Ethics

...The terms will run from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023....

...Notably, the draft policy excludes the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, which rendered the Souki decision last year....

...on January 9, after hearing OHA's biennium budget request, members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee raised questions about the progress of the independent audit of OHA and its LLCs. A similar question was raised the next day at the House Finance Committee....

...The Judicial Council is seeking applicants to fill one upcoming vacancy on the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. The term will run from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2023....

...After receiving the campaign contributions, Caldwell appointed the criminal Lyon to the juicy position July 30, 2014 for a term ending June 30, 2019....

...three revolving funds, and one trust fund with remaining balances which total approximately $120 million as of June 30, 2018, had no financial activity during our (5 year) review period....

...Mr. Ozawa was able to but did not object to any justice’s participation in this case before the final decision. Mr. Ozawa also did not raise any objection to Justice Pollack’s and Justice Wilson’s participation in the 2014 election challenge....

...secrets of the system in our state through which public funds are funneled into private pockets while workers with disabilities toil away in sweatshops....

..."It legitimizes a practice born in smoke-filled rooms, out of the public's eye and is an insult to the openness we brag about in the Hawaii State Legislature."....

...Noah Fiddler's sentencing is scheduled for May 2, 2019....

... They Refuse To Hand Over Key Documents, Hoping To Kill The Audit ....

...In a budget briefing at the legislature at about this time last year, Department of Education officials reported that their backlog of repair and maintenance jobs was $293 million, and they were patting themselves on the back because it was a significant drop from the $392 million reported in 2010....

... The penalty to Preserve Our Hawaii for the violation would be $25; the penalty to the Star-Advertiser would be nothing ....

"...HART policies and practices are inadequate to prevent cost overruns and schedule delays from recurring...."

...Would You Pay $10 for Maui Beachfront Land?....

...In Report 2, we examined the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s current management structure, the relationship between HART and its Board of Directors, and HART’s use of third-party consultants to manage the Honolulu Rail Transit Project....

...Honolulu’s corporation counsel Donna Leong received a federal “target letter” eleven days ago--Caldwell said nothing until the story broke in the media....

...SIC may not discontinue service without our express authorization....

"...The chairwoman also said the BOE needs to review other past executive-session actions to ascertain whether or not they also should be invalidated...."

...We found that, as the Honolulu Rail Transit Project progressed and costs swelled from $5.122 billion in 2012 to $9.188 billion in 2018, HART began reporting information to the public that often contradicted its own internal projections or differed from what it was telling the Federal Transit Administration....

...featuring nationally famous criminal justice journalist Radley Balko....

...The Hawaii Supreme Court declared a Republican victory for Senator Kurt Fevella in the 2018 General Election for State Senate District 19....

...OHA Beneficiaries Need More Than Unity Amongst Trustees....

...the Foundation and DAGS have implemented 16 and partially implemented 7 of the 29 recommendations. Six recommendations have not been implemented....

...Carroll Cox has spent decades investigating environmental violations by individuals, companies, and the government....

...In 2005, the Legislature provided the land conservation program with a dedicated funding source – ten percent of conveyance tax collected...here's what happened next....

...people with disabilities in Hawaii often work for pennies per hour while living on welfare benefits....

...He Not Only Admitted They've Been Concealing Information, But From Whom....

...OHA's own audit for fraud, waste and abuse, contracted to an independent national firm, not only faced more than a year's delay in getting started, but is currently facing challenges, jeopardizing its timely completion....

"...Managers have explicitly limited OHA's access to information, and reserved their right to continue to do so...."

...DLNR needs to understand that the money in these funds isn’t “their” money. It’s taxpayer money....

... “Hawaii Gourmet Cookies has ceased operations.”   That’s the word from Oahu Auctions and Liquidations ....

...At the top of his list of complaints: Things just aren't like they were back in the Inouye days....

...The Broker Defendants received kickbacks from Lloyd’s for steering Plaintiffs and the Class to the Lloyd’s surplus lines policies....

...UH Office of Internal Audit evaluates university funds, lease payments and external funds received in support of stewardship, management, education and other activities related to Maunakea....

...They Say One Thing In Public But In Private Do Another....

...Aaron Hoff also pops up in the recent eviction of a gym from DHHL land in Anahola....

...2 special funds, 2 trust funds, and 4 trust accounts did not meet criteria. We also noted that DAGS did not file statutorily required reports....

...Hawaii is spending $4.5 million this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is just 32.9 percent of the $13.7 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

...The Mayor's Office of Economic Development (OED) announced today that its office received a total of $8,730.28 in requests for payments for unpaid invoices for the 250th Celebration of Queen Kaahumanu grant, which was terminated in October....

...Dubin, along with ex-Governor John Waihee, co-host "The Foreclosure Hour" on AM830....

...Over $26 Million of State Portion of Ceded Land Revenues were not Transferred to the State General Fund in a Timely Manner....

...this situation involving Kaneshiro, Sapolu and Futa could potentially lead to countless criminal cases being dismissed or overturned, with dangerous and/or violent criminals being set free to roam our streets....

...Watch This To See Our OHA Report Card For 2018 & What They Should Do Next Year....

... Saito had sexual relations with at least three hospital staff members. Saito has been known for his manipulative nature, and sources say sexual relations took place on multiple occasions where he was able to obtain contraband ....

...Shall City and County of Honolulu Prosecutor Keith M. Kaneshiro be impeached and removed from his position for malfeasance, misfeasance or non-feasance in office?....

...Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Keli‘i Akina today secured renewed commitments from OHA’s newly chosen Board leadership to finish the audit of OHA and its subsidiary LLCs for fraud, waste and abuse....

...14 DOE high schools “do not have separate athletic locker facilities for girls, even when boys in those same schools do have such access.” ....

...Now There’s A Chance Everyone Might Get A Peek....

...here are some highlights from the past year at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs....