”’Editor’s Note: Hawaii Reporter has sought for more than 14 months public record documents from the City & County of Honolulu that document the city’s more than $20 million in expenditures on the $1 billion proposed Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT), a light rail system planned for various parts of Oahu beginning in Waikiki. Council Member John Henry Felix assisted Hawaii Reporter in submitting the original request for copies of the BRT contracts in March 2002, but his written request was never even acknowledged by the City administration before he left office in December 2002. Council Member Charles Djou continued where Felix left off, submitting another request when he took office in January 2003, and resubmitting follow up letters several times over the next four months. In May 2003, the city Department of Transportation Services released several file boxes of contracts that listed on each contract the primary contractors and subcontractors for more than $12 million of the $20 million reportedly expended on the BRT. Djou and Hawaii Reporter immediately resubmitted another request for the remainder of the contracts with no answer from the city Department of Transportation Services to date. This report is published after dozens of hours reviewing several thousand pages of city documents naming contractors and subcontractors working on the BRT and what they were paid, as well as state Campaign Spending and Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs records.”’

Hawaii’s powerful Democrat elected officials, in power for 40 consecutive years, have traditionally had their political campaigns funded by supporters who in return receive lucrative government contracts or zoning, permitting and other benefits for their businesses from those government officials.

This indisputable fact has been documented in thousands of pages of investigative reports at the state Campaign Spending Commission, the Honolulu Police Department and Honolulu City Prosecutor. These agencies are working to break this cycle by exposing the system and prosecuting the players.

At stake are billions of dollars collected from taxpayers in Hawaii, which in turn are paid to these contractors and then passed on to the campaigns of prominent Democrats. Former Gov. Benjamin Cayetano fed this cycle by authorizing billions of dollars from taxpayers be directed to public construction projects, bid and non-bid, saying the infusion of cash would spur the local lagging economy.

The latest major construction project that Oahu’s Democrat mayor is pushing for — the BRT — will cost taxpayers more than $1 billion just to construct and considerably more to operate and maintain. The consulting projects implemented to launch the BRT are being awarded to many companies recently in the news for making excessive and illegal contributions to the mayor and other prominent Democrats such as former Gov. Cayetano, former Lieutenant Gov. Mazie Hirono and former Maui Mayor Kimo Apana.

The system is called “pay to play,” deemed so last year by Bob Watada, director of the state Campaign Spending Commission, who has investigated and is in the process of fining more than 100 companies for violating state campaign spending laws in an effort to participate in the political pay to play game.

Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris’ campaign and administration have been under investigation by a multitude of law enforcement agencies for nearly two years for operating such a system that, according to those doing business with the city, encourages or demands contributions in exchange for city business, permitting and zoning.

No where is this more clear than when looking at the BRT and the more than $20 million in contracts awarded to date. More than 40 percent, or 16 of 36 of the consultants working on the BRT, are under investigation, indictment or have been convicted for illegal contributions, and in some cases, for money laundering contributions to these candidates. Those alphabetically include:

*”Char & Associates”, a company owned by Peter Char, close friend of the mayor and treasurer of the mayor’s campaign, who died while under investigation. His wife, Lynette, is a city employee with the Dept. of Enterprise Services. Char & Associates received up to an estimated $216,297 in BRT city contracts, though the city does not specify in the documents the exact amount this subcontractor was paid.

*”ECS Inc.” was fined $49,300 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for making a total of $80,000 in contributions including $30,000 to Harris, some of which was deemed excess and illegal. This company received up to $521,065 in consulting contracts for the BRT, though the exact amount was not disclosed by the city on the copies of the contracts reviewed by Hawaii Reporter.

*”Geolabs Inc.” was fined over $64,000 for laundering $120,000 with around $60,000 going to the campaign of Harris. In total, the people associated and employed with Geolabs Inc. gave close to $290,000 total to the campaigns of Harris, Apana, Cayetano and Hirono. The city BRT consulting contract received by Geolabs is up to $468,000, though the exact amount of the BRT contract was not disclosed by the city.

*”Hawaii Design Associates” was fined $1,000 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for making excessive contributions to the campaign of Harris. This company received up to $550,100 in the contracts reviewed by Hawaii Reporter, however the exact amount received by this company was not disclosed on the copies of the contracts provided by the city.

*”Helber Hastert Fee” was fined $500 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for excess contributions to Harris and is pending prosecution by the Honolulu City Prosecutor. This company received up to $150,000 from the city for the BRT consulting work, though the exact amount was not disclosed by the city on the BRT contracts.

*”KPMG Consulting” is one of several accounting firms under investigation by the state Campaign Spending Commission for excessive contributions to the mayor, and is the former employer of Malcolm Tom, the third highest official in the city. This accounting firm received up to $161,438 from the city for the BRT, though the exact amount was not disclosed by the city.

*”Masa Fujioka and Associates”, fined $1,000 for $2,000 in excess contributions to the campaign of Harris, received up to $324,438 for its city BRT consulting contract, though the exact amount was not disclosed on the city contract reviewed by Hawaii Reporter.

*”Mitsunaga & Associates Inc.” is owned by Dennis Mitsunaga, an individual under investigation by the federal government for more than a year and a half for a variety of illegalities including misusing federal construction funds provided to the state. Known as one of the most powerful political people in Hawaii, including a fundraiser for many high-profile Democrat candidates, Mitsunaga had to repay the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development more than $700,000 the agency considered was used inappropriately. Mitsunaga, still under investigation by the federal government, has a variety of companies. The one with his namesake received up to $399,995 so far on the BRT project, though the exact amount is not disclosed by the city.

*”MK Engineers” is currently under investigation by state Campaign Spending Commission for making excessive political contributions to Hawaii Democrat politicians. This company received BRT contracts up to $73,600, though the exact amount was not disclosed by the city. (See “BRT Sub-contractor Explains Political Contributions’ Policy” for further comments.)

