Lobby up for 2014

Two scoops rice, mac salad and one legislature, please.

Will Caron / Read
An interesting point on the biotech lawsuit

An interesting thing to note about the Kauai biotech lawsuit, announced Friday:

The biotech companies are represented by top Hawaii attorneys. Paul Alston is representing Syngenta; Margery Bronster, a former state attorney general, is representing Pioneer Hi-Bred and Agrigenetics.

Another partner at Alston’s firm is Bill Kaneko, a longtime Abercrombie advisor. Kaneko ran the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, oversaw his transition to the 5th floor of the capitol, and is running the governor’s re-election campaign.

Because of attorney-client privilege between Alston and Syngenta, it would be easy for Alston and Kaneko’s law firm to act as an opaque pass-through for information and communication between the biotech firms and the state.

Hawaii Independent Staff / Genetically-Modified Organisms / Read
Conservative Republican group calls out mahu leader

Tito Montes, head of the Hawaii Republican Assembly, is making ad hominem statements about Hinaleimoana Wong, a kumu hula and OHA candidate. Hawaii News Now reports:

Montes remarks were part of his criticism of the state’s Pono Choices sex education program. Montes and other Republicans say the program is too graphic for middle school students and is not medically accurate.

Wong-Kalu appeared in a Pono Choices skit about HIV risk and here’s how Montes described her:

“‘Kumu’ is the video short story of a transvestite drag queen who wears lipstick, eye liner, a dress, a padded bra and earrings,” Montes wrote.

And while we’re on the subject of far-right voices, here’s the take from from Hawaii Free Press:

Tranny Asserts Absolute Right to Promote Himself to 6th Graders

HNN: Tito Montes, president of the Hawaii Republican Assembly, is under ‘fire’ for calling (pointing out that) a respected Hawaiian leader and cultural practitioner (dude in a dress is) a “transvestite” and a “drag queen.”

(Mr.) Hina Wong-Kalu—who considers herself (sic) a transgendered female—says the name calling borders on hate speech. (Censorship: Unless you accept the lie that gender is changeable, you are a hater.)

“To utilize words transvestite and drag queen in any political debate is taking a cheap shot,” Wong-Kalu said. (Translation: I tell you what you may say and you bow before my authority.)

Montes remarks were part of his criticism of the state’s Pono Choices sex education program. Montes and other Republicans say the program is too graphic for middle school students and is not medically accurate.  (Yes.  Among other things, it asserts that gender is a choice and sexual orientation is not.)

Wong-Kalu appeared in Pono Choices skit about HIV risk and here’s how Montes described her (sic):

“‘Kumu’ is the video short story of a transvestite drag queen who wears lipstick, eye liner, a dress, a padded bra and earrings,” Montes wrote.

Wong-Kalu, who is the chair of the Oahu Burial Council, shot back:

“A transvestite is someone who puts on clothes, a man who puts on women’s clothes in the middle of the night for once in a while but this is not temporary for me. This is an everyday element of my life,” she (sic) said.

(And this is what your 6th grader is learning now that gay marriage is the law.  Changing the family unit is not enough, they will now attempt to browbeat you into acquiescing to the lie that gender is changeable.)

 

Ikaika M L Hussey / Read
TPP ‘fast track’ is no good

US Senators Baucus and Camp have introduced legislation which could speed the Trans-Pacific Partnership through Congress. Here's why it's a bad idea.

Hawaii Independent Staff / Trans-Pacific Partnership / The Nation <
How rich is Hawaii’s Congressional delegation?

Compared to the rest of Congress, Hawaii's reps are middling, at best, in their personal wealth.

Hawaii Independent Staff / Maui Time <
Erika Elona comes in loud and clear

Her debut album "Things to Break" showcases a very promising folk-soul singer-songwriter

Gary Chun / Read
Anything to save a bad sale?

The city is offering to finance the sale of its affordable housing units. Chinatown tenants say this is a bad idea.

Steve Lohse / Affordable housing / Read
The Case of the Ugly Truth

In a close-knit community, how does a journalist report on fact and still keep his friends?

James Cave / Read
Clemency for Snowden?

Arguments for, and against, clemency for Edward Snowden.

Hawaii Independent Staff / Read
What is poi?

A 1909 article responding to a dictionary's dry description of "the paste or pudding."

Charles Kahiliaulani Notley and Joseph Poepoe / Read