May 2013
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Big Island Press Club Gives Lava Tube 'Award' To...
From Hawaii 24/7:
The Big Island Press Club has given state Sen. Clayton Hee the dubious honor of this year’s Lava Tube Award for his leadership role in overturning Hawaii’s shield law, which protected news reporters’ sources and unpublished notes.
Reporters consider a shield law crucial in encouraging news sources to provide public-interest information that newsmakers may want to keep secret.
The...
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Hawaii Gas Gets New CEO
Jeff Kissel, who has led the state’s only natural gas company since 2007, is retiring early and will be replaced by Alicia Moy, effective immediately, according to a company press release.
Kissel is well known within Hawaii’s energy sector, most recently for leading the effort to begin imports of liquefied natural gas to the state.
He plans to focus his time on ways to lower the...
Repurposed Equipment Boosts Hawaii Public School...
Hawaii public classrooms are receiving an influx of donated science equipment, thanks to a repurposing program devised by a professor at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM).
The initiative was started by Assistant Professor Dr. Rachel Boulay and is headed by the medical school’s Center for Cardiovascular Research. The partnership allows for the donation of thousands of dollars worth...
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Hawaii NFL Pro Bowl In 2015 In Doubt
Our media players KITV have this report. Excerpt:
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that there is interest in having the Pro Bowl on the mainland in 2015.
“There is interest in potentially bringing it back to the mainland in multiple sites as early as the following year,” said Goodell.
Click here to watch the video of the Goodell press conference.
Goodell did confirm that the...
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State Senate To Discuss Hawaiian Home Lands Audit
From a media advisory Tuesday (May 21):
The Senate Committee on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs will be holding an informational briefing to address concerns raised in the Audit of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ (DHHL) Homestead Services Division and other related departmental issues. The Office of the Auditor (Auditor) released a report on the division (Report No. 13-02) in April of this...
Report: Hawaii's Youth Unemployment Could Depress...
“Lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents,” writes Time Magazine. Is this all the 80 million or so Americans born between 1980 and 2000 boil down to?
Millennials, as they’re called, want cool jobs and want the offices they step into when not working from home to look like Google’s headquarters. Raised in the age of instant cyber-gratification, they want...
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Senate Panel Adds Help For Filipino World War II...
The Senate Judiciary Committee just added a long-sought measure to make it easier for the children of World War II Filipino veterans to join them in the U.S.
The veterans have in some cases had to wait two decades to bring their children to join them from the Philippines. Annual limits on the number who can immigrate from the country has created a long backlog.
Exacerbating the frustration for...
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May 21 — Where's The Gov?
Here’s Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s public schedule for Tuesday:
• Hawaii Presidential Center Reception, Punahou School, 5:30 p.m.
NOTE: From May 22 to 24, Gov. Abercrombie will be traveling to San Francisco on personal matters. Lt. Gov. Shan S. Tsutsui will be Acting Governor during that time.
Photo courtesy jeffgunn.
—Chad Blair
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Gabbard Passes First Bill In House
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard can now say she’s passed a bill in the House. The House today unanimously approved a measure she sponsored, which improves airport security for wounded and severely disabled service members and veterans.
The Helping Heroes Fly Act Today allows the service members and veterans to be escorted through security checkpoints when scheduled in advance. Those with severe injuries will...
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Hawaii Public Radio Aims For Wider Reach On Big...
From the Hawaii Tribune-Herald:
Hilo is at the end of the line but is finally about to get a full serving of Hawaii Public Radio.
Most of the state — everywhere but East Hawaii — now gets the full array of HPR programming, said Michael Titterton, president and general manager of Hawaii Public Radio.
In February a $100,000 transmitter was put into service on Hualalai that allows West Hawaii...
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Oahu's South Swell Largest, Most Consistent In...
Our media peeps KITV have this story. Excerpt:
Together, Brian Benitez and Bobby Fernandez have more than 70 years of experience surfing the waves of Oahu’s South Shore, and both say the swell that began last Thursday evening is the most consistently large surf they’ve seen in a decade or more.
“You know, last time it was somewhere in the ’60s or the early...
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Hanabusa To Oppose Keystone Pipeline Measure
Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said today she is planning to vote against the controversial Keystone Pipeline when a bill that would allow it comes before the House this week.
In doing so, Hanabusa would join Sen. Brian Schatz in opposing the project and would bolster her own environmental credentials as she takes aim at Schatz’s seat.
Schatz, as well, as Sen. Mazie Hirono voted against a non-binding...
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UPDATE: Chang Issues Statement On Law License...
We blogged earlier in the day about Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang’s suspended law license.
He has since provided a brief statement about the lapse in membership dues.
