Thursday, October 27, 2011

63% of Hawaii voters approve of Obama's job performance, discrimination complaint tossed, GreenSun Hawaii to finance energy, UH hikes tuition, Kakaaka to get state's tallest building, Maui explores ag-tourism, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

President Barack Obama courtesy photo

Hawaii voters may feel blue about the direction of the country. But that hasn't affected their love affair with President Barack Obama. Civil Beat.

U.S. District Judge David Ezra dismissed a complaint today filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on April 20, 2011, against six Hawaii farms, saying the government agency that is charged with prohibiting employment discrimination has not been specific enough in its allegations. Hawaii Reporter.

On Wednesday, the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, along with the Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corp., launched GreenSun Hawaii, an energy-financing credit-enhancement program funded by almost $3 million in federal dollars. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii homeowners have yet to benefit from the state's new foreclosure dispute resolution program intended to force lenders to meet face-to-face with homeowners before foreclosing on a property. Civil Beat.

Citing state budget cuts, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted 9-3 Wednesday to approve a new round of annual tuition increases that will have UH-Manoa undergraduates paying 35 percent more five years from now. Star-Advertiser.

Republican lawmakers in Hawai’i are outnumbered 8 to 1 … but that hasn’t dampened their spirits as they prepare for next year’s legislative session. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Civil Beat Poll: Hawaii Says Abercrombie Doing Worse Than Expected. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A private developer would get the chance to erect the tallest high-rise in Hawaii and sell market-rate condominiums as an incentive to build a project in Kakaako that would also provide affordable housing and commercial, civic and community office space near Honolulu's planned rail line. Star-Advertiser.

A small group of APEC protestors spread their anti-globalization message throughout the UH Manoa campus on Wednesday. KHON2.

Hawaii

The construction start date for Phase 2 of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project has been pushed back again.  West Hawaii Today.

The Kohala Center has received a one-year grant from the USDA to expand EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card access to six farmers markets on the Big Island.  Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission granted Ali'i Kula Lavender farm a state special use permit Tuesday that allows the working farm to conduct agricultural tourism activities, a growing segment of the visitor industry. Maui News.

After stalling during the middle of the year, visitor head counts in Maui County have started increasing again. Maui News.

A West Maui Shell station has been fined more than $85,000 for underground fuel tank violations. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative is determined to pursue two ditch hydropower projects despite the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s unwillingness to permit them. Garden Island.


There will be more dedications and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said he plans on being at those too. Garden Island.



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