Showing posts with label Southwest Airlines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southwest Airlines. Show all posts

Monday, June 19, 2023

Luke finds cash to cover shortfall, slow rebound expected for Japanese tourists, Southwest to end Kona, Kauai nonstop mainland flights, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii LG Sylvia Luke Finds Cash To Cover Shortfall: ‘I Expect Better Of Myself’. Following a wave of public criticism, Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke says that her office will likely avoid a previously forecasted budget shortfall that threatened to put her in legal jeopardy.  Civil Beat.

State Agriculture Corp. Gets New Board Leadership. Warren Watanabe, a seasoned agricultural advocate, has been elected to lead the Agribusiness Development Corp.’s board of directors. The election at a meeting Thursday, comes as part of a leadership shakeup for the ADC following the unexpected death of long-time executive director James Nakatani in April.  Civil Beat.

Green shaking up education, UH, tourism boards.
New members of the boards that oversee lower and higher public education and the Hawaii Tourism Authority are being named by Gov. Josh Green after soured relationships with the state Legislature resulted in lackluster financial support, including proposals to not fund the HTA and even abolish it. Star-Advertiser.

‘Slow gradual rebound’ expected for Japan visitors to Hawaii. Hawaii arrivals from Japan, once forecast to make a quicker rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, now are not expected to return to pre-pandemic 2019 levels until the end of next year. Star-Advertiser.

Southwest ending nonstop flights Sept. 5 between Los Angeles and Kauaʻi, Big Island airports. On Sept. 5, the day after Labor Day, Southwest Airlines will end its daily nonstop flights between Los Angeles and two Hawaiʻi airports: Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on the Big Island and Līhuʻe Airport on Kaua‘i. Kauai Now.

Women in Hawaii not receiving adequate prenatal care.  The  state has ranked last in recent years when it comes to women obtaining adequate care, defined as initiating care in the first four months of pregnancy and making it to an appropriate number of doctors appointments. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Struggle To Provide Health Care For Rural Islands Nearly Turned Tragic For This Expectant Mom. For months the fragility of a vital air link endangered the health of people across rural Hawaii. The state is still trying to fix it. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Telcom Wins A $37M Grant To Install Undersea Cables To Improve Broadband Service. The new federal funding would provide additional fiber links between the islands to make service more reliable, and to reach unserved rural communities. Civil Beat.

State adjusts eligibility requirements for Homeowner Assistance Fund program
.  It allows qualified households to receive mortgage assistance or financial relief from certain expenses, such as property taxes or association fees. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ocean users advised to avoid research drones, buoys. Ocean users are cautioned to keep far from three uncrewed Saildrone Explorer research vessels that have been deployed around the Hawaiian Islands to help look for signs of climate change. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Council lowers tax rate for owners of second homes used for rentals.  The Council voted unanimously June 7 to approve Resolution 33, which is expected to lower the city’s real property tax rate for the first million dollars of value of Residential A properties and, in so doing, reduce taxes by $500 under that two-tier taxpaying class. Star-Advertiser.

A $900 Towing Fee?
Concerns Are Being Raised Over Honolulu’s New Towing Contract. Insurance companies have balked at reimbursing drivers, calling the prices unreasonable. Civil Beat.

Work completed for Coast Guard at new Honolulu dry dock.  Over the weekend, Pacific Shipyards International wrapped up its biggest maintenance project yet at its Honolulu Harbor facility, where shipyard workers over 90 days put the Coast Guard’s CGC Kimball, one of the service’s large national security cutters, through its first dry dock maintenance period. Star-Advertiser.

E. coli detected in Windward Oahu water source.  The Board of Water Supply has detected E. coli bacteria in the BWS Kahaluu Tunnel, officials said. Board of Water Supply officials the water from this source is safe to drink because it is routinely disinfected before it reaches customers, so there is no action required by customers. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Thanks to millions in federal aid, city eyes expansion of homeless camp program. The city’s HONU camp is currently set up in Maili, but the mobile program has been moving around the island since 2019. City officials are looking to expand the program with a new, $3.4 million grant. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Judge to appoint ‘special discovery master’ in Boy Scout wrongful death suit.  An ongoing dispute over the disclosure of documents in a civil lawsuit brought by the family of an 11-year-old Boy Scout killed last August by the accidental discharge of an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle at Camp Honokaia near Honokaa has led a judge to order the appointment of a special master to oversee the discovery process. Tribune-Herald.

Kapapala Ranch land transfer deal could move 7,000 acres to forest reserve. Some 7,000 acres of pasture land in Ka‘u could become part of the Kapapala Forest Reserve as two state agencies bury a 20-year-old bureaucratic hatchet. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island manta ray tour operators mixed about proposed rules, possible new law.  For more than a decade, with more and more manta ray tour companies converging at two small viewing areas off the West Hawai’i coast, ocean advocates and some tour operators have been concerned about safety and the preservation of the marine resource. Big Island Now.

Feline TNR programs ending at 2 island sites. AdvoCATS representatives said they recently received communication from Kamehameha Schools that it was terminating the trap/neuter/return, or TNR, programs for homeless cats at two of its properties on the Big Island, Keauhou Shopping Center and above the Lako gas station in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Ethics Board: You Can’t Keep Those $400 Koa Digging Sticks.
County officials should give back the pricey koa digging sticks they received at a recent groundbreaking ceremony for a housing development in West Maui, the Maui Board of Ethics says. Civil Beat.

Maui residents are looking at a possible islandwide tax increase. A bill that would increase the state general excise tax in Maui County is scheduled for a hearing at the county council meeting. If approved, the GET on Maui would go up by half a percent. KITV4.

Council close to appointing East Maui water board
. A previous mayor, a former Mahi Pono official, kalo farmers, lineal descendants of East Maui and experts in water and irrigation are all vying for seats on a newly created 11-member community board that will help guide policy for East Maui water use.  Maui News.

