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NEWS
FLASH - BREAKING NEWS FROM MAUI COUNTY - ARCHIVE
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Maui TV News Breaking News stories
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March
1 - 10, 2011 NEWS FLASH - March 10, 2011 1:50 p.m. HST Spectacular Eruptions from Kilauea Abruptly Stop The fountaining and surface lava activity at the Kamoamoa fissure on Kilauea volcano's east rift zone stopped by 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported this morning. Lava started to recede after 5 p.m. Wednesday and spattering stopped by 10:30 p.m., signaling a pause in the eruption, officials said. The amount of sulfur dioxide coming from the volcano decreased to about 5,000 tons a day, but that is still a significantly higher amount of emissions than before the latest eruption began on Saturday. Seismic activity, an indication of lava movement, also remains high in the east rift zone, but not around Pu'u O'o Crater, which has been mostly quiet since the crater floor collapsed and the Kamoamoa fissure eruption began on Saturday. At the summit, the lava lake remained deep — estimated at 720 feet — below the rim of the vent within the east wall of Halemaumau Crater. On Tuesday, geologists estimated that more than 2.5 million cubic meters of lava a day was pouring out of Kamoamoa fissure near the Pu'u 'O'o Crater, covering more than 120 acres. The U.S. Geological Survey also released new pictures of the eruption yesterday on the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory website, including thermal images of the fountaining and lava flow. Reach Gregg Kakesako at gkakesako@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 10, 2011 10:10 a.m. HST 400 Customers Lose Power in Ka'anapali (Editor's Note: MECO reports all customers back online by 11:25 a.m.) At 9:45 AM this morning, a power outage occurred in Kaanapali affecting approximately 400 customers. MECO’s troubleman is enroute to investigate the cause and work to restore power. An estimated time of restoration is unavailable at this time. MECO apologizes for the inconvenience and requests the public’s patience as we work to bring our customers back online as quickly and safely as possible. An update will be provided as soon as available. (Report Provided by Maui Electric Company) NEWS FLASH - March 10, 2011 8 a.m. HST Foreclosures Dip Ever-So-Slightly in February Property foreclosure activity in Hawaii declined 2 percent last month, but the small improvement appears to be part of a nationwide artificial reduction tied to difficulties of lenders processing cases. There were 953 Hawaii foreclosure actions in February, compared with 972 in the same month last year, according to data from real estate research firm RealtyTrac. February was the third consecutive month of lower year-over-year foreclosure filings in the state, and the number of filings compares with a peak of 1,629 in August. But local foreclosure attorneys and housing advocates do not believe the wave of homeowners on the verge of losing their homes is receding. That's because several big banks have frozen foreclosure proceedings over the past several months to clear up questionable case documentation and processing issues that have been challenged by some borrowers in court. Nationally, the number of foreclosure actions in February plummeted 27 percent from a year earlier. That was the biggest decline since RealtyTrac began issuing foreclosure reports in 2005, and put the number of filings in February at 225,101, or the lowest level for any month in three years. James Saccacio, chief executive officer of California-based RealtyTrac, said in a statement that February foreclosure activity was affected by a short month that had some significant bad weather. But the main reason for the slowdown in filings was the reaction to allegations of improper processing by some lending giants including Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and GMAC Mortgage, he said. "The bottom line is that the industry is in the midst of a major overhaul that has severely restricted its capacity to process foreclosures," Saccacio said. "We expect to see the (foreclosure) numbers bounce back, but that will likely take several months." By state, Nevada had the worst foreclosure rate at one foreclosure for every 119 households, or 9,553 foreclosure filings total. Vermont had the best rate at one filing per 62,849 households, or just five foreclosure filings. Hawaii's rate was one filing per 541 households, which was 10th worst nationally. Hawaii has been at or close to the 10th worst spot for several months. By county, Honolulu had the lowest rate of foreclosure filings last month at one for every 825 households, though filing volume was the most at 410. The Big Island had the worst foreclosure rate at one filing per 270 households, or 299 filings in all. Maui County -- comprising Maui, Molokai and Lanai -- had a rate of one filing per 362 households, or 184 filings total. There were 60 foreclosure filings on Kauai, or one per 502 households. Statewide, most Hawaii foreclosure filings were auction notices, with 543 such filings. Another 329 filings were lender repossessions that end the foreclosure process, and 84 filings were default notices that typically begin the foreclosure process. RealtyTrac doesn't count multiple notices on the same property in the same month, but does count different types of filings in different months, which can give a somewhat inflated view of the number of properties facing foreclosure. RealtyTrac also doesn't exclude commercial property from its count, which means popular vacation property in Hawaii such as time shares and condominium-hotel units can be among RealtyTrac's tally. Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 10, 2011 7:30 a.m. HST MECO, HECO, HELCO Workers Begin Settlement Voting Striking Hawaiian Electric Co. workers yesterday began voting on a tentative contract agreement reached early Monday morning between union officials and company management. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 cast ballots yesterday on Maui, Lanai and Molokai. Voting is scheduled to continue today on the Big Island and Friday on Oahu. The roughly 1,300 IBEW members who went on strike Friday afternoon will remain off the job without pay until there is a resolution of the labor dispute. It is the second tentative agreement in five weeks between union negotiators and HECO officials. The first deal reached on Jan. 31 was voted down by union members on Feb. 18. Neither IBEW nor HECO officials would comment on details of the tentative agreement. The strike is the first by Local 1260 against Hawaiian Electric since 1973, according to the Center for Labor Education & Research, University of Hawaii-West Oahu. Some 1,100 members of Local 1260 struck in 1973 over pensions, wages, fringe benefits and subcontracting. Shares of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., HECO's parent, closed up 3 cents at $24.79 yesterday on the New York Stock Exchange. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 10, 2011 7:10 a.m. HST At Least 24 Dead Following China Quake BEIJING >> An earthquake toppled more than 1,000 houses and apartment buildings in China's southwest near the border with Myanmar on Thursday, killing at least 24 people and injuring more than 200, officials and state media said. Photos from the scene showed buildings that buckled, crushing their lower floors. Police, firefighters and soldiers rushed to the area to pull out people trapped in the rubble, including a man and girl stuck in the stairwell of a four-story building, according to state broadcaster China Central Television. Parts of a supermarket and a hotel caved in, while sidewalks were lined with injured on blankets, being shielded from the sun by large vendor umbrellas. The official Xinhua News Agency reported that 24 people had been killed, including four students, citing the Yingjiang county government in Yunnan province. Another 207 people were injured, 33 of them in critical condition. The website of the Chinese government earthquake monitoring station said the magnitude-5.8 quake was centered in Yingjiang and struck just before 1 p.m. (0500 GMT) at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers). The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a magnitude of 5.4 and at a deeper 21 miles (35 kilometers). Some 1,200 houses or apartments were crushed by the quake, said Zhao Yunshan, director of Yingjiang government press office. More than 127,000 people have been evacuated to nearby shelters, Xinhua reported, citing the Civil Affairs Ministry. Vice President Xi Jinping, expected to be the country's next leader, called for an "all-out" effort to get food, water and clothing to those affected by the quake, Xinhua said. More than 1,000 soldiers have been sent to aid in rescue efforts, the news agency said. The quake hit while many people, including students, were home for a customary midday rest, CCTV reported. Tremors continued to be felt in the area throughout the afternoon and evening, according to CCTV reporter Shu Qian, who was at the disaster scene in Yingjiang County. The quake's epicenter was in Shiming Village, just over a mile (two kilometers) from the county seat, but triggered a power outage across Yingjiang, which has a population of about 300,000 people, Xinhua said. By evening, the power supply was still cut off, though water and communications didn't appear to be damaged, Shu said. A government team that includes the Civil Affairs Ministry has been dispatched to the quake-stricken area, CCTV said. About 5,000 tents, 10,000 quilts and 10,000 coats are also being sent from the central government. The mountainous area lies 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) southwest of Beijing, close to the border with Myanmar, and is home to many ethnic groups on both sides of the border, which sees heavy traffic in people and goods. Xinhua said the quake-prone region has been hit by more than 1,000 minor tremors over the past two months. The Myanmar Meteorological Department released a statement saying a quake had hit some 230 miles (370 kilometers) northeast of Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. The statement did not mention injuries, damage or the specific area of Myanmar most affected by the quake. Authorities in the tightly ruled country tend not to immediately discuss the effects of natural disasters. Much of the area on the Myanmar side been under the control of various armed ethnic groups, who have battled the Myanmar military to remain free from central government control. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 10, 2011 6:40 a.m. HST Dalai Lama Relinquishing Political Role in Tibet NEW DELHI — The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, said Thursday that he will pass the reins of political power to the elected prime minister of the self-proclaimed Tibetan government in exile. The announcement formalizes the signals that the Tibetan leader has been sending for years in his efforts to avoid a political vacuum after his death and to ensure credible leadership amid Chinese crackdowns and mounting global pressure. But the Dalai Lama, 75, made a point of saying he wasn’t “retiring,” and his global status and reputation assure that he will continue to play a major role in Tibetan affairs. The decision to elevate Lobsang Tenzin, 71, the prime minister in exile in India who is known as Samdhong Rinpoche, will be presented to the Tibetan parliament in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala on Monday. “As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power,” the Dalai Lama said in a statement Thursday. “Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect.” The move comes as the Chinese government appears increasingly eager to maintain political control over the restive Tibetan plateau, which saw a major uprising in March 2008. Recent pro-democracy demonstrations in the Middle East and North Africa have unnerved the tight-fisted Communist Party in Beijing. And its last two attempts to influence succession of leadership by controlling the Karmapa Lama and the Panchen Lama, among Tibetan Buddhism’s most senior positions, have proved unsuccessful. “Their last two efforts ended in failure,” said Robbie Barnett, director of the Modern Tibetan Studies Program at Columbia University. “The Karmapa fled China, and their candidate for Panchen Lama has not been accepted by the Tibetan people.” Barnett said it may be difficult for outsiders to understand why China gets so worked up about a religious leader, but he noted that control and stamping out any potential threat is fundamental to their psyche. “There’s deep anxiety for China that they don’t leave a vulnerability for the party that allows a new, charismatic leader to emerge,” he said. “A key Chinese official recently told me that the specter of the Dalai Lama returning is more serious than a vast army.” Kate Saunders, a London-based spokeswoman with the International Campaign for Tibet, said the move represents a further step in ensuring greater democracy among Tibetans, both in China and in exile. The announcement came on the 52nd anniversary of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Tibet amid a Chinese government crackdown in 1959. (Report Provided by the Los Angeles Times) NEWS FLASH - March 9, 2011 12:40 p.m. HST 6.6 Quake Jolts South Pacific - No Tsunami Expected A magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific but did not cause a Pacific-wide tsunami, officials said today. The quake, which was centered 17 miles north-northeast of Kandrian, New Britain, Papua New Guinea, struck about 7:24 a.m. Thursday local time (11:24 a.m. today Hawaii time), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. "Based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 9, 2011 11:20 a.m. HST Property Tax Notices Going Out Next Week WAILUKU,
Maui, Hawaii -- The County of Maui Real Property Tax Division announced
today that 2011 real property assessment notices will be mailed to property
owners on or before March 15, 2011. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - March 9, 2011 10:30 a.m. HST Police Seek Public's Help Following Wailea Assault The Maui Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying three suspects who assaulted a Wailea tourist yesterday morning. The victim, a 55-year-old male, was walking along Makena Alanui Drive near the Wailea Emerald Gold golf course at around 5:15 a.m. Tuesday when three men confronted and attacked him. During the attack the victim was stabbed with an unknown object. The three suspects were all described as local men between 5 feet 6 and 5 feet 10 inches tall. They were last seen driving a compact vehicle with an obscured license plate. Anyone with information concerning the identity and whereabouts or recent movements of these suspects is asked to call Maui Crime Stoppers at 242-6966. Neighbor Island residents can call toll free at (888) 242-6966. Callers remain anonymous and are given a code number. The Maui Police Department asks that members of the public do not approach, follow or take other actions involving suspects that could place themselves in danger. (Report Provided by the Maui Police Department) NEWS
FLASH - March 9, 2011 9:20 a.m. HST
Artist, Historian, Treasure - Herb Kane Passes Away Herb Kawainui Kane, a Hawaiian artist, historian, and a founder of the Polynesia Voyaging Society who designed and helped build the voyaging canoe Hokulea, died yesterday. The
Kona resident was 82. After
serving in the Navy he studied at the School of the Art Institute of
Chicago where he received a master's degree in 1953. He also studied
at the University of Chicago. Reach Gregg Kakesako at gkakesako@staradvertiser.com and Gary Kubota at gkubota@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS
FLASH - March 9, 2011 7:20 a.m. HST
7.3 Japan Quake Causes Little Damage, Small Tsunami A magnitude-7.3 earthquake hit off Japan's northeastern coast today, shaking buildings hundreds of miles away in Tokyo and triggering a small tsunami. There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries. The quake struck at 11:45 a.m. local time and was centered about 90 miles off the northeastern coast — about 270 miles northeast of Tokyo — at a depth of around 5 miles, Japan's meteorological agency said. Buildings in Tokyo swayed for about 30 seconds. A 24-inch tsunami reached the coastal town of Ofunato, in Iwate prefecture, with other towns reporting smaller waves about 30 minutes after the quake. "We are still trying to determine the impact of the quake," said an emergency and disaster response official in Iwate. Some train lines in the area were temporarily stopped after the quake, but they were restarted shortly after noon. Tohoku Electric Power said there was no damage at its nuclear power facility in the region. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected. There was a 6.3-magnitude aftershock shortly after the main quake, the meteorological agency said. Japan lies on the "Ring of Fire" — an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones around the Pacific Rim where about 90 percent of the world's quakes occur. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 9, 2011 6:50 a.m. HST Legislature Tossing Around Dozens of Tax Measures State House and Senate lawmakers advanced a menu of tax options yesterday to generate revenue to help balance the budget. Approaching the midway point of their 60-day session, lawmakers exchanged dozens of bills between chambers to meet a procedural deadline tomorrow, including several that would raise taxes and restrict tax exemptions and credits. The revenue options could be used with the savings from expected cuts to state spending to help close a projected two-year budget deficit of $700 million. The alternatives that have emerged so far at the Legislature are substantially different from the deficit-reduction plan outlined by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. But, like the governor, lawmakers believe a combination of new revenue, state spending cuts and labor savings in contract talks with public-sector labor unions will be necessary to reduce the deficit. The Council on Revenues is expected to update its revenue forecast tomorrow, so lawmakers will have a better deficit estimate as they complete their budget drafts over the next several weeks. "We're trying to do it in the most limited approach possible," said House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro (D, Halawa-Aiea). "We're trying to make sure that we don't have any broad-based tax impact, because we do realize that this is still yet a somewhat fragile economy. But nonetheless, we still must balance the budget." MEASURE
FOR MEASURE Senate President Shan Tsutsui (D, Wailuku-Kahului) said lawmakers wanted to keep as many options as possible on the table. "In the end I think we'll have a package that's a combination of a number of things," he said. In the House, lawmakers approved nearly two dozen bills that would raise more than $600 million over two years to reduce the deficit. The bills include a pension tax and a repeal of a state income tax deduction on higher-income taxpayers, along with a temporary cap on itemized deductions. The largest source of new revenue would come from a bill that would suspend general excise tax exemptions on several business activities and impose a GET on those activities over the next few years. The House and Senate also approved bills that would divert money from the state's hurricane relief fund to help with the deficit, leaving enough in the fund to help purchase reinsurance if private insurers flee the state after a hurricane. The Senate also has a bill to use money from the state's rainy day fund to finance essential state programs. Rep. Pono Chong (D, Maunawili-Kaneohe) said the bill suspending the GET exemptions and imposing the tax on businesses activities is a major part of the House's deficit-reduction plan but is also an issue of fairness. Some lawmakers — and several of the businesses being targeted — have complained that it would cause hardship. Key senators also have doubts about the idea. But Chong said most businesses have to pay the general excise tax. "They don't get a thousand dollars or tens of millions of dollars of exemptions," he said. House Republicans objected to many of the tax options, arguing that lawmakers should look to cut spending first before adding new burdens on residents. Rep. Barbara Marumoto (R, Kalani Valley-Diamond Head) warned that the pension tax, in particular, would be difficult on seniors. While the tax would be applied only to higher-income taxpayers, Marumoto and other Republicans said the threshold would likely be lowered in the future if lawmakers follow tax policy experts who believe pensions should be taxed like other retirement income. "I think seniors are quaking in the boots," she said. House Republicans also tried — unsuccessfully — to ensure that revenue from proposed increases in the vehicle registration fee and the vehicle weight tax and a permanent extension of the rental car surcharge stays in the state's highway fund. In the past, lawmakers have diverted money from the highway fund to help balance the budget, which has contributed to the fund's depletion. "The people of Hawaii elect us to be truthful with them," said Rep. George Fontaine (R, Makena-Kihei). "When we pass tax increases but are not willing to commit to using these funds for their intended purpose, we are not being honest with those who use our roads and highways." The House also voted to extend a 5 percent salary reduction on lawmakers for another two years and to add the salary freeze to executive and judicial branch officials. While the emphasis was on tax-related proposals, lawmakers also moved out several bills that would make substantive changes to public policy. The House approved a bill that would require instant runoff voting in county elections when there is no primary or runoff possibility, such as in recent special elections for Honolulu City Council vacancies. Instant runoff voting allows voters to rank their candidate preferences, a process that produces a winner when no candidate receives a majority after the first ballots are counted. In the Senate, senators backed a bill that prohibits larger businesses from distributing single-use plastic checkout bags to customers because of the potential hazard to the environment. The Senate also agreed on a bill that would transfer oversight of the state's medical marijuana program to the state Department of Health from the Department of Public Safety. Some medical-marijuana advocates believe the Department of Public Safety has taken a law enforcement — rather than a health care — approach to the issue. Senators approved a constitutional amendment that would ask voters whether the state attorney general should be elected instead of appointed by the governor, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. Attorney general elections would be nonpartisan, and the attorney general would serve a four-year term. Senators also moved a bill that would recognize native Hawaiians as an indigenous people with the right to self-government, a state version of a federal recognition bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) that has stalled in Congress over the past decade. A separate state bill would create a process for Hawaiians to establish a first nation governing council and a roll of Hawaiian constituents. State Senate Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria (D, Downtown-Waikiki) said that while federal recognition for Hawaiians might be stalled, state recognition is both necessary and achievable. Senate Minority Leader Sam Slom (R, Diamond Head-Hawaii Kai) said state recognition seeks to do "what the Akaka Bill was not able to do for nearly 12 years." Slom said the concept of Hawaiian recognition is divisive and should be put to a vote of all Hawaii residents. Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@staradvertiser.com and B.J. Reyes at bjreyes@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 8, 2011 1:40 p.m. HST Waiehu Golf Course Renovations Affect Play WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii --Please be advised that the #10 Fairway at the Waiehu Golf Course will be closed for renovations from Monday, March 14, 2011 and will re-open Thursday, April 14, 2011. A temporary hole wil be provided to complete the 18-hole course. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS
FLASH - March 8, 2011 11:35 a.m. HST
'Tentative Settlement' Means Strike Continues (HONOLULU) – Hawaiian Electric Company and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 1260, reached a tentative settlement of their labor contract on Monday. The contract agreement must still be ratified by the union membership. Some modifications to Hawaiian Electric services will remain until members ratify a contract and return to work, including: All
customer outage reports will continue to be investigated and repairs
made as needed. To report an outage, call: Priority will be given to repair work. New service will be installed as resources permit, with priority given to emergencies. Requests to start electric service will require a minimum of 48 hours notice. Customers should plan ahead as service will only be turned on the same day in emergency situations. Most electric meters will not be read during a strike and bills may be estimated based on past usage. Any difference from your actual electricity use will be adjusted the next time we do read your meter. For more information, check www.heco.com. (Information Provided by Maui Electric Company) NEWS FLASH - March 8, 2011 10:25 a.m. HST "Pockets" Still Without Power in Ka'anapali (Editor's Note: MECO reports power was restored to all customers as of 10:30 a.m.) Maui Electric Crews are still on the scene of a power outage in Ka'anapali. The lights first went out around 4 a.m. today and crews were on the scene by 6 a.m. Large resort and condominium complexes were reportedly back online by 7:30 a.m. A MECO spokeswoman says scattered pockets in the area were still without power as of 8 a.m. Maui TV News was contacted by viewers in the area who said power was still out as of 8:30 this morning. We will provide an update as soon as one is available. (Information Provided by Maui Electric Company) NEWS
FLASH - March 8, 2011 9:45 a.m. HST
New Kilauea Eruption Increases SO2 Emissions 25 Times The new eruption near Pu'u 'O'o Crater is continuing into its fourth day with "vigorous splattering" in two locations along the new fissure, volcano scientists said this morning. Low fountains and spattering are feeding several lava flows advancing to the south, but the flows remain in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and are not threatening homes. Lava has stopped flowing from the Thanksgiving Eve breakout that had been feeding lava flows into the Kalapana area and occasionally into the ocean. Lava levels at Halema'uma'u Crater have dropped and numerous small earthquakes have been recorded at the summit and the east rift zone, an indication of lava movement. Lava at the vent in the east wall of Halema'uma'u Crater has dropped to 655 feet below the crater floor. Scientists say three rim collapses, which have enlarged the vent, produced dense, dark dust plumes yesterday. Sulfur dioxide emission rates are now 10,000 tons a day, up from 400 tons a day before the new fissure eruption. The Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and all east rift zone and coastal trails, along with the Kulanaokuaiki campground, remain closed until further notice. But there are no aerial restrictions. The eruption is in a remote area of the park and is not easily accessed by ground. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has set up a live webcam to monitor the new activity. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 8, 2011 7:55 a.m. HST New Office, New Director Established by Governor HONOLULU – Governor Neil Abercrombie recently appointed Serafin P. “Jun” Colmenares, Jr. as the executive director of the Office of Language Access (OLA). OLA was established to improve state and state-funded services to immigrants with limited English proficiency. “Jun Colmenares has been a tireless advocate in our community to create a bridge with government and immigrants,” Governor Abercrombie said. “With Jun’s leadership, we will continue to address the challenges immigrants face and create solutions to ensure everyone has equal access to our state services and programs.” OLA provides oversight and central coordination of state agencies, as well as technical assistance to state agencies and covered entities in their respective implementation of language access requirements. OLA also monitors and reviews state agencies for compliance with the law and investigates complaints of language access violations using informal methods. The Office is administratively attached to the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Colmenares has served as the Executive Director since 2007. Prior to that, he worked as an evaluation analyst for the state’s Executive Office on Aging. Colmenares previously worked as program officer for health at the Hawaii Community Foundation and utilization review analyst with Hawaii Medical Services Association. He also served as a bilingual health worker at the Lanakila Easy Access Project, job resource specialist and case manager with Catholic Charities Immigrant Services, and interpreter with Bilingual Access Line of Helping Hands Hawaii. Colmenares’ academic career included stints as a lecturer of political science at Chaminade University and Leeward Community College, and several positions at Mindanao State University in the Philippines, including chair of the Department of Political Science and assistant and acting dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. He also conducted research at the Center for Philippine Studies at the University of Hawaii and at the Population Institute of the East-West Center. Colmenares is actively involved in various Filipino community organizations in Hawaii, including the Filipino Community Center, the Congress of Visayan Organizations, the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity, and the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii. Colmenares holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Hawaii, a Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Political Science from the University of Delhi in India, and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Mindanao State University. (Report Provided by the Office of Governor Neil Abercrombie) NEWS FLASH - March 8, 2011 6:55 a.m. HST Some Abercrombie Appointees Still in 'Limbo' Five of Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie's Cabinet appointees are still awaiting Senate hearings and confirmation votes, months after most of them were nominated in December. Acting Attorney General David Louie's confirmation won't be considered until next month, said Senate Judiciary Chairman Clayton Hee. The Judiciary Committee will weigh acting Human Resources Development Director Sunshine Topping's nomination Wednesday. Loretta Fuddy was appointed acting Health Department Director last week, and her confirmation hearings haven't been scheduled. She replaces Neal Palafox, whom Abercrombie removed without explanation. Full Senate votes are pending for acting Department of Human Services Director Patricia McManaman and acting Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director Richard Lim. All of Abercrombie's nominees have so far been confirmed by the Senate, including Maui appointees Kalbert Young and Fred Pablo. (Report Provided by the Associated Press) NEWS
FLASH - March 7, 2011 1:40 p.m. HST
HECO Works Say Strike Settlement Near Hawaiian Electric Co. and union officials have reached a tentative agreement to end the three-day-old strike that disrupted efforts to restore power for thousands of customers over the weekend, according to workers. Picket lines in front of the HECO offices and baseyard on King Street and Ward Avenue have come down and members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 were told not to report to the picket lines. The tentative agreement is subject to a ratification vote by union membership, workers said. Company and union officials have yet to verify that they have an agreement. The two sides met with a federal mediator all day Sunday. About 1,300 HECO workers went on strike at 3:30 p.m. Friday and began walking picket lines on Oahu, the Big Island and in Maui County. The strike’s timing was a blow to about 8,000 Oahu residents, most in Ewa Beach, who lost power early Friday morning after a powerful wind and rain storm swept over the island. HECO crews working to restore fallen utility poles walked off their job sites when the strike was called. Many of the residents were without power until Saturday morning, but by Monday, the company said all but about 70 customers had power. Last month, the Local 1260 workers rejected a tentative contract agreement reached between union leaders and management, setting the stage for the strike. The timing of the strike drew swift condemnation from Hawaii politicians and affected residents. Gov. Neil Abercrombie called the situation “unacceptable and avoidable” yesterday. Union officials said the timing was coincidental and that they decided to go on strike because HECO President and CEO Richard Rosenblum did not meet with them on Friday. Rosenblum was among company executives who met with the mediator and union officials for a marathon negotiating session yesterday. HECO workers said last week that the two sides disagreed on a management proposal to raise the age of retirement with full benefits to 62 from 60; a proposed reduction in sick leave benefits; and a plan to create a two-tier contract with new hires receiving lower wages and benefits. There also was a dispute over whether negotiated wage increases should begin with ratification of a new contract or expiration of the previous contract last October. Neither company nor union officials would confirm the sticking points in the contract talks. Reach Alan Yonan at ayonan@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS
FLASH - March 7, 2011 10:30 a.m. HST
Unemployment Rate Stays Same for State - Up for Maui HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced today that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January remains at 6.3 percent, unchanged from the revised rate for December of 6.3 percent. There were 590,800 employed and 39,650 unemployed in January, for a total seasonally adjusted labor force of 630,450. The annual average unemployment rate for 2010 was 6.6 percent compared to 6.8 percent in 2009. Nationally, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 9.0 percent in January from 9.4 percent in December.
