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Tuesday, March 31, 2015
March 31, 2015 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 6:39 PM :: 4954 Views

University of Hawaii Recruits 14-Year-Olds for Late-Term Abortion Experiments

Hawaii-Alaska Senate Resolutions Urge Jones Act Exemption

Hawaii Tax Freedom Day--April 19, 2015

Feds Approve NextEra-HEI Merger

88 hours stuck in Traffic: Honolulu 3rd Most Congested in US

Best States for Doctors? Hawaii Ranks 38th

Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted March 30, 2015

City to hold Important Agricultural Lands (IAL) meetings

“Making Honolulu Age-Friendly – An Action Plan” finalized and available for public comment

History of Native Hawaiian Missionaries to Pacific Islands

VA inspector general: Hawaii supervisor manipulated vets' benefit data

Andria Tupola Interviews Am Samoa Congressional Rep Amata

Hawaii Consumers 'Least Sustainable Spending Habits' in USA

Kenoi's political star dims after hostess-bar incident

Borreca: When Neil Abercrombie crashed in his gubernatorial re-election bid last year, the political flameout also scorched Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi.

It was conventional state Democratic Party wisdom that two terms of Abercrombie would lead smoothly to two terms of Kenoi as Hawaii's next Democrat in Washington Place.... (Yes.  Your rulers are so stupid that they hung 16 years worth of political planning on a loudmouth and a drunk.)

Today Kenoi is staring at a new disaster, one of his own making.

West Hawaii Today's Nancy Cook Lauer wrote Sunday about Kenoi using a Hilo County credit card to buy drinks at a Honolulu hostess bar in December of 2013.

It wasn't just a couple of beers after work. According to the story, Kenoi in one night charged $892 on his county card and didn't get around to repaying the county until March of 2014.

County-issued credit cards are not to be used for personal purposes, and there is a prohibition against using them to buy liquor....

Already former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou is ... saying on his Facebook page that the "Big Island Mayor used his government credit card at hostess bars. This is the direct result of one-party rule in Hawaii."  (Maybe Djou means the kind of one-party system which has 16 years of governorship worked out in advance and so for years covers up for the transgressions of a mayor?) 

read ... Dim Bulb

VIDEO: Citizens Nail Rail Liars, Come out Swinging --'Don't want tax extension.'

HNN: A recent projected deficit of $910 million for the Honolulu rail project has both lawmakers and residents concerned. Tensions mounted as officials tried to explain the future of rail finances to a crowd ready to tear it down. I don't like calling you a liar but you're close to misjudging the facts," residents lined up to take their swings at lawmakers...

I’m a tax paying citizen.. Don't want tax extension.. Already have highest taxes when you account for high cost of living.. And want to extend tax now? Please do not allow extension of the tax…."

read ... Rail

HHSC Maui Memorial 'Imagining the Worst'

MN: ...A story in Saturday's Maui News said the board of Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s Maui Region approved a $28 million cut to its fiscal year 2016 budget that starts July 1. Services not directly related to patient care will be cut first, but the story said cuts would also be considered for oncology, cardiology and obstetrics and gynecology.

"Can you imagine not delivering babies here?" asked Wes Lo, Maui region CEO of the HHSC.

Unfortunately...we can imagine it. And it does not bode well for the longtime future of MMMC.

The pending cuts are all the more reason for the passage of legislation to allow the Maui region to pursue a public-private partnership. The Legislature and the governor need to act now before the cuts go into effect....

KGI: Cleaner Bill of Health

read ... The Worst

Kahuku could see 10 new wind turbines this year

KITV: Residents in Kahuku could see 10 new wind turbines as early as the end of this year. But, before the plan is put in place, the Department of Land and Natural resources needs to check its environmental impact.

"My big concern is that they are going to be close enough at 50 some stories high, they will be larger than life and extremely close to the kids in that school," said Kahuku resident Ali'i Tasi.

Tasi doesn't like the idea of seeing 10 giant windmills in her neighborhood. She says it's just too close....

Na Pua Makani Wind Energy project officials say it's inevitable -- wildlife will be impacted. But, with a conservation plan in place, they hope to improve species in land nearby.

