May 2, 2014: Election Commission Releases Updated Candidate List
State Senate Adjourns Session Approving More than 240 Bills
OHA Pressure Yields 10,000 Reluctant for Roll
SA: Roughly 10,000 more people have stepped forward to sign the Native Hawaiian Roll since March 17, when registration was reopened so more Hawaiians could take part in building their nation.
A total of 125,631 Native Hawaiians were on the Kana‘iolowalu roll as of Friday, the day after registration closed. Thousands more applications are yet to be processed, so the number will keep growing as ancestry is verified.
"There are probably another 5,000 more that are in the hopper right now," said Clyde Namuo, executive director of the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission. "We can end up with a count of roughly 130,000."
The commission expects to certify the list by the end of June, he said.
"I'm signing up for the roll, but I object to the process," the Waimanalo resident told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "It wasn't an open and fair process when they transferred those lists."
The reception varied, but there was a lot of pushback from outspoken participants who said they didn't trust the agency. Some feared it wouldn't give all nationhood options a fair shake. Some said the time frame was too short, with the convention tentatively set for September and a referendum by the end of the year. Some questioned how money had been spent.
Kamanao‘opono Crabbe, OHA's CEO, said those responses will be taken into consideration by trustees.
"I know many are skeptical of what we're doing," he wrote in a letter to beneficiaries published in the May issue of Ka Wai Ola. "Many of you have told us we need to give the process more time; that it feels rushed. Many told us there needs to be more education so people can make the best decisions...."
Reality: OHA’s “New Body Politic” Will Exclude 77% of Native Hawaiians
read ... 10,000 ?
Star-Adv: Cabanilla Cemetery Grant "Unconscionable, Galling"
SA: What state Rep. Rida Cabanilla dismisses as mere "hoopla" over her control of a defunct nonprofit granted $100,000 by the Legislature actually signifies serious concerns that surfaced just in the nick of time. Although lawmakers allotted the amount, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has not released the money -- and he should not.
It's unconscionable that grant-in-aid requests with broad support in their communities went unfunded in favor of the House majority floor leader's pet project, one in which Cabanilla's own constituents have little interest, judging by the lack of volunteers she cited as a reason for her needing to spearhead the initiative in the first place.
Moreover, the state taxpayers' money Cabanilla insists the Ewa Historical Society needs to fix up the dilapidated Ewa Plantation Cemetery would apparently replicate the efforts of the city government, which since last year has contracted with grounds-keeping crews to maintain the cemetery, where plantation workers from an earlier era are laid to rest....
Most galling, though, are the obvious ethical questions arising from Cabanilla's close ties with the Ewa Historical Society, which lost its federal tax-exempt status last year for failing to file tax returns for three consecutive years, and her eventual vote to fund what amounts to her own grant-in-aid request.
Lawmakers contend they were unaware of those ties when they, too, approved the grant request as part of the overall budget. The grant application clearly lists Cabanilla's son, who also is her legislative office manager, as vice president of the Ewa Historical Society and designates Cabanilla and two of her legislative aides as members of the nonprofit's board of directors, although it's plausible to believe that inattentive legislators may not have read the paperwork.
Cabanilla is seeking reinstatement of the nonprofit's status and insists that the completed grant application makes her actions "completely transparent" and utterly proper. But that blithe view overlooks that she should have broadly disclosed her ties to the nonprofit....
read ... Cabanilla vote crossed a line
Democrats, Republicans to Convene
CB: On Saturday, island chapters of the Democratic Party of Hawaii held conventions on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. (Kauai held its convention last month.) It was the first time for many party members to see most of the major candidates all in one setting....
Oahu Democrats also adopted several platform amendments that will be voted on at the state party convention May 24-25.....
Oahu Democrats, however, killed a resolution proposing to eliminate Good Friday as a state and county holiday and replace it with a holiday that honors Queen Liliuokalani. The rationale, as Michael Golojuch Jr. explained, is that Good Friday gives the "false narrative that we are a Christian state." But the resolution attracted a lot of opposition, including from Native Hawaiians who are also Catholics....
In other political news Saturday, the Maui County Hawaii Republican Party held its convention and a candidate rally in Kahului. Gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona was one of the invited speakers.
The Hawaii Republican Party's state convention is set for May 17 at the Koolau Ballrooms and Conference Center in Kaneohe.
read ... Let Hawaii's Political Races Begin!
Frank Fasi’s third-party challenge in 1994
ILind: In 1994, Fasi was enjoying his third consecutive term as Honolulu mayor (elected in 1984, 1988, 1992). He had previously been elected mayor in 1968, and served three terms before being defeated by Eileen Anderson in 1980. That defeat came after his third unsuccessful run against George Ariyoshi for governor in 1978.
But he had come back as a Republican and won another three terms as Honolulu mayor before again catching the gubernatorial bug. So in 1994, he set up the Best Party and launched yet another run for governor. The Best Party gave him a means of avoiding both the Democratic and Republic primaries, and launched him directly into the general election, the same strategy being employed this year by Hannemann.
