Friday, October 5, 2012

Akaka tells Native Hawaiians to cling to values, Lingle takes offensive as poll standings slip, teachers union ends mediation, rail transit to eat fifth of Honolulu budget, Abercrombie talks tech, bad state for entrepreneurship, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Hawaiian poi pounding (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka told a crowd at the Native Hawaiian Convention in Honolulu that it's important to remember to live Hawaiian values and draw courage from those that came before. Associated Press.

The Cook Political Report on Thursday shifted its rating in the Hawaii U.S. Senate race from "toss up" to "lean Demo­crat," concluding that former Gov. Linda Lingle's campaign would need a big break to prevail over U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle on Thursday escalated brewing political tensions with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye by saying the longtime lawmaker thinks he should be able to hand-pick the state’s next U.S. Senator. Associated Press.

Democrats Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard hold leads over their Republican opponents and appear likely to keep Hawaii's congressional delegation blue for at least the next two years, according to The Civil Beat Poll. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association, representing more than 12,000 public school teachers, has ended mediation with the state in its continuing contract dispute, Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Thursday night. Star-Advertiser.

More than a month after both sides entered federal mediation, the Hawaii State Teachers Association has informed the state it is no longer participating in contract negotiations. Hawaii News Now.

Federal mediation between the state and public school teachers has failed after the governor said the union broke off talks with the mediator. KHON2.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Sanjeev "Sonny" Bhagowalia, who was hired last summer as Hawaii's first chief information officer, unveiled the state’s Business and Information Technology/Information Resource Management Transformation Plan Thursday at the Hawaii Convention Center. Civil Beat.

The state of Hawaii fell four spots to No. 45 in the newly released State Entrepreneurship Index (SEI), a nationwide analysis and ranking system that compares how states stack up in terms of business formation and innovation. Maui Now.

Compassion & Choices Hawaii, a nonprofit organization working to improve care and expand choice at the end of life, received 31 local inquiries in its first year of service. Civil Beat.

State roundup for October 5. Associated Press.

Oahu

City taxpayer subsidies of transit operations in Honolulu will climb to 19 percent of overall city tax collections after the new rail system launches operations, and that extra cost will require that Hono­lulu limit its spending on other city operations, according to a new report from a federal consultant. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials said Thursday that an independent review of their financial plan by the Federal Transit Administration is proof that it is “reasonable and able withstand and successfully address risks” of building and operating the city’s elevated-rail project. Pacific Business News.

Mayoral contenders Kirk Caldwell and Ben Caye­tano continued to poke holes in each other's mass transit plans during a final forum on live television Thursday night. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu's mayoral candidates squared off at a forum in Waikiki Thursday. KHON2.

The developer of a $250 million system using cold seawater to provide energy-saving air conditioning to downtown buildings is almost ready to start drilling tunnels and laying pipe for the project. Star-Advertiser.

City officials are pushing for a project in which in a three-mile-long tunnel, about ten to 13 feet in diameter, would be built to carry wastewater from Kaneohe to Kailua. Hawaii News Now.

The state Intermediate Court of Appeals has ordered Kawaiahao Church to stop any work that could lead to the disinterment of more burials. Honolulu Weekly.

Drug and liquor violations at dorms and other campus residences at the University of Hawaii's flagship Manoa campus soared last year, while campus-related burglaries and aggravated assaults also rose. Star-Advertiser.

Sean Barriero, a principal in the Miami, Florida-based organization Epic Talent LLC, who claimed he could organize a Stevie Wonder concert at the University of Hawaii, but disappeared with the University's $200,000 deposit after the real Stevie Wonder agent contacted the school, may be on the run. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

The Windward Planning Commission adjourned Thursday still looking for answers on how to allocate funds for a geothermal health study. Tribune-Herald.

Fearing urban sprawl could begin creeping down the Highway 11 corridor, the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday nixed an Ocean View man’s plan to put a coffee shop on his Aloha Boulevard corner lot. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi on Thursday thanked voters for their patience after the mishaps of the August primary and said she would work collaboratively with the state to ensure a "fair and well-run election" in November. Star-Advertiser.

Problems that plagued Hawaii County’s primary election Aug. 11 have been resolved, and the focus has shifted to running a smooth general election on Nov. 6. That was the consensus among Hawaii County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi and state Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago Thursday, after a nearly two-hour meeting at the state Attorney General’s office in downtown Honolulu. KITV4.

A culmination of community, police and administrative collaboration resulted in the apprehension of almost a dozen people allegedly involved in a rash of burglaries and car crimes in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Staffers working for Sen. Daniel Inouye have been helping state and university officials make sure that a $300 million solar telescope on Maui gets built, according to internal government emails. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Republican Party has filed a second campaign finance complaint against Democratic candidate Kaniela Ing, who is running for the South Maui state House district against incumbent Republican Rep. George Fontaine. Maui News.

Kauai

The public is invited to attend a meeting and provide comment on a study being conducted by the Department of Water for the Lihu‘e–Kapa‘a water system. Garden Island.

The public is invited to honor U.S. Sen. Daniel Kahikina Akaka for his service to Hawai‘i at a dinner Oct. 10 at the Kilohana Carriage House starting at 4:30 p.m. Garden Island.

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