Tokuda, Case keep congressional focus on Maui, Hawaii GOP caucus set for March 12, DOH contracts for new COVID call center, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Rep. Tokuda requests moment of silence for Maui on House floor. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda on Tuesday, along with fellow U.S. Rep. Ed Case, stood on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and asked for a moment of silence. Hawaii's congressional delegation wants to keep focus on the Aug. 8 wildfires to ensure that federal resources continue to flow to the state. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Hawaii GOP Sets Presidential Caucus For March 12. That's a week after Super Tuesday, one of the biggest voting days in next year's election cycle. Civil Beat.

Former Land Board Chair To Lead New UH Conservation Office. Suzanne Case served two terms as director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Civil Beat.

Planned reopening of West Maui tourism stirs concern. Gov. Josh Green said nearly 7,300 people are staying in 32 hotels across West Maui, and those hotels are set to reopen to tourism in less than four weeks. Some say it’s too soon, but state leaders say it’s the right time. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers take closer look at existing rules for management of dry brush. Dry brush and unmanaged vegetation can be the worst enemy for firefighting. KHON2.

HECO indicates it could turn to ratepayers to help cover extensive fire rebuilding costs. Hawaiian Electric may be asking customers to pay for damage and recovery from the Maui wildfires — even though many say HECO is to blame. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Posted “working closely” with EOC, then crews blocked lanes. KITV4 is learning more about the communication failures of August 8th, during the afternoon self-evacuation of Lahaina.  KITV4.

DOH awards $415K contract for new COVID surveillance call center. The $415,000 contract has been awarded to market researcher Omnitrak Group, which will be tasked with calling individuals who test positive for coronavirus. KHON2.

Hawaiʻi health care workers can now receive up to $50K a year to pay student loans. The Hawaiʻi Education Loan Repayment Program, or HELP, aims to tackle the state's physician shortage as it's grown from several hundred to above 1,000 over the last decade. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Resignations continue at liquor commission as Honolulu mayor hopes for ‘new beginning’. The newest chair of the Liquor Commission is just eight months into his role as chair but has already announced he will be leaving in the coming months. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu EMTs, Paramedics Sue The City For Overtime. A lawsuit filed a decade ago got the Emergency Services Department to update its payroll system, but that hasn't fixed the problem. Civil Beat.

HPD pursuit policy ‘defective,’ lawsuit alleges. The family of a teen permanently injured in a September 2021 Makaha car chase by Honolulu Police Department officers has filed a federal lawsuit alleging the HPD’s pursuit policy is defective. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Defueling Red Hill won’t hurt readiness, Pentagon says. The Pentagon has officially told Congress that military operations in the Pacific will not be adversely affected by the closure of the Navy’s underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Has A Hiring Problem. Here’s What That Means For Fire Mitigation Efforts. While city-owned land makes up a relatively small portion of Oahu, groundskeepers need to be strategically redeployed to stave off wildfires. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Vog returns to Kona with Kilauea’s current eruption.  Volcanic smog, or “vog,” filled West Hawaii’s skies Tuesday, obliterating views of Hualalai and blurring the horizon, as Kilauea volcano continued to erupt for a third day, pumping out thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which reacts with the atmosphere and creates the visible haze. West Hawaii Today. Associated Press.

An arid August. Hilo International Airport received 5.35 inches of rain in August, almost half of its norm of 11.3 inches for the month. Despite that, most windward Big Island areas remain verdant. Tribune-Herald.

Governor releases $500,000 in capital improvement project funds for Waimea schools.  A master plan will be the first step in outlining a strategy to make full use of the campus, which encompasses Waimea Elementary and Middles Schools. Big Island Now.

New Superintendent Selected For Kona National Historical Parks.  Paul Scolari has been chosen to serve as the superintendent of Kaloko-Honokōhau and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Parks. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

As temporary housing deadlines approach, officials look at long-term solutions on Maui. About 2,000 homes in Lāhainā were lost in the Maui wildfires, displacing thousands of individuals. Survivors of the Maui wildfires have until this Friday to sign up for temporary housing through the American Red Cross. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lahaina Businesses Hoping To Reopen Face Daunting Challenges. From unsafe water to uncertainty over future earnings, obstacles line the path of recovery for businesses in and around the burn zone. Civil Beat.

Recovery in Maui’s Upcountry slow as fires still burn.  More than a month after a series of destructive wildfires that decimated much of the historic town of Lahaina and a number of homes in the Upcountry community of Kula, many residents are still being advised not to drink or bathe with water from systems that officials say were damaged and contaminated during the fires. Star-Advertiser.

County amends Unsafe Water Advisory for part of Upper Kula.  Water serving homes and buildings in Zone 1 has been determined to be safe for unrestricted use. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Another name is added to the list of Maui fatalities.  The Maui Police Department on Tuesday named Buddy Joe Carter as the 61st fatality of the Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire.  MPD said seven others have been identified but their families had yet to be notified. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Council to consider resolution supporting AMR. Council to consider resolution supporting AMR. The Maui County Council will consider a resolution on Friday that urges the state Department of Health to continue contracting American Medical Response for Maui County’s emergency medical response services.  Maui News.

Kauai

Kauaʻi rain gauges show below average precipitation for month of August. According to the monthly precipitation summary from the National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu, the Anahola gauge had its lowest August total since 2000, and Mount Waiʻaleʻale and Wainiha had their lowest August totals since 2005. Kauai Now.

DLNR chief faces easy confirmation, Honolulu condo sprinkler bill watered down, Kona homeless rousted, cutoff Kauai residents prepare for visitors, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

DLNR Chairwoman Suzanne Case PC:DLNR

Senate panel recommends reappointment of Suzanne Case to lead Hawaii land department. The committee also voted unanimously to approve Robert Masuda as DLNR’s deputy director. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Committee Recommends Confirming Case As DLNR Chair. The vote was unanimous in favor of the governor’s nomination to head the state land department. Civil Beat.

The State Senate voted to confirm Scott T. Murakami and Leonard Hoshijo as the director and deputy director of the Hawaii State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.  Maui Now.

Lawmaker seeks study on sliding-scale tickets. A leading lawmaker who deals with issues of crime and punishment in Hawaii wants to study the concept of “fair and proportional” fines, which means a schedule of fines for traffic or other violations that requires rich people to pay more than poor people. Star-Advertiser.

Group Opposed To Taxing Billions In Real Estate Trusts Is A Big Spender At Capital. The national association supporting owners of some of Hawaii’s premier commercial locations spent $126,000 in two months — but a bill to tax them is still alive. Civil Beat.

Final road usage charge meetings set. The Department of Transportation is holding its final three of 14 community meetings on its proposed road usage charge instead of fuel tax paid at the pump. Star-Advertiser.

HDOT still seeking your thoughts on a proposal to tax drivers by the mile. The idea behind the tax is to charge drivers for the distance they drive in place of the current fuel tax — which brings the state 16 cents per gallon of gas at the pump. Hawaii News Now.

Navy remembers North Korean shoot-down on 50th anniversary. Twenty-one relatives of three fallen crew members traveled to Oahu and Ford Island for a memorial ceremony organized by Navy Information Operations Command Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The High Price Of Luring The Movies To Hawaii. The film industry says the state’s $35 million cap on tax credits is too low, costing Hawaii projects and jobs. But some question whether the benefits are worth the cost. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Raises $1.9 Million In Bid For White House. Meanwhile, Kai Kahele, the state senator vying to take her congressional seat, says he feels good about the $250,000 he raised so far. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Sprinkler bill allows easier compliance for condo owners. A bill making it easier for owners of older high-rise residential buildings to meet a tougher fire safety law comes up for a final vote before the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Grandma’s Deposition In Kealoha Corruption Case Postponed. Florence Puana was hospitalized over the weekend. Prosecutors want to question her early because of her poor health. Civil Beat.

