DoD IG Rips Navy Red Hill Management
DoH Issues Cesspool Guidance for Kula Burn Area
Tulsi Gabbard ‘worst cabinet appointment in recent history’
KHON: … When Burman clarified, asking whether Bolton was calling for Gabbard to be investigated, Bolton said, “I think so,” adding, “Given the Russian propaganda that she has espoused over the past period of time, I think she’s a serious threat to our national security.”
In the interview, Bolton heavily criticized Trump’s choices for the positions, calling Gabbard and Gaetz the two worst cabinet appointments in recent history.
“With his announcement of Tulsi Gabbard to be the Director of National Intelligence, he’s sending a signal that we have lost our mind when it comes to collecting intelligence,” Bolton said when asked about the message he thinks Trump is trying to send to China….
Bolton recalled an interview Gabbard gave in January 2020 after Congress was briefed on the Trump-directed assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the former head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.
According to Bolton, Gabbard said in the 2020 interview that she was “concerned about the illegal and unconstitutional act of war that had been carried out under President Trump’s orders.”
Bolton asked: “So that’s the kind of person that we’re going to put in charge of our overall intelligence community?” ….
BACKGROUND:
read … John Bolton: FBI should investigate Tulsi Gabbard, Matt Gaetz pre-confirmations
Hawaii’s small and silly leaders mostly celebrate Tulsi Gabbard selection
SA: … Honolulu City Council member Esther Kia‘aina, who was assistant secretary for insular areas at the U.S. Department of the Interior under the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama, said she was pleasantly surprised by where Gabbard landed.
(CLUE: Let’s look at how very un-serious Hawaii ‘leaders’ are.)
“As a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, former Congressional Member on the House Armed Services Committee, and a Pacific Islander, Tulsi Gabbard is well-suited to align our national intelligence resources with the threats we face within the continental United States, within the Indo-Pacific region, and internationally,” Kia‘aina said in a statement.
Kia‘aina, who along with former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann lost to Gabbard in 2012 for a U.S. House of Representatives seat, also said she believes Gabbard will ably represent Hawaii, the Pacific Islands and the country in her position, which is subject to Senate confirmation.
State Rep. Gene Ward (R, Hawaii Kai-Kalama Valley) expects Gabbard to bring somewhat of a watchdog role to the job, the duties for which include briefing the president daily on national intelligence as the leader of a coalition of 18 federal organizations that include the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“It’s going to be an interesting future for her and for those agencies because she’s a no-nonsense, give-me-the-facts (person),” Ward said. “Go girl, go.”
Local attorney Ernie Martin, who formerly served on the Honolulu City Council with Gabbard and in 2018 ran for a U.S. House seat as a Democrat, said in an email, “It comes as no surprise to me that Tulsi has advanced to this position given her political aptitude, ambition and affinity for our state and country. I wish her well as the Director of National Intelligence.”
Tamara McKay, state chair of Hawaii’s Republican Party, called Gabbard’s nomination fantastic.
“Her roots being back here, her changing parties and being involved on the Trump campaign I think will help bring some attention to our state, and hopefully that will drive us in a better direction with our local economy,” McKay said.
Gov. Josh Green, a Democrat, said in a statement that he hopes Gabbard, whom he has known for a very long time, “can bring some Aloha to the new administration. This is going to be an era that truly tests humanity and our willingness to treat vulnerable people with compassion.”
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) criticized Trump for the pick.
“Along with many of the nominations Donald Trump has announced thus far, the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to lead our nation’s Intelligence Community reflects how unseriously the President-elect is treating positions of critical importance and trust,” Hirono said in a statement “With each new nomination, Trump is making even more clear that the only thing he’s serious about is running our country into the ground.”
(Hirono is the voice of reason? Wow. Just wow.)
University of Hawaii at Manoa political scientist Colin Moore said he was surprised by Gabbard being named to the job because she doesn’t have senior-level national intelligence experience.
Moore expects that Gabbard may have difficulty obtaining confirmation in the Republican-controlled Senate over experience, policy positions and past activities that include meeting with accused war criminal and Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2017 while a member of the U.S. House.
However, Moore also said Gabbard represents someone who aligns with Trump’s views on foreign policy and is being rewarded for her help during the election….
read … Hawaii government leaders mostly celebrate Tulsi Gabbard selection
Court Rules Lahaina Front Street May Not be Rebuilt
SA: … Maui County and its Planning Commission actually passed new special management area (SMA) rules that abdicate oversight responsibility over developers’ shoreline projects, by creating more carve-out situations for developers to self-regulate.
(TRANSLATION: They were allowing for the possibility of SMA areas of Lahaina to be rebuilt.)
So it is crucial to laud Maui Circuit Judge Kirstin Hamman’s ruling last week, siding with plaintiff Maui Tomorrow Foundation, that invalidated Maui’s new rules regarding SMA assessments and permitting procedures.
(TRANSLATION: SMA areas of Lahaina will never be rebuilt.)
“The Court agrees with Plaintiff that the new SMA rules impermissibly delegate Commission obligations to SMA users,” Hamman wrote.
Maui’s new rules are now barred, reverting to the old ones with fewer developer exemptions while the commission tries anew to improve policies. Maui County is reviewing the ruling and considering whether to appeal….
Appeal? LOL! Enviros win 90% in Hawaii Supreme Court
read … Editorial: Keep Maui coastal protections strong | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
FEMA adjusting Lahaina rental assistance to wind down inflated rental prices
SA: … As of Tuesday, 1,182 households are temporarily residing in FEMA’s direct lease housing.
Starting Feb. 10, 2025, when the extended period of financial assistance and direct temporary housing assistance begins, FEMA will implement a rental requirement. Rent will be based on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Market Rent and adjusted according to each household’s ability to pay. FEMA has also approved a streamlined process to simplify rent calculations….
(TRANSLATION: FEMA will now attempt to wind down the inflated rental prices they have been paying on Maui. Will it work?)
read … FEMA extends assistance to Maui survivors; Schatz asks for further aid
Bill 212: Exempts home repairs from building permit requirements
HTH: … Small-scale home repairs could become easier to make if Mayor Mitch Roth signs a bill that exempts repair projects below a certain cost from needing a building permit.
Bill 212 is a measure aimed at streamlining Hawaii County’s often arduous building permitting process. The measure, introduced by Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz, passed the County Council last week and will go to the mayor’s desk to await his signature.
Among other things, the measure expands the cost threshold for repair projects that require a building permit. As the law stands right now, home repairs that cost more than $7,500 within a 12-month period require a building permit, which can take months to obtain.
The bill would increase that window to $25,000 within 12 months, more than tripling the size of projects property owners can undertake without seeking a permit.
There remain certain caveats, however. Repair projects must involve “only the replacement of component parts or existing work with similar materials,” and cannot include additions or other modifications to the structure. These restrictions already are in place in the current County Code and are unchanged under Bill 212…
read … Bill regarding home repairs passes - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Kea‘au to get health center
HTH: … Hilo Benioff Medical Center is planning to build an outpatient clinic on approximately nine acres of land in Kea‘au.
The clinic, Kea‘au Benioff Health Center, will improve access to medical services in the underserved Puna District.
The estimated price tag for the project is $60 million.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff and wife Lynne, Big Island residents, recently pledged $25 million toward the project, and Gov. Josh Green, a physician, has pledged to work to secure a matching $25 million for construction….
A video about the Kea‘au Benioff Health Center can be viewed at https://youtu.be/4wFLrwCIv-A.
The EA document is available at https://planning.hawaii.gov/erp/environmental-notice/.
SA: Benioffs fund $2.5M for Hawaii public school teachers’ projects | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
HNN: Business Report: The charity of the Benioffs
read … Kea‘au to get health center
27 Years Later: Hawaii appeals court hears case on State’s responsibility on Peter Boy’s death
KHON: … It was 27-years-ago that people in Hawaii were asking, “where is Peter Boy?”
