Welcoming the USS Hawaii to her homeport Representatives from Hawaii's congressional delegation were in the crowd of civilian and military dignitaries greeting the arrival at Pearl Harbor of the Virginia-class submarine USS Hawaii which will be homeported at Pearl. The vessel's presencesignals a new Navy emphasis on the Pacific region. The ceremony included songs by the Kamehameha School Alumni Glee Club and a dance performance by a hula halau on July 23, 2009. (Photos/Paige Heckathorn)
*******
Supporting Hawaii's high-technology industries Neil says the selection of Mauna Kea on Hawaii Island as the site for the new TMT Observatory further strengthens the state's global standing as a place for terrestrial-based exploration of the universe. Neil supported the project which announced its site selection this month. For more details, read Neil's news release.
A rendering of the TMT Observatory which will boost Hawaii's astronomy community. Photo/TMTObservatory Corporation.
*******
Listening to Hawaii's school principals A group of Hawaii public and private school principals met with Neil in Washington, D.C. on July 17, 2009. They discussed a host of issues, such as the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, aka No Child Left Behind). The law is overdue for a review, and the principals--members of the National Association of Secondary School Principals which was meeting in Washington--urged Neil to support provisions in the law to allow:
the use of multiple assessments and growth models to be used to gauge school success (instead of the current testing model);
English language learners to develop English proficiency before counting their test scores in the evaluation of a school;
students with disabilities to be assessed on the grade level recommended by the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team, using assessments selected by that team;
the national graduation rate to be extended to within five years of entering high school, and allow for students with disabilities who complete high school before age 21 to be counted as a graduate.
Hawaii school principals meeting with Neil are (below, left to right): Neil Burton Tomita, Damien Memorial High School; Helen Sanpei, McKinley Adult School; Michael Nakano, Lahainaluna High School; Penny Tom, Kaimuki High School; and Gail Awakuni, Campbell High School. (Photo/Anthony Ching)
*******
Providing students a safe place to learn and grow A new media center is under construction and nearly complete at Aliamanu Middle School in Honolulu as the result of funding that Neil secured for the Boys and Girls Club of Honolulu. The media center will provide club members a place to learn how to use media such as video. The club rolled out the red carpet, below, for Neil on a recent visit when he met with students and their families and staff. They showed him samples of video productions they've already completed. (Photos/Amy Asselbaye)
*******
Opening doors of opportunity for Hawaii's students Neil regularly provides unique opportunities to Hawaii's students to further their education and community service through internships in the Honolulu and D.C. offices, nominations to U.S. military academies, and appointments to the U.S. House Page Program. His most recent appointee to the Page Program, a work-study experience on Capitol Hill, is Moanalua High School senior Marissa Kubo. She was appointed to the program's 2009 summer session and was greeted by Neil, below. (Photo/Anthony Ching).
*******
Inspiring future leaders Neil very often is called upon to speak and to meet with countless student groups visiting the halls of Congress while attending conferences and workshops in the nation's capital. It's an opportunity for him to share his experiences as a lawmaker and scholar. He has served in the Hawaii State Legislature, Honolulu City Council, and U.S. House. Neil also holds a PhD in American Studies and coauthored a book, "Blood of Patriots," a work of fiction focusing on the role of money in electoral politics. Below, he meets with Mandy Tam, a senior at Sacred Hearts Academy attending the LeadAmerica Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer. She'll be senior class president when the new school year begins.
*******
Updating senior citizens Makua Alii Senior Center invited Neil to provide its residents with his annual legislative update on issues of concern to seniors citizens. It's was a pre-July 4th gathering, so after his talk, Neil was also asked to judge an informal contest to pick the person who sported the "most patriotic" attire. (Photo/Amy Asselbaye)
*******
Above left, Neil with veteran Daniel Santamaria, the first WWII Filipino veteran to receive a payment. Above right, a veteran receives a commemorative medallion. The young woman is one of the many student volunteers who drove and escorted each veteran to the historic gathering. (Photos/Terry Visperas)
Fulfilling a 60-year-old promise to Filipino Veterans
A special gathering of surviving Filipino veterans who fought alongside U.S. troops in the Philippines during World War II was held at the Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu on July 3, 2009. The event, which also included family members of Filipino veterans who have passed away, commemorated successful legislative efforts by Hawaii's congressional delegation to enable the United States to provide the veterans with long overdue veterans' benefits promised to them at the start of the war but were rescinded by an act of Congress in 1946. A provision to provide the one-time payments followed a lengthy legislative journey which culminated earlier this year with approval of a provision that finally makes the payments a reality for the veterans and their families.
Neil has championed the veterans' battle for their benefits; he has sponsored numerous bills to achieve that goal, including the bipartisan Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2005. A year ago this month, he met with a group of the veterans in the Prince Kuhio Federal Building to renew the push for legislation to support them. As a result that continued effort, the veterans' group presented Neil and other members of the Hawaii congressional delegation with plaques recognizing the lawmakers' "relentless efforts" and "dedication to fight for the rights and benefits of all Filipino Veterans."
Below left, Neil with Rep. Mazie Hirono. Below right, Filipino veterans and widows of vets. (Photos/Terry Visperas, Abercrombie Casworker/Field Representative)
Below, Neil and Rep. Hirono, center of photo, with veterans and their families.
Below: Senator Daniel Inouye, third from left, and Neil were congratulated for their legislative work in support of the Filipino veterans on July 3rd in Honolulu.