*”Parsons Brinkerhoff”, which is under investigation by state Campaign Spending Commission for excessive political contributions, is one of the primary contractors on the BRT project and has overseen more than $5 million spent on the BRT, and has outsourced some of this work to many of the subcontractors listed in this story.

*”R.M. Towill” is currently under investigation by the state Campaign Spending Commission, the Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu City Prosecutor. At least four people employed with this company have been arrested in recent weeks on suspicion of money laundering and making illegal contributions to the campaign of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris. This company, one of the primary contractors on the BRT, is overseeing the distribution of at least $1.5 million of city funds to subcontractors named in this report.

*”SEY Inc.”, has so far been fined $32,000 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for making “false name” contributions under names of employees to the campaign of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris. This company has received as much as $89,000 from the city for its consulting work on the BRT, though exact figures were not disclosed by the city.

*”SSFM International,” the first company whose executives were charged and arrested for their role in laundering over $400,000 in campaign funds to Democrat political candidates including $200,000 to Harris. Michael Matsumoto, president of SSFM Engineering in Hawaii, was recently convicted of the first $200,000 laundering offense involving the Harris campaign. The company also will face sizable fines from the state Campaign Spending Commission, though that fine has not yet been determined. SSFM, one of the primary contractors on the BRT, has overseen $1.8 million of expenditures for the BRT, though how much of this allocation the company has received is not disclosed in city contracts obtained by Hawaii Reporter.

*”The Limtiaco Group” was under investigation by the state Campaign Spending Commission for its involvement in the “pay to play” system, but the principal of the company died, deterring further investigation at this time. The Limtiaco Group has so far received more than $32,000 from city BRT contracts, though the city did not specify on its contracts the exact amount received by the company.

*”Verner Liipfert,” the powerful Washington D.C. law firm that once operated a branch in Hawaii where both former Gov. John Waihee and Norma Wong worked, also received contracts for the BRT, up to $97,000, though the exact amount was not disclosed by the city. This company is not under investigation per say, however it is included in the list because of its connection with Norma Wong.

*”Norma Wong”, who in addition to her own company is partner to a research company, Mattson & Sunderland, under investigation for participating in a money laundering scheme involving the campaign of Honolulu Jeremy Harris, received up to $1,600,607 from the city for the BRT, though the city did not disclose the exact amount of compensation on its contract documents.

”Consultants, Contractors that received contracts for the BRT, but to the knowledge of Hawaii Reporter are not currently under investigation”

*Air Flight Service
*Harrison Rue
*John Child & Company
*John Hara & Associates
*Julian Ng Inc.
*Kaku Associates
*Lea & Elliot
*Lester Inouye & Associates Inc.
*Maliu Communications LLC
*Mason Architects
*McNeil Wilson Technology Group
*Nicole Love
*Pat Lee & Associates
*PB Consulting
*Rider Hunt Levett & Bailey
*Scientific Consultants
*Sharon Greene & Associates
*Tam Plan
*TGN Enterprises
*The Tree People
*Urban Works

Those opposed to the BRT project and the pay to play system say the political pay offs already taking place need to stop and the only way to do so is not to allow the $1 billion BRT to move forward.

”’This article was originally published on Aug. 15, 2003.”’

The issue of drugs has taken front and center attention of communities
across the state as the state has been dubbed the “ice” capital of the
nation.

Elected officials have jumped on the bandwagon, as well they should as it is
their constituents who live in these concerned communities. But it seems
that the issue has been politicized with various groups of elected officials
trying to claim the issue as their territory. At one point it seemed there
would be multiple “summits” called by federal, state legislative and
administrative officials. Fortunately, it appears that some common sense has
prevailed as it seems there will be just one drug “summit” instead of three.

But listening to all the political rhetoric it appears that elected
officials will come up with the same old strategies that will require
pouring millions of dollars into programs that will appear to address the
immediate problem, but fail to address the systemic underpinnings.

Communities concerned about the drug problem, like elected officials, can
only see the “getting rid” of the drug users and dealers as the solution of
the problem. Arrest those drug users, throw the book at drug dealers and the
problem will go away or so communities and elected officials believe. But if
alternatives to drug use are not provided, what is there to prevent others
from substance abuse? Perhaps one of the foremost issues here is the lack of
a vibrant economy. Not enough jobs or good paying jobs has to be one of the
underlying reasons for the rise in substance abuse. Let’s start with the
family. When parents have no alternative but to work two or three jobs to
put shelter over their heads and food on the table, who is around to mentor
the children, let alone know what their children are doing or where they
are?

OK, let’s say that’s a problem that can’t be solved immediately as elected
officials have been trying for more than a decade to turn the economy
around. But let’s assume that the economic situation won’t change overnight.
What else can be done to keep kids from substance abuse?

Has anyone asked what sorts of activities kids have to occupy their time?
OK, there is school. But given the high truancy statistics in some schools,
one has to ask why those students skip classes. Could it possibly be that
the class work is just not presented in an interesting and engaging manner?
This one-size fits all education system that has been the norm for the last
40 years just does not reach kids today who have been raised on television
and video games. Teaching out of a textbook is boring for many kids and
perhaps educators need to rethink how the basics are taught. Memorizing
rules or sets of numbers may have no relevance to kids whereas seeing how
the sum of a number of minutes is crucial to the production of a video that
fits into a half hour segment may be relevant.

And what about after school? If there is nothing to do, doesn’t it make
sense that substance abuse might be an attractive amusement? Providing
healthy activities for kids once they are out of the traditional classroom
is a positive alternative. And it doesn’t necessarily have to cost money.
Parents taking turns coaching a soccer team or taking a group on an
excursion doesn’t have to cost money.

And that is an important point, if substance abuse is a community issue,
then it is the community that has to be a part of the solution. Partnering
with others in the community, pooling resources and volunteers ensure that
those who are concerned have a stake in the solution.

