TWO VIDEOS...

According to the Board of Water Supply, there were 364 water main breaks per year between 2005 and 2009.

“Today marks a historic and monumental shift—and we have our brave men and women in uniform to thank for that. The progress made in Iraq has been difficult and undeniable. It is remarkable to reflect on how far Iraq has come from a nation ruled by a tyrant to a functioning democracy in the heart of the Arab Middle East. This is what our courageous troops have accomplished.

Instead of uniting the country behind our effort in Iraq, this is how President Obama chose to open his remarks: "As a candidate for this office, I pledged I would end this war. As President, that is what I am doing. We have brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office." The President's love affair with first person singular pronouns aside, this is just plain false.

I am troubled by the anti-TMT attitude. We are about to reward unprecedented respectful and responsible behavior by the TMT project with open opposition and legal action intended to stop construction. Many are saying the Sierra Club is anti-astronomy while others claim that the TMT is caught in the cross-fire of some long standing anti-UH vendetta.

HONOLULU - Lt. Governor Duke Aiona today issued the following statement regarding a personal letter that was sent by Hawai‘i Republican Party Chairman Jonah Ka‘auwai to his supporters....

Join Congressman Charles K. Djou and many prospective employers looking to hire at the 2010 First Congressional District Job Fair. This job fair is free of charge and is open to all residents of Honolulu who are unemployed or underemployed and are looking for better opportunities.

The Akaka bill is novel in that it is the first Congressional attempt to federally recognize a non-Indian entity, and to do so in a fashion inconsistent with the political history of the former governing entity it is ostensibly recognizing. Under a different view, the Akaka bill is novel in that it endeavors to federally recognize a government to collectively represent an entire ethnic group based upon shared indigeneity, rather than political history. But political history, not indegeneity, begets federal recognition.

HONOLULU - House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegan, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor, today announced the endorsement of several members of her Minority Caucus in her election bid. The Minority Caucus elected Lynn Finnegan as their leader five years ago.

“The team’s achievements clearly reflect the guidance of their parents, coaches and teachers.  I want to especially recognize Team Manager Brian Yoshii and coaches Kiha Akau and Jason Heleski for their leadership in mentoring these young athletes and providing them a strong foundation for success both on and off the field.

“The loss to Japan today in no way takes away from what the Waipio All-Stars have brought to our state: tremendous pride to their families, their community and the entire State of Hawai‘i."

The speeches were not incendiary, for the movement is not basically political. The deep feeling present came of itself from the crowd. The spontaneity of the marching, the emotional reaction to the singing, the quiet fellowship of the audience provided evidence; the profound devotion to this most sincerely embraced of all causes was obvious. If the democratic system is to be workable we must come back to this deep, non-political popular feeling as the primary sovereignty. The legislature of the nation can never lead the people; it would pervert democracy if it did. The noble spirit of the March is inescapable and its manifestations must eventually be found in Congress.

HONOLULU -- With Hawaii's primary election just three weeks away, elections officials were dealt a big blow Friday by the federal government.

The state may face a federal lawsuit because Hawaii’s primary and general elections are too close together to meet the requirements of a new federal law….

Results in a pilot study "Native Hawaiian Perceptions of Violence as a Means to Attain Sovereignty" show a sharp contrast between the number of Native Hawaiians interviewed who believe violence is justifiable to achieve sovereignty -- 6 percent -- and the number who believe "the desire to gain sovereignty will result in violence in the future -- 53 percent. Only 24.8 percent felt that violence would definitely not occur.

HONOLULU – Lt. Governor Duke Aiona today announced that the Hawai`i Ophthalmological Society (HOS) and the Hawai`i Medical Political Action Committee (HAMPAC) have endorsed his campaign for Governor.

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle congratulated the Waipio All-Stars Little League team for winning the U.S. Championship Little League World Series title today, in a 10-0 shutout victory over the team from Pearland, Texas. ...

“I can’t wait for tomorrow’s championship where I know Waipio will continue to play at the highest level as they pursue their second Little League World Series championship. Special kudos to the coaches and volunteer staff who led by example.”

Usually discussions of Hawaii’s one-party system focus on an alleged “plantation mentality” and Democrat “machine voters.”  A caricature of the machine voter has them giving up their vote on instructions from nefarious union bosses in exchange for a plate of chili and rice.  But a recent poll points in a surprisingly different direction—wandering Republicans.  The Star-Advertiser-HNN poll released August 22 shows that Republican crossover voters back Mufi Hannemann 72-28% – making the Republican voting bloc absolutely indispensible to Hannemann’s Primary election chances. 

New Jersey was not the only state to lose out because of the Obama administration's slavish devotion to teacher union votes and cash. Proven education reform leaders like Louisiana and Colorado also lost points and finished out of the money because their state's chosen reforms threatened union priorities. Meanwhile Hawaii (which the Data Quality Campaign ranked 17th for education data systems, which the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools ranked 34th for the strength of their charter laws, and which got a D- from the National Council on Teacher Quality) finished third and will receive $75 million. Oh, but they had 100% "buy in" from the unions.

“Mr. Carlisle is fortunate that his statements about his involvement in the Republican Party do not have to stand up in court.   Although he claims that he was not an “active member” and only involved for a “few months”, the fact is Carlisle was a registered party member for 4 years, chaired two State Republican Party Conventions, emceed a major party fundraiser, and ran as a party member for reelection in 2008."