Charter School Review Panel Takes Unlawful Actions Against Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Damon

On December 8, 2011, the Hawaii Charter School Review Panel (CSRP) tripped over itself, again, in unlawfully taking action against the charter of the Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School (LCPCS).

Without hearing from LCPCS Interim Local School Board members who were present at the Panel’s meeting, acting contrary to agenda information previously provided to the charter school, and following an illegal “executive session”, the Panel violated multiple State laws and greatly exceeded its own authority by trying to delay the opening of the charter school.

The charter school will seek immediate relief from the State Board of Education and expects that the school will open July 1, 2012 as lawfully scheduled.

LCPCS is now accepting letters of interest and resumes from qualified teachers. Inquiries regarding student registration or employment should be directed to info@laupahoehoecharterschool.com. Go to www.laupahoehoecharterschool.org for more information on LCPCS.

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Filed under: Big Island, Education, Hawaii, Kids, Legal, State Affairs | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Mokulele Flight Services Temporarily Suspends Operations – Go! Airlines Providing Temporary Transportation

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Damon

go!, Hawaii’s low-cost inter-island airline, has been advised by its code share partner Mokulele Flight Service, Inc. that Mokulele voluntarily suspended operations temporarily to permit the completion of an internal audit. Mokulele flights are expected to resume shortly and in the interim, go! is providing transportation assistance to affected passengers.

The entire go! fleet is unaffected by these cancelations and jet service is continuing as scheduled to all destinations. Once Mokulele’s audit is completed and any identified corrective actions have been implemented, Mokulele will resume its full schedule, which should be Sunday.

“We have worked closely with Mokulele during this service disruption and remain committed to providing assistance to affected passengers,” said Jonathan Ornstein, Chairman and Chief Executive of Mesa Air Group, Inc.

In order to assist Mokulele with the quick resolution of these inspections, go! has assigned teams of employees that include aviation maintenance technicians and quality assurance inspectors to provide support and additional expertise to Mokulele.

Mesa currently operates 77 aircraft with approximately 419 daily system departures to 93 cities, 35 states, Canada and Mexico. Mesa operates as US Airways Express and United Express under contractual agreements with US Airways and United Airlines, respectively, and independently as Mesa Airlines and go!. The Company, founded by Larry and Janie Risley in New Mexico in 1982, has approximately 2,700 employees and was awarded Regional Airline of the Year by Air Transport World magazine in 1992 and 2005.

Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Hawaii, Transportation | Tagged: , , | Leave a Comment »

Big Island Police Launch New Kuleana Tip Hotline

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Damon

The Hawaiʻi Police Department has launched a new tool the community can use to help keep our island safe. It’s called the “Kuleana Hotline.”

The Kuleana Hotline is not a substitute for 9-1-1 calls. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1.

The Kuleana Hotline is designed to prevent tragic events in public places, including schools, restaurants and other locations where members of our community gather.

Unlike Crime Stoppers, to which citizens may report information about a specific crime, the Kuleana Hotline is an avenue for reporting something that may not be criminal yet but has the potential to turn disastrous if not prevented.

Many tragedies committed by individuals or organized groups have been preceded by warning signs. We as a community are responsible for notifying the police if we see or hear anything that has the potential to turn into a malicious act.

For example:

  • If you read a post on a social networking site about a person interested in purchasing a firearm and the person signals intent to cause harm with that weapon, call the Kuleana Hotline.
  • If you witness suspicious activity around public buildings, utility companies or bridges, call the Kuleana Hotline.
  • If you see something or someone’s behavior that may seem innocuous but gives you a “funny feeling” in your stomach that something is “just not right,” call the Kuleana Hotline.

Your tip could help authorities intervene before those warning signs develop into a crime or tragedy.

“Kuleana” is the Hawaiian word for “responsibility.” The significance of the hotline’s name is that we are all neighbors living on this island together, and we are all responsible for preventing acts of terror or mass injury.

The number for the Kuleana Hotline is 961-2219. It is not manned around the clock but it allows for callers to provide information by leaving voice mail messages.

Together, we can protect our community from destructive acts.

Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Big Island, Community, Hawaii, Legal, Something New? | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Pet Adoption and Collection Drive to Benefit Hawaii Island Humane Society

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Damon

WHAT:  Subaru Hawaii invites the public to a pet adoption and collection drive on behalf of Hawaii Island Humane Society on Saturday, December 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hilo Subaru.

Hawaii Island Humane Society will have dogs cats, and kittens looking for loving homes. The public is encouraged to stop by and donate pet care supplies such as food, leashes, collars or puppy pads.