If addressing the drug problem is to be successful, the effort must take a
dramatic turn away from traditional responses. The solution is not having
government solve the problem. Not only does government have a poor track
record in solving these kinds of problems, but the solution has to have its
genesis in the community. If all elected officials do is spend money on a
variety of programs and projects without involvement of the community, then
the community will sit back and expect government to do it all for them.
This strategy is doomed to failure. Like one community leader noted, just
have the city build more parks so kids have a place to play. This is not a
solution that will work, instead a play area, in an idle park will be
another great place to deal in drugs.

As the drug summit convenes this next week, hopefully community and
political leaders will not resort to the tried and true spending of tax
dollars, but come up with creative ways that truly address the problem.

”’Lowell L. Kalapa is the president of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, a
private, non-profit educational organization. For more information, please
call 536-4587 or log on to”’ https://www.tfhawaii.org

The issue of drugs has taken front and center attention of communities
across the state as the state has been dubbed the “ice” capital of the
nation.

Elected officials have jumped on the bandwagon, as well they should as it is
their constituents who live in these concerned communities. But it seems
that the issue has been politicized with various groups of elected officials
trying to claim the issue as their territory. At one point it seemed there
would be multiple “summits” called by federal, state legislative and
administrative officials. Fortunately, it appears that some common sense has
prevailed as it seems there will be just one drug “summit” instead of three.

But listening to all the political rhetoric it appears that elected
officials will come up with the same old strategies that will require
pouring millions of dollars into programs that will appear to address the
immediate problem, but fail to address the systemic underpinnings.

Communities concerned about the drug problem, like elected officials, can
only see the “getting rid” of the drug users and dealers as the solution of
the problem. Arrest those drug users, throw the book at drug dealers and the
problem will go away or so communities and elected officials believe. But if
alternatives to drug use are not provided, what is there to prevent others
from substance abuse? Perhaps one of the foremost issues here is the lack of
a vibrant economy. Not enough jobs or good paying jobs has to be one of the
underlying reasons for the rise in substance abuse. Let’s start with the
family. When parents have no alternative but to work two or three jobs to
put shelter over their heads and food on the table, who is around to mentor
the children, let alone know what their children are doing or where they
are?

OK, let’s say that’s a problem that can’t be solved immediately as elected
officials have been trying for more than a decade to turn the economy
around. But let’s assume that the economic situation won’t change overnight.
What else can be done to keep kids from substance abuse?

Has anyone asked what sorts of activities kids have to occupy their time?
OK, there is school. But given the high truancy statistics in some schools,
one has to ask why those students skip classes. Could it possibly be that
the class work is just not presented in an interesting and engaging manner?
This one-size fits all education system that has been the norm for the last
40 years just does not reach kids today who have been raised on television
and video games. Teaching out of a textbook is boring for many kids and
perhaps educators need to rethink how the basics are taught. Memorizing
rules or sets of numbers may have no relevance to kids whereas seeing how
the sum of a number of minutes is crucial to the production of a video that
fits into a half hour segment may be relevant.

And what about after school? If there is nothing to do, doesn’t it make
sense that substance abuse might be an attractive amusement? Providing
healthy activities for kids once they are out of the traditional classroom
is a positive alternative. And it doesn’t necessarily have to cost money.
Parents taking turns coaching a soccer team or taking a group on an
excursion doesn’t have to cost money.

And that is an important point, if substance abuse is a community issue,
then it is the community that has to be a part of the solution. Partnering
with others in the community, pooling resources and volunteers ensure that
those who are concerned have a stake in the solution.

If addressing the drug problem is to be successful, the effort must take a
dramatic turn away from traditional responses. The solution is not having
government solve the problem. Not only does government have a poor track
record in solving these kinds of problems, but the solution has to have its
genesis in the community. If all elected officials do is spend money on a
variety of programs and projects without involvement of the community, then
the community will sit back and expect government to do it all for them.
This strategy is doomed to failure. Like one community leader noted, just
have the city build more parks so kids have a place to play. This is not a
solution that will work, instead a play area, in an idle park will be
another great place to deal in drugs.

As the drug summit convenes this next week, hopefully community and
political leaders will not resort to the tried and true spending of tax
dollars, but come up with creative ways that truly address the problem.

”’Lowell L. Kalapa is the president of the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, a
private, non-profit educational organization. For more information, please
call 536-4587 or log on to”’ https://www.tfhawaii.org

“Malia Lt Blue top Image”

”After Years, Millions Spent on Attack on Oil Companies, State Admits There is No Case”

There is no evidence Hawaii’s oil giants — ChevronTexaco Corp. — ripped off either the consumers with monopolistic, exorbitant prices leading to Hawaii’s high gasoline prices, or the state, by not paying its fair share of taxes, according to yesterday’s announcement by the state attorney general. Charges the oil giant heads adamantly denied over the years.

This news came yesterday just a year after two Michigan accounting professors, Jeffrey Gramlich and James Wheeler, claimed the oil giants ran profits through an offshore joint business to avoid paying $563 million in taxes, and inflated prices for crude oil. Allegations that led to an investigation by a Chicago law firm, Winston & Strawn, which initially told the state its case against the oil companies was essentially a sure slam dunk, so much so that the law firm agreed to take the case on contingency.

But it is this same law firm that last month delivered a report to the state attorney general’s office saying there is no case — no proof the oil companies committed any crime. The attorney general said earlier the state would decide whether to sue ChevronTexaco based on this report.

Spokesman for the state attorney general, Hugh Jones, told the media he believes the professors had good intentions, but did not have all the information they needed to accurately assess the situation.

At least one of the professors said publicly he stands by his assessment. And that he believes the decision by the attorney general is political and predictable coming from the pro-business administration of Gov. Linda Lingle, even going as far as claiming the governor’s campaign contributions from big oil swayed the state’s decision.

The state attorney general denies the charges.

”Lawmakers Have to Eat Their Anti Oil Words”

Some of Hawaii’s powerful lawmakers boosted their careers with anti-big oil propaganda, and ran re-election campaigns with this as a primary issue, promising Hawaii consumers relief from high gasoline prices.

