Environment

The shared-savings agreement between Hawaii Medical Service Assn. and Hawaii Pacific Health puts 50% the hospital’s annual pay increases over the five-year contract term dependent on achieving both quality improvement and cost savings thresholds....

Solar scammers are pushing for even more taxpayer and ratepayer handouts. Here’s their latest blast of ‘research’.

Question: Is Siemens paying the 4.5% GE Tax on its "multi-million dollar" subcontract from Ansaldo?  Will Ansaldo write a change order to account for the additional 4.5% cost incurred because this work is not being done in-house? 

Since 2010, she has served as the Accounting System Administrator for the County of Maui. Prior to that, she was the Director and Chief Financial Officer for the California School Employees Association.

• Senate: Tax Cut Extension – Passage
• Senate: Cybersecurity – Cloture
• House: Tribal Land Leases – Suspension
• House: Levee Construction – Suspension
• House: Oil and Gas Drilling – Passage
• House: Federal Reserve Audit – Suspension
• House: Regulatory Overhaul

The projected enrollment of 10,097 represents a milestone for Hawaii’s charter movement, which served just 1,341 students in 2000....

"Unfortunately for the people of Hawaii, this type of resume-padding behavior is business as usual for Hirono, who is well versed in taking credit for the achievements of others."

Walk-In Absentee Voting Mon Jul 30 thru Thurs Aug 9 All Locations Open Mon – Sat 8-4 PM (except Molokai)

...former elected officials want to get back into the policymaking arena at a time when all of the chickens that they created in the past are coming home to roost....

"In any expansion of gaming, we must make sure that the unique circumstances surrounding tribal sovereignty are maintained in any legislation." 

"John White ended up as Chief of Staff for Mazie Hirono and is smearing Ben Cayetano for receiving illegal campaign contributions. The truth is, Mazie Hirono accepted $98,000 in illegal contributions and he endorsed her – but he hasn’t said a word about that."

The Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) today approved a new boating rule that requires boat operators to complete a boating safety course to operate a power driven vessel in state waters....

... BRT projects to receive at least 80 percent federal funding share each fiscal year. These provisions provide a significant opportunity for communities seeking to invest in BRT....

"Senator Gilbert Kahele was actively involved in working with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) to legislatively see this appropriation through." -- Abercrombie news release

"On Monday, May 14, 2012 a Solicitation to Commit Murder case was opened by the Honolulu Police Department under report number HPD 12-175720 ...."

"You talk about your Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act in 2009 as if it were legislation that you passed. The fact is, regardless of its merits, you just couldn't get it done for the people of Hawaii when your bill died in the very committee you sit in."

A different poll result was reported in the Star Advertiser this morning. This is not the first time this polling company has produced a contrary result....

This section of Kaumualiꞌi Highway is a two-lane highway and the only route providing access to the west end of Kauaꞌi, the county landfill, the wastewater treatment plant and the Pacific Missile Range Facility Barking Sands....

the Ward Research polling firm - who conducted the Star-Advertiser's poll - continues to conduct their polls using 62% identified Democrats. Their poll only includes 19% Independents and only 18% Republicans....

...additional costs to be incurred by carriers switching to low sulfur ship fuels as required by an international convention, which the United States Senate has not ratified but is being imposed anyway by President Barack Obama’s administration beginning on August 1, 2012....

This year’s Data Book uses an updated index of 16 indicators of child well-being, organized into four categories: Economic Well-Being, Health, Education, and Family and Community....

“there is no half-cent currency! The small retailer will have to “eat” the half-cent on every single unit he sells. In this mandated business model, the more the retailer sells, the more money he loses.”

We must focus our energy and effort on preventing his anti-teacher, anti-education positions from spreading to other political leaders in Hawaii.  As we approach the 2012 elections, we are evaluating candidates by a simple measure – are they better for education than Abercrombie?

Recently, Hawaii enacted a set of bills related to mortgage origination and servicing....

Democratic congresswoman’s Hawaii Senate campaign faces tough primary challenge, criticism for being out-of-touch...

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MIT researchers have analysed which airport hubs would be key to spreading a virulent disease, with some surprising results ....

...death of one of ’Honolulu’s finest’ during a motorcycle training exercise in Mililani is a devastating loss for his family and for our entire community....

The Judicial Council is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Hawai`i State Ethics Commission due to the departure of Jacqueline Kido....

U.S. News Travel released the 2012-2013 editions of several popular Best Vacations ranking lists....

By refusing to think deeply about the important issues facing our country and blindly aligning with their national Party leadership, the Democrat candidates for Hawaii’s U.S. Senate seat are advocating for policies that will hurt our state ....

This stuff is not getting any easier to track down, but thanks to the work of some good people we were able to obtain detailed membership information for each National Education Association state affiliate....

Liz Larson, Republican candidate in State Senate District 12 is hosting a free Pau Hana Barbeque in Ala Moana Beach Park, immediately Ewa of McCoy Pavilion, this Friday, July 27 between 6:00 and 7:30 PM....

The Hawaii State Judiciary is inviting members of the public to provide input on the Hawaii state courts by completing an anonymous online survey....

• Senate: Campaign Financial Disclosures – Cloture
• Senate: Outsourcing Tax Credits – Cloture
• House: Foreign Relations Authorization - Passage
• House: Sequestration Report - Passage
• House: Defense Appropriations – Passage

"Just as those of us in Hawaii know, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recognizes that a healthy visitor industry plays an important role in our nation’s economic recovery. This is why my plan includes the creation of a standing sub-committee on tourism in the U.S. Senate,”

...on Friday, July 27, will consider adoption of a proposed new boating rule that would require boat operators to complete a boating safety course to operate a power driven vessel in state waters....

Rep. Barbara Marumoto gave a presentation on the state of renewable energy in Hawaii at the Women in Government Fourth Annual Energy Summit in Des Moines, Iowa....

Wedding of David Chang & Beth Fukumoto Saturday, July 21st from 3:30pm-4:00pm.

More than 5,200 students statewide from the Class of 2015 have committed to earn the Board of Education’s (BOE) Recognition Diploma....

"...It would be totally wrong to hold my trucker liable for something that isn’t even remotely connected to him...."

Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $92.8 million for various Capital Improvement Projects ....

"We are collectively a people who are driven to do what is right, what is pono,” said Waiheʻe (who is being sued by the State for $39M looted from the RightStar burial accounts).

"Let us all continue to join with the rest of the nation as we hold the grieving families of Aurora close in our thoughts and spirit-filled prayers."

"Coqui frogs have proliferated across Hawai'i Island.... In Waikiki, the lack of adequate vector control has resulted in a rat infestation. These are just two examples of what we must get a handle on...."

"President Obama's statements in Washington today are in sync with the STEM education programs and initiatives my team and I advocated and worked for during my term as Governor of Hawaii."

I'm writing to ask you to support my good friend, Linda Lingle, in her campaign for the U.S. Senate....

The Hawaii Department of Education has released its Annual Yearly Progress report for 2012. Click the link below to see how your school did....