Showing posts with label Robert Kennedy Jr.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Kennedy Jr.. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Earthjustice lawsuits seek seabird protection from lights, Hawaii County inaugurates new mayor, Hawaii Marines get first 'ship-killing' missile system in U.S., more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawsuits Seek To Protect Hawaiian Seabirds From Too-Bright Streetlights. Earthjustice adds another claim to a 30-year pile of lawsuits against power companies, resorts and local governments on Maui and Kauai. Civil Beat.

More biosecurity measures could come in upcoming Legislative session. At last month’s Hawaiʻi Agriculture Conference, Rep. Kristin Kahaloa, who was the vice chair for the House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems, said she and other lawmakers will look to build on a law allocating $20 million in state funding for biosecurity efforts in that Gov. Josh Green later cut to $10 million. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor calls Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s health secretary nomination ‘unsafe for children’. Gov. Josh Green, a medical doctor, says he’ll testify against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as health and human services secretary if the U.S. Senate asks him. Hawaii News Now.

Trump vows to axe the federal Education Department.
Here's what Hawaiʻi education leaders are saying. Public school Superintendent Keith Hayashi told HPR that 11% of Hawaiʻi's DOE budget is made up of federal funds — about $42 billion a year. Hawaiʻi is also the only state that has a centralized DOE.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Kindergarten Readiness Is Low, Even As Investments Remain High. The state continues to build more preschool classrooms for 3- and 4-year-olds, but researchers and educators say low-income families need more support to prepare their children for school. Civil Beat.

Taiwan president praises tech ties during Hawaii visit. Taiwan’s partnership with the United States is a source of strength for the high-tech industry, including the semiconductor sector, and shows the island is a trusted and reliable partner, President Lai Ching-te told a think-tank in Hawaii. Reuters.

Hawaii Marines first to get ‘ship-killing’ missile launcher. Members of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment held a ceremony in November at Dewey Square on Marine Corps Base Hawaii to celebrate getting their hands on a new “ship-killing” missile system they hope will give American forces an edge in the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Has The Oldest Farmers In The U.S. Hawaii’s farmers are aging fast. The latest national agricultural census, conducted in 2022 and released earlier this year, shows that nearly half — 44% — of the state’s food producers are over the age of 65. Roughly 1 in 7 Hawaii farmers — just over 14% — are over 75.  Civil Beat.

Oahu

State archive plans to digitize Pearl Harbor memorial records. The Hawaii State Archive is cataloging documents and records from the Pacific War Memorial Commission, chronicling how the state raised money to commemorate the Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor attack by Japan. Star-Advertiser.

‘No public value,’ City looks to remove payphones. Pay phones are more prevalent than you might think and they all seem to have one thing in common. They don’t work. Now, the focus is on getting rid of them. KHON2.

What does Miske’s death mean for accused co-conspirators, victims?
The death in federal prison of one of Hawaii’s most notorious criminals leaves the cases of his accused co-conspirators in limbo and his victims without closure, according to legal experts. The tens of millions in assets seized are also likely to remain with the government. KHON2.

Miske Felt Hopeful About Appeal Before His Death In Jail, Lawyer Says. Officials have not released information about the circumstances surrounding Sunday's death of the convicted organized crime leader at the Federal Detention Center In Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Alameda, others sworn in during inauguration in West Hawaii. Hundreds were in attendance Monday, including Gov. Josh Green and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, as Mayor Kimo Alameda, Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen and the nine County Council members were inaugurated at the Kaleiopapa Convention Center on the grounds of the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa in Keauhou. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.  KHON2.

Roth touts savings following arbitration with HGEA. Hawaii County has reached a “significant arbitration outcome” with a government workers’ union over COVID-19 hazard pay, outgoing Mayor Mitch Roth announced Monday. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Special Feral Pig Hunt Announced On Hawaiʻi Island. Pig hunting will be allowed on certain dates within the Puʻu Mali Restoration Area and the Kaʻohe Restoration Area. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui County Council members are deciding how a long-awaited housing project will move forward in South Maui. The project was scaled back considerably since it was first approved nearly 20 years ago, and some are outraged. Monday’s Housing and Land Use Committee meeting ended with no decision. Hawaii News Now.

