TOPICS OF INTEREST

• University of Hawaii Tuition Differential for Non-resident Military Servicepersons
  As a member of the Hawaii National Guard and former Vice-Chair of the Committee on Higher Education, Vice-Speaker Takai supports Senate Bill No. 1648, C.D. 1. This measure will aid his fellow citizen-soldiers by allowing the UH Board of Regents to waive the UH nonresident tuition and fee differential for a member in good standing of the Hawaii National Guard or the Hawaii-based federal reserve components of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, regardless of the member's actual state of residence.
  
  
• Hawaii National Guard and Military Reserves Life Insurance Premium Reimbursement
  Vice-Speaker's experience assisting Sgt. Deyson Cariaga's family after his death has had a profound effect on the Vice-Speaker. While Hawaii National Guard members and military reservists have the option to purchase life insurance, the premiums must come out of their pockets. The Vice-Speaker has sought to address this issue by introducing House Bill No. 2549, a bill that would have assisted Hawaii National Guard members and military reservists who are deployed to a war zone by establishing a fund to reimburse the costs of life insurance premiums. However, this measure failed to gain legislative approval.
  
  
• Salary Commission
  Currently, various administrative and leadership positions in Hawaii's state government have their salaries set in different ways. Some salaries are set through an independent salary commission, while others are set in the law. House Bill No. 1917, C.D. 1, will streamline the process by proposing a Constitutional Amendment that establishes just one salary commission to set the salaries of several government officials, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and members of the Legislature.

NEWS AND EVENTS

• March 25, 2008. Hawaii Medal of Honor - The Legislature convened a special joint session to honor those courageous service members with Hawaii ties who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Family members of the fallen service members received the Hawaii Medal of Honor on behalf of their loved ones.
  
  Text of House Concurrent Resolution No. 61, 2008
  Press Release
  Honolulu Advertiser Article
  Honolulu Star-Bulletin Article
  Hawaii Reporter Article
  Honolulu Advertiser Article #2
  Honolulu Star-Bulletin Article #2
  Navy News Article
  Army Weekly Article
  
  
• March 17, 2008. Hawaii National Guard recognized by the Legislature. Press Release
  
  
• January 23, 2008. Pearl Harbor Mangrove Cleanup. Press Release
  
  
• August 9, 2007. NCSL Article "Protecting Democracy at Home and Abroad".
  
  
• August 8, 2007. NCSL Survey and Press Release regarding legislators serving in the military. (More)
  
  
• April 16, 2007. Representative Takai, with the assistance of his hard-working staff, has dedicated his time and energy throughout this session in preparing for the official 2007 Hawaii Medal of Honor presentation ceremony. As the primary coordinator of this event, Representative Takai has spent months tirelessly working to locate and work with the families and loved ones of Medal recipients.
  
  "We are truly grateful for the sacrifices that these families have made,” Takai said. “This medal is just a small token of our utmost appreciation. It tells these families that we also grieve for their loss."
  
  More on the Hawaii Medal of Honor Ceremony here.
  
  
• April 18, 2006. Hawaii Medal of Honor presented to families of fallen war heroes. (More)
  
  
• August 17, 2006. Representative Takai conducts a study on state legislators who also serve in the military. (More)