District 25 News

MAKIKI, TANTALUS, McCULLY, PAPAKOLEA

DECEMBER 2008

The Shortlist
Makiki Mele Kalikimaka
Keikis and parents come one and all to Honolulu Department of Parks & Recreation Makiki Mele Kalikimaka holiday celebration at Makiki District Park. There will be refreshsments, Make and Take Crafts, a Mermaids of Hawaii performance, childrens games, and much more. Come visit with Santa starting at 10:30am. For more information about the event or to help out, call Makiki District Parks recreation director Spencer Yee at 522-7082. No admission.
Saturday, december 6

Makiki District Park, Agee Auditorium 1527 Keeaumoku Street @ 10:00 am-11:30 pm

Mele kalikimaka and hauoli makahiki hou!

Welcome to a special holiday edition of District 25 News. The end of any year is always a time for reflection. 2008 has certainly provided us with many historic events to ponder. In my Elections 2008 reflections, I share with you some of my thoughts on this past political year and the road ahead. Now more than ever, with the global and local economies in turmoil, how we address the challenges before us will require creative solutions and a commitment to ensuring the long term health and economic well-being of our communities. As always, I am grateful for the privilege of serving as your voice in the Legislature. From my family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Mahalo pumehana,

Opening Day Celebration for Legislative Session 2009

Help Rep. Belatti mark the beginning of the new legislative session by joining her for an informal lunch on Opening Day at the Capitol. For more information, contact her office manager Berna Fo at 586-9425 or by email at [email protected].
WedneSday, January 21

The State Capitol, Room 331 @ 12:00 noon

District 25 News

To comment on something written in District 25 News or to request regular e-delivery, please write to:
representative della au belatti State capitol, room 331 Honolulu, HI 96813 [email protected]

Della Au Belatti

State Representative, District 25

Support THE PARISH Of ST. CLEMENT by donating dry-stored and non-perishable food items (like canned goods and dry cereals) and toiletry items for their Food Pantry Programs annual christmas distribution happening this year on december 20. contact for drop-off information and to find out the most needed items contact: carolyn K. Phone: 955-7745

buy online the Hawaii miracles 2009 calendar and benefit KAPI`OLANI MEDICAL CENTER fOR WOMEN & CHILDREN. For more information, contact Kapi`olani Health Foundation contact: mark berthold Phone: 535-7982 email: [email protected] check out: www.kapiolanigift.org

Good ideas for Good Giving this holiday season

THE GOOD LIST

by berna FO

These days the World Wide Web serves to help us, the worldwide citizenry, find the worthy cause that needs our help the most and the charity that can put our dollars, time and non-money contributions to good use helping those in need. And even though this means that good giving can be as simple as a mouse click, we at District 25 News thought it might be helpful to remind neighbors about the groups that do good and need our help here in our own community with this unique version of Santas The Good List. In this list youll find needful items from neighborhood organizations and the appropriate contact information to help you give your assistance. With the slowing economy, these community groups especially need your help this holiday season. Review the list, and before making a contribution to the organization of your choice be sure to use the contact or website information provided. And if you are not able to give any of the items needed, every organization gladly welcomes monetary donations--big and small. As a surfer-dude/UH professor once told me, It doesnt matter what organization you help, whether theyre about trees, or whales, or world hunger. One isnt more important than the other; they all do good work. Just pick one and help!

Save on your fuel costs and donate to SHRINERS HOSPITALS fOR CHILDREN, HONOLULU by signing up for a Shriners-aloha Petroleum Gas card. For details contact: Iwalani dayton director of development Phone: 951-3609 email: [email protected]

make a gift of your time this year to help re-open the volunteer supported THE MAKIKI LIBRARY; volunteers for a variety of library support needs are much welcomed. contact Friends of the makiki Library volunteer coordinator contact: norma K. Koenig President Phone: 946-3291

Give the art lover(s) in your life a Student, Individual or dual membership to THE CONTEMPORARY MUSEUM. For more information email: [email protected] Phone: 237-5219

Support our mighty roughriders through your everyday purchases made at Safeway, macys and other merchants by registering for e-scripts and designating ROOSEvELT HIGH SCHOOL. register at www.escripts.com and designate one or more of the following roosevelt High School Group no. 5652198 roosevelt band booster club Group no. 500002368 Friends of roosevelt Project Graduation Group no. 500006630

