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Embattled rail CEO says she’s been bullied, harassed by HART board
HNN: … Embattled rail CEO Lori Kahikina said Tuesday that she no longer wants the job if she continues to be bullied and harassed by the HART board.
“If I’m going to get beat up like that and I don’t know when it’s going to happen, nobody should have to work like that,” said Kahikina, on Hawaii News Now.
HNN asked if she feels bullied by some members of the board.
“Yes,” she replied.
But she wouldn’t publicly name board members.
“You can watch the video,” said Kahikina, referring to a heated exchanged last month during a HART board mmeeting. In that meeting HART board Chair Colleen Hanabusa and member Michele Chun Brunngraber got visibly frustrated with Kahikina over staffing issues….
Kahikina believes city policies on workplace harassment were violated, but she hasn’t filed a formal complaint. “Several of my employees have asked me can you please file, and I said I don’t know what good is going to come of it,” she told Hawaii News Now.
Kahikina earns $275,000 per year and her contract expires at the end of the year….
Iwasa added. “It’s not good for HART or anybody and I think the mayor needs to step up and take some action.”
Mayor Rick Blangiardi appointed Hanabusa to the HART board and has been a supporter of Kahikina. Last month, a spokesperson said he was not going to comment on the situation.
When Hawaii News Now asked for his response Tuesday, a spokesperson issued this statement: “The mayor and managing director expect the HART leadership and HART Board to conduct themselves professionally at all times and put the project ahead of personal differences. We also believe this matter needs to be resolved in HART and we are taking steps to facilitate a resolution of differences.” ….
KITV: When Island News’ Rick Quan asked Kahikina if she was still hoping to get an apology from Hanabusa, she laughed.
HNN: HART board member says unrest could be putting project at risk - YouTube
HNN: DTS: City has learned a lot in launching first phase of Skyline - YouTube
BACKGROUND: www.TheRealHanabusa.com
read … Embattled rail CEO says she’s been bullied, harassed by HART board
Property insurance rates up 1000% for condo owners
KITV: … Even before the Lahaina fires, insurance rates had been spiking because of natural disasters, global instability and other risk factors driving up costs. And now, they're going up even more.
"Anywhere from up to a thousand percent," said Sue Savio, owner of Insurance Associates.
And that could mean hundreds of dollars more in maintenance fees for condo owners.
"It's going to be definitely a struggle for anybody, especially on a fixed income," said Martin McGinn, board president of the Alii Villas Condominium Association….
KHON: Rising insurance and maintenance costs stressing residents - “Seth Colby is part of the Hawaii Economics Association Board of Directors, the organization will be hosting a webinar on Thursday to address the rising cost of condo insurance. He said two issues are impacting homeowners, costly hurricane insurance coverage and increasing maintenance fees.”
HNN: An $800 condo policy has jumped to $8,000 a year.
HEA: Hawaii Economic Association - Meeting/Event Information
CB: Increase of $600 on their monthly association fees
read … Property insurance rates skyrocketing for condo owners
BoE Trying to Move King Kamehameha III School
CB: … On Tuesday night, the Hawaii Department of Education presented three options: the elementary school’s original location on Front Street, Puukolii Village Mauka in Kaanapali and the temporary school’s current location at the Pulelehua Project, a housing development located near the Kapalua Airport….
Complex Area Superintendent Rebecca Winkie said the department would like to move to a permanent site within the next three to five years. Of the three proposed sites, only the Pulelehua Project would accommodate this timeline, Winkie said.
DOE has previously estimated that the temporary campus will cost from $100 million to $120 million if students remain there for a total of five years.
The department has a pre-existing agreement with Pulelehua’s developer to build a school on the property, making it easier to expedite the construction, Winkie said. Currently, no infrastructure for a school exists at the Puukolii Village Mauka housing project or in the burn zone on Front Street, she added….
In November, the department estimated that 1,000 fewer students were enrolled at Lahaina’s four public schools compared to the start of the year. King Kamehameha III Elementary currently serves about 350 students, compared to the 624 children it enrolled before the fires….
it seems like the department has already chosen the permanent site without seriously considering community input.
“It seemed like, out of the three choices, they only gave us one choice,” Livermore said….
KHON: DOE weighs options for Maui school rebuild
read … Decision Due Soon On Where To Build A New Elementary School In Lahaina - Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii Is A Lousy Place To Charge An Electric Vehicle
CB: … fewer public charging stations are available in Hawaii than in nearly any other state. Unlike the rest of the country, drivers in Hawaii are dependent on a single provider for virtually all publicly available fast chargers: Hawaiian Electric Co.
The problem is the equipment chosen by HECO has a poor track record where it has been installed, and to make matters worse, it is paired with an inadequate digital network that frequently renders the chargers inoperable. HECO’s announced plans give little hope that this dispiriting picture will be improving ….
read … Hawaii Is A Lousy Place To Charge An Electric Vehicle - Honolulu Civil Beat
More homeless housing planned for Oahu
SA: … homeless people who could not be accommodated at IHS when it had to reduce beds to maintain social distancing during COVID-19 “got used to being out there,” Mitchell said….
… The city this year has opened 396 more beds with plans for a total of 896 in the coming months, according to Anton Krucky, director of the city Department of Community Services.
They include three new shelters for homeless families comprising 18 units in Hauula, 27 in Wahiawa and 12 at Waikiki Vista…
the area with the greatest homeless population on Oahu in January — the Waianae Coast, with 783 homeless people — had only two shelters….
Background: How DHS Policy Change Drives Homeless Count UP, UP, UP
read … More homeless housing planned for Oahu
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