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NEWS
FLASH - BREAKING NEWS FROM MAUI COUNTY- ARCHIVES
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FOR 2010: Maui TV News Breaking
News stories are now being archived. Click
here to scan through all the Breaking News items for 2010.
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NEWS FLASH - October 21, 2010 9:20 a.m. HST Kahului Man Receives Life Sentence in Son's Murder WAILUKU - A Kahului man was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with the possibility of parole, after he was found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting of his 19-year-old son. Because he also was convicted of using a semi-automatic firearm to commit the crime, Joe D. Antonio was ordered to serve at least 20 years in prison before being eligible for parole. Antonio, 47, who is also known as Jose Antonio Sr., has been incarcerated since he turned himself in at the Wailuku Police Station within an hour of the fatal shooting at 10:40 p.m. Dec. 16, 2008, at the family's two-bedroom cottage on South Kamehameha Avenue. Jose "JR" Antonio Jr. was found lying on the ground just outside the home with five gunshot wounds in his body. Police recovered seven bullet casings and the father's .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol at the scene. "I just want to apologize once again to my family," Joe Antonio said in court Wednesday, turning to several family members in the courtroom. "Sorry for causing the pain. I'm not the perfect father. I'm not the perfect husband. I'm not the perfect person. "I just want to ask for forgiveness." According to testimony during Antonio's nonjury trial that began in June, there were arguments in the home in the hours before the shooting. Antonio's wife, Zenaida, confronted him that afternoon about going to the Philippines with a woman who was allegedly his girlfriend. Later that evening, after Antonio had been drinking with relatives and friends in the garage of the main house on the property, he and his son argued over a video game cord running from a living room computer to the son's bedroom, where he was playing an online game. The father had repeatedly asked the son to remove the cord, saying someone might trip over it. The two also argued over $1,400 the father had borrowed from the son, in part for gambling debts. At one point, the father slapped the son's cheek and both threw money at each other that the father tried to repay to the son. The son lifted one end of a couch and punched a hole in a closet during one confrontation. The father twice pulled out the video game cord that night, breaking it the second time. Joe Antonio said he heard his son swearing in his bedroom when the cord broke. Antonio testified he was afraid when he went into his bedroom, got and loaded his gun, and went outside. He said his son had kicked open the screen door and was swearing, and had a hand on the father's neck before he fired, emptying the pistol. Then Antonio went into the house, got his keys and drove away. "It's a terrible family tragedy beyond anything you could imagine," said defense attorney Philip Lowenthal. "There's no question Mr. Antonio loved his son." Lowenthal asked 2nd Circuit Judge Joel August not to impose the 20-year mandatory-minimum term, saying the prosecution hadn't presented evidence to prove the pistol was a semi-automatic firearm. But Deputy Prosecutor Melinda Mendes said that, in finding Antonio guilty, the judge had found that the evidence showed a semi-automatic firearm was used. Although Antonio asked for his family's forgiveness, "I haven't heard him say, 'I'm sorry I killed my son' today," Mendes said. "This tragedy was of the defendant's own making." August said the court received "many, many letters" from family members of Antonio and his wife, with letter writers hoping Antonio wouldn't receive a lengthy prison sentence. "This court has virtually no discretion to determine the length of the sentence," August said. He said Hawaii law mandates a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole for a second-degree murder conviction and a 20-year mandatory minimum term for using a semi-automatic firearm to commit second-degree murder. August found Antonio guilty of both charges in July. At the time of the shooting, Antonio had worked as a pressman at The Maui News for 18 years. His son had graduated from high school and was living at home and working as a stock clerk at Safeway in Kahului. "What is particularly disturbing about the incident we're dealing with is it involves the murder of a young man who had a bright future," August said. "It was a murder of this young man by a hardworking father who was and is loved by his entire family, including, I believe, the son JR who passed away." He noted that the family appeared to have successfully migrated to Hawaii from the Philippines. "Ultimately, this case represents emotion over reason," August said. "It grew out of extreme anger over perceived disrespect for parental authority and reached a level which no reasonable person in a well-ordered society is prepared to accept or condone. It is truly a tragedy for everyone concerned - Mr. Antonio, JR, and the family." Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - October 21, 2010 9 a.m. HST 12-15 Foot Waves Expected on North Shores Today 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the HIGH SURF ADVISORY for NORTH FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and MAUI and remains in effect until 6:00 p.m. this evening. A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion. 2. EFFECTS: Surf will be 12 to 15 feet along exposed north facing shores of Molokai and Maui. Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves. A high tide of approximately 2.1 feet is expected between 1:02 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. this after afternoon. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - October 21, 2010 8:20 a.m. HST 6.9 Baja Quake Does Not Generate Tsunami A 6.9 magnitude earthquake shook Mexico's Gulf of California this morning, but there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii, officials said. The quake was centered 6.2 miles deep, 65 miles south of Los Mochis in Sinaloa, and 85 miles northeast of La Paz in Baja California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It struck at 11:53 a.m. at the epicenter, 7:53 a.m. Hawaii time. "Based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii," said officials with Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 21, 2010 6:40 a.m. HST Rain's Coming - But Not For a While Government forecasters on the mainland are saying Hawaii can expect drier than normal weather through November. But the Climate Prediction Center said Thursday that there should be wetter than normal conditions from December through February. Statewide, the current drought is expected to continue through the winter. Several locations are on track to have the driest year on record. Drought recovery is more likely on Kauai and Molokai, and over the windward slopes of the Big Island and Maui. (Report Proviuded by The National Weather Service) NEWS FLASH - October 20, 2010 10:10 a.m. HST First Humpback of Season Spotted Off West Maui The first humpback whale sighting was reported this morning 2.3 miles off the west coast of Maui. Megan Haertling, spokeswoman for the Pacific Whale Foundation, said that Capt. Chris Howard, skipper of the catamaran Alii Nui, reported seeing a single young male whale at 9:35 a.m. She said humpback whales migrate nearly 3,000 miles from Alaska where they feed during the summer to breed and deliver calves in Hawaiian waters during the winter. "The greatest number of sightings are in February and March," Haertling said. For more information go to www.pacificwhale.org or call (808) 249-8811. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 20, 2010 7:20 a.m. HST Abercrombie Does 'About-Face' On Appointed School Board Former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said yesterday that he voted for a constitutional amendment calling for a state school board appointed by the governor instead of elected by voters. The Democratic candidate for governor has supported the concept of an appointed school board but has made inconsistent statements about the constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The amendment would change the school board, which has been elected since 1964, to an appointed board. But Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed companion legislation that would have established the appointment process, so state lawmakers would have to draft a new bill next session if the amendment is approved by voters. "I voted to give myself the opportunity, if I become governor, to appoint the school board," Abercrombie told reporters after voting early at Honolulu Hale. "I still have my reservations about the capacity for that to happen, but I understand that the Legislature has indicated that they'll expedite the necessary implementing legislation." Abercrombie told the Star-Advertiser in July that he opposed the amendment. His campaign staff told the newspaper in September that the former congressman was no longer taking a stand on the amendment after Lingle vetoed the companion legislation, which he opposed. But then Abercrombie said at a debate on PBS on Thursday that he again opposed the amendment. One of his main objections, he said Thursday and at a news conference on Friday, was that it could take the Legislature as long as four years to pass a new bill establishing the appointment process. He said he wanted to make improvements to education immediately after being elected, not relive the debate over the structure of the school board, which he believes does not matter. "Appointed or elected school boards do not teach children," he said Friday. But Abercrombie said yesterday that he had received assurances from lawmakers that they would move rapidly on a new bill. While he said he still has concerns about a potential leadership vacuum on the school board during the time between when voters approve the amendment and the implementing legislation becomes law, he believes an appointed board is the best route. State Rep. Roy Takumi (D, Pearl City-Momilani-Pacific Palisades), chairman of the House Education Committee, said Abercrombie "obviously misspoke" when he suggested that it would take as long as four years for lawmakers to act. He said he assured the Abercrombie campaign that if he is re-elected, he would move a bill at the start of next session if voters back the amendment. "We have an obligation to fulfill their desires," Takumi said. Takumi also said, however, that the bill he would introduce will likely be identical to the one Lingle vetoed and which Abercrombie opposed. The bill would have created a seven-member selection advisory council to recommend school board nominees to the governor. The governor's school board appointments would be subject to confirmation by the state Senate. The process would be similar to the Regents Candidate Advisory Council, which screens the governor's nominees to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, and the Judicial Selection Commission, which screens the governor's judicial nominees. Lingle and Abercrombie believe the governor, not an advisory council, should screen school board nominees. The bill would have also reduced the size of the school board to 10 members from 14, including one nonvoting student member. Takumi said Abercrombie would have the chance to express his concerns about the appointment process during committee hearings on the bill. Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the Republican candidate for governor, has supported an appointed school board as a step toward giving the governor greater accountability over education. Like Lingle and Abercrombie, he opposed the bill establishing the appointment process. Aiona accused Abercrombie of flip-flopping on the constitutional amendment. "An appointed school board will improve accountability by giving voters a direct line of responsibility to the governor, and my opponent has clearly wavered on whether or not he wants to be held responsible," Aiona said in a statement. "He flip-flopped on the issue. Our opponent is doing the right thing now that the pressure got to him, but he has not demonstrated that he's ready to work with others to reform public education." Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 5:55 p.m. HST Flash Flood Warning Continues for Parts of Windward Maui 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a FLASH FLOOD WARNING for the ISLAND OF MAUI in effect until 7:45 p.m. This Warning may be extended beyond 7:45 p.m. if heavy rain persists. 2.
EFFECTS: Spotters reported flash flooding from heavy rain
near mile marker six on the Hana Highway. Radar also indicated rainfall
rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour from Hookipa Beach Park to Huelo and
Nahiku, and possibly as far east as the Hana area. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS FLASH FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING IN STREAMS, ROADS AND LOW LYING AREAS. MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND NOW. DO NOT CROSS FAST FLOWING OR RISING WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE OR ON FOOT. TURN AROUND...DON’T DROWN. RUNOFF FROM THIS STORM MAY ALSO CAUSE ROCK AND MUDSLIDES IN STEEP TERRAIN. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 5:35 p.m. HST MECO Gets $1.2 M For Renewable Energy Storage Project HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) has awarded $2.1 million in federal stimulus funds for energy storage demonstration projects on Hawai‘i Island and Maui County to increase the grids' ability to integrate more renewable energy. Hawai‘i Electric Light Company (HELCO) will receive $900,000 and Maui Electric Company (MECO) will receive $1.2 million in ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) stimulus funds for equipment and installation of energy storage systems. Interconnection costs will be paid by the utilities. “These Department of Energy funds are intended to expand renewable energy use across the Hawaiian Islands,” said Steve Lindenberg, senior advisor, renewable energy, U.S. Department of Energy. “The two storage projects will help answer many questions related to areas of dense solar applications. We look forward to the results being helpful throughout the State.” “Hawai‘i’s abundant renewable energy resources are widely distributed across the islands, therefore, incorporating steadily increasing amounts into our grid system is going to require a proactive approach,” said Ted Peck, administrator, State Energy Office. “These storage system demonstrations managed by MECO and HELCO will help accelerate the use of distributed renewable energy to achieve the Hawai‘i Clean Energy Initiative’s goal of 70 percent clean energy by 2030.” “The State and the Hawaiian Electric companies share a determination to find solutions to adding more distributed renewable energy generation while preserving grid operability and reliability,” Peck said. Exact project locations, energy storage technologies, and other details are yet to be identified; however, circuits with high photovoltaic penetration will be targeted. For Maui County, one project will focus on the Moloka‘i grid. Maui Electric will perform an interconnection study on a single circuit to identify any system upgrades required to allow more distributed generation to be added to the circuit. “This stimulus grant will allow Maui Electric to understand the value of using battery systems to support more photovoltaic solar power and other distributed energy for our customers while maintaining the essential reliability our customers count on, “ said Ed Reinhardt, Maui Electric president. “It is a win-win situation for our customers and everyone in Maui County.” Another project will be located on the Big Island, where renewable sources supply over 30 percent of the island's electricity. “With Hawai‘i Island having the highest penetration of renewables such as geothermal, wind, hydroelectric and photovoltaic, evaluating energy storage is a key element to HELCO integrating more distributed renewable energy generation,” said Jay Ignacio, Hawai‘i Electric Light Company president. “We need to build our experience with energy storage to determine if this technology can help to allow the grids to take more distributed renewable energy.” Installation of the energy storage system projects is expected in the second half of 2011. (Report Provided by the State of Hawai'i, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism) NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 5:30 p.m. HST Haleakala Highway Reopened after Accident Maui Police report that Haleakala Highway has been reopened in both directions. Avehicle accident closed all lanes of the Highway at 4:15 this afternoon. The accident occurred just below Piimauna Street in Pukalani. No details on the cause of the accident or the extent of any injuries have been released. Officers also request that motorists exercise patience as significant backups in both directions are graduallly clearing. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information)
NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 5:10 p.m. HST DLNR Announces 2010-2011 Game Bird Hunting Season HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) announces the opening of the 2010-2011 game bird hunting season on Saturday, November 6, 2010. Department biologists are predicting a below average season of bird hunting with ongoing dry conditions in many parts of the state and extreme drought conditions in parts of the Big Island. The fall game bird hunting season will run through Monday, January 17, 2011, with legal hunting days on Saturday, Sunday, and State Holidays. Due to a December 31, 2007 appellate court ruling, game bird stamps and fees are waived, and only a hunting license is required for all game bird hunting on public and private lands. Specific details on open areas, bag limits, and conditions are provided in Hawaii Administrative Rules, chapter 13-122, “Rules Regulating Game Bird Hunting.” Additional information is available on the Division of Forestry and Wildlife website, http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw under “Announcements” and through the district offices at the following phone numbers: Kaua‘i: 274-3433; O‘ahu: 587-0166; Maui: 984-8100; Moloka‘i: 553-1745; Lana‘i: 565-7916; Hilo: 974-4221; Kamuela: 887-6063. Where check stations are established, hunters are required to check in and out. When seeking to hunt on private land, first obtain permission from landowners. Please help prevent fires. DO NOT PARK OR DRIVE IN TALL GRASS OR BRUSH! Smoking in the field can be extremely hazardous. Report smoke or suspected fires immediately by calling 911, even if you think somebody may have already reported them. Support wildlife conservation: Report game law violators to the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement by calling the new DOCARE number, 643-DLNR (3567). (Report Provided by the State of Hawai'i, Department of Land and Natural Resources) NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 4:40 p.m. HST Vehicle Accident Closes Haleakala Highway at Pukalani Maui Police report that a vehicle accident closed all lanes of Haleakala Highway at 4:15 this afternoon. The accident occurred on the highway, just below Piimauna St in Pukalani. No other details are available at this time. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 2:50 p.m. HST Flood Advisory Issued for Windward Slopes 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a FLOOD ADVISORY for the ISLAND OF MAUI in effect until 5:15 p.m. This Advisory may be extended beyond 5:15 p.m. if heavy rain persists. 2. EFFECTS: Radar showed heavy rain occurring along windward West Maui, windward slopes of Haleakala from Huelo to Hana, and along leeward slopes of Haleakala in the vicinity of Makena upslope to Ulupalakua. Other locations in the Advisory include but are not limited to Kahakuloa, Waihee, Keanae, Nahiku and Wailea. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: STAY AWAY FROM STREAMS, DRAINAGE DITCHES AND LOW LYING AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING. RAINFALL AND RUNOFF WILL ALSO CAUSE HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO PONDING, REDUCED VISIBILITY AND POOR BRAKING ACTION. DO NOT CROSS FAST FLOWING OR RISING WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE OR ON FOOT. TURN AROUND...DON’T DROWN. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 12:10 p.m. HST $5 Parking Fee Set for Non-Residents at 'Iao State Park HONOLULU – The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks has begun charging entry fees for non-residents and commercial tour vehicles going to ‘Iao Valley State Monument. The fee is $5 per car and an attendant will be on duty. Hawai‘i residents who show a local ID will not have to pay a parking fee. “Funding for operation and maintenance of state recreational facilities such as parks, small boat harbors and forest trails has been drastically reduced in the current biennium budget. To ensure that these areas can be cared for and remain open, the Department is moving forward with generating new revenues to offset the cost of managing them,” said Laura H. Thielen, DLNR chairperson. “Through
implementation of small entry or parking fees for non-resident visitors
to high-traffic parks, we can apply revenues to needed repairs and
maintenance to help the park system become more self-sufficient,”