The unemployment rate figures for the State of Hawai‘i and the U.S. in this release are seasonally adjusted, in accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) methodology. The not seasonally adjusted rate for the State increased to 6.4 percent in January from 5.8 percent in December. Read the entire report here. (Report Provided by The Hawai'i State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations) NEWS
FLASH - March 7, 2011 10:20 a.m. HST
Launiupoko Park Enters Fourth Month Without Water WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii –The Department of Parks and Recreation apologizes for the delay in making repairs to the waterline break under Honoaopiilani Highway. They have successfully secured funding and recently completed an alternative access for the waterline under the highway. However, the manufacturing and delivery of the new water pipes from the mainland had taken much longer than expected. The estimated deliver date is another 2-3 weeks. We are hopeful that water can be restored to the park by the end of March. As of today, the Launuipoko Park was been without water for 3 months, showers and faucets are not working, but portable toilets are available for the public to use at the park. The Department of Parks and Recreation deeply regrets any inconvenience this has caused for the users of Launiupoko Park. For more information, please call Department of Parks and Recreation, Lahaina Division at 661-4685. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS
FLASH - March 7, 2011 6:40 a.m. HST
Popular Bottomfish to Leave Menus This Weekend Store shelves and restaurants will be out of Hawaii's popular, fresh bottom fish soon as state and federal officials shut down catches in the main Hawaiian islands on Saturday. They include pink and red snappers that go by the local names opakapaka, ehu, onaga, gindai, kalekale and lehi and the grouper or sea bass known as hapuupuu. It's the earliest that the bottom-fish season has closed. The earliest previous closure was April 16 in 2008. The closures of several bottom-fish catches has been occurring for the past four years in state and federal waters in an effort to keep their numbers at a sustainable level. But new research means quotas might increase once the season opens again on Aug. 31. "It's really good news," said Layne Nakagawa, a commercial fisherman who has been working with federal fisheries officials. Nakagawa said Hawaii fishermen have been saying consistently that they believe there are more bottom fish than initially assumed by state officials. Jarad Makaiau, a National Marine Fisheries Service policy analyst, said a draft 2011 stock assessment concluded that higher levels of harvest can be sustained without jeopardizing the stock. As a result, the total catch quota likely will be substantially more next year, he said. A Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council committee recommended in late February to increase the catch amount to 363,000 pounds a year, Makaiau said. That's up from the current quota of 254,000 pounds. But the fish species will be off-limits early this year anyway because no formal determination has been made by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. The date for the bottom-fish closure is determined through estimating the day when the quota is met. Nakagawa said the state was off considerably in its estimate last year. Fishing ended about 48,000 pounds short of the quota, which amounted to about $300,000 in lost revenues for fishing crews, he said. Nakagawa said lower fishing catches are more related to foul weather than a decrease in fishing stock. Scientists have difficulty estimating the number of so-called deep-seven fish because they dwell at depths of 300 to 900 feet. National Marine Fisheries Service officials have been attempting to determine their numbers more accurately by a series of tests, including the use of sonar and an underwater camera. Reach Gary Kubota at gkubota@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS
FLASH - March 6, 2011 7:05 p.m. HST
Power Lines Down in Iao Valley, Wailuku Heights (Editor's Note: Repairs were completed and the road reopened at 8 p.m.) Maui Police say power lines are down at the intersection of Iao Valley Road and South Alu Road in Wailuku. As a result Police have closed South Alu Road between Iao Valley Road and Alaneo Road. Maui Electric Crews are on the scene. No word on the cause of the incident, or when traffic may be allowed through again. (Information Provided by the Maui Police Department) NEWS FLASH - March 6, 2011 4:20 p.m. HST O'ahu Plugging Gaps, Maui Prepared for HEI Strike Hawaiian Electric Co. used managers and outside contractors to repair storm-damaged power lines yesterday after its unionized work force walked off the job over a contract dispute. HECO executives said the strike would slow efforts to restore service to about 8,000 Oahu homes and businesses, mostly in the Ewa Beach area, that were without power last night. "We do have management crews out there to see what we can do about the Ewa Beach situation in particular this evening, and we will do our best to restore as much of that service as possible," said Robbie Alm, HECO executive vice president. "I don't want to guarantee that, obviously, we don't have our normal full crews out there." About 1,300 HECO workers who are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 went on strike at 3:30 p.m. yesterday and began walking picket lines on Oahu, the Big Island and in Maui County. The workers rejected last month a tentative contract agreement reached between union leaders and management, setting the stage for the strike. HECO
STRIKE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ANSWER: To report an outage, call the following numbers: »
Oahu: (808) 548-7961 Q: Will anybody be manning the customer service phones? A: Yes, customers can continue to call customer service centers for help. Business hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday on Oahu and the Big Island, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Maui, Molokai and Lanai. »
Oahu: (808) 548-7311 Q: Are bill payments affected? A: Walk-in services, including payment drop boxes, at Hawaiian Electric offices will not be available. Customers can still pay by mail, through www.heco.com, or by charge or debit card. Residential customers can call (888) 813-2207, and commercial customers can call (888) 813-2215. Customers can also pay at First Hawaiian Bank, Wal-Mart, Foodland and Sack N' Save. During the strike period, service charges paid by customers at these locations will automatically be credited to their accounts at a later date. Q: Will electric meters still be read? A: Most electric meters will not be read during the strike. Bills may be estimated based on past usage. Any difference from your actual electricity use will be adjusted the next time crews do read your meter. Q: What if I need new electrical service to be installed? A: Installation of new services will be delayed, because priority is being given to emergency and repair situations. Requests to start service will require at least 48 hours notice. Service will only be turned on the same day in emergency situations. Q: How soon will power be restored to the Ewa Beach area? A: "Clearly it's going to be slower," said Robbie Alm, Hawaiian Electric Co. executive vice president. "We have less crews to deploy. There are crews on their way out there to pick up the situation." Alm said management and contractor crews will attempt to finish the job, but he could not provide a timeline as to when repairs will be made. Q: Will the power system continue to run? A: "Power should be available to everybody unless we have a specific outage problem," Alm said. "So we're assuming that we'll be able to run the power plants and power lines to provide regular service to everybody. "The biggest challenge will be when we get outages. So we have a storm-related outage to deal with today. Obviously there are outages that come from cars hitting poles or the different kind of problems that happen with our system. We will respond to those as best we can but we'll obviously be with reduced crews." He added that routine maintenance will also be delayed. HECO workers said the two sides disagreed on a management proposal to raise the age of retirement with full benefits to 62 from 60; a proposed reduction in sick leave benefits; and a plan to create a two-tier contract with new hires receiving lower wages and benefits. There also was a dispute over whether negotiated wage increases should begin with ratification of a new contract or expiration of the previous contract last October. Neither company nor union officials would confirm the sticking points in the contract talks. Gov. Neil Abercrombie urged HECO workers to make restoring power to all customers their priority. "I have spoken with leaders of Hawaiian Electric Co. and the union. My thought is that they can set aside their respective positions during this emergency situation until the public's safety is taken care of," the governor said. "The most important thing right now is restoring electric services for residents and ensuring their health and security, then resume negotiations." Alm said the company and union have been holding contract talks since September. After the most recent negotiating session ended yesterday, the union called the strike, he said. Alm said there is no schedule to return to the table, but the company is ready to do so at any time. Stanford Ito, IBEW strike captain, said workers did not plan to go on strike on such a busy day for the company and its workers. He said the strike came because HECO president and CEO Richard Rosenblum would not meet with their negotiating team. "It's just circumstance," Ito said. "It wasn't like a strategic plan to say, 'Yeah, we're going to strike now because the power lines are down.'" Alm said HECO hired contractors locally and from the mainland in anticipation of a strike. In addition, the company's 1,100 nonunionized workers have been assigned shifts to handle the work formerly done by union members. "We were, as you can probably guess, preparing ourselves for this, so we do have management crews available and contractors who are assisting us," Alm said. "We will do our best particularly with critical services and outages, but I do want to ask the public for its patience." Jason Cosma, who works on utility poles for HECO on Oahu, said he was scheduled to work until midnight but walked off the job in support of the union. Cosma, who was on a picket line yesterday, said he was fighting to preserve benefits such as sick leave and retirement that the company wants to take away. "We're not asking for more money. It's just respecting what we had," Cosma said. He said striking was the last resort after talks were unproductive since the contract ended in October. "It's the last thing we all wanted," Cosma said. "We tried for a long time to avoid this." The striking workers do a range of jobs, including power plant operations, line work, meter reading and customer service. The IBEW represents 54 percent of the company's 2,380 workers on three islands. Kauai is not affected by the strike because the electricity service there is provided by the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Maui County officials said that they had "taken every precaution to prepare for the potential of a MECO strike." Keith Regan, the county's managing director, has instructed all departments to test their generators and to have all fuel tanks topped off and ready for operation in the unlikely event of a disruption in service, according to a county statement. Quince Mento, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator, said Hawaii Electric Light Co. has informed the county that it has more than 100 management personnel to take over operations for striking workers. "They will do their best to take care of operations," Mento said. The county's emergency first responders, including police, fire and civil defense, are equipped with backup generators. The county's Department of Water Supply is also equipped with backup power for its pumps in case of an emergency. Also, most local radio stations also have backup generators, Mento said. Reach Alan Yonan and Rob Shikina at ayonan@staradvertiser.com and rshikina@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 6, 2011 6:50 a.m. HST HI Legislature Eyeing 'Rainy Day' Fund to Balance Budget - Again Hawaii lawmakers are advancing bills allowing them to dip into the state's emergency funds if they needs the money to help balance the state's budget. House and Senate money committees have passed measures allowing them to take $42 million from the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund and undefined millions from the state's rainy day fund, which is meant to support social services. There's about $117 million left in the hurricane fund and $46 million in the rainy day fund that could be targeted to pay a $700 million projected deficit over the next two fiscal years. The funds were tapped last year as well, when legislators took $67 million from the hurricane fund to eliminate teacher furloughs and $24 million from the rainy day fund. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 5, 2011 7:10 a.m. HST Flash Flood Watch Continues for Maui 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the FLASH FLOOD WATCH for MAUI COUNTY through this afternoon. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. Please monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should a Flash Flood Warning be issued. 2. EFFECTS: Moist and unstable atmospheric conditions, which remain over Maui County, will bring the threat of isolated thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash flooding. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: 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 - March 4, 2011 5:45 p.m. HST HECO, MECO, HELCO Release More On Strike (HONOLULU) –Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light Company have been working to negotiate a new contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1260, which represents the company’s unionized employees on Oahu, Maui County and Hawaii Island. The former contract expired on October 31, 2010 but had been extended through January 31, while negotiations continued. However, an agreement for a new contract has not yet been reached and today at 3:30 p.m. the union employees walked out on strike. “We
are very disappointed that union chose to strike at this time.
