Budget Hearings Begin | Allen to Head Procurement | Not So Pono Choices | Tribute to Saiki

Death of Health Director. Last week, State Health Department Director Loretta (“Deliana”) Fuddy died after her plane crashed in the ocean and she was awaiting rescue. While Ms. Fuddy and I clashed at the Legislature over sugary beverage taxes, Obamacare, expanded taxpayer in vitro fertilization coverage, the state recycling beverage tax and government intervention into individual choices, she was a kind and good person who was not malicious. Like others, I mourn her death. The outrageous Donald Trump charge that Fuddy was killed because she released the Obama “birth certificate” is so far from sanity that it doesn’t warrant a response.

Lotto Dreams. Hawaii doesn’t have a lottery, but many states do. The latest mega lottery is U.S. mainland was over $600 million. A lottery for Hawaii? What do you think? May be coming soon after decades of debate.

Football Star John Wilbur Died. Last week, Stanford grad and pro football standout, John Leonard Wilbur died in Honolulu at age 70. Wilbur a former lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and the Washington Redskins also played in the World Football League for The Hawaiians. I saw him play several times and he was a fierce competitor.

Wikipedia said, “His personality and style of play made an indelible imprint on the history and prestige of the game.” As his years in the NFL wound down, Wilbur became a ringleader of the Hawaii Harlequins Rugby Football Club, and continued to enjoy the social aspects of rugby long after hanging up his boots.

Not So Pono Choices. Today, at the Capitol atrium, State Rep. Bob McDermott and I will hold a press conference about the Department of Education’s decision to restart the $800,000 UH “Pono Choices” sexual education program. Pono Choices is a teen pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) prevention program funded by the federal Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) and developed by the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center on Disability Studies (CDS).

The DOE halted the controversial sex education program on November 29 to “investigate.” The program is aimed at 11, 12 and 13-year-old students teaching graphic information that includes teaching children to put condoms on wooden dildos and pro homosexual behavior. In the fastest “investigation” in Hawaii history, 2 weeks, the DOE announced the program will restart. The program will also be expanded to 30 more schools because the DOE “affirmed that the curriculum meets department standards, and also showed that Pono Choices is a culturally responsive curriculum that has resulted in positive outcomes for students,” said Leila Hayashida, assistant superintendent for the Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Support. Tell that to the parents. McDermott and I separately requested copies of the Pono Choices curriculum. Both requests were denied. This is taxpayer money. We are taxpayer representatives. This program, and the DOE, is neither pono, nor provides parental choices.

More Hot Air from HECO. Pacific Business News reports, “The planned 24-megawatt Na Pua Makani wind farm on Oahu’s North Shore is expected to save Hawaiian Electric Co.millions of dollars in total avoided fuel costs during the 20-year term of a power purchase agreement, the state’s largest electric utility recently said in an application regarding the project sent to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. The application seeks to get a waiver from the competitive bidding process and the approval of a power purchase agreement between HECO and Champlin Hawaii Wind Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Santa Barbara-based Champlin, the developer of the wind farm.”

It may save HECO, the state’s protected energy monopoly millions of dollars, but consumers will pay for this project as they have paid for past projects and studies.

Damon Key Hires Young. Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, a leading Honolulu law firm celebrating its 50th Anniversary, has hired attorney Madeleine M.V. Young to work in its Estate Planning Practice Group.

Storm Doesn’t Dampen Relief. The big planned “Kokua for the Philippines” fundraiser Sunday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel was downsized because of rain, thunder and lightning but still managed to raise more than $1.8 million in relief for the Philippines from generous Hawaii residents, labor and businesses.

Tribute to Saiki. Save Thursday, January 30, 2014, 6 p.m. VIP Reception 7:00 p.m. Dinner & Program, Waialae Country Club. This special evening is an opportunity to salute Pat Saiki for her 25 years of public service. Please join in thanking Pat for the many significant achievements that have made her one of our country’s National Treasures. Contact the Republican Party of Hawaii for reservations.

Allen to Head Procurement. Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment of Sarah Allen as administrator of the State of Hawaii Procurement Office. The appointment is for a 4-year term that expires Oct. 15, 2017, and is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

From 2007 to 2013, Allen was a senior manager for ASI Government, Inc. in Arlington, Va. During this time, she acted as executive advisor to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) Senior Procurement Executive and advised on the implementation of an agency-wide Agile Acquisition Initiative. Prior to that, she was a senior acquisition analyst from 2006 to 2007 for Arlington-based CACI at the Pentagon, served in the U.S. Air Force as a commissioned contracting officer from 2004 to 2006 and a non-commissioned officer at Hickam Air Force Base from 2000 to 2004. Abroad, she was president of Leisure Accounting, an accounting and auditing consulting firm, from 1997 to 1999, and chief financial officer of Dockside Internet Ltd. from 1995 to 1997.

