Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Friday, December 16, 2022

Plane crashes off Maui, Kauai have rescuers scrambling, farm families sue Parker Ranch over 2021 wildfire, tourism expected to soften, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Hawaii luau ©2022 All Hawaii News
Hawaii tourism could soften with mainland pullback.  Hawaii should see nearly 9.7 million visitors in 2023 but also some cooling in the state’s biggest economic driver,  according to a report from the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii among healthiest states, new survey reports
. Hawaii and Connecticut tied for fourth place in the United Health Foundation’s annual ranking of states for their overall health, behind Vermont at No. 3, Massachusetts at No. 2 and New Hampshire at No. 1. Star-Advertiser.

As hospitals fill up, other health services falter. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii said hospitals are averaging more than 24 hundred patients a day, which is 400 more than the average before the pandemic.  KHON2. KITV4.

Wespac Will Have To Pay Back More Than $800K Of Mishandled Federal Money. NOAA says its review revealed the council’s “pattern of failure to comply,” and that it could withhold future funding if the money isn’t paid back. In recent years, the primary source of funding has come from Hawaii’s longline fishermen through deals that let them fish for several thousand tons of additional tuna beyond their quota limits. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Prison Medical Records System Has Reached A Point of ‘Absolute Crisis’. The continued failure of the electronic system has complicated efforts to provide inmates with the latest Covid-19 booster shot. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Teacher Violated Ethics By Accepting $16,600 From School Volunteer. The Moanalua Elementary teacher has to pay back the funds and may face further disciplinary action. Civil Beat.

Jiro Sumada returns to Honolulu's planning department as deputy director.
  Sumada previously held the position between 2010 and 2013. For a brief time, he also served as the department's acting director.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Health clinic for military families affected by Red Hill fuel spill to open in January. The Defense Health Agency Region Indo-Pacific announced Thursday that a Red Hill health clinic is set to open in January. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Stadium authority says they can pull off redevelopment plan. Not everyone agrees. Now that Gov. Josh Green has OK’d the redevelopment of Aloha Stadium and the 70 acres around it, Stadium Authority leaders are defending the project and their ability to control costs. Hawaii News Now.

Arizona prison that houses Hawaii inmates could influence design of long-stalled Oahu jail. A private prison in the middle of the Arizona desert could offer some design solutions for the state ― should a new jail be built on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Diamond Head Theatre ready to hit the stage. Construction is complete at the new Diamond Head Theatre and is almost ready to be used as they gather the finishing touches. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Parker Ranch sued over farmland wildfire. Fourteen Hawaiian homesteaders filed a lawsuit Thursday against Parker Ranch Inc. and its contractor seeking damages, which include $40 million just to replace topsoil on 500 acres of pastureland damaged by the massive 2021 Waimea fire — said to be the largest wildfire in state history. Star-Advertiser. West Hawaii Today. Hawaii News Now.

Lawsuit alleges bad behavior by Hilo police.  Christopher Kagawa, who co-owned Infinity Concrete Pumping in Hilo for more than a decade,  is suing the Hawaii Police Department and two of its officers, claiming he was wrongly arrested, his civil rights were violated, one of his firearms was stolen after a search of his home, and police tampered with his cellphone. Tribune-Herald.

Is hiring process for Hawaiʻi Police Chief transparent if 40 applicants remain anonymous? The Hawai‘i County Police Commission Chair John Bertsch said transparency was paramount in the process to hire the next police chief. But while four finalists for the position are being interviewed at public meetings, it is unlikely the public will ever know the identities of the other 40 applicants. Big Island Now.

Law enforcement increases security on Mauna Loa, Mitigation route closed: Response to Mauna Loa eruption cost county nearly $400K.  Between Nov. 27, when the eruption began, and Tuesday, various county departments including the Hawaii Police Department, Hawaii County Civil Defense and the county Department of Public Works spent approximately $392,000 responding to the eruption. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2 Big Island Now. Big Island Video News.

Sand removal set for Bayfront Highway. Work will begin next week to remove a large berm of sand on the makai side of Bayfront Highway in Hilo. The highway and sections of Kamehameha Avenue were closed in late November due to high wind and surf, which deposited sand and other debris on the road. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Coast Guard search underway for medical transport plane that crashed off Maui. The incident happened just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Officials said three crew members were onboard. There was no patient in the aircraft. Hawaii News Now.

Committee launches OpenGov Maui FY23 budget website. The website was created to showcase Maui County’s financial plan for the fiscal year, which started July 1, 2022 and runs through June 30, 2023.  Maui Now.

Maui Voters Created New Community Water Authorities. Here’s What Happens Next. Maui County residents can apply to serve on the board that will run the new East Maui Community Water Authority. Civil Beat.

Maui County’s unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in November 2022. Maui County’s unemployment rate for November rose to 4.3%, which was up .4% in October and higher than the statewide unemployment rate of 4% and the US rate of 3.4%, according to the Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Maui Now.

Kauai

2 hurt in Lihue plane crash; commercial flights not affected.  Two people were seriously injured around noon Thursday when a single- engine Beechcraft BE77 crashed just after takeoff from Lihue Airport. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island. Kauai Now.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Wailuā Homesteads bridge repairs complete. Temporary repairs to Yasutake Bridge, located on Kamalu Road in Wailuā on the East Side of Kaua‘i, have been completed. Kauai Now.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Lucky we live (long) in Hawaii, state pension fund stays strong, Honolulu could raise parking fees, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2022 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii hula festival ©2022 All Hawaii News
Hawaii had the highest life expectancy at birth in the nation, CDCs mortality report says. Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Hawaii had the highest life expectancy at birth of 80.7 years, as well as the highest life expectancy for men (77.6 years) and women (83.8 years), according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics’ annual report on mortality in the U.S. released Tuesday.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

State pension fund overcomes hurdles to secure fiscal-year gain. In a fiscal year fraught with geopolitical unrest, supply-chain issues, rising inflation and a bearish stock market, the state’s largest public pension fund capitalized on its risk-averse strategy to finish in positive territory. Star-Advertiser.

