Honolulu one of 20 U.S. airports screening for coronavirus, lawmaker wants to study magic mushrooms, Aloha Stadium designs unveiled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu International Airport ©2020 All Hawaii News

Passengers from China screened at Honolulu airport for coronavirus. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport began screening passengers from China on Tuesday as part of stepped-up efforts against the coronavirus at 20 U.S. ports of entry. Star-Advertiser.

Health Officials Step Up Coronavirus Precautions At Honolulu Airport. Customs and Border Patrol agents will begin to distribute coronavirus alert notices to certain passengers. Civil Beat.

Enhanced screenings to begin at Honolulu’s airport amid growing concerns about deadly virus.  As concerns grow over a deadly new virus from China, the U.S. government is expanding passenger screenings from five airports to 20, including Honolulu’s airport. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu airport to begin screening for coronavirus. Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is among 20 U.S. airports that will conduct screenings for the virus. Pacific Business News.

Coronavirus Monitoring: Honolulu Among 20 Airports in US with CDC Quarantine Station. The state Department of Transportation is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health in monitoring for the Coronavirus amid the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in China. Maui Now.

In light of coronavirus epidemic, people stocking up on masks leaving shelves empty. No confirmed cases of the virus so far in Hawaii, still, that hasn’t stopped people from stocking up on masks. KHON2.

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Governor: Despite Recent Crimes, Hawaii Still Safe. That is supported by data from the Department of Justice, which shows in 2019 Hawaii had one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the past 30 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bill: Let’s Study The Benefits Of Magic Mushrooms. A temporary Medicinal Psilocybin Working Group would be established to make recommendations to the Hawaii Legislature. Civil Beat.

City councilmember proposes change on how often senior citizens renew their licenses. Kymberly Pine is urging the state to change the rules when it comes to senior citizen drivers. KHON2.

Dozens of new bills aim to shore up biosecurity in Hawaii. A host of bills addressing invasive species and the state’s biosecurity are a part of this year’s legislative session, following a list of recommendations by the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Tribune-Herald.

More Oversight Of Vape Shops Expected Under New Federal Ban On Tobacco Sales. Hawaii can expect to see more federal oversight of tobacco and vaping sales beginning this month, now that the federal government has caught up with Hawaii in prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21. Civil Beat.

More Investors Could Mean Increased Affordable Housing. Housing advocates want to open up the state’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit program to anyone – not just big banks. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Service Association said Tuesday it has selected Dr. Mark Mugiishi as its new president and chief executive officer. Mugiishi has been interim president and CEO since August and will assume the permanent position Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Central Pacific’s earnings fall 10.1% amid loan provision maneuvers. The holding company for the state’s fourth-largest bank said today that earnings fell to $14.2 million, or 50 cents a share, from $15.8 million, or 54 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

WATCH: Honolulu Prosecutor debate. Five candidates for the Honolulu Prosecutor took the stage for a debate on Tuesday night. KHON2.

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DHHL buys urban Honolulu apartments for beneficiaries. Native Hawaiians on a wait list for homesteads should have a first-ever opportunity later this year to rent affordable apartments from the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Star-Advertiser.

$7.8M Purchase Of Moiliili Lots Approved For DHHL. The department plans to rehabilitate buildings for affordable rentals to applicants on its wait list. Civil Beat.

DHHL To Buy $8M Property In Moʻiliʻili From Kamehameha Schools For Housing. A new land deal in Mōʻiliʻili struck by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands could take potentially hundreds of Native Hawaiians off the homestead wait list in urban Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Department of Hawaiian Homelands to purchase property from Kamehameha Schools. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands got the green light to purchase two vacant apartment buildings in Moiliili from Kamehameha Schools. KHON2.

Hawaiian Homes Commission buying two vacant Honolulu apartment buildings from Kamehameha Schools. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which currently plans to redevelop the former bowling alley into a highrise with rental apartments, plans to renovate the 31 units in the two low-rise apartment buildings for affordable rentals. Pacific Business News.

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Storm runoff could cost Oahu homeowners. Imagine being charged for the rain that falls on your home. That's what the city is proposing with a new utility. KITV4.

