Hawaii

Vince Flynn has died of prostate cancer at the age of 47. In the last 13 years of his life he wrote 13 bestselling thrillers featuring Mitch Rapp, an antiterrorist action hero who talks back to presidents and leaves the rules behind when there is a bad guy to be got. Presidents Clinton and Bush are both fans of the Mitch Rapp novels, which doesn't surprise me because anyone who works in real life Washington would enjoy the fantasy of one good man going out and getting the job done. I've read most of the novels myself. One of the things that struck me about them, though, is that presidents and members of Congress are sometimes considered bad guys, too. In the end only Rapp knows what is right, and some of the people in the wrong are hamstringing him by reminding him of the rule of law. America has always had a complicated relationship with the rule of law. We began as rebels. Faced with Redcoats in well-ordered rows, we didn't even fight fair, but took potshots from cover. The nerve of us! We like "good laws" but flout "bad laws." We like our privacy. The Supreme Court in my lifetime had a hearty debate over whether police could search your car's glove compartment without a warrant. We see no contradiction in someone driving 80 in a 55 while giving a speech to his passenger about what an upstanding citizen he is. And don't get upstanding citizens started on tax regulations. So it shouldn't be a surprise that after 911, Lockerbie, the Marine Corps barracks bombing in Beirut, etc., we have adopted a whatever-it-takes mentality about getting vengeance. This is the elephant in the room when NSA officials look down on us all from a great height and say, with a straight face, that the war on terrorism has been irreparably harmed by someone disclosing to the public that the agency has been collecting phone logs and Web activity data on virtually all citizens in the Republic. President Obama sounded a little like Mitch Rapp when he described public disclosures and debate as "the hype that we've been hearing." Hype is short for hyberbole, or exaggeration, but it's not even possible to exaggerate a program that tries to collect data on everybody. There aren't any more people than everybody. The president welcomes a "robust debate." Let it begin with an understanding that the program was not exaggerated in any important detail. It is as big as described. Now let's debate whether we want it to continue. The problem with the program is that it asks us to trust officials who keep misleading us. Director of Central Intelligence James Clapper lied under oath about it last fall yet is still on the job. But we're supposed to trust that on his watch no data on Americans will even be looked at unless there is reason for suspicion. Does anyone seriously think a bureaucrat won't eventually look at the phone logs on people or organizations they don't like? Big corporations jealous of their trade secrets should be mindful that NSA has all their phone logs, too. I'm not actually a hardliner about shutting down stuff like this. Maybe sometimes it takes "whatever it takes." My problem is, I get the inescapable feeling that officials are interested, not in coming up with real safeguards, but merely in calming us down and making the flap go away, so the bureaucracy can grow ever larger collecting data on 330 million Americans.  

The Wailea Palms Condos For Sale are in very high demand. Since the beginning of the year, thirteen units have been sold ranging from the low $600′s to a little over $1 million. The average sales price in 2013 is just about $716K, making this neighborhood one of the most affordable complexes in all of Wailea. Once these Wailea Condos are listed in the MLS, they move with relative ease as the average days on the market is only 174. A view of a lower unit, overlooking the stream that leads into the pond Palms at Wailea: An Ideally Located Luxury Community on Maui The demand for the Palms is so great because of its great location and overall value: The community is located just minutes away from the world famous Keawakapu Beach as well as all the Wailea amenities. The Palms at Wailea presents a unique offer: Kihei condo prices with the Wailea location. Living in this community is relatively affordable. When you’re not staying in your Wailea Palms Condo, your unit can be rented out to other vacationers on a short term basis! The units at the Palms can generate its homeowners significant rental revenue to help cover their annual operating expenses. The view from the clubhouse which overlooks the pool  Another great feature about this neighborhood is the infinity edge pool and community clubhouse area. There is also a cascading stream that runs throughout the property, which offers a sort of tranquil and calming presence. Only Property Currently For Sale: Unit 102 This property is listed competitively at $979,000 and has been on the market for a little under 7 months (MLS# 354360). It is unique, very private, and in a quiet location in the Palms at Wailea. It has an excellent view down the greenway between Palms I and Palms II complexes to the ocean as well as gorgeous mountain views in the other direction. Palms at Wailea Unit 102 Awaken each morning to the peaceful swaying of the palm trees as the rising sun illuminates the greenway and blue ocean beyond…all without getting out of bed. Every evening offers the chance to enjoy another Maui sunset right from your lanai. Tile throughout. Owner occupied since 2003, never in the rental program. Clean and in excellent shape. Some personal property items not included in the furnishings. Just Sold: Unit 1804 Unit 1804 (2 bedroom, 2 bath. 1,022 sq.ft.) was a steal: Just Sold for $579K Contact a Wailea Neighborhood Specialist For more information on this neighborhood, please contact me to set up a private showing.  I specialize in representing buyers and sellers in this fine Wailea community. Anthony Sayles R(S) 808-280-6532 Anthony@danosayles.com

Every year, an infinite amount of individuals, couples, and individuals travel to Hawaiis Big Island. To compare additional information, consider taking a view at: look into resorts in hawaii. Many are taking a well needed holiday. Hawaiis Big Island could be the great spot to spend time by yourself, time with your family, or time with the love of your life. As great as it is to focus on the fun that you will have, while on a Big Island trip, it is also important to focus on your overnight accommodations, which is where you’ll be staying. You might want to consider staying at a Big Island vacation resort, if you have yet to formally book your Hawaii Big Island concerns. I found out about keauhou beach resort by searching newspapers. There are a quantity of over night accommodations that you can make, as it pertains to Big Island vacations. Popular choices include accommodations, hotels, and places. Out of of the available alternatives, Big Island holiday resorts are usually typically the most popular. There are certainly a quantity of reasons because of this, but one of the greatest reasons is everything that holiday resorts need certainly to provide. Vacation resorts are created to give travelers precisely what they want, all in one single place. This really is apparent with all of the onsite services and facilities that many holiday resort guests have access to. You may be wondering just what these services and facilities are, if you are in the air of arranging a Big Island holiday. When examining the onsite services and facilities available to most Big Island vacation resort visitors, it’s very important to remember one thing. Not totally all vacation resorts perform the exact same way. For instance, golf courses can commonly be located on the grounds of a resort, but that doesn’t indicate that all Big Island vacation accommodations do have them. If you’re buying a specific company or onsite service, it’s better to always check ahead of time, before generally making your reservations. Even though that different Big Island resorts provide different solutions and have different onsite features, there are many that can be viewed common. Whatever Big Island vacation resort you choose to stay at, there’s a great chance that a few of the onsite services and facilities mentioned below will soon be available to you. Perhaps, the most typical onsite facility is that of a swimming pool. Pools are very common in Hawaii, due to the hot conditions. For that reason, it is almost an assurance that whichever Hawaii Big Island holiday resort you elect to stay at, you’ll have usage of a swimming pool. Actually, several holiday resorts on Big Island have multiple swimming pools on their reasons. Onsite restaurants are something else which can be found on the grounds of all Big Island holiday resorts. Much like private pools, a significant number of Big Island holiday resorts have more than one onsite restaurant. Along with old-fashioned sit-down restaurants, it is perhaps not uncommon to find small relaxed dinning stores or bars at holiday resorts. Identify additional info on this related link by clicking best kailua kona hawaii. Aside the conventional indoor club, a significant number of common Big Island vacation resorts have poolside bars from. Poolside bars make for an ideal, relaxing holiday. Fitness gyms may also be a typical fixture for the most part Big Island vacation resorts. While virtually all vacation resorts come equipped with an onsite gym, the size of these facilities will vary. Sometimes, along with traditional exercise equipment, Big Island hotel fitness gyms also home warm tubs, lap pools, and a whole lot more. It’s maybe not uncommon to find a holiday resort health club available twenty-four hours each day. The majority of Big Island holiday resorts also provide their friends with onsite spas. If you have an opinion about food, you will perhaps require to explore about

MEDIA RELEASE Hawaiian Airlines has announced the appointment of Bill Meredith to the position of director – project management office. In this role, he is responsible for leading a team of program managers, project managers and business analysts in implementing information systems and business process strategies for Hawaiian. “Bill’s diverse background in IT and project [...] - visit Hawaii 24/7 to read the full story -

