http://www.thehawaiiindependent.com/local/Downtown News • Culture • Community English news@thehawaiiindependent.com Copyright 2011 The Hawaii Independent Corporation Thursday, February 9 2012 9:05 AM /story/education-committees-to-hold-informational-briefing-on-auditors-report /story/education-committees-to-hold-informational-briefing-on-auditors-report HONOLULU—A recent report by the State Office of the Auditor found Hawaii’s public charter school system riddled with poor performance, a lack of accountability, and unethical and illegal spending and employment practices. The State Auditor will be providing an overview and analysis on its recently released report, “Performance Audit of the Hawaii’s Public Charter School System” to the Senate and House Committees on Education. The briefing will be held on Monday, December 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the State Capitol, room 309. The Charter School Review Panel and Charter School Administrative Office have been invited to participate in the briefing and respond to the findings and recommendations. No public testimony will be accepted. To read the entire State Auditor report, click here In its report, the State Auditor found a lack of oversight and accountability in governing Hawaii’s charter schools. The report also describes how the Charter School Review panel has failed to establish sound models to measure and evaluate students’ academic growth and performance as well as a school’s operational effectiveness. “In our audit of the Hawaii public charter school system,” the State Auditor said in its report, “we found that the Charter School Review Panel, which authorizes and should hold charter schools accountable for their performance, has misinterpreted State law and minimized its role in the system’s accountability structure.” The State Auditor attributed the problem to the Charter School Review Panel instead giving responsibilities to the local school boards, thus removing itself—and outside oversight—from the charter school system. The Charter School Review Panel, it was found, does not verify and analyze the data it receives from the schools for accuracy and completeness, nor does it collect its own data to measure student performance. The State Auditor said its own analysis of student performance reports from 10 public charter schools found several instances in which critical data, such as the Hawaii State Assessment scores for reading, mathematics, and science, were omitted or presented in misleading ways. “When we collected and analyzed that data, we found that five schools failed to meet federal No Child Left Behind testing standards,” the State Auditor’s report said. “Test scores from several of those schools were substantially lower than other public schools in their districts. Moreover, four schools misreported enrollment numbers. For one school’s enrollment count, we could not verify 28 students. With funding based on [the 2009 to 2010 school year] per-pupil allocation of $5,753, that amounts to more than $160,000.” In the 2009 to 2010 school year, nearly 8,000 students attended 31 charter schools throughout the islands. That year, the charter school system had a general fund budget of $49.7 million. The State Auditor attributed rampant unethical and illegal spending practices to the lack of oversight by the review panel, the Charter School Administrative Office, which is responsible for management of the charter school system, and the local school boards. Incidents range from the seemingly frivolous (excursions to a water park and ice skating rink and a school-financed prom) to the possibly fraudulent (administrators doubling and tripling each others’ salaries). The report describes how Hawaii Technology Academy’s (HTA) head of school, a private sector employee, was not held accountable for the spending of over $3.04 million in State funds. At the Myron B. Thompson Academy, the State Auditor found $133,000 in overpayments to staff. For example, the school’s part-time registrar received an “administrative differential” that boosted his annual pay to $55,200, a 212 percent increase. At other charter schools, the State Auditor found instances of unrestrained spending—Kamaile Academy spent nearly $18,000 in public money on school excursions to Wet ‘N Wild Water Amusement Park , Ice Palace, and Chuck E. Cheese. Ultimately, the State Auditor concluded in its report: “Because [the Charter School Review Panel] does not exercise effective oversight, the panel is unaware if charter schools improve learning over time, nor can it hold the charter schools accountable for meeting or exceeding performance standards established by the State. Moreover, the panel and the local school boards cannot ensure public funds are spent wisely, consistent with the goals of public accountability and ethical principles. To establish outside oversight and real accountability in Hawaii’s charter school system, the panel and the Charter School Administrative Office need to take a central and active role in a robust monitoring and reporting system.” State officials said they will discuss proposed changes to Hawaii’s public charter school system at today’s meeting. “While the Task Force did not focus on specific schools, the recommended changes we’ve put forward to create clear lines of authority and establish a strong governance structure will address many of the concerns raised by the Auditor,” said Sen. Jill Tokuda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education. “Working with our local charter school community and national experts on charter schools, we will be putting forth substantive reforms that maintain autonomy while ensuring accountability.” The primary mission of the State Auditor is to conduct post audits of the transactions, accounts, programs, and performance of public agencies. The performance audit is the first of the Hawaii public charter school system since the schools were statutorily approved in 1999. The charter school system is made up of the Board of Education, the Charter School Review Panel, the Charter School Administrative Office, and the charter schools and their governing boards known as the local school boards. Hawaii’s charter schools are publicly funded and receive a majority of their funding through the State’s general fund appropriations based on a per pupil allotment. The State funding is intended for instructional and operational purposes. Federal funds, primarily No Child Left Behind Act funds, supplement the charter schools’ general funds. Other moneys come from donated, special, trust, and revolving funds. News Culture Community Monday, December 19 2011 9:48 PM /story/state-receives-14.4-million-federal-grant-to-help-connect-hawaii-residents /story/state-receives-14.4-million-federal-grant-to-help-connect-hawaii-residents HONOLULU—The Hawaii State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has received a $14.4 million federal grant for the development of an online insurance exchange program, intended to facilitate access to affordable health insurance for State residents. The insurance exchange program will be created by the Hawaii Health Connector, a non-profit organization established by the 2011 State Legislature and managed by a board of directors appointed by the governor. The exchange will help small businesses and uninsured individuals and families explore their health insurance options conveniently via an online portal. Those meeting federal financial criteria may even find that they qualify for tax credits or Medicaid assistance. Additional federal funds may be available in 2012, said Beth Giesting, the State’s health care transformation coordinator. “We expect to make major improvements to our current health care system between now and 2014,” Giesting said in a statement. “We need to ensure that there is high-quality, affordable healthcare for all Hawai’i residents. Fortunately, the federal government is partnering with the state on this transformation, and we are working with private agencies on health care initiatives. We anticipate the potential for $100 million in federal funds over the next few years