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Home My WebLink About2010-08-19 Veteran Advisory Committee MinutesPresent Absent VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, August 19, 2010, 3:00 p.m. Prosecutor's Office (Hilo) and Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members Carolle Brulee- Wilson Caleb Churchill Penny Fox Delbert Nishimoto Emile Wery Kona Mayor's Office (Via Videoconferencing) Members David Carlson Antonio Gaspar Minoru Hanato Robert Welter Guests (Hilo) None Guests (Kona) Bronsten "Kalei" Kossow (Boy Scouts of America) Stanley Tokunaga (Boy Scouts of America) Kristen Kam (Boy Scouts of America) Barbara Kossow, Office of the Mayor Ex- Officio (Hilo) Clayton Honma, Deputy Director, P &R Ex- Officio (Kona) None Also Present (Hilo) Nathalie Santos, Secretary Renee Schoen, Deputy Corporation Counsel Herbert Lum, Member, State Veterans Advisory Committee Meeting Don Bennett Wendall Kekumu Edward Lee George Mukai Gilbert Sampaia Norman Stahl George Yamamoto Call to Order Chairperson Penny Fox called the meeting to order at 3:26 pm - (9) members were present. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 2 August 19, 2010 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES — June 17, 2010 The minutes of the June 17, 2010 meeting were approved as submitted. INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBER Chairwoman Fox introduced the newest member to the committee - Mr. Caleb Churchill of Hilo VFW. REPORT ON CEMETERIES — STATE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Representative Dr. Norman Stahl Dr. Stahl — Absent. Hawaii Island - West Hawaii Representative Mr. Herb Lum Mr. Lum reported that Mr. Kawika Riley and Ms. Polzer of Senator Akaka's Veteran's Affairs Committee will be visiting all of the veterans cemeteries on the island next week (August 26, Thursday - Kona and August 27, Friday - Hilo). Purpose of their visit is just to tour cemeteries. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION (Director Robert Fitzgerald — Unable to Attend Meeting — Represented by Deputy Director Clayton Honma) Deputy Director Clayton Honma reported on Triennial On -Site Review: He reported that the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery had an excellent review and was the only cemetery to receive the NCA certification for attaining shrine standard status. The rest of the cemeteries throughout the state didn't attain that standard including Veterans Cemeteries I and 11 in East Hawaii. Deputy Director Honma read observations from report: "I want to thank Gary for his efforts to care for the state cemetery, with exception of the sanction markers and the need to add internment location information on the gravesite markers, this cemetery is in compliance with the NCA shrine standards. The State of Hawaii needs to do a much better job of managing and maintaining all (8) state veterans cemeteries in the similar manner as this cemetery. The Hilo County Government supports this Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, I applaud the Counties for supporting the cemeteries with their workers, equipment and resources. Without their support, the operations would be in much worse condition. The pictures of (8) cemeteries indicates what the state has done to maintain it, however, I believe the state must be responsible for all (8) veterans cemeteries. VA through SCGP has awarded the State of Hawaii grants totaling $20,184,234 to establish and improve these cemeteries. The Director of the Hawaii Office of Veterans Services claims to only have supervisory authority of the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe. If that is correct, there is no structure to ensure that the veterans and their families are being properly served. This review is the only evidence that the state is making much progress towards meeting NCA shrine standards of operations which is a requirement for receiving these funds. The state should focus attention on improving the maintenance of the cemeteries, signage, notify Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 August 19, 2010 the visitors regarding locations of functional areas, flower policy and visitor information. With training, the other State of Hawaii veterans cemeteries could quickly meet these standards." In summary, Deputy Director Honma stated that the other two cemeteries could also meet these standards and we may be leaving money on the table by not meeting these standards. This report also states that the state is receiving grant funds to maintain these cemeteries, but the Counties are not receiving funds to help with cost of maintainenance. In fact, the State has cut off supplementing any funds for the County to maintain cemeteries. Mr. Wery asked where all of the funds are going and several members responded that the funds are all going to Kaneohe. Deputy Director Honma said this report is an indication that maybe something could be done; funds should be audited so the County can obtain funds to help with cost to maintain all three cemeteries. This year the state notified us they would no longer be providing funding assistance. The state's reason is that the Counties are responsible to take care of their own veterans. Mr. Wery asked if cemeteries are state facilities and response was yes. Deputy Director Honma and members from East Hawaii applauded the West Hawaii Veterans for working so hard to beautify the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Deputy Director Honma reported that Park Planner James Komata submitted comments to DAGS relating to the plans for the Columbariums for Veterans Cemetery 11. The original plan was suppose to be set up like spokes of a wheel. Each side would be vertical and not have a front and back. DAGS responded that they are willing to take our suggestions into consideration. PRESENTATION BY BRONSTEN "KALEI" KOSSOW (Eagle Scout Project Mapping at Veterans Cemetery III — West Hawaii) Bronsten "Kalei" Kossow is working on his Eagle Scout Project at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery plotting names for a brochure /directory. Currently there are approximately 304 Burials and he is planning to complete his project by Veterans Day, November 11th. He will be printing 1,000 copies of directory when completed. He has raised funds to pay for the cost of printing copies. He said information will include: Section, Row, Last Name, First Name, Middle Name, Date of Birth, Date of Death, War Rank, Location of the Plots and anything else. He asked for committee's assistance to name the different sections at the cemetery to be included in brochure. Chairwoman Fox asked if Minoru could assist with naming and he responded that the County should do the naming so it matches their records. Chairwoman Fox asked Bronsten to email sample of brochure to Nathalie to forward to her for review and she'll send suggestions to him directly. She also said if he needed any financial assistance to let her know and she could check with veterans for some help. She will also check on naming with County. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 4 August 19, 2010 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Veterans Cemetery III - West Hawaii Reforestation Project (Members reviewed the August 17th Reforestation Report submitted by Dr. Richard Stevens) NEW BUSINESS Cost of Government Commission Chairperson Fox said that all members should have received a copy of the letter dated August 5, 2010 from the Cost of Government Commission. She asked all members to send in any comments /suggestions to Nathalie who will be preparing a response from the Committee. EX- OFFICIO MEMBERS No Report ANNOUNCEMENTS Cemetery Visit by Senator Akaka's Veterans Affairs Committee Chairwoman Fox reminded members as Mr. Lum reported earlier that members of Senator Akaka's Veteran's Affairs Committee will be visiting all of the veterans cemeteries on the island next week (August 26, Thursday - Kona at 2pm and August 27, Friday — Hilo at 12pm). She asked members on the Kona side to try to be at the cemetery on Thursday and she will be at Veterans I and II on Friday. U.S. Marine Corps EIS for Basing MV -22 and H -1 Aircraft in Hawaii Public Scopin2 Open Houses Scheduled in Hilo and Waikoloa Chairwoman Fox announced public meetings will be held on Tuesday, August 24th from 5 -8pm at Hilo High School Cafeteria and on Wednesday, August 25th from 4 -7pm at the Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School Cafeteria relating to U.S. Marine Corps EIS for Basing MV -22 and H -1 Aircraft in Hawaii. (Fliers were distributed to VAC members at both Hilo and Kona meeting sites). NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 3pm at the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and video - conferencing at the Kona Mayor's Office conference room. Veterans Advisory Committee Page 5 August 19, 2010 'VIDEO *VIDEO CONFERENCING — EXPERIENCED TECHNICAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE MEETING ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 4:10 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathafie Santos, Secretary