The Hot Seat

NOW ON THE HOT SEAT: AVI SOIFER, DEAN OF UH-MANOA’S SCHOOL OF LAW

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:59:37 +0000

Welcome to the Hot Seat. Joining us live for the next hour, from noon to 1 p.m. today is Avi Soifer, dean of the University of Hawaii-Manoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law. He’ll answer your questions live during the hour.

There’s quite a bit going on at the law school theses days. Today the law school kicks off its new part-time, evening program with the orientation of its inaugural class. Add to that the school’s Lehua Program, which focuses on students who have leadership promise who have overcome adversity; the school’ s Native Hawaiian Law Center, with its community outreach; the Pacific and Asian Law program; and its award-winning Environmental Law Program. Clearly, there’s much to talk about.

Just a reminder of our Hot Seat ground rules: Please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many questions as possible; and keep it civil, no personal attacks please.

So get those questions ready — let’s chat…

COMING TUESDAY: AVI SOIFER, DEAN OF UH-MANOA’S SCHOOL OF LAW

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 02:50:42 +0000

To say there’s much happening at the university’s law school would be an understatement — that’s according to Avi Soifer, dean of the University of Hawaii-Manoa’s William S. Richardson School of Law.

Indeed, he’s right. The law school kicks off its new part-time, evening program Tuesday with the orientation of its inaugural class. Add to that the school’s Lehua Program, which focuses on students who have leadership promise who have overcome adversity; the school’s Native Hawaiian Law Center, with its community outreach; the Pacific and Asian Law program; and its award-winning Environmental Law Program. Clearly, there’s much to talk about.

So now’s your chance. Soifer will join us live on The Hot Seat from noon to 1 p.m; he’ll answer your questions live during the hour.

To join the conversation, just watch for the new posting that will go up at noon and post your questions there. If you can’t make the live session, you can e-mail your questions to me in advance at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com

See you Tuesday at noon, with law school dean Avi Soifer.

NOW ON THE HOT SEAT: City Councilman Charles Djou

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:59:17 +0000

The debate around transit has once again landed in the lap of the City Council. The Council, led by a proposal offered up by rail opponent Charles Djou, is considering an amendment to the City Charter to let voters weigh in on transit. The final wording and structure of that proposal remains unclear.

Councilman Djou joins us today for our live blog chat, where he’ll answer your questions live from noon to 1 pm.

Just a reminder of our Hot Seat ground rules: Please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many questions as possible; and keep it civil, no personal attacks please.

All set? Let’s chat

Coming Thursday: City Councilman Charles Djou on transit

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:13:32 +0000

Joining us live Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. will be City Councilman. Councilman Djou will take your questions live during the hour.

To join the conversation, watch for the new posting that will go up at noon Thursday and post your questions directly. Or if you can’t make the live session you can send your questions in advance to me at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com

See you Thursday, with Councilman Charles Djou.

Now on the Hot Seat: Rep. Kirk Caldwell

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:58:39 +0000

Get ready, folks. Joining us live for the next hour, from noon to 1 p.m. will be Rep. Kirk Caldwell. Rep. Caldwell found himself on the short end of the stick last week after a last-minute flurry of politicians trying to beat the filing deadline ended in confusion – and with Caldwell out in the cold.

Here’s the recap: Councilwoman Anne Kobayashi’s 11th-hour decision to run for mayor left her council seat wide open; out of left field (and all the way from Arkansas) comes ex-councilman Duke Bainum, who rented a condo the day of the deadline to meet residency requirements; then House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell decides to dump his House seat to challenge Bainum for the council seat.

But after several questions and challenges, the city clerk ruled Caldwell ineligible because he did not properly withdraw from running for his House seat in time — that means he will lose his House seat and the ability to run for Council. And Bainum apparently gets the seat free and clear, unopposed. And the questions continue — including questions surrounding the state’s own elections officer and his failure to register to vote (until recently), which is a requirement of his job. Unfortunately, all of this does little to inspire voters in a state with among the lowest voter turnouts in the nation.

Shall we chat? Just a quick reminder of our Hot Seat ground rules: Please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many questions as possible; and keep it civil, no personal attacks please.

Ready? Just hit the comment button below, and let’s go…

Coming Wednesday: Rep. Kirk Caldwell on the election debacle

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:27:07 +0000

Who’s in, who’s out. Who knows. The last-minute flurry to beat the filing deadline this election season left many voters even more disenchanted with Hawaii politics. Consider the dust-up on deadline day: City Councilwoman Anne Kobayashi’s 11th-hour decision to run for mayor left her council seat wide open; out of left field (and all the way from Arkansas) comes ex-councilman Duke Bainum, who rented a condo the day of the deadline to meet residency requirements; then House Majority Leader Kirk Caldwell decides to dump his House seat to challenge Bainum for the council seat.

But when the dust did settle, the city clerk ruled Caldwell ineligible because he did not properly withdraw from running for his House seat in time — that means he will lose his House seat and the ability to run for Council. Questions continue over who meets requirements and who doesn’t, including questions surrounding the state’s own elections officer and his failure to register to vote (until recently), which is a requirement of his job.

Rep. Caldwell will join us Wednesday to take your questions on the elections mess and more. He’ll be with us online live from noon to 1 p.m.

To join the conversation, watch for the new posting that will go up at noon Wednesday and post your questions directly. Or if you can’t make the session live that hour you can send your questions in advance to me at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com

See you Wednesday, with Rep. Kirk Caldwell.

NOW ON THE HOT SEAT: Chason Ishii, president of Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:55:03 +0000

Hawaii’s real estate market has many folks on edge these days — and with good cause. There’s no doubt the overall economy has been hit hard by the subprime lending fiasco. With foreclosures on the rise and values heading downward, it’s difficult to decide exactly what to do in today’s real estate market: Buy, sell, who knows?

Joining us live today from noon to 1 p.m. will be Chason Ishii — Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties top executive. He’ll answer your questions on Hawaii’s real estate market as well as on national trends in the industry.

So get those questions ready. Just a quick reminder of our Hot Seat ground rules: Please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many questions as possible; and keep it civil, no personal attacks please.

Ready? Just hit the comment button below, and let’s chat.

COMING WEDNESDAY: Chason Ishii, president of Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:55:50 +0000

There’s no doubt the economy has been hit hard by the subprime lending fiasco. With foreclosures on the rise and values heading downward, it’s difficult to decide exactly what to do in today’s real estate market: Buy, sell, who knows?

Get those questions ready. Joining us live Wednesday (July 30) will be Chason Ishii — Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties top executive.
Chason will answer your questions live from noon to 1 p.m.

To join the conversation, watch for the new posting that will go up Wednesday at noon and post your questions there.

If you can’t make the noon session, you can e-mail your questions in advance to me at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com and I’ll post them for you. See you at noon, with Coldwell Banker’s Chason Ishii.

NOW ON THE HOT SEAT: Georja Skinner, director of DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:10:06 +0000

As director of the state’s Creative Industries Division, Georja Skinner oversees the state’s film office and its arts and culture branch. She is also responsible for the Creative Academies — a partnership between state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), University of Hawaii, Kapiolani Community College and Department of Education modeled after STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academies, with a focus on digital media, animation, game development, and similar areas.

Georja willl answer your questions on these programs and more today on the Hot Seat from noon to 1 p.m.

Just a reminder of our Hot Seat ground rules: Please keep your questions concise and on point so that we can get to as many questions as possible; and keep it civil, no personal attacks please.

Ready? Let’s chat.

COMING WEDNESDAY: Georja Skinner, head of DBEDT’s Creative Industries Division

Jeanne Mariani-Belding — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:53:49 +0000

As director of the state’s Creative Industries Division, Georja Skinner oversees the state’s film office and its arts and culture branch. She is also responsible for the Creative Academies — a partnership between state’s Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), University of Hawaii, Kapiolani Community College and Department of Education modeled after STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Academies, with a focus on digital media, animation, game development, and similar areas.

Georja will answer your questions live today from noon to 1 p.m. To join the conversation, watch for the new posting that will go up at noon and post your questions there. If you can’t make the noon session, you can e-mail your questions in advance to me at jmbelding@honoluluadvertiser.com and I’ll post them for you. See you at noon, with Georja Skinner, on The Hot Seat.