Hawaii 2nd-Highest Tax Burden in USA
Study: 40% of Hawaii Roads Substandard
Hawaii Attorney general urges U.S. Congress support right-to-repair law
Six Years prison for wife of convicted former union boss
SA: … The wife of the former business manager of a Hawaii labor union convicted of rigging a vote to raise dues and using members’ money to live a luxurious lifestyle should spend 70 to 87 months in federal prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
In November a federal jury found Brian Ahakuelo, 61, former elected business manager and financial secretary of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 1260, and his wife, Marilyn Ahakuelo, 59, guilty of one count of conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of five years, and 42 counts of wire fraud, which each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Marilyn Ahakuelo will be sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Hellen Gillmor. Brian Ahakuelo’s sentencing was rescheduled until June 21.
The couple was also convicted of multiple counts of embezzlement of labor union assets, six counts for Brian Ahakuelo and three counts for Marilyn Ahakuelo. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
In addition to prison time outlined by the guidelines of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the government is asking Gillmor to order Ahakuelo to pay $9,686.55 in restitution and pay a “forfeiture money judgment.”…
read … Feds seek prison for wife of convicted former union boss
Turning Point? Hawaii Mobsters Seek to Move Trial OUT of Hawaii
ILind: … The initial motion seeking to move the trial out of Hawaii was largely based on the argument that inflammatory pretrial publicity meant Miske and other defendants could not get a fair trial unless the trial were moved out of state. It appears the jury consultant’s survey was originally intended to measure the extent to which extensive news media coverage had created actual bias in the community against the defendants.
“The prejudicial and inflammatory pretrial publicity in this case has affected the defendants right to receive a fair trial.
“Due process requires a change of venue when the defendant can show a ‘reasonable likelihood that prejudicial news prior to trial will prevent a fair trial.’”
However, defense attorneys soon had to admit that that there really hasn’t been much news coverage of the case…. As a result, attorneys began to describe the survey findings as direct empirical evidence of actual bias against Miske in the general public, rather than as a measure of the impact of news reporting….
Judge Watson … paraphrased the consultant’s position: “I knew what the answer was going to be, and it would go against my client’s interest. So I didn’t ask it.”…
(FUN FACT: These are the same guys who once peddled ‘Defend Hawaii’ gear. Now they want to ‘Flee Hawaii’.)
read … Judge: “I was offended”
Rail to Shut Down at 7PM Weekdays
KHON: … The wheels are turning on the expected July operating date for the Honolulu Rail system….
DTS submitted its rail system safety plan to the Honolulu City Council, laying out a three-level security system.
The proposal stated that the station operators will be at each station, train operators will be at every other train and Honolulu police will respond as needed….
DTS said customer safety officers would patrol at select stations, on-board trains and parking facilities, but some questions remain on the details….
The proposal includes new details about possible operating hours for the first portion of operations which will be from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and would run every 10 minutes.
According to the proposal, on weekends and holidays, service will run from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
“I think they’re going to have to extend those hours,” said Kim.
“I think the public rightfully is going to have questions about how you get home or if you work in the evening, how you get to work beyond this time,” Dos Santos-Tam said….
The City Council Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on the rail safety plan on April 4….
read … Three-level security: City proposes rail safety plan ahead of operations
The Hawaii Legislature Resists The Basic Principles Of Sunshine Law
CB: … When the public business of democracy is conducted in darkness, shady deals are more common and corruption can flourish….
read … The Hawaii Legislature Resists The Basic Principles Of Sunshine Law
No Surprise: ‘Progressives’ Work hard to Kill Affordable Housing on Maui
HPR: … Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua would create 120 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units on an 11-acre parcel in Waiehu. It aims to help residents who earn between 30% and 60% of the area median income — or between $21,000 and $44,000 a year.
East Maui council member Shane Sinenci and Molokaʻi council member Keani Rawlins-Fernandez voted against a measure giving exemptions to Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua.
Last week, the Maui County Council's Housing and Land Use Committee did not approve a measure giving exemptions to the contested project. Members voted 3-2 in favor of the project, but that wasn't enough for the county's approval.
East Maui Councilmember Shane Sinenci and Molokaʻi Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez voted against the measure….
Sinenci stated that Kahekili Highway needs … uh … adequate sidewalks and … uh … bus stops … yeah, that’s it … before development can proceed….
this decision will delay the project, leaving it with an uncertain future.
"We were hoping that we would garner enough votes to get the project approved by the committee. But we are not surprised," said Debbie Cabebe, CEO of the nonprofit Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc….
MEO announced a partnership with Hale Mahaolu and Highridge Costa in 2020 to help develop the parcel of land.
That's when a group of Native Hawaiians came forward to oppose the project (grift for money). The (alleged) heirs of a man named Pehuino challenged MEO's title, claiming Pehuino acquired the land during the Great Mahele and that their kupuna are buried on the property.
An ongoing conversation between Maui Economic Opportunity and the state disputes the chance that an 11-acre parcel in Waiehu could be turned into affordable housing.
