Aquarium fishing ban still afloat, employees allege retaliation in Honolulu prosecutor probe, 4-year council terms mulled on Big Island, Haleakala still closed after record snowfall, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Moorish idols off Kona coast ©2019 All Hawaii News

Bill to Ban Aquarium Fishing Heard by Senate Committee. Senate Bill 931 would prohibit the collection of aquarium or ornamental reef fish because their capture is incompatible with Kanaka Maoli values. Hawaii Public Radio.

A Senate panel Friday deferred a decision on whether to advance a controversial bill that would shut down the commercial collection of aquarium fish in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are considering allowing Alexander &Baldwin Inc., the state’s electrical utilities on Kauai and Hawaii island and a number of farming and ranching operations to continue using public water for another seven years even if they haven’t completed environmental reviews, consultations with Native Hawaiians about water needs, appraisals and, in some cases, public auctions — requirements envisioned by Hawaii’s laws protecting the state’s water resources. Star-Advertiser.

Attorney says another state hospital patient has confessed to giving Randall Saito fake ID's. Attorney Michael Green says the patient provided Saito with the fake ID's that allowed him to fly all the way to California. KHON2.

The number of bankruptcy filings in Hawaii increased by more than 40 percent to 149 cases last month, marking the highest level for January in seven years, according to U.S. Bankruptcy Court records. Associated Press.

Bank of Hawaii has been ranked fourth among U.S. financial institutions and 40th overall in the 2019 “100 Most Sustainable Companies list,” published Friday by Barron’s magazine. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Women say city prosecutor retaliated against them for testifying in corruption probe. Two women who testified against their boss — city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro — as part of an ongoing federal probe claim they’re now being retaliated against and face disciplinary action. Hawaii News Now.

Former Pearl Harbor Navy Spokesman Sentenced In Corruption Scandal. The former director of public affairs took money for authoring emails to top Navy officials on behalf of a contractor convicted of bribery and fraud. Civil Beat.

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Motorists in need of street parking in downtown Honolulu on Monday generally aren’t happy about the city’s announcement that on-street parking meter rates will be doubling in the coming weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Businesses unhappy with doubled parking meter rates. KHON2.

The price of most metered parking doubled on Oahu Monday. The increase was approved back in 2017. KITV.

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A planned wind farm is getting opposition from an unusual source: Environmentalists. The developers of the Palehua Wind project say it’s one of the last and best sites to build a wind farm on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Cleanup gets underway after powerful gusts and high surf. The crumbling Royal Hawaiian groin, between the Waikiki Sheraton and Royal Hawaiian hotels, was still standing Monday despite facing threats from a weekend storm. Star-Advertiser.

Weeks of work may be ahead for windstorm cleanup. The weekend windstorm resulted in 90 tree-related calls and nearly 80 blown roofs reported. Hawaii News Now.

The North Shore was hit hard by the storm on Sunday. KHON2.

These Rare Seabirds Are Having Babies On Oahu’s North Shore. Years of chopping down invasive trees, replanting native species and controlling predators may be paying off for albatross threatened by sea level rise. Civil Beat.

Noa Botanicals is preparing to open its second medical cannabis dispensary on Oahu this week. The company is expanding into a 1,700-square-foot retail center across from Windward Mall behind Zippy’s in Kaneohe at the Windward Centre. Star-Advertiser.

Armed with search warrants, the city Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu police raided two massage parlors Monday morning. They were raided on suspicion of promoting prostitution. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council terms could be extended from two to four years under a ballot measure advanced by the Charter Commission last week, but under another measure, council members could be docked a month’s pay if they don’t show up. West Hawaii Today.

Commissioners last week delayed making any recommendations on a developer request to alter the conditions for the planned Wailani Development in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Loss Of Slaughterhouse Cripples Specialty Meat Industry. The island’s only full-service slaughterhouse has quit taking smaller animals, leaving farmers, butchers and lovers of fresh kalua pork with no place to turn. Civil Beat.

Power disruption affects 45,000. The loss of the Spectrum Communications line resulted in Monday’s closure of the Vehicle Registration and Driver’s license Services in Waimea and the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Snow closes Haleakala National Park. At least six inches to a foot of snow fell at Haleakala summit Saturday night into Sunday, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Foster. Star-Advertiser.

Additional Snow Accumulation at Haleakala; Closed Until Further Notice. Maui Now.

Haleakala National Park closed due to extreme weather conditions. KITV.

Power restored to most customers; Haleakala still closed. Maui News.

Auwahi Wind Farm Draft Habitat Hearing, Feb. 15. An opening hearing will be held to receive testimony on the Auwahi Wind Farm draft Habitat Conservation Plan amendment. Maui Now.

Kauai

The aftermath. Jill Lowry just came on board as executive director of Anaina Hou Community Park — in time for the weekend storm that hit the North Shore hard. Garden Island.

Tickets are selling fast for the 15th annual Mayor’s Prayer Luncheon on March 9 at Kilohana Luau Pavilion. Garden Island.

Future teachers get financial aid. Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauai relies on donations and fundraising events to provide these financial awards. Garden Island.

Psychiatric hospital employees cleared in killer's escape, state shorted in federal funds, CIO stepping down, pilot rescued in military 'Sentry Aloha' crash, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii road construction ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii only state shut out of federal DOT grants. The federal Department of Transportation will disburse some $1.5 billion to fund 91 infrastructure projects around the country — none in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

State information chief Todd Nacapuy resigning at year’s end.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Chief Information Officer Is Stepping Down. The state’s top technology official, Todd Nacapuy, was appointed by Gov. David Ige in 2014. Civil Beat.

