Mayor Caldwell heads to D.C. for meetings
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is headed to Washington, D.C., Monday night.
Caldwell will attend the United States Conference of Mayors’ annual winter meeting Wednesday through Friday, his office said, then attend the Mayors Innovation Project annual meeting Friday and Saturday. He’s expected to discuss sustainable street design and other topics.
The mayor also is scheduled to meet with officials from the Federal Transit Administration about Honolulu’s rail transit project.
Caldwell will attend President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address as a guest of U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono.
Senator sits on large war chest
Hawaii island state Sen. Josh Green is sitting on the largest war chest of any state or local candidate in the 2014 election.
Green (D, Kona-Kau) ended the election with $493,438 left over, West Hawaii Today reports, citing figures posted Thursday on the state Campaign Spending Commission website.
Coming in second was Gov. David Ige, with $435,030. Some 298 candidates sought office in 2014, according to the commission.
Green came in 11th in total receipts for the 2014 election at $239,271. An emergency room physician and chairman of the Senate Health Committee, he’s had four $500-a-plate fundraisers in Honolulu since 2013, according to the commission.
Green, 44, who’s been in the Legislature since he won a House seat in 2004, said Friday he’s not ruling out an eventual statewide race. But he said he plans to complete his new term, which ends in 2018.
"I’m not currently preparing for a statewide race," he said. "If my constituents come to me and ask me to consider that in the future, I’ll think about it and talk it over with my family."
Big Isle prison cancels visits
Visits to Kulani Correctional Facility on Hawaii island were canceled Saturday due to a staffing shortage, the Department of Public Safety announced.
The department has been grappling with chronic absenteeism, especially on weekends, the only days visitation is allowed.
Visits at Kulani have been canceled six times since Aug. 30.
The facility in Hilo reopened July 1 after being closed for five years.
