The Projector: Images of 2015 — The New Governor, The TMT Fight And The Nomadic Homeless - Honolulu Civil Beat

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The Projector: Images of 2015 — The New Governor, The TMT Fight And The Nomadic Homeless

With presidential vacations as bookends, the year in the islands featured David Ige's shakedown cruise, the still-unfolding TMT-Mauna Kea controversy and new attempts to solve the old problem of homelessness.
By Cory Lum / December 31, 2015
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  • <p>Continuing an Oahu tradition, the year begins with an ending as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama flash shakas before boarding Air Force One in early January, closing the books on another Hawaiian holiday vacation.</p>

    Continuing an Oahu tradition, the year begins with an ending as President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama flash shakas before boarding Air Force One in early January, closing the books on another Hawaiian holiday vacation.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>New Gov. David Ige gives his State of the State speech in late January after the convening of a new legislative session.</p>

    New Gov. David Ige gives his State of the State speech in late January after the convening of a new legislative session.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi speaks to a legislative committee at the Capitol in late January. Within months, he’d be embroiled in a scandal over his use of a government-issued pCard for private expenses. He remains under investigation.</p>

    Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi speaks to a legislative committee at the Capitol in late January. Within months, he’d be embroiled in a scandal over his use of a government-issued pCard for private expenses. He remains under investigation.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>The drudgery of wading through 4,000 pages of testimony is telling during a House hearing in February on bills to restrict aquarium fishing.</p>

    The drudgery of wading through 4,000 pages of testimony is telling during a House hearing in February on bills to restrict aquarium fishing.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>In March, development lobbyist Carleton Ching enters a conference room for the second day of a contentious Senate hearing regarding his nomination to become director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The nomination drew strong opposition, especially from environmentalists.</p>

    In March, development lobbyist Carleton Ching enters a conference room for the second day of a contentious Senate hearing regarding his nomination to become director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. The nomination drew strong opposition, especially from environmentalists.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Senate President Donna Mercado Kim hugs Ige’s chief of staff, Mike McCartney, after he delivers a letter on the Senate floor withdrawing the nomination of Ching. Ige pushed hard for Ching, but gave up when it became apparent there weren’t enough votes of support in the Legislature. In November, Ching was named director of land development for the University of Hawaii.</p>

    Senate President Donna Mercado Kim hugs Ige’s chief of staff, Mike McCartney, after he delivers a letter on the Senate floor withdrawing the nomination of Ching. Ige pushed hard for Ching, but gave up when it became apparent there weren’t enough votes of support in the Legislature. In November, Ching was named director of land development for the University of Hawaii.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>In late March, a ceremony was held to dedicate the Honouliuli National Monument at the site where 400 civilians were incarcerated alongside prisoners of war during World II. The civilians were some of the 120,000 Japanese-Americans sent to internment camps nationwide. Carole Hayashino, executive director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, listens to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell speak.</p>
<p> </p>

    In late March, a ceremony was held to dedicate the Honouliuli National Monument at the site where 400 civilians were incarcerated alongside prisoners of war during World II. The civilians were some of the 120,000 Japanese-Americans sent to internment camps nationwide. Carole Hayashino, executive director of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, listens to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell speak.

     

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Gov. David Ige throw rose petals at the close of the Honouliuli National Monument dedication ceremony.</p>

    U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Gov. David Ige throw rose petals at the close of the Honouliuli National Monument dedication ceremony.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Construction equipment at the planned Thirty Meter Telescope site on Mauna Kea in early April. The $1.4 billion project was opposed by protesters atop the mountain and at the Hawaii Supreme Court.</p>

    Construction equipment at the planned Thirty Meter Telescope site on Mauna Kea in early April. The $1.4 billion project was opposed by protesters atop the mountain and at the Hawaii Supreme Court.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Students from hula schools throughout the state sing and dance to support the TMT protest efforts, which resulted in what was described in April as a brief construction moratorium.</p>

