February 18, 2009 > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

February 18, 2009
By Andrew Walden @ 9:26 AM :: 6935 Views

Cayetano points out Hirono is do-nothing

Thus, Gov. George Ariyoshi, himself a former lieutenant governor, had assigned then-Lt. Gov. John Waihee to help negotiate a settlement of the United Airlines strike, a task in which Waihee seemingly enjoyed some success. Likewise, Gov. Waihee had given me the opportunity to create the A-Plus After-School Program, which proved highly popular. I had tried to do the same for Hirono by asking her to take the lead on cutting bureaucratic red tape (a program which she named SWAT) and later to establish preschools (Pre-Plus) in the public schools.

Sadly, by late 2002 little had been accomplished. There was a growing perception that Hirono had just been biding her time.

Once when I suggested to Hirono that she run on "our" record (for example, the big tax cut, the record number of new schools we built), she abruptly cut me off, stating that she was "not the boy from Kalihi" and would run on her "own record."

Her big problem, I thought, was that as lieutenant governor she had no record of accomplishment to speak of. (Still doesn't.) Still, I wanted to help, of course, and I told her to let me know how they wanted me to help and I would do it. Other than that, I never offered advice again.

Inouye: More porkulus is planned

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (head of the Senate Appropriations committee) said yesterday that another federal stimulus may be necessary...(so the nation's economy will not improve and Democrats can continue placing more and more of the nation's productivity under their control.)

Kauai Garden Isle spins it: Lingle sees stimulus as opportunity

“Gov. Lingle doesn’t necessarily think the stimulus of and by itself is the perfect solution, but there is definitely some opportunities within it that could benefit Hawai‘i. We would certainly do our best to take advantage of the opportunity.”

Legislature refusing to bow to OHA on 'ceded land' sales

Under the bill, which is expected to move over to the House for consideration by Monday, any ceded land sales would first need to be approved by two-thirds of the House and the Senate.

OHA and the Legislature's Native Hawaiian Caucus have been seeking a full-blown moratorium on all ceded land sales pending the resolution of Native Hawaiian claims. But bills citing a full moratorium in both the House and Senate have yet to gain as much momentum as the Senate's "two-thirds approval" measure.

Some plastics may be banned by Legislature

There's no real evidence these plastics are any danger. But if Hawaii bans them, trial lawyers nationwide will have yet another argument to make their multi-million dollar cases. In the meantime, distributors will be unable to legally ship certain plastic goods to Hawaii.

Treehuggers to cut trees: County may yet see plastic bag ban

HILO -- A plastic shopping bag ban may be destined for Hawaii County -- one way or another. Although three plastic bag ban bills were introduced to the Legislature, a County Council ad hoc committee is considering a Big Island-only ban. The council, however, won't act on its measure until the Legislature decides upon statewide versions.

Go! airline posts profit for 1st time, Mokulele to avoid seizure of planes

And Hawaiian Airlines is so happy that it still has some competitors so it can avoid anti-trust breakup. Pretty slick getting rid of Aloha like that and coming up with something even weaker.

SB: Mokulele