Where to Vote: Tuesday March 8 Hawaii Republican Presidential Caucus
Rick Santorum Campaigning for Rubio in Hawaii
Five Anti-Gun Bills up for House Vote
Fitch: Hawaii debt levels are high
Kasich: No Fake Hawaiian Indian Tribe
HNN: In interviews with Hawaii News Now, Marco Rubio and John Kasich both trumpeted the importance of Hawaii, and how it fits in with the US military's evolving strategy in the Pacific.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump told Hawaii Republicans to vote for him. Trump will be speaking on HNN's Sunrise on Tuesday….
Both candidates also weighed in on the topic of Hawaiian sovereignty.
Kasich said he doesn't "understand the call for a nation within a nation. It's not something I would look to favorably on to be perfectly blunt with you.
Rubio countered, "Perhaps they could replicate the model Indian tribes have on the mainland where they have sovereignty over certain areas."
read … Republican presidential candidates seek to woo Hawaii voters
Clinton Backs Fake Indian Tribe for Hawaii
SA: “I support the Native Hawaiian community’s ongoing work toward self-determination and nationhood, and their recent adoption of a constitution. I commend President Obama’s leadership in working with Native Hawaiians on the opportunity to establish a government-to-government relationship with the United States,” Clinton said.
There is no direct promise that a Clinton presidency will do any more than, as she said “work to break down all of the barriers that hold people back and create ladders of opportunity to help everyone achieve their full potential.”
Asked what he thought it meant, Peter Apo, state Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee, said the Clinton note appeared to be “an oblique indication that if she is president, she will support the strategy of approaching federal recognition by presidential executive order and provide a continuum to Obama’s kick-start.” …
On Sunday, Star-Advertiser reporter Tim Hurley explained that the folks running the convention that adopted the constitutional document appear to be continuing their campaign to run the government outside of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that forbid using public funds for a racially exclusive election.
Simply put, the court said that public money cannot go for an election that is limited just to Hawaiian voters.
So now if Native Hawaiian voters are going to be briefed on the proposed new constitution and then hold a ratification election, something besides taxpayer money will have to be used.
Hurley reported that the nonprofit, Na ‘i Aupuni, which has been charged by OHA with running the election, is mulling over raising private money for the election.
WaPo: “regarding her support for the Native Hawaiian community.”
read … Clinton cautiously supports Hawaiian nationhood effort
Native Hawaiian nation won’t be on public dime
SA: Want a Native Hawaiian nation? Then, say the advocates, you have to show them the money.
But it’s got to be private funds. That’s because the court challenge of the ‘aha, the recent constitutional convention, was based in part on the claim that public funds were used for a race-based election.
So don’t be surprised if a crowd-funding campaign is launched. Which platform might be used? For those who want independence, the name Indiegogo might have special appeal….
read … Nobody will pay for this
Duke Aiona Endorses Rubio
CB: “Marco Rubio is the kind of leader Hawaii needs in the White House. His story is similar to so many of us, his hard working parents immigrated here wanting nothing more than to give the best opportunities to their children. They succeeded in achieving the American dream, and with Marco as President, we can help lift more of our community up and help them achieve their dreams too.
“Marco’s vision for Hawaii is like mine and he upholds the values of trust, respect and balance in all of his actions.
“Hawaii, we have an opportunity to make a huge difference in the direction of our country in today’s caucuses. Please get out and vote for Marco today in the Republican Caucus.” – Duke Aiona….
read … Rubio
Excitement Builds for Today’s Republican Presidential Caucus
Can Hawaii and Idaho Stop Trump Tuesday?
NR: If Trump takes Idaho, Michigan and Hawaii Tuesday he's basically the nominee in waiting. A stop in two of those states may postpone any coronation….
read … Postpone?
Rep Beth Fukumoto Chang on Trump: “I told you so”
CB: Blair: What’s happening nationally? What’s your take on this?
Fukumoto Chang: I would say, if you had asked me six months ago if I thought this is where we would be today, I would have said, “absolutely yes.”
The Republican establishment said, “no, we’re going to stop him, don’t worry about it, don’t talk about it too much,” but I’ve been concerned for a while. It’s taking everything in me not to say, “I told you so.”
Blair: And when you say, “I told you so,” you sound like you’re concerned about Trump potentially being your party’s candidate for president.
Fukumoto Chang: Sure, I think anybody that can’t disavow the Ku Klux Klan, anybody that says that Japanese internment might not have been a bad idea, how can that be the person representing our party….
NBC: Fukumoto Chang: Trump Campaign Shows GOP Strayed from Values
read … Told you so
Hate on Display: As Sugar Layoffs Begin, Leading Hawaii Anti-GMO Activist Deploys Revisionist History to Cheer Demise
SA: …segregated housing …was prevalent for much of early plantation history across the islands….
there were all sorts of goods at the store not available anywhere else — but when most housing was clustered around the mill and could be miles away from the nearest town, the company store was quite literally the only game in town.
I’m also grateful that I did not have to live through the 1946 sugar strike…
Should we also forgive plantation owners for the major role they played in the overthrow of the rightful sovereign of Hawaii in the selfish and singular pursuit of their own interests?
(A Comment Debunks the Rhetoric: “That plantation owners played “the major role” in the over throw of the monarchy is debatable; a number of them were royalists.”)
I grew up a mixed kanaka maoli in plantation housing right behind a mill. The smell of burnt cane, fluttering ash and respiratory issues came with it.
