Government

Patient ‘Not Guilty’

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Patient ‘Not Guilty’

Norbert Palea, at 68 the youngest patient living at the Kalaupapa settlement, pled not guilty at his March 15 court date. He is accused of bringing crystal methamphetamine into the Hansen’s disease settlement, and was arrested last month for intent to distribute.

The trial date is set for May 11, said Palea’s lawyer and Deputy Public Defender, Matthew Winter. He had no other comment on the case.

 

Precarious Catwalk Stays Put

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Precarious Catwalk Stays Put

Although a temporary catwalk has been erected at the Kaunakakai Wharf, a permanent replacement is no nearer completion than after its collapse over a year ago.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) was unable to get funding from the 2009 legislature, said Deborah Ward, information specialist for the DLNR.

“Until construction funding can be secured, we are not able to provide a construction start date for this project,” she said in an email. They were looking to secure funding from the Federal Boating Access grant to pay for 75 percent of the project. The rest would come from state funding.

,” he said. Ching pays $200 a month to launch and operate his commercial boat in the harbor.

The former loading dock collapsed when the steel reinforcements in the concrete failed. Eric Yuasa, boating engineer for the DLNR, said corrosion of steel is common as seawater is able to infiltrate concrete.

The new dock will be made of aluminum framing and fiberglass decking, and will be wheelchair accessible. Yuasa said the new dock will be less costly, lighter and easier to repair. The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) has contracted Arnold Okubo and Associates, Inc. of Waipahu to prepare the dock when funding is available.

Despite the cost issue, boaters like Ching are frustrated about Molokai’s predicament.

“A big factor we have that everybody is overlooking, is this is the one and only ramp of the whole island to serve the people of Molokai,” he said.

To My Fellow Retirees

Friday, March 19th, 2010

To my fellow retirees, hardworking Americans and future retirees,

I am sending this important message to you to let you know of the great uncertainty over our Social Security benefits and Medicare. The government is going to slowly take away what belongs to you by putting its dirty hands on our Social Security retirement benefits and steamrolling cuts on your Medicare, in order to help pay for our huge deficits. Medicare and Social Security have been the basic financial support for our retirees. If President Obama cares about health care coverage for everyone, he most certainly does not care bout our retirees.

Tough Decisions, Careful Spending

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Tough Decisions, Careful Spending

By Mayor Charmaine Tavares

In the last three years our world has gone from positive global economic conditions to an extraordinary global decline. During those years, we have worked tirelessly with many others to meet the economic challenges Maui County has had to face. In the summer of 2008, we recognized that our departments needed to prepare for tough times. We began to reduce operating expenses in order to be fiscally responsible, and we continue to do so. We managed to avoid a reduction in public services by cutting costs, deferring spending so savings could be carried over to the next year, and by concentrating on obtaining available federal funding. Responsible spending, careful decision making, and constant monitoring have kept us moving forward, but we are now reaching a new phase. Due largely to lower revenues based on property values assessed in the previous year, County government experiences a delayed impact even as signs that the economy is recovering begin to show.

In our current 2010 fiscal year, revenues are lower than expected and we are addressing a deficit of nearly $14 million. Through financial restraint and the postponement of a bond sale, we are tackling this revenue shortfall. In addition to this year’s challenges, we are now bracing for what presents itself as a very difficult fiscal year ahead.
In order to balance our expenses with our revenues, it is likely that cutbacks to operations and public services will take place in the upcoming fiscal year that begins July 1st. As outlined in my FY 2011 budget proposal delivered earlier this week to the Maui County Council, hard choices must be made from the limited options before us. A copy of the FY 2011 budget proposal can be viewed online at www.mauicounty.gov/budget.

Another financial consideration for Maui County is HB 2598. I want to thank everyone, citizens and businesses alike, for supporting our efforts to keep our Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) portion intact.
The House Committee on Finance showed tremendous leadership by voting unanimously in favor of amendments that allowed the counties to keep their share of the TAT. The State House of Representatives subsequently voted to support the measure as well. Now that the bill has crossed over to the Senate, the next six weeks before the Legislature adjourns on April 29th will be critical. The bill has already passed first full reading in the Senate and is expected to be considered by the Ways and Means committee (WAM), and was scheduled for a joint hearing this past Monday by two Senate committees: Tourism, and Transportation and International/Intergovernmental Affairs (TSM/TIA).