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Hawaii State Hospital workers cleared in killer’s escape. The Hawaii State Hospital employees who were put on paid leave and suspected of possibly helping dangerous psychiatric patient Randall Saito make an infamous escape to Maui and California using cash and fake identifi­cation have been cleared and face no discipline, state officials announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

State Hospital Employees Won’t Be Disciplined For Patient’s Escape. Attorney General Russell Suzuki said no employee aided Randall Saito in the killer’s 2017 escape, but that hospital security was lax. Civil Beat.

State Hospital Staff Cleared of Wrongdoing in Randall Saito 2017 Escape. Hawaii Public Radio.

No state employees disciplined after investigation into admitted killer’s escape. Hawaii News Now.

State concludes no Hawaii State Hospital employee responsible for Randall Saito's escape. KHON2.

AG investigation concludes Hawaii State Hospital staff did not assist escapee Randall Saito. The AG and the Hawaii Department of Health held a press conference Wednesday to discuss the closure of investigation of Randall Saito’s escape from Hawaii State Hospital. KITV.

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Pilot rescued after small military training plane crashes off Oahu. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam officials said in a statement that the jet was being operated by a civilian contractor flying in conjunction with the Hawaii Air National Guard’s “Sentry Aloha” exercises, which are scheduled through Dec. 19. Star-Advertiser.

Military exercises to resume as officials investigate cause of offshore fighter jet crash. Multiple agencies will meet Thursday morning to determine who will handle the investigation and salvage efforts following a fighter jet crash off Honolulu that seriously injured a pilot. Hawaii News Now.

Pilot Survives After Plane Crashes Into Ocean Near Honolulu Airport. The pilot was a civilian contractor for the Hawaii Air National Guard taking part in an exercise called Sentry Aloha. Associated Press.

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Hawaiian Airlines to offer cheaper seat option starting in 2019. Starting 2019, a fourth tier will be added: the addition of Main Cabin Basic. It's a bare-bones version: no ticket changes or standby; seats are assigned after check-in, and though you can earn HawaiianMiles, travelers who choose this option will not be eligible for bonus miles. KHON2.

The owners and officers of a Japanese-flagged fishing vessel were charged Tuesday with smuggling and trafficking 962 shark fins into and out of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Ag tech and resource management offer opportunities for Hawaii-Israel collaboration. When it comes to agricultural technology and resource management, Hawaii is finding a partner in collaboration nearly halfway around the world. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Corruption Probe Now Includes Katherine Kealoha’s Brother. A federal grand jury continues to expand its investigation, now delving into prescription pain medications that were seized during a 2015 drug raid. Civil Beat.

Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro is free to disclose that he is a target of a federal investigation into government corruption and owes it to the people who elected him to do so, several criminal defense attorneys told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Experts: Kaneshiro Can Talk About Federal Investigation If He Wants To. There’s no rule that prohibits Honolulu’s elected prosecutor from telling the public whether he is the target of a Justice Department probe. Star-Advertiser.

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Private Guards Help Keep The Homeless From Camping In Parks. Calling it a success, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is extending a program in which the guards shuttle between nine parks. Civil Beat.

First of its kind renewable gas facility opens on Oahu. The purpose is to turn sewage into energy and hopefully eliminate the need for nearly 15,000 barrels of oil per year. KITV.

Opening of Hawaii’s first Daiso in Pearl City draws hundreds. The 5,000-square-foot Japanese discount store at the Pearl City Shopping Center is the first of three or four planned on Oahu by HouseMart, the parent company of Ben Franklin Crafts and Ace Hardware, which has an exclusive licensing agreement to open Daiso stores in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The county Board of Ethics is trying to add teeth to what has historically been a paper tiger, more than a decade after the County Council gave it authority to fine public officials who violate the ethics code. West Hawaii Today.

A Kalapana woman is headed to jail for failing to complete court-ordered community service stemming from a 2017 case of vandalism atop Maunakea. West Hawaii Today.

It’s not often that Hawaii Island gets to hear directly from top United States Cabinet officials when major legislation gets a vote in Washington D.C., but that’s what happened on Wednesday as Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue took questions on the passage of the 2019 Farm Bill. Big Island Video News.

Progress continues on the new Puna Kai shopping center in Pahoa, which is set to open next fall, months after original plans intended. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Central Maui’s inland sand in decline. Off-island exports have fallen since 2006, report says. Nearly 2 million tons of sand have been removed from Central Maui since 2006, leaving it either depleted or very soon to be depleted and unable to replenish the island’s beaches that need some 158,000 tons of sand, according to a new study released Tuesday on sand availability in the county. Maui News.

Council takes no action after day of public testimony.  Nearly 50 people testified before the Maui County Council on Tuesday during a meeting that featured a packed agenda, including more funding for the Wailuku civic complex and bills to construct a parking lot in Kihei and relating to sand mining. Maui News.

Planning panel rejects Paia Inn permit, again. The Maui Planning Commission voted once more to deny a hearing officer’s report and special use permit for the Paia Inn, a decision that Paia Inn attorney Terry Revere said was expected to be appealed in circuit court. Maui News.

A Zipline company in Haiku and the County of Maui have reached an agreement to end a dispute over permits and subsequent notices of violation. Maui Now.

