http://www.thehawaiiindependent.com/local/kapolei News • Culture • Community English news@thehawaiiindependent.com Copyright 2011 The Hawaii Independent Corporation Thursday, February 9 2012 9:05 AM /story/comment-what-will-rail-and-hot-lanes-do-for-honolulu /story/comment-what-will-rail-and-hot-lanes-do-for-honolulu In the following commentary on traffic congestion, Pano Prevedouros, University of Hawaii civil engineering professor and former candidate for Honolulu mayor, describes potential traffic alternatives and its impact on high profile events, tourism, and energy in the islands. What would rail do for future major conventions like the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia Development Bank? Nothing! Remember that the rail dead-ends at Ala Moana Center. Rail is promoted in order to create many temporary jobs. It won’t be well used because the bulk of its ridership comes from deleted bus lines. Rail cannot even go next to the Hawaii Convention Center for security reasons. If there is a rail line next to Honolulu Community College, then security-sensitive events cannot take place there, which defeats the purpose of HCC. What if we had high occupancy and toll lanes (HOT) Lanes instead of rail? HOT lanes (the toll applies to low occupancy vehicles) would be about 11 miles long, between the H-1/H-2 freeway merge and Iwilei with exits at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu International Airport, Kalihi, and Downtown. Tampa built elevated reversible toll lanes (town-bound in the morning, out-of-town bound in the afternoon) in six years for less than $350 Million; it opened in 2007. Tampa’s reversible express lanes (REL) solved a big part of its congestion problem for the same cost that Honolulu is spending on rail design and promotion. With HOT Lanes, during major events such as APEC, we would have problem-free travel between the H-1/H-2 freeway merge and Downtown regardless of H-1 freeway closures. There would be no visible blight because HOT lanes run mostly next to H-1 freeway and terminate one half mile before the waterfront. As a bonus, HOT lanes have no part in the destruction of Aloun Farms and the prime agricultural land that is planned to become an approximately 13,000 residential Transit Oriented Development (TOD) in the Ewa plains. What will rail do for Oahu during a hurricane? Rail will shut down. It’s standard procedure. After hurricane Ike on September 13, 2008, Houston highways recovered in two-to-three days. It took its rail transit two weeks to operate fully. During a hurricane or other major storm, HOT lanes can be converted to be a resilient backbone for emergency and special services only. HOT ;anes will be elevated for 11 miles so they won’t flood or get clogged by debris. They can be designed with resiliency in mind so light poles and signs won’t collapse and block the roadway. They will aid in quick response and recovery for Oahu. What will rail do for Waikiki and tourism and the UH Manoa campus? Nothing. Rail dead ends at Ala Moana Center. Over one billion dollars will be needed to backtrack to Kapiolani Boulevard to get to Waikiki. Rail will permanently blight the Honolulu Convention Center and the spine of Waikiki: With the elevated rail and stations, sun will barely reach Kuhio Avenue. Rail to the UH Manoa campus is another $1 billion waste without justification. UH Manoa is in full session only 150 days a year. The rest of the time, it’s in summer session, final exam weeks, breaks, holidays, and weekends. How does one justify $1 billion for such partial usage? In contrast, a substantial portion of traffic from the H-1 freeway will divert onto the HOT Lanes (similar to the relief of Likelike Highway by the opening of the H-3 freeway). This will result in less congested travel to Waikiki and UH. With HOT lanes, traffic on the H-1 freeway will be as if UH is in recess permanently. What will rail do in terms of climate change? It will promote global warming. The Final EIS for the rail shows that the project will save 396 million British thermal units (BTU) of energy each day, or 144,540 million BTU per year, based on the City’s rosy forecasts of ridership. On the other hand, the rail’s guideway and station construction will require 7,480,000 million BTU to be constructed. Dividing 7,480,000 by 144,540 gives 51.75, or about 52 years. That’s how many years it will take to make up the construction energy loss by the assumed energy savings. But in 52 years, rail will need multiple component replacements, repairs, and refurbishments. So it is an energy black hole. In 2025, rail will be absurdly un-green compared to third generation plug-in hybrid vehicles. In contrast, HOT lanes reduce