Land Board chief knocked
for keeping the sun out
HILO >> State Board of Land & Natural Resources Chairman Peter Young has been awarded the Big Island Press Club's reproachful 2004 Lava Tube Award for violations of the state's open-meeting law last year.
Under Young's leadership, the board scheduled three meetings without the public notice required by law.
The board also permitted a closed-door meeting with the lawyer of a man facing board action. State law says such closed-door meetings are approved for the board's own lawyer, not outside lawyers.
Following a lawsuit against it six years ago, the board agreed not to hold meetings without public notice.
Young responded that his office has fostered openness in a variety of ways, including staff training by the state Office of Information Practices.
"People are now telling us that the department is far more inclusive than it has ever been," he said.
Young said he would accept the award "in memory of Jayson Blair," a New York Times reporter discovered writing false stories.
The press club's Lava Tube Award refers to the Big Island caves where the sun doesn't shine.
The club awarded its 2004 Torch of Light Award to University of Hawaii journalism professor Beverly Keever for her successful four-year effort to obtain disclosure of the terms of the university's contract with football coach June Jones.
The club gave an honorable mention to state Sen. Les Ihara (D, Kahala-Palolo) for efforts to get more openness at UH Board of Regents meetings.
It gave a dishonorable mention to the regents themselves for continuing secrecy about matters such as medical school contracts.
The Big Island Press Club gives the awards ever year on Freedom of Information Day, March 16 -- the birthday of James Madison, a principal author of the Bill of Rights.