Ceded lands agreement OK’d HONOLULU (AP) — Two Senate committees gave preliminary approval to a $200 million real estate deal that would resolve decades of back payments owed to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. ADVERTISING The deal would give the
Ceded lands agreement OK’d
HONOLULU (AP) — Two Senate committees gave preliminary approval to a $200 million real estate deal that would resolve decades of back payments owed to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
The deal would give the state agency 30 acres of prime Kakaako Makai land worth almost $200 million as is, with the option to lease or develop the land for additional revenue.
In return, OHA would drop all ceded land claims from 1978 through the end of June. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and OHA have reached tentative agreement on the settlement, which also needs legislative approval.
Teachers union works on deal
HONOLULU (AP) — The union representing Hawaii’s public school teachers says it is working on a new proposed contract while moving forward with a labor dispute against the state.
Last month, Hawaii State Teachers Association members rejected a six-year contract proposal that would have tied pay raises to student performance.
Union President Wil Okabe said he continues to get teacher comments on the contract that was voted down.
Approving the proposed contract would have also meant an end to the prohibited practice complaint the union lodged against the state after a contract offer was imposed on teachers in July.
Suit: Pet store cut dog ear, tail
HONOLULU (AP) — Two dog owners claim in a lawsuit that an Oahu pet store mutilated their pets during grooming.
The lawsuit filed in state court Monday claims the Petco in Kaneohe cut off a portion of a dog’s ear and cut off the tip of another dog’s tail. According to the lawsuit, workers tried to glue or sew the ear back on. The second dog owner also claims the animal’s toes were bleeding from being cut too short, its eyelashes and whiskers were cut and that the dog was filthy.
Attorney Michael Green is representing the dog owners and is married to one of them. He says his wife was offered free dog grooming when she complained about her pet’s condition. Petco officials couldn’t be reached for comment.
February is humpback whale month
HONOLULU (AP) — Gov. Neil Abercrombie has declared February to be Humpback Whale Awareness Month.
The governor said Monday the species represents the diversity of ocean life around the Hawaiian Islands and reflects the deep connection the people of Hawaii share with the ocean.
About 10,000 humpback whales swim to Hawaii every winter to breed and calve. They spend the summer feeding off Alaska and other areas in the northern Pacific.
The humpback whale is the official marine mammal of Hawaii.
