Eco-Hypesters Complain About ‘Dirty’ Clean Energy
Report: Illegal TVRs Create 7,000 Jobs on Oahu
Kauai Inequality More Than Double The Rest of Hawaii
Jones Act Blamed for High Consumer Prices in Puerto Rico
Bridge Aina Lea--Next Stop 9th Circuit
Act 56: When An Agency Is Given Emergency Powers, Pretty Soon Everything Looks Like An "Emergency"
Caldwell Vetoes Military Property Tax Break
CB: …Active duty service members “already receive substantial benefits for housing in our community,” the Honolulu mayor said….
read … Caldwell Vetoes Military Property Tax Break
Murder suspect the Fourth to be ‘erroneously released’ by UPW Members at HCCC
HTH: …According to the state Department of Public Safety, 49-year-old Brian Lee Smith of Honaunau was “erroneously released” from Hawaii Community Correctional Center on Tuesday. DPS is investigating the circumstances surrounding the erroneous release, according to a written statement.
The release apparently wasn’t noticed until Smith failed to show up for a court hearing today, according to the statement.
A bench warrant was issued this afternoon with bail set at $2 million.
Smith was being detained on $1.15 million dollar bail on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted murder, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of carrying or use of firearm in the commission of a separate felony.
Smith is accused of a June 23 shooting on Painted Church Road in Honaunau that killed 42-year-old Thomas Ballesteros Jr. and injured Nikolas Slavik….
Smith’s release is the fourth time since 2013 a high-profile defendant was released from custody due to an error by UPW members….
In May, OCCC detainee Winston Kailimai was supposed to be transferred to the state hospital, but was released.
He was arrested the next day.
In 2014, an OCCC inmate walked out of prison because of a paperwork mistake. He was found at the bus stop outside of the jail.
In September 2013, Edward Robins...who was serving time for assault...was released early by mistake.
Sheriffs found him two days later.
read … Murder suspect ‘erroneously released’ by HCCC
Homeless Rapists, Child Molesters registered as living in Oahu parks, review shows
HNN: …According to the state's sex offender registry, Ala Moana Beach Park is listed as home to three convicted sex offenders. It's tied for the most of any park on the island. The dubious distinction is shared with Aala Park in Kalihi and Moiliili's Old Stadium Park.
HNN found those cases without the help of the state Attorney General's office, which manages the sex offender registry. When asked how many homeless sex offenders are living on Oahu, the agency said it doesn't track that — or have any breakdown on which neighborhoods they choose.
A search of the online database found 28 registered sex offenders who are listed as living in parks and beaches across the island. Their convictions range from sex assault to kidnapping.
In 2005, Patrick Walker was found guilty of multiple counts of child rape and child molestation in Washington state. His address? He put down two: Sandy Beach and Ala Moana Beach Park….
Paul Lopez is convicted of kidnapping and second-degree rape. His registered address is "Under Bridge Kaneohe." John Cuarisma Jr. was found guilty of incest and second-degree sex assault. He describes his home to be "Island Wide Bus/Ala Moana."…
Hawaii is one of 20 states that doesn't restrict where a sex offender can live. There are also no laws that prevent them from going near schools, child care or parks.
Hawaii's public defender, Jack Tonaki, says stricter mandates would make it make it nearly impossible for sex offenders to find housing. (Uh … you mean it would make them …uh…homeless?)
"How do we really know where they are. For us to be safe and my son's safety. How are we to know?"
HNN: Lawmaker: Number of sex offenders registered to parks is 'shocking'
read … Dozens of sex predators are registered as living in Oahu parks, review shows
Mayor Proposes Sweeping Changes In Vacation Rental Rules
CB: …The bill would make it easier for residents to rent out part of their homes but limit the number of properties listed by absentee owners….
read … Mayor Proposes Sweeping Changes In Vacation Rental Rules
Survey: Support for Tourism Down 20%
SA: …Some 61 percent of the 1,600 or so Hawaii residents who participated in the survey, which was conducted by Omnitrak from Oct. 13 to Jan. 16, said they strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement, “Tourism has brought more benefits than problems.”
The measure, which is weighted by island, reflected the majority of Hawaii residents surveyed and was only a 2-percentage-point slip from the last time the survey was conducted, in the spring of 2017. Still, the percentage has dropped off sharply from the 80 percent who felt that way in 2010.
The survey, which began in 1988 and now is conducted annually, tracks key resident attitudes toward tourism over time, said Chris Kam, Omnitrak president.
read … As tourism rises, residents less positive
Ikaika Anderson, Staffer Helping Tommy Waters
ILind: Honolulu City Councilmember Trevor Ozawa, who is running for reelection in the district that stretches from Hawaii Kai to Ala Moana Park, allegedly harassed and intimidated a member of fellow Councilmember Ikaika Anderson’s staff, after the staffer was seen campaigning for one of Ozawa’s opponents.
This year, Ozawa faces challengers Tommy Waters, Natalie Iwasa, and Ricky Marumoto, according to the candidate list prepared by the State Office of Elections.
In 2014, Ozawa edged out Waters in the General Election by only 41 votes. In the 2014 Primary, Waters ran ahead of Ozawa. Iwasa came trailed the two top vote-getters….
SA: Councilman is accused of harassing aide who helped rival
PDF: Anderson Campaigning for Waters
read … Complaint alleges campaign harassment by Trevor Ozawa
Anti-GMO Activist Roseanne Barr: I Was ‘Terrified’ Living on an ‘Island Full of Brown People’ After Racist Tweet
P: …receding to her mother’s basement in Hawaii, where she spent two months.
“I was afraid to go out, and also because when you’re called a racist and you live on an island full of brown people, it’s kind of terrifying,” she told the rabbi. (Ten percent of Hawaii’s population is “Native Hawaiian,” meaning of Polynesian descent….
After posting the racist tweet likening President Barack Obama’s former advisor Valerie Jarrett, who is black, to “an ape” during the filming of Roseanne in May, the star attributed the misstep to her poor health and “emotional imbalance,” due to depleted vitamins…. (What? She isn’t blaming GMOs???)
read … Just Another Typical Anti-GMO Activist
EIAs required for commercial aquarium fishing
WHT: …After a detailed review of two Final Environment Assessments (EAs) prepared by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), Suzanne Case, chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, determined that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is required for commercial aquarium permits….
PIJAC proposed the issuance of Commercial Aquarium Permits on Hawaii Island and on Oahu, covering nearshore regions except areas already designated as no collection sites such as Marine Life Conservation Districts and Fish Replenishment Areas. Separate EAs were proposed for each island.
The determination of the requirement for an EIS, once published in the next issue of the Office of Environmental Quality Control Environmental Notice, will initiate a 30-day public consultation for parties to comment on the action and to request to become consulted parties in the preparation of the draft EIS.
read … EIAs required for commercial aquarium fishing
Volcano News:
Election News:
QUICK HITS: