The power has been out here in Central HPP for over 2 hours now. Neither I nor any of my neighbors have been able to reach helco by phone, and their app isn't showing anything. Does anyone have any information to share?

I think some people have a different idea as to what "winning" really is.

This will decimate a significant number of people here in Hawaii.

Most of which are the elderly and children. Most also Native Hawaiians.

Yeh, this sure is "winning."

Is there any reason to be or not to be concerned about the sudden rise (as in 10) new users in the last few days all with "Minecraft" or "Minecraft Server" as their location?

Assuming BOTS, and if so, they have gotten past the "human" verification part!

I had been told (canʻt remember by whom) that we would eventually receive our deed after paying off our house, but it takes six months to a year.  We paid off our house about a year and a half ago and have received nothing.  Is there something we should do?  I imagine I would have to talk to someone at the county building but I have no idea who that would be.  We have an e-copy of the deed we got at closing and thatʻs it.  Should I pursue this?  Any ideas who/where?  Mahalo.

Reposted due to the deviant crowd ruining it:

Your tax dollars working for you!

State stuck with another dilapidated Banyan Drive property
By MICHAEL BRESTOVANSKY Hawaii Tribune-Herald | Sunday, January 26, 2025, 12:05 a.m.
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Michael Brestovansky/Tribune-Herald The aging former Country Club Condominium Hotel is once again the DLNR's problem.

The state is once again on the hook for a decrepit building on Banyan Drive after the previous lessee of the former Country Club Condominium Hotel surrendered its permit for the property.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources in 2022 approved a revocable permit for Banyan Drive Management LLC to temporarily manage the property, located at 121 Banyan Drive, until such time as the BLNR could approve a developer for a much-needed renovation of the aging and rundown property.

While BDM had submitted a proposal for a long-term development agreement for the property — which would include a roughly $20 million renovation of the site and would convert 80% of the building’s 152 units into long-term rental units, and the remainder into extended-stay hotel units — the BLNR postponed any discussion on the matter for several months late last year, pending the results of potential legislation in the 2025 session of the Legislature that could impact the future of the Waiakea Peninsula.

According to a report by the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Land Division, that delay seems to have been the last straw for BDM. The company submitted a letter to the Land Division on Jan. 9 stating that it intended to surrender its revocable permit for the property.

“It’s been two years since Banyan Drive Management officially operated 121 Banyan Drive building, and even with significant monetary loss every month, BDM managed the entire building on goodwill,” the letter stated. “However … we’re surrendering our revocable permit as DLNR now doesn’t even have a timeline when our submittal item will be put up for a vote.”

The letter stated BDM will vacate the premises on Feb. 2 and has issued a formal notice to vacate to all occupants of the building. Candace Martin, acting district land manager for the Big Island, told the BLNR on Friday that there are five legal tenants in the building, but 16 rooms currently are occupied.

The letter went on to say that BDM will help those tenants as much as possible to find other housing or connect them with rehousing agencies such as HOPE Services.

With BDM leaving, the DLNR is once again left in possession of a crumbling building in dire need of an expensive renovation or demolition, without the means to pay for it.

A 2018 demolition assessment estimated that the cost to demolish the Country Club would be about $6.2 million, although that number has almost certainly ballooned substantially over the last seven years of inflation.

The BLNR on Friday discussed the situation but had no immediate solutions for the property.

Assistant Land Division Administrator Kevin Moore noted that the state’s first lease of the property did not include certain protections that are now standard for the department: namely, a removal bond requiring the lessee to remove all improvements to the site upon the termination of the lease.

Land Division Administrator Russell Tsuji said the cost to bring the building up to current code would be “$20 million or more,” funds the DLNR does not have. He said the department attempted to secure funds for a demolition in the past but was unsuccessful.

Tsuji added that several plans to deal with the ill-fated property have fallen through due to a series of unforeseeable crises.

At one point, the managers of the Grand Naniloa Hotel were selected to renovate the Country Club, but they suffered a cascading series of financial and legal problems that led the DLNR to drop that plan. After that, in 2023 the DLNR selected another company, Savio SB Growth Venture LLC, but they withdrew from consideration less than a month later due to ongoing economic fallout following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I understand: The world is unfair, you don’t have enough resources, you’re understaffed,” said BLNR member Riley Smith of Hilo. “But you have a responsibility. The board’s responsibility is policy, and what we need to deal with is dilapidated buildings that are going to require significant capital outlay.”

Meanwhile, Chair Dawn Chang said there will be legislation this session that would shift management of the Waiakea Peninsula from DLNR to the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

“I do believe historically the DLNR has objected to the transfer,” Chang said. “This is the first time I, as a chair, have been willing to consider it, or at least have greater discussion.”

This issue has arisen less than a month after the removal of the former Uncle Billy’s Hilo Bay Hotel, another derelict building the DLNR had to remove at the taxpayer’s expense. That demolition cost $14 million, something Chang said she doesn’t want DLNR to repeat.

In any case, the BLNR voted unanimously to approve BDM’s surrender of its revocable permit. What happens next to the hotel is unknown for now.

No representative of BDM, including president Ryan Lee, testified at Friday’s meeting.

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

was wondering if anyone had a gas on demand water heater and replaced with an electric on demand water heater, and if so how much electricity did it use per month vs gas per month?

I've received in the mail a petition for the recall of the district 5 representative (president?). It's the first mailing I've received from anybody or anything in HPP in years other than the road bill. My wife and I own 2 lots so we supposedly get 2 votes. I realize the HOA, such as it is, is and always has been a disaster. But I'd like some feedback on this issue. I expect some input from the originator, whom I suspect is a regular poster here, but I'd like some other objective input. I'd especially like input form Tom as I believe he also lives in the affected District. Please no name calling or squabbles. I'd just like a better understanding of the issues. Just reading the petition some of the complaints seem fairly serious.

Coming to the Palace Theater Feb. 8th. 7pm.  I went to see them last year just because their nameʻs so weird and I was blown away.  Excellent multi-instrumentalists doing some standards and some originals.  Originally from West VA and have been on Maui for ten years. One of the best concerts Iʻve seen on this island.  more info at: https://hilopalace.com/hpt_event/

I found out today that my neighbor has lost 3 cats in the last 9 months. They just never came home.  Now, my granddaughter's cat has gone missing.  She's had him for 10 years and he is a good and gentle pet.  Another one of her cats that we all loved was poisoned and died in her arms about 6 months ago. Does anyone have any idea what could be going on?  This is way too many missing cats to be a coincidence.  Thanks.

So, really? I put up a thread about a Corpse Flower that is blooming in Australia (and basically poke fun at myself while doing it) and it is removed? 

There are Corpse Flowers in Hawaii. At the Foster Botanical Gardens on Oahu. At the Panaewa Rain Forest (that one bloomed about 12 years ago and was mentioned on THIS forum). They are rare and being able to see and SMELL one is rare too.

I didn't name the flower in Australia. But the article IS interesting and how many (not you regulars) even know we have those flowers here?

What gives? In what way did the removed post "offend?" Or is not "relevant?"