Hawaii's 20k federal civilian workers face Biden's vaccination mandate, COVID delays barge shipment, creates food shortages on Kauai, Jill Biden cuts foot on Oahu beach, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Federal building in Honolulu ©2021 All Hawaii News

President’s tough new vaccination rules impact 20K federal civilian workers in Hawaii. Some 20,000 federal civilian workers in Hawaii along with on-site contractors are impacted by President Biden’s sweeping new vaccine order. Under the new rules, they’ll be required to verify they’re vaccinated or face regular testing. Unvaccinated workers will also face travel restrictions and be required to mask up. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii hits 60% vaccination milestone, but is still behind schedule. Honolulu has about 62% of its population fully vaccinated, followed by Kauai County at 60%, Hawaii County at 56% and Maui County at 54%. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

Senate Formally Rejects Gov. David Ige's Court of Appeals Nominee. The state Senate formally rejected Gov. David Ige's appointment of Daniel Gluck to the Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals after Gluck expressed his desire to withdraw from the process. Hawaii Public Radio. Associated Press.

Jill Biden treated for puncture on foot after Hawaii visit. First lady Jill Biden underwent a medical procedure Thursday to flush out debris from a puncture wound on her left foot, her spokesperson said. Associated Press.

HTA: Visitor Arrivals, Spending Up in June, But Remains Below Pre-Pandemic Levels. Nearly 800,000 visitors from the continental U.S. arrived in the islands last month, according to the latest report from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority highlighting monthly visitor arrivals and spending. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH COVID-19 forecast model predicts Delta variant could push Oahu to 600 daily infections. The Hawaii Pandemic Applied Modeling Workgroup has come up with forecasts for several COVID-19 scenarios since the pandemic began last year, but the most alarming forecast is where the state could be heading in the next few months. KHON2.

July 29, 2021 COVID-19 Update: 234 Cases, 2 Deaths. The state Department of Health reports that there were 234** additional COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i on Thursday. **An interruption in electronic lab reporting earlier this week resulted in incomplete case counts reported yesterday and today. The confirmed cases included: 137 on O‘ahu (+1 probable); 54 on Hawai‘i Island; 18 on Maui (+13 probable); nine on Kaua‘i; and one in a Hawai‘i resident diagnosed while out of state (+1 probable). Maui Now.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council weighs how to spend federal COVID funds. The Honolulu City Council is deciding how to spend the first $193 million of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds that the city received in June to combat the public health and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Handi-Van Driver Dies Of COVID-19. A Honolulu paratransit driver is one of the latest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Honolulu Department of Transportation Services. The city did not release the person’s name or age, nor their date of death. Civil Beat.

Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center to require all employees to get vaccinated. Of the nearly 700 staff members at the center, 80 percent are already fully vaccinated. KITV4.

City cracks down on peer-to-peer car rentals clogging residential neighborhoods. With the shortage in rental cars, residents have been turning to renting out their cars using peer-to-peer sharing on apps like Turo. But some neighborhoods are seeing a proliferation of vehicles taking up parking on side streets — and the city is cracking down. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Tourism Authority approves plan to reduce Oahu tourists. The Hawaii Tourism Authority on Thursday approved a tourism management plan for Oahu that says the agency will work to “decrease the total number of visitors on the island.” That’s the top anchor action in the Oahu Destination Management Action Plan, which HTA developed in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu and the community over the past five months. Star-Advertiser.

Former managing director Roy Amemiya says he had nothing to do with former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha $250,000 settlement. Honolulu’s former managing director says he had nothing to do with the $250,000 settlement with former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and is still seeking information about the U.S. Department of Justice’s allegations that prompted investigators to subpoena him to testify before a federal grand jury, then make him a formal target of their investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Vice Principal Fired For Affair On Campus Accuses Her Union Of Failing To Defend Her. The vice principal, while accepting responsibility, says that dismissal for the affair with a principal was too harsh. Civil Beat.

How A ‘Perfect Storm’ Led To A Spike In COVID Cases On The Westside. Waianae and Ewa have had the highest number of new COVID-19 cases on Oahu in the past two weeks. Civil Beat.

