Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 15:07:01 -1000
From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice)
Subject: SA 001:  Reciprocal Beneficiaires Alert #1

Aloha awakea kakou.

With important dates fast approaching, the need to have accurate information
becomes imperative regarding the new Reciprocal Beneficiaries bill to be
enacted in Hawai`i on July 1st.

1)  NEW NUMBERING SYSTEM:  Please note, for those who have complained of
crossposting problems, that this post also marks the debut of a "numbering
system."  (I need to make sure that I can sort through the thousands of
posts, so the prefix will change accordingly, but the numbering will remain
constant, e.g., if the next post is a copy of an article from the Kaua`i
Times, it would read:  KT 002, etc.)

2)  HB 118 TO BECOME LAW:  Governor Cayetano assured me that he has not
found a "major flaw" and the the bill will become law with or without his
signature.  He has until June 23, 1997 to veto the bill, but in a private
conversation yesterday, he confirmed what he has publicly stated already:
he has no intention of vetoing HB 118.

3)  RB APPLICATION DISTRIBUTION:  As of yesterday, the method of
distribution of applications was beginning to gel.  O`ahu's plans have not
firmed up yet, (it appears that the Department of Health will handle the
distribution there) but on the NEIGHBOR ISLANDS, it has been determined that
the GOVERNOR'S LIASION OFFICE will be distributing the application forms
beginning July 1st.  Applications will not be mailed initially, they must be
picked up in person.
     
     KAUA`I:  Hawai`i State Building, 3060 Eiwa Road, Rm 106, 
          Lihu`e 96766.  274-3100, Roy Nishida.
     MOLOKA`I:  Beverly Pauole-Moore at 55 Maka`ena St, Rm 4,
          Kaunakakai 96748.  Call 553-5130.
     LANA`I:  Pick-up applications from Letticia Costello at 
          Lana`i Hospital, M-F, 8-5.  565-6411.
     MAUI:  Wailuku State Building #2, 2264 Aupuni St #1,   
          Wailuku 96793.  243-5396, Ted Yamamura.
     HILO:  Hawai`i State Building, 75 Aupuni St #103A,
          Hilo 96720.  974-6262, Al Castro.
     KONA:  Hualelei Center, 75-170 Hualalei Rd #D-114,
          Kailua-Kona 96740.  329-9066, Alex Cadang.

4)  SPEEDY PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS:  It is suggested that each
application be accompanied by a certified cashier's check or money order
made out to "Hawai`i State Government."  No applications will be processed
if accompanied by a personal check until that check has cleared the bank.
Fees:  $8 per application.  Make sure that applications are completely
filled out, and have the correct number of SASE enclosed (either 1 or 2, yet
to be determined, but printed on the applications).  Applications must
include THE SIGNATURES OF BOTH PARTIES and be notorized before they are
returned *by mail*.

5)  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  No provisions for an increase in state workers was
authorized by HB 118, therefore a volunteer effort is underway in Honolulu
to staff for the expected onslaught of application forms.  Mary Matayoshi, a
sweet, sweet, delightful lady is coordinating the volunteer effort to
facilitate the speedy processing of those forms, and she is about 11 persons
shy of her full contingent of 40.  When asked, she replied,  "Why yes, I'ld
LOVE to have some volunteers from the gay community.  They might be able to
help us out with any questions we may not be able to answer."  Training is
scheduled for July 1st, and processing is expected to begin on July 2nd, and
run about a week or so until the volume of applications drops.  You can
contact her at 586-7200.  She has some upcoming business trips to the
mainland, but will return sporadically and be here full time by July 1st.

6)  RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS:  You need to be a resident of Hawai`i for your
reciprocal beneficiary relationship to be acknowledged until such time as
another state recognizes Hawai`i's new  RB law.  There is no duration of
residency in Hawai`i that is required, however.  Out-of-state appliations
will not be processed.

7)  AGE RESTRICTIONS:  You must be 18 years of age to enter into a
reciprocal beneficiary arrangement.  Parental consent is not required.

8)  DUPLICATION OF APPLICATIONS:  According to Mary Matayoshi, blank forms
may be "xeroxed" and used.  Also, Mrs. Matayoshi will be sending a copy of
the form when completed so that it may be uploaded and "hung" on the net for
downloading and use.

9)  LEGAL ADVICE:  The people that will be distributing the applications are
not legal experts and may not be able to answer questions of that nature.
Before entering into any agreement, it is always advisable to check with an
attorney.

10)  KAUA`I ANTICS:  Several couples are now in the planning stages,
coordinated by Bill Woods at the GLEA Foundation in Honolulu, to have a mass
application ceremony in Lihu`e on July 1st, 9am.  We are working on getting
a notory there and will have some tables available to fill out the forms.
Both parties must be present.  Bill is arranging media coverage and there's
talk of a "blessing of the mail box."  You can respond to this address or to
hawaiigay1@aol.com or call 822-7171 or 937-2000.

~~pau~~

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  "To imply that lesbians and gay men are somehow incompatible 
   with, or incapable or unworthy of, marriage or morality is
              not morality; it is discrimination."
                                     --Dan Foley, Evan Wolfson
                                             and Kirk Cashmere
                                              Answering Brief,
                                                Baehr v. Miike
                              ~~~~~
                         Fred and Martin
                            24 years,
                      yet strangers before
                             the law
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~