County hui tackles broadband issues. The Maui Broadband Hui counted 150 locations that they saw were underserved and unserved that later triggered 7,585 residents to be checked by major service providers such as Hawaiian Tel and/or Spectrum. Maui News.

14 months after Maui wildfires, visitor arrivals were up from year before levels, but down from pre-pandemic October 2019. According to preliminary statistics from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, there were 774,617 visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in October 2024, growth of 5.4% from the same month last year.  Maui Now.

LAPD: Missing Maui woman seen on video crossing US-Mexico border.
In a news conference, the Los Angeles Police Department said the family of 30-year-old Hannah Kobayashi was made aware of video that was obtained, showing Kobayashi crossing the border on foot from San Diego into Mexico on Nov. 12 at 12:13 p.m. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.  KITV4.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County inauguration swears in many familiar faces, and a newcomer to the council. As the calendar year comes to an end, the latest iteration of Kaua‘i County government formally began Monday with the inauguration of its county council and prosecuting attorney at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Līhu‘e. Kauai Now.

Kauai legislators host town meeting. The Kauai House Delegation to the State Legislature will host a community town hall meeting on Tuesday from 5:30 top 7:30 p.m. at the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center, located adjacent to the YMCA of Kauai and the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School. Garden Island.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Power outages require costly fixes, state now allows cryptocurrency exchanges, Legislature tackles artificial intelligence, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Frequent power outages need costly combo of fixes. A combination of equipment failure, winter weather, variations in renewable energy, and even planned maintenance are to blame. HECO says they’re investing in upgrades, but customers and some lawmakers are fed up. KHON2.

Legislature tackles artificial intelligence. A number of AI-related bills are moving through the state Legislature this week, each one proposing some degree of state control over the future of the rapidly advancing technology. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii opens its doors to Cryptocurrency Trading, embracing the digital financial frontier. The State Division of Financial Institutions decided that cryptocurrency exchanges in Hawaii do not have to comply with the state’s money transmitter law, which had required the exchanges to hold cash reserves equal to their digital assets. KITV4.

Judge rules HMSA contracts are ‘unconscionable’ in lawsuit from doctors and patients. A court ruling against Hawaii’s biggest health insurer, Hawaii Medical Services Association, could give Hawaii doctors more freedom in making medical decisions. A Big Island judge has ruled the insurer’s contracts with its doctors are “unconscionable” and unenforceable. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s Still-Struggling Police Standards Board Could Add More Cops To The Oversight Panel. Civil rights advocates say that expanding the board with more police appointments will diminish input from community members. Civil Beat.

‘Unpaid Heroes’: Momentum Grows For Comprehensive Paid Family Leave In Hawaii. Covid revealed how vulnerable many are when a family member needs serious care. But business groups and some unions oppose cost burdens. Civil Beat.

Educational worker safety bill advances but removes increased harassment penalties. Tougher penalties for those who harass public and charter school employees are on the table this legislative session by increasing harassment penalties for educational workers to a misdemeanor.  KHON2.

The Packed Hawaii State Hospital May Soon See A Surge In Patients From A Private Facility. Health officials are seeking $14 million in emergency funding to try to improve security and reduce the patient population at the Hawaii State Hospital, but the psychiatric facility may soon have to make room for an influx of even more patients from the privately run Kahi Mohala facility. Civil Beat.

Bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Hawaiʻi makes progress in the Senate. Although the Attorney General’s office does not support marijuana legalization, it provided guidance to the Legislature on how the bill should be crafted. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald.  Big Island Now.

Bill regulating invasive species suggests sizable investment from the state. Senate Bill 3237 would primarily create a plant nursery license, designate dozens of pest species for eradication, add rules for imported goods and give the state Department of Agriculture more power to stop the movement of infested goods. Hawaii Public Radio.

Public art funding faces obstacles at the Legislature with proposed budget cuts. While several measures in the Legislature this session could provide more support to Hawaiʻi's art community, one proposal may cut funding from a state agency that runs the public art museum. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former Rep. Ing facing another $18K in fines. Investigators for the state Campaign Spending Commission on Wednesday recommended that former state Rep. Kaniela Ing be fined another $18,250 — in addition to the nearly $22,000 that he already had been fined — for 24 campaign spending violations. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Permitting Office Making Progress While Delays Persist, Audit Says. Permit review times at the troubled permitting office are worse than before, but the department has taken steps to improve its processes.  Civil Beat.

Pearl Harbor survivor Sterling Robert Cale dies at 102. Sterling Robert Cale, a Pearl Harbor survivor who served the United States throughout World War II, and also in Korea and Vietnam, and then met thousands of visitors as a volunteer at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, died Jan. 20 at his home in Aiea. He was 102. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Military begins sampling soil at Puuloa Range. Two days of soil sampling got under way at Puuloa Range Training Facility in Ewa Beach early Wednesday morning, three months after the military, state and community finalized a plan to address concerns regarding potential lead poisoning of the soil. Star-Advertiser.

Navy developing follow-up water monitoring plan. The creation of the plan comes after the Navy gathered a team of “drinking water experts” two weeks ago to investigate the origin of low-level detections of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in the Joint Base-Pearl Harbor Hickam water system, following an influx of tap water and air quality complaints from residents. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now.

Health officials have confirmed five cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, among members of one household visiting Hawaii from the U.S. mainland. One child from the household was hospitalized, and all five cases were unvaccinated, according to the Hawaii Department of Health. The family stayed at a hotel on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Bills Advanced To Help Restore Kahaluʻu Beach Park In Kona. Measures in the State House and Senate that will help fund the restoration project are being heard in committee. Big Island Video News.

Owner of Discount Fabric Warehouse chain dies at 65. Businessman. Outdoorsman. Visionary. Philanthropist. Those are words that have been used to describe Bill Miller, the owner of Discount Fabric Warehouse — a statewide business empire he built starting in 1995. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Beyond Lahaina: Some Lawmakers Want A New Development Plan For All Of West Maui. The state would take over governance of land use and development in much of West Maui, a much more far-reaching plan than just the rebuilding of Lahaina, under a bill speeding through the Senate.  Civil Beat.

Contention billows from Lahaina rebuilding board bill.  Enthusiasm and concern clashed Wednesday at the Legislature over a proposal to establish an elected community board under a state agency to govern Lahaina’s rebuilding from fiery ruins. Star-Advertiser.

Kennedy recounts recent visit to Lahaina in aftermath of wildfire.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday eleased a video documenting his visit to Lahaina, where he went to see firsthand the devastation from the wildfire that destroyed much of the historic town six months ago.  Maui Now.

Debris removed from 100th residential property in Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area. Debris and ash removal was completed on the 100th residential property in the Lahaina Wildfire Disaster Area on Wednesday, (Feb. 14) 30 days after the work began in Lahaina, county officials said. Maui Now.

Aikanaha project bill submitted for $14 million Affordable Housing Fund loan. A bill has been submitted to the Maui County Council that would pave the way for loan of up to $14 million from Maui County for the 212-unit Aikanaha low-income rental housing project in Waikapū. Maui Now.

Kauai

Public hearing: Bill funding invasive parakeet removal on Kaua‘i draws widespread support.
A bill allocating $150,000 to establish a one-year pilot program to reduce the population of the birds on the Garden Isle was met with overwhelming approval Wednesday during a public hearing held by the Hawai‘i House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems. Kauai Now.

Tourists set new mark for spending in December. Visitor spending shattered the $200 million barrier and set a new high for the month of December, despite a decrease in the number of tourists coming to the island of Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Friday, January 19, 2024

Hawaii to beef up agriculture, aquaculture programs, RFK Jr. makes campaign stop, Kauai councilman put on leave from state teaching job, homeless woman gives birth, drags newborn on Hilo sidewalk, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii farmers and ranchers to benefit from state landlord swap. A 2003  law was supposed to better support ranchers and farmers by having the Department of Land and Natural Resources give the Department of Agriculture up to 110,000 acres of ag land that DLNR largely leased to food producers. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Kauai Now.

