UH donations rise 65%, black market weed still buyers' choice, hospitals work toward price transparency, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

©2022 All Hawaii News

Donations to University of Hawaii rise 65% to record $165 million. Donations to the University of Hawaii rocketed to a record of nearly $165 million in the latest fiscal year, with UH officials saying the 65% increase over the year before was spurred by a strong economy, improved strategy and the community’s growing confidence in the state’s public university system. Star-Advertiser.

2022 Elections: There’s A Bumper Crop Of Republicans This Year. Facing a perpetually dominant Democratic force, the party managed to more than double its number of candidates this cycle compared to recent years, in large part thanks to state chair Lynn Finnegan’s efforts to make candidate recruitment a key focus for the Hawaii Republican Party. Civil Beat.

Hawaii union set spending record on political campaign that didn’t work. New primary election spending reports show the Carpenter’s Union PAC broke all records trying to keep Sylvia Luke from the lieutenant governor’s office, including ads many called a smear. Hawaii News Now.

Supreme Court ruling could allow violent offenders to go free. More fallout Friday over a state Supreme Court ruling that dismissed a high-profile murder case. Dozens of other violent felony cases are expected to also be thrown out, with suspects likely freed. Prosecutors are calling for the Legislature to immediately address the issue, and lawmakers are looking at their options. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Hawaii achieves record aquaculture sales with room to grow. The 2021 sales total represents a 20% increase over the $66.6 million in sales for 2020, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii bankruptcies rise as streak of falling cases ends. For the first time in 16 months, statewide bankruptcies increased from the year-earlier period as filings jumped 21.8% in August. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii-Made Aloha Wear Is A Surprising — And Lucrative — Cottage Industry. But as Hawaii’s garment workers age and retire, young aloha shirt and apparel makers must scramble to keep production in the islands. Civil Beat.

Black Market Weed Is Still The Buyer’s Choice Over Legal Marijuana In Hawaii. A new state report estimates only about 20% of the marijuana sold in Hawaii last year came from local marijuana dispensaries, and blames “market structure and regulation” for driving consumers to buy from illegal growers and sellers. Civil Beat.

Hawaii hospitals move toward price transparency. A report released in August by PatientRightsAdvocate.org, which advocates for health care price transparency, concluded that a year and a half after the law went into effect, none of the 10 hospitals in Hawaii that it evaluated were fully compliant. Star-Advertiser.

Former employee says Department of Education hasn’t done enough to protect against threats. It was frightening enough for then-state Department of Education Communications Director Lindsay Chambers to be the target of one school parent’s repeated furious calls and voicemails to the DOE, including some that contained intimidating, vulgar and racist language, and that indicated Chambers and her husband were being surveilled. Star-Advertiser.

Group releases guide on abortion rights, services in Hawaii. The Hawaii Abortion Collective has released the state’s first comprehensive resource guide for information on abortion rights and services. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Police Raises Approved by Honolulu City Council. The raises will cost Honolulu taxpayers $136.7 million over the three years, according to the resolution approved by the council, but State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers says the increased wages are long overdue. Civil Beat.

Federal Judge Denies Katherine Kealoha’s Request For Bail. Imprisoned former Honolulu deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha appeared in court Friday as part of her bid to overturn her corruption conviction. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Seabright denied a request for bail but delayed decisions on her appeal and a challenge to an assistant U.S. attorney who prosecuted her case. Civil Beat.

The ‘FCKBLM’ License Plate Holder Says Honolulu Is Violating His Free Speech Rights. Edward Odquina has filed a lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu for revoking a license plate officials issued and later decided was offensive. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Parched: Some Parts of Big Island Broke Records For Lowest August Rainfall Totals. Rainfall totals for last month recorded by rain gauges on the island were mostly below average, with many at less than 50% of average, according to the monthly precipitation summary prepared by Kevin Kodama, senior service hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Honolulu. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Fire Department to get new medical helicopter thanks to donation via Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation. The air ambulance, expected to arrive sometime in the spring, will replace the 30-year-old Chopper 2 based out of the South Kohala Fire Station. Hawaii County’s other helicopter, Chopper 1, which is not outfitted for medical transport, is housed at the Waiakea Fire Station in East Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission report details issues found during an August 25th tour of the "egregiously overcrowded" facility. A September 2 report by the Hawaiʻi Correctional System Oversight Commission – released outside of its regular meeting “due to serious and immediate concern involving the safety of those who work and live at Hawaiʻi Community Correctional Center” – provides details on the observations made by Oversight Coordinator Christin Johnson and Commissioner Ted Sakai during a tour of HCCC on August 25th. Big Island Video News.

