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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES for 2021-08-24 FINALVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 1:30 p.m. Zoom Video Conferencing and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Video conferencing) Present Members Michael Doolittle Isaac Nahakuelua Marcia Brinkley John Hiduchick-Nakayama Debra Lewis George Sheridan Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Minoru Hanato Guests Antonio Gaspar (Veteran) Nicole Gray, Senator Kahele's office James Hussey (Veteran) Ryan Peroy (Professor at UH Hilo) Ex-Officio (Hilo) Michelle Hiraishi, Deputy Director P&R Also Present (Hilo) J Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Absent Kelcie Figueira, Office of Veterans Services Call to Order Chair Michael Doolittle called the meeting to order at 1:32 pm. Quorum met with seven members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES John Hiduchick-Nakayama made a motion to accept the minutes. George Sheridan seconded the motion. Seven ayes, minutes have been accepted for both the May 25, 2021, and June 22, 2021, meetings. OLD BUSINESS Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 2 Bill 60: Amends Membership and Tenure of Committee Chair Doolittle introduced the agenda item. We wanted to discuss Bill 60 it was presented in Committee last week or the week before last week. Debra and I both made live statements of testimony and we wanted to make sure we update and for reference to everyone on the committee. It seemed to go fairly smoothly although it was only Debra and myself that gave any live testimony. Do we have any questions about Bill 60? Bill 60 is the membership bill submitted by Susan Lee Loy and Councilman Inaba. P&R Deputy Director Michelle Hiraishi: It was actually heard on Tuesday, August 171h so last week Tuesday. Chair Doolittle: Any comments or discussion about that. It seemed to be pretty well accepted by the committee. Debra Lewis: Is that what you said, it was approved the 171h Deputy Hiraishi: Yes, it was. It was approved at the first reading. Chair Doolittle: I assume the next reading will be in the next couple of weeks. Deputy Hiraishi: Yes, that's correct. I don't believe it's scheduled yet, but as soon as it's scheduled, Brittany will send out an email to the group. Chair Doolittle: I'd like to encourage all the members and anybody from the general community that's interested in this to sign up and give live testimony and what they think about it. I know Deb and I have been there for both our first motion with was about four years ago, supporting these changes for the committee. But it would be nice to have more of the membership submitting. Did anybody submit written testimony? Vice -Chair Marcia Brinkley: I did. Chair Doolittle: Marcie, yeah, I know you did. I would encourage everybody to put in their two cents worth. Lewis: Michelle, when is that next meeting? Deputy Hiraishi: It's not scheduled yet that I'm aware of. But as soon as we find out, we'll let everyone know. (inaudible) It was the committee reading that it passed, the Committee meeting of the County Council that was passed, last week Tuesday. Lewis: Correct, so the next one is full Council? Deputy Hiraishi: My understanding and J, please correct me if I'm wrong, it's supposed to go through the full process so Committee to Council and then two readings within Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 3 Council. However, I know that we've asked for it to be waived at the two readings, but we had not received word back yet that that's been approved. Deputy Corporation Counsel J Yoshimoto: Yes, Michelle that is correct. There's two more readings before the Council and just for discussion purposes too. Although the Council members did not specifically ask questions about the seven at large members. This might be a good opportunity for the committee to indicate as such or not include a provision that a majority of the members shall be a veteran of the military or something of that effect. When I was looking up the State Veterans Advisory Committee, they have a provision that majority shall be veterans. This particular provision could theoretically result in a majority of the membership not being veterans, but I thought this committee was good with that as long as the are committed to veterans' issues and causes. But I just wanted to make sure since we're having this discussion. Chair Doolittle: I think it's certainly appropriate that a majority of the members are veterans, but I don't know that we want to make a hard and fast rule about that. Anybody else have a comment about that? Opinions? Isaac Nahakuelua: Can we put somewhere in there, I don't know if its too late, but maybe half or three quarters of the committee has to be veterans or has to have served in the armed services with an honorable discharge and the other quarter doesn't have to be veterans. That would ensure some degree or an amount of veterans on the committee. Chair Doolittle: Just to be clear, J, would any changes in any of that require it to go back to committee? DCC Yoshimoto: No, it wouldn't have to go back to committee. It could still be amended at the first reading or second reading. I just thought it was something to discuss because we have this meeting today. It was just something discussed internally and when I say internally... Chair Doolittle: and we still have an even number of members, isn't that correct? DCC Yoshimoto: Correct, I believe it comes out to 14. Is it 12? I'm sorry, 12. Chair Doolittle: If we state that we need a majority veterans, that would mean seven would have to be veterans. It would be my preference; I think maybe we should do that. Anyone else? Lewis: I would also say, I thought we had that in there. Before we thought no members, before they all had to be veterans. But I think it's important to have the majority veterans. If we can amend it without having to go back to the beginning it would be really nice. Thank you for bringing it up. Chair Doolittle: Marcie, you have something to say? Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 4 VC Brinkley: I was also going to say maybe we could say veterans or families of veterans because we have some really good caregivers on this island that would be really effective for this committee but they're not veterans. Chair Doolittle: Well, that's for the other five seats. Lewis: I think that's part of the other five seats. But I think the seven being veterans is going to be key. I think it's a key piece to say that it's a Veterans Advisory Committee, majority veterans. The purist would say that they all have to be veterans, but I think they would be ok if majority were veterans. Hiduchick: I agree in terms of the seven members being veterans, but I have a question, I there anything that we need to put in there, in terms of the Chair being a veteran as opposed to one of the members being a non -veteran. Is anyone opposed to that? VC Brinkley: I would agree with that. All others concurred. Chair Doolittle: I would think that they committee really needs to be led by a veteran. Hiduchick: Perfect, I just wanted to add that in there somewhere. Lewis: I make a motion that we amend the existing bill, Bill 60 to incorporate, what Isaac said about the majority being veterans being honorably discharged and that the Chair of the committee be a veteran. VC Brinkley: I second the motion. Chair Doolittle: All in favor? Motion carried with seven ayes, none opposed. Thank you, J for bringing that up. DCC Yoshimoto: Ok, so just to be clear, seven of the members must be veterans and the Chair must be a veteran. Also, I don't see any definition of veteran so do you want to add something about a veteran of the United States... Nahakuelua: Armed Services and maybe they can furnish a DD-214 to prove honorable discharge and time served. VC Brinkley: Could we say Uniformed Services? That way we can say post guard and public health service. My husband is public health service, that's the only reason I thought of it. Uniformed Services would include them. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 5 DCC Yoshimoto: Uniform services? United States Uniform Services. And, did the motion include spouses? Chair Doolittle: No. Lewis: The five would include spouses. Chair Doolittle: yeah, the five at large seats could include spouses, caregivers, anyone that belongs to an organization that is worthy of veteran promotions. DCC Yoshimoto: So, to be clear, when we say at least seven members of the committee must be veterans, that seven includes the named organizations here, correct? Chair Doolittle: yeah, I believe so. DCC Yoshimoto: So, we have five named organizations and two more at large would consist of the seven. Lewis: We could always have more, but we can't have less than the seven including the organization names that makes it veterans. DCC Yoshimoto: Gotcha. Update on Veteran Monuments and Parks — Marcia Brinkley Chair Doolittle: (introduces topic) Marcie do you have an update? VC Brinkley: Well, there was a delay in getting the information on to the website. I just heard from Lee Hasebe from IT in Parks and Recs and they're undergoing a very large upgrade to all the webpages so were still on the list but it's going to be a while before they get to it. So, my thought is, if it's not a problem I've already played around with putting all of these on a google maps and I could finish that up and send it around to people it would have a map and then you click on the star and it shows you more information, picture, where it is. A lot of the information that I wanted to put up on the Parks and Recs webpage but in a public format. I'm just wondering if we can do that, if I should mention that it's a project of the Veterans Advisory Committee or if it should just be more of a private thing for me, for legal purposes. The second thing, if we're allowed to do that, each organization that has a website can provide a link to that. That's one thing I wanted to say, and I'll ask for discussion on that. The second thing is that I have been talking to various organizations about adopting some of these memorials and cemeteries. I was talking to American Legion and Antonio, and they have already indicated that they are already doing some of that. DAR is going to go around in late October and clean up some of the brass monuments around the island. Also, at the Veterans Memorial where there are brass plaques at the foot of the palm trees that are representing each of the guys that were killed in Vietnam from this island. I started going to the West Hawaii Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 6 Veterans Cemetery Association with Minoru and they've got all kinds of plans so there's new but if anyone would have to suggest to them, they've got two new monuments, one that is for Gold Star families that will be coming probably be around October, maybe September. Then there's a new Korean War monument that has already been placed and they're planning to have more about the cemetery available. They'll be instituting a program also. That part of the whole project is really well managed. I was thinking what we might do for the Veterans State Parade if it turns out to be virtual is to have different photos of the memorials on a recording and ask for people to adopt one of more of those. Those are my thoughts, going back to the google map one, does anyone have any comments? The beauty of that is that I can finish that pretty quickly. Chair Doolittle: I think all of it is a good idea and I really believe that it should be noted on the county website that it is a project of the veterans advisory committee. VC Brinkley: Yeah, on their website, yeah. I'm just wondering on the Google Maps is there any legal problem with me putting that down? Chair Doolittle: J would have to answer that question. I think it's a good idea. VC Brinkley: I would like to do it that way. Chair Doolittle: Is there any problem with that, J? DCC Yoshimoto: Could you state again? I couldn't hear. Chair Doolittle: Go ahead Marcie. VC Brinkley: I had already started making a Google Map, map with all the different memorials