As if the 64% salary increase did not irritate the public enough. Here comes another bitter pill for the public.
Honolulu City Council District Val Okimoto introduced a new amendment to The Revised Honolulu City Charter on August 9, 2023
Okimoto’s new amendment gives absolute powers to the nominated Honolulu Salary Commission. It further disenfranchises the public’s opportunity for due process at the City Council and to hold their District Council Members accountable for their decisions.
Below is Resolution 23-193. Page 3 shows the amendment – – “and is not subject to rejection or alteration by the council or the mayor.”
In other words, the elected City Council will relinquish its responsibility to a nominated commission to decide the salary increases.
It was a “perfect storm” with gusty winds and dry weather and a historic town of wooden structures. It’s compelling to see how fast the fire spread.
“Fire is a good servant, but a bad master” hits home on August 9, 2023. A hot dry summer causing dry vegetation along with gusty winds turned Lahaina into a war zone. The wooden structures did not stand a chance. The fire even burnt the vessels on the water.
Here are some screenshots taken from social media:
Before and After.This is a photo of Pioneer Inn that was burnt down. We took this photo some time ago when our family was visiting Lahaina for leisure. I loved the history of the place. But I told myself that I would not be going back to Lahaina town. It had become over-commercialized. We walked from a hotel along a pathway next a private yard and home. I thought that it was too intrusive to the local residents and I did not want to be that part of that touristy crowd.Lahaina was a bustling tourist center. These wooden structures didn’t stand a chance.
The pink-hair girl and the green-hair guy murdered Telma Boinville at the Sunset Beachfront vacation rental unit where Telma was cleaning.
Stephen Brown was found guilty on January 20, 2023. His partner Haile Dandurand requested a separate trial arguing that she was a also victim of abuse by Stephen Brown herself.
On August 1, 2023, Oregonian Hailey Dandurand was found GUILTY on all counts relating to Telma Boinville’s murder at a north shore vacation rental. Telma worked as a translator at Sunset Beach Elementary School and also worked as a cleaner.
The murder was so gruesome and heinous that one juror could not even look at the photos and asked to be released.
Telma’s 8-year-old daughter was also tied up in an upstairs bedroom. She was lucky that the vacation renters arrived at the premises and caused these two murderers to flee.
Wherever the site is, it’s worrisome. We’re a small island. How many times can we duplicate this modus operandi before we irreparably poison our environment and especially our connected water aquifer?
Are we putting our best efforts in Recycling and Re-use? Is it time to mandate that some items brought in must be take out – Garbage In, Garbage Out.
Read the 2012 Commission Report of the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Landfill Site Selection (MACLS). Particularly, read the Minority Report by John B Goody on Page 47. “The revised site rankings were astounding, and seem to defy common sense.”
Kailua, Waianae, Kapolei, Waianae have all staked their grounds that they don’t want landfills in their areas.
” The consultant compiling statistics for Mayor Peter Carlisle’s Advisory Committee on Landfill Site Selection said Wednesday it had made a big mistake. On Friday, just five days ago, the committee announced Kailua as the top ranked location for a new landfill. Its announcement was based on data compiled by SMS Research, a Honolulu firm hired by the city.
But in fact SMS President Jim Dannemiller said Wednesday he had made an “inadvertent data error” while compiling numbers provided by the advisory committee. The mistake changes the positions of almost all eleven potential landfill sites on the site selection list.
A site described as “Upland Kahuku 2” was seventh on the list released Friday. Now it is the new #1. “Upland Kahuku 1,” which is adjacent to “Upland Kahuku 2” is second on the revised list.
The Ameron Quarry moved from first on Friday’s list to fifth on the revised list.
Here is the new updated list released Wednesday afternoon.
REQUESTING THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO EVALUATE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ACT 73, SESSION LAWS OF HAWAII 2020, THE ELEVEN SITES PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED BY CITY STUDIES AS POTENTIAL REPLACEMENTS FOR THE WAIMANALO GULCH SANITARY LANDFILL AND ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL WAIMANALO GULCH SANITARY LANDFILL REPLACEMENT SITES, INCLUDING LANDS HELD BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS IN KALAELOA.
The City and County of Honolulu (“City”) Department of Environmental Services (“ENV”) has begun identifying potential sites for its next municipal solid waste landfill. To help discern potential sites, ENV formed a Landfill Advisory Committee (“LAC”) to evaluate the sites identified to meet current State regulations. The LAC process is documented in the Final Report.
There are lots of twists and turns, machinations, and colouring to this pay increase controversy.
