August 8, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, August 8, 2009

August 8, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:20 PM :: 7687 Views

Hawaii tax collections in July fall 3.9%, even more than expected

State revenue collections were off 3.9 percent in July, a shaky start to the new fiscal year that falls substantially below the zero growth projected by the state Council on Revenues.

The council will take the state Department of Taxation figures into consideration when it meets later this month to update its revenue forecast. A lower forecast could increase the size of the state's estimated $786 million budget deficit through June 2011.

(And the unions are relying on a go-slow delaying tactic along with favorable rulings by their judiciary to avoid taking any hit on this and complete the train wreck.)

GOP challenges Abercrombie shift of campaign money

The state GOP said the congressman raised the money for a campaign for Congress, and that while federal and state campaign finance laws overlap, they are not identical. The party acknowledges that state law does not directly address the issue, but no previous Hawai'i political candidate has shifted federal money to a state campaign, and Republicans argue it would be improper.

The GOP indicated it was not acting on behalf of Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, a Republican candidate for governor.

"This isn't about political parties or candidates, winners or losers," Jonah Ka'auwai, the state GOP chairman, said in a statement yesterday. "As citizens and voters, we should insist that everyone runs their campaign by the rules as clearly outlined in the laws, regulations, and guidelines that we all must follow."

Kobayashi wins election to return to Honolulu City Council

Kobayashi won with 7,658 votes, or 37.56 percent, according to final results that still need to be certified. Matsunaga had 6,284 votes, or 30.82 percent, and Kinney got 3,822 votes, or 18.74 percent.

In all, 20,444 people, or 41.01 percent of the 49,851 eligible voters, cast ballots.

Preliminary spending reports through July 23 showed Kinney reported having received $109,910 and spending $99,969. A lawyer for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, his report showed $30,000 of his money came via a loan from his father, Painters Union chief Lynn Kinney.

Kobayashi was second in fundraising and spending. She reported receiving $96,616, including $7,400 in contributions from herself, and spending $82,406.

SB: Kobayashi a clear winner in Council special election

Kawaiaha'o Church asks that lawsuit be dropped (iwi hypocrisy)

An attorney for Kawaiaha'o Church has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Abigail Kawananakoa for disturbing the remains of her ancestors, the family of Queen Kapiolani.

Kawananakoa, 83, filed suit against the church in state Circuit Court last month alleging that it invaded the queen's burial plot, disturbing the human remains during construction at the start of this year.

The suit seeks to prevent further harm to remains at the cemetery.

The church is building a new, $17.5 million multipurpose center next door to its sanctuary at the site of the former Likeke Hall.

It is one of the largest undertakings for the historic church since 1940, when Likeke Hall was built, but one that the congregation voted to move forward on after years of deliberation.

(Where are the Burial Council reviews of THIS??? Where are the protesters??? Oh that's right, they are busy trying to steal a house on Kauai and haven't made time to come protect the iwi at Hawaii's 2nd most important burial ground? The fact that iwi are being used solely for financial and political gain by OHA has never been more clear.)

The church's motion says the lawsuit should be dismissed in part because the church is already used as a cemetery and is not subject to burial laws relating specifically to prehistoric and historic burial sites.

Also, it says that Kawananakoa has not legally established herself as a lineal descendant of the remains. (But Jim Medeiros is established as "lineal descendant" of unidentified remains at Hokulia???)

Kawananakoa is popularly recognized as the great-grandniece of Queen Kapiolani and King Kalakaua, as well as an heiress to the James Campbell estate.

(AK is the only one calling Kawaiaha`o on its mind-blowing levels of hypocrisy.)

SB: Set more conditions for North Korea

(North Korea has twice fired missiles aimed at Hawaii. How does the SB respond in its confused, rambling editorial?)

"North Korea has proven in attempts to launch long-range missiles that the rogue country poses no immediate threat to Hawaii or anyone else."

(On one hand we are expected to rely upon the presumption that NKs socialist missile engineering incompetence will protect us. On the other we are supposed to accept socialized health care?)

KGI: Ka Loko civil lawsuits to be settled soon

LIHU‘E — Court documents filed Monday and Tuesday, finally available for viewing Friday, show settlements have tentatively been reached in the civil suits stemming from the Ka Loko Reservoir Dam disaster in 2006.

Another attorney familiar with the settlement negotiations speaking on condition of anonymity earlier this week confirmed that settlements had been reached in the civil cases, and that a joint press release was to be issued but attorneys for all of the involved parties could not agree on press-release language.

Word of settlements hit the streets on the North Shore as early as Monday, but confirmation could only be secured Friday through the Kaua‘i court documents.

We had it HERE: August 5, 2009 News Read

In one of the settlement documents filed with the court, it was agreed that Pflueger and the Lucas Estate is not the owner, operator or possessor of Ka Loko, there was no evidence of negligence, the dam failure was not caused by neglect, there are no product-liability claims, and Pflueger and the Lucas Estate are not liable for punitive damages.

Nishiki flag flap flusters

(Here is the latest doings of the secret Dowling loan recipient, Nishiki)

WAILUKU - Council members and visitors were startled when a testifier at Friday's Maui County Council meeting snatched the small Hawaii state flag being displayed upside down on Council Member Wayne Nishiki's desk.

instead of turning to walk back to his seat in the gallery, Jacobus strode across the council floor to Nishiki's desk. Pulling the flag out of its stand, Jacobus balled it up in his hand and stuffed it in a pocket before leaning over and pointing a finger at Nishiki.

"You should be ashamed," he told Nishiki, before walking off the council floor and back to his seat.

Some residents have criticized Nishiki for his display of the upside-down flag, calling it disrespectful and unpatriotic.

Nishiki has said the flag is meant as a reminder of suffering endured by Native Hawaiians. He's said he placed the flag on his desk in March after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for the state to sell ceded lands.

Council Member Mike Victorino was among those who confronted Jacobus after the incident. He said Jacobus told him he took the flag because he thought it was disrespectful.

(Of course a landowner like Dowling would be disappointed at the Ceded Lands ruling. OHA's litigation had created an opportunity for all landowners to achieve a greater monopoly and higher prices.)

Council OKs buyback of two affordable homes

The homes in the Villas at Kenolio were built under a 2002 affordable housing agreement between the developer and the county. Under the agreement, if the buyers decided to resell the homes within 10 years, they would have to first offer them to the county at an affordable price. The county could then sell them to buyers who meet income requirements.

One of the homes is priced at $207,000, and the other is priced at $211,000.

The council is reviewing a separate measure that would designate Wailuku nonprofit Na Hale O Maui to manage the buyback and resale of affordable homes.

(Affordably priced, but the County must step in because there is a risk they will be sold to just anybody, not to a county-selected buyer. Your tax dollars at work.)

HMSA: Waimea woman denied coverage for liver transplant after marijuana found in her system

According to Reyes' attorney, Ted Herhold, with San Francisco-based Townsend and Townsend, toxicology tests from June 14, July 3 and July 14 were the sole final basis for HMSA's final denial of coverage for the 51-year-old mother of five.

(If this is how our local insurance monopoly operates, just wait until Obamacare gets here.)