"The plan that we are proposing to enhance the marsh and the habitat out here at the Campbell Estate will help to improve or increase the wildlife over the life of the project," said Na Pua Makani Community Outreach Coordinator Scott Bradshaw.

The proposed 10 turbines will be across two sites -- one leased by the Department of Land and Natural Resources located a mile west of Kahuku Elementary and the other on privately-owned land behind Malaekahana....

read ... More Spinning Junk

Judge rules against State on disputed Waimanalo ag land

HNN: Judge Gary Chang, who authorized an Agriculture team to enter on to the property over the weekend to inspect for little fire ants, was displeased to learn no action had been taken by the state.

Because the areas deemed to be infested have not been disturbed by the construction, the Judge said BOTH parties can continue their work on the land; the Department of Ag battling the pests, the family with construction.

"There is no necessity for this court to issue a restraining order" he ruled.

This is just the first salvo in what could be a lengthy court process, given the state's claims that the defendants do not own the property, are trespassing and building illegally. The family maintains its right to the land.

KITV: Judge denies TRO in Waimanalo land dispute

read ... Ag Land

Corrupt Charter School Revoked, Has One Appeal Left

SA: The state Public Charter School Commission decided Monday to temporarily reinstate funding for the troubled Halau Lokahi Charter School, allowing 60 remaining students to finish the school year at the Hawaiian culture-focused campus.

The commission voted to postpone until May 31 its previous decision in January to issue the Kalihi school a formal prospect of revocation notice due to insolvency.

Halau Lokahi chose to appeal that decision by requesting a hearing Monday that spanned nearly five hours.

The commission in January took the unusual step of initiating closure midyear during winter break, after rejecting the school's latest financial plan. The panel at the time decided to withhold approximately $187,000 in funds allotted for Halau Lokahi, and release only funding necessary for dissolving the school during the revocation process....

When funding stopped at the end of January, the school's staff was effectively laid off, but five former teachers are volunteering their time at the school, where roughly half the school's students continue to show up.

The commission ultimately agreed to release approximately $36,700 per month for April and May, based on an updated budget from the school's board.

Shiraishi, the Halau Lokahi board co-chairman, called the decision bittersweet.

"The fact still remains that next year there are no Hawaiian-focused charter schools that serve the Central Oahu core," he said after the vote.

The school could still appeal the overall revocation decision to the state Board of Education.

read ... Corrupt

HB1180 Frankenbill

DN: ...This session has seen “Frankenbills,” “Zombies,” and waivers of notice that don’t just shortchange the public, they short circuit the democratic process.

This is to ask that rules be followed with regard to HB1180. Senator Dela Cruz inserted language lifted from SB1228 SD2, a bill which relates to public-private partnerships, into HB1180 which requires the state procurement office to establish a database to record inadequate past performance by contractors on public works projects. One has nothing to do with the other. So a “Frankenbill” has been created. This “Frankenbill” has been referred to Ways and Means for its final hearing in the Senate.

The rule kicks in because the language was inserted by Government Operations Chair Senator Dela Cruz at the time of decisionmaking – that is, the language had not been presented to the public at all....

read ... Frankenbill

Tackling the ‘everyday struggle’ of homeless in Hawaii

KHON: Lopez said he was surprised at the number of homeless people in Hawaii and said the number-one question he gets asked has to do with homeless beggars.

“I always get asked, ‘I keep seeing this guy on the street. He wants a quarter. He wants a dollar. Should I give it to him?’ I say no. If someone is suffering, your dollar is not going to change this person’s life. Save up your dollars and find an agency or non-profit that serves up good work in reaching out,” he said....

The Institute for Human Services works with families like Rombawaquarles', who are striving to get off the streets.

“We all have this stereotype of what homelessness is,” said community relations manager Kimo Carvalho. “A guy on the side of the street, living with a shopping cart, who is mentally ill. In reality, that’s only a third of the homeless population.”

IHS says a growing number of local families is seeking shelter. The agency houses up to 50 families in its family shelter dorm.

“They experience homelessness where minimum wage was not conducive enough to support a lifestyle. Mom and Dad working full time here, and they cannot afford a home,” said Carvalho.

IHS’ goal is to give these families enough resources to get them back on their feet. It offers classes to help families build financial savings and works on qualifying clients for subsidy programs to get them housed. A rooftop garden teaches them self-sufficiency and responsibility.