to help providers increase quality and reduce cost escalation.” Other recently federally funded medical projects in Hawaii include: * $12 million for the Hawaii Health Information Exchange to develop the rules and architecture for health information exchange and to support physician-led efforts to implement electronic health record systems. * $16 million for the Beacon Project on Hawaii Island to upgrade the network of care for patients and their providers. * $900,000 for the State Department of Health to support an immunization health registry. * $9.9 million to the Med-QUEST division of the state Department of Human Services to enhance chronic disease management via Medicaid, utilizing the University of Hawaii Center on Disability Studies. * $3 million to the State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to make health rate filings more accessible by the public. Giesting added that there are also plans to secure federal grants for the state’s Med-QUEST program that would support patient-centered care for Medicaid patients with multiple chronic diseases. Funds would also provide incentive payments for community health centers and hospitals that use electronic health record systems and be used to overhaul the Medicaid eligibility and financial management systems. News Culture Community Thursday, December 15 2011 2:19 AM /story/rail-city-department-of-corporation-counsel-responds-to-federal-judges-ruli /story/rail-city-department-of-corporation-counsel-responds-to-federal-judges-ruli HONOLULU—The City Department of Corporation Counsel issued the following statement in response to a federal judge’s preliminary ruling in an ongoing lawsuit against the Honolulu rail transit project: “The Court’s ruling today was expected given Judge Tashima’s preliminary ruling and statements at the hearing about the limited scope of the record that at this time did not allow sufficient information for the Court to fully decide the disputed issues. “Despite the City’s efforts to streamline the case early in the process by asking the Court to remove Plaintiffs Cayetano, Heen, Roth and the Small Business Hawaii Entrepreneurial Education Foundation, who completely failed to participate in the lengthy administrative process leading to the FTA’s approval of the project, the Court determined that the motion was premature at this stage of the case. “Once the full administrative record for the case is compiled and made available so that it confirms that each of the four Plaintiffs did not in fact participate in the EIS process and that none of the Plaintiffs raised issues regarding a number of the properties that form the basis of certain claims in the Complaint, Defendants expect to renew the motion.” News Culture Community Wednesday, December 14 2011 1:42 AM /story/homeless-council-bill-passes-despite-opposition /story/homeless-council-bill-passes-despite-opposition HONOLULU—About 20 houseless people, advocates, and Occupy Honolulu supporters turned up to voice their opposition to City Council Bill 54 at Honolulu Hale on Wednesday, December 7. In stark contrast to the good cheer and holiday spirit of the Christmas ornaments on display there, the mood in the Council chamber was decidedly serious as Bill 54 passed its third reading in an 8-to-1 vote. To view the text of Bill 54, click here The vote followed nearly five hours of impassioned testimony both in favor of and in opposition to the measure, which has become a lightning rod for “homeless” issues and a rallying cry for Occupiers. Councilmember Tulsi Gabbard-Tamayo, who introduced the bill, said that the bill is not about the “homeless,” but rather about protecting the right of the public to have free, unfettered access to public facilities and property. The measure allows for the City to remove personal property stored on public property. And while the bill passed with only one dissenting vote by Councilmember Romy Cachola, its future remains uncertain due to the various ambiguities within the measure regarding enforcement, the storage of confiscated property, and the cost of the programs needed for implementation. The bill now goes to Mayor Peter Carlisle, who supported the measure, for signing. Enforcement of the measure is to be handled by the Department of Facility Maintenance for items left on sidewalks and the Department of Parks and Recreation for items left in parks. Ambiguities regarding the bill are not limited to its implementation. Ambiguities regarding the bill are not limited to its implementation. Some of those who support the measure, including Gabbard-Tamayo, acknowledged that it does not address the “homeless” problem in Honolulu. However the State’s Homeless Task Force’s Mark Alexander supported the measure, saying that the bill would encourage the houseless people affected by it to seek the outreach services available to them. He cited encouraging statistics about Honolulu’s “homeless” population, but noted that hard data collected is subject to interpretation. Councilmember Nestor Garcia said he had originally opposed the bill, but reconsidered because it was a way for him to actually “do something” about “homelessness” rather merely than follow “platitudes” put forth by opponents to the bill. At one point in the proceedings, Cachola called attempts to disguise the measure as an effort to assist the homeless as “shibai” and needled Alexander about the amount of money the State spends on “homeless” issues. The lone dissenting vote, Cachola, said the bill targets houseless people. He also expressed concern over the cost of enforcement, which involves a process that has yet to be determined. Cachola said that recent sweeps of City parks have treated houseless people as a “rat infestation.” A majority of the public testimony on the bill, both written and verbal, opposed its passage. A strong argument was made by several testifiers, who said the bill infringed on First and Fourth Amendment rights. The Councilmembers said they had been assured by Corporation Counsel that the bill is constitutionally sound. An Occupy Honolulu representative said that signs, banners, tents, and other structures erected at protests fall under free speech and would be therefore protected from removal. Other opponents of the measure provided emotional testimony, calling the bill “cruel and unusual punishment.” Retired Colonel Donald Hargarten said: “What are we doing? We’re criminalizing being ‘homeless.’” Bill 54, however, imposes no criminal penalties for offenders. Another testifier said that in 2009, Corporation Counsel advised against a similar measure on constitutional grounds. She also testified that similar measures have failed in a variety of other U.S. cities with significant “homeless” problems, and that Bill 54’s passage could result in a significant cost to the City in legal fees brought on by challenges to the law. Some of those who testified, whether for or against, used the Pearl Harbor Day commemoration to highlight the plight of “homeless” veterans, the largest segment of the “homeless” population in Hawaii. Also noted by several testifiers on both sides of the issue was the legacy of recently passed University of Hawaii law professor Jon Van Dyke, an effective and revered advocate for human rights. The Hawaiian Law of the Splintered Paddle, or Kanawai Mamalahoe, was invoked by several opponents of the measure. The law says to “Let every elderly person, woman, and child lie by the roadside in safety” and was adopted into the Hawaii State Constitution. One supporter of the bill said, however, that Kanawai Mamalahoe allows people to only rest and move on and not to take up permanent residency on public property. While many opponents of the bill strayed into ideological diatribes about the plight of houseless people and the crippled economy, all urged the Council to defer the bill on the grounds that it unfairly targets the “homeless” while providing only a cosmetic, stop-gap solution to the problem of occupiers of public property. Many of those in favor of Bill 54 were associated with business and commerce organizations, including a man from the Chinatown Improvement District, and