Honolulu City Council ousts chairman, OHA probed by FBI and state attorney general, reaction to Djou's departure from GOP, councilwoman cleared to sponsor vacation rental bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii police on parade ©2018 All Hawaii News

Legislators Again Consider Making More Police Disciplinary Records Public. For the fifth straight year, there’s a bill to end the exemption for officers to a public records law that applies to everyone else. Civil Beat.

The state Attorney General’s office and the FBI are conducting a wide-ranging investigation into allegations of “public corruption and misappropriation” of taxpayer and state funds at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Hawaii News Now.

Supporters rally for Kupuna Caregivers Program measure, which provides assistance to the family caregiver who also works outside the home full time. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters are trying to draw attention to the continued need for funding of the Kupuna Caregivers Program. KHON2.

Employers and employees will testify today regarding a controversial bill that would require employers in Hawaii to offer paid sick leave to employees. House Bill 1727 would require employers to provide a certain amount of paid sick leave to their employees each year unless they pay employees more than the minimum wage. Tribune-Herald.

State policy on virtual currency up for debate. A bill that proposes to modify state regulations for companies that broker transactions of highly volatile virtual currencies for Hawaii customers is scheduled to be heard today at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators Consider Tougher Invasive Species Control Measures. Hawaii Public Radio.

The recent spate of drownings across the state has brought together key people from the state and the counties to try and to address what if anything we can do to keep our visitors and residents safe in the water. Hawaii Public Radio.

Protection for all sharks and rays within state waters has moved another step closer to reality. West Hawaii Today.

Commentary: What’s Next For Charles Djou — And The Hawaii GOP? After abandoning the Republican Party in dramatic fashion, the ex-congressman says he has no plans to run for anything. Civil Beat.

Former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou says he is leaving the Republican Party. Star-Advertiser.

Energy specialist tapped to join PUC. Gov. David Ige has nominated University of Hawaii energy specialist Jennifer “Jennie” Potter to the three-member Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Ige nominates UH energy specialist to Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

First Hawaiian CEO earns $5.8M to take over top spot in state. First Hawaiian Bank’s Bob Harrison has supplanted his chief rival and become the state’s highest-paid CEO of a publicly traded company. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Ernie Martin unseated Ron Menor as Honolulu City Council chairman today, grabbing back the gavel that Menor snatched from him 15 months ago. Martin has been among Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s toughest critics on the Council while the Menor leadership team was seen as more amenable to the administration. Star-Advertiser.

Ernie Martin Regains Council Chairmanship As Council Squabbles Over Rail. Outgoing chairman Ron Menor pleads for his colleagues to “rise above personal differences and political ambitions.” Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council Reorganization: Rail Transit Funding. The Honolulu City Council voted in new leadership today. Hawaii Public Radio.

After close vote, City Council gets a new chair — and a new direction. Hawaii News Now.

Ousted as leader of the Honolulu City Council in January, Ernie Martin was reinstated as the Honolulu City Council chair Monday. KITV.

Leadership shakeup at Honolulu City Council restores Martin as chair. KHON2.

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Rail debate overshadows Martin’s return as Council chairman. Budget Director Nelson Koyanagi said there is a projected $214 million hole in the current city plan to pay for the $9 billion rail project.  Star-Advertiser.

Rail project’s safety program gets federal approval. The Federal Transit Administration said Monday that Hawaii has received approval of a key safety program for the rail project ahead of a federal deadline. Star-Advertiser.

The Federal Transit Administration certified the Honolulu rail project’s State Safety Oversight Program on Monday, a mandatory step in order for the project to receive new federal transit funds, the agency said. Pacific Business News.

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2019 mayors conference to be held in Waikiki. A June 1963 speech given in Waikiki by then- President John F. Kennedy may have helped persuade leaders of the United States Conference of Mayors to return here in June 2019 after a 50-plus-year absence. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s First Trailer Park Just The Latest In New Wave Of Public Housing. Since Gov. David Ige’s emergency proclamations loosened up regulations, some new-look subsidized housing is taking shape. Civil Beat.

Three formerly homeless families from the Waianae Coast received keys to new homes Monday as the city continues to work to reduce the nation’s largest per capita rate of homelessness. Star-Advertiser.

Three former homeless families move into their new homes on Farrington Highway. KITV.

Waipio park renovation project finished ahead of schedule. The $395,700 project to upgrade the courts began in November and was scheduled to finish this summer. Hawaii News Now.

The Navy has estimated that the least expensive method of double-walling its fuel tanks that in 2014 spilled 27,000 gallons of fuel could cost between $500 million and $2 billion. Associated Press.

‘Wonder Blunder’ promoter’s sentencing set for next week. A federal judge denied today a request from the key figure in the University of Hawaii Stevie Wonder concert fiasco to withdraw his guilty plea. Star-Advertiser.

Guilty plea in 'Wonder Blunder' concert scam stands. Associated Press.

Hawaii Island

The county Board of Ethics on Monday unanimously gave North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff the go-ahead to sponsor a bill regulating vacation rentals. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Board of Ethics determined that there is no prohibition on Kona councilwoman Karen Eoff to introduce, discuss or vote on a bill regulating short-term rentals, even though she herself owns a vacation rental condo in Kailua-Kona. Big Island Video News.

DOBOR to release draft rules for manta ray viewing sites in West Hawaii. Following years of discussion and deliberation, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has formulated a list of draft rules regarding proposed regulations and changes to manta ray viewing sites. West Hawaii Today.

Mangled manta could show need for regulation in popular tourist activity. West Hawaii Today.

A three-month park improvement project at Kua Bay is underway. Big Island Video News.

Maui

State water panel to take up West Maui stream flow standards. Maui News.

The University of Hawaii Maui College campus will soon be among the first in the nation to generate 100% of its energy from on-site solar photovoltaic systems coupled with battery storage, university officials announced today. Maui Now.

Drones are now helping to locate and monitor humpback whales entangled with fishing gear and ocean debris, according to an announcement from Oceans Unmanned Inc., a nonprofit organization that facilitates the use of unmanned technologies to protect the ocean and coastal marine environment. Maui News.

Kauai

There aren’t any lingering public health dangers on Kauai due to Terminix’s reported misuse of restricted-use fumigant pesticides, but the company has been fined. Garden Island.

EPA slaps Terminix with big fines for pesticide violations on Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

EPA fines Terminix more than $168K for misuse of pesticide products on Kauai. Pacific Business News.

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‘Second city’ coming? The public is invited to a presentation by A&B Properties to hear about A&B’s development plans for the area between Eleele to past Numila. Garden Island.

A Kauai organization is asking for public support to help save endangered native bird species on the island. Hawaii Public Radio.

A group of people clearing state land at a bellstone site in Wailua are wondering where the bellstone is. Garden Island.

Kauai geologist, researcher and sedimentology specialist Chuck Blay will be presenting “Understanding our Living Beaches,” a free talk on Kauai’s beaches at the Kapaa Library at 2 p.m. Saturday. Garden Island.

'Secret' Hawaii hiking spots on social media raise risky behavior, Legislature seeks tax hikes, Honolulu council shuffle, state Department of Education supports student walkouts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Manoa's bamboo trail ©2018 All Hawaii News

Social media spur rise in risky scenic hiking. Within the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of the state trails, as well as people going to places that are obviously dangerous, among both visitors and locals alike. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers seek tax increases despite booming collections. These are the best of times when it comes to state tax collections, but Hawaii lawmakers are nonetheless considering an array of tax increases to help cope with long-term spending obligations such as pensions and health care for public employees. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers Ignore Tourism Industry, Pass New Taxes Targeting Visitors. Tourism officials aren’t happy with measures that could raise millions from taxes on timeshares and higher resort fees. Civil Beat.

The State Senate has drafted, discussed, and voted on several bills that leaders say are projected to generate approximately $72 million in revenues based on the Department of Taxation estimates. Maui Now.

Law enforcement experts recommend a statewide gun amnesty buyback program that they think would help decrease gun violence in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The state House Judiciary committee has approved legislation that would expand animal-cruelty laws to better protect dogs chained up outdoors. Star-Advertiser.

‘Death with dignity’ advocate, outliving his cancer prognosis, reflects on issue. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education says it will support students who plan to participate in the school walkouts planned nationwide to protest gun violence. Hawaii News Now.

Who’s Building Affordable Housing in Hawaii. Many high-profile developers include affordable housing as required by law, but some developers specialize in that type of housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

The National Disaster Preparedness Training Center is inviting the public to participate in a survey about residents' experiences and behaviors during January's false missile scare. Hawaii News Now.

The number of people looking for jobs in Hawaii is the lowest since 1991. The state maintained its record low unemployment rate at 2.1 percent in January, the same as the revised seasonally adjusted rates for December, November and October, according to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Palace Intrigue: Ernie Martin Tries To Return As City Council Chairman. Even as he runs for Congress, the North Shore council member may regain the chairmanship this month. Civil Beat.

Council members move to reinstate Martin as chair. KHON2.

City budget adds more lifeguards at Hanauma. Expect a bigger lifeguard presence at the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve under a proposal that’s part of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s $2.16 billion operating budget for the coming fiscal year. Star-Advertiser.

Starting March 12, the City and County of Honolulu will begin replacing tens of thousands of light bulbs in street lamps across the island to put in more energy-efficient LED lights. KHON2.

The nonprofit health center running the Waianae Coast’s only emergency room is doubling the number of rooms available to treat urgent cases and expanding its reach in Leeward Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Waianae Health Center Completes $49 Million Improvement Project. KITV.

Architect Designs Low-Cost Housing, Often For Free. Russell Wozniak has become a leader of Oahu’s efforts to develop innovative solutions to the low-income housing shortage. Civil Beat.

Caldwell seeks kupuna input on surf contest reform. In mid-February, when the World Surf League canceled its 2019 Pipe Masters contest after the City & County of Honolulu rejected its bid to switch dates from December to January with its Pipe Pro meet, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced he would found an advisory committee to revise the city’s surf meet permitting rules. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is adjusting its base rate to reflect savings from the new federal tax bill, resulting in a lower monthly electrical bill for Oahu customers. Star-Advertiser.

Peter Moon, an ukulele virtuoso, businessman and composer who contributed to a revival of Hawaiian music in the 1970s, died Feb. 17. He was 73. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Maunakea committee shrouded in anonymity. Mayor Harry Kim says his Maunakea committee, tasked with proposing a new management model for the mountain, met for the first time Friday. Tribune-Herald.

The pace of public projects has slowed as the county nears its prudent borrowing limits and seeks other revenue sources to build needed roads, wastewater systems, workforce housing and fire stations. West Hawaii Today.

Crowing Roosters Are Driving Some People Crazy On The Big Island. A Hawaii County Council member is proposing to restrict where the birds, many used for illegal cockfighting, can roost. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii County panel on Friday denied an appeal of a subdivision approval in the Puukapu Homesteads area of Waimea. Big Island Video News.

A small Waimea subdivision is causing big problems for a neighbor, who says work on the property is making her land flood. West Hawaii Today.

State social workers in Hilo oversee so many cases of abused and neglected children spread over a huge swath of Hawaii island that the situation has become a crisis, with workers unable to devote adequate time to cases even as the numbers continue to grow, according to social workers, foster parents, service providers and others familiar with the child welfare system there. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

County Council passes short-term rental legislation on first reading. Measure would require a property owner to wait five years for a permit. Maui News.

Community gets a glimpse of long-delayed Kihei high school. New Kihei High School concepts revealed: Parents plead for school to welcome all grades at once at scheduled 2021 opening. Maui News.

Girls basketball coach suspended pending investigation. Upcountry club team reorganizing, changing its name. Maui News.

Bowling alley rumors false for Maui Marketplace. Lease negotiations ongoing for old Lowe’s, Sports Authority spaces. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai police have seen an increase in the use of black tar heroin over the last two years. Associated Press.

Waimea Library manager helps award top national children’s book. Garden Island.

Bum Run raises awareness, money in fight against cancer. Garden Island.

