Page 4 - Julia Steele News Today

Use The County Initiative Process To Create Change In Hawaii - Honolulu Civil Beat Use The County Initiative Process To Create Change In Hawaii In Hawaii, every county provides a process for citizen initiatives. Here’s how to force a citizen vote on a specific issue of concern. About the Authors Casey Shoji is the current legal fellow at the Civil Beat Law Center for Public Interest. It can be difficult to feel heard when it comes to government reform. While citizens have a vote on Election D...

Seed Diversity Is Vital To The Future Of Food - Honolulu Civil Beat Seed Diversity Is Vital To The Future Of Food The work of saving and breeding seed once made enormous contributions to Hawaii’s agriculture — and it must again.    About the Authors Nancy Redfeather founded The Hawaii Public Seed Initiative at The Kohala Center in 2009 and coordinated the first statewide seed conference, Hua Ka Hua, with the Organic Seed Alliance in Keauhou in 2010. She grows seed on her familys farm in ...

Restore Justice. End The Cash Bail System - Honolulu Civil Beat Restore Justice. End The Cash Bail System Most of us would like to believe that the law treats the rich and the poor alike, but it doesn’t. About the Author Robert Merce is a retired attorney. He served as vice-chair of the House Concurrent Resolution 85 Task Force on Prison Reform and was the principal author of the groups final report to the 2019 Legislature. He is on the Board of Directors of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporat...

The Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System Should Be Investing For The Long Term - Honolulu Civil Beat My bill in the Legislature is calling for transparency, accountability and holdings that are healthy. About the Author Tina Wildberger is the state representative for House District 11, which covers the South Maui communities of Kihei, Wailea and Makena. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the House Government Reform Committee. Just over a year ago, I attended the first-ever Ahupuaa Investmen...

How One Local Food Program Is Helping Hawaiis Farmers And Families - Honolulu Civil Beat DA BUX offers a model worth replicating — and expanding.   About the Author Jesse Cooke is vice president of investments and analytics at Ulupono Initiative. When Dawn Marquez goes grocery shopping at Shima’s Supermarket in Waimanalo, her children aren’t just in tow — they’re leading the charge toward their favorites. Her 7-year-old son Laakea makes a beeline for the cucumbers and her 6-year-old ...

How To Ramp Up Hawaii’s Use Of Electric Cars - Honolulu Civil Beat A state Clean Vehicle Standard could promote the sale of emissions-free vehicles. About the Authors Bill Bugbee is executive director of BeyondKona.com. He is a board member of the Hawaii EV Association. With Hawaii’s relatively short driving distances, abundant green energy potential, and love of clean air and a sustainable environment, we are the perfect place for electric vehicles. We are, however, currently in the middl...

How To Redefine The Housing Crisis In Hawaii - Honolulu Civil Beat Myths, truths and steps that can take us forward. About the Author Born and raised in Hawaii, Jonathan Likeke Scheuer is a consultant who helps clients manage environmental conflict. I am now in my seventh year of serving as one of nine members of the state’s Land Use Commission. The LUC is responsible for moving land from Hawaii’s conservation and agricultural districts into the urban district — for housing and other purp...