May 14, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Friday, May 14, 2010

May 14, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 3:13 PM :: 11718 Views

Gay Civil Unions: Mufi still refuses to oppose HB444

CQ: Democrats May Get the Blues in Hawaii

Republican Charles Djou Holds Cash Advantage Ahead of Special Election in Heavily Democratic Hawaii District

Name in the News: State GOP Chair Jonah-Kuhio Ka'auwai (must read)

Well, the difference, I think, of what we've seen in the last 10 to 20 years in Republicans in their politics has been that the party has been built on either one of two things. It's been built either on issues, as we saw in the late '80s with the Robertson movement, the pro-life movement, and we also saw an influx of candidates and elected officials come in with the same-sex debates in the late '90s. And then it was Linda Lingle that came in. So we had both an issues- and candidate-driven Republican Party.

What we're moving to is a values-based party. It's like building your house. You build your house on something that is long-lasting. We are building our house on a solid-rock foundation and we consider those our values of liberty, limited government, individual responsibility, fiscal accountability and equality of opportunity (LLIFE). ... It's a separation of values and issues.

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Djou clarifies that race not over

"Mathematically, it becomes next to impossible (for Democrats) to win this race unless you stuff the ballot box," Djou, a Republican, told The Hill, a Washington, D.C., newspaper that covers Congress.

Djou, who is leading former Congressman Ed Case and state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa in public and private polls, later clarified that he does not believe the campaign is over.

"Ed Case and Colleen Hanabusa are merely threatened by my winning message of lower taxes and fiscal responsibility," Djou said in a statement. "This race is far from over and during the next nine days I will leave no stone unturned."

HNN: Candidates react to Djou quote that race 'pretty much over'

SB: Dems slam Djou for calling election 'pretty much over'

Hidden Tax Hike Likely to Dent Hawaii Non-Profit Fundraising Efforts

House Bill 1907, HD1, SD1, CD1, which potentially reduces the incentive for the upper middle class and wealthy by further capping the itemized deductions that they can make, has outraged some local non-profit board members. These board members say this legislation steals from the local charities to pay public union worker salaries and pay for legislators’ favorite projects and programs.

Many non-profit directors are unwilling to speak on the record about their concerns for fear of offending their donors or the Legislature that gives them government funding.

Hawaii school board may cancel next year's furlough days

A political stalemate blocked efforts to restore furlough days to this year's public school calendar in Hawai'i, but the Board of Education may not have to rely on Gov. Linda Lingle's largesse next year.

Precisely following the game plan to elect a Dem Governor:

POLITICO: Inouye's sway may cost Dems a seat

In a staring contest with Sen. Daniel Inouye over the high-stakes May 22 Hawaii special election, national Democrats blinked first and bowed to the wishes of the Aloha State political titan.

As a consequence, some Democrats say, it could cost the party a House seat next week….

Adrienne King: My Quest to Become Hawaii's Next Lieutenant Governor

I believe we stand for the very values I grew up with: liberty, limited government, individual responsibility, fiscal accountability, and economic opportunity.

These are the values of the Hawaiian Republican Party, of which I have been a member for over 20 years. These are also the values of the TEA party movement, of which I have not only been a proud supporter, but also the only candidate in the state who has publicly declared as one of its official sponsors.

WSJ: Congressional Special Elections: Show of Horrors

In the two special elections for the House being held next week, Democrats appear to have thrown in the towel in a Hawaii race where the presence of two Democrats on the ballot looks like it may hand the seat to a Republican.

But in the Pennsylvania coal-mining district once held by the late Jack Murtha, former Murtha aide Mark Critz appears to have made a comeback with a flurry of TV commercials accusing GOP businessman Tim Burns of wanting to raise taxes….

WHT Polls Abercrombie’s fake DoE reform proposal

Gubernatorial candidate Neil Abercrombie proposes decentralizing the state's school system. (A question predicated on an illusion.) Will that end Hawaii's education woes?