Legislative negotiators agree on $10M for preschools, bluefin tuna at risk, Martin pulls papers for Honolulu mayor, rail could mean more new schools, Maui named top island in the world, Oahu elementary school named for Inouye, igloos for homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Budget conference committee, courtesy Hawaii House

State Senate and House lawmakers began working out their differences on more than 300 bills today.  A high priority this session was homelessness and affordable housing. Hawaii Public Radio.

House and Senate lawmakers have agreed to provide $10 million for Preschool Open Doors, which is expected to help 1,500 at-risk kids access an early education program for low-income families. It was the most significant of many budget decisions that House Finance Chair Sylvia Luke and Senate Ways and Means Chair Jill Tokuda announced Tuesday in a packed conference room at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

Legislative leaders want to boost funding for a program that helps fund preschool for children from low-income families, and say they’ve agreed to increase the budget for the Preschool Open Doors to $10 million. Associated Press.

The latest scientific assessment paints a likely bleak future for the Pacific bluefin tuna, a sushi lovers’ favorite whose population has dropped by more than 97 percent from its historic levels. Associated Press.

Last year nearly a quarter of middle school students in Hawaii said they had seriously considered suicide, according to the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Civil Beat.

At a recent press conference to show support for bills to help the homeless and provide affordable housing, state Sen. President Ron Kouchi quoted from scripture. Civil Beat.

Chevron Hawaii’s gas stations will be rebranded to Texaco once the sale of the company’s Hawaii assets closes later this year to New York’s One Rock Capital Partners LP, a spokesperson for One Rock Capital said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The answer to “will he or won’t he” took a new turn Tuesday when Ernie Martin pulled papers to run for mayor of Honolulu. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education anticipates future residential development along the city’s rail line in urban Honolulu will bring with it an additional 10,200 students to area public schools, far exceeding existing capacity and requiring several new schools from Kalihi to Ala Moana. Star-Advertiser.

The state could be saddled with some big school construction costs in coming decades if current housing and population growth predictions hold true for a 4-mile swath of urban Honolulu, according to a Department of Education report. Civil Beat.

A new Department of Education report says approximately 39,000 new residential units will be built between Kalihi and Ala Moana and that could bring in about 10,000 new students to the district. KHON2.

A month after approving a $4.7 million payment to settle two lawsuits filed by one current and two former Honolulu police officers who alleged discrimination, the Honolulu City Council is being asked to approve more money for attorneys’ fees. Star-Advertiser.

Plans to allow two managed homeless encampments on Oahu are moving forward, while the city also plans to build a hygiene center for the homeless. Hawaii News Now.

The City and County of Honolulu has denied a $180,000 grant to Mental Health Kokua Activity Center, a non-profit organization that serves severely mentally ill people in downtown Honolulu and Chinatown. Civil Beat.

Red Hill’s First Assembly of God church wants to erect a dozen igloo-­shaped domes from Alaska to create a “shelter village” somewhere in town for about 40 homeless people. Star-Advertiser.

Officials at an Oahu high school were negligent in not preventing an alleged rape between two special-education students, a lawyer told jurors Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Board of Education approved the renaming of Hale Kula Elementary School to Daniel K. Inouye Elementary School during its meeting on Tuesday. KITV4.

Hawaii

After hearing from supporters and critics of embattled Mayor Billy Kenoi, it was the Hawaii County Council’s silence that spoke the loudest Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

More than two dozen people showed up Tuesday evening to speak their minds on a proposed one-half percent general excise tax increase, with all but one opposed to the idea. West Hawaii Today.

A plan to create a 306-unit multiple family residential development just mauka of the popular Kahalu’u Bay goes before the Leeward Planning Commission this week. Big Island Video News.

After months of uncertainty, plans to build the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy’s long awaited permanent building are finally moving forward. The University of Hawaii on Monday awarded the project to Isemoto Contracting Co. for $31.3 million. Tribune-Herald.

BJ Penn told a mixed martial arts podcast Monday night that allegations of sexual assault that put his plans for a return to fighting on hold “definitely hurt my heart.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui is Nō Ka ʻOi once again. The island of Maui was just ranked the Top Island in the World and the Top Island in the US by the travel planning and booking website TripAdvisor. Maui Now.

Developers of a 1,500-home Olowalu development, which has been a decade in the making, have withdrawn their plans in a victory for those who opposed the project as inappropriate for the West Maui area. Maui News.

Developers have withdrawn plans to build 1,500 homes in a west Maui community, a decision that comes months after state officials rejected the project's environmental assessment. Associated Press.

Designs for the final phase of the long-awaited North Shore Greenway - a 7-mile pedestrian and bike-friendly pathway between Kahului and Paia - are "90 percent done," and the project could go out to bid by summer and be completed next year, county Department of Public Works engineers said. Maui News.

The Maui Young Democrats invites the public to attend their Upcountry County Council debate on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, at the Pukalani Community Center. Maui Now.

Kauai

Bills covering smoking in a motor vehicle, homestays and vending on county-owned property are slated to go before the Kauai County Council on Wednesday. Garden Island.

The final report on pesticide use by agribusiness on Kauai is in the works. Garden Island.

State Rep. Dee Morikawa has a list of projects she wants done in her district. Garden Island.

Big Island sites threatened by sea level rise, Hawaii has nation's second-highest tax burden, most lead-free water, Honolulu has trust issues with Police Commission, Ethics Commission, Maui SHAKA leader files for county council, single-member council districts dies again on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park © 2016 All Hawaii News

Reports by the National Park Service and others have found that rising sea level rises threaten archaeological sites at various historic places in Hawaii. Those include ancient fish ponds at Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site and a “Great Wall” at a sacred site in Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. It is considered the best-preserved such wall in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Hawaii has second highest tax burden in the United States. Wallet Hub.

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that didn't exceed federal testing limits for lead in drinking water during the last three years, and the Hawaii Department of Health says it's because the state's lucky to have lots of volcanic soil and few lead pipes. KITV4.

Hawaii lawmakers are up against a major deadline as they head into the final month of the legislative session. Bills dealing with homelessness, sugar workers and a slew of other topics need to pass out of the second chamber by Thursday. Otherwise, those policy ideas will die. Associated Press.