County agrees to allow zipline to continue. Haiku neighbors plan to file suit to block operation. Maui News.

Kauai

Erosion sets back beach, road work. An ongoing million-dollar project to fix Weke Road and the surrounding Black Pot Beach Park area is already starting to erode now that the winter’s big swells have arrived. Garden Island.

County officials are reminding the public that the solid waste staging area located at Kepuhi Point is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Garden Island.

Hot, hot, hot! Hawaii tourism breaking records, lawmakers fail to reach Airbnb tax deal, state could be the last one to set police standards, Big Island mayor hospitalized, Honolulu homeless sweeps fail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea lava hits ocean PC: NPS J Wei

The more than 2 million visitors that visited the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in 2017 spent $166 million in communities near the park, according to a new National Park Service report. Pacific Business News.

More than 2 million visitors entered Hawaii Volcanoes National Park last year and collectively spent nearly $170 million in communities around Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Get ready for 10 million tourists. The state’s rampaging visitor industry could top that benchmark this year. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors to the Hawaiian Islands spent a total of $4.8 billion in the first quarter, an increase of 10.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2017, according to preliminary statistics released Thursday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Garden Island.

Lawmakers appear to have failed for a third straight year to resolve the conundrum over how best to tap into millions of dollars in uncollected state taxes from short-term vacation rentals without encouraging or endorsing illegal operators. Star-Advertiser.

What bills passed as the legislative session is near the end. KITV.

Hawaii May Soon Join The Other 49 States In Setting Police Standards. A conference committee of legislators agrees to a bill that establishes a standards board instead of just studying the idea. Civil Beat.

Passage of Restrictive Pesticide Use Reporting Bill Delayed. The state legislature has only one day left to settle House and Senate differences on all money-related bills for final passage next week. Hawaii Public Radio.

A measure that would require the counties to remove abandoned vehicles from public roadways in ten business days is going to a vote before the full house and senate. Hawaii News Now.

Two former Hawaii prison inmates are urging lawmakers to audit the state prison system and to focus the inquiry on the use of long-term lockdowns and chemical irritants such as pepper spray on Hawaii inmates housed in a privately run prison on the mainland. Star-Advertiser.

House Halts Bill To Water Down Financial Disclosures Of Key State Leaders. Supporters wanted volunteers on state boards to be more comfortable; critics wanted to preserve transparency. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students are far more likely to be suspended and expelled in Hawaii than students of other ethnicities, causing them to miss more school days overall, according to newly released federal data. Civil Beat.

Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito deemed fit to stand trial. Associated Press.

The lawyer for Randall Saito says if the state wants to find out how the acquitted killer escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital, state lawyers should offer Saito a deal. Star-Advertiser.

Southwest Airlines plans to start service to Hawaii from one mainland city, then ramp up “very, very quickly” based on having the lowest fares to the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Southwest Airlines is coming to Hawaii, but there are still a few layovers before the airline officially touches down. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

State conducts homeless sweep in Diamond Head. State enforcement officers cleared the slopes of Diamond Head Thursday, which have become a hideaway for the island's homeless. KHON2.

Crews cleared 26 homeless camps along Diamond Head Road early Thursday morning. KITV.

Homeless return to Kakaako park, dodging enforcement through a jurisdiction loophole. Hawaii News Now.

A controversial plan to partially destroy a popular man-made swimming cove at Black Point near Diamond Head has won the support of a state coastal lands office. Star-Advertiser.

Community clean up planned for a mass of nets at a Diamond Head beach. Hawaii News Now.

Cleanup efforts underway at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation says the debris comes from upstream in the Ala Wai Canal. KITV.

Will The Kealoha Case Be One Big Show Or Separate Trials? A judge will soon decide whether to grant defendants’ wishes to split up the case or fulfill prosecutors’ desire to keep it intact. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has directed the state Department of Agriculture to assist farmers whose operations were heavily damaged by the severe flooding on Kauai and Oahu earlier this month. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu medical examiner forced to store human remains off site. Hawaii News Now.

As drivers endure weekend freeway closures, DOT adjusts work schedule (again). Hawaii News Now.

A transformer fire at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that sent thick, black smoke into the air over Honolulu last week has been ruled accidental, according to the Honolulu Fire Department. Hawaii News Now.

Sinkhole forces closure of block of Ward Avenue. Star-Advertiser.

Veteran newsman Ron Mizutani is leaving television station KHON to become president and CEO of the Hawaii Food Bank. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and its parent company, Oahu Publications Inc., are attracting international media industry interest and accolades after the newspaper’s successful launch of its Digital Billboard Network. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Well-wishers flooded Mayor Harry Kim’s office Thursday with phone calls, emails and get-well cards and were turned away from his Honolulu hospital room after the mayor, who previously suffered three heart attacks, checked himself in for evaluation after experiencing chest pains. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim is in stable condition at The Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, officials say, after being medevaced early Thursday as a precaution due to chest pains. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County mayor Harry Kim is in stable condition at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu after experiencing chest pains Thursday morning. KHON2.

Overflows largest since Kilauea summit eruption began. Tribune-Herald.

Kalapana residents to county: Don’t move lava viewing area parking. Tribune-Herald.

County officials met with a crowd of Kalapana area residents and entrepreneurs in Pahoa Wednesday night concerning a July 1 prohibition on commercial activity within any County right-of-way at the lava viewing area. Big Island Video News.

Committee Passes Hilo Economic Revitalization Bill. Big Island Now.

The college enrollment rate among East Hawaii high school students increased last year, albeit still shy of the statewide average. Tribune-Herald.

Students witness high court in action. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui visitor spending increased +12.7% to $1.46 billion in the first quarter of 2018, according to new information compiled by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui Now.

Economics professor Carl Bonham asked, rhetorically, Thursday whether Maui has reached its capacity to accommodate growing numbers of tourists. Maui News.

Southwest Airlines’ chairman announced Thursday that the airline intends to service four Hawaii airports, including Kahului Airport, with Maui officials saying they have been in discussions with the airline about the “pockets” of open slots at the crowded terminal. Maui News.

The Hawaii Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Kirstin Hamman to the District Court of the Second Circuit on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Concerned citizens gathered Thursday to better understand the present flow of Kauai’s inland waters. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is on track to open an emergency access route to Wainiha and Haena on Saturday. Garden Island.

The only highway into and out of the flood-devastated communities of Wainiha and Haena isn't expected to partially reopen for residents for at least two more weeks, but emergency vehicle access to those areas may happen sooner than expected. Hawaii News Now.

Federal funds still in question after Kauai disaster. KHON2.

Cesspool replacement challenging, bacteria closes Ala Moana beach, AG Chin seeks $2.5M to counter civil disobedience, Trump tax cuts could lower electricity costs, Hanabusa island-hopping, Peter Boy siblings sue state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing off baby after Kona swim ©2018 All Hawaii News

Ending the environmental threat that cesspools pose to Hawaii’s drinking and surface waters presents an enormous challenge — even with more than 30 years’ notice. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Health presented their new report, Relating to Cesspools and Prioritization for Replacement, to a joint committee in Honolulu on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

Cesspools an ‘impending threat’ to waters. Hawaii legislators were brought up to speed on cesspool replacement Wednesday during a briefing for the House and the Senate on the Department of Health’s cesspool report. Garden Island.

Homeowners express outrage at cesspool talk. Report to Legislature targets Upcountry Maui as potential threat for drinking water wells. Maui News.

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Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin, the state’s chief law enforcement officer, is seeking $2.5 million from the Legislature that he said would be used to respond to potential mass violence or civil disobedience events — and, possibly, demonstrations atop Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators Push To Create More “Safe Zones” For The Homeless. But critics of legal homeless encampments say the state should emphasize finding permanent housing for people. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who officially launched her gubernatorial bid this week, said she wanted to show support for the neighbor islands during a visit to Hawaii Island on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

‘The future of the state’: Hanabusa touts Hawaii Island’s potential in bid for governor. West Hawaii Today.

Dialysis patients worry over Hawaii Medical Service Association policy change. On Feb. 1, HMSA said it will stop accepting payments from nonprofits that receive donations from dialysis clinics that treat patients whose medical premiums are paid for by the same charities. Star-Advertiser.

An upcoming HMSA policy change has certain Hawaii dialysis patients worried about how they’ll be able to pay for treatment. KITV.

Trump tax cuts could result in lower electric bills for Hawaiian Electric customers. The new federal tax code has the potential to ease the burden of Hawaii's utility ratepayers by lowering electricity costs across Hawaiian Electric Cos.' service territory. Pacific Business News.

US Marshals Return Escaped Psychiatric Patient To Hawaii. The killer had walked away from the state hospital in November. Associated Press.

Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito arrived in Honolulu today under the custody of federal marshals. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Marshals escorted a psychopathic killer who escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital and fled to California back to the islands Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools official hopeful about settlement talks in abuse case. Kamehameha Schools has presented a “strong, substantial” financial offer in hopes of settling a lawsuit in which more than 30 former students accused a psychiatrist of sexually abusing them decades ago, the institution’s chairman said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Settlement talks are now underway in the Kamehameha Schools sex abuse case. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority on Wednesday released the 2017 Visitor Plant Inventory, which showed that visitor accommodation units statewide increased to 80,336 units, up 1.6 percent, year-over-year, the largest total ever recorded for the state. Garden Island.

Hawaii is leading the way in digital health and other ways to cut costs. Hawaii Public Radio.

First Hawaiian ranked ninth among U.S. banks. First Hawaiian Bank, in its first year of eligibility, cracked the top 10 of Forbes magazine’s 2018 annual list of America’s 100 largest top-performing banks. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The state Department of Health issued a high bacteria advisory today for Ala Moana Beach Park. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Health Clean Water Branch officials are warning of elevated bacteria levels at a highly popular Oahu beach. Hawaii News Now.

High levels of fecal matter detected at Ala Moana Beach Park. KITV.

Warning signs posted after high bacteria levels detected in Ala Moana waters. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaiian Electric says crews cleaned up about 95 percent of the estimated 500 gallons of oil that leaked from an underground pipeline in Pearl City Tuesday evening. KITV.

Cleanup underway after oil leaks from underground pipeline in Pearl City. KHON2.

Blue Startups will kick off its 4th annual East Meets West Conference on Feb. 1, with global investors managing over $1 billion expected to attend. Pacific Business News.

Federal investigators say a man who once spent time on Delaware's death row came to Hawaii intending to develop a major prostitution ring — and that he threatened, beat and raped women to force them to cooperate. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Lawsuit filed in ‘Peter Boy’ death. The estate of the late Peter Kema Jr. and Kema Jr.’s siblings are suing the state of Hawaii, the Department of Human Services and Kema Jr.’s parents, claiming the 1997 death of the chronically abused Big Island boy could have been prevented. Tribune-Herald.

The family of "Peter Boy" Kema, the 6-year-old who died at the hands of his abusive parents in 1997 but whose killing would remain unconfirmed for 20 years, has sued the state, saying Child Protective Services workers and the system didn't do enough to protect him. Hawaii News Now.

County hiring practices changing in wake of critical audit. A critical audit of the county Human Resources Department has spurred a bevy of changes to how public employees are recruited and hired. West Hawaii Today.

Retired police detective suing county, captain. A retired Hawaii Police Department detective claims he was falsely arrested and imprisoned early last year, and is suing the county and a police captain. Tribune-Herald.

Lawsuit alleges racial harassment. A Hawaiian Airlines employee stationed at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport filed a lawsuit citing racial harassment and discrimination after discovering a noose and lynch rope near his locker. West Hawaii Today.

The Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease says the problem is spreading, it’s become an “emerging” tropical disease and that unanswered questions need to be addressed with research. Tribune-Herald.

Members of the Governor’s Joint Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease visited Hilo Medical Center on Tuesday. The group is on the island, learning first hand about the effects of the disease in East Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

State officials are looking to fine a major big island landowner after unpermitted construction work damaged a historic cemetery in South Hilo. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Is This Maui Landowner Getting A Raw Deal From The State? A man who lost his waterfront land may have to pay the state $1 million as part of an eminent domain case. Civil Beat.

Rep. Angus L.K. McKelvey of Maui presented a letter to Gov. David Ige formally requesting that he intervene and stop a Hawaii Department of Transportation proposal that includes last-minute changes to the Keawe Street intersection of the Honoapiilani Highway in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Liquor Commission sends evaluation of director to mayor. Arakawa will need to sign off before report is available to public. Maui News.

The pending sale of Grand Wailea resort on Maui for $1.1 billion will be the highest price paid for a Hawaii hotel and the second highest paid for a hotel in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

Blackstone Group LP is buying the Grand Wailea resort on Maui from Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund for a reported $1.1 billion, according to several reports. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Panel looks at the climate and what could be ahead for Kauai. Threats to species, shorelines and structures, as well as opportunities for innovation were all on the table as the Earth Matters public lecture series opened Tuesday with a panel discussion on climate change and conservation. Garden Island.

West Maui condos face imminent threat from extreme erosion. Hawaii News Now.

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved a new lifeguard stand for Poipu Beach Park that officials believe will save lives.  Garden Island.

Inouye, Kamehameha Schools sex scandals revisited, huge raises for Hawaii County officials, no new landfill for Oahu, Maui group sues DLNR over boat traffic, mental hospital escapee fights extradition, Kauai whale beaching hearing held, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

File photo: late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye © 2017 All Hawaii News

Would Dan Inouye Have Survived 1992 Sex Allegations Today? Accusations against the revered Hawaii senator didn’t generate much of a public outcry 25 years ago. Civil Beat.

The Kamehameha Schools administration in the 1990s dropped the ball by not investigating allegations of sexual abuse against a psychiatrist who had treated hundreds of students from the late 1950s to the early 1980s, a board member from that period told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools sex abuse victims: 'Monster' stole our childhoods. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools responds to sex abuse scandal. Hawaii News Now.

PHOTOS: Hidden Betrayal: Kamehameha Schools Scandal. Hawaii News Now.

‘Attack’ siren to sound Friday. Schoolchildren statewide won’t be scurrying for shelter Friday when officials sound an “attack warning” siren in the first test of its kind in decades. Star-Advertiser.

State Hospital escapee fights extradition to Hawaii. Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito today contested extradition to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air just one of several airport tenants that owe the state rent money. KHON2.

Craigslist: Where Desperate Hawaii Renters Plead For Help. Online postings show the dire straits would-be renters face in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Project to provide 160 homes for Native Hawaiians. More than 100 Native Hawaiians are inching closer to homeownership as the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands works to complete a long-planned subdivision in Kapolei. Star-Advertiser.

The judge in the federal criminal case against former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha, and four former members of the Honolulu Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit has pushed back the trial by six months. Star-Advertiser.

New Kealoha Defense Tactic: Going After ‘Mainland Prosecutors’ A federal judge pushed back the trial date until June due to the complexity of the case and sheer volume of the evidence. Civil Beat.

City wants to extend landfill’s life. The city will move forward with its plan to continue using the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill into the near future with the hope that it won’t need a new location down the line, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Despite new rankings for alternate landfills, mayor opposes opening new site. The city released a consultant's report on Monday that includes new rankings for the 11 sites identified as possible alternatives to the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill. Hawaii News Now.

A new report shows the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill may only have 20-years left, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday afternoon, he does not want another landfill on Oahu. KITV.

Accessory dwellings touted as alternative to ‘monster’ homes. The leader of the Honolulu Board of Realtors said Oahu homeowners looking to help family, friends or even strangers with housing should look into the idea of creating an accessory dwelling unit on their properties. Star-Advertiser.

Many huge homes not illegal under current city laws. While they’re getting a ramped-up number of complaints from Oahu residents about the large-scale houses that are creeping into their neighborhoods, Honolulu City Council members are learning that existing zoning and building laws allow for much more than people think. Star-Advertiser.

