The Extraordinary Pierre Omidyar
Hawaii gets good grades for its state health system for low income populations
Hawaii Health Connector director steps down after health exchange’s failure
HART Audit Reveals $83M Transfer of Federal Funds Kept off Books
Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted November 25, 2013
Panos: Senator Schatz is Wrong about Wind Energy
Non-Profits: Grants in Aid Deadline December 19
Political Ads & Local TV News The Honolulu Case
Kauai: Majority Rejects Anti-GMO Protesters, Hoosier Could Lose Votes
CB: Given an absence of substantive public polling, it remains unclear how many people on the island actually respect or support Carvalho's decision, or support Bill 2491.
So, despite a rally by at least 1,500 people to encourage passage of the bill in September, no one knows for sure where a majority of Kauai's 65,000 residents stand.
“One of the things that is really interesting about this entire process has been that you have a very active group of people who have dominated the conversation,” said Jan TenBruggencate, a former Honolulu Advertiser reporter who runs a communications consulting firm and is a member of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative.
“There are people who are supporting the bill, when you talk to them privately, they still feel genetic modification of crops has the potential to feed the world and should go forward,” said TenBruggencate. “So it is sufficiently nuanced in the minds of the people that it is really hard to know what will happen at the ballot box.”
TenBruggencate even suggested that there may be a silent majority against the bill. "So I have heard people surmise that some of the supporters of the measure on the council could actually lose votes. And that the support for the bill is relatively thin.”
KGI: Time for an end to political warfare
read ... Small Group of Noisy Protesters
Common Cause Hawaii dismisses public interest in special session
Rep Marcus Oshiro: What happened to Common Cause Hawaii? How can it coldly dismiss the public sentiment and congratulate the Legislature for a special session that many considered a dog-and-pony show?
Common Cause Hawaii failed to appreciate the sacrifice each person made to participate in the legislative process ("Work to improve public access at the Legislature," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 20). Allowing another voice to give one's testimony should have been a small concession allowed for this "unprecedented" special session.
Why could U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz's wife be his proxy but Uncle Joe couldn't read Aunty May's testimony? Why could U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa's friend get to read her testimony and also testify personally again later — but sorry, no can, Aunty Sue?
Shouldn't everyone's views be considered equally, or should the Legislature just listen to the "big shots"?...
Common Cause Hawaii chose to turn a blind eye on a measure it supported despite the lack of genuine public engagement, transparency and accountability.
If this is Common Cause Hawaii's new standards for best practices, it really needs to bring back Larry Meacham, its former executive director. After all, someone needs to represent the interests of the people.
read ... Common Cause Hawaii dismisses public interest in special session
Hypocrisy Shines Through in Witch Hunt of Joe Moore, Mike Perry
CB: What is unclear, though, is why Joe Moore and Michael W. Perry were involved in a lawsuit intended to halt gay marriage.
Immediately I suspected it had something to do with their personal politics. I believe Perry's leanings are to the political right — I once interviewed him for a Civil Beat story about that.
As for Moore, I had heard for years that he, too, held conservative views, though I don't know for sure. I'll admit that my perception was fueled by awareness that Moore seemed to enjoy Kiefer Sutherland's counter-terrorism show24 and that he likes to perform in stage productions about John Wayne and men in uniform.
Journalists are not supposed to mix their political views in with their day jobs. (This was written by Chad Blair LOL!) In my case, I'm a reporter who sometimes expresses opinion in columns — something that confuses readers who don't think it's right for a reporter to have an opinion, let alone express one. (Translation: I can do it but you can't.)
read ... Hypocrisy
Hawaii Gay Marriage? Ten, Count 'em Ten, New Bookings
TW: Bookings have already spiked for Maui-based GayHawaiiWeddings.com, owned by Kevin Rebelo and his partner Frank Miholer.
“We’ve been swamped,” Rebelo said. “The first day that the law was passed we got four weddings. Within 48 hours from when the governor signed the bill, we’d booked 10.”
Offering commissions to travel agents on comprehensive marriage packages for both same- and opposite-sex couples, Rebelo is expecting a 50% jump in his 2014 LGBT weddings business. (20+10=30)
read ... It was all Hype
HECO, Solar Scammers Fight over how to Charge Consumers More
SA: one interest must rise above them — the long-neglected ratepayer, who has been hoping, so far to no avail, that renewable energy will lead to lower, affordable rates for all....
the poll also showed that 82 percent of respondents opposed placing an additional fee on solar panel customers.
