Lalamilo: Newly Built Windfarm in Default after 10 Months--Demands Subsidy
Indictment: 24 New Jersey Residents Allegedly Defraud Hawaii DoTax
HDOT Sitting on $468M Unspent Federal Funds
Ige, Hanabusa: Hawaii County Should Appeal ‘Open carry’ Ruling
SA: …“It turns us into the Wild West — whoever shoots first is the one who wins,” said Rhoads (D, Downtown- Nuuanu-Liliha). “It just turns us into Dodge City and the quick or the dead, and that’s it.”….
a lawyer for Hawaii County admitted that to his knowledge no one other than security guards “or someone similarly employed” had ever been issued an open carry license by the chief of police on Hawaii island, according to the decision.
That level of restriction restricts the “right” to open carry to a select few, and therefore forecloses law-abiding citizens from exercising a core constitutional right, according to the decision.
Rhoads said that if Hawaii County appeals the decision to a larger panel of judges with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and if that decision is then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, it could take two years before the state is actually required to loosen its restrictions on carrying firearms in public.
U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said Hawaii County should immediately file a petition requesting a rehearing from 11 other 9th Circuit justices.
Gov. David Ige said the state will urge Hawaii County to appeal, and will file a brief supporting that appeal.
“I oppose any decision to loosen gun controls in Hawaii, especially ‘open carry’ laws,” Ige said in a written statement. “The recent death of Officer Bronson Kaliloa on the Big Island should stand as a warning against those who advocate for limiting or eliminating gun controls.”…
(Why? Because Hawaii’s stringent gun laws kept felon Waiki from getting a gun? Uh …..)
read … ‘Open carry’ rejected by isle lawmakers
A police interview played in court reveals new details surrounding police shootout
HNN: …That car that Justin was driving, the Mazda 6. That girl that owns the car got sold. I mean got sold as in a 'human trafficking' sold….
…they was shooting Justin, then Justin turn around and shoot Jamie. And then the SWAT said, 'See you help him out and he turns his back on you and shoots you.'"….
WHT: Connection of other officer shooting unconfirmed
read … A police interview played in court reveals new details surrounding police shootout
New attack ads slam Fukunaga
HNN: …attack ads targeting Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga, claiming she has a history of helping a 1998 convicted child molester….
Related: Child molester back at work at Hawaii Legislature (Again)
read … New attack ads slamming the governor and a local councilwoman surface
Carpenters super PAC spending $300K in support of Hanabusa
SA: …The super political action committee controlled by the carpenters previously reported it was spending more than $67,000 to support Hanabusa, but new filings show the super PAC has now committed an additional $300,000 either to support Hanabusa or to oppose Ige.
Up until this week most of the advertisements fielded by the carpenters’ super PAC, called “Be Change Now,” have had a positive spin, praising Hanabusa for her background and accomplishments. However, the latest filings indicate more than $150,000 of the new spending will be committed specifically to opposing Ige’s re-election bid….
PRP’s political action committee spent more than $3.6 million in 2012 in a fierce campaign to prevent former Gov. Ben Cayetano from being elected Honolulu mayor. PRP supports the city’s rail project, which Cayetano had pledged to stop if he was elected mayor.
Cayetano sued for defamation in connection with PRP’s advertising during the 2012 campaign, and PRP agreed to apologize and donate $125,000 in Cayetano’s name to the University of Hawaii Medical School and the Hawaiian Humane Society to settle the lawsuit.
In this year’s race for governor, Takayama said, the Ige campaign expected “a last-minute barrage of negative advertising because that’s what this group is known for, but the momentum is clearly on Gov. Ige’s side at this point.”…
read … Carpenters super PAC ramps up spending in support of Hanabusa
‘Conservative’ John Carroll: Hawaii Should Vote on Seceding from USA
CB: The Republican candidate calls for eliminating the general excise tax and holding an election on whether to restore the kingdom…. .he provided scant details on how to resolve the complex issues both actions would raise.
read … Carroll the ‘Conservative’, Yeah right.
Smug Millennial Caucus: ‘Progressive’ Ing, Fukumoto Look Like Losers
CB: …Ing, who bills himself as a Democratic socialist, has seemingly found little traction among local voters in the race to fill the open seat for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District….
Ing lagged far behind the leaders among likely Democratic voters in the poll. Another candidate trying to appeal to progressive voters on the left wing of the party, Republican-turned-Democrat Beth Fukumoto, gathered little backing in the poll….
Ing was fined $15,000 by the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission for numerous violations, including spending donor money on his personal rent and his partner’s credit card bill. Despite repeated apologies and promises to clean up his finances, Ing continues to make mistakes, including by over-reporting how much money his campaign earned in the latest quarter and understating how much he’s spent.
He’s also come under fire for misrepresenting that he had a master’s degree when, in fact, he did not….
read … “progressives” have struggled to find traction
Get Ready For Scare Tactics To Ward Off A Constitutional Convention
CB: …We’re still waiting for a sign of organized support for the once-in-a-decade chance to shake up Hawaii’s power structure…..
read …Get Ready For Scare Tactics To Ward Off A Constitutional Convention
Kauai DLNR Chief on Trial for Rape, Child Molestation
KGI: …Opening arguments were heard Tuesday in Fifth Circuit Court in a jury trial against the former Kauai Police Department officer who would eventually become head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources on Kauai.
