Friday, June 15, 2018

Trump approves federal assistance for lava-struck homeowners, AG mismanaged asset seizure program, Honolulu ethics audit quashed by city, state settles special ed lawsuit, Hana pier to come down, scientists debunk gems from volcano stories, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USGS
Lava enters sea, June 14 PC:USGS
President Donald Trump approved on Thursday Gov. David Ige’s request for federal individual assistance programs to aid residents affected by the Kilauea eruption, just one day after the request was made. Tribune-Herald.

President Donald Trump has approved Hawaii’s request for individual assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for Big Island residents whose homes have been lost or damaged due to the ongoing Kilauea Volcano eruptions. Star-Advertiser.

President Donald Trump approved Hawaii Gov. David Ige’s request for individual assistance for Hawaii County residents and businesses who lost homes and property in the ongoing eruption of the island's Kilauea volcano that began on May 3. Pacific Business News.

President Trump Approves Hawaii County Individual Assistance Request. Big Island Video News.

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The state agreed to pay $10.25 million to settle a federal lawsuit brought by the Hawaii Disability Rights Center and the parents and legal guardians of special-needs students whose public education was cut off at age 20 instead of 22 by a 2010 state law. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Will Pay $10.25 Million To Settle Special Education Lawsuit. The state violated federal law by denying services to disabled students before they reached the age of 22. Civil Beat.

There is a major payout from the Department of Education to settle a class-action lawsuit. There are 495 students who are part of the class action lawsuit. KHON2.

Auditor: Hawaii AG Mismanaged Asset Seizure Program. The AG failed to account for forfeited property and didn’t spend $2 million for drug prevention programs as required by law, the report found. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gets $3.2 Million To Thwart Election Hacking. Russian hacking in 2016 prompted Congress to bolster state elections security with new funding. Civil Beat.

Hawaii will receive a portion of the federal Commerce, Science, and Justice Appropriations Bill, which the Senate Appropriations Committee passed on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has issued request for proposals to offer funding support to cultural and community organizations in 2019. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate is holding at its all-time low of 2 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines, two major carriers serving the Hawaii market, are seeking to create a joint venture, which they say would provide consumers with lower fares, increased capacity and more choices. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines has possible joint venture with Japan Airlines. KHON2.

Three months after launching the first phase of their comprehensive partnership, Hawaiian Airlines and Japan Airlines have filed an application for antitrust immunity to create a joint venture. Pacific Business News.

Nearly 700 attendees are at VERGE-Hawaii, the Asia-Pacific Clean Energy Summit in Waikiki this week. One of the topics discussed was sustainable tourism. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu


Ethics Commission Audit Quashed On Advice Of City’s Lawyer. The Honolulu auditor was concerned its results might be “discoverable” in a lawsuit filed by Louis and Katherine Kealoha. Civil Beat.

Allegations surface of equipment misuse for profit by DLNR employees. Hawaii News Now.

Court reports mixed on Kawananakoa. The special master hired to advise the judge is recommending that Kawananakoa, 92, be declared mentally capable of changing or revoking her trust and also of removing and replacing the trustee. Star-Advertiser.

Stores mandated to charge 15-cents per plastic, paper bag. KHON2.

Power outage kept Ewa Beach community in the dark for more than 30 hours. KHON2.

Crafting a king: City commissioned statue of Kamehameha III to be completed ahead of La Hoihoi Ea. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Homeowners, renters, business owners and nonprofits that suffered losses in Hawaii island’s volcanic eruption that began May 3 can now start applying for federal monetary aid. Star-Advertiser.

The County of Hawaii announces that residents who suffered damage or losses from the recent Kilauea volcanic eruption and earthquakes, can now register for disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Big Island Now.

The Hawaii Department of Health announced Thursday plans to install 10 new ambient air quality monitoring stations across Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

Ashfall lowers air quality for residents of Ocean View. Star-Advertiser.

3 pm Eruption Update – Chemical Analysis, UH Says No Falling Gems. Big Island Video News.

Green gems raining from the sky at Kilauea? Well ... not exactly. Hawaii News Now.

DLNR provides emergency cinder resource vital for tropical floral businesses on Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

Survivors of past Hawaii lava recall despair and opportunity. Associated Press.

Now that a finding of no significant environmental impact has been published for a new resources management plan for South Point, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is ready to take up a project residents have requested for three decades — as soon as it finds the money. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The new head of the Office of Council Services for Maui County is Maria Zielinski, who resigned abruptly in December as director of the state Department of Taxation. Maui News.

Removal of the deteriorating Hana pier, which has been in the works since 2016, may not take place until 2021, according to the project’s final environmental impact statement. Maui News.

Energy office to hold meetings on utility ownership. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai residents rebuilding after the flood eligible for expedited permits. On Friday, Mayor Bernard Carvalho plans to sign an emergency ordinance to speed up the permitting process for impacted residents to rebuild over the next 60 days. Hawaii News Now.

Unemployment rate rises on Kauai. The unemployment rate for May on Kauai was 2.1 percent, up from 1.8 percent in April, but down from 2.5 percent in May 2017. Garden Island.

Molokai

A former manager of a defunct credit union on the island of Molokai has been sentenced to seven years in prison for embezzling more than $1 million with another employee. Associated Press.

Federal officials are investigating after a monk seal was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Molokai. Maui News.

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