tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-196459042008-05-16T18:23:37.847-10:00Larrynoreply@blogger.comBlogger813125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-30702583574118633982008-05-16T18:23:00.001-10:002008-05-16T18:23:37.864-10:00

by Larry Geller Utu Langi has three of his shelter buses ready to roll, but needs a place to park them.  Can you help? His project has caught the interest of advocacy groups, religious and other advocacy organizations, and the media both inside and outside of Hawaii: Driven to help the homeless By Robert Shikinarshikina@starbulletin.com Utu Langi was returning from a trip to feed the homeless

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-73903125374335488132008-05-15T12:48:00.001-10:002008-05-15T12:48:42.940-10:00

by Larry Geller This past legislative session was not kind to those who are now homeless or who may find themselves in difficulty in the future. In fact, it can be argued that we're headed backwards, fleeing from the issues we should be facing. Tune in tonight (Thursday) to Town Square, hosted by Beth-Ann Kozlovich, to learn what you won't find in the newspapers on this important issue. Guests

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-28064590326622250122008-05-15T09:25:00.001-10:002008-05-15T09:25:38.669-10:00

by Larry Geller The word is spreading like wildfire: as a result of a state supreme court decision today, same sex marriage is now legal in California, the most populous state in the country, as well as in Massachusetts. Five other states permit civil unions that provide benefits equivalent to marriage. What isn't well known is that the amendment to Hawaii's constitution  approved by voters in

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-35660085432622231372008-05-14T17:41:00.001-10:002008-05-14T17:41:15.245-10:00

by Larry Geller It's hard to say from this brief KITV report, but it appears that the Honolulu Police may have tased a man with mental health issues. The article describes self-injurious behavior, which can be a characteristic of several mental illnesses. Police Use Taser To Stop Man Injuring Himself HONOLULU -- Police arrested and brought down a man with a Taser after he was injuring himself

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-58710679743698826982008-05-14T13:05:00.001-10:002008-05-14T17:04:20.685-10:00

by Larry Geller I'm on Oahu and new police chief Darryl Perry is on Kauai. I've never met him, but I'm concerned. There's every indication that he is planning to beef up Kauai's police force in such a way that it will become a threat to the peaceful citizens of Kauai. In the past they've somehow gotten along without riot gear, Tasers and other advanced weapons on the island. That's an admirable

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-88977305194532764292008-05-14T09:37:00.001-10:002008-05-14T09:37:44.869-10:00

by Larry Geller I've mentioned before that other than tourism and serving the military, there doesn't seem to be any workable model for an economy in Hawaii. Exploitation is the only model I see over time for any island (Singapore is different, it's not an isolated island). Whether it's mining the guano and then abandoning the place or plundering any other natural resource, whether it's testing

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-65464202687060396222008-05-14T09:16:00.001-10:002008-05-14T09:16:22.644-10:00

by Larry Geller I just got the word via a Google Alert that Ian Lind's blog has been selected to represent Hawaii at the DNC. The announcement is here. And of course, Ian has something on his own blog. We're going to have some good reporting. If you are not currently using a newsreader, you may want to look into one of the many available and tune in to Ian's RSS feed. That way you'll have his

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-71010166722913243052008-05-12T20:48:00.001-10:002008-05-12T20:48:38.423-10:00

by Larry Geller I thought that the NIE would be an obstacle to Bush's plan to bomb Iran. Not so, according to Scott Ritter, former UN arms inspector, in this interview by Progressive Review editor Matt Rothschild. Bush is using the NIE to prove he must bomb Iran. Ritter explains the "logic". He thinks the danger of a military attack on Iran is very high just now. And according to Ritter,

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-49179022639006253472008-05-08T17:19:00.001-10:002008-05-08T17:19:23.912-10:00

by Larry Geller Kauai is a beautiful place, and the people are the best. I love the Big Island and particularly the volcano. Never been to Molokai, and Maui is ok. But Oahu is for me. Here's one example of why (snippet): Monks to perform ritual at extended 'Dragon's Gift' exhibit Advertiser Staff "The Dragon's Gift: The Sacred Arts of Bhutan" exhibit will remain open at the Honolulu Academy of

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-31188276563164348562008-05-08T13:50:00.004-10:002008-05-08T15:36:59.048-10:00

by Larry Geller I can't stop wondering why the Superferry issue keeps coming up. Probably because the underlying conflicts have yet to be resolved. None of them. But it seems that Kauai is deep in the throes again. Hey, it's May already and it's still not going back there, but it's clear that Kauai is in the Superferry's cross hairs again. Following new CEO Admiral Tom Fargo's broadside that

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-66455493902794224532008-05-08T11:16:00.001-10:002008-05-08T11:16:31.816-10:00

by Larry Geller "Adm. Fargo is a strategic thinker and a visionary who has the depth to continue growing Trex Enterprises," said Kenneth Tang, chairman and CEO of Trex Enterprises. [Fargo named Trex president, Pacific Business News, November 16, 2005] It's safe to say that everything Thomas Fargo says as CEO of Hawaii Superferry is also strategic. And so when we read the AP story (via KPUA),

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-72949781688753608612008-05-04T14:40:00.001-10:002008-05-04T14:40:17.779-10:00

by Larry Geller The AP seems to have gone right to the issue: the Superferry will not be punished for its underreporting of lobbying expenses (article via KPUA): State Ethics Commission says Superferry will not be punished HONOLULU (AP) _ The state Ethics Commission says Hawaii Superferry will not be punished for grossly underreporting its lobbying expenses last year. The company spent nearly

