Hawaiians Arrested at Nai Aupuni Tribal Aha
SB2618: Should there be a Hawaii State Ferry?
SB2615: Democrats to dictate theology
Statewide Homeless Emergency Extended
Feds: We will Recover Billions Wasted on Obamacare State Exchanges
HB2632: Many Excuses to Take Your Guns
Hawaii Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for House Judiciary Committee Hearing This Week
HB2528: Shooting Range for Kailua-Kona
Former OHA Staffer Joins Office of Mauna Kea Management
HB2773: Elected Criminals to be Reelected by Incarcerated Criminals
HNN: Hawaii lawmakers are expected to make a decision on House Bill 2773 on Thursday. The bill would allow prisoners to retain their right to vote, even while incarcerated.
(Airhead) Representative Kaniela Ing introduced the bill. He says denying convicts voting rights undermines democratic ideals. Ing believes the process helps inmates learn about the system and helps them feel like they are part of the process and not against it.
"Feel like they're part of the system and they can help create it and shape it," says Ing.
But critics say convicted criminals have many constitutional rights taken away while they're serving time, and this one shouldn't be an exception.
"You're punished. You forfeit those rights," says Representative Bob McDermott, "It's a foolish idea and it won't pass. It will embarrass members in an election year."
Meanwhile: Sentencing set for ex-state senator in racketeering case
HB2773: Text, Status
read … Birds of a Feather
HGEA Work Rules Prevent Counties from Catching Illegal Vacation Rentals
HNN: …The mainland owners of the beachfront home at 23 Kalaka Place on Kailua Beach has charged visitors about $800 a day and just received a violation notice last week from the city saying it's operating illegally.
If the Chicago-based owners of the home don't stop short-term rentals within 30 days, they will face $1,000-a-day fines from the city.
It's one of eight Kailua homes -- of the 20 so far island wide -- that have been cited over the last month or so….
On Pali One Place in Kailua, two illegal bed and breakfasts right next to each other received violations last month. One of the operators told Hawaii News Now she already canceled 18 reservations over the next seven months that would have paid about $175 a night.
Other Kailua illegal rentals were discovered on Kaapuni Drive, Kaumana Place, Kaimi Street, Kainui Drive and Kuupua Street, city records showed.
Kailua Neighborhood Board members said the most violations were found in their neighborhood so far because the board has come up with a way to make it easier for people to turn in their neighbors.
"The Neighborhood Board would act as a conduit to get these complaints in front of the city,” Bartley said. “Because a lot of people are hesitant to turn in their neighbors or turn in the house next door, which is typically not their owner that owns it, it's typically a mainland owner or someone who doesn't live in that house."
The other violations included two illegal rentals each in Kaneohe and Haleiwa, with one each in Kahala, Waimanalo, Waipahu, Kaaawa and Hauula, according to records released by the city.
Atta, who runs the city department that handles enforcement, said the five contract employees brought back out of retirement have more flexibility to visit rentals early in the morning, at night or on the weekends, when they are more likely to catch tourists at illegal rentals.
Atta said it was more difficult for full-time unionized inspectors to adjust their schedules and often cost overtime, making after-hours investigations difficult….
read … Kailua has most illegal vacation rental violations
Star-Adv: We need Fewer Lanes for Cars to Increase Traffic Jams
SA: There’s no disputing (yes there is) that “Complete Streets” — the concept of designing city streets to make them safer and more accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists and others not driving a car — makes sense for Honolulu. (Just ignore the traffic getting worse. It makes sense because our goal is to force you to get rid of your car so we can drive with ease.) ….
…now that the city is starting to implement those concepts, the Council appears to be getting cold feet. Responding to complaints from business owners and motorists about the King Street Cycle Track and a bike lane planned for South Street, the Council is considering bills that would strengthen its ability to block the city administration’s Complete Streets projects.
Bill 8 would require that the city’s Complete Streets checklist of criteria, already required for every project, be presented to the Council for approval or rejection.
Bill 84 (2015) would allow the Council to reject or change a bikeway or Complete Streets project in Honolulu’s urban core during the annual budget process.
Bill 68 (2015) requires that a public infrastructure map symbol be approved by the Council for all planned bicycle lanes and bike paths before they can proceed.
Bill 82 (2015) requires city officials to hold at least two public hearings, in addition to a discussion before an impacted area’s neighborhood, for any major bikeway project….
read … Fewer Lanes for Cars
SB2313: Gender Wage Cap Can Make Millions for Hawaii Lawyers
HNN: …"If you really don't know what your colleagues are being paid for similar work or equal work, you really can't take action if you're being discriminated against," said state Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland.
Written into the bill are protections for employees who feel they are being discriminated against.
"The bill makes it very clear that the employer should not take any negative action against employees that discuss their pay with each other," Chun Oakland said.
The bill has already passed two readings.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee will tackle the bill Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. in conference room 211….
SB2313: Text, Status
read … Sop to Bar Association
FACE: Lets Raise Taxes to Pay for $100M of Make Work Projects
FACE: The governor’s request for $75 million for the Rental Housing Revolving Fund (RHRF) and the request to remove the cap on the amount of the conveyance tax going into the RHRF are crucial this year so that loans from the RHRF to developers of affordable rental housing can continue flowing to keep the production of affordable rental housing going and even increasing.
The same reasoning applies to the $25 million request for the Dwelling Unit Revolving Fund (DURF), which can be used to fund the infrastructure needed before development can begin in many places.
The reason Kakaako is booming — unfortunately (LOL!) with high-end housing — is that 30 years ago, the state pumped $200 million into infrastructure there. (Anybody really believe that?)
A good area in which to do this now would be Iwilei-Kapalama (whatever) ….
read … The FACE of Profitable Nonprofits
Zika virus confirmed in Marshall Islands
PINA: Health authorities in the Marshall Islands said Friday that the first case of the Zika virus has been confirmed in the country’s capital city, Majuro.
The Marshall Islands is now the fourth Pacific country to confirm Zika cases after Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.
“Based on active surveillance reports for the duration of January 29 to February 12, a total of six suspected cases were reported,” said Dr. Kennar Briand, the secretary of Health. Blood samples were sent to the Hawaii State Laboratory for confirmation of any of the mosquito borne diseases of Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya.
The Hawaii lab results showed one of the six suspected cases was the Zika virus. “The first case of Zika is that of a young female residing in Majuro who had no travel history outside of the Marshall Islands,” said Briand.
PNC: Pregnant Guam Woman Who Visited Marshall Islands Returning, Will Be Tested For Zika Virus
read … Next Stop, Hawaii
Honolulu one of worst state capitals due to lack of affordability
KHON: Thanks to an overall lack of affordability, Honolulu ranks close to the bottom in rankings according to a recent analysis.
The personal finance website WalletHub posted its 2016’s Best & Worst StateCapitals and Honolulu placed 44th out of 50 cities.
It ranks dead last in overall affordability due to its category rankings in Least Affordable Housing (50th), Lowest Median Household Income (adjusted to cost of living – 48th), and Highest Debt as Percentage of Median Income (47th).
Honolulu also ranks low — 46th — in the percentage of millenial newcomers….
E: Hawaii Ranked Hardest Place to Buy a Pizza
read … Worst
Muslims Fish Around for Someone Opposed to Missile Defense of Hawaii
AJ: Raymond Catania of the Kauai Alliance for Peace and Social Justice said any further militarization of his home island is … (insert rhetoric here)
Another Hawaii resident, retired Army Col. Ann Wright of Veterans for Peace said, “There is no doubt that deployment of operational Aegis missiles on Kauai would be seen… (insert rhetoric here)….”
Zhu Haiquan, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said in a statement, “The anti-missile issue has a direct bearing on (insert rhetoric here)…”
JN: Futenma relocation to finish in 2025
read… Let the Norks Nuke us
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