How coffee farmers fought counterfeit Kona beans. On the volcanic slopes of Kona, hundreds of farmers produce one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Those farmers recently won a series of settlements — totaling more than $41 million — after a nearly five-year legal battle with distributors and retailers that were accused of using the Kona name in a misleading way. New York Times.

Hawaii Lawmakers Want To Make Fish Farming A Bigger Industry.  The Legislature may give the embattled Agribusiness Development Corp. oversight of aquaculture, seen as a linchpin in Hawaii’s evolving agricultural economy following the plantation era.  Civil Beat.

Governor vows to support lower drunken driving levels in Hawaii. Gov. Josh Green plans a full-court offensive to convince hesitant legislators to finally lower Hawaii’s blood alcohol content level to .05% from .08% after previous bills failed. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Robert Kennedy Jr. makes a campaign stop in Hawaii to get on the ballot for president. Hundreds of people gathered Thursday at the Ko‘olau Ballrooms in Kaneohe to support RFK Jr.’s long-shot bid as an independent to become America’s next president. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

ʻOnipaʻa march draws thousands to commemorate overthrow of Hawaiian Kingdom
. Wednesday marked the anniversary of the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom more than 130 years ago. Thousands of Native Hawaiian students, teachers and community leaders from across the islands commemorated the date with the annual ‘Onipaʻa Peace March. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

With 100s of witnesses, trial for so-called ‘Miske Enterprise’ could take half a year. Jury selection is underway for one of the biggest organized crime trials in Hawaii. Businessman and alleged crime boss Michael Miske is facing nearly two dozen counts in a suspected murder-for-hire plot along with an alleged chemical weapons case. Hawaii News Now.

Federal officials are no-shows at Red Hill community meeting. Federal officials were absent when members of the Red Hill Community Representation Initiative met Thursday at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for an update from the military and the Environmental Protection Agency on ongoing efforts to close the Red Hill fuel storage facility and water testing on the Navy waterline. Star-Advertiser.

HPD chief: ‘Everything that happened’ during fatal police pursuit under investigation. Honolulu Police Department Chief Joe Logan continued to field questions Thursday about a lawsuit filed against the department alleging police brutality. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island


Woman allegedly drags baby after giving birth on downtown Hilo sidewalk. Police officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to the intersection of Mamo Street and Keawe Street after receiving reports at about 5:15 p.m. Tuesday that a woman who had just given birth was reportedly dragging the newborn. Tribune-Herald. Star-Advertiser.  Big Island Video News.  Big Island Now.  KHON2. KITV4.

After Fight, Man Dies At Mo‘oheau Bus Terminal In Hilo. A 34-year-old man died after a fight with several men near the homeless encampment along the fence line separating the Mo‘oheau parking lot and Bayfront Highway. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Milestone moment as first property is cleared of residential wildfire debris in Lahaina, Maui.
A milestone moment was reached on Wednesday as the first residential property was cleared of wildfire debris on Fleming Road in Lahaina. This comes following months of coordinated reentry activities that allowed residents to gain access to their properties and assess damage. Debris removal from residential properties in Lahaina began on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Maui Now.

County film commissioner Tracy Bennett retires, reflects on growth of Maui industry.
  After 10 years at the helm, County of Maui Film Commissioner Tracy Bennett has retired from his government post to enter the private sector.  Maui Now.

Kauai


Kauai County Councilman Is Put On Leave From State Teaching Job. The Hawaii Department of Education has placed Kapaa High School teacher Billy DeCosta, a member of the Kauai County Council, on a leave of absence following an undisclosed incident that remains under investigation. Civil Beat.

Kauai County Council member receives ‘credible threat’. The threat was made against Councilman Bill DeCosta, who found what was described as a letter, poster or piece of paper left for him on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Garden Island. Kauai Now.