Showing posts with label U.S. Congress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label U.S. Congress. Show all posts

Friday, September 29, 2023

Congressional committee grills Hawaiian Electric, utility regulators; Honolulu seeks tougher standards for emergency manager, tourism tumbles in fire aftermath, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

House panel questions actions of HECO, PUC. Testifying under oath Thursday before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Shelee Kimura, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric,  said  the 132-year-old utility has a team investigating exactly what happened with the utility poles and power lines that went down amid high winds brought on by Hurricane Dora. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Associated Press.  Maui Now.  Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Tourism tumbles for Hawaii in aftermath of Maui fires. Visitor arrivals and spending for the state fell in August as visitor arrivals to Maui plummeted nearly 58% and spending fell 49% after the devastating Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire — the worst natural disaster in state history and the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Minimum Qualifications Proposed For Honolulu Emergency Manager. A draft charter amendment would require at least five years of experience for the job. Civil Beat.

Navy censures officers for ‘leadership failings’ on Red Hill. The Navy has sent letters of censure to three retired admirals and seven Navy captains regarding “leadership failings” that it says set the stage for the 2021 Red Hill water crisis. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii Public Radio.  Hawaii News Now.

Search For Gunman Prompts Lockdown At Army’s Schofield Barracks. Authorities arrested the suspect after lifting the shelter-in-place order,. Civil Beat. Star-AdvertiserHawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Micronesian Tenants Fight Back Against ‘Terrible’ Apartment Conditions. Advocates call for the state's landlord-tenant code reformed to better protect tenants from "unscrupulous" landlords. Civil Beat.

Deadline for filing Oahu home exemptions looms. The deadline for qualified homeowners on Oahu to file a home exemption with Honolulu’s Real Property Assessment Division is this Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Paid parking to begin at Coconut Grove. Another lot in Kona will be charging for parking starting October 1, making free parking in Kailua Village scarce. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More assistance with insurance for Maui fire victims needed, advocates say. Lahaina fire survivors without renter’s or property owner’s insurance — and even those with insurance — received no assurances Thursday that the state can help them recover their losses anytime soon. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s Fire Victims Are Frustrated By Insurance Hassles, Financial Delays. Numerous people showed up at a state Senate hearing on Maui where lawmakers urged state agencies to do more to protect consumers. Civil Beat.

High Water Bills Surprise Kula Residents Who Helped Fight Wildfires.
Maui's top water official said the county will be lenient on a case-by-case basis and may offer relief but can't forgive all the bills because it needs the revenue. Civil Beat.

More Lahaina fire zones to open for reentry. Three more residential zones in areas burned by the deadly Aug. 8 Lahaina wildfire are being opened for reentry by property owners and residents. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina parents, teachers call for safety monitoring for students.  Many West Maui families and educators doubt that the three Lahaina public schools reopening in October are as safe as officials say, and they want to see stronger monitoring for toxic substances and emergency and evacuation plans set up well before students and employees return, according to numerous testifiers at an emotional public meeting Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Maui tomato farmer says Aug. 8 storms caused a 'complete nosedive' in production
. Joel Winicki and his family live in Olinda. They own and operate Maui Grown Tomatoes, with their main farm in Haʻiku. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai


Council approves support staff funding
. A budget allotment for the seven Kauai County Council members of $100,000 for personal support staff sparked heated debate in Wednesday’s finance committee meeting, with the majority of council members accepting the funding. Garden Island.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

HI-EMA: use sirens to warn of fire, Congressional inquiry today on Lahaina fire cause, Kona coffee brand wins in court, Hokulea returning to pay Maui tribute, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HI-EMA clarifies that sirens can be used to warn of fire. A review of outdoor warning siren protocols following the Lahaina fire disaster has led the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to reiterate that fire is indeed one of the hazards that can prompt siren activation. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Congressional inquiry to focus on the cause of the deadly Lahaina fire. Members of Congress today will attempt to get to the bottom of what led to the deadly Lahaina firestorm — including questions that to date have gone largely unanswered about the timeline of what happened Aug. 8, Hawaiian Electric Co.’s electrical grid, and wildfire mitigation measures. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

An old car tire, burnt trees and a utility pole may be key in finding how the Maui wildfire spread.
Though findings of a cause are not expected for months, the focus on Hawaiian Electric’s role in managing brush in its right-of-way could strengthen claims of negligence against the utility, which is facing an onslaught of lawsuits blaming it for failing to proactively cut electricity in the face of high-wind warnings, upgrade its power poles and clear foliage from around its lines. Associated Press.

Nominees announced for Hawaii State Supreme Court vacancies: Vladimir Devens, of the Law Offices of Vladimir Devens LLC. Lisa Ginoza, state Intermediate Court of Appeals chief judge. Summer Kupau-Odo, Oahu District Court judge. Karen Nakasone, state Intermediate Court of Appeals associate judge. Catherine Remigio, Oahu Circuit Court judge. Clyde Wadsworth, state Intermediate Court of Appeals associate judge. Star-Advertiser.

Lassner setting goals for final 15 months as UH president
. University of Hawaii President David Lassner says that when he recently announced that he’ll retire in late 2024 and wrote that meanwhile “anyone who expects me to act like a ‘lame duck’ will be sorely disappointed,” he did not mean that as any metaphorical shot fired across the bow of certain state lawmakers who have publicly said they want him to resign. Star-Advertiser.

Hokule‘a announces return to Hawaii due to Maui wildfires. The Hokule‘a has made a major change to its sail plan — an unexpected return home to Hawaii in late December before continuing its circumnavigation of the Pacific. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Kauai Now.

Oahu

Council’s Tulba seeks more film studios for Oahu. On Tuesday, Augie Tulba introduced Bill 59, which would, if adopted, provide greater real property tax incentives for eligible film studio facilities to locate on the island. Star-Advertiser.

New Wahiawa civic center to emerge from rich history. The $76 million Wahiawa Civic Center on the California Avenue site of the old one is scheduled to open in mid-2026 and reunite state and city functions, said state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz (D, Mililani-Wahiawa- Whitmore Village). Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Another legal win for Kona coffee. In another win for Kona Coffee Farmers, a Washington federal judge Thursday approved convenience store chain MNS Ltd.’s (ABC Stores) $12 million settlement over claims that the chain sold products that were falsely advertised as authentic Kona coffee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawai‘i County Council gives nod to measures that will further Big Island broadband connectivity initiatives. The Hawai‘i County Council wants all Big Island residents to have equitable access to high-speed internet connectivity and recently moved ahead with four measures aimed at getting the county closer to that goal. Big Island Now.

Another delay for lower Puna. The restoration of roads and waterlines in lower Puna is delayed yet again after a federal agency told Hawaii County earlier this week it needs to review comments from the community.  Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Holds Town Hall In Pāhoa. The Roth administration took questions from the public on various topics, including alternate routes, housing, geothermal permitting, and eruption recovery projects. Big Island Video News.

Maui

West Maui tourism to return in phases. Maui Mayor Richard Bissen on Wednesday announced the staggered reopening of tourism in West Maui, starting Oct. 8 with the northernmost resort area of Kapalua. Star-Advertiser.

Tourism Executives Campaign To Bring Needed Visitors To Maui. With West Maui's famous resorts set to re-open to travelers Oct. 8, local residents are telling their own stories to convince visitors to come back. Civil Beat.

West Maui residents call on county council to put tourism second in Lahaina’s future. Hundreds of West Maui residents jammed into a hotel ballroom in Kaanapali on Wednesday to share their vision for rebuilding Lahaina with the Maui County Council. Hawaii News Now.

Lahaina’s Filipino Community Mourns The Loss Of 9 Family Members. Those who died included store employees, a janitorial service worker and a pair of dishwashers who worked hard to take care of their families, friends recalled. Civil Beat.

Maui Fire Survivors Plead With County Council For Help And Accountability. Struggling with financial and emotional stress, community members sought rent and property tax relief and voiced concerns over school evacuation routes. Civil Beat.

Kauai


Police await DNA results from human teeth found in Kalalau.  More than 8 months after roughly a dozen partially decomposed teeth were discovered near the Kalalau trail, the Kaua‘i Police Department says the investigation is still ongoing — as DNA results have yet to be obtained. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i County Agency on Elderly Affairs symposium to focus on fraud and scam prevention.
Kaua‘i County will host its 5th annual Agency on Elderly Affairs symposium on Oct. 4 at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall in Līhu‘e. Kauai Now.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Abercrombie-Ige debate heats up, gay marriage, Obamacare top topics in congressional forum, Deedy trial redux, raises for Hawaii County officials, Kauai GMO pesticide initiative faces almost certain death, Thirty Meter Telescope groundbreaking set, Maui pays fines for landfills, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii News Now screen shot
David Ige, Neil Abercrombie debate, Hawaii News Now screen shot
Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Sen. David Ige sparred over several issues, with both men trying to take credit for the state's successes and blaming the other for failures, in a debate between the two Democratic gubernatorial candidates on Hawaii News Now.

Watch video here.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie offered a strenuous defense of his first term in a debate Thursday night while state Sen. David Ige insisted there has been a lack of leadership from Washington Place. Star-Advertiser.

In the third debate between Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige, the Democrats again disagreed about who deserves the most credit for the state’s fiscal health and who is to blame for botching the Hawaii Health Connector. But the debate’s format, which featured the candidates sitting casually in chairs with Hawaii News Now’s Tannya Joaquin, gave the encounter the look of a talk show. The loose format also allowed the candidates to engage each other more directly. Civil Beat.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidates faced off in a televised debate Thursday night. KITV4.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie holds a massive fundraising edge over state Sen. David Ige, his challenger in the Democratic primary. Abercrombie raised $885,600 during the past six months for his re-election campaign, according to a campaign finance report filed Thursday, and about $4.7 million overall. The governor has spent $3.9 million. Ige raised about $242,700 during the past six months. He has brought in about $389,600 in total. The state senator's campaign also received a $10,000 loan from Keith Hiraoka, his campaign manager, for campaign expenses. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has $1 million in cash on hand as he heads into the final month of campaigning ahead of the Aug. 9 primary. Abercrombie, a Democrat, raised $885,000 between Jan. 1 and June 30 this year. Civil Beat.

For U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, the Democratic primary against U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz drills down to experience. The two Democrats both entered state politics in 1998, but Hanabusa rose through the leadership ranks to become state Senate president and, while in Congress, earned the respect of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and the retired U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka as their choice for the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Frontrunners Differ on Gay Marriage, Obamacare in Congressional Debate In the first televised CD1 encounter, seven candidates offered their views on GMOs, Native Hawaiian sovereignty and Obamacare. Civil Beat.

There are seven Democrats vying for the first congressional district seat and each is trying to distinguish themselves from the pack. KITV4.

Public File: As Election Nears, Ad Buys Increase. The Aug. 9 primary is less than a month away and Hawaii candidates are purchasing ads during a greater variety of shows. Civil Beat.

The Abercrombie administration has rejected a controversial $100,000 grant by the Legislature to state Rep. Rida Cabanilla's nonprofit organization. The Attorney General's office says the Ewa Historical Society isn't eligible for the grant because the IRS yanked its tax-exempt status last year. Hawaii News Now.

Senator Will Espero, chair of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, said he was disappointed about Governor Neil Abercrombie’s veto of SB2589, relating to the transfer of harbor police from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Public Safety- a bill he introduced. Hawaii Reporter.

