Public asked to weigh in on Honolulu rail fares, Saiki named NCSL president-elect, Waikiki pavilions to be locked down, tilapia invasion off Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail construction PC:HART

HART Served More Subpoenas, Council Defers Abolishing Agency, Public Asked About Rail Fares. A few Honolulu rail employees have been served federal subpoenas, the latest in several rounds issued in the ongoing probe of the $9.2 billion rail project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Rate Commission seeks public input on rail transit fares. Some of the topics to be covered include whether bus and rail fares should be the same, with no charge for transfers, as well as whether there should be flat rates or distance-based rates and the categories for rates. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Rail Officials Won’t Say Much About New Round Of Subpoenas. The latest federal orders were served to an unspecified number of HART employees. The rail agency won’t say who or how many staff members got them. Civil Beat.

State comptroller refuses to pay for setbacks blamed on the rail authority. State Comptroller Curt Otaguro is refusing to authorize payments for delay claims on the city’s rail project if the city rail authority or its consultants were to blame for the circumstances — rejecting already a total of $11.2 million in invoices. Star-Advertiser.

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China tariff increases take effect on local businesses. Tina Yamaki, president of the 200-member Retail Merchants of Hawaii, said the tariffs will affect almost every consumer product, which is especially bad for an island state where most things are imported. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii House Speaker Scott Saiki was named president-elect of the National Conference of State Legislatures in Nashville this week. Civil Beat.

Speaker Saiki Named President-Elect of NCSL. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Proposal to curb crime at Waikiki pavilion gets mixed reviews. To clean up the pavilions in the heart of Waikiki, the city plans on putting gates around them that would be locked at night. Hawaii News Now.

Former Honolulu Prosecutor Wants Court To Decide If He Can Run Again. Under the city charter, Peter Carlisle has been out of the prosecutor’s office too long to qualify for the ballot. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha: Sentencing must be finalized before finding out if new trial is granted. Last month, she filed a motion for a new trial claiming her court-appointed lawyer was ineffective. KITV.

Judge Puts Chill On Lawsuit Over Pesticides At Kaneohe Marine Base Housing. Hundreds of service members alleged they should have been warned about pesticide problem at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe. Civil Beat.

Legal battle over rundown Waikiki hotel comes to a head. The so-called “Ebbtide Hotel” on Kuhio Avenue has been a Waikiki eyesore for years. Hawaii News Now.

Millions more to be spent on Kakaako parks after state hands off to city. One of Hawaii’s largest transfers of park land is about to take place, when the state turns over a large portion of Kakaako makai to the city. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea Scientific Toll: 2,000 Observing Hours For 400 Projects Lost. Maunakea Observatories have been been closed for three weeks now – resulting in a loss of more than a year’s worth of discoveries. Scientists say unreliable access to telescopes is preventing them from resuming operations on the summit. Hawaii Public Radio.

$1.1 million grant will help boost UH telescope. The National Science Foundation awarded a $1.1 million grant to a University of Hawaii scientist to install an advanced secondary mirror onto the university’s 2.2-meter telescope. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii’s senior adviser on Mauna Kea has another title. Greg Chun has been named executive director of Mauna Kea stewardship for UH. Hawaii News Now.

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PONC money for nonprofit boards heads to 2020 ballot. A charter proposal allowing the county to pay nonprofit board members to help maintain open space cleared its final hurdle Thursday and is headed to the 2020 ballot. West Hawaii Today.

Disciplined officer reason for closed case dismissal request. Officer misconduct apparently sidelined a police witness in a drug case, and now a judge is set to rule today on whether the defendant in the case will stand trial. West Hawaii Today.

‘Carmageddon’: Peak-hour roadwork without prior notice causes major traffic snarl. Lack of public notice about a lane-striping project that started during rush hour Thursday morning on Highway 130 between Shower Drive and Kaloli Drive in Hawaiian Paradise Park caused a massive traffic snarl that frustrated and angered Hilo-bound motorists. Tribune-Herald.

Highway 130 Restriping Brings Traffic Delays To Puna. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Police sent to Mauna Kea accumulate $68,105 in overtime. During today's city council meeting on the Valley Isle, MPD Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu testified the state is reimbursing the county to cover overtime expenses. KITV.

At a Maui County Council meeting Thursday, Maui’s police chief defended his decision to send 27 MPD officers to the Big Island last month to assist with the TMT conflict. Maui police chief defends decision to send officers to Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

The administration’s long-awaited “strategic plan” for affordable/attainable housing was greeted with ridicule and dismay by several members of the Maui County Council attending the Aug. 7th meeting of the council’s Affordable Housing Committee. Maui Watch.

State working on repairing water leak at Maalaea. Harbor users concerned about lost water, also say leak a hazard. Maui News.

Community Meeting on Wailuku Town Improvements, Aug. 19. During this meeting, the department will provide information on the latest construction schedule, updates on temporary parking locations and shuttle transportation, status on the re-examination of Phase 2 of the Civic Complex, planned construction mitigation and communication efforts, and ways the public can support Wailuku Town’s businesses. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kealia subdivision EIS approved. A proposed subdivision is one step closer to fruition in Kealia, after the Land Use Commission accepted the project’s Final Environmental Impact Statement Thursday. Garden Island.

Tilapia invasion along Napali Coast concerns state officials. State officials announced Thursday they are working to stop an invasion of black-chin tilapia in the near-shore waters of the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Introduced Tilapia Invade Kauai’s Napali Coast. The state is investigating its fish removal options in order to protect the pristine region. Civil Beat.

Tilapia invade Napali Coast. Thousands of black-chin tilapia have invaded near-shore waters in the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauai. Garden Island.

Huge schools of tilapia crowd near-shore waters on Napali Coast. Hawaii News Now.

The state calls tilapia invasion an emergency. KHON2.

Climate change bills falter, Carlisle wants to be Honolulu prosecutor again, Hawaii County suing Big Pharma, Maui commissioners resign over vacation rental, Gabbard makes presidential debates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sunrise over Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Lawmakers Have Largely Dropped The Ball On Slowing Climate Change. Efforts to address the effects of a warming planet on a vulnerable island state have mostly fallen short this session. Civil Beat.

Ranked voting, a new way to elect candidates for political office, could be coming to Hawaii if a bill making its way through the state Legislature becomes law. Star-Advertiser.

Inside The Legislature’s Backroom Brawl Over A Water Rights Bill. As opponents of House Bill 1326 were making a lot of noise in the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday and chanting things like, “The people have spoken, the public trust is broken,” the state Senate was behind closed doors in its chamber-level quarters trying to save legislation extending the right of Alexander & Baldwin and others to divert water from Hawaii streams. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers are considering a controversial proposal that would require midwives to be licensed by the state before July 1, 2020. Midwives were regulated in Hawaii from the 1930's, but haven’t been since the late 90's when nurse-midwives were placed under the Board of Nursing. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers still considering leasehold condos on state land. A bold idea this year to address Hawaii’s chronically short supply of affordable housing by developing and selling leasehold condominiums on state land is still in play at the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Presses For A Bigger Share Of Money From Hawaii’s Trust Lands. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs hasn’t received an increase in revenues from the ceded trust lands in more than a decade. Civil Beat.

AG Breezes Through Committee Vote. Attorney General Clare Connors had no worries heading into a vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Civil Beat.

Gabbard qualifies for Democratic debate stage. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced Wednesday that 65,000 people have donated to her presidential campaign, a milestone that makes her eligible to join the televised Democratic debates in June. Star-Advertiser.

Coming To A Democratic Debate Stage Near You -- Tulsi Gabbard. The Hawaii congresswoman needed 65,000 donors per DNC rules to qualify for the 2020 debates. On Wednesday her campaign announced she hit the mark. Civil Beat.

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Black hole named Powehi. With the world’s first image of a black hole made with the help of two Hawaii telescopes, astronomers say it was only right to give it a Hawaiian name. Star-Advertiser.

Introducing Powehi, The World-Famous Black Hole. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maunakea telescopes help create the first image of a black hole. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii telescopes instrumental in capturing first image of black hole. KHON2.

Oahu

Ex-Mayor Peter Carlisle Wants To Be Honolulu Prosecutor Again. His longtime political rival, Keith Kaneshiro, has taken a leave of absence because he’s a target in a federal investigation. Associated Press.

Despite warnings, Kaneshiro continues to visit building that houses prosecutor’s office. After Keith Kaneshiro placed himself on administrative leave pending the outcome of a federal criminal investigation, he was told to stay away from the city prosecutor’s office until the investigation was over. Hawaii News Now.

Feds Still Aren’t Releasing $744 Million For Honolulu Rail. Rail officials had hoped to finally get their long-stalled recovery plan approved by this month. Now, they hope to get “provisional’ approval in late May or early June. Civil Beat.

Judge upholds land board decision to allow a new North Shore wind farm. The board previously said the Na Pua Makani project in Kahuku could proceed, despite expectations that it would kill a number of native bats every year. Hawaii News Now.

Talk of a new racetrack in Ewa fuels a debate, the neighborhood board wants more community input. Racers are eager to get behind the wheel again. After 12 years without a racetrack on Oahu, many said it's about time. KHON2.

State to open Pali Highway on Sunday as repairs close Likelike Highway. Likelike Highway will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday as Hawaiian Electric crews conduct emergency work involving the removal of a damaged, leaning utility pole and other equipment. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Department dealing with dispatcher shortage. Last year the Public Safety Answering Point located at the Honolulu Police Department headquarters received over 1 million 9-1-1 calls. KITV.

Airport post office open late for taxes. The Honolulu main post office at 3600 Aolele St. near the airport will be the only post office in Hawaii offering late collection of mail Monday to accommodate last-minute tax filers. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu main is the only post office in the state offering late collection on tax day. The Honolulu Main Post Office at 3600 Aolele Street will be the only post office in Hawaii offering late collection of mail on federal Tax Day, Monday, Apr. 15, to accommodate last-minute filers of tax returns. KITV.

Hawaii Island

County to sue opioid manufacturers, distributors. Hawaii County has jumped into a multi-state class action lawsuit against Big Pharma manufacturers and distributors, seeking compensation for opioid addiction and overdoses on the island. West Hawaii Today.

New life for South Kohala development. Aina Lea Inc. expects to emerge from bankruptcy next month following a judge’s tentative approval of a plan that will make viable the continued development of The Villages of Aina Lea. West Hawaii Today.

Officials Give Highway 132 Lava Recovery Update. The County Council voted today to approve a bill to allocate $50 million to restore 3.2 miles of road in Puna. Big Island Video News.

School inundated by lava looks toward the future as classes continue. Nearly nine months after lava inundated Kua O Ka La New Century Public Charter School’s Puna campus, classes continue elsewhere and school officials are looking toward the future. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two Maui Planning commissioners resign over Paia Inn vacation rental expansion permit. Judge’s order forces planning commission to authorize permit. Maui News.

Mayor Michael Victorino lauded for revealing he was sex assault victim. Experts say his story may help others. Maui News.

Wong resigns; Lutey is named corporation counsel. Even with charges dropped, mayor accepts resignation. Maui County’s top civil lawyer, Corporation Counsel Patrick Wong, resigned Tuesday following a contentious County Council confirmation process and a domestic incident last month. Maui News.

Homelessness down slightly in Maui County in 2019. Point-in-Time Count shows 862 people living on streets or in shelters. Maui News.

New effort afoot to save an endangered Native Hawaiian bird on Maui. It’s estimated that there are less than 300 Kiwikiu, or Maui Parrotbill, left in the wild. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

'Everything is on the table'. On the second reading of resolution 2019-1 — proposing salary increases for employees of the county and officials--the council found itself deadlocked again. Garden Island.

Wary of highway reopening. Kuhio Highway west of Hanalei --closed and accessible only to residents since last year’s disastrous storms -- is tentatively set to reopen on or about May 1, but continuing restrictions will make actually using the highway challenging for both residents and visitors. Garden Island.

Takai to lie in state, special HI01 election set, poll shows Djou leading Honolulu mayoral race, Gabbard backs Clinton, flight attendant has Hepatitis A, Kona hospital ranked lowest in state, audit blasts Parks and Rec Department, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mark Takai

Gov. David Ige and the state Office of Elections issued an official proclamation Tuesday authorizing a special election, in conjunction with the Nov. 8 general election, to decide who will serve out the last two months of the unfinished term of the late U.S. Rep. Mark Takai. Star-Advertiser.

The state Office of Elections said Tuesday that it will conduct a special election Nov. 8 to fill a vacancy in the 1st Congressional District. Civil Beat.

Services for the late U.S. Rep. Mark Takai, who died July 20, have been set for Aug. 18 and 19. Takai died in Honolulu, nine months after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was 49. Star-Advertiser.

The family of the late Mark Takai on Tuesday announced two ceremonies for the congressman to honor “the beloved servant leader.” Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard says she will vote for Hillary Clinton for president in November, but was tempered in her support as she reiterated her concerns with the former secretary of state’s Middle East policies. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Health this afternoon confirmed two new food service-related hepatitis A cases on Oahu: an employee at Chili’s restaurant in Kapolei and a Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaiian Airlines flight attendant was among the people in Hawaii infected with Hepatitis A. The state Department of Health says the attendant was on 33 flights from Honolulu to California, Nevada and neighbor islands in July. Associated Press.

Higher demand for shipping goods to Hawaii helped Matson Inc. almost double its profit in the second quarter, but the gain mostly reflected abnormally low earnings a year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

In an apparent violation of Arizona regulations, the Corrections Corporation of America, the largest for-profit prison company in the country, is failing to report the cases of valley fever among Hawaii inmates at the Saguaro Correctional Center. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige is defending his decision to delay several highway projects aimed at increasing capacity and reducing traffic congestion, saying the state needs to focus more on maintaining the roads. Associated Press.

Oahu

Charles Djou leads incumbent Kirk Caldwell 42 percent to 33 percent in the race for Honolulu mayor in a new Civil Beat Poll, suggesting that neither candidate will garner a majority of the votes in the Aug. 13 primary necessary to win the contest outright.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell touted his “compassionate disruption” and Housing First strategies for tackling chronic homelessness while major opponents Charles Djou and Peter Car­lisle declared them failures during a forum sponsored by Hawaii News Now and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Tuesday night.

In the last televised debate before the primary election, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Tuesday night sought to defend his record at Honolulu Hale, while his two major challengers criticized it, taking him to task for his handling of the beleaguered rail project and the homeless crisis. Hawaii News Now.

Caldwell’s Inaction On Police Reform Draws Political Attacks. Charles Djou and Peter Carlisle say the mayor should ask the police chief to step aside during a federal corruption investigation. Civil Beat.

In the wealthy district surrounding the University of Hawaii’s flagship campus, incumbent state Rep. Isaac Choy is facing a Democratic primary challenge from a well-financed political newcomer with a familiar name. Civil Beat.

The National Park Service blames the improper demolition of a historic building at Pearl Harbor on a lack of understanding and training. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The federal government released Medicare hospital ratings last week, and one Hawaii Island facility was found wanting.  Kona Community Hospital received a below-average rating of two stars, the lowest mark of any Big Island facility evaluated. West Hawaii Today.

Several County Council members quizzed the legislative auditor and administration officials Tuesday, seeking assurances the county isn’t leaking cash when people rent facilities. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Big Island subsidiary is looking to spend $6.2 million on an upgrade of its nearly 100-year-old hydroelectric plant. Pacific Business News.

Big Island residents have several opportunities this month to suggest ways to improve Hawaii’s education system. Tribune-Herald.

The new owners of Downtown Hilo’s historic Kaikodo Building see little in need of changing. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Reductions in health care services and layoffs could be in store for the three Maui County public hospitals as their board of directors meets Wednesday, with the transfer of operations to the private Kaiser Permanente Maui Health System in an indefinite limbo that is going on three months. Maui News.

Here are the Maui County candidates who’ve filed for public funds. MauiTime.

It is a crowded field, with five candidates vying for the Wailuku, Waihee and Waikapu residency seat on the Maui County Council, which is being vacated by Mike Victorino because of term limits. Maui News.

On the 100th anniversary of Haleakala National Park, the weather could have hardly been better: Perfectly clear, bright blue, sunny skies. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi threw his weight behind the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument at a public meeting Tuesday night at the Kauai Community College’s Performing Arts Center. Garden Island.

A partial motion to dismiss claims in a case against a Kauai medical marijuana dispensary licensee and Green Aloha Ltd. was granted in the Fifth Circuit Court last week. Garden Island.

A nonprofit organization denied a Kauai County office’s application request to use money raised in a charity walk, officials from Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Authority told The Garden Island.

Honolulu mayoral candidates spar over ethics, Hawaii inmates to stay in Arizona, state trails in housing homeless vets, Maui hospital deal falters, Kauai may appeal to regain mayor's power over police, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Road construction © 2016 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige’s decision to defer indefinitely almost all major new projects to increase highway capacity and reduce traffic congestion on state roadways is a major policy shift, but Ige says he had little choice. Star-Advertiser.

On Monday, the Obama administration released new numbers that show from January 2015 to January 2016 the total number of homeless veterans in America fell by 17 percent. But in Hawaii the drop was only 3 percent. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii will continue housing hundreds of inmates on the mainland — at an estimated cost of nearly $45 million a year. The Hawaii Department of Public Safety awarded a new, three-year contract last week to Nashville, Tennessee-based Corrections Corporation of America, the largest for-profit prison company in the country, to house up to 1,926 Hawaii prisoners in Arizona. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education has yet to fill hundreds of teaching positions across the state as school has started for more than 180,000 students. Associated Press.