REALITY: Abercrombie: My “emanations” will make DoE serve students first

Hawaii County told to make more cuts

HILO -- Tighten belts; don't raise taxes.
That message came through loud and clear Thursday evening, when the Hawaii County Council held its first hearing on Mayor Billy Kenoi's proposed budget.
In an election year, a majority of the council seemed ready to listen. In order to not raise taxes, the council needs to cut $23 million from county programs in the $376 million budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

How Kaua‘i got to keep hotel-room tax

James Pacopac and Ron Kouchi, from SPJ Consulting LLC, together with Tokioka, gave councilmembers a vivid account of how the counties got to keep the TAT for now, in a lobbying effort that included deliveries of gifts of island delicacies to lawmakers and intense lobbying efforts by the four county mayors.

Tokioka said up until the last hour of the legislative session it was still possible that up to 100 percent of the TAT would be taken by the state in an effort to address a budget shortfall surpassing $1 billion….

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Arson is suspected in Hilo Church blaze

Pastor Robert Daley, at right, says Central Christian Church in Hilo has "had trouble with people defacing the property. We found swastikas carved in the doors a couple years ago. ...

Warehouse fire consumes Kauai paper's newsprint

Fire officials estimated damage at the Kauai Freight Service warehouse in the light industrial area of Puhi will total millions of dollars for a number of businesses, including the 3,000-square-foot newsprint storage area at the site.

Other businesses affected include Beachside Roofing LLC, a boat/surfboard repair shop and Hamco, a provider of plate glass windows.

ML&P’s ‘survive to thrive’ plan passes

the offering is for almost, but not quite, one new share per old share.

And since Steve Case owns more shares than anybody, the offering's success will depend upon his willingness to put new money into the company.

President Ryan Churchill said after the meeting that he couldn't comment about whether Case had indicated he would be willing to put more tens of millions into the company.

Hawaiian Electric seals 20-year deal with Kahuku Wind Power

Hawaiian Electric Co. has received approval from the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to move forward with plans to purchase renewable energy from a 30-megawatt wind farm slated to be built later this year on Oahu’s North Shore.

Kahuku Wind Power will sell renewable energy to Hawaiian Electric during a 20-year period at predetermined prices as a buffer to rising oil prices.

Kahuku Wind, a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based First Wind, will be located west of Kahuku town near Charlie Road.

ADV: Wind farm pact approved

REALITY: Wind Energy's Ghosts

Marines show how to be 'lean, green'

At the beginning of 2009, the Marines stopped using plastic shopping bags and began using paper ones at their retail facilities at the Kaneohe base and stores at Manana housing in Pearl City and Camp Smith.

They took it a step further last month, crediting shoppers a nickel for each reusable bag brought or adding a nickel to the bill for every paper bag used.

Col. Robert Rice, the commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, says the policy is aimed at making Marines on the base "lean, green fighting machines" and energy self-sufficient by 2015.

RELATED: Save The Plastic Bag

Hawaii Tourism Authority gets expanded authority to meet behind closed doors

Hawaii tourism officials will be allowed to meet behind closed doors on issues that are “proprietary” and “competitively sensitive” under a law signed by Gov. Linda Lingle this week.

Law firm will advocate for Hawaii children

A group of Honolulu attorneys is launching a public interest law firm to advocate on behalf of children with disabilities and their rights to education in Hawaii’s public school system.

Levin Education Access Project, founded by partner Stanley Levin of Davis Levin Livingston, will represent the children and their families, who the law firm says have been denied federally mandated access to education. Levin has retired as a partner from the law firm to focus full-time on the nonprofit public interest agency, offering pro bono services.

The nonprofit will be funded by attorneys and education specialists. Susan Dorsey will be CEO and legal counsel, while Bruce Ellis will take on the role of supervising paralegal and training director.

Hawaii recycling plan offers $250 in cash for clunker refrigerators

Kawamoto selling Kahala houses

Honolulu landfill operator, city fined $424,000 for berm violation

Degrees of difficulty: World War II internees finally will get diplomas