Economic disparities in Pacific Islander races, Obama statue posed, Hee's messy divorce fodder in gubernatorial race, Tsutsui endorses Hanabusa, affordable housing in Honolulu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kayaking in Hawaii ©2018 All Hawaii News

Although Hawaii has a reputation as a “racial paradise” and Asian-Pacific Islanders are often considered a single racial category, there are huge differences in socioeconomic well-being among Hawaii’s various Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Civil Beat.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released a report on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, which shows the different lifestyles among the 14 top race groups in Hawaii. Big Island Now.

Report: Hawaii has ‘diversified culture’. Garden Island.

State on high alert after hackers target 2 agencies in 'phishing' attack. So-called "phishing attacks" targeted state computers over the holiday weekend, officials confirm. Hawaii News Now.

A state Senate committee in Hawaii is calling for a statue of former President Barack Obama to be erected in the state where he was born. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously Tuesday for a resolution requesting that the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts commission the statue. Associated Press.

Super PAC attacks Hee using divorce filings. Former state Sen. Clayton Hee, who recently announced he is running for governor, was accused of verbal and physical abuse by his former wife Lyla Berg in 1989 divorce filings, according to state court records.  Star-Advertiser.

Former Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui announced Tuesday that he will be endorsing U.S. Rep Colleen Hanabusa for governor in the upcoming election. Hawaii News Now.

Ige's former lieutenant governor backs Hanabusa. KHON2.

Former Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui raised the arm of U.S. Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa and declared her the next governor of Hawaii to resounding cheers Tuesday evening outside her new campaign headquarters at the Old Kahului Shopping Center. Maui News.

A bill that allocates transient accommodations tax revenues to Kauai, Hawaii and Maui counties from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2030 passed through the House of Representatives Tuesday with 44 out of 51 votes in favor of the bill. Garden Island.

The state House passed a bill Tuesday increasing the counties’ share of transient accommodations tax revenue. Tribune-Herald.

While a bill that would restructure the management of the state’s airports is nearing passage, supporters of the bill fear it is missing terms that would allow it to better serve its purpose. Tribune-Herald.

Parasite spread by feral cats threatens native wildlife, strengthening calls for action. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is proposing to raise the price of municipal water over the next four years and have larger users in single-family homes shoulder more of the increase that’s being sought to keep up with expenses. Star-Advertiser.

Developers and homebuilders would no longer be able to pay cash “in-lieu” fees under a new affordable-housing policy that’s scheduled for a final vote of the Honolulu City Council today. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Affordable Housing Bill Advances Without "In Lieu of Construction Fee". Hawaii Public Radio.

Updated Honolulu Housing Bill Seeks The Middle Ground. Councilwoman Kymberly Pine made concessions to housing advocates and developers alike in hopes that the measure will pass the full council Wednesday. Civil Beat.

HART: "We don't need $44M from Mayor Caldwell". The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee reviewed the Mayor’s nearly 3.5 billion dollar operating and construction budget for 2019 today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Holo card will be used to pay fares for TheBus, TheHandi-Van and, eventually, rail. The city Tuesday unveiled Oahu’s first Holo transit smart card, lauding it as a significant technological upgrade and step closer to Honolulu’s goal of multimodal transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Goodbye, bus passes. New 'HOLO' cards to be used for buses, rail. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu officials debuted “Holo,” the city’s new smart-card pass Tuesday, a program that should eventually give public transit users another option besides cash or passes to ride TheBus, the Handi-Van and, years from now, the rail system. Civil Beat.

Say goodbye to the old bus passes. The city and county of Honolulu unveils how people will pay for transit, and more, in the future. KITV.

Police raid building in Liliha, gaming machines removed. KHON2.

A two-month project to rehabilitate the Lanikai pillboxes will begin Wednesday, barring access to hikers for at least 60 days. Hawaii News Now.

Tripler nurse accused of stealing 8,500 pills from hospital. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

The county’s biggest budget to date drew little public interest Tuesday evening, with no people coming out to talk about the $515.7 million spending plan at an evening public hearing. West Hawaii Today.

Futuristic Spaceport Gets Chilly Big Island Reception. Some lawmakers have proposed issuing special revenue bonds to help SpinLaunch build a facility on Hawaii Island for catapulting satellites into space. Civil Beat.

The water woes in North Kona have subsided, to a degree, but members of the Hawaii County Water Board explained it may be a while before they’re alleviated in full. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Five individuals have pulled papers for the 8th District House seat (representing Kahakuloa, Waihee, Waiehu, Puuohala, Wailuku, Waikapu), to fill the post being vacated by longtime Representative Joe Souki of Maui. Maui Now.

West and South Maui Sen. Roz Baker has taken out nomination papers for re-election to the 6th Senatorial District seat she has held since 2002. Maui News.

By scheduling five firefighters per work crew, instead of a minimum of four, Maui County’s Department of Fire and Public Safety is saving approximately $4.5 million annually in overtime pay, according to a recent external audit reviewed Tuesday by council members. Maui News.

The Neighbor Islands’ resident population percentages have grown incrementally since 2000 while Oahu’s share, while still dominant, has shrunk by 3 percentage points, U.S. Census Bureau data released last week show. Maui News.

The Maui District Health Office of the Department of Health, located at the Wailuku State Office Building, will undergo renovations beginning Monday, April 2. Maui Now.

Kauai

Cab fare hikes proposed. The Kauai County Council is scheduled to meet today. Garden Island.