Two years from now, Hawaii residents may see labels on some food products at the grocery store indicating that they contain genetically modified ingredients. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. President Alan Oshima says his company is clear on what it is supposed to do; now HECO just has to do it. In a series of discussions about the past, present and future of Hawaiian Electric, Oshima comes across as an agent of change as he talks up the company’s devotion to renewable energy. Civil Beat.

First Hawaiian Bank is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange by the end of this week in an initial public offering that is expected to raise as much as $558 million. Pacific Business News.

A push to survey the seafloor for undersea mining has revealed an abundance of life on the seafloor in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) — an area the size of the US mainland in the equatorial Pacific Ocean being targeted for deep-sea mining. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou and former Mayor Peter Carlisle ganged up on Mayor Kirk Caldwell at a live mayoral candidate forum Monday night, accusing him of engineering the resignation of longtime Ethics Commission Executive Director Chuck Totto. Star-Advertiser.

There were a couple of offensive strikes from two leading candidates for Honolulu mayor Monday. Civil Beat.

As early primary election voting got underway Monday throughout the state, it was a slow first day at Honolulu Hale with just a few hundred residents casting ballots. Star-Advertiser.

A public meeting at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu Monday night drew more than 300 people. The topic was whether to expand the current boundaries of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. KHON2.

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge ruled Monday to dismiss Honey Bee’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. The company had been desperately seeking new investors to revive its $24 million plan called Waikiki Landing. Star-Advertiser.

The cost of renting an apartment in Honolulu declined in July, according to the apartment rental website Zumper, which analyzes data from more than 1 million active listings. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment during the month was $1,790, down 2.7 percent from June, and for a two-bedroom unit was $2,520, down 3.1 percent. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A property owner has agreed to tear down an illegal seawall built on the shore of Hilo’s Lalakea Pond. Tribune-Herald.

Meet the challengers. More needs to be done, they say, about ethics. About the cost of government. About listening to the public. All four West Hawaii County Council races will be decided in the Aug. 13 primary, as each incumbent faces a single challenger. West Hawaii Today.

The opening of the new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) station at the Hilo International Airport was celebrated today. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The historic privatization of three Maui County hospitals is in jeopardy, following another setback Friday when the state was unable to reach a settlement over benefits for unionized workers. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Association of Public Accountants has endorsed Deidre Tegarden, who is running for the South Maui residency state House seat. Maui News.

Maui Research & Technology Park is close to updating its master plan, which will allow for housing aimed at park workers, new business opportunities, a site for Kihei Charter School and upgrades at Maui Brewing Co., officials said last month. Maui News.

Kauai

The Office of the County Attorney is requesting $45,000 to take the mayor and police chief feud to Hawaii’s highest court. The request comes after an Intermediate Court of Appeals decision in June, which said the mayor could not suspend and or discipline the chief of police and that the authority lies with the police commission. Garden Island.

Ron Kouchi, seeking re-election to the state Senate, said the Kauai legislative team made impacts in several areas, and if re-elected, he will continue to push and advocate for residents. Garden Island.

Kanoe Ahuna says that more and more people are coming to Kauai, and if elected Hawaii state senator for District 8 serving Kauai and Ni‘ihau, her goal is to ensure that residents and travelers alike continue to enjoy the Garden Isle. Garden Island.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the state Health Department to post signs at Gillin’s Beach on Kauai to alert the public of high bacteria levels. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii solar panels nearing grid capacity, lobbying law finally comes to Kauai, Department of Education rebuffs lawmaker, tourism up, 3 Honolulu mayoral candidates debate, rail chief under review, Maui rep apologizes for arrest, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Solar panels in Hilo © 2016 All Hawaii News

Oahu and the Big Island are closing in on the total capacity the state allows for residential solar systems that can export excess power to the grid and receive credit. Oahu is at 70 percent of its total limit, and the Big Island is at 70.6 percent, according to Hawaiian Electric Co. numbers released last week. solar applicants on Maui hit the limit in June. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s visitor industry achieved its best midyear performance ever, putting it on pace to achieve its fifth consecutive record-setting year. Star-Advertiser.

A state lawmaker concerned about hot classrooms in his district was rebuffed when he tried to attend a meeting Thursday morning with school officials and contractors involved with an expedited $100 million air-conditioning project. Civil Beat.

The applications for three startup charter schools will be recommended to the state Public Charter School Commission for approval, while three others got a thumbs-down Thursday from the agency’s Applications Committee. Star-Advertiser.

Federal researchers returning from a 30-day expedition to study whales and dolphins around the Hawaiian Islands said Thursday they are looking for clues to help sustain healthy populations of the marine mammals. Associated Press.

Oahu

At the KITV and Civil Beat mayoral debate Thursday night, candidates were asked about Honolulu Police Department mismanagement, homelessness, neighborhood boards — and, of course, rail.

With just over two weeks remaining before the Aug. 13 primary election, the three major mayoral candidates attacked one another’s positions on rail transit and personal backgrounds in their first televised debate. Star-Advertiser.

KITV Island News and Civil Beat hosted a debate with the top candidates running for mayor of the City & County of Honolulu.   Incumbent mayor Kirk Caldwell, former mayor Peter Carlisle and former Congressman Charles Djou participated in the debate.

Honolulu’s policy of moving homeless people out of sight of tourists isn’t likely to change anytime soon, because it’s supported by all three of the best-known candidates for mayor. Civil Beat.

The board overseeing Honolulu’s rail project will hold a special meeting early next month to continue its behind-closed-doors assessment of the executive director’s job performance. Star-Advertiser.

Congressman K. Mark Takai passed away last week with nearly 6 months left in his term. Takai’s chosen successor is now gearing up her campaign to regain her seat. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Navy said it is working on placement of a new $500,000 groundwater monitoring well near the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility to check water quality and evaluate how groundwater moves in the vicinity. Star-Advertiser.

