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Tuesday, November 2, 2010

November 2, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 12:59 PM :: 16963 Views

VOTE TODAY til 6PM Find your polling place

Photos: Aiona, Finnegan tour Roberts Hawaii, other businesses

The Morning after the Election

Hawaii Family Forum makes final push to Get Out the Vote

Hawaii Right to Life PAC Urges Vote for Aiona

New Aiona-Finnegan radio ad trumpets Hilo, Maui endorsements

Gallup predicts Largest Republican margin in Several Generations

VIDEO: Aiona on HNN Sunrise

James "Duke" Aiona, Hawaii's Republican candidate for governor, stops by Sunrise on election day.

Abercrombie admits responsibility for costing Hawaii millions under Compact of Free Association

Neil Abercrombie says "Yes". He was on the committee that helped put together the treaty with Micronesia. That's now costing Hawaii millions.

Abercrombie admits, "I wish we could have done something more to see to it that the funding came. It wasn't for a lack of. I ended up voting for the bill because it was the right thing to do - but the funding wasn't there. And I regret that ...very, very deeply and I think that the consequences of that are in front of us right now."

Former AG Lilly: Hanabusa Responsible for Superferry Demise--Not Aiona

While Duke Aiona had no power to save the Superferry, Senate President Hanabusa did have that power.

On March 20, 2009, I handed her a simple legislative solution that Attorney General Mark Bennett said was one of five or six ways the Superferry and all those jobs could be saved.

What did Hanabusa do? Nothing.

She was the one “missing in action.”

SA: Aiona, Djou victories would mark “historic shift”

A Republican sweep tonight obviously means that the Democratic Party's grip on Hawaii politics would wither.

If Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona is elected tonight to carry on the GOP control of the governorship started in 2002 by Gov. Linda Lingle, it would mean that there has been an historic shift in Hawaii political philosophy.

And if Charles Djou holds on to his seat in Congress, it would solidify that seismic shift in the political thinking of Hawaii voters. Republicans in Hawaii have long said they believe Hawaii is becoming more conservative and less interested in government solutions. A victory tonight would prove it.

Also to a large extent, an Aiona victory would be a realization that Hawaii's politically engaged Christian or faith-based community is able to put the boots on the ground needed to win an election.

HFP: Hawaii GOP: Election shaping up “just like 2002”

Republicans excited about Election Day

"I've been up since before 5:00 this morning it's all about meeting people, because ultimately that's what it comes down to, it comes down to the people of Hawaii and talking with the voters one at a time and this is the final day to make our final push and that's exactly what I'm doing we're trying to make every minute of every hour count," said Rep. Charles Djou, (R) Hawaii, First Congressional District.

It seems to be working people were asking him for autographs and posing for pictures with him knowing every vote counts in such a close race.

"It's a simultaneous feeling of nervousness as well as excitement as well as I guess a little bit of relief after having campaigned for so long and so hard," said Rep. Djou. "The people who know what the results are, are the voters in Hawaii's first district and I look forward to their judgment tomorrow."

Duke Aiona and Lynn Finnegan met with various companies downtown shaking hands and changing minds. Aiona says he likes talking with voters in an 'unfiltered environment.' Aiona, who is a former lawyer and judge, is excited to hear the final verdict from voters.

SA: Polls open as governor's race headlines weighty fall ballot

145,000 Votes Already Cast

Yesterday for walk-in early voting, which ended Saturday, and mail-in ballots received through Friday or Saturday:

» Honolulu: 22,272 people voted at Oahu's three walk-in sites. Also, 82,391 mail-in ballots were received as of Friday out of 104,806 ballots requested.
» Hawaii County: 10,251 walk-in voters and 8,067 mail-in ballots received by Friday
» Maui County: 3,691 walk-in voters and 9,253 mail-in ballots received by Saturday
» Kauai County: 2,928 walk-in voters and 7,145 mail-in ballots received by Saturday

Boylan points to possible GOP Legislative gains

According to Boylan the races in which republicans have the best chances to pick up seats in the House include the race between republican Gil Riviere and democrat Larry Sagaysay on the North Shore of Oahu, the contest between republican Chris Baron and democrat Mark Hashem in East Oahu, and the duel between republican Richard Fale and democratic incumbent Jessica Wooley on Windward Oahu.