BLNR nixes possible sale of former Country Club Condominium Hotel. The state will not sell the former Country Club Condominium Hotel to a new owner, even as it seeks a new tenant for the property. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Newly inaugurated telescope is already in high demand. The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is the world’s most powerful solar telescope and has produced many firsts, such as the first images of the sun’s chromosphere, the area of the sun’s atmosphere above the surface. Maui News.

New unit to track crime hotspots, streamline prosecution of cases. A new Crime Strategies Unit in the prosecutor’s office will use data to track crime hotspots and trends, then identify the offenders driving the activity, in an attempt to reduce crime in the community. Maui News.

‘A big mess’: Frustration grows as school bus driver shortage impacts students, parents on Maui. A recent loss of school bus drivers leads several routes in Lahaina being cut — eight routes to be exact. Hawaii News Now.

Maui May Crack Down On Haleakala Bike Tours That Crowd Narrow Roads Down The Mountain. If the council decides to make it a law, commercial bike tours down the iconic volcano would be banished from some Kula roadways. Civil Beat.

Maui Nui Ahupuaʻa signage project installs first Kula Uka sign in the Moku ʻO Kula. Since the summer of 2019, Maui Nui Ahupua‘a Project’s project coordinator/designer Vernon Kalanikau has been working with the Upcountry community to gather moʻolelo (stories, legend, history) to help design signs representing each of the 17 ahupua‘a in Kula Uka in the Upcountry area in the Moku ʻO Kula. Maui Now.

Kauai

Still no long-term damage in revised West Kaua‘i Energy Project environmental assessment. The latest draft of the West Kaua‘i Energy Project environmental assessment says that the project would have no significant negative environmental impact. Garden Island.

Most Kauaʻi Gauges Receive Near or Above Average Rainfall Totals in August. August also is normally the peak month for tropical cyclone activity in the central North Pacific basin, but there were no tropical cyclones the entire month. Kauai Now.

Governor tours Maui jail, signs Kilauea lava relief bill; homeless shelters don't meet specs; pay raises for Honolulu officials, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Elderly hula dancer n Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers boost funding for senior services. State lawmakers Tuesday approved a package of bills that earmark about $10 million during the next two years for services and staff to support seniors. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature Approves Spending Millions For Elderly Care. Funding for kupuna care programs were some of the outstanding big ticket items that weren’t included in the state’s operating budget in March. Civil Beat.

8 homeless shelters don’t meet new standards, but will be funded anyway. The state has had to throw out the results of its latest bids from homeless shelter providers after eight of 34 homeless shelters failed to meet new quality standards. Hawaii News Now.

DOE Lays Out A 10-year ‘Road Map’ For Fixing Old Schools, Building New Ones. A long-range DOE facilities plan has identified $7 billion in “top priority” capitol needs, from adding more classrooms to repairing aging schools. Civil Beat.

State seeks ‘safe harbor’ for financial institutions that do business with medical marijuana dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

Minimum Wage Increase Could Help Over 200,000 Workers, Report Says. The Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice analyzed the demographics of workers who could be impacted by an increase. Civil Beat.

Ozawa-Waters Race Highlights Flaws in Hawaii's Voting System. Problems counting mail-in ballots and an extremely small margin created chaos in the 2018 Honolulu City Council election between Tommy Waters and Trevor Ozawa. Several bills at the legislature aim to correct those problems. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Rep. Ed Case Raised 99% Of Campaign Money From PACs. The congressman raised nearly $78,000 during the first quarter of 2019. Only $425 came from individual donors. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Why, Tulsi, Why? Her fans cried, “Run, Tulsi, Run.” But now the Hawaii congresswoman’s presidential campaign is sputtering and the big question is why is she staying in the race? Civil Beat.