An ‘Explosive’ Report On The Former State Auditor Describes An Office In Turmoil. It took more than six years, a lawsuit and two appeals to the Hawaii Supreme Court to force the AG’s office to release results of the investigation. Former Acting State Auditor Jan Yamane ran an office that had deteriorated into an “offensive work environment” characterized by low morale and favoritism, and the office produced “sensationalized” audit reports for the Legislature and the public, according to a lengthy 2016 investigation by the state Attorney General. Civil Beat.

What Comes Next For US Rep. Kai Kahele? Hawaii Congressman Kai Kahele’s loss in the governor’s race is a major blow — possibly fatal — to a once promising political career that began only six years ago with the death of his father, Gilbert. Civil Beat.

Hawaii gubernatorial candidate challenges primary election results. Gary Cordery filed a complaint Monday with the Hawaii Supreme Court that raises questions about fairness and asks that all candidates be advanced to the Nov. 8 general election. Star-Advertiser.

After end of Roe v. Wade, broad coalition seeks to expand abortion access in Hawaii. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v Wade in June sent decisions about abortion rights to the states. While abortion is legal in Hawaii, doctors say the decision exposed gaps in care. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

City considering increasing Oahu parking costs. The cost of city public parking could be increasing in an effort to incentivize using other forms of transportation besides cars, as well as recover lost revenue. Annually, revenue from city on-street and off-street parking comes out to just $6.7 million, paling in comparison to the $11.4 million it costs the city to operate it. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council authorizes lawsuit against owner of 'FCKBLM' license plates. After the offensive plates were brought to the department's attention last year, the city and county admitted they were never supposed to have been approved in the first place, since profane combinations are automatically rejected. KITV4.

Dining out in Honolulu? If you don’t ask for water, you might not get it. The city is reminding restaurants that water must be provided only if patrons request it. That’s because there is a 10% voluntary water conservation order in place, which has been in effect since March due to drought conditions. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Community Development Plan action committees put on hold: Administration says insufficient staffing available for the citizen advisory panels. The announcement by Planning Director Zendo Kern comes more than a year after administrators told the County Council that it would hold off filling vacancies in the six Community Development Plan action committees for three to six months in order to take a hard look at how the boards can best be used. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Agencies Criticize A Big Island Military Training Site Amid Push for Lease Renewal. Two Hawaii state agencies have submitted blistering comments regarding the future of the Pohakuloa military training area on the Big Island. Civil Beat.

Hilo housing project gets favorable EA. The Kaiaulu O Kapiolani Housing Development is a proposed complex to be built near the intersection of Kukuau Street and Kapiolani Avenue that would offer units to households earning 60% or less of the area’s median income. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

‘A huge learning experience’. Kohala business ordered to pay over $60K in back wages, damages. A U.S. Department of Labor investigation has recovered $28,455 in unpaid overtime wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages from a Hawi nursery and landscaping company after finding the business failed to pay overtime wages to 37 employees over three years. West Hawaii Today.

Maui


Maui Power Outage Shutters 14 Schools. Power restored to 65,000 on Maui; caused by high-voltage short circuit in Māʻalaea. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Several West Maui routes canceled due to school bus driver shortage. DOE offering refunds, alternate transportation for impacted students. Due to a recent loss of school bus drivers, eight bus routes serving Lahaina schools were suspended as of Monday, the state Department of Education confirmed. Maui News.

Senate confirms Annalisa M. Bernard Lee to the District Court of the 2nd Circuit on Maui. The Hawaiʻi State Senate voted today to confirm Annalisa M. Bernard Lee to a position in the District Court of the Second Circuit, which encompasses Maui County. Her term of office will be for six years.  Maui Now.

Kauai

New owners, continued opposition to Kaua‘i Coco Palms development. A year after the remains of the famed Coco Palms Hotel was purchased at auction for $22 million, a legal challenge has been filed contesting the developer’s permits. Garden Island.


Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Hawaii happiest state, hula reduces heart attack risk, Caldwell mulls gubernatorial bid, Mauna Kea astronomers selling off equipment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii senior hula dancer ©2019 All Hawaii News
Study finds hula can ‘significantly’ reduce risk for heart disease. Results of a five-year study with more than 260 Native Hawaiian participants found that hula “significantly” reduced a patient’s risk for heart disease. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Named Happiest State in the Nation. WalletHub compared the states across 31 key indicators of happiness to determine where Americans had the highest satisfaction with life.  Maui Now.

Respecting culture among topics of HTA’s new ‘Kuleana Campaign’ for visitors. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is rolling out a new campaign targeted at educating visitors to the islands. They’re calling it the ‘Kuleana Campaign.’ They’ve created special videos to teach tourists cultural etiquette. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Tourism Authority releases visitor safety videos. From drownings to hiking tragedies, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has become involved in making sure visitors are more aware of Hawaii’s hidden dangers. KHON2.

Hawaii’s need for doctors continues to fall behind a growing demand. Hawaii’s supply of doctors is the lowest since 2015 as aging physicians retire and younger ones move to the mainland for better-paying jobs. Star-Advertiser.

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Gabbard says she’s closer to the debate stage, despite national reports to the contrary. National reports to the contrary, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard says she secured her third qualifying poll on Sunday, leaving her one poll short of making October’s Democratic presidential primary debate. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Caldwell: ‘I’m seriously looking at running for governor’. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says he’s “seriously looking at running for governor” in the next election come 2022. Hawaii News Now.

