Showing posts with label Hawaiian hoary bat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaiian hoary bat. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Uber and Lyft allowed at Honolulu airport, pension fund up 7.7%, wind farms seek to kill more bats, cannabis dispensary gets green light, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Ala Wai boat harbor ©2018 All Hawaii News
State floats ideas for future of Ala Wai Boat Harbor. KHON2.

Waikiki crowd criticizes state’s public-private plan for Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki residents demanded answers from state officials about plans for improvement to the Ala Wai Boat Harbor at Tuesday night’s neighborhood board meeting. Hawaii News Now.

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Nov. 6 Constitutional Amendment Question: Investment Property Surcharge for Education? The State Legislature is expected to submit a Constitutional Amendment question next week for placement on the General Election ballot. Hawaii Public Radio.

Wind Farms Want Permission To Kill More Bats — A Lot More. In a “conservation conundrum,” projects to produce more clean energy are a threat to Hawaii’s only native land mammal. Civil Beat.

State pension fund up 7.7%, surpasses target. The state Employees’ Retirement System, Hawaii’s largest public pension fund, achieved a 7.7 percent investment return for the fiscal year to exceed its annual target and take a step toward narrowing its $12.93 billion shortfall. Star-Advertiser.

After his successful showing during Hawaii's Primary elections last Saturday, Governor David Ige went out of state to spend time with his family. KITV.

Why American Samoans Can’t Run For Office — Or Even Vote. Unlike people born in other U.S. territories, they are not citizens but U.S. nationals. Civil Beat.

Voter turnout was down compared with 2014. Hawaii had 3,357 fewer people voting in the primary this year than in 2014 despite the fact that the state population has grown in the past four years. Star-Advertiser.

This year’s Democratic primary election saw the defeat of three major female candidates by men in top races, disappointing some political observers and advocates who say women are still struggling to navigate gender bias despite a heightened consciousness around women’s rights issues in the past couple of years. Star-Advertiser.

The Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce is urging the reform of American trademark and patent laws and reiterating calls for a boycott of a Chicago fast-food chain that trademarked the words “Aloha Poke.” Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Uber and Lyft will be able to operate at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on a permanent basis after amended administration rules were approved today, state officials said. Star-Advertiser.

State To Allow Lyft, Uber To Operate Permanently At Honolulu Airport. The companies have been operating there as part of a pilot program since last year. Associated Press.

Ride-hailing apps get permanent OK for Honolulu airport pick-ups, drop-offs. Hawaii News Now.

Uber and Lyft to stay at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. KITV.

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A new bill before the Honolulu City Council seeks to increase bus fares in 2019, some by more than 200%. KHON2.

City Encourages Resident Feedback with Urban Planning. The Department of Planning and Permitting has just kicked off a weeks’ worth of pop up outreach events and plans more over the next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Sex offender registry is supposed to offer peace of mind. That could be an illusion. Hawaii News Now.

Private Moiliili road dispute takes new turn. A confusing scene might greet the first tenants of the Hale Mahana collegiate rental housing tower opening Thursday in Moiliili. Star-Advertiser.

Don Quijote is new owner of Pan Am Building. A retail chain with a focus on Japanese merchandise is now the owner of a Honolulu office tower named after a long-gone airline. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Marker To Honor Hundreds Of WWII Prisoners Of War. Ceremony planned for Allied prisoners who were killed when U.S. forces sank a Japanese ship. Civil Beat.

A 96-year-old former U.S. Army veteran who was held prisoner by Japan during World War II will help dedicate a memorial stone to other prisoners of war at a national cemetery in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Chick-fil-A will host session for interested franchise operators on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

County asks lawmakers to mull $680 million disaster recovery plan. Hawaii County has increased the price tag of its draft Kilauea disaster recovery plan to $680 million as administrators begin to make their pitch to lawmakers. Tribune-Herald.

New panel to be charged with finding solutions to helicopter noise. Dennis Roberts, regional administrator for the FAA’s Western-Pacific Region, said after the meeting that the community has 30 days to provide additional feedback and come together with regard to representation on the committee. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island residents want an end to constant 'disruptive' drone of helicopters. On the Big Island, residents have been complaining about the noise pollution caused by commercial helicopters for years. Hawaii News Now.

Waikoloa asphalt plant permit sought. The Leeward Planning Commission on Thursday is scheduled to hear a request from Goodfellow Bros Inc. to extend the life of its permit for a base yard at the Waikoloa Quarry and approve an asphalt/concrete batching plant in the area. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Dispensary Gets Green Light To Grow Medical Pot. Hawaiian Ethos is the first dispensary to open in Hawaii County, and the seventh statewide. Associated Press.

The Big Island’s first marijuana production center got the green light today to begin growing plants, a year after Hawaii’s first dispensaries opened on Maui and Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Ethos gets approval to grow marijuana. The state Department of Health authorized the first business on the Big Island to grow cannabis and manufacture cannabis products. Tribune-Herald.

First Hawaii Island Medical Cannabis Licensee Given The Go Ahead. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui County’s voter turnout of 36.2 percent of registered voters in Saturday’s election was the highest percentage for a primary election in two decades, but local election officials are hoping for better in the general election. Maui News.

PUC agrees to interim rate hike for Maui Electric. Typical Maui bill will rise $7.75 a month. Maui News.

Kauai

Seeking the new normal on the North Shore. About 150 people showed up for a meeting in Hanalei held by the county’s Public Works Department Monday night to talk about repairs to Black Pot Beach Park and Weke Road set to begin soon. Garden Island.

Hanapepe Bridge transitions. The project to replace the Hanapepe River Bridge is changing hands as construction on the temporary bridge is completed, and traffic will soon be changing as well. Garden Island.

Lanai

Patients who receive health services in their own homes on Lanai are worried about the future. Their concern: The partnership that provides at-home assistance to dozens of senior citizens is ending. Hawaii News Now.

Monday, July 10, 2017

Hawaiian Telcom takeover, special session set, Bruno Mars seeks to save Waikiki Natatorium, Kona coffee farmer deported, defending Hawaii from missile strikes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hawaiian Telcom
Courtesy Hawaiian Telcom
Hawaiian Telcom, the state’s largest telecommunications company, and Cincinnati Bell are merging in a cash-and-stock deal worth $650 million. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Telcom shareholders have voted to merge with a telecoms firm on the mainland, but the company says there will be “no material change” to local jobs. Hawaii News Now.

Cincinnati Bell Inc. agreed to buy Hawaiian Telcom Holdco Inc. for $650 million and OnX Enterprise Solutions for $201 million as the Midwestern landline carrier joins the race to build bigger fiber networks to handle soaring internet traffic. Bloomberg.

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Congressional delegation at odds with experts on defending isles from missiles. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators announce special session to hash out rail funding. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Legislature has scheduled a special session Aug. 28-Sept. 1 to try again to reach a deal on funding the remainder of Honolulu’s 20-mile rail project, now estimated to cost $10 billion. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige signed a bill Thursday that's aimed at assuring elderly couples will be able to stay together in community care homes. Hawaii News Now.

A proposal would ban new permits for commercial aquarium fishing and it’s sitting on the governor’s desk awaiting his decision. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige has reappointed three members of the Hawaii Land Use Commission, the governor's office said Friday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s marijuana dispensaries received another set-back this week when a key insurer pulled out of their market. Hawaii Public Radio.

A year-round career guidance and college-preparatory program that Kamehameha Schools runs for high school students outside of its three campuses is being recognized today with a national counseling award. Star-Advertiser.

Water catchment systems need to be properly maintained. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Growing homeless encampments prompt proposal for armed park rangers. Star-Advertiser.

Is This Kahala Man’s Pitch To Help The Homeless For Real? Some people are skeptical of a man with a criminal past who says he wants to sell his multimillion-dollar Kahala home and give $200,000 to a foundation to help working homeless families. Civil Beat.

The state Land and Natural Resource’s Division of Boating and Ocean Resources division will be hosting a public meeting Monday night to gather input on the community's vision for the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Bruno Mars wants his fans to give him their attention for one of Hawaii’s landmarks, the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu restaurants and other food-related businesses won’t be required to donate leftover or surplus food to the needy — at least not for the time being. Star-Advertiser.

A proposed plan could either require or recommend restaurants to donate leftovers to families who struggle to get food on the table. KITV.

The state has opened up a public comment period for a solar project set to be built in Kalaeloa near Hawaiian cultural sites. Star-Advertiser.

The Friday night fireworks show that the Hilton Hawaiian Village has been putting on for the public for more than two decades is now subject to rent closer to that imposed on all other fireworks shows for the portion of the public beach designated as a safety zone around the launch area. Civil Beat.

An online petition urging New York University administrators to expel a student from Hawaii recently convicted for his part in the destruction of more than a dozen federally protected Laysan albatross and their nests at the Kaena Point Natural Reserve has garnered more than 28,000 signatures since it was posted on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa has been selected, along with 21 universities across the country, to receive grants from NASA for research and technology development projects in areas critical to the agency's mission. Pacific Business News.

Residents in Lanikai are banding together following a violent dog attack in the neighborhood earlier this week. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

A respected Kona coffee farmer who lived illegally in the United States for nearly 30 years said goodbye to his wife and three children Friday night before boarding flights he paid for to San Francisco, Houston and finally, Morelia, Mexico, ahead of an immigration deportation order, his daughter said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County’s updated flood zone maps are now available after a yearslong revision effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Tribune-Herald.

More than 60 hikers were either cited or warned Saturday for trespass into the closed Kohala Forest Reserve on Hawaii, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said in a press release Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

The Division of Conservation & Resources Enforcement cited or warned over 60 hikers for trespass, and the state recorded video. Big Island Video News.