This very short window of time will determine whether we will receive the over $20 million in TAT revenues generated in Maui County and intended to help pay for the impacts of the visitor industry on our roads, parks, sewer, water, police, fire and lifeguard services.

While TAT revenues alone will not solve our current fiscal crisis, they represent an important and needed revenue source in our County’s operating budget. Time is of the essence - please voice your support to the legislature for HB 2598 to allow Maui County and the state’s three other counties to retain their share of the TAT.

Adult Daycare Moves Forward

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Adult Daycare Moves Forward

After resolving a four-year parking lot issue, the adult daycare program at Home Pumehana has been granted a step forward. The Molokai Planning Commission (MPC) voted unanimously to extend the county special use permit to Hale Mahaolu. Hale Mahaolu is landlord of the Home Pumehana retirement center in Kaunakakai - the facility which would house the program.

Vice-chair Steven Chaikin said the planned facility is a valuable service to the community.

“Obviously [Molokai’s] adult daycare needs are going to continue,” he said.

The application was filed in 2006, but halted when off-site parking could not be appropriately consolidated into the area. The County of Maui resolved the issue, but due to the length of time, the permit was set to expire in July 2016.

Commissioner John Sprinzel suggested extending the permit, starting from this year, to give the permit a full 10 years. MPC agreed and voted to extend the special use permit to July 2020.

Extending Home Pumehana into a daycare requires an additional license, which Judy Mikami of Na Pu`uwai said is still pending. Na Pu`uwai, a community-based health organization, will be staffing the new center.

Students Visit Commission

The seven-student class of Ho`omana Hou School made a visit to the last MPC meeting as a part of their political science curriculum. Each stood before the commission and voiced a concern they had about the community, such as the closing of Maunaloa Elementary and

“It’s great to see you engaged and involved in the process,” Chaikin said. “You are the future of this island.” He also encouraged them to voice their thoughts at the next Molokai Community Plan, a public event every 10 to 20 years.

As one commissioner who became active in Molokai affairs at the same age as these students, Mikiala Pescaia was proud to see them get involved as well.

“I look forward to seeing you one day sitting in this seat,” she said.

Commissioner Resigns

Chaikin also announced that commissioner Teri Waros, owner of Kalele Bookstore and Divine Expressions, offered her resignation. Waros stated that scheduling conflicts were the reason for her resignation.

Close-Up with the Close-Up Keiki

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

Close-Up with the Close-Up Keiki

After a rocky start, which included 12-hours of delays through Honolulu and Chicago, the Close Up group made it to Washington D.C. on March 13!

The group of 17 keiki has visited quite a bit of D.C.! The White House – although they weren’t able to go inside – memorials, some of the Smithsonian Museums, and met with Hawaii’s Senators Inouye and Akaka and Represenative Hirono.

Check out their photos and the messages straight from the students’ mouth: at the Close Up website.

 

News Briefs

Friday, March 12th, 2010

NEWS BRIEFS

Special Election Set for May

The Office of Elections has set Saturday, May 22, 2010 as the election day to fill the vacancy in Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District, just recently held by Neil Abercrombie. Molokai is represented by Rep. Mazie Hirono in Hawaii’s 2nd District.

Persons interested in running in this special election must file nomination papers by March 17. Visit www.hawaii.gov/elections for more information.

Direct Flights Added to Maui

Two airlines have announced plans to add direct flights from the mainland to Honolulu and Maui. Continental Airlines has already added several direct flights from Orange County and Los Angeles to the two popular Hawaii destinations.

Tsunami Response

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Tsunami Response

Governor Linda Lingle News Release

When we received news Friday night of the devastating earthquake in Chile and the resulting tsunami waves that were approaching Hawai‘i, emergency response personnel across the state sprang into action.  The outstanding coordination resulted in a well-executed operation to keep the residents and visitors of Hawai‘i safe.

