Islamic Gulen Cult Pours Money into Takai Campaign
Marijuana Task Force Releases Report Aimed at 2015 Legislative Session
DePledge: Aiona vows to win trust of electorate, renew respect
SA: ...Ige's historic upset over Abercrombie in the Democratic primary — the first time since statehood that an incumbent governor lost in a primary — showed the unstable nature of a Hawaii political culture in transition since the death of iconic U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye two years ago.
With Ige still unfamiliar to some voters, and Hannemann saddled with back-to-back losses as a Democrat for Congress and governor, Aiona has positioned himself as a stable, comfortable alternative.
The electoral math, usually so daunting for Republicans in statewide campaigns, potentially works in Aiona's favor. He could win in November with the same 40 percent of the vote he received when he lost to Abercrombie four years ago, a split that would likely depend on Hannemann getting roughly 20 percent.
Democrats have not used the month since the primary to interrupt Aiona's narrative, which the Republican has reinforced through campaign advertisements that depict him as a grounded family man.
While Democrats — including some environmental and labor interests that sat out the primary — have rallied behind Ige, a generic, reflexive appeal to voters to back the Democrat might not be enough to persuade an unsettled electorate.
"I'd say if you have weather vanes that point up or down, most of his weather vanes point up," Jerry Burris, a former editorial page editor and political columnist for The Honolulu Advertiser, said of Aiona....
read ... Renew Respect
ILind: Time to Say a few Nice Words About Duke
ILind: If we can hold our nose and feign excitement over a reformed quasi-fascist like Tulsi Gabbard, we can do the same for a very smart, very good man like David Ige.
For what he is, David Ige is a truly remarkable man. Yeah, he’s a technician and a “team player” like all the other Democratic Party insiders. But he is not intellectually dull. He is not a hack towing the party line. He is as smart as they come. He actually thinks about policy, studies policy, comes up with ideas and begs the public to criticize these ideas. Nobody does that, least of all in Hawaii. This man is a kind of miracle, an impossibility of sorts — a technician who thinks critically. Like all these spoiled-brat liberals who turned against Abercrombie, we cannot take a gem like Ige and casually cast him aside because he is not a rock star with a thousand-watt smile and a John Kennedy haircut.
We can do a lot, lot worse than David Ige. In fact, we can do worse than Duke “Captain Obvious” Aiona, believe it or not. Aiona is not a bad human being. It might be time to say a few nice words about the Duke in order to take a few votes away from You Know Who (Lord Voldemort).
read ... Say a few nice words about Duke
Djou: The Courage to Fight for our Future
CB: After nearly 60 years of one-party rule, Hawai’i residents are facing an ever increasing cost of living, our young people are forced to move away to find jobs, and our kupuna are worried about living on a fixed income. But, we have a government that isn’t listening. We need to elect leaders who have the courage to fight for our future. And, unlike my opponent, I can start delivering for our community starting on day one. If elected, I will have seniority from my prior service in Congress, and will be part of the majority caucus as the GOP is expected to retain control of the U.S. House, and looks likely to capture most delegations in the country. We need to elect someone who can hit the ground running. We need leaders who will fight for our country, our children and our future – to create jobs, and make sure people can afford to live in our beautiful state.
read ... Charles Djou
McDermott's Challenger to be Hit for Campaign Spending Violations
CB: Rose Martinez, who won the Democratic primary in the House District 40 race, along with her campaign committee and treasurer, Kimberly Okamura, face fines for filing a false report and turning two reports in late. Martinez is challenging incumbent Republican Bob McDermott in the general.
Incumbents are on the commission’s agenda too, namely state Rep. Rida Cabanilla.
She is accused of failing to have proper advertising disclaimers and for making improper expenditures.
Cabanilla, who lost her bid for re-election to Democrat Matt LoPresti, had been serving as House majority floor leader. House Speaker Joe Souki appointed Cabanilla to replace Rep. Karen Awana last October after Awana stepped down from her position while facing thousands of dollars in campaign fines.
The commission canceled its August meeting in part to make time to continue its investigations into these violations so they would be ready for the September meeting.
Here are some of the others facing fines:
- Equality Hawaii Action Fund
- Sierra Club Hawaii PAC
read ... Violators
Star-Adv 'Sheltered Life' Special Project on Homelessness
Maui County Measure a ‘Farming Ban’
CB: Citizens Against the Maui County Farming Ban spent more than $80,000 in the past week on TV ads against the initiative to ban genetically modified crops.
read ... Farming Ban
Star-Adv: Parents Should Opt in to Gay Sex Education
SA: The state Department of Education has approved what is clearly a better version of its controversial Pono Choices sex education curriculum, but the most significant improvement may be the one strengthening the parental voice in the entire discussion....
Deputy Superintendent Ronn Nozoe rightly observed that sex-ed programs are sensitive issues for many families, who see it as one of many entry points for passing on family values and beliefs. Parents should weigh in on how such important behavioral matters are taught.
That said, opting in on Pono Choices or any of the other six DOE-approved sex-ed programs is, for most families, a pragmatic decision and in the interest of most children. Fact-based education on sexual health has demonstrably positive effects.
A 2012 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health showed that healthier behaviors and outcomes were linked with receiving sex education, whether it included abstinence-only materials or covered birth control as well.
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are a major public-health risk, and Hawaii youths need to be clear on the consequences of sexual behavior.
Parents do need to be brought into the conversation, though. Sexual health is a family affair at its heart, and the DOE's decision to reach out to families may be the most pono choice it could have made.
read ... Opt In?
Waimanalo Killing: Another Failure of Mental Health Care System?
SA: Police and emergency medical services personnel were called to Moku's Bell Street home Thursday around 8:45 p.m. after neighbors heard calls for help. Paramedics found Moku in extremely critical condition at the scene and transported her to Castle Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Police located her teenaged son nearby around 9:15 p.m. and arrested him.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office determined that Moku died as a result of blunt force injuries to the head and face.
He was charged Saturday morning with second-degree murder. It has not yet been determined whether he will be tried as a juvenile or as an adult.
Kailihiwa alluded to behavioral problems that her grandnephew had in school and to "services" that Shannell Moku sought from the state. She declined to elaborate further except to say that her family had offered and continues to offer its support.
Related: Roosevelt HS Shooting: Failure of Mental Health Care System
read ... Another Failure?
Proposed Sand Island homeless camp was an ash and municipal solid waste dump for 65 years
DN: According to the application that Kathy points to at the above link, having homeless individuals or families at the site will have no adverse affect on the environment....
read ... Toxic Waste Dump
Lava Emergency May Finally Get Puna Access Roads Built
HTH: The declaration also allows the county to lay the groundwork for improving or clearing new roadways in case Highway 130 is inundated with lava.
When that work, which will partially focus on improving Railroad Avenue, an old railroad easement, and Beach Road, will begin will depend largely on the direction of the lava flow, county officials said.
How quickly the work will proceed may also depend on the state issuing a similar declaration, which will waive environmental impact statements and other regulatory requirements.
read ... Pele Brings Progress
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