Bolstered by the passage of a similar measure on Maui, the Hawaii County Council on Friday moved an amended version of a bill banning polystyrene foam food containers to the Environmental Management Commission. West Hawaii Today.

A serious and lingering water shortage in North Kona came to a new head earlier this month with the failure of a fifth county well — leaving residents in the west side’s population center confused, angry and wondering when the problem is going to get a real fix. Civil Beat.

Are Puna and Kau being discriminated against? Jen Ruggles thinks so, especially when it comes to basic human services. Civil Beat.

Changes to Kealakekua Public Library schedule add hours, end Saturday access. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

While saying he’s open to “all options” to raise more money needed for Oahu’s troubled 20-mile rail mass transit project, Gov. David Ige expressed support for raising the state’s transient accommodations tax by 1 percentage point while maintaining the counties’ share of hotel room taxes at $93 million. Maui News.

Water quality staff members still aren’t sure what caused E. coli in Ualapue well samples in December and June, but county Department of Water Supply Director Dave Taylor assured residents that the water is “absolutely” safe to drink. Maui News.

More than 100 trees will be removed from the county right of way on Piʻiholo Road due to hazardous conditions. Maui Now.

Motorists can expect intermittent road closures along Piiholo Road beginning Monday morning while crews remove 20 hazardous eucalyptus trees, according to a Maui County announcement. Maui News.

Roadwork will start today in an area near the intersection of Haleakala and Hana highways, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Kauai

The Community Coalition Kauai will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at King Kaumualii Elementary School on the county’s General Plan update. Garden Island.

Plan aims to strengthen relations between tourism, community. Garden Island.

Saturday afternoon’s La Hoi Hoi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day) at Kauai Community College wasn’t just a day of remembrance and celebration of Hawaiian culture and tradition. Garden Island.

Jeff Stone’s project to revamp the Princeville entry on Kauai’s North Shore is almost to its final phase, according to representatives from The Resort Group. Garden Island.

Farmers boost profits by offering tours. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

After years of speculation, wildlife officials have confirmed the presence of an endangered bat subspecies on Kahoolawe Island, located about 7 miles southwest of Maui. Associated Press.

Friday, February 24, 2017

Task force urges delay of new jail, Maui wind farm seeks to kill more endangered bats, most want recreational marijuana, homelessness as a medical condition, Ellison's Lanai water at issue, rat lungworm debated, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Jail guard in Hilo © 2017 All Hawaii News
A 13-member task force led by Hawaii Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael Wilson is recommending that the state hold off on its plans for building a new jail on Oahu until the group can issue a final report at the end of the year that provides a road map for reforming the state’s correctional system. Star-Advertiser.

The State Legislature created a task force last session to provide recommendations to improve Hawai’i’s Correctional System.  They briefed lawmakers on an interim report today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Legislation that would classify chronic homelessness as a medical condition and allow the state to pull from its $2 billion annual Medicaid fund to house those who qualify is on its way to a vote on the floor of the Hawaii State Senate. West Hawaii Today.

A growing number of Hawaii residents want marijuana to be legalized for recreational use, a poll released Thursday by the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii shows. Star-Advertiser.

A bill in the Hawaii Legislature could limit some people's rights to file public records requests with public agencies, raising concerns that it could reduce journalists' and community members' access to information. The proposal would allow a state office to declare a person a "vexatious records requester."  Associated Press.

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands didn’t produce any new housing units for Native Hawaiians last fiscal year, even though it has $38 million in unspent federal funds. Civil Beat.

Flaws in protective order system leave abuse victims vulnerable. KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering putting up hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight rat lungworm disease, a condition in which parasitic worm larvae infect people's brains. Associated Press.

State lawmakers were briefed on the current status of rat lungworm disease that is worrying East Hawai’i Island residents. Hawaii Public Radio.

An informational briefing was held at the State Capitol on Wednesday, providing state legislators with an update on Rat Lungworm Disease from the Department of Health and a state-wide RLD Joint Task Force. Big Island Video News.

Based on the state's latest data, Hawaii has about 450,000 homes. A little more than 194,000 of those are rentals. Real estate analyst Rick Cassiday estimates the military occupies between 10,000-to-20,000 of those units. KITV.

Anti-Trump Movement Urges Hawaii Politicians To Take A Stand. Members of a new hui called Indivisible Hawaii are letting the state’s congressional delegation know they are worried about the country. Civil Beat.

Oahu

State lawmakers have advanced a bill aimed at providing some relief to Waianae Coast residents who endure hours of daily traffic congestion. Star-Advertiser.

Condominium sales in Kakaako helped the owner of Ward Village earn a $202 million profit last year that was up about 60 percent from $127 million the year before. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce’s 2017 Mayoral Luncheon will be held at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay from 11:30 a.m - 1:30 p.m. Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii lawmakers want to beef up Hawaii Community College’s agriculture program. Tribune-Herald.

