Voters favor green tourist fee in survey, 'audacious' tax relief plan advances, state population continues to decline, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Survey finds 63% of Hawaiʻi voters support $50 annual ‘green fee’ for visitors. A new survey found 63 percent of Hawaiʻi voters back a proposal that would require visitors to pay a $50 per person annual fee to use state and county beaches, parks and trails in the state. Big Island Now. Garden Island. Kauai Now.

‘Audacious’ tax relief plan advances at Hawaii Legislature.  Several bills that would cut household taxes in Hawaii are advancing at the Legislature, including one promising to save a family of four around $2,000 or more in 2024 and beyond. Star-Advertiser.

Push to legalize Marijuana growing. The push to legalize recreational use of marijuana continues with two bills (SB 669 & SB 375) moving through the legislature. KHON2.

Hawaii lawmakers push flavor bans and higher taxes to fight teen vaping. Lawmakers are expected to pass substantial legislation after a ban on flavored vape products passed last year but was vetoed because of flaws. Hawaii News Now.

State agency accused of covering up for high-level training officer now facing trial for perjury. The 58-page ruling by the panel found that the previous leaders of the state Department of Public Safety were protecting J. Marte Martinez, the agency’s top trainer. Hawaii News Now.

The state's chief economist said Hawaii's population has decreased for the past seven years with 15,000 people moving away in 2022. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, on average almost 20 people left the state every day last year. KITV4.

Hawaiian Airlines’ COVID vaccine mandate challenge set for trial. Eight current and former Hawaiian Airlines employees suing the company for allegedly violating their right to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine for medical or religious reasons were given a trial date Tuesday and asked to organize with related cases making similar claims. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii rolls out rebate program for e-bikes, electric mopeds. Rebates of up to $500 or 20% of the retail price — whichever is less – are now available for eligible purchases due to Act 306, which was signed into law Opens in a new tab last summer to help reduce the cost of transportation. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Oahu

Gov. Green puts cost of new Aloha Stadium at ‘under $500M’. A new Aloha Stadium surrounded by housing and an entertainment district can now be had for “under $500 million,” Gov. Josh Green said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Committee Mistakenly Passes Honolulu Rail Tax Extension. A bill that would allow Honolulu to extend the excise tax surcharge for rail to raise more money for the cash-strapped project was approved Monday in the powerful Senate Ways and Means Committee. But barely an hour later, Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz said in an interview that the handling of Senate Bill 176 was an “oversight.” Civil Beat.

CDC to review medical records of military patients sickened by Red Hill fuel spills. Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are in Hawaii looking at medical records of military families who got sick from the Red Hill fuel spills. Hawaii News Now.

Peter Savio’s New Farming Development Is Unconventional But Locals Still Want In. Future capital gains would be locked into local income levels as part of the plan. Civil Beat.

HECO has 'significant concerns' about adding another waste-to-energy facility. Senate Bill 1247, introduced by Sen. Kurt Fevella, would require the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office to enter into a public-private partnership to develop a new waste-to-energy generating facility.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Boy Scouts, Aloha Council deny liability for boy’s death. Lawyers for the Boy Scouts of America and its Aloha Council have filed a response to a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of an 11-year-old Scout killed last August when an AK-47 was accidentally discharged at a shooting range. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Roth, county focus of new lawsuit. A tour operator is suing the county, Mayor Mitch Roth and Public Works Director Steve Pause, claiming restrictions placed on the company’s Waipi‘o Valley tours by the mayor’s emergency rules regarding Waipi‘o Valley Road amount to a “taking” of the company without due compensation. Tribune-Herald.

Hōlualoa Elementary School Issues Gain Attention. The Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association says state school officials “began making concrete steps toward some short-term fixes” at Hōlualoa Elementary, after the HSTA held a news conference describing mold, rat and maintenance problems at the Kona school. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Ex-DOE employee who allegedly falsified documents charged with 3 felony theft counts. Officers arrested former Department of Education official Karie Luana Klein last Thursday for falsifying DOE documents to steal money. She is set to be arraigned in Hilo Circuit Court on Monday. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Without emergency funding, key Hawaii Island pharmacy that serves cancer patients could close. Scores of cancer patients on Hawaii Island are at risk of losing access to the chemotherapy drugs keeping them alive. That’s because the pharmacy at Kona Community Hospital could be forced to close if it doesn’t meet new regulations set to go in effect later this year. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Committee to review Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua housing project. A Maui County council committee will review the Hale Mahaolu Ke Kahua Residential Workforce Rental Housing project Tuesday, which proposes 120 affordable rental units in Waiehu.  Maui News.

