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Welcome to Inside Honolulu! The Honolulu City Council has recessed until 2011, but there’s still work to be done. There’s also a council vacancy to be filled, with two weeks until the special election. Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

2:50 p.m. City Tech Director Warns of Hackers, Seeks Superbowl Tickets

Honolulu Information Technology Director Gordon Bruce recently responded — via Twitter, naturally — to a massive hacking operation that compromised more than one million users’ passwords. reported the hack could lead to subsequent cyber-attacks on government agencies, and Bruce tweeted a link to a Computer World exploring potential weaknesses.

Bruce tweets from the handle and posted the following earlier today:

Hackers could use leaked Gawker info to attack government workers http://ow.ly/3oDeA

The e-mail addresses compromised in the Gawker hack include government workers at cities across the country, the Department of Defense, the Food and Drug Administration, NASA and other agencies. A “deeply embarrassed” Gawker has cautioned users to change any passwords they use on multiple sites.

On a lighter note, Bruce is also using twitter to track down Superbowl tickets. Bruce tweeted the following request for tickets last week:

I am looking to purchase 2 tickets for the upcoming superbowl. Any suggestions? Email me at gordonb@gjbllc.com

1:52 p.m. City Officials Waiting for House Organization
Those involved in state politics aren’t the only ones impatient with the impasse among Hawaii House leaders, who have thus far failed to reach an agreement on House organization.

City Council Chair Nestor Garcia today said he and council members from other counties — who Monday visited Oahu to discuss a package of legislative priorities to submit to state lawmakers — are anxious to meet with the joint Ways and Means and Finance committees.

“Of course, until the House organizes, I’m not quite sure when that’s going to be,” Garcia said. “We just keep waiting for the House to organize.”

1:38 p.m. For Now, Voters Avoiding Honolulu Hale
Honolulu City Clerk Bernice Mau said it appears most District 1 voters are opting to mail in their ballots. The special election is designed for vote-by-mail responses, but voters also have the option to cast ballots in person.

“We only had one person that came in so far because they spoiled their ballot,” Honolulu City Clerk Bernice Mau said. “There really is no need for walk-in, but the law says we have to have it. And there may be some physically impaired people or others who prefer to come in.”

In-person voting opened Monday at Honolulu Hale, and at Kapolei Hale.

12:30 p.m. Hannemann to Return to Honolulu Hale

Mayor Peter Carlisle this week will welcome his predecessor, former Mayor Mufi Hannemann back into Honolulu Hale. Hannemann will return Wednesday morning for the unveiling of his official portrait, which will hang in a hallway along with portraits of the mayors who came before him.

While Carlisle has been a vocal critic of many of Hannemann’s decisions — like furloughs — he’s also championed the former mayor’s rail project, and opted to keep many of Hannemann’s leadership picks.

Carlisle doesn’t have any events on his official public schedule Monday or Tuesday.

11:01 a.m. Aquarium Fish Bill Draws Public Testimony

County council members from Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai listened to testimony from those with opposing positions on a bill that would further regulate collections of aquarium fish. The bill is not being included in the the counties plan to submit to the State Legislature. Several members of the public offered testimony “for future reference.”

“Regarding social justice, environmental responsibilty and sustainability, this is really what this measure represents,” said Inga Gibson of the Humane Society of the United States. “This is an industry that has virtually been unregulated for years and years and years.”

Gibson was one of few who turned out in support of the bill. Most members of the public — about one dozen people — came to express their opposition.

“If anybody cares about this resource, it’s us,” said one man who gave testimony on behalf of the Hawaii Tropical Fish Association. “We live off this resource and we are concerned about this resource.”

One man who gave testimony on behalf of the Tropical Fish Association said the bill is a “veiled attempt” at dismantling his industry. Another man suggested council members knew little, if anything, of marine issues. He encouraged council members to focus instead on “bigger issues” like APEC.

“We are the caretakers, that is what we know,” Kauai County council member Derek Kawakami told him. “It may seem like a small issue, but for some people it’s a big issue, so it becomes a big issue for everybody.”

10:05 a.m. Garcia Suggests Connection Between Kauai, Vladivostok

Honolulu City Council Chairman Nestor Garcia is urging council members from counties across the state to forge more sister-city relationships in advance of the November 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Garcia said such relationships are more than symbolic in other cultures, and can strengthen local businesses and economies.

“Do what you will with the sister-city relationship, but I think it will open doors for each of your respected counties,” Garcia said. “This, at a time when the world stage is being conducted, because of APEC, here in Honolulu.”

Specifically, Garcia said he sees a good match between Kauai and the Russian port city , which will host APEC in 2012.

9:31 a.m. HSAC Off to a Late Start

Derek Kawakami made a crack about “Hawaiian time,” as county lawmakers waited for Maui County council member Joseph Pontanilla to arrive.

The meeting was called to order about half an hour after its planned 9 a.m. start time.

More than one dozen members of the public have turned out to the City Council committee room at Honolulu Hale for the meeting.

8:46 a.m. Representatives from Honolulu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai Counties Gather in Honolulu

Members of the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) are gathering this morning to discuss the legislative package they’re submitting to the State Legislature. Representatives from the Big Island, Kauai and Maui traveled to Honolulu for the meeting.

Hawaii County Council member and Kauai County Council member are among the first to arrive.

Also here early are members of the Hawaii Tropical Fish Association, who are vocal opponents of one of the bills in the legislative package that would make stricter regulations regarding collections of aquarium fish.

8 a.m. Walk-in Voting Underway in Honolulu, Kapolei

District 1 residents are already receiving ballots by mail for the Dec. 29 special City Council election. Monday marks the first day of walk-in voting. Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale will be open for walk-in voting through Dec. 27, between 8 a.m. — 4 p.m., except for Sundays and Dec. 17, a furlough day.

No polling places will be open on election day, Dec. 29.

Catch Up on Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu
Friday, December 10: Mayor Peter Carlisle, City Council member Ann Kobayashi, Planning and Permitting Director David Tanoue and Environmental Services Director Tim Steinberger attend economic forum about the benefits of building new homes.

Thursday, December 9: Neighborhood Commission reprimands Koolau Loa Board for ignoring public; More concerns surface about Rod Tam‘s money management; City working on formal response to outside rail review.

Wednesday, December 8: Three more director nominees cruise through early stages of appointment; City Council approves “overt” video surveillance across Oahu; Outgoing City Council members Lee Donohue, Reed Matsuura, Gary Okino and Rod Tam say goodbye.

Tuesday, December 7: Kobayashi finds hope in new state leadership; Managing Director Doug Chin describes “quiet” week; Mayor Peter Carlisle remembers Pearl Harbor attack.