A Hilo nursing home facing loss of Medicare certification instead achieved a flawless inspection. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Maui wind farm wants the government to increase the number of endangered Hawaiian hoary bats it is allowed to kill, after passing the limit 15 years ahead of schedule. Star-Advertiser.

Maui coffee farmers worry that state Department of Agriculture standards are tainting the image of an industry that’s already losing good beans to the coffee berry borer. Maui News.

Maui Land &Pineapple Co. kept liquidating assets during the final three months of last year in a continuing strategy that enabled the company to produce a $7.4 million profit in the fourth quarter that compared with a $900,000 loss in the same period the year before. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Biodiesel Technologies plans to begin farming Hawaii’s largest biofuel crop project with a ground blessing scheduled for Friday on the Valley Isle, the Maui company said this week. Pacific Business News.

Safeway will anchor the new Hoʻokele Shopping Center, a 94,000-square-foot center located at the gateway to Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.’s Maui Business Park in Central Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

The US Postal Service plan to close the Rice Street post office throws a wrench into the revitalization plan for downtown Lihue, but it could also help with safety concerns for pedestrians. Garden Island.

The state has said its plan to harvest non-native trees in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve and the ongoing construction of the bridge over the Keahua Stream at the entrance to the reserve are not connected. Garden Island.

County administration has made it clear it doesn’t support establishing a pedestrian easement to get to a Koloa beach, and that’s what concerns Councilman Mel Rapozo. Garden Island.

Lanai

When the billionaire co-founder of Oracle Corp., Larry Ellison, purchased the majority of the Hawaiian island of Lanai for $300 million in 2012, there was at least one major unresolved issue on the Pineapple Island — the water used at the Manele Golf Course near the Four Seasons Resort Lanai. Pacific Business News.

Monday, August 29, 2016

Hurricane Madeline may play havoc with Obama visit, Hawaii Republicans, Democrats, disavow rebel candidate, prying open secret prison files, scientists leave dome following yearlong Mars simulation, windmills and hoary bat hearing today, county officials get immunity in Kenoi trial, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

National Weather Service
5 a.m. Monday Hurricane Madeline forecast, National Weather Service
Madeline has strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane to the east of Hawaii, and continues on a track that will take it close to or over the Big Island around mid week. At 5 a.m. Monday, Hurricane Madeline was about 695 miles east of Hilo or 890 miles east-southeast of Honolulu, and was moving toward the west-northwest at 10 miles per hour. Madeline has maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour with higher gusts. Madeline is expected to strengthen slightly through Monday and then begin to weaken Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Madeline strengthened overnight to a category 2 hurricane as it continued heading toward Hawaii island. Packing maximum sustained winds of 100 mph, Madeline was centered 695 miles east of Hilo and 890 miles east-southeast of Honolulu this morning while moving west-southwest at 10 mph. Star-Advertiser.

Hurriane Madeline has entered the Central Pacific area where our islands are located, and although the latest forecast has the storm tracking slightly south, Hawaii County Civil Defense is starting to get the word out for residents to pay attention to upcoming forecasts and, as you should be during the entirety of hurricane season, be prepared. KHON2.

Kiplinger, the personal finance company, has released its rankings of the best and worst states for taxes, and Hawaii places near the bottom. Civil Beat.

First Circuit Judge Edwin Nacino on Friday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Gov. David Ige’s interim appointment of Tom Gorak to the state Public Utilities Commission. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat is examining how the state manages its troubled, overcrowded prison system, which includes four prisons and four jails in Hawaii, and a contract private prison in Arizona. This story looks at the practice of not disclosing information about settlements in lawsuits, including the amount of damages.

The rise of Tulsi: While congresswoman bucks political trends, definitions and her national profile rises, no telling how far independent path will take her. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Democrats To Challenge Kaaihue’s Candidacy. Civil Beat.

The chair of the Hawaii Republican Party has been urging party members to disavow the candidacy of the GOP nominee for the 2nd Congressional District after she repeatedly made offensive remarks about religion and race toward her Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and other Hawaii leaders. KITV.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation finally lifted the veil this week on hundreds of millions of dollars of rail-related payments that have gone to subcontractors over the past fiscal year, and that have long been kept secret from the public. Civil Beat.

The Neal S. Blaisdell Center and the Hawaii Convention Center will be hot spots during IUCN's World Conservation Congress, which kicks off this week, and surrounding businesses are bracing for the impacts. Hawaii News Now.

Efforts underway in Hawaii Kai to clear dense foliage from areas where homeless people are suspected of camping out are stoking worries that the homeless might end up encroaching on residential areas. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Five current or former high-level Hawaii County officials will receive immunity for their testimony in the upcoming theft trial of Mayor Billy Kenoi, according to court records. Tribune-Herald.