Thielen said. (Report Provided by th State of Hawall, Department of Land and Natural Resources) NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 8:45 a.m. HST Absentee Voting Starts Today WAILUKU - Walk-in absentee voting starts today in Wailuku and Kaunakakai. Voters can cast ballots from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays in the Office of the County Clerk, on the seventh floor of the Kalana O Maui Building, through Oct. 30. On Molokai, walk-in voting is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Mitchell Pauole Center, with polling stations closing at noon for a one-hour lunch break. On Saturdays the voting center will be open from 8 a.m. to noon. Voters can also cast ballots by mail. To receive a ballot, write a letter or submit an application by Oct. 26 to the Maui County Clerk, County of Maui, 200 S. High St., Room 708, Wailuku 96793. Applications are available online at www.hawaii.gov/elections. The ballot can be cast at a walk-in voting site, at the proper polling location on Election Day, or sent in by mail. There is no postmark deadline for mail-in ballots, but they must be received by 6 p.m. Nov. 2. For more information, call the County Clerk's office at 270-7749. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - October 19, 2010 6:35 a.m. HST Typhoon Leaves 13 Dead in Philippines, Heading for China CAUAYAN, Philippines — A super typhoon that killed 13 people and flattened forests and crops in the northern Philippines dumped heavy rains on the capital Tuesday as it headed across the sea toward southern China. Typhoon Megi struck the Philippines on Monday with ferocious winds of 140 miles (225 kilometers) per hour, but initial assessments showed relatively light damage and casualties, partly because the storm struck sparsely populated areas. Philippine officials also cited their massive emergency preparations days ahead of the storm. Food vendor Nesie Callaotit, her husband and two children were hurriedly packing clothes to flee to safety when the wind yanked off half of their tin roof, exposing their house in northeastern Isabela province to pounding rain and the horrifying wind. They held on to a wooden post for three hours, weeping and praying together, until the torrents eased. "All of us were in tears," the 40-year-old Callaotit said. "We thought it was our last day together." After it exited into the South China Sea on Tuesday, Megi was almost stationary packing winds of 108 mph (175 kph) but was forecast to regain strength before its expected landfall in southern China on Thursday. Chinese authorities evacuated 140,000 people from a coastal province. Isabela province in the northeast Philippines, Megi's entry point, bore the brunt of the Typhoon Megi's destruction while more than 8,000 people rode out the typhoon in sturdy school buildings, town halls, churches and relatives' homes. Roads in and out of the coastal province were deserted and blocked by collapsed trees, power lines and debris. Iron-sheet roofs on many of the houses were blown away. In Tamauini town, Ariel Marzan said he escaped just minutes before his house tumbled amid winds so strong his roof was swept into a nearby rice field 30 yards (meters) away. "I didn't expect it to be so strong," he said as he surveyed the damage and picked up the strewn pieces of his household. Nearby coconut and banana groves were flattened. At least 13 deaths in Cagayan, Isabela and Pangasinan provinces were blamed on the typhoon, including at least six drownings. In Pangasinan province, a mother, her daughter and son were pinned to death when a tree collapsed on their house, disaster official Eugene Cabrera said. Even as the typhoon moved away, its massive outer bands still stretched over much of western Luzon and drenched the capital, Manila, and surrounding areas, snarling traffic and sending about 1,000 people out of their homes into temporary shelters. President Benigno Aquino III said Tuesday that although the typhoon caused significant damage, the loss of life was minimal and "could have been much greater had we not prepared for the storm." "The work of bringing life back to normal in the soonest possible time is already under way," he said. Assistant Agriculture Secretary Salvador Salacup said an initial estimate of $36 million losses to rice and corn crops showed the damage was minimal. Cagayan Valley and Ilocos regions lost around 12 percent of their rice production for the season. Cagayan Valley alone accounts for 30 percent of the national rice output. Typhoon Megi is likely to spare Vietnam, which was in early forecast paths and has been suffering severe flooding in the past week. At least 41 flood-related deaths have been reported, and 19 other people are presumed dead after a bus was swept off a road by raging currents. Up to 31.5 inches (800 millimeters) of rain pounded areas of Vietnam in just a few days, forcing 126,000 people to flee their homes. Earlier flooding this month left more than 80 people dead or missing. The death toll from recent flooding in Thailand rose to five on Tuesday. Downpours that started over the weekend have affected nearly 55,000 people in 17 central and northeastern provinces, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department. (Report Provided by The Associated Press)
NEWS FLASH - October 18, 2010 7:10 a.m. HST Three Dead As Super Typhoon Megi Slams Into Philippines CAUAYAN, Philippines — The strongest cyclone in years to crash into the Philippines killed at least three people Monday, leaving a wasteland of fallen trees and power poles and sending thousands scampering to safety in near-zero visibility. A retired general said bracing for the onslaught was like preparing for war. Super Typhoon Megi, blowing across the northern Philippines, was forecast next to head toward China and Vietnam, where recent floods unrelated the storm have caused 30 deaths. On Monday, strong currents on Vietnam's flooded main highway swept away a bus and 20 of its passengers, including a boy pulled from his mother's grasp. In China, authorities evacuated 140,000 people from a coastal province ahead of the typhoon. Megi packed sustained winds of 140 miles per hour and gusts of 162 mph as it made landfall midday Monday at Palanan Bay in Isabela province, felling trees and utility poles and cutting off power, phone and Internet services. Its ferocious wind slightly weakened while crossing the mountains of the Philippines' main northern island of Luzon. With more than 4,150 Filipinos riding out the typhoon in sturdy school buildings, town halls, churches and relatives' homes, roads in and out of coastal Isabela province, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) northeast of Manila, were deserted and blocked by collapsed trees, power lines and debris. One man who had just rescued his water buffalo slipped and fell into a river and drowned in Cagayan province, near Isabela. A woman was pinned to death when a tamarind tree crushed her house and injured her child in Kalinga province, and a security guard died after being struck by a pine tree in nearby Baguio city, officials said. At least six were injured in the region by falling trees, collapsed roof and shattered glass, officials said. As it crashed ashore, the typhoon whipped up huge waves. There was near-zero visibility and radio reports said the wind was so powerful that people could not take more than a step at a time. Ships and fishing vessels were told to stay in ports, and several domestic and international flights were canceled. The entire Isabela province lost power along with 16 of Cagayan's 28 towns as the typhoon blew by. Cagayan Governor Alvaro Antonio said the wind was fierce but blew high from the ground, sparing many ricefields ready for harvesting. Although initial casualties were low compared to past storm disasters, retired army Maj. Gen. Benito Ramos, who heads the country's disaster-preparedness agency, expressed sadness over the deaths. Bracing for the typhoon, he said, was like "preparing for war." "This was tougher because in war, I could take a nap," Ramos told The Associated Press. Thousands of military reserve officers and volunteers were on standby, along with helicopters, including six Chinooks that were committed by U.S. troops holding war exercises with Filipino soldiers near Manila, Ramos said. In July, an angry President Benigno Aquino III fired the head of the weather bureau for failing to predict that a typhoon would hit Manila. That storm killed more than 100 people in Manila and outlying provinces. This time, urgent preparations included evacuations and the positioning of emergency relief and food supplies days before the typhoon hit. The capital was expected to avoid any direct hit, though schools were closed. Megi was the most powerful typhoon to hit the Philippines in four years, government forecasters say. A 2006 howler with 155-mph (250-kph) winds set off mudslides that buried entire villages, killing about 1,000 people. In Vietnam, officials say up to 31.5 inches (800 millimeters) of rain have pounded areas in just a few days, forcing 126,000 people to flee their homes. Earlier flooding this month left more than 80 people dead or missing. Megi could add to the misery. "People are exhausted," Vietnamese disaster official Nguyen Ngoc Giai said by telephone from Quang Binh province. "Many people have not even returned to their flooded homes from previous flooding, while many others who returned home several days ago were forced to be evacuated again." China's National Meteorological Center said Megi was expected to enter the South China Sea on Tuesday, threatening southeastern coastal provinces. The center issued its second-highest alert for potential "wild winds and huge waves," warning vessels to take shelter and urging authorities to brace for emergencies. Nearly 140,000 people fled homes in the southern island province of Hainan, where heavy rains left thousands homeless over the weekend, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Monday. Thailand also reported flooding that killed at least four people, submerged thousands of homes and vehicles and halted train service. It also prompted the evacuation of nearly 100 elephants from a popular tourist attraction north of the capital. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 17, 2010 10:20 a.m. HST Halloween 2010 Will Not Close Front Street LAHAINA - Lahaina business and community leaders said Saturday they were disappointed with a decision not to close Front Street to vehicles Oct. 31 but still hope Halloween will return for 2011 in full force. Maui County Police Chief Gary Yabuta said last week that a last-minute effort by two West Maui groups to get the road closed didn't follow the required legal channels and didn't leave enough time to put in place all the officers and planning needed to create a safe event - although there will still be a police presence for the night. The Lahaina Town Action Committee (LAC) and new West Maui Community Association had appealed to the Maui Police Department to have Front Street closed between Dickenson and Papalaua streets from 6 to 11 p.m. in what was supposed to be a compromise that would help control the crowds and encourage people to return to en masse to Lahaina on Halloween. From 1989 to 2007, Lahaina's Halloween party grew into one of the most profitable days of the year for the West Maui town - but critics complained that it got way out of hand. The Cultural Resources Commission voted to revoke the Lahaina Town Action Committee's permit for the organized Halloween celebration in 2007, after a number of kupuna and Native Hawaiians spoke out against the event for being rowdy, risque and culturally insensitive. Proponents of Halloween say the decision to keep the road open - and the extra police, music stages and porta-potties out of the area - continues to keep many revelers away from the still-struggling bars and restaurants. "Oh absolutely, we're disappointed, but we're going to keep our application (for a full celebration) intact, and they know it," said LAC Vice President Joan McKelvey on Saturday about efforts to work with the county to restore Lahaina Halloween. "It's very disheartening strictly from a safety point of view. We've already seen so many close calls with cars almost hitting people. "It's a perfect excuse to deny the permit because it would take 80 to 100 (police) officers for the night that the county doesn't want to pay for anyway," McKelvey said. But that doesn't mean thousands still won't flock on Halloween to one of the Valley Isle's few communities with a concentration of bars and restaurants within walking distance of one another. And Lahaina business owners as well as the LAC are still advertising bands, DJs, drink specials and costume contests indoors. But several business owners have said that Lahaina draws maybe half as many as the 20,000 folks who were coming out when the festivities were a bigger, more organized event. In an Oct. 12 letter to the Lahaina Town Action Committee denying the permit application, Yabuta said the plan was too little and too late to be workable. "The time frame for this permit request does not give adequate time to effectively plan and for staff operations to provide a safe event," Yabuta wrote in his explanation. Yabuta also said there is a process in place that must be considered. Lahaina is a state and nationally recognized historic district as the former capital of the Hawaiian monarchy. The governing body for the district, the Maui County Cultural Resources Commission, needs a "design review" on its agenda in order to take a vote on whether to approve the Lahaina Town Action Committee's plans, Yabuta said. But committee officials and members of the West Maui Community Association said the county administration asked them this summer to withdraw their full application for the event from the Cultural Resources Commission. County spokeswoman Mahina Martin confirmed that officials with the Planning Department had met several times with the community groups to discuss plans for the event, but they had determined they could not give their support to the application because it was incomplete and didn't address community concerns. McKelvey, who also owns the Pioneer Inn off Front Street, said West Maui groups weren't given enough guidance about what exactly they needed to do to make things right with past critics of the event, a charge Martin has said is not the case. "It's very simple, really," Martin said. "We just want the organizers to be inclusive of those who were clearly against it . . . There are just too many unanswered questions still." In addition, she said that the county gave the groups the names of people who previously spoke out against Lahaina Halloween. Event supporters said they were able to change the minds of at least five leading Native Hawaiian families who were against Halloween. In a time of economic crisis, the county would need the businesses or community groups to chip in to pay for extra police, firefighters, ambulances and public buses - to make sure people got home safely and Lahaina doesn't become a parking nightmare. Martin said that in the past the county had the money to absorb those costs, which could run up to $80,000. "We don't provide police for free to the Maui Marathon or county fair either," Martin said. "We don't have that luxury anymore, and you can't just pick and choose." In the meantime, Lahaina business owners have said they are losing out on much of the $3 million the night would generate for local bars, restaurants and cabs. Maui Hotel & Lodging Association Executive Director Carol Reimann said that most people who stay in Lahaina hotel rooms for the events are locals who don't want to worry about driving home. Since all the amenities disappeared, more revelers have been hitting celebrations in Paia and Kihei, Lahaina business owners complain. McKelvey said with Front Street open to cars for the past two Halloweens, the number of visitors that night have been cut by half, at least. Now the curious also cruise Lahaina's streets, increasing the likelihood of someone getting hit by a car, she said. Martin said they are well aware of that risk, and police do what they can to keep people on Lahaina's historic - and narrow - sidewalks. Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - October 17, 2010 6:40 a.m. HST Wanna Be On the Radio? Own Your Own Station Two vacant Hawaii FM radio frequencies - one in Kihei and one on Kaua'i - will be auctioned by the Federal Communications Commission beginning March 29. The first such auction involving Hawaii frequencies since 2007 gives broadcasters and hope-to-be broadcasters the opportunity to spend a ton of money to get a piece of paper called a construction permit. The so-called CP enables them to spend another ton to get their station built and on the air before the CP expires three years hence. One frequency on the block this time, KEEI-FM 94.3 in Hanapepe, Kauai, was won in 2004 by Christina Bourdeaux of Wyoming for a $305,500 bid. It was not timely built, and the permit was canceled by the FCC in 2008. Also up for grabs is 100.7 FM in Kihei. Hawaii CPs have sold at auction for as little as $241,500 and as much as $2.2 million. Most were won by broadcasters who actually got the stations on the air, while others were purchased by spectrum speculators who flipped the frequencies -- not always at a profit. The FCC admonishes bidders to investigate and evaluate all technical and marketplace factors pertaining to the CPs they want. The agency warns that an FCC construction permit is not "a guarantee of business success." Gone are the days when a broadcast permit was a license to print money. Indiana-based Shirk-Mays LLC, whose partners Bill Poorman and Bill Mays have interests in Hawaii radio, is interested in the Kihei frequency. However, Poorman notes how the industry has changed, not just because of the recession. He once sold a station for 23 times broadcast cash flow. "Now you're lucky to get eight," he said. Reach Erika Engle at erika@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 16, 2010 6:50 a.m. HST Candidates Butt Heads Over Education Issues With polls calling the race a virtual tie, the candidates for governor butted heads yesterday over an appointed versus elected Board of Education. Republican James "Duke" Aiona, the lieutenant governor, who supports having the governor appoint the 14-member board, accused Democrat Neil Abercrombie of being beholden to public worker unions who are supporting his campaign. Abercrombie, the former congressman, said he agrees with the concept of an appointed board, but that it makes little difference in the end, adding that Aiona's proposal to conduct a comprehensive audit ignores the immediate needs of the state's public education system. The question will be decided on Election Day, when voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to allow the governor to appoint board members, subject to Senate confirmation. After arguing the point in a televised debate Thursday night, the two continued the argument yesterday with dueling news conferences. "The lieutenant governor wants to replay the drama of the last eight years where nothing got done — endless debates about school boards and process while we ignore the students in the classrooms," Abercrombie said. "Appointed or elected school boards do not teach children. "A governor takes responsibility," he added. "A governor sees to it that the resources are made available to the teachers and the principals and the staff to get the job done." Aiona and running mate Lynn Finnegan argued that an appointed board would put accountability for education with the governor's office, noting that the constitutional amendment and other types of reforms they are seeking have been opposed in the past by unions, including the Hawaii State Teachers Association. "We know what we want. We have serious questions, I have a doubt, that Neil Abercrombie will stand up to HSTA if it's contrary to what their position is. He's going to bend and he's going to cave in to union pressure," Aiona said. Finnegan said she wondered whether Abercrombie had the "wherewithal to challenge these same people that have paid lots of money out of their union coffers to back him up." "And I don't necessarily think that he will go challenge them the way an Aiona-Finnegan administration would challenge to get true education reform," she said. Abercrombie said he has stood up to unions in the past when he has had to, but he would prefer to work with the unions that support him to enact reforms. Aiona and Finnegan, meanwhile, repeated their call for a comprehensive audit of the Department of Education. "It's not a study, it's a management tool so we can do things better," Aiona said. "I want to know where every single dime for every single school for everything we're doing is going." Abercrombie said schools and students cannot afford to wait for an audit. "I'm ready to move on Nov. 3," he said. "Lt. Gov. Aiona has made clear that he is not ready to take responsibility, that he's ready to blame everybody else and that he wants to do a study and an audit to avoid taking the responsibility of moving on school and children and principals and staff and seeing to it that our children get the instruction they need." Contact B.J. Reyes at bjreyes@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 15, 2010 6:40 a.m. HST Haleakala Officials Issue 'Baby Bird Lookout' In October and November of each year, young seabirds leave their nests to fly to ocean feeding grounds for the first time in their lives. The endangered ‘ua‘u (Hawaiian petrels) and the non-endangered ‘ua‘u kani (Wedge-tailed shearwaters) leave their nests at night and are thought to use stars to navigate. The birds sometimes become disoriented by lights from land, fly in circles around the lights, become tired and fall to the ground. These “grounded” seabirds are often found on the ground in areas with bright lights such as hotels, golf courses, stadiums and yards lit by floodlights. Most of the grounded birds are found during dark, cloudy nights or nights of the new moon. Lights from land look more like stars during these dark nights then during nights when the moonlight brightens the night sky. Biologists are anticipating a high volume of groundings this year, since the new moon falls on October 7, which is at the beginning of the fledging period. Biologists
from Haleakala National Park and the State Department of Land and
Natural Resources work together to recover these seabirds. Every year
the public plays an important role in protecting these native birds
by reporting any seabirds that become grounded. Biologists are again
requesting help from the public in protecting these birds. Anyone
finding a grounded seabird is asked to do the following: 2. Do NOT retrieve birds that are on the ocean. The ocean is the natural habitat for these seabirds. Removing them from their ocean environment can cause more harm to the birds. 3. Call the toll-free number, 1-877-428-6911 (Haleakala National Park Dispatch). Please provide your name, phone number, when and where the bird was found and any other pertinent information. 4. Please do not release the seabird by yourself. Trained wildlife specialists will inspect the bird for injuries and release it safely. ‘Ua‘u are black-and-white seabirds with black, webbed feet. They measure approximately 16 inches from beak to tail and have a wingspan of about three feet. These endangered native birds, found only in Hawai'i, nest on the slopes of Haleakala. About ninety percent of the known ‘ua‘u population nests within Haleakala National Park. ‘Ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters) are gray and white seabirds that look similar to the ‘ua‘u. They measure about 17 inches from beak to tail and have a wingspan of 38 inches. ‘Ua‘u kani nest at lower elevations on banks and cliffs near the shore with numerous colonies along coastal areas of Maui and on offshore islands. Maui Electric Company (MECO) partnered with Haleakala National Park, the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the County of Maui to develop a brochure with instructions on what to do if you find a grounded bird. That brochure was sent to MECO customers in the last billing cycle and can be found at www.nps.gov/hale/naturescience/animals.htm. The current ‘ua‘u population on Maui has recovered over the past 20 years and is estimated at 3,000 to 5,000 individuals. The size of the ‘ua‘u kani population is unknown, but is much larger than the ‘ua‘u population. Both of these native birds are threatened with extinction by habitat loss and predators such as feral cats, dogs, mongooses and rats. The 'ua'u is federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. All seabirds are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Biologists extend their thanks to the public for their assistance in protecting these native birds. (Report Provided by Haleakala National Park Service) NEWS FLASH - October 14, 2010 11:05 a.m. HST Hirono Backs Fill-In Social Security Payment for Seniors HONOLULU
– Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) today announced House Democrats
will move ahead with legislation to provide Social Security recipients
with a one-time $250 payment in 2011. The Social Security Administration
is expected to announce Friday there will be no automatic Cost-of-Living-Adjustment
