Island thoughts

Hawaii Public Schools!

2006-04-05T21:38:00.000-10:00

I hardly ever read any of Hawaii Main Stream Media (HMSM) newspapers because of their overtly bias slant to the news.

A relative who is visiting from the mainland gave me an article in today's Honolulu Star bulletin "School Spending Above Average".

The question that is raised to me was, If your state is spending so much money per student why do some many people pay to send their kids to private schools? According to the article

The state pays $8,533 per student....$246 above the national average, according to an annual Census Bureau estimate.

My response is because the public school system in terms of state by state rankings is consistently near or one of the worst Public Systems in the United States. However, when you read this article in the "Left Wing, Pro Teachers Union Bulletin" you would think Hawaii Public Schools are great place to send your kids.

Doing some research on this I found something from the Star Bulletin from October, 2001.

Many public school teachers
put own kids in private school As I read this article spokesman Greg Knudsen gave some pretty bad excuses.

According to Morgon Quitno Press based on 21 Factors they performed a study on the smartest states. In 2005 Hawaii ranked 42nd. However Hawaii was 19th in spending per public student. According to the Article in the Star Bulletin the two states that spent the least per student was Idaho at $6028 per student and Utah at $5,008 per student However, their rankings according to Morgon Quitno Press those states in ranking per smartest state is 28 and 33 respectively.

And the Public School Board and Hawaii State Teachers Union want more money.

It is things like that makes the State of Hawaii a leader per capita in sending kids to private schools

Update in 2003 43% of the children of Board of Education members Home schooled or sent there kids to private school Read this investigative report

I really dislike having to quote the other even further left HMSM the Honolulu Advertiser however, they had an article last August Private Schools Enrollment Up

According to an Article

Private schools in Hawai'i have long been popular, drawing more than 16 percent of all students; or more than 30,000 per year in recent years; compared with about 11 percent nationally

The paper could not help but slide their bias and try to blame the rise of private school enrollment on President George Bush. Get a load of this quote

"We have been very happy with her in Manoa Elementary up through sixth grade, but I want to give my daughter every opportunity to succeed," Cowan said. "I just feel the public-schools teachers are getting more and more overwhelmed, with that whole No Child Left Behind, and they're having to cater to that too much

Hey Advertiser wake up!!!!!!!!You are loosing readership because your refuse to print the obvious. The reason why people have decided to do what ever it takes to send their children to private schools is because the Public School System is broken and there is no sign of it ever going to be fixed. It has been run into the ground thanks to Blue State Politics and Cronies. Not because now the Hawaii Public School System actually needs to be accountable for what they teach or not teach our Keiki.

40 days and 40 nights

2006-03-30T12:37:00.000-10:00

To all of my friends on the mainland. I am getting my pay back for rubbing in our great weather.

The National Weather Service has pegged Feb. 19 as the start of the current unstable weather the islands have been experiencing. That would make Thursday the 40th day of wet weather.

This makes it pretty hard to maintain any assemblage of a construction schedule.
To read about our recent weather..

I find KITV has some of the best coverage of Hawaii Weather. Take a look some of the Hawaii Doppler loop for the most current look at our precipitation.

Iraq and the Philippines

2006-03-19T21:26:00.000-10:00

I have been away lately spending a lot of time on the thing that pays my bills and mortgage but this is something that is going to get me out of hiding.

I am just amazed at the MSM lack of coverage of the Saddam's documents that have been recently released. Looking the through Hawaii's socialistic proproganda paper I do not not see one little tid bid about this. I have no problem finding there anti-war coverage.

Hawaii needs to take notice! With our large Philippine community and close ties with the Philippines, we are vunrable. Here in Hawaii we may get a sense we are safe and that Iraq is on the other side of the world and Iraq has nothing to to do with us. Well how about this Saddam - Philippine connection.

SADDAM HUSSEIN'S REGIME PROVIDED FINANCIAL support to Abu Sayyaf, the al Qaeda-linked jihadist group founded by Osama bin Laden's brother-in-law in the Philippines in the late 1990s, according to documents captured in postwar Iraq. An eight-page fax dated June 6, 2001, and sent from the Iraqi ambassador in Manila to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad, provides an update on Abu Sayyaf kidnappings and indicates that the Iraqi regime was providing the group with money to purchase weapons. The Iraqi regime suspended its support--temporarily, it seems--after high-profile kidnappings, including of Americans, focused international attention on the terrorist group.

Bruce Willis is DA MAN!

2006-03-01T13:38:00.000-10:00

This is my motivation to get back to this wonderful Hobby!

Bruce is Da Man!

You will be hearing more from me soon!!!!!!!!!

Local Ties to Abramoff

2006-01-12T07:36:00.000-10:00

In light of the recent Newsletter I received from Grass Root Institute

Regarding the The editorial in The Honolulu Advertiser on Monday Jan. 9, 2006, concerning the Abramoff scandal misses the point. It notes that Hawaii elected officials Sen. Daniel Inouye and Rep. Neil Abercrombie both received campaign contributions from Native American tribes. The Advertiser states “The contributions came before the tribes were affiliated with Abramoff. And they were legal, both in amount and in timing.”

This is misleading because Native American tribes are not limited in the amount and timing of campaign contributions specifically because they are tribes. As Native American tribes they are sovereign governments not subject to the same federal campaign financing laws as the rest of the citizens of the United States of America. That is the nature of the problem

Akaka Bill Implications

Here is a list showing direct contributions to political campaigns. I see two people listed from Hawaii. One Republican one Democrat

Some words of Wisdom From The Grassroot Institute

2006-01-11T21:15:00.000-10:00

From Mr. Rowland at the Grass Root Institute

A Seed for the

Fertile Mind…..

“When a politician wrestles with his conscience,

he usually wins.”

From a friend in Caldwell, Idaho – December 2005

CRABGRASS

Weeds we’d like to pull….

"As the Bible teaches us, to minister to the needs of God's creation is an act of worship, to ignore those needs is to dishonor the God who made us. “Let us vote no on this budget as an act of worship and for America's children.”

- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, quoted by the AP. -

Dick’s comments……..

Above, Nancy Pelosi reverses the Biblical message of individual moral obligations and makes them the responsibility of government which is an amoral entity. Thus she makes God a Marxist and equates her vote to worship of that God. Should we pull that weed, or what?

Thanks Mr. Rowland

Number Crunching

2006-01-06T07:24:00.000-10:00

From what I have been able to read on the Opinionated "B" the numbers seam to reflect things are getting better in Iraq. Reading this in light of our recent visiter to the islands our local news and media outlets are sure quick to give the anti-americans lots of publicity.

I haven't been able to read the whole report yet but from what I can tell from Brooking Irag Index Report In sure seams are looking better. To cut and run now makes now sense.

Iraq Elections!

2005-12-15T06:59:00.000-10:00

I do not care what your political affiliation is, you have to admit how the elections in Iraq have been going thus far is great news!

Many Mahalos to our wonderful men and women in Uniform.

Some links I enjoyed reading

I really enjoyed Mr.Jones's story of how the left
is viewing this
Hugh Hewitt

It's Electric

Michelle Malkin

Pajamas Media

With anticipated voter turn out in Iraq, Hawaii needs to take note on the importance of being able to vote. The amount of people going to vote in Iraq with the very real threat of being Killed is amazing. It is right that we have and it should not be taken lightly. I have a serious problem with people who complain about long lines, having to show I.D. or whatever their complaint might be. It is Manini compared to what Iraqi citizens are doing to vote.

Hawaii needs to take a good and hard long look at Iraq and not buy into the bloviating socialist agenda, anti-war liberals that are so prevalent in our state and especially at our tax supported University of Hawaii.

UH Manoa rewriting history

What Students Learn at UH

Thanks Mr. Jones

Cost of Living in Paradise

2005-12-15T06:51:00.000-10:00

To follow up to my previous post to be able to enjoy our wonderful weather and beaches in the middle of winter it comes at a high price

The state measuring as least affordable for housing is Hawaii, where a two-bedroom home would require a wage of $22.30 an hour. California was next at $22.09.

Lanikai Beach on a List Again

2005-12-09T12:15:00.000-10:00

Aloha to All and greatings from the far left Islands

With all of the reports of the cold weather on the Mainland I thought I would let my friends on the Mainland know how difficult it can be to live in the Islands.

It looks like Lanikai Beach is the only U.S. Beach to make the MSN's List of 10 beaches To Beat The Winter Blah!

What else can I say but, I have go now as there is a rising swell on the North Shore I have to attend to.

I hope your heating bill does not cost you too much this year. I will be thinking of you if I have to turn on my Air Conditioner this winter

Merry Christmas!

Ten Suggestions for Keeping Your Kids Off Ice

2005-12-01T19:38:00.000-10:00

While doing some research on the Tayshea Aiwohi Case I ran across these ten suggestions for keeping your kids off Ice.

