Top Investigative Reporting and Online Journalism Awards
Best business and Government Reporting
BY LOWELL L. KALAPA - Hawaii taxpayers can breathe a sigh of relief as lawmakers turned out the lights on the 2012 session with no major tax increases approved or other types of revenue enhancements awaiting the governor’s approval. After all, this is an election year with every lawmaker up for reelection as a result [...]
BY SEN. KALANI ENGLISH, D-MAUI, MOLOKAI, LANAI - The construction of this skate park is truly a labor of love. I commend everyone in the community – the parents, families, organizations, individuals and the County of Maui – for coming together for this great effort. It is so wonderful to see the fruit of everyone’s [...]
BY LOWELL L. KALAPA - A highly compensated Bishop Street executive recently complained that his effective state tax rate was something on the order of 16% even though the nominal maximum state income tax rate is 11% for those folks making big incomes. How is it so, you say, that someone could be paying an [...]
BY SENATE MINORITY LEADER SAM SLOM, (R-HAWAII KAI TO DIAMOND HEAD) - What a turn around from 2011. He is the most unpopular Governor in the U.S., has angered his union, environmentalist and special big business friends, many in his own Democrat Party and lost most of his initial staff, but still Governor Neil Abercrombie’s footprints [...]
BY MICHELE VAN HESSEN – Hawai‘i State Representative Cynthia Thielen (R, 50th District: Kailua, Kaneohe Bay) challenged the judgment of the Senate after Senators passed legislation on the implementation of an interisland electric cable transmission system; only Senators Chun Oakland, Ihara, and Slom voted No. SB2785 SD2 HD2 establishes a regulatory structure for the installation and implementation of [...]
Sen. Roz Baker, D-Maui, chair of Commerce and Consumer Protection, made the following remarks on SB2785, SD2, HD2 on May 3, 2012, regarding the legislation that will pave the way for an undersea power cable between the islands. Mr. President, While I rise in support of this measure, I want to acknowledge some legitimate concerns [...]
These are the remarks by Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Vice Chair Michelle Kidani on HB 2012 CD1, made on May 3, 2012 about the CIP Budget. Thank you Mr. President. I rise in support of this measure. This past year has been one of many, many challenges, especially in crafting a Capital Improvement Program that meets [...]
BY FRED HEMMINGS - The proposed undersea cable for Hawaiian Electric Industries is a boondoggle. Here are cogent reasons why the cable does not make sense. The expensive cable will be paid for by customers of Hawaiian Electric Industries. The undersea cable will be very vulerable and expensive to maintain or repair. Hawaiian Electric Industries is a government sanctioned for [...]
Open letter to Hawaii Lawmakers BETH AND DUANE 'DOG' CHAPMAN - As you head to the floor to vote on SB 2776 tomorrow, we wanted to take this opportunity to quickly summarize why we are opposed to this bill, in a last attempt for your reconsideration. We would like to preface this by praising the Governor, [...]
BY SEN. WILL ESPERO, D-EWA - The Honolulu Prosecutor and a few legislators have criticized Senate Bill 2776, which seeks to reform our antiquated corrections system. Recidivism rates around 50% show that current rehabilitative practices aren’t working. Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, and legislative leaders support it. During my years [...]
Loading ...
Connect with Us