Honolulu Weekly

Barbara Marumoto / What was your biggest accomplishment this session?

“I have been trying to get a hallucinogenic–Salvia Divinorum-on the Controlled Substance list for 3 years. It sells legally-to all ages–at $75 oz at local head shops. I missed again this year, but managed to get the House Judiciary Chair to include a Task Force on the substance with another task Force on Medical Marijuana (SB 1058). The Salvia group should review other state and foreign country laws and recommend legislation for next session.”

With which piece of 2009 legislation are you most proud to be affiliated and why?
“This year I managed to get the Kalani High principal’s top priority in the CIP section of the budget bill. Kalani will get $500,000 for stairwell security gates to prevent vandals from getting up to the 2nd floor to do damage.”

What was the biggest disappointment of the session and how might a similar disappointment be prevented in the future?
“I wanted to get a bill passed to require DNA swabs from arrestees of violent crime such as rapes/murder or sex offenses against children. (Currently we require all people convicted of felonies to submit DNA samples.) It faltered in the 2nd committee but remains alive for next session.
Also, a resolution asking the City to increase fines on people (like Japanese billionaires) who own many (like 2 dozen) homes in a small area (like Kahala) and rack up a number (like 16) of city property violations in a short time (like 2009) passed the House but died in the Senate. A certain gentlemen has amassed 106 such violations mostly in East Honolulu. There oughta’ be a law!”

Debating which issue turned out to be the biggest distraction from your priorities?
“All the anti-business bills (card check, work comp) and the myriad of tax increase measures that wouldn’t go away even if I kept swatting at ‘em. I voted against them all, but they all flew anyway. It took a lot of negative energy.”