Weakening Quickly, Lane Now a Tropical Storm--Moving Away from Oahu
Lane: Ige Forms Joint Task Force with Military
OHA emergency funds distributed to lava flow victims
Matson suspends port operations for Hurricane Lane
Lane: 1,000 Homeless Accept Shelter—But Don’t Worry, We’re Getting them Back on the Streets Today
SA: …The mayor said we dodged a bullet. The governor said we can now go back to normal….
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said that there were more than 1,000 people at shelters across Oahu as of Friday evening, including homeless. He said the shelters will remain open until noon today (Saturday), and buses will transport people for free from the shelters between 10 a.m. and noon (To where? You know where.) ….
read … Government response to Lane: Whew! That was close
Most in homeless camp shelter with relatives during storm—But They’ll go back to their Tents Today
SA: …A majority of the folks living in the Puuhonua o Waianae homeless camp left the grounds to ride out the arrival of Lane, leaving fewer than 50 people behind to watch over the makeshift village next to Waianae Small Boat Harbor.
“The last time we had to evacuate (in 2017), a lot of the things were stolen (back),” Josiah Koria, a camp spokesman, said Friday afternoon. So a core of residents spent part of the day tying down loose items onto any of the occupants’ vehicles or the ground, he said….
None of the Puuhonua o Waianae camp journeyed up the hill to the nearest American Red Cross temporary shelter at Leihoku Elementary School about 2 miles away.
Karen Awana, shelter coordinator, said about 65 people were signed in Friday afternoon, just slightly more than stayed over Thursday night.
More than half appeared to be homeless people relocating from the beach, and about 20 percent were people from transitional housing centers near the coastline. There were also two families visiting from out of state….
read … Most in homeless camp shelter with relatives during storm
Star-Av: Make Seniors and the Disabled Pay More for Bus Service
SA: …the outrage has begun over the city’s proposal to raise fares for TheBus. For many citizens, Oahu’s efficient and clean bus system is the sole means of transportation, their lifeline to all points of work, health and leisure….
A key case in point: the annual senior pass, which is being proposed to increase from the current $35, to $110. On first blush, a 214 percent increase would seem outrageous. But consider: even at the proposed $110 yearly, that comes out to a little over $9 monthly, still a bargain for unlimited rides….
Also due for an increase are TheHandi-Van rates: single-fare rides are proposed to go up to $2.50 from the current $2. Handi-Van riders and their advocates were able to stave off a fare hike last year — but given increases in both operation costs and demand for this service, it’s hard to rationalize the status quo. It’s been 17 years since TheHandi-Van fares were last raised, and riders cover just 4 percent of ride costs, which average $45.
(If this is such a problem, why not cut operating expenses in half by shifting Handi-Van operations to private cab companies?)
The City Council is expected to take up the slate of proposed public-transit fare increases — Bill 66 — on Sept. 12, followed by a Budget Committee vetting on Sept. 19. They’re sure to get an earful at each and every turn….
Meanwhile: Uber Caldwell: Level the Playing Field for Everybody Except HandiVan
read … Give bus fare hikes another look
NOAA Fines Hawaii Visitor $1500 for Touching Two Religious Icons
SA: …An Alabama man (blasphemer) was fined $1,500 for touching a Hawaiian monk seal (religious icon) as well as harassing a sea turtle (another religious icon) on Kauai, and then posting the videos to Instagram, (thus encouraging others to commit sacrilege) according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice).
The Alabama resident, who was vacationing on Kauai last year, agreed to pay the fine, (confess his sins and repent) NOAA said….
Reality: Crichton: Environmentalism is a religion
read … State Religion
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