Entries for June 2018

...The HawaiiPay project is helping the state to replace its mainframe payroll system that is more than 50 years old with a single integrated software system called PeopleSoft....

...according to the 2018 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released June 27 by the Annie E. Casey Foundation....

...Gay Cakes or Muslim Ban?....

... Fines in excess of $236,000—still accruing at $1000 a day—and a lawsuit--are forcing into the open a 13-year battle over alleged violations of numerous State and County permitting and land use laws on a Huelo, Maui shoreline property owned by Hawaii Sierra Club Vice Chair and Maui Tomorrow President Lucienne De Naie ....

...The report projects that Hawaii’s economy, measured by real gross domestic product (GDP), will grow at 1.7 percent per year between 2016 and 2045....

...The central Public Land Trust Information System (PLTIS) available only to State and County agencies since January 2015 becomes accessible to anyone June 29, 2018....

...On Wednesday, the Court handed down its decision in Janus v. AFSCME....

...On May 16, three vehicles transported homeless individuals from Chinatown to the Waianae Civic Center as reported by the executive director of the city’s housing office.  On June 13, the director used a city van to take two people and their dog to the Waianae Civic Center during outreach efforts in Ala Moana Park, Waikiki and Old Stadium Park....  

...Copeland staged a burglary of his Pearl City home and reported jewelry, cash, liquor and electronics were missing...the keys to his Mercedes as well as the vehicle itself were missing. It was later reported burning nearby....

...The “public lodging bill” would make it illegal to lodge on a public sidewalk or other public areas if shelter facilities are available....

...The island of Hawai‘i realized growth in visitor spending despite a drop in visitor arrivals (-1.6%) in May year-over-year....

...Gov. Ige submitted the request for reconsideration on June 13. It was based on the identification of additional damages resulting from the disaster....

...36.9% of State and Local Revenues come from the GE Tax....

...Two Trustees Accused Of Minor Misspending Could Actually Be Key To Stopping All Misspending At OHA....

...“This is the biggest victory for workers’ rights in a generation.”....

...“On multiple occasions, I’ve observed them watching movies or TV shows.  Usually they are sitting around looking unoccupied. Approximately two weeks ago, it was reported to me by a staff member who came in early that they observed all three SWP staff on shift asleep.”....

...The list can be used by the public, property owners, realtors and the County for a quick determination about whether short-term occupancy – defined by the county as fewer than 180 days – is allowed without a permit....

...What do volcanoes, trade wars, and housing bubbles have to do with each other? These are just a few of the economic topics with which many of Hawaii's policymakers are woefully unfamiliar....

...“If we win California that should take care of Hawaii”....

...The survey generally excludes properties with under 20 lodging units, such as small bed and breakfasts, youth hostels, single-family vacation rentals, cottages, individually rented vacation condominiums....

..."This ruling is also a moment of profound vindication following months of hysterical commentary from the media and Democratic politicians who refuse to do what it takes to secure our border and our country."....

...The true story of the January 13, 2018 Hawaii missile alert, told by the people who lived it....

...Hawaii Governor May Veto Bill Expanding Hotel Tax....

...HI-EMA is inviting the community to three open houses as it updates the Hawai’i State Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, which addresses ways to reduce the impact of natural hazards on the State....

...The Hawaii County Elections Division will begin mailing absentee ballots on June 25, 2018 to voters originally assigned to Pahoa Community Center, 04-03, and Pahoa High/Intermediate School, 04-04....

...“Caring for Our Homeless Keiki: Some Things to Consider” this coming Tuesday, June 26 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Makiki Christian Church, 829 Pensacola St....

...The Hawai'i Sierra Club has 20,000 members....

...The union dues case, Janus v. AFSCME, is the latest challenge to a 1977 precedent called Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, which allows public sector unions to collect fees from non-members....

...when our Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) was adopted in 1986, vocal and strident opposition from the Neighbor Islands and from the tourist industry was quelled by promises that the TAT would only be needed to fund the convention center....

...On Thursday, he introduced a bill that would even the playing field for taxis, to help bring their business model into the 21st century....

...This rate decrease reflects the impacts of the recently enacted federal “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”....

...despite Hawaii’s new e-commerce law in anticipation of the court ruling, local tax attorneys caution the state could still face legal challenges in collecting those taxes because of its unique tax structure and what now look like flaws in signed legislation....

...Assistant Secretary Domenech presented the signed grant award to Larry Raigetal of Waa’gey who accepted the grant award on behalf of the recipient organization Habele....

...Fracking does not take place on Hawaii’s Big Island, but that is far from the only problem with this absurd conspiracy theory….

...Give us $1.55B and we’ll create 80,000 jobs.  Promise!  —uh--just like we did last time when you gave us $2B....

... That is over 6 times the annual budget of the Honolulu C & C ....

...in some fields like Personal Care & Service and Food Preparation & Serving, Hawaii residents are left with debts ranging from $8,000 to $9,000.... 

...The film generated more than $31 million in local economic activity and contributed more than $6.9 million in wages to over 1,200 local workers....

...Local 5 represents approximately 11,000 workers throughout Hawaii who work in the hospitality, health care and food service industries....

...Fast forward two years ... Rail is nowhere near Middle Street, yet utility work past Middle Street has been authorized....

...the variability of solar and wind power makes the system-wide costs grow considerably as their share of the power mix rises....

...Hawaii spent the second-lowest share of its own dollars on Medicaid in 2016....

...All Who Have Been Promised Land From The State Should Get It & Now....

...Caldwell said at a news conference that rather than require ride-hailing drivers to abide by long-held taxi rules, cabbies should be freed from their constraints and allowed to operate like their Uber and Lyft counterparts....

...NOTE: Tourism is an export—WalletHub seems to have missed this....

...FCC action is the final regulatory approval....

...17.6% of State and Local government revenue comes from property taxes in Hawaii....

...The university is proceeding with the administrative rules process for public and commercial activities on Maunakea....

...The recent deaths of three critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals on O‘ahu due to toxoplasmosis is very sad and could have been entirely preventable....

...National Beer Wholesalers Association launches 'Delivering Local Jobs'; Tells story of independent beer distributors in Hawaii....