1. Know your child's friends. Encourage your child to bring friends to your home. These friends will often be involved with you and your child for the rest of your lives.

2. Visit your child's school. Let your child know that you are interested and involved in your child's education. As you become aware of your childÂs school environment, you are better prepared to deal with him or her effectively during the evening and on weekends

3. Set aside time each evening when you and your child can discuss the day's events. This will help keep you in tune with your child's thoughts and activities.

4. Encourage your child to discuss with you anything of concern or interest. Understand that there is nothing too small or insignificant for a child to discuss with you.

5. Make sure your child knows daily that he or she is loved. Consider giving your child a hug and telling him/her you love him/her. Ask yourself if you really like your child and if you enjoy having your child as a part of your life.

6. Set consistent standards of behavior for your child. Let him or her know that there are socially acceptable and socially unacceptable behaviors. Make sure that your child has a clear understanding of your expectations.

7. Reward and discipline your child. Let your child know that there are consequences for acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

8. Set a good example. Make sure your child sees you displaying the type of behavior that you would have him/her demonstrate.

9. Discuss important values and attitudes with your child. Make sure you sit with your child and discuss what motivates you to do your best. A solid ethical grounding that sustains a parent though good and bad times will help sustain a child as well.

10. Share a dream. Help your child understand that a dream shared today can be a reality someday. By helping your child set realistic goals you will help them control their destiny in many ways.

They look really familiar, oh yea! Traditionaltional family values. Values that I was raised on. Especially #7 more on the discipline portion.

Hawaii has a unique family and extended family culture that is unlike anywhere. We can not let traditional family values be slighted. There are so many groups out there that get upset with us so called religious right when by raise the importance of the traditional family and family values.

Pay attention Hawaii we can not afford any further breakdown of our families.

Injustice for 2 Day Old Treyson Aiwohi

2005-11-30T06:40:00.000-10:00

Update 12/1/05. I can not believe some of the things I have been reading. The groups and our left wing paper agree with this ruling. I am just blown away.

I can not believe what I heard on the way into work today and what I have read thus far in a local paper Ice Addict Cleared of Killing Newborn. This is ABSURD!!!!!! This is another one of these things that get me so mad that I think my eyes are going to bleed. I must admit I was only paying slight attention to this story. It is probably too late but it now has my full attention. For my friends on the mainland who are unaware of the case;

HIGHLIGHTS IN THE AIWOHI CASE
July 15, 2001: Treyson Aiwohi born to Tayshea Aiwohi at Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center.
July 16, 2001: Hospital discharges Aiwohi and son.

July 17, 2001: Treyson taken to Castle Hospital via ambulance; pronounced dead at 6:32 a.m.; Medical examiner later find that cause of death was methamphetamine poisoning.

Aug. 29, 2001: Aiwohi tells investigator for Medical Examiner that she smoked "ice" on July 12, 13, 14 and one hit on July 15, the day of her baby's delivery.

Oct. 9, 2003: Grand jury indicts Tayshea Aiwohi for manslaughter, the first case in Hawaii in which a mother is charged with killing her baby by smoking ice while pregnant.

June 3, 2004: Circuit Judge Michael Town denies Aiwohi's motion to dismiss the indictment.

June 17, 2004: Aiwohi enters no contest plea to manslaughter under plea agreement that allows her to appeal Town's decision.

Aug. 25, 2004: Aiwohi is sentenced to 10 years probation with no jail time.

Sept. 23, 2004: Aiwohi files notice of appeal.

Oct. 19, 2005: Hawaii Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the case.

Nov. 29, 2005: State Supreme Court overturns Aiwohi's conviction.

The real crime is that this lady never received any jail time. She received probation. Why could she not have just Thanked the Lord God above that she only received probation. She could have done her probation, accepted her punishment, been thankful and done some good by becoming advocate to help others not make the same stupid, idiotic choice that she made. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! She has to claim she is a victim. Her unborn son was the victim not her.

She had to be so selfish, self absorbed and make it a political cause.

Aiwohi had argued that her prosecution for manslaughter -- recklessly causing the death of another person -- goes against the plain meaning of the statute because her unborn child was not a "person" who can be a victim of a crime.

Wake up Hawaii!!!!!!! Hawaii has a family (O'Hana) culture like no other. If we keep letting this type of grap happen. The O'hana will be gone with the Aloha! I directly contribute the Left's political agenda with this. As we all know Hawaii is one of the most Democratic states in the nation. If these types of ruling continue the left will be successful in breaking down the Family culture. Correct me if I am wrong, I far as I know of Hawaii and Polynesian culture a woman with child (Hapai) is a blessing. Not well if she doesn't want the child she can get rid of it. Let alone she has the right to act carelessly which harms the unborn.

I want to know who payed for her attorney's fees? Who's idea was it to appeal? These are some answers I am determined to find out!

It makes me sick to read;

My son can now lay to rest," said Kimo Aiwohi.

Yon know what Mr. Aiwohi, speaking as a Father of three children, if my wife had done something as stupid as to smoke "ICE" while she was pregnant with my child, cause the death of our child I would be leading the fight in her accepting blame and punishment for what she had done. I wondering if he was smoking with her?

I must admit I am blessed to have a wonderful wife of Hawaii ancestry, with strong Catholic values who understands, appreciates and accepted the responsibility of her pregnancies and is wonderful mother to our three wonderful kids.

"My son can rest" please spare me. Now he has to rest in peace with a terrible injustice by the Hawaii Supreme Court!

Totally Tubular

2005-11-28T12:42:00.000-10:00

Thanks to Prof. B. at his Wine Blog. instead of wine in a box it is now in a Tube.

According Professor Bainbridge

snob appeal counts for a lot. It's a nice example of how much utility wine geeks derive from ancillary aspects, such as the ritual of opening a bottle, entirely distinct from the actual taste of the wine.

I must admit until now I would have never ever considered this. However, with my crazy life of at least an hour commute home after the fast pace workday in the construction industry, then having to get the kids fed, bathed and making sure homework is done, opening and finishing a bottle of wine during the week is almost impossible. This is usually why an Ice Cold Corona wins out over a bottle of wine after the kids go to bed.

I wonder when this product will make it to Hawaii. Probably June 2010

Book Signing to an Empty House

2005-11-28T07:31:00.000-10:00

To continue with my protest against the Anti-War movement this is Sweet. It looks likke the Cindy Sheehan media fumbled on this one. Is it possible even with all the free press she gets from the Main Stream Media. People do not likew what she is doing.

Thank you Mr. Hewitt for this little tid bit

To the Anti-War Crowd Please Read This

2005-11-22T15:37:00.000-10:00

With all the anti-war bias of the in the Main Stream Media I think this Mil Blogger reached his boiling point and rightly so! Read his open Letter to the Anti-war crowd.

think back to the Jews who were led out of Egypt whined that they were tired of eating manna, trekking through the desert, facing the danger of wild animals, desert heat, and uncertainty as to what the next mile in the sand might bring. They longed to be back in bondage, slaves to the Egyptians, with full stomachs, roofs over their heads, and a place to call home. They would have rather been forced to perform manual labor by Draconian task-masters rather have their freedom. They knew that they would be fed, have a permanent house, regardless of the way they were treated, as slaves doing forced HARD labor.They were not willing to travel the hard road, to fight for their freedoms. It was easier to go back and be oppressed by the Egyptians rather than press forward and fight for their own nation, for their own freedom. I use the word fight. I mean the term both militarily and in simple reference to the struggle to maintain resilience of spirit.

Some of you will immediately discount the previous reference for the simple fact it is Biblical. Regardless of what you believe spiritually, the parallel draws the conclusion. People who are willing to trade freedom for security are sorry individuals. Freedom is costly to maintain, financially, but also costly of life,
resolve and dedication.

Thank you MDG

Information Reformation and Local Politics

2005-11-15T22:39:00.000-10:00

One of things I noticed while I was unable to access the internet from Island Memo Corporate Headquarters I almost felt I was behind the curve or left out. I now realized how much I rely on electronic information for news, knowledge and opinions. There have been several times where I read something on the web and then read about that same thing in our local bias news media two to three days later. I do not claim to be an expert on this electronic medium but from what I have seen there are a lot people that just do not get it. I am amazed that there are so many in the political and journalism arenas that still do not understand or realize that there is an Information Reformation that effects our past, present and future.

Like all of you I watched from the sidelines what had been going on with Harriet Miers Supreme Court Nomination. I must admit I was on the side of Hugh Hewitt and thought she would be a good person to have on the court. However as information came to light in her Dallas speach I saw that she flip flopped like John Kerry while at the same time changing her colors faster than a chameleon. I am not one whom should speak about writing skills, as one of the main reasons I started this blog was to give me a place to practice my writing skills. We all know that I have plenty room for improvement. However, the writings by Ms Miers I was able to read, I was not impressed. This is someone who is to be appointed to the highest court in the land I expected more.

