Showing posts with label farming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label farming. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Legislature mulls tourism tax revamp, Airbnb under fire, Senate may subpoena prison chief, interim Honolulu councilman approved, online porn fee considered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Produce at Hilo Farmers Market ©2019 All Hawaii News
Growing Our Own: Hawaii Still Lacks Enough Local Food Production. Gov. David Ige has a vision for sustainability but progress has been slow. Civil Beat.

State Lawmakers are considering legislation to revamp how tourism taxes are distributed to the counties. House Bill 983 would provide 23.1 percent of the Transient Accommodations Tax or TAT to the counties.  House Bill 631 would allow each County to establish its own surcharge on the TAT. Hawaii Public Radio.

Airbnb has acknowledged hosts not paying all taxes, Hawaii AG says. A judge should compel Airbnb to hand over 10 years of receipts and other documents from its hosts to the state of Hawaii in part because the home-sharing platform has acknowledged that the hosts aren’t fully complying with state tax laws, a court filing said. Associated Press.

Number of registered firearms in Hawaii unknown, study finds. In a state that has some of the toughest firearm laws in the nation, some may be surprised to learn there is no accurate count of the legally owned and registered firearms. Star-Advertiser.

Senate May Invoke Rarely Used Subpoena Power For Hearing On Prison Chief. Nolan Espinda’s renomination to run the state’s prisons and jails is reported to be in peril. Civil Beat.

A new report by the National Transportation Safety Board finds that Hawaii doesn't have important technology to reduce accidents -- and is recommending the state install cameras to catch speeders. KHON2.

At the State Capitol, a pair of bills in both the House and Senate call for blocking all porn sites unless consumers over the age of eighteen pay a one-time fee of $20 to access them. The fee would go into a State special fund for human trafficking and child exploitation. KITV.

Southwest Airlines completes test flight to Hawaii. Southwest Airlines has completed a test flight from Oakland, California, to Honolulu to demonstrate to federal aviation officials that it should be authorized to begin scheduled flights from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii. Associated Press.

Today marks the first time a Southwest Airlines jet has landed in Honolulu.  At approximately 2:50 p.m. HST, the passenger-less flight landed at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. KHON2.

A holiday that originated in the Hawaiian Kingdom could be making a comeback. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Hawaiian Affairs voted in favor of a bill to make La Kuokoa — Hawaiian Recognition Day — a state holiday in place of Presidents Day. Tribune-Herald.

Applicants wanted for State Ethics Commission, Campaign Spending Commission. KITV.

Oahu

Council committee OKs $75,000 in attorney fees for Kaneshiro. The City Council Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee on Tuesday voted 7-1 to recommend that city taxpayers foot the bill for private attorneys to represent city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro in his defense against a petition seeking to remove him from his elective office. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu taxpayers will pay for city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s lawyer as he fights to keep his job. Hawaii News Now.

Former city transit official Mike Formby was sworn in Tuesday as the interim Honolulu City Council member for East Honolulu, a post he will hold until the “re-do” election between Trevor Ozawa and Tommy Waters. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu Transportation Services Director Mike Formby was voted in by the Honolulu City Council Tuesday. KITV.

The state and city are working together to make Hawaii's roads safer and save the counties hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. They're asking for a state run toxicology lab to be built so alcohol and drug samples can be tested here instead of on the mainland. KHON2.

To protect Waikiki from flooding, Army Corps wants to raze Palolo homes. A nearly half a billion dollar federal project to protect Waikiki from flooding in the event of a 100-year storm is running into resistance from Palolo residents. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s only landfill for construction and demolition debris is filling up faster than expected due to the construction boom. Hawaii News Now.

The Queen’s Health Systems has confirmed plans for a $38 million expansion of its West Oahu campus, the first of its redevelopment in the burgeoning community. Star-Advertiser.

These Waipahu Students Got A Head Start On Health Care Job Training. A budding partnership between high schools and Kapiolani Community College represents another way to grow Hawaii’s health care workforce. Civil Beat.

A Japanese national who was accused of sexually assaulting an exchange student last year was arrested Tuesday by American immigration officials. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Sewer fees will almost double for some and triple for others over the next three years under a plan the County Council advanced Tuesday to one final reading. West Hawaii Today.

Taxpayers’ legal fees defending a former police officer who struck and killed a bicyclist have reached $100,000 following a vote by the County Council on Tuesday adding another $50,000 for an outside attorney to appeal the negligent homicide conviction. West Hawaii Today.

The County is looking at properties that are being taxed at an agricultural class tax rate when they should be taxed at a residential class tax rate. Big Island Video News.

A video of European athletes skiing and snowboarding down a snow-less Mauna Kea draws criticism. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A resolution proposed by Maui County Council Member Mike Molina to return council staff salaries to their levels prior to the pay increase approved at a Jan. 2 meeting was voted down Friday by the full council. Maui News.

New district court judge on budget wish list. The new judge primarily would be located at the Lahaina Courthouse but will allow for “restructuring of the District Court dockets to better serve our districts, including the outer districts of Hana, Lanai, Molokai and Lahaina. Maui News.

Maui’s two new freshmen lawmakers, Representatives Tina Wildberger and Troy N. Hashimoto, introduced their first slate of bills to address issues of top concern to Maui residents. Maui Now.

Kauai

A public meeting is scheduled tonight on the Hanapepe River Bridge replacement. Garden Island.

There are more seabirds on Lehua Island after the 2017 helicopter drop of rodenticide over the landmass, but the rats haven’t completely disappeared. Garden Island.

