finally, people that were negative really drained me further.  I was at a nice gathering with my friends John Waihe’e IV and Jennifer Waihe’e at their parents’ house.  Late in the evening, Governor John Waihe’e came in to greet everyone.  My friend Brandon and I had a nice talk with the governor until about 3:00 A.M. in the morning.  He said things that really re-inspired me to keep working hard for my community, Hawaii, and my country. 

Fast forward to the early morning of July 9, 2008.  I was looking forward to the groundbreaking of Sopogy Inc.’s groundbreaking of their solar farm.  I helped them by authoring a $10 million special purpose revenue bond bill that can be used in building their solar farm.  I was pleasantly surprised to see Governor George R. Ariyoshi at the airport with Darren Kimura, President and CEO of Sopogy Inc.  I have met the governor numerous times.  My mom told me that when I was a toddler, I was playing with a toy at a hotel and it rolled in front of Governor Ariyoshi and I ran to grab it, stopping the governor in his tracks.  In 1997, I went to get the governor’s book and his signature at a book signing at a bookstore at Ala Moana Shopping Center.  He signed it and stated that my grandfather Maurice Karamatsu was a good friend of his.  As a politician, I have seen the governor many times a year.  I also became friends with his son Ryozo soon after I got elected, after meeting him at the Consul General of Japan’s residence for an event celebrating the Emperor of Japan’s birthday.

Talking with Governor R. Ariyoshi really inspired me.  I am so impressed with his career as a World War II veteran in the military intelligence service, State Senator, Lt. Governor, Governor, attorney, president of the East West Center, and businessman in banking, gas, real estate development and investment, and consulting.  Recently, he has done business in computer data management, health products, and medical research just to name a few.  He has done so much for the state in government and business.  I told the governor, “You should write another book, part II.”  He laughed.  By 2009, the 50th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood, he hopes to write his vision for Hawaii for the next 50 years in hopes that he can inspire the youngest generation.

Governor Ariyoshi is probably the most diverse leader I have met so far.  He has made a positive impact on everything, politics, business, and community.  He told Darren and I, entrepreneurs don’t reach their goals in a straight line.  There are many failures.  Those that succeed, reach their goals in zig zag lines.  He motioned his hand in a zig zag manner.  We learn from our mistakes and we find a way to reach our goals.

Governor Ariyoshi told me a children’s story printed in an elementary school book in Japan.  There was a boy and his friends that would often walk pass this house where the dog would always bark at them.  One day, his friends started throwing rocks at the dog.  The boy stopped his friends and told them that the dog is only making a warning of their presence.   “That boy was me,” he said.  “Kindness,” the governor stated with a smile.  Reading between the lines, I wanted to believe that the governor was talking to me.  Some people bark because it is in their nature.  I have to do my best to be kind to even those barking at me.

Waiting at the Kona airport on our way back to Honolulu, Governor George R. Ariyoshi mentioned his opponents and how they attacked him.  “I didn’t respond,” he said, “It (the attacks) disappears.”

Tonight, Maureen Andrade, President of the Village Park Association did a wonderful job in coordinating a presentation on the mass transit system.  The meeting was very informative.  It was nice talking with a number of the residents in our community.  Also, one of the presenters also participated in Peace Day Hawaii 2007.

This morning I caught a flight to Kona, Hawaii for Sopogy Inc.’s groundbreaking for their solar farm at the Natural Energy Labaratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA).  I played a small role by authoring a bill that was passed in 2007 authorizing $10 million in special purpose revenue bonds to help the company develop a solar farm on the island of Hawaii.  The legislature and the governor were supporters of the measure as well.  The bonds haven’t been used yet but are available for usage in the future.

Sopogy Inc.’s President and CEO, Darren Kimura is very bright and great to work with.  I truly believe he is one of the up and coming leaders for not just Hawaii but for the global economy. 

The technology they will provide is called concentrated solar power (CSP), which uses the heat of the sun to produce energy otherwise known as solar-thermal energy.  The technology can be used to create process heat, solar air conditioning or electrical power.  Phase 1 and 2 of the project will create a 500 kilowatt system.  Eventually, they will expand to a 1 megawatt system.  In the long run, they want to have a 10 megawatt system.  The panels are smaller than the technology used on the mainland United States and are made to be resistant to Hawaii’s salt water air.  They hope to power into the grid and displace our reliance on fossil fuels to produce energy for our homes, buildings, and facilities.  There are many more possibilities for the future such as powering fuel cells that can be used in backup generators, cars, homes, and electronic equipment.

Governor George R. Ariyoshi was also on the trip with Darren Kimura and I.  The company had Governor Ariyoshi and I say a few words.  The governor had the vision to create NELHA in 1974.

I believe Sopogy Inc. will play a huge role in the renewable energy industry in Hawaii and the world.  I was so honored to be a small part of this process.

Today, we overrode a number of bills vetoed by the governor.  One of the bills, was the indentity theft bill, Senate Bill 2803, Senate Draft 1, House Draft 1, Conference Draft 1, which I co-sponsored with Sen. Carol Fukunaga to help protect personal information from identity thieves.

Yesterday, July 7, 2008, a constituent who I met at a Waipahu Town Meeting I coordinated years ago, blessed my capitol office and truck using blessed water in a Koa bowl.  She and I have become friends since then.  In January 2008, I also got a blessing of my capitol office from Shinnyo-en. 

I had a meeting with a constituent who is also a teacher at Waipahu High School.  He is working on a project that encourages people to serve the community.  I shared some of my experiences volunteering for non-profit corporations that serve our community.

We had our bi-weekly Peace Day Hawaii Committee meeting that afternoon.

In the evening, I met with two friends that I have worked with on legislation and campaigns.

I did some work at Borders and watched the fireworks with a friend on the grass in front of the IBM Building.  The fireworks were great!

On Saturday, June 14, 2008, my friend Lori had a farewell party at her house.  She will be moving to Philadelphia to join her husband.  In the back of her house, I relaxed a little.  It was very picturesque.  The full moon was shining a dim light onto the Oahu Country Club Golf Course; the tall trees were swaying in the wind; and a shooting star fell from the South.  I am going to miss her, as she is a genuine person.

Aloha Everyone!

This website is my new headquarters for Friends of Jon Riki Karamatsu on the World Wide Web.  I have been sharing with you a part of my life since the Fall of 2002.  It has been a great journey.  I have had successes and good times.  I have also made mistakes and understand that I need to keep improving myself. 

I will continue to share with you my policy ideas, legislation, legislative appropriations, speeches, philosophy, creative writing, events, and personal life.  I also want to share with you my pictures, videos, music, and business ventures.  I have continued posting information and issues.  However, I decided to share with you my artistic side.  I want to encourage critical thinking and public service, but I also want you to have fun.  It is my hope that this website attracts a wide range of demographics.  Therefore, I decided to move to WordPress.com to diversify my communication to you.  My archives from livejournal.com has been inputted here as well.

I have noticed that journalism has changed since 2002.  They report on gossip and sensationalize the lives of entertainers and politicians.  Journalists even have their own blogs now!  In the recent past, the Honolulu Weekly and Honolulu Star Bulletin has quoted me from my Internet journal for a couple of their news articles.  In 2006, I was inteviewed by Time Magazine because of my Internet journal and featured in their December 18, 2006 issue. 

I look forward to sharing with you many more exciting things!  I hope my life ventures impacts you in a positive way or at least inspires your constructive thoughts.  My ultimate quest is to be compassionate, happy, and at peace.  Likewise, I hope I can play a small role in helping you and others to be compassionate, happy, and at peace as well.

With Warmest Aloha,

Jon Riki Karamatsu

Meeting with Enterprise Honolulu Through Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga

On Wednesday, May 28, 2008, I had a 1:30 P.M. meeting with Michael Fitzgerald, CEO of Enterprise Honolulu, Former Senator Nadao “Najo” Yoshinaga, and my former office manager of 5 1/2 years, Baron Gushiken at my office.  Baron set up the meeting at the request of Sen. Yoshinaga.  We discussed Hawaii’s current economic climate and some of the legislation I introduced in the past and ideas I have for the future to help better Hawaii’s economy.  The following are some of the subjects we covered: renewable energy, technology, film, digital media, long-term care, workforce development, education, mass transit, and agriculture.  We discussed further into the subcategories within these subjects.  I am working on a dozen of bills relating to these subjects, and if I get re-elected, I will introduce them for the 2009 Legislative Session.  Our meeting ended after an hour and a half.  Sen. Yoshinaga stated, “This was a good meeting.”  I agree, it was a meeting that I will cherish forever.