Four days after Tropical Storm Darby dumped about a foot of rain on Oahu, some businesses in Kalihi are still suffering from the storm’s impacts. Hawaii News Now.

The muddy, garbage-infused muddle of junk left behind by Tropical Storm Darby in the waters and along the shoreline of Keehi Lagoon is threatening the state sport of outrigger canoe paddling’s largest annual event. Star-Advertiser.

Costco has confirmed a worker at its Hawaii Kai store tested positive for hepatitis A. The employee worked in the store’s bakery department and, according to a Costco spokesman, may have inappropriately handled food products. KHON2.

Hawaii

There’s a dustup in the local Democratic Party over an official’s endorsement of a candidate in a nonpartisan County Council race. West Hawaii Today.

The Big Island race to represent the poorest Senate district in the state pits a lifelong environmentalist and successful businessman against the youngest person to ever be elected to the Hawaii County Council. Civil Beat.

Having made a series of broad sketches over the past months, the Banyan Drive Hawaii Redevelopment Agency and the Hawaii County Planning Department are beginning to tweak details for the ambitious long-term project that will renovate one of Hilo’s most recognizable areas. Tribune-Herald.

Political hopefuls went on the record Wednesday night in regard to one of Hawaii’s most divisive issues. 8 of the 11 Hawaii County mayoral candidates present for a forum held at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo declared their support for the Thirty Meter Telescope project planned for Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, the American Bird Conservancy and the Mauna Kea Forest Restoration Project have created the Palila Forest Discovery Trail — a one-mile, interpretative loop trail located in the game management area of Kaohe, which falls within the boundaries of the Mauna Kea Forest Reserve. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Representative Kaniela Ing of Maui was apologetic for missing a court date and being served a subsequent bench warrant for failure to appear in court for a vehicle insurance violation. Maui Now.

Last night, state Representative Kaniela Ing, D–South Maui, released a statement on his July 26 arrest on a $250 traffic infraction bench warrant issued back in February of this year. MauiTime.

State Rep. Kaniela Ing was arrested by Maui police Tuesday on a warrant for failing to appear in court for a vehicle insurance violation that the South Maui representative described as "a human mistake." Maui News.

The closure of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. is costing parent company Alexander & Baldwin less than expected, and the company now expects the cessation of operations to be "a cash positive event" for the full year, A&B said in its second quarter report released Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Lobbyists have to register with the Office of the County Clerk, effective Thursday, thanks to Ordinance 999, passed by the County Council in March. Garden Island.

For more than a decade, county leaders have been working toward a treatment and healing center for Kauai’s youth. On Thursday night, about 50 people gathered at the Lihue Civic Center for the unveiling of the draft environmental assessment of the proposed center. Garden Island.

A measure that would allow vending on county-owned streets was deferred Wednesday to an Oct. 12 Kauai County Council committee meeting. Garden Island.

Biden visits Hawaii as Pacific RIMPAC war games continue, state still needs 625 teachers, poverty and rail on tap in mayoral debates on two islands, Maui Mayor Arakawa's ties to land deal probed, Chinatown development brisk, Kauai council punts auxiliary housing bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Chinatown © 2016 All Hawaii News

Economic development in Honolulu’s Chinatown is brisk but faces lingering challenges with homelessness, crime and sanitation. Hawaii Public Radio.

Vice President Joe Biden flew onto the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis off Hawaii on Thursday to thank the crew for their service and role in helping maintain economic prosperity and stability in the South China Sea. Star-Advertiser.

Joking that it's a "terrible sacrifice to come to Hawaii," Vice President Joseph Biden launched into his quick stopover in the 50th state, joining high-ranking officials from the Republic of Korea and Japan. Hawaii News Now.

With the new school year just three weeks away, the state Department of Education is still trying to fill 625 teacher vacancies. Hawaii News Now.

Federal officials plan to hold two public meetings next month — one on Oahu and the other on Kauai — to discuss the proposed expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, according to a draft notice that’s expected to go out Friday. Civil Beat.

The search for an executive director for the state agency overseeing Hawaii’s public charter schools is starting again following an announcement that a finalist who was offered the job has declined it. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige signed into law on Tuesday a bill that will alleviate some economic pressure on Hawaii’s working poor who care for minors, the elderly or infirm individuals. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu
The city’s troubled rail project took center stage Thursday in an often fiery exchange between Honolulu’s leading mayoral candidates, who appeared together to field questions in their first forum before the August primary election. Star-Advertiser.

In Honolulu Mayoral Forum, It’s All About The Rail Project. Kirk Caldwell, Charles Djou and Peter Carlisle clashed over differing approaches to the costly mass transportation project. Civil Beat.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has collected significantly more contributions — and spent exponentially more — than either of his two major rivals, former Mayor Peter Carlisle and onetime U.S. Rep. Charles Djou. Star-Advertiser.

Former congressman Charles Djou raised nearly $260,000 in the first three weeks of his campaign for Honolulu mayor, a sign that he’s a strong challenger, but one who is up against an incumbent with close to $1.2 million in cash on hand. Civil Beat.

The board overseeing Honolulu’s rail project spent another 2-1/2 hours Thursday discussing its CEO’s job performance behind closed doors but didn’t have anything to report publicly afterward. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu rail project has suffered from severe budget issues, and the numbers recently changed drastically within days. Pacific Business News.

Duane Kurisu’s vision to reduce Oahu’s homeless population by creating a plantation-era-style community has brought together the state and city to help turn the idea into reality. Star-Advertiser.