Statewide solar electric permits in Hawaii decline in Q1. Oahu and the Big Island experienced year-over-year first quarter decreases in the number of solar photovoltaic installation permits while Kauai and Maui had slight increases, according to data compiled by Marco Mangelsdorf, president of Big Island-based ProVision Solar. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Honolulu Salary Commission Approves Pay Raises For Top City Officials. Barring any action by the City Council, most of Honolulu's top officials will get a 3.5% pay raise this year. Hawaii Public Radio.

A bill designed to give owners of apartment-size lots enough incentive to develop affordable rentals is up for a key vote before the Honolulu City Council today. Star-Advertiser.

City Council to vote on a long-awaited Waikiki park project. A vacant lot will become a gated green area in Waikiki with the approval of what would become Centennial Park in a vote today before the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers Agree to Emergency Funds For Pali Highway. The $7 million approved by lawmakers Tuesday is less than half of the $15 million requested by the Senate in March. Civil Beat.

State regulators push to relocate Red Hill fuel tanks as Navy studies potential new sites. The Navy pumps fuel from its Red Hill tanks to its piers at Pearl Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

New sit-lie enforcers proposed. The homeless population in Chinatown has grown by about 30 percent, according to the chairwoman of the area's neighborhood board. KHON2.

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A Division of Fish and Wildlife employee and two representatives of the nonprofit Pacific Rim Conservation survive helicopter crash near Sacred Falls. A pilot and three passengers walked away from a helicopter that lost power and crashed Tuesday morning in a gully in a remote section of Sacred Falls State Park in Hauula. Star-Advertiser.

4 escape injury after chopper crash on Oahu’s North Shore. Four people miraculously escaped injury Tuesday morning after a state-contracted helicopter crashed in Sacred Falls Valley on Oahu’s North Shore. Hawaii News Now.

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Matson’s bigger cranes for bigger cargo ships arrive in Honolulu. Hawaii’s dominant ocean cargo transportation firm Tuesday began what is expected to be a more than two-month process of installing three bigger and more powerful gantry cranes at its container handling facility at the state’s busiest harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Matson unloads three cranes to advance modernization push. Matson Inc. set a new milestone in Honolulu Harbor as three new 65 long-ton capacity gantry cranes, the biggest ship-to-shore container cranes sent to a commercial Hawaii harbor, were delivered. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Governor Signs Volcanic Disaster Relief Bill For Hawaii County. The new law, now to be known as Act 9, appropriates $60 million for disaster recovery in the wake of the Kilauea volcanic eruption. Big Island Video News.

Council seeks proof that taxpayer money’s well-spent. A full 38% of the county’s proposed 2019-20 budget is eaten up by employee pensions, retirement, health insurance and payment on old debt, eroding the ability of the County Council and administration to pay for new services and initiatives. West Hawaii Today.

County preparing to address parking lot behind Agasa Furniture that has become a homeless camp. A small lot of land located between Ponahawai and Mamo streets has, during the past several months, gone from a vacant parking lot to a fenced-off collection of tents and makeshift structures. Tribune-Herald.

NHCH nurses, Queen’s in contract talks. As negotiations continue for a new contract between The Queen’s Health Systems and the nurses of North Hawaii Community Hospital, the president of the Hawaii Nurses Association says there are still some issues that need resolving, even as management is preparing to come back with its final offer. West Hawaii Today.

Lead Found In Hu Honua Discharge, Sierra Club Says. Cory Harden of the Sierra Club's Moku Loa group informed the Hawaii County Game Management Advisory Commission of their findings on Monday. Big Island Video News.

Experts say market should be stable and slow, which is good news. Matthew Gardner, Windermere Real Estate chief economist, delivered his forecast Monday during the inaugural Hawaii Island Economic Summit, hosted by Windermere C&H Properties, at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Officials tour Maui jail. Five weeks after an inmate revolt at the Maui Community Correctional Center caused $5.3 million in damage, state and county officials toured the Wailuku facility Tuesday to check on repairs and security updates while promising to address overcrowding issues they blame for the unrest. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Jail Riot Repairs Estimated to Cost $5.3 M. Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda, Governor David Ige, and United Public Workers Union’s State Director Dayton Nakanelua all traveled to Maui today to join Maui Mayor Michael Victorino in surveying the latest repairs and security updates underway at the Maui Community Correctional Center. Maui Now.

