Showing posts with label Rowena Akana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rowena Akana. Show all posts

Thursday, September 26, 2019

DOE fumbles education impact fees, HECO seeks greenhouse gas cap changes, cop pleads guilty for role in forcing man to lick urinal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News All rights reserved
Hawaii school ©2019 All Hawaii News
Audit: Over a decade, DOE has collected just $5M in school impact fees. Over a decade ago, the state Education Department was given the authority to set up developer fees in areas where significant residential growth is expected. Hawaii News Now.

Public safety trainer a ‘no show’ at hearing to question her qualifications. The controversial head of training for more than a thousand state deputy sheriffs and adult correctional officers did not show up Wednesday for a hearing to defend her qualifications. Hawaii News Now.

Court Affirms Ethics Panel Ruling On Rowena Akana. The former OHA trustee was penalized for multiple ethical violations. Civil Beat.

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HECO wants to modify greenhouse gas caps. Hawaiian Electric Co. wants to combine the annual greenhouse emissions caps for 13 power plants in Hawaii, a move some believe would allow Hawaii’s lone coal-fired power plant to increase greenhouse gas emissions. Star-Advertiser.

Report: Climate Change Is Hurting Oceans — And Us — More Than Expected. The first ocean-specific report by a prestigious international panel underscores the urgency of taking action now to reduce carbon emissions and limit global warming. Civil Beat.

Time is running out for Hawaii's share of federal disaster mitigation funds. Now is the chance for residents to alert emergency planners of potential problems in their communities. KITV.

This Facebook Campaign Is Teaching Tourists How To Behave In Hawaii. Officials believe visitors will follow local customs if they simply understand them. Civil Beat.

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Kaiser Permanente reaches tentative contract covering 85,000 workers. Kaiser Permanente said Wednesday it reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract with unions for 85,000 of the health care giant’s workers, averting a potential strike planned for next month. West Hawaii Today.

Kaiser, nurses OK tentative contract. Kaiser Permanente has reached a tentative agreement on a national, four-year contract with the union representing nearly 1,000 Hawaii nurses. Star-Advertiser.

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Young Brothers propose rate increase; what this could mean for consumers. Young Brothers, one of the state’s largest shipping companies, is asking regulators to allow it to raise its revenue by $27 million, a rate of 34 percent overall rate increase. KHON2.

AG Fights Proposed Changes to SNAP Food Assistance Program. Hawaiʻi Attorney General Clare Connors joined a coalition of 24 Attorneys General in opposing proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Maui Now.

Oahu

Co-defendant: Officer accused of forcing homeless man to lick urinal has done it before. A Honolulu police officer who’s accused of forcing a homeless man to lick a public urinal to avoid arrest had done it before, according to a former Honolulu officer who pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to trying to cover up the alleged 2018 incident. Hawaii News Now.

Ex-Cop Pleads Guilty To Role In Forcing Man To Lick Urinal. Another Honolulu police officer has pleaded not guilty in the case. Civil Beat.

HPD officer agrees to testify against fellow officer in urinal licking case. One of the HPD officers accused in the case of a man forced to lick a public restroom urinal has agreed to testify against the other officer. KHON2.

Homeless man forced to lick urinal: Former HPD officer pleads guilty for failing to report incident. Reginald Ramones John Rabago were indicted back in April for depriving a man of his civil rights. KITV.

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Honolulu Is Slashing Crosswalks As It Touts Pedestrian Friendly Policies. The city has plans to remove 45 crosswalks deemed unsafe instead of making them safer. But pedestrians can still legally cross at those spots. Civil Beat.

Ala Moana seeks 400-foot height limit. The new majority owner of Ala Moana Center wants to take the state’s largest shopping mall to a higher level. Star-Advertiser.

Kealoha Corruption Probe Is Why Honolulu Is Paying A Mainland Law Firm To Fight The Feds. Federal agents seized a “very broad” set of emails in connection with an investigation that is now before a grand jury, according to Honolulu City Council member Ron Menor. Civil Beat.

Keep The Change: Honolulu Won’t Try To Recover Almost $100,000 It Overpaid Workers. Despite a state law that says governments “shall” recover overpayments, Human Resources Director Carolee Kubo says it’s too late and, besides, the city made the mistake. Civil Beat.

A majority of Hawaii voters polled believe homelessness has gotten worse. A majority of registered Hawaii voters across all islands believe homelessness has gotten “worse” over the last year — but they’re split on whether homeless sweeps are “worthwhile,” according to the Honolulu Star- Advertiser’s Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

Caldwell feeling confident of financing toward rail. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is adamant that the city’s financial picture is in good shape and that warnings raised by opponents that the now $9.2 billion East Kapolei-to-Ala Moana Center rail project will drive the city into bankruptcy are unfounded. Star-Advertiser.

City's Share Of $772M Blaisdell Redevelopment Cost Still Unclear. The city is planning a major $772 million redevelopment of the landmark Neal S. Blaisdell Center in partnership with the private sector but the city's share of the cost remains unclear. Hawaii Public Radio.

North Shore 'Overcapacity' Says Honolulu Council Member. Honolulu City Council Member Heidi Tsuneyoshi made the assessment on Tuesday at a hearing covering North Shore issues. Hawaii Public Radio.

Crews left with 5 tons of garbage (and counting) after Diamond Head sweep. Crews worked through the rain Wednesday morning to start clearing a massive homeless camp that had taken over a large part of the beach below Diamond Head. Hawaii News Now.

Build the Track LLC holds press conference to announce vision for new motorsports facility. Build the Track LLC held a press conference earlier today to discuss their vision for the future of Hawaii motorsports, including the possibility of a new race facility on Oahu. KHON2.

Hawaii Island


Puna nonprofit contracted to help those recovering from 2018 eruption with still unmet needs. Neighborhood Place of Puna was awarded a case management contract to help individuals and families recovering from the 2018 eruption of Kilauea volcano address still unmet needs. Tribune-Herald.

Largest Cruise Ship Ever To Make Kailua-Kona Port Call Anchors Sunday. The average cruise ship that calls on Kona typically has 2,500 passengers. But this one will have 4,000. Big Island Video News.

Kailua-Kona to welcome largest cruise ship to ever make a port call in the bay. The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced today that the largest cruise ship to ever make a port call to Kailua-Kona will anchor in Kailua Bay on Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Public servant, medical miracle and island treasure Virginia Isbell remembered. Virginia Isbell, a former politician, public servant and pillar of the Kona community, died Sept. 19 on Oahu. She was 87. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Family, Friends Mourn Loss of Danny Mateo, Longtime Maui Councilmember and Former County Clerk. Longtime Maui County Councilmember from Molokai and recently retired County Clerk, Danny Mateo, died Tuesday in the company of family members. Maui Now.

Supreme Court’s appeal of injection well case in murky waters on Maui. Members of the Maui County Council majority and their attorneys insist it is over. Mayor Michael Victorino and attorneys with the county’s Department of the Corporation Counsel say otherwise. Star-Advertiser.

Hui files complaint over water levels from Waihee River. State hydrologist says stream flows are being met. Maui News.

Kauai

Malama Pono opens new clinic. Malama Pono Health Services is hosting a grand opening of its new clinic from 3 to 5:30 p.m. today. Garden Island.

Annual Kauai County vehicle and equipment auction begins. County officials today announced that its annual vehicle and equipment auction begins Wednesday, Sept. 25. KHON2.

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Styrofoam ban advances, sports gambling considered, judge rules against non-solar water heaters, shipping costs rise, Mauna Kea ski video rankles, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Polystyrene 'styrofoam' takeout ©2019 All Hawaii News
Statewide styrofoam ban advances. A bill to ban styrofoam containers for take-out food -- statewide. KHON2.

The House Judiciary Committee today will consider a bill to legalize and regulate sports betting in Hawaii, which is now one of only two states in the nation that has no form of legalized gambling. Star-Advertiser.

Bail-reform legislation, seven years in the making, is moving rapidly through the Legislature. The bills would require public safety officials to make it easier for people to gain release if they are arrested for nonviolent crimes and are not a flight risk, requires consideration of a defendant’s financial situation before setting bail, and eliminates money bail for low-risk offenses. Civil Beat.

Judge: DBEDT must adhere to solar water heater mandate. Environmentalist and renewable energy advocates are hailing a court decision Tuesday ordering the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism to follow state law mandating all new single-family homes include solar water heaters and to consider variances for gas water heaters only on a case-by-case basis. Tribune-Herald.

Court Ruling On Water Heaters Will Help ‘Protect The Climate’. The state has been wrongly approving too many gas hot water heaters in new homes, a judge says. Civil Beat.

Effort To Pump Up Voter Interest In Elections Goes Nowhere In Legislature. It looks like there will be no hearings for bills that would have advanced the top two primary vote-getters to the general election regardless of political party. Civil Beat.

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Legislature Seeks to Reform OHA Elections. State legislators have taken the first step toward overhauling the elections process for Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees. The Senate Hawaiian Affairs Committee started with campaign funding and the way candidates' names are listed on the ballots. Hawaii Public Radio.

The attorney for former Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Rowena Akana said Wednesday his client will appeal a state Ethics Commission complaint that imposes a fine of more than $23,000 for 47 ethics violations. Star-Advertiser.

Former OHA Trustee Rowena Akana Hit With $23K Ethics Fine. Akana, who served on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees for nearly 30 years, may also have to pay back more than $21,500 in gifts. Civil Beat.

Ex-OHA trustee who used office allowance for cable bills slapped with hefty fine. Former OHA trustee Rowena Akana must pay more than $23,000 in fines for accepting legal fees from Hawaiian heiress Abigail Kawananakoa and misusing her annual office allowance. Hawaii News Now.

Former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Rowena Akana must pay more $23,000 in fines. The State's ethics commission found that she committed 47 ethics violations. KITV.

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It was Agriculture Day at the State Capitol today inside committee rooms and outside on display tables. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii lawmakers want to fight mosquitoes ... with more mosquitoes. But introducing new insects could have adverse affects. Hawaii News Now.

Young Brothers LLC announced Wednesday it has received approval from the state Public Utilities Commission for its first significant rate increase in six years. Garden Island.

Rate increase for interisland service. The 4.3% rate increase is critical to allow Young Brothers to reinvest in its business and upgrade equipment to continue providing essential interisland cargo transport services. KHON2.

Gabbard Takes Heat On MSNBC Over Russia, Assad. As the Hawaii congresswoman escalates her bid for president, she’s already facing stiff questions from journalists on a number of issues. Civil Beat.

Gabbard on defense after more bad publicity. On national television on Wednesday, she was questioned about her positions on Syria and Russia and even the Ku Klux Klan. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Manoa board calls for pause in Ala Wai Flood Control Project. The Manoa Neighborhood Board unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday calling for a halt on an Ala Wai Canal flood control project to give stakeholders an opportunity to give feedback on a plan to add detention and catchment basins to the upper reaches of Manoa, Palolo and Makiki. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home, condo prices, sales all declined in January for first time since 2010. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu housing inventory up, prices down. KHON2.

Developers to receive incentives. The Honolulu City Council is proposing a new bill that would ease building requirements for developers in an effort to increase affordable housing options. KHON2.

City seeks landowner incentives to build hundreds of affordable rentals. As skyscrapers were added to Honolulu’s skyline and “monster homes” sprouted up in residential neighborhoods, low rises in Makiki and Moiliili have decayed. Hawaii News Now.

City begins to condemn Palolo properties damaged by severe erosion. Hawaii News Now.

Mysterious Manoa Tree Hackers May Be Peddling Hallucinogenic Bark. Large gashes in acacia trees, whose bark is reportedly hallucinogenic, were first noticed in December by Manoa residents. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Police Department met for its monthly Commission meeting and one of the topics that came up was recreational marijuana. KITV.

Sewer spills were at a historic low last year amid ongoing monitoring and proactive measures taken by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A bill to provide state funding for restoring lava-covered portions of Highway 132 cleared its first committee Wednesday at the state Capitol. The Senate Committee on Transportation voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 1298, which provides $15 million for restoration. Tribune-Herald.

At the request of the state Department of Health, legislators have shelved a bill that would have funded two ambulances for Hawaii Island, including one at the Makalei Fire Station. West Hawaii Today.

Pahoa pool reopens to the delight of area residents. For the first time in months, swimmers glided through the water at the Pahoa Community Aquatic Center on Wednesday morning. Tribune-Herald.

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Lawmakers and The Office of Maunakea Management said they were disturbed by a recent social media video that shows three individuals skiing and snowboarding on Puu Poliahu on Maunakea on University of Hawaii managed lands. West Hawaii Today.

Snowless Skiing On Mauna Kea Denounced. Big Island Video News.

The Office of Maunakea Management condemned a video posted to social media showing three individuals skiing and snowboarding down a revered volcanic cone on Mauna Kea that is managed by the University of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Video of skiers, snowboarders on Mauna Kea sparks outrage. KITV.

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People packed the room at the Grand Naniloa Resort to hear about the proposed Pacific Spaceport Complex-Hawaii and the environmental assessment process. Big Island Video News.

Dozens of residents crowded into a public meeting on Wednesday to learn about a proposal to build a satellite launch facility on the east side of the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A council committee on Tuesday advanced a recommendation of Michele McLean as director of the Department of Planning, but voted down the mayor’s appointment of Pat Wong as Corporation Counsel. Maui Now.

Planning’s McLean gets preliminary OK. Committee 5-4 vote comes amid claims of ‘prescripted’ process. Maui News.

Panel votes against Wong confirmation. Corporation Counsel choice second to go down in panel. Maui News.

A House committee holds a hearing on Friday to consider the holdover of revocable water permits, allowing for the continuation of water leases authorized in previous legislation. Maui Now.

VA one-stop facility is ‘progressing’. Still, local veterans have waited for more than a decade. Maui News.

Kauai

Bolstering the bridge. For weeks, Hawaii Department of Transportation workers in their yellow coats have been floating their barge through yellow barriers around the base of the bridge over Wailua River. Garden Island.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Honolulu short $44M as rail deadline nears, Senate committee approves Ige pal for judgeship, feral cats overrun transfer stations, Zuckerberg buys Kauai land, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Giraffe at Honolulu Zoo ©2018 All Hawaii News
The Honolulu Zoo announced that Nairobi, a 21-year-old male giraffe, died this morning from complications due to old age. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Judiciary Committee: Friendship Is Not Disqualification. Keith Hiraoka, Governor David Ige’s nominee for the Intermediate Court of Appeals faced members of the Senate Wednesday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawyer tells commission about many complaints over trustee. A former Office of Hawaiian Affairs attorney testified Wednesday that at one time there were so many employee harassment and abuse complaints against Trustee Rowena Akana, officials were worried about a cascade of lawsuits. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Tax System Places Larger Burden on Low Income Residents. Low-income residents in Hawaii are paying a higher share of their income in taxes than higher level earners. That is the conclusion of a recent report from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy titled Who Pays?  Hawaii Public Radio.

Emergency Help For Hawaii’s Mentally Ill Is Often A Revolving Door. Hundreds of people taken by police to the hospital for psychiatric care go on to repeated hospitalizations or brushes with the law. Civil Beat.

Kahoolawe’s shorelines aren’t as pristine as you might think. The Greenpeace crew discovered just how polluted it really is. Greenpeace staff and volunteers are back in Honolulu with two and a half tons of plastic pollution collected from the shorelines around Kahoolawe. Hawaii News Now.

State’s 4 Native Hawaiian Chambers of Commerce Form New Alliance. Maui Now.

Super Typhoon Yutu Hits Northern Marianas With 180-mph Winds. Associated Press.

