Entries for December 2014

Our former Governor and the Legislature should not have created a law that mandated an issue that was OHA’s kuleana....

Total expenditures by visitors who came to the Hawaiian Islands in November 2014 increased 3.4 percent to $1.1 billion, compared to last November....

Hawaii State Auditor rejects proposals for unnecessary regulation of professionals....

Where the 'Recycled' Glass Goes? -- Busted: Hee Family Tied to Massive Waste Dumping Scheme....

In Hawaii, its power company is trying to get a $55 fixed monthly charge, which is double its current fee....

Seventeen funds and accounts did not meet criteria....

...leasing solar panels from a third party may be a harmful investment for homeowners....

The deadline to apply is February 20, 2015....

This report presents annual statistics on social, business and economic trends for the State and each of its four counties, from 1990 to 2013....

UPDATE Dec 31: Rep Beth Fukumoto Chang has been elected Minority Leader and Rep Andria Tupola has been elected Floor Leader....

The balancing of million-dollar mortgages on inverse absolutes--paradise and illegality--produces a hyper-sensitive fear-and-hate-inspired psychology....

...“policy measures and costs impacting small business and entrepreneurship.”....

As marijuana legalization took hold in Colorado, the estimated percentage of regular cannabis users in the state jumped to the second-highest level in the country....

...Dr. George J. Petruncio described the cuts as a “bait and switch” move....

“Serving on your Neighborhood Board presents the opportunity to create real change in your community, build a legacy, and network with other leaders.”

...I was finally forced to file a lawsuit against OHA in September 2013 to make it more transparent.  Now that a new leadership team is in place, this lawsuit may no longer be necessary....

Comey said he is concerned that in the wake of Snowden’s “so called revelations,” Americans “healthy skepticism” of government powers will turn to cynicism....

Jobie Masagatani will be retained at DHHL, William Aila will be her Deputy....

Given the intrinsic benefits of open government, we ask that you begin your Administration by facilitating public access to government records....

City streetlights consume approximately $6 million in electricity annually and the switch to LED is projected to save roughly $3 million in energy costs each year....

WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2014’s Best & Worst College Cities & Towns in America....

“Serving on your Neighborhood Board presents the opportunity to create real change in your community, build a legacy, and network with other leaders.”

It's all about the big money projects that OHA has no business getting into in the first place....

The statutory standards for an original jurisdiction action in the Hawaii Supreme Court challenging the outcome of an election are pretty rigorous.... 

...these units would account for up to 25 percent of Hawai‘i’s total lodging inventory. In comparison, hotels units make up approximately 50 percent of visitor accommodations....

The study did note three positives: a low corporate capital gains tax; low property taxes and low wireless taxes....

Despite being unemployed and residing in a homeless shelter, Mr. Rios applied to be a foster parent, and was deemed fit to serve as one by DHS....

Then-Senator David Ige was a key supporter of the universal coverage plan in 2009, but whether he’ll pick up the cause as Governor is unclear....

Montreal-based CGI Group Inc. will be awarded another year-long state maintenance contract despite the ongoing problems with the site....

Host Representative Gene Ward discusses the legislature with Representatives Andria Tupola and Feki Pouha....

"We will spend public funds wisely to avoid raising taxes."

ILWU slowdown tactics have reduced productivity at Pacific Northwest ports for more than a month and a half....

West Loch, Waipahu Transit Center and Leeward Community College stations....

Are strong families essential for a free society?

...how many workers commute in and out of the area on a typical workday? ....

Monday, December 29, 2014, 9:00 AM, Conference Room 329, State Capitol....

Senate: Confirmation of Vivek Hallegere Murthy to be Surgeon General....

The attack on Sony Pictures and threats to the movie industry cannot be tolerated, one of the nation’s leading security experts says....

"...Defendants, pursuant to Hawaii law, selected this appointee through a process that ignores the Seventeenth Amendment...."

Recently he made news by publicly saying he absolutely won’t pay his U.S. taxes....

The problem has also affected other restaurant chains, as a dockworker dispute on the West Coast of the United States has reverberated across the Pacific Ocean....

“Serving on your Neighborhood Board presents the opportunity to create real change in your community, build a legacy, and network with other leaders.” 

This report does not make any substantive recommendations to the Legislature related to innovations that should be included in a waiver proposal....

...The latest installment in the UHERO dashboard project is packed with information on the cost of travel to Hawaii from the US mainland....

Including indirect and induced benefits and adjusting for inter-county feedback and spillover effects, the astronomy sector had a total impact of $167.86 million statewide....