Heritage Foundation to Tour Honolulu, Laie, Kona, Hilo Jan 31-Feb 2

ALEC: Hawaii Ranks C+ in Education Reform

“Concerning Public Lands” 14 Executive Orders Suddenly Appear on Abercrombie Website

HTA: Visitor Industry Showed Strong Growth in 2011

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity Hosting Informational Meetings

Soros May Benefit From White House’s Natural Gas Proposal

Molokai Resident: Our community have been battered by the same folks shoving their agendas

Snake Bill: Hearing Wednesday

Abercrombie Appoints Barbara Yamashita as DHS Deputy Director

Testimony Tracking System: Abercrombie Personally Reviewing All State Agency Legislative Testimony

HR: Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s policy team has implemented a new "Testimony Tracking System" to "find potential conflicts between different agencies sooner rather than later" when it comes to submitting testimony to lawmakers.

Agency directors and staff are given their own log in into the system, which is officially called the “Office of the Governor Legislative Bill Tracker."

Before testifying, they are expected submit their testimony into the bill tracking system for review and approval by the governor himself.

The system also allows other department heads to see the testimony.

Donalyn Dela Cruz, the governor’s Deputy Director of Communications, said there was no cost to set up the internal monitoring system, which was created by the Department of Accounting and General Services after the last legislative session and implemented in time for the 2012 session, which began January 18.

All state departments, including the Department of Education and the University of Hawaii, are using the system even though the two education agencies are technically autonomous from the governor’s cabinet.

read … Big Brother is Manipulating the Legislature

Poll: Hirono 46, Lingle 39

CB: The automated telephone survey of 1,358 likely voters found Case has a 13 percentage point margin over Lingle, 46 percent to 33 percent. Hirono has a 7 percentage point margin, 46 percent to 39 percent. In each case, roughly 20 percent of likely voters said they were either undecided or would pick another candidate.

The poll was conducted on January 18 and 19, and has a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percent.

Here are the toplines and crosstabs for the U.S. Senate race poll: Civil Beat U.S. Senate 2012 General Election Poll

Political Radar: `Big Mo’

read … Ed Case’s Pollster

Hirono Campaign Blasts Civil Beat Poll

CB: Rep. Mazie Hirono’s campaign for U.S. Senate says a Civil Beat poll that shows her neck-and-neck with Democratic opponent Ed Case has an “obvious conflict of interest.”

“It’s troubling Civil Beat’s automated poll is conducted by the very same pollster who also conducts polls directly for Ed Case’s Senate campaign, despite the obvious conflict of interest this poses,” said Hirono Campaign Manager Betsy Lin in a press release. “Our own polling of actual likely Democratic primary voters shows Ed Case losing to Mazie Hirono by eighteen points.”

For a refresher in recent campaign history, check out how Hannemann responded to a Civil Beat poll that showed him getting trounced by Neil Abercrombie in the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary. Read more about just how accurate that poll turned out to be.

read … Hirono Campaign Blasts Civil Beat Poll

HGEA blasts Carlisle, Cayetano

Borreca: U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono against former U.S. Rep. Ed Case is a split between two wings of the party, but not a clash of liberals versus conservatives. This fight is Hirono with the traditional local political muscle of the state's unions and senior U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's clout defending their position against Case's very definite challenge to the establishment.

Hirono had her own fling with bucking the seated powers when, as lieutenant governor, she broke ranks with Gov. Ben Cayetano and picketed in sympathy with striking public school teachers.

"Her walking the picket line was about as appropriate as a backup quarterback cheering for the opposing team," Cayetano said about Hirono in his autobiography.

"There are many defining moments in every politician's career — her decision to walk the picket line was one of them," Cayetano said, adding that Hirono's action affected his opinion on "whether she would be the Democrats' best hope for governor in 2002."….

