December 8, 2011
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium

The State of Hawaii spent about $3,210,000 for safety related expenses hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, less than half of the $7,500,000 projected by state agencies.

The multi-million dollar project is aimed at improving integration of variable renewable resources, such as solar and wind power, and preparing the electric system for widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

The Motor Vehicle Registration office advises residents that the recently mailed December 2011 vehicle registration renewal notice contains an incorrect total due amount....

For Charles, this was a day much like most others, but he was thankful to talk to the girls (they were on a lengthy communications blackout until last night) and to have some turkey for dinner.

In a world filled with ethnic antagonism and religious violence, the United States had found a paradigm for unifying the most ethnically, racially, and religiously varied population on the planet into a relatively tolerant and unified culture.

They also knew that, whatever church an American belonged to, he ought to give thanks to Almighty God. Not because we're living in some heaven on earth -- that's impossible. But because despite our problems, we're incredibly blessed. We live in a land that recognizes our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In a world beset with death, tyranny, disease and famine, that's nothing short of a miracle.

This is the first release of JSC nominees since the JSC’s Nov 16 decision to begin releasing the names of judicial nominees.

"We are extremely concerned by the point-shaving allegations involving University of Hawaii football student-athletes and have been in contact with the school since early November."

The Outdoor Circle now is considering how we might best support the broad based coalition of organizations and individuals which is challenging this project in court....

"...Observations do not show rising temperatures .... "

They came, they saw, and they debated....

Roth has 18 years as Deputy Prosecutor starting in Honolulu and then, at the invitation of former prosecutor Jay Kimura, joined the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s office in 1998.

“The #UNLV money line when it hosted #Hawaii opened at around +1600. By kickoff, it was around +700. Pretty mysterious movement at the time.”

Today’s Washington Post Style page offers up this beyond-satire account of Dylan Bozlee of Hilo, Hawaii, who ....

The CIA and U.S. Treasury Department have determined IHH and the Free Gaza Movement "have known terrorist ties," the bill says. (They also have extensive Hawaii ties--Editor)

Tonight at 8 p.m. ET (3PM HST), eight Republican presidential candidates will take the stage at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., to tell America where they stand on foreign policy and national security ....

Today, the Union received formal notification from the Company that it will be implementing its last best and final offer on December 1, 2011....

The 2010 figures show that residents of Hawaii, Maryland and Alabama have a lot more to fear in their electric bill than folks living in Utah, New Mexico or Montana.

Lingle will benefit from what's likely to be a major schism in the Democratic field, as Rep. Mazie Hirono and ex-Rep. Ed Case battle it out in a late primary.

There are sensible proposals already available to cut federal spending, raise additional revenues and grow our economy. These include the balanced proposals offered by the Bipartisan Policy Center....

“This year’s schedule will make our nominating process more of a marathon than 2008’s sprint,” said former Hawaii Republican Party Chairman Willes Lee. 

the report finds that costs were high even in the "lowest" average-cost states. Premiums ranged from $11,379 to $12,409 in Idaho, Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, and Alabama, the five states with the lowest average costs for private employer-based coverage.

You can tell it’s an occupation from the signs and T-shirts. Otherwise the protesters would blend right in.

• Senate: Fiscal 2012 Agriculture Appropriations
• House: National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011
• House: Fiscal 2012 Agriculture Appropriations
• House: Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States

It has improved the health of enrolled patients, achieved high patient satisfaction, and kept cost increases below average, saving Florida up to $161 million annually.

Failing to enact the plan by January 15, 2012, would result in automatic cuts to military spending--a scenario that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta describes as "devastating."

... bankrolled by secret interests who want to operate outside the norms of Hawaii's Ethics Commission; and designed by experienced labor and gambling industry lobbyists desperate for the appearance of "grassroots" support ....

HART schedules a new review of the Ansaldo deal November 25, the deadline for the contract to be signed ....

For years, the real property burden was shifted to businesses, but businesses have to pass the costs onto their customers. When it comes to paying for government, there is no free lunch.

...

...wind farms are interfering with military radar, making airplanes disappear from sight on screens and cluttering those same screens with the blade-rotation changes of turbine blades....

The Senate has been “in play” for months, but Republicans continue to expand the playing field by adding unexpected candidates in states from Hawaii and Michigan to Connecticut .... 

On March 4, Cathy Takase, the Acting Director of OIP was let go by the Abercrombie Administration. Takase had authored a February, 2011 opinion mandating release of the names of Judicial nominees....

"This does not necessarily mean, however, that an appeal will not be taken in the present case, which was decided prior to the Judicial Selection Commission's rule change."  -- AG David Louie

...companies affiliated with all three of Hawaii’s major water carriers—Matson, Young Bros, and Horizon—are guilty of price fixing in the Puerto Rico market. Is Hawaii next? ....

Several states make multiple appearances at the bottom of the three categories in this study, meaning they rank worst. These states include: Alaska, New Jersey, Hawaii, Connecticut, New Mexico, and Illinois.

Earlier today, Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Mazie Hirono voted against a Balanced Budget Amendment. A bi-partisan majority, including 25 Democrats voted to support the measure, H.J. Res. 2, to balance the federal budget, but the measure fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass....

Former Governor and U.S. Senate candidate Linda Lingle released today the second in a series of videos detailing her positions on issues of importance to the people of Hawai'i.

...it will set up a partnership for the AnsaldoBreda trainmaking unit in advance of selling the business....

Lingle shows she's in a dogfight through a consistent stream of polling and fundraising....

The former executive director of the American Samoa Special Services Commission pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to steal more than $325,000 in AmeriCorps grant funds....

So what's Washington doing about it? Fighting over how high to raise taxes instead of getting to the root of the problem.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging In Chan Park, 53, of Honolulu, and Paige Teruya, 47, of Waipahu, Hawaii with fraud relating to identification documents....

A two-parent family of four with annual income at the poverty line (which is $22,314 for a family of that size) owed $498 in Alabama, $292 in Hawaii, $238 in Georgia, and $234 in Oregon.

More than 15,000 people have joined a popular campaign on Change.org calling on Oakland, California-based Matson Navigation to stop shipping live pigs from the mainland United States to Hawaii for slaughter....

As first reported in Motor Trend, hybrid vehicles that operate on gasoline and electricity such as the Toyota Prius often produce less carbon dioxide than vehicles that operate solely on electricity such as the Nissan Leaf....

China has increased its defense budget by double digits every year for the last 20 years. Just as China seems to be gearing up for some undefined enterprise, the U.S. is winding down its defense budget at a similarly rapid pace.

 Governor Abercrombie announced today that the State and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (“OHA”) are discussing an agreement in principle, subject to Legislative approval, relating to ceded lands.

At prior NSSEs, demonstrations had led to riots and property damage, so for APEC, Hawaii National Guard soldiers and airmen were ready to help the Honolulu Police Department with any civil disturbances.