congestion and fuel consumption. HOT lanes can promote green technologies by having a reduced or zero toll for electric vehicles. Their pavement can be retrofitted with conduit for contactless battery recharging for hybrid buses and electric mini-buses. HOT Lanes are in large part transit and high-occupancy vehicle facilities. Some call them “virtually exclusive busways” because they are built to serve express buses and vanpools, and the excess capacity is then sold to lower occupancy vehicles through a toll charge. Former-Mayor Mufi Hannemann used some retired directors of transportation to convey the message that “we can’t build any more roads on Oahu.” Nothing is further from the truth. The proposed HOT lanes will be about 33 lane miles in total size including their shoulder lane. In the last 10 years, over 100 brand new lane miles of highways were built on Oahu, such as the Kalanianaole Highway widening, Fort Weaver Road widening, North-South Road, and two large freeway interchanges and new streets in Kapolei. HOT lanes, with their intelligent management center, automatic reversibility to serve morning and evening traffic, and accommodation for hi-tech cars and buses would be a prime technological demonstrator for traffic-clogged cities in Asia. In contrast, nobody from Asia would visit Honolulu to learn from its archaic and noisy steel-on-steel elevated rail. What do HOT lanes cost? Costs are a “moving target” because they are affected by final design, energy cost, and materials pricing. In approximate 2010 terms, the HOT lanes should cost under $2 billion, while the rail will cost over $5 billion. Significantly, the HOT lanes can be done in large part with private investment funds leaving the taxpayer with a less than $1 Billion tax liability. In contrast, all of the rail’s $5 billion cost is taxpayer funded. Most HOT lanes in the United States were built as public-private partnerships with shared investor-taxpayer risk. Rail’s construction cost will be followed by huge taxpayer financed subsidies, which if operation, maintenance and equipment replacement costs are totaled would be over $250 million per year (forever). In contrast, the operating costs of the HOT lanes are relatively minimal, similar to those for the H-3 freeway. News Culture Community Monday, December 12 2011 10:19 PM /story/city-to-hold-public-meeting-on-ewa-development-plan /story/city-to-hold-public-meeting-on-ewa-development-plan KAPOLEI—The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting will hold a public information meeting on the results and recommended changes of its review of the Ewa Development Plan and implementation process. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 1, at Kapolei Hale. Registration and a talk-story session with City planners will begin at 6:00 p.m., with the formal meeting starting at 7:00 p.m.  The review is in response to public comments and suggestions collected from five public workshops, more than 20 community interviews, and over 60 letters and emails. Following the presentation, City planners will be available to answer questions and collect comments and suggestions for improvements to the proposed revised Plan and implementation.  The Ewa Development Plan is a long-range land use and infrastructure plan and is a guide for public and private decisions about Ewa’s future. The Ewa Development Plan is one of eight development and sustainable communities being planned on Oahu. The review report and the proposed draft adopting ordinance are available online at www.honoluludpp.org. The documents are also available at the Kapolei Satellite City Hall, Kapolei Public Library, and the Ewa Beach Public Library. News Culture Community Tuesday, November 1 2011 12:06 AM /story/filling-the-tourist-hole-industry-buffs-look-to-big-spenders-from-far-away /story/filling-the-tourist-hole-industry-buffs-look-to-big-spenders-from-far-away News Culture Community Tuesday, September 27 2011 2:09 AM /story/pacific-roller-derby-to-honor-troops /story/pacific-roller-derby-to-honor-troops KAPOLEI – In honor of the Barber’s Point Naval Air Museum’s Centennial Celebration and the Ten Year Remembrance of September 11, Pacific Roller Derby (Pacific) will host a military-themed ‘Tribute to our Troops’ scrimmage featuring Sailors vs. Soldiers at the US Coast Guard Air Station at Barber’s Point on Saturday, September 17.  