Something really weird is going on with House Speaker Joe Souki’s Financial Disclosure Statements in regards to his investment in Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI). It all started on June 13, when Honolulu reporter/blogger Ian Lind put up this post on how his reading of the longtime Wailuku state Representative and Speaker of the House’s financial disclosure […]
Hawaii ethics watchdog Les Kondo gets to keep his job
And it seems one of the more surreal controversies in state politics is now at an end. After months of speculation, backbiting, teeth-gnashing and a little hand-wringing now and then, the state Ethics Commission has decided that Les Kondo can keep his job as the commission’s executive director. “The head of the State Ethics Commission […]
Quizunderstood: Who Wants To Be Maui Police Chief?
1. On Aug. 18, The Maui News reported that “nearly 20 people” had applied to be the new Maui Police Chief, though the newspaper said it could only confirm eight names. Which of the following was NOT among those eight the paper said want to be the next Maui Chief? A. Deputy Chief Clayton Tom […]
Turns Out State Senator Clayton Hee Dislikes Hawaii Ethics Laws As Much As Media
Today Honolulu Civil Beat posted an in-depth look at how state Senator Clayton Hee, D-Kaneohe–who recently warped a bill seeking to make permanent Hawaii’s media shield law into perverse anti-reporter junk and contributed more to destroying our state’s legal protections for journalists than anyone else in the Legislature–is also no fan of state ethics laws […]
Staffer: Kamehameha Day Confused Gov. Neil Abercombie’s Staff Into Missing Judicial Appointment Deadline
As has been well reported, Governor Neil Abercrombie messed up a judicial appointment. Not be refusing to make public his short list of appointments, but by actually not making the appointment in time. On June 12, Abercrombie nominated Wailuku attorney Peter T. Cahill to be a judge on Maui’s Second Circuit Court. The only problem […]
Will Hawaii State Legislature Exempt Task Force Members From Code Of Ethics?
Investigative Reporter Ian Lind published a great blog post today listing a bunch of state bills that have passed their third readings. Making the list was HB 2175, a dandy of a bill introduced by 14 representatives. The bill’s quite simple, really: it exempts individuals (except those who are already state employees) who get named […]
Blogger: Honolulu Weekly In Dire Financial Trouble
And now for some very bad media news that went down over the weekend: Honolulu Weekly, an independent alternative paper on Oahu that just celebrated its 20th year and is owned by publisher Laurie Carlson, is facing a dire financial situation, according to blogger Ian Lind. “In an email sent yesterday [Aug. 5] and forwarded […]