The fundamental question is whether the Council Chair Tommy Waters would place Resolutions 23-81 and Resolutions 23-82 on the June 7, 2023 Public Hearing Agenda to address the 64% pay increase.
Resolutions 81 & 82 continue to be ignored and time is quickly running out.
If no actions are taken against the Salary Commission‘s recommended increase, these 64% pay raises automatically become effective as of July 1, 2023.
Also, Tommy Waters and Mayor Blangiardi’s rationale for salary raises can be read in their testimonies to the Salary Commission. Salary Commission members are nominated by Mayor and approved by City Council.
The public’s most awaited meeting was June 7, 2023 – – to see whether the Council would reject the huge leap in pay raise for themselves. Scroll to 6:59 thereabouts to hear Bill10 on Page 27 Agenda.
Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters presided at the June 7. The 10 AM Hearing started at 10:45 AM and finished about nine hours later. Chair Waters did not place Resolutions 23-81 and 23-82 relating to the 64% salary increases on the Agenda.
Bill 10 was the most appropriate agenda item to opine on this 64% raise. Bill 10 was a comprehensive legislative packet to approve the County Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2023 to June 20, 2024. Bill 10 would be where the funds for these pay raises needed to be penciled in. You can look at the June 7 Agenda and click Bill 10 (Page 27) to watch the video proceedings.
Residents were unhappy that Bill 10 was pushed to the back of the agenda. The opportunity for the public to testify began at about 7:00 p.m. Some residents had to leave. The marathon 10:00 AM Council Hearing began at 10:45 AM.
Written testimonies were also submitted earlier by the public. There was also an online petition – “Don’t hide, let the people decide your 64% pay raise”.
Despite the public uproar, Chair Waters dug in his heels and denied public participation by ignoring Resolutions 81 and 82.
Here is brief chronology for this 64% pay raise issue:
January 19, 2023: The nomination of Rebecca Soon through Resolution 23-7 to the Honolulu Salary Commission was submitted by Chair Tommy Waters.
Rebecca Soon is the daughter of Ray Soon (Former Chief of Staff to Mayor Kirk Caldwell) and Cheryl Soon.
January 25, 2023: Listen to the conversation beginning at 4:00 between Salary Commission nominee Rebecca Soon with Waters, Kia’aina, and Cordero.
Listen to the conversation between Chair Tommy Waters, Esther Kia’aina and Radiant Cordero about “full-time” or “part-time” and what salary compensation should be. Beginning at 4:00 pm with this Video
March 21. 2023: Local news media like KITV were following this issue. KHON2 also covered the Proposed Salary for City Council and Administration. The Salary Commission Meeting Agenda included FOR ACTION for deliberation and decision-making relating to the City pay raises:
April 25, 2023: Honolulu Salary Commission’s Press Release adopting its FY24 Salary Schedule and Calls For Action To Attract Public Servants To The City.
The Pearl City Neighborhood Board, a citizen grassroots advisory board, voted to oppose the proposed Salary Increases.
April 27, 2023: Two Resolutions responding to the Salary increases were introduced By City Council members Augie Tulba and Andria Tupola – – Resolutions 23-81 and Resolutions 23-82 to partially or impartially reject the increases.
But City Council Chair Tommy Waters refused to allow these two resolutions a public hearing. Doing nothing about the Salary Commission recommended increases would automatically triggers the increases on July 1, 2023.
May 15, 2023: Chair Tommy Waters signed REQUEST FOR SEALED BIDS ( “RFB”) to perform a salary analysis and comparison study for the Honolulu Salary Commission. Closed Date May 30m 2023. Cost was supposedly $100,000.00 A curious person would ask who received this very seemingly short-noticed request and turn-around report.
May 19, 2023: Maikiki Neighborhood Board also opposed the salary hikes. Makiki Board Chair wrote its opposing resolution due to unprecedented negative reactions to the pay raises.
May 25, 2023: With a horse before the cart action, Chair Waters and Vice-Chair Esther Kia’aina introduced Bill 33 and Resolution 23-109 to prohibit outside empolyment for city council members. Writtentestimonies on his two similar actions point to “distractions” intentions.
Resolutions 81 and 82 to reject the 64% increase continued to be denied a public hearing by Chair Waters.
June 7, 2023: City Council approves salary increase through inaction in Bill 10. Scroll to 6:57 to watch proceedings. Only Augie Tulba and Andria Tupola voted “NO” in addressing the pay raises. Bill 33 to Prohibit Outside Employment was rescinded and cancelled. Companion Resolution 12-109 passed First Reading. No funds were penciled into the Budget to address the 64% salary increases at this hearing. (However, keep it mind that there is an allowed shell game of moving funds without public votes.)
