Hawaii

Hawaii State Arts Programs Could Be On The Chopping Block In The Legislature This Year

Published

4 months ago

March 19, 2024

Hawaii State Arts Programs Could Be On The Chopping Block In The Legislature This Year

A 59-year-old program that pays for art in public spaces is facing significant changes and budget cuts under a bill being considered Tuesday in the Senate.

House Bill 1807 would change the program in which 1% of the costs of public construction projects are used for art in public spaces. The measure would limit the program to new construction only and eliminate it being used for renovation projects. Most state projects involve fixing up existing buildings, not building new ones, so this would considerably reduce arts funding.

The bill also suggests that no further artwork needs to be purchased by the state, noting that the state “possesses a surplus of artwork in storage for current and future uses.”

The bill was approved by the House in March and has moved to the Senate. Its sponsor is Rep. Kyle Yamashita, chair of the House Finance Committee, who represents Maui’s District 12.

The Senate’s Transportation and Culture and the Arts Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bill at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Capitol Modern, formerly the Hawaii State Art Museum, could face substantial budget cuts under legislation that seeks to curtail money for the arts. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)

The popular annual Kamehameha Day celebration and parades held statewide may be on the chopping block as well, amid cost-cutting pressures caused by the Maui fire.

The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the state’s primary arts funding agency which oversees the celebration, also had been targeted for major cutbacks in both the House and Senate.

Under one proposal that appears to have stalled, House Bill 2565, introduced by Rep. Daniel Holt, the commission that oversees the foundation would be eliminated and the governor would appoint the executive director who would have to be approved by the Senate.

Karen Ewald, the executive director of the State Foundation On Culture and the Arts, says the cuts being proposed are potentially devastating, with the foundation possibly losing up to 70% of its income, including some $50,000 to $60,000 each year that is used to support the Kamehameha festival.

“This is a critical bill that would cut arts funding dramatically and reverberate negatively around the state for years and years,” Ewald said. “It would have a huge impact if it were to happen.”

She said that state support for arts education in public schools, grants to artists and purchases of public art would all be curtailed. She said she expected that the state’s art museum could be shut down.

As to the Kamehameha parades, “that wouldn’t happen anymore,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to fund them.”

The commission’s annual budget for fiscal 2024 includes about $800,000 in state funds, $907,500 from the federal National Endowment for the Arts and about $5.7 million from the special fund, which is the 1% money, for a total of about $7.4 million, according to Ewald.

Hundreds of artists, actors, dancers, musicians and museum enthusiasts have rallied in defense of the foundation and the cut to the 1% for arts fund, testifying against the proposed legislation and saying that extreme cuts could alter Hawaii’s cultural fabric. They include the Kauai Museum, Maui Dance Council, Hawaii Craftsmen, Kahilu Theatre Foundation and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center.

“The overarching purpose of this fund is to chronicle Hawaii’s history, its present, and future through the arts – all of the arts,” wrote Beth-Ann Kozlovich, executive director of the Hawaii Arts Alliance. “This also means supporting arts education to grow our current and future artists now children or as yet unborn. The fund’s purpose is far more than even the important function of collecting Hawaii art that can be seen in state buildings but to support all forms of the arts that can mirror and record the ongoing changes in thought, approach to issues and actions that reflect those changes through time.”

Karen Ewald, executive director of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, poses inside Capitol Modern, a showcase for local art. (David Croxford/Civil Beat/2023)

Artist and art instructor Erik Sullivan testified in indignation that lawmakers think Hawaii already has too much art.

“The assertion that the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) has ‘enough works of art’ and that there is ‘no need to acquire more art for the state collection’ is shortsighted,” Sullivan wrote. “Art is not a commodity to be accumulated until a certain quota is met; it is a living, evolving expression of our society and its values.”

“Please do not cut funds for Arts and Culture,” wrote painter Doug Young. “They are the backbone of Hawaii nei.”

It’s not clear who is pushing for the changes in the state’s art funding budget, but some of the pressure is likely coming as a result of the huge costs of rebuilding in Maui after the catastrophic fire in August that killed 101 people and damaged or destroyed more than 2,000 homes and much of West Maui’s critical infrastructure. With that in mind, Senate Ways and Means Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz, who represents Wahiawa on Oahu, instructed state departments to prepare to make painful cuts of 10% to 15%.

But lawmakers have recently said the financial hit may not be as devastating as they originally feared. Last week Yamashita said the state was projecting a $1.34 billion surplus that would cover the estimated $1 billion needed to help finance the Maui recovery effort. The state, meanwhile, has a record $1.5 billion in its Emergency and Budget Reserve Fund, known as the Rainy Day fund, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on Sunday.

