Too Many Red Flags to Ignore: OHA Must Follow Up on the CLA Report
Mayor Victorino requests postponement of return to classroom learning
New Reports Show Campaign Cash Is Flowing In To Hawaii’s Elected U.S. Officials
CB: … According to the latest Federal Election Commission filings, Schatz’s campaign raised nearly $375,000 between April 1 and June 30 to help him win another six-year term in the U.S. Senate. That’s almost identical to what he raised in the first quarter.
So far this year, Hawaii’s senior senator has raised about $430,000 from individuals and another $325,000 from political action committees with interests in Congress….
A number of well-known lobbyists and political insiders — including Dan Inouye’s former chief of staff Jennifer Sabas and Denis Dwyer, whose firm represents the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation — have donated to the senator’s campaign.
His colleague U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono gave him $5,000 through a separate leadership committee called Pineapple PAC.
Schatz, a Democrat, also counts his former chief of staff, Andrew Winer, among his donors. Winer is now a lobbyist for Strategies 360, a firm that works both in Washington and Hawaii.
While several business interests have donated to Schatz’s campaign, including Facebook, Nike and the American Hotel and Lodging Association, he’s also received tens of thousands of dollars from Native American tribes from across the country. Schatz is currently the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee….
Schatz’s contributions stand in contrast to those of Hirono, who was elected to her current term in 2018 and won’t be on the ballot again until 2024, which is the year she turns 77.
Hirono has yet to formally announce her intentions moving forward, but her previous cancer diagnosis combined with her age led to questions about the future of her seat and whether it is the next likely battleground for up and coming Hawaii Democrats interested in legislating in the nation’s capital….
A spokesperson for the senator said in a written statement that while Hirono has not officially announced for 2024, "she plans to run."
In general, Hirono’s fundraising figures have been unremarkable ever since her last election, with the campaign reporting contributions of less than $100,000 between Jan. 1 and June 30.
Among the more notable revelations in Hirono’s second-quarter filing is a reimbursement of $125,000 she loaned her campaign committee in 2006 and 2007. The repayment was by far one of her largest expenses of the year….
read … New Reports Show Campaign Cash Is Flowing In To Hawaii’s Elected U.S. Officials
Crowded Maui restaurant asks customers for Aloha after staff treated poorly
KHON: … Phillips says some staff members are working more than 100 hours per week to keep pace with the growing demand, and they need a break.
“We’re just going to close to save my employees or they’re not going to be here. If I don’t save them, they’re not going to be here,” Phillips said.
An increase in tourism, staffing shortages and supply chain backlogs have led to hourslong waits for a table.
“People are hangry, angry and hungry,” Hawaii Restaurant Association Executive Director Sheryl Matsuoka said.
Not only is the staff overworked, Phillips says he’s had to kick out a few customers who were berating employees for the long lines….
“We’ve posted on Facebook the other day ‘you guys have to start being kind to our employees when you come in here, because it’s not their fault that we don’t have enough food (and) that we don’t have enough staff. It’s not their fault that service times are taking longer,'” Phillips said.
Staffing shortages are common these days because of the pandemic, with a majority hitting the kitchen….
While many argue wage hikes could attract employees back to work, Phillips says he’s paying an average of $25 per hour and still can’t find the help he needs….
SA: Traveler complaints increase as Hawaii tourism rebounds
TGI: County quickly matches jobs, work-seekers
read … Crowded Maui restaurant asks customers for Aloha after staff treated poorly
Criminal Doesn’t Get COVID Release, Plays Mommy Card
KITV: … Alice Kahaleua says officials at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center did not tell her the state was transferring her son, Dustin Snedeker-Abadilla, to Halawa Correctional Facility.
In June, Snedeker-Abadilla was among the 28 inmates transferred to Oahu. Seven were pre-trial detainees. The PSD cited the heightened risk for the spread of COVID due to overcrowding at the Hilo jail.
"They still have rights, they committed crimes, committed crimes, but my son is pretrial, he hasn't been even found guilty," she said.
Kahaleua believes the state is treating her son like a felon despite not having a trial and is violating his constitutional rights….
Snedeker-Abadilla is one of 11 plaintiffs in a federal class-action lawsuit against the state who claim unsafe practices in prisons caused COVID-19 outbreaks. He's awaiting trial for various charges, including robbery, domestic abuse, theft and assault….
REALITY:
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2013: After conferring with prosecutors, detectives charged 22-year-old Dustin C. M. Snedeker-Abadilla of Pāhoa with second-degree robbery, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, fourth-degree criminal property damage and third-degree assault. His bail was set at $4,750.
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Oct 2020 (fights to spread COVID): Inmate Dustin Snedeker-Abadilla, 29, became upset when his request was denied to join tables together to eat with his friends. The tables are separated in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and Snedeker-Abadilla and inmate Kevin Kuhia, 41, allegedly became aggressive and assaulted the corrections officers.
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June 2021 (tries to get COVID release, fails): Dustin Snedeker-Abadilla, charged in March with theft, unauthorized control of a vehicle and ownership of a firearm as a felon. Motion denied….
read … Mother of transferred HCCC pre-trial detainee calls for his return to Hilo jail
Global Competition Over Fish Stocks Increasingly Affects Hawaii
CB: … In the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 1, 2020, the Robin II, a Honolulu-based fishing longliner, was confronted by a larger Taiwanese-flagged vessel about 115 miles south of Hawaii.
The American-flagged Robin II’s owner Jino Lee said the Chi Win No. 1688, also a longliner, aggressively charged his boat as members of both crews argued and shouted in different languages….
Robin II’s captain got on the radio and told Chi Win No. 1688 that he had called the Coast Guard. The Taiwanese vessel eventually backed off, but not before crew members dumped paint on the deck and sides of Robin II. Repairs cost the Lees more than $2,500…
Lee recalls fishing off Hawaii in the 1980s as a cutthroat business. He said back then it wasn’t uncommon for Hawaii fishermen competing over good spots to cut each other’s lines. Some boats would even shoot at each other’s fishing floats — and occasionally at other vessels, he said.
Through the Hawaii Longline Association the various fishermen mediated conflicts with each other and began pooling resources. “The Hawaii fishery has come a long way,” Lee said….
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read … Global Competition Over Fish Stocks Increasingly Affects Hawaii
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