Gov. Ige tours MCCC for a first-hand look at damage following riots, escapes. A month after an inmate uprising at the Maui Community Correctional Center, Gov. David Ige toured the facility for an update on repairs. Hawaii News Now.

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Mayor Michael Victorino announced today his selection of Steve Welling as deputy director of the Department of Public Works. Maui Now.

Maui retail vacancies hit record high in 2018. Report shows that new, existing retailers moving to new malls. Maui News.

Kauai

Old school produce. Rotary members built two wheelchair accessible raised garden beds at Kauai Care Center, and now residents are harvesting produce for their dinner table. Garden Island.

Kauai 'alert and warning' siren testing Wednesday 8am-5pm. It's just a test, a part of Hawaii's statewide "alert & warning system"  used to notify the public during pending emergencies. KITV.

Hawaii infrastructure worst in nation, Maui water rights stir controversy, DOE ups teacher requirements, Kakakaako homeless moved from park to sidewalks, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Saddle Road construction work © 2017 All Hawaii News

Shoddy and unsafe conditions plaguing the state’s roads, bridges and dams helped earn Hawaii the dubious distinction of having the worst infrastructure in the country, according to a new report. Star-Advertiser.

As boats and other debris from continue to wash up on Hawaii's shores after the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, it's bringing some unexpected visitors. According to a study in "Science Magazine," nearly 70 different species made its way to the islands. KITV.

Hawaii farmers raising plants for landscaping had a good year in 2016 and led the state’s flower and plant nursery industry in a sales rebound, according to a new report. Star-Advertiser.

In an effort to staff classrooms with more qualified teachers, the Hawaii Department of Education will include only certified instructors when it reports the number of teacher positions filled to the state Board of Education at the start of each school year. Civil Beat.

Two pottery pieces labeled “Atomic Ware” were delivered to Japan last week. The unique artifacts were found during a garage sale in Hawaii Kai. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

State sweeps homeless from Kakaako parks. State sheriffs were stationed at entry points at Kakaako Waterfront Park early today after the state closed the park indefinitely for safety reasons. Star-Advertiser.

Within 12 hours of Kakaako Waterfront park closing indefinitely, the sidewalks surrounding the nearby Children's Discovery Center were overrun with tents. Hawaii News Now.

Three parks in Kakaako are now closed indefinitely for major maintenance and improvements: Kakaako Waterfront, Gateway, and Kewalo Basin parks. KHON2.

Commentary: Give Us Back Our Parks. Gov. David Ige says he hopes to create a new sheriff’s division to consistently enforce trespass laws while helping link people to social services. Civil Beat.

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Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday that Police Commission Chairman Max Sword should recuse himself from deciding who will be Honolulu’s next police chief. Star-Advertiser.

A new proposal before the Honolulu City Council would offer a tax break to ocean-friendly restaurants using compostable takeout containers. KHON2.

New Airport Shuttle Service Won’t Deliver On Promises, Suit Claims. Robert’s of Hawaii submitted a winning proposal calling for a fleet of new buses and islandwide service. Civil Beat.

City facing a shortage of lifeguards for pools. Honolulu is looking for more part-time, contract lifeguards to fill various hours at its 21 pools throughout Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s second marijuana dispensary, Noa Botanicals, will open Wednesday at the former Krazy Karaoke building at 1308 Young St. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based Noa Botanicals will begin selling medical marijuana products on Wednesday after being cleared by the Hawaii State Department of Health. Pacific Business News.

Seminars touting vacation rentals draw protests. A flyer advertising three 90-minute seminars called “Make Money With Airbnb” recently went out to thousands of Oahu homes. Run by Lindon, Utah-based Response LLC, whose registered agent is Response Marketing Group LLC, the event promised that participants would learn how to build wealth by cashing in on the Airbnb craze. Star-Advertiser.

Biki, Honolulu’s first bike-share program, said it logged 180,272 rides during the three-month period between June and September in its first release of quarterly data Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly a thousand people form different groups turned up to the 33rd annual Pacific Rim International Conference on disability and diversity at the Modern Honolulu and Hilton Hawaiian Village this week. KITV.

Hawaii Island

A long awaited widening and realignment project on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, is complete. State and government officials are hosting a dedication ceremony today to celebrate the opening of the final phase of reconstruction on the east side of the highway. Tribune-Herald.

Consultants examine Hawaii County’s utility model. West Hawaii Today.

Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Commissioners got an earful from a handful of testifiers over the plan to provide grant funding to groups interested in stewarding Kawa. Big Island Video News.

University of Hawaii at Hilo researchers have shown they can decrease the birth rate of rats. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii to Be Site of First Moon Base Prototype. The International MoonBase Summit was held from Oct. 1 to 5, on Hawaii Island, where global industry leaders, representatives from academia, government leaders and representatives from the student community worked together collaboratively to lay the groundwork for the world’s first permanent human settlement on the moon. Maui Now.

The state Land Board is scheduled to decide Friday whether Sean Pagett should pay a $10,000 fine for holding two “Peaman” biathlons without marine ocean water event permits. West Hawaii Today.

With the Ironman World Championship days away, the Hawaii Police Department is preaching the importance of individual safety plans in light of a fatal mass shooting that occurred just over a week ago in Las Vegas. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Tempers flared in the latest chapter of the long-standing battle over Maui water rights. Dozens of people crowded into the Haiku Community Center for final arguments in the contested case hearing before the State Commission on Water Resource Management on Monday night. Hawaii News Now.

A new $12 million two-story classroom building at Lahainaluna High School is expected to be ready for the 2020-21 school year, according to a draft environmental impact statement for the project. Maui News.

Maui will soon join the ranks of U.S. cities being served by a major online-based grocery delivery service. Maui News.

Kauai

Areas that are normally off-limits to the public within the Kauai National Wildlife Refuge Complex will be open for tours starting today, in celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. Garden Island.

The Rats Of Lehua Appear To Have Taken The Bait. Rats appear to be gone from the island after officials dropped poison bait in an effort to help bird populations that had been threatened. Civil Beat.

Drag queen pageant fights back after hotel tries to cancel event. A Kauai hotel is being accused of discrimination for allegedly trying to cancel a pageant for drag queens. Hawaii News Now.

Land Board to decide Thirty Meter Telescope permit, Big Island to ban foam food containers, firefighters' union blasts Honolulu chief for actions in deadly high-rise blaze, low-income seniors get $800 rent hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Telescopes on Mauna Kea © 2017 All Hawaii News

The fate of the Thirty Meter Telescope is in the hands of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources following a lengthy and sometimes emotional final hearing Wednesday to conclude the project’s contested case proceeding. Star-Advertiser.

The Thirty Meter Telescope is again in the hands of the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. After a full day of testimony, and time to ask its own questions of supporters and opponents, the seven-member panel ended a hearing Wednesday in Hilo without making a decision regarding whether the next-generation telescope should be built on Mauna Kea, leaving that for an undetermined date. Tribune-Herald.

The final public hearing over the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope kicked off Wednesday in Hilo. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s land board is hearing arguments for and against building a giant telescope on a mountain some consider sacred. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Board of Land and Natural Resources began hearing oral arguments in the Contested Case Hearing for the Conservation District Use Application for the Thirty Meter Telescope at the Mauna Kea Science Reserve on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Crown Room of the Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo. Big Island Now.

VIDEO: University of Hawaii Final Argument In TMT Case. Big Island Video News.

VIDEO: Kahookahi Kanuha Final Argument In TMT Case. Big Island Video News.

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Hawaii stands to lose $5 billion in federal funding for health insurance within a decade if the latest Senate GOP health care bill becomes law. Hawaii News Now.

State to brief people on what to do if NKorea launches attack. Hawaii News Now.

How Some Hawaii Officials’ Paychecks Compare To The Mainland. Some of the islands’ top public employees stack up well, even with our high cost of living. Others, not so much. Civil Beat.

Report: Hawaii among 14 states making strides to combat climate change. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s first two medical marijuana dispensaries sold a combined 57 pounds of buds totaling more than $426,000 in sales since opening in early August. Star-Advertiser.

For the first time in a decade, there’s new management on the way for a $1.5 million annual grant provided by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to Hawaiian-focused public charter schools, and not everyone is happy about that. Civil Beat.