Sen. Yoshinaga did great things for equality, labor rights, infrastructure, and much of what we see as modern day Hawaii in his twenty years in the Hawaii State Legislature.  As best as I can, I am going to help him fulfill one more goal, to make Hawaii an economic power.  When I was a teenager, it was a dream of mine to have a mentor who was a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and politician from the 1954 Democratic Revolution, thus, I am lucky to have become friends with Sen. Yoshinaga.  On top of his many credentials, the senator is also an attorney.

Sen. Yoshinaga has mentored a number of great leaders: State Administrator and Businessman, the late Pundy Yokouchi, Former State Senate President Norman Mizuguchi, State Senator Carol Fukunaga, Former State Representative David Hagino, Attorney Jim Stone, Attorney Kerry Komatsubara, and the list goes on.  These proteges of Sen. Yoshinaga have many years of knowledge and helped to shape Hawaii as well.  If I am the last of the senator’s proteges, I have big shoes to fill, a lot of information to learn, many dreams to accomplish, and an obligation to pass on the knowledge I gained from my elders and ancestors to many generations following me.  I am no where close to the leaders before me, as I have already made the biggest mistake in my life last October, but I have to keep doing my best in the public sector and private sector to “make Hawaii the best place in the world” as Sen. Yoshinaga likes to say.

From the middle of the Pacific, I dream of Hawaii impacting the world as a leader of renewable energy, technology, healthcare, tourism, art, culture, entertainment, diversified agriculture, and of course, peace and happiness by December 21, 2070, the final year of the tiger for whoever is alive from my generation.

It seems so much easier to fight negative people head on and sacrifice the ultimate level of compassion and happiness.  A couple of my mentors from the World War II generation didn’t take anything from anyone.  They challenged racists and the mistreatment from their own country.  They were willing to die so that future generations like mine could have a better life.  It feels so much easier to just be around the handful of genuinely good people.  I wish I could sacrifice myself against the negatives of the world so that they don’t bother the good people in the world.  A part of me wants to die fighting.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Final Reading Written Remarks

Senate Bill 2646, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 2, Conference Draft 1

Relating to Important Agricultural Lands

Thursday, May 1, 2008

            I rise in support.

            In 1978, voters approved Article XI, Section 3, of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii, which sets out the framework for state policies to promote agriculture and the conservation of productive agricultural lands in the State.  Article XI, Section 3, reads as follows:

     “The State shall conserve and protect agricultural lands, promote diversified agriculture, increase agricultural self sufficiency and assure the availability of agriculturally suitable lands.  The legislature shall provide standards and criteria to accomplish the foregoing.

     Lands identified by the State as important agricultural lands needed to fulfill the purposes above shall not be reclassified by the State or rezoned by its political subdivisions without meeting the standards and criteria established by the legislature and approved by a two-thirds vote of the body responsible for the reclassification or rezoning action.”

            To address the issue of important agricultural lands, Act 183, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, established standards, criteria, and mechanisms to identify important agricultural lands and to implement the intent and purpose of Article XI, Section 3, of the Hawaii Constitution.

            Act 183 also recognized that while the supply of lands suitable for agriculture is critical, the long-term viability of agriculture also depends on other factors, including:

            (1)  Commodity prices;

            (2)  Availability of water for irrigation;

            (3)  Agricultural research and outreach;

            (4)  Application of production technologies;

            (5)  Marketing; and

            (6)  Availability and cost of transportation services.

            The purpose of Senate Bill 2646, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 2, Conference Draft 1 (Senate Bill 2646) is to establish a variety of incentives that meet the requirements of Act 183 by:

(1)        Providing incentives and protections to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations on important agricultural lands; and

(2)        Providing for the designation of important agricultural lands on public lands by:

(A)       Requiring the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources to jointly identify the state-owned lands that should be designated as “important agricultural lands”

(B)       Transferring management authority over those lands to the department of agriculture; and

(3)        Providing for the combined designation of important agricultural land and reclassification to other land use districts by declaratory order of the land use commission.

            Senate Bill 2646 is a comprehensive bill that addresses the issue of designating our important agricultural lands that has remained unresolved for thirty years.  The following are the details of Senate Bill 2646.

Important Agricultural Land; Farm Dwellings and Employee Housing

            Farm dwellings and employee housing on important agricultural lands were identified as essential for a farm operation.  The farmers expressed that they wanted to be able to live and work on important agricultural land.

            Senate Bill 2646 amends Chapter 205, Hawaii Revised Statutes by adding a new section to Part III that allows a landowner whose agricultural lands are designated as important agricultural lands to develop, construct, and maintain farm dwellings and employee housing for farmers, employees, and their immediate family members on these lands; provided that:

(1)        The farm dwellings and employee housing units shall be used exclusively by farmers and their immediate family members who actively and currently farm on important agricultural land upon which the dwelling is situated; provided further that the immediate family members of a farmer may live in separate dwelling units situated on the same designated land;

(2)        Employee housing units shall be used exclusively by employees and their immediate family members who actively and currently work on important agricultural land upon which the housing unit is situated; provided further that the immediate family members of the employee shall not live in separate housing units and shall live with the employee;

(3)        The total land area upon which the farm dwellings and employee housing units and all appurtenances are situated shall not occupy more than five per cent of the total important agricultural land area controlled by the farmer or the employee's employer or fifty acres, whichever is less;

(4)        The farm dwellings and employee housing units shall meet all applicable building code requirements;

(5)        Notwithstanding section 205-4.5(a)(12), the landowner shall not plan or develop a residential subdivision on the important agricultural land;

(6)        Consideration may be given to the cluster development of farm dwellings and employee housing units to maximize the land area available for agricultural production; and

(7)        The plans for farm dwellings and employee housing units shall be supported by agricultural plans that are approved by the Department of Agriculture.”

Important Agricultural Land Qualified Cost Tax Credit

            Tax incentives are a critical component of the long-term viability of agriculture on important agricultural lands in the State.  The legislature finds that it is in the public's interest to assist agricultural businesses in establishing and sustaining viable agricultural operations on important agricultural lands by providing incentives such as income tax credits.

            The purpose of this part is to establish an important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credit to establish and sustain viable agricultural operations on important agricultural lands. 

            Senate Bill 2646 amends Chapter 235, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by adding a new section that establishes the important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credit.  The credit shall be deductible from the taxpayer's net income tax liability, if any, imposed by this chapter for the taxable year in which the credit is properly claimed.  The tax credit amount shall be determined as follows:

(1)        In the first year in which the credit is claimed, twenty-five per cent of the lesser of the following:

(A)       The qualified agricultural costs incurred by the taxpayer after July 1, 2008; or

            (B)       $625,000;

(2)        In the second year in which the credit is claimed, fifteen per cent of the lesser of the following:

            (A)       The qualified agricultural costs incurred by the taxpayer after July           1, 2008; or

            (B)       $250,000; and

(3)  In the third year in which the credit is claimed, ten per cent of the lesser of the following:

            (A)       The qualified agricultural costs incurred by the taxpayer after July           1, 2008; or

            (B)       $125,000.

            If the credit under this section exceeds the taxpayer's net income tax liability for the taxable year, the excess of the credit over liability shall be refunded to the taxpayer; provided that no refunds or payments on account of the credits allowed by this section shall be made for amounts less than $1.

            If in any taxable year the annual amount of certified credits reaches $7,500,000 in the aggregate, the Department of Agriculture shall immediately discontinue certifying credits and notify the department of taxation.  In no instance shall the Department of Agriculture certify a total amount of credits exceeding $7,500,000 per taxable year.  To comply with this restriction, the Department of Agriculture shall certify credits on a first come, first served basis.

            “Agricultural business” means any person with a commercial agricultural, silvicultural, or aquacultural facility or operation, including: (1) The care and production of livestock and livestock products, poultry and poultry products, apiary products, and plant and animal production for nonfood uses; (2) The planting, cultivating, harvesting, and processing of crops; and (3) The farming or ranching of any plant or animal species in a controlled salt, brackish, or freshwater environment; provided that the principal place of the agricultural business is maintained in the State and more than fifty per cent of the land the agricultural business owns or leases, excluding land classified as conservation land, is important agricultural land.

            “Qualified agricultural costs” means expenditures for:

(1)        The plans, design, engineering, construction, renovation, repair, maintenance, and equipment for:

(A)  Roads or utilities, primarily for agricultural purposes, where the majority of the lands serviced by the roads or utilities, excluding lands classified as conservation lands, are important agricultural lands;

(B)       Agricultural processing facilities in the State, primarily for agricultural purposes, where the majority of the crops or livestock processed, harvested, treated, washed, handled, or packaged are from agricultural businesses;

(C)  Water wells, reservoirs, dams, water storage facilities, water pipelines, ditches, or irrigation systems in the State, primarily for agricultural purposes, providing water for lands, the majority of which, excluding lands classified as conservation lands, are important agricultural lands; and

(D)  Agricultural housing in the State, exclusively for agricultural purposes; provided that:

(i)         The housing units are occupied solely by farmers or employees for agricultural businesses and their immediate family members;

(ii)        The housing units are owned by the agricultural business;

(iii)       The housing units are in the general vicinity, as determined by the department of agriculture, of agricultural lands owned or leased by the agricultural business; and

(iv)       The housing units conform to any other conditions that may be required by the department of agriculture;

(2)        Feasibility studies, regulatory processing, and legal and accounting services related to the items under paragraph (1);

(3)        Equipment, primarily for agricultural purposes, used to cultivate, grow, harvest, or process agricultural products by an agricultural business; and

(4)        Regulatory processing, studies, and legal and other consultant services related to obtaining or retaining sufficient water for agricultural activities and retaining the right to farm on lands identified as important agricultural lands.

            The Department of Taxation, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, shall submit to the legislature an annual report, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, beginning with the regular session of 2010, regarding the quantitative and qualitative assessment of the impact of the important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credit.

            There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008-2009 for the Department of Agriculture to administer the important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credit.

Loan Guaranty; Important Agricultural Lands; Agricultural and Aquacultural Loans

            Financing is also a critical component of the long-term viability of agriculture on important agricultural lands in the State.  The legislature finds that it is in the public interest to assist agricultural producers in meeting their financing needs for projects that are located on important agricultural lands.

            The purpose of this part is to further implement Act 183, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005, by authorizing the chairperson of the Board of Agriculture to guarantee loans relating to agricultural projects located on important agricultural lands.

            Senate Bill 2646 amends Chapter 155, Hawaii Revised Statutes, by adding a new section to establish a loan guaranty on important agricultural lands for agricultural and aquacultural loans.

            From July 1, 2009, the chairperson of the Board of Agriculture may guarantee loans made by commercial lenders authorized to do business in this State, to agricultural producers for the purpose of developing and implementing agricultural projects; provided that the chairperson of the Board of Agriculture shall determine that: (1) The agricultural projects are located on lands designated as important agricultural lands pursuant to Part III of Chapter 205; and (2) The commercial lender has completed its due diligence in approving the loan, including ensuring adequate collateral.

            Any loan guaranty made pursuant to this section shall meet the following conditions:

            (1)        For any loan that finances operating costs, the maximum term of the loan                                    shall be ten years;

(2)        For any loan that finances capital improvement costs, the maximum term of the loan shall be twenty years;

(3)        The interest rate charged on any loan shall be one per cent below the commercial lender's prime rate for as long as the loan guaranty is in effect;

(4)        The loan guaranty may be up to eighty-five per cent of the outstanding principal amount of any single loan, but shall not include any fees or accrued interest associated with the loan or its collection; and

(5)        The total principal amount of the guaranteed portion of all loans outstanding at any time shall not exceed $2,500,000.

            “Agricultural producer” means a farmer, cooperative association, or landowner who derives at least fifty per cent of its gross income from agricultural or aquacultural activities.

            The Department of Taxation, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, shall submit to the legislature an annual report, no later than twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session, beginning with the regular session of 2010 that provides a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the impact of the loan guaranty program.

Hawaii Water Plan

            Water is essential for productivity on agricultural lands.  Senate Bill 2646 amends the Hawaii Water Plan in Section 174C-31 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to ensure the availability of water on important agricultural lands.  Section 174C-31, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:

            “(e)       The department of agriculture shall prepare a state agricultural water use and development plan for agricultural uses in the State in accordance with chapter 167 and this chapter, and subsequently modify and update the plan as necessary.  The state agricultural water use and development plan shall include but not be limited to a master irrigation inventory plan [which] that shall:

            (1)        Inventory [the] public and private irrigation water systems;

            (2)        Identify the extent of rehabilitation needed for each system;

(3)        Identify sources of water used by agricultural operations and particularly those on lands identified and designated as important agricultural lands under part III of chapter 205;

(4)        Identify current and future water needs for agricultural operations and particularly those on lands identified and designated as important agricultural lands under part III of chapter 205;

    [(3)] (5)        Subsidize the cost of repair and maintenance of the systems;

    [(4)] (6)        Establish criteria to prioritize the rehabilitation of the systems;

    [(5)] (7)        Develop a five-year program to repair the systems; and

    [(6)] (8)        Set up a long-range plan to manage the systems.

The commission shall coordinate the incorporation of the state agricultural water use and development plan into the state water projects plan.

(f)         Each county water use and development plan shall include but not be limited to:

(1)        Status of water and related land development, including an inventory of existing water uses for domestic, municipal, and industrial users, agriculture, particularly agriculture on lands designated as important agricultural lands under part III of chapter 205, aquaculture, hydropower development, drainage, reuse, reclamation, recharge, and resulting problems and constraints;

(2)        Future land uses and related water needs; and

(3)        Regional plans for water developments, including recommended and alternative plans, costs, adequacy of plans, and relationship to the water resource protection and water quality plans.”

Agricultural Processing Facilities; Permits; Priority

            Expediting the permitting process for agricultural process facilities will further support farm operations in the State of Hawaii.  Senate Bill 2646 amends Chapter 205 and Chapter 321 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, by adding new sections to require any agency subject to these chapters that issues permits to establish and implement a procedure for the priority processing of permit applications and renewals, at no additional cost to the applicant, for agricultural processing facilities that process crops or livestock from an agribusiness; provided that the majority of the lands held, owned, or used by the agribusiness shall be land designated as important agricultural lands pursuant to this part, excluding lands held, owned, or used by the agribusiness in a conservation district.

Important Agricultural Lands; Public Lands

            Before December 31, 2009, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Land and Natural Resources shall collaborate to identify public lands as defined under Section 171‑2, Hawaii Revised Statutes that should be designated important agricultural lands as defined in Section 205‑42, Hawaii revised Statutes and shall prepare maps delineating those lands.  In making the designations, the departments shall use the standards and criteria of Section 205-44, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

            Beginning January 1, 2010, after receipt of the maps of public lands identified as important agricultural lands, the Land Use Commission shall designate the public lands as important agricultural lands and adopt the maps of those public lands.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Final Reading Written Remarks

House Bill 2954, Senate Draft 1

Prohibits a towing company from charging the owner of a vehicle hooked up for towing if the owner of the vehicle appears on the scene.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

            I rise in support.

            I want to thank Speaker Emeritus Joseph M. Souki for inserting language into this bill to address a concern of a resident of Hawai’i who contacted me explaining how he disliked the fact that a towing company can charge an owner of a vehicle that is hooked up for towing even if the owner of the vehicle appears on the scene.  This bill would amend the current law by prohibiting a towing company from charging the owner of a vehicle hooked up for towing if the owner of the vehicle appears on the scene.  In the case of a difficult hookup, meaning an above or below ground hookup in a multilevel facility, a towing surcharge of $30 is applicable.

            In addition, this bill encourages towing companies to be open twenty-four hours a day in a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand by allowing an overtime charge of $15 when the tow occurs between the hours of six o’clock P.M. and six o’clock A.M., from Monday through Thursday and from six o’clock P.M. Friday to six o’clock A.M. Monday.

            Any towing company engaged in towing in a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand shall not be entitled to any overtime charge if towing services to consumers are not offered twenty-four hours per day every day of the week; provided that a towing company shall file their hours of operation with the police department in a county with a population greater than five hundred thousand.

            Thank you.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu

Final Reading Written Remarks

Senate Bill 2456, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 1, Conference Draft 1

Relating to Harassment (Harassment by Impersonation)

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

            I rise in support.

