August 5, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Thursday, August 5, 2010

August 5, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:59 PM :: 11766 Views

Congress.org: "Abercrombie is a follower"

FULL TEXT: Federal Judge rules Calif. gay marriage ban unconstitutional

Lingle pushes for Leonard

Lingle met privately yesterday with state Sen. Brian Taniguchi (D, Moiliili-Manoa), chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee, to try to dispel concerns raised by senators and some in the legal community. The governor asked for the meeting after it appeared over the past few days that her nominee was in jeopardy.

"We talked a lot about leadership and about administrative experience and how they play and how they should be judged in terms of this nomination," Taniguchi said.

Several Senate sources, speaking privately, said the Senate might be leaning against confirming Leonard. Lingle, however, remains optimistic. She said senators "have a chance to do the right thing."

"My bottom line is that I'm not choosing a chief administrator. I'm not choosing a clerical person for this job. I'm choosing the leader who will set the tone for jurisprudence in the state for a decade to come," Lingle said.

(If successful, this will be the first time in decades Hawaii has had a Chief Justice committed to upholding the law instead of making it up as he goes along. No wonder the progressives are squealing like stuck pigs.)

KITV: Gov. Lingle Defends Chief Justice Nominee--Says She Chose A Leader Not A 'Clerical Person'

STATUS QUO IN THE JUDICIARY: Repeat offender gets probation

SA EDITORIAL: Confirm Leonard nomination

Lawyer Eric Seitz has contended for the past week that Leonard lacks administrative experience to head the Judiciary. That accusation soon was dropped after it was pointed out that none of the past chief justices had prior administrative duties. The opposition then turned to the allegation that Leonard is somehow short on leadership qualities, which are difficult to evaluate….

“Senators would do her an injustice by making choices of their own among the half-dozen designated by the Selection Commission as qualified for the job.” (They are pushing for Rectenwald?)

ALSO: Leonard's confirmation would tap Hawaii's female talent

Leonard appointment: Lingle prepared to bust Democrats stalling tactics

Some critics say Leonard's duration of experience as a judge is too short and say she lacks executive experience.

Retired Judge Marie Milks testifying in opposition said, "It is not enough that a nominee has the potential to grow into the job. A leader should not be a divisive personality."

Leonard aimed to show otherwise and visited senators one by one Wednesday.

"I think she's intelligent and she seems to be a kind individual," said Sen. Josh Green, (D) Kona. "I would like people to vote based on what they can glean from this individual as a person, what they know about her record and what they hear first hand."

Lingle set a face to face meeting with Senate Judiciary Chairman Brian Taniguchi.

"I'll talk with him about why I think Judge Leonard and Judge Tootoo are eminently qualified for these positions and I'll lay out the case," said Lingle.

If Leonard is not confirmed this week, the governor dismissed that it could be a stall tactic to push the top job appointment off long enough to let the next governor decide.

"I go right back to the list and send them down immediately another name and they have 30 days from that point," said Lingle.

Pelosi endorses Abercrombie, Responds to Mufi commercial

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has begun airing a 60-second radio ad that claims Abercrombie performed poorly in Congress.

It also criticizes Abercrombie for resigning in February to run for governor, which prompted a special election that cost the state $670,000.

Abercrombie aides on Wednesday released a statement from Pelosi, the top House Democrat.

She describes her former colleague as an "effective and courageous leader," and says he will be "an outstanding governor."

An Abercrombie spokeswoman says Pelosi's comments constitute an endorsement.

AP: Pelosi ventures into Hawaii's Democratic gubernatorial debate

Mufi commercial is based on this information: Congress.org: "Abercrombie is a follower"

Labor King: Another Mufi Lie busted by Omidyar’s Abercrombie lovin’ CB

Mufi Hannemann's campaign website says that he has attracted more labor endorsements than any other gubernatorial candidate. The statement, found in Hannemann's "Economic Action Plan," is pasted below. (According to CB Abercrombie beats Hannemann 14-12 in the union race.)

TOTALLY RELATED: Larry Mehau supporting Neil Abercrombie

Taking over: Steve Case’s ownership in ML&P now at 62.8 percent

WAILUKU - AOL co-founder Steve Case has significantly expanded his stake in Maui Land & Pineapple Co., buying additional stock that increases his ownership to 62.8 percent of the company.

