Battery Blues
Commitment to Hawaii’s Kupuna: Lingle Launches New TV Spot
VIDEO: Hawaii Leaders Debate Problems and Merits of Jones Act
Wife of sailor killed in Afghanistan: 'I'm proud of him'
HNN: VILLAGE PARK, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The wife of a Navy sailor killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan says he was a loving husband and father who grew to love Hawaii.
Sean Carson was a 32-year-old explosive ordnance disposal expert with the Navy. The Washington state native was among seven service members who died when the Black Hawk helicopter they were riding crashed August 16 northeast of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Four of the dead were soldiers stationed at Schofield Barracks. They were remembered at Schofield during an August 20 visit by Army Secretary John McHugh. "All of us in the Army family are deeply moved by that kind of tragedy, and I can't think of a more appropriate place to extend those condolences than right here in this hall of heroes, because that's what these four soldiers are," McHugh said.
Carson was stationed in Hawaii from 2001 to 2004. While here, he met his wife, Nicole, during what she said was a rare night out in Waikiki.
"I'm at the bar and here comes this big haole boy, walking up to me with his goofy grin," said Nicole Carson. "He was very charming. He was charming to everyone. that's why so many people love him. That's how he got me."
They married in 2004.
Sean Carson was based in San Diego, but his wife and four-year-old daughter, Leila, would stay home in Hawaii. "In San Diego, it's just her and I," said Nicole. "There's no family up there. So we come home because the deployments are so long. This one was supposed to be ten months. it's just easier that way, and at least Sean has peace of mind to know that we're okay."
read … Wife of sailor killed in Afghanistan: 'I'm proud of him'
Today is a Pivotal Day in Rail Project
HNN: Monday is a pivotal day in the Honolulu rail project.
If the City does not stop construction, critics will try to obtain a restraining order based on Friday's ruling by the Hawaii Supreme Court.
The justices agreed unanimously that the City must conduct a full archaeological study of the 20-mile proposed route before any further construction can take place.
According to officials, 14 rail columns have been completed in Kapolei, as well as 40 column foundation sites. HART spokesperson Scott Ishikawa says crews will complete the work that was already started.
KHON: Rail work comes to a halt, meeting this afternoon on next steps
CN: Setback for Giant Hawaii Rail Project
read … Restraining Order
Queen’s Medical Center and St. Francis reach agreement on Hawaii Medical Center West acquisition
PBN: The parent of The Queen’s Medical Center and St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii said Monday that they have reached an agreement for The Queen’s Health Systems to acquire the former Hawaii Medical Center West in Ewa and reopen the hospital in the fall of 2013.
The sale of the West Oahu hospital to the operator of Hawaii’s largest hospital is expected to close in October, and Queen’s said in a statement it plans to spend about $50 million to upgrade the hospital and plans to expand and modernize the emergency, surgical and imaging services.
The two parties noted in Monday’s statement that the details of the agreement are confidential, but Queen’s told the State Health Planning and Development Agency in its application for a certificate of need that it would spend a total of $73.2 million — $21.2 million for the 134-bed hospital and the land beneath it, and another $52 million in construction and equipment upgrades. The state agency granted its approval on Aug. 14.
HNN: Queen's to reopen HMC-West after finalizing deal with St. Francis
read … Queen’s
Deletions in UH Stevie Wonder report appear contrary to state’s public records law
ILind: If you’re read part or all of the recent “factfinders” report on how the University of Hawaii fell victim to a $200,000 scam, you will surely have noticed the blanks left where certain names or other information have been redacted. Put another way, university officials have, without explanation, refused to disclose key portions of the report.
The deletions raise significant questions and add to the public impression that the university willfully fails to follow the letter or the spirit of the state’s open records law.
Under the law, Chapter 92F, known as the Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified), all government records must be made available for public inspection unless they fall in one of a limited number of specific exemptions. The same provision applies to specific deletions of information contained in otherwise public documents such as the factfinders report.
Those exemptions are spelled out in Section 92F-13….
read … Stevie Wonder
Clean Energy? Where Was Hirono?
SA: Hirono, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, and former Gov. Linda Lingle, the Republican, have embraced renewable energy to help break Hawaii's $4.5 billion-a-year dependence on imported oil. But they disagree on the route.
Hirono has called for a national renewable energy and efficiency standard to generate 25 percent of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2025. She would also extend solar tax credits for homeowners and businesses and reduce tax incentives for the oil industry. She is open to an interisland cable that would move energy between the islands in Hawaii. She strongly objects to expanded offshore oil drilling on the mainland.
