Monday, October 15, 2012

Kilauea volcano rumbles, Hirono and Lingle prep for Tuesday debate, Kauai fights GMO, Monsanto donates $200k to Nature Conservancy, Public Land Development Corp. and University of Hawaii woes continue, Big Island looks to allow chickens in residential districts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2012 All Hawaii News
Kilauea Volcano (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

On trade wind days, which prevail much of the year, visitors to Kilauea’s summit are greeted by the majestic sight of a towering eruption plume that drifts to the southwest. At night, the deep red glow of the lava lake’s overturning surface is reflected by the fume above the vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Tribune-Herald.

Health officials insist the possibility is remote that radioactive debris will wash up on Hawaii shores from the 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan, but some residents maintain the state isn't doing enough to monitor the situation. Star-Advertiser.

With the 2012 general election just over three weeks away, the state will begin mailing absentee voting ballots on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat campaigning for U.S. Senate, voted for the Budget Control Act because she thought it would stabilize the nation's fiscal situation and avoid plunging the economy into a double-dip recession. Former Gov. Linda Lingle, the Republican candidate, said she would have voted against the law because of the potential for "dangerous cuts" to the military and other federal spending that could harm Hawaii's economy. Star-Advertiser.

No bill sponsored by three-term Democratic congresswoman Mazie Hirono has ever become law, and just one of the 49 measures she's introduced has even passed the House of Representatives, according to GovTrack.us, a legislative research site. Civil Beat.

The Public Land Development Corp., the controversial new state agency designed to increase revenues from state lands using public-private partnerships is continuing its efforts to establish its administrative rules.Big Island Now.

The PLDC is looking to bring a combination of prosperity and protection to publicly owned land, but many concerned residents say this can’t be done without conflicts of interest. Hawaii Public Radio.

J.N. Musto, executive director of the University of Hawaii faculty union, looks at the hiring of former UH President Evan Dobelle in 2001 as the point when Hawaii joined the rest of the nation in granting high salaries and benefits to top public university executives. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Regents met behind closed doors to discuss the future of UH President M.R.C. Greenwood but adjourned after 90 minutes, saying the discussion would continue next week. Hawaii Reporter.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents held a special meeting at the School of Medicine Friday to talk about President M.R.C. Greenwood. KITV4.

State roundup for October 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

Supporters of mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano are fighting back against the $1 million barrage of advertising by pro-business and pro-labor groups that favor the rail transit project and Kirk Caldwell, Cayetano's opponent. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayoral candidate and former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano gave more details about his bus-rapid-transit plan during an exclusive interview with PBN Friday. Pacific Business News.

It's been just over a year since the owners of Aloun Farms were on trial for human trafficking. Their names have since been cleared and now their business is booming. KHON2.

Questions about bidding procedures taint a $142 million affordable housing deal that is the crowning achievement of Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle’s administration. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
Hawaii County voters will consider whether county redistricting commission members should be able to run for council office the year after they redraw the council district lines. West Hawaii Today.

It’s a chicken and egg debate: Should people in residential districts be allowed to raise a few chickens for fresh eggs? West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii's local and grass-fed beef industry will get a boost this week when Hawaii County breaks ground on renovations to a state-owned slaughterhouse on the Hamakua Coast. Associated Press.

Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda is proposing $500,000 be spent on designing a new stadium. Tribune-Herald.

After months of political sparring and passionate testimony, opponents and supporters of geothermal energy may soon find themselves sitting at the same table. Tribune-Herald.

State public schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said the Department of Education is “working hard on a lot of things,” but she stressed the need for partnerships outside of the DOE to prepare Hawaii students for entry into colleges and job markets. Tribune-Herald.

This school year, Kealakehe Elementary began using a new system that allows students to use their finger to check in and pay for their meals, rather than holding up the line and searching for their meal tickets. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Wailuku Main Street Association and its board chairman have come under fire again by the state Department of the Attorney General after the organization and its top officer failed to comply with an order to provide additional financial and organizational records in an ongoing investigation into the nonprofit's operations and governance, a court filing details. Maui News.

Neighbors have been complaining of what one calls the "earthquakelike noise" of construction of a 28-unit, four-story affordable rental complex in Wailuku's Sand Hills area, but a Maui County spokesman said that Friday was expected to be the last day of the disruptive work. Maui News.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Friday that nationwide funding of more than $10 million in research grants will include a project on Maui to study the Haleakala silverswords. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai’s small, member-owned electric utility is quickly becoming a leader when it comes to renewable energy. Civil Beat.

Paul Massey, Kaua‘i Community Seed Bank manager and event coordinator, said the 10th Kaua‘i Community Seed and Plant Exchange focuses on GMO education and the impact to growers and to everyone as consumers. Garden Island.

The state Campaign Spending Commission at its meeting Wednesday dismissed a complaint against the re-election campaign of Kaua‘i County Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Monsanto Fund awarded a $20,000 grant to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) of Hawaii for watershed protection at Kamakou Preserve on Molokai. Molokai Dispatch.

Four months after a fire in June destroyed Hotel Molokai’s kitchen, rebuilding is scheduled to begin in January, according to the hotel’s General Manager Michael Drew. Molokai Dispatch.

Mother Marianne's road to sainthood started at a Syracuse church. Hawaii News Now.

No comments:

Post a Comment