We were still willing to continue negotiations. Our goal has been
to arrive at a settlement that balances the interests of our employees
and our customers. We apologize for any inconvenience our customers
may experience,” said Dick Rosenblum, Hawaiian Electric president
and Non-union employees of Hawaiian Electric Company, Maui Electric Company and Hawaii Electric Light Company will be operating the companies’ electric systems during the union’s work stoppage and every effort will be made to maintain reliable electric service during this time. In the event of an outage, repair times could be longer than normal. “We appreciate our customers’ patience as repairs will be made as quickly as possible. We hope the public understands that the top priority must be maintaining the safety of our employees and the public,” Rosenblum said. Here
is some additional customer service information: Customers
can continue to call the Customer Assistance Center for help.
Business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
at HECO and HELCO and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at MECO. Customers
may also pay their bills at the following locations. During the
strike period, service charges paid by customers at these locations
will automatically be credited to their accounts at a later date. Requests to start electric service will require a minimum of 48 hours notice. Customers should plan ahead as service will only be turned on the same day in emergency situations. Most electric meters will not be read during a strike and bills may be estimated based on past usage. Any difference from your actual electricity use will be adjusted the next time we do read your meter. For more information, check www.heco.com. (Report Provided by Hawaiian Electric Company) NEWS FLASH - March 4, 2011 4:25 p.m. HST County, State Responds to MECO/HECO/HELCO Strike WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii – The County of Maui has just been informed that Maui Electric Company workers plan to walk off the job and go on strike at 3:30 this afternoon. The County wants to assure the public that it has taken every precaution to prepare for the potential of a MECO strike. The County’s Managing Director, Keith Regan, has instructed all departments to test their generators and to have all fuel tanks topped off and ready for operation in the unlikely event of a disruption in service. These include sewage pumping stations which must be kept operational so that sewage continues to flow and be processed. The Maui Police Department will station officers at the picket lines to ensure the safety of both sides during the strike. Police, fire and other County crews will be on stand-by in the unlikely event of a power outage. MECO officials have assured the mayor that there should not be any disruptions in service. “We hope that both sides can resolve their differences quickly,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “In the meantime, the County will take all the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our citizens.” From Honolulu Hale, Gov. Neil Abercrombie said “I have spoken with leaders of Hawaiian Electric Company and the union. My thought is that they can set aside their respective positions during this emergency situation until the public’s safety is taken care of. “The
most important thing right now is restoring electric services
for residents and ensuring their health and security then resume
negotiations.” (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - March 4, 2011 4:05 p.m. HST MECO Works Abruptly Go On Strike For more than five months, Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light Company have been negotiating a new contract with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, which represents our companies’ unionized employees on Oahu, in Maui County and on Hawaii Island. The union gave our companies notice that its members have initiated a strike as of 3:30 p.m., today. We are disappointed that the union has chosen to take this action, especially since there are still thousands of customers without power following the severe weather that hit overnight. A strike clearly hurts everyone. We have been working to arrive at an agreement that balances the interests of our employees and our customers, and are willing to continue to negotiate. As part of responsible planning, our non-union employees have been trained and prepared to step in and operate our electric systems to provide our customers with the safe, reliable electric service they expect and deserve. We will be reaching out to the union for further discussions and hope that we will be able to reach an agreement quickly. (Report Provided by Maui Electric Company) NEWS FLASH - March 4, 2011 3:25 p.m. HST Flash Flood Watch Issued for Maui 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a FLASH FLOOD WATCH for MAUI COUNTY through late tonight. A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. Please monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should flash flood warnings be issued. 2. EFFECTS: Moist and unstable atmospheric conditions over Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Kahoolawe will bring the threat of heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding. The primary threat will be from a slow-moving line of heavy showers and thunderstorms that is expected to linger over Maui County tonight. 3. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: 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 - March 4, 2011 2:20 p.m. HST Maui Under Flood Advisory 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a Flood Advisory for the Island of MAUI in effect until 4:30 p.m. This advisory may be extended beyond 4:30 p.m. if heavy rain persists. 2. EFFECTS: At 1:24 p.m. radar showed a slow moving line of moderate to heavy showers moving over West Maui from the southwest. * Other locations in the advisory include but are not limited to Waiehu, Napili, Kapalua, Kahakuloa, Kaanapali, Honolua, Honokowai, Honokohau and Lahaina. 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 - March 4, 2011 1:30 p.m. HST Staff Shortage Elimintes Trash Pickup in Haiku and Pa'ia WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii -- Trash pickups were missed today in the HAIKU/PAIA AREAS, including ALL OF RICE CAMP, AWALAU ROAD, NORTH HOLOKAI ROAD, HOLOKAI ROAD, MOPUA ST., IULANI ST., WAIPALANI RD. AND ALL SURROUNDING AREAS. This delay is due to staff shortages as a result of illnesses. We are scheduled to pick-up the missed route tomorrow, Saturday, March 5. The County of Maui’s Solid Waste Division announced today. Every effort will be made to pick up the refuse Saturday March 5, 2011 when crews are available. For more information, please call the Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division, at 270-7875. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - March 4, 2011 1:10 p.m. HST Wind Advisory For Lower Elevations Continues 1.
EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued
the WIND ADVISORY for the lower elevations of Maui and Lanai in effect
6:00 p.m. this evening. The Wind Advisory for Molokai has expired.
2. EFFECTS: A surface low north of the Islands is being supported by a sharp upper level trough. The trough aloft is bringing strong southwest, to west winds, to the upper elevations of Maui. Meanwhile, a band of heavy showers over Maui and Lanai will bring locally gusty surface winds, which will be especially gusty to the north and east of mountain ranges, where winds accelerate down the slopes. A high wind warning remains in effect until 6 p.m. this evening. 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 - March 4, 2011 11:55 a.m. HST Waterline Break Closes Portion of West Side Roadway (Editor's Note: Repairs were completed and the road reopened at 6:45 p.m. Today) Due
to a waterline break, Lower Honoapiilani Road is currently closed from
Omaikai Place to Kahana Place. The repair should be completed and the
road opened by 5:00 p.m. today. Motorists are asked to use alternate
routes such as Honoapiilani Highway and follow signage. (Report Provided by the Maui County Department of Water Supply) NEWS FLASH - March 4, 2011 8 a.m. HST Special Weather Advisory Issued for Maui County 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has issued a SPECIAL WEATHER ADVISORY for MAUI COUNTY. 2. EFFECTS: A line of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms, moving from west to east at 15 mph, will cross the Islands of Maui County through this morning, and into this afternoon. Southwest winds will gust as high as 50 mph as the lines passes, torrential rain will dramatically reduce visibility. The line of heavy rain will initially affect the Islands of Molokai and Lanai this morning, but heavy showers developing ahead of the main line will bring gusty downpours to the Island of Maui. The line of heavy showers is expected to affect West Maui, and adjacent waters, by 10:00 a.m. this morning. 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 - March 4, 2011 6:35 a.m. HST High Wind Warning Calls for 50 mph+ Winds on Haleakala Today 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the HIGH WIND WARNING for HALEAKALA SUMMIT in effect until 6:00 p.m. this evening. A High Wind Warning means a hazardous high wind event is expected or occurring. Sustained wind speeds of at least 40 MPH with gusts of 58 MPH or more can lead to property damage. 2. EFFECTS: A surface low north of the Islands is being supported by a sharp upper level trough. The trough aloft will bring strong southwest to west winds to the upper elevations of Maui through today. Meanwhile, the surface low will bring strong surface winds, which will be locally gusty over lower elevations of the smaller Islands from Kauai to parts of Maui County, particularly to the north and east of mountain ranges, where winds accelerate down the slopes. Southwest to west winds will remain strong today. Sustained winds are forecast to be 35 to 50 mph today, with gusts near 60 mph. 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 - March 3, 2011 1:30 p.m. HST Senate Gives Governor BOE Appointment Power, Approves Aila The state Senate has given final legislative approval to a measure allowing Hawaii's governor to directly appoint the Board of Education. The Senate voted unanimously today to pass the bill, sending it to Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie for his signature. The House passed the measure last month. Abercrombie has said he favors the direct appointment process included in this legislation. It would give him the power to choose his education team without having his choices limited to a list submitted by an advisory panel. Hawaii voters approved a constitutional amendment in November allowing the governor to appoint board members, but it did not specify at the time whether he would pick them himself or have to choose from a list. Currently, Board of Education members are elected. In a separate decision, today the full senate approved Governor Abercrombie's appointment of William Aila as chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 3, 2011 8:10 a.m. HST High Winds Continue to Chill Haleakala 1. EVENT: The National Weather Service in Honolulu has continued the HIGH WIND WATCH for the HALEAKALA SUMMIT, in effect from this evening through Friday afternoon. A High Wind Watch means there is the potential for a hazardous high wind event. Sustained winds of at least 40 mph, or gusts of 58 mph or stronger may occur. 2. EFFECTS: A developing low pressure system west of the State will bring increasing southwest winds to the Islands today. The strongest winds are expected over the higher terrain of Maui and the Big Island this evening through Friday afternoon. Winds have turned southwesterly at the higher elevation of the Islands this morning and will increase today, eventually strengthening to 30 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph this evening through Friday. 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 - March 3, 2011 6:30 a.m. HST Senate Committee Keeps Government Names and Pay Rates Public Legislation shielding the names and pay of government employees has failed to advance. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 2-2 on the measure Tuesday, short of the majority vote needed for the bill to survive. The measure was supported by the Hawaii Government Employees Association, which said in testimony that publication of government workers' names and salaries demoralizes the work force and doesn't adequately identify the state's expenses. But the state Office of Information objected to the bill because government agencies could use it to withhold much more information about their employees besides just their names. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 2, 2011 10:15 p.m. HST Cane Fire Closes Baldwin Avenue for an Hour Baldwin Avenue above Pa'ia was closed for about an hour this evening near the intersection of Holomua Road. A cane fire was whipped by winds and got out of control. Crews responded to the 9 p.m. fire and had the blaze under control and traffic moving again shortly after 10 p.m. No word on whether the cane fire was intentional or accidental, or if any damage occurred. (Information Provided by the Maui Police Department) NEWS FLASH - March 2, 2011 5:15 p.m. HST Whole Foods Putting Salad Bars in Maui, O'ahu, Kaua'i Schools Honolulu, HI (March
2, 2011) - Whole Foods Market recently awarded grants to seven Hawai'i
schools, which will allow them to install salad bars and provide local
students with access to fresh fruits and vegetables during school meals.