Case paid $15.6 million to acquire an additional 4 million shares, according to a report filed Monday with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. The deal comes just days after Case paid $16.5 million to acquire 4.27 million shares July 28, under a rights offering by the company.

IGNORE THIS: Green hypocrites: Case & Omidyar's Maui Land & Pine tied to human trafficking

California's Proposition 8 ruling to affect Hawaii's fight over civil unions

"Obviously a U.S. Supreme Court decision, if it strikes down prohibitions on same sex marriage, would effect the entire country," said Jon Van Dyke, U.H. Manoa Law Professor.

Including Hawaii's fight over civil unions. Currently state legislators have the authority to determine whether same sex couples can tie the knot.

"I would think now that provision is in jeopardy," said Van Dyke. (Van Dyke was wrong about Ceded Lands, too)

"This issue is destined for the courts. There will be rulings in the courts and whatever the courts rule will certainly have impact on what we lawmakers do," said Senator Will Espero, (D) Ewa Beach, Ocean Pointe, Honouliuli.

Sen. Espero was among a handful of state lawmakers this session who voted down HB444, which would have allowed same sex couples in Hawaii to join in civil unions. That's a bill that eventually passed but was vetoed by Governor Linda Lingle, which prompted the ACLU of Hawaii to file suit.

"People are doing work on a lot of different fronts to move towards equality for same gender couples throughout the nation," said Dan Gluck, ACLU of Hawaii attorney. "The case in California was brought under federal law, our case is brought under state law so there are some differences."

Constitutional law professor Jon Van Dyke says the decision in California now sets a precedent.

"So this might be a situation where again our judges would see value in looking to the federal judge in San Francisco," said Van Dyke.

Hawaii lawmakers say the legal showdown will be closely watched.

"There may be a strong push to just wait and see what happens on the federal level," said Sen. Espero.

AP: Appeal filed over gay marriage ruling in Calif.

Shapiro: No marriage right spelled out in Constitution

Gay activists have long claimed a civil right to marry, but the legal fact is that no marriage right is specifically spelled out in the Constitution, and marriage doesn’t become an established civil right until the U.S. Supreme Court or Congress says it is.

Given our national political divisions, the cleaner path is probably through the courts. Once the matter is settled at the federal level, state laws will start to fall into line.

Ruling energizes civil-union advocates: Both supporters and opponents look to a possible Supreme Court decision in the case

Opponents of same-sex civil unions had different reactions to the news.

The chancellor of the Catholic Church in Hawaii, Walter Yoshimitsu, said, "Obviously we are disappointed in the ruling. But now we leave it up to the courts in Hawaii."

Francis Oda, who is chairman of Hawaii Family Forum, said while he would have “loved” the California case to go the other way, he expects the California case to go to the U.S. Supreme court. “So this was just one step in the process,” said Oda, who is also a pastor at New Life Church in downtown Honolulu.

Oda, an architect, said he hadn’t had a chance to read about the decision when he returned a reporter’s call Wednesday night. “My hope is that the Supreme Court will decide it and make it uniform one way or the other. And we can move on from this issue,” Oda said.

HNN: Hawaii's gay community celebrates California court ruling

KITV: Same-Sex Couple Hails Calif. Court Ruling

Homosexual assault on Calvin Say to be tried August 9

The challenge of Say’s residency by backers of his Democratic opponent Dwight Synan isn’t universally supported in the local gay rights community and has exposed some deep divisions over personalities and tactics. (This is what they do to even one of their key supporters because he doesn’t toe the line at every turn.)

SHOPO endorses Pacarro for prosecutor

Pacarro is running against former state Labor Director Darwin Ching and former Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro for the vacancy created when Peter Carlisle resigned to run for Honolulu mayor.
Pacarro is a longtime deputy in the Prosecutor’s Office.

SHOPO president Tenari Maafala also announced the union is endorsing Donovan Dela Cruz for the state Senate

WaPo: FedEx, Northrop Grumman give to Inouye’s pet projects

Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), the Senate Appropriations Committee chairman, was honored at a gala for the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor with a $250,000 donation from FedEx and $100,000 from Northrop Grumman. Science Applications International Corp. is also listed as a "presenting sponsor" on the museum's Web site but reported no contributions to the event. A spokeswoman did not return a request for comment.

