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Democrats Worried Looney LoPresti May Lose Ewa Senate Race
HNN: …A day before the August primary, news of LoPresti on security video taking his opponent's campaign flyer a month prior. He says the video didn't show him returning the flyers a short time later.
“I slipped one afternoon. I ask for people’s forgiveness. I’m a better person and I’m moving on,” LoPresti said.
“The proof is in the pudding. You’ve already seen the video. You’ve seen what he’s capable of doing under pressure, under desperation,” Fevella said.
“…it’s become more difficult for [LoPresti] than it should. So this race is going to be closer than it otherwise would,” said HNN political analyst Colin Moore.
Fevella wants to help expand overcrowded schools and says for years that he’s been a voice of the community.
“I’m not going to go there to be a dictator. I’m going to be there to be a communicator,” Fevella said….
(This is Hawaii Republicans only chance to win a Senate seat.)
Background Matt Lopresti SD19 Ewa
read … LoPresti Loser
Early voting numbers predict low voter turnout for general election
HNN: …Early Walk-in voting ends tomorrow and so far, 21 percent of Oahu's 500,163 registered voters cast their ballots. The same for Maui County. Kauai County reported 23 percent ballots cast so far and 24 percent of Hawaii county's voters participated in early walk-in and absentee mail-in voting….
"It's going to be business as usual. Even by Hawaii standards, this here locally is a tremendously boring election," said Hawaii News now political analyst Colin Moore….
read … Early voting numbers predict low voter turnout for general election
Maui Council panel OKs bill to cut Paia and Haiku short-term rentals to 65
MN: …A Maui County Council committee passed out two bills Thursday that would trim the number of permitted short-term rentals in Paia and Haiku to 65 and prohibit future rentals from abutting the shoreline….
Committee Chairwoman Kelly King said that 48 short-term rentals have been permitted in the Paia-Haiku area thus far, with 12 in the pipeline, according to the department. The most recent records available on the county website also show that there are 43 permitted bed-and-breakfasts in the Paia-Haiku area….
read … Council panel OKs bill to cut Paia and Haiku short-term rentals to 65
Hawaii County Another step forward for vacation rental bill
HTH: … Hawaii County Vacation rental operators will have a few extra months to get their paperwork together, now that the County Council moved the effective date for a bill regulating their use to April 1.
Bill 108 is an attempt to prohibit unhosted short-term rentals in residential and agricultural zones, while allowing them in hotel and resort zones as well as commercial districts. Existing rentals in disallowed areas would be grandfathered in after obtaining a nonconforming use certificate. The certificate would run with the property, provided it is renewed annually….
The council approved Bill 108 on first reading Friday on a 5-1 vote, with Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara voting no and Puna Councilwoman Jen Ruggles, Kohala Councilman Tim Richards and Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy absent. The final reading is set for Nov. 20.
The council vote came after more than 30 people testified, most raising concerns that their own vacation rental operations or those of their neighbors are threatened by the bill. Others, primarily from West Hawaii, raised complaints about vacation rentals taking over their formerly quiet neighborhoods.
“It doesn’t look at the unique differences between Puna and Kona between East Hawaii and West Hawaii,” said Jack Miller about the bill, testifying from Hilo.
Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung agreed with that sentiment, while voting in favor of the bill. He suggested the administration use the flexibility the law allows to work with each person’s specific issues….
SA Editorial: Leilani Estates braces for tourists
read … Another step forward for vacation rental bill
UPW Just Can’t Get it Right: Erroneous releases from HCCC continue
WHT: Two erroneous releases from Hawaii Community Correctional Center have occurred since jail staff mistakenly released a man on trial for murder in July.
After the incident, the Department of Public Safety and state Judiciary committed to working together to see how they could improve the process of transporting defendants to and from the courts. However, no new changes to policy at HCCC have been announced and now DPS is investigating two more erroneous releases since Brian Lee Smith’s release on July 23….
Since Smith was mistakenly freed, DPS has delegated the responsibility of releasing inmates from the Hilo jail to just two people — the warden and the chief of security Deputy Attorney General Laura Maeshiro, representing the department, told 3rd Circuit Court Judge Melvin Fujino during an August hearing in which the jail’s warden, Peter Cabreros, was to explain the mishap….
The most recent mistaken release occurred on Oct. 22 when inmate Phil James was released for time served.
“It was later determined that he was scheduled to appear at Drug Court in Kona for a separate pending case,” Schwartz said.
James met with his probation officer on Oct. 26 and turned himself in to sheriff’s deputies without incident.
“The Department of Public Safety is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the erroneous release,” Schwartz added.
Haley Mepham was mistakenly released on July 30, days after Smith turned himself back into authorities and DPS committed to completing a thorough investigation into 49-year-old’s release.
Mepham was released from HCCC’s Hale Nani women’s facility, because of what DPS called “misinterpretation of court documents.” While details are sketchy, Mepham appeared in court that day to face a misdemeanor marijuana charge and was sentenced to 12 days in jail, time already served.
As of this week, DPS could not detail what issues they found that led to Smith’s release in July and how they were going to address it. Currently, Schwartz said the policy at HCCC is inmates are released upon court order release….
read … Erroneous releases from HCCC continue
Waikiki Natatorium one of 100 memorials nationwide to receive special WWI honor
HNN: … With the sound of bagpipes in the air, a special plaque was unveiled at the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial Friday.
The plaque honors the natatorium as an official WWI Centennial Memorial, thanks to the 100 Cities/100 memorials program.
“By designating 100 WWI memorials across the nation, we honor the names of those who served and the history of the communities where they lived," said Kenneth Clarke, creator of the Centennial Memorial program.
Around 9,800 service members from Hawaii served in WWI and were acknowledged during the ceremony, which commemorated the upcoming centennial anniversary of the end of WWI….
read … Waikiki Natatorium one of 100 memorials nationwide to receive special WWI honor
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