Media release from Senator Malama Solomon

WAIMEA, Hawaii: Sen. Malama Solomon will begin a mandated five-day Legislative recess with a community update from 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thurs., Feb. 23, 2012 at the Kamuela Vacuum Cooling Plant. Everyone is invited to share their thoughts and concerns about legislative priorities while there is still time to amend bills before First Decking on March 2, and First Crossover on March 8, 2012. (First Decking and First Crossover determine what measures are still “alive” and are becoming more fine-tuned in the legislative process.)

Kamuela Vacuum Cooling Plant is a large warehouse co-op run by Waimea’s Lalamilo farmers in partnership with the State Department of Agriculture to cool down Waimea-grown vegetables before being shipped to market. It is located on Mamalahoa Highway townside of Lalamilo Farm Lots. The entry to the cooling plant warehouse is almost directly across from the new Ala ‘ Ohia Highway (also known as the new Parker Ranch connector road). The cooling plant has large bay entry doors so warm jackets are suggested and hot coffee will be provided.

Sen. Solomon has invited representatives of several state agencies to participate in a discussion of issues that are high on the 2012 Legislative agenda, including State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Director Paki Nahale’a, Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Jimmy Nakatani, DOT’s Hawai’i District Airports Manager Chauncey Wong Yuen, and Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Robert Lindsey.

The community is invited to discuss any issue of concern, including public education, job creation, watershed protection and related game animal concerns, expediting geothermal and other alternative energy resource development, mortgage relief, taxation, etc. Also up for discussion will be major Capital Improvement Project (CIP) requests and ongoing CIP projects including improvements to Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway , Kawaihae Harbor and agricultural water systems.

For more information or to express your thoughts about specific bills, contact Sen. Solomon toll free: 974-4000 Ext. 67335, or email SenSolomon@capitol.hawaii.gov.