Hawaii Legislature recognizes fallen warriors, North Korea can't hit Hawaii, Senate passes higher budget than House, UH drops biolab plan, police rally opposes marijuana decriminalization, bomb threat closes Kauai courthouse, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Abercrombie honors military at Medal of Honor ceremony, courtesy photo

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state lawmakers on Wednesday recognized 19 Hawaii-based members of the U.S. military who died in defense of their country. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii state House and Senate held a joint session to honor military service members who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Associated Press.

No, North Korea can’t hit Hawaii. CNN.

Hawaii senators on Wednesday cut $140 million from Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s $23 billion biennium budget request, far less than the House did earlier this month. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Committee has announced a two-year state budget proposal that funds some of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s key initiatives, including early childhood education. Associated Press.

The state Senate Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday outlined the Senate's draft of the state's two-year budget, restoring money sought by Gov. Neil Abercrombie for early childhood education, cash incentives for entrepreneurs, and information technology that was left out of the House's version. Star-Advertiser.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means passed House Bill 200 with amendments today.  The Senate’s version of the bill is approximately $141 M less in general funds than Governor Abercrombie’s budget proposal. Hawaii Reporter.

Democrat Calvin Say has hired a Republican candidate who tried to defeat one of Say's own political opponents just last year. Civil Beat.

Law enforcement officers joined community groups and individuals at a rally at the state Capitol on Wednesday to show their opposition to a bill that would decriminalize possession of up to 20 grams of marijuana. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police officers took a stand in the Capitol rotunda Wednesday afternoon, over a bill that would decriminalize marijuana. KITV4.

State Senators unanimously approved the measure, a move the men and women in blue say is not OK. KHON2.

A pair of resolutions to be heard today by the state House of Representatives are calling for the Department of Health Director Loretta Fuddy to head up a task force to study atrazine’s effects on humans. Garden Island.

The future of growing food in Hawai’i rests on the ability of farmers to continue making a living.   According to one UH study, farmers receive only 19 cents out of each dollar spent on locally grown produce and vegetables.  The rest of the money goes to packaging, marketing, refrigeration and transportation. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new study confirms what many reporters and taxpayer watchdog groups already know: Hawaii’s public records are difficult to get. Hawaii Reporter.

About 20,000 civilian defense workers in Hawaii are expected to get a reprieve from the 22 furlough days that were expected through September under sequestration. Star-Advertiser.

CBS said Wednesday that it is renewing “Hawaii Five-0” for a fourth season. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

University of Hawaii Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple has decided to drop plans to build an expensive, controversial bio lab in Kalaeloa, a project officially known as the Pacific Health Research Laboratory. Hawaii News Now.

State health officials are trying to find the source of an E. coli outbreak on Oahu that has sickened nine people and hospitalized four. Star-Advertiser.

A highly infectious strain of the E. coli bacteria is continuing to spread on Oahu, but state health officials still can't pinpoint the source of the outbreak. Civil Beat.

With a 10-day supply of food in its Honolulu warehouse and the Easter holiday weekend approaching, the Hawaii Foodbank is putting out a call for canned goods and monetary donations. Star-Advertiser.

The Polynesian Cultural Center will hold a grand opening for two new attractions on Friday that cost the nonprofit organization more than $25 million to create. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi will get a $22,000 raise and other county officials will get up to 19.8 percent raises under a salary adjustment plan proposed Wednesday by the Hawaii County Salary Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Modernization efforts at the open-air, traditional Hawaii-feel Kona International Airport are on the horizon. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island hunters brought a reminder to the Hawaii County Council Wednesday about how voters here feel about aerial hunting and protecting hunters’ rights. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than three decades in the making, the Lahaina bypass highway opened to traffic Wednesday. Maui News.

Dozens of farmers, ranchers, gardeners and other residents voiced their disapproval during a County Council committee hearing on a bill that would give the water director, with the consent of the mayor, the power to impose higher rates during water shortages and to penalize those who violate drought directives. Maui News.

