Maui’s Hidden Ethics – Who is Hiding Behind the Redactions?
Justice Department Sues RealPage for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Honolulu Renters
A California “Fix” Back to ‘66
All Bluff and Bluster from Watson as DHHL’s $600M Clock Ticks Down
SA: … The current director of DHHL, Kali Watson, has an aggressive plan to turn the ship around. (He likes to spin grandiose ideas that come to nothing.) It includes (talk abot) adding multi-unit buildings, low-income housing options and quick-build modular homes to the home lands portfolio of ag land, subsistence homesteads and suburban-type tracts. It also includes obtaining state tax credits that can be offered to developers in lieu of cash, (ask the Lege to add to the $600M that DHHL hasn’t spent or encumbered) as well as federal funds earmarked for low-income or Native Hawaiian housing, infrastructure, climate-change mitigation, wastewater treatment or any other applicable need, to leverage or supplant state money so that DHHL produces even more housing….
(CLUE: Not a single new unit in that paragraph. Just more hot air and a request for more money.)
Watson’s approach is to seek out properties that can be rapidly readied for homesteads, pivot when necessary, and prioritize spending where it can produce more immediate results. DHHL has been making speedy progress by state government standards since Watson took over in 2023. Supporting the strategy and funding the staff and administrative improvements Watson says he needs to modernize DHHL would be a savvy investment in the state’s well-being.
(CLUE: Not a single new unit in that paragraph. Just more hot air.)
The bottom line is that, in contrast to previous DHHL strategies, the agency under Watson is rapidly adding to the number of homesteads that can be offered. Last week, he informed the legislative committee monitoring DHHL’s progress on the $600 million appropriation that 28 parcels are in play. (‘In play’ means ‘Just more empty talk’) Once built out (LOL!), they are projected (LOL!) to contain nearly 6,000 Hawaiian homes.
(REALITY: 6,000 = ‘0’)
(WATSON WEASEL WORDS: ‘Can be’—‘in play’—‘projected.’)
In March of this year, Gov. Josh Green reported that the $600 million awarded “would immediately unlock” development of 3,700 homes.
(REALITY: 3,700 = ‘0’)
Among the victories: DHHL’s Pu‘uhona homestead project, a 161-lot development in Waikapu, West Maui, for which 52 leases have been awarded. The project is Maui’s first turnkey housing development in 17 years.
(And it was initiated before Watson became director.)
Most recently, Watson has been working to get funding and approvals for the purchase of a Kauai apartment building that will be converted to leasehold homesteads.
(REALITY: All talk about what Watson 'will' do. Meanwhile the only thing he actually 'is' doing is buying Kauai's only affordable apartment complex and reserving it for DHHL beneficiaries. No net increase in affordable units and 100s of existing tenants displaced with nowhere to go but off the island.)
2022: Danner: DHHL Should Stop Building Houses and Buy Molokai Ranch for Walter Ritte
2023: Cayetano Dumped Kali Watson After DHHL Secret Land Deals
2023: Lawsuit: Kali Watson Boat Runs Over Surfer off Waikiki -- The suit said the paddlers include developer Chris Flaherty and DHHL Chair nominee Kali Watson and CNHA loan agent Chris Kuaiwa .…
read … Editorial: New DHHL plan bold, promising
Kakaako Makai: With Saiki out of the way, Developers salivate over OHA plans to create 400’ concrete megaliths
SA: … Kakaako will have a new state House representative in January and new potential for residential high-rise development on poorly utilized land makai of Ala Moana Boulevard owned by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
House Speaker Scott Saiki (D, Ala Moana-Kakaako-Downtown) was defeated in the Aug. 10 primary election, and his loss also means an impending departure of the mightiest legislative impediment to OHA realizing a more-than-decade-old goal to partly undo a ban on residential development in the area known as Kakaako makai.
Saiki has held powerful leadership positions in the House for as long as OHA has tried to get legislation passed to up-zone at least some of the 31 acres in Kakaako it received from the Legislature in 2012 to settle a long-disputed debt with the state.
Now, Saiki, who at least once single-handedly killed a Kakaako makai rezoning bill, won’t be able to control a similar bill to one that passed the Senate in three of the last four years and is already teed up for introduction in January….
Rep. Daniel Holt, co-chair of the legislative Native Hawaiian Caucus, believes the chances for passing a bill to support OHA’s development goals in Kakaako are now better than ever before.
“I do think that there will be some legislation coming forward, and I’m looking forward to helping out OHA however I can,” said Holt (D, Sand Island-Iwilei-Chinatown)….
Moore said Saiki’s recent loss to Iwamoto by 256 votes — 2,412 versus 2,668 — probably wasn’t materially influenced by his actions with respect to Kakaako makai, given strong support among district residents to maintain the 2006 ban….
(TRANSLATION: Losing your ocean view is a small price to pay for the warm fuzzy feeling of political correctness that comes from electing a tranny.)
Precisely as Explained: Every single bill submitted to fund and support OHA died at the Capitol
read … Impending Legislature leadership change could do same for Kakaako landscape
Decline in Maui room bookings could cost the state more than $40 million in taxes
SA: … Some still believe they are not welcome as the government asked tourists to leave in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, and some residents and celebrities fortified that message on social media. …26% indicated they are not going to visit in the next two years because of the fires, and 8% said, “I was going to, but I’m not going to visit anymore.”…
“Everybody realizes that if we don’t have tourists come back, businesses are just going to go out of business, and I think a lot of them already have and a lot more are about to,” he said. …
SA: Hotels on Maui woo back leisure travelers
MN: Maui County vacation rental occupancy at 53% as demand remains lower than 2023
read … Decline in Maui room bookings could cost the state more than $40 million in taxes
Care homes key to isle homeless plight
SA: … When people talk about the homelessness problem, they’re usually referring to those with these conditions who occupy our sidewalks and public spaces. For these individuals, long-term and permanent care homes are essential in tackling homelessness. These homes provide stable, supportive environments that address the root causes of homelessness and offer paths to recovery and stability….
long-term and permanent care homes reduce the burden on emergency services and health care systems. People with untreated mental illness and addiction frequently depend on emergency rooms and law enforcement, creating significant public costs. Continuous care and support in these homes decrease the frequency of crises that require emergency intervention. This not only benefits the individuals but also eases the pressure on public resources, allowing for more efficient service use. The benefits to the community from long-term and permanent care homes go beyond cost savings. By addressing homelessness at its core, these facilities help create safer, more cohesive communities….
(CLUE: The homeless want their next rock. Care homes will work only if the homeless are forced.)
read … Care homes key to isle homeless plight
Homeless Rot on Honolulu Streets
Shapiro: … I came upon a man in clothes that had nearly rotted off him sleeping on the sidewalk up against Walgreens.
He’d been there for some time, judging from his profuse stream of sickly green urine flowing across the sidewalk to the street…
Then there was the guy sitting on a walkway bench committing a lewd act with one hand while extending the other for a handout….
read … David Shapiro: Only will and commitment can fix isle homelessness
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