This summer, head to Kailua’s first monthly outdoor brunch festival starting Sunday, July 21st, from 8am-2pm located at 407 Uluniu Street (next to Walgreens). Kailua Brunch Fest will take place every third Sunday of the month. Kailua Brunch Fest will feature the best food and retail vendors from around Oahu for a fun, outdoor community brunch experience.  A must visit for locals and tourists alike, attendees of the festival will get to sample brunch foods from restaurants and food trucks in one fun location. Food vendors include Cinnamon’s, Pinky’s Pupu Bar & Grill, Whatcha Fillin’, Pinky’s, Mark’s Specialties, and more! This festival is perfect for brunch lovers-- enjoy pancakes, waffles, or maybe even both! More than just ono foods, Kailua Brunch Fest will have live entertainment, keiki singing contests, eating contests, and breakfast decorating contests. Winners will receive coupons for free food and drinks. Local schools will participate and perform, such as Le Jardin, and there will be plenty of fun and activities for the whole family! This event is free to the public. Interested vendors or sponsors can connect with Danielle Scherman at www.kailuabrunchfest.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BrunchFestKailua for more information. Or you can also email her at KailuaBrunchFest@gmail.com

By Ken Hoagland - I want you to remember this name: Bob Bauer. The next time Congressman Elijah Cummings says that the IRS abuse was just rogue agents, remember that name. Bob Bauer. Members of the press, remember that name. He was the top lawyer at the Democratic National Committee. He was Senator Barack Obama's mentor, he was White House counsel and then general counsel for the Obama/Biden campaign and he sent memo after memo to the Justice department, the IRS and "all interested parties" urging them to go after law abiding citizens who wanted to end voter fraud and exercise their rights to stop an out-of-control government. This abuse of Americans was directed from Washington and at the very highest levels of the Obama administration and campaign. No natural disaster or foreign enemy has hurt us as much as our own government. The economic collapse that still has 12 million Americans unemployed was caused by our government insisting first that every American should own a home and then disastrously, that no one should restrain the new trillion dollar marketplace in toxic mortgages. Insult on top of injury then forced taxpayers to bail out the guilty parties. Did this decision have the most important element of our experiment in liberty--consent of the governed? No it did not. We did not consent to be spied on either and it is our own leaders who are destroying the amendment the Founding Fathers wrote, remembering a king who swept up citizens and held secret hearings to condemn them. The true traitors are those self-important brutes in this building who dismantle that Fourth amendment in secret--without consent of the governed. Nor did the new flawed entitlement program called ObamaCare have our approval, our core principle--consent of the governed. They did it anyway and rammed it down our throats. That force feeding is just beginning with the same woman who oversaw Tea Party abuse now in charge of ObamaCare at the IRS. It will get worse unless we rise up and do again what we did in 2010 elections--be the wild card that throws politics on its head and holds politicians on the left and the right accountable. We must repeal ObamaCare but that will not be enough. We will never stop the abuse of our citizens and our Constitution until we repeal the income tax and close the doors of the IRS forever. It can be done. Here today are true grassroots patriots who have labored in the shadows for the FairTax. New Jersey FairTaxers, stand up. They want to tell you about it and they need your help. This national consumption tax replaces the income tax and repeals the 16th amendment so we can't have both. No single piece of legislation since the founding of the Republic would do so much to shift power from Washington to the individual citizen. They hate it here in Washington for good reason--it takes the power away from Washington. What can we do? Each and every one of us must now become Paul Revere. We must wake America up that our Constitution is in danger of being erased from within. Be patient with our opponents and love them as Barack Obama does not love us. They are not the enemy--they are misguided fellow citizens who will suffer right along with us when government controls everything...and does it so poorly that liberty itself is extinguished. Embrace your fellow citizens and win them over to liberty again.  We either restore the voice of Americans on public policy decisions or see America disappear. Stand and be counted. Be evangelists for freedom again. Our message is simple but profoundly important: Without consent of the governed, this is not America.

