Entries for May 2012

From now on, every major state project will only employ union workers....

The Governor of Guam, the Honorable Eddie Baza Calvo’s Council of Economic Advisors has recently released the outline of their new economic plan, and Jones Act reform is a key element of that plan....

That's the question the Hawaii Supreme Court will consider this Thursday, May 24, 2012, when it hears oral arguments in Kaleikini v. Yoshioka ....

Birtherism is an integral part of President Obama’s reelection effort....

The six-member team is anchored by former OHA controller Aedward Los Banos, who has been elevated to chief operating officer....

...create new types of visas, one allowing foreign students who obtained graduate degrees in math, science and other related fields to stay in the United States, and another for immigrant entrepreneurs who grow jobs and create companies here....

Today I am calling for a modification to the contracting process for the design of the Phase IV/City Center stretch of the rail transit line.  I am asking that a review be done with community input to see where more appropriate design can be implemented, and more cost savings may be possible....

Article 82 requires the United States to forfeit royalties generated from oil and gas development on the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles...many billions, if not trillions of dollars, would go to the International Seabed Authority, a new international bureaucracy created by the treaty and based in Jamaica....

...liens have been filed against the Hoku Materials polysilicon plant, and some lienholders have begun foreclosure proceedings in the Idaho courts....

Among the most likely voters, Case enjoys a 46%-45% lead with 9% undecided. His lead increases with larger Democratic primary voter turnout....

...just issued by the three-judge district court denying the motion for preliminary injunction. More to come....

Rep. Barbara Marumoto will not be running in the 2012 election....

John Dean, Benjamin Kudo and Tom Shigemoto begin their terms as regents July 1. A fourth incoming regent, Jeffrey Acido, will be sworn in at a later date. His term also begins July 1.

Drivers in the city, the state of Hawaii’s largest, wasted an average of 58 hours stuck in traffic last year....

The Hamakua Sugar Company lands bought by the Broken Trustees of Kamehameha Schools and ‘guarded’ by Larry Mehau for $$$ were planted in Eucalyptus. Years later, the trees not properly culled have grown into 10,000 plus acres of pencil thin stands with zero lumber value....

“Obama” Budget Resolution - Vote Rejected (0-99, 1 Not Voting) ....

U.S. Senate Candidate Ed Case today accepted an invitation from Hawaii Pacific University to sponsor a substitute debate with his Democratic opponent, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, this Thursday, May 24....

...they are suing the Obama administration for violating their freedom of religion, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution....

...our most important sites Chinatown, Aloha Tower, Dillingham Building, Native Hawaiian burials, etc., all remain in play....

 More blowback from Dan Inouye's campaign supporter ....

...the Census counts human beings, regardless of their eligibility to vote....

...the environmental lobby now focuses its efforts on a two-pronged strategy: lessening the impact of man's activities on the environment, and reducing the number of people who perform those activities....

"Particularly on the issue of native Hawaiian self-governance, having someone who can understand and talk to both sides is important and Linda Lingle is the right one to do that for Hawaii. All indigenous issues take bipartisan support."

On Saturday night, blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng arrived in Newark, N.J., after escaping seven years of persecution in China....

...the bill would help doctors who make money prescribing narcotic pain relievers ....

Dates, times, and locations for public school graduation ceremonies statewide....

Although there were numerous proposals to either adopt new tax incentives or tax credits during the 2012 legislative session, none passed.

The Chinese government will almost certainly retaliate. A most likely target will be the American suppliers of crystalline silicon to Chinese PV manufacturers and semiconductor industries. If this happens this likely puts Hoku Scientific at risk ....

As someone who has served both as a Member of Congress and as a soldier under NATO command in Afghanistan, I have a unique perspective on NATO’s role and future....

McKeown noted that finding in favor of Thomas' first claim — that the actual population should be used — would merely redistribute people on existing maps and be less disruptive than requiring a new set of maps....

 "On this day, we extend our sincere gratitude for their selfless dedication."

...the state Democrat Party leadership released statements attacking Congressman Cole; statements which are surely an embarrassment to their own Democrat elected officials who have worked with and know the Congressman as a friend to Hawaii....

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People often ask if I plan to run for elected office again, and I'm deeply humbled by their confidence in me. I have not made a decision about returning to public service, but remain open to the idea....

Yesterday the Hawaii Republican Party lost one of their Giants....

America's flying fortress, the Cold War-era B-52 bomber, has been in service for the last 50 years....

Twenty-four Hawaii elementary, middle, and high school teams are competing in the Hawaii Underwater Robot Challenge Saturday....

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and BP Wind Energy today announced plans to jointly develop the Auwahi Wind farm in Hawaii....

The U.S. Census Bureau released the 2011 National, State and County population characteristics on May 17, 2012. The following are a few facts about Hawaii....

"We appreciate HSTA finally concluding its case as these hearings have been a distraction."

The only limit on the privilege in the text of the constitution is "the right of the State to regulate such rights."

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...in a direct rebuff to U.S. shipyards, it will refit three of its ageing containerships in Asia hypocritically skirting the so-called “second proviso” of the Jones Act....

... the U.S. Senate voted 99-0 against President Barack Obama's budget ....

... the two largest PEO's lobbied successfully for the passage of a PEO bill....

“We want to remind the community that all sea turtles are still protected, and that both State and Federal consequences apply to anyone harming a green sea turtle,” said DLNR Chairperson William J. Aila, Jr....

Reflecting on his two terms in office, President George W. Bush said in 2010, "You realize you're not it. You're a part of something bigger than yourself."  This is a sentiment President Barack Obama did not inherit from his successor ....

In Norway, male same-sex marriages are 50 percent more likely to end in divorce than heterosexual marriages, and female same-sex marriages are an astonishing 167 percent more likely to be dissolved....

CGEI Wind is jointly owned by Good Energies and Champlin Windpower, LLC and is lead by Mike Cutbirth. Mike was formerly head of Global Finance for Zond Corporation and Enron Wind and served 4 years ....

In its report on next year’s Pentagon budget, the House Armed Services Committee banned the Defense Department from making or buying an alternative fuel that costs more than a “traditional fossil fuel.” It’s a standard that may be almost impossible to meet ....