FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2020

Pine: Community hurting, please don’t use illegal fireworks

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I – Noting the community’s high stress level and a large brush fire in the Wai‘anae Mountain Range, Councilmember Kym Pine asks people not to use illegal fireworks as the Independence Day holiday weekend approaches.

“We have been through so much hardship over the past few months and people continue to feel incredibly stressed. Illegal fireworks will heighten the serious problems people are already facing, including poverty, domestic violence, evictions, homelessness and starvation. Please skip setting off bombs this year, especially while people are sleeping,” Pine said.

“Only firecrackers are legal for use on O‘ahu but as we have seen over and over, illegal aerial fireworks light up the sky. The less-visible but even more deafening “aerial salutes” or bombs, shake houses, cause distress for veterans suffering from PTSD and terrify pets during fireworks holidays,” she said.

We join the Honolulu Fire Department in spreading the word against the use of illegal fireworks.

Honolulu Fire Department Fireworks Safety tips

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One (ʻEwa, ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko ʻOlina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, Mākua) and is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media contact:
Erika Engle
Communications Director
erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov

June 26, 2020

Musicians given green light by City after
Councilmember Pine holds music industry town hall

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I – On behalf of a grateful music industry, Councilmember Kym Pine thanked the mayor for allowing resumption of live singing and musical performances under conditions providing for artists’ and audience members’ safety.

“We talked about these and other steps in a virtual town hall with a wide range of people in the local music industry and I encouraged them to collaborate and create a plan with a unified voice, like the salon and tattoo industries, that I also supported,” said Councilmember Pine. “These talented artists provide the soundtracks for our lives and we treasure their contribution to our local culture.”

Panelists for the virtual town hall were local music leaders and celebrities including Amy Hanai‘ali‘i Gilliom, an entertainer who is also president of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Artists; Hawai‘i Theatre Center President and CEO Gregory Dunn; Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Dave Moss; Matty Hazelgrove, president of BAMP Project and co-owner of The Republik and more.

“Councilmember Pine led a productive conversation and we talked about several ways to keep audience members safe while we get back to work,” said Gilliom. “Many musicians, hula dancers, sound and lighting technicians and others don’t qualify for traditional assistance and HARA is helping eligible members in every way we can.”

“The nonprofit Hawai‘i Theatre Center has been closed since February 2020 and we were forced to cancel or reschedule more than 70 performances resulting in more than $5 million in lost revenue,” said Gregory Dunn, president and CEO. “We look forward to working with Councilmember Pine, other City and State officials and industry members to get everyone safely back to work.”

“The wellbeing, health and financial security of the 84 musicians of the HSO is what keeps me up at night. It was encouraging to see that the amended order includes allowances for outdoor and indoor performances,” said Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Dave Moss. “We look forward to further collaboration on these policies and I’m confident that we can find a safe path for our musicians and audience to return to our venues.”

Hazelgrove notes that dancing still is not allowed in the amended order but says, “I think that a blanket ‘no dancing’ provision could be replaced potentially with the suggestion that groups of 10, separated by at least 6 feet from other groups of 10, could be allowed to dance within their grouping.” He has a proposed grid system for the large dance floor at The Republik to enable reopening to the public.

Councilmember Pine will continue her work with the local entertainment industry to ensure the safety of performers and the public as the kama‘aina and broader economy moves toward recovery.

CM Pine’s entertainment industry virtual town hall: https://youtu.be/nQ_iu3vC9-c?t=48

Link to the order:
http://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/may/may_docs/Emergency_Order_No._2020-16.pdf

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One (ʻEwa, ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko ʻOlina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, Mākua) and is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media contact:
Erika Engle
Communications Director
erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov

# # #

June 15, 2020

MEDIA ADVISORY

Agricultural recovery, sustainable water for Hawaiis future

WHAT: The Business, Economic Development and Tourism Committee, led by Chair Kym Pine, will discuss ways forward for Hawaiis economy.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 16, 2020

WHERE: Honolulu Hale, 530 S. King St., Third Floor

Presentations focused on business will be made by the Agriculture Response and Recovery Working Group, comprising a cross-section of the states agriculture industry, as well as Sustainable Ocean Systems.

