The Beat: Blogging News and Opinion

Hawaii Gas Gets New CEO

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:23:00 -1000

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 cost of doing business in Hawaii, according to the press release.

Moy began her career in Morgan Stanley’s investment banking division in New York. She worked on the acquisition of Hawaii Gas on behalf of its parent company, Macquarie Infrastructure Co., in 2005 and 2006.

From the press release:

“Among the high priority matters our team will be addressing is the continued diversification of our fuel supply. We will also be concentrating on the further development of our liquefied natural gas and renewable natural gas initiatives to further provide the people of Hawaii with clean, cost-effective and reliable gas energy,” said Ms. Moy.

(Photo: Alicia Moy, courtesy Hawaii Gas)

— Sophie Cocke

Repurposed Equipment Boosts Hawaii Public School Science Programs

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:10 -1000

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 of “gently used” science equipment from the medical school to 13 public schools on four islands.

Dr. Boulay states in the press release that as the demand for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professions increase, so does the demand for equipment at a high school level. However, as Baldwin High School teacher Amy Ancheta notes about donated microscopes, the public schools “could probably never afford” such equipment on their own.

Photo credit: UH Medical School on Flickr. Check out more photos from the program here.

— Alice Terry

Hawaii NFL Pro Bowl In 2015 In Doubt

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:56:00 -1000

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 2014 Pro Bowl in Honolulu will be played a week before the Super Bowl.

“We think that that works well from season standpoint and finishing the season on a high note with the Super Bowl,” said Goodell. …

Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, issued this statement Tuesday afternoon: “We are having ongoing discussions with the NFL and look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship.”

Photo courtesy Official U.S. Navy Imagery.

—Chad Blair

State Senate To Discuss Hawaiian Home Lands Audit

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:05:20 -1000

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 year.

The briefing will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 2:45 p.m. in the State Capitol’s Conference Room 229.

Among the concerns found in the report is the commission’s failure to meet its fiduciary obligations, as well as the department’s lax management of lessee loans. The report states that in attempting to provide long-term tenancy to lease beneficiaries, the commission has thwarted collection or cancellation of chronically delinquent homestead leases, consequently tying up leases and staff resources to the detriment of the beneficiaries still waiting for leases. The report further found that, as of June 30, 2011, there were 9,922 homestead leases statewide and 26,170 applicants waiting for homestead leases. …

The following officials from the DHHL and the Auditor will be present during the discussion:

• Jobie Masagatani, Director, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

• Darrell Young, Deputy Director, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

• Commissioners, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

• Jan K. Yamane, Acting State Auditor

—Chad Blair

Report: Hawaii's Youth Unemployment Could Depress State For Years

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:30:56 -1000

“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 everything for nothing, and they want it now. But they’re also unemployed.

According to a NYT article from earlier this month, in the past decade, the U.S. has “gone from having the highest share of employed 25- to 34-year-olds among large, wealthy economies to having among the lowest.”

Young Invincibles, a D.C.-based organization that focuses on educating and empowering young Americans on policy issues regarding higher education, health care and employment has released a report and infographic claiming Hawaii’s youth unemployment rate of 13.8 percent “could depress economic opportunity for all Hawaii (residents) for years to come.”

The study, which compares youth employment figures from 2005 through 2011 found 25- to 34-year-olds in Hawaii making $3,400 less than they did in 2005 and claims there are 8 percent fewer 18- to 24-year-olds in the workforce.

Young Invincibles stressed that “young people in Hawaii need government, the private sector, non-profits, and educational leaders to work together to help this generation get back on track.”

— Sherley Wetherhold

Senate Panel Adds Help For Filipino World War II Veterans

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:27:17 -1000

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 the veterans is that the children of veterans from other countries who fought alongside U.S. troops are given a waiver from the limits and can immigrate more immediately.

An amendment by Sen. Mazie Hirono, added as the committee continued to make its way through an all-day hearing that was expected into the night, provides the waiver for the children of Filipino veterans.

“Many of the veterans have had to live their golden years apart from their children,” Hirono said at the hearing.

In a statement after the vote, Hirono said, “Our nation can never fully repay the debt we owe the Filipino World War II veterans who bravely served and sacrificed alongside Americans in the critical South West Pacific Theatre.

“The brave servicemen who are still with us, now in their 80s and 90s, should not have to wait any longer in order to be reunited with their children,” she said.

— Kery Murakami

May 21 — Where's The Gov?

