Honolulu to require baby-changing stations, sit-lie ban expanded, Kauai muzzles dog-barking law, power producers fight clean air laws, road to be cleared of lava, Maui cane-burner foes raise $25k, cesspool rules advance, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fish amid coral © 2015 All Hawaii News

Researchers with the University of Hawaii at Manoa are being honored for their work to understand and reverse coral bleaching. The team headed by Ruth Gates and Madeleine van Oppen from the Australian Institute of Marine Science attempts to grow coral that’s resistant to the effects of global warming and rising levels of acid in the water. Hawaii Public Radio.

New research suggests small-scale fisheries could have big benefits for local communities. That’s according to a new study that highlights the economic impact of community supported reef fisheries. Hawaii Public Radio.

The process to determine Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensary license holders will likely be based on a point scale, state officials said Wednesday. But just how transparent the application process will be has yet to be determined. Pacific Business News.

Recently released campaign finance data shows more than $1.8 million has flowed into local candidates’ campaign coffers since the 2014 elections. Civil Beat.

One of Hawaii island’s largest power suppliers and one of the state’s two oil refineries say they can’t meet legal requirements for reducing air pollution as the state moves forward on an eight-year-old law that requires Hawaii to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

The sale of Chevron Corp.’s Hawaii retail and refinery operations is getting interest from firms from as far as the Philippines and South Korea, Pacific Business News has learned.

Oahu

Diaper-changing stations would have to be provided for men and women in new or significantly renovated commercial and business spaces under a bill approved unanimously by the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Despite vocal and sometimes harsh criticism from opponents, the City Council voted twice on Wednesday to expand the controversial sit-lie law, which bars people from sitting or lying down on restricted sidewalks and other areas. KITV4.

The Honolulu City Council passed two measures Wednesday that would further curb where the homeless and other people can sit, lie or camp. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to advance a draft development plan for the North Shore that doesn’t include any new homes in Malaekahana. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council has passed a measure to make grants and loans available to businesses hit hard by rail construction, but it’s still unclear where the city would get the funds for such a program or at what amount. Star-Advertiser.

Some of the workers on the front lines of Hawaii’s tourism industry work in fancy hotels but are employed by contractors. They’re still supposed to receive union wages under a collective bargaining agreement, but that doesn’t necessarily happen despite legal action and union grievances. Civil Beat.

Local students interacted with leading scientists around the world Wednesday at the International Astronomical Union’s exhibit hall at the Hawaii Convention Center. KHON2.

TMT Protesters Hope to Reach Visiting Astronomers Through Waikiki March The event is planned during a day of rest for the more than 2,000 astronomers in town for the International Astronomical Union’s triennial convention. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Hawaii County taxpayers are footing the bill for Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd to defend herself from a lawsuit claiming she’s not qualified for the job, and the case isn’t over yet. The County Council on Wednesday voted to pay $47,231 for legal fees and court costs, on top of the $13,860 that had already been paid. West Hawaii Today.

Two-term Puna Councilman Greggor Ilagan announced Wednesday he’s running as a Democrat for the District 2 state Senate seat. West Hawaii Today.

Puna councilmember Greggor Ilagan is going to run for the state senate district 2 seat in 2016. The state senate seat is currently occupied by Russell Ruderman, who has yet to finalize his future political plans. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County Council members Tuesday took plenty of testimony but no action on a bill banning the use of “toxic herbicides” by county workers, during a meeting of the Committee on Environmental Management. Tribune-Herald.

Tourists and isle residents might have only a few more months to snap pictures of a lava-covered Cemetery Road. Hawaii County put restoration of the narrow country road in Pahoa out to bid, with work expected to begin in late September or early October. Tribune-Herald.

More than four decades after the first promise was made, the Alii Kai subdivision will have its park. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County is slapping a half-million dollar fine on the owner of a popular boutique hotel for several dozen alleged permit violations. Associated Press.

A group of Maui residents called Stop Cane Burning has raised more than $25,000 for legal costs in an attempt to stop Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. from burning sugar cane. Civil Beat.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday voted to repeal the county’s barking dog ordinance, which provides penalties for dog owners who fail to keep their animals quiet. Garden Island.

Kauai County Council Chair Mel Rapozo’s plan to require an audit of the Kauai Humane Society was unanimously approved on Wednesday. Garden Island.

State health officials are drafting rules for a ban on cesspools as well as a tax credit incentive program that would help a small percentage of property owners upgrade to a more environmentally friendly waste system. Garden Island.

Hawaii low in greenhouse gas emissions, seven schools to get free lunch, monk seals to be vaccinated, Ethics Commission mulls class trips, Maui Council considers water plan, UH research brings in $425M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Rep. Cynthia Thielen with hemp, file courtesy photo

University of Hawaii researchers are poised to start their first harvest of industrial hemp in Waimanalo, while crop advocates explore opportunities to tap into the multimillion-dollar demand for the plant’s products in the United States. Star-Advertiser.

The status of future educational trips for Hawaii’s public school students remains murky following a marathon meeting of the State Ethics Commission on Wednesday. More than half of the nearly four-hour meeting was devoted to attempts to solve a messy clash between several provisions of the ethics code that applies to state employees, including teachers, and the Department of Education’s goal of encouraging educational trips to complement, extend, and broaden classroom experiences. Civil Beat.

A new pilot program launching next week at seven Hawaii public schools will provide lunches free of charge to more than 1,600 students regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Star-Advertiser.

Educators were asked this week to identify measurements of achievement for young Native Hawaiians in the coming decade. The answer had nothing to do with standardized test scores. Civil Beat.

External funding for research and instruction projects at the University of Hawaii surged to more than $425 million in the recently completed fiscal year — a jump of $33 million or 8.5 percent over last year and the first increase after three consecutive years of funding declines, UH officials disclosed Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is in the bottom half of rankings in the United States when it comes total greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

NOAA Prepares for Hawaiian Monk Seal Vaccinations. Hawaii Public Radio.

Models to mitigate coastal hazards related to climate change. New research using wave modeling helps explain the effects coral reefs have on preventing coastal hazards like flooding.  Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

The state Department of Health is issuing a $1.1 million fine against the Department of Education and several companies over the alleged dumping of toxic soil from Radford High School. Hawaii News Now.

Major metal recyclers on the island would once again enjoy a substantial discount in disposal fees under a plan making its way through the Honolulu City Council despite objections from Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Council chairman on Wednesday proposed the city consider using some of the hundreds of millions of dollars from a five-year rail tax extension to help Oahu businesses hard-hit by rail construction. Star-Advertiser.

Population growth and concerns over crime have prompted some residents and officials to call for a greater police presence on the Leeward Coast. Star-Advertiser.

The state agency regulating development in Kakaako has acknowledged that its rule governing the opaqueness of glass on new condominium towers may need to be modified to achieve a better balance between reflectiveness and energy use. Star-Advertiser.

A Bloomberg analysis has found that Honolulu ranks fourth among American cities that lost the most residents between July 2013 and July 2014. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu city council committee has approved a settlement in a lawsuit filed against the city by a Waipahu man who claimed he was beaten by an off-duty police officer. Hawaii News Now

The Hawaii Community Development Authority finalized an amended development permit Wednesday requiring construction to start on the moderate-priced 988 Halekauwila condominium tower in Kakaako before an initial luxury tower can be occupied at Ward Village. Star-Advertiser.

Owners in the Royal Capitol Plaza condominium tower in Kakaako have dropped their lawsuit challenging a state permit for a tower under construction next door. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The state land board has agreed to consider on Aug. 14 a request for a contested case hearing, which seeks to reverse a recently approved emergency rule limiting access to Mauna Kea. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii County is among the lengthy list of parties urging the Public Utilities Commission not to approve the proposed $4.3 billion merger of Hawaii Electric Industries to Florida-based NextEra Energy. Tribune-Herald.

The State Historic Preservation Division has given the state transportation department a green light to break ground on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway widening project. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hundreds of Upcountry residents have waited a decade or more for a water meter. And in recent years a lucky few have been offered a meter by the Department of Water Supply, but there's been a catch - the staggering cost of paying for fire protection improvements required to connect with the municipal water system. Maui News.

A substance abuse treatment center on Maui was ordered to pay an estimated $45,000 in back wages, damages and penalties to employees for violating the federal fair labor standards act, according to the Department of Labor. Maui Now.

