Entries for January 2012

This grassroots environmental organization consists of a membership representing all 50 states. This is the first time one of the members has been spotlighted in "The Green Elephant".

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity invites everyone to upcoming informational meetings, especially families who are interested in applying for a simple, decent Habitat home....

George Soros, a billionaire investor and major backer of President Obama, stands to reap a windfall from legislation promoting natural gas-powered vehicles. The White House unveiled a proposal on Thursday that would do just that....

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012
• House: Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011
• House: Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2011
• House: Baseline Reform Act of 2011

a reader draws our attention to some 2010 online comments allegedly by HB2288 co-sponsor Rep Joey Manahan....

Kailua and Kaneohe are implementing a bus transit center, and this bill would abolish all land use controls and building codes within a quarter-mile of the transit center....

Progressives continue to panic over Gabbard candidacy ....

In Honolulu there's a four-bedroom home priced at $785,000 that has views of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. The beaches of Waikiki are 15-minutes away.  Starting this month, the property is available to buyers with a subprime credit score, limited cash reserves and a 3.5 percent down payment ....

Earlier this week, Stimulus beneficiary Evergreen Energy bit the dust. Then, Ener1, a manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles and recipient of Stimulus largesse, filed for bankruptcy. Amonix, Inc., a manufacturer of solar panels that received $5.9 million from the Porkulus, will cut two-thirds of its workforce....

Some people actually believe the Sun has nothing to do with the temperature.... 

things have not changed at the State Capitol....

We hope to see you Sunday in Haleiwa for your 3rd Annual Cacao Festival... bring your appetites!

...these bills are in response to complaints from Kahala residents and news articles about Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto arranging marble and bronze statues across five property lots....

...Thursday, February 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Kapolei Middle School Dining Room/Cultural Center at 91-5335 Kapolei Parkway....

...the release of more than $15.6 million for various projects that invest in the state’s public safety, wastewater, civil defense and communications infrastructure....

Of the measures listed below, the most onerous are House Bill 441, House Bill 834, House Bill 2028 and Senate Bill 2975.

The Judicial Council is seeking interested and qualified applicants to serve on the Hawai`i State Ethics Commission and on the Campaign Spending Commission....

Under the agreement, which is subject to court approval, the company will pay a fine of $1.0 million and donate an additional $500,000 to the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for environmental community service programs....

Tulsi Gabbard’s sudden election-season conversion from pro-life to pro-abortion and from pro-family to pro-gay marriage is more than some Hawaii Progressive Democrats can swallow....

Yesterday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave America a glimpse of the half-trillion dollars in defense spending cuts requested by the Obama Administration ....

• Radical Queer Parenting
• Princess Boys, Two Mommies, and You’re So Gay: Current Issues and LGBT Advocacy in Elementary Schools
• The Artifice of the Nuclear Family 

MRFSS information has been the basis for the regulations that govern recreational catch limits, sizes and seasons....

She filed with the Federal Election Commission on January 25, and she has fulfilled the requirements of the Green Party to seek the nomination....

... labor rates are not the main reason why U.S. shipyards are uncompetitive ....

How many times should your money be taxed? One time? Two times? Three times? Four? Sounds like a ridiculous proposition, but that's the true story of capital gains taxes in America.... 

The state has received over $7 million in SRTS funding since 2005. Unfortunately, most of this funding has not yet been awarded, and Hawaii remains dead last out of all states in the amount obligated....

The Index compares the states in five areas of taxation that impact business: corporate taxes; individual income taxes; sales taxes; unemployment insurance taxes; and taxes on property, including residential and commercial property....

Just about everyone who has spent time around the American criminal justice system will tell you that it is broken....

John Mizuno, a Democratic state legislator in Hawaii, wants to require virtual dossiers to be compiled on state residents: two years' worth of their Internet browsing.

NCTQ tracks and analyzes states' teacher policies, including key areas such as teacher preparation, evaluation, alternative certification and compensation ....

• HB 2288 Relating to Recordkeeping
• Date: Thursday, January 26, 2012
• Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Place: Conference Room 312, State Capitol, 415 South Beretania Street

Collaboration between Native Hawaiians and the American Protestant missionaries resulted in the introduction of Christianity, the creation of the Hawaiian written language, widespread literacy, the promulgation of the concept of constitutional government....

Former Governor Linda Lingle's U.S. Senate campaign is continuing to gain momentum with today's release of her 2011 fourth quarter fundraising numbers, which topped her personal expectations and goal.

"Our goal is to have clear and compelling evidence for the U.S. DOE that shows we have the legal authority to implement these reforms" -- Stephen Schatz

Hawaii students have an average of $15,500 in college debts, ranking 49th in the nation. Hawaii has the lowest proportion of college students with any debt at 38%.

The President says the state of the Union is getting stronger, but he is doing very little to ensure that happens.

On Saturday, January 21, 2012, the Hawaii Republican Party's State Committee elected Ted Liu as our new National Committeeman.

...the Administration is doing what it can to promote closure—or discourage a buyer who does not meet the proper political criterion. Politically incorrect buyers can expect nothing but obstruction from the State....