Sitting next to his defense attorney, Tarey Low listened quietly as the alleged victim testified under oath, describing six of the times she alleges he raped her.
Low, who faces multiple counts of sexual assault, is alleged to have began abusing the victim when she was 14 years old after he began a relationship with her mother….
The victim was scared and didn’t know what to do, so she listened to Low. That was the first time the sexual assault is alleged to have happened. Low then allegedly told the victim not to tell anyone, or he would kill her, Winn said.
“(The victim) knew he could kill her and get away with it. At that point in time the defendant had over 25 years in law enforcement. He was the branch chief of DLNR DOCARE here on Kauai, the law enforcement agency that oversees all state lands,” Winn told the court….
read … Opening arguments heard in sex abuse case
Officer's police powers removed in light of abuse charges
KHON: …A Honolulu police officer has been charged with 16 misdemeanor offenses.
Ryan Konishi, 41, was arrested at 9:50 a.m. Saturday and charged with 14 counts of abuse, as well as second-degree reckless endangering and second-degree terroristic threatening.
He is free after posting $28,000 bail….
read … Officer's police powers removed in light of abuse charges
Reinforcing Oligopoly: Marijuana eradication campaign confirmed
WHT: … State and county law enforcement officials confirmed Tuesday that helicopter searches for marijuana have taken place over the last week on Hawaii Island.
The mission included efforts on Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday, Hawaii Police Maj. Robert Wagner said. It covered the Hamakua, Waimea, Ka’u and Kona districts.
He said a “few” HPD officers were involved in the mission, which was being led by the state Department of Public Safety’s Narcotics Enforcement Division….
NS: Cracking down on illegal cannabis with edible barcodes and blockchains
read … Marijuana eradication campaign confirmed
Property tax breaks for disabled vets advances
WHT: …Disabled or unemployable veterans would pay no property taxes under a bill advanced Tuesday by the County Council Finance Committee.
Bill 165, sponsored by Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha, replaces the words “totally disabled” with the term “100 percent disabled or 100 percent unemployable or both.” It also removes requirements for paying the minimum tax for those in that category, starting July 1, 2019….
There currently are 656 qualifying vets in the county in that category, representing $131,200 in property taxes, according to Finance Department staff….
CB: Mayor Should Veto Tax Break For Military
read … Property tax breaks for disabled vets advances
Hawaii County Vacation rental bill heads to planning commissions
WHT: Hawaii County Council members approved a fourth version of a vacation rental bill Tuesday, fine-tuning a measure that’s generated a lot of controversy from those on both sides of the issue….
An amendment initiated by Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara broadens the grandfather clause, setting a onetime registration fee of $250 for any existing vacation rental, whether it’s in an allowable county zone or not. Those in disallowed zones would pay an annual $250 fee for a nonconforming use permit.
The amended version also requires notification of neighbors within 300 feet of a new vacation rental, establishes a good neighbor policy and quiet hours and allows the county to approve new vacation rentals when nonconforming vacation rental units are lost during a declared emergency.
The Planning Department is empowered to enforce regulations and fine violators, with procedures and fines set in line with other planning and zoning violations….
Bill 108 applies only to unhosted, short-term or vacation rentals where the owner does not live on site. Hosted rentals, such as bed and breakfasts and home-sharing units, are not addressed in the bill….
said Kohala Councilman Tim Richards. “We have heard it all. … When everyone’s equally unhappy, we will have finally struck the balance.”
read … Vacation rental bill heads to planning commissions
Union Claims Marriott Agrees To Subsidize Hotel Workers’ Housing
CB: Marriott has agreed to contribute to a housing fund to help hotel workers deal with the high cost of housing in Hawaii, according to representatives from Unite Here Local 5 who are in the midst of collective bargaining…. Dara Young, director of public relations at Marriott, declined to confirm or deny the union’s statement….
Gill said that the union is proceeding to set up a housing trust fund even though it’s still unclear how much money Marriott will contribute. The fund will be administered by a board of trustees appointed by both the union and hotel management….
“Right now we are in the preparation stages to kind of design the fund,” Gill said.
The fund will have limitations on how the money can be used, he said, adding, “We’re not doing this so that some member can make some money flipping houses.”…
read … Union: Marriott Agrees To Subsidize Hotel Workers’ Housing
Thrift stores reusing bags must charge fee, city says
SA: Question: Regarding the 15-cent bag fee, do thrift stores have to charge it even if the bag is used? I am referring to bags used to carry out merchandise. Thrift stores sell used merchandise, and some hand it to the customer in bags recycled from other stores; people donate their old bags to the thrift store for that purpose.
Answer: Yes, thrift stores must charge the fee, whether the checkout bag is used or new, and they must provide only the types of bag acceptable under the law, said Markus Owens, spokesman for the city’s Department of Environmental Services, which administers the revised Oahu bag ban that took effect July 1.
read … Thrift stores reusing bags must charge fee, city says
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