IHS says the average length of stay for families in city shelters is 196 days. At IHS, it’s 97 days....

read ... Tackling the ‘everyday struggle’ of homeless in Hawaii

Hawaiian Electric-NextEra Energy say 'no' to sale deadline extension

PBN: Hawaiian Electric Co. and Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc., which is buying the Honolulu-based utility for $4.3 billion, are urging the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to not extend the deadline for the acquisition case, according to public documents.

The PUC, which along with 28 intervenors and the Hawaii Consumer Advocate, is looking into the major acquisition, has set the deadline for the end of August to complete the case.

However, the Consumer Advocate, as well as Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Gas, Paniolo Power Co. LLC, AES Hawaii Inc., SunEdison Inc., the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1260, the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and the Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, want to move that deadline to October 30, which would allow for a final PUC decision on or before April 15, 2016.

Related:  Feds Approve NextEra-HEI Merger

read ... 'No'

Thirty Meter Telescope protesters continue to block construction on Mauna Kea

HNN: Protesters on Mauna Kea are not allowing construction workers to access the summit of Mauna Kea.

Crews encountered dozens of protesters on Monday morning who were blocking access to the construction site of the Thirty Meter Telescope.

The demonstrations are near the Visitor Information Center and began last week.

Heavy equipment has already been placed at the construction site to build the $1.4 billion telescope, which supporters say will be the world's most powerful telescope when completed....

Kamahana Kealoha with Sacred Mauna Kea says about 100 protestors went up to the entrance to the Mauna Kea Observatory Road Wednesday night and will be staying overnight. He says several others will join them Thursday morning. They plan to create a human blockade to keep more construction crews and equipment from going up.

read ... Shakedown

Video testimony can bring justice

SA: Thieves know that Hawaii tourists can be easy marks for property crimes. Rules of evidence require that a victim return to Hawaii to testify in person against the alleged offender, assuming that a suspect is arrested in the first place. Many victims are unwilling to make this costly, time-consuming return trip, meaning that they leave Hawaii with unhappy memories and little legal recourse — and without the wallets, laptops and other valuables lost in car break-ins and other crimes.

The current system tilts in favor of the alleged criminals, and arguably increases the likelihood that tourists will be targeted for property crimes — given that they are far less likely than residents to show up in court to testify against the accused. Hawaii's dependency on tourism makes this an important public safety issue, as well as an economic one. State lawmakers must keep trying to devise a solution that makes it easier for visitors to testify in court after they are victimized, while protecting due process rights of the accused.

Prosecutors have advocated for the use of two-way video conferencing as a means of obtaining testimony from far-away victims in limited cases, an idea that has merit and should be explored further — despite being shot down in the Legislature last week.

read ... Video Testimony

Hawaii Co Fire captain investigated for talking to the media

WHT: ...A captain in the Hawaii County Fire Department is under investigation by the chief for criticizing the department in public.

Fire Chief Darren Rosario sent a letter Wednesday to Capt. Sean Sommers, telling him he was being investigated on administrative charges that he violated the department’s rules when he criticized the department and fire chief in a March 19 interview on Hawaii News Now.

Sommers, a 21-year veteran of the department, is assigned to the South Kohala Fire Station.

Among the rules Sommers allegedly violated, Rosario said in the letter that was obtained by West Hawaii Today, is a regulation stating, “no member shall publicly criticize or ridicule the department, its policies or the members … when such action tends to impair the good order or efficiency of the department, interferes with the ability of officers to maintain discipline or it’s made with reckless disregard for truth or falsity.”

“It is alleged that you have violated the aforementioned rules and regulations of the Hawaii Fire Department with your televised media interview which aired statewide on Thursday, March 19, 2015,” the chief said.

Employees agree to follow the rules as a condition of employment.

The letter went on to admonish Sommers “do not discuss this matter with anyone as it is confidential; any discussion about the aforementioned will be viewed as interfering with the administrative investigation.”

“This is exactly the reason you don’t hear from other personnel in the fire department,” Sommers told West Hawaii Today on Monday. “They fear retribution, and I don’t blame them. … I truly am risking everything right now.”

Honolulu attorney Jeff Portnoy, who specializes in First Amendment issues, said he can’t comment on the individual case, but in general, he thinks the rules go too far.