A group that advocates for the vacation rental industry has filed a lawsuit against the city of Honolulu over the way it enforces its bans on certain bed-and-breakfasts and transient vacation rental units. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Four candidates for mayor tried to stand out from a crowded field Thursday during a forum that concentrated on the island’s problems of homelessness, poverty and lagging infrastructure. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo Circuit judge this week issued a ruling that gives Hawaii County the legal green light to begin construction of planned improvements to Kukuihaele Park. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa said he and officials from a photovoltaic company that is leasing property rights from him and his brother visited Maui Electric Co. to discuss a possible PV park on the Omaopio properties owned by the brothers. Maui News.

All satellite DMVL offices in Maui County will close on Friday, July 15 to accommodate the reopening of the Kahului location, county officials announced earlier this week. MauiTime.

On the second Saturday of every month, a small group of hikers is led into the Waikamoi Preserve, Hawaii’s largest private nature preserve at 8,951 acres on the windward slope of Haleakala, Maui’s dormant volcanic giant. Civil Beat.

Kauai

The intention of a bill that would allow people to build additional rental units on their property was to increase inventory, not affordable housing options. Because of that confusion, the Planning Committee for the Kauai County Council unanimously voted Wednesday to defer Bill No. 2627 until the purpose of the bill is clear. Garden Island.

Alleviating traffic gridlock is a top priority for two Democratic candidates vying for the state House seat on Kauai representing Hanalei, Princeville, Kilauea, Anahola, Kapaa and Wailua. Star-Advertiser.

An open house is scheduled Saturday, July 23 at Haena State Park to discuss changes and updates to the draft master plan and environmental impact statement. Garden Island.

June snowfall in Hawaii, Honolulu rail project short on cash, South Korean destroyers arrive ahead of RIMPAC, Island Air resumes Kona route, new Hilo pier advancing, Kauai affordable housing project commences, Maui citizen initiative fails to reach ballot, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Snow atop Mauna Kea, courtesy National Weather Service Honolulu

Mauna Kea had a white cap once again this week, if only briefly. A moisture-rich weather system brought a dusting of snow to the summit Monday as it drenched lower elevations on the windward side. Tribune-Herald.

About a dozen candidates are running for seats in the state Legislature this year who political observers say make up an emerging progressive faction within the Democratic Party. What constitutes a progressive agenda isn’t easy to define, but for John Bickel, one of the movement’s leaders, it means “standing up for the little guy against the corporate interests.” Star-Advertiser.

Two South Korean destroyers arrived at Pearl Harbor on Tuesday for the Rim of the Pacific war games, while other ships are also heading to Hawaii from around the region for the world’s largest international maritime exercise. Star-Advertiser.

The only Republican woman who Hawaii voters have ever sent to represent them in Washington, D.C., believes she has found the right candidate to follow in her stead. On Tuesday at GOP headquarters in Honolulu, Pat Saiki announced her pick: Shirlene Ostrov, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. Civil Beat.

The fee Hawaiian Electric’s residential customers pay to finance clean-energy installations for low-income residents will decrease slightly starting in July. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu solar energy company Alternate Energy Inc. has reached a settlement with state regulators after allegedly misrepresenting information related to requirements for interconnecting solar energy systems, according to public records. Pacific Business News.

Kenneth Uemura, former vice president and chief financial officer at Hawaii Pacific University, has been appointed by Gov. David Ige to the state Board of Education. Civil Beat.

Federal judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals are in town this week and will hear oral arguments Wednesday for three lawsuits challenging county regulations on genetically modified farming. Civil Beat.

The Public Utilities Commission is considering Young Brothers Ltd.’s application to raise shipping rates by 4.36 percent, which will generate an increase in revenue by $3.13 million for the shipping company, according to a PUC public docket. Garden Island.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is about to hit a cash crunch, and wants to borrow money that puts taxpayers on the hook. KHON2.

The rail isn’t going to make its way to Dillingham Boulevard any time soon, but HART is already meeting with businesses in the area to talk about what impact the project could have. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Peter Carlisle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Charles Djou. Hawaii Public Radio.

The founder of a former Hawaii organization that encouraged the adoption of foster children has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting two girls. The girls were 11 and 16 at the time of the assaults in 2011. Associated Press.

A special investigator's report on sex assaults at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind provided chilling accounts of the way children were being treated and how the school's principal allegedly tried to cover up the scandal. Hawaii News Now.

It is the small Oahu village that time seemed to forget, and it looked like the city did too...until now. Varona Village was originally built for sugar plantation workers, but now its residents wonder who will live there in the future. KITV4.

Hawaii

Island Air flew from Honolulu to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii for the first time in about four years on Tuesday, signaling an expansion plan that’s beginning to heat up. Pacific Business News.

Optimism blew in with Island Air’s first flight to Kona on Tuesday morning. West Hawaii Today.

The state initiative to upgrade Hilo’s port by constructing an additional pier remains on schedule, with the next significant construction step expected later this summer. Tribune-Herald.

A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions of Hawaii island marijuana advocate Roger Christie and his wife, Sherryanne, who contend that U.S. drug laws violate their right to freely exercise their religion. Star-Advertiser.

Attorneys for the county and for Kukuihaele residents opposing the county’s planned improvements — especially a fenced baseball park — argued Tuesday before Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura. Tribune-Herald.

Pahoa Village Road will be closed next week between Apa‘a Street and Post Office Road in order for the Hawaii Electric Light Company to relocate utility infrastructure and remove five utility pole protection measures that were installed in response to the June 27, 2014 lava flow. Big Island Video News.

Maui
There will be no citizen-driven initiative on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Farmland voter initiative falls short on signatures. Maui News.

A partnership led by a Dallas-based real estate investment firm has purchased the 304-acre Pulelehua working-class housing community in West Maui from Maui Land & Pineapple Co. for $15 million. Maui News.

About 80 acres of sugar cane burned Sunday afternoon in an unscheduled fire in Haliimaile, fire and Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. officials said Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

A 54-acre piece of land near the intersections of Kuhio and Kapule highways is being converted into a housing development. D.R. Horton, a national home construction company, is partnering with Kauai County to develop Ho‘oluana at Kohea Loa, a neighborhood that offers both affordable housing options and single-family homes. Garden Island.

The Ocean Course at Hokuala, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course on Kauai, is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation. Pacific Business News.

About five months ago, the Hanalei Watershed Hui and several partners created Ahupua’a Explorations as way to engage, entertain, and teach the children of the North Shore when they weren’t in class. Garden Island.

One-fourth of legislative seats up for re-election already decided, draft NextEra/Hawaiian Electric sale document circulating at PUC, public school condom ban continues, rail becomes central issue as Djou enters Honolulu mayoral race, 13 vie for Hawaii County mayor, Civil Beat drops paywall, goes nonprofit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii County Election Administrator Pat Nakamoto helps last-minute state Senate filer © 2016 All Hawaii News

Sixteen sitting members of the Legislature are effectively re-elected outright as no one filed to run against them by Tuesday’s deadline to enter Hawaii’s state and federal election contests. Those who won simply by filing for office included one Republican and 15 Democrats. Those uncontested seats amount to about one-fourth of the seats in the state Legislature that were available in this year’s elections. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will likely be easily re-elected to Congress this year with no major candidates opting to challenge them as the filing deadline for candidates running for election closed Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Will NextEra Energy be allowed to buy Hawaiian Electric? That decision is in the hands of three people who are circulating a draft decision as we speak, according to the head of the Public Utilities Commission. KHON2.

Shelter managers in Hawaii are scrambling to figure out how to keep a roof over the heads of hundreds of homeless people, and similar cuts are being made across the nation this month as the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development shifts its grant money to programs that focus on permanent housing. Associated Press.

Transgender students’ options for the use of bathrooms and locker rooms, dress codes and counseling are mapped out in a set of guidelines and policies created by the Hawaii Department of Education for the upcoming school year. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education will begin training principals and school staff over the summer on new guidelines aimed at providing consistent support for transgender students in Hawaii public schools. Star-Advertiser.

A Board of Education committee was briefed today on guidelines to support transgender students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Outreach workers and health care providers say many children and teens struggle to find proper mental health care. The state Health Department often ends up sending severely mentally ill children and teens to the mainland for treatment, away from the support of friends and family. Associated Press.

Reflections on the impact of crystal methamphetamine on life in Hawaii have begun appearing in local theater and literature. Civil Beat.

Oahu

With former Congressman Charles Djou entering the mayor's race, the future of rail is again at the forefront of a mayoral election. Hawaii News Now.

Djou Jumps Into Mayor’s Race; Aiona Opts Not To Run At All. Many Hawaii legislators will be unopposed, especially the most influential ones. But some lawmakers face tough contests. Civil Beat.

Charles Djou stepped up to file for mayor because of what he sees as mismanagement of rail-- a project not on time, and way over budget. KITV4.

Tuesday was the last day for candidates in Hawaii to file nomination papers for the primary election. Among those who formalized their campaigns: former Congressman and Honolulu City Councilmember Charles Djou. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Tuesday it is seeking more renewable-energy projects to generate power for Oahu by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is looking for developers to build new renewable energy projects on Oahu as part of its effort to get the state closer to its 100 percent renewable energy goal by 2045, the Honolulu-based utility said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

It was a packed house at the Lanikai Community Center, Tuesday night as city officials, HPD and residents met to discuss the ongoing traffic and parking issues in the area. Hawaii News Now.

The Board of Water Supply said the swing on top of the Haiku Stairs trail, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, was removed by about 12:30 p.m. The board, which owns the land, hired a contractor, The Nakoa Companies, for the job at a cost of $23,000. Associated Press.

The city is pursuing a court order to clear a Pensacola Street property littered with trash and derelict vehicles that building and fire officials say pose health and safety hazards. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Honolulu Charter Commission commission is poised to vote on two proposed amendments to the city charter described as enhancing public participation by changing and eliminating neighborhood boards and commissions. But that bit of political doublespeak conceals the reality that the proposals would dismantle important structures providing opportunities for active participation in city government. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat is transitioning to a nonprofit entity, drops subscription paywall and vows to continue news coverage.

Hawaii

Candidate deadline passes: The popularity of the mayor's office has left business and civic groups scrambling to decide how to cram as many major candidates as possible into the limited time and limited space onstage during planned candidate forums. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Civil Defense is hiring a University of Hawaii at Manoa professor to model dispersion of hydrogen sulfide from gas releases at Puna Geothermal Venture. The $362,719 study will provide a “comprehensive dispersion and plume modeling program” aimed at improving risk assessments from venting at the power plant. Tribune-Herald.

A Special Permit to allow the establishment and operation of a “Hawaiian Sanctuary” retreat center for health and well-being was approved by the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday, June 2. Big Island Video News.

Fewer than half of Big Island teens used condoms the last time they had sex, one survey shows, but a policy that bans the distribution of prophylactics in Hawaii’s public schools isn’t going away just yet. The state Board of Education voted Tuesday to keep the condom prohibition intact, withdrawing a previous motion to overturn it. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Land & Pineapple has sold a 304-acre planned workforce housing project in West Maui for $15 million to an undisclosed buyer, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pacific Business News.

A boatload of decision makers visited waters offshore of Maui on Friday to see firsthand how land-based pollutants and unsustainable fishing practices are killing coral reefs. Maui Now.

For single-family homes, the median sales price countywide was $620,000, down 6.7 percent from $665,000 in April but still up 2.1 percent from $607,098 a year earlier. Maui News.

Maui resident Kaulana Mossman and Molokai resident Kamaka Purdy have been named to the five-member board of a nonprofit that plans to address affordable housing on Hawaiian homelands. Maui News.

Kauai

Sen. Ron Kouchi is running for re-election as president of the state Senate because he wants to make sure Kauai will be recognized in the national political arena. Garden Island.

Rats suspected of eating endangered endemic Hawaiian honey creeper ‘akikiki eggs. Garden Island.

