BY SEN. SAM SLOM – Tea Party Time. Next Monday, April 16, The 4th annual Tea Party will be held at the State Capitol from 4-7 pm. The public is welcome.
Pay Up! The IRS wants your money but this year you have until next week Tuesday, April 17, to file your taxes. Hawaii State taxes are due on Friday, April 20.
Lincoln Dinner. The Hawaii Republican Party honors Abraham Lincoln with a later than usual dinner and fundraiser, Friday, April 20 at the Hawaiian Village. Want to know what else happens on “4/20” try Google ’em.
What Flies Out of Vegas. Hawaiian Air will have competition from the Las Vegas market. Discount air carrier, Allegiant Airlines, announced Tuesday the company will begin new, nonstop air service from Fresno and Las Vegas, to Honolulu by summer.
Legislature Rushing Toward Adjournment. The 2012 State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on Thursday, May 3. Yesterday was the second crossover voting day. Next week, all remaining bills go into conference committee for the final push.
A Taste of Rotary. The Rotary Club of Hawaii Kai is hosting a wine-tasting, silent auction event at the KCC Fine Dining Room on April 21, 6 – 9pm. Come and enjoy yourself. If you cannot make it that evening, and you would like to contribute, you can send your donation to:
Rotary Club of Hawaii Kai, 6800 Kalanianaole Hwy. Suite 117, Honolulu, HI 96825. (The Rotary Club of Hawaii Kai is a volunteer organization funded only by your donations) Please CALL 396-5535 to reserve your tickets now. MAHALO for your support !
Wildlife Competition. The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is seeking entries to an art contest for its 2012-2013 Hawai’i Wildlife Conservation Stamp and 2012-2013 Hawai’i Game Bird Stamp. The Wildlife Conservation Stamp will be required to validate the Hawai’i State hunting licenses. A separate Game Bird Stamp will be required for those with licenses intending to hunt game birds. Productions of the stamps will also be available to wildlife stamp collectors.
The contest announcement and application with all entry information details on required artwork, rules, terms, and conditions are available on the Division of Forestry & Wildlife website, (click here), or can be obtained at any DOFAW office. Entries of artwork for the 2012-2013 Hawai’i Wildlife Conservation Stamp may depict any game mammal, and the 2012-2013 Hawai’i Game Bird Stamp may depict a list of specific game birds found in the contest announcement. DOFAW encourages submission of photo/print/photocopy of a completed oil or acrylic painting that depicts the species of each category in the setting of its typical Hawai’i habitat or within its range of habitat. Artists who choose to send an original painting must include $25 for the cost of returning the artwork. All entries must be received by May 7, 2012. Notification of the winner will be made on May 11, 2012. Each of the two winners will receive a maximum stipend of $1,000. Questions regarding the contest can be emailed directly to Edwin.D.Johnson@hawaii.gov or directed to 808-587-4185. For official contest rules, click here.
Chrisopher Baker Response re: Hawaii Defense Foundation’s Second Amendment Lawsuit: “Recently, some information went out about the Second Amendment lawsuit that is on-going in Hawai’i, and we would like to take a second to clarify that statement a bit more. First and foremost, the Baker v. Kealoha et. al. suit is still very much alive. On the 21st of March, our civil rights advocates went into the courtroom seeking a preliminary injunction against the Government from enforcing this suit. This is quite similar to a temporary restraining order. It was only on this one small step, the preliminary injunction, that our cause was denied. Other than that, the Plaintiffs feel they did well in court, and got a few small wins that were unexpected. Currently, the Foundation is planning to appeal this denial of the preliminary injunction to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. To do this, they will continue to need support from local residents. You can find them at www.thehdf.org.
Job Available. Good local company looking or a VLP/Sales. Interested? Call me (349-5438).
Get Your Lobster (Or Go To Red Lobster!). The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) reminds the public that the season for taking ula and ula papapa (spiny and slipper lobsters) and Kona crabs in state waters will be closed starting on Tuesday, May 1, 2012. The closed season extends through the end of August. Hawaii Administrative Rules prohibit the taking, killing, sale or offering for sale, or possession of any ula, also known as spiny lobster (Panulirus penicillatus, P. marginatus) and ula papapa or slipper lobster (Scyllarides squammosus, S. haanii) from state waters during the closed season.
It is also illegal to take, possess, or sell Kona crab during May through August. However, any commercial marine dealer may sell, or any hotel, restaurant, or other public eating house may serve spiny or slipper lobster lawfully caught during the open season by first procuring a license to do so pursuant to section 13-74-41, Hawaii Administrative Rules.The Hawai’i Fishing Regulations booklet, available at all Division of Aquatic Resources offices and most fishing supply stores, shows how to determine the sex of spiny lobsters and Kona crabs. Or go online here. For more information on regulations concerning these and other marine invertebrates, including minimum sizes, click here or call the Division of Aquatic Resources.
Welcome Aboard. The Waikiki Community Center will visit aboard theKa’imimoana, (Ocean Seeker) on Monday, April 30, 2012. Ka`imimoana is the only ship of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) dedicated solely to climate research, through its support of NOAA’s Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean (TAO) Project.
This project is designed to improve our understanding of the role of the tropical ocean in modifying the world’s climate. You will be able to observe the ship at Ford Island and to meet officers of the command and to listen to presentations on what Ka`imimoana does in between the San Diego, CA and Honolulu bases. All passengers must check-in at WCC by 7:45 a.m. Bus departs at 8:00 a.m. returning at 1:30 p.m. Transportation and tour is $45 for WCC Members and $55 for Guests. Lunch will follow at Sam Snead’s Tavern (no-host). Call 923-1802 for more information. All passengers must be ambulatory. Deadline for reservation and payment is April 18, 2012. Please visit www.waikikicommunitycenter.org
Fiji Disaster Relief. Members of the Laie community are holding a Disaster Relief Drive for Fiji residents stricken by heavy rain and flooding over the last two months. The drive takes place at the Laie Shopping Center April 10-13, 5-8 p.m. Several people have died in the disaster and thousands have been displaced from their homes. The drive is in response to the Fiji Red Cross and Fijian government’s call for assistance.
Inoke Suguturaga, Fiji Island manager at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and his wife Ateca, in partnership with BYU-Hawaii Fijian Club, Fiji Alumni, and the local Fijian community are organizing the drive. Items collected will be flown directly to Fiji for immediate distribution to victims. Accepted: Blankets, canned foods, and children’s clothing.
“Our hearts go out to those affected in Fiji,” said Eric Beaver, president of Hawaii Reserves, managing agent of the Laie Shopping Center, “We’re grateful that our community has the opportunity to provide some relief, and for the helping hands organizing this drive.”
Join Us! Is YOUR business a member of SBH? No? What? Call Darlyn today (808-396-1724) or go online to www.smartbusinesshawaii.com.
Point-Counterpoint on KHVH. Tune in Tuesdays 7-8 am to the Rick Hamada show on KHVH radio (830 am) to hear Senate Democrat Majority Leader Brickwood Galuteria and me tackle the legislative issues at the State Capitol. Call in at 521-8383.
Real News. Go to www.HawaiiReporter.com, for the real news. HR, founded by Malia Zimmerman, 10 years ago continues to break major investigative stories. Tune in to KHVH every week day at 7:40 am to hear Malia’s report.
Want more local business information? Please visit the several SBH websites at:: www.smartbusinesshawaii.com, www.educate808.com andwww.sbhfoundation.org.
