On December 9, 2011, Mayor Peter Carlisle signed into law Bill 54, which prohibits keeping personal items in public areas such as sidewalks and parks. The mayor's office stated that the bill was not intended to specifically target homeless camps, but rather is designed to help increase the enjoyment of public spaces for all residents. However, this past week written notices were given to homeless people camped near Moiliili Field, Old Stadium Park and Pawaa In-Ha Park. The homeless were told that they had 24 hours to remove their personal items, which included tents, furniture and clothing, or the city would have a right to impound them. The city also stated that items could not be moved to another public property. Per the new law, impounded property would be stored for 30 days. If items were not claimed during that time, they would be sold, donated or discarded.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Bill 54 Goes Into Effect and City Clears Out Three Homeless Camps
Monday, January 9, 2012
More Health Care Workers Need In Next Decade
According to a report from the Hawaii Workforce Development Council, Hawaii will need approximately 20 percent more health care workers in the next decade to help with Hawaii's aging population. The report note that the state is in short supply of physicians, specialty nurses, physical therapists, health information technologists and other primary care occupations. Taken directly from the report, "Currently, the state of Hawaii suffers significant, widening health disparities, many of which could be solved by expanding the primary care and support work force. The indigenous population, rural residents, homeless families and recent immigrants are the most likely to have unmet health care needs."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-9-2012, www.staradvertiser.com Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor Global Executive Realty, LLC www.myhawaiihomesearch.com www.myhawaiicondo.com www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
$500 Million Worth of State Construction Projects Suggested
In an effort to add jobs and help the struggling construction industry, the state of Hawaii's senate leaders are suggesting spending as much as $500 million of bond-financed construction project around the islands. According to the plan, no major new construction will be done, but rather smaller repair and maintenance projects on public schools, hospitals and state buildings would be accomplished. Increasing the energy efficiency of state buildings would also be a priority under the proposal.
According to Ron Taketa, the executive secretary and treasurer of the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, almost half of the unions 6,500 workers are currently unemployed. Taketa stated, "I think that's an important part of trying to kick-start the economy again. When you have a slowdown like now and private investments are down, we really count on government to try and pick up some of the slack, to try and keep people working."
Executive director of the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO) Carl Bonham agrees that public construction can help stabilize the construction industry. Bonham stated, "We have under-spent on infrastructure, just like the rest of the country, for decades and decades. And so there's things that need to be done. You need your roads fixed. You need your schools not to be falling apart. So it's not a real tough decision, and at the moment we still have very aggressively low interest rates."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-9-2012, www.staradvertiser.com Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor Global Executive Realty, LLC www.myhawaiihomesearch.com www.myhawaiicondo.com www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Hawaii Congresswoman Recommends Bill to Ease Visa Procedures for China and Canada
United States Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, Hawaii, has introduced a new bill to Congress with David Dreier, California, to help ease visa procedures for Canadian and Chinese visitors. The bill, known as the Visa Improvements to Stimulate International Tourism to the United States of America Act, or VISIT USA Act, would allow Chinese tourist to apply for a five-year multiple entry visitor visa instead of the current one-year multiple entry visitor visa. Other changes would include lowering fees during off peak seasons and offering the option to speed up the application process for an additional processing fee. Congresswoman Hirono stated, "Our economy is still weak, and too many people are still looking for work. Travel and tourism is one area where I think we can bridge this divide."
The Hawaii Tourism Authority would really like to see such a bill passing at the federal level. In 2010, approximately 62,000 Chinese visitors visited the islands and spent an average of $350 per day on their six day average trip. That totaled approximately $573 million for Hawaii's economy. The Hawaii Tourism Authority feels that if the visa application process became easier, even more Chinese visitors would visit the Hawaiian islands.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Hawaii Gaining as Cruise Destination
According to a survey released by Cruise Holidays, Hawaii now ranks 5th in the world as the most popular cruise destinations for 2012. This is an increase from its 7th place ranking in 2011 and 8th place ranking in 2010. The most popular cruise destination in the world is the Caribbean, followed by Europe, Alaska, and Bermuda.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) and State Reach Tentative Agreement
The Hawaii State Teachers Association and the State of Hawaii government have reached a tentative agreement yesterday that will provide teachers a new six year contract. Within the contract, teachers will still experience furlough days and pay cuts which will be equivalent to an approximate 5 percent reduction of wages and teachers will be required to pay 50 percent of their health insurance premiums. However, the new contract will also offer a new salary schedule with slight pay increases in the last few years of the contract. HSTA President Wil Okabe stated, "This particular contract opens the door by guaranteeing that teachers will do better as Hawaii's economy gets better. The contract definitely shows that the state puts children first." The contract will still have to be ratified by the teachers themselves.
Governor Neil Abercrombie, schools Superintendent Kathyrn Matayoshi and Board of Education Chairman Don Horner released a joint statement which said, "Our focus remains on working together to ensure Hawaii will secure its Race to the Top grant, which lays the foundation for transforming student learning." Spokeswoman for Governor Abercrombie, Donalyn Dela Cruz, added, "Everyone sees the need to move this forward, and people are in agreement that the obligation is to the children. We've reached an agreement in principle. We're looking forward to ratification."
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 1-7-2012, www.staradvertiser.com Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor Global Executive Realty, LLC www.myhawaiihomesearch.com www.myhawaiicondo.com www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Friday, January 6, 2012
Gas Prices on the Rise Again
According to a report by AAA Hawaii, gas prices are on the rise once again, after a total of 11 consecutive weeks of declines. The report stated that the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas for the state is $4.03. This means that Hawaii continues to have the most expensive gas in the nation, followed by Alaska with an average price of $3.86 per gallon. The national average for a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline is $3.31. Regional manage for AAA Hawaii, Diane Peterson, stated, "On an annual average basis, U.S. motorists paid the all-time highest price for gasoline in 2011, surpassing the former all-time record set in 2008. We'll have to see what 2012 brings."
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