The scrimmage begins at 4pm and will feature live action roller derby in the tennis-court ‘cage’ at The Hideaway Club. Many of the league’s participants are directly involved with the armed forces including the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard. The roller derby league has become an ‘ohana to many incoming military families by offering a supportive athletic environment for military spouses and active duty members. Many of the league’s skaters are military wives and have found a close-knit group of friends through New Girl Training, Boot Camp, Derby Middle School, and participation as a skater on the league’s home teams, the Oahu Hula-gans travel team, and the Pacific All-Stars travel team. Pacific Roller Derby will continue to accept donations of new and gently used school supplies at the scrimmage. Fans are encouraged to bring donations in support of Pacific’s participation in the Hawaii Jaycee’s 4th Annual Adopt A School Day, a statewide grassroots effort to establish awareness and service to Hawaii’s schools. Non-military fans are required to RSVP at www.pacificrollerderby.com by midnight on Friday, September 16, to gain access to Coast Guard Air Station for the afternoon event, or be sponsored by an active military duty member. “Tribute to Our Troops” Roller Derby Saturday, September 17, 4:00 p.m. The Hideaway Club, USCG Air Station Barber’s Point $7 General, $5 Military   News Culture Community Tuesday, September 13 2011 1:27 AM /story/roller-derby-ladies-skate-for-school-drive /story/roller-derby-ladies-skate-for-school-drive Pacific Roller Derby has joined the Hawaii Jaycees to support the 4th Annual Adopt A School Day, a statewide grassroots effort to establish awareness and service to Hawaii’s schools. This call for service hits close to home for the hip-checking rollergirls—many of whom are mothers and teachers. Rookie rollergirl Kuchi 2Sox is a teacher at Leihoku Elementary school in Waianae. After completing the Pacific’s roller derby boot camp, an intensive 6-to-8 week training program that prepares skaters to pass a required minimum skills test, Kuchi compared student time in the classroom to teacher time on the flat-track. “I can’t help to think that my kids go through the same thing,” Kuchi said. “The same anxiety, the same uncertainty, and the same feeling of excitement and joy when they finally complete a task.” Kuchi said that roller derby has taught her to be more patient and confident and that the sport reminds her to continue encouraging her own students to do their best. Skaters will kick off their pledge to support Leeward-based elementary schools by hosting a “Back to School Daze” scrimmage and school supply drive this Saturday featuring Lunch Ladies and Gym Teachers in the feared “roller derby cage” at The Hideaway Club. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used school supplies ranging from pens and pencils to binders, backpacks, and more, to this Saturday’s family friendly event. Admission is $7 for the general public, $5 for military fans with a valid ID, and free for keiki 12 and under. Non-military fans are required to RSVP at www.pacificrollerderby.com by midnight on Friday, August 26 to gain access to the Coast Guard Air Station for the afternoon event, or be sponsored by an active military duty member. Fans are encouraged to bring beach chairs for seating and can enjoy live roller derby, a bake sale, and show league support by purchasing Pacific Roller Derby t-shirts, aprons, and more. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and the bout begins at 4:00 p.m., followed by live music by local rockers Boy and Sea and Ever After Ever. The all-ages event turns into an 18-and-up event after sunset, and fans are invited to stay and talk story with their favorite derby girls, referees, and non-skating officials. For more information, visit www.pacificrollerderby.com. Back to School Daze Scrimmage Saturday, August 27 at 4:00 p.m. The Hideaway Club, USCG Air Station at Barber’s Point 1 Coral Sea Street $7/$5 admission News Culture Community Friday, August 26 2011 5:30 AM /story/city-bill-proposes-public-video-surveillance-during-apec /story/city-bill-proposes-public-video-surveillance-during-apec HONOLULU—A Honolulu City Council bill would authorize the use of overt video monitoring on Oahu for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. The purpose of the surveillance under Resolution 11-229 is to deter “criminal activity and to achieve a legitimate law enforcement objective and a legitimate public purpose.” Video cameras would be installed throughout the island, including Waikiki, Downtown, and Ko Olina and be monitored from the bill’s passage through November 15. APEC runs from November 7 to 13. The newly installed cameras and current cameras will be utilized by the Honolulu Police Department and other City agencies. Resolution 11-229 is scheduled to be heard by the City Council on Tuesday, August 30. For information on how to testify and for the full agenda, click here News Culture Community