Monday, December 31, 2012

Musings: Out With the Old

Venus hung like a jewel amid feathery wisps of pink and a bold white moon provided ample light to walk when the dogs and I ventured out beneath the pale stars of a crisp and dewy morning — the last of 2012.

Overall, it's been a good year, ending with a stretch of gorgeous days — clear skies, temps in the 80s, gentle breezes, big surf, skies impossibly blue. It's the kind of weather that has tourists picking up the real estate magazines, which is why it's no coincidence that when Hawaii accommodated a record-breaking 8 million visitors this year, the real estate market also jumped

Driving through Moloaa the other day, I was stunned at all for the For Sale signs on the CPR ag lots developed in the last real estate boom. Spec and flip. It's the name of the game.


Through ongoing collaborative efforts with global marketing partners and the visitor industry, the HTA is continuing to build a sustainable tourism economy.

Or so the HTA tells us...

Meanwhile, Rep. Derek Kawakami continues to demonstrate why he's such a disappointment. At Saturday's meeting of the Wailua-Kapa‘a Neighborhood Association, Derek was asked about Act 55, the Public Land Development Corp.:

“Put some trust in us,” Kawakami said. “Our intentions were well in meaning.”

If the Legislature's intentions were “well in meaning,” and politicians want to be trusted, then they shouldn't have snuck the bill through. It was so devious that Councilman Gary Hooser described it as a “travesty of the legislative process.”

The Garden Island went on to report, in its coverage of the meeting, how Derek sees the PLDC being used on Kauai:

[Kawakami] is also is looking at ways to help Hanapepe redevelop and become an economic driver by using state lands.

This underscores one of the big problems with Act 55 and the PLDC, which I outlined back in October of last year:

The bill passed with very little public attention, but I wasn't concerned until I watched the video of the legislative briefing held by Sens. Malama Solomon and Donovan Dela Cruz, who spearheaded the bill. They were pretty much licking their chops as they spoke about using the PLDC to create density around high-speed rail stations and spark the development of state harbors, rural areas and geothermal energy. It became clear that they, and likely other lawmakers and their developer cronies, have their pet projects that will be pushed right through.

Why do you suppose Derek focused his sights on the redevelopment of Hanapepe, especially when he doesn't even represent that district?  Where was the public discussion that determined Hanapepe should be given priority over any other place? Could his desire to turn Hanapepe into an "economic driver" have anything to do with furthering his family's economic interests in that area?


But at least we can take heart in changes within the Office of Prosecuting Attorney. Prosecutor Justin Kollar has not only extended a major olive branch to KPD, he's also updated the OPA website to add the vision/mission statement that was strikingly absent under the reign of Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho:

It is our mission to promote the fair, impartial and expeditious pursuit of justice in every case, to ensure safer communities, and to promote integrity in our profession. 

It is our mission to temper justice with compassion, and to do our work in an open, transparent, and accountable way.

Accountability? Compassion? Transparency? Hallelujah! He also replaced the cheesy campaign picture of Shay with a photo of himself looking prosecutorial in suit and tie on the courthouse steps.

Shay, meanwhile, has left quite a legacy, earning herself a place on the list of America's worst bosses.  Shoots, and they didn't even know the half of it.

Well, as the saying goes this time of year, out with the old, in with the new...

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Derek is a Disappointment.....
and a Disgrace

Except for those who want to make money off of Hawaiian Lands.......

Dr Shibai

Anonymous said...

This comment: "put some trust in us,” Kawakami said. “Our intentions were well in meaning.” in and of itself is proof that any idiot cannot and should not be holding office. It also demonstrates a frightening realization that this person, Derek Kawakami, has no comprehension of Hawaiiʻs constitution, U.S. const. or basically laws in general.

I am not dissappointed because I had no hopeful expectations of him.

Pitiful. Itʻs also a reason to gasp, that someone can disguise their own personal agenda with such a straight face.

My recommendation: BOYCOTT ALL Big Save stores starting now. If they get their wish to destroy this island for their pitiful supermarket at least in the meantime they will feel some economic impact as we will surely be confronted with.

Thanks, Joan.

Anonymous said...

Good find on the worse boss vote. Hilarious.

Anonymous said...

Its funny how to talk so much smack about the former prosecutor, but when this prosecutor takes office and immediately dismisses a huge drug case, no mention is made! Thats right, why dont you ask why the nawiliwili drug smuggling case is now dimissed WITH prejudice? You clowns wont rest (or will keep quiet on certain matters) until every office on kauai is occupied with haoles.

Anonymous said...

11:30 -- you are a sick racist. just look around.

Joan Conrow said...

