Monday, July 30, 2012

Musings: No Surprise


It's summertime, which means hunting for yellow lilikoi as if they were Easter eggs amid the fallen branches and monstera vines, drying thick slices of papaya because I've got more fresh than I can handle, watching the bees in their frantic, yet orderly, quest to bring in the nectar.

And since it's an election year, it means political fundraisers, forums and fliers. Though the tendency is to toss the literature unread in the recycling bin, you can sometimes glean information about where their pointed little heads are really at. Take Mufi Hanneman's most recent flyer, for example.

First thing that struck me was, where are the haoles? The big Muff's got photos of nine people endorsing him and only one looks possibly like a haole. So I immediately think, OK, he's decided to pander to the local vote, which tells me he doesn't give a shit about a big chunk of the state's population. Just the kind of guy I want to have as my representative in Congress.

I look at some of those faces supporting him — Phil Tacbian, the biggest dud on KIUC; Mike Tresler, the guy who coldly evicted folks at Koloa Camp on behalf of Grove Farm, Sen. Ron Kouchi, nuff said. Further solid proof that he's not my candidate. Then I see that former Mayor Maryanne Kusaka is co-chair of his statewide campaign. This is the woman who actually said to me, in front of my former husband and his parents, all local Japanese, “I didn't know you had local connections. I'll have to be nicer to you.” 

Oh, and let's not forget the way she pulled off the county inspector who was trying to crack down on Jimmy Pflueger's illegal grading at Kaloko.

When you've got someone like Maryanne chairing your campaign, it speaks volumes about your values — or lack thereof.

Let's face it: Mufi is a good old boy to da max.

So yeah, Tulsi Gabbard is gonna get my vote. Some people don't like her because of her dad, Mike Gabbard, and his homophobia, but I'm not gonna hold that against her. I certainly didn't share my father's political views, and besides, Tulsi has come out strongly in favor of equal rights for all. I didn't know much about Tulsi until I heard her on KKCR, where she said she had become strongly anti-war after serving two combat deployments in the National Guard and wants to immediately end the war in Afghanistan.

Plus she's an environmentalist, and we need more women in Congress. I know some people like Esther Kiaaina, but she ain't gonna win, so you gotta face reality and recognize that a vote for her is essentially a vote for Mufi.

In other matters, I noticed that attorney Dan Hempey got the Intermediate Court of Appeals to overturn a drug possession conviction that Judge Randal Valenciano presided over. Way to go, Dan. Looks like the 95% conviction rate that Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho hypes — and I'll be looking at some of those bogus crime stats in an upcoming post — just took another hit. Kinda makes you wonder how many more convictions could be overturned if attorneys had the time and compassion to follow through.

What blew my mind, though, was the guy supposedly had .009 grams of methamphetamine, yet Randal sentenced him to five years in prison for third degree promotion of a dangerous drug. Do you know what a teeny tiny amount that is?

So the state is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars — actually, probably millions — to convict and incarcerate people for possessing essentially crumbs, yet virtually nothing on rehab. As a friend noted the other day, if the Mayor can seize Mike Sheehan's boatyard, surely he can find a location for an adolescent drug treatment center on this island.

Madness. Fricking madness.

And finally, it seems that Kauai tourism isn't the only business that's booming. Yeah, the U.S. is looking at a 70 percent increase in weapons sales to foreign nations this year. Some $50 billion have already been sold this year. When you consider the kind of carnage we're supporting around the world, the Aurora massacre is small potatoes — and no surprise.

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Hempey and his client, the judicial system on Kauai is corrupt with colleagues making back room deals.

Someone is paying attention to the lack of law and order on Kauai.

If you or anyone you know has been retaliated against, wrongfully convicted by collusion, your constitutional rights violated by conspiring parties, and been a subject to harassment and intimidations, you can seek help from the AG, Justice Dept, ODC, Judicial Commission, FBI, Carcle, ACLU, and all sorts of honorable judicial people Kauai lacks there of.

Anonymous said...

Mufi Hanneman has the support of KAUAI'S DIRTY RAT PACK.

Anonymous said...

Kusaka = personification of evil

Anonymous said...

Gun Control = Life Control

Plain and simple.

Anonymous said...

The mayor has actually selected Isenberg Tract as the new site for an adolescent treatment program. Since I live here, I followed the community meetings held about it. The majority of the neighborhood was against it.
A lot of the information disseminated was incorrect or sketchy. Anyway, Bernard made the hard (?) choice and picked Isenberg anyway. How about some hard choices to site a new dump.

Anonymous said...

Shaylene - another personification of evil.

Anonymous said...

Why do you have to frame Mufi's campaign in terms of race? I thought you were better than than Joan.