Olelo Community Media has gathered people from both sides of the GMO (genetically modified organisms) debate for four nights of signature programming that aims to delve more deeply into this often divisive issue. “The subject of GMOs is clearly one that many people in our community feel passionately about,” says Roy Amemiya, president & CEO of ‘?lelo. “We hope that GMO Week will help all of us gain a better understanding of both the pros and cons of GMO so that our community can create solutions that are in the best interest of Hawai‘i.”  GMO Week launches on Monday, June 24 and continues through Thursday, June 27, running from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. each night. The ‘Olelo signature productions will air on Oahu on ‘Olelo Channel O‘AHU 55. Because Neighbor Island interest in GMOs is so great, the shows will be also available during the same times on all of the Neighbor Islands through Channel 54, thanks to the local community access providers Akaku in Maui County, Na Leo ‘O Hawai‘i on the Big Island and Ho‘ike Kauai. The shows will also available for online viewing through ‘?leloNet On Demand by visiting www.olelo.org. Monday, June 24 and Tuesday, June 25 GMO Week starts with two pre-recorded shows from panels that convened earlier this month. The June 25 show will present a continuation of what airs on June 24. On the first night, 30 minutes of programming from the pro-GMO panel will be presented first, followed by 30 minutes from the anti-GMO panel. On the second night, the order will switch, with 30 minutes from the anti-GMO panel to air first, followed by the pro-GMO panel.  Chad Blair of Honolulu Civil Beat served as the moderator for a pro-GMO panel that featured Dr. Dennis Gonsalves, director of the USDA Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hilo; Dean Okimoto, owner of Nalo Farms and president of the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; and Adolph Helm, project manager for Dow AgriSciences’ Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i Mycogen Seeds, and the Seeds and Traits Research and Development Project, as well as a board member of the Hawai‘i Crop Improvement Association. Beth-Ann Kozlovich of Hawai‘i Public Radio served as the moderator for the anti-GMO panel. That panel featured Walter Ritte, manager and teacher at Keawenui Fishpond and Learning Center of Moloka‘i; Gary Hooser, Kaua‘i County councilmember and chair of the Agriculture and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee; and Scott Cooney, an adjunct professor of sustainability at the Shidler College of Business at UH Manoa. Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27 In an ‘Olelo first, the public statewide is encouraged to participate in two live discussions on GMOs through live tweets or pre-submitted comments by phone. Questions or comments by phone should be submitted by calling 834.5303 no later than 4 p.m. on June 27. To submit questions via Twitter, the community is asked to use the hashtag #olelogmo. The ‘Olelo web page on this topic is www.olelo.org/gmo. Questions submitted by the community will be among those discussed by the gathered experts. The pro-GMO position in both live shows will be represented by the individuals who participated in the pre-recorded panel earlier this month: Dr. Dennis Gonsalves, Dean Okimoto and Adolph Helm. The anti-GMO position in the live shows will be represented by a number of individuals from the community. ‘Olelo hopes to air similar week-long signature productions three to four times each year to explore other important community issues in depth. For more information, visit www.olelo.org.

A collaborative pilot project known as Wrap Hawai‘i—involving partners at the University of Hawai‘i at M?noa, in state government and at private agencies—is bettering the lives of at-risk children in the state. Wrap Hawai‘i targets local high-risk youths with the aim of preventing or reducing institutional placements. The program develops an individualized plan for each participant, centering on the needs and goals of the child, and the strengths, resources and support systems distinct to each child’s family. Said Susan Chandler, director of the Public Policy Center at the UH M?noa College of Social Sciences, “Every child is different, with a unique set of circumstances, challenges and support networks that affect resilience and self-esteem. Wrap Hawai‘i does away with a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment—working in partnership with the child, the family, and members of the child’s external support system plan, to monitor and assess the child and identify areas of strengths and needs. “The result is an integrated holistic approach that combines all social, educational, child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, and supportive services and funding available,” Chandler continued. “The ultimate goal of the Wrap Hawai‘i program is to prevent or reduce institutional placements through clinical improvements in youth and family strengthening, with the end result being a reduction in the cost of care.” One hundred and thirty (130) youths enter the Hawai?i's Youth Correctional Facility annually at a cost of $160,000 per year for each youth. The costs for in-patient mental health care cost about $100,000 per child, per year. Basic foster care payments and associated services average more than $25,000 a year. Wrapping community-based, non-institutional services not only significantly reduces these costs, but also has been demonstrated to improve clinical functioning of these youths as well as family functioning. There are currently nine youths between the ages of 13-17 in the Wrap Hawai‘i pilot program, with two additional young people who will be enrolling shortly. The youths were referred from a variety of sources, including Child Welfare Service, Family Court and the Office of Youth Services. Since enrolling, none of the participants has been sent for inpatient care or incarceration in Hawai‘i or an out-of-state placement. One youth, originally considered for placement in a mainland mental health facility, has since been successfully reunited with his parent. Wrap Hawai‘i is a collaborative effort between the Public Policy Center; state and private agencies, including the Hawai?i departments of Human Services, Health, and Education; the Office of Youth Services within the state Department of Human Services; Hawai‘i State Judiciary – Family Court; EPIC ‘Ohana Inc.; Families as Allies; and the Mediation Center of the Pacific. It is funded through a grant from the Casey Family Program Foundation. The College of Social Sciences (CSS) at the University of Hawai‘i at M?noa is engaged in a broad range of research endeavors that address fundamental questions about human behavior and the workings of local, national and international political, social, economic and cultural institutions. Its vibrant student-centered academic climate supports outstanding scholarship through internships, and active and service learning approaches to teaching that prepare students for the life-long pursuit of knowledge. The Public Policy Center brings together expertise, commitment, and a strong and continuing desire to enhance the quality of community life through teaching, research and civic engagement. The establishment of the center reflects the College of Social Services’ belief that public policy analyses are critical to sound public policy decision-making and that teaching and scholarly work are intertwined and should be continually linked to community beneficiaries.

