Taxes on rich pull Hawaii economy up, state sues Big Pharma, nursing homes investigated, missile testing ramps up on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Downtown Honolulu commercial center ©2019 All Hawaii News

Economists: Higher Revenue Estimates Do Not Signal Economic Growth In Hawaii. Experts attribute unexpected 4.7% revenue boost to increased income tax rate for higher-income earners. Civil Beat.

WalletHub: Hawaii Has 4th Worst State Economy. Washington state leads the nation while Alaska is dead last, says a new report. Civil Beat.

=====

Hawaii joins 40-plus states suing OxyContin maker over opioid epidemic. Hawaii filed suit today against Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, for its role in fueling the opioid epidemic. Star-Advertiser.

Opioid Makers, Distributors Sued By Hawaii AG. The legal action comes as a “necessary part” of the state’s response to a rise in opioid overdoses. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Among Latest States Suing Opioid Maker Purdue Pharma. Associated Press.

Hawaii Attorney General files suit against opioid manufacturers. State Attorney General Clare Connors joined other states in filing suit against numerous opioid manufacturing companies. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Hawaii's worst performing nursing homes revealed. A half dozen Hawaii care centers have made the list of worst performing nursing homes in the state. KITV.

Hawaii Nursing Homes On List of Troubled Operations Released By Senators. The federal government for years has kept under wraps the names of hundreds of nursing homes around the country found by inspectors to have serious ongoing health, safety or sanitary problems. Associated Press.

=====

Years-long investigation into allegations of corruption at Boating Division drags on. New emails shed light on a years-long investigation into allegations of corruption and retaliation at the state’s Boating Division. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii sees record number of public schools serving free summer meals. Seventy-one schools across the state are serving meals through its summer food service program called Seamless Summer Option. Star-Advertiser.

Pancreatic cancer risks are greater for Hawaiians, Japanese Americans. Native Hawaiians and Japanese Americans face greater risks of pancreatic cancer, according to a recent study by the University of Southern California, the University of Hawaii and others. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Prosecution’s line of questioning leaves judge in Kealoha corruption trial peeved. There were fireworks from the bench Monday in the public corruption trial against the Kealohas as a line of questioning from the prosecution upset the judge. Hawaii News Now.

KEALOHA TRIAL: Prosecutors plan to show video testimony of Katherine Kealoha's grandma Tuesday. Prosecutors plan to show the video testimony of Florence Puana, the mother of Gerard Puana during Tuesday's proceedings. KHON2.

Kealoha Trial: ‘I Thought It Was Uncle Gerry Right Off The Bat’. Prosecutors try to use police officers’ prior grand jury testimony against them in the criminal trial over an alleged frame job. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha tied to fictional notary. Federal prosecutors Monday linked Katherine Kealoha to an imaginary notary public who wrote a letter of support to state officials for Kealoha to successfully become director of the state Office of Environmental Quality in 2008. Star-Advertiser.

HPD Eyes Unconventional Recruits To Fill Officer Shortage. The Honolulu Police Department is currently short 260 officers, or about 10 percent of its total force. Hawaii Public Radio.

City offers appointments 6 months out for driver’s license renewals. You can now make an appointment to renew your driver’s license on Oahu up to six months in advance. Hawaii News Now.

A homeless camp tucked away in Kalihi is cleared. Squatters who built a village in the middle of a Kalihi Valley neighborhood are now gone, but signs of their presence remain. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Beer money. A proposed settlement agreement in the lawsuit against the owner of Kona Brewing Co. could mean partial refunds for anybody who’s purchased packs of its bottled or canned beers in the last few years. West Hawaii Today.

‘Styrofoam’ ban advances. Polystyrene foam food containers will remain banned under a bill advanced Monday by a County Council panel, but locally nonrecyclable alternatives will be allowed when the law goes into effect July 1. West Hawaii Today.

=====

Proposed rules for Mauna Kea management isn’t sitting well with some. Dozens of people filled the Manoa Elementary School cafeteria to share their thoughts on the University of Hawaii’s proposed rules for Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

TMT opponents upset over rules UH is proposing for Mauna Kea. Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope were outraged that rules the University of Hawaii is proposing for Mauna Kea governing public and commercial activity would exempt the university and hurt Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser.

Emotional testimony at a public hearing on proposed new rules atop Mauna Kea. KITV.

=====

USGS plans volcano mapping flyovers. A low-flying helicopter will be documenting changes to Puna’s landscape from last year’s eruption of Kilauea volcano. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Volcano Lidar Survey Set For June 13 through June 30. Big Island Video News.

