COVID Spying: CLEAR Health Pass Gains Access to ALL of Your Medical Records
Sue and Settle: Eco Group 'Sues' BLNR to Stop Aquarium Fishing
Kahele Introduces Legislation to Reduce DHHL Blood Quantum to 1/32nd
Delta variant now accounts for 40% of all new COVID infections in Hawaii
HNN: … Over the past two weeks, there’s been an increase in Hawaii’s positivity rate ― or the percentage of all COVID tests that are positive. State data shows it’s up from 1.4% to 2.4%.
During that same time, the infection rate has jumped about 20%.
(Attention: Get your vax.)
The impact is already being seen in hospitals. Late last month, there were just over 20 COVID patients hospitalized statewide. On Tuesday, that number stood at 52.….
(Attention: Get your vax.)
“I think it’s important to note the travel-related cases ― the vast majority are Hawaii residents that traveled to the mainland, returned home and bring disease with them,” said Kauai District Health Officer Janet Berreman.
(Attention: Get your vax.)
Hilton Raethel, the head of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, confirms 40% of all new cases are the highly contagious Delta variant.
“The Delta variant has been estimated to be 225% more transmissible than the original variant,” said Raethel. “And you think about that. The original variant created a worldwide pandemic.”…
(Attention: Get your vax.)
read … Delta variant now accounts for 40% of all new COVID infections in Hawaii
How Honolulu police chief selection process ensures insider picked
SA: … “It’s an interesting process. I passed initially based on the RFP requirements, but if the Police Commission is entertaining additional bids, they might consider a contemporary approach to evaluating the candidates,” Gary Peterson, president and CEO of Public Sector Search and Consulting, a California based firm that was hired to recruit and retain police chiefs in Seattle; San Francisco; Sacramento, Calif.; San Jose, Calif.; Dallas; Nashville, Tenn.; and Raleigh, N.C., told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “Typically, a consultant does the recruiting, the vetting and the interview. The consultant normally would, as I did in San Francisco, develop questions for the commission, based on what the community wants to see in the next police chief. Police leaders need to be on the cutting edge of best police practices, understand contemporary police approaches to addressing violent crime, community engagement and re-imagining policing.”
Few, if any, search firms would be qualified to assess a candidate’s psychological competence and would have to contract out that service to a third party, he said. Ruling out a candidate based on a psychological evaluation before a conditional job offer is made may not be legal and could lead to allegations of discrimination.
Peterson said depending on the public-records laws in each state, police commissions either make all of the applicants known to the public or they release a list of finalists.
“If you want to build trust in a community, you try to get that information out,” he said. “On the flip side, if you publish the list of candidates too early, some of the best candidates will drop out.”
That sentiment was echoed by Honolulu Police Commissioner Carrie K.S. Okinaga during the May 19 meeting when she and Chairwoman Shannon L. Alivado highlighted the historic closed nature of the police chief selection process, citing state procurement laws and policies governing budgeting and fiscal services as legal hurdles to disclosure that must be carefully navigated….
read … Psychological evaluation of Honolulu police chief candidates deters consultant applicants
Judge to hear motion to dismiss case against 3 officers charged in teen’s fatal shooting
HNN: … A judge will decide next week if the case against three Honolulu police officers charged in the shooting death of a teen should be allowed to proceed.
The motion to dismiss will be argued on July 20 ― ahead of the preliminary hearing for Officers Geoffrey Thom, Zachary Ah Nee, and Christopher Fredeluces….
In the filing, the attorneys for the officers say a state law prevents class A felonies from being charged without a grand jury indictment.….
State Sen. Karl Rhoads, chair of the Judiciary committee, is very familiar with that statute.
“Class A felonies, because of the length of time that you can spend in jail, and murders and the real heavy duty crimes, still require a grand jury indictment,” said Rhoads….
July 8, 2021: Sykap Shooting: Judge refutes arguments for dismissal
UPDATE KHON July 15, 2021: Honolulu prosecutors defend charges against 3 HPD officers in connection to teenager’s death
LINK: §806-7 Preparation of indictment, complaint, or information; true bill by grand jury.