…In the mayor's race two years ago, Caldwell was a strong Democrat, with strong union backing. While unions have not picked candidates in this year's election, the powerful Hawaii Government Employees Association is watching carefully and appears to be leaning toward Caldwell.

In a message to members last week, the HGEA noted that Carlisle "has been a tremendous disappointment.

"He has openly adopted a negative position against public employees, calling for pay cuts well in excess of the 5 percent agreed upon," the HGEA memo said.

As for Cayetano, the HGEA, which had supported the former governor, said he is "best remembered for his efforts to reduce employee rights civil service reform, as well as the prohibition of union-sponsored health plans and the creation of the EUTF (public worker medical coverage)."

read … Next election going to be messy for isle Democrats

RTTT: UHPA Lawyer Outlines Case Against HSTA

CB: But the entire conflict between Race the Top and collective bargaining might be based on a misinterpretation of state labor law, Gill said.

"It is not true that the State's compliance with points in the RTTT plan depends on HSTA and the State reaching a negotiated collective bargaining agreement covering those points," he wrote in a case document submitted to the labor board on Jan. 6.

He cited Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 89-20, which negates state collective bargaining law when a federal grant is on the line:

Chapter inoperative, when. (a) If any provision of this chapter jeopardizes the receipt by the State or any county of any federal grant-in-aid or other federal allotment of money, the provision shall, insofar as the fund is jeopardized, be deemed to be inoperative.

"The logical consequence of this language is that the State can impose compliance with RTTT plan points, unilaterally, provided it does so narrowly, and solely to avoid jeopardizing the receipt by the State of the federal money," Gill writes, then reiterates:

read … Loophole for Collective Bargaining in Hawaii?

Tenure: Legislators Just Yanking HSTA’s Chain

SA: Though the measures propose doing away with tenure, no one appears to be in favor of going that far. (Faking it)

But there is interest in legislatively lengthening the amount of time teachers must serve to earn tenure, and ensuring that only "effective" teachers get the extra job security.

"It's worthy of a discussion, at least," said state Rep. Roy Takumi, (faking it) chairman of the House Education Committee, who introduced House Bill 1668 with state Rep. Della Au Belatti, the committee's vice chairwoman.

The bill, which proposes ending tenure protections on June 30 for teachers and educational officers (such as principals), will be heard Wednesday.

A companion bill in the Senate has been scheduled for a hearing Friday.

"I don't think tenure in and of itself is the fulcrum or the tipping point on whether or not someone is an effective teacher," (we’re just faking it) said Takumi (D, Pearl City-Pacific Palisades). "But should a tenure system be more reflective of the quality of a teacher in the classroom?"

The Hawaii State Teachers Association has come out in force against the proposals, urging members to submit testimony to quash the bills. (Thus giving Okabe a badly needed chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the membership. Yes, they are ALL faking it.)

"We feel that teachers are going to be stripped away from due-process rights, to be hired and fired at will by politicians or by administrators," HSTA President Wil Okabe told the Star-Advertiser on Monday.

In a message to members Saturday, Okabe called the bills a "direct attack on our membership, our profession and a lack of recognition and respect for the valuable service that our veteran teachers provide."

State Sen. Jill Tokuda, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, said she supports lengthening the time teachers must serve to get tenure and tying tenure to a "rigorous evaluation system."

"This is just our way of trying to facilitate movement forward," said Tokuda (D, Kaneohe-Kailua). "We have to start seeing forward movement."

read … Faking it

Police Report Shows UH Perfesser had Lame Story after 2007 Prostitution Bust

HR: Boyd told Hawaii Reporter he knew nothing about the Volcano Girls escort service, was not involved in its activities and was unaware of a prostitution arrest in his apartment in May 2007.

“In May of 2007, I think I was in San Francisco,” he said in a telephone interview on Friday.

A report on the May 15, 2007 incident, written by the then-resident manager of the 250 Ohua condominium project and obtained by Hawaii Reporter, said that after the police left, “the owner of unit 1C approached me and said that the girl (referring to the prostitute) came in to change clothes and that he didn't know what was going on.”

