HOUSING DISCRIMINATION METING NO MENTION OF OUR COALITION-LETTER TO THE GI

The coverage on the Discrimination in Housing meeting., in what I am sure was an unintentional oversight by the Garden Island Newspaper that our coalition was not mentioned. We worked for over a year to get a bill drafted, passed, a coalition formed, hold meetings, gather evidence, and garner support for a bill that would have prevented Housing Discrimination in advertising.

Our coalition started with 2 members. Myself and my daughter. We combed 9 months of newspaper advertisements on Kauai showing blatent discrimination in housing. So blatent that many ads actually said “No HUD allowed.”. We made cold calls to people that put that in their advertisements, pretending to be different people. They made numerous statements of a clearly discriminatory nature. Many were racially motivated against local people. Many were discriminatory against women with children, the elderly and the handicapped. In particularly those on Social security. Some of the statements were beyond disgusting and very incindiary. We recorded the conversations by hand, and wrote out the scripts exactly as they occurred. We presented these scripts to politicians and others to explain what we had discovered and uncovered. I began to get other people that I knew in politics involved.

We held meetings, we talked on the radio about it and the Garden Island did help us out a lot in getting our fight into the paper. We had the support of the ACLU, the Legal Aid Society, OHA, shelters on Oahu, groups from all over Kauai and the state. We had support from congress, with Neil Ambercrombie writing us a letter of support on Congressional letterhead.

We had the support of Mina Morita who introduced the companion bill in the house. We also had the support of James Tokioka and Roland Sagum/ We had the support of three freshman councilmembers at the time, Lani Kawahara, and Dickie Chang. Derek Kawakami, and also from incumbant Tim Bynum. We had support from private citizens, and citizens groups.

My daughter, my neighbor who I recruited, and Joann Yukimura traveled to Oahu to fight for the Bill that Gary Hooser drafted, and introduced and I helped to write. I had meetings with the County Housing department.

Once I started meeting with the Housing department I started meeting major resistance to the bill. I was involved in a private meeting in council chambers, at which Dickie Chang, Jay Furfaro, The Heard of the Board of Realtors and the County Housing Department attended.

All were against the bill. They wanted to take out essentially the heart of the bill. My coalition would not back down . We knew that if the guts got ripped out of the bill, we wouldn't have anything. Councilmembers Jay Furfaro, The Kauai Board of Realtors Representative and the County Housing Agency would not support the bill. Our own housing agency actually wrote a letter against the bill.

Other housing agencies also either did not comment on the bill or wuld not support it. The State of Hawaii Board of Realotors went against the bill. The legislature passed it on to third reading with major changed that also ripped out the heart of the bill where it died and was not heard. The bill was defeated

My efforts at the County Council to propose a bill for Kauai the exact same bill proposed for the State Legislature and drafted to suit Kauai went no where. I could not even get on the agenda to discuss the issue. When I met in council chambers, I told everyone at that table this was a Federal violation. I told them the bill was written on solid law. I told them that eventually this woyld all come to a head, and come back to bite them eventually. I told them that people would eventually start filing lawsuits..

Unknown to them I had made many phone calls to the Federal Government Housing Agency, and lodged complaints as well. I encouraged people to phone in their complaints to Legal Aid. I tried to inform people with public meetings oh what their rights were. I would like to state that we are extremely grateful for the courage and tenacity of Legal Aid on this iissue and are grateful for their support of our efforts for the failed bill.

These efforts that we did, should be acknowledged for their merits. Many people put their neck on the line to support what myself and many others tried to do. Others stuck their heads in the sand.

Our coalition is still very active, and it is our clear intent to have the bill reintroduced after the Gubernatorial elections. We are currently staying on top of State Public Housing changes that we feel are extremely discriminatory. I did not attend the meeting on Friday because I have been ill. But to see that the Federal Representative finally told everyone what myself and our coalition had told them long before gave me a sense of accomplishment.

Now when our coalition says something perhaps people should pay a lot closer attention. And the housing agency in this state would do well to remember that our coalition is strong and still actively in this fight. I am very pleased with the tone of this meeting. Because it sheds a clear light on everything that we brought forth and fought for. I just want to thank everyone who helped myself and the supporters of our coalition. We are not done yet. We need to get this law passed in the legislature. Thank you for remembering us and our hard work.

