Maryellen Monte-Lovelace & WOW Yard Sale on Sep 21 - 8AM to 2PM

Maryellen Monte-Lovelace and Women of Wai`anae Yard Sale on 9/21/08, 8am to 2pm.

Please come to find great bargains and support Women of Waianae's scholarship fund. The yard sale will take place at the house on the corner of Ala Poko St. and Pokai Bay Street. Sale may be extended to Sunday Sept. 21 also.

[Photo of Angela Lacey, previous grand prize scholarship winner. Click the photo for the related post.]

Rail - Question #4 on the Ballot

From: Rodlyn
Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 8:06 am

When the issue of voting is brought up one of the issues is the rail system. I am not asking you to vote a certain way, only asking you to get out and vote. Of course AARP is in favor of this issue and so am I.

It was just confirmed with the City Clerk’s office that the rail question will be #4 on the ballot and confirmed with Elisa Yadao that the language will be as seen below:

Proposed Charter Amendment 4:

Shall the powers, duties, and functions of the city, through its director of transportation services, include establishment of a steel wheel on steel rail transit system?

If you vote YES – the city will move ahead with its plan to build a fixed guideway rail system from Kapolei to Ala Moana.

If you vote NO – the city will not be allowed to build the proposed fixed guideway rail system from Kapolei to Ala Moana.

For the November election I’ve just learned that blank votes will not count as a no, they will just not count. If there are any more changes regarding this measure I will let you know.

AARP urges you to vote YES.
If you think traffic is bad now…

• By 2030 there will be an estimated 30% more travel on Oahu.
  
• The bus system alone will not be enough to relieve the pressure.
  
• 80,000 people a day are expected to ride the new rail system taking an estimated 40,000 cars off the road.
• In the next 23 years, the number of people in Hawaii that are 65+ will nearly double.
• We need transportation options that will allow us, our parents, and our grandparents to age in place.
• All drivers will benefit from fewer cars on the road.
• Development around rail can be designed in a way that promotes walking and allows people to live in walking distance to shops and services. Kupuna living near a rail station might not need to drive at all.
• Rail is a great transportation option for older people and the disabled because of the ease of getting on and off a train from a level platform.
• Rail can help keep Hawaii’s families together…
• We want our children and grandchildren to stay in Hawaii when they grow up. That means having a place to live and work.
• Affordable housing will be on the Leeward side of the island where new development is happening.
• Rail will help our families get to work and provide them with opportunities for work.

Aloha,
Rodlyn

Hale Wai Vista: Project Update

From: Gary Furuta
Subject: project update Fwd: Hale Wai Vista...
To: "Bill Akiona"
Cc: "Jeffrey Furuta" , "Keith Kurahashi" , "Ardis" , "Maile Shimabukuro" , "randy"
Date: Monday, September 15, 2008, 11:53 PM

Hi Bill, this follows our telcon last week. Thank you for your and the P&Z Committee's interest in the affordable Hale Wai Vista 216-unit family rental project. I am the project manager for the private non-profit developer, Hawaii Housing Development Corporation ("HHDC"). HHDC has completed eight affordable family and senior rental projects in the last nine years.

The Hale Wai Vista project is essentially what was last presented to the Neighborhood Board. Any suggestions that were economically feasible or did not impact approved project financing, were incorporated into the design of the project. Some examples of the changes are, a) lowered the height of the mid-rise buildings from eight to seven stories, b) added additional on-site parking, c) relocated the project's two story residential buildings further away from the existing single family homes adjacent to the property, and d) moved the proposed community center away from the existing single family homes.

We are moving ahead with the project and have made considerable progress. The Final Environmental Assessment is done, the Finding Of No Significant Impact ("FONSI") letter has been issued by the city Department of Community Services, and was published by the state OEQC in its November 23, 2007 Environmental Bulletin. The Chapter 201H, HRS application for Hale Wai Vista design was submitted to the city DPP on September 26, 2007, and approved by the City Council on April 16, 2008. The Right of Entry to construct the off-site sewer line at the rear of the adjacent Waianae Mall was recently obtained from the mall owner.

With these approvals, we submitted and currently are in process with the city, for foundation and off-site sewer permits, and building permit for the first apartment building which is sited immediately adjacent to Waianae Mall. We hope to start construction within the next few months as permits are issued. Construction of the apartment building will take approximately 14 months. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.

Thank you again.
Gary Furuta

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bill Akiona
Date: Fri, Sep 12, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Subject: Hale Wai Vista...
To: gsfuruta@gmail.com

Aloha Gary,

Attached is our P&Z Committee mtg agenda for next Wednesday the 17th... Please kindly provide a written update for the committee, as we will also be open to a more appropriate presentation in the near future.

Mahalo,
Bill Akiona -- 923-1737
WNB#24 - P&Z Chair

Makua Environmental Impact Statement - Oct 6

Stills from "Makua Valley, Oahu's North Shore," LiveLeak.

Date: Sun, 9/14/08

From: Malia Morales

Aloha kakou!

I just received word that the Army has confirmed the date of the public meeting for the Makua Environmental Impact Statement for 6 Oct 08 at 5:30 - 9:30 pm at Nanakuli High School. Just wanted to share in case any of us aren't already aware. Please feel free to share this with any/every one.

Aloha!
Malia

Waianae Coast Artificial Surfing Reef Study

Click either images for the full report.

Here is DLNR's study of an artificial surfing reef for the Waianae Coast, which was triggered by a resolution, HCR 174, introduced by Rep. Maile Shimabukuro in 2007. There is still much work to be done on this issue. Maile conducted an unofficial survey of Wai`anae Coast surfers last year, and one area several surfers suggested for an artificial surfing reef was Lahilahi. Please let Maile know if you have any thoughts on this topic. Special thanks to law student Thomas Berger, who worked on both a paid and volunteer basis for Maile, on this issue.

Camping in Public Parks - New Ordinance

Click the image for a view of the entire document.

From: JoBear55@aol.com
Subject: new camping bill from the City
To: maileshimabukuro@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, September 12, 2008, 11:49 AM

Infant Formula from China May Be Tainted

Infant formula from China may be tainted by chemical, FDA says
(HonoluluAdvertiser.com, Updated at 12:10 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2008)

AP WASHINGTON -- Tainted infant formula from China may be on sale at ethnic groceries in this country, even though it is not approved for importation, federal officials warned on Thursday.

However, the Food and Drug Administration stressed that the domestic supply of infant formula is safe.

FDA officials are urging U.S. consumers to avoid all infant formula from China, after several brands sold in that country came under suspicion of being contaminated with melamine, a chemical used in plastics. Officials said there have been reports from China of babies developing kidney stones as a result. There have been no reports of illnesses in the U.S.

Click here for the full story.

Letter re Wai`anae Coast Mental Health Concerns

Click the image for a full-size view of Rep. Maile Shimabukuro's letter to the Hawaii State Commission on Mental Health.

Letter to Gen. Lee in Support of Ja Van Yiu Lin

Click the image for a full-size view of Rep. Maile Shimabukuro's letter.
Click here for the related post.

Unique Baby & Women's Products; Photo & Printing Services Sold Online by Wai`anae Family

Aloha Maile,

I am sending you the link to my website . . . I'm adding new stuff constantly.

The website address is http://shoppe.daisyfly.com

There's also a blog, and a gallery. . .You can view those by going to the main site: www.daisyfly.com

Aloha,
Sharon
DaisyFly Designs
www.daisyfly.com