for 2011. “There are more than 160,000 seniors in the State of Hawaii who receive Social Security benefits. As a cosponsor of this measure, I strongly support Congress’ efforts to enact this one-time $250 payment to seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities to help them make ends meet,” said Congresswoman Hirono. (Report Provided by the Office of Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono) NEWS FLASH - October 14, 2010 8:15 a.m. HST Isle Credit Card Debt Still Huge - But Not #1 Hawaii ranked fifth last month for consumers with the highest credit card debt in the country, falling from the top spot a year ago. The average Hawaii consumer carried $8,469 in credit card debt in September, up 3.5 percent from $8,180 a year earlier, according to CreditKarma, a California-based credit advocate and credit scoring website. That compares with the national average of $7,526 for consumer credit card debt. "Unfortunately for (Hawaii residents), they are starting at a higher debt level due to the higher cost of living," said Ken Lin, chief executive officer of CreditKarma. Hawaii ranked ninth for credit scores among the states at 674, down five points from 679 the year earlier. Meanwhile, student loan debt in Hawaii was up, while home mortgage and auto loans dropped: » Student loans -- $26,585, up 3.2 percent from $25,767. » Home mortgage -- $304,844, down 9.9 percent from $338,153 last year » Auto loans -- $15,704, down 0.9 percent from $15,847. Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Hawaii has seen its number of clients continue to climb this year, albeit at a slower pace than from 2007 to 2009, according to Wendy Burkholder, executive director. "It is nonetheless continuing to increase," she said. "The number of families in need of foreclosure mitigation counseling and bankruptcies of course, continue to rise." The company counseled more than 2,100 families through September, up 12 percent from the 1,850 families it counseled in the same period last year. "The major debt that most consumers have is credit card debt -- it's consistently high," said Honolulu bankruptcy attorney David Farmer. Hawaii residents are not making commensurate salaries in line with the high cost of living and many people owe more than the value of their properties here, which is when they turn to credit cards, he said. "It's made addictive by free money, no interest and all the other gimmicks credit card companies play into," Farmer said. "It's not just the bad economy, it's the nature of money for nothing. It's like gambling, it's like other habits that people have to break." Arkansas was No. 1 among the states for highest credit card debt with the average resident carrying $9,231, while Wisconsin consumers ranked last with an average debt totaling $6,150 per person. CreditKarma's survey is based on its database of 145,200 consumers nationwide, including 1,500 in Hawaii. Reach Kristen Consillio at kconsilio@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 14, 2010 7:05 a.m. HST Hawai'i Foreclosures Ninth Worst in U.S. - Maui Worst in State Hawaii's 1,617 foreclosure filings last month were enough to rank the state as the ninth-highest in the nation, a dubious honor and its worst ranking yet. Last month's count represented a nearly 67 percent increase in foreclosures from 969 in the same month last year, according to data from real estate research firm RealtyTrac. Hawaii's rate in September amounted to one foreclosure filing for every 317 households. Nationally, the rate of foreclosures last month was one filing per 371 households, which was almost unchanged from the same month last year when the rate was one filing per 372 households. By comparison, Hawaii's foreclosure rate in September 2009 was one filing per 523 households, which represented the 15th worst rate nationally. Many other states suffered sharper and swifter real estate market corrections compared to Hawaii, resulting in more recent improvements for other markets. Nationally, the number of foreclosure filings in September was up just 1 percent from a year earlier, as declines in 22 states nearly offset gains in 28 states, the RealtyTrac report said. For much of 2008, Hawaii's foreclosure rate was among the 10 best. Last year, the state's ranking generally worsened, and in the last 12 months ranked 10th worst twice -- in December and August. The total number of foreclosures in August was 1,629, a record for the state. Holding a tight grip on the worst ranking for nearly four years is Nevada, which had one foreclosure filing for every 69 households in September. The best rate was one filing per 10,780 households in Vermont. Some local foreclosure attorneys have questioned the accuracy of RealtyTrac reports in part because the data includes commercial property and excludes foreclosures in some rural parts of the country. California-based RealtyTrac said it collects data from more than 2,200 counties nationwide, representing about 90 percent of the U.S. population. In Hawaii, much of the foreclosure trouble has occurred on the neighbor islands, where investors rushed to buy vacation property during the real estate frenzy. Most of the foreclosure filings counted by RealtyTrac still involve property owners struggling to keep their homes. Of the 1,617 Hawaii filings last month, 80 were default notices and 1,046 were sale notices. Another 491 were repossessions by lenders. By county, Maui had the worst foreclosure rate in September, at one filing per 191 households, or 347 filings in all. The Hawaii island had the next worst rate at one filing per 194 households, based on 411 total filings. Kauai's rate was one filing per 246 households, based on 121 filings. Honolulu had the most filings with 738, but it had the lowest rate, at one filing for every 457 households. Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 14, 2010 6:25 a.m. HST Maui Takes Conde Nast 'Best Island' Trophy for 16th Straight Year Maui really is no ka oi. It is the top island in the world for the 16th consecutive year, according to the 2010 Conde Nast Traveler readers' poll. Additionally, it is the top Pacific island for the 20th consecutive year, with Kauai ranking second globally and locally. The Big Island is No. 8 in the world, Oahu is No. 9 and Lanai is No. 14. More than 25,916 readers cast ballots on more than 10,000 hotel and resort properties, cruise lines, airlines and destinations and the results will be in the Conde Nast Traveler that hits newsstands Tuesday, though lists already are posted online. Among the magazine's city rankings, Honolulu was No. 6 in the U.S., behind San Francisco; Charleston, S.C.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Chicago, and New York City -- but ahead of No. 7 Savannah, Ga.; Carmel, Calif.; Seattle, and Boston. On the global list, Honolulu ranked 25th out of the top 50 cities -- which are topped by Sydney, Australia. Four Hawaii resorts are among the top 100 in the world, based on readers' scores. Three of them are the Four Seasons Resorts at Wailea (41st), at Hualalai (69th) and at Lanai, Manele Bay (89th), while Hotel Hana-Maui and Honua Spa ranked 58th. Separately, the Wailea Beach Villas ranked 91st and was Hawaii's sole entry on the magazine's list of top 100 hotels. Hawaiian Airlines garnered a No. 3 among the top 10 airlines in North America, behind Virgin America and JetBlue Airways. Reach Erika Engle at erika@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 13, 2010 2:30 p.m. HST PUC Approves 'Feed-In Tarriffs' to Boost Renewable Energy Projects HONOLULU – The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (Commission) today issued an order approving feed-in tariffs (FIT) for the Hawaiian Electric Companies (Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, and Maui Electric Company) for renewable energy generators of up to 500 kW in size, to facilitate the acquisition and development of renewable energy in Hawaii. The approved tariffs include applicable pricing, terms and conditions, a standard form of contract, and queuing and interconnection procedures for the FIT program. The Commission previously issued general principles for the FIT program, and encouraged the parties to the Commission’s FIT docket (Docket No. 2008-0273) to first focus on developing tariffs for renewable energy generating units of up to 500 kW, to facilitate the immediate implementation of a FIT for generators of this size. This step has been completed as of today. The Commission and parties to the docket will next focus on developing a FIT for larger generating units of up to 5,000 kW (i.e., 5 MW). The FIT program is a new tool being utilized by the Commission to facilitate the acquisition of electric energy from new renewable resources, in support of the State’s objective of reducing dependence on imported oil and consistent with State policies expressed in the Renewable Portfolio Standards and the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative. Traditionally, renewable energy project developers have had to enter into complex and time-consuming negotiations with the Hawaiian Electric Companies to sell electricity to the utilities. FITs provide standardized pricing, terms and conditions, and procedures that are intended to afford the renewable energy project developers with clear, consistent guidelines that accelerate the completion of the renewable energy projects and provide some assurance of adequate compensation to cover the developer’s reasonably incurred costs. “We are pleased to launch the FIT program for the Hawaiian Electric Companies,” said Commission Chairman Carlito P. Caliboso. “The predictability and certainty that FITs provide to renewable energy developers should incent future renewable projects and ultimately advance the State’s efforts to wean itself off of imported fossil fuel.” The Commission issued the order today after developing an extensive record in its FIT proceeding involving many stakeholder-parties. In the order, the Commission noted that the parties were unable to reach consensus on all issues and acknowledged that there may be a multitude of alternative ways of implementing FIT and virtually unlimited adjustments that could theoretically be made to the program. In the Commission’s view, however, none of the issues that were raised with respect to the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ proposed FITs appeared to be fatal flaws that warranted any further delay in the development and implementation of the FIT program. The Commission stated that the better course is to proceed, learn from experience, and make necessary changes and improvements upon the Commission’s next opportunity to review the FIT program in two years. The Commission’s order and entire docket record may be accessed through the Commission’s electronic Document Management System at the following website address: http://dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms/. (Report Provided by the Hawai'i Public Itilities Commission) NEWS FLASH - October 13, 2010 12:30 p.m. HST State, National Probe of Foreclosures Could Benefit Hawai'i Residents WASHINGTON — Officials in 50 states and the District of Columbia have launched a joint investigation into allegations that mortgage companies mishandled documents and broke laws in foreclosing on hundreds of thousands of homeowners. The state Office of Consumer Protection will lead the investigation in Hawaii, Attorney General Mark Bennett and Stephen Levins, executive director of the consumer protection agency announced this morning. The states' attorneys general and bank regulators will examine whether mortgage company employees made false statements or prepared documents improperly. Attorneys general have taken the lead in responding to a nationwide scandal that's called into question the accuracy and legitimacy of documents that lenders relied on to evict people from the homes. Employees of four large lenders have acknowledged in depositions that they signed off on foreclosure documents without reading them. Bennett and Levins said such a process, known as "robo-signing," may be a deceptive act and/or an unfair practice and could violate Hawaii law. The allegations raise the possibility that foreclosure proceedings nationwide could be subject to legal challenge. Some foreclosures could be overturned. More than 2.5 million homes have been lost to foreclosure since the recession started in December 2007, according to RealtyTrac Inc. The state officials said they intend to use their investigation to fix the problems that surfaced in the mortgage industry. "This is not simply about a glitch in paperwork," said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who is leading the probe. "It's also about some companies violating the law and many people losing their homes." Ally Financial Inc.'s GMAC Mortgage Unit, Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase & Co. already have halted some questionable foreclosures. Other banks, including Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. have not stopped processing foreclosures, saying they did nothing wrong. In a joint statement, the officials said they would review evidence that legal documents were signed by mortgage company employees who "did not have personal knowledge of the facts asserted in the documents. They also said that many of those documents appear to have been signed without a notary public witnessing that signature — a violation of most state laws. "What we have seen are not mere technicalities," said Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray. "This is about the private property rights of homeowners facing foreclosure and the integrity of our court system, which cannot enter judgments based on fraudulent evidence." (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 13, 2010 10:15 a.m. HST Plastic Bag Reduction Administrative Rules Now Available Online WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii-The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management announced today that the administrative rules governing the Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance have been posted online at www.mauicounty.gov (link at left on home page). The ordinance goes into effect January 11, 2011. The administrative rules for the Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance were written to govern administrative procedures and enforcement of chapter 20.18 of the Maui County Code. Effective January 11, 2011, businesses will no longer be allowed to give out single-use plastic bags with handles to customers at the check-out counter. Businesses will be permitted to provide their customers with all types of paper bags, although the use of recyclable paper bags and reusable bags, as alternatives, is encouraged. The administrative rules were finalized after a series of informational meetings, which were held to gather input from the public. The department developed the draft rules after gathering public input; the rules were presented at an official public hearing held this past August. The rules will be submitted to the Mayor for approval on January 11, 2011. Once approved, the rules will be submitted to the County Clerk and will take effect 10 days later. For more information, contact the Department of Environmental Management at 270-8230 or visit www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - October 13, 2010 8:15 a.m. HST DLNR Sets Meeting to Display Plan for 'Ahihi-Kina'u KIHEI, MAUI – The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will present a draft management plan for ‘Ahihi-Kina‘u Natural Area Reserve (NAR) at the October 20 meeting of the ‘Ahihi-Kina‘u NAR/Keone‘o‘io Advisory Group. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Lokelani Intermediate School Cafeteria in Kihei, Maui. A 30-day public comment period will follow the meeting, and a public “open house” style informational meeting is scheduled for November 3, mid-way through the comment period. The open house informational meeting, also at Lokelani Intermediate Cafeteria at 6:30 p.m., is scheduled to answer questions or clarify information contained in the draft plan prior to the end of the public comment period. Copies of the draft management plan will be available at the October 20 and November 3 meetings, and also at the DOFAW office at 54 South High St., room 101, in Wailuku. It will also be available online after the October 20 meeting, at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/nars/reserves/maui/ahihikinau “This plan is a call to action to protect and preserve one of Maui’s most beautiful and loved places, ‘Ahihi-Kina‘u Natural Area Reserve,” said DLNR Maui NARS specialist William Evanson. “The plan contains historical, management, and biological information, describes the current status and condition of the reserve, identifies threats to the natural and cultural resources found there, and suggests actions that both welcome people and protect what is fragile and rare,” explained Evanson. The purpose of this document is to describe the management actions needed to “preserve, protect, and enhance” the biological and cultural resources of ‘Ahihi-Kina‘u Natural Area Reserve for current and future generations. It also acts as an institutional memory of past actions and a description of the status of resources and management today that can serve as a baseline of knowledge and comparison in the future. The
draft plan will be improved by input from the community. Public review
and comment is open from October 20, 2010 to November 20, 2010. Please
send comments via email, fax or mail to: Anyone requiring special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e. sign language interpreter, wheelchair accessibility, or parking designated for the disabled) please contact Bill Evanson of the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife at (808) 264-9325, 72 hours prior to the meeting so that arrangement can be made. Learn more about the reserve and how you can invest in the future of this unique Hawaiian place at http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw/nars/reserves/maui/ahihikinau. (Report Provided by the State of Hawai'i, Deartment of Land and Natural Resources) NEWS FLASH - October 13, 2010 6:45 a.m. HST Time Running Out to Resurrect Non-Profit Status for Some Isle Agencies The Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations is scrambling to notify hundreds of small Hawaii nonprofit groups that they have just two more days to preserve their tax-exempt status by filing with the IRS. Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations that have not complied with annual filing requirements for three consecutive years automatically lose their tax-exempt status. But the IRS has extended its previous May 17 deadline to Friday to allow nonprofit groups to file a simple electronic postcard called a Form 990-N. "If they lose their 501(c)(3) nonprofit status they cannot solicit donors because donors will not be able to take a tax deduction anymore," said Lisa Maruyama, president and CEO of the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations. "For a lot of smaller ones, that's going to be a hardship. To comply, they just have to fill out an electronic postcard that doesn't take much time to complete. It's not arduous or onerous at all. But I'm really concerned because a lot of them don't even know they should be filing. Some are all-volunteer run and they're very busy running their own lives and these nonprofits." In August, the IRS listed more than 1,700 small nonprofit groups in Hawaii that earn less than $25,000 in annual gross receipts and were at risk of losing their tax-exempt status. Yesterday, IRS spokesman David A. Tucker said it is "challenging to know at this point how many have complied. But we continue to make awareness of the issue because we know that a lot of the smaller organizations are run by volunteers and may not be aware of this requirement." To comply, organizations have to fill out "eight elements of information that would roughly take less than 10 minutes to complete," Tucker said. The IRS' one-time "relief program" is not available to larger organizations that are required to file Form 990 tax returns or private foundations that file Form 990-PF. After being told in August by the Star-Advertiser that his Oahu Volleyball Association was on the IRS list, President Paul McCurdy went online to comply with the filing requirements, which he thought he had already done in 2007 and again in 2008. "We're curious why we were put on this list," McCurdy said. "I thought I was OK. It's very confusing. If they revoke our status now, I'll be very upset." Jean Serikawa, vice president of the Friends of the Royal Hawaiian Band, yesterday also believed that her nonprofit group is clear with the IRS after its name appeared on the IRS list. "I think we are in compliance," Serikawa said yesterday. "I presume we're all OK." The IRS plans to maintain its list of "at-risk organizations" on irs.gov until Friday. Nonprofit groups that have not filed the required returns by Friday will have their tax-exempt status revoked, Tucker said. The IRS will publish a list of organizations with revoked status in early 2011, he said. Donors who contribute to "at-risk organizations" are protected until the final revocation list is published, Tucker said. Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 12, 2010 6:15 p.m. HST C-SPAN to Rebroadcast Akaku's Aiona-Abercrombie Debate KAHULUI, HI, October 12 – Akaku: Maui Community Television brought you live coverage of “Focus 2010: A Gubernatorial Conversation.” Now you can catch it again, along with the rest of the nation, on C-SPAN. It is set to air on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 4:45pm here in Hawaii. C-SPAN will be repeating this event. Refer to your local listings for exact times and dates for those repeats. The forum featured both gubernatorial candidates for the upcoming general election, Mr. Duke Aiona and Mr. Neil Abercrombie. It was presented by the Maui Economic Development Board, Hawaii Public Radio, the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, and Akaku: Maui Community Television. It is an important election for Hawaii and this is the perfect opportunity to share that with the rest of our nation. “With Hawaii and Maui County still struggling to overcome the effects of the global financial crisis, the next Governor of Hawaii must balance the costs of government with needs for essential services and programs,” said MEDB President/CEO Jeanne Unemori Skog. (Report Provided by Akaku: Maui Community Television) NEWS FLASH - October 12, 2010 4:55 p.m. HST County Awards $627,420 in Grants to Non-Profits WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii-Mayor Charmaine Tavares announced today that the County of Maui has executed grants totaling $627,420 to aid a range of community initiatives, including those benefiting agriculture and the environment. “I’m pleased that we are able to continue supporting these important initiatives,” said Mayor Charmaine Tavares. “The work that these non-profit organizations do has far-reaching impact to our county’s future.” The Maui County Farm Bureau, Inc. received $370,000 for the development and support of Maui County Ag, which will be used for marketing efforts and promotional campaigns, educational programs and professional development programs that help strengthen agriculture on Maui. Tri-Isle
Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. received a total