Sincerely

Anne Punohu

Kauai Fair Housing Law Coalition

HERE IS THE BILL:

THE SENATE
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII
JAN 23 1009
S.B. NO. tI~~
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO DISCRIMINATION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that low-income
2 individuals have an extremely difficult time finding affordable
3 rentals in Hawaii. This situation is made more frustrating when
4 housing vacancy advertisements discourage people from applying
5 by advertising "no section 8 accepted". At this time, in the
6 State of Hawaii, the law does not prohibit discrimination based
7 on lawful source of income. However, thirteen other states,
8 including California and Oregon, have prohibited this type of
9 income discrimination. Renters who participate in government
10 assistance programs, such as Housing Choice Vouchers, also known
11 as, section 8, should have an equal opportunity to find housing.
12 The purpose of this Act is to prohibit discrimination based
13 on lawful source of income in real estate transactions,
14 including advertising available rental units.
15 SECTION 2. Section 515-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
16 amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted
17 and to read as follows:
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

1 ""Source of income" means any lawful source of money paid
2 directly or indirectly to a renter or buyer of housing,
3 inc 1 uding :
4 (1) Any lawful profession or occupation;
5 (2) Any government or private assistance, grant, loan, or
6 rental assistance program, including low-income
7 housing assistance certificates and vouchers under the
8 United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended;
9 (3) Any gift, inheritance, pension, annuity, alimony,
10 child support, or other consideration or benefit; and
11 (4) Any sale or pledge of property or interest in
12 property. "
13 SECTION 3. Section 515-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
14 amended to read as follows:
15 "§SlS-3 Discriminatory practices. It is a discriminatory
16 practice for an owner or any other person engaging in a real
17 estate transaction, or for a real estate broker or salesperson,
18 because of race, sex, including gender identity or expression,
19 sexual orientation, color, religion, marital status, familial
20 status, ancestry, disability, age, source of income, or human
21 immunodeficiency virus infection:
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

Page 3 S.B. NO. ~"G.
1 (1 ) To refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with
2 a person;
3 (2) To discriminate against a person in the terms,
4 conditions, or privileges of a real estate transaction
5 or in the furnishing of facilities or services in
6 connection therewith;
7 (3) To refuse to receive or to fail to transmit a bona
8 fide offer to engage in a real estate transaction from
9 a person;
10 (4 ) To refuse to negotiate for a real estate transaction
11 with a person;
12 (5 ) To represent to a person that real property is not
13 available for inspection, sale, rental, or lease when
14 in fact it is available, or to fail to bring a
15 property listing to the person's attention, or to
16 refuse to permit the person to inspect real property,
17 or to steer a person seeking to engage in a real
18 estate transaction;
19 (6 ) To print, circulate, post, or mail, or cause to be
20 published a statement, advertisement, or sign, or to
21 use a form of application for a real estate
22 transaction, or to make a record or inquiry in
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

1 connection with a prospective real estate transaction,
2 that indicates, directly or indirectly, an intent to
3 make a limitation, specification, or discrimination
4 with respect thereto;
5 (7 ) To offer, solicit, accept, use, or retain a listing of
6 real property with the understanding that a person may
7 be discriminated against in a real estate transaction
8 or in the furnishing of facilities or services in
9 connection therewith;
10 (8 ) To refuse to engage in a real estate transaction with
11 a person or to deny equal opportunity to use and enjoy
12 a housing accommodation due to a disability because
13 the person uses the services of a guide dog, signal
14 dog, or service animal; provided that reasonable
15 restrictions or prohibitions may be imposed regarding
16 excessive noise or other problems caused by those
17 animals. For the purposes of this paragraph:
18 IIBlind ll shall be as defined in section 235-1;
19 IIDeaf ll shall be as defined in section 235-1;
20 IIGuide dog ll means any dog individually trained by
21 a licensed guide dog trainer for guiding a blind
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

Page 5 S.B. NO.
1 person by means of a harness attached to the dog and a
2 rigid handle grasped by the personj
3 "Reasonable restriction" shall not include any
4 restriction that allows any owner or person to refuse
5 to negotiate or refuse to engage in a real estate
6 transactionj provided that as used in this paragraph:
7 the "reasonableness" of a restriction shall be
8 examined by giving due consideration to the needs of a
9 reasonable prudent person in the same or similar
10 circumstances. Depending on the circumstances, a
11 "reasonable restriction" may require the owner of the
12 service animal, guide dog, or signal dog to comply
13 with one or more of the following:
14 (A) Observe applicable laws including leash laws and
15 pick-up lawsj
16 (B) Assume responsibility for damage caused by the
17 dogj or
18 ( C) Have the housing unit cleaned upon vacating by
19 fumigation, deodorizing, professional carpet
20 cleaning, or other method appropriate under the
21 circumstances.
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

