Senate panels OK ceded lands proposal
Two Senate committees advanced on Monday the Abercrombie administration’s proposed ceded lands settlement with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs without changes.
Members of the Hawaiian Affairs and the Water, Land and Housing committees voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 2783. The measure was heard last week, but a vote was put off after concerns were raised over the issue of entitlements, or development rights to the properties, and whether they should be included with the settlement.
Lawmakers studied the issue but ultimately decided to advance the bill unamended and write up the concerns in the committee report. The proposal now goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Under the proposed settlement, the state would give OHA parcels near Kakaako Waterfront Park, for a total of about 25 acres valued at just under $200 million.
$250M in federal funds requested for rail
President Barack Obama has requested $250 million for the Honolulu rail transit project in the coming fiscal year.
U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said Monday that’s the largest amount for any rail project in the country.
Inouye says the Federal Transit Administration funds will help complete a project that’s needed for job creation, decreasing dependence on imported oil and offering West Oahu residents an alternative to driving into Honolulu.
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Driver killed, passenger hurt in 1-car accident
A woman suffered fatal injuries and a man was seriously injured Sunday when a vehicle they were in hit a utility pole in South Kona.
Police said driver Dana M. Leoneza, 36, of Kealakekua died Sunday evening at Kona Community Hospital. Her passenger, a 25-year-old Kailua-Kona man, was listed in serious condition in the hospital.
Police said speeding and alcohol appear to be factors in the one-vehicle crash.
Kona patrol officers said Leoneza was driving a 1998 Subaru multipurpose vehicle south on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11) when the vehicle went off a curve in the road and hit a utility pole at 2:26 a.m. at the intersection of Hawaii Belt Road and Route 180 in Honalo.
Police arrested Leoneza at the hospital on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, negligent injury and promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree.
Leoneza remained in the hospital and was pronounced dead at 8:19 p.m.
It was the second traffic fatality on Hawaii island this year, compared with five at this time last year.
Kauai County deputy clerk, assistant named
Kauai County Clerk Ricky Watanabe has appointed Jade Fountain-Tanigawa to serve as deputy clerk.
Fountain-Tanigawa has worked in the Council Services Division for more than 20 years. She began as a legislative assistant and most recently served as council services administrator, where she was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Council Services Division.
Watanabe also appointed Eddie Topenio Jr. as administrative assistant to the county clerk.
