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Thursday, October 17, 2024

October 17, 2024 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 4:53 PM :: 164 Views

Discussion: How to reduce permit delays

Fact-Check: Hawaii Shipping--Unpacking Hawaii’s Maritime Supply Chain

Red Flag: Hawaiian Electric shuts off power in West Maui

Fixing Hawai`iʻs Housing Crisis - A Visit With Peter Savio

Hawaii County Council Votes to permit roadside vending

‘Empty homes’ tax fraught with pitfalls and unlikely to work

HD20: Grandinetti Celebrates Terrorism Against Indigenous Hebrews of Israel on 'Indigenous Peoples Day'

Trump Election Strategy: Hawaii Election Commission Devolves into Chaos

CB: … It was only minutes into the Oct. 8 meeting of the Hawaii Elections Commission when the chair threatened to eject one of its eight commissioners.

Ralph Cushnie of Kauai, who was appointed just this year by the minority leader in the Hawaii House of Representatives, said, “Point of order, chair.”

“What rule am I not following now?” responded the chair, Mike Curtis, also from Kauai and already irritated.

The Zoom meeting then quickly devolved into two and a half hours of arguing that included demands that Curtis resign or be fired over complaints by Cushnie and others that he was doing a bad job running things since his appointment a year ago.

Even The Blog, who loves good political drama, was taken aback at how how nasty it all was. Here are some direct quotes from participants who at one point numbered over 100: “liar,” “lying,” “dictatorship,” “mafia,” “communism,” “bullying,” “shut your mouth,” “jail” and “insurrection.” ….

Cushnie was not ejected and Curtis did not quit. But after it was all said and done the commission had failed to resolve the single item on its agenda: a complaint that the commission had violated the Sunshine Law governing open meetings ….

Some commissioners, including Cushnie, wanted the commission to meet again before the Nov. 5 election instead of Dec. 18, as Curtis proposed….

CLUE: Hawaii Revised Statutes § 11-174.5 (2023) - Contests for cause in general, special general, special, and runoff elections.

CLUE: Hawaii Presidential electors Must be Named by Last day of November

REALITY: Long Lines Suppress Republican Votes on Election Day: City Clerk Plans to do it Again in 2024

read … The Sunshine Blog: Crossing The Thin Blue Line

County approves building permits for Kahoma Village reconstruction in Lahaina

MN: … The County of Maui has approved with conditions building permits for Kahoma Village to reconstruct four multi-family buildings totaling 24 units that were destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires.

According to Gov. Josh Green’s 18th emergency proclamation, multi-family residences within the Special Management Area may be reconstructed provided the reconstruction does not change the structure’s previous footprint or overall dimensions.

Kahoma Village is required to obtain a permanent Special Management Area permit within six months of the expiration of the governor’s proclamation to ensure land use compliance after the proclamation ends.

Kahoma Village was originally developed as a 203-unit housing project under Hawaii Revised Statutes 201H, which provides for expedited processing of projects that are more than 50 percent affordable ….

read … County approves building permits for Kahoma Village reconstruction in Lahaina

Upcountry Maui fire victims await change as cesspool restrictions block rebuilding

HNN: … Upcountry Maui residents who lost their homes in wildfires last August are experiencing a rebuilding roadblock.

About two dozen homes and structures burned, but reconstruction has been slow because of cesspool laws and setback restrictions.

Mark Ross lost his dream retirement home on Aug. 8, 2023.

He’s had the plans to rebuild since November, and an independent engineer signed off on those plans earlier this year. But his lot on Haleakala Highway in Kula remains empty. All that’s left is the concrete driveway.

Ironically that’s what the state Department of Health told him he needed to tear up to properly install a waste system.

Ross was told he needed to upgrade to a septic tank, despite the original cesspool being still viable and in good working order, according to his engineer.

State law requires 7,400 cesspools in upcountry Maui to be converted to septic tanks by 2050.

Ross said he couldn’t afford the $50,000 it would cost to convert, so he wants to rebuild the home as is for now….

read … Upcountry Maui fire victims await change as cesspool restrictions block rebuilding

Securities Case Over Hawaiian Electric Company's Wildfire Readiness Dismissed

L: … The YouTube videos, press releases and sustainability reports that contain the statements challenged by shareholders all feature Hawaiian Electric Company logos or other branding with nothing to suggest Hawaiian Electric Industries was ultimately in control of them, Corley wrote.

Corley also found the allegedly misleading statements either couldn't be proven untrue or were too vague and general to support securities fraud claims….

L360: Hawaii Utility Beats Investor Suit Over Wildfire, For Now - Law360

B: Hawaiian Electric Fends Off Investor Suit Over Lahaina Fire (1) (bloomberglaw.com)

read … Securities Case Over Hawaiian Electric Company's Wildfire Readiness Dismissed

Closed door meetings in UH president selection process prompt community backlash

HNN: … The next president of the University of Hawaii could be decided in the next 48 hours, but it’s happening behind closed doors ….

CB: UH Regents Hold Secret Interviews To Pick New University President

KHON: University of Hawaii moves forward with presidential search amid concerns over transparency

read … Closed door meetings in UH president selection process prompt community backlash

Kona Rabbi’s lawsuit against county appears headed for settlement

HTH: … Significant progress is being made toward settling a federal lawsuit filed by a Kailua-Kona rabbi and the religious organization he represents against Hawaii County and Planning Director Zendo Kern, according to court records….

The suit, filed on behalf Chabad Jewish Center of the Big Island and Rabbi Levi Gerlitzky, claims that fines levied by the county at Gerlitzky for using his Nani Kailua Drive home for religious gatherings are discriminatory and violate rights guaranteed by both the U.S. and state constitutions….

A private settlement conference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield is set for Friday….

April, 2024: Rabbi likely to win bias suit against Hawaii County

Feb, 2024: Rabbi Sues Hawaii County Over Mounting Fines for Hosting Small Religious Gatherings in His Home

read … Kona Rabbi’s lawsuit against county appears headed for settlement

Concerns over school bullying at Kealakehe High School in Kailua-Kona

KITV: … Parents are frustrated, saying their concerns are falling on deaf ears.

These videos show several fights in recent months at Kealakehe High School in Kailua-Kona.

Vanessa Karsin said it's a common occurrence.

"It's a chronic issue of bullying at the school," she said.

Apart from the fights, she said her daughter has endured months of harassment.

"They haven't taken anything serious. My daughter came home crying from harassing," Karsin said. "Then my daughter comes home and tells me about all the other situations of bullying that has happened at that school, and all the fights that happen daily." …

(CLUE: This has been going on for years.)

KITV: Police investigate anonymous threat at Kealakehe Intermediate School

read … Concerns over school bullying at Kealakehe High School in Kailua-Kona

Westside Shooting Victim Fights To Walk Again As Her Family Seeks Justice

CB: … a 20-year-old male suspect was identified, but no arrest was made ….

read … Westside Shooting Victim Fights To Walk Again As Her Family Seeks Justice

Navy says EPA report that found low-level contamination proves water is ‘safe’

SA: … The Navy released Wednesday a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that was the result of an inspection of its water system that serves more than 93,000 people on Oahu.

The inspection found small but detectable traces of petroleum and of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, dubbed PFAS. The report, which had several redactions, also detailed assorted maintenance problems and missing documents.

But given the relatively low detection levels, the Navy touted the report’s findings as evidence of success on its part. In a statement, the Navy said that “the inspection, completed over the summer, determined the JBPHH (Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam) water remains safe for consumption.”…

read … Navy says EPA report that found low-level contamination proves water is ‘safe’

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