            Since the 2005 Legislative Session, I have been working to create a new law to discourage impersonation.  The reasoning is that people are being harassed by individuals impersonating as them, especially on the Internet.  It has already happened to a friend of mine.  The act of harassing by impersonation can cause irreparable damage by ruining one's reputation, placing one in fear of one's safety, and inflicting emotional distress.

            Senate Bill 2456 is the companion to my House Bill 2319, which proposed to add computer communication as a form of nonconsensual contact in the offense of harassment by stalking.  However, Senate Bill 2456, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 1 was amended by the House Judiciary Committee to include the policy goal of discouraging impersonation, which is from another bill of mine, House Bill 2320.

            This measure would create a new section in the Hawai'i Revised Statutes to include “harassment by impersonation.”  Under this definition, “A person commits the offense of harassment by impersonation if that person poses as another person, without the express authorization of that person, and makes or causes to be made, either directly or indirectly, a transmission of any personal information of the person to another by any oral statement, any written statement, or any statement conveyed by any electronic means, with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm any person.”  Harassment by impersonation would be a misdemeanor.

            Thank you.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu

Final Reading Written Remarks

House Bill 2500, House Draft 1, Senate Draft 1, Conference Draft 1

Relating to the State Budget

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

            I rise in support.

            House Bill 2500 appropriates supplemental funds for the operating and capital costs of the Executive Branch for the fiscal year July 1, 2008, through June 20, 2009.  After strong economic growth in the mid-2000s, peaking with double-digit growth rates in fiscal year 2005 (16 percent) and 2006 (10.9 percent), Hawai’i’s economy slowed sharply in 2006 and 2007.

            With considerably lower than projected general fund revenues available, this bill preserves essential health and safety funding in this supplemental budget.  Unfortunately, reductions were made to the Governor’s supplemental budget through a combination of denying requests, making vacancy adjustments, and reducing the departments’ general fund non-fixed cost “discretionary” budget appropriations.

            I would like to highlight some of the appropriations and investments that were included.  Investing in the aging infrastructure of our public schools was the primary focus.  For fiscal year 2008-2009, $310,193,000 was provided by the legislature to the Department of Education in General Obligation and General Obligation Reimbursable bond funds, including: $100,000 for whole school classroom renovations statewide; and $66,461,000 for school building repair and maintenance statewide.  The following are some of the capital improvement projects I supported for schools in or near my state representative district and non-profit educational institutions in the State of Hawai’i:

1.         Honowai Elementary School: The legislature appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal             year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design, construction, and equipment for electrical system improvements; ground and site improvements; and equipment and appurtenances.

2.         Kaleiopu’u Elementary School: The legislature appropriated $85,000 for fiscal   year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design and construction for a covered walkway to the cafeteria and office area; ground and site improvements; and equipment and appurtenances.  In addition, the legislature appropriated $550,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design, construction, and equipment for electrical upgrades; ground and site improvements; and equipment and appurtenances.

3.         Waikele Elementary School: The legislature appropriated $100,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design and construction to expand the faculty parking lot; ground and site improvements; and equipment and appurtenances.

4.         Waipahu High School: The legislature appropriated $75,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design and construction for fencing; ground and site improvements; equipment and appurtenances.

5.         Children’s Discovery Center: The legislature appropriated $125,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 and $300,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for construction for facility improvements at the Children’s Discovery Center.  This project qualified as a grant, pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

6.         KCAA Preschools of Hawaii: The legislature appropriated $250,000 for fiscal year 2008-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for plans, design, and construction for the development of a new training center.  This project qualified as a grant, pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

            The legislature has taken note of the alarming state of some facilities within the University of Hawai’i system and provided $161,446,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 by all means of financing for capital improvements in the university system.  The following are some of the capital improvement projects I supported for the University of Hawai’i system:

1.         University of Hawai’i system: The legislature appropriated $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for system wide capital renewal, deferred maintenance, and health and safety measures.

2.         University of Hawai’i at Manoa: The legislature appropriated $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 and $35,883,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for plans, design, construction, and equipment for renovation and addition to the campus center complex.

3.         University of Hawai’i – West Oahu: The legislature appropriated $135,000,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design, construction, and equipment for the development of the University of Hawai’i – West Oahu.  The project is to include ground and site improvements, construction of infrastructure and new facilities, and all project related costs.

            An efficient system of harbors and airports is vital to the flow of people and goods to, from, and within Hawaii.  The legislature provided an investment of $124,375,000 in revenue bond funds for harbor modernization projects and an additional $130,236,000 for airport modernization.  In order to maintain and improve our highway system, the legislature appropriated $183,066,000 by all means of financing for fiscal year 2008-2009.  The following are some of the transportation capital improvement projects I supported:

1.         Kamehameha Highway Improvements, Waipahu Street to Ka Uka Boulevard: The legislature appropriated $150,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for land acquisition and construction for traffic operational and other improvement, including sidewalk, bikeway, highway lighting, drainage, and other improvements.  This project is deemed necessary to qualify for federal aid financing and/or reimbursement.

2.         Interstate Route H-1, Westbound Afternoon (P.M.) Contraflow: The legislature appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design for a P.M. contraflow lane on interstate route H-1 from the vicinity of Radford Drive to the vicinity of Waikele.

3.         Ke’ehi Small Boat Harbor: The legislature appropriated $4,000,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for plans, design, and construction of a bulkhead, pier, pad, and storm water management system and utilities installation at Ke’ehi Small Boat Harbor to relocate Honolulu Marine, LLC from Hawai’i Community Development Authority property.

            The following are other capital improvement projects I supported that are located in or near my state representative district:

1.         Kunia Agricultural Park: The legislature appropriated $250,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for plans to develop Kunia Agricultural Park.

2.         Waipahu United Church of Christ: The legislature appropriated $250,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design and construction for improvements for a community center.  This project qualified as a grant, pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawai’i Revised Statutes.

3.         American Box Car Racing International: The legislature appropriated $75,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for plans, design, and construction for a youth facility.  This project qualified as a grant, pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

4.         Friends of Waipahu Cultural Garden Park: The legislature appropriated $250,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for construction for improvements at Hawai’i’s Plantation Village.  This project qualified as a grant, pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawai’i Revised Statutes.

            The following are other capital improvement projects I supported that are located in the State of Hawai’i:

1.         Iolani Palace State Monument: The legislature appropriated $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for construction for air conditioning, climate control, and related improvements to preserve historic and cultural artifacts.

2.         Lanakila Rehabilitation Center: The legislature appropriated $300,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized for fiscal year 2008-2009 for design and construction for renovation of the Lanakila Wahiawa center.  This project qualified as a grant, pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawai’i Revised Statutes.

3.         Bishop Museum: The legislature appropriated 1,000,000 for fiscal year 2008-2009 for plans, design, and construction for repairs and maintenance and other related improvements at the Bishop Museum.

4.         Hawai’i Theatre Center: The legislature appropriated $250,000 for fiscal year 2007-2008 and reauthorized it for fiscal year 2008-2009 for construction for improvements to facilities owned by the Hawai’i Theatre Center.  This project qualified as a grant, pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawai’i Revised Statutes.

5.         Japanese Cultural Center: The legislature appropriated $250,000 for construction for repairs and improvements to the Japanese Cultural Center.  This project qualified as a grant, pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawai’i Revised Statutes.

            For the 2008 Legislative Session, I introduced House Bill 2323, which would establish within the beach restoration special fund a sub-account to be known as the resort beach restoration fund to be administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, into which shall be deposited general funds appropriated by the legislature and revenues from the tourism special fund, which receives moneys from the transient accommodations tax.  No funds would be released for expenditure from the resort beach restoration fund unless matched by non-state funds on at least a one-to-one basis.  Moneys in the resort beach restoration fund would be used to provide for the development and restoration of visitor area resort beaches, including maintenance of any improvements placed on the visitor area resort beach or in the nearshore waters, as determined by the department, including debt service on any capital expenditures projects and the contracting for services for those purposes.  Fortunately, the legislative money committees created a proviso in this state budget bill, appropriating $1,000,000 from the special fund for tourism (BED 113) for fiscal year 2008-2009 for beach restoration, provided that restoration projects on resort beaches shall be matched dollar-for-dollar from private sources and shall be on beaches with public access.  This beach restoration fund for resort beaches is to be administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

            The legislature recognized that energy efficiency is an investment that pays off for itself and, provided $17,460,000 for energy conservation and efficiency projects throughout the State for fiscal year 2008-2009.