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-23704466982551848362008-05-04T07:52:00.001-10:002008-05-04T07:52:34.796-10:00

by Larry Geller I still haven't convinced myself that a constitutional convention would be a good thing, but if we could use it to bring democracy to these islands, maybe it would be worth it. Richard Borreca wrote about the attempted palace coup (not the one at Iolani Palace, the one next door at the Capitol) in his column this morning. It's a good read, very revealing of the annual game the

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-26466105345623372112008-05-04T07:21:00.001-10:002008-05-04T07:21:01.518-10:00

by Larry Geller The sub-head to the Advertiser article yesterday, "Ethics panel satisfied with effort to amend initial claim of $21,960" is incorrect. There was no hearing, so nothing went before a "panel." The Commissioner simply nodded in approval when the amended report was filed. In the absence of any oversight by the Ethics Commission or anyone else, why should we believe the headline, "

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-66781809346467554882008-05-03T11:30:00.001-10:002008-05-03T11:30:58.677-10:00

by Larry Geller It's his 89th birthday today. Jean King just called to remind me (I had forgotten). Two years ago we cooperated to create SeegerFest, which thanks to the Internet and Jean's nationwide contacts, led to celebrations of Pete's 87th birthday all across the country. I recall there were more than 40 events altogether. For young readers who may not know the name, please Google and

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-43278297424374465202008-05-03T06:35:00.001-10:002008-05-03T06:38:15.855-10:00

by Larry Geller A good story at the top of the front page today. It correctly notes that the Superferry company's erroneous filing of a low report was initially discovered by Ian Lind: The Ethics Commission first questioned Superferry's lobbying expenses in response to an April 10 letter from Ian Lind, a freelance writer and blogger who works for state Rep. Lyla Berg, D-18th (Kuli'ou'ou, Niu

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-61182486940100350332008-05-02T20:45:00.001-10:002008-05-02T20:45:42.153-10:00

by Larry Geller An article datelined Saturday May 3, Occupation of Palace Area Invigorates Native Hawaiian Movement, continues national attention to the reoccupation of Iolani Palace begun on Wednesday. Just getting a paragraph like this before the eyes of the national reading public will surprise many who may never have heard about the overthrow: The group believes it has the right to take

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-56747062954035754032008-05-02T19:31:00.001-10:002008-05-02T19:31:20.158-10:00

by Larry Geller More breaking news related to Austal, the manufacturer of the Superferry. This is from a WKRG television article posted yesterday, Noose Found In Employee Breakroom: WKRG.com Video Some workers at Austal USA in Mobile got an unwanted surprise Thursday morning.They walked into the break room and found a noose hanging from the ceiling. The short article centered around whether

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-4768305951623016502008-05-02T19:15:00.001-10:002008-05-02T19:15:37.516-10:00

by Larry Geller The daily papers, for some reason, haven't gone near the issue of alleged manufacturing defects in the Superferry, although the blogs are abuzz with discussion. Reporter Kristin Hashimoto of the Big Island Weekly has finally put something in print (I assume, all I can see from Oahu is their website), and added to concerns about manufacturing defects. She asks if it's Time to jump

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-57005002516650896542008-05-01T19:21:00.001-10:002008-05-01T19:21:58.612-10:00

This is courtesy of attorney Lanny Sinkin. Our daily newspapers refuse to carry news and viewpoints of the Hawaiian people. I think this op-ed should have a venue, and it is a shame that there is no space in a Hawaii newspaper for it. Aloha or Empire? During the August 2007 installment of the Superferry saga, the actions of public officials amounted to the disintegration of the rule of law.

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-53132420699615336152008-05-01T10:45:00.001-10:002008-05-01T10:45:53.977-10:00

by Larry Geller ... but not via the Superferry. Today's good news is that the owner of Young Brothers will indeed purchase and operate Aloha's cargo service. Whether their charges will be the same or not, how many former Aloha employees will be rehired, and so forth, have yet to be determined, but this is certainly good news. Several articles over the past few days posited the Superferry as a

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-66450141746854715752008-05-01T10:33:00.001-10:002008-05-01T10:33:25.076-10:00

by Larry Geller   May 1 is May Day. Martin Luther King Day is Martin Luther King Day. Mothers Day is Mothers Day, etc. Why is this one day co-opted as "Lei Day," "Law Day," or anything else but May Day? Could be a corporate plot. But May Day will survive Lei Day. Here's some evidence of its strength: Thousands of dockworkers at West Coast ports stayed off the job on Thursday in what their

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-77284182786692402832008-05-01T10:19:00.001-10:002008-05-01T10:19:22.954-10:00

by Larry Geller Today's news: a person who knew an awful lot about the personal lives and nighttime activities of important people in Washington was found dead: Deborah Jeane Palfrey, convicted last month of running a high-end prostitution service in Washington, apparently committed suicide in Florida, officials have confirmed. ['D.C. Madam' Palfrey Found Dead in Fla., Washington Post, 5/1/2008]

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-51533982918177621492008-04-30T21:50:00.001-10:002008-05-01T06:42:34.342-10:00

by Larry Geller 3300 participants attended the seventh UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues taking place in New York at the United Nations. Hawaii was on the agenda today: Mr. FYFE, Kaoni Foundation, who spoke on behalf of the Hawaii Caucus, said that Hawaii rightfully belonged on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.  Indeed, a public law had been signed by United States President

Larrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19645904.post-30709281585127627592008-04-30T20:54:00.001-10:002008-04-30T20:54:19.903-10:00

CNN gave the world a history lesson as part of their coverage of the reoccupation of the Iolani Palace today: Native Hawaiians blockade historic palace. (Thanks to attorney Lanny Sinkin for the pointer) Technorati Tags: Hawaii, Iolani Palace, Hawaiian Kingdom, CNN

Larrynoreply@blogger.com