West Coast Health Alliance pushes back against antivaxxer lies

VA houses largest number of homeless Veterans in seven years

Legislative Agenda 2026: Legalize Child Kidnapping for Sex-Change

CB: … The state Democratic Party’s Stonewall Caucus is working with legislators to (re-) draft a shield bill (already tried this in 2024 and 2025) to protect doctors and patients in Hawaiʻi from being criminally prosecuted or sued by (when they kidnap a child from his or her parents in) one of the 27 states where this (so-called) gender-affirming care is banned .…

The plan for 2026? – Same as 2024 and 2025:

• 2024: HB2079 Would Legalize Child Kidnapping for Sex Change
• 2025: Amended SB1150 Still Legalizes Kidnap of Children for Sex-Change

read … Trans Community Hits New Barriers To Gender-Affirming Care In Hawaiʻi - Honolulu Civil Beat

Negotiating Position: Green wants $500M to line 8(a) Corp pockets

CB: … In the governor’s nine-page letter to U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll, among the things the $500 million would cover is clearing unexploded ordnance, known as UXO. That is $100 million more than what the U.S. Congress allocated to clear unexploded munitions from Kahoʻolawe…

Members of Mālama Mākua say they want to take their time with the remediation. 

 “It’s not a five-year plan we envision,” William Aila of Mālama Mākua said. “It’s at least 50 years.” 

Aila sits on Green’s newly appointed lease negotiation committee, which held its first meeting on Tuesday last week.

Although he was not consulted about the $500 million figure, Alia said, he added that it could provide an endowment for work to continue into the future. 

“Right now, zero is set aside, right? First we’ve got to get to the table and see if the Army is really serious,” he said. “Let’s try to see if there is an agreement that people can — I don’t think they will ever be happy with it — live with.”

Green’s letter alluded to the military being open to an endowment for the clearance work, although the Office of the Governor has not released any further details. In a statement, it said it’s still the early stages of negotiations, including the committee discussions that just started.

The military and state are in active talks, Green said in a press release last week, noting that there was not the sense of urgency as previously felt, “so we can have the time we need to protect community values and advocate for Hawaiʻi’s interests.” …

HNN: Gov. Green discusses military land lease negotiations

MEANWHILE: Justice Department: Dawson 8a Hawaiian Defense Contractor Embezzled Funds

read … How Far Will $500M Go To Clean Up Army Bombs Left In Hawaiʻi? - Honolulu Civil Beat

Who is in Charge at the Public Utilities Commission?

IM: … Leo Asuncion resigned as Chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. With his departure, there is no interim or acting chair. The remaining Commissioners are Naomi Kuwaye and Colin Yost. 

The Governor will appoint an interim Commissioner to serve until June and may appoint the same person to a new six-year term effective July 1, 2026, both subject to Senate confirmation. The Governor may pick any of the three Commissioners to serve as Chair. (Application to serve as a Commissioner) 

The staff does not report to the two remaining Commissioners…

read … Who is in Charge at the Public Utilities Commission | Ililani Media

Hilo building fires: 4 blazes in 2 months

KHON: … Mayor Alameda said a fire in Pepeekeo on Monday, Nov. 3 was determined to be arson and a suspect was arrested in connection to that blaze. The other three fires — Wild Ginger Hotel, Puueo Poi Factory and Sunday’s along Kinoole Street — are still under investigation….

• HTH: Fire razes four buildings in downtown Hilo - Hawaii Tribune-Herald
• BIN: UPDATE: Hawai‘i Fire Department reports multi-structure fire in downtown Hilo now contained : Big Island Now
• BIVN: Downtown Hilo Buildings Destroyed In Fire
• HNN: Blaze tears through downtown Hilo block in second structure fire in as many days
• HNN: Residents ‘in shock’ after Hilo building fire kills 2, displaces dozens
• KHON: Flames tear through downtown Hilo the day after deadly fire at former poi factory
• HNN: Back-to-back Hilo fires leave investigators searching for clues 
• KITV: Hilo community rallies after fire displaces seven downtown residents | Local | kitv.com

read … Hilo building fires: 4 blazes in 2 months | KHON2

Rail Work Is Causing Pedestrian Hazards And Headaches On Dillingham

CB: … Construction crews have torn up not just the streets but also the sidewalks, leading to potential ADA violations….

read ... Rail Work Is Causing Pedestrian Hazards And Headaches On Dillingham - Honolulu Civil Beat

Hawaii Gave Away 1,000 Free Dashcams To Drivers, Now DOT Has 'Eyes On The Road'

SG: … Of the 1,000 dashcams distributed throughout Hawaii, in itself one of the worst states to drive in, 390 will be used on the big island, 245 will be used on Maui and surrounding islands, 250 will be used on Oahu, where a message was sent to speeders, and 115 will serve on Kauai. Each is encoded for a specific island and will not work on any other, and the dashcam must be plugged into the vehicle's OBD port. The NextBase app must also be downloaded to each selected resident's smartphone and connected to the dashcam via Bluetooth ….

read … Hawaii Gave Away 1,000 Free Dashcams To Drivers, Now DOT Has 'Eyes On The Road'

Limited commercial boat operations to return to Lahaina Harbor for first time since destructive wildfire of 2023

MN: … Refueling and boat washing are the only activities at a harbor that’s been empty since the August 2023 wildfires destroyed all but 13 vessels at the 99 moorings and burned most of the harbor infrastructure, including the newly built harbor master’s office, the dinghy dock and front row piers.

But on Dec. 15, following the difficult removal of the sunken boats, restoration of the fueling station and repairs of the bathrooms, the state-run harbor will begin to slowly allow commercial marine operations to return with loading and unloading permitted at the dock during daytime hours.

Four companies are ready to restart: Atlantis Adventures, Sea Link of Hawai‘i, Kula Fishing Company and Sail Maui….

read … Limited commercial boat operations to return to Lahaina Harbor for first time since destructive wildfire of 2023 : Maui Now

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