Blaisdell Center Receives $3M Federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. The Neal S. Blaisdell Center has received just over $3 million from the federal Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program to recoup lost revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

6 residents test positive for COVID at Hilo nursing facility. A long-term care home facility on the Big Island reported Wednesday that six of its residents tested positive for COVID. The Life Care Center of Hilo had conducted facility-wide testing after one of their employees became infected with the virus on July 21. Hawaii News Now.

Homesteaders eye dispute between Fevella, Aila: Senate minority leader seeks probe of DHHL. Keaukaha Community President Patrick Kahawaiolaa said it’s difficult for homesteaders to get loans from commercial lenders because the land is on 99-year leases for $1 a year and title belongs to the DHHL. Tribune-Herald.

24th annual Sayre awards fundraiser canceled due to COVID. The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation announced the 24th annual Awards and Fund-Raising Dinner honoring the Hawaii Fire Department Meritorious Service Award recipients will not be held on Sept. 4 this year at the Fairmont Orchid due to the continued spread of the coronavirus. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Environmental study for water leases complete. A&B, EMI are seeking 30-year lease to divert water from East Maui. Alexander & Baldwin and its subsidiary East Maui Irrigation Co. have wrapped up a long-awaited environmental study that the companies need in order to seek a long-term lease to divert water from East Maui streams. Maui News.

Hawaiian Electric Collecting Feedback on Shared Solar Program for Moloka‘i. Hawaiian Electric is hosting a virtual stakeholder meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 11, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., to collect feedback from Moloka‘i residents and business owners, renewable energy developers, and interested parties regarding Moloka‘i shared solar projects, also known as the Community-Based Renewable Energy program. Maui Now.

$1 Million in New Grants & Matching Funds for Lānaʻi Watershed Conservation Program. The Kuahiwi a Kai: Lānaʻi Watershed Conservation Program has received four new grants worth $471,000 and matching contributions of $547,000, for a total conservation impact of more than $1 million. Maui Now.

Fewer Visitors to Maui in June 2021 than June 2019, But They Spent More. The 260,618 visitors to Maui in June 2021 contributed $503 million to the local economy, which is 5.4% more than the $477 million spent by the 295,926 tourists who came to the island pre-pandemic in June 2019. Maui Now.

Kauai

Barge shipment delay results in no burgers, pet food. Burger King ran out of burgers, and Kentucky Fried Chicken ran out of mashed potatoes. These were just some of the effects of a barge shipment delayed due to crew members contracting COVID-19, setting off a small chain reaction on the island. Garden Island.

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ singer selling North Shore home. Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis is selling his Kaua‘i house for nearly $10 million. Garden Island.

Senate panel rejects Gluck for appellate judge, 370-acre Maui solar project advances, Kauai prosecutor stepping down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Daniel Gluck at Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Senate Committee Rejects Dan Gluck’s Nomination To Appeals Court. For members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the vote on Gluck wasn’t just a vote for a single judicial candidate. Fair or not, his nomination has become a symbol of deeply rooted issues in Hawaii, specifically race and gender diversity. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii businesses in ‘wait-and-see’ mode on vaccine mandates. While a few have recently implemented mandates, there are still a lot of unanswered questions about how to go about it, as well as potential liabilities, and many are watching what larger companies do first as they begin bringing workers back to offices. Star-Advertiser.

HTA head: In wake of funding cut, other agencies will need to assist with tourism management. Hawaii Tourism Authority President and CEO John De Fries said during a livestream Wednesday that HTA, which had its budget reduced by about 24% as a result of a bill passed this summer, will have to rely on other state and county agencies to help control a growing number of visitors. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s public school teachers return to the classroom. More than 11,000 public school teachers reported to campus Wednesday to begin preparing for the first day of school on Tuesday. State Department of Education officials reported that the day came and went with few, if any, major problems at the system’s 256 schools. Star-Advertiser.

Applications for Summer Pandemic Food Assistance Program Close Aug. 2. The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services will be offering a summer pandemic electronic benefit transfer, a food assistance program that helps feed children who no longer have access to school lunches and breakfast. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Notification App Reaches 1M Activations. Hawaiʻi’s official COVID-19 notification app, AlohaSafe Alert, has reached 1 million activations since its launch in January. Hawaii Public Radio.

July 28, 2021 COVID-19 Update: 85 Cases* Incomplete Case Count, 3 Deaths. The confirmed cases included: 46 on O‘ahu (+4 probable); 14 on Hawai‘i Island (+4 probable); 12 on Maui (+5 probable); three on Kaua‘i; and three confirmed cases in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state were removed from the count. Maui Now.