Suit claims Grand Wailea owners avoided pay, benefits for hundreds in ‘fraudulent scheme’. A worker at one of Maui’s largest private employers, Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, filed a class-action lawsuit Friday alleging owners of the luxury hotel giant misclassified hundreds of spa and salon workers, groundskeepers, facilities maintenance personnel and window washers as independent contractors in a “fraudulent scheme” to avoid pay and benefits at two of its landmark hotels, the Grand Wailea and Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria. Maui Now.

Yacht Fuel Spill In Maui’s Honolua Bay Prompts Calls For Reform. The grounding of the 94-foot luxury vessel has sparked calls to change the way commercial activity is handled in sensitive coastal waters. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Maui News.

Kauai

Celebrating heritage in Waimea. Thousands of people flowed through Waimea town during the 46th Waimea Town Celebration that wrapped up with the ho‘olaule‘a on Saturday at the park in the shadow of the Waimea sugar mill relic. Garden Island.

Navy corruption probe widens in Hawaii, state is first to sign onto elements in Paris Accord, Hawaii County property taxes raised, Maui first to ban 'Styrofoam' containers, Honolulu mayor wants plastic bag ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Dave Kapaun, right, with Republic of Singapore Navy Major Danny Tan, left, and Republic of Singapore Major H .C. Lim at a reception on board the U.S. Navy dock landing ship USS Rushmore, July 4, 2001, Kevin H. Tierney/U.S. Department of Defense

 Navy’s Widening Bribery And Sex Scandal Has Many Hawaii Connections. A former Seventh Fleet commander from Oahu pleads guilty in Honolulu for concealing his relationship with a Malaysian defense contractor. Civil Beat.

A retired U.S. Navy commander in Hawaii charged in a growing corruption scandal pleaded guilty today to lying about his relationship with a Malaysian defense contractor known by the nickname “Fat Leonard.” Associated Press.

Two distinctive missile telemetry ships are in Honolulu Harbor after participating in a first-of-its-kind test intercept of an intercontinental ballistic missile target high over the Pacific on May 30. Star-Advertiser.

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Gov. David Ige today signed a bill into law to document sea level rise and set strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aligning the state’s goals with the Paris climate accord. Associated Press.

Hawaii became the first state in the nation to enact portions of the Paris climate agreement into law Tuesday with Gov. David Ige signing Senate Bill 559. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i’s elected officials gathered in Honolulu on Tuesday to show their support for the Paris Climate Accord, following President Trump’s announced withdrawal from the international agreement. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii is the first state in the nation to implement parts of the Paris Climate Agreement. Hawaii Public Radio.

In a show of support for the Paris climate agreement, Gov. David Ige and Hawaii’s county mayors and representatives gathered for the signing of two bills and a mayors’ agreement that support the commitments and goals of the Paris climate accord. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige  and the county mayors gathered Tuesday for the signing of two environmental bills and a mayors' agreement that support the commitments and goals of the Paris climate accord. KITV.

Hawaii's governor said Tuesday that the state has become the first in the nation to enact legislation that implements portions of the Paris climate accord, which the Trump administration rejected last week by pulling the United States out of the multi-nation agreement. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii was the first in the nation to commit to goals outlined in the Paris agreement Tuesday. Garden Island.

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Gov. David Ige gives himself a seven out of 10 for his work since taking office in 2014. Garden Island.

Nearly two-thirds of Hawaii voters who responded to The Civil Beat Poll want the Legislature to pass a bill next year to legalize medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. Civil Beat.

Hawaii public school students are expected to spend less time taking standardized assessments next school year under efforts announced Tuesday to move away from a testing culture some educators have called toxic. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city’s troubled $10 billion rail project faces another critical vote today in the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

City council to hold final vote on several tax, fee increases. KHON2.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today urged the Honolulu City Council to pass a bill banning all plastic bags from retail checkout counters, and threatened to veto any measure that falls short of that. Star-Advertiser.

Get ready drivers: Rates for street parking are poised to go way up starting this summer. Hawaii News Now.

City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro's request for $75,000 to fund a retrofitted van for his office won't be approved any time soon. Hawaii News Now.