Kalaupapa park remains closed 3 years after pandemic shutdown.  The park, in conjunction with the state Department of Health, normally allows limited access — 100 people a day — via authorized tour operators in a move to protect the lifestyle and privacy of the Hansen’s disease patients who still live in the settlement. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai


Kaua‘i Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami signs 2024 fiscal year budget. The spending blueprint, which consists of an operating budget of $311.4 million and a capital improvement budget of $87 million, reflects the administration’s continuing focus on infrastructure. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County identifies new potential landfill site.  Kaua‘i County is moving to build a second landfill site in Kekaha, Department of Public Works Solid Waste Division officials said, as the division’s head suggested the island’s existing site will likely shut down years before another could open. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County sewer rate increase goes into effect on July 1. Kaua‘i residents are reminded that the county’s sewer rate will increase by 11% starting July 1, 2023.  Kauai Now.


Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Hawaii travelers stranded in Southwest Airlines schedule meltdown, Green renews emergency proclamation for air ambulance services, Kauai plans massive multi-source energy project, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Travelers scramble to get home after Southwest Airlines cancels thousands of flights. Hawaii travelers impacted by winter flight cancellations.  Major U.S. airlines broadsided by the massive weekend winter storm that swept across large swaths of the country had largely recovered heading into Monday, except for Southwest, where problems have continued to snowball. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.  KITV4.

Southwest cancels more flights, draws federal investigation. Southwest Airlines scrubbed thousands of flights again Tuesday in the aftermath of the massive winter storm that wrecked Christmas travel plans across the U.S., and the federal government said it would investigate why the company lagged so far behind other carriers. Associated Press.

Green extends emergency proclamation in response to air ambulance accident. The extension of the emergency proclamation allows the state to continue providing staffing and aircraft needed to ensure availability of emergency transportation for critically ill medical patients.  Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now. Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

COVID impact to linger: Schools chief says it will be years before students recover academically.  It could take three to five years for students to fully recover behaviorally and academically from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to state Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi. Tribune-Herald.

UH Study: Local farmers struggle with depression in Hawaiʻi. Hawaiian farmers 45 years old or younger are going into 2023 facing unprecedented mental stress, with a recent University of Hawaiʻi study finding 48% have experienced depression and 14% have struggled with suicidal thoughts.  Big Island Now.

Critical habitat to be declared for threatened iiwi bird.  Hawaii’s most iconic forest bird, the iiwi, will receive an added level of federal protection as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday that it plans to designate more than 275,000 acres as critical habitat for the threatened honeycreeper. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu to issue 4-year licenses for kupuna.  Starting Tuesday, Oahu residents between 72 and 79 years old will have to renew their driver’s license only every four years. Residents in that age range — more than 75,000 — currently have to renew every two years. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Critics sound off after Navy paves toxic foam spill area while still awaiting test results. In an update posted on Tuesday, military officials said that they have “successfully” removed the contamination and paved over the excavated areas. Hawaii News Now.

Troubled Beijing developer sells Kapolei land. Some 484 acres of land in Kapolei have been sold at a loss by a financially distressed Beijing-based developer that, at one point, wanted to create a residential development of 2,500 “upscale homes” including a lake for stand-up paddleboarding, swimming and other water activities. Star-Advertiser.

Commercial activities to resume at Hanauma Bay on Jan. 4.  Entry for licensed motor vehicle carriers, commonly referred to as tour vehicles, and permitted scuba/snorkel guides will once again be allowed in the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve beginning next year. Maui Now.

Inquiry into board of Bishop Museum is sought. An art dealer and an anthropologist have filed a complaint with the state Department of the Attorney General accusing Bishop Museum’s board of directors of breaching their fiduciary duties and squandering the museum’s charitable assets. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Officials urge safety as fireworks sales take off ahead of New Year’s festivities.  It’s that time of year when blowing off fireworks will light the Big Island skies Saturday night, although not everyone is excited about the long-held tradition. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Bissen Announces More Appointments To Maui Administration. Maui County Mayor-elect Richard Bissen has announced a number of new picks to head departments in his administration, many of whom are already serving under the leadership of Mayor Michael Victorino. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

State taking steps to address PFAS impacted soil at Kahului Airport Fire Training Pit.  The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation is taking steps to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) impacted soil in the vicinity of the Kahului Airport Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Training Pit.  Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

West Kaua’i Energy Project clears environmental regulatory hurdle.  The West Kauaʻi Energy Project is an innovative pumped-storage hydro and irrigation project, coupled with solar and battery storage, that is being undertaken by the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative and its renewable energy partner, AES.  Kauai Now.

Fireworks season starts with a bang.
County officials remind people that fireworks and firecrackers may only be ignited on private property between 9 p.m. on Dec. 31, and 1 a.m. on Jan. 1. Garden Island.

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Tourists attacked in Waikiki, Hana road blocked by locals as aloha turns to anger against Hawaii visitors; 14-day quarantine for travelers begins, residents batten down for extended social distancing, more top COVID-19 and other news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2020 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Pocket park in Waikiki ©2020 All Hawaii News
Visitors who took advantage of cheap airfare attacked in Waikiki amid growing virus fears. A mainland family who took advantage of the cheap airfares to Hawaii found themselves being victimized for it in Waikiki on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Closed? Tourists stuck on road to Hana. With no enforcement, local groups set up road blocks. Haiku resident Ramana Sawyer, who manages the Twin Falls attraction and the farm stand, said that he closed access to the area last Wednesday in response to recent county and state announcements. He still had to turn around more than 300 people Thursday. Maui News.

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Mandatory quarantine for all arrivals start Thursday. Starting tomorrow, the state will start placing everyone arriving at the airports under quarantine. Returning residents will have to stay home, while visitors will be forced to remain in their hotel room for two weeks. KHON2.

State's 14-day mandatory quarantine will apply to all arrivals, residents and non-residents. Governor David Ige issued an order to help stop COVID-19 from spreading and it goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. KITV4.

Southwest joins others in making cuts. Southwest Airlines is among the last of the carriers to announce flight reductions for Hawaii, which relies almost exclusively on airlift to bring visitors to the tourism-dependent state. Star-Advertiser.

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State health officials projecting the effects of COVID-19 in Hawaii could last months. State health officials are projecting the coronavirus will be a serious threat to Hawaii for up to five months with the peak of the outbreak yet to come. Star-Advertiser.

Ige: Staying at home the only way to beat COVID-19. Gov. David Ige on Wednesday recognized the challenges faced by Hawaii residents during the statewide lockdown aimed at slowing the progression of COVID-19, and discussed ongoing efforts to provide relief to those affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Tribune-Herald.