pinpointed on the map. So, I could finish that up, put the photos on that, like we were planning eventually to be able to do on the Parks and Recs webpage whenever that's possible. But I'm wondering is it ok if I this put down on Google maps that it's a project of our committee. Is there any legal problem with that? DCC Yoshimoto: When you say, put it on Google Map as a project of our committee, how does that work? What does that involve? VC Brinkley: I just make it myself and then publish it. So, anyone who looks up Hawaii Veterans memorials on Google Maps can be taken to that page. Then they can click on each one of these sites and it'll show a description and a picture and that kind of thing. Normally, I would have my name on there, but since it's a project of the committee I'm wondering if I can put the committee's name on it. DCC Yoshimoto: I would say, I would check because that's something that would be posted on the park's website as well? Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 7 VC Brinkley: Eventually it will be and then I can take down the Google Maps one. But it's going to be quite a while before we can get it on to the Parks & Rec website because the guy that's in charge of IT said it's going to be a while before they'll be ready to do that DCC Yoshimoto: I would say because Veterans Advisory Committee advises the mayor, we would have to get permission from the mayor in terms of acting as a committee first before we do that. But yeah, I think it's very doable. VC Brinkley: Ok, thank you. Chair Doolittle: Good idea. Anyone else have any comments about that? Lewis: Great work, Marcie. Thank you. It's been along (inaudible). Adopt -a -mile or Adopt -a -highway, we hope can use that in order to gain, we're trying to get more visibility because we need to start having groups sponsoring these, some do it already, but some are orphans, and they don't really get much TLC. Then the other piece is currently, the Gold Star monument is set to be dedicated on Gold Star Family Day which is September 26th and that will be at West Hawaii and Joann Hill has asked me to speak at that. Now that's whether we can gather or not, just so you know that will be the question. The Veteran's Day parade, I'm sad to report, given what's happening there's just no way I'm going to go into planning for a physical event. We will do a virtual event and I would love to have a piece on the Veterans Advisory Committee, a piece on the monuments to educate people which is what we do during the parade on what is happening in relation to veterans. I'm really looking forward to putting, it's going to have to be a month before this time, not the day of. And in a format, I can do something with and maybe I'll get someone like Johnny to help me put it together. He got Terry Bradshaw to do a minute in the last one which was awesome. But also, the technology and I used an early version of Camtasia and Isaac would laugh at me, how many hours I spent trying to put this video together with 20 different formats and some kind of semblance. I figured out what the key was, have children in it and Terry Bradshaw and it doesn't matter about the rest. So, if you have kids who want to be patriotic, Johnny had his son, and he had a flag and said something and kids from his school. We really want to educate the public about our veterans and ways that they can help or be engaged and work with other groups. The final event is that, knowing that in lieu of the parade, Rotary approached me in order to ask maybe we want to consider a veteran's day. David DeLuz Jr. I don't know what his answers are from the rest of Rotary, but we came up with maybe we can have a card that promotes veterans, like discounts but maybe it's a special card with discounts to thank veterans and have some deals on there. Ideas are endless but Rotary was going to do it and probably could happen at a low cost. Just planting that seed in your head because you're do-ers, just like the rest of us. We want to make November special. We are not going to sit back. I'm he new Commander of the State. I don't know if I was last meeting. But, I'm now the Commander of the State for the VFW and my boss Fritz (sp) (inaudible), is now the Commander in Chief and he says, "the time is now, we are not going to sit and do nothing, the time is now, no matter how bad things get, just Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 8 like in combat, we have to be supporting our veterans and supporting our community and be creative." And, I know the minds here so I'm really excited. We are going to come up with things that are even better. Its sad that we are separated but we have to be safe, we have to keep caring for people. Chair Doolittle: Well, there's nobody on this committee that does more for veterans than both you Deb and Marcie. So, thank you both. Deputy Hiraishi: I just wanted to say Deb, congratulations. That is so awesome. Rock on with your bad self. I see that John has his hand up. Hiduchick: Yes, thank you. I was going to ask, as a committee, since were going to do the veterans day virtual, is there a way that we as a committee, can piece together a video and talk about what we do and just give out a veterans' day message essentially, but more importantly talk about the committee itself. Not sure what people's thought are. Chair Doolittle: I personally think it's a great idea. Lewis: We could do a Zoom session, or we could do whatever and interchange it with physical shots. But I think that's great. We'll have to set that up, maybe at the end of a coming meeting we can do that before time happens. This is you're being recorded and just have people giving messages. But bring your ideas, I love it. Chair Doolittle: Our next meeting is going to be after Veteran's Day so If you're going to do it, Deb for Veterans Day, you'll need to do it sooner than that. Deputy Hiraishi: If I could just add to that, especially as you're planning for September 26, the Gold Star event, we all know that there's' potential rule changes coming from the Governor as well as from the mayor. I can