Here it is:
“I’ve made public service my life’s work and allowed my membership to lapse as I have no plans to practice law in the future.”
Chang, of course, is running for U.S. Rep....
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Senate Committee Passes Hirono Proposal To Let...
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved two more amendments to its immigration bill pushed by Sen. Mazie Hirono, including a provision that would allow illegal immigrants brought to the U.S, as children to be eligible for college financial aid.
The panel, which is working through more than 100 proposed amendments to pass the sweeping reform package before Congress leaves for recess next week,...
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White House To Honor Hawaii's Kim Coco Iwamoto
From a press release Monday (May 20):
On Wednesday, May 22, the White House will honor Kim Coco Iwamoto as one of ten openly LGBT elected or appointed officials who are “Harvey Milk Champions of Change.” The event falls on Harvey Milk’s birthday and will recognize these individuals for their commitment to equality and public service. …
The Champions of Change program was created as an...
Study: Sun Exposure May Reduce Blood Pressure,...
Love to bake in the sun? If so, you’re in luck — a new study suggests that exposure to sunlight may help cut the risk of heart attack and stroke and even prolong life.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that exposing our skin to the sun’s rays causes the compound nitric oxide to be released in our bloodstream. Nitric oxide works to lower blood pressure, bringing with it a host...
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Gov: 'Hawaii Putting Safety First On Roadways'
From a press release Monday (May 20):
With representatives of the state Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Health (DOH), county police departments and traffic safety advocates standing in support, Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed into law two significant traffic safety bills that will save lives and reduce serious injuries from motor vehicle crashes in Hawaii.
“Hawaii is putting safety...
Rowers To Cross Pacific Ocean In Historic Race
Waves higher than 40 feet and winds of 30 knots are a couple of the challenges expected to be faced by competitors in the first ever ocean rowing race from California to Hawaii.
Rowers will start in Monterey, California and traverse the Pacific Ocean using nothing but muscles in the first biannual 2,100 nautical mile race. The race launches June 7th, 2014 and organizers predict that teams could...
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Hawaii Gets Approval For Education Law Waiver
The Associated Press has this story. Excerpt:
HONOLULU (AP) — The Obama administration on Monday approved Hawaii’s request for a waiver from provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind education law.
In 2011, the administration announced it would let states avoid certain requirements, like students showing they’re proficient in reading and math by 2014, if other conditions were met....
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Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang Has Law...
Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang recently had his license suspended by the Hawaii State Bar Association for not paying his membership dues.
According to HSBA’s 2013 fee schedule, Chang would have to pay $504 this year for his bar membership.
He’s now one of 996 attorneys in the state who is not allowed to practice law in Hawaii for non-payment of fees.
Chang is running for...
Big Island Volcano Photographer Receives...
Looks like another “volcano hunter” on the Big Island is getting some recognition for his lava photographs.
Bruce Omori, owner of the Extreme Exposures Fine Art Gallery in Hilo, received the Windland Smith Rice International Award for his photo entitled “Volcanic Vortices.” The photo was selected out of about 20,000 submissions and will be displayed at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History’s...
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Research Continues On Hawaii’s Lesser-Known...
From West Hawaii Today:
In Hawaii’s crystalline waters, some cetaceans get all the attention — usually the charismatic humpback whales and spinner dolphins known for their stunning displays of acrobatics.
However, there are scores of lesser-known species that reside here year-round and deserve recognition, too. In fact, residents and visitors with photos of these animals could help with current...
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May 20 — Where's The Gov?
Here’s Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s public schedule for Monday:
• National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems, Hilton Hawaiian Village, 8:15 a.m.
• “Click It or Ticket” News Conference, Executive Office, Ceremonial Room, 11:30 a.m.
• Joint Annual Meeting of the Pacific Area Standards Congress and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation, Modern Honolulu, 1 p.m.
Photo...
Architecture Students: Time To Re-Think Owning An...
The need for affordable housing in Hawaii is a decades-old problem, compounded by having the nation’s highest cost of living.
The latest planning surveys estimate the state needs 13,000 new units by 2016 to address the housing needs of low-income people.
There’s no shortage of ideas from motivated nonprofits, students, professionals and concerned public officials. But action is...
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Aiona: 'Only Office I Would Consider Is Governor'
Former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona told the Hawaii Republican Party state convention Saturday (May 18) in Kaneohe that he will not say “yes” or “no” as to whether he will run for office in 2014.
But if he does, he said, the governorship is the only job he’s interested in.
Aiona, who lost badly to Democrat Neil Abercrombie in 2010, said he is enjoying his current life...
Gov Invites UH Regents To His Office To Discuss UH...
The Regents have already cut the public out of discussions about the search for a new UH president. Now the governor appears to be doing the same.