The Agriculture Response and Recovery Working Group has generated a three-tiered plan to address the immediate food needs of the community hardest-hit by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to stabilize farmers ability to grow food for all; to restore Hawaiis food system through promotion of new markets and investment in critical infrastructure; and by building a resilient food and agricultural economy with strong businesses, job growth and more.

Sustainable Oceans Systems will talk about its water harvesting company that provides safe, reliable cost-effective drinking water for emergencies and short-term water needs. The company has created a patent-protected, ocean-based, mobile water desalination system to rapidly serve victims of natural disasters.

BEDT Agenda: http://honolulu.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=3&event_id=632

Councilmember Kymberly Marcos Pine represents residents of District One, comprising portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nnkuli, Mili, Waianae, Mkaha, Keaau and Makua — and is chair of the City Councils Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media Contact:
Erika Engle

Communications Director

Erika [dot] engle <at> Honolulu [dot] gov

# # #

Erika Engle

Communications Director

Councilmember Kymberly Pine

Honolulu City Council, District One

530 South King Street

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Main (808)768-5001

Direct (808)768-5024

www.councilmemberpine.com

www.honolulucitycouncil.com

Facebook Instagram Twitter

My pronouns are she, her, hers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2020

City Audit Confirms – Our Parks are Not Maintained Equally

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I — “I requested the audit last year because it was clear to me and many constituents that islandwide park maintenance was not a priority. It seemed like the parks that tourists visited most, near Waikīkī, were repaired faster, maintained better and improved more frequently. So, I decided to get to the bottom of this to determine if taxpayer money was being used fairly and equally. The auditor’s report shows that there are several operational problems at the Department that stand in the way of making these public spaces beautiful and safe for our residents,” said Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine.

An audit she called for last year is being released to the public today and according to the Office of the City Auditor, it proves what Councilmember Pine suspected: DPR’s efforts are focused on parks that visitors frequent, mostly in urban areas of Honolulu and near Waikīkī. Sixty nine of the City’s parks are in East Honolulu and they receive 27% of the total funding while there are 90 parks on the Leeward side which receive only 23% of parks funding.

The audit found that the amount DPR spends on ground maintenance around the island is not equitable; that DPR lacks sufficient maintenance standards and accountability, lacks professional processes and procedures and suffers from chronic understaffing.

Among the beginning statements in the report, the auditor says, “Current operational practices are reactive and appear to wait for park conditions to deteriorate before action is taken, rather than maintaining quality conditions. Park vandalism continues to be a high-risk area as it compromises park usability and appearance. For its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, DPR does not track financial data and lacks awareness of project status. There is limited accountability for park CIP projects that were funded, but not completed.”

“I’ve created my own list of recommendations for the Parks Department and I urge the City Council and the Mayor to read this audit report, adopt the auditor’s recommendations and join me in asking the DPR to provide a plan to improve its operations and accountability,” Pine said. “These measures should include best practices used by other municipalities including quality standards, employee logs, maintenance checklists, and as I included in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, plans to install cameras at all city parks.”

According to the Audit Report, in 2019 National Community Survey found that only 39% of Honolulu residents rated city parks as excellent or good. Honolulu ranked at 306 out of 311 nationally.

Several other steps for improvements Pine is calling for are outlined in her response to the audit:

DPR Audit Summary – Councilmember Kym Pine

The audit and highlights can be found on the City Auditor’s website at 3 p.m. June 5:

http://www.honolulu.gov/auditor.html#gsc.tab=0

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One (ʻEwa, ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko ʻOlina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, Mākua) and is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media contact:

Erika Engle

Communications Director

Erika [dot] engle <at> honolulu [dot] gov

# # #

May 21, 2020

MEDIA ADVISORY

“Building for Economic Recovery – Hope & Healing Amid a Crisis”

WHO: Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine, chair of the City Council Committee on Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

WHAT: “Building for Economic Recovery,” part of Councilmember Pine’s “Hope & Healing Amid a Crisis” series of virtual town halls.

