Baby fish eating plastic off Hawaii, $214M bond floated for Honolulu rail, half of workers say they're sexually harassed, Anheuser-Busch buys Kona Brewing Co., more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Scribbled filefish in sea of plastics sampled in surface slicks off Hawaii Island. NOAA/David Liitschwager

Study Confirms Plastics Are Threatening Fish Nurseries. Tiny bits of plastics are threatening fish nurseries in Hawaii, and likely around the globe. That's according to the latest study from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

Recent evidence has shown that adult fish are eating plastics in the ocean and suffering from perils such as malnutrition and toxicant buildup. Now, for the first time, a study conducted in Hawaii shows baby fish are ingesting tiny plastics, too. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers find microplastics in the stomachs of baby mahimahi, other species off Hawaii. A new study released Monday says baby fish around Hawaii are eating a large amount of plastic particles. Hawaii News Now.

Researchers find plastic in baby fish on Big Island. A troubling discovery announced on Monday, researchers found plastic in baby-fish in waters off the Big Island. KITV.

Fish in study found to be eating fibers thought to come from everyday laundry. Larval fish off the coast of Kona are eating plastics at an alarming rate, according to a study published Monday in a national scientific journal. Tribune-Herald.

Study: Plastics plague Pacific fish. A new study on the Pacific Ocean’s floating trash indicates not only a significant accumulation of microplastics in the Hawaiian Islands, but that larval fish are eating the debris. Garden Island.

NOAA fisheries report on the plastic research can be found here.

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Half of isle adults claim sexual harassment, survey finds. Nearly half of adults have experienced sexual harassment while working in Hawaii, a new statewide survey suggests. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly Half Of Hawaii Workers Say They’ve Been Sexually Harassed. People who grew up in Hawaii were much less likely to report any sexual harassment they experienced. Civil Beat.

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Meth Deaths Soar in Hawaii Even As Opioids Grab Public Attention. Meth-related overdose fatalities have significantly outpaced other drug overdose deaths in the the past five years. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council, Caldwell OK rail bond spending. Without the fanfare of past similar votes, the Honolulu City Council and Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed off on a bill clearing the way for the city to spend up to $214 million in taxpayer dollars for the over-budget $9.2 billion East Kapolei-to-Ala Moana rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Another push to impeach city Prosecutor Kaneshiro gains traction. Organizers filed more than 500 signatures collected online with docushare and in person. Hawaii News Now.

Who stole the Kealohas’ mailbox? 6 years later, prosecutors could finally find out. Katherine Kealoha’s plea deal requires that she cooperate with federal prosecutors — without limitations or restrictions. Hawaii News Now.

Queen’s Medical Center On ‘Losing End’ Of Battle With Meth. Some days, as many 40% of people admitted at the ER in Punchbowl have problems related to meth use, according to hospital officials. Civil Beat.

Republican Party of Hawaii looking forward to 2020. American Conservative Activist Scott Presler promised high energy during his speech. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Will Mayor Harry Kim run for re-election? That’s the question on a lot of people’s minds with the campaign qualifying season set to commence in less than three months. West Hawaii Today.

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Anheuser-Busch to buy out Kona Brewing parent company. Kona Brewing Co. is soon to become wholly owned by beer giant Anheuser-Busch. West Hawaii Today.

Anheuser-Busch to acquire all of Kona Brewing Co. Kona Brewing Co. is slated to become wholly owned by beer company behemoth Anheuser-Busch under a deal announced today. Star-Advertiser.

Anheuser-Busch to Take Full Ownership of Kona Brew. Anheuser-Busch currently owns 31% of Kona Brewing Company. Big Island Now.

Anheuser-Busch to buy out owner of Kona Brewing Company. Anheuser-Busch, the folks who produce big brands like Budweiser and Stella Artois, announced Monday that they plan to buy out Craft Brew Alliance, the Portland-based craft brewing company that owns Kona Brewing as well as a number of other small brands. Hawaii News Now.

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Man arrested following fatal head-on crash had prior DUI conviction. A 25-year-old Waimea man Sunday arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and DUI following a two-car crash near Ke Kahakai State Park that killed a 35-year-old mother and hospitalized three girls has a prior conviction for drunken driving. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Supreme Court Recordings Reveal Justices Struggling To Find Answer in Maui Case. During an hour-long hearing on the Maui Clean Water Act case, the U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed to be seeking a legal path to keep polluters from skirting the law without ensnaring ordinary homeowners. Hawaii Public Radio.

Farmers convention growing the good stuff. Knowledge-sharing draws hundreds to Puunene event. Maui News.

Kula Community Association Meeting This Wednesday. The Kula Community Association is inviting all Maui residents to its community meeting this Wednesday. Maui Now.

Kauai

Surfrider releases latest water test results. These are the latest results for this month’s Surfrider Foundation Blue Water Task Force sampling of our Kauai waters for Enterococcus, a fecal indicating bacteria, on Nov. 9. Garden Island.

East Kauai Irrigation System to revert to DLNR. In 2001, the East Kauai Water Users Cooperative was formed to take over management of the state-owned irrigation system in our area previously operated by Lihue Plantation. Garden Island.

