Entries for August 2011

"...the Owner has filed for bankruptcy protection, which will permit it to continue the operation of the hotel under its present management with Modern Management Services."

"A serious run for U.S. Congress will require more than $1 million in campaign funds. Your early support will help us to kick this campaign off right."

Hawaii Right to Life is excited to announce that we have adopted a new trade name, Aloha Life Advocates.

After an overnight raid last Sunday seizing control of the Waikiki EDITION from Marriott International, Inc., the owners of the hotel were ordered by a New York state judge to return the hotel to Marriott's control as of 8:30 p.m. today eastern time, which is 2:30 p.m. Honolulu time.

A U.S. government gun-trafficking investigation gone horribly wrong has resulted in the death of a U.S. Border Patrol officer, some 2,000 firearms in the hands of criminals, and the dismissal of a 24-year veteran law enforcement official. This is the story of Fast and Furious....

We don't know if HGEA was threatened by the Governor's negotiators as we were. We were told that if we didn't go along with the Governor we would face the layoff 800 teachers and "nasty things would happen" to teachers at work. 

...nominations for the following four (4) seats on the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents (BOR): City and County of Honolulu, Kauaʻi County, At Large and Student.... 

Today, we filed the Reply Brief in the case that asks: after Kelo, when is eminent domain pretextual?

As someone who’s ... listened to the counsel and concerns of friends and strangers alike, I’ve decided that I can best contribute to the future of our islands and make a difference in the lives of our people and nation, by seeking to serve in Congress.

“I am proud to have Charles’ support,” said Mitt Romney. “He has been an advocate for lower taxes, getting spending under control, and creating the right environment for job creation. In addition to his legislative service, Charles serves his country and I am honored to have his support.”

Sometime next week—we don't quite know when—President Barack Obama is due to announce his latest jobs plan ....

For someone seeking the Democratic Gubernatorial nomination, Mufi Hannemann’s campaign sure has a lot of current or former Republicans among its leadership.  In fact, Mufi’s GOP connections lead straight to the Bush family—the locus of Democrat seething and hatred for eight years....

...Since September 11, 2001, at least 40 Islamist-inspired terror plots aimed at the United States have been thwarted....

Lucrative state and federal contracts funded by American taxpayer dollars should not be awarded to companies doing business with a regime that is aggressively pursuing a nuclear weapons program, training and supplying weapons to terrorists who are killing U.S. troops, and engaging in egregious human rights abuses inside its own borders.

Today’s scheduled time for the Route C Country Express service of TheBus from Kapolei Transit Center to Ala Moana Center during the rush hour varies from 44 to 58 minutes and averages 52 minutes.

While the U.S. is dumping billions of dollars into wind farms and onshore and offshore wind turbines, this energy source is being cast aside as a failure elsewhere in the world.

In a dramatic move, the owners of the Waikiki Edition in Hawaii said Sunday that in the early morning hours they installed new management and changed the signs and locks on the hotel to reflect a new name, the Modern Honolulu. The changes were made in spite of a contract that allows Marriott to run the hotel as an Edition for 30 years.

As the effects of the storm continue with "epic" flooding being reported in Vermont, pundits and politicians alike are already calculating its implications on government policy....

The Battleship Missouri Memorial will commemorate the 66th anniversary of the end of World War II with a free ceremony on Friday, Sept. 2, 2011, from 8 to 9 a.m., on the Mighty Mo’s forward main deck. 

Nearly one of every 10 midsized or big employers expects to stop offering health coverage to workers after insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014 as part of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul....

A religious-discrimination lawsuit involving the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is taking a giant step forward this week, with a federal judge demanding a response from the Obama administration....

“The only place you’ve gone is to the Labor Board and you’ve put in one motion after another to even keep the Labor Board from being able to make a decision.” (said Abercrombie)…

One quick fix being touted by the administration to create the jobs America needs and so desperately wants is a continuance of the employment tax holiday....

Informational briefings will be held on Friday and Monday. A ratification vote is scheduled for next Thursday.

Cheating on tests is paying off big for the Hawaii Department of Education. The DoE has admitted--touted even--its effort to organize a cadre of part-time teachers to provide test answers to students statewide.

“the key driver of increasing state and local expenditures is health-care costs, especially Medicaid and subsidies for health-insurance exchanges under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009.”

How conservative are Hawaii’s Senators and Congresswomen?

Four endangered waterbirds, the Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian coot, and Hawaiian stilt are known to exist in wetland locations adjacent to the proposed project site, and they are at risk of ... collisions with wind turbine generators....mitigation will include the development and testing of a self-resetting cat trap....

Corrected version of UH News Release....

“We have a comprehensive housing policy in Hawai'i that includes repairing and building public housing units where people feel safe in their community and proud of their home,” Governor Abercrombie said.

Washington, D.C., led the nation in economic confidence during the first half of 2011 with the only positive Economic Confidence Index score (+11) in the U.S....

A new report from the Department of Energy ... shows that "renewable" energy firms are heavily dependent on government support....

Myths about the dire effects of genetically modified foods on health and the environment abound, but they have not held up to scientific scrutiny. These crop modification methods are not dangerous.

The energy from hydrofracking can transform the U.S. energy outlook for a century. Let's not allow groundless fears to destroy our future....

"What’s All the Fuss About International Building Codes?” will be the topic of the August meeting of the Conservative Forum for Hawaii. The public is invited to the free forum on Sunday, 28 August, 2:00pm at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort’s Polynesian Room, Banyan Dr, Hilo.

...Americans' confidence in the economy is sitting at its lowest point since March 2009, and in every state in the country, a vast majority of Americans see the economy as getting worse. Meanwhile, the number of people claiming new jobless benefits rose again last week....

...the Honolulu Star-Advertiser filed a Complaint asking the circuit court to order the Governor to publicly release the list of judicial nominees presented to him by the Judicial Selection Commission, now that the Hawaii Senate has consented to the Governor's appointment of Justice McKenna....

Perkins allegedly entered the home three times between August 11 and August 16, 2011. He is accused of verbally threatening the man once and leaving behind a threatening note on another occasion.

the U.S. Senate presents an unusual opportunity ... This decision is ... not a sacrifice....

...this is an opportune time for me to announce my decision to transition out of my role as chancellor during July 2012, to allow sufficient time to complete a search for a new chancellor....

Just 25% of Hawaii employers are adding jobs, another 15% are laying off ....

Military programs...have already been targeted for a minimum of $350 billion in cuts over 10 years, with the possibility of $600 billion more if the Super Committee fails to agree on other areas to cut — a strong possibility given Washington’s well-known gridlock.

...the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is becoming distracted by responding to routine natural disasters instead of preparing for catastrophic natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions....

Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of terrorist Hamas founder and leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef, will be speaking at Calvary Chapel Honolulu, 98-1016 Komo Mai Drive, Aiea -- Wednesday at 630PM.

As the only qualified offeror, SCOA’s decision not to appeal should in no way be interpreted as loss of interest. To the contrary, SCOA will remain ready to fulfill its commitments should the City not be able to proceed with Ansaldo due to any problems that might prevent them from fulfilling their offer.

Abercrombie today issued an Executive Memorandum on the Hawai'i Broadband Initiative and directed DCCA and DBEDT to lead the effort....

Horizon Lines Inc. (HRZ), the shipper negotiating a debt restructuring with its lenders, missed an Aug. 15 interest payment on its $330 million of convertible notes....

On Friday, the NY Times printed a harsh assessment of the state of the "green" economy—including a conclusion that the President's promise to create five million green jobs over 10 years has proven to be nothing more than "a pipe dream"....