Turmoil at the Top: HECO Gets Temporary New CFO
Green Orders 24-Hour Bum Patrol at Uncle Billy's Hotel
Hawaii 3rd Worst State for Teachers
VIDEO: Green Addresses UN About Global Warming or Something
Kona Seniors Locked Out and Need Help
Ing’s Phony Lahaina Charity Behind OHA Scheme to Develop Kakaako Makai?
CB: … House Speaker Scott Saiki sent a letter to Hawaii Gov. Josh Green Monday urging him to issue an emergency proclamation to prohibit and criminalize fraudulent fundraising.
Saiki also requested that Attorney General Anne Lopez institute an auditing process to ensure funds raised for Maui wildfire relief go to victims.
The letter warns that “deceptive fundraising practices pose a more immediate and urgent threat to innocent donors and may create a chilling effect on giving.”
The letter continues, “it is possible that unscrupulous individuals and entities (nonprofit or otherwise) may use the Maui wildfire as a pretext to raise funds to benefit Maui victims when in fact funds will be used for other purposes.”
A Civil Beat report published Monday about fundraising activity by Our Hawaii Action “somewhat verified or was consistent with some of the concerns that I received,” Saiki said.
(TRANSLATION: Kaniela Ing will use some of the $684K to back transsexual candidate Kim Coco Iwamoto against Saiki next year.)
(CLUE: If Iwamoto wins, OHA can build Kakaako Makai because Speaker Saiki won’t be around to block it. Read: “Is OHA Stupid?” and “Dead Bodies, Convicted Felons and Kakaako Makai: Meet the new Gang at OHA.”)
Big Q: Are you concerned about scammers/shadiness over Lahaina aid donations?
SA: Unscrupulous fundraising for Maui relief under heavy scrutiny
FB: This Super PAC Is Fundraising for Hawaii Disaster Relief. The Money Could End Up in Democratic Campaign Coffers.
Sept 18, 2023: For ‘Progressive’ Criminal Kaniela Ing Lahaina Fires are Just Another Grift
PDF: Letter to Green
read … House Speaker Calls For AG Oversight Of Maui Fires Fundraising - Honolulu Civil Beat
Hawaii Public Utilities Commission vs Albert Hee
IM: … Albert S.N. Hee, was sentenced to 46 months in prison in 2016, for engaging in a ten-year scheme of corruptly interfering with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the calculation and collection of his taxes, and for filing six false individual tax returns which underreported his income for the years 2007-2012. Hee was ordered to pay $431,793 in restitution to the IRS, and to pay a fine of $10,000.
Hee used his company to pay approximately $2.9 million of his personal expenses.
The Federal Communications Commission found that Sandwich Isles cost to provide service to 2,439 Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) customers was over $858 per line per month.
“Sandwich Isles’ corporate expenses are 623 percent greater than the average for companies of similar size with the highest corporate operations expenses.”
Numerous letters were sent to United Stated District Court Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway requesting that Hee receive a lenient sentence.
Letters were sent by Heather Haunani Giugni, US Navy Vice Admiral (Retired} Robert Kihune, SCHHA Chairman Robin Puanani Danner, Na Pu'uwai Native Hawaiian Health Care System Executive Director William Akutagawa, Executive Director of Hawaiian Community Assets Jeff Gilbreath, State Senator Brick-wood Galuteria, attorney Dawn Chang, Hermina Morita, Justice James E. Duffy, Jr. (Ret.), Leimana DaMate, Maile Meyer, William Kaneko, SSFM International President and CEO Michael Matsumoto, Lex Smith for Kobayashi, Sugita & Goda, Dee Crowell, Rockne Freitas, Kirsten Baumgart Turner
Albert Hee was released from prison and has returned to operate telecom companies in Hawai`i. Hee is continuing to run afoul of regulatory authorities.
The Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission (recently filed "ORDER NO. 40253 REQUIRING ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REGULATORY JURISDICTION."…
read … Hawai`i Public Utilities Commission vs Albert Hee
Ahead of tourism reboot in West Maui, some Lahaina fire victims are told they’ll have to move
HNN: … Since the wildfire, Nahale has been living at the Sands of Kahana Resort.
But he recently got a letter from Soleil Management, which runs the resort. telling him the Red Cross had contracted to provide the housing but that his unit and others wouldn’t be available after Sept. 30. The letter also talked about “housing opportunities” through at least Oct. 30 at Kahana Villas Resort, Gardens at West Maui Resort and Maui Beach Resort in Kihei….
In a statement, Red Cross spokesperson Matthew Wells said as “hotel consolidations” get underway in the days and weeks ahead, “some people will be relocated.”
“We will communicate all changes and expectations with the survivors and do our best to ensure the least amount of disruption to people’s lives as possible,” he said.
It’s unclear how many people are being asked to move.
Soleil did not respond to a request for comment, but said on its website that “with services and amenities slowly returning to our West Maui resort, we are gradually welcoming back reservations in October per the governor’s instruction. We want to acknowledge that the overall Maui experience for any/all visitors may not be optimal at this time.”…
SA: HTA pursues tourism recovery plan for Maui, state
read … Ahead of tourism reboot in West Maui, some Lahaina fire victims are told they’ll have to move
Lahaina Residents Can Return To Their Burned Properties Soon. But Maybe We Can Scare Them Away by Questioning Air Safety?
