FBI closing in on Honolulu prosecutors, Ige outlines biosecurity plans, man swims from Japan to Hawaii, Maui mayor-elect names top staff, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kaneshiro Honolulu prosecutor meeting, from city website

Honolulu City prosecutor shows no signs of stepping aside after getting formal notice that he’s a target of federal probe.  City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro has received a Justice Department target letter informing him that he’s under investigation in the federal public corruption probe that has already led to two indictments against his former top deputy, Katherine Kealoha. Hawaii News Now.

Kaneshiro

Federal Investigators Are Digging Deeper Into Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office. The Justice Department inquiry into Honolulu police corruption has lasted four years and resulted in numerous indictments. But Keith Kaneshiro isn’t talking. Civil Beat.

Keith Kaneshiro is serving his fourth term in the elected position of Honolulu’s prosecuting attorney. And according to the city charter, it doesn’t take much to start the process of impeachment. Hawaii News Now.

Three top city prosecutors, including Keith Kaneshiro, should go on leave because of a taint created after the three reportedly received letters from the federal government linking them to a wide-ranging public corruption probe, according to criminal defense attorneys, a City Council member and a California law professor. Star-Advertiser.

City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro is reportedly under federal investigation. He could be the next high-profile target in the corruption case involving former Chief of Police Louis Kealoha and his wife former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha. KITV.

=====

Gov. David Ige wants biocontrol center to tackle invasive species. Gov. David Ige wants biocontrol center to tackle invasive species. Star-Advertiser.

Governor Ige outlined approach to combating invasive species. At the center of his philosophy, strength in numbers. KITV.

Ige talks biosecurity at Western Governors Association Winter Meeting. A contingent of governors from 19 states and three U.S. territories convened at the Fairmont Orchid Monday on the first day of the Western Governors Association Winter Meeting. The topic of note was biosecurity, an initiative for which Hawaii has considerable ambitions. West Hawaii Today.

Invasive Species Talks Held Before Western Governors’ Meeting. The day before the Western Governors’ Association 2018 Winter Meeting, a workshop is held, focused on the impacts of invasive species, pests and pathogens. Big Island Video News.

=====

Hawaii Tourism Authority fills 2 more top leadership positions. The Hawaii Tourism Authority today named two more hires marking the first time since March that the state agency has had all three of its top positions filled. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has filled two vacant leadership positions about two weeks after appointing Chris Tatum as its new CEO. Pacific Business News.

OHA Elects Officers and Look to the Future. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs conducted its first meeting following the November 6th election of new members. Hawaii Public Radio.

Colette Machado of Molokai has been unanimously re-elected to lead the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. Star-Advertiser.

Man swims from Japan to Hawaii to raise awareness on ocean pollution. Ben Lecomte was originally supposed to swim from Japan to San Francisco, but bad weather forced him to make a quick stop in our islands. KHON2.

The Fight Against Flight At Hawaii’s Public Middle Schools. Educators know they have to persuade parents that this isn’t the time to send their kids to private school — or a different public school. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Education is looking for a vendor to provide beef to schools as it continues efforts to locally source food for student lunches. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture reports the selection of Kevin Michael Hoffman, Ph.D. as the administrator for the Plant Industry Division and as the State Plant Regulatory Official effective Wednesday, Jan. 16. Big Island Now.

Oahu

After years of planning and prep, church opens igloos-shaped shelters to the homeless. More than two and a half years after an Oahu church made international headlines for its plan to build igloo-shaped shelters for the homeless, families are finally moving in. Hawaii News Now.

New tower brings more affordable units to urban core. A predominantly affordable-housing condominium tower in urban Honolulu began filling up Monday with an initial group of new homeowners moving in. Star-Advertiser.

SamKoo's mostly affordable Kapiolani Residence condo tower opens to residents. Kapiolani Residence, SamKoo Pacific’s mostly affordable 484-unit condominium tower near Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, opened to residents on Monday, nearly two years after the project sold out. Pacific Business News.

More Burglaries, Fewer Rapes Reported At UH Manoa. Newly released statistics show the number of reported rapes dropped from 13 in 2016 to seven in 2017. Civil Beat.

City announces weeks-long, partial closure of another urban park. The city is shutting down parts of Aala Park for maintenance from Wednesday through mid-January. Hawaii News Now.

Work for Honolulu's rail project will require lane and sidewalk closures around the intersection of Queen and Waimanu streets. KHON2.

Oahu solar PV permits down 16% in November. Hawaii's largest solar market experienced a double-digit decrease in the number of solar photovoltaic permits last month, compared to November 2017, bringing the total number of PV permit issued on Oahu below last year's record low, new county data shows. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Navy seeks additional comment on planned special ops exercises. Residents can still comment on the U.S. Navy’s plans for joint special operations training off the West Hawaii coast and elsewhere in the state. West Hawaii Today.

Local boat captains are keeping a weather eye on new rules that increase fees at the state’s small boat harbors. The rules, proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, raise mooring, utility, facility, storage, ramp and commercial permit fees. West Hawaii Today.

Maunakea Observatories on Monday launched a new website: www.maunakeaobservatories.org. The image-rich site is designed to enhance the community’s connection to the collaboration of observatories atop Maunakea, offering visitors insights into the observatories’ mission, community impact, environmental stewardship, cultural heritage and valuable contributions to science, as well as up-to-date access to news and career opportunities. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor-Elect Michael Victorino announced 12 intended appointments to his incoming administration during a press conference this afternoon at his Wailuku headquarters. Maui Now.

From a desk job to fire captain. A trailblazing woman takes charge among a band of firefighting brothers. Garden Island.


Median prices of condos rocket up in Nov. Supply issues a factor in increase in values. Maui News.

Sale volume and prices for homes sold on Maui last month were mostly higher, according to the Realtors Association of Maui. The trade association recently reported that the biggest change was a 32 percent jump in the median sale price for condominiums, to $528,650 in November from $399,500 a year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

US successfully shoots down intermediate-range ballistic missile in test off Kauai. The U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency successfully shot down an intermediate-range ballistic missile Tuesday during a test off Hawaii. The MDA said the Navy launched the interceptor from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai using the Aegis Ashore system. Hawaii News Now.

The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife is inviting Kauai residents to submit applications for positions on a community council to advise the Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program. Garden Island.

Coworking space launched at HA Coffee. HA Coffee just celebrated its five-year anniversary, and instead of hosting a party, they’re taking on a new coworking space venture — Kuleana.work. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai activists warn they’ll protest if Navy goes through with military exercises offshore. The Naval Special Operations Training is proposed for next year at sites statewide and the Navy wants public feedback on the plan. Hawaii News Now.