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Saturday, May 25, 2013
May 25, 2013 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 5:28 PM :: 4119 Views

Census looks at 2012 Elections: Hawaii Worst Voter Registration, 2nd Worst Voter Participation

Castle & Cooke moving forward with Lanai ‘Big Wind’ project

PBN: A Castle & Cooke spokesman told PBN that the company remains committed to addressing the reduction of foreign oil and that the Lanai wind farm and Mililani Solar Park are projects it continues to pursue.

“Both projects are key components in reaching the state’s renewable energy objectives,” the spokesman said....

In January, Castle & Cooke’s planned project on Lanai was ranked 13th in Hawaii on the State Energy Office list, which was up five spots from 18th in the previous list.

In March, sources told me that a Hawaii cultural surveying firm, had been doing archaeological surveys in the area where the wind farm is supposed to be built.

But the surveyors were met by protestors and residents nearby denied them from staying at their homes through the proposed four-day stay, sources said.

The “Big Wind” still appears to be a viable endeavor to Hawaiian Electric Co.

read ... Lookout Lanai

State Targets Hundreds of Small Businesses, Demands $30K

KITV: One operator told us it would mean his registration fee would go from less than $10 a year, to $30,000....proposed rules would also have a far-reaching effect on any commercial activity in the near shore waters....

"We have beach boys that run off the beach. We have boats that come off private facilities.  We have boats that come off state facilities. We have the seven catamarans in Waikiki we have people that come off public access. We hope to address all these activities," Underwood said....

Underwood said the proposed regulations would help in places like the Big Island, where the harbors have maxed out.

"These rules also address activity occurring in boat harbors, and state launch ramps. It's been a work-in-progress for four or five years," Underwood said.

It will affect all commercial kayak companies operating out in Kailua.

And not just companies operating on the water, but underwater too.

Scuba companies will fall under the regulations, as well as all snorkeling, and dolphin tours too.  (Dolphin tours?  There could be an Establishment Clause issue here.)

"These rules will allow us to permit these activities that are occurring in state waters," said Underwood....

The public hearings on the proposed rules will begin later this year.

Where Punatics Come From: Heading to Hawaii for dolphin-assisted birth

read ... State proposing new rules for commercial ocean activity

Star-Adv: Howard Hughes Kakaako Plan Lacks Parking

SA: Hughes must produce a regional traffic impact study, which is crucial. Its plans call eventually for more than 4,000 residential units and more than a million square feet of retail and commercial space. Kamehameha Schools, which intends to add housing units on its 29 acres in Kakaako, plans a 60,000-square-foot retail center, including 20 to 30 shops, restaurants and pubs.

That is a lot of projected additional traffic for the area, so Hughes' current contention that roads here won't need to be widened sounds dubious.

Two rail stations are being planned to run through the area but parking still could be a huge problem, as many residents outside the neighborhood can be expected to visit stores and restaurants. The Aloha Tower Marketplace opened in 1994 without sufficient parking and was followed by futile attempts to fix the shortage.

Hughes' phase one is expected to be done by 2016, assuming that the Hawaii Community Development Authority grants approvals. Two HCDA hearings, the first on June 19

read ... Outside Developers Must provide Parking so KSBE can Get Exemption

Legislature Rejects DoE Strategic Plan, DoE Rejects Legislature

SA: Lawmakers trimmed the DOE's proposed $1.4 billion budget, choosing not to fund various initiatives and operations, including money for school accreditations, auditing staff and a phased plan to provide all students with laptop computers.

The state budget — which has been sent to Gov. Neil Abercrombie for consideration — includes $1.39 billion in general funds for the DOE in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1....

Kunz said the shortfall isn't "substantial" in the context of the overall budget, but that many of the areas cut are priorities that align with the department's strategic plan....

Schools Superintendent Kathryn Mata­yo­shi assured Board of Education members that the department would stick to the strategic plan in coming up with its budget implementation strategy. (With student achievement at its core, the strategic plan in part outlines targets and reforms to ensure all students graduate ready to succeed in college or careers.)

"We are very clear that the strategic plan is our focus, it's our priority. So when we go through this exercise, we're going to try to figure out how we're going to manage the budget that we have," Mata­yo­shi said. "We will find a way, within the constraints that we have. … It may be painful, but certainly, having a common vision, common strategic plan, common measures with the board assures that the alignment, when it comes to the allocation of resources, is clear."