The federal-state Endangered Species Recovery Committee will visit two Big Island wind farms today and take public testimony on the owners’ plans to protect the Hawaiian hoary bat. Star-Advertiser.

Return from ‘Mars’: Scientists emerge from dome after yearlong simulation. Tribune-Herald.

A year ago six volunteers of different nationalities and personalities — some chattier than others, some neater and cleaner — entered a modest dome two-thirds of the way up this desolate volcanic slope, where they had agreed to spend the next 365 days confined together to study potential effects on crews for future missions to Mars. Star-Advertiser.

What Six Scientists Learned In A Year On ‘Mars’. Civil Beat.

The public is getting another chance to weigh in on the designation of Puukohola Heiau as a national historic landmark, as the National Park Service conducts a study that could enlarge or decrease the size of the site itself. West Hawaii Today.

Tina Clothier, executive director of PATH, along with Mayor Billy Kenoi and the Mayor’s Active Living Advisory Council, will officially launch Bikeshare Kona Hawaii Island (BKHI) Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. with the blessing of a bike station at the Hale Halawai Pavilion. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

South Maui state Rep. Kaniela Ing pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in Wailuku District Court to a citation for driving his car without motor vehicle insurance. Maui News.

The Maui Tomorrow Foundation and three individual plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit in the state's Environmental Court to stop the state Department of Transportation from building seawalls along Honoapiilani Highway. Maui News.

Groups struggle to communicate about solar telescope installation. Improved understanding sought between Native Hawaiian organizations and science foundation. Maui News.

Sorghum is a top contender to replace sugar cane in some of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.'s 36,000 acres after the plantation closes at the end of this year. Maui News.

Work to replace a nearly 50-year-old walkway at the 105-acre Wai'anapanapa State Park in Hana will begin Sept. 6, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department currently is conducting a one-month feasibility study on the use of Axon body-worn cameras, the department announced Wednesday.Maui News.

Takashi Kitaoka was remembered Friday as the first Maui-born judge to serve the Maui County circuit, a first sergeant who fought in the famed 100th Infantry Battalion during World War II and an effective government official who was director of the state Labor Department. Maui News.

Kauai

Because it is unclear who owns part of Anini Road, those who live there say the road is in limbo. Garden Island.

An application for funding for the proposed North Shore High School was denied, but backers said they will continue to support the project. Garden Island.

Molokai

Three decades of transporting workers, tourists and student athletes aboard the Molokai ferry may come to an end in a few weeks as the operator seeks to shut down operations in the face of mounting deficits. Maui News.

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Confidential patient records in Health Exchange limbo, construction booming, crystal meth still plagues state, three counties pass budgets, Oahu windmills killing endangered bats, Duke Aiona mulls 3 races, coral graveyard found in Pacific, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Construction crane looms over Honolulu © 2016 All Hawaii News
Honolulu was the nation’s third-fastest-growing construction job market during the past 12 months as employment in the local industry hit an April high, according to new analysis from the Associated General Contractors of America. Star-Advertiser.

A former Hawaii Health Connector contractor claims to be holding on to Hawaii state residents' personal health information in what appears to be a favor to the state government, which has failed for months to give the company direction on what to do with the sensitive data. Pacific Business News.

When it comes to financial health, Hawaii ranks 45th. Civil Beat.

Crystal Meth in Hawaii: Demand, Supply and Local Culture. Hawaii Public Radio.

On July 9, the Hawaii Education Summit will be held to discuss the benefits of the new Every Student Succeeds Act, according to a statement released by Gov. David Ige’s office. Civil Beat.

More than 300 people who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, primarily on Oahu, received assistance from a portion of the $900,000 in state funds that Aloha United Way distributed to 18 social service agencies in April in an effort to reduce the highest per capita homeless rate in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Under the state’s policy, the Hawaii Department of Public Safety cannot decide where to place transgender inmates based only on their anatomy; it must make an individualized assessment that takes into account each inmate’s gender identity and personal concerns about safety. Civil Beat.

Former Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona Jr. pulled papers Wednesday for three different seats. KHON2.

Lei Ahu Isa is running to represent Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District. A former state legislator and current trustee with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Isa said she filed her papers Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The NFL said Wednesday its decision to move the Pro Bowl to Orlando, Florida, for the next three seasons is unrelated to funding, Aloha Stadium or Hawaii's ability to host the game. Associated Press.

Federal scientists reported what they’ve dubbed a “coral graveyard” off the coast of Jarvis Island in the Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument on Wednesday, saying an emergency undersea expedition found 95 percent of the coral dead. Garden Island.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday passed a $2.33 billion operating budget and $940 million capital improvements package for the fiscal year that starts July 1. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council approved a $2.3 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2017 Wednesday that includes millions of dollars for nonprofits and homelessness initiatives, and a separate rail budget that caps spending at a figure $1.3 billion short of what the federal government estimates the project may cost. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday approved operating and capital improvements budgets for the city’s troubled rail project, but in doing so slashed funding for the project’s staff and office space, and tightened the screws on construction money. Star-Advertiser.

Rail and disputed Kakaako roads on collision course. KITV4.

The number of endangered Hawaiian hoary bats killed by spinning wind turbines on an Oahu wind farm is on pace to far exceed U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projections. Star-Advertiser.

A group of Kailua neighbors is up in arms after volunteers from two canoe clubs hacked away vegetation from a vacant lot on state land Monday, clearing the way for a canoe launch site along the Kawainui Canal, or Oneawa Channel. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Inc. paid about $2.3 million for the historic Honolulu Advertiser building on Kapiolani Boulevard, which it plans to renovate and use as its headquarters. Pacific Business News.

Water problems at Lahainaluna High School have not been ignored. The Department of Education told KHON2 Wednesday that it wasn’t aware of them.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi is adding 14 new positions to the county's $462.9 budget. But even that wasn’t enough for most County Council members, who on Wednesday added one more. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council voted on Wednesday to approve a new budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Big Island Video News.

Lt. Col. Jacob Peterson relinquished command of Pohakuloa Training Area to Lt. Col. Christopher Marquez in a ceremony Wednesday morning at the Army installation’s theater. Tribune-Herald.

Contaminated soil has halted redevelopment of a Hilo public housing complex. The housing site has been empty for over 10 years. Associated Press.

The County Council’s Finance Committee will get a chance to weigh in on the future of Hakalau Point today as it considers a resolution authorizing the purchase of the nearly 9-acre property, a former home to the Hakalau Plantation Co. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County could soon have its first tenant at the Kapulena Agricultural Park since seeking farming leases in 2012. Tribune-Herald.

Eighteen months later, there is still no answer from the state Office of Information Practices on whether the Commission on Water Resource Management violated the Sunshine Law during Kona site visits in 2014. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee deferred action Wednesday on a proposal that would restrict certain county employees' participation in political campaigns. Maui News.

The Hawaiʻi Ecotourism Association today announced the receipt of a $50,000 contract from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority to expand their Sustainable Tour Certification Program. Maui Now.

A coalition of social service agencies, Maui County, the Governor's Office and the Realtors Association of Maui is launching a program to encourage property owners and managers to make more housing available to those most in need of shelter. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council unanimously finalized the $189 million fiscal year 2016-2017 operating budget Wednesday. Garden Island.

A 20-year-old boardwalk at Kauai’s Kokee State Park is getting replaced with recycled plastic as state officials aim to protect the area’s rare species and improve safety for the thousands of people who visit each year. Associated Press.

A flight plan for a Cessna 182H that crashed and burned last week, killing five people, was never filed, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board. Garden Island.

Leona Perez, Kauai Independent Food Bank’s programs manager, said school hasn’t been out for a week and they’ve already seen an increase in the number of families coming in for emergency food. Garden Island.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Hawaii to become first state in nation to raise smoking age, state Supreme Court hears Honolulu Police secrecy case, homeless increase 10%, Honolulu officials don't misuse pCards, emergency sea cucumber harvest ban enacted, public concerned about Red Hill fuel tank leaks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Cigarette display in Hawaii © 2015 All Hawaii News
Gov. David Ige has signed a bill to make his state the first to raise the legal smoking age to 21. The measure aims to prevent adolescents from smoking, buying or possessing both traditional and electronic cigarettes. Gov. David Ige signed it Friday. Associated Press.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill Friday that will make Hawaii the first state in the nation to ban smoking for anyone under the age of 21 once it goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016. Civil Beat.


The number of homeless in Hawaii increased to its highest level in five years, boosted by a dramatic jump in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals, who now outnumber the sheltered, according to data released Thursday by the state. Star-Advertiser.

The latest count of Hawaii’s homeless population shows it increased by more than 10 percent — despite the high-profile efforts of Honolulu city and state officials to combat the issue. Civil Beat.

Neighbor island data confirms houselessness on the rise The state released the neighbor island data from its 2015 Point in Time count today and, in all counties but Kauai, the number of houseless citizens has increased. Hawaii Independent.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is proposing an emergency ban on harvesting sea cucumbers in Hawaii’s nearshore waters after officials were alerted to recent incidents of over-harvesting off Oahu and Maui. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says the recent mass harvesting of sea cucumbers from near shore waters on Oʻahu and Maui has prompted them to request emergency actions to prevent the depletion of this marine resource from Hawaiʻi’s oceans. Maui Now.

Reports of mass commercial harvesting of sea cucumbers off Oahu and Maui that may be in the tons have prompted the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to seek a four-month emergency ban on the taking of the sea creatures. Maui News.

A study that could have implications for Hawaii’s timber and wind-turbine industries has found evidence of two distinct lineages of the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat, which flew 2,500 miles across open ocean in two migratory waves. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii residents have until 6 p.m. Friday to submit comments on a controversial proposal to expand areas under federal protection and strengthen rules aimed at protecting humpback whales and other marine life. Civil Beat.

