UPW Tracks Statewide Payout of COVID Hazard Pay
Hawaii 3rd Most Expensive State to Start a Business
DoE Announces 2025 HS Graduation Schedule
Chief Justice Appoints Sonya H. Toma as District Family Court Judge for Maui
Kaua‘i Police Commission appoints Elliott Kalani Ke as Interim Chief of Police
VIDEO: Green Slams Anti-Vax Celebrutard
SB1571: Legislature moves to tighten oversight of Hawai‘i Tourism Authority
SA: … State lawmakers took swift action Friday to amend a bill to tighten oversight of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, which is undergoing more leadership shake-ups, while dealing with allegations that procedural deficiencies allowed for inappropriate freebies at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
The House Finance Committee is moving Senate Bill 1571 forward with a new amendment that requires that the governor appoint the HTA CEO and that the Senate confirm the choice. The bill also downgrades the HTA board to an advisory board, which continues the trend of increasing the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s oversight of HTA ….
KHON: Lawmakers want changes in HTA as new board members confirmed | KHON2
SB1571: Text, Status
read … Legislature moves to tighten oversight of Hawai‘i Tourism Authority | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
SB1074 Save Kaanapali Boat Tours But Maintain the Eco-Laws that Killed Them
IM: … The House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs heard SB1074 relating to Environmental Impact Statements on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
The bill would allow activities to continue while environmental reviews take place.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the bill but stressed it wasn’t their bill but was advanced by Commercial Vessel operators. West Maui businesses and ocean companies testified in favor of the bill.
League of Women Voters of Hawaii testified, "In April 2024, the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) ruled that Chapter 343 required a formal determination as to whether an environmental assessment (EA) must be prepared prior to DLNR approval of 6 permit applications for commercial thrill craft at Kaanapali.
“Since the ICA ruling the DLNR has not determined whether an EA is required for either new boating permits or renewal of several dozen existing boating permits at Kaanapali. DLNR inaction has jeopardized permit renewal and threatened the livelihood of commercial boating employees."
"The purpose of SB 1074, SD2, HD1 is to allow existing Kaanapali boating businesses to renew permits and temporarily continue existing commercial activity regardless of whether the DLNR decides to require an EA However, legislation is unnecessary because Sections 11-200.1-15(c)(1) and 11-200.1-17(a), Hawaii Administrative rules already allow the DLNR to determine that an EA is not required for renewal of noncontroversial permits for existing commercial boating."....
Chair David Tarnas proposed amendments.
“I want to ensure that this is a temporary thing. I want to include a sunset date of two years, that`s it. Two years, that`s it. I want to recommend that we put this new language into session law rather than into Hawaii Revised Statutes so it would only be effective for two years.
“I would like to really admonish the department to move forward expeditiously on this matter specifically for the ocean recreation businesses off Kaanapali.
“I hear what you`re saying about wanting to expand it, but we`re not going to. We are going to keep it just to Chapter 200 and we are going to limit it in terms of the time period, two years sunset and in session law.
“When you talk about fisheries and other things that could be brought in as activities that need to have 343 analysis, Ka Paʻakai analysis….”
HPR: Lawmakers still weighing temporary exemption for tour boat environmental reviews | Hawai'i Public Radio
read … House Advances Session Law to Allow Commercial Activities During EIS Process
Feds arrest Mexican national in Kailua-Kona
HTH: … A federal grand jury on Thursday returned an indictment against Abraham Moreno Garcia, 51, of Mexico, charging him with being an illegal alien present in the U.S. after having been previously convicted of a felony and removed from the country.
According to a previously filed criminal complaint, Moreno Garcia was returned to Mexico at least three times and has two felony convictions for illegally reentering the United States.
In 2019, he was convicted in the Hawaii for illegal reentry and sentenced to five months in federal prison. After serving his sentence, he was removed to Mexico in March 2019.
He later reentered the U.S. illegally and was arrested March 7 in Kailua-Kona.
If convicted of the charged offense, Moreno Garcia faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000….
read … Feds arrest Mexican national in Kailua-Kona - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
‘Death list’ note at Pearl Ridge Elementary prompts cover-up
HNN: … An investigation that day revealed a pocket knife with a 3-inch blade in the student’s backpack, said the teacher who saw the knife. The former teacher said the student got an apparent two-day suspension and she’s upset the principal did not initially inform parents especially those whose kids were on the “death list.”
More than a week later, the teacher wrote an email to them.
It’s the parents right to know and to make the decision as to whether or not their child is safe at a school,” she said.
“(Pearl Ridge Elementary Principal Cindee Raymond) took that choice away from them by keeping this under wraps,” she said.
Raymond sent a letter almost two weeks after the incident that read in part:
“Our administration was made aware of a written threat against our school. The student who made the threat was identified and we are working with the family involved. After a thorough investigation, we determined there was no immediate threat posed to the safety of our students or staff and all protocol and precautions have been taken.
“We are aware that an email from an unauthorized individual was sent out about this incident to classroom families.” …
read … ‘Death list’ note at elementary school prompts concerns
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