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Tuesday, October 2, 2018

“Teach Your Children” A Kauai Christian Voter Editorial by Alfred P. Sarmento


This past weeks’ public lynching of Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, by demented Democrat Senate Judicial Committee members, including Hawaii’s own “Crazy” Mazie Hirono, went beyond the pale in destroying not only what was left of comity in the U.S. Senate, but attempting to destroy an innocent public servant and his family.

Now, before Hawaii’s progressive left collectively snort their morning’s latte out of their nostrils, let me be very clear; I believe this progressive insistence on espousing a “toxic femininity” as official American policy is destroying our country and our young men. Since when is any American automatically guilty of sexual harassment based upon vague recollections that devolve into obviously unprovable, 36-year-old allegations, denied by all people claimed present by the accuser, Christine Blasey Ford? What exactly do you expect a reasonable person to conclude from her testimony?

Despite senator Diane Feinstein’s blatant 11th hour political stunt in withholding the Ford accusation letter from the Committee, prior to Judge Kavanagh’s 30-hours of hearings, the Republican Chairman of the Senate Judicial Committee, Senator Grassley, bent over backwards to allow the charges by Mrs. Ford to be heard. Clearly, Mrs. Ford’s testimony was ultimately unable to prove her contentions as credible even before Judge Kavanaugh could so eruditely refute them in his rebuttal. Mrs. Ford was unable to testify credibly as to the when, the where or to the whom of her accusations against Judge Kavanagh. Mrs. Ford unequivocally failed to meet any reasonable burden of proof regarding her allegations. American jurisprudence is based upon the common-sense guiding principle of innocence until PROVEN guilty, NOT guilt automatically proven by mere accusation. Let us not forget the fact that Judge Kavanagh passed 6 full FBI clearances in his long history of public service. Not a scintilla of this type of behavior has ever been uncovered. Progressive Democrats are now advocating turning the Constitution on its head just to advance their hate-filled political agenda, an outgrowth of losing the 2016 Presidential election.

Just because a woman makes a decade’s old allegation of sexual misconduct against someone, that does not mean those accusations are automatically credible. I do not know the truth of the Ford allegations, but I am neither Solomon nor God, and neither are the mad Democrat progressive Senators who condemn him.  Without corroborative evidence Judge Kavanagh must be presumed innocent. Hating men and presuming guilt due to Judge Kavanaugh’s gender is both dystopian and horrific in its implications for American justice and society at large. “Crazy” Mazie Hirono’s advocating guilt by accusation and gender, her “toxic femininity”, is more in keeping with an ancient Grecian Priestess of the cult of Isis rather than a modern American judicial principle worthy of emulation.

Watching as Democrat Senator’s and their media propagandists dig up and then regurgitate spurious, salacious, unprovable and politically motivated allegations against a decent man, Judge Kavanaugh, is a thoroughly teachable moment for Hawaii’s youth and any honest observer. Loony left progressives in the Democrat Party have shown themselves to be mad, power hungry, hateful beings who would destroy anyone who has the temerity to espouse traditional, conservative, Christian beliefs simply because they contradict their sick personal progressive philosophies, and their dying political power base. Their treatment of Judge Kavanagh was more in keeping with a 60’s era Soviet show-trial than an American Congressional hearing.

In my youth I was a neighbor of an older couple who had fled Hitler’s Nazi Germany right after Kristallnacht. Nearly 50 years later, their warning to me, rings true in this time. They could not believe how their country could turn towards a violent, evil philosophy seemingly out of the blue, but it did. Their warning to me was as clear as it was chilling. Do not believe that America is immune from that type of evil, it can happen here, and in a relative instant. That progressive Democrats today would hasten this evil in America is indeed a chilling development, one that behooves us to teach our children to recognize the hate and evil endemic in progressive political philosophy.

Mahalo & May God Bless Hawaii & America, Alfred P. Sarmento, Kekaha, Hawaii – 9/28/2018

Alfred Sarmento is permanently disabled resident of Kekaha. He is a past Chair of the Kauai Republican Party and the publisher of an occasional e-mail letter known as the Kauai Christian Voter, a Christian missions project aiming to encourage Christian principles and participation in the pubic square.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Why Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Will be Bad for Kauai

Why Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Will be Bad for Kauai
By Alfred P. Sarmento, Kauai Christian Voters 4/14/2015

 

LINK TO SENATE BILL PASSED TODAY, Does not include amendments!

 

Wednesday, April 8 began with a detailed briefing from Representative Marcus Oshiro, (Democrat HD 46, from Oahu’s Wahiawa), and Hawaii Family Forums’ Director of Community Relations, Allen Cardines Jr., (Pastor of Hope Chapel, Nanakuli), at Aloha Church in Lihue. They both spoke on the very real, very negative, consequences of medical marijuana dispensary bills, HB 321 and SB 879, now being fast-tracked at our state legislature. The day ended with testimony at the Kauai County Council chambers, asking the State Legislature to give Kauai and Hawaii’s other counties, “Home Rule”, control over marijuana dispensaries, a right afforded counties in 16 states on the mainland. Resolution No. 2015 – 37 was proposed by Council Chair Mel Rapozo, and it asks our state legislature to reconsider the rush to create marijuana dispensaries, while continuing to allow medical marijuana cultivation, and to “go slow”, so communities on Kauai can gauge the impacts of specific provisions of any bill ultimately approved. The resolution was offered with specific floor amendments, proposed by Councilman Ross Kagawa that would build a better bill for Kauai’s communities. There was serious debate and the resolution was passed by a vote of 4 to 3 at the Kauai County Council. Kauai is the only county in Hawaii that has taken a stand against this onrushing bill. Interestingly this fact has yet to be reported in news outlets, as we seem to be on an express train to allowing marijuana dispensaries here in Hawaii, without any adequate public input from the neighbor islands.

