Use the Interim to Prepare for Legislative Session
IATSE Announces Another Movie Contract Agreement
No Joke: Caldwell Prepares To Join The Race For Hawaii Governor
CB: … The former Honolulu mayor has yet to formally announce, but he has a campaign website and is holding a ‘big’ fundraiser next week….
There is also a website headlined “Kirk Caldwell for Governor,” paid for by 2021 Friends of Kirk Caldwell. While there was little posted on the site as of Tuesday morning, it did say this: “..blablabla….”
Lauren Wright, the contact for the fundraiser, works for Imanaka Asato, a law firm run by Mitchell Imanaka, who as recently as July was in charge of a Caldwell fundraiser for governor.
read … Kirk Caldwell Prepares To Join The Race For Hawaii Governor
Oahu Commission Approves Final Redistricting Plan For City Council
CB: … But ultimately the commission settled on an amended version of the Keana/Makapuu plan in a 7-2 vote after hearing testimony from the community. Former Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona and Commissioner Daniel Douglass were opposed….
One notable change in the new version, proposed by Vice Chair Chace Shigemasa, is that Waipahu, which is in District 8, will be switch to District 9 that consists of Ewa. Mililani Town and Mililani Mauka will be kept together under District 8, which consists of Pearl City.
Generally the Windward and Leeward Coast would remain the same. …
SA: New City Council district map drastically moves neighborhoods
read … Oahu Commission Approves Final Redistricting Plan For City Council
Anti-telescope protesters oppose female US attorney pick for Hawaii
AP: … Some Native Hawaiians are objecting to President Joe Biden’s choice for U.S. attorney in the 50th state, saying Clare Connors treated dozens of elders like criminals when her office prosecuted them for blocking a road while protesting the construction of a telescope in Hawaii.
“She has acted aggressively towards the Hawaiian people during all of our stand for Mauna Kea,” said Kealoha Pisciotta, one of the protest leaders….
Gary Yamashiroya, a spokesperson for Connors, said prosecutions of the protesters arose “from a deliberate effort to block access to Mauna Kea for the purpose of preventing lawful construction of a project permitted by the Hawaii Supreme Court.”
"Blocking a public road is a crime and the Department of the Attorney General will prosecute such conduct consistent with its duty to uphold the rule of law,” Yamashiroya said.
U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz of Hawaii, both Democrats, recommended Connors to Biden. Spokespeople for both senators declined comment on the Native Hawaiian opposition to Connors' nomination…
read … Anti-telescope protesters oppose US attorney pick for Hawaii
Nominations of female judges to Hawaii Circuit Court applauded
SA: … The support for the five women nominees follows two days of criticism in July over the nomination of Daniel Gluck (a candidate of inferior race and the weaker sex) to the Intermediate Court of Appeals, Hawaii’s second-highest court.
Female attorneys, in particular, said at the time that they risked (boosted) their legal careers by criticizing Gluck’s nomination for having far less experience before both the Intermediate Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court than any of the other nominees — and for lack of gender and ethnic diversity on Hawaii’s highest courts….
read … Nominations of female judges to Hawaii Circuit Court applauded
Hawaii May Not Set Minimum Qualifications For Police Until 2024
CB: … The Hawaii Law Enforcement Standards Board was created in 2018 to oversee officer conduct, certify new officers and decertify any who fail to meet the board’s standards. It was supposed to set those standards in 2019. However, funding issues have plagued the board and stalled its work.
The Legislature gave the board until Dec. 31 to set those minimum standards. But without any staff, the board likely won’t hit that deadline either.
In what’s become an annual tradition, the board voted unanimously Tuesday to ask state lawmakers for more time and more money to set police standards. It is the board’s fourth attempt at getting more resources to do its job.
A proposal that stalled last legislative session asks for the state to delay implementing minimum officer qualifications until 2023. On Tuesday, the board asked to delay implementing standards until July 1, 2024. …
Senate Bill 1046 would give the board $292,500 to cover expenses and hire an executive director and clerical worker who would help the board investigate officers in the state….
read … Hawaii May Not Set Minimum Qualifications For Police Until 2024
City Council wants to hike traffic fines to raise money for HPD
KHON: … The Honolulu City Council is looking to raise money for the Honolulu Police Department (HPD) by tacking on a surcharge to traffic fines. They say all that extra money could be used to retain and recruit more officers.
