Latest news with #Wakai
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State land board rejects Army lease extension on training site
HONOLULU (KHON2) — The state's land board rejected the U.S. Army's extension of its lease of the Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island, leaving the future of the military's training in Hawaiʻi unclear. State Senator Glenn Wakai says that if the military is not able to use the lands for training such as live fire exercises. Federal, local law enforcement aim to crack down on ghost guns 'America needs to be ready, and the frontline for America is Hawaiʻi,' Wakai said. 'America's military readiness is going to be hampered because they're not able to do live fire exercises anywhere in the state of Hawaiʻi.' Wakai warns that the consequences of the military not having access to Pohakuloa Training Area, Kahuku, Makua and Poamoho for training won't just be a national security issue, but an economic one as well. 'In light of [the military] being the third largest economic driver, after tourism and real estate, the military is a significant player here,' the senator said. 'We need to do whatever we can to accommodate their needs, but not, of course, jeopardizing our environmental factors as well.'The Board of Land and Natural Resources' rejection of the military's lease extension was not out of left field, with the military having a spotty history in Hawaiʻi's ʻāina. 'I think what the problem with the military has been is that they haven't always been the perfect environmental stewards of our lands,' Wakai said. 'They have not cleaned up Kahoʻolawe. They had a disastrous catastrophe with red hill.' The military used the island of Kahoʻolawe for bomb testing in the 1940s, with decades of military activity taking place on the sacred island. Military bombing of the island stopped in the 1990s. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The island still has ordnances, with efforts to clean up the land ongoing. In addition to the military activity on Kahoʻolawe, the military only paid $1 annually on the 65-year lease agreement, leaving a poor taste in everyone's mouth. 'The military only paid us $1 a year. That needs to change,' Wakai said. 'They need to pay fair market value for whatever lease agreement is reestablished. They got away with it for, almost free, for 65 years.' The BLNR Chair Dawn Chang says the Army can appeal the board's decision or file a lawsuit. The board will consider a lease extension for Kahuku, Makua and Poamoho in June, Chang said. The Army's land leases on Pohakuloa Training Area, Kahuku, Makua and Poamoho are currently set to expire in 2029. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacific Pipeline: Hawaii lawmakers look to Asia for UH athletics boost
HONOLULU (KHON2) — With more than 360 division one athletic programs across the U.S., the University of Hawaii often finds itself fighting for scraps in the national recruiting game. But one state lawmakers says the key to leveling the playing field might be found across the Pacific. Interested in early childhood education? UH Manoa posts new degree option For decades, the University of Hawaii has struggled to keep pace with powerhouse athletic programs on the mainland, which have deeper pockets and larger platforms. 'There are 360 D-1 programs in America, and Hawaii is trying to get a small sliver of that. We should still try to go after that small sliver. But I think our strength is on the other side of the Pacific,' said State Senator Glenn Wakai. Wakai is spearheading an effort to position UH as a gateway for elite athletes from Asia, particularly Japan, where what he calls the 'Shohei Effect' is inspiring a new generation of young stars who dream of playing in the U.S. 'Kids nowadays are in Japan in middle school, they don't want to live their dreams in the Japanese major leagues. They want to come to America,' said Wakai. 'We really should be looking towards Asia to get athletes to develop a fan base and ultimately get NIL money to go pay for the future quarterbacks the University of Hawaii needs.' UH this year, has five student athletes from Japan. Wakai believes there is untapped potential in other parts of Asia, and this year, the state legislature has set aside some money for going after UH fans in the region. Kauai spearfisher lands 130-plus pound fish, almost dragged to the depths 'But now we also have to have a concerted effort where we're going to develop relationships with these athletes, schools, develop relationships with the coaches,' said Wakai. 'It's not a brand new idea. This idea has surfaced in the last couple of decades,' said sports analyst Rich Miano. With aging facilities and without any Fortune 500 companies in Hawaii, what's needed is a larger investment in infrastructure and long-term commitment. 'I think it's worth not only exploring, but actually financing to see how it could actually help the university because there's not a whole lot of avenues for the University of Hawaii to create not only great sports teams, but revenue producing sports teams,' said Miano. Wakai is also trying to work with local broadcasters to livestream games involving Asian athletes, making it easier for fans across the Pacific to stay connected. Others agree an international strategy could give UH a unique edge.'I would think any corporation in Asia would love to have their student athlete or their talent, being showcased in the United States, on the college level, you see it on the professional level, so it would be a win-win,' said David Kawada, Ahahui Koa Anuenue President and Executive Director. Wakai thinks it'll take at least five to see efforts pay off, but says its more than wins and losses. It's reimagining UH's place in the college sports landscape. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill sets aside $807.5 million for Maui wildfire claims
