Another ‘Akaka Bill’ with a slim chance

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka is trying — again — to get the feds to own up to its responsibility for Micronesian migrants, living here and elsewhere, and their medical care. This week he introduced the Medicaid Restoration for Citizens of Freely Associated States Act, a long title for a bill that basically means the migrants would be covered by Medicaid, which dropped them in 1996.

It makes sense because of the federal Compact of Free Association with the Micronesian states, an accord that stems from the bellief that the U.S. owes these Pacific peoples free passage to U.S. shores because the government used their islands for nuclear testing a half-century ago. Uncle Sam, not the states and territories, should be picking up the medical bills, too.

Of course, Medicaid will be ripe for cuts in the next round of deficit-reduction talks, so good luck with that.

Hawaiian Air lands at Aloha Stadium

Hawaiian Airlines scored big this week by coming to terms with the Aloha Stadium Authority’s advertising representative to have the stadium’s playing surface named after it: Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium.

The deal involves the airline paying $2.5 million to the authority over five years, plus as much as $250,000 to the University of Hawaii, whose Warriors football team is the marquee tenant of the 50,000-seat facility.

Perhaps next up, the L&L Drive-Inn Parking Lot at Aloha Stadium? Or maybe the Zippy’s Goal Posts at Aloha Stadium? The possibilities are endless.