In a surprising turn of events, a review from yesterday’s vote for the flag bill actually had the 17 votes needed to be recalled to the House Floor. The official count in favor of the recall yesterday was announced as having only 14 votes, 3 votes shy of the 17 needed to successfully recall House Bill 2311 out of the Housing Committee for debate. The video above shows that the motion did in fact receive the 17 “yea” votes from the following Representatives Maile Shimabukuro, Tom Brower, Marilyn Lee, Karen Awana, Mele Carroll, Sharon Har, Gilbert Keith-Agaran, Joey Manahan, Angus McKelvey, Mark Taka, Ryan Yamane, Corinne Ching, Lynn Finnegan, Barbara Marumoto, Kymberly Pine, Cynthia Thielen, and Gene Ward.

“It’s not clear how or why this miscount occurred but it is our obligation to ensure that the veterans who came that day get justice for their cause,” stated Rep. Pine.

Even if Rep. Pine forced another recall vote on Friday, the end of the 5 day recess, the bill would be dead because it missed the first decking deadline.

Aloha Friends and Veterans,

I wanted to report to you how the vote went today to recall House Bill 2311 to save the rights of Americans to be able to fly the American and Hawaii State flags wherever they live on their own property.

Sadly, we were short just three votes. Today, veterans groups, members of the military, and supporters have committed this day as being the first day of their next battle to get this issue passed at the State Capitol. They plan to lobby the Legislature to insert the language of House Bill 231 into another bill that is moving at the State Capitol. If this is something that you support, please call each legislator or come to the State Capitol to visit every office to let them know that you support these actions. The link below provides contact information of Representatives at the State Capitol:

Directory of Representatives

14 members of the House of Representatives voted to recall House Bill 2311:

• Representative Pine (District 43 – Ewa Beach, Iroquois Point, Puuloa)
• Representative Awana (District 44 – Honokai Hale, Nanakuli, Lualualei, Maili)
• Representative Carroll (District 13 – Kahoolawe, Molokini, Lanai, Molokai, Keanae, Wailua, Nahiku, Hana)
• Representative Ching (District 27 – Nuuanu, Puunui, Liliha, Alewa Heights
• Representative Finnegan (District 32 – Lower Pearlridge, Aiea, Halawa, Hickam, Pearl Harbor, Moanalua Gardens)
• Representative Har (District 40 – Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa)
• Representative Keith-Agaran (District 9 – Kahului, Wailuku, Puunene, Spreckelsville, Paia)
• Representative Manahan (District 29 – Sand Island, Mokauea, Kalihi Kai, Kapalama)
• Representative Marumoto (District 19 – Waialae Iki, Kalani Valley, Waialae Nui, Diamond Head, Kahala)
• Representative McKelvey (District 10 – Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua, Maalaea, Kihei)
• Representative Takai (District 34 – Newtown, Waiau, Pearl City, Waimalu)
• Representative Thielen (District 50 – Kailua, Kaneohe Bay)
• Representative Ward (District 17 – Kalama Valley, Queen’s Gate, Hawaii Kai)
• Representative Yamane (District 37 – Mililani, Waipio Gentry)

Although House Bill 2311 is technically dead, we still have an opportunity until the end of April to convince the Legislature that this is a very important issue and a basic right to have.

Mahalo,

Kymberly Pine
State Representative
(808) 586-9730

We need your help to defend our right to display the American Flag!

Please SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for House Bill 2311 on today, February 18, 2010, at 11:45am at the State Capitol Rotunda with your American Flags and patriotic signs and clothes.

Representative Kymberly Pine (43rd Ewa Beach, Pu`uloa, Iroquois Point) will introduce all supporters that attend before she recalls H.B. 2311 on the House Floor during session at 12 Noon today. You can read the bill here.

IT IS CRUCIAL THAT THE PUBLIC SEATING GALLERY IS FULL OF SUPPORTERS TODAY!

If you cannot attend, please call your State Representative before 12 Noon, and tell him or her to support H.B. 2311, contact info can be found here.

H.B. 2311 allows home owners to erect flagpoles in community housing developments while preserving the authority of housing associations to regulate the size, condition, and location of the flag display. Housing Chair, Rep. Rida Cabanilla (42nd Ewa, Waipahu) has deferred the bill and it will die if it is not successfully recalled today.

Rep. Pine did not expect this to be a controversial bill because in 2009 the House passed a bill overriding housing association rules to allow residents to erect clotheslines and on Tuesday, February 16, 2010, the House supported a bill to allow windmills to be erected in housing associations.

H.B. 2311 does not interfere with housing associations because they can enforce “reasonable restrictions” regarding the type (Hawaii State or American Flags ONLY), sizes, locations, and conditions a flag can be. It is a simple gesture to allow veterans and families that lost loved ones to honor their sacrifices to our country.

Thank you for your support of this very important cause! Please join us today at 11:45am at the State Capitol Rotunda with your flags and patriotic clothes. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Rep. Pine’s office at 586-9730 or reppine@capitol.hawaii.gov.

Thank you for your support of this important issue!

Media Coverage

Hawaii News Now – February 8th, 2010

Rusty Humphries Show Part 1 – YouTube
Rusty Humphries Show Part 2 – YouTube

KITV – February 15th 2010

Honolulu Star-Bulletin – Commentary – February 11, 2010

Honolulu Advertiser – The Notebook – February 16, 2010

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