Lingle, as governor, was instrumental in creating Hawaii's renewable energy goals. But she opposes a national standard as an unnecessary mandate. She would eventually phase out tax breaks for solar and oil because of the drain on state and federal budgets. She supports an interisland cable. She would consider more offshore oil drilling on the mainland as an option to reduce the nation's reliance on foreign oil.
Lingle said Hirono has a "fundamental lack of knowledge" about renewable energy policy and the efforts already taking place in Hawaii and most other states.
"I think her big-government, Washington, D.C., one-size-fits-all standard for energy is a reflection of her general feeling that the federal government knows what's best, and my feeling that the local communities know what's best," she said.
Lingle said Hawaii's renewable energy goals were established through bipartisan collaboration among her Republican administration, Democrats in the state Legislature, the state's utilities, environmentalists and the U.S. Department of Energy. She said the role of the federal government was to serve as an "honest broker" among competing interests, not to set mandates….
Lingle said domestic oil and natural gas production is key to eventually eliminating dependence on foreign oil from unreliable sources. She said the United States should keep its options open in geographic areas with proven oil reserves, while following environmental safeguards, especially in places such as ANWR.
Best Comments:
Coco’s Choice: One difference Depledge doesn't mention is a record of achievement in domestic, clean energy. The first sentence of his article references the oft-quoted 70% clean energy by 2030 for Hawaii. Remember folks, that goal and all of the steps taken toward achieving it were set by Lingle. Sen. Inouye supported the unprecedented federal partnership. Where was Hirono? You cant run on campaign rhetoric alone, Mazie. We - the voters - really are smarter than that.
Recce: "Many of the state's leaders on renewable energy, however, do not see danger in a national standard." "Many"? Really? The writer goes on to quote just two (many?) people: 1) Hermina Morita, longtime Democrat legislator from Kauai who was appointed by Governor Abercrombie to Chair the PUC. What a surprise Morita falls into line behind Hirono! Who would have imagined THAT? And 2) Mark Duda. Don't know a heck of a lot about him other than he was a board member and president of the Hawaii Solar Energy Association before his fellow board members kicked him off the board earlier this year. It would be too much to expect a free press to mention that Morita is a longtime Democrat Party stalwart, but in any event, let's edit this story to say "At least two folks, however, do not see danger in a national standard."
read … candidates split on how to attain it
Lingle Will Protect Social Security, Medicare
NJ: 9) The Republican presidential ticket is talking about making reforms to entitlements programs, but their nominee for Senate in Hawaii is up with a television ad promising no changes to Social Security and Medicare. Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle also released a statement arguing she will "honor the promises we made to Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries and to those nearing that age."
Best Comment: Rewrite 9 accurately: "The Republican presidential ticket is talking about making reforms to entitlements programs [excluding those 55 or older], [and] their nominee for Senate in Hawaii is up with a television ad promising no changes to Social Security and Medicare. Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle also released a statement arguing she will "honor the promises we made to Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries and to those nearing that age."
What a poor grasp on candidate positions the writer of this article has. You'd almost believe they are on the Obama re-elect campaign payroll.
It's the same as if you wrote: "Romney/Ryan propose A, but Lingle proposes A." The "but" presents a false contrast and betrays your ignorance or bias.
CB: Notes from Hawaii GOP in Tampa
read … Hotline On Call
The Future is Yours, Mazie Gets Nothing Done
S: The new ad portrays an older man sitting silently in a coffee shop screen-left with a laptop, chatting with his wife over instant messenger. The text of their conversation appears on the right side of the screen. The man says he’s worried about Social Security and Medicare. He and his wife agree that Lingle is the best candidate to deal with the programs, as Democratic challenger Mazie Hirono “gets nothing done.”
The John Hancock ad, meanwhile, portrays an older man sitting silently in a coffee shop screen-left with a laptop, chatting with his wife over instant messenger. The text of their conversation appears on the right side of the screen. The couple expresses concern about their retirement, before a title card for the company appears on-screen with a narrator saying “the future is yours.”
read … Senate candidate cribs old ad
Beleaguered Public Land Corp. Agrees To Broadcast Oahu Meeting
CB: The Public Land Development Corporation, under pressure from community groups, has agreed to allow the state's public access TV channel to broadcast the meeting.
That might seem like a routine event — a public TV channel livestreaming and taping a public meeting.
But last week, PLDC officials were refusing to allow Olelo to broadcast the event, set for Wednesday evening, on its website and television channel. The Sierra Club also hoped to set up a tent outside of the small state conference room where the meeting is scheduled to take place so people who won't fit in the room can watch it on a monitor.
