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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES for 2023-05-24 FINAL VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wednesday, May 24, 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 George Sheridan Tom Wojszynski Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Minoru Hanato Guests None Ex-Officio (Hilo) Michelle Hiraishi, Deputy Director P&R Also Present(Hilo) J Yoshimoto, Deputy Corporation Counsel Brittany Iyo, Secretary Absent Call to Order Chair Michael Doolittle called the meeting to order at 10:00 am. Quorum met with 10 members present. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC There were none. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES Chair Doolittle introduced the minutes from the last meeting of February 22, 2023. Minoru Hanato made a motion to accept the minutes as is. Doug Gora seconded the motion. Ten ayes. Minutes accepted. OLD BUSINESS Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes May 24,2023 Page 2 Vacancies Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and asked if Tom Wojszynski was present. Tom retired from the Air Force working in intelligence and acquisitions. After he retired from the Air Force he served in engineering and sales positions. Tom worked for Google for 12 years before permanently relocating to Hawaii Island in January 2022. The committee welcomed Tom. Vacancies will continue to be updated at future meetings until all seats have been filled. Motor Vehicle Registration—Issuance of Veteran License Plates Chair Doolittle reintroduced the topic and gave a little background on prior discussions. He also indicated that Kelsie Figueira from the Office of Veterans Services was not present at the meeting and there may not be an update. Assistant Corporation Counsel J Yoshimoto did a little research and found Act 254, House Bill No. 1724 which provides changes to the requirements of Veterans license plates. Changes made were from only one set of license plates to more than one. He also asked for permission from the Committee to reach out to the Office of the Attorney General (AG)who oversees these regulations to clarify the requirements. All members agreed that ACC Yoshimoto reaching out to the AG would be helpful. ACC Yoshimoto will then provide an update to the Committee once he is able to clarify with the AG the requirements. The Wall that Heals —Hilo Group Application Chair Doolittle introduced the topic. Chair Doolittle traveled to San Luis Obispo, California with Ben and Teresa Fuata to experience the Wall. Hawaii Island has an opportunity to bring the Wall to our island. They expect the official letter, if the Wall will be coming to Hilo, to come out after Memorial Day. Will need to budget approximately $120,000 to pay for transportation. They are looking for two co-chairs for the west and south sides of the island to help coordinate. Hawaii Island Veterans Fund will be accepting any donations as they are a non-profit. John Hiduchick-Nakayama suggested getting the motorcycle clubs involved. They can do fundraisers for this purpose; they can escort the wall when it arrives and stage at site. *Debra Lewis left the meeting around 10:20 am Chair Doolittle explained that they would like to have a parade through town before arriving at the final site. It's a van that is 55 feet long by about 14 1/2 feet high. But we'll Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes May 24,2023 Page 3 need to plan out a five-to-six-mile parade around Hilo before arriving at the final viewing site. The proposed site at the Hilo Bayfront fields. The current funds are approximately, $35,000 to $55,000. We'll need to get funds secured by Veterans Day. The next meeting will be June 16 at 1:00 pm either in person at Parks & Rec or via video. Everyone is invited to attend the planning meetings. The committee will continue to be updated throughout the process. Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home—Staff Update Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Vice-Chair Marcia Brinkley. Vice-Chair Brinkley gave a brief overview of the topic from past discussions and explained that she spoke with Juan Babiak from the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home. They are working hard to increase the number of staff and the number of open beds, to pre-pandemic levels. She offered to invite him to the next meeting to talk in more details. Chair Doolittle accepted the offer to invite Mr. Babiak. NEW BUSINESS Cemetery Updates: Public Directories at all Cemeteries Chair Doolittle introduced the topic and deferred to Vice-Chair Brinkley and Tom Wojszynski. Tom is a part of the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Development and Expansion Association (WHVCDEA). As a part of the WHVCDEA he volunteers at the cemetery and they worked with the County to create a directory for the cemetery. There is currently a binder at the cemetery where you can find the coordinates of everyone (veterans and spouses)that is buried or inurned at the Cemetery. Collaboration with Donna Shimizu, East Hawaii Representative to State Veterans Advisory Council Tom has been in contact with Donna Shimizu to get a directory for Veterans I and H in Hilo. He received burial information from P&R Deputy Director Michelle Hiraishi for the burials at each cemetery and they will be working to get a directory together. BudgetRequests for West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Tom is requesting to make three motions based on this topic. 1) Tom made a motion that Hawaii County increase on site coverage for on site personnel at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery from part-time to full-time. a. Doug seconded the motion. Nine ayes. Motion passed. Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes May 24,2023 Page 4 b. Discussion ensued and the committee will make that recommendation to the County. 2) Tom made a motion to recommend that County enter into an agreement with State Parks for assistance in closing the gate to the cemetery. The State currently closes the gate to Kekaha Kai State Park. Can they walk across the street to close the gate to the cemetery as well. a. Doug seconded the motion. Nine ayes. Motion passed. b. Discussion ensued and the committee will make that recommendation to the County. 3) The current location of the restrooms is up a hill from the pavilion, making it difficult for disabled and elderly to get to the restrooms. The WHVCDEA has been renting a portable restroom,placed behind the pavilion. Tom made a motion to have Parks & Rec permanently take over the payments for the portable toilets. a. Vice-Chair Brinkley seconded the motion. Nine ayes. Motion passed. b. Discussion ensued and the committee will make that recommendation to the County. Docent Program Vice-Chair Brinkley explained there's a docent program at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. They assist in opening gates for visitors and helping to locate graves at the cemetery. The next meeting will be on June 3rd at the cemetery and are welcoming anyone that is interested. REPORT ON CEMETERIES Hawaii Island—East Hawaii Representative—Kelcie Figueira —OVS Kelcie did not attend this meeting. 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 Vice-Chair Brinkley announced the following upcoming events: Veterans Advisory Committee Minutes May 24,2023 Page 5 Memorial Day ceremonies will be held in Hilo at Veterans Cemetery II on May 291h. If anyone would like to help with putting out flags on the graves, they'll begin at 7:00 am. WHVC ceremony will be on May 29 starting at 11:00 am. The guest speaker will be Paul Alstraub. May 25 at 12:00 pm ceremony at the KMR Armed Services Reserve Center. May 27 Annual Puna District Interfaith will be held at the Puna Hongwanji. June 28 will be a change of command ceremony at Pohakuloa Training Area. Anyone can attend. Lt. Col. Cronin will be leaving, and Lt. Col Alvarez will be incoming. July 4 will have the Salute to Veterans 5k run/walk beginning st 7:00 am at Liliuokalani Gardens. Chair Doolittle announced on May 27 at Hakalau Veterans Park there will be a memorial recognition, starting at 10:00 am with a potluck to follow at the Hakalau Hongwanji. Antonio Gaspar announced on July 12 at 4:00 pm Maria Cecil from VA Office in Kona will be at Post 20 meeting speaking about Veterans health issues at the Old Elks Lodge, 74-5596 Pawai Place in Kona. Minoru Hanato announced on May 27 he will be helping the boys scouts put out flags for Memorial Day if anyone would like to help. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for May 24, 2023, at 10:00 am. Doug motioned to adjourn. Tom seconded. Nine ayes. None opposed. Meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Brittany Iyo Secretary