Sea Turtles For Swordfish? Feds May Lift Cap On Endangered Species. Wespac has proposed easing federal regulations on the incidental entangling of loggerhead turtles by commercial longliners. Endangered turtles are at the center of a dispute between fishing regulators and environmentalists over how many turtles are too many to lose each year to fishermen on the hunt for swordfish in the waters off Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Boat Harbor Fee Hikes to Help Delayed Maintenance. Fees for Hawaiʻiʻs small boat harbors and boating facilities will increase soon, a press release from the Department of Land and Natural Resources announced. Maui Now.

Increased boat harbor, commercial use permit fees go into effect Nov. 1. Big Island boaters will be doling out more green come November when increased fees for small boat harbor users and commercial operators on state waters go into effect. West Hawaii Today.

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Kim’s Maunakea plan could be delivered to Gov. Ige this week. Mayor Harry Kim on Monday said he believes that no police escalation will occur until his role as a mediator between the state and the Hawaiian community has been completed. Tribune-Herald.

TMT Protesters Who Flocked To Mauna Kea For A Showdown Are Still Waiting. Protest leaders say the alarm bells went off when many sources consistently reported that a move to clear the road to the summit would happen this week. Civil Beat.

After a night filled with anxiety over a possible law enforcement action – and a few false alarms – the hundreds gathered in opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea greeted the sunrise on Monday morning. Big Island Video News.

Rumors of Mauna Kea sweeps run rampant on social media, causing worry for some. An overnight false alarm and social media rumors over the weekend sparked all hands on deck of an estimated 1,000-plus people at Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

Social media fueling concerns atop Mauna Kea. KITV.

If TMT goes, billions of research dollars could go with it. The man in charge of research and innovation at the University of Hawaii says there’s more at stake in the Thirty Meter Telescope impasse than the loss of an important astronomy outpost. Star-Advertiser.

Tour companies trying to hang on. Maunakea tour companies are restructuring and selling off equipment as the closure of the access road and inability to conduct stargazing tours stretches into the ninth week. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell traveling to Atlanta for Smart City Expo. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is traveling to Atlanta, Georgia tonight to represent Honolulu at Smart City Expo Atlanta – a leading national conference focused on urban technology and innovation. He is scheduled to return to O‘ahu on Saturday, Sept. 14. KHON2.

Will Hawaii Electric Customers Ever Save Money With Renewable Energy?. A regulatory scheme designed to create savings for consumers is unfolding even as Hawaiian Electric proposes a rate increase for Oahu. Civil Beat.

New lab safety software implemented at UH Manoa following 2016 explosion. More than 3 years after a lab explosion at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the school’s department of Environmental Health and Safety Office implemented a new laboratory safety software platform called the “UH Safety Solutions," or UHSS. Hawaii News Now.

Nursery on Sand Island experiments with coral to speed up the healing of reefs. n Oahu’s Sand Island a small team of coral specialists and technicians has been working for years to restore the slow-growing coral reefs in Hawaii that are being subjected to increasingly frequent bleaching events. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island


Land secured, Ka'u nonprofit looking to build big time skate park. A Ka‘u community is coming together in a grassroots effort to bring a multi-purpose recreational center to their region. West Hawaii Today.

Company Introduces QR Codes for Kona Coffee. The Kona Coffee brand has been a point of contention and market confusion for decades. Big Island Now.

Maui

Maui Electric to Lower Electric Vehicle Charging Rates. The Maui Electric Company is taking over four electric vehicle charging stations throughout Maui. Maui Now.

Eight Citations Issued at Maui Convoy; Aloha Aina Observance Planned in October. Maui police issued a total of eight traffic citations during a Mauna Convoy at Kahului Airport on Monday afternoon. Maui Now.


Kauai

Council to address ‘pension spiking’. A bill for an act for possible inclusion in the 2020 Hawaii State Association of Counties Legislative Package, proposed by councilmembers Mason Chock and Council Vice Chair Ross Kagawa, is attempting to address pension reform. Garden Island.

Restoring trust and the watershed. There’s a need to establish trust between hunters and gatherers on Kauai and the state that manages the forests upon which they rely to feed their families. Garden Island.

Kauai Superintendent Bill Arakaki has announced his retirement. Garden Island.

Lanai

As tensions over TMT run high, plan to build small observatory in Lanai faces scrutiny. Residents gathered Monday for an informational meeting about the Manale Observatory project. Pulama Lanai wants to build the facility on the grounds of the Four Seasons Resort Lanai. Hawaii News Now.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

AG Chin preparing for congressional race, Hawaii slips to second healthiest state, worker's comp fails workers, mayors pledge to ban fossil fuels in vehicles, Honolulu cop hits pedestrian, basalt fiber plant planned, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

file photo, courtesy
Attorney General Doug Chin with U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, file courtesy photo
State attorney general eyes Congress. State Attorney General Douglas Chin is laying the groundwork for his first political campaign, which will be a run for the U.S. House seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, sources said. Star-Advertiser.

Civil Beat Poll: Support Is Still Strong For Medical Aid In Dying. Proponents of the legislation outnumber opponents by a 3-to-1 ratio. Civil Beat.

Hawaii slips to second healthiest state in the nation in annual report. After five consecutive years in the No. 1 spot, the Aloha State has fallen to second place behind Massachusetts, according to the America’s Health Rankings 2017 report by the United Health Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is no longer the nation's 'healthiest state'. Hawaii News Now.

Recent Court Decisions Beneficial For Injured Workers. The Hawaii Supreme Court made two rulings in 2015 in favor of workers who had been denied treatment for their injuries. Civil Beat.

Part 2 of an ongoing series about Hawaii’s workers’ compensation system. Hawaii’s workers’ comp system developed over more than a century, allows insurance companies to pay doctors of their choosing to examine injured workers. Civil Beat.

