Asians are America's fastest-growing immigrant community, and Asian voters constitute 2 percent to 7 percent of registered voters in half of the traditional 10 swing states....

... lawmakers will make a bid to increase taxes yet again ....

“We have emptied the nation's hospitals, gutted state and local mental health programs, and turned involuntary treatment into a debate point instead of using it as a viable option to prevent tragedy...."

...Kawaiahao Church in Honolulu is not exempt from historic preservation review....

...the ICA held that property owners ... are not required to seek an amendment to the Community Plan in order to ripen their takings claims....

...the government condemned the appraised area, paying for it with compensation supplied by the Ungactas, and transferred it to the Ungactas....

...tax-payer-provided subsidies are beggar-thy-neighbor policies. At the end of the day, they just tend to cancel each other out and essentially transfer taxpayer money to corporations ....

Tropical Cyclone Evan was stationary over Samoa for approximately 24 hours.... 

Senators, speaking anonymously, said the panel has lost power in recent years under Inouye, 88, who took over the chairmanship after Democrats pressured Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., to relinquish the post in 2008....

This week, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) have been trading secret offers on the fiscal cliff....

While firms can install solar panels for roughly $5 per watt of energy and make a comfortable profit, some firms were charging as much as $7 and $8 per watt….

... Washington Middle School in Olympia, Wash., [was] projected to use 28% less energy. The school consumed 19% more energy ....

“This isn’t the first time that a Democratic majority faction has organized with the Republicans; some people are just more honest and transparent about it. It is time to govern and stop politicking.”

Former Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) President Jim Williams yesterday sent a letter to current HSTA President Wil Okabe asking for clarification on Mr. Okabe’s recent public statements on negotiations....

The Index ranks the 50 states according to 46 different policy measures, including a wide array of tax, regulatory and government spending measures....

Tomorrow is an important day for Obamacare. It’s the deadline for states to declare their intentions about setting up their own health insurance exchanges....

...the United States would gain significant geopolitical advantages. For example, it would lower the influence of the Middle East. In addition, the United States would be in a position to challenge Russia's influence in Europe....

...The Court’s ruling this morning confirms that the HLRB's determination of when and how to issue a ruling in this case remains in its discretion....

A leading Jones Act shipowner said last week they will build two containerships in the United States that were designed by a foreign shipbuilder and will be fitted with foreign manufactured components....

· DATE: Tuesday, December 18, 2012

· TIME: 2:00 PM

...amid the splendor of an investiture ceremony attended by an estimated 500 guests....

...designate the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands — including the portion of the enormous imaginary Pacific Garbage Patch within United States waters — as the nation’s newest Superfund site....

...Trust for Public Land assembled the $25 million purchase price from a variety of sources, including $13 million from a Hawaii state bond; $4.5 million from the U.S. Army; $4 million from the City and County of Honolulu; $3 million from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; and $500,000 from D.R. Horton....

Your medical plan is facing an unexpected expense, so you probably are, too. It's a new, $63-per-head fee to cushion the cost of covering people with pre-existing conditions....

North Korea successfully launched a missile early Wednesday—a big step toward achieving the capability to hit targets in the United States.

The loss of Senate Seniority will not completely sink Hawaii and Alaska’s economy, but it will definitely have a big impact....

.

According to the 23rd Edition of United Health Foundation’s 2012 America’s Health Rankings, Hawaii is No. 2 this year, up from No. 3 in 2011, in a ranking of all 50 states’ health data....

...the Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice, filed a legal challenge in state circuit court to the Hawai‘i Department of Taxation’s recent decision to cut back on tax credits....

The lawsuit claims the methodology and rules that were adopted and used did not comply with proper rulemaking....

...there's still lots of room for Mr Obama's administration to do more, and the US Travel Association has a great plan to further improve the situation....

"...it's certainly not unconstitutional for a public school orchestra or other singers to go to a religious venue like, in this case, New Hope Church and have a concert."

In November, Michigan voters rejected a ballot proposal that would have amended the state constitution to prevent the legislature from passing a right-to-work law and elevated union contracts above state law....It lost by 15 points.

... an advisory committee, including HSTA representatives, to review the new teacher evaluation system ....

Our federal lawsuit will have what is most probably its final hearing before Judge A. Wallace Tashima this coming Wednesday, December 12, at 10:00AM in the Federal Courthouse....

• Senate: Disability Treaty – Ratification
• Senate: Defense Authorization – Final Passage
• Senate: Russia/Moldova Trade Relations – Final Passage
• House: Energy Efficiency – Suspension
• House: Global Internet Governance – Adoption
• House: Amending Language in Federal Law – Suspension

As they did at the previous 17 conferences, developing nations demanded that the United States and other developed countries pay them for the climate’s effects....

Insurance premiums could increase by thousands of dollars because of a new tax in President Obama's health care law....

State-based health exchange selects IT contractor and names agency of record for research, communication strategy and public relations...

...members of the Akaka Tribe will not be guaranteed free speech, due process, or other civil rights....

With less than a week left for the White House and Congressional negotiators to come to some sort of compromise, it is time to put all of this debate into perspective.

“Yesterday, HSTA and the State resumed negotiations. While this is only our second bargaining session, talks were the most productive in months.”

“Ben Jay brings an extensive background in management and financial experience from big-time college athletics, has numerous valuable contacts, and possesses the vision, leadership skills, passion and integrity to take UH Athletics to the next level."

Hawaii Police Department (HPD) is assisting school officials with security measures and made eight student arrests ....

... several deficiencies expose the Program to fraud, including the over-reliance on self-reporting by Program personnel and lack of systematic compliance inspections....

Abercrombie has announced that the state will build a gigabit network statewide by 2018....

· INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLANNING MEETING

· DEC 13, 2012 from 5 - 7 PM

· Mitchell Pauole Community Center, Kaunakakai

Saturday morning at Ewa Field on Saturday, December 8, at 9 AM....

This informational briefing will cover the topic of food safety as it concerns and relates to farmers, wholesalers and retailers in Hawaii....

· DATE: Tuesday, December 11, 2012

· TIME: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

· PLACE: Conference Room 229, State Capitol, 415 South Beretania Street