Excerpts from Hawaii News Now’s report:
Gov. Neil Abercrombie held a secret meeting with nearly all the University of Hawaii Board of Regents Wednesday afternoon to discuss how to move forward with the search for a new UH president.
...
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State Lets Honolulu Remove Sewage Spill Signs At...
The State Department of Health said today that the city of Honolulu can remove warning signs it posted at Keehi Lagoon nearly two months ago.
According to the city, the signs were posted on March 25 after a state security guard noticed toilet paper and smelled sewage in the vicinity of the Nimitz Highway viaduct near Kakoi Street.
What’s more concerning is that the city’s...
Hawaii Not So Negative According To 'Geography of...
Lucky we live Hawaii.
If the “Geography of Hate” map is any indication, we’re pretty positive compared with the mainland. That’s based on a U.S. map of geotagged racist, homophobic and anti-disability tweets compiled by researchers at Humboldt State University.
The eastern half of the country appears most hateful, covered in blazing red that indicates frequent use of racial, homophobic and...
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Taiwan News Channel In Town To Film Punahou,...
A group of Punahou kids could soon be going viral — in Taiwan.
The Taiwanese cable news station TVBS is planning a visit to Punahou on Monday to film some students working on their science projects.
The TVBS team is in the state to get footage of Hawaii’s natural beauty and interview entrepreneurs and sustainability advocates — particularly those with an expertise an energy. Turns out...
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May 17 — Where's The Gov?
Here’s Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s public schedule for Thursday:
• Hawaii Lions District 50 Day Proclamation, Ala Moana Hotel, 8:30 a.m.
• Palolo Elementary “Hoike” Engineering Design Projects Showcase, Palolo Elementary School, 9:30 a.m.
• Emergency Medical Services Week Proclamation, Executive Office, Ceremonial Room, 11 a.m.
• Hawaii Air National Guard 154th Wing Operational Capability...
Aloha Alaska? Lei Is A Big Deal At Anchorage...
Five lei vendors hawking flower and candy lei outside this week’s high school graduation in Anchorage, Alaska? It seems the large population of Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have transported the timeless tradition to the Frozen North.
But $20 for an orchid lei? Ho, brah! 8 bucks here.
Read the story in the Anchorage Daily News. Local columnist Julia O’Malley reports that lei...
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UH Board of Regents In Marathon Closed-Door...
It’s been nearly five hours since the University of Hawaii Board of Regents broke for executive session as part of their regularly scheduled meeting today — and as of 5:30 p.m., they still hadn’t come out yet.
University executives, including President M.R.C. Greenwood and Provost Linda Johnsrud, are waiting eagerly for the regents to come out of hiding.
The hottest item on today’s...
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Salmonson To Head Hawaii Environmental Quality...
The former director of the Office of Environmental Quality Control is returning to her old position.
Gov. Abercrombie nominated Genevieve Salmonson today to serve as OEQC interim director, subject to Senate confirmation.
Here’s what the governor had to say in the release:
“Genevieve is experienced in working across public and private sectors toward resolution and environmental...
Freeway Shooter Found Guilty of 2nd Degree Murder
Our partners at KITV have the story:
The jury has reached a verdict Thursday in the trial of Toby Stangel who was charged with eight counts of murder and attempted murder in connection with a shooting spree in Honolulu nearly two years ago.
He was found guilty of second-degree murder and faces life in prison with the possibility of parole.
Stangel was also found guilty of second-degree...
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Opening Brief Filed In Honolulu Rail Appeal
Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano and other plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit that aims to stop Honolulu’s rail project filed their opening brief in their appeal to 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
It’s 3,785 pages with attachments.
The opening brief itself is much shorter. Only 119 pages.
In general, the plaintiffs say the city didn’t do a proper alternatives analysis when...
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Hanabusa and Gabbard Vote Against Health Care...
Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard joined other House Democrats today in voting against a Republican attempt the repeal health care reform.
The measure actually passed the Republican House, 279-195, but is unlikely to go anywhere in the Democratic Senate.
However, the vote does give Hanabusa, who is running against Sen. Brian Schatz, a chance to play to Democrats back home. And in a...
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Gabbard Weighs In On IRS Scandal
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard weighed in today on the IRS scandal, conservative groups in Hawaii and around the country, received extra scrutiny by the agency.
“I am shocked and disappointed by the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of certain groups. It exposes a problem that lies not just with a few ‘bad apples,’ but rather a systemic problem with a culture that condoned this type of illegal...
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Transportation Nominee Tells Schatz He'd Keep Rail...
Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, President Barack Obama’s nominee for transportation secretary, told Sen. Brian Schatz he’d keep Honolulu’s rail project on track if he were to be confirmed, Schatz’s office said.