Chinatown property owner Alan Stack, who called the measure “sound property management.” The Neighborhood Boards of Kalihi-Palama, Chinatown, Downtown, and Moiliili also supported the bill’s passage. Although the bill has passed, serious questions remain about its intent and its implementation. Even to those who support the bill, its potential impact is as yet unclear. While it may encourage some houseless people to seek outreach services, it negatively impacts those without such an inclination. Those Councilmembers who voted in favor of the bill cited either a desire to address the “homeless” problem, as did Councilmember Garcia, or a desire to protect the rights of the public to access public property. A “sunset” amendment to the bill, which would end and review the law in one year, failed to pass, with eight Councilmembers saying that they already have the ability to revisit and adjust the law. Cachola, who proposed the amendment, said it would force the City to examine whether or not the measure serves its intended purpose. Interestingly, many of those on both sides of the issue acknowledged that the bill does nothing to address the problem of “homelessness” in Honolulu. All agreed that the problem must be addressed, but the polemic nature of the debate over individual and public rights regarding the “homeless” remains.   Related Stories: Honolulu City Lights: ‘Blue Tarp Nativity’ shines a light on Hawaii’s houseless Tent city: Hawaii ‘homeless’ efforts must be long term, for the right reasons State plan to fight ‘homelessness’ starts with identifying population, assessing shelters Hawaii Community Assets establishes credit program for houseless families Waianae’s Ka Paʻalana houseless program to face crippling budget cuts Hawaii lawmakers seek immediate solutions to ‘chronic homelessness’ Comment: Relating to the regulation of the poor and unwashed Carlisle makes life difficult for Honolulu’s houseless by signing ‘Pedestrian Use Zones’ bill Hawaii’s hidden haven of homelessness and how one woman is trying to help Honolulu ranked as one of the most expensive housing markets in the country Families, children evicted from their home, ‘Guardrails’ beach Kaimuki’s Aloha Harvest offers innovative ways to feed Oahu’s hungry City to consider bills against illegal camping and storage on all public property Project Hawaii sparks Independence Day festivities for Waianae’s houseless keiki Moiliili residents pack town hall meeting to address ‘homeless problem’ Big Island, big development, small wages Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance commits to helping Haleiwa’s houseless The North Shore: Where the people live in beach front mansions, and beach front cars High rent, low wages mean more people houseless Littering complaint leads to Kaneohe’s confrontation with houselessness     News Culture Community Thursday, December 8 2011 7:48 PM /story/abercrombie-touts-sale-of-general-obligation-bonds-states-credit-rating /story/abercrombie-touts-sale-of-general-obligation-bonds-states-credit-rating HONOLULU -– Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Budget and Finance Director Kalbert Young announced Thursday, December 1 that the State sold $1.28 billion of General Obligation Bonds. A state’s General obligation Bond is a bond that is backed by the “full faith and credit” of the State. In other words, the State is pledging its full taxing powers to guarantee the prompt payment of the principal and interest on the GO bonds, as they become due. For more information on General Obligation Bonds, click here State officials touted the transaction, which occurred last week, as a victory for the State’s creditworthiness and financial planning. Following the transaction, Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, and Fitch Ratings affirmed the State’s credit ratings of Aa2/AA/AA. Taking advantage of the market’s lower interest rates, the General Obligation Bonds also refinanced $488 million in previously issued bonds for economic savings, State officials said. For the refinanced bonds alone, the cost was refinanced to 2.3 percent. The bonds are expected to reduce Hawaii’s annual debt service payments with significant economic savings from the refinancing—over $59 million of present value savings (or 9.65 percent of the refunded principal amount), according to the State administration. The total transaction had an interest cost of 3.34 percent. Earlier this year, the State used money from the Hurricane Relief and Rainy Day Funds to assist in balancing the budget. The bond transaction now allows the State to recapitalize those reserves. In completing the bond transaction, the State administration said it also sought to improve the State’s credit rating.  “To achieve this objective, the State’s financial goal in the near term is to show positive results in rebuilding reserves, reducing unfunded liabilities ratios, and balancing future revenue drivers such as military contributions and federal program spending,” Young said. “Credit agency reports evaluating the State’s financial management positively highlighted the State’s planned efforts.” The State said the transaction: * Reduced debt service by saving $59 million on refunded outstanding debt. * Keeps debt service for fiscal year 2012—2013 at a legislatively-appropriated level. * Restructured current outstanding debt. * Normalizes the State’s debt service profile. * Builds debt capacity from 2014 to 2019. * Improves the State’s financial position * Garnered positive a credit rating review. * Enables recapitalization of the Hurricane Relief and Rainy Day Funds. “This is the largest bond issue in the history of the State of Hawaii to date,” Young said. “The merits and components of this transaction execute on our objective to get our financial house in order and at the same time we are rebuilding investor confidence.” Young led a finance team to complete the transaction on a recent trip to New York City. The team included Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Director Richard Lim; Budget and Finance administrator Scott Kami; State Economist Eugene Tian; and State Rep. Kyle Yamashita. The $1.28 billion in bonds included $800 million in new debt, but was complemented with $488 million in refunding currently existing bonds at a lower interest rate. Bond buyers benefit from purchasing Hawaii bonds because interest on the bonds is excluded from gross income for Federal income tax purposes and exempt from all taxation by the State, Abercrombie said. The $800 million of new money proceeds from the bond sale will be used for various public improvement projects, including public buildings and facilities, elementary and secondary schools, community college and university facilities, libraries and parks.  “The response by these investors is welcomed news to Hawaii,” said Sherry Menor-McNamara Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. “This transaction proves that our State government is doing business to stabilize its finances.” Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs and Co. served as the joint bookrunner managers for the bond sale, with Barclays Capital, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan and Citi serving as co-managers. Firms with offices in Hawaii also participated in a retail selling group for the Bonds. To see Standard & Poor’s rating report for Hawaii, click here News Culture Community Friday, December 2 2011 1:42 AM /story/laa-kuuokoa-volunteers-plan-to-hand-type-60000-pages-of-hawaiian-language-n /story/laa-kuuokoa-volunteers-plan-to-hand-type-60000-pages-of-hawaiian-language-n HONOLULU—Over 3,000 volunteers are expected to help make 60,000 pages of Hawaiian language newspapers available to the world via the Internet on this Lā Kū‘oko‘a, Hawaiian Independence Day. Hundreds of people from the Native Hawaiian community, schools, and organizations are expected to attend the launch of the ‘Ike Kū‘oko‘a Initiative on Monday, November 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at ‘Iolani Palace. The initiative is spearheaded by Awaiaulu, Inc., a local non-profit organization, which is seeking 3,000 volunteers from around the world to make 60,000 pages of Hawaiian-language newspapers accessible online. Participants are asked to come with their laptops to join in the initiative. Limited laptops will be available on site for attendees to register online and begin hand-typing pages of Hawaiian language newspapers. In support of the launch, Sprint Hawaii will be on site to provide WiFi access. Knowledge of Hawaiian language is not required to participate. Volunteers can register online at www.awaiaulu.org. “The importance of this volunteer effort cannot be understated,” said Kumu Hula Kealiʻi Reichel, who is supporting the initiative. “This project will shed further light on the thoughts, emotions and ‘ike of our kūpuna, and provide another connective thread past and present.” The ‘Ike Kū‘oko‘a Initiative is funded by organizations such as Pūʻā Foundation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools, Hawai‘inuiākea: Center for Hawaiian Knowledge, U.H. Sea Grants Hawai‘i, and numerous civic clubs and hālau in Hawai‘i and abroad. Launch of ‘Ike Kū‘oko‘a Initiative Monday, November 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.—Lā Kū‘oko‘a, Hawaiian Independence Day ‘Iolani Palace Bandstand Updated with courtesy photos News Culture Community Monday, November 28 2011 7:48 PM /story/announcement-kawaiahao-church-construction-proceeding-more-iwi-expected-to /story/announcement-kawaiahao-church-construction-proceeding-more-iwi-expected-to HONOLULU—Earlier this year, a Hawaii court ruled that Kawaiahao Church in Downtown Honolulu had the right to continue construction on a multipurpose center after finding iwi at the site. The following notice pertaining to the handling of the iwi was published in the Tuesday classifieds of the Star-Advertiser: “Kawaiahao Church will be proceeding with construction of the multipurpose building. During excavation, human remains were discovered and removed and it is anticipated that additional human remains may be discovered and will be removed. This notice is provided pursuant to an agreement with Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa and is in addition to any notices required by law. (SA348658 11/22/11)” Related Stories: Letter: Must we wait for more iwi to be unearthed before common sense prevails? Letter: Burning of iwi kupuna is desecration of the highest order News Culture Community Wednesday, November 23 2011 10:47 PM /story/rail-archaeology-study-to-cause-street-closures-downtown /story/rail-archaeology-study-to-cause-street-closures-downtown DOWNTOWN — The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) wants to inform drivers that archaeological survey work continues in the urban Honolulu area for the rail transit project. Motorists are advised of lane closures related to the survey work being conducted in the Kalihi, downtown Honolulu, and Kaka‘ako areas. Work will require lane closures during non-peak traffic hours, including possible night work in approved areas. For the safety of both the work crews and motorists, the public is advised to proceed with caution through these areas. Drivers should anticipate possible traffic delays or use alternate routes during work hours. Work for the week of Nov. 21 will take place at the following locations: • Portions of Dillingham Boulevard from Middle Street to Kohou Street between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. • Halekauwila Street from Richards Street to Punchbowl Street between 8:30 a.m and 3:30 p.m. • Halekauwila Street from Punchbowl Street to Keawe Street between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. • Halekauwila Street from Keawe Street to Cooke Street between 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. • Punchbowl Street from Pohukaina Street to Nimitz Highway between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. The City is conducting the archaeological survey work along the urban Honolulu section of the Honolulu rail transit route to identify potential archaeological, historical and cultural resources. The archaeological work will aid rail project staff in their design of the elevated rail guideway. Trenching work will take place through Summer 2012 at various locations along the Honolulu rail route between Middle Street in Kalihi and Ala Moana Center. Contractors Cultural Surveys Hawaii Inc. and Royal Contracting Co. will conduct the fieldwork. The survey work will be completed before rail construction begins in the urban Honolulu area, as specified under the rail project’s programmatic agreement relating to cultural and historic resources. For updates on construction work days and times, visit the project website at www.honolulutransit.org or contact our hotline at 566-2299. News Culture Community Monday, November 21 2011 9:40 PM /story/christopher-deedy-pleads-not-guitly-in-fatal-shooting-of-kollin-elderts /story/christopher-deedy-pleads-not-guitly-in-fatal-shooting-of-kollin-elderts HONOLULU—Following his Circuit Court appearance this morning in the shooting death of Kollin Elderts, federal agent and suspect Christopher Deedy walked sullenly with his wife and with his attorney Brooke Hart through a swirl of television cameras and reporters. Deedy made no statement. Deedy, through his attorney, entered a plea of not guilty on charges that include second degree murder following his recent indictment by a grand jury in the case. Judge Richard Perkins set a trial date for January 23, 2012, in the courtroom of Judge Karen Ahn. Defense counsel Hart requested a 90-day waiver due to prior trial commitments on Hawaii Island, and was told by Judge Perkins that a decision on the request would depend on Judge Ahn’s response. Attorney Michael Green, one of Hawaii’s most recognizable civil attorneys, is representing the victim’s family in a civil action. He spoke with reporters following Deedy’s hearing. Green said that the family will sue the federal government, believing that Deedy was, in fact, on duty at the time of the fatal shooting. He said that there is an abundance of witness testimony in the case, and that cashiers working at the time of the incident at the Waikiki McDonald’s restaurant were called to testify before the grand jury that indicted Deedy. Green also indicated that Deedy’s movements on the night of the shooting have been tracked accurately through witness accounts. Green said that homicide detectives in the case have taken statements from multiple witnesses and that “we’ve learned a lot about it.” He also expressed his surprise that so many people have “publicly voiced their outrage” in the case. When asked whether the fact that the victim tested positive for alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana would have any bearing on the case, Green said that he had expected Elderts to test over the legal limit for alcohol. “I don’t care if you have alcohol, a trace amount of cocaine or marijuana,” said Green. “That’s not grounds to shoot and kill anybody.” He also said that if Deedy believes that he was justified in what he did, “then let a jury decide.” Green added that he believes that a knife found at the scene was used to cut away the victim’s clothing in an attempt to administer first aid, and that Elderts had no weapon at the time of the shooting. Below: Michael Green, attorney for the family of Kollin Elderts, speaks to reporters on Monday, November 21.   News Culture Community Monday, November 21 2011 9:23 PM /story/apec-oahu-pays-high-price-for-bad-deal /story/apec-oahu-pays-high-price-for-bad-deal Eric Gill is the Financial Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 5. A shortened version of the following column was featured in The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. HONOLULU—Oahu residents are groaning under the impact of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference. Parks and beaches were inaccessible or closed on a holiday weekend to residents and visitors alike. Roads were blocked unexpectedly and even the freeway closed, forcing commuters into massive traffic snarls. Businesses, too, closed because customers couldn’t get to their doors. Waikiki was under martial law conditions with concrete barricades, car searches, workers subject to background checks to determine if they could work, security passes needed to enter various areas, and even offshore surf sites closed. Adding insult to injury, right after teachers and other public workers have been forced to take pay and benefit cuts, millions of dollars of our tax money was spent to spiff up landscaping and push our most unfortunate out of what little they can call home.  