The purpose of this fee was not defined or explained, which might explain the overwhelming support. But the question goes to the heart of the problem.
There are concerns about the costs involved in converting to renewable energy as our primary source of electricity, particularly with grid-connected PV systems. The technology is ever-changing, and technical upgrades can be expensive. HECO loses money as more PV owners generate their own electricity....
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council is studying the costs associated with grid-connected PV systems in Hawaii. The results are expected to be released soon, and could help provide lawmakers and energy officials with some guidance in long-term energy planning.
Whatever the poll results, it's unreasonable to expect only those unfortunate ratepayers without PV systems to make up for HECO's loss of revenue or other costs. And additional fees imposed on PV owners cannot be so high as to discourage new installations.
One thing is clear, however. The costs can't just be passed on to ratepayers. The PUC and the Legislature will have to ensure that HECO has as much incentive to save ratepayers money as it does to sell and distribute electricity.
(Translation: HECO and the Solar Scammers are fighting over money. They are most likely to agree to stick it to the consumer.)
read ... Manage PV growth to help ratepayers
Matson to increase shipping rates by 5.5%
HNN: Matson Navigation announced Monday that it will raise its rates for its Hawaii service by $175 per westbound container and $85 per eastbound container, effective January 5, 2014.
In addition, Matson will raise its terminal handling charge by $50 per westbound container and $25 per eastbound container, also effective January 5.
The increase will be filed with the Surface Transportation Board.
read ... Matson to increase shipping rates by 5.5%
Poetic Justice: Sovereignty Mortgage Scammer Loses Home to Foreclosure
HTH: A Hawaiian sovereignty advocate who has questioned the legitimacy of land titles in the state was removed from his home last week after ignoring an eviction notice.
Kale Gumapac, CEO of Laulima Title Search and Claims, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with second-degree trespassing.
He had refused to leave after receiving an eviction notice in August after his Hawaiian Paradise Park home was foreclosed.
Gumapac said his arrest and removal constitutes a “war crime” since he believes jurisdiction over the land still rightfully belongs to the Hawaiian Kingdom.
Background: Sovereignty Mortgage Scammer Keanu Sai at it again with help from Legislators, Maui Council, University
read ... About What Happens to People who Don't Pay their Mortgage
Civil Beat Helps Kauai County Formulate New Public Records Policy which is an 'Obstacle to Transparency'
CB: One of the biggest and most important county agencies on Kauai is making it harder for the public to access government records — all in the name of accountability.
Kauai Planning Director Michael Dahilig says Civil Beat’s special report last month on the cost of public records in Hawaii prompted the change....
the Kauai Planning Department had never required people to fill out the public records forms. Now it will, Dahilig says, as a way to better account for public records fees.
That change in policy is raising concerns with some citizens who track government actions. Instead of walking into the Planning office and immediately getting a document, they're now being told to fill out a form and wait as long as 10 days to get it
read ... New Public Records Policy 'Obstacle to Transparency'
PBS: Hawaii Hope: A new probation program beats the statistics
PBS: JUDGE STEVEN ALM: Since I can’t control what you’re gonna do, I can control what I’m gonna do. And what that means, in the future, if you violate any of the conditions of probation, you can count on me giving you some jail time
LINK: VIDEO
read ... PBS NewsHour
Hawaii's 'Final Solution' for Owls and Egrets
CB: You may submit comments by one of the following methods only:
• Federal eRulemaking portal: Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket FWS–HQ–MB–2013–0070.
• U.S. mail or hand delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attention: FWS–HQ–MB–2013–0070; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 North Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203–1610.
Electronic comments on this proposal must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Feb. 3, 2014. Comments submitted by mail must be postmarked no later than Feb. 3, 2014.
Background: Feds Propose Plan to Kill Hawaii Owls, Egrets
read ... Kill Birds
Duckworth Backs Fellow Veteran, Rep. Takai, in His Bid for Congress
HR: During the 2012 election, Duckworth backed then City Council Member Tulsi Gabbard for Hawaii’s second congressional district, and Gabbard ultimately won that election.
read ... Winning Touch?
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