In a statement after their meeting, Schatz said, “Mayor Foxx informed me that the Department of Transportation transition will be seamless when it comes to the Honolulu rail project…...
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(de)Occupy Honolulu "Mixed Bag Of Self-Absorbed...
If there was ever any doubt about what city of Honolulu officials truly thought about (de)Occupy Honolulu it’s been erased in a response to a federal lawsuit filed by the protesters.
Here’s what Honolulu Corporation Counsel had to say:
“This case is not about the homeless. This case is about a mixed bag of self-absorbed social protesters — recent Mainland transplants — who...
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Measures For Native Hawaiian Home Ownership Pass...
Three bills pushed by Sen. Brian Schatz and Sen.Mazie Hirono to increase home ownership for Native Hawaiians cleared the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee earlier today.
Two of the measures would amend the Native Hawaiian Homes Commission Act (HHCA). One would expand housing program eligibility and succession authority to those who are one-quarter Hawaiian. Another authorizes the...
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Hawaii Unemployment Rate Lowest In 5 Years
From a press release Thursday (May 16):
The Hawaii State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) today announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for April declined to 4.9 percent from 5.1 percent in March. The last time the unemployment rate was 4.9 percent was in October 2008.
Statewide, there were 614,000 employed and 31,850 unemployed in April, for a total...
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Hirono Amendment On Hong Kong Tourist Visas Added...
The Senate Judiciary Committee agreed this morning to add another measure pushed by Sen. Mazie Hirono to the sweeping immigration bill.
The amendment is a relatively minor one in a bill that would create a path to citizenship and make changes to the long backlog of visa applications to bring family members to reunite with relatives in the U.S. However, Hirono said it could help increase tourism...
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What Bills Do You Want The Governor To Veto?
Gov. Neil Abercrombie wants the public’s input on what bills he should sign into law or veto.
The Legislature passed 293 bills this past session, which ended May 2. Those measures are now on the governor’s desk and he has until June 24 to let lawmakers know which ones he plans to veto. His deadline to veto bills is July 9, according to the Hawaii Public Access Room.
Abercrombie is...
Halekulani Hotel Apologizes To Hawaiian Musician...
A well-known Hawaiian entertainer’s Facebook post about being discriminated against by Halekulani pool security guards for being local went viral earlier this week — and now the five-star Waikiki hotel has apologized.
Na Hoku Hanohano winning musician Weldon Kekauoha and his family were staying at the hotel over Mother’s Day weekend and enjoying the pool when Kekauoha says a...
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Auditor: 'Troubling' Procurement Pattern At DOT's...
Hawaii’s Office of the Auditor has released a report examining procurement at the state Department of Transportation, and it’s not flattering.
“Especially troubling was the pattern of recurring violations and questionable practices we found in the Airports Division (Airports), which in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 accounted for approximately 30 percent of the department’s total...
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UH Hilo Team Heads To Russia For Microsoft Tech...
A smart phone app that helps the community and emergency personnel respond to disaster situations is what’s sending a University of Hawaii at Hilo student team to the Microsoft Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals in July.
The cup, which is being held in St. Petersburg, Russia, recognizes student technology innovations that address the world’s toughest problems using Microsoft resources....
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Big Isle GMO Critics Fight For Ban
From the Hawaii Tribune-Herald:
Genetic engineering opponents turned out in force Tuesday before the Hawaii County Council to support a bill that could determine the future of agriculture on the Big Island.
The bill would prevent farmers from planting any genetically modified crops not already grown on the island, and has gained enthusiastic support from critics of the biotech industry.
“I don’t...
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Schatz Thinks People Should Lose Jobs Over IRS...
Asked by NBC News reporter Kasie Hunt if people should lose their jobs over the IRS’ targeting of Tea Party groups including in Hawaii, Sen. Brian Schatz reportedly said yes.
Schatz apparently doesn’t dispute the report, retweeting Hunt’s tweet about the conversation.
— Kery Murakami
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White House Asks Schumer To Introduce Press Shield...
Politico has this report. Excerpt:
The White House has asked Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to reintroduce a press shield law, White House officials said Wednesday.
The move comes after questions were raised about the seizure of Associated Press phone records by the Justice Department as part of a national security leak investigation.
Shield laws protect journalists from being forced to reveal...
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Hanabusa Wins Endorsement From National AAPI Group
Rep. Colleen Hanabusa picked up the endorsement today of the Asian American Action Fund, a national PAC that works to get Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders elected to office.
In a release, the organization’s executive director Gautam Dutta cited her “distinguished and progressive record,” and as is increasingly becoming a common threat in Hanabusa’s campaign, cited the memory of the late U.S....