Boylan believes Senate republican Tracy Bean has a shot at defeating democratic incumbent Jill Tokuda in Kaneohe and republican Virginia Enos could beat democrat Pohai Ryan in a senate district that stretches from Kailua to Hawaii Kai.

HFP: Hawaii GOP: Election shaping up “just like 2002”

read more

Obama jumps into Hawaii race

While Democratic strategists view the Hawaii race as one of a handful of pickup opportunities, polling shows the battle tight. An Aloha Vote survey conducted on Oct. 23 showed Hanabusa leading Djou by 50 percent to 45 percent, while a mid-October Honolulu Star-Advertiser poll had Djou holding a narrow lead of 48 percent to 45 percent.

Obama has also cut a TV ad for Hanabusa. In the 30-second spot, launched in late October, Obama tells viewers: “To keep Hawaii moving forward, I need a partner I trust: Colleen Hanabusa.”

On the conference call, Obama also heaped praise on Abercrombie, whom he called a longtime friend. The former Democratic congressman is regarded as the favorite in his race against GOP Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona.

AUDIO: Obama Aloha

KITV: Obama Calls Hawaii To Urge Democrats To Vote

AP: Obama conducted a telephone town hall meeting with about 1,200 listeners on Monday

SA: Candidates hit the streets and airwaves to rally support on the eve of the election

GOP, Dems make final push in Hilo Monday

Republican Lynn Finnegan, seeking the post of lieutenant governor, made a last-minute visit to Hilo to wave signs with supporters of Duke Aiona. "Our supporters are excited. We have more and more people outwardly supporting us, and they are great," she said….

At the Mooheau Bandstand, the air was thick with fruit flies as the Democratic Party's stars pledged support for each other.

Justice: GTMO Greenwell goes from Council to jail

Outgoing County Councilman Kelly Greenwell walked into 3rd Circuit Court Monday expecting the judge to mete out a sentence of probation after striking a plea deal with the prosecutors. Instead, Greenwell was handed a jail term as the judge made clear the defendent's political standing should not defer just treatment.

Kelly Greenwell, 69, pleaded no contest to the charge, in a plea deal that dropped charges of resisting an order from a police officer and refusal to provide identification. Third Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra accepted Greenwell's request for a deferred acceptance of the plea -- but also sentenced Greenwell to 30 days in jail, with all but five days suspended, and a year of probation.

Abercrombie campaigners complain about sit-in arrest

(The furlough protesters were Abercrombie operatives from UHPA. The protests were Abercrombie's agit-prop show)

Justice Dept. Deploying Hundreds to Monitor Polls

According to a Justice Department release, the poll monitors will, among other tasks, "gather information on whether voters are subject to different voting qualifications or procedures on the basis of race, color, or membership in a language minority group." The Civil Rights Division has also set up a phone number and web portal to allow people to complain of voter intimidation or coercion.

Observers will be deployed in jurisdictions in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

Gubernatorial candidates address stadium concerns

Aiona said he favors the establishment of a "totally independent sports commission" to assist sports across the board in the state.

He said, "I love sports and will do everything I can to elevate it to the next level, but the sports commission is, to me, is the key right now in elevating Hawaii as well as our youth sports and everything else that goes around it."

After election, talking stink goes from roars to whispers

Yes, people are tired of the slam ads. They're tired of the cheerful sunrise ads and the slo-mo children playing in the park and the gantlet of grinning sign wavers morning, noon and night, too. Most people are looking forward to tomorrow when it will all be over and we can go back to talking stink among friends rather than have it thrust in our faces on TV or spilling out of the mailbox.

City housing office would lack expertise to fulfill goal

To create yet another housing department would only add another layer of bureaucracy, another hurdle to achieving the desired goal of providing affordable housing in Hawaii. Voters should reject this charter amendment if they truly want to see more affordable housing in Honolulu.