State Takes Steps to Help Hawai‘i Residents amid COVID-19 Pandemic. With the first day of the statewide stay-at-home order in the books, Gov. David Ige emphasized the importance of compliance in combating the coronavirus pandemic. Big Island Now.

5 New Cases of COVID-19: Hawaii State Total 95. As of noon on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, the state total count of positive coronavirus cases was 95, including 4 new cases on Oʻahu; and one new case each on Maui and Kauaʻi.  Maui’s island count is now 13. Maui Now.

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Hawaii jobless rate tops 10% with 58,000 out of work. Estimated unemployment in Hawaii surged past 10% Wednesday, but extra financial relief for workers laid off or furloughed could be arriving relatively soon. Star-Advertiser.

As Hawaii’s economy falters, construction is a rare bright spot. While so much of Hawaii’s economy is grinding to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hawaii’s construction industry is ramping up. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Visitor Arrivals Down 87% to 4,131 on Tuesday from 32,330 on the Same Day in 2019. Maui Now.

State offering financial help. State officials on Wednesday announced a host of efforts intended to ease the financial blow from the new coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Health Workers Are Already Running Low On Protective Gear. Some more rural Hawaii hospitals say their normal vendors are rationing supplies. Civil Beat.

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Ige, Green Smooth Over Differences On COVID-19 Response. Hawaii’s lieutenant governor said he and the governor talked about working more closely together on the coronavirus crisis. Civil Beat.

Green briefs County Council: Lt. Gov. pushes for stricter coronavirus protections. Lt. Gov. Josh Green vowed Wednesday to continue his message of greater social distancing, more coronavirus testing and stricter laws to cut off the deadly disease before it overtakes the islands — regardless of what’s been going on in state Capitol corridors. West Hawaii Today.

Lt Gov Green Gets Into The Nitty Gritty On COVID-19 Readiness. Big Island Video News.

Lt. Gov. Josh Green Addresses Alleged COVID-19 Response Exclusion. Green clarified his role in the statewide effort to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and said that if his recommendations aren't being received adequately, he will "tell the entire planet." Big Island Video News.

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Chief justice wants jail populations reduced to limit COVID-19 infections. Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald has directed some top Hawaii judges to work with police and prosecutors to identify jail inmates who can be quickly released to reduce the inmate population in Hawaii’s packed jails to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus among the prisoners and staff. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Prison Plan For COVID-19 Emphasizes Hygiene Over Inmate Releases. The state says that, despite overcrowding, there will be room to isolate sick inmates. Civil Beat.

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From South America to Hawaii Without A Single Health Check. As the coronavirus pandemic spread across the globe, Americans returning to the U.S. were entering the country without any health screening. Hawaii Public Radio.

Boat Harbor Restrooms Reopen To Ensure Availability for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness. Effective now, all DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation restrooms statewide at small boat harbors and boat ramps across the state will reopen, to observe CDC guidance for ensuring availability of toilets and hand washing facilities for people experiencing homelessness during this COVID-19 emergency. Maui Now.

EPA blocks unregistered disinfectant from entering Hawaii ports. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today said it has stopped several shipments of an illegal health product – Virus Shut Out — from entering U.S. Pacific ports due to violations of federal pesticide laws. Star-Advertiser.

DOE Will Increase Meals To Meet High Demand. DOE officials acknowledge meal shortages at some sites. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Homes Loan Payments Deferred For 6 Months. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Hawaiian Homes Commission has approved an emergency postponement of mortgage payments for DHHL direct loans. Big Island Video News.

Visitor industry is ready to help with crisis. The industry has offered support to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency from employee resources to hotel repurposing. HI-EMA is also evaluating the Hawai‘i Convention Center for medical overflow options if needed. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Said It Would Reopen Public Bathrooms. It Hasn’t. The CDC says park bathrooms should be open 24 hours a day. Honolulu still isn’t following those guidelines. Civil Beat.

City works to reopen park comfort stations . Officials say that they have been working to open these facilities and that they will be locked during the evening park closure hours, which has been done before. KHON2.

Malls and beaches empty, stores close and layoffs mount as stay-at-home order sets in. Waikiki, the state’s No. 1 tourist destination, was all but deserted Wednesday. Malls looked like ghost towns with most of their retail shops closed. And popular beaches were empty. Hawaii News Now.

Blood Bank of Hawaii asking Oahu residents to keep donating. The Blood Bank of Hawaii is putting out a desperate call for donations during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Blood Banks Need Your Help To Avert ‘A State Crisis’. Supplies are dropping and hospitals are conserving blood as much as possible. But health officials say it’s still safe to give blood. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

COVID-19: Kiaʻi Leave Maunakea, Observatories Suspend Operations. Activity on Maunakea has come to a halt due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Thirty Meter Telescope opponents and existing observatory personnel are staying at home. Big Island Video News.

Coronavirus threat prompts TMT opponents to pull back from Mauna Kea protest camp. After more than eight months of nonviolent protests at the base of the Mauna Kea Access Road, the opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope are pulling out of their camp and telling their supporters to take shelter from the novel coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

TMT Protest Camp Packs Up Due To COVID-19. Camp elders promised to return if construction is planned to resume. Civil Beat.

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Nurse Believes Big Island Hospital’s Policies Could Spread COVID-19. A 20-year veteran of Hilo Medical Center is concerned that a lack of personal protective equipment, coupled with what she described as unsound hospital policy, could turn a facility on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hawai‘i into an epicenter for its spread. Big Island Now.

Few out and about on first day of statewide lockdown. Whether it was because of Gov. David Ige’s order to lock down the state or simply due to inclement weather, few people were out and about on the first day of the state’s five-week stay-at-home order. Tribune-Herald.

North Hawaii Community Hospital seeks masks, other gear. Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea is participating in a statewide drive to collect personal protective equipment, or PPE, for health care workers. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Some call to open county restrooms. Homeless and their advocates call it health issue. Maui News.

Maui Critical Service Providers Seek Public Donations of Protective Equipment. Maui non-profit organizations Aloha House, (including Maui Counseling Group), Mālama Family Recovery Center, and Maui Youth and Family Services, are seeking the public’s help to obtain personal protective equipment, so their staff can help clients with critical substance abuse and mental health treatment needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maui Now.

Many Maui Hotels Temporarily Suspend Operations. The list of hotels around Maui and across the state are rolling out plans to address the reduced visitor load and mass cancellations as mandatory quarantines for arriving travelers, and newly implemented stay-at-home orders go into effect. Maui Now.

Kauai

Learning new rules. Mayor Derek Kawakami re-emphasized the bottom line of this Emergency Rule No. 5, which localized Gov. David Ige’s statewide stay-at-home order, a rule that took effect Wednesday just after midnight. Garden Island.

Budget talks to continue. The Kaua‘i County Council convened differently on Wednesday, as Councilmembers Luke Evslin and Mason Chock participated remotely via telecommunications in the meeting to practice social distancing amid the current COVID-19 outbreak. Garden Island.

Residents hopeful on day one of stay at home. Amid a stay-at-home order and travel quarantines for those traveling to Hawai‘i from the mainland or internationally, families on Kaua‘i are finding ways to cope, follow rules and support the community. Garden Island.

KPD looks to restructure salaries. Promotions within the Kaua‘i Police Department have been difficult to fulfill due to pay inversions, and KPD Chief Todd Raybuck believes he’s found a cost-effective solution. Garden Island.

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Barking Sands eyed for $1.98B ballistic missile system, resolution urges media restrictions on reporting suspects, whistleblower says FAA gave Southwest preferential treatment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pacific Missile Range Facility ©2020 All Hawaii News
Kauai military site named as possible site for $1.9B ballistic missile radar. The Missile Defense Agency is now also eyeing Kauai as a potential site for its planned $1.9 billion high powered ballistic missile radar. Hawaii News Now.

PMRF eyed for missile defense system. The U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility is being considered as a new location of a ballistic missile defense radar that would take up between 50 and 80 acres at Barking Sands. Garden Island.

Kauai, not just Oahu, now being considered for $1.9B defense radar. The Missile Defense Agency confirmed it is looking at the possibility of siting a $1.9 billion Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai instead of at one of several spots on Oahu that had been considered since 2018. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii lawmakers urge news outlets to use ‘no-notoriety’ approach. State Sen. Maile Shimabukuro of Oahu has introduced a pair of resolutions “encouraging the media, law enforcement, and information officers to adopt a no-notoriety approach to reporting on mass shooters and the perpetrators of other mass crimes.” Tribune-Herald.

Plenty Of Warning Signs But Few Treatment Options In Police Killer Case. Neighbors were well aware of Jerry Hanel’s bizarre behavior, but it’s hard to force unwilling people to get mental health treatment. Civil Beat.

Woman staying with Cain, Hanel Sunday says tragedy at Diamond Head was preventable. Sunday’s tragedy at Diamond Head that saw the deaths of two Honolulu Police Officers was the result of city and state agencies neglecting a warning about Jerry Hanel’s violence according to an acquaintance. KHON2.

Hawaii Eyes Closing Gun Loopholes, Bolstering Mental Health. Hawaii already has some of the nation's strictest gun laws, but the fatal shooting of two Honolulu police officers by a man his lawyer and neighbors believe had psychiatric problems has added new urgency to efforts to close gun control loopholes and bolster mental health care treatment. Associated Press.

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Democratic Party of Hawaii announces list of candidates appearing on ballot. Democratic Party of Hawai'i Interim Chair Kate Stanley announced the list of candidates who will appear on the ballot of Hawai‘i’s Party-run Presidential Primary. KITV4.

A dozen Democrats sign up for mail-in Hawaii party voting. A dozen candidates who are seeking the Democratic nomination for president have signed up and paid the filing fee to compete locally for delegates in what will be the Hawaii party’s first-ever mail-in balloting this spring to decide who will win the support of state Democratic Party members. Star-Advertiser.

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FAA gave Southwest Airlines special treatment for Hawaii flights, whistleblower alleges. Southwest Airlines received special treatment from the Federal Aviation Administration in expediting the approval process to begin Hawaii service last year, according to a whistleblower complaint. Star-Advertiser.

Whistleblower: FAA Improperly Rushed Southwest Approvals To Fly To Hawaii. FAA managers engaged in “abuse of authority” last year to help Southwest expedite service to the islands, according to a new Wall Street Journal report. Civil Beat.

Southwest responds after reports it got preferential treatment from the FAA to fly to Hawaii. Southwest Airlines says it followed all the rules to receive approval to fly to Hawaii. KHON2.

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Tour Helicopter Crashes — And Flights — Have Escalated In Recent Years. In Hawaii, 2019 was the deadliest year for tour helicopters in nearly two decades, with 10 people dying in two crashes, a Civil Beat review of federal records shows. Civil Beat.

Report: Fundamentals of Hawaii’s economy would need to change to ease cost of living. In a recent write-up, the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii notes that residents are unlikely to get much relief from the price of paradise ― barring changes to the fundamental factors that drive high costs in the islands and modest incomes. Hawaii News Now.

Little relief from Hawaii’s high cost of living. Executive summary. University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.

Volunteers gather for point-in-time count to get better sense of Hawaii’s homeless population. The point-in-time is a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January that helps to determine the funding and resources that are committed to combating homelessness in our community. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii officials urge doctors to be on alert as deadly coronavirus spreads from China. A deadly new virus from China has spread to the U.S., prompting federal officials to expand screenings for the illness at major airports across the country. Hawaii News Now.

No Coronavirus Cases Reported In Hawaii But Officials Advise Flu Shots. Hawaii health officials are advising residents to get flu shots to help in the detection of cases of coronavirus that has affected over 400 people in China and killed nine. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOH urges vigilance, not panic as deadly coronavirus spreads. State health officials are urging Hawaii residents to be vigilant but not to panic after a deadly new virus from China reached the U.S. West Coast in recent days. West Hawaii Today.

Health Department issues China virus medical advisory. The state Health Department sent out a detailed medical advisory for health care providers Tuesday to be on the alert for patients who traveled from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and may have pneumonia contracted from the novel coronavirus. Maui News.

State health department believes there's a small chance Coronavirus will be Hawaii bound. It's sill advising the community to be prepared. KITV4.

Hawai‘i Health Officials Offer Guidance on Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China. The Hawai‘i Department of Health is providing guidance to healthcare providers in the state for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China, which already includes more than 300 confirmed infections and several deaths in China. Maui Now.