Boyd has owned apartment 1C since 2006.

HNN: Hawaii News Now Expands on the Volcano Girls Expose

read … It happens all the time, just a misunderstanding, really

UH West Oahu chancellor sidestepped required financial disclosure

ILind: UH West Oahu Chancellor Gene Awakuni… filed a “Disclosure of Financial Interests (Long Form)” report on June 1, 2010. It was essentially blank. Other than his name, title, and campus, along with his signature at the bottom, it did not contain a single item. No income. No creditors or loans. No officerships in other organizations. No real estate….

First of all, his own salary, which didn’t appear on the disclosure form.

Then there’s his wife, Maui realtor Leslie-Ann Yokouchi, who owns and operates her own real estate firm, MSY Corp., operating under the trade name, Windermere Valley Isle Properties.

Yokouchi is the daughter of influential Maui developer, political organizer, and philanthropist, Masaru “Pundy” Yokouchi, who died in 2006.

The state’s professional and vocational licensing database lists 50 real estate brokers and salespersons working for Windermere, including former Maui Mayor James Kimo Apana.

Awakuni did not include his wife’s company or her income on his financial disclosures, as required.

With all of the wheeling and dealing over establishment of the new UH West Oahu campus, and its relationship to land development in the leeward Oahu area, these would certainly seem to be relevant….

Awakuni is a director of the state’s largest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Service Association, according to the HMSA web site and state business registration records. He is also a director of the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce. Neither of these positions has been reported on his financial disclosures.

read … UH West Oahu chancellor sidestepped required financial disclosure

Shippers seeking exemption from Jones Act requirement

Marianas Variety: The Variety contacted Guam Delegate Madeleine Z. Bordallo for a comment. She said: “There is a broad coalition of interests that support an American Maritime fleet that is American-flagged and American-crewed. This coalition includes labor unions, such as the seafarers and longshoremen, as well as national security groups who argue that an American merchant fleet is important to national security. This is the environment that we must consider in any effort to repeal the Jones Act, or more realistically, to carve out an exception for Guam. We are always watching for an opportunity to raise this issue in legislation. Further, many of our friends in Congress who share our interest in promoting a strong defense posture in the Pacific would oppose our efforts to exempt Guam from the Jones Act. The dynamic has not been conducive to a Jones Act exemption, as there is a greater emphasis in this current economic climate on protecting American jobs, as opposed to outsourcing jobs to foreigners. We are always mindful of efforts by stakeholders or the other territories that may give us an opening for changes to current law.”

Related: US-Build requirement for ships: Dilemma for Hawaii, Guam, Alaska, and Puerto Rico

read … Shippers seeking exemption from Jones Act requirement

Model for Hawaii? Nevada Casinos Lose $14B, owe $51B in debt

AP: The study released by UNLV Center for Gaming Research found that total liabilities for the state's casinos have grown 18-fold since 1984 to $51.2 billion during the fiscal year that ended in June 2011. But with $22 billion in casino revenues for that same period, the money they were pulling in was only five times the amount from 1984.

The center's director, Dave Schwartz, said that since 2008, casinos have owed more in long-term debt than they collectively earn in revenue each year.

Casinos in Nevada collectively lost $14.2 billion before taxes from July 2008 to June 2011.

read … Nevada's casinos holding $51.2 billion in debt

Price of Discrimination: House, Senate Candidates Unable To File On Opening Day

KITV: The State Office of Elections is unable to start establishing polling locations and assigning the roughly 600-thousand Hawaii residents to polling locations across the state.

"Then we got to let all the voters know where they vote and that's a long process," said Scott Nago, Chief Election Officer.

However until the state redraws the political boundaries based on current population data from the U.S. Census, a complicated undertaking required every ten years, establishing precincts cannot start.