It wasn’t something we could move away from. It wasn’t something we (a bunch of mainlanders) moved to and decided to complain about it. (IQ: Test—Do you smell the revisionism?)…
Now that I have a keiki, it’s not something I want my keiki to have to live with.
It is a skill to weave a wonderful story. (and anti-GMO activist can spin with the best of them.) But that’s all it is: a story. It is a singular thread in a massive tapestry that includes racism, bigotry, prejudice, segregation, (Wow. Just wow.) theft, continued use and abuse of aina and our resources, poverty and blatant disregard for our health. (Translation: My politics makes me superior to all of you.)
HNN: In emotional day, longtime HC&S workers clock out for the last time
read … Hate on Display
Hawaii County Ethics Comm Holds Secret Hearings to Grant Exemptions to Double Dipping Self Dealing Contractors
HTH: …A new law requiring that county employees seeking to do contract work for the county in addition to their day job get permission from the Board of Ethics won’t go into effect until July 1, but would-be contractors and their families are already starting to line up for advisory opinions.
The county ordinance was passed unanimously by the County Council and signed in November by Mayor Billy Kenoi almost six years after he first proposed it. In the process, it was amended five times, morphing from an outright ban on the moonlighting work to approval as long as the Ethics Board agreed to it.
The Ethics Board is currently considering requests for clearance from a county electrical inspector who also does electrical work for his family and friends, the wife of an independent contractor who does contract work for the county and a county inspector of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Section 8 housing program who wants to make his rental unit available to the program.
Those cases, some of them in closed hearings, are scheduled to be discussed when the Ethics Board meets at 10 a.m. today in County Council chambers in Hilo. The current rules allow the advisory hearings to be closed to the public, even though the names of successful bidders will be public later.
“I think it should be public,” Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille, who reintroduced Kenoi’s bill early last year after a previous council rejected it, said Monday….
read … Ethics
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz loses mind, calls on media to focus more on climate change
MT: Look, we at Maui Time like U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, D–Hawaii. In fact, we can’t really think of any substantive issue in which we disagree. But the news release his office sent out today–damn, we just don’t now.
Apparently, there’s a new Media Matters report out that says broadcast TV networks just aren’t covering climate change in any rational, concerted effort (Wow, who knew?). Anyway, Sen. Schatz thinks this is just bogus, and wants it to stop. He even sent out a news release today with this very long quote from him just going off on network news….
read … U.S. Senator Brian Schatz loses mind
Vehicle owners face increases to three separate fees under new bill
KHON: A Hawaii lawmaker says car owners could be hit with a triple-whammy as a bill currently under review in the state Legislature aims to increase three different fees: the vehicle registration fee, and vehicle weight and fuel fees.
If Senate Bill 2938 becomes law, owning a vehicle in Hawaii could cost even more as the state looks to collect $70 million more a year for the State Highway Fund.
Sen. Sam Slom, R, Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Kahala, has been the only senator to vote against efforts to raise the fees….
Star-Adv: Reject gas tax--bloated bureaucracy, not lack of money, is a fundamental obstacle to better roadways
read … The rest of the Senators are laughing at us
Chronic Homeless Refusing Help, Return to Kakaako
KHON: “HCDA says there’s nothing new to report on. We saw several tents, if not more, than from two months ago. How is that nothing new to report on?” KHON2 asked.
“I think we’re continuing to again, address park closure enforcement in the same way we have been regularly since December. I think it comes down to an issue of resources,” Morishige replied.
A Department of Public Safety spokesperson said sheriffs are available to assist when requested by the landowner. They go through the park to remind everyone to leave by 10 p.m., and that there hasn’t been an issue.
“So does that mean on any given night, if someone is going to drive by, there won’t be any tents in the area?” KHON2 asked.
“They do periodic enforcements,” said Morishige. “I know sheriffs drive through on a nightly basis. Again, it comes down to an issue of additional resources.”
Morishige is asking the state for more money to get more sheriffs, deputies, and homeless outreach workers to Kakaako. He says it will “significantly” help clear the encampment.
“Let’s say you’re able to get the budget for this. How soon can we see these tents gone?” KHON2 asked.
“Due to complexity of issue, it’s going to take time to address the issue. I think having these resources on hand will help. Each situation is a little bit different,” he said. “You’re talking about issues in this area, (people) who have been homeless for many, many years.”
Morishige says 230 have been placed into shelters since August, and that the tents remaining belong to the “chronic” homeless who are refusing help.
read … Tent City is Back
Proposed law would release even more criminals onto streets
HNN: The bill under consideration would allow the director of Public Safety to release both convicted and pretrial inmates….
The Honolulu Police Department is against the bill saying, "It may serve to place more criminal offenders back out on the street to commit even more crimes."
State Rep. Cynthia Thielen agrees.
"It's not because the person's going to get counseling or be kept from committing other crimes, it's solely for overpopulation. That's no reason to pass a bill. To let these people back out on the street," said Thielen.
If the bill is approved by the full House and Senate it could go into effect as early as July 1….
"I don't see any other rational way to address it at this point. Eventually we're going to get sued," said state Rep. Karl Rhoads.
(Answer: Send more to Arizona and save money. Lots of money.)
read … Soft on Crime
Men assaulted by Honolulu officer file lawsuit against city
KITV: …Vincent Morre resigned from the force after pleading guilty to violating the men's civil rights. He's serving a 2 ½ year sentence at a California federal prison.
Myles Breiner, who represents the two men, says other officers tried to intimidate them after the attack.
read … Game Room Profits
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