Battle to Restore Veterans’ Civil Rights

Update to the Battle to Restore Civil Rights for Veteran Noboru Kawamoto

Joint Statement by the State of Hawaii and Counsel for Plantiffs Noboru and Elaine Kawamoto

HONOLULU, HAWAII (September 6, 2016) – As a result of meetings and discussions between Plaintiffs’ counsel, Jeffrey S. Portnoy and John P. Duchemin, and Defendants’ counsel, Deputy Attorneys General, Andrew L. Salenger, Dana A. Barbata and Caron M. Inagaki, Plaintiffs Noboru Kawamoto and Elaine Kawamoto have been reunited in his nursing care home pending determination by the Court of the constitutionality of certain Hawaii state statutes and administrative rules applicable to community care foster family homes.

Plaintiff Noboru Kawamoto is 95, a World War II veteran and member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and his wife, Plaintiff Elaine Kawamoto, is 89. This temporary accommodation is limited to these Plaintiffs and the impact of the laws as applied to them only. Counsel expect to file motions seeking summary adjudication of this lawsuit by United States District Court Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to resolve this case.

Please note that there will be no further comment to the press at this time. Thank you.

###

Cades Schutte LLP

Comments Off on Update to the Battle to Restore Civil Rights for Veteran Noboru Kawamoto

International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 142 joins the 442 Sons & Daughters in support of HB600

ILWU Local 142 informed the 442nd Sons & Daughters on 4 April that they are adding their support for passing HB600, a Bill submitted to the Hawaii State Legislature 15 months ago.   This Bill will fix the current law that has the unintended, but real, effect of denying the right of a married/civil union couple to live together in the same Community Care Foster Family Home.  Couples that have their costs paid by taxpayers through the Medicaid program are not affected by the current wording of the law.  But couples who cannot qualify for taxpayer-funded Medicaid support are denied the right to live together, until they become so poor they need taxpayer support.  Fixing this injustice to our elderly Kupuna is the target of HB600.

442nd RCT veteran and ILWU pensioner Noboru and Elaine Kawamoto are the latest victims of this faulty law.  The problem was first encountered by a retired Hawaii State judge and his wife.  The Legislature corrected the law in 2009, but the fix was allowed to lapse.  HB600 should fix this problem once and for all.

For more details see

https://442sd.org/restore-elder-civil-rights-malama-pono-ke-kupuna/

 

 

More information on ILWU Local 142 can be seen at:

ILWU Local 142 An Injury to One is an Injury To All

https://www.ilwulocal142.org/blog/index.php

 

The ILWU Story in Hawaii

https://www.ilwu19.com/history/the_ilwu_story/organization_in_hawaii.htm

Comments Off on International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 142 joins the 442 Sons & Daughters in support of HB600

Letter from the Sons & Daughters to our Senators and Representatives

On 14 March 2016, we the Sons &  Daughters hand delivered a letter to all the Hawaii State Senators and Representatives.  The letter requested their support for passage of HB600 so that our 100/442nd RCT veteran Noboru Kawamoto can be reunited with his wife Elaine.  One of these letters is presented on this page so you can read what we pleaded with our Legislators to make happen.

Download (PDF, 292KB)

Comments Off on Letter from the Sons & Daughters to our Senators and Representatives

Sons & Daughters join the battle to restore the civil rights of Noboru & Elaine Kawamoto so they can be reunited

Please see this page for information.

 

IMG_0428 (800x600)

Representative Tulsi Gabbard meets 100/442nd RCT veteran Noboru Kawamoto.

Comments Off on Sons & Daughters join the battle to restore the civil rights of Noboru & Elaine Kawamoto so they can be reunited

FAQs about Noboru & Elaine Kawamoto Petition Drive – Passage of HB600

Download (PDF, 251KB)

Comments Off on FAQs about Noboru & Elaine Kawamoto Petition Drive – Passage of HB600