For two years, four staff members with the Kauai Na Ala Hele program have trekked into the Alakai Swamp to periodically work on the boardwalk that helps hikers navigate the mud on the trail. Garden Island.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

All the latest news on Tropical Storm Olivia, what's open, what's closed, Carvalho ponders future, boosted posts boost candidates' fines, plus more top stories from all the Hawaiian Islands

NOAA
Tropical Storm Olivia at 4:30 a.m. HST Wednesday, NOAA
Tropical Storm Olivia is closing in on the state and is on a track that is expected to take it directly over Maui sometime Wednesday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Tropical Storm Olivia continues to bear down on the islands of Maui and Molokai this morning. Located about 55 miles east-northeast of Kahului and 140 miles east of Honolulu, Olivia clocked in with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph and was headed west at 12 mph, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Star-Advertiser.

Here are all the active weather alerts associated with Olivia. Hawaii News Now.

A Tropical Storm Warning has just been dropped for the Big Island. Overnight, Kauai was dropped from the warning.  As of right now, Oahu and Maui County remained under Tropical Storm Warnings, with the threat of tropical-storm force winds remaining for those communities. That means winds in excess of 39 mph are expected. Maui Now.

Olivia on way. Hawaii Gov. David Ige asked President Donald Trump on Tuesday to declare an emergency for the state as Tropical Storm Olivia approaches. Garden Island.

Are You Covered By Hurricane or Flood Insurance? Tropical Storm Olivia is weakening but Hawaii homeowners should be aware of what their insurance policies cover. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bankruptcies rise locally despite strong state economy. Hawaii bankruptcies rose in August for the sixth time in eight months this year even as the state economy continues to remain strong. Star-Advertiser.

Why Hawaii Farmers Are Actually Embracing Government Regulation. Some small ag operations are finding federal food safety regulations can help them expand to new markets. Civil Beat.

Federal Money Is Running Out For Charter Schools’ Pre-K Programs. The Legislature will be asked to replace money from an expiring federal grant that helped establish 18 pre-K charter classrooms. Civil Beat.

Proposed changes to administrative rules on student misconduct are temporarily on hold pending further revisions by the state Department of Education. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

With Hurricane Olivia expected to continue to weaken, most city services on Oahu will be operating on a regular weekday schedule Wednesday, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced this afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Caldwell: City is taking precautions, but 'we don't want to overreact'. Hawaii News Now.

Emergency officials are worried about the storm's impact on a new erosion hot spot on Oahu's North Shore. Most of Ehukai Beach has already disappeared with recent currents, and officials are afraid Olivia could be even more rough on the shoreline. Hawaii News Now.

Solar permits issued on Oahu declined in August for the third straight month and are now just slightly ahead of where they were at this time a year ago. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Fourteen Big Island candidates are among dozens throughout the state settling with the Campaign Spending Commission after they failed to disclose how much they spent on advertising leading up to the primary election. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Ethics Board Considers Changes. The chair of the newly appointed Charter Commission talked with board members about possible charter amendments they would like to propose. Big Island Video News.

As Tropical Storm Olivia made its way to the islands Tuesday, the focus turned mostly away from the Big Island and more toward Maui as it appeared the worst effects of the cyclone would be felt well to the north of Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A flash flood warning is in effect for Molokai as Tropical Storm Olivia bears down on Maui County. Star-Advertiser.

VIDEO: Kahului Harbor experiencing extremely rainy conditions. KITV.

Dozens of Maui residents seek shelter ahead of the storm. Seven emergency evacuation shelters were activated Tuesday evening across Maui County. KHON2.

Maui County is bracing for strong impacts from Tropical Storm Olivia. The county's Emergency Operations Center has been activated, and the county issued an emergency proclamation. Hawaii News Now.

Hana Elementary and High School are closed today and county officials asked visitors not to go to Hana as Tropical Storm Olivia continued to approach from the east. Maui News.

Maui post offices to close Wednesday, all others remain open. KHON2.

Maui County prepared for the arrival of Tropical Storm Olivia late today or early Wednesday by closing Haleakala National Park and some state parks and halting some residential refuse collections. Maui News.

Maui condo market surges but home sales flat. The median price for condos jumped 27.5 percent to $509,988 from $400,000 in the year-earlier period while condo sales surged 32.7 percent to 146 from 110. Star-Advertiser.

Condo prices jump on Maui as single-family prices stay flat. The median price of a condominium on Maui jumped 27.5 percent last month, compared to August 2017, while the median price of a single-family home on the Valley Isle was unchanged, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Ponders A Future Outside Of Politics. The bigger-than-life leader needs time to figure out what’s next, because he never expected to lose in the Democratic primary for LG. Civil Beat.

Residents were invited to take part in a West Kauai Community Plan meeting Monday night at Kaumakani Neighborhood Center — but not many did. Garden Island.

In August, the median price for a residential home increased 15 percent from last year at this time. Garden Island.


Monday, October 23, 2017

Honolulu reels from arrests of former police chief and deputy prosecutor wife, police chief candidates' interviews begin today, Tsutsui won't run for Maui mayor, pension plan improves, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

screen grab from video
Former Honolulu Police chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, city deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha
How Far Will The Honolulu Police Corruption Investigation Spread? The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue its grand jury investigation into corruption and abuse of power. Civil Beat.

A curious allegation of mailbox theft unraveled into a tale of corruption that reached the highest levels of Honolulu law enforcement, culminating in a U.S. investigation that found the former police chief and his prosecutor wife bilked clients and relatives out of hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend on their lavish lifestyle and then used their power to orchestrate a plot within the police department to target anyone who threatened them. Associated Press.

Honolulu’s former police chief and his city deputy prosecutor wife were arrested Friday in the most significant case of alleged public abuse of power in state history, and prosecutors said the investigation could lead to even further charges. Star-Advertiser.

One day after a federal grand jury completed a two-year investigation into public corruption and abuse of power in Hawaii law enforcement, former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a high-ranking city prosecutor, were arrested Friday by the FBI and indicted on 20 counts of criminal conspiracy, fraud and obstruction of justice. Civil Beat.

A Guide To The Case Against The Kealohas. The former Honolulu police chief and his wife, a city prosecutor, have pleaded not guilty to the charges contained in a federal indictment. Civil Beat.

Read full indictment here.

Frustrated Honolulu residents may feel a greater urgency for members of the Police Commission to pick a successor to Louis Kealoha in the wake of the arrest of the former chief two days ago. Star-Advertiser.

Federal case likely to raise doubts over work as prosecutor. The federal indictment of Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha on charges ranging from bank fraud to obstruction of justice raises enough red flags that prosecutors should review all the cases she’s worked on the past several years to ensure they were handled properly, according to criminal defense attorneys. Star-Advertiser.

The first interviews for finalist up for the job of Honolulu's Police Chief begin on Monday. KITV.

Commentary: Kealoha’s tenure began with such promise. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Kealoha arrests drag down HPD. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Let’s Scrap The Police Chief Search And Start Over. Civil Beat.

=====

Lawmakers press home lands agency to create housing. As the state grapples with a severe shortage of affordable housing and the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the country, some lawmakers want the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands to pitch in resources to help solve the pressing problems. Star-Advertiser.

Pension fund ends year on a slightly higher note. Hawaii’s largest public pension fund performed slightly better in fiscal year 2017 than it reported two months ago in its preliminary numbers. Star-Advertiser.

Planners release 30-second nuclear preparedness PSAs. State emergency planners have released their first public service announcement related to North Korea preparedness, a nonthreatening 30-second video that doesn’t specifically mention the rogue nation or remote possibility of a nuclear attack on Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

‘Golf ball’ radar’s limitations seen. The Sea-Based X-Band Radar, a key link in the nation’s defense against North Korea, spent eight months at sea before returning to its home in Pearl Harbor last month. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii’s Hyperbaric Treatment Center has closed indefinitely because of staffing problems, a University of Hawaii spokesman said Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Timeshare property sales in Hawaii have exceeded $1 billion annually in recent years, and a new report tries to quantify how much employment and spending is tied to this segment of the tourism industry. Star-Advertiser.

Lessor intends to seize Island Air’s last 3 planes. An attorney for Island Air’s aircraft lessor said he is planning to take legal action to seize the airline’s three remaining aircraft and is demanding the state’s second-largest carrier make payments if it is going to be allowed to use them. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers have two new ways to add photovoltaic systems to their homes after a decision Friday by the state Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Rail’s ‘Plan B’ not vetted by federal agency. State lawmakers last month approved a $2.4 billion funding package to build the full rail line to Ala Moana Center. Last week the project’s federal partners said they never determined whether a scaled-back, less costly alternative to Aloha Tower would have worked instead. Star-Advertiser.

The state Land Use Commission has approved one of two petitions by corn seed producer Monsanto to restrict portions of farmland the company owns on Oahu and Molokai for agriculture use under a state law aimed at preserving prime farmland. Star-Advertiser.

State Plans To Clear Out Homeless Camp Under Honolulu Freeway. Moanalua Stream will also be blocked, in order to keep those with rafts or boats from returning or setting up camp elsewhere. Civil Beat.

Boat That Ran Aground 0ff Honolulu Sent No Distress Signal. The wreck of the fishing vessel, carrying workers from Southeast Asia, raises concerns about the treatment of foreign crews. Civil Beat.

Grounding raises fresh concerns over foreign fishermen. A boat that ran aground off Waikiki while transporting foreign fishermen to work in Hawaii’s commercial fishing industry has raised new questions about the safety and working conditions for foreign laborers in this unique U.S. fleet. Associated Press.

Two recent ground-breakings in Kapolei represent significant additions to their respective markets. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hotel market heating up outside the Waikiki core. Developers and the visitor industry say more hotel construction could be coming outside the usual resort districts, and even in them if the market continues to shine. Star-Advertiser.

Denver-based KSL Capital Partners, which bought Outrigger Hotels and Resorts late last year, is kicking off an aggressive Waikiki reinvestment plan with a $25 million overhaul and re-branding of the Waikiki Beachcomber. Star-Advertiser.

The Howard Hughes Corp. has started demolition work at the shuttered Ward Warehouse shopping complex in Honolulu and plans to tear the buildings down by the end of the year, but has yet to schedule construction of the Gateway Towers project that will replace it. Pacific Business News.

Sales of single-family homes in Kaneohe nearly doubled last month, while the number of condominiums and townhouses sold in the Windward Oahu town rose 24 percent, compared to September 2016, according to the monthly local market report from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Real estate developer Bruce Stark — who left his stamp on Hawaii with the building of residential condominiums, offices and retail space beginning in 1966 — died Thursday at age 82. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County is leading the state in motor vehicle traffic fatalities — trailing only Honolulu when it comes to overall roadway deaths — according to data released last week by the state Department of Transportation. West Hawaii Today.

Three weeks after the Thirty Meter Telescope was granted its construction permit, the developer and eventual operator of the planned $1.4 billion cutting-edge observatory says it is still evaluating its next move. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of acres of Hawaiian home lands have been set aside for subsistence-agriculture plots along the road leading to Akaka Falls and the surrounding region, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has scheduled community meetings to discuss the project. Tribune-Herald.

Reality is setting in that the South Hilo Sanitary Landfill will have to be closed within two years. A draft environmental assessment has been published for the Hilo landfill closure project, a costly (approximately $19 million) and highly regulated undertaking that must confirm to various county, state and federal rules. Big Island Video News.

The state Department of Transportation will extend four lanes on Highway 130 to Shower Drive over the next month as it restripes a 2-mile stretch of pavement. Tribune-Herald.

A Keaukaha fixture for more than 50 years might be gone by this time next year. Members of the Hilo Yacht Club will decide later this year whether the club will remain at its current location or move to a new building. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding nearly $3 million in funding to a community association for a subdivision in Puna to improve its community drinking water system. Star-Advertiser.

