Showing posts with label Warren Buffett. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Warren Buffett. Show all posts

Friday, July 8, 2016

Hawaii coffee production down, schools to get fresh food, new teaching methods, Ige signs industrial hemp bill into law, Honolulu council upheaval continues, Maui whistle-blower lawsuit tossed, senior living facility for Kona, big meth problem on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Coffee drying at Ka'u farm  2016 All Hawaii News
Hawaii produced an estimated 34.7 million pounds of unprocessed coffee during the 2015-16 season, a 5 percent drop from the previous season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pacific Business News.

Farmers and vendors have until Wednesday to tell the state what locally grown fruits and vegetables they’d like to provide to public schools. The state is making a special effort to boost supply and demand for food from the islands in its cafeterias. Star-Advertiser.

Working through a selected group of 19 voluntary advisers, the governor has called for a “blueprint” to guide a revamping of the state’s public school system to improve outcomes for students. The public will have an opportunity to add its ideas at an all-day summit the group is hosting Saturday at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Thursday signed into law a bill that establishes a pilot program through the state Department of Agriculture allowing for the cultivation of industrial hemp and distribution of hemp seed “for purposes of agricultural or academic research.” Civil Beat.

Burgeoning grass-root groups are ramping up their campaigns for and against the proposed expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as President Obama weighs whether he should single-handedly create the world’s biggest marine reserve around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Civil Beat.

Billionaire Warren Buffett’s energy company has started doing a pilot program for a residential property manager in Hawaii, a spokeswoman for one of his companies confirmed to Pacific Business News this week.

Learning To Live In The Electric Century. Hawaiian Electric Co. saw its profits skyrocket as people began using newfangled electric appliances. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Forest Legacy Program is seeking new projects that will protect working forest lands from the threat of conversion to non-forest uses. Applications from state and county agencies, conservation nonprofit groups and private landowners are due by Aug. 10 for funding in fiscal year 2018. Garden Island.

Oahu

Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson has lost his post as head of the Zoning and Planning Committee to Trevor Ozawa in a shakeup announced Thursday by Council Chair Ernie Martin. Civil Beat.

After being stripped of the chairmanship of the influential City Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday, Council Vice Chairman Ikaika Anderson lashed out at the man who dumped him: Council Chairman Ernie Martin. Star-Advertiser.

Due to a scheduling conflict, Charles Djou said he is unable to attend the Hawaii Public Radio debate that was scheduled for Monday evening. That prompted Mayor Kirk Caldwell to issue a press release Thursday. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i Public Radio is cancelling its scheduled Honolulu Mayoral Candidate Forum on Monday, July 11. Hawaii Public Radio.

A popular local food item has been mentioned as a possible culprit in an outbreak of hepatitis A that has sickened 31 people on Oahu. But the state Department of Health said it isn't anywhere close to identifying a single source in what's become out of the larger food-borne disease outbreaks in recent memory. Hawaii News Now.

A campaign is raising funds for a solution to the Ala Wai’s pollution problem. Hawaii Public Radio.

Portions of Kewalo Basin remained closed Thursday after a sewage spill that went unreported for days. More warning signs went up and the state Department of Health took water samples. KHON2.

It was Christmas in July at Kakaako’s Next Step shelter, where homeless workers Thursday morning unpacked new, heavy-duty air mattresses and $30,000 worth of donated slippers and shoes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

With a roomful of supporters at their back, former Mayor Harry Kim and former Senior Deputy Corporation Counsel Joe Kamelamela pleaded Thursday with the County Council to keep the county band in the county charter. West Hawaii Today.

A Kona senior living facility cleared a major hurdle Thursday, when the County Council unanimously granted $1.8 million in exemptions. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Airlines’ new nonstop service between Kona International Airport on the Big Island and Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport will start on Dec. 20, the Honolulu-based airline said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Maui

A Second Circuit Court Judge has dismissed a lawsuit from a former Maui County employee who alleged that he had been retaliated against by his workplace. Justin Dobbs was a former liquor control officer trainee with the Department of Liquor when he was fired in 2011. Maui Now.

Ground is finally moving on the island's much-anticipated West Maui Hospital and Medical Center, as hospital officials announced Wednesday that a groundbreaking ceremony would be held for the facility Aug. 15 in Lahaina. Maui News.

The final half-mile length of the Kahului Airport access road from its intersection with Hana Highway through to the terminal area will open to traffic on July 23, state Department of Transportation officials said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

In just five months, the Kauai Police Department saw a 150 percent increase of crystal methamphetamine in 2016 compared to the entire year of 2015. Garden Island.

A Kauai neighborhood association isn’t planning to do anything about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s rock wall that has some residents grumbling. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai’s Civil Defense Agency is working with the state Department of Health to develop a statewide plan to get a handle on mosquito-borne diseases, including Zika. Garden Island.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Kilauea lava creeps onward, Maui United Way battles anti-GMO group over name, Gabbard slammed for surf shoot, Ige blamed for hospital mess, bill seeks to name Oahu beach for Obama, would Warren Buffett want HECO, candidate residency cleared, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

pahoehoe lava
Pahoehoe lava from Kilauea courtesy USGS Oct. 3, 2014
The resurgent June 27 Kilauea lava flow has advanced another 100 yards since Saturday, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. The flow has moved downhill approximately 440 yards since it resumed its advance Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Democratic state Sen. David Ige is defending his record as Senate Ways and Means chairman from his gubernatorial opponents' charges that he deserves blame for the state's failure to fully fund public hospitals that face a $30 million deficit in 2015, even after layoffs. Maui News.

