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November 2, 2024 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 4:29 PM :: 628 Views

33% of elections in Hawaii are uncontested

Aloha Stadium Contractor Selected from list of ... one

Hawaii Republicans compiling complaints for election challenges

HNN: … Hawaii Republican Party is collecting every report that it can find of ballot irregularities that could contribute to a national effort to overturn the election should Donald Trump lose….

Hawaii GOP chair Tamara McCay is calling for voters to tell the party about anything that looks suspicious.

“They’re receiving duplicate votes, or they’re not even on the on the voter rolls, and they know that they have registered to vote,” she said.

McKay said she will send the reports to the Republican National Committee, which can use data from around the nation to cast doubt on a Trump defeat….

The GOP campaign soliciting complaints is frustrating to elections officials and democracy advocates like Common Cause Hawaii Program Director Camron Hurt.

“These are absolute conspiracy theorists who are just feeding on our divisions right now and our vulnerabilities,” Hurt said

One Complaint HIGOP will not be ‘collecting’ – the only real complaint: Long Lines Suppress Republican Votes on Election Day:  City Clerk Plans to do it Again in 2024

read … Hawaii Republicans compiling complaints for election challenges

Hawaii has some of the longest wait times in the nation for construction permits

HNN: … Members of the construction industry and government shared their frustrations dealing with the City’s Department of Planning & Permitting at an event discussing Grassroot Institute’s new report “Seven Low Cost Ways to Speed Up Permitting in Hawaii.”

“I would stipulate that the reason why we had five people at DPP go to jail is because people got impatient and tried to find a way around that line and get a front of line privilege. And there were some people who were unscrupulous that are no longer at DPP, that were willing to facilitate that,” said Ted Peck, president of Holu Hou Energy, who says his clients often pay the price for reviewers’ mistakes.

One reviewer “kicked that one back, something that he had already approved, because the stamp was expired. It took two months for that to get fixed, and that two months cost the customer, the small business, over $10,000,” Peck said.

From corruption to mistakes that cost money and time, attendees said the government needs to do more to speed up the process.

Our clients “say it’s been two years. We don’t have a permit,” said Angelica Rodriguez, permit processor with Structural Hawaii. “Some people have leases and they’re paying two mortgages, so timing is a big issue for them.”

Hawaii has some of the longest wait times in the nation for construction permits ….

HNN: Hawaii think tank hopes new policy report will help speed up permit processing

RELATED: Seven low-cost ways to speed up permitting in Hawaii

read … Construction permit woes continue amid ongoing improvements at DPP

New Maui police statement reveals county protocol violations in Lahaina fire victim recovery

HNN: … After weeks of HNN Investigates asking questions, the Maui Police Department recently provided information that shows the department didn’t always follow county protocols while recovering remains of people who died in the Lahaina fire.

However, the department insists information it gave families is accurate.

This comes after MPD’s former morgue contractor told HNN Investigates the process was so mismanaged he can’t guarantee all the ashes families received are their loved ones.

The Maui Police Department confirmed identification numbers — used to keep track of who’s who — weren’t issued until after victims had been moved at least two different times.

Department leadership also admits scene photographs and GPS coordinates weren’t obtained in every case. They also acknowledge instances where body bags were not used to recover decedents from their final resting place….

read … New Maui police statement reveals county protocol violations in Lahaina fire victim recovery

ML&P allows building of temporary homes on its land for residents displaced by Maui wildfires

CS: … Maui Land & Pineapple Co. agreed to, at no cost, lease land to the state to build temporary homes for residents displaced by the Maui wildfires.

The Lahaina, Hawaii-based firm plans to lease 50 acres of vacant land to the state of Hawaii for five years at no cost, Maui Land said in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The property is part of a 1,377-acre parcel in an area known as Honokeana, near Napili in Lahaina, Maui.

The plan is to build about 200 homes, with construction beginning before the end of the year, according to Russell Pang, a spokesperson for the Hawaii Department of Transportation….

read … News | Developer allows building of temporary homes on its land for residents displaced by Maui wildfires

Hawaii Can Achieve 100% Renewable Energy by 2025—just change the definition (again)

IM: … Hawaii legislators enacted the first Renewable Portfolio Standard law in 2001. The law called for the gradual increase in the use of renewable energy.

Over the intervening years, the Hawai`i definition of renewable energy has included, and has excluded, (1) energy efficiency, (2) quantifiable energy conservation measures, (3) rooftop solar, and (4) biofuels made from fossil fuels.

Scientifically, there is no such thing as renewable energy, since energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can only change forms.

Renewable energy is a political definition that changes in time and place.