Oahu

City considering changes to better enforce illegal Oahu vacation rentals. The Honolulu Department of Permitting and Planning is working on changing the short-term rental ordinance to crack down on illegal vacation rentals. Star-Advertiser.

Video of Sykap shooting shows officer firing repeatedly at car. Police body-worn camera footage played in court Wednesday shows Officer Geoffrey Thom standing upright, firing shot after shot at the back of a white Honda Civic, striking the 16-year-old driver eight times and killing him. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Case Tries Again To Get The Army To Fix Tripler’s Parking Problem. Congress plans to direct the military to address the parking shortage at the medical center. It’s not the first time. Civil Beat.

Runway repairs scheduled at Honolulu airport. Airfield repairs will happen at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) beginning Monday, Aug. 2, to Friday, Aug. 6, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) Airports Division. KHON2.

Buyer pays $24 million for 14-year-old Lanikai oceanfront estate. A 14-year-old oceanfront estate in Lanikai featuring a four-bedroom main residence, a four-bedroom guest house, a caretaker’s cottage and a boat ramp sold for $24.4 million on July 20. Star-Advertiser.

DOCARE beefs up officer presence in North Shore to deter tourists from touching marine life. With videos circulating on social media of tourists touching endangered Hawaiian animals, the state is beefing up patrol officers in the North Shore to deter illegal encounters. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Commission mulls garbage user fees: Environmental Management Commission looks for waste solutions. Would you be willing to pay a few extra cents — or a few extra dollars — toward disposing of the products you purchase and the packaging they come in? West Hawaii Today.

PGV opponents appeal dismissal of lawsuits seeking environmental review. Appeals were filed late last month in a trio of lawsuits that requested an updated environmental review be completed for Puna Geothermal Venture, which was damaged by lava in 2018. Tribune-Herald.

‘This is not a joke’: Puna man recounts long battle against COVID-19. After 49 days in the hospital, Frederick Tibayan was released from Hilo Medical Center on Wednesday after a nearly fatal bout with COVID-19. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Maui

Pulehu Solar project moves forward. A 370-acre solar and battery project in Kula that could power 15,000 homes is closer to fruition after the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday granted a county special use permit for the project. Maui News.

Maui County accepting applications for program to assist 1st-time home buyers.  The assistance can equal up to 5% of the home’s purchase price, but not exceed $30,000. Star-Advertiser.

If drought wasn’t enough, Maui ranchers face added challenge: Axis deer. The latest drought monitor shows some areas on the Valley Isle are now in “extreme drought.” Add to that, ranchers who have limited food for cattle are now struggling to control axis deer, which are eating the little grass they have left. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Kauai Prosecutor Stepping Down For Nonprofit Gig. Kauai County Prosecutor Justin Kollar announced Wednesday that he will be leaving his county job at the end of the summer for a position at a nonprofit focused on setting criminal justice policy. Civil Beat.

Ways and Means Committee visits Kaua‘i. Senate’s Ways and Means Committee visited several sites on Kaua‘i, identifying issues, resource needs and potential solutions to address regional and statewide economic development, develop curriculum and career technical education pathways for a local workforce, analyze efficient space utilization of State facilities, and leverage critical private partnerships to decrease State resource dependence and liability. Garden Island.

Visitors fined $500 for viral monk seal harassment TikTok. The beachgoer filmed touching a Hawaiian monk seal will pay a $500 fine for her actions. Garden Island.

Teen suspect killed by Honolulu police had guns, Gluck faces Senate grilling as appellate judge nominee, tensions between vaccinated and unvaccinated as cases rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Hanauma Bay ©2021 All Hawaii News

Hawaii residents won’t need reservations to enter Hanauma Bay during new pilot program. The pilot program will start Wednesday and run through Aug. 8, the Honolulu Department of Parks announced today, as the city tries to accommodate residents while maintaining the preserve’s environment, which recovered during the COVID-19 outbreak while closed to the public. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Ige says he’s not ready to institute vaccine mandate for state workers. Gov. David Ige told Hawaii News Now on Tuesday that the state can legally require COVID-19 shots for state workers. But he wants to wait until the FDA gives its full approval to the vaccinations. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Nominee Daniel Gluck, for appeals court faces criticism, praise, questions of inequity. Daniel Gluck’s nomination to the state Intermediate Court of Appeals is scheduled to be voted on today before the Senate Judiciary Committee following more than four hours of disparate testimony Tuesday on Gluck’s relative lack of court experience, his status as a mainland-born transplant and the lack of diversity on Hawaii’s high courts. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Micronesian President Discusses Military Issues During Hawaii Visit. The trip to Oahu came as the U.S. seeks to solidify relations with Pacific Island nations amid tensions with China. Civil Beat.

