The passage of HB1326, the so-called “Corporate Water Theft Bill” that affects the future use of East Maui’s water, has morphed from a civics lesson into an episode of “The Walking Dead.” In the past week alone, the bill has been alive, dead, undead, and buried-but-still-moving. It has become so toxic that few lawmakers even want to discuss it anymore. Currently, HB1326 is … [Read more...] about Nothing Is Dead in the Land of the Zombies: The twisted legislative saga of the “Corporate Water Theft” Bill
Chad Blair
Councilmembers Molina, Lee, King, and Rawlins-Fernandez Call for Patrick Wong’s Resignation
Last week, Maui County Corporation Counsel Patrick Wong made more than $2,800 without having to lift a finger. How’d he get such a sweet gig? He was arrested, of course. Wong, the county’s top civil attorney, was placed on paid administrative leave by Mayor Mike Victorino on March 9 after being arrested and charged by the Maui Police Department for abuse of a household member. … [Read more...] about Councilmembers Molina, Lee, King, and Rawlins-Fernandez Call for Patrick Wong’s Resignation
What do Maui’s legislators think of the NRA?
In the weeks following Florida’s Parkland high school massacre, a new fervor has set in when it comes to challenging the formerly bulletproof National Rifle Association (NRA)–and the organization is beginning to take some significant hits. Whether it’s the powerful emotions created by angry, grieving Parkland students, or a collective consciousness snap at the news of yet … [Read more...] about What do Maui’s legislators think of the NRA?
Maui News takes 2 months to report MauiTime Publisher’s Supreme Court exoneration
It took two months, but The Maui News finally ran a story (without a byline, of course) on Feb. 13 on the Hawaii Supreme Court exonerating MauiTime Publisher Tommy Russo. As Civil Beat columnist Brett Oppegaard noted the day before, in a Feb. 12 story, Russo made headlines across Hawaii back in 2012 when two Maui Police Officers arrested him while he was photographing them on … [Read more...] about Maui News takes 2 months to report MauiTime Publisher’s Supreme Court exoneration
Hawaii Legislature passes HB 2501 ‘water rights’ bill that helps Alexander and Baldwin
Well, they did it. Yesterday, the Hawaii state Senate voted to approve House Bill 2501, which permits Alexander & Baldwin (A&B) to keep diverting East Maui streams for another three years. "The most important thing to understand about HB 2501 is that the Legislature is circumventing a January state court ruling that found A&B has been illegally diverting water … [Read more...] about Hawaii Legislature passes HB 2501 ‘water rights’ bill that helps Alexander and Baldwin