A bellstone believed by some to be missing from a sacred site on Kauai apparently isn’t missing at all, according to the state. It’s at the Kauai Museum. Garden Island.

AG Chin accepts lieutenant governor post while campaigning for Congress, House to wait on sexual harassment probe of former speaker, fired 'button pusher' to sue state, Maui loses injection well case, Ige pans Kakaako affordable housing plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Attorney General Doug Chin, courtesy photo

State Attorney General Doug Chin announced today that he will continue to campaign for Congress while agreeing to fill out the remaining term of Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, who resigned effective Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Democrat Doug Chin to succeed Shan Tsutsui as Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. Chin will continue his campaign to serve Hawaii’s First district in the U.S. House of Representatives. KHON2.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin will take over as lieutenant governor after Shan Tsutsui abruptly resigned from the post on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Shan Tsutsui didn’t just step down as lieutenant governor. He bolted. Star-Advertiser.

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The leadership of the state House of Representatives will await the outcome of an investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against state Rep. Joseph Souki before deciding whether to take any action against the 84-year-old lawmaker, according to House Speaker Scott Saiki. Star-Advertiser.

The former head of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services confirmed Thursday that she filed a sexual harassment complaint against former House Speaker Joe Souki. Associated Press.

The former director of Hawaii's Department of Human Services has filed a formal complaint with the State Ethics Commission that accuses state Rep. Joe Souki of sexual harassment. Hawaii News Now.

Longtime Wailuku state representative and two-time House Speaker Joe Souki is facing a sexual harassment complaint from the former head of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services. Maui News.

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Emergency worker behind false missile alert to file lawsuit against the state. The emergency worker fired by the state for sending a false missile alert has hired an attorney, and plans to sue the state for defamation. KHON2.

Missile Attack: House Proposes Laws for Businesses. State lawmakers are considering legislation to protect businesses and homeowners in the event of a missile alert. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers want to prohibit businesses from turning people away if missile threat is real. Hawaii News Now.

This Nuke Plan Would Have Turned Hawaii Upside Down. During the Cold War, attack preparations were proposed that called for interisland evacuations and commandeering of property. Civil Beat.

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A new bill aims to better protect domestic violence victims by adding a petty misdemeanor offense option for perpetrators and making it easier for the victims to obtain protective orders. Civil Beat.

Bills could make failure to report child abuse a felony. Tribune-Herald.

Audit blasts OHA for lavish spending, awarding grants to those who know 'who to ask'. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Language Thrives While the Law Strives to Catch Up. Nearly 40 years ago, the Hawaiian language was recognized as one of two official languages in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Ige balks at Kakaako affordable-housing rule amendment. The governor said one of the provisions in revised rules crafted by the Hawaii Community Development Authority intended to preserve inventory of affordable homes built by developers is too extreme and might actually reduce production of such homes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige on Thursday said he won't sign the 2017 proposed amendments to the Hawaii Community Development Authority rules regarding reserved and workforce, housing in Kakaako, saying he didn't believe the proposed 30-year restriction would result in more homes for first-time buyers. Pacific Business News.

Areas Around Schools And Libraries May Be Next For Sit-Lie Ban. The Honolulu City Council approved a bill to prohibit lying down at bus stops, but postponed action on schools and libraries. Civil Beat.

HPD investigating officer-involved shooting in Waipahu. Hawaii News Now.

State regulators Thursday ordered Spectrum Cable to delay rolling out its all-­digital cable system on Oahu because of inaccurate information on its notice to subscribers. Star-Advertiser.

Miles-long debris field spotted off Oahu just a 'small piece' of the problem. Some 4,000 pounds of tangled fishing nets were removed from the ocean off Waikiki on Thursday morning, and state Department of Land and Natural Resources officers say there's a chance it may have come from a two-mile long debris field first spotted on Saturday in the Kaiwi Channel. Hawaii News Now.

An extremely heavy ball of derelict fishing nets reported near a popular surf break known as “Pops” in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki was removed this afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The 2018 election season kicked off in earnest Thursday morning with the beginning of candidate filing. West Hawaii Today.

Lava tour turns deadly: Guide leading hike in Kalapana area dies after noxious steam engulfs group. Rain falling on a lava flow in the Kalapana lava viewing area Thursday morning caused a noxious steam cloud that overcame four people hiking on a guided tour, according to the Hawaii Fire Department. Tribune-Herald.

Four persons were trapped in a noxious steam cloud on the lava field during a guided hiking tour, and one person died. Big Island Video News.

Two tour operators are being fined $2,500 each for providing illegal tours on Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

Wave of questions: County, nonprofit field concerns to surf school proposal. West Hawaii Today.

An application for a Use Permit to allow the construction of a new, non-manned telecommunication facility in Hawaiian Paradise Park was delayed at a Windward Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, although a Hawaii County Councilmember representing Puna was still able to testify. Big Island Video News.

The public is invited to comment on a proposed fee increase from $30 to $50 for the Tri-Park Pass, an annual pass that allows visitors unlimited entry to the three fee-charging national parks in Hawaii: Hawaii Volcanoes and Haleakala National parks and Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. Tribune-Herald.

T.J. Maxx to open in March. T.J. Maxx representatives handed out applications Thursday at the store’s future location at Prince Kuhio Plaza as contractors prepared for a grand opening next month. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the County of Maui’s Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility has been violating the US Clean Water Act since the facility was first put into operation in the early 1980s. Maui Now.