State's plan to enforce evictions unclear. There's an estimated 10,000 people who may be significantly behind in rent when the moratorium ends on Aug. 6. KITV4.

Vacation rentals bounce back to higher occupancy numbers than pre-pandemic levels. Vacation rental occupancy statewide was even better in June than it was during the same month in 2019, a record-setting year before the pandemic shut down the industry in 2020. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii Concert Promoter Got More COVID Aid Than Carnegie Hall. Jonny Mack and his companies received more money through a federal grant program for shuttered venues than anyone else in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Group calls for distance learning option for all public school students. As COVID-19 cases surge across the state, a group of parents wants the state to offer distance learning options to all public school students. KITV4.

Tally of COVID patients in Hawaii hospitals surpasses 100. The state Department of Health reported 103 COVID- 19 patients in Hawaii hospitals Tuesday, up from 90 on Monday. Of the 103 patients, 20 were in intensive care units, and 11 were on ventilators. Star-Advertiser.

As cases rise, new tensions surface between vaccinated and those who won’t get shot. With the recent surge in COVID infections, frustration is mounting over vaccine holdouts. And some say it’s time to get tough with them. Hawaii News Now.

July 27, 2021 COVID-19 Update: 162 Cases. he confirmed cases included: 106 on O‘ahu; 25 on Hawai‘i Island (+2 probable); 10 on Maui (+1 probable); four on Kaua‘i; and 15 in Hawai‘i residents diagnosed while out of state (-1 probable). Maui Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Department officers describe threat prior to fatal shooting of teen. In the days before his fatal confrontation with police, 16-year-old Iremamber Sykap and the people with him in a stolen white Honda Civic allegedly snatched a purse in Waikiki and committed an armed robbery before brandishing guns during a home invasion minutes before police fired at the youth, according to testimony Tuesday in District Court in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

CDC team coming to Oahu to investigate coronavirus surge in Leeward Oahu. According to the Hawaii Department of Health, within the last two weeks, Waianae saw 129 COVID-19 cases, the highest of any area on Oahu. Now, the only health care facility that directly serves the Leeward Coast is feeling the impact. KHON2.

Train door malfunction idles Honolulu rail fleet. The 20-mile, 21-station rail project is scheduled to run from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, Hawaii’s largest transit hub, but faces a $3 billion shortfall. The project is currently budgeted at $12.499 billion and is not scheduled for completion until March 2031. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

40 Big Island inmates flown to Oahu on Hawaii Army Guard helicopters. Overcrowding at Hawaii Community Correctional Center — and the need to transport 40 felons from the Hilo jail and Kulani Correctional Facility to the Halawa Correctional Facility on Oahu — prompted the state Department of Public Safety to seek Hawaii Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter transport Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

Water well contract delays continue to plague department. Big Island water well installation and repair projects are moving forward more slowly, as everything from cement shortages to site access to permit issues snarls progress. West Hawaii Today.

Vaccine demand rises: Providers see uptick amid Delta variant, approach of school year. As COVID-19 cases climb, so has interest in vaccinations. Tribune-Herald.

Kona Hotel to close after 95-year history. After almost a century of business, the Inaba family on Monday announced the sale of the historic Kona Hotel. The sale closed Monday, July 26. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Fitch Global Ratings for Maui County Improved from Negative to Stable. Fitch Global Ratings, Moody’s Investor Service and S&P Global Ratings assigned ratings of AA+ (stable outlook), Aa1 (stable outlook) and AA+ (stable outlook), respectively, to Maui County’s General Obligation Bonds, Series 2021, Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino announced today.  Maui Now.