of $131,500, which will be distributed as follows: Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, Inc. received $100,000 to support its conservation, education and outreach programs as well as on-going operational costs. The gardens provide Maui Nui residents and visitors an opportunity to see rare native coastal and lowland plants as well as culturally important Polynesian introductions like taro, sugar cane and sweet potato. The gardens are considered to be a significant link in the conservation of Maui Nui’s most endangered plant species, protecting and propagating plants like the Kauila (Colubrina oppositifolia), which has only three known individuals on Maui. A collection of every currently known variety of Hawaiian taro is also protected at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens for the long-term survival of these varieties. The Maui Flower Growers Association received $25,920 to assist with the association’s efforts within the island’s flower growing industry as well as to help with branding efforts with the goal of marketing Maui flowers both nationally and internationally. For more information, call the County of Maui’s Office of Economic Development at (808) 270-7710 or visit www.mauicounty.gov/oed. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - October 12, 2010 3:45 p.m. HST 'Stop Flu at School' Kicks Off Statewide HONOLULU — Protect Hawaii’s Keiki: Stop Flu at School kicks off today statewide at 15 schools and will continue through Dec. 2. The vaccine is the best protection against the flu, and Hawai’i’s youth are a high-risk priority group. In its fourth year, the program will be administering about 80,000 free flu vaccinations this year to 331 participating public, private, and charter school students, faculty and staff -- about the same level of participation as last year. “After last year’s H1N1 flu pandemic we all know that the flu can be unpredictable,” said Hawai’i State Department of Health director Dr. Chiyome Fukino. ”We are recommending that everyone, age six months and older, receive an annual flu vaccination. Ensuring the health and well-being of our keiki is a top priority for public health.” The free school flu vaccination program is sponsored by the state Department of Health, which is grateful for the support and partnership of the Hawai‘i state Department of Education, the Hawai‘i Association of Independent Schools, and the Hawai‘i Catholic Schools. The program is endorsed by the Hawai‘i Chapters of the American Academy of Pediatric and American Academy of Family Physicians and made possible in part through grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as clinic staffing from the Hawai’i Medical Reserve Corps and the nursing programs at the University of Hawai’i, Hawai’i Pacific University, the UH-Hilo School of Pharmacy. Last year the state held two Stop Flu at School vaccination clinics because of the H1N1 flu pandemic. More than 55,000 additional students and 10,000 faculty and staff took advantage of the H1N1 vaccine program. This year’s vaccine includes the 2009 H1N1 flu strain as well as two other flu strains. Studies have shown that school-age children who are vaccinated for the flu have fewer illnesses, fewer school absences, and a lower rate of illness in their families during the flu season, which typically runs from October through May. “The students and faculty participating in this program are perfect examples of how best to protect against the flu,” Fukino said. “Providing students with free vaccinations is a convenience to them and their families.” Information on the Stop Flu at School program can be found at www.stopfluatschool.com or by calling the Aloha United Way 2-1-1 hotline. You can also follow the Department of Health on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HIGov_health and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Honolulu-HI/State-Dept-of-health/109176012444797 . (Report Provided by the State of Hawai'i, Department of Health) NEWS FLASH - October 12, 2010 11:10 a.m. HST HDOA Offers Assistance in 'Organic' Certification for Farmers HONOLULU – The Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is currently accepting applications for a new round of organic certification cost-share assistance to organic farmers, organic livestock operators and organic produce handlers. Renewed federal funding totaling up to $95,000 has been allotted to help Hawai`i agribusinesses with the cost of organic certification through two separate cooperative agreements executed between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and HDOA. Organic farmers and livestock operators are required to have their farms and practices inspected annually and certified by an agent approved by the USDA. Seventy-five percent of the cost of this inspection and certification (up to a maximum of $750) is eligible for reimbursement under the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost-Share Program (AMAOCCSP) program which was authorized under the Federal Crop Insurance Act. This is the third consecutive year that Hawai`i has participated in this program. Once again, Hawai`i has been allotted $75,000 for the funding period October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. In addition, the USDA has a separate program to assist companies certified as organic processors/handlers. As with the growers, processors/handlers are required to be inspected and re-certified annually. Under the USDA National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program (NOCCSP), funding of $20,000 has been allotted to Hawai`i to reimburse 75 percent of the cost of this certification (up to a maximum of $750). “We are glad to see a growing number of applications for these cost-sharing programs in Hawai`i,” said Sandra Lee Kunimoto, chairperson of the Hawai`i Board of Agriculture. “The more organic produce we grow here, the less needs to be imported from outside the state to meet the demands of these products.” The HDOA has been participating in the USDA NOCCSP since 2004 to assist and encourage the growth of organic farming in the state. The initial program allotted $40,000 to reimburse both growers/producers and processors/handlers over a four-year period. In recognition of the growth and importance of organic farming in Hawai`i and across the nation, the USDA increased the total funding and separated the certification categories into separate programs in 2008. In fiscal year (FY) 2010, HDOA approved 91 applications from growers/producers in Hawai`i, an increase of 18 percent over the previous year, totaling nearly $43,700 in assistance. During the same period, there were 23 processors/handlers approved, which was an increase of 53 percent over the previous year, totaling almost $9,400 in assistance. To receive reimbursement, the date of certification or renewal by a USDA accredited certifying agent must occur between October 1, 2010 and September 30, 2011. Applications and information are available online at the HDOA website: http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/add/md/OrganicProducers For
assistance with the application process, contact: (Report Provided by the State of Hawai'i, Department of Agriculture) NEWS FLASH - October 12, 2010 8:10 a.m. HST Airports Fire Chief Cites 'Inept' Staff for Poor Recruiting The chief for airport fire stations on three islands said today he is dangerously short of firefighters -- because of what he called an “inept” airports personnel office. “I come here as a concerned fire chief,” said Maui Division Airport Fire Chief Eugene Perry. “I have been in the department 30 years and this is the worst I've seen it in 30 years.” The director of transportation agreed that the airports division personnel office has been dysfunctional for years. Perry runs six fire departments at airports on three islands in Maui county. The departments have been under fire for high use of overtime, but Perry said it’s hard to avoid overtime when vacant positions go unfilled year after year. Perry said he’s reduced manning to five firefighters at Kahului Airport, which handles jumbo airliners. It used to have eight per shift. “They wanted me to further reduce the manning to four,” Perry told the state Senate Ways and Means Committee Monday. “I refused, due to life safety factors -- not only to firefighters but for the traveling public, tenants and employees at each of these stations.” Perry said he has reduced manning at all the airports he supervises. At Molokai, Lanai, and Kapalua there are three firefighters on day shift and only one at night. Hana and Kalaupapa have no firefighters at all. Money is not the issue –- the positions are budgeted and considered essential. But Perry said the airports' personnel office, which took over hiring from the fire chiefs, spent three years figuring out how to hire firefighters. It has not run a promotions or recruiting test since 2007. “The current personnel in there -- I'll be blunt -- at worst, they are dysfunctional and at best they need to be managed better,” Perry said. The new state Transportation Director did not dispute that allegation. “There certainly was dysfunction within the personnel office,” said acting director Michael Formby. Formby said he has accelerated hiring fire fighters and should fill most of the vacant positions in the next few months. An airport spokeswoman said there is a less severe problem of vacancies at Honolulu International Airport, where seven of 53 positions are unfilled. State Sen. Donna Kim, chairwoman of the committee, said she didn’t understand why the department took so long to realize there was a problem. “Are people going to get suspended for this?” she asked Formby. “Are they going to get terminated for this or what? Because this is the tip of the iceberg.” Kim’s hearing also included allegations that a huge contract to oversee the airport’s $900 million modernization program, awarded to Parsons Transportation Group, Inc., may have violated procurement laws. Airport officials also revealed that many transactions made by Kauai airport managers using electronic “P-Cards” do not include required invoices or purchase requests. Kim said one manager embezzled $15,000 before being caught. Formby said several investigations into airports management and corruption are ongoing -- including apparently inappropriate gifts to Brian Sekiguchi, the former airports deputy director. Monday, an airports engineer, Gene Matsushige, said he joined Sekiguchi in accepting a free hotel room and free tickets to the 2009 masters golf tournament from contractor R. M. Towill and Chevron. “This was the first time I did anything like this. It will be the last time,” Matsushige said. The state Ethics Commission is investigating the gifts. (Report Provided by KITV.com) NEWS FLASH - October 12, 2010 7:40 a.m. HST Abercrombie, Aiona To Debate Native Hawaiian Issues Tonight Democrat Neil Abercrombie and Republican James "Duke" Aiona are set to debate native Hawaiian and other issues. The event is schedule to start today at 6:30 p.m. It will be broadcast live on Oceanic Cable channel 16. Abercrombie is a former congressman representing urban Honolulu. Aiona is the incumbent lieutenant governor. Among the issues that may come up are the candidates' support for legislation in Congress to establish a governing entity for native Hawaiians and housing programs for native Hawaiians. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 12, 2010 6:30 a.m. HST Texas Woman Awarded $5.67M in Maui Slip and Fall Case A federal jury has awarded a Texas woman $5.67 million for injuries she suffered when she slipped and fell in a McDonald's restaurant in Kahului. Beverly Munguia, 59, was a patron of the McDonald's Dairy Road restaurant on Nov. 25, 2007, when she slipped on the floor and fell. Munguia fell on her buttocks, which caused a burst compression fracture of the L1 vertebra in her lower back, said Michael Cruise, her attorney. He said the vertebra lost 90 percent of its height. Cruise said Munguia underwent two surgeries, but all they did was stabilize the injury. She is now permanently disabled, suffers chronic pain and is confined to a wheelchair most of the time, he said. On Wednesday the U.S. District Court jury awarded Munguia $2.67 million in special damages for past and future medical expenses, lost wages and retirement benefits. The jury also awarded her $3 million in general damages for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. "I am disappointed with the verdict and believe it is excessive and not representative of the facts presented in the case," McDonald's franchisee Grelyn Rosario said in a written statement. Rosario's company, Grelyn of Maui LLC, owns the Dairy Road restaurant and other McDonald's franchises on Maui. Munguia, who is from San Angelo, Texas, but grew up in Hawaii, was visiting her sister, who lives on Maui. Munguia, her husband, her sister and the daughter of a family friend were sitting at a table waiting for their order when she got up to get drinks for everybody, according to trial records. When she stepped away from the table, she said, her left foot slipped on something on the floor, causing her to fall. Cruise said something had previously spilled in the area where Munguia slipped. "The restaurant's overall cleaning practice was not good," he said. Rosario said his sympathy goes out to Munguia and her family. He said the safety and well-being of his employees and customers are top priorities that and he remains vigilant in his efforts to provide a safe restaurant. At the time of her injury, Munguia was a manager for Blue Cross, Cruise said. She tried but was unable to return to work, he said. Reach Nelson Daranciang at ndarancing@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 11, 2010 9:10 a.m. HST Maui Leads State in Room Rate Increase Hawaii's hoteliers continued to see improvements in occupancy and revenue per available room -- a key measure of profitability -- in August. Statewide hotel occupancy climbed 6.3 percentage points over the previous year to average 75.7 percent, while the average daily room rate inched up 1.8 percent over last year to $181.49, resulting in an 11.1 percent increase in revenue per available room to $137.39, according to a report released today by Hospitality Advisors LLC. August's performance rounds out a relatively strong summer compared with last year, when arrivals were down due to the economy and swine flu fears. Revenue per available room at hotels statewide jumped 13.8 percent in June and 18.2 percent in July. "We had busy months, and we're seeing volume being built back into the market but we're still well below our peak years," said Joseph Toy, Hospitality Advisors' president and chief executive officer. The peak year for August occupancy was in 2005, when occupancy hit 86.2 percent. "Last year we also had a very poor summer, so we're seeing some nice gains, but obviously the reality is we're still climbing out of a steep hole." Budget hotels saw the highest occupancy for the month, rising 11.5 percentage points to 80.5 percent, indicating that consumers are still looking for deals. This category also saw room rates climb 7.9 percent and revenue per available room soar 25.9 percent. Oahu hotels were the fullest in August at 83.7 percent, while Maui led the state with the highest room rate at $238.07. While the increases are a bright spot for hoteliers, the market continues to recover slowly with significantly fewer fall group bookings, which are typically scheduled far in advance. The benefits of new group bookings won't be seen for one to three years. The sharpest declines over the past two years have been in group business both nationally and in Hawaii. Group bookings are particularly important for hotels during the off-season. "We have a lot of pent-up demand that's coming back into the market," Toy said. "Hawaii is one of the leaders in the market nationally in the industry recovery. ... We have a way to go until the market gets back." Reach Kristen Consillio at kconsilio@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 11, 2010 8:10 a.m. HST On Eve of Anniversary 'Hawai'i News Now' Trio Still Challenged The trio of TV stations known as Hawaii Now or, for newscast branding purposes, Hawaii News Now, will mark its first anniversary Oct. 26, two days before the Oct. 28 start of the November Nielsen ratings. Licensed to affiliates of Raycom Media Inc. and HITV License Subsidiary Inc., the stations include two network affiliates that are among the four top-rated stations in the market. Media
Council Hawaii took its opposition to the companies' so-called shared-services
agreement to the Federal Communications Commission a year ago in the
form of an emergency request to block the stations' consolidation. "Over the past year we have made progress by forcing Raycom and HITV to release copies of their agreements and to make some changes," said Angela Campbell, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney representing the media council. "But the fundamental problems -- the combined news operations and Raycom's control of two of the top-ranked stations in violation of the FCC's rules -- remain. We urge the FCC to take prompt action to ensure that these stations serve the public interest." Hawaii Now General Manager Rick Blangiardi declined to comment. MCH President Chris Conybeare last week said, "The public has a huge stake in this. ... It isn't that people have forgotten or are not unhappy; the lack of response by the FCC has made people think it might be futile." Gerald Kato, UH journalism professor and MCH board member, said, "If allowed to continue, the shared-services agreement here and others across the country will render FCC regulation and rules involving the public interest meaningless. Our community, indeed, our nation, deserves better." The media council has invited FCC commissioners to come see the consolidation's impact firsthand. Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Advertiser. Reach Erika Engle at erika@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 11, 2010 7:20 a.m. HST Voting Machines Tested Ahead of General Election Hawaii's voting machines are being tested before they're used in the Nov. 2 general election. The Office of Elections said it's testing the machines to make sure that they're counting votes correctly. The tests on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui and Kauai started Saturday and continue through Thursday. They'll be conducted an overseen by official observers, representatives from political parties, civic groups and community groups. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 11, 2010 6:40 a.m. HST Krill Increase Drawing Whales Into Ships' Paths SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- An increase in the population of a tiny crustacean and busy shipping lanes are being blamed for a jump in the number of whale deaths in Northern California waters this year. With at least five whales reported killed in the region since July, researchers believe an abundance of krill — part of the whales' favorite food group — might be leading the whales into the paths of ships. A spokeswoman for the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary told the San Francisco Chronicle that an estimated 2,800 blue whales, 2,600 fin whales and 1,400 humpback whales regularly ply the waters off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. Mary Jane Schramm says the organization is working on measures that could reduce the number of collisions between whales and ships. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 10, 2010 10 a.m. HST High Winds Prompt Haleakala Advisory 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a WIND ADVISORY for the SUMMIT of HALEAKALA in effect until 6:00 p.m. Sunday. 2. EFFECTS: A Wind Advisory means that winds will be out of the East at 25-30 mph with higher gusts expected. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: WINDS THIS STRONG CAN MAKE DRIVING DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. USE EXTRA CAUTION. SECURE ANY LOOSE OBJECTS THAT MAY BECOME AIRBORNE OR MOVE THEM INDOORS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - October 9, 2010 11:45 a.m. HST Aiona Camp Says Lingle, Committee Over-Donated A spokesman for Republican gubernatorial candidate James "Duke" Aiona says that Gov. Linda Lingle and her campaign committee contributed too much money to Aiona's campaign. Travis Taylor said in a statement Friday the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission informed Aiona's campaign of a $6,000 "over-donation" by the Linda Lingle Campaign Committee. He says the commission appears to view the committee's contribution and a $6,000 personal donation from Lingle as one contribution. The issue couldn't be verified with the commission because Friday was a furlough day. Taylor says the commission took no formal action against Aiona's campaign. He says the over-donation by law is forfeited to the state. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 9, 2010 9:35 a.m. HST Hart To Announce Mayoral Endorsement Monday on 'The Breakfast Club' (Wailuku, HI)—Former Maui mayoral candidate Chris Hart will announce his endorsement decision in the race between Mayor Charmaine Tavares and former Mayor Alan Arakawa during an exclusive interview on the Maui Breakfast Club live radio program. Hart finished fourth in the Primary race in September, earning 3,035 votes or 10.5% of the votes cast. Two of the other top five finishers have already announced their endorsements. Maui Breakfast Club hosts Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez and Kellie Pali will interview Hart and explore the reasons behind Hart's decision and what he hopes to accomplish. The program will be broadcast on KNUI AM 900, on Monday, October 11, from 9-10 a.m. Listeners can submit questions or comments by calling 856-2836, by Texting the show at 21227 (put the phrase AM900 at the beginning of the message), or by posting a question on the Maui Breakfast Club radio show face book page. The Maui Breakfast Club radio show is a live two-hour radio program that is broadcast on weekdays M-F 8-10 a.m. out of the KNUI AM 900 studios at Pacific Radio Group. (Report Provided by The Maui Breakfast Club Radio Show) NEWS FLASH - October 9, 2010 6:45 a.m. HST 'Hawai'i Five-0' Handily Winning Its Time Slot "Hawaii Five-0" is in production on its eighth episode and seems in no danger of falling victim to the network cancellation ax. Chris Ender, senior vice president of communications at CBS-TV, said in an e-mail response to your columnist, "Hawaii Five-0 is off to an impressive start. ... After three weeks, it is the No. 1 new show on television, averaging 13 million viewers. It has won its time period every week in both viewers and the key demographics of adults 18 to 49 and 25 to 54." Thirteen episodes of the show have been ordered, which is standard for new series. In addition to live viewers, "it may be one of the most recorded shows with DVRs, which will further increase its total audience," Ender said. One more thing "Hawaii Five-0" has working in its favor is the international market, "where it has been licensed to broadcasters in nearly 200 countries," Ender said. Robert Thompson, founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, said "Hawaii Five-0" is one of his two favorite new TV shows along with HBO's "Boardwalk Empire," which he called "innovative." "Hawaii Five-0," is "nothing new, it's nothing greatly innovative, but it's a well-done show." As to whether it will stick around for another season, Thompson said ratings, demographics, network executives' commitment and other factors such as award nominations and hype all figure into the decision. "This is show business, not science," Thompson said. On the heels of the original "Five-O," "Magnum, P.I." was a "big, long-running hit," Thompson said. There were "a few shows that came and went, but there always seems to be this kind of slot for a Hawaii show, shot on location, which seems to cover a good chunk of American TV." Rick Blangiardi, general manager of the local CBS affiliate, KGMB-TV, said that in his conversations with CBS executives prior to the launch, "there always was in their voice a determination to make this long term," he said. "There are shows and there are shows, and this was their money show." "They want this to be everything 'CSI' has been for CBS in recent times," Blangiardi said. The hope is that "Hawaii Five-0" will be to CBS what "ER" was for NBC or "Lost" was to ABC. "Whether 'Hawaii Five-0' is going to become the next 'CSI' or the next 'Law & Order,' it's way too early to tell," Thompson said. "The audience is pretty big and critically, people are talking about it. Most of the talk is positive, and it's actually a good show."
(Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 8, 2010 3:30 p.m. HST Parts of Haiku Missed in Refuse Pickup Today
WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii - Scheduled Friday trash pickups were not made
today in some parts of Haiku due to a shortage of manpower, the County
of Maui’s Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division,
announced today. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - October 8, 2010 9:50 a.m. HST No Tsunami Warning After Indonesian Quake JAKARTA, Indonesia - A strong offshore earthquake has shaken parts of eastern Indonesia. The country's geophysics agency says no tsunami warning was issued after Friday's quake, which struck off the Maluku islands, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude of the quake at 6.3. The temblor struck 145 miles (235 kilometers) from the town of Ternate and 90 miles (144 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor. Indonesia straddles a series of fault lines that make the vast island nation prone to volcanic and seismic activity. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 8, 2010 9:30 a.m. HST 6.4 Aleutian Quake Does Not Spawn Tsunami PALMER, Alaska — Officials say a magnitude 6.4 earthquake followed by a series of smaller temblors struck in a remote area of Alaska's Aleutian Islands late yesterday. Geophysicist Guy Urban at the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer says that while the quakes might have been felt in the small island community of Adak, the center has heard no reports of damage. No tsunami warning was issued. The U.S. Geologic Survey says the first quake was recorded at 6:26 p.m. and was centered in the Pacific Ocean about 60 miles southeast of Adak and about 1,180 miles southwest of Anchorage. Over the next hour quakes struck with magnitudes of 6.1, 5.3 and 4.6. All were centered in the same area as the larger quake. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 8, 2010 7:20 a.m. HST A&B Sells Mainland Property for $43M Alexander & Baldwin Inc. said its real estate subsidiary has sold a three-building industrial park in Southern California for $43 million. A&B purchased the 898,400 square-foot Ontario Distribution Center in 2000 for $27 million. “Located in the heart of the Inland Empire, Ontario Distribution Center has been a good investment for A&B,” said Norbert Buelsing, president of A&B Properties. He said the facility had an 97 percent average occupancy during the company’s 10-year ownership, which allowed it to realize “favorable pricing for the property.” With the sale of this property, A&B Properties’ portfolio of commercial properties now stands at 7.5 million square feet of retail, office and industrial space located in Hawaii and seven U.S. mainland states. A&B’s share were down 3 cents at $34.96 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 8, 2010 6:50 a.m. HST Palin Endorses Hawai'i Republicans Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, is putting her political star power behind two little-known Hawaii candidates. Palin, traveling the country to stump for various political candidates, placed a call yesterday on behalf of 2nd Congressional District candidate John Willoughby and state House candidate Scott Henderson, Republicans who have won backing from local tea party groups. "Both John and Scott are commonsense constitutional conservatives, and they're both patriots and devoted family men," Palin told a small crowd gathered at a home in Kona for a Willoughby fundraiser. "Come November, I sincerely hope that Hawaiians will support these two patriots," she added. "We do need their voices. We need their votes. We need to get our fiscal house in order and our economy back on the right track." The call lasted about five minutes. Willoughby, 52, a commercial pilot and retired Navy officer, is challenging incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono. "It is odd for my opponent to seek Ms. Palin's endorsement," Hirono said through a spokesman. "But it tells us that he is out of touch with the values of the people of Hawaii." Willoughby said the endorsement was arranged by campaign volunteer Charlie Bussell, a Kona resident who does business in Hawaii and Alaska and contacted Palin's representatives. "He stuck his neck out and got in touch with Gov. Palin's staff and got them involved," Willoughby said. "They did the research on us because they don't just give out endorsements just because you say you're a tea party candidate or you say you're a Republican." Willoughby won a three-way GOP primary last month, topping former television reporter Ramsay Wharton by 211 votes. Since then, Willoughby said supporters have been canvassing neighbor islands and also trying to drum up support from mainland party donors. "We know, at this late day, we've got such an obstacle just getting past the incumbent that we're going to need support from the mainland as far as some mainland money -- some word of mouth, some publicity," he said. Willoughby's campaign had only $1,923 on hand to start September, compared with Hirono's $733,000, according to Federal Election Commission reports. Henderson, 55, a retired FBI agent, is challenging Democratic state Rep. Cindy Evans in the Makalawena-Waimea District on the Big Island. He was unopposed in the primary. The Kona fundraiser and Palin's call were streamed live online by the website Hawaii Reporter. Contact B.J. Reyes at bjreyes@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 7, 2010 6:20 a.m. HST Arakawa Earns Kaho'ohalahala Endorsement WAILUKU - Former mayoral candidate and current Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala endorsed former Mayor Alan Arakawa on Tuesday over the incumbent in the Nov. 2 general election. Kaho'ohalahala is the second of Arakawa's 10 opponents in the Sept. 18 primary election to back the man who was mayor from 2003 to 2006, when he was denied a second term by Charmaine Tavares. Recently, Arakawa received the endorsement of third-place finisher Randy Piltz, who has strong construction union support as a successful electrical contractor and consultant himself. Kaho'ohalahala came in fifth in the mayoral primary with 2,912 votes, or 10.1 percent. Tavares came in first place, winning 7,307 votes, or 25.4 percent, to Arakawa's 7,039 votes, or 24.4 percent. Piltz had 5,602 votes, or 19.4 percent, and fourth place went to Chris Hart, who received 3,035 votes, or 10.5 percent. "I am supporting Alan Arakawa for mayor because Alan has demonstrated the kind of leadership that is needed to put Maui County back on track," said Kaho'ohalahala in an Arakawa campaign news release issued Tuesday. Kaho'ohalahala ran for mayor on a platform based primarily on making Maui County sustainable in the areas of renewable energy and food supply as well as protecting open space. "I believe Alan is prepared to make the right choices for the betterment of our families, to work hard in revitalizing and creating a more competitive economy, and to provide tangible solutions for a sustainable Maui Nui that meets our needs today and for the generations yet unborn," Kaho'ohalahala said. Arakawa said he was humbled to receive his former competitor's support. "It will take all of us working together to tackle the tough issues facing Maui County," Arakawa said. "It's time for us to stand together to revitalize our local economy. As a community, we will find a solution, and I very much look forward to doing so with the business and nonprofit organizations, as well as community leaders such as Sol." Tavares has received endorsements from county employee, agriculture and tourism industry unions, which have thousands of members. When asked for comment, Tavares said via e-mail that "my focus continues to be on our community and economic recovery. At the campaign level, we're excited by the positive and enthusiastic response we've been receiving from so many." (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - October 7, 2010 6:10 a.m. HST 'Unsually Wet Winter' Forecast for Isles Unpredictable weather will be the norm in the islands over the next few months as the worst drought in the country gives way to an unusually wet winter beginning in January, weather officials predicted yesterday. The sudden transition from drought to heavy rains could unleash flash flooding and even lightning strikes that might once again knock out island-wide power grids, said Kevin Kodama, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service. Kodama and Jim Weyman, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Central Pacific Hurricane Center, hesitated yesterday to commit to what might happen because of this year's La Nina conditions, which drop ocean surface temperatures by 2 to 3 degrees along the equatorial Pacific and make forecasts difficult. "Unlike an El Nino, with a La Nina you have a lot more uncertainty involved," Kodama said. He even hesitated to predict how long La Nina conditions might last. La Nina, or "the little girl" in Spanish, is the opposite of El Nino, manifested by warmer-than-usual tropical ocean conditions that typically generate spectacular North Shore winter waves. In May, Weyman forecast that the Central Pacific would see only four to five tropical cyclones, which is considered "below-normal activity" during the hurricane season, which runs through Nov. 30. Instead, tropical cyclones have yet to appear. "Yes, it's been a quiet season," Weyman said. The unpredictable, upcoming winter has state Civil Defense officials worried that dried out areas will suddenly become deluged by flash floods and even landslides. "We get a little anxious when we have long dry spells and now, here comes the rain," said Ed Teixeira, state Civil Defense vice director. "We have seen dry spells followed by horrendous events, such as the Sacred Falls rockslide that resulted in fatalities. ... In 2000, we had the Waimea rock slide that followed record rainfall." Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman Darren Pai said HECO customers should always be prepared for the possibility of power outages in stormy weather. Oahu's 2008 island-wide outage "was due to a very rare set of conditions," Pai said. However, he urged everyone to have an emergency kit at home. "Whether it's high winds or other conditions, it's always a good idea for people to be prepared to be without power whenever there's a storm approaching," he said. Parts of the Big Island and Maui County continue to suffer through the worst drought in the nation, Kodama said. But a sudden onslaught of rain won't be welcomed by farmers and ranchers, said Janelle Saneishi, spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture. "Too little rain is not good and too much rain is not good, not all at once," Saneishi said. "Especially coming off of a period of drought. Heavy, heavy rains would be a major problem." And La Nina won't help surfers hoping for a spectacular big wave season. "La Nina is usually not a good thing," said Kaz Sano, who operates a surf website for children, novusswell.com. "When the water temperature gets colder, you just don't get good swells." Rick Grigg, a North Shore surf legend and oceanography professor at the University of Hawaii, said El Nino winters typically bring big, glassy surf. "The water's smooth in El Nino years," Grigg said. "It's really clean and sweet for surfing. With a La Nina, you get more wind, it's choppier and colder." With 25 to 30 swells each winter, however, Grigg said, "You're still going to get some 25-foot waves, easy. The surfers will have plenty to keep them busy. But I would say this year will be below average, probably not the greatest year." Jodi Wilmott pays attention to El Nino and La Nina years as the spokeswoman for The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau and Vans Triple Crown of Surfing tournaments. She's hardly discouraged about the prospects for a good surf season this winter. "For the La Nina years, you're looking at one or two extra large episodes as opposed to last year, when we had a dozen or more," Wilmott said. "But it only takes one and you have an Eddie Aikau Quiksilver event in a La Nina year." Wilmott lives in Waialua and knows what La Nina winters mean for the North Shore of Oahu: "Red dirt becomes a very popular color," she said. "When we hear La Nina, it's 'Oh, God, here comes another muddy winter.' But a bad day in Hawaii is still better than most days anywhere else." Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 6, 2010 11:05 a.m. HST Hawaiian Eyes Partnership With All Nippon Airways TOKYO — Hawaiian Airlines, which starts its first service to Japan next month, expects to conclude an agreement to code-share flights with All Nippon Airways Co. within four months, Bloomberg News Service reported today. The two airlines are in talks about a business alliance which may be agreed “in three or four months,” Mark Dunkerley, chief executive officer of Hawaiian Holdings Inc., the parent of Hawaiian Airlines, said today in an interview in Tokyo. The carriers are also discussing frequent-flyer programs and cargo agreements, according to a joint statement by the companies. All Nippon, Asia’s largest listed airline by sales, and Hawaiian agreed to ally as the Honolulu-based carrier expands into Japan, a market the airline has sought to enter for “many years,” Dunkerley said. Hawaiian Airlines received one of four U.S. landing slots for a new runway to open at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 6, 2010 9:35 a.m. HST Abercrombie, Aiona Debate Tonight The two major candidates for Hawaii governor are set to debate a broad range of issues on Maui. Republican James "Duke" Aiona and Democrat Neil Abercrombie will meet for 90 minutes tonight, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. It will be aired live on Akaku: Maui Community Television, channels 52, 53 and 54, and on Oahu, on Olelo Community Media, channel 49. On Kauai, it will be shown on Hoike Community Television, channel 52, and on the Big Island on Na Leo O Hawaii Community Television, channels 52 and 53. Hawaii Public Radio will broadcast it on its four stations, as well as stream the audio on its website. The debate is sponsored by the Maui Economic Development Board and HPR. Online: http://www.focusmauinui.com/ (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 5, 2010 6:25 a.m. HST Lahaina Man Injured on Fair Ride WAILUKU - A 22-year-old Lahaina man was injured late Saturday night after he was ejected from a cart on the Music Express ride at the Maui County Fair, said police Lt. Wayne Ibarra. The man was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center with injuries considered not life-threatening, Ibarra said Sunday. The man was listed in stable condition with injuries including some to his lower back. The incident occurred around 11:47 p.m., shortly before the fair was scheduled to close. Ibarra said police were continuing to investigate how the man came out of the cart while the ride was moving. When he was ejected, the man was thrown into a thin metal column of the structure and came to rest between the railing and the ride carts, he said. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - October 4, 2010 7:25 a.m. HST Moloka'i Opihi Picker's Body Found Off North Shore A Maui Fire Department rescue crew yesterday recovered the body of a 42-year-old man who had disappeared in waters off the northern end of Molokai yesterday. The man and a friend were reportedly picking opihi when they were swept out to sea. The friend was able to make it safely back to shore. A rescue crew from the Hoolehua Fire Station located the other man's body this morning about a quarter-mile offshore. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 4, 2010 6:55 a.m. HST Today is Voter Registration Deadline Today is the deadline to register for the Nov. 2 general election in Hawaii. Registration forms must be received by the county clerk by 4:30 p.m. U.S. citizens who are legal residents of Hawaii and at least 18 years of age can vote in the general election, but must register by today. Those who haven't registered or voted in the last two elections, should go to the clerk's office with a valid photo ID and current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your address. (Report Provided by the Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 3, 2010 7:20 a.m. HST Hirono Facing 'Opposite' Tea Party Candidate In the low-key race to represent rural Hawaii, Democratic U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono is seeking re-election against a tea party candidate who describes himself as her complete opposite. Republican John Willoughby, an airline pilot making his first run for political office, says he would slash taxes, reduce government waste and be more independent than Hirono, who is seeking her third two-year term representing Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District. But Hirono argues that Willoughby is missing the point, that Hawaii's representatives need to secure as much federal money as possible to create jobs, improve education and fund transportation projects. "This so-called criticism is very superficial," said Hirono, 62. "I'm interested in actually getting something done. If the agenda and the bills we're pushing are good for Hawaii and the rest of the country, of course I'm going to vote for them." Willoughby, 52, counters that Hirono is a "rubber stamp" for Democrats. "She's been a go-along-to-get-along politician," Willoughby said. "I don't have any alliances to anyone other than the people of Hawaii." But the little-known Willoughby will likely have a difficult time unseating the incumbent Hirono. Willoughby lacks political experience, and his campaign had raised only $16,081, compared to Hirono's $817,915, through Aug. 29, according to Federal Election Commission filings. He won a three-person Republican primary Sept. 18 by 211 votes based in large part on support from tea party groups on Maui and the Big Island. He decided to run for Congress shortly after President Barack Obama was elected because he said the Democrats' free-spending, big government policies put the country on the wrong track. "I just thought I have to do something," Willoughby said. "I can't just sit here on the sidelines. To sit over here and shake by fist in the air isn't going to be enough." Hirono touts her accomplishments in obtaining $2 million to clean up a former military dump site and $500,000 for a preschool program for homeless children. She's currently seeking money for Honolulu's rail project, neighbor islands buses and interactive whiteboards for school classrooms. "All of these came about because of listening and talking to my constituents," she said. "That's the kind of representative I am." If elected, Willoughby said he would seek a law making primary housing rent payments in Hawaii tax deductible. He said this would help the state's transient military families, and the 40 percent of residents who rent their housing. The plan would save renters an average of $4,700 a year. He also would work to stop unfunded stimulus programs and cut waste, which he said was one of his duties when he served in the Navy. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 3, 2010 6:40 a.m. HST Gubernatorial Rivals At Odds on Civil Unions Republican James "Duke" Aiona said if he wins the gubernatorial election, he will propose a constitutional amendment in 2012 to ask voters whether marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman. Neil Abercrombie, the Democratic candidate, said if he becomes governor, he will sign a civil unions bill into law if passed again by the state Legislature, but believes the state should not take up the issue of same-sex marriage. The divide over civil unions is among the widest between the two major candidates for governor, and their views provide some insight about how they would handle emotion-laden social policy questions if elected. Through the past decade, civil unions and physician-assisted suicide have been the two main social policy issues to come before the Legislature. A civil unions bill passed the Legislature this year but was vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle. A physician-assisted suicide bill cleared the state House but failed in the state Senate on the last day of the 2002 session. The last debate by lawmakers on assisted suicide was in 2007. Aiona equates civil unions with same-sex marriage. He does not consider marriage a civil right, so he is comfortable putting the question on the ballot. He says the state could expand a reciprocal beneficiaries law to address any inequality for same-sex couples. SOCIAL
POLICY ABERCROMBIE (D) »
Promises to sign a civil unions bill into law if passed again by the
state Legislature. AIONA (R) »
