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In 2010, 2.5 million pounds of toxic chemicals were released into Hawaii’s environment, as reported by the 37 local facilities required to do so under a federal mandate. On Jan.
Christopher Deedy, 27, the federal agent accused of fatally shooting 23-year-old Kollin Elderts of Kailua on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit has been allowed to return to his Virginia home and employment–to an unarmed desk job for now, of course–until his trial resumes on Sept. 10, 2012.
On Thu., Jan., 5 2012, as workers disassembled Honolulu City Lights, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transit (HART)’s project oversight and transit oriented development committee met in a tiny room off King Street. It’s hard to find–there is no front entrance.
Critters An informational briefing about invasive species. State Capitol, Rm 325, 415 S.
A glimpse at the hundreds of public comments attached to a recently released community survey of the Oahu General Plan (OGP) update paints a pretty clear picture of the issues island residents have on their minds. “You let the developers build new subdivisions and you force the taxpayers to pay for the fallouts and impacts,” says one.
Land Use Commission: Hearings continue as D.R. Horton-Schuler Homes L.L.C.
The military’s getting involved in real estate business unrelated to military needs creates numerous sites that fall into a gray zone where jurisdiction is unclear. The fatal explosion in the Waikele bunkers that killed five men is an example.
A study of more than 1,000 Oahu shoppers reveals that the majority believe buying local food is very important, and a large percentage are willing to pay more for some local products like milk, eggs, bananas, tomatoes, romaine lettuce and beef. Ulupono hired Honolulu market research specialist OmniTrak to study the consumer side of supply-and-demand across Hawaii’s food system.
A group of 150 Waimea, Kauai, residents is suing Iowa-based Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., a major “seed” company, or producer of genetically engineered (GE) crops, over alleged pesticide-laden dust that has been blowing onto their properties for over a decade. Pioneer, a subsidiary of Delaware-based chemical giant DuPont Co., develops GE seed and produces corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, sorghum and sunflowers among its key crops.
The City Council has authorized $600,000 in taxpayer money for attorney fees associated with the federal court case in which the City and County of Honolulu, the US Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Authority (FTA) are defendants. The elevated rail system the city is defending, however, might be one that many taxpayers may not even want.
Grove Farm Co., owned by the family of AOL founder Steve Case, has issued eviction notices to 13 families living in a plantation camp in Koloa, where sugar got its start in Hawaii. The evictions apply to multi-generational families, as well as senior citizens who’ve spent their entire lives in the century-old plantation camp.
Hosted by Surfrider Foundation, the John Kelly Environmental Achievement Award ceremony was recently held in honor of the legendary waterman and environmental leader who started Save Our Surf (SOS) and fought to protect Hawaii’s coastlines from overdevelopment. Kelly and SOS helped to save 140 surf sites around the state, while also stopping many destructive developments.
Picture your house and everything in it. Now picture it floating in the ocean.
Amidst a whirlwind of negative feedback, mostly stirred up by Girl Fest Hawaii, Rakuen Sushi Lounge in Chinatown has decided
Driving home from the Leeward side one evening, Utu Langi encountered a young couple and their two children living in a Waianae public bathroom. Langi contemplated how he could help, and as a huge tour bus rumbled past him, he found his answer.
The Board of Water Supply (BWS)’s recent announcement to approve its proposed rate increases has many ratepayers unhappy about the rising cost of living on Oahu. “While we recognize the impact of a rate increase on our customers, we need to renew and replace the core components of our water system to minimize water loss and service disruptions,” said BWS Acting Manager Dean Nakano in a press release dated Nov.
On Dec. 16 Rakuen Sushi Lounge becomes the most recent Honolulu establishment to join Pearl Ultralounge, among others, to offer the controversial Japanese tradition of nyotaimori–a practice in which sushi is eaten off a naked female body.
In the chill of the Michigan fall I curled up on the couch with a technical writing textbook and watched Barack Obama win the presidential election. I was proud and full of optimism and hope, and I promised myself that when I moved back home I would get involved in my community.
Another round of Land Use Commission (LUC) hearings has come and gone, edging closer to a final decision concerning the rezoning of 1,500 acres of Oahu farmland for the “transit oriented development” known as Hoopili. On Nov.
Two of Hawaii’s four counties have passed resolutions calling for a total ban in the Islands on collecting tropical reef fish for the aquarium trade. The resolution runs counter to proposed rules, developed by the state Division of Aquatic Resources and West Hawaii Fisheries Council, that would allow the industry to continue operating, but limit collecting to 40 species of reef fish.
After retiring from public service in 2002, Ben Cayetano seemed to be taking it easy on the political scene–until 2005, that is, when then-Mayor Mufi Hannemann revived the long-lapsed idea of a Honolulu heavy rail project. Needless to say, Cayetano did not concur.
Last Thursday, the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection had a busy session hearing several controversial bills relating to geothermal energy. Chairman Denny Coffman introduced HB2689, which seeks to exempt slim-hole, or exploratory, geothermal test wells from any sort of environmental review as is currently required under Chapter 343 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.
On Feb. 1, the Hawaii State House Agriculture Committee heard testimony on HB2703, dubbed the Food Self-Sufficiency Bill.
Mega-developer Castle & Cooke has re-filed an application with the Land Use Commission (LUC) seeking to convert approximately 768 acres of Ag land–currently in cultivation–into a “master-planned community” entitled Koa Ridge. If successful, the project will consist of two parcels–Koa Ridge Makai and Castle & Cooke Waiawa.
Office of Hawaiian Affairs holds a second round of community meetings to discuss the latest updates on the Kakaako land settlement. Stevenson Middle School, 1202 Prospect St., Wed., 2/8, 6:30pm; Waimanalo Community Center, 41-253 Ilauhole St., Thu., 2/9, 6:30pm City Council committees on Zoning and Planningand Transportation will take public testimony on agenda items.
[Feb. 1: “Kinda Kona”] The trade secret argument would fall to the wayside if it would read “10 percent Kona Coffee 90 percent Foreign Coffee,” or something to that effect.
If they are choosing the cheapest coffee from anywhere, then the “trade secret” is that they are adding crap and not a sp
[Feb. 1: “Rail Boss Wanted”] $300,000?
[Jan. 4: “Boss GMO] Dean Okimoto is a sell out and a criminal.
Monsanto is a major component of the NWO drive to reduce the world’s population in a global genocide program that includes the poisoning of the water, air and food. This criminal activity must be stopped.
Lets be real here, Dean Okimoto is not interested in anything other then keeping the status quo of industrial Ag. He is merely a puppet, playing it safe, a small game of following the money and corrupt political trail.
[Jan. 25: “Weaving the Future on Molokai”] Good luck to all those who possess the ability to balance long-term vision with short term opportunity.
[Dec. 21: “Underground Railroad”] This is, indeed, a “lunatic project,” as pointed out by a professor at the University of Hawaii.
This is such a bad idea for the overall architecture of Oahu. I visit here because my family is here and part of the charm is taking the bus or driving.
I cannot imagine how anyone can think this is a smart idea. I’ve lived in places with rail, but this Honolulu Rail Transit is stupid, plain stupid.