A federal jury found the company and its top manager involved in a deadly 2011 fireworks explosion in a Waikele bunker not guilty today of permit violations for storing and treating hazardous waste. Star-Advertiser.

Medical Marijuana Dispensary To Open Without Any Marijuana. Licensed companies are still waiting for the Department of Health to certify labs to test the products before they can start selling. Civil Beat.

The Kahala Hotel’s New Shoreline Plan Could Reduce Public Beach Access. The high-end resort wants a long-term easement allowing it to hold more weddings and other events that could take up more of the public beach. Civil Beat.

Former Kapolei raceway becomes illegal, potentially toxic, dump site. Hawaii News Now.

Permit numbers for solar systems on Oahu continue to fall, dropping 62 percent in May compared with the same month last year. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Hawaii Convention Center recognize University of Hawaii for securing over $170M in convention business. Pacific Business News.

Sales of single-family homes and condominiums on Oahu rose by double digits in May, as prices posted single-digit gains, according to statistics release Monday by Honolulu real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

Aiming to replicate the water quality impact of oysters on places such as Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, the state Division of Aquatic Resources on Tuesday announced the expansion of its own oyster-growing experiment with the target of helping to clean up Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Property tax rate hikes passed by the Hawaii County Council late Monday pack a wallop for residential and apartment properties, while sparing homeowners and affordable rentals from increases. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council members spent an entire day, working deep into the night, trying to find the right mix of Big Island property tax increases across the different classes in order to balance the budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Big Island Video News.

As Hawaii County considers large increases to the fuel tax, should any of that extra revenue go to help improve substandard private roads? That was a question raised Tuesday as the Hawaii County Council considered a resolution seeking to authorize grants for private roads used as main thoroughfares, such as in large subdivisions, during a Finance Committee meeting. Tribune-Herald.

The Hamakua Soil and Water Conservation District voted Tuesday to rescind the conservation plan for Big Island Dairy and others that weren’t signed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Wastewater Division posted warning signs near the Pua sewage pump station and the Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resource Center in Keaukaha after tests with dye suggested repairs made to pipe joints were ineffective. Tribune-Herald.

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. said Tuesday it has paid $10 million to acquire five multi-tenant industrial buildings within the Honokohau Industrial Park, the Honolulu-based company’s first industrial properties on the Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Police have wrapped an internal probe into an Aug. 4, 2016, police pursuit of a stolen vehicle in Hilo that concluded with a two-car crash that resulted in the deaths of a 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman in the stolen car and critical injuries to a 39-year-old woman driving the other vehicle. Tribune-Herald.

Sales of homes on the Big Island rose last month, with the number of condominiums sold jumping by 40 percent, even as prices dropped by 20 percent, compared to the same month last year, according to statistics provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa signed into law Monday a bill banning foam polystyrene food service containers, which include the popular plate lunch container and certain types of coffee cups. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa signed Bill 127 into law on Monday relating to restricting the use and sale of polystyrene foam containers in Maui County.  The law is set to go into effect on Dec. 31, 2018. Maui Now.

Polystyrene foam containers will be banned on Maui beginning Dec. 31, 2018. Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa signed a bill on Tuesday making the sale and use of polystyrene food containers illegal. Maui is the first Hawaii county to ban foam containers. Associated Press.

County prepares as liability coverage for lifeguards ends. Maui News.

Maui Grown Therapies will hold an open house and a job fair this week to answer questions and recruit employees for the company’s production center and dispensary. Maui News.

Kauai

After five years of renovations, Diamond Resorts International is re-opening The Point at Poipu Resort on Kauai. Pacific Business News.

The median price of a single-family home on Kauai shot up by nearly 50 percent in May, compared to last year, while the number of sales rose by nearly as much, according to statistics provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Four-hundred-year-old coral fragments in Kauai’s Makauwahi Cave appear to have been left there by a tsunami generated by a magnitude 9 earthquake in the Aleutian Islands, according to a team who recently re-examined the cave. Garden Island.

Abercrombie unlikely to veto much, Oahu prison guard dies when rescuers can't find the key, shark taste-tests Kona man, Honolulu rail depot downsized, more on Dems lawsuit, Hawaii Island faces hikes on vehicle taxes, bus fares, Maui sugarcane fires suspicious, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Abercrombie bill signing

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he is likely to complete his list of potential vetoes ahead of Monday's deadline to notify the state Legislature and that the list will probably be a short one. Star-Advertiser.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii has taken the politically risky step of asking a federal judge to throw out a provision of the state constitution protecting the “secrecy of voting” and the confidentiality of voters’ party affiliations. Civil Beat.

