Lawmakers select volunteer members for rail board ADVERTISING Lawmakers select volunteer members for rail board HONOLULU (AP) — State Legislative leaders announced their four picks to serve as nonvoting members on the volunteer Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board. The
Lawmakers select volunteer members for rail board
HONOLULU (AP) — State Legislative leaders announced their four picks to serve as nonvoting members on the volunteer Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board.
The volunteer board is a provision of the $2.4 billion bailout package for the rail that lawmakers approved in September. State lawmakers added the provision “to ensure the appropriate use of state-authorized funds” to finance the rail.
Senate President Ron Kouchi selected Wesley Machida, the state’s budget and finance director under Gov. David Ige, and Machida’s predecessor, Kalbert Young, who served in that role under former Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
Young is University of Hawaii’s vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer. He also previously served as a state Employees’ Retirement System trustee.
House Speaker Scott Saiki selected two financial executives from the private sector: Tobias Martyn, the vice president of investments at the firm Stifel and previously a senior executive vice president at Bank of Hawaii, and Kamani Kuala‘au, a senior vice president at asset management firm Atalanta Sosnoff Capital and chairman of the King Lunalilo Trust Estate.
Honolulu PD getting first woman chief
HONOLULU (AP) — A police major was selected Wednesday as the first woman to be chief of the Honolulu Police Department.
The police commission voted for Maj. Susan Ballard to replace Louis Kealoha, who agreed to retire amid a federal corruption investigation.
Ballard, a 32-year veteran of the department, stood out because she “discussed exactly what she was going to do and what her priorities were,” said police commission member Loretta Sheehan.
Ballard said she wasn’t yet ready to publicly discuss those plans.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who is on vacation, and his administration look forward to sitting down with her very soon to discuss the long-term vision for the department, said acting Honolulu Mayor Roy K. Amemiya Jr. in a statement.
Ballard, 60, was born in Virginia and grew up in North Carolina, according to the department. She’s currently the commander of the Central Receiving Division. Her previous assignments include the Training Division and Finance Division.
Removal of grounded fishing vessel muddled
HONOLULU (AP) — Most of the fuel on the 79-foot commercial fishing vessel stuck in Waikiki waters has been removed, the U.S. Coast Guard says, but officials are struggling with how to remove the boat itself.
The Pacific Paradise ran aground Oct. 10 with about 13,000 gallons of fuel as well as assorted hydraulic oils aboard.
The boat carried 19 foreign men and a captain, who officials said was the only U.S. citizen aboard. All 20 people were rescued.
Some people fear damage to coral reefs and marine life will increase the longer the boat stays grounded.
The boat is no longer stuck on coral, but shallow waters are making salvage operations difficult, officials said.
Attempts to remove the boat have failed, one of which was done by a salvage company hired by the boat’s owners.
A fire on the boat last week also complicated its removal.
Multiple agencies will continue to work on removal plans.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials are monitoring environmental impacts.