Dropping off your cardboard, newspaper and nonredeemable glass and plastic bottles at some neighborhood county recycling centers may become a thing of the past under a proposal by Mayor Alan Arakawa. Maui News.

County police departments across the state will increase efforts to deter distracted driving during an upcoming campaign that begins next week, officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai
An early morning bomb threat disrupted business for more than an hour at 5th Circuit Court Wednesday. Garden Island.

Hawaii's best beaches, fundraiser set for Obama library, Keith-Agaran named to state Senate, Kauai taro farmers boycott poi mill, new Civil Defense chief for Hawaii Island, more news from across the state

Hapuna Beach, Hawaii (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Travel + Leisure magazine this month released for the first time a Best Beaches on Earth list, and, not surprisingly, four in Hawaii made the cut. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran, who was expected to become the House majority leader in the next Legislature, has been appointed to the Senate, filling a vacancy left by former Senate President Shan Tsu­tsui, who became lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed Kahului state Rep. Gil Keith-Agaran to the 5th Senate District seat vacated when former Sen. Shan Tsutsui accepted an appointment to lieutenant governor. Maui News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the appointment of Gilbert Keith-Agaran to the state Senate to represent Hawaii’s 5th senatorial district, a seat recently left vacant by Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui. Maui Now.

State Rep. Calvin Say is all packed up and ready to move out of the big office reserved for the head of the House. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hosting first fundraiser for Obama library. Hawaii News Now.

Health insurance premiums for about 14,400 individuals covered by Kaiser Permanente Hawaii jumped 9.7 percent on Jan. 1. Star-Advertiser.

A deadline is nearing for Hawaii residents who lost their homes to foreclosure to benefit from a settlement between the state and five large banks. Tribune-Herald.

A University of Hawaii audit found that UH short-changed students on two campuses out of financial aid, mistakes that UH officials said were later corrected. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Office of Information Practices reduced its backlog just by just six cases in the 2012 fiscal year, leaving 78 pending cases on its list — some of them years old, according to the office's director. During the 2010 fiscal year, the office cleared 37 cases from its backlog. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its fleet again with an eye toward the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines is expanding again and plans to offer more routes and 1,000 new jobs. KHON2.

The difference between owning a ferret in Hawaii and one in Pennsylvania can be up to three years in jail — and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Language Newspapers Now Searchable Online. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for January 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

Elevator workers were trying to determine Monday what caused Honolulu District Court elevators to malfunction for the second time in less than a week, resulting in a long line of people trying to get in to the Alakea Street building. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu firearms owners are increasingly frustrated with long lines at the registration desk at the main Honolulu Police Department station. Hawaii's firearms registration laws are among the strictest in the country, and mandate gun owners must register firearms within 72 hours of purchase. Hawaii Reporter.

Gordon Bruce, former chief information officer for the City and County of Honolulu, has become chief executive officer of Honolulu-based information technology company Pacxa. Star-Advertiser.

Councilman Stanley Chang is drafting a new bill in response to repeated complaints from residents both in his district and county wide. KHON2.

Hawaii

Former Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira is taking over as the administrator of the county Department of Civil Defense. West Hawaii Today.

County Legislative Auditor Colleen Schrandt has left Hawaii to take a job as an auditor with the United Nations in New York City. West Hawaii Today.

Keauhou Bay was one of the areas hit hardest by the 2011 tsunami and the harbor is still in dire need of repair — a situation that could change as soon as late summer, when state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation officials are anticipating construction to start. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

With new management in place and soon-to-be new ownership, the financially troubled Residences at Kapalua Bay appears poised to turn the corner. Maui News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public information meeting this week to present a technical report and corrective action plan for the Keawakapu artificial reef in South Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources reopened the Na Pali Coast State Park to the public Monday after shutting it down for three weeks while law enforcement searched for a suspect who allegedly threw a 31-year-old Japanese visitor off a cliff.  Star-Advertiser.

Upset with the transfer of Makaweli Poi Mill to Lehua Poi Company, former workers have not reapplied for employment at the new mill, and their former customers — the taro farmers — are boycotting the mill as well. Garden Island.

Several computers were discovered stolen from Kapa‘a Elementary School after students and administrators returned from winter break. Garden Island.

Speaker Say ends 14-year reign, Inouye's health unknown, ordnance could halt undersea cable, state urges teachers union to negotiate, DHHL in disarray, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House Speaker Calvin Say (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

State House Speaker Calvin Say said Thursday that he would step down as speaker, recognizing he no longer has the votes to remain in power but appealing to majority Democrats to organize without the help of Republicans. Star-Advertiser.

The longest-serving speaker in the history of the Hawaii House of Representatives announced Thursday that he is resigning from the chamber's top post. Civil Beat.

House Speaker Calvin Say said Thursday he plans to step down from his leadership post on the first day of Hawaii's new legislative session and is endorsing House Finance Committee Chairman Marcus Oshiro to succeed him. Associated Press.

Speaker Say

Calvin Say has stepped down as speaker of the State House of Representatives. Hawaii News Now.

Rep. Calvin Say announced Thursday he will no longer be a candidate for House Speaker for the 2013-2014 legislative sessions. KITV4.

The longest-serving state Speaker of the House says he is stepping down from his leadership position, but a power struggle at the Capitol is far from resolved. KHON2.

It's been more than a week since U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye was admitted to the hospital, yet his status as of Thursday remained closely guarded. Civil Beat.

The discovery of thousands of chemical warfare weapons off of Pearl Harbor could cause problems for the state's highly touted interisland cable project, designed to bring renewable energy from the neighbor islands to Oahu. Civil Beat.

Facing growing teacher protests over a labor dispute in its 17th month, the state called on the teachers union Thursday to make clear what it wants in a new contract and to explain why it can't return to the bargaining table before the new year. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono will serve on the energy, judiciary and veterans' affairs committees when she moves to the U.S. Senate in January, Senate Demo­crats announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The turnover in leadership at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands continues, with the latest departure being its deputy director, Michelle Kauhane. Civil Beat.

Mitch Kahle, founder of the Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church, has often been called "the Grinch who stole Christmas" for his efforts at making sure local governments don't appear to be officially sanctioning religious practices or holidays, including, of course, Christmas. But Kahle doesn't mind. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gas is in the middle of a federal permitting process to bring liquefied natural gas to the Aloha State for the first time. West Hawaii Today.

State roundup for December 14. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Public Charter School Commission voted Thursday to approve the opening of two new charter schools next year on Oahu: an elementary school that would partner with the Polynesian Voyaging Society and a secondary school focused on sustainability. Star-Advertiser.

Rental apartments won out over condominiums Thursday in a competition to build affordable housing in a tower that could rise to 650 feet on state land in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Some Oahu soldiers out for a bit of exercise ended up rescuing a threatened green sea turtle. Associated Press.

Hawaii

An independent study of Hawaii County’s property tax policies found evidence of what some West Hawaii residents have been complaining about for years —there are big differences in how much tax people pay for what appear to be similar properties. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island veterans struggle to find work. Tribune-Herald.

An Air National Guard presentation at a national conference gave former Ka‘u Councilwoman Brittany Smart an idea. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is looking to take advantage of current low interest rates by refinancing up to $60 million of its long-term debt. Big Island Now.

A well at Puna Geothermal Venture is offline after failing during an annual test on Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Last week, racial and cultural disturbances caused Kona's Kealakehe High School to be closed for a day to let things calm down.  Now some school administrators and community leaders have taken a first step towards addressing core issues beyond last week's incidents. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

The Fairmont Kea Lani, the Four Seasons Resort Maui, the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, and the Wailea Beach Villas have all been ranked on the upcoming Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List for 2013, an annual reader’s choice poll. Maui Now.

The Iao Valley State Monument was reopened Tuesday after the state Department of Land and Natural Resources completed repairs to park walkway sections. Maui News.

The Kaiwi Ohana Holiday Craft Fair, set for Saturday in Waiohuli Hawaiian Homes, has been canceled due to lack of vendor interest, organizers said. Maui News.