Breastfeeding mothers in Hawaii could be excused from jury duty for up to two years if Hawaii lawmakers approve a bill that’s being considered this session. Hawaii lawmakers in the House passed the bill Friday. It now faces approval from the Senate. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is co-sponsoring a bill to require the Federal Aviation Administration to set minimum seat sizes on airplanes. The Senate bill calls for standards that ensure safety and a minimum level of comfort for passengers. It addresses seat width, legroom, padding and aisle width on all commercial passenger planes. The bill follows a Hawaii state Senate resolution on the same topic that passed in March. Associated Press.

Lawmakers are advancing a bill to allow the University of Hawaii system to hire members of the state Legislature, a change that would reverse a university ban on employing lawmakers that has been in place at UH since at least 1966. Star-Advertiser.

Employees, visitors and patients at Hawaii Health Systems Corporation hospitals would be prohibited from smoking anywhere on the premises under a bill that is headed for Gov. David Ige’s desk after it was approved 21-0 on the Senate floor on Friday. Civil Beat.

The percentage of students who learned about HIV and AIDS in school dropped to a two-decade low in Hawaii in 2015, according to a statewide health survey slated for release later this spring. Civil Beat.

Hawaii workers’ use of drugs in the workplace, including cocaine and synthetic urine, has leveled off compared to rises seen over the past couple of years, Diagnostic Laboratory Services Inc. reported Friday. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Department of Health says it’s planning to release the names of Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensary owners next week. The state Health Department says the five-member selection panel is scheduled to release the names April 15. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensary applicants were hit with a last-minute request on Thursday which could push back the date to announce selections — originally slated for Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige on Thursday announced his nominations for the state Board of Education and the Land Use Commission. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate. Civil Beat.

Insurance plans for thousands of Hawaiian workers will run out next month following a liquidation order issued Thursday for Family Health Hawaii, a health insurance provider for employers and organizations. Civil Beat.

Insurmountable challenges posed by the Affordable Care Act were the root cause of Family Health Hawaii’s liquidation, the company’s CEO, J.P. Schmidt, told Pacific Business News.

Oahu

After suspending Executive Director Chuck Totto for, among other things, allegedly fostering a stressful work environment, the Honolulu Ethics Commission now wants its attorneys and investigators to complete daily work time sheets detailing their tasks in six-minute increments. Star-Advertiser.

‘A Bum Job:’ Trust In Honolulu’s Police Commission Crumbles. Amid ongoing Police Department scandals, Mayor Kirk Caldwell must decide whether to reappoint three police commissioners whose terms are up. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has banned city officials from taking “non-essential publicly-funded” trips to North Carolina and Mississippi in protest of the states’ recent laws that condone discrimination against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. Civil Beat.

Amid rail’s rising costs, Honolulu’s City Council chairman wants the transit project’s two top executives to resign, and he’s asking his political rival — the mayor — to follow his lead in supporting that move. Star-Advertiser.

Ernie Martin Tests Honolulu’s Mayoral Waters. The City Council chair still says he’s not running against Kirk Caldwell. But he sure sounds like he’s running. Civil Beat.

A trio of state senators wants the state to buy about 8,000 acres of Dole Food Co. land between Central Oahu and the North Shore to preserve the property for agriculture — angling to earmark more than $107 million in next year’s budget to complete the purchase. Star-Advertiser.

Kunia Loa Ridge Farmlands, an off-the-grid 854-acre development that’s supposed to be restricted to agriculture, has become a hub for unregulated construction. Star-Advertiser.

A petition to take out an apparently dormant volleyball court in front of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium for badly sought public parking for beachgoers does not appear to be swaying the Caldwell administration. Star-Advertiser.

Some 61 of the World War II veterans were in attendance at the Pacific Beach Hotel for the 73rd-anniversary banquet Sunday commemorating the establishment of the unit, said event co-chairman Irvin Yoshino. Star-Advertiser.

The state plans to pay $35,000 to settle a lawsuit against the Department of Public Safety for an attack at Halawa Correctional Facility during which the assailants gained access to an inmate’s living area. Star-Advertiser.

How Did A Man Lose His Fingers And Feet To A Jailhouse Infection? The state is on the hook for more than $7 million for neglecting a former inmate’s severe blood infection at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Civil Beat.

Aloha Akbar? Lawmaker Promos Event With ISIS Flag Over Waikiki. Hawaii state Rep. Gene Ward splashes a fear-mongering graphic to advertise his public safety and counterterrorism forum next week. Civil Beat.

A Navy flight officer who spoke in Honolulu in 2008 about his journey to become an American citizen has been charged with espionage for allegedly passing secrets to China and patronizing a prostitute, according to a U.S. Naval Institute news story. Star-Advertiser.

Catherine Shen, the first female Asian-American newspaper publisher in the U.S., died March 31 of pancreatic cancer. She was 68. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The race for a Hawaii state Senate seat representing a Big Island district was the topic of a debate Saturday at the University of Hawaii Hilo — even though there’s still two months to go before the candidate filing deadline. Civil Beat.

A Hamakua neighborhood group is suing the county Department of Parks and Recreation, its director and the mayor over proposed improvements to Kukuihaele Park. Tribune-Herald.

Ten years after an employment complaint alleged former Hilo Councilman and mayoral candidate Stacy Higa sexually harassed an aide, the case has taken on new life in the Intermediate Court of Appeals. West Hawaii Today.

$6 Million For Lead Contamination Clean-Up In Kona. Big Island Video News.

A lawsuit to recover what three former Hawaii Community College students say is hundreds of thousands of dollars of wrongfully collected student fees is slated to be heard in May. Tribune-Herald.

Parks officials say they are about ready to reopen the Panaewa play court after giving a new synthetic surface there a final inspection. Tribune-Herald.

The state’s first mobile slaughterhouse unit is in its final phases of certification. Tribune-Herald.

Come fall, a steering committee made up of birding enthusiasts, an outdoor group and eco-tour operators will officially open a 90-mile cross-island trail for bird viewing. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Alika Atay, one of the leaders of the SHAKA Movement, has pulled nomination papers to seek the Maui County Council's Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency seat, one that will be without an incumbent this election year with Wailuku Council Member Mike Victorino bowing out because of term limits. Maui News.

