RGA Poll: Ige 39% - Aiona 36%
Djou: It Will Be Close and We Can Win
VIDEO: Takai has spent over a decade trying to raise taxes on just about everything
Leaked Emails Show Hawaiian Civic Club Leaders Squabble Over OHA Tribe 'Consortium'
Lower Cost of Living? Ige Proposes Higher Prices
Hawaii investigator says state agency is shirking duties
20 Million Gallons of Sewage Spill on Sand Island
Wind Power Drives Electricity Prices Up
Community Work Day to Clean Up West Oahu Parks
OHA Candidates Debate to be Live-Streamed
Video: Improving Public Schools with Randy Roth
How to Increase the Value of a Dollar? Move.
Poll: Djou 47% - Takai 47%
SA: Takai and Djou are fighting for 7 percent of likely voters who said they did not know or refused to say who would get their vote, according to poll numbers released Thursday.
The Hawaii Poll, conducted by Ward Research Inc., for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Hawaii News Now, surveyed 354 likely voters in the 1st Congressional District, which covers urban Oahu. Polling of landlines and cellphones was done Oct. 11-18. The poll has a margin of error of 5.2 percentage points.
"I'm very eager," Djou said. "I look forward to the last week and a half of campaigning and really diving in there to get my message out that we can do better -- that the status quo is failing us." ...
The poll showed both candidates with high favorable numbers, with Takai's rating at 63 percent followed by Djou at 60 percent. But Djou's unfavorable rating of 31 percent was twice that of Takai's 15 percent.
Takai was unknown to 10 percent of those polled, with 12 percent who said they did not know enough about him....
Djou was unknown by 3 percent, with only 6 percent who did not know enough about him.
Despite the higher unfavorable rating, Djou saw another side to the data.
"My support is a lot more solid than his is -- different people do know who I am," Djou said. "I think there's a tendency for people to vote with what they know instead of what they don't know.
"I think it shows, in all likelihood, that my support is a lot more stable, which gives me a strong position to push hard through to the very end."
In the head-to-head poll, the candidates were about even across gender, age and income demographics and polled as expected among members of their own party. There was a strong contrast among voters of different racial backgrounds.
Takai polled strongest among Japanese voters, 66 percent to 27 percent. Djou led among all others: 56 percent to 41 percent with Caucasians, 53 percent to 38 percent with Filipinos and 53 percent to 38 percent among Hawaiians.
"I'm pleased that it looks like we seem to have a very, very broad cross section here," Djou said. "But wherever we're weak, we're going to push even harder."
(Since other poll numbers have not been reported, then logically this must be the first poll which doesn't show Djou leading outright.)
Link: Clearly Charles Djou is Getting Conservative Democrats
Link: Poll Tables
SA: Schatz over Cavasso 71 percent to 20 percent, with 10 percent undecided
SA: 18% of Poll respondents Think Abercrombie did Good Job
read ... It's a Ward Poll
Ward Poll Shows Unholy Alliance Backing Ige
Borreca: ...The new poll taken Oct. 11-18 shows Ige is an ethnic powerhouse with 74 percent of Japanese-American voters saying they have a favorable impression of him.
In the three-way race between Ige, Republican James "Duke" Aiona and Independent Mufi Hannemann, the poll has Ige with 47 percent, Aiona with 35 percent and Hannemann with 12 percent.
The Ige tally includes his domination of what I call the "holy trinity" of Hawaii poll demographics: AJA voters, voters 55 and older, and union members.
The only better marker for election trends would be if the poll included a sample of those who request permanent absentee voter status. That's because elections officials report that 82 percent of those who vote by mail in Honolulu return their ballots.
As far as the "holy trinity" is concerned, it is all Ige.
He has 61 percent of the AJA voters, 50 percent of those 55 or older and 53 percent of the union voters....
A full 22 percent say they are voting for Ige because he is the Democrat. Only 8 percent say they are voting for Aiona because he is a Republican and 1 percent say they are backing Hannemann because he is an Independent.
(The purpose of this Ward Poll is to stampede donors. The money crowd was waiting to see who was winning before buying influence with contributions.)
read ... Holy Trinity of the Inouye Cult
Clowns At Star-Adv Endorse Serial Violator Awana
SA: 43rd District (Kalaeloa-Ko Olina-Maili):Democratic incumbent Karen Awana faces a spirited challenge from first-time Republican candidate Andria Tupola, a well-spoken Kamehameha graduate who has run a high-energy campaign. But Awana, a fourth-generation resident of the Waianae Coast who has served in the House for eight years, (10 years = lifetime pension) gets our nod because of (insert excuse here)....