What was interesting to me was that it was not the opposition party that doomed her nomination but it was the people with in the Republican Party that was able to get her to withdraw her nomination. It was a matter of perfection. The left has never cared about perfection. However the right does care, especially when it comes to a Supreme Court Nominations. It wasn’t that she isn't a great person and should not be commended for her accomplishments but it was more that she is not perfect for the job at hand. The political right felt they worked too hard and too long and they were not going to just role over with out making sure she is right for the job. It was an amazing sight to see the information that was reviewed, disseminated and debated. There was no Editor of the Old Guard controlling the information that would be fed to us. With this free and open debate of information it was obvious she was not perfect for the job. Prior to the internet we would have never been able to review and debate this information.

With the advent of the Blogosphere I was amazed that she never told anyone about the speech and didn’t think it would come to light. She needed to be reminded of Tent Lott and Dan Rather. When Ms. Miers decided to accept this appointment I do not think she really realized what the roll of the Blogosphere would play in here nomination.

Now that brings me to local issues and how the new medium can and will effect the landscape.

While sitting down at lunch reading the October 14, 2005 edition of the Pacific Business I read an article on an old friend of Honolulu, Mayoral Canadate Mr. Duke Bainum titled Bainum preparing for return to politics by Prabha Natarajan while reading this article I was amazed at how the author of the article and Mr. Bainum are utterly and completely missing the understanding the “information reformation”. I generally like the Pacific Business News as it is one of the few local periodicals that understands free enterprise. However they missed mark on this one, they are not even in the same field

Jennifer Bainum was a key figure in a messy family dispute involving her care of an elderly man and her control of his estate. Though the dispute was settled in court nearly a decade ago with no suggestion that Jennifer Bainum did anything wrong, a politically oriented Web site unearthed the case and essentially cast her as a thief.

It also said

The reports never hit the mainstream media, but enough blogs and talk shows and homemade handouts pulled the issue out of the shadows to undermine the foundation of Bainum's campaign against Mufi Hannemann.
"I know some people changed their vote at the last minute but I am not bitter," Bainum said. "It's unfortunate that my opponents totally misrepresented the facts about my wife. They are not true. It's unfortunate they chose to go that route.

Oh so because this did not appear in the main stream media the incidents that his wife were involved with didn’t happen. You know what, they did happen and there are still items coming to light that shows that his wife has questionable ethics and associations.

In case you did not get a chance to read the original story by Ms. Malia Zimmerman read it here.

Stripped down to the bare indisputable facts, here’s the story and why it should have been investigated by the major media: In the Summer of 1995, Jennifer Alonso-Toma was hired by Dennis Murasaki to be the caretaker for Masumi Murasaki, his ailing 83-year-old father, in return for $350 a month and bed and board. At that time Masumi Murasaki had over $300,000 in fairly liquid assets. Masumi Murasaki died on Jan. 28, 1997, just 18 months later, having assets of only $6,000 with the bulk of his funds having been drained by Jennifer Alonso-Toma during that time, according to documents provided in court.

In her response Anatomy of a Smear Ms. Zimmerman explained

The local conventional media say that Hawaii Reporter is “Republican-oriented” but what on earth does that have to do with the story when both mayoral candidates were long term self-avowed Democrats? And for the record, our supporters, who come from all political parties, are people who believe in the First Amendment.

Mr. Bainum claiming his wife has not done anything wrong makes me seriously question his character and judgement. There is information readily available documenting Ms. Toma-Bainum's prior questionable associations;
Previous Attorney she used has been disbarred

Backgrounds of Experts Hired by Jennifer Toma-Bainum in Murasaki Case Under Scrutiny in Court

Marvin Acklin, Ph.D.

Marvin Acklin, Ph.D. was arrested and charged in 1990 with a domestic violence assault on his wife, Denise Acklin, after he violently choked her. He pled guilty in First Circuit Court, paid a $25 fine, and this psychologist was sentenced to "therapy." In 1995, he asked his record be wiped clean for good behavior and the court agreed.

Since, Acklin has been in court many times testifying as an "expert" in everything from family custody cases to guardianship matters to murders, including those committed by Byran Uyesugi, as he’d been the psychologist who assessed him before he was sent back to work.

The background on the case: In November 1999, Byran Uyesugi, who was employed by Xerox Corp. for 15 years, entered the main office headquarters on Nimitz Highway at 8 a.m. and shot and killed seven innocent co-workers.

Prior to this, Uyesugi displayed violent tendencies while performing a service call at First Hawaiian Bank, resulting in criminal charges being filed against him. He had violently kicked in an elevator door at First Hawaiian and threatened the lives of his co-workers.

Uyesugi was sent to Castle Medical Center for five days, where he was tested by Acklin and another doctor, but he was released despite what several civil lawsuits filed against him since the murders consider poor judgement. "Despite strong evidence that Uyesugi was suffering from a serious mental illness, the defendants (Acklin) released him after only five days of observation and treatment … Acklin was negligent in that, among other things, no adequate disclosure of Uyesugi’s condition was made, nor was adequate warning given regarding the severity of Uyesugi’s mental illness and/or his foreseeable dangerousness to others…"

Japanese Cultural Center Receives a gift

With all the information that is out there, not to mention the items documented under Banana Peel Investigations for Mr Bainum to claim his wife has done nothing wrong makes no sense at all.

Thank you Ms. Zimmerman for your Investigative reporting. Mr. Bainum lost the Mayorial race by 1500 votes. With his wife's history can you imagine what she would be attempting to do as the First Lady of Honolulu.

With Mr. Bainum previous friendly relationship with Harris Admistration (that is a whole other story), Previous stance on lease to fee converstions (Eminant Domain) and His claim that his wife has done nothing wrong it will be a cold day in you know where before he will get my vote. I do not want him representing me in any sort of elected compasity whether it be Mayor, US Congress, US Senate or anything else.

Bainum Returning to Politics?

2005-11-15T20:02:00.000-10:00

A couple weeks ago I read the below Article in the Pacific Business News. I am posting it below because I plan to refer to it in my next post. In order to review it is a bit difficult to retreive so I am posting the whole article here.

If I did not read this in the Pacific Business News I would have never believed that an article like this could have ever been written. It is the most one sided, Pro-Banium Article I ever read. Does the author read any news on the web, if he did he would have been able to ask at least one tough questionof this guy. PBN missed the boat on this one

From the October 14, 2005 print edition
Bainum preparing for return to politics
Prabha Natarajan
Pacific Business News

Duke Bainum plans to return to Hawaii's political arena in January after nearly a year away from the islands to regroup and make money for his next round of campaigning.
Bainum, 53, who fell 1,350 votes short of becoming the mayor of Honolulu last November, is working as the assistant manager at the Quality Inn Oceanfront in Ocean City, Md., a motel owned by his family.
In the past year, Bainum has been on the Mainland and in Asia, investing in real estate, volunteering to help Hurricane Katrina victims and starting what he described as a "small kine" import business in Honolulu. He said he has generally caught up with personal obligations he put on hold during three years of campaigning.
Bainum, a physician who spent a record $4.1 million in the mayoral campaign, including $2.7 million of his own money, said he won't retreat from public life because of that defeat or because of unflattering reports about his wife that surfaced in the closing weeks of the campaign.
"It would wonderful to be part of the political government," Bainum told PBN. "I enjoy service, be it medical volunteering, community organizations or running for political office. I enjoy making my community a better place to live."
A Democrat who has served in the state Legislature and on the Honolulu City Council, Bainum said he is interested in running for Congress, maybe for mayor again, but definitely not for governor. Both of Hawaii's two U.S. House seats, now occupied by Ed Case and Neil Abercrombie, and the Senate seat held by Daniel Akaka will be up for election in 2006.
But before he turns in his nomination papers, he will have to address the allegations about his wife, Jennifer, that many political observers believe cost him the election.
"We are still exploring what those options are and have been advised to take our time," Bainum said. "By no means am I done or is all this over. We will take measures of some sort to present the true facts."
Jennifer Bainum was a key figure in a messy family dispute involving her care of an elderly man and her control of his estate. Though the dispute was settled in court nearly a decade ago with no suggestion that Jennifer Bainum did anything wrong, a politically oriented Web site unearthed the case and essentially cast her as a thief.
The reports never hit the mainstream media, but enough blogs and talk shows and homemade handouts pulled the issue out of the shadows to undermine the foundation of Bainum's campaign against Mufi Hannemann.
"I know some people changed their vote at the last minute but I am not bitter," Bainum said. "It's unfortunate that my opponents totally misrepresented the facts about my wife. They are not true. It's unfortunate they chose to go that route."
Initially, Bainum's campaign decided not to address the allegations. When he finally did speak out in the closing days of the campaign, many thought it was too late.
"Some people said we should have defended ourselves more," Bainum said. "There's always two ways of looking at it. But we made a decision and stuck to that."
But Bainum said the experience won't change his approach to campaigning.
I am not going to do anything dramatically different," he said. "We will continue to take the high road. After all, almost half the people did vote for us."