Iwo Jima vets meet the new guys. West Hawaii Today.


Maui

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui said Friday that he will not be running for Maui County mayor in 2018 due to family reasons in an announcement that throws open the race to succeed Mayor Alan Arakawa, who is term limited. Maui News.

The Maui News is going back to afternoon home delivery for many newspaper subscribers and will cease producing a Sunday paper in a move to cut costs. Star-Advertiser.

Maui's only big box bookstore, Barnes & Noble is set to close. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists Dana Reed and Cathy Maxwell will be at Kohola Brewery in Lahaina at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to share information and answer questions about the nearshore water quality in West Maui. Maui News.

Maui Disposal reported 6 tons of material was collected at the 13th annual Lahaina Town Clean Up on Sept. 16. More than 300 volunteers spent the day cleaning up Lahaina streets, harbors and beaches from Puamana to the Mala Boat Ramp. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Community College’s nursing program has been awarded accreditation for eight years, the longest period possible, by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Garden Island.

County celebrates hiring collaboration. Summer Youth Employment Program praised. Garden Island.

Hawaii gun laws hit target. Residents, representatives praise state policies. Garden Island.

Geographic boundary changes in the Kalaheo area will go into effect for school year 2019-20. The change will result in more students enrolling at Waimea Canyon Middle and Waimea High schools. Garden Island.

Power line collisions kill about 1,800 seabirds annually on Kauai, according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-commissioned study. Members of the Center for Biological Diversity are on Kauai this week finding ways to help curb the collisions. Garden Island.

Friday, January 27, 2017

Gov. Ige seeks to double food production by 2020, homelessness as medical condition, Honolulu bill would strengthen plastic bag ban, state could tighten drunk driving laws, activists plan march on Zuckerberg property, Kim injury keeps him from important hearing, Rep. Ing pleads no contest to citation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hilo Farmers Market © 2017 All Hawaii News


BREAKING: Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan: 'We are dropping our quiet title actions' Garden Island.

Money Sought To Protect Watersheds And Grow More Food. Hawaii Gov. David Ige joins department heads asking legislators to approve funds for his Sustainable Hawaii Initiative. Civil Beat.

Doubling Hawaii's local food production by 2020 is one of Governor Ige's marquee promises, and the state's Department of Agriculture is tasked with making it become a reality. But with the deadline just three years away, many are asking whether that number is still realistic. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority is considering measures to increase public transparency in the wake of criticism from the visitor industry and state lawmakers that it isn’t forthcoming about how it spends tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to market the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii bill would classify homelessness as medical condition. Associated Press.

Measures Aim To Help Domestic Violence Victims Get Help. The Hawaii Women’s Legislative Caucus is also backing bills to ensure access to health care and to keep kids safe. Civil Beat.

The chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy said Thursday she would not consider bills about Hawaiian Electric Co. if the utility was not included in the process. Star-Advertiser.

The state is looking into tightening drunk driving laws. Right now, the legal limit is 0.08, but an effort is underway to lower that threshold to 0.05. KHON2.

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald says lawmakers have advanced some troubling bills in recent years to make dramatic changes in the selection, retention and pensions of state judges but that he doesn’t know if the measures were designed to convey some message of disapproval to the state Judiciary. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii public schools look to lessen food waste. Hawaii News Now.

A proposal to put Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamana‘opono Crabbe on paid leave while the Board of Trustees works on a deal to buy out his employment contract failed Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

In a dramatic moment Thursday, Native Hawaiian activist Bumpy Kanahele called for an investigation into OHA's finances, throwing a handful of salt onto the group's meeting table and suggesting the board invite federal authorities to examine its business its dealings. Hawaii News Now.

Stephen Schatz, deputy superintendent for the state Department of Education, is leaving his post for a job at the University of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A bill to make Honolulu’s plastic bag ban more stringent has been languishing at the City Council despite concerns that the existing law isn’t doing enough to protect Oahu’s environment. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City council member Brandon Elefante has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to use your cell phone while crossing the street, or highway. KITV.

State Health Department officials have issued a public advisory for one of the lagoons at Ko Olina, saying there are high levels of a dangerous bacteria in the water. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Police Commission violated state law when it met behind closed doors to discuss Chief Louis Kealoha’s employment, including agreeing to allow him to retire with an added payment of $250,000, a lawsuit filed Thursday alleges. Civil Beat.

City regulators in Honolulu on Thursday ordered the owners of the shuttered Polynesian Plaza hotel in Waikiki to immediately stop construction work on the property until a new general contractor and plumber are found, Pacific Business News has learned.

Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp., doing business as AFC Sushi at Safeway Kapahulu, was fined $6,000 Thursday by the state Department of Health for food-safety violations and removing a health inspection placard from public view. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu, where the median price of a single-family home rose 5 percent last year, was one of the coolest spots in the U.S. for house flipping in 2016, when compared with other metropolitan areas. Pacific Business News.

Three utility-scale solar farms that Hawaiian Electric Co. terminated last year are going to be revived. Star-Advertiser.

The architects who favor street-level rail from Middle Street to Ala Moana Center have launched a website. KITV.

Ledcor Construction Hawaii LLC is suing the owners of the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, claiming the contractor wasn't paid for doing nearly $1 million of work on the hotel’s redevelopment project, Pacific Business News has learned.

Hawaii

Mayor Harry Kim injured his arm and missed an important hearing in Honolulu on Monday, sparking renewed concerns about his health. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island state lawmakers introduced an ambitious long-term plan to revitalize Hilo’s urban core during the ongoing legislative session. Tribune-Herald.

The county Planning Department wants input on a draft version of its Downtown Hilo improvement plan, which recommends converting multiple roads from one-way to two-way and more than doubling off-street public parking spaces. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo’s state senator has introduced a bill to unlock the economic potential of his district’s urban core. Big Island Video News.

