I want to thank you for the honor of letting me serve you in the House of Representatives. I feel that I can do more for our communities, our District, Hawai`i Island and our State. I am privileged to continue serving as the Vice-Chair for the Agriculture Committee, a position very important to our District. In addition I have once again been appointed to the powerful Finance Committee, the committees on Economic Development & Business; Tourism; and Veterans, Military & International Affairs, and Culture & the Arts.
Awards & Recognition:
- Hawai`i Farm Bureau – 2013 Legislator of the Year
- Big Island ARCH & Big Island Adult Foster Association – 2013 Certificate of Appreciation
- National Federation of Independent Businesses – 2014 Leadership Advocate for Small Business
- Civil Beat – Most bills passed in 2014 Session (5 of 16, 31%), tied with 5 other Representatives
Capitol Improvement & Grant-in-Aid Projects:
- 2013 – Keaau Middle School – $675,000
- 2013 – Hawai`i Island Community Development Corporation – $1,000,000
- 2013 – Ka’u Irrigation System Appropriation – $2,500,000
- 2013 – National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy Facilities – $5,900,000
- 2014 – Volcano Arts Center – $15,000
- 2014 – Kea’au High School – $275,000
- 2014 – Hawai’i Island Veterans Memorial – $425,000
- 2014 – Ka’u High School – $550,000
- 2014 – Volcano School of Arts & Sciences – $618,000 (release of appropriation)
- 2014 – National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy Facilities – $2,000,000
- 2014 – Ka’u Irrigation System Appropriation – $2,500,000
- 2014 – Hilo Medical Center – $3,285,000
Legislative Measures Passed:
- 2013 – Compensation to Lessees for Taking of Leased Farm, Ranch or Commercial Land
- 2013 – Future Farmers of America Appropriation – $75,000 (2 years)
- 2013 – 4H Program Appropriation – $75,000 (2 years)
- 2013 – Coffee Berry Borer Program – $600,000
- 2013 – Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems – $1,200,000
- 2013 – Agricultural Livestock Feed Subsidies – $1,500,000
- 2013 – Hilo Medical Center Primary Care Physicians Training Program – $1,800,000
- 2014 – Constitutional Amendment for Agricultural Enterprise Revenue Bonds
- 2014 – Mediation for Leased Farm, Ranch, or Commercial Land Disputes
- 2014 – Recordation of Arbitrated Leased Farm, Ranch or Commercial Land Settlements
- 2014 – Hamakua Ditch’s Agricultural Water Rate Reduced to $.20/1,000 Gallons
- 2014 – Milk Control Act’s Minimum Reserves set at $300,000
- 2014 – Imiloa Astronomy Center RISE 21st Century Program – $200,000
- 2014 – Macadamia Nut Felted Coccid Program – $360,000
- 2014 – Coffee Berry Borer Program – $500,000
- 2014 – Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems – $500,000
- 2014 – Hilo Medical Center Primary Care Physicians Training Program – $2,000,000
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Visit Representative Richard H. K. Onishi’s legislative page for key updates at the legislature. You can also submit testimony to House Bills. After clicking on the respective House Bill, simply click on the “submit testimony” tab in the top-middle section of that page. Click on the link below to read his most recent community newsletter.
Rep. Richard H.K. Onishi’s Legislative website
Rep. Onishi is a member of the following committees:
Agriculture (Vice-Chair)
Economic Development and Business
Veterans, Military, and International Affairs, and Culture and the Arts
E-mail Rep. Onishi at reponishi@capitol.hawaii.gov
Office phone: (808)586-6120
Office fax: (808)586-6121
Visit the Public Access Room at the State Legislature. For updates, click on the ‘newsletters’ page.
Friends for Richard Onishi 