This our government did in order to put on a show for the richest of the rich and their politician servants—the very ones who caused (and benefitted from) the economic crisis that has cut our services, impoverished our public workers, and put our families out on the street. Whether or not Hawaii’s visitor industry will get a boost in business travel out of this is debatable, but one thing is certain: We have tainted the vacations of the visitors we already have. Just imagine paying for an expensive vacation in Waikiki and not being able to get in and out to see the sights or go golfing. And all for what? Just what went on at the APEC talks that was worth the nuisance and expense we endured? It’s all a big secret, but the facts are beginning to emerge despite the secrecy, and the distraction of self-promoting politicians making speeches. APEC was really about working on a dirty deal to benefit global banks and corporations at the expense of the rest of us. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal they continue to cook up represents a massive corporate/bank end-run around our laws, protections, rights, and self-determination. Calling this kind of international agreement a “free trade” agreement is a cruel deception. Only a small portion of these agreements even talk about trade issues. Most of the provisions provide ways for global banks and corporations to get around the laws and regulations that we have set up to protect the public interest. Labor laws to ensure basic standards for workers in our community? They are talking about how to get around those. Environmental protection laws, consumer protection laws, land-use laws, even laws to control health care costs—they are talking about how to get around those. Laws protecting Hawaiian lands are in danger, rendering Hawaiian sovereignty meaningless, but it is not only Hawaii’s native peoples’ sovereignty that is being undermined, it is the sovereign rights of Hawaii and the United States as well. All nations signing trade deals like the TPP are giving up sovereignty rights to corporations and banks.  The provisions of this agreement allow private entities—banks and corporations—to bring suit in international courts to enforce the terms. Global banks and corporations that have no allegiance or loyalty to any nation are empowered to bring lawsuits to force nations that sign the agreement to give up laws they have on the books that restrict banks and corporations from despoiling communities for profit. This has already happened under previous “free trade” scams like the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). One recent example is how Mexican corporations have been successful in ignoring safety and anti-pollution laws that took decades of struggle to put in place. Unsafe and polluting Mexican trucks, with drivers paid under Mexican wage and benefit standards, now have free access to American highways, competing with American truckers that respect American laws. Even future laws we would like to pass will be prevented. For example, the Governor’s idea that Hawaii should buy food from local farmers to feed out school children—that idea could be prevented along with any other Buy Hawaii or Buy American programs. The many good ideas that our community might come up with to build up our local economy and protect our local people could all be prevented or overturned in the false name of “free trade.” Perhaps the most disgusting aspect of what is being discussed are the provisions that would make it impossible for Hawaii (or the United States and any signatory country) to control health care costs resulting from skyrocketing prescription drug prices. They are talking about rules that would prevent us from promoting generic drugs and force us to buy hideously overpriced patented drugs. And they want to extend the years that pharmaceutical companies can keep new drugs under patent, thereby maintaining their breathtaking monopoly prices for drugs. Agreements such as TPP would make health care reform meaningless by taking away our ability to control the cost of prescription drugs, a major cost-driver in spiraling health care costs. All of us—or at least 99 percent of us—will be the victims, and the big pharmaceutical companies and the banks that own them. The 1 percent will generate even bigger profits off our illnesses and aging. What APEC was talking about was a massive sellout by our political leaders to the 1 percent—the banks and corporations whose greed and incompetence has already crashed our economy and ruined the lives of millions in Hawaii and the United States. The TPP is just another scheme to stick it to the 99 percent of us that work for a living. No wonder APEC put up walls, barricades, traffic stops and road closures to keep Hawaii’s people away from them. They were up to no good. News Culture Community Thursday, November 17 2011 1:54 AM /story/mojo-barber-shop-brings-back-the-shave-and-haircut /story/mojo-barber-shop-brings-back-the-shave-and-haircut CHINATOWN — It’s fair to say that for most men, shaving and getting a haircut are perfunctory necessities, mindless routines part of the gender-specific social contract for appearing in public. Mojo Barbershop, newly opened on Bethel Street, is out to change that. Offering the shave-and-a-haircut service that has been strangely lacking in Honolulu, Mojo Barbershop is poised to make the experience part of the fabric of the Downtown business and social community. Yes, beards and hipster mustaches have become a way for some men to flout convention. However, like tattoos, they have become more mainstream than those who sport them are likely to admit. Unlike faux-hawks, lip rings and dorky glasses, the well-groomed man will never go out of style. Owned by University Lab School graduate Marian Lee and her Kalani grad husband Matt Leo, Mojo Barbershop is in the process of creating a market for Downtown men who like to look sharp. Marian is a former stock analyst and her husband is a vintage car enthusiast and expert. So why open a barbershop? “Matt had a barber in Portland (where the two lived for ten years),” says Lee. “He loved getting a shave and a haircut. When we moved back here, we realized that there was really nothing like that in Honolulu. They’re all over the mainland.” With extensive business experience and savvy, the two began plans to open a barber shop about a year ago. Chinatown was the logical location for their new business, as it has become a mecca for intrepid, young entrepreneurs. And there are a whole lot of aloha-attired male office workers always in need of a decent coif and a shave in Downtown Honolulu. Matt Leo and Brandon of Manifest in Chinatown are old high school buddies, and the two establishments are working together to raise money and awareness for the fight against testicular cancer. Mojo Barber Shop will offer a discount to all men who participate in Manifest’s Man Challenge, in which men go without shaving for 30 days in November. Anyone who spends any appreciable amount of time Downtown will surely have noticed by now an increase in the number of hirsute men on the street. And while the shop caters to men, Mojo also offers hairstyling and services for women. “Oh, absolutely,” says Lee. “We do up do’s for women, too.” Most of the clientele has thus far been male, says Lee, but the age has ranged from five-year-olds to lifelong Downtown career men. My father once told me that getting a shave and a haircut is one of the most sublime experiences a man can enjoy. I attributed that to an old fashioned outlook, the product of his spending years as an ad exec on Madison Avenue. Many years later, after settling into a