Showing posts with label genetically modified. Show all posts
Showing posts with label genetically modified. Show all posts

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Special report: 7 Hawaii media takes on 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on GMO

Katja Jordan King
Kauai anti-GMO rally, courtesy Katja Jordan King
Biotech companies operating in Hawaii scored a major victory Friday when a federal appeals court threw out ordinances on Kauai, Hawaii island and Maui that banned or restricted the cultivation of genetically modified crops and sought greater regulation over pesticides. Star-Advertiser.

Monsanto, Syngenta and other seed companies that farm in Hawaii won a significant victory after a federal appeals court ruled that counties can’t regulate pesticides or genetically modified crops. Civil Beat.

A federal judge has ruled that three Hawaii counties can't enact their own bans or regulations on genetically modified crops and pesticides, handing a victory to the major agriculture companies that fought the regulations. Associated Press.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ruled that three Hawaii counties cannot regulate genetically modified crops or pesticides. Pacific Business News.

A partial ban on growing genetically modified crops in Hawaii County will remain invalid following a ruling Friday in the U.S. Court of Appeals. Tribune-Herald.

A federal appeals court has sided with supporters of GMO, or genetically modified organisms, by affirming an earlier district court ruling in their favor. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii counties and cities don’t have the authority to regulate genetically engineered crops and pesticide use, according to a decision handed down Friday from the U.S. Court of Appeals. Garden Island.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Federal court hears GMO arguments, Honolulu ethics chief steps down, cesspool tax credit unpopular, Kauai council kills county manager plan, Ige asks courts to allow Maui hospitals room to breathe, one ballot initiative survives Hawaii County Council, residency complaint in Maui council race, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy federal court system
Screenshot of GMO hearings in U.S. District Court in Honolulu
A federal appeals court is weighing whether Hawaii counties have the right to regulate genetically modified crops and impose restrictions on how farmers apply pesticides. Three California-based judges flew to Honolulu to hear oral arguments Wednesday in a string of cases involving regulations on genetically engineered agriculture in Kauai County, Hawaii County and Maui County. Civil Beat.


Observers packed a federal courtroom in downtown Honolulu on Wednesday to watch attorneys for several of the world’s agricultural giants and opponents of genetically engineered farming battle over three county laws that target GMO crops and pesticide use. Star-Advertiser.

The fight over regulating genetically engineered crops in three Hawaii counties was back in a federal courtroom Wednesday as some agricultural giants look to protect their farms from bans against modified food. Associated Press.


Fern Rosenstiel said Wednesday’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals hearing has been a long time coming. That’s because the federal appellate court heard three cases dealing with pesticide labeling and GMO laws created by Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties. Garden Island.

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State efforts to phase out use of cesspools and encourage use of other wastewater systems are off to a slow start. A statewide ban on new cesspool construction began in March, two months after a law providing tax credits to help homeowners upgrade cesspools to a septic system or an aerobic tank system went into effect. Tribune-Herald.

The U. S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Department of Defense 2017 appropriations bill that would provide $5 million to “initiate planning and design for a new ballistic missile defense radar in Hawaii,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said in a press release Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The embattled head of electrical workers union faces new allegations that he oversaw an improper union vote that doubled dues for hundreds of Hawaii union members. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists believe they found two new species of colorful reef fish and for the first time collected a male Hawaiian pigfish during a 25-day expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers in Hawaii have discovered three probable new species of fish while on an expedition in the protected waters of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Associated Press.


Oahu

Chuck Totto’s decision Wednesday to step down under duress as the city’s longtime ethics director ends a years-long saga of his butting heads with Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration, Caldwell’s recently appointed city Ethics Commission members, and even members of Totto’s own staff. Star-Advertiser.

The longtime executive director of the city agency responsible for ethics enforcement resigned Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The embattled executive director of the Honolulu Ethics Commission, Chuck Totto, has resigned, effective immediately. Totto had led the commission since April 2000. Hawaii News Now.

After more than 16 years, the head of the Honolulu Ethics Commission has resigned. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Kirk Caldwell. Hawaii Public Radio.

A desire to kick Kirk Caldwell out of office brought three top Hawaii Democrats together Wednesday at a press conference to voice their support for Charles Djou for mayor. Civil Beat.

Since November, the city has purchased and gutted a former private school in Makiki and plans to open it early next year as the first project of its kind in which the city will serve as landlord to as many as 75 low-income and homeless people. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Higa, president of The Cab taxi company, said Wednesday he has had enough of Hawaii politicians dillydallying when it comes to the regulation of app-based ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber. Civil Beat.

Biotech startup Cardax Inc., seeking additional capital as losses mount, has increased the pay of two of its top officers who previously had seen their compensation reduced to minimum wage of $8.50 an hour. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii businessman Duane Kurisu to partner with city, state on homeless housing project. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A charter amendment giving the County Council more control over department heads is unlikely to make it to the Nov. 8 ballot, following its postponement Wednesday in the face of scattered opposition and several proposed changes. West Hawaii Today.

Petitioners say the Thirty Meter Telescope, as well as the newly incorporated PUEO group, should not be allowed to intervene in the upcoming contested case hearing. Big Island Video News.

Persistent questioning Wednesday by County Council members eventually arrived at the cost of perks a developer is seeking to build affordable housing and a senior care facility on Hualalai Road: $1.8 million. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For now, Maui Memorial Medical Center and its staff continue to cover shortages and to deal with uncertainties created by a federal appeals court injunction halting the operational transition of the public hospital to the private Kaiser Permanente, but the hospital's CEO warned that those efforts cannot be sustained for long and "will fall apart." Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission approved plans Tuesday for a hybrid seawall and rock revetment fronting the Hololani Resort, where residents, like many of their neighbors, fear for the safety of their homes perched precariously on the West Maui shore. Maui News.

The Maui County clerk's office is investigating a complaint about the residency qualification for Maui County Council candidate Alan Kaufman, an Upcountry veterinarian. Maui News.

