MINUTES for 2021-11-30 FINAL - Laserfiche WebLink

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Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes November 30, 2021 Page 10 Vice Chair Brinkley: There's the West Hawai'i Veterans Cemetery Association meets once a month, Mike if you'd maybe want to come to that, or anybody's invited, and they meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 9:30 in the morning for about an hour. Minoru is a very faithful attender, I'm an intermittent attender. But that might be a good chance, if you can get over there at that time to talk to people about issues, that would be a good time. Hanato: Mr. Chair? Chair Doolittle: Yes. Hanato: Just for thought, each burial we supposed to get funding from the federal government for each veteran and their spouse and the dependents. A while back, the federal government gives the state that money, the State used to give money to each county for this veteran's thing. But when Governor Lingle was governor, she cut that off so now the counties are not getting any funding for the burials. That's why the County Parks and Rec getting little bit rough time without any funding. That's where the County Finance Department has to make arrangements for the Parks and Rec to get little bit more funding to be able to do the job. You understand what I trying to say? Chair Doolittle: Yes, what you're saying is that the federal government provides funding for each veteran and each burial t the State but that the states not distributing that in a pro rata for the number of burials and what not that take place. If the County's not getting proper funding from the federal dollar because the State's hoarding it, what are they doing with it. Hanato: I don't know what they're doing with it. I talked to Maurice and said they not getting any funding and that I knew from when Governor Lingle was Governor. Chair Doolittle: That might be a good point of inquiry for someone, State Senate and House members to look into. If money is being paid by the federal government for cemeteries and for the services, whatever services those are designated for to the State and the counties aren't getting anything that would be their share based on numbers, you would think there's a breakdown and monies are going to something it's not supposed to. Hanato: I believe so. Thank you. Chair Doolittle: That's a good point. That's something I believe Parks and Recs and Kelcie should probably be involved in that discussion I imagine. Isaac Nahakuelua: May I say something in regard to that please? Chair Doolittle: yes, go ahead.