chair and being, yes, pampered, for 90 minutes, I now understand what he was talking about. “We want to highlight the social experience of the barbershop,” says Lee. She doesn’t mean the cracking wise cliché of the Ice Cube movie franchise, either. Sharing easy banter with Jen, my barber at Mojo, I marveled at the simple pleasure of the experience. It is important to note that for my entire adult life, I have made a point of not spending more than 20 minutes or dollars for a haircut. It’s also important to note that the thought of a complete stranger holding a straight razor to my throat for an extended period of time made me nervous enough to stop for a belt at J.J. Dolan’s before I walked in the door to Mojo. I’m happy to report, however, that the unfamiliar sound of that razor against my skin was alone worth it. The hot mint towel treatment was rapturous. Jen slathered me with wonderfully fragrant unguents, adding to an already sensual experience. I walked out feeling like Don Draper himself. Asked how she envisions Mojo Barber Shop one year from now, Marian Lee says, “With a line out the door.” She and her husband are already considering the possibility of opening another location, perhaps in Waikiki, and a product line of shampoos and other such products. Considering the fact that they have converted me, a person who has in the past shaved and gotten haircuts grudgingly, it seems a foregone conclusion that their business model will find the kind of success they envision and that their Chinatown neighbors enjoy.   News Culture Community Wednesday, November 16 2011 10:39 PM /story/oahu-fringe-festival-comes-to-chinatown-this-weekend /story/oahu-fringe-festival-comes-to-chinatown-this-weekend HONOLULU — The Fringe Festival phenomenon comes to town this weekend, with a variety of local performance artists presenting their art at several Chinatown venues. The first Fringe Festival ever was held in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947. That festival has grown to become among the largest arts festivals in the world. Cities all over the world now hold their own festivals selling millions of tickets annually. A one-day Fringe was held in Chinatown last year. Festival organizer Misa Tupou has set forth three days of performances, running Thursday through Saturday at venues like The Arts at Mark’s Garage, The Venue, Ong King Arts Center, and ARTSmith. “I think Honolulu is ready for a multi-genre festival,” says Tupou. Himself a performer in the dramatic arts, he has long been moved by the passion of artists. Speaking of performances he’s seen at Fringe events in his native New Zealand, Tupou says, “These people absolutely rip their hearts out to tell you their stories.” It’s that respect for artists’ work that led Tupou to begin planning Oahu Fringe two years ago. And although artists were required to pay a registration fee, they have the chance to earn it back with good attendance. Also, no one who applied for a performance slot was turned away. The dozens of artists slated to perform at Oahu Fringe include musicians, comedy groups, dancers, actors and playwrights , visual artists, cabaret, acrobats and movement specialists. Oahu Fringe is about inclusion, which means that a wide array of different forms of expression will be featured over the three days of the event. “If you’re serious about your artwork, this a wonderful place to develop it,” says Tupou. “The artists at Oahu Fringe are taking a chance with their art, and we encourage people to take a chance and attend.” For a complete list of venues and performances, and to purchase tickets, visit www.oahufringe.com. News Culture Community Wednesday, November 9 2011 12:09 AM /story/shooting-adds-to-local-tension /story/shooting-adds-to-local-tension HONOLULU—The fatal shooting of a Kailua man this weekend has left Hawaii residents shocked and concerned about the growing presence of armed personnel here in Honolulu for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Kollin Kealii Elderts, 23, was shot and killed on the night of Saturday, November 5 at a McDonald’s restaurant in Waikiki. Christopher Deedy, 27, a special agent with the State Department, has been charged with second-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Deedy was released Monday after posting $250,000 bail. The shooting at a McDonald’s in Waikiki comes just as international public relations efforts will be at its highest—days before leaders from throughout the borders of the Pacific are set meet in Honolulu for APEC. Speculation over the details from the shooting is generating further tension in the islands. Road closures and high security have already raised concerns for Honolulu residents and commuters. Local groups organizing to speak out against globalization and militarization have already planned rallies and protests during the APEC proceedings. A march and protest titled “Justice for Kollin Elderts” has been scheduled by Hawaii Peace & Justice and World Can’t Wait for this afternoon, Tuesday, November 8. Participants in the march will gather at Old Stadium Park at 3:45 p.m. and begin marching at 4:00 p.m. Marchers plan to head from King Street to McCully Shopping Center, and then to the front of the Hawaii Convention Center. A message calling for Hawaii residents to rally in the name of Elderts circulated the Internet, stating: “That thousands of security agents, police and military personnel are armed to the teeth to protect the rich and powerful, unleashing an atmosphere of fear and terror throughout Hawaii is an outrage! We cannot allow the U.S. State Department, the HPD, the State and City governments, and the media to continue to keep this blatant murder shrouded in secrecy.” Police are still investigating the shooting. News Culture Community Tuesday, November 8 2011 7:55 PM /story/arrested-occupy-honolulu-members-seek-community-support /story/arrested-occupy-honolulu-members-seek-community-support HONOLULU—Eight members part of the Occupy Honolulu movement were arrested on the second night of demonstration at Thomas Square this weekend. About 40 members were sitting in the park with the intent starting a peaceful occupation prior to the arrests late Saturday, November 5. The total cost for bail was $1,700, Occupy Honolulu said. The group is asking support from the community to help raise bail money to pay back those who cannot afford to pay. For more information on how to donate, click here Occupy Honolulu organizers said they also stood “in solidarity” with the homeless who are being forced from the streets and parks as the city prepares this week to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Associated Press reported. The following video posted on YouTube captures the arrest: News Culture Community Monday, November 7 2011 7:36 PM /story/apec-is-all-business /story/apec-is-all-business News Culture Community Thursday, November 3 2011 8:30 PM /story/apec-security-restricts-traffic-cam-access /story/apec-security-restricts-traffic-cam-access HONOLULU—Access to Honolulu’s traffic camera network will be temporarily restricted during next month’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings due to security precautions. However, timely information regarding traffic conditions during commute peak periods will be made available to the public via the news media. Images from live traffic cameras operated by the City Department of Transportation will be restricted from approximately 6:30 p.m. on Monday, November 7, 2011 through Monday, November 14, 2011. Traffic information regarding weekday commutes will continue to be provided to the news media. Urgent alerts and emergency information will be issued by City agencies such as the Department of Emergency Management, the Board of Water Supply and the Police Department using the City’s emergency e-mail and text messaging system, known as Nixle. Information will also be disseminated via the city’s social media tools on Twitter and/or Facebook. The public may sign-up for Nixle alerts by logging on to www.nixle.com/dem (The service is free but standard text messaging rates may apply). Information will also be provided via the City’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, accessible at www.honolulu.gov. News Culture Community Monday, October 31 2011 11:55 PM /story/kakaako-development-adds-650-foot-tower-to-seaside-landscape /story/kakaako-development-adds-650-foot-tower-to-seaside-landscape HONOLULU—Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced on Thursday, October 27 plans for a mixed-use development in Kakaako called 690 Pohukaina. The effort is a public/private partnership that will include affordable housing, commercial space, and broadband capability. The plans for 690 Pohukaina call for one tower with 300 affordable for-sale units and a second tower with 500 market-priced units, Pacific Business News reported. The second tower would be 650 feet high, nearly 250 feet taller than the First Hawaiian Center. In total, 690 Pohukaina will include 204 Affordable Rental Housing units, 300 Affordable Housing units, and 500 Market Housing units. Affordable workforce housing will allow a family of four that makes $80,000 to $100,000 in annual income to rent a three bedroom unit for $1,400 a month. The governor said the development will create 1,500 jobs.  “This development will provide housing choices and opportunities for a variety of people and families,” Abercrombie said in a statement. “But the first thing 690 Pohukaina does is create jobs in construction and business sectors. This is a combination of growing our economy and the creation of a thriving community.” The Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) estimates the development of 690 Pohukaina will infuse $500 million into the state’s economy over the next seven years and generate more than 500 construction related jobs and an additional 1,000 indirect jobs. Along with the 650-foot tower, there will be two smaller residential and commercial buildings, a parking structure, and a civic/commercial center. The residential units include studios, one, two, and three-bedrooms. There are three phases in this development. The first phase is an affordable rental housing complex that will break ground in February 2012. The second is a mix of affordable and market housing units with community space; the third will include a high tech business incubator and innovation space for broadband capability. Estimated completion of all three phases is 2019. This project is a mixed-use Transit Oriented Development (TOD), which means it is designed to maximize access to public transportation and incorporates features to encourage transit ridership. Currently, there are 61 bus routes that serve Kakaako. In addressing the HCDA board, Abercrombie stated: “We cannot continue on a path of urban sprawl.  690 Pohukaina will offer increased value because of its height and density as well as the mixed-use approach that takes advantage of its location. This project is about enhancing the way we live. Sustainable urban density is the future.” HCDA is collaborating with a number of partners including the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA). “The DCCA is excited to partner on this project, specifically to include access to ultra-high speed Internet capability as part of the Governor’s Hawai’i Broadband Initiative,” said DCCA Director Kealii Lopez. HCDA will immediately begin soliciting proposals to build 690 Pohukaina, state officials said. The HCDA supplements traditional community renewal methods by promoting and coordinating public and private sector development in urban areas in the State that are in need of timely redevelopment. Kakaako is HCDA’s first Community Development District. News Culture Community Saturday, October 29 2011 3:50 AM /story/letter-burning-of-iwi-kupuna-is-desecration-of-the-highest-order /story/letter-burning-of-iwi-kupuna-is-desecration-of-the-highest-order Fire burns disinterred remains at Kawaiahao Church. What? How is it that disinterred remains, also known as iwi kupuna or the bones of our ancestors, were left exposed to this desecration by Cultural Surveys Hawaii, the company contracted and paid to dig up human remains at Kawaiahao Church. How is it that Kawaiahao Church has allowed this to happen on their watch? How is this possible? It is happening because Kawaiahao Church has perpetrated their own desecration upon at least 69 burials by digging them up, putting these remains into baskets, and locking them in a caged room and leaving them in the basement of their church for over two years. Presently, Kawaiahao Church continues to dig up human remains from their backyard because these iwi kupuna are “in the way” of a multi-million dollar building they plan to build on a wing and a prayer.  This desecration by someone who thought it was OK to burn the remains of one of the iwi kupuna who had been negligently left exposed by Cultural Surveys Hawaii is allowed to happen because the church is not fulfilling their obligation and responsibility to those who are buried in the shadow of their church. Abuse of a corpse is a desecration of the highest order and the desecration lies squarely on the shoulders of the church officials and congregation members who continue to condone these actions. Mass excavations are ongoing at Kawaiahao Church and iwi kupuna are being dug up with no regard for the families who have come forward time and time again to ask, to plead and to insist that this horrible act cease and desist. So let this hewa, this wrong doing, fall where it belongs. The kuleana and the responsibility for these actions fall at the feet of everyone who has willingly and knowingly condoned and participated in this desecration. Let it be. The kupuna will have the last word. And when they do, heaven help us all. Kamuela Andrea Kapuananialiiokama Kala’i A concerned mo’opuna Kaneohe News Culture Community Wednesday, October 26 2011 10:37 PM /story/the-apec-hook-hawaii-bites-part-3 /story/the-apec-hook-hawaii-bites-part-3 The following story is the third of a three-part series examining the impact of APEC on Hawaii and the Pacific region. The author, Arnie Saiki, is a researcher and the project director for Statehood Hawaii/ImiPono Projects, an independent and nonprofit website promoting open public dialogue on the issue of Hawaii’s statehood. To read “The APEC hook: When the shark guards the tuna (Part 1),” click here To read “The APEC hook: Small fish in a big ocean (Part 2),” click here HONOLULU—As the waves of dignitaries, the press, and some of the world’s most influential business minds approach Honolulu for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in November, our State’s leaders are looking to break down barriers to ensure a better deal. Hawaii is competing for many of the same regional investment capital as the other Pacific Islands. The islands have served as a critical political and geographic hub for the occupying United States. And at APEC, the focus will be on the Pacific’s resources. International investment is focused on mining resources, fisheries, bio-fuel, and government procurement—military contracts. Federal laws provide the State of Hawaii some protections, but that generally also means that it is more restrictive to do business. In order for Hawaii to make itself a better investment, a certain amount of deregulation and liberalization needs to occur. The State has already laid some of the groundwork needed for this deregulation. In the beginning of July of this year, Governor Neil Abercrombie signed Act 55, the Public Land Optimization Plan (PLOP) into law, which created a for-profit arm of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), a public-funded State agency. Called the Public Land Development Corporation, that for-profit arm is tasked with managing public/private investment of Hawaii’s public lands, including the disputed “ceded” crown lands. The Public Land Development Corporation consists of five government appointees, each directing the commercial development of Hawaii’s public lands. Appointees include the head of the Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), the head of the Department of Budget and Finance, as well as two business/finance appointments from the State House and Senate each. Now the rules of this corporation have not yet been defined, but there are no administrators of this corporation representing Native Hawaiians, the environment, or the public health, education sectors. Signed into law about the same time were a potpourri of other feel-good measures that by themselves and and at face-value seemed like good policy for small local farmers or mom and pop entrepreneurs. But applied to transnational regional development, these laws will likely create hugely disproportionate barriers for families to carve out a niche for the dream of owning a local small business. Some of these measures include: Act 207 allows for DLNR to modify State land leases to 65 years. Act 219 allows the extension of State land leases for hotels and resorts planning “substantial improvements” to 55 years. Act 208 makes entering unused agricultural lands without permission an offense of criminal trespass in the second degree and limits liability to lease holders for trespassers sustaining injuries. Act 232 extends commercial aquaculture leases for aquaculture projects from 35 to 65 years.  