WHEN: Saturday, December 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Hilo Subaru, 1 Keaa St., Hilo

PHOTO/INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Cute dogs and kittens looking for loving homes
  • Public donating pet care supplies and checking out dogs and kittens for adoption
  • Bebe Ackerman, Humane Educator & Volunteer Coordinator, Hawaii Island Humane Society
  • Chuck Furtado, General Manager, Hilo-Kona Mazda/Subaru/Hyundai

DETAILS: As part of Subaru Hawaii ’s “Share the Love” event, Subaru Hawaii will host a pet adoption and collection drive to benefit Hawaii Island Humane Society on Saturday, December 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hilo Subaru. Hawaii Island Humane Society will be on-site with cute dogs, cats, and kittens that are in need of loving homes. The public is encouraged to stop by and donate pet care supplies such as food, leashes, collars or puppy pads.

In celebration of the holidays, Subaru Hawaii announced that it will donate $250 for every new vehicle sold by Subaru Hawaii dealers from November 1 to December 31, 2011, up to $20,000 to a group of great causes – Oahu SPCA, Hawaii Literacy, SPCA Maui, Hawaii Wildlife Fund and Hawaii Island Humane Society.

The public also has an opportunity to vote for their favorite participating non-profit organization through Subaru Hawaii ’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/SubaruHI. At the end of the sales event period on December 31, Subaru Hawaii will award the organization with the most votes an additional $5,000.

Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Big Island | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

ProElite MMA Returns to the Blaisdell Center

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Damon

ProElite makes its return to the MMA-centric islands of Hawaii, featuring a fight card loaded with world class talent on January 21, 2012 at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. The main event matches Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove against Ikuhisa “The PUNK” Minowa, and includes the semifinals of the ProElite Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Kendall Grover (Courtesy of ProElite)

Tickets for “ProElite: Da Spyder vs The PUNK” will be on sale soon to the general public at the Blaisdell Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations (800)745-3000, Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com) and http://www.ProElite.com . The ProElite event, a wholly-owned property of Stratus Media Group (www.stratusmediagroup.com), will be televised live on HDNet at 10 P.M. EST

Hawaii native Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (13-9) returns to the ProElite cage to take on international fan favorite Ikuhisa “The PUNK” Minowa (51-32-8) of Nagoya, Japan. The 6-foot-6 Grove had an impressive showing on ProElite’s last card in Hawaii (August 27, 2011) where he choked out tough MMA veteran Joe “Diesel” Riggs with a guillotine choke at just :59 seconds of the first round.

With 35 of his 51 wins coming by way of submission, Japanese fight icon Minowa is one of the most well known and recognizable fighters on the international circuit today. He has competed in PrideFC and Dream, where he defeated three MMA giants including Bob Sapp (Achilles Lock), Hong Man Choi (Heel Hook), and Sokoudjou (TKO) to capture the Dream Super Hulk (Openweight) Grand Prix title. The January 21 fight will mark Minowa’s ProElite and North American debut.

The Honolulu Card also features the first semifinal match of the Heavyweight Grand Prix, and showcases the very tough Ryan Martinez (6-1) taking on headhunter Cody Griffin (5-2).

In his ProElite debut, Martinez handed 2009 NCAA Heavyweight wrestling champion Mark Ellis his first MMA defeat by unanimous decision in the first stage of the Grand Prix on November 5, 2011. Known for his go for broke fighting style, the 5-foot-11 Martinez hails from Greenley, Colorado where he trains out of Infinite MMA. Griffin, a true comeback kid, brings an explosive style to the match. Between the two fighters only 3 out of their 14 total fights have gone to decision.

The opposite bracket features the heavy hitting Jake “The Honey Bear” Heun (2-1) against the biggest physical competitor in the tournament at 6-foot-5, Richard “The Black Eagle” Odoms (6-0).

Heun looks to continue his rise to prominence after training with Chris “The Crippler” Leben during his time as a Linebacker at the University of Hawaii and is now refining his technique in Utah under the guidance of MMA pioneer Jeremy “Gumby” Horn. Heun has become a dangerous opponent for any fighter entering the cage with him.

Richard Odoms, an imposing 6-foot-5 and weighing in at the heavyweight limit of 265 pounds, is truly a giant in the cage. The San Antonio, Texas police officer dominated his November 5 fight against Rod Housley and won a clear cut unanimous decision to advance into the Honolulu semifinals.

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Filed under: Hawaii, KO's, MMA, Oahu, Sports | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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