Anonymous said...

Representatives should live / have lived in the district they want to represent! None of these Honolulu-ites have my vote. These candidates don't represent rural Hawaii to me. Where are the outer island candidates? How can we make residency a requirement?

Anonymous said...

Kusaka was a nice teacher so I don't know what happened to her, maybe GREED.
I remember though she use to play hookie more than a deliquent adolescent.

Anonymous said...

Mufi is the one who framed his campaign about race. "I look like you"

Anonymous said...

Ever wonder why in the police blotter there were so many unregistered illegal deadly firearms on Kauai. Well with the recent arrest of Postman Hamamura as a fast and furious arms dealer on Kauai, the FEDS only scratched the surface of the problems on Kauai but at least they're scratching. Now the FEDS needs to go down his email, telephone, mail, family and friends list to find out who else got illegal unregistered dangerous firearms that is a deadly threat to the safety and lives of everyone on Kauai.

Anonymous said...

Interesting how the county can give land for a cultural center but not site a landfill or erect a treatment center...mmmm... Yet another sad sad example of the corruption on this island's administration.

Anonymous said...

At least the Feds are here starting their sweep of the violent criminals first then the white collar criminals can be nailed!

Anonymous said...

sounds like it's getting to you Joan, perhaps some good ole stress relief is in order. find the dogs a corral and send out the bat signal

Anonymous said...

It's anthe Election yr! Gotta get the votes first, Thronas knows what happens to political careers when you don't respect Kauai cultures.

Anonymous said...

The FEDS just need to announce the capture of Kauai's serial killer and those involved in the cover up.

The county of Kauai's coroners office needs to be investigated, unattended deaths, murders made to look like suicides, superficial wounds and overdose are their Evil deeds.

Investigate the shipping containers of youngbrothers, and the cartels that are on Kauai.

Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity- Thank You for going after Kauai's Most Wanted:not the newspaper kind- the real Kauai's Most Wanted.

Time to get some of the court people too, there's a few corrupt judges and attorneys tied into the GOB-Kauai's version of the Mafia.

Anonymous said...

Being honest is not a sin.

Anonymous said...

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/kauai-dam-breach-killed-7-five-years-ago-but-criminal-charges-still-pending/123

COUNTY INVESTIGATION HALTED BY MAYOR

An anonymous complaint to the Kauai County that Pflueger was grading without permits in 1997 also was largely ignored. A county engineering inspector checked the site from afar and told Pflueger to "stop work immediately." But Pflueger didn't stop and instead, the inspector was called into see then Mayor Maryanne Kusaka where county documents reveal he was clearly told to stay away from Pflueger.

Maryanne Kusaka

Pflueger told Hawaii Reporter in an exclusive interview on Kauai that he gave a large contribution to the mayor. He said that he handed Kusaka $9,000 in cash hoping he would get the harassing inspectors off his back.

After some prodding, Pflueger confirmed the contribution in a follow up interview with "ABC 20/20"’s Jim Avila saying he hid it in the names of eight of his employees, but he claimed there was no deal.

According to state campaign law, Pflueger cannot donate more than $4,000 to Kusaka in an election cycle. Kusaka did not report the contribution, and denies she received it: "Absolutely not, not that I'm aware of." Neither was prosecuted by the state for the alleged illegal contribution.

Anonymous said...

Good ol' gal

Anonymous said...

The things some people will do for money...

Anonymous said...

Boo hoo hoo that no mo any haole's on Mufi's campaign brochure. Heck they're everywhere else you look! Just open up our weekly papers and all you see is white. Where's all the brownies in anything and everything else around? I not voting for Mufi, even if I'm not white. Especially so with Maryann Kusaka as his head cheerleader.

Anonymous said...

Kusaka appears to have escaped prosecution because of the statute of limitations.

Anonymous said...

if 9:47 is correct -- i am thoroughly disgusted. can anyone confirm that info? (ie, statute of limitations on kusaka)

and when is the pfleuger trial scheduled?

mahalo

Anonymous said...

Another terrific summary, especially those candidates and the behind the scenes realities.

Mahalo, Joan, for writing with your consistent enthusiasm.

Anonymous said...

Randall Valenciano wasnʻt an effective councilman and seemed kind of lost most of the time in himself.
It was truly a shock to me when he was appointed judgeship.
But the shock subsided when I realized he was appointed by Lingle.

Too bad he never practiced a little law before he was crowned ʻjudgeʻ.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a case built on ʻconstructive possessionʻ?

Anonymous said...

Todays TGI letters to the editor: Bynum says Lenny Rapozo is not qualified as a parks and recreation director- no shit and at least 75 percent of the county of Kauai directors, assistants, and workers. We have to be financially responsible and subcontract nonessential personnels or else we're gonna be in the same situation as the US postal department or the county is gonna create another solid waste tax doubling property tax to financially support nepotism. FRAUD,WASTE, AND ABUSE.

