Governor Linda Lingle’s official State portrait was unveiled this evening at a ceremony held at Washington Place. The portrait of Governor Lingle standing

The Governor’s Council of Neighbor Island Advisors for Maui will meet on Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 5 p.m., at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center in Pukalani, Maui. Warren Shibuya, a retired program manager at the Space and Missile Systems Center in El Segundo, Calif., will discuss photovoltaic systems, including how they operate, benefits of... Read more »

Hawaii is among an elite list of 10 states and the District of Columbia that will receive Race to the Top school funding.  The U.S. Department of Education made the announcement this morning as part of a second round of picks in the school reform grant competition.  The winners will share in the $3.4 billion... Read more »

Longtime Protect Kahoolawe Ohana organizer and spokesperson, Davianna Pomaikai McGregor was appointed to serve on the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission. Governor Linda Lingle made the appointment, which is still subject to state Senate confirmation.  McGregor, who is a professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, has participated as a consultant in numerous studies and... Read more »

Governor Linda Lingle today nominated Associate Justice Mark E. Recktenwald to serve as Chief Justice of the Hawai‘i State Supreme Court.  If confirmed, Recktenwald, 54, would succeed Chief Justice Ronald Moon to become Hawai‘i’s fifth Chief Justice; serving an initial 10-year term as the head of the State’s highest court, while overseeing the Hawai‘i Judiciary. “I... Read more »

Governor Linda Lingle released $65.5 million to the Department of Education (DOE) for repair and maintenance projects at public school campuses and DOE facilities statewide. The funds will be used as part of an effort to implement an estimated $140.5 million worth of repairs and improvements at close to 250 public schools across the state, including O‘ahu ($46... Read more »

Hawaii’s Transportation Director Brennon Morioka was honored today with the Civil Government Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers.  The prestigious national award recognizes members of the engineering profession for their government service. “I am surprised and deeply humbled by this honor,” Morioka said.  “This award is really a validation of the hard work... Read more »

Maui resident and developer Charles Jencks was appointed today to serve as an interim commission member for the state Land Use Commission (LUC). Jenks replaces Ransom “Randy” Piltz, who resigned earlier this month to run for Maui County Mayor. The appointment was announced today by Governor Linda Lingle. Jencks will complete the remainder of Piltz’s... Read more »

A site inspection will be conducted today on the Uluniu/Halama Beach Reserve area of South Maui.  The reserve, located 1,000 feet south of Lipoa Street in Kihei, is the focus of today’s meeting of the Governor’s Council of Neighbor Island Advisors for Maui.  Bryce Buchanan and Vernon Altman of the Uluniu Beach Reserve Association will... Read more »

An agreement has been reached on the Akaka Bill, also known as the Native Hawaiian government Reorganization Act (NHGRA).  Today U.S. Senators Daniel K. Akaka and Daniel K. Inouye announced that they have reached an agreement with Governor Linda Lingle that will secure the Governor’s full support for the Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act.  Senator... Read more »

Governor Linda Lingle vetoed 32 bills, signed one bill into law, and allowed another six to pass without her signature. The bills were among a list of 39 Governor Linda Lingle had submitted to the Legislature as she considered possible vetoes of the items. The most controversial of the items was the veto today of... Read more »

Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai`i (ACLU) today expressed disappointment in Governor Linda Lingle’s decision today to veto House Bill 444 that would have given same sex couples similar legal responsibilities as legally married heterosexual couples.  The two groups readied a lawsuit after the House tabled the Civil Unions bill in... Read more »

By Wendy Osher Governor Linda Lingle today vetoed the controversial Civil Unions bill saying the decision, “should be made by all of the people of Hawaii behind the curtain of the voting booth.” “After months of listening to Hawaii’s citizens express to me in writing and in person, their deeply held beliefs, and heartfelt reasons... Read more »

Governor Linda Lingle is expected to announce her decision today on the controversial civil unions bill.  The item was among 39 the Governor is considering for potential veto.  If passed, the measure would give same sex couples, the same rights, responsibilities and benefits of legally married couples.  Any bill on the potential veto list can... Read more »

By Wendy Osher The Maui Chamber of Commerce hosts the 10th Annual 4th of July Fireworks Celebration in Lahaina on Sunday. The event includes food, shopping entertainment, and the only public fireworks display on Maui beginning at 8 p.m. Front Street will be closed from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday to accommodate the celebration.... Read more »