GAO to investigate Hawaii’s Obamacare exchange
Finmeccanica CEO Ousted as Effort to Dump Honolulu Rail Contractor Ansaldo Collapses
House Republican Leaders Address Budget Negotiations
Hawaii basil farm ‘deplorable,’ ‘unsafe,’ judgment says
Nakamoto Appointed Big Island Judge
Mayor Caldwell to hold a new round of town hall meetings around O‘ahu
VIDEO: Resistance builds to OHA nation building plan
BIVN: On Tuesday, OHA officials met again in Hilo at the Queen Liliu‘okalani Children’s Center. Once again, Hawaiians expressed concern....
read ... Second Hilo Meeting
Abercrombie Polling Stubbornness, Argumentativeness as Campaign Issues?
KE: Got a call yesterday from SMS Research, apparently conducting a poll for the Abercrombie campaign. One tip off was this question: Would you rather have a governor without executive experience who is agreeable, or one with executive experience who doesn't always get along with others?...
It seems that Neil is worried about his image, as I was asked to agree or disagree with statements like: Abercrombie's personality may prevent me from voting for him; he may do the job well, but he's rude; his stubbornness has made him ineffective. A few softballs were tossed in: he cares for children and their future; he has a passion for public service; he cares about senior issues; he gets the job done.
What, nothing about cuddling puppies? And curiously silent on two touchy spots: Hawaiian issues and the environment.
“What do you think of Abercrombie?” the pollster asked, giving me a chance to go off-script.
“I think he's arrogant, dishonest and I really haven't agreed with his stance on a lot of important issues.”
“What do you think of Abercrombie?” the pollster asked again, helpfully supplying a few adjectives. "Stubborn? Argumentative?"...
I was then asked to say whether the following statements made me think better or worse of the governor:
“He restored funding to Hawaii's neediest; his staff has put Hawaii in a better position today; he fights for issues he believes are important for the people of Hawaii...”
At that point I broke in: “Wait, are these supposed to be statements of fact?”
read ... Musings: Read, Weep, Laugh
Ige barred from Delivering Hawaii Democratic Convention Speech
SA: State Sen. David Ige said Wednesday that he is disappointed he will not get a speaking role at the state Democratic convention in May while Gov. Neil Abercrombie will be able to address the delegates.
Convention planners have decided that only the party's top eight elected officials — including Abercrombie — will get to speak about progress on the party's platform during the two-day event at the Sheraton Waikiki. Candidates will be given a separate opportunity to appear at an evening meet-and-greet at the Royal Hawaiian's Coconut Grove.
The party made the decision because (insert excuse here)....
Ige's campaign advisers are scheduled to meet Thursday morning at party headquarters with Reena Rabago, the convention's co-chairwoman, and Sarah Beamer, the party's executive director, to discuss concerns about the convention.
Rabago is an aide to Blake Oshiro, Abercrombie's deputy chief of staff, but she and others in the party insist Abercrombie had nothing to do with convention planning and that it was not their intention to stifle Ige. (And they could barely keep a straight face while doing so.)...
William Kaneko, Abercrombie's campaign manager, said the convention format and program were developed by party officials.
...the party has typically allowed the main candidates for governor to address delegates.
Abercrombie and former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann spoke in 2010; former state Sen. Randall Iwase and then-Waianae harbor master William Aila Jr. spoke in 2006; and Hirono, then-state Rep. Ed Case and D.G. "Andy" Anderson spoke in 2002....
read ... The Closed Party
State in danger of losing $800 million in federal highway funds
KHON: The state could lose nearly $800 million from the national Highway Trust Fund as early as August....
“The DOT is sitting on probably $800 million worth of federal moneys that haven’t been expended, so really the greater fear for me as a policy maker is that the Feds will come in and take the money back,” he said.
A department spokesperson says the DOT recognizes the seriousness of the problem and is pushing projects forward, but the department acknowledges that there is a possibility the federal government could ask for the money back if it’s not spent.
read ... Its Only Money, eh?
Riding the Arch of Hysteria: Mainland Anti-GMO Operatives Set up Honolulu Office
PBN: Located at the former Gold Bond Building at 677 Ala Moana Blvd. in Kakaako, the Hawaii Center for Food Safety plans to grow to include several more staff members as well as Hawaii-based attorney.
“Hawaii Center for Food Safety is ready and equipped to add the legal, scientific, and organizational capacity that community groups need to push their efforts forward,” Lukens, co-founder of the Hawaii Food Policy Council, said in a statement. “HCFS will help fortify existing community organizations, further educate and organize the public and help promote organic and other sustainable forms of agriculture. Together we will ensure a healthier, safer and more food secure Hawaii.”
