Feds do the Job the State Cannot: Molester Coach Pleads Guilty
DHHL Breaks Ground at Bowl-O-Drome Site
Kapaa Woman Indicted for COVID Fraud
Legislature Begins Accepting Grant-in-Aid Applications
UH lands $110M DoD contract for cutting-edge research
Too Bad, So Sad: With Trump in Office, Grifters Can’t Milk Hawai‘i’s Military-Leased Lands for Money
HM: … Sixty years ago, the military leased thousands of acres of state land for $1. Talks are underway now to renew those leases, but instead of a huge payday, the state will be lucky to strike a better deal….
(TRANSLATION: We tore down those telescopes for nothing.)
Hawai‘i could possibly have gotten billions in return from the military. Or maybe nonmonetary exchanges could have been negotiated. For instance, the U.S. government could transfer federal lands to the state in exchange for the state lands, or, intriguingly, the Pentagon could help fund Hawai‘i’s Department of Education.
(Eyes bigger than stomach.)
Prior to the election, self-professed optimist Dawn Chang, current chair of the state’s Board of Land and Natural Resources, said the military and the state of Hawai‘i could be inspired by last summer’s novel climate change settlement in Navahine F. v. Hawai‘i Department of Transportation….
(Better Idea: Renew lease at $1 for another 65 years to support national defense.)
“There’s nothing that could be done to block a president if they decided to act unilaterally,” Green says. And he’s right: The president has the power to sign an executive order taking the lands in the name of national defense. Under a Democratic president, Hawai‘i Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono would have been well-connected to lobby for the best outcome for the state. But that’s not the case now.
Now, even if Hawai‘i wins, the pot will likely be much smaller than it could have been. And Hawai‘i will be lucky if there’s even a deal to be had with the incoming president’s Department of Defense….
So what’s Hawai‘i to do? Is there any action that could be taken before the new administration takes over? Green says the window is too small to get a deal done during the waning weeks of the Biden administration and that the issue will be settled before the 2028 elections. “Some of this could be finalized between 28 and 29—that is possible, but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done in good faith between now and then,” he says. “So I’m going to work in good faith with the new administration.”…
KWO: To Cede or to Seed: Has the election changed the State of Hawaiʻi’s approach to the expiring military leases? - Ka Wai Ola
REALITY:
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is a slush fund—Where is the money going?
Bananas More Radioactive than Depleted Uranium
Depleted Uranium: Radioactive Propaganda
The Depleted Uranium Scam
read … What Happens Now to Hawai‘i’s Military-Leased Lands?
Hawaii's Population: Eight Years of decline
SFG: … For the eighth consecutive year, Hawaii’s population is declining, according to the United States Census Bureau’s Vintage 2023 population estimates.
“Hawaii’s population declined since 2016 in part due to increases in out-migration but also because of decreases in the number of in-migrants from the Mainland,” the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization stated in a 2020 post. “The Mainland has become a more attractive place to live for many Hawaii residents while Hawaii has become less attractive for potential Mainland in-migrants.”
The trend continues. From July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, Hawaii’s population dropped from 1.440 million to 1.435 million, compared with 1.455 million in 2020.
Since 2020, the state’s population total has decreased by more than 20,000. Honolulu County, which includes the entire island of Oahu, showed the largest decrease, dropping from 1.017 million in 2020 to 989,408 in 2023.
Another 2023 Census Bureau report, released in October, looked at what states people from Hawaii have migrated to, as well as which states in-migrants moved from. The 2023 American Community Survey “State-to-State Migration Flows” data found that 58,078 people left Hawaii in 2023, while 58,539 moved to Hawaii from other states.
Hawaii’s residents are leaving the Hawaiian Islands for many different reasons. The state’s high cost of living is a leading factor. Other reasons may include personal or family considerations or economic and employment opportunities, stated the Economic Research Organization. ….
read … Hawaii's population continues decline as more move to California
Senators: Tulsi Gabbard ‘Shallow and Unimpressive’
TH: … Tulsi Gabbard is struggling through her meetings with senators this week, sources told The Hill, highlighting the difficult path she faces in winning confirmation to be director of national intelligence.
Nearly a half dozen sources, including senators and individuals close to the situation, indicated that Gabbard is having trouble during meetings with lawmakers, with one source familiar describing the sit-downs as “not going well.”
“She was proving to be a little shallow, like a House member talking at a hearing and not someone who needs to provide the president’s daily intelligence briefing,” the source familiar said.
Two Senate Republicans also echoed the concerns, with one noting that multiple members who have sat down with the former Democratic Hawaii congresswoman have come away unimpressed thus far.
“I’ve heard that she’s not very well prepared. … I’ve heard not great things,” the Senate GOP member said, describing them as “BS sessions.”
The second Senate Republican added there have been “a lot of eyerolls” from members who have sat down Gabbard early on. …
Another source familiar with her meetings on the Hill said senators were “likely inclined not to like her from the beginning.”
A Senate GOP aide whose member has met with Gabbard said the poor meetings she’s had “don’t make it easy” for her to win votes, adding, “she’s got some work to do if she wants the job. The more she meets with serious people, the more they’ll see there’s a competency deficit.” ….
“She’s probably more vulnerable than Hegseth right now,” the source familiar with Gabbard’s meetings in recent days said….
read … Tulsi Gabbard struggles to woo senators ahead of confirmation fight
Lawyers ‘Knife fight’ in court over Maui wildfire settlement fund
HNN: … The $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement is still up in the air — and led to what the judge called a “knife fight” in court Friday.
This time the fight was between attorneys for groups of victims. Meanwhile, the settlement itself is still awaiting a key decision by the Supreme Court and victims wait for compensation.
In court Friday, the settlement was described like a big pot of soup, with the money having to be ladled out to victims….
Meanwhile, a lawsuit challenging the settlement by insurance companies who paid out over $2 billion in claims will soon be heard by the Hawaii Supreme Court….
read … Judge decries ‘knife fight’ in court over Maui wildfire settlement fund
Briefing schedule set on motion to vacate Miske convictions and return seized assets
Ilind: … In a scheduling order posted Thursday, Chief Judge Derrick Watson announced a schedule for consideration of the motion filed by attorneys for Michael Miske that seeks to vacate his indictment and convictions, along with the jury’s decision in favor of forfeiture of significant assets to the government.
The motion is based on the legal notion known as Abatement ab initio, which applies when a defendant dies before exhausting their appeals.
Government attorneys have been directed to file a response to the motion on or before January 9, with a reply by Miske’s defense team due by January 24. After the arguments are filed, Watson indicated he will decide whether a hearing on the matter will be necessary.
It is likely that the government will have to pursue the forfeiture via a new civil lawsuit….
Other Miske-related news:
Jason Yokoyama, Mike Miske’s partner on paper in the company that operated Miske’s M Nightclub was sentenced to 24-months in prison and three years supervised release after serving his prison sentence. He was also ordered to pay more than $435,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service based on M Nightclub taxes avoided through his actions.
A 2016 amendment to Mike Miske’s living trust named Yokoyama as the first successor trustee in the event of Miske’s death, followed by attorney Alen Kaneshiro, then Miske’s brother, John Stancil. An excerpt of that trust agreement filed in court several years ago disclosed the successor trustees named at that time. It is not known whether the trust has been further amended since that time.
Meanwhile, sentencing for Michael Buntenbah was deferred until January 6, 2025. …
read … Briefing schedule set on motion to vacate Miske convictions and return seized assets
Manoa father cited for Christmas lights on public walkway
KITV: … Year after year, Kimo Ryan puts up elaborate Christmas displays that he said most of his neighbors enjoy.
But this year, at least one of them isn't so happy.
"Everybody loves it. Everybody honks and takes pictures, takes videos, gets out of the cars to talk to me," he said.
But the light display is in front of his home, where there are no sidewalks.
And because it is encroaching on the lawn where people walk, he's been ordered to take it down.
"I was dumb founded," Ryan said. "I was shocked beyond belief, couldn't imagine it. Didn't even think it is against the rules."
The city's Department Planning and Permitting issued a notice of violation for having pipes and other items on the unimproved sidewalk on Alaula Way.
"It's not a structure," he said. "They're calling it a structure. It's PVC pipes and lights on it for Christmas. I did it for the neighborhood."….
read … Manoa father cited for Christmas lights on public walkway | News | kitv.com
Bumflights: Hawaii Homeless influx expected before 2028 LA Olympic Games
KHON: … The Honolulu City Council passed a resolution this week to urge the State and City administration to prepare for a possible influx of homeless ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, but not everyone feels it’s necessary.
Resolution 24-274 urges the Governor and the Mayor to take action on the homeless and housing crisis ahead of the 2028 summer games….
According to 2024 Point in Time data, Los Angeles has a homeless population of more than 73,000.
(FINALLY! Hawaii population decline will be reversed!)
The resolution states there are more than 100 direct flights from Los Angeles to Honolulu every week. Councilmember Say is worried about the strain on limited resources….
(TRANSLATION: It would take every seat for two weeks solid to get them all here.)
read … Honolulu passes resolution to tackle homeless crisis before 2028 games | KHON2
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