Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle Former Gov. Linda Lingle, in a display of national fundraising prowess, has raised more than $1.7 million since she announced her Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate in October. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii may not be known for its Republicans, but the first fundraising figures out of former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle's campaign for U.S. Senate shows that Republicans are committed to changing the balance of power in the aloha state. Civil Beat. Former Congressman Ed Case said in a statement that he raised “substantially less” money last quarter than U.S. Senate opponents Linda Lingle and Mazie Hirono. Civil Beat State education leaders sought to reassure lawmakers Wednesday about the future of Hawaii's $75 million Race to the Top grant, saying they are making gains and plan to seek more clarity about the kind of progress federal authorities want to see in order to take the grant off "high-risk" status. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Department of Education leaders described the state's school district as a deteriorating house at a legislative briefing Wednesday, and their Race to the Top plan as the remodeling program for that house. Civil Beat. Hawaii's public schools superintendent said Wednesday she hopes the state makes headway on adopting new teacher evaluations by the end of March, when U.S. Department of Education officials are scheduled to visit the islands for an update on the state's progress with Race to the Top reforms. Associated Press. Taken For A Ride: Roberts Hawaii's Very Own Race to the Top of School Bus Biz. Civil Beat. Hawaii Government Employees Association officials have told PBN they may file a complaint with the Hawaii Labor Relations Board because Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration has failed to advance talks regarding the favored nation clause of the union’s contract. Pacific Business News. The state appeals court has upheld the approval of a University of Hawaii-developed management plan for Mauna Kea. Tribune-Herald. The House Committee on Judiciary passed a measure (House Bill 127 House Draft 1) that would require hospitals and health care providers to provide information about emergency contraception to women who have been sexually assaulted, and to dispense the medication when requested. Hawaii Reporter. It’s difficult to tell how many people experience homelessness. Nevertheless a national count is done at this time every year attempting to measure how many people are without homes. Hawaii Public Radio. State roundup for Jan. 26. Associated Press. Oahu An x-rated local escort service called “The Volcano Girls” is being operated out of the Waikiki residence of University of Hawaii Professor Lawrence W. Boyd, Jr. Hawaii Reporter. http://www.hawaiireporter.com/university-of-hawaii-professor-tied-to-x-rated-escort-service/123 Food trucks and lunch wagons would have two hours to operate at one location on a street before being required to move, under a proposal in the City Council that aims to ease a law that made it difficult for some vendors to operate legally. Star-Advertiser. A bill that would allow lunch wagons and other street vendors to remain at a single location for two hours instead of fifteen minutes passed the first of three required readings Wednesday at the Honolulu City Council. KHON2. The principal at August Ahrens Elementary School, a second school administrator and a teacher have been placed on leave while the state Department of Education investigates an allegation of financial impropriety. Star-Advertiser. North Shore residents demand solution to 'Turtle Beach' traffic. Hawaii News Now. The city has spent more than $1.87 million and hired seven private law firms to handle legal work related to its rail project. Star-Advertiser. The State Department of Agriculture says road crews working on Nimitz Highway near Honolulu Airport killed a two foot snake Wednesday morning. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii The Hawaii Tourism Authority has approved spending more than $1 million this year for Big Island programs, sporting events and festivals. Tribune-Herald. After sitting fallow for the last 18 years, 718 acres of Hawaii County's Paauilo lands are closer than ever to being returned to productive agriculture. Tribune-Herald. An illegal ferret was captured early Sunday morning in the parking lot of Coqui's Hideaway Restaurant & Sports Bar in Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Maui Of the three options for repairing the main runway at Kahului Airport, the most expensive was overwhelmingly preferred at a standing-room-only public meeting Monday, because it would not require a temporary shutdown of Mainland flights. Maui News. Project challenges several layers thick. Maui News. The new Papapawahawa Bridge in East Maui opens this Friday, January 27, 2012, following eight months of construction. Maui Now. A $2.3 million project to replace Papahawahawa Bridge is nearly complete, the county Department of Public Works announced. Maui News. Maui County officials say they are in the process of closing a three-mile stretch of shoreline near Wailea-Makena after a shark sighting Wednesday afternoon. KITV4. Kauai How can the Garden Isle grow green jobs? Garden Island. Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and other local leaders Wednesday greeted the first planeload of visitors from Shanghai as part of an effort to increase island visits from China. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Hawaiian monk seal, NOAA courtesy photo A proposal to expand federal protections for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal is facing major push back from the state. Civil Beat. A bill moving through the state Legislature could increase Hawaii's minimum wage for the first time since 2007, but opinions are mixed as to whether elevating the wage floor would help or hinder Hawaii's economic recovery. Associated Press. Gov. Neil Abercrombie compared Pro Bowl negotiations to having a gun held to the state's head by the NFL, but later said, "We would like to continue to have (the game) and we're going to do everything we can to make sure that comes about in a fashion that will make everybody very, very happy." Star-Advertiser. NFL flags Hawaii governor’s Pro Bowl comments . Pacific Business News. Governor Neil Abercrombie made a surprise visit to the NFL’s Pro Bowl kickoff news conference to speak glowingly about the relationship between Hawaii and the NFL, after criticizing NFL owners earlier in the day. KITV4. Hawaii political committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of campaign money would be required to disclose the candidates their expenditures are attacking or supporting under a proposal moving through the Legislature. Civil Beat. Hawaii lawmakers are entertaining amendments to the state Sunshine Law to allow board members to attend public meetings, community events and professional association conferences without violating the open meetings law. Associated Press. Lawmakers will be briefed on the state of the Race to the Top program on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii Electric Co., and its subsidiaries on Maui and the Big Island, would no longer be allowed to generate electricity if they wished to sell it under a proposed bill from Rep. Denny Coffman. West Hawaii Today. A Hollywood hit is shining the spotlight on Hawaii's film industry. "The Descendants," which was shot in Hawaii, has captured five Oscar nominations. Lawmakers hope to cash in on the movie's success by attracting new productions to the islands. Hawaii News Now. A recent report shows that Hawaii's public pension fund ranked at the bottom among comparable funds for its investment returns over the past decade. Civil Beat. The state Department of Human Services says it has introduced a new food stamps benefits processing system to address an applications backlog. Associated Press. House Speaker Calvin Say and Senate President Shan Tsutsui said yesterday they are opposed to tax increases even though the State Council on Revenue lowered its state revenue projects by $130 million. Hawaii Reporter. Hawaii GOP Still Looking For CD2 Candidate. Civil Beat. Obama's Blueprint for Energy, Defense Could Mean Jobs in Hawaii. Civil Beat. State roundup for Jan. 25. Associated Press. Oahu The City Council might consider reforms of some property tax exemptions, but reducing or eliminating the standard exemption for Oahu's 144,000 homeowners would be a tough sell to the public in an election year, the Council's budget chairwoman says. Star-Advertiser. The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee conducted a special public hearing yesterday on a controversial recommendation by an Advisory Commission to repeal nearly all of the property tax exemptions for O’ahu owners. Hawaii Public Radio. Gambling proponents are eyeing the convention center as a possible venue to allow gaming in the state. KITV4. Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle likely will seek Honolulu City Council approval for a "contingency plan" to raise additional funding for the Honolulu rail project if that becomes necessary. Star-Advertiser. The Honolulu Zoo is under fire over the entrance fee it charges students on school field trips. KHON2. Hawaii A group of Kona coffee growers hopes legislators pass a bill that would require businesses to more thoroughly describe the contents of coffee sold in Hawaii -- a change that critics claim would increase the price. Star-Advertiser. American Motorists Insurance Co. will pay $12.5 million to Hawaii County as part of a proposed settlement agreement a series of lawsuits regarding the stalled Hokulia development. West Hawaii Today. The jobs are coming back, but so are the job-seekers. Tribune-Herald. Farmers, agricultural experts and educators gathered Tuesday in Hilo to help map the future of Hawaii's agricultural industry and attract workers needed to run it. Tribune-Herald. The Hawaii Board of Education cleared the way Tuesday for the Laupahoehoe charter school to open its doors in July.