Page 6 S.B. NO.
1 The foregoing list is illustrative only, and neither
2 exhaustive nor mandatorYi
3 "Service animal" means any animal that is trained
4 to provide those life activities limited by the
5 disability of the personi
6 "Signal dog" means any dog that is trained to
7 alert a deaf person to intruders or soundsi
8 (9 ) To solicit or require as a condition of engaging in a
9 real estate transaction that the buyer, renter, or
10 lessee be tested for human immunodeficiency virus
11 infection, the causative agent of acquired
12 immunodeficiency syndromei
13 (10) To refuse to permit, at the expense of a person with a
14 disability, reasonable modifications to existing
15 premises occupied or to be occupied by the person if
16 modifications may be necessary to afford the person
17 full enjoyment of the premises. A real estate broker
18 or salesperson, where it is reasonable to do so, may
19 condition permission for a modification on the person
20 agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to
21 the condition that existed before the modification,
22 reasonable wear and tear exceptedi
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc
(11) To refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules,
2 policies, practices, or services, when the
3 accommodations may be necessary to afford a person
4 with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy a
5 housing accommodation;
6 (12) In connection with the design and construction of
7 covered multifamily housing accommodations for first
8 occupancy after March 13, 1991, to fail to design and
9 construct housing accommodations in [SB€fi] a manner
10 that:
11 (A) The housing accommodations have at least one
12 accessible entrance, unless it is impractical to
13 do so because of the terrain or unusual
14 characteristics of the site; and
15 (B) with respect to housing accommodations with an
16 accessible building entrance:
17 (i) The public use and common use portions of
18 the housing accommodations are accessible to
19 and usable by disabled persons;
20 (ii) Doors allow passage by persons in
21 wheelchairs; and
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc
Page 8 S.B. NO.
1 (iii) All premises within covered multifamily
2 housing accommodations contain an accessible
3 route into and through the housing
4 accommodationsi light switches, electrical
5 outlets, thermostats, and other
6 environmental controls are in accessible
7 locationsi reinforcements in the bathroom
8 walls allow installation of grab barsi and
9 kitchens and bathrooms are accessible by
10 wheelchairi or
11 (13) To discriminate against or deny a person access to, or
12 membership or participation in any multiple listing
13 service, real estate broker's organization, or other
14 service, organization, or facility involved either
15 directly or indirectly in real estate transactions, or
16 to discriminate against any person in the terms or
17 conditions of [SBefi] access, membership, or
18 participation."
19 SECTION 4. Section 515-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
20 amended to read as follows:
21 1I§51S-4 Exemptions. (a) Section 515-3 does not apply:
2009-0451 SB SMA-1.doc

Page 9 S.B. NO.
1 (1) To the rental of a housing accommodation in a building
2 which contains housing accommodations for not more
3 than two families living independently of each other
4 if the lessor resides in one of the housing
5 accommodations; or
6 (2) To the rental of a room or up to four rooms in a
7 housing accommodation by an individual if the
8 individual resides therein.
9 (b) Nothing in section 515-3 shall be deemed to prohibit
10 refusal, because of sex, including gender identity or
11 expression, sexual orientation, or marital status, to rent or
12 lease housing accommodations:
13 (1) Owned or operated by a religious institution and used
14 for church purposes as that term is used in applying
15 exemptions for real property taxes; or
16 (2) Which are part of a religiously affiliated institution
17 of higher education housing program which is operated
18 on property that the institution owns or controls, or
19 which is operated for its students pursuant to Title
20 IX of the Higher Education Act of 1972.
2009-0451 SB SMA-1.doc

1 (c) Nothing in this chapter regarding familial status or
2 age shall apply to housing for older persons as defined by 42
3 United States Code section 3607(b) (2).
4 (d) Nothing in section 515-3 shall be deemed to prohibit a
5 person from determining the ability of a potential buyer or
6 renter to pay a purchase price or rent by:
7 (1) Verifying, in a commercially reasonable manner, the
8 source and amount of income of the potential buyer or
9 renter; or
10 (2) Evaluating, in a commercially reasonable manner, the
11 stability, security, and credit worthiness of the
12 potential buyer or renter or any source of income of
13 the potential buyer or renter.
14 (e) The prohibition against discrimination based on source
15 of income shall not prevent a person from refusing to consider
16 income derived from any criminal acti vi ty. "
17 SECTION 5. Section 515-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
18 amended to read as follows:
19 n§515-5 Discriminatory financial practices. It is a
20 discriminatory practice for a person, a representative of [SBefi]
21 ~ person, or a real estate broker or salesperson, to whom an
22 inquiry or application is made for financial assistance in
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

