Entries for April 2015

Senator Slom says, "We should have learned something from the Kamamalu Building."

OHA leaders have emphasized the need for all parties to address the unresolved legal matter$ while the TMT construction moratorium remains in place....

Today is 2nd Decking, which means that all bills must be in their FINAL FORM so that the chamber they are in can vote on them....

The Nature Conservancy uses aerial shooting of ungulates, fencing and eradication, and supports eliminating non-native animal populations....

...this type of rent-seeking activity is at the root of Hawaii’s high cost of living and lack of economic diversity....

The prior two years we had protests of A’ole GMO and now it’s moved onto the TMT....

...bills relating to leave policy, workers’ compensation, and workplace complaints/protections....

Formerly, the resolution only considered the Washington State ferry as a model, but now it has been expanded to other possible jurisdictions as well....

...in Hawaii, the cost to receive long term care services at home with a home health aide has increased over the past five years....

"UNITE HERE Local 5 is attending municipal public meetings and speaking directly with elected policymakers."

As part of the on-site assessment, the public is invited to phone in comments....

House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke provided only one hour notice for a 14-bill hearing she was holding this afternoon....

"It is another example of our state failing to be transparent."

...an important step toward solving health cost issues as well as the state's physician shortage....

...5-year strategic plan for outdoor recreation....

The only way to contain costs is to force HART to live within its current means....

...MapOahuAgLand.com, provides information on the legal basis for IAL, the city’s process to map IAL, upcoming community meetings and announcements, and resource maps that show various characteristics of potential IAL....

...Ige today announced his nominations to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Labor and Industrial Relations and the Office of Information Management and Technology....

How a Roll Commissioner funneled over $600K to a company headed by his girlfriend....

Yesterday, Hawaii legislators voted to take bill Senate Bill 1280 into conference....

The Hawaii GET taxes many products multiple times and, by one estimate, ultimately taxes 99.21 percent of the state's personal income....

"Affordable Housing Maui Style" - from NewGeography.com....

...Unlike all other states in the union Hawaii has a go-it-alone policy and lets the attorney general’s office keep a running tally....

"I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney."

“State of American Well-Being: 2014 Community Well-Being Rankings” examines the comparative well-being of the largest 100 communities in the United States....

Suzanne Case is a 28-year veteran of The Nature Conservancy and has served as its executive director since 2001....

...details for the House Finance Committee to work out in a hearing now set for Wednesday April 8 at 2pm in room 308....

...attorney Lance Collins lodged a complaint on behalf of two of his clients regarding the actions of Rep. Karl Rhoads while he was chair of a special investigating committee looking into former Speaker Calvin Say....

"The people of Hawaii need us more than ever before."

... from January 27, 2011, through and including January 27, 2014, Oki perpetrated four separate and distinct fraudulent reimbursement schemes against PKF Pacific Hawaii ....

"It brings relief to our beleaguered taxpayers and small businesses, and balances our state finances in the long term."

...its field of vision is so narrow that it would be of little use against what experts consider the likeliest attack: a stream of missiles interspersed with decoys....

...statistics on the number of establishments, receipts or revenue, payroll, number of employees and other items by industry....

Dr. Michael P. Hamnett shares insights as Research Corporation of UH Director and also discusses current happenings at the University of Hawaii....

...They were under the impression that the bond sale process needed to begin by June 30 of this year. “No,” said the Department of Attorney General, “the law says that the bond sale needs to be DONE by June 30.”...

"...Obviously, OHA can no longer afford to keep spending generously with no accountability...."

Unknown to perhaps everyone at the time, the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative (HCEI) Energy Agreement died in September of last year....

...one week before 2nd legislative decking....

It's not often that we say a law review article is a "must-read."...

...this study projects housing demand for the period of 2015 to 2025 using the variables of projected population growth, visitor growth, and vacancy rates....

The reason for these new costs? "Administrative bloat," which is also known as a decline in the teaching faculty to administrative staff ratio....

“You guys’ profiling her is going to be like the kiss of death.”

...This 12-part series by entomologist Anthony Shelton is the first comprehensive article about a genetically engineered crop, in this case, GE papaya in Hawaii....

The appointments are subject to confirmation by the senate....

...Mauna Kea: OHA Demands $50M Payoff for Mountain....

...the use of the terms ‘natural,’ ‘herbal,’ and ‘extract,’ mislead consumers about the contents of herbal and dietary supplements....

There are several State regulatory issues that need to be resolved prior to attempting to establish a Hawaii interisland ferry and are at least as important as the technical modeling, facilities and feasibility considerations....

...Since decoupling, total 'baseline expenditures' increased 229%--from $161M to $368M....