Entries for February 2022

1. Lawmaker asks Ige to drop Hawaii's mask mandate
2. Hawaii 2nd-Lowest COVID Deaths Per Capita
3. Navy Secretary Visits Red Hill Again
4. Tourist Spending Down 19% from Pre-Pandemic Numbers
5. The Perpetual Covid ‘Emergency’--Will Legislators Trade Democracy for Food Stamps?
6. $128M Giveaway to HSTA
7. Insiders Say a Rule Change Would Persuade More Cronies to Volunteer
8. Releases From Hawaii Prisons Slowed During Pandemic Despite Supreme Court Orders
9. Two virtual currency bills pass final committee hearings
10. Rental car crunch hits Hawaii (again)
11. The Latest Failed Shenanigans by Hu Honua

1. Blockbusters Buried in “Tax Administration”
2. Jones Act a threat to Hawaii security?
3. Halfway Point Legislation Alive and Dead
4. HB1732: Legislators Vote to Ban Carrying Tasers
5. Hawaii: Second-Largest Families in USA
6. SB3209: $16M Pay Hike and Less Classroom Time for Teachers
7. Heroic HSTA Steward Keeps Teachers out of Classroom
8. Putin's Pet Tulsi Gabbard draws cheers as CPAC Keynote
9. “It’s uncommon when they get caught”
10. Money piling up behind candidates in Hawaii gubernatorial race
11. Police Commission Silent on Kapolei Murder
12. Let’s Remove Obstacles That Keep Citizens From Getting Government Records
13. Carbon tax expensive, does little good
14. Much of Hawaii is powered by Russian crude oil
15. Hawaii State Courts Only Ones Falling for ‘Sue Big Oil’ Scam
16. Like Prevails Over Iseri In Kauai Prosecutor Race
17. Sen. Stanley Chang Bill Would Legalize Monster Homes
18. Homeless Criminal from Mainland Arrested for Murder

1. HD39: Democrats Pick Three to Replace Ty Cullen
2. SB2967 SD1 frees cryptocurrency from having to hold actual money
3. Mayor Victorino repeals all Maui County Public Health Emergency Rules as of March 1
4. HB2303: Help State and County Agencies Keep Their Secrets
5. Alone in USA, Hawaii Gov. David Ige still firm on keeping indoor mask mandate
6. HART Insiders Hype Another Frog Problem in Effort to Stall Rail Opening
7. Aloha Stadium Boondoggle can Still be Stopped as project leaders lobby for $180M from state legislature 
8. Principal must be reinstated at Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind, arbitrator says
9. Amid ongoing flushing efforts, Navy finds high levels of petroleum, other compounds in tap water
10. Next Kealoha to be selected by June, commissioners say
11. SB2670 to create Hawaii LGBTQ+ Commission advances

1. Mililani Trask Selected as OHA Trustee
2. HB2278: Fuel tax damage will far outweigh measly tax credit
3. Candidate filing period put on hold due to lawsuit over redrawn voter maps
4. SB2801:  Creates System to Charge More Police Officers for ‘Brutality’
5. 18-time Convicted Felon Writes SB3344 to Make prison More Fun -- Hawaii lawmakers fly to Arizona to Meet Him
6. Sale of Miske property in Hawaii Kai completed
7. Two Days Left: Kauai Prosecuting Attorney Special General Election
8. State-Run retirement bill passes committees
9. Red Hill: Activists Attack EPA
10. Farmers Sue Ag Dep’t over Mis-Management of Ag Parks
11. Hawaii Circuit Court judge rules against throwing out suit against oil corporations

1. HB2164 Self-Defense: House Judiciary Committee Hearing
2. DoH Declares Navy Water Safe on Pearl City Peninsula
3. SB3254: Hawaii Election Apportionment Should not Exclude Military, Students
4. $1B Surplus?  Lets Give it all to OHA and DHHL
5. Honolulu City Council Approves New Pretend Regulations On Red Hill Fuel Facility
6. Development details of Aloha Stadium district remain murky
7. SB2054: Mopeds, Buses, Taxis, Uber to be Taxed--Amount Kept Secret
8. Many Maui businesses now thriving after mayor eliminates vaccine-or-test rule
9. Maui Council: Vacation rental caps, other anti-tourism measures on the table
10. Council considers giving police commission more power to hold chief accountable
11. Honolulu Settles Four Law Enforcement Lawsuits
12. Lawmakers want the state to take over Lake Wilson, but it would come at a steep price
13. HECO Wants Firm Renewable Energy Projects on O’ahu
14. Former Bishop Estate Trustee Oz Stender Dies