Two years ago, the State Legislature appropriated $90 million dollars to build a new judiciary building in Kona.  Now, Hawai‘i State Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald is asking for more funding. Hawaii Public Radio.

After threats to historic trails halted construction on Queen Kaahumanu Highway late last year, the Hawaii Department of Transportation announced Thursday plans to resume the second phase of the highway widening project beginning next week. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Saying “I was mistaken” when he made earlier statements about his citation for not having vehicle insurance, state Rep. Kaniela Ing pleaded no contest Wednesday to the traffic crime. Maui News.

Maui Criminal Case Filings Increase 50% in Five Years. Maui Now.

Maui’s two licensed medical marijuana dispensaries are weeks away from beginning to grow their first crop, but it may take another four to five months before residents can get their hands on products. Maui News.

Kauai

More than 200 people on Kauai are planning a protest on Saturday near Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s 700-acre property in Kilauea. Hawaii News Now.

A California couple is asking $7.5 million for a 552-square-foot, one-bedroom home set on three-quarters of an acre within Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s 700 acres of oceanfront property on the island of Kauai’s North Shore, Pacific Business News has learned.

A store providing free school supplies for teachers on Kaua‘i will open its doors this weekend.  An organization called Kumu’s Cupboard in the Kukui Grove Center will provide resources for local teachers who would otherwise be using their own money to buy basic school supplies. Hawaii Public Radio.

Settlement in polygraph suit may cost state $400K. Star-Advertiser.

Alakai O Kauai Public Charter School is enrolling students. The school unanimously approved by the Hawaii State Charter School Commission is on track to open in August with 165 students. Garden Island.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Ige postpones food sufficiency goal, green sea turtles decline, attorney general says Kenoi bought 'exorbitant' amount of alcohol on taxpayer dime, $10B estimate for Honolulu rail, Maui mulls parking charge, Kauai closes homeless camp, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Sonia Matinez
Farmer in Hawaii, courtesy Sonia Martinez
Gov. David Ige has pushed back by a decade his campaign pledge of doubling local food production in Hawaii by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

With the newly expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument taking center stage at the World Conservation Congress in Honolulu, a conservation group is warning of a “dangerous drop” in the number of nesting Hawaiian green sea turtles in the Northwest Hawaiian islands. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is investigating a complaint that Hawaii’s public housing authority doesn’t provide enough units that are accessible to disabled people. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Hawaii Democrats are increasingly aggressive in imposing partisan purity on party members, even in nonpartisan elections. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu taxpayers will foot the bill to hire three Honolulu law firms at up to $100,000 each to defend the city Ethics Commission, former Executive Director Chuck Totto and former investigator Letha DeCaires in a case filed by Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his family. Star-Advertiser.

The rail route to Ala Moana will easily cost $10 billion, according to people who have worked directly on the project, and they say HART’s management of the project is to blame as much as if not more than inflation. KHON2.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has given approval to Genki Sushi to reopen all of its restaurants after closing them during the hepatitis A outbreak that had sickened 252 people as of Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Summit finds ways to protect Waikiki, Ala Wai in disasters. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The deputy attorney general prosecuting Mayor Billy Kenoi for theft said in a court document the mayor used his county-issued credit cards to buy “exorbitant amounts of alcohol.” Tribune-Herald.

The prosecutor in the theft case of Mayor Billy Kenoi is seeking the judge’s permission to treat the state’s witnesses as hostile at trial. Tribune-Herald.

A proposed spaceport at the Kona International Airport could open up new economic opportunities for “space tourism” on the island. West Hawaii Today.

A small room meant to greet cruise ship passengers at Hilo’s Pier 1 remains locked and off limits, more than three years after renovations were expected to be complete. Tribune-Herald.

State highways officials say they are trying to determine whether it is possible to re-stripe or make other modifications to Highway 130, a major, clogged Big Island highway that serves the fast-growing Puna region as a temporary substitute for widening the highway, as residents were promised. Star-Advertiser.

State officials say the fungal disease called Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death is continuing to threaten native ‘ōhi‘a trees on the Big Island. 'Ōhi'a covers about 865,000 acres statewide. Recent surveys show the disease has now impacted nearly 50,000 acres on the Big Island, an increase of a little more than a third from earlier this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

A nonprofit hoping to build senior housing and a veterans service center say plans are underway with early phases of construction set to finish this month. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County is looking at charging for parking in municipal lots, instead of having police officers monitoring time limits and writing tickets, and it has put out a bid for a consultant to study the possibility. Maui News.

The state Department of Transportation will hold a public informational meeting Sept. 22 on the Kahului Airport master plan update, but the plan itself wasn't available as of Friday, officials said. Maui News.

The Hana Highway, particularly the portion that stretches from Paia to Hana, is scenic and popular, but that appeal among tourists is causing problems that appear to be escalating, as motorists slow or stop to take pictures or park on both sides of the highway, including its narrow bottlenecks. Maui Now.

Hana High and Elementary School is running the state's first off-the-grid public school classroom, built by youths in the community and equipped to handle the school's growing energy needs for years to come. Maui News.

Kauai

A homeless encampment that at one point housed about 20 people was shut down by the county early this month. Garden Island.

A $2.5 million project to provide a pedestrian and vehicle bridge over Keahua Stream at the end of Kuamo’o Road in Keahua Arboretum in the Lihue-Koloa Forest Reserve is set to begin. Garden Island.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Hawaii farmland growing, controversial Sen. Hee runs for lieutenant governor, Waikiki homeless roundup, brouhaha over OHA letter to John Kerry, sailing vessel Hokulea off to worldwide voyage, Kauai credit downgraded, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy photo
Hawaii Island dairy farm courtesy photo
The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture farm census, published every five years, showed that Hawaii farmers put 8,000 more acres into production between 2007 and 2012, increasing total land used to grow food and other products to 1,129,000 acres from about 1,121,000 acres. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. Clayton Hee has announced he is running as a Democrat for lieutenant governor, challenging incumbent Shan Tsutsui. Hawaii News Now.

lieutenant governor candidate
Hee
By running against Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui in the Democratic primary this year, state Sen. Clayton Hee shakes up not only that race — Tsutsui is a former Senate president who took the LG job after Brian Schatz was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2012 — but also the governor's race. Gov. Neil Abercrombie faces a spirited challenge by state Sen. David Ige, who is backed by former Govs. Ben Cayetano and George Ariyoshi. Civil Beat.