There has been some management turmoil at the foundation in the past two years. Long-time executive director Jonathan Johnson left the job in the summer of 2022, and was replaced by Allison Wong, former executive director of The Contemporary Museum. But the board placed Wong on administrative leave a few months later and named Ewald as interim director. She became executive director in October.

Around that time, the agency made an unusual announcement when it changed the name of the venerable Hawaii State Art Museum to “Capitol Modern,” in a rebranding effort that Ewald said would help the facility shed the common misperception that museums are stuffy or uninvitingly uptight.

But the rebrand, which cost $156,260 and stripped the word “Hawaii” from the museum’s name, proved controversial, with critics including former government Ben Cayetano publicly panning the move, according to Hawaii Public Radio.

The foundation has in the past been a source of pride to the state. Hawaii was the first state in the country to adopt a percent-for-art law, a concept that subsequently spread to many other parts of the United States, where it applies in some places to both publicly owned and privately owned buildings.

The money is used to finance many community arts-based endeavors and festivals.

About 10,000 children in the state participate in arts programs funded by the commission through the percent program, tens of thousands visit public art exhibits and thousands of people each year attend Kamehameha commemorations.

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Hawaii

Woman charged for prohibited rifle, ammo discovered during traffic stop

Published

5 mins ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Woman charged for prohibited rifle, ammo discovered during traffic stop

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii County’s prosecuting attorney said a Hilo woman has been charged with prohibited possession of a rifle and ammo as well as felony drug offenses.

Police said Jackie Carter, 30, was arrested and charged following a vehicle traffic stop off Kilauea Avenue.

According to police reports, after executing a search warrant of the vehicle Carter was driving, officers recovered a Remington bolt action rifle and live .243 ammunition.

Officials said Carter was charged with the following offenses:

Ownership or possession of a firearm prohibited
Ownership or possession of ammunition prohibited
Promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree (possess any amount of methamphetamine)
Promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree (possess any amount of oxycodone hydrochloride)
Promoting a harmful drug in the fourth degree (possess any amount of alprazolam)
Driving without a license
Not having no-fault insurance

The prosecutor’s office said Carter faces a penalty of a five-year prison term or four years probation and up twelve months in jail.

Officials said she remains in custody in lieu of $84,000 bail.

Police ask anyone with information on the incident to call CrimeStoppers at (808) 961-8300.

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Hawaii

‘Bring my A game’: Hawaii surfer Carissa Moore hopes to defend her Olympic gold title

Published

7 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

‘Bring my A game’: Hawaii surfer Carissa Moore hopes to defend her Olympic gold title

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Carissa Moore is the most decorated competitive surfer in Hawaii’s history, topping former World Champs John John Florence, Andy Irons and Sunny Garcia.

And she’s the only Hawaii surfer to ever win Olympic gold in surfing.

Of course, Duke Kahanamoku won multiple medals, but those were in swimming.

“It was super, super special to you know, I felt like through the Olympic journey, last time, I felt like I got to learn a lot about Duke Kahanamoku and his legacy and feel a deeper connection and pride for where I come from, the place treally raised me, the waves, my community and being able to like, represent and surf for something bigger than myself,” Moore said.

Moore competed in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, which was held in 2021 due to the pandemic, and became the first-ever winner of the Olympic gold medal in women’s shortboard surfing.

“Obviously getting to win in Tokyo in 2021 was so so special. But so many things had to fall into place. And so I don’t really feel too much pressure to have to back it up,” she said. “The Olympics far exceeded my expectations that I had, it was the first time so I didn’t really know what was going to happen or how it was gonna change surfing or, you know, if it was just gonna be like another CT event.”

“But it definitely did feel like a bigger stage.”

That’s in the rear view mirror now. Since the landmark victory, Moore has been able to get some me-time.

Previous Coverage: Carissa Moore is stepping away from competitive surfing, but she left a lasting impact

“So I, I’ve actually got to have a few months to just relax and go to Japan with my Nana and my sister. And, you know, I decided to step away from competing full time this year to focus on the Olympics, but also have some time to like, do other things. So it’s been a nice balance of both,” Moore explained.

In preparation for the Olympics, Moore has been logging a considerable amount of time training down in Tahiti on a wave that is not for the faint of heart.