Taking a page from their national Democrat colleagues who for the last several years have tried to smear Republican administration and Republican congressional leaders for being supportive of oil and gasoline dealers, Hawaii lawmakers, including former Democrat Gov. Benjamin Cayetano, pursued litigation against these companies with a vengeance.

But their claims have proven baseless.

Unfortunately, however, their public attacks made for good copy and campaigning, especially with Hawaii’s highest in the nation gasoline prices, so they received extensive news coverage for their irresponsible and untrue rhetoric.

Sen. Ron Menor, D-Mililani, was one of the key advocates in punishing the oil companies by pushing legislation that forced gas price caps on regular gasoline sales. He continually bashed Chevron on the floor of the Senate and in press statements.

Congressman Ed Case also made many negative statements publicly about the oil companies, which he said was the reason he enthusiastically supported gasoline cap legislation.

Sen. Paul Whalen and former Rep. Jim Rath, both Republicans from the Big Island, also introduced and pushed hard for gasoline caps, saying they had to bring relief to their Big Island constituents, despite harsh words from their Republican colleagues opposed to the cap legislation.

Hawaii Democrat lawmakers also had their share of oil company defenders — including Sen. Lorraine Inouye from the Big Island and Sen. Cal Kawamoto from Waipahu.

Through the entire debate over gas caps and gasoline prices, these lawmakers did not focused on the state’s part in keeping gas prices high.

Hawaii government charges 56 cents per gallon of gasoline in taxes — the highest taxes in the nation. Many Republican legislators advocated reducing or eliminating this tax in order to reduce prices, rather than force a cap on the businesses and consumers. A cap that, according to many of Hawaii’s gasoline dealers, would have kept Hawaii gasoline prices above market value several times over the last year.

”Visitor Bureau Chief Steps Down After Scathing Audit”

President and chief executive of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, Tony Vericella, resigned yesterday after the state auditor released a report highly criticizing the HVCB and Vericella for a number of questionable financial expenditures and practices.

Vericella, 50, head of HVCB since 1997, stepped down voluntarily, ironically just a week after the HVCB board supported him with a unanimous vote of confidence.

The state audit, released officially two weeks ago, found the HVCB awarded a lucrative contract to a former vice president, used state funds inappropriately for Vericella’s personal expenses, including paying for his hotel room movies and speeding and parking tickets, and had questionable accounting practices. This was the third audit by the state auditor highly critical of the HVCB.

Vericella apologized after the most recent audit and reimbursed the bureau. He said in a public written statement that he believes his resignation is in the best interests of Hawaii and that by stepping aside the HVCB will be able to move forward unimpeded with the essential task of marketing the state of Hawaii.

But Vericella still may not be out of political hot water yet. He may still face investigation and questioning by the state attorney general and the state Legislature for his management of the HVCB and his expenditures of state funds. Those close to the investigation into HVCB say they believe Vericella stepped aside to deter an investigation into the potential criminal acts by him and others during his tenure.

The audit, which was the catalyst for the negative publicity HVCB received, also resulted in a series of hearings called over the last two weeks by Democrat lawmakers in the House and Senate tourism committees.

Sen. Tourism Chair Donna Kim, D-Kalihi, was so outraged over the report that she threatened to establish a House-Senate Investigative committee with subpeona powers much like the one that currently exists to investigate allegations of fraud and waste in Hawaii’s public education system. Kim, who told Hawaii media that Vericella’s resignation will not solve the agency’s problems, scheduled a fourth hearing with the Senate tourism committee next Monday at 1:30 p.m. in Room 212.

Vericella tried to end his career on a positive note in his public statement yesterday: “I am very proud of what HVCB has been able to accomplish during my tenure and believe the bureau’s record of achievements during that time speaks for itself. I have put my heart and soul into showcasing Hawaii, and everything I have done has always been with the best of intentions for the people of Hawaii.”

”Fourth Person is Arrested from Towill in City’s Investigation of Mayor’s Campaign, Administration”

Honolulu police arrested a fourth person on money laundering charges last Friday connected to one of Hawaii’s largest engineering firms, R.M. Towill Corp., as a part of the city’s nearly 2-year investigation into campaign and procurement practices by the campaign and administration of Honolulu Jeremy Harris.

Robert Y.H. Ko, 72, a retired comptroller for the company, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, illegal operation of a business, making campaign contributions under a false name, and an illegal business practice known as monopolization.

Three other Towill officials were arrested and released during the past month for essentially the same offenses, nearly 20 people have been arrested in the investigation and dozens more are being questioned.

”Hawaii Lawmakers Leave Town in Droves”

Around 40 percent of Hawaii’s lawmakers, or 31 of 76 state legislators, left town this weekend to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures in San Francisco, scheduled from July 21 to 25. Hawaii taxpayers are funding the trip.

Those attending include nine Democratic Senators Melodie Aduja, Roz Baker, Willie Espero, Carol Fukunaga, Les Ihara, Lorraine Inouye, Cal Kawamoto, Ron Menor and Shan Tsutsui; 15 Democratic Representatives including Felipe Abinsay Jr., Jerry Chang, Kenneth Hiraki, Jon Riki Karamatsu, Bertha Kawakami, Marilyn Lee, Michael Magaoay, Romy Mindo, Blake Oshiro, Marcus Oshiro, Scott Saiki, Brian Schatz, Maile Shimabukuro, Alex Sonson and Joe Souki. Seven Republican Representatives also are at the conference including Brian Blundell, Kika Bukoski, Chris Halford, Bertha Leong, Barbara Marumoto, David Pendleton and Cynthia Thielen. No Republican Senators opted to attend.

At the conference, Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-Kailua, was elected to the executive board of the Women’s Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Thielen becomes one of the western regional members of the 14 member executive committee. She previously served on the Women’s Network Advisory Council.

Rep. Colleen Meyer, R-Kahuluu, has been elected to replace Thielen on the Advisory Council. Two advisory members are appointed from each state.

The Women’s Legislative Network of NCSL is a program of the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures. The Network membership includes all women legislators by virtue of their election to office. It evolved from a loosely knit organization of women legislators in 1985 into a highly respected organization of women legislators from across the nation.

”Show for Parents Goes Live on KHVH”

Dr. James LeVine and co-host Beth-Ann Kozlovich bring The Privilege of
Parenting: how to raise great kids in the 21st century to KHVH AM 830
Airwaves on Saturdays from 1 to 2 p.m. Organizers say the show is live, call in, it’s a place for parents to gain strength for job number one.

LeVine brings to the show his professional training in planning, his years of university teaching, and most of all, his personal experiences and insights as the father of three and grandfather of five.

Kozlovich is the producer and host of Hawaii Public Radio’s “Town Square,” now in its fourth year.

Together they will further develop the concepts in the book, The Privilege of Parenting: how to raise great kids in the 21st century, by LeVine, with national and local parenting, child development and educational specialists.

”No Danger from Cell Phones”

Good news for the world’s 1 billion cell phone users.

An Australian study concludes long-term cell phone use may not carry the dangers experts first thought, according to a story on the United Press International wire.

In January 2002, researchers at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital embarked on a world-first study, using live human brain cells to test whether long-term mobile phone use could cause cancer.

The research used an electromagnetic device to simulate the impact of chronic, intermittent exposure of the brain to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones over a sustained period.

The Sydney Sun-Herald said Sunday the trial was designed to test a 2001 St. Vincent’s hypothesis that suggested mobile phone radiation could cause cancer among long-term users.

But contrary to that original study, the results showed “the effect of GSM RF energy on gene transcription in human astrocytes (nerve tissue) is minimal.”

”Poodles Rule”

For all the poodle lovers out there — good news — poodles aren’t just fluffy, they are talented.

Guide Dogs of America, which has long trained retrievers and shepherds to help the visually impaired, has decided to add poodles to its stable, according to a report in the UPI.

The group based in Sylmar, Calif., announced Friday a new pilot program to train standard poodles, so visually impaired people with allergies could still have a guide dog, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

Because of their unique coat, poodles are considered hypo-allergenic. The dogs are also exceptionally intelligent, easy-going and trainable, the report says.

Guide Dogs of America on Friday gave the first five standard poodle puppies to volunteers who will provide companionship and basic training for the dogs over the next 18 to 20 months. The dogs will undergo formal guide dog training when they reach 2 years, officials said.

After the training is complete, the organization matches the dogs with owners based on several criteria such as lifestyle, energy pace and environment.

For all the cat lovers out there, no cats, no matter how cute, are trainable as guide cats. They just don’t have the personality for it.

”’Send any tittle or tattle you might have to Malia Zimmerman at”’ mailto:Malia@HawaiiReporter.com ”’Send complaints elsewhere. Compliments and news tips accepted here.”’

“Malia Lt Blue top Image”

”After Years, Millions Spent on Attack on Oil Companies, State Admits There is No Case”

There is no evidence Hawaii’s oil giants — ChevronTexaco Corp. — ripped off either the consumers with monopolistic, exorbitant prices leading to Hawaii’s high gasoline prices, or the state, by not paying its fair share of taxes, according to yesterday’s announcement by the state attorney general. Charges the oil giant heads adamantly denied over the years.

This news came yesterday just a year after two Michigan accounting professors, Jeffrey Gramlich and James Wheeler, claimed the oil giants ran profits through an offshore joint business to avoid paying $563 million in taxes, and inflated prices for crude oil. Allegations that led to an investigation by a Chicago law firm, Winston & Strawn, which initially told the state its case against the oil companies was essentially a sure slam dunk, so much so that the law firm agreed to take the case on contingency.

But it is this same law firm that last month delivered a report to the state attorney general’s office saying there is no case — no proof the oil companies committed any crime. The attorney general said earlier the state would decide whether to sue ChevronTexaco based on this report.

Spokesman for the state attorney general, Hugh Jones, told the media he believes the professors had good intentions, but did not have all the information they needed to accurately assess the situation.

At least one of the professors said publicly he stands by his assessment. And that he believes the decision by the attorney general is political and predictable coming from the pro-business administration of Gov. Linda Lingle, even going as far as claiming the governor’s campaign contributions from big oil swayed the state’s decision.

The state attorney general denies the charges.

”Lawmakers Have to Eat Their Anti Oil Words”

Some of Hawaii’s powerful lawmakers boosted their careers with anti-big oil propaganda, and ran re-election campaigns with this as a primary issue, promising Hawaii consumers relief from high gasoline prices.

Taking a page from their national Democrat colleagues who for the last several years have tried to smear Republican administration and Republican congressional leaders for being supportive of oil and gasoline dealers, Hawaii lawmakers, including former Democrat Gov. Benjamin Cayetano, pursued litigation against these companies with a vengeance.

But their claims have proven baseless.

Unfortunately, however, their public attacks made for good copy and campaigning, especially with Hawaii’s highest in the nation gasoline prices, so they received extensive news coverage for their irresponsible and untrue rhetoric.

Sen. Ron Menor, D-Mililani, was one of the key advocates in punishing the oil companies by pushing legislation that forced gas price caps on regular gasoline sales. He continually bashed Chevron on the floor of the Senate and in press statements.

Congressman Ed Case also made many negative statements publicly about the oil companies, which he said was the reason he enthusiastically supported gasoline cap legislation.

Sen. Paul Whalen and former Rep. Jim Rath, both Republicans from the Big Island, also introduced and pushed hard for gasoline caps, saying they had to bring relief to their Big Island constituents, despite harsh words from their Republican colleagues opposed to the cap legislation.

Hawaii Democrat lawmakers also had their share of oil company defenders — including Sen. Lorraine Inouye from the Big Island and Sen. Cal Kawamoto from Waipahu.

Through the entire debate over gas caps and gasoline prices, these lawmakers did not focused on the state’s part in keeping gas prices high.