Amelia Rose Earhart, a former Denver television news reporter who was named for the famous aviator, brought her single-engine Pilatus PC-12 NG aircraft into Honolulu Airport a few minutes after noon following a four-hour, 50-minute flight from Christmas Island. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Measures designed to prohibit lying and sitting on city sidewalks as well as urinating and defecating in public continue to move through the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

A day after Honolulu city council members approved a bill that would make it illegal for people to sit or lie on public sidewalks, opponents are raising concerns the 24-hour-a-day, island-wide ban will simply move a growing homelessness problem from one area to another. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu developers of the $300 million Park Lane Ala Moana project, a row of seven ultra-luxury, condominium towers planned for what is now a parking area at Ala Moana Center held a ground blessing on Wednesday morning and plan to start construction within a couple of months, an executive from the development team told Pacific Business News.

The state should not limit itself to a smaller seating capacity when replacing 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium, several speakers told the Aloha Stadium Authority during a public meeting at the facility Thursday night. Star-Advertiser.

The cast of characters and arguments are largely the same, but a pair of recent state Supreme Court decisions could color the retrial of State Department special agent Christopher Deedy. Star-Advertiser.

Explaining the Deedy retrial. Recapping the murder case and explaining what will be different in this retrial versus last year's mistrial. Hawaii Independent.

As a destructive pest that targets palm trees spreads farther west on Oahu, close to 170 trees at a military base on the island will have to be destroyed. The destruction left by the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle can be plainly seen at Mamala Bay Golf Course on Hickam Air Force Base. KHON2.

The City and County of Honolulu says it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out for commuters who traverse the formerly pothole-riddled Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki. Civil Beat.

For at least a year and a half, Waialae Avenue has more resembled an obstacle course -- with barriers and torn-up surfaces -- than an actual public street for commuters in Kaimuki. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A groundbreaking and blessing ceremony for the Thirty Meter Telescope could be a few months away, a project spokeswoman told education and business representatives Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

J Yoshimoto, as council chairman, is getting an 11.5 percent raise, bringing his annual salary to $58,008. Other council members will get 8.3 percent raises, bringing their salaries to $52,008. The raises were finalized Thursday by the county Salary Commission, which unanimously voted to increase top officials salaries retroactive to July 1. In addition to council raises, the commission also approved a $22,848 raise for Mayor Billy Kenoi, a 20.9 percent raise that brings his salary to $132,000. West Hawaii Today.

The purpose of the meeting was not to discuss whether the state should make users pay to park at small boat harbors. But that contentious issue was on the minds of people attending a Thursday evening hearing by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. West Hawaii Today.

The CEO for the East Hawaii region of the state’s public hospital system has announced his resignation, effective Aug. 9.. Howard N. Ainsley will take on the role of CEO at Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden, North Carolina. Tribune-Herald.

More than 60 jobs with United Airlines will stay in Kona, under an agreement reached between the carrier and an employees union. West Hawaii Today.

Next week, area residents will have a chance to weigh in on plans to re-power a wind farm in South Kohala. The estimated $13 million project at the Lalamilo Wind Farm would generate renewable energy to power the County of Hawaii Department of Water Supply’s (DWS) operation of eight existing water wells. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) and the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management have reached a settlement on two enforcement cases concerning solid waste violations at the Central Maui Municipal Solid Waste Landfill and the Molokai Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility. Hawaii Reporter.

The state Department of Health and Maui’s Department of Environmental Management have reached a settlement on two enforcement cases concerning solid waste violations. Maui Now.

As Malama Maui Nui prepare for another mass clean-up campaign on July 19, the community group said that the main source of litter by Maui roadways — unsecured vehicle loads — was thanks to drivers breaking the “uncovered truck law.” Maui Now.

Compared to the six shark bite incidents confirmed on Maui during the last six months of 2013, the first six months of this year have been relatively quiet with no bites so far, though experts aren't sure why. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Councilman Mel Rapozo says it is unlikely that he will support receiving Kauai Rising’s proposed charter amendment regulating GMOs and pesticides, meaning the measure may be headed for defeat and would not appear on the November ballot. Garden Island.

Native Hawaiians on Kauai will have an opportunity to give feedback to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at a community forum next week. The annual forum is intended for OHA officials to listen to community concerns and highlight efforts to improve conditions within Hawaiian communities. Garden Island.

Ever since she was in high school, Tiana Laranio believed the best way to serve her community would be to run for political office. Garden Island.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Congressional candidate debate canceled for lack of interest, Honolulu may ban foam, plastic take-out containers, Abercrombie may veto disclosure bill, Maui sets high bar for police chief, development follows rail, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Fourspot butterflyfish with coral © 2014 All Hawaii News
UH Biologists Use Super Coral to Build a Better Reef. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tonight's debate between the state's top Democratic contenders to become Hawaii's next Congressional representative has been canceled. The reason: the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii couldn't get enough people to attend. Hawaii News Now.

A bill hailed by good government advocates as a way to increase transparency and public confidence in government operations may face a veto by Hawaii’s governor. The Legislature unanimously passed Senate Bill 2682, which would add 15 state boards and commissions to the list of government officials and agency members required to have their financial disclosures made public. Civil Beat.

So far this year, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed into law 77 bills from this year’s Legislature, while another 161 await action. Big Island Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he’s built a solid financial foundation for Hawaii that has put the state in a position to move ahead at “flank speed” on important issues like early childhood education, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. Civil Beat.

Kakaako developers co-sponsor fundraiser for Gov. Neil Abercrombie. Hawaii News Now.

Former state Sen. Melodie Aduja, who was booted by voters 10 years ago after a scandal involving her campaign spending account, wants another shot in the Legislature. Hawaii Reporter.

What promises to be a heated debate among Native Hawaiians over what kind of government they want will be aired today at a meeting of the board of trustees for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. West Hawaii Today.

The federal government is considering re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians, just weeks after the head of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs sought clarity on whether the Hawaiian Kingdom still exists in the eyes of the United States. Associated Press.

An inspection of Department of Veterans Affairs clinics on Oahu and some neighbor islands was conducted last week and “there were no scheduling practice issues brought to light,” said Patricia Matthews, spokeswoman for the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii’s athletics department expects to post a $2 million loss when the fiscal year ends June 30, its director said. Associated Press.

