Lawsuits threatened over Hawaii reapportionment, tax revenues up, Big Island councilwoman wants DUI vehicles confiscated, Abercrombie declares civil defense emergency to remove ordnance, Maui considers single-member districts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

checking reapportionment maps (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

The state Reapportionment Commission was put on notice Tuesday it will get sued if it persists in including nonresident military and students in determining state legislative boundaries. West Hawaii Today.

The state Reapportionment Commission can expect to be sued if its final plan for redrawing state political boundaries is based on a population count that includes nonresident population groups such as military members and their dependents. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island residents slammed the state Reapportionment Commission on its boundary proposals and threatened legal action if commissioners deny the island a fourth seat in the state Senate. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie declared a civil defense emergency earlier this summer in a largely unpublicized move that gives the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sweeping authority to bypass state laws to investigate and remove unexploded ordnance. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers agree with Gov. Neil Abercrombie on the danger of discarded military explosives scattered across the islands, but many believe the governor should have been more transparent before using his emergency powers to assist with the cleanup. Star-Advertiser.

State tax revenue collections grew last month, thanks in part to strengthening tourism numbers. KHON2.

Dean Haskins, executive director of The Birther Summit, is in Honolulu to promote a $10,000 award for whomever can produce the actual edition of the Honolulu Advertiser or the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that reported Obama's Aug. 4, 1961, birth. Civil Beat.

As a result of efforts to raise the bar for the level of the education available at Hawaii’s public schools, six more schools recently attained adequate yearly progress. Hawaii Independent.

Nationally poverty numbers have increased, while the number of people living in poverty in Hawaii has dropped to 12.1% from 12.5% a year ago. KITV4.

Hawaii is not considered a pedestrian's paradise. KITV4.

Oahu

The Honolulu Council Reapportionment Commission on Tuesday narrowed down its list of four potential district plans to the one it will take out to the community next month. Civil Beat.

Superblocks with 40-story buildings linked by walkways suspended 45 feet above streets never materialized in Kakaako, but the vision of state planners nearly 30 years ago is about to get updated with more down-to-earth ideas. Star-Advertiser.

Bombardier Transportation USA has lost its latest attempt to overturn its disqualification in the bidding war for a lucrative City and County of Honolulu rail contract. Pacific Business News.

The Solar One project in Kalaeloa is meeting resistance. Hawaii Independent.

The 3rd Annual Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit started today. Hawaii Public Radio.

A Honolulu police officer is dead and another is in the hospital following a traffic collision during a routine traffic stop on Farrington Highway near Ko Olina Tuesday night. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines expects to offer daily nonstop flights between Honolulu and Fukuoka starting next year. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Intoxicated, unlicensed or fraudulent drivers would risk having their vehicles towed at their expense or even sold under a bill heading for County Council consideration. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is looking for a good spot to build a park in Puna, after being rebuffed by Hawaiian Paradise Park. Tribune-Herald.

For years, millions of dollars have been invested, mostly in the form of human labor and chemicals, in an attempt to control super weeds, such as strawberry guava, clidemia hirta, miconia, kahili ginger and Australian tree fern. West Hawaii Today.

Pot choppers took to the air over East Hawaii on Monday and Tuesday, a top state law enforcer said. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Members of the Charter Commission agreed Monday to continue discussing proposals to establish single-member County Council districts - even as many commissioners said they were personally opposed to the idea. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Monday took up a bill on short-term rental properties in residential districts in depth for the first time in years and is looking at comprehensively examining, legalizing and streamlining the law in its Planning Committee. Maui News.

Dozens of letters of support have been written to the state on behalf of embattled Maui housing project manager Lisa Faleafine by residents of the apartment complex she oversees. Hawaii Reporter.

Kauai

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced on Monday it will close the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park and Kalalau trail from Hanakapi‘ai to Kalalau Beach, starting Thursday in order to restore the Kalalau camping area after a busy summer season. Garden Island.

A Wainiha Valley taro grower says she was alarmed when her taro patches suddenly and unexpectedly dried out last month. Garden Island.