It’s not the trash fire that marks this year’s Republican Party effort to pick a presidential candidate, but the race to be the 2016 Democratic Party nominee is anything but dull. While the Republicans knock each other over as to who can get the most votes by playing up racist fears against minorities, Muslims and […]
Hawaii’s Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard talk GMO labeling
Looks like the U.S. Congress is discussing GMO labeling. Specifically, a recent bill from Republicans (who in theory prefer state’s rights over federal control) to squash a recent Vermont law that mandated labeling foods that contain GMOs (the so-called “DARK Act”). This didn’t sit well with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, D–Hawaii. “As a longtime advocate for […]
Watch Hawaii U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono denounce anti-immigrant sentiments
If you take ideas like justice, individual responsibility and the right of people, of families, to make better lives for themselves, then we live in dark times. Right now, not 50 years ago but right now, men in power (and they’re nearly all men) have discovered that denouncing immigrants and refugees, promising to build giant walls […]
USDA Gives Hawaii-Grown Coffee New Valuation Method
On Oct. 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced that starting in January 2016, the agency will do a “green bean pricing valuation” for all coffee grown in Hawaii. This, according to Hawaii’s congressional delegation, is a better way to “reflect market values.” It also makes reporting easier on […]
UPDATED: U.S. Supreme Court rules that Constitution protects same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is legal everywhere in the U.S., now and forever. That’s according to the U.S. Supreme Court, which handed down its historic 5-4 ruling this morning in the case Obergefell v. Hodges. U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, D–Hawaii, was pleased, to say the least, in this statement emailed out by his press office early this morning: […]
U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono honors the late Rep. Patsy Mink on Title IX anniversary
Today is the 43rd anniversary of the Title IX–the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity Education Act. Named in 2002 for the Maui-born legislator who fought gender discrimination in school and had helped get Title IX passed during her years in Congress. Here’s the text of a statement U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono released today in her honor: “Forty-three […]
UPDATED: Maui Representative Mele Carroll Passes Away
[Ed. note: We updated this post on Feb. 19 to include more tributes to Carroll from various public officials] State Representative Diana “Mele” Carroll has passed away. The Democrat who’s represented East Maui, Lanai, Kaho’olawe and Molokai had recently been elected to her sixth term. Citing unspecified health issues, Carroll resigned her seat in January. […]
The U.S. Army is preparing to leave Hawaii, but few besides Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing seem happy to see them go
The U.S. military and Hawaii have a long and complex history. The 1893 overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom happened in part because U.S. Marines came ashore to assist the white coup leaders. Hawaii eventually became a U.S. territory during the Spanish-American War because of Pearl Harbor’s value to the U.S. Navy as a coaling station. […]
Quizunderstood: How well do you know new Hawaii PUC Chairman Randy Iwase?
1. Last week, Hawaii Governor David Ige named former state Senator Randy Iwase the new Public Utilities Commission Chairman. The last time Iwase ran for office was 2006, when he tried to unseat then-Governor Linda Lingle. What was Iwase’s vote percentage in that race? A. 47.9 percent B. 44.9 percent C. 37.9 percent D. 34.9 […]
U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii Urges Passage of Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act
Describing the current rates of suicide for American veterans as “unacceptable,” U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, D–Hawaii, today called for the passage of a new bill that would, at least on paper, make life a little easier for people seeking treatment from the U.S. Veterans Administration. “It is simply unacceptable that 22 American veterans commit suicide each day,” […]
Having Fun With New Appointments For U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono, Ted Cruz
And so now the Republicans are in change of the entire U.S. Congress. Good! Let the paralyzing gridlock commence! Oh wait, that’s already been going on for years. Well then, at least we’ll be treated a lot more hilarious headlines. Many of those are sure to originate from the office of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, […]
Quizunderstood: How well do you know U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono?
1. On Dec. 12, Google announced that it had named a town on Maui an official “2014 eCity of Hawaii,” according to a news release sent out by the winning town. The distinction shows how well local firms in that town use the Internet for business. Which town won the award? A. Wailuku B. Lahaina […]
A&B Announces $1.3 Million In Donations, Somehow Forgets To Mention Campaign Contributions
Leave it to Alexander & Baldwin to tell us what wonderful, charitable souls they are. On Apr. 29, the company sent out a news release saying that from July 2012 (when the company divested itself from Matson Navigation) to the end of 2013, their Kokua Giving Program had donated $1.3 million to various organizations dealing […]
How Rich Are Hawaii’s Congressional Representatives?
Yesterday the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington published a big online package about the personal financial status of all members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Their findings were pretty clear: “Of 534 current members of Congress, at least 268 had an average net worth of $1 million or more in 2012, […]
In 2014 Hawaii Senate Race, Taranis Drone Favors Hanabusa Over Schatz
The year 2013 hasn’t even ended yet and The Maui News is already piling on the tired old political cliches for the upcoming 2014 election. “Hanabusa says she has ‘good ground game’ in Senate race” stated that paper’s Dec. 29 front page story (subscription required) on current Democratic Congressional Representative Colleen Hanabusa’s bid to unseat […]
2013 MauiTime Year In Review
Let’s call 2013 the Year of Ends. Ex-National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden, who is now in exile in Russia after fleeing Hawaii with millions of secret documents, ended any feeling we had that the Obama Administration cared more about civil liberties than his predecessors. South African President Nelson Mandela’s death brought an end […]