At the same time we have been working to close the budget gap, we have also been focused on ensuring that funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are used as effectively as possible in order to create jobs for Hawai‘i residents and boost our economy.

The White House has created a system of accountability for the distribution of federal stimulus funds to states. President Obama and his Administration decided the best way to ensure that stimulus funds are put to the best possible use, and for the intended purpose of stimulating the economy and creating jobs, was to use the nation’s governors as conduits for the funds and to hold them accountable for how these funds are used.

Your choices are not easy or pleasant, and they will not be popular, but they are yours to make....either work with me to adopt a version of the budget we have proposed, including $278 million in labor cost savings over the next two years, or resort to massive layoffs and tax increases....

This case challenged the State's title to the ceded lands because the federal government's title, which it transferred to the state at statehood was somehow less than absolute. That argument has now been put to rest: the federal government had "absolute fee" title to the lands ceded to it by the Republic of Hawaii. Statehood is "a uniquely sovereign" event, and means something.

How wrong is the Hawaii State Supreme Court?  Their unanimous decision just got unanimously reversed by the US Supreme Court....How did this case begin?  With OHA suing to block construction of affordable housing.  Why are Hawaiians leaving Hawaii?  Lack of affordable housing. 

“Ed Case doesn’t seem to understand that running for office is not something you haphazardly choose in order to add another notch to your political belt,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain.

If we can prove that there is an unbroken genealogical line of the royal family we can certainly argue that we should be able to govern monies and not be fettered with State administrations and the United States Constitution. 

Four high school robotics teams from Hawai‘i – Maui, McKinley, Moanalua and Waialua High Schools – have earned a spot in the FIRST Robotics World Championship that will be held in Atlanta, Georgia next month.

Honolulu City Councilmember Charles K. Djou (Waikiki, East Honolulu), a candidate for Hawaii’s 1^st Congressional District, welcomed Ed Case’s declaration that he would run against Djou.

"I enjoyed serving with Ed in the State legislature and I know that he has had a difficult time deciding which seat to run for...." 

I'm truly excited at the opportunity to represent Hawai’i's great First Congressional District … from Makapu’u to Mililani, Waikele and Ewa Beach. I've lived and worked in the First half of my life. I represented Mānoa and Makiki for eight years in our state legislature, have crisscrossed the First in two statewide campaigns, and have addressed its needs in Congress. I know the First, and I know I can represent its 600,000 citizens well in Congress.

To my friends in Hawai’i's equally great Second Congressional, where I was born and raised and have spent the other half of my life, and whom I was fiercely proud to represent in Congress for over four years, I look forward to continuing to represent you in D.C. as well. I ask for your continued support.

America's top military officer said on Friday that a rocket North Korea plans to launch next month has a range that could possibly reach Hawaii.

Asked if the North Korean rocket could reach the US states of Hawaii or Alaska, Admiral Mike Mullen told CNN: "In some cases, yes, they could probably get down to Hawaii."

Rallies planned for Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo Wednesday April 15.

Unlike Earth Hour, the purpose Human Achievement Hour is to salute the people who keep the lights on and produce the energy that helps make human achievement possible.  Many organizations and average folks around the world will show their support for human achievement by simply going about their daily lives. 

As was the case with the two previous financial plans the Governor submitted on December 22 and March 4, the Administration’s most current plan balances the budget without further burdening Hawai‘i residents and businesses with general tax increases, without adding to Hawai‘i’s unemployment with layoffs or furloughs of state employees, and without making further cuts to public services or programs.  In addition, the Governor’s plan does not take any money from the counties, such as the Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) or Honolulu County’s general excise rail transit tax. 

By an 18-6 vote, the full Senate defeated a motion to pull the bill from the Senate Judiciary and Government Affairs Committee, where it had stalled after members deadlocked 3-3 on advancing the bill.

The next step will be to get the Chair of the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee, Brian Taniguchi, to hear the bill.  This will be the toughest committee to get Karen’s Law through as there is opposition to the bill with its committee members.

More than 1,000 high school students from Mexico, Philippines and four states, including Hawai‘i, will compete in the tournament that challenges teams of young people to solve a common engineering problem, using a standard kit of parts that includes motors, batteries and a control system – but no instructions.

Of the 34 teams in the tournament, 24 represent the state. The winning teams will advance to the FIRST Championships – called the “Super Bowl of Smarts” in Atlanta, Georgia, April 15-18. Honoka‘a High School was one of six teams to represent Hawai‘i last year in Atlanta.

But now, when collaboration and continued support is most needed to get us over the hump, some politicians have taken it upon themselves to propagate misinformation and distort a very clear record of accomplishment.

For those politicians and cynics, I have a message: Hawai‘i will be a world leader in clean energy, with or without you....

Polling research finds that a substantial minority of Palestinians, about 20 percent, is ready to live side-by-side with a sovereign Jewish state. Although this minority has never been in charge and its voice has always been buried under rejectionist bluster, Hillel Cohen of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has uncovered its surprisingly crucial role in history.

Hawaii County Republicans, meeting Saturday at Waimea have proposed changes to the way that State Republicans select their candidates.  The proposals are contained in two resolutions adopted unanimously by the 50 delegates present after extensive discussion.  One calls for a shift to a Presidential Caucus System for Hawaii Republicans who now select their Presidential delegates at the State Party convention.  The other resolution urges the State Convention vote to shift Republicans from an Open Primary system to a Modified-Closed Primary System and then file a federal suit against the State to overturn provisions of the Hawaii State Constitution which require the open primary system.

This background file includes news articles, and letters to the editor by leading Democrats, regarding a possible shift to a closed primary system.  Also included US Supreme Court rulings on two relevant cases.