Hula Planet:What To Do In Hawaii

Tax relief for cash businesses, NRC chides Army for depleted uranium, Lingle in Democrats’ crosshairs, Hawaii farm trafficker case tossed out of…

Aloun Farms courtesy photo In a courtroom disaster for the federal government, prosecutors this morning dismissed all criminal charges against brothers Alec and Mike Sou, accused in 2009 of illegally importing and exploiting farm laborers from Thailand. Hawaii Reporter. Cleared of human trafficking charges, farmers Alec and Mike Sou want to get back to growing crops instead of defending themselves against allegations they forced 44 workers from Thailand to harvest melons, lettuce and pumpkins. Associated Press. Jurors in the Aloun Farms human trafficking case were stunned by the mid-trial dismissal of all charges Thursday, but said it made sense given that the prosecution had put up a weak case. Civil Beat. The abrupt collapse of the federal government's prosecution of the Aloun Farms brothers likely will affect how the court handles the related case against Global Horizons Manpower, several attorneys associated with the cases said. Star-Advertiser. Mike and Alec Sou were just boys when their family arrived as refugees from Laos and began farming a small plot of land in Waianae in 1977, pulling out thorny kiawe bushes and rocks to clear the land. Star-Advertiser. “What a relief!” Kapolei farmer Alex Sou said to the press after the federal government dropped its long-running criminal case against him and his brother, Mike. Hawaii Reporter. After three days of trial in the human trafficking case against the owners of Aloun Farms, federal prosecutors on Thursday made a startling move of asking the presiding judge to throw out the charges "in the interest of justice." Hawaii News Now. Federal prosecutors on Thursday morning dropped charges against two Hawaii businessman on trial in a human trafficking case. KITV4. It was a stunning turn of events. KHON2. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has wrapped up its investigation of depleted uranium at Pohakuloa Training Area and Schofield Barracks by issuing a "Notice of Violation." West Hawaii Today. The manager of the Kona Airport has been disciplined for mismanagement, while the manager of Lihue Airport was fired, after numerous complaints about mismanagement on Kauai. KITV4. National Democrats are setting traps for former Gov. Linda Lingle as she considers a campaign for the U.S. Senate, depicting the Republican as a "partisan bomb-thrower" whose poor judgment led to teacher furloughs that closed public schools. Star-Advertiser. Tax collectors are taking a gentler approach in going after cash business that bend state tax rules. Hawaii News Now. Historic Ewa Airfield proposed site for renewable energy park. KHON2. The ever-changing, ever-growing

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Tax relief for cash businesses, NRC chides Army for depleted uranium, Lingle in Democrats’ crosshairs, Hawaii farm trafficker case tossed out of…

Aloun Farms courtesy photo In a courtroom disaster for the federal government, prosecutors this morning dismissed all criminal charges against brothers Alec and Mike Sou, accused in 2009 of illegally importing and exploiting farm laborers from Thailand. Hawaii Reporter. Cleared of human trafficking charges, farmers Alec and Mike Sou want to get back to growing crops instead of defending themselves against allegations they forced 44 workers from Thailand to harvest melons, lettuce and pumpkins. Associated Press. Jurors in the Aloun Farms human trafficking case were stunned by the mid-trial dismissal of all charges Thursday, but said it made sense given that the prosecution had put up a weak case. Civil Beat. The abrupt collapse of the federal government's prosecution of the Aloun Farms brothers likely will affect how the court handles the related case against Global Horizons Manpower, several attorneys associated with the cases said. Star-Advertiser. Mike and Alec Sou were just boys when their family arrived as refugees from Laos and began farming a small plot of land in Waianae in 1977, pulling out thorny kiawe bushes and rocks to clear the land. Star-Advertiser. “What a relief!” Kapolei farmer Alex Sou said to the press after the federal government dropped its long-running criminal case against him and his brother, Mike. Hawaii Reporter. After three days of trial in the human trafficking case against the owners of Aloun Farms, federal prosecutors on Thursday made a startling move of asking the presiding judge to throw out the charges "in the interest of justice." Hawaii News Now. Federal prosecutors on Thursday morning dropped charges against two Hawaii businessman on trial in a human trafficking case. KITV4. It was a stunning turn of events. KHON2. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has wrapped up its investigation of depleted uranium at Pohakuloa Training Area and Schofield Barracks by issuing a "Notice of Violation." West Hawaii Today. The manager of the Kona Airport has been disciplined for mismanagement, while the manager of Lihue Airport was fired, after numerous complaints about mismanagement on Kauai. KITV4. National Democrats are setting traps for former Gov. Linda Lingle as she considers a campaign for the U.S. Senate, depicting the Republican as a "partisan bomb-thrower" whose poor judgment led to teacher furloughs that closed public schools. Star-Advertiser. Tax collectors are taking a gentler approach in going after cash business that bend state tax rules. Hawaii News Now. Historic Ewa Airfield proposed site for renewable energy park. KHON2. The ever-changing, ever-growing

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Just sayin’ : It’s called a privilege for reporters, but the ones it really protects are the citizens, the whistleblowers

What if Water- gate had never hap- pened? What if whistle- blowers like Erin Brockovich were afraid to expose corporate and government wrongdoing that endanger people’s lives? What would our nation look like if everyday citizens were intimidated into keeping crucial information from the press? What if the police, or trial lawyers seeking millions of dollars in damages, didn’t have to do their own legwork, bringing that burden of proof to a jury in the tried-and-true tradition of a judicial system guaranteeing civil rights? What if they could, instead, just scribble out a subpoena and grab a reporter’s notes about things that were told in trust and confidence? That, my friends, is life without a shield law, also known as reporter’s privilege. It’s called a privilege for reporters, but the ones it really protects are the citizens, the whistleblowers. Hawaii has such a shield law. Or it does, at least, until June 30. That’s the date the current law runs out, unless lawmakers make it permanent. This limited news media privilege against the compelled disclosure of sources and unpublished information has successfully protected a journalist and a documentary film producer in Hawaii since it was enacted two years ago. More importantly, it has stood as a model for other states and a beacon to a free press, preventing untold subpoenas and threats to the exercise of journalistic endeavors. It is difficult to quantify the negative, so it is not known how many journalists were not compelled to turn over their notes and sources because of the shield law. In short, however, there has been no documented harm to the state because of the shield law, and at least two cases where the law served its purpose in furthering a free press. The state House sees the value in such a law. Bills by both the House Majority and the House Minority came forth this session to make the temporary law permanent. Talk about bipartisan support. The House unanimously passed the bill March 3 and sent it along to the Senate. There it sits, with an April 8 deadline for a hearing, or it dies a quiet death. But not to act, is itself, an action, is it not? There’s still time to get HB 1376 to a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Not a lot of time, granted. But time. Let’s at least get this important bill heard. You can do your part by contacting Senate Judiciary Chairman Clayton Hee. Thirty-eight states, plus the District of Columbia, have substantial protections in place, according to the The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Should Hawaii -- the Aloha State, the state that embraces privacy and individual liberties even more than most – be the state that fails to protect that brave individual who comes forward to voice concerns about wrongdoing and corruption?

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Hawaii lawmakers face civil unions, medical marijuana, appointed education board, state of the state, school librarians checking out, bank profits…

Photo (c) 2011 All Hawaii News The Office of Hawaiian Affairs spent $3,192,547 on lobbyists for the Akaka bill — legislation that has failed to pass since it was first introduced 10 years ago. Civil Beat. Governor Neil Abercrombie will deliver his first State of the State address Monday morning. KHON2. Hawaii Public Radio will carry Governor Neil Abercrombie's first State of the State address to the Hawaii legislature on Monday. Hawaii Public Radio . Civil Union Bills to be Heard Tuesday. Hawaii Reporter . A state Senate committee is set to consider legislation that would grant the governor authority to appoint members of the state Board of Education. Associated Press . Medical Marijuana Expansion Proposed. Senators Want More Patients To Have Easier Access To Medical Pot. KITV4. U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono says more than 20,000 seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries in Hawaii have received $250 checks to help cover the gap in their prescription drug coverage. Associated Press. Honolulu officials are asking a state commission for an extension on a deadline to shut down the city-owned Waimanalo Gulch Landfill. Associated Press . City Council members Stanley Chang and Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo hope to get answers this morning on how to prevent future disasters at the city's only landfill like the Jan. 13 release of unknown amounts of medical waste onto Oahu's Leeward beaches. Star-Advertiser. The Environmental Protection Agency and state Department of Health and have opened an investigation into the January 13 landfill breach that sent an estimated 7.5 million gallons of contaminated water and an unknown amount of toxic soil, trash, fecal matter and human medical waste into west Oahu’s ocean waters. Hawaii Reporter. Keeping up with maintenance difficult for government. West Hawaii Today. State Rep. D. Mele Carroll and three other Maui candidates could be fined for failing to file required campaign spending reports for the 2010 election. Maui News. Kahuku Wind (KW), the first wind farm Oahu has seen in over 20 years, will be going live in February when the clean energy goes directly into the grid to Oahu’s homes and businesses. Hawaii Independent. Hawaiian Airlines on Friday announced a corporate restructuring that involves eliminating 30 nonunion jobs and creating approximately 50 new ones. Pacific Business News Following a public meeting last August, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will be holding a second public hearing regarding proposed amendments to the rules and regulations of the State Land Use Conservation District. Molokai Dispatch. Big Island school librarians are increasingly checking out, without any renewals in sight. Tribune-Herald. There's a proposal to create a campground for the homeless at Sand Island state park. KITV4. Bank of Hawaii, second largest Hawaii bank, has logged a $40.6 million fourth quarter profit, up $100,000 from the same quarter a year earlier despite lower revenue, and cited a slowly improving Hawaii economy. Hawaii News Now. Ocean lovers can spy on parrotfish, monitor water quality and participate in other scientific research through a program that aims to enlist the community to help protect a West Maui reef. Maui News. Kaua‘i Community College is offering an all-new training program in the fundamentals of tropical agriculture. Garden Island. A former B-2 stealth bomber engineer from Hawaii convicted of selling military secrets to China is due to be sentenced in federal court on Monday. Associated Press. A Florida man who pleaded guilty to federal charges of bilking four Hawaii investors out of $250,000 and scores of others in a Ponzi scheme is set to be sentenced. Associated Press. A Maui man who spent nearly 20 years in prison in the rape of a woman during a burglary is getting a fresh chance at freedom after his original convictions were overturned based on new DNA evidence. Star-Advertiser . A circuit court jury found the woman who beat a peacock to death not guilty of animal cruelty late Friday afternoon. KITV4. Vidinha Stadium received a major makeover over the last several months. Garden Island. With no confirmed sightings of Kimberly Jacobs since her 2008 disappearance, many who knew the Waikiki woman say the time had come to accept that she is gone. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii visitor spending up, Obama goes snorkeling, Abercrombie continues birther battle, Kauai budget woes, fireworks sales up, state drivers face…