Personally, Bainum is back to wearing his many hats.
He is talking about returning to his old job as a part-time physician at the Sex Abuse Treatment Center.
He also is looking to buy a home on Oahu by the end of this year. Despite his medical training, Bainum is a self-described entrepreneur and said he has made some speculative real estate investments in Bangkok and on the Mainland.
"I spent all that money and now I am making it back," Bainum joked.
Bainum said he also made time to go on volunteer medical missions. Just this past month, he said he went to Louisiana with his wife, brother and sister-in-law.
He spent five days in Bogalusa taking care of people impacted by Hurricane Katrina out of Red Cross and church shelters.
"We heard Bogalusa was a war zone so we went there," Bainum said. "I had 70-year-old patients who had been plucked off the roofs of their houses. It was nice to be able to help out."
And come Christmas, you may see Bainum and his wife hawking curios from Thailand at craft fairs. The couple's new business, Azia Inc., will bring in small crafted pieces from Asia to sell as Christmas gifts here.
"It's fun to purchase products when you travel and I enjoy business and my wife does, too,"

Appeasement Is Not working

2005-11-15T07:27:00.000-10:00

I was forwarded an interesting article on France. What the Uprising Generation Wants
France's underclass is tired of being shut out. And time is on their side

Paris burns anyway. As the French seem to learn every 70 years, appeasement does not work. It merely whets the appetite. And the angry alien young were already hungry.

I would love to hear what you have to think

Aloha

2005-11-10T13:12:00.000-10:00

I wasn't going to post this but I am going to do in anyway against my better judgement.

I asked my wife if she would like a set of these. Needless to say She didn't like my suggestion.

Oh well can't hurt to ask.

More Christians Attacked

2005-11-08T20:30:00.000-10:00

Catholic World News and International Christian Concern reports that more Christians have been targeted by radical Muslim extremist in Indonesia again. This makes me so mad that I think my eyes are going to bleed. Where is the Main Stream Media on all of this. These no good for nothing @#$!$#! Islamic extremist are so Chicken !#$& that they have to target young Christian Girls. These thugs who are responsible for this are not even worthy enough to be called a part of the female anatomy.

A couple weeks ago there were some gruesome pictures circulating of three young Christian Girls who were ambushed and beheaded by Muslim extremists. I am not going to link them here but feel free to look around they are fairly easy to find. Now these scums of the earth have ambushed and shoot two more young Christian girls in the head.

What do you think the main stream media would be doing if an American did that to a Muslim. You bet they would be all over it like flies on you know what. Look how the Main Stream Media were enablers for Jimmy Massey and John Kerry. Where is the outcry from the so called Human Rights Activist! It wasn’t too long ago that school children were held Hostage and Killed in Russia because they lived in a predominantly Christian Community.

I am so furious about this.

Gas Cap 101

2005-11-04T12:20:00.000-10:00

Another Great Posting by Mr. Walden Via the Hawaii Reporter

France in Australia?

2005-11-04T07:27:00.000-10:00

Is Australia next to Riot. Let us pray for our Pacific Brothers do not have happen to them what is happening in France

Update 11/8/05 With the recent arrests, it looks like Autralia understands and is taking the appropriate actions. France thinks the can Appease and Bribe the thugs that are rioting.

Plame and Wilson Marriage

2005-11-03T15:50:00.000-10:00

A great post by our buddy Sen. Zell Miller about Plame, Wilson and Libby take a look I think you will find it interesting

A New Book by Ms. Malkin

2005-11-01T07:10:00.000-10:00

I am going to have to pick up this new Book by Michelle Malkin.

Building Related Issues

2005-10-31T22:26:00.000-10:00

There are some recent Posts at Grassroot Institute I have been meaning to take a closer look at. They are Dumb Growth Issues and Various Good Stuff. They are issues I find particularly interesting. As you all know I do work in the construction industry and have first hand knowledge of some of the lunacies that are discussed in these posting. In the future I plan to give you some my daily experiences.

More Gas Information

2005-10-31T22:08:00.000-10:00

Thanks to Mr. Jones and his new Blog Dougout has an interesting graph which shows the amount of taxes collected versus oil industry profits. Hey Sen. Menor how about tax caps.

Protection of Goldfish

2005-10-28T12:49:00.000-10:00

It looks like Goldfish are finally getting the protection they have always needed. It is a good thing I have been having a real hard time sleeping because goldfish have not received the protection they so deservedly require. Now with a little luck our legislature will make a law here similar to the what the Italians have done and ban goldfish bowls.

This is Crazy! Thanks to Ms. Schlussel she has pointed out a ridiculous law passed in Rome Italy (with the help of PETA) banning Goldfish bowls. If I am reading this correct the law was enacted because the bowls make the fish go blind. Oh heaven forbid! They might have as well said it will keep little kids from tapping on the glass and making the fish go deaf. Read more here.

Blogging Silence Lately

2005-10-26T07:31:00.000-10:00

I have not been posting lately as there seams to be an internet connection problem and Island Thoughts at Island Memo Corporate Head Quarters. If not sooner I should be up and running at full speed over the weekend. I have been tapping at the keys trying to put some of my "Island Thoughts" together on some character issues, some new recipes I've been meaning to try. home projects I am about to start and share with you, and of course more craziness going on in the state. Please visit the links I have on the side. I think they are great and I try to look at them all at least once a day.

Have a great day

UH Pushing the Left Again

2005-10-25T12:55:00.000-10:00

Thank you again Mr. Jones at 5oth State for another great post. Mr. Andrew Walden is a great American. Thank you Mr. Walden for all that you are doing!!!!!!

How about a Proposition 75 for Hawaii?

2005-10-21T20:24:00.000-10:00

I have had a chance to browse the web and look at Proposition 75. The "Paycheck Protection Proposition" in the upcoming special election in California on Nov. 8, 2005. I wish we could get something like this to ballot here in Hawaii. However, looking at The Strangle Hold the Unions and Democratic Party has on Hawaii, along with the money and lies the unions are putting out to defeat this measure in California, it is doubtful we could even get something like this to ballot. Can you imagine what it would be like if we were to get something like this to a ballot vote? Just think if something like this was to pass here? What do you think it would do to the single source political party?

It is my belief that the main reason for current condition of Hawaii Public Schools are due to the unions. The Public Teachers Union seams to be more interested in advancing political agendas and lining their pockets than educating the Keiki(children) of Hawaii.

Hawaii needs a Proposition 75. Just think what it would be like to have a level playing field?

I support Proposition 75, the Paycheck Protection initiative, because I believe that unions should have to ask for their members permission before they take their money and spend it on political issues.

-Sandra Crandall, Teacher of the Year, 2005

Leading proponent of the proposition 75 is Organize Not Politics and their summary of the Paycheck Protection Initiative is;

The Paycheck Protection initiative will give public employees the choice of whether they want their union dues spent on political campaigns. It will require public employee unions to receive annual written consent from members before the member's dues may be used for political purposes. This initiative will not prevent unions from collecting political contributions, but those contributions will be voluntary, rather than mandatory.

Further, the initiative requires public employee unions to maintain and submit to the California Fair Political Practices Commission records concerning their political contributions. The initiative does not apply to dues collected for charitable organizations, health care insurance or other purposes directly benefiting the public employees.

Essentially, the Paycheck Protection initiative will strengthen public employee union members' political rights. It will give them the option of choosing whether they want their union dues spent on political candidates and campaigns.

Official Title and Summary Here

Some Questions and Answers via "Organize not Politics"

Q: What exactly will the Paycheck Protection initiative do?

A: This measure will require public employee unions to obtain written permission from their members before individual member's dues are spent on political purposes. Simply, it will allow public employees to decide when, how, and if their hard earned wages are spent to support political candidates or campaigns.

Q: Why is this measure important?

A: Everyone appreciates the hard work of our firefighters, police, teachers and other public employees. They provide a vital service for the people of California and they do their job well. It is only fair that public employee union members have the right to give their permission before their hard earned dollars are used for political purposes that they may not agree with.

Q: How does this measure affect public employee unions' ability to collect dues for health care or other purposes directly benefiting the public employees?

A: This measure only affects dues that are spent for political purposes. In no way does this measure affect public employee unions' ability to collect dues that are used for charitable organizations, health care or any other purpose.

Q: Will this measure restrict public employee unions' ability to participate in the political process?

A: This measure does nothing to restrict unions from participating in the political process. Unions will still be able to contribute money to political candidates and fund political campaigns.

Q: Why are union bosses opposed to this measure?

A: Union bosses will naturally oppose this measure because many of their members will likely choose not to have their dues spent on political activities. However, for the individual union members they will gain the freedom to decide if they want their money spent on politics.

