Washington, D.C., led the nation in economic confidence during the first half of 2011 with the only positive Economic Confidence Index score (+11) in the U.S....

A new report from the Department of Energy ... shows that "renewable" energy firms are heavily dependent on government support....

Myths about the dire effects of genetically modified foods on health and the environment abound, but they have not held up to scientific scrutiny. These crop modification methods are not dangerous.

The energy from hydrofracking can transform the U.S. energy outlook for a century. Let's not allow groundless fears to destroy our future....

"What’s All the Fuss About International Building Codes?” will be the topic of the August meeting of the Conservative Forum for Hawaii. The public is invited to the free forum on Sunday, 28 August, 2:00pm at the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort’s Polynesian Room, Banyan Dr, Hilo.

...Americans' confidence in the economy is sitting at its lowest point since March 2009, and in every state in the country, a vast majority of Americans see the economy as getting worse. Meanwhile, the number of people claiming new jobless benefits rose again last week....

...the Honolulu Star-Advertiser filed a Complaint asking the circuit court to order the Governor to publicly release the list of judicial nominees presented to him by the Judicial Selection Commission, now that the Hawaii Senate has consented to the Governor's appointment of Justice McKenna....

Perkins allegedly entered the home three times between August 11 and August 16, 2011. He is accused of verbally threatening the man once and leaving behind a threatening note on another occasion.

the U.S. Senate presents an unusual opportunity ... This decision is ... not a sacrifice....

...this is an opportune time for me to announce my decision to transition out of my role as chancellor during July 2012, to allow sufficient time to complete a search for a new chancellor....

Just 25% of Hawaii employers are adding jobs, another 15% are laying off ....

Military programs...have already been targeted for a minimum of $350 billion in cuts over 10 years, with the possibility of $600 billion more if the Super Committee fails to agree on other areas to cut — a strong possibility given Washington’s well-known gridlock.

...the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is becoming distracted by responding to routine natural disasters instead of preparing for catastrophic natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions....

Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of terrorist Hamas founder and leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef, will be speaking at Calvary Chapel Honolulu, 98-1016 Komo Mai Drive, Aiea -- Wednesday at 630PM.

As the only qualified offeror, SCOA’s decision not to appeal should in no way be interpreted as loss of interest. To the contrary, SCOA will remain ready to fulfill its commitments should the City not be able to proceed with Ansaldo due to any problems that might prevent them from fulfilling their offer.

Abercrombie today issued an Executive Memorandum on the Hawai'i Broadband Initiative and directed DCCA and DBEDT to lead the effort....

Horizon Lines Inc. (HRZ), the shipper negotiating a debt restructuring with its lenders, missed an Aug. 15 interest payment on its $330 million of convertible notes....

On Friday, the NY Times printed a harsh assessment of the state of the "green" economy—including a conclusion that the President's promise to create five million green jobs over 10 years has proven to be nothing more than "a pipe dream"....

Abercrombie last week appointed* Barry T. Mizuno to fill the Hawai'i County seat on the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai'i (UH).

Janney Capital Markets analyst Tony Wible is concerned that Disney's losing its magical touch with a Hawaiian timeshare resort where projected operating costs are spiraling out of control....

Last week the developer and the County of Hawaii filed their joint Brief in Opposition in C & J Coupe Family Limited Partnership v. County of Hawaii....

Attached is an Excel file with school-by-school results for the 2011 Hawaii State Assessment Program....

Palin's campaign would mark the first serious national effort by any conservative to come back from a post-modern Gramscian deconstruction attack. If successful, a Palin victory would signify a serious weakening to the ablilty of Gramscians to control the popular mind.

The Administration’s short-sighted effort to score a quick and easy military victory over Qadhafi’s regime failed to end the threat to civilians in “days not weeks,” as President Barack Obama promised. The administration now must scramble to develop and implement a long term strategy for a post-Qadhafi Libya.

Americans in Hawaii continued to set the national standard in wellbeing in the first half of 2011, followed closely by North Dakota....

What does a worn out and debunked fraud scheme do when it has exhausted its welcome around the world? It comes to Hawaii, of course.

Ghaddafi is/was the fourth-largest shareholder of Honolulu Rail contractor Ansaldo.  It appears that Ghaddafi's Libyan Investment Authority is undergoing a change in management ....

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq – Death hovered behind a car window packed with figurines and Teddy Bears on a tract of Iraqi road with no name....

 It will now be up to the “super” commission to come up with a strategy or game plan that will set a course for the financial affairs of the nation.

She voted against a...proposal to mandate he inscription of a religious message at the Capitol Visitor Center....  A non-practicing Buddhist, Mazie would be the first non-theist to serve in the Senate.

One losing bidder in the procurement process advocated building the rail cars here- creating 150 local jobs on Oahu instead of in California. The losing bidder could also build and maintain the rail cars for $250 million less than what Ansaldo proposed. 

...as NASA sends its shuttles to museums, China is making great strides in its space program—with preparations under way for the launch of a Chinese spacelab in the next few weeks....

After being a territory for so long, achieving statehood represented a “coming of age” for Hawaii to many. To others, statehood also represented less positive aspects.

The states most dependent on federal spending could also see their credit ratings fall in the wake of a major deficit reduction deal if they fail to adapt accordingly.

“This contract will be the largest installation of photovoltaic solar energy facilities in Hawaii’s history....”

HSTA’s leadership has alleged that the leaders of other public unions have made agreements with the Governor and that UHPA conspired against Hawaii’s teachers and prohibited their right to bargain. As a result, more than 88 individuals, some representing the leaders of UHPA, HGEA and UPW, have been subpoenaed to testify at the HLRB hearings. The notion of a conspiracy is an insult.

We must remember how we stood as a nation with a shared purpose and intensity on September 12, 2001 and in the days following. That collective and eternal vigilance is still essential. Never quit.

...Abercrombie's solutions focus on spending more on government services rather than growing our economy and creating jobs. His statement today didn't even mention our small businesses or entrepreneurs ....

Governor Abercrombie outlined ... major challenges facing the state...

• Potential program cuts from Washington, D.C. and inadequate federal funding to address the federal government’s responsibility to Compact Migrants in Hawai'i.

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 At stake is whether our children will find good jobs, whether our families will be able to stay in Hawai‘i, whether we will have the resources to protect our environment and provide the social services we pledged to provide.

The 22nd annual KIDS COUNT Data Book profiles the status of children on a national and state-by-state basis and ranks states on 10 measures of well-being.

Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta held a joint press event in Washington in which they cautioned that U.S. debt is jeopardizing America's ability to ensure national security and preserve its interests abroad.

Djou: “Hawaii, in particular, has become exceptionally isolated and vulnerable in Washington D.C because of the lack of a bipartisan congressional delegation...."

I will not run for Congress in 2012.... When the time is right, I will decide whether to run for Governor in 2014.

Speaker Gingrich will be on Maui this Saturday, August 20th. The event begins at 5:30pm at the Door of Faith Church, 432 Waiehu Beach Rd, Wailuku....

• Where: Midway Street between Hangars 110 & 111 on Kalaeloa Airport, Kapolei, Hawaii
• When: Saturday, September 10, 10 am-6 pm and Sunday, Sept. 11, 10 am-4 pm
• Special: 10th Anniversary 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at 10 am on Sunday, Sept. 11