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Grabauskas Scores Big Fat Raise--But Will Ansaldo Deliver Rail Cars?
HNN: Italian train car maker Ansaldo Honolulu told the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) board today it's on schedule to deliver the first rail cars by June 2016, however board members still had concerns.
Ansaldo Honolulu's parent companies have been on the market. Hitachi from Japan and CNR from China are reportedly the two finalists. Reuters reports the company hopes to close the sale this month.
While there is no guarantee Honolulu wouldn't be impacted by a sale, the HART board was told they have $300 million in assurance bonds just in case Ansaldo doesn't deliver as promised....
"I'm pretty confident that there will be almost no major impact due to any sale," said Enrico Fontana, Ansaldo Honolulu Managing Director....
Also today HART's board announced it will be giving Grabauskas a raise and renew his contract another three years.
He'll get a five percent raise bringing his base salary up to $257,000. His annual performance bonus will go up 15% to $40,000 a year. He will continue to receive a $36,000 housing allowance and $6,000 for transportation. There is $36,000 in other benefits as well. In total for salary, bonuses and benefits Grabauskas will make $375,000 a year. He had made $358,000 each of the past three years.
That's more than what the mayor and governor make combined.
read ... Worth More than Abercrombie & Caldwell
Gubernatorial candidates promise to empower local educators at Hilo forum
HTH: While candidates Mufi Hannemann, Duke Aiona and David Ige agreed the state Department of Education could use some reform, neither said the state should go so far as to enact local school districts. At least not yet.
“That would be optimal,” said Aiona, a former lieutenant governor and Republican candidate, when asked if he would support local school boards.
“But that’s not what I’m envisioning. We would still have the board at the top, but their role would change dramatically.”
His approach would include letting schools decide their own curriculum and purchase their own equipment, said Aiona, who worked recently as a substitute teacher.
CB: Governor Candidates Assure Hilo Voters on Disaster Preps, Recovery
read ... Gubernatorial candidates promise to empower local educators at Hilo forum
Puna Residents Not Impressed With Schatz, Gabbard
SA: U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz told a large crowd in Pahoa on Thursday night that they're doing all they can to press the federal government to pay attention to the small town on Hawaii island being threatened by lava....Comments from the two members of Congress came after a debate on whether to make Chain of Craters Road a two-lane emergency route or one lane. The road would be one of three emergency access routes for the 8,000 residents of Lower Puna.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officials have said the 5.4-mile section of the road on federal land should be one lane of unpaved highway to reduce damage to ancient archaeological sites and endangered species.
However, residents are suggesting having one-lane access is not wise.
"It sounds like we're falling on deaf ears. And what's worse is that they're not looking at it as a priority," said Kale Gumapac of Hawaiian Beaches. "The lava is giving us time by slowing down for us to prepare for this stuff, and Washington, D.C., needs to be looking at this. It's a problem."
As of Thursday the lava was advancing at about 65 yards a day. It was about 0.9 mile from Apaa Street in Pahoa, said Steve Brantley, acting scientist-in-charge with the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Meanwhile, Hawaii County officials are advising residents in need of medical treatment to prepare.
read ... Not Impressed
PUC is one issue avoided by candidates for governor
Borreca: Of the three main governor candidates, Hannemann moves the closest to saying he would keep Morita.
"I have heard good things about Mina, so definitely I would consider keeping her on, no question," Hannemann said in an interview.
Ige would not take a position, saying in an interview that "I don't know; if I have the opportunity, I will look at all the candidates."
Aiona also punted, saying, "Basically our administration wants someone who is confident they can deal with the issues before the PUC and be able to move the docket along in a timely fashion. I will reach out to the community to get feedback in regards to the leadership and team currently serving."
For much of a governor's actions, things rest on not what he or she will do, but who the governor picks to do it, so the PUC question is both important and unanswered.
read ... PUC?
Hawaii Ranks #2 in Hotel Taxes
PBN: Hawaii had the second-highest total tax rate among the 50 states when it comes to taxing visitors who stay in hotels, but Honolulu ranks No. 65 compared to other urban centers in the country, according to a recent study.
For its third annual lodging tax study, HVS Convention, Sports, and Entertainment Consulting added the sales tax rate and lodging tax rate for each state and compared the totals.
Hawaii ranked No. 2, with a general excise tax of 4 percent (which the study notes under “sales tax”) and transit accommodation tax of 9.25 percent (which the study notes under “lodging tax rate”), a total of 13.25 percent. It also noted that the G.E.T. was 4.5 percent on Oahu, and businesses could pass on up to 4.712 percent for the G.E.T. to customers.
