Views of the Dillingham Transportation Building Endangered

Views of the historic Dillingham Transportation Building and newer high rises along Nimitz Highway are threatened by the construction of the $9.03 billion elevated fixed rail project. If built the elevated rail standing at least 60 feet high with its aircraft carrier size train stations will totally spoil and obstruct the view of this historic building.

As the election season draws to an end on November 6, the time to make a decision to stop the train and preserve views of Honolulu's historic buildings and landmarks is prudent. An important part of that decision is to vote for Ben Cayetano as our next mayor for the City and County of Honolulu. He will stop the rail project and as a result, help preserve precious views we currently enjoy around the city.

 

These views of the Dillingham Transportation Building will be impossible to view or capture on film (or digital card) once the big, ugly rail structures are built.

 





Another view of Nimitz Highway near the harbor that is unobstructed by any structure standing in the middle of the road. If rail is built this unobstructed view will disappear.

I will be posting more photos of the Dillingham Transportation Building in the coming weeks.

In the Car with Andy Bumatai and State Senator Sam Slom

Andy Bumatai interviews State Senator Sam Slom "In The Car" on a scenic drive in his district. Note: There is about a minute of silence and a black screen at 21:00. Show resumes after that. Total Time: About 28 minutes.

Hawaii Political Platter: Romney Supporters

Yes, There is a Romney - Ryan 
Campaign in Hawaii

I caught this enthusiastic group of Romney-Ryan supporters on the corner of Punchbowl and Beretania Streets (near the Hawaii State Capitol) late yesterday afternoon doing what Hawaii campaigners do a lot -- sign waving.

In a post to the Aloha Conservative Alliance Facebook page, Jacquelyn Harrison Skaf states: "Our group of 30 got an overwhelmingly positive response from folks driving by on the corner of our state capitol yesterday. 147 honks. Seems like people are more comfortable showing their support from the anonymity of their vehicle! But people walking by asked us for t-shirts, lapel stickers, bumper stickers. So who knows? Lots of support for Romney-Ryan in Obama's home state. Yipee!!!"

The race for the President of the United States will be a close one. There is one more nationally televised debate airing on Monday night. Romney has been declared the winner of the previous two debates held earlier this month. Polling shortly after each debate has found an uptick of Romney support leading up to November 6. Of course the only poll that counts is the one held on November 6. It is hoped that Romney will win and send Mr. Obama into early retirement.

Photos by Mel.

Hawaii Political Platter: Race for Honolulu Mayor

A Vote for Ben Will Stop Rail

In the election for mayor, the vote is clear as glass. I am voting for former Governor Ben Cayetano to be the next mayor for the City and County of Honolulu.

The main reason for voting for Ben is that he has vowed to stop the insanely expensive, disruptive and ugly heavy rail project that started construction this past summer. No election this season will be as important as the one for Honolulu mayor. The choices are clear:

Ben Cayetano = Stop Rail Now.
Kirk Caldwell = Spending $90+ billion to build rail and much more to maintain it.

Simply put, the taxpayers of Honolulu cannot afford the fixed rail that is being rammed down the throats by the current mayor, Peter Carlisle and mayoral candidate Kirk Caldwell. Too big. Too ugly. Too disruptive. Too expensive.

Nothing else in this campaign practically matters. Stopping rail is the only thing that counts.

Certainly Ben will probably not be the best mayor Honolulu will have, but I think if he gets the proper advice and concentrate on fixing and maintaining core services such as sewers, roads and parks, he should do OK.

I'm voting for Ben. Are you?

Hawaii Political Platter: The U.S. Senate Race

Barely in Support of Linda Lingle

Back in 1998 I was a very enthusiastic supporter of Linda Lingle's bid for Governor. Back then she was running against the then-current incumbent, Governor Ben Cayetano. Like many others I was disappointed when Lingle lost that race and secured a second term for Governor Ben.

Linda Lingle was elected Governor in 2002. She beat then Lt. Governor Mazie Hirono to capture the state's top seat. We were enthused that after 40 years the state of Hawaii finally got another Republican Governor.

In a few years though, I was disappointed with Governor Lingle's leadership, most notably after she let HB 1309 pass into law without her signature on July 11, 2005. This is the bill that became Act 247 that authorized the counties to increase the general excise tax to pay for mass transit or road improvement projects. Three of the four island counties turned down the proposed tax.

But not Oahu. Mufi Hannemann who was at that time the mayor of the City and County of Honolulu lobbied hard to get that tax and was with Lingle at the press conference announcing the passage of HB 1309. In fact at that press conference not one Republican stood with Lingle as she announced the passage of the tax increase for rail.