Can Fixing Parking Rules Make Honolulu More Affordable? The Honolulu City Council will consider a bill lifting Oahu’s minimum parking requirements — and let developers decide how much parking their buildings need. Civil Beat.

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Take a look at the 3 proposed designs for the new Aloha Stadium district. Renderings for what the new Aloha Stadium could look like have been released. Lawmakers and developers have been brainstorming what they wanted not just the stadium to look like, but also the grounds surrounding the stadium. Hawaii News Now.

WATCH: three conceptual renderings of potential Aloha Stadium renovations. New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District released three flyover renderings of potential Aloha Stadium renovations. KHON2.

Concepts provide glimpse of possibilities for new Aloha Stadium. In a series of public and community meetings over the past few months, officials of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District have been sharing conceptualized possible options for what the new facility and surrounding development could look like at its scheduled fall 2023 opening and seeking public comment. Star-Advertiser.

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The Honolulu Morgue Is Still A Mess. When Civil Beat asked for a tour of the facility this month, the city rushed to clean up its image. But problems persist. Civil Beat.

Hundreds gather for beachside vigil honoring slain officer. Hundreds gathered as the sun set on Sandy Beach to hold a candlelight vigil Tuesday honoring Honolulu police officer Kaulike Kalama, who was one of two officers killed 11 days ago responding to a landlord-tenant dispute. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds honor fallen HPD officer remembered as a quiet hero. The family of a slain Honolulu police officer who treasured their privacy opened up Tuesday night as a large crowd joined them in mourning. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Prosecutors: Employee of Puna charter school overrun by lava embezzled $628,000. There’s more bad news for a Puna charter school devastated by the 2018 Kilauea eruption. Federal prosecutors allege that the former financial officer for Kua O Ka La public charter school embezzled $628,000 from the campus between December 2012 and January 2019. Hawaii News Now.

Big Island woman charged with wire fraud for stealing money from a school. A Big Island woman has been charged with wire fraud, after officials say she stole money from the Kua O Ka La Public Charter School. KHON2.

Big Isle hospitals take action following China outbreak. As the United States and the world continues to monitor the outbreak of a new respiratory virus, Big Island hospitals are at the ready for any potential cases. Tribune-Herald.

Paniolo Avenue intersection improvements coming. A worrisome Waikoloa intersection will be getting a $5.5 million upgrade, thanks to action taken by the County Council last week. West Hawaii Today.

DOH Eyes Old Kona Courthouse as New Treatment Center. The old Kona Courthouse in Kealakekua may soon be repurposed for use as a short-term transitional treatment facility for those suffering from drug addiction and/or behavioral health issues, specifically the homeless. Big Island Now.

Maui

State looks to Brazilian beetle to battle with invasive weed. The insect feeds on cane tibouchina, a pesky plant that’s widespread in Maui forests. Maui News.

Proposed Wailuku Hotel Topic of Community Event. Longtime Maui residents and Wailuku property owners, Jonathan Starr and Helen Nielsen, are major partners in Supreme Bright  Wailuku, LLC, an entity proposing a new kamaʻāina business hotel in Wailuku Town. Maui Now.

Maui County prepares to kick off $40M project to relieve parking, traffic woes in Wailuku. County officials say a new $40 million project aimed at addressing the problems could be a boon to businesses in the area — once the work is complete. Hawaii News Now.


Kauai

Construction set for Loop Road. Loop Road construction is set to begin today, after more than a year of muddy conditions, vandalism concerns and the installation of a new gate just past the Keahua Bridge. Garden Island.

Coconut Beach Resort names new general manager. Chris Machorek was recently appointed as the new general manager of the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

800 acres of a Molokai watershed will now be protected by the state. The area is known as Pua’ahala. The Department of Land and Natural Resources along with the East Moloka’i Watershed Partnership purchased the land for nearly $3.2 million. Hawaii News Now.

State buys Puaahala Watershed on Molokai for conservation. On Molokai, a critical piece of land on the island’s east side has been acquired by the state in hopes of protecting an important watershed. KHON2.