United Airlines kitchen employees vote to join Unite Here. Kitchen employees in five United Airlines cities, including Honolulu, have voted to unionize with Unite Here, adding 2,700 workers to the union. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

City scrambles to find $44M for rail as feds hold firm on deadline. Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration and the Honolulu City Council are scrambling to find ways to provide $44 million in city funds by next month to help finance the Honolulu rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Feds To City: Show Us The Rail Money Now. Honolulu will need to come up with $44 million by Nov. 20 — and a good-faith effort to eventually issue bonds for those dollars next year won’t cut it. Civil Beat.

In less than a month, the city needs to find $44M for rail. A deadline has been set by the federal government. Hawaii News Now.

The Federal Transit Administration is not budging on its deadline for the City and County of Honolulu to fund the rail project. The FTA declared Wednesday that the City must come up with 44 million dollars by November 20th or risk losing some or all of its federal funding. KITV.

Mayor urges passage of bill to fund rail through property tax. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is pushing the city council to act quickly to fund Honolulu's rail project. KHON2.

Rail draft plan reveals potential cost-cutting measures. The rail authority expects to collect $188 million more in taxes than previously projected to help finance the Honolulu rail project, but the city is still making plans to cut costs if necessary, including possibly deferring construction of the $315 million Pearl Highlands Parking Structure and Transit Center. Star-Advertiser.

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Two More Condo Towers Proposed Near Ala Moana Center. Developers continue to seek special permits for building near rail stations that allow taller, denser structures. Civil Beat.

A landowner plans to develop nearly 1,000 moderately priced condo units on Keeaumoku Street and is offering public benefits including a bigger park in return for letting two towers rise 50 feet beyond the current limit. Star-Advertiser.

A company that developed the pair of oval Moana Pacific condominium towers on Kapiolani Boulevard has bought more land on the same street for redevelopment. Star-Advertiser.

Applications now accepted for McCully affordable housing condo. KHON2.

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Church debuts domes to shelter homeless women and children. A grand opening ceremony was held Wednesday morning for a handful domes built to shelter the homeless in Kaneohe. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's first dome homeless shelters open at First Assembly of God. Pacific Business News.

Kaneohe church’s igloo-like dome shelters to house homeless families. Hawaii News Now.

What Caused This North Shore Cliff To Collapse? Since boulders fell into the sea at Laie Point, the city has issued a notice of violation for installation of a hot tub, fish pond and stone fire pit at the site. Civil Beat.

Chevron to settlement will fund $300K in gear for Honolulu emergency responders. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday a national settlement with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. for violations of the Clean Air Act that will fund about $300,000 in equipment for the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Representative behind Waikola development commits to following through with project. A representative for the developer behind a planned 398-lot residential subdivision in South Kohala repeatedly committed on Wednesday to completing the project that has gone undeveloped for the past decade. West Hawaii Today.

Feral cats, other animals, a problem at transfer stations. Hawaii County garbage transfer stations are going to the dogs. But especially the cats. Not to mention the pigs, the goats and the chickens. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission provided an update on the effort to locate and develop a shooting range on the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

State Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers are asking for the public’s help identifying two men wanted for questioning in connection with the recent poisoning of several East Hawaii streams on the Big Island. West Hawaii Today.

When 2019 begins, so too will a new law authorizing health care providers to supply terminally ill patients with life-ending medication. To prepare residents and health care providers for the new law, Compassion and Choices Hawaii — a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about end-of-life options — hosted a series of presentations around the Big Island this week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Candidates have history with seat they are seeking. The two candidates vying for the Makawao, Haiku, Paia residency seat on the Maui County Council are no strangers to the office being vacated by council Chairman Mike White, who is retiring. Maui News.

Permit hearing for Haiku zipline to resume Dec. 11. The Maui Planning Commission recessed a hearing for a Haiku zipline company on Tuesday, to the audible groans of neighbors seeking an end to the zipline’s operations. Maui News.

Kauai

Affordable housing targeted. The County Council gave a green light to the county clerk to sign documents to accept a loan that will improve the infrastructure for phase one of the Lima Ola affordable housing community in Eleele. Garden Island.

County Council candidate: Mason Chock. After five years in office, some politicians become disillusioned or complacent. Incumbent Mason Chock, though, retains his sense of humor, drive and self-reflective humility. Garden Island.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to acquire property on Kauai. KITV.


Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Officials ponder next step after ConAm struck from ballot, average teacher salary $59k, Ige and Caldwell support hotel strikers, visitors return to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

photo courtesy Hawaii governor
Ige supports education funding, photo courtesy of Governor's Office
Ige, Tupola weigh in on what’s next after the constitutional amendment. Gubernatorial candidates discuss how to fund Hawaii’s public schools. Hawaii News Now.

With ConAm Invalidated, Supporters And Opponents Ponder Next Moves. If Hawaii is going to spend more on public education, it’s unclear where the money will come from. Civil Beat.

State Leaders Will Look for More Public School Funding. State leaders, educators and community supporters came out today to call for additional funding for public education. Hawaii Public Radio.

Education advocates scramble to find public school funding after constitutional amendment blocked. After the Hawaii Supreme Court blocked a controversial proposal that would’ve raised investment property taxes to help fund public schools, education advocates are now scrambling for a “Plan B.” Hawaii News Now.

It's back to the drawing board on how the state can generate more money for public school education. Now that the constitutional amendment question has been invalidated by the Supreme Court, both sides of the argument are planning for the future. KHON2.

Hawaii Teacher Salaries Not Enough to Buy a Home. Average teacher salary in Hawaii is $59,250. Maui Now.

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Gun Crimes Are Rising In Hawaii, But Still Below Historic Levels. Violent crimes involving firearms have risen 24 percent in the last four years. Many of the guns, prosecutors say, were stolen. Civil Beat.

This Remote Hawaiian Island Just Vanished. Scientists are concerned about what will happen to the hundreds of endangered species that once called East Island home. Civil Beat.

Ethics hearing underway for OHA trustee accused of misusing funds. Rowena Akana is accused of using her trustee allowance to pay personal expenses. Hawaii News Now.

Is Rowena Akana’s Political Career On The Line? The longest-serving OHA trustee is on trial for allegations of ethics violations while also waging a re-election fight. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Hawaii Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell told striking hotel workers during a meeting at the state Capitol today that they would not cross the picket line and have urged their hotel managers and owners to resume bargaining. Star-Advertiser.

'There's real damage being done,' Mayor Caldwell on strike. In a closed door meeting Monday afternoon, union workers told Governor David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell their stories. KHON2.

2,700 hotel workers in Waikiki and Maui continue to picket on the 15th day of their strike for better wages and job security. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Hawaiian Electric to replace 1,200 meters after overheating reported. Hawaiian Electric is notifying commercial customers about a potential hazard that relates to a particular brand of electric meter installed at businesses on Oahu. KHON2.

University of Hawaii officials said they have been unfairly blamed as the reason for another state agency abruptly shifting plans for a veterans home to a historic site in Aiea that has rankled some community members. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply seeks bids to redevelop its downtown site. Oahu’s public water utility is making a second attempt at generating extra revenue by offering up part of its headquarters near downtown Honolulu for redevelopment, and a consultant suggests that senior housing and parking are most likely. Star-Advertiser.

Turtle Bay, which is owned by Blackstone and managed by Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, is gearing up for its plan to add about 750 units — a lengthy build-out that will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and increase the workforce to 1,100 from 650. Star-Advertiser.

2 separate wastewater spills impacts Keehi Lagoon, Ala Wai Canal. The public is urged to stay out of the water. Hawaii News Now.

Investigation continues into cause of tour helicopter crash at Kaneohe Bay sandbar. The pilot is believed to have suffered a medical emergency during flight. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A month after reopening, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park seeing daily visitor numbers ‘on par’ with those from this time last year. Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said the number of visitors to the park consistently has remained at about 2,000 visitors daily, with boosts on cruise ship days. Tribune-Herald.

A Naalehu resident has sued two county officials over plans to build sewer plants in Naalehu and Pahala. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Water Supply VS. Water Sustainability. A closer look at the proposal to dismantle the Department of Water Supply and create a Department of Water Sustainability. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Island remembers Earl Bakken as an innovator, philanthropist. As an electrical engineer who made groundbreaking technological advancements in the field of medicine, Dr. Earl Bakken saved, prolonged and changed lives. As a prolific philanthropist, particularly on Hawaii Island, he improved them. West Hawaii Today.

Earl Elmer Bakken, inventor of the first wearable, battery-powered pacemaker and co-founder of Medtronic Inc., embraced his motto of “live on, give on, dream on” when he moved to Hawaii in 1989. Star-Advertiser.

Earl Bakken, the electrical engineer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who invented the first wearable heart pacemaker, has died at his Hawaii home. He was 94. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Mayoral candidates share their life stories. Maui News.

Treasurer of Maui Youth Soccer League accused of forging $180,000 worth of checks. According to prosecutors, the 57-year-old wrote fraudulent checks payable to himself from the HYSA bank account, then deposited the money into his personal account. KITV.

The Maui County Department of Water Supply will switch the distribution system disinfectant in the Upper Kula water system from chloramines to chlorine for approximately four to eight weeks beginning on Oct. 30. Maui Now.

Kauai

County Council Candidate: Luke Evslin. Within five minutes of conversation with County Council candidate Luke Evslin, it is obvious that he is a man who understands system interconnectedness. Garden Island.

Residents in Anahola, Lihue, Kapaa and Waimea received letters over the weekend urging them to list their homes on the homestay website Vacation Rental by Owner — but operating transient vacation rentals in those areas is illegal. Garden Island.

Kauai condemns mailers that urge homeowners to get into vacation rental business. In the mass mailers, VRBO promised homeowners $1,000 in income for January. Hawaii News Now.

Friday, September 21, 2018

Honolulu airport near bottom in satisfaction, Hirono in national spotlight, big jump in foreign homebuyers, first two war remains identified, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Honolulu International Airport ©2018 All Hawaii News
Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport near bottom in satisfaction study. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, which is getting a face-lift as part of a statewide airports modernization program, ranks near the bottom among large airports in a satisfaction study of North America airports. Star-Advertiser.

Natural disasters nip at state’s economic growth, report says. Economic growth in Hawaii this year took a couple knocks from natural disasters but hasn’t been stopped, according to an academic report being released today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii jobless rate in August holds at 2.1 percent. Hawaii’s labor market continues to be a source of strength for the state’s economy. Star-Advertiser.

Spending by foreign homebuyers in Hawaii rises 75% in first half of 2018. The bulk of the sales to Japanese buyers were on Oahu, while the majority of sales to buyers from Canada were on Maui. Pacific Business News.