Kunz said she expects to have a plan ready sometime next month that identifies possible alternative funding sources for high-priority initiatives.

read ... DOE shifts priorities as it faces $7M trim

UH needs oversight structure revamped, union says

SA: J.N. Musto, executive director of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, said the union would like to see a revamped organizational structure in which the UH president becomes chancellor of the 10-campus system and CEO of the Board of Regents, focusing on statewide issues such as the university's operating budget and hiring of individual campus leaders.

"Recent experience and time have only reinforced my belief that such a change should occur, which would significantly change the criteria by which the regents would search for and choose a new UH system chancellor to replace the current president," Musto testified at a regents meeting Friday afternoon.

Under the current system, each campus is led by a chancellor, and the president reports to the Board of Regents. The 15-member board has exclusive jurisdiction over the internal structure, management and operation of the university.

CB: UH Board of Regents Appoints Task Force To Help Find Next President

read ... UHPA

Developer in dispute with Hawaii County links back to top lobbyists

ILind: When Maryland-based developer Unidev LLC decided to enter the Hawaii housing market in mid-2004, they quickly teamed up with a local partnership pulled together by Joe Blanco, a realtor and developer who served as high tech “czar” and special assistant to the governor during the administration of Gov. Ben Cayetano.

Blanco approached several others “to engage in a business with him in helping Defendant Unidev further its business opportunities in the State of Hawaii,” according to a lawsuit filed by Blanco and co-plaintiffs after the partnership soured. In June 2004, though, the partners agreed to the deal “and thereby formed a de facto partnership”.

The partners, who initially expected to be Unidev’s exclusive representative in the islands, were Blanco, his wife, Theresa, businessman John Farias, Jr., and lobbyists Red Morris and John Radcliffe, principals in Capitol Consultants, one of the state’s leading lobbying firms.

read ... UNIDEV

Report: Nearly 13% of Hawaii's bridges are 'structurally deficient'

KITV: The American Society of Engineers released its 2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, which includes some statistics for Hawaii....

The DOT says it would cost approximately $750 million to $1 billion to repair or replace all state bridges to current standards.

Read ... About something the State doesn't spend money on

Homeless shelter director accused of mistreating Bedbugs

HNN: The letter also accuses her of ordering residents to throw out belongings, pointing to mattresses and other items stacked outside....

Plancencia said the units are being refurnished and cleaned. The items outside are unusable or infested by roaches and bed bugs.

"If they were broken, if they were infested, we broke them down and we put them out next to our storage container," she said....

A number of residents interviewed for this story spoke highly of Placencia, but did complain about the anonymous accuser.

"They don't want the help from this building. The complaining people, to me that's the people that no need be here," Jay Ortiz said.

"What people got to realize is this is a shelter," Lizares said. "They're here to help us, not to help us stay here a long time."

The shelter receives close to $700,000 in annual state funding.

In a statement, the Department of Human Services said, "The DHS Housing Program Office responded immediately to the May 20, 2013 complaint, and is currently investigating the residents' concerns. Fact-finding includes speaking with the agency and its staff, its board, shelter residents, the complainant, and anyone who could add insight into the concerns raised in the complaint."

...She will state her case before the state's Homeless Programs administrator next week.

read ... Anonymous Complaint

Disbarred Libel Lawyer Got Fake Law Degree from Fake Hawaii School

CN:  the Daily Mail reported in June 2012 that Mireskandari had faked his legal qualifications from a mail-drop university in Hawaii, concealed criminal convictions, and bilked his clients.

That investigation was the catalyst for Mireskandari's eventual disbarment from the English legal system, the Mail reported on March 27 this year.

The Mail claims that Mireskandari took a "leading role" in a fraudulent telemarketing business in Ventura in the early 1990s.

Background: Debunking Carter-Ruck's defense of Iraqi billionaire tied to Rezko and Obama

Who This Guy Is: Vaz's crooked race lawyer pal struck off: Victory for the Mail as conman is found guilty of 104 breaches of rules

DCCA: Complete Rundown on fake 'American University of Hawaii'

read ... Libel Tourism

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