Global Tourism Summit: Japan #1 for Hawaii. One-point-five million Japanese Tourists visit Hawaii and spend more than 2 billion dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines has no plans to drop its money-making fees for checked baggage and reservation changes when Southwest Airlines enters the Hawaii market. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air hopes for profit next year after costly upgrades. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Make It Easier, Not Harder, To Access Hawaii’s Public Records. Gov. David Ige and his Office of Information Practices are sending very different messages about openness and accountability in state government. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The head of the firefighters’ union took his complaints against Honolulu Fire Chief Manuel Neves and his top lieutenants over their handling of the July 14 Marco Polo condominium fire to the city Fire Commission on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The president of Hawaii Firefighters Association criticized Honolulu Fire Department's response to the deadly Marco Polo high rise fire that killed three people on July 14. KITV.

Firefighters Union Protests Lack Of Information On Marco Polo Investigation. The Honolulu Fire Department knows the cause of the fire, but is refusing to reveal it — even to their own firefighters — until reports are finalized. Civil Beat.

A complaint from a decorated police officer who is urging the Honolulu Police Commission to scrutinize police chief applicants who might be involved in the corruption case against former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife was taken up behind closed doors Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Tensions flared at Wednesday’s Honolulu Police Commission meeting as former Police Chief Louis Kealoha continued his quest to have taxpayers foot his legal bills. Civil Beat.

Monthly rent for several kupuna at a low income senior apartment complex in Honolulu is expected to shoot up by about $800. KITV.

The U.S. Department of Commerce is investing in a new agricultural produce processing and farmer training facility on Oahu through a $1.6 million grant to the Waianae Community Redevelopment Corp. Pacific Business News.

Community concerns prompt landowner to scale back North Shore food truck hub. Hawaii News Now.

Kahuku Medical Center is searching for a new chief executive officer to replace Stephany Nihipali Vaioleti, who is leaving the North Shore hospital in October to join Hawaii Medical Service Association. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu-based Coast Guard cutter Sherman returned Wednesday after a 94-day, 16,000 mile patrol in the Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea in a region where melting sea ice is causing commercial and military activity to heat up as well. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County

Mayor Harry Kim said Wednesday he plans to sign a foam food container ban that passed the County Council by a 7-2 vote earlier in the day. West Hawaii Today.

Rep. Richard Creagan, who has represented South Kona and Ka‘u for the past four years, announced Wednesday his candidacy for the state Senate, recommitting in his announcement to an earlier goal of getting a new hospital and teaching institution for West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

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Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. announced Wednesday that the owner of an oil-fired power plant on Hawaii Island has agreed to sell the facility to a private subsidiary of HEI. The purchase comes after the state Public Utilities Commission stopped Hawaii Electric Light Co., an HEI subsidiary, from purchasing the power plant. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Current, a newly created subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, has reached an agreement with ArcLight Capital Partners to buy Hamakua Energy Partners' 60-megawatt power plant on the Big Island for an undisclosed price. Pacific Business News.

One of the “highest efficiency, lowest emission power plants in the state” is being sold to a new subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Tribune-Herald.

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Big Island Tourism: Fastest Growing in the Islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Food Basket Inc., Hawaii Island’s food bank, is teaming up with KTA Super Stores and farmers markets to help SNAP-EBT cardholders purchase more island-grown produce. Tribune-Herald.

Child porn, trafficking suspect sues his home surveillance company. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

A nearly 29 percent property tax hike could be in store for Maui homeowners who rent out their non-primary residences as transient vacation rentals. Associated Press.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public meeting Monday to discuss maintenance dredging scheduled for October at the Lahaina Small Boat Harbor and Mala Boat Ramp. Maui News.

The newly renovated and rebranded Goodwill Store and Donation Center in Kahului will celebrate its grand reopening Saturday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 1. Maui Now.

Kauai

Maui Kupono Builders will be conducting roadwork repairs on Maluhia Road, from Kaumualii Highway to Ala Kinoiki, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Garden Island.

Three citizens are being acknowledged for making a difference with aloha in their actions. The Kauai Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the 2017 Mea Ho‘omana‘o Awards to recognize and honor those who demonstrate the importance of aloha with respect and civility in their interactions. Garden Island.