Taxes on rich pull Hawaii economy up, state sues Big Pharma, nursing homes investigated, missile testing ramps up on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Downtown Honolulu commercial center ©2019 All Hawaii News

Economists: Higher Revenue Estimates Do Not Signal Economic Growth In Hawaii. Experts attribute unexpected 4.7% revenue boost to increased income tax rate for higher-income earners. Civil Beat.

WalletHub: Hawaii Has 4th Worst State Economy. Washington state leads the nation while Alaska is dead last, says a new report. Civil Beat.

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Hawaii joins 40-plus states suing OxyContin maker over opioid epidemic. Hawaii filed suit today against Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, for its role in fueling the opioid epidemic. Star-Advertiser.

Opioid Makers, Distributors Sued By Hawaii AG. The legal action comes as a “necessary part” of the state’s response to a rise in opioid overdoses. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Among Latest States Suing Opioid Maker Purdue Pharma. Associated Press.

Hawaii Attorney General files suit against opioid manufacturers. State Attorney General Clare Connors joined other states in filing suit against numerous opioid manufacturing companies. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii's worst performing nursing homes revealed. A half dozen Hawaii care centers have made the list of worst performing nursing homes in the state. KITV.

Hawaii Nursing Homes On List of Troubled Operations Released By Senators. The federal government for years has kept under wraps the names of hundreds of nursing homes around the country found by inspectors to have serious ongoing health, safety or sanitary problems. Associated Press.

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Years-long investigation into allegations of corruption at Boating Division drags on. New emails shed light on a years-long investigation into allegations of corruption and retaliation at the state’s Boating Division. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii sees record number of public schools serving free summer meals. Seventy-one schools across the state are serving meals through its summer food service program called Seamless Summer Option. Star-Advertiser.

Pancreatic cancer risks are greater for Hawaiians, Japanese Americans. Native Hawaiians and Japanese Americans face greater risks of pancreatic cancer, according to a recent study by the University of Southern California, the University of Hawaii and others. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Prosecution’s line of questioning leaves judge in Kealoha corruption trial peeved. There were fireworks from the bench Monday in the public corruption trial against the Kealohas as a line of questioning from the prosecution upset the judge. Hawaii News Now.

KEALOHA TRIAL: Prosecutors plan to show video testimony of Katherine Kealoha's grandma Tuesday. Prosecutors plan to show the video testimony of Florence Puana, the mother of Gerard Puana during Tuesday's proceedings. KHON2.

Kealoha Trial: ‘I Thought It Was Uncle Gerry Right Off The Bat’. Prosecutors try to use police officers’ prior grand jury testimony against them in the criminal trial over an alleged frame job. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha tied to fictional notary. Federal prosecutors Monday linked Katherine Kealoha to an imaginary notary public who wrote a letter of support to state officials for Kealoha to successfully become director of the state Office of Environmental Quality in 2008. Star-Advertiser.

HPD Eyes Unconventional Recruits To Fill Officer Shortage. The Honolulu Police Department is currently short 260 officers, or about 10 percent of its total force. Hawaii Public Radio.

City offers appointments 6 months out for driver’s license renewals. You can now make an appointment to renew your driver’s license on Oahu up to six months in advance. Hawaii News Now.

A homeless camp tucked away in Kalihi is cleared. Squatters who built a village in the middle of a Kalihi Valley neighborhood are now gone, but signs of their presence remain. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Beer money. A proposed settlement agreement in the lawsuit against the owner of Kona Brewing Co. could mean partial refunds for anybody who’s purchased packs of its bottled or canned beers in the last few years. West Hawaii Today.

‘Styrofoam’ ban advances. Polystyrene foam food containers will remain banned under a bill advanced Monday by a County Council panel, but locally nonrecyclable alternatives will be allowed when the law goes into effect July 1. West Hawaii Today.

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Proposed rules for Mauna Kea management isn’t sitting well with some. Dozens of people filled the Manoa Elementary School cafeteria to share their thoughts on the University of Hawaii’s proposed rules for Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

TMT opponents upset over rules UH is proposing for Mauna Kea. Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope were outraged that rules the University of Hawaii is proposing for Mauna Kea governing public and commercial activity would exempt the university and hurt Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser.

Emotional testimony at a public hearing on proposed new rules atop Mauna Kea. KITV.

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USGS plans volcano mapping flyovers. A low-flying helicopter will be documenting changes to Puna’s landscape from last year’s eruption of Kilauea volcano. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Volcano Lidar Survey Set For June 13 through June 30. Big Island Video News.

Testifier Alleging Police Brutality Storms Out Of Council Meeting. Monday’s council committee meeting was called into recess when things took an emotional turn during a discussion on a proposed whistle blower program. Big Island Video News.

Maui

County moves to relocate bus hub. Lease for island’s busiest transit hub at mall expires in January. Maui News.

The County of Maui, Department of Public Works will lead a Shoreline Cleanup Event in celebration of World Ocean’s Day from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Pa'ia Bay. Maui Now.

Visitors to Maui in April logged more days on-island as compared to a year ago, but they were spending less money per day and overall, according to data released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Plays A Growing Role Testing Technology For Tomorrow’s Nuclear Weapons. With little fanfare, experimental missiles are being launched at the Kauai Test Facility to test technologies being considered for future weapons programs. Civil Beat.

Change would allow for property liens. The Planning Committee is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Historic County Building, followed by a meeting of the Committee of the Whole. Garden Island.