FBI closing in on Honolulu prosecutors, Ige outlines biosecurity plans, man swims from Japan to Hawaii, Maui mayor-elect names top staff, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kaneshiro Honolulu prosecutor meeting, from city website

Honolulu City prosecutor shows no signs of stepping aside after getting formal notice that he’s a target of federal probe.  City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro has received a Justice Department target letter informing him that he’s under investigation in the federal public corruption probe that has already led to two indictments against his former top deputy, Katherine Kealoha. Hawaii News Now.

Kaneshiro

Federal Investigators Are Digging Deeper Into Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office. The Justice Department inquiry into Honolulu police corruption has lasted four years and resulted in numerous indictments. But Keith Kaneshiro isn’t talking. Civil Beat.

Keith Kaneshiro is serving his fourth term in the elected position of Honolulu’s prosecuting attorney. And according to the city charter, it doesn’t take much to start the process of impeachment. Hawaii News Now.

Three top city prosecutors, including Keith Kaneshiro, should go on leave because of a taint created after the three reportedly received letters from the federal government linking them to a wide-ranging public corruption probe, according to criminal defense attorneys, a City Council member and a California law professor. Star-Advertiser.

City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro is reportedly under federal investigation. He could be the next high-profile target in the corruption case involving former Chief of Police Louis Kealoha and his wife former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha. KITV.

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Gov. David Ige wants biocontrol center to tackle invasive species. Gov. David Ige wants biocontrol center to tackle invasive species. Star-Advertiser.

Governor Ige outlined approach to combating invasive species. At the center of his philosophy, strength in numbers. KITV.

Ige talks biosecurity at Western Governors Association Winter Meeting. A contingent of governors from 19 states and three U.S. territories convened at the Fairmont Orchid Monday on the first day of the Western Governors Association Winter Meeting. The topic of note was biosecurity, an initiative for which Hawaii has considerable ambitions. West Hawaii Today.

Invasive Species Talks Held Before Western Governors’ Meeting. The day before the Western Governors’ Association 2018 Winter Meeting, a workshop is held, focused on the impacts of invasive species, pests and pathogens. Big Island Video News.

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Hawaii Tourism Authority fills 2 more top leadership positions. The Hawaii Tourism Authority today named two more hires marking the first time since March that the state agency has had all three of its top positions filled. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has filled two vacant leadership positions about two weeks after appointing Chris Tatum as its new CEO. Pacific Business News.

OHA Elects Officers and Look to the Future. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs conducted its first meeting following the November 6th election of new members. Hawaii Public Radio.

Colette Machado of Molokai has been unanimously re-elected to lead the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. Star-Advertiser.

Man swims from Japan to Hawaii to raise awareness on ocean pollution. Ben Lecomte was originally supposed to swim from Japan to San Francisco, but bad weather forced him to make a quick stop in our islands. KHON2.

The Fight Against Flight At Hawaii’s Public Middle Schools. Educators know they have to persuade parents that this isn’t the time to send their kids to private school — or a different public school. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Education is looking for a vendor to provide beef to schools as it continues efforts to locally source food for student lunches. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture reports the selection of Kevin Michael Hoffman, Ph.D. as the administrator for the Plant Industry Division and as the State Plant Regulatory Official effective Wednesday, Jan. 16. Big Island Now.

Oahu

After years of planning and prep, church opens igloos-shaped shelters to the homeless. More than two and a half years after an Oahu church made international headlines for its plan to build igloo-shaped shelters for the homeless, families are finally moving in. Hawaii News Now.

New tower brings more affordable units to urban core. A predominantly affordable-housing condominium tower in urban Honolulu began filling up Monday with an initial group of new homeowners moving in. Star-Advertiser.

SamKoo's mostly affordable Kapiolani Residence condo tower opens to residents. Kapiolani Residence, SamKoo Pacific’s mostly affordable 484-unit condominium tower near Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, opened to residents on Monday, nearly two years after the project sold out. Pacific Business News.

More Burglaries, Fewer Rapes Reported At UH Manoa. Newly released statistics show the number of reported rapes dropped from 13 in 2016 to seven in 2017. Civil Beat.

