New Hawai'i medal proposed
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
Bills to create a Hawai'i Medal of Honor, exempt members of the National Guard and Reserve from county vehicle taxes and fees, and compensate state employees on active duty are among those from a "military appreciation package" that have made it through early review by the state Legislature.
Rep. K. Mark Takai, vice speaker of the House, said the focus of this year's military-related package is on the families of deployed Hawai'i service members.
"The timing of this couldn't be any better as our soldiers move from Kuwait into Iraq," said Takai, D-34th (Pearl City, Newtown, Royal Summit). "Many of them are going to be facing some very difficult days ahead."
More than 2,200 Hawai'i National Guard soldiers and reservists with the 29th Brigade Combat Team are setting up in the Baghdad and Balad areas of Iraq for a yearlong deployment.
State employees would be compensated the difference between their pay as active-duty service members in a fire zone and their higher state pay — a gap the Guard encourages all employers to try to meet. A similar measure failed last year.
Other bills also would exempt from state income tax Hawai'i residents who, as active-duty military personnel, are stationed outside the state; and create a temporary civil service position to coordinate state support for military personnel.
Takai, himself a Hawai'i Army National Guard member, said an important bill is one that would create a Hawai'i Medal of Honor, which is expected to be modeled after the Medal of Honor but would be reserved for service members killed in action.
Takai's office said all states have a Medal of Valor, and such a medal was dedicated by former Gov. Ben Cayetano at Arlington National Cemetery on behalf of all Hawai'i residents who have been killed in action.
A Hawai'i Medal of Honor would be "the only one in the nation that will be awarded through a concurrent resolution in the Legislature," Takai said.
The medal would be given to family members. Members of the Hawai'i National Guard or Reserves and active-duty service members stationed in Hawai'i would be eligible for the recognition.
"Establishing a Hawai'i Medal of Honor is long overdue," said Rep. Ken Ito, D-48th (Kane'ohe), chairman of the Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee. "So many of our Hawai'i military personnel have demonstrated incredible acts of bravery to protect and defend America. They are heroes, and this is one way to thank them."
A bill calling for replacement soil and casket liners at Hawai'i State Veterans Cemetery also was introduced. A study found that soil at the cemetery, opened in 1991, does not provide necessary support for graves and headstones due to composition and moisture content, causing them to sink.
Edward Cruickshank, director of the Office of Veterans Services, said in testimony that the cemetery is updating its policies to require casket liners. He said $78,000 is being requested for deterioration of the columbarium area and casket liners, and $44,000 for replacement fill.
Other bills propose tuition refunds for children of law enforcement and military personnel killed in action, and appropriation of $2 million to the Department of Transportation for a project to develop a security system for the Port of Honolulu, conditional upon an 80 percent match in federal money.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