Oahu

Those foam and plastic containers that have become synonymous with plate lunches and bentos over the past few decades may become a thing of the past on Oahu under a Honolulu City Council bill that would require food containers to be compostable. Star-Advertiser.

City leaders and developers have inked an agreement to proceed with what aims to be Oahu's first transit-oriented design project — at the site of the former Kam Drive-In — along the island's future rail transit line. Star-Advertiser.

Anthony Aalto, a former journalist, chairman of the Sierra Club’s Oahu Group and now a documentary filmmaker, insists that his film “Railroading Paradise” isn’t a slam dunk either for or against Honolulu’s $5.16 billion elevated rail project. Pacific Business News.

The City and County of Honolulu is taking action to stop a growing problem of fraud when it comes to riding the public bus. KHON2.

An alien invader that threatens Hawaii's iconic coconut palms appears to be spreading on Oahu and may have established a breeding population, state officials say. Star-Advertiser.

The highest percentage of park land in the country wasn't enough to offset relatively low parks spending as Honolulu scored in the middle of the pack in an annual survey of U.S. urban park systems unveiled Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A proposal to encourage mixed-use housing in three affordable housing projects the city is trying to sell is prompting opposition from advocates for low-income residents. Civil Beat.

Kakaako is in the middle of a residential tower development wave that builders see as meeting overwhelming homebuyer demand, but some area residents see as crowding their quality of life. Star-Advertiser.

Most recent Kakaako town hall shows continued division between stakeholders. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a group of Country Club-Hawaii apartment owners who challenged the Banyan Drive building’s board of directors for control of the condominium-hotel property. Tribune-Herald.

Before they landed on the moon, they walked the Big Island’s volcanic landscape. Astronauts in NASA’s Apollo program visited the island in the 1960s and early ’70s as they learned to take rock samples and practiced driving lunar buggies over the moon-like fields of lava rock. Tribune-Herald.

State transportation officials are looking to replace three Big Island bridges. The bridges cross small streams but each is on major traffic routes. Tribune-Herald.

A South Kohala resort must finish an intersection with Queen Kaahumanu Highway, a federal judge ruled last week. West Hawaii Today.

Project managers anticipate Hilo High School’s new gymnasium will be ready for use by late July — just in time for volleyball season. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In its search for a new Maui County police chief, the Maui Police Commission is setting requirements greater than those outlined for the job by the Maui County Charter. Maui News.

Restroom, park and playground repairs will shut down facilities in five parks in Central and South Maui in projects that run through July 2. Maui News.

Kauai
A Kauai lawmaker introduced a bill Wednesday which seeks to establish “agronomics” as a new and separate real property tax class and exclude lands used primarily for crop research or parent seed production from the county’s definition of “agricultural use.” Garden Island.

Kauai officials say Kalaheo residents should prepare for intermittent water outages going forward as it works to fix a damaged shaft. Associated Press.

It’s hard to operate without water, so Birdie’s Cafe is closing its doors in the midst of a water shortage in Kalaheo. Garden Island.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Wide open race for Congress, back pay coming to substitute teachers, mayors fight for TAT, Caldwell's state of the city today, Deedy transcripts unsealed, new auditor for Hawaii County, Ellison plans Lanai hydroponics, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News
Matson container ship at Hilo Harbor (c) 2014 All Hawaii News
Two sticky messes cut into Matson Inc. profits by more than half in the fourth quarter, though Hawaii's largest ocean cargo transportation firm still increased full-year earnings. Star-Advertiser.

Mayors and county council members pleaded with state lawmakers Tuesday to give them millions of dollars in extra hotel tax money Hawaii collects each year. The House Finance Committee passed a bill that would lift the cap on the counties’ share of the Transient Accommodations Tax, which the Legislature imposed in 2011. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa told the state House on Tuesday that counties will be under increased pressure to raise taxes and fees unless the state lifts the cap on the counties' share of hotel room taxes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers want the chance to research police misconduct without being told an officer’s disciplinary file has already been destroyed. On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee passed a bill that seeks to increase transparency about bad behavior inside Hawaii’s county police departments by forcing agencies to include more information in annual misconduct reports to the Legislature. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Richard Fale said Tuesday that he intends to challenge state Sen. Clayton Hee in an election that could serve as a referendum on gay marriage. Fale, a Mormon, was one of the most vocal opponents of gay marriage during the special session last fall. The Republican believes lawmakers should have let voters decide the issue through a state constitutional amendment. Hee, chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Labor Committee, helped craft the gay marriage bill. Star-Advertiser.

A simple test that can save babies lives isn't mandatory in Hawaii. Last year, a measure that would have required newborns to be screened for congenital heart defects before leaving the hospital didn't make it through the House's health committee. More than 30 states have already enacted similar measures. Hoping to resuscitate the issue, a constituent approached Sen. Mike Gabbard about writing and sponsoring a bill, Senate Bill 2194, with more precise language than last year's bill, which some lawmakers believe was so broad that it resulted in its demise. Civil Beat.

More than 7-thousand children enter the state’s Juvenile Justice System each year and many require treatment and services that are currently nonexistent.  As HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, lawmakers are considering funding these services before it’s too late.

Checks are on the horizon for an estimated 10,000 Hawaii substitute teachers who are owed a share of a $14 million settlement for back-pay claims from more than a decade ago. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Green thought he was helping farmers, such as himself, sell more of their products directly to customers. Instead, the bill he offered to lawmakers raised concerns the state Legislature might again be trying to undermine county regulations on genetically modified crops and pesticides for the second time this session. Tribune-Herald.

The Democratic primary races for governor and U.S. senator are closely fought contests, as Civil Beat reported this week.Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige are tied, as are U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. That's not the case in the race to replace Hanabusa in the 1st Congressional District. But two of the seven candidates — Donna Mercado Kim and Mark Takai — lead the pack with 25 percent and 20 percent of the vote, respectively. All other candidates we surveyed are in single digits, and over one-third of those polled are unsure of who'll they vote for.