Page 11 S.B. NO.
1 connection with a real estate transaction or for the
2 construction, rehabilitation, repair, maintenance, or
3 improvement of real property, because of race, sex, including
4 gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, color,
5 religion, marital status, familial status, ancestry, disability,
6 age, source of income, or human immunodeficiency virus
7 infection:
8 (1 ) To discriminate against the applicant;
9 (2 ) To use a form of application for financial assistance
10 or to make or keep a record or inquiry in connection
11 with applications for financial assistance that
12 indicates, directly or indirectly, an intent to make a
13 limitation, specification, or discrimination unless
14 the records are required by federal law;
15 (3) To discriminate in the making or purchasing of loans
16 or the provision of other financial assistance for
17 purchasing, constructing, improving, repairing, or
18 maintaining a dwelling, or the making or purchasing of
19 loans or the provision of other financial assistance
20 secured by residential real estate; or
21 (4 ) To discriminate in the selling, brokering, or
22 appraising of residential real property."
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

Page 12 S.B. NO.
1 SECTION 6. Section 515-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
2 amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
3 "(a) Every provision in an oral agreement or a written
4 instrument relating to real property that purports to forbid or
5 restrict the conveyance, encumbrance, occupancy, or lease
6 thereof to individuals because of race, sex, including gender
7 identity or expression, sexual orientation, color, religion,
8 marital status, familial status, ancestry, disability, age,
9 source of income, or human immunodeficiency virus infection, is
10 void.
11 (b) Every condition, restriction, or prohibition,
12 including a right of entry or possibility of reverter, that
13 directly or indirectly limits the use or occupancy of real
14 property on the basis of race, sex, including gender identity or
15 expression, sexual orientation, color, religion, marital status,
16 familial status, ancestry, disability, age, source of income, or
17 human immunodeficiency virus infection is void, except a
18 limitation, on the basis of religion, on the use of real
19 property held by a religious institution or organization or by a
20 religious or charitable organization operated, supervised, or
21 controlled by a religious institution or organization, and used
22 for religious or chari table purposes."
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

Page 13 S.B. NO. 4~~
1 SECTION 7. Section 515-7, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
2 amended to read as follows:
3 1I§515-7 Blockbusting. It is a discriminatory practice for
4 a person, representative of a person, or a real estate broker or
5 salesperson, for the purpose of inducing a real estate
6 transaction from which the person, representative, or real
7 estate broker or salesperson may benefit financially, because of
8 race, sex, including gender identity or expression, sexual
9 orientation, color, religion, marital status, familial status,
10 ancestry, disability, age, source of income, or human
11 immunodeficiency virus infection:
12 (1 ) To represent that a change has occurred or will or may
13 occur in the composition of the owners or occupants in
14 the block, neighborhood, or area in which the real
15 property is located; or
16 (2 ) To represent that this change will or may result in
17 the lowering of property values, an increase in
18 criminal or antisocial behavior, or a decline in the
19 quality of schools in the block, neighborhood, or area
20 in which the real property is located."
21 SECTION 8. Section 515-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
22 amended to read as follows:
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc
Page 14 S.B. NO.
1 "§515-16 Other discriminatory practices. It is a
2 discriminatory practice for a person, or for two or more persons
3 to conspire:
4 (1 ) To retaliate, threaten, or discriminate against a
5 person because of the exercise or enjoyment of any
6 right granted or protected by this chapter, or because
7 the person has opposed a discriminatory practice, or
8 because the person has made a charge, filed a
9 complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in an
10 investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this
11 chapteri
12 (2) To aid, abet, incite, or coerce a person to engage in
13 a discriminatory practicei
14 (3 ) To interfere with any person in the exercise or
15 enjoyment of any right granted or protected by this
16 chapter or with the performance of a duty or the
17 exercise of a power by the commissioni
18 (4 ) To obstruct or prevent a person from complying with
19 this chapter or an order issued thereunderi
20 (5) To intimidate or threaten any person engaging in
21 activities designed to make other persons aware of, or
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

Page 15 S.B. NO.
1 encouraging [SB€fi] other persons to exercise rights
2 granted or protected by this chapteri or
3 (6 ) To threaten, intimidate or interfere with persons in
4 their enjoyment of a housing accommodation because of
5 the race, sex, color, religion, marital status,
6 familial status, ancestry, disability, age, source of
7 income, or human immunodeficiency virus infection of
8 [SB€fi] the persons, or of visitors or associates of
9 [SB€fi] the persons."
10 SECTION 9. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed
11 and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
12 SECTION 10. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
13
INTRODUCED BY:
2009-0451 SB SMA-I.doc
S.B. NO. C, S-'
Report Title:
Discrimination in Real Property Transactions; Source of Income
Description:
Prohibits discrimination in real property transactions based on
lawful source of income.
2009-0451 SB SMA-l.doc

My Article Submission to the Garden Island RE WAR ON THE POOR

BEFORE YOU READ THIS< I MADE A MISTAKE IN ONE OF THE CABANILLA QUEOTES> SHE STATED THAT THE POOR SHOULD EMULATE THE RICH NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND MAHALO

THIS IS THE UNEDITED RAW VERSWION I HOPE IT WILL BE PRINTED>

Guest Article
Garden Island Newspaper
Anne Punohu
8083320341
Kalaheo Kauai
Kauai Fair Housing Law Coalition
Kauai DHS Clients Coalition
TO:
Editor, Nathan Eagle
Submitted by Email on April 7, 2010
The War Against The Poor: Evictions, Access and Persecution
When I first tell someone about what I know is occurring within DHS, and especially within the
Housing Department here in Hawaii, most people are incredulous and rightly so. I get totally shocked
reactions form people, who frankly don't or won't believe me and think I have finally gone off the deep
end. They cannot believe that such actions would be taken against those least able to defend
themselves or even speak up for them selves for fear of retribution and swift actions taken against
them. The oppressed and persecuted individuals fear even the slightest utterance of discontent could
mean that they will find themselves on the beach, subjected to rousting by officials and herded into
facilities where they feel nervous and uncomfortable and constantly watched and monitored. Even their
right to fresh air is taken away, and especially freedom of movement. They are rousted from their
homes where they have lived peaceably, paying rent and following the rules and forced back out onto
the street, where they will be rousted yet again and forced back into institutions that again are not
conducive to feeling safe or comfortable and again their freedom of movement is curtailed. Their
services having been drastically cut, both in medical benefits and in food allowances. They are a hated
and despised group. They are virtually blamed for every ill, and all of the fiscal shortfalls are being
places squarely upon their backs. At the same time, they are required to work whatever jobs may come
their way whatever the job is. Refusal to agree to perform the job and they will be cut off from food
rations and assistance of any kind. Failure to comply will have swift retribution.
This sounds like a chapter straight out of a Holocaust victims diary doesn't it? Sad to say, my friends, it
is not. It is the future of so called Public housing in the so called State of Hawaii where people are
supposed to be a free people and treated equally and free from persecution by the Government.
However this is not the case. A well thought out war plan has been conceived, planned and is being
methodically carried out by Government leaders and officials, to create a final solution to the problem
of the poor in Hawaii. That final solution is to psychologically impose a belief on the people that they
are not wanted, are a burden, and are the cause of all of the ills of this State, and that they have a moral
obligation to either become wealthy somehow, find housing food and medicine somehow without the
aid of the state. If you still have the audacity to hope for care, then you had better understand that your
lives and the lives of your children rest in the fickle hands of department heads who are gleefully
making rules and regulations made to break your spirit, break your will, and break you.
Now by now you are all thinking I am a complete madwoman. What in the heck am I babbling about?
How dare I make comparisons with the victims of the Holocaust and the cushy and luxurious life that
Hawaii's working poor, poor, handicapped and elderly live here. What am I thinking?
Here are some facts for you to consider. In England, where there is a housing crunch Government
housing is provided. There is no limit to the amount of years you can live there. In the Philippines,
Government housing residents are allowed to coop services, and create their own cooperative business
to give themselves employment. In Africa, Habitat for Humanity has provided thousands and thousands
and thousands of housing units, and given people hope for a brighter future. None of these residents
will ever have to leave those homes.
To be perfectly honest, in Hawaii, Habitat is the real public housing provider, and not the state. They
have shown far more compassion to the people then the state has. The county housing agency has
created affordable housing that is not affordable, and a little over a year ago refused to acknowledge
that there was discrimination in housing here on Kauai, the highest in the state where landlords were
blatantly advertising against Section 8 voucher holders refusing to allow them to apply for housing.
When the Housing agency was asked to help support legislation to prevent this from happening they
refused, especially the Kauai County Housing agency.
The animosity in the County Housing Agency against my efforts continues to this day, where the
second in command was recently involved in a screaming match with me, and was highly rude and
disrespectful. But by that time there were no cameras around to record the incident. I was told how dare
I speak to this person, how dare I tell them what do to, how dare I use a tone with this person, etc.
Exactly as if I had no rights as a human being, and that I was not as good as this person. To say that I
was offended and upset by this is an understatement. To this day this individual has offered me no
public apology as yet. I suppose I don't deserve one, since I am only a public housing resident, and a
receiver of welfare. Despite the fact that I have worked for many years and been a productive member
of society. Not only that, I am also made to feel, that because I am disabled, I should sit down and shut