Testifier Alleging Police Brutality Storms Out Of Council Meeting. Monday’s council committee meeting was called into recess when things took an emotional turn during a discussion on a proposed whistle blower program. Big Island Video News.

Maui

County moves to relocate bus hub. Lease for island’s busiest transit hub at mall expires in January. Maui News.

The County of Maui, Department of Public Works will lead a Shoreline Cleanup Event in celebration of World Ocean’s Day from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Pa'ia Bay. Maui Now.

Visitors to Maui in April logged more days on-island as compared to a year ago, but they were spending less money per day and overall, according to data released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Plays A Growing Role Testing Technology For Tomorrow’s Nuclear Weapons. With little fanfare, experimental missiles are being launched at the Kauai Test Facility to test technologies being considered for future weapons programs. Civil Beat.

Change would allow for property liens. The Planning Committee is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Historic County Building, followed by a meeting of the Committee of the Whole. Garden Island.

$67M federal disaster aid coming, Hawaii joins Big Pharma lawsuit, jury selection begins in Kealoha trial, CO2 levels hit record, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lava overtakes houses in this May 7, 2018 aerial PC: Mick Kalber

Hawaii is set to receive about $67 million in new federal disaster relief to help the state recover from torrential rainfall that caused severe flooding on parts of Kauai and Oahu in April 2018, Tropical Storm Lane and the eruption of Kilauea on Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

State to receive $67 million in federal disaster relief funding. The grant, totaling $66.9 million, was awarded in part because of efforts of U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, who said “the vast majority” of the grant will be awarded to Hawaii County in an effort to aid recovery following the various disasters that struck the island last year. Tribune-Herald.

2018 Storms, Lava Cost More Than Half A Billion Dollars. The latest $67 million in federal disaster recovery aid was announced Monday. Civil Beat.

$67 Million In Federal Funding On The Way For Hawaii Disasters. The new funding reportedly brings total federal disaster relief funding for Hawai‘i to more than $429 million. Big Island Video News.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Monday that Hawaii will receive $66.9 million in new federal disaster relief funding. Garden Island.

=====

CO2 levels measured in Hawaii hit milestone not seen in human history. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere -- measured at a facility atop Mauna Loa -- hit an alarming new daily baseline above 415 parts per million Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii joins states suing drug companies. Attorney General Clare E. Connors joined 42 states and Puerto Rico, led by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong in announcing a lawsuit against Teva Pharmaceuticals and 19 of the nation's largest generic drug manufacturers alleging a broad conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade for over 100 different generic drugs. KITV.

Hawaii Delegation To Look For Affordable Housing Solutions In Singapore. State Sen. Stanley Chang will lead a group of about 40 people to learn more about the city-state’s approach. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii proposes tuition freeze for undergrads, cut for graduate students. University of Hawaii President David Lassner wants to freeze undergraduate tuition at all 10 campuses for three years and reduce graduate tuition at UH-Manoa, to attract more students and keep college affordable. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii proposes tuition changes for next year. UH is looking to stop undergraduate tuition from increasing and cut tuition for graduate students at Manoa starting in Fall 2020. KHON2.

In Hawaii 4 of the top 6 jobs in demand are in the medical field. While managers and operations managers are among the top five most in demand jobs in Hawaii, four of the top six are in the medical field and three of them are in nursing. KITV.

Gov. Ige’s aide Ford Fuchigami to return to Hawaii transportation department in civil service job. Ford Fuchigami, who has served as a principal advisor to Gov. David Ige since November 2017, is returning to the state Department of Transportation to take a civil service job. Star-Advertiser.

USPS to honor USS Missouri with new Forever stamp. The U.S. Postal Service will issue a stamp honoring the famous World War II battleship the USS Missouri that was the site of Japan’s unconditional surrender on Sept. 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Potential Kealoha jurors gather at Blaisdell. Some 413 potential jurors filled the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room Monday in an extraordinary federal court proceeding to select jurors in the corruption trial for former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his ex-deputy prosecutor wife Katherine and three current and former Honolulu Police Department officers. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds Of Potential Jurors Screened On Opening Day Of Kealoha Trial. The prosecution and defense will now work to narrow the list of potential jurors to 12, which could take up to 10 days. Civil Beat.

Jury Selection Has Begun In High Profile Corruption Case. Associated Press.

With jury selection for Kealoha trial underway, attorneys now look to get an advantage. Jury selection for the Kealoha trial got underway Monday at the Blaisdell Center with more than 400 potential jurors. KHON2.

