Maui Mayor-Elect Bissen Seeks Cabinet Members
Naming Names: Carpenters Union Wins Council Seats in Four Counties
CB: … Of the seven council candidates that Be Change Now endorsed or provided outside financial support to during the Nov. 8 election, six won election. The only one who lost was John Pele, who ran for the Molokai seat on the Maui County Council against Keani Rawlins-Fernandez….
The impact of outside spending on the makeup of the other county councils may be less pronounced. There was also less super PAC spending in those races compared to the races on Maui.
The PAC’s spending made a big difference for new Hawaii County Council member Jenn Kagiwada. She trailed her opponent Matthias Kusch in fundraising and campaign spending, having spent about $43,000 compared to Kusch’s $74,000 during the election period.
Big Island residents said an influx of mailers in the last several weeks before the election may have pushed Kagiwada ahead. Those ads came thanks to $23,261 worth of ad spending from Be Change Now on Kagiwada’s behalf in the last days of October….
On Kauai, the PAC spending may have helped out another first-time council member.
In a previous race, Addison Bulosan came within a few hundred votes of securing a seat on the Kauai County Council. This year, Bulosan finished third out of the field of 14 Kauai candidates. He spent just $18,229 this year compared to the $35,000 he spent in 2020.
Be Change Now spent more than $53,000 in support of Bulosan’s winning bid….
On Oahu, Be Change Now spent about $24,000 supporting Matt Weyer and $20,000 supporting Tyler Dos Santos-Tam; both won. Meyer was in a close race with surfer Makua Rothman. Both candidates reported spending about $146,000 on the council race to represent the North Shore….
Dos Santos-Tam easily outspent his opponent, Traci Toguchi, $202,000 to $68,000. Dos Santos-Tam is a former executive director for the Hawaii Construction Alliance and previously lobbied on behalf of the carpenters union.
Hawaii County and the City and County of Honolulu are both undertaking a review of rules that could affect the cost of housing and where development can take place.
In Honolulu, the City Council recently advanced a revision of land use ordinances, which drew criticism from communities but support from groups like PRP. That measure has since stalled but could be revived in 2023.
On the Big Island, a sweeping update of the building code that’s been in the works for several years has also drawn interest from the construction unions over provisions on modular homes….
RELATED: Carpenters Union Director Heads List of Green Appointees
read … Big Spending By Carpenters Super PAC Could Shift The Balance Of Maui’s Council
Never Incarcerated in Lunatic Asylum--now charged with murder in brutal stabbing of 77-year-old security guard
HNN: … Investigators said the victim — 77-year-old Mike Chu — was sitting in his car when he was allegedly stabbed multiple times by Bell.
HNN has learned that Bell was arrested Tuesday afternoon after being spotted by witnesses in Wahiawa, however he was taken into custody on an illegal weapons charge when investigators found Bell carrying multiple knives and an illegal baton on his belt.
It wasn’t until Wednesday that officers re-arrested Bell for murder.
Meanwhile, many Kaneohe residents say they are aware of Bell’s bizarre behavior.
(CLUE: He’s got 17 priors but spent very little time in jail.)
Records also show a city parks worker filed a restraining order against Bell, saying he often yelled profanities and made obscene gestures.
The bizarre behavior goes back to when Bell was in prison for assault and he filed lawsuits against the state, including his family.
The suits claimed Bell was being tortured. Court documents also said Bell called himself a “Royal Christian King and high priest.”
A judge called the lawsuit “a rambling, handwritten, nearly incomprehensible collection of pages” that appeared to have blood on it.
Bell’s complaints were eventually thrown out of court….
(CLUE: But he was never incarcerated in a lunatic asylum.)
read … Suspect charged with murder in brutal stabbing of 77-year-old security guard
Column: Given what’s learned, maybe time to revise ‘100%’ policy
SA: … 100% renewable energy is a trade-off conundrum between green and affordable. Picture an energy generation pyramid, with the tip labeled “dependable,” the lower right corner “affordable,” and lower left “green.” As S&P Global analysts perceptively observed, “it appears that the choice is any two.” Of the hoped-for green and reliable alternatives, hydrogen is cost-prohibitive and CO2-emitting biofuel/biomass depend on controversial rationale. While reliability is essential, green energy and affordable energy are conflicting priorities….
read … Column: Given what’s learned, maybe time to revise ‘100%’ policy
HECO RETALIATION: Hawi Wind Farm Exempt From Competitive Bidding, But Not Tawhiri Wind Farm
IM: … Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO) filed an application with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission for approval of an Amended and Restated Power Purchase Agreement with the 10.56 MW Hawi Renewable Development (HRD) wind farm in December 2021….
Tawhiri noted that the HECO Companies have ”taken the position that, at its sole discretion, it will not enter bilateral negotiations with Tawhiri to renew the” PPA.
One key difference between Hawi and Tawhiri is that the former does not intervene in HELCO dockets while Tawhiri regularly does so. For example, Tawhiri is a party to the HELCO-Hu Honua PPA and the current Hu Honua appeal to the Hawaii Supreme Court….
read … HELCO -- Hawi Wind Farm Exempt From Competitive Bidding, But Not Tawhiri Wind Farm
Shooting range closure prevents dozens of DPS officers from renewing gun certifications
HNN: … DPS officials say the extended closure of Koko Head Shooting Complex has prevented 32 personnel from being able to obtain or renew their firearms certification….
DPS employees tasked with carrying a gun are generally required to renew their weapons certification every year.
But as the closure drags on, extensions are being granted, Hawaii News Now has learned….
read … Shooting range closure prevents dozens of DPS officers from renewing gun certifications
Report: ‘Forever chemicals’ spilled at Red Hill were also released at Kalaeloa Airport
HNN: … As clean-up of a toxic spill at the Red Hill facility continues, Hawaii News Now has learned about releases of the same kind of so-called forever chemicals at another location ― Kalaeloa Airport.
The information was included in a 2020 report by the Army National Guard.
The report said releases of toxic firefighting foam (or AFFF) happened at random locations at the airport.
The foam was stored in a hangar and state firefighters would conduct monthly pump tests.
AFFF is used to fight fuel fires….
read … Report: ‘Forever chemicals’ spilled at Red Hill were also released at Kalaeloa Airport
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