Hawaii State Senator Gary L. Hooser

Past Sierra Club Directors Endorse Hooser
Two former directors of the Hawaii chapter of the Sierra Club, Jeff Mikulina (1998-2008) and David Kimo Frankel (1996-1998) as well as respected environmental professor/attorney Denise Antolini, and numerous other leaders in the environmental community have endorsed Senator Gary Hooser for Lt. Governor in 2010

"As someone who has been active in advocating for Hawai'i's sustainability for over a decade, I'm supporting Gary Hooser for Lt. Governor," said Mikulina. "Gary has earned my support through his honest, thoughtful, and smart approach to leadership and policymaking. He's not afraid to make the tough political decisions that will benefit many--today and tomorrow."

David Kimo Frankel, recounting his years of lobbying for the Sierra Club had shown him that "there are not many people who can successfully navigate the system with integrity, intelligence and a progressive ideology. Gary Hooser is the kind of person we need at the statewide level here in Hawai`i," he said.
Losing 17 Days Of Classroom Instruction Is Unacceptable
"We need to convene a five day special session, utilize special funds for education, cancel the 17 days of furlough and send both parties back to the bargaining table." State Senator Gary Hooser - Honolulu Advertiser http://garyhooser.livejournal.com/34231.html

Who is Gary Hooser?
How did Hooser go from being a Waikiki pedicab driver, to being Majority Leader in the Hawaii Senate? Watch the 6 minute online video, "The Hooser Story". http://www.garyhooser.com

Your Help Is Needed Today
Our State is entering an era where leadership, new ideas and unwavering core values are needed more than ever before. If you value - energy independence, a robust diverse and sustainable economy, social justice, protection of the environment and a strong public education system - we need your help and support - TODAY. To be successful, our campaign must raise a minimum of $400,000. Our immediate goal is to reach 1,000 people each contributing $10, $100, or more by November 9th. Please go to http://www.garyhooser.com to join us and be part of the Hooser 1,000 if you can.

Action on Energy and the Environment
One of the most recent examples of Hooser's leadership is his authorship of the Solar Mandate Bill, requiring all new homes built in Hawai'i after January 1, 2010 to have a solar hot water heater or other highly efficient system installed.

Hooser's 2010 campaign for Lt. Governor is the first ever in Hawai`i to go carbon neutral to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight global climate change, by purchasing carbon credits from local companies doing reforestation and clean energy development in the islands.

Please join us:
http://www.facebook.com/supportgaryhooser
http://twitter.com/garyhooser/

Friends of Gary Hooser - P.O. Box 4094 - Honolulu Hawaii - 96812
Reach Senator Gary Hooser via senatorhooser@gmail.com or cell 808-652-4279

HONOLULU, HI – State Senate Majority Leader Gary Hooser kicked-off his statewide campaign for 2010 Lieutenant Governor before a packed crowd at a fundraising rally held on Tuesday, June 9th at the DAV Hall - Ke‘ehi Lagoon on O‘ahu. The candidate told friends, family and supporters that he has his eye on one assignment over all others:


“In a state with abundant sunshine, steady trade winds and the potential for wave, ocean and geo-thermal energy, we should clearly be the world’s leader in the development, testing, use, and export of renewable energy technology,” said Hooser. “If elected, this will be the first job I request of the new Governor. I will ask him or her to let me help lead the way in making Hawai‘i energy self-sufficient.”

Hooser also touched upon other issues about which he feels most strongly, stressing his belief in equality for all, his support of universal access to healthcare and education, his belief that drug addiction is primarily a public health issue and the urgent need to build environmental awareness and energy independence.

Acknowledging that his opponents may very well voice similar positions he made the case for his candidacy: “Besides the experience, business, family, living through with the community the impact of two hurricanes on Kauai, council and state legislative experience; the progressive values and policy positions, I am different because I have been tested. I have proven my resolve. I have proven that I am who I say I am and I have proven that I will fight and stand for what is right and just,” he said.

He reminded supporters of the comprehensive list of ways in which he had already acted upon Hawai‘i’s most critical issues, citing his recent efforts in regards to civil unions, his active support of nurses, hotel workers and teachers, and the authoring and successful passing of the nation’s first solar mandate bill.