Friday, August 26 2011 5:00 AM /story/we-dont-have-to-turn-a-blind-eye-to-human-trafficking-exploitation /story/we-dont-have-to-turn-a-blind-eye-to-human-trafficking-exploitation News Culture Community Monday, August 1 2011 8:58 PM /story/letter-attack-on-royal-iwi-is-being-covered-up /story/letter-attack-on-royal-iwi-is-being-covered-up The following video of the O’ahu Island Burial Council’s July 13 meeting and letter relates to proceedings over the ancient Hawaiian burial complex discovered in the areas stretching from east of One’ula Beach Park, which is located just before Barber’s Point Naval Air Station. What [Yvonne] Izu is dreading in the Oneula contested case hearing is this. Haseko Ewa Inc. is liable for the wanton destruction of our Hawaiian cultural practice of our gathering limu and near shore fishing due to the blocking off the freshwater water source of the twin Waipouli karst system. Ewa is historically known as the House of limu and was known in Kuali’i's chant at Kanehili Ewa to pick lipoa limu and other limu. Limu gathering is a highly valued subsistence food and traditional medicinal healing source. A natural fresh water source from the mountains to the Honouliuli underground aquifer that runs underground in the Waipouli system, which brings nitrates that expand and increase the abundance of endemic Hawaiian algae or limu, has been sealed off by Haseko Ewa Inc. The abundant seasonal blooming of limu attracts shrimp, which attract small fish, which attract larger schools of fish. We have seen a large decline in this traditionally rich area. Waipouli is the protective shield of this important source of increasing abundance of sea life invertebrate to vertebrate fish sources due to a rich algae blooms no more. This is a death sentence to our traditional Hawaiian gathering rights and practices that are well documented in book Sites of Oahu and newspaper articles and books. Haseko is obligated to make reparations to this Hawaiian cultural practitioner who’s family (Kuali’i) have been gathering in Ewa in documentation for limu 550 years. That is why my bio for the native Hawaiian practitioner, the Kuali’i chant and my royal Hawaiian genealogy is vital for standing and proof that I have suffered a loss under Article 12, section 7 of the Hawai’i State Constitution. This continues with the Waipouli karst aqueduct as a Royal Kapu Heiau for Ali’i Aimoku iwi are burial places for the highest ali’i of O’ahu, which are my family. Kamehameha I’s wife Kaomileika’ahumanu as the true biological mother of Kamehameha III is proof that in the shrinkage of the Ewa Marina, a cover up of significant royal iwi has taken place as well as an ongoing destruction plan of Hawaii’s history and the most sacred site in all of Oahu found at the opening of the purposed Ewa Marina entrance channel. As my genealogical record shows, I, as Kahu of my royal families burial grounds, it is my Hawai’i State constitutional right under article 12 section 7 to protect our family’s treasure our iwi kupuna, which Queen Mikahela Kekauonohi my fourth great aunt did in Waipouli karst with her husband the last prince of Kauai in the 1840s. Haseko Ewa Inc. has never denied my Akaku (vision) that they broke into my royal family burial site and removed a valuable ki’i of Pele and other funerary objects in their documents. And to this date they have not returned them to me and my family to be sealed back where they belong. This cover-up must stop and the truth exposed in this contested case hearing on July 26 and 27 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 132 of the Kalanimoku Building, the BLNR board room on the first floor. Aloha Keakua, Michael Kumukauoha Lee   Related Stories: Agency inaction puts possible royal Hawaiian burial complex at risk to Haseko development The House of Limu: Clinging on to the past City Council postpones action on Oneula Beach Park’s cement barriers Concrete questions, crumbling answers: Government officials admit that the rules weren’t followed News Culture Community Thursday, July 21 2011 11:03 PM /story/disaster-preparedness-workshop-saturday-at-kapolei-high-school /story/disaster-preparedness-workshop-saturday-at-kapolei-high-school KAPOLEI—The City Department of Emergency Management, the University of Hawaii’s Sea Grant College Program (UH Sea Grant), and the NOAA Sea Grant Coastal Storms Program are teaming up to offer a free Oahu public workshop at Kapolei High School to assist Hawaii’s communities to plan and prepare for natural hazards. This final Oahu workshop will be held on Saturday, July 9 and will address a variety of topics including emergency guidelines, evacuation planning, tsunami and severe weather warnings, homeowner guidance, retrofit measures and insurance for floods and hurricanes. Experts from the Department of Emergency Management, UH Sea Grant, National Weather Service, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources will be on hand to provide guidance and answer questions from the public. In addition, many other agencies will set up educational tables to offer additional information and services to homeowners for natural hazard mitigation and preparation. The workshop is free and open to the public and is designed to better inform and prepare coastal communities throughout Hawaii. Disaster Preparedness Workshop Saturday, July 9 at 8:30 a.m. Kapolei High School Cafeteria News Culture Community Friday, July 8 2011 7:08 PM /story/hoopili-developer-gets-neighborhood-board-approval-to-build /story/hoopili-developer-gets-neighborhood-board-approval-to-build A developer’s plans to build on more than 1,500 acres of West Oahu farmland has gained unanimous support from the Kapolei Neighborhood Board last night, Hawaii News Now reports. D.R. Horton-Schuler Division’s “Ho’opili” development would be built over a 20 year period on land that includes Aloun Farms. But the developer said more than 250 acres of the farmland will still exist when the building is done. News Culture Community Thursday, June 30 2011 6:57 PM /story/city-council-committee-meeting-to-discuss-kapolei-housing-project-land-use /story/city-council-committee-meeting-to-discuss-kapolei-housing-project-land-use HONOLULU—The City and County of Honolulu’s Committee on Zoning is having a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 24 at 9:00 a.m. in the Committee Meeting Room at Honolulu Hale. The Committee will be discussing Resolution 11-164, pertaining to the Makalii II Affordable Housing Project. The resolution authorizes exemptions from certain requirements relating to the Kapolei housing project. There will also be an informational briefing by the Department of Planning and Permitting regarding the status of all pending Land Use Ordinance amendments. Persons wishing to testify on items listed on the agenda are requested to register by 9:00 a.m. via: a. The On-Line City Council Speaker Registration form. b. Fax to (808) 768-3827 indicating your desire to register to speak, along with your name, phone number and subject matter. c. In-person registration. d. Calling (808) 768-3815. Each speaker is limited to a one-minute presentation. Persons who have not registered to speak should raise their hands at the time the item is announced and they will be given an opportunity to speak following oral testimonies of the registered speakers. If you wish to submit written testimony, fax (808) 768-3827 or click here to email your written testimony. By submitting written testimony, you are not automatically registered to speak. If submitted, written testimonies, including the testifier’s address, e-mail address, and phone number, may be posted by the City Clerk and available to the public on the City’s DocuShare Website. Any physically challenged person requiring special assistance should call (808) 768-3815 for details at least one day prior to the meeting date. News Culture Community Thursday, May 19 2011 9:13 PM /story/waikele-gulch-explosion-land-use-violations-cited-by-city /story/waikele-gulch-explosion-land-use-violations-cited-by-city News Culture Community Wednesday, April 27 2011 12:31 AM /story/four-people-reported-dead-in-waikele-fireworks-explosion /story/four-people-reported-dead-in-waikele-fireworks-explosion News Culture Community Friday, April 8 2011 9:44 PM /story/city-partners-with-costco-for-recycling-project /story/city-partners-with-costco-for-recycling-project The City’s Department of Environmental Services (ENV) is partnering with Costco Hawaii to educate its customers about recycling while shopping. Specially designed in-store signage will make it easier to identify recyclable products. ENV and Costco surveyed all of the products on its shelves, identified blue cart recyclable products such as plastics, corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans and glass containers. Product signs were amended to include blue cart instructions and integrate a recycling theme throughout the store. “This innovative recycling education project is a first for Costco worldwide and the City welcomes the opportunity to teach more people about recycling,” Mayor Peter Carlisle said. “With thousands of daily shoppers, Costco’s efforts will have a tremendous impact on what ends up in the blue carts. Our waste is a resource for new products and energy, along with mulch and compost.” All four Costco stores on Oahu are participating – Waipio, Kapolei, Iwilei and Hawaii