A little more than two weeks after vandals broke a priceless window at Iolani Palace, an influential senator wants to change law enforcement jurisdiction there to the state Sheriff's Division. Hawaii News Now.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: Jan. 26. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell is expected to announce in his State of the City speech Wednesday that he plans to eliminate 618 vacant positions and cut funding for additional slots, moves intended to free up $37 million annually in the city's $2 billion operating budget. Star-Advertiser.

When Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell delivers his second State of the City address today, it won't be at Honolulu Hale, or even Kapolei Hale in the  "Second City." For the first time, it will be delivered at McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Park. Hawaii News Now.

A bill allowing Oahu residents to once again set off sparklers and other novelty fireworks legally to ring New Year's Day and the Fourth of July was deferred by the City Council Public Safety and Economic Development Committee Tuesday due to technical reasons. Star-Advertiser.

A key committee in the Hawaii Senate has given its stamp of approval to two bills aimed at mitigating erosion on Oahu’s North Shore. Senate Bill 3035 sets aside money to realign Kamehameha Highway that runs by Laniakea Beach. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Community College says its accrediting agency reaffirmed its accreditation this month. The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges at the Western Association of Schools and Colleges also removed the school's warning status. Associated Press.

A state judge has granted a request by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser to release the transcripts of closed court proceedings before she declared a mistrial in federal agent Christopher Deedy's murder case. Star-Advertiser.

Deedy Transcripts Revealed: 'Not Something We See Every Day' Civil Beat.

More than $90,000 was spent to improve Koko Head Shooting Complex, after reports of stray bullets flying into homes and cars. But some residents say the repairs are not enough. KHON2.

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — which is postponing the opening of its first Hawaii location, as I reported on Monday — on Tuesday launched the “most comprehensive menu evolution in its history.” Pacific Business News.

The latest installment of Jurassic Park is set to film in the islands and a local talent agency tells KHON2 that the film’s casting department is looking for local extras to be a part of the movie.

Hawaii

Hawaii County may soon have a new legislative auditor, more than a year after the position became vacant. Bonnie Nims, a senior performance auditor who worked for 16 years for the state of Washington and more recently, as a performance auditor supervisor at the American Samoa Government Territorial Audit Office, would be appointed in Resolution 313, scheduled to be voted on March 7 by the Hawaii County Council. If the resolution is passed, she will begin work May 1. West Hawaii Today.

Three County Council members are toting armloads of questions and ideas on their trip this weekend to the National Association of Counties conference in Washington, D.C. West Hawaii Today.

Nearly every school on the Big Island will benefit in some way from the recent release of $62.4 million in capital improvement project monies for Hawaii Department of Education facilities. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools does not currently have a plan to open a K-12 campus in West Hawaii, a spokesman said Tuesday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Using local products to feed fish and animals could help the Big Island’s food sustainability and self-sufficiency. That was the conclusion of a draft environmental assessment prepared by the Oceanic Institute of Hawai‘i Pacific University for its long-planned Feeds Research and Pilot Production Facility, which it would build at the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Farm Laboratory at the Panaewa Agricultural Park. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa today announced the county’s purchase of more than 148 acres of land at Launiupoko as part of the planned “Pali-to-Puamana” parkway. The parcel is one of two being acquired for a total price tag of $13 million, following an agreement reached with the seller, Makila Land Co. LLC, and approved by the Maui County Council in December. Maui Now.

While tiger sharks along Maui's coastline recently have captured the attention of marine experts statewide, research biologist Robin Baird has been focusing on other sea creatures, tracking whales and dolphins in hopes of understanding where they travel and why. Maui News.

The county Department of Housing and Human Concerns is proposing the construction of a 64-unit affordable housing project in Pukalani. The Kulamalu project is proposed for construction on more than four acres of land, bounded by ʻŌhiʻa Kū Street and ʻAʻapueo Parkway, and located west of the Kula Highway. Maui Now.

A new program that offers grants or loans to growing and stable businesses and nonprofit organizations in Maui County rolled out last week through the Mayor's Office of Economic Development. Maui News.

Kauai

A federal judge on Monday granted a Kauai councilman’s request to dismiss a civil suit that claimed he was the target of illegal prosecution by the county over zoning law violations. Garden Island.

Some local residents and environmental groups are voicing concerns about Hawaii Dairy Farms, the $17.5 million dairy planned for Kauai’s South Shore. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i GMO legal bout enters round two. National non-profits the Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice enter the ring on behalf of Kaua‘i County and its under-siege law. Hawaii Independent.

Lanai

Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, the majority owner of the Hawaiian island of Lanai, plans to build a facility that would house aquaponics and hydroponics sustainable food systems to produce fresh produce and fish for Lanai residents visitors. Pacific Business News.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Schatz-Hanabusa still tied for Senate, GMO could be on Maui ballot, food safety rules tighten, Hanohano meets with speaker, minimum wage opposed, Kauai mulls redistricting, drones on the Big Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, Hawaii
Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa
Just five months before the first votes are cast, likely Democratic primary voters are evenly split on who to support for the U.S. Senate. A new Civil Beat Poll shows U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa with 40 percent each. Another 20 percent are not sure who they'll vote for. This is the third time Civil Beat has polled the Schatz-Hanabusa matchup in eight months, and there has been very little movement in either direction for either candidate.

Scientists revealed the results of a comprehensive study relating to the levels of radiation in the Pacific Ocean as a result of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. As it relates to Hawaii, the findings were positive. Hawaii News Now.

A new wide-ranging set of food safety rules went into effect Monday for some 10,000 restaurants, lunch wagons and food establishments in Hawaii, but the state Health Department will not begin enforcement until June. Peter Oshiro, state environmental health program manager, said inspectors will visit every food establishment in the state to explain the new rules before enforcing regulations that require everything from gloves for those who handle food to patron notification of the risk of eating raw and undercooked food. Star-Advertiser.

The Senate Health Committee held an emotional hearing Monday as senators began vetting Gov. Neil Abercrombie's appointee for director of the Department of Health — a position left vacant when Director Loretta Fuddy died in December after a plane crash off Molokai. Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Faye Hanohano met privately Monday with House leaders to give her side of the controversy that has swirled around her conduct. Hanohano, who had postponed two previously scheduled meetings with House leaders last week, spoke with House Speaker Joseph Souki, House Vice Speaker John Mizuno, House Majority Leader Scott Saiki and others for about a half-hour. Rep. Marcus Oshiro accompanied Hanohano in what he described as "moral support." Star-Advertiser.

The public may soon see more timely and detailed reports from people who are paid to try to influence policy decisions in Hawaii. That’s good news for a state with lax lobbying laws. A nationwide survey conducted two years ago found Hawaii lagging far behind — especially when it comes to disclosure — and the Legislature has done little since then to address the problem. Civil Beat.

Senate Bill 2609, which raises the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2017 and eliminates the tip credit, has a hearing set for Wednesday in Senate Ways and Means. Civil Beat.

Mentally and physically debilitated prisoners in Hawaii are likely to gain easier access to parole hearings under changes state agencies are making. Associated Press.

Six of the seven announced Democratic candidates for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District seat stepped up efforts to separate themselves from the rest of the field during a forum Monday, while attempting to make special appeals to a largely older crowd. Sponsored by the Hono­lulu-based Kokua Council, which advocates for seniors, the forum drew about 50 people to Harris United Methodist Church in lower Nuuanu. Star-Advertiser.

Candidates in the crowded race for Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa’s seat met for the first time today in a face-to-face political forum hosted by the Kokua Council in Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

In the months since the Sandy Hook mass shooting that left 26 students and staffers at the Connecticut elementary school dead in December 2012, Hawaii has stepped up its security and safety training at public schools to prevent similar tragedies here, school officials told lawmakers Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers want to help the state’s seniors avoid a situation where they’ve fallen — and can’t get up. The Legislature plan to allocate $80,000 for a new “fall prevention coordinator” position in the state Department of Health’s Emergency Management Division. Hawaii Reporter.

In the last seven years there have been 13 security breaches at Iolani Palace or on the palace grounds. Some of the incidents have resulted in the destruction of irreplaceable treasures. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is trying to make it easier to check whether a professional in Hawaii is licensed. The department said Monday more than 375,000 Hawaii licenses can now be accessed on mobile devices. Associated Press.

State roundup for February 25. Associated Press.

Oahu

Proposed military cuts could have negative impact on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Pacific University has completed a draft environmental assessment for its proposed conversion of Aloha Tower Marketplace into an extension of its downtown Hono­lulu campus sprinkled with some retail and restaurant use. Star-Advertiser.

Walmart plans to hire 150 people for its new Downtown Honolulu store, which will open this summer in the former Macy’s department store, the discount retail giant said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Plan expands types of events OK'd for Stan Sheriff Center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
Researchers at the University of Hawaii at Hilo announced Monday that the Federal Aviation Administration granted a Certificate of Authorization for the use of an unmanned aircraft to assess wiliwili trees on the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Earlier this month, five men stood outside of the University of Hawaii at Hilo, their gaze locked on what resembled a miniature spaceship hovering above their heads. The object: a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), or drone. Its implications: many. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Pacific University Oceanic Institute’s long-planned $5 million Feeds Research and Pilot Production Facility to be developed at the University of Hawaii at Hilo on the Big Island is finally getting some traction with the filing of a draft environmental assessment. Pacific Business News.

Kamehameha Schools will be buying the Hualalai Academy campus, the closing school’s board president says. West Hawaii Today.

Access to water in dry Kawaihae was one of the top concerns about the state’s proposal to add water lines to the small boat harbor under construction there. A Department of Hawaiian Home Lands official noted the draft environmental assessment, issued in December, said the water line and road construction project will increase demand on the region’s water system. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Come November, the citizens of Maui County could be voting on a temporary suspension of all genetically modified crop production in their county. The only thing standing in the way of a public vote on the matter is the collection of 8,500 signatures. Kauai County Councilman Tim Bynum said it is a more comprehensive moratorium than the one proposed in the original version of Bill 2491, which would have placed a moratorium on field expansion. Garden Island.

The battle against genetically modified farming is heating up on Maui, where residents are pushing a citizens’ initiative to temporarily ban the use of such biotechnology. While Hawaii doesn’t allow residents to bring statewide ballot initiatives, the Maui County Charter has a provision for county-level efforts. Civil Beat.

Four Upcountry farms and one farm labor contractor were fined by the United States Department of Labor last year for violating minimum wage and other federal standards for migrant fieldworkers, prompting Maui County to adopt a code of conduct for agricultural employers. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Friday passed a bill to honor raises in five departments and appropriated $864,000 to assist with the costs of landfill operations and refuse collection and Department of Environmental Management compliance with regulations. Maui News.

A total of 24 Maui residents have pulled papers for the upcoming 2014 elections since the candidate filing period began on Feb. 3. Maui Now.

Three people were appointed to the Molokai Planning Commission and a longtime Maui educator was named to the Maui Planning Commission as the Maui County Council approved the mayor's nominees to various boards and commissions Friday. Maui News.

The Maui County Department of Water Supply filed a draft environmental assessment for a 1.44 million gallon per day exploratory well in West Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

A coalition of Kauai residents and public interest groups, represented by the Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice, filed papers in federal district court Monday to intervene as defendants in the legal challenge of Ordinance 960, formerly Bill 2491, which regulates pesticides and GMOs on the island. Garden Island.

Bob Stout minces few words when it comes to proposals to raise Hawaii’s minimum wage: It’s not a good idea. Garden Island.