1. Cocaine News: Heidi Tsuneyoshi declares candidacy for Governor as Republican 
2. Conspiracy to Defraud Honolulu Homeless Program Nets Federal Prison Sentences
3. COVID Fraud: Stacy Higa Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison
4. Dead Bats: Supreme Court Upholds BLNR Approval of Na Pua Makani Windfarm
5. Exempt Hawaii from Jones Act to ensure continued oil imports
6. Mauna Kea: UH Seeks Cultural Practitioners for 'Cultural Impact Assessment'
7. Ban Fundraisers During Session? SB555 Goes to Senate Floor
8. Navatek Execs Arrested by FBI
9. Hirono Defends Decision Not To Back Bill That Would Shut Down Red Hill
10. Want To Run For Office? Filings Postponed
11. An Anguished Father Calls For Mental Health Reform After Murder
12. $164M Property Tax Exemptions on the Line in ‘Vague’ Bill 42
13. ACLU Pushes to Abolish Samoan Way of Life
14. Driving up the Cost of Housing: Hawaii Co Council bill would require parking lots be 16% EV charging stations
15. There Are Widespread Reports of Sex Trafficking, So Why No Convictions?
16. Amid Navy water crisis, civilian families living on military housing face rent hike

1. OHA Does not Back HB2024: Wants to Make Money from Telescopes
2. Hawaii 3rd Highest Jobs Opening Rate
3. Record graduation rates at UH campuses across the state
4. What Census Data Reveals About Hawaii AntiVaxxers
5. Fundraising events during session net $1.5M for English and other top Legislators
6. Push to drain Red Hill fuel creates target for enemy attack
7. Idea: Lets Give OHA and DHHL $1.2B (again) and Bulldoze all the Telescopes
8. PRP Works to Keep Housing Costs High (again)
9. Sluggish NASED project looms as Hawaii bids Aloha to Aloha Stadium
10. Some Hawaii Agencies Are Pushing A Bill That Would Limit Public Access To Government Records
11. Millions unspent as HPD patrol staffing lags and police actions decline     
12. Community leaders seek to ban chronic criminals from returning to Waikiki, other resort areas--LoPresti Says Locals are Criminals
13. Father of murder suspect calls for changes to help the mentally ill
14. 2,500 Deinstitutionalized IDD Patients About to Run out of Options
15. Community Rallies Against Tsuneyoshi Push to Seize Land
16. How Paradise Beverages got caught polluting Waiawa Stream
17. CNHA Buys Apartment Complex, Plans to Kick out Tenants, Jack up Rents

1. Samuel Wilder King II, Kalanikupua, Enters OHA At-Large-Trustee Race
2. Hawaii is the #2 state with the most pothole complaints
3. Hawaii Cost of Living 93% Above US Average  
4. CD2 Open Seat?  U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele wants to Leave Congress
5. Djou: Reform Hawaii Elections To Stop Local Corruption
6. The issue of big money in politics
7. SB2819: HSTA Grabs for $94M Pay and Benefit Hike
8. Kamalani Academy parents sue charter school commission
9. Choking off Supply to Jack up Prices: 18 Years of Planning and not a Shovel Turned
10. Media No Longer able to monitor calls for Honolulu police, fire and Emergency Medical Services

1. Election year or not, higher taxes are on the Legislature’s agenda
2. Auditor: OHA Created $15M Special Fund, Did not Report to Legislature
3. SB2819: $26K Pay Hike for Teachers Outside Collective Bargaining
4. Physician Shortage: The further from Honolulu the worse it gets
5. ​SB555: Ban Fundraisers During Session
6. Honolulu COVID Restrictions to End March 5
7. Red Hill:  Its the Pipes, not the Tanks
8. Mauna Kea: Will House Advance HB2024 to Abolish Telescopes?
9. To fix Hawaii’s corruption, start with legislative term limits
10. How Honolulu’s Ex-City Attorney Went From Obscurity To A Federal Indictment
11. SB2092: Make Corporal Punishment of Child a Felony
12. Owners scramble to find funds, meet deadlines as city requires high-rises to install sprinklers
13. Gerard Puana, Katherine Kealoha's uncle, charged with terroristic threatening after incident in Salt Lak
14. A Brutal Killing Says So Much About What Honolulu Is Doing Wrong
15. Another run at the campaign finance data

