...the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Hawai'i County as a primary natural disaster area resulting from ongoing drought conditions....

... down the drain ...

One would think that in an election year lawmakers would shy away from raising taxes and imposing new fees, but that is just not the case down at the state capitol building in Honolulu....

With 100% of the Vote in, here are the results from the Nevada Republican Caucuses....

Schools, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations may apply to be SFSP sponsors. Sponsoring organizations receive reimbursements for serving healthy meals and snacks at approved sites to children and teenagers (18 years and younger). Sponsors are encouraged to provide educational or recreational activities.

The University of Hawaii is considering whether to provide funding for the Planned Parenthood abortion business to start doing abortions on Kauai inside the Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapa’a....

Released January 31 by the Thomas B Fordham Institute, “The State of State Science Standards 2012” doesn’t pull punches in its analysis of the Hawaii Department of Education’s much-ballyhooed ‘academic standards’.

Hawaii GOP Chair David Chang said: “We are pleased that all of the front running Republican Presidential candidates are now on the ballot. The Hawaii Republican Caucus gives voters a real choice and a real voice in the Presidential race.”

Hawaii Republicans are meeting to select delegates for the upcoming State GOP Convention May 12 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu.

...a small number of people spend most of the health care dollars. True. But the small number this year are not the same people as the small number last year, or the year before....

The Board of Directors for Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, which operates the hospital, has scheduled a meeting on Tuesday, February 21 at 6:00pm to discuss the clinic.

The Hawaii news and opinion site, Civil Beat, was offline February 2-4.

Hint to Hawaii: This is what happens when a PUC actually represents the consumers ....

Senate Bill 2975 is slated to be heard in the Senate Public Safety, Government Operations and Military Affairs Committee (PGM) on Thursday, February 9th at 2:45 p.m. in conference room 224.

The Obama Administration and the nation have cause to breathe a sign of relief as today’s monthly jobs report shows 243,000 jobs were created in January....

Former Hawaii Governor and current U.S. Senate candidate Linda Lingle released today a new video spot highlighting her commitment to bipartisanship. 

... the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty has already filed a lawsuit on behalf of an interdenominational Christian college that objects to providing abortion ....

Governor Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of Dean Seki as State Comptroller to the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS)....

Participants Will Aid in Hawai'i’s Broadband Initiative ....

Hilo, HI—Epic ‘Ohana, Inc. today announced the expansion of The Hawaii Youth Opportunities Initiative (HYOI), formed to improve outcomes for young people who age out of the foster care system....

WHAT: HB 2318

Where and When: Thursday, February 02, 2012 Room 309 9:00 A.M.

The Judiciary submitted the following testimony to the 2012 Legislature....

Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) is up with her first ad in her Senate race, and seeks to tie both her primary and general election opponents to former President George W. Bush.

Evidence is mounting that the Aloha State could offer the biggest surprise of the cycle. Former Gov. Linda Lingle flexed her fundraising muscles with a $1.7 million quarter....

 $500 million in green job training grants placed just 10 percent of trainees in jobs ....

Ed Case renews his debate challenge to Mazie Hirono ....

According to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report released this week, federal workers are paid higher than their private-sector counterparts.

Beginning in February, schools will mail or ask students to bring the surveys home. Parents whose children are enrolled in grades 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and 11 will be asked to complete the survey and return it to the school in a prepaid envelope by no later than March 30.

Children who will be five years old on or before August 1, 2012, may enroll in regular kindergarten, while children who reach five years of age between August 2 and December 31 may enroll in junior kindergarten. Kindergarten is not mandatory in Hawaii.

The greatest one year decline in Obama's approval rating is the 9.8% drop from 65.9% to 56.1% in Hawaii....

 ... the state Department of Agriculture has allowed the brown tree snake program lapse.  The dogs used for cargo inspections were actually given away ....

“We will be spending time in the caucus states.” -- Ron Paul 

6,796 of 6,796 Precincts Reporting....

This grassroots environmental organization consists of a membership representing all 50 states. This is the first time one of the members has been spotlighted in "The Green Elephant".

Honolulu Habitat for Humanity invites everyone to upcoming informational meetings, especially families who are interested in applying for a simple, decent Habitat home....

George Soros, a billionaire investor and major backer of President Obama, stands to reap a windfall from legislation promoting natural gas-powered vehicles. The White House unveiled a proposal on Thursday that would do just that....

Upcoming Congressional Bills

• Senate: Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act of 2012
• House: Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act of 2011
• House: Pro-Growth Budgeting Act of 2011
• House: Baseline Reform Act of 2011

a reader draws our attention to some 2010 online comments allegedly by HB2288 co-sponsor Rep Joey Manahan....

Kailua and Kaneohe are implementing a bus transit center, and this bill would abolish all land use controls and building codes within a quarter-mile of the transit center....