Kualaka‘i Parkway Extension Is Still On Track

Talking Story… State Sen. Mike Gabbard

Aloha Friends,

It’s an honor serving as your state senator, so please let me know if I can ever help you or your family in any way.

Call me at 586-6830 or email sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov.

Here are a few things I’d like to share with you.

Extension of Kualaka’i Parkway Still on Track

On Feb. 6 I asked Dr. Glenn Okimoto, director of the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to check on the status of $15 million in funding that I had worked with my colleagues to secure during the 2010 Legislature to extend Kualaka’i Parkway from Kapolei Parkway to Roosevelt Avenue.

This section of road is key, given that the planned Ka Makana Ali’i Mall/Shopping Center will be located at the corner of these two roads.

Since the funding was allocated, there have been discussions between the DOT and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands about which agency would actually be in charge of building the road. Because of the delay, the money didn’t get released.

Fortunately, Dr. Okimoto tells us the project is back on track, and construction should begin in mid-2015.

Kapolei High Students Win 2012 Kendyl Kau Hau Blossom Award

Rep. Sharon Har and I presented a certificate to the Kapolei High School Social Norms Media Project Youth Team Feb. 26 at the 12th annual HiLife Backyard Jam at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand.

The Youth Team was recognized for winning the 2012 Kendyl Kau Hau Blossom Award for its efforts in educating students on myths, facts and messages related to alcohol and implementing strategies to change the “public conversation” around alcohol use among students, staff and the local community through campusbased media campaigns.

They were selected by the state Attorney General and the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii.

Kapolei Library Hosts Small Business Seminar

Makakilo resident Nolan Yogi will make a presentation at the Legal and Accounting Matters for Small Businesses Seminar from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 24 at Kapolei Library. Nolan has more than 30 years of legal experience and is a veteran arbitrator with the Court Annexed Arbitration Program.

Ted Ketcham, who owns a tax and accounting practice, also will be a presenter.

The themes for the seminar will be “How to Protect Your Business and Your Assets from Lawsuits” and “Tax and Accounting Issues for Small Businesses.”

For more information, call the library at 6937050 or visit its website at libarieshawaii.org

IRS Releases “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams

The IRS just released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list of tax scams to help you and your family protect yourselves from schemes ranging from identity theft to return preparer fraud.

You can check out the information at this website: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=254383, 00.html

“Listen Story” Meeting

My next “Listen Story” meeting with area residents is scheduled for 9 to 10 a.m. March 24 at the Kapolei Starbucks (next to the Chevron gas station).