Physician Shortage: The further from Honolulu the worse it gets

1. Former HSTA Pres and five others on short list to become Next Ty Cullen
2. Maui County ​Vaccine and testing requirements for restaurants, bars and gyms to be eliminated beginning Feb. 21
3. Chief Justice Seeks Public Comment on Judicial Nominees
4. Jones Act lobby sails with dubious job estimates to bolster defense
5. On the Move in the Legislature: the good, the bad and the ugly
6. SB3250, SB3182 ‘wealth asset tax’ dangerous
7. Small businesses would be paying for wage hike in more ways than one
8. Hawaii Preparing Abortion for the End of Roe
9. HART Confidentiality Agreement Designed to keep CEO Evaluation Secret?
10. Hawaii’s indoor mask mandate stays in place for now
11. Honolulu City Council aims to revamp police commission, provide more authority
12. ‘Sue Big Oil’ --  9th Circuit Count of Appeals Hearing re Maui & Honolulu Climate Lawsuits
13. Honolulu Council considering urging city to acquire problem properties
14. Hawaii’s high cost of living hurts locals most: ‘They can’t afford the rent’
15. Jail News: Former Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to prioritize affordable housing in run for governor
16. HPD’s cellblock switch is leaving some homeless people stranded in the suburbs
17. $7M to Keep Homeless from Disrupting Haiku Elementary School

1. Chief Investigator: State Attorney General Refusing to Indict Government Corruption Cases
2. On the Move in the Senate: SB2422 Would End Foster Care Abuse Coverups
3. Red Hill: Senate Approves $350M
4. Ige Nominates Five to BLNR
5. Student Press Freedom: Hawaii considers ‘New Voices’ legislation as Senate version clears first legislative hurdles
6. UPW Scores 14% Raise in Contract
7. Hawaii businessman at center of bribery probe to enter guilty plea in separate case     
8. AG: HART ‘Confidentiality Agreement’ is Illegal 
9. Deputy sheriff who was fired after nearly 40 years of service files wrongful termination suit
10. Murder of Woman Outside Police Station Made Possible by Doubly-Failed Mental Health System
11. Kona teacher charged with sex assault of minor
12. Hawaii businesses face challenging economic climate

1. Bribery: Saiki Reopens Capitol, Creates 'Commission' to Stall Reform Until Next Session
2. Change in Long-Term Care Costs in Hawaii Mixed
3. Waipahu HS Team Wins Hawaii Lifesmarts Competition 
4. SB2282: Allow Nurses to Abort Babies Up to Viability
5. SB2916: Prohibit Governor from Suspending UIPA During 'Emergency'
6. Schizophrenic with 18 Priors ‘Released Pending Investigation’ -- Allegedly Murders Woman While Leaving Police Lockup       
7. HART Seeks ‘Criminal Penalties’ for Whistle-Blowers--Board Members Excluded from Executive Session
8. After Feds Arrest Two Legislators, House Chickens Out on Auditor Attack
9. Choy’s Small-Time Bribery Interferes with Big Time Influence Peddling
10. Pay Hike? Maui Chief’s Morale Improves, SHOPO not so much
11. Hawaii has highest monthly household bills in the nation
12. SB2282: Trannies Can Have Abortions, Too

1. Former Hawaii State Legislators Plead Guilty to Honest Services Wire Fraud
2. DoH Declares Navy Water Safe in Zone Nearest Red Hill
3. Hawaii Towns Ranked for Money Management
4. Legislature Could Curb Corruption Today with Three Easy Steps
5. Senate to reopen meetings to the press--Still Keeping Public Out
6. Former Cocaine Dealer, Hawaii Sen. J. Kalani English, Says Bribery Was Beneficial to Public
7. Big Joke: Technicalities in Pension Forfeit Law Ensure that We Will be Paying English and Cullen for as Long as They Live 
8. Criminal started work at DPP in 2012, and almost immediately began taking bribes from a solar contractor
9. Wage measures still alive: Senate, House bills would increase minimum hourly rate to $18
10. Bills limiting Hawaii governor’s emergency powers advancing
11. Secrecy: Unlike Other Cities, HPD Refuses to Give Decrypted Scanners to Media
12. HB1519 Would Strike at Snake Oil Salesmen Taking Advantage of Sunscreen Ban

1. Tax Hikes at the 2022 Legislature; Why the Push to Increase Hawaii Taxes
2. Maunakea telescope to be decommissioned this summer
3. Hawaii Family Forum Legislative Week in Review
4. Green: Safe Travels program could end in March
5. Another Department of Planning and Permitting employee pleads guilty to accepting bribes
6. 2 former state lawmakers accused of taking bribes expected to plead guilty in court
7. Buying A Corrupt Legislator In Hawaii Is A Surprising Bargain
8. Bribery News: Bill Would Ban Hawaii Film Officials From Appearing In Films
9. Make lawmaking more transparent
10. HSTA Boss to fill Hawaii House seat vacated by Ty Cullen?
11. Hilo’s ‘welfare doctor’ vindicated after winning legal battle over Medicaid payments
12. Shrooms to be legal next: Senators Approve Task Force to Outline Sales Pitch and Game Plan
13. Profiteering from Chemophobia: New Raw Elements dispensers installed on Maui ahead of non-mineral sunscreen ban
14. Lease extension granted for some KIA properties