Nearly halfway through their sail around the world, a group of researchers arrived in Hawaii to look at plastic pollution on our shores as part of a global study of the issue. Star-Advertiser.

Republican reps ask Souki to stand down on ethics commission complaint. State reps. Ward and McDermott say the speaker has overstepped his authority, praise commission's executive director, Les Kondo, for his firm enforcement of the state ethics code. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday heard arguments about whether the names of Honolulu Police Department officers suspended for serious offenses should be made public — and whether the decision to release or withhold the names ultimately rests with the courts or Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in a case that could have far-reaching implications for police accountability in the Aloha State. At issue is whether cops who are suspended for serious misconduct, such as assault, drunken driving or lying to investigators, should have their names and disciplinary records released under Hawaii’s public records law. Civil Beat.

No apparent misuse in Honolulu officials’ pCard spending. KHON2.

Hundreds of people packed the Moanalua Middle School cafeteria Thursday night to hear a draft plan to improve the Navy's fuel tank facility at Red Hill. About 27,000 gallons of jet fuel oil leaked from one of the tanks last year, prompting concerns about whether nearby drinking water supplies were affected. Hawaii News Now.

About 200 concerned citizens turned out for a public hearing held by the Environmental Protection Agency to hear public comment on a measure that is supposed to address the damage caused by a 27,000-gallon fuel spill at the Navy’s Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in 2014 and to prevent any future spills by the Navy. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee resurrected a controversial issue in Kailua and O’ahu’s North Shore.  That of vacation rentals in residential neighborhoods. Hawaii Public Radio.

After three hours of testimony both in favor and against making more residential vacation rentals legal, the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee voted Thursday to defer the issue yet again. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County’s homeless population has exploded in the past year, adding more new individuals than the rest of the state combined. In a count conducted statewide on Jan. 25, the state Department of Human Services logged 1,021 homeless individuals without shelter on the Big Island, and an additional 220 that were being housed either through emergency shelters or transitional housing programs. Tribune-Herald.

With protesters waving signs outside their gate, developers of the Hokulia luxury subdivision say they are committed to moving quickly to create plans for burial sites, and will sit down with area descendants to craft plans for how graves should be protected and cared for. West Hawaii Today.

For a pretty penny, you can own what is considered the largest privately owned tract of old-growth koa forest on the planet. Honolulu-based Finance Factors is selling a 13,129-acre property known as the “Hilo Koa Forest.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County's unemployment rate edged below 4 percent in May to 3.9 percent, 0.6 percentage point lower than the same month last year, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

The drought that is gripping Kauai is expected to improve in some areas — and become more severe in others. Garden Island.

“Squeezed Out: Understanding Kauai’s Housing Shortage” is the topic of the Kauai Planning and Action Alliance (KPAA) annual membership meeting Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Kauai Community College, OCET Building, Room 105. The public is welcome to attend. Garden Island.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Hawaii House and Senate conference committee works on budget, Honolulu voters oppose transit tax, Ige intervenes in Maui hospital privatization plan, Thirty Meter Telescope protests continue, Board of Education mulls expanding sex ed, Kauai dairy foes raise money as lawsuit nears, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

photo courtesy of House Majority Communications
Conference committee mulls budget, courtesy House Majority Communications
Lawmakers from Hawaii's House and Senate have begun negotiating how the state will spend its $26.3 billion budget over the next two years. Members of the House Committee on Finance and Senate Committee on Ways and Means held their first in a series of conference committee meetings on Tuesday, and announced parts of the budget where they were able to reach agreement. But most major decisions will be brokered over the next two weeks. Associated Press.

A joint panel of House and Senate lawmakers have finished their first day of work in conference committee resolving differences between each chamber’s draft of the overall state budget for the next two years, expected to come in at roughly $26 billion. Civil Beat.

Is Collecting Taxes a ‘War Crime’ in Hawaii? It is if the state is still an occupied kingdom, as some are arguing. Civil Beat.

The state Board of Education is considering expanding its long-standing abstinence-based sex education policy to include lessons on contraceptives, disease prevention and various skills to help students “make healthy decisions about sexuality and relationships,” while still emphasizing abstinence. Star-Advertiser.

The Legislature on Tuesday sent a bill to Gov. David Ige that says state policy is to ensure the use of liquefied natural gas does not slow the development and use of renewable energy sources. The bill does not include a penalty if the use of LNG is found to slow the adoption of renewable energy. Star-Advertiser.

Legislation designating the ōpe‘ape‘a or Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus cinerus semotus) as the official state land mammal “flew through the Senate, glided through the House of Representatives, and will land on Governor Ige’s desk in the attic of the Capitol Building for his signature” Wednesday afternoon. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige is expected to sign into law a bill four years in the making that would bestow the Hawaiian hoary bat with this one-of-a-kind designation. The goal is to recognize and raise awareness about the efforts to save this imperiled and uniquely Hawaiian critter, also known as the opeapea. Garden Island.