Maui County is reviewing its legal options after losing its appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of a ruling that the county’s use of injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility since the early 1980s violates the federal Clean Water Act. Maui News.

The woman accused of murdering her identical twin sister by deliberately driving off a cliff on Maui was acquitted today. Star-Advertiser.

Saying evidence showed a driver’s hair was being pulled by her passenger to cause her to lose control of a vehicle that went over a cliff near Hana, a judge Thursday found the woman not guilty of second-degree murder in the crash that killed her twin sister. Maui News.

A woman accused of 2nd degree murder in the May 29, 2016 death of her twin sister has been acquitted of the charge.  Judge Peter Cahill handed down the ruling on Thursday in Maui District Court following closing arguments which were held earlier in the afternoon. Maui Now.

Kauai

Tax cuts stall in committee. Two bills aimed at reducing the county fuel and vehicle weight taxes were killed at the county committee this week. Garden Island.

No Sign Of Authorities Yet As Occupation Of Kauai Resort Continues. The landowners request state assistance as Native Hawaiian protesters remain at the Coco Palms resort site. Civil Beat.

The Pentagon confirmed today that a key missile defense test off Kauai failed early Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Rare plants on Kauai will get a boost from the expansion of the Lyon Arboretum’s Micropropagation Laboratory on Oahu, which was completed at the end of January. Garden Island.

Lt. Gov. Tsutsui quits, false missile alarm investigation to be unveiled today, Ala Moana park plans unpopular, FBI probes Maui liquor commission, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lt. Gov. Tsutsui at Maui Economic Development Board function, Sept. 26, 2017, courtesy photo

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui said Monday he would resign this week to join a lobbying and public affairs firm. The move comes several years after Tsutsui publicly complained the governor hadn’t given him enough responsibility, but he said his decision had nothing to do with that. Associated Press.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui will resign on Wednesday, setting off a possible shuffle to take his place in one of the top political jobs in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s lieutenant governor, Shan Tsutsui, is leaving office effective Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui Monday said he will resign from his position on Wednesday to return to a private-sector job on Maui. Pacific Business News.

Shan Tsutsui To Resign As Lieutenant Governor. Big Island Video News.

Tsutsui to resign as Lt. Gov. KITV.

Shan Tsutsui to Resign as Lieutenant Governor. Maui Now.

Tsutsui announces resignation. With resignation, Tsutsui is headed home to Maui. Maui News.

The job of second in command of the state government had no immediate takers Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Senate President Ronald D. Kouchi today said he has mixed emotions about the departure of Lieutenant Governor Shan Tsutsui from office and says he is not interested in becoming the next LG for Hawaii. Maui Now.

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The results of the state’s internal investigation of the Jan. 13 false report of an imminent missile attack are scheduled to be released Tuesday morning by Gov. David Ige, state Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Joe Logan and retired Brig. Gen. Bruce Oliveira. Star-Advertiser.

The state says it will release the results Tuesday of a internal investigation into this month's false ballistic missile alarm. Hawaii News Now.

State emergency officials have completed an internal investigation after a false missile alert was sent to cell phones across the state. KHON2.

Senators To Stores: Don’t Kick People Out In Emergencies. Sen. Michelle Kidani’s measure comes two weeks after the false missile alert, when some people reported being told to leave businesses. Civil Beat.

How To Survive A Nuclear Attack On Hawaii. When the state accidentally sent out a false alarm, many people didn’t know how to respond. Civil Beat.

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U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has attracted more than $700,000 in campaign donations so far in her bid to become Hawaii’s next governor. Star-Advertiser.

Can Anyone Resuscitate The Hawaii GOP? State Chairwoman Shirlene Ostrov says Republicans have the tools and money to start winning elections in the islands. Civil Beat.

As many as 80 permanent homeless "villages" would be sprinkled across the state under a proposal getting support at the state Legislature. Hawaii News Now.

A bill to integrate the Hawaiian language into fundamental functions of the state is scheduled for a hearing before the Senate Committees on Hawaiian Affairs, Higher Education and Judiciary on Tuesday. Maui Now.

Here’s How The State Could End Up Owning Your Oceanfront Property. When sea level rises, a new legal opinion says, public land follows the shoreline and the state can charge property owners to access their own places. Civil Beat.

Pesticides’ potential impacts on human health require further study, and those furthering that goal are still promoting bills — this time through the 2018 legislative session. Garden Island.

New technology for detecting invasive species on cargo shipments and detector dog teams for agricultural inspections are just two steps out of dozens the state is making toward reinforcing biosecurity in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Responsible use of Hawaii’s marine life and responsible pet trade nationwide were both promoted last week as the Hawaii Senate Water and Land Committee heard a bill outlining tougher restrictions on aquarium fishing in the state. Garden Island.

After several years of planning, the state has awarded a $140 million building contract for a new 144-bed psychiatric facility at the troubled Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe. Star-Advertiser.

Hensel Phelps wins $140M contract to build Hawaii state psychiatric hospital. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines’ profit reaches new height. The parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaiian Holdings Inc., reported Monday earning $364 million, or $6.82 a share, in 2017. Star-Advertiser.

The 401(k) accounts that former Island Air employees have been unable to access contain more than $8 million, according to a person close to the situation who requested his name not be used. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A proposal to eliminate parking on the makai side of the road through Ala Moana Regional Park and create a wide beachside “promenade” ran into plenty of opposition at a city meeting Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Things quickly got heated inside the McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park Monday night as the city held its final public meeting on the park's future. Hawaii News Now.

The crowd booed inside McCoy Pavilion Auditorium Monday night as the city presented its vision for the beach promenade at Ala Moana Regional Park. KITV.

Meeting to discuss future of Ala Moana beach park turns into shouting match. KHON2.

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People who live on Tantalus Drive are demanding change. KITV.

Work is underway to improve Pali Highway, resulting in barriers, lane closures and, by the middle of next month, complete overnight closures for three long-anticipated projects that are expected to last two years. Star-Advertiser.

Concerns raised after three firefighters’ children diagnosed with cancer. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Governor pushes ahead on re-election bid. West Hawaii Today.

Volunteers scour East Hawaii before dawn to help with Homeless Point in Time Count. Tribune-Herald.

A new county Human Resources Department director could be selected by Feb. 21, almost five months after the sudden resignation of former HR Director Sharon Toriano in the wake of a critical audit. West Hawaii Today.

Interview with Man Who Faces 77 Years in Prison for Medical Marijuana Collective. Big Island Now.

Hawaii microalgae producer Cyanotech Corp. has its third CEO in three years. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

FBI agent seen examining liquor control documents. Spokesman for the bureau would not confirm or deny any federal investigation. Maui News.

Another bond issue planned to help finance West Maui hospital construction. Maui News.

Murder Trial Begins for Woman Accused of Driving Twin Off East Maui Cliff. Maui Now.

Murder trial begins for twin in cliff crash. Witness testifies he saw ‘hair-pulling and punching’ before SUV took fatal jerk to left. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Board of Water Supply announces the appointment of Steven Kyono to the position of acting manager and chief engineer for the Department of Water, effective Feb. 12. Garden Island.

Life’s Choices Kauai is seeking people to join a substance abuse prevention coalition aimed at reducing and preventing youth substance abuse. Garden Island.

Honolulu reels from arrests of former police chief and deputy prosecutor wife, police chief candidates' interviews begin today, Tsutsui won't run for Maui mayor, pension plan improves, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Former Honolulu Police chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, city deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha

How Far Will The Honolulu Police Corruption Investigation Spread? The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue its grand jury investigation into corruption and abuse of power. Civil Beat.

A curious allegation of mailbox theft unraveled into a tale of corruption that reached the highest levels of Honolulu law enforcement, culminating in a U.S. investigation that found the former police chief and his prosecutor wife bilked clients and relatives out of hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on their lavish lifestyle and then used their power to orchestrate a plot within the police department to target anyone who threatened them. Associated Press.

Honolulu’s former police chief and his city deputy prosecutor wife were arrested Friday in the most significant case of alleged public abuse of power in state history, and prosecutors said the investigation could lead to even further charges. Star-Advertiser.

One day after a federal grand jury completed a two-year investigation into public corruption and abuse of power in Hawaii law enforcement, former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a high-ranking city prosecutor, were arrested Friday by the FBI and indicted on 20 counts of criminal conspiracy, fraud and obstruction of justice. Civil Beat.

A Guide To The Case Against The Kealohas. The former Honolulu police chief and his wife, a city prosecutor, have pleaded not guilty to the charges contained in a federal indictment. Civil Beat.

Read full indictment here.

Frustrated Honolulu residents may feel a greater urgency for members of the Police Commission to pick a successor to Louis Kealoha in the wake of the arrest of the former chief two days ago. Star-Advertiser.

Federal case likely to raise doubts over work as prosecutor. The federal indictment of Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha on charges ranging from bank fraud to obstruction of justice raises enough red flags that prosecutors should review all the cases she’s worked on the past several years to ensure they were handled properly, according to criminal defense attorneys. Star-Advertiser.

The first interviews for finalist up for the job of Honolulu's Police Chief begin on Monday. KITV.

Commentary: Kealoha’s tenure began with such promise. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Kealoha arrests drag down HPD. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Let’s Scrap The Police Chief Search And Start Over. Civil Beat.

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Lawmakers press home lands agency to create housing. As the state grapples with a severe shortage of affordable housing and the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the country, some lawmakers want the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to pitch in resources to help solve the pressing problems. Star-Advertiser.

Pension fund ends year on a slightly higher note. Hawaii’s largest public pension fund performed slightly better in fiscal year 2017 than it reported two months ago in its preliminary numbers. Star-Advertiser.

Planners release 30-second nuclear preparedness PSAs. State emergency planners have released their first public service announcement related to North Korea preparedness, a nonthreatening 30-second video that doesn’t specifically mention the rogue nation or remote possibility of a nuclear attack on Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

‘Golf ball’ radar’s limitations seen. The Sea-Based X-Band Radar, a key link in the nation’s defense against North Korea, spent eight months at sea before returning to its home in Pearl Harbor last month. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii’s Hyperbaric Treatment Center has closed indefinitely because of staffing problems, a University of Hawaii spokesman said Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Timeshare property sales in Hawaii have exceeded $1 billion annually in recent years, and a new report tries to quantify how much employment and spending is tied to this segment of the tourism industry. Star-Advertiser.

