Supreme Court will be holding oral arguments on Kahoma Village development
Dear Editor, February 25, 2021
The Hawai'i Supreme Court will be holding oral arguments on the Kahoma Village development, Friday March 19 at 2 pm. It is case NO.SCWC-15-0000478 Protect and Preserve Kahoma Ahupua’a Association vs. Maui Planning Commission and Stanford Carr Development.
Because of COVID, the oral argument will be broadcast live over the Judiciary's YouTube channel (YouTube.com/user/hawaiicourts) but will not be recorded or available to view later.
In 2014, the Maui Planning Commission rejected local residents request to participate in the SMA approval. Those objections and concerns are now a reality as the project has been developed. As the Lahaina News and Maui News reported in September 2020, the appeal was sustained voiding the Commission's decision.
Loss of an important historical place is heartbreaking. Disregard for laws is infuriating. Robbed of due process, the Commission's misguided decision has resulted in irreparable damage.
How is justice served? Desmond Tutu said “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Why would God allow such a seemingly waste of time, passion, and tears?
Answer: trust and obey, regardless of the outcome. It’s not over. Hope is displayed on the neon sign across the street from the development—“Jesus Coming Soon!”
“Look, a righteous King is coming! Smooth tricks and lies will be exposed. Cry for the land and city. This will continue until God puts His Spirit from above into us. Then justice and fairness will be found throughout the land, bringing peace and safety forever.” (Isaiah 32)
Michele Lincoln
Lahaina, Maui
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Legislature Ignores Potential $850M Self-Insurance Savings
Dear Editor: February 9, 2021
Dr. Stephen Kemble’s Feb. 4 Star Advertiser op-ed explains how self-insuring health care for state and county active and retired employees (EUTF) and Medicaid recipients could save Hawaii taxpayers about $850 MILLION annually--over half our state’s projected budget deficit this year.
Almost all other states do this, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) supports this. But Hawaii needlessly pays third parties for "insurance," instead of administrative services only, and their “value-based” payment systems are worsening Hawaii’s doctor shortage. State taxpayers also pay in advance for future increases in avoidable EUTF third-party insurance costs.
Allowing self-insurance and ending pre-funding could do more than anything more quickly to address our state budget and health care crises, improve the State’s bond rating, and protect state and county employees from layoffs and furloughs at less cost to current and future Hawaii taxpayers.
Several bills have been introduced at this year’s legislature to do this, but have not yet been scheduled for hearing.
Why?
Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) bills (all essentially identical):
Former Rep Cachola's EUTF/Unfunded Liabilities bills:
Thomas Brandt
Honolulu, Oahu
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The ‘Other’ Side are Idiots
Dear Editor, February 1, 2021
So why is the country so savagely divided? (Because the OTHER side are idiots!) The Left violently rioted for weeks over the summer in multiple cities. The Right recently followed in DC.
Actually, a major cause is information overload. Since you can find almost anything you want on the infinite internet – including “facts” that prove you are right AND wrong - BOTH sides can find “proof” that they are “right”.
Who is fact checking the fact checkers?
Only in this techno age, we have a tsunami of information screaming at us almost 24/7! BUT, our ability to discern truth and relevance has fallen far far behind. In short, most people give up and simply believe the information they WANT to believe.
So guard against what you WANT to believe. That is what can destroy you and everything dear. It is what has destroyed the greatest of men and nations.
Leighton Loo
Mililani, Oahu