Boeing has supported Maui Space Surveillance Complex operations for the Air Force for the last 25 years and will continue do so under a new $275 million contract, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Education officials have proposed an $8 million elementary school expansion to accommodate west Maui’s growing student population. Associated Press.

An $8 million two-level classroom building and outdoor learning area is being proposed for Princess Nahienaena Elementary School to accommodate enrollment growth in West Maui, according to the state Department of Education. Maui News.

Representative Lynn Decoite praised the governor’s recent announcement indicating that he is supporting a funding increase for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, to the highest level on record. Maui Now.

Early and full landfill closures countywide that are expected to reach 275 by June 30 are slated to decrease by more than 75 percent in the coming fiscal year beginning July 1, officials from the county Department of Environmental Management said Wednesday. Maui News.

An affordable housing project has been proposed in Hana on eastern Maui. GTH Land Co. wants to build two dozen homes estimated to cost between $250,000 and $445,000 apiece. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Separate proposals on whether to divide Kauai County Council seats into individual voting districts and stagger terms lengths have died — again — but the matters will be revisited in May. Both issues could face voters for the fourth time in 2018. Garden Island.

The Kauai Police Department plans to reorganize its bureaus by converting nine of its 15 school crossing guard positions to training officers, safety monitors and background investigators. Garden Island.

A public meeting will be held to inform people about a proposed management plan for the Haena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

On Thursday, a hearings officer appointed by the Kauai Planning Commission issued a recommended ruling in favor of the Planning Department’s decision to revoke a Transient Vacation Rental (TVR) permit for a Seacliff Plantation condominium in Kilauea. Garden Island.

In its efforts toward efficiency, the Transportation Agency will be implementing changes to several Kaua'i Bus routes, beginning Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

New rules advanced for Mauna Kea access as Thirty Meter Telescope construction to resume, Hawaii gets pass from No Child Left Behind, GMO seed industry falters, Waipahu rail work to close roads, Maui council overrides mayor's budget veto, Kauai mulls county manager government, water rates rise on Big Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sunset on Mauna Kea © 2015 All Hawaii News

The Office of Mauna Kea Management is rolling out a set of rules that will for the first time give the office the legal tools to govern public and commercial access on the mountain. West Hawaii Today.

An ‘ahu or altar has gone up on the summit of Mauna Kea as protesters who say they're standing in protection of Native Hawaiian sacred space prepare for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope to resume Wednesday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Thirty Meter Telescope construction crews will not only confront protesters in the road to the summit of Mauna Kea on Wednesday, but apparently also at least one rock altar constructed near the work site. Star-Advertiser.

A day before construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope was expected to resume, opponents made their way to the summit of Hawaii’s tallest mountain Tuesday to build a second ahu, or stone altar, within the project boundary. Tribune-Herald.

After being put on hold for more than two months, work to build the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea is set to restart. The project has already felt the resistance, and now, it'll have to face it again. KITV4.

Multiple modifications have been made to the University of Hawaii's and the state of Hawaii’s approach to Mauna Kea on the Big Island, the Thirty Meter Telescope International Observatory Board said. Pacific Business News.

In the hours before the Thirty Meter Telescope project will attempt to restart construction on Mauna Kea after months of delay, the office of Governor David Ige issued the following statement. Big Island Video News.

Dozens of people are sleeping on Mauna Kea Tuesday night. Many are calling themselves the protectors of the mountain, and dozens more are expected by Wednesday morning. KHON2.

The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday renewed Hawaii's waiver from mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind law, allowing the state to continue evaluating public schools on a state-developed accountability system known as Strive HI. Star-Advertiser.

The Obama administration is giving seven more states and the District of Columbia more flexibility from the requirements of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind education law. In addition to Washington, Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Tuesday renewed waivers for Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, New York, and West Virginia. Associated Press.

What Is Really Being Sustained by 100 Percent Renewable Energy? Two UH economists raise concerns that subsidizing local alternative energy production might be a fiscal drain that is about paying off special interests. Civil Beat.

The leader of a white supremacist group said to have influenced the Charleston, S.C., church shooting suspect contributed $2,000 to the campaign of Charles Djou, the former Hawaii congressman. Civil Beat.

Oahu
With construction of 3 miles of the rail guideway from East Kapolei completed, crews will now move into areas populated by businesses and residents to begin constructing the guideway in Waipahu. Star-Advertiser.

Retired bank executive Don Horner has been reappointed to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s board of directors by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

PVT Land Co., which owns the only construction and demolition debris management facility on Oahu, plans to expand its West Oahu facility as it focuses more on recycling and generation of feedstock for renewable energy, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu’s Mayor has been engaged in an ongoing verbal battle with the Chair of the nine-member City Council. Their latest exchange was over the City’s 2-billion dollar budget which passed without the Mayor’s signature.  As Hawaii Public Radio’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, this could be only the beginning of a long political rivalry.

Protesters lined Kamehameha Highway near Kualoa Regional Park several times in the past week to block sheriff’s deputies from enforcing a court-ordered eviction and removing members of an extended Hawaiian family from a disputed parcel of land on Johnson Road. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Health are giving the public more time to comment on a proposal to better prevent and detect leaks from 20 giant fuel storage tanks near Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Those with plans to buy Fourth of July firecrackers could be out of luck. Permits to use firecrackers on the holiday are on sale through Wednesday, but having a permit doesn't mean you'll be able to find fireworks in a store. Star-Advertiser.

After investing nearly $1.4 million to open a dune buggy rental shop on Oahu's North Shore, Matt Brown was blindsided earlier this year when he found out Hawaii law won't allow him to rent his gas-powered vehicles. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The county Water Board, meeting Tuesday in Hilo, unanimously approved a five-year water rate plan that hikes rates 3 percent on July 1, followed by 4 percent next year and then 5 percent annually for the next three years. West Hawaii Today.

Nearly two miles and more than $110,000 worth of ungulate-proof fencing on the Big Island was cut and destroyed by vandals recently. West Hawaii Today.

