Kauai Farmers Mobilize to Save Agriculture from Anti-GMO Protesters
Why I’m Going to Hawaii to Defend the Maize Winter Nurseries
HTA: Arrivals, Spending Up
Paradise lost: Honolulu taxpayers drowning in crystal clear sea of debt
VIDEO: Rep. Ward discusses the Jones Act
Gays to Block Rep Har from Seeking Office for 6 mos
PR: In the party's eligibility criteria to run for elected office, however, potential candidates must maintain party membership "without censure" for a minimum of six months before the filing deadline.
The investigative panel's recommendation of reprimand for Gabbard could prevent him, if upheld, from holding party office for up the three years.
The recommendation of censure for Har, if upheld, could come with an official letter and a prohibition against filing for elected office for six months.
The 2014 filing deadline for candidates opens on Feb. 3 and closes on June 3, according to the state Office of Elections, so Har -- if she is censured -- would likely not be prevented from filing for re-election as a Democrat next year.
read ... Bow Before the New Boss
Star-Adv: Gays Place One-Party System at Risk
SA: While Democrats have been in lopsided control of the Legislature, the issue of same-sex civil unions or marriage has been closely argued.
Recognizing the disagreement on that issue, the Democratic Party agreed in 2007 for longtime Republican Sen. Mike Gabbard, a leading opponent of gay marriage, to switch parties. Two years later, Gabbard's new party censured him for violating the platform by actively working against the civil-unions bill. In 2010, he was among five Democrats who voted against civil unions. Democratic Rep. Sharon Har, sharing Gabbard's constituency and conforming with her longtime view of the issue, was among 16 Democrats who cast votes against the bill....
Hawaii Democratic leaders are looking to legalize same-sex marriage in next year's session of the Legislature and should accept the fact that it remains controversial within the party. By welcoming Gabbard six years ago with knowledge of his social conservatism, the party placed tent stakes that cannot easily be moved.
(Translation: If the Dems kick social conservatives out, they will become Republicans. We at the Star-Adv don't want a multi-party system therefore we ask you not to kick out Gabbard and Har.)
read ... Why Gabbard should be Expelled
KNOW GMO: Friends of Ag launch ‘Save Kauai Farms’ campaign
KGI: A collection of pro-farming groups announced Friday the launch of a concerted education effort under the banner of “Save Kauai Farms.”
The kick-off was a sign-waving demonstration along Highway 50 in Hanapepe, with a concluding rally at the adjacent recreation area. According to a press release, about 500 people participated to show support for Kauai farming.
“The people that work on West Side farms wanted to hold this event to show they take a lot of pride in what they do,” said rally coordinator Kirby Kester. “They believe in the importance of agriculture and the positive difference it makes for our community. I think that’s why we saw so much energy here today.”
The Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Kauai County Farm Bureau and individual farmers support the campaign, the release said.
Info: savekauaifarms.com
Kauai Farmers Mobilize to Save Agriculture from Anti-GMO Protesters
Slate: A Liberal's Defense of GMOs
read ... Stop Luddite Lunatics
Electronic health records increasingly used in isles
SA: After years of encouragement, investment and incentives, hospitals and more recently a critical mass of community physicians have made the transition from paper charts to electronic health records (EHR). For optimal benefit to patients, providers and payers, it is critical that providers can use their EHRs to exchange information with one another. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, designed in part to protect patient confidentiality, makes the exchange of information a delicate exercise....
Implementation of EHR is certainly a challenge, but truly meaningful use of a paperless system is a resource-intensive task and takes time to accomplish. Providers need substantial encouragement to take it on. In Hawaii, as of June, 905 eligible providers received Meaningful Use incentive reimbursement payments from Medicare for a total of $13,699,878. As of June, four Medicare-eligible hospitals that have Meaningful Use incentive reimbursement payments received $5,673,735. Thirteen hospitals that can apply and receive funding from both Medicare and Medicaid received $17,261,437.
The Hawaii Health Information Exchange is hosting its third annual Health IT Summit at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel today.....
Best Comments: "Be careful, "Big Brother" is watching you!! Electronic data processing activities must have adequate safeguards, even then hackers can eventually breach the security measures." and "Electronic health records? The kind that were supposed to REDUCE the cost of health care....and insurance? Anybody's premium gone down?"
read ... Electronic health records increasingly used in isles
(de)Occupy ousted from Thomas Square during Bill 7 enforcement
KITV: Protesters have been at park since Nov. 5, 2011...So far, Caldwell says he has received no official notice from the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii objecting to Bill 7 enforcement.
SA: Protesters return to park after raid
DN: Day 628 brings raid #74, the first Bill 7 raid on deOccupy Honolulu..
read ... B-Bye
UHWO Selling Land to fund Expansion
HNN: Freitas said his budget this fiscal year is $18.8 million. Ideally, he would like twice that amount. To get there he needs to attract more students and increase funding from public and private sources.
"We're going to regroup, hire a land manager to see what we can do in the future," he said.
The university has 500 acres. It sold six to Tokai University and it's working on a deal to sell up to 30 to the Catholic church to help fund expansion.
"We're going to try to build dorms," Freitas said.
He also wants to add a science and technology center and a building for administrative offices to help with efficiency.
read ... Selling Land
Hawaii Seeks to become Drone Testing Center
SA: Hawaii, Alaska and Oregon are part of a partnership vying to become one of six groups to be selected nationwide for the project, with backers hoping the Aloha State would become a mecca for unmanned vehicle research, testing and certification, creating science jobs and adding millions to the economy along the way.
But plenty of obstacles remain, including competition from other states, worries about surveillance and privacy, the perception that drones are often used as weapons, and the not-so-small detail that the FAA is not providing any funding for the test sites.
"We could create a small cottage industry around science, math, engineering and mathematics. That's what this is all about," said state Sen. Will Espero (D, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point). "It's not about supporting a military weapon. We're looking at it from the perspective of civilian applications of (unmanned aerial vehicles)."
At a forum on drone use Thursday, state Rep. Gene Ward (R, Kalama Valley-Hawaii Kai), said, "We have an opportunity before us here, that if the FAA chooses six sites and Hawaii is one of those sites, this is big time for us in terms of the generation of income and jobs."
read ... Something to Get Excited About, Sigh
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