To begin with, let’s be very clear here; no one I know is interested in keeping anyone away from the medication they need, be it marijuana or anything else. Hawaii's medical use of marijuana law was enacted on June 14, 2000, as Act 228. This act provided for medical marijuana as a relief for seriously ill individuals in Hawaii. While this law recognized the beneficial use of marijuana in treating or alleviating pain and other symptoms associated with certain debilitating illnesses, it was silent on how patients could obtain medical marijuana if they or their caregivers were unable to grow their own supply. Hawaii’s more liberal, secular minded legislators, claim this is why the marijuana dispensary bills are being considered and fast tracked this legislative session. However, much has changed since 2000 that brings the necessity of marijuana dispensaries while allowing the growing of marijuana for medical use into serious question.

We as Christians, must be concerned with the negative effects of bad public policy on our communities, neighborhoods and families. Make no mistake there will be diversion of medical marijuana from any dispensary (ies) built that will end up with our youth getting their hands on today’s super-concentrated THC products offered for sale. THC, (tetrahydrocannabinol), is the ingredient of the cannabis plant, (marijuana), that contains the heavy narcotic drug and psychoactive effects. Also, marijuana ostensibly grown by and for card holders will be stolen, as well as diverted, (sold), for cash. It already is.

Marcus Oshiro stated that there has been a concerted effort to avoid medical and law enforcement committees for the medical marijuana bills in both the State House and Senate. Moreover, lobbyists for marijuana legalization groups such as NORML, the Marijuana Policy Project, and the Drug Policy Alliance have been prowling the halls of the Hawaii’s state legislature with money to spend on lawmakers looking to cash in. Research shows that they collectively have between 80 and 100 million dollars available to push legalization legislation nationwide. Make no mistake, these medical marijuana bills, in un-amended or poorly amended format, are nothing more than gigantic steps toward marijuana legalization here in Hawaii. Only some Christian groups and a minority of decent politicians are looking at the long-term implications and impacts that marijuana dispensaries, coupled with continued cultivation, will have on our keiki, teens, young adults and our communities. Gone is the time you could trust your local politician to put the needs and safety of your community first. We live in a brave new world where morals are a fungible commodity, something to be sold, then debated, if at all, by the secularists in power today.

Online Effects of Marijuana Strains For Sale at an Arizona Dispensary 4/14/2015

Presenters were adamant that the basic model the Hawaii state legislature was following, un-amended, was closely related to the marijuana disasters in Arizona, Colorado and California. These states have seen many negative impacts from the misuse of medical marijuana dispensaries, and in the case of Arizona and Colorado, huge increases of child and teen abuse of the now decriminalized, actually, de facto legalized, marijuana. Many thoughtful citizens believe that once these dispensaries are in operation they will forever change our island communities in negative ways. Medical marijuana dispensaries and marijuana decriminalization legislation send children, teenagers and even young adults mixed messages. On the one hand marijuana is likened to to a “natural herb”, but it is far more truthfully an extremely dangerous, psychoactive drug with a great potential to destroy young minds, lives, families and careers.

Online Prices at an Arizona Medical marijuana Dispensary 4/14/2015

Much of the presentation was to warn us of just how bad a problem Arizona, Colorado and California’s marijuana dispensaries have become in those states and in nearby states. My generation is quite familiar with the Woodstock recreational use of cannabis. An interesting graphic clearly showed that from 1960 to 1983 the average THC content of marijuana was 2% or less. By 2011 the average THC content of marijuana was 11.4%. In Colorado, from 2010 to 2014, there has been an increase in the average THC concentration of marijuana grown there, from about 12 percent to over 25 percent today. The increase of cultivated marijuana’s potency is reliably expected to continue. The pakalolo being hybridized and grown today is far more potent than that available in our youth. And today, thanks to the manufacturing of legal, concentrated, THC laden products, in Arizona, Colorado, there are now products containing THC of as great as 80 to 90% purity. In Arizona and Colorado, legal, edible baked goods like cookies and brownies, as well as candy and treats are being sprayed with a THC “spray”, (a clear concentrated form of THC liquid). This gives the purchaser huge doses of the THC drug in forms that appeal to children and teens. Gummy bears, gummy worms, chocolate bars, lozenges, cotton candy and other types of traditional candy, often indistinguishable from their “normal” counterparts, are being sold for “medicinal use” in marijuana dispensaries. Even a cursory inspection of mainland medical marijuana dispensaries and states where marijuana has been decriminalized show that big business is involved, soaking up the big cash generated. Big mainland pakalolo companies are not very likely to care about Kauai’s communities! Already these products are finding their way illegally into many other states in the US, where they are sold to abusers. Extremely dangerous to manufacture, butane gas based, “BHO oil”, “shatter” and “waxes” are manufactured for consumption in Arizona and Colorado, then are sold in medical marijuana dispensaries.  These are extremely dangerous concentrates, containing 75% to 90% pure THC. The strains of cannabis cultivated today in decriminalized states can be 20 to 30 percent or more THC and they hybridize out the CBD component as well.

Types of candy containing THC concentrates available on the mainland -
Courtesy Rep. Marcus Oshiro
CBD? What is that you ask? Well, recent medical research has been on the CBD component of marijuana. CBD, (“Cannabidiol”), appears to be the most medically useful component of the cannabis plant. Any search on CBD will come up with many recent news stories relating to basic medical research showing its anecdotal usefulness for children and some adults with certain forms of epilepsy. Cannabis strains such as “Charlotte’s Web” are showing promise in some medical marijuana research. These strains have been crossbred and hybridized to minimize THC while maximizing CBD. These products are actually now being sold right here on Kauai in places like Hanapepe’s Westside Pharmacy, where CBD oil is for sale, (@ $45.00 per tincture of CBD oil), as well as on Amazon.com and other online retailers. They are legally selling CBD oil because it is manufactured from marijuana strains classified as hemp not marijuana, (THC content less than .3 %). Marijuana, with high concentrations of THC, are still federally classified as a Schedule I Narcotic, and are federally illegal, along with other very dangerous drugs with high abuse rates and practically no medicinal value such as LSD and heroin. Keep in mind that pharmacists and doctors throughout Kauai warn that even CBD oil can have great side effects, can interfere with anti-seizure medications, and are dangerous, especially for children. They note that true double-blind studies on the usefulness and safety of CBD have not been done. What studies that have been done are more anecdotal than scientifically useful, and often show patients dropping out due to the many side effects of CBD oil.