tell you, literally right now, we are in the process of rewriting, so our island is going to be reduced in our gathering sizes so the more work we can do virtual as well as planning for small group kind gatherings it's going to work in our benefit for sure. Chair Doolittle: there's no doubt about that for sure, writings really all over the wall. Any more comments about that subject. VC Brinkley: I would just like to ask Deb; do you know what time the ceremony is on September 26? Lewis: No, but it was going to be very limited. But as Michelle reminded us all, it could change where, I'm showing you the monument that's in Kea`au where I did the talk virtually. I put the picture of the monument behind me, so people thought I was actually there, but I wasn't. But we are going to have to be created because we need to commemorate those Gold Star families, so I envision it'll be limited, and we don't have a specific time. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 9 VC Brinkley: I just wondered because I know some of the Gold Star families will be interested but I didn't know how many would be allowed. Lewis: Joann is doing the organizing. I think you know her, Joann Hill. But I had a question for J, J is the one to keep us out of jail. For us to do a special meeting like we did for Bill 60 maybe we just call a special meeting to do a zoom session so that we don't do the Sunshine Laws or something like that so we can be together and get something done and have a message. Johnny or Michael, come up with a script what you want to do and then at the end. I know how these things happen when you do a Zoom and you try to have everyone say something at the same time, it sounds terrible. But I have a music director who's figured out how to make it sound like a chorus and not like a cacophony. We'll come up with more, but we'll pick a date at least a month and a half out before the parade which would've been, I moved it to the Saturday after the 1 I1h I think the 13th Deputy Hiraishi: As a side note there will be a provision through the County's website that links up to Civil Defense to request exemptions for larger events. What that means is if you want to go over the rule right now is outside of 25, if you want to go over that, you can just have to submit a COVID plan, how were going to keep safely and how were going to do sanitization and that kind. Not all of them get approved but many of them do. Chair Doolittle: Ok, any more comments about that? Any comments from our guests today? None, ok, let's move on. Lewis: Michael, Nicole was just unmuting herself. You didn't give her a chance to unmute. Chair Doolittle: Who was that? Lewis: Niki. You asked the question, and she couldn't unmute fast enough. Chair Doolittle: Oh, ok. Go ahead. Nicole Gray: No worries. I've been writing everything day. And anything that I've thought to ask, you've been answering. Chair Doolittle: You got anything else to add besides that? Gray: No. Chair Doolittle: You probably pay better attention than most of us do. Let's get going to new business. NEW BUSINESS Mental Health Impacts of Afghanistan — Deb Lewis Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 10 Chair Doolittle: (Introduces topic, defers to Deb Lewis for discussion). Lewis: It's a topic that we need to be keenly aware of. You can read a lot on it on the web and elsewhere, VA. There're significant concerns. What's happening in Afghanistan is one of those trigger things where, especially you Michael from Vietnam. It's like deja vu were here again and the veterans are getting very angry and upset and the interview I had on KITV was basically focus on what we can do. It's terrible but it's going to get worse. Just like COVID seems to keep coming around again and whapping us on the side of the head getting worse but that doesn't mean you can't operate and function and focus on what you want instead of what people are starting to do is getting angry at everybody. The depression, suicides, everything. Isaac can talk about this. It can go off the charts. We were already on the edge before and as the scenes unfold and watching the children crying. The people who fell off the aircraft. Are you kidding me? We're looking at that thinking in today's world those things are still happening. People are suffering and people feel it deeply and we don't know what to do with it. And we want to make sure that we don't get even triggering. I feel like it's an electrified field and its takes nothing for people to go postal, either explode or implode. I'm not sure all the safe cards but in the VFW our Commander has basically said, hey, we have veterans all over the communities who are willing to lend an ear. There are resources for you to get help, go seek that. This is a time where we need to get together, call people if people are already disturbed. But I'm telling you given what I've seen and heard, you know that people who may have been handling it, just like having two combat tours and then the third tour they just lose it. It's just enough to go above and beyond. Also, Johnny with his religious support. This is a time we have to be very active, and our messaging needs to be that. We need to keep ties, not go back into our fox holes, and not help others. That's the reason I don't have any answers. I just know there's a ton of resources out there, but if we're not talking about it, and connecting with our veterans and talking to family members. Because if you think about the family members that lost a loved one in Afghanistan, I know the Commander that was commissioned, not commissioned but I promoted a young lady to lieutenant that died in Afghanistan and I talked to her Battalion Commander who, she died in his arms. The family is ... her grandfather was a classmate of mine from West Point. We're all connected. When you see those scenes and you think about those who gave their lives, try to help the Afghanistan people have a better world and now you see people evacuating. Maybe we need to find out where they're going to in this COVID age, how can we help, how can we send funds, how can we send support. Those are things we want to redirect the toxic energy to the many people who are out there, the doers and making things happen. Rather than gnashing and doing exploding, imploding. So that's it. Chair Doolittle: I know from my own personal experience, what's disturbed me the most in these last few days is the political rhetoric on both sides of the divide of America and how insensitive a lot of the comments have been. So yeah, I understand and has infuriated me to no end. So, I thoroughly understand what you're saying. Gray: Can I add something? Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 11 Chair Doolittle: yes, please. Gray: First of all, if you know someone who's having some kind of emotional or mental break because of this, please send them to get mental help. There's help available at the vet centers. A lot of veterans feel most comfortable there. There's also telehealth options because we know mental health options for veterans on our island is very limited. Also, on another note but on the same wave if you have anybody that you know of that is trying to get out from Afghanistan, you can reach out to us, we are doing daily compiling of lists and sending them forward through the state department to work through special issues with visas and P 1, P2 visas and trying to get them evacuated. So please feel free to reach out to our office. You can go on our website, Kahele.gov and you can pull up our, if you type Afghanistan into the search bar, all the latest information will be pulled up there and instructions for how to submit case work for it and I will send you everything I need to gather as much information as I can about the person. So, if you know any other veterans especially the younger ones who may have served there who may have a fellow afghani that they served with send them our way, definitely. Chair Doolittle: I'd like to give a big shoutout to the vet center as well. They are a remarkable group of people. Felipe Salas has become a personal friend. I know he cares deeply, and he does offer some good counseling. Anybody that's having difficulty with this definitely needs to reach out. Nahakuelua: I want to share the Crisis Line of Hawaii number. What it is, the Crisis Line of Hawaii Is a mental health professional seven days a week, 24 hours a day and anyone can call if they're having a crisis, crisis is usually defined as they can't function in life because there's all this chaos going on in their mind, they can't process emotions fast enough. They're having thoughts where their life is hard to handle so the crisis line, and this is for neighbor islands, 1-800-753-6879, 1-800-753-6879. You can always google the number if you didn't get it. That's pretty much for anyone and if they need someone to talk to, they can call that number and sometimes I've found for veterans, non -veterans, whoever, if they have a bunch of pressure in their minds, heart and minds, weight on their shoulders, just letting it out. I kind of relate that to an analogy, the dam holding back all this water and there's a little pressure outlet that all the water can come out, or like a pressure cooker, you just have to release some of that pressure to kind of get back to your life. So that's what the crisis line does. Then there's the mental health eligibility determination. So pretty much if they don't have medical insurance or any kind of insurance, they can try to see if they qualify through the State of Hawaii, 808-643-2643 and that's Monday through Friday. How that works is a person, whether it be a veteran or non -veteran. Lewis: Can you say again, Isaac? Nahakuelua: Mental Health Eligibly Determination through the State is 808-643-2643. How that works is if someone has some kind of mental health challenge and they're having a hard time coping or they need medication or something, or even food stamps or Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 12 some kind of supplemental income, they can call that number and see if they qualify. What happens is they'll talk to someone in Honolulu and if they meet certain criteria on the telephone interview then they'll get scheduled an appointment here in Hilo with the Adult Mental Health Division and then they'll go through that screening process and asked a series of questions by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and they either get a diagnosis or they don't. If they do, they get case management services and what case management services are, qualified professionals to help someone manage their life, take them grocery shopping, if they need help filling out housing forms and give them that social support and a have a crutch so to say, when they need it when they're in crisis. If anybody needs more information, they can get in touch with me via email Isaacnahakueluagyahoo.com or you can call me at 808-989-0739. Chair Doolittle: thank you, Isaac. It's called venting. And I'm good at it. Nahakuelua: Yeah, that's what it is. I fought in Afghanistan as an Infantryman March 2004 to 2005. People from the Vet Center called me to see how I was doing, other people called me to see how I was doing, that was really kind of them. I was mostly upset about how the Taliban got all this good stuff like the air conditioning units, refortified buildings, up armored hum v's and as a former soldier, my biggest ordeal was the opposite team, so to say, gained the ground and they won. We could go on, but I don't want to take up all this time. Chair Doolittle: Well, thank you anyway. As always, thank you for your service as well. Do we have anymore comments from anybody on the periphery, that hasn't had any input here? Lewis: I had an alibi, one person, Niki, that I would look up, I think his name is Gary Thomas, maybe George knows. He used to be Youth Challenge Academy. He lives now in Maui. He was in Afghanistan, and he just got out. I remember that he told me Gray: He already contacted us. Lewis: Yeah, because he was there and luckily, he got out. Chair Doolittle: It's a disturbing circumstance for sure. Anyone else have any comments? James Hussey: I was Commander of American Legion in Kona and now the State Commander. But I spent five years in the Army Infantry and one of the things we have at our breakfast is veterans talking to veterans. You'd be surprised, these guys don't meet anybody, they keep to themselves but at the breakfast, they're at home, they open up. That's one of the best ways we can deal as members. For example, our Legion there is just one on one just taking care of a veteran. It becomes personal. Something I think we need to keep in mind as well. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 13 Chair Doolittle: I agree with you 100%. I put eight years in the infantry, three years in combat. I can appreciate you and thank you. Any other comments? Let's move on. Report on Cemeteries Chair Doolittle: Do we have anything for the cemeteries? We don't have Roddy anymore. Michelle, do you have anything to report on the cemeteries? Deputy Hiraishi: I don't at this time. Chair Doolittle: I assume they are all running very well. The last time I was up there, the other day, it's always well cared for, and I always appreciate parks and rec for all they do. Deputy Hiraishi: Thank you, I will pass that on to our park's maintenance staff. Chair Doolittle: They always do an excellent job. Lewis: I did want to ask a question because I was approached by someone, I didn't give any answer, but it had to do with the report that came out and the article that came out. The guy that wrote the article came out and I don't know if you've put together or Moe has put together a reply, we'd like to have access to that because I know that they're doing everything they can. Some things that ran through my head was unfunded mandate, unreasonable support, or lack thereof of any support from the State. Just the way the rules are written, there's a whole... What keeps people from doing the right thing and I can guarantee you it's not the only one because there's one managed by the State on Oahu, I think it's Kaneohe and I guarantee you they got as many or more problems as we've got. But what are the key measures and what can the State and others do to make it better. I think it was a pretty attacking article and I didn't read it until I spoke to the person. I assume good intention until I find out. That would be helpful for us as part of the Veterans Advisory Committee to know point by point the things that were brought up, not only what was in the report but also what was in the paper and how we could say a reply to that. Chair Doolittle: when that report first came out, I called and reached out to Moe, and we had a long conversation about that. It's easy to make complaints and point out little nitpicky things. But overall, I think our cemeteries are taken cared in the best fashion with the resources that are available. Moe said he would reach back to us as a committee when he had a plan to address that and that was a little over a month ago. Deputy Hiraishi: I will follow up with this committee with something more formal because some of those projects have started already. So, to answer the first question, I do not believe there has been an actual formal reply to report. I will follow up with Moe on that, if he has any plans for that, I don't think so. What I can tell the group is that, we got together with our park maintenance staff, met, and tried to determine some of those issues within ourselves. We are now trying to do some of the basic things like making sure the markers are lined up correctly. We're working with UH Hilo, I forget the exact group to Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 14 do a mapping project of each of the plots. They're actually starting with VC1, I believe. That conversation started shortly after this report came out. They were waiting for school to start to get going with that because all of the COVID issues. But that's part of it, to reach out to our community to help us fix this. As well as having a better maintenance plan or an ongoing maintenance plan for all of our cemeteries, especially the veterans' cemeteries. But I'll follow up on that formal reply with Moe. Lewis: I think with the misperceptions that are easy to happen with those kinds of reports, but I'll dispel one that I do know. For example, the monies that get funded and then you have to ask, ok, who had control of the money and who directed where it was going to be spent and what was it supposed to accomplish. Like you had some projects that came in and I don't know that you guys had any input on them. It was just imposed on you. If you had been asked, how would you like for us to spend this money, it might be a very different answer. I know that those are just some of the things. A frequently asked question is one of the best techniques that I've ever seen so that people can go to somewhere and say, I'm worried that this has happened. Maybe it happens in one in so many, here is how you can report the discrepancies that you find. Maybe you have an answer to it that points people to be helpful and not to gnash their teeth and say this is awful. Because if you read it on the surface and don't know the background like we do, I agree totally with Michael, I know how hard your people work and I love the idea of UH Hilo to map the plots because their school children who could do this, I know many children who could help with pieces of this, not the whole plan but the pieces of it. So, please help up help you. Deputy Hiraishi: Actually, UH Hilo is actually using the GIS system that Civil Defense uses to map out roadblocks and other things like that, so it's a pretty comprehensive system but I agree, like high school kids, we just need that listing. Chair Doolittle: I see we have a visitor from UH Hilo. Would you like to say something? Ryan Peroy: Yes, Sir. Aloha everyone, my name is Ryan Peroy. I'm the Chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science here at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and yeah, I reached out and we had a meeting with Moe, and we actually had our first day of class yesterday and I spoke to my students about this project. We're going to be working on this as a component of the class for Veterans 1 and we'll see how far we can get for this, but it is being integrated into the class. So, we'll do the best we can and see how much progress we can make with the students. I just wanted to let you all know that. I did see that report and I thought about how we could potentially contribute and so that's what were trying to do. Thank you all for the meeting and your past service and continued service to this. Deputy Hiraishi: Kudos to Ryan, thank you so much. So, everyone knows, UH came to us. They offered this to us and we're really grateful that while we're just spinning with this report, it came to us. So, thank you, Ryan. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 15 Chair Doolittle: And from the committee itself, thank you. Lewis: Ryan is one of my heroes. I've known Ryan for many years. This does not surprise me. When the volcano went up, that's another area that he brought his team and jumped in. Even savings lives, I'll get really choked up about that one and the unmanned things that were out there, helping people get the heck out of there. He is the best of the best and his GIS systems and understanding. It's an unpaid career. He also helped me when I was working for UH Hilo, he just helped me in ways that you know ... If I were to say, I want someone on a committee, Ryan would be the guy, he's a doer, he pays attention. And if you can help us in the cemetery, how awesome is that? So, thank you. Whatever you can do, Ryan I know it'll be awesome. Peroy: Again, we'll be in touch. I need to run right now but thank you very much. Hopefully we'll have some good progress to report to you soon. Aloha. Chair Doolittle: Thank you for the input. Any more comments about cemetery report? Nicole. Gray: Yes, I just had a question. I was on another meeting with Director Ron Han who was talking about brining in the VA to train some of the cemetery folks. He wasn't sure how it would work but he was trying to find a way to get someone from our cemeteries here to go up to Oahu and train. Have you heard anything from that? Deputy Hiraishi: I have not heard of anything. I don't know if maybe Maurice, the Director has gotten some kind of notice on that. Maybe it just hasn't happened yet, but I can tell you that the training would be awesome. If there was a way that those folks could come on site here, that would be the best. Minoru Hanato: Mr. Chair, Minoru Hanato here. West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, I've had couple complaints about the headstones not coming in. The families are waiting long time. I know it's not the County, it's somebody else's fault but sometime if they can boost the thing so they can get it faster. The workers in Kona, the old headstones from the other graves they dig the hole for the headstone and turn it upside down and write the name on it until the new headstone come in, for the interment. Which is really good because in the past there's a small plaque you put on the grave and sometimes it flies away. That is really good on the workers. On another hand, before our cemetery was remodified, we had several meetings with the head guys in Honolulu and they spent quite a bit of money just coming over and we tell them what's good for them to do and they did something completely different and now they have problems, the families are grumbling. We asked for double decker concrete vaults so that the machines don't have to go over the grave and you don't have to bury every other plot. If they bury right next to each other, they're digging the next one, it caves in and sometimes the aroma from the previous grave comes up. But if they had listened to us when we suggested that they do the concrete vaults all they need to do is put in a small excavator just to dig up about one foot of soil and dig up the concrete cover and that's all then you don't have the six inch Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 16 or eight -inch depth from the backhoe. Those tires go right over the other grave and that looks really bad. When they came and did the project they did now, it was really embarrassing. They said we had to put the coffin down then throw gravel on top then jump inside and bounce on it until it packs at the same time, they're shooting hundreds of gallons of water then they throw in some more material, pack it down so it doesn't cave it. But the family sees that, that's terrible. A lot of time the families stay and wait until they finish and then they go put the flowers on the grave. That's something that went on few times at the meetings, and they gave some very embarrassing answers. One example is that they said they don't recognize that over here and then within a month some news comes from the Governor, San Francisco put in almost 6,000, 7,000 graves like that with concrete vaults. That's stupid for them to think we don't recognize that because at that time, in Kona we had three companies that could make the vaults right there, on the spot. But like I said they don't listen to us when we say those things, although they have all these meetings, they had it at the airport couple times, cemetery, office meetings. It was ridiculous. Anyway, I just though I'd throw in my two cents. One more thing, today we had another funeral this morning, we had to do everything like we did 20 years ago. We had to present the flag and everything because the military don't come anymore because of this COVID thing. The only one that come regularly is the National Guard from Hilo, but they only come for National Guard members and Army, they don't come for any other branch. The Air Force used to come, well all the branches used to come but now, only the Army is a regular and once in a while the Marines come. Other than that, only the Army come. It's been getting a little bit rough on us because our members are volunteer members are getting lower. Jim has presented quite a few flags already, we work together, American Legion and DAV because weapons belong to American Legion, but