State and County Civil Defense officials, scientists at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, lifeguards, police officers, firefighters and other first-responders were well prepared to carry out their duties, and they worked together calmly and efficiently.

Military leaders at Pacific Command on O‘ahu and officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were standing by in case we needed their help. Hawai‘i tourism leaders worked closely with state and county officials to make sure our visitors were safe and well informed.  The media ensured residents and visitors received accurate and timely information.

Our residents did their part by evacuating from danger zones and stocking up on emergency supplies – and they did so without panicking and without losing their aloha spirit.

Fortunately, the tsunami waves were much smaller than predicted and no damage was reported on any island. We were very fortunate.

Looking back at the events of this weekend, I come away with an even deeper appreciation of how extensively our state has prepared for emergencies, and how professionally everyone responded when the time for action arrived.

This gives me great confidence that our state will be ready for the next emergency, be it a tsunami, hurricane, earthquake or other natural or man-made disaster. At the same time, it is critical that we continue to prepare for emergencies and work to improve our response capabilities. Mahalo to everyone who played a part in keeping Hawai‘i safe.  


Kalaupapa Patient Arrested for Meth

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Kalaupapa Patient Arrested for Meth

A Kalaupapa patient is accused of intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine to the peninsula where he has lived most of his life.

Norbert Palea, 68, is currently in federal custody until his court date on March 15. He was stopped at the Honolulu International Airport while on a medical visit on Feb. 26, where he was found attempting to ship plastic bags holding 18 grams of methamphetamine.

can do something for him,” she said.

Intent to distribute methamphetamine, as a Schedule II controlled substance, carries a federal penalty of at least five years imprisonment and a maximum $2 million fine.

Education Tops Molokai Reps List

Thursday, March 4th, 2010

Education Tops Molokai Reps List

As we near the middle of this year’s legislative session, many bills important to Molokai have picked up steam while others fell to the wayside. Rep. Mele Carroll lost out on her civil unions bill, but Sen. Kalani English has many bills focused on the education on Molokai.

Bills are usually referred to two or three committees when introduced, according to the Hawaii Public Access Room (PAR), a government agency that provides information to the public about the legislature. If the bill did not reach its last committee by Feb. 26, called the First Decking, it is dead for the session.

Here is a breakdown of some of the bills important to Molokai introduced by state representatives.

Rep. Carroll, (D) 13th District
•    Capital Improvement Projects: Money was secured last year for many important infrastructural projects on Molokai, including $3.5 million for repairs to the Molokai Irrigation System, $1 million for Molokai Ohana Health Care and $500,000 toward land acquisition for Maui Community College – Molokai Campus. Carroll is currently working on releasing that money.
•    Hawaiian Home Lands: Gaming (HB2759). Authorizes the Hawaiian Homes Commission (HHC) to allow gaming on Hawaiian Homelands. Carroll said she wanted to start a “conversation” about a way to generate a continual source of revenue. All the money would be reinvested in the community, and a commission within the homelands would regulate the gaming. Did not pass through Committee on Finance.
•    Closure and consolidation of schools (HB2974). Prohibits a school’s closure due to inadequate funding under the weighted school formula. Specifically prohibits the closure of Maunaloa Elementary School. Did not pass through Committee on Education or Committee on Finance.
•    Instructional days at public schools (HB2486). Companion to Senate Bill 2336. Establishes a minimum number of instructional hours per school year beginning in 2011-2012 school year. The bill passed through all required committees and went to a vote on Mar. 2.
•    Civil Unions (HB444). Extends the same rights, benefits, protections and responsibilities of spouses in a marriage to partners in a civil union. Passed in Senate, but postponed indefinitely by House on Jan. 29.


Anyone wishing to learn more about these and the representatives’ many other bills, visit www.capitol.hawaii.gov. To submit testimony to a hearing, or to let Carroll and English know of questions and concerns, call their offices at 1-800-468-4644: Carroll ext. 66790; English ext. 77225.