A Maui woman at the center of an alleged mortgage scam targeting Hawaiian homeowners is now demanding over $50 million in damages from the federal government. Mahealani Ventura-Oliver, whose home was one of several raided on April 7, 2009 by the FBI as part of its investigation of a mortgage fraud scheme, has filed documents [...]
Entries from July 31st, 2009
Friday (3)…Update on the Maui investigation of alleged mortgage fraud
July 31st, 2009 · No Comments · Crime
Tags: Hawaiiloa Foundation
Friday (2)…Cat ladders, Catcerto, cat ladies, and Friday’s Felines
July 31st, 2009 · 4 Comments · Cats, Photographs
The main course–today’s Feline Friday foto gallery–is coming soon. But first a few items I’ve been setting aside all week. A web site devoted to cat ladders? Sounds like a stretch, doesn’t it? But here’s a site that has collected some 700 photos of cat ladders of all types and styles designed to get favored [...]
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Friday…Media tidbits–Family conflict, finding real news, more on Black, and a great series of surrealistic commercials
July 31st, 2009 · 1 Comment · Media
Several media items to start the day. A reader called my attention to this first case. According to a “reader submitted” item in the Honolulu Advertiser last month from Su Shin, Sandwich Isles Communications held a “virtual field trip” to showcase its newly completed fiber optic cable linking five islands. The Advertiser item doesn’t tell [...]
Thursday…Vintage photos prove popular, BBB alarmed by door-to-door sales, UH budget perspectives
July 30th, 2009 · 3 Comments · Media, Politics
I’ve had several people send me a collection of vintage Hawaii photos in the last few days, saying that they didn’t know the source. A quick search found that the collection comes from the Honolulu Advertiser. Some great shots of landmarks past, like the old Civic Auditorium, mentioned here the other day in the context [...]
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Wednesday…First contribution reports give a quick inside the city council campaigns
July 29th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Campaigns, Politics
The first campaign spending reports in the special City Council election were filed yesterday and the lesson was clear. To rise to the status of a leading candidate, you had better have money, be related to folks with some money, or be able to call on friends with access to disposable income. The top candidates–Ann [...]
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Tuesday (3)…Hiroshima remembered
July 28th, 2009 · 2 Comments · General
I recently found a set of photos from a Hiroshima memorial held in front of Honolulu Hale (city hall), probably back in about 1972 or 1973. They’re timely, with another anniversary of the atomic bombing just a week away. This first photo is your’s truly with my mother, Helen Lind. I had a bit more [...]
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Tuesday (2)…Wet newspaper
July 28th, 2009 · No Comments · General
This was the scene in our driveway when we got back from a rain-shortened walk earlier this morning. The Advertiser and Star-Bulletin were both in our driveway, within several feet of each other. Given past experience, I started a little video as Meda picked the two papers up. Click on the photo to watch. By [...]
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Tuesday…Council job ends, updated list of fired bloggers, photos make Bishop Museum exhibit, sunshine in Hilo
July 28th, 2009 · 3 Comments · General, Media, Sunshine
My strange odyssey at the city council comes to an end today. Seven weeks ago, I started a short-term staff assignment for Honolulu City Councilmember Duke Bainum, at his request. That night, he died. In the confusion and chaos that followed, I stayed on to help hold things together and continue to serve the district [...]
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