Connecticut ranked the worst, with a 15 percent lodging tax rate. The lowest rate was 0 percent in both Alaska and California; lodging taxes in those states are levied at a municipal level. The median lodging tax rate among all states was 6 percent.
read ... Hawaii Ranks #2
DBEDT Still Pushing Big Cable
SA: DBEDT also criticized HECO's plan to convert its oil-burning power-generating plants to liquefied natural gas, or LNG, at a cost of about $200 million.
"Rather than using LNG as a bridge to a cleaner future, the HEI companies seem intent on using LNG as a bridge to more LNG," DBEDT said.
DBEDT said it was disappointed that HECO didn't support the Abercrombie administration's plan to connect the Oahu and Maui power grids.
HECO said in its plan that the Oahu-Maui cable was not cost-effective.
PDF: DBEDT comments on HECO plans
read ... Big Cable
Bizarre News: Solar Contractor Refuses to Install Illegal Systems
PBN: The company, which has 12 employees and does work in both the residential and commercial markets as well as the installation of hot water heaters, refuses to prematurely connect its customers’ rooftop systems to Hawaiian Electric Co.’s grid.
“What’s more important right now is clarity,” Yeh said. “HECO’s [new energy plan] still needs to be approved by the [Hawaii Public Utilities Commission].”
Some companies, as a way to keep business flowing during these slow times, are installing “rogue systems.”
Under Hawaii Public Utilities Commission rules and state law, customers are required to have an approved interconnection agreement that ensures safety and reliability of their photovoltaic system before they connect to the grid and energize it.
Last month, Hawaiian Electric sent out a note to customers warning them about this issue.
read ... Giant Scam
Lawsuit Alleging Homosexual Child Molestation by Former ACLU Board Member Dismissed
KHON: A case that involves more than two dozen former Kamehameha Schools students who say they were sexually molested decades ago has been dismissed.
The lawsuit, originally filed in March, alleges that the students were forced to seek treatment from Dr. Robert McCormick Browne, a psychiatrist (and Hawaii ACLU Board member) who worked for the school.
It claims that the assaults took place over a period of 21 years, from 1958 to 1981....
The lawsuit was dismissed so that the victims can go before the Medical Inquiry Conciliation Panel to try and prove wrongdoing by the doctor.
If that happens, then the victims can re-file the case....
KHON: Sex assault charges against former custodian being dropped
read ... Not Over Yet
Only Elementary Schools Meet Strive HI Standards
CB: Not a single middle or high school performed well enough in the Strive HI accountability system to be eligible for cash rewards from the state.“
...All schools that meet the criteria are eligible to be classified as Recognition schools, including middle and high schools,” Nozoe said in an emailed statement. “We acknowledge that secondary schools have had more difficulty meeting the criteria and because of that, we are evaluating the system to ensure it better recognizes secondary schools’ successes.”
read ... Latest Trick to Make the Numbers Look Good
UH Tuition Cuts Dependent on Reducing $45M Electric Bill
KITV: A combination of soaring energy prices, lower enrollment and wavering legislative support has resulted in the University of Hawaii spending $60 million more than it took in during fiscal year 2014, which ended June 30. The figure was revealed Friday afternoon during a meeting of the Board of Regents Budget and Finance Committee....
A large part of the university’s deficit spending was the result of $45 million in electricity costs. UH Manoa, the university’s flagship campus, was responsible for the lion’s share of that amount at $39.4 million. In an effort to reduce costs, UH Manoa is hoping to modernize its grid with an aggressive capital improvement program.
“So, rather than kind of reviving it to a 1990s standard or even a 2010 standard, leapfrog to a 2030 type of grid technology where we'll be able to monitor, meter, manage and save energy across the campus in a very thoughtful (and) effective way,” said Steve Meder, UH Manoa’s Interim Assistant Vice Chancellor for Planning and Facilities.
Depending on how much money UH can save on energy costs, as well as legislative support, the committee recommended an offset to scheduled tuition increases. Under a rate schedule approved in 2010, tuition at all UH campuses will increase 7 percent in 2015 and another 7 percent in 2016. However, any relief for cash-strapped students and their parents won’t come until the fall of 2015 at the earliest.
read ... Electricity?
HECO Hooks Up 150 Solar Customers
KHON: Even though there’s been some recent progress, critics say it could come to a screeching halt again soon.
Hawaiian Electric crews have been upgrading some equipment to allow customers who are in solar-saturated areas to get approval and off the waiting list. They will be charged an extra fee of less than a hundred dollars for the upgrade.
A spokesman says 150 customers are about to be approved. There are 770 who are eligible for this upgrade, but about 4,500 are on the waiting list....
Customers (who have been scammed by dishonest solar contractors) are getting impatient and connecting without permission.
Hawaiian Electric has sent out about a thousand warning letters to those customers, saying their systems could be disconnected.
Background: No Blackout: RevoluSun Exposed
read ... Solar
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