The seven schools include Halau Ku Mana and Waikiki School on O'ahu,
Kanuikapono Public Charter School and Kapa'a High School on Kaua'i as
well as Maui Haleakala Waldorf School, Hana School and Kihei Charter
School on Maui. The grants are a part of Whole Foods Market's Salad
Bar Project, a national campaign to help empower schools to increase
students' lunchtime consumption of fruits and vegetables. (Report Provided by The Bennet Group)
NEWS FLASH - March 2, 2011 2:25 p.m. HST Senator Akaka Will Not Seek Reelection Ending months of speculation by political observers, today U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) announced he would not seek re-election for another term in the Senate. His announcement came as a personal email to media, family and friends. It reads as follows: Dear friend, After months of thinking about my political future, I am announcing today that I have decided not to run for re-election in 2012. As many of you can imagine, it was a very difficult decision for me. However, I feel that the end of this Congress is the right time for me to step aside. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the people of Hawaii. In 2006, the people of Hawaii gave me an opportunity to continue my service in the United States Senate and I fully intend to serve the last two years of my term in office. At the end of this term, I will have served almost 22 years in the United States Senate and, prior to that, more than 13 years in the United States House of Representatives. I am proud of my accomplishments and my incredible staff in Washington, D.C. and Hawaii. They have exemplified the true meaning of being a public servant. They have worked tirelessly and without their dedication and loyalty, I could not have accomplished all that I did. Millie and I will return to Hawaii at the end of this Congress and spend time with our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I would also like to spend time documenting my life and career, and serving as a mentor to future political leaders. I have always strived to serve the people with much love and aloha, never forgetting my humble beginnings, and it is my hope that they, too, will continue this tradition. We must never forget that we, as political leaders, work for the people of Hawaii and not the special interests. I will always cherish the time I spent working in Washington, D.C., and extend my heartfelt thanks to the people of Hawaii for their confidence in me. I would like to thank my family, my staff and my friends for their unwavering support. I would like to especially thank my wife, Millie, for her continuous support and encouragement. I could not have done it without her. Finally, I would like to thank Senator Dan Inouye. I will forever be grateful for his friendship and steadfast support. Aloha
pumehana, The speculation now turns to who will replace Akaka. On the Democratic side, names like Ed Case, Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa have been most often mentioned. Republican speculation is that former Hawai'i Governor Linda Lingle is the front runner from her party, but that Charles Djou may also seek the Seante Seat. (Report Provided from the Office of Senator Daniel K. Akaka) NEWS FLASH - March 2, 2011 12:05 p.m. HST County, Developers Speeding Up Pa'ia Parking Solutions WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii -- The County of Maui has been working with private developers in order to provide some much needed parking relief for the residents and businesses in Paia town. Henry Spencer and David Spee recently purchased a parcel of land along Baldwin Avenue near the Patsy Takemoto Mink Post Office. They plan, along with support from Mana Foods, to provide free parking in the form of about 100 stalls on a gravel lot. Eventually developers say they will build a more permanent parking lot of about 230 spaces along with commercial developments and senior housing. Spencer said he could not have gotten the project approved so quickly if not for the county’s improved permitting process. “As promised, the county is working with the private sector in order to get things done faster,” said Mayor Alan Arakawa. “This is one way we can help, especially when it comes to projects like this which have an immediate benefit for the community. “It will be interesting to see how busy the lot gets,” Spencer said. “People are hunting for parking up and down Baldwin Avenue and so this should help the situation.” This announcement comes just as the Paia Town Center parking lot is also about to open up on Monday, March 7th. Property owner Jim Argyropoulos of California began renovations in the fall in order to pave the lot and to put in lighting and other improvements. “This completed project is great news for Paia and will provide a substantial amount of improved parking stalls right in the core of town,” said consultant Bill Frampton, whose firm helped Argyropoulos with the project. “We know everyone is looking forward to this lot being open once again.” In the meantime, residents, tourists and workers continue to park at the Paia Community Center and at the Paia Hawaiian Protestant Church to make up for the loss of parking spaces. As a reminder, please note that church officials originally intended their property at 245 Hana Highway to be used by Paia employees only, so that they did not take away from town parking during their work shifts. Unfortunately the church says that tourists and other non-employees have been using the lot as well, and that overuse of their property has left them with a badly damaged lawn. “The church has done a great thing for this community,” said Arakawa. “We thank them and ask that people do not abuse their generosity.” Spencer said work on the Baldwin Ave. gravel lot is expected to begin this week and should be completed my mid March. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - March 2, 2011 9:30 a.m. HST Nominations Open for County's 'Outstanding Older Americans' WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii -- Nominations for Maui County’s “Outstanding Older Americans 2011” will be accepted through April 1 by the Maui County Office on Aging. A recognition ceremony and luncheon will be held Wednesday, May 4 at the Maui Tropical Plantation. The Outstanding Older Americans Awards have been an annual tradition for 43 years in Maui County. This year’s theme, “Older Americans: Connecting the Community,” was selected by the US Administration on Aging to pay homage to the many ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities. This year’s theme also highlights the many ways technology is helping older Americans live longer, healthier and more engaged lives. One male and one female will be chosen as the Outstanding Older Americans of Maui County from the field of nominees. Along with Outstanding Older Americans from the counties of Hawaii, Kauai and the City and County of Honolulu, they will be honored at a state ceremony hosted by Governor Neil Abercrombie at Washington Place in Honolulu on May 13, 2011. Nominees, who must be 65 years of age at the time of their nomination, will be judged on their volunteer service to organizations or for their time spent as a volunteer caregiver for friends, neighbors, or family, including grandparents raising grandchildren. Any individual or organization may file a nomination. Nomination forms are available online at www.hawaiiadrc.org then click on Maui link, or at the Maui County Office on Aging at One Main Plaza, Suite 547, in Wailuku; or by calling 270-7755. Nomination forms must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. April 1, 2011 by fax to 270-7935, or mailed to the Maui County Office on Aging, Attn: OOA Committee, 200 S. High St., Wailuku 96793. For more information, call the Office on Aging at 270-7755. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS FLASH - March 2, 2011 6:50 a.m. HST Groups Appeal to Governor for Aquarium Collecting Ban HONOLULU - A group of marine conservationists is calling on Gov. Neil Abercrombie to bar collecting exotic fish from Hawaii's reefs for sale in the aquarium trade. Groups including the Humane Society, Hawaii Reef Wildlife Advocates, The Snorkel Bob Foundation and For the Fishes said Monday that Abercrombie should issue an executive order declaring the reefs off-limits. They said they're turning to Abercrombie because legislative efforts to prevent reef fishing have fallen short. A bill that would have prohibited the selling of aquatic life for aquarium purposes was significantly changed earlier this month to remove the ban. Instead, the measure now calls for establishing two new marine life conservation districts on Maui. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 1, 2011 4:30 p.m. HST Furlough Friday Messes Up Trash Collection in Hana and on Moloka'i Again WAILUKU, Maui, Hawaii -- The County of Maui’s Department of Environmental Management is announcing that residential refuse collection for Hana and Molokai residents that the Department of Public Works collects will be on the Furlough Friday schedule due to the upcoming County furlough day on March 11, 2011. Normal Friday pick up for these areas will be changed to the following: Hana
– Friday refuse pickup will be picked up on Thursday March
10, 2011 The islands of Maui and Lanai will have normal pick up on Friday with no change. If you have any questions, please call the following: Hana – 248-8254, Molokai 553-3221 and Maui 270-7452. (Report Provided by the Maui County Office of Information) NEWS
FLASH - March 1, 2011 3:20 p.m. HST
