From Cavasso’s press release:

GOP Candidate for U.S. Senate, Cam Cavasso believes FEMA’s rejection of Hawaii’s request for a disaster declaration is because Senator Schatz has few leadership skills and little power in Washington.  Cam Cavasso stated today “Where is Schatz in this? A switched-on Senator would have been heading to Washington and the President to seek support and make sure FEMA declares the disaster immediately after the tropical storm hit and we became aware of the magnitude of the damage. Handing out water is just one of the things that could have been done by a Senator, but a Senator is so much more than that. In this matter, particularly when almost 3 weeks later 1600 people are still without Hawaiian telecom service and people are still without power, Senator Schatz has failed the people of the Big Island.”

Cavasso added: “Senator Schatz’s campaign advertisements seem to imply he has a direct line to President Obama.  The rejection of the disaster declaration shows the people of Hawaii that Schatz has no influence where it matters most, and that is to obtain what is necessary for the people of Hawaii.” FEMA denied funds for “individual assistance for individuals and households affected by the tropical storm, ...and also hazard mitigation funds.”

Cam Cavasso believes it is time for a change in Hawaii. “We need to elect people that know what to do and when to do it. When a disaster hits and you have the position of leadership, you stop campaigning for photo ops and go do what you should be doing as a Senator.  It is all about priorities!”

Today the State Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Hawaii challenging the primary election’s results on the grounds that residents in Pahoa did not get to exercise their constitutional right to vote when hurricane Iselle slammed into the east coast of the Big Island right before the election was scheduled to take place.

The court dismissed the lawsuit at the request of the state, arguing that it “does not have jurisdiction under the statutory and constitutional provisions cited in the Complaint and First Amended Complaint to grant the relief requested [by the plaintiffs].”

ACLU released the following statement in response to the decision: “Every day, the ACLU works to defend and protect civil rights, including the right to vote. We believe that every person’s vote is important, and every person who wants to vote ought to have the same opportunity to do so. Many voters in and around Pahoa did not have that opportunity, and we asked the Hawai‘i Supreme Court to step in. Although the Court declined to do so, we are grateful that the Court considered this matter so quickly. While our clients are disappointed that they will not be able to cast ballots in the primary election, the ACLU will continue its work to ensure that every person has an equal opportunity to vote—even when a natural disaster strikes—and we look forward to working with the Legislature to prevent these kinds of situations in the future.”

The lawsuit was filed on August 21 on behalf of six registered Big Island voters who claimed that the storm prevented them from making it to the polls. The lawsuit asked the court to allow people who weren’t able to vote because of the storm to be allowed to do so in a special election to be held before Sept. 20. The decision allows the state Office of Elections to certify the primary election results and proceed with preparations for the general election.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will hold a public hearing to adopt a new chapter under the Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) relating to the establishment of the Hā‘ena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area (Hā‘ena CBSFA). The Hā‘ena CBSFA includes state waters within the Hā‘ena ahupua‘a from the shoreline out to one mile. The proposed rules would limit the type of fishing gear and methods that may be used, prohibit the harvest of marine life for commercial purposes, set new daily take and possession limits for certain species and establish the Makua Pu‘uhonua (marine refuge) as a “no entry” sub-zone.

The hearing will be held at Hanalei Elementary School on Friday, October 3, 2014 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m

All interested persons are urged to attend the public hearing to present relevant information and individual opinion for the DLNR to consider.  Persons unable to attend or wishing to present additional comments, may mail written testimony by Friday, October 17, 2014 to the Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR); 1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 330; Honolulu, HI 96813.