Passing of Islam Day in the Hawai'i State Senate Reveals Hate and Bigotry in the Aloha State

Assalamu ‘Alaikum and hope all is well,

Islam day HCR100 Resolution was on the agenda yesterday (Wednesday). Senator Hemmings (Republican) gave a hate speech in opposition talking about the 10% of Islamic terrorists who want to kill Americans.  The gallery was filled with the red shirts that are opposing HB444, the Civil Unions bill who all stood and applauded in support of Senator Hemmings speech against this Resolution.  It was disgusting.  The senate normally takes votes on consent, but Hemmings asked for a roll call.

Then they had to go into caucus and they were going to recommit the Resolution (which would have killed it).  Great thanks to Senator Michelle Kidani said that she wanted to vote on it and that she didn’t think they should let religious bigots dictate what laws to pass. She added that we have state holidays for Good Friday and Christmas and that is religious so unless they were ready to give up those holidays she wanted this Resolution to move forward.   So it was agreed that they would separate this Resolution from the rest of the order of the day and take a roll call vote.

As our Majority Floor Leader, Senator Hooser gave a floor speech in support of HCR100.  Then Senator Slom (Also Republican) opposed (because of his know bigotry against Islam and Muslims). He said it was ramroded through committee and he was told no amendments could be made. Senator Hee who then stood and asked what particularly about the resolution did he want amended. Slom gave none. Senator Green said he would support with reservations but felt the Resolution was not keeping in separation of church and state.  Then Senator Hemmings again spoke against it.  Senator Espero rose in support and asked in the spirit of Aloha to pass this resolution.
Finally the senate voted and passed it—the vote was 22-3, Slom, Hemmings and Green voted against it. Since then senator received few email questing their decision and that they should not have passed it.

The reason I am sharing this with you in details is because bigotry and hate for Islam and Muslims still exist in Hawaii as clearly shown by the 3 senators that voted and spoke against Islam Day and especially Slom and Hemmings.

TODAY WE MUST SEND ALL SENATORS AN EMAIL OR FAX to express our thanks and appreciation and to tell them that they did the right thing. They took a bold move and they must receive more support for what they did than criticism. DO NOT DELAY SENDING AN EMAIL. IT IS CRUCIAL, VERY CRUCIAL. Also if you have friends you trust send them the email even if they are out of state. This matter is so important that I am not going to suggest what you need to say, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME ANS THANK THEM FROM YOUR HEART.

The senators that voted for are as follows:

Baker, Rosalyn H. (D)
senbaker@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6070
Fax 808-586-6071

Bunda, Robert (D
E-mail senbunda@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6090
Fax 808-586-6091
 
Chun Oakland, Suzanne (D)
E-mail senchunoakland@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6130
Fax 808-586-6131
 
English, J. Kalani (D)
E-mail senenglish@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-587-7225
Fax 808-587-7230
 
Espero, Will
E-mail senespero@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6360
Fax 808-586-6361
 
*censormode*unaga, Carol
E-mail sen*censormode*unaga@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6890
Fax 808-586-6899
 
Gabbard, Mike
E-mail sengabbard@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6830
Fax 808-586-6679
 
Galuteria, Brickwood
E-mail sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6740
Fax 808-586-6829
 
Hanabusa, Colleen
E-mail senhanabusa@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-7793
Fax 808-586-7797
 
Hee, Clayton
E-mail senhee@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-7330
Fax 808-586-7334
 
Hooser, Gary L
E-mail senhooser@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6030
Fax 808-586-6031
 
Ige, David Y
E-mail sendige@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6230
Fax 808-586-6231
 
Ihara, Les
E-mail senihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6250
Fax 808-586-6251
 
Kidani, Michelle
senkidani@capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-7100
Fax 808-586-7109
 
Kim, Donna Mercado
E-mail senkim@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-587-7200
Fax 808-587-7205
 
Kokubun, Russell S
E-mail senkokubun@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6760
Fax 808-586-6689
 
Nishihara, Clarence K
E-mail sennishihara@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6970
Fax 808-586-6879
 
Sakamoto, Norman
E-mail sensakamoto@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-8585
Fax 808-586-8588
 
Takamine, Dwight Y
E-mail sentakamine@capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-7335
Fax 808-586-7339
 
Taniguchi, Brian T
E-mail sentaniguchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6460
Fax 808-586-6461
 
Tokuda, Jill N
E-mail sentokuda@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-587-7215
Fax 808-587-7220
 
Tsutsui, Shan S.
E-mail sentsutsui@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-7344
Fax 808-586-7348
 
The three that voted against are:
 
Hemmings, Fred
E-mail senhemmings@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-587-8388
Fax 808-587-7240
 
Slom, Sam
E-mail senslom@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-8420
Fax 808-586-8426
 
Green, Josh
E-mail sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-9385
Fax 808-586-9391

If you decide you want to send one email to all senator (E-mail sens@Capitol.hawaii.gov ) that will be fine just make sure you do something like (I’m glad that you did not let the bigotry and ignorance of couple senators derail such a great resolution). Finally, please send similar email to the house of representative especially Lyla Berg who introduced the resolution on our behalf.

Lyla Berg
email repberg@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Phone 808-586-6510
fax 808-586-6511

All the following representatives were crucial to its passing from the House.

Joey Manahan
e-mail repmanahan@Capitol.hawaii.gov
phone 808-586-6010
fax 808-586-6011

James Kunane Tokioka
e-mail reptokioka@Capitol.hawaii.gov
phone 808-586-6270
fax 808-586-6271

For your info, in the past Hawaii legislatures passed  the following resolutions on previous occassions hence there was precedence for this resolution:

• Sept 28 Confucius Day
• April 8 Buddha Day
• March 21 Bahai Day
• First Friday in November as Arbor Day
• April 15 as Father Damien Day
• December 8 as Bodhi Day

As I am typing this, I just received a call that the senate is getting a lot of calls in opposition and some radio shows are making fun of the senate for passing this, which makes your timely call of appreciation even more important.

Fi Amanillah and Please call and email NOW.

Hakim Ouansafi
President, Muslim Association of Hawai'i