Streamlining permits gets mayor’s boost

WAILUKU - Mayor Charmaine Tavares has asked the County Council to consider legislation to help streamline the process of acquiring a permit from the county Department of Planning - a major issue in nearly every county campaign this election season.

For at least a year, the county Planning Department has been cooperating with the three island planning commissions in Maui County to address the long-standing problem of getting planning permits approved in a timely fashion.

But this latest announcement came last week, just days before today's general election, in which Tavares is up for re-election against former Mayor Alan Arakawa. (A coincidence, of course.)

S.I. Man Charged in Terror Investigation Due in Court (Hawaii terror arrest)

The Staten Island man accused of lying about his alleged attempts to travel overseas in the hopes of killing US troops will be in a Brooklyn courtroom Tuesday.

Abdel Hameed Shehadeh was arrested in Hawaii after the FBI said he had tried to travel to Pakistan to join the Taliban.

Hillary Clinton speaks out on Hawaii Slavery case

Men, women and children are trapped in prostitution or labour in fields and factories under brutal bosses who threaten them with violence or jail if they try to escape.

Earlier this year, six "recruiters" were indicted in Hawaii in the largest human trafficking case ever charged in US history.

They coerced 400 Thai workers into farm labour by confiscating their passports and threatening to have them deported.

I have seen firsthand the suffering that human trafficking causes. Not only does it result in injury and abuse—it also takes away its victims' power to control their own destinies.

Geothermal's Second Chance: Lessons from a turbulent past could help expand this renewable energy’s future

Mililani Trask, attorney and Native Hawaiian advocate, says she supports responsible geothermal development.

(The 1990s anti-Geothermal protests led by convicted drug dealer Ralph Palikapu Dedman, was just a scam to steal the land away from the Campbell Estate and transfer it to OHA. Now the Sovereignty activists are suddenly in favor of geothermal.)

Ranking Hawaii’s Big Charities

The Hawaii Community Foundation is the best big charity in Hawaii and the Contemporary Museum is the worst, according to Charity Navigator, a national organization that rates more than 5,000 charities across the country.

Common sense trumps bag bans

There are many reasons why plastic bags may be considered less harmful than paper bags. They’re made from recycled materials, are lighter and easier to transport in bulk and their manufacture releases fewer air pollutants. The … vast majority of retail plastic bags are deposited in recycling bins to become raw material for new product production.

REALITY: Save The Plastic Bag

Hawaii bankruptcy filings go below 300

The number of Hawaii residents filing for bankruptcy dropped below 300 in October for the first time in eight months, although local bankruptcy attorneys say business is still brisk by historical standards.

The 297 filings last month were the fewest since 291 cases were filed in February, according to federal Bankruptcy Court statistics. There was an 8.4 percent rise in filings from October 2009, the smallest increase in nearly a year.

Survey measures gay marriage in US

There are well over half a million same-sex homes in the United States (about 580,000), the survey indicated, and just over a quarter of those are headed by married couples. Marriage equality is currently legal in only five states, and where same-sex couples are allowed to wed, lesbians lead the way. Nationally, there are 85,847 married lesbian couples, versus 66,274 married gay couples.

Washington, D.C. ranks as the nation’s top city in terms of homes headed by gay couples--26% of all unmarried couples in the city were gay men, with lesbians making up 4% of the same demographic. (Data for 2010 will indicate how many of those couples have chosen to wed following Washington, D.C.’s legalization of marriage equality in December of last year.)

But Massachusetts ranked first in terms of households headed by female same-sex couples, the survey showed: though gays and lesbians may marry in Massachusetts, lesbians comprised 8% of the state’s unmarried couples, with males making up 6% of the state’s unmarried couples. Massachusetts was only one of several states where same-sex couples are more numerous; other states with high numbers of gay and lesbian families were Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Utah. Florida and Virginia had high numbers of gay couples; Vermont and New Mexico were among favorite states for lesbian couples.

WaTimes: D.C. tops in gay-male households: Mass. has most lesbian homes, new study finds