Why then this rush for dispensaries when evidence shows modern marijuana is getting more dangerous, not less so? Here on Kauai, December 2014 totals show that there have been 1,940 marijuana cards issued by the State Department of Health. Of those, only six, (6!), people self-identified as being unable to get the marijuana that they require. Furthermore, statewide, the vast majority of the 13,937 registered marijuana cardholders, approximately 66%, have used the severe pain category as the basis of their medical marijuana need. Many believe, as I have personally seen in California, that the “severe pain” category is often abused by those seeking a legal source for their “high”. In other words, those with marijuana dispensary cards obtained to alleviate severe pain, are often engaging in nothing more than drug seeking behavior. Here’s where many will dispute my point. Many claim pain is a legitimate medical condition. Oh, I know pain is a legitimate medical condition, however, getting high on pakalolo is far more likely to mask any pain than be a medically useful treatment or remedy. What few studies that have been done show that only a very few neurological conditions can benefit from low-dose THC treatments. Less than 5% of all Hawaii card holders’ list cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma or epileptic seizures as their reason for using medical marijuana.


Chart of THC Averages 1960 - 2011 - Courtesy Rep. Marcus Oshiro
 

Why the worry? Marijuana is just this generation’s alcohol isn’t it? Well, I worry for some very compelling reasons. First, as a Christian, I must use my voice to protect those who can’t protect themselves, and this includes the children and teens who will be at increased risk of exposure to marijuana and will be abusing it, thinking it’s OK. Medically, it is NOT OK! Marijuana, ice and misdirected prescription drugs are already a huge problem here on Kauai. My wife Darline and I serve at our churches food bank each month. We are seeing an upsurge in young homeless adults in Kekaha who come in and are so zonked out on drugs that we have to have volunteers help them choose food for themselves. They are unable to cope with seemingly simple tasks while high. Marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, nicotine and prescription drugs cause enough harm already! Let’s not make it worse!
Marijuana dispensaries coupled with more regulations will not end the black, (illegal), market for marijuana, but will only hide it. Current pakalolo prices at mainland dispensaries are quite high, as much as $500 or more for an ounce, with concentrates costing $1400 or more an ounce! The marijuana black market will continue to serve those who need prices lower than the dispensaries can provide.
Today, we cannot keep alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes, or prescription drugs out of the hands of minors. So what makes us think we can keep medical marijuana away from them?


Photo of dangerous concentrates available on the mainland- Courtesy Rep. Oshiro
 

The welfare of our keiki is a great concern with modern strains of marijuana and concentrates. The adolescent brain is especially susceptible to the dangers of marijuana use, medical or otherwise. This means when kids use marijuana, they have a greater chance of becoming addicted, because their brains are just forming and being primed for adulthood. Also, THC is a fat soluble compound, so it tends to collect in brain cells that are mostly made up of lipids.
Teen abuse of marijuana has the following associated risks:
Smoking marijuana doubles the risk of teens for psychosis over the next 10 years.
Daily teen smokers of marijuana are twice as vulnerable to depression.
Early marijuana use is linked to a 50% increase in risk of depression after age 17.
Heavy teen abusers of marijuana are 6 times more likely to develop schizophrenia.
Teen Pakalolo users see a permanent 8 point IQ loss.
Teen pot users are 5 times more likely to drop out of school.
1 in 6 heavy teen users will become addicts.
Teen marijuana use will be responsible for 2/3 of teens admitted to rehab centers.
Teen risk of Schizophrenia is 2 to 6 times higher than that of adults.
Marijuana use while driving doubles the risk of a car crash.
How ironic our society is discouraging tobacco use while encouraging smoking marijuana! Lung cancer anyone? Marijuana smoke contains far more tars and organic chemicals than tobacco smoke.

If the risks to our teenagers and keiki are not enough to convince you we’d better be very careful in creating marijuana dispensaries on Kauai while still allowing cultivation of dangerous strains of cannabis, consider the following. Wherever on Kauai a dispensary, (or dispensaries) are ultimately located, those locations will become magnets for criminal activity. Kauai Police Chief, Darryl Perry, testified that because of federal banking laws, these dispensaries will be an all cash business. They will become focal points for robbery. Clients will be watched and later, attacked, not only for the cash they may be carrying but for their marijuana as well.  The Kauai police department officers will require additional training on spotting marijuana drugged drivers at an estimated cost of $300,000. Make no mistake Kauai, it will hit the taxpayers here on Kauai right in the pocket book, eventually.

Who is reminding today’s teens that they will suffer greatly when looking for future employment. Anyone smoking medical or illegal pakalolo will be unable to gain much full-time employment. No hope for a career, just a permanent underclass status, drugged to their eyeballs while on welfare. Increased potency and the ease of using concentrates will force major employers to require additional testing for marijuana on the job. No one wants drugged drivers or high construction equipment operators on our highways or working where they could cause untold damage to innocents. Insurance carriers are sure to requite it. Who’s talking to the youth of today of their wasted opportunities, and the economic costs to society? Why this worry? Because taking a modern, concentrated hit of THC today is as easy as taking a tic-tac. Workers who abuse THC would become a constant societal problem. Hair testing for THC can show usage as far back as 10 years ago, perhaps more. So a teenager can use marijuana today and become unemployable in many occupations for perhaps as much as 10 years.

For the record, Kauai County Council resolution No. 2015 – 37 and the amendments were approved by Mel Rapozo, Ross Kagawa, KipuKai Kualii, and Arryl Kaneshiro. In addition, Theresa Koki, Kauai Life's Choices Kauai Coordinator fighting drug abuse, testified and stated that Mayor Bernard Carvalho was in support of the resolution as well. I commend them all for their courageous stance against this rising tide of insanity getting ready to hit our shores on Kauai.