KHON: State House, Senate candidates can’t file Feb.1 but can raise money

SA: Panel readies new political district maps

CB: Hawaii Reapportionment Commission Wants Another $90,000

Read … Reapportionment

Council Candidates Outraise Carlisle, Caldwell

SA: Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle collected $53,000 in campaign donations in the second half of 2011, less than 20 percent of his haul from the first half of the year, according to a filing Monday with the Campaign Spending Commission.

That six-month fundraising total is smaller than the respective hauls of Honolulu City Council Vice Chair Ikaika Anderson, who pulled in more than $85,000 in the period even without an announced challenger, and Council Chair Ernie Martin, who secured more than $76,000 even though his term isn't up until 2014.

Unlike Martin, Carlisle is up for re-election this year, and unlike Anderson, he does have some stiff competition — former Gov. Ben Cayetano and former Acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

UPDATE Caldwell's campaign emailed Civil Beat late Monday to say he has raised more than $72,000 in the past six weeks, a total that will be reflected in his campaign finance report that he intends to file Tuesday. That filing also will reflect a debt of $188,000 from his last campaign, the statement said. He has said he doesn't expect to pay himself back this time around.

Meanwhile, Carlisle got a significant fundraising head start on his challengers, and had almost $300,000 cash on hand at the end of the year. A lot of that money came after his inaugural-ball-slash-fundraiser in April.

Cayetano didn't officially file for the race until Jan. 19, after the reporting period closed. He told Civil Beat he's yet to hold a fundraiser, but might hold one soon.

read … Modest Fundraising Opens Door In Mayor's Race

Hawaii GOP's Wish List At The Ledge

CB: "Some of the best bills that pass are with our fingerprints, and some of the best ideas are ours," Ward said at a caucus press conference two days after session opened Jan. 18.

Ward pointed to the example of his GOP colleague, Rep. Barbara Marumoto, who was one of the first lawmakers of either party to condemn Gov. Neil Abercrombie's proposal to tax pension income. The measure died.

"It's not whose name is on the bill," said Rep. George Fontaine, a minority whip. "If it's a good idea, it's not about caring who gets credit for it."

In the other chamber, meantime, Sen. Sam Slom holds a similar view.

"Democrats want me because they like to say they have bipartisan support," he said, pointing out that his voting record demonstrates that he votes in favor of 90 percent of all bills that pass.

Slom's signature is on a lot of those bills as a co-sponsor.

Slom observes, wryly, however, "There are some people who do not believe in a two-party system."

GET, Jones Act, Ethics, Hawaiian Electric

CB: Slom has introduced 12 bills this session — four less than last session, though those bills carry over. They include ones that would have the Legislature met every odd year instead of annually, and another that would deregulate Hawaii's electric utilities.

Slom also wants to request that the U.S. Congress exempt Hawaii and Alaska from the Jones Act — the 1920 cabotage law that requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports be carried in U.S.-flag ships — made in the United States, owned by Americans and crewed by them.

read … Hawaii GOP's Wish List At The Ledge

A Bill to Stop Mitch Kahle?

CB: Two bills before the Hawaii Legislature would make it a misdemeanor to show disrespect to either the state House or Senate.

Senate Bill 3026 and House Bill 2571, which are identical, would create an "offense of disrespect" of the House and Senate for "disorderly or contemptuous behavior" by a person who is not a member of the Legislature.

That behavior includes "making loud, boisterous, or incessant shouts" and "refusing to be or to remain seated on orders from the sheriff or sergeant-at-arms."

Civil Beat has left messages with Senate President Shan Tsutsui and House Speaker Calvin Say, who introduced the measures in their respective chamber, to find out what prompted the legislation.

read … A Bill to Stop Mitch Kahle?

Convicted Cocaine Dealer Weakens Law Protecting Roadside Emergency Responders

SA: SB 61 was carried over from the 2011 session but has come up again after police officer Garret Davis was killed Jan. 21 when a truck slammed into his marked patrol car while he was pulled over to help a motorist on the H-1 freeway.

