First Amendment

The Honolulu City Ethics Commission has just adopted a new policy that minimizes government transparency....

...it is instructive to note the ways in which marriage and “same-sex marriage” remain distinctly unequal in those states that already have extended recognition to same-sex couples....

...we must work to protect the freedom of speech, association and religion of those who continue to abide by the truth of marriage as union of man and woman....

On college campuses fear of offending people now trumps the fear of losing free speech....

Bumpy Kanahele got paid.  Walter Ritte did not.  Note to Next movie maker: Pay Ritte and avoid these problems... or don't pay any of them and reap the free publicity....  decisions, decisions.... 

...Grassroot Institute held an expert panel on the issue of transparency and government secrecy in Hawaii....

Ige signed the bill authorizing that final payment this week....

Several of Hawaii's campaign-finance laws challenged by a construction firm are not unconstitutional, the 9th Circuit ruled....

...a system designed to protect secrets and keep the public uninformed....

Students for a Free Tibet has launched a global “Say No to China’s Confucius Institutes” campaign....

In 1991, my father died of AIDS. None of my father’s partners/ex-partners are still alive....

...Memories Pizza isn’t an isolated incident.... Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich was forced to step down... In January, Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran was fired ....

...county and state salary and overtime records, as well as retirement, health insurance, budgetary, and other data....

...What Rhoads is proposing, together with the Attorney General’s Office, is a setback for hard won court cases by the news media over the past 30 years....

At 6:10 a.m. Thursday (February 26), Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of a fire at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Captain Cook....

The problems were partly due to mismanagement but even more, as I have suggested, to the dishonesty of the leadership and its willingness — even eagerness — to shamelessly lie to its own employees....

...While the FCC is inserting government bureaucracy into all aspects of Internet access, the FEC is debating whether to regulate Internet content, specifically political speech posted for free online....

...“coexist,” written on a wall using a Muslim crescent as the letter “C,” a Star of David as the letter “X,” and a Christian cross as a “T.”....

...the appointment of James “Duke” Aiona as interim executive director will strengthen the organization’s ability to speak for families across the state....

“Islamophobic is a word created by fascists, and used by cowards, to manipulate morons....”

Merritt and Anthony are prepared to speak about their case publicly, which will be the first time they are able to do this in Hawaii....

"As of Jan. 19, I will be working with Fox News Channel as an investigative reporter from its Los Angeles bureau"

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

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

"Lindsey’s request for censorship is denied."

Hawaii remains at the bottom of the list for voter registration and turnout....

...ordered by the college administration to stop handing out copies of the Constitution on Constitution Day....

“The only thing these churches have done is serve the schools and bring great benefit to their surrounding communities. They don’t deserve to be dragged through court any longer by two people who are seeking financial gain by attacking these congregations.”

Honolulu City Lights will celebrate three decades of tree lightings and holiday fun on Saturday, Dec. 6, starting at 6 p.m. at Honolulu Hale....

In a victory for free speech, the University of Hawaii (UH) agreed today to settle a First Amendment lawsuit filed by two students at UH’s Hilo....

...Virtual Takings: The Coming Fifth Amendment Challenge to Net Neutrality Regulation....

“But they all kissed the ring because they wanted his money.”

Omidyar...seemed not to realize what he had gotten into....

Maui Weekly competed with Maui Time which continues to publish an independent bi-weekly print newspaper on Maui....

Ministers face a 180-day jail term and $1,000 fine for each day they decline to celebrate the same-sex wedding....

...a statement agreeing that the IRS should not control the content of a pastor’s sermon....

...Kahle and Huber moved from Hawaii to Norton Shores (MI) last year....

The TRO prohibits Hawaii County from interfering with Plaintiff Justin Guy’s right to hold a sign (saying “Homeless Please Help”) by the side of the road....

...Plaintiffs call settlement “A win for freedom of speech”....

Case to be heard by Judge Mollway on Friday, 9/19/14, 9 a.m....

...the City and County of Honolulu condemned an undeveloped lot in rural Oahu for a fire station, but has been met with staunch resistance....

Applications must be received by this Friday, August 29 before 4:30 p.m. at the Mission Memorial Building next to Honolulu Hale, 550 South King St....

Grassroot President Keli’i Akina sits down with Andrew Walden, Founder and Editor of Hawai'i Free Press....

We strongly encourage you to make direct contact with your candidates and find out if they represent your values....

Grassroot President Keli’i Akina sits down with attorney Jim Hochberg, President of Hawai’i Family Advocates to  explore the meaning of  religious freedom....

The pitch of public controversy surrounding cultural issues...can give the impression that we live in an intractably divided society with incompatible differences.  But the Hobby Lobby decision suggests that such a tone is overwrought....

Schatz is among several Senate Democrats trying to counter the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Hobby Lobby case....