Medical marijuana dispensaries to be cashless, lawsuit over state law requiring abortion counseling, DLNR drops final poison pellets on Lehua, hundreds of new species discovered off Kaneohe Bay, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Discount medical marijuana, courtesy photo

State officials announced Tuesday that Hawaii will be the first state to require marijuana sales to be handled without cash, saying they want to avoid robberies and other crimes targeting dispensaries. Associated Press.

State officials are urging Hawaii dispensaries to use a cashless system for medical marijuana sales to prevent crimes targeting cannabis retailers and their customers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii is the first state in the nation that plans to implement a cashless payment system for medical cannabis or marijuana. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii will be the first state in the nation to have a cashless medical marijuana dispensary system. Big Island Video News.

The two operating medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawaii — including one on Maui — and their patients have been operating on a cash-only basis, but a “banking solution” has been forged with a Colorado-based credit union, Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Governor David Ige held a press conference today during which he announced a banking breakthrough for Hawaii’s medical cannabis dispensaries.  Gov. Ige announced the nation’s first and only cash-free payment system for medical cannabis. Maui Now.

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The Fight Over Abortion In Hawaii. State attorneys are headed to court to defend a new state law that requires pregnancy clinics to tell women about abortion services. Civil Beat.

Affordable-housing advocates are decrying a state agency’s move to lease its portfolio of six low-cost rental projects, including three high-rises in Kakaako, to a private investor at a time when housing is in extremely short supply for low-income families. Star-Advertiser.

Preschool In Hawaii: Expensive And ‘Ridiculously Hard to Find’. Hawaii lags much of the nation in spending on state-funded preschool. But it is taking new steps to expand access, including opening five new classrooms next year. Civil Beat.

How much does Hawaii’s con air cost? The price of shuttling inmates to and from the mainland. As the debate continues here in Hawaii in regards to if and where to build a new prison, hundreds of Hawaii inmates remain at a facility in Arizona. KHON2.

Longtime Paroles and Pardons Administrator Tommy Johnson has returned to his old job after being temporarily reassigned for nearly six months during an internal investigation by the state Department of Public Safety. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly half of Hawaii could be affected by data breach. The state is currently investigating the massive Equifax data breach that could impact many island residents for months, or even years to come. KITV.

Oahu

More than 100 scientists joined a two-week marine life survey of Kaneohe Bay and discovered hundreds of new species and what appears to be the beginnings of an aggressive algae invasion. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education did not discriminate against an autistic preschool student who was placed in a specialized chair and fastened with a seat belt during school hours, a federal jury decided Monday. Civil Beat.

This Saturday members of the Honolulu City Council are holding a meeting to hear from you and what you think of a proposal requiring older high-rises to install fire sprinkler systems. KHON2.

Kamaile Academy, a public charter school located on Oahu's Waianae Coast, is expected to save an estimated $1.2 million over the next 20 years after installing a rooftop solar photovoltaic system. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu is using heavy equipment to remove the sand plug at the mouth of Kaelepulu Stream at Kailua Beach Park from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. this week. Star-Advertiser.

A proposed 41-story mixed-use residential building at Makaloa and Keeaumoku streets is the latest Ala Moana-area project to seek approval from the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

DOT says contractor will fix problems after reports of steel plates damaging cars. KHON2.

Lawyers representing Gary Galiher’s estate and former employees and associates of Galiher DeRobertis Waxman have reached a settlement in their dispute over the Galiher law corporation’s client files, trade secrets and intellectual property. Star-Advertiser.

What started two years ago as an offshoot at the Cheeseburger Waikiki restaurant to brew and serve beer is about to become a major producer and distributor of local canned craft brews. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Big Island DACA recipients worry about future after Trump ends program. Tribune-Herald.

Homeless land deal nearly secure. Hawaii County is closing in on a deal with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation that would secure 15-20 acres of state-owned land to serve as a permanent relocation site for Kona’s homeless overflow, which worsened after nearly 70 individuals were told to vacate Old Airport Park early last month. West Hawaii Today.

The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank, announced the appointment of Kristin Frost Albrecht as interim executive director, succeeding Executive Director En Young, who recently resigned. Tribune-Herald.

