Thursday, September 27, 2018

Hawaii Legislature less popular than Trump, Waikiki's King's Village coming down, federal funds coming for disaster relief, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Pa'u riders on parade ©2018 All Hawaii News
In Hawaii, People Like Trump Better Than They Like The Legislature. A new survey shows how island residents feel about their elected officials, major institutions and a broad range of issues, from housing to the environment. Civil Beat.

Democratic Gov. David Ige has accepted an invitation from KHON-TV to debate his opponent, Republican nominee and state Rep. Andria Tupola, in the race for governor but Tupola is still mulling whether to participate. Star-Advertiser.

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Counties Ask Supreme Court To Invalidate Ballot Measure For School Funds. They seek a ruling before the Nov. 6 vote on a constitutional amendment that would authorize the state to collect property taxes. Civil Beat.

Hawaii counties ask Supreme Court to invalidate prop tax ballot question. Hawaii’s four counties on Wednesday filed a petition for extraordinary writ with the state Supreme Court, asking justices to invalidate a question on the November ballot for a proposed constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to place a “surcharge” on investment real estate to support public schools. Pacific Business News.

Counties take property tax ballot question to state Supreme Court. It's an issue on the November ballot that's drawing heated argument from all sides. KHON2.

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Here’s How Mazie Hirono Shaped Her ‘Badass’ Image In Washington. Hawaii’s junior senator is gaining national prominence for her outspoken criticism of Trump and Brett Kavanaugh. Civil Beat.

Federal funds expected soon to help with disaster relief. State and county officials seeking recovery funding for recent disasters got some welcome news Wednesday when the U.S. House of Representatives green-lighted $1.7 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funding. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. House approved new legislation Wednesday that would send $1.7 billion to communities plagued by natural disasters nationwide. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai, Oahu and Hawaii island cumulatively have received more than $120 million in federal aid for disasters since April and more money is on the way, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Lane might not have materialized into the menacing monster storm that was forecast, but all the bluster surrounding it did keep some tourists away. In August, Hawaii hotels reported that occupancy fell nearly 3 percentage points to just over 78 percent, according to a Hawaii Hotel Performance Report recently released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii will receive about $700,000 as part of a $148 million nationwide settlement with California ride-sharing service Uber Technologies Inc. due to the ride-hailing company’s delay in reporting hackers had accessed the private information of some 600,000 drivers. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has launched a $500,000 pilot grants program that will provide smaller, one-year grant awards for projects that benefit the Native Hawaiian community and align with the agency’s broad strategic priority areas. Maui Now.

The colorful pa'u riders are one of the most unique features of any parade here in the Hawaiian Islands. Draped in yards of brightly colored fabric and decked in lei, pa'u riders continue an old equestrian tradition. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s trade export program got a $450,000 boost from the U.S. Small Business Administration on Tuesday to continue its support of companies looking to start or grow their exports. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Incoming Waikiki highrise forces closure of landmark, driving out small businesses. Hilton Grand Vacations, a global timeshare company, announced its development plans Wednesday for a 1.05-acre site that currently envelops King’s Village, Hale Waikiki Apartments and Prince Edwards Apartments. Hawaii News Now.

Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. announced today that it has purchased a 1.05-acre site that currently includes King’s Village in Waikiki from BSC KVSC, LLC (“BSC”), with plans to develop a 32-story tower. Star-Advertiser.

The purchase of the King’s Village site in Waikiki by Hilton Grand Vacations is expected to reinvigorate plans for a new 32-story tower that have been in limbo since at least 2014. Star-Advertiser.

Hilton plans to open a new tower in Waikiki. KHON2.

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Getting residents on board with the new airport rail stop design. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's aiming to get more people on board to support the design for their rail stations. KITV.

‘Chaos At Kamalani’: Why It’s So Hard To Run A Charter School. An innovative new charter school continues to struggle with parent communication and teacher turnover in its second year. Civil Beat.

Kahauiki Village gets a large donation to benefit homeless relief efforts. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation donated $3 million to the organization responsible for Kahauiki Village, a successful collection of transitional homes for families located near Sand Island. Hawaii News Now.

The United States Office of Naval Research awarded the University of Hawaii West Oahu a $638,100 grant to create a program to support veterans interested in careers and education involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Proposed rules for managing Maunakea lands draw fierce criticism. More than 30 people submitted verbal testimony about the proposed rules, which would prohibit certain activities and items on Maunakea land, require permits for certain other activities on the land and would allow an agent of UH — referred to as “the president’s designee” — to control access to the mountain at his or her discretion. Tribune-Herald.

Council Member Ruggles Puts Queen’s Hospital on Notice. Council member Jen Ruggles released a letter she sent notifying Queen’s Health Systems that it appears they may be violating the rights of protected persons. Big Island Now.

Residents Say Dairy Is Still Polluting Their Small Town. Court filings say discharges of wastewater are continuing even though the company is under an order to stop it. Civil Beat.

Maui

Panel rejects special use permit for Paia Inn. Appeal likely to 2nd Circuit Court. The Maui Planning Commission voted 5-1 Tuesday to reject a hearings officer’s recommendation to grant Paia business owner Michael Baskin a special use permit. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday voted 5-1 to reject recommendations from a hearings officer in a report regarding the Paia Inn’s remanded application for a special use permit. Maui Now.

Financing has been obtained for the 118-unit Kaiwahine Village affordable housing project in north Kihei, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Inoperable doors, dormitory stairways in disrepair and a fire alarm system that has not been operational for years at Maui Community Correctional Center have led to $37,490 in fines — the second time this summer that the Maui jail has been cited. Maui News.

Janus lawyer: Too early to tell how unions will be affected by ruling. Attorney appears at Grassroot Institute event at Maui Country Club. Maui News.

Kauai

The state of Hawaii’s pension plan is underfunded, and if the problem isn’t resolved the crisis could get worse. That’s what Joseph Kent, vice president of research at the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, told the Kauai County Council Wednesday as he presented a report he authored about the issue. Garden Island.

Sides split on tree removal. Red paint on ironwood trees along Kauai’s Eastside Waipouli coastline is marking the way for a new beach area and eventual coastal path for the up-and-coming Coconut Beach Resort. Garden Island.

$13.5M Kilauea estate for sale. A favorite getaway for celebrities and their families for the last decade, the Kilauea home of the late architect Elliott Rosenblum and his partner, pediatrician Dr. Mark Nesselson, is on the market for $13.5 million with Heather Ford of Elite Pacific Properties. Garden Island.

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