Resolutions

WHEREAS, the New Economy is a knowledge and idea-based economy where the keys to job creation and higher standards of living are innovative ideas and technology embedded in services provided by both business and government; and

WHEREAS, in order for Hawai'i to succeed in the New Economy, we must adopt strategies that foster development of needed workforce skills, promote an environment for innovation, encourage the digitalization of state and local governments, advance the growth of a digital economy, and foster civic collaboration; and

WHEREAS, Hawai'i has a unique opportunity to succeed in the New Economy because of its highly educated and multi-ethnic workforce, timezone advantages facilitating communications between both Asia and the North American continent, and our quality of life; and

WHEREAS, in the New Economy access to skills training, technology and the internet often determines the "haves" and "have-nots", also known as the "Digital Divide", which is of concern to Democrats because of the values we hold; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention that it encourages the development of a comprehensive New Economy strategic program for consideration in the 2001 Legislative Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention urges the Governor, Legislature, and other policy makers to develop and implement initiatives that provide access to skills training, technology, and other assistance to close the Digital Divide in the New Economy; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor of the State of Hawai'i, majority members of the Hawai'i State Legislature, and the Resolutions Committee of the State Democratic Convention.

WHEREAS, shoreline fishing has traditionally played a prominent role in the lifestyles of the citizens of Hawai'i; and

WHEREAS, the shoreline fisheries including coral and seaweed resources have diminished over time; and

WHEREAS, the source may be attributable to overfishing and inadequate resource management programs; and

WHEREAS, ciguatera is becoming increasingly common in reef ish and is a health hazard; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that where necessary, the Democratic Party requests Hawai'i's elected officials, members in appropriate positions of authority, local communities within the resource areas, and others develop and implement programs to maintain and enhance the quality of Hawai'i's shoreline resources; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Hawai'i heartily supports President Clinton's recent Executive Order on coral reefs.

WHEREAS, the practice of the reading of rights ("Miranda" warnings) to individuals under arrest affords the most basic of legal protections to individuals accused of a crime; and

WHEREAS, the citation of Miranda rights does not represent an undue hardship on law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties; and

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments against continuing the mandate that such warnings be used by law enforcement; and

WHEREAS, the State of Hawai'i has traditionally been at the forefront in providing social and civil protections to all of its citizens;

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party stands firmly against provisions that would diminish the basic civil rights of Hawai'i's citizens; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Governor, Legislature, Judiciary, Honolulu Police Department and Congressional delegation of Hawai'i.

Resolution 00-04: RESOLUTION RELATING TO ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE PARTY

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party has encountered difficulties in maintaining its existing network of district and precinct officials; and

WHEREAS, the Party has suffered from diminishing fiscal and human resources; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that Party members adopt a more proactive stance towards their membership in the party and toward the development of a common vision for the future; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Party officials at the Precinct, District and Regional levels engage more actively in outreach efforts including, but not limited to, fundraising, community building, and membership development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Party leadership be empowered and committed to creating, and where necessary, rebuilding an infrastructure capable of executing the policies and values of the Democratic Party.

WHEREAS, Hawai'i's aging community is increasing; and

WHEREAS, our elderly are on fixed incomes and are in need for health care; and

WHEREAS, the community resources and support are not readily available; and

WHEREAS, there is great need for expansion and development of home and community services at reasonable costs with less "red tape"; and

WHEREAS, there is need for health care providers and nurses for regularly scheduled visits to the elderly; and

WHEREAS, there is need to develop organizations to help those of limited English to understand their medical benefits; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention urges the Governor, Legislature, and the Congressional delegation to support policies and statutes that will enable the care of Hawai'i's elderly and provide for their dignity and quality of life.

Resolution 00-06: RESOLUTION RELATING TO PEARL HARBOR

WHEREAS, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is strategically located in the Pacific Ocean and a strong, healthy Naval base is in the best interest of National Security; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard is the largest industrial employer in the State of Hawai'i; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard provides for trade and skills training for the youth of Hawai'i through the Apprentice program in partnership with the University of Hawai'i; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has the capacity to accomplish more Navy ship repair work with an increased skilled workforce; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard employed 6900 employees in 1989, experienced a 58% reduction in workforce and currently employs 3200 employees; and

WHEREAS Pearl Harbor was the Homeport for 41 Navy Ships and Submarines in 1989, and currently is the Homeport for 31 Navy Ships and Submarines; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard provided Navy contract work for 65 to 75% of the private ship repair industry in Hawai'i; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard would require the hiring of 700 to 800 permanent civilian employees over the next two years to obtain the necessary skilled personnel to execute Navy work; and

WHEREAS, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard has a application list of 1,000 qualified local applicants seeking employment at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, by the O'ahu County Convention that this body hereby urges the United States Navy to increase the workload and employment in Pearly Harbor Naval Shipyard to utilize the full capacity of the Hawaiian ship repair industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention support the efforts of the community leadership in their efforts to secure an increase in workload and workforce in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

Resolution 00-07: RESOLUTION SUPPORTING NATIVE HAWAIIAN SOVEREIGNTY INITIATIVES

WHEREAS, The Democratic Party included in its 1996 platform "Support the indigenous people of Hawai'i in their efforts for sovereignty and self-determination", and "To require the United States government to recognize its trustee obligation to the inhabitants of Hawai'i generally, and to Native Hawaiians in particular"; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress passed, and the President signed, Public Law 103-150, of 1993 (Apology Law) acknowledging the illegal overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i and the need for reconciliation between the United States and Native Hawaiians; and

WHEREAS, a trust relationship exists between the United States and Native Hawaiians in which many of the duties of the United States, through federal health and education acts, including the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of1920, as amended, have been delegated for administrative purposes to the State of Hawai'i; and