I take care of the weapons, DAV. So, they made me an honorary American Legion member, so thank you very much for that. Another thing that is really ridiculous to us Honor Guard members over here, the VA van, we raised the funds to buy the vans, not for the state to take it. Now they say because of legal things we cannot carry the weapons in the vans. We go to the Honor Guard. But I talk to the other branch of services, National Guard like that, they carry the weapons in the van, and they cannot carry in the car. What's happening now is we have to drive the members in the van, and I have to drive my own car and carry the weapons, because I cannot carry the weapons in the van. Both the military and DAV is under the federal thing. What's the scoop on that? I no can understand that. That's it. Thank you. Chair Doolittle: Thank you for that. Process and perception are important and sometimes we can't ignore that. Process seems to take over and not make any sense. Hopefully we can put that on the list and maybe we can address those things, make some positive changes in that. I just hate it when things look ridiculous, it's a catch 22 of regulation. Hanato: Can I say one more thing? We do honors not only at the Veterans Cemetery, we do it at any church. We don't do at schools or Hawaiian Homes because of legal things. But when we do outside, I notify everybody of interests like Police department, fire department, Harbor Master, DLNR and I do not call them. I personally go over and hand deliver to make sure they get the message. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 17 Chair Doolittle: That seems to be the best way. Anybody else have anything to add about it. About the cemeteries, process, how we view it, the report? It'd be nice to bury it and put a flag on it. Let's move on. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chair Doolittle: Anyone have announcements? Antonio Gaspar: This is Antonio from Kona. Mike and all the Veterans Advisory Committee, in December I reapplied for my commission because my commission expired last December. It's not nine months and I'm still waiting. Last month Pomai Bartolome called me and told me there would be confirmation in August or September. The question is when I get back to you folks, when I get my commission back, it's been nine months I am still waiting. Chair Doolittle: We'll leave that to Michelle for comment. Deputy Hiraishi: Yes, I'll follow up with Brittany on that. Antonio, I'm so sorry, let me follow up with Brittany and see where we are in this process, and I'll have her reach out directly to you. Chair Doolittle: I have an announcement, I don't know if you are aware of our housing project next to the university, just a few weeks ago we received information that we are fully funded, and our housing project will begin construction in the first quarter of 2022. We're still working on the VA to get confirmation or acknowledgement of the sister site, adjoining property for the new VA clinic but to start construction on our housing project which has been 10 years in the coming is a monumental enterprise. We've gotten about $40 million to fund this project and I'm really excited that in the next week or se we're going to have a public announcement and probably sometime in January depending on COVID, we're going to have a groundbreaking ceremony. The community has been enormously supportive for this project, and I'm just absolutely thrilled that I get to sit on the committee let alone share the committee, it's been an effort. One of our past chairman's, Bob Williams, he's been a barking dog and he's made sure that this stayed at the top of the attention scale. Everybody on the committee including Mayor Kim, the Governor, everyone that's ever been supportive of veteran's issues who's had a part of making this happen. I want to thank anybody and everybody as we march on to getting this built. Hopefully everybody in this committee will attend the groundbreaking when it comes up. Thank you, all. Sheridan: I got something. I think we ought to give congratulations to Debbie. She's been selected as the VFW Commander for the State. I know she'll do as good a job as she did with the 3830 Post. Congratulations, Debbie. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 18 Chair Doolittle: Big Congratulations. It's nice that our little outpost here has some control on the State. (laughter). We seem to be Fort Apache here. Any other announcements or comments. Lewis: We need to talk about a tentative date, and we can move it if we have to. Chair Doolittle: You're talking about your public announcement for the Veterans Day? Lewis: For the Veterans Parade. To do something for the Veterans Parade. Let's see, what about early October. How about the week of the fifth? Can we meet on a Tuesday, the fifth? Chair Doolittle: Can we not do it on a Tuesday? I've overly committed on Tuesdays. It's the market and I bring an elderly person to the market. I can do a Tuesday if we do it early in the day. Lewis: Ok, let's do it earlier then. What time would work for you? Chair Doolittle: 10 o'clock is fine with me. Lewis: Ok, 10 o'clock it is. I make a motion that we have a meeting to do something for the parade, a video or otherwise, at 1000 hours on the fifth of October. VC Brinkley: I second. Seven ayes, motion carried. Chair Doolittle: Just a suggestion, if we do just a screen capture of each person adding a comment or something like that, you can do a collage or something like that. Lewis: We'll figure it out, between Isaac, Johnny and all these other brains who know how to do video and stuff, let's find something to make it work. The how we can do later, we just have to say when we're going to meet. Guests are more than welcomed as well. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for November 23, 2021, at 1:30 pm. Lewis motioned to adjourn. VC Brinkley seconded. Chair Doolittle: All in favor? Seven ayes, meeting adjourned at 2:42 p.m. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes August 24, 2021 Page 19 Respectfully submitted, Brig rya - Secretary