Currently, money collected from the fines goes to the state, all of it. Council members are looking to raise the fines in order for the city to get some of that ….
read … City Council wants to hike traffic fines to raise money for HPD
Family of Criminal killed by police at Kapolei gas station files wrongful death lawsuit
HNN: … Michael Kahalehoe, 30, was shot and killed by plainclothes officers at a Kapolei Shell Station in November 2019.
At the time, then-HPD Chief Susan Ballard said the shooting was in self-defense and that officers clearly identified themselves before attempting to make an arrest.
“The driver proceeded to drive back and forth in an attempt to leave the gas station striking a police vehicle and grazing one of the officers,” Ballard said, during a news conference.
“Fearing for their own lives and that of their fellow officers, five officers discharged their weapons striking the driver multiple times.”
Kahalehoe, had just been released from prison (again), was a suspect in several armed robberies and was a convicted felon….
SB: 5 Honolulu Police Department officers unjustly shot and killed car theft suspect, complaint alleges -- “Kahalehoe had been wanted in connection with a rash of armed robberies and possible carjackings. Kahalehoe had 17 convictions, including six felony convictions for vehicle break-ins, vehicle theft, drugs and weapon violations, according to police and court records.”
CB: Lawsuit Alleges Plainclothes Officers Shot Man To Death Without Justification
read … He finally does something for his family
Despite Momentum, Hawaiian Airlines Forecast Signals Slow Recovery
CB: … In a sign of the challenge Hawaii tourism companies face recovering from the Covid-19 travel drought, Hawaiian Airlines said Tuesday it expects revenue to be down 32% to 37% during the last three months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019.
The forecast, part of a third quarter earnings report, was worse than Wall Street had been expected….
read … Despite Momentum, Hawaiian Airlines Forecast Signals Slow Recovery
Hawaii County to open applications for Phase 2 of Kilauea buyout program
HNN: … Hawaii County will begin accepting applications for Phase 2 of its Kilauea housing buyout program.
The county said this phase will provide assistance to owners of secondary homes and long-term rentals that were impacted by the 2018 Kilauea eruption.
Full-time vacation rentals that operate exclusively as a business are not eligible under the program….
HTH: Phase 2 of lava buyout program set to begin
read … Hawaii County to open applications for Phase 2 of Kilauea buyout program
Report Pushes Massive Floating Windfarms off Waikiki
SA: … Be most economical at a 600- megawatt scale, which could supply around 35% of Oahu’s power needs. (until the wind dies….) Oahu’s electrical utility, Hawaiian Electric, isn’t keen on having such a huge single power source.
Cost about $2.1 billion. (LOL!)
Several major issues that could affect feasibility of offshore wind power development weren’t addressed, including port upgrades, onshore transmission infrastructure costs, potential financial incentives such as tax credits, environmental studies and public engagement….
In 2032 the estimated offshore wind power price is between 5 and 11 cents based on lower development costs.
(IQ Test: Do you believe these prices?)
read … Electricity generated by proposed floating wind turbines off Oahu is feasible, new study finds
Navy ‘operator error’ not aging tanks caused 38-gallon Red Hill fuel leak
HNN: … The Navy says “operator error” was to blame for a leak of more than 1,600 gallons of fuel into Pearl Harbor last year from its Red Hill facility.
The incident has been facing increased scrutiny from environmentalists, who claim the Navy isn’t being transparent about how the leak happened and when it was reported.
Also on Tuesday, the Sierra Club on Tuesday sued the state Health Department, demanding records about the leak.
The environmental group wants the documents in order to argue that a contested case hearing over the Red Hill fuel storage facility should be reopened….
read … Amid increased scrutiny, Navy determines ‘operator error’ caused Red Hill fuel leak
Hawaii Co Water power charges to increase 16%
HTH: … With the proposed 30-cent increase, a family of five, which consumes on average about 12,000 gallons of water per month, will see its bimonthly water bill increase by $7.20. That’s on top of an average 13% increase in water rates that went into effect Jan. 1….
read … Water power charges to increase: 30 cent rise follows 40 cent decrease in December
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