Reality: HI House leader steps down amid campaign spending investigation
More Reality than the Star-Adv can handle: Child molester back at work at Hawaii Legislature
read ... Any Democrat Will Do
Desperate Need for Election Day Workers on Big Island
WHT: There’s a “desperate” need for election workers, as Hawaii County finds itself short 67 volunteers for precincts in Waimea, Waikoloa, Kona and Ka‘u.
Election Day is less than two weeks away, but 17 polling places are short-staffed. This could have a domino effect throughout the state, said Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto.
If preparations aren’t completed at each polling place prior to their scheduled opening of 7 a.m. Nov. 4, the poll could open late. A shortage of workers could mean that materials can’t be picked up promptly when the polls close at 6 p.m. That could delay results statewide....
Precinct officials are needed at Naalehu Elementary School, Ocean View Community Center, Hookena Elementary School, St. Benedict Church, Konawaena Elementary School, Konawaena High School, Kona Vistas Recreation Center, Holualoa Elementary School, Kahakai Elementary School, Kekuaokalani Gym, Kealakehe High School, Kona Palisades Community Center, Kealakehe Middle School, Waikoloa Elementary School, Kohala High and Elementary School, Waimea Civic Center and Waimea New Hope Church.
Precinct officials are paid $85. Anyone can volunteer, provided they are 16 years of age or older, can read and write, follow directions and be able to lift 40 pounds. Hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. or until excused by the precinct chairman.
Volunteers will be trained prior to Election Day.
For more information or to sign up, call 961-8982 or email dkaahanui@co.hawaii.hi.us.
read ... Nago's Next Fiasco?
HART Incompetence: $6M for design revisions because Stations too Heavy for Rail Columns
SA: Board members overseeing Oahu's rail transit project have approved an additional $14 million in cost increases -- and nearly half of that expense is due to yet another contract that went out prematurely, project officials say.
In 2009 the city issued construction firm Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. a contract to design the first stretch of the rail system's elevated guideway. Then, about a year later, it awarded the first design contracts for the stations that would run along that line, rail officials say.
However, those design contracts should have gone out together, or at least close enough together that the guideway and station designs would properly match, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation Executive Director Dan Grabauskas said Thursday.
Now HART will need to tap nearly $6 million in contingency dollars for Kiewit to make the necessary revisions so that its columns and guideway will be able to sufficiently support the load of the stations.
read ... Slow Down Already
Council to Give Homeowners Extension to Avoid Massive Tax Hike
SA: In some cases, Anderson said Thursday, property owners were unaware of their higher taxes or that they were eligible for a break until they were informed by the mortgage companies that handle their property tax payments.
The resolution, expected to be heard by the Council at its regular Nov. 12 meeting, reopens the tax compromise program and allows eligible homeowners to apply through Nov. 17.
Both Martin and Anderson urged those eligible to file, even if the resolution had not yet been approved, at www.realpropertyhonolulu.com.
read ... Tax Hike
Just How Bad Is Honolulu’s Housing Crisis?
CB: The numbers don't lie — the cost of living here is high.
read ... How Bad?
GMOs: Why I Switched Sides
KE: As recently as a year ago I was still castigating the seed/chem companies, though by that time I had begun to realize that something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Or to paraphrase, I had come to understand that the anti-GMO movement in Hawaii — and pretty much all the environmental movements, too — was not a David fighting Goliath, not an underdog, not in any way pono.
My disenchantment began in early 2013, when the Vandana Shiva circus came to town, and I realized somebody was pumping a whole bunch of money into what had been a tepid, powerless movement. Simultaneously, but not coincidentally, Councilman Gary Hooser began drafting Bill 2491, ignoring those of us who cautioned against overreach and including GMOs.
Meanwhile, I was investigating and writing the Abuse Chronicles series, in which I catalogued the systemic failure of a Kauai County regulatory process involving vacation rentals. I saw clearly, as did the entire County Council and Administration, the problems that can arise when government is unwilling or unable to enforce the law.
So when I asked Gary about enforcement of his pesticide/GMO bill, and he replied that enforcement didn't matter, all that mattered was getting the bill passed, I knew that he and outside influences were using Kauai to wage a bigger battle, and that our community was going to suffer.
