Hawaii

November 17, 2009 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has released $1 million that will enable the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to implement energy and water efficiency and conservation improvements at state parks.

As part of DLNR’s ongoing efforts to upgrade and modernize state parks and other outdoor recreational facilities statewide, the department will use the funds to design renewable energy sources to power park facilities such as water system pumps, sewer system pumps, booster pumps, trail lighting and rental cabins and kitchens.    » read more »

November 14, 2009 -- Honolulu, Hawaii -- Rep. Neil Abercrombie today issued the following statement on the selection of Honolulu, Hawaii as the site of the 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial and Leaders Meeting—the first APEC summit in the United States since 1993. (President Obama announced the selection at the 2009 APEC meeting in Singapore.)

“Hawaii’s selection as the site for the 2011 APEC summit will underscore the unique perspective of our President and state in relation to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). President Obama views APEC as an essential forum that will play a major role in nurturing economic and governmental relationships between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.    » read more »

November 6, 2009 -- HONOLULU – To honor the brave men and women who lost their lives in Fort Hood, Texas, acting Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr., on behalf of Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle, has ordered the Hawai‘i state flag at all state and county buildings throughout Hawai‘i to be flown at half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, November 10, 2009.

“We must always honor our service men and women, who risk their lives every day to protect the liberty and freedom we have as American citizens,” said Lt. Governor Aiona. “This senseless act of violence saddens us all, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victims.”    » read more »

November 4, 2009 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has released $75,000,000 to the Department of Education for capital improvements at public schools statewide. The funds were appropriated by the Legislature this past legislative session for building and campus facility improvements, repairs and maintenance at Hawai‘i public schools.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. House of Representatives today voted 403-12 to extend unemployment benefits for 14 weeks to 1.3 million jobless Americans who will exhaust all their unemployment benefits by the end of the year, including an estimated 46,900 in Hawaii. The extended unemployment benefits were part of the Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009, which also extends the homebuyers’ tax credit and tax relief for military families and businesses.    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye announced today that the full Senate has approved $74,753,000 for Hawaii commerce, justice and science initiatives including protection for marine wildlife, climate change research, and programs for at-risk, rural youth.

The federal funds for Hawaii-related projects were approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill.

The bill passed by a vote of 71 to 28, with Chairman Inouye and Senator Daniel K. Akaka supporting the bill. The bill must now face a joint House-Senate Conference and final approval by the Senate and House, before it is transmitted to the White House.    » read more »

Clean Energy Partnership, Export Opportunities

November 3, 2009 -- HONOLULU – Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle has concluded a successful round of meetings in Beijing as part of the Administration’s ongoing strategic effort to strengthen the state’s long-term economy by promoting Hawaii as a visitor destination to China’s growing outbound tourism market, developing export opportunities for Hawaii products and services and forming partnerships in clean energy.

Beijing was the first stop on the Governor’s six-city tour to promote economic development opportunities for Hawaii with one of the world’s most important emerging economies. Pictures are available at www.hawaii.gov/gov or by request.

Encouraging Chinese Tourism    » read more »

Mortgagee Review Board proposes to permanently withdraw FHA approval from Financial Mortgage USA

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that its Mortgagee Review Board (MRB) is proposing to permanently withdraw the HUD/FHA approval of Financial Mortgage USA, Inc., a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM or reverse mortgage) lender based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

HUD's MRB alleges the Company failed to implement an FHA-required quality control plan; separate its lending operations from those of its affiliated insurance company; conform to prudent lending practices; and properly provide borrowers with housing counseling services.    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- U. S. Representative Neil Abercrombie today announced that the City and County of Honolulu is receiving $3,863,700 for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The block grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to help communities improve their energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create green jobs locally.

“Ultimately, this helps families save money on utility bills,” said Rep. Abercrombie, “because the more energy efficient Hawaii’s communities are, the smaller our overall energy demand and the less fuel we’ll need to generate electricity.”    » read more »

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- Honolulu will receive $3,863,700 to fund energy efficient initiatives including the reduction of fossil fuel emissions, the creation of green jobs, and the implementation of practices that lessen overall energy use, Senators Daniel K. Inouye and Daniel K. Akaka announced today.

The federal funds are made available to Honolulu through the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) award.

The grant is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.    » read more »

Senator Akaka impressed with Silo House entry in "Solar Decathlon"

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Three Hawaii high school graduates were part of a Cornell University team which designed, built, and operated a unique environmentally friendly home entered in the 2009 Solar Decathlon, a competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy that brings 20 college and university teams to the nation's capitol for a competition to create the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka visited the students and toured the home, which was transported from Ithaca, New York and placed on the National Mall for the duration of the contest.    » read more »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye announced today that Hawaii will receive $17,410,000 for interior and environment projects including wildlife refuges, tropical landscape management and the preservation of endangered Native Hawaiian birds.

The federal funds for Hawaii-related projects were approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

The conference report was passed by a vote of 72 to 28, with Chairman Inouye and Senator Daniel K. Akaka supporting the bill, and the measure now goes to President Barack Obama for his expected signature.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, President Barack Obama signed into law the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference agreement, which included Senator Daniel K. Akaka's Non-Foreign Area Retirement Equity Assurance (AREA) Act to replace COLA with locality pay for Federal workers in Hawaii, Alaska, and the Territories.

COLA rates will be frozen as of today's date, and the transition to locality pay will start in January 2010. Senator Akaka plans to set up information sessions on implementation for federal employees in Hawaii.    » read more »

Testimony of Governor Linda Lingle - Commission on Water Resource Management Public Meeting on East Maui In-Stream Flow Standards

October 15, 2009 -- Members of the Commission Staff and Members of the Community:

I am here tonight to discuss an issue of far-ranging importance to the people of Maui and the people of the State of Hawaii.

It is the fundamental issue of whether we will enable agriculture to survive in our state by ensuring that farmers have access to adequate water to grow their crops.

I am not here tonight to talk about the technical and scientific aspects of in-stream flow levels. There are many able people in this audience who can provide that information.    » read more »

Additional $12 million will help reduce energy use and carbon pollution, improve energy efficiency, and create green jobs

October 13, 2009 -- (The Following Was Released By The Department Of Energy):

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced that Hawaii has received all of the State Energy Program funding allocated to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Department of Energy delivered an additional $12 million to the state, which has now received a total of $25 million through the State Energy Program to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the state, while creating jobs and reducing carbon pollution.    » read more »