A public hearing will be held Tuesday in the hearing room of the Mission Memorial Building on the Honolulu Hale municipal ground to discuss quiet times at the 17 campsites the city maintains across Oahu. KHON2.

Tempers fray over parking fees, maintenance on private Kakaako roads. Hawaii News Now.

Retail plan near Sharks Cove advances. The public has another opportunity to comment on a developer’s plan to build a “rural” retail complex on Oahu’s North Shore as part of a state environmental review. Star-Advertiser.

Two More Condo And Hotel Towers Proposed For Ala Moana. The city planning department has given the green light to the builders as long as they add more community benefits. Civil Beat.

Ex-officer gets 6-month sentence for seeking sex to fix case. Former University of Hawaii volleyball player and fired Honolulu police officer Maulia LaBarre is going to jail for six months for offering to help a woman get her prostitution case dismissed in exchange for sex. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Cop Sentenced For Helping Prostitute In Exchange For Sex. Judge cites “abuse of your position of power” in sentencing Maulia LaBarre to six months behind bars. Associated Press.

A former University of Hawaii volleyball player and former Honolulu Police Department officer was sentenced Monday to 6 months in prison for federal wire fraud. KITV.

OCCC clearing out contraband. KITV.

Sleep Number to open first Hawaii store in December. U.S. mattress and bedding brand Sleep Number will open its first Hawaii store on West Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for some top county officials who will see double-digit raises as high as 39.7 percent. West Hawaii Today.

An underground leak slowed motorists Monday but didn’t create a significant impact on the water-sensitive region. West Hawaii Today.

Six Rescued From Sinking Vessel Off Hawaii Island. The Coast Guard, and good Samaritans rescued six fishermen from the 57-foot fishing vessel, Jane, reportedly taking on water 110 miles southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii on Monday. Big Island Now.

Prominent San Diego couple, George and Gladys Novinger, swept away in Wailuku River. The couple owns Vineyard Hacienda, a Spanish hacienda-style inn on a 9-acre property with a Bordeaux wine grape vineyard in Rancho San Diego. Tribune-Herald.

Winter arrives on Big Island summits. Snow fell Monday on the summits of Mauna Loa and Maunakea after the National Weather Service declared a winter storm warning. Tribune-Herald.

A winter wonderland! Mauna Kea sees heavy snow (and more is on the way). Hawaii News Now.

Coffee Theft on Hawaii Island. Agriculture theft has been a problem on Hawaii Island for decades. Hawaii Public Radio.

Most Hilo locations already sold out of cut Christmas trees. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A lawsuit has been filed against the state Department of Land and Natural Resources over the current permitting system for tour boat operators off of Kaanapali Beach. Maui Now.

Fire-damaged Kahului school to reopen Thursday. Kahului Elementary School will remain closed to students until Thursday as staff work to cope with the aftermath of a suspected arson fire. Star-Advertiser.

Kahului Elementary Remains Closed Until Thursday, Nov. 30. Maui Now.

Kahului Elementary School remains closed today after a suspicious fire Friday night burned six classrooms, damaged the school’s waterlines and left parents and students frustrated and saddened. Maui News.

Kauai

A briefing to discuss findings regarding the October beaching of pilot whales on Kauai is scheduled at 10 a.m. today at the State Capitol building. Garden Island.

Samples taken from 45 mullet-like fish found in Lehua tide pools during the summer 2017 rat-eradication project are too degraded to point to what killed the animals. Garden Island.

Loop Road in Wailua has been closed past the point known as “Jurassic Gate” temporarily, after recent rains created muddy conditions and caused trees to fall over the dirt road. Garden Island.

More abandoned dogs being found at Kokee kennels. Garden Island.

Record low unemployment rate, feds charge Maui police with witness tampering, state hospital escapee goes on-air, police get raises, monster house bill advances at Honolulu City Council, Hawaiian Airlines CEO retiring, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii grocery clerks © 2017 All Hawaii News

Shrinking workforce underlies Hawaii’s best-ever 2.2% jobless rate. Hawaii’s unemployment rate is now at an all-time low and could be the best in the country. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations announced Thursday that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 2.2 percent, compared to 2.5 percent for September. Garden Island.

How Brian Schatz Is Becoming The Senate’s Chief Science Nerd. From data security to climate change, from net neutrality to telemedicine, the Hawaii senator is front and center on technology issues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is set to benefit from a $700 billion federal defense bill that passed the U.S. Senate on Thursday. The measure includes investments of more than $300 million for military construction in the state. Pacific Business News.

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A Hawaii psychiatric patient who acknowledges killing a woman nearly four decades ago said Thursday he escaped from his hospital and flew to California to prove he could live responsibly in the community. Associated Press.

Inmate who fled Hawaii psych hospital tells ABC7 escape was 'act of desperation'. ABC-7 News.

'I couldn't believe I actually made it': Hawaii State Hospital escapee speaks out. Island News has obtained a one-on-one interview with Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito. KITV.

Saito said he escaped to prove his ability to ‘act appropriately’. Escaped murderer Randall Saito said in television interviews Thursday that the Hawaii State Hospital wouldn’t give him a chance — that every time he applied for release, officials made him “sound like a bad guy.” Star-Advertiser.

‘I’m not a psychopath, okay?’ Saito claims desperation, assaults led to escape. KHON2.

Hawaii State Hospital's neighbors say they don't feel safe in their own homes. Angry Kaneohe residents gathered Thursday night to quiz the state on what's being done to address safety concerns about the Hawaii State Hospital. Hawaii News Now.

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Judge tells Island Air workers they might not get final pay.  Island Air employees have been told by a bankruptcy judge that there is no guarantee they will receive their final paychecks. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO to retire. Mark Dunkerley, 54, said he will step down to attend to family obligations on the East Coast and in Europe and spend a few months reflecting on what he wants to do next. Chief Commercial Officer Peter Ingram, 51, who has been with the company for 12 years, will replace him. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO To Retire In March, Replacement Named. Mark Dunkerley has been one of the longest-tenured CEOs in the airline industry. Civil Beat.

Mark Dunkerley will retire as CEO of Hawaiian Airlines next year and will be replaced by Peter Ingram, the airline’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer, the Honolulu-based carrier announced Thursday.  Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines Thursday announced the planned retirement of Mark Dunkerley, president and chief executive officer, and the selection of Peter Ingram, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, to replace Dunkerley, effective March 1. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines readies for U.S. West Coast expansion. Hawaiian Airlines welcomed to Honolulu the first of 18 Airbus A321neo aircraft that will shortly begin flying between Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines accepted delivery the first of 18 Airbus A321Neo aircraft this week. The fleet will begin service on Jan. 8 on the Hawaiian's existing Kahului-Oakland route. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Council bill to rein in ‘monster houses’ advances. A proposal to place more restrictions on large homes moved out of the committee Thursday, setting it up for a final vote of the full Council on Dec. 6. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Considers Regulating ‘Monster Homes’. Neighbors complain about homes with 15 or more bedrooms, but they’re defended by a man who said they serve mutigenerational households. Civil Beat.

Opponents, supporters of monster homes clash at City Council. So-called "monster" homes spurred a big debate at Honolulu Hale on Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

A plantation-style village for homeless families begins to take shape. Kahauiki Village, the new long-term, affordable housing project for homeless near Keehi Lagoon, broke ground in July. Hawaii News Now.

Special court that gives homeless a second chance plans to expand islandwide. Hawaii News Now.

Caldwell Nominates Former TV Executive For Police Commission. Dick Grimm, who worked at three local stations, would be the mayor’s sixth appointment to the seven-member board. Civil Beat.

Dick Grimm, who led the Hawaii Foodbank for 17 years before his retirement earlier this year, has been nominated to replace L&L Hawaiian Barbecue founder Eddie Flores Jr. on the Honolulu Police Commission. Pacific Business News.

Authorities had not determined Thursday what caused a rubbish fire under the Nimitz viaduct that damaged fiber-optic lines carrying phone, internet and cable TV service, causing widespread disruptions most of Thursday for T-Mobile, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom customers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii police officers are getting raises, the last large bargaining group to have salaries settled for this year as the county begins crafting a new budget for the next fiscal year that begins July 1, 2018. West Hawaii Today.

The HOVE Deep Well in Ocean View has failed, the Hawaii County Department of Water Supply said Thursday. It is the only county water source serving Hawaiian Ocean View Estates and the Ranchos area in Ka'u. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County’s Mass Transit Agency is getting close to occupying its new bus baseyard, about a year after it was initially expected to be complete. Tribune-Herald.

High-profile thefts, crippled fleet among problems plaguing troubled transit division. KHON2.

Hawaii County is cutting security at Old Kona Airport Park, which was intended to ensure homeless didn’t re-establish illegal campsites there after police ushered them out in August. West Hawaii Today.

The chief executive officer of one of Hawaii Island’s first medical marijuana dispensary companies has died. William K. “Billy” Richardson, an Oahu-based venture capitalist recruited during summer 2016 to lead Hawaiian Ethos, died Nov. 10 in his sleep. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui police officers charged in federal witness tampering case. Two Maui Police Department officers are facing federal charges after police say they conspired to force a victim to drop his complaint. KHON2.

Mayor seeking approval to dismiss water director. A falling out between Mayor Alan Arakawa and Department of Water Supply Director Dave Taylor has led the mayor to seek Maui County Council approval for Taylor’s dismissal from his $135,884-per-year job. Maui News.

Panel resolution urges state to maintain affordability of units at Lahaina complex. After hearing heartfelt testimony from worried tenants, a Maui County Council committee recommended passage of a resolution urging the state to save the affordability of the Front Street Apartments, where rent for units could rise to market rates by 2019. Maui News.

The Hawaii State Department of Health says it’s notifying the parents of students and staff members of Lihikai Elementary School on Maui of possible exposure to tuberculosis at the school. Maui Now.

Man ‘spewing hateful things’ leads protest outside church. Iao United Church of Christ targeted for rainbow flag, homosexual pastor. Maui News.

Hokulea’s Voyage To Hana Is A Homecoming For Young Captain. Hana native Nakua Konohia-Lind, 24, will be the youngest captain of the storied voyaging vessel when it sails into East Maui. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Bamboo Grill finds second home at golf course. The Wailua Golf Course has not had much luck with those opening a bar/restaurant there. Usually, it’s followed by closing. Garden Island.

State reacts to killer's escape from mental institution, 7 employees on unpaid leave, hospital history examined; Honolulu rejects polystyrene ban; neighbor islands tackle homelessness, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii State Hospital courtesy photo

The California capture of an escaped killer from the Hawaii State Hospital resulted in seven hospital employees being suspended without pay on Wednesday as Gov. David Ige ordered an investigation of how Randall Saito was able to get the money and means to escape after 38 years in confinement. Star-Advertiser.