The resolution was voted down by Gary Hooser, JoAnn Yukimura, and Mason Chock. Gary Hooser stated that his opposition to the resolution and amendments was based on his belief that it was far more important to give people a legal avenue to get their medical marijuana and that any concerns about diversion were misplaced as well as inappropriate. He stated that our concerns were nothing more than a continuation of “America’s failed war on drugs”. Hmmm. I see a distinct lack of discernment in those statements, don’t you? Gary Hooser showed absolutely no concern for those in society who would be negatively affected by the abuse and diversion of medical marijuana here on Kauai. Gary continued that there were several amendments passed in the state legislature that already addressed some of our concerns. He failed, as usual, to also state that any amendment passed was not guaranteed to survive the conference committee working out the differences between the two versions passed by either house. In the end, only those on the conference committee will decide what is going to be the ultimate law for Hawaii. JoAnn Yukimura showed a continuing opposition to anything proposed by Mel Rapozo, just on her “principles”, seemingly, for spite. Meanwhile, Mason Chock made a lame attempt to have it both ways, claiming he had concerns, but he then sided with Gary and JoAnn to vote no.

On the state side, Representatives Derek Kawakami, Jimmy Tokioka as well as our Kauai State Senator Ron Kouchi, have stated support for the Kauai resolution and its requested amendments. Only our Westside Representative, Dee Morikawa is refusing a more reasoned, go slow, approach. Rep. Morikawa e-mailed my wife and I and told us that “by tightening up the medical marijuana law in place today with more regulations”, and with “mandated state tags” on the stems of plants cultivated under the medical marijuana law, we could be assured of the proper tracking of plants. She made no mention of possible misuse or diversion, just an unreasonable belief that this legislation would cure all possible ills. Excuse me Mrs. Morikawa, are you for real? More regulations and tags will cause abusers and criminals to abide by the law? If you really believe that Mrs. Morikawa, then I have a great big bridge to sell you just north of San Francisco!

The evidence here begs a crucial question. Why do we actually need any medical marijuana dispensaries here on Kauai, when only six people are having problems finding their medical pakalolo? A majority of Kauai’s County Council, our Mayor and a majority of Kauai’s state legislative delegation doesn’t think so and neither do I. Kauai can match up volunteer “caregivers” to cultivate for these 6 people who are having trouble getting their medical marijuana. This would be much safer, and cheaper than the unneeded dispensary route. When my wife was fighting cancer, she was approached several times by well-meaning individuals offering to get her marijuana if she wanted. Darline refused. It is hard to believe that anyone on Kauai has a hard time growing their own marijuana. It is ubiquitous here on Kauai.

It would be far better for our communities if the legislative conference committee came out with a bill that incorporated many of the recommendations that Marcus Oshiro, Hawaii Family Forum, Mel Rapozo and Ross Kagawa are proposing. As Christians, we need to be sounding the alarm within our churches and communities that medical marijuana dispensaries are coming to Kauai and there will be negative repercussions for our families and communities. All of this will be over and done with by April 19th, just in time for April 20th’s great marijuana smoke-out nationwide. I have little faith that the powers that be in the state legislature’s conference committee will keep our families interests in the forefront of their work. They have already shown time and again that they could care less about Christian issues where we stand up to protect Hawaii’s families.

If you or your Pastor requires more information or perhaps a presentation to your church, men’s or woman’s group or other community group about the negative effects of modern medical marijuana and dispensaries, just give my wife and I a call and we will schedule a presentation with you.

God Bless, Alfred Sarmento – Kauai Christian Voters - 808-652-0680 / alfred_sarmento@hotmail.com

After writing this today, I have found that the Senate approved the bill, with amendments that are not now available. The vote was 23 Ayes, in favor, and 2 Nays, against. Kauai's Ron Kouchi and Oahu's Sam Slom were the only Nay votes today....
It appears that oils, lozenges and some concentrates equivalent to @ 4 ounces per 15 days per card holder will be allowed.
Fred Sarmento - Kekaha, Kauai

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Hawaii’s Same Sex Marriage Law, SB1/HB1 in the State Legislature – A Report to Kauai’s Pastors – by Alfred Sarmento



Hawaii’s Same Sex Marriage Law, SB1/HB1 in the State Legislature –
A Report to Kauai’s Pastors – by Alfred Sarmento