Katherine Kealoha’s grandmother, Florence Puana, is appealing the case that ended with her paying more than $100,000 of Kealoha’s legal fees. The 99-year-old was ordered to pay up after losing her state lawsuit against Kealoha several years ago. Hawaii News Now.

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Commentary: This Is Why We Rarely Rely On Anonymous Sources. Readers should be able to know and trust where your information is coming from. But public officials also have a responsibility to speak up and correct erroneous reporting. Civil Beat.

High-ranking deputy Prosecutor Janice Futa is denying that she has received a subject letter from the FBI. In December, Hawaii News Now reported Futa received a subject letter. Based on Futa’s denial in court documents, Hawaii News Now has removed references to the letter from prior online stories. Hawaii News Now.

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Recycling rates have been dropping on Oahu, while the cost of the program has been rising...thanks in part to contaminated recyclables in those blue bins. KITV.

Windward Mall Sears to close on April 28. The Kaneohe department store will close April 28 — shortly after Wednesday’s shutdown of the auto center. Star-Advertiser.

Sears at Windward Mall to close this month. Officials said Monday that Sears at Windward Mall would close April 28. The auto center will be closing much earlier -- on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Urban Honolulu has lost 76,000 trees in the last four years, aerial survey finds. The big loss in numbers is one of the reasons a group of volunteers headed to Kaimuki District Park on Monday morning. Their mission was not just to count the trees, but to help in an effort to get more trees planted and cared for. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

DOT empties homeless encampment near busy Kona intersection. Cleanup crews targeted two main sites in Kona on Monday — the Palani Road and Queen Kaahumanu Highway intersection where nine homeless individuals were informed a week prior they had seven days to collect their possessions and go, and the Tunnels where two individuals were given the same warning on the same day. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii nonprofit was awarded a $750,000 grant to preserve a 32-unit apartment complex in Pahoa. The grant money will serve to preserve the 32 units of the Nani O Puna apartment complex. Tribune-Herald.

Commission denies approval for too big of signs already in place at Planet Fitness.  West Hawaii Today.

Heavy rainfall leads to another stormwater discharge at dairy. Because of heavy rainfall during the past week, Ookala-based Big Island Dairy on Monday again discharged stormwater collected in its wastewater lagoons. Tribune-Herald.

Final EA For New Kona Museum Gallery Published. The Kona Historical Society says the new building will be a benefit to the South Kona area, which currently lacks community program and gallery space. Big Island Video News.

Mauna Loa activity rises. The Hawaii Volcano Observatory is monitoring Mauna Loa closely as the volcano shows signs of increasing activity following the Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council will hold a public hearing on the mayor’s proposed budget for next fiscal year at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Council Chambers at the Kalana O Maui building in Wailuku. Mayor Michael Victorino has proposed a $781 million budget for the 2020 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Maui News.

County looking to convert two West Maui water wells. Proposal would turn exploratory wells into full production wells. Maui News.

$254K in county grants disbursed. Seabird recovery work, electric vehicle charging stations and the annual whale festival are among projects slated to receive money through the county Office of Economic Development. Maui News.

Kauai

As Kauai Highway Prepares To Reopen, State Plans Limits On Haena Park Visitors. The state Department of Transportation plans to phase-in the re-opening of Kuhio Highway beginning in May and plans to limit visitors when the Haena State Park and popular Kalalau Trail is scheduled to re-open in June. Hawaii Public Radio.

Even though Kuhio Highway is scheduled to reopen May 1, the main attractions on the North Shore will remain closed. Garden Island.

Some Kauai residents, cut off by damage for a year, will miss life in the slow lane. Star-Advertiser.

Kalalau Trail and the Napali State Wilderness Park are set to open in early-mid June. The trail is monitored by the Department of Land and Natural Resources and a few locals who have taken it upon themselves to protect the public and the place itself, but a couple of people have made it down the trail a little ways. Garden Island.