Vows to veto a civil unions bill if passed again by the state Legislature. "We have reciprocal beneficiaries in the law right now, and we can use that provision -- that piece of the law -- if they (civil union advocates) have any issues on civil rights," he said. Abercrombie sees civil unions as separate from same-sex marriage. "It's a civil rights bill that affected everybody equally regardless of their gender, regardless of their sexual orientation. It was a bill about civil rights and responsibilities under the Constitution, and did not constitute -- in my judgment -- anything approaching a revision or recalculation or redefinition of marriage," he said of the bill, which would have applied to both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Abercrombie supported a constitutional amendment voters approved in 1998 that gave the Legislature the power to reserve marriage for a man and a woman because he thought lawmakers should have that responsibility. He said he does not think the state should reopen the debate on same-sex marriage, an issue that may ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. The former congressman said a debate on same-sex marriage would be needlessly divisive and counterproductive. He said his views are that people should be entitled "to make any arrangement they want with their lives." While they hold different views on civil unions, neither candidate wants the Legislature to take up physician-assisted suicide. Lt. Gov. Aiona, a Catholic, said he has seen several family members -- including his late mother-in-law -- struggle with debilitating illness and understands the emotions involved in end-of-life decisions. But he said physician-assisted suicide does not preserve the sanctity of life. "It cuts across not only just basic values that we have and morals, but it's also, in regards to my religion -- the sanctity of life is foremost," he said. Abercrombie said physician-assisted suicide, like same-sex marriage, would be too divisive an issue. He said the elderly population is growing as people live longer, so policymakers should focus on hospice and palliative care. "We need to be supportive of families and physicians and competent medical personnel being able to make decisions ahead of time with regard to the end of life," he said. Abercrombie, who said he was confirmed as an Episcopalian, said he has never felt that it was important to have an institutional foundation to religion. But he said there is a spiritual element -- a sense of humanity -- to his approach to social policy. "I hope that such spiritual reflection, as I've engaged in in my life, if it's taught me anything, it's taught me to be very wary of judging others too harshly and judging myself too easily," he said. "I'm much less inclined to give myself good marks." House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro (D, Aiea-Halawa Valley-Aiea Heights) said that if re-elected he will introduce civil unions and physician-assisted suicide bills next session. "I think it's still something that deserves public discussion and debate," Oshiro said. Lawmakers would likely move a civil unions bill with a majority if Abercrombie is governor, since he says he would sign it into law, but would likely want a two-thirds' vote necessary to override a veto under Aiona. The House fell short of a veto-proof vote this year. Donald Bentz, the treasurer of Equality Hawaii, said the debates at the Legislature during the past two sessions have helped advocates make the argument that civil unions are a civil rights issue. "It has opened the door for a lot of education," he said. Allen Cardines Jr., a pastor at Hope Chapel Nanakuli and the executive director of the Hawaii Family Forum, said activists will continue to oppose civil unions and physician-assisted suicide. "We believe that life is precious from conception to natural death," he said. Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 2, 2010 7:30 a.m. HST Mayoral Foes Resurrect Same Issues Just about everyone has been saying the Maui County mayoral race is about the economy - and the two candidates, former Mayor Alan Arakawa and current Mayor Charmaine Tavares - were given a chance Friday night to discuss how they plan to create jobs, streamline government and improve lives. Representatives of the county's tourism, construction, real estate and business organizations hosted one of several debates between the old political foes live on Akaku: Maui Community Television. The debate will be rebroadcast several times prior to the Nov. 2 general election. Both candidates promised to leave taxes alone or cut them, speed up building permits and do more to accommodate small businesses, particularly those in residential areas. While promising not to expand government, they both pledged to do more with it. They did separate themselves, though, like when the two former Maui County Council members were allowed the opportunity to ask each other questions. Tavares asked why Arakawa sided with the Sand Hills developers rather than the Palama Street residents in Kahului in a dispute over fill and the height of neighboring properties. Second Circuit Judge Joel August ruled in January 2009 that Arakawa exceeded his authority when he exempted developers from a 1991 building height ordinance, allowing projects to proceed under the law that existed before 1991 and measured height from the finished grade. The current law limits residential building heights to 30 feet above the natural or finished grade, whichever is lower. "It was a choice that was a lose-lose no matter what we did," Arakawa said. But he said he apologized "because we weren't there in 1991 to enforce when it should have been," he said of when the original decision was made not to enforce the law. Tavares said there was time to remove the fill, but Arakawa's decision to turn his back was proof that he "just didn't care for our residents." When he had his opportunity to ask Tavares a question, Arakawa accused her of not having an open government, of ignoring people she doesn't want to see or hear from. Tavares said she talks to people all the time on the street and has a system in place to address concerns. For instance, she said that the "Buy Local" agricultural program came from someone she just ran into. At the outset, Tavares said she believes that she has the right skills and experience to get residents through "these tough economic times," which she said are already starting to brighten. "I believe that we've laid a great foundation for the future," Tavares said. And the incumbent said she would like an opportunity to continue what she's started. Arakawa, who Tavares narrowly defeated to become mayor in 2006, said he has yet to see a firm business plan for what Tavares intends to do to get Maui County out of its current economic downturn and allow residents to keep their homes and jobs. He said he is going to make sure that "everybody has a say in what we intend to do for the future." Arakawa later said the county needs to do more to assist nonprofit groups to repair and renovate foreclosed homes and get people into them. Construction of developments has also slowed to nearly a standstill since he was in office, a fact he'd change, he said, without much elaboration. Arakawa also said the county needs to help the business community by investing in or getting back events, such as Halloween in Lahaina. "There's so much contained in all that I hardly know where to start," Tavares deadpanned after Arakawa's opening remarks. She said her administration has asked the County Council to expand the nonprofit Na Hale O Maui program, which renovates foreclosed homes to make affordable housing available, but council members have not acted yet on those requests. "The elephant in the room is the banks and financial institutions," Tavares said. "People want homes: But if they can't get financing, they can't get those homes." Questions were posed during the forum by Autumn Arase of the Maui Contractors Association; Pamela Tumpap of the Maui Chamber of Commerce; and Carol Reimann of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association. Dave DeLeon of the Realtors Association of Maui moderated the event. "I believe that the mayoral race four years ago was really a popularity contest," Arakawa said when asked by DeLeon why he lost the last race. He said he did a poor job of publicizing all the good that they'd done. Members of his administration were busy working and had their heads down, Arakawa said. Arase said that Arakawa has pledged to shorten the permitting process down to 30 days. But she noted that during his administration it took months to get a building permit, so why would it change if he were given another chance? He said that in his new administration he would divide projects into small and large ones to help set priorities. The Tavares administration is also spending too much time reviewing and re-reviewing applications, he said. Tavares said her administration already is dividing out the simple from the complex projects. She also said her administration is updating the county building code. "There's always room for improvement," she said. She added that when she took office - after Arakawa's term - the department that reviewed building permits was 50 percent understaffed. When it came to the question of home businesses, Tavares said her inspectors have not issued any violations. Warnings have been issued because residents complained. Arakawa said he hears different from residents. Inspectors are threatening people, he said. "What we're doing we need to do in a friendly way, not an adversarial way," he said. When it came to the question of a lack of available water for families to build on homesteads, Tavares said it's a process her administration is continuing to pursue. But it was an issue that the Arakawa administration didn't prioritize. Arakawa asked: "Why are we saying that there's no water? . . . It's the mismanagement of the water system that's the problem." He, for instance, said he pursued purchasing the Wailuku Water Co., and Tavares did not follow through. When it came to Tavares' crackdown on illegal transient vacation rentals, which resulted in an estimated 800 closures of the rental properties in residential areas, she said that she was not only obeying the law but also the County Council. It twice voted for the law to be enforced. "What people don't say is 'Thank you, you saved my neighborhood,' " Tavares said, noting that a poll stated that almost 80 percent of residents wanted illegal vacation rentals handled by the government. Arakawa accused Tavares of promising not to enforce the law and then leaving the vacation rental owners out in the cold. Tavares said she never made such a compact. In closing, Arakawa said that major needs, such as assisting businesses, building homes and developing water sources, are not being met. Tavares said she is relishing more opportunities to debate Arakawa in the coming weeks. She said the candidates just scratched the surface Friday. "If you're not convinced (on whom to vote for), watch the forums," Tavares said in closing. Chris Hamilton can be reached at chamilton@mauinews.com. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - October 2, 2010 6:50 a.m. HST 'Rise and Shine' May Have Special Power for Aiona Allies of Republican gubernatorial candidate James "Duke" Aiona are employing a phrase in television ads and brochures that has been used innocuously in different contexts over the years. But the motto "rise and shine," a variant of which appears in biblical verse, may be having a more persuasive effect in Hawaii this election season -- at a time when some religious leaders are urging support for candidates with conservative social positions. "The advertisements seem to be signaling Duke Aiona's religious conservatism without having to actually discuss his religious conservatism," said Michael Wagner, a political scientist at the University of Nebraska. "For people in Hawaii who are religious traditionalists, regardless of denomination, they might recognize the phrase and take that as a symbol that Aiona shares their conservative social values." At least one Aiona supporter did. "If you go to Sunday school or read your Bible, you should immediately know where the phrase comes from," said Jacquelyn Skaf, a North Shore volunteer for Aiona's campaign. "When I hear that, I hear, 'Take courage. We can win this election.' " But the Republican Governors Association, which began airing the first of the four commercials in August, did not contemplate the motto's biblical connotations in devising the ads. "That never came up," RGA spokesman Chris Schrimpf insisted. "It was literally, the person making our ads sitting around, thinking, saying, 'I'm thinking about Hawaii. I'm thinking about Duke. I'm thinking about the surf and the sun. What about rise and shine?"' Schrimpf said. "That was all it was." Garret Hashimoto, who heads Hawaii Christian Coalition, said the "rise and shine" motto did not strike him as a biblical reference. "It would surprise me if (the RGA) would be sending out any of these biblical messages, quite frankly," Hashimoto said. "I don't associate them with being Bible conservatives." Only one of the four TV ads is still airing, Schrimpf said. All four, plus two radio ads, are on a website financed by the RGA, and the group recently mailed tens of thousands of eight-page "rise and shine Hawaii" brochures promoting Aiona, who faces Democrat Neil Abercrombie on Nov. 2. The ads focus on Aiona's energy, crime and education policies. They were created "because those issues that were actually talked about in the ads, we think are good issues," Schrimpf said. "There's no subliminal messaging going on with our ads." The "rise and shine" theme is only being used by the RGA in Hawaii, he added. Aiona, the incumbent lieutenant governor, has made no secret of his strong religious convictions nor his conservative views on social issues, including opposition to same-sex civil unions, gay marriage and abortion. He has attended religious rallies and in 2004 told a prayer gathering that "Hawaii belongs to Jesus." He also has insisted his faith does not interfere with his duties as an elected official. Aiona's backers include a coalition of Catholic and evangelical Protestant leaders in Hawaii who have worked since mid-2009 to spur what they believe are hundreds of thousands of conservative residents to register and vote. They are especially animated about civil unions, the subject of controversial legislation that GOP Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed in July. Aiona considers himself an underdog to Abercrombie, who is backed by labor unions, a venture capital group, civil unions supporters and his primary election foe, ex-Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann. The "rise and shine" phrase does have at least one secular connotation -- the morning encouragement to get out of bed. But its religious references include Isaiah, a Randy Travis gospel album, George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" and a popular children's song. In the King James version of the Bible, Isaiah 60:1 states: "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." Robert Jones, who heads the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute in Washington, said the preceding chapters discuss what has gone wrong in biblical society. Isaiah 60:1, though, essentially says, "'Look, if you set your ship right and you follow God and you follow all the commandments that you have before you, then all of these good things are going to happen,"' Jones said. If the RGA is invoking the imagery of a coming golden age following a dire recession, "this might be an interesting way to do it with some religious resonance." Jones added. Catherine Wilson, a Vanderbilt University political scientist who has studied the interplay of religion and politics, said the RGA also may be trying to reach secular voters with a theme of a new day in government. "I don't see it as a religious ad, but if the reality is that religious voters are part of (Aiona's) constituency, then the ad could then be used for both secular and religious purposes," Wilson said. (Report Provided by The Associated Press)
NEWS FLASH - October 1, 2010 1:15 p.m. HST Bankruptcies Slow to Lowest Level of Year Statewide bankruptcies rose just 16.3 percent in September as the pace of filings slowed to the lowest level this year. The 329 cases filed last month matched the previous month and tied for the third-lowest total this year. There were 283 cases filed in September 2009. Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcies, the most common type of filing, edged up 9.6 percent to 240 from 219 a year earlier. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 1, 2010 10:10 a.m. HST Baldwin Golfer Is Key Player in Junior Ryder Cup for U.S. Baldwin senior Cassy Isagawa helped the United States win the Junior Ryder Cup on Tuesday at Gleneagles Resort's PGA Centenary Course in Scotland. The Americans defended their title over the Europeans, winning 13 1/2 to 10 1/2. The U.S. led 9-3 going into the 12 singles matches Tuesday. It clinched the win by capturing three of the first five matches. Jordan Spieth, a 17-year-old who tied for 16th in the Byron Nelson Championship this year, won all three of his matches. Isagawa went 1-1-1. She helped the U.S. to its big lead with a 3-and-2 victory in Monday's foursomes. Isagawa and Emma Talley won the 14th, 15th and 16th holes to close out their match. Isagawa teamed with Denny McCarthy in the afternoon and lost, 3 and 2. On Tuesday, Isagawa halved her singles match. Isagawa is the reigning Hawaii high school champion and earned a place on the Junior Ryder Cup team by winning the Junior PGA Championship this summer. She will play for the University of Oregon next fall. The Junior Ryder Cup began in 1997, and the competition is now even at 3-3-1. The players traveled to Wales to participate in friendship matches today and watch this weekend's Ryder Cup. Gleneagles is the venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - October 1, 2010 8:20 a.m. HST Showers Fail to Dampen County Fair Enthusiasm WAILUKU While an early-season cold front brought some rain Thursday, lingering gray clouds did nothing to dampen spirits at the start of the 88th Maui County Fair. "The fair's in full swing," said Sherri Grimes, the fair's managing director, a few minutes before 5 p.m. "The fairground's packed with people. The parade is going on. "It's not raining, but nice and cool," she said. "There's a touch of fall happening. You can feel the clean air. It's very comfortable right now." For the 24-hour period ending at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, National Weather Service rain gauges recorded 0.82 inch at Kahakuloa, while Puu Kukui, deep in the West Maui Mountains watershed, had 0.32 inch and the Waikapu Country Club showed 0.34 inch. Information was missing from the Wailuku rain gauge, and Kahului Airport recorded 0.02 inch. Glenn James, senior weather analyst at the Pacific Disaster Center in Kihei, said Thursday's rain came from an early-season cold front and a low-pressure area in the middle of the island chain. But he said trade winds were expected to return this evening, bringing on and off passing showers to windward areas. It was uncertain Thursday whether the showers in windward areas might affect the fairgrounds at the War Memorial Complex or stay in areas such as Paia and Haiku, James said. But he was confident rains would not be heavy this weekend, and said a light rain would help relieve somewhat the island's ongoing drought. "We need the showers," James said. And, for fairgoers, rain might be just light enough to keep the dust down. He said he expected temperatures to be a "little muggy" today, although that should pass when trade winds kick in this evening. For the weekend, temperatures at the fair should reach highs in the low- to mid-80s, with overnight lows of 70 to 72, James said. Grimes said she didn't think weather would be a factor in fair attendance. "No matter what, people are still going to be coming to the fair," she said. The fair continues today, opening at 5 and closing at midnight. It will be open 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Adult admission is $7, children 5 to 11 years old are $3 each, and children 4 years old and younger are free. Brian Perry can be reached at citydesk@mauinews.com. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - October 1, 2010 7:40 a.m. HST Democrats Denounce Djou's Vote on 9/11 Bill Democrats are denouncing U.S. Rep. Charles Djou's opposition to legislation to provide up to $7.4 billion to workers sickened during cleanup of the World Trade Center site in New York after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman Ryan Rudominer calls the Republican congressman's vote against the bill outrageous. He says Djou has talked about supporting workers who risked their lives but voted against a measure to do that. In a statement Thursday, Djou spokesman Daniel Son said the workers and survivors are already provided health care funding. He says the bill would create a 10-year fund that is open to waste, fraud and abuse. Djou is seeking re-election against Democrat Colleen Hanabusa. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - October 1, 2010 6:55 a.m. HST Gubernatorial 'Foes' On Same Side on Many Health Care Issues Former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona said yesterday that they would preserve the state's Prepaid Health Care Act, which requires businesses to provide health insurance for employees, but indicated that the state law might have to be changed to remain financially sound. The two candidates for governor said they want the state law preserved as the nation makes the transition to the federal health care reform law. The state law has helped put Hawaii among the top states in health insurance coverage for residents. But Abercrombie and Aiona, in remarks to Kaiser Permanente employees at the Sheraton Waikiki and to reporters afterward, said the state may have to review whether the Prepaid Health Care Act can be sustained. Passed in 1974, the law requires companies to provide health insurance to employees who work at least 20 hours a week. Workers' share of premium costs is either 50 percent or 1.5 percent of their monthly gross earnings, whichever is lower, which some businesses have cited as a financial strain. "It was the most progressive of its time, but events have caught up with us, in the sense of costs of health care simply getting beyond us," Abercrombie, the Democratic candidate, said of the state law. "So we're most likely going to have to review whether the fundamental premise of the health care -- the division between employer and employee -- perhaps needs to have another look." Abercrombie said the state might have to look at whether companies and workers should be placed together in one big health insurance pool. The federal health care reform law, for example, calls for health insurance exchanges to help make insurance more affordable for individuals and small businesses. Aiona, the Republican candidate, said he believes most businesses support the Prepaid Health Care Act, although some would likely want workers to pick up a larger share of premiums. Aiona said the state law is in "limbo" because of a provision that ends the law in the event national health care reform is passed. Health care analysts differ on the implications for the state law, however, and believe that the sunset provision -- if it applies at all -- would not take hold until 2014, when most people are required to have health insurance under the federal law. Aiona said he would work with the state's congressional delegation on any changes necessary to preserve the exemption for Hawaii. "I want to make sure that at the very least we don't lose any of those benefits for our people," he said. Abercrombie countered that the state law is not in limbo, and said Aiona was "reaching." Aiona also said the future of the federal health care reform law is uncertain because the November elections could change the political composition of Congress, and the 2012 elections could change the presidency. National Republicans have said they want to repeal the federal health care reform law. Aiona said he has not determined whether, as governor, he would join other states that have challenged the federal law as an unconstitutional violation of the commerce clause because it requires almost everyone to purchase health insurance or face penalties. He also said that he would be fine with adopting the federal law over the state law if it provides more health coverage at a lower cost. Abercrombie agreed that a GOP takeover of Congress would have an impact. "We have to come to grips with the costs of health care," he said. "And the Democratic position is we're all in this together. And the Republican position of the lieutenant governor is, 'You're on your own.' And that's going to be a decisive factor in this election." Abercrombie and Aiona differ on how to handle the rising cost of Medicaid and on medical malpractice insurance reform. Aiona said the state will likely have to reduce benefits for some Medicaid recipients, since eligibility is expanding under the health care reform law, and reimbursement payments will likely not keep pace with costs. Abercrombie said the state should make better use of federal Medicaid dollars and reorder state spending priorities. Aiona wants a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages in malpractice lawsuits, which he believes will lead insurers to lower malpractice insurance premiums on doctors. Abercrombie opposes such a cap and accuses insurers of "gouging" doctors with high premiums. Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - September 30, 2010 1:30 p.m. HST Low Wires Close Lahainaluna Road in West Maui (Editor's Note: The situation was cleared and the road reopened at 2:46 p.m.) Maui Police report that Lahainaluna Road is closed between Honoapi'ilani Highway and Wainee Street. Low-hanging wires are the reported reason for the closure. No word on what caused them to sag, or when the situation will be cleared. (Information Provided by the Maui Police Department) NEWS FLASH - September 30, 2010 11:40 a.m. HST Visitor Spending Jumps 30 Percent in August HONOLULU
– Total expenditures by visitors who came to Hawai‘i in August 2010
jumped 30 percent or $250.5 million from August 2009, to $1.1 billion.
