April 29, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

April 29, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 7:06 AM :: 6788 Views

Lingle: Power plant ban a critical step forward

Sunday's rally in support of banning the construction of new fossil fuel-burning power plants in Hawai'i is indicative of the community support to move forward aggressively to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and imported coal.

If the Legislature passes such a ban, it would set us on a firm course toward energy security and independence. Our state would also send the strongest message to the nation and the world that Hawai'i is serious about achieving our Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative goal: An economy powered by at least 70 percent clean energy by 2030.

(Still have to overcome all those eco-NIMBYs who want to block geothermal, nuclear, and wind.)

DOE budget discord fails taxpayers (Advertiser pines for return of one-party rule)

Where does that leave state government in general, and public education specifically? Right where it always is: without a rational spending plan. Things will play out as they usually do. The Legislature will get the budget it wants, Lingle's veto notwithstanding. The governor will use her discretion to release the funds as she sees fit. But because her priorities don't align with those of lawmakers, the taxpayer is left to watch education resources spent without a coherent strategy. (As if giving money to the DoE could ever be 'coherent' or 'rational.') (Yes if only the Gov and Leg were of the same party everything would suddenly be "coherent" and "rational" like under Cayetano and Waihee...blablabla.)

Lingle's lack of plans spawns speculation

By noon on Dec. 6, 2010, Hawaii will have a new governor. Today the current governor appears to be confirming increasing speculation that Hawaii's most successful Republican in nearly a half century has no future local political plans. (And Democrat Borreca is just thrilled!)

The latest evidence comes from the absence of any guidance from Lingle in directing the local GOP entering the 2010 elections. Also she is not expected to attend the state GOP convention next month in Kona. Party leaders say that political newcomer Jonah Kaauwai has the best shot of taking over as chairman of the local GOP.

If Lingle wants a political life after 2010, she needs to control the local GOP leadership, but this year she has appeared almost diffident to local political affairs and hasn't expressed any interest in any of the candidates running for party leaders. (So why did she she speak from the floor at the Honolulu County GOP Convention?)

Lingle is easily the best saleswoman or man to hold political office in Hawaii, but now Republicans at the Legislature say she appears to be phoning it in. (No names here, but anyone involved in the intense budget wrangle between the Gov's office and the Dem. legislature knows this is nonsense.)

(This column is just another building block in the false "Pat Robertson v2" meme Democrats are working to construct in preparation for 2010.)

Arrivals down 13th consecutive month

Visitors arriving by air and cruise ships totaled 555,902, down 16.6 percent from March 2008, according to a report released yesterday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. (So naturally the Leg is proposing a TAT increase)

Spending by visitors arriving by air fell to $800.1 million, a decline of 24.4 percent, or $258.4 million, compared with March of last year. Average daily visitor spending fell to $163 per person from $180 per person in March 2008.

Arrivals from most major market areas fell, but there was one small bright spot. For the first time since May of last year, the number of visitors arriving by air from Japan rose slightly — by 0.6 percent.

Hawaiian Air parent posts profit

(Its profitable to be a monopoly)

Gloomy forecast for Isle auto sales

The forecast produced for the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association predicts 2009 sales will be off by nearly one-fifth compared with last year, but also notes that the almost one-third drop in first-quarter sales could have been the bottom of the market.

U.S. Trustee calls for Hilo Hattie liquidation

Hilo Hattie continues to lose money and its turnaround plan focused on opening a flagship store at Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki has failed, Curtis Ching, assistant U.S. trustee, said in a court filing.

But the company said it is working on an alternative plan to open several new stores in Hawai'i that would enable the venerable chain to survive.

Biotech seed company to plant crops on Kauai

(What's this? A glimmer of growth? Don't worry 'activists' are working to stamp it out.)

KGI: New seed operation set for Westside

Summit has been marred, Rep. says

"I am very happy about the last two paragraphs, because I also 'believe that it is possible to achieve a balance between environmental preservation, cultural practice and scientific -endeavors,'" IfA Director Rolf-Peter Kudritzki said in quoting the ending part of Hanohano's newsletter.
In his e-mail response to a request for his reaction to Hanohano's criticisms of the IfA, Kudritzki added that he's most happy with Hanohano's comment that she will "support the University's management efforts."
However, that partial quote omitted Hanohano's statement basing her support on the university making "amends to the community" and cooperating in "good faith" in planning for the management of the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. ($$$ Ka-ching!)
Harvey Tajiri, East Hawaii's representative to the University of Hawaii's Board of Regents, said, "Essentially, I'm of the same accord as Faye Hanohano," which is why the board is recommending that the University of Hawaii at Hilo have control over the summit region.
"We will have more say in the management of that place," he said.

(Hanohano is trying to make herself indi$pen$able to the astronomy project by posing as an interlocutor.)