Continue reading...Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Gov. Abercrombie's 2012 State of the State address, courtesy photo Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Monday that Hawaii has weathered the most difficult choices needed to balance the budget, urging lawmakers to leave the drama of the past few years behind and consider targeted investments to improve the state's economic future. Star-Advertiser. Gov. Neil Abercrombie told the state Legislature on Monday that it's time to move forward and leave behind the drama of the recent past, saying lawmakers have an opportunity to maintain economic momentum, bolster education and help provide older Hawaii residents better access to long-term support. Associated Press. The State’s Chief Executive says the worst of the Great Recession is behind us…and he’s committed to moving forward … Hawaii Public Radio. "We have started to turn the corner," Governor Neil Abercrombie said while delivering his State of the State address Monday at the State Capitol. Hawaii News Now. Governor Abercrombie pledged Monday to keep Hawaii on the path of economic recovery during his second State of the State address. KHON2. Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Monday that he is asking state lawmakers for $10 million to consolidate all of Hawaii’s state technology under one office, and for another $2.9 million for the state’s Broadband Initiative. Pacific Business News. In his State of the State address, Neil Abercrombie made sure the Hawaii Legislature — especially leaders Calvin Say and Shan Tsutsui — understands his gratitude. Civil Beat. Gov. Neil Abercrombie in his State of the State address Monday touched on one of Hawaii's hottest topics — sustainable and renewable energy. West Hawaii Today. Governor Neil Abercrombie reiterated his request for the Hawaii State Teachers Association to provide a new proposal for a contract in his 2012 State Of The State Address Monday. KITV4. Hawaii House Republicans Respond to Governor's State of the State. Hawaii Reporter. One Year Later - 2011 State of the State Scorecard. Civil Beat. Governor Neil Abercrombie delivered his second state of the state address this morning, touching upon early childhood education, investment in infrastructure and moving forward on the state’s broadband initiative. Maui Now. A federal judge has issued preliminary injunction against the state of Hawaii for failing to process food stamp applications quickly enough. Civil Beat. The state will provide seed money to help the Queen's Medical Center quickly launch an organ transplant facility to replace the one closed in the Hawaii Medical Center's bankruptcy. Star-Advertiser. The Hawaii Supreme Court wants the state Reapportionment Commission to get out of court and get back to work, according to a tersely worded order filed Friday. West Hawaii Today. The leader of Hawaii's teachers union said Monday he should have given members more time to consider a six-year proposed contract they overwhelmingly rejected last week, and has been "humbled" by the vote. Star-Advertiser. "I cannot think of a single thing we did not do to try to accommodate the concerns of the teachers union in this agreement," Gov. Neil Abercrombie said at a press conference last week about the vote by Hawaii teachers to reject a tentative contract with the state. Civil Beat. The Hawaii chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is calling the first year of the state's ignition interlock law a success. Tribune-Herald. State roundup for January 24. Associated Press. Oahu The half-percent excise tax surcharge levied on Oahu residents and visitors has brought in more than $810 million so far to fund the Honolulu rail project, with collections continuing to run ahead of projections, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said Monday. Star-Advertiser. Paychecks for workers in Honolulu fall somewhere in the middle when compared to 405 other metropolitan areas in the nation. Pacific Business News. A woman who said she lost her job with the city for blowing the whistle on wrongdoing nearly ten years ago has been awarded a $2.8 million settlement by the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii News Now. A 2010 report commissioned by the Department of Environmental Services shows the city could recuperate tens of millions of dollars every year by charging Oahu residents for regular trash pickup. KHON2. Hawaii Seven Hawaii County Council candidates have so far filed declarations of intent to seek public funding as the second election year of the three-election-cycle pilot program begins. West Hawaii Today. Hunters and their supporters took to a Hilo street Monday to protest a state plan to ban hunting within 4,800 acres of public forest located south of Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Maui Students attending summer classes at the University of Hawaii Maui College will benefit from a reduction in tuition, following action taken by the university's Board of Regents last week on Kauai. Maui News. The last in a series of community outreach meetings hosted by the Maui Charter Commission takes place this Wednesday in Pukalani. Maui Now. Maui County could streamline the way it grants millions of dollars to nonprofit agencies and eliminate the volunteer Grants Review Committee under changes being considered by the administration and County Council. Maui News. Kauai Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will hold two community outreach meetings this week. Star-Advertiser. An update on the Victim Witness Program requested by the Kaua‘i County Council to the Office of Prosecuting Attorney last week turned into a heated, four-hour discussion, marked by the recusal of one council member and repeated interruptions for discussions with attorneys. Garden Island. More than two dozen people spent a couple of hours removing two large chunks of derelict netting which washed ashore during the recent storm at a Wailua beach. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Honolulu Councilwoman and congressional candidate Tulsi Gabbard with Gov. Neil Abercrombie, courtesy photo In recent years, Honolulu Councilwoman and congressional candidate Tulsi Gabbard has undergone what she describes as a "gradual metamorphosis" on social issues. Civil Beat. An Oahu counselor will take on a former governor and a perennial GOP candidate for the Republican Party's U.S. Senate nomination. West Hawaii Today. Lawmakers will head back to the state capitol for the 2012 session on January 18. KHON2. "It's the economy, stupid" — the mantra Bill Clinton used in his 1992 election to the presidency — is the theme most heard around the halls of the state Capitol this month. Civil Beat. Members of Maui County's state House delegation want to put more wind in the sails of the state's economic recovery. Maui News. An obscure 1909 law intended to ease suffering of Hansen's disease patients does not make physician-assisted suicide legal in Hawaii, according to an opinion by the state attorney general's office. Star-Advertiser. Lawmakers are working on crafting a bill that'll give movie and TV productions larger tax credits. KHON2. Hawaiian Electric Co. could be in the political crosshairs this legislative session when it comes to energy policy. Civil Beat. Last year, the big education issues at the Hawaii Legislature were instructional time, school bullying and the appointed Board of Education. Civil Beat. State Department of Education officials traveled to D.C. to discuss what needs to be done to keep 75 million dollars in Hawai`i’s public schools. HPR spoke with one member of the team who traveled to D.C. Hawaii Public Radio. The Hawaii State Teachers Association has listed the polling places for members to vote to ratify a new six-year contract that includes a back-loaded pay raise and 50% contribution to medical insurance coverage seen in other state contracts. KITV4. Military contractors and top commanders may have even more reason to be excited about all the talk of increasing the focus of U.S. military might the Pacific — it could translate to new construction work and additional troops in Hawaii. Pacific Business News. State Roundup for Jan. 17. Associated Press. Honolulu Former Mayor Ben Cayetano will officially announce his candidacy for Honolulu mayor by the end of the week. Hawaii News Now. Members of the Occupy Wall Street movement plan to gather Friday at the Prince Kuhio Federal Building in Honolulu and 79 other court houses across the country to rally against the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision by the U.S. Supreme Court issued two years ago. Hawaii Reporter. For several Hawaii teachers and their families, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. was more than a day off work and a chance to sleep in -- Monday was a chance to celebrate the life and legacy of the nation's most lauded leader of the civil rights movement. Star-Advertiser. Neil Abercrombie was against the controversial Hoopili development before he was for it, according to environmentalists who said they met with him before the 2010 election. Civil Beat. Hawaii A bill banning plastic bags at the retail checkout stand will become law today if Mayor Billy Kenoi doesn't execute a last-minute veto. West Hawaii Today. Median home prices fell across the island in 2011 to their lowest level in years. Tribune-Herald . Maui Noted Hawaiian music performer Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey said Monday that she has been appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to fill the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' vacant Maui seat. Maui News. An advocate for people with disabilities said he's hoping to see Makawao's sidewalks become more wheelchair accessible - four years after he began working to bring about improvements. Maui News. The State Department of Transportation will host a public meeting on Maui to discuss runway rehabilitation options at the Kahului Airport. Maui Now. Kauai Moviegoers saw a fair amount of the Garden Isle on the silver screen in 2011, but industry experts said Monday the Golden Globe-winning “The Descendants,” filmed partly on Kaua‘i, will boost tourism on the island. Garden Island. First plantation, last homes. Tenants of a former Kauai sugar camp face eviction for a new development. Star-Advertiser. The effect of genetically engineered foods on health and the environment is the topic of a free dinner and film presentation later this month in Kapa‘a. Garden Island. Molokai Hansen's disease survivors and National Park Service workers at the Kalaupapa Settlement say they will be traveling easier now that a new air carrier has started federally subsidized service to their isolated community at lower ticket prices. Star-Advertiser.