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Using the worldwide-traveling Hokulea docked at Pokai Bay as inspiration, leaders from all four major counties Tuesday signed pledges to eliminate the use of fossil-fuel-powered ground transportation vehicles by 2045. Star-Advertiser.

The leaders of Hawaii’s four counties have pledged to eliminate all fossil fuels from ground transportation by 2045. Pacific Business News.

Mayors pledge 100% ground transportation powered by renewable energy by 2045. KITV.

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New Ag Department Pesticides Manager Appointed. Hawaii Entomologist John McHugh, Ph.D., has been appointed as the new program manager of the Pesticides Branch of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Big Island Now.

Cannabis Cardholders Increase, But They Aren’t Flocking To Dispensaries. A by-the-numbers look at the medical marijuana landscape now that dispensaries have opened on Oahu and Maui. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Medical Assurance Association, which provided the majority of the health services rendered to Island Air employees in November, said Tuesday it will absorb the more than $137,000 in costs incurred during the month even though the now-bankrupt airline did not pay its premiums for the month. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu


A state effort to partner with a private developer to overhaul several sites in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor has prompted community skepticism from those who fear redevelopment could leave them with a soaring tower on prime public land intended for recreation. Star-Advertiser.

Political candidate with history of incendiary remarks sparks new controversy. Hawaii News Now.

Homeless return to popular bike path despite major cleanups. After two large-scale cleanups along a popular bike path in Aiea, homeless campers are starting to return. KHON2.

HPD vehicle strikes pedestrian during morning rush. KITV.

Products made by Hawaii inmates will be featured in the Hawaii Correctional Industries Holiday Showcase Sale. KHON2.

Worst erosion in years on Sunset Beach forces tough decisions. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Officials still making rounds urging vigilance for N.Korean attack. It’s an emergency message no one wants to hear: “The U.S. Pacific Command has detected a missile threat to Hawaii. A missile may impact on land or sea within minutes. This is not a drill”. West Hawaii Today.

Isle lava could be source of high-tech building materials. A state research organization wants to know if turning volcanic rock dust on Hawaii island into a versatile, high-strength building material can become a new local industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii aerospace center seeks proposals for basalt fiber manufacturing feasibility study. Pacific Business News.

Back out to bid for Waimea Highway project. About a month after Hawaii County scrapped a bid solicitation for the Mamalahoa Highway widening project amid concerns about fairness, the county is once again soliciting bids for the work. West Hawaii Today.

Mobile spay, neuter clinic down the road for HIHS. The Hawaii Island Humane Society is raising money to purchase a vehicle for a mobile spay and neuter clinic. Tribune-Herald.

Police, HDOA say parasites may be playing role in Ka'u cattle deaths. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Sand Mining Moratorium Resolution to Resurface in Council. A resolution recommending a moratorium on sand mining in Central Maui surfaces again for first reading at the council’s next meeting on Dec. 15 after the item was deferred earlier this month. Maui Now.

No support found for lifeguard tower move. Testimony calls for the funding of new tower at popular tourist beach. Maui News.

The median price of a single-family home on Maui increased by more than 8 percent last month, compared to last year, even as the number of sales dropped 21 percent, while condominiums recorded increases in sales and prices for November, according to the monthly report by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

KIUC plans changes to Wailua River diversions. Water is going to be returned to the North Fork of the Wailua River, at the Blue Hole and Waikoko diversions. Garden Island.

Hokua Place may face fight. Members of the community are expected to show up in force at a county meeting today in opposition to a development that would be located behind Kapaa Middle School. Garden Island.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Hawaii preps for North Korea missile, more Honolulu homeless sweeps planned, Land Use Commission rejects Maui development, rules mulled after condo fire, Tropical Storm Fernanada no longer threat, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Air Force
Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile, U.S. Air Force
The state of Hawaii is rolling out a preparedness plan in the unlikely event that North Korea launches an intercontinental ballistic missile at the Aloha State. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is kicking off an educational campaign aimed at helping residents and visitors figure out what to do if the state is the target of a nuclear missile attack from North Korea. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Plan Prepped for N Korea Missile Threat. Maui Now.

Hawaii is beginning an education campaign to prepare islanders for what to do in the event of a North Korean missile attack. CNBC.

In the wake of North Korea's ongoing nuclear tests, Hawaii will begin rolling out an educational campaign on Friday hoping to teach residents and visitors what to do should a missile launch from the reclusive country reaches the island’s shores. NBC.

The Trump administration will ban American citizens from traveling to North Korea, U.S. officials said Friday. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has nearly twice the amount of campaign cash as his colleague from Hawaii, Sen. Mazie Hirono. And yet, Schatz’s name won’t be on the ballot again until 2022, while Hirono’s first six-year term is up next year. Civil Beat.

Hawaii consistently ranks among the healthiest states, but a federal survey found Native Hawaiians are in unusually bad health. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped in June to 2.7 percent, from 3.1 percent during the same month a year ago, the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii employers added 1,200 jobs in June, but the unemployment rate remained stuck at 2.7 percent for the fourth month in a row, according to data released Thursday by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Star-Advertiser.

A summer of resistance is the overarching theme to protest the Trump and Pence Administration in Hawaii. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tropical Storm Fernanda is slowly weakening as it moves further west, but it will still have some weather impacts to the Hawaiian islands over the weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Billy Beane, the Oakland A’s executive who was the inspiration behind the best-selling book and Oscar-­nominated film “Moneyball,” will give the opening-day keynote at the 2017 Global Tourism Summit. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii tourism officials have tapped Billy Beane, whose statistical methodology inspired the best-selling book and Oscar-nominated film "Moneyball," to deliver the opening keynote address at the 2017 Global Tourism Summit in September. Pacific Business News.

Oahu


The state Department of Transportation will use $4 million in funding to bolster homeless sweeps — using sheriff’s deputies as early as Monday in a new approach to keeping encampments dismantled as it begins clearing parts of Nimitz Highway and the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

An agreement reached with the Navy will allow the city to enforce its sidewalk laws — and thus clear the homeless — along the scenic Pearl Harbor bike path from Aiea to Pearl City, starting the second week of August. Star-Advertiser.

After years of complaints, the massive homeless encampment that spans the Pearl Harbor Bike Path will soon be torn down. Hawaii News Now.

A Honolulu City Council committee will consider a resolution Tuesday asking the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to ban alcohol and disorderly behavior at holiday “floatillas” off Waikiki Beach, as the state has done for similar events on the Kaneohe Bay sandbar. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu city councilwoman is concerned about the the cost of added regulations in the wake of the deadly Marco Polo fire. Hawaii News Now.

The panic, stress, and heroism on the day of Honolulu’s biggest fire in decades is revealed in hours of Marco Polo fire incident logs Always Investigating has obtained. KHON2.

Location is key. A pool is a plus, as are views and new appliances. But whether a condominium has a fire sprinkler system suddenly has become a top-of-mind issue in Honolulu’s real estate market. Star-Advertiser.

Insurance May Not Be Enough For Some Marco Polo Condo Owners. Civil Beat.

Clean up still underway at the Marco Polo high rise following Friday's fire. Island Insurance companies shedding light on its claims Thursday. KITV.

A state judge has dismissed felony marijuana possession charges against a former Waiawa Correctional Facility prison guard and her husband because the prosecutor took too long to take the case to trial. Star-Advertiser.

Some summer session students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have been living in a dorm without hot water for two weeks. KHON2.

Sears Holding Corp. is closing its last Kmart store on Oahu, which will leave the retailer with just two Kmart locations in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday approved UH-Hilo Chancellor Don Straney’s reassignment to a new position within UH leadership. Tribune-Herald.

A Marine officer was critically wounded after being shot during night live-fire training this month at Pohakuloa Training Area, officials said. Tribune-Herald.

An ambulance was brazenly stolen from the emergency room entrance of Hilo Medical Center on Thursday afternoon. Tribune-Herald.

The search for Peter Boy: A 20-year murder mystery, a family that never gave up. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

State Land Use Commission members rejected by a 6-0 vote Thursday a final environmental impact statement for the Piilani Promenade project, but the panel’s action didn’t necessarily put an end to the development proposed for 75 acres in north Kihei. Maui News.

Iao Valley State Monument, which has been closed since September due to record flooding in the valley, will remain off limits to the public a bit longer, until early August, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Wednesday afternoon. Maui News.

The public is advised of a water quality exceedance of enterococci at Honolua Bay, Maui. Maui Now.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has approved new lease agreements to build two outpatient clinics in Hawaii, on Maui and Kauai. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Education and conservation are priorities for those who study Kauai’s coral reefs, and they’re hoping a recent $715,000 federal grant awarded to the state will amp up both. Garden Island.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) announced Monday that Hawaii will receive over $2 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance airport operations and runway safety at the Lihue, Kahului and Molokai airports. As part of the grant funding, Lihue Airport will receive $1,057,500. Garden Island.

On Thursday afternoon, Edward Myers, Anthony Chavez Jr., Kinsey Gregory, Kevin Kamakahi, Alexander Lacson Jr. and David Phillips, from the 88th Police Recruit Class, were sworn in as the newest officers of the Kauai Police Department. Garden Island.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Hawaii is healthiest state, health exchange faces $2.5M shortfall, lobbyist laws lacking, Honolulu police chief to be questioned after mistrial, waste-to-energy incinerator delayed, Molokai fishermen attack Oahu boat, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii kupuna hula © 2014 All Hawaii News
Hawaii is the healthiest state in the country, claiming the top spot for two years straight in America's Health Rankings, released annually by United Health Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

In a place where sunshine and the outdoor lifestyle have long been treasured, it’s no surprise that Hawaii once again comes out on top of the rankings for the healthiest state. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Health Connector's top executive confirmed that the state's online health insurance exchange currently faces a $2.5 million budget shortfall during the fiscal year that ends in June 2015. Pacific Business News.

CGI Group Inc., the embattled information technology vendor for the Hawaii Health Connector, will continue its contract with the state's health insurance exchange for at least another year. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra: Efficiency, Expertise and a Penchant for Getting What it Want. The company looking to buy Hawaii's electric utilities will likely seek to own and operate sustainable energy projects, experts say. But that will require the approval of state regulators. Civil Beat.

Robert K. Lindsey Jr. of Hawaii island was unanimously selected chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Tuesday, and he didn't waste any time responding to criticism leveled at the agency by a former member. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay resigned Tuesday after a two-year tenure marked by failed efforts to stop the university’s athletic department from losing money. Associated Press.

Aniruddha Sherbow, 44, was sentenced Monday to 33 months in federal prison after threatening to “beat” and “decapitate” U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii.Hawaii Reporter.

Opinion: The Problem With Lobbyists — and Their Regulators. The state's lobbyist law still falls short of providing accountability and transparency. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Embattled Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha should face tough questions next week from the people who control the fate of his job. If he doesn’t, state lawmakers are poised to rewrite the rules to ensure there’s more accountability for him and his department. Civil Beat.

Officials with the Honolulu Marathon say security will again be increased for the race that has already attracted nearly 30,000 entrants. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A planned waste-to-energy incinerator for Hawaii County is almost five months behind schedule, after the three finalists for the project asked for more time to complete their proposals. West Hawaii Today.

An intersection that has been a thorn in the side for South Kona drivers is showing signs of the transformation to come. West Hawaii Today.

‘It’s been a long time coming’; Hilo High’s new gym open for competition Tribune-Herald.