=====

Contractor gets prison term for bribery. The president of Honolulu civil engineering company Lyon Associates Inc. and former Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals member Frank James Lyon is going to federal prison for paying bribes for government contracts. Star-Advertiser.

Kunia veterans blame possible exposure to toxic pesticides for mystery illnesses. A group of more than 100 Kunia veterans are suffering from neurological issues, cancer, birth defects and other illnesses after they say they were exposed to toxic pesticides. Hawaii News Now.

Board Restates Support For Beach Park Redevelopment In Face Of Opposition. Hundreds attend a neighborhood board meeting where many wanted to stop a project to build ball fields at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park. Civil Beat.

Waimanalo residents are deeply divided over a park development in the works. After about a decade of planning, city leaders are now trying to convince families in Waimanalo to accept $32 million dollar park project. Hawaii News Now.

Midrise affordable rentals opening in Kakaako. The developer of the largely state-financed $53 million Hale Kewalo project reserved for low-income households hosted a blessing ceremony Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

'What heroes represent'; Kaliloa, other Big Island officers who gave their lives in line of duty honored. The Hawaii Police Department’s annual National Police Week ceremony, always solemn and poignant, was especially so Monday.  Tribune-Herald.

Police Week Ceremony Held In Hilo, Officer Kaliloa Added To Memorial Wall. The name of fallen Officer Bronson Kaliloa, killed last year in the line of duty, has been added to the memorial wall, Ka Malu Aloha. Big Island Video News.

Community veterans center clears environmental hurdle. The West Hawaii Veterans Council remains on a mission to build the West Hawaii Community Veterans Center, even though state grant-in-aid funding did not come through this legislative session. West Hawaii Today.

Alii Drive culvert replacement project nearing start. Officials have slated a community meeting to prepare the public for the upcoming replacement of a deteriorating culvert on Alii Drive, a project that’s likely to snarl traffic on the main thoroughfare for months. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County ending abandoned vehicle auctions. Officials say last year, the auctions were getting more expensive than the revenue generated. KHON2.

Maui nonprofit organizations secured $4.5 million in Capital Improvement Project Grant-in-Aid funds.These CIP grants are provided to local organizations serving the public and working to improve the state of Hawaii, and are awarded for the purpose of construction projects or the acquisition of fixed assets such as land or buildings. Maui Now.

Kauai

Balancing access and safety. Nobody has been cited for trespassing at Queen’s Bath since the fence and gate went up across the trailhead in September 2018. Garden Island.

Kauai’s legislators will take a look back at the 2019 session at the Lihue Business Association meeting on May 30 at Duke’s Canoe Club, Kalapaki. Garden Island.

Climate change bills falter, Carlisle wants to be Honolulu prosecutor again, Hawaii County suing Big Pharma, Maui commissioners resign over vacation rental, Gabbard makes presidential debates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sunrise over Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Lawmakers Have Largely Dropped The Ball On Slowing Climate Change. Efforts to address the effects of a warming planet on a vulnerable island state have mostly fallen short this session. Civil Beat.

Ranked voting, a new way to elect candidates for political office, could be coming to Hawaii if a bill making its way through the state Legislature becomes law. Star-Advertiser.

Inside The Legislature’s Backroom Brawl Over A Water Rights Bill. As opponents of House Bill 1326 were making a lot of noise in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday and chanting things like, “The people have spoken, the public trust is broken,” the state Senate was behind closed doors in its chamber-level quarters trying to save legislation extending the right of Alexander & Baldwin and others to divert water from Hawaii streams. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers are considering a controversial proposal that would require midwives to be licensed by the state before July 1, 2020. Midwives were regulated in Hawaii from the 1930's, but haven’t been since the late 90's when nurse-midwives were placed under the Board of Nursing. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers still considering leasehold condos on state land. A bold idea this year to address Hawaii’s chronically short supply of affordable housing by developing and selling leasehold condominiums on state land is still in play at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Presses For A Bigger Share Of Money From Hawaii’s Trust Lands. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs hasn’t received an increase in revenues from the ceded trust lands in more than a decade. Civil Beat.

AG Breezes Through Committee Vote. Attorney General Clare Connors had no worries heading into a vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Civil Beat.

Gabbard qualifies for Democratic debate stage. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced Wednesday that 65,000 people have donated to her presidential campaign, a milestone that makes her eligible to join the televised Democratic debates in June. Star-Advertiser.