Continue reading...Thursday, January 5, 2012
Hawaii Supreme Court (c) 2012 All Hawaii News The Hawaii Supreme Court struck down the state Reapportionment Commission's plan Wednesday and ordered the panel to come up with new boundaries for state Senate and House districts based on Hawaii's permanent resident population. Star-Advertiser. The Hawaii Supreme Court needed only hours to decide that the state's reapportionment plan is unconstitutional and must be re-done. Civil Beat. The Hawaii Supreme Court has struck down as unconstitutional the state's final reapportionment plan, a decision that will likely grant the Big Island a fourth Senate seat and possibly an eighth House seat. Tribune-Herald. The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Wednesday the state reapportionment plan is unconstitutional. West Hawaii Today. The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the new election maps for the state of Hawaii are unconstitutional. KITV4. The Hawaii Supreme Court has ruled the recently redrawn voting district maps unconstitutional, saying the committee that made them must start over. KHON2. The Abercrombie administration and state House and Senate leaders are awaiting today's forecast from the state Council on Revenues to see if projected revenue growth holds. Star-Advertiser. State departments want to expand the budget by
Continue reading...Thursday, December 29, 2011
President Obama and entourage in Hawaii As Republicans who want to be president slog through chilly Iowa in the run-up to next week’s caucuses, the man who is president moves from one enviable sun-splashed outing to the next. Tribune . President Barack Obama spent Day 6 of his Windward Oahu holiday at a different golf course, but with familiar playing partners. Star-Advertiser. President Barack Obama and wife Michelle headed to one of their favorite Oahu restaurants for a date Wednesday night. Hawaii News Now. The cost of the First Family's holiday vacation in Hawaii continues to cause controversy. Hawaii News Now. Starting early next year, substitute teachers who do not have college degrees will no longer be allowed to work in Hawaii's public schools, a move that education officials said is aimed at complying with federal requirements. KITV4. Waikiki residents Gary Bradley and Paul Perry are among the scores of same-sex couples who are preparing to say "I do" under the state’s new civil unions law. KITV4. A third monk seal was found dead on Molokai Wednesday and officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to determine the cause of death. Civil Beat. A merger of the two divisions that manage state water and land resources is on the horizon, a Department of Land and Natural Resources official says. West Hawaii Today. The graying of the so-called baby boomer generation will soon trigger a tsunami-like demand for long-term care services that the state and its residents are not prepared for. Tribune-Herald. Hawai‘i is ranked No. 1 in the United States for investment in energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) for public buildings per capita, according to a ranking published by the Energy Services Coalition, a national nonprofit network working at the state and local level to increase energy efficiency through building upgrades. Hawaii Reporter. Last week, the U.S. Department of Education warned that Hawaii’s $75 million in Race to the Top educational funding was in jeopardy. Hawaii Independent. State roundup for Dec. 29. Associated Press. Oahu Veteran journalist and journalism educator John Heckathorn died Wednesday morning at Straub Clinic & Hospital after suffering a heart attack Christmas morning at his home in Kalama Valley. He was 65. Star-Advertiser. Former Honolulu Magazine editor, John Heckathorn, died on Wednesday morning after suffering a heart attack on Christmas. Hawaii News Now. Respected journalist and teacher John Heckathorn died this morning after suffering a heart attack on Christmas Day. KHON2. Hawaii Medical Center's Ewa hospital closed on Wednesday after transferring the last of its patients to its Liliha facility. Star-Advertiser. The massive sea-based X-Band Radar left Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Wednesday morning, but Navy officials would not disclose where it was headed. Pacific Business News. Hawaii Hilo marijuana minister Roger Christie has been held for 17 months without bail in the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. Civil Beat. Pahoa's Sacred Heart Church is teaming up with an internationally trained sculptor to create a one-of-a-kind statue of St. Damien DeVeuster to commemorate his Puna missionary work. Tribune-Herald . The Kailua-Kona Public Library will soon see its electric bill drop. West Hawaii Today. Maui Hale Makua Health Services is finalizing an application to the state Department of Health to turn a wing of its Wailuku facility into an adult residential care home. Maui News. Upwards of 30 protesters held signs along Dairy Road in Kahului today over a three hour period, in a demonstration against a nearby tenant for the sale of reef fish. Maui Now. Kauai The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative board has yet to discuss how it will address the impending vacancy to be created in January by the departure of director Ben Sullivan. Garden Island. A new Professional Readiness Employment Program (PREP) Academy aims to help job seekers, particularly Native Hawaiians, with creative tools to improve their ability to find and keep good jobs. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Honolulu city lights (c) 2011 All Hawaii News While Honolulu residents may marvel at the brilliant glow of the city's night skyline, it's not a welcome sight for astronomers atop Haleakala. For them, it's light pollution that's interfering with their scientific studies. Civil Beat. Hawaii inmates considered at high risk for committing new offenses increasingly have been released from prison without any supervision -- a trend that experts say is not only out of sync with national practices, but increases the safety risk to the public. Star-Advertiser. Antiquated technology at the Hawaii Department of Taxation is hampering efforts to perform effective and timely audits of Hawaii taxpayers. Civil Beat. Four committed couples from Hawaii will become the first in Hawaii to enter into civil unions on January 1. Hawaii Independent. Thirty-seven programs that help homeless people in Hawaii have received a total of $10.7 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Star-Advertiser. Bouncing back from homelessness is a challenge confronted by more than 10-thousand adults in Hawai`i over the past year. Hawai`i’s high cost of housing and the dominance of service industry jobs makes it particularly challenging for many people to rent or own a home they can call their own. Hawaii Public Radio. The number of Hawaii residents filing for unemployment benefits has fallen sharply since hitting historic highs during the recent recession. Star-Advertiser. State officials are bracing for a federal review of Hawaii's public school system early next year that could determine whether the state continues to receive millions in competitive education grants. Associated Press. State roundup for Dec. 27. Associated Press. Oahu President Barack Obama had an active Monday, starting with a morning workout and a late-morning hike with his family in Lanikai, followed by a golf outing with friends in the afternoon. Star-Advertiser. City May Need $1 Million From State For Extra Ambulances. KITV4. Fireworks ban dampens New Year plans for some. KHON2. A vocal proponent of the Honolulu rail project has asked the IRS to look into alleged tax violations by a nonprofit suing to stop the train. Star-Advertiser. The University of Hawaii at Manoa is asking a national education research group to pay about $28,800 for UH to fulfill an open-records request from the group, which is compiling a controversial ranking of teacher preparation programs. Star-Advertiser. An area that's been a magnet for illegal dumping continues to attract everything but the kitchen sink. KHON2. Hawaii New Year's celebrations and fireworks have been synonymous on Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today. Maui The temperature in the walk-in refrigerator at the Maui Police Department's new morgue and forensic facility is maintained between 36 and 38 degrees. Inside, there are racks of steel slabs. Maui News. The nuns who have been researching the life of Mother Marianne Cope have discovered a woman who was a tough, capable, caring administrator. Maui News. In an effort to ensure a safe and enjoyable New Year’s celebration, officials with the Maui Fire Department are urging the public to take proper precautions. Maui Now. Kauai Robert Kawamura, a junior at Kaua‘i High School, said he’s been pounding mochi for a long time, Monday in Wailua. Garden Island. Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. will meet with community members in Hanapepe, Kapa‘a, Kekaha and Koloa in January as part of his pledge to meet with communities throughout the island annually. Garden Island. Molokai The studio structure is being constructed by Molokai Habitat for Humanity (MHFH) through a Habitat for Humanity International and Lowe’s Home Improvement program called Hammers for Heroes, which funds home improvements for veterans. Molokai Dispatch.
Continue reading...Monday, December 26, 2011
Baby checks out President Obama's mouth, AP pool photo The first family kept a low profile on Oahu's Windward Coast for Christmas, attending a Christmas Day church service at the Base Chapel on Kaneohe Marine Corp Base. KITV4. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Maupai could barely contain his enthusiasm at having his four children meet his commander in chief on Christmas Day at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama spent part of Christmas greeting families at a Marine base in Hawaii. USA Today. President Obama got a Christmas Day surprise when a baby put his hand in the president's mouth. CBS News. The Obamas got to spend some time off on the East side today, enjoying what many would call, a very ordinary, special Christmas. KHON2. President Barack Obama has kept a relatively low profile since arriving to Hawaii to join his family for the holidays. Hawaii News Now. With Congress finally buckling to White House demands to extend the payroll tax cuts before the new year, President Barack Obama is officially heading “home” to Hawaii for the holidays. Hawaii Reporter. While President Obama Arrives in Hawaii Amidst Security and Fanfare, Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Slips Quietly into Big Island Resort. Hawaii Independent. When federal authorities visit in January for an extensive review to determine whether Hawaii can deliver on its Race to the Top education pledges, the state will acknowledge stumbling in key initiatives but argue the school system has seen great progress. Star-Advertiser. The Hawaii comptroller's office this year spent $25,000 to replace bird netting wrapped around the third-floor ledge of the state Capitol. Civil Beat. The coqui frogs have been growing in population in the state in recent years and are now starting to show up in larger numbers on Oahu. Associated Press. State roundup for Dec. 26. Associated Press. Oahu Tony Locricchio saw the growing homeless population living in tents on sidewalks and said we must find places for them to live with dignity. KITV4. The city and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands are planning a land swap worth an estimated $30 million to provide the city with a site for a rail maintenance facility in Waipahu. Star-Advertiser. Oahu oceanfront property owners are being given violation notices for blocking public access to beaches. KHON2. The Honolulu City Council may consider a ban on businesses offering plastic bags at checkout counters as early as February if Council Chair Ernie Martin goes through with his plans. Pacific Business News. Hawaii Fireworks are going on sale this week across the island, and the Fire Department is hoping for a soggy New Year. Tribune-Herald. New Year's celebrations and fireworks have been synonymous on Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today. In 2011, one event swept away the rest when it came time to pick the top stories of the year. West Hawaii Today. Maui Maui hotels and resorts are gearing up to host same-sex couples in Hawaii to formalize their relationships starting New Year's Day. Maui News. The state Department of Transportation is weighing options for a major overhaul of Kahului Airport's long runway, after being notified that federal funds would no longer be available to keep patching the aging tarmac. Maui News. State and federal officials announced Friday that they were investigating the deaths of two Hawaiian monk seals on the south shore of Molokai, and a prominent Molokai advocate called on Native Hawaiians to protect the species. Maui News. Kauai After purchasing a home on Kauai nearly two years ago, actor Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith recently sold their property, making a $6.5 million profit. Hawaii News Now. Santa Claus wasn’t the only one on duty this holiday. Across the island, police officers and firefighters were on the clock Sunday, along with restaurant and hotel workers, gas station employees and airport personnel. Garden Island. Many things on the islands nowadays come from China, including The Garden Island’s new managing editor, Renée Haines. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Hawaiian fisherman (c) 2011 All Hawaii News The U.S. Supreme Court has left the door open to hear arguments in a case with potentially broad implications for government benefits awarded exclusively to Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser. Only about half a dozen people showed up at Wahiawa Recreational Center Monday night to hear the Office of Hawaiian Affairs explain the proposed Kakaako land deal to settle ceded-land payments with the state. Civil Beat. Hawaii's 2011 legislative session was packed with debate over hot educational issues. And the new session, which begins January 18, promises to pick up where the drama left off. Civil Beat. An aide for Gov. Neil Abercrombie pleaded no contest Monday to a charge that he refused to leave a Waikiki bar in September. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii-based leaders of the 25th Infantry Division are scheduled to return from Iraq this weekend after a year-long deployment. Star-Advertiser. The earthquake and tsunami in Japan 9 months ago produced up to 25-million tons of debris. As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports … scientists don’t know how much of that trash was swept into the Pacific Ocean … but they are now predicting it will begin landing on Hawai’i’s shores. Hawaii Public Radio. Many of Hawaii's best known universities and high schools are vulnerable to having their names fall into the hands of the online pornography industry. KITV4. State roundup for Dec. 13. Associated Press. Oahu A group of World War II veterans say they were taken aback by how a production crew with the hit TV show Hawaii Five-0 treated them during a visit to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific last Friday. KHON2. It was the "ultimate disrespect" that left their "blood boiling." That is how organizers of a ceremony for World War II veterans at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl describe the conduct of a production crew from the hit television series Hawaii Five-O. Hawaii News Now. Former Gov. Ben Cayetano and others who have joined in a lawsuit against the city's rail transit project will be allowed to continue their court challenge, a federal judge ruled Monday. Star-Advertiser. Seven plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against the City & County of Honolulu and the Federal Transit Administration over the city's planned $5.3 billion rail project, received some good news today. Hawaii Reporter. Comment: What will rail and HOT lanes do for Honolulu? Hawaii Independent. A Hawaii couple on Monday received the first all-electric car delivered by Mitsubishi Motors to a retail customer in the Uniterd States. Associated Press. The company that operated Hawaii's largest puppy mill pleaded no contest Monday to 153 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty in Kaneohe District Court and faces sentencing in February. Star-Advertiser. Occupancy in Waikiki hotels in October helped Oahu set a revenue record, according to data released Monday by a tourism industry consultant company. Associated Press. The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced the opening of the Waikiki-Diamond Head Shoreline Fisheries Management Area O‘ahu to fishing for one year beginning January 1. KHON2. Hawaii Native Hawaiian beneficiaries who have lost hope of attaining homestead land after decades of waiting might soon get a chance through a new project. Star-Advertiser. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants to award leases to beneficiaries who have been on the waiting list the longest. Tribune-Herald. The county Redistricting Commission has scheduled a special meeting Friday to review its County Council map after a West Hawaii Today article revealed that a last-minute change to the map benefited two County Council members by moving them into different districts. West Hawaii Today. Hawaii County's Redistricting Commission will hold a special meeting Friday in Hilo to address alleged gerrymandering, its chairwoman said Monday. Tribune-Herald. A 30-year veteran of the Hawaii Police Department this week will be taking over the helm of Kona patrol operations. West Hawaii Today. Maui The Maui County Charter Commission will gather public comments on 21 proposed charter amendments at a series of meetings starting this week. Maui News. Maui led the state with the highest average daily hotel room rate in October, nearly $210, an 8.1 percent jump over the same month last year, according to the monthly report from Hospitality Advisors Inc. Maui News. An agreement reached Thursday between Hale Makua Health Services and United Public Workers-represented employees will help the agency keep its Wailuku facility open - at least for now. Maui News. Kauai A real-life variation of The Descendants movie is being staged in state Probate Court, where heirs to the Damon Estate, one of Hawaii’s wealthiest family trusts, continue to squabble over nearly $1 billion in land and other assets. Hawaii Reporter. County officials recently announced changes in two of the county’s real property tax relief programs — the circuit breaker and home exemption programs — are now in effect. Garden Island.