South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing's announcement of his endorsement by the Sierra Club of Hawaii has led to a political tit-for-tat with his Democratic primary opponent, Deidre Tegarden. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department advises motorists that the speed limit between has been temporarily reduced on the Mokulele Highway between the Maui Humane Society animal shelter and North Kīhei Road. Maui Now.

Kauai

Arguing that a council-manager form of government would not solve the county’s problems, the Kauai County Council unanimously voted Wednesday to kill a resolution that would have let the people decide. Garden Island.

Four council members voted to approve a bill that allows additional dwelling units to be built on ag land. Bill No. 2601 amends the county code relating to ADU’s by removing the deadline for those units to be built. Per the code, ADUs had to be built by 2024. Garden Island.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Legislative leaders question why federal funds unspent, Maui group appeals GMO ruling, Kauai pesticide study under wraps, Ellison seeks buyer for Island Air, sewage settlement costs Maui $1M, cocaine use up, pCard use audited, guns in schools, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hawaii House majority office
Hawaii House and Senate money committees, courtesy House majority office
Gov. David Ige’s top staff was warned Tuesday that lawmakers expect them to find out why state government has been so slow to spend federal funds, and find a way to fix the problem pronto. House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke said the state departments of Health, Transportation and Hawaiian Home Lands are “terrible at utilizing federal funds.” Star-Advertiser.

The state agency responsible for enforcing and processing child support payments is facing a $1.3 million hit to its budget for the 2017 fiscal year that begins in July — a loss that will hamper customer service and overall operations, according to officials who oversee the department. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: A high-profile nonprofit organization that advocates for health and human services in Hawaii has agreed to pay a $2,000 penalty to settle charges it violated the state’s lobbying law by failing to disclose its lobbying-related expenditures over the past three years, according to a summary of the case made public last month by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. Civil Beat.

Hawaii should set aside $2.2 million in state general revenue funds to maintain and restore civil legal services for low and moderate income individuals, according to a working group of interested government agencies and community entities. Pacific Business News.

Nearly twice a month, a child is caught with a firearm at a Hawaii public school. That’s according to the Department of Education, which is required to report these incidents to the state. KHON2.

Cocaine use in the workplace doubled in the fourth quarter from the year-earlier period while marijuana still remained the drug of choice. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators have struck down a request by the Department of Defense to withdraw as an intervenor in the regulatory review of NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., according to a ruling this week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai pushes to compensate military personnel exposed to radioactive soil and debris in the Marshall Islands. Civil Beat.

Island Air, the Hawaii interisland airline that billionaire Larry Ellison bought nearly two years ago, may be up for sale again. Pacific Business News.

Many Hawaii residents were thankful for plentiful platters of ahi tuna they were able to enjoy over the holidays. But few realized the critical role the late Sen. Daniel Inouye played in making sure Hawaii fishermen could get it to them. Associated Press.

Oahu

The planned $300 million golf resort community for Leeward Oahu's Makaha Valley will include a 300-room, four-star hotel. Pacific Business News.

Just months before completion, the state has fired the contractor for the $66 million cargo and maintenance facility that's being built for Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A bill allowing the “little guy” to engage in agricultural tourism without going through a complicated and costly permitting process faces another round of changes in the County Council Planning Committee, following council concerns Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

The current program of tax breaks for agricultural land won’t be changing anytime soon, and those who hold vacant land in agricultural zones shouldn’t expect a new tax break just yet. West Hawaii Today.

It’s been almost a month since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weighed in on the public health response to the Big Island’s dengue fever outbreak, and officials say that as a result they have instituted a number of changes to the way they are combating the mosquito-borne virus. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council on Tuesday advanced a proposal to build a community park in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision, but with strings attached. Tribune-Herald.

A Waimea towing company was evacuated Tuesday morning after a possible explosive device was found attached to the front fender of a vehicle that had been towed to the yard following a weekend “Freedom Ride” rally. West Hawaii Today.

Military bomb squad determined the device strapped to the gray car in a Waimea tow yard is a fake bomb. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A federal judge erred last year in striking down a voter-approved moratorium on genetically engineered crops in Maui County, according to a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals brief filed by attorneys for the citizens group behind the county's first successful voter initiative. Maui News.

In the wake of media investigations and statewide crackdowns on the use of government purchasing cards, known as pCards, auditors have started to look into Maui County pCard accounts, and they expect to report their findings in June, county Department of Finance officials said. Maui News.

The federal court settlement over penalties for releasing partially treated wastewater into injection wells from the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility could cost Maui taxpayers an additional $1 million. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

State and county officials have asked a consultant to hold off on releasing the initial draft report on pesticide use by large-scale agribusinesses on Kauai to allow more work on the health chapter, according to an update Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Bronson Bautista, owner at PD Designs & Armory, said the discussion about new gun restrictions proposed by President Barack Obama has already led to higher gun sales. Garden Island.

The office of the governor released additional funds to support two criminal justice programs maintained by the County of Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Garden Island.

The president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines said Tuesday he recognizes Kauai residents want low airfares. And he believes Hawaiian Air is providing them. Garden Island.

Molokai

A ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of when the first 12 people were sent to Kalaupapa in 1866 will be held at Hoaloha Park in front of the Hawaiian Canoe Club hale at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015. Maui Now.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Hawaii representatives fight GMO labeling override in Congress, state officials ignore ethics law, Native Hawaiian roll to be published, Brower presses charges against homeless, no bag-tag for Hawaii County, Mauna Kea rules not enforced, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
sign in Hilo organic grocery © 2015 All Hawaii News
Those at the forefront of Hawaii’s movement against genetically modified organisms reacted strongly Thursday against a U.S. House of Representatives measure to block state and local governments from requiring food companies to disclose whether their products contain GMOs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Congressman Mark Takai voted against a bill that seeks to stop states from requiring companies to label genetically engineered food. The measure introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo, a Republican from Kansas, passed the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday with a vote of 275-150. It goes next to the Senate. Civil Beat.

A bill that would allow federal policy on labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms to supersede local efforts passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard on Thursday went to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to speak against legislation that blocks local attempts to require mandatory labeling of foods made with genetically engineered ingredients. Garden Island.