City announces weeks-long, partial closure of another urban park. The city is shutting down parts of Aala Park for maintenance from Wednesday through mid-January. Hawaii News Now.

Work for Honolulu's rail project will require lane and sidewalk closures around the intersection of Queen and Waimanu streets. KHON2.

Oahu solar PV permits down 16% in November. Hawaii's largest solar market experienced a double-digit decrease in the number of solar photovoltaic permits last month, compared to November 2017, bringing the total number of PV permit issued on Oahu below last year's record low, new county data shows. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Navy seeks additional comment on planned special ops exercises. Residents can still comment on the U.S. Navy’s plans for joint special operations training off the West Hawaii coast and elsewhere in the state. West Hawaii Today.

Local boat captains are keeping a weather eye on new rules that increase fees at the state’s small boat harbors. The rules, proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, raise mooring, utility, facility, storage, ramp and commercial permit fees. West Hawaii Today.

Maunakea Observatories on Monday launched a new website: www.maunakeaobservatories.org. The image-rich site is designed to enhance the community’s connection to the collaboration of observatories atop Maunakea, offering visitors insights into the observatories’ mission, community impact, environmental stewardship, cultural heritage and valuable contributions to science, as well as up-to-date access to news and career opportunities. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor-Elect Michael Victorino announced 12 intended appointments to his incoming administration during a press conference this afternoon at his Wailuku headquarters. Maui Now.

From a desk job to fire captain. A trailblazing woman takes charge among a band of firefighting brothers. Garden Island.


Median prices of condos rocket up in Nov. Supply issues a factor in increase in values. Maui News.

Sale volume and prices for homes sold on Maui last month were mostly higher, according to the Realtors Association of Maui. The trade association recently reported that the biggest change was a 32 percent jump in the median sale price for condominiums, to $528,650 in November from $399,500 a year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

US successfully shoots down intermediate-range ballistic missile in test off Kauai. The U.S. Navy and Missile Defense Agency successfully shot down an intermediate-range ballistic missile Tuesday during a test off Hawaii. The MDA said the Navy launched the interceptor from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai using the Aegis Ashore system. Hawaii News Now.

The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife is inviting Kauai residents to submit applications for positions on a community council to advise the Na Ala Hele Trails and Access Program. Garden Island.

Coworking space launched at HA Coffee. HA Coffee just celebrated its five-year anniversary, and instead of hosting a party, they’re taking on a new coworking space venture — Kuleana.work. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai activists warn they’ll protest if Navy goes through with military exercises offshore. The Naval Special Operations Training is proposed for next year at sites statewide and the Navy wants public feedback on the plan. Hawaii News Now.

Ige vetoes 13 bills including aquarium fish restrictions and lifeguard liability, Honolulu ordered to pay EMTs $1M overtime, Maui's $354.5M Makena Resort approved, THAAD missile test successful, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige veto news conference, courtesy photo

Gov. David Ige used his veto pen to reject 13 bills Tuesday, including a measure that would have limited and eventually shut down the aquarium fish collecting trade in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Governor Vetoes Aquarium Fishing Bill, 12 Others. Gov. David Ige faced a heavy lobbying campaign from both sides on a bill phasing out commercial collection of fish for the aquarium industry. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige vetoed 13 bills Tuesday, including a measure providing limited liability protection for county lifeguards, as a law with broader protections sunset on June 30. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige took the podium, spending around 10 minutes directly addressing a few of the 13 measures he chose to veto on Tuesday’s deadline for such action. West Hawaii Today.

Governor David Ige vetoed a bill that would have stopped new permits for aquarium fish collecting on Hawaii’s reefs, ending weeks of last-minute lobbying on the issue. Big Island Video News.

The Clift Tsuji Act became law on Tuesday with a stroke of Governor David Ige’s pen, ending an emotional journey for Ryan Tsuji, who helped shepherd the biosecurity-related bill through the legislature in fulfillment of his father’s dying wish. Big Island Video News.