Anonymous said...

July 31, 2012 1:45 PM

Do you have any idea how much money has been spent paying off honest, hardworking people to protect corrupt ones?

Any amount would be too much but the number keeps growing...and we can directly attribute it to this maladministration. (Thank you former President Reagan for this most appropriate word).

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Joan's "enthusiasm", I hear Pohaku got a clean bill of health today. Hold your breath waiting for corrections from Kauai' s tabloid 'journalist '

Anonymous said...

if you hold your breath for that, you'll die

Anonymous said...

yes Joan, please let me hear your "musings" about the crow Joann Yukimura is eating right now, wasting council time and money on her own personal witch hunt campaign against the prosecutor over a perfectly legitimate program, found so by one of Al Castillo's own.

Anonymous said...

Can the Ethics Commission impeach Shaylene for all her wrongdoing?

Anonymous said...

Would that we could impeach bloggers. No need, they impeach themselves!

Anonymous said...

9:30 PM

Yes, I believe they can, but their attorney may not tell them.

Besides what actions have the ethics commission taken in the past year to thwart any of the filthy dealings of any of county employee?

This administration has not been held accountable for their actions so far, why start now?

Anonymous said...

That's because even by an average politician standard (and that's a fairly low standard of morality) Shaylene is rock bottom.

A diversion program like Pohaku may be possible to run lawfully, but I doubt that Shay and Jake were lawfully running it. Did they get a cut of the $200 per person participants' fee? That remains to be seen. If they did, then they violated some law - maybe the Charter, maybe procurement, and then as a result they will probably lose their licenses to practice law.

Anonymous said...

Did First Deputy Jake Delaplane agree to be Strategic Justice Partner's agent in Hawaii for free?

Anonymous said...

If you trust Al then you are an idiota, yo no yo comprende de basura en la county de Kauai, Ay sus dios miho el diablo!

Anonymous said...

I gotta laugh anyone talking about ʻethicsʻ and especially ʻethics boardʻ with one very scary unethical dude as a commissioner...initials are W.P. oh yea, heʻs related to the chief D.P.

Kauai had a beautiful shot at having an unimpeachable ethics board with Rolf Bieber. The guy was just a little too honest. Think he would have had to clean house and would probably be scraping crap off the walls to this day.
No no no canʻt have any of that.

Anonymous said...

Ethics Commissioners are her friends, She tells them to jump they say how high. Good guard dogs.

Anonymous said...

Don't be so premature, this is another political move. It's good propaganda but the truth is superficial wounds.

Anonymous said...

Ever since the Mayor kicked Bieber out the Ethics Commission, the statues has been lame ducks and will continue to do as said.

Anonymous said...

That WP character has scary kind power on Kauai and Oahu.

Anonymous said...

Where is the 10K? No receipts, no invoices, and no records as of yet.

Anonymous said...

He practiced a little, mainly divorce kind

No wonder!

Anonymous said...

8 lives got killed cause of Kusaka- Hell has no limitations for Evil Doers.

Anonymous said...

Yeah the kind injuries to a dead body but not cause of death. Do Kauai remember Fig Mitchell? One of many unsolved murders, I don't believe what KPD or county coroners report. Too many of these kind murders and murders made to look like suicide. Sandra Galas, The westside rape murders, Jackson, Thompson, Kagawa, and many others that Kauai does not know of called disappearances.

Anonymous said...

Eight lives and two environmental disasters. She has no conscience, strutting around like nothing happened.

Anonymous said...

Clean bill of health? And Shay took the fifth? What was she hiding?

Anonymous said...

Not saying anything about ethics but Rolf had some contrail letters to the editor that were out there.

Anonymous said...

Oh stop already with the whacko comments about the chemtrails. Donʻt you guys get tired of repeating it and hearing yourselves.
Are you entirely incapable of acknowledging what Bieber was bringing to the table? Maybe itʻs because of you and your kind that prevented him from staying.

Some day you may thank the people that bring that kind of awareness to your dim little world.

geeeeeeeeeeshshhhhhhh.

Anonymous said...

I believe that if Rolf Bieber was a ethics commissioner today, kauai would be a safer and better place to live.

He exposed a little bit of the corruption on Kauai that made some people resign their positions and thats why they replaced him.

Kolea said...

Joan,

I can understand why someone might vote for Tulsi out of a desire to block Mufi and after making a judgment that neither Esther Kiaaina nor Bob Marx nor Del Castillo has a chance of winning.

