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Proposed "green fee" a reason for red flag
Hawaii Congressional Delegation How They Voted January 31, 2025
‘Snowed-in’ -- Trump Rattled by Gabbard’s Poor Performance at Hearing
NBC: … Many officials inside the White House were “rattled” by Gabbard’s response to the Snowden question, a person familiar with the White House’s thinking said, adding that she seemed unprepared.
The Snowden moment caught President Donald Trump’s attention, according to another person familiar with the White House’s thinking. As he watched a clip of it, Trump wondered aloud how her lack of a direct answer would play out, this person said.
“He was curious about how it would affect her chances at nomination or if it wouldn’t matter at all,” this person said.
Gabbard was grilled by senators from both sides of the aisle during her Senate Intelligence Committee hearing about her past comments praising Snowden and suggesting he should be pardoned.
In one exchange with Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., Gabbard refused to definitively say that Snowden is a traitor.
Asked directly whether Snowden is a traitor, Gabbard told Lankford, “My heart is with my commitment to our Constitution and our nation’s security.”
“I have shown throughout my almost 22 years of service in the military, as well as my time in Congress, how seriously I take the privilege of having access to classified information and our nation’s secrets, and that’s why I’m committed, if confirmed as director of national intelligence, to joining you in making sure that there is no future Snowden-type leak,” she added.
When Lankford followed up with the same question, Gabbard simply said, “Senator, I’m focused on the future and how we can prevent something like this from happening again.”
The fresh doubts about Gabbard’s ability to be confirmed come after the White House, in advance of her hearing, privately made the case that she needed to do the work to win over skeptical senators.
“She’s the one who has the most work to be done in convincing Senators to vote for her,” one of the people familiar with the confirmation process said.
Gabbard prepared for her confirmation hearing extensively, including holding mock sessions, according to a person familiar with the process….
It’s OK, Chris Butler already has what he wants: Chris Butler Sabotaging Gabbard Nomination? Blames Opposition on 'Pedophile and Paranoid Murderer'
read … Tulsi Gabbard faces growing concern about her nomination after a tough confirmation hearing
Pay Hikes: Legislators make bank as their electorate suffers
Shapiro: … The initial raise in the preliminary proposal would take legislators to $103,824 from $74,160, with leaders getting $116,272.
Gov. Josh Green would get an initial 35% raise to $255,798 from $189,480, while Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke would get 18% more to $222,312 and department heads would get 20% more….
It started when the City Council led by Chair Tommy Waters accepted shocking 64% raises offered by the city’s salary commission to $113,304 from $68,904.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs salary commission approved 62% raises for trustees, to $91,560 from $56,000….
These would be the latest in a spree of pay raise gluttony for high officials. It reflects tone-deafness to the hardships facing constituents….
As for promises of more and better candidates, in the first city election after the 64% Council pay raises, all four incumbents on the ballot cruised to victory with little or no opposition….
read … Volcanic Ash: Legislators make bank as their electorate suffers | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hawaiʻi Lawmakers At Work Year Round? Nightmare Scenario That's Becoming A Real Possibility
CB: … Both the House speaker and Senate president have introduced bills to keep the Legislature meeting at least some of the time 12 months a year….
a high-level meeting between longtime Senate President Ron Kouchi and brand-new House Speaker Nadine Nakamura, and the latter had a special request.
“She innocently in her folder slid over a bill,” Kouchi recollected with a smile the next day.
It was a proposal that could significantly change how the Legislature operates, and Nakamura wanted Kouchi to join the cause by introducing the same measure in the Senate.
“’I don’t know if you’d sign it,’” Kouchi recalled her asking, “but I said, ‘For you Speaker, I’d be happy to sign it on our side and we’ll see what happens.’”
And just like that, the often-proposed but seldom seriously considered concept of converting the Legislature to a year-round enterprise took on new life….
Nakamura’s House Bill 1425 calls for the creation of a task force to study the logistics and ramifications of a 12-month Legislature….
State Salary Commission members revealed they were considering bumping up legislators’ pay by 40%.
If that happened, there would be no further debate about whether the job is full-time. And If legislators are full-time, why should the session be so short? ….
Nakamura’s bill gets its first hearing Wednesday at 2 p.m. before the Legislative Management Committee.
In addition to her bill and Kouchi’s companion measure, Senate Bill 1514, there are two other bills this session proposing the conversion to a 12-month Legislature. The companion measures would put the question directly to voters via a proposed constitutional amendment….
One of them, Senate Bill 733, was heard Friday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. It was deferred, meaning it probably won’t proceed this session. The other, House Bill 770, does not yet have a committee hearing scheduled.