Gov. David Ige signed a bill into law Tuesday that requires liability insurance for childcare providers. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii is home to two of the three most popular U.S. senators, according to approval rantings (69 percent for Brian Schatz and 67 percent for Mazie Hirono) in a new survey published by Morning Consult. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has seen some improvement in its fiscal condition, according to a new study by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. The Aloha State was ranked 27th among the U.S. states for fiscal health, a significant improvement from last year’s ranking, where it was ranked 45th. Pacific Business News.

A ballistic missile target simulating an intermediate-range North Korean threat that was launched by aircraft north of Hawaii was successfully intercepted Tuesday by a defensive missile in a key test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

In a video interview with aviation analysis site CAPA, Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley gave an update on competition, partnerships and attractive markets for the Honolulu-based airline, claiming that China will soon overtake Japan as Hawaii’s largest tourism market. Pacific Business News.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee has been bitten by an endangered Hawaiian monk seal while swimming at Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s push to expand the list of relatives exempt from President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries is bogged down in court, where it has bounced from a federal judge to a federal appeals court and back to the same federal judge. Associated Press.

U.S. Department of Justice attorneys urged a judge to deny Hawaii’s renewed attempt to expand the list of relatives exempt from President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries. Associated Press.

Kaiser grad accused of affiliation with ISIS made first Federal court appearance. KITV.

Forecasters are keeping a close eye on a new tropical storm in the East Pacific that has the potential to impact the Hawaiian islands. It is far too early to tell what kind of effects, if any, Tropical Storm Fernanda  will have on Hawaii, but early computer models show a track that moves in a direction toward the islands. Hawaii News Now.

This week, you'll be seeing an edgy new commercial targeting the Mormon Church in Hawaii, questioning its business practices. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is again ranked next to last among U.S. states for business. The islands are ranked first, however, for quality of life for the fifth year in a row, according to a study released Tuesday by cable TV network CNBC. Star-Advertiser.

Jurassic World filming comes to an end, film's stars leave Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

A federal judge has ordered the city to pay paramedics, emergency medical technicians and their attorneys $1.16 million for unpaid and late-paid overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Star-Advertiser.

There's an age-old problem in the valleys of Oahu, where experts estimate that more than 70,000 residents live in areas that have been geologically unstable since Hawaii’s peaks first burst through the Pacific Ocean. A legal battle over a landslide and sewer line break in the Nuuanu Valley is one example of the unstable ground many people live on. Civil Beat.

Hawaii business executive Duane Kurisu and a host of dignitaries broke ground Tuesday on Kurisu’s ambitious vision to use public and private resources to erect permanent homes near Sand Island for 150 homeless families — or 600 adults and children. Star-Advertiser.

The first-ever public-private partnership was launched today on Oahu to provide permanent housing for homeless families. Hawaii Public Radio.

A state representative and at least one community leader are accusing Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration of stalling on a long-discussed road improvement project in the upper part of Kalihi Street. Star-Advertiser.

A state lawmaker wants to see Kalihi Street widened so drivers will slow down, particularly where the it curves. KHON2.

Changes to Honolulu plastic bag ban will hurt a local family business. KITV.

A Honolulu ZIP code has come in at No. 6 in the nation on a list of the most expensive ZIP codes by state, according to GoBankingRates.com. Pacific Business News.

It's never been a secret that Honolulu has some traffic issues, and now Honolulu has been ranked as the seventh-worst city for driving in a newly released study by WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu had the 10th-most cranes in operation in the country at the start of the year, signaling a significant growth in construction projects, according to the 2017 Rider Levett Bucknall Crane Index. Rider Levett Bucknall is a global construction cost management, project management and advisory company based in Hong Kong. Star-Advertiser.

Traffic was shut down on both sides of the Pali Highway around noon Tuesday as a woman threatened to jump from the highway on the Kailua side of the tunnel, Honolulu police said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Part of Hawaii Island’s ambitious legislative package to revitalize two areas in Hilo was pulled back from the brink Tuesday when Gov. David Ige issued his final list of vetoed bills. Tribune-Herald.

More senior citizens are on the waiting list for units at a housing complex under construction in Hilo than the total number of units the complex eventually will offer. The second phase of construction at Hilo’s Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood, which is intended to provide high-quality, affordable housing for low-income senior citizens, is on track for completion in October. Tribune-Herald.