LINK: HRPP Rule 7
read … Judge to hear motion to dismiss case against 3 officers charged in teen’s fatal shooting
Trial date set for Hawaii lawmaker arrested for drunk driving
HNN: … Following a Zoom court appearance Tuesday, state Rep. Sharon Har received her trial date in connection with a drunk driving arrest in February.
The judge said Har’s trial will begin on August 10.….
The judge also mandated the prosecution turn over new information to the defense from their independent investigation into the case.
Background: Rep Har DUI Arrest: Smelled of Alcohol, Yelled 'Black Lives Matter'
read … Trial date set for Hawaii lawmaker arrested for drunk driving
Hawaii Police Salaries up 21% in Last 5 Years
NO: … Although there is a great deal of variation across the nation’s roughly 18,000 police departments, the agency also reports that salaries for police have largely climbed in the past five years – from an 8.8% increase in Mississippi, the state that overall pays its police the least, to a 21% increase in Hawaii, one of the best-paying states….
The Bureau of Labor Statistics published the mean salaries for police officers in all states plus the District of Columbia for the year 2018.
Somewhat predictably due to cost of living, California topped the list at $101,380, followed by Alaska at $88,030, where the cost of living also drives salaries higher. New Jersey, Washington state and Hawaii round out the top five.
All of the 10 departments with the lowest-paid officers are located in the South, where Mississippi police officers earn slightly more than one-third of their California counterparts….
read … Cops Are Getting Paid More Despite Calls To Defund The Police
Hawaii consumers feel the pain as U.S. inflation spikes by the most in 13 years
SA: … “The consumer is suffering,” said Kahala resident Paul Rizzo, who has recognized recent jumps in prices for gas, eating out, new cars, airfare and rental cars.
“I used to buy ice cream at the ice cream parlor for two bucks. Now it’s five bucks, six bucks,” he said, adding that prices for gas and cars have gone “crazy.”
A gallon of regular gasoline in Hawaii on Tuesday cost $4.05 on average, up from $3.22 a year earlier, while the national average Tuesday was $3.15, according to AAA.
The cost of food at home rose nationally in June by just 0.9% over a year earlier, but consumers in Honolulu — where a loaf of bread or a gallon of milk can cost more than $5 — pay more for groceries than residents in 49 mainland cities, according to an analysis published Tuesday by move.org that said the average monthly grocery bill this year in Honolulu was $557, compared with a low of $183 in Manchester, N.H., and a national average of $356….
Tuesday’s report from the Labor Department showed that consumer prices in June rose 0.9% from May and 5.4% over the past year — the sharpest 12-month inflation spike since August 2008. Excluding volatile oil and gas prices, so-called core inflation rose 4.5% in the past year, the largest increase since November 1991.
The report didn’t include Hawaii inflation figures, though the department’s previous report showed May inflation in Honolulu was 3.8% and trailed the national rate of 5% that then represented the highest year-over-year gain in 13 years….
read … Hawaii consumers feel the pain as U.S. inflation spikes by the most in 13 years
Hawaii Restaurants Got $414 Million In Pandemic Aid. Where Did It Go?
CB: … More than 1,100 of Hawaii’s restaurants, bars and bakeries received $414 million through a federal grant program aimed at offsetting revenue losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to newly released data from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
On a per capita basis, that’s more money than any other state and second only to the District of Columbia….
In Hawaii alone, the SBA received 2,396 applications from businesses that sought more than $980 million in relief aid. Fewer than half of those applications were approved before the well ran dry….
Nationally, the average grant size was $283,000. In Hawaii, the number was higher, nearly $362,000….
read … Hawaii Restaurants Got $414 Million In Pandemic Aid. Where Did It Go?
