To get us rolling, here’s one sent earlier from Jason:

Can we get it together on the issue of overcrowded prisons? Now we’re talking about temporary tents. Give us a break. Either build more or change the way you sentence people. That’s common sense. What do you plan to do on this?

There are many people in prison due to drugs. Is there anything in the works to help with the drug problems? Prisons are not solutions for people with drug problems I think rehabilitation is better? What do you think?

Rep. Evans: We Hawaiians of the VFW are really ticked off at those who are harassing our soldiers over training areas they’ve used for over 60 years. Most of them are non-Hawaiian Christians who hustle people to go to Makua with adds in Westside Stories. Our elected brought our soldiers here and they are expected to perform in combat for us. Why haven’t we heard any supporting words for our soldiers from members of the Legislature like those in the Military Affairs Committee?

Aloha:

I'm excited to use technology to communicate. Thanks to those who are participating today.

In response to your question Jason I agree with your comment that we should build and change the way we sentence people. First, I have been working with my Senate counterpart who chairs Public Safety to encourage more community-based and minimum security facilities to be built or provided for by non-profits to house our inmates. If you did not know the Department of Public Safety is completing a classification study to determine custody levels of those inmates who are currently in correctional facilities. It appears we have 25-30 percent of our inmates qualifying for community based facilities.
Second, I question the trend of mandating sentences and taking away from the judge the ability to determine the minimum sentencing. As Chair I would like to see more reintegration and reentry programs while an inmate is in our correctional system so they can succeed when they return home.

Rep. Evans,

I will ask you the question that your colleague in the Senate dodged two weeks ago.

What is your opinion on the argument currently going on in the state legislature about corporate campaign contributions?

More importantly, would you be for or against a total ban on corporate campaign contributions in the state of Hawai'i?

And this one comes via e-mail from Sal:

What can we do to keep Doctors on the big Island?

Comment from: Tina [Visitor]
There are many people in prison due to drugs. Is there anything in the works to help with the drug problems? Prisons are not solutions for people with drug problems I think rehabilitation is better? What do you think?
_____

Tina, I think the most innovative approach is our efforts at the legislature on early childhood education. We do have programs for our inmates who want to participate in them, but we have to work with our children at a early age to give them the tools and education they need.

I agree with Mr. Punini, Hawaii has had a long association with the military. Why do we hamstring them?
Also what does Rep. Evans think about the breaking new about 1000 more soldiers on Oahu?

Comment from: Bill Punini Prescott [Visitor]
Rep. Evans: We Hawaiians of the VFW are really ticked off at those who are harassing our soldiers over training areas they’ve used for over 60 years. Most of them are non-Hawaiian Christians who hustle people to go to Makua with adds in Westside Stories. Our elected brought our soldiers here and they are expected to perform in combat for us. Why haven’t we heard any supporting words for our soldiers from members of the Legislature like those in the Military Affairs Committee?
==========
Bill: I appreciate your comments. As Chair my committee has been passing legislation to support veterans which falls under the state's office of veterans services. My parents were World War II vets and I know how important men and women of the military are to our freedom and our country's future. From my perspective the community supports military training but want to be sure the environment or important cultural sites are protected from degradation.

Comment from: xoxon [Visitor]
Rep. Evans,

I will ask you the question that your colleague in the Senate dodged two weeks ago.

What is your opinion on the argument currently going on in the state legislature about corporate campaign contributions?

More importantly, would you be for or against a total ban on corporate campaign contributions in the state of Hawai'i?
=====
I'm for the current law limiting corporate campaign contributions. Corporations should be limited but allowed participation in the process like others. It does bother me how corporations have more money to hire lobbyists than a individual who has to work to make a living in Hawaii.

What are you doing to get back the land that the military has that they are not using. For example, Bellows Beach, why can't the state get that land back and use it for affordable housing instead of putting it up to bid with these big developers who will only build expensive homes on it?

With all the news news coverage going on and the rally held at the Capitol by Campbell students, what is being done to help our students? If we can't get them AC maybe we can plant trees or something next to the buildings. Children should all have an equal opportunity to learn in a safe, quiet, comfortable environment. What do you think?

And this one comes via e-mail from Sal:

What can we do to keep Doctors on the big Island?
=====
I think we should interview doctors who are leaving Hawaii to find out what was the overriding factor that caused them to leave. In personal conversation with doctors I have heard they can make more money elsewhere, they do not like how long it takes for the state to reimburse for medicaid, they are unhappy with the amount of paperwork to fill out, they cannot find staff, their costs of medical malpractice insurance has gone way up, they feel our state is too litigious, they do not get enough reimbursement from the insurance companies, and there is not enough patients to have a profitable practice.
Given the above, I believe legislators need to work on each item to find solutions. This will most likely take many years to accomplish.

Here’s one sent via e-mail from CDGCDG:

Rep Evans,
A recent article in North Hawaii Today address the problem of after school transportation for Waikoloa Village students who attend Kealakehe High School in Kona. Can you discuss what are the "next steps" to correcting the problem, and how the community and parents can help?
Thank you.

Comment from: Tim McGrath [Visitor]
I agree with Mr. Punini, Hawaii has had a long association with the military. Why do we hamstring them?
Also what does Rep. Evans think about the breaking new about 1000 more soldiers on Oahu?
=====
You must be referring to environmental impact statements. Otherwise, I do not believe we are hamstringing the military.

I belive our country is moving their forces into the Pacific to deal with the changes in India and China. And we must not forget all of the other Pacific countries. Thus, it's no surprise to me that our military is increasing. Hawai'i is strategically located and we will play a role along with Alaska, Washington State, California, and Guam in the military buildup.

We all know that when there is an accident, fire or downed telephone poles on Farrington Hwy. on the Waianae coast, the traffic jam and blockage is horendus and last for hours and sometimes days. Why can't the state buy back from the military the land that Kolekole Rd. is on and use it as an alternate route to town and the Ewa/Koplei area? It would free up a lot traffic along Farrington Hwy and the H1 Freeway and the residents on the Waianae coast wouldn't be held captive.

Comment from: Bill [Visitor]
What are you doing to get back the land that the military has that they are not using. For example, Bellows Beach, why can't the state get that land back and use it for affordable housing instead of putting it up to bid with these big developers who will only build expensive homes on it?
====
I'm not well versed on the federal requirement for identifying lands as surplus property, but I do believe the state has preferential opportunity to acquire the land when surplused. As Chair I have seen resolutions asking our Congressional delelation in requesting the military to work with us on using federal lands that seem to be unused by the military.

Here's one posted earlier:

Comment from: Jen [Visitor]
Representative Evans,
I was very disappointed to see your name listed as an introducer to House Resolution 153 and House Concurrent Resolution 180, requesting the general assembly of the United Nations to officially commemorate cockfighting as a global sport. With all of the important issues facing our islands why would you support glorifying a practice, which is outlawed in Hawaii (and 48 other states)? The Resolutions state “even the American Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson recognized the value of cockfighting, as participants in that sport”, as somehow justifying the practice. Representative Evans, there are many things our founding fathers practiced (slavery, growing cannabis etc.) which in hindsight today I doubt very seriously you or any of the other introducers would glorify. Cockfighting is a cruel, inhumane practice, which serves no purpose. Please explain why you support cockfighting and helped introduce these Resolutions.
Jen

Here's another one posted earlier

Comment from: Everyone Thinks They Know Better. [Visitor]
There are a bunch of proposals floating in the Legislature that basically seeks to micro-manage the Department of Public Safety on many different levels. Other than Representative Hanohano, a former ACO, I think its very fair to ask what credentials or correctional experience do you or your legislative partners-in-crime have to try to impose ill-conceived policies upon this department that are rooted in absolutely zero professional or even personal understanding of what it takes to run a prison, much less a state-wide prison-system?

Ive heard that before. I think the state needs to make more of a noise to get our land back. The militay took all the best pieces of land during the war and I think we should get some of that back. Awe to the military.

Comment from: Lisa [Visitor]
With all the news news coverage going on and the rally held at the Capitol by Campbell students, what is being done to help our students? If we can't get them AC maybe we can plant trees or something next to the buildings. Children should all have an equal opportunity to learn in a safe, quiet, comfortable environment. What do you think?
====
From personal experience growing up in Illinois where the temperatures were over 90 degrees, I can tell you how hard it was to sit in a classroom and learn.
The Department of Education should work with building designers to look at better ventilation and the movement of air. The students and teachers can challenge themselves and the department to finding renewable energy solutions such as solar panels. Why do I say this? Because the buildings that are older are inefficient and the costs of air conditioning can be the challenge to overcome and get support from the Board of Education and the Legislature.