Hawai`i like all other states with a RPS law have widely different definitions of what is renewable. Some states include or exclude nuclear, large hydroelectric, coal gas, and ethanol made by chemical processes involving natural gas and vegetation.

Simply put, Hawai`i could pass a law next year stating that every thing we use is renewable and therefore we are already at 100% renewable energy.

Hawai`i also has confusing laws regarding greenhouse gas emissions. On the one hand, all fossil fuel and bioenergy applications involving combustion that are submitted to the Public Utilities Commission for approval must have a cradle-to-grave (lifecycle) greenhouse gas analysis.

On the other hand, Hawaii has a law that mandates net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The law excludes all out-of-state emissions. We can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by exporting greenhouse gas intensive industries….

read … Hawaii Can Achieve 100% Renewable Energy by 2025

Why the U.S. Military Has to Hitch a Ride on Commercial Ships

WSJ: … Within China’s centrally directed economy, the government controls commercial shippers, foreign port facilities and a globe-spanning cargo-data network that in a conflict could be repurposed for military aims or to undermine the U.S., including on home soil.

Transcom’s fleet of planes and cargo ships, meanwhile, is aging and insufficient.

In conflict with China, the Pentagon would send roughly 90% of its provisions by sea. Among 44 government-owned ships for moving vehicles that Transcom can tap, 28 will retire within eight years. Replacements have faced repeated delays….

“We’re light years from where we need to be,” said Carmel, citing Transcom’s fleet of fuel-transport ships. In a war, Transcom could need more than 100, analysts say. It has guaranteed access to 10. The Navy is working to deploy modular fueling equipment carried by other ships….

In a crisis, Transcom can activate another 48 government ships kept on standby, known as the Ready Reserve Force, run by the Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration. Many were christened when Jimmy Carter was president.

For a big mobilization, Transcom can tap another 95 private ships enrolled in a government program, ideally by contracting with their owners. If that falls short, Transcom can essentially requisition their use.

In 1990, at the Cold War’s end, the U.S. had roughly 600 available merchant ships. In 1960, it had more than 3,000….

Transcom has guaranteed access to at most about 200 ships for a potential fight with China. Provisioning for the second Gulf War in 2003 required more than 165 ships, which crossed the peaceful Atlantic Ocean unimpeded. …

Van Ovost said Transcom is learning from industry. “They are competing for our business, and we’re taking their advice,” she said.

She said private carriers can offer a bridge, but ultimately the U.S. needs a military-cargo fleet.

“You can do commercial,” said Van Ovost. “But not when you’re being shot at.”…

read … Why the U.S. Military Has to Hitch a Ride on Commercial Ships - WSJ

Pain management doctor accused of getting patient hooked on opioids

HNN: … According to the complaint filed on Oct. 2, Lau told him the prescription medication was not addictive.

Within the first six months of taking the opioids, Nico said he was addicted. “There was no ‘I’m not going to take any today,’” he said.

Nico continued to see Lau for more than a decade, and even followed Lau when he joined Premier Medical Group Hawaii in 2019, which is also a named defendant in the lawsuit, along with PMGH founder Dr. Scott Miscovich.

Nico said he never saw Miscovich for treatment or prescriptions, but he is named because of his leading role at PMGH….

read … Pain management doctor accused of getting patient hooked on opioids

Possible override of mayor’s veto to lift fireworks

KHON: … The Mayor, in a letter to the council last week, said his veto was because he stood “in support of our firefighters and first responders and cannot in good conscience allow Bill 22 to become law.”

Bill 22 would lift the city’s 14 year ban on consumer fireworks, specifically fountains, sparklers, and morning glories. Discussion on the bill was placed on next week’s agenda, indicating it’s possible the full council could vote to override the Mayor’s veto. A two-thirds majority vote is needed to override the bill. It passed third reading on an 8 to 1 vote, so support for the measure is there.

“We had a ban on fireworks 14 years now and I think it’s time we find some balance so our kids can enjoy sparklers and fountains like we did when we were growing up. Having a total ban hasn’t worked. if anything has fueled the black market,” said Councilmember Augie Tulba in support of the Bill during the October 9 council hearing.

“I do feel it’s important for HFD to have the position they have. We always want them protecting our communities, but at the same time, we know the ban currently isn’t working,” said Councilmember Andria Tupola during the October 9 council hearing. “I mean, Waipahu has one of the most beautiful fireworks show we see every year from Waikele so I think we have to get to a point where we’re able to legalize portions of it that are safe, that are responsible.” …

This is only the second bill the Mayor has vetoed during his term. If the city council does vote to override the veto, it would be the first for this council….

read … Possible override of mayor’s veto to lift fireworks ban | KHON2

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