J. Kalani ‘Powdernose’ English (D, East Maui-Lanai-Molokai), chairman of the Senate Transportation and International Affairs Committee, cited concerns he had with the bill, such as its vagueness and the fact that in cases when a death occurs, the offender could be charged with the same crime twice under two statutes, or not be charged under the proper statute.

"The way the original bill was drafted, it said that you will be charged under this statute," English said following the hearing. "The way that I'm redrafting it says that manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter, etc., those sections will apply first, and if nobody dies … then this (SB 61) comes in."

English, a convicted cocaine dealer, said there has been a misconception that Hawaii doesn't protect the safety of emergency responders on the side of the road.

"That's what the man-slaughter laws are, that's what those other laws are," he said. "So there is existing law there."

He acknowledged there is no law requiring motorists to move over or slow down, but noted, "It's a bit difficult because you can't mandate common sense."

For that reason, English removed provisions in the bill that required motorists to slow down to certain speeds.

Cocaine Revealed: Harbin upset gets skeletons rattling

read … Coke Dealer Weakens Law Protecting Police

Hawaii Taxpayers Owe $8.2 Million for Claims Against the State

CB: In 2006, eight inmates incarcerated at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center on the Big Island complained they were overcrowded and were being denied access to toilets and adequate bathing facilities.

They sued the state and the facility's wardens, and eventually won a $277,750 settlement. That bill is overdue, and the Abercrombie administration wants to pay it. The settlement is part of a package of claims that is expected to be considered at a hearing Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee.

Legal challenges against the state and state employees have resulted in an $8.3 million tab to settle claims and judgements over the past year.

That includes $5.8 million in overdue charges from the 2011 budget year, according to House Bill 2438, which seeks emergency funding "to avoid further legal action and expense." A second bill seeks $2.4 million for the 2011-2012 budget year.

read … $8.2M

Bill requires Hawaii Retailers to develop crowd control safety plans for large sales

AP: A House committee will take up the issue on Tuesday.

The bill under consideration requires employers to train their employees prior to any large event.

Employers would need to bring in security guards or police, if deemed necessary to maintain order at the gathering.

The measure also calls for posting signs, erecting barricades and using other equipment to prevent rushing, pushing and unruly behavior.

If the bill passes, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations would be required to establish rules.

read … Another Burden on Small Business

Thursday Hearing on Hawaii Bill to Remove Chronic Pain as Qualifying Condition for Medical Cannabis

HND: The first medical Cannabis (marijuana) related bill of the new Hawaii legislative term has been scheduled, and, unfortunately, it is HB1963, which removes chronic pain as a stand-alone medical condition. (Uh the pain, doc, doc, I need a hit of that reefer!)

The hearing has been scheduled for Thursday February 2, 2012 at 11:15am, in front of the House Committees on Health and Public Safety/Military Affairs.

Public testimony must be submitted by 11:15am on Wednesday, February 1st.

Hawaii state citizens who wish to submit testimony can do so at this link.

Enter in the bill number: HB1963 (no spaces) and hit “submit”, and the form will be filled in. You can either upload a document, or type your text into the “additional comments” section. Make sure to agree to the terms and conditions, and then hit the button to “submit testimony.”

SA: Marijuana growing operation discovered at fire scene (medicine catches on fire)

read … Dopers in a Frenzy

Alert: Another bill would strip consumers right to know about current and past complaints

ILind: Here we go again. Another year, another bill to secret away important information about consumer complaints against licensed professionals, from real estate agents to auto mechanics to travel agents to massage therapists and more.

HB 2298, “Relating to Privacy Rights,” is scheduled to be heard at 8:30 tomorrow morning (Tuesday, Jan. 31) before Rep. McKelvey’s Committee on Economic Revitalization & Business. The hearing notice is available here.