Q: What happens to the employee's money if the initiative is passed?

A: It is returned to the individual. Union members will see their paychecks increase as the money that was previously taken out of their paychecks for political activities is returned.

Q: Who is supporting this measure?

A: This measure is supported by Californians for Paycheck Protection. This committee is supported by California taxpayers and union members who believe public employee members deserve the right to make their own political choices.

Aloha

Gas Cap Lunacy

2005-10-20T20:51:00.000-10:00

The guys over at Grass Root Institute have produced another great post. It is a subject I have spoken about a few times and one of the main reasons I started this blog. Gas Cap Lunacy! My head was swimming today when I was reading and hearing that the people who enacted this law kept saying because the gas prices are now going down it is proof that the law is working. The posting at Grass Root Institute has a graph that shows Hawaii gas prices were actually more stable than the mainland prior to the Gas Cap.

If this was such great law how come there is not any other state even considering a similar law for their state?. Oh yea! because they are too busy laughing at us.

Nutty Professors & Character

2005-10-19T22:57:00.000-10:00

Over the last couple of weeks I have been thinking about what has been going on at College Campuses around the U.S. and here in Hawaii. As a parent of three, a few years before the first will be ready to attend her freshman year, I am always trying to do the right things to prepare them to go to college. I have set up the college 529 saving accounts, instilling in them the importance of education, playing classical music and anything else so they can attend to the college of their choosing.

Then I read of what is going on at Universities around at universities around the U.S. refer to Powerline and here at U of H Manoa. Mr. Jones at Fiftieth Star has posted an email from a professor to the Chancellor. There is more information by Hawaii Reporter about this nutty professor. Can I Home School College? The more and more I read about what the majority of the facility at Universities believe in and teach I find it to be one hundred and eighty degrees from my beliefs.

I believe it was last week on the way home from work I was listening to the Laura Ingraham show. She was talking with a gentleman by the Name of Noah Riner who ended up in trouble at Dartmouth because he spoke of God and Character to incoming Freshman.

Character has a lot to do with sacrifice, laying our personal interests down for something bigger. The best example of this is Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” He knew the right thing to do. He knew the cost would be agonizing torture and death. He did it anyway. That’s character.
Jesus is a good example of character, but He’s also much more than that. He is the solution to flawed people like corrupt Dartmouth alums, looters, and me

I read his entire speech and he can speak to my kids anytime.

Character is something I have had personal experience with and dealing with people with no character at all. It sure seems like to me there are so many moe people that do not have manners, are rude or finding some way to pon off their mistakes on to somebody else. I am not saying that universities should offer classes on Character or Manners it is just that Universities Faculty and Staff should not discourage it.

I am not able to link Mr. Riner's speech so I am posting it below. Noah's Parents must be proud to have raised such a fine young man.

Noah Riner ‘06 Welcomes Class of ‘09
By Noah Riner | Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Editor’s Note: Student Body President Noah Riner ‘06 spoke to the incoming class of ‘09 at today’s Convocation.
You’ve been told that you are a special class. A quick look at the statistics confirms that claim: quite simply, you are the smartest and most diverse group of freshmen to set foot on the Dartmouth campus. You have more potential than all of the other classes. You really are special.
But it isn’t enough to be special. It isn’t enough to be talented, to be beautiful, to be smart. Generations of amazing students have come before you, and have sat in your seats. Some have been good, some have been bad. All have been special.
In fact, there’s quite a long list of very special, very corrupt people who have graduated from Dartmouth. William Walter Remington, Class of 1939, started out as a Boy Scout and a choirboy and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He ended up as a Soviet spy, was convicted of perjury and beaten to death in prison.
Daniel Mason ‘93 was just about to graduate from Boston Medical School when he shot two men – killing one – after a parking dispute.
Just a few weeks ago, I read in the D about PJ Halas, Class of 1998. His great uncle George founded the Chicago Bears, and PJ lived up to the family name, co-captaining the basketball team his senior year at Dartmouth and coaching at a high school team following graduation. He was also a history teacher, and, this summer, he was arrested for sexually assualting a 15-year-old student.
These stories demonstrate that it takes more than a Dartmouth degree to build character.
As former Dartmouth President John Sloan Dickey said, at Dartmouth our business is learning. And I’ll have to agree with the motto of Faber College, featured in the movie Animal House, “Knowledge is Good.” But if all we get from this place is knowledge, we’ve missed something. There’s one subject that you won’t learn about in class, one topic that orientation didn’t cover, and that your UGA won’t mention: character.
What is the purpose of our education? Why are we at Dartmouth?
Martin Luther King, Jr. said:
“But education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society…. We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
We hear very little about character in our classrooms, yet, as Dr. King suggests, the real problem in the world is not a lack of education.
For example, in the past few weeks we’ve seen some pretty revealing things happening on the Gulf Coast in the wake of hurricane Katrina. We’ve seen acts of selfless heroism and millions around the country have united to help the refugees.
On the other hand, we’ve been disgusted by the looting, violence, and raping that took place even in the supposed refuge areas. In a time of crisis and death, people were paddling around in rafts, stealing TV’s and VCR’s. How could Americans go so low?
My purpose in mentioning the horrible things done by certain people on the Gulf Coast isn’t to condemn just them; rather it’s to condemn all of us. Supposedly, character is what you do when no one is looking, but I’m afraid to say all the things I’ve done when no one was looking. Cheating, stealing, lusting, you name it - How different are we? It’s easy to say that we’ve never gone that far: never stolen that much; never lusted so much that we’d rape; and the people we’ve cheated, they were rich anyway.
Let’s be honest, the differences are in degree. We have the same flaws as the individuals who pillaged New Orleans. Ours haven’t been given such free range, but they exist and are part of us all the same.
The Times of London once asked readers for comments on what was wrong with the world. British author, G. K. Chesterton responded simply: “Dear Sir, I am.”
Not many of us have the same clarity that Chesterton had. Just days after Hurricane Katrina had ravaged the Gulf Coast, politicians and pundits were distributing more blame than aid. It’s so easy to see the faults of others, but so difficult to see our own. In the words of Cassius in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “the fault, dear Brutus is not in our stars but in ourselves.”
Character has a lot to do with sacrifice, laying our personal interests down for something bigger. The best example of this is Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” He knew the right thing to do. He knew the cost would be agonizing torture and death. He did it anyway. That’s character.
Jesus is a good example of character, but He’s also much more than that. He is the solution to flawed people like corrupt Dartmouth alums, looters, and me.
It’s so easy to focus on the defects of others and ignore my own. But I need saving as much as they do.
Jesus’ message of redemption is simple. People are imperfect, and there are consequences for our actions. He gave His life for our sin so that we wouldn’t have to bear the penalty of the law; so we could see love. The problem is me; the solution is God’s love: Jesus on the cross, for us.
In the words of Bono:
[I]f only we could be a bit more like Him, the world would be transformed. …When I look at the Cross of Christ, what I see up there is all my s—- and everybody else’s. So I ask myself a question a lot of people have asked: Who is this man? And was He who He said He was, or was He just a religious nut? And there it is, and that’s the question.
You want the best undergraduate education in the world, and you’ve come to the right place to get that. But there’s more to college than achievement. With Martin Luther King, we must dream of a nation – and a college – where people are not judged by the superficial, “but by the content of their character.”
Thus, as you begin your four years here, you’ve got to come to some conclusions about your own character because you won’t get it by just going to class. What is the content of your character? Who are you? And how will you become what you need to be?

This Guy is still speaking?

2005-10-19T11:36:00.000-10:00

I guess UH Manoa is not the only universitey still giving The Native American Fraud a platform to speak. WC. He gets me so upset I can not even stand to type his name

Gas Cap Update

2005-10-18T21:58:00.000-10:00

On Monday driving into work I heard the person giving the news report on KRTR that with the decrease in gasoline prices has the proponents of the GAS GRAP LAW claiming that this is proof the GAS GRAP law is working. Hello McFly!!!! or should I say Senator Menor!!!! we are still 17% more than the second highest in the nation! I can not believe that we are celebrating gas getting to under $3/gallon in some locations now.

Ms. Zimmerman of the Hawaii Reporter has posted the latest report by House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegann, 10/18/2005

Dick Morris

2005-10-18T21:51:00.000-10:00

I get a kick out of Dick Morris. Does he write a book a week? At least he is making some money off the Clintons. Read the latest on Newsmax about Mr. Morris here

Hawaii State Taxes

2005-10-18T21:18:00.000-10:00

If there is anything that can get me upset it is taxes! Looking at the past history on how horribly the Hawaii State Government has spent our hard earned money it gets me so mad that I think my eyes are going to bleed. Mr. Kalapa of The Tax Foundation Of Hawaii has a wonderful write up on the Villian of Business

This statement sums it up

Probably the most disingenuous are those lawmakers who like to proclaim that they are champions of the poor. Although those lawmakers have made efforts in the past few sessions to demonstrate that they are concerned about the plight of the poor, the poor have basically been left empty-handed.