North Hawaii residents packed the Waimea School cafeteria Tuesday anxious to hear from administrators of The Queen’s Health Systems and North Hawaii Community Hospital in the wake of reports of layoffs at the hospital. West Hawaii Today.

The Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo is asking for the public’s help with finding missing parts from a beloved sculpture at the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Kalakaua Street. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island Pictures Future in Film and Video. Hawaii Public Radio.

Colin “Bud” Love, a community champion and longtime per diem judge, died July 1. Love died peacefully at his home at the age of 81. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

With a lawsuit against the project settled, the Maui Planning Commission unanimously approved a special management area use permit Tuesday for the $354.5 million mixed-use Makena Resort. Maui News.

A senior affordable housing project is being proposed for development in Kahului at the intersection of Kane and Vevau Streets. Maui Now.

Last month’s auction of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s mill equipment will be the last time the former company’s assets go on the auction block, company and auction officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

A Maui Community Correctional Center guard told an inmate she would lose her work furlough privileges if she reported having sexual contact with him, the woman testified Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui’s residential real estate market sizzled in June as home prices and sales achieved double-digit percentage gains from the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Sales increased by double digits on Maui last month for single-family homes and condominiums, growing 21.2 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively, according to the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

The Opaekaa Road bridge is on the road to being replaced and the single-lane bridge’s character won’t change much, thanks to input from the community. Garden Island.

Kauai Community Recycling Services, who owns and operates the HI5 bottle redemption center in the Arzadon Industrial Park in Kapaa, has changed the schedule of this facility. Garden Island.

Broken television sets, dilapidated tires and other past-their-prime household items dotted the grounds around Wailua Reservoir before Lori Stitt took action. Garden Island.

Hawaii tourism breaks record, ferry feasibility study, yellow-faced bee added to endangered species list, bail bond companies stiffing state, DOT backs off Kauai bird protection plan, mayor's campaign aide gets city contracts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists on Hawaii beach © 2016 All Hawaii News

The number of tourists visiting Hawaii hit a record for the month of August by topping 780,000 people. The Hawaii Tourism Authority said Friday 3.1 percent more travelers came to the islands in August compared to the same month last year. It marked the 19th straight month of gains. Associated Press.

The number of visitors to Hawaii last month rose 3.1 percent from last year to the highest level ever for an August, and spending increased by 5.2 percent to more than $1.3 billion for the month, according to preliminary statistics released Friday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

August turns out to have been a third month of higher visitor arrivals despite low airline seats to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. Maritime Administration has agreed to help finance a feasibility study for establishing a publicly financed Hawaii ferry service, a plan that may reignite public debate over one of Hawaii’s hot-button transportation and environmental issues. Star-Advertiser.


Federal authorities on Friday added seven yellow-faced bee species, Hawaii’s only native bees, for protection under the Endangered Species Act, a first for any bees in the United States. Associated Press.

Biosecurity plan formed to protect Hawaii from invasive species. KHON2.

The official general election registration “deadline” for this year is Oct. 10, despite falling on the Columbus Day federal holiday. For people who opt to mail in their voter registration forms, the Office of Elections said forms must be postmarked no later than Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

Bail bond companies that pledged bail money as guarantees that their clients would appear for criminal court proceedings now owe the state more than $2.4 million in forfeited bail bonds after the offenders failed to show up for their court dates, according to data provided by the Hawaii State Judiciary. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters of proposed rules that would allow for groups such as nonprofits and universities to approve and oversee Hawaii’s public charter schools say the move would strengthen charters without eroding standards. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development is giving $350,000 to the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii to investigate and fight housing discrimination. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s campaign spokeswoman has been awarded tens of thousands of dollars worth of city contracts, but apparently doesn’t get paid for her campaign work. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayoral Candidates Vie For Coveted Kupuna Vote. The city’s high cost of living and public safety are on the minds of AARP Hawaii members, who shared their concerns during a “tele-town hall” Saturday morning. Civil Beat.

At the Kalaeloa Heritage Park, there is a story about almost everything. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
Two new wells are being proposed in North Kona to increase water capacity at higher elevations, with the goal of reducing the use of water sources closer to sea level. West Hawaii Today.