up. If I can speak at a meeting I should be able to get out there and sling boxes all night at a retail store.
The veiled threat is always there. I walk a dangerous tightrope every time I dare to speak out. That is an
absolute fact.
Here in Hawaii, however, the picture looks serious and very bleak for Hawaii's Public Housing
residents. According to recent statements made at the March 19th meeting of a legislative informational
committee, Representative Cabanilla, a Democrat and the head of the housing committee made these
statements. There are direct quotes and not exaggerations:
“Of course we are going to bring the rich into public housing. We know that if we do this, the rich will
emulate the poor. It has been proven.”
“We have plans to evict all of these intergenerational families that have been living in housing far too
long. Why, there are mothers there who are living there with children and even their grandchildren!
They need to get out, and make room for others we need to get into public housing.”
“Of course, public housing has been sold. Yes, that is true.”
“Because the handicapped, and the elderly will never be able to contribute enough to society to be
useful or afford their own places, we will provide a small apartment, and thats that. They will stay
there.”
To say that the room, full of DHS workers, who are about to lose their jobs were extremely shocked,
but nobody was more shocked then I was. I had been investigating and trying to decipher the new “5
year plan” for housing, which I was told was a “One year plan”, to find the things I knew were not
right. There was something inherently sinister about this years plan. The plan was full of cleverly
written statements, to the effect that
“Bringing in higher incomes is a priority. In order to do this, we will be offering special incentives,
such as cable, electric and phone hookup allowances for them, as well as special landscaping and
maintenance”.
I had to fight hard to get my testimony in regarding the proposal, when it was discovered that we were
supposed to have a resident board representing us but that Kauai actually had none. I read the RAB
reports, which showed that RAB members had serious concerns about the proposal. I came up with
solid and fail proof methods of solving the collection issue which they were using as a basis for
evictions. This was included in the final draft, but it was approved without any final input form anyone.
No suggestions were ever considered, they were merely recorded for forms sake. The final tally was 9
persons had testified statewide on the proposal. I was the only one at the Kauai meeting. Just me. By
myself. It became obvious to me that there was a concerted effort to keep information from the general
public regarding the content of the proposal even though the newspapers had tried to get the
information out.
With the double whammy of offices closing, and possible evictions of thousands of Public Housing
residents for doing nothing wrong, it became clear to me that this was not just a normal thing. This was
a war. A persecution of an entire class of people, whose utter destruction was the goal of government
officials and leaders. Later, a few days we heard about further cuts to welfare benefits, the displacement
of people who are holding down essentially minimum wage jobs and need the assistance just to feed
their families , and the cutting back of medical services to quest beneficiaries.
When the entire state looks to the poor to carry their fiscal burdens, rousts them like chickens, in
shameful acts of inhumane mistreatment, trying to herd people into facilities they do not want to go to,
and take away social workers, benefits and housing, what I ask you does that sound like to you?
Does it ring a familiar bell in historical context? Does the fact that the working poor, homeless, elderly
and disabled in this state are made up highly disproportionately of Native Hawaiians, Polynesian
Immigrants, and immigrants from other Asian countries mean something to any of you? Perhaps not.
Perhaps you are embittered against a group of people whom you stereotypically want to label as
alcoholics, drug addicts and loser white trash from the mainland.
:et me ask you a question. Do any of you have family who have been to a war zone? Or family who
have survived ethnic cleansing, or persecution? DO any of you know what it means when you
persecute an entire class of citizens, and denigrate them to the rubbish heap just because you can?
Don't think I get any help from my own people either. Want to know why there aren't crowds of us out
in the street? Because we are psychologically controlled, beaten down and terrified to speak out, as
most persecuted groups of people are. Everyone is afraid of coming out and speaking out. In fact, they
don't believe me either. I can't get anyone to listen to me. No one wants to believe that this horrible
event will take place. No one.
But perhaps,. After reading this article, your eyes may be opened. You may finally be willing and able
to find your voice and stand up and fight this. You may find some shred of pride left. I know, they have
beaten it out of you, but we must try. We cannot let this happen. We must let the world know of our
plight here in Hawaii, and what they want to perpetuate against us, the class of people that they think
have no power, no voice, and should just shut up sit down behave and be quiet. We are to obey all of
their orders, and their laws, and go where they herd us. If a rule comes down one day we can do one
thing, then the next day a rule comes down and reverses that we are to comply. We are not to be seen by
the general public.
If you find this as appalling as I do, and if you are sick of being treated like this and subjected to this
sort of a brutal regime, then I urge you to become freedom fighters. I don't mean in a physical sense. I
mean help me to organize protests, and help me to find mainland attorneys who will swoop in here, and
help us with class action lawsuits. Help me to get the word out to independent filmmakers, and the
outside world. Shame them. Prove what you now know. Expose this to the world. I will not go out of
this housing easily. Nor will I allow my fellow humans out on the street to be herded like cattle into
institutions where there is no hope for housing. We must stop this persecution. I call on each and every
one of you with a shred of humanity in you to help stop this abominable war against the poor.
Mahalo
Anne Punohu
Kauai Citizen
Kauai Fair Housing Law Coalition
Kauai DHS Clients Coalition.