Total expenditures for the first eight months of 2010 were $7.5 billion,
an increase of 12.7 percent compared to the first eight months of
2009, according to preliminary statistics released today by the The
growth in visitor spending for August 2010 was due to higher average
daily visitor spending ($172 per person, compared to $153 per person
in August 2009) and an 11.8 percent increase in total visitor arrivals
to 680,496 visitors. For the first eight months of 2010, total visitor days for all visitors grew 7.4 percent compared to year-to-date 2009, while total arrivals rose 7 percent to 4,760,314 visitors. (Report Provided by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority) NEWS FLASH - September 30, 2010 8:10 a.m. HST Earthlike Planet 'Only' 120 Trillion Miles Down the Road A telescope atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island has discovered what appears to be liquid water on a rocky planet 20 light years from Earth in the constellation Libra, astronomers announced today. The discovery of liquid water on a planet other than Earth is an important step in the search for extraterrestrial life, the team that made the discovery said in a statement. The research was conducted from Mauna Kea's W.M. Keck Observatory and included University of Hawaii astronomer Nader Haghighipour, who said, "By determining the orbit of this planet, we can deduce that its surface temperature is similar to that of Earth." The planet, called Gliese 581g, has a mass three to four times the size of Earth, and orbits its star with five other planets. Gliese 581g's mass indicates that it is probably a rocky planet with enough gravity to hold on to its atmosphere. The team discovered Gliese 581g by searching for tiny changes in the star's velocity that arise from the gravitational tugs of its planets. The team used 238 separate observations of Gliese 581 taken over a period of 11 years. Haghighipour said that the team is keeping tabs on many nearby stars using the Keck Observatory. "As we collect more and more data about how these stars are moving, we expect to find many more planets with potentially Earth-like conditions," he said. He noted that to learn more about the conditions on these planets would take even bigger telescopes, such at the Thirty Meter Telescope planned for Mauna Kea. The team is led by Steven Vogt of the University of California, Santa Cruz and Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution of Washington. Other team members include UCSC associate research scientist Eugenio Rivera, and Gregory Henry and Michael Williamson of Tennessee State University. Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - September 30, 2010 7:40 a.m. HST Abercrombie, Aiona to Debate Health Care Today Republican James "Duke" Aiona and Democrat Neil Abercrombie are set to spar over health care issues in their first general election debate. The two men meet today at a forum sponsored by Kaiser Permanente at 8:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel. While both candidates are focusing primarily on the economy, jobs and education, they also have issued position papers on improving the delivery of health care in Hawaii. The debate is the first of what could be several meetings between the contenders, who won their party's nomination on Sept. 18. The general election is Nov. 2. Aiona is the incumbent lieutenant governor. Abercrombie formerly represented Hawaii's 1st Congressional District. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - September 30, 2010 6:50 a.m. HST Coral Bleaching Not Discovered at Papahanaumokuakea Areas of bleached coral caused by warmer ocean temperatures were seen on the latest scientific voyage by federal scientists to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. But scientists aboard a ship returning yesterday from waters in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument said although bleaching seems to be occurring more frequently, they haven't noticed any mass bleaching so far this year in the region. September is usually the warmest month of the year, so a mass coral bleaching seems less likely this year, scientists said. "We've dodged the bullet," said Peter Vroom, chief scientist on the voyage for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. On the 26-day voyage, divers noticed moderate to high bleaching in about 27 percent of shallow reefs around Kure Atoll and 19 percent of the reef area around Pearl & Hermes Atoll, scientists said. Mass coral bleaching occurs when unusually warm water prompts coral to expel algae, robbing the coral of needed oxygen and nutrients and eventually causing the reef to die. Papahanaumokuakea chief scientist Randy Kosaki said one factor that appears to have reduced ocean temperatures and potential bleaching was the recent storm from the northwest that blew and stirred Hawaiian waters. Federal scientist Rusty Brainard said scientists were surprised when they found coral bleaching in some waters in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands in 2002 and 2004. But he said coral bleaching has become more frequent in recent years. "The fact that now we're seeing it as a common event is one of those early indications the ecosystems themselves are changing," he said. "The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are in this transition to some new state." Scientists said the pristine waters in Papahanaumokuakea provide good conditions for researching the effects of global warming without human factors, such as pollution and tourism, intruding into a study. "This is giving us a special opportunity to understand ... what are the impacts of climate change on reefs ... and what can we do to help coral reefs survive," said Heidi Schuttenberg, research coordinator for Papahanaumokuakea. Schuttenberg said that earlier this year she visited Thailand, where mass bleaching has turned coral reefs white down to 60 feet. Reach Gary Kubota at gkubota@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - September 29, 2010 3:20 p.m. HST Wheelchair-Accessible Buses to Serve County Fairgoers Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii (September 29, 2010) - To retract the previous announcement regarding wheelchair access buses, the Maui County Fair is happy to announce that there will be wheelchair accessible buses available from the Fair shuttle satellite locations excluding Queen Kaahumanu Center. The FREE Park and Ride shuttle bus services from select satellite parking stations in Wailuku and Kahului, and Queen Kaahumanu Center to and from the county fairgrounds on Kanaloa Avenue during peak fair hours are to help alleviate parking problems. Passengers will be picked up and dropped off at designated loading areas only. Shuttle buses will be clearly marked with destination signs. An adult must accompany children under 13 years old. No food, beverages, pets or standees allowed on the shuttle buses at any time. For more information, please call Roberts Hawaii at 871-2639. For
those who choose not to use the shuttle, parking with a fee will be
available in the War Memorial Football stadium parking lot and in
the lot fronting and around the auditorium and Baldwin High School
campus. There will be accessible options for persons with disabilities
or mobility support needs from the Baldwin entrance to drop off and
pick up for MEO and ADA Para-Transit bus users and other individuals
with disabilities. In addition, accessible parking placard users will
continue to have parking at the football stadium at the designated
parking stall area. Kahului
Parking Locations Additional
Shuttle provided by Queen Kaahumanu Center 2010 Park and Ride & Queen Kaahumanu Center Shuttle Schedule Thursday:
6: 00 p.m.** to 11:30 p.m. (Parade starts at 4:30 p.m.) (Buses run continuously approximately every 10 - 20 minutes) The 88th Maui County Fair will be "Celebrating Community" and held Thursday, September 30 through Sunday, October 3. The highly anticipated annual event brings the entire community together to enjoy an alcohol-free, smoke-free and drug-free family-oriented educational event with plenty of entertainment, delicious local food, and fun! This year especially, it provides the people of Maui with a well-deserved break from the current economic times and priceless quality time for family and friends. The Maui County Fair is the primary source of funding for many of Maui's nonprofit and community organizations. It relies entirely on corporate or local business sponsorships, local donations, and volunteers for support. For information about the Maui County Fair contact Managing Director Sherri Grimes at 280-6889 or visit mauicountyfair.com or twitter.com/mauicountyfair on the web. (Report Provided by the Maui County Fair) NEWS FLASH - September 29, 2010 6:50 a.m. HST Rachael Berta Found Guilty of Manslaughter WAILUKU -- A 25-year-old woman has been found guilty of manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend at their Kahului residence last year. Second Circuit Judge Joel August announced the verdict Tuesday afternoon in the nonjury trial, finding Rachael Berta guilty of the lesser charge. She had been charged with second-degree murder in the Jan. 5, 2009, killing of 33-year-old John Shaniyo. Police found him lying in blood on the kitchen floor of the one-bedroom cottage on West Kauai Street after responding to a 911 call shortly after 2 p.m. He was rushed to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he died that night. The prosecution alleged Berta was jealous and angry when she stabbed Shaniyo because he was leaving her to return to his former girlfriend. The defense had asked the judge to find Berta not guilty by reason of insanity. Two psychologists who examined her said it was their opinion that her ability to control her behavior was substantially impaired at the time of the stabbing. For more on this story, read the Wednesday edition of The Maui News. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - September 28, 2010 4:40 p.m. HST High Surf Expected Along North Shores Through Tomorrow Morning - At Least 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the HIGH SURF ADVISORY for NORTH FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and MAUI in effect until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion. 2. EFFECTS: A north northwest swell of 10 to 15 feet can be expected through tonight along north facing shores before lowering to 8 to 12 feet on Wednesday. Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves. A high tide of approximately 1.6 feet is expected between 3:05 p.m. and 4:23 p.m. this afternoon. The next high tide of approximately 2.2 feet is expected between 6:59 a.m. and 8:17 a.m. tomorrow morning. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - September 28, 2010 2:10 p.m. HST Thieves Net 15 Koi Fish from Waikiki Aquarium Someone stole 15 of the 21 adult moi from an outdoor display tank at the Waikiki Aquarium this past weekend, the aquarium reported today. The fish were valued at an estimated $1,500. It appears the theft happened after hours on Friday, the aquarium said. Someone cut the netting that covered the top of the tank. Moi, also known as Pacific Threadfin, is found only in Hawaiian waters. The aquarium moi were a gift from Anuenue Fisheries, which is no longer in operation. The aquarium filed a police report. Anyone with information about this case is asked to all police. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - September 28, 2010 2 p.m. HST Young Brothers Opposes Pasha Ruling at PUC Interisland cargo carrier Young Brothers Ltd. has come out against a state Public Utilities Commission ruling that granted Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines permission to carry cargo through the islands on an interim basis. Young Brothers said today that it will file a motion for reconsideration next week. The company says it will asking the PUC to reconsider the decision's impact to the state and to Young Brothers and the application of state law which is designed to prevent loss of services to consumers. Young Brothers President Glenn Hong says Pasha is being held to "a lesser set of rules and service expectations," while his company is required to deliver to "a much higher standard of service and frequency." (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - September 28, 2010 10:15 a.m. HST Coast Guard Med-Evacs Kalaupapa Woman to O'ahu HONOLULU — A Coast Guard air crew conducted a medical evacuation of an ill woman from Kalaupapa, Molokai to Oahu today. Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center watch standers here received a call from the director for the Hawaii State Department of Health Monday evening. The director requested immediate air transport for a female patient in her 70s from Kalaupapa to Oahu. A Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin HHC-130 long-range helicopter air crew from Air Station Barbers Point and a Disaster Medical Assist Team member, which is part of the National Disaster Medical System, departed Oahu at 11:50 p.m. Monday. The crew arrived at Kalaupapa at 12:30 a.m. and safely embarked the patient. They arrived on Oahu at approximately 2 a.m. and the patient was transported by EMS to Straub Clinic and Hospital in Honolulu. (Report Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard) NEWS FLASH - September 28, 2010 8:05 a.m. HST New North Swell Could Bring 18-Footers by Tonight 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the HIGH SURF ADVISORY for NORTH FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and MAUI in effect until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion. 2. EFFECTS: A north northwest swell will bring rising surf to the north facing shores of the affected islands. Expect surf to reach heights of 14 to 18 feet overnight. Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves. A high tide of approximately 1.6 feet is expected between 3:05 p.m. and 4:23 p.m. this afternoon. The next high tide of approximately 2.2 feet is expected between 6:59 a.m. and 8:17 a.m. tomorrow morning. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - September 28, 2010 6:55 a.m. HST Facility Hours Affected by Maui County Fair WAILUKU,
Maui, Hawaii-- Hours of operation for Coach Soichi Sakamoto Swimming
Pool and service hours for County of Maui offices located at the War
Memorial Gym complex will be adjusted beginning Thursday to accommodate
Maui County Fair activities.
The changes will be as follows: Coach
Soichi Sakamoto Pool: War
Memorial Gym: Department
of Parks and Recreation Offices: Public
Parking: (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - September 27, 2010 4:20 p.m. HST Another Swell Heading for North Shores 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has ISSUED a HIGH SURF ADVISORY for NORTH FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and MAUI in effect until 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion. 2. EFFECTS: A north northwest swell will bring rising surf to the north facing shores of the affected islands. Expect surf to reach heights of 14 to 18 feet overnight. Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves. A high tide of approximately 2.3 feet is expected between 5:38 a.m. and 6:56 a.m. tomorrow morning. The next high tide of approximately 1.6 feet is expected between 3:05 p.m. and 4:23 p.m. tomorrow afternoon. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - September 27, 2010 1:05 p.m. HST Haleakala Telescope Identifies Potentially Hazardous Asteroid The University of Hawaii's Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope has discovered an asteroid described as a "potentially hazardous object." The asteroid, discovered by the university's Pan-STARRS PS1 telescope on Haleakala, is expected to come within 4 million miles of Earth in mid-October. The asteroid was discovered earlier this month when it was 20 million miles away and is about 150 feet in diameter. A news release from the university said the asteroid is the first "potentially hazardous object" to be discovered by the Pan-STARRS survey and has been designated "2010 ST3." Robert Jedicke, a University of Hawaii member of the PS1 Scientific Consortium, said: "There is a very slight possibility that ST3 will hit Earth in 2098, so it is definitely worth watching." Objects the size of 2010 ST3 usually break up in Earth's atmosphere, but the resulting blast wave can still devastate an area covering hundreds of square miles, the university said. Most of the largest potentially hazardous objects have already been catalogued, but scientists suspect that there are many more under a mile across that have not yet been discovered. These could cause devastation on a regional scale if they ever hit our planet. Such impacts are estimated to occur once every few thousand years. The university news release said Pan-STARRS expects to discover tens of thousands of new asteroids every year with sufficient precision to accurately calculate their orbits around the sun. Any sizable object that may come close to Earth within the next 50 years or so is labeled "potentially hazardous" and carefully monitored. NASA experts believe that, given several years warning, it should be possible to organize a space mission to deflect any asteroid on a collision course with Earth. Reach Gregg Kakesako at gkakesako@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - September 27, 2010 12:10 p.m. HST Initial Lead on Hit-and-Run in Kihei Comes Up Empty Maui Police report that yesterday morning's hit and run accident in Kihei is still under investigation. They add that the Pukalani pickup truck suspected in the incident was not - in fact - the suspect vehicle. They are still asking for the public's help in locating the vehicle that struck two men in a crosswalk - seriously injuring a Hilo man and critically injuring a Kihei man. Neiher has been identified. The Kihei man remains at Maui Memorial Medical Center. The Hilo Man has been transferred to Queens Medical on O'ahu - still in serious condition. Read the initial report here. Anyone with further information is asked to call Traffic investigators Duke Pua or Lawrence Becraft at MPD at 244-6344. The involvement of speed, alcohol and drugs is being investigated. (Information Provided by the Maui Police Department) |
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NEWS FLASH - September 27, 2010 10 a.m. HST Bus, Parking Rules Change for County Fair WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii-The Wailuku-Kapalua (Stadium) Commuter parking, normally allowed at the War Memorial Stadium parking lot, will be relocated to the Kahului Boat Ramp during the Maui County Fair from Wednesday, September 29th through Sunday, October 3rd, the Department of Transportation has announced. Also, due to the partial closure of Kaahumanu Avenue on Thursday, September 30 to accommodate the Maui County Fair Parade, Maui Bus service will be re-routing and eliminating specific stops, the County of Maui Department of Transportation announced. The changes are as follows: Lahaina
Islander (Lahaina Bound) Kahului
Loop Route #5 Kahului
Reverse Loop Route #6 Wailuku
Loop Route #1 Wailuku
Reverse Loop Route #2 The remaining bus routes will operate as normal with some deviation in street routing, but will continue to serve all other existing bus stops. Please expect delays in pick-up times, due to the increased traffic during the parade. Maui Bus is a service provided by the County of Maui and operated by Roberts Hawaii. For more information, the public should contact Roberts Hawaii at 871-4838, or the County of Maui Department of Transportation at 270-7511. General bus schedule information can be found on all County buses, and is available online at www.mauicounty.gov/bus. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - September 27, 2010 7:20 a.m. HST Waves Dip Below Advisory Levels 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has CANCELLED the HIGH SURF ADVISORY for NORTH FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and MAUI. 2. EFFECTS: Surf is dropping below advisory levels along north facing shores. Therefore, the high surf advisory is cancelled. Advisories may be re-issued for the same shores later today as another swell arrives. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO REMAIN CAUTIOUS OF THE DECLINING SURF. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - September 27, 2010 6:30 a.m. HST Hotels in Hawai'i Enjoyed 18 Percent Jump in July Profits Hawaii hoteliers saw a key measure of profitability go up more than 18 percent in July as they capitalized on the best month for visitor performance that Hawaii had seen in five years. The rise in visitor arrivals helped contribute to a 10.7 percentage-point jump in statewide hotel occupancy for July, according to the latest hotel flash report released today by Hospitality Advisors LLC. Visitors and kamaaina filled 79.5 percent of Hawaii's hotel rooms in July, while the statewide average daily room rate (ADR) rose by 2.3 percent to $180.98, Hospitality Advisors reported. The increase in arrivals and hotel room rates boosted revenue per available room (RevPAR) to $143.88, up 18.2 percent from the previous year, causing some hoteliers like Ward Almeida, general manger of the Lotus at Diamond Head, to call July the best month ever. "We had quite a few days that were sold out," Almeida said, adding that the hotel saw its occupancy levels reach 90 percent for part of the month. But, while the gain in RevPAR was welcome news for Hawaii's hotels, the industry still has not fully recovered, said Joseph Toy, president and chief executive officer of Hospitality Advisors LLC. July's RevPAR was still 16.2 percent lower than the peak $171.74 RevPAR achieved in July 2006, Toy said. "It will take us at least three to four years to come back to where we were prior to the downturn," he said. "It's one thing to have occupancy recover and another to have room rates climb back from the steep discounting and to see real growth after inflation." Oahu and Maui have already gained some ground as travelers take advantage of the deals and push the statewide numbers higher, Toy said. "There's recovery on the demand side. Some properties have begun to close the 15 to 30 percent drops that they sustained after 2007, but it will take a few years to see rates really start to improve," he said. While July demand helped hoteliers increase rates, the start of school and lagging group business have already begun to soften fall's market, said Ben Rafter, president and chief executive officer of Aqua Hotels & Resorts. "Fall should be better than last year, but it will be more like last year than the fall of 2006 and 2007," he said. "Tourism demand still needs to pick up along with consumer confidence." David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group, said he will become more confident when there are more signs of strength in Hawaii's core visitor markets, the U.S. West and Japan. "It's my belief that a lot of market activity is price and value oriented," Carey said. "I won't feel more positive until we start to see big job growth and GDP growth." Still, there's some cause for hoteliers to be optimistic about the positive impact that the return of the Pro Bowl and group and incentive business will have on 2011, Rafter said. "As demand rises, we think ADR could go up by about 5 or 6 percent," he said, adding that better placement of weekends and separate Presidents Day and Valentine's Day holidays also will create more opportunities for hoteliers to increase rates. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - September 26, 2010 8:30 a.m. HST Waves Could Reach 16 Feet On North Shores Today 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the HIGH SURF ADVISORY for NORTH FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and MAUI in effect until 6:00 a.m. Monday. A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion. 2. EFFECTS: Surf along north facing shores will build to 12 to 16 feet today then slowly decline through early Monday morning. Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves. A high tide of approximately 1.9 feet is expected between 3:00 p.m. and 4:18 p.m. this afternoon. The next high tide of approximately 2.4 feet is expected between 4:44 a.m. and 6:02 a.m. tomorrow morning. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - September 26, 2010 6:45 a.m. HST Two Men Struck by Pickup In Kihei Hit-And-Run Accident Two men were struck in a hit and run accident early this morning in Kihei. Around 2:04 a.m. a 26 year-old Kihei man and a 22 year-old man from Hilo were crossing South Kihei Road in a corsswalk at Kupuna Street when they were struck by a pickup truck traveling northbound on South Kihei Road. The Kihei man sufferd critical, life-threatening injuries. The Hilo man suffered serious injuries. Both were transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center. The pickup truck fled the scene. Bassed on descriptions given Police are attempting to locate the suspect vehicle in the Pukalani area. Anyone with further information is asked to call Traffic investigators Duke Pua or Lawrence Becraft at MPD at 244-6344. The involvement of speed, alcohol and drugs is being investigated. (Information Provided by the Maui Police Department) NEWS FLASH - September 25, 2010 3:55 p.m. HST Aiona, Abercrombie Agree to Debate After a week of behind-the-scenes negotiations, former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona have committed to several debates and forums in their campaign for governor. The two candidates have agreed to at least two televised debates -- on the PBS "Insights" show on Oct. 14 and on KITV on Oct. 22 -- as well as forums sponsored by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kaiser Permanente, the Good Beginnings Alliance and the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. Aiona has conditionally accepted televised debates on Hawaii News Now and KHON, while the Abercrombie campaign has declined the invitations from both stations. Several other joint forums are still on the table. On Sunday, Aiona, who has complained about the format for some of the televised debates during the primary, challenged Abercrombie to a series of six one-hour debates on public-policy issues. "Unfortunately, my opponent was unwilling to answer my challenge to debate in-depth the critical issues facing our working families and small businesses," the Republican said in a statement. "We have only five weeks left to show voters how we will govern so they can make an informed decision in the general election. Once it became clear that my opponent didn't want to immediately focus this campaign on the issues, we agreed to any debates we could. I'm ready to debate right now." Laurie Au, a spokeswoman for the Abercrombie campaign, suggested the Aiona campaign was engaged in public-relations instead of negotiation. Aiona repeated his debate challenge at two news conferences last week while Abercrombie was taking personal time with his wife on the neighbor islands. "Lieutenant governor Duke Aiona's approach to setting debates is reminiscent of the Lingle-Aiona administration's approach to Furlough Fridays," Au said in a statement. "Rather than trying to come to a resolution, they are broadcasting press releases." Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - September 25, 2010 10:30 a.m. HST Early Fall Swell Coming to North Shores 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has ISSUED a HIGH SURF ADVISORY for NORTH FACING SHORES of MOLOKAI and MAUI in effect from 12:00 p.m. tonight until 6:00 a.m. Monday. A High Surf Advisory means that high surf will affect beaches in the advisory area, producing rip currents and localized beach erosion. 2. EFFECTS: Surf along north facing shores of Molokai and Maui will build rapidly overnight to 12 to 16 feet and hold through Sunday night. Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the face or front of waves. A high tide of approximately 2.0 feet is expected between 2:46 p.m. and 4:04 p.m. this evening. The next high tide of approximately 2.5 feet is expected between 4:02 a.m. and 5:20 a.m. tomorrow morning. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: BEACH GOERS ARE URGED TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER AND WELL AWAY FROM THE SHORE BREAK DUE TO THE HAZARDOUS WAVE ACTION AND STRONG RIP CURRENTS. 4. INFORMATION: Maui County Civil Defense will continue to monitor the situation. Please listen to your local radio and TV stations or NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for any updates. NOAA Weather Broadcasts can be reached by calling 1-866-944-5025. NOAA Weather Internet services can be found at www.prh.noaa.gov/hnl. Pre-recorded advisories and notifications are available 24-hours a day on the Maui County Automated Information System (AIS) by calling 986-1200. The same information is available on the Maui County website at www.mauicounty.gov. (Report Provided by Maui County Civil Defense) NEWS FLASH - September 25, 2010 9:05 a.m. HST Civil Unions 'Growing Issue' in Govenor's Race Thousands of supporters and critics of same-sex civil union legislation have filled the state Capitol grounds over the past two years in passionate displays of their sentiments on the issue. The demonstrations were among the largest and most emotional the Capitol had seen in recent years, and Gov. Linda Lingle called her decision in July to veto the bill the most difficult in her eight years of office. But the two major candidates to succeed Lingle in December, with just more than five weeks before the Nov. 2 general election, are signaling little desire to focus attention on the issue. "It's about strengthening our economy, it's about jobs and it's about education, and that's our priority," said Republican Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who strongly opposed the bill Lingle vetoed, which would have given same-sex couples similar rights to married couples. "I don't think that's going to be an issue," said Democrat Neil Abercrombie, a former congressman who just as fervently supports civil unions. "It's not an issue in the sense that suddenly somebody's going to discover anything new." But longtime political analyst Dan Boylan said civil unions at least will be a campaign subtext, particularly among conservative religious leaders who have organized anti-civil unions rallies at the state Capitol. Aiona attended one of those in January. "The pastors care about this. The Catholic Church cares about this. They talk about it with their congregations," said Boylan, a retired history professor. Garret Hashimoto, chairman of the Hawaii Christian Coalition, said it doesn't matter how much the issue is debated by the candidates. His group and its allies know Aiona opposes civil unions and will do everything they can to get him elected, he said. "It is the total Christian community — (Hawaii) Family Forum, Christian Coalition, other Christian organizations out there. We're all strongly behind Aiona," Hashimoto said. Boylan noted that state GOP Chairman Jonah Kaauwai recently labeled Aiona "righteous" due in part to the candidate's opposition to civil unions. Kaauwai also has called the Christian community an "important coalition of the Republican Party." The state GOP opposes civil unions while the state Democratic Party supports them. Leaders of groups backing civil unions said they will urge members to assist Abercrombie by phone banking and participating in get-out-the-vote efforts, said Alan Spector, co-chair of Equality Hawaii. The civil unions issue was infrequently discussed during the Democratic primary campaign, even though it was one of the few subjects on which Abercrombie and ex-Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann clearly disagreed. Hannemann opposed the legislation. Abercrombie said he would have signed it. Earlier this year, some Democrats worried the issue could weigh down some of their candidates. But the Sept. 18 primary election left civil unions supporters enthused. Not only did Abercrombie win, they noted, but Democratic state Rep. Blake Oshiro, the bill's chief sponsor, defeated Honolulu Councilman Gary Okino, who made civil unions a major issue in his campaign. At least two other Democratic House incumbents who backed the legislation — Faye Hanohano and Rida Cabanilla — also narrowly beat primary challengers who opposed civil unions, said Jo-Ann Adams, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Caucus. "I think Aiona will definitely try to make it a wedge issue. But if he looks at what happened in this campaign, he will make it so at his peril," Adams said. Aiona stressed that most people will vote on broader issues. "Obviously to some constituencies, it's going to make a difference," Aiona said. "That's the only issue that they have. But I think to the majority of people, it's just one of many issues that will persuade them to vote one way or the other." Oshiro concurred, saying voters who make civil unions a litmus test have already decided whom to support. "At this point, the campaign is about trying to make sure you can talk about the bigger and more important issues to reach those that are sort of independent and undecided," he said. "Those things are the economy, protecting jobs and education." (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - September 25, 2010 7:25 a.m. HST Maui Wind Farm Owners Planning Third Project The company that operates a wind farm on Maui and is building one in Kahuku has formed a subsidiary proposing the development of a third wind turbine farm in Hawaii on land at the former Kawailoa Plantation on Oahu's North Shore. Kawailoa LLC, formed by Boston-based First Wind LLC, has proposed developing 70 megawatts of electricity capable of providing power to 15,000 homes by 2012. The company's plans were disclosed Thursday in its preparation notice for an environmental impact statement filed with the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. Kawailoa LLC officials said they plan to include more details in its future environmental impact statement. The company wants to build up to 43 wind turbine generators and support facilities, including an operations and maintenance building, underground and overhead connector lines, and service roads. The company also wants to develop communication facilities at two sites on Mount Kaala. The two sites would be on state-owned land in the conservation district and enable the electricity to be integrated into the system operated by Hawaiian Electric Co. The exact location of wind turbines on land owned by Kamehameha Schools will be determined after studies are done on wind patterns, topography and other factors, Kawailoa said. Kamehameha Schools identified the land as lacking water resources and as appropriate for wind power in its 2008 North Shore Master Plan. Company officials said the development of wind energy was in keeping with state goals to develop 70 percent of the state's energy from renewable resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. First Wind has seven projects in operation in the United States generating 504 megawatts, including Kaheawa Wind Power I on Maui, the largest wind farm in Hawaii. First Wind has also begun construction of Kahuku Wind Power, including 12 wind turbines producing 30 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 7,700 homes. The Kahuku project is expected to create 200 jobs and to be operating by 2011. Reach Gary Kubota at gkubota@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - September 24, 2010 11:35 a.m. HST Fate of Murder Suspect Now in Hands of Judge WAILUKU - The prosecution describes Rachael Berta as a jealous and angry girlfriend who thrust a knife so forcefully into her boyfriend's abdomen that she killed him. "This was a very deep wound, it was through vital organs," Deputy Prosecutor Melinda Mendes said during closing arguments Thursday in Berta's murder trial. "And the force itself is indicative of how much anger she had toward him, not fear." But the defense says Berta is a deeply troubled young woman with a history of mental illness and abusive relationships who was reliving the trauma of a teenage gang rape when she unintentionally inflicted the injury that killed 33-year-old John Shaniyo. "Rachael had no intent to kill John," said defense attorney William Sloper. "The best evidence we have is, at the time this offense occurred, Rachael was out of her mind." After closing arguments by the attorneys Thursday afternoon, the case is in the hands of 2nd Circuit Judge Joel August. He will decide whether the 25-year-old Berta is guilty of second-degree murder, as the prosecution charges, or not guilty by reason of insanity, as the defense maintains. August also could find Berta guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter, which applies when someone acts under extreme mental or emotional disturbance for which there is a reasonable explanation. On the afternoon of Jan. 5, 2009, police officers found Shaniyo lying in blood on the kitchen floor of the one-bedroom cottage on West Kauai Street in Kahului where he and Berta lived. Officers went to the residence after police traced a cellular telephone call to 911 at about 2 p.m. from a woman reporting she had stabbed her boyfriend. Shaniyo managed to tell an officer that it was Berta who stabbed him before he lost consciousness. He was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he died that night from the single stab wound to his upper right abdomen. Berta was arrested a couple of hours after the stabbing at Kahului Union Church. She is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail at the Maui Community Correctional Center. During testimony over the past five weeks in the nonjury trial, witnesses described the bloody scene at the residence, as well as efforts to save Shaniyo's life. His heart stopped three times, and he never regained consciousness while receiving transfusions and losing about three times the volume of blood in his body during more than five hours of surgery, a doctor testified. Although Berta chose not to testify in the trial, portions of her account of what happened that day surfaced through testimony by a police detective and psychologists. In addition, the defense presented a 911 recording of Berta crying and talking to a friend on a cellular telephone minutes after the stabbing. "You can get her demeanor, you can get her mental state, you can get what she was thinking," Sloper said. "That really is the most reliable evidence the court has as to what was going on in Rachael's mind, and she was out of her mind." Mendes said Berta provides details showing she knew what she was doing in the call, saying Shaniyo "pushed me hard" before she stabbed him. Two psychologists and a psychiatrist who examined Berta reached varying opinions about her mental state at the time of the stabbing. All three experts diagnosed Berta with post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder marked by impulsive behavior and alcohol dependence. State psychologist Alex Lichton testified it was his opinion that Berta was suffering from a post-traumatic stress disorder flashback, re-experiencing the alleged gang rape and acting in fear at the time of the stabbing. Maui psychologist Kelly Bass said Berta was in a dissociative state, not in touch with reality and couldn't remember the stabbing. Both psychologists determined that, at the time of the stabbing, Berta's ability to appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions was moderately impaired and her ability to control her behavior to conform with requirements of the law was substantially impaired. Both recommended hospitalization and additional treatment for Berta. But Dr. Gene Altman, an Oahu psychiatrist, found that Berta could tell the difference between right and wrong and that her ability to control her behavior was only moderately impaired, making her responsible for her actions. "All three doctors found Rachael was impaired at the time of the alleged offense," Sloper said. He asked the judge to discount Altman's opinion, saying the doctor's 50-minute interview with Berta didn't compare with the six hours Bass spent interviewing Berta. While Altman "rapidly reviewed hundreds of detailed psychiatric records," Bass requested additional records of Berta's psychiatric hospitalizations and treatment. The records refer to Berta being sexually abused by a relative at age 8 and describe at least 15 suicide attempts between ages 15 and 23, Sloper said. Mendes argued that the two psychologists "got it wrong" in their opinions. While records dating to 2006 from her medical treatment in Virginia and on Maui referred to her being gang raped when she was 17, the prosecution presented reports from a Virginia sheriff's department that included Berta's statement about a sexual encounter involving one man in December 2002. "She's drunk as a skunk," Mendes said. "There's a question about whether there was consent or not." Mendes said Berta sent a text message to a friend at 1:40 p.m., about 20 minutes before the 911 call, that said, "I think I'm going to kill him, Heather." "This text message shows she was thinking about stabbing him before she actually did it," Mendes said. "It also shows premeditation on her part." In a text message a few minutes earlier, also to Heather, Berta says "he is getting back with his ex," Mendes said. While conceding that Berta was under extreme mental or emotional disturbance because of her borderline personality disorder, there wasn't a reasonable explanation for what she did, Mendes said. "The defendant did this out of anger," Mendes said. "There is no insanity defense that should apply in this case." Sloper disagreed. "No one is more sorry that John is dead than Rachael," Sloper said during his closing arguments. "It is a tragedy from all sides. The only thing that could make it worse is for the court to find her guilty of something she didn't knowingly or intentionally commit." Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@maui news.com. (Report Provided by The Maui News) NEWS FLASH - September 24, 2010 10:25 a.m. HST Djou, Hirono At Odds on Small Business Incentives U.S. Reps Charles Djou and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii have split on legislation that is aimed at helping struggling small businesses with easier credit and other incentives to expand and hire new workers. Djou opposed and Hirono supported the bill, which the House approved Thursday on a 237-187 vote. It was sent to President Barack Obama for an expected signature. Djou says the measure deepens the nation's debt and provides no long-term incentives to create jobs. He also claims a provision will result in government ownership of businesses. Hirono says it will prod banks to lend to more small firms, increase access to Small Business Administration loans, allow more tax write-offs for equipment investments and reduces small business taxes. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - September 24, 2010 6:55 a.m. HST Akaka Opposes GOP-Backed Federal Hiring Freeze Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka has come out against a Republican proposal to impose a federal hiring freeze. The veteran island Democrat said Friday in a Washington news release that such a move would wind up costing the government more over the long-run by increasing reliance on contractors whose work would not be capped. Akaka says the proposal would sacrifice the nation's long-term investment in the employees needed to efficiently and effectively run government programs for a shortsighted approach that does nothing to address current fiscal challenges. The proposal is part of the "Pledge to America," which was announce this week by House Republicans. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - September 23, 2010 2:30 p.m. HST 'Go For Broke' Squad Honored - Finally Congress has approved the award of one of its highest honors to Japanese-American veterans who served with the 100th Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service during World War II, officials said. The office of U.S. Rep Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said the House approved the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal by voice vote today. "At a time when many of their fellow Americans questioned their loyalty to the United States, these Japanese-American soldiers enlisted and put their lives on the line to defend our freedom overseas while fighting against fear and discrimination at home," Hirono said on the House floor. Hirono added that the 442nd "Go for Broke" combat team became the most decorated in U.S. military history for its size and length of service, with its component unit, the 100th Infantry Battalion, earning the nickname "The Purple Heart Battalion." In addition, about 6,000 nisei that comprised the Military Intelligence Service "made vital contributions to our wartime success by conducting critical classified intelligence operations," Hirono said. "Only in recent years has their invaluable service come to light, and it is long past due for honoring and acknowledging their critical role during the war." About two-thirds of the servicemen were from Hawaii. The Senate approved the legislation in August. The recognition is on its way to President Barack Obama for his signature. The medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution. The legislation authorizes the Treasury to make bronze duplicates of the medal. The Congressional Gold Medal was first awarded by the U.S. Continental Congress to George Washington in 1776. The last recipient was Arnold Palmer in 2009. Other recipients have been the Apollo 13 astronauts, surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey, Tuskegee Airmen, Frank Sinatra, Mother Teresa, John Wayne and Navajo Code Talkers. Along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Presidential Citizens Medal, it is the highest civilian honor awarded in the U.S. The Associated Press contributed to this story. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - September 23, 2010 6:50 a.m. HST Aiona Pusing for More Four-Day Work Weeks Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the Republican candidate for governor, said yesterday that he would pursue a four-day, 40-hour workweek for as many state workers as possible to help reduce energy costs and relieve traffic congestion. The Lingle administration conducted pilot projects at the state Department of Human Resources Development and the state Department of Health in 2008 that found modest energy savings and traffic reduction with a four-day workweek. The administration found that the change saved about 6 percent in energy costs at DHRD's offices at the State Office Tower and about 13 percent at DOH's Kinau Hale Building. The administration estimated that 51 percent of DHRD workers and 40 percent of DOH workers involved did not use their automobiles during peak traffic hours on the Fridays they had off. Aiona said a four-day workweek would be beneficial only if most workers involved took the same day off. He said any expansion of the idea would have to be done in collaboration with public-sector labor unions. "I firmly believe that that would make a significant impact in regards to traffic and quality of life and, of course, our environment and saving in the cost of government," Aiona said at a news conference at his campaign headquarters, where he talked about his transportation and health care proposals. Aiona said he would continue with the Lingle administration's infrastructure improvements to airports, harbors and highways. The lieutenant governor also said he would press for medical-malpractice insurance reform. He favors a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages in malpractice lawsuits, a proposal that has been consistently rejected by majority Democrats in the state Legislature. The state has a $375,000 cap on pain and suffering damages, but patients can avoid the cap by claiming emotional distress or loss of companionship, which are other forms of noneconomic damages. Aiona, who has made healthy living a theme as lieutenant governor, said he would promote diet, exercise and regular medical checkups as preventive steps to reduce health care costs. Aiona said he favors preserving a federal exemption for the state's Prepaid Health Care Act of 1974, which requires businesses to provide health insurance to employees who work 20 hours a week. The exemption was preserved in the federal health care reform law passed by Congress and President Barack Obama, but could come into conflict with provisions of the federal law once it is fully implemented. Laurie Au, a spokeswoman for former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, the Democratic candidate for governor, said Aiona's plans are basically a continuation of Gov. Linda Lingle's agenda. Au said she believes people want new leadership. "The Lingle-Aiona administration couldn't get its proposals accomplished in eight years," she said in a statement. "Four more years won't make a difference if we can't get beyond the gridlock and inaction that has been characteristic of government in Hawaii under the current administration." Reach Derrick DePledge at ddpledge@@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) Breaking News Archives NEW FOR 2010: Maui TV News Breaking News stories are now being archived. Each month (or more frequently if needed) we will save an archive of all the Breaking News stories covered to date on this page. And you can use the search box in the upper right corner of this page to locate a specific story or topic. Now available: |
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