Felonies charged in FBI probe of Honolulu police, no source determined in Marco Polo condo fire, helicopter crashes off Molokai, Navy says sonar didn't cause whale beaching, Oahu prepares for Trump visit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Police file photo, courtesy HPD

A current police officer and a retired police major were both released from federal custody on $50,000 signature bonds Monday, a day after they were arrested in connection with a public corruption case tied to the investigation of the alleged theft of retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s mailbox. Star-Advertiser.

Two Honolulu police officers have been charged with felonies in connection with the ongoing federal corruption investigation into the Honolulu Police Department, its former chief and his deputy prosecutor wife. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu police officer and a retired major are among those who participated in framing a man for stealing a mailbox from the home of the department's former chief, federal prosecutors said Monday. Associated Press.

Unpaid leave for officer charged in mailbox case. Associated Press.

A Honolulu police officer and retired major appeared in court Monday after being charged as part of the years-long federal investigation into public corruption at some of the highest levels of Oahu's law enforcement. Hawaii News Now.

Attorneys claim arrests made to compel cooperation in alleged corruption investigation. A retired Honolulu police major and current officer are out on bond after being arrested as part of an alleged corruption investigation involving Honolulu’s former chief of police. KHON2.

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President Donald Trump’s first official trip to Hawaii and Asia will include a stop at Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, the White House said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Pro-Rail Groups Spent $200K On Special Session Lobbying Blitz. Most of the money came from developers, laborers and contractors with a stake in the Honolulu rail project. Civil Beat.

Astronomy’s ‘discovery of the century’ helps explain ‘cosmic bling’. Confirmation of the collision, the first ever detected kilonova, was announced Monday following a blitz of science throughout two months. Tribune-Herald.

Researchers from the University of Hawaii were part of a major scientific discovery, after they were able to confirm the observation of a binary neutron star merger and resulting kilonova explosion. Pacific Business News.

Pan-STARRS Observatory captures cosmic event. On the evening of Aug. 17, astronomers atop Haleakala were preparing to train the world’s largest digital camera onto a spot in the sky where, hours earlier, teams on the U.S. Mainland and in Chile had detected strange bursts of energy. Maui News.

'An example of aloha': Akaka reflects on his legacy, retirement and staying active. Surrounded by family and friends, former U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka last month celebrated his 93rd birthday at Chef Chai. Hawaii News Now.

Island Air, which brought in a new fleet of larger aircraft this year amid its aggressive expansion strategy, filed Monday for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air announced Monday it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. KHON2.

Honolulu-based Island Air said Monday it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to continue normal operations while dealing with legal challenges recently presented by the airline’s aircraft lessors. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Investigators have been unable to determine the cause of the Marco Polo condominium complex fire, city officials announced today, more than three months after the July 14 blaze, which left four people dead and caused more than $100 million in damage. Star-Advertiser.

Three months after a fire swept through the upper floors of the landmark Marco Polo condominium in Moiliili, killing four people and causing more than $100 million in damage, city officials still cannot say precisely what caused the largest structural fire in Honolulu history. Civil Beat.

Fire investigators have not been able to determine the source of the deadly Marco Polo fire. Hawaii Public Radio.

After an exhaustive analysis, the mayor says the cause of the massive, Marco Polo blaze continues to elude investigators.  Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Fire Chief Manuel Neves say the cause of a deadly, seven-alarm fire at the Marco Polo high-rise building could not be determined. KHON2.

The cause of the 7-alarm fire at the Marco Polo is still unknown following a three-month investigation. Pacific Business News.

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Questions Surface Over Integrity Of HPD Chief Candidate. A well-known former Hawaii judge is raising a red flag about Honolulu police chief finalist Tommy Aiu. But no one will talk about what’s behind it. Civil Beat.

At least 180 squatters living under Nimitz viaduct prepare to move out. More than a dozen outreach workers canvassed the area beneath the Nimitz viaduct Monday morning alerting squatters to an upcoming sweep. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Police are increasing patrols in Waikiki after a recent string of crimes in the area. KITV.

A former high-ranking FBI official in Honolulu is under fire after a local nonprofit accused him of stealing more than $33,000. Hawaii News Now.

Weather delays salvage efforts for grounded fishing vessel in Waikiki. The Coast Guard made another attempt Monday to remove a fishing vessel that's been stuck in shallow waters off Waikiki for about a week, but salvage efforts will be delayed again. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Economic Association Panel: International Cargo Ships Too Big for Honolulu Harbor. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines has finished tens of millions of dollars in fixes to “defects, deficiencies and incompletions” in a new maintenance and cargo hangar at the Daniel K. Ino­uye International Airport in Honolulu, and its chief executive officer, Mark Dunkerley, is calling for a state investigation to determine how the long-delayed project got so far off track. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Cos. said Monday that the typical HECO bill in October for an Oahu household using 500 kilowatt-hours was $139.91, or 25.9 cents a kilowatt-hour, up 17 cents from $139.74 in September when the effective rate was also 25.9 cents a kilowatt-hour. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County’s Camp Kikaha was offered as an example of a successful homeless safe zone at a meeting in Honolulu last week of a state panel charged with studying the concept. The camp is the only government-sanctioned temporary homeless neighborhood in Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

An individual at Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School in Hilo has been infected with the mumps virus, the school confirmed in a letter Monday. Forty-two documented mumps cases in Hawaii County have been confirmed since Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

A fire at the old Hilo jail building at the corner of Waianuenue Avenue and Komohana Street was extinguished Monday evening and one man was arrested, according to the Hawaii Department of Public Safety. Big Island Video News.

Big Island Drug Court graduates 13. The drug court program continues to increase the number of graduates since its inception in 2011. West Hawaii Today.

Five captive-reared alala, or Hawaiian crow, were released into the wild last week, part of conservationists’ second attempt in the past year to replenish the population of the critically endangered bird in its native habitat. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Eleven East Maui residents have filed a petition to intervene in the Nahiku Community Center project, which currently is undergoing permit and land use change reviews by the Maui Planning Commission. Maui News.

Kauai

Navy rules out sonar use as cause of mass whale stranding on Kauai. In a statement, the Navy confirmed it does not have any reports of any sonar use within five nautical miles or 24 hours of Friday's incident that left five whales dead at Kalapaki Beach. Hawaii News Now.

A conservation official says Hawaii's plan to eradicate a small crescent-shaped island's rat infestation via air drops of poison has worked, with no signs of negative impact on marine life. Associated Press.

The County of Kauai has scheduled an eight-hour water shutdown for customers in the Kalepa Village Apartments on Kalepa Circle and Kale Place in Hanamaulu on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Coast Guard is continuing to search for two people from a downed helicopter off of Molokai. Star-Advertiser.

Rescue crews continue searching for missing helicopter off Molokai. Hawaii News Now.