            The lack of affordable housing is a major concern of the legislature.  Appropriations to address this issue include a total infusion of $25,000,000 in general obligation bond funds into the Rental Housing Trust Fund and the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund in order to finance additional affordable housing.

            Given substantially lower than projected general fund growth for fiscal year 2007-2008, the legislature has crafted an honest, responsible, and sustainable supplemental budget.  In total, this supplemental budget appropriates $10,789,367,663 in fiscal year 2008-2009.  Specifically in regarding general fund appropriations, this budget appropriates $5,318,212,5547 in fiscal year 2008-2009.

            Thank you.

Opponents are those who are mean, vindictive, heartless, impatient, jealous, self-righteous, and/or selfish.  They like to criticize and attack you in hopes of taking you down personally or your career.  I do not hate them.  I only wish them peace and happiness.

In April 2008, I made an invocation for the Hawaii State House of Representatives.  My prayer:

“This prayer is based on two philosophies, Itoism and Karamatsuism.  Members and guests, I would like us to make a silent prayer to our loved ones and even our opponents in hopes that they achieve peace and happiness.  At this time, can we have a silent prayer.

Thank you.”

Having compassion for your enemies is the most difficult thing to do in my opinion.  How do you have compassion for someone who harmed you or a loved one, or even go as far as to kill your loved one?  

I still have difficulty with the males who raped female friends of mine.  For some of us, our first instinct would be to retaliate.  When a number of girls told me their story of domestic violence and sexual assault during college, I was very angry at these male perpetrators.  Pain and in this case, anger drove me into politics.  Later in life, more females revealed to me their stories.  It never ends.

The world is full of violence and it is a cycle.  There are so many wars and terrorist attacks.  They killed my loved one so I will kill your loved one.  Women and children are innocenlty raped and killed.  We are just going back and forth with our violence and there is no end in sight.

It is easier to have compassion for my opponents who will try to ruin your life and take you down.  They have no feelings and are just plain mean.  Although they do bad things against you personally, they will not try to physically harm or kill you or your loved ones. 

On the other hand, enemies will harm and even kill you and your loved ones.  Instead of retaliating, we must take all their immense negative energy and convert it to positive energy and do as much good as we can.  This is the least we can do through compassion.  The most compassionate ones can pray to their enemies and the spirits of their enemies in hopes that they will eventually change and stop the violence or even find peace within themselves.

I authored and passed bills to prevent harassment by impersonation, float $35 million in special purpose revenue bonds for Sopogy, Inc. to build a solar farm on Oahu, create a $1 million beach restoration fund that requires a $1 to $1 match from the private sector, require tow truck companies to drop a vehicle and not place a fine if the owner arrives at the scene, and create an identity theft council to protect personal information within the government.

I really enjoyed working on the important agricultural lands (IAL) bill, which includes incentives for farmers, requires the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources to identify public lands for designation as IAL, and an incentive for landowners to designate 85% of their lands to IAL and have 15% reclassified to the rural, urban, or conservation district through a declaratory order approved by the Land Use Commission.  I will have more details on the bills I worked on later.  I will be posting some of my floor speeches and written remarks that I stated for final reading bills. 

On December 28, 2007, my request to resign as Vice Speaker of the House as a result of my DUI incident was approved by Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say.  It was humbling to step down from a House leadership position.  Nonetheless, I was honored to have had that opportunity at such a young age.  Prior to becoming Vice Speaker, I also had the awesome opportunity of serving as chairman of the House Economic Development & Business Concerns Committee.  In politics, one can rise quickly and fall quickly.  As hard as it was on me, this tough incident lead me to become Vice Chairman of the House Water, Land, Ocean Resources and Hawaiian Affairs (WLH) Committee.  Good things can come out of a bad situation.  I really enjoyed working with House Chairman of WLH, Ken Ito.  Serving under his leadership was an honor.  I had so much fun.  I enjoyed working on land use laws, important agricultural land designation, agricultural incentives, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs settlement with the State of Hawaii, fishing issues, dam liability to help ensure water will be available for the farmers, liability on unimproved lands, and photographing of historical buildings, just to name a few.  The legislation I worked on in that committee was very rewarding.  

I enjoyed working with all the elected officials, appointed and civil service government officials, private sector representatives, non-profit organization leaders, community leaders, constituents, and many individuals.  I have much aloha to Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say, Rep. Jerry L. Chang, Rep. Ken Ito, Rep. Bob Nakasone, and Rep. Clift Tsuji who have been my friends through good times and bad.  I enjoyed working with Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro and Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell, two leaders who have much more to offer in the years to come.  As usual, Speaker Emeritus Joe Souki was also a great person to work with this session.  I have thanks to my friendship with Rep. Michael Magaoay who included me in the Filipino Caucus since he became chair of the caucus in 2006 because my district's largest ethnic group is Filipino.  The sophomore House class stepped up to the plate in many leadership roles.  It was nice working with freshman Reps. Jimmy Tokioka, Roland Sagum, and Angus McKelvey on issues that went before the House WLH Committee.  I wish all my House colleagues the best in the rest of 2008!

I enjoyed working with Sen. Carol Fukunaga on the identity theft and harassment by impersonation bills, which passed the legislature.  I have to mention Sen. Jill Tokuda who I have been friends with since we were young college kids in the Young Democrats.  She is one year younger me, thus, currently the youngest politician in the State of Hawaii.  I am now the second youngest politician and was the youngest in the last two-year period before Sen. Tokuda's arrival in elected politics.  Her husband Kyle Michibata and I worked for Sen. Fukunaga and he worked for me in my first year in the House in 2002-2003.  I have to say, I really enjoyed working with Sen. Tokuda because she was the counterpart for the important agriculture lands bills as chairwoman of the Senate agriculture committee.  Rep. Clift Tsuji, House agriculture committee chairman, Rep. Ken Ito, House WLH chairman, and myself really had a pleasure working with her.  I am very impressed with her in her first year as chairwoman.

This has been my favorite legislative session in my six years in the Hawaii State Legislature.

The following song by Matchbox 20, which is called “How far we’ve come,” inspires me to keep working hard to better Hawaii, the United States, and the world.  It reflects the energy I have in my determination to tip the balance towards compassion, but also the frustration I feel at times when I realize that we are all facing this struggle within us, in addition to the possibility that we face billions of negative people that may never tip back to the positive.  I feel, there is currently more negative than positive in our world.  People are more impatient, angry, and hurtful, which only leads to suffering for everyone.  Negative people affect other people and it goes on and on with waves of negative impact and influence.  Sometimes it seems like the world is heading for the worse.  Therefore, we must do all we can to counter this with compassion and tip the balance towards the positive.  We might as well die trying.  If we succeed, maybe 500 years from now, the world will become more peaceful.  

We are all imperfect.  As a result, I am typing up my strategy on how we can be compassionate a majority of the time and angry a small minority of the time.  We must try to avoid anger at all costs.  Even within the emotion of “anger,” there are different levels.  If we unfortunately slip into anger, we should at the least, be in the lower levels of anger.  However, even if we accomplish this first goal within us, we all face sadness throughout our lives.  Thus, I am also writing a strategy to hopefully help us to be happy a majority of the time and sad a minority of the time.  We can never be 100% compassionate and happy, but we must strive for this highest goal.  In our quest to reach this goal, some of us will understand the meaning of life.  In Buddhism, you will reach enlightenment when you become compassionate and understand your existence and your surroundings.  Very few people will ever become a Buddha.  Once I finish typing this project, I will share with you my strategy and philosophy.

Matchbox 20
“How Far We’ve Come” Lyrics

I’m waking up at the start of the end of the world,
but its feeling just like every other morning before,
Now I wonder what my life is going to mean if it’s gone,

The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour if that,
and started staring at the passengers who’re waving goodbye
can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?