Lessor intends to seize Island Air’s last 3 planes. An attorney for Island Air’s aircraft lessor said he is planning to take legal action to seize the airline’s three remaining aircraft and is demanding the state’s second-largest carrier make payments if it is going to be allowed to use them. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers have two new ways to add photovoltaic systems to their homes after a decision Friday by the state Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Rail’s ‘Plan B’ not vetted by federal agency. State lawmakers last month approved a $2.4 billion funding package to build the full rail line to Ala Moana Center. Last week the project’s federal partners said they never determined whether a scaled-back, less costly alternative to Aloha Tower would have worked instead. Star-Advertiser.

The state Land Use Commission has approved one of two petitions by corn seed producer Monsanto to restrict portions of farmland the company owns on Oahu and Molokai for agriculture use under a state law aimed at preserving prime farmland. Star-Advertiser.

State Plans To Clear Out Homeless Camp Under Honolulu Freeway. Moanalua Stream will also be blocked, in order to keep those with rafts or boats from returning or setting up camp elsewhere. Civil Beat.

Boat That Ran Aground 0ff Honolulu Sent No Distress Signal. The wreck of the fishing vessel, carrying workers from Southeast Asia, raises concerns about the treatment of foreign crews. Civil Beat.

Grounding raises fresh concerns over foreign fishermen. A boat that ran aground off Waikiki while transporting foreign fishermen to work in Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry has raised new questions about the safety and working conditions for foreign laborers in this unique U.S. fleet. Associated Press.

Two recent ground-breakings in Kapolei represent significant additions to their respective markets. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hotel market heating up outside the Waikiki core. Developers and the visitor industry say more hotel construction could be coming outside the usual resort districts, and even in them if the market continues to shine. Star-Advertiser.

Denver-based KSL Capital Partners, which bought Outrigger Hotels and Resorts late last year, is kicking off an aggressive Waikiki reinvestment plan with a $25 million overhaul and re-branding of the Waikiki Beachcomber. Star-Advertiser.

The Howard Hughes Corp. has started demolition work at the shuttered Ward Warehouse shopping complex in Honolulu and plans to tear the buildings down by the end of the year, but has yet to schedule construction of the Gateway Towers project that will replace it. Pacific Business News.

Sales of single-family homes in Kaneohe nearly doubled last month, while the number of condominiums and townhouses sold in the Windward Oahu town rose 24 percent, compared to September 2016, according to the monthly local market report from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Real estate developer Bruce Stark — who left his stamp on Hawaii with the building of residential condominiums, offices and retail space beginning in 1966 — died Thursday at age 82. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County is leading the state in motor vehicle traffic fatalities — trailing only Honolulu when it comes to overall roadway deaths — according to data released last week by the state Department of Transportation. West Hawaii Today.

Three weeks after the Thirty Meter Telescope was granted its construction permit, the developer and eventual operator of the planned $1.4 billion cutting-edge observatory says it is still evaluating its next move. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of acres of Hawaiian home lands have been set aside for subsistence-agriculture plots along the road leading to Akaka Falls and the surrounding region, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has scheduled community meetings to discuss the project. Tribune-Herald.

Reality is setting in that the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill will have to be closed within two years. A draft environmental assessment has been published for the Hilo landfill closure project, a costly (approximately $19 million) and highly regulated undertaking that must confirm to various county, state and federal rules. Big Island Video News.

The state Department of Transportation will extend four lanes on Highway 130 to Shower Drive over the next month as it restripes a 2-mile stretch of pavement. Tribune-Herald.

A Keaukaha fixture for more than 50 years might be gone by this time next year. Members of the Hilo Yacht Club will decide later this year whether the club will remain at its current location or move to a new building. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding nearly $3 million in funding to a community association for a subdivision in Puna to improve its community drinking water system. Star-Advertiser.

Iwo Jima vets meet the new guys. West Hawaii Today.


Maui

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui said Friday that he will not be running for Maui County mayor in 2018 due to family reasons in an announcement that throws open the race to succeed Mayor Alan Arakawa, who is term limited. Maui News.

The Maui News is going back to afternoon home delivery for many newspaper subscribers and will cease producing a Sunday paper in a move to cut costs. Star-Advertiser.

Maui's only big box bookstore, Barnes & Noble is set to close. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists Dana Reed and Cathy Maxwell will be at Kohola Brewery in Lahaina at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to share information and answer questions about the nearshore water quality in West Maui. Maui News.

Maui Disposal reported 6 tons of material was collected at the 13th annual Lahaina Town Clean Up on Sept. 16. More than 300 volunteers spent the day cleaning up Lahaina streets, harbors and beaches from Puamana to the Mala Boat Ramp. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Community College’s nursing program has been awarded accreditation for eight years, the longest period possible, by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Garden Island.

County celebrates hiring collaboration. Summer Youth Employment Program praised. Garden Island.

Hawaii gun laws hit target. Residents, representatives praise state policies. Garden Island.

Geographic boundary changes in the Kalaheo area will go into effect for school year 2019-20. The change will result in more students enrolling at Waimea Canyon Middle and Waimea High schools. Garden Island.

Power line collisions kill about 1,800 seabirds annually on Kauai, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-commissioned study. Members of the Center for Biological Diversity are on Kauai this week finding ways to help curb the collisions. Garden Island.

Ige may face challengers, line forms for Lt. Gov., Tulsi loses popularity, Honolulu council to tackle plastic bags, Kahaluu development stalls, Wailuku workforce housing coming, Kauai council defends defunding auditor, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii's James Brewbaker in field of seed corn, courtesy photo

Industrial agriculture companies producing seeds in Hawaii mainly for corn research and reproduction had a second consecutive season of steady operations after three years of declines, according to a preliminary government estimate. Star-Advertiser.