The Center for Food Safety, which has thousands of members in Hawaii, is a founding member of Hawaii SEED, a nonprofit advocating for education and awareness about GMOs, and has a long history of collaboration with groups such as Label It Hawaii, Malama Kauai, Onipaa Na Hui Kalo, GMO Free Kauai, Ohana O Kauai, GMO Free Maui and GMO Free Hawaii.
read ... Center for Food Safety opens first Hawaii office in Honolulu
After Miserable Failure: Obama's Cancellation of Insurance Plans to be Postponed 'til 2016?
PBN: Rule changes from the Obama administration continue to change things for the Hawaii Health Connector as well. For example, the federal government said in March that states could keep 2013 "grandmothered plans" all the way through the year 2016— an extension that was previously only supposed to last one year.
PBN has been checking in with the Hawaii state Insurance Division, but as of Wednesday, the division said Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito has not confirmed plans to extend 2013 plans through 2016 but that he is working on finalizing a decision.
read ... Obamacare Fails
DHS, Connector Squabble over $4.9M Owed
AP: Hawaii's Department of Human Services may seek about $4.9 million from the Legislature next year to cover money owed by the state's troubled health insurance exchange, agency officials told state lawmakers Wednesday.
Director Patricia McManaman told state senators during an informational hearing that the department would probably pay back the state if it asks for the funds.
Coincidentally, the Department of Human Services also owes money to the Hawaii Health Connector, because the entities wind up fielding requests from the public about each other's services and are required to charge each other for that work. For example, people sometimes call the Department of Human Services thinking they qualify for Medicaid. But if they don't qualify, they're directed to the Connector.
read ... Finger Pointing Losers
Millions in taxpayer money requested to waste on climate study
KHON: Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to fix Oahu’s roads and sewer lines, but lawmakers are asking to spend taxpayers’ money in other ways, including studying climate change and its effects on Hawaii.
For that, Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin is asking for $2 million in the budget. The request passed a second reading late Wednesday afternoon.
“That is a lot of money for us. It can go a long way,” said Camilo Mora, professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s geography department.
CB: Did Sen. Brian Schatz Score Big Political Points With Climate Summit?
read ... Millions in taxpayer money requested for climate study
VICE News Chases Alleged Hawaii Homosexual Child Molester Thru Streets
VN: A VICE News exclusive investigation: Hippie guru Jay Ram was hailed as a public hero for fostering, adopting, and caring for dozens of boys that had nowhere else to go. But years later, a new picture has emerged. Several of his sons have come forward to say that he preyed on them sexually and forced them to recruit other boys to molest. VICE News has uncovered new evidence that shows that charities and child welfare agencies missed several clear warning signs, and continued to place new children in Ram's care. Until now, he has never faced justice.
watch ... Predators, not victims
Hollywood Producer 'Big Dem Donor' Accused of Homosexual Child Molestation in Hawaii
CM: A shadow has been cast over the upcoming release of the highly anticipated X-Men: Days of Future Past, as producer Bryan Singer has been accused of drugging and raping a teenage boy. According to a lawsuit filed on Wednesday, the incidents reportedly took place in California and Hawaii in the late 1990s. The suit claims that Singer, now 48, used his influence in Hollywood, as well as a range of drugs and alcohol, to force anal and oral sex on the boy.
The young man in question, Michael Egan, is seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial for a number of abuses, which reportedly happened at house parties in California and Hawaii. The suit also involves one Marc Collins-Rector, who is a former entertainment business executive and registered sex offender, of initiating the sexual abuse by arranging for Singer to meet the teenager at "notorious parties" in Encino, California, around 1998, Reuters reports.
"The parties were typically sordid and featured sexual contact between adult males and the many teenage boys who were present for the parties," the lawsuit said. (So there were large numbers of Hollywood homosexual child molesters at these parties. Know the rulers you bow before in the name of political correctness.)
The alleged victim also reports being threatened by Singer and other men who told him they "controlled Hollywood and would destroy his hopes and dreams of an acting career if he did not keep them happy", the lawsuit said.
read ... Predators, not victims
Pflueger's company pays $350,000 fine for 7 counts of manslaughter under controversial plea deal
HR: Court documents released Wednesday by the state attorney general’s office show a company owned by retired auto dealer James Pflueger has paid $350,000 to the state of Hawaii.
The money was part of a controversial plea deal that let’s Pflueger’s company, Pacific 808 Properties LP, and not Pflueger himself, take responsibility for 7 manslaughter charges.
read ... Pflueger's company pays $350,000 fine for 7 counts of manslaughter under controversial plea deal
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