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DoE Targets Molokai school for closure -- 16 miles to next school

According to the DOE roughly 68 students currently attend Maunaloa, while an estimated 230 students are enrolled at Kaunakakai.

“The school is really like a second home to them they are always around the school…because they have pride in their school,” said Maunaloa Elementary School Principal Joe Yamamoto.

Maunaloa is located in a rural area and Yamamoto said transportation is a concern if the school closes.

Students who normally walk to school will have to find a way to Kaunakakai; which is roughly 16 miles away.

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Hawaii census worker due back in federal court today

Russell Haas was charged with trespassing in March, after a resident refused to accept his census forms, and told Haas to leave his fenced property.

That resident happened to be a county police officer, and he had his coworkers arrest Haas.

A federal prosecutor is asking the judge to dismiss the charges.

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National Review plugs Hawai`i Free Press

Andrew Walden of the Hawaii Free Press e-mailed me to point out that Senator Inouye in fact did have a personal financial stake in Central Pacific Financial. On his web site, Walden asks:

Could Sen. Dan Inouye be next? The US Senate equivalents of these three charges could easily be brought to bear against him if the political will exists. While Waters was allegedly seeking help for her husband’s bank, Inouye allegedly sought help for Central Pacific Bank. At the time, CPB stock made up an estimated 66% of Inouye’s personal net worth.

National Review: A Free Pass for Politically Correct Banks

Omidyars join others in donation pledge

Hawaii Progressives have been seen dancing in the street to the tune of “we’re in the money!”

"JOBENOMICS" Author in Hawaii to pitch Paakea Quarry expansion(???), foreign investor tax credits

Kehau Kali, a local entrepreneur and Hawaii president of CEO Space, has arranged for best-selling author Chuck Vollmer to give a talk in Downtown Honolulu on Tues., Aug. 10 from 5:30 to 8 pm. His book, JOBENOMICS, was written to spur debate and discussion on job creation, with the intent of creating millions of jobs nationwide.

• Expand the Paakea quarry, a 208-acre coral mining operation (anyone know about that?)

• Raise $150 million in funding for these types of initiatives through the EB-5 Foreign Investor Program, another thing that's news to me...

(OK. Which scammer has a financial interest in Paakea Quarry? )

SB: Opposition to Maili landfill expected, Paakea Quarry site a “sustainability resource”?

A tropical fish collecting ban?

Legislation banning tropical fish collecting in Hawaii waters will be introduced in January by state Sen. Josh Green, who said he is planning to write and submit "a simple bill" on the controversial issue.

State Rep. Denny Coffman named Legislator-in-Residence at UH-Manoa

State Representative Denny Coffman has been selected as a Legislator-in-Residence at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Coffman will start his term during the Fall 2010 semester.

WHT: Coffman going back to college

(Coffman voted for HB444. Can he be ‘Legislator in residence’ if he is turned out of office?) Related: http://www.beckyleau.com/

County challenging candidate's residency claims

David, who's lived in Kahauko in South Kona since late 2008, was denied nomination papers after an elections worker determined she was four days short of the county charter requirement that she be a registered voter in that district for at least 90 days before the primary election. David's voter registration carried her old Keauhou address, which is in District 7.
It took an order from the Hawaii Supreme Court for County Clerk Ken Goodenow to allow her to pull papers.

"He disqualified me when I attempted to pull papers," David said Wednesday. "My attorney and I filed with the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said we were right and should have been given the papers."

Runway Under Water? Honolulu Planners Seek Study of Climate Change Impacts on Transportation

This is the kind of nonsense which is driving the City, State and the USA under water.

REALITY: No sea level rise: Pacific islands growing not shrinking, says study

NYC: Abandoned elevated rail system transformed into magnificent park

This week the highly anticipated High Line Park in NYC opened to the public for the first time. We were super excited to be on the scene for a sneak peek of the new elevated park, which was built on the remains of an abandoned rail system in New York City. Check out our video of the new High Line, with exclusive interviews with the design team including Lead Designer and Landscape Architect James Corner of James Corner Field Operations and architect Ricardo Scofidio of Diller Scofidio + Renfro who made this stunning new park possible. Enjoy! LINK>>>PHOTOS