Hawaii legislative leaders have agreed to fully fund the state's share of Maui wildfire damage claims slated to be paid out over four years. A select group of lawmakers in the House and Senate agreed Tuesday to terms for a bill that would deposit about half of the state's $807.5 million obligation into a trust fund next fiscal year followed by the balance a year later. State attorneys in August agreed with five other defendants in mass litigation over the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires to settle all loss claims for about $4 billion, with payments spread over four years. The fire killed 102 people, destroyed around 3, 500 homes along with other property and resulted in more than 650 lawsuits seeking damages. The total number of loss claims subject to settlement payments is expected to be over 17, 000. House Bill 1001 was sought by Gov. Josh Green to fund the state's portion of the settlement, and essentially would prefund much of the payout intended to be made in four annual installments. During one public hearing on the bill last month, Sen. Glenn Wakai, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, expressed concern over other defendants possibly not being able to pay their share. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Wakai singled out Hawaiian Electric, which agreed to pay about $2 billion, representing the single biggest share. 'So it looks like you are in good shape to cover your first two payments, so about half of the $2 billion, ' Wakai said to Scott Seu, president and CEO of the utility's parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., during a March 18 hearing. 'How are you going to pay the last billion dollars ?' Seu told Wakai that HEI anticipates raising the sum by issuing debt and by selling new shares of stock in the company. The committee led by Wakai (D, Kalihi-Salt Lake-Pearl Harbor ) amended HB 1001 in part to require that other settlement payers have a plan for making their payments approved by the state Department of the Attorney General and to make their payments a little ahead of state contributions. Subsequently, the Senate Ways and Means Committee eliminated those new proposed terms in its own draft of HB 1001 after the Department of the Attorney General raised concerns about the terms conflicting with the settlement agreement overseen by a state court judge. On Tuesday, a joint House-Senate committee made agreed-upon tweaks to the bill before a Friday deadline to hash out differences. 'This is a very important measure, ' Rep. David Tarnas, chair of the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee, said during the committee meeting after an agreement with Senate negotiators was announced. 'We have a bill, a very important bill.' Final legislative approval still depends on votes by the 51-member House and 25-member Senate before the end of this year's legislative session on May 2. If the Legislature balks at funding the state's share of the wildfire settlement, it could delay or derail the resolution of costly litigation and getting financial help to victims. 'By resolving these claims quickly, victims and their families can begin rebuilding their lives much sooner than if litigation were to drag on for years, ' the Department of the Attorney General said in written testimony on the bill. Other contributors to the settlement are Kamehameha Schools, which is responsible for $872.5 million, and Spectrum Oceanic LLC, Hawaiian Telcom and affiliates of West Maui Land Co., collectively responsible for about $300 million. Most or all of settlement payers previously contributed $175 million to a victim-compensation fund led by the state that recently began paying personal injury and death claims detached from the litigation, though this sum is being credited to the $4 billion settlement deal. If the settlement receives final court approval, a settlement administrator will decide how much to distribute to each claim holder. Attorneys representing plaintiffs in the litigation are also expected to receive a significant share of settlement proceeds. Seu said in February that the utility company anticipates making its first wildfire settlement payment toward the end of this year or in early 2026. If HB 1001 becomes law, $400 million would be deposited into a trust account overseen by the Department of the Attorney General during the fiscal year starting July 1, and then the $407.5 million balance would follow in the following fiscal year. The department would be in charge of using the fund to make the planned four annual installment payments compensating fire victims.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Akamai Arrival' takes off: Ag declaration form goes digital