The June 27 lava flow advanced another 225 yards as of Tuesday morning but it wasn’t clear yet which path of steepest descent it might favor. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Makila Land Co. is seeking to develop 11 agricultural lots on 214 acres north of 186 acres of oceanfront at Launiupoko that the landowner sold to Maui County for $13 million earlier this year. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission unanimously approved Tuesday a special management area permit for the Cove Beach Village project, a 32-unit apartment complex located on an acre along Kanani Road in Kihei. Maui News.

The Federal District Court in Hawai’i will decide if the Maui County ballot initiative on Genetically Engineered Crops is legal. In his ongoing series, Hawaii Public Radio’s Wayne Yoshioka asked Maui residents on both sides what actions can be taken to resolve this issue.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. has nominated two-year Kauai resident Allan Parachini for the county Charter Review Commission. Garden Island.

A Hanalei man fined by the county for running a non-permitted bed and breakfast pleaded no contest to the criminal charges Tuesday in 5th Circuit Court. Ed Ben-Dor, 63, received a second fine for illegally operating a single family transient vacation rental outside of a visitor destination area. Garden Island.

Kauai residents and visitors may have to wait a little longer before they can see the Hokulei Village shopping center in Lihue come to fruition. Garden Island.

Molokai

A growing dispute between Oahu and Molokai fishermen leads to arrests and indictments. Four Molokai men are out on bail Tuesday night accused of boarding a Honolulu boat and attacking everyone on board. Hawaii News Now.

Friends of a Molokai fisherman are scrapping plans for a memorial service now that he was rescued after being missing at sea for nearly two weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Lucky we live Hawaii, the healthiest state. Molasses spill killed coral, Hawaii Obamacare premiums disclosed, Molokai may buy electric utility, rail evictions loom, Honolulu faces $2.5M fine in affordable housing deal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Kupuna hula (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
Hawaii is the healthiest state in the nation, while Mississippi brings up the rear, according to the 2013 America's Health Rankings released today. The 50th state has consistently ranked near the top in the long-running index issued by United Health Foundation, which provides a comprehensive look at the well-being of each state. Hawaii placed second last year and third the year before. Star-Advertiser.

Ranked in the top five healthiest states for the past decade, Hawai`i this year rose to the top spot in a survey conducted by the United Health Foundation. The rankings in the “America’s Health Rankings: A Call to Action for Individuals & Their Communities” released today analyzes states based on data relating to behaviors, community and environment, health policies and clinical care. Big Island Now.

The state Insurance Division released a health insurance rate comparison sheet Tuesday to make it easier for consumers to compare plans under President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. The Obamacare plans range from a monthly premium of $72.40 for a Bronze-level option (60 percent of medical expenses covered by the insurer, 40 percent out of pocket) for an individual under 21 years old to an $871.26 Platinum policy (90 percent covered, 10 percent out of pocket) for a 64-year-old. Star-Advertiser.

Unity, empowerment and self-governance were again themes of this year's State of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs address, with special attention paid to the importance of preparing a new generation of Native Hawaiian leaders. Star-Advertiser.

Holiday giving seems to be off this year, according to charities that rely on seasonal donations. It might not have to do with people being any less charitable, but rather with the fact that there are fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. In addition, donations may have been spread thin because of the Typhoon Haiyan relief effort. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for December 11. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Matson molasses disaster killed more than a thousand colonies of coral, Hawaii News Now has learned. The September spill's damage to the Honolulu Harbor's coral system extended beyond the waterway, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The company that agreed to buy 12 city-owned housing projects warned Tuesday that Honolulu likely will have to forfeit at least $2.5 million in damages for jeopardizing the deal's financing. The "notice of default" from Honolulu Affordable Housing Partners LLC claims the City Council's proposal to rescind the sale contract has already undermined the company's financing for the $143 million deal. Star-Advertiser.

Waimanu Street businesses preparing to be evicted for rail. Transit authority gives eviction notice: Summer 2014. KITV.

The incoming operator of the Hawai‘i Convention Center has hired a former Outrigger executive to be its new general manager. Teri Orton, former vice president of condominium resort marketing for Outrigger Enterprises Group, will be the first woman to serve as general manager since the center opened in 1998. Orton will begin Dec. 18. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Departments of Education and Health are conducting an investigation to determine what caused several Waipahu Elementary students to become ill today shortly after lunch. About 40 students were identified as being sick with symptoms that may indicate food poisoning starting at about 1:15 p.m. Hawaii News Now.

New school bus contracts are about to be signed, worth more than $100 million on Oahu over the next five years. But we wanted to know if the safety measures we were told about a few weeks ago are included and we were surprised to find out most are not. In a recent investigation, KHON2 confronted the Department of Education about school bus safety and discipline policies when things go wrong onboard.

The Honolulu Marathon is big business in Hawaii, but it owes much of its financial clout to another Pacific island chain. Japanese visitors often make up the largest share of participants in the race, and have ever since the late 1980s when the number of entrants from Japan first surpassed 50 percent. Civil Beat.

A former traffic signs supervisor with the city was indicted Tuesday on a felony theft charge. Honolulu Police say Patrick Costa stole more than $45,000 by getting paid for hours he didn't work. Hawaii News Now.

Ko‘olau Loa neighborhood board votes in favor of Envision Lā‘ie. Amid continued opposition from residents outside the Lā‘ie and Mormon communities, the board voted 6-4 to support the major development plan. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Biofuel Industry on Big Island Fails to Follow Through on Big Plans. Five years ago, state land on the Big Island experienced the biofuel equivalent of a gold rush. Today, not one biofuel company has obtained a lease of state land under the 2002 law. Civil Beat.

Volunteers wage war against invasive albizia. Tribune-Herald.