WHEREAS, the recent United States Supreme Court decision in "Rice v. Cayetano" has jeopardized the trust relationship thus creating the need for the Congress of the United States to articulate a clear statement about the political status of Native Hawaiians and to formally recognize a Hawaiian nation; and

WHEREAS, current federal laws and policies allow greater autonomy and self-determination for native peoples, including direct contracting with recognized native governments to administer funds and programs designed to meet the trust obligation of the United States to those peoples; and

WHEREAS, the State of Hawai'i would benefit substantially from the recognition of a Hawaiian nation because it would mean reduced State responsibility, a decreased burden on State resources and stimulation of the economy as Native Hawaiian businesses and programs become available; and

WHREEAS, on January 17, 1999, a world-wide election (including state-wide), in conjunction with the Native Hawaiian Vote of 1996, in which Native Hawaiian voters participated, was conducted by Ha Hawai'i, utilizing the one-man, one-vote rule, and resulted in seventy-seven (77) delegates being duly elected to the Native Hawaiian Convention; and

WHEREAS, the delegates to the Native Hawaiian convention, convened as 'Aha Hawai'i 'Oiwi', have met continuously since February 1999, to fulfill their mandate "to propose a Native Hawaiian government"; and

WHEREAS, the 'Aha Hawai'i 'Oiwi' is committed to a "people process" which involves voter education and encourages community participation towards the creation of a democratic form of government to be ratified by the Native Hawaiian voters based on their inherent right of self-determination; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention support the efforts of Native Hawaiians to achieve sovereignty and self-determination, and recognize the need to develop a government-to-government relationship between a Hawaiian nation and the United States; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention work in collaboration and partnership with 'Aha Hawai'i 'Oiwi' and other organizations to further the cause of sovereignty initiatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the President and Congress of the United States are requested to articulate and implement a federal policy respecting Native Hawaiian self-government due to its special trust relationship and incorporate recommendations resulting from public hearings on reconciliation conducted pursuant to Public Law 103-150; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Hawai'i Congressional Delegation, the 106^th Congress of the United States, the President of the United States, the Secretaries of the Departments of Justice, Interior and State, and the Governor and Legislature of the State of Hawai'i.

Resolution 00-08: RESOLUTION RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION: PRE-SCHOOL TO GRADUATE SCHOOL

WHEREAS, education is a discourse about families, values and the renewal of civic institutions; and

WHEREAS, education addresses programs and services of prevention and support in the care and development of our youth; and

WHEREAS, education is about getting a good start in life and that which empowers people to make the most of their own lives; and

WHEREAS, education is a tool to eliminate barriers that restrict civil and human rights; and

WHEREAS, education is a basis for a sound economy and a well educated populace; and

WHEREAS, educational excellence and the quality of educational personnel assure student performance in all curricular areas; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention commit to quality public Pre-School through Graduate School to prepare today's students for tomorrow's world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention urge all of Hawai'i's citizens to commit themselves to support of quality education to prepare today's students for tomorrow; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Governor, Legislature, and the Board of Education be sent a copy of this resolution for their consideration and action.

Resolution 00-09: RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING PREVAILING WAGE LAWS

WHEREAS, Federal Prevailing Wage laws and State's Prevailing Wage Laws have been in effect for over sixty years and have been effective in protecting a decent standard of living for workers in local areas where the laws have been implemented; and

WHEREAS, prevailing Wage Laws were enacted to prevent the erosion of living wages by out-of-state employers who ship from one state to another low wage, under-trained, unskilled workers, to work on a locality's government construction projects to the detriment of construction quality and of that locality's workers' employment opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Hawai'i's construction workers living wages have made the construction industry a cornerstone of Hawai'i's economy by elevating the construction trade class of workers into the stable economic middle class; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention reaffirm its commitment to the guiding principles first articulated by the Democratic Party in 1955 that bids for construction of public works should be based on the relative skill and efficiency of the contractors concerned and not on a difference in wages paid, and that government money, coming from the taxes of all of us, should not be used to subsidize contractors who are depressing the wages of some of us; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention reaffirms and encourages the strengthening of the Federal and Hawai'i's prevailing wage laws as a means of insuring public construction of high quality, reasonable costs, and furthering the economic well being of workers in Hawai'i

Resolution 00-10: RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO SO-CALLED "RIGHT TO WORK" AND "PAYCHECK PROTECTION" LAWS

WHEREAS, strong and free labor unions are necessary to preserve and defend the legitimate rights of working people to participate with dignity in the political and economic life of their communities and states; and

WHEREAS, the success of organized labor raises the standard of living generally, expanding and fostering the growth of the State's middle class; and

WHEREAS, so-called "Right-to-work" and "Paycheck Protection" laws have over the years been proposed to allow workers to gain the benefits of collective bargaining without joining the union or paying union dues or service fees; and

WHEREAS, famed business advisor Peter Drucker has said, "Union Security is also in the social interest. Without it, no union can be expected to accept the responsibility for labor relations and for contract observance which our society must demand of a successful union movement"; and

WHEREAS, that great Democratic President, Harry S Truman has likewise commented, "You will find some people saying that they are for the so-called "Right-to-Work" law, but they also believe in unions. This is absurd - it's like saying you are for motherhood but against children"; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. most eloquently warned us all that, "in our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as 'right-to-work'. It provides no 'rights' and no 'works.' Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining, We demand this fraud be stopped"; and

WHEREAS, the O'ahu County Convention reaffirm their commitment to collective bargaining; now, therefore

BE IT RESOLVED, that the O'ahu County Convention oppose the introduction, consideration or enactment of any so-called "Right-to-Work" or "Pay Check Protection" bills which would seek to limit, restrict, or control a duly constituted and democratically run labor organization from collecting and using dues or representation fees for such lawful purposes as our national labor laws allow.