In an email to the Sierra Club Thursday, Evern Williams, community development manager for Olelo, relayed the following:
I just got off the phone with Randal Ikeda, program officer at the PLDC. He is requesting that we do NOT do a live production AND that no arrangements be made for viewing of the hearing outside of the small conference room. He said that the PLDC is also taking over as executive producer of this event and reserves all rights to the footage. They have a right to do this if it is their event. They may even consider restricting other cameras in the room . . .
read … Land and Power
DHHL Director Faces Crisis of Support
CB: The Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homelands Assembly (SCHHA) is unanimously opposing the Senate confirmation of DHHL’s director, Jobie Masagatani, who was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in May.
read … DHHL Crisis
Caldwell Mocked on National TV
CB: A mini-scandal involving Honolulu mayoral candidate Kirk Caldwell’s 18-year-old daughter burning campaign signs with a bong has caught the attention of both Comedy Central and the Huffington Post.
Both media outlets blogged about the incident with Comedy Central putting the item under its “One of Kind Candidates” banner. Obviously, Comedy Central was a little less serious in tone than the Huffington Post.
You can read the post for yourself here. To see what the Huffington Post blogged click here.
read … Pot Head Daughter is National Story
60%-40% Vote: Liberals Give Boot to Gay Rabbi
SA: The newly elected head of embattled Temple Emanu-El will try to bring congregants back to Hawaii's largest synagogue and begin the search for a new rabbi after winning an election Sunday.
Cliff Halevi won election as Temple Emanu-El's new board president, effective immediately, with 60 percent of the congregants' vote, said both Halevi and his opponent, Alice Tucker, who had fought to keep Temple Emanu-El's only rabbi.
All of the eight other candidates who ran on Halevi's slate for board leadership also won.
Halevi plans to begin organizing a committee to look at Temple Emanu-El's financial options to replace Rabbi Peter Schaktman, 52, whose contract will expire in June.
The congregation voted not to renew Schaktman's contract at a raucous May meeting that involved Honolulu police and ended with one temple member in the hospital and another under arrest….
Halevi said he has been stung by suggestions that Schaktman's contract was not renewed because Schaktman is gay and an outspoken supporter of same-sex marriage in Hawaii.
"We are a totally inclusive community that welcomes everybody," Halevi said. "That's important to say."
THE LAST THREE years of Schaktman's seven-year tenure had split the congregation, and an estimated 60 families out of 230 left in just the last year.
In the aftermath, Halevi faces the difficult task of bringing them back and providing the temple with enough critical dues to afford to replace Schaktman, Tucker said.
"I'm not quitting the temple but quite a few are," Tucker said. "It's scary."
"It's very damaging," Zimmerman said. "The temple's very financial viability is threatened by all of this strife. They're trying to save the temple from this insane divisiveness. But even the temple itself might not continue. There's a lot at stake here."
read … Pillar of Salt
Magoo’s Pizza Daughter Gets Waikiki Sweetheart Deal?
SA: The city leased the Kapiolani Beach Center pavilion and bathroom space to Sakara Blackwell, president of Optimum Marketing & Management Corp., in June 2011 for a $350 monthly fee or 5 percent of gross sales, whichever is higher, said Charlian Wright, concessions contract specialist at the city Department of Enterprise Services. Since then Blackwell's team has operated Queen's Surf Cafe & Lanai in the city pavilion near the Waikiki Aquarium, a vending machine and a mobile cart along Kuhio Beach….
In its first year the concession grossed average monthly sales of $68,850, which means the city received an average of $3,442 a month….
The next-closest space is the Waikiki Beach Food Concession near the police substation. Until the end of March, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa was paying a monthly fee of $16,000 based on 32 percent of projected sales of $50,000. After Hyatt declined to extend its lease, the city awarded a revocable permit in May to Service Systems Associates to operate the Waikiki Beach Bistro in the space. New terms were $5,000 a month plus 5 percent on sales over $40,000 a month, Wright said. The permit expires in fiscal year 2013, she said.
Under those terms the Queen's Surf Cafe would be paying $6,442.50 per month, versus its current $3,442.
"I've gotten several complaints from Waikiki residents. (Queen's Surf Cafe) sure appears to be a sweetheart deal," said Waikiki Neighborhood Board member John Dew, who informed the Diamond Head-Kapahulu-St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board, which represents the area.
Kekoa Ornellas, managing consultant for Optimum, said the space was undesirable when Blackwell inquired about a lease. People were living in the pavilion, and there were signs of drug dealing and prostitution, he said.
