Honoring Kapolei Middle School Speech Contest I had the privilege of honoring four special people at the legislature on February 5th. Kapolei Middle School teacher, Ms. Joy Lynch, worked tirelessly and organized the first USS Arizona Memorial Scholarship Speech Contest at Kapolei Middle School.

The speech contest was held on June 16, 2006. Flora Cross, who is now a 9th grader at Kamehameha Schools, won first place. Ninth grade Kapolei High students Rebecca Manahan and Tafia Taimalelagi won second and third place, respectively. As part of their award for winning the contest, the students received a $1,000 scholarship and the opportunity to present their speeches at the 65th Pearl Harbor Anniversary Symposium

. In early December, Flora, Rebecca, and Tafia became the first students in the nation to speak at a USS Arizona Memorial Museum Association event. These students' impressive writing and speech skills clearly conveyed their understanding and appreciation for this important event.

ATV Bill Moving in Senate Senate Bill (SB) 1891, a bill I introduced, was passed out of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs on February 12th by a 4-0 vote. This
bill would establish criminal penalties for driving ATVs and other vehicles on our beaches. SB 1891 would allow the Department of Land and Natural Resources'

Enforcement Division to make arrests, confiscate vehicles, and issue criminal citations.
As you know, ATVs and other vehicles are a safety hazard for families, desecrate native Hawaiian burial grounds, and cause environmental damage to our beaches.

Talk Stories
I'll be hosting talk stories in both Kunia and Kapolei in March. On March 10th, we will meet at the Kunia Wal-Mart (outside seating, just right of the store's main exit, closest to Kupuohi Street and Subway) at 9:00 a.m. On March 24th, we will meet at the Kapolei Starbucks (outside seating, across from Longs Drugs) at 9:00 a.m. I hope to see you there!

Please contact me if I can help in any way. My phone number is 586-6830 and my email address is sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov. Mahalo for the privilege of serving you!