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Home My WebLink About2004-09-23 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesVETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, September 23, 2004 County Council Room and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) 3:00 p.m. Present Members Denny Austen Roy Hinokawa Paul Johnston Louis Kaoiwi Wendall Kekumu Morris Kihara Hideo Segawa Dale Wilson Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencin2) Members Peter Callahan Guests (Kona) Himeo Hanato Minoru Hanato Herb Lum Joe Pretsch Lee Pretsch Alfredo Tobias Ex- Officio (Hilo) Pamela Mizuno, Deputy Director, P &R Keith Ribbentrop Also Present (Hilo) Nathalie Santos, Department of Parks and Recreation Delbert Nishimoto Scott, Washington Absent Penny Fox Richard Highley Charles Mayes George Mukai Patrick Pavao Gilbert Sampaia George Yamamoto Call to Order • Chairman Kaoiwi called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m, Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 September 23, 2004 INTRODUCTION Keith Ribbentrop introduced Scott of the VA National Cemetery Grants Program in Washington DC,. They have already visited West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery III and following the meeting they will visit Veterans Cemeteries I and II. CORPORATION COUNSEL Diane Noda is the Deputy Corporation Counsel now assigned to work with the Veterans Advisory Committee replacing Craig Masuda. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC No Statements from the public. Previous Meeting Minutes — July 15 , 2004 and August 19, 2004 • The Minutes of both the July 15, 2004 and August 19, 2004 meetings were approved as submitted. STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD — REPORT Delbert Nishimoto, Big Island representative on the State Veterans Advisory Board read a report received from Civil Engineer Jonathan Ito of the Department of Defense Engineering Office (he replaced Major Mitsuyoshi who was recently deployed). Veterans Cemetery II Mr. Ito's report stated that the Veterans Cemetery II Expansion Project is 80% complete and should be finished within 30 days dependent on good weather. New Sign Submittal received from Contractor and M & E Pacific to erect sign with the following wording: East Hawaii Veterans Cemetery No. 2 Mr. Nishimoto and Chairman Kaoiwi would like to add County of Hawaii on the sign so that people with concerns will know who to contact. Oftentimes people call the Federal Government and get referred to various places before they realize that the County maintains the cemetery. Chairman Kaoiwi asked Deputy Director Mizuno to inform the Director about adding the County of Hawaii to the sign. Deputy Director Mizuno added that the grass is growing, trees are planted, final inspection will be scheduled and the project should be turned over soon. Chairmain Kaoiwi suggested that the County be very careful before accepting the project because he does not want to see the County getting stuck with problems in the future. Deputy Director will pass that suggestion on to Park Planner James Komata. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 September 23, 2004 Graveliners — Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii Mr. Ito's report stated that the design for graveliners is proceeding. Complete package including specs and plans should be ready for review and approved by VA within the next 30 days. UNFINISHED BUSINESS VETERANS CEMETERY III — WEST HAWAII Landscaping Improvement Project Minoru Hanato said that Richard Highley was still on the Mainland and shared the latest report from Mr. Les Chess of the Golf Course Superintendent's Association, volunteer coordinator for landscaping improvement project. He reported that the GPS reading was just obtained yesterday and work to remove the headstones is planned for this coming Wednesday. Still hopeful that project will be completed by November I Itn Mr. Hanato reported that the County's backhoe will be needed in approximately two weeks. They will coordinate use with the West Hawaii Parks Maintenance staff. VETERANS DAY PARADE Dale Wilson shared that there was nothing new to add, still researching insurance costs. He also said that Pat Engelhard was going to include in the P &R budget funds for police and emergency medical support for the parade. NEW BUSINESS West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery III Chairman Kaoiwi received grave measurements regarding headstones and turned form over to Deputy Director Mizuno. ANNOUNCEMENTS KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP Chairman Kaoiwi shared information regarding the operations of the KMC Cafe and the POW /MIA Recognition Day which was held on September 14th and the Rotary Blood Drive held on Monday, September 20th 100th Infantry Battalion — Memorial Service Committee received an invitation from the 100th Infantry Battalion — Veterans Association — Hawai`i Chapter — to attend the Memorial Service commemorating the 6151 anniversary of the first day of combat of the 100th Infantry Battalion in Italy on Sunday, September 26, 2004 at 10:00 am at Veterans Cemetery I. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 September 23, 2004 Veterans Center Chairman Kaoiwi read a copy of a letter from Mayor Kim to Harry Yada, District Land Agent of the Department of Land and Natural Resources requesting an additional Executive Order for the remaining portion of the parcel to add to the already acquired 5.615 acres from Executive Order No. 4014 to assist the veterans's organizations to facilitate the planning for creating a veteran's center for East Hawaii (Copy of letter attached). Correct Mailing Address - Chapter 7 (DAV) Mr. Hanato requested that the Chapter 7 (DAV) mailing address be corrected to P.O. Box 1334 instead of 1134. Transportation of Bodies Mr. Denny Austen asked if a veteran dies in Hilo and wants to be buried in Kona would the VA or the Veterans Advisory Committee provide transportation from Hilo to West Hawaii. Mr. Ribbentrop responded that the mortuary services should provide transportation and the family would be responsible for the cost. NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on October 14, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. in the Hawaii County Councilroom and video - conferencing at the Kona Mayor's Office. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Nathal el Sa*i to-s- Secretary