Entries for April 2023

... it finally became clear which big-ticket items were going to make it to the governor’s desk for signing — or hit the cutting room floor ....

... Grassroot Institute in the news ....

... Making Hawaii’s county property tax systems more simple is the best way Hawaii’s counties can provide tax relief ....

... After deferring the measure multiple times, WAM amended the bill to add two new provisions:  a section allowing tax credits for building a film studio, and a section making extensive amendments to the administration of the existing production credit.  This was done without the benefit of a public hearing ....

... bills introduced and votes cast in Congress ....

... MAY 4 – ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE ....

... I am confident that HTA can continue to operate with roughly $30 million of unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds ....

... Solemsaas’ last day on campus is scheduled for June 30, 2023 ....

... set for Saturday at Aala Park ....

"EPA Region 9 Must Continue Oversight Throughout the Decontamination and Closure of the Red Hill Facility"

... drag queens may experience difficulty when reaching out to vulnerable children in the projects ....

... $101.7 million investment in the Hawaiʻi Subsea Middle Mile Program to address the subsea cable infrastructure needed to provide high-speed internet access to the islands ....

... toward upgrades to infrastructure to mitigate the risk of the hospital's closure ....

... Ninety-two percent of the nearly 7,000 valid ballots cast approved the contract ....

... The fight over control of the Maui County Republican Party provides a preview for the Upcoming Hawaii GOP State Convention set for May 5-6, 2023, in BJ Penn’s hometown of Hilo ....

... Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is hosting events across the state in May to discuss how key measures fared at the Legislature this year ....

... A final version of the State Budget Bill (HB300 CD1) was approved last night by Senate and House conferees ....

" ... I am so proud that a fellow Windward girl, hailing from the homesteads of Waimanalo, has earned the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar ...."

... Thompson admitted he violated the Conflicts of Interests law on fifteen occasions. He further admitted that he violated the Financial Disclosure law by failing to disclose his positions on the boards ....

... Souza has tried time and time again to create division and discord within our caucus ever since she was not elected by our members as the minority leader ....

... The Energy Star recognition comes after the City completed Phase 1 of its energy and water-saving Performance Contract at 10 municipal buildings, including the Fasi Building ....

... A dramatic reading of “Seven” will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the ProArts Playhouse in Kīhei ....

... DLNR police taking on organized crime ....

... An argument that the wasteful law violates the Constitution's Port Preference Clause ....

... Moving the fuel from Red Hill using international ships would cost $36 million, but $66 million using Jones Act tankers, Case said to Mayorkas in a letter ....

... The overall tax burden in Hawaii, which is a measure of taxes paid as a share of annual income, was 9.2% of the state's income per capita of $60,947, second only to Vermont ....

... In Waikiki, Lahaina, and Kihei, 10,000s of hotel condo units were built as STRs in the 1980s and 1990s long before anybody ever heard of AirBnB and long before the recent housing inflation.  'Removing all STRs' would include stripping these units of their rights.  You are not supposed to notice this fatuous little trick, but now you have ....

... homebuilders say multi-unit projects could be more profitable, but there are just too many rules, regulations and delays to make it worth the effort ....

... testimony submitted during the past week includes ....

... Following the reporter’s appeal to OIP, PSD provided a new estimate of $290 ....

... bills introduced and votes cast in Congress ....

... April 21, 2023 was the deadline for any proposed constitutional amendment’s final form ....

... people often make inaccurate assumptions about what OIP is and what it does ....

... Hawaii was called out by the nonprofit newsroom ProPublica in 2022 for letting TANF money gather dust in some dark corner instead of putting it to use helping families and children ....

... to identify the natural persons behind shell companies used in non-financed purchases of residential real estate ....

... “Dead Bodies, Convicted Felons and Kakaako Makai: Meet the new Gang at OHA” ....

... Jobs increased by 22,900 year-over-year ....

... The Plaintiffs—a non-profit corporation called “For Our Rights” and five residents of Kauaʻi—sought monetary damages, claiming that Gov. Ige violated their due process rights ....

... House and Senate conferees began negotiations today on judiciary measures relating to fraud, fictitious claims, and campaign funds ....

... Not all of Gov. Josh Green’s proposed tax cuts survived lawmakers’ scrutiny this session, but enough are still alive to be optimistic....

... If Hawaii’s politicians aren’t careful, they might kill the goose that lays the golden egg .... 

... a policy toolkit for county lawmakers seeking to offset spiking property assessments ....

... Hawai`i and Kaua`i counties realized 20 and 10 percent increases respectively in total homelessness driven largely by increases in unsheltered homelessness, while Maui declined five percent overall ....

... He says waivers are needed to assure full, dependable and cost-effective availability of the ten oceangoing fuel tankers called for under Defense Department’s proposed defueling plan ....

... that’s an area larger than Alaska and Colorado put together ....

... Marine Corps Base Hawaii have devoted “millions” to clearing out invasive mangrove species and partnered with environmental groups, such as the local Sierra Club chapter, to shovel out the aggressive plants ....

... Dewatering is expected to last through April 21 ....

... Rodenhurst was just elected as the 2nd Vice President of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.  He can probably be arrested at the next Board meeting ....

... 300 square feet, smallest in USA ....

... the Fish and Wildlife Service has until June 30, 2028 to officially designate habitats for 46 of the 49 species. The ‘Akē‘akē, or band-rumped storm petrel, the anchialine pool shrimp and Baker’s loulu palm tree have a separate deadline of June 30, 2027 ....