RFP-LOL: Aloha Stadium will be Built by 2028
Hawai‘i State Capitol gets metal detectors
Lahaina Recovery: Convicted Felon Wants Another $50M
CB: … As Maui County officials struggle to find housing for thousands of displaced people who survived the deadly Aug. 8 wildfire, a Texas real estate developer is offering to build hundreds of affordable homes just north of Lahaina.
In exchange for developing the Pulelehua subdivision near the Kapalua Airport, Paul Sau-Ki Cheng wants $50 million from Maui County, on top of $18 million he’s already received….
In the 1990s, Cheng spent years behind bars after a conviction on multiple counts of bank and wire fraud, false entries and transporting illegally obtained money across state lines. He became a figure in the savings and loan crisis that shook the country’s economy in the 1980s, appearing in national news articles. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. sued him and several Wall Street investment banks for alleged securities fraud.
Cheng’s troubles happened decades ago, and he appears to have gone on to have a successful career in real estate and stayed out of legal trouble….
Long after Cheng had left prison, a federal judge in Texas in 2001 turned down his petition for his sentence to be vacated because it wasn’t filed within the statutory period of limitations. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review his case. And President George W. Bush rejected Cheng’s request for a pardon….
read … This Developer Wants Public Money To Build Maui's Future. Has He Come Clean About His Own Past? - Honolulu Civil Beat
Renters Fear Unintended Consequences Of Cash Incentives To Help House Maui Fire Survivors
CB: … A series of government initiatives (thanks CNHA) aimed at helping displaced Lahaina fire survivors find housing is sending shockwaves through the community of long-term Maui renters unaffected by the Aug. 8 inferno.
Amid the island’s severe housing crisis, they fear that landlords will opt for generous tax breaks and financial incentives being offered, kick them out and rent to people who lost homes in the wildfire that killed at least 100 people.
“With some of the financial incentives and subsidies, we are concerned that it’ll fuel the displacement of people who are just simply long-term renters,” said Jordan Hocker, tenant organizer with Maui Housing Hui….
In an interview with Civil Beat on Monday, FEMA Region 9 Administrator Robert Fenton said 50 households have already taken advantage of the agency’s direct leasing program.
He expects about 100 units will soon become available for rent through the program, the majority of them in West Maui. Fenton said the number will likely rise quickly as more property owners become aware of the program and take advantage of it….
Cheng told the Maui News in 2016: “I have vindicated myself.” As recently as last month, he professed his innocence.
“You will not find any government fines, levies, liens, restitution orders outstanding on me as they do not exist for what has been decades now because the Government has rescinded them,” Cheng wrote in an email to Civil Beat…
SA: Off The News: Getting help from STR owners | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)
read … Renters Fear Unintended Consequences Of Tax Breaks To Help House Maui Fire Survivors - Honolulu Civil Beat
Only 3,200 People Ride Rail on Average Weekday
SA: … On weekdays, an average of about 3,200-3,300 people ride the Skyline. Nouchi said there is a bump on Wednesdays when the Aloha Stadium hosts the swap meet with about 3,500-3,700 riders. About 2,300 people ride the Skyline on Saturdays and a little over 2,000 people ride on Sundays. On major holidays, about 1,200 people use the Skyline. …
read … Official says they would like Skyline ridership to be higher
HART Reaches Nearly $60 Million Settlement With Rail Contractor STG--but don’t worry, it won’t impact overall price of project, LOL!
CB: … The board overseeing Honolulu rail construction agreed Thursday to pay an additional sum of $59.9 million to one of the transit project’s largest contractors, Shimmick/Traylor/Granite Joint Venture, to settle that venture’s lawsuit over expensive construction delays plus any other remaining claims.
With the settlement, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation hopes to resolve once and for all the costs associated with long-standing utility relocation problems near the Honolulu airport. STG had sought at least $99 million in the suit it filed this past summer.
The rail agency also aims to set the final price at $990 million for STG to build just over five miles and four stations of the Skyline rail. Originally, STG was awarded in 2016 a nearly $875 million contract to build that segment, running from Aloha Stadium to Middle Street….
SA: HART OKs settlement with airport route builder | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)
read … HART Reaches Nearly $60 Million Settlement With Rail Contractor STG
Driver falsely arrested at DUI checkpoint claims statistics — not drunk drivers — motivate arrests
HNN: … Body camera videos show the officer told Fepuleai, “I do detect the odor of alcohol.”
Fepuleai was surprised and responded, “But I don’t drink.”
Fepuleai insisted he was sober and agreed to do the field sobriety tests, including a breath test at the scene. The body camera videos show Fepuleai took the breath test and the police report shows the result was 0.00. He had no alcohol in his system.
Fepuleai said the narrative then changed, and the officers said they suspected drug use.