Chorus:
But I believe the world is burning to the ground
oh well I guess we’re gonna find out
let’s see how far we’ve come
let’s see how far we’ve come
Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
oh well, I guess, we’re gonna pretend,
let’s see how far we’ve come
let’s see how far we’ve come

I think it turned ten o’clock but I don’t really know
then I can’t remember caring for an hour or so
started crying and I couldn’t stop myself
I started running but there’s no where to run to
I sat down on the street, took a look at myself
said where you going man you know the world is headed for hell
say all goodbyes if you’ve got someone you can say goodbye to

I believe the world is burning to the ground
oh well I guess we’re gonna find out
let’s see how far we’ve come (right now)
let’s see how far we’ve come
Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
oh well, I guess, we’re gonna pretend,
let’s see how far we’ve come
let’s see how far we’ve come

Its gone gone baby its all gone
there is no one on the corner and there’s no one at home
well it was cool cool, it was just all cool
now it’s over for me and it’s over for you
well its gone gone baby its all gone
there’s no one on the corner and there’s no one at home
well it was cool cool, it was just all cool
now it’s over for me and it’s over for you

I believe the world is burning to the ground
oh well I guess we’re gonna find out
let’s see how far we’ve come
let’s see how far we’ve come
Well I, believe, it all, is coming to an end
oh well, I guess, we’re gonna pretend,
let’s see how far we’ve come, again
let’s see how far we go
let’s see how far we’ve come
let’s see how far we go
let’s see how far we’ve come
let’s see how far we go
let’s see how far we’ve come
let’s see how far we go
let’s see how far we’ve come

There are many stories of compassion.  I would like to share one from a friend of mine.  This person got an injury from another worker after reporting on him for playing hooky from work despite being paid.  A friend referred him to a Buddhist temple when he went into a depression.  His personal life improved and he became very compassionate towards others.  He told me how he was dating a woman and there was a point where she would often come home late.  He knew she was out socializing and even suspected her cheating on him.  Instead of getting upset, he sought within himself to show compassion.  He meditated with a renonshya at his temple.  The renonshya told him that he and his girlfriend both loved each other, but they had two different levels of love.  His love for her was at a higher level and her love for him was at a lower level.  With his hands he showed me how their love was missing each other.  He had to look at the bigger picture.  If he truly loved her, he had to let her go so that she could find someone that could fulfill her love.  Eventually, she moved out of their home.  They would meet and have meals.  Then when that ended, they would keep in touch by telephone.  Then one day, the phone calls stopped.  The ultimate compassion is to let go of the one you truly love.

Compassion is a way of life we have to work at rather than living with anger and hatred.  I have my weaknesses and I am trying my best to better myself.  I apologize to anyone I affected negatively because of my failures.  We must do our best to train our mind to think of good thoughts that will lead us to good actions.  One way to practice compassion is by meditating and praying when you are alone and think of the good actions you would like to do.  Further, think of bad situations you could be in and think of how to react to these situations in the most positive way in order to get a positive outcome if possible, and mitigate or minimize the negative outcome.

Life goes by so fast. 

I was born on December 21, 1974, the year of the tiger.

I remember my mom making me read books and study math and English as a toddler and up to grade school.  She did the same for my younger sisters.   My mom taught me education, love, and kindness.

As a little kid, my sister Mia and I would be in the back seat of the car counting cars by color.  During Christmas, we would count the Christmas lights.  

In 1985, when Chicago had the hit song, “You’re the Inspiration,” Mia and I would sing it.  I remember packing my baby sister Lara who must have been around four years old, on my skateboard and the wheels ran over my fingers making them bloody.  She went to get help, but never came back.  When I got home, I think she was eating ice cream or maybe a snack and forgot about me.  That was funny. 

My dad taught me discipline, education and hard work.  He coached sports and volunteered in many organizations for us.  His family always came first. 

I remember 6th grade, I became determined to improve my soccer playing skills, physical strength, and speed because I wanted to be on the top teams.  I would train day in and day out until it got dark.  I reached many of my goals for soccer.  My intense training continued.  I retained this intensity years later when I ran for political office.  Also, I was a Lieutenant in the JPOs for Pearl City Highlands Elementary School.
High school was a great experience.  I played all four years on the varsity soccer team at Pearl City High School.  

In 1990, I lost my cousin after he collapsed at school.  He was only twelve years old and I miss him.  He was a great swimmer and had the potential for many things.  Someday, I will see him again.  

At Pearl City High School, I participated in Interact Club, marching band, even computer club although I didn’t know much about computer programming.  I tried to have good relations with everyone.  I knew the rough kids, the athletes, and the smart kids.  At the suggestion of my English teacher, I started acting in theatre and some commercials up until right before I entered law school.  

In 1992, I graduated from Pearl City High School.  I lost my grandpa, Maurice Karamatsu just before I graduated.  I got closer to him after he died through politics.  Even now, sixteen years later, I am still approached by people who knew him.  That summer, I got my first job working in the warehouse for Duty Free Shoppers.  After about a month, I worked for their flightline division until 1996.

I entered the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the Fall of 1992.  I enjoyed taking a variety of courses and participating in a number of college organizations.  In December of 1992, I attained the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scout program.  

In 1994, I lost my aunty, she passed away in my cousin’s arms.  She was so positive and had the most beautiful smile.  

In the Fall of 1994, I saw a cute girl in the cafeteria at the dorms.  My friend told me to attend a camp if I wanted to meet her.  I did and we ended up dating.  We broke up in 1995.  

In 1995, at the age of twenty, I set my goal to enter politics.   I came up with a platform and strategy for Hawaii and my country in my head.  

That Spring, I rode my moped to see my grandpa Tadao Sakai and my grandma Ellen Sakai.  My grandpa is the kindest man I have ever known.  He was asleep when I was leaving, but somehow he woke up and asked me if I was going already.  He repeated this statement several times.  I could tell he didn’t want me to leave.  A day or so later, they went to Kauai for a high school reunion.  My grandpa suffered a stroke.  I would visit him at the hospital and eventually his care home.  

I finished my first written draft on my platform to better Hawaii and the United States in 1996.  That year, I also typed out my strategy to enter elected politics in the State of Hawaii in the 2002 elections and I began my database of contacts.  In 1996, I ran and won a seat as a Senator of ASUH (Associated Students of the University of Hawaii at Manoa).  In 1996, I campaigned for my Councilman, Arnold Morgado for Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu.  Unfortunately, he lost to Jeremy Harris.  In 1996, I also campaigned for my State Representative, Nobu Yonamine and he easily won his re-election.  That year, I also joined the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce and the Young Democrats.  

In 1997, I won the Vice President seat for ASUH and was appointed on the Pearl City Neighborhood Board.  I volunteered for Representative K. Mark Takai that Fall.  On December 21, 1997, on my 22nd birthday, I graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science.  

For the 1998 Legislative Session, I worked for Rep. K. Mark Takai as a committee clerk for the Higher Education Committee.  I helped Rep. Takai in passing the college savings plan bill.  I campaigned for my former State Senator, Ben Cayetano for his last term for Governor of the State of Hawaii.  He beat Maui County Mayor, Linda Lingle.  In the summer of 1998, I left for Washington State to attend Gonzaga University School of law.  Whenever I came back home to Hawaii, I would visit Grandpa Sakai and talk to him even though his stroke affected his memory. He passed away in 1999.  I strive to be like him.

In the Spring of 2001, before I graduated from law school, I lost my grandma Ellen Sakai.  She wanted to be at my graduation.  Through her I learned to be mentally strong.  She was funny.  Throughout college, she wanted me to be a medical doctor, but I told her I didn’t like science and math.  When I told her I wanted to be a lawyer.  She responded, “Ah lawyers are a dime a dozen.”  She wanted one of her grandchildren to be a doctor because I think she had so much respect for doctors.  My sister Mia fulfilled her dream.  She was so happy when she got into medical school.  When I told her I wanted to be a politician, she told me, “How can, nobody knows you,  You have to work your way up like Jon Yoshimura (Honolulu City Council Chair and he did ‘Ask a Lawyer’ on Channel 2 News).  When I told her what I was going to be in politics, she would laugh away.  In the Fall of 2001, I got my Hawaii law license and became a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association.  I briefly worked as a lawyer and then worked for Senator Carol Fukunaga in the 2002 Legislative Session.

In 2002, I implemented my 1995 political goal and 1996 typed-out political strategy by running for the Hawaii State House of Representatives.  I won a four-way primary.  All the unions supported one of my well-known and much older opponents.  The insurance companies and realtors supported another older candidate.  The third candidate was four years older than me and I thought we were going to split the same support in our district.  No organization endorsed me.  I raised over $16,000 through my database I started from college and I spent only about $13,500 in my State House race.  I was fortunate to have won with the support of my family and friends. I was 27 years-old and excited about my political career.