On Thursday, October 31st, Halloween, I was called by someone, who knew I, and my wife Darline, had been active in sign waving and walking door to door, here in Kekaha, trying to alert our neighbors to the horrors that could come from the passage of SB1/HB1, the Same Sex Marriage Bill. I was asked if I would go to Honolulu on Monday, November 4th, (taking the first flight out of Lihue), and deliver a photo and letter to our House District 16 State Representative Dee Morikawa, at the State Legislature meeting in Honolulu. Mrs. Morikawa is a noted supporter of Governor Abercrombies' Same Sex Marriage Bill here on Kauai. The picture I was to deliver, would be taken on the day before I left, 2 PM at Hanapepe Ball Park. This photo would be of as many "NO on Same Sex Marriage" people as we could find. The idea was to let Dee Morikawa know that her constituents are very concerned about her position, (she's been all for Same Sex Marriage right from the beginning), and the horrible, negative effects of SB1/HB1 that we foresee in our churches, schools and with our children, and to try and present our position to her, in a manner that would edify our foresight and concerns without shutting her down to our positions on the subject.
I have had prior political experience in the past, but had recently resigned my position with the Hawaii Republican Party as their Kauai House District 16 Chair. My resignation was directly related to the fact that the HRP had refused to come to the aid of Hawaii’s churches, parents and children and stand with them in this fight against “Gay Marriage”. In fact, the HRP State Chair, David Chang, and his wife, Representative Beth Fukumoto were spending their time, in the weeks before the State House vote, talking publicly about how those who were against SB1/HB1 were “mean spirited” and were “hate mongering”. A new conservative Republican group, HIRA, Hawaii Republican Assembly, was from the beginning, working hard with Hawaii’s churches; fighting what we saw as the horrors coming our way from the rush to SSM.  I was not yet a member of them but my wife and I were also working with Kauai’s churches trying to warn our neighbors against the horrors seen elsewhere, in countries like Canada and other states that have gone down this road before Hawaii. Because we were willing to stand up and point out the dangers; to our religious freedoms, both institutional and individual; the almost inevitable sexualization of our children, through court ordered changes to school curriculums, promoting homosexual relationships to children, often in grades 1 through 7; as well as the huge increase in homosexual experimentation seen in young children in other states. Because we were standing at the watchtowers raising alarms, we were now the enemy of decency and civility and had to be fought instead of the vile political forces that manipulate and deceive the people of Hawaii for temporary, short-sighted political gains of dubious value and for money. Time honored principles were to be sacrificed on the altar of political correctness. So be it. As a Christian, this would not be the first time I was vilified for taking a principled stand, nor will it be my last. However, I am now free of the constraints that colored my writing in the past.
Well, I discussed this travel mission and prayed with my wife about it, and she agreed I should go. I would be going with someone from the North/East Shore of Kauai who would deliver a simmilar picture to be taken at Lydgate Park at the same time to Representative Derek Kawakami of HD 14. Derek was also stating his support for SB1, and perhaps, both he and Dee Morikawa could see for themselves that others were taking principled stands that could encourage them to change their minds. Personally, I am honored to have been asked to represent my westside neighbors in Honolulu for such an important issue. As a permanently disabled man, being able to contribute to such a worthy cause and serve is an honor and privilege.
So, Monday, November 4th arrives, and I find myself at 6 AM in Lihue, waiting at the airport for the first Hawaiian Airlines flight out, HA 110. Dave Hamman, the owner of Integrity Key, Lock and Safe, was the North/East Shore deliveryman and soon arrived for our 6:28 am flight out. On Sunday, we proudly had about 80 people show up in the blazing afternoon sun of Hanapepe. Various religious leaders and representaives of at least six westside churches, as well as others not of a particular religious persuasion had their picture taken in Hanapepe. David told me that about 300 people had showed up for the Lydgate Park photo! All in all the numbers were really good in both locations considering we only had a few short days to make phone calls, send e-mails and text messages. This was not something that could be announced in newspapers because pro- gay marriage types have proven themselves to sometimes be mean spirited, disruptive and hateful to those of us who only wish to convey our displeasure at their forcing others to accept their choices, not at homosexual individuals themselves. No one wanted a scene when all we wanted was a polite photo to express our hopes, and fears.
David was fortunate. While walking the hall at Lihue Airport he ran into his assignment, Representative Derek Kawakami, who was also on our flight. Dave was able to give him the photo and a letter then and there, as Derek explained he would not be available at his office in the Legislature due to a regular session and the Finance Committee hearing going on its third day. I was not quite that lucky. While I had spoken with Mrs. Morikawa a month ago by phone, I really had no idea what her schedule was like nor what my reception would be when I would arrive at her office.
Arriving in Honolulu, Dave and I were blessed by the prearranged ride to the capitol building. We met Mrs. Adele Stevenson, a great Christian woman who was born and raised on Kauai at Koloa Landing. She was warm, engaing and a shear delight to talk to. She explianed that she felt her mission was in giving off-islanders rides to church functions, etc. She was fantastic as she graciously drove through the morning rush hour traffic of Honolulu and had me there by 7:15 AM. Dave was dropped off first at Advantage Car Rental as he had other business to attend to in addition to visiting our State Legislature.
After thanking Adele and making arrangements with her for my return to the airport later that afternoon, I was soon walking into a nearly empty "Big Square Building".
I was surprised by the number of police and security. I spoke for five minutes to a State Sherrif deputy who told me that there was more than a little fear of people getting out of hand and causing violence as there had been a few incidents in the previous days of testimony. He went on to tell me that since there would be a regular session at 10 AM for the State House, and testimony from the public would resume at 11 AM, many members would be in their offices early and was very helpful and encouraging to me.
I took Core 1's public elevator up to the third floor, alone and wondering what I would find in room 310, Dee Morikawa's office.
Nothing but locked doors and empty hallways greated me as I wandered the hallways of the third floor alone, in search of Room 310. I finally found the office but was disapointed that, of course, it was locked, and no one was around. Undaunted, I completed my circle of the hallways, and sat down to sign and compose personal notes on the pre-printed letters I had brought for each State House member. Late the night before, I ran off  50 copies of a letter that was forwarded to me. I modified it in small ways but it essentially saved me quite a bit of work. All I would have to do is write the Representatives name and room number on the letter then add a personal note and signature as I walked from office to office at the Legislature and talked with as many as I could about our westside Kauai view of SB1/HB1. Personally, there was no way I was going to fly all the way to Honolulu, and not try and contact as many other House members as I possibly could, after delivering the photo and letter to Mrs. Morikawa.