If passed by Congress, the bill that’s aimed at lifting GMO labeling requirements would become federal law, which also means it would supersede any local laws that are made in Hawaii. KITV4.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission is chasing down state employees and board members who have failed to file their financial disclosure statements for 2015. s of Tuesday, there were 67 state employees and 321 members of boards and commissions who have yet to file their disclosure statement for this year. That’s about 21 percent of everyone who’s required to file by law. Civil Beat.

The Native Hawaiian Roll Commission will soon make public a certified list of names of nearly 100,000 people of Hawaiian ancestry who could form the voting base to create a Native Hawaiian government. Star-Advertiser.

Overcrowding and safety concerns highlight bigger issues the state hospital is looking to address. KHON2.

A Hawaii lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection, said that he, along with other lawmakers, are quietly looking at other alternatives should the NextEra Energy Inc. $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. not go through. Pacific Business News.

Venture accelerators have only been in Hawaii for two years, but they’re already having an impact on the local startup and investment community. Pacific Business News.

At $7.75 per hour, Hawaii’s minimum wage is higher than two dozen states. But when you adjust for the high cost of living in the islands, that wage is only worth $6.67, according to a new analysis by the Washington Post. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City emergency officials joined Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday to unveil broadened tsunami evacuation maps for the island, which now include large inland swaths of Oahu vulnerable to rare, extremely strong tsunamis. Star-Advertiser.

Tsunami experts warn if a 9-plus magnitude earthquake occurs in the Eastern Aleutian islands, a tsunami heading to Hawaii could be worse than the 1946 tsunami that ravaged Hilo and killed 159 people. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission voted Thursday to rescind a strict media policy that severely curtailed what its executive director and even the commissioners themselves could say, opting for new guidelines that would allow a little more freedom. Star-Advertiser.

The homeless encampment in Kaka’ako, reportedly with more than 200 tents, was the focus of the state representative who claims he was attacked there and the Honolulu City Council. Hawaii Public Radio.

The city plans to open a “safe haven” in the next month to accommodate the growing homeless population in Kakaako, Honolulu Managing Director Roy Amemiya said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii lawmaker said Thursday he will press charges against whoever assaulted him in a homeless encampment in Honolulu last month. Associated Press.

State Rep. Tom Brower announced Thursday that he’s pressing charges against the homeless teens who allegedly attacked him last month in Kakaako. Civil Beat.

After state Rep. Tom Brower told reporters that he plans to pursue criminal charges against at least one of the two cousins who allegedly started the attack June 29, he agreed to speak to Rose Pu‘u at the same street corner of Ohe and Olomehani streets where the attack began. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Education and several contractors have been fined $1.45 million for violating solid-waste laws during the renovation of Radford High School’s track field last year. Star-Advertiser.

State Sen. Breene Harimoto (D, Pearl Harbor-Pearl City-Aiea) says he will undergo surgery soon after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A pay-as-you-throw bag-tag bill for garbage was trashed by the County Council Environmental Management Committee on Thursday, following public opposition. West Hawaii Today.

More than a week after going into effect, the new emergency rules restricting access on Mauna Kea, which protesters of the Thirty Meter Telescope say unfairly target them, have yet to be enforced. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is proposing to subdivide five 10-acre parcels in the Panaewa area of Hilo into approximately 80 half-acre lots for native Hawaiian beneficiaries who are on the wait list “and/or to existing lessees who need to relocate due to lava or other hazards.”  Big Island Video News.

There’s still plenty of room for students in the first classes to be held at Hawaii Community College — Palamanui, but those who want to register better hurry. Registration deadline is Aug. 1. West Hawaii Today.

With one deadline passed and a second looming, a nonprofit organization is a few hundred thousands dollars away from owning a 47-acre swath of sacred and historical grounds in Keauhou. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council Land Use Committee recommended first reading approval Wednesday of zoning changes for Ka Lima O Maui to move ahead with an eight-unit rental housing project in Wailuku for adults with disabilities. Maui News.

Aloha House has agreed to pay $45,000 to 19 employees in back wages, damages and penalties, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Maui News.

A pygmy sperm whale was found beached at Keawakapu in South Maui on Wednesday morning, July 22, 2015, according to representatives with the non-profit Ocean Defender Hawaiʻi group. Maui Now.

Kauai
After nearly 20 years of operating Puhi Sewer and Water Co., Kauai engineering firm Aqua Engineers purchased the wastewater treatment facility from Grove Farm Co. Inc. for an undisclosed price, officials from both firms said Thursday. Garden Island.

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment on proposed management actions aimed at preventing the local extinction of the Hawaiian petrel, also known as the ‘Ua’u, a federally endangered seabird that is endemic to Hawaii. Garden Island.

Kauai residents have three chances to catch a panel discussion about the dangers of Roundup weed killer featuring experts from the United Nations and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Garden Island.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Federal judge to rule on Maui GMO by month's end, Syngenta gives up 500 Kauai acres, state income tax refunds delayed, Honolulu committee passes more homeless bills, Hawaii Obamacare lays off staff, tax breaks to remove cesspools, Kona residents decry hospital cutbacks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Federal courthouse in Honolulu
A federal judge expects to decide by the end of the month whether Maui County's ordinance banning genetically modified crops is trumped by state and federal laws. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge said Monday that the key question before her in lawsuits related to a Maui County ban on the cultivation of genetically modified crops is whether federal and state law trump county law. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Susan Oki Mollway said she aims to rule on the issue by the end of the month. Associated Press.

Maui County residents who have been waiting for a moratorium on genetically engineered farming to go into effect may finally have an answer by the end of this month. Civil Beat.

The state's stepped-up efforts against tax cheats has resulted in delays of up to four months to issue legitimate refund checks this year, while also catching 8,585 suspicious tax returns. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Board of Education is expected to take action on two big — and possibly contentious — policies Tuesday. Proposed changes to the BOE’s sex education policy would make it mandatory for public schools to offer comprehensive and medically accurate sexual health education in certain grades. Civil Beat.

Twenty-nine temporary staff for the Hawaii Health Connector have received lay-off notices as the exchange winds down operations to move enrollment processes from the state-run online health insurance exchange to the federal government's online platform. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Health Connector began layoffs last week in preparation for closing operations by this time next year. Tribune-Herald.

In their battle to reduce the threat of cesspools contaminating groundwater and streams or leaking into the ocean, state officials have added a carrot and dispensed with the stick. West Hawaii Today.

CVS Pharmacy will take over all pharmacy operations in six Target stores statewide as a part of an estimated $1.9 billion deal made public on Monday. Pacific Business News.

First Hawaiian Bank has been named one of the top 200 healthiest banks in America and Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union and Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union made the top 200 healthiest credit unions in America list, according to DepositAccounts.com. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Four new measures aimed at making it harder for the homeless to sit or lie down on Oahu sidewalks moved out of a key Honolulu City Council committee Monday even as a new University of Hawaii study was released suggesting that such legislation has not encouraged people to move into emergency shelters. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council Zoning and Planning Committee advanced four measures to expand the Sit and Lie ordinance to other areas in Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new study shows the city policy of “compassionate disruption” and its accompanying sit-lie laws cause significant property and economic loss, physical and psychological harm and very likely violate certain constitutional rights. Hawaii Independent.

The city's plan to tear down the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium is being pushed back more than a year. Star-Advertiser.

Northwest Energy Innovations has deployed its wave energy device in waters off Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Windward Oahu, beginning a year-long test to commercialize this type of technology, the company said. Pacific Business News.

A long-stalled bill that would allow Oahu revelers to once again set off sparklers and fountains on New Year's Eve and Independence Day is back in play. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The leadership at Kona Community Hospital heard from West Hawaii residents Monday night on why the state’s hospital safety net system shouldn’t balance its budget on the backs of Hawaii Island’s underserved population. West Hawaii Today.

More than two years after state lawmakers set aside $2 million to install a traffic light near a charter school in Pahoa, residents say children are still facing unsafe road conditions because of an ongoing disagreement over whether the state should actually pay for the improvements. Civil Beat.

After six years of rising participation in the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, Hawaii County’s numbers are beginning to drop off. But state officials attribute the cause to changing federal regulations rather than decrease in need. Tribune-Herald.

The Office of Mauna Kea Management will host public open houses in Kona, Hilo and Waimea to gather community input on suggested administrative rules for the University of Hawaii’s managed lands on Mauna Kea. West Hawaii Today.

Lineal descendants of the region that now includes the 1,550-acre Hokulia development congregated near the gate to the luxury project on Monday, claiming the developers have failed to honor court orders for treatment of burial sites. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A free workshop on state enterprise zones, aimed at economic revitalization of designated areas, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon June 30 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Haynes Meeting Room. Maui News.

Kauai

Global seed giant Syngenta has relinquished more than 500 acres of land on the foothills above Waimea, reducing its footprint on the island by about 15 percent. The mauka lands were returned in April to the Agribusiness Development Corporation, reducing Syngenta’s monthly rent by about $4,800. Garden Island.

About 22.5 percent of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s net electricity sales during the 2014 calendar year were supplied by renewable energy resources and energy savings, according to a report supplied to Hawaii regulators. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

The Molokai Drive Inn will close its doors for good on Wednesday "due to the expiration of its lease and an unresolved dispute with its landlord," according to a post on the eatery's Facebook page last week. Maui News.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Honolulu rail bailout tax bills clear House and Senate, judge awaits Legislature on Maui GMO ban, Coco Palms wins Kauai development blessing, cesspool ban advances, Hawaii County audits lag, Obamacare bailout bill approved, marijuana dispensaries pass, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
Honolulu rail construction, courtesy HART
The two measures that would extend Oahu's rail tax cleared key hurdles Tuesday after state House and Senate members voted decisively to advance those bills out of their chambers and keep mulling the best way forward. Star-Advertiser.

The State Senate passed 345 bills today which will be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration in the next month.  But the longest debate among lawmakers was the measure to bail out Honolulu’s Rail Transit Project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hundreds of bills passed out of the House and Senate on Tuesday, ahead of a key deadline. The measures now cross over from the chamber in which they originated to the other side. Each chamber approved a measure to extend Honolulu's rail tax. Hawaii News Now.

Rail tax progresses through Senate. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige laid out his vision to wean Hawaii off fossil fuels Tuesday, listing the increased use of batteries with solar systems, the short-term use of liquefied natural gas and the reduction in incentives paid to solar owners as changes he'd like to see. Star-Advertiser.

Marijuana, vacation rentals, food security, energy, pesticides and extending the tax funding Honolulu’s rail project are just some of the issues state lawmakers are moving forward on this session. The House and Senate each passed hundreds of bills Tuesday, sending them from their originating chamber to the other chamber for its consideration. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is one step closer to having a system of medical marijuana dispensaries nearly 15 years after the drug was legalized in the state. The House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that would pave the way for at least 26 dispensaries that could open in every county. Associated Press.

Concerned that raw sewage is contaminating coastal waters and threatening drinking water supplies, lawmakers have advanced two bills that would ban new cesspools and provide tax credits to help homeowners who already have cesspools convert to other systems. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers may allow the state’s financially struggling health exchange to issue up to $28 million in bonds backed by the state. The Senate passed a bill that would pave the way for the bonds on Tuesday. Associated Press.

Lawmakers are considering bills to crack down on thousands of illegal vacation rentals that operate in Hawaii. Two bills were passed by the full House on Tuesday. House Bill 825 would crack down on the regulatory requirements, while House Bill 792 would address property crime associated with tourist areas. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Unexpected Flood of Info Before the Carleton Ching Hearing. Sen. Laura Thielen may have set a new standard for transparency when it comes to early release of information about gubernatorial nominees. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A planned affordable senior housing complex in Mililani Mauka that has been heralded as badly needed for Hawaii kupuna but opposed by many area residents broke ground Tuesday after about five years of struggle. Star-Advertiser.