The politics of the governor's race could be an unexpected catalyst for policy changes at the state's troubled public hospital system. State Sen. David Ige, the Demo­cratic candidate, former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the Republican, and former Hono­lulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the Hawaii Independent Party candidate, all maintain that the next governor should drive the discussion on stabilizing the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., the $650 million network of 12 public hospitals that functions as the health care safety net for many neighbor island and elderly patients. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard skipped an August hearing on veterans care in Hawaii so she could go surfing for a Yahoo News profile. Despite telling Civil Beat at the time she missed the hearing because she was delayed in another meeting, Gabbard’s staff acknowledged last week that she was instead tied up with a Yahoo News reporter in Waikiki where she was surfing for a video the news outlet was shooting. Civil Beat.

Hawaii needs to step up if it wants to keep thousands of soldiers and their families and $1.3 billion in annual soldier-related sales, the former head of U.S. Army Pacific said. Star-Advertiser.

The former CEO of Hawaii Gas was selected to take over as the new director of Hawaii’s federally mandated insurance marketplace. The Hawaii Health Connector board voted Friday to hire Jeffrey Kissel. Associated Press.

Jeffrey Kissell will take over as head of the state’s beleaguered health insurance marketplace, known as the Hawaii Health Connector, according to an announcement from the board Friday. Kissell, who spent his career working for energy companies, most recently as CEO of Hawaii GAS, replaces interim Executive Director Tom Matsuda. Civil Beat.

Could Warren Buffett, the third richest man on the planet, be interested in buying Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s largest utility? There are signs that show certain connections to the Islands by the billionaire businessman. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Resolution to rename Sandy Beach after Obama, reaction mixed. Chang and fellow council member Ernie Martin are hoping to change that by renaming Sandy Beach Park to President Barack Obama Sandy Beach Park. It comes after a video was taken of the President bodysurfing back in August 2008. KHON2.

While state laws and the Honolulu Police Department's policies regarding domestic violence cases need some improvement, experts say it is HPD's poor enforcement of these laws and policies that is the real factor in continuing cycles of domestic violence in Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Independent.

Honolulu City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine and leaders in the Makaha community don't want to just expand the city's traditional Adopt-a-Park program; they want to turn the concept on its head. Star-Advertiser.

Efforts are underway to restore the remnants of a Hawaiian community that dates to around the year 1450. The Hawaii Community Development Authority is working with the Kalaeloa Heritage and Legacy Foundation on the proposed 77-acre Kalaeloa Heritage Park on the plains of Ewa. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County clerk has cleared District 9 County Council candidate Ron Gonzales to continue his challenge against incumbent Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. Clerk Stewart Maeda, in a four-page decision letter dated Wednesday, said he is satisfied that Gonzales’ legal residence is in Waikoloa, and therefore he is properly registered to vote in District 9. West Hawaii Today.

Candidates for state House and Senate seats discussed cesspools, high taxes, broken hospitals, flowing lava and other pressing issues at a forum Thursday in Kailua-Kona. Hopefuls in three races floated the concept of using state lands to relocate businesses and homes affected by the current lava flow in Puna. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz plans to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Friday to discuss the creation of a two-lane alternate route into the park for lower Puna residents impacted by the June 27 lava flow. So far, the park has authorized only a one-lane, gravel emergency evacuation route along a portion of Chain of Craters Road buried by recent lava flows. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Agriculture will scale back its plan to pipe a portion of the Lower Hamakua Ditch after several landowners offered to help maintain the open irrigation system through their properties. Tribune-Herald.

Home sales in Puna plummeted nearly 23 percent in September after Tropical Storm Iselle blew through Hawaii island — and they continue to remain sluggish as a river of 2,100-degree lava cuts its way toward Pahoa. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui United Way has written a "cease and desist" alleging trademark infringement to "Maui United," an anti-GMO group that has launched an advertising campaign in favor of the Nov. 4 initiative for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County. Maui News.

A moratorium on genetically modified crops is impractical, incumbent Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa said. A proposed moratorium would make it illegal to cultivate, grow or test genetically modified crops in the county until companies complete environmental and public health studies to show their practices are safe. Associated Press.

The Maui County Council unanimously approved at its Friday meeting a proposal to build a 61-unit affordable senior housing project in Pukalani. Maui News.

Kauai

In February, the state Supreme Court — in what has been called a landmark decision for Hawaii’s Public Trust Doctrine — sided with the County of Kauai by striking down a 2008 circuit court ruling that the Kauai Planning Commission “exceeded its jurisdiction” in denying Kauai Springs, Inc. permits for its operation. Seven months later, and contrary to that ruling, the Koloa-based water bottling and distribution company’s doors remain open. Garden Island.

A divided Kauai County Council committee on Wednesday approved a scaled down version of a proposal that would charge county residents variable trash collection rates based on how much they throw away. By a 4-1 vote, the seven-member board’s Environmental Services Committee approved an amendment to Bill 2551 that would charge residential customers a monthly, flat $6 fee for access to the county’s five refuse transfer stations and an additional $4 fee, if residents opt to have a 64-gallon trash cart, or two 32-gallon carts, for weekly pick up. Garden Island.

Tense moments, punctuated by sometimes combative exchanges, stood out in the debate between current mayoral incumbent Bernard Carvalho, Jr. and his challenger, Dustin Barca, during Thursday night’s political forum at the Kauai Memorial Convention Hall. Garden Island.

The two Democratic and Republican candidates vying for a single state House District 15 seat agreed that the state’s current tax structure should be revamped but were divided on other issues, including marijuana legislation during a political forum Thursday night in Lihue. Garden Island.