WAIMEA, Hawaii – The 2015 Legislative Session begins on January 21, and Hawaii’s elected officials are gearing up. Recently, North Hawaii’s State Representative Cindy Evans updated the Waimea Community Association on the changing political landscape in Honolulu, now that the state has a new governor at the helm. Evans spoke candidly about her behind-the-scenes observations. Video by David Corrigan, voice of Sherry Bracken

NEWS BRIEFS

• Governor David Ige is concerned about Hawaii’s fiscal situation, Representative Cindy Evans told the Waimea Community Association. As the former chair of Senate Ways and Means, Ige is aware of the state’s unfunded liabilities, and Evans expects the new governor will take a conservative approach this session.
• Hawaii Health Systems Corp may request funding to the tune of $120 million to $220 million, Evans believes, since the hospitals must pay their workforce the collective bargaining wage and benefit increases negotiated by the prior administration.
• During Ige’s campaign, “the loudest, and the most complaints were from the Big Island” Evans said the new governor told her. Evans said she replied, “I dont believe the people at the departments were listening.” Evans said Ige plans to have his department heads delegate the day to day operations in order to conduct better outreach in the community.

Rep. Cindy Evans (Jan. 8, 2015 by David Corrigan)