Hawaii government charges 56 cents per gallon of gasoline in taxes — the highest taxes in the nation. Many Republican legislators advocated reducing or eliminating this tax in order to reduce prices, rather than force a cap on the businesses and consumers. A cap that, according to many of Hawaii’s gasoline dealers, would have kept Hawaii gasoline prices above market value several times over the last year.

”Visitor Bureau Chief Steps Down After Scathing Audit”

President and chief executive of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, Tony Vericella, resigned yesterday after the state auditor released a report highly criticizing the HVCB and Vericella for a number of questionable financial expenditures and practices.

Vericella, 50, head of HVCB since 1997, stepped down voluntarily, ironically just a week after the HVCB board supported him with a unanimous vote of confidence.

The state audit, released officially two weeks ago, found the HVCB awarded a lucrative contract to a former vice president, used state funds inappropriately for Vericella’s personal expenses, including paying for his hotel room movies and speeding and parking tickets, and had questionable accounting practices. This was the third audit by the state auditor highly critical of the HVCB.

Vericella apologized after the most recent audit and reimbursed the bureau. He said in a public written statement that he believes his resignation is in the best interests of Hawaii and that by stepping aside the HVCB will be able to move forward unimpeded with the essential task of marketing the state of Hawaii.

But Vericella still may not be out of political hot water yet. He may still face investigation and questioning by the state attorney general and the state Legislature for his management of the HVCB and his expenditures of state funds. Those close to the investigation into HVCB say they believe Vericella stepped aside to deter an investigation into the potential criminal acts by him and others during his tenure.

The audit, which was the catalyst for the negative publicity HVCB received, also resulted in a series of hearings called over the last two weeks by Democrat lawmakers in the House and Senate tourism committees.

Sen. Tourism Chair Donna Kim, D-Kalihi, was so outraged over the report that she threatened to establish a House-Senate Investigative committee with subpeona powers much like the one that currently exists to investigate allegations of fraud and waste in Hawaii’s public education system. Kim, who told Hawaii media that Vericella’s resignation will not solve the agency’s problems, scheduled a fourth hearing with the Senate tourism committee next Monday at 1:30 p.m. in Room 212.

Vericella tried to end his career on a positive note in his public statement yesterday: “I am very proud of what HVCB has been able to accomplish during my tenure and believe the bureau’s record of achievements during that time speaks for itself. I have put my heart and soul into showcasing Hawaii, and everything I have done has always been with the best of intentions for the people of Hawaii.”

”Fourth Person is Arrested from Towill in City’s Investigation of Mayor’s Campaign, Administration”

Honolulu police arrested a fourth person on money laundering charges last Friday connected to one of Hawaii’s largest engineering firms, R.M. Towill Corp., as a part of the city’s nearly 2-year investigation into campaign and procurement practices by the campaign and administration of Honolulu Jeremy Harris.

Robert Y.H. Ko, 72, a retired comptroller for the company, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, illegal operation of a business, making campaign contributions under a false name, and an illegal business practice known as monopolization.

Three other Towill officials were arrested and released during the past month for essentially the same offenses, nearly 20 people have been arrested in the investigation and dozens more are being questioned.

”Hawaii Lawmakers Leave Town in Droves”

Around 40 percent of Hawaii’s lawmakers, or 31 of 76 state legislators, left town this weekend to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures in San Francisco, scheduled from July 21 to 25. Hawaii taxpayers are funding the trip.

Those attending include nine Democratic Senators Melodie Aduja, Roz Baker, Willie Espero, Carol Fukunaga, Les Ihara, Lorraine Inouye, Cal Kawamoto, Ron Menor and Shan Tsutsui; 15 Democratic Representatives including Felipe Abinsay Jr., Jerry Chang, Kenneth Hiraki, Jon Riki Karamatsu, Bertha Kawakami, Marilyn Lee, Michael Magaoay, Romy Mindo, Blake Oshiro, Marcus Oshiro, Scott Saiki, Brian Schatz, Maile Shimabukuro, Alex Sonson and Joe Souki. Seven Republican Representatives also are at the conference including Brian Blundell, Kika Bukoski, Chris Halford, Bertha Leong, Barbara Marumoto, David Pendleton and Cynthia Thielen. No Republican Senators opted to attend.

At the conference, Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-Kailua, was elected to the executive board of the Women’s Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Thielen becomes one of the western regional members of the 14 member executive committee. She previously served on the Women’s Network Advisory Council.

Rep. Colleen Meyer, R-Kahuluu, has been elected to replace Thielen on the Advisory Council. Two advisory members are appointed from each state.

The Women’s Legislative Network of NCSL is a program of the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures. The Network membership includes all women legislators by virtue of their election to office. It evolved from a loosely knit organization of women legislators in 1985 into a highly respected organization of women legislators from across the nation.

”Show for Parents Goes Live on KHVH”

Dr. James LeVine and co-host Beth-Ann Kozlovich bring The Privilege of
Parenting: how to raise great kids in the 21st century to KHVH AM 830
Airwaves on Saturdays from 1 to 2 p.m. Organizers say the show is live, call in, it’s a place for parents to gain strength for job number one.

LeVine brings to the show his professional training in planning, his years of university teaching, and most of all, his personal experiences and insights as the father of three and grandfather of five.

Kozlovich is the producer and host of Hawaii Public Radio’s “Town Square,” now in its fourth year.

Together they will further develop the concepts in the book, The Privilege of Parenting: how to raise great kids in the 21st century, by LeVine, with national and local parenting, child development and educational specialists.

”No Danger from Cell Phones”

Good news for the world’s 1 billion cell phone users.

An Australian study concludes long-term cell phone use may not carry the dangers experts first thought, according to a story on the United Press International wire.

In January 2002, researchers at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital embarked on a world-first study, using live human brain cells to test whether long-term mobile phone use could cause cancer.

The research used an electromagnetic device to simulate the impact of chronic, intermittent exposure of the brain to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones over a sustained period.

The Sydney Sun-Herald said Sunday the trial was designed to test a 2001 St. Vincent’s hypothesis that suggested mobile phone radiation could cause cancer among long-term users.