Bullish on the economy, Tropical Storm Niala forms, attorneys want to help marijuana dispensaries, Maui settles clean water lawsuit, Big Island pot sweep, Kauai gets solar project, Caldwell wants answers on rail costs, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki shoppers © 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii economists are getting more bullish on the state’s expansion. The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization is the latest group to revise upward some of its growth projections as the state closes in on a fourth straight year of record tourism and the construction sector continues rebounding. Star-Advertiser.

A tropical storm, located about 460 miles southeast of Hilo or 665 miles southeast of Honolulu, will bring heavy rain and high surf to the Hawaiian islands starting this weekend. Hawaii News Now.

The tropical depression expected to become Tropical Storm Niala is the 11th cyclone this hurricane season in the Central North Pacific, tying the record for the most such storms. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and former state Attorney General David Louie are urging the Hawaii Supreme Court to reverse an opinion barring lawyers from helping to establish medical marijuana dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle and former Attorney General David Louie have sent letters to the state Supreme Court urging the justices to change a recent opinion by their Disciplinary Board that warns attorneys against helping applicants seeking medical marijuana dispensary licenses. Civil Beat.

A group of 25 lawyers has submitted a letter to the Hawaii Supreme Court to reexamine a recent disciplinary board decision prohibiting lawyers to provide legal services to medical marijuana business hopefuls. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige didn’t reveal his stance on NextEra Energy Inc.’s $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. to local business leaders at an industry event this week, nor did his director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, which is taking part in the regulatory review of the deal. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Board of Education members will meet a few hours later than usual Oct. 20 in hopes of attracting a larger audience and encouraging greater public participation. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has the highest percentage of middle market businesses owned by non-whites in the country, according to a recent report from American Express and Dun & Bradstreet. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Responding to rail leaders’ update that the project might cost even more and won’t stay on schedule, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is asking what did they know and when did they know it. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell would like some answers, please. After receiving a letter 10 days ago from the board chair and executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation detailing more than $200 million in potential additional rail cost overruns and a likely one-year delay in the project’s completion, he replied to both leaders with a letter pointedly asking for details in six areas. Civil Beat.

State and city officials are calling for a major overhaul of taxicab regulations, including more robust background checks and drug testing for drivers, creating a database to track arrests and revisiting the Honolulu Airport contract. Star-Advertiser.

Some Kailua residents may be sleeping a little better after the capture of a coqui frog. KHON2.

Hawaii

State police confiscated more than 6,700 marijuana plants on the Big Island during two recent eradication missions. West Hawaii Today.

After removing a large tent from Mauna Kea earlier this week, state conservation officers were back on the mountain Thursday taking down canopy-style tents that appeared to have been erected by Thirty Meter Telescope opponents. Tribune-Herald.

Two Mauna Kea protesters addressed the 14th annual Native Hawaiian Conference today.  They presented their own perspectives on why they oppose the telescope project. Hawaii Public Radio.

A Hilo-based aerospace agency plans to build a prototype for a launching and landing pad this fall that could help bring the concept of sustainability into space. Tribune-Herald.

Waimea residents are raising concerns about a former service station they say has become an eyesore in their community. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County could end up paying $2.5 million for projects to divert and reuse wastewater from Lahiana injection wells, under a settlement reached in a federal lawsuit over Clean Water Act violations. Maui Now.

Maui County has reached a settlement with environmental groups over penalties for releasing partially treated wastewater into injection wells close to Lahaina's coast. The settlement filed in federal court in Honolulu on Thursday requires Maui County to come up with safer ways to dispose of wastewater at its Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility, said Earthjustice attorney David Henkin. Associated Press.

In the first two months of the fiscal year, the Maui Police Department spent more than 30 percent of its overtime budget, in large part due to protests over transports for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope at Haleakala, officials said. Maui News.

Maui County Council Member Elle Cochran has filed a complaint with the state Campaign Spending Commission alleging illegal campaign coordination between a super political action committee and her former opponent for the West Maui residency council seat, Ka'ala Buenconsejo, the current county Department of Parks and Recreation director. Maui News.