Kamehameha Schools plans to begin demolition of the shuttered Keauhou Beach Hotel in early 2016 as the trust moves forward with plans for its educational complex known as Kahaluu Ma Kai. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
With the clock ticking down, the Maui County Council on Monday voted to override Mayor Alan Arakawa's line-item veto of a provision in the budget that takes effect July 1 that limits spending in county departments to specific accounts. Maui News.

Maui County deals with beach erosion. KITV4.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and the County of Maui’s Immigrant Services Division will be hosting three “Information Sessions” later this week for immigrants. The workshops will cover “employment eligibility, green cards, naturalization, petition for relatives and other issues,” according to a June 22 news release from the county. MauiTime.

The Friends of Joe Blackburn will be selling kalua pig for $8 a pound, as he plans another run for the Maui County Council's Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency seat. Maui News.

Honolulu media outlets are looking to Maui as the implementation date of their plastic bag ban nears the July 1, 2015 start date. Maui Now.

Kauai

Idled trucks and tractors are spread out in a field behind DuPont Pioneer’s parent seed facility in Kekaha, a small town on the west side of Kauai. The noise of a generator is the only hint of activity at the site where researchers have worked for years growing genetically modified seeds used to create hybrid crops. Civil Beat.

The Kauai County Council will form a subcommittee to study the possibility of switching to a county manager system of government. Garden Island.

Mayor Bernhard Carvalho, Jr. signed the B&B bill on Friday, making it more difficult for Kauai residents to earn income by renting out rooms in their home on a short-term basis. Garden Island.

A $3.5 million project aimed at removing 2,500 albizia trees along Kuhio Highway between Kalihiwai and Kahiliholo roads was pushed back to next year. The project, originally scheduled for April, was suspended as tree removal coincided with the birthing season of the Hawaiian hoary bat and the breeding season of the Hawaiian shearwater. Garden Island.

Nearly 20 picketers outside the entrance to the Kauai Humane Society Tuesday protested the firing of two employees and called for the removal of KHS Executive Director Penny Cistaro. Garden Island.

Ige signs renewable energy bills, monk seal pups rescued, telescope 'bullet hole' that wasn't, Honolulu council beefs up staff, Oahu solar farms pending before PUC, parachute fails during NASA test on Kauai, layoffs coming to Kona hospital, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige signs energy bills, courtesy Governor's Office

Hawaii would be the first state to wean itself off of all fossil fuels by 2045 under legislation signed by Gov. David Ige and praised by advocates as groundbreaking for the state and the rest of the world. Star-Advertiser.

The Governor signed four energy-related bills into law today, establishing the state as a leader in renewable sources for power. Hawaii Public Radio.

Press release: Gov. David Ige today signed into law four energy bills, including one that strengthens Hawaii’s commitment to clean energy by directing the state’s utilities to generate 100 percent of their electricity sales from renewable energy resources by 2045. Governor's Office.

Two malnourished monk seal pups were rescued during the latest mission to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands by the research ship Hi‘ialakai in its efforts to protect the endangered species. The ship and crew working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration docked in Pearl Harbor on Monday after a 21-day voyage. Star-Advertiser.

Ocean wildlife officials recently started a 21-day mission to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. So far 14 researchers picked up approximately 5,000 pounds of marine debris. KHON2.

Oahu
The Honolulu City Council, which refused to fund seven new affordable housing positions, has doubled the number of staff that report to Chair Ernie Martin since he took the helm five years ago. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is taking steps to close down the controversial hiking trail known as the Stairway to Heaven. The BWS plans to spends $500,000 on an environmental assessment and other studies to figure out the best way to remove the Haiku Stairs, a 3,922-step trail in Kaneohe that goes up into the Koolau mountain range. Civil Beat.

The seven major solar energy projects on Oahu total more than 200-megawatts and which have been put on hold are not dead just yet, the head of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission told Pacific Business News.

The bulk of solar farms pending before the Public Utilities Commission are in Central Oahu, so the delay on a decision on the projects caught the firms by surprise. KITV4.

A federal agency says workplace safety violations led to the deaths of two workers at Pearl Harbor last December. Associated Press.

Hawaii

By no later than Aug. 1, 34 positions at Kona Community Hospital will be eliminated, and the hospital will shut down its 18-bed skilled nursing unit. Administrators at the 94-bed hospital in Kealakekua announced the cuts Monday morning as part of a plan to patch a $6 million hole in the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. West Hawaii Today.

No, the Subaru Telescope didn’t take a bullet. Saeko Hayashi, a spokeswoman for the Mauna Kea observatory, said Monday morning that an approximately 9 mm hole in a metal door at the telescope was caused by it hitting a bolt sticking out from an intake manifold next to the side entrance. Tribune-Herald.

Turns out what appeared to be a bullet hole in the door of the Subaru Observatory on Mauna Kea is not a bullet hole after all. Star-Advertiser.

Reports of a “bullet hole” found in the door of the Subaru Telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea have been dispelled. The observatory has “confirmed a match between this hole and an intake manifold cover on the wall”, which indicates no guns or bullets were involved in creating the hole. Big Island Video News.

Ohia Disease on Big Island Poses Threat to Native Forests Statewide. Foresters are scrambling to figure out how the disease is spreading and how to stop it. Civil Beat.

Tourism is once again expected to be the main economic driver on the Big Island over the next few years, with hotel rooms plentiful and bargain-priced, compared to Oahu. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Gov. David Ige is expected to sign a bill Wednesday authorizing the Maui region state hospitals to begin discussion on implementing a private-public partnership. Pacific Business News.

It should surprise no one that County of Maui Managing Director Keith Regan is running for office. MauiTime.

The Maui AIDS Foundation has been awarded $1.4 million in federal funds to provide rental assistance to lower-income people who are suffering from HIV/AIDS and their families. Maui News.

Kauai

A parachute failed during a NASA test of new technology for landing larger spacecraft — and eventually astronauts — on Mars, the agency said Monday. The parachute deployed but failed to inflate, Kimberly Newton, a spokeswoman for NASA, said in an email. The agency plans to provide more details during a news conference on Tuesday, she said. The parachute appeared to disintegrate in a video of the test. Associated Press.

NASA and Pacific Missile Range Facility employees raised their eyes to the sky and smiled Monday as they watched the successful launch of NASA’s new “flying saucer.” Garden Island.