Help local women make tailored transitions into the workforce through fERNHURST YWCA and yWca of Oahus dress for Success Honolulu program by giving your gently used clothing and accessories. If you would like to help out as a Personal Shopper, make a donation, or become a retail partner, contact yWca of Oahu at Phone: 538-7061 ext. 603 email: [email protected] checkout: www.ywca.org

donate your gently used clothing, household goods, books and childrens toys to fIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH for their monthly benefit church Sale held every 2nd Saturday of the month [next sale is Saturday, december 13 at the church]. For drop-off information and details about Fccs monthly church Sale event contact: Lorna Phone: 521-3500

Help bring hope to those in need by donating your vehicle to CATHOLIC CHARITIES HAWAI`I, where net proceeds from the re-sale of the vehicle help fund ccH programs and services across the state. For a brief overview of catholic charities Hawai`is vehicle donation requirements and process, please phone or visit online at Phone: 546-carS (2277) checkout: www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org

10 Support our very own STEvENSON MIDDLE

SCHOOL by donating needed classroom supplies and materials; needful items listed in the teacher Wish Lists posted onlinie include books, computer equipment, office supplies, and retail gift cards to name but a few. For detailed lists and teacher contact information, click on teacher Wish Lists at the following checkout: http://www.k12.hi.us/~stevenso/

If youre group isnt on the list, please email [email protected] or call 586-9425 with your groups name and contact info so that we may contact you for next years list.

Elections 08 reflections
by deLLa au beLattI

On the eve of Election Day 2008, I was honored to be the guest speaker at the Maryknoll Grade Schools Kids Voting Hawaii rally before 800 cheering students. The crowd was an explosion of red, white and blue, with schoolchildren waving their brightly colored campaign posters and donning their patriotic homemade hats and flags.

est challenges, I am reassured that the country has elected a president who emulates the strength and perseverance of the grandmother who helped raise him and who is guided by a desire to shape a better future for all of Americas children.

ConCon outcomes Politics which is so often about timing and money favored those opposing a ConLike so many of those students, stitutional Convention. As an I was invigorated by this years advocate for ConCon, I believe presidential race and anxious to that responsible constitutional know how my fellow citizens amendments can be made to our would vote on questions regardbasic governing document. In ing a Constitutional Convention From L to R--November 3, 2008--Maryknoll social particular, changes can be made and Honolulus proposed rail studies teacher and Kids Voting coordinator Margot Adair, Rep. Belatti, and Maryknoll teacher and Kids in education and in the elections transit project. Voting rally emcee Jeff Chang take a moment to process to ensure greater access, during the event at Maryknoll Grade The public has spoken and we smileVoting Hawaii is part of a nationwide School. participation and accountabilKids program now have a President-elect who that aims to teach the value of civic awareness and ity. But as ConCon opponents participation to some of our youngest school-age argued throughout the campaign, has a unique connection not citizens. reform is possible through the only to Hawaii, but to our very legislative process. Attention should now turn to this own Makiki district; we will not be convening avenue with responsibility placed squarely on the a Constitutional Convention, but prospects for conLegislature and advocates to bring forward posistitutional change still exist through the legislative tive constitutional amendments for the electorate to process; and Honolulu will have steel on steel rail consider. technology to move it further into the 21st century. The following are a few of my reflections on this Rail for the 21st century and beyond years election season: The landscape of Honolulu is set to change. On the question of rail, the public was more closely divided. Presidential politics With the decision finally made to move forward with In the midst of economic turmoil, two wars, and the rail, community participation remains critical to the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet, public comment process on the environmental impact America clearly voted for a change in leadership statement and the legislative process that will shape with a decisive electoral college and popular vote transit-oriented development and future funding for victory for President-elect Barack Obama. The the largest public works project in Hawaii to date. candidates visit back to Hawaii to bid aloha to his beloved grandmother, however, reminds us of what If there is one lesson to take from all the questions is truly important: family. pondered by the electorate during this season, it is that voting is a critical first step in the democratic Since his election night win, I have perused many process. What we do after the elections, however, speeches by President-elect Obama and have been and how we continue to engage in the political struck by the emphasis he places on family, both process may be even more significant if we want to those who preceded him and the daughters who positively shape the course of our collective future. follow him. As our country faces some of its great4