Entries for November 2021

... The poll of nearly 1,000 Hawaii residents also found significant agreement that private firms should be more involved in delivering public services ....

... when a risk of an accident is detected by the algorithm based on the data captured by the drive recorder, effective safety measures such as notifying the operations manager of the relevant company and/or encouraging the driver to take a break ....

“...County of Hawai‘i has failed to meet its legal commitment to modernize wastewater infrastructure....”

... Full Video of HPD News Conference .... 

... Applicants are being sought for 63 vacancies on various Maui County boards, commissions, councils and committees ....

... if the requested policy changes were in place, this would not have changed the outcome of the present case. A threat to shoot and kill another student is, and must be considered to be, "a threat of significant harm to someone," which you acknowledge is something officers could arrest a student for on school property. Thus, the arrest of your client on school property is consistent with your own assessment of the situation. ...

... A logo depicting a crown slightly evocative of a pineapple alongside "Hilo, Hawaii" did not persuade a federal judge to accept claims that King's Hawaiian misleads customers into believing its rolls are actually made in Hawaii ....

... a Maui County Council proposal that aspires to create more housing on Maui by phasing out about 7,000 vacation rentals ....

... Both HESD and DOH plan to expand the program to other selected alternative care sites throughout O’ahu and Neighbor Islands. Other alternative sites are being identified and may be ready by the end of this year ....

... More than 100 public schools are registered to host vaccination clinics in the coming weeks ....

... In 2019, Gov. Ige signed Kal’s Law, which allowed individuals with a qualifying disability to work full-time at minimum wage without losing state or federal benefits. This year, Gov. Ige signed a bill that became Act 55 — which removes the practice of paying individuals a sub-minimum wage based solely on the fact the individual has a disability ....

... Grassroot Institute submitted an amicus curiae brief in support of the plaintiffs, arguing that the practice was eroding public trust in government and short-circuiting the democratic process ....

... The Honolulu City Council wants to raise money for the Honolulu Police Department by adding a surcharge to traffic fines .... 

... cruise ships that are registered in Bermuda or the Bahamas are required to sail to Fanning Island, 1,000 miles to the south of Hawaii ....

... The cost of moving up in Hawaii is 84.9% higher than the national average ....

... Hawaiian Electric sets goal of 70% carbon reduction by 2030, envisions zero emissions by 2045 ....

... Nomination period opens on November 13th, 2021 ....

... three of the seven are seeking reappointment ....

... After learning that Embry Health was collecting specimens for COVID-19 tests in Hawai‘i, DOH made repeated attempts to work with Embry Health to secure the necessary certification or approval. Embry Health withdrew its application for certification on October 19....

... charge being reduced to $100/kilowatts (kW) per year for the full 208 MW, as compared to $164.35/kW per year for the first 180 MW ....

... Bill 41 Relating to Transient Accommodations was transmitted to the Council by the Honolulu Planning Commission last month and is scheduled for First Reading at its full Council meeting on Nov. 10, 2021 ....

... the Ballot Tracking System will be available for the upcoming Kauai Prosecutor Special Election and then for Statewide Elections and Primaries in 2022 ....

... The Hawaii Supreme Court, in a 3-2 decision, dealt a serious blow to the Legislature’s “gut and replace” tactic ....

... Services from all programs in the department will be available Wednesdays through Fridays. Telephone appointments for general unemployment insurance and claims adjudication services will continue on Mondays and Tuesdays ....

... he engaged in a bribery scheme wherein he solicited a sexual relationship with a female motorist in exchange for an official act as an MPD officer ....

...A Tax Break for the Rich Could End up Being the Largest Part of the 'Build Back Better' Plan....

... Clinicians are also seeking a state investigation into Kaiser’s violation of laws ensuring parity for mental health care ....

... the University of Hawaiʻi Better (Worse) Tomorrow Speaker Series will host a live, online conversation featuring San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm and federal public defender Minda Yamaga ....

... lump-sum entry fees assessed on visitors only are legally problematic in the U.S. as they may be judged to impede travel between states and discriminate against non-residents in violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws ....

... The Hawai‘i Department of Health is authorizing certified vaccination providers to administer Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children age 5-11 immediately ....

... Kawakami: New state order ‘essentially forces’ vaccine requirements ....

... The State of Hawaiʻi will welcome international travelers under the new federal requirements starting next Monday, Nov. 8 ....

... Many Hawaii policymakers support the protectionist federal shipping law, but a new survey indicates they might be out of step with Hawaii's public ....

... Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation Calls On Navy To Improve Accountability To Public On Hawai‘i Fuel Operations, Plans To Ensure Health And Safety Of Oahu Residents ....

... the Maui County Transient Accommodations Tax (MCTAT) goes into effect November 1, 2021 ....

... eliminating TVR use from these subject condominiums would result in a possible loss of $23 million in revenue annually, and upwards of $74 million in annual revenue lost overall ....

... Jeff Bezos' Gulf Stream leads parade of 400 private jets into COP26 ....

... to abandon the Puako solar and storage project due to elevated interconnection costs coupled with global supply chain and production issues, as well as tariffs and trade disputes specifically affecting the photovoltaic solar industry ....

... Arlene-Anela Kekoolani, 30, of Honolulu, Hawaii, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin ....

"...some of these folks have refused offers of shelter or transitional housing...."

... “Who speaks for Native Hawaiians?” and how disagreements are resolved when Native Hawaiians disagree ....

... The financial literacy feedback form is open until November 15 ....

... the federal funds made it unnecessary for our legislators to take all of the TAT funds. But they did it anyway ....