Michele Davis and her family have cruised on Hanalei’s Black Pot Beach every summer for the past decade, but the Kilauea native said the atmosphere at Black Pot has “definitely changed” in the past five years. Garden Island.

Molokai
A California energy firm hopes to make Molokai the first Hawaiian island to achieve the state's clean energy goals of 100 percent renewable energy. Maui News.

Record low temps chill Hawaii, climate change studied, Ige plans belt tightening, Kauai police run over pedestrian they were sent to help, Obama has left the islands, $90M wind farm cleared for Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Snow-topped Mauna Kea on Saturday © 2015 All Hawaii News

Temperatures in Hawaii dropped into the 50s, setting records on three islands and tying a record in Honolulu Sunday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Snow blanketed the summit areas of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii while morning temperatures dipped into the 50's Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Last month, as he submitted his budget for the next two-year cycle, Gov. David Ige noted that government spending would grow over the next two fiscal years due primarily to nondiscretionary spending requirements such as health benefits and raises negotiated by the previous administration. To him, that means one thing: The state will have to live within its means. Star-Advertiser.

New rules regarding dentists and sedatives were put into place shortly after her daughter's death, But Ashley Boyle has started a web site, finleys-law.org. She's pushing for a law allowing parents to be in the treatment room with their children during dental procedures, or at least to have a window available so they can observe. She also wants a law that says any drug must be administered by the dentist or an equally-certified staff member. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama and family left Honolulu Saturday evening following a two-week vacation. Star-Advertiser.

President Obama and his family departed from Oahu’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at 9:43 p.m., marking the end of their annual Hawaiian winter vacation to the islands. The President and the First Lady arrived to the take-off zone at 9:27 p.m. on Saturday and were greeted by state dignitaries, including Gov. David Ige, Senator Mazie Hirono, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and General Vincent Keith Brooks. KHON2.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that its Pacific Islands Climate Science Center will award universities and other partners over $600K for studies that will assess the potential effects of climate change in and around Hawai‘i. Maui Now.

A University of Hawaii researcher has received a $104,477 grant to see whether resources from Hawaii waters can be used to ward off sepsis, an often fatal complication of infection. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin has made no secret of his aspirations to be mayor and political insiders say he’s worked to undermine Caldwell’s political agenda — something Martin denies — as he positions himself to challenge Caldwell in the 2016 mayoral race. Civil Beat.

The $90 million Na Pua Makani wind farm being built by California's Champlin Hawaii Holdings LLC on public and private lands on Oahu's North Shore has been approved by Hawaii regulators this week, according to a public filing. Pacific Business News.

Diamond Head, the extinct volcano that has become synonymous with Waikiki Beach, isn’t going anywhere, but much of the sand that both locals and visitors enjoy has vanished. Associated Press.

Opinion: Urban Hawaii: What Does the Future Hold for Honolulu — and Us? It is time to explore what the transformation of Kakaako says about the evolution of our city. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

One of the three bond rating firms has reaffirmed Hawaii County’s solid financial status, even as the County Council is poised Wednesday to add $20 million to the debt to  pay for lava-impacted Puna roads. West Hawaii Today.

Motorists fuming about changes to the acceleration lanes on Queen Kaahumanu Highway may only have to drop it in neutral and wait a bit; things could change yet again. State Department of Transportation engineers are returning to the drawing board on a restriping project between Makala Boulevard and Henry Street — a redesign of traffic flow that eliminated acceleration lanes and drew protest from not just motorists but also some cyclists. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In his third and final term as mayor of Maui County, Alan Arakawa hopes to work with the state to expand airport facilities in Kahului, to create a facility for the mentally disabled and drug and substance abusers at the Old Maui High School in Hamakuapoko and to work with the Maui County Council amicably over the next four years. Maui News.

Doug McLeod has stepped down as Maui County's energy commissioner and appears to be on the verge of working as a consultant to Florida-based NextEra Energy, which announced plans last month to absorb Hawaiian Electric in a multibillion-dollar merger deal. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Friday welcomed the new year with new leadership. Maui News.

Kauai

A pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle, then struck again by the police officer responding to the accident, died Saturday night. Garden Island.

Commercial businesses operating in the ocean are now required to have a permit. But some Kauai companies lost money when they were forced to close unnecessarily during the holidays. Hawaii News Now.

A Westside company is suing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for breach of contract and fraud in its operation of the former Makaweli Poi Mill that it purchased and operated from 2008 until it ceased operations in 2012. Garden Island.

With the first phase of the Rice Camp Senior Apartments set for completion in March, rental applications are now being accepted by the project’s management company, EAH Housing. Garden Island.

Re-election likely for Hawaii Gov. Abercrombie, Honolulu councilman signs off on $1.2M loan from campaign contributor, GMO bills die in state Legislature, $27M makeover for Ellison resort, Murdoch to take Dole private, Snowden fallout continues, Maui undecided on Gene Simmons' bar, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie file photo

Hawaii governors live and die by the health of our economy, and its robust condition ahead of the 2014 election is the main reason Gov. Neil Abercrombie is flying high despite low approval ratings throughout his first term. Star-Advertiser.

The trial of a federal agent charged with killing a man inside a Waikiki McDonald's should be moved to U.S. District Court because publicity about racial issues and animosity toward the federal government could hinder a fair trial in state court, his attorney argued Tuesday. Associated Press.

The whistleblower who brought the NSA and PRISM into Americans’ living rooms is without a job. Almost as a postscript to the dramatic story, Booz Allen Hamilton, the federal contractor that employed 29-year-old Edward Snowden in the Hawaii office of the National Security Agency, announced Tuesday that the company had fired the former CIA technical assistant. Hawaii Reporter.

The father of the girlfriend of Edward Snowden described the leaker of national secrets as a shy and reserved man with convictions, but said today he’s “still shocked” by the news about him. Associated Press.

A blog authored by Edward Snowden’s girlfriend provides potential answers to several questions about the NSA leaker’s time working for the agency in Hawaii. The blog, which has since been deleted, also indicates Snowden may have enjoyed a final visit with his family before seeking refuge in Hong Kong last month. Talking Points.