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A police sergeant's helmet-cam caught the following video of drunken Honolulu City Councilman Tom Berg arguing with the Secret Service at an APEC event. Civil Beat. Police have released a video of City Councilman Tom Berg arguing loudly and belligerently with Secret Service personnel outside a Waikiki hotel on Nov. 12 after being denied re-entry into an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation reception. Star-Advertiser. In wheelchairs and on walkers, the old veterans came Wednesday to remember the day 70 years ago when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Associated Press. An association of Pearl Harbor survivors founded in 1958 has announced they will be disbanding at the end of the month. Associated Press. State Leaders Search for Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency. Hawaii Public Radio . A limit on the number of charter schools in Hawaii would be lifted if the recommendations of a task force are adopted. Civil Beat. The Waialae Iki census tract in Honolulu had the highest median household in Hawaii in 2010, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey five-year estimates released Thursday. Pacific Business News. Hawaii residents are getting better at paying their mortgages and credit cards on time, and the trend is forecast to continue next year. Star-Advertiser. The Agribusiness Development Corporation has ousted its longtime executive director and hired a new one in a surprise move that some called a power play staged by newer board members. Civil Beat. There's controversy at the State Department of Agriculture over what's called a forced resignation and an inside job on picking the replacement. Hawaii News Now. State tourism leaders gathered in Waikiki Wednesday for a discussion on marketing strategies for 2012. KHON2. Oahu A proposal to ban the practice of storing personal items, including furniture and clothing, in public areas such as sidewalks and parks now goes to Mayor Peter Carlisle, who is expected to sign the bill into law. Star-Advertiser. Lost, Injured Hawaiian Seabirds Find Sanctuary at Sea Life Park. Hawaii Reporter. Pearl Harbor wasn’t always a place of war. Hawaii Independent. Hundreds lined up early to add their name to the list of runners participating in Sunday's 39th annual Honolulu Marathon. KHON2. Hawaii A $23,000 contract to remove a partially collapsed loading dock at Honokohau Small Boat Harbor appears to have been completed by a contractor not licensed for the scope of work, West Hawaii Today has learned. West Hawaii Today. Puna Councilman Fred Blas cast the swing vote Wednesday by joining minority members in defeating a $10 million parks-maintenance plan, which left stunned supporters fuming. Tribune-Herald. A plan to divert $10 million from two Hilo projects on a recent county bond issue to try to quickly put construction workers back on the job failed by one vote Wednesday, when four council members voted to leave the current $56 million bond issue alone. West Hawaii Today. Maui A retreat that brought together members of the Board of Education, public school superintendents, legislators and other state education leaders was a step in the right direction, Baldwin-Kekaulike-Maui Complex Area Superintendent Bruce Anderson said this week. Maui News. Kauai The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday approved a $40,000 request to retain special counsel to defend the county in a lawsuit against a mixed martial arts fighter Tased by a Kaua‘i Police Department officer two years ago. Garden Island. Molokai Richard Schuman, owner of air service provider Makani Kai, confirmed last week his company will begin providing lower-cost flights in and out of Kalaupapa later this month. Molokai Dispatch. The Safari Explorer passenger yacht did not dock last weekend as scheduled after more than 300 community members attended a public meeting last Wednesday night. Molokai Dispatch.
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Thursday, January 26, 2012
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