At about 7:30 AM, as I was plowing through my copies, seated on a koa bench near the elevator bank at Core 1, I saw a younger man get off. I rose and followed him from behind a few feet. He stopped in front of Dee Morikawa's office and drew a key out to open the door. He was suspicious of me from the start. I could tell from his demeanor. I quickly engaged him in conversation and found  out that his name was Mark, and he was Dee's office manager. After hearing my story of why I wanted to see her, he took my name and cell phone number down and said he would call if Mrs. Morikawa was able to meet with me later in the morning when she came in before regular session. Mark was obviously not an anti - SB1/HB1 person. I could tell from his demeanor when I mentioned why I was there. However, any constituent of Dee's was important to him. So, out I went, back to the central atrium where I stood at the wide railing, resuming my writing. Already the ground floor was filling up with church groups and others, ready for a new day of tesimony on SB1.
At 8:18 AM I received a call on my cell phone. It was Mark. He told me that Dee Morikawa was now in her office and she had agreed to see me for a few minutes if I could come right now. I stood, got my bearings, and found her office again in 5 minutes.
Immediatly upon my arrival I was told to go in. I sat accross from Mrs. Morikawa at her desk and we proceeded to have a wide ranging conversation, not only about SB1/HB1, but also about Kauai's public hospitals and trading observations about Kauai's people, religion, and our respective backgrounds. While I already knew that Mrs. Morikawa was a supporter of SB1, (she had made that quite clear in my previous converstion with her by phone), I had no idea if our month of praying for her as well as the week old special session had moved her in any way.
Mrs. Morikawa was gracious but firm in her decision to support Same Sex Marriage in Hawaii. Dee  explained that she was of the opinion that if the Hawaii State Legislature did not act to pass this legislation, we would soon find ourselves faced with law suits that would overturn Hawaii's civil union laws in the courts. She was enamored by that old lawyer bugaboo running rampant in the Legislature, that failure to act would result in catastophe for Hawaii's people. I spoke to her in many ways about our true fear that while this law would not only cause churches clear harm to their ability to refuse SSM's out of biblical religious convictions, but that other states and countries have seen great pain and suffering in the following madates to change school curiculums to include homosexual instruction; and how children themselves would ultimately bear the future costs of this poorly worded and unnecessary bill, through the erosion of parental rights and the increasing sexualization of kids. To my surprise, Dee Morikawa actually said she now agreed. She waived a majority research office report in front of me and stated that there were actual and real dangers to schools, families and children seen in other states and countries like Canada, particularly Connecticut, and their experience with legalizing Same Sex Marriage. No longer was Representative Morikawa stating that any problems with SB1 would have to await future Legislative corrective measures. Now Dee was stating that because of these now "real" dangers, she was open to amending SB1 prior to final passage. While not a complete change of heart on her part, it was a startling admission considering her previous public position on SB1 wherein the homosexual "civil rights" trumped all. In the end it was an empty promise on her part. When the testimony was over and amendments offered, Dee Morikawa voted against all amendments that offered meaningful guarantees of individual and organized religious freedoms. She also voted against giving parents more control over what their children could be taught in public schools. Mrs. Morikawa can say she actually support an amendment as she ended up only supporting HB1, the House version that only very slightly changed the already passed Senate version of SB1. She knew that by spiltting hairs with me she could send me on my way thinking she may have changed her mind when she hadn’t. She lied and she knows it. It shows how life-long politicians will split hairs to try and show themselves as truthful people.
I asked Dee why, considering that as a young man during the Vietnam War, I, and others were told to have compassion towards draft dodgers and "conscientious objectors". We were told to be tolerant of their conscience. Why now, when a businessman or woman, out of their own clearly and deeply held religious beliefs could not refuse to photograph, bake a cake, or aid in any way an objectionable homosexual marriage in their eyes, and not be persecuted for that? Could there not be any tolerance for our "individual" religious freedoms and right of conscientious objection in aiding homosexuality? Dee Morikawa said absolutely not. Because of Hawaii's "Public Accomodation Law", any attempt for an individual business owner or employee to assert an objection to aiding homosexual "marriage" in any way, is now considered an unacceptable form of discrimination. I told her that I found such a situation not only personally intollerable and unacceptable, but unconstitutional, as our constitution rated religious freedoms so highly that they were guaranteed in the first amendment. Why homosexuality is now being promulgated as being higher in importance than religious freedom is beyond both my comprehesion and ability to understand. Mrs. Morikawa then went on to say that refusal to serve someone without giving a reason is OK. Just don't say that you object on personal religious grounds to serving “gays”. I found that statement to be quite incomprehensible. I guess it's now ok to lie; to not telling someone the truth, rather than just being honest and straightforward with one's beliefs. What a sad state for our personal freedoms that we now find ourselves in. In the end, Mrs. Morikawa stated that while she knew this issue was contentious and she knows her constituents don't agree with her in the majority, however, she said she could live with that. She felt that there was no way everyone was going to agree with her all the time on every issue. I got the impression that despite the majority feeling overwhelmingly against SB1, she was "going to be taken care of" because of her vote on this issue. Time will tell. She also reiterated her civil service background, and the fact that she had been "brought up" a Christian. Dee is one who is enamored with the nuances of minute points of law. She appears to have "outgrown" Christ and Christianity. Like a pharisee, saducee or classical Greek, she will endlessly debate the finer points of law, never allowing any real personal beliefs to get in the way. In essence, she is the perfect bureacratic tyrant, a poster person for our current generation of leaders; one who would walk America and Hawaii  straight into an Orwellian world where up is down, right is wrong and lies are now truths.
In the end, I thanked her for her time, her willingness to meet with me on such short notice and asked that she carefully consider what could happen to Kauai’s keiki because of this ill-considered legislation. We basically agreed to disagree.
So, I left her office thinking that perhaps there was some hope that an amended version of the bill had a chance. Not the preferred outcome, but better than what SB1 & HB1 were.
I continued my visits to State House members’ offices on their two floors. Nearly all office managers were friendly and open to taking my letter and listening to my short presentation speech. I was going from office to office, handing out the letter that had a hand written request to reconsider SSM. I would tell each of them that I was in Honolulu representing Westside Kauai residents, at their behest, and asking each office manager or House Rep. to please consider what we believe was the inevitable negatives that would affect our churches, school curriculums and our keiki.