    Students from hula schools throughout the state sing and dance to support the TMT protest efforts, which resulted in what was described in April as a brief construction moratorium.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Late-night negotiations in early May to allow establishment of marijuana dispensaries, 15 years after medical marijuana was legalized in Hawaii, are on the verge of breaking down due to obstacles thrown up by chief Senate negotiator Josh Green. Senate President Donna Kim casts a glance at Green, and hours later joins a move to oust him from the conference committee, which ultimately results in the bill passing and being signed by Gov. Ige.</p>

    Late-night negotiations in early May to allow establishment of marijuana dispensaries, 15 years after medical marijuana was legalized in Hawaii, are on the verge of breaking down due to obstacles thrown up by chief Senate negotiator Josh Green. Senate President Donna Kim casts a glance at Green, and hours later joins a move to oust him from the conference committee, which ultimately results in the bill passing and being signed by Gov. Ige.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Days later, Donna Kim herself is ousted as Senate president in a coup just before the end of the legislative session. She hands the gavel to the new president, Sen. Ron Kouchi of Kauai. The shakeup also affects the Senate’s committee alignment and results in several chairmanships changing hands.</p>

    Days later, Donna Kim herself is ousted as Senate president in a coup just before the end of the legislative session. She hands the gavel to the new president, Sen. Ron Kouchi of Kauai. The shakeup also affects the Senate’s committee alignment and results in several chairmanships changing hands.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Quinton Pedroza celebrates after receiving his degree during the University of Hawaii commencement in mid-May at the Stan Sheriff Center.</p>

    Quinton Pedroza celebrates after receiving his degree during the University of Hawaii commencement in mid-May at the Stan Sheriff Center.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>When a TMT caravan again attempts to reach the Manua Kea construction site in June, scores of stones are strewn near a hairpin turn along an access road. The TMT workers once more abandon their efforts to reach the site.</p>

    When a TMT caravan again attempts to reach the Manua Kea construction site in June, scores of stones are strewn near a hairpin turn along an access road. The TMT workers once more abandon their efforts to reach the site.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>A TMT demonstrator is arrested as he lies on the road and refuses to move out of way of vehicles that are attempting to reach the telescope construction site.</p>

    A TMT demonstrator is arrested as he lies on the road and refuses to move out of way of vehicles that are attempting to reach the telescope construction site.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>A roughed-up Rep. Tom Brower holds a press conference at the Capitol to give his account of a run-in he had with homeless teens in Kakaako. He said he was attacked without provocation. They said it occurred after Brower refused to stop taking pictures of their encampment without permission. He later decides to press charges against two boys, 14 and 17.</p>

    A roughed-up Rep. Tom Brower holds a press conference at the Capitol to give his account of a run-in he had with homeless teens in Kakaako. He said he was attacked without provocation. They said it occurred after Brower refused to stop taking pictures of their encampment without permission. He later decides to press charges against two boys, 14 and 17.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Solar Impulse 2 approaches Kalaeloa Airport in early July after a record five-day flight over the Pacific from Nagoya, Japan. It’s one leg of an around-the-world flight for the solar-powered aircraft.</p>

    Solar Impulse 2 approaches Kalaeloa Airport in early July after a record five-day flight over the Pacific from Nagoya, Japan. It’s one leg of an around-the-world flight for the solar-powered aircraft.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>State Sen. Mike Gabbard breaks in the playground slide in late July as officials gather to celebrate the upcoming opening of the new Hookele Elementary School in Kapolei.</p>

    State Sen. Mike Gabbard breaks in the playground slide in late July as officials gather to celebrate the upcoming opening of the new Hookele Elementary School in Kapolei.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p><span style=In early August, thousands of Native Hawaiians and other residents march in Waikiki in a massive show of strength that organizers hope to translate into ongoing political actions, including opposition to construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea.

