Hawaii Republican State Convention Set for May 21
Hawaii 12th Most Expensive State to Own a Car
Hawaii Legislation Would Strengthen Franchisee Rights
Hawaii Planned Parenthood Should be Investigated Not Celebrated
Hawaii Family Advocates Legislative Week in Review
Hunting for alternate site: TMT board members visit Canary Islands
HTH: The Thirty Meter Telescope’s leaders don’t appear to be wasting much time finding an alternative site for the next-generation observatory, if a recent post on social media is any indication.
On Monday, photos showing TMT’s board members and project leader visiting observatories on the Canary Islands were posted on the telescope’s Facebook page, helping stir speculation about where they might look to if they give up on building on Mauna Kea.
“Beautiful site!” the post said, after identifying the observatory leaders at the island of La Palma last weekend….
“TMT is looking at a number of sites, both those that were previously considered as well as some new ones,” said Scott Ishikawa in an emailed statement. “The specific sites are not being disclosed at this time.”
read … Telescope Leaving Hawaii
Sanders Panders to Anti-GMO Crowd
MN: …The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders came to Maui on Monday and heard about the end of sugar - its lost jobs as well as the harms of cane burning (and then pandered to the people who are celebrating) - reached out to Native Hawaiians and offered advice to a community grappling with the issue of genetically modified organisms in food.
Jane Sanders' home state of Vermont is the first to require food companies to include GMOs on their labels. Maui County voters passed an initiative by a slim margin in 2014 to place a moratorium on GMO farming until health studies are completed. The case is currently on appeal in the federal courts.
Sanders said that her husband, who has built is campaign on fighting for the little guy or the "99 percent of Americans," has battled with multimillion-dollar lobbyists of companies like Monsanto, which has seed farms on Maui and Molokai, and added that she hoped "that people make their feelings known through their purchases."
CB: Sanders airing four ads in hopes of winning some of Hawaii’s 34 Democratic delegates
read … Panders
Stanley Chang comes from the most liberal side of the Democratic Party
SA: …Chang,…comes from the most liberal side of the Democratic Party.
During his congressional campaign, Chang said he supported the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which boasts Vermont’s Bernie Sanders as its only Senate member. Chang also said he supported Massachusetts Democrat U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s bank-reform legislation.
“We want to improve the schools, we want more affordable housing, bring better jobs. We need to get serious with some of the current crises, including homelessness,” said Chang.
Slom said he has a record of 20 years of demanding “smaller government, accountability, government transparency and less taxes.”
To that end, Slom has often been the lone voice complaining of what he says is excessive state spending without responsibility.
“My constituents don’t like tax and fee increases, they want the Hawaii Kai environment protected from development and they want something done about homelessness, which is now impacting East Honolulu,” Slom says….
read … One Party State
Zika Lands on Chemophobe Kauai—‘No Spraying Was Done’
SA: …Anna Koethe, DOH spokeswoman, said they wouldn’t be releasing the person’s name or the location of their residence to protect their privacy.
“The individual is potentially contagious,” Koethe said. “They have been advised to remain indoors and take precautions from being bitten by mosquitoes.”
She said the Vector Control team has visited the person’s home to survey for mosquitoes and to treat any breeding sites.
“In general, there was very little to no mosquito activity seen throughout the neighborhood,” Koethe said. “A few containers were discovered with larvae, but could be easily emptied out. No spraying was done.”
Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. said he’s been working with the Kauai Civil Defense Agency and the Kauai District Health Office in preparedness and preventative efforts against Zika virus and dengue fever.
“Today’s announcement reinforces the need for community awareness and preventative measures that should be taken to help prevent Zika,” Carvalho said in a statement. “At this time I ask for your assistance with community awareness and preventative measures.”
He also directed community members to follow the state’s “Fight the Bite” protocols for helping eliminate the bugs that can carry Zika, dengue fever and other illnesses.
Those steps are to get rid of standing water in buckets and puddles, fix leaky faucets and hoses that are dripping, treat plants that routinely hold water, clean gutters so that water can flow freely, and dispose of old tires.
The state also suggests applying insect repellent when you’re outdoors, wearing long-sleeved clothing and long pants, and avoiding areas and times where mosquitoes are most active.
Hawaii’s health director, Virginia Pressler, expects more imported cases of Zika as the virus continues to spread….
read … Zika lands on Kauai
OHA Cronies Grab for Control of Agricultural Water
SA: Opponents turned out in force Monday to testify against a bill that would allow Alexander & Baldwin to temporarily hold on to the rights to millions of gallons of water it diverts each day from East Maui streams.
At the start of the hearing by the Senate Water, Land and Agriculture Committee, Chairman Mike Gabbard announced that 577 pieces of testimony had been submitted on House Bill 2501.
The measure appeared in large part to pit environmental and Native Hawaiian groups who want flows restored to a dozen Maui streams against farmers and ranchers who worry a recent court ruling against A&B could threaten their access to water and public lands.
Summer Sylva, staff attorney for Native Hawaiian Legal Corp., said A&B is the only entity that would benefit from House Bill 2501 because A&B is the only company with water rights on “holdover” status that are addressed in the bill. Although there might be nine other revocable water permits, “nobody has objected to their use,” she said.
read … Rent-Seeking Behavior
Transportation Department Holds Kauai Hostage to Fuel Tax Hike
KGI: …In an email Monday, Shelly Kunishinge with the Department of Transportation said it will continue to work with the Kauai Council to address concerns, but emphasized a blanket solution continues to be illusive until funding mechanisms are identified.
Last year, the DOT outlined five priority transportation projects on Kauai that could be accomplished in the next five years for about $60 million.
Looking at the bigger picture, the financial fix would amount to hundreds of millions of dollars over the next several years. Prioritizing the most pressing needs and addressing funding options and time frames remain a priority. In the short term, other options are being considered.
“The legislature is currently seeking a $0.03 increase in the fuel tax, $0.01 per pound increase in vehicle weight tax and $31.50 annual increase in vehicle registration fees to fund improvements,” according to the email from DOT. “Without these increases, capacity projects such as the Kuhio Highway widening and the right-turn lane extension at Kuamoo Road may be deferred.”
REALITY: State Fails to Use $820M in Federal Highway Funds
read … Ransom Demands
SB2690: Rise in Cigarette Tax Peddled as Aid to Cancer Center
SA: University of Hawaii officials are hoping a bill in the state Legislature that would raise the excise tax on cigarettes and little cigars will help the UH Cancer Center stay afloat despite recurring budget deficits.
Senate Bill 2690 originally proposed increasing the tax to 20 cents a cigarette from 16 cents, bumping up the state tax on a package of 20 cigarettes to $4 from $3.20. But lawmakers have since taken out the amount of the increase, half of which would be earmarked for the Cancer Center and half for the state Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division to fund smoking cessation and education programs.
UH also petitioned for a $5 million appropriation for the Cancer Center, but Gov. David Ige reduced the request to $4 million.
BigQ: What do you think about the University of Hawaii’s Cancer Center?
MN: House bill severs ties between health center, tobacco tax income
read … Another Tax Hike
HB2466: Special Fund Raid Targets Community Health Centers as E-Cigs Continue to Cut into Tobacco Sales
HNN: A bill is circulating in state legislature that could drastically cut funding to Hawaii's 14 community health centers.
HB 2466 aims to repeal and transfer balances of various non-general funds, including the Community Health Center Special Fund. …
"We have lots of emergencies happen through the night and the closest ER room is nowhere on the coast," said District 43 House Representative Andria Tupola, who voted against the bill….
The special fund that these health centers rely on comes from tobacco taxes charged to wholesalers and dealers, but lawmakers say the those revenues are diminishing and must now explore a more viable option.
"A lot of these programs need to be realistic about the reality that cigarette revenues are going to go down so they need to start thinking about what is the future of their program," said Rep. Sylvia Luke, chairperson of the House Finance Committee.
"If tobacco tax funds are not going to be used for this purpose we certainly hope there will be another dedicated funding source provided by the state to be sure our important services are covered," Vasconcellos said.
A gut and replace bill was proposed by the senate to study the distribution of cigarette tax revenues. There is a public hearing on both versions of the bill Wednesday, March 23 at 9:15 a.m. at the state capitol room 211.
read … Special Fund Raid
Just for Laughs: UH Administrators Pretend to have a Plan to Save UH Cancer Center
SA: State officials contend that drastic changes must be made if the University of Hawaii Cancer Center is to survive, though they have yet to gain consensus on a single plan to lift the organization out of its financial hole.
Jerris Hedges, the center’s interim director, is pinning the organization’s financial hopes over the next two to five years on a plan that involves the sale of laboratory activities for commercial use, establishing spinoff companies to use the technology developed by researchers to monitor cancer risk, and other entrepreneurial ventures….
read … they have yet to gain consensus on a single plan
100% Goal is Still Fake – Renewable Energy Bill Deferred
SA: Two state Senate committees voted Friday to defer a bill that would fix a flaw in the state’s “100 percent renewable energy goal” that allows Hawaii electrical utilities to continue using fossil fuel beyond 2045.
The 100 percent renewable law is based on a calculation that can be broken down to the amount of renewable electrical generation connected to Hawaii’s grid divided by the amount of electricity the utility sells. To fix the flaw, the bill proposes to replace the word “sales” with “generation.” The new calculation would be electrical energy generation divided by electrical generation instead of electrical generation divided by energy sales.
The Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health deferred the bill….
read … Its Whatever they want to pretend it is
Senate Votes $28M for DHHL
CB: Heeding the complaints of homesteaders and a Hawaii judge, a state Senate committee on Monday agreed to fund the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in the amount of $28.4 million for the current fiscal year.
House Bill 1932 originally called for that amount in light of a court finding in November that DHHL has not been appropriated “sufficient sums” for its administrative and operating expenses.
But the bill, which passed the House nearly unanimously on March 10, was heavily amended and the dollar amount slashed….