1. More sunshine would help combat corruption in Hawaii Legislature
2. HB2278 Carbon Tax Fails to Change Environment 
3. Laughing at You: After committing Felony, Sen English voted to Amend Bill So He Could Keep Full Pension
4. Nothing Surprising About Legislative Corruption: A Walk Down Memory Lane
5. Hawaii’s no stranger to corruption
6. SB3347: $2000/mo Retirement Pension for Prostitutes
7. Red Hill’s Firefighting System Was Damaged Long Before Contamination Crisis
8. Copying California: Another Way to Make Housing Unaffordable--Require Sprinklers in Single-Family residences
9. Copying California: Kauai Council to Abolish Single Family Zoning
10. HB2512: More housing for the homeless
11. Isle transition to electric vehicles slow

1. DHHL, Spend Your Money!
2. The Legislature is still in session, and your property still is not safe
3. America’s Rising Housing Prices
4. SB2441: $58M Liquor Tax Hike
5. HB2026: Ease Interstate EMT hiring
6. HB1919: No GE Tax on Food, Medical Care and Feminine Hygiene Products
7. Audio: Grassroot Debates Living Wage Hawaii
8. Widespread corruption -- Estimated 100 Crooks Active in Hawaii Politics Right Now
9. Corruption: Where was Connors as Attorney General?
10. Corruption?  Saiki hasn’t even taken the first step
11. Borreca: Comfortable with Loveable Rascals
12. Proposal for Hawaii to build and sell leasehold condos judged unfeasible
13. Inflation’s effects on Kaua‘i’s cost of living
14. Police’s plan to change radio system raises concerns about transparency for the public

1. Kahele, Case Introduce Legislation To Permanently Shut Down Red Hill
2. Feds Doing the Job the State Won't Do: Waianae Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Prison for Robbery and Attempted Carjacking
3. Legislative committee pursuing investigation against state Rep. Sharon Har
4. Nobody Likes a Rat: Legislators Claim they are Redirecting Choy Donations
5. Navy completes flushing of zones taking one step closer to allowing military families to return home

1. Three Navatek Execs Indicted for Unlawful Campaign Contributions
2. HB2278 Carbon Tax $42.24 a Barrel
3. HB1507: ‘Tax fairness’ really means tax increase
4. Bum Feeding Operation to Vacate Chinatown
5. HDOT reports 94 traffic-related deaths on Hawaii roads in 2021
6. SHOPO: Honolulu Police Leadership Leaves Neighborhoods Unprotected
7. SB2239 Senate Committee Passes Bill to Limit State Participation in Federal Programs to Militarize Police
8. SB3089 Lacks legislative check on governor’s emergency powers
9. SB2697 Provides best pathway for cryptocurrency in Hawaii
10. HB2028 Would Legalize Limited Raw Milk Sales
11. Honolulu Businessman Milton Choy was Turned by Feds ‘A Couple of Years’ Ago
12. Hawaii political donor received almost $6 million in contracts
13. How Hawaii Legislative System Invites Corruption
14. Hawai’i Carbon Tax Promotes Imports Over Local Production
15. Record Inflation Hits Consumers & Business Owners in Hawaii
16. Some drivers remain wary over Oahu’s red light cameras ticketing vehicle’s owner
17. Pacific may be most likely to see Chinese 'strategic surprise'

1. Naming Names: Who Will Cullen and English Rat Out?
2. Bills would force landlords to accept Section 8 Tenants
3. Who's Overpaying for Cars--16 Hawaii Towns Compared
4. Hawaiian Electric hits 38% renewable energy in 2021
5. Former Hawaii lawmakers will keep at least half of their lifetime pensions--maybe all--after guilty plea
6. HB1871:  House considers bill to relax gift rule as Latest Corruption Arrests Rock Legislature
7. 90% Say ‘Tip of Iceberg’ as English and Cullen plan to plead guilty, fully cooperate with Feds
8. Records: Company at center of legislative bribery scandal a big political donor
9. Lt. Gov. Josh Green is running for governor of Hawaii
10. Mafia News: Kahele Hints Strongly At 2022 Run For Hawaii Governor
11. Upset About The Corruption Charges? What Are You Going To Do About It?
12. Teams prepare to move first wave of displaced military families back home
13. Experts Say HPD Report Fails To Review Tactics Used In Deadly 2020 Standoff
14. Officials: Hilo’s sewage plant in danger of failure that could trigger environmental disaster
15. From 2020 to 2021 Hawaii residents increased their alcohol consumption by 23 percent: Study
16. Hawaii Justice: How a Child Molester gets Away with it
17. New Trick to Gut Seed Industry: Environmentalists threaten to sue state, county over claims of polluting harbor on Kauai