The County of Kauai Charter Review Commission will consider five redistricting proposals next month, when its members will decide whether voters will take up the question during this year’s general election. A report released by a special Charter Review Commission committee Monday suggested that the entire governing body reconsider its initial proposal to establish seven geographic districts and elect Kauai County Council members based on the district in which they both reside. Garden Island.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Drama in Hawaii as House advances gay marriage bill, Senate President Kim running for Congress, security tightened for Kauai GMO hearing, first above-average test score for Hawaii students, likely tsunami debris washes up on Windward Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands



 The Hawaii House on Wednesday night moved forward a bill to legalize gay marriage to the chamber’s final vote after a nearly 11-hour hearing that featured political maneuvering and chanting crowds outside the gallery. In a roll call vote, House lawmakers voted 30-18 to move forward the bill for a final reading, with three members excused. The bill will go to a last vote on Friday. Associated Press.

The state House voted late Wednesday to move forward with a marriage equality bill after a day of drama and emotion where lawmakers plowed through numerous procedural motions and amendments that would have postponed action or significantly amended the bill to expand a religious exemption. The 30-18 decision sets up a final House vote on Friday to fulfill a 48-hour notice requirement. If the House approves the bill, it would return to the Senate for another review next week. Star-Advertiser.

After 11 hours of emotional floor speeches and failed attempts to have the issue put on the ballot, the House passed Senate Bill 1 on second reading by a vote of 30 to 18 (three members' absences were excused). The decision brings the measure to its third reading, set for 10 a.m. Friday. From there, the bill returns to the Senate for its consideration. Civil Beat.

As passage of Hawaii’s same-sex marriage bill grows ever closer and more likely, opposition groups are growing ever louder and more angry. HuffPost Hawaii.

Dozens of people opposed to a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Hawaii have been chanting “Let the people vote” for hours Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda. Civil Beat.

House Republicans released an internal count showing overwhelming public opposition to SB 1 and urged colleagues to listen to the voice of the people. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaii House of Representatives passed a second reading of an amended version of SB 1, the "Hawaii Marriage Equality Act of 2013" Wednesday night passed 30 to 18, with 3 legislators excused. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii House has moved forward a bill to legalize gay marriage to a final vote after a nearly 11-hour hearing that featured political maneuvering and crowds outside the chamber. KITV.

The state House of Representatives voted 30-to-18 to move forward the same sex marriage bill to a third reading. The announcement of the vote caused an uproar at the State Capitol. KHON2.

After hours of debate and numerous floor amendments, the State House voted to approve SB1. Hawaii Independent.

The state House of Representatives voted 30-18 on Wednesday to advance an equality bill relating to same sex marriage in Hawaii. Maui Now.

How they voted, plus links to updates and testimony here.


congressional candidate #HI01
Kim
 State Senate President Donna Mercado Kim officially jumped into the 2014 1st Congressional District race on Wednesday, immediately positioning herself as the most experienced and, arguably, the best known among what is now a field of six. Star-Advertiser.

What do age, experience, smarts, ambition, name recognition and a knack for raising lots of money amount to? If you are Donna Mercado Kim, it means you are the frontrunner for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District. Civil Beat.

The race for Colleen Hanabusa's soon to be vacated seat in the First Congressional District is up for grabs and a sixth candidate has entered the field. KITV.

Hawaii public school fourth-graders exceeded the national average for math on a national standardized test -- the first time Hawaii has surpassed its national peers in any subject on the National Assessment of Educational Progress since state results began being recorded in the 1990s. Star-Advertiser.

State officials say Hawaii is spending $32 million to rebuild a tax collection system that has never worked properly. And lawmakers are questioning why Hawaii’s health insurance exchange would hire the same contractor to build the state’s online marketplace at the center of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. Associated Press.

Hawaii will receive more than $1.45 million from Johnson & Johnson as part the $2.2 billion the drug giant has agreed to pay to settle criminal and civil allegations over the illegal promotion of two of its antipsychotic drugs, Attorney General David Louie said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii ranks third among all states when it came to adding new residents from the mainland or from overseas, according to the Census Bureau's recently released results of the 2012 American Community Survey, but that doesn't mean that our population is exploding. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's newest immigrants will get a better shot at pursuing the American dream by visiting one of four Immigrant Resource Centers the state is opening. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Inc., the state's largest ocean shipper, will pay tribute to late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye by naming one of two new container vessels it is acquiring after the longtime maritime industry supporter. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Army in the Pacific said it is exploring a new deployment concept for exercises and engagements with foreign nations that would have rotational forces travel from exercise to exercise to exercise for months at a time. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for November 7. Associated Press.

Oahu

Three large pieces of lumber, perhaps tsunami debris from Japan, have washed up on Windward Oahu over the past several days. Star-Advertiser.

Citing concerns about delays and threats of NCAA sanctions if fast-approaching completion deadlines aren’t met, a University of Hawaii Board of Regents committee ordered an immediate audit of the Clarence T. C. Ching Athletic Complex project on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii

Christmas is coming early for 31 appointed legislative staffers who will get 4 percent raises retroactive to July 1, thanks to action Wednesday by the Hawaii County Council. The raises, calculated to match similar raises granted unionized clerical staff, will bring a council aide’s salary to $31,512 and the special assistant to the council chairman to $50,444. West Hawaii Today.

A corporation recently formed in Hawaii has made the top bid for the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort. Ramco Properties LLC of Honolulu is offering $3.7 million for the troubled hotel on Hilo’s Banyan Drive. Tribune-Herald.

The state’s land board is set to consider a preliminary approval of the purchase of land for the Kona Judiciary Complex. The proposal to buy 10 acres of North Kona property from the Queen Liliuokalani Trust for the long-planned complex goes before the board Friday. West Hawaii Today.

