Deputy attorney general Stuart Fujioka lobbed a sandbag at the members of the Land Use Commission when it met on October 27. And the commissioners were not pleased. The LUC is a quasi-judicial body, with procedures governed by a set … Continued
One of the first actions taken by the new administration of Hawaiʻi County Mayor Mitch Roth following his inauguration last December was to soften the county’s stance toward the ʻAina Leʻa development. The previous administration had been insisting that the … Continued
Hu Honua Update: Proceedings before the Public Utilities Commission in the case involving the Hu Honua power plant, being built just north of Hilo, are gaining steam. In September, parties in the case filed prehearing testimonies. The state Consumer Advocate, Tawhiri … Continued
When the virtual meeting of the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council opened on September 21, chair Archie Soliai led off with a Christian prayer. Although the council is a federal body, no one objected. Rather, participants on the WebEx screen … Continued
The Department of Education is gearing up for the opening of the new Kihei High School in August 2022. A principal has been appointed. The Department of Transportation has begun work on a roundabout at the intersection of Pi‘ilani Highway … Continued
Honokohau Headache: In 2020, Environment Hawaiʻi detailed in its August and September cover stories the strife surrounding the auction of a 10-year lease to operate the boat storage yard at Honokohau small boat harbor in West Hawaiʻi. Until recently, the … Continued
Two developments lie behind the 2021 Legislature’s passage of acts relating to land use laws in Hawaiʻi: A state Supreme Court ruling that interpreted the applicability of the statute of limitations for grievances filed over a Land Use Commission decision; … Continued
The 2021 Legislature may not be remembered for actions that will have sweeping, dramatic impact on Hawaiʻi’s environment. Still and all, a number of bills that will push the state closer to a cleaner, sustainable future did manage to cross … Continued
Legislative resolutions don’t carry the weight of law, but they do provide clues as to what statutory changes might be given serious consideration in years to come. This year, the resolution that received the most publicity was probably Senate Concurrent … Continued
By now, most people are familiar with the “hockey stick” phenomenon. That occurs when a trend that may have been bumping along at a gradual increase suddenly shoots skyward, going nearly vertical over a relatively short period. It appears on … Continued