Ninth Circuit Sends the Hawaii Concealed Carry Challenge Back Down to District Court
HART to give Nan another $500M for work on Dillingham
CB: … Honolulu rail officials this week awarded a nearly half-billion dollar contract that they hope will finally overcome one of the project’s biggest hurdles: relocating the maze of utility lines that run above and below Dillingham Boulevard.
The $496 million contract went to Nan Inc., according to city records. It will be the second try for the local construction firm. In 2018, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation under prior leadership awarded a separate contract to Nan that essentially put them on call for utility relocation past Middle Street for up to $400 million.
However, as HART failed to get the required city approvals and progress stalled, Nan wound up completing about 8% of that work. Still, the Kalihi firm was paid about $100 million before that original contract was canceled….
Nan’s new contract will cover a nearly 1.5-mile stretch from the corner of Kamehameha Highway and Laumaka Street, near the Oahu Community Correctional Center, to Dillingham and Kaaahi Street in Iwilei….
SA Off the News: Making way for the guideway
SA: Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awards $500 million rail contract for utility relocation
HPR: HART awards $500M contract for Dillingham utility relocation
Is Convicted Felon Rail Contractor Patrick Shin a Recidivist?
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Fun Read: 1:2004cr00150 US v Patrick Shin (9th circuit rejected his last appeal July 26, 2019—Judgment took effect Oct 11, 2019)
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read … New $500 Million Contract May Finally Solve Honolulu Rail’s Utility Woes
Patients Line up Overnight for Dialysis while ‘CON’ Red Tape Blocks New Clinics
SA: … For ESRD patients, dialysis can be the difference between life and death. The process cleans their blood and filters out dangerous levels of toxins and waste, like a working kidney does. Unfortunately, the process is time-consuming — three times a week for about four hours each time — and physically exhausting.
A shortage of space exacerbates the problem, as patients struggle for slots in a center’s schedule — if they can get in at all.
“We had been going to Waianae trying to get a seat out there at 4 or 5 at night and coming out at 11 p.m., and I would have to work the next morning,” said Sheila Silva, who takes her boyfriend to get treatment.
The new clinic in Nanakuli gives them better options. It also should take some of the pressure off other clinics in Ewa, Kapolei and Waipahu, which have taken patients who can’t get into the Waianae facility.
The state Department of Health lists 37 dialysis centers on its website. Expanding the number of centers to meet the demand, especially in rural areas with high incidences of diabetes and high blood pressure, should be an important priority for public health officials, both locally and nationally. Easing entry requirements for dialysis providers could help….
Meanwhile: While Patients Wait, Hawaii Plays Favorites in Health Care
read … New dialysis center in Nanakuli
2 deputy superintendents added to Hawaii Department of Education amid concerns about bureaucracy
SA: …“It was quite the surprise to find out that hiring the new superintendent would come with an additional price tag of $380,000 (which is in excess of $579,000 once fringe benefits are factored in) to add two additional deputy superintendents to the bureaucracy,” Osa Tui Jr., president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, said in written testimony. “That’s more than half a million dollars per year that will be funneled away from our classrooms and our keiki.”…
Board member Kili Namau‘u was the only one to vote against the appointments.
The two new deputy superintendents join existing interim Deputy Superintendent Heidi Armstrong, who oversees academics.
Oyadomari-Chun, as deputy superintendent of strategy, will be responsible for “leading, directing and supervising the strategic planning, transformation and modernization, and implementation of the strategic initiatives of the department,” a department news release said….
Otaguro, as deputy superintendent of operations, will be responsible for “assessing and enhancing the operations and administrative functions of the department,” the department said….
(By labelling non-teaching HSTA members as ‘teachers) The Hawaii DOE spends only 3.54% of its budget on state administrative operations, while the national average is 5%, Hayashi said….
Totally Related: Heroic HSTA Steward Keeps Teachers out of Classroom
read … 2 deputy superintendents added to Hawaii Department of Education amid concerns about bureaucracy
CNHA in Insurance Business Thanks to Biden
KITV: … "This act will help close the gap and lower costs so that our disadvantaged communities have greater access to medical support as well as drug care," said Kuhio Lewis, CEO of Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement.
Officials predict that 120,000 more native Hawaiian, Asian American and Pacific Islanders will have health insurance next year under IRA. Local organizations that provide support to these populations said measures to lower health insurance are long overdue.
WH: How the Inflation Reduction Act Helps Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities
read … President Biden signs bill to help Native Hawaiian community
EPA Investigation Finds Flaws In Pearl Harbor Water Systems
CB: … Inspectors from the Environmental Protection Agency found potential violations of federal and state safe drinking water rules….
SA Editorial: More problems for Navy at Red Hill
LINK: Drinking Water Emergency at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu, Hawaii (November 2021-March 2022)
read … EPA Investigation Finds Flaws In Pearl Harbor Water Systems
Honolulu police chief’s son arrested after failing to appear in court
SA: … The son of Honolulu Police Department Chief Arthur “Joe” Logan was arrested this morning after failing to show up to court for separate theft and burglary charges.
Zane Logan, 36, was arrested at around 12:30 a.m. today on three counts of contempt of court. Court records show bench warrants were issued Monday after he failed to appear in court for two second-degree burglary cases and a second-degree theft case.
Both burglary cases stem from two separate occasions in 2021 in which Logan allegedly entered the Ke Kilohana Condominium in Kakaako to steal bicycles being stored in the building. In the theft case, Logan allegedly stole more than $750 worth of property from Target in March….
read … Honolulu police chief’s son arrested after failing to appear in court
US retracts statement that alleged Russian spies in Hawaii used additional aliases
HNN: … The U.S. government is retracting its statement that a Hawaii couple accused of being Russian spies were using additional aliases.
Earlier, the government argued the couple — Walter Glenn Primrose, also known as Bobby Edward Fort, and Gwynn Darle Morrison, also known as Julie Lyn Montague — likely had other aliases.
On Friday, Morrison’s attorney Megan Kau filed a motion as a supplement to a motion and joinder to revoke the detention order so the couple can post bond until their trial. It said the defendants received an email from the government addressing the retraction.
The email noted the government retracts the argument that Primrose and Morrison were using additional aliases and that two individuals said those “references” were nicknames and the product of inside jokes….
read … US retracts statement that alleged Russian spies in Hawaii used additional aliases
Complaints pour in about Honolulu Liquor Commission as critics call for overhaul
HNN: … The agency in charge of overseeing liquor sales on Oahu is under fire again, facing more allegations of corruption and discrimination.
An amended complaint, filed Monday by LGBTQ business owners, cites civil rights violations by the Honolulu Liquor Commission and the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, along with individual employees.
The owners of Scarlet Honolulu and Gay Island Guide expanded the number of violations to their federal lawsuit….
read … Complaints pour in about Honolulu Liquor Commission as critics call for overhaul
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