“It’s one of the most intense, intimidating, challenging waves to surf, you really have to have a high level of skill to like read the wave and navigate the steep takeoff. And obviously, there’s a huge risk involved. There’s a shallow reef and you could get very hurt, but you could also have the ride of your life. Comfortable level is, you know, it’s getting there. I think the more than I spend time at the wave and hopefully learn and, and you know, just get the reps up, that will help me to feel more confident. But at this point, I don’t, I don’t know if you can ever feel like 100% comfortable,” Moore said.

Then there’s the competition, the best of the best will be there, including one Tahitian woman who has the luxury of a home break advantage.

“Everyone’s earned their spot and are very, very talented and experienced,” Moore said. “And I’m gonna have to bring my A game if I want to do well there and put in the work.”

Among Moore’s accolades is 11 national titles, five world titles and the Olympic gold title. While she’s a fierce competitor in the water, Moore says it takes a lot to tap into that side of her.

“It’s definitely not natural for me to like, just be super competitive, or confrontational. But like, you have to have a little bit of that like hunger and drive and fire and like get up close and personal at times,” she added.

When asked if another Olympic gold medal could a be trigger back to competing for the world championship again, she responded:

“I don’t know honestly, I haven’t really thought too much further than this summer I’m just trying to really simplify things… I will definitely give myself some space to kind of figure out what I want to do next.”

Win or lose, Moore’s next move will involve her Moore Aloha Foundation which aims to help girls and women navigate the waves of mental health and wellness, and create a life of positivity, purpose and passion.

Her message to young people?

“If I had any advice to the young ones coming up, or just anyone in general, I think just this belief that anything really is possible with hard work and dedication and a lot of love and a lot of aloha. Yeah, you can achieve your wildest dreams. I truly believe that.”

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Hawaii

Big expansion of Hilo Harbor entrance still in the works – West Hawaii Today

Published

14 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Press Room

Big expansion of Hilo Harbor entrance still in the works – West Hawaii Today

A $62 million plan to expand the entrance to Hilo Harbor still needs some time in the oven.

The state Department of Transportation last year received $15 million to acquire several privately owned parcels on Kalanianaole Street for the project.

The five parcels under consideration are directly adjacent to the harbor property and would allow DOT to develop additional traffic lanes between Kuhio and Kahana streets and more off-street space for semitrucks. The buildings on those parcels would be demolished.

According to a draft environmental assessment published in June 2023, expanding the entrance to the harbor is necessary to alleviate the heavy traffic in the area, where cargo vehicles, cruise ship passengers and nearby school traffic all frequently coincide.

The draft EA states the project would allow the harbor to separate cargo traffic and cruise ship passengers and improve emergency escape routes out of Keaukaha.

The final draft EA was scheduled for release by the end of 2023. More than halfway through 2024, that final draft has not been published, although DOT has stated it’s coming soon.

DOT spokeswoman Shelly Kunishige said the final draft should be published this fall, adding that the delay was because the consultants writing the report are taking into account the large amount of public testimony submitted during the draft assessment’s public comment period.

While that public testimony is still not publicly available, the project was unpopular among Keaukaha property owners during public outreach efforts last year. The five parcels being considered for state acquisition total 9.38 acres, and are home to several businesses that would be displaced if the project goes through as written.

During a public hearing about the draft assessment last year, Greg Gadd — who owns or controls four of the five parcels — said the state has undervalued the land. The assessment estimated that the five parcels together are worth $15 million to $17 million.

The draft EA states that DOT can acquire the parcels via condemnation, wherein the state can seize private property for a project, with due compensation to the owners.

Nani Vermillion, agent for Gadd’s Big Island Homes and Land, said via email earlier this month there has been no further communication from the state about the project since last year.

The five parcels include a trio of lots just over 1 acre each on the downtown Hilo side of the harbor entrance, and a 5.55-acre and a 0.74-acre parcel on the Keaukaha side.

Establishments on those parcels include Maikai Auto Body &Paint, Hilo Auto Sales &Rentals, Hilo Food Hub, Ocean Front Kitchen, Service Rentals and Supplies Inc., and Zion’s House of Praise Holiness Church.

The assessment acknowledges the businesses within the parcels will have to relocate or cease to exist, but adds that they will have more than two years to do so before any demolition takes place.

The document estimated that once the final assessment is published, acquisition of the parcels would be completed within two years, with design and construction to begin subsequently and take two to three years.

Based on that time frame, the assessment estimated the project would be completed by 2029. But because that estimate was predicated on the assumption that the final assessment would be published by the end of 2023, the actual completion date is presumably 2030 or beyond.

The full project cost, including the cost of acquiring the parcels, is estimated to be around $62 million.

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

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