And this time Fasi’s opponent was not an incumbent governor, as Ariyoshi had been, but Ben Cayetano, who was coming off a term as Lt. Governor and making his first bid for the top job.
read ... Frank Fasi’s third-party challenge in 1994
Legislature Passes Measure to Boost Funding to Rental Housing Trust Fund
HMB: State lawmakers this week passed SB2542 that will increase funds allocated from the State’s conveyance tax to the Rental Housing Trust Fund from 30 percent to 50 percent starting July 1, 2014. In 2006, the Legislature raised the allocation to 50 percent, but the economic crisis and recession in 2008-10 forced the State to reduce that amount to 30 percent. The measure restores that amount back to 50 percent.
In Fiscal Year 2013, the Rental Housing Trust Fund received $16.4 million from the current 30 percent share of conveyance tax revenues. The proposed increase will add $10.8 million per year and provide a total of about $30 million annually, according to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, administrator for the Rental Housing Trust Fund for the State.
read ... Legislature Passes Measure to Boost Funding to Rental Housing Trust Fund
Ruderman's Hippie Commune Zoning Bill Fails
WHT: A bill that would have allowed experimental sustainable communities in Hawaii and Maui counties fell short of the finish line.
The state House and Senate passed SB 2274, but it did not make it through a conference committee, where differences between the chambers’ versions are sorted out.
“Conference was kind of chaotic toward the end,” said Sen. Russell Ruderman, who introduced the bill.
Ruderman, D-Puna, said the committee didn’t get a chance to hear it. He didn’t know if there wasn’t time to address the legislation or if someone wanted to kill it.
Opponents, including neighbors of proposed sites, said they were worried about noise and other impacts, including unsanitary conditions.
Ruderman said he plans to pursue the bill again next year.
Background: Reward Campaign Contributions from Illegal Mainland Developers? Ruderman says "That's what we do"
read ... Sustainable Living, LOL!
Honolulu rail project's General Excise Tax surcharge revenue tops $1.25B
PBN: The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has collected $1.25 billion in revenue to date from the General Excise and Use tax surcharge on Oahu that will help pay for the city's $5.16 billion Honolulu rail project.
The agency announced Friday that it collected $61.7 million during the first quarter. Oahu residents pay the 0.5 percent surcharge on top of the state's 4 percent G.E.T. to help pay for the rail system....
The surcharge was implemented in 2007 and is set to expire in 2022, although there has been some talk that it could be extended to fund the extension of the 20-mile rail route....
read ... Tax surcharge revenue tops $1.25B
Hawaii Shippers Council seeks Jones Act exemption
Workboat: A coalition from several U.S. states and territories has opened a new front in the battle over the Jones Act.
The bipartisan group from Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and Puerto Rico is pushing to eliminate the U.S.-build requirement for non-contiguous states, saying the law raises the cost of goods and services. Their proposal would cover self-propelled vessels over 1,000 GT.
In the last decade, more people have understood how the law affects them as prices have continued to rise and competition has fallen, said Hawaii state Sen. Sam Slom, who in mid-March held what he called the first Jones Act multistate international press conference.
Slom has been involved in the issue for the last 20 years but noted more widespread interest recently.
read ... Jones Act
20 Nene Dead: Hundreds of Endangered Animals Killed by Hawaii Wind Farms
KITV: ...According to data provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 195 birds and bats and one moth were killed by five of the largest wind farms on Maui and Oahu since August 2007. KITV4 obtained the information after filling a Freedom of Information request with the agency.
"Unfortunately, that may just be the price we have to pay for wind energy, renewable energy," said Angela Huntemer, a North Shore resident who has been working to promote wildlife conservation at Turtle Bay Resort.
According to statistics examined by KITV4, Kaheawa Wind Power 1, located on a ridge above Maalaea in southwest Maui, had the largest number of birds and bats killed, with 81. That was followed by the Kawailoa Wind Farm on Oahu's North Shore with 54 kills, the Kahuku Wind Farm in Koolauloa with 30 kills, Kaheawa Wind Power 2 with 17 kills, and Auwahi Wind on Ulupalakua Ranch in southeast Maui with 13 kills. At Auwahi Wind, an endangered Blackburn's sphinx moth was among the creatures killed by the spinning turbines.
However most concerning is the number of endangered birds and bats killed by wind turbines over a period of six years and seven months. According to statistics examined by KITV4, 25 Hawaiian hoary bats, 20 nene and four Hawaiian petrels have fallen victim to wind turbines.
Seventeen of the nene, Hawaii's state bird, were killed at Kaheawa Wind Power 1, while three died at Kaheawa Wind Power 2. Nene are mostly found on Kauai, Maui and the Big Island, although a nesting pair recently hatched chicks in Kahuku.
Meanwhile the largest number of Hawaiian hoary bats killed, 12, died at the Kawailoa Wind Farm. That was followed by seven at Kaheawa Wind Power 1, three at Kahuku Wind Power, two at Kaheawa Wind Power 2 and one at Auwahi Wind Farm.
First Wind operates four of the five wind farms that reported "strike data" to the Fish and Wildlife Service....