Ornellas said Blackwell obtained a revocable permit under a pilot program that allowed the city and Optimum to see whether it could turn the location around.
"Our families, having been longtime area residents, felt that the opportunity to return this part of Kapiolani Park back to a place of gathering was worth the challenges and risk," he said. "Not any operator can come in and do what we did. It wasn't easy, and it continues to be a challenge."
Ornellas said he and Blackwell and their families have more than 80 years of combined food industry experience, which is why they were willing to take a chance on a space that others likely walked away from after a site inspection. Blackwell is the daughter of Gilbert Sakaguchi, who founded Magoo's Pizza in the late 1960s.
Magoo’s Pizza pops up in this story: Book: Obama's Puck's Alley Drug Dealer Killed by Gay Lover
read … Sweetheart Deal
Illegals: Star-Adv Welcomes New Democrat Voters
SA: While most of the beneficiaries nationally are from Mexico, nearly three-fourths of those in Hawaii are from Asia; only 7 percent here are from Mexico. Unlike those in mainland states, most of those in Hawaii arrived by airplane, with travel documents, so many have simply overstayed their visas.
"Cheesy as it may sound, I'm undocumented, unafraid and unashamed," said California college student Maria Rodriguez, who took part in an awareness forum at the University of Hawaii at Manoa earlier this year. "I'm tired of us being marginalized and labeled as criminals when we're not."
Individuals are required to pay $465 to apply for the two-year protection with the opportunity to reapply, have their fingerprints taken and submit to background checks in order to obtain work permits and Social Security cards. A free session of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will provide guidance at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, 1020 S. Beretania St.
read … Future Lifelong Democrat Voters
Meet Kawika Crowley, Candidate for Congress
CB: But Gabbard's general election opponent, David "Kawika" Crowley, is not conceding anything.
He trounced GOP primary opponent Matt DiGeronimo 45-29 percent and earned more votes — 9,056 — than better-known congressional candidates such as John Carroll, Esther Kiaaina and Bob Marx.
Crowley, 61, is a self-employed handyman and painter who has never held elective office. But he's no stranger to politics and government.
A self-described "college dropout with a degree in common sense," Crowley has been the most visible proponent of smokers' rights.
He is not hesitant to share his views on other matters, either.
read … Progressives take the opportunity to feel superior
Ethics, conviction rates fuel Iseri-Carvalho, Kollar debate
KGI: “Statistics are really important when you are doing things like grant applications and papers, but they don’t really do anything in and of itself to keep the community safer,” Kollar said. “It’s very easy to make numbers line up the way you want them to line up. When you take into account three-quarters of the cases on this island are settled via plea bargains, that could involve reduced charges, dismissed charges, cases that are plea bargained down, but still counted as convictions in the end run. ... It’s not being open, transparent and honest to the community about the results they expect from their prosecutor’s office.”
Iseri-Carvalho countered that her office has been transparent, citing her statistics are published and brought to the county council.
Iseri-Carvalho questioned if Kollar would bring trust and quality into his administration, stating that he dismissed a sex assault case with a confession, dismissed a Class A felony drug trafficking case and that he dismissed with prejudice a case involving a sting operation concerning violations against liquor laws.
read .. Who’s Softer on Crime?
Revisiting how UH governance might fit the “garbage can model”
DN: Why “garbage cans”? It was suggested that organizations tend to produce many “solutions” which are discarded due to a lack of appropriate problems. However problems may eventually arise for which a search of the garbage might yield fitting solutions. A snip from a glossary of terms:
… Organizations operate on the basis of inconsistent and ill-defined preferences; their own processes are not understood by their members; they operate by trial and error; their boundaries are uncertain and changing; decision-makers for any particular choice change capriciously. To understand organizational processes, one can view choice opportunities as garbage cans into which various kinds of problems and solutions are dumped. The mix of garbage depends on the mix of labeled cans available, on what garbage is currently produced and the speed with which garbage and garbage cans are removed.
read … Revisiting how UH governance might fit the “garbage can model”
Indigenous groups seeking Polynesian Leaders' membership
RA: The Polynesian sub group within the Pacific looks set to expand with the leaders of Polynesian countries looking favourably at giving full membership to representatives of the indigenous people of New Zealand, Hawaii and Easter Island.
read … Indigenous groups seeking Polynesian Leaders' membership
VIDEO: Mortgage Scammer Keanu Sai files protest at United Nations
BIVN: Kanaka Council alaka’i says Public Land Development Corporation could be charged with war crimes….
Reality: Sovereignty Mortgage Scammer Keanu Sai at it again with help from Legislators, Maui Council, University
read … Gimme $4000
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