Welfare Reform, Economics

Here is a great article about yesterdays food giveaway.  They have helped out my family through a few Thanksgivings, the food is fantastic and top notch, and we are very grateful!

Here is the link to the article:CLICK HERE

 Welfare Reform needs to be reformed. Here are some rules:

If You manage to find a full time job that pays 12 or 13 dollars, you are a single mom with 2 children(the average) these are your "rewards"

1. If your child(teen) does not attend school fulltime, or a combination of work and school, the ENTIRE family gets cut off from assistance. (No, I'm not kidding)

2. If you are a single parent with 2 children and find a fulltime job that pays you between 12 and 13 dollars an hour, you LOSE your public assistance, including foodstamps. (Remember, this is Hawai'i. Food prices are off the charts. At least 1/3 of your income will now be going to groceries. Any gains you could have made or money you could have saved will be going to food.

3. If you are also lucky enough to have a HUD or Housing unit, your rent will increase 30 percent of your GROSS new earnings. (I.e. your rent will increase)

4. You will not be eligable for gas allowances, or insurance coverage.

5. If you happen to become pregnant during any time during your receiving welfare assistance, that child will not receive benefits. (Pro-Lifers should LOVE this, huh? It practically encourages abortion, supports a father having no responsibility for the child, since the child will not be covered, and encourages giving up the child. If abortion was no longer an option here, this would almost certainly cause the breakups of families, mental health issues and unfair adoptions.)

There is a five year LIFETIME allowance for welfare benefits. This causes severe economic hardships for mothers with 2, 3 and 4 children many of whom have been abandoned by the fathers.  In the past, you could always get help up until the child was 18, and you were not required to find a job or work until all of the children were of school age. Now, the law requires you to go to work or school by the time the child is 6 months old. With single parents this is very difficult, as separate childcare must be found, and not all childcare covers all of the costs of childcare. So once again, the system puts an undue burden on the mother.

6. Child support: The state of Hawaii is NOTORIOUS for NOT going after fathers for child support. CHild support issues in Hawaii are extremely complex as many single mothers are fleeing abusive spouses and marriages and partners with small children.  Under these circumstances welfare allows an exemption to go after the fathers in order to protect the family.

However, most fathers here, supported by bosses and family members are hidden and protected, while threatening the mother if they go after them they may fall into physical harm. Temporary Restraining orders and court proceedings further complicate the life and stress of mothers, who are also trying to comply with other agencies in order to keep a roof over their heads. Many end up homeless due to the loss of jobs because of absenteeism or stress and poor work performance.