Kai. Almost 1,000 products in Costco were identified as blue cart recyclables. The new pilot recycling education program launches April 1. The program will be evaluated at the end of one year and may become a permanent component of Costco’s customer service. The Recycling and Disposal Guide for Oahu and The Opala IQ Book are available at all Costco locations while supplies last. For more information, go to opala.org. News Culture Community Friday, April 1 2011 8:38 PM /story/walmart-begins-building-new-kapolei-store /story/walmart-begins-building-new-kapolei-store News Culture Community Thursday, March 3 2011 4:16 PM /story/city-council-unanimously-grants-initial-construction-permit-for-honolulu-ra /story/city-council-unanimously-grants-initial-construction-permit-for-honolulu-ra HONOLULU—The Honolulu Rail Transit Project received a key permit approval today from the Honolulu City Council that allows the project to begin early construction activities. The City Council voted 8-0 to approve the Special Management Area Use Permit (SMP), which allows the City to move ahead with the construction permitting process for the rail project. Initial work for the rail project will begin shortly with the relocation of utilities and site preparation for the eventual construction of the elevated rail guideway. The City Department of Planning and Permitting, which oversees the SMP process, recommended City Council approval of the permit. The permit application concluded the rail project will have no significant adverse environmental or ecological effects on coastal ecosystems, beaches, or other coastal resources. About 1.6 miles of the 20-mile Honolulu Rail Project route will be inside the Special Management Area district, with a 2.8-mile portion of the rail transit route bordering the district. The permit approval follows the Federal Transit Administration issuing a Record of Decision last week for the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, confirming that the project has met all the requirements of the environmental review process. In December, Governor Neil Abercrombie accepted the project’s Final Environmental Impact, which identified environmental, community and economic benefits and impacts of the rail system as well as mitigation measures for addressing these issues. The City has already awarded a construction contract for the first phase of the elevated rail guideway from East Kapolei to Pearl City.  A second contract for the train storage and maintenance facility in Waipahu is expected to be executed shortly. The City is scheduled to award two more major construction contracts this year for the second phase of the rail route from Pearl City to Aloha Stadium and for the “core systems,” which consists of the train vehicles and the control center for the rail system. Related Story: Honolulu Rail Transit gets the go-ahead from the Federal Transit Administration News Culture Community Thursday, January 27 2011 4:12 AM /story/waimanalo-gulch-sanitary-landfill-closed-for-repairs /story/waimanalo-gulch-sanitary-landfill-closed-for-repairs HONOLULU—Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill (WGSL) will remain closed to all haulers until at least January 27, and the City will continue its revised bulky item collection schedule picking up only metal appliances next week. Waste Management of Hawaii, the operator of WGSL, has assessed its cell liner and determined it will require repairs before it is able to safely accept waste again. For bulky item collection, City crews cannot pick up carpets, chairs, sofas, mattresses, box springs, toilets and home renovation debris. Residents are asked to hold these items on their properties and do not place them curbside until further notice. Metal appliances that can be collected include refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, water heaters, and ranges. The areas scheduled for bulky item service the week of January 24 to 28, the fourth Monday and fourth Wednesday of the month, are as follows: Monday, January 24:  Kahala, Waialae Nui, Kalani Valley, Waialae Iki, Aina Haina, Hawaii Loa Ridge, Wailupe Peninsula, and the Koko Head side of Diamond Head to the lighthouse. From 22nd Avenue and Hunakai St. to Hawaii Loa St.  Pearl City (east of Hoomalu St.) Pearlridge, Waimalu, Waiau, Wailuna, Royal Summit and Newtown.  Kailua (Olomana, Pohakupu, Enchanted Lake, Keolu Hills, Kailua Heights and Bluffs).  Nanakuli, Honokai Hale.  Mililani (south of Kamehameha Highway).  Waikane (to and including Johnson Rd.), Waiahole, Kahaluu, (makai of Kahekili Highway, north of Heeia Kea Pier). Wednesday, January 26:  Niu Valley, Kuliouou, Hahaione Valley, Hawaii Kai, Mariner’s Ridge, Portlock, Kalama Valley, and Queen’s Gate. From Hawaii Loa St. to Kalama Valley.  