Former state Rep. Gil Riviere said Sunday that he will enter the Democratic primary for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Clayton Hee, who is running for lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

An increase in grassroots organizing this year around highly controversial issues related to same-sex marriage, development in Kakaako and genetically modified farming have spurred the Hawaii State Ethics Commission to take a closer look at several citizens groups to ensure that they’re complying with the state ethics law. Civil Beat.

A 33-year-old madam who said her elite escort business offered prostitution services to some of Hawaii’s most prominent judges, politicians and entertainers, has made stunning allegations in a civil lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court against a Special Agent with Homeland Security Investigations U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement division. Hawaii Reporter.

On May 5th, 2014, Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO, Dr. Kamanaʻopono Crabbe, sent a letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry asking for “advice” on OHA’s possible breaches of international law given the evidence for the continued existence of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Universe.

The Hawaiian Kingdom blog reports that Dan Ahuna, a trustee with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, has taken his name off of a recent letter addressed to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Civil Beat.

The chief executive of Hawaii’s largest health insurance company is calling on Hawaii to shut down its beleaguered health insurance exchange, which was set up as part of President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. Associated Press.

State lawmakers expressed dismay Friday over Hawaii Medical Service Association chief Michael Gold's contention this week that Hawaii should seek an immediate exemption from the federal Affordable Care Act's requirement for the state to have an online health insurance exchange. Maui Now.

The Hawaii Legislature Can Stop Time. Civil Beat.

This Saturday, the Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokulea and its sister vessel the Hikianalia, will leave Oahu and set sail for Hilo, where they’ll continue on to Tahiti. Over the next few days, the public will get their last chance to bid the two canoes a final farewell before they embark on a worldwide voyage called Malama Honua, caring for our Island Earth. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hokule'a is still designed to sail and perform as its ancestral wa'a (canoes) did, when centuries ago they pulled much of Polynesia out of the sea. But in many ways this is Hokule'a 2.0. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha said they are pushing back to make the community safe and accessible for all. In doing so, they say, police have begun to round up hundreds of offenders, some of whom have violated court orders or are committing crimes while living in makeshift communities throughout Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

In May the city joined with the private vendor Service Systems Associates to open an oceanside cafe in a former Kuhio Beach public pavilion that had become a haven for homeless people. Star-Advertiser.

Ticket sales were down by 20 percent for the first quarter of this year compared with last year at the Pacific Aviation Museum, one of three paid attractions at Pearl Harbor, resulting in reduced hours for workers there. Star-Advertiser.

The fate of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill remains uncertain 15 months after the city endeavored to reach a resolution with the community group that's fought the hardest to shutter Oahu's only municipal dump. Star-Advertiser.

On a rural expanse of Oahu’s leeward coast, a line of concrete pillars snakes through fields of corn stalks and pumpkins toward downtown Honolulu where distant high rises jut into the sky through a muggy haze. Honolulu rail — now five decades in the making — is taking shape. Civil Beat.

The Howard Hughes Corp. has reached contractual agreements for about half of the 482 units in its two ultra-luxury high-rises in Kakaako — Anaha and Waiea — part of its Ward Village master-planned community, according to its first-quarter earnings report released Thursday. Pacific Business News.

A rise in recent citations for people trespassing at Sacred Falls State Park prompted the Department of Land and Natural Resources to remind the public that the park is closed due to danger from falling rocks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is recommending approval of its first subdivision application on the Big Island since it lifted a moratorium for agriculture land last year. The ranch land, leased to Flora Solomon, the mother of state Sen. Malama Solomon, is the only subdivision application that has been submitted. Tribune-Herald.

The Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee will weigh a report recommending several dozen new emergency routes for the district’s large subdivisions at its Tuesday meeting. Tribune-Herald.

Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement officers have cited the owner of a 47-foot sailing vessel that caused damage to coral reef in Kailua Bay on May 2. Approximately 80 feet of chain was in the water, with about 30 to 40 feet in the coral. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Wailuku representative and House Speaker Joe Souki has endorsed Justin Woodson for election to the Central Maui 9th House seat he was appointed to by Gov. Neil Abercrombie, according to an announcement from Woodson. Maui News.

Maui County will pay $25,000 in attorneys' fees and damages to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a part-time employee who alleged his First Amendment right to free speech was violated when county officials interfered with his work on his MAUIWatch Facebook page. Maui News.

Kauai

Fitch Ratings, a global credit rating agency, has downgraded the County of Kauai’s long-term credit grade, citing consistent rises in expenses, stagnant growths in revenues and waning balances in county reserve funds. Garden Island.

The Legislature provided $5 million in planning money for a replacement jail on Oahu, and $1.5 million to Maui — but funding for Kauai and the Big Island will have to wait another session, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Garden Island.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Sledgehammer lawmaker defends homeless hunt, Ag Chief Kokubun stepping down to join Hanabusa campaign, Hawaii mulls new prisons, Del Monte settlement first in human trafficking case, alleged embezzlement at Big Island Pop Warner league, Honolulu mayor ethics case heats up, deal reached with firefighter union, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Homeless along the Ala Wai  (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
Despite a firestorm of controversy on Monday, state Rep. Tom Brower once again picked up his sledgehammer and went out to rid his Waikiki-Ala Moana district of shopping carts that homeless people use. He said people have told him that they appreciate the work he has done in the past several weeks to clear the district of stolen and abandoned carts. Institute for Human Services Director Connie Mitchell said Brower's actions could traumatize homeless people and incite street violence. Star-Advertiser.