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:51:18 -1000

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

Gabbard Passes First Bill In House

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:14:00 -1000

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 no longer be required to remove their shoes, jackets and hats.

The federal Transportation Security Administration had actually implemented the changes in March after Gabbard proposed her bill. However, the bill would put the changes into law if approved by the Senate.

Gabbard said in a statement: “For our wounded warriors and their families, airline travel will now be a much more dignified experience. Due to the nature of their injuries and disabilities, removing a belt, shoe or jacket can be more than just an inconvenience. These selfless heroes should never have to face lengthy, invasive, and even humiliating screening procedures at our airports.”

The measure was praised by Bill Lawson, president of the Paralyzed Veterans of America. “This Act mandates that TSA make every effort to protect the privacy of wounded warriors and ensure that our nation’s heroes are shown their due respect and appreciation,” he said in a statement.

— Kery Murakami

Hawaii Public Radio Aims For Wider Reach On Big Isle

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:53:13 -1000

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 listeners to hear both of HPR’s broadcast programming channels — HPR-1 and HPR-2.

The new West Hawaii transmitter “went on right on schedule,” Titterton said. “It filled in a lot of dead spots.” Waimea was “a notorious blank spot” and one of the more prominent unserved areas prior to getting the new transmitter, he said.

Thousands of new listeners in West Hawaii will be able to tune into HPR-1 and HPR-2 as a result of the new transmitter, although exact numbers are difficult to determine. “This new transmitter fills in that (area) very nicely,” he said. Read the full story.

And here’s the latest in other neighbor isle gov’t and politics:

Maui County wants to buy solar photovoltaic power

Army Corps proposes Kekaha Range Facility ‘danger zone’

New star provides picture of Sun’s future

Visitors welcome again under canopy at Hanalei landmark

Project aims to improve Lahaina’s harbor front

Kona grand jury indicts 2 in separate molestation cases

County seeks return of property in WMSA suit

County sues Wailuku Main Street

Big Island police investigating Puna murder

Photo courtesy www.flickr.com/commons.

—Chad Blair

Oahu's South Swell Largest, Most Consistent In Decades

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:49:00 -1000

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 ’70s,” Benitez said of the last time the South Shore was so big for so long. “We used to have back-to-back swells like this, but for nowadays this is very unusual, but unreal.”

“I haven’t seen it like this in a while, maybe 15, 16 years ago I seen it big for like a whole week,” added Fernandez, as another eight foot set crashed on the outside reef at Ala Moana Bowls.

Although surfers have a tendency to exaggerate the size of swells in years gone by, the National Weather Service says experienced surfers know exactly what they’re talking about — the south swell that began late last week is producing among the most consistently large waves to hit Oahu’s southern coast in quite some time. …

Screen shot courtesy KITV.

—Chad Blair

Hanabusa To Oppose Keystone Pipeline Measure

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:40:02 -1000

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 Senate measure in March to back the project.

Hanabusa, in a statement, focused less on concerns raised by Native American tribes, who according to the Associated Press worried both about expanding the use of fossil fuels and sacred sites in the path of the proposed pipeline. The pipeline transported toxic tar sands from under Canada’s Boreal forest 2,000 miles to the Gulf of Mexico to be refined and exported

Hanabusa in her statement said: “My opposition… reflects my belief that before the Administration approves a project of this nature we must ensure that there is a complete review of the potential environmental impacts, including ensuring that the project will not harm Native American sacred sites.

“We in Hawaii share a particular understanding of preserving sites that bear deep cultural significance. Ultimately, expediting the approval process short-circuits the Administration’s ability to provide thorough oversight and analysis,” she said.

— Kery Murakami

UPDATE: Chang Issues Statement On Law License Suspension

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:54:00 -1000

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. Colleen Hanabusa’s seat in Congressional District 1.

—Nick Grube

Senate Committee Passes Hirono Proposal To Let DREAMers Get College Aid

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:39:44 -1000

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, also passed a Hirono amendment aimed at reducing the human trafficking of children.

That amendment would place independent child welfare professionals at border patrol stations to provide basic humanitarian assistance to unaccompanied immigrant children held in border stations. The measure would also ensures appropriate screening of children to identify victims of persecution or trafficking and ensures children are not held for longer than necessary in U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities.

However, apparently lacking the votes in committee, Hirono also withdrew two other amendments, including one that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to receive Medicaid and other health care.

The amendments still have a long way to go before becoming law. The full Senate would have to pass the package, as does the House, which is expected to take a more conservative approach than the Democratic Senate.