World Class Athlete and 'Maui Boy' - Yonamine Passes at 85 Peering out from a bronze plaque of his likeness in Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame in Tokyo, bespectacled Wally Kaname Yonamine hardly seems a ground-shaking revolutionary. Yonamine, who died Monday night at age 85 after a 12-year bout with prostate cancer, leaves a rich legacy of can-do persistence, hard-charging spirit and down-home humility that is celebrated in two cultures. Yonamine's appearance for the San Francisco 49ers in 1947 as a 5-foot, 9-inch, 180-pound halfback/defensive back made him, the team says, the first Asian-American in pro football. Four years later, in 1951, Yonamine's signing with the Yomiuri Giants as a left-handed hitting outfielder positioned him as the first post-World War II American in Japan baseball. The 49ers named the Perry-Yonamine Unity Award after Yonamine and Joe Perry. In Japan, he was a first-ballot inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. His contributions have been featured in the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. He has been inducted into the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame and was awarded Japan's Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette. In Hawaii these days, he is known to a new generation of athletes mostly as the underwriter of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament that has carried his name for 14 years and as a sponsor of baseball clinics. In Tokyo and Los Angeles, he and his wife, Jane, have been owners for a half century of a thriving pearl business now run by their daughters. All of it unimaginable, he has said, in 1942 when he transferred from Lahainaluna to Farrington High, where he helped lead the Governors to an undefeated football season in 1944. Two years later, while playing on an all-star team against the University of Portland, Yonamine caught the eye of scouts from the 49ers. San Francisco offered him a two-year, $14,000 contract -- enough that he turned down an athletic scholarship from Ohio State. Yonamine played 12 games for the 49ers in 1947, but an offseason baseball wrist injury cost him a second year. Yonamine said he had long come to view the injury as a fortuitous "break" guiding him back to baseball, where he enjoyed a 12-year playing career in Japan that spun off into an additional quarter century as a coach and manager. "I tell people I think it must have been the Lord's plan for me to play baseball," Yonamine said. "Everything turned out for the best." It was typical of Yonamine, who spent little time mourning setbacks, and, instead, preferred to look for positive ground to plow. In 1950, he signed to play baseball for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League, who sent him to Salt Lake City. It was while hitting .335 and stealing 30 bases for the Bees that Seals' manager Lefty O'Doul suggested to occupation authorities in Japan that Yonamine would be the perfect point man for an ambitious social experiment. U.S. officials thought that the shared game of baseball might build bridges between the two past adversaries, and Yonamine, based upon O'Doul's recommendation, was the pick. The beginnings were arduous and hardly auspicious in Japan, where Yonamine initially spoke little of the language, was viewed as an interloper and then had the boldness to crash into convention as if he were breaking up a double play. His go-for-broke play was initially seen as an in-your-face anathema to the less-aggressive Japanese style at the time. For instance, it was unheard of for a batter laying down a sacrifice bunt to race to first. And it was considered unsporting to slide hard in trying to break up a double play, both of which Yonamine did with relish. "Not a day went by that Yonamine did not hear the phrase 'Hawaii e kaere!' (go back to Hawaii)," wrote Robert Whiting in the book, "The Chrysanthemum and the Bat." In Hiroshima, Yonamine recalled, a group of gangsters threatened to have him killed. In Nagoya, a mob of baseball fans pursued him into the dugout. In Osaka they launched rocks from the stands. Yonamine won over skeptical teammates by leading the Giants to victories as well as disdaining special treatment. "I wanted to be one of them," Yonamine said, even if it meant enduring 20-hour train rides, sleeping on newspaper-covered train floors with the rookies and giving up Western food. In hitting .354 his rookie season and helping lead the Giants to the first of eight pennants in his stay, Yonamine ushered in a new era and hustling style of play. "He played very hard, with a lot of heart," Toshiharu Kyosu, who knew Yonamine as a sportswriter with Kyodo News Service. In the course of a career in which Yonamine hit .311, won three batting titles, an MVP award and was a seven-time all-star selection, he became a revered figure. "The first autograph I got was from Mr. Yonamine," said Sadaharu Oh, baseball's all-time home run hitter in a statement released to news media in Japan. "He taught me about the game of baseball when I entered the pro league, and he was like my mentor (with the Giants)." The Giants cut him loose after the 1960 season, but Yonamine -- ever competitive -- had the last words. He delivered a ninth-inning home run for Chunichi to beat them in the 1961 season opener and, as Chunichi's manager in 1974, he led the Dragons to the Central League pennant, ending a nine-year run by the Giants. Even when Yonamine attended games as a fan in his later years, it was common to see old-time fans stop in their tracks and bow. He was an open-door resource for other Americans who came to Japan, not just for baseball. And, in later years, as Japan's best players made their way to the major leagues, Yonamine became a trusted advisor on all things American. Modern-day Japanese stars pay tribute to the change Yonamine brought to the game. "Everybody knows about Wally," said Hideki Matsui, who has sought out his advice and acknowledged studying tapes of Yonamine's hitting style. "He is someone from the past that we still look up," the 6-foot, 2-inch Matsui has said. "I'm still learning from Wally." Said Oh: "He was such a gentle man and it's a shame that I have to part from him this way." Yonamine is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. In addition, there are seven grandchildren and one great grandchild, four brothers and two sisters. Services are scheduled for Saturday at Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary, East Chapel. Visitation is at 10 a.m. with memorial services at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wally Yonamine Foundation (c/o Joseph Rothstein of Ameriprise Financial, 1585 Kapiolani Blvd., 11th floor, Honolulu, HI, 96814). Reach Fed Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 1, 2011 1:40 p.m. HST Aquarium Fish Collection Ban Dies in Senate A proposal to ban sales of aquarium fish caught in Hawaiian waters has been diluted by the Senate Water and Land Committee, so that it no longer would ban the sales. The committee was apparently relying on land department testimony that conservation zones in west Hawaii had led to a growth in fish species popular in aquariums, like the yellow tang, despite huge growth in aquarium fish exports. Supporters of the ban oppose conservation zones as managed by the department because they balance the needs of the fishing industry by allowing species populations to remain at a low, but sustainable level. Representatives of the Humane Society of the United States and other groups said fish born in the wild should not be used for aquariums because of the unnecessary waste of fish who die in the process. Judiciary Committee Clayton Hee expressed his frustration about (DLNR Chief William) Aila during Tuesday's hearing, saying he moved the bill to the end of the agenda in order to get Aila to appear and testify about his position. Aila's staff said he was in Wahiawa, looking into the loss of water from Lake Wilson, and could not come to the Legislature. (Report Provided by KITV) NEWS FLASH - March 1, 2011 12:30 p.m. HST Bankruptcies Dip Slightly in February Monthly bankruptcy filings in Hawaii dipped 1 percent last month, versus February 2010. Bankruptcy liquidation filings under Chapter 7 decreased to 230 from 239, a nearly 4 percent decrease, while filings under Chapter 13, or wage-earner bankruptcy laws, rose to 58 from 51 a year ago, for an increase of 13.7 percent. Chapter 13 filings allow debtors with regular sources of income to establish plans to pay off creditors over time. U.S. Bankruptcy Court records for the District of Hawaii also show no new Chapter 11 business reorganization cases filed in February, where one case was filed in February of 2010. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 1, 2011 12:20 p.m. HST Kea Lani Will Pay $500,000 in Tips to Employees to Settle Suit The Fairmont Kea Lani hotel on Maui will pay roughly 240 present and former employees $500,000 to settle a lawsuit over how gratuities were divided between workers and the company. The luxury hotel in Wailea becomes at least the third Hawaii hotel to settle a class-action lawsuit focused on a state law that requires hotels and restaurants to distribute service charges for food or beverage service entirely to employees unless customers are clearly informed that management retains a portion of the charges. At least six similar cases are pending. The Kea Lani settlement was approved yesterday in U.S. District Court in Honolulu. The hotel's operator, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, said its policy is not to comment on litigation matters, including settlements. According to court filings, about 140 employees have submitted claims for unpaid service charges for work between 2004 and 2008, when the lawsuit was filed. Another roughly 100 employees have six months to submit claims. Employee payouts range from 49 cents to $23,269, based on how much each employee worked during the period. Three plaintiffs who initiated the case were awarded an extra $25,000 each. Lawyers who represented employees were awarded $250,000, making the total settlement amount $750,000. Proceeds to Kea Lani workers rival a $526,000 settlement finalized in July with Turtle Bay Resort and 130 employees. The Turtle Bay settlement provided an undisclosed amount of attorneys fees on top of the settlement amount. Another settlement was reached recently in a lawsuit against the former Maui Prince Hotel for about $200,000. Other cases are pending against hotels, including the Four Seasons hotels on Maui and the Big Island, the Grand Wailea, Ritz-Carlton Kapalua and the Maui Marriott. Shannon Liss-Riordan, a Boston attorney involved in the Maui hotel suits, said she hopes that the cases have led to other employers complying with the law. "It's clear that hotels and other employers in Hawaii simply ignored this law for many years," she said. The law was passed by the Legislature in 2000 with the intent of strengthening wage and hour protection for workers. Most of the lawsuits involving the law attempt to recoup tips for employees, though some seek compensation on behalf of consumers for gratuities they thought they had paid to service staff. Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 1, 2011 11:10 a.m. HST Hawai'i Noncompliance with REAL ID Act May Threaten Travel Question: Is there any new information on when Hawaii driver's licenses must be updated to meet TSA regulations for air travel? If current licenses are not due to expire for several years, will we need to replace them before then? Answer: Driver's licenses will begin being updated to at least meet the requirements of the Legal Presence Act, passed last year by the state Legislature. But Hawaii continues to be among states that have not yet complied with all the other requirements of the federal REAL ID Act. So whether Hawaii driver's licenses and state ID cards will be accepted for airline travel beyond the current compliance deadline of May 11 remains uncertain, although officials are hopeful the deadline will be extended again. The REAL ID Act requires all states to issue driver's licenses and state IDs that meet federal standards, with enhanced security features and proof of legal presence in the United States, in order to board airplanes or enter federal buildings. But Hawaii and other states have balked because of the millions of dollars it will cost to implement the new requirements, without federal funding. "Unrealistic or unacceptable requirements are still issues" as well, said Dennis Kamimura, administrator of the city Motor Vehicle and Licensing Division. (Hawaii's four counties issue driver's licenses.) It is impossible for Hawaii to become compliant by the May deadline, Donalyn Dela Cruz, spokeswoman for Gov. Neil Abercrombie, said yesterday. She noted that 16 states have passed laws prohibiting compliance with REAL ID, while 10 states, including Hawaii, have passed resolutions criticizing or denouncing the act. However, Kamimura said, "We are working toward meeting as many of the requirements as possible" before May. Among the REAL ID requirements is a computer system to verify birth certificates, another jurisdiction's driver's licenses/ID cards and passports. Such systems "are not yet available or access is limited and cost prohibitive," Kamimura said. "So even if Hawaii wanted to be fully REAL ID complaint, we are prevented from doing so with these and other limitations." The TSA website, http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/acceptable_documents.shtm, says that "all states are currently in compliance" with meeting REAL ID benchmarks, such as the Legal Presence Act. Kamimura said the key word is "benchmarks." Current Homeland Security rules require jurisdictions to meet all REAL ID requirements, not just benchmarks, he said. Kamimura said Honolulu is expected to begin implementing the Legal Presence Act in February or March. Meanwhile, "we understand that (Homeland Security) may be amending its final rules sometime in early 2011 which will make some of the REAL ID requirements more realistic and achievable and hopefully extend the May 11, 2011, deadline." Reach June Watanabe at jwatanabe@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 1, 2011 9:10 a.m. HST UH Sports May Completely Move to Oceanic Signs point to University of Hawaii sports moving exclusively to Oceanic Time Warner Cable this fall. That would end more than a quarter-century of free over-the-air television, most recently on KFVE, which has marketed itself as "The Home Team." In Oceanic's contract with UH, 2011 is described as a "transitional term" in which the cable giant may elect to solely produce and show the state university's sports, which would end a nine-year partnership with KFVE. Yesterday was listed as the final day of the negotiation window between Oceanic and KFVE, according to the contract. Oceanic's contract runs through 2014 and any decisions on the future of the partnership with KFVE are Oceanic's, a UH spokesman said. Employees of KFVE — which, along with its family of stations, has aired UH sports since 1984 — said they were told by management recently that "everything" is moving to Oceanic, which plans to inaugurate a new UH channel in the fall in addition to its OC 16 channel, which features high school sports among its programming. Oceanic's new station will be dedicated, it said, to "all things UH." Oceanic and KFVE paid UH $2.45 million this past year for TV and pay-per-view rights to its athletic events, all but $500,000 reportedly coming from Oceanic. More than 100 events were shown on free TV, with another 18 appearing exclusively on the pay-per-view package. Norman Santos, Oceanic vice president for operations, has not returned phone calls or e-mails seeking comment. KFVE vice president and general manager John Fink said, "We're still in discussions with Oceanic, and the best thing that I can say at this point is — and I hate to use this term — but (talks) are fluid. We should have some definite information in a few weeks." Oceanic has about 400,000 subscribers, and exclusive UH viewing would give it an edge against satellite competitors DirecTV and the Dish Network. As it is, some fans, particularly on the neighbor islands, where cable is not always available, have complained about the inability to get UH games on pay-per-view. Whether the UH channel would be included as part of basic cable or an element of a premium sports pack-type bundling was not immediately known. "A lot of things surrounding this are still up in the air," said an Oceanic staffer not authorized to speak for the company. Oceanic earlier this month began advertising for a "general manager/executive sports producer" to "manage all aspects of Hawaii collegiate broadcasts on Oceanic Time Warner Cable platforms." The position would "assume overall lead, direction, responsibility and oversight for the production and post-production of all sports properties," according to the posting. Operation by Oceanic is also expected to bring with it some changes among the commentators, some of whom have been doing the games for decades. After Saturday's UH-New Mexico State game, the final men's basketball game scheduled to be aired on KFVE this season, commentators Jim Leahey and Artie Wilson left hanging the possibility they had worked their last game together after more than 20 years. "Hopefully (we'll be back) next year, but you never can tell," Leahey told his audience cryptically. Leahey, who has been the TV voice of UH sports since the 1980s on KGMB and KFVE, and prior to that on radio, is a "year-to-year employee," Fink said. People in the industry say KFVE has been looking into the purchase of a high-definition TV truck, hoping to secure a production contract with Oceanic and continued employment for its award-winning, 20-member sports crew, much of which has been together since the early 1990s. The primary production provider for Oceanic has been NEP Troubleshooters, handling more than 60 events per year for OC 16 as well as working under contract with ESPN and other entities. The TV deal could undergo additional changes in 2012 when UH switches conferences, moving its football team to the Mountain West and most of its other sports to the Big West. The Big West move would likely mean minor changes, conference and UH officials theorize. But still to be determined, Mountain West and UH officials say, is whether the school would hold onto any of its football inventory. Reach Fed Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com. (Report Provided by The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) NEWS FLASH - March 1, 2011 7:20 a.m. HST Arakawa Makes Ending Furloughs Top Priority WAILUKU - Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, who has made ending county furlough days a top priority of his administration, has asked the Maui County Council for $1 million to return employees to their regular work schedules beginning in April. "The county is no longer in a situation where we need furlough days, and it has for too long limited the public's access to our services," Arakawa said in his State of the County address, The Maui News reported. Former Mayor Charmaine Tavares put county workers on monthly furloughs starting last July, saying the program would save the cash-strapped county an estimated $3.5 million for the year. But Arakawa said furloughs haven't saved the county as much money as previously thought. The mayor said $1 million would put county employees back to work through the rest of the fiscal year, which ends in June. He said the money would come from the county's "carryover/savings" account, which holds money that has gone unspent by the county's various departments over the previous year. The county currently had a balance of $52.1 million in its general fund carryover/savings, and around $35.7 million in savings across its various special funds, County Finance Director Danny Agsalog said Friday. Council Budget Chairman Joe Pontanilla said he had not yet scheduled a hearing on Arakawa's furlough request, but said he expected his committee would review it next month. He said he understood that ending furloughs had been a key campaign pledge for Arakawa, but said he was concerned about the county's ability to pay for the move. "You always hear about the reduction in revenues for the next fiscal year by 15 to 20 percent," he said. "That should be considered going forward, in my opinion." Pontanilla also said he was "kinda skeptical" of the administration's estimate of county savings. He questioned whether it took into account outstanding costs, and if all the money was actually available. Council Chairman Danny Mateo said Friday that he was glad the county was looking at ending furloughs. But, he said, officials still needed to learn more about how much money the county actually had available, and whether the county could afford to end furloughs this year — and continue the plan in 2012. He said he'd be more comfortable maintaining furloughs through June, and then seeing if the county could afford to end them in the next fiscal year. "For myself, that's the more prudent thing," he said. (Report Provided by The Associated Press) NEWS FLASH - March 1, 2011 6:40 a.m. HST Pa'ia Man Dies in Moped Crash Maui Police report that a man died last night in a motorcycle accident in Pa'ia. At 6:28 p.m. 71 year-old Ronald Austin was riding a 2000 Piaggio MP3 250 IE motorcycle eastbound on Lae Street. The cycle collided with a rock wall at the end of a cul-de-sac. Austin died from his injuries at the scene. The police report says Austin was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. His death is the second traffic fatality of 2011 - compared with the same number last year. 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