Lawyers representing residents of the 364-unit Mayor Wright public housing project in Kalihi have announced a $350,000 settlement to compensate residents for living in decrepit conditions. Civil Beat.

A class-action lawsuit challenging the decrepit condition of the Mayor Wright Homes public housing project in Kalihi has reached a settlement that includes a $350,000 payment to compensate residents for years of unsafe and unsanitary living. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council members may soon get involved in an ongoing battle over parking on some Kakaako streets. On Wednesday, they will consider a proposal to form a group that would examine who has authority over area roads, including Queen, Cooke, Cummins, Waimanu and Kamakee Streets. KHON2.

A new hotel project in Waikiki is being planned by a Hawaii developer with ties to a partner on the Mainland, an executive with the Honolulu architecture firm that's part of the project confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A changing of the guard in the Legislative Auditor’s Office has left Hawaii County without a single internal audit being completed since 2011. But Auditor Bonnie Nims said she expects an audit report to be forthcoming within the next few months. West Hawaii Today.

The state House and Senate both passed identical measures Tuesday to lift a moratorium on new home insurance policies in lower Puna. The Hawaii Property Insurance Association put the moratorium in place in September in response to the June 27 lava flow, which remains active near Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

A new filing with the Public Utilities Commission could complicate the proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaii Electric Light Co. and its sister companies. Fledgling electric provider Paniolo Power Co. LLC, a subsidiary of Parker Ranch Inc., filed on Monday a motion to merge two of the most closely watched dockets before the PUC this year, including the purchase of the Hawaiian Electric Companies by Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc. Tribune-Herald.

A new Hilo sidewalk will help researchers study options for building infrastructure on the moon and Mars. The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems says Hawaii County will install three sidewalk slabs made out of "lunar concrete" volcanic basalt on Thursday. Associated Press.

When the Laaloa Avenue extension opened in late January, it represented a smooth and much-awaited connector between Alii Drive and Kuakini Highway. But like so many other shiny new — and steep — streets, it also presented an opportunity for speeding. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A federal judge is considering delaying proceedings in a lawsuit challenging Maui's ban on the cultivation of genetically modified organisms because of legislation that could affect the outcome of the case. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge may push back a decision about Maui County’s moratorium on genetically modified crops because of two bills pending in the Legislature. Civil Beat.

Mayor Alan Arakawa said Tuesday the state of Maui County is "strong" and touted his administration's work to upgrade roadways, park facilities and the county's computer system. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa delivered his 2015 State of the County Address tonight before a full house at the McCoy Studio Theater at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center saying “The state of Maui County is STRONG.” Maui Now.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa characterized the state of the County of Maui as “STRONG” in his 2015 State of the County Address, which he delivered on Mar. 10 at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center. Maui Time.

A bill that would allow the financially ailing Maui Memorial Medical Center to enter into a public-private partnership passed the state House on Tuesday and will head to the state Senate, keeping the measure alive this legislative session. Maui News.

A Maui Planning Commission decision Tuesday on the final height of a private landfill at the corner of Honoapiilani Highway and North Kihei Road means that the facility, which has been closed since Feb. 13, will reopen today. Maui News.

Kauai

After nearly two years of work and waiting, plans to rebuild and reconstruct the Coco Palms Resort in Wailua cleared one of the final hurdles Tuesday needed to set the $135 million project in motion. Garden Island.

The redevelopment of Kauai's Coco Palms Resort cleared a major hurdle on Tuesday, as the Kauai Planning Commission unanimously approved several permits for the project that aims to restore the iconic Garden Isle hotel to its former glory. Pacific Business News.

The Kauai Planning Commission has unanimously approved permits to renovate the shuttered Coco Palms Resort. Star-Advertiser.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

First Hanabusa-Schatz Senate debate of the season, Monsanto warns of job loss if GMO banned, 1st Congressional debate features five candidates, mom allowed to breastfeed in homeless shelter after outcry, Abercrombie opens Kulani prison, Kauai worker sues over ADA rules, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii U.S. Senate candidates 2014
Brian Schatz, Colleen Hanabusa
For Democratic rivals Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa, politics is all about relationships. Schatz says he’s been surprised at how many friends he’s made as a freshman U.S. senator. Hanabusa says her time in state government before getting to the U.S. House shows how she’s earned respect and confidence of peers. And Hawaii needs those relationships, both candidates said during their first debate Tuesday night on Kauai. Schatz and Hanabusa are vying to fill the final two years of deceased U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye’s term through 2016. Associated Press.

After circling each other for more than a year, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa met Tuesday evening in their first debate in the Demo­­cratic primary, a detailed dialogue on federal policy that revealed fissures between the Democrats on veterans affairs, early childhood education and genetically modified organisms. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Senate candidates Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa went toe-to-toe here Tuesday night in the first of five scheduled joint appearances. For all the talk of the intensity of the race, the Kauai forum was rather relaxed and less an exchange of differences than it was a contrast in styles and philosophies. Civil Beat.

Two Democrats walked into the Lihue Convention Hall on Tuesday and made their way to the front of the room, where a table on an elevated stage waited for them. By all accounts, both candidates, Senate Incumbent Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, came from humble family backgrounds and had distinguished track records in state and federal offices — accomplishments that either contender could attest to. But the difference between them, Hanabusa contended, "is in our values and our perspectives, and our perspectives are shaped by a lifetime of experience and hard work."Garden Island.

Five candidates for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District seat tried to distinguish themselves from each other on support for the tourism, military and construction industries at a forum at the Japa­nese Cultural Center of Hawaii on Tuesday night. Star-Advertiser.

Candidates hoping to represent Hawaii in the U.S. House are sharing their positions on military intervention, veterans care and improving Hawaii's economy. Five candidates running for the seat said in a Tuesday forum that they would not support military intervention in Iraq. Associated Press.

