Big Island Organizations & Programs Losing Funding

[HiloJulie]

What does anything you write have to do with PW?

Seriously, why do you continue to push your non-hawaii non-Puna agenda? Over and over.. what's your point? Come on, you post everyday out on the edge.. adding your national bias, your national angst, and yet every time your posts are deleted, edits, and still you don't get the message.. all day every day you have to inject your hostility.. your anger, your hate..

Maybe, if you can't keep it local, you should go away..

The real question is why are you here on PunaWeb?

You NEVER post ANYTHING related to ANY threads subject matter. You CONSISTENTLY only post insulting comments against all other posters, typically filled with sexist misogyny.

Over and over. Never contribute to any subject, just nothing but insults directed at various posters, recently calling for the sacrifice of a human being over a venomous deadly invasive snake. That is the type of contribution YOU constantly make here on PunaWeb.

Seriously, what do you EVER contribute to PunaWeb outside of what I have mentioned above?

Not one Goddamn thing!

I'd love to discuss the impact of federal funding as it relates to Hawaii and its peoples, but then, here comes MyManao, the PunaWeb loud mouthed buffoon, not adding one contribution to this thread's subject matter, except to hurl non intelligent garbage.

Maybe, if you can't keep it local, you should go away.

What part of my comments are not in compliance with the request as stated below?

And then, how does your non intelligent blather fit in with that request?

Hate? Look into the mirror! 

Let’s keep comments focused on examples of Puna, Big Island, Hawaii lost funding, or wasted federal funding.
Specific examples better prove your point than economic theories and generalities. 

[MyManao]

MyManao will be on vacation for awhile

[leilanidude]

Would Punaweb be more enjoyable and less toxic if toxic HiloJulie went on a long vacation?
Since suddenly appearing less than a year ago, she (he?) has been taking over almost every thread and posting toxic replies.

[HiloJulie]

Would Punaweb be more enjoyable and less toxic if toxic HiloJulie went on a long vacation?
Since suddenly appearing less than a year ago, she (he?) has been taking over almost every thread and posting toxic replies.

Sorry, I'm not some Jane (or Joe) from Kapoho, nor the 7000th Major Depressive Disorder patient, but I'd sure love to discuss the federal funding cuts and how it relates to Puna and Hawaii, but I guess that just can't be had here!

At any event, carry on!

[Moderator 2]

If you have a history with another user, remember that history or you’re doomed to repeat the same actions and reactions, over & over & over…
Don’t poke the bear.  
There are no bears in Puna.  
But there are vacations.

[Punatang]

But throwing people out of work with no warning? 

I experienced that first hand in 2008, along with 90% of coworkers in my department.  My only warning was watching my boss walk down the hallway with a cardboard box of belongings.  All you could was sit and wait your turn, and wonder if you would make the cut and still have your job.

Thanks for tactfully sharing a perfect example of what everyday workers have always dealt with Wahine. Terminations very often come with no warning. It's unfortunate.  It's reality. Parties take responsibility for due diligence to ensure the solvency of the entities and their funding sources, with whom they contract and engage.

Durian, I am sorry if it felt like I singled you out.  That was not my intent.  My comment was at the general gist of the preceding posts and I stand by it.  It's impossible to have this conversation,honor Punaweb rules, and navigate the historic bias in moderation so I'm just going to leave it at that.  No one takes any joy from anyone's misfortune.  Well, except maybe fire ants do.

[HiloJulie]

I debated starting a new thread, but a comment from a poster sort of “triggered” me to make this post in this thread, since the bottom-line issues are more or less the same – “impacts of federal cuts on the State of Hawaii.”

According to this article on Big Island News

Bids for Nānue Bridge rehabilitation project tens of millions higher than state’s revised cost estimate : Big Island Now

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation received three bids for a project to rehabilitate the more than 70-year-old Nānue Bridge, with the lowest bid coming in at 167 Million.

In November of 2024, the State awarded Isemoto Contracting Co. a contract for work on the Hakalau Stream Bridge for 81 million.

So – total amounts for both bridge projects is at 248 Million.

In accordance with the federal grant award through the U.S. Department of Transportation Infrastructure for Rebuilding America program, these projects are/would be funded by an 80-20 split of federal and state funds.

In January 2024, the state was awarded 74.6 million from this program to begin the work as outlined.

So, under the 80-20 split as called for by law, 198.4 Million would be paid by the federal government with the remaining 49.6 Million by the state.

If we take the anticipated 198.4 Million the federal government is expected to pick up, less the 74.6 Million already awarded, that leaves a balance of 123.8 Million. (And I would doubt that the original 74.6 Million has been released as “liquid cash” which typically is only released as monies are actually spent.)

So then, the trigger comment was:

“Terminations very often come with no warning. It's unfortunate.  It's reality. Parties take responsibility for due diligence to ensure the solvency of the entities and their funding sources, with whom they contract and engage.”

Should the state reexamine and do some pretty hefty due diligence of the solvency of the entity that’s by law their 80% partner – before they write another contract for 167 Million? Do they tell Isemoto their 81 Million is really now 16.2 million?

I’d suggest they most certainly do some very hefty due diligence.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

rehabilitate the more than 70-year-old Nānue Bridge

It would seem you’d want to count on 100% of your funding before you start on a project that involves a bridge.

[ChunksterK]

If the new version of federal oversight takes a close look at Hawaii's infrastructure contracting and all its cost overruns, unjustifiable change orders, and other issues, they might cut off funding "pending a full investigation." And don't get me wrong, I don't think the new regime cares so much about corruption as they do about it going to the "wrong" crooks. Hawaii's crooked contractors, bureaucrats, and politicians are on the wrong side of the political fence these days.