However, the D-Day is June 25 for Chair Tommy Waters to reverse this decision. Waters can still call a Special Hearing. Funds for these 64% pay increases have to be penciled in. The next question is: Where will these salary funds be taken from?
During the entire course of this 64% pay increase controversy, Chair Tommy Waters offered many contradicting rationale, including Conflicts of Interests and why the City Council should not vote for its own salary increases.
However, the Director of the Honolulu Ethics Commission Jan Yamane, who was invited to the June 7 Hearing, also clarified that City Council members could vote on these salary issues by filing a Conflict of Interest Disclosure. A flurry of Conflict of Interests was filed subsequently by the council members.
Contrary to what current Council Chair Waters is insisting about not being able to vote against the Honolulu Salary Commission, here is an example of another City Council Chair Ernie Martin who rejected pay raises in 2013 by introducing Resolution 13-88 himself.
Jordon has been a strong ally with the U.S. Hopefully, the next generation will continue to promote democratic values and world peace as much as possible. The Islamic State has many values that we can emulate as well. The bride went to Syracuse University in upstate New York.It is an elegant and lavish wedding fit for kings and queens. But, it’s hard to not forget that security is very tight. Having armed guards is part of life. Friends who visit as tourists in the Middle East all report having armed guards as part of the tourism package.
The Crown Prince of Great Britain has a close relationship with the Crown Prince of Jordon. Hopefully, this next generation will focus on more world peace. The future remains bright between these countries and the USA.
This is a picture the Defense Department has never let the public see until now. This is a behind-the-scenes look at Dover Air Force Base where the bodies of fallen service members are prepared for burial. That includes being properly dressed, all the way down to the smallest detail.In this picture, Staff Sgt. Miguel Deynes is making sure the uniform is just right for a U.S. Army pilot who was recently killed in Afghanistan.
There is a very specific process once a fallen service member is returned home. The bodies are flown back to the United States on a cargo jet. A team of service members wearing white gloves carry the flag-draped coffins to a white van that takes them to the Armed Forces Medical Examiner.
The remains are washed, hands are scrubbed clean, and hair is shampooed. If necessary, the bones are wired together and damaged tissue is reconstructed with flesh-toned wax. Sometimes, they will use photos. Sometimes, they just intuition to recreate the wrinkles in the faces and the lines around the mouth or the corner of the eyes.
“It has to look normal, like someone who is sleeping.”
Once the body is ready then the uniform is prepared. That includes putting medals in the proper order on the ribbon rack above the uniform’s breast pocket.
During the height of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 10 to 20 bodies were arriving every day.
The embalmers often worked all night to get the bodies home on time. This can take an emotional toll on them, so the mortuary has a large gym to allow workers to blow off steam. Many say they are haunted by how young the fallen soldiers are and by how many of them leave behind small children. That’s why Sgt. Deynes says they are advised not to do research into the backgrounds of the soldiers.
“If I knew the story of every individual who went through here, I would probably be in a padded cell.”
The dress uniform being prepared in this particular case will be in a closed casket. Even so, it will be perfectly tailored, starched and pressed. Everything will be checked down to the last detail.
Sgt. Deynes says, “[The family is] not going to see it. I do it for myself. It’s more than an honor. It’s a blessing to dress that soldier for the last time.”Memorial Day is about these service members and the families they left behind.
This 18-year-old from Kahuku, Oahu, Hawaii 96731 is now America’s post-covid therapist.
Iam (nickname for William) staked his grounds when he sang the more mellow version of James Blunt’s song “Monsters”. Iam’s version and his personal circumstances of losing his father at such a young age and of being priced out of Hawaii endeared him to the judges and the audience.
I have to admit that I’ve never heard of James Blunt until it was sung by Iam. But his powerful poetic words caught my attention.