Opinion: Was Civil Beat Right To Publish The Billy Kenoi Party Video? Addressing some key issues raised by readers about the publication of a video showing the Big Island mayor giving a profanity-laced toast. Civil Beat.

A site visit was made to the summit of Mauna Kea on September 26, as part of the second Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing now underway. Objections to the way the site visit was carried out have already been filed by opponents of the TMT project. Big Island Video News.

The Affordable Care Act is triggering clinics on Hawaii Island to consider expansion, a fulfillment of plans made when the federal law passed. Tribune-Herald.

Bringing farmers, tourists together: First AgriTourism Symposium slated for Oct. 15. Tribune-Herald.

The wife of a well-known marijuana activist who spent more than four years in federal prison after his Downtown Hilo marijuana ministry was raided is now making a last-ditch effort to prevent her own incarceration. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council member Don Couch is the target of an ethics violation complaint filed by Haiku resident Sean Lester with the Maui County Board of Ethics. In documents received on Sept. 23, 2016, Lester alleges Couch purchased a home in Waikapu and a condo in Kihei in 2007. He states that Couch did not meet the “affordable income criteria” for the condo and implies that Couch improperly received and failed to disclose rental income derived from the house. Maui Watch.

A Community Connection public forum with Governor David Ige is planned on Maui on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016 at the University of Hawai‘i, Maui College Pā‘ina Cafeteria in Kahului. Maui Now.

As sugar operations wind down this year, an elevated scale to weigh sugar and molasses will be closed, and that will prompt some Maui businesses to look elsewhere to weigh their containers before shipping them on barges. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaii Department of Transportation has taken an unexplained step back from developing a Kauai County Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan, and the gears of the entire process have slowed. Garden Island.

Road safety measures and extending the deadline to apply for building permits will be discussed Wednesday during the Kauai County Council meeting. Garden Island.

Building bridges. Division of Forestry and Wildlife plans to connect with public on Keahua Stream construction. Garden Island

Senate pushes $13.5B budget, Kauai biomass generator dedicated, Oahu judge assigned to Kenoi case, profs barred from dating students, Honolulu rail over budget again, general excise tax hike unpopular on Big Island, Maui water rights case simmers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Crowds seek entrance into Ways & Means hearing, courtesy Nathan Eagle

State senators announced a new proposed $13.5 billion budget that would leave the state on track to spend more money next year than it collects in taxes and other revenue, but Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Jill Tokuda said she did not immediately know how much revenues would lag behind expenses. Star-Advertiser.

State senators are pushing a state budget that directs more money to affordable housing and homelessness programs, putting more funding behind their commitment to address those problems than their colleagues in the House. Associated Press.

Senators have carved out nearly $160 million to rebuild the Hawaii State Hospital, $5 million to bail out Wahiawa General Hospital and $23.5 million to fund the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands in 2017. These were just a few of the major budget decisions that the Ways and Means Committee announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii now officially bans professors from dating their students. The university came out with a new policy Tuesday that bans faculty from having romantic, sexual or dating relationships with students in their classes. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii professors are prohibited from having romantic relationships with students, under a new policy finalized Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Agencies have long relied on temporary contracts to get jobs done in Hawaii’s state government. Now Gov. David Ige and labor unions are pushing legislation to severely limit those types of contracts — saying they lessen the flow of money into the state retirement system and deny workers collective bargaining rights. Civil Beat.

For 18 years, Hawaii Long-Term Care Ombudsman John McDermott has pushed for a requirement that inspections of care facilities be unannounced. He may not have to wait much longer, thanks to a bill that the House Finance Committee passed Tuesday. Civil Beat.

When the weather gets hot that means classrooms around the state will start to heat up leaving teachers and students struggling to get through the day. KHON2.

Family and supporters of 442nd Regimental Combat Team veteran Noboru Kawamoto staged a small demonstration at the state Capitol on Tuesday to lobby for a change in state law to allow Kawamoto to live in the same adult care home as his wife. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Just three months after the Honolulu City Council approved a five-year extension of the general excise tax, top rail transit officials acknowledged that extra money may not be enough to pay for Honolulu's rail project. Hawaii News Now.

