Brian Schatz at 2006 Akaka campaign rally in Larry Mehau’s barn.

Thursday’s editorial in the Washington Post: “Wrong way in Thailand” highlights an issue of personal significance to Congressman Djou. He is the first Member of Congress of Thai descent and still has family living in Bangkok. 

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has appointed former Maui Public Works Director Charles Jencks to serve as an interim commissioner on the state Land Use Commission (LUC).  Jencks will replace Ransom “Randy” Piltz, who resigned on July 2 to run for Maui County Mayor.  Jencks will complete Piltz’s remaining term, which runs through June 30, 2011.

Washington, DC — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) appeared on the CNBC program “Worldwide Exchange” to discuss, among other things, the flawed financial regulatory reform bill that passed the U.S. Congress, the ballooning national deficit and debt, and Congress’ failure to pass a budget.

“This is an important bill that has stalled in Congress for far too long. This legislation will re-authorize Title VIII of the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA), which has been waiting for reauthorization since 2005. This legislation will expand opportunities for Native Hawaiians, particularly those of limited means, to access affordable housing. This is a good idea and will benefit not just Native Hawaiians, but to Hawaii as a whole.  I look forward to working with my colleagues in both parties to ensure that this legislation becomes law.”

“The sewer fix and the EPA consent decree (these are two different things) are likely to cost about $4.5 billion.  Add $5.5 Billion for the rail and Oahu taxpayers face a $10 Billion fiscal liability.  For a city with a typical capital improvement program (CIP) of no more than One Billion dollars per year this spells mismanagement.

“The rail project and the mismanagement of sewer and water mains leaves Honolulu with record tax increases, chronic homelessness, crumbling infrastructure, and some of the worst roads in the country. 

“And let's not forget corruption....

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the so-called “stimulus,” was enacted in February of 2009 when the national unemployment rate was 8.2% and Hawaii’s unemployment rate was 6.3%. Today, unemployment is at 9.5% nationally and remains at 6.3% in Hawaii.

Congressman Charles K. Djou is entering the general election with a strong showing of support from 4,137 individual donors for the quarter that ended June 30, 2010. The Djou campaign raised $935,435 in the second quarter, receiving nearly $200,000 of that in the five weeks after his special election victory.  Djou has entered the third quarter with $379,046 on hand.

Washington, DC — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) today expressed his concern regarding the municipal waste buildup in Honolulu to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and received verbal assurance that the matter would be resolved as quickly as possible.

“If our nation continues down this fiscally reckless path, what is happening in Hawaii will be writ large, and that is an outcome that we simply cannot afford”

“I met with constituents of Hawaii’s First Congressional District while I was home this past week,” Djou said. “From town hall meetings to business visits to encounters on the street, the number one concern that constituents expressed to me was the reckless and runaway federal spending in Washington.”

At a Cooper Center hearing in Volcano July 12, the Mauna Kea Recreational Users Group, a broad based coalition of outdoor users,  presented testimony for opening public access to the proposed expansion of the Puu Makaala NAR by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources' Forestry and Wildlife Division.  

"I am running for Governor to ensure balance, integrity and good judgment in state government, while reducing the financial burden on our working families and small businesses, creating jobs and investing in the quality of education," Lt. Governor Aiona said. "Nothing is more important than creating jobs and strengthening the economy, reforming public education, and moving toward a clean energy future."

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle announced today that yesterday, July 13, she nominated three individuals to serve as Circuit Court judges.  The Governor has submitted to the State Senate her nomination of Jeannette H. Castagnetti, Fa‘auuga L. To‘oto‘o and Colette Y. Garibaldi to fill judicial vacancies on the First Circuit, which covers O‘ahu.

Asked Monday what the next step would be, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) was anything but certain. “I wish I knew; I really mean that,” he said in a brief Capitol interview.

We scored all 50 states—using publicly available data—on 40 different measures of competitiveness. States received points based on their rankings in each metric. Then, we separated those metrics into the ten broad categories, with input from business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers. We weighted the categories based on how frequently each is cited in state economic development marketing materials.

In the letter sent today, Governor Lingle said the agreed upon changes to the bill between her and Sens. Inouye and Akaka “return the bill to a form that protects health and safety in Hawaii, while providing explicit federal recognition to the only native people in the United States who lack that recognition – Native Hawaiians.”

The Governor also wrote that passage of the Akaka Bill will, “put Hawaii on an equal footing with its forty-nine sister states, and will recognize Native Hawaiians just as America recognizes it other indigenous groups.  It is fair and just – nothing more, nothing less.”

KHON looks at Hawaii Republican candidate recruitment efforts....

"Having worked with Lynn for many years as part of the Legislative Minority Caucus, I continue to be impressed by her bold and yet compassionate leadership. Her work, characterized by her willingness to collaborate in a bipartisan way, has been an asset to the Legislature and to the people of Hawai'i. As our next Lt. Governor, I am confident Lynn Finnegan will continue the strong, balanced leadership we need on the 5th floor."

WASHINGTON: The university from where Law Minister Babar Awan claims to have done his PhD is banned in the United States from issuing any degree and cannot even claim that it is a legal educational institution.

Long before the dispute over fake degrees became a political issue in Pakistan, the Circuit Court of the First Circuit in the State of Hawaii, declared that the University of Monticello was a non-recognised and non-chartered university....