CB: … Jane Williams, a California-based expert in environmental hazards following natural disasters, (actually she's an economist and professional activist, but hey whatever) said the public should be extremely guarded about breathing Lahaina’s air.
“We want to prevent what happened at the Twin Towers from happening again,” she said (without smiling)….
Williams (who should know because she’s an economist) advises anyone digging around in rubble looking for personal belongings to wear a P100 respirator, also called a cartridge mask because it contains carbon filters.
“An N95 mask is not sufficient in my view,” Williams said.
The Sierra Club of Hawaii reached out to Hawaiian Electric to inquire about whether any of its roughly 300 transformers that were damaged in the Lahaina fire contained PCBs. (sorry no dice) ….
read … Lahaina Residents Can Return To Their Burned Properties Soon. But Maybe We Can Scare Them Away by Questioning Air Safety?
Their homes and businesses were destroyed in Lahaina, but mortgage payments are still due
HNN: … Almost six weeks after the devastating wildfire, mortgage payments are coming due — even for some whose homes or businesses no longer exist.
Advocates are urging banks to give their customers a bigger break.
A number of local and national banks have agreed to let owners of destroyed properties delay mortgage payments — but only for a few months and the interest still accumulates during the delay.
Attorneys and homeowners say they need more….
read … Their homes and businesses were destroyed in Lahaina, but mortgage payments are still due
Maui Residents Speak Up as Council Develops Wildfire Recovery Plan
CB: … With Lahaina being a plantation town, he said many of the homes that were lost would not meet current building codes. That’s a problem when it comes to rebuilding – the owner can only get permits for a one-bedroom home instead of multiple bedrooms.
He said it’s also critical to consider the interests of the many Filipino families who were affected but are not at public meetings because they are still working two or three jobs….
Jan Handrix, who owns a condo in the Lahaina burn zone, said the council needs to ensure the recovery plan is fair.
She said her condo building is still standing but it will likely be a year or two before she can regain access as the building’s viability needs to be tested. But she still has to pay property taxes, unlike the owners of buildings that were completely destroyed.
“The decision to waive real estate taxes only for those completely destroyed is awfully arbitrary,” Handrix said of Mayor Richard Bissen’s action last month. “It’s not OK. We need help.”…
Council members anticipate a larger crowd at next week’s meeting in West Maui, noting the space can accommodate some 800 people. The meeting starts at 9 a.m., Sept. 27, in the Honoapiilani Ballroom at the Westin Maui Resort and Spa in Kaanapali….
MN: Council begins talks on recovery plan after fires
read … Maui Residents ‘Want Hope’ As Council Develops Wildfire Recovery Plan
Ivanka Trump's secret trip to Maui to give meals to families devastated by wildfires
UKDM: … Ivanka Trump made a secret trip to Maui a few weeks ago to distribute meals and critical supplies to residents still recovering from the devastating wildfires.
The former first daughter joined CityServe International on a humanitarian mission where they distributed 250,000 prepackaged meals for displaced families impacted by the biggest wildfire in U.S. history.
They visited a Lahaina church that is acting as a food pantry and met with residents who are working to rebuild their lives….
During her visit Ivanka Trump passed out fresh vegetables, delivered prepacked supplies and posed for photos.
'Her humble presence lifted spirits and reminded the people of Lahaina that they are not forgotten,' CityServe said in a statement….
CB: The Sunshine Blog: Another GOP Star Shines Over Lahaina - Honolulu Civil Beat
read … EXCLUSIVE - Ivanka Trump's secret trip to Maui to give meals to families devastated by wildfires | Daily Mail Online
Prosecutorial misconduct cited in move to throw out charges in gruesome Oahu gay on gay murder
HNN: … The issue stems from presentations that deputy prosecutors organized in an effort to educate kupuna about fraud and abuse.
According to Breiner, the presentations included evidence photos and other documents that are not public records and are important to the case.
“The consequences are huge,” Briener said.
“Discussing the facts of the case and then displaying photographs that have never been permitted by the court to be publicly displayed.”
Baron is accused of killing Gary Ruby then encasing his body in concrete in the bathtub of his home at Hawaii Loa Ridge last year.
Ruby was 73 years old when Baron — then 23 — became romantically involved….
read … Prosecutorial misconduct cited in move to throw out charges in gruesome Oahu murder
Honolulu Council: $625 to Park Your Own car in Front of Your House
SA: … As proposed, the amendments — some of which offered by Council Chair Tommy Waters and Vice Chair Esther Kia‘aina, submitted in their own floor drafts of the measure — include a proposed fee structure with fixed, annual permit fees.
“So the first car is $125,” Dos Santos-Tam said Wednesday at the committee’s meeting.
He said every car submitted for an RPZ permit thereafter will see the base permit fee rate multiplied. That means a second car will be charged two times the base fee rate, or $250; a third car three times that rate, or $375; and a fourth car four times the rate, or $500.
Any car after the fourth vehicle will be charged five times the base fee rate, or $625.
Similarly, the RPZ program will have visitor and single-day permits at $10 each….
SA: Off The News: More debate over parking zones
read … Amendments made to parking limits bill | Honolulu Star-Advertiser (staradvertiser.com)
Lahaina Fire News:
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