Isles No. 3 in poll's best places to live
The Aloha State ranked as the third-best place to live behind California and Florida in the survey. Hawai'i has ranked at least third since 2001 and has been in the top 10 since the poll was initiated in 1997.
At the same time, Honolulu fell out of the top 15 cities to live after having ranked No. 7 in 2006. (And Oahu has flat growth--they are all moving to sister islands.)
(This is the foundation upon which the entire edifice of the State is built. A fine target for the nihilist....)
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Oahu Home sales and prices on the rise
Oahu's September home sales and prices climbed in tandem for the first time since 2006, but market watchers peg the upsurge to a rush of first-time buyers and not an overall rebound.
SB: Big Isle and Kauai sales up, but home prices decrease
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Hawaii not getting its money's worth for education
Hawaii has one of the largest private school systems in the nation per capita. Evidently, the locals learned long ago that the public education system was not reliable, and have created alternate means to educate their children.
Luckily, I will be transferred in the near future, and will not have to worry about using the Hawaii public school system for the next 10 years until my children graduate from high school. However, I feel extremely sorry for the individuals who call Hawaii "home" and do not have that luxury.
I can personally attest that many military families hesitate to move to Hawaii because of the poor education system. Consequently, many service members ask for different assignments in other geographic areas so their children don't fall behind their peers on the mainland. Sadly, when service members will ask me for advice in the future on whether they should consider moving their family to Hawaii or not, my first question to them will be: "Do you have enough money for private schools?"
(Also the DoE illegally rejected the Charter School bid by American Heritage Academy--which would have served DoD dependents with the same DoD schools curriculum used at overseas bases.)
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Pearl City students, 10, report sexual assault at DOE School by "contract worker"
A boy and a girl, both 10, told police the were subjected to sexual contact by the man, a contract worker, about 10:45 a.m. Sept. 22, at the school. Police did not identify the school involved.
(Advertiser's censored Hawaii news: No suspect name, no school name, no explanation of what kind of "contract worker" is accused)
KITV: Photographer Accused Of Fondling Elementary Students (KITV has Lehua Elementary, contract was photographer, suspect name, and lots of details--including exculpatory ones.)
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SB: Evidence must be flawless (Somebody send these editors to Law School)
(Apparently the trial lawyer lobby on the editorial board of the Star-Bulletin has never heard of "beyond a reasonable doubt." Instead they have described a brand new legal standard never before used in US or Hawaii jurisprudence--but recently invented on a single-use basis by the Hawaii Supreme Court.)
Officer Jeremy Franks testified in the Assaye case that he conducts four tests of a laser gun to determine that it is working properly before putting it to use. That may or may not have been consistent with the manufacturer's recommendation, but no testimony or other evidence was presented to indicate as much.
(But in spite of this uncertainty, the clownish and grossly political Hawaii Supreme Court chose to use this case to undermine all traffic enforcement and create work for the Juridical system. Is this a budget negotiations maneuver?)
Carlisle said Honolulu police have been using the laser devices to catch speeders in tens of thousands of instances since acquiring them in 1996. That may be because the stakes were too low to appeal convictions to the Supreme Court.
(Or it may be because the Supreme's have never had such a need to protect their little bureaucratic empire.)
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Kalapa: Understanding What it Will Take to Right Size Hawaii's Government
...unless both general fund programs and special fund financed programs are put on the table, neither public officials nor taxpayers will know the true size of government and just how much of it is coming out of the pockets of taxpayers, both residents and non-residents.
Only when all programs are lined up against one another can we really begin to ask the question of which programs and services are truly essential to the health and safety of the community.
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Glenn Wakai to run for state Senate
State Rep. Glenn Wakai is foregoing a chance at a fifth-straight term in the House in favor of a shot at the state Senate.
Wakai, in an e-mail message, announced plans to run for the Salt Lake-Foster Village seat being vacated by Sen. Norman Sakamoto, who is running for lieutenant governor. Both are Democrats.
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S. Kona bypass road still detoured by legal wrangling
HILO -- Property owners continue grappling both in and out of court over land needed to finish the Mamalahoa Highway Bypass, as the clock ticks into the 22nd month of the 60-month window for completion....
The Hawaii County Council is scheduled to go into executive session Wednesday to discuss hiring outside counsel specializing in bond work to ensure the performance bonds remain current on the project, despite the legal delays and Hokulia's financial problems.
(...But OHA, NHLC, and the activists got theirs.)
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State land board reviews timber licenses
The state land board is taking a close look at two companies that hold licenses to harvest in the Waiakea Timber Management Area.
(Note that everything done by the companies is controlled by a State boars which could cut them off. This is a key factor in the creation of a one-party State.)
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THE CANONIZATION OF FATHER DAMIEN: October 11, 2009
The two villages had about 800 inhabitants in the late 19th century, and Damien is credited not only for caring for them and championing their cause to both wealthy and common American and European patrons but also with bringing tough love to a lawless and hopeless place.
Many of the patients were pushed from ships with little or no provisions and forced to swim ashore before Damien arrived with members of his order and the Franciscans, who worked with the patients to build schools, hospitals, boat moorings, and fresh water and sanitation infrastructure....
"You read about his story and realize he is very incredible," he said. "It took a man from way far away to more or less bring the Hawaiian people together and more or less bring all the people together to understand our cause and care for the people who suffered."
(John 1:1-3)
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