In 2002, I also started my Internet retail business.  From 2002-2005, I served as Vice Chair of the House Tourism and Culture Committee.  During that time, I also served on the Agriculture Committee, Economic Development & Business Concerns Comiittee, and Finance Committee.  I was part of the House leadership as a Majority Whip from 2004-2006.  From 2005-2006, I served as Chair of the House Economic Development & Business Concerns Committee.  In addition, I served on the Agriculture Committee, Tourism and Culture Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Consumer and Commerce Committee.  

On April 1, 2006, I lost my last grandparent, grandma Bessie Karamatsu.  She attended many of my political events and was my biggest supporter.  I made an effort to go with her to a number of Jodo Shu events.  She didn’t say it but I could tell she was happy I showed interest in my history and culture.  It was because of her, I got in touch with the teachings of compassion.  I finally understand the meaning of life, and I am typing and applying my strategy to tip the balance towards happiness and away from sadness.  I also want to tip the balance towards compassion and away from anger.  Through this strategy, when applied by many people, a balance tipped towards peace can be achieved. 

At the end of the 2006 Legislative Session, I was awarded Legislator of the Year by the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly.  In the Summer of 2006, I received my real estate license.  On the night of October 11 and the early morning of October 12, 2006, I couldn’t sleep, and I came up with a fictional story I am typing and hope to publish in the near future.  

From 2006-2007, I served as Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives.  I was awarded Forty Under 40 by the Pacific Business News in the Spring of 2007.  On September 21, I chaired the first Peace Day Hawaii event.  On October 16, 2007, I crashed my car and called the police.  They tested and charged me for DUI.  I pleaded “no contest” on December 21, 2007, my 33rd birthday.  As a result, I resigned from the Vice Speakership.  This negative incident came full circle to haunt me years later, since a similar situation had occured to a politician I supported (Rep. Nobu Yonamine) and another politician I looked up to when I was a young college kid (Councilman Jon Yoshimura), both of whom I keep in touch with and are just really nice people.  Their political careers ended in 2002, the year I got elected into the State House.  Although I was shocked and felt weak, I forced myself to keep working hard.  

It is now April 16, 2008.  I currently serve as Vice Chair of the House Water, Land, Ocean Resources, and Hawaiian Affairs in the House.  I also serve on the Energy & Environmental Protection Committee and Finance Committee.  I am back as Majority Whip as part of the House leadership.

When I was in high school, my dad burned a dollar bill to teach me a lesson.  Time is valuable and it keeps ticking.  As much as I want to slow down time, I can’t.  I have learned to make the most of it.

People come and go, however, love, friendship, and memories are forever.

It would be easy to retaliate against my enemies and opponents that are so cold and mean-spirited.  Instead of retaliating, I pray to them in hopes they reach happiness and peace.

These are just some of the events in my life.  I have enjoyed my journey in life thus far, and I look forward to many more good memories.  I will continue to go all-out.  I hope to play a small role in helping people experience happiness and peace in their lifetime.

I am in a constant rush against time.  I want to do all I can before my time expires.  Since I was a teenager, I have been doing the best I can to prepare myself for death.  I don’t know if I ever will be fully prepared.  When the time comes, I will join my loved ones and ancestors who have gone before me. 

Cherish your loved ones, work hard, and enjoy life!

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

Senate Bill 3048, Senate Draft 1, House Draft 1

Relating to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

            I rise in support.

            Senate Bill 3048 provides the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and all of its beneficiaries, with a tool that will aid them in their goal to be economically self-sufficient.

            We will change the way that the Department is able to lease lands for commercial developments.  First of all, it allows the Department and their development partners, the flexibility to work with large financial institutions to provide financing for projects on their commercial leases.  It is very tough in today’s tight commercial lending marketplace.  Investors look at the viability of projects, and its return on investment.  A longer term lease allows the parties the opportunity to work together to find the best financing arrangements that will make a project viable, which will benefit the Department and its programs for its beneficiaries.

            Second, most commercial leases across the mainland have 99 year terms with step ups at intervals for increased rents.

            Third, it gives financing flexibility for smaller projects and improvements on current leases.  Projects such as the Prince Kuhio Mall are up for rent renegotiations. This tool will provide the financial flexibility to current lessees to get a sufficient term on their lease so that it can be used as collateral for a loan.  The longer term lease will also allow the developer to recover their capital improvement investment and realize a reasonable return for the risk they are taking in making improvements to the property.  Even smaller projects such as the commercial project in Nanakuli benefit because they too will have to work with commercial lenders who will need to feel comfortable about taking the risk on a capitol improvements loan.  For lenders as well, a longer lease means that there is collateral value.  For the Department a longer lease means a longer revenue stream and the foundation for a budget on which they can plan their long term programs.

            Finally, commercial projects for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will provide the Department with the economic feasibility to develop more homes for their beneficiaries.  Longer term leases will mean better and stronger programs that will assist more native Hawaiian’s.  This is a win-win solution for the department and its beneficiaries. 

            To sum it all up, longer term leases will be more attractive to commercial lenders and developers who in return will provide a sustainable future for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and its beneficiaries.

            Thank you.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

Senate Bill 2198, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 2

Relating to Land Conservation

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

            I rise in support.

            This bill encourages the protection and preservation of land in the state by establishing a Land Conservation Incentives Tax Credit (Tax Credit).  Specifically, this bill allows taxpayers to deduct 50 percent of the value of the interest in lands donated in perpetuity or sold in a bargain sale for conservation purposes to the State or a conservation agency; or 50 percent of the amount invested in the management of lands for conservation purposes under an agreement with a conservation purpose, up to $2,500,000, from their net income tax liability.

            Thank you.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

Senate Bill 2803, Senate Draft 1, House Draft 1

Relating to Personal Information (Identity Theft)

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

            I rise in support.

            The purpose of this bill is to protect the personal information collected and maintained by state and county agencies through the implementation of the recommendations of the “Hawaii Identity Theft Task Force Report” of December 2007.  I served on the task force and through this bill we hope to reduce identity theft.  The bill:

(1)  Requires each state and county agency to designate an employee to ensure the agency's compliance with requirements relating to the security of personal information;

(2)  Establishes the Information and Privacy Security Council to be placed administratively within the Department of the Attorney General and appropriates funds for three staff analyst positions to support the Council;

(3)  Changes the effective date of Chapter 487J, Hawaii Revised Statutes, relating to social security number protection, to July 1, 2009;

(4)  Requires conditions on third party personal information use to be included in contracts between government agencies and third parties that provide support services on behalf of the agency;

 (5)  Requires state and county agencies responsible for human resource functions to develop and distribute to agencies, guidelines to minimize unauthorized access to personal information;

(6)  Requires state and government agencies to develop a written policy regarding notification of security breaches of personal information; and

 (7)  Defines the terms:  “government agency,” “personal information,” “personal information system,” “records,” and “security breach.”

            The current draft of this bill was amended to take out the requirement that:

(5)  Requires state and county agencies that collect, maintain, or disseminate documents with personal information to:

            (A)  Develop and implement a plan to protect the personal information; and

            (B)  Develop a written plan to eliminate unnecessary collection and use of social security numbers;

            Thank you.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

Senate Bill 3190, House Draft 1

Relating to Issuance of Special Purpose Revenue Bonds to Assist Sopogy, Inc.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

            I rise in support.

            The development of clean electricity from a renewable and abundant resource, the sun, at a price lower than the market price and independent from oil price fluctuations will help Hawai’i become more self-sustainable and less reliant on fossil fuels.  Sopogy, Inc., specializes in the development, manufacture, and distribution of its proprietary concentrated solar power systems that generate electricity.  This bill would allow the issuance of $35,000,000 in special purpose revenue bonds to assist Sopogy, Inc. in its planning, designing, construction, equipping, and operating of a solar farm power plant on the island of Oahu.  I am proud to see this Hawaii company play a role in developing our renewable energy industry.

            Thank you.