Worker shortage issues continue, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce wants feedback on possible solutions
KITV: … More than 25,000 positions are currently available on the Chamber's and Workforce Development Council’s Hawaii is Hiring jobs website. However, Hawaii reportedly has one of the highest weekly unemployment benefits. …
Now, the Chamber is asking for the public to fill out a survey in order to find solutions, which is a follow-up survey conducted in May.
Click here to fill out the survey, which is asked to be completed by the close of business this Friday….
read … Worker shortage issues continue, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce wants feedback on possible solutions
Maui Charter Proposal looks to change council districts, election of members
MN: … Maui Charter Commission is beginning to wade through a slew of proposed amendments to the Maui County Charter, the guiding document that outlines the way local government is run. Over the next six months, the commission will discuss 10 themes, starting on Thursday with “County Council Districting and Elections.”…
Amendments that make it through the vetting may be placed on the 2022 ballot for voters to decide upon. For more information on the themes, visit mauicounty.gov/1791/Charter-Commission
Written testimony submitted before the meeting is “ideal as it gives commissioners more time to think about the arguments and points raised,” Collins said. To submit comments, email charter.commission@mauicounty.gov.
Reality: 9/11 Conspiracy Theorist to Rewrite Maui County Charter?
MN: Change on the horizon
read …Proposal looks to change council districts, election of members
Political will missing to give Upcountry equal water rights
MN: … The recent declaration of Upcountry Level 2 drought restrictions seems to be a near annual thing for 40 years.
Every County Council and every administration the last 40 years has run for office on fixing the drought conditions for Upcountry. Upcountry gets more rainfall than most of Maui. In March, we had the most rainfall ever recorded, yet, three months later, we are in severe drought yet again?
Other areas have wells, treatment plants and storage. Kihei gets about 4 inches a year. Upcountry gets that in one rainfall sometimes.
It is not rocket science. Dig wells, build storage facilities and water catchment sites to store the water for when needed.
The political will to give all Upcountry the same water rights as other areas is not there….
read … Political will missing to give Upcountry equal water rights
More Phoney Talk--Tourists Blamed for Upcountry Maui Water Shortage
HNN: … A water conservation alert is in effect for Upcountry Maui residents…. residents are being told to hold off on washing cars or watering lawns.
If they violate the rules, they can be fined — up to $500.
Meanwhile, about 8,000 people a day are flying into Maui and staying at hotels with high water demands.
Some Maui residents feel residents are being treated unfairly.
“It has nothing to do with me personally, I don’t live Upcountry. But I’m from Maui and they’re just mistreating the residents,” said Maui mixed martial artist Kendall Grove, who has been vocal about the issue on social media.….
(Clue: Every tourist could be thrown out of Kihei and Lahaina and it would not produce a single drop of water for Upcountry Maui. The two systems are not connected. See MAP.)
Former State Rep. and Maui resident Kaniela Ing said it is an issue that has been going on for years.
(Translation: Ing speaks therefore the issue is phoney)
“The truth is, we’ve had generations to plan for this and these are not only not getting solved, but they’re even getting worse,” Ing said. “As long as we rely on tourism as our staple piece of our economy on Maui, this will continue. All the attention between who we are prioritizing... the tourists or the local residents?”…
read … ‘Water fiasco’ on Maui leaves residents feeling mistreated, unfairly targeted
Campaign Contribution News: Hawaii missile defense system gets $75M from House Appropriations Committee
SA: … The Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii — which the Pentagon zeroed out two years in a row in its funding requests — is back with $75 million approved by the House Appropriations Committee today in the fiscal year 2022 defense funding bill.
U.S. Rep. Ed Case said the $706 billion total defense measure, passed in a 33-23 vote, advances a “strong national defense presence in Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific.” ….
Case: Case's House Appropriations Committee Advances Strong National Defense Presence In Hawai‘i And The Indo-Pacific In $706 Billion Fiscal Year 2022 Funding Measure
2017: To Help Campaign Contributors, Hanabusa Blocks Missile Defense for Hawaii for 6 Years
read … Military-Industrial Complex
Legislative News:
Corona Virus News:
QUICK HITS: