US Atty Connors Resigns After Successfully Stopping Hawaii Corruption Prosecutions
Oil industry seeks end to climate change lawsuits
Kaiser Nurses and Healthcare Workers on Maui and Lanai Ratify New Contract Without Strike
RFK Killed 83 in Samoa—How Many Would He Kill in USA?
NYT: … when vaccination rates fall, preventable diseases can regain a foothold and pose a new danger. And that’s precisely what happened in Samoa, after misinformation spread by anti-vaccine activists eroded trust in vaccines and led to the 2019 outbreak. Thousands of preventable cases of measles sprang up, leading to the deaths of 83 people, mostly children. One of the most prominent voices behind the anti-vaccine campaign was Robert F. Kennedy Jr….
read … Opinion | Hawaii Governor: Robert F. Kennedy Is Unfit to Be HHS Secretary - The New York Times
SCAM: Sewer Rate Hike Plan Violates Federal Consent Decree
SA: … the overhaul of that facility is part of a 2010 federal consent decree, an order stemming from a settlement between the city, the state Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Under the decree, Honolulu was found to have illegal sewer overflows throughout its collection system and violations in effluent discharges from Sand Island as well as its other large plant at Honouliuli, the latter of which completed its mandated improvements last May.
Taken together, the upgrades are ordered to prevent the discharge of millions of gallons from its sewer system and to add secondary treatment of about 100 million gallons a day at its two largest treatment plants.
Resolution 24-287, a recent effort by former Councilmember Calvin Say to postpone or terminate commitments of the decree to save money, was adopted, but city officials believe the change in terms in a legally binding agreement would be hard to accomplish….
(CLUE: If the EPA refuses Honolulu’s proposed contract changes, the sewer rate hikes will still be on the books. You pay 224% higher rates and get nothing at Sand Island.)
read … Editorial: Transparency key for sewer fee hike | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Honolulu Airport: “The millions spent on renovations went into the pockets of dishonest contractors and politicians.”
BH: … In the most recent J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study, Honolulu Airport improved its position slightly among large airports, moving from second-worst to fourth-worst in the U.S.A….
Worn carpeting (some getting slowly replaced), mismatched signage, and worn-out old furniture greet travelers instead of the modern facilities in other tourist destination airports.
Honolulu Airport has a rich history, but its facilities reveal decades of aging infrastructure and only limited, incremental updates…
Signage at HNL, in particular, is a recurring issue visitors comment on. Many travelers report confusion due to inconsistent designs, poor visibility, and lack of direction. As one commenter stated, “Worst airport design and signage. They use numbers for everything but never provide a key.”…
Honolulu Airport’s dining and shopping options lag significantly behind other airports. Concessions in Terminal 1 close early, leaving red-eye passengers with little more than vending machines or long walks to find more poor options. Adding restaurants with Pacific Rim and local cuisine would elevate the travel experience— but are non-existent.
“The food court is a disappointment,” noted traveler Joshua. “You can’t even sit down to eat food you’ve bought because the seating belongs to another restaurant.”
Closed or seemingly abandoned retail spaces further contribute to a sense of neglect. A stark contrast exists between HNL and other airports that showcase local culture through diverse shopping and dining options. For example, Atlanta and New Orleans airports were praised in the 2024 J.D. Power study for offering beloved local brands. Seattle also does well in that regard….
Air conditioning is inconsistent, especially in gate areas….
Charging stations for electronic devices are becoming more common, but it isn’t unusual to see travelers still scrambling to find outlets. Similarly, the outdated baggage handling system is prone to breakdowns, resulting in chaotic pileups that frustrate passengers and lead to delays. One Reddit user sarcastically commented, “What did the billions go toward? Certainly not functional baggage carousels.”
The international arrivals area at HNL leaves much to be desired. Visitors often encounter dim lighting, stained carpets, and inadequate signage upon entering the U.S. “It’s embarrassing,” said one local real estate analyst. “Hawaii deserves a world-class airport, but this isn’t it.”
In addition, immigration and customs are notoriously understaffed, resulting in lengthy lines. For many international visitors, this chaotic arrival process sets a negative tone for the start of their Hawaii vacation….
As one frustrated commenter said, “The millions spent on renovations went into the pockets of dishonest contractors and politicians.” (BINGO!)
REALITY: Naming Names: Airports Division Ran Late-Night Parties Where Hawaii Politicians Raked In Money
read … Issues Plague Honolulu Airport Despite Billions Spent On Improvements - Beat of Hawaii
Do Maui Wildfire Lawyers Deserve $1 Billion In Fees?
CB: … A legal battle playing out behind the scenes in Maui state court could mean the difference of $1 billion for victims of the 2023 Lahaina fires.
On one side is a small army of attorneys who have already filed lawsuits for what they say are 18,000 individual plaintiffs. These lawyers, who largely drove the post-Lahaina wildfire litigation, say they represent the bulk of victims and therefore should control most of the money. If they prevail, they could make $1 billion or more in legal fees.
On the other side are class action lawyers representing an amorphous group including victims who haven’t filed. They want more money steered to the class action and away from the plaintiffʻs lawyers, who they say want an undue share at the expense of victims.
At stake for both sides is the enormous $4 billion proposed settlement for Lahaina victims, paid for by public and private institutions that played a role in the fireʻs devastation. About $800 million has been pledged by the state of Hawaii; $872.54 million by Kamehameha Schools, one of the state’s largest public charities; and $1.99 billion by Hawaiian Electric Co…
The global insurance industry — which has paid out $2.3 billion in claims to home and business owners — remains the lone holdout to the agreement. It still wants to sue the parties at fault for the wildfires to recoup the claims it has paid. The Hawaii Supreme Court must decide whether the settlement can be final without the insurers on board.
While the court prepares for oral arguments in that case in February, Cahill has been hashing out how the class action and individual plaintiffs’ lawyers will divide the settlement money if the high court blesses the deal. ….
read … Do Maui Wildfire Lawyers Deserve $1 Billion In Fees? - Honolulu Civil Beat
HECO Proposes Utility-Friendly Wildfire Recovery Fund
IM: … Hawaiian Electric Company is circulating a bill to provide financial support to those impacted by a future catastrophic wildfire. The bill excludes Kauai.
If a wildfire eliminates all members of an endangered species and kills 10,000 people but destroys no buildings, it would not be labeled “catastrophic.” If no one was hurt, but the wildfire “destroys more than five hundred commercial structures or residential structures designed for habitation,” then it would be designated “catastrophic.”
Over the past three centuries, only one wildfire would have met that criterion: the Lahaina wildfire of 2023.
The bill proposes that an funding entity be formed that would be administratively attached to the department of commerce and consumer affairs for administrative purposes. Its director will be appointed by the director of the department of commerce and consumer affairs.
Hawaiian Electric Industries would pay five million dollars to be “used exclusively for the payment of salaries of the executive director and of all other persons retained by the executive director to carry out this Act.”
HECO would contribute one billion dollars to the wildfire recovery fund.
The Public Utilities Commission – which refused to open a formal proceeding to investigate the 2023 Maui fires -- would determine whether HECO acted prudently in addressing a future catastrophic wildfire.
If the commission determines that HECO caused a new catastrophic wildfire or contributed to the severity of new catastrophic wildfire, then the commission could determine that HECO would have to replenish any money used in the wildfire recovery fund.
HECO`s future replenishing of the fund would be capped at “20% of HECO’s transmission and distribution equity rate base.” ….
HECO has options regarding funding the wildfire recovery fund. If credit markets require HECO to pay higher interest rates than the State to borrow funds, then HECO may at its discretion, sell its financial responsibilities to the state.
HECO can recover some of the costs of the wildfire recovery fund by imposing a “usage-based charge, a flat user charge, or a charge based upon customer revenues as determined by the public utilities commission for each consumer class.”
read … HECO Proposes Utility-Friendly Wildfire Recovery Fund
Honolulu firefighter dies; 5 people injured in McCully building fire
SA: … Firefighters responded to a 7:42 p.m. 911 call for a building fire at 1645 Young St. in the Pawaa-McCully area and the first HFD units arrived at 7:45 p.m. to find smoke but no flames coming from the two-story residential building, HFD officials said.
HFD Capt. Jamie Song told KHON and Hawaii News Now that a “mayday” call was issued at 7:58 p.m. because two firefighters were declared missing inside the structure that had a partial roof collapse.
Song said one of the firefighters was able to get out on his own but the second firefighter was “extricated” from the first floor by other firefighters at 8:24 p.m.
Besides the firefighter who died, a civilian and four firefighters were taken to the hospital in serious condition, according to Song....
read … Honolulu firefighter dies; 5 people injured in McCully building fire | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
‘They have no skin:’ Phoenix doctors treating victims from Hawaii fireworks explosion
PDX: … “These are patients with over half of their bodies are burned and have no skin,” Dr. Kevin Foster, director of the Valleywise Health Diane and Bruce Halle Arizona Burn Center, told Arizona’s Family in recent days, and it was later learned six people ranging in age from 27 to 38 are being treated in the Valley.
On Monday, it was revealed the six victims sustained burns on 45% to 80% of their bodies. All victims required intubation, and many of them needed emergency surgery before being able to be safely transported.
“In addition to them to the flame injuries, there were a lot of explosions and a lot of particles fly through the air. And almost everybody has multiple projectile injuries, and some of them are severe and some of them are not so severe,” Foster said in an afternoon news conference.
In addition, Foster explained that while it’s not the first time the burn center has treated patients from out-of-state, it’s a particularly unusual circumstance.
“We’ve never had this experience of taking direct transfers from Hawaii, especially with this number of patients and this level of acuity. So this is unique,” Foster said.
Foster said it could take months for these victims to fully recover.….
QUESTION: When will we identify amateurs shooting off professional fireworks as ‘kooks’ in over their head?
AZC: Hawaii fireworks burn victims treated in AZ could be here for months
KITV: Aliamanu burn survivors airlifted to Arizona expected to survive | News | kitv.com
HNN: Fireworks explosion patients undergo multiple surgeries in Arizona burn center
read … Hawaii explosion victims arrive in Phoenix for burn treatment
Boy, 3, dies from injuries in New Year’s fireworks explosion
SA: … Honolulu police today announced a 3-year-old boy has died from injuries sustained from the New Year’s illegal-fireworks explosion in Aliamanu, bringing the total to four people killed.
The boy died at approximately 1:30 a.m. today at the hospital, according to Honolulu police. The child’s identity was not immediately released.
The fatal explosion occurred at a home on Keaka Drive during a large New Year’s Eve party. At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday a “cake bomb” loaded with illegal aerial fireworks detonated, causing massive explosions that initially killed three women and left more than two dozen people injured. The victims had been identified as Jennifer Van, 23, Nelie Ibarra, 58, and her sister, Lita….
QUESTION: When will we identify amateurs shooting off professional fireworks as ‘kooks’ in over their head?
read … Boy, 3, dies from injuries in New Year’s fireworks explosion | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Fireworks Produce 500% Profit for Criminals
CB: … Street sources, according to the report, say that the return on investment for those who smuggle illegal fireworks into Hawaii is at a rate of 5 to 1. That means that if a typical smuggling organization purchases a shipping container of fireworks for $200,000 at wholesale, that same container has a street value of about $1 million once it arrives in the islands….
During the 2023 holiday season the task force found that street prices for illegal fireworks were already “astronomically high.” The Department of Law Enforcement said prices had been expected to be higher during the 2024 holiday season because there was “heat” from law enforcement and risk of loss of investment due to bulk seizures.
(IQ TEST: Are you laughing?)
In short, the task force aims “to price offenders out of the marketplace,” leading to reduced demand….
(TRANSLATION: The aim is to maximize profits for the criminal gangs.)
read … Full-Time Criminal Investigative Unit Proposed To Tackle Illegal Fireworks - Honolulu Civil Beat
A closer look at Miske’s reputation for violence
ILind: … he relied on violence to maintain his position of power, keep unhappy customers and competitors at bay, and cement his reputation on the streets. But he did this for years by outsourcing his violence, hiring others to provide “muscle” on request….
Mike Miske may have had murderous thoughts and rhetoric, but the record shows he was not a hands-on guy when it came to murder. He left the dirty work to others who, by and large, proved to be equally inept or unwilling to actually pull the trigger.
Miske ordered and paid for a number of “hits” intended to eliminate several others who he perceived as threats. Most of these plots fizzled out without anyone being harmed….
The only person to die was Johnny Fraser, a 21-year old friend of Miske’s son, Caleb….
read … A closer look at Miske’s reputation for violence
Oahu's housing market “affordability challenges remain a significant hurdle”
KITV: … In 2024, there was a nearly 2% increase in total sales. The Honolulu Board of Realtors said the increase was driven by a 9% rise in single-family home transactions.
In contrast, condominium sales dipped by about 2.5%. Overall, just under 2,800 single-family homes and about 4,460 condos were sold throughout the year.
In 2024, the median sales price for a single-family home tallied $1.1 million, while the condo median price stood at $515,000.
"While the positive sales momentum in 2024 highlights a resilient market, affordability challenges remain a significant hurdle for many buyers," Trevor Benn, president of the Honolulu Board of Realtors, said in a statement. "Elevated mortgage rates and rising homeownership costs, including maintenance fees and insurance, continue to shape buyer behavior and influence the dynamics of the market."…
PBN: Kauai Sotheby's International Realty affiliate merges, rebrands after acquiring Hawaii Island firm - Pacific Business News
WSJ: Exclusive | Inside Kilauea, the Most Expensive ZIP Code in Hawaii - WSJ
read … Oahu's housing market ends 2024 with a bang | Business | kitv.com
A New Tax for the New Year: Hawaii's new Transient Accommodations Tax
TW: … A new law went into effect on Jan. 1 that adds the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) to alternative places to stay, such as camper vans. Gov. Josh Green approved the bill in May. …
The TAT is a tax on rentals for "transients," meaning visitors or Hawaii residents who stay in a unit for less than 180 days….
read … What to know about Hawaii's new Transient Accommodations Tax: Travel Weekly
New mayor’s support reignites TMT debate
KHON: … In videos posted to social media in recent days, Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda expresses support for TMT, something that caught many on both sides of the issue by surprise as Alameda had previously opposed the project back when construction was set to begin in 2019.
“I had family on the front lines, and I was up there, too, as a protector,” Alameda told KHON2. “I’m still a protector, so I’m still trying to figure out, as the mayor, how can we and is there a place where we can find the common ground?”
As mayor, he gets a seat on the Maunakea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. He went to his first meeting in this role last month.
“Nobody has mentioned the elephant in the room, which is TMT, and that’s the first thing I noticed,” he said. “I think there’s not really the best timing for what is to be brought up again, but might as well. My thinking is, if it’s the elephant in the room, then we might as well talk about it.”
“The mayor has a right to his own opinions but the issue of the TMT lease has not yet come before the authority, so there are no actions or decisions coming up at this time or in the near future,” said Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, another MKSOA board member, who was one of the kupuna kiai arrested at the Maunakea demonstrations years ago….
read … New mayor’s support reignites TMT debate | KHON2
Hawaii Eggs increase to a whopping $10
DM: … Egg prices have skyrocketed throughout the US, with one state currently selling a dozen eggs for an eye-popping $10.
The food item has been hit so badly by inflation, that price increases have earned their own name: 'Eggflation.'
One of the most significant factors behind the recent price hike is the damage done by the growing avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak.
That, along with the high demand for eggs during the 2024 holiday season, has contributed to Hawaii's $9.73 average egg price.
'Eggs are very important, but if the price goes up what can you do? Just ride it out and hope for the best,' Honolulu resident Will Munar told KITV4 in 2024 .…
SA: Louisiana reports first bird flu-related death in U.S. | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
WPR: Egg Prices by State 2024
read … The state where price of eggs has increased to a whopping $10 days after California's $9 surge | Daily Mail Online
Rules are for the little people: New House Speaker Makes it up as She Goes Along
GHB: … In a previous blog post we discussed House Rules – Rules of the House – Up Close and Personal
I also wrote earlier (copied below) about House Speaker Nakamura appointing a 4 member committee to review House Rules and possibly make recommendations – but also noted, that contrary to existing rules and the State Constitution, there seemed to be no intent on the part of the Speaker or the Committee to actually hold a public hearing, and allow public testimony on this issue.
After reading the existing rules again closely today, I’ve discovered it’s even worse than I previously thought.
It seems Speaker Nakamura and her leadership team are already breaking the existing rules in two areas:
#1) The appointment of the Vice Speaker to be a voting member of 4 committees is clearly a violation of existing rules.
#2) Unless the recently appointed committee conducts it’s meetings and votes in public as if it were a “standing committee”, that will also be breaking the existing House rules – and the Hawaii Constitution (see below reference to constitution)
The Vice Speaker, Representative Linda Ichiyama has been officially appointed to serve as a voting member of 4 committees Consumer Protection & Commerce, Legislative Management, Public Safety, Water & Land –
HOWEVER THE RULES CLEARLY STATE SHE SHALL BE AN EX OFFICIO MEMBER WITHOUT A VOTE – EXCEPT SHE SHALL SERVE AS A VOTING MEMBER OF COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT.
It is my understanding that this rule has been in place from the beginning…as in the first rules approved in 1959….
read … Rules are for the little people – another update on the unfolding House Rules fiasco…summary and update | GaryHooser's Blog
Legislative Agenda:
QUICK HITS: