Showing posts with label USS Arizona Memorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Arizona Memorial. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

Cyberattacks hit Oahu government, COVID trends upward, secretary of defense pledges to monitor Red Hill mitigation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2021 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
TheBus at a Honolulu stop ©2021 All Hawaii News

Cyberattacks hit at least 3 Hawaii government systems in past week. The apparent ransomware attack that infiltrated and shut down the time-keeping services for employees at the Board of Water Supply and Emergency Medical Services, part of a nationwide offensive on public and private networks, could take weeks to fix. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

TheBus, Handi-Van websites remain offline following cyberattack. TheBus and TheHandi-Van websites, along with real-time GPS vehicle information websites HEA for TheBus and EVA TheHandi-Van, remain offline. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Board of Water Supply, Emergency Medical Services report cyberattacks on employee data. The time-keeping system Honolulu Emergency Medical Services uses for employees was hit by a ransomware attack Sunday night, the third cyber intrusion of county networks since Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Dock issue suspends USS Arizona Memorial tours again. The USS Arizona Memorial has problems again with its shoreside dock, which means that tours to the popular Pearl Harbor site are suspended. Associated Press.

Health experts cautiously watch upward COVID case trend, but believe vaccines will help.
DOH says since Thanksgiving weekend, there’s been a 121% jump in cases. Even though hospitalizations are still low, some experts say it’s a concerning trend. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii reports 150 new coronavirus cases, bringing statewide total to 89,379.  The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 122 cases on Oahu, 12 on Kauai, 10 on Hawaii Island, three on Maui, and three Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

U.S deputy defense secretary ordered to visit Navy’s Red Hill facility, meet with Hawaii leaders. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Monday he is “personally monitoring” efforts to mitigate contamination of the Navy’s water supply on Oahu, which serves some 93,000 people. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Red Hill prompts Honolulu City Council to weigh stepped-up protections. In response to the Red Hill well fuel contamination, the Honolulu City Council is holding a special meeting Wednesday, breaking its usual pause during the holidays. Star-Advertiser.

The Red Hill Water Crisis Has Affected Civilians, Too. They Want More Help. The Navy says it has asked for more money to help all the residents affected by the fuel contamination found in a well. Civil Beat.

Blangiardi Says ‘We Don’t Have Enough Money’ To Take Rail To Ala Moana. After discussions with the Federal Transit Administration, the Honolulu mayor says his personal target is to get rail to the Honolulu civic center. Civil Beat.

Former HPD chief admits she had no evidence of overtime abuse against former union leader. Former Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard -- who is being sued for defamation -- admitted she had no evidence of overtime abuses and mismanagement when she demoted former SHOPO President Tenari Maafala in 2017. Hawaii News Now.

O'ahu restaurant owner under fire for underpaying workers.
Sujin Tomita is the owner of Sura Hawaiʻi in Honolulu and Kapolei, and Thank Q Pocha, located in Honolulu. The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hours Division found that Tomita and her restaurants paid less than minimum wage and no overtime pay. The restaurants also discarded time records each month. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island


Input sought on Mauna Kea plans. The University of Hawaii Board of Regents plans to receive a “Pre-Final Master Plan” for UH-managed lands on Mauna Kea on Thursday, followed by six weeks of public review and input. Star-Advertiser.

Island coalition among finalists eligible for up to $100M. Hawaii County could receive as much as $100 million to strengthen its agricultural industry as part of the Biden administration’s Build Back Better initiative. Tribune-Herald.

Puna roundabouts on hold: DOT cites improved traffic safety along Highway 130. A pair of roundabouts on Highway 130 have improved the roadway enough that plans to build another two roundabouts have been shelved. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii Business Park developers seek a break from road requirement. Developers of West Hawaii Business Park want to build just a small portion of Kamanu Street, rather than the entire roadway, prior to developing a 31-acre parcel of the 95-acre park for an undisclosed buyer. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Proposed rule would close portion of La Perouse Bay. Dolphin conservation rule would prohibit entry, use of water from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. A new proposed rule that would close large portions of five bays in Hawaii, including La Perouse Bay, is getting pushback from local residents who called the actions premature and extreme. Maui News.

Kula Hospital Opens Limited Spots in Upcoming Paid CNA Training Cohort. After a successful program launch in 2019, Kula Hospital has graduated and certified 54 Nurse Aides with many continuing on in either full-time, or part-time careers at Kula Hospital. Maui Now.

Kauai

Special election ballot processing begins on Kaua‘i.
Processing began Monday at the Kaua‘i Community College for the election scheduled for this upcoming Saturday under Election Administrator Lyndon Yoshioka and observer’s guidance and watch, respectively. Garden Island.

PAL determined to put up housing. If plans go according to Permanently Affordable Living-Kaua‘i’s schedule, there will be 11 affordable homes in Kilauea at this time in 2022. Garden Island.

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Hotel occupancy drops, Blangiardi extends restrictions, grants may pay for Kauai cesspool conversion, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2021 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki ©2021 All Hawaii News

Statewide hotel occupancy took double-digit dive in August.
Statewide occupancy in August was 73.4%, according to a report released Monday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority which was based on data from Tennessee- based STR. The results were 10.7 percentage points below August 2019 when the pre­pandemic occupancy was 84.1%. Star-Advertiser.

Lieutenant Governor Wants More Health Care Resources, Not Rationed Care. Hawaiʻi Lt. Gov. Josh Green is urging the federal government to help states avoid rationing medical care during the pandemic — a policy that has concerned many older adults and their families. Hawaii Public Radio.

Vaccine rates up for public safety workers and inmates. There were 296, or 18.7%, of the 1,579 corrections workers in Hawaii who declined the vaccine, according to the state Department of Public Safety, as did 38 of Hawaii’s 332 sheriffs. Star-Advertiser.

State auditor Les Kondo challenges investigation of office. State Auditor Les Kondo challenged members of a special House Investigative Committee on Monday to specify why he and his office are under investigation following two critical audits of land management practices by two state agencies — but received no response. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Local progressives urge Rep. Ed Case to support federal infrastructure plan. Local progressive groups are teaming up in an effort to push Congressman Ed Case, D-Hawaii, to support President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” plan, which aims to aggressively address issues such as climate change, child care and rebuilding infrastructure. Star-Advertiser. KITV4.

Antibody treatments lagging in Hawaii amid strong U.S. demand. The federal government has capped Hawaii’s weekly allocation at 680 treatments, half of what local health care providers had requested. Star-Advertiser.

COVID-19 surge tapers off: Hospitalizations, number of new cases in decline. Hawaii appears to be “out of the red zone” for COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii reports 431 new coronavirus cases, bringing statewide total to 75,911. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 290 new cases on Oahu, 59 on Hawaii island, 38 on Maui, 32 on Kauai, and 12 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Mayor Blangiardi extends restrictions on large gatherings until Oct. 19, ends Honolulu’s COVID-19 tier system. Mayor Rick Blangiardi today extended the restrictions for large gatherings, which allow 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors, until Oct. 19. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Honolulu’s Search For A New City Auditor May Finally Be Near An End. A search committee selected a candidate with experience in Washington, D.C., and Seattle. The City Council must approve the appointment. Civil Beat.

Training Records May Be Sticking Point In Fire Chief Deadlock. The Honolulu Fire Commission will meet again this week to take up the hiring impasse. Civil Beat.

Many Head Start Classes Go Back Online Amid Covid Surge. The decision came as the delta variant spread rapidly in communities served by the federally funded preschool program. Civil Beat.

A forecast for Honolulu’s peak number of daily coronavirus cases has been revised downward due to recent data and a combination of other factors, including new restrictions and fewer travelers. The Hawaii Pandemic Applied Modeling Work Group, upon request at a recent Honolulu City Council hearing, has estimated the potential impact of the Safe Access Oahu program could reduce cases by about 30% in the next 10 days. Star-Advertiser.

At-home COVID-19 testing kits available free to Oahu residents via federal program. The Hawaii Department of Health today announced that Oahu has been selected to participate in a federal pilot program providing 125,000 residents in eligible zip codes with free, at-home COVID-19 test kits. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Visits to USS Arizona Memorial resume after shoreside dock gets temporary fix. A temporary repair of the shoreside dock at the USS Arizona Memorial visitor center allowed walk-on visitation to the memorial today at noon for the first time in over two weeks as part of “operational testing” that included the general public, the National Park Service said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island


Clog in online permitting system slows PV installations. A permit slowdown was expected with the transition to an online permit system in late July. But, while most builders and contractors questioned in an informal survey by West Hawaii Today said permits are starting to trickle through, PV and solar water contractors have yet to see a single permit dribble out. West Hawaii Today.

DOT: Work to reopen Hakalau park unlikely to begin until 2023. Hakalau Beach Park and the nearby Kolekole Beach Park closed in 2017 because of public health hazards caused by lead contamination in the soil. But while Kolekole Beach Park was reopened in 2020, Hakalau remains closed. Tribune-Herald.

Maui


Maui Hotels August 2021 Revenue Per Available Room Up 43% from 2019.
For August 2021, Maui County hotels’ RevPar and ADR were up compared to pre-pandemic August 2019, but occupancy was down 4.3%, according to the HTA Hawaiʻi Hotel Performance Report. Maui Now.

Maui police employee in Lahaina tests positive for COVID. The Maui Police Department confirmed an employee out of the Lahaina District tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, Sept. 20.  KHON2.

A large Kahului homeless camp is cleaned out with hopes of getting campers into housing. One of Maui’s largest homeless encampment is being cleared out this week. The encampment is along Amala Place in Kahului on the way to Kanaha Beach Park – a beach that is popular for picnicking and kite surfing. Hawaii News Now.

Pandemic puts strain on farm sanctuary. In the heart of Haiku sits a safe haven where hundreds of animals have received refuge and where visitors have been able to engage and learn. But uncertainty grows as the COVID-19 pandemic challenges the Leilani Farm Sanctuary to keep the gates open as visitor numbers drop due to travel warnings and other restrictions. Maui News.

Kauai

Council moves forward with cesspool conversion program. Converting a cesspool to a septic tank can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000. A new bill introduced by the Kaua‘i County Council seeks to absorb those costs for homeowners. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i falling behind in vaccination rates. Across the state, about 66% of Hawai‘i residents are fully vaccinated, with about 75% initiating vaccination. On Kaua‘i, only about 64% of residents are fully vaccinated and 69% have gotten one of two shots. Garden Island.

Monday, September 28, 2020

Arizona Memorial reopens today, officials scramble to fix Safe Travels bugs before trans-Pacific flights resume, Proud Boy House candidate loses Facebook page, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Arizona Memorial
USS Arizona Memorial PC:NPS

 Arizona Memorial reopens Monday; other Pearl Harbor Historic Sites remain closed. The National Park Service will offer a 30-minute program, consisting of a brief orientation from NPS staff, followed by a boat ride to the memorial on U.S. Navy vessels. Star-Advertiser.

USS Arizona Memorial will resume tours on Sept. 28.
The National Park Service will resume its tours to the USS Arizona Memorial on Monday, Sept. 28. KHON2.

Officials scramble to fix bugs in Safe Travels before more travelers return to Hawaii. There are just 18 days to go before the Oct. 15 start of the state’s pre-arrival testing program. Yet officials are still working out the kinks of Safe Travels, travel.hawaii.gov, the online application that collects traveler information needed to enforce public safety measures related to the coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Has A Plan To Restart Tourism Safely.
Will It Work? The state’s pre-travel testing program is set to launch next month, but other destinations with similar programs have struggled to keep COVID-19 cases from spiking. Civil Beat.

Trans-Pacific travel set to resume soon, but inter-island travel plans still unclear.
With a significant drop in active COVID-19 cases reported Saturday, Lt. Gov. Josh Green feels it is safe to lift the inter-island quarantine rule for travelers. Hawaii News Now.

New health director Dr. Libby Char warns of coronavirus double threat.
Hawaii’s new Health Director Libby Char is urging the public to remain vigilant during the upcoming flu season that health experts predict could be the worst in years due to the prevalence of COVID-19 in the community. Star-Advertiser.

Potential COVID-19 vaccine being developed at UH. As government leaders continue to try to find the balance between public health and opening the economy, experts are trying to produce COVID-19 vaccines. KHON2.

Facebook deletes campaign page of 'Proud Boy' running for Hawaii House seat. In less than five weeks, voters in Hawaii House District 22, which covers Waikiki, Ala Moana, and Kakaako on Oahu will decide between Democrat Adrian Tam and Republican Nick Ochs to represent them at the State Capitol. KITV4.

Board of Ed Settles Sunshine Lawsuit, Will Rehear Petition.
The state Board of Education on Thursday agreed to reconsider a Kahuku resident’s petition for a new rule that would require the Hawaii Department of Education to hold school community meetings over proposed development near a school or library. Civil Beat.

Preschools seek to reassure parents amid enrollment drop in Hawaii. Preschools in Hawaii are back in action with strict protocols to keep children and staff safe from the coronavirus, but enrollment has dropped substantially. Star-Advertiser.

2 more medical marijuana dispensaries given the green light for business. The state has approved two more cannabis dispensaries in the islands. Hawaii News Now.

VIRUS TRACKER — Sept. 27: 98 New COVID-19 Cases And 1 Death In Hawaii. The Department of Health’s dashboard shows there are 1,829 active cases of COVID-19 in Hawaii and that it’s trending downward. Civil Beat.

Oahu

How Honolulu’s Mayoral Candidates Would Tackle The Pandemic. Blangiardi and Amemiya both would have done things different than the Caldwell administration but they differ most on the role of police. Civil Beat.

Visitors to Oahu will face confusing COVID-19 restrictions. The first visitors to arrive on Oahu under the pre-arrivals testing program will face a long list of restrictions along with their sun, sand and surf. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents flock to beaches as city reopens outdoor spaces to small groups. It’s the first weekend since Mayor Kirk Caldwell allowed people on Oahu to congregate in small groups outdoors, and the island’s busy beaches Saturday showed they were eager to do just that. Star-Advertiser.

Plans to close Dillingham Airfield back on track, worrying struggling businesses. Lawmakers and community leaders are urging the state to save the Dillingham Airfield. Hawaii News Now.

The fate of Dillingham Airfield is still in the air. A popular North Shore operation is facing a forced shut down once again. KHON2.

Koolau Golf Club to close permanently due to coronavirus pandemic. A spokesperson for the Koolau Golf Club announced Friday that the course would close permanently on Sept. 30 because of economic hardships suffered during the coronavirus pandemic. Hawaii News Now.

Work on King Street's bus-only lane begins Monday. The City and County of Honolulu's Department of Transportation Services is starting construction work on a new bus-only lane on King Street on Monday. KITV4.

OCCC Tests Show 19 Positives After Outbreak Declared Contained. The state Department of Public Safety reported 10 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 following another round of testing at the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

No CARES campaigning: Council members directed to distance themselves from coronavirus relief funds. Almost $1 million in federal coronavirus relief funds the County Council is disbursing to businesses and community groups has caused some consternation as the county administration tries to ensure donations follow federal laws and don’t look like political campaigning. West Hawaii Today.

Avalon ousted as private managers of troubled Hilo veterans home grappling with outbreak. After the deaths of 26 people at the Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo, the private healthcare agency charged with the facility’s management is being replaced by the state, Mayor Harry Kim said Friday. Hawaii News Now.

Management Changed At Hilo’s COVID-Ravaged Yukio Okutsu Veterans Home.
Avalon Health Care Group will no longer operate the home where 26 residents who were infected with COVID-19 have died, the Hawai`i Health Systems Corporation announced. Big Island Video News.

Still in the race: Two County Council seats remain undecided. While the primary election settled most of the County Council races last month, two seats remain in question heading into the Nov. 3 general election. West Hawaii Today.

DHHL moving forward on Villages of La’i ‘Opua project. Though progress has been sluggish for years, the Department of Hawaiian Homelands’ Villages of La’i ‘Opua project in Kealakehe is slowly inching toward beginning construction of homes in Village 4. West Hawaii Today.

DHHL Presents Hawaii Island Homestead Projects Update. The update included new information on projects in Honomū, Kaumana, Panaʻewa, LaʻiʻŌpua, Kawaihae, and water projects in Kaʻū and Honokaia. Big Island Video News.

WARN notices paint grim picture: Larger BI employers furloughed or laid off nearly 6,000 workers. Large businesses operating on the Big Island have indefinitely furloughed thousands of employees since the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to records filed with the state Department of Labor. Tribune-Herald.


Maui


New grant to help businesses adapt to ‘new normal’. Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino announced Friday the launch of a program that will help local small businesses adjust to the “new normal” and survive the financial impacts caused by COVID-19. Maui News.

Shane Sinenci defends seat in rematch vs. Claire Carroll. A longtime schoolteacher turned council member and the daughter of a former elected official looking to write her own story are facing off once more for the Maui County Council’s East Maui residency seat. Maui News.

Blue Water Task Force Reports High Bacteria Levels at Ho‘okipa, Waiehu, Waihe‘e and Wailuku.
Waters at Wailuku River, Waiehu Stream, the west end of Hoʻokipa Beach Park, and Waiʻehu Beach Park had high levels of enterococcus bacteria, according to samples taken on Sept. 24, as part of a citizen scientist program conducted by the Surfrider Foundation. Maui Now.

Organizers, community saddened over no fair. Sadness and disappointment filled the hearts of Maui Fair leaders, organizers and participants, who would normally be busy preparing for the county’s largest event held annually around this time. Maui News.

Kauai

Princeville Glamping Project Would Require Affordable Housing. Developers of a proposed 50-unit luxury camping resort that would be built on what is now a golf course backed away slightly Saturday from what critics in the community have charged amounts to opening the way for massive new development here. Civil Beat.

Residents oppose possible westside resort bill. During the process of creating the 2018 Kaua‘i General Plan, the community spoke out in opposition to more resorts. However, 60 acres on the Westside was labeled “provisional,” to be determined through the West Kaua‘i Community Plan. Garden Island.

Coronavirus Relief Funds Are Helping These Workers Train For New Careers. More than 300 people applied for 24 openings in a job training program for Kauai residents who lost work due to the coronavirus. Civil Beat.

KPD honors criminologists. Kaua‘i Police Department leaders
and Mayor Derek Kawakami last week recognized Forensic Science Week by holding a small ceremony for KPD criminologists who are instrumental in helping to solve island crimes. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai resort workers to return to jobs beginning of next month. Furloughed Lanai resorts workers will return to their jobs at the beginning of October, following the announcement of a COVID-19 pre-testing program for trans-Pacific travelers to bypass quarantine, said a top Pulama Lana’i official Thursday. Garden Island.


Thursday, November 14, 2019

Elections officials update legislators on all-mail voting, term limits sought for Honolulu prosecutor, Kauai councilman indicted on felonies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii ballot testing ©2019 All Hawaii News
Hawaii election officials to ask voters to update signatures for vote-by-mail. Election officials will soon invite more than 760,000 registered voters to update their signatures on file with the county clerks as part of the preparations for Hawaii’s new all-mail voting system, lawmakers were told Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

How The Counties Are Preparing For All-Mail Voting. The state will switch to an all-mail voting system for the 2020 elections. Civil Beat.

Election officials iron out changes to voting system. Elections officials say next year’s voting results could take even longer to verify. That’s because it’s the first year nearly all the ballots will be sent by mail. Hawaii News Now.

Lingering concerns as state pushes forward with mail-in voting. Next year’s election will be the first time a statewide election will be done by mail. Lawmakers met with elections officials Wednesday to see how the process is going. KHON2.

Ready for voting by mail? Hawaii County Clerk Jon Henricks told state legislators Wednesday that the county will have a high-speed ballot sorting machine by February, which he said will give Hawaii Island elections workers “plenty of time” to prepare for the new voting-by-mail system that will be in place for the 2020 primary and general elections. Tribune-Herald.

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Hawaii state pension fund begins fiscal year with a gain. Hawaii’s largest public pension fund has started off its new fiscal year on a positive note amid the ongoing U.S.-Chinese trade war and global uncertainty. Star-Advertiser.

The strange lights returned to Hawaii skies. The lights are believed to be part of SpaceX’s Starlink Mission which is made up of dozens of mini satellites. The goal of the project is to provide high-speed broadband internet across the globe. Hawaii News Now.

Bankruptcy not expected to affect Meadow Gold. Hawaii’s supply of milk isn’t expected to be affected by Tuesday’s move by the owner of Meadow Gold filing bankruptcy.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii home sales to foreign buyers drop in first half of 2019. The number of homes and condominiums in Hawaii sold to buyers from Japan declined by 15% during the first half of 2019, but the total dollar volume of those sales dropped by 31%, as overall sales volume for foreign buyers fell by 27%, according to data from Title Guaranty. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Resolution seeks to limit years Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney can serve. Right now, there’s no limit, but Honolulu City Council Member Ron Menor wants to change that to two consecutive four-year terms, like the mayor and city council members.  KHON2.

Mo'ili'ili community frustrated over returning homeless camp. It's been 2 weeks since the city of Honolulu did a sweep of a homeless encampment along the Manoa-Palolo Drainage Canal but residents said it has not stopped the homeless from coming back. KITV.

Robbery Suspect Fatally Shot In Fifth Honolulu Officer-Involved Shooting Of The Year. Honolulu police officers shot about 20 rounds at the 30-year-old man as he was driving his car toward them, the Honolulu police chief said. Civil Beat.

Lauren Bruner to be last crew member interred on USS Arizona. More than 900 men who perished when a 1,760-pound Japanese armor-piercing bomb found its mark, igniting a million pounds of gunpowder, were never recovered from the battleship. Star-Advertiser.

USS Boxer group with 4,500 sailors and Marines arrive at Pearl Harbor for port call. The USS Boxer amphibious ready group and more than 4,500 sailors and Marines pulled into Pearl Harbor Wednesday for a port visit following a six-month deployment which included downing an Iranian drone that military officials said was “threatening the safety” of the Boxer in the Strait of Hormuz. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

FEMA deadline expires. While the deadline to apply for a federal program providing individual assistance to Kilauea eruption victims has passed, other programs continue to provide support for those affected by last year’s disaster. Tribune-Herald.

Effort to name Kilauea eruption spot fissure 8 nears completion. A Hawaiian volcano deity whose name means “forest eater” is among 17 public suggestions submitted to a state board to become the official name of the most prominent source of lava during last year’s eruption of Kilauea. Star-Advertiser.

Mauna Kea activists ‘hope for the best and prepare for the worst’. As the protest at Mauna Kea heads into its fifth month, the encampment has become like a small town including everything from decontamination supplies to county crossing guards. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Commission wants affordable housing from hotel developers. Members provide comments on draft EIS for Windward Hotel. Maui News.

Wildfire and Sediment: Addressing Two of the Biggest Threats to Maʻalaea Bay. A unique pilot project on Maui will use oysters to filter water at Maʻalaea Bay in an attempt to improve water quality at the location. Maui Now.

Haleakala looks into electric bike policy. Haleakala National Park is considering a new policy that would allow the use of electric bikes on all roads where traditional bicycles are currently permitted, park spokesperson Jin Prugsawan said Tuesday. Maui News.

Fighting To Save This Rare Maui Forest Bird From Extinction. A team of biologists brought 13 critically endangered Maui parrotbills to the other side of Haleakala to save the species from extinction. But less than a month later, only three birds have survived. Civil Beat.

Avian malaria suspected cause of kiwikiu deaths. Officials hopeful that remaining birds will survive in reserve. Maui News.

Kauai

Councilmember charged. Kauai County Councilmember Arthur Brun was indicted Wednesday on felony charges for allegedly running from police during a traffic stop two weeks ago and hitting an officer with his car in the process. Garden Island.

Kauai Springs back in business. A family-owned water-bottling company in Koloa may have won its 13-year legal battle with the county Planning Commission. Garden Island.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Prison commission off to slow start, Oahu landfill expansion irks neighbors, record-setting $15M settlement in cop traffic fatality, UH regent chair wants university to take lead in Mauna Kea standoff, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kulani prison ©2019 All Hawaii News
New Prison Oversight Commission Is Off To A Slow Start. The Hawaii legislature created a prisons oversight commission this year to help fix the broken corrections system and head toward a therapeutic model, but not much has happened since the governor gave his stamp of approval in July. Civil Beat.

New Trump Administration Proposal Threatens SNAP Benefits For Thousands of Hawaii Residents. The Trump Administration wants to change the eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps. Hawaii Public Radio.

State won’t pursue bank on $150M loan commitment to Hawaiian Home Lands. Amid mounting political pressure to force Bank of America to make good on a 2-decade-old commitment to provide $150 million in home mortgage loans to beneficiaries of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Hawaii’s Office of the Attorney General says there appears to be no legal basis for the state to actually pursue the matter. Star-Advertiser.

Wanted: 2,000 Workers to Fill Health Care Jobs In Hawaii. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii’s first workforce assessment found vacancies at health care facilities for a wide variety of jobs from medical assistants to phlebotomists. Civil Beat.

Isles have second-longest wait time for transplants, national study finds. Hawaii had the second- longest wait time for organ transplants in 2018 with 22.5%, or 250, of patients waiting five years or longer, according to a new study by HealthTestingCenters.com, an online company based in Florida that markets lab testing directly to consumers. Star-Advertiser.

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Regents Chair Wants UH To Take Lead In Solving Mauna Kea Conflict. The chairman of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents says he'll call for the university president to lead the effort to resolve the conflict on Mauna Kea and planned construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Hawaii Public Radio.

University of Hawaii regents chairman speaks up for TMT resolution. Benjamin Kudo, chairman of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, wants the university and its president to lead efforts to bring people together to resolve the impasse at Mauna Kea over the Thirty Meter Telescope. Star-Advertiser.

Torn By TMT Conflict, Chairman Of UH Regents Silent No Longer. The UH Regents chairman calls for a stop to "the attacks, mischaracterizations, [and] mistruths" and make the resolution of the ongoing conflict a top priority. Big Island Video News.

Classes take toll on Maunakea camp numbers during week. The demonstrators occupying Maunakea Access Road have thinned to a skeleton crew after the start of the school year, but students and teachers still find time to return to the mountain. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

12 Queen’s doctors fired in a shift to new contractor. A dozen local doctors at The Queen’s Medical Center are out of jobs today after the hospital hired a mainland firm that has come under fire for its controversial billing practices. Star-Advertiser.

A dozen doctors have lost their positions after a Honolulu hospital switched to a new employment contractor, officials said. Associated Press.

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False police report at center of new retaliation allegations against prosecutor’s office. A new claim of retaliation by the Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has surfaced. The latest comes from an employee who says the administration made a false police report to get back at her. Hawaii News Now.

Plans for the expansion of a construction debris landfill riles some Nanakuli residents. A vigorous construction industry on Oahu has accelerated plans to expand a special landfill in Nanakuli where some residents regard the facility as a scourge in their community. Star-Advertiser.

Helicopter flights over USS Arizona Memorial criticized as being ‘disrespectful’. The USS Arizona Memorial attracted another big crowd on Labor Day. But in the air, traffic was also heavy. Hawaii News Now.

Bill To Expand City Lifeguard Coverage Headed For Public Hearing. A proposal to expand lifeguard hours at Oahu beaches remains alive despite concerns that arose at a City Council committee meeting Thursday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County to pay $15.1M to settle police-involved crash. Hawaii County has agreed to pay a $15.1 million settlement to the family of a Michigan man hit and killed by a police patrol car, officials said. Associated Press.

Internet speeds up: Kona outpaces Hilo, but averages still lag most of the state. West Hawaii Today.

Council committee to learn about International Energy Conservation Code. A humorous homespun video about a serious topic is slated to be aired Tuesday at a County Council committee meeting as the legislative body takes its first stab toward making local modifications to the International Energy Conservation Code. West Hawaii Today.

DLNR looking at new boat ramp site within Pohoiki Bay. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Puna fishing community are continuing to discuss possible solutions to the landlocked Pohoiki boat ramp. Tribune-Herald.

New CEO takes reins at Hawaii Island Humane Society. Charles Brown, a 49-year-old Pittsburgh native, has worked in animal shelters for more than two decades, “starting as a kennel cleaner and working my way up.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Running Out Of Time To Settle Clean Water Act Case. Next week the council will weigh whether it should stop a legal appeal from reaching the U.S. Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

Water panel OKs permit to remove some EMI diversions. Move is latest step in ongoing work to restore stream flowThe state water commission has given East Maui Irrigation Co. the go-ahead to to take down the next series of stream diversions that it once used to transport water to the central valley to feed sugar cane crops. Maui News.

Mahi Pono LLC hopes former sugar plantation land will yield signature crops. Mahi Pono LLC, the partnership that bought 41,000 acres of mostly fallow Central Maui farmland last year after Alexander & Baldwin Inc. quit growing sugar cane there in 2016 after 146 years, is focusing on ordinary white, yellow and red potato varieties as part of its first new piece of an ambitious diversified agriculture development plan. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Kauai rocket launches help protect equipment. Two launches last week from Barking Sands, Kauai, will help rocket scientists ensure that critical onboard components don’t fail under the force of liftoff, Sandia National Laboratories announced. Star-Advertiser.

New Kapaa medical clinic blessed. The Kapaa clinic has been operating since July 30 after relocating from its former location in the Kapaa Shopping Center, but the public opening ceremonies and open house were already scheduled. Garden Island.

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Volunteers round up 300 invasive tilapia on Na Pali Coast. Fishermen from across Kauai teamed up with state employees over the Labor Day weekend to round up and remove hundreds of black-chin tilapia from Nualolo Bay on the Na Pali Coast. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR, fishermen tackle the black-chin tilapia invasion on Kauai’s North Shore. Fishermen partnered with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources this Labor Day weekend in an effort to catch invasive black-chin tilapia on Kaua’i’s North Shore. Hawaii News Now.

DLNR teams up with Kauai fishermen to tackle tilapia invasion. According to the department's Division of Aquatic Resources, thousands of Black Chin Tilapia are filling Nualolo Bay. KITV.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

USS Arizona Memorial to reopen Sunday, Gabbard misses presidential debate cut, ex-IBEW boss pleads not guilty, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

PC: National Park Service
USS Arizona Memorial PC:National Park Service
USS Arizona Memorial To Reopen Sunday After Lengthy Repairs. The National Park Service, which oversees the site, announced Wednesday that contractors completed the final phase of construction this week. Hawaii Public Radio.

Reopening of USS Arizona Memorial to walk-on access scheduled for Sunday. The National Park Service said today that the much-awaited reopening of the USS Arizona Memorial to walk-on access will take place this Labor Day weekend on Sunday after a 15-month closure. Star-Advertiser.

USS Arizona Memorial set to reopen after being closed for more than a year. Hawaii News Now.

After more than 1 year, the USS Arizona set to reopen to the public. Since May 2018, the National Park Service has been restoring the dock's anchoring system after it cracked. KITV.

USS Arizona Memorial reopens Sunday. West Hawaii Today.

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Gabbard forges ahead despite not qualifying for debate. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is forging ahead with her campaign for president despite missing the cut for the third Democratic primary debate. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard Misses 2020 Presidential Debate Threshold. The Hawaii congresswoman didn’t qualify for the September debates due to her low poll numbers, but she hopes to be back on stage in October. Civil Beat.

Gabbard falls short in qualifying for third Democratic presidential debate. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will not be in the next Democratic presidential debate, a campaign spokesperson said. Hawaii News Now.

10 Democrats Set For Next Debate As Gabbard, Others Miss Cut. Struggling Democratic presidential candidates, including Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, are facing the bad news that they are not among the 10 who have qualified for the next debate, a predicament that is likely to spell doom for their campaigns. Associated Press.

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Lawsuit Planned Over Backroom Deal to Downsize University Board of Regents. A former University of Hawaii regent plans to sue over what he calls an unconstitutional reduction of the university’s governing board. Hawaii Public Radio.

Monsanto Could Soon Be Facing Dozens Of Lawsuits in Hawaii Over Pesticide. Massive damage awards in previous cases are triggering a new onslaught against the chemical company. Civil Beat.

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Ex-IBEW union boss and family plead not guilty. Ex-union boss Brian Ahakuelo, and his wife and sister-in-law — also union employees — pleaded not guilty in federal court to a 70-count indictment of criminal conspiracy and wire fraud for using union money for personal expenses, rigging a vote to increase union dues, embezzlement and money laundering. Star-Advertiser.

All three indicted in IBEW case plead not guilty. It’s a case nearly five years in the making. KHON2.

Former union leader accused of misusing funds pleads not guilty. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260′s past business manager was released on a $50,000 bond. Hawaii News Now.

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TMT Protest Movement Spurs Enrollment In Immersion Schools. Several Hawaiian immersion schools are seeing a spike in interest this year from parents energized by opposition to construction of a telescope on Mauna Kea. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Air flight attendants picket over contract negotiations. Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants took to the picket lines at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Wednesday to protest extended contract negotiations. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian flight attendants hold third airport protest. Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants held a major labor demonstration on Wednesday at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport over protracted negotiations for a new contract. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants hold 'informational picket' over pay & benefits. Nearly a hundred flight attendants and supporters marched outside the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport echoing that message. KITV.

Oahu


Dozens of firefighters battled a blaze early Thursday at the H-Power plant in Kapolei that officials say was sparked by welding work. The Honolulu Fire Department said it took crews four hours to extinguish because it was difficult to reach all the hot spots in the pile of rubbish. Hawaii News Now.

Kapolei’s second affordable housing tower to rise. It’s not done yet, but the tallest building in Kapolei is slated to soon connect with a sister tower providing homes for Hawaii residents with low incomes. Star-Advertiser.

Dignitaries broke ground Wednesday on the second phase of an upcoming senior housing complex in Kapolei. Hawaii News Now.

‘Sentry Aloha’ training has skies buzzing. The Hawaii Air National Guard is once again conducting its large-scale Sentry Aloha fighter exercise, with this iteration running from Aug. 21 through Sept. 4. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s system for listing people on a registry of child abusers “makes no sense” and may have resulted in a “great injustice,” according to an opinion by a U.S. appellate court judge. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

TMT vice president says project partners concerned over inaction. Although the deadline to begin construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope was pushed back until 2021, project authorities believe a decision about the project’s future will have to be made soon. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Ige explains why he couldn’t grant Mayor Kim’s wish of delaying TMT construction. After receiving the letter, Ige said he told Kim that it was too late for a timeout. Hawaii News Now.

Important Lava Recovery Measures Go Before Council Next Week. The Hawaii County Council will consider a grant to establish another temporary road and a resolution to adopt an Interim Recovery Strategy. Big Island Video News.

Kohanaiki Shores wins tax appeal: Kona resort one of hundreds lobbying to get amounts reduced. West Hawaii Today.

Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades delayed. Completion of upgrades to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant to produce R1 recycled water and the ability to move that water to customers has been pushed back “significantly.” West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mahi Pono Needs Water, But Isnʻt Sure of How Much. During a contested case hearing that drew a decent audience at the UH Maui College earlier this evening, Mahi Pono representatives said they are unsure of how many gallons of water they will need to divert for their crops. Maui Now.

Mahi Pono Wants to Divert Water from Wailuku Streams. Mahi Pono, the Maui agricultural venture, is asking to divert stream water originally sought by the old Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company that it never got. Hawaii Public Radio.

Petitions Delivered Urging County to Settle Lahaina Injection Well Case. A petition signed by over 15,000 members of the Sierra Club and Surfrider Foundation was delivered to Maui County Council Chairwoman Kelly King today. Maui Now.

In a stunning turnabout, the Economic Development and Budget Committee of the Maui County Council voted 6-3 to cut already allocated bond funds for the Wailuku Parking Garage from $42 million to $27.7 million. Maui Watch.

Calls for police reform strengthened in light of misconduct allegations in MPD. Maui Police Officer Brandon Saffeels was suspended last year after a woman complained to Internal Affairs that he was trying to exchange information for sexual favors. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Organizations Make Effort to Curb Overtourism. From leading the state in hotel performance, to experiencing growth in visitor arrivals, Mauiʻs tourism industry has been making noticeable strides. Maui Now.

Chairwoman’s decision to remove tapestry criticized. Issues of cleanliness of the 45-year-old art piece led to its removal, says King. Maui County Council Member Riki Hokama is taking issue with council Chairwoman Kelly King’s decision to remove a more than 45-year-old tapestry that has hung in Council Chambers since 1972 and replace it with the county seal. Maui News.

A third Maui establishment has been hit with a red placard in the span of a week due to an apparent rodent infestation. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Property tax bill goes to mayor. Families that have lived on their properties for generations but whose names are not on title are one step closer to applying for the same tax exemptions other owner-occupants enjoy. Garden Island.

Waimea Huakai Housing Development will feature 67 units. The project, the Waimea Huakai Housing Development, is a partnership with Kauai Habitat for Humanity, the Ahe Group and the County of Kauai. Garden Island.

Monday, August 19, 2019

TheBus expands routes, Hawaiian practitioner fights Lanai drone landing strip, green building code irks architects, DOE tackles bullying, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
TheBus in Honolulu ©2019 All Hawaii News
TheBus has made changes to dozens of routes across Oahu. The changes went into effect Sunday. Among some of the major routes impacted include the City Express Route A and the Country Express route E. Hawaii News Now.

Windward Oahu bus routes expand. The city expanded several Windward Oahu bus routes and the changes began Sunday, Aug. 18. KHON2.

Hawaii pension fund up 5.8% for fiscal year. Hawaii’s largest public pension fund failed to meet its 7% investment target in fiscal 2019 amid a volatile December and unsettling U.S.-Chinese trade war. Star-Advertiser.

Some Six-Figure Salaries At The State’s Watchdog Agencies. At look at the payrolls of the State Auditor’s Office, Ethics Commission and Ombudsman’s Office. Star-Advertiser.

Board of Education passes new rules for discipline, civil rights. Bullying and harassment will be treated as among the most serious offenses for high school students in Hawaii under a revised discipline code passed by the Board of Education. Star-Advertiser.

A report that faulted Hawaii’s public schools for suspending students far longer than the rest of the country was wrong and the Aloha State is actually near the national norm, according to Schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto. That erroneous data formed the basis of a widely publicized report by the American Civil Liberties Union in June claiming that Hawaii’s suspension policies were the most punitive in the country. Star-Advertiser.

Trump Weakens Protections For Hawaii’s Imperiled Plants And Animals. The revised Endangered Species Act regulations flabbergasted environmentalists who are concerned about warding off more extinctions. Civil Beat.

DBEDT Releases Latest Hawaii Data Book. The 2018 edition contains plenty of factoids on the state and its people. Civil Beat.

Invasive sponge found to feed on own bug juice. An invasive species of sponge common throughout Hawaii packs its own lunch, scientists have found. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

6 candidates ‘seriously interested’ in Honolulu mayor’s race. Several big-name candidates have emerged as serious contenders for Honolulu mayor with now less than a year to go until Hawaii’s 2020 primary election day. Star-Advertiser.

How A Design Detail Caused A Multi-Million Dollar Headache For Honolulu Rail. Canopy arms, meant to anchor the sail-like fabric covers for the stations, were already plagued with design and construction problems. Then, they started cracking. Civil Beat.

Volunteers prep Arizona Memorial for reopening. Volunteers continue to clean and polish the USS Arizona Memorial in preparation for the as-yet announced reopening of one of the state’s most visited tourist attractions. Star-Advertiser.

The opening of Espacio in Waikiki caters to Hawaii’s strong luxury hotel market. Espacio’s Japan­ese-based owner, Kowa Waikiki LLC, purchased the 88-unit Waikiki Beachside hotel for $25 million and spent $50 million to convert it into an ultraluxury suite hotel with only nine units. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Building a house on Hawaii Island just got a lot more complicated — and more expensive — because the county missed a deadline to enact local exemptions to a strict new statewide energy code. West Hawaii Today.

Residents Say Voices Stifled on Homelessness. County officials hosted a public forum on Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2019, at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center, where they presented an overview of a project known as the Kukuiola & Village 9 Affordable Rental Community. Big Island Now.

Facts vs. myths: Debunking oft-cited claims abut TMT Tribune-Herald.

Big Island mayor: Ige made ultimate call to stop arrests at TMT protest. At a key moment in the TMT conflict, as protesters were being arrested at Mauna Kea, Mayor Harry Kim says the governor made the call to pull back law enforcement. Hawaii News Now.

Officials should follow Maui’s example, former mayor says. Another cutting-edge observatory, the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope atop Haleakala, is nearing completion after escaping a similar fate during protests in 2015 and 2017 involving some of the same people embroiled in the TMT protests. Star-Advertiser.

Last week the Hawaii County Council got an update in committee on the status of various post-eruption projects in the Pahoa Recreational Complex. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Surveys find no Rapid Ohia Death along East Maui. Drone, helicopter surveys follow first detection on island. Maui News.

Maui County residents had to make $31.13 an hour to afford two-bedroom rental last year. Maui County Data Book 2018 shows local statistics on population, education, labor, government and more. Maui News.

Hawaiian Practitioner Seeks to Intervene in Proposal for Drone Landing Strip on Lanai. The request is being made by the Research Corporation of University of Hawaii for its Lanai High Altitude Platforms (HAPS) Drone project. Maui Now.

Kauai

Fish, limu returning to restored stream. The Waipa Stream is coming back to life, thanks to a restoration project within the watershed. Garden Island.

Kauai Coffee certified non-GMO. Harvesters are getting tuned up and coffee cherries are transitioning from green to yellow and red as Kauai Coffee Company’s busiest season of the year approaches. Garden Island.

Lanai

Hawaiian Practitioner Seeks to Intervene in Proposal for Drone Landing Strip on Lanai. The request is being made by the Research Corporation of University of Hawaii for its Lanai High Altitude Platforms (HAPS) Drone project. Maui Now.

Friday, July 12, 2019

USS Arizona Memorial repairs continue, Kealoha lawyer quits, 2020 census to be online, Maui residents return after wildfire, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

National Park Service
USS Arizona Memorial PC:NPS
Key progress made in Arizona Memorial access. A more than $2.1 million project to restore walk-on access to the USS Arizona Memorial is getting closer to completion, with a 105-foot floating concrete dock repositioned next to the memorial and a new anchoring system in place beneath it. Star-Advertiser.

New Pre-K Locations Announced After Expansion Bill Becomes Law. The 10 classrooms will be at the following schools: on Oahu, Aiea Elementary, Haleiwa Elementary, Nanaikapono Elementary, Waianae Elementary, Palolo Elementary and Waimanolo Elementary & Intermediate; on Big Island, Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary, Hilo Union Elementary and Honaunau Elementary; and on Maui, Pukalani Elementary. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Katherine Kealoha Loses One Attorney While A Second Seeks A Retrial. The former city prosecutor’s publicly funded defense lawyer was allowed to withdraw from the case on the same day her privately paid attorney made new claims. Civil Beat.

Kealoha attorneys seek new trial — and claim they’ve found Alison Lee Wong. Katherine Kealoha says her court-appointed attorney was ineffective, inexperienced and uncooperative during the trial. Hawaii News Now.

Katherine Kealoha appears in shackles. Deputy prosecutor- turned-felon Katherine Kea­loha shuffled into federal court Thursday wearing an off-white, short-sleeve prison jumpsuit, navy blue boat shoes and shackles around her ankles. Star-Advertiser.

Katherine Kealoha will get a new lawyer. Cynthia Kagiwada filed a motion to withdraw and the judge approved it Thursday. KHON2.

State backs affordable-housing towers. A state agency is inclined to provide $130 million for a developer to build two apartment towers near Aloha Stadium for low-income households despite contentious community meetings over much of the project earlier this year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Astronomers express anxiety, excitement at TMT construction site atop Mauna Kea. The construction site for the Thirty Meter Telescope is on the mountain’s northern plateau, about 400 feet below the summit. Hawaii News Now.

Institute for Astronomy to continue managing telescope. The University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy was awarded a contract by NASA to continue to manage its telescope on Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

Cracking down on ag theft: New law provides counties with an enforcement officer. Legislation recently signed by Gov. David Ige aims to address agricultural theft and vandalism on Hawaii Island and Maui. Tribune-Herald.

Preparing for the 2020 census: People will be able to fill out their forms online for the first time. But challenges remain in making sure every person in every community, in every state, is counted accurately, Census Bureau representatives told the County Council earlier this week. West Hawaii Today.

Supreme Court to weigh in on police shooting accomplice case. Prosecutors are seeking relief from the Hawaii Supreme Court in the case of four of the seven defendants accused of aiding accused cop killer Justin Waiki. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Liquor panel finally approves rules changes. Maui County brewpubs will be able to serve their industry standard 16-ounce beers and provide multiple sample-size beers to customers, according to rule amendments approved Wednesday morning by the Maui County Liquor Commission. Maui News.

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Officials lift evacuation order but warn that fire is still ‘an active threat’. All evacuation orders triggered by a massive wildfire in Central Maui were lifted Thursday night, but the mayor of Maui County warned residents to remain on alert because the fire is still posing a threat. Hawaii News Now.

Evacuees allowed to return home after brush fire scorches 3,000 acres. KHON2.

All evacuees may return home, Maui County says. KITV.

UPDATE 10:20 P.M.: Motorists allowed back into Kihei amid fire; airport, Kuihelani Highway open. Shelter, road updates. Maui News.

Maui Brush Fire Forces Evacuations. The blaze was still uncontained Thursday evening, and two shelters had been opened. Civil Beat.

An enormous wildfire swept across 3,000 acres of mostly fallow former sugar cane fields Thursday, forcing thousands to evacuate, closing down highways, trapping some residents for hours and diverting flights from Kahului Airport to Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

A brush fire that prompted evacuations and diverted some flights on the Hawaii island of Maui remained uncontained, officials said Thursday night. An evacuation notice was sent to the cellphones of residents in the town of Maalaea and in parts of Kihei, a Maui County official said. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Illegal Parking Fees Rise From $35 To $235 On Kauai’s North Shore. The steepened penalty is expected to deter problematic illegal parking near popular beaches, trailheads and attractions on Kauai’s secluded North Shore. Civil Beat.

State to raise fines for illegally-parked cars along parts of Kauai’s North Shore. Hawaii News Now.

The North Shore community showed up in force at the Waipa Foundation Center Wednesday evening to take part in an Office of Hawaiian Affairs public meeting. Garden Island.

The salt beds are flooded on Kauai’s Westside, thanks to a combination of king tides, high surf and blocked drainage. Garden Island.