Fepuleai showed HNN Investigates one part of the police report, where an officer marked “no” for odor of intoxicant. Another officer’s body camera video shows Fepuleai being handcuffed.
“Put your hands behind your back. You’re being placed under arrest for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant,” the second officer said.
Right after Fepuleai was cuffed and put in the patrol car, the transporting officer appears to turn off the body camera, even though policy requires it stay on during the ride.
Fepuleai said that’s important because on the way to the Pearl City substation, he said the officer told him to refuse further tests in an effort to save time.
Fepuleai said he listened and posted $500 bail.
He now regrets listening to the officer. “He shouldn’t have given me that advice and I hope that they’re not giving other innocent people the same advice,” Fepuleai said….
read … Driver falsely arrested at DUI checkpoint claims statistics — not drunk drivers — motivate arrests
New law enforcement department is a ‘force multiplier’ with new ‘Training Center’ in its Crosshairs
KHON: … The New Year is less than three weeks away. Among the changes we’ll see come January 1 are a new Department of Law Enforcement (DLE).
The DLE merges five state law enforcement entities into one giving them more bang for their buck fighting crime….
“The Department of Law Enforcement has already confiscated 3000 pounds of fireworks, which would be causing us havoc come New Year’s Eve….
When the department launches January 1, Redulla said there are just a few things that the public will be able to see that are different.
“The public will be able to recognize the now newly issued khaki brown colored uniform shirts and our green, dark green pants,” added Redulla….
The DLE was one of many state, federal and county agencies that would have benefited from a massive first responders technology campus proposed for Central Oahu. After Governor Josh Green shut that down, the DLE had to go back to the drawing board regarding a new training facility….
According to Wakai, the DLE is considering a location near the airport on Nimitz Highway for its new training center.
“Director Lowe was looking at that particular facility, that plot of land to be the training facility, and I think legislatively, he’s asking for $6 million dollars for design and planning of that area to be the footprint for a daily training facility,” said Wakai….
read … New law enforcement department is a ‘force multiplier’ with criminals in its crosshairs
Erosion: State Prohibits Homeowners from Saving Their Homes--State may get land ‘donated’
HNN: … A North Shore homeowner facing almost $1 million in fines for illegal erosion barriers has told the state that he had no idea the surf could take his house.
His attorney is calling for homeowners and the state to find a global solution.
But experts say the final solution is for them to move….
At Kammies Beach behind Ke Nui Road, at least five property owners face major fines and as many as 20 are considered at high risk….
“The only practical solution here is that the homeowners exit from this area ….” Fletcher said….
Antolini said property owners along that stretch should expect to give up their beach land eventually — either to the state or Mother Nature.
“They could donate their land to the state or the city and get tax write-offs,” she said (without snickering)….
read … ‘Horrible situation’: Erosion along Oahu’s North Shore brings hefty fines and few easy solutions (hawaiinewsnow.com)
As deep-sea mining ship arrives in Honolulu, Hawaiians and environmentalists speak out
KITV: … Deep-sea mining and its impacts on Hawaii's waters, marine resources, and cultural heritage are front and center for dozens of concerned citizens Thursday. Dozens gathered at Sand Island to send a strong message against a mining ship called Hidden Gem, the world’s largest deep-sea mining vessel, that will be arriving in Honolulu….
Related: "500 Mines Needed" to Make Green Energy Possible
Ed Case: Case Introduces Measures To Halt Deep-Seabed Mining Until Full Consequences Understood And Protective Regulatory Regimes Established | U.S. House of Representatives
HNN: Native Hawaiian leaders take a stand against the world’s ‘next gold rush’ (unless they get a cut)
read … As deep-sea mining ship arrives in Honolulu, Hawaiians and environmentalists speak out
ACLU Helps Maui Meth-heads Stay on Beach
SA: … A Maui County attorney acknowledged Thursday to the state Supreme Court that the county lacks procedures to store items seized in homeless sweeps to allow property owners the opportunity to retrieve their belongings.
Deputy Corporation Counsel Bradley Sova acknowledged shortcomings in how Maui County conducts its sweeps — and said that he could not “in good conscience” defend the lack of procedures similar to ones in place on Oahu following legal challenges to how Honolulu conducted its homeless sweeps.
“The proper process to protect the property at issue is the process that’s been acknowledged in multiple cases, most notably De-Occupy Honolulu where there was inventorying, storage and the ability to reclaim property,” Sova said. “That did not happen. I’m conceding that there may be a due-process violation based upon the failure to provide those specific procedures….
(TRANSLATION: We will allow meth-heads to stay in the Lahaina Burn Zone so they can steal from homeowners attempting to rebuild.)
read … Attorney acknowledges deficiencies in Maui homeless sweeps | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)
Lahaina Fire News:
Legislative Agenda:
QUICK HITS: