April 25, 2009 News Read > Hawaii Free Press

Hawaii Daily News Read

Saturday, April 25, 2009

April 25, 2009 News Read
By Andrew Walden @ 7:58 PM :: 8027 Views

Tax-Delinquent List: Athlete, Capitol Lawyer, Doctors

The state has carried through with its promise to post names and balances owed by its biggest tax offenders, publishing late yesterday a Web page listing people and companies that together owe more than $17.4 million.

The state sent letters earlier this month to alleged tax scofflaws who owed $23 million in taxes, penalties and interest. They were informed their names would be listed on the Web site, http://hawaii.gov/tax/a2_b2_2delinq.htm, if they didn't make arrangements to pay.

RELATED: SB: Past Due , Advertiser coverage

Maui: Pared-down budget gets preliminary OK (no TAT)

Councilors worked line by line to trim Mayor Charmaine Tavares' proposed $572.5 million budget to fit Chairman Joe Pontanilla's $551.5 million counterproposal. Council members on Thursday voted down a proposal by Pontanilla to help cover a shortfall by raising the gas tax by 2 cents a gallon, which would have generated $1.4 million. The measure died in a 5-4 vote, with Council Chairman Danny Mateo and members Bill Medeiros, Gladys Baisa, Mike Molina and Sol Kahoohalahala saying no.

DBEDT: A high-tech agency might be the target of another state audit

The ink on a state audit faulting the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism for poor leadership and flawed procurement procedures is barely dry, but already the department is facing another probe.

After listening to nearly six hours of testimony yesterday in regard to state auditor Marion Higa's scathing departmental audit, state senators say they will push for another audit exploring allegations that one of DBEDT's attached agencies, the Hawaii Strategic Development Corp., could have entered into "sweet deals" with its venture capital partners.

Hawaii unlikely to ban new power plants

"A ban causes the utilities to readjust their thinking. If they don't have the option of this mix of biomass and fossil fuel, then they'll be forced to look at more attractive alternatives like solar, wind and wave power," said Jeff Mikulina, executive director for the Blue Planet Foundation, whose mission is to make Hawaii energy independent.

(BUTWHO IS GOING TO FORCE THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO CHANGE THEIR THINKING??? --SEE NEXT ARTICLE.)

Residents question new wind turbine site

"It's not good if it's right here," he said, noting that West Wind Works LLC's site is about a quarter mile away. "It's going to have a negative impact on property values."

Carol Anamizu, a ti leaf farmer, said she lives about a half mile from the towers and feels the company needs to talk with the community about its plan...."For myself, I'm not too happy. It might be an eyesore."

Bills would avert Kahana Valley evictions

'Ahupua'a O Kahana Valley State Park was created as a living park, and up to 31 families were granted leases to live there in exchange for performing cultural activities for the public for 25 hours a month.

Las Vegas airline studying Isle flights

The airline currently flies consumers in small markets to tourist destinations such as Las Vegas and Orlando. Allegiant plans to begin serving Los Angeles beginning May 1. In addition to Hawai'i, Allegiant is studying expansion to the Caribbean and Mexico, Gallagher told Bloomberg. INFO: http://ir.allegiantair.com/

Officer's use of Taser on Keaau High student was caught on video

Watanabe said his understanding is that the Tasered student "is OK, and not hurt at all." (But everybody is making a big fuss anyway.)

State to build new Waimea-Kawaihae road

It would extend from Mamalahoa Highway near the Waimea-Kohala Airport to both Queen Kaahumanu Highway near Puako and Akoni Pule Highway in the area of Kawaihae Harbor. It would be shaped like an upside down "Y," said DOT planner Nelson Sagum.

Suit looms in procurement snafu

HMP Attorney Ted Hong said he's been holding off filing suit over the procurement issue because his client was afraid of retaliation in other county contracts. But settlement talks broke down in January, and three months later, his client still hasn't been compensated for the lost work and the county's been silent, Hong said.
"The county basically said, 'Sue us.' The county just laughs us off," Hong said. "Now the taxpayers get nailed twice."
Public Works Director Warren Lee said an investigation was completed and "disciplinary action" was taken against one employee. He wouldn't identify the employee or say what kind of disciplinary action was taken.
Hong contends the employee's actions could rise to the level of criminal behavior. He said the county tried to cover its tracks and retaliate against his client by declaring the HMP product was defective.

Habitual criminal gets prison instead of drug treatment

His adult convictions began at age 18 when he abused Otani while she was pregnant with their first child, Mendes said. She detailed an adult criminal history of 28 convictions, including ones for reckless endangering in 1994 when he shot at a man and first-degree terroristic threatening in 1996 when he wielded a firearm while threatening to kill someone.