HB1291: Will Abused Foster Children Ever be Represented?
Minor Parties to be Removed from Hawaii Ballot
Filipino Americans Making it out of Hawaii
CB: … Making it in Hawaii for an ethnic group, let alone individual families, became much more difficult once tourism, with its primarily service and sales jobs, emerged as the state’s economic mainstay in the 1970s.
Thus, talk about the “next group to make it” has not been heard much, if at all, since then, as families have been focused on making do. Driven by the high cost of living, especially for housing, too many island residents, including Filipino Americans, are instead making it out of here….
read … Why Filipino Americans Haven't Fully Made It In Hawaii
Another Miske Co-Defendant tries for Release Again
ILind: … A second motion to release co-defendant Jarrin K. Young from federal detention pending trial was filed by his attorney, William L. Shipley. Young is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute drugs, and firearm offense. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation (of course) after pleading no-contest in state court (key word: state) to 1st degree robbery and 2nd degree terroristic threatening.
In his motion, Shipley argues that based on the current expected trial dates and the estimated length of the trial, Young will have been in custody 42 months (3-1/2 years) by the time the trial is over.
“The continued pretrial detention of Defendant Young in this matter constitutes a violation of the Defendant Young’s due process rights under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, and his immediate release on terms and conditions of pretrial release is the mandated remedy under Ninth Circuit controlling authority,” according to Shipley’s motion.
Shipley filed a similar motion seeking Young’s release in August 2022, which was denied….
read … Minor updates on events in the Miske case
Can raised crosswalks really cost so much?
ILind: .. According to the DOT, it costs around $120,000 for each speed humps and raised crosswalks it installs….
…Seriously? A speed bump or a raised crosswalk? There doesn’t appear to be a lot of complex engineering involved. Does asphalt really cost that much? Or is this the result of larding extensive engineering into what appear to be simple projects? Whatever is the case, that $120,000 figure demands some explaining, don’t you think?
An online search found a 2018 study by the Institute of Transportation Engineers estimating the cost of a raised asphalt crosswalk or “traffic table” at between $2,500 and $8,000.
Another publication by the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates an asphalt traffic table should cost between $5,000 and $15,000.
The City of Seattle’s Department of Transportation estimated the same range: “Speed humps and cushions are about $5,000. Speed tables cost about $10,000.”…
read … Can raised crosswalks really cost so much?
Contract for Red Hill facility alternatives is an enigma
SA: … The company awarded a half-million-dollar, no-bid “public outreach” contract to solicit ideas from the community about possible alternative uses of the Navy’s Red Hill facility once it’s closed for fueling operations is being tight-lipped about how it plans to conduct community outreach.
The Navy announced Jan. 31 that it had awarded a contract to Nakupuna Cos. and that the company and its team of subconsultants would “solicit and consider all ideas received from the community with an emphasis on citizens of Oahu.”
Since then Nakupuna has declined to name its subconsultants or the team members who will be working on public outreach. The company declined interview requests and wouldn’t answer written questions about how it plans to gather the ideas, whether it will host community meetings and when it plans to submit its work to the Navy.
The company told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that if it has questions about the contract, it could submit a formal records request under the Freedom of Information Act….
read … Contract for Red Hill facility alternatives is an enigma
SB72 Hu Honua Bill on the Move
IM: … Hawaiian Electric Companies sign Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers. These PPAs are then submitted to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for approval. The price paid to the Independent Power Producer must be high enough to cover both the construction and operation of the generator.
At the end of the contract period, the contract may be renewed and resubmitted to the Public Utilities Commission. Since the construction costs have already been fully recovered, the price per kilowatt-hour will be lower.
Senate Bill 72 states that any renewal should be automatically approved if the power producer reduces the price by any amount. The price of purchased solar electricity is sometimes calculated to 1/1000th of one cent.
The bill has now had two hearings in the Senate….No power producer has testified in favor of this provision.
The Public Utilities Commission and the Consumer Advocate (CA) raised serious concerns. The bill is opposed by the Energy & Climate Action Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai`i, Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350Hawai`i, and Life of the Land.
Sen. Lorraine Inouye sponsored SB72….she is an aggressive supporter of Hu Honua….
CB: Lawmakers Want Tighter Timelines For PUC Review Of Energy Projects. Some Say Not So Fast -- Republican Sen. Brenton Awa said he was convinced enough by the public testimony tying the bill to Hu Honua that he voted against it in the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee on Tuesday. He’s been the lone “no” vote thus far in the process.
read … Legislative Bills With Only Secret Supporters Should Be Killed
Bills aim to add ‘tiny home’ sites for homeless
SA: … The latest version of Senate Bill 1442 would provide $15 million to expand the “kauhale” concept, which is also known as ohana zones. The money would include operational expenses, upkeep and social service costs.
The latest version of House Bill 671 does not specify the amount of funding….
The idea was inspired by a visit to Austin, Texas, by then-Lt. Gov. Green and Nani Medeiros, who has since become his Cabinet-level chief housing officer….
SA Editorial: Keep building on kauhale concept
read … Bills aim to add ‘tiny home’ sites for homeless
Mayor Rick Blangiardi offers 5-point homeless plan for Oahu
SA: … The action plan — noting the importance of state funding to support housing and homeless efforts — mentions the use of the state-passed 2018 law Act 209, which appropriated $30 million to create the ‘Ohana Zones pilot program to address homelessness statewide. In 2019 and 2022 an additional $2 million and $15 million, respectively, were appropriated to support the ‘Ohana Zones program….
Big Q: What do you think of Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s five-point action plan to address homelessness?
read … Mayor Rick Blangiardi offers 5-point homeless plan for Oahu
Honokowai condo evades shoreline access requirement for 45 years
LN: ... Since 1977, the condo complex has been required to provide shoreline access for local residents, but has yet to do so ....
LN: Pt 2--Hale Mahina privatizing Maui’s public beach access
LN: Making a complaint: How to file a Request for Services (RFS) with the County of Maui
read ... Honokowai condo Hale Mahina evades shoreline access requirement for 45 years
Legislative Agenda:
QUICK HITS:
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At a cost of $40M, large new wave pool on Oahu nearing completion
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Hawaii-based Ilocano writer launches book chronicling last days of Marcos Sr.
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US Marine Littoral Regiment To Be Armed With ‘Deadly’ NMESIS Missile; Experts Say ‘Can Harass, Not Halt’ PLA Navy
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Maui County hotels start year with top revenues, daily rates
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State one step closer to using new wasp to save wiliwili trees
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Hawaii County preps for Keawe, Kilauea improvement project
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County of Kaua‘i promotes 12 first responders
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Waimanalo Road Safety Upgrades Raise Local Concerns About A Community’s Identity
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Why Hawaiian Airlines Dropped $14M On This, Before Summer Deluge
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What They’re Watching: Marcus Iwane, MD, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
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What They’re Watching: Gordon Ito, Hawaii insurance commissioner
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THE FUTURE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN HAWAI’I SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTS: Animal Agriculture – By Whom, For Whom, and at What Cost?