New public face for Abercrombie Administration, public land board stumbles, more Hawaii kids hungry, and news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pololu Valley Overlook (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

A new state agency tasked with developing public lands could be in trouble because the state may not have the authority to legally transfer the land to the Public Land Development Corporation. Civil Beat.

James Boersema, an experienced public relations strategist with ties to business and labor interests, will take over today as Gov. Neil Abercrombie's new communications director. Star-Advertiser.

Jim Boersema

Jim Boersema has accepted the offer to be the governor's new communications director. KHON2.

It was a dark week for the "New Day" administration of Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, as a fourth top level staffer submitted her walking papers Friday. Hawaii Reporter.

In politics, transformations and metamorphoses will carry you only so far. Eventually you either stand and deliver or leave. Star-Advertiser.

New staffer joins Abercrombie team as another aide resigns. Hawaii News Now.

On Friday, Communications director Josh Levinson informed his colleagues of his intent to resign .. then that night... Deputy Communications director Laurie Au did the same. KHON2.

Like GOP, Hawaii Democrats Also In Debt. Civil Beat.

Over the last five years, the ranks of Hawaii public school children eligible for free and reduced-cost lunch — a key indicator of poverty — have swelled by 35 percent to 90,660, in a trend that's causing increasing concern for advocates and school administrators. Star-Advertiser.

The 3 R's used to mean Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. But now the 3 R's have a completely new meaning at Hawaii schools. KITV4.

The Hawaii Department of Labor & Industrial Relations projects that the state will see a 3.6 percent increase in jobs over two years — from the third quarter of 2010 to the third quarter of 2012, according to its most recent employment forecast report. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

In First Year, Carlisle Was Honolulu's Global Mayor. Civil Beat.

Twenty one economies touched by the Pacific Ocean will send representatives to Honolulu for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Hawaii Public Radio.

City officials have announced the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve will be closed for two extra days next week while workers stabilize several rock faces that pose what is termed an imminent danger. KITV4.

Hawaii

The Water Board has opened its search for a new head of the Department of Water Supply and is accepting applications now online. Tribune-Herald.

When the Hawaii Wildlife Center opens next month, it will be the first state-of-the-art response facility exclusively for native wildlife in the Pacific Islands. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County Council members gave initial approval Friday to an update of the Lanai Water Use and Development Plan. Maui News.

Hospice Maui plans end-of-life care facility. Maui News.

Kauai

Memories of a bustling Lihue Sugar Mill filled William Farias' head during a recent blessing at the site as contractors prepared the structures for demolition. Star-Advertiser.

Molokai

Reclaiming Hawaiian Lands. Molokai Dispatch.

New condo coming to Waikiki, public gets new ammunition in development battles, still time to comment on NOAA rules, first baby born from frozen egg in Hawaii, more news from all the islands

On Wed., Aug. 18, the Honolulu City Council will hold a hearing to get public comment on whether to allow Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts to build a new 26-story hotel/condo directly on Waikiki Beach next to Kuhio Beach Park. Honolulu Weekly.

A recent Hawaii Supreme Court ruling gave individuals the right to sue to enforce zoning rules, a power that had been solely the government's. Critics warn this new tool to fight development could cause havoc. Civil Beat.

Fishermen, stakeholders, and the general public have time to comment on NOAA's enforcement priorities and the agency's National Enforcement Summit held in Washington earlier this week, through the summit's website. Big Island Weekly.

There is hope on the horizon, and on both sides of Hanama‘ulu Stream, that a historic foot bridge separating what used to be known as upper Kapaia valley and lower Kapaia valley could be restored. Garden Island.

Wildlife scientists have been scrambling for months to determine why puffer fish are dying around the Hawaiian Islands, and still do not know whether they will identify the killer. Star-Advertiser.

Your chances of seeing a shooting star are high as the Perseid meteor shower is beginning to peak Thursday night. A couple dozen people were at Halona blowhole late Thursday to try and catch a glimpse. Hawaii News Now.

Ka'iu Kimura has spent less than two weeks as executive director of the 'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Despite making steady improvement in overall test scores, most Hawaii public schools continue to see a sizable group of students who are "well below" proficiency levels in reading and math, school-by-school results released yesterday show. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's first baby born from a frozen unfertilized egg was introduced to the media on Thursday. KITV.

Six of the major candidates for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor had differing ideas of how to improve island agriculture, though, naturally, all support the industry. Garden Island.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii wants to disqualify three candidates for the state Legislature in the primary election because they do not meet standards for running for political office under the party's banner Star-Advertiser.

Citing a lack of evidence, the county Board of Ethics on Wednesday dismissed a complaint against Mayor Billy Kenoi and the county's top planner. Tribune-Herald.

The county Board of Ethics took Mayor Billy Kenoi's word for it Wednesday and dismissed a complaint alleging the mayor and his top planner failed to report meals worth more than $100 provided by Aina Lea developers. West Hawaii Today.

Conquering the world was not part of the original plans for many Hawaii businesses that have succeeded in global markets. Hawaii Business.

It is the largest alleged mortgage fraud scheme so far uncovered in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Since August 6, several large wind turbine components were successfully transported from Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor to the Kahuku wind project site, First Wind, the U.S.-based wind energy company, announced today. KHON2.

A manhole has discharged wastewater close to a popular surf spot. Hawaii News Now.

On Monday Aug. 16, work crews will begin grading and paving several empty lots where many homeless campsites have sprung up. KITV.

A battle is in the works over attempts by Ka'u Councilman Guy Enriques to abandon Old Homestead Road and sell it to unnamed adjacent property owners. West Hawaii Today.