Reality: Delays Upon Delays at DHHL
read … DHHL
Committee tightens up a measure on transient rental taxes
SA: …A controversial bill aimed at simplifying tax collections for transient vacation rental hosts was amended Monday to make it tougher for illegal operators to skirt local ordinances.
As introduced, House Bill 1850 would let the online vacation rental giant Airbnb and similar companies arrange to collect general excise and transient accommodation taxes on behalf of hosts and pay the money to the state. After language was added to deter illegal operations, the bill passed the Senate Committee on Tourism and International Affairs with support from Sens. J. Kalani English, Brickwood Galuteria, Josh Green, Kaiali‘i Kahele and Jill Tokuda. It was also supported by Sens. Rosalyn Baker, Michelle Kidani, Will Espero, Les Ihara Jr., Clarence Nishihara and Sam Slom from the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health.
Baker, chairwoman of the Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health Committee, said the amendments will be posted by Thursday. She said language will be added that requires Airbnb to notify hosts who want to use its platform that they must comply with all local ordinances….
read … Committee tightens up a measure on transient rental taxes
What’s Happened To Mayor’s ‘Bold’ Affordable Housing Plan?
CB: It’s been a year and a half since Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell unveiled a proposal to require every large new residential development on Oahu to include low- or moderately-priced units….
Despite the fanfare over the announcement, Caldwell still hasn’t introduced the plan to the City Council. The administration says it needs more analysis and that the city is working on fine-tuning it with input from developers….
read … Affordable?
Task Force to Take Aim at Affordable Housing Money
HNN: SB-2561 would create a new task force headed up by the Lieutenant Governor. The goal: facilitate the construction of 22,500 affordable rental units over the next 10 years.
Marrone says she supports the idea but for that kind of growth, Honolulu in particular, needs major infrastructure improvements.
"I think the most important part is sewer capacity. If they're going to go high density around the transit oriented development line then sewer capacity is huge. It's a requirement really," said Marrone.
Financing the plan is another issue. Developer Stanford Carr says money to build that many properties just isn't there. He says to reach the state's goal contractors would need $2.2 billion in junior debt financing. That's typically funded by the conveyance tax which is currently capped at $38-million/yr.
read … SB2561 Task force
Crime Victims Flood Newspaper: Will my Perpetrator be released?
SA: My house was broken into and it was a terrible violation. I don’t even want to live here anymore. I don’t know whether they ever will even catch the person who did it, but if they do, would that person be considered a nonviolent offender eligible for early release just because no one was home and no one was hurt when my house got robbed? …
Kokua Line has received similar questions from other property crime victims wondering whether perpetrators could be released under this plan. If the criminals are already behind bars, the answer is no, because this bill would apply only to defendants incarcerated after it takes effect — assuming it passes….
read … Of Course They Will
Admiral, Police Team up for Maui Marijuana Business
PBN: …ERBA Wellness’ CEO Ret. Adm. Mel Chiogioji has experience in government project and program management and has spent his career in healthcare and research.
Fred Lau, master cultivator, who also is part of ERBA Wellness, has nearly 40 years of experience in sustainable agriculture.
Others part of ERBA Wellness include Darwin and Tamar Wise, who will focus on innovations in cannabis oils and concentrates while emphasizing alternatives other than smoking; Suzanne Sisley and Claire Santos, the group's medical and health advisors; and Doug Aton, a retired assistant chief for the Honolulu Police Department, with Star Protection Agency providing security for the company….
read … Marijuana Dealers
HB1072: Psychologists Want to Sell Drugs, Too
SA: …the Legislature is considering House Bill 1072, which would allow clinical psychologists to prescribe psychotropic drugs once they get additional training. This authority is usually reserved for medical doctors, including psychiatrists, and certain advanced-practice registered nurses.
The measure awaits a final hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
However, psychiatrists have legitimate concerns that the proposed training would be insufficient preparation. Medication plans for patients with multiple ailments — physical and mental — can be complex and require advanced medical knowledge. The drugs themselves are extremely powerful….
AP: Medicare’s big drug test
read … Oxycontin
Army to Reduce Hawaii Forces 8%
PBN: …the army is planning to cut 8 percent of active duty army troops at Schofield Barracks by the end of fiscal year 2017. This will result in about 1,200 troops being removed from Hawaii.
The army is also planning to cut about 17,000 civilian workers nationwide during the same period, although the details of where those layoffs will occur have yet to be determined. …
read … Measuring Hawaii's military presence, today and through 2016
Joining Dems and GOP is possible but unethical
SA: “because the state of Hawaii does not record party affiliation, there are many voters who regularly vote Republican and regard themselves as ‘registered Republicans’ but are not on the Hawaii Republican Party membership rolls. Over 15,000 Hawaii voters filled out Hawaii Republican Party membership cards at our March 8 Presidential Caucus. (Donald Trump won.) We encourage all Hawaii Republican voters to officially join the Hawaii Republican Party at GOPHawaii.com and work together for a multiparty democracy in Hawaii.”
read …. Unethical
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