Instead of helping the poor, lawmakers have heaped added burdens on those least capable of bearing additional costs from the most infamous increase in the general excise tax rate to the nickel per beverage container, to the cap on the price of gasoline which only sent prices artificially higher.

Maybe I would not be so cynical if there was something that the state government has done correct or effeciently. I can not think of a single thing

OKAY WIFE

2005-10-18T07:23:00.000-10:00

Okay I will start that work out program and return to my original shape when you first met me. Abs

UARC

2005-10-16T21:10:00.000-10:00

Another must read at Hawaii Reporter and Mr. Jones at 5oth state has some other great posts here and here. I was so happy to hear about UH turning out Great ROTC graduates however it sure seams a majority the school is so far left, anti-military and anti U.S. they will do almost anything to promote their anti-america aggenda.

Mr Jones points out

The Richardson Law School has entire departments whose only purpose is to manufacture activists with law degrees. As Richardson’s Environmental Law Program states:

Recognizing the challenges that Hawai`i faces in developing an environmentally sustainable economy, the School of Law has developed a vibrant and diverse Environmental Law Program (ELP). Since its inception in 1988, the ELP has become a significant part of the curriculum at the School of Law and is a fundamental component of the school's mission. The ELP seeks to train future lawyers to be skilled in the field of environmental law and to contribute to the advancement of environmental law doctrine, scholarship, and practice locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. [Italics added]

Looking at all the debate that is going on over the Supreme court judges and the posting above it is clear that UH is in the practice of on educating people so they can get legislation done via the the Bench.

It is a little bit before my kids will be going to college however unless some things change drastically at UH I do not think I will send them to UH.

Outstanding ROTC Program from Hawaii

2005-10-16T20:35:00.000-10:00

Why doesn't our LocaL MSM (Main Stream Media) point out the success of our Local ROTC Programs from UHM, Chaminade, HPU and UH West Oahu. The men and women coming out of the program are qualified, successful and accept their duty with honor and courage.

"We let them know that they will probably be sent to war," Nakamura said. Yet, those students in the Army ROTC program know that it is a responsibility that comes with the job. John Cole, a junior majoring in political science, has been in the program for three years. "I know it's dangerous, but it's part of the job. It's something you have to do," Cole Said.

Thank you Mr. Jones of Fiftieth State
and Vote Hawaii. I appreciate the good news

OH this is Good!

2005-10-16T20:21:00.000-10:00

I always thought PETA has always put up a false front. Via Michelle Malking PETA kills dogs and cats and dumps them at a grocery store dumpster. Read it here. They should not cast any stones (or paint) now

Vote looks good

2005-10-16T20:07:00.000-10:00

The outcome on the vote in Iraq looks great
and results look promising

Iraq

2005-10-15T11:01:00.000-10:00

God's Speed to our soldiers who are assisting. You guys are the best! I have a beer waiting for you upon your return.

Let's Pray for the Best and we all will be "Celebrating Sunday";

Another Capture of and Al Qaeda member
Live Blogging

Ms. Malkin
Real Clear Politics Feel free to choose your article

Too Funny

2005-10-14T07:20:00.000-10:00

I was watching the news last night (Channel 8), they were making a big deal about how

In the Bush/Iraq segment, Today screened footage indicating that prior to engaging in a video conversation with President Bush, soldiers on the ground in Iraq were given tips by a Department of Defense official.

The Classic part about this local ridiculing was that they could not get their on video feed to work correctly and the best they could do was joke about the so called couching

But the only advice that the official was shown as giving was a suggestion to one solider to "take a little breath" before speaking to the president so he would actually be speaking to him. It was also stated that some of the soldiers practiced their comments so as to appear as articulate as possible. But there was no indication, or even allegation, that the soldiers were coached as to the substance of their comments or in any way instructed what to say.

Ta da!!!!!!!!!!

The Today show was caught staging their own false report enjoy this little segment at News Buster Blog

HOUSING SHORTAGE

2005-10-13T20:30:00.000-10:00

Hat tip to Grass Roots for pointing out this article on a housing shortage for the reason behind the high cost of homes. The article speaks to a more national audience. It speaks volumes and Hawaii is a perfect example of what this article talks about.

Long-time homeowners in high-cost areas like California have certainly benefited from supply-induced price appreciation. But the projected housing shortage in these areas paints an ominous picture for the "have nots" at the bottom of the housing ladder - prospective first-time homebuyers, middle- and low-income households, and recent immigrants that are rapidly being priced out of the market.

For many families still trying to buy their first homes, their only hope lies in politicians waking up to the reality that the best way to keep housing affordable and to avoid the looming housing shortage is to stop passing land use and housing regulations and start approving more housing construction.

I work in the construction industry and have first hand knowledge of this governmental nightmare

Surfing in Alaska

2005-10-13T12:29:00.000-10:00

I moved to the islands because I hated to wear a wetsuit. I just read that the surf industry is picking up in Alaska. They do not have to worry about me adding to the crowd in the water.

Reminds me of a book my Mom gave me to read Caught Inside. An enjoyable read that is written in a manner that you do not have to be a surfer to understand. It gives the non-surfer a better understanding on what it is like to be a surfer and the actual surfer some surf history that he or she may have not known about.

Aloha

USS Cole

2005-10-12T07:03:00.000-10:00

In Honor of the U.S.S. Cole bombing aniversary has a Michelle Malkin good write up.

Class of Taxes

2005-10-11T22:01:00.000-10:00

The The Grass Roots Institute has pointed me to a wonderful write up at Townhall dot com on who actually pays 96.5% of all taxes and takes the NY times to task. I will attempt to add to this later

Beer or Wine

2005-10-11T21:52:00.000-10:00

Professor Bainbridge seams to have something against Beer. Come on Prof. B. come lay some hard floors with me for eight hours and then see how good God's golden brew can taste.

The Strangle Hold

2005-10-07T22:12:00.000-10:00

If the Democratic Party moves forward with their socialistic agendas, Hawaii's economic growth will be stifled. Hawaii’s isolation from the continental United States and a culture of complacent people allow the socialist agenda of the democratic state government to control all aspects of our lives. Examples of this is higher taxes in the form of G.E.T. increases; price controls on free enterprise with the Gas Cap; creating employee policies for employers by requiring paid breaks; and controlling the masses through Unions.

When I read both Mr. Walden’s article post of Hawaii Free Press at The Hawaii Reporter in conjunction with a recent article in our local Mainstream Media "The Honolulu Advertiser"(AKA the Democratic Party's Free publication paper) (read it below), it is clear that the local Democratic party will do almost anything to maintain their oligarchy on the state of Hawaii.

Mr. Walden points out

• Hawaii’s two airlines are maintained on the brink of bankruptcy with a high-ticket cost duopoly on inter-island air travel in order to extract tax revenues, plum jobs, campaign contributions and maintain the huge bureaucratic job trust known as the state Department of Transportation.
• Competing smaller airlines -- except Island Air, which was sold to its current owners by Aloha -- are sabotaged with poor landing rights and out-of-the-way terminal assignments in order to maintain the duopoly and keep the Democrat cash machine going. Watch what happens as newcomer Mesa Air tries to enter the inter-island market next year.

Ron Burkle, new bidder for Aloha Airlines has his own ties to the national Democratic party. I have posted the whole article here as I do not think you will have access to the article after 10/10/05.