WHY: “As Hawai‘i begins to look toward economic recovery, we will need to consider the best way for government to support, or even get out of the way of, certain industries, so they can plan new projects, hire more employees and stimulate economic growth throughout the state. The construction industry is a part of our kama‘aina economy that can lead the way,” said Councilmember Pine.

PRESENTERS:

Purnima McCutcheon is the 2020 president of the American Institute of Architects’ Honolulu Chapter. She believes the three issues the AIA should be focused on now are affordable housing, equity, diversity and inclusion and environmental stewardship. Architects want to be part of the solutions to the affordable housing crisis and the organization is working with the governor to reduce zoning constraints, encourage development of underutilized urban infill sites and increasing densities.

Marshall Hickox is president and owner of Homeworks Construction Inc., a design-build firm specializing in residential construction since 1995. Marshall has been building and remodeling homes in Hawai‘i with his business partners for over 21 years and credits Homeworks’ talented design staff for its numerous awards. As a strong advocate for the state’s building industry, he is frequently involved in legislative hearings to improve efficiency. He is the 2019 BIA-Hawaii Immediate Past-President.

Frank Rogers has been a licensed roofing, waterproofing and painting contractor since 1979. For the past two years he has designed and built tiny house kits that can be used for homeless and emergency housing—as well as for residential ADU’s. His primary goal is to build small, durable homes that can be built cheaply so they can be rented profitably for between $400 and $800.

WHEN: 1 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2020

WHERE: Anywhere you are. You can join the virtual town hall via Facebook Live, or register with Zoom. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. Questions will be accepted using the chat function of each platform.

HOW: Register for for the Zoom session at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jVhpwfALTDe183vs6qDNUQ

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/Kymberly.Marcos.Pine/

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One (ʻEwa, ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko ʻOlina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, Mākua) and is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media Contact:

Erika Engle

erika [dot] engle < at > honolulu [dot] gov

# # #

MEDIA ADVISORY
May 19, 2020

Affordable should mean affordable

Property tax relief measure for affordable housing units on Special Council agenda

WHAT: Bill 34 (2020) relating to real property tax relief for affordable housing

WHEN: Beginning at approximately 11 a.m. Wednesday May 20, 2020

WHERE: Honolulu Hale, Council Chamber, third floor

WHY: To ensure that buyers of affordable housing units are not gouged by unfair real property tax assessments.

Bill 34, introduced by Councilmembers Kym Pine and Joey Manahan, would bar the city from using resales of expensive homes to determine the property value of affordable units for property tax assessment purposes.

We worked hard to create affordable housing, but some people are having to move out in a year because the city is unfairly calculating their property taxes, Pine said.

Owners of units at 1631 Kapiolani Blvd. saw their property taxes quadruple, for instance. The bill provides real property tax relief for government-mandated affordable housing units, whose initial sales were reserved for buyers with household incomes in the low- or moderate-income ranges.

Bill 34 (2020):

http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-257401/BILL034(20).pdf

The meeting will be viewable:

(1) On monitors situated outside of the meeting room;

(2) Internet live streaming through www.honolulucitycouncil.com and http://olelo.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish id=92; and

(3) Live broadcast on Olelo TV Channel 54.