The bill would set a new and far higher threshold that would have to be crossed before any information about consumer complaints could be made public. If this bill passes, only complaints that had been “referred for legal action” would become public, and then only if the person complained against had a chance to reply.

read … Consumer Complaints

CB: Lawmakers Pass ‘Fast Track’ Bills for Med School Funds and University Revenue Bonds

• SenateBill 239, which continues the John A. Burns School of Medicine’s ability to use money from the Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Fund to help pay for its operations.
• Senate Bill 809, which the University of Hawaii’s authorization to issue revenue bonds by $100 million, to a total amount not to exceed $300 million.

read … Lawmakers Pass ‘Fast Track’ Bills for Med School Funds and University Revenue Bonds

Hawaii could collect $27M to $35M more vacation rental taxes

AP: A bill before the state House aims at ensuring transient accommodation taxes are paid, even when Hawaii visitors rent their lodgings from out-of-state property owners.
The measure seeks to accomplish this by requiring nonresident owners to work with licensed real estate brokers and salespeople when renting out their homes for short-term stays. Those transactions would then be subject to the transient accommodation tax.

read … Hold on to Your Wallet!

Star-Adv: Pets Stores should be banned from Selling Puppies

SA: With the Waimanalo puppy mill forced to hand over 153 sickly, malnourished dogs living in filth to the Hawaiian Humane Society last February, perhaps more Hawaii pet stores could consider ending animal sales and offering pet adoptions from shelters instead.

This could occur because the stores would realize that they, too, could help with our pet overpopulation crisis.

read … Puppy Mills

Charter School Rejoices at Departure of Review Panel Members

CB: Hilo-based Connections Public Charter School found a different reason to gloat about the leadership disturbance. Principal John Thatcher sent out a press release over the weekend, saying that the three panel members’ departure would prove a victory for both Sunshine Law advocates and charter schools seeking greater autonomy.

It also means Connections PCS is going to withdraw a lawsuit it had lodged against Takamura and the review panel last year, according to the release.

Connections Local School Board chairperson, Heather McDaniel added “Our Local School Board looks forward to an improved relationship with the Charter School Review Panel.” Co-plaintiff, Eric Boyd said, “My family and I have gone through so much anguish because of all of this. I just got out of the hospital a few days ago. I’m really looking forward to going back to work now.”

read … Charter School Rejoices at Departure of Review Panel Members

Scammers Calling Democrat Donors Asking for Contributions

HNN: And its not the elected scammers or the candidate scammers. Particularly galling to Hawaii Democratic Party officials—these scammers aren’t even running for office! There is no respect among thieves. Those receiving a call asking for a donation to a Hawaii Democrat are urged to tell the caller that you don’t give money to scammers whether or not they are running for office.

Inouye got Scammed too: DeKalb woman admits scamming U.S. Senator in credit card fraud

read … Hawaii Democratic Party warns of scam: Pot, Kettle, Black!

MADD Hails Success of Ignition Interlock Program

KITV: 4,200 Engine Starts Prevented Statewide During First Year

read … MADD

Last Pro Bowl attracts 12.5 million viewers

But thanks to Neil Abercrombie, they won’t be looking at Hawaii next year… its OK, gays will come here and get hitched. Its almost as good…..

HNN: There is speculation the 2013 Pro Bowl may be played in New Orleans site of the 2013 Super Bowl.

"We're not negotiating from strength, clearly, because we are so late at the table. We usually have an extension by this time. So we may have to accept the fact that the game may rotate out of here every now and then," Mufi Hannemann said during a live appearance on Sunrise Monday morning. Hannemann is President of the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association.

read … Pro Bowl attracts 12.5 million viewers

UH plans biosafety lab at Kalaeloa

SA: The Pacific Health Research Lab at Kalaeloa will employ up to 20 people to focus on early detection and vaccine research for potentially deadly diseases from the Asia-Pacific region, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), dengue and antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis and influenza.

The lab will bring to West Oahu high-paying technology jobs, which are in short supply, especially since the Hawaii Medical Center in Ewa was closed Dec. 28.

The lab was originally going to be built in Kakaako next to the John A. Burns School of Medicine, but that space was instead used for the UH Cancer Center. Before Kakaako the lab was proposed for Wai­mano above Pearl City.

The facility has finally found a home at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station.

The National Institute of Health is providing a $32.5 million grant. The remaining $15 million will come from the state.

read … Biosafety

State Civil Defense hires new vice director

SA: Retired Washington Army National Guard Lt. Col. Doug Mayne will assume the duties of vice director of state Civil Defense in March, the state announced Monday.

He will succeed Ed Teixeira, vice director of Hawaii State Civil Defense since 2000, who resigned in October.

Mayne, who lives in Olympia, Wash., retired from the Washington National Guard in 2008. He then took the post of federal coordinating officer for the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency Region X, where he led responses to seven disasters in six states over the last four years.

In his new position, Mayne will report directly to Maj. Gen. Darryll Wong, State Adjutant General and director of State Civil Defense.

Mayne previously worked with the Hawaii Joint Force HQ staff in 2007 during the annual Makani Pahili disaster response exercise

read … State Civil Defense hires new vice director

UH “scientists” Unprecedented ocean acidity is due to humans’ CO2

If you want to read some propaganda, click the link below.

Here’s the antidote: Scripps blockbuster: Ocean acidification happens all the time — naturally

read … More Grant seeking UH Eco-nonsense

IT Helps Foodland Cope With Challenging Geography

SupermarketNews: “Supply is a challenge,” Robert Murphy, the chain’s chief information officer for the past nine years, told SN this month during a visit to the National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention & Expo here. “The majority of our products come across the water. And lead times are huge. We have a two-week turnaround compared to three days [on the U.S. mainland] for a meat order.” Distribution across Hawaii’s four main islands — The Big Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai — also increases costs. “When people get sticker shock, there’s a reason,” he said.

read … FoodLand

$150,000 to be Wasted on Electric Cars

HR: The State of Hawai'i is re-energizing its successful EV Ready Rebate Program with an additional $150,000 and has extended the deadline for rebates on new electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and chargers from January 31 to March 31, 2012.

Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and will run through the deadline or while funds are available, whichever comes first. The State anticipates an increase in consumer demand for new electric vehicles this year.

From early January 2011 to mid-January of this year, 528 rebates have been approved for 318 electric vehicles and 210 chargers, with $153,999 remaining in funding as of January 23. The additional funds increase the available total to $303,999. Rebate forms are available on the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s (DBEDT) State Energy Office website at electricvehicle.hawaii.gov

(Where does the electric come from? Oh, that’s right, its diesel. Duh.)

read … $150,000

Marine gets jail time, reduced rank in hazing case

AP: A Hawaii-based Marine lance corporal accused of hazing in Afghanistan is going to jail for 30 days and will have his rank reduced to private first class for punching and kicking a fellow Marine who killed himself shortly afterward.

Navy Capt. Carrie Stephens, the judge in Lance Cpl. Jacob Jacoby's special court-martial, handed down the sentence after Jacoby, 21, pleaded guilty to assault.

The Marine admitted he punched and kicked Lance Cpl. Harry Lew of Santa Clara, Calif. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors withdrew charges that Jacoby humiliated and threatened Lew.

Stephens said she found no evidence that Jacoby's abuse of Lew caused Lew to kill himself, and she didn't take the suicide into account when determining the sentence.

read … Marine gets jail time, reduced rank in hazing case

Pork Barrel Express: United to fly daily from Honolulu to D.C

The daily year-round service to begin June 7 will use Boeing 767-400 aircraft and is the only nonstop service between the two points, United said in a statement.

They will have to expand First Class to accommodate all the grifters flying on taxpayer dime. Will there be any seats left over for tourists?

Unrelated: Cebu Pacific to start long-haul flights next year

read … pigs fly!