Bill could change zoning authority for Wailuku town. Controversy centers on plans for six-story hotel; some say bill needs more vetting. Pushback over plans for a six-story hotel in downtown Wailuku is sparking council consideration over who will have authority to decide height variances, zoning and other rules for about 68 acres at the city’s core. Maui News.

Maui Memorial Medical Center might deny all visitors if COVID-cases, hospitalizations continue to rise. This comes a day after the hospital imposed a new policy requiring visitors to be fully vaccinated. KITV4.

Department of Public Safety confirms three workers at Maui Community Correctional Center tested positive for coronavirus. The Department of Public Safety reports that three workers tested positive for COVID-19 at Maui Community Correctional Center. KHON2.

Kauai

Farmers tackle new threat to island coffee trees. The most-destructive disease known to the coffee plant has arrived on Kaua‘i, putting local growers on high alert. Garden Island.

Mobile testing, vaccination vans deployed. The County of Kaua‘i and state Department of Health Kaua‘i District Health Office are sending out mobile-testing and vaccination vans this week, starting today. Garden Island. Hawaii News Now.

Over-tourism, new hotel taxes mulled as Hawaii reopens, jail COVID lawsuit heard in federal court, Gluck tapped for appellate court judge, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai's Waimea valley ©2021 All Hawaii News

How Neighbor Islands Are Working To Address Overtourism In Hawaii. Amid a post-pandemic tourism surge, Hawaii’s counties are rethinking their reliance on the visitor industry with new laws meant to stem the flood of visitors. Civil Beat.

Federal Court Case: Corrections Officials Botched COVID-19 Response In Prisons. Corrections officials have botched the COVID-19 pandemic response so badly in Hawaii’s prisons and jails that the state is violating the constitutional rights of the inmates, attorneys for the inmates told a federal judge on Thursday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Legislature amends 3 vetoed bills, overrides 1. The drama and uncertainty over efforts to amend and override Gov. David Ige’s record number of vetoes came to an end Thursday after the state House and Senate voted unanimously to amend three bills and essentially kill a fourth one to address Ige’s initial concerns. Star-Advertiser. Associated Press.

Behind closed doors: Reapportionment Commission could become less transparent. A powerful commission tasked with redrawing political boundary lines for Hawaii’s state and congressional districts appears headed for more secrecy than in previous years, with the formation of private permitted interaction groups in lieu of publicly held committee hearings. West Hawaii Today.

Ige Appoints Dan Gluck To Intermediate Court Of Appeals. Gov. David Ige has appointed Dan Gluck, the director of the Hawaii State Ethics Commission, to fill a seat on the state Intermediate Court of Appeals. Gluck’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. Civil Beat.

HDOT Outlines Actions to Protect Seabirds Following Threat of Lawsuit. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation today outlined a list of actions it has taken recently to protect endangered seabirds at harbors and airports.  Maui Now.

The Statewide Effort to Turn Filmmaking into Hawai‘i’s Next $1 Billion Industry. Talent, training and financial incentives are driving a new era of filmmaking, TV and digital media production in the Islands. Hawaii Business magazine.

China service expected to lift Matson profit. Another giant wave of profit is expected to hit the balance sheet of Matson Inc. as the local ocean cargo transportation firm continues to ride swells of demand for service from China. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii reports 75 new COVID infections; 1 additional fatality. Of the new cases Thursday, 42 were on Oahu, eight on Hawaii Island, six on Kauai, and seven on Maui. There were also 12 residents diagnosed out-of-state. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Oahu eateries, bars can now fully reopen if they ask for vaccine cards or negative COVID tests. Oahu restaurants and bars can now do away with social distancing if they ask their patrons for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. Eateries that don’t must still keep a 6-foot distance between parties, limiting their capacity. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Federal CARES Act dollars will fund new effort to beef up police presence in Chinatown. A new effort to beef up the police presence in Chinatown will be paid for using federal CARES Act funds. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said he approved $2 million of CARES Act appropriations to pay for the overtime of officers working foot patrols. Hawaii News Now.

Ethics Commission Quietly Drops Kealoha Investigation As Questions Swirl. In February, after a closed door meeting, the commission voted unanimously to drop its ongoing investigation into the retired police chief and his former prosecutor wife, citing their federal convictions in 2019 for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and other crimes. Civil Beat.