The agenda and methods of submitting testimony:

http://honolulu.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=3&event_id=625

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One, comprising portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nnkuli, Mili, Waianae, Mkaha, Keaau and Makua) and is chair of the City Councils Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media Contact:

Erika Engle

Communications Director

erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov

# # #

May 18, 2020
MEDIA ADVISORY
Rapid economic diversification presentation; Keep Hawai‘i Hawai‘i Pass

WHAT: Presentation on the promise of rapidly diversifying Hawai‘i’s economy through multi-billion-dollar markets; Action on the Keep Hawai‘i Hawai‘i Pass program.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 19, 2020, beginning at 9:30 a.m. meeting of the Honolulu City Council Committee on Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

WHERE: Honolulu Hale, Council Chamber, Third Floor

INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING: Presentations on promising, market-ready alternative economies for Hawai‘i will be made by Dr. Tusi Avegalio and by Michael Lurvey. In addition to feeding the world, compounds derived from breadfruit are highly sought-after by the multibillion-dollar cosmetics and insect repellent industries, among others. Councilmember Pine’s committee is also reviewing additional agricultural initiatives and revenue from military cybersecurity operations.

Dr. Tusi Avegalio, director of the Pacific Business Center Program at the University of Hawai’i Manoa, is widely recognized as a Pacific business, economic and community development expert. With his roots as a Samoan Ali‘i, Dr. Tusi is also a disaster response and recovery expert with an emphasis on native culture. He is respected for integrating science with native cultures and bridging academic traditions with the traditional beliefs of his Pacific roots.

Michael Lurvey is the developer of the award-winning TCOM system, which stands for “Thermal Energy Conversion of Organic Materials,” a mobile system that processes and converts waste into commercially viable products with no negative or harmful emissions. Several locations on O‘ahu’s North Shore are currently being considered as demonstration pilot and training locations for this mobile system, designed for ease of use and maintenance in village communities with limited access to technology.

BILL 3 (2020) would create new revenue to offset the impacts of tourism on O‘ahu. It establishes a program that would allow both visitors and residents to purchase passes for discounts and priority access to popular O‘ahu attractions, with the City’s portion of the pass proceeds to offset costs of maintaining public parks and beaches and to supplement the operating budgets of the Emergency Services Department, the Honolulu Police Department, the Honolulu Fire Department and the Department of Parks and Recreation. (Bill passed second reading and public hearing held on 2/19/20) Bill 3 (2020) with proposed Council Draft 1 is up for action. Link: https://is.gd/RL1MRs

COMMITTEE AGENDA: https://is.gd/RL1MRs

HOW TO SUBMIT TESTIMONY: http://honolulu.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=3&event_id=621

TUNE IN: Olelo Channel 54, https://olelo.org/

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One (ʻEwa, ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko ʻOlina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, Mākua) and is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media contact:
Erika Engle
Communications Director
erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2020

Pine: Salons are united and ready to open with modifications

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I — Leading salon industry panelists demonstrated today in a live forum hosted by Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine, that they are ready to open for business. All who are licensed by the State of Hawai‘i Board Of Barbering and Cosmetology are well-trained in sanitation, disinfection and other cleanliness practices.

“I believe that salons are safe, one of the safest businesses and they are prepared to reopen their businesses now. I believe that as an industry, they have been treated unfairly. I believe they are more than well-qualified to keep themselves, their employees and their clients, safe,” said Pine, chair of the Council Committee on Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

“We are an industry of appointments, we can control our occupancy,” said forum co-host Adiel Cline, owner of Salon 253 on Maui and a founder of the Hawaii Salons Forum. She and Joe Randazzo, principal of J Salon and Phil’s Barber Shop, as well as other industry members, have drafted guidelines for safe operations and have submitted them to the State Administration via Lt. Governor Josh Green, for consideration.

Pine calls on all salon owners, working cosmetology professionals and barbers to contact the Governor’s office and their respective mayors’ offices to allow their businesses to reopen. “The owners need to be able to reopen to feed their families and so their employees and independent contractors can get back to work and feed their families,” Pine said.

A listing of participating panelists appears below.