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Hawaii Doctors Hopeful Over-The-Counter Drug Can Fight Rat Lungworm Disease. The Hilo Medical Center is recommending people take pinworm medicine as a precautionary measure if they accidentally eat slugs or snails. Civil Beat.


Oahu


Street where violent rampage happened reopens, but a sense of normal is likely years away. Three days after a man’s deadly rampage in the Diamond Head area, dozens of displaced residents were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Power restored, roads reopened in Diamond Head neighborhood. A neighborhood in the Diamond Head area continues to repair itself after a tragic event struck on January 19. KHON2.

'Shell shock’: As residents return to Diamond Head, coping with memories among challenges. Three days after triple-murder suspect Jerry Hanel torched his neighborhood in a hail of gunfire, resident Gisela King returned to the home where she was stabbed. Hawaii News Now.

Outpouring of support for grieving HPD. The names of Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama were added Wednesday to the Honolulu Police Department’s “Roll of Honor” plaque at the main police headquarters, joining 48 other officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Star-Advertiser.

Residents on Hibiscus Drive allowed to return to homes. Raymond Teruya Sr. had the widest smile Wednesday as he returned to his family’s Diamond Head home after police pulled down most of the crime scene tape that has surrounded Hibiscus Drive since Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Landlord was quirky, caring. Lois Kiehl Cain was a quirky former belly- dancing University of Hawaii librarian who had a soft spot for taking in strangers to her home on Hibiscus Drive where they lived rent free, including defecting Russian fishermen, a family escaping Asia’s economic downturn and the man suspected of killing her and two Honolulu police officers on Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Concerns discussed at Kaneohe cemetery expansion hearing. Supporters and opponents of a controversial Kaneohe cemetery expansion plan sounded off in about equal numbers Wednesday to start a quasi-judicial state hearing over whether forested conservation land can be developed with 30,000 new burial sites for Hawaiian Memorial Park. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island


HELCO seeks OK to rebuild transmission lines to PGV. A public hearing regarding Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s application to construct portions of overhead transmission lines that will reconnect Puna Geothermal Venture to the HELCO grid will be held next week in Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

County set to put limit on one load of refuse a day. The county will soon limit the amount of waste residents can dispose at county transfer stations in a single day. Tribune-Herald.

Bus depot land buy paused. The County Council put the brakes Wednesday on a fast-tracked land buy for a bus depot, for at least two more weeks while more information is gathered. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Court: County cannot redefine ‘real property’. Code changed to allow wind turbines to be included in tax assessments. The Hawaii Supreme Court said Tuesday that Maui County did not have the power to include wind turbines as “real property” when it taxed major wind farms on Maui. Maui News.

Judge’s ruling shuts down vacation rental in Paia. Unpermitted Nalu Kai Lodge had $2.7M in fines, penalties. Maui News.

Kauai

Council amends TVR bill 2767. The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved amendments to a bill that would increase property taxes for certain vacation-rental owners. Garden Island.

Recycling biz rising. James Higginbotham has been operating Kauai Community Recycling Service for 17 years, the last 10 at 962 Kipuni Way in the Arzadon Industrial Center next to Gather Federal Credit Union. Garden Island.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Investigation ongoing after two police officers killed, landlord stabbed, 7 homes burned down near Waikiki, disgruntled tenant missing; plus more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Downed police officers Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama PC: Honolulu Police Department.
First responders still on scene at Diamond Head after man fatally shoots 2 HPD officers before raging fire destroys 7 homes. First responders remain at the scene of Diamond Head on Monday morning, a day after a “tragic unfolding of events” that started with a stabbing and ended with the shooting deaths of two Honolulu police officers and a raging fire that destroyed seven homes. Hawaii News Now.

Body camera footage shows 2019 encounter between suspect, officer killed in line of duty. At least one of the Honolulu police officers who was shot and killed in the line of duty Sunday had previously been dispatched to the suspect’s home in response to emergency calls, according to video obtained by Hawaii News Now. Hawaii News Now.

2 officers killed, homes destroyed in standoff. The Honolulu Police Department on Sunday mourned the loss of two police officers who were shot and killed while responding to an apparent tenant-landlord dispute that blew up into a multihome fire near Diamond Head and left three others missing, including the shooter, who was presumed dead. The Honolulu Police Department on Sunday mourned the loss of two police officers who were shot and killed while responding to an apparent tenant-landlord dispute that blew up into a multihome fire near Diamond Head and left three others missing, including the shooter, who was presumed dead. Star-Advertiser.

Man facing eviction fatally shoots 2 Honolulu police officers before blaze destroys 7 homes in Diamond Head neighborhood. In a shocking series of events Sunday, a 69-year-old man facing eviction is accused of fatally shooting two Honolulu police officers who were responding to the scene of a stabbing and then apparently setting a raging fire that destroyed seven homes in Diamond Head. Hawaii News Now.

Man Facing Eviction Allegedly Killed 2 HPD Officers, Stabbed Landlord. The shooting suspect is believed to have also started a fire in the neighborhood that destroyed at least seven houses. Civil Beat.

7 Homes Burn After Shooter Kills 2 Honolulu Officers. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard says it may take several days to process the Diamond Head area crime scene where two Honolulu police officers were shot and killed Sunday morning. Hawaii Public Radio.

Homes burn after shooter kills 2 Honolulu officers. A man shot and killed two police officers Sunday as they responded to a home in a leafy neighborhood beneath the rim of a famed volcanic crater near Waikiki Beach, authorities said. Associated Press.

HPD gives details on "senseless, selfish act". Suspect Jerry Hanel is accused of killing Officers Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama, then setting a fire. KITV4.

Mayor on officers that were shot and killed: They ‘put on their uniforms this morning and didn’t get home’. Police Chief Susan Ballard confirmed Jerry Hanel to be the suspect in the shooting that killed two officers on Sunday, Jan. 19. Chief Ballard said that officers responded to the scene after a report of a stabbing. KHON2.

Suspect suffered from mental health problems. The Honolulu Police Department believes the man suspected of shooting and killing two patrol officers, stabbing his landlady and destroying by fire seven homes in an exclusive Diamond Head neighborhood Sunday perished in the Hibiscus Drive house where he lived. Star-Advertiser.

Shooting suspect had history of mental instability but not extreme violence. The 69-year-old suspect in the Diamond Head shooting Sunday that left two Honolulu police officers dead had a history of mental instability and disagreements with neighbors, his attorney told Hawaii News Now. Hawaii News Now.

Neighbors, witnesses give more insight on suspect Jerry Hanel. Early Sunday morning, many woke up to panic and chaos as first responders rushed to Hibiscus Drive where two officers were shot and homes burned. KHON2.

2 slain Honolulu police officers were parents. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard identified the two Honolulu police officers as Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama. Star-Advertiser.

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Ige pledged to end homelessness in Hawaii by 2020. What happened? "In hindsight maybe it was too aggressive, too aspirational.” Hawaii News Now.

Legislature launches environmental caucus. To encourage legislative action on pressing environmental issues, the state Legislature has formed an Environmental Legislative Caucus. Garden Island.

State: Tax collections up. Total state tax collections were up almost 5% in Fiscal Year 2019, which ended June 30. Tribune-Herald.

Attorney general seeks funds to fight corruption. State Attorney General Clare Connors is requesting an extra $1 million a year for pay increases to be distributed among the 200 lawyers that work in her office, and is seeking 10 additional staffers for a new unit designed to pursue complex cases including public corruption and theft from state programs. Star-Advertiser.

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Solar generation up 21% in 2019, Hawaiian Electric says. Hawaiian Electric announced Friday that it experienced a 21% jump in solar generation capacity last year, its largest-ever annual increase for the five isles it has served since 2005. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric: Solar Capacity Surged in 2019. The completion of large grid-scale projects and thousands of residential solar systems boosted the largest-ever annual increase in solar capacity on Hawaiian Electric’s five island systems, the company announced Friday. Maui Now.

Oahu

Using a new law, Honolulu goes after scofflaws and drafts rules for 1,700 new B&Bs. Over the next year, Kathy Sokugawa, acting director of the city Department of Planning and Permitting, faces the mammoth task of rooting out illegal vacation rentals that have proliferated on Oahu, in defiance of a three-decades-old ban. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s top civil attorney Donna Leong is in limbo. Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced a year ago that City Corporation Counsel Donna Leong was granted paid administrative leave from her post after receiving a target letter from the U.S. Department of Justice. Star-Advertiser.

Law enforcement hopes capture of crime ring players will help bring crime under control. City and federal law enforcement officers are pursuing two crime rings that they suspect are responsible for a portion of the recent wave of property and violent crimes that has put Oahu on edge. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office has noted that about a dozen high-profile violent crime cases referred to their office since 2015 have been committed by current and former HOPE probationers. In six of these, police shot the suspect, and in three of the cases killed him. HOPE stands for Hawaii’s Opportunity Probation With Enforcement. Launched by 1st Circuit Court Judge Steven Alm in 2004, the high-intensity supervision program assigns sanctions — typically several days in jail — every time a participant violates probation terms like using drugs or missing appointments with a probation officer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Bus system ‘meltdown’ leaves schoolchildren, working poor stranded. After a week of even fewer buses than usual, Mayor Harry Kim on Friday called an emergency meeting and together, top officials came up with an interim plan that will draw on buses and vans from the public and private sector, in addition to those of current bus contractors Roberts Hawaii and Polynesian Adventure Tours Inc. West Hawaii Today.

Judge hands down maximum sentence to Waiki accomplice Malia Lajala. A fifth accomplice was sentenced Friday to six years in jail for her role in assisting Justin Waiki after the July 2018 murder of Hawaii County Police Officer Bronson Kaliloa. West Hawaii Today.

Aloha, Southwest! Airline opens interisland service to Hilo. More than 100 passengers were greeted with cheers and songs Sunday morning after disembarking Southwest Airlines’ first flight from Honolulu to Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor to deliver State of County Feb. 11. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino will be delivering his 2020 State of the County address on Feb. 11 at the newly opened South Maui Community Park Gymnasium. Maui News.

Maui police tow two cars under new DUI law. DUI arrestees will have their car towed rather than stay in place. KITV4.

EVohana charger transfer conditionally OK’d by PUC. The state Public Utilities Commission has approved Hawaiian Electric’s plan to own and potentially operate four EVohana sites on Maui that uses pricing to entice electric vehicle drivers to plug in during the day when solar power is plentiful. Maui News.

Saving Materials and More in Maui County. Since its launch in 2018, Hawai’i Materials Recycling says it has saved Maui County taxpayers millions of dollars. Maui Now.

Kauai

National CAP commander visits Kauai. A briefing on the communications capabilities of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operating Center concluded the vist of Civil Air Patrol National Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Smith and his entourage, Thursday at the EOC. Garden Island.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Natatorium War Memorial could be rebuilt, Hawaii's deadly dams, Maui to restructure property taxes, Hilo homeless shelter opened, Southwest Airlines adds Kauai service, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

©2019 Robb Williamson / AECOM
Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial, Hawaii Office of Environmental Quality Control ©2019 Robb Williamson/AECOM
Ocean-water pool is part of Waikiki Natatorium restoration EIS. The long debate over the future of the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium may finally be over. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s 130 state-regulated dams considered deadly if they fail. Many dams across Hawaii, like those in other parts of the country, are aging and in a state of decay. Associated Press.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ Keli‘i Akina demands apology from fellow trustees. An Office of Hawaiian Affairs committee that investigated complaints against trustee Keli‘i Akina concluded he made misleading and untrue statements in violation of the board’s code of conduct policy. Star-Advertiser.

UH study: Native Hawaiians have lower life expectancy when they stay in the islands. A study released by public health researchers at the University of Hawaii analyzed the life expectancies of the major racial and ethnic groups in Hawaii. KITV.

Coral bleaching widespread across Hawaiian Islands, surveys show. On the map of the main Hawaiian isles, colored dots denoting the extent of bleached corals cover the north and south sides of Kauai, surround all of Oahu and blanket the west sides of Maui and Hawaii Island. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

130 people work to re-beautify the USS Arizona Memorial. It’s the resting place of more than 1,100 American sailors and marines killed during the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. KHON2.

Recycle or Burn: What’s The Carbon Impact of Honolulu’s Trash? Oahu’s waste-to-power facility has a hidden carbon cost, but is it better than shipping all our recyclables off-island? Civil Beat.