Why Was Ethics Director Suspended? Report Offers Few Details. On the day Chuck Totto returns to work in Honolulu, the city releases heavily redacted documents related to his discipline. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is pushing for more electric vehicles to build the utility’s customer base and make way for additional rooftop solar.Star-Advertiser.

468 acres of North Shore land across the street from the Turtle Bay resort will be forever preserved from development. Hawaii Public Radio.

In the ebb and flow of surface ships and submarines at Pearl Harbor, the tide is currently going out. The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton, a Hawaii stalwart since its commissioning in 1995, pulled away from pier Bravo 25 at 9:09 a.m. Tuesday for a home-port switch to San Diego and dry-docking and maintenance there. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

It’s not easy raising taxes, the County Council Finance Committee discovered Tuesday. The committee’s attempt to raise the general excise tax by one-half percent starting in 2018 was met with public resistance as several people told the county it needed to better manage the money it already gets. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Billy Kenoi touched on his years of achievements, but didn't mention his looming criminal trial at his last luncheon with the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, an annual event where the mayor and his cabinet update the community on how county sweat and dollars are making lives better in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald this afternoon assigned an Oahu circuit judge to temporarily preside in the Mayor Billy Kenoi felony theft case on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Doctors at the Hilo Women’s Imaging Center, part of Hawaii Radiologic Associates Ltd., are notifying patients of possible inaccuracies in thousands of mammograms as the center completes a re-certification process for its imaging equipment. Tribune-Herald.

On Sunday, a group of Aloha Aina advocates ascended to the Mauna Kea Visitor Center cross walk, where they held a short ceremony in commemoration of the first series of arrests that took place on the mountain – one year ago – on April 2, 2015. Big Island Video News.

State officials will host an informational meeting Thursday night to update Puna residents about the state Department of Transportation’s roundabout project. Tribune-Herald.

Home sales on Hawaii’s Big Island soared by more than 30 percent last month, even as prices dipped for single-family homes and plummeted for condominiums, according to data from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Alexander & Baldwin would no longer be eligible to retain the rights to millions of gallons of water that for decades it’s diverted from Maui streams under amendments made to a hotly contested bill that was approved by the Senate Ways and Means Committee this week. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s Ancient Water Rights Debate Headed For Capitol Showdown. Big Ag has long diverted water to serve Central Maui at the expense of others, and the dispute is outliving sugar cane farming. Civil Beat.

In 24 years, Maui island could be powered by 100 percent renewables, including solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energy, according to updated plans submitted by Hawaiian Electric Cos., which include subsidiary Maui Electric Co. Maui News.

Kauai

Eric Knutzen of Green Energy Hawaii joined a crew from Green Energy Hawaii, along with Hawaii Gov. David Ige and more than a hundred others on Tuesday to dedicate and bless one of the first eco-friendly plant of its kind in the United States. Hailed as the first biomass-based, integrated, sustainable, renewable-energy plantation in the world, the biomass-to-electricity and ethanol plant was dedicated near Koloa. Garden Island.

Everyone minded their manners at the Monday night panel discussion on the affects of pesticide use on Kauai. But they didn’t all agree. Garden Island.

A measure under consideration by the Kauai council has the potential to increase the inventory of affordable housing on the island — especially in more densely populated areas like Lihue, supporters said. Co-sponsored by councilmembers Gary Hooser and Mason Chock, Bill 2627 would allow homeowners who meet certain guidelines to construct an additional rental unit on their property. Garden Island.

The state has discovered high levels of bacteria in a Kauai stream, but warning signs won't be posted. Hawaii News Now.

A new program being rolled out this month will help develop stronger biosecurity on the island and prevent invasive species from worming their way to the ‘aina. Garden Island.

The number of single-family homes sold on Kauai in March jumped by more than 50 percent, but the median price fell by nearly 30 percent, according to data provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Kahoolawe

Two bills that would give the cash-strapped Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission a little more money this year are still alive as the state Legislature winds down to its final month. Maui News.