By 2007 the City and County of Honolulu authorized the GE tax increase thereby allowing the now $9 billion rail project to come to fruition. Governor Lingle created a pocketbook nightmare for all of us living in Hawaii in terms of paying higher taxes to support rail. Very, very wrong.

Despite all of that, I will end up voting for the former Governor because once again her opponent is current U.S. Representative and former Lt. Governor Mazie Hirono. Hirono is probably a do-nothing Congressperson and has been alleged by the Lingle campaign for not showing up to vote many times. Plus she is far left and supports all of those socialistic Democrat party issues such as "Obamacare", gay marriage, rail, higher taxes, the Jones Act, the Akaka Bill and more.

The sad fact is that Lingle touting herself as always being "bi-partisan" (I'm tired and quite disappointed with that as her campaign centerpiece) supports some of the same issues that Mazie Hirono supports.... Jones Act and the Akaka Bill among others.

Choices, choices...

Since I have never ever voted for Hirono, that leaves me with two other choices.... vote for Linda Lingle mainly on the fact that if she is elected, it could help the Republican party get a majority in the U.S. Senate..... or just leave the race blank... re: blank ballot. There are no third party alternatives in this race, so it is either Lingle or a blank ballot. As of this writing I am leaning towards Lingle... but I could change my mind and go to "blank".

Finally in a funny footnote to this, is the fact that I am definitely voting for Lingle's 1998 opponent, Governor Ben Cayetano who is now running for Mayor of Honolulu and vows to kill the $9 billion rail project. And that is a good thing. Stop rail now.

Photo: Linda Lingle speaking last year at the Milton Friedman birthday celebration.

Hawaii Political Platter - Congress District 1

Djou vs. Hanabusa

The Congressional race for Hawaii's First District is a rematch showdown of the 2010 race. In the far left corner, we have first term incumbent U.S. Representative Colleen Hanabusa, Democrat vs. former U.S. Representative Charles Djou in the Republican corner.

Rep. Hanabusa supports high taxes to balance the federal budget, "a phased-in adjustment of the retirement age as a part of an overall plan to preserve Social Security" (which means she wants to push the qualifying age higher), supports keeping the Jones Act in place (which means continued high cost for all goods coming into Hawaii), does not support a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and she supports gay marriage.

Charles Djou states that he has never voted for a tax increase while holding public office, does not support raising the age for collecting social security benefits for those that are close to the current age, but may support future adjustments. Djou would like to exempt Hawaii from the Jones Act, and that is good. He supports a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution and upholding traditional marriage - unions between a man and a woman.

Both support the Akaka Bill. I oppose it.

On the thorny and expensive topic of fixed rail for Honolulu, Hanabusa supports the rail, while Djou has basically opposed it, though sometimes I am not clear on his opposition. Here are recent statements both candidates made on rail:

Hanabusa: “It is unfortunate my Republican colleagues chose to cut funding for our rail project and I hope they will soon realize what this historic project will do for Hawaii’s growing population. This long-awaited rapid transit system will provide our island families and visitors with an affordable transportation option, create much needed jobs, and reduce our dependence on imported oil.  I will continue to work with the Hawaii Delegation to ensure the rail project receives the necessary federal funding....” Currently Hanabusa has to be a supporter of rail since she has to play along with the party line that is carried by the Hawaii congressional delegation, all of whom are Democrats.

Djou: "While I support mass transit, and projects such as an elevated HOT lane, I have consistently opposed this rail project. The Honolulu rail system will consume all of our community’s limited resources at the expense of other critical infrastructure needs like our water and sewer systems. Worse yet, it won't work. The system’s own proponents admit that even after they spend over $5 billion of your money, rail will likely only reduce traffic congestion by less than 2%." O.K. It is likely Djou doesn't support the current rail project and the chances of rail's defeat is probably better if Djou is elected and is able to vote funding down when it comes to a vote in the U.S. House.

I am acquainted with both candidates. They both are quite pleasant people but have their differences. Clearly Charles Djou is more conservative, which is inline to what I believe. I am however concerned about his use of the word "bi-partisan" (as I am with other Republicans). In the end though, his opposition to rail is better than Rep. Hanabusa's support for the thing.

As of this writing I think Hanabusa probably has a better chance of retaining her seat in this election. It would be an upset for Djou to win. Despite that, a vote for Djou would be a better choice since he supports traditional marriage, a balanced budget amendment, reducing the national debt, lower taxes, exempting Hawaii from the Jones Act and opposes rail. Support of the Akaka Bill remains a concern for me.

Here are a couple of videos from both candidates: