Hawaii Supreme Court: teachers can strike, Lingle behind GOP coup, HGEA backs Hirono, Army to train on Mauna Kea, shipping prices drop, coral in danger, government and politics news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Supreme Court building (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

The state Supreme Court rejected Tuesday a request by the Hawaii State Teachers Association to compel the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to issue a quick ruling on whether teachers deserve immediate relief from a new two-year contract imposed by the state. Star-Advertiser.

The Supreme Court of Hawaii has ruled that the teachers union has the right to strike once its current complaint before the Labor Relations Board is resolved. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Government Employees Association, the state's largest public-sector labor union, has endorsed U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Jonah-Kuhio Kalanianaole Kaauwai 's decision to resign as chair of the Hawaii Republican Party yesterday is a victory for former Gov. Linda Lingle, and her followers, but not necessarily for local conservatives. Hawaii Reporter.

A closer examination of party finances under former chair Jonah Kaauwai shows that the Hawaii Republican Party owes tens of thousand of dollars for unpaid credit card bills and political mailers. Civil Beat.

The new chairwoman of the Maui County Republican Party said that while Jonah Kaauwai demonstrated he was a "very hardworking" and "admirable" person, his inability to raise money for campaigns led to his resignation Monday as chairman of the Hawaii Republican Party. Maui News.

Hawaii Congressional Delegation Hosts Fundraiser for House Hopeful Tammy Duckworth. Hawaii Reporter.

Pasha Hawaii Transport Lines lowered its fuel surcharge Tuesday by 3 percentage points. Pacific Business News.

The commission overseeing how the Department of Education spent federal stimulus money learned Tuesday that $115 million of it paid for teacher salaries. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii is proposing tuition increases for the entire state system beginning next year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A City Council committee has put its stamp of approval on the installation of 34 security cameras across key sections of Oahu in preparation for the arrival of 21 world leaders and their entourages for this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative summit in Waikiki in November. Star-Advertiser.

Efforts made last week by members of Oahu’s North Shore community resulted in a stop to a proposed redistricting that would have made the Sunset Beach area a part of the Koolauloa district. Hawaii Independent.

Rail Transit Town Hall Meeting Draws Crowd. KITV4.

Hundreds of postal workers and their supporters converged at the state capitol, one of nearly 500 such rallies across the country Tuesday. KHON2.

Hawaii

A settlement reached Tuesday requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service to decide in about seven months whether 82 coral species will be listed as endangered or threatened. West Hawaii Today.

The state granted the Army a short-term "right-of-entry" permit to conduct high-altitude helicopter training on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on Hawaii island next month, but said if the service wants to do the training in the future, it needs to do a full state environmental impact statement, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

A geothermal development company seeking a private-public partnership for energy production on Hawaii Island will hold community meetings this week. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island business and tourism officials told state senators how the Hilo side was wasting its visitor industry potential. Tribune-Herald.

County Planning Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd issued a preliminary subdivision plan approval for the Villages at Aina Lea, despite the revocation of the property's urban land use classification. West Hawaii Today.

Christmas is coming early for lower Puna residents wanting to participate in the legislative branch of local government. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

For now it looks like F&H Construction has won the contract to build the new Kihei Police Station, according to county Department of Finance Director Danny Agsalog. Maui News.

The inaugural flight of an emergency medical helicopter to Maui Memorial Medical Center's new $3 million helipad drew more than two dozen people Monday afternoon. Maui News.

Kauai
A controversial county Salary Commission resolution squeezed through a special Kaua‘i County Council meeting Tuesday and is on track to become law next week after a split vote. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County Councilman Mel Rapozo on Tuesday afternoon filed a complaint with the county Board of Ethics, requesting an advisory opinion on the actions of Boards and Commissions Administrator John Isobe and the county Salary Commission. Garden Island.

Obama bids aloha to Hawaii, state Legislature tackles money problems, new councils for Honolulu, Maui, Mayor Arakawa 2.0 for Maui, new DLNR chief makes plans, bank officials incompetent, not criminal, more Hawaii news

President Barack Obama and his family left last night for Washington, D.C., after a low-key Hawaii vacation that included beach time, golf, shave ice, gym workouts, a Christmas church service and dinner at Alan Wong's restaurant. Star-Advertiser.

President Obama and his family left Hawaii on Air Force One at about 9:45 on Monday night.Hawaii News Now.

The president of the United States ended his Hawaiian vacation Monday night and returned to Washington. KITV4.

President Barack Obama ended his nearly two-week Hawaiian vacation on a somber note Monday, taking his daughters to visit his grandfather's grave.Associated Press.

Leaders of the state Republican Party have called a special state committee meeting to discuss financial matters, its headquarters and approval of an audit committee. Associated Press.

Hawaii state lawmakers were warned Monday that even though the economy is improving, it is not improving enough to generate all the tax money they need.KITV4.

Lawmakers heard from economists who say the local economy is recovering at a slow pace, led single-handedly by the tourism sector. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers were briefed today on the condition of Hawaii's economy. KHON2.

Hawaii’s state Senate and House finance committees are already meeting ahead of the official session opening on January 19 to dive into economic and budget issues. Hawaii Reporter.

Two legislative committees are set to pore over funding requests for state trial and appeals courts. Associated Press.

Democrats battling over their leadership in the Hawaii House of Representatives are negotiating to try and break their stalemate. Associated Press.

Lenny Klompus, one of former Gov. Linda Lingle's senior advisers, is taking a job with state House Minority Leader Gene Ward. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie's nominee to lead the state Department of Land and Natural Resources says his appointment is a "double-edged sword" because he expects he'll be held to a higher standard by some parts of the Native Hawaiian community. Associated Press.

Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz has named an aide who will be in charge of finding more federal dollars for Hawaii. Associated Press.

While tourists are spending more and home prices have begun to climb, Hawaii's economy still has a long way to go before erasing the negative effects of the recession. Star-Advertiser.


The 16th Honolulu City Council convened today to welcome 4 new members. Hawaii Public Radio.

Four new Honolulu City Council members took their seats Monday. KHON2.

Charging the public for parking at city-owned lots was among the revenue-generating notions raised yesterday after a swearing-in ceremony for new Council members at Honolulu Hale. Star-Advertiser.

The four newest members of the Honolulu City Council won’t have much of a honeymoon after being sworn into office Monday afternoon at Honolulu Hale. KHON2.

The new Maui County Council was sworn in Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Maui's new mayor, Alan Arakawa, acknowledged he wasn't the perfect mayor the first time around but said his 2003-2006 experience in the office will help the county "move faster and more efficiently" under a second Arakawa administration. Maui News.

Anna Foust is Maui County's new civil defense emergency management officer. Maui News.

The Hawaii County Council's finance committee took a mixed approach to Mayor Billy Kenoi's request to add about $26 million in projects to the capital improvements budget. West Hawaii Today.

The county's rules regarding affordable housing may be getting an overhaul. West Hawaii Today.

A high surf warning will be in effect for north and west facing shores of Kauai and Niihau from noon Tuesday to 6 p.m. Wednesday.KHON2.

A federal investigation of American Savings Bank officials concluded they were "incompetent" but their actions not criminal after their discovery of a $183,000 theft by an assistant branch manager. Associated Press.

Judge Calvin Murashige was honored by his colleagues, family friends and the staff of the state Judiciary during a luncheon last week. Garden Island.

Top Hawaii Headlines: Monday morning edition

In addition to marketing cam-
paigns supporting local ag-
riculture, the Depart-
ment of Agri-
culture is beginning to designate the long-awaited Important Agricultural Lands across the state.

Gov. Linda Lingle told Hawaii Republicans that it's time for younger members of the state GOP to move into leadership positions.

A 66 cent fee on local monthly cell phone bills intended to pay for 911 emergency location technology is now a windfall for the cash-strapped state.

The recession has lifted the state's bottle deposit redemption rate to an all-time high of 77 percent.

By the time the Hawaii Superferry auction was over Saturday morning, everything from the tent over the bidders' heads to benches under their bottoms was sold.

A long overdue cleanup of Honolulu Harbor is not the end of an environmental effort.

The Maui Police Commission has picked Deputy Chief Gary Yabuta to be the county's new police chief.

Driving while talking or texting on a hand-held cell phone is dangerous and should be outlawed, says the Hawaii County Council's vice chairman.

Some Makawao merchants and their customers are alarmed by changes being prepared for Baldwin Avenue by the Makawao Main Street Association.

Yesterday was a deadly day on Oahu as two men died and several others were hurt in four separate accidents.

The four senior centers on O'ahu, which provide services aimed at keeping seniors active and out of nursing homes, are cutting back programs and staff and grappling with how to keep their doors open after failing to secure rainy-day funds from legislators.

A Honolulu City Council committee has delayed action on a proposal to allow bed-and-breakfasts to operate in residential areas under certain conditions

It's the newest addition to the Hawaii Air Ambulance fleet.