A most notable moment came when I entered Representative Calvin Say’s office, Room 433. I could clearly see him in his open office reading and alone. His office manager refused to allow me to enter and speak to him personally. I thanked her anyway and gave her the same letter and Kauai speech I gave all others. I could see Mr. Say looking at me and listening. I thanked them both for their service and left. While standing outside his office, Mr. Say came out and pointedly thanked me for coming to the State House and asked me not to be disappointed at the outcome. He felt it was important we on Kauai’s westside remain engaged for the future.
There were however two very negative reactions, both personal and to my letter. One was an office manager for a Representative I can’t remember. He was openly hostile, demanding to know why I was not “satisfied” with the “amended House Version (HB1), and asking me pointedly if I was a bigot and homophobe. All’s I could do was calmly give him the same speech I gave all the others. I was calm and only asked that he consider the opinions of others. As far as the homophobe comment, I merely told him that no Christian church was intolerant of any one person’s sexuality and that perhaps he should attend a Bible believing church and see for himself what true love is all about, and how homosexuals are regularly welcomed. He was beside himself with anger. He grabbed the letter from me and mumbled something about passing it along to the Representative when he had time. Considering how he crumpled the paper, I doubt that it was given to anyone but the waste basket.
I did a fair amount of praying while sitting and writing or just walking. I was getting a very evil vibe as I was passing certain groups. Some would smile, but in the main, proponents of SSM were dour, unsmiling and decidedly unfriendly. They acted like children who were suddenly thrust into a position of real power; determined to avenge all perceived slights, both real and imagined, while never understanding that leadership requires equal measures of compassion, understanding and wisdom. Hatred was clearly in the air and NOT from any Christian I met.
I believe that God chose me to be at the State Legislature on Monday, November 4th for one reason. I witnessed and unbelievable scene of gross hatred and incivility towards all Christians in the office of one Representative Chris Lee, Room 436.
When I went, I had no real idea who was for Same Sex Marriage and who really was against. I only knew the positions of Kauai’s elected officials. As it turns out, it was Representative Chris Lee who had made questionable but explicit accusations that Christians had threatened his life. That was why there were so many State Police Officers that morning. I had no idea.
I entered Room 436 expecting to hand over my letter to an office manager and give my usual speech. What happened next was just plain providence, a situation where God puts you in a place solely to witness the actions of your enemy, in this case, radical mainland homosexuals.
I entered the office, and two men were there in view. One, a legislative staffer of some kind who I had seen walking the halls stated that the “office manager was out” and I’d have to wait. The other was a fairly young man in a “blue equality=marriage” t-shirt, sitting on a sofa with a dour expression. He was carrying various recording equipment and appeared to be a reporter’s aid.
I thanked the staffer and said I’d wait as my visit required me to speak at least to the office manager. I stood looking at the art work when I noticed that there was a meeting going on behind the soji screens at the back of the room. I looked up and there was a senior State Legislative Majority Office Research staffer sitting and starting a briefing for what he called “you leading mainland lesbian and gay media members”. I could not see who else was behind the screens but I assume Representative Chris Lee and gay media types were now discussing the raging testimony ongoing in the assembly room in the basement.
It was clear by the face of the other staffer that I was not supposed to hear what they were saying. He and the young man on the sofa, were very uncomfortable as the meeting progressed and the discussion took an immediate turn into the realm of pornographic hatred towards Christianity. First the young man got up and left without a word looking embarrassed and then the other staffer stood, told me he was going to find the office manager for me and he left looking embarrassed as well. I thanked him and he was gone for 10 minutes as I was listening to the vilest interpretation of opposition to Same Sex Marriage I could have ever imagined.
It began with those mainland types stating “how everyone knows the Hawaiian Kings were all into gay sex”. Someone said, well, we all know the ali’i kings had their “little boys”, and that homosexuality was a “natural part” of Hawaii’s people. Someone asked what ali’i meant. He was told that ali’i refers to the Hawaiian Monarchy. Then the mainlander stated that he “could not believe how uninformed the testifiers were”. How “we all know all about how loving and committed gay relationships really were”, and that no matter what, “each testifier against SSM had to mention their F*&^ing religion. (Please excuse the implied crudity, but in the interest of accuracy I must be specific). Then, the voice who I assume was Representative Chris Lee hurriedly added “yeah, their always bringing their Fu*^ing god into their speech, it never fails”. “That’s all they know how to talk about, their Fu*^ing god and Sh^*y religion.” “They can’t say anything without bringing up that Sh*t”. It degenerated into disgusting discussions punctuated with anatomical references to what we Christians could do with our god… BIG, BIG SIGH!
By this time I had heard well neigh enough. I, being a former Teamster, now evangelical Christian, a man who knows full well how to swear with the best of them, was a witness to the most profane estimations of what Christianity was all about. I was aghast and sickened at how they portrayed us as evil purveyors of a sick god in terms that would repulse any decent man in public. But, that was the point. They thought they were not in public, but thought they were safe from the ears of any responsible person with a love of God in his heart. God, however, had other plans. I heard it. I will testify to what I heard and I will tell this story to enlighten others as to what the gay lobbies’ real motivation is; to destroy any hint of true, Biblical Christianity in our culture.
 Alone, they speak horrible, vulgar insults about those who disagree with them. They, in short, exemplify my experience while at the State House that day. Christians and other opponents of Same Sex Marriage were, for the most part, very open, happy and positive people despite what we knew we were fighting. The Gay lobby, in almost every case was dour, mean, and insistent that no one else could be right; downright rough, gruff, crude and hate filled. They were negative in almost every way and not happy people.
Finally, after almost 15 minutes of listening to this unwanted and vile press briefing, the lady Office Manager of Representative Chris Lee returned. She apologized for being away and I proceeded to give the same letter and upbeat speech I had given at every other office. I smiled, handed her the letter, which she sheepishly took, and I left thanking her, and the Representative for their service to Hawaii’s people. Believe me when I tell you that it almost stuck in my throat! But as a Christian, I was not going to give them the satisfaction of making me lose my witness. She was speechless as the swearing and cursing continued to emanate from behind Mr. Lees’ soji screens, as I left.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in a blur of visits to every open office I could find. I found Dave Hamman walking the halls at various times. At about 1 PM we took a break and headed down to the assembly room in the basement of the Capitol Building where the public testimony was taking place. I spoke again with Representative Markus Oshiro. He was very surprised that Dee Morikawa would tell me she was now open to amending the bill. He believed from the outset that it was just a ploy to “placate me” and “tell me what I wanted to hear” from her. He was absolutely right in the end.
