Health benefits face cuts, Hawaiian newspapers coming to the Internet, PUC approves HELCO power sharing, smart grid for Maui, swag for elected officials, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo homelessness (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Homeless service providers say they haven't seen much of a drop, if any, in the number of people coming to them. Civil Beat.

The Abercrombie administration intends to tighten eligibility and reduce benefits for adults in QUEST, eliminating an estimated 3,000 people from the state's health plan for the poor, but has walked back limits on hospital stays that would have been the most restrictive in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Swag of Our Governors. Civil Beat.

Awaiaulu, Inc., a local non-profit organization, is seeking 3,000 volunteers from around the world to participate in a unique nation-building initiative that aims to make 60,000 pages of Hawaiian-language newspapers accessible via the Internet. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaii Supreme Court Tuesday denied a request by retired car dealer James Pflueger to review a state appeals court ruling that upheld manslaughter charges against him in the deaths of seven people killed after the 2006 Ka Loko Dam breach. Star-Advertiser.

The state Public Utilities Commission has approved Hawaiian Electric Co.'s Feed in Tariff Tier 3. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Pacific Beach Hotel, its owners, and its management, face penalties after a federal contempt of court citation for failure to rehire fired union organizers with back pay. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) wants to inform drivers that archaeological survey work continues in the urban Honolulu area for the rail transit project. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii Kai residents will see their sewer bills go up 14 percent under a rate increase approved Monday by the Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The Outdoor Circle is taking a new, hard-line stance against the city's planned elevated rail transit system, calling the rail project the biggest threat to Oahu's landscape in the group's 100-year history. Star-Advertiser.

For the past two years, the city has been trying to get an exploding feral pig problem under control at Hoomaluhia Botanical Park in Kaneohe. KITV4.

Business owners will meet tomorrow to discuss a possible lawsuit over losses during the APEC summit. KHON4.

Hawaii

The first group of low-income residents will move in to the Kaloko Housing units as early as Dec. 1, HOPE Services Hawaii CEO Brandee Menino said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

As the Hawaii County Council plans its 10th meeting on a new county building code, Council Chairman Dominic Yagong is asking architects, contractors, owner-builders, trade unions and anyone else with an interest to submit amendments to make construction safe and more affordable. West Hawaii Today.

Police say they'll conduct islandwide DUI checkpoints over the Thanksgiving weekend as part of the national campaign "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over." Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii and Japan on Tuesday agreed to build a smart grid on Maui to demonstrate how solar, wind and other renewable energy sources can be integrated into an electrical grid. Associated Press.

Governor Neil Abercrombie announced a project that will invest $37-million-dollars in smart grid technologies on Maui. The entire project is being funded by Japan. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Board approved "pretty much the final piece of the puzzle" for the expansion of the Kaheawa wind farm, said First Wind spokesman Kekoa Kaluhiwa. Maui News.

Kauai
Makeover and renovations for the former Lihu‘e Courthouse will follow historic guidelines because the building is listed on the Hawai‘i Register and the National Register of Historic Places since 1981. Garden Island.