Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Kauai hydropower project gets federal permit exemption
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Pacific Business News
Monday, April 30, 2012
A Kauai energy developer has been exempted from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s permitting process for a proposed 5.3 megawatt hydropower project at the Puu Lua Reservoir.
The Garden Island reports that Konohiki Hydro Power LLC, a subsidiary of Kauai-based Pacific Light and Power and Orenco Hydropower Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., will be recognized as the sole developer of electricity using the Kokee Ditch irrigation system on former sugar cane land in western Kauai.
However, the newspaper reports the developer does not yet have a power-purchase agreement with Kauai Island Utility Cooperative that would allow it to sell the electricity generated by the hydropower project to the utility.
The newspaper reports that another hydropower developer, Free Flow Power, had its preliminary permit application for the Kokee dismissed by FERC on April 12.
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Duane Okamoto named Honolulu agricultural liaison
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Pacific Business News
April 30, 2012
Duane Okamoto, former deputy director to Hawaii’s state Department of Agriculture, will become the City and County of Honolulu’s agricultural liaison on Tuesday.
Okimoto will replace Laura H. Thielen, former chairwoman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, who planned to resign on Monday to focus on her campaign for the state Senate.
Okamoto was also president of his own consulting firm and has experienced in agriculture, construction, high technology, tourism and social services, the city said in a statement.
The agricultural liaison position was created by the City Council to serve as an advocate for Oahu’s farming community.
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Hawaii lawmakers revive undersea cable bill
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Pacific Business News
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
A bill to create the regulatory framework for transmitting electricity between Hawaii’s islands via an undersea cable has been revived by the state Senate and will be put to a final vote on Thursday, the final day of the legislative session.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that lawmakers also agreed to a number of other bills on Tuesday, including one to guide transit-oriented development around proposed rail stations on Oahu, and voted to approve a bill that would authorize the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. to acquire the shuttered Hawaii Medical Center-East.
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Funds to repair roof at Kona International Airport
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Pacific Business News
May 3, 2012
Hawaii lawmakers have approved a capital improvement budget that includes $50.4 million in projects for the Big Island, including $10.4 million to re-roof the main terminal at the Kona International Airport and $11.5 million for improvements at Kawaihae Harbor.
West Hawaii Today reports state officials say the project to re-roof the airport, part of the airport’s 2009 20-year master plan, is expected to start early next year and take about a year to complete, while there is no timetable for the improvements at Kawaihae Harbor, which will include paving, upgrading utilities and relocating the harbor agent’s office.
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Hawaii one of 15 states that tax the poor
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Pacific Business News
May 3, 2012, 7:34am
Hawaii has the third highest taxes of the 15 states that still tax families that are at, or below, the federal poverty line, according to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
24/7 Wall St. reports, via msnbc.com, that only Alabama and Illinois tax the working poor more than Hawaii, — despite efforts in other states to roll back taxes on working poor families — although the amount a family of four at the poverty line pays today is less than it was in 1994.
La’i ‘Ōpua Receives $5.4M In Grant Awards
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Blaine Fergerstrom May 3, 2012, 8:33 am
Aloha Kakou,
On behalf of Laiopua 2020 and West Hawaii Community Health Center, I’m pleased to announce that today the West Hawaii Community Health Center — Health Resource Service Administration grant of $5M was approved and a press release was issued by Senator Inouye, see attached.
We are especially thankful to our Congressional delegation: Sen. Inouye, Sen. Akaka, and Rep. Hirono, for their the support regarding our community center plan and, more specifically the approval of the HRSA $5M medical clinic grant for the construction of our L2020/ WHCHC community medical facility. This $5M medical facility grant will provide the initial “vertical construction” of our medical clinic.
In addition, I’m pleased to report that yesterday Laiopua 2020 received a $400,000 state grant to plan, design and construct the infrastructure for the first phase of the community center to include the medical facility. We especially want to thank our District State Senator Josh Green, House of Representatives, and members of the Big Island Caucus for their support of the approval of this $400,000 grant.
Both state & federal grants will be used to initiate the first phase construction of the medical clinic.
On behalf of our Laiopua 2020 Board & Staff, West Hawaii Community Health Center, Villages of Laiopua homestead community, and surrounding neighborhoods, we respectfully and most graciously appreciate our congressional delegation’s support throughout this process and the approval of the HRSA $5M medical clinic facility grant award. In addition, we appreciate the support of our State and Big Island representatives for their support and approval of the State $400,000 GIA grant award.
Mahalo Nui Loa to our Federal Congressional delegation & State Representatives.
Craig “Bo” Kahui
Executive Director
La’i’opua 2020
bokahui@yahoo.com
Hawaiian Homes Commission Meetings on Kaua’i
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
Click to download a PDF of this flier.
- HHC Meeting
- Monday, May 14, 2012, 10:o0 a.m.
- State Office Building Conference Room A, B, and C
- 3060 ‘Eiwa Street, Līhu’e, Kaua’i
- Community Meeting – Kaua’i, HI
- Monday, May 14, 2012, 6:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.
- Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School Cafeteria
- 4431 Nuhou St., Līhu’e, Kaua’i
- Flier/Agenda
- HHC Meeting
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- If the HHC Regular Meeting Agenda items are not completed on Monday, the meeting will be recessed to Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
(To Be Announced at the Monday meeting’s close). - Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 8:30 a.m.
- State Office Building Conference Room A, B, and C
- 3060 ‘Eiwa Street, Līhu’e, Kaua’i
- If the HHC Regular Meeting Agenda items are not completed on Monday, the meeting will be recessed to Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
- Hawaiian Homes Commission 1212 Meetings Page
DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS & UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI PARTNER TO PROVIDE STUDENTS REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012Blaine Fergerstrom
April 30, 2012, 11:50 am
Alapaki Nahale-a, Chairman of the Hawaiian Homes Commission, M.R.C. Greenwood, President of the University of Hawai’i, Clark Llewellyn, Dean, UH School of Architecture, and Peter Crouch, Dean, UH College of Engineering, signed an agreement today at Kapolei which marked a partnership which will allow UH students to actually work on Hawaiian Home Lands homes.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2012
Partnership Agreement Signed Today in Kapolei
KAPOLEI, HAWAIʻI – The State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) is teaming up with the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) to offer architecture and engineering students the opportunity to use DHHL’s land, homes, and development projects, as a learning laboratory.
Partnership agreements were signed today at a ceremony in Kapolei between DHHL and two UH Mānoa programs – the School of Architecture and the College of Engineering.
“This partnership goes to the heart of our mission of returning Native Hawaiians to the land,” said Hawaiian Homes Commission Chairman Alapaki Nahale-a, “We are calling on the best our local university has to offer to help us build healthy, sustainable homestead communities and provide diverse homesteading opportunities to our beneficiaries.”
“Real-world experience is key to transitioning our students from the classroom to their first job, and this partnership does exactly that, right here in our own backyard,” said M.R.C. Greenwood, President of the University of Hawaiʻi system. “This collaboration with the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands provides our students a very unique and rewarding educational opportunity that they can’t get anywhere else.” (more…)
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