Kauai
It looks like the barking dog ordinance could be repealed. A 4-3 committee vote Wednesday signaled that Bill 2590 will succeed on final passage if the sides hold when the council meets Aug. 5 to decide its fate. Garden Island.

General excise tax hike, medical marijuana dispensaries become law in Hawaii, Thirty Meter Telescope foes contest Land Board ruling, National Guard trains for civil disobedience, dune buggy biz approved for Oahu's North Shore, Liberty Dialysis charged with over-billing the state, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Medical marijuana sign © 2015 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige has signed a bill establishing a system of medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

On Wednesday, Governor David Ige signed into law HB 321 (now Act 241) Relating to Medical Marijuana, which establishes a licensing system for medical marijuana dispensaries. Big Island Video News.

Governor David Ige today signed Hawaiʻi’s medical marijuana dispensary bill into law. Maui Now.

Gov. David Ige approved a five-year extension of the half-percent excise tax surcharge on Tuesday to raise more money to cover cost overruns on Honolulu's $6 billion Oahu transit project, and also put his personal stamp of approval on a plan to establish a statewide network of dispensaries to distribute medical marijuana. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill Wednesday to extend Honolulu’s rail tax for another five years to help pay for cost overruns. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed into law House Bill 134, which extends the 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge on Oahu for another five years to fund the City & County of Honolulu’s rail transit project. Pacific Business News.

A bill aimed at taking a closer look at real estate investment trusts in Hawaii has become law without Gov. David Ige’s signature. Pacific Business News.

The proposed $4.3 billion sale of Hawaiian Electric Co. to NextEra Energy Inc. is expected to generate $109 million in economic activity for Hawaii in the first four years, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Liberty Dialysis, a company that operates kidney dialysis facilities throughout the state, owes Hawaii $7 million that the company allegedly overbilled in Medicaid payments from 2006 to 2010, a state lawsuit says. Star-Advertiser.

The new director of a streamlined program to identify the missing remains of war veterans says he’s optimistic that goals will be reached this year. Associated Press.

Oahu

City officials have approved the registration of gas-powered, low-speed vehicles on Oahu after initially denying a startup dune buggy rental business on the North Shore the license to begin operations. Star-Advertiser.

More park workers, a smoothed-out beach and a playground are in. Increased commercialization and newfangled restrooms are out. Those are some of the highlights of a nine-point, short-term community action plan for the 119-acre Ala Moana Beach Park released by Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

You could still dump aunty’s ashes into Maunalua Bay but there’s debate over whether building a sand castle on the shore would be allowed under a proposed federal management plan. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Lawyers representing two men opposed to building the Thirty Meter Telescope are challenging a recently enacted emergency rule restricting access to the mountain where it will be built. Associated Press.

A request for a contested case hearing was filed with the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Wednesday, seeking to upend the emergency rule limiting nighttime access on Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Civil disobedience training for more than 100 Hawaii National Guard troops during the weekend was unrelated to the ongoing unrest atop Mauna Kea because of the Thirty Meter Telescope, according to officials. Tribune-Herald.

A state Board of Land and Natural Resources member had no conflict of interest when he voted to restrict access to Mauna Kea last week, as erroneously claimed in an opinion piece written by University of Hawaii law school student Zuri Aki. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its contractors have completed a plan for addressing the threat of unexploded ordnance at four sites in the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area, as cleanup efforts reach the $200 million mark in what is expected to be a 70-year, $723 million effort. West Hawaii Today.

An Ocean View community is rallying today to oppose a massive solar energy project in its neighborhood. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Although 10 million gallons of water per day has been returned to Iao Stream since October, it is hard to tell so far if more freshwater species are flourishing, said Skippy Hau, an aquatics biologist with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Maui News.

Kauai

Opinions are sharply divided between dog owners who oppose the current barking ordinance and want to repeal it, and upset neighbors who want to keep it in place as a way to hold owners accountable for incessant barking. Garden Island.

County officials announced that guardrail and other safety improvements are being made to Koloa Road. The project is expected to be completed by the beginning of September. Garden Island.

The County of Kauai Housing Agency is holding a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed Administrative Rules for the Administration of Chapter 7A of the Kauai County Code, pertaining to the housing policy for the County of Kauai. Garden Island.