Aloha, I hope you and your family are well! Here are a few things I'd like to share with you:

Bill Would Help Fight "Ice"

You might have heard that DEA officers recently busted "ice" dealers in Royal Kunia. The officers seized 50 pounds of "ice" with a street value of over $1 million. This is one of the largest drug busts in Hawaii history. And with busts like this, it won't be too long before the dealers look to increase their efforts in making "ice" here in Hawaii.

A bill, SB 2373, SD1, that I introduced this year is timely because it will help law enforcement by closing a loophole in existing law so that we can better track those criminals who are going store to store, buying pseudoephedrine and then making “ice” to poison our communities. The bill would require retailers to keep an electronic log of their pseudoephedrine sales on an Excel worksheet and to send it to the Department of Public Safety every 30 days. SB 2373, SD1 passed the Senate on March 4th. It's now being considered in the House.

Coordinating Fundraising Efforts for the Hawaii Foodbank

I'm heading up the Senate's efforts in the Hawaii Foodbank 2008 Food Drive. Our goal is to raise $5,000 in monetary donations and collect 1,500 lbs of food to support this important cause. This year we're competing with our colleagues in the House and I'm hoping we'll come out on top. My office has already coordinated four lunch fundraisers. My wife and I have prepared homemade lasagna and Indian cuisine for legislators and staffers. Please contact me if you'd like to donate any canned food items or rice. Also, let me know if you'd like to purchase a Hawaii Foodbank T-Shirt ($12) or an Aloha Diners Book ($12 – lots of great coupons.)

"Listen-Story"

I'll be hosting my next "listen-story" meeting at the Kamokila Community Park meeting room (91-015 Farrington Highway) in Honokai Hale at 9:00am on Saturday, April 12th.

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