Tom Brower has found a unique solution to houselessness: he destroys shopping carts with a sledgehammer (and awakens people sleeping at bus stops). Hawaii Independent.

State Rep. Tom Brower has taken a sledgehammer and a novel approach to Hawaii's homeless problem. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is considering building a new prison on Oahu and new jails statewide to alleviate the state’s overcrowding crisis, including replacing the state’s largest jail, the Oahu Community Correctional Center, with a new facility. Pacific Business News.

A larger replacement for the Oahu Community Correctional Center at a new location is one piece of a possible major overhaul of Hawaii's crowded and old prisons and jails, state officials say. The overhaul could include new or expanded correctional facilities at its seven institutions and adding an eighth facility for a total prison bed space for up to 4,425 inmates. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reached a $1.2 million settlement with a former Kunia farm in a human trafficking lawsuit involving more than 150 Thai farmworkers. Associated Press.

Hawaii Agriculture Chairman, Hanabus campaign
Kokubon
Russell Kokubun is stepping down as director of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, in part to help Colleen Hanabusa with her U.S. Senate campaign, according to sources close to the campaign. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Rida Cabanilla has been fined $500 by the state Campaign Spending Commission for filing an inaccurate or false campaign-finance report.Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association union has received a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement. According to HFFA President Bobby Lee, a draft arbitration award is now making the rounds throughout the islands. Civil Beat.

Taxpayers have spent $200 million to establish the network for the Affordable Care Act in Hawaii - $53 million on just the Hawaii Health Connector web site development and management alone. However, so far, just 257 individuals have secured healthcare through the exchange. Hawaii Reporter.

The numbers are in and they are low -- just a couple hundred people in Hawaii have signed up for insurance on the new Health Connector website. But it's not for a lack of trying. KHON2 found out the problems people are still having, and how they can be fixed.

The state Department of Health today is dropping off $250,000 worth of voluntarily forfeited OxyELITE Pro products at the HPOWER waste-to-energy plant in Campbell Industrial Park to be destroyed amid an investigation that has linked the dietary supplement to multiple cases of liver damage and acute hepatitis in the isles and around the country. Star-Advertiser.

Tiny Tern Island, a 25-acre strip of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that has been inundated with marine debris, could become a Superfund cleanup site if the Center for Biological Diversity gets its way. Civil Beat.

State roundup for November 19. Associated Press.

Oahu
The seven-member Honolulu Ethics Commission voted unanimously Monday to back a request by Executive Director Chuck Totto to fire off a letter to Mayor Kirk Caldwell's administration, essentially urging city officials to retain the agency's budget request despite the objections of the Department of Corporation Counsel. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s top lieutenant reiterated the administration’s commitment to transparency Monday, despite lingering questions about its interference in ongoing ethics investigations. Civil Beat.

Kakaako’s designated central park is Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kakaako Makai and Mauka Gateway parks. But the state agency in charge of Kakaako development is moving full speed ahead with ridiculous proposals to remove large sections of valuable parkland from general public. Civil Beat.

The federal government has agreed to pay $67,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by a woman who says she was raped by a prison employee at the federal detention center. Government lawyer Edric Ming-Kai Ching announced the settlement Monday in U.S. District Court. Star-Advertiser.

The first commercial airline service out of Kalaeloa Airport could become a reality early next year. Mokulele Airlines is seeking state and community support to operate daily service to Lanai, Molokai and Maui, as well as possibly Kona, from the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Following an announcement Monday that Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc. will pay $1.2 million and change its migrant worker policies to settle a discrimination lawsuit, two Big Island farms have less than a month to file their consent decrees in federal court detailing their own settlement agreements. West Hawaii Today.

An alleged embezzlement of possibly more than $100,000 in league funds may prevent a Hilo midget football team from traveling to Florida next month to play in the Pop Warner Super Bowl. Tribune-Herald.

A Big Island football team's trip to the national tournament is in jeopardy because of missing travel funds. As authorities investigate, the players' families are scrambling to come up with about $100,000 to get to Florida in less than three weeks. Hawaii News Now.

The Kona Judiciary Complex has had its proposed home approved, in concept anyway. On Nov. 8, the state Board of Land and Natural Resources granted preliminary approval for building the $90 million facility near the Makalapua Center, mauka of Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

While Del Monte Fresh Produce has agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle claims in a discrimination lawsuit involving Thai farmworkers, a trial is set for February on the claims against California-based labor contractor Global Horizons and Maui Pineapple Co. Maui News.

Maui Electric Company has formed a partnership with a mainland firm to manage new electric vehicle charging stations on Maui. Maui Now.

Scientists are posting on the Internet the movements of several tiger sharks that have been tagged with satellite and acoustical tracking devices in the ocean near Maui. The tagging is part of a two-year project to study the movement of the sharks and their behavior, including an attempt to determine their mating and pupping areas. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

It has been nearly 18 years since a 400-square-foot Hurricane Iniki shelter next to Kapaa Beach Park was converted into a Kauai Police Department substation. Garden Island.


Molokai

Molokai residents have noticed a lot of temporary electricity outages lately… and energy researchers have proposed a multi-million dollar project they hope will solve the problem. Hawaii Public Radio.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Giant telescope approved for Mauna Kea, IRs targets Maui for tax cheats, Inouye legacy funds candidates, small Hawaii farms can't catch a break, Abercrombie kicks off campaign on fiscal record, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Mauna Kea
Telescopes atop Mauna Kea courtesy photo
The Hawaii Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday granted the University of Hawaii at Hilo a conservation district use permit for the $1.3 billion Thirty Meter Telescope, saying the university can add what will be one of the world's largest telescopes to the observatories on the summit of Mauna Kea. Pacific Business News.