A defense contractor accused of giving military secrets to a Chinese girlfriend half his age has moved to a Hawaii halfway house while he awaits trial, according to court records and his attorney. Associated Press.

The former CIA employee who leaked top-secret information about U.S. surveillance programs said in a new interview in Hong Kong on Wednesday that he is not attempting to hide from justice here but hopes to use the city as a base to reveal wrongdoing. Associated Press.

It’s been 35 years since voters amended the state constitution to say our public officials should have “the highest standards of ethical conduct,” and requiring the state and counties to establish codes of ethics. This seems like plenty long enough to work out the kinks in the law and get used to how it works. Civil Beat.

The state is reviewing the criteria that is used to evaluate care homes after the Legislature passing a bill this past session requiring the Department of Health to post the inspection reports online as of 2015. The bill, if Gov. Neil Abercrombie signs it or allows it to become law, says the reports must be fair to the care homes and to the public that depends on them. Civil Beat.

During the last session of the state Legislature, critics of genetically engineered food made a push to set labeling requirements for grocery shelves. Over a half dozen bills to label transgenic food, mostly focusing on imported items, were introduced. None of the bills made it through, partly due to concerns that they may be found unconstitutional. Tribune-Herald.

The effort to get the Akaka Bill passed has started again. Today Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz delivered a speech on the Senate floor for Native Hawaiians. Hawaii News Now.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard joined with 35 other Democratic freshmen to express reservations about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (TPP FTA) negotiations and the prospect of delegating Fast Track “trade promotion authority” to the President. Hawaii Independent.

Jeff Mikulina, CEO of Honolulu-based Blue Planet Foundation, and Mark Glick, the head of Hawaii’s state energy office, have been invited to attend President Bill Clinton’s third annual Clinton Global Initiative meeting. Civil Beat.

State roundup for June 12. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chairman Ernie Martin said he signed off on two documents tied to cancellation of $1.2 million in loans to the nonprofit Opportunities and Resources Inc., whose leader contributed $4,200 to his political campaign committee. Martin said he does not believe there was a conflict of interest because he was not involved in the decision to forgive those loans. Star-Advertiser.

Federal records released Tuesday show Honolulu City Council chair Ernie Martin received more than $4,000 in campaign contributions from the president of an organization that had been given millions of dollars in grant money by the city department he ran. Civil Beat.

Honolulu has been ranked as the most expensive city in the U.S. to visit, according to TripAdvisor's TripIndex Cities 2013. KITV4.

Faustino Somera is among about 15 former Ewa Plantation workers and their spouses who were promised by plantation bosses, and later the city, that they could stay in their Varona Village homes until they died. But in the nearly two decades since the promises were made, little else has been done to maintain what many call the place that time forgot, or to make sure the homes there are available to former sugar workers as planned. Star-Advertiser.

The Ewa Plantation Cemetery spreads out over eleven acres. There are about 500 grave sites on the property, but the grass is so tall in spots it swallows grave markers. Hawaii News Now.

Sgt. 1st Class Maurice Smith, an Army journalist stationed at Fort Shafter, was on a rescue mission Tuesday to save his fallen comrades — the many homeless veterans who call Hawaii streets their home. Star-Advertiser.

A 150-pound boulder that came crashing down a hillside in Kalihi Valley on Monday has residents feeling nervous. It’s the same street where massive boulders damaged three homes last year. KHON2.

Hawaii

Genetically modified food has been on store shelves for 17 years in the United States. But determining what products contain genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, remains a challenge for even the most conscientious consumers. Tribune-Herald.

The 73,524-square-foot Waikoloa Highlands Center on Hawaii’s Big Island is on the market — again — this time for a slightly higher price of $23.2 million. Pacific Business News.

Thousands of people lined Akoni Pule Highway Tuesday morning to honor King Kamehameha I on the day named after him. West Hawaii Today.

Two examples of Hawaii’s living history are currently moored in Hilo’s Radio Bay as their crews prepare to continue a voyage around the state that will expand to a worldwide trip next year. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
With veteran rock 'n' roller Gene Simmons as one of its partners, Paia merchants and residents have mixed feelings about the new Rock & Brews restaurant and bar concept rolling into town. Maui News.

A Maui County Council committee will consider on Monday a resolution authorizing it to conduct an internal investigation into the potential misuse of county funds to demolish the Old Wailuku Post Office and conduct master planning for the Kalana O Maui campus expansion. Maui News.

Sen. Roz Baker and South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing will hold a "talk story" and "End of Session Wrap-up" meeting with constituents from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Kihei Charter School campus at the Lipoa Center. Maui News.

Kauai

Cockfighting has been around for more than 6,000 years, according to historians. On Kauai, it was introduced by Filipino immigrants during the island’s early plantation days. Garden Islabnd.
http://thegardenisland.com/news/local/rooster-days-kill-or-be-killed/article_c5b9e064-d32e-11e2-a93c-001a4bcf887a.html

The Kauai County Council will put on its hospitality hats to host the 2013 Hawaii State Association of Counties annual conference at Kauai Beach Resort over two days next week. The conference begins June 20, with the annual HSAC executive committee meeting and general membership meeting. Garden Island.

The release of more than $41.2 million for capital improvement projects statewide includes funding for a string of projects on Kauai. Garden Island.

Molokai

A new flight service is landing on Molokai, bringing in a small business attitude that has already proven successful in Kalaupapa. Makani Kai Air is offering five flights daily to Honolulu and back, which began June 8, while keeping its twice daily Kalaupapa flights. Molokai Dispatch.

Lanai

The Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay is scheduled to get a $27 million makeover, which includes renovations to its existing 236 rooms, upgrades at 140 Restaurant and the addition of a sushi bar and teppanyaki stations at Nobu Restaurant. Billionaire Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison’s Lanai Resorts LLC recently submitted a special management area assessment for renovations permit to the Lanai Planning Commission. Pacific Business News.

Less than a year after he sold the island of Lanai, David Murdock is taking Dole Food Co. private again. The 90-year-old billionaire surprised Wall Street by offering $645 million to buy the 60 percent of Dole that he didn't already own. Hawaii News Now.