...Total visitor arrivals rose to 781,990 (+4.3%) in November compared to a year ago....

...lots of whining from the usual suspects....

...US Federal Recognition Is Dead, Right?....

...Chief of Staff Tim Nelson ... District Director Jacqueline (Jackie) Conant ... Communications Director Nestor Garcia.... 

...Hawaii's top middle and high school robotics teams to compete for five spots at the 2019 VEX Worlds....

...Teams from Iolani, Maryknoll, Punahou and Waipahu high schools have earned their spot to compete at the in-person State Competition, which will be held on Saturday, February 9....

...Hirono is pushing for the nominee, Brian Buescher, to drop his membership in the organization and recuse himself from cases in which it has taken a position....

...Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii said in an interview. “This is about moving the so-called Overton window.”....

...the state still spent about $2 billion more than it generated in fiscal year 2018, and its overall net position dropped by $718.4 million dollars over the course of the fiscal year, in spite of a $326 million increase in revenue generated mostly by airport and harbor fees....

...At the top of his list of complaints: Things just aren't like they were back in the Inouye days....

...The Broker Defendants received kickbacks from Lloyd’s for steering Plaintiffs and the Class to the Lloyd’s surplus lines policies....

...drunks, bums, and feral animals....

...Gov. David Ige approved the new regulation Dec 21, 2018....

... The proposed rules now go before the Small Business Regulatory Review Board, which issues a recommendation to the Governor ....

...If enacted, the carbon tax would be the fifth special tax imposed on fuel....

...Well, it’s Christmas season again, so here is what I drafted recently for Santa to consider....

...Four states had average charitable deductions greater than $10,000...Hawaii averaged $4,111.80....

...top priorities...Legalizing Recreational Cannabis....

...The deadline to submit grant applications is 4:30 p.m. January 18, 2019....

...The following senators will take on the leadership roles for the Thirtieth Legislative Biennium 2019 through 2020....

...All of A&B's existing agricultural personnel will be offered positions with Mahi Pono....

...the question posed to voters must be clear and neither misleading nor deceptive....

...Representative Cynthia Thielen (R–Kailua, Kaneohe Bay) celebrates the legalization of industrial hemp through the passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (H.R. 2), better known as the 2018 Farm Bill....

...This report should not be viewed as any sort of legal or policy analysis. It is more in the nature of a command political performance....

...this would technically require the business to have both state and federal workers’ compensation insurance, which means paying two separate premiums....

...Regents approved a biennium operating budget request which was submitted to the governor and the Legislature....

...Amphetamine-positive patients spent more time per visit on average in the emergency department and were more likely to require medication and physical restraints....

...UH Office of Internal Audit evaluates university funds, lease payments and external funds received in support of stewardship, management, education and other activities related to Maunakea....

...Between 3,500 and 32,500 gallons of treated industrial wastewater composed of freshwater, acidic metal cleaning solution and residue from the descaling of the boiler was discharged....

...Schatz doesn't want poor innocent criminals to die in prison....

...they're upset because nobody has been accused of violating the law....

...They Say One Thing In Public But In Private Do Another....

...Aaron Hoff also pops up in the recent eviction of a gym from DHHL land in Anahola....

...2 special funds, 2 trust funds, and 4 trust accounts did not meet criteria. We also noted that DAGS did not file statutorily required reports....

...Search as you might, there's nothing there that helps or hurts in the water law department....

...The Cato Institute has released its 14th biennial fiscal report card on the governors....

• #4 -- HAWAII 460 / 7.6% increase 2007-2018
• #4 -- HAWAII -690 / -9.6% decrease 2017-2018

... Hawaii takes the cake as the most expensive state in the Union .... 

...The Jones Act: Charting a new course after a century of failure....

...This is a great way to get experience, paid on-the-job training, and a start in media....

...Hawaii is spending $4.5 million this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is just 32.9 percent of the $13.7 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

...Weekly Update from GovTrack.org, December 16, 2018....

...The Mayor's Office of Economic Development (OED) announced today that its office received a total of $8,730.28 in requests for payments for unpaid invoices for the 250th Celebration of Queen Kaahumanu grant, which was terminated in October....

...Gov. David Ige submitted his Executive Budget for Fiscal Biennium 2019-2021 to the Hawai‘i State Legislature today....

...Hawaii is arguing before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that its ban on the open carry of firearms is constitutional because it’s been around so long....

...The Judicial Selection Commission is accepting applications and nominations....

...We continue with our series about a timeshare association suing Maui County seeking to invalidate its “Time Share” property classification, with the county then striking back.... 

...If approved, a typical residential bill for 500 kilowatt-hours on Hawaii Island would increase by $8.21 a month....

...Dubin, along with ex-Governor John Waihee, co-host "The Foreclosure Hour" on AM830....

...The emergency proclamation will focus on accelerating the completion of housing projects for individuals and families exiting homelessness. It will also help to expand shelter capacity and access to services, especially for unsheltered homeless individuals....