Behind the Scenes a Maneuver to become Chief of Hawaiian 'Tribe'
Honolulu Average Weekly Wages Below US Average
Visitor Arrivals Reach Record High in September
Investment Advice: Repeal the Jones Act
Half a Million Dollars of Public Pension Money Paid to Dead People in Hawaii
AARP and WHO accept Honolulu’s Age-Friendly City plan
Study: Mixed Results from Pre-K Program
Grassroot Institute Launches Maui Radio Program
NYT: The Reign of Recycling
State: NextEra Merger OK if a 'Sustainable B Corp'
IM: Hodges proposed that following the merger, HEH “will elect to become a Sustainable Business Corporation pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes ("HRS") Chapter 420D. In addition to the general public benefit purpose required by HRS §420D-5(a), the articles of HEH will identify the following specific public benefits for which HEH was created pursuant to the following numbered subsections of HRS §420D-5(b).”
Within 18 months of merger approval, the “Hawaiian Electric Companies will have met all standards of accountability and transparency as well as social and environmental performance that are required to obtain certification as a B Corporation from B Lab, the nonprofit which administers the certification process....
The traditional Corporation (“C Corp”) focuses on profits while a Benefit Corporation (“B Corp”) includes positive social and environmental goals. While B Corps differ from C corps in purpose, accountability, and transparency, they have the same taxation requirements. The first State to authorize B Corps was Maryland in April 2010. Hawaii followed suit in July 2011. B Corps are now authorized in 30 states and Washington, D.C.....
read ... To B or not to B: Consumer Advocate proposes new business model
NextEra, Hawaiian Electric want to nix talk of LNG, utility ownership models
PBN: NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Co., the two companies involved in the Florida energy giant's $4.3 billion acquisition of the Honolulu-based utility, want to nix talk of liquefied natural gas or other utility ownership models, including municipality-owned or co-op owned utilities at the upcoming evidentiary hearings.
The companies have singled out Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative, the County of Maui and Hawaii Gas, intervenors taking part in the regulatory review of the acquisition, to have these entities not talk about utility ownership models or LNG....
read ... Silence
Rail: Scandals, Scoundrels and Incompetence
SA: ...Over the years, we’ve seen our share of scandals, scoundrels and incompetence.
However, I am dismayed at the recent downward spiral of both the financial and ethical fiber of our leaders, and the decisions they make (or fail to make).
Right now, I’m totally confused about the truth of this rail project. And I cannot seem to see any true leadership anywhere.
With the rail project, the numbers being thrown around are staggering. We are talking about billions of dollars — billions with a “B.” Somewhere along the way, our elected officials have forgotten that it’s taxpayers (like me) who will be paying for this deal.
Someone in your newspaper should do a chronology of the “scandals” surrounding this very large and very white elephant. Go way back to the misrepresentations and promises of the original rail pitch, to the pilikia between the mayor and the governor on the original half-percent general excise tax increase, to the lobbying by special interests, to the questionable contract awards to favored donors, to the endless (yes, endless) cost adjustments, to the ethics violations that were made then swept away in a “secret” meeting, to the pain and suffering of those in the construction zones.
What’s next?
And how much more can we stand? According to past reports, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has a huge public relations (they call it “communications”) staff. Does it plan to let the surprises out a little at a time and then each year go to the state Legislature and to the City Council to ask for another approval to raise taxes again? And again and again?
You know, Ben Cayetano was right about the rail project. He said it would bankrupt us, and it may do just that.
At this point, I don’t see any leadership, I don’t see any accountability, and I don’t see an end to this madness. It’s time for a reassessment by both the City Council and the Legislature. They can’t treat our hard-earned taxpayer dollars like they are doling out Monopoly money.
Someone’s forgotten that it’s only through hardworking people that they have tax dollars to begin with.
Meanwhile, there’s not enough money to cut the grass; the homeless just shuffle from one part of town to another, and the University of Hawaii is giving away money to coaches — but it can’t afford to fix buildings.
read ... Massive spending on rail transit harms honest taxpayers
Feeling Anxious? Legislators want you to be Dopey Instead
CB: It’s only been three months since Gov. David Ige signed a bill legalizing medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii, but lawmakers are already drafting new legislation to amend Act 241.
Potential amendments range from eliminating the ban against interisland transport of medical cannabis to adding new qualifying ailments such as anxiety and insomnia....
read ... Keep the people Doped up
Only 6 People Show up to Protest GMO Bananas
KE: Despite a full-scale call-to-action and social media blitz, the Babes Against Biotech failed to marshal any crowds to rally against the GMO banana at Tuesday's Board of Agriculture hearing. They started by spreading the rumor that the meeting hadn't been properly noticed, which was false, and then continued to lie, claiming “they [BOA] sped thru public comments right in the beginning and several members of the public were unable to testify.”
