Wind farm protesters in court, Supreme Court sides with Ige in nomination dispute, Honolulu auditor slams monster houses, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kahuku wind farm protests PC: Choon James

Arrested wind farm protesters appear in court as more are detained. More than 30 people accused of disobeying a police officer in the Na Pua Makani wind farm protest made their initial appearance in court Monday on the same day 18 additional people were arrested for attempting to block yet another convoy of turbine parts. Star-Advertiser.

Energy Giant AES Has A Big — And Growing — Footprint In Hawaii. The Kahuku wind farm developer opposed a proposed ban on coal in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Why Hawaiian Flags, Parking Tickets, Arrests Are Raising Free Speech Questions. There’s been a noticeable spike in Hawaiian flags seen on roads and highways. Hawaii Public Radio.

Supreme Court rules in favor of Ige in dispute over PUC appointment.  The 4-1 decision clarifies confusion over the governor’s authority to make appointments when the Legislature is not in session and brings some closure to a legal dispute that arose when the PUC rejected Florida- based NextEra Energy’s proposed $4.3 billion purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries. Star-Advertiser.

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Stings net more than 2 dozen suspected child sex predators in Hawaii. Law enforcement officers pose as children online, using chat rooms and common social media apps. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Attorney General announces results of Operation Keiki Shield. The name of the operations are "Keiki Shield" and so far have involved 95 law enforcement officers and professional staff from over a dozen county, state, federal and military law enforcement agencies. KITV.

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Kauai’s Carvalho Backs Kahele For Congress. The Democratic state senator continues to rack up the endorsements. Civil Beat.

Former Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho endorses Kai Kahele for Congress. Former Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho has endorsed Kai Kahele in his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, adding to the list of well-known political figures who have thrown their support behind the state senator for Hilo. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii unemployment rate remains steady at 2.7%. The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 2.7% in October for the third straight month while nonfarm payrolls were virtually flat in falling by just 100 jobs, according to data released Monday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Star-Advertiser.

Jobless rate holds steady. The Hawaii State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations on Monday announced that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 2.7 percent, for the third consecutive month. Garden Island.

Oahu

Auditor’s report slams city agency on ‘monster houses’. A just-completed audit of the city Department of Planning and Permitting’s handling of the explosion in the number of large, detached dwellings in recent years concluded the agency has been lax, inconsistent and ineffective in dealing with the “monster house” issue. Star-Advertiser.

Audit: Monster Houses Still Running Amok Despite City Law. The city blamed turnover, reduced time for training and other factors for its failure to enforce the 2019 law. Civil Beat.

Audit: City failed to control ‘monster homes’ or take residents’ complaints seriously. Critic says city “took their eye off the ball”. Hawaii News Now.

New city audit finds DPP mismanaging monster home permits. Recommendations include better coordination and increasing fines for not having permits. KITV.




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Top Honolulu Rail Official Leaves HART As Project Reaching Critical Stage. Paula Youngling is the second high-level procurement officer to leave HART in recent months. Civil Beat.


Ridership on The Bus continues to decline. Since 2015 the City is seeing fewer people riding the bus. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell calls it a product of competition. KITV.

Public input sought on fix for Red Hill fuel tanks above aquifer. A letter mailed recently with every water bill was the Board of Water Supply’s way of drawing attention islandwide before a public meeting Tuesday. KHON2.

Million-Dollar Oahu Homes Shrink In Size. The square footage is smaller than it was just five years ago. Civil Beat.

Restoring Kaiwainui Marsh After Years Of Neglect Is Not As Easy As It Could Be. Lots of different groups want to restore and protect the iconic Oahu wetland. Civil Beat.

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A community park on the outskirts of Downtown is getting new life. The city, the YMCA and a local school celebrated are celebrating a deal that will revitalize a troubled downtown park. Hawaii News Now.

YMCA partners with city for Kamamalu park makeover. The Young Men’s Christian Association of Honolulu has agreed to pay $1.7 million for improvements at Kamamalu Neighborhood Park, the city facility next to the YMCA’s busy Nuuanu branch. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Managing Director Okabe resigns. Wil Okabe, Mayor Harry Kim’s managing director and right-hand man, is resigning effective Nov. 30. West Hawaii Today.

Climate crisis to be topic of presentation during council committee meeting. A Hawaii County Council committee will discuss strategies today for protecting the Big Island from rising sea levels brought about by climate change. Tribune-Herald.