Kauai

County officials again heard criticism during a briefing to the Kaua‘i County Council Wednesday on the progress of repairing Kilauea Gym’s leaking roof. Garden Island.

In the 20 years since its inception, Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity has built 108 affordable homes, made critical repairs to 19 substandard homes and is on track to construct a total of 124 homes by 2021. Garden Island.

Paulo fires up Train Day ahead of Waimea parade. Garden Island.

Christmas trees delayed by invasive slugs, Souki solidifies House speakership, teacher protest spreads, DEA closes Hilo office, park service kills deer on Molokai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Santa and Mrs. Claus (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

From festive wreaths outside the headquarters of First Hawaiian Bank in downtown Honolulu, to the big Santa statue greeting shoppers at Ala Moana Center to a sculpture of Santa and his elves carved from sand greeting visitors in the lobby of the Sheraton Waikiki, Hawaii businesses have been busy decking the halls for the start of what is expected to be a robust holiday shopping season. Pacific Business News.

Pacific Northwest Christmas tree shippers don't know why there is such a large infestation of slugs, an invasive species that can carry rat lung disease in shipments of Christmas trees this year. Star-Advertiser.

Joe Souki

Maui Rep. Joe Souki, the speaker emeritus, announced Wednesday that he had 28 firm commitments to give him back the job that Speaker Calvin Say took from him 13 years ago. Civil Beat.

The internal battle to lead Hawaii's House of Representatives appears to have ended with Maui's Rep. Joe Souki officially announcing Wednesday that he's garnered enough support to defeat longtime House Speaker Calvin Say. Maui News.

A handshake with the Republican minority leader sealed the deal for Rep. Joe Souki to regain the position he held 13 years ago. KITV4.

Teachers at more than 25 public schools statewide have pledged to participate in "work to rule" protests each Thursday for the next three weeks in a bid to bring an end to a protracted labor dispute. During the protests, teachers will work only the hours they're required to under contract. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Elections Commission has moved up its meeting from December to the last week of November after voters across the Big Island and Oahu have complained about the management of the 2012 Primary and General Elections. Hawaii Reporter.

A Senate committee that investigated the Stevie Wonder concert debacle questions whether the University of Hawaii got its money’s worth from the lawyers hired to respond to the committee and to prepare a fact-finders report. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
Pacific Resource Partnership, also known as the Hawaii Carpenters Union Market Recovery Fund, has filed a motion in U.S. District Court to transfer the libel and slander case filed against them by former Gov. Ben Cayetano from state to federal court. Hawaii Reporter.

Residential electricity rates fell on Oahu in November to their lowest level since February, tracking a decline in the price for fuel the utility burns for most of its power generation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Federal cutbacks in the U.S. Department of Justice have caused the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to close its office and hangar that were located at Hilo International Airport. Tribune-Herald.

While Hawaii Island is a state leader in sustainable electricity production, it’s woefully lacking in another important component of self-sufficiency — transportation sustainability. West Hawaii Today.

The County Council took a step toward acquiring an easement along Papaikou Mill Road Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The executive director of the private, not for profit community health group, Hui No Ke Ola Pono, has resigned. Maui Now.

Maui retailers are optimistic about holiday season sales, with stores saying they already are seeing an "uptick" in business this month and feeling that customers are more confident about spending. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kaua‘i County Council’s Parks and Recreation Committee by a 3-1 vote Tuesday recommended passage of a bill that would make it illegal to fish at Morgan’s Ponds in Lydgate Beach Park. Garden Island.

A DuPont Pioneer education grant will provide funding for the media production program at Waimea Canyon Middle School. Garden Island.

Molokai

This week, the National Park Service held a two-day deer hunt to eradicate an estimated 20 to 40 axis deer from the settlement. Molokai Dispatch.

