Kauai Mayor Carvalho refuses to endorse Abercrombie
Monday is last day to register to vote
VIDEO: New Aiona/Finnegan ad features Duke’s VW Bus
Hanabusa -- "I can tell you right now, in government I don't think there's waste, per se.” (VIDEO)
Photo essay: Aug 28 Glenn Beck Rally vs Oct 2 Democratic Socialist rally
VIDEO: Abercrombie wins Fah-bulous endorsement from Waikiki’s hungry “SistahFace”
Abercrombie seems slow to get off the mark
If Neil Abercrombie loses the 2010 race for governor to Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, I have 12 reasons why.
The 12 days that Abercrombie had gone without a coherent advertising presence could be critical in this general election sprint.
Although the election is still 30 days out, the absentee ballots are supposed to start hitting mail boxes next week. And while 30 days may be two lifetimes in political events, if you are not already executing a well-researched and properly funded campaign, 30 days is not long enough to jam one together.
Abercrombie has confidently said that in 40 years of elections, "I have constantly been underestimated."
This year there may be this question: Is Abercrombie underestimating the GOP?
…So far neither Abercrombie nor his lieutenant governor candidate Brian Schatz have draped any of the controversies or failures of the Lingle administration on Aiona.
Instead it seems that the pummeling Abercrombie gave former Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the primary was the only victory needed.
(That is exactly right. Abercrombie's primary mission has been to smash the Inouye wing of the Democratic Party and deliver control to the gay/eco-progressives. Now he expects the Democrats to fall into line and carry him in a sedan chair to victory.)
TOTALY RELATED: Kauai Mayor Carvalho refuses to endorse Abercrombie
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Candidates for governor in conflict on civil unions, other social issues
Republican James "Duke" Aiona said if he wins the gubernatorial election, he will propose a constitutional amendment in 2012 to ask voters whether marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman.
Neil Abercrombie, the Democratic candidate, said if he becomes governor, he will sign a civil unions bill into law if passed again by the state Legislature, but believes the state should not take up the issue of same-sex marriage.
The divide over civil unions is among the widest between the two major candidates for governor, and their views provide some insight about how they would handle emotion-laden social policy questions if elected.
Cataluna profiles media’s hero: Cul-de-sac lesson shaped Oshiro's civil unions views
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AP: Willoughby calls Hirono a 'rubber stamp' for the Democrats
Republican John Willoughby, an airline pilot making his first run for political office, says he would slash taxes, reduce government waste and be more independent than Hirono, who is seeking her third two-year term representing Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District.
RELATED: Willoughby vs Hirono: “A choice between higher taxes and lower taxes”
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Hawaii Meth Project is helping cut methamphetamine use
(Finally some pushback against the sniping by progressives desperate to save their precious drug culture.)
The Hawaii Meth Project is changing social norms. In 2010, a year after its launch, 54 percent of Hawaii teens and 67 percent of young adults say there is "great risk" in taking meth once or twice. In both cases this was a 10-point improvement from a 2009 benchmark survey before the project was launched. Additionally, 85-90 percent of young people say the Hawaii Meth Project helped them understand it is dangerous to try meth once or twice. This data reveals a significant shift in attitudes that can result in near-term, immediate behavioral changes and broader, longer-term changes.
I am actively involved in addiction prevention and treatment on a local and national level. I see ice addicts, potential users and their families daily. I know first-hand that the Hawaii Meth Project is reaching persons at risk and those indirectly at risk -- families, employers, neighbors. The ads are creating awareness and educating our youth and communities about the dangers of meth. The Hawaii Meth Project is helping to reduce methamphetamine use. I encourage support of its work, which is an important component of an integrated approach to prevention, treatment, public policy and law enforcement.
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Judge Seabright will issue partial injunction Thursday removing local firm’s campaign contribution limit
After oral arguments this morning in the case of A-1 A-Lectrician, Inc., Judge J. Michael Seabright announced that he will issue a partial injunction on Thursday. The order may invalidate Hawaii election law setting corporate contribution limits and its ban on noncandidate committees receiving contributions from government contractors.
As soon as order is issued, plaintiffs Jimmy Yamada and Russell Stewart will be able to pull out their checkbooks to contribute their intended S2,500 to the Aloha Family Alliance—Political Action Committee, well in time for the 2010 general election.
The partial injunction will be limited to that aspect of the case only. Contributions to the political action committee do not go to any particular candidate.
ANALYSIS: Pay to Play: Hawaii faces constitutional challenge
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Suit: County not pursuing violations in development
An Olowalu Mauka resident is suing Maui County, claiming the developers of his subdivision violated numerous permit requirements, and county officials did nothing to enforce the law.
Randy Ragon claims developer Olowalu Elua Associates failed to construct traffic improvements on Honoapiilani Highway that were required in the subdivision's special management area major permit. The suit also alleges the developers haven't implemented their historic preservation plan to protect archaeological sites in the area, and haven't built or maintained infrastructure and landscaping in the subdivision as they promised.
The county was notified of the violations and acknowledged that the developer didn't fulfill permit conditions, but officials have taken no actions to correct the problem or force compliance, the suit claims.
Reached by e-mail, Ragon said he had filed the suit only after trying for two years to get the county to take action.
RELATED:
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Nurses in ample supply: The poor economy has turned a once-critical shortage into a surplus
Hawaii's longtime nursing shortage has turned into a surplus, leaving many recent graduates without jobs, and the economic slowdown is to blame, nursing executives say.
Nurses who were expected to retire or move to other jobs have postponed their plans, some because their spouses lost jobs or because of substantial losses in retirement savings.
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Hirakawa’s second sex harassment settlement from Kauai county worth $450,000
LIHU‘E — A woman who endured alleged harassment at the hand of her county supervisor was denied worker’s compensation after she was unable to work under that man, her attorney said.
The county fought Kristan Hirakawa’s worker’s-compensation claim, leaving her without income while she stayed home from work and waited for the outcome of her harassment lawsuit against the county, said Dan Hempey, her attorney.
Though Hirakawa (now Kristan Suniga) recently won a $450,000 settlement to be paid from taxpayer funds that ended a lawsuit against the county for workplace harassment, the ordeal has been hard on her, said Hempey.
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