Accomplishments

Housing/Homelessness

• Won the creation of mandatory court supervised mediation before a bank is allowed to foreclose – the most comprehensive law protecting Hawai’i homeowners from foreclosure in the state’s history.
• Won an agreement with Bank of America to do face to face loan modification meetings in Hawaii.  2011
• Won $5 million in much needed repairs for Mayor Wright Housing – including the restoration of hot water.  2011
• Worked with leaders at Kuhio Park Terrace to shape the Request for Proposal (RFP) for its redevelopment, convincing the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to include criteria guaranteeing 1 for 1 unit replacement to preserve all affordable units.  2009
• Won an agreement between the State of Hawaii, Carmel Partners & Kukui Gardens Corporation, securing $82 million to ensure the long-term affordability of 800+ units at Kukui Gardens. Also acquired funds for Kukui Gardens from the 2009 Stimulus Package after some of the original funding was lost in the economic downturn. 2006-2009
• Created a residents’ organization in the City’s affordable housing complexes, working with residents to preserve the affordability of the 2300+ units in perpetuity while creating legal avenues for residents to have a say in any transfers of ownership. 2008-2009
• Increased the percentage of the conveyance tax going in to the State Housing Trust Fund from 30% to 50% in 2006. Assisted in further increasing it to 65% in 2007.
• Joined Partners in Care to increase the overall Homeless Service budget in the State of Hawaii by $10 million in 2006 and 2007.
• Changed the zoning restrictions on Ohana Units to allow larger spaces to be converted into housing for relatives in 2006.
• Crafted a resident hiring plan in 1999 to enforce HUD Section 3 for work in connection to the Kalihi Valley Homes renovation.
• Obtained the commitment of $47 million from the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii (HCDCH) in order to renovate Kalihi Valley Homes (KVH), including emergency health and safety repairs such as fixing the sewer lines. 1997-1999

Health Care

• Successfully fought for passage of a bill through the 2009 Legislature requiring more transparency regarding financial liabilities and legal issues from health insurers contracting with the State for Medicaid services. Coordinated a veto override in the process.
• Held Health Care Summits in 2008 and 2009, bringing together major health care stakeholders to share their concerns and solutions. The 2008 Summit resulted in the release of $25 million to keep troubled hospitals afloat and an $8 million increase in State Medicaid funding.
• Coordinated community Health Care Forums in Kalihi, Kailua and Kahalu’u to inform and educate our members and the public about Hawaii’s health care crisis. 2008-2009
• Persuaded Sen. Daniel Inouye, Rep. Neil Abercrombie, and Rep. Mazie Hirono to sign on to the principles of the healthcare reform at our 2008 Accountability Assembly.
• Convinced Legislative leaders to hold a special informational hearing in 2008 investigating the State’s contracting process with, and the adequacy of, the private insurers for the QUEST Expanded Access Program.
• Drove passage of Hawaii Prescription Drug Plus program through the 2004 Legislature which provides discount medicine for up to 300,000 individuals.
• Persuaded the Legislature to form a Joint Legislative Committee for Long-Term Care and to conduct an actuarial study for Long Term health care insurance in 1999, ultimately resulting in passage of a Long Term Care bill through the 2003 Legislature.

Jobs/Economic Development

• Supported Local 5 on the 2010 contract negotiations in Waikiki.
• Joined the Community Alliance Against Sexual Harassment in pressuring the Army to investigate sexual harassment allegations at the Hale Koa Hotel, resulting in a favorable settlement and improved working conditions for employees at the hotel in 2007.
• Worked to support binding contracts for 6,000+ Waikiki hotel workers in 2006.
• Helped settle the longstanding labor dispute at Turtle Bay. 2005-2006
• Moved the Department of Motor Vehicles and Licensing to provide drivers licensing exam translations of seven primary languages in 2000, with supporting legislation ensuring that the Department of Transportation offer these translations for our ethnically diverse population statewide. This enabled many immigrants who need driver’s licenses to find work.
• Brought about the 1999 City Council passage of an ordinance for First Source Hiring giving priority in hiring to qualified local residents.
• Conducted a Certified Nursing Assistant training program for Pacific Island and immigrant Filipino women from 1999-2004.

Public Safety

• Initiated new community policing efforts in Kalihi Valley, Waipahu, Village Park, Kailua and Niu Valley resulting in drug house closures. 1998-2003
• Launched the FACE Youth Listening Project in 2002 and formed a FACE Youth Action Team to develop youth leaders and address their concerns. Their work encouraged Governor Lingle to release $35 million in 2004 for health and safety improvements in public schools, specifically addressing restroom cleanliness and campus security.
• Successfully advocated for the acceleration of work on traffic control improvements in 1999 at the notoriously dangerous H1/Waiau interchange by one year.
• Pushed for $500 thousand for the 1999 construction of a crosswalk and traffic signal at the intersection of Pali Highway and Jack Lane, the site of multiple pedestrian fatalities.
• Convinced the police to increase patrols near Waipahu and Campbell High Schools in 1999.
• Assured the passage of City Council ordinances to ban tobacco advertising within 1000 feet of public schools and liquor advertising within 500 feet of schools. 1998-1999
• Secured a $2 million appropriation for 40 new green-roofed bus shelters island-wide, particularly in Kalihi, Waipahu, and the Leeward area. 1997-1998
• Led to the 1996 enactment of enforceable priority seating on TheBus for seniors and the physically impaired.