At one point, David and I went down to the ground floor where the various protesters were located. Churches were out in droves. At a point when I was personally flagging, a girl from one of the churches came up to me and offered me a doughnut. I gratefully accepted as it revived me for yet another hour of walking the office circuit. I thanked her profusely and she only said that her church was there to support everyone coming to testify against Same Sex Marriage.
A little while later, David ran into ex Hawaii Supreme Court Justice, Steven Levinson. Dave had told me how Justice Levinson is notable for testifying for Same Sex Marriage at the State House. He was asked if he was “knowledgeable about the Bible”. In his testimony he said “yes he was” and proceeded to state that he could “find no Biblical basis for marriage being exclusively between a man and a woman”. David discussed the many Biblical passages that support our position with Justice Levinson to no real avail. I refused to talk with him and just politely stayed on the side. I was convinced that Justice Levinson was nothing more than a secular Jew, a modern day Pharisee who was absolutely convinced of his own superiority and that any attempt at arguing with him was worse than useless. It would be counterproductive as casting pearls before swine. He finally took David’s proffered paper and looking again at me a final time, waiting to see if I would join in trying to change his mind, I deferred, smiled at him and we left. I long ago gave up on trying talking sense into lawyers’ hard heads. They know the law. I only profess to know something of Jesus’ heart. The two are quite incompatible for the most part.
Interestingly my favorite moment at the legislature came early, when I was at the atrium railing writing another batch of personal comments, signatures and thank-you’s. I clearly remember standing there while a small group of Christians began playing a guitar and singing Christian songs. I remember writing and singing along with them from the third floor, Dee’s floor. It was actually quite nice and soothing to hear worship music in such a place. I don’t know who they were but I’m thankful for their few moments of grace and simple worship. It was actually awesome.
I also remember clearly how Senator Ron Kouchi waved from the second floor and thanked me for the picture and letter of support I had shoved under his locked door a couple of hours earlier. It was nice of him to acknowledge me and our endeavors. I doubt many other Senators would have done that publicly.
Soon thereafter my cell phone rang. It was Representative Jimmy Tokioka calling to thank me for the Hanapepe photo and letter of thanks and support I had left with his office manager. He spoke with me for five minutes before they were due in regular session at 10 AM. I again thanked him for standing with the majority of Kauai’s people on this matter and we talked briefly about his now fast growing kids. When we first met they were children going to grammar school. Now they were High Schoolers getting ready for college. Time flies for us all. He also said that it was out of character for Dee Morikawa to agree to amendments on HB1. He also insinuated that it was not likely to be carried out.
At 2:30 PM, I was walked out. I had delivered a letter and short speech to all 54 State House members except for three Reps with locked offices tight fitting doors, and Beth Fukumoto. Beth is a Republican who made it quite clear that anyone warning others about the dangers seen elsewhere from the passage of SSM bills was engaging in “fear mongering” and “hate speech”. I have nothing in common with that sort of “trying to have it both ways” politics. Yes she voted against the bill, but she spent more time complaining about others who also were against SB1/HB1 than actually fighting her liberal Democrat colleagues. That type of “bipartisanship” is not what I believe in. 
I went down to the ground floor and sat around one of the concrete planters in the atrium. There looking out towards the street sign wavers I was struck by a great incongruity. There was a large statue out in front of the Capitol Building, a statue honoring the famous Catholic, Father Damian. And just beyond his statue, holding the prime spot in front of the building were a small group of gay sign wavers with a huge rainbow banner. I was struck at just how far we have fallen in cultural terms since Father Damian worked so hard to help Molokai’s lepers. Today his blocky statue was ignored and his Christianity was being reviled. I had become very tired.
Soon enough Adel called my cell phone and arranged to pick me up behind the gay sign wavers, at the Capitol drop off. Adel was an unbelievable angel. She offered to take me somewhere to buy something to eat and I declined stating that I was sure dinner was waiting on Kauai. She proceeded to give me a bottle of water and an apple to hold me over. What a gracious woman.
I was soon winging it back to Kauai, home at last.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time at the Big Square Building that day. Today, Wednesday, November 13, 2013, the ordeal is over. We lost. The powers that be have trampled all over the opinions of the vast majority of Hawaii’s people. Just a few hours ago Governor Abercrombie signed the Same Sex Marriage bill into law. Gays were beside themselves with praise and thoughts of joy. My real question for them is: Our time on earth is short. Do you really think that when you stand at the pearly gates one day, proudly waiving a piece of paper proclaiming your right to gay marriage, that Jesus is just going to say “it’s all right. The Hawaii State Legislature said it was OK, so just come on in”? Somehow I doubt that’s what Jesus will say to them and that’s the problem we as Christians now face. We know in our hearts that this bill was not only ill-conceived, but reckless and a lie. We know our parents, our schools and our children will soon find nothing but suffering and hurt from the inevitable overreaching court decisions sure to come Hawaii’s way in the near future. I weep that I was not eloquent enough with the powers that be when I had a chance to confront them. I weep for those homosexuals who will die never knowing how badly fooled they’ve been by their gay media “friends”. I cry for the keiki who will experiment with homosexuality at ever younger ages, bringing disease and possible early death into their young lives. The death of childhoods ruined and never fully developed.
What now my fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Do we give up, clam up, and go back to worship as usual. Or, do we celebrate our newly discovered ties that go beyond denomination and political party. Do we now swear by God, to come together as Godly Christians and continue to fight to change the inevitable horrors coming our way, because this law was passed? I sure hope the later is true and not the former. For only by recognizing now, that we have much work left to do together, so that one day, Hawaii may truly be Gods first state, dedicated to His glory, not our own wretchedness. I invite you all to join with me in that fight; the fight to change the hearts and minds of our leaders through educating every member of each of our communities on exactly what we are fighting and why our enemies have earned our righteous condemnation. We must be willing to lead our churches, families and communities through the coming harsh realities resulting from the passage of this bill, with truth, compassion, sincere adherence to Biblical Christian principles and hard work. Perhaps, with God’s grace we may be victorious yet, in the end. One thing is very clear. Going on in our separate ways as we have in the past, we will accomplish nothing but ensuring our own irrelevance and ultimate failure in the future.

Yours In Christ,
Alfred P. Sarmento

P.O. Box 238, Kekaha, HI 96752-0238          808-652-0680  alfred_sarmento@hotmail.com




Yours In Christ,
Alfred P. Sarmento

P.O. Box 238, Kekaha, HI 96752-0238          808-652-0680  alfred_sarmento@hotmail.com