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Showing posts with label Facebook. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Rail bailout bill squeezes through divided Senate committee, House reorganization removes rail critics from key posts, federal court hears Hawaii's challenge to Trump travel ban, food safety rules go into effect this weekend, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Iolani Palace © 2017 All Hawaii News
Iolani Palace is shining brighter than ever with a new look from LED lights. More than 1,000 lights were installed at the nation's only royal residence, illuminating the palace in the dark night. Hawaii News Now.

The state Senate Ways and Means Committee narrowly voted tonight to advance legislation that would generate $2.37 billion to bail out the city’s financially troubled rail project. Star-Advertiser.

A $2.4 billion bailout plan for the Honolulu rail project crossed its first hurdle on Monday, when the Senate Ways and Means Committee narrowly voted to approve the measure in the face of fierce opposition from the Mayor of Honolulu, neighbor island officials and hotel executives. Civil Beat.

State Legislative Leaders Inclined to Pass Rail Funding Bill "As Is" Hawaii Public Radio.

A $2.4 billion bailout of the Honolulu rail project, partly subsidized by an increase in the statewide hotel tax, advanced by a 6-5 vote Monday in the Senate Ways &Means Committee. West Hawaii Today.

After a marathon hearing, the Senate Ways and Means Committee narrowly voted 6-5 Monday night on a bill that would generate almost $2.4 billion to bail out the city’s troubled rail project. Hawaii News Now.

The rail bailout bill passes the Senate Ways and Means Committee with a narrow 6-5 vote. KITV.

A special session began Monday for lawmakers to hammer out a proposal to bail out Honolulu’s rail project. KHON2.

Officials at Honolulu's cash-strapped $9.5 billion rail project are under pressure to deliver an adequate funding plan to the federal government. Hawaii lawmakers are meeting in a special legislative session to find a financial solution. Associated Press.

The mayor of Hawaii County made a rare trip to the State Legislature on Monday to speak out against the latest rail funding proposal. Big Island Video News.

How Hawaii's Hotel Room Tax became the Lawmakers' Go-To Tax. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers gaveled in for what they hope will be a week to sort out a rail spending plan. KITV.

Feds not yet counting rail ‘stress test’ that borrowing could patch. KHON2.

Lawmakers are using the five-day special session this week to shuffle some positions in the state House, and on Monday officially named state Rep. Cindy Evans (D, Kaupulehu-Waimea- Halaula) as the new House Democratic majority leader. Star-Advertiser.

State Reps. James Tokioka and Isaac Choy received notice late Sunday morning that they were reassigned from the House Finance Committee. Garden Island.

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Three federal appeals court judges today challenged the Trump administration’s limited view of who is allowed into the country under the travel ban, with one questioning from “what universe” the government got the idea that the mother-in-law of a U.S. resident could enter while cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents are barred. Associated Press.

New food safety rules designed to protect the public at restaurants and food establishments statewide will go into effect on Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health will require all restaurants statewide — during food prep and service — to have a staff member on-site who is certified in food safety. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Department of Health has amended Chapter 50 of the Food Safety Code with new requirements, including a new food education mandate, with some going into effect Sept. 2. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has nominated corporate executive and consultant Douglas Shinsato to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to serve out the remainder of the late Barry Mizuno's term. Pacific Business News.

First Assembly of God in Moanalua set up its Alaska-­made “spherical dome” on the grounds of the state Capitol to give city and state lawmakers a chance to see how 45 homeless mothers and their children would live in Kahaluu. Star-Advertiser.

A passenger whose disruptive behavior prompted the pilot of a nonstop flight to New York to return to Honolulu in November owes Hawaiian Airlines $97,817, a federal judge ruled Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Condominium owners along Waikiki’s Gold Coast celebrated Monday a Hawaii Supreme Court ruling that they said makes clear the state is responsible for maintaining a crumbling sea wall that protects their mostly million-dollar properties. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Supreme Court says state responsible for Waikiki seawall. Pacific Business News.

Waikiki Residents Lose Fight To Force State To Repair Seawall. The state Supreme Court ruled it was up the Legislature — not the courts — to decide whether to pay for fixing a damaged seawall. Civil Beat.

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Major upgrades are finally about to begin at a run-down Oahu harbor. Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it reached a settlement with Fileminders of Hawaii LLC and its owner, Hawaii MMGD, to pay a civil penalty of $122,000 for operating a large-capacity cesspool at their Kapolei facility in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. In June the cesspool was closed, and the company installed an individual wastewater system. Star-Advertiser.

Facebook will host a free workshop for small businesses in Honolulu this week. The event is aimed at teaching local small business owners best practices when it comes to engaging customers on the social media platform. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Demilitarizing Diamond Head. The state Department of Defense is demolishing outdated buildings, as well as turning over land, tunnels and historic artillery batteries to the state parks. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

The Hawaii County Water Board and Hawaii County Department of Water Supply intend to pull out all the stops to address North Kona’s water crisis, including opening up their wallet. West Hawaii Today.

Kamehameha Schools says it is finalizing a lease with Hawaii Forest for 10,000 acres of timber land on the Hamakua Coast. Tribune-Herald.

A 21-year-old Hilo man accused of stealing a Hele-On bus earlier this month has done it again, police said. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A blessing was held today for the one- and two-bedroom apartments at the County of Maui’s 56-unit Kulamalu Hale apartment rentals in Pukalani. Maui Now.

Four food trucks were robbed and vandalized on Maui Sunday night at the Food Truck Marketplace in Kahului. KITV.