Abercrombie Announces State “Surplus” The Governor recently announced the state has achieved an $844 million surplus over the past fiscal year. Good news? It means that you have been overtaxed. Even with tax increases, the state expects to spend more of your money. The unions, always nipping at taxpayers’ heels, want all of that surplus and more in current contract negotiations, while the Guv wants to put the surplus towards his Early Education state subsidy scheme. There will be battles for even more of your cash during the 2014 Legislative Session, which begins January 15. Hold onto your wallet.

Budget Hearings Begin Today. At 1:30 pm today, the House and Senate money Committees will begin to review the Governor’s bloated 2014 State Supplemental Operating and Capital Budgets, department by department. The public is welcome in the Capitol Auditorium if you have the stomach-and money for it.

Outback Open for Daily Lunch. Our favorite food spot, Outback Steakhouse Hawaii Kai, today starts to serve lunch daily, beginning at 11 a.m. Outback is always open for lunch on the weekends, but now offers lunch through the holidays, everyday. Outback Hawaii Kai is owned by SBH Board member Tyler Roukema, who two years ago, was the SBH Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy. Do you know what happiness is? Are you happy? Check out this NY Times article> 

ID Cards. The ID Discount card is a great investment. You can save 10%, 15% or more at many restaurants, car rentals and other events with the card. SBH is selling the $40 12-month card for $30 as a year-end fundraiser. Great stocking stuffers. Interested? Call Susan at SBH, 396-1724 to purchase several now.

Kaiser Names Hunstock. Kaiser Permanente Hawaii announced that Leanne Hunstock, DNP, MBA, MEd, NEA-BC, will return to the state’s largest integrated health care organization as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Care Delivery & Vice President, Quality beginning January 6, 2014. Hunstock served as COO and Chief Nursing Officer at Moanalua Medical Center from 2008 – 2010.  She brings more than 35 years of experience in health care, most recently from CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles where she served as Senior Vice President, Business Development.

Want to Help SBH?

Price Busters to Close. After being rescued from bankruptcy years ago, the announcement this past week that all 8 Price Busters stores will close mid-January was sad news. The stores are unique for party, quirky and must have novelties.

Contractor to Repay Employees. The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment with Aiea-based cement construction and contracting company Reef Development of Hawaii Inc. and its president, Samuel Sanchez Aguirre. An investigation by the department’s Employee Benefits Security Administration established that Aguirre, acting as trustee to the profit-sharing plan, violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by mismanaging plan assets, resulting in more than $700,000 in lost principal, plus approximately $303,000 in lost interest.

Investigators found that Aguirre neglected his fiduciary responsibilities by not acting carefully in the selection and monitoring of investments made on behalf of the profit-sharing plan.

LPH at Gift Fair. Tracy Ryan reminds that Friends of Liberty are invited to drop by the Honolulu Gift Fair at Blaisdell Center this weekend and sign the ballot access petition for the Hawaii Libertarian Party.  Hours are Friday 20th 3-9PM, Saturday 21st9AM – 9PM and Sunday 9 to 5.  LPH has a booth, #952. Aloha in Liberty!

Patrick Snow to Keynote 38th Annual SBH Business Conference. Great news! Best-selling author and motivational business success speaker, Patrick Snow, is confirmed as SBH’s Keynote Luncheon Speaker, Wednesday, February 19, 2014, 8 am – 2 pm, for the 38th Annual SBH Business & Investment Conference at the Ala Moana Hotel. A great line up of exciting and informative speakers and issue topics (agenda to be published soon), networking, business exhibits and more. Sponsorship and booth exhibit opportunities still available. Contact Malia (306-3161) or Susan (396-1724) for details but save the date!

January 30 SUNRISE Features Medved. While there is no monthly SBH SUNRISE Networking Breakfast forum in December. SUNRISE returns Thursday, January 30, 2014 in the Ala Moana Macy’s Pineapple Room with national radio talk show host and author, Michael Medved. To reserve your seat, call 396-1724.

Reagan Dinner, February 6. The Hawaii Republican Assembly has announced the first annual Ronald Reagan Freedom & Liberty Dinner, on February 6, 2014. Special guest speaker will be heavyweight American Conservative Union chairman, Alberto Cardenas who headlines the annual CPAC in Washington, D.C. Tickets $75. ContactHawaiiRepublicanAssembly.com.

Obama is Coming! Once again, starting this Friday, and at a cost of more than $4 million to taxpayers, for the 6th straight year, the Barrack Obama Presidential family will descend on Kailua. His visit disrupts nearby residents, boaters and surfers in the area, and drivers during his 17-day trip. There is no money for aircraft flyovers at memorials at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and the State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe, but there always seems to be money for lavish Obama trips.