11:30, that case went bad under SIC. Actually, it goes all the way back to the cops, who lied and got caught.

Anonymous said...

Gee some die hard Shay loyalist grasping at straws. As for Kawakami, asking us to trust politicians is rather naive of him especially the way act 55 went down in the lege. That is the one thing the people cannot do. We have to remain vigilant and exert pressure to keep them honest. Study history and there are endless examples of corrupt politicians, backroom deals and political pay-offs. Politicians depend on the public to remain uninterested and hands-off so that they can do what they want and not what we want. Get real Derek. This is not the paternalistic plantation era where the all-knowing bosses tell the workers what they can and cannot do. Voting you in doesn't give you carte blanche to do whatever with no accountability. That seems to be the MO of all politicians once they get elected.

Anonymous said...

I done told you that Kawakami, Kouchi, Tokioka is bad for Kauai. These men serve special interests and not the people of Kauai.

The drug smuggling ring that has brought attention that a shipping company and dock workers are involved in narcotics trafficking is nothing new. This is not the first time this company and the owners family members has been busted for this.

In the worst boss list Shayme was listed in the thirties because they only had one event that was listed. Had they listed all the crimes Shayme was guilty of them she would have ranked in the top 3 or maybe number 1. Qe were blessed when she finished number 2 for PA on Kauai. It was a redeeming moment for all of her victims.

Great job Joan and Andy! New year and new corrupt officials to report on. Keep up the good work and keep fighting for social justice here on Kauai.

Anonymous said...

Here is the last report on the Drug Case in May 2012:

http://m.thegardenisland.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nawiliwili-drug-trafficking-case-dismissed/article_31c69798-99bf-11e1-9668-001a4bcf887a.html

It was dismissed by Watanabe WITHOUT prejudice and Shaleneʻs office was appealing.

Is there some new information on this that shows it was dismissed with prejudice?

Anonymous said...

The funny thing is that prior to the election, Ms. Conrow printed court information prior to it being released. Now that shaylene is gone, she seems to have seized releasing this type of information. One of two things is happening here. 1) her contacts within the prosecutors office are no longer there. Therefore information is not being leaked to her. Or 2) she doesnt want to make kollar look bad since he's the great white hype. Yes, that case was dismissed WITH prejudice very recently

Anonymous said...

If this is true then I will add this to my letter to the CIA about the Kauai's home grown terrorists.

Anonymous said...

What I would like to see is home land security send TSA at the ports on Kauai. It has been widely known that this is where most of the drugs are being shipped in through.

It costs 3-5 million dollars for a X-ray truck and it takes 3 personnels to operate the vehicle. If you add a drug sniffing dog or two then Kauai will have tools to combat against the war on drugs.

We can get all of this through federal funding. I have done all of this consulting for a better county of Kauai for free. The commission against corruption would also be a non profit federally funded organization.

Anonymous said...

11:30, that case went bad under SIC. Actually, it goes all the way back to the cops, who lied and got caught.

December 31, 2012 12:56 PM

Correct. And it made State law and possibly national law. Ikemoto, perhaps the most modest attorney on the Island proved her legal prowess again. Although others were quick claim the glory.

Anonymous said...

"Yes, that case was dismissed WITH prejudice very recently

December 31, 2012 5:09 PM"

Where is it in the news? To show Kollar dismissed it?

Got no horse in this race just want the facts.

Anonymous said...

"TSA at the ports on Kauai."

Agreed. And the small planes arrivals too.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

"Yes, that case was dismissed WITH prejudice very recently

December 31, 2012 5:09 PM"

Where is it in the news? To show Kollar dismissed it?

Got no horse in this race just want the facts.

December 31, 2012 10:38 PM

Anonymous said...

The fact is the Court considered the records and files in the case and dismissed it. From what i hear, KPD blew the case, not the prosecutors.

Anonymous said...

"The fact is the Court considered the records and files in the case.."

uhh, isnʻt that what usually happens in a case?


And dismissed with or without prejudice?
How did you hear KPD blew the case? A voice, rumor, or credible source?

I thought it was Shayleneʻs fault? Whoʻs saying what here and is this how things get decided in the new Kauai community of know-it-alls?

Anonymous said...

It's nice to see the island's last three iseri supporters still have a safe space to share their incoherent rantings

Anonymous said...

You are so ignorant it boggles the mind.

Anonymous said...

"You can trust us. We're with the government."

Anonymous said...

Sometimes it isn't about a conviction. Stopping the the flow may be enough. There is also the small town stigma of public knowledge that you screwed up.
If you want punishment have the IRS go over their finanical records and ask the hard questions, how did you afford this and that. That is as scary as a jail sentence.