Kauai

People on Kauai are still wondering about the black, tar-like substance infiltrating the tide pools on the eastern side of Mahaulepu Beach. Garden Island.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Honolulu rail in court, Catholic priest child sex charges hit Hawaii, UH probes Stevie Wonder fiasco, school superintendent gets poor review, Maui hotels at top of sun and fun resort lists, kauai wildfire almost contained, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HART courtesy photo
Honolulu rail project commences, courtesy photo
Federal Judge A. Wallace Tashima heard two hours of arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit that seeks to stop work on the city's $5.26 billion rail project, but gave no clear indication of how he will rule in the case or when. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge from California is now the central figure in a legal fight that could decide the fate of the controversial $5.26 billion rail project and perhaps even determine who will be Honolulu's next mayor. Civil Beat.

The fate of Honolulu’s elevated-rail transit project is now in the hands of a federal judge. Pacific Business News.

Opponents of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project got their final day in Federal Court today and expect a decision in a few weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

A standing room only crowd packed a courthouse inside the Prince Kuhio Federal Building Tuesday as U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima heard oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by opponents of the city's $5.3 billion rail project. KITV4.

Rail had its day in federal court in an environmental challenge that could derail or delay the project. KHON2.

Did the city break environmental laws in the planning of the rail project? A federal judge is considering that right now and his decision could affect the future of the rail. Hawaii News Now.

Will Honolulu’s pricey and controversial rail project ever be built or will it be derailed in court? That could depend on what Ninth Circuit Court Judge Wallace Tashima decides in the next few weeks. Hawaii Reporter.

Rep. Cynthia Thielen and Sen. Robert Kouchi would appear to be the state's wealthiest lawmakers. Civil Beat.

Working Families for Hawaii has spent more than $70,000 supporting Democratic candidate Mazie Hirono, including nearly $34,000 on radio spots bashing former Democratic primary candidate Ed Case. One would think that a super PAC that has emerged as third biggest outside spender in Hawaii’s U.S. Senate race would be anything but anonymous. Civil Beat.

The Board of Education Tuesday gave Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi an overall rating of "fully meets expectations" in her first evaluation since being appointed to the position in September 2010. Star-Advertiser.

On the eve of a Board of Regents session to discuss the Stevie Wonder concert fiasco, University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood said Tuesday that athletic director Jim Dono­van was on his way out before the ill-fated venture. Star-Advertiser.

A day before the University of Hawaii Board of Regents meets behind closed doors to discuss the investigation into UH's failed Stevie Wonder concert and Jim Donovan's re-assignment as athletics director, it's unclear how much of the probe UH will make public. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for Aug. 22. Associated Press.

Oahu

A Honolulu police officer on trial for theft and tampering with government records was found not guilty Tuesday afternoon on all thirteen counts. KHON2.

University of Hawaii-West O‘ahu officials have been giving out the wrong address for their campus for the past six months, but an estimated 1,800 students and 60 faculty still showed up for the first day of classes Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Are public agencies allowed to censor comments on their social media pages and can they be held liable for deleting comments made on their social media pages or for banning users? Hawaii Reporter.

Two gun advocates who run a charity called the Hawaii Defense Foundation are suing the city because they claim the Hono­lulu Police Department has censored, removed and banned their comments from HPD's Facebook page. Star-Advertiser.

A resident of Mayor Wright Homes, who fought to make sure everyone had hot water at the public housing project, is now in hot water himself.  Fetu Kolio is being evicted. KITV4.

The push to keep the North Shore country has lost one of its chief advocates. Civil Beat.

A local affordable-housing developer has arranged to buy the former Honolulu Advertiser property in Kakaako, and envisions putting up two moderate-priced condominium towers on the site while preserving the historic News Building. Star-Advertiser.

The producers of “Hawaii Five-0” will move from their soundstage at the former Honolulu Advertiser building once the show’s third season wraps production next spring, but exactly where is the question. Pacific Business News.

Carlisle paid price at polls for beefing with Cayetano. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs announced Monday its acquisition of the Gentry Pacific Design Center, located in the 500 block of Nimitz Highway in Honolulu. KITV4.

Hawaii
The child sex abuse scandal surrounding the Catholic Church has hit close to home, with fingers of accusation pointing at a priest revered in the local community. Tribune-Herald.

The family of a New York teen swept out to sea while hiking on the Big Island filed a wrongful death lawsuit Tuesday, claiming tour guides were negligent for leading a group of teenagers to a dangerous area. Associated Press.

The draft environmental assessment for the Kapi‘olani Street extension will be available for comment Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is moving forward with development of a park in Pahoa village with funds previously set aside for a regional community park in Hawaiian Paradise Park. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Occupancy at Maui hotels during the first half of the year ranked third-highest among more than 38,000 "island and sun" properties worldwide, according to a new report by Honolulu-based Hospitality Advisors. Maui News.

County of Maui was selected as a finalist for the 2012 Healthiest Employers contest, hosted by the Pacific Business News. Maui Now.

Kauai

Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho and Deputy County Attorney Justin Kollar squared off Tuesday night at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall for a debate in front of an audience of about 200. Garden Island.

Crews continued to fight high winds and dry conditions to contain the Koke‘e brush fire that is now reported to be 85 percent contained. Garden Island

The Koke‘e State Park Advisory Council will renew its work to review and comment on the Koke‘e and Waimea Canyon State Parks Master Plan. Garden Island.