Act 054, in particular, requires that DLNR inventory all public land trusts, including “ceded” lands, inventory all land titles, and submit a description of all natural resources, including minerals and water found on or appurtenant (“passing though”) each parcel. The collected information would then be submitted into a database. On the face of it, the inventory of resources sounds reasonable. However, when you consider that inventories are the accounting of assets, it would allow for an entity like the Public Land Development Corporation to change the purpose of the inventory from passively indexing resources to creating an asset base. The Public Land Development Corporation could use that base as equity—key stakeholder assets required for leasing public land. These deregulations could actually further remove us from the food/water/housing security that we are led to think these measures provide. Again, bills that deregulate liabilities are wonderful if they pertain only to local farmers or families. However, applied to transnational agri/aquacultural, mining, or energy investors, these new deregulations are Trojan horses used to create huge investment opportunities that could ultimately make it very difficult for local labor and production to compete. These deregulations could actually further remove us from the food/water/housing security that we are led to think these measures provide. Had these measures been passed any other time, they may have well slipped beneath anyone’s notice. But so soon to the APEC forum, it suggests that the Hawaii State and business community is creating as many opportunities for itself as it can in this transnational market. As a matter of policy, the U.S. government is based on an open-investment regime where the government regulates foreign investment as little as possible, except on sectors where national security is involved. In a sub-federal state level, there are sector specific laws and policies that bind investment and development. In Hawaii, DLNR was the State agency that managed and protected the sale and leasing of these public ‘ceded’ lands. Now, however, there are conditions under national security where the federal government can obtain access and lease control to foreign citizens or corporations that offer investors a stable and non-discriminatory policy. As the definition of national security encompasses the economic, energy, and the environment sectors—the kind 
of public/private partnerships that the Public Land Development Corporation will likely be involved with—
new developments will likely be framed through over-reaching definitions of national security. Economic security, energy security, and environmental 
security all fall under the banner of national security and are all the commodity resources that DLNR is working to inventory. What this cautionary account suggests—particularly during these international one percent vs. 99 percent Occupy Wall Street events—is that these seismic and over-reaching changes are well underway. They are not manifestly engraved in stone as the images of Wakea, Papa, and Haloa, but they are nonetheless binding in international law. These International Investment Agreements are moving quickly as the “one percent” are exploring every route towards proving that this neo-liberal economic system is thriving and alive. The “99 percent” know that it is hanging on by life-support. If we concede to have our oceans and land resources stripped without us at least voicing an opinion, then that one percent may very well celebrate that they were right after all. And that as surely as day becomes night, the resource and labor consuming short-term benefits of neo-liberalism may appear like Dr. Frankenstein’s monster—alive and well.   Moana Nui A partnership organized by the International Forum on Globalization (San Francisco) and Pua Mohala I Ka Pō (Honolulu) comprised of practitioners, academics, advocates, and activists are exploring alternatives to economic hegemony, militarization and the damaging effects of globalization on indigenous peoples, resources, and trade. That exploration culminates at an event called Moana Nui, taking place in November at three venues: Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church (free private event on November 9), Church of the Crossroads (free public event on November 10), and the Kamaka’kuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies (free public event on November 11). For more information, visit www.MoanaNui2011.org. Related Stories: The APEC hook: When the shark guards the tuna (Part 1) The APEC hook: Small fish in a big ocean (Part 2) News Culture Community Wednesday, October 26 2011 3:54 AM /story/aclu-offers-apec-peaceful-protest-assistance /story/aclu-offers-apec-peaceful-protest-assistance HONOLULU— As the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) approaches, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii Foundation (ACLU) has announced the release of its “First Amendment Toolkit” and a “Know Your Rights” telephone line, 808-522-5906. ACLU of Hawaii Executive Director Vanessa Chong says, “The ACLU’s focus is on ensuring the public’s right to peaceful protest and assembly. The Toolkit answers a wide range of questions often asked about how to exercise one’s right to free speech without breaking the law.” Protests are expected at APEC events, and law enforcement will be stepped up to ensure the safety of the public and APEC conferees. The Honolulu Police Department recently released a list of dozens of Honolulu locations that will see surveillance cameras installed to monitor activity and deter crime in area that will be impacted by APEC activities. These cameras are in addition to existing traffic cameras. The ACLU is expanding its “Know Your Rights” phone line to receive confidential messages from those seeking copies of the Toolkit, those having difficulty obtaining permits, and those concerned about law enforcement actions. During APEC, the ACLU will monitor the “Know Your Rights” phone several times a day. For over a year, the ACLU has made itself available as a resource to local activist groups, law enforcement, and the government officials. The ACLU continues to provide informational sessions, at no cost, for groups who are planning protests. Chong adds” “The ACLU has every expectation that Hawaii can successfully spotlight both lawful protest and law enforcement readiness that complies with the Constitution. ACLU negotiations continue to go well with city attorneys so we are hopeful that our remaining concerns will be resolved before APEC.” For more information and a copy of the toolkit, visit the ACLU Hawaii website. On Wednesday, October 26, ‘Olelo will present a free, public informational session featuring an ACLU of Hawaii speaker, “Know Your Rights—Documenting Law Enforcement Interactions in Hawaii” at 8:00 p.m. at the Palolo Community Media Center located at the Jarrett Middle School, 1903 Palolo Ave. News Culture Community Tuesday, October 25 2011 12:54 AM