All mothers are forced to reveal who the fathers of their children are, except when there is physical abuse threatened which must be proven. Many women have been threatened, so many women have this excemption, which the  fathers know will keep them out of trouble.  Many single mothers on welfare never get releif from the fathers of their children in Hawaii, becvause the physical abuse and threats are so prevelent.

Even when childcare has been ordered, many fathers in Hawaii get away with the minimum payment of 50.00 a month, which the mother never receives. It goes to welfare to pay back the system for the benefits she and her children have received.

After the welfare benefits have run out, a mother is still entittled to help from the state for a time to recover her money, and if there are any payments, sometimes they pass through to the mother. But most get out of paying this by working under the table, living with family members who do not reveal any information, or have sympathetic bosses who hide their true hourly wages and hours.

There is no way to track a father who is working under the table and hiding with relatives. Many will do it until the child is 18, and then resurface knowing that they have beaten the system and are now out of the woods. Most will drive illegally, or not have car insurance or bank accounts, or bills in their names. Many are supported in this by family members who do not care for the mother, and have no interest in the children, or who side with the man in these cases.

7. In general this is a paternalistic solution, asserting that basicly the mother is entirely to blame for her circumstances and it is she who must abide by dozens of rules and regulations from various agencies, with volumes of paperwork, appointments to keep, jobs to hold down, housing to secure and keep, ect. If one thing is not done correctly or something changes the whole house of cards can fall, and a single mother can lose everything, or worse end up homeless on the street, which happens a lot.

In conclusion, we all need to understand in this country that the rights of a mother just don't exist anymore. That undue stresses and burdens are put on women who have had the misfortune to have given birth to children that are unwanted by the fathers that were at least half responsible for them being here. With the Pro Lifers talking about how important it is to support the rights onf an unborn child, they seem to miss the fact that without a mother a child born into these circumstances will have at best a miserable existance, and doom them to poverty and unhappiness.It may force mothers to give up children, or lose them through the system. Then how does that bode for her other chilrdren? How can any human being survive this? Why are women being so archaiclly punished. Most women who now become pregnant during their 5 years on welfare, through unscroupulous men who offer partnerships or even marriage only to abandon them desperately now seek abortions to prevent giving birth to a child they are doomed to not be able to support. Is this what is meant by "right to life"?

So, this holiday season, perhaps read this blog article and think hard about the entire picture before judging, and understand that this is really what is causing the hardships on Kaua'i. Throw in the lack of affordable housing, plans to place limits on the number of years someone can live in public housing, the lack of jobs and it becomes even more dire.

So this holiday season, lets all reflect on being non judgemental about someone elses situation in life, and realizse that we are all in some way responsible for each other. It takes a village to raise a child, AND support the mothers as well. Let's reflect on that for a change.

If anyone is wondering why people are needing more help, these are some of the biggest reasons for the working poor.

FHLC Fair Housing Law Bill-My Proudest Moment

When I came up with this idea after seeing far too many ads in the newspaper stating that HUD recipients could not apply for many of the rentals in our newspaper, and with a tight housing crunch on our island I decided to do something about it.

Little did I know that it would end up with my dear friend and neighbor Pua Vidinha, my eldest daughter Kaulana Donovan(Punohu), and one of the most famous politicians on our island, Joann Yukimura getting on a planer to the capitol to testify on a bill that Gary Hooser was kind enough to write for me, and it had the support of the Civil Rights Commission, Oha a host of community organizations, and a bevy of other politicians, including Neil Ambercrombie(Congressman), and Mina Morita in the State House, who actually helped to make this video, and Kauai Council members Lani Kawahara, Tim Bynum, Dickie Chang, Jay Furfaro,  and Derek Kawakami. Not to mention the incredible support from the community and even from around the country as different internet news sources picked up the efforts of my little coalition. We had so much support for our cause, and all sorts of coverage from the media, including off the grid media, such as Andy Parx, and Juan Wilson and Aloha Analytics, Save Kauai and others.

To see this video I cannot tell you the swell of pride I feel, in all of the people, media, organizations and political personalities that helped us to get to that moment. I will be re introducing this issue after the 2010 Gubernatorial Election is over. We hope to have a more favorable political climate for the effort, and I believe that the second time around is a charm. 

A huge aloha to each and every one of you who helped us. I can never thank you enough.

And am I proud of my daughter? Yes. Mom is very proud of her girl!