July 18, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, July 18, 2009

July 18, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 4:52 PM :: 8521 Views

KSBE Bi-Partisan: Kane named Kamehameha trustee

Kane, who has worked closely with Kamehameha Schools officials to set up charter schools on DHHL land, also said he's impressed by the direction the estate has taken under Chief Executive Officer Dee Jay Mailer's guidance to expand its educational programs for Hawaiian children.

As the head of the DHHL since 2002, Kane has expanded the number of homes built by the department for Native Hawaiians.

He is a former chairman of the Hawai'i Republican Party and served as the party's executive director. He also has worked as government affairs liaison for the Building Industry Association of Hawai'i.

(As goes KSBE so goes Hawaii???)

Gov Lingle: STATEMENT

“I’m very happy that Micah has been selected as a Kamehameha Schools trustee. I have worked closely with Micah for the past 11 years, and have watched him develop into one of Hawai‘i’s finest and most respected leaders. He has the skills and experience, combined with the heart and compassion, to serve as a trustee of this valued organization that is of such great importance to Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike.
“I am confident that Micah will do an outstanding job carrying out the will of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop in overseeing the governance of Kamehameha Schools, which is among the most important institutions for perpetuating Hawaiian culture for future generations while preparing Hawaiian students for the 21^st century.”

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HA: Hawaii notifies state workers of layoffs list

The Lingle administration would not disclose how many workers are targeted, but Gov. Linda Lingle has said she may have to lay off 2,500 workers under her direct control because of the state's budget deficit. Workers in several departments — including Agriculture, Health, Human Services, Labor and Industrial Relations, and Business, Economic Development and Tourism — reported being notified.

Lingle said the list of employees who may be laid off will be sent to the public-sector labor unions on Monday morning.

SBs Union Hack version of same story: Lingle accused of scare tactics

Randy Perreira, executive director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, said verbal layoff notices -- in some instances by a recorded phone message -- were improper because the union was not given prior notice.

"The way she's handling this process is just shameless," Perreira (an expert on shamelessness) said yesterday at a news conference. "She ostensibly is using this as a way to try to force and coerce the unions into agreeing with the plans that she's putting forth."

Gov. Lingle statement:

The State will be sending out consultation letters to the unions Monday morning, listing the names of employees who may be subjected to a reduction in force.

The State believes it was appropriate to first inform the affected employees directly before simply putting their names on a list to the union, rather than having them learn from someone else.

We strongly believe that letting the affected employees know first was the absolute right thing to do.

I apologize that employees in one department were notified by recorded message.

State unemployment stable

Hawai'i's unemployment rate didn't increase in June, staying at 7.4 percent for a second straight month.

But economists said not to put too much faith in the numbers, or think unemployment is letting up.

"A layoff of 5,000 workers raises the unemployment by 8 percent and that's how much Gov. Lingle's 14 percent pay cut equals to," Boyd said.

Elections office has no funds for 2010 voting

After paying for salaries and contracts, the office had $166,209 left, but $113,346 was taken in cuts that reflected the money that would have been saved by state furloughs, Cronin explained. That remaining balance of $52,863 was reduced when the administration took money that would have gone to reimburse the counties for 2008 election work.

Telescope site decision is near

The decision on whether to build a $1.2 billion telescope observatory atop Mauna Kea or in a desert in Chile will be determined by a board starting Monday.

(How much will OHA get?)

Council actions may be voided

HILO -- West Hawaii Today on Thursday asked a judge to stop the Hawaii County Council from taking any more official actions until a court can decide if council members broke the Sunshine Law when they met behind the scenes to restructure the council.

Hoffmann to propose voluntary pay cuts

Hoffmann said he'll propose each of the nine lawmakers voluntarily accept at least a $5,000 yearly wage reduction.

West Hawaii DoE Schools: 80% falter in No Child Left Behind assessments

Eighty percent of West Hawaii schools didn't make the grade.

Students will pay more for lunch

Tens of thousands of Hawaii public school students will be paying 76 percent more for their lunches starting Jan. 1. (So DoE desk jockeys can keep their jobs.)

MAUI WIPEOUT: Recession hurts nonprofits

Maui County nonprofits are using various strategies - including furloughs, agency partnerships and greater use of federal funding - to bridge the gap between a rising demand for their services and dwindling sources of funding.

Nonprofit directors report it's all part of a new reality for agencies serving as the community's safety net, trying to do more with less as the islands cope with the ongoing recession.

B&B, TVR tax category gets final approval

WAILUKU - With one vote against, the County Council on Friday gave final approval to a bill establishing a real property tax category for bed-and-breakfasts and transient vacation rentals - "commercialized residential property" in legalese.

The tax rate for the new category will be set by the council later. The ordinance gives the director of finance the authority to change the classification for properties that have B&B, TVR or conditional transient vacation rental permits.

Owners whose properties are put in the category will lose their $300,000 homeowner's tax exemption.

RELATED: SB Editorial--"Don't delay short term rental bill"

Kawaiaha'o Church Responds to Kawananakoa Complaint

HONOLULU, HAWAII—Kawaiaha‘o Church leaders have reviewed the complaint dated July 15, 2009, which was also filed against various government officials, regarding construction done at the Kawaiaha’o Church Cemetery to build the church’s Multi-purpose Center.

While we disagree with many of the allegations in her complaint, the church agrees with Ms. Kawananakoa that Kawaiaha‘o Cemetery is a cemetery.

(Church elders should be careful here. "Cemetery" is a key legal designation in OHA's latest scam to steal property.)

HA: Illegal dumping at Waianae landfill being investigated

Foster says he established an agreement with a DHHL land agent in early 2005 to collect rubbish on Hawaiian Home Lands property in Wai'anae Valley and move it to the area of the illegal dump site. Foster, who has documents that appear to support his claim, says he did the work for free in his off hours as a way of helping rid the community of unsightly rubbish.

A document dated Jan. 21, 2009, and signed by a DHHL representative states that Foster has permission to take "illegally dumped material" from an address on Haleahi Road — the location of the illegal dump — to the PVT Landfill, and indicates to the landfill operators that the bill for any charges should be submitted to the "State of Hawaii DHHL."

Hawaii Superferry moving to Norfolk, Virginia

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said the military wants to lease two high-speed ferries to fill the gap before the first of 10 transport vessels are completed starting in 2011.