More than a year out from the 2018 election, Gov. David Ige presents a tempting but also formidable target for some ambitious Democrats, and several are weighing the possibility of a run against him. Star-Advertiser.

At least a half-dozen politicians are already eyeing the race for Hawaii lieutenant governor next year, including Maui’s mayor and a number of state legislators. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat Poll: Tulsi Gabbard’s Surprising Plunge In Hawaii. Statewide, Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono are viewed more favorably than Gabbard while Colleen Hanabusa’s numbers are slightly lower. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s wealthy make up the majority of residents who have rooftop solar, and two programs the state created to change that are floundering. Star-Advertiser.

More than a year after the state awarded its first eight medical marijuana dispensary licenses, three companies have each harvested their first crop, but not a single bud has been sold. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Tech Sector Is Suffering From A Lack Of Top Business Execs. There is marketable technology in the islands, but commercial success requires talented entrepreneurs who are hard to find. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has received $4.1 million for AmeriCorps projects from the federal agency that oversees volunteering and service programs. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiians face a greater risk of developing, and dying from cancer-associated sepsis. Experts at the University of Hawai'i Cancer Center made this discovery from analyzing decades of research. KITV.

Honolulu-based Matson Inc. will increase the frequency of its South Pacific Express service to Samoa and American Samoa from 28 days to 14 days. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council members Wednesday will consider two different versions of a bill aimed at closing loopholes in Oahu’s existing plastic bag ban: one supported by business interests and the other by environmental groups. Star-Advertiser.

The city plans to take a new approach this week to clear out a handful of persistent homeless encampments on state-owned, grassy medians along Nimitz Highway that thousands of tourists drive past on their way from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

Developer Wants To Convert Farmland To Housing In Haleiwa. He calls it “working class housing.” Opponents decry more traffic congestion and the loss of agricultural space. Civil Beat.

The mayor’s representative erred when he told attendees at Tuesday’s Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board meeting that the city dropped previous efforts to condemn a certain private lane for beach access in the late 1990s after the state Supreme Court overturned the condemnation. Star-Advertiser.

The city intends to refund nearly $500,000 in property taxes that it inappropriately collected over two years from farmers for a controversial off-the-grid agriculture development in Kunia. Star-Advertiser.

NOAA researchers are mourning the death of a Hawaiian monk seal that some have known for years. KHON2.

Henry B. Clark, who retired as chairman, president and CEO of Castle & Cooke more than 30 years ago after a 40-year career, has died. He was 101. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Second homes, commercial and industrial property and hotel/resorts would bear more of the property tax burden in order to give homeowners and farmers less of a rate hike, under proposals to be heard Monday as the County Council takes its final vote on the budget. West Hawaii Today.

Evans: Raises the reason for tax increase. West Hawaii Today.

Citing a “need for a deeper awareness and understanding” of historically and culturally significant sites in a Kahaluu parcel eyed for development of a 306-unit condominium, the county’s planning director is asking the officer overseeing the contested case to reopen the hearing to hear more evidence and testimony from himself and other potential witnesses. West Hawaii Today.

The Kamehameha Schools are accusing two companies of illegally harvesting eucalyptus trees on its properties along the Hamakua Coast. Associated Press.

On May 25, Kamehameha Schools filed a complaint in the 3rd Circuit Court requesting the court grant immediate and permanent injunctive relief against defendants Jonathan P. Spies and his companies Hamakua Renewable Enterprises, LLC, and Golden Lion Hawaii, LLC, for trespassing and the illegal harvesting of eucalyptus trees on the school’s property in the Kapulena area. West Hawaii Today.

Money for a joint state-county planning effort to revitalize the Banyan Drive resort area appears to be drying up. Big Island Video News.

Parker Land Trust, a sister entity of Parker Ranch, claims in a foreclosure lawsuit that German industrialist and biofuel pioneer Michael Saalfeld owes more than $50 million for 3,500-plus acres of land he bought from the Waimea ranch in 2010. Tribune-Herald.

Reforms could be on the way for the Hawaii Island Humane Society, where high euthanasia rates have frustrated Big Island residents. Civil Beat.

Debbie Cravatta, president and founder of the nonprofit Kohala Animal Relocation and Education Service, was working with the veterinarian of the Molokai Humane Society, and the only veterinarian on that island, to sterilize a total of 30 animals Wednesday in Ocean View when conversation turned to a separate ongoing effort to rescue dozens of dogs from another property in the area and how her group could help. West Hawaii Today.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo is increasing marketing efforts to spread the word about its new dorm repricing plan, which will knock the annual cost of its most underused residence hall by about $1,400 next year. Tribune-Herald.

On the heels of the state Legislature approving funding for continued development of an industrial hemp program, Hawaii Island hosts the first Hawaii Hemp Conference next weekend. Tribune-Herald.

A Hilo food business has issued a recall of frozen ahi that tested positive for hepatitis A. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two real estate firms are close to submitting an application to the county to build a 324-unit workforce rental apartment project along Waiale Road in Wailuku. Maui News.

The world of Korean natural farming is like a glimpse into a mad scientist’s lab. Garden Island.

The County Council’s Policy, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee will meet Monday at 9 a.m. in the Council Chambers to discuss the Federal Food Safety Modernization Act, or FSMA. Maui News.

Maui’s first two utility-scale solar power projects in South and West Maui, which could supply up to 6 megawatts of power, are expected to come online by the second half of this year, a Maui Electric Co. spokeswoman said last week. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Council Chairman Mel Rapozo responds to news reports of the council eliminating the auditor's office: The council partially funded the office, using a term referred to in government accounting as “dollar funding.” With the exception of the building lease and electricity costs, which received three months of funding, and the copier machine under contract, $1 of funding was left as a placeholder for each salaried position and related benefits and other office expenses in place. Garden Island.

Council Chair Mel Rapozo said he can’t approve a request to apply for state funds to relocate the Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge overlook because of a lack of community participation. Garden Island.

The Kauai Humane Society needs your help. As of Friday, KHS had 71 dogs and puppies, 75 cats and kittens, six guinea pigs and a rabbit up for adoption. Garden Island.

Lifeguard liability, high deductibles, gay fertility treatment mulled in Legislature, pot tax axed, Kaiser Permanente seeks Maui health-care workers, Kim unveils Maun Kea park plan, historic Ewa Battlefield trashed, more news from all the Hawaiian Island

Old lifeguard stand at Richardson Ocean Park © 2017 All Hawaii News

Counties Threaten To Pull Lifeguards Over Fear Of Lawsuits. The Legislature is debating whether to extend limited liability protections for lifeguards over the objections of a group of personal injury lawyers. Civil Beat.

Pot tax, car value tax, axed. Judging from the growing list of dead or dying bills, the 2017 session of the state Legislature is shaping up to be a relatively cautious, low-risk round of lawmaking. Star-Advertiser.

Members of Hawaii’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are lobbying for equal access to the fertility treatment married, heterosexual couples enjoy under state law. Associated Press.

Hawaii employers may soon be allowed to offer workers high-deductible plans that critics say are financially risky health insurance plans that can result in families paying thousands of dollars out of pocket in any given year for medical care. Star-Advertiser.

A bill granting state agents access to private property to eradicate invasive species is headed for a floor vote in the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

A bill moving through the state Legislature aims to shake loose money frozen in a $150 million failed renewable-energy loan program and use it to offer rebates of up to $10,000 to residents who buy battery systems for their homes. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Is it possible that this is year the Legislature does mail-in ballots, something that has nearly universal support from both voters and government officials? Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui’s announced intention to leave his post to run for Maui mayor — possibly before his term ends — exposes a flaw in the way our state government is structured at the top. Star-Advertiser.

A new national ranking of the best-run airports has good news for Maui, bad news for Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, will hold town hall meetings across the state in April. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii officials are looking to their counterparts in Puerto Rico for advice as they seek to rebound from December’s aborted alala release, when three of the native Hawaiian crows perished in the first week of freedom — two apparently picked off by the io, or Hawaiian hawk, and another that weakened after getting caught in a winter storm, according to necropsies. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Below the H-1 viaduct Wednesday morning, a kiawe-fueled fire burned below thousands of commuters — a daily event that has some Oahu lawmakers concerned about the possibility of a disaster under Honolulu’s highways and bridges. Star-Advertiser.

Should Honolulu’s New Police Chief Be An Insider Or An Outsider? The police union leader is pushing for someone already in the ranks. But others, including law enforcement experts, say new blood might be the best. Civil Beat.

Honolulu's chief medical examiner is asking city officials for more financial support as his office struggles to deal with a heavy workload. Associated Press.

Passengers traveling through Honolulu International Airport these days must put up with barriers and diversions, from construction barriers to closed walkways and orange construction signs everywhere, as the state of Hawaii's $1.3 billion upgrade of the airport drags on. Pacific Business News.

Bill would limit liability for volunteers maintaining dilapidated Pearl City cemetery. KHON2.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled a case with the Navy involving illegal cesspools at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Historic Ewa Battlefield becomes target of trash dumping. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim on Saturday continued to promote his vision of a Mauna Kea “World Park,” announcing that Gov. David Ige has lent his support to the mayor’s vision for the mountain and that he is “pursuing how this can be done.” West Hawaii Today.

A debate over how Hawaii County Council members should use their discretionary money could be renewed as Mayor Harry Kim proposes to cut the expenditures in the next budget. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council members say their discretionary funds provide quick aid to nonprofit groups that provide services in their districts. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County has released sewage spill data in the aftermath of last Monday’s discharge into the Wailuku River and Hilo Bay, and a state microbiologist says the results are reassuring. Tribune-Herald.

As plans to upgrade the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant continue to materialize, so to do plans to develop a large regional park in the area. West Hawaii Today.

Hawai'i State Attorney General Doug Chin got a hero's welcome to North Hawaii, where he gave a 40 minute talk on his legal efforts to block the president's executive order. Big Island Video News.

An ironweed plant that grows wild on Hawaii island may offer new ways to combat deadly brain and breast cancers, and a University of Hawaii Cancer Center biologist has received $3 million in federal funds to study it further. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Plenty of jobs need to be filled at Maui County’s three public hospitals, and Kaiser Permanente officials are encouraging residents not to wait until the state facilities become private July 1. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente officials are encouraging Maui residents to apply for jobs at three public hospitals on the island as they scramble to fill positions before the state facilities become private this summer. Associated Press.

While the shortage of doctors statewide has improved, it grew worse on the Neighbor Islands in 2016, including Maui County, according to a University of Hawaii report to the state Legislature. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin is close to formalizing a partnership with a seed oil producing company on a 250-acre demonstration project to produce biofuels from the pongamia tree on old sugar fields with planting possibly to begin in mid-May. Maui News.

The County of Maui’s Kepaniwai Park at ʻĪao reopens Monday, according to a Parks Department announcement. Maui Now.

The county’s Kepaniwai Park in Iao Valley, which has been closed since the raging Wailuku River flooded the park and tore away a piece of the parking lot Sept. 13, will reopen Monday. Maui News.

A rescue tube initiative that started on the island of Kauaʻi in 2009 is now making its way to Maui as advocates combat alarming statistics surrounding ocean deaths in island waters. Maui Now.

Kauai

A coqui frog, a little problem with loud consequences was captured at a Lihue residence Monday, most likely a stowaway in a car recently bought from Hawaii Island. Garden Island.

Bill to criminalize trespassing on state land, Lt. Gov. Tsutsui 'pretty certain' he'll leave post, Hawaii County seeks to limit public in contested case hearings, H-POWER worker killed, state cooperates on immigration holds, rat lungworm worries Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohulu Valley lookout

The Hawaii House of Representatives approved a bill to make it a crime to trespass on all state lands despite concerns it could harm homeless people, cultural practitioners, protesters and hikers. Associated Press.

Hawaii Cooperates With Feds On Immigration Holds, Even As Other States Balk. A recent study shows that Hawaii is one of just seven states that fully complied with federal requests to hold immigrants in custody beyond their release dates without a warrant. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers have found that life expectancy in the Aloha State exceeds averages, and continues to increase, compared to those who live on the mainland. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The state has agreed to pay $875,000 to settle a lawsuit filed in connection with the death of 4-year-old Zion McKeown, a known victim of child abuse who was killed after state Child Welfare Services staff returned him to his family. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police are investigating the death of a 41-year-old man at the H-POWER plant Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The company behind H-POWER says an employee was killed in an accident at the facility. KHON2.

Some 182 acres overlooking the rugged East Oahu coastline have been conveyed from the Trust for Public Land to the nonprofit Livable Hawai‘i Kai Hui, which will oversee stewardship of the Ka Iwi Coast land, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

After four decades, efforts have paid off for people trying to protect a beloved East Oahu shoreline. Thursday, City and State Representatives announced the purchase of Ka Iwi Coast Mauka Lands. KITV.

A man is facing deportation to China after being convicted of trafficking Chinese women to work as prostitutes in Hawaii massage parlors. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin is reviewing the 2015 assault of a toddler at an Ewa Beach day care after Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro declined to pursue the case, saying he had received no new information from the Honolulu Police Department despite the department taking a fresh look. Civil Beat.

Despite its reputation as a safe snorkeling spot, Hanauma Bay is actually one of Hawaii's deadliest beaches. Hawaii News Now.

The median price for both condominiums and homes on Oahu increased 4 percent last month, while interest rates are up almost 12 percent from last year. Pacific Business News.

The $1 billion, 217-unit Park Lane Ala Moana luxury condominium project in Honolulu opened on Wednesday to its first residents, an executive with one of the developers of one of the most luxurious condos in Hawaii confirmed to Pacific Business News.

More details have been revealed regarding the planned medical marijuana dispensary at the former Bank of Hawaii branch on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu with ties to well-known Hawaii businessman Colbert Matsumoto, including why the company behind it chose this location. Pacific Business News.

Wet’n’Wild Hawaii is changing owners again. EPR Properties, a Kansas City, Mo.-based specialty real estate investment trust, said Thursday it is buying the Kapolei water park from CNL Lifestyle Properties Inc. as part of a $455.5 million deal involving the Northstar California Ski Resort, 15 water and amusement parks, and five small family entertainment centers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

New rules for the Planning Department would reduce public participation in contested case hearings, while increasing public participation in planned unit developments. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo moved one step closer to having the state’s first Neighbor Island community economic district on Thursday after a bill creating the district cleared its final committee in the state Senate. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island homes and condominiums ended the first quarter on a high note, with prices up 20 and 33 percent, respectively, according to Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, the 45-year-old Wailuku resident and former Senate president confirmed that he’s “pretty certain” he won’t seek re-election as lieutenant governor, and he’s thinking about running for mayor. Maui News.

The Maui County Council will be holding a public hearing on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year at 6 p.m. April 18 in Council Chambers on the eighth floor of the county building in Wailuku. Maui News.

The chairman of the Maui County Council’s budget committee said Thursday that he is not looking to close the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course, but added that privatization could be an option. Maui News.

A meeting in the remote East Maui community of Hāna to discuss the threat of rat lungworm disease, drew a standing room only crowd to Helene Hall on Thursday evening. Maui Now.

Maui health officials said six cases of rat lungworm disease have been reported over the past three months after the island had seen just two cases of the disease in the previous decade. Associated Press.

Kauai

Cooperation between residents and government, environmental impacts of planes and quality education were concerns voiced at a community meeting Thursday hosted by Gov. David Ige. Garden Island.

Hawaii Dairy Farms has agreed to write a $125,000 check for streambank restoration and endangered species protection at the Makauwahi Cave Reserve. Garden Island.

Kauai real estate sales dropped in March, while median sales prices increased, with condominium prices jumping nearly 20 percent. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

Community-based subsistence fishing area designation sought for Molokai. ‘Our resources are depleting’ Maui News.