The Legislature is also waiting on a more modest study of the 12-month option that’s being put together by the Legislative Reference Bureau as the result of a Joint House Resolution approved last session. The LRB was asked to study the pros and cons of a continuous legislative session, what the calendar might look, and the salary needs for full-time legislators and staff….
read … Hawaiʻi Lawmakers At Work Year Round? That's Becoming A Real Possibility - Honolulu Civil Beat
OHA CEO, Chair tied to Sen Dela Cruz
CB: … OHA CEO Ferreira: Prior to coming to OHA, I was the budget chief at Senate Ways and Means, working under Chair Donovan Dela Cruz for the last four years…
What was that like for both of you to be on the other side of Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz — a colleague of yours, Kai, for a number of years, and of course Stacy served on WAM. What was that like to be on the other side of the microphone?
OHA BOT Chair Kahele: It was interesting for me. Dela Cruz and I go back a long ways, and you were there when Sen. (Jill) Tokuda was removed as the Ways and Means chair and Sen. Dela Cruz was named the Ways and Means chair. That was my first session at the state Senate, and to be in the middle of that … I feel like I know Sen. Dela Cruz pretty well, and we have a good relationship, especially when I went to Congress. I maintained that relationship with him as well, and some of the priorities that he had, like the First Responder Tech Park that we were working on together….
read … The Sunshine Interview: OHA Leaders Kai Kahele And Stacy Kealohalani Ferreira - Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii Supreme Court considers fate of $4B wildfire settlement
SA: … Answers to three questions posed to five justices could soon determine the fate of a stalled $4 billion settlement for close to 10,000 Maui wildfire victims.
On Thursday, the Hawaii Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments primarily from three groups of litigants with huge stakes in the outcome of more than 600 lawsuits seeking compensation from wildfires that destroyed most of Lahaina and properties in Upcountry Maui on Aug. 8, 2023.
Written briefs have been filed in the proceeding, though the justices of the state’s high court are being asked to weigh in on a few legal underpinnings of a ruling made almost six months ago by a state Circuit Court judge who barred insurance companies from pursuing compensation, through separate litigation, from the settlement payers.
At least 192 insurance companies have so far paid about $2.3 billion in claims to people and companies that lost property in the fires, which also killed 102 people. The insurers expect to pay over $1 billion in additional claims….
Each one of the roughly 40-page briefs filed in the Supreme Court case is heavily devoted to technical points and legal citations supporting preferred answers to three questions posed to the court.
One question has to do with whether a prior Hawaii court decision in a health insurance case applies to property and casualty insurance carriers.
On the second question, all three parties seek the same answer.
The third question asks whether Hawaii law requires insured fire victims be made whole for all losses before their insurers can pursue reimbursement from those deemed responsible for the losses….
Under revised terms of the tentative settlement, the issue with the insurers must be resolved by May 19 for the deal to become effective.
“In other words,” the settlement payers said in their brief, “the fate of the global settlement hangs in the balance here.”…
BACKGROUND:
read … Hawaii Supreme Court considers fate of $4B wildfire settlement | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
House bill advances to speed up historic preservation reviews of development projects
MN: … By a 5-2 vote, the House Committee on Housing passed a bill Friday aimed at removing lengthy historic property reviews from delaying housing developments.
House Bill 738 would set a 90-day time limit for an agency to concur or not with project effect determinations. It provides that projects with written concurrence are exempt from further review unless there’s a significant change to the project or additional historic properties, aviation artifacts or burial sites within the project area. The measure would also authorize lead agencies, including county governments, to make determinations on the potential effects of a project.
The bill would create a process for expediting the review of residential transit-oriented development on certain parcels within county-designated transit oriented development zones that have a low risk of affecting historically significant resources…
read … House bill advances to speed up historic preservation reviews of development projects
More Delays for Front Street: State official says ‘community’ needs time to ‘decide future’ of Lahaina’s Historic District
MN: … Currently, the district was recognized for the whaling era and the missionary period, Puff said, and there’s a lot of history not included under the landmark district to date. She said that with the rebuild, they now have a chance to properly recognize the moʻolelo (story) of the place.
“The nomination, when it’s time, should not only include the history of the fire, but it should also be reassessed to include this other history,” she said.
According to Lahaina’s Long-Term Recovery Plan, under the National Historic Landmark District Update, updating the district to include other important parts of the area’s history was supported even before the fire.
Now, that effort is becoming “increasingly important to determine the integrity status.” The plan estimated that portion to cost around $500,000 to $1 million and be completed in one to two years.
Theo Morrison, executive director of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, said efforts are underway to bring the area back to life.
“The idea is to rebuild it on the same footprint in the same style,” she said.
Morrison also said efforts are underway to make sure the rebuild is constructed in a safe manner.
“The idea is to build back better,” she said.
Currently, there’s funding for preservation that individuals and nonprofits may apply for called the historic preservation fund, Puff said.
Puff added that the office is also looking for more funding. In the meantime, Puff said they are continuing to work with Maui residents to support their needs.
