May 16, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, May 16, 2009

May 16, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 6:05 AM :: 7215 Views

Honolulu's rough roads add $688 a year to your driving costs

According to 2007 statistics compiled by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in its recently released report "Rough Roads Ahead: Fix Them Now or Pay For It Later," Honolulu drivers pay $688 in additional vehicle operating costs — more than twice the national average — each year due to poor pavement conditions.

REPORT: http://roughroads.transportation.org/

UH Manoa campus seeks ways to cut back as it loses $34 million in its general funds

UH-Manoa will see a $34 million cut in general funds, said Kathy Cutshaw, the vice chancellor for administration. About $23 million will be covered through federal stimulus money, research funds, a hiring freeze, energy savings, by not putting some extra tuition money into scholarships and by charging the Outreach College and the Laboratory School for overhead costs formerly funded by taxpayers, such as utilities, security, copies, mail and janitorial services.

The other $11 million will have to come through budget cuts, Cutshaw said.

Maui Council returns TAT funds to budget

WAILUKU - It took a lot of long nights and some blood on the floor, but the Maui County Council pretty much finalized its $566.7 million budget for fiscal year 2010 on Friday with the decision to restore to the budget the entire $17 million hunk of hotel tax money.

Gary Yabuta named Maui Co. police chief

A 27-year veteran with the department, Yabuta previously served in a variety of roles, including commanding the Investigative Services Bureau. He will replace outgoing Chief Thomas Phillips, who retires May 31 after more than 30 years with the Maui Police Department, including 11 years as chief.

HMSA's loss increases

Hawaii Medical Service Association, seeking its largest dues increase in 20 years, lost $13.9 million in the first quarter, even as it implemented cost-cutting measures to improve operating results.

The state's largest health-care provider -- with 703,477 members -- said yesterday its net loss widened to $13.9 million, from a loss of $10 million a year ago, as health-care costs continued to rise.

Hawaii Superferry gear will be auctioned off on Maui, Oahu

Everything from restroom trailers, large tents, portable offices, traffic cones, light towers, crowd-control barriers, a backhoe, Superferry shirts and shoe scrubbers will go on the auction block at 10 a.m. today at the former ferry terminal at Kahului Harbor, at Pu'unene and Ka'ahumanu avenues.

The shoe scrubbers were required by the state to address concerns about the transport of weed seeds, ants and other invasive species hiding in hiking boots and other footwear....

"It is clear that it is going to take an extended period of time to set the conditions for any future operations in Hawai'i, for example, completing another (environmental impact statement), and, hence, the logic to auction off equipment," Thomas Fargo, Superferry president and chief executive officer, said in an e-mail to The Advertiser.

"We still believe there is a need for a high-speed interisland ferry capability here in Hawai'i."

Judge rejects plan to rebrand go! under Aloha Airlines name

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Lloyd King disqualified go!'s Phoenix-based parent Mesa Air Group as a co-bidder for the Aloha name due its role in Aloha's demise.

Targeting new jobs

"I'm behind on my rent, behind on my bills," she said. "(The job market) is pretty thin ... and I haven't had much luck finding anything."
Meier's story is similar to that of hundreds of Big Island residents who showed up for the first day of Target's four-day mass hiring event, each hoping for one of the 300 jobs being offered for the new Kailua-Kona store, which is slated to open July 26.
It was a slow start, much to the surprise of those in line, with only a handful of applicants waiting at 7 a.m. More turned up later -- Roger Thomas, Target store team leader, estimated 350 to 400 applicants showed up Thursday. Thomas expects a similar number of applicants Friday and 400 to 500 people showing up both Saturday and Sunday.