In search of a solid waste solution. A resolution urging the departments of Environmental Management and Research and Development put their heads together to come up with a way to reduce waste and generate clean energy received unanimous backing at a committee hearing and is scheduled Wednesday for its final County Council vote. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Getting $10 Million From State For Mauna Kea Costs. The Hawaiʻi County Council Finance Committee will make a recommendation on accepting the funds during its meeting Tuesday in Kona. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Governor accepts final EIS for Pulehunui master plan. Water, wastewater, roads mapped out for state projects. Maui News.

Wailuku Community Divided Over Proposed Hotel. Landowners Jonathan Starr and Helen Nielsen are hoping a new hotel will revitalize the streets of Wailuku. Others, however, fear it could gentrify one the islandʻs last untouched towns. Maui Now.

Hawaii Among Recipients Of $29M In Fed Coastal Protection Grants. The University of Hawaii Office of Research Services is receiving $399,506 -- $199,506 in grants and $200,000 in matching funds -- to restore and enhance the Maui coastal dunes. Associated Press.

Home prices cool after record-breaking August. Median prices in September, October lower than houses selling at same time last year. Maui News.

Kauai

Finance Committee members tour affordable housing site, hemp farm. Members of the House Finance Committee toured two project sites on Monday that they hope will benefit from bills they intend to pass during next year’s legislative session. Garden Island.

Kauai’s jail is getting upgrades, but it won’t solve the overcrowding. The Kauai Community Correctional Center (KCCC) is different from the other Hawaii jails: It doesn’t have a guard tower, and it sits alongside a busy road, Kuhio Highway, with no fence separating it from the Highway, just a ditch. Hawaii News Now.

Helping Small Food Companies Cope With High Costs. A new business development program on Kauai aims to provide small operators with tools and resources to grow. Civil Beat.

Coral bleaching less serious than feared, Honolulu cracking down on flags on vehicles, $11M for Mauna Kea enforcement, food industry rallies against proposed Honolulu plastic ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Bleached coral in Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

State, federal officials say bleaching not as bad as expected, urge all to take coral pledge. State and federal officials said the widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration due to warmer ocean temperatures this summer did happen — but not as severely as originally anticipated. Star-Advertiser.

Bleaching Of Hawaii Reefs Less Severe Than Predicted. But the islands clearly suffered from warmer ocean temperatures. Civil Beat.

Coral bleaching not as severe as previous years, but still widespread. Coral bleaching continues to devastate some reefs across the state. Hawaii News Now.

Coral bleaching in Hawaii not as severe as predicted. The widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration did impact reefs across Hawai‘i, beginning with warm ocean temperatures in the summer, extending into the fall. KHON2.

Coral bleaching widespread but not as severe as predicted. The widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration did impact reefs across Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Coral Bleaching not as Bad as Expected. The widespread coral bleaching event predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) impacted reefs across Hawai‘i, though not to the extent initially thought. Big Island Now.

Coral conditions improving. As Hawaii simmers in warmer-than usual ocean temperatures, experts monitoring the expected coral bleaching say it’s not as severe as was predicted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in early September. Garden Island.

Coral Bleaching Not as Severe as Predicted, Still Widespread. An extensive coral bleaching event that has been impacting reefs across Hawaiʻi did not cause as much damage as experts anticipated it would. Maui Now.

Saving Coral and The Coral Pledge. DLNR press release.

Oysters Unleashed: A New Hack To Help Clean Hawaii’s Filthy Waters. For decades, oysters have helped filter polluted waterways elsewhere. Now, researchers are testing how well those efforts would do in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

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In 2018, lawmakers put up $30M to create Ohana Zones for the homeless. So where are they?  It was the most money ever put towards solving Hawaii's homeless crisis. Hawaii News Now.

Costs for Hawaii's homeless continue even after they die. On average, a homeless resident dies on Oahu every 5 days. Many of them end up being cremated, with their ashes left waiting to be picked up. While the cost of that cremation is picked up by the state. KITV.

Oahu

City Announces Plans To Sue Oil Companies For Climate Change Damage. The City and County of Honolulu is the second county to announce plans to sue fossil fuel companies for what officials say is damage caused by climate change and rising sea levels traced back to corporate action or inaction. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu To Fossil Fuel Companies: Pay For Our Climate Change Damages. “Big oil” has caused major climate change problems for Oahu and Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants the City Council to approve a lawsuit to cover the costs. Civil Beat.

City to sue fossil fuel companies in bid to hold them ‘accountable’ for climate change. The city plans to file a lawsuit against fossil fuel companies aimed at holding them “accountable for the costs and consequences” of climate change. Hawaii News Now.

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Settlement reached in deadly Marco Polo fire. A confidential settlement has been reached in the 2017 deadly Marco Polo high-rise fire, but even the parties involved in a settlement conference Tuesday did not know how much each individual insurance company and other defendants will have to pay. Star-Advertiser.

Regulators Demand Audit Of Hawaiian Electric Co. In an unprecedented move, Hawaii’s utilities regulators have ordered an independent management audit of Hawaiian Electric Co. in response to the utility’s request to increase electricity rates for Oahu customers. Civil Beat.

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Hundreds gather to protest against a stricter ban on plastics. More than 200 members of Hawaii’s Food Industry demonstrated against a stricter plastics ban Tuesday. KHON2.

Food industry leaders criticize council’s proposed ban on single-use plastics. Dozens of food industry leaders rallied outside Honolulu Hale on Tuesday to express their opposition to a wide-ranging ban proposed for single-use plastics. Hawaii News Now.

Local food industry leaders voice concerns over bill that would ban single use plastics. If it becomes law, it goes into effect January 1, 2021. KITV.

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Police cracking down on vehicles with large banners, flags. The Honolulu Police Department posted on Tuesday that stricter enforcement is on the way for vehicles that have large flags and banners. KHON2.

HPD cracking down on flags flown on vehicles. The Honolulu Police Department is asking drivers to be mindful. KITV.

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Judge grants new trial for Puanas in civil case. Katherine Kealoha’s uncle and 100-year-old grandmother will have their day in court, again. A state judge has granted Gerard Puana and Florence Puana a new trial for their civil lawsuit against the disgraced former deputy prosecutor. Star-Advertiser.

Katherine Kealoha to stand trial again for a case she's already won. Florence and Gerard lost the case in 2013 and were ordered to pay Katherine more than $650,000. KITV.

Katherine Kealoha’s outspoken attorney withdrawing from the mailbox case. Earle Partington is withdrawing as attorney for Katherine Kealoha. Hawaii News Now.

Letters For Leniency: Katherine Kealoha’s Family And Friends Seek ‘Justice’ . The federal court has made public a number of letters aimed at helping her when she’s sentenced on numerous felonies next year. Civil Beat.

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Some say gates blocking beach access in a private Kailua community isn’t fair. The public has a right to access all beaches in Hawaii, which is why newly locked gates have people upset in Kailua. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

TMT law enforcement costs jump to $11M, almost half spent by Hawaii County. The state and counties have spent more than $11 million on law enforcement costs in connection with 16 weeks of protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope, according to new figures released today by the Office of the Attorney General and Hawaii County. Star-Advertiser.

State spends nearly $11 million in response to demonstrations against TMT. The state has spent nearly $11-million for it's response to demonstrations against the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. KITV.

County’s mauna costs hit $4.9M. Hawaii County has spent nearly $5 million on expenses relating to the standoff at Maunakea Access Road, but reimbursement should be coming soon. Tribune-Herald.

Councilman Urges HPD ‘Pull Back’ on Maunakea Patrols. During the Hawai‘i County Council Finance Committee’s update on Maunakea spending Tuesday, District 5 Councilman Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder urged Hawai‘i County Police Chief Paul Ferreira to reduce patrols on the mountain. Big Island Now.

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Council hears vacation rental update. West Hawaii accounts for 82% of the county’s short-term vacation rental applications in permitted areas and just 25% of those in non-permitted areas, according to a report discussed Tuesday by the County Council Planning Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Survey results highlight Puna’s needs following Kilauea eruption. The results of three community surveys administered this summer — which aim to aid the county in its recovery from the 2018 eruption of Kilauea volcano — highlight the impact the eruption had on households, businesses and the community. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Wastewater Lawsuit Will Go Before U.S. Supreme Court. On Wednesday, the nine justices of the nation's highest court will hear oral arguments in a case accusing Maui County of violating the federal Clean Water Act. Hawaii Public Radio.

High court to hear oral arguments for Maui case. Reach of the Clean Water Act hinges on Lahaina injection wells decision. Maui News.

Drone Surveys Planned for Wildfire Mitigation on Maui. The Hawaiian Electric Companies will conduct drone surveys across their five-island territory to identify areas vulnerable to wildfire and determine the best course of action to protect the public, as well as electrical infrastructure. Maui News.

Papayas planted in Mahi Pono fields. Mahi Pono Community Relations Director Tiare Lawrence said the next crops scheduled to be planted by the farm are onions, coffee and limes, which will go in the fields that have been prepped along Haleakala Highway. Maui News.

Kauai

No butts. Dean Otsuki was disappointed that he picked up 700 cigarette butts in the parking lot of Wailua River State Park over the weekend. Garden Island.