Representative Marilyn B. Lee
38th District (Mililani-Mililani Mauka-Waipio Acres)
I’m Representative Marilyn Lee. I represent the 38th District, State House of Representatives. Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka, and Waipio Acres make up this district; it is one of the largest in the state.
Mililani is a great place to live. Citizen participation is high and our two neighborhood boards are quite active. I have lived in this community for 30 years and am proud to say I played a role in making our All America City award possible some years ago. Mililani remains the only city in Hawaii to have received this award.
Today, Mililani faces challenges, but together we can overcome them. Families, education, fiscal responsibility, and economic prosperity are our top priorities.
Most people think of Mililani as a young community, but in reality it is aging like all of Hawaii; the average age of our residents is forty. Many folks find themselves part of the “sandwich” generation, caring both for children and aging parents. Others for various reasons have taken over the full time care of grandchildren. I have been addressing these issues as the co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Aging in Place, which meets year-round to hear community concerns and find solutions. A few years ago, a friend and I created the Central Oahu Caregivers Support Group to assist those in our community who are caring for loved ones at home. It has been a labor of love, and continues to meet each month.
I strongly support our public schools. Our four children attended Mililani public schools and are college graduates pursuing their careers. I have been involved in the schools as both a parent and community member. I was part of the very first School & Community-Based Management (SCBM) group at Mililani High School. I have served as PTSA president at MHS, and as a member of the Mililani Waena SCC. There is no better way to get to know our schools than to help out in person.
Working together with my Mililani colleagues, we have secured funds for vital construction and maintenance projects that benefit Mililani’s schools. There is no doubt that a strong legislative team working together can make a difference in securing appropriations.
While our local schools are not perfect, they compete very successfully with schools statewide. Recently three of our schools received the highest rating possible on standardized tests. The Legislature has appropriated 67 million dollars to make sure furlough days are a thing of the past. We will continue working to make sure that Hawaii’s children receive the education they deserve. But education is not just a matter of money. Parents, you can make a crucial difference by staying involved in your children’s learning and by participating in local school groups.
At the very heart of our Legislative work is the budget. For the past four years I have served as Vice-Chair of the House Finance Committee. This is a challenging and time consuming position but it has given me unique insight into our state’s situation.
Experience matters. Creating a balanced budget is nothing like playing a computer game, as some would have you believe. It involves much study and analysis, and it requires making hard choices. Wise budget decisions come from hours talking with people and listening to testimony often late into the night. My knowledge of complex budget issues is an invaluable asset. I am also proud of the working relationships I have with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
Experience also matters when it comes to health care. My expertise in health care serves me well in the Legislature. I served in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps and worked for many years as a Registered Nurse at Wahiawa General Hospital. Having experienced health care from the perspective of a provider, a manager, and a consumer, I am well prepared to deal with health issues and I am committed to quality health care for Hawaii’s people.
We will face many other challenges in the coming years. Road conditions and pedestrian issues need resolution, and traffic seems to worsen daily. Public transportation to all areas of Mililani needs improvement, and access to bus transportation made greater, especially in Mililani Mauka. Our recent budget contained funds for planning an additional access road from Meheula Parkway to the H-2 in Mauka. While this additional access is planned for the future, we must keep in mind the high cost of such a project.
Statewide, we will be challenged by the budget deficit again next session. We must carefully determine where our priorities lie and look to the future when using our resources. Slash and burn cuts are not the way to proceed if we have our eye on tomorrow. Areas such child protection, health and safety, and control of invasive species cannot be short changed. We have begun our effort towards towards energy sustainability—but we must not falter. Hawaii can lead the way for the rest of the nation.
High tech improvements such as a common statewide computer system will help us move towards greater efficiency. Such systems are expensive, but they are intelligent investments that will repay great dividends. Job creation will be critical over the next few years, and most likely will occur in health care, renewable energy, and hopefully modern agriculture. By making wise investments now, we are planting the seeds for a more prosperous future.
We are a strong and diverse community. Our demographics mirror that of the state; our families are traditional and non traditional. We may not always agree, but in a spirit of tolerance for others, and respect for all, we will demonstrate why we became known as an ALL AMERICA CITY.
I am honored to continue to serve you, and I will continue to do my very best for you. Mahalo and Aloha!
Marilyn