For a complete list of birds and animals killed by wind turbines in Hawaii, click here
Background:
Hawaii Windfarms killing endangered Birds: After five years Mitigation Lags
Proposed Kahuku Windfarm Would Kill Endangered Birds, Bats
read ... Wind Farms Kill
Sources: Officials have denied father of Hawaiian Airlines stowaway access to his son
SJM: Five days after the father of a teenage stowaway flew to Hawaii to reunite with his son, Hawaii social service agency officials have yet to allow the San Jose cabdriver and Somali refugee to see him, sources told this newspaper.
Abdulahi Abdi Yusuf arrived in Honolulu Monday with fresh clothing and gifts for his son, hoping to bring him home to Santa Clara.
Yusuf is upset that he is not being allowed to see 15-year-old Yahya Abdi, sources say.
"He could not see him. They won't let him see him or visit him or talk to him," said Mukhtar Guled, the cousin of Yusuf's wife and Yahya's stepmother, Saiban Abdi.
KITV: Teen stowaway leaves Hawaii
read ... Stowaway
HPD undercover officer faces second sexual misconduct claim
HNN: An HPD undercover officer accused of abusing his authority during a prostitution sting faces yet another misconduct claim.
Officer Paul Goo was one of the arresting officers during a raid at the China Doll Spa near Ala Moana last November. In his report, he said the suspect got on top of him and placed her mouth on his genitals.
"He allowed her ... to place a condom in her mouth and place it on him and then straddled him and got on him," said Bill Harrison, the attorney for the woman.
"She claims that he actually had sex with her."
Harrison said he plans to file a complaint with police internal affairs.
"Our clients tell us it happens all the time," said Harrison.
This is the second time that Goo has been accused of sexual misconduct.
In February, Goo arrested a woman at the VIP Lounge on Keeaumoku Street but not before he allowed her to kiss him on the neck and fondle his genitals. The woman alleges that Goo masturbated just before he arrested her.
read ... HPD Under Covers?
3-year investigation sparks 414 count indictment against game rooms
HNN: Nine people were taken to jail after a three-year investigation by HPD. The result: a grand jury indictment with 414 counts.
Three of the nine are game room owners, including Tracy Yoshimura. He is also a distributor of the sweepstakes machines which a federal judge ruled were illegal....
Most of the people arrested are part of a lawsuit against HPD and the city after a series of raids.
While HPD did the investigation, it was the state's Attorney General's office that worked the multi-count indictment.
read ... 414 Counts
Ward Misquoted?
CB: Kudos to Civil Beat and Chad Blair for being the only ones covering all of Tuesday's nine hours of floor debate including the tiff with Speaker Joe Souki that almost got me removed from the House floor.
The only problem was that Mr. Blair got my quote wrong.
When my colleague, Rep. Richard Fale, was being rudely interrupted in his floor speech by Majority Leader Scott Saiki, I said, "Mr. Speaker, point of order — there is nothing in the House Rules that says we can’t criticize this body.”
Blair quote me as saying “members” instead of “this body”.
This caused an immediate recess to wit Speaker Souki got all upset when I said, "Joe, this is America — not Russia, you just can't shut people down like that."
After I said this, he called for the sergeant-at-arms to have me removed from the floor, but subsequently changed his mind by the time the sergeant-at-arms arrived....
Rep. Fale’s remarks did not deserve to be shut down, but in a one-party state with 69 Democrats and seven Republicans, freedom of speech must be fought for and protected....
read ... Rep Gene Ward
Ca-Ching! BIA, Realtors Line Up Behind TOD
PBN: Karen Nakamura, the outgoing CEO of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, calling for an end to a "draconian" permitting process that she said is hindering development.
Nakamura told an audience of about 400 Realtors that state and local governments must identify urban land, important agricultural land and preservation land and craft a streamlined plan for development accordingly.
She said that state and county governments have been planning for development in certain areas for decades "and now we're fighting against it."
And she predicted that people with "Not in my Backyard," or NIMBY, attitudes will protest the development that Honolulu's $5.16 billion rail project will spur.
read ... Lined Up for Rail
CNN: N Korea readies test of missile that could reach Hawaii
CNN: What the U.S. is watching is a test site in North Korea. The website 38 North, which closely monitors North Korea, says commercial satellites snapped pictures showing engine testing for a crucial long range missile called the KN-08.
The KN-08, first shown as a mockup at a parade, is a mobile intercontinental missile - a huge worry.
Because if the North Koreans can develop a mobile missile with a nuclear warhead, they can move it around quickly. A U.S. spy satellite might not find it before it launches.
"It's estimated that these road mobile missiles could have range as far as 6,000 miles. Again we don't know if that is true because they haven't tested one. But if they can fire a road mobile missile that far that puts places like Alaska, Hawaii and Los Angeles within range," said Victor Cha of the Center for Strategic & International Studies.
Analysts say the imagery shows evidence the engine test happened in a recent two-week period.
Fuel tanks have been moved from the immediate test area to a post-test storage site.
And from website 38 North, it also shows vehicles have been brought carrying personnel and equipment, and a trench has turned white, possibly from a blast of an engine test.
read ... Maybe they won't nuke us if Obama Apologizes for the Korean War
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