BUT, I think your statement about not holding Tulsi responsible for the views of her father is facile and ill-informed. Many of us who cannot support Tulsi are holding her responsible for HER past actions, not "the sins of the father." She cannot simultaneously advertise herself as having "accomplished" a lot of things despite her youth and THEN try to evade responsibility for her past actions.

For over a decade, she was a leading activist against gay equality, even to the point of opposing counseling programs in the schools aimed at helping at-risk gay teenagers. After the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, she and her father formed a group called Stand Up for America which engaged in the crudest pro-war, anti-peace activism in Hawaii as they hoped to benefit politically from people's fear and the resurgence of jingoism. Ed Case may have supported the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan. But Tulsi and her father were loud cheerleaders fanning the flames of war fever.

Tulsi NOW markets herself as "new and improved," as a "progressive" in favor of equality. According to her narrative, her views were transformed as a result of her experiences in the Gulf. But that chronology does not withstand inspection. She returned from the Gulf several years ago, in plenty of time to atone for her earlier anti-gay bigotry. She could have played an exemplary role in apologizing for promoting anti-gay fear and hatred and could have lobbied FOR passage of the Civil Unions bill she had so vociferously opposed.

But she did NOTHING to benefit others. She only announced her "evolution" as she was fashioning her campaign strategy for winning the Second CD Congressional seat, knowing full well she had ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE of winning if she retained her longheld views.

I welcome conversions. If she has sincerely abandoned her bigoted past, that is great. But there are lots of reasons, besides the convenient timing of her change. Her campaign in full of other members of the Chris Butler political/religious/economic cult which has engaged in the same anti-gay (and anti-women) activities since at least the mid-1970s. Perhaps on Kauai, you have not seen these faces, heard these names, seen them at legislative hearings, anti-gay demonstrations, BOE of education meetings preaching intolerance. A lot of us on Oahu are very familiar with this group. Has the entire cult changed their minds? Collectively? All at once? I doubt it. But even if it were true, what does THAT form of Groupthink say about Tulsi's thought processes?

SO, after calculating the pluses and minuses, vote for Tulsi if that's where the math leads you. But please, do not portray the rest of us who oppose Tulsi as unfairly blaming her for the behavior of her father (and mother, siblings).

For good or for ill, Tulsi is the most unique major candidate in a Hawaii election this year and cannot be understood by a superficial, cursory impression of what she says about herself.

Anonymous said...

I had heard murmurings of Tulsi's past actions/words/etc., but had some difficulty in getting anyone to talk about the family as such. I appreciate the above post shedding some light on those issues in what appears to be a fair way. I could not vote for Tulsi at this point, either. I think the vast majority of the progressive folks on the island have been hoodwinked.

Anonymous said...

WP has his own militia pawns under the disguise of a religious practicing culture. Just like the KKK, Black Panther, Neo Nazi, Bloods and Crips, Drug Cartels, free masons and other secret societies and all of this integrates Kauai's criminals, law enforcement officers, dlnr, kccc prision guards, and the top officials as a powerful corporation.

These guys prey on undereducated people and use cultural beliefs and practices as a way to brain wash these guys for the sake of their own power, greed, lust, and evil deeds.

Anonymous said...

wait wait wait, so the ethics commission investigated the POHAKU program and found no wrongdoing ethically on the part of the prosecutor's office? What?

Anonymous said...

I highly doubt the ethics commission investigation found that Shaylene did not commit misconduct. But hey that is what Shaylene would like us to believe.

Anonymous said...

well have results been released?

Anonymous said...

Like I said inferred before:
What ʻethicsʻ commission?

Anonymous said...

There's no such thing as ethics on Kauai. It's a dog eat dog island and all these guys want is to feed their fat faces and their lazy unqualified friends and family with the county of Kauai pot of taxpayers gold.

Kauai is the wild wild west of the hawaiian islands and they believe that they do not have to follow rules and laws because they are far away from the law of the united states.

The young attorneys are groomed to do as is said even if it is breaking the law and when they do, they have something against the young attorney if they won't comply with the puppet masters.

Cops that are rapidly promoted and getsrewarded awards for BS stuff have done deeds for the puppet masters.This is the game that is played to be a good ol boy/syndicate.

Anonymous said...

Canʻt argue with that.

Except that Kauai/Hawaii is "far away from the laws of the united states" is more true in many ways besides the obvious: it is still a sovereign nation...

Hawaii courts practice maritime/admiralty law. It is a corporation, nothing else. The judiciary has maneuvered around Hawaiiʻs de facto and fictitious status so well that one would almost believe it is really american jurisprudence or u.s. constitutional law. Constitution REALLY meaning anything over here- ha! they have finagled the ʻresidentsʻ to believing a myth that it is in effect.