i L i n d . n e t

I didn’t see the news item last week reporting that the Campaign Spending Commission was investigating the Senate campaign of Big Island Rep Dwight Takamine for accepting contributions from a union that exceeded the legal limit. A Google search turned up this story with the headline, “Takamine accused of campaign finance violation.”

Unfortunately for the candidate, the reporting was incorrect. According to a release by Takamine’s campaign dated last week but only received yesterday, the campaign discovered and properly returned the excess amount to the Iron Workers Stabilization Fund within the 30 days allowed by law. The commission did not take any action against Takamine’s campaign.

“It’s unfortunate that the newspaper stories that were printed and the headlines that were used were not accurate. While we cannot undo all the harm that was done, we remain committed to running a fair and positive campaign, putting the interests of the people first,” said Dwight Takamine.

The Advertiser today reprints a Maui News story by Harry Eagar regarding the federal indictment of a former airport security supervisor for witness tampering in an incident dating back to 2005, as mentioned here earlier in the week.

The defendant, Robert Tam Ho, is a former Maui assistant police chief who has been sued by Pacific Wings boss, Greg Kahlstorf. Click here for a copy of Kahlstorf’s lawsuit.

Attorney Ben Lowenthal, whose office represents Kahlstorf, commented in an email:

“We have given up a lot of liberty at the airport in the name of better security in recent years. This does not, however, mean security can take advantage of us. We have to be vigilant to prevent abuses.”

While in a legal mode, the Sierra Club and other plaintiffs have appealed the court decision that lifted the injunction and allowed the Superferry to restart its interisland service. The case is going to the Hawaii Supreme Intermediate Court of Appeals. Here are the opening briefs filed by the Sierra Club, one regarding its own appeal and the other a “cross appeal”, both copies courtesy of Dick Mayer on Maui. Related documents but worth checking both.

And, in much the same mode, the Legislative Reference Bureau has posted pdf files containing its background reports prepared for the 1978 Constitutional Convention, which make for some interesting reading and make clear the range of issues that could be up for grabs if voters approve a con-con this year. [Apologies to early risers, as my initial post earlier this a.m. failed to include the link.]

That’s a hefty amount of reading that should last through the weekend.

Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice, so this Friday’s batch of fine felines appears under the “Solstice Cats” banner. [Oops. NPR says the solstice is actually today, and will be on the 20th every leap year through this century! I stand corrected. And this means the Solstice Cats appear on the appropriate day after all.]

This is Mr. Duke in a fine photo.

There’s another picture of him with his face in a food dish.

Sometimes well intentioned diets don’t totally work.

Anyway, click on Duke’s photo for more Friday Felines from Kaaawa.