Mazie Hirono Basks In Her Newfound Celebrity. The Hawaii senator is getting a lot of attention over her lead role in opposing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Associated Press.

Ethics commission holds hearing on OHA Trustee Rowena Akana. The state ethics commission will hold a hearing on Friday regarding allegations OHA Trustee Rowena Akana violated rules by misspending money while receiving money she shouldn't have. KHON2.

Public school students make gains in English, stay steady in math. Hawaii public school students improved their English performance by four percentage points while math skills stayed flat on the 2018 Smarter Balanced Assessment, according to results presented Thursday to the Board of Education. Star-Advertiser.

Pentagon identifies first 2 Korean War remains recovered from North Korea. A 25th Infantry Division soldier and an Army medic whose dog tag was recovered are the first two Korean War identifications to be made from 55 sets of remains turned over to the United States by the North in July, officials said today. Star-Advertiser.

Salary Database Now Includes Hundreds Of Hawaii County Employees. With the inclusion of Big Island data first requested in July 2017, only Honolulu police officers are still missing. A judge’s ruling is pending on that. Civil Beat.

To save Hawaii’s disappearing cauliflower coral, biologists seek federal protections. The National Marine Fisheries Service announced Thursday that Hawaii’s cauliflower coral may be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Hawaii News Now.

Loss Of Mainland Market For Marlin Is One More Sign Dan Inouye Is Gone. For six years, Hawaii and other Pacific islands enjoyed an exemption that allowed them to sell billfish on the mainland. Congress and President Trump just revoked it. Civil Beat.

Gearing up for a resilient grid. Federal and state government officials along with Hawaii’s local utilities are confident that the Islands’ power grids are better equipped to deal with a large-scale natural disaster than the one in Puerto Rico was. However, vulnerabilities remain. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

GOP surrogates rally at UH event for Trump and right-wing ideas. The event, organized by the Hawaii Republican Party and Young Republicans on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, included a 45-minute talk and question-and-answer session at Kuykendall Hall that was attended by about 200 people. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Gearing Up to Clamp Down on Monster Homes and Illegal Vacation Rentals. Hawaii Public Radio.

More transparency ahead for reservoir evacuations. People on Oahu will soon have a much easier way to know if they live, work, or visit an area at risk from dams and breaches. KHON2.

The John A. Burns School of Medicine's mobile clinic has brought medical care to hundreds of homeless people across Oahu in the past twelve years. KITV.

Honolulu police bring aloha to #LipSyncChallenge. The Honolulu Police Department has finally joined the summer’s hottest public safety social media campaign, producing a slick video with officers dancing and performing from Waikiki to Chinatown. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Department joins the nationwide lip sync battle. KITV.

A 43-year-old Halawa prison guard who was being investigated for first-degree sexual assault of a 28-year-old male inmate committed suicide six days after the alleged rape occurred. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

After a full morning of public testimony and discussion that went into Thursday afternoon, the Leeward Planning Commission voted to forward to the County Council a favorable recommendation on a vacation rental bill along with some suggestions for changes from the Planning Department and the commission itself. West Hawaii Today.

Destructive Kapoho Lava Flows Remembered At OHA Meeting. During the Office of Hawaiian Affairs meeting in Hilo on Thursday, the Board of Trustees heard directly from a beneficiary who lost her Kapoho home in June due to the eruption of Kilauea Volcano. Big Island Video News.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents approved Thursday the appointments of six members of the community-based Maunakea Management Board. Tribune-Herald.

County, visitors bureau launch campaign to try to make tourists more respectful. During a press conference Thursday morning, Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau Executive Director Ross Birch and county Managing Director Will Okabe presented the “Pono Pledge,” a public information campaign intended to build awareness for treating the island with respect. Tribune-Herald.

Lava evacuees offended by video of woman frolicking in 'mermaid pools' off Kapoho. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

The Kihei Community Association pinned down mayoral candidates Elle Cochran and Mike Victorino on Tuesday night on issues affecting South Maui, including upkeeping and updating the area’s infrastructure and obtaining more funding for the region from the county budget. Maui News.

The two candidates vying for the Maui County Council’s East Maui residency seat addressed questions Tuesday night on tourism, affordable housing, community plans and allowing the community to have more of a say to the Maui Planning Commission. Maui News.

State slapped with big fines over safety violations at Maui Community Correctional Center. The state has agreed to pay more than $22,000 for safety violations at the Maui Community Correctional Center. Hawaii News Now.

Draft plan aims at West Maui disaster preparedness. After flooding from tropical storms Lane and Olivia and the Aug. 24 wildfires that burned more than 2,000 acres from Maalaea to Kaanapali, the release of a draft West Maui all hazard plan comes as public attention is focused on how to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Maui News.

Flood recovery ongoing ‘off the grid’ in Honokohau Valley. Residents still without water a week after Olivia passed through. Maui News.

The Department of Water Supply is requesting customers in the West Maui area of Kahana, Napili and Honokowai to conserve water. As a result of Tropical Storm Olivia, the Honolua Ditch that provides surface water to the Mahinahina Water Treatment Facility is under maintenance and repair. Maui Now.

The unemployment rate on Maui Island was at 1.9% in August, down from the 2.1% rate in July and down from the 2.1% rate reported at the same time last year. Maui Now.

Heat index reached 106°F at noon at Kahului Airport on Maui today, according to the National Weather Service.  The actual temperature was 90°F, but it felt 16 degrees hotter because of the humidity, which is around 56%. Maui Now.

Kauai

Debate, North Shore-style. It was a political debate like no other. Garden Island.

Coming together for peace. Everyone was invited to create peaceful relationships Sunday when the Interfaith Roundtable of Kauai presented its International Day of Peace celebration at the Lydgate Beach Park main pavilion. Garden Island.

Commentary: Kauai feels the burden of overtourism. The new Kauai Tourism Strategic Plan has at its heart a stunning premise — that tourism has reached capacity on the island. Star-Advertiser.

Friday, September 14, 2018

Governor, Honolulu mayor attend climate conference, National park expands by almost 2k acres, Nuuanu reservoir drained to prevent overflow, Maui mops up following Olivia, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy photo
Gov. David Ige at climate conference, courtesy photo
Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell are attending the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco this week. Star-Advertiser.

What New Census Data Says — And Doesn’t Say — About Hawaii. Incomes are slightly higher but housing costs are still among the worst in the nation. Civil Beat.

A contested case hearing over alleged ethics violations has been scheduled next month for Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Rowena Akana, who is accused of breaking the state’s gifts law, gifts reporting law and fair-treatment law. Star-Advertiser.

Following Campaign Cash In Hawaii Just Got Easier. A new digital tool lets users see a massive amount of data with just a few mouse clicks — no Excel experience necessary. Civil Beat.

When voters cast their ballots in November, one of the issues they’ll be deciding on is a Constitutional Amendment that would establish a surcharge on investment real property. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 767 fleet will retire by the beginning of next year, about a quarter earlier than originally expected. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials said Thursday afternoon that there was no danger of Nuuanu Reservoir No. 1 failing and said they notified the public about the possibility of evacuations downstream that morning in an abundance of caution to keep the community informed. Star-Advertiser.

Board of Water drains Nuuanu Reservoir after storm raises water levels. Hawaii News Now.

Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Olivia filled Nuuanu Reservoir #1 to dangerous levels Thursday. KHON2.

Many Nuuanu residents were in a state of panic Thursday morning after being alerted a dam was approaching dangerous levels that could trigger evacuations. KITV.

Crews from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and the Honolulu Fire Department on Thursday managed to lower the water levels at the Nuuanu reservoir No. 1 after they had come within a foot and a half of the dam's spillway. Pacific Business News.

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The state Health Department may have issued an islandwide brown-water advisory due to Tropical Storm Olivia, but plenty of tourists were still splashing in the waters fronting major hotels in Waikiki on Thursday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Idaho Court Ruling May Impact Honolulu Homeless Bill. On Wednesday the Honolulu City Council voted unanimously to advance two bills that could have a major impact on the city’s homelessness policy. Hawaii Public Radio.

Council Rejects Big Bus Fare Hikes For Seniors And The Disabled. Taxpayers will continue to subsidize public transportation at a higher level than called for in city guidelines. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

The National Park Service has acquired a 1,952-acre oceanfront property in Ka'u from a Florida real estate developer. The $1.95 million purchase by the park service of the “Great Crack Property” from Joseph Gillespie III is the last piece of a settlement between First Citizens Bank of Raleigh, N.C., and Hilo businessman Ken Fujiyama and his Ken Direction Corp. to settle the bank’s foreclosure claim concerning a defaulted mortgage on the then-Naniloa Volcanoes Resort. Tribune-Herald.

A pay-as-you-throw bag-tag rubbish program could be revisited after it was rejected first in 2009 and again in 2015. West Hawaii Today.

Damage to county facilities from the flooding late last month caused by torrential downpours from Hurricane Lane totaled about $20 million, said Managing Director Wil Okabe on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State and county officials Thursday got a bird’s-eye view of the parts of Maui County hardest-hit by Tropical Storm Olivia. Star-Advertiser.

West Maui takes stock a day after homes, cars washed away. A day after Tropical Storm Olivia pummeled Maui with torrential rains and strong winds, residents are still trying to assess all the damage. Hawaii News Now.

VIDEO: Homes, cars swept away in Honokohau Valley flood. Maui News.

‘The water just started washing things away,’ resident says. Maui News.

Post Storm Recap: Maui County Resumes Services. Maui Now.

A road in Haiku collapsed when rain from the outer bands of Hurricane Lane hit the Valley Isle weeks ago. Rain from Tropical Storm Olivia hasn't helped the situation. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

A Koloa business owner is concerned that clogged culverts near Weliweli Road caused some of the flooding in the area, and has been trying to get the County of Kauai to remedy the problem. Garden Island.

The 22nd annual Coconut Festival has been canceled due to lack of funds. Instead, the Kapaa Business Association, which regularly hosts the event, is partnering with the Kauai Veterans Council to bring the Nov. 3 Veterans Day Parade back to Kapaa. Garden Island.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Legislators to vote on sunscreen ban today, airport authority bill dies, OHA trustee investigated for accepting money from royal heiress, Honolulu officials get 4% pay raise, heart attack doesn't keep 78-year-old mayor from the job, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Rinsing the beach baby in Hawaii ©2018 All Hawaii News
Hawaii is poised to become the first state in the nation to pass a law banning the sales of over-the-counter sunscreens containing chemicals believed to harm coral reefs if Hawaii legislators vote to pass it on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Senate bill would stop sale of reef stressing sunscreens. Statewide ban would take effect in 2021. Maui News.

