September 26, 2010 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Sunday, September 26, 2010

September 26, 2010 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 1:43 PM :: 9034 Views

Aiona accepts eight debate invitations, Abercrombie REJECTS two

Abercrombie and Aiona agree to 2 TV debates, Abercrombie rejects two

After a week of behind-the-scenes negotiations, former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona have committed to several debates and forums in the campaign for governor.

The two candidates have agreed to at least two televised debates -- on the PBS "Insights" show on Oct. 14 and on KITV on Oct. 22 -- as well as forums sponsored by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kaiser Permanente, the Good Beginnings Alliance and the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce.

Aiona has conditionally accepted televised debates on Hawaii News Now and KHON, while the Abercrombie campaign has declined the invitations from both stations. Several other joint forums are still on the table.

Aiona, Finnegan to hold voter meeting in Mililani

HONOLULU (AP) - The Republican candidates for the state's top two posts are set to meet voters in Mililani.

Gubernatorial candidate James "Duke" Aiona and lieutenant governor contender Lynn Finnegan will hold the gathering on Sunday at 6 p.m. at Mililani High School.

Abercrombie admits his education reform proposals based on failed Act 51 disaster

Abercrombie, the Democratic candidate for governor, says a lack of support for the law by Gov. Linda Lingle severely hampered the ability to make changes. He believes true decentralization will take a significant amount of planning and implementation discipline, with the governor as the primary driver.

"There is a good reason why many of the best aspects of Act 51 are contained in my plan -- decentralized school systems work, and large school districts across the country have been moving in this direction for years," Abercrombie said in a statement. "In addition to aspects of Act 51, my plan integrates the new reforms of President Obama's Race to the Top initiatives."

Aiona, the Republican candidate for governor, ~~says~~ points out that the education-reform law has not worked as intended.

"It hasn't," he said. "They haven't achieved what, in theory, they said they were going to achieve. And we're back at the same place."

Omidyar’s Kanu Hawaii claims not to be an Abercrombie group

We undertook this work without any agenda other than boosting civic participation. We did not do it to push any particular issue or candidate. This is a point worthy of emphasis since we thought a recent Sunday Star-Advertiser article implied that Kanu Hawaii is a Democratic organization that supported Neil Abercrombie's campaign for governor ("Message of unity trumps ethnic appeal," Sept. 19).

In fact, we are a nonpartisan organization that chose not to support candidates in this election. Many of our members chose to work on campaigns this year, including the Hannemann, Abercrombie and Aiona campaigns. They were not working on behalf of Kanu, but as citizens volunteering their own time.

Message of unity trumps ethnic appeal: “Abercrombie found the rank-and-file Democrats who had supported former Govs. George Ariyoshi, John Waihee and Ben Cayetano and brought them over. At the same time, he recruited a cadre of young, socially conscious Democrats from such organizations as Kanu Hawaii.”

REALITY: Kanu Hawai personnel are at the core of the Abercrombie campaign and at the core of the SOS protests by UHPA members against furloughs in the Governor’s office.

As explained: Advertiser sides with “sustainability” billionaires, Furloughs: How Unions and the DoE aim to co-opt protesting parents

More Omidyar propaganda: Slavery or fertile fields?

"Sustainability" drives today's farmers (There is no such thing as “sustainability.” It is the Valhalla of the eco-religion.)

They came from around the state: ranchers and farmers gathering to hear about the latest techniques and technology, to show their products and to network at last week's Hawaii Agricultural Conference at the Ihilani Resort in Ko Olina.

They listened to speakers such as Kyle Datta, a founding partner with Pierre and Pam Omidyar's Ulupono Initiative, which will be investing in sustainable agricultural projects; learned how M&H Kaneshiro Farm on Kauai speeds composting by using green waste as bedding in its pig pens; and munched on a "Gourmet Locavore Lunch" based on Kanu Hawaii's Eat Local Challenge.

This was the new face of agriculture in Hawaii: smarter, more streamlined and focused. (“Smarter” is a code word for “controlled by the conscious, enlightened, and progressive elite in order to grow the halal food of the eco-religion”)

The National Agricultural Statistics Service says Hawaii's paid agricultural workforce is down to an estimated 6,250.

Recent headlines suggest that might be a factor in some disturbing revelations. (See? It was beyond the Sous’ control.)

Brothers Alex and Mike Sou, who operate 3,000-acre Aloun Farms in Kapolei, go to trial in November on charges related to human trafficking. They are accused of tricking 44 workers from Thailand into coming to Hawaii and then essentially enslaving them….

Loke sees change coming in small increments.

"Think about it," he says. "If you talk about pumpkins ... before Aloun (Farms), we were importing all of our pumpkins. Now I think we may be 80 percent self-sufficient. Watermelon? I'm sure we're at least 75 percent. We could be totally self-sufficient in pineapples and papayas. Chinese cabbage and head cabbage? Definitely. Sweet potatoes? Definitely. Herbs, for sure.

"It will take time, but I think we can get there." (But first we have to get our buddies out of this slavery rap.)

(BTW: EVERY PERSON IN THEIS MESS LEADS RIGHT BACK TO NEIL ABERCROMBIE)

REALITY: Star-Advertiser & Abercrombie sing duet on Religion: Only we the elite may draw lines between right and wrong, Green hypocrites: Case & Omidyar’s Maui Land & Pine tied to human trafficking case

Obama e-mail urges support for Hanabusa for Congress

"Obviously, she needs help because of his unpopular policies and the drag that he has put on all Democratic candidates across the country," Dylan Nonaka, executive director of the state GOP, said of Obama.

Richard Rapoza, the director of communications for the Hanabusa campaign, said Hanabusa was pleased to have the president's support.

REMEMBER THIS? Obama to Inouye: Dump Hanabusa

Political Radar: Obama `dem

Democrat Borreca still bitter because Manoa liberal Caldwell is unemployed

Perhaps Carlisle and Chin won't need that much vigor, but the pair will need to learn how to get things done while dealing with a Council rooting for the Council to win, not the mayor….

"If it is really going to work, the relationship has got to be almost incestuous."

Order No. 2 for Carlisle is to get his Cabinet approved by the Council. Then we will see how well Carlisle can negotiate.

Hint: "I don't negotiate with terrorists or Council members" is not the right strategy. (Hint: Carlisle never said anything like this.)

(How many more Manoa liberals will be unemployed after Nov 2? Will the Manoa liberal in the White House survive the 2012 elections?)

John Willoughby Answers 10 Questions From Civil Beat

Read John Willoughby's responses to 10 questions from Civil Beat. His Democratic opponent for the 2nd Congressional District seat, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, also shared answers to the same questions.

Hannemann’s Landslide Loss Calls For Re-evaluation of Honolulu’s $5.5 Billion Fixed-Rail Project and Openness

BY BEVERLY ANN DEEPE KEEVER - The landslide loss of Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the governor’s race seems to signal public concern about his elevated fixed-rail project costing $5.5 billion – amounting to about $4,500 for every person in Hawaii – or else about his heavy-handed process that stifled citizen and expert discussion.

Another Energy Audit Criticizes 'Lethargic' Stimulus Spending

Last week, I did a story on the first two audits, which showed Hawaii has barely touched its share of stimulus money received for energy projects.

Hawaii again didn't fare well in the latest audit. But we're not alone. (Good. That means there is still a chance for Congress to cancel this boondoggle.)

REALITY: Wind Energy's Ghosts

Drug suit could net millions for state: State lawyers want the settlements revealed after reaching a deal with the last defendant

Hawaii is expected to recover tens of millions of dollars from out-of-court settlements with drug manufacturers accused of gouging the state for Medicaid prescriptions.

The state sued more than 40 pharmaceutical companies four years ago, alleging that they inflated their prices, resulting in the state overpaying for drugs for tens of thousands of Medicaid patients here.

The amounts the companies will pay have not been disclosed because of an order by Circuit Judge Gary Chang prohibiting the release of those details.

Protesters rally against planned hotel in Haleiwa

Took them all week to rally. They are getting lethargic.

County Council again delays ethics reform

"Without the amendments, this will really restrict our county's employees' families getting contract work in other divisions, like in (Parks and) Recreation, (being employed as) an official for a basketball game or a baseball game," Onishi said.

(Or a Golden Bulldozer, or dry well cleaning. Of course this fake problem could be solved by an amendment restricting the regulations to apply only to a contractor who nets a certain amount or higher. But if they introduced such an amendment, they wouldn't have this fake issue to use to save their friends.)

Risky fish?

Sierra Club continues its war against fish farming—while elsewhere continuing to attack fishing. Result? No food.

State removing people, ungulates, dangerous rocks from Kalalau

Yup. People are just like rocks and animals to the eco religion.