Second Bid To Impeach Honolulu’s Top Prosecutor Is Filed. A Honolulu businessman once charged with operating an illegal gambling operation is seeking to remove Keith Kaneshiro, the Honolulu prosecutor. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Prosecutor Objects To Feds’ Ruling On A Third Deedy Trial. A U.S. Court of Appeals panel ruled Christopher Deedy couldn’t be tried for manslaughter charges again, but only on assault charges. Civil Beat.

Push For Alternatives Resurfaces In Ala Moana Playground Controversy. A Honolulu City Councilmember hopes Mayor Kirk Caldwell will seriously consider alternative locations for a controversial children’s playground, with Kaka’ako Waterfront Park that was recently transferred to the city being one option. Hawaii Public Radio.

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Some drivers cited during anti TMT convoy because of flags flown on vehicles. Hundreds of motorists took to Oahu roads to drive home their message against additional construction on the mountain. KITV.

Oahu convoy protests TMT and other development. Scores of people attended a rally Sunday at Kualoa Regional Park in support of opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea and other “malama aina” issues in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Anti-TMT activists hold another ‘rolling convoy’ on Oahu. Anti-TMT activists held another “rolling convoy” on Sunday, with hundreds of vehicles making the drive from West Oahu to the Windward side. Hawaii News Now.

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Unregistered, cash-only Honolulu massage parlors are raising red flags for law enforcement. Nearly two-thirds of Honolulu massage parlors reviewed by customers on a popular website within the past year were not registered to do business in Hawaii, and almost all of the unregistered establishments accepted cash only, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser analysis. Star-Advertiser.

Farmer sues ‘rogue’ state agency over alleged mistreatment. A state agency established to support diversified farming in Hawaii is being accused of wrecking one prospective venture to grow produce on former pineapple fields in Wahiawa. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Temporary Pohoiki access? Plan for boat ramp involves installing sheet piles, dredging channel. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will seek funding from the state Legislature next year in the hope of establishing temporary ocean access at the Pohoiki boat ramp. Tribune-Herald.

Board of Appeals won’t consider constitutionality of vacation rental law. Whether the county’s short-term vacation rental law is constitutional is beyond the scope of the county Board of Appeals, members said Friday in unanimously voting to deny a Captain Cook homeowner’s request to take up the issue. West Hawaii Today.

Piilani Partners appeals permit denial. An attorney representing a company appealing the county’s denial of a Special Management Area permit to drill for and bottle water in Hilo argued in court Tuesday the Windward Planning Commission’s decision was based on speculation about things that could potentially happen. Tribune-Herald.

Construction of first phase of Honomu homestead project could begin in 2020. An environmental assessment for an agricultural homestead community planned for Honomu found no significant environmental impact. Tribune-Herald.

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Weeks after opening, new Big Island homeless shelter nearly at capacity. The newest homeless shelter on the Big Island is housed in Hilo’s old Memorial Hospital. Hawaii News Now.

Keolahou shelter officially opens in Hilo. Dozens gathered Friday morning for the formal opening and blessing of Keolahou, an emergency homeless shelter recently established at the old Hilo Memorial Hospital. Tribune-Herald.

Keolahou Shelter In Hilo Blessed. A celebration was held Friday at Keolahou, the site of the old Hilo hospital, East Hawaiʻi first "Ohana Zone" shelter. Big Island Video News.

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As temps drop at Mauna Kea, protesters hunker down for a long winter. It's been nearly four months since protesters set up camp at Mauna Kea to block the Thirty Meter Telescope and protect against what they call desecration of the mountain. Hawaii News Now.

County plots next course of action as lot owners fail to appeal. The owners of a downtown Hilo lot that has become a homeless camp have failed to appeal their case. Tribune-Herald.

Safety requirement or freedom of choice? Agency says states should require bicycle helmets. Head injury is the most common cause of death and serious disability in bicycle-related crashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It accounts for 62% of bicycle-related deaths. West Hawaii Today.

Cleanup activist, Trump supporter rallies groups to get out and vote. Scott Presler wants to help turn the blue state of Hawaii “red like hot lava.” West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Council has property tax changes in the works. Two bills pass first reading to change tax classifications and to establish tiered rates. Maui News.

Farmers convention growing the good stuff. Knowledge-sharing draws hundreds to Puunene event. Hundreds of farmers from around Hawaii gathered in Central Maui over the weekend to cultivate a deeper understanding of ag in the Aloha State. Maui News.

Maui bucks a statewide downturn in hotel demand with new developments increasing. Hotel demand is dropping on every major Hawaiian island but Maui, where growth is fueling a development cycle that could add about 10 or more new hotels and timeshares to the market. Star-Advertiser.

Equity and Electrification to be Explored at 2020 Hawai‘i Energy Conference. The 7th annual Hawaiʻi Energy Conference will explore issues relating to beneficial electrification and the design of an equitable energy transition during its next conference on March 18 and 19, 2020. Maui Now.

Kauai


Schatz Calls On Spectrum, Other Firms To Explain Kauai Outage. Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz accused companies responsible for Kauai's recent islandwide Internet, cable and phone outage of failing to give residents timely information on the communications disruption and when service might be restored. Hawaii Public Radio.

Passengers cheered as the first Southwest Airlines flight out of Lihue landed in Honolulu on Sunday morning, marking the beginning of the carrier’s flights to and from Kauai. Garden Island.

Tropic Care coming in 2020. Tropic Care 2020 will be the fifth IRT mission on Kauai, and will offer free clinic services from April 27 through May 5 under the lead of the U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Sherman. Garden Island.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Hawaii Dems opt for ranked-choice mail-in ballots for presidential primary, convicted ex-police chief Kealoha files for divorce, Hawaii County Council advances pesticide ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Tulsi Gabbard ©2019 All Hawaii News
Tulsi Gabbard’s take on Syria gets slammed as ‘dead wrong’ during Democratic debate. Tulsi Gabbard came under attack for her stances on Syria during Tuesday’s presidential debate, marring what needed to be a strong performance for the Hawaii congresswoman, who has struggled to gain traction in her bid for the presidency. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard: ‘Blood Of The Kurds’ On Trump’s Hands. The Hawaii congresswoman continued to push for ending U.S. involvement in “regime-change war” during Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate. Civil Beat.