“Government employees do not lose their First Amendment rights to speak out about what they believe is wrongdoing they believe is not being appropriately handled by those in authority,” Portnoy said. “To me, these Hawaii Fire Department rules go way too far in trying to stifle appropriate criticism, and at least on the surface, are too general and appear to attempt to keep any criticism of the department from public scrutiny.”

Battalion Chiefs Steve Loyola and Ty Medeiros were suspended in November. Loyola told Hawaii News Now they were suspended for criticizing how Rosario was running the department. Rosario, a 25-year veteran of the department, has been fire chief since September 2011.

HNN: Fire officials under probe for talking to Hawaii News Now

read ... Silenced

Video raises new concerns over animal care at quarantine station

HNN:  Christopher Rivera shot cell phone video recently that shows a canine in a blood stained kennel at the Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa.

"Like a one-foot trail all the way from the gate, all the way down into his house. It wasn't just fresh, it was dried up blood." said Rivera, who is a certified dog handler.

Acting state veterinarian Isaac Maeda said the dog in the video was agitated but wasn't neglected or abused by his staff.

"The animal looked like it had worn some nails down and was subsequently bleeding," he said.

Rivera posted the video on Facebook. It drew dozens of comments negative of the quarantine station. Several posts are from dog owners who complain of inferior care for their pets and animal mistreatment. One woman said she saw a quarantine worker kick her dog in the head. Another person claims to have witnessed a worker moving down a kennel run, spraying dogs with a hose.

"That's not something we would allow," Maeda said.

Shelly Boggus said last year her husband found their bulldog, Lola, nearly unconscious with a high fever.

read ... Quarantine

Takai Jumps on Board Pelosi's TPP Junket

RC: Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is taking colleagues to Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Korea and Japan. The trip is “focused on critical issues underpinning U.S. relations with the region,” according to a press release from Pelosi’s press office, “including security cooperation, human rights, and trade.”

“Members are particularly interested in gaining further understanding of how the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that is currently being negotiated will impact the region’s markets and economies,” Pelosi added in a statement accompanying the release.

Congress is poised in the months ahead to vote on giving President Barack Obama authority to enter into formal trade negotiations with certain trans-pacific countries, and the issue is a divisive one in the House Democratic Caucus. Pelosi and other party leaders have said they hoped to get to a point where they could support so-called “Fast-Track Authority,” and this trip could help in solidifying members’ positions one way or the other.

Pelosi is traveling with a California-heavy delegation of House Democrats: Reps. Anna G. Eshoo, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Thompson and Doris Matsui. Also participating are the two most senior Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade matters — ranking member Sander M. Levin of Michigan and Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York — and Democratic Reps. Dan Kildee of Michigan and Mark Takai of Hawaii.

Like McCarthy, she also has a Republican, Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, on board....

read ... Junket

Kapolei school loses $1,400 after The Groove Hawaii’s shutdown

KHON:  Students and parents at Island Pacific Academy are learning an expensive lesson on doing business.

They paid a $1,400 deposit for a party at The Groove Hawaii in Kakaako.

Project Graduation plans, scheduled for May, included a night of go-kart racing and other fun activities.

But those plans came to a screeching halt when they found out that the place had shut down....

The school paid the deposit back in October, which is half of the total cost. The Groove shut down back in December, and the school didn’t find out about it until they saw the notice online just last month.

“It’s kind of despicable in a way, especially in a way where you don’t give someone back the deposit and you don’t let them know that you can no longer fulfill your word,” said senior student Tullie Olin St. John.

The school made several attempts to get the money back and the company has not responded....

read ... First Kakaako Failure

Cost of a DUI in Hawaii After Insurance Increases: $2,961 and up

NW: Hawaii has a large and growing problem with drunken driving. In 2012, authorities in Hawaii made 7,346 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol, up 17% from 2006. Nearly 3% of Hawaiian adults surveyed said they had driven after drinking too much in the past 30 days, well above the national average of 1.9%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Drivers in Hawaii caught driving under the influence face steep financial consequences, including criminal charges, attorney fees, a likely fine and driver’s license suspension. But one of the biggest financial impacts of a DUI is the sharp increase in the cost of insurance, which can last for years.

read ... Cost of a DUI

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