And here's one more, posted earlier

Comment from: Sharon [Visitor]
I understand that you have been very involved with the issue of prisons and Hawaii's inmates and I read your recent HA Letter to the Editor on the Governor's announced plan to build tent prisons. What do you think of that idea and why can't we seem to get it together and build our own modern state prison? And also I've heard you recently visited Hawaii's prisoners on the mainland. What does it matter if they do their time here or there?

Mahalo

Sharon

Here’s one sent via e-mail from CDGCDG:

Rep Evans,
A recent article in North Hawaii Today address the problem of after school transportation for Waikoloa Village students who attend Kealakehe High School in Kona. Can you discuss what are the "next steps" to correcting the problem, and how the community and parents can help?
Thank you.
=====
The next step is educating the decision makers within the Department of Education on the issue of the amount of time spent in transportation. I'm excited about an idea that one of my staff members came up with that would use modern technology, WIFI, allowing the students to have internet access on the bus.
The article came out of a town meeting where a parent described the amount of time being spent on transporation to and from school. In this instance, I want to bring attention to the Board of Education on the amount of youth who live in Waikoloa. The parents can help me by writing letters of support for a high school closer to the Waikoloa community.

Here's one just sent via e-mail from David Gomes:

Iceland and New Zealand are working for energy independence by using geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and electric vehicles. Why can't Hawaii Island do the same with the generous resources given by Madam Pele, Mother Earth, and God? We also have OTEC and tidal power. Biofuels waste land and resources needed for food production.

Some day a major tsunami will take out the seaports of Hawaii and the West Coast and no one will worry about a few people in the middle of the Pacific. Why can't we become energy and agriculturially self sufficient like the old Hawaiians were?

Comment from: JohnK [Visitor]
We all know that when there is an accident, fire or downed telephone poles on Farrington Hwy. on the Waianae coast, the traffic jam and blockage is horendus and last for hours and sometimes days. Why can't the state buy back from the military the land that Kolekole Rd. is on and use it as an alternate route to town and the Ewa/Koplei area? It would free up a lot traffic along Farrington Hwy and the H1 Freeway and the residents on the Waianae coast wouldn't be held captive.
====
Though I'm not a resident of Oahu, I think your idea has merit. FYI, one of my colleagues from Maui introduced a bill to require the Department of Transportation to come up with an alternative route for traffic when the highway is damaged during a natural or man made disaster. This is a good exercise which could be repeated in other locales across the state.
This is most important to the safety of the residents of Waianae, and I hope you ask your representative to bring this to our attention for legislation next year.

There are a bunch of proposals floating in the Legislature that basically seek to micro-manage the Department of Public Safety on many different levels. Other than Representative Hanohano, a former ACO, I think its very fair to ask what credentials or correctional experience do you or your legislative partners-in-crime have to try to impose ill-conceived policies upon this department that are rooted in absolutely zero professional or even personal understanding of what it takes to run a prison, much less a state-wide prison-system?

Comment from: Jen [Visitor]
Representative Evans,
I was very disappointed to see your name listed as an introducer to House Resolution 153 and House Concurrent Resolution 180, requesting the general assembly of the United Nations to officially commemorate cockfighting as a global sport. With all of the important issues facing our islands why would you support glorifying a practice, which is outlawed in Hawaii (and 48 other states)? The Resolutions state “even the American Founding Fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson recognized the value of cockfighting, as participants in that sport”, as somehow justifying the practice. Representative Evans, there are many things our founding fathers practiced (slavery, growing cannabis etc.) which in hindsight today I doubt very seriously you or any of the other introducers would glorify. Cockfighting is a cruel, inhumane practice, which serves no purpose. Please explain why you support cockfighting and helped introduce these Resolutions.
Jen
======
What I support is the recognition of cultural practices that are in common across the world and believe cockfight has been a common practice in Hawai'i for a long time. Regarding your concern about cockfighting and it being a cruel and inhumane practice,I remain open to the discussion that in fact it may be inhumane.

I believe a legislator has to think about what the social values are in the community they represent. For example, we are passing more tough on crime bills because our community wants us to be more tough on crime. Eventually if the community sends a strong message that cockfighting is no longer acceptable in Hawai'i I believe we will ban cockfighting, and I could support the ban. From where I sit, I have not heard that our community is ready to ban cockfighting.

Question: How much money leaves the state to house prisoners in other facilities? Is there an option to keep them here and keep that money in Hawaii to increase jobs, building, programs? What is your expert opinion?