Visitor spending in Hawaii jumped more than 30 percent in November to $976 million, reflecting double-digit increases on all islands for the third consecutive month, according to figures released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority yesterday. Star-Advertiser. Spending in Hawaii by tourists and other visitors in November skyrocketed by almost a third compared to a year ago. Associated Press. President Barack Obama spent yesterday morning on the beach and afternoon on the golf course, both favorite destinations during his vacations in Hawaii. Associated Press. Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie wants to find a way to release more information about President Barack Obama's birth and dispel conspiracy theories that he was born elsewhere. Garden Island. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie wants to find a way to release more information about President Barack Obama's birth and dispel conspiracy theories that he was born elsewhere. KHON2. Chevron's Campbell Industrial Park refinery suffered a break down on Tuesday, company officials confirmed. KITV4. There are concerns over Hawaii's supply of gasoline as the year comes to an end, along with dire predictions for future prices at the pump. KITV4. Here in Hawaii, we are now seeing the highest gas prices of the entire year. KHON2. For those ringing in the new year by drinking in the new year, take note: Hawaii's new ignition interlock law takes effect Saturday. Star-Advertiser. Residents convicted of drunken driving will soon have to install sophisticated breath-monitoring devices on their vehicles if they want to legally drive. West Hawaii Today. The county administration recently released its financial report for Fiscal Year 2010, which ended June 30, revealing a dim light at the end of the tunnel. Garden Island. It's been a busy year for Honolulu police homicide investigators. The number of killings on Oahu has spiked from last year. Hawaii News Now. There was a noticeable buzz among the steady stream of customers moving through the fireworks aisles at the Kaheka Street Don Quijote store yesterday. Star-Advertiser. After surveying the damage Tuesday, it looks like we got off lucky. Sure there's clean-up to do, but considering how hard it rained Monday night, the mess isn't all that bad. Hawaii News Now. The manager of Kobashigawa Farm said rain pounded down for six hours Monday night, while rising water flooded the green onion fields at the Waianae farm. KITV4. State regulators have allowed Castle & Cooke to develop a 120-acre solar power farm near Mililani without facing competitive bidding. Associated Press . The Department of Health has extended its Brown Water Advisory for Oahu, advising people to stay out of waters near river mouths and harbors. Hawaii News Now. State and county officials are warning the public about potentially unhealthy brown water at beaches due to heavy rains. Maui News. Tenants at a state housing project in Waimanalo have been given two days to get rid of their washing machines, because they're not hooked up to sewage lines and instead empty into storm drains or onto the grass. KITV4. County attorneys are petitioning the 3rd Circuit Court to expedite their civil case against the insurance company holding the bond for the Mamalahoa bypass, while the County Council chairman says he favors issuing a new bond to get construction going, while seeking reimbursement through that insurance company. West Hawaii Today. The funeral service for retired federal Judge Samuel Pailthorpe King will be held Wednesday at St. Andrews’s Cathedral. Hawaii Reporter. Wailuku businessman Lloyd Kimura pleaded guilty to four counts of securities violations in 2nd Circuit Court Tuesday morning. Maui News. American Community Survey indicates North Shore community has one of Hawaii's most dramatically improved local economies. Civil Beat. The Ewa District on Oahu is fast resembling any other cookie-cutter suburb. Hawaii Independent. State Rep. Bob Herkes is questioning what he calls a lack of competition in contracts for the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates water project and he's scheduled a Jan. 6 fact-finding hearing. West Hawaii Today. A swimmer at King's Landing in Keaukaha who reportedly waved to onlookers and shouted for help Monday afternoon drowned before a rescue diver was able to retrieve him. Tribune-Herald. A Texas court has blocked the release of an autopsy report on surfing champion Andy Irons at the request of his widow. Associated Press. Creating a modern "Hawaii Five-0" was as intimidating as any drama Peter Lenkov could imagine. Star-Advertiser .

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Hawaii losing trade winds, NYT blasts state for ignoring human trafficking case, jobless rate down, good place for young people to live, bad place to…

Whether it was the result of curiosity, nostalgic loyalty or the millions of dollars CBS spent on promotion, the network premiere Monday night of the new "Hawaii Five-0" was a hit. Star-Advertiser. Trade winds are a big reason we call Hawaii paradise. But a new study by the Hawaii Climate Office has documented a significant drop in the frequency of trade winds -- enough that the state climatologist said he is very concerned. KITV. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Hawaii had one of the nation's largest over-the-month percentage decreases in employment in August. Associated Press. In an Ugly Human-Trafficking Case, Hawaii Forgets Itself. New York Times. A former state Department of Labor inspector is facing charges that he used other people's names personal information to verify inspections he didn't perform. Star-Advertiser. The state says changes are on the way to the food stamp program. KHON2. Honolulu has been named one of America's best communities for young people by America's Promise Alliance, a group committed to reducing high school dropout rates and promoting safer environments for young people. Hawaii News Now. Two reports released in September rank roads in Hawaii among the worst in the nation. Hawaii News Now. City Council members will try today to pass a consumer fireworks law for Oahu that falls short of a complete ban. Star-Advertiser The first election in a three-election pilot program judging the impact of public campaign funding on Hawaii County Council races is showing mixed results. West Hawaii Today. Two Hawaii legislators don't have to give up their current positions as they campaign for higher office. Associated Press . Even before Saturday's primary election, many activists had already turned their attention to a constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2 general election ballot. Civil Beat. Ever wonder why blank ballots on Hawaii's constitutional amendments count as "no" votes? We did, too. Civil Beat. Hawaii gov. candidates begin fall short on funding. Associated Press. The Republican Party's plan to sit back and watch Hawaii Democrats tear themselves apart in the gubernatorial primary has already failed, said Neil Abercrombie. Tribune-Herald. In their first joint news conference at Honolulu Hale, acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell welcomed Mayor-elect Peter Carlisle to promote a successful changing of the guard, but the very office in which they stood, quickly became a source of tension. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii Democrats know a thing or two about unity, Democratic House of Representative candidate Colleen Hanabusa said Monday. West Hawaii Today. A former Hawaii Navy family has received an $11 million settlement after a daughter suffered permanent brain damage when she was delivered by young and inexperienced Tripler Army Medical Center doctors who put the newborn through "a series of egregious medical errors," the family's lawyers said yesterday. Star-Advertiser. More than 5,000 job seekers from across the state filtered into the Neal Blaisdell Center on Tuesday for a job fair with more than 160 different employers present. KITV. The annual "Get the Drift and Bag It" event gets under way Saturday with a partnership aimed at cleaning Maui's coastal areas. Maui News. A proposal to build a new community on the Big Island is aimed at creating affordable housing, much needed jobs and more importantly schools where every child goes to college. KHON2. South Maui County Council Member Wayne Nishiki and challenger Don Couch split 38 Maui County precincts, taking 19 each, and tied in one in their primary election day contest. Maui News. Dr. Rebecca “Becky” Rhoades confirmed Tuesday that she stepped down last week as the long-time executive director of the Kaua‘i Humane Society. Garden Island.

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PUC: Smart grid dumb idea, cable repair could take weeks, WWII munitions no danger yet, lawyers speak out on chief justice pick, more

Hawaii regulators have rejected plans for a broad expansion of smart grid electric technology that would have been paid for by residents and bus- inesses. Asso- ciated Press. When it comes to repairing a severed fiber-optic cable 3,000 feet under the sea, it won't be as simple as calling the cable guy. Star-Advertiser. Internet, cable television and telephone service began returning to normal Tuesday afternoon for thousands of Oceanic Time Warner Cable customers after a break in an undersea fiber-optic cable disrupted service about 12 hours earlier. Maui News. A rare break in an undersea fiber-optic cable Tuesday morning, left around 400,000 people without Internet, phone and TV service, for 12 hours in some cases. Hawaii News Now. Oahu resident Ian Kurihara discovered early Tuesday morning he wasn't able to go online. KITV. A wind farm on Oahu's North Shore is receiving a big boost in federal funding. KHON2. Chemical weapons dumped off Pearl Harbor after World War II pose no threat to humans for now but are "clearly deteriorating" and should continue to be monitored, the lead scientist on the University of Hawaii project said Tuesday. Associated Press . They're safe for now. There's no threat to humans or the ocean so far. Hawaii News Now. The Hawaii Women Lawyers will be expressing their strong support of Gov. Linda Lingle's appoint- ment of appeals Judge Katherine Leonard as the next chief justice, a spokeswoman for the group said yesterday. Star-Advertiser. In a letter to the Hawaii Bar Association, attorney Eric Seitz calls Katherine Leonard "ill equipped and unqualified" to be Hawaii's next Chief Justice. Hawaii News Now. After failing at its first bid for federal Race to the Top funds, Hawaii has placed among 19 finalists with its second application for one of the coveted education grants. Civil Beat. A West Hawaii ranch owner says a local business owner who bought part of Hokukano Ranch is cutting down old-growth sandalwood in the upper reaches of the property. West Hawaii Today. Recreational off-road vehicles have damaged much of the terrain at Kaena Point. KHON2. A city contractor working on a 42-inch main that broke late last week in Pearl City accidentally severed the 30-inch backup force main near the 14th hole of the Ted Makalena Golf Course, causing a spill of about 108,000 gallons of sewage yesterday. Star-Advertiser. Officials posted signs warning of a sewage spill are being posted along the Pearl Harbor bike path and at Middle Loch. KITV. Hawaii County property taxes are leaving the state this year. But don't worry, say county administrators, the money will come back. West Hawaii Today. Hawaii's "Sunshine Law" is hampering the County Council and should be overturned, says North Kona Councilman Kelly Greenwell. Tribune-Herald. A forum on the topic of “In Search of Real Security for Kaua‘i” will include remarks by Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, D-2nd District. Garden Island. Local divers will be competing in a tournament targeting invasive fish. The "Westside Roi Reckoning" takes place Saturday off Kahe Point. Hawaii News Now.

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