Coming To A Democratic Debate Stage Near You -- Tulsi Gabbard. The Hawaii congresswoman needed 65,000 donors per DNC rules to qualify for the 2020 debates. On Wednesday her campaign announced she hit the mark. Civil Beat.

=====

Black hole named Powehi. With the world’s first image of a black hole made with the help of two Hawaii telescopes, astronomers say it was only right to give it a Hawaiian name. Star-Advertiser.

Introducing Powehi, The World-Famous Black Hole. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maunakea telescopes help create the first image of a black hole. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii telescopes instrumental in capturing first image of black hole. KHON2.

Oahu

Ex-Mayor Peter Carlisle Wants To Be Honolulu Prosecutor Again. His longtime political rival, Keith Kaneshiro, has taken a leave of absence because he’s a target in a federal investigation. Associated Press.

Despite warnings, Kaneshiro continues to visit building that houses prosecutor’s office. After Keith Kaneshiro placed himself on administrative leave pending the outcome of a federal criminal investigation, he was told to stay away from the city prosecutor’s office until the investigation was over. Hawaii News Now.

Feds Still Aren’t Releasing $744 Million For Honolulu Rail. Rail officials had hoped to finally get their long-stalled recovery plan approved by this month. Now, they hope to get “provisional’ approval in late May or early June. Civil Beat.

Judge upholds land board decision to allow a new North Shore wind farm. The board previously said the Na Pua Makani project in Kahuku could proceed, despite expectations that it would kill a number of native bats every year. Hawaii News Now.

Talk of a new racetrack in Ewa fuels a debate, the neighborhood board wants more community input. Racers are eager to get behind the wheel again. After 12 years without a racetrack on Oahu, many said it's about time. KHON2.

State to open Pali Highway on Sunday as repairs close Likelike Highway. Likelike Highway will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday as Hawaiian Electric crews conduct emergency work involving the removal of a damaged, leaning utility pole and other equipment. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Department dealing with dispatcher shortage. Last year the Public Safety Answering Point located at the Honolulu Police Department headquarters received over 1 million 9-1-1 calls. KITV.

Airport post office open late for taxes. The Honolulu main post office at 3600 Aolele St. near the airport will be the only post office in Hawaii offering late collection of mail Monday to accommodate last-minute tax filers. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu main is the only post office in the state offering late collection on tax day. The Honolulu Main Post Office at 3600 Aolele Street will be the only post office in Hawaii offering late collection of mail on federal Tax Day, Monday, Apr. 15, to accommodate last-minute filers of tax returns. KITV.

Hawaii Island

County to sue opioid manufacturers, distributors. Hawaii County has jumped into a multi-state class action lawsuit against Big Pharma manufacturers and distributors, seeking compensation for opioid addiction and overdoses on the island. West Hawaii Today.

New life for South Kohala development. Aina Lea Inc. expects to emerge from bankruptcy next month following a judge’s tentative approval of a plan that will make viable the continued development of The Villages of Aina Lea. West Hawaii Today.

Officials Give Highway 132 Lava Recovery Update. The County Council voted today to approve a bill to allocate $50 million to restore 3.2 miles of road in Puna. Big Island Video News.

School inundated by lava looks toward the future as classes continue. Nearly nine months after lava inundated Kua O Ka La New Century Public Charter School’s Puna campus, classes continue elsewhere and school officials are looking toward the future. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two Maui Planning commissioners resign over Paia Inn vacation rental expansion permit. Judge’s order forces planning commission to authorize permit. Maui News.

Mayor Michael Victorino lauded for revealing he was sex assault victim. Experts say his story may help others. Maui News.

Wong resigns; Lutey is named corporation counsel. Even with charges dropped, mayor accepts resignation. Maui County’s top civil lawyer, Corporation Counsel Patrick Wong, resigned Tuesday following a contentious County Council confirmation process and a domestic incident last month. Maui News.

Homelessness down slightly in Maui County in 2019. Point-in-Time Count shows 862 people living on streets or in shelters. Maui News.

New effort afoot to save an endangered Native Hawaiian bird on Maui. It’s estimated that there are less than 300 Kiwikiu, or Maui Parrotbill, left in the wild. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

'Everything is on the table'. On the second reading of resolution 2019-1 — proposing salary increases for employees of the county and officials--the council found itself deadlocked again. Garden Island.

Wary of highway reopening. Kuhio Highway west of Hanalei --closed and accessible only to residents since last year’s disastrous storms -- is tentatively set to reopen on or about May 1, but continuing restrictions will make actually using the highway challenging for both residents and visitors. Garden Island.