Oh, before they turn off all the lights I won’t read you your wrongs or your rights The time has gone I’ll tell you goodnight, close the door Tell you I love you once more The time has gone So here it is I’m not your son, you’re not my father We’re just two grown men saying goodbye No need to forgive, no need to forget I know your mistakes and you know mine And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes? Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn To chase the monsters away Oh, well, I’ll read a story to you Only difference is this one is true The time has gone I folded your clothes on the chair I hope you sleep well, don’t be scared The time has gone So here it is I’m not your son, you’re not my father We’re just two grown men saying goodbye No need to forgive, no need to forget I know your mistakes and you know mine And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes? Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn To chase the monsters away Sleep a lifetime Yes, and breathe a last word You can feel my hand on your own I will be the last one So I’ll leave a light on Let there be no darkness, in your heart But I’m not your son, you’re not my father We’re just two grown men saying goodbye No need to forgive, no need to forget I know your mistakes and you know mine And while you’re sleeping I’ll try to make you proud So, daddy, won’t you just close your eyes? Don’t be afraid, it’s my turn To chase the monsters away
In the American Idol finale, James Blunt would share the stage to sing along with Iam. Enjoy it. It’s an inspiration to see the 18-year-old Kahuku High senior being supported and bolstered by the 49-year-old British superstar singer and poet. It’s sweet to see there’s ample humanity and level of intensity in these artists.
Coming from a close-knit community in rural Oahu and being part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kahuku High School and the Polynesian communities throughout the U.S. continent helped Iam too. The coconut wire did its job.
Local Hawaiian KITV followed and covered his journey from the beginning.
Iam has become America’s post-Covid Therapist.
It’s his easy-going, humble, and authentic self that endears him to his audience. Iam is simply one of the local kids here who attend school, attend church, went to community and church activities, hung around with his big gang of relatives, and neighborhood friends.
When the Tongi family decided to relocate to Federal Way, Washington, it couldn’t have been easy for this teenager. Not only did he have to leave his friends, he had to leave the Hawaiian weather behind. Like many in Hawaii, his big family was priced out of Hawaii due to the escalating costs of living where the average home price of a simple home is around $1 million.
One thing that may set Iam apart was he had a father who recognized the great potential in his musical gifts and future. He father worked hard to support and encourage the young boy. Iam lost his father and his aunty last year. During his young aunty’s hospice days, he would sing to her. Like most Americans, he also knew people who passed away from Covid-19.
Iam and British pop star James Blunt – a powerful combination – singing “Monsters” at the American Idol Finale.
Katy Perry, one of the American Idol Judges described Iam as such, “The sound in the room when Iam comes on is undeniable. He’s an undeniable character. He’s just kind of got this incredible magic. You almost can’t explain it. It’s an ‘It factor.’ It’s like you’re born to do this, and it’s undeniable.” Perhaps the “it factor” could be just his vulnerability and innocence of a nice cub scout who is kind and loves his family and music.
A community concert put together in six days by local organizers in Kahuku. Even the big stars came out to support – Jack Johnson, Paula Fuga, Kawika Kahiapo, and John Cruz. About 14,000 came out to show support.
Bonus Information on “Monsters” composer James Blunt – the song that propelled Iam’s talent and background that set him apart from the rest of the American Idol contestants. Blunt’s depth in his life experiences and intellectualism mingled with musical talent is an interesting read:
Excerpted from MentalFloss.com – ” James Blunt was born February 22, 1974, at a military hospital in Tidsworth, Hampshire, England. His father, Charles, was a retired colonel in the Army Air Corps, and he wasn’t the first Blunt to serve his country. The family’s military history apparently extends back to the 10th century, when the Blunts first moved to England from Denmark.
Young James studied piano and violin before picking up the guitar at 14. He soon began writing songs and dreaming of a career in music. But first, he studied aerospace mechanical engineering—and later sociology, after changing majors—at Bristol University. Blunt’s education was paid for by the British Army, and as a result, he was required to serve four years. He trained at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and later fought in the Kosovo War, which raged from 1998 to 1999.
Blunt’s troop was among the first British units to cross into Kosovo, and at one point, the future pop star was ordered by U.S. General Wesley Clark, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, to seize Kosovo’s Pristina airport, which had been taken by Russian soldiers. Blunt, who was a captain, disagreed with the order, for fear of escalating a conflict with Russia, and he told the BBC in 2010 that he would have declined General Clark’s order, even if it had meant a court martial.
As it happened, Blunt never had to defy Clark. British General Sir Mike Jackson wound up blocking the order. “I’m not going to have my soldiers be responsible for starting World War III,” Jackson told Clark. While the BBC headline “Singer James Blunt ‘Prevented World War III’” is a touch hyperbolic, there’s at least some truth to the story.
After spending six months in Kosovo and witnessing many horrors related to the war, Blunt went to Switzerland for three months and had a much easier time. He became the skiing champion of the Royal Armoured Corps, and with his trusty guitar at his side, he charmed many a young lady. Toward the end of his military stint, Blunt began writing original songs, including the future single “No Bravery,” which was inspired by his time in Kosovo.”