By Rick Daysog
Advertiser Staff Writer

Burkle

When former President Bill Clinton needed to raise money, he often turned to his friend Ron Burkle.
Now, Aloha Airlines is doing the same.
The 52-year-old supermarket baron's investment firm has emerged as the prime mover behind the $100 million-plus plan to acquire Aloha Airlines and bring the state's second largest carrier out of bankruptcy by the end of the year.
While the deal was initiated by Burkle's partner, former professional football star Willie Gault, Burkle's Los Angeles-based investment firm, Yucaipa Companies, is putting up most of the money and will serve as Aloha's controlling shareholder.
Burkle, a billionaire, is head of Los Angeles-based Yucaipa Companies, which has taken part in more than $30 billion in mergers and acquisitions since its inception in 1986, including investments in well-known grocers such as Ralph's, Food 4 Less, Kroger and Fred Meyer.
Like Dole Food Co.'s David Murdock and former First Hawaiian Bank Chief Executive Walter Dods, Burkle is one of those rare breed of dealmakers who move between the business world and the political arena.
Besides Clinton, who serves as a senior adviser to Yucaipa, Burkle counts many of the world's leading financial and government figures among his friends and associates, including Warren Buffett, George Soros, Michael Milken and John Kerry, according to The Associated Press. In 2004, he served as vice chairman of John Kerry's presidential campaign.
He also lists pop star Sean "Diddy" Combs and hockey star Mario Lemieux among his business partners.
"He's an extensive mover and shaker in California," said Robert Stern, president of the nonpartisan Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles.
A spokesman for Burkle's company did not respond to inquiries. Aloha also declined response for this story.
Yucaipa's bid to purchase Aloha, which filed for bankruptcy protection in December, has attracted competition. A second Mainland group, which includes former Hawaiian Airlines Chief Executive Bruce Nobles, has emerged with a bid for the airline.
Burkle's political connections aren't likely to have any influence on the federal bankruptcy court, which has the final say on any buyout of the airline, but it's "the elephant in the room nobody is talking about," said Neal Milner, a political science professor at the University of Hawai'i.
Burkle's political connections will be an asset for Aloha when it deals with various regulatory agencies in Washington, D.C., Milner said.
"Given his business success, he clearly knows how Washington works and how to work with the various agencies," Milner said.
In many ways, Burkle's political cachet is closely tied to that of Clinton.
Burkle has hosted a number of star-studded fundraisers for Clinton at his 40-room Beverly Hills mansion, which was once owned by silent screen star Harold Lloyd.
He pledged millions to Clinton's effort to built a presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., and contributed $10,000 to Clinton's legal defense fund during the height of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Burkle and his family also were among the hundreds of Clinton donors and friends who stayed overnight at the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House during Clinton's presidency, according to a list published by the Washington Post.
Burkle also is a major supporter of other Democratic candidates.
Since 1992, Burkle, his ex-wife, Janet Burkle, and several Yucaipa executives have contributed more than $750,000 to more than a dozen Democratic candidates for Congress, according to Opensecrets.org, a Web site of the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C.
The contributions, which did not exceed legal limits, went to Democrats including Sens. Barbara Boxer of California, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Joseph Biden of Delaware and Barack Obama of Illinois.
During that same period, Yucaipa contributed more than $1.7 million in unregulated soft money to various Democratic committees, according to Open secrets.org.
Burkle, Yucaipa and its affiliated companies made more than $2 million in monetary and nonmonetary contributions to dozens of candidates and a host of ballot issues in Burkle's home state of California, according to campaign finance records kept by the California Secretary of State.
Those contributions included more $200,000 to former Gov. Gray Davis and $40,000 to a group that opposed Davis' 2003 recall.
Yucaipa also gave $100,000 to Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's California Recovery Team last year.
Burkle began his career in the grocery business doing odd jobs at a Stater Bros. supermarket in Claremont, Calif., which was managed by his father, according to a 1998 profile by The Associated Press.
In 1973, he dropped out of college to take an executive position with Stater Bros. and later joined his father in proposing buying out the chain.
Despite the support of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway investment group, Burkle's offer was rejected and he and his father were fired, according to The Associated Press.
He founded Yucaipa in 1986 and went on to build the firm into one of the largest and most successful investors in the grocery business.
"In terms of credential and experience, this person is clearly a step above the type of buyer you'd expect" in Aloha Airlines, said UH's Milner

When I read the above article I see it as one of the best free publicity for Aloha and the Democratic Party. Compare that to Mr. Walden who points out that it sure looks like the democratic leaders are trying to control the life blood of Hawaii. Gas/oil business, the airlines, the tourist and cruise line industry, the construction industry, keeping the masses at a certain level and never allowing them opportunities for success, and with the unions controlling our harbors, we are in big trouble people.

Another Gas Cap Report

2005-10-05T23:08:00.000-10:00

Another Report on what this Gas Cap is taking from the Economy.

I can't believe it. I saw on our Local Main Stream Media (MSM) showing Mr. Frank Young proclaiming that this idiotic piece of legislation is a good thing and has stablized the market. Of course they did not give any one from the other side explaining how bad this legislation is and it is just another way for the government to control us and kill any sort of free enterprise.

Sept. 29: Gas Cap Costs Consumers 27 Cents a Gallon
Total Cost of Gas Cap to Date is $9.1 million More Than Without the Cap
By House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegann, 9/29/2005 2:01:56 PM
Today, the gas cap raised Hawaii's gas price an average 27 cents a gallon above what gas would have cost without the cap. The House Minority Caucus' eleventh daily report on the gas cap's cost to Hawaii's consumers (attached) shows that over the 29 day period since the gas cap began Sept. 1, Hawaii consumers have paid an extra $9.1 million for gasoline. And the cost rises daily.

In the period since the gas cap began Sept. 1, AAA data shows that the difference between gas price increases in Washington and Oregon on one hand (up 6 cents a gallon from Sept. 1's average of $2.80 gallon), and Hawaii's gasoline price increase on the other (up 33 cents from $2.95 a gallon on Sept. 1) works out to 27 cents a gallon.

Thus, 27 cents a gallon represents the gas cap's current actual cost to Hawaii consumers.

Washington and Oregon, like Hawaii, buy all their oil from Asia and Alaska. All three states import no oil from Gulf ports or anywhere else on the mainland. This means consumers in Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii would be looking at nearly identical price increases since Sept. 1, if there were no gas cap.

The gas cap is based on Gulf port and New York prices, prices severely affected by events in that part of the country. For that reason, Hawaii's gas price has increased 33 cents a gallon from the time the gas cap began Sept. 1, or 27 cents above Washington-Oregon's 6 cents price increase.

Of course Washington and Oregon's prices, unlike Hawaii's, are unaffected by Eastern U.S. gasoline prices.

If we got rid of the gas cap and its imposition of East and Gulf Coast prices on our gasoline, today's Hawaii gas price could drop by 27 cents a gallon.

Lynn Finnegann is the Republican minority leader in the Hawaii State House of Representatives.

Hat tip Hawaii Reporter

These guys have to be stopped

Government Extortion

2005-10-05T22:02:00.000-10:00

Democratic Legislatures trying to steal money from a major contributor to our economy!

In reading an article on Hawaii Reporter I was reminded of a story I first heard on the Rick Hamada morning show. It was State Senator Brian Kano trying to strong arm a Norwegien Cruise Lines by threatening to raise their taxes if they did not rehire his friend a convicted Pedophile. Thankfully Norwegian did not cave to his bullying tactics. The most ridiculous part of all this is that Sen. Kano convinced nine other democratic Law makers to sign on to this proposed “Pedophile Tax”. To read the whole article read it here.

On March 16, 2005, nine Hawaii Democrat Senators, including Senate Democratic leader Ron Menor and the Big Island’s own Sen. Russell Kokobun, introduced SR 65 directing the state Department of Taxation to “make an assessment as to whether Norwegian Cruise Lines should pay taxes equivalent to those paid by Hawaii hotels…” on its cruise ship rooms. Why? Line 13 of SR 65 reads, “… there have been questions raised about Norwegian Cruise Line’s violation of the rights of employees (sic) who have been accused of sexual harassment….”

In mid-2004 Norwegian had fired convicted child molester Leon Rouse from his job as a cabin boy. Rouse was fired during his probationary employment period after male co-workers complained of sexual harassment. Rouse was from Wisconsin, but had most recently been a resident of a Philippine prison where he served a multi-year sentence for raping a 14-year-old boy. In spite of this conviction and his limited (but well placed) intercourse with Hawaii, Rouse got nine Senators to come to his aid. He also obtained a job in Rep. Rida Cabanilla’s office (D-Oahu, 42nd) but many observers say, while working as Cabanilla’s office manager, Rouse acted as if he “owned” the office of Sen. Brian Kanno, (D-Kapolei) with whom he is alleged to have a “relationship.”

What really irks me is that I just moved into Sen. Kano’s district. This guy represents me.

I will be looking back and will post previous documentation on this.

Akaka Bill

2005-10-05T16:46:00.000-10:00

I do not know if I am confident enough on the issue of the Akaka Bill but I have to wonder what is going on read here I am going to do my due diligence to make sure I understand what is going on. I am walking a fine line and reserve comment I will post other items showing both sides of the issue.

Thank you

Repeating History

2005-10-05T13:22:00.000-10:00

In have been looking over some things and I am afraid the state of Hawaii is going to repeat its own recent History. Remember when Hawaii had a tremendous vibrant economy in the late 80's and early 90's. Then greedy legislature's scared away business and the economy went in the tank for 10 years. This was while the rest of the nation enjoyed ten years of prosperity. Remember the brain drain Hawaii suffered during that time. The Best and brightest moved away for more opportunities. Can they be doing it again Gas Cap, HI GET increase, more user fees, etc. Are we about to see another Exodus again

Maybe it is all part of the Democratic plan to drive us all to Bankrupcies

I usually travel via Aloha Airlines but reading this article in the Honolulu Advertiser about Aloha Airlines Bidder who seams very connected with the Democratic Party. It sure looks like the Democratic party is putting forward a plan to completely take over this state and crush an sort of free thinking ideas

Please let me know what you think am I out of line

Meirs I am hopeful

2005-10-04T12:33:00.000-10:00

When I started this blog, it was not my original intention to comment on national political matters. However, having read some of the items on other blogs on the Harriet Miers nomination I feel I have to chime in on this matter and how it may effect our local issues.