There were 20 candidates in five hotly contested races at the Kula Community Association's political forum Tuesday night, but it was a clash between County Council Member Wayne Nishiki and the two candidates hoping to oust him from the council's South Maui seat that caused all the buzz. Maui News.

Over the last few weeks animosity has been building among a few County Council members. Garden Island.

Despite signing a 2008 tax return listing a Lahaina address, maintaining bank accounts on Maui and staying overnight in Lahaina, Maui County Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala testified Wednesday that it's his wife who has a residence on Maui. Maui News.

Long about 73 years ago, a youngster named Bob Olson gazed over the cliffs at Palos Verdes in Southern California in fixed amazement at surfers riding waves in the ocean down below him. Lahaina News.

Native Hawaiians on Molokai will have an opportunity to meet with the administration of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) at an upcoming community meeting. Molokai Dispatch.

Big Island police arrested a Kau couple after finding 555 marijuana plants in a drug bust at a home. KITV.

This land is my land, this land is my land

HONOLULU -- Hawaiian activists plan to set fire to Gov. Linda Lingle’s U.S. Supreme Court petition and light their torches with it as they rally at the state Capitol against the administration’s plans to sell some of the land it holds in trust.

Like a government version of Kramer vs. Kramer, two state agencies will duke it out in a courtroom Wednesday when the Lingle administration and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs each tells the highest court in the land that the other has no right to property ceded to the state following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.

“This state appeal has the potential to undermine all Native Hawaiian programs and assets as well as undermine the legal basis for Native Hawaiian federal recognition,” OHA Chairwoman Haunani Apoliona said during a news conference today on the grounds of Iolani Palace, an important symbol to the Native Hawaiian community.

While the lawyers fight, Native Hawaiians, alongside those “Hawaiian at heart,” will hold a vigil at the Capitol from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday. There will be prayers, pahu drums, chanting every hour, on the hour as part of a series of events planned that day in Honolulu, Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, New Haven, Conn., and Washington, D.C.

Activists are also calling for Hawaiians and sympathizers to take a day off work Wednesday to join the rally and send a message about the strength of the movement.

“A far-reaching decision by the U.S. Supreme Court could affect OHA’s ability to carry out its mission of bettering the conditions of Native Hawaiians,” Apoliona said.

Underscoring how divided the state is over the issue, the Democrat-controlled Hawaii Senate today passed a bill requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature before ceded lands can be sold and a resolution urging the Republican governor and her attorney general to withdraw their appeal. The Democrat-controlled House, meanwhile, didn’t move similar bills by the deadline for consideration.

OHA’s response to the state petition bases its argument on the Apology Resolution, enacted by Congress in 1993, on the 100th anniversary of the Hawaiian monarchy. OHA maintains it places a cloud on the title to ceded lands, forcing the state government to hold them intact until questions of Native Hawaiian self-governance can be answered. Last year, the Hawaii Supreme Court upheld that view.

The state disagrees.

“These public trust lands were transferred by the Congress to the people of the state of Hawaii in 1959 for the benefit of all the people of the state of Hawaii to be used for the public purposes set out in the Admission Act like for the establishment of public schools and public improvements for betterment of homes and farms,” says Hawaii Attorney General Mark Bennett. “The Admission Act explicitly gave the state the right to sell or transfer ceded lands for the purposes set out in the Admission Act.”

Ceded lands comprise 1.2 million acres of land on all Hawaiian islands - about 29 percent of the total land mass of the state and more than 95 percent of the public lands held by the state.

Ceded lands bills moving forward

With oral arguments in a U.S. Supreme Court case just weeks away, committees in both houses of the Legislature advanced bills today reining in the state administration’s ability to sell ceded lands.

The alii (chiefs) of the Royal Order of King Kamehameha I, wearing their trademark red and yellow capes, dominated the front row of committee rooms and were among the dozens who testified in support of a moratorium on the sale of Ceded lands.

Ceded lands are lands once owned by the Hawaiian monarchy but ceded to the state to be held in trust for Hawaiians. Ceded lands comprise 1.2 million acres of land on all Hawaiian islands - about 29 percent of the total land mass of the state and more than 90 percent of state-owned lands.

Eight bills were being heard in their first committees today, ranging from an outright ban of the sale of the lands (HB 1667, HB 1805, HB 1841, HB 902, SB 1085, SB 475) to the requirement that the Legislature approve each deal by a two-thirds majority (SB 1677, SB 476).

All of the House bills moved forward unanimously, with HB 1805 further modified to include the two-thirds requirement favored by the Senate.

At most immediate issue is the Lingle administration’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court of a Hawaii Supreme Court opinion that placed a moratorium on the state selling ceded lands until an agreement could be worked out between the state and the Native Hawaiian people. That case is scheduled to be heard in Washington D.C. on Feb. 25.

Attorney General Mark Bennett, one of the few opponents testifying about the bills, said passing legislation now is wrong from both a legal and a political perspective.

“The bill raises the potential for additional federal court lawsuits against the state by persons oppose3d to government programs that provide benefits to Native Hawaiians,” Bennett said. “We also believe that it makes sense as a policy matter for the state to retain flexibility as to the use and management of its land.”

Clyde Namuo, administrator for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which is battling the state administration in the lawsuit, said he and Bennett have worked side-by-side preserving Native Hawaiian rights in the past. But now, he said, he’s reaching a new understanding.

“Eight years ago when I joined OHA, I wondered why Native Hawaiians seemed so angry,” Namuo said. “Listening today to this discussion, I finally get it.”