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Traveling to Hawaiʻi is about to get a high-tech upgrade. A new pilot program aims to ditch the pen and paper currently used to declare plants and years, travelers to Hawaiʻi have been required to fill out a paper declaration form, listing any live plants or animals they're bringing to the state, with the goal of protecting the islands' delicate ecosystem. 'Safety is nonpartisan': Despite aircraft incidents, experts say flying is still safe 'These creatures, which are very scary, especially this one, should not be coming into Hawaiʻi,' said Gov. Josh Green while pointing to a tarantula in a tank next to him. Now the paper ag declaration form is getting an overhaul, making fumbling for a pen at 35,000 feet no more. 'We all know the best time to let a passenger know what not to bring into the state is before they get on the plane. Not when they're scurrying through their baggage to look for a pencil and then, oops, I got a ferret. Oops, I brought in live plants,' said Sen. Glenn Wakai, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs. Beginning March 1, select flights on most domestic airlines that fly to Hawaiʻi will participate in the three month long pilot program. 'Akamai Arrival' has the same questions as the paper form and will be accessible on both laptops and smartphones. Travelers will fill out the form electronically before landing. State Department of Agriculture inspectors will review the manifest compared to the number of completed declaration forms and similar to the paper form, the data will be deleted. 'It's going to be helpful for our state, but most importantly, it's our biosecurity weapon,' Green said. Some passengers, like Cheryl Engle from Michigan, welcome the change. 'It was a little bit of a pain, we didn't have a pen on us. We didn't have anything to write on,' Engle said. The state says it's hoping the digital form will also help increase compliance, which currently is around a 60% completion rate. As for the effectiveness of the declaration form in stopping invasive species, the Department of Agriculture says about 75% of all flights coming in have something to declare, but it's not easy to catch everything sneaking into the islands. 'We're getting those types of animals maybe one or two a year. I would say regulated goods, things that require permits or treatments beforehand, you're probably getting one per day,' said Jonathan Ho, HDOA Branch Manager. Wakai says he hopes to use the approximately $800,000 saved from going paperless to buy ag sniffing dogs to do more to keep invasive species out of the islands. 'Zero. Not one person in 79 years has ever been prosecuted. What does that tell you? It tells you that the ag form is really not keeping bad things out of our community,' Wakai said. For now, the state says they eventually plan to add more languages to the form and the valuable tourism survey will be included. For more information, visit the Akamai Arrival website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New bill seeks to build casinos and legalize gambling
KHON2 (HONOLULU) — Hawaii is one of two states in the country where gambling is illegal. A new bill aims to bring in casinos and legalize gambling.'Considering that we kind of all joke in this community about how Las Vegas is the Ninth Island, this approach is to bring that Ninth Island back home, to bring the revenues back up, to bring the excitement of casino gaming to Hawaii,' stated Senator Glenn Wakai. Super Bowl LIX could break sports betting records A new bill would grant 20-year licenses for casinos in the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District and Hawaii Convention Center. It would also establish the Hawaii Gaming Control Commission, impose a 15% tax on gross receipts and create a state gaming fund and compulsive gambler program. 'Today is the biggest gambling day of the entire year. People are doing parlay sheets. They're betting galore today. Why can't we as a state legalize that and take a tax off of all of that action taking place?' said Wakai. Lawmakers who voted against the bill said it could be harmful to communities. 'All of the people who are going to spend their paycheck every couple of weeks with that hope of trying to win— it's known that when you have access easily to lose your money, you're probably gonna lose your money if you're not disciplined,' said Senator Brenton Awa. Those in favor of bringing casinos to Hawaii said it could lead to fewer illegal game rooms across the state. 'Gambling is happening in our community, kind of in the dark alleys and in some closed quarters. By having it out in the open in a casino, all of those poker parlors that are the scourge of many areas… those will have just no reason to exist,' Wakai said. Wakai said most of the revenue would go to the Department of Education among other programs. 'For those who might fall into addictive behavior, we have to make sure that we have programs for them. So a small portion will go to that, but a bulk of it will go to education,' Wakai said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