The Maui regional board of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. has selected Kaiser Permanente to take over operations of Maui Memorial Medical Center and Kula and Lanai Community hospitals. Maui News.

Fitch Ratings has assigned an AA+ rating to the following Maui County general obligation bonds. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative turned on the island’s largest solar facility Sept. 10, the cooperative said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Planning Department is updating the general plan, a comprehensive, long-range document that serves as a guide for future land use and planning decisions on Kauai. Garden Island.

Suzanne Case is in charge of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which has jurisdiction of nearly 1.3 million acres of state lands, beaches and coastal waters, as well as 750 miles of coastline. But of the DLNR’s wide reach in Hawaii, it is Kauai with which Case feels a strong connection. Garden Island.

Union sues to block privatization of Maui hospitals, Kohala group fights marijuana farms, DLNR chair defends wildlife fences, Laniakea beach barriers staying up, no more open space for Kauai, UH tries to fix cancer center budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Feral sheep and goats on Mauna Loa © 2015 All Hawaii News

Department of Land and Natural Resources chair Suzanne Case affirmed the state’s philosophy on fencing and ungulate removal during her keynote address at the 23rd Annual Hawaii Conservation Conference in Hilo, but she also left the door open for hunters to participate in adaptive management of resources. Big Island Video News.

About three dozen people congregated in the courtyard of the state Capitol on Thursday evening to mark the 50th anniversary of the federal Voting Rights Act, legislation passed at the apex of the civil rights movement that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. Star-Advertiser.

More than $40 million was released by the state to renovate and improve public facilities, buildings, and educational institutions across the state, Gov. David Ige announced Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The barriers that have blocked vehicles from parking at Laniakea for the past year and a half won’t be coming down Friday, the deadline originally slated under a state court order. Star-Advertiser.

State officials won’t be removing the barriers along Kamehameha Highway on Friday as courts originally ordered. Judge Karen Nakasone granted an extension Thursday for the Hawaii Department of Transportation so it can continue studying alternatives that are safe and feasible. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa will pay a San Francisco-based consultant up to $250,800 to develop a business plan for the financially struggling UH Cancer Center. Star-Advertiser.

Government lawyers will be asking a federal judge Monday to approve a $9 million settlement over an alleged botched childbirth at Tripler Army Medical Center. Star-Advertiser.

Less than a week before construction on Radford High School's track came to a halt last year, workers made some unusual finds: a six-inch wide mortar fuse and an 18-inch copper sphere that one Department of Education contractor suspected was a naval mine. Hawaii News Now.

The City of Honolulu hosted a Veterans Stand Down today as part of a goal to end veteran homelessness by the end of this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii
A group of property owners who want Kohala to be the island’s bread basket, not its medicine cabinet, have started a petition drive to keep medical marijuana farms out of their neighborhood. West Hawaii Today.

The federal Food and Drug Administration has ordered a recall for Big Island-grown macadamia nuts that tested positive for salmonella. All mac nuts and mac nut products from Mahina Mele Farm labeled with Lot No. 016 are included in the recall, which was announced by the FDA on Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

A year after Iselle slammed into lower Puna on Hawai'i Island, signs of the storm's impact are still prevalent in communities across the district. Hawaii News Now.

Maui
One of Hawaii’s largest labor unions has gone to court in an effort to prevent the state from privatizing its public hospitals. United Public Workers, which represents state employees working for health facilities among others, filed a complaint in federal court seeking an injunction to stop the state from implementing House Bill 1075, the union announced Thursday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s United Public Workers union filed an injunction on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Honolulu in attempt to stop the privatization of the Maui state hospitals. Pacific Business News.

The United Public Workers union representing Hawaii health care workers is suing to block the privatization of the state’s hospitals. West Hawaii Today.

The group Stop Cane Burning has asked a Maui environmental court to order an injunction to halt sugar cane burning, pending the outcome of its lawsuit - which, if granted, would shut down Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co., the state's last surviving sugar plantation, the company said. Maui News.

Overcrowded conditions at Maui Community Correctional Center have escalated to the point where four inmates live in a cell designed for two, with one inmate sleeping inches away from a toilet. Maui News.

In a multi-year effort that began in 2006, a community project created through a partnership between Maui county officials and residents will soon come to fruition. Maui Now.

Kauai

Councilman Gary Hooser came up empty Wednesday in his attempt to increase the amount of money that is set aside for the Open Space fund. Garden Island.

For more than 30 years, plans to create a community agriculture park on 75 acres of undeveloped land bordering Kahili Quarry Road have stalled. Garden Island.

$40M slated for capital projects. Kilauea school, Mailihuna Road and Kapaa Stream Bridge among improvements for Kauai’s roughly $1.4M share. Garden Island.

Ige declares time out for Thirty Meter Telescope, Nature Conservancy director named DLNR chair, Maui mayor proposes electricity takeover, Honolulu rail tax clears committee, lawmakers mull marijuana dispensaries, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea telescope protesters file photo courtesy Occupy Hilo Media

Protesters on Mauna Kea welcomed a weeklong moratorium on construction of the world's largest telescope Tuesday but said they aren't letting their guard down and will continue to keep vigil at the 9,200-foot level. Star-Advertiser.

Construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea is on hold for at least a week as protests over the $1.4 billion project continue to mount. Hawaii Gov. David Ige told reporters Tuesday that there will be a “timeout” to facilitate a dialogue. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that the nonprofit corporation behind the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea agreed to his request for a weeklong halt of construction. The stand down came five days after law enforcement officials arrested 31 people who participated in an ongoing protest of the $1.4 billion project. Tribune Herald.

Hawai‘i Governor David Ige has announced a week-long "time out" for construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Governor Ige says he came to this decision after speaking with major stakeholders in the project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor David Ige announced at a press conference Tuesday that construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea will ‘pause' for a week. He's hoping the next seven days will ease tensions and increase dialogue between stakeholders over the construction of the thirty meter telescope. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop one of the most sacred sites for native Hawaiians would come to a halt, at least temporarily. Ige characterized the one-week pause in construction as a “timeout.” KITV4.

In a seemingly abrupt about-face after the first major controversy of his administration, Gov. David Ige nominated longtime conservationist Suzanne Case on Tuesday as the new chairwoman of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources — a selection that quickly won praise from members of the state's environmental community. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has appointed Suzanne Case to head the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, ending weeks of speculation. The governor withdrew his previous nominee, Carleton Ching, three weeks ago amid mounting public opposition over his ties to developers and lack of experience for a job that requires leading a department comprised of 10 divisions and nearly 900 employees. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday nominated Suzanne Case, the longtime head of The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii, to lead the state Department of Land and Natural Resources after withdrawing his first nomination, Castle & Cooke Hawaii executive Carleton Ching, due to backlash from environmental groups. Pacific Business News.

Today Governor David Ige announced his new nomination to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources (subject to confirmation by the Senate), Suzanne Case, and the widespread opposition to Ige’s previous choice, developer-lobbyist Carleton Ching, is calling the choice a win for Hawaii. Hawaii Independent.

Governor David Ige on Tuesday announced his nomination to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources and his choices for the Board of Education. The appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday his nomination to lead the Department of Land and Natural Resources and his choices for the Board of Education. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige on Tuesday appointed a banking executive and two former public-school educators to the state Board of Education. Ige named Lance Mizumoto, president and chief banking officer of Central Pacific Bank, to the board along with longtime Kauai educator Margaret Cox and former teacher Hubert Minn. Star-Advertiser.

Spending by special interest groups lobbying lawmakers during the first part of the current legislative session is running well below last year’s pace, according to reports filed last week with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. The more than 200 interest groups with registered lobbyists reported spending a total of $832,808 during the period from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28. Civil Beat.