But contrary to that original study, the results showed “the effect of GSM RF energy on gene transcription in human astrocytes (nerve tissue) is minimal.”

”Poodles Rule”

For all the poodle lovers out there — good news — poodles aren’t just fluffy, they are talented.

Guide Dogs of America, which has long trained retrievers and shepherds to help the visually impaired, has decided to add poodles to its stable, according to a report in the UPI.

The group based in Sylmar, Calif., announced Friday a new pilot program to train standard poodles, so visually impaired people with allergies could still have a guide dog, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

Because of their unique coat, poodles are considered hypo-allergenic. The dogs are also exceptionally intelligent, easy-going and trainable, the report says.

Guide Dogs of America on Friday gave the first five standard poodle puppies to volunteers who will provide companionship and basic training for the dogs over the next 18 to 20 months. The dogs will undergo formal guide dog training when they reach 2 years, officials said.

After the training is complete, the organization matches the dogs with owners based on several criteria such as lifestyle, energy pace and environment.

For all the cat lovers out there, no cats, no matter how cute, are trainable as guide cats. They just don’t have the personality for it.

”’Send any tittle or tattle you might have to Malia Zimmerman at”’ mailto:Malia@HawaiiReporter.com ”’Send complaints elsewhere. Compliments and news tips accepted here.”’

“Malia Lt Blue top Image”

”After Years, Millions Spent on Attack on Oil Companies, State Admits There is No Case”

There is no evidence Hawaii’s oil giants — ChevronTexaco Corp. — ripped off either the consumers with monopolistic, exorbitant prices leading to Hawaii’s high gasoline prices, or the state, by not paying its fair share of taxes, according to yesterday’s announcement by the state attorney general. Charges the oil giant heads adamantly denied over the years.

This news came yesterday just a year after two Michigan accounting professors, Jeffrey Gramlich and James Wheeler, claimed the oil giants ran profits through an offshore joint business to avoid paying $563 million in taxes, and inflated prices for crude oil. Allegations that led to an investigation by a Chicago law firm, Winston & Strawn, which initially told the state its case against the oil companies was essentially a sure slam dunk, so much so that the law firm agreed to take the case on contingency.

But it is this same law firm that last month delivered a report to the state attorney general’s office saying there is no case — no proof the oil companies committed any crime. The attorney general said earlier the state would decide whether to sue ChevronTexaco based on this report.

Spokesman for the state attorney general, Hugh Jones, told the media he believes the professors had good intentions, but did not have all the information they needed to accurately assess the situation.

At least one of the professors said publicly he stands by his assessment. And that he believes the decision by the attorney general is political and predictable coming from the pro-business administration of Gov. Linda Lingle, even going as far as claiming the governor’s campaign contributions from big oil swayed the state’s decision.

The state attorney general denies the charges.

”Lawmakers Have to Eat Their Anti Oil Words”

Some of Hawaii’s powerful lawmakers boosted their careers with anti-big oil propaganda, and ran re-election campaigns with this as a primary issue, promising Hawaii consumers relief from high gasoline prices.

Taking a page from their national Democrat colleagues who for the last several years have tried to smear Republican administration and Republican congressional leaders for being supportive of oil and gasoline dealers, Hawaii lawmakers, including former Democrat Gov. Benjamin Cayetano, pursued litigation against these companies with a vengeance.

But their claims have proven baseless.

Unfortunately, however, their public attacks made for good copy and campaigning, especially with Hawaii’s highest in the nation gasoline prices, so they received extensive news coverage for their irresponsible and untrue rhetoric.

Sen. Ron Menor, D-Mililani, was one of the key advocates in punishing the oil companies by pushing legislation that forced gas price caps on regular gasoline sales. He continually bashed Chevron on the floor of the Senate and in press statements.

Congressman Ed Case also made many negative statements publicly about the oil companies, which he said was the reason he enthusiastically supported gasoline cap legislation.

Sen. Paul Whalen and former Rep. Jim Rath, both Republicans from the Big Island, also introduced and pushed hard for gasoline caps, saying they had to bring relief to their Big Island constituents, despite harsh words from their Republican colleagues opposed to the cap legislation.

Hawaii Democrat lawmakers also had their share of oil company defenders — including Sen. Lorraine Inouye from the Big Island and Sen. Cal Kawamoto from Waipahu.

Through the entire debate over gas caps and gasoline prices, these lawmakers did not focused on the state’s part in keeping gas prices high.

Hawaii government charges 56 cents per gallon of gasoline in taxes — the highest taxes in the nation. Many Republican legislators advocated reducing or eliminating this tax in order to reduce prices, rather than force a cap on the businesses and consumers. A cap that, according to many of Hawaii’s gasoline dealers, would have kept Hawaii gasoline prices above market value several times over the last year.

”Visitor Bureau Chief Steps Down After Scathing Audit”

President and chief executive of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, Tony Vericella, resigned yesterday after the state auditor released a report highly criticizing the HVCB and Vericella for a number of questionable financial expenditures and practices.

Vericella, 50, head of HVCB since 1997, stepped down voluntarily, ironically just a week after the HVCB board supported him with a unanimous vote of confidence.

The state audit, released officially two weeks ago, found the HVCB awarded a lucrative contract to a former vice president, used state funds inappropriately for Vericella’s personal expenses, including paying for his hotel room movies and speeding and parking tickets, and had questionable accounting practices. This was the third audit by the state auditor highly critical of the HVCB.

Vericella apologized after the most recent audit and reimbursed the bureau. He said in a public written statement that he believes his resignation is in the best interests of Hawaii and that by stepping aside the HVCB will be able to move forward unimpeded with the essential task of marketing the state of Hawaii.

But Vericella still may not be out of political hot water yet. He may still face investigation and questioning by the state attorney general and the state Legislature for his management of the HVCB and his expenditures of state funds. Those close to the investigation into HVCB say they believe Vericella stepped aside to deter an investigation into the potential criminal acts by him and others during his tenure.

The audit, which was the catalyst for the negative publicity HVCB received, also resulted in a series of hearings called over the last two weeks by Democrat lawmakers in the House and Senate tourism committees.

Sen. Tourism Chair Donna Kim, D-Kalihi, was so outraged over the report that she threatened to establish a House-Senate Investigative committee with subpeona powers much like the one that currently exists to investigate allegations of fraud and waste in Hawaii’s public education system. Kim, who told Hawaii media that Vericella’s resignation will not solve the agency’s problems, scheduled a fourth hearing with the Senate tourism committee next Monday at 1:30 p.m. in Room 212.

Vericella tried to end his career on a positive note in his public statement yesterday: “I am very proud of what HVCB has been able to accomplish during my tenure and believe the bureau’s record of achievements during that time speaks for itself. I have put my heart and soul into showcasing Hawaii, and everything I have done has always been with the best of intentions for the people of Hawaii.”

”Fourth Person is Arrested from Towill in City’s Investigation of Mayor’s Campaign, Administration”

Honolulu police arrested a fourth person on money laundering charges last Friday connected to one of Hawaii’s largest engineering firms, R.M. Towill Corp., as a part of the city’s nearly 2-year investigation into campaign and procurement practices by the campaign and administration of Honolulu Jeremy Harris.

Robert Y.H. Ko, 72, a retired comptroller for the company, was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, illegal operation of a business, making campaign contributions under a false name, and an illegal business practice known as monopolization.

Three other Towill officials were arrested and released during the past month for essentially the same offenses, nearly 20 people have been arrested in the investigation and dozens more are being questioned.

”Hawaii Lawmakers Leave Town in Droves”

Around 40 percent of Hawaii’s lawmakers, or 31 of 76 state legislators, left town this weekend to attend the National Conference of State Legislatures in San Francisco, scheduled from July 21 to 25. Hawaii taxpayers are funding the trip.

Those attending include nine Democratic Senators Melodie Aduja, Roz Baker, Willie Espero, Carol Fukunaga, Les Ihara, Lorraine Inouye, Cal Kawamoto, Ron Menor and Shan Tsutsui; 15 Democratic Representatives including Felipe Abinsay Jr., Jerry Chang, Kenneth Hiraki, Jon Riki Karamatsu, Bertha Kawakami, Marilyn Lee, Michael Magaoay, Romy Mindo, Blake Oshiro, Marcus Oshiro, Scott Saiki, Brian Schatz, Maile Shimabukuro, Alex Sonson and Joe Souki. Seven Republican Representatives also are at the conference including Brian Blundell, Kika Bukoski, Chris Halford, Bertha Leong, Barbara Marumoto, David Pendleton and Cynthia Thielen. No Republican Senators opted to attend.

At the conference, Rep. Cynthia Thielen, R-Kailua, was elected to the executive board of the Women’s Legislative Network of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Thielen becomes one of the western regional members of the 14 member executive committee. She previously served on the Women’s Network Advisory Council.

Rep. Colleen Meyer, R-Kahuluu, has been elected to replace Thielen on the Advisory Council. Two advisory members are appointed from each state.

The Women’s Legislative Network of NCSL is a program of the NCSL Foundation for State Legislatures. The Network membership includes all women legislators by virtue of their election to office. It evolved from a loosely knit organization of women legislators in 1985 into a highly respected organization of women legislators from across the nation.

”Show for Parents Goes Live on KHVH”

Dr. James LeVine and co-host Beth-Ann Kozlovich bring The Privilege of
Parenting: how to raise great kids in the 21st century to KHVH AM 830
Airwaves on Saturdays from 1 to 2 p.m. Organizers say the show is live, call in, it’s a place for parents to gain strength for job number one.

LeVine brings to the show his professional training in planning, his years of university teaching, and most of all, his personal experiences and insights as the father of three and grandfather of five.

Kozlovich is the producer and host of Hawaii Public Radio’s “Town Square,” now in its fourth year.

Together they will further develop the concepts in the book, The Privilege of Parenting: how to raise great kids in the 21st century, by LeVine, with national and local parenting, child development and educational specialists.

”No Danger from Cell Phones”

Good news for the world’s 1 billion cell phone users.

An Australian study concludes long-term cell phone use may not carry the dangers experts first thought, according to a story on the United Press International wire.

In January 2002, researchers at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital embarked on a world-first study, using live human brain cells to test whether long-term mobile phone use could cause cancer.

The research used an electromagnetic device to simulate the impact of chronic, intermittent exposure of the brain to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones over a sustained period.

The Sydney Sun-Herald said Sunday the trial was designed to test a 2001 St. Vincent’s hypothesis that suggested mobile phone radiation could cause cancer among long-term users.

But contrary to that original study, the results showed “the effect of GSM RF energy on gene transcription in human astrocytes (nerve tissue) is minimal.”

”Poodles Rule”

For all the poodle lovers out there — good news — poodles aren’t just fluffy, they are talented.

Guide Dogs of America, which has long trained retrievers and shepherds to help the visually impaired, has decided to add poodles to its stable, according to a report in the UPI.

The group based in Sylmar, Calif., announced Friday a new pilot program to train standard poodles, so visually impaired people with allergies could still have a guide dog, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.

Because of their unique coat, poodles are considered hypo-allergenic. The dogs are also exceptionally intelligent, easy-going and trainable, the report says.

Guide Dogs of America on Friday gave the first five standard poodle puppies to volunteers who will provide companionship and basic training for the dogs over the next 18 to 20 months. The dogs will undergo formal guide dog training when they reach 2 years, officials said.

After the training is complete, the organization matches the dogs with owners based on several criteria such as lifestyle, energy pace and environment.

For all the cat lovers out there, no cats, no matter how cute, are trainable as guide cats. They just don’t have the personality for it.

”’Send any tittle or tattle you might have to Malia Zimmerman at”’ mailto:Malia@HawaiiReporter.com ”’Send complaints elsewhere. Compliments and news tips accepted here.”’