The U.S. Department of the Interior is holding meetings around Hawai’i, asking how the federal government should be involved in creating a Hawaiian nation. Should the interior secretary propose establishing a government to government relationship with Hawaiians and help set it up? Or should the DOI leave it to the state, with possible federal requirements?  Some who have been studying the issue say, neither. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Department of Education is looking to adopt a new model for social studies classes that goes beyond tests and textbooks and aims to teach students how to be problem solvers and active citizens in their communities. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A Honolulu homeless shelter won't take action against a mother who is refusing to cover up while breast-feeding or use a private room, its executive director said Tuesday. Associated Press.

The maze of Hawaii’s homeless services is such a mess that a state initiative to provide housing for 100 chronically homeless individuals stalled at 16. Homeless czar Colin Kippen, aided by members of Hawaii’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, essentially started from scratch last year to develop a new system for driving down the state’s homeless rate, which ranks second in the nation. Civil Beat.

Hawai'i has the second highest rate of homelessness in the nation, but the state has a plan to end what officials are calling an epidemic in a quick, strategic way by identifying what people’s needs are and matching them to resources that can help. Hawaii News Now.

Absentee ballot applications will be sent out to Windward Oahu voters who used to cast early walk-in ballots at Pali Golf Course. Citing money and manpower issues, the city decided not to operate an early walk-in voting site in Windward Oahu – a site that was used by nearly 5,000 voters. KITV4.

The Waikiki Landing, a controversial public-private partnership to develop a commercial and boating-services complex at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, has lost its major funder, leaving developers scrambling to find 11th-hour financing to meet contract obligations. Star-Advertiser.

Waipahu Public Library will temporarily close to replace its air-conditioning system, Hawaii State Public Library officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Halau Lokahi Public Charter School has a new lease on life after its governing board and director Laara Allbrett agreed to resign as required by a new contract with the state Charter School Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Tuesday morning he hopes to see Hawaii Island residents end the debate and embrace geothermal energy as an important resource for the state’s future energy needs. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie called the reopening of Kulani Correctional Facility “an opportunity to reclaim lives.” The 280-acre facility about 20 miles southeast of Hilo was closed in 2009 as a cost-cutting measure by former Gov. Linda Lingle. Until recently, the facility was used by the Hawaii National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy. Tribune-Herald.

Before Tuesday’s grand reopening of the Kulani Correctional Facility, Big Island legislators and community members gathered at the Hilo Yacht Club to witness Gov. Neil Abercrombie sign five new bills approved by legislators this session. Tribune-Herald.

An irritated Mayor Billy Kenoi took Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille to the mat Tuesday, publicly chastising her for questioning his bid solicitation for a waste reduction facility. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals has upheld a 3rd Circuit Court judge’s ruling that a Heeia Bay church property project was not exempt from some permitting regulations. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than 600 jobs and millions of tax dollars could be lost if a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically engineered organisms passes, two Maui County seed companies say. Associated Press.

Upward of 500 jobs and millions of tax dollars could be lost if a ballot initiative to place a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically engineered organisms either passes the Maui County Council or is ratified by voters in the Nov. 4 general election, officials of two Maui County seed companies said. Maui News.

Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told members of a Maui County Council committee reviewing a voter-initiated anti-genetically modified organism measure Tuesday that they have not heard of any health issues related to eating genetically engineered rainbow papaya, developed on the Big Island to combat a commercially devastating virus. Maui News.

During election years, the Kihei Community Association (KCA) serves as a forum where voters have the opportunity to meet candidates up close. At the Tuesday, June 17, meeting, state Sen. Roz Baker, state Rep. Kaniela Ing and Maui County Councilmember Don Couch spoke about their track records. Maui Weekly.

The Maui Department of Water Supply has updated its Water Meter Priority List for Upcountry Maui. The list, dated June 30, 2014, is 35 pages long and includes 1,852 requests dating back to Jan. 4, 1999. Maui Now.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa has filed a Draft Environmental Assessment for site improvements at their Kāʻanapali property in West Maui. Maui Now.

Saedene Ota, who officially becomes a University of Hawaii regent emeritus today, said Monday that her decision to resign a year early from her Maui County seat last week was to prevent disclosure of her latest financial statements currently on file with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. Maui News.

Kauai

Defiant and emotional testimony dominated yet another Department of Interior meeting Tuesday night as federal officials continued to gather opinions about whether the United States should pursue a formal relationship with a potential Native Hawaiian government. As it did the night before in Waimea, the meeting featured passionate testimony connected to the grievances that have festered in the Hawaiian community since the 1893 overthrow of the monarchy. Star-Advertiser.

Tuesday brought to a close a pair of public meetings on Kauai to discuss whether the U.S. Department of the Interior should re-establish a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians. Much like the meeting Monday in Waimea, the majority of those who spoke before press time at Kapaa Elementary School voiced similar opposition to the idea. Garden Island.

A former County of Kauai employee is suing the county for wrongful termination, claiming she lost her job for following state and federal rules. Christina Pilkington worked as Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the county from 1999 until June 30, 2012.  The suit, filed June 25, says she lost her job and was berated by Office of Mayor administration because she adhered to ADA guidelines that cost money to comply with. Garden Island.

An electric utility in Hawaii is experimenting with using lasers to protect migrating seabirds. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Tuesday it's attaching 30 lasers to transmission poles. The lasers will shine beams across six spans next to coffee fields. Hawaii News Now.

A mysterious substance is appearing at beaches across Hawaii.  It even caught state health officials by surprise. They say the brown substance seen on the shoreline on Kauai is a Trichodesmium algae bloom. KHON2.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Another Hawaii county limits GMOs, Japanese princess visits, Hannemann may run again, state hospital investigation, monk seal kills, housing upturn and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

tropical plant science GMO research
University of Hawaii plant geneticist James Brewbaker courtesy photo
First Kauai, then Hawaii Island and, next, Maui. A wave of dissent against pesticides and genetically modified (GMO) crops is overtaking the Hawaiian Islands. See articles under individual island headings below.

It's been rumored for months that Mufi Hannemann is considering a return to politics, either in a run for his old Honolulu City Council seat or the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by Colleen Hanabusa. Now the talk is that the former Honolulu mayor may have settled on Congress, a seat that he has sought unsuccessfully three times. Civil Beat.