Hawaii House leadership fight brings in the GOP, senator backs off support for Public Land Development Corp., Honolulu tower could be state's highest building, Hawaii County Council nixes hens in town, Maui publisher arrested, Kauai Council chooses chairman, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House Speaker Calvin Say (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

State House Republicans have agreed to organize with Rep. Joseph Souki and a dissident faction of Demo­crats, sources say, potentially giving Souki and the dissidents the majority necessary to topple House Speaker Calvin Say. Star-Advertiser.

Say (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Democrats in the State House of Representatives outnumber Republicans 6-to-one…following a number of key victories in the general election.    HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka presents the first report of a two-part series that profiles the new faces in the State House. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz, one of the driving forces behind the Public Land Development Corp., said Tuesday he would be open to a repeal of the law because of what he believes is inconsistent implementation. Star-Advertiser.

Emboldened by wins on Election Day, local advocates for same-sex marriage say Hawaii may be one of the next states to legalize it. Civil Beat.

The State Ethics Commission has been making headlines, but is it making headway in ushering in higher standards of ethical conduct? Civil Beat.

A consultant's report examining ballooning costs of public school bus service was described as "comprehensive" Tuesday, but not made public because state officials said they needed more time to review it. Star-Advertiser.

The algae problem at one of the State Capitol's two reflecting pools is the worst workers there have seen in more than six years, creating a smelly problem. Hawaii News Now.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. said Tuesday that its Sheraton Hotels & Resorts brand has completed more than $230 million in renovations to four of its Hawaii Sheraton properties in Waikiki and on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai. Pacific Business News.

Here's a look at what's closed on Thanksgiving Day Nov. 22. KITV4.

State roundup for November 21. Associated Press.

Oahu

Two companies vying to develop what would be the tallest building in Hawaii under a plan championed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie said they are willing to stay within the present 400-foot height limit if the proposed 650-foot tower is not approved. Star-Advertiser.

Residents of an old sugar mill plantation on Oahu’s North Shore have been waiting to take over ownership of the homes and land they've lived on for years. But the Florida developer has doubled the price, dashing hopes for many residents who are low-income descendants of plantation workers. Civil Beat.

It's a daily grind for thousands of commuters who ride TheBus. KHON2.

There are 288 parks just on Oahu alone. It takes a staff of about 400 people to clean, repair, and maintain those parks, sometimes it's just one person to handle 15 acres, according to City & County Parks & Recreation Director, Gary Cabato. A job that can seem insurmountable at times. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii's hotly contested political campaigns translated to millions of dollars for Honolulu television stations, a review of publicly available records on file at the stations shows. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island residents won’t be getting the chance to raise their own hens and harvest their eggs in nonagricultural areas. West Hawaii Today.

The Pele Defense Fund filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the state’s Ka‘u Forest Reserve Management Plan. Tribune-Herald.

Vehicle, motorcycle and pedestrian crashes, drownings and suicides are claiming Big Island lives at a rate higher than the rest of the state, according to a report released Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Medical Center officials will be heading to the state Legislature next year, hat in hand, hoping for a solution to Hawaii Island’s physician shortage problem. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Outdoor Tours Inc., owner of the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort in Hilo, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization on Tuesday, citing debts of between $10 million and $50 million with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Outdoor Tours Inc., the parent company of the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization Tuesday morning in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

The Mauna Lani Bay Resort and Bungalows is in the midst of a $30 million renovation plan, resort officials announced Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Despite reduced service, Waikoloa Elementary and Middle School hasn’t experienced any significant bus woes. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The publisher of Maui Time Weekly was arrested this morning when police said he refused to comply with police instructions to leave and offended occupants of a vehicle while videotaping them during a traffic stop on Haleakala Highway. Maui News.

The publisher of a weekly newspaper on Maui said he was only doing his job as a journalist when he was arrested by police Tuesday morning while videotaping traffic stops. Star-Advertiser.

Some 300 members of the Lahaina community turned out Sunday for a grand reopening of the Lahaina Public Library after a remodeling project done without public funding. Maui News.

Kauai

The next Kaua‘i County Council has yet to be sworn in, but its composition is already taking place. At a special council-elect meeting Tuesday, several roles were decided through a straw vote. Garden Island.

Dozens of teachers stood in front of Wilcox Elementary School Tuesday — before and after school — to rally in favor of a negotiated contract for teachers. Garden Island.

Hirono, Cayetano top new poll, Speaker Say's PAC rewards supporters, medical marijuana limits move forward, big profits but no rate increase for HECO, Education Department wants more money for school buses, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House Speaker Calvin Say (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

A PAC run by House Speaker Calvin Say's chief of staff gave $53,000 to House memebrs who supported him for speaker, according to its July 1 - Dec. 31 filing with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono tops former U.S. Sen. Ed Case 56 percent to 36 percent in the Democratic race for U.S. Senate, and both have 20-point margins over former Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican, in the November general election, according to most recent polling.Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association has accepted Gov. Neil Abercrombie's invitation to continue negotiating a new contract, but still does not plan to withdraw its labor complaint against the state. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers are poised to advance the Abercrombie administration's proposed ceded lands settlement with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Star-Advertiser.

The state’s plan to fast-track $500 million in repair and maintenance money projects cleared a key hurdle Friday when it was approved by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii Department of Education officials say they would have to end school bus service for 17,000 students if the Legislature doesn't give them millions of dollars even beyond what the governor is seeking for school bus transportation next year. Civil Beat.

A bill to tighten the state's medical marijuana law has passed the second of three required floor votes in the state House of Representatives. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii is one of only two states – the other being Utah – that has no form of legalized gaming. If some lawmakers have their way, that will change, but anti-gambling forces in Hawaii are still strong. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Friday that it won’t seek a rate increase to make up for lost revenue from homeowners or businesses who have installed solar power systems in what it calls a “lost contribution to fixed costs.” Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. and its sister utilities together recorded a more than 30 percent bump in electric service income last year. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded grants to five Hawaii farms to allow them to better market their goods and services.Hawaii News Now.

The recession is being blamed for the state of Hawai‘i falling behind on processing an increase in applicants for food stamps, but there is also confusion over different compliance rates reported by state and federal agencies. Garden Island.

A bill moving through the state Capitol seeks to regulate the use of all-terrain vehicles. KHON2.

State roundup for Feb. 13. Associated Press

Oahu

If the primary for Honolulu mayor were held today, former Gov. Ben Cayetano would receive 44 percent of the vote, compared with 35 percent for incumbent Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle. Former city Managing Director and Acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell is at 16 percent, according to the poll conducted by Ward Research Inc. for the Star-Advertiser and Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.

Mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano last week raised the specter that Honolulu will go up to $7 billion in debt to pay for the city's rail project. Civil Beat.

Former Governor Ben Cayetano made his bid for office official Sunday by opening up his home base for his mayoral campaign. KITV4.

Only 43% of those surveyed in a new poll think work should proceed on a $5.3 billion transit system and 53% want the project stopped. Hawaii News Now.

An opponent of a construction project at Kawaiaha‘o Church is again asking a court to halt work and stop Hono­lulu's oldest church from digging up human burials — the total of which has exceeded 230. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu firefighters spent much of Sunday battling a persistent fire at the University of Hawaii that destroyed payroll and other financial records for the entire 10-campus UH system. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County's ability to alleviate traffic backups using camera monitoring systems was not used during Tuesday afternoon's brush fire that closed one of Kailua-Kona's main thoroughfares. West Hawaii Today.

Some teachers and students at Big Island charter school plan a boycott. KHON2.

Maui

County officials say they are unable to account for how a longtime grant recipient is spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars. Maui News.

Condominium owners at Sugar Cove have avoided fines for a beach nourishment project that state conservation officials said should have required a permit. Maui News.

Maui’s state senatorial delegation applauded the passage today of The Invest in Hawai‘i Act of 2012 out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Maui Now.

Kauai
Project Graduation leaders from each of Kaua‘i’s public high schools earned an ward of $500 each on Saturday from the Kaua‘i Association for Family and Community Education. Garden Island.

Molokai

Crack Down on Town’s Container Businesses. Molokai Dispatch.