A number of people have asked me on how they can send donations to my campaign to help in my re-election to the Hawaii State House of Representatives.  I wish campaigns didn’t cost so much money.  With inflation, the cost of printing, mailing, advertising, supplies, and other necessary expenses for the campaign has risen.  For example, it now costs me $3,000 to print and mail one brochure to my district.  In 2002, it used to cost me $2,000.  I currently have over $30,000 in my campaign.  I hope to raise between $40,000 to $50,000 for this year’s campaign.  In my five years in the House, I have walked the district in some areas up to seven times and in other areas, at least five times.  I plan to continue my grassroots campaigning style.To support my campaign, you can do the following:

Checks payable to: Friends of Jon Riki Karamatsu

Mail to:
P.O. Box 970146
Waipahu, Hawaii 96797

Dear Family and Friends,

Thanks you for all of you who attended my fundraiser at the Bishop Museum and those of you who mailed in your generous monetary donations.  I will continue to do my best.  I appreciate all your love and support.

Sincerely,
Jon Riki Karamatsu

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

Senate Bill 2456, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 1

Relating to Harassment (Harassment by Impersonation)

Thursday, April 3, 2008

            I rise in support.

            Since the 2005 Legislative Session, I have been working on bills to update our harassment and stalking laws to include “computer communication.”  In addition, I have been working to create a new law to discourage impersonation.  The reasoning is that more people are being harassed, stalked, and impersonated on the Internet.  It has already happened to a couple of my friends.

            Senate Bill 2456 is the companion to my House Bill 2319, which proposed to add computer communication as a form of nonconsensual contact in the offense of harassment by stalking.  However, Senate Bill 2456, Senate Draft 2, House Draft 1 has changed to include the policy goal of discouraging impersonation, which is from another bill of mine, House Bill 2320.  Impersonation can cause irreparable damage by ruining one's reputation and even placing one in fear of his or her safety.

            The Judiciary Committee went further by creating a new definition of “harassment by impersonation.”  Under this definition, “A person commits the offense of harassment by impersonation if that person poses as another person, without the express authorization of that person, and makes or causes to be made, either directly or indirectly, a transmission of any personal information of the person to another by any oral statement, any written statement, or any statement conveyed by any electronic means, with the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm any person.”  Harassment by impersonation would be a petty misdemeanor.

            Thank you.

Recently, I have been dreaming about the land use bills I have been working on.  The dreams are very detailed on the language I am trying to use in regards to the important agricultural lands bills. 

Aloha,
 
I will be having a fundraiser for my fourth two-year term in the Hawaii State House of Representatives.  It has been an honor serving you in the House for the past six years.  The last five months have been challenging for me in my career as well in my personal life.  After stepping down from Vice Speaker of the House after my DUI incident, I was appointed by Speaker Calvin K.Y. Say for leadership positions as a Majority Whip and Vice Chairman of the Committee on Water, Land, Ocean Resources & Hawaiian Affairs.  I am really enjoying working on land use bills, especially the important agricultural lands bills.  I am also serving on the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection and the Committee on Finance.
 
Make the most of life and have fun!  Thank you for all your support!  Below is the information on my fundraiser.
 
With Warmest Aloha,
Jon Riki Karamatsu
 
Fundraiser for Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Bishop Museum
Hawaiian Courtyard & Atrium Court
(Next to the Polynesian Hall)
1525 Bernice Street
Honolulu, Hawaii

Thursday, April 3, 2008

5:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.

Suggested Donation $50
Checks payable to Friends of Jon Riki Karamatsu
P.O. Box 970146
Waipahu, Hawaii 96797

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu Lawmakers Listen Community Meeting

Monday, March 24, 2008
Waipahu Intermediate School Cafeteria
94-455 Farrington  Highway
6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu and other lawmakers will be there to give a short presentation on the legislative session and for you to express your concerns on any issue.

If you have any questions, please call my office at (808) 586-8490.  I hope to see you there.

I try my best to work with everyone as best as I can.  Policy debates are good because we are fighting on what we believe is best for Hawai'i.  I am just tired of opponents within our party and in the opposite party attacking at a personal level.  They pick on individuals and spin things in a way to make the person look bad.  They leak things to the media.  They try to get certain individuals out of office as best as they can.  Some politicians act all nice in public, but are mean to others in the political world.  Others are just waiting for you to be vulnerable.  You can try to be nice to others, and then they give it you.  You take the hits and move forward.  This all gets very tiring.  I know who my friends are in this political world.  A close colleague of mine always says, “It (politics) is a ninja world.”

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

House Bill 266, House Draft 2

Public trust; Conveyance of real property and cash to OHA ($)

March 4, 2008

I rise in support.

The purpose of this bill is to most effectively and responsibly meet the State's constitutional obligations to native Hawaiians with regard to the benefits from the lands in the public trust referred to in Article XII, Sections 4 and 6, of the Hawaii Constitution (public trust lands).  Among other things, this bill:

1.         Conveys certain parcels of land in Kakaako Makai and Kalaeloa Makai on Oahu and on Hilo Banyan Drive on the island of Hawaii, and pays $13,189,860 to the    Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) for the period from November 7, 1978, to July 1, 2008, as a result of a re-examination of the State's constitutional obligation to native Hawaiians;

2.         Establishes a method for determining for each fiscal biennium, beginning in fiscal biennium 2009-2011, the amount of income and proceeds that OHA is to receive from the public trust lands;

3.         Finds that the amount of income and proceeds OHA is to receive from the public trust lands for fiscal year 2008-2009 is $15,100,000 and mandating the disbursement of the sum to OHA;

4.         Authorizes the chairperson of OHA to appoint an additional member to the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA); and

5.         Exempts the Kakaako Makai lands conveyed to OHA from certain powers that HCDA has over those lands.

Thank you.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

House Bill 2429, House Draft 2

Creates the University of Hawaii Stadium Corporation and transfers the duties of maintenance, operation, management, and improvement of Aloha Stadium from the Stadium Authority to the Stadium Corporation.

March 4, 2008

I rise in support.

            The legislature finds that Aloha stadium is a public asset with major structural deficiencies yet untapped potential.  The legislature further finds that transferring jurisdiction over Aloha stadium to a public body with corporate powers is in the public interest.  The legislature believes that such a corporation would be better able to maximize the use and, consequently, income of Aloha stadium and generate support for the capital improvement of Aloha stadium to substantially extend its useful life.  The legislature also believes that placing Aloha stadium under a corporation may result in the generation of net income transferable to the University of Hawaii's intercollegiate athletics program.

            The purpose of this Act is to create the University of Hawaii stadium corporation and transfer jurisdiction over Aloha stadium to the corporation.  The primary duty of the stadium corporation is to operate, maintain, manage, and improve Aloha stadium with the University of Hawaii as the major tenant.  The secondary duty is to generate net income from Aloha stadium that may be transferred to the intercollegiate athletics program of the University of Hawaii.  The stadium corporation will be headed by a board of directors consisting of 11 members:  the University of Hawaii president, five members appointed by the university board of regents, and five other members appointed by the governor, subject to the confirmation of the senate.  All board members must have experience in business, marketing, accounting, economics, engineering, architecture, or sports administration.  This bill also provides the stadium corporation with a certain degree of autonomy and flexibility to perform its duties.

Thank you.

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu

Written Remarks

House Bill 2323, House Draft 2

Resort Beach Restoration ($)

March 4, 2008

I rise in support.

            This bill would establish within the beach restoration special fund a sub-account to be known as the resort beach restoration fund to be administered by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (department), into which shall be deposited general funds appropriated by the legislature and revenues from the tourism special fund, which receives moneys from the transient accommodations tax prescribed by section 237D-6.5(b)(2)(C) of the Hawaii Revised Statutes provided that:

1.         No funds shall be released for expenditure from the resort beach restoration fund unless matched by non-state funds on at least a one-to-one basis; and

2.         No funds shall be released for expenditure from the resort beach restoration fund unless at least fifty per cent of the funds released are funds transferred from the tourism special fund pursuant to section 237D-6.5(b)(2)(C).

            Moneys in the resort beach restoration fund shall be used to provide for the development and restoration of visitor area resort beaches, including maintenance of any improvements placed on the visitor area resort beach or in the nearshore waters, as determined by the department, including debt service on any capital expenditures projects and the contracting for services for those purposes.

            The resort beach restoration fund is a creative way to get matching funds from the private sector that have a vested interest in restoring beaches fronting or near their resort hotels or tourist destinations.  Importantly, the residents of the State of Hawai'i will also get to enjoy restored beaches with their family and friends.

Thank you.