Three areas at risk from climate change on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island will get special attention from federal agencies to help protect reefs and shorelines and prepare for rising sea levels, the White House and three agencies announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Dan Price, the CEO of Seattle-based Gravity Payments, made international headlines last week when he told employees that he will increase the company’s minimum wage to $70,000 for his 120-person company — including the company's 10 workers in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.


Oahu

Most Honolulu voters don’t want lawmakers to extend Oahu’s 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge to help pay for the city’s cash-strapped 20-mile commuter rail line planned from East Kapolei to Ala Moana Center, according to the latest Civil Beat poll results.

Efforts to repair and restore the ironwork fence and walls surrounding Iolani Palace are underway. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says the palace and grounds will remain open during the work. Associated Press.

Federal Judge Alan Kay issued a $4.25 million judgment Tuesday against the United States for a botched bariatric gastric bypass surgery for weight loss on a healthy woman at Tripler Army Medical Center in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

The new Aiea Public Library was touted as a state of the art, energy efficient building, but it may not be as “green” as the state says. KHON2.

The 9th Mission Support Command (Pacific Army Reserve) on Tuesday unveiled new signage and conducted a groundbreaking for the newly designated U.S. Army Reserve Daniel K. Inouye Complex at Fort Shafter Flats. Star-Advertiser.

The annual Point in Time Count for the island of Oahu was released Monday and it shows homelessness is still expanding. KITV4.

Hawaii
Mayor Billy Kenoi will present his proposed $434 million budget to the Hawaii County Council today but will not be able to answer questions regarding use of his county credit card for personal expenses, a spokesman said. Tribune-Herald.

Members of the Hawaii County Council agree, for the most part, that it is not the council’s responsibility to involve itself in the controversy surrounding Mayor Billy Kenoi’s use of his county-issued credit card for personal expenses. Tribune-Herald.

There was a silver lining in the lava flow emergency that threatened Puna during the past months — an unexpected financial boost for local contractors large and small. Tribune-Herald.

More than 300 people protesting the planned Thirty Meter Telescope marched across Honolulu on Tuesday, delivering demands to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Gov. David Ige and the law firm representing the developer of the massive $1.4 billion project on Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of residents marched to the Hawaii State Capitol on Tuesday to urge the governor to stop the development of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, a Big Island mountain that many Native Hawaiians consider sacred. Civil Beat.

So many people showed up to comment on the Thirty Meter Telescope at Thursday’s University of Hawaii Board of Regents meeting in Hilo, that the board is scheduling a second meeting in Hilo on Sunday to finish public comments. Civil Beat.

Maui

Gov. David Ige reached into the internal workings of the Legislature on Tuesday to persuade House lawmakers to delay a vote that could have positioned Maui’s state-owned hospitals to be transformed into a private nonprofit entity. Star-Advertiser.

In an unusual move, Gov. David Ige has intervened in a controversial proposal that would pave the way for the privatization of Maui Memorial Medical Center, which lost more than $43 million last year. Civil Beat.

After announcing a staggering $28 million dollar budget gap for Fiscal Year 2016, the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation’s (HHSC) Maui Region is organizing public meetings to take public input on the imminent service and position cuts and to start the reduction in workforce processes. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has intervened in a legislative plan to allow Maui's regional hospitals to be taken over by a private entity. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday intervened in legislation that would allow Maui hospitals to enter public-private partnerships — an initiative that could break the waves for a similar partnership at Kona Community Hospital. West Hawaii Today.

Gov. David Ige intervened Tuesday just as a controversial bill was set to pass the State House that would allow privatizing the financially struggling Maui Memorial Medical Center and two other smaller hospitals. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui region of the quasi-public body that runs Maui Memorial Medical Center has called a public meeting for Tuesday to discuss cuts in services and personnel to meet a projected $28 million shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Maui News.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation has awarded Honolulu-based Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Inc. the $327 million contract to improve roadways and build a consolidated car rental facility at Kahului Airport on Maui after rescinding a contract that had been awarded to Honolulu’s Nan Inc. Pacific Business News.

A Maui minister is behind bars and charged with sexually assaulting a young child. Dennis DeRego fainted in court Tuesday afternoon during a bail hearing while his attorney asked the judge to let him out of jail on supervised release. Hawaii News Now.

West Maui, West Hawaii and Heeia watershed on Oahu have been identified as sites that may be adversely impacted by climate change, and the federal government plans to partner with state and local agencies to develop a plan to make those areas more resilient. Maui News.

Opinion: the County of Maui has been quietly “surveying” about Maui residents on whether they’d like to see the 3-Can curbside recycling project expanded island-wide. MauiTime.

Kauai

A community group opposing the proposed south side dairy says it has raised enough money to hire experts to assess the environmental impacts the project could have on the area. Garden Island.