In a federal lawsuit, the Democratic Party of Hawaii claims the state's primary election law is unconstitutional. Associated Press.

The new leader of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, a nonprofit hui focused on public policy, has already identified two policy areas as priorities: the cabotage laws that govern maritime rules in U.S. waters (the Jones Act) and the formation of a race-based government (the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission). Civil Beat.

Hawaii's elementary- and high-school teaching degree programs are among the worst in the country when it comes to preparing new teachers for the classroom, according to a new report that slams many of the nation's teacher colleges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is one of six states chosen by the National Governors Association to receive help with early childhood education. Associated Press.

Hawaii is home to one of the largest and most powerful military complexes in the world yet fails to produce a large cadre of local kids who are qualified to enter its ranks, according to experts who say declining military eligibility across the country is posing a threat to national security. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Community feedback on the size and scope of Honolulu's future rail stations has helped save the project some $100 million in design and construction costs, the city's top rail official said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Tuesday released renderings of three proposed rail station designs, and it plans to hold a series of public meetings next week to gather input on the designs. Pacific Business News.

A veteran Oahu Community Correctional Center sergeant died on the job Saturday night after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest, and prisons officials were delayed in getting him medical treatment because they couldn't find the key to get to his secured post. Hawaii News Now.

A community group opposing Turtle Bay Resort expansion plans has renewed a push to block the project by challenging the validity of a 27-year-old state approval for enlarging the resort on Oahu's North Shore. Star-Advertiser.

When the sun goes down, beaches up and down the Leeward coast are filled with night fishermen. That's when Ro Domondon catches ulua and other fish that swim close to the shoreline. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s first stand-alone zip line planned for Aiea. KHON2.

Hawaii

By bus or by car, your ride is soon going to cost you more. The Hawaii County Council on Tuesday advanced bills doubling bus fares and car registration and vehicle weight taxes. West Hawaii Today.

A shark bit the leg of a man swimming at a West Hawaii beach Tuesday afternoon but released him and swam away, allowing the man to get back to shore. Star-Advertiser.

A 28-year-old Kailua-Kona man is recovering from shark bites to his leg following an attack Tuesday afternoon in waters off the Mahaiula area of Kekaha Kai State Park in North Kona. West Hawaii Today.

A man was bitten by a 14-foot shark while swimming at Kekahakai State Park's Mahaiula Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii Tuesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

A proposal to give the County Council members’ appointed staff a 4 percent raise was tabled Tuesday after a lengthy discussion over step increases. Tribune-Herald.

Dozens of construction workers could lose their jobs on a bioenergy plant project in Pepeekeo following a decision in a labor dispute. Tribune-Herald.

A parade of county dignitaries and former leaders came to the West Hawaii Civic Center on Tuesday to witness the final chapter of a 35-year saga. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A spate of suspicious sugar cane field fires in Central Maui within a month has resulted in the loss of an estimated $182,500 to the sugar crop, firefighters said Tuesday. Although the cause of the fires remains undetermined, fire officials believe the fires may have been intentionally set because there are no obvious points of ignition. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County Council's Policy and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee advanced a resolution Monday to formally investigate possible misuse of public funds by Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration over the demolition of the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui News.

The Texas-based landowner of a controversial 700,000-square-foot retail shopping complex in Kihei has taken over development of the project and plans to change its concept to a "mixed-use" development with business, commercial and residential uses, a representative for the project said Tuesday. Maui News.

The Polynesian voyaging canoe, Hōkūleʻa arrived at Māʻalaea Harbor on Maui last night as part of the Mālama Hawaiʻi leg of its worldwide voyage. Maui Now.

Kauai
Despite Kauai being ranked No. 2 on Trip-Advisor’s 2013 list of “Top 10 Islands” in the United States, the latest report from Hospitality Advisors LLC shows a decline in occupied hotel rooms during the month of April. Garden Island.

State and county officials expect the number of emergency medical response calls to rise as the elderly population on Kauai grows. Garden Island.

Molokai
‘Bureaucratic abuse’: Hawaii vets wait a decade for center, services. Hawaii Reporter.