A Japanese princess is visiting Hawaii for the next week. Princess Akiko is scheduled to watch storytellers tell Japanese and Hawaiian myths at the Hawaii Theater in Honolulu over the weekend. Associated Press.

From 2009 to 2012, humans are suspected of killing at least eight monk seals in the main Hawaiian islands. Rewards of tens of thousands of dollars have been offered and federal officials say they make serious efforts to investigate cases and bring offenders to justice. But do they? Civil Beat.

The feds are looking into workplace violence at the state’s hospital for the criminally insane after allegations of abuse of staff by patients recently surfaced. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating  the Hawaii State Hospital, hospital administrators have confirmed. Hawaii Reporter.

For the past six years, Macy's has run a campaign urging kids to write letters to Santa to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. While some schools on the mainland have joined in the effort by encouraging students to take part, that can't happen here, according to the State Ethics Commission. The commission issued an advisory Thursday, saying that the state ethics code prohibits state employees from using work time and state resources for non-state related business purposes, which generally includes supporting or promoting private charities. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

If all goes as planned, Mayor Kirk Caldwell's "Twitter town hall" on Dec. 9 will be backed by the largest response team for a microblog meeting that Hawaii has seen. Civil Beat.

Kewalo Basin small boat harbor has become a magnet for dining and retail development plans, attracting two bids in recent months for an Italian seafood restaurant and a wedding hall. Now a third proposal, which includes a food hall concept, has been floated. Star-Advertiser.

A ceremony will take place Friday at the Arizona Memorial Visitor Center to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the Dec. 7 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi’s decision to sign Bill 113 came as a relief and surprise to some while others contemplated what impact it might have on Big Island farming. Kenoi signed the bill banning open-air use and open-air testing of genetically modified crops, with some exemptions, Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi Thursday afternoon signed a bill designed to limit the future planting of genetically modified crops. Hawaii County is the second county in the state to restrict genetically modified crops. The Kauai County Council voted Nov. 16 to override a veto of a bill requiring large farms to disclose use of genetically modified crops. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Billy Kenoi signed Bill 113 into law on Thursday, prohibiting biotech companies from operating on the Big Island and banning farmers from growing any new genetically altered crops. The bill exempts the island’s GMO papaya industry. HuffPost Hawaii.

Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi has signed a bill restricting genetically modified crops. The mayor's office says he signed the bill Thursday. Associated Press.

An Ocean View swap meet must control its traffic if it wants to keep its special permit, the Windward Planning Commission said Thursday. In a unanimous vote, the commission gave the farmers market and swap meet, located at the intersection of Mamalahoa Highway and Prince Kuhio Boulevard, three conditions it must meet. West Hawaii Today.

All signs point to a continuing healthy housing market on the Big Island with positive numbers across the board, including double-digit percentage gains in the number of sales for single-family homes and condominiums last month when compared to the same month last year, according to data released Thursday by the Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

Maui

The fight over genetically engineered crops and pesticides is shifting to Maui. Councilwoman Elle Cochran plans to submit a bill to the Maui County Council on Friday requiring agricultural companies to disclose details about their pesticide use to the county, while farmers would have to report any genetically altered organisms they are growing.  Civil Beat.

A blessing was held on Thursday morning for the new Kīhei Police Station, which houses a detective bureau, a criminal investigation division, a training division, uniform services and executive offices. Maui Now.

Jeffrey Kuwada has retired as Maui County clerk, effective Sunday, and former County Council Chairman Danny Mateo is on deck to replace him. Maui News.

Kauai

Large agribusinesses on Kauai have started following a state Department of Agriculture voluntary program to disclose pesticide use and establish buffer zones for spraying. Companies are setting up meetings with officials of neighboring schools, medical facilities and residential properties to address concerns about pesticide use under the Kauai Agricultural Good Neighbor Program, which took effect Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai’s housing market saw some nice gains in the median sales prices of single-family homes and condominiums in November, including a 13 percent hike in the median price of a single-family home and a 2 percent increase in the median price of a condominium, when compared to the same month last year, according to statistics released on Thursday by the Hawaii Information Service. Pacific Business News.

It was a historic day at 5th Circuit Court on Thursday, with the first same-sex civil marriage ceremony to be held in the county, and the first double wedding officiated by Judge Kathleen Watanabe. Garden Island.

Molokai

As more Hawaii residents flock toward raising chickens in their backyards, some may not be aware of the state and federal health regulations for selling their eggs to the public. As part of a statewide tour by the Hawaii Departments of Health and Agriculture and the University of Hawaii, a dozen of Molokai’s backyard egg farmers familiarized themselves with these guidelines during an egg workshop last Tuesday. Molokia Dispatch.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Same-sex marriage advances in Hawaii, police boss under fire for anti-gay marriage remarks, audit again slams recycling program, Hawaii tax program millions in overruns, more GMO, $10 milk on Maui, Big Island council balks at diluting Sunshine Law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News
Honolulu gay rights rally file photo (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
Two state House committees sent a bill that would legalize gay marriage to the full chamber Tuesday night, ending a five-day public hearing that exposed deep divisions in Hawaii on an issue being considered across the United States. Members of the House Judiciary and Finance committees voted for the bill after hearing more than 55 hours of public testimony, leading to alterations in the measure. Associated Press.

The state House is preparing to take a critical procedural vote today on a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry but would expand a religious exemption. Several lawmakers are expected to push for amendments that would broaden the religious exemption even further, which, if successful, could put the House version of the bill in sharp conflict with the Senate's and possibly prolong the legislative special session. Star-Advertiser.

Same-sex marriage legislation finally cleared another major hurdle. Despite 55-plus hours of oral testimony, most of it weighted heavily in opposition, two Hawaii House committees passed Senate Bill 1 Tuesday by a comfortable margin. The Judiciary Committee passed the bill 8-5. The Finance Committee passed it 10-7. Civil Beat.

Today the joint House committees recommended to pass SB1 out of committee with amendments. The joint House committee hearing on SB1 (between the Judiciary and Finance committees) recommended to pass SB1 back to the full house today but with three amendments. Hawaii Independent.

A bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Hawaii has passed through a House joint committee. Senate Bill 1 passed through with three amendments: Adopts law consistent with Connecticut law. Remove sections on parental rights (§572-C) Effective date moved to Dec. 2, 2013. KHON2.

A Joint House Committee ended public testimony this afternoon on the marriage equality bill. Hawaii Public Radio.

A controversial same-sex marriage bill has passed a joint House committee and will advance to the House floor for a second reading and vote Wednesday morning. SB 1, the "Hawai'i Marriage Equality Act of 2013" passed 18 - 12 Tuesday afternoon. The biggest change in this amended version is the expanded exemption that will apply to both non-profit and for-profit religious organizations -- protecting them from fine or penalty if they refuse to perform a wedding ceremony for same-sex couples. Hawaii News Now.
SHOPO President Tenari Ma'afala
The head of Hawaii's police officers union said he is standing by his opposition to the same-sex marriage bill and other comments he made before a legislative committee Monday despite the charge by a gay Honolulu police officer who said the actions cast a shadow over the Police Department's integrity when dealing with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Star-Advertiser.

A gay Honolulu police officer is asking Chief Louis Kealoha to distance the department from comments made by police union president Tenari Maafala. On Monday, Maafala, an HPD officer and president of the State of Hawaii Police Officers Union, told Hawaii legislators he would never enforce such same-sex marriage legislation should it become law. Civil Beat.

"You would have to kill me." Any way you slice it, it's a dramatic, provocative statement. So it's easy to see why those six words — spoken by police union President Tenari Maafala during marathon hearings on same-sex marriage — resonated with Civil Beat.

Holding his bible, SHOPO President Tenari Ma'afala testifies against SB1, the same-sex marriage bill.  He told lawmakers this bill will turn him, a law abiding citizen, into a law breaker. While many in the crowd threw up shakas in support, members of the gay community listened in shock.   Including another Honolulu Police Officer, Corporal John Zeuzheim.  Hawaii News Now.

The contractor responsible for the troubled Hawaii Health Connector website is the same company the state hired 14 years ago to build a tax collection system that state officials say has never worked properly. Canadian-based CGI Group Inc. was paid $87.5 million between 1999 and 2011 to modernize the Hawaii Department of Taxation's collection system. Because of flaws in the system CGI built, the state is preparing to spend at least another $32 million to redo the project, Tax Department officials said. Star-Advertiser.

The state's Deposit Beverage Container Program has been around for a decade, but a new report claims the program is broken. KHON2.

Long-standing problems with the state's beverage container recycling program continue to result in overpayments of millions of taxpayer dollars, exposing the operation to abuse and possible fraud and undermining its financial viability, according to a new state audit. Star-Advertiser.

A new administrator is poised to take over the embattled State Historic Preservation Division. The news comes four months after the division's previous head stepped down, following repeated criticisms by federal officials of how the division was run. Alan Downer will join the agency Dec. 2. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has released a request for qualifications for a contractor to represent Hawaii in the Latin America market in an effort to boost tourism from the area to Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for November 6. Associated Press.

Oahu

HECO warns solar companies about unapproved PV systems. KITV.

An attorney representing many Kahuku Village V residents has launched a new salvo in a fight to keep his clients from being evicted from their rental homes -- a 233-page lawsuit filed in state court Monday. Star-Advertiser.

A pedestrian spotted a live 2 1/2-foot-long boa constrictor on a Nuuanu Avenue sidewalk Tuesday morning. The nonvenomous rainbow boa constrictor was seen on the sidewalk in front of the Kukui Plaza condominium at about 7 a.m., captured and turned over to police, the state Agriculture Department said. Star-Advertiser.

Sometime before the end of 2013, Bank of Hawaii will distribute the last $5.6 million in assets of the George Galbraith Trust to more than 1,300 current heirs. That final distribution will terminate both the trust and the bank’s own role as trustee, just over 109 years after Mr. Galbraith’s death. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council will not support attempts by other counties to weaken the state Sunshine Law. The council Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development voted 8-0 Tuesday to reject a proposal from Maui County, a move that removes it from a package of initiatives the Hawaii State Association of Counties will present to the Legislature for the regular 2014 session that starts in January. West Hawaii Today.

University of Hawaii officials want to extend the leases that authorize telescope usage on Mauna Kea by another half century. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council recessed its meeting on Bill 113, limiting GMO, on Tuesday evening after receiving over four hours of public testimony. Supporters of the bill exceeded opponents by more than 4-1. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Buying locally produced milk in upcountry Maui is likely going to cost a bit more than buyers may be used to. Photos courtesy of MAUIWatch show a gallon of Haleakala Dairy milk at the Safeway store in Wailuku costing $10.19. Hawaii News Now.

While the presence of sharks is seldom enough to deter Maui's most avid watermen and -women, some say they are taking more precautions before entering the water in light of recent attacks. Maui News.

A waterline break reported at around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, will result in a water outage along a portion of Baldwin Avenue in Pāʻia until around 9 p.m., water officials announced. Maui Now.

Kauai

The state Senate approved $7.3 million in emergency funding Tuesday to sustain two rural Kauai hospitals through spring. The Senate passed House Bill 3, unamended, to help keep the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. Kauai regional health care system afloat. Sen. Sam Slom (R, Diamond Head-Kahala-Hawaii Kai) was the lone opponent of the bill. Star-Advertiser.

Emergency funding for Kauai’s public hospitals appears to be on its way. The Hawaii State Senate Tuesday passed House Bill 3 that will provide $7.3 million in emergency funds to the Kauai Regional Health Care System of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation. Garden Island.

Proponents of Bill 2491, restricting GMO and pesticides, are saying Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. added insult to injury last week by vetoing the bill and releasing the County Attorney Office’s legal opinion on the matter. Garden Island.

The stage is almost set for deciding the future of Bill 2491, restricting pesticides and GMOs on the island. Four of the council members, including Jay Furfaro, Tim Bynum, JoAnn Yukimura and Gary Hooser, said their initial vote to approve the measure is not likely to change.Garden Island.