I began digging around with the help of an akamai friend. We soon saw how much of the environmental movement is funded by the same corporations they claim to be fighting. We saw the ugly totalitarian tactics embraced by people we thought were progressives. We saw reasonable folks embrace a wild disinformation campaign. We saw activists intentionally stir up fear with absolutely no basis in fact. We saw the movement swell with people who were either new to the island, or paid instigators, like Nomi Carmona and Jennifer Ruggles.
read ... Musings: On My Critics, Round 2
Kauai: Anti-GMO Mayoral Candidate Pushes Ebola Conspiracy Nonsense
KE: ...After the Ebola plane landed on Kauai for a Navy mission, (anti-GMO Kauai Mayoral candidate) Dustin (Barca) linked to an article that claims Monsanto created the Ebola virus so it could make money on an Ebola vaccine it developed with the Department of Defense. The article ended, aptly, with this sentence: “There’s just something wrong with this whole picture.”
Ya think? But Dustin swallowed it hook, line and sinker, posting:
WHY ARE WE THE EXPERIMENTAL ISLAND?
TOO MUCH CRAZY CRAP GOES ON HERE!!!!
Airport is NOT shut down? Department of health didn't even know about this when we called this morning? WTH IS GOING ON?!?!!
Mahana Mari, one of his conspiracy theorist followers, had the answer:
quite the "coincidence" that the top Monsanto executives and the Ebola plane are on Kaua'i at the same time...
Oh, yes, quite. This was my favorite, though:
WAKE UP HAWAII !! WE ARE BEING PLAYED FOR FOOLS AT ALL LEVELS!!
Well, he's certainly right about that one....
MN: Math not there to support GMO conspiracy theories
read ... Ebola Fools
Attorney: Big Isle GMO Law Just as Invalid as Kauai's
AP: A lawyer representing a group seeking to invalidate Hawaii County's law restricting the use of genetically engineered crops is asking a judge to make the same decision he recently made for Kauai's law.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren is hearing arguments Tuesday in the group's lawsuit. He's the judge who ruled that a Kauai County law requiring companies to disclose their use of pesticides and genetically modified crops is invalid. He ruled the Kauai ordinance is pre-empted by state law.
read ... Anti-GMO Morons set to Fail Again
Report: Nepotism Causes Risk of Fatality at State Hospital
SA: » The top six overtime earners received a total of about $200,000 in overtime in fiscal year 2013, which was about 6.7 percent of the hospital's $3 million overtime budget.
» The hospital spent $530,000 in 2011 to create a psychiatric intensive care unit that was closed within months after a patient attacked an employee and has been used only a few times since for low-risk patients.
» The associate chief nurse has six relatives and the director of nursing has five relatives working at the hospital.
» Only one person monitors 140 security cameras.
» The hospital lacks procedures to alert the public of escapes.
The report said the State Hospital has a longstanding problem with keeping a safe work environment for workers and if the problem is not addressed, a fatality will occur at the hospital.
PDF: Hawaii State Hospital Report
read ... Deadly HGEA Work Rules
Bring ID to Vote
KHON: A precinct official may ask for a photo ID, but the bottom line is you do not need to provide one to vote.
According to HRS §11-136, “Every person shall provide identification if so requested by a precinct official.”
However, state law does not specify what type of identification is required.
Election officials say you may also show a utility bill, bank statement or government document to prove your identity.
“Most people in Hawaii tend to have some form of an ID,” said elections administrator Glenn Takahashi. “However, if they don’t have an ID, the election officials will go through additional means to make sure you are who you say you are.”
read ... Voter ID
State Senate confirms 3 judges
SA: The state Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to confirm two Circuit Court judges on Oahu and one District Court judge on Hawaii island to the bench.
ILind: Special Senate Session on judicial nominees overlooked by news media
read ... State Senate confirms 3 judges
UH Athletic Department Squirms under NCAA Pressure
SA: "The Hawaii fans need to know that we are doing the best we can to run a program they can be proud of. We are not paying players, committing academic fraud, putting our student-athletes in harm's way or treating them poorly.
"We have yet to even receive a notice of any possible allegations from the NCAA. Nor have we been given our mandated 90 days to respond to any allegations. If there has been anything administratively in our program where we have fallen short we will learn from it and correct it immediately."
Jay had declined to say if coaches and/or players will be suspended or released as part of any self-sanctions.
The NCAA's investigation began in March, two months after UH self-reported an NCAA violation, saying "a men's basketball coach submitted an altered document that was essential for admissions purposes."
Since that time, the NCAA interviewed more than 25 people, some of them multiple times.
read ... Squirm
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