Kapolei’s state rep
By Pat Omandam
sidelined by surgery
Star-Bulletin
The House Minority Caucus has been short one vocal voice for two weeks as state Rep. Mark Moses (R, Kapolei) continues to recover from surgery to remove his gall bladder.
Marian Cochran, Moses' office manager, said the retired Marine Corps major complained of acute pain at work on March 5 and was finally taken to Tripler Hospital.
"We told him, 'You can't work like this,' " she said.
Moses, 50, had surgery on March 10 and was doing fine until he had complications last Sunday that kept him in the hospital, she said.
Cochran said Moses is expected to be released from Tripler today, but she doesn't know when he'll return to work.
Office staffers have been bringing his work to his bedside, and Moses has kept a good attitude about the ordeal, she said.
"He remains chipper," Cochran said.
The House Clerk's Office said Moses has been excused from eight sessions this month because of his operation.
The dates include floor debate on first crossover, a key legislative deadline when the House and Senate swap bills for continued hearings and discussion.
Among the items moving quickly through the state Legislature is $5 million in emergency funding to build the first phase of Kapolei High School, which is in Moses' district.
Anyone with well-wishes, cards or gifts for Moses can contact Cochran at 586-8500.
The representative's office is in Room 310 of the state Capitol.
Blame it on a lack of height or a low tolerance for losing. Senators shrink
away from hoopsEither way, the Senate has decided not to play in the annual House-Senate basketball game this year.
Last year, the Senate lost the game for the first time since its inception in 1994.
"If they don't ask for a rematch, I guess we retain our title," said Rep. Eric Hamakawa (D, Hilo), who said he's still willing to play despite breaking his ankle in three places last year.
Sen. Matt Matsunaga (D, Palolo), the Senate's leading scorer, said there may not be enough members to field a team this year, and the primary reason is a lack of height in the Senate.
"I think if you took the average height of the senators this year it would be the shortest in Senate history," he said.
The Senate may propose a softball game instead.
"The smaller senators would aid us because of the narrower strike zone," Matsunaga said.
By Craig Gima, Star-Bulletin