Construction on the $1.3 billion Thirty Meter Telescope could begin atop Mauna Kea within a year, project managers said this weekend, following Friday’s approval of a permit for the plans by the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. Tribune-Herald.

The state's recent approval to build the world's largest telescope atop Mauna Kea has thrilled astronomers eager to explore the edges of the universe. But it also has disappointed environmentalists and Native Hawaiians. Hawaii News Now.

A plan by California and Canadian universities to build the world’s largest telescope at the summit of Hawaii’s Mauna Kea volcano won approval from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday. Associated Press.

Several of Hawaii's biggest companies and landowners have qualified to claim tax credits and other benefits for preserving agricultural land in perpetuity. But a hui of small farmers couldn't convince a state commission earlier this month that they deserve the same. Star-Advertiser.

Several of Hawaii's biggest companies and landowners have qualified to claim tax credits and other benefits for preserving agricultural land in perpetuity. But a hui of small farmers couldn't convince a state commission earlier this month that they deserve the same. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie, outlining themes for his re-election campaign next year, said today that the “hard choices” he has made since taking office have helped make Hawaii’s state government among the most financially stable in the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Something odd is going on in the Abercrombie administration. Officials actually seem to be scrambling to release public records in a timely fashion. Civil Beat.

On the first day of his last campaign, Neil Abercrombie recalled the last day of his first campaign. Civil Beat.

The late Sen. Dan Inouye's political legacy continues to play out as his leadership political action committee begins helping out candidates that the senator favored when he was alive. According to the latest campaign finance filings, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Sen. Mazie Hirono each received $10,000 from DANPAC. Inouye's PAC had roughly $50,000 in unspent funds when he died. Inouye's main campaign account had more than a quarter-million dollars.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii Senate and House lawmakers plan to spend the beginning of this week in negotiations over roughly $24 billion in proposed state spending for the next two fiscal years. Associated Press.

Local Korean civic groups and supporters rallied Saturday at the state Capitol to denounce the military actions and nuclear threats by North Korea, particularly by its young dictator, Kim Jong Un, and to express frustration, anger and shame. About 200 gathered to hear speakers, march and chant. Star-Advertiser.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii claims the state Department of Public Safety is illegally withholding public records that attorneys representing families in wrongful prison death lawsuits have already paid thousands of dollars to receive. Associated Press.

A law firm has paid the Hawaii Department of Public Safety $5,300 for public records, but state officials have yet to produce a single document, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by the ACLU of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

A resolution in the Hawaii House of Representatives is asking for federal labeling of genetically modified food. Associated Press.

The state tax credit is a major incentive to install solar photovoltaic systems, and eliminating or reducing them would drive Hawaii homeowners away from using the sun to power their homes. At least that is what a recent survey by the Blue Planet Foundation suggests. Maui News.

A string of drownings across all Hawaii islands have put a new focus on ocean safety, especially targeted at tourists. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for April 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

Key members of the City Council are taking steps to tighten the rules for filling vacant job positions so that city agencies cannot spend the money on other purposes. Too much is being diverted to pay for such things as mileage expenses and cashing out unused vacation pay for retiring employees, says Councilman Ikaika Anderson. Star-Advertiser.

A lag in processing tax returns led to Honolulu's rail project receiving $33 million less than it anticipated in the first half of this fiscal year — even though state GET collections are up this year, state Department of Taxation officials say. Star-Advertiser.

On Thursday, the 10-member HART board gave Dan Grabauskas a $35,000 bonus as part of his first annual performance review, boosting his overall pay for the year from $245,000 to $280,000. He also gets $42,000 for housing and transportation. Civil Beat.

One of the most controversial decisions by the city’s rail authority was to award a contract to build the elevated steel on steel rail trains to the financially troubled Italian company Ansaldo. The city’s HART CEO Dan Grabauskas maintained in a University of Hawaii student forum this week that the company was the best choice to design, build, operate and maintain Oahu’s $5.2 billion system. Hawaii Reporter.

The Diamond Head State Monument Foundation is holding a public meeting on Wednesday to discuss the proposed nomination of scenic roadways encircling Diamond Head as a designated "Hawaii Scenic Byway." Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members weighed the ideas of seeking a general excise tax increase, a fuel tax increase or raising bus fares to help fund the county’s Mass Transit Agency. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille had heard enough. Before noon on Friday, the third straight day of budget talks, the Kohala representative had grown tired of the cadre of department heads highlighting needs not met in the proposed budget, and decided it was time to speak her mind. Tribune-Herald.

The makers of Mehana and Hawaii Nui beer filed for bankruptcy this week and are seeking new ownership as part of a reorganizing plan to restructure its debts.  Big Island Now.

After years of delay, a project to improve the eastern portion of Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor is moving forward. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The communities in Hawaii where you would most likely find tax cheats and audits are Lahaina and Kahului on Maui, according to a study by the National Taxpayer Advocate. Associated Press.

In Maui County, approximately 4,000 homeowners have installed solar PV systems, according to county officials. Only three out of 10 existing PV owners said they still would have switched to solar if there had been no tax credits.  Maui News.

A building in the Kenolio Recreational Complex in Kihei that was damaged by fire more than two years ago is expected to be repaired early next year, according to Department of Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Brianne Savage. Maui News.

Hawaii's Backyard: Healing energy surrounds clients at Maui retreat. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Gov. Neil Abercrombie spent Friday on island, visiting school students and lending his support to the Kaua‘i Philippines Cultural Center and the Kaua‘i Raceway Park in the form of financial aid. Garden Island.

Donna Schultze has called Kaua‘i home for 41 years, so when she heard about a proposal that includes drilling a high-elevation well through Wai‘ale‘ale, she knew one thing: She didn’t like it. Garden Island.