Student lunch prices will to go up by 25 cents in the fall to $2.75 for high-schoolers and to $2.50 for elementary and intermediate students, the first price increases since 2011. Breakfast prices will go up by 10 cents to $1.10 and $1.20 for elementary and secondary students, respectively. Department of Education officials cited increases in food and labor costs, which have pushed up meal expenses by more than 17 percent in the last five years. The move is expected to raise an additional $1.7 million a year for the food services branch. Star-Advertiser.

A state House bill attempting to create a regulated medical marijuana dispensary system throughout Hawaii will be reviewed by its final committees today. House Bill 321 establishes a system of medical marijuana dispensaries in the state and puts limits on the amount that can be purchased. The legislation also prohibits counties from enacting zoning regulations that prevent the use of land for licensed dispensaries. West Hawaii Today.

More than 4,000 charge cards under the pCard program are in the hands of government workers, ranging from secretaries to department heads and politicians. But the oversight of the pCards is left largely to individual agencies — something that the state auditor raised questions about when examining the program in 2010. Star-Advertiser.

Aiming to reduce the 55 million gallons of raw sewage that enters the ground daily — and makes its way into Hawaii’s drinking water — state lawmakers are pressing forward with a bill that would ease the financial pain of converting to modern waste disposal systems. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii legislators’ efforts to address the state’s affordable housing crisis may barely make a dent in the huge demand for homes. Civil Beat.

In June, former Governor Linda Lingle begins her new job as COO for Illinois. As for Hawaii politics, Lingle believes the Republican Party will eventually cut into Democratic dominance, the way it did when she was GOP chair and then governor. Hawaii News Now.

A new report says foreign students studying in Hawaii are contributing hundreds of millions to the state's economy. The report released Tuesday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism says foreign students made a direct economic impact of more than $205 million during the current school year. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Senate Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday voted to extend a 0.5 percent General Excise Tax surcharge for Honolulu’s rail project another five years beyond its Dec. 31, 2022 expiration. The vote on House Bill 134 indicates that lawmakers are supportive of helping the city complete it’s $6 billion driverless commuter rail project despite cost overruns and questions of lax oversight. Civil Beat.

Deputy Prosecutor Jon Riki Karamatsu announced his resignation on Tuesday following his second DUI arrest over the weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro has accepted the resignation of Deputy Prosecutor Jon Riki Karamatsu. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Tuesday announced upcoming flight plans for the remainder of April through May 7. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa wants to explore the possibilities of making Maui Electric Co. a public utility, one that could even compete against Florida-based Next-Era Energy Inc., which is seeking Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approval to acquire MECO's parent company, Hawaiian Electric Industries. Maui News.

Hawaiian Electric and NextEra held the first in a series of public meetings. Two meetings were held on Maui on Tuesday. Senior leaders and other employees from both NextEra and Hawaiian Electric were on hand to talk about how they plan to increase renewable energy and lower customer bills. NextEra says it wants input from the community. KHON2.

NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Industries will host a series of open house meetings statewide to acquaint the public with NextEra and share details on the upcoming merger between the two energy companies. Maui Now.

The Makawao Fourth of July Parade plans to carry on, unchanged, with its longtime parade organizer vowing Tuesday night to "dig my heels in" against the state Department of Defense. Maui News.

Kauai

A contractor has been hired to remove a sailboat that ran aground in a secluded area on a reef at Moloaa Bay April 1. Garden Island.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has hired a contractor to remove a 55-foot sailboat that ran aground off Kauai earlier this month. The department says it's expected to cost $185,000 to remove the Kikimo from the reef at Moloaa Bay. Associated Press.

Just how famous are Kauai’s chickens? Enough for the New York Times to write a lengthy report about them. Garden Island.

Molokai

Maui County Council members took a first step Tuesday toward providing a government subsidy to keep the Molokai ferry afloat, but it remains to be seen whether it will be too little too late. Maui News.