According to an Office of Hawaiian Affairs database, Pehuino’s stake doesn’t overlap with MEO’s property, but is instead on a neighboring parcel. Records show the nonprofit’s title can be traced back to King William Lunalilo instead.
"We have the documents that clearly show the chain of custody for the property," said Cabebe. "We don't believe that there's a break in the chain. They've never given us any documents to dispute that."…
read … Progressivism is for the Rich
$9.73 dozen for Eggs in Hawaii
HNN: … Retailer Instacart reported that in January, some Hawaii residents were paying $9.73 on average for a dozen eggs.
That’s 53% higher than the next highest priced eggs ― in Florida.
The national average for a dozen large Grade A eggs was up 150% in January compared to the same price last year.
One of the biggest contributing factors in that spike is the rise in avian flu on the continental US.
The most recent numbers from the CDC show more than 58 million commercial poultry birds have been infected since last January. Some of the hardest hit states include some of the biggest mainland egg producers like Pennsylvania, California, Tennessee, Iowa, Illinois, Colorado and Washington.
Luckily, the avian flu has not been detected in Hawaii….
”We are grateful that the USDA has strict safeguards in place to keep farms like ours safe,” said Sharon Peterson Cheape, manager of Peterson’s Upland Farm in Wahiawa.
The small farm off Dole Road processes about 3,000 eggs on average every day.
Despite the rising cost of eggs on the mainland and the challenges with labor and the national supply chain, Peterson Cheape says its important that her farm keeps their prices as low as possible for as long as possible.
A dozen large eggs at Peterson’s Upland Farm is $5.50….
read … Hawaii egg producers look for ways to keep inflation in check as prices soar
Health Department Waited Four Months to Report toxic chemicals in Kunia Village Water
HNN: … The State Health Department discovered PFAS known as toxic forever chemicals several times above the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed maximum contaminant levels in well no. 3 serving Kunia Village. Well no. 3 has been shut down and is owned by the Army and operated by the Kunia Water Association.
“It’s actually quite shocking,” said Melodie Aduja, environmental co-chair of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. She says health officials should have told the public sooner.
The health department took water samples this past September. PFAS chemicals were detected on Oct. 6, 2022. The Department of Health got another confirmation of PFAS on Nov. 23. DOH notified the public on Jan. 20, 2023.
“When you go through the timeline that they provided it’s unbelievable,” said Aduja.
“That’s a four-month span before the public is even made aware of the dangers of this liquid cancer and forever chemical,” she added.
read … Environmentalists criticize health department for delayed toxic chemical reporting in Kunia Village
Tiny Homes Proposed For DHHL Lands In West Oahu
CB: … Senate Bill 1040 would authorize DHHL to establish a “micro homes” program, similar to the kauhale concept championed by Gov. Josh Green and others, that would be open to eligible DHHL waitlisters. The eligibility requirements will be left up to the department, according to the bill….
The House’s version of SB 1040 is a departure from Shimabukuro’s original draft, which proposed rental options for DHHL beneficiaries modeled after DHHL’s Kapolei Ho‘olimalima Rent-With-Option-To-Purchase Pilot Program that successfully contracted 69 out of 70 families in purchasing the home….
read … Tiny Homes Proposed For DHHL Lands In West Oahu
Hawaii Lawmakers Grappling With Sea Level Rise Say It’s ‘Not The Right Time’ For Managed Retreat
CB: … Several bills were introduced this legislative session that would have taken big steps toward implementing managed retreat strategies. But by now, all have lost momentum….The task of moving people away from the coast faces a hurdle: economic complexities….
read … Hawaii Lawmakers Grappling With Sea Level Rise Say It’s ‘Not The Right Time’ For Managed Retreat
Schatz: Lets Ruin the E-Bike Business by Subsidizing it
KHON: … Malia K. Harunaga, HBL director of adult education, said, “This year 2023, we’re on track for surpassing them by a long shot. I believe right now there’s 5,300 e-bike registrations that have gone out so far.”
This surge in e-bike usage can be attributed to new incentives, such as the rebate offered by Hawaii’s Transportation Department, which covers 20% of retail or up to $500 on e-bike purchases.
United States Senator Brian Schatz has introduced a bill in Washington that proposes a tax credit of up to $1,500 or 30% off an e-bike purchase….
(CLUE: Surest way to kill a business--subsidize it. Better solution. Let competing bike designers and manufacturers continue to come up with lower cost better quality bikes.)
read … Ruin
A string of restaurant closures prompt concerns from industry leaders
HNN: … A string of recent restaurant closures is raising concern among industry leaders.
According to the Hawaii Restaurant Association, at least seven restaurants have shut their doors in the first three months of this year.
They include big names like Outback Steakhouse and Ruby Tuesday’s and popular local chains like Zippy’s waterfront location in Koko Marina Center….
read ... A string of restaurant closures prompt concerns from industry leaders
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