“I am here tonight to say to you that I believe sincerely, that with new leadership, new energy and a new commitment to the future, we can achieve the Hawai‘i and the future that we all want and deserve. And I am here tonight to ask you to join me in making these dreams a reality,” Hooser said in his remarks.

The first of its kind in Hawai‘i, Senator Gary Hooser’s campaign for 2010 Lieutenant Governor is a carbon neutral campaign. A longtime advocate of sustainability and the environment in the Senate, Hooser has committed to offset all C02 generated by his campaign by purchasing carbon credits from local companies doing reforestation and clean energy development. “These efforts are my way of affirming my long-standing commitment to doing all that I can to protect the environment and foster a greener economy,” Hooser said.

The Friends of Gary Hooser will be hosting several meet and greet/fundraising events on Kaua‘i, Maui and Big Island over the next three months. For more information, please visit www.garyhooser.com.

This past Thursday was a most interesting, inspiring and very important day.

Because of the Environmental Councils role in being a community and government liaison on environmental matters, I had earlier written them a letter requesting a declaratory ruling or opinion on the matter of the Hawaii Superferry EIS exemption.

The public meeting held on Thursday was in response to that request.

At that meeting the State of Hawaii’s Environment Council voted overwhelmingly in support of a motion that essentially stated that the Department of Transportation, Harbors Division, made a mistake when they exempted the Hawaii Superferry from our States environmental impact statement (EIS) laws.

Taken within the context of this organizations roles and responsibilities with regards to oversight of our state’s environmental regulation – this decision and statement is significant.

Who is “The Environmental Council” and what is their role and responsibility you might wonder?

As described on their website: http://hawaii.gov/health/oeqc/envcouncil.html

“The Environmental Council is a fifteen member citizen board appointed by the Governor and affiliated with the Office of Environmental Quality Control. It is the Office's link to the community at large. The Council is responsible for making the EIS rules, reviewing agency lists of actions exempt from the environmental review process, monitoring agency progress in meeting environmental goals, and preparing an annual report with recommendations for improvement to the Governor and Legislature.”

I think this point deserves repeating:

The Environmental Council’s members are appointed by the Governor and their official responsibilities state:

“The Council is responsible for making the EIS rules, reviewing agency lists of actions exempt from the environmental review process, monitoring agency progress in meeting environmental goals…”

And this very same organization has just reaffirmed officially and in writing what many people in our State have been saying repeatedly over and over during the past two years or more – that the State of Hawaii DOT did not follow the rules when granting the Hawaii Superferry an EIS exemption.

SB1276SD1 which hopefully will soon be scheduled in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means – essentially directs the DOT to reverse its prior decision and follow the law.

In the end that is what this debate boils down to – following the law that is already in place.

The members of the Environmental Council deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.

At the hearing (which I attended) the Hawaii Superferry attorneys leaned on the members hard - telling them they had no authority in the matter, that they should not interfere in the issue and that at the minimum they should delay their decision making.

The Councils own state appointed attorney offered similar suggestions – cautioning the members that they had no authority and urged them to delay the decision.

The Council members to their credit said NO – it was without a doubt, clear and obvious to each of them that the action taken by the DOT in granting the EIS exemption was blatantly and dramatically out of sync with the intent of the law.

The discussion and the ultimate decision was clearly unscripted and audience members could hear and feel the emotion and passion in the voices of members who spoke.

“If we do not have the authority to state our opinion on a matter as clear and as significant as this, why are we even here?” asked one member in response to the state attorneys position.

Kudos’ to all members of the council for having the courage to do what is right. 7 members of the 11-member commission are up for reappointment this year and it will be interesting to see what price they might pay for their courageous and thoughtful action.

You may email your thoughts on the matter to the Environmental Council members at OEQC@doh.hawaii.gov

If interested in reading another blogs take on the issue visit http://www.poinography.com/ or read the Honolulu Advertiser article at http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Feb/23/ln/FP702230373.html or the Garden Island at http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2007/02/24/opinion/edit03.txt