Capitol reflection pools still not fixed, condo protection bill dies in Legislature, hospital privatization taxes pension fund, HIV tenants face eviction from government housing, Maui property tax rate drops, Kauai downsizes GET increase, Thirty Meter Telescope case advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol reflecting pool, Wikipedia photo by Marshman

Dead fish are floating in two reflecting pools at the Hawaii State Capitol that are supposed to symbolize the ocean waters surrounding the islands. It’s the latest in a series of maintenance issues that have arisen since the Capitol was completed in 1969. Civil Beat.

The ‘Brutal Reality’ Of Owning A Condo In Hawaii. They’re often the only homes people can afford, but maintenance fees can suddenly explode. Should the state do more for owners? Civil Beat.

The state’s decision to privatize three neighbor island hospitals is having some unexpected fiscal fallout, with experts in the public-employee pension system estimating that privatizing Maui Memorial Medical Center and two other facilities will add $213 million to the unfunded liability of the public-employees pension fund. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii became the first state Friday to sue Takata, the Japanese auto parts maker ordered to recall millions of its airbags because of a deadly defect. Honda Motor, the automaker most affected by the recalls, is also named as a defendant. Pacific Business News.

When major earthquakes happen in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," Hawai'i is always on alert for potential tsunami threats, but researchers say we may have been underestimating the chance of a mega-tsunami affecting Hawai'i. KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu rail’s federal partners believe it will cost $700 million to $1.2 billion more than local rail officials’ most recent estimates to complete Oahu’s elevated transit system — a revelation that throws the future scope and design of the largest public works project in state history into question. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s rail project is now expected to cost taxpayers $6.9 billion, about $1.6 billion more than the original price tag for the 20-mile rail line. Civil Beat.

Peter Carlisle is running for mayor of Honolulu, seeking to take back the office he lost to Kirk Caldwell four years ago. At a press conference Friday morning held downtown at the law offices of O’Connor Playdon & Guben, where Carlisle is an attorney, the former mayor said rail is his top priority. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii Supreme Court decision is forcing the city to continue trash collection for scores of apartments, condominiums and nonprofit buildings, a service city officials have been trying to put the brakes on for more than a year. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. district judge has dismissed a former Ansaldo safety manager’s whistleblower suit, ruling that he did not show sufficient evidence that the local rail operator forced him to leave his job. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council Budget Committee, making its last pass on 2017 budget bills, restored about $4 million aimed at programs to help the homeless but again refused funding for a new housing office requested by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Shoulders slumped and faces fell as 10 formerly homeless people with HIV and AIDS were told that the federal government will no longer pay for their housing after Aug. 31. Star-Advertiser.

Just 100 feet from the ocean, a two-bedroom home in Kekaha is supposed to serve as the IBEW's Local 1260's Kauai office. But it also serves as a retreat for union members.  At a time when the local was raising dues for hundreds, it paid more than $680,000 for the beachfront home on the Garden Isle.  Critics say it's just another example of lavish spending by the IBEW's embattled business manager Brian Ahakuelo. Hawaii News Now.

Former leader of contractors association sentenced to 42 months in prison. Pacific Business News.

This corpse flower is no shrinking violet. And anyone who caught a whiff of it in bloom this week at Foster Botanical Garden certainly knows the pungent blossom lives up to its name. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Five Native Hawaiians are asking to participate in a hearing for the construction permit of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. Their requests, submitted this week to the state Land Board, say they have cultural and traditional rights to Mauna Kea and that their participation will help the board make a decision. Associated Press.

The Thirty Meter Telescope’s land use permit isn’t the only thing the state Land Board is being asked to reconsider for the $1.4 billion project. In April, 3rd Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura officially remanded the project’s Mauna Kea sublease to the panel for additional review.Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige last week signed into law a measure that requires certain contested case hearings, including the one about to get underway for the TMT, to be appealed directly to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Coping with Cohabitation: Micro housing project pushes homeless, business to coexist. West Hawaii Today.

Homeless ranks swell, frustrate business sector in Kona Old Industrial Area. West Hawaii Today.

From the beginning of 2014 until mid-April this year, the Hawaii Police Department issued a total of 5,904 citations for the use of a mobile electronic device while driving. Tribune-Herald.

Na Wai Ola, a Puna-based public charter school, needs to make some big decisions — and soon — in order to keep its charter and ultimately stay open. Tribune-Herald.

A Kailua-Kona couple’s plans to replace a 50-year-old wall fronting their Alii Drive property has run afoul of county permitting laws. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Most property tax rates will be dropping next fiscal year with others remaining flat after Maui County Council members passed a resolution Friday to set the tax rates that will take effect July 1. Maui News.

A group spearheading a voter initiative for legislation to take over sugar cane lands and turn them into organic farms has gathered around 11,500 signatures and turned them into the Maui County Clerk's Office for verification, Community Farmland Council spokesman Bruce Douglas said Saturday. Maui News.

With more than three weeks to go before a deadline for candidates to file their nomination papers, it's becoming increasing clear some incumbents will face tough challenges while others may win re-election simply because they're unopposed. Maui News.

Maui researchers at the Pacific Disaster Center have tracked many of the major disasters that have hit the world over the past decade from Hurricane Katrina to super typhoons in the Philippines. Maui News.

Maui County Corporation Counsel Patrick Wong has again reported gambling winnings in his required financial disclosure statement to the Maui County Board of Ethics. Maui News.

Kauai

Bills relating to the General Excise Tax and homestays are scheduled for a second reading during the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. Bill No. 261o proposes raising the GET a quarter of a percent, as a way to raise funds for tackling just over $100 million worth of backlogged road repairs. Garden Island.

Nawiliwili Harbor and the Port Allen Harbor are included in The Energy and Water Appropriations Act of more than $3 million which was supported by Sen. Mazie K. Hirono. Garden Island.

A $70,000 project aimed at improving pedestrian safety on Waikomo Road was deferred in committee by the Kauai Council Wednesday. Garden Island.