Entries for 'News Release'

The bill would consolidate regulation of cable operators and telecommunications providers under a single entity, the Hawai‘i Communications Commission....Combining regulation of these two areas under one agency will position the state to take advantage of the 21^st century convergence of technologies that are used to provide voice, data and video services

The following letter from Budget and Finance Director Georgina Kawamura were sent to Senate Ways and Means Chair Donna Mercado Kim and House Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro yesterday afternoon. The letter outlines proposals for closing the FY09 budget gap.

Based in Honolulu, WESPAC is the subject of at least two active federal investigations; one by the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of the Inspector General (IG), and another by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Governor Lingle is making the list available to the public to encourage public comment on the nominees.

Under the proposed legislation, the state fuel tax which is currently $0.17 per gallon would be raised to $0.27 per gallon, generating an estimated increase in annual revenues of $51 million.  Vehicle weight taxes, currently set at 3/4 of a cent per pound for vehicles up to 4,000 pounds, would be raised to 2 and 3/4 of a cent per pound, generating an additional $68 million in annual revenues.  Motor vehicle registration fees would also be increased from $25 per year to $45 per year, adding an additional $23.3 million in annual revenues.

Governor Linda Lingle today appointed Gilbert S. C. Keith-Agaran as the representative for House District 9, which includes Kahului, Wailuku, Pu‘unene, Spreckelsville, and Paia on Maui.  Keith-Agaran will fill the remaining two-year term of the late Representative Bob Nakasone, who passed away on December 7, 2008.

The first project focuses on improving the westbound afternoon rush hour commute on the H-1 Freeway from Honolulu to Central and Leeward O‘ahu by adding a 6.2-mile contraflow lane starting at the Radford Drive overpass and ending at the Waiawa Interchange (H1-H-2 merge).

News Release from Governor's office responds to December 6, 2008 Honolulu Advertiser article. The Advertiser quotes Bill Meheula, a key player in Dan Akaka's 2006 reelection campaign and Lilian Kame'eleihiwa, of the UH Hawaiian Studies Dep't who ague that OHA has a claim to ceded lands and seem to imply that the State has taken a new position in its appeal to the US Supreme Court requesting the Court overturn the Hawaii Supreme Court ruling blocking the state from selling ceded lands.

HONOLULU – GOVERNING magazine announced today that Hawai‘i Human Services Director Lillian Koller has been selected as a “Public Official of the Year” for her leadership in bringing about widespread improvements at the State Department of Human Services (DHS) over the past five years, including an overhaul of the child welfare system.