Senate Majority Caucus

Senator Hee addressed the 2007 Convention of the Council on Native Hawaiian Advancement and National Coalition of Asian Pacific American Community Development on August 24, 2007, at the Hawaii Convention Center

E nā kūpuna, nā makua, nā pua, nā po‘e kama‘āina i kēia ‘āina aloha, a e nā malihini e ho‘okipa nei i kēia hoakoakoa mai aloha pū mai kākou. Mahalo no ka ‘oukou kono mai ia‘u i kēia akoakoa no ke kuka ‘ana i ke ola no ka makou ‘āina loa. ‘O au no Clayton Hee he kanaka hapa laiki a, he kanaka hapa kalo.

(more…)

By The Garden Island Writer Lester Chang

Legislators visited Kauai Independent Day Services Center in Kapa‘a Friday and came away impressed by a program they said could help strengthen pre-school and special education programs in Hawai‘i’s public school system.

“For the young people being able to fully develop as a person, both analytical and creative skills, this program is apparently unique but is certainly successful,” said Sen. Norman Sakamoto, D-District 15, chairman of the Senate Education Committee. “The people are very, very fortunate to have a program like this.”

(more…)

The state senator gets the required paperwork in order as friends and family stand by his side

By Honolulu Star Bulletin Writer Laurie Au

Saying that he has always been a politician who followed his conscience, Sen. Mike Gabbard switched to the Democratic Party yesterday, disappointing Republicans and further weakening their presence in the state Senate.  Continue Reading

By Honolulu Advertiser Columnist Jerry Burris 

Along with all the high drama surrounding the attempt to get an interisland ferry service launched lies an interesting political tale that may reverberate for years among our three branches of government: Administration, Judiciary and Legislature.

(more…)

Ferry Fiasco Signals Need to Review Law

By Honolulu Advertiser Staff

What we’re seeing now with the disastrously aborted launch of the Hawaii Superferry is the aftermath of the perfect storm.

(more…)

By Honolulu Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor Christie Wilson

WAILUKU, Maui — Hawaii Superferry remains under a court order today prohibiting service to Maui, while federal, state and county law enforcement officials work to devise a strategy to ensure the vessel’s safe return to Kaua’i.

(more…)

By Honolulu Advertiser Staff 

Hawaii Superferry officials have indefinitely called off future trips to Kaua’i, officials announced today.

(more…)

By Honolulu Advertiser Kauai Bureau Editor Jan TenBruggencate

The Hawaii Superferry has created an alignment of interests that may be unique in political activism for the wide range of people and groups involved.

(more…)

By Honolulu Advertiser Writers Jan TenBruggencate and Dan Nakaso

NAWILIWILI, Kaua’i — The Superferry left Kaua’i last night without being able to break through a human blockade that occupied the Nawiliwili Harbor entrance until after 9 p.m. An unknown number of protesters was arrested, and arrests continued as surfers came to shore long after the ferry had left.

(more…)

By Honolulu Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor Christie Wilson 

WAILUKU, Maui — A Maui judge today issued a temporary restraining order halting the Hawaii Superferry until a hearing can be held Wednesday to determine whether the company can continue operations in the absence of an environmental review by the state.

(more…)

HONOLULU – State Senator Gary Hooser (District 7 – Kaua‘i, Ni‘ihau) today released the following statement on the current operation of the Hawai‘i Superferry:

“I am deeply concerned by what appears to be an imminent escalation of the conflict that was evident during last night’s actions on Kauai, protesting the operation of the Hawai‘i Superferry. In particular, we should all be concerned about the potential in these confrontations, for an increased risk of injury to those involved.

(more…)

By Honolulu Advertiser Writers Jan TenBruggencate and Rick Daysog

Hundreds of protesters on surfboards, swimming in the harbor and lining the docks held the Hawaii Superferry at bay for nearly two hours yesterday at Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua’i, setting the stage for a legal showdown in a Maui courtroom this morning.

(more…)

By Hawaii State Senator Jill Tokuda

The Star-Bulletin’s recent editorial, “Lawmakers’ inquiry is of dubious value” (July 13, 2007) missed some important points regarding the work of the Joint Senate-House Investigative Committee looking into operations at the Hawai‘i Bureau of Conveyance, and presented an inaccurate picture of both the committee’s work and the planned end-product of the committee’s inquiry.

While the Office of the Attorney General and the State Ethics Commission are continuing to investigate claims of certain illegal

(more…)

Find links to the Honolulu Advertiser and Star Bulletin articles published on Friday, August 24, 2007, on the Hawaii Superferry decision. Also, listen to the oral arguments at the Hawaii State Supreme Court and read its ruling made just hours after the hearing.

(more…)

By Neighbor Island Editor Christie Wilson

WAILUKU, Maui — A Maui judge yesterday ordered the state Department of Transportation to address concerns related to Hawaii Superferry service.

(more…)