By Lowell L. Kalapa - Nearly a year and a half ago, a commission appointed by the Honolulu City Council to study some of the inequities in the real property tax ordinance dropped its findings on the desks of Council members and it seems that either the study went into the circular file or was promptly put on the shelf with other studies to collect dust. Then again, who can blame Council members for ignoring the findings and recommendations as many of the recommendations tended to be controversial largely because the commission took an unbiased look at some of the preferences in the real property tax law that were either carried over from the time the state administered the tax or have been added since the counties took on the responsibility for the tax. While many of these exemptions may have seemed appropriate at the time, many have been broadened or extended to other taxpayers who may have similar characteristics as the original grouping of favored real property owners. In other cases, some of these tax preferences may have been viewed as encouragement of a certain type of activity without fully understanding the impact of the exemption and the shifting of the tax burden that pays for the county services that are also enjoyed by the same real property owners who benefit from some sort of exemption. Indeed, one can understand how policymakers of long ago were sympathetic to the needs of the aged and the disabled. For the elderly, the older one becomes, the larger the home exemption offered as the basic home exemption is increased in multiples. Or in the case of the disabled, the amount of the additional exemptions depends on whether one is blind, deaf, or somehow disabled or is a disabled veteran. These exemptions are blind to the financial needs of the elderly or disabled homeowner. Likewise, the real property ordinances provide total exemptions to charities and nonprofit organizations be they providers of social services, health care, education or are places of worship. One of the more recent exemptions is for historic residential and commercial properties although a full exemption applies only to historic residential properties while commercial historic properties only get a partial exemption. Another exemption that was added after the counties took over the responsibility for the real property tax is that extended to credit unions. While credit unions enjoy exemptions from the net income tax and sales tax on the purchases of tangible personal property as a result of being chartered by federal law, credit unions are not generally exempt from local real property taxes. As a result, the counties enacted a specific exemption. Another exemption that was added after the counties took over the responsibility for the real property tax is the exemption that is extended to "kuleana" lands. These are lands that were given to beneficiaries of the division of lands under the Great Mahele under King Kamehameha III. Ownership of these lands must have remained in the same family since that time in either residential or agricultural use. Those who advocated for this exemption argue that the beneficiary families have owned these lands and have used them in the required residential or agricultural use and have not benefitted from the appreciation of the lands surrounding them which may have been put into a higher and better use. The problem with all of the foregoing exemptions is that just because the real property is owned or used by a type of person, or organization, does not mean they cannot pay for the county services they enjoy. This includes some of the basic services that insure the health and safety of the community like police and fire protection, sanitation, and parks and beaches. Since all of these basic county services are crucial to the health and safety of the county’s citizens, they have to be provided and paid for by taxpayers. If those who have exemptions from the real property tax don’t pay their fair share for thes

Colleen Hanabusa U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01) is asking the U.S. Coast Guard to hold off on proceeding with a proposed rule mandating the use of electronic card readers to access vessels and port facilities, until the card readers are thoroughly reviewed and tested. “I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Coast Guard’s proposed rule, and while I am pleased the rule takes the risk-based approach of requiring readers at only high risk terminals, I believe that there are outstanding issues surrounding the program that must be evaluated,” Hanabusa said. “The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program has been plagued with inefficiencies, which place increasing burdens on our maritime industry.  Replacing trained security guards with card readers that have not been properly evaluated does not improve port safety.  It is my hope that a thorough assessment of the TWIC program can accommodate affected stakeholders at all levels.” The results of a recent Government Accountability Office report on the functionality of the TWIC program were found to be “incomplete, inaccurate, and unreliable for informing Congress and for developing a regulation about the readers.” Report from the office of Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, D-HI