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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES for 2023-02-22 FINAL VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 10:00 a.m. Zoom Video Conferencing and Kona Mayor's Office(Via Videoconferencing) Present Members Michael Doolittle Isaac Nahakuelua Marcia Brinkley Debra Lewis Antonio Gaspar John Hiduchick-Nakayama Douglas Gora Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members None Guests Cheryl Soon Ex-Officio (Hilo) Michelle Hiraishi, Deputy Director P&R Also Present(Hilo) J Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Brittany Iyo, Secretary Absent Minoru Hanato George Sheridan Call to Order Chair Michael Doolittle called the meeting to order at 10:04 am. Quorum met with seven members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC There were none. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES Chair Doolittle introduced the minutes from the last meeting of November 30, 2022. Debra Lewis made a motion to accept the minutes as is. Vice-Chair Marcia Brinkley seconded the motion. Seven ayes. Minutes accepted. OLD BUSINESS Vacancies Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and asked Secretary, Britany Iyo for an update. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 22,2023 Page 2 Secretary Brittany Iyo noted three (At-Large)vacancies in the committee. There are currently no applicants in the queue. She encouraged members to speak to fellow veterans or friends that would be interested in serving on the committee. Several members expressed interested friends and will encourage them to apply. This matter will continue to be updated at future meetings until all seats have been filled. NEW BUSINESS Veteran License Plates Chair Doolittle introduced the topic. It has been discussed in the past that there have been issues with the Hawaii Island motor vehicle registration and licensing office (VRL). Office of Veterans Services Representative Kelcie Figueira discussed many issues she's had in conversations with Hawaii County's VRL. Kelcie will continue to work with VRL to make sure all the rules are being followed and veterans are being classified correctly when issuing certain license plates. Assistant Corporation Counsel, J Yoshimoto will look further into this topic as he recalls providing an opinion to VRL in the past. The committee will follow up on this topic at the next meeting. Veterans Memorials —Guest Cheryl Soon Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and asked Cheryl to give a description of her request. Cheryl Soon is writing a book on the different memorial sites around Hawaii. She is asking for permission to include in her book photos of the memorials. The members didn't see any issues with her request. ACC Yoshimoto and P&R Director wgave approval for permissions. No other issues noted. Memorial Bench Donation for WHVC Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and turned it over to Brittany. Brittany explained that P&R Director Messina received a request to install a memorial bench at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery to honor the brothers in the Midnight Riders Motorcycle Club who served with honor and valor in the United States Armed Forces. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 22,2023 Page 3 Hiduchick-Nakayama made a motion to approve the memorial bench donation to WHVC and they can work with P&R to figure out the logistics to getting the bench installed where appropriate. Douglas Gora seconded the motion. Seven ayes, none opposed. Motion has been passed. REPORT ON CEMETERIES Hawaii Island—East Hawaii Representative—Kelcie Figueira —OVS Kelcie had no other updates for the cemeteries at this time. Cemetery Audit Update Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Michelle Hiraishi. P&R Deputy Director Michelle Hiraishi announced Jaye Dempsey is now in charge of our Veterans Cemeteries on our island for P&R. He has been a part of the entire audit process and met with the auditors. We received a preliminary audit report but not the final report at this time. P&R will be meeting internally to go over the preliminary report and see what we can take care of and prepare a formal respond to the VA. We expect to get the final report about mid-March. Michelle will provide another update at the next meeting. ANNODUNCEMENTS Fellow Veteran Dan Kama Passes Lewis announced that Dan Kama passed away. His services will be on February 28th at Veterans Cemetery H, if anyone is able to attend. WHVC —Vietnam Memorial Finished Vice-Chair Brinkley announced that the Vietnam Memorial at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery is finished and they will have a dedication ceremony on march 29th at 11:00 am. Veterans Benefits at Kamana Senior Center Antonio Gaspar announced that Maricar Souza from Veterans Benefits will be at the Kamana Senior Center on March 9th at 4:15 am for anyone that would like to speak with her or needs assistance. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for May 24, 2023, at 10:00 am. Lewis motioned to adjourn. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes February 22,2023 Page 4 Hiduchick-Nakayama seconded. Seven ayes. None opposed. Meeting adjourned at 11:12 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Brittany Iyo Secretary