Three years ago, Peter Boy’s surviving siblings and estate won a partial judgement in their wrongful death lawsuit, alleging the state failed to act on clear signs of abuse. A failure they believe led to his death.
Today, justices in Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals heard oral arguments from the state, who contend the statute of limitations expired long ago and the plaintiffs do not have standing to sue.
“The plaintiffs only allege they were dependent upon Peter boy for love and affection and emotional support,” argued Skyler Cruz, Deputy Attorney General, representing Defendant-Appellant state of Hawaii Department of Human Services.
“All we have is what’s written and it does say any of the persons and in reference to ‘loss of love and affection.’ That seems incredibly broad to me,” said Judge James Ashford, Hawaii Court of Appeals.
“Interpreting the statute so broadly would give anyone the right to sue for wrongful death of anyone else that they had love and affection and emotional support with. This could include aunts and uncles, grandparents and even close friends,” said Cruz….
read … Hawaii appeals court hears case on State’s responsibility on Peter Boy’s death
ILWU’s Hu Honua Fiasco is Alive On Day 6,063
IM: … Hu Honua Bioenergy, LLC (Hu Honua) continues its long-running tree-burning fiasco.
Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC was incorporated on April 8, 2008, to burn trees to generate electricity to be sold to Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) subsidiary Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO).
Backed by (ILWU,) a continental billionaire and expensive lawyers, the proposed project remains alive….
On November 16, 2023, Hu Honua filed its Motion for Leave to File Third Amended and Supplemental Complaint and for Permissive Joinder with the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, asking the court to grant it leave to file a Third Amended and Supplemental Complaint, which would amend its claims and add three new proposed defendants: HEI subsidiaries Pacific Current, Hamakua Holdings, and Hamakua Energy.
The hearing on this motion took place on February 14, 2024. The Magistrate issue an Order on April 2, 2024.
“Hu Honua's claim that its lack of PPA was caused by the Hamakua acquisition was speculative. Hu Honua has not stated plausible antitrust claims against the three entities….
On September 12, 2024, the court issued its decision affirming the April 2, 2024 order.
“This court has now reviewed four versions of Hu Honua's Complaint. Hu Honua is represented by experienced antitrust practitioners from prominent law firms and has had numerous bites at this apple.
"Based on de novo review, and determining that amendment of the federal and state antitrust claims would be futile, the court AFFIRMS the Magistrate Judge's April 2, 2024 Order and DENIES further leave to amend the antitrust claims.
As the April 2, 2024 Order held, Hu Honua may file a Third Amended Complaint with the proposed amendments that were not contested.”
Hu Honua filed its Third Amended and Supplemental Complaint on October 25, 2024….
read … Hu Honua Fiasco is Alive On Day 6,063
Hawaii Schools Superintendent could receive pay raise, contract extension
KHON: … The Superintendent of Hawaii’s public schools, Keith Hayashi, may see a pay raise, increased benefits, and an extended contract following recommendations discussed at a Board of Education committee meeting on Tuesday.
The committee suggested a 4% salary increase for Hayashi, which would raise his annual salary to $249,600, effective July 1, 2024.
Additionally, the committee proposed increasing his automobile allowance to $326 per month and extending his contract by six months, pushing the expiration date to December 31, 2025 ….
read … Hawaii Schools Superintendent could receive pay raise, contract extension
55 years later, Leaks persist as work continues to replace iconic state Capitol pools
HNN: … Last week’s downpours sent water cascading into the basement offices of the Hawaii State Capitol, and it’s not the first time.
The leaks happened because the Capitol’s iconic ponds are in the process of being replaced by $10 million sheets of glass.
(ICONIC = Ability to continually generate contracts.)
The ponds have been a maintenance nightmare for 55 years, since the Capitol first opened. …
read … Leaks persist as work continues to replace iconic state Capitol pools
Lahaina Fire News:
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