Ann Botticelli Moves Forward in Confirmation Process to Honolulu Police Commission. Ann Botticelli is moving further in her confirmation process to the Honolulu Police Commission, a seven-member body nominated by Honolulu mayors and confirmed by the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii Public Radio. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Olympic swim team enjoys a crowd of 300 fans as they practice at Punahou. The U.S. swimmers leave for Japan on Monday. For the past two weeks, they’ve also trained at two other pools here. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Decommissioning plan approved for Hoku Kea. As part of the requirements for the planned construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, Hoku Kea is one of five telescopes slated for removal from the mountain. Tribune-Herald.

PUC hearing on Honua Ola tentatively set for January. The state Public Utilities Commission has reopened the docket for Honua Ola Bioenergy, formerly known as Hu Honua, the nearly completed biomass power plant in Pepeekeo. Tribune-Herald.

BLNR to mull proposed Kahalu‘u Bay surf school rules. The number of surf schools allowed to operate and students in the water at Kahaluu Bay would be spread throughout the day under draft rules proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. West Hawaii Today.

Endangered bird found on Maunakea for first time in nearly 70 years. University of Hawaii at Hilo researchers announced Thursday that they located an ‘ua‘u — a seabird also called the Hawaiian petrel — at a nesting site on Maunakea in May, the first time one has been recorded on the mauna since 1954. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, DLNR to Remove Hundreds of Goats From National Park. Goats will be trapped and removed live from the park, which will close on Aug. 11, 2021, to distribute these animals to permitted members of the public. Big Island Now. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Maui

Bill to slice short-term rental permit caps advances. After hearing about two hours of mixed testimony, the Maui County Council’s Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee gave the green light to a bill that would cut the amount of short-term rental home permits allowed on Maui. Maui News.

Maui County seeks a new visitor hotel tax that could rake in millions more. Maui County officials are rushing to impose new visitor accommodations taxes after the state legislature overrode a controversial veto by the governor this week. Hawaii News Now.

Restrictions on Plastic Disposable Foodware Outlined in Proposed Maui Ordinance Amendment. The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management has scheduled an online public hearing at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, 2021, to consider proposed amendments. Maui Now.

Visitors Asked to Use Permitted Tours to Mitigate Visitor Impact on Hāna Highway. The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority is advising visitors to East Maui to join a tour from a permitted tour company instead of driving on their own along the Hāna Highway or visiting other areas on Maui. The suggestion is the latest recommendation made by visitor industry officials amid an increase in tourism, illegal parking along the scenic route, and unsafe pedestrian crossing along the highway. Maui Now.

Kauai

Council approves mediation program, housing vouchers. As the state barrels toward the lifting of the eviction moratorium, the county is setting up a landlord-tenant mediation program. Garden Island.

Hotels: ‘Resorts Bubbles’ kept guests happy, island safe. The Kaua‘i resort bubble program burst Thursday in coordination with the county’s move to Tier Five of its six-tier COVID-19 guidelines chart. Garden Island.

Happy Fourth! Beach bacteria, fireworks safety top holiday concerns; DOT postpones highway projects; ACLU lawyer to head state Ethics Commission; lava awes spectators; special ed students sought for lawsuit; Honolulu hepatitis scare, Omidyar dairy opposed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Beach baby wash © 2016 All Hawaii News

Despite some short-term spikes in fecal bacteria, waters around Hawaii Island show levels well below those considered unsafe. But most of the average readings for enterococci — the primary measure of contamination used by the U.S. Environmental Management Agency — have been steadily increasing over the past 10 years. West Hawaii Today.

Where to see the fireworks on July Fourth. Fire officials across the state are reminding the public that the safest way to enjoy fireworks on Independence Day is to leave it to the professionals. Hawaii News Now.

State Department of Transportation officials plan to defer hundreds of millions of dollars in long-awaited, major highway construction projects across the islands that were supposed to relieve traffic congestion so that they can focus more highway funding on maintaining existing roads. Star-Advertiser.

ACLU Lawyer To Be State Ethics Chief. A longtime legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, Daniel Gluck will oversee enforcement of the state’s ethics and lobbyists rules. Civil Beat.

Frustrated Champley ‘Considering Options’ After Removal From PUC. Gov. David Ige replaced him on the Public Utilities Commission just before it rules on the NextEra merger, raising legal questions. Civil Beat.