The entire forum can be viewed on Councilmember Pine’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/Kymberly.Marcos.Pine/

The Hawaii Salons Forum: https://hawaiisalons.org/

Host: Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine

Co-host: Adiel Cline – Salon 253

Panelists:

Paul Mitchell School of Honolulu

Dean: Joannie Rossiter

Hawaiian Beauty Products/Cosmic Beauty

President: Alex Huynh

Vice-President: Julie Tran

HNLAX

Owner: Dominic Escamilla

Faded Hawaii

Owner: Keoki Limahai

Josie’s Salon

Owner: Josie Kohima

Blend House Studio

Owner: Elvinse Moleta

J Salon & Phil’s Barber Shop

Joe Randazzo

Salon Blanc

Owner: Alan Vuong

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One (ʻEwa, ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko ʻOlina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, Mākua) and is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media contact:

Erika Engle

Communications Director

M: (808) 284-6044

# # #

Erika Engle
Communications Director
Councilmember Kym Pine
Honolulu City Council, District One
530 South King Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Main 808.768.5001

MEDIA ADVISORY
Need a salon service?
Pine hosts salon owners discussion about getting back to business.

WHO: Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine, chair of the Council Committee on Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

WHAT: Live forum co-hosted by Adiel Cline, Salon 253 with several leading industry panelists

WHY: So many people in the beauty industry are suffering financially, waiting for the government to allow them to open. With no official designated entity representing the beauty business, several leaders in the industry have come together to help each other to discuss ways we can get back to work.

WHEN: TODAY, Friday, May 15 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Anywhere you are. You can observe/record the discussion on Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/Kymberly.Marcos.Pine/

Host: Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine
Co-host: Adiel Cline – Salon 253

Panelists:

Paul Mitchell School of Honolulu
Dean: Joannie Rossiter

Hawaiian Beauty Products/Cosmic Beauty
President: Alex Huynh
Vice-President: Julie Tran

HNLAX
Owner: Dominic Escamilla

Faded Hawaii
Owner: Keoki Limahai

Josies Salon
Owner: Josie Kohima

Blend House Studio
Owner: Elvinse Moleta

J Salon & Phil’s Barber Shop
Joe Randazzo

Salon Blanc
Owner: Alan Vuong

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One, comprising portions of Ewa Villages and Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Honokai Hale, Ko Olina, Nnkuli, Mili, Waianae, Mkaha, Keaau and Makua) and is chair of the City Councils Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism.

Media Contact:
Erika Engle
erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov

# # #

May 14, 2020

The mayor’s news conference: Confused? So is everybody else. Pine calls for clarity and collaboration

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I —“After dueling news conferences by the governor and the mayor with orders that change daily, it is time for the mayor to work with the City Council to put together a plan that is easy to follow — and which makes sense,” said Honolulu City Councilmember Kym Pine, chair of the Business, Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

“Many businesses will be closed forever by the end of June. It is time to set a clear plan of testing, tracking and tracing cases, so that we can open safely. Hawai‘i’s economy will never recover if we don’t help busineses soon,” Pine said.

“The state has moved way too slowly on this. Since they can’t do it rapidly, let’s do it ourselves. We don’t need approval from the state to do our own testing, tracking and tracing,” she said. The State Department of Health has announced a lengthy process for training and hiring contact tracers, but at the City Council yesterday, Dr. Scott Miscovich of Premier Medical Group Hawai‘i laid out a faster, quicker plan to put unemployed people to work and train them for tracing efforts.

“My constituents are very confused about why the stay-at-home order would be extended to June 30 when parks and beaches are open, malls will be open — and then restaurants will be open before that date. They are seeking clarity on exactly what is allowed, what isn’t allowed, and why certain things are being allowed,” Pine said.

Councilmember Kym Pine represents residents of District One (ʻEwa, ʻEwa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale, Ko ʻOlina, Nānākuli, Mā‘ili, Wai‘anae, Mākaha, Kea‘au, Mākua) and is chair of the City Council’s Committee on Business Economic Development and Tourism

Media Contact:
Erika Engle
erika [dot] engle honolulu [dot] gov