August 15, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, August 15, 2009

August 15, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 11:38 AM :: 7234 Views

Opponents: State worker layoff could imperil isle agriculture

Kokubun urged the speakers to stay focused on solutions, rather than spending the time criticizing the Lingle administration. In general, the crowd complied.

Democrat Advertiser: Hawaii layoff plan might affect food imports, exports , Mayor says budget cuts to hurt Big Island prison, agriculture

This is the latest Democrat "no-solution" blast at the layoff plan. Of course all of this can be avoided if the Democrat Unions accept furloughs. And all of this exists because the Unions have been negotiating for years with politicians they owned. Because the power of management is legally limited, whatever plan benefits the union bosses is imposed via their Judiciary.

Layoff list of state positions released

The Department of Human Services took the biggest hit with 357 positions cut, followed by the Health Department with 305. The Department of Accounting and General Services was next with 129, and fourth was the Department of Agriculture with 118.

LINK: Layoff List

Haole Drug dealer, outsider found not guilty of assault on Hawaiian woman at Iolani palace

READ: Sovereignty Farce: "Birther" "Truther" drug dealer on trial for Iolani assault, kidnapper sought by police

Abercrombie in good shape despite ruling

The commission's ruling this week does not leave Abercrombie's campaign destitute. He has raised about $486,000 for his gubernatorial campaign and has about $250,000 in the bank. Mayor Mufi Hannemann has $1.2 million in his gubernatorial campaign coffer, and Republican Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona has $871,000 available.

Land Board OKs rise in park and ocean fees

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources has unanimously approved a package of proposals that will result in new or increased fees at state parks, harbors, hiking trails and forest reserves to support its Plan B, Recreational Renaissance Plan.

The fees, which mainly target tourists, will support repair and maintenance costs at recreational facilities, due to lack of funding from the Legislature.

Deflation: Prices up only 0.3% in Hawaii, drop nationally

The rate rose just 0.3% in the first half, but the U.S. as a whole saw costs decline by 2.1%

Lanai: HI Supreme Court To Review Maui Council Residency Challenge

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Thursday, August 20, 2009, from 9:00-10:00. Here's the notice.

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal regarding whether the State Board of Registration (County of Maui) correctly concluded that a Maui County councilperson who registered to vote as a Lanai resident is actually a resident of Maui. Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 602-58 (1993), an appeal may be transferred from the ICA to the Supreme Court if the issue is one of "fundamental public importance" or if it is an issue of first impression or a novel legal question.

The Court's order transferring the appeal from the Intermediate Court of Appeals is posted here. [Disclosure: my Damon Key colleagues and I represent the Lanai voter who successfully challenged the residency of the councilperson.]

Maui News Polls Healthcare Townhalls

What do you think of the protests mounted by the opposition to President Obama's health care overhaul?

Kohala fish farm: Shakedown begins

Nine out of every 10 pounds of harvested fish from the fish farm planned off North Kohala will be shipped out of Hawaii. Two pounds of feed will be shipped in to produce each pound of farm fish, so 1,200 pounds of fish a year, 20-plus jobs and returns for investors is all Hawaii will gain. What will we risk?
Twelve cages, each 30 yards across, will float untethered 1,300 feet deep, dependent on new propulsion technology to hold them against currents, storms and tsunamis. No bond will be posted in case of disaster. blablabla

Advertiser: A superb gift for Waianae

The vision is for a building complex that would be a home to early-education programs for Leeward keiki; enrichment programs for public school students of the area; and adult educational opportunities.

But its development is a boon to all coast residents, who would have access to the learning opportunities as well. (Step towards solution of civil rights issue?)

Public school officials, businesses, residents and nonprofits that collectively serve Leeward O'ahu should be tapped to help bring the vision to fruition.

Government interference in commercial leases not constitutional, HRPT says

The largest private owner of industrial land in Hawai'i, HRPT Properties Trust, yesterday sued the state, alleging a one-month-old law intended to give its tenants more leverage in renegotiating rents is unconstitutional.

In the suit filed in federal court in Honolulu, HRPT said the law interferes with its rental contracts in violation of the U.S. Constitution, and if enforced would allow tenants to pay less rent than they do currently.

The law affects some of the more than 180 businesses that lease land from HRPT in Mapunapuna and Kalihi Kai on O'ahu.

(HRPT is a Mainland Company, hence the Legislation.)