Legislation to regulate unlicensed care homes faces its final hurdle today as both House and Senate lawmakers vote on the controversial bill. Star-Advertiser.

A major change to a financial assistance program designed to help those caring for Hawaii's senior citizens is upsetting some caregivers. Hawaii News Now.

A bill that would have created a dedicated governing body to take control of the state’s airports was unexpectedly killed Friday despite being on the verge of passage. Tribune-Herald.

Voters will see on the November ballot a measure seeking to generate public education funding through a surcharge tax on high-value residential investment properties. Several other education-related bills are awaiting a final reading today and likely are headed to Ige’s desk. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii State Legislature passed House Bill 2342, which eliminates the fee for freezing and thawing credit reports. Maui Now.

OHA Trustee Under Investigation For Accepting $72,000 From Heiress. Rowena Akana says charges against her by the state ethics commission are inaccurate and politically motivated. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Inequality Study Overlooked Thousands of Micronesians. Service providers say more data is needed to help Hawaii’s most recent immigrants. Civil Beat.

The second of two Hawaii regulatory agencies has blessed the pending sale of local phone, TV and internet service provider Hawaiian Telcom to Ohio-based Cincinnati Bell. Members of the state Public Utilities Commission voted 3-0 Monday to approve the $650 million deal with several conditions. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection is launching an investigation into a data breach that impacted all 25 Zippy’s Restaurants in the state as well as its Napoleon’s Bakery, Kahala Sushi and Pearl City Sushi locations. Pacific Business News.

Boosted by the Trump administration's federal tax reform, Honolulu-based American Savings Bank reported first quarter earnings of $18.9 million for the year ending March 31, the highest quarterly net income in the company’s history. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A bump in pay could be coming for city officials, but it's not the mayor who will be making the most. The four percent pay raise approved by the Salary Commission covers the mayor, Honolulu City Council, and city department heads and deputies. KHON2.

Thirty to 50 people who have been living along the streets and parks in Kakaako Makai were anticipating being rousted from their campsites by city crews late Monday night, and while they’re not happy about it, frequent parkgoers applauded the change in policy that will allow the sweep. Star-Advertiser.

The city now has enforcement jurisdiction at Kakaako Makai parks, which include Kewalo Basin Park, Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kakaako Makai and Mauka Gateway Parks. For the first time, city crews utilized its new enforcement authority Monday night. Hawaii News Now.

Council to city: Replace parking stalls lost to urban bike lanes (or else). Hawaii News Now.

Competition May Be Coming To Honolulu’s Bike-Share Market. The nonprofit Biki launched in June. Now the for-profit LimeBike is advertising to fill job openings for its dockless service. Civil Beat.

Several months after a deadly fire raged through the 35-story Marco Polo, a majority of condo owners voted in favor of retrofitting the 35-story building with automated sprinklers. Star-Advertiser.

Public hearings are set to begin June 6 on a new 570-unit Kakaako tower proposed by Ward Village developer Howard Hughes Corp. Star-Advertiser.

Sidewalk renovations will begin Tuesday along Kalakaua Avenue, which could mean more traffic headaches in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Gifts given by King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani are being returned to Iolani Palace. KITV.

The Honolulu home of 92-year-old Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa was burglarized over the weekend. Associated Press.

Hawaii Island

78-year-old mayor back at his desk days after heart attack. Mayor Harry Kim was at his desk Monday morning, looking fresh and rested, after undergoing evaluation and a heart procedure late last week. West Hawaii Today.

The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel &Bungalows will shut its doors in October, sending roughly 400 employees back out into the job market. West Hawaii Today.

Economists, farmers say overtreatment of coffee berry borer breaking banks. West Hawaii Today.

Mele, the young donkey that lived on the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, was killed Saturday afternoon after she was struck by what appears to have been a stray bullet fired from an adjacent agricultural property. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

County Council members halved money planned for the Wailuku civic complex, bringing it down from $81.2 million to $40 million, and the Maui Lani roundabout, originally cut by Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Riki Hokama, was back in the spending plan, but with conditions, including a review by a council committee. Maui News.

A one-mile portion of the Pipiwai Trail in east Maui will close for helicopter operations on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in support of a trail boardwalk replacement project. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hawaii's U.S. senators surveyed damage on Kauai on Monday, and pledged to work quickly to ensure that aid continues to flow to the flood-ravaged island. Hawaii News Now.

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono joined Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard, and emergency management officials to assess storm damage on Kauai’s North Shore and discuss ways the federal government can assist community residents as they work to recover from the storm. Garden Island.

Rules may change for Kauai homeowners anxious to rebuild. KHON2.

Kauai to begin shuttle service for isolated residents, car registration deadline extended. Hawaii News Now.

Now that food and fuel are arriving, the emotions of the last two weeks are catching up to people in the isolated Kauai communities of Wainiha and Haena, where an unknown number of homes were destroyed in unprecedented flooding last month. Star-Advertiser.

For over 40 years, Shirley-Simbre-Medeiros has called Kekaha home, but in that time, she said she has seen little change in some of the problems on the Westside, which is why she’s running for Kauai County Council. Garden Island.