Today, the U.S. has fewer shipyards than any time in the recent past. Between 2006 and 2011, the Jones Act-eligible fleet shrank by over 17 percent....

...Shut up or we’ll make you pay for rail too....

Multiple procurement violations underlie a secret $435,000 contract between the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) and a company owned by UH Law Professor Kamana Beamer.....

"...Kaiama, with reckless disregard as to the truth or falsity of the allegation, accused the presiding Judge of committing war crimes under international Conventions, and thereby filed a frivolous document that served no legal or practical purpose...."

...The fine is based on an inspection DOH officials did March 28-29 in response to Democratic Party insiders....

...Presented jointly with PRI’s The World & WGBH News....

...the economic outlook for Hawaiʻi, which remains favorable, despite tremendous uncertainty about future U.S. policy....

...the 2017 session began with a range of gun bills introduced, but only a few bills saw legislative action this year.  All bills will carry-over to the 2018 legislative session....

Outstanding Community Service Contributions by Military Service Members Recognized....

...the Senate remains open to negotiate an agreement with the House to ensure adequate financing to complete the project, yet minimize the impact on the most vulnerable citizens of the community....

...The May 1, 2017 decision by Judge Jeffrey P. Crabtree has been posted to OIP’s website....

... Four Pacific 'Monuments' are under review ....

...the lack of dissent allows tax-and-spend policies to move smoothly through the Hawaii Legislature...until....

"...KIUC could increase its renewable portfolio by ten percent or more with pumped storage hydro...." --DHHL

...we were unable to agree with the Senate on funding to complete Honolulu’s rail system....

229 Bills have been passed by the Legislature.  15 have been signed into law as of May 4.  Another 214 are awaiting Gubernatorial action....

... Hawaii ranks 31st at 21.5% of collections ....

What is done by executive power can be undone by executive power....

That’s because when government salaries increase, so do pension promises....

State Senate asks OHA to convene a group of Hawaiian leaders, legal scholars, and Hawaiian community members to review whether it’d be better to appoint OHA Trustees rather than elect them....

...this audit seeks to identify areas of “waste, abuse and fraud...”

... SB501 Mandatory Abortion Promotion -- How They Voted ....

“McDew testified that the U.S. military cargo ship fleet is "aging out" and asked Congress to approve the purchase of used commercial vessels....

...re-writing the rules....

Hawaii--Avg Annual Wage for Nurses (adj for cost of living) – 51st

...Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Guam have suffered the most from the restrictions of the Jones Act....

“We are here to stay, we are here for peace, we are here for the prosperity for all our people, and we are proud the American flag flies in American Samoa.”

...previous historians had relied on an abstract of the trial prepared by defense lawyers....

...Orig published June 23, 2012.  Republished to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the extermination of Osama bin-Laden....

...Construction employment in Urban Honolulu dropped 4% from 28,400 in March, 2016 to 27,200 in March, 2017 for a net loss of 1,200 jobs....

Congressman Jason Chaffetz of Utah was to be the keynote speaker....

...Look for your password coming in the mail soon for online voting....

TAT Tax Hike for Rail and HSTA and a Massive Income tax Hike on Small Business Owners....

How does a county raise money?

The bill will have it's final reading in the House on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, during the 9:00 a.m. Floor Session.  The Senate reading is also scheduled for May 2, 2017, during the 10:00 a.m. Floor Session....

... MAY 4, 2017 -- ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE ....

...Japan Market Led the Growth in Spending and Arrivals....

There are two factors contributing to this regional variation. The first is that higher-income taxpayers tend to take larger deductions....The second factor for county-by-county variation is that state and local tax regimes differ substantially....

...Revocation of the rulings would close a loophole that allows the use of non-Jones Act eligible vessels to support the offshore industry....

...Shifting Burden to Hotels Will Hurt Tourism and Employment....

On average, 23.3% of state and local tax revenues came from sales taxes in fiscal year 2014.  For Hawaii 37.6%....

“Hopefully soon.  Still waiting” – Rep Beth Fukumoto....

The most recent version of Rich States, Poor States has been released, and once again, Hawaii ends up on the wrong end of that title....

The election is slated to begin April 28, 2017 and end May 19, 2017....

Ninety-eight percent of the nearly 8,000 members of HSTA who cast ballots across the state today voted to ratify a new four-year contract....