Apartment owners at the Country Club condominium are suing the Banyan Drive property’s leaseholders and management, alleging a decades-long scheme to improperly use apartment owners’ common area maintenance fees to finance the building’s hotel operation and pay its state transient accommodations taxes. Tribune-Herald.

The state wants to block the sale of the Naniloa Volcanoes Hotel to a new operator as part of a bankruptcy reorganization involving the hotel on state land in Hilo.the state Department of Land and Natural Resources objected to the sale and said it intends to appeal to U.S. District Court, claiming that assigning the land lease to the new buyer requires state consent under state law. Star-Advertiser.

The buyer of the Naniloa Volcanoes Resort said he has finished transferring money for the $5.2 million purchase to escrow. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Developers are reviving a plan for a Central Maui housing development that would include 450 multifamily units, retail and office space, and a 15-acre park. The Puunani subdivision would be built west of the Kehalani master-planned community south of Wailuku. Star-Advertiser.

Developers have revived and revised a plan for 208 acres just below Wailuku Heights that proposes about 450 multifamily units, 25,000 square feet of commercial retail and office space, and a 15-acre park. Maui News.

Some Maui County Council members were still optimistic Monday about the full council taking a vote on a deal to purchase 186 acres in Launiupoko for $13 million for a coastline parkway in West Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

It has been nearly 25 years since the county approved a Princeville Development Corporation plan to expand the Princeville Center and required that the project also include nearby employee housing. Garden Island.

Lanai

The island of Lāna’i was named to Lonely Planet’s Top US Destinations list, rounding out the top ten. Maui Now.

Molokai

Residents on Molokai may follow in the footsteps of Kauai and buy their island’s electric utility, including its power grid, which could be entirely powered by alternative energy sources. The push for energy autonomy is an outgrowth of frustration with Hawaiian Electric Co. that was repeatedly on display during protests against the Big Wind project over the last four years. It also highlights a deep independent streak on Molokai. Civil Beat.

Amid recent concerns over proposed renewable energy project Ikehu Molokai, I Aloha Molokai has cancelled its third annual Renewable Energy Festival that was scheduled for January. The nonprofit feared the event would act as a showcase for Ikehu, falsely implying IAM’s endorsement of the project. While IAM leaders say they feel the project has potential for Molokai, they are not ready to support it based on what they consider to be a lack of public input. Molokai Dispatch.


Friday, August 2, 2013

Hula good for your health, Abercrombie staff donates to campaign, federal court won't consider judge letter in rail lawsuit, Obama names Punahou classmate ambassador, Maui Ritz-Carlton timeshare going hotel, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2013 All Hawaii News
Hawaii hula (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
Learning hula can lower blood pressure for people with persistent hypertension and help rehabilitate patients after heart attacks or cardiac surgery, according to research presented Thursday at the American Psychological Association's convention at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated a former classmate from Punahou School as an ambassador of the United States to the Office of the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. Star-Advertiser.

Since taking office to fanfare in the United States and in India, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s Hindu faith hasn’t been a prominent part of her national image. Civil Beat.

Three dozen employees of the Abercrombie administration, including a lot of cabinet directors and their deputies, have donated money to their boss's re-election. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hotel rates climbed 10 percent higher across the Islands last week in comparison to the same week last year, while occupancy changes were mixed, according to the latest report from Hospitality Advisors LLC and Smith Travel Research. Pacific Business News.

National Weather Service officials in Hawaii say preliminary data shows the center of Tropical Storm Flossie never hit land when it passed through the state this week. Associated Press.

State roundup for August 2. Associated Press.

Oahu

As a pivotal hearing on the city's planned rail project approaches, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced Thursday that it won't consider a recent, eyebrow-raising letter from federal judges in Hawaii critical of the project. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is addressing two hot button hiking trails Lanikai Pillbox and Maunawili Falls in windward Oahu. Residents living at the foot of both trails have complained about excessive crowds, illegal parking, vandalism and safety concerns. KHON2.

Some well-meaning and creative additions to the graves of loved ones at the orderly Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery are resulting in some undignified disorder at the final resting place for 10,411 veterans and dependents. Star-Advertiser.

A McDonald’s security guard testified Thursday that Kollin Elderts bullied and irritated a customer before the confrontation that escalated to State Department special agent Christopher Deedy fatally shooting Elderts at the Waikiki fast-food restaurant. Star-Advertiser.

Here are two indisputable facts: Kollin Elderts is dead. Christopher Deedy shot him. But whether Deedy, a U.S. State Department special agent, gets convicted of murder is a question that largely centers on Hawaii’s self-defense law. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Changing requirements by Medicare and insurance companies are putting burdens on hospitals to prove the care they provide is high quality, North Hawaii Community Hospital Board Chairman Bob Momsen said Thursday evening. West Hawaii Today.

The University of Hawaii at Hilo moved a step closer Thursday to a rezoning that would make it easier to erect housing and commercial facilities on 312 acres that includes the campus and surrounding land, despite concerns over the county surrendering a future connector road slated to run through the campus. West Hawaii Today.

The Windward Planning Commission voted in support of a new commercial development proposed for Pahoa on Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Just a week before he was scheduled for spinal fusion surgery, Baraka Kanaan was ordered off of an airplane on his hands and knees. The Maui native, partially paralyzed from a 2000 car accident is suing Delta Air Lines aftr it refused to provide him with a lift and other wheelchair accommodations, even after he arranged for those services ahead of time. Hawaii News Now.

A 50-room hotel will replace unsold time-share units at Maui’s former Ritz-Carlton time-share and condominium resort in Kapalua under a plan by the property’s new owner and management firm. Star-Advertiser.

Hana Ranch Partners’ proposed sale of thousands of acres of Hana Ranch land on Maui to Bio-Logical Capital for some $35 million is in serious doubts after a lawsuit was filed by one of the owners against his partners to stop the sale from closing. Pacific Business News.