“We needed to give the community time,” she said. “What happens to the National Historic Landmark District is up to the community.”
For more information, visit dlnr.hawaii.gov/shpd/hawaiʻi-cultural-resource-information-system….
read … State official says community needs time to decide future of Lahaina’s Historic District
KSBE Can Get Away With Anything: Kahala Hotel beach access lawsuit
HPR: … A ruling from the Intermediate Court of Appeals over public beach access takes the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to task over upholding public trust law.
In 2018, Honolulu attorney David Frankel sued over violations at Kahala Hotel and Resort. The Intermediate Court of Appeals issued an opinion Wednesday.
Frankel said that he filed the lawsuit because the state Department of Land and Natural Resources let the hotel occupy and exclude the public from land that was set aside as a public beach.
"Intermediate Court of Appeals issues its opinion which tells that the Board of Land of Natural Resources essentially breached its public trust duties when it authorized the Kahala Hotel to make exclusive use of a portion of land designated to be used as public beach," he said.
Frankel said that, since 2017, the hotel's improper use of public land has decreased. He also said that now there are small signs at the resort that mark the property line between the hotel's land and public land….
read … Land Board's public trust duties under scrutiny amid Kahala Hotel beach access lawsuit | Hawai'i Public Radio
Don’t raise hotel tax while Hawaii tourism still struggles
SA: … We … urge the state to refrain from implementing any new “green” fees or increasing the TAT ….
read … Column: Don’t raise hotel tax while Hawaii tourism still struggles | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Vague Laws, Big Consequences: As Intended, Uncertainty Chokes Maui Vacation Rentals
BH: … Vagueness from the Maui County Council is disrupting the island’s vacation rentals. Meanwhile, the hotels are reaping the benefits as visitors ponder what to do. The date for 7,000 short-term rentals on Maui to be outlawed starts on June 1, 2025. That’s when 2,200 vacation rentals on West Maui are scheduled to be terminated….
read … Vague Laws, Big Consequences: Uncertainty Chokes Maui Vacation Rentals - Beat of Hawaii
HART board discusses next evaluation for CEO Kahikina
SA: … The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors is mulling the job performance evaluation of its top hire.
But some on the rail board say the need to size up Executive Director and CEO Lori Kahikina in 2025 is premature, as she received a new multiyear contract to run construction of the city’s nearly $10 billion Skyline project only last fall.
During the board’s Human Resources Committee meeting Jan. 24, committee chair Lisa Baker asked for the panel’s input on a quick timeline for Kahikina’s annual performance evaluation. Baker’s draft plan targeted late February to have that evaluation completed….
By May, Hanabusa claimed she’d referred prior concerns about Kahikina’s treatment by the board to the city’s Department of Human Resources for investigation in a move she described as “self-reporting myself.”
At that time, Hanabusa, appointed to a five-year term in 2021 by Mayor Rick Blangiardi, indicated she’d step down as chair but would remain on the board. In October, though, no board member other than Hanabusa — who did not refuse a nomination to stay on as chair — presented themselves as alternatives to the current leadership.
Hanabusa and Vice Chair Kika Bukoski were reelected to respectively serve as chair and vice chair through June 30….
Kahikina queried Hanabusa on whether she’d recuse herself on her new evaluation as she had during last year’s vote on the CEO’s new contract.
“No, I’m not recusing myself on the evaluation,” Hanabusa replied. “The contract has been approved by the board.”
Kahikina then asked Hanabusa about the status of the city’s investigation into allegations she’d bullied and harassed the CEO while serving as board chair. Both Hanabusa and Gluck claimed they’d not heard back from the city on the investigation. Gluck later indicated he’d follow up on the matter.
Ultimately, the HR committee voted to recommend the draft performance evaluation for further action.
The Mayor’s Office later offered no new information to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on the status of the city’s investigation into harassment allegations involving Hanabusa, the HART board and Kahikina.
“Even though this played out in a public meeting, Department of Human Resources does not comment on personnel matters,” said Scott Humber, the mayor’s communications director….
MEANWHILE: Rail Mismanagement Leads to $324.1M Lawsuit
read … HART board discusses next evaluation for CEO Kahikina | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
DoT Wants 187 Speeding Cameras to ticket drivers
SA: … Automated cameras to ticket speeding drivers could be activated on Oahu by the end of the month, and state officials want to greatly expand the system.
Photo enforcement of speed limits at 10 intersections in urban Honolulu is expected to start with a warning period later this month or in early March after being authorized by state lawmakers last year.
State Department of Transportation officials also are seeking $10 million from the Legislature over the next two fiscal years to expand the program on Oahu and to neighbor islands with 187 camera systems that additionally would generate tickets for running red lights….
HB697: Text, Status
read … Cameras almost ready to ticket drivers | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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