Please pass the word on this important meeting below and try to attend.  Mahalo.
Jim Albertini

Press Release for Immediate release Monday, Feb. 29, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Re: Do Hawaiian Lives Matter? Related to Geothermal Energy and Windward Planning Commission agenda for Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 10AM in Hilo at Aupuni Conference center

On Thursday, March 3, 2016 at approximately 10AM  the County’s Windward Planning Commission will deal with item #5 on their agenda.  Item #5 deals with a Geothermal “Psycho-Social Impact and Community Well-being study” that was passed unanimously by the Windward Planning Commission 14 months ago but has yet to be funded and initiated.
Community representatives, including Palikapu Dedman of the Pele Defense Fund, and representatives from Puna Pono Alliance, Ohana Ho’opakele, Malu ‘Aina and others intend to raise serious questions about why the delay?  Why hasn’t this study gone forward?  Why wasn’t it done 30 years ago when geothermal was being initiated.  Geothermal involves drilling into Pele, the goddess of the Volcano.  What are the Psycho-Social impacts to Native Hawaiians from drilling into their deity for energy and profits?  Do Hawaiian lives matter?  Is racism involved in this long delay at looking into impacts to the Hawaiian people?  Is there an attempt to stall this study so it doesn’t get done?   Who is holding it up?  And why?  Community groups want answers and want this study to go forward now!

—

Stand up to Wall St. & the

U.S. War Machine!

Have elections in the U.S. become mainly a contest between billionaires (Trump) and multi-millionaires (Clinton) funded and controlled by corporate special interests? Why does  57% of the U.S. discretionary federal budget go to the military and those who profit from war, while there is growing homelessness, hunger, economic inequality and escalating costs to education, health care, etc. amid a crumbling infrastructure, escalating racism, police violence, and the world facing man-made climate disaster?

When Wealth Rules, Resistance Becomes Duty!

“Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential vital quality for those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change.”  –  Robert F. Kennedy

Show Your Moral Courage!  Walk Your Talk!

Protest & Organize for Change!

Together we can stop these wars, narrow the divides, and heal our communities!

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties.
   4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
   5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org

Sign up on our website to receive our posts  http://www.malu-aina.org/

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Feb. 26, 2016 – 753rd week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

I’m HUUUUUUGE!

Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini                    U.S. Pres. Candidate Donald Trump
I will make Italy great again!                             I will make America great again!

We Will Win!  And Win Big!

Don’t be a Loser!

Think About It!

Who is the U.S. Presidential candidate for liberty, justice, and peace — for all?

1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject war as a solution. 3. Defend civil liberties.
   4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, etc.
   5. Seek peace through justice in Hawai`i and around the world.

Contact: Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
P.O. Box 489 Kurtistown, Hawai’i 96760
Phone (808) 966-7622. Email: ja@malu-aina.org

Sign up on our website to receive our posts  http://www.malu-aina.org/

Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet (Feb. 19, 2016 – 752^nd week) – Friday 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office

Press Release for Immediate Release
Feb. 15, 2016
Ohana Ho’opakele
further contact: Palikapu Dedman, President 959-4930, 959-9775
Re: Ohana Ho’opakele calls on Governor Ige to Stop the Prison-Bed Business

The letter below “Stop the Prison-Bed Business” was sent to Hawaii Governor, David Ige, by Ohana Ho’opakele president, Palikapu Dedman on Feb. 11, 2016.  It opposes the building of a new $485 million dollar prison and proposes 3 specific constructive alternatives that will save the state money, reduce crime, and help heal our communities, especially Native Hawaiians who are disproportionately represented in prison.

Ohana Ho’opakele (Family Rescue)
A Hawaiian Holistic Alternative to Prisons

P.O. Box 5530
Hilo, Hawai’i 96720
(808) 959-9775
OhanaHoopakele@gmail.com

www.ohanahoopakele.org
on Facebook ohanahoopakele

February 10, 2016

Hawaii Governor David Ige

State Capitol

Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Dear Governor Ige,

Stop the Prison-Bed Business

      Before the State of Hawaii attempts to embark on fast tracking the building of a $485 million new prison without broad and transparent community discussion and without even an Environmental Impact Assessment or Statement, there are actions that we in Ohana Ho’opakele propose that you and the the State legislature take.

1. Follow the Federal and many state examples of reviewing disproportionately long prison sentences and release prisoners in Hawaii who have already served long sentences. The Feds have already released 6,000 prisoners, as many prisoners as Hawaii has locked up today.
2. Review the disproportionate number of Hawaiians locked up. Dr. RaeDeen Keahiolalo-Karasuda, PhD says that Hawaiians, who make up 20% of the State’s population, represent more than 60% of those imprisoned. Take action to correct this racist disproportionate imprisonment and length of sentences against Hawaiians. (See A Report of the Hawai`i Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, September 2011)
3. Follow the call of Ohana Ho’opakele and establish modern day Pu’uhonua on all islands as alternative to prisons. Also establish community-based Ho’oponopono centers on all islands to help heal conflicts and resolve small community problems before they turn into major crimes.

The above actions will save the State money, reduce crime, and help heal our communities. 40 years ago the State’s Correctional Master Plan talked about the need for alternatives to prison, but the alternatives were never seriously implemented. Don’t make the same mistake again. Before building another prison, first, take action on the above matters and there will be no need to build a new prison. Hawaiians and the general public taxpayers will all benefit when we stop the prison-bed business. Mahalo and aloha.

Palikapu Dedman

President of Ohana Ho’opakele

ACTION ALERT! STOP HB 2046 – TRANSFER CONTROL OF MĀKUA AND PŌHAKULOA LEASES TO THE MILITARY. Please Share!
This horrible bill would transfer control of Hawaiian Trust Lands (aka “Ceded” Land) currently leased to the US Army to the military. Thanks to Hawaiʻi Thousand Friends for notifying us about this.

TESTIFY at the hearing this FRIDAY

Committee on Water and Land hearing
FRIDAY, 2/12, 9:30 am, Conf. Rm 325.
Committee Chair Yamane is one of the bill’s sponsors so he needs to feel the pressure on this.

And/Or Testify online:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx…

HB 2046 RELATING TO MILITARY LAND
(YAMANE, AQUINO, CULLEN, ITO, OSHIRO, TSUJI)
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2016/bills/HB2046_.htm

· Authorizes the Adjutant General to be in charge of all state property leased to the US Army

· Transfers such lands to the Department of Defense by June 30, 2017

· Exempts transfer of public lands to the US Army from all of HRS 171 Conservation and Resources public land provisions, DLNR oversight and any land lease or land transfer approval by the Board of Land and Natural Resources

· Requires that all records, equipment, files, supplies, contracts, books, papers, documents from all State agencies transferring ceded/public land be turned over to the US Army

· NO public involvement in transfer of public land

Cancel the leases and make the military clean up their mess.  This bill looks like a fast track to extend military leases and cut the public out of the process.
Jim