“These DREAMers were brought to our country through no fault of their own, and grew up in our schools and churches. They deserve the opportunity to earn a college degree, start a business and help contribute to our economy,” Hirono said in a statement after the vote “My measure makes DREAM Act students eligible for federal student aid and gives these students financial options to pay for their education like other academically qualified Americans.

— Kery Murakami

White House To Honor Hawaii's Kim Coco Iwamoto

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:14 -1000

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 opportunity for the White house to feature groups of Americans — individuals, businesses and organizations — who are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities.

To watch this event live, visit www.whitehouse.gov/live at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday. To learn more about the White House Champions of Change program and nominate a Champion, click here.

Iwamoto was elected to Hawaii’s State Board of Education in 2006 and re-elected in 2010. During her time in office, Iwamoto was able to implement many of the policy recommendations of the Department of Education’s Safe School Community Advisory Committee, and in 2011, she drafted the Hawaii Safe Schools Act, which gave the legislature and the governor an opportunity to join the effort to reduce bullying and harassment in public schools. …

In 2012, Iwamoto was appointed and confirmed to the Hawaii State Civil Rights Commission.

Iwamoto (center) in 2010.

—Chad Blair

Study: Sun Exposure May Reduce Blood Pressure, Prolong Life

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:14 -1000

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 of other health benefits. Until this study, vitamin D was thought to solely explain the sun’s benefits to human health.

Just something to keep in mind next time you’re lounging at the beach. You can check out the full story over at Science Daily.

Photo credit: Haleakala by Flickr user daveynin.

— Alice Terry

Gov: 'Hawaii Putting Safety First On Roadways'

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:16:38 -1000

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 first on our roadways with the enactment of our state’s universal seat belt law; this measure closes the gap in protecting all passengers riding in a motor vehicle,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “In addition, the enactment of Hawaii’s distracted driving law establishes consistency across the state for the usage of mobile electronic devices while driving. …”

Senate Bill 4 – Enacted as Act 73. Requires all front seat and back seat occupants to buckle up, effective immediately. Adults and children must use their seat belts and child restraints at all times. …

House Bill 980 – Enacted as Act 74, effective July 1. While all counties have some form of a distracted driving ordinance in place, this measure establishes a state law that creates consistent requirements across all counties for the use of mobile electronic devices while driving and will simplify enforcement. …

The bill signings were held in conjunction with the DOT’s launch of the annual “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign (May 20 to June 2), a partnership between the state and counties with federal funding. …

—Chad Blair

Rowers To Cross Pacific Ocean In Historic Race

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:30:31 -1000

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 reach Honolulu in as little as 40 days. The fleet consists of four solo rowers, five two-person boats and six four-person boats.

Looking to get in the game? Registration remains open until early September. Organizers insist on their website that “you don’t have to be a rower to row an ocean, but you’ll need to learn how to.” Yeah, I would think so.

Photo credit: Flickr user Roz Savage, ocean rower who was the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

— Alice Terry

Hawaii Gets Approval For Education Law Waiver

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:30:00 -1000

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. Those conditions included states imposing their own standards to prepare students for college and careers and setting evaluation standards for teachers and principals.

Critics of No Child Left Behind call it a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach to education.

Hawaii is calling their redesigned plan, Strive HI Performance System. Now that the school year is coming to an end, the district will work with complex area superintendents and principals over the summer to implement the system in the fall.

Hawaii Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi says Monday’s approval will help focus on college and career readiness, rewarding high-performing schools and customizing student support. …

Kathryn Matayoshi.

—Chad Blair

Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang Has Law License Suspended

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:09:00 -1000

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 the U.S. House of Representatives in Congressional District 1. He is the only candidate to have officially announced a bid for CD1.

That seat is currently being warmed by Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who has announced her intentions to run against sitting U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.

—Nick Grube

Big Island Volcano Photographer Receives International Award

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:08:02 -1000

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 annual June exhibition. It will also be featured in Nature’s Best Photography Magazine.

Omori descriped the experience of capturing the photo in its description: “On an early morning shoot at the Waikupanaha ocean entry, lava from the Kilauea volcano poured into the sea. This created a huge escape of steam, and as it rose, multiple vortices began spinning off of the huge plume. A vortex or two is a pretty rare sight—but when one after another kept forming, my fumbling with the lenses turned into a panicked rush to switch my telephoto to wide angle lens to capture this awesome scene of seven vortices in a row.”

The result? Pretty epic.

Photo courtesy Bruce Omori.

— Alice Terry