August 2007 | Small Business News
Governor's Chief of Staff Resigns
Amid Corruption & Controversy
On June 29, the Governor's Chief of Staff, Bob Awana, described as "the second most powerful person in the state," resigned amid allegations of improprieties involved in state sponsored trade missions to the Phillipines and contracts in Guam and Saipan.
Awana is acknowledged to have had the greatest influence on the Governor's political decisions, including her ill-fated reversal in 2005 to allow the City & County of Honolulu and Democrat Mayor Mufi Hannemann to raise the GE Tax for a rail transit scheme. Awana, a life long Democrat, has been loyal to Republican Governor Linda Lingle but not to Republican office holders or appointees, even reportedly constructing an "enemies list," of those who did not support the Governor 100% on all issues.
Awana frequently described himself as, "A Democrat in my heart and a Republican in my head." His deputy, Joy Watari, was named interim chief by the Governor.
The bizare case involving Awana also included Rajdatta Patkar, and Indian national, who was accused of trying to extort Awana for $35,000 because of the alleged activity in the Philippines. Several local businessmen and financial supporters of the Governor, were also rumored to be involved in inappropriate conduct involving female escorts for married men on the state-sponsored missions.
Patkar was originally charged with five federal counts of extortion but after weeks of behind closed doors negotiating, was allowed to plea bargain to one count on July 10. All records of the case, and names of possible businessmen, have been sealed. Sentencing is delayed until the end of October but Awana is still facing federal charges and Patkar is reportedly cooperating with the FBI.
Hawaii Property
By Dick Rowland, GRIH
In a commentary June 26, 2007, the Georgia Public Policy Foundation published a very meaningful essay by David Boaz which appears below. But before you read it, think about this: Hawaiian Homelands are provided to 50% + bloodline native Hawaiians but they do not own the land. Instead they lease it from the Department of Hawaiian Homelands. Succeeding generations may lose the land because of insufficient bloodline. One solution would be to distribute the land in fee simple to each authorized beneficiary. Or the land could be title transferred to a corporation totally owned by the current authorized beneficiaries.
Either way, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands would have no function. The State would no longer own the land.
But every time the idea of individual ownership is proposed, "leaders" respond "Oh no, we could not do that. They might sell it."
Oh my. Now read the Jamestown story and afterward, ask yourself.
What makes a serf?
What perpetuates serfdom?
Does property ownership promote freedom, prosperity and autonomy and severely limit the powerful leaders?
As my friend Ron Williamson likes to say – "think about it".
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