Gabbard Restrained In Debate But Questions Warren About Syria. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard did not have significant air time in Tuesday's crowded debate of 12 Democratic presidential candidates but she was most emphatic when arguing in support of the U.S. pullout from Syria. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal Campaign Filings Show Gabbard Has Raised Another $3 Million. State Sen. Kai Kahele continues to rake in cash in his bid to oust the CD2 congresswoman. Civil Beat.

DNC approves delegate plan. The party-run presidential primary scheduled for April 4 will include vote-by-mail and ranked choice voting. Garden Island.

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Protests concern Hawaii business leaders. Hawaii often gets rapped as being unfriendly to business over regulations, taxes and litigation. Now a new layer to this perception may be forming as activists inhibit construction of three development projects. Star-Advertiser.

UH Pay Increases For Top Executives Drawing Scrutiny. The double-digit percentage pay increases are permissible under a UH policy giving discretion to the university president to elevate pay. Civil Beat.

Vaping Summit, Legislative Briefing Set As Lung Illness Count Continues To Rise Nationwide. An anti-vaping summit is planned this week in Honolulu and state lawmakers scheduled a briefing Thursday on the rising youth use of e-cigarettes. Hawaii Public Radio.

More Hawaiian homeland residents struggling with loan payments, face eviction. DHHL beneficiaries asked Lt. Gov. Josh Green and state legislators for the same loan mitigation programs offered to other citizens. They say current state law prohibits that. KITV.

Why Hawaii Still Has So Few Electric Cars. Only about 1% of cars here are electric vehicles. Advocates say boosting that number requires mandating builders install charging stations at new developments. Civil Beat.

$88 Billion: A New Price Tag For Fixing Hawaii’s Infrastructure And Retirement Systems. A new report from the Hawaii Executive Conference details the state’s worsening financial problems, but it doesn’t offer any solutions. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha files for divorce from wife Katherine. Louis Kealoha, the retired police chief and convicted felon, filed for divorce Monday from his wife, former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, also a convicted felon. Star-Advertiser.

Louis Kealoha Files For Divorce From Katherine Kealoha. The marriage is irretrievably broken, Louis Kealoha indicated in his court complaint. Civil Beat.

As both await sentencing, ex-police chief files for divorce from his wife. Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha has filed for a divorce from his wife Katherine, a former deputy prosecutor. Hawaii News Now.

Retired Police Chief Louis Kealoha files for divorce. Retired Police Chief Louis Kealoha has filed for divorce against his wife, Katherine, a former deputy prosecutor. KHON2.

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Gov. David Ige backs wind farm’s construction in Kahuku. The company planning to build a wind farm in Kahuku “should be allowed to proceed,” Gov. David Ige’s office said Tuesday as protesters continued to rally at the construction site. Star-Advertiser.

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State health officials fine bubble tea shop in Moiliili for removing yellow placard. The state Health Department has fined a bubble tea shop at Puck’s Alley in Moiliili $2,000 for unlawfully and intentionally removing a yellow placard, which stands for a conditional pass, from their facility. Star-Advertiser.

Popular bubble tea shop slapped with fine for removing yellow health placard. The Department of Health has fined a popular Oahu bubble tea shop after removing a conditional yellow health placard from their window. Hawaii News Now.

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Home and condo sales rise on Oahu. Home and condo sales are picking up with several regions seeing double-digit gains. KHON2.

Sea Life Park announces death of Kina the false killer whale. Sea Life Park Hawaii announced today the death of Kina, the false killer whale that had been a beloved part of its family since 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Kina, the beloved false killer whale at Sea Life Park, dies. A mainstay at Sea Life Park on Oahu has died. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Herbicide ban advanced: Bill prohibits county use of weed killers in parks, roadsides. Hawaii Island is moving toward banning county-applied herbicides on parks and roadsides. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaiʻi County Council Committee of Agricultural, Water, Energy and Environmental Management voted to advance Bill 101 to the full council with a positive recommendation. Big Island Video News.

Pesticide Ban Advances to Council. The Hawai‘i County Council Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy and Environmental Management voted 7-0 today to advance Bill 101, a pesticide ban in Hawai‘i County, with a positive recommendation to the Council late Tuesday night. Big Island Now.

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Committee gets update on lava recovery efforts. Hawaii County Council members appeared pleased with the current state of the Kilauea eruption recovery efforts after an update provided Tuesday to the Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Eruption Recovery Progress Report Delivered. It has been one year since the eruption of Kīlauea ended, but the recovery effort in Puna continues. Big Island Video News.

University of Hawaii regents panel pitches plan to improve Mauna Kea. Following a two-month examination of the issues related to Mauna Kea, a University of Hawaii Board of Regents committee did not recommend any change in its support for the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope. Star-Advertiser.

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Men’s shelter in old Hilo hospital accepts its first residents. The old Hilo Memorial Hospital has a new purpose: helping homeless men. Tribune-Herald.

Old Hilo Hospital Site Now An Ohana Zone. The goal is to improve access to needed services for those experiencing homelessness. Civil Beat.

Keolahou Shelter To Address Homelessness In Hilo. The shelter is on the site of the old Hilo Memorial Hospital near Rainbow Falls, and is made possible by state ʻOhana Zone funds. Big Island Video News.

Maui

State restricts access to cliff in West Maui. Concerns over rock climbing impacts have led the state to close a cliff face in the Lihau section of the West Maui Natural Area Reserve. Maui News.

Maui Marketplace seeing some new tenants, changes. Jollibee, a fast food chain from the Philippines, is coming to the center. Maui News.

Jollibee “Home of the Famous Chickenjoy” Coming to Maui Marketplace. Jollibee, a popular fast-food chain in the Philippines, will be opening a restaurant at the Maui Marketplace in Kahului. Maui Now.

Island home prices dip in September as purchases spike. 83 properties have sales pending, up 26 percent from September 2018. Maui News.

Kauai

Water rights contested. A case that began before the county planning commission and made its way to the highest court in the state continued Tuesday in Kauai’s circuit court, where a judge appeared on the verge of siding with a Koloa couple embroiled in the 13-year legal battle. Garden Island.

Southwest on the way. Southwest will launch service between Honolulu and Kauai, Maui and Sacramento on Nov. 10. Garden Island.