I side on the side of Hugh Hewitt Here and Here as apposed to Prof. Bainbridge Here. I respect Prof B. and read his blog often and agree with him 99% of the time. He is far more scholarly and intelligent than I. So it is very difficult for me to disagree with him. However knowing the credentials of Mr. Hewitt I feel confident enough I can disagree with Prof. B. knowing that I am on the same side as Hugh.

My comments I have about this selection are;

1. No matter what you think of the Vice President, Dubya picked him knowing that Mr. Channey will support the Presidents agenda.
2. He knows her and probably has had conversations with her that he could not have had with any other nominations
3. This will bambossal the left. Will they Filibuster a women?
4. She is active in the Church
5. She is an Originalist and will not want to disappoint the president.

I am a firm believer in original constitutional interpretation. This is how I tie in this national political issue to our issues we have locally. I am a firm believer in original intent and Bernice Pauahi Biship’s original intent was children of Hawaii (Hawaiian decent) not what it is trying to be done under the courts now. Should this go to the highest court in the land, with both Roberts and Miers on the Court both claiming to be Originalist I feel Kamehameha schools has a better chance with these two on the Supreme Court versus any one else.

Thank you,

Lawmakers Ignorance

2005-09-29T15:27:00.000-10:00

Another great article at Hawaii Reporter writen by Lowell L. Kalapa of tax Fundation of Hawaii Read it hear

It is truly amazing that lawmakers continue to swim against the tide of common sense and basic economics and still insist that they are right. Lesson after economic lesson is ignored and lawmakers still insist on plowing ahead in the same direction.

In the late 1980s observers cautioned against the drunken spending spree state leaders enjoyed, pointing out that money should be saved for a rainy day, but none of that sunk in at the state Capitol. Then when Hawaii’s economic malaise became a reality, lawmakers figured that they could "fix" the economy with a passel of gimmicks called tax credits and tax incentives. Again, state leaders were cautioned that those tax incentives came at a price to all other taxpayers and again those critics were ignored.

Aloha

It is up to 8.8 Million

2005-09-29T08:30:00.000-10:00

House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegann released another report and this Idiotic must "Stupid" piece of legislation. This has sucked out of our economy 8.8 million in less than one month.

Today, the gas cap raised Hawaii's gas price an average 26 cents a gallon above what gas would have cost without the cap. The House Minority Caucus' tenth daily report on the gas cap's cost to Hawaii's consumers shows that over the 28 day period since the gas cap began Sept. 1, Hawaii consumers have paid an extra $8.8 million for gasoline. And the cost rises daily.

In the period since the gas cap began Sept. 1, AAA data shows that the difference between gas price increases in Washington and Oregon on one hand (up 6 cents a gallon from Sept. 1's average of $2.80 gallon), and Hawaii's gasoline price increase on the other (up 32 cents from $2.95 a gallon on Sept. 1) works out to 26 cents a gallon. Thus, 26 cents a gallon represents the gas cap's current actual cost to Hawaii consumers.

Washington and Oregon, like Hawaii, buy all their oil from Asia and Alaska. All three states import no oil from Gulf ports or anywhere else on the mainland. This means consumers in Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii would be looking at nearly identical price increases since Sept. 1, if there were no gas cap.

The gas cap is based on Gulf port and New York prices, prices severely affected by events in that part of the country. For that reason, Hawaii's gas price has increased 32 cents a gallon from the time the gas cap began Sept. 1, or 26 cents above Washington-Oregon's 6 cents price increase. Of course Washington and Oregon's prices, unlike Hawaii's, are unaffected by Eastern U.S. gasoline prices. If we got rid of the gas cap and its imposition of East and Gulf Coast prices on our gasoline, today's Hawaii gas price could drop by 26 cents a gallon.

Thank you Ms. Zimmerman of The Hawaii Reporter

I bet you are wondering why I talk about this so much. Why don’t I just get a Prius and get rid of my Truck. I would if I could but I can’t. My Truck is my livelihood. I can’t loud 15 sheets of plywood on a Prius. I can not get a smaller truck as I need to carrier as much materials and supplies I can. Clients are not going to pay me extra because six months ago price of gas prices was substantially lower than they are now. That is why these egotistical, robbing money out of my pockets legislatures are in my sights and coming the next election I promise that I will do everything in my will power not to allow them to ever get in office again, Sen. Menor you are #1 on this list.

More Gas Cap Lunacies!

2005-09-28T06:59:00.000-10:00

Reading more stuff on the Gas Cap.

I read this in an AP article

"Over a period of time, Hawaii consumers will realize savings at the pump," said state Sen. Ron Menor, the chief architect of the law. "Hawaii prices will better reflect the prices that are being charged on the mainland and the world market."

Then this from this guy;

Frank Young, a member of Citizens Against Gasoline Price Gouging, a group that has backed the gas cap law, said the cap would ensure Hawaii residents paid fair prices.

Wake up guys listen to experts Hello!!!! McFly

Fereidun Fesharaki, an energy expert with the East-West Center in Honolulu, said the gas cap was "a stupid idea" and a futile attempt to hold down oil prices as they rose around the globe.

"This kind of thing it just gives us a bad name, frightens people from investing — it may make one of the refineries shut down and leave Hawaii," Fesharaki said. "It reduces competition and does all harm but doesn't gain us anything."

Sen. Menor do the right thing admit it is a bad law. Step up to the plate just tell us what you have done to us is guaranteed us the highest price in the nation for a gallon a gas while at the same time assuring that the tax coffers of Hawaii are filled for you to spend even more money on Back Assward projects.

FRENCH IMPERIALISM

2005-09-27T20:42:00.000-10:00

Looking over 50thstar Grant Jones found an interesting thing. The French support the overthrow of a Pacific Island Monarch and the international left is not screaming about "French Imperialism" Read More here.

I do not know enough about this situation but from what I can tell the French should not be lecturing us.

Hat tip Mr. Jones

UPDATE 8.2 MILLION

2005-09-27T12:07:00.000-10:00

I was using outdated information the Gas Cap has costed us 8.2 million according to House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegann, 9/27/2005 2:19:40

Today, the gas cap raised Hawaii's gas price an average 28¢ a gallon above what gas would have cost without the cap. The House Minority Caucus' eighth daily report on the gas cap's cost to Hawaii's consumers (attached) shows that over the 26 day period since the gas cap began September 1, Hawaii consumers have paid an extra $8.2 million for gasoline. And the cost rises daily.

If you would like to read the entire article read it here

Aloha

WHY IS THIS STILL LAW

2005-09-27T10:05:00.000-10:00

I went to fill up my tank today and I thought why is the GAS CAP law still in effect. This law needs to be repealed NOW! It has to be the worst piece of legislature ever made. But I guess it is only the norm for our island state. The Hawaii Reporter has a great article on how our state gets things Back Asswards

On top of paying the highest price in the nation for GAS we also pay the highest amount of taxes on a gallon of gas then on top of that we have to pay the most aggressive tax out of all the states in the form of the "HAWAII GENERAL EXCISE TAX" HI G.E.T.

Taxes on Gas Double Team Consumers:

A second consequence related to the sale of gasoline that is harmful to consumers is the gas is taxed at the highest rate in the country. Not only do the county, state and federal governments take their bite of the consumer pie through gasoline taxes, but the state adds on an additional 4.167 percent general excise tax to the sale of the gasoline on top of the gas tax already collected. As the gas cap sends the cost of gasoline higher, the state collects more money from consumers through the General Excise Tax.

We are suppose to be a state that cares OH PLEASE!!!! Need I remind these law makers the last time they did these type of unfriendly business practices the state of Hawaii went into a ten year slump while the rest of the nation experienced a robust economy.

The Gas Cap is costing us millions!

House Minority Leader Lynn Finnegan who opposed the gas cap now issues daily reports documenting how much money the gas cap has sucked from the economy, and now estimates the total at $6.7 million in just three weeks.

It is time that these elected geniuses repeal this law or the Governor suspend this law. If they do not we will repeal or suspend them from their job!

GAS CAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2005-09-23T20:29:00.000-10:00

It is so hard for me to believe that there is a single legislature that thinks that this was or is a good law. This is a horrible law. Whether Republican or Democrat whom ever voted to pass this law should be voted out of office.

What I have been able to read thus far this law has cost the individuals and businesses of Hawaii over 6.2 million in 3 weeks. What would you do with 6.2 million?

Links and backup to what this law is doing to follow

Thank you

Getting things Started

2005-09-09T07:43:00.000-10:00

Welcome to my little home on the web!

In the future I hope to give you a unique prospective of the world from an island state. whether it is business, politics, family or religion I hope to share thoughts and perspective with anyone who would like to listen

Aloha