Total BS. Only six people showed to testify in opposition, and they all got a chance to speak. In the end, the Board approved permits to conduct field trials on a banana genetically engineered to resist the bunchy top virus. If all goes well, Hawaii could have a brand new GM product that benefits farmers, not corporations, reduces pesticide use and was developed by the public sector. In other words, another "likable GMO," like the SunUp and Rainbow papaya varieties, which are resistant to the ringspot virus.
A friend who follows the biotech battles, and was surprised at the tepid reaction to a new GMO crop that would have been banned under a Hawaii County law that was overturned by the courts, sent me this email:
Can it be the the anti-GMO movement is losing momentum because they can't hide behind and use the Hawaiians who are busy with nation building and other issues like Maunakea — movements that have no place for them? Can that be why Gary Hooser is trying to align himself with the Aloha Aina movement?
read ... Losing Momentum
The untold story of biotech’s supporters on the North Shore
HO: Miller said that many farmers are afraid of voicing their opinions at the meetings due to vocal opponents of pesticide use and a movement against biotech companies DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto, which operate in Waialua and Haleiwa, respectively.
“The farmers are getting picked on,” Miller said. “Why are the farmers getting picked on when on one hand, residents are saying, we want agriculture and ‘keep the country, country’, but in the other hand, they are attacking the farmers. And their argument is, Well, they are not really farmers,” Miller said.
That’s made many who support pesticide use, including local farmers, reluctant to speak on the record. The result often advantages one side of the debate: While it’s likely you have heard or seen people protesting pesticide use on the North Shore, the voices of some of the individuals most closely involved in agriculture are rarely heard....
read ... Untold story
State Senate schedules special session on judicial nominees
SA: The Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee will meet Tuesday to hear testimony and consider the nominations of Shirley M. Kawamura to the First Circuit Court on O‘ahu, and of District Family Court Judge Melvin H. Fujino to the Third Circuit Court on Hawai‘i Island.
The committee will also consider Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald’s nomination of James C. McWhinnie to District Court on O‘ahu.
The full Senate will then convene at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, with a final floor vote on the nominations by the full senate scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6.
read ... Special Session
Waipio Boy Reports Attempted Kidnapping by Homosexual Child Molester
KHON: Police say it happened at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near Kanoelani Elementary as an 11-year-old boy walked home from school.
He reported to police that a man grabbed his backpack and dragged him across the street. The boy managed to get away and ran back to the school.
The man was described to be in his late 30s, 5 feet 11 inches tall, and roughly 180 pounds. He was wearing a red cutout shirt and black jeans.
read ... Homosexual Child Molester
Latest Gay Media Frenzy: Mainland Lesbians Resist Arrest, Kick HPD Officer, Sue
PDF: 18. Defendant (HPD Officer) Harrison then took it upon himself to confront Plaintiffs while they were in line at one of the check-out stands and informed them that the store was going issue them a written trespass notice barring them from entering or remaining in the store.
19. Defendant Harrison then directed Plaintiffs to move out of the cashier line in which they were standing.
20. After voicing her displeasure with Defendant Harrison's conduct, Plaintiff Wilson pulled out her cell phone and called 911 to report Defendant Harrison's unlawful harassment and turned to go outside the store so she could describe where she was located.
21. Defendant Harrison then forcefully seized Plaintiff Wilson preventing her from leaving the store and completing her 911 call.
22. When Plaintiff Guerrero attempted to move herself between Defendant Harrison and Plaintiff Wilson, Defendant Harrison threw Plaintiff Guerrero on to the ground, striking Plaintiff Wilson in the process, and placed both of them in restraints.
AP: In the ensuing altercation, Seitz says that Harrison pushed Guerrero. "She then kicked the police officer, which apparently enraged him even more," Setiz said, adding that Harrison punched Wilson....
(If you are confused about any of this, go kick the nearest HPD officer and see what happens to you.)
Gay Media Frenzy:
read ... Lawsuit
2 ex-officers get probation for hiding colleague’s attacks
SA: Former Honolulu police officer Nelson Tamayori and former reserve officer Joseph Becera will not have to spend any time behind bars for failing to report two assaults committed by a fellow officer in an illegal game room last year.
U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright sentenced each man to two years’ probation Wednesday for covering up the assaults of two game room patrons by former officer Vincent Morre. He also fined Becera $10,000.
read ... Making the Rest Look Bad
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