Much of Hawaii Island continued to see below-average rainfall during the month of October, with severe and extreme drought conditions persisting in several locations, according to a National Weather Service report filed Wednesday morning. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In recent years, Maui County's young people have outpaced the rest of the state in the severity of underage drinking, according to the executive summary of Maui County's Strategic Underage Drinking Prevention Program. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County will heighten security at Thursday's special County Council meeting because of reported threats since Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.'s veto of Bill 2491, limiting pesticides and GMO. Associated Press.

Anybody planning to attend the meeting will be screened by handheld metal detectors. Personal belongings, including bags, containers, food and beverage containers will not be allowed in the chambers. Garden Island.

A Kauai County Council subcommittee will consider amendments to a measure that would fund a group charged with creating a study of pesticide use on the island. The unanimous council decision to refer the proposed resolution Wednesday to the Committee of the Whole came after most of the six  council members expressed disapproval of the measure in its current form. Garden Island.

Kilauea Irrigation Company is responsible for defending the state against lawsuits brought in the aftermath of a deadly 2006 Kauai dam break, a state appeals court has found. Associated Press.

The Kokee State Park Advisory Council will take another month or so to review the state’s master plan for Kokee and Waimea Canyon state parks before it makes a decision. Garden Island.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Government shutdown to hurt Hawaii tourist economy, health exchange not ready, convicted Honolulu police officer reinstated, fifth candidate enters wide-open congressional race, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park file photo
The partial government shutdown would put 25,000 federal employees out of work in Hawaii; delay military pay; close national parks, including Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the USS Arizona Memorial; and halt applications for passports and visas, weakening tourism, among other impacts. Star-Advertiser.

The failure of Congress to complete one of its most fundamental tasks will have grave consequences across the nation, and especially in Hawaii where tens of thousands of federal employees are slated to stop working — and stop getting paid — as of Tuesday. In a state where tourism is the largest industry, people will not be able to visit sites such as the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor or any of the state’s national parks. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's all-Democrat congressional delegation reacted angrily to the partial government shutdown that took effect at midnight in Washington, placing the blame squarely on House Republicans for refusing to compromise. Star-Advertiser.

The federal government has shut down, despite a long day and night of back-and-forth legislative action by the House and Senate. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiʻi leaders voiced concerns over a federal government shutdown as Congress failed to resolve differences relating to a Continuing Resolution to fund government operations beyond today’s midnight deadline. Maui Now.

Many people are wondering how widespread the local effects of the government shutdown will be. KHON2.

The state’s health insurance exchange, a key provision of the Affordable Care Act, will not be ready for consumers to shop and compare health plans at the start of open enrollment today. The online marketplace known as the Hawaii Health Connector is having software problems that will prevent consumers from comparing the various plans. But officials hope to solve those problems by Friday, sources involved with the Connector told the Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is launching its new online marketplace for health insurance as part of President Barack Obama’s health care law, in an attempt to get as many people covered in the state as possible. The Hawaii Health Connector was expected to go live today, offering tiered plans for individuals and small businesses with an eye toward a key deadline at the start of 2014. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers started seeing fatter paychecks July 1 thanks to the Salary Commission’s recommendation and the end of the voluntary cuts they took during the recession. Fifty House reps and 24 senators will each earn $55,896 this year, $9,600 more than 2012. House Speaker Joe Souki and Senate President Donna Mercado Kim will have annual salaries of $63,396, a $10,000 bump. Civil Beat.

Kathryn Xian opened her campaign Monday for the urban Honolulu seat in Congress with a populist theme of income equality. Star-Advertiser.

On the same day the U.S. government neared a shutdown because a dysfunctional Congress cannot agree on how to fund it, a fifth candidate entered the race for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines averted a third straight quarterly earnings loss by collecting $17.8 million in baggage fees during the April-to-June period, according to data released Monday by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The fees helped Hawaiian make a previously reported $11.3 million in profit. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 1. Associated Press.

Oahu

One of two Honolulu police officers fired after being convicted of marijuana-related charges in Las Vegas in 2009 has been reinstated to HPD, Hawaii News Now has learned.

Rising sea levels mostly caused by man-made climate change will likely leave the edges of Waikiki — and possibly more of the densely developed tourist district — underwater by the year 2100, University of Hawaii climate researchers say. Star-Advertiser.

There are nearly 4,400 civilian employees at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Roughly two-thirds of them are now furloughed because of the government shutdown. Hawaii News Now.

A rich — but perhaps not famous — buyer has acquired a luxurious Oahu home built by the late producer of the "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" TV show, Al Masini. An unidentified buyer paid $10 million for the home on Hawaii Loa Ridge in East Honolulu, according to local real estate firm Sachi Hawaii, led by Sachi Braden.Star-Advertiser.

The dozens of statues that once covered Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto’s Kahala Avenue properties in East Honolulu are being removed and will be sold, according to a source close to the situation. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
With little doubt, Kilauea will continue to erupt today as it has for more than 30 years. But Pele’s awe-inspiring glow and her one-of-a-kind display of the planet’s inner power will go mostly unseen as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — the Big Island’s main tourist attraction — is closed to visitors as a result of the government shutdown that began this morning. Tribune-Herald.

Oral arguments are scheduled to begin Dec. 13 for a legal case challenging Hawaii’s decision to grant a permit for the construction of the world’s largest optical telescope at the summit of Mauna Kea. Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope appealed a Board of Land and Natural Resources decision to the Third Circuit Court in Hilo in May. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is looking to fence about 8,500 acres of the Puuwaawaa Forest Reserve and Puuanahulu Game Management Area, according to a letter sent to about 115 stakeholders last month. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Carmen Electra held a record release party for "I Like It Loud" at a private estate in Lahaina on Sunday. Maui News.

Kauai

The federal government shutdown would affect Kauai in many ways although the primary federal agencies here, Civil Defense and the airport would continue operating. State and county services including public safety would not be affected except behind the scenes where ongoing federal interaction would cease in the interim, authorities said. Garden Island.

Theft of koa is a problem that continues to persist in Kokee State Park. And finding a solution has not been easy. Garden Island.