Rep Evans: Have you or anyone on your committee ever visited Makua to confirm that rocks are in fact sacred? That after all the years of training that transpired there that plants are still growing in spite of it?

Comment from: Everyone Thinks They Know Better. [Visitor]
There are a bunch of proposals floating in the Legislature that basically seeks to micro-manage the Department of Public Safety on many different levels. Other than Representative Hanohano, a former ACO, I think its very fair to ask what credentials or correctional experience do you or your legislative partners-in-crime have to try to impose ill-conceived policies upon this department that are rooted in absolutely zero professional or even personal understanding of what it takes to run a prison, much less a state-wide prison-system?
====
The comment about partners-in-crime distracts from what I think you are asking. Why do we consider bills? People have brought to us issues about the effectiveness of the Department of Public Safety. In an effort to improve outcomes by the department it is our job as legislators to look for solutions.
You are correct that we should not micromanage, but as policymakers we can pass laws to give policy direction to the department. I'm sorry but without the specific piece of legislation you may be referring to I cannot give you more detail.

Comment from: Sharon [Visitor]
I understand that you have been very involved with the issue of prisons and Hawaii's inmates and I read your recent HA Letter to the Editor on the Governor's announced plan to build tent prisons. What do you think of that idea and why can't we seem to get it together and build our own modern state prison? And also I've heard you recently visited Hawaii's prisoners on the mainland. What does it matter if they do their time here or there?
====
Many questions. First, on the mainland the people who run the prison are for profit and the people who run the prison are not culturally sensitive to our people.
Second, the department keeps going through directors so we have not had consitent leadership to pursue solutions regarding facilities and what type of facilities to build in Hawai'i.
Third,we all have a vision of what a tent looks like. Mine conjures up a structure that could not withstand high winds or 24 hour seven day a week usage.

I agree with Bill's comment about reclaiming land at Bellowes. With a farming comunity already established in Waimanalo, some extra land around Bellowes would allow these farmers to expand, employ more workers, and supply an enviromentally-sound and sustainable source of food for this island, which ships in about 90% of it's food. How much did the military pay for this land? we should just give them a refund. I think increasing agricultural industry would be more beneficial for the state than buying Turtle Bay. What do you think about this subject and sustainablity in Hawaii? Also, what is the state doing about this?

Sorry, folks! We’re out of time, Thanks to all of you who participated in today’s Hot Seat. And a special thanks to Rep. Evans, who took the time today to chat with our readers. She's agreed to answer the remaining questions that landed within the 2 p.m. time frame. Thank you, Rep. Evans.

Be sure to watch for excerpts of this community conversation in Sunday’s Focus Section.

Ready for the next Hot Seat? We’ve got an interesting one planned. Our next guest will deal with everything from rail transit to roadways to our wastewater treatment process. Joining us live next Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. will be City Councilman Nestor Garcia, chairman of the Council’s Committee on Transportation and Public Works.

So spread the word, and bring on those questions!

See you next week, on The Hot Seat.

Rep Evans: How much money leaves the state and goes into other states to house the prisoners of Hawaii?

In closing, thank you for taking the time to participate. What fun for me.

For those who I did not respond to during this hour, I will post an answer by noon tomorrow.

Take care.

Rep. Cindy Evans
(North Kona, South Kohala)

Here's one just sent via e-mail from David Gomes:

Iceland and New Zealand are working for energy independence by using geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and electric vehicles. Why can't Hawaii Island do the same with the generous resources given by Madam Pele, Mother Earth, and God? We also have OTEC and tidal power. Biofuels waste land and resources needed for food production.

Some day a major tsunami will take out the seaports of Hawaii and the West Coast and no one will worry about a few people in the middle of the Pacific. Why can't we become energy and agriculturially self sufficient like the old Hawaiians were?

=======

Aloha David,
The bigger question is should the government or private industry pay for the transition from fossil fuel to alternative energy resources?

The legislature has passed bills to provide incentives for new technologies and to attract new technologies to Hawai'i. The legislature has worked with Hawai'ian Electric to encourage them, through mandates and incentives, to change their dependence on fossil fuels.

On another note as the Chair of Military Affairs I am excited by the research and development of our military services in the areas of hydrogen fuel technology. I'm hopeful through their investment in these kinds of technologies this type of energy generation will benefit all of us in the near future.

Those before us should be recognized for their abilities to use the natural resources around them. I believe we are challenged today to deal with more outside influences caused by transportation and the mobilty of people. In the end we have to deal with supply and demand.

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