[NOTE: On Mar. 25, Council Chair Mike White responded to my Mar. 22 inquiry in regards to this story. His statement appears at the end of this post.] On Mar. 1 of this year, Maui County Council Member Elle Cochran submitted a proposal to Council Chair Mike White asking to create a special housing committee. It would expand on the findings of a Temporary Investigative Group … [Read more...] about UPDATED: Is White’s Supremacy Subverting the Maui County Council?
minimum wage
South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing sponsors new Hawaii minimum wage bill
The Hawaii state Legislature convenes its 2017 session on Wednesday, Jan. 18. Among the bills that will hopefully survive this term is a one from Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing, D–South Maui. That bill increases Hawaii’s minimum wage to $15/hour by 2019 and $22/hour by 2022 (the state’s current minimum wage is $9.25/hour and is supposed to rise to $10.10/hour next year). “Working … [Read more...] about South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing sponsors new Hawaii minimum wage bill
Are Hawaii Community Colleges the most affordable in the nation?
Hawaii community colleges were recently named the most affordable in the nation by a study conducted by the Pennsylvania State University of Graduate School of Education. Hawaii colleges were ranked third in overall college affordability including community college, four-year non-doctoral and private colleges. This news might come as a shock to many people who actually live … [Read more...] about Are Hawaii Community Colleges the most affordable in the nation?
CORRECTED: Know your 2016 Maui County election candidate: Richard Abbett
NOTE: This post originally mis-identified the location of Richard Abbett's 2014 candidacy. It has been corrected. Two years ago, Richard Abbett was living on Oahu, and he ran for a Honolulu City Council Hawaii County Council seat. He lost, badly, winning just 665 votes. Now he lives in Wailuku and he's taking on House Speaker Joe Souki, easily the most powerful guy in the … [Read more...] about CORRECTED: Know your 2016 Maui County election candidate: Richard Abbett
Know your 2016 Maui County election candidate: Kaniela Ing
First elected in 2012, Democrat Kaniela Ing represents South Maui in the Hawaii state Legislature. He defeated incumbent Republican George Fontaine that year (a very rare feat in any Maui County election), then easily won reelection in 2014. But this year, he's facing a tough primary challenge from well-funded Democrat Deidre Tegarden (click here to see her … [Read more...] about Know your 2016 Maui County election candidate: Kaniela Ing