Attorneys representing special-education students in a 2010 class action lawsuit against the state are still trying to track down about 800 former students who “aged out” of Hawaii’s public school system at 20 years old under a state law that was later overturned. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial could be restored to its former glory — but with a high-tech touch — by 2019, exactly 100 years after the land was first acquired to construct the site, according to the senior field officer and attorney for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Star-Advertiser.

Recent cutbacks in Institute for Human Services Waikiki outreach efforts have led to complaints that homelessness is growing again in the state’s top tourism district, but Hawaii visitor industry officials vow to shore up the program, which would have closed next month without a cash infusion. Star-Advertiser.

Councilman Calls For Audit Amid Honolulu Ethics Commission Chaos. Events leading to the dismantling of the agency staff require scrutiny to restore public trust, Councilman Trevor Ozawa contends. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson is being stripped of his positions as the Council’s second-in-command and chairman of the influential Zoning and Planning Committee following a shake-up at Honolulu Hale. Star-Advertiser.

Michael McGrane, a budget analyst for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, was offered and accepted the chief financial officer position before the current CFO rescinded her resignation. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Department of Health is conducting an investigation into at least 12 adults on Oahu infected with hepatitis A. Civil Beat.

Honolulu was one of two major U.S. cities named “most livable” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Indianapolis last week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Cascading rivers of molten rock are attracting hundreds of awed spectators to Kalapana for a close look at a force that continues to shape Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

At the end of the three mile trek along the Hawaii County-side of the Highway 130 emergency route, lava enthusiasts can get a good look at the 61g lava flow as it slides down the Pulama pali. Big Island Video News.

Kilauea’s fireworks show continues as lava slowly advances to the ocean on a coastal plain. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory released new photos and a video from a visit to the flow on Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. Kai Kahele is selling his beachfront Milolii home back to the family he purchased the leasehold from, after questions arose about his residency qualifications for his Hilo-area Senate seat. West Hawaii Today.

Jen Ruggles, a candidate for Hawaii County Council, says she paid a delinquent $379.44 property tax bill Thursday after a reporter inquired about missed payments during the past two years. Tribune-Herald.

The state’s consumer advocate is siding with Ocean View residents in criticism of a plan to build acres of commercial solar panels in a residential area. Consumer advocate Jeff Ono’s statement of position released Thursday said the developers gamed the system by breaking the project up into smaller farms so it wouldn’t have to follow the bidding protocol that normally accompanies commercial solar operations. West Hawaii Today.

On Saturday, an estimated 8,000 island residents will gather in Hilo for the fourth annual gay pride parade, which organizers hope will bring awareness to the Big Island’s LGBT community. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A spirit of compromise pushed the Lanai Community Plan update over the Maui County Council's finish line Friday. Maui News.

Two-term state House member Kaniela Ing faces a Democratic primary challenge from an opponent who is a former gubernatorial appointee and has the backing of several construction-related labor unions. Challenger Deidre Tegarden served as chief of protocol under Gov. Neil Abercrombie and in the same capacity with Gov. David Ige before stepping down to seek the 11th District (South Maui) seat occupied by Ing since 2012. Star-Advertiser.

Adam Radford takes over as the new manager of the Maui Invasive Species Committee today. Maui News.

With the closure of the three-decade-old Makena Beach & Golf Resort on Friday, construction will begin later this year on the $240 million Makena Golf & Beach Club, a high-end condominium project with a private beachfront community and club. Maui News.

As July 4th approaches, many Maui residents will head to Lahaina to watch the firework show on Monday. Other residents, however, will provide their own firework show. Maui Now.

Kauai

Billionaire Pierre Omidyar's plans for Kauai dairy is facing new criticisms over its waste management plan. Hawaii News Now.

The 1,300-acre Kekaha Game Management Area might be closed to hunters if the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the Department of Land and Natural Resources do not extend a licensed agreement to allow hunting on the Hawaiian home land area before the current agreement expires at the end of August. Garden Island.

The more than 1,600 registered medical marijuana patients on Kauai may not be getting their medicine at a licensed dispensary in July. Garden Island.

Sabra Kauka, a Kauai kumu and environmental educator, will be presenting at the 2016 Environmental Education Symposium for the Hawaii Environmental Education Alliance (HEEA) July 13-15. Garden Island.