    " />

    In early August, thousands of Native Hawaiians and other residents march in Waikiki in a massive show of strength that organizers hope to translate into ongoing political actions, including opposition to construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Thirty Meter Telescope opponents sing after attorneys present oral arguments at the Hawaii Supreme Court in late August regarding whether the state acted properly in approving a construction permit in 2011 before conducting a contested case hearing. In December the high court invalidates the permit, meaning TMT officials must seek a new one if they still want to build the telescope.</p>

    Thirty Meter Telescope opponents sing after attorneys present oral arguments at the Hawaii Supreme Court in late August regarding whether the state acted properly in approving a construction permit in 2011 before conducting a contested case hearing. In December the high court invalidates the permit, meaning TMT officials must seek a new one if they still want to build the telescope.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>A homeless encampment on Ohe Street in Kakaako in early September. Squeezed by the city’s sit-lie ban and state laws closing parks at night, some homeless people moved into shelters, some dispersed to other parts of Honolulu and many others simply toggled from one part of south Kakaako to another as necessary during city or state sweeps.</p>

    A homeless encampment on Ohe Street in Kakaako in early September. Squeezed by the city’s sit-lie ban and state laws closing parks at night, some homeless people moved into shelters, some dispersed to other parts of Honolulu and many others simply toggled from one part of south Kakaako to another as necessary during city or state sweeps.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>City maintenance crew workers prepare to haul away the possessions of the homeless people during a September sweep in Kakaako. The immediate disposal of property was challenged in a federal class-action lawsuit filed Sept. 16, and the city entered into a court-sanctioned agreement to stop the practice.</p>

    City maintenance crew workers prepare to haul away the possessions of the homeless people during a September sweep in Kakaako. The immediate disposal of property was challenged in a federal class-action lawsuit filed Sept. 16, and the city entered into a court-sanctioned agreement to stop the practice.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>A family on the move along Ahui Street during a city sweep in Kakaako in early October.</p>

    A family on the move along Ahui Street during a city sweep in Kakaako in early October.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>While the city and state play a cat-and-mouse game with people living on the streets of Kakaako, a different sort of homeless community continues to function near the Waianae Boat Harbor. Hundreds of people congregate in an encampment, seen here in October, featuring sturdier structures and a semblance of self-government.</p>

    While the city and state play a cat-and-mouse game with people living on the streets of Kakaako, a different sort of homeless community continues to function near the Waianae Boat Harbor. Hundreds of people congregate in an encampment, seen here in October, featuring sturdier structures and a semblance of self-government.

    Civil Beat
  • <p>Twinkle Borge is The Harbor’s de facto governor, helping to bring a sense of order to the residents and representing them in the wider community that so far has been willing to let them stay where they are.</p>

    Twinkle Borge is The Harbor’s de facto governor, helping to bring a sense of order to the residents and representing them in the wider community that so far has been willing to let them stay where they are.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>A surfer free-falls after being separated from his board as waves pound the Banzai Pipeline during a North Shore competition that coincided with high surf warnings in early December.</p>

    A surfer free-falls after being separated from his board as waves pound the Banzai Pipeline during a North Shore competition that coincided with high surf warnings in early December.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>In late December, the Obamas are back for another Hawaiian vacation. Viewed through a fence, President Obama loses his hat to the wind at the Mid Pacific Country Club in Kailua before recovering nicely to chip in a 40-foot shot on the 18th hole.</p>

    In late December, the Obamas are back for another Hawaiian vacation. Viewed through a fence, President Obama loses his hat to the wind at the Mid Pacific Country Club in Kailua before recovering nicely to chip in a 40-foot shot on the 18th hole.

    Cory Lum/Civil Beat
  • <p>Continuing a Christmas Day tradition, Barack and Michelle Obama speak to service members and their families at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe before mingling with the attendees for photo opportunities.</p>

    Continuing a Christmas Day tradition, Barack and Michelle Obama speak to service members and their families at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe before mingling with the attendees for photo opportunities.

    Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

About the Author

  • Cory Lum
    Cory Lum
    Cory Lum is the chief photographer for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at clum@civilbeat.org.
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