A dangerous psychiatric patient who escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe and flew to California before being captured Wednesday has prompted an investigation into why employees appeared to fail to do their jobs. Associated Press.

Saito

'Fault on our side': State officials take blame for killer's escape. Seven Hawaii State Hospital employees have been put on leave without pay — and others could follow — as authorities investigate why it took 10 hours for personnel to alert authorities of a psychopathic killer's escape Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige on state hospital escapee: "His escape should never have happened" KITV.

Atty Gen: Saito’s Escape was “Premeditated, Intentional and Planned”. The escape of a mental health patient from the Hawaii State Hospital and the lengthy time it took to report the incident is being called “unacceptable,” according to comments made by state authorities this afternoon. Maui Now.

Hawaii State Hospital Wasn’t Built For The Type Of Patients It Serves. Some lawmakers want tighter security at the psychiatric hospital, where seven patients have escaped since 2014, until new facilities are built. Civil Beat.

More than a dozen escapes have occurred over the past eight years at a Hawaii psychiatric hospital where a patient described as dangerous walked off the grounds and made it to California before he was captured this week. Associated Press.

Kaneohe lawmakers: State hospital escape is unacceptable. They want answers, and they want improvements. KITV.

Saito captured, San Joaquin County Sheriffs Dept

Killer's escape shines spotlight on the controversial judge who acquitted him. The Circuit Court judge who deemed Randall Saito mentally unfit to stand trial and committed him to the State Hospital in 1981 was a controversial figure, and one of his decisions even prompted hundreds of people to protest at the state Capitol. Hawaii News Now.

What will happen to state hospital escapee when he returns to Hawaii? Once Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito is back in Hawaii, he won’t go directly back to the hospital. KHON2.

An alert taxi company employee on Wednesday helped deputy sheriffs in California nab a dangerous Hawaii murderer who had escaped by walking out of the Hawaii State Hospital Sunday — chartering a flight to Maui, and taking a commercial airliner to the mainland before ever being reported missing. Star-Advertiser.

Randall Saito's escape started in a cab and three days later, it ended in one too. A tip from the Yellow Cab Company in Stockton California led to Saito's arrest Wednesday morning near a local gas station. Sheriffs swarmed the cab the 59-year-old was riding in. KITV.

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There have been 90 traffic deaths in Hawaii this year through Monday — 10 fewer than reported at the same time last year, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA’s third-quarter profit drops; Kaiser posts loss. The gains of the state’s largest health insurer were down from $17.8 million in the year-earlier quarter. HMSA’s main competitor, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, lost $300,000 in the quarter, reversing a year-earlier profit of $7.7 million. Star-Advertiser.

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii sponsored its 3rd Summit titled, “Still Houseless in Hawaii.” Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A Honolulu City Council committee on Wednesday deferred a bill that would bar food vendors from using polystyrene foam food containers and require them to instead use compostable ones. Star-Advertiser.

Will Rail Go To Manoa and Waikiki After All? The HART board may be resurrecting a route plan far more ambitious than the one submitted to federal transit officials. Civil Beat.

Council Panel Votes To Prohibit Lying Down At Honolulu Bus Stops. But the committee postponed action on a measure to extend the sit-lie ban to areas around schools and libraries. Civil Beat.

New HPD Chief Shares Her Goals For A Department In Turmoil. Susan Ballard outlined what she wants to accomplish in the coming years in her first regular meeting with the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

Starting fresh: Chief Ballard outlines plans to revitalize HPD. Chief Sue Ballard had her first chance to share her new ideas with police commissioners and the public Wednesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Restoring community trust among new police chief’s goals for HPD. KHON2.

The state Senate voted Wednesday to confirm four judges to fill vacancies in Oahu’s circuit and district courts. Star-Advertiser.

Former band director indicted in sex assault. The sexual assault charges against fired Damien Memorial School band director Peter Rucci stem from a three-month relationship the 62-year-old Rucci had with a 15-year-old girl, Deputy Prosecutor Ayla Weiss told a state judge Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Parents claim students reprimanded for speaking up after bleach attack. KHON2.

Ward Warehouse demolition begins; luxury condos slated for site. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaiian Humane Society has appointed Lisa Fowler as its new president and chief executive officer. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Scientist says chemicals create ‘zombie’ coral, add to reef decimation. Craig Downs, a Ph.D. and executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, gave a presentation on the topic Tuesday night at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Center at the request of Rep. Nicole Lowen, D — Kailua-Kona, Holualoa, Kalaoa and Honokohau. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Community College is looking to either renovate its current campus on Manono Street or move to a larger site elsewhere in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

32 Die on Hawaii Island Roadways So Far This Year. Big Island Now.

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel under renovation. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel will be renamed the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in February after Mauna Kea Resort LLC signed a franchise agreement with Westin Hotels and Resorts in August. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Housing First is making a dent in homelessness. Program’s aim is to get people off the streets first, then provide the needed social and medical services. Maui News.

Maui Seminar Explores How to Increase Exports. The State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism announced the launch of a program designed to help local small businesses increase their exports. Maui Now.

Kauai

The County of Kauai may establish a safe zone to help the homeless population. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines held an open house Wednesday for former Island Air employees who lost their jobs after the airline’s recent shutdown. Garden Island.