A court hearing has been postponed until September on a motion to judicially dissolve the embattled nonprofit Wailuku Main Street Association Inc./Tri-Isle Main Street Resource Center. Maui News.

If anyone has suffered storm-related damage from Tropical Depression Flossie, they are asked to report it to the Maui County Civil Defense Agency to ensure the county has complete information on damage. Maui News.

A contract dispute between DISH Network and Raycom Media has led to the loss of CBS and NBC channels for DISH customers in Hawaii, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Kauai

Bill 2491, the GMO bill, goes to the council’s Economic Development Committee Monday, when council members will begin working on the bill, discussing flaws and strengths, and potentially propose amendments. Garden Island.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that it will invest $5 million in a Kauai-based biofuels energy project. Hawaii BioEnergy, established in 2006 by three of the state’s largest landowners, will use the funding to develop and test a cost-effective photosynthetic open-pond system to produce algal oil at its research facility near Lihue, according to a DOE release. Garden Island.


Thursday, June 13, 2013

Hawaii to announce $300M energy plan, Navy stops Ford Island solar plan, syphilis outbreak in Kona, Microsoft opens Honolulu store, Maui gets auditor, police officers sued, coral reefs, tropical fish in jeopardy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

city lights of Honolulu
Honolulu night skyline (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
A $300 million plan to be unveiled today to more than double the energy efficiency in state and Honolulu County buildings could add 5,000 new jobs to Hawaii's economy by 2015 and bolster efforts to meet aggressive clean-energy goals. The state planned to make a commitment to more energy efficiency at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting in Chicago hosted by former President Bill Clinton. Star-Advertiser.

Over the last couple of months, Neil Abercrombie has played Santa Claus, sans the red hat and coat. The Hawaii governor has been releasing tens of millions of dollars for capitol improvement projects across the state. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono are among 13 senators calling for an investigation into the legality of recently uncovered National Security Agency surveillance programs that collect data on millions of Americans. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
A new five-year Oahu energy plan released by Hawaiian Electric Co. on Wednesday calls for reducing costs to consumers and increasing the utility's use of renewable energy. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a proposed condominium tower at the site of the YMCA of Honolulu on Atkinson Drive that would rise 350 feet, or more than double the current height limit. Star-Advertiser.

The Navy has stepped away from a controversial plan — at least for now — to blanket the historic Ford Island runway in photovoltaic panels, a new environmental assessment reveals. Star-Advertiser.

A lawsuit has stopped the city and county of Honolulu from auctioning off a piece of public parkland on the North Shore. Last year, a group of North Shore citizens formed the Save Hale’iwa Beach Park Coalition to fight a city plan to sell 3.5 acres of city-owned land near Haleiwa Beach Park. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools has shelved its plan to develop a shopping center anchored by a Foodland supermarket on preservation-zoned land in Hawaii Kai, City Councilman Stanley Chang said. Star-Advertiser.

A private association of National Guard members plans to hold its annual conference in Honolulu this year even though some at the Pentagon have questioned the wisdom of meeting in a vacation destination. Associated Press.

Microsoft will open its first store in Hawaii today at 11 a.m. at Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers have been raising red flags over a proposed high-rise housing project on Waimanu Street in Kakaako. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
The Hawaii County Council last week authorized Corporation Counsel to represent five police officers facing a federal lawsuit on claims of excessive force during a 2010 arrest. West Hawaii Today.

The discovery of five syphilis cases in the past five months in West Hawaii — more than the past five years on Hawaii Island combined — has the state Department of Health warning the public to take precautions in their sexual activities. West Hawaii Today.

An East Hawaii resident is suing Hawaii County over a shoreline setback for homes at Pepeekeo Point. Tribune-Herald.

A recent Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources study of reef fish at Puako and Pauoa shows a “drastic decline” in the populations of both bays, a marine biologist says. West Hawaii Today.

Following the removal of Dennis Simonis as president, CEO and director of Royal Hawaiian Orchards LP, Hawaii’s largest macadamia nut producer is focusing on working closely with other growers and farmers in the state and reviving the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association to ensure the industry has a strong future in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Tropic Care 2013 was a massive, joint military training exercise that brought free health, vision and dental care to Big Island, Lanai, Molokai and Maui residents. On Hawaii Island, this Innovative Readiness Training Program targeted those living in Ka‘u and Ocean View — rural, largely underserved and geographically isolated communities. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui Council’s Budget and Finance Committee unanimously recommended Lance Taguchi as its selection to the newly created county auditor position. Maui Now.

A Maui organization is getting more than $300,000 in federal money to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday announced $9 million in grants to seven organizations through the National Farmworkers Jobs Program. Associated Press.

More than 65 years after the end of World War II, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill last week that will establish a "Civil Liberties and the Constitution Day" to recognize more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans who were put in internment camps during the war. Among those interned was the late Rev. Masao Arine of Maui, who was a detainee at the Haiku Detention Center. Maui News.

Three varieties of tree snails and 37 species of herbs, shrubs, trees and ferns in Maui County have been added to the Endangered Species list. Maui News.
 
Kauai

Two studies intended to promote production and consumption of local foods and products were updated for the Kauai County Council on Wednesday. The message was that locally produced and processed foods feed more than just people; they also feed the economy. Backing this up, local cattle ranchers and producers of value-added products came to the council chambers in support of a meat processing facility and a commercial kitchen and agri-business incubator. Garden Island.

Red rice coral hit by blue-green algae off Kauai’s North Shore has responded well to a treatment involving marine epoxy, according to state and federal scientists, but they’re still trying to find out what is causing skin problems in nearby Hawaiian puffer fish. Associated Press.

The Hoouluwehi Sustainable Living Institute was at the heart of the 2013 Second Nature Prestigious Climate Leadership Award presented to Kauai Community College. Garden Island.