Aiea, Halawa and Makalapa.  Kailua (Maunawili, Old Kalanianaole Rd.), Waimanalo. The City asks for the public’s assistance by placing the acceptable items curbside no earlier than the evening before or by 6:00 a.m. on the day of the scheduled pickup. Do not block sidewalks, driveways or roadways. The acceptable items will be collected over a 3-to-4 day period. The City’s Refuse Division will continue its regular manual and automated trash collection island-wide from the gray, green waste, and blue recycling bins. News Culture Community Tuesday, January 25 2011 2:17 AM /story/only-8000-of-48000-ballots-for-west-oahus-city-council-seat-have-been-cast- /story/only-8000-of-48000-ballots-for-west-oahus-city-council-seat-have-been-cast- HONOLULU—Oahu residents living in the area from Ewa to Makaha have until Wednesday, December 29 to cast their mail-in ballots in the Special Election for Council District I to replace former Councilmember Todd Apo. “District I is arguably the most dynamic of the nine council districts,” said Honolulu City Council Chair Nestor Garcia. “It houses the only two operating landfills in the City and County, a major sewage treatment facility, the only major new hotel under construction on Oahu, the planned starting point for the rail transit system, an acute problem with homelessness, and it has experienced arguably the greatest growth over the past decade.” The Honolulu City Clerk’s Office, which supervises all City elections, said of the nearly 48,000 ballots mailed out, about 8,000 have been returned. This represents about 17 percent of the total and trails the return rate of two previous special council elections. After the first seven days in the Special Election for Council District III in 2009, the return rate was 33 percent. The Special Election for Council District V, also held in 2009, had a return rate of 29 percent after the first week. Mail-in ballots must be received by Dec. 29, 2010. Any voter who requires a replacement ballot or the use of an accessible voting machine may vote at Kapolei Hale or Honolulu Hale until December 27, 2010 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Voters can also cast their ballots on Christmas Day, December 25, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.honoluluelections.us/. News Culture Community Thursday, December 23 2010 9:10 PM /story/kapolei-city-lights-stir-up-memories-this-saturday /story/kapolei-city-lights-stir-up-memories-this-saturday KAPOLEI—The holiday rings in on Oahu’s Leeward side this Saturday, December 11 at Kapolei Hale. The 10th annual Kapolei City Lights celebration featurers a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, West Oahu Electric Light Parade, and festivities for the whole family. Beginning at 5:00 p.m., food booths, free keiki games, and entertainment take over Uluohia Street, in front of Kapolei Hale. Entertainment includes Touch of Gold, the Royal Hawaiian Band, and the Ewa Elementary School Chorus Group. The Friends of Kapolei Hale is also hosting its 10th Annual Christmas Coloring Contest. The Salvation Army will provide free juice and cookies.  The parade begins at 6:00 p.m., proceeding from the Kapolei Fairgrounds at Kealanani Avenue to Farrington Highway, to Kamokila Boulevard, left onto Uluohia Street, concluding at Kapolei Hale. Approximately 25 vibrant and uniquely-decorated vehicles will participate in the parade. Mayor Peter Carlisle and family will illuminate the tree at 7:45 p.m. A fireworks display will commence at dusk. The 40-foot tree in front of Kapolei Hale was donated by Roman and Priscilla Tan of Kalama Valley. City employees, community sponsors, and local schools created the displays in the courtyard of Kapolei Hale. Christmas trees and posters will be displayed in Kapolei Hale through January 4, 2011. Viewing will be Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Event admission and street parking are free of charge. Additional parking will be available at the Kakuhihewa State Office Building on Kamokila Boulevard. News Culture Community Thursday, December 9 2010 11:12 PM /story/were-holding-a-city-council-candidate-forum-on-dec.-13.-submit-your-questio /story/were-holding-a-city-council-candidate-forum-on-dec.-13.-submit-your-questio The Hawaii Independent is sponsoring a public forum with West Oahu city council candidates on Monday, December 13 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Waianae Multipurpose Room. Do you have questions you’d like the candidates to answer? Leave them in the comments on this post. List of candidates Official election information News Culture Community Friday, December 3 2010 9:17 PM