The latest participants in a Mars simulation study on Mauna Loa will end eight months of isolation Sunday as they venture out of their small dome for the first time without donning spacesuits. Tribune-Herald.

Maui


The Maui County Liquor Control Commission is poised to address several hot-button issues today, including streamlining single-event liquor license applications for nonprofits and conducting its first review and evaluation of Liquor Director Glenn Mukai. Maui News.

Today marks the one year anniversary of the historic flood at Iao Valley.  Officials say it cost Maui County $2 million to clean out the debris basin and to make repairs to the flood control area last year. Maui Now.

It’s been exactly one year since major flooding ravaged Iao Valley State Monument on Maui, and crews are still working on completing repairs. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources hopes to restore restrooms — which have been closed for nearly a decade — at Iao Valley State Monument, officials said Tuesday at the Velma McWayne Santos Community Center in Wailuku. Maui News.

Kauai

The state has completed its final round of rat-killing pellet bombing at Lehua Island as it awaits test results on what caused the recent deaths of dozens of fish and two birds. Star-Advertiser.

The last aerial drop of rodenticide-laced bait pellets onto Lehua Island was completed Tuesday, and with it the state is hailing a successfully completed operation. Garden Island.

The state is planning upgrades to the drainage system and roadways at Nawiliwili Harbor, and the draft plan is available for public comment. Garden Island.

Molokai

Beginning Sept. 15th, Hawaiian Airlines will temporarily suspend its direct flight from Molokai to Maui while its aircraft undergoes maintenance. The news is leaving some residents on the Friendly Isle on edge. Hawaii News Now.

Jobs, not multimillion-dollar homes — that’s what state Rep. Lynn DeCoite of Molokai wants to see from whomever plans to buy the 55,575 acres up for sale on her home island. Maui News.

Hokulea begins statewide mahalo tour, red flags in Honolulu rail audit, Maui police say cams justify actions during telescope protest, marijuana dispensaries reopen, census to count Micronesians, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hokulea farewell stop at Hilo Bay © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hokulea, the traditional Polynesian canoe replica left Sand Island on Wednesday afternoon for Maui’s Honolua Bay, kicking off its “Mahalo Hawaii” statewide sail. Star-Advertiser.

The Mahalo, Hawaii sail kicks off this afternoon, and the Polynesian Voyaging Society has a lot to mahalo. For most of its 40 plus years in existence, PVS has been a small budget operation until now. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hokulea set off on a brand new voyage Wednesday afternoon. The canoe left O'ahu bound for the Valley Isle in what's being called its 'Mahalo, Hawai'i Sail.' KITV.

The Hokulea departed the Marine Education Training Center at Sand Island today, Aug. 16, to begin the six-month Mahalo, Hawaii Sail. Maui Now.

Hokulea’s arrival at Honolua Bay today will mark the start of the voyaging canoe’s Mahalo, Hawai’i Sail and kick off a weekend of events celebrating the canoe’s return after a three-year world tour. Maui News.

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Two federal agencies announced Wednesday that they will conduct a census of Micronesians living in Hawaii and three island territories. Civil Beat.


A Joint Legislative Committee conducted another informational hearing on Affordable Housing today. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is facing a crisis because of a lack of affordable housing. So lawmakers met with a number of developers to find out what they can do get construction going. KITV.

Days after of running out of supply due to high demand, the state's two medical cannabis dispensaries have reopened. Hawaii News Now.

State revives program to review child deaths, inspire changes to reduce them. KHON2.

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The search for five crew members from an Army Black Hawk helicopter that went down off Oahu’s Kaena Point on a nighttime training mission stretched into a second night Wednesday as the Coast Guard remained on the scene and soldiers held out hope that the missing would be found. Star-Advertiser.

A multi-agency team scoured the ocean off Hawaii on Wednesday for five soldiers aboard an Army helicopter that went down during a nighttime training exercise. Associated Press.

After more than 30 hours, the massive air and sea search continues for five missing soldiers who were on board an Army chopper that crashed late Tuesday off Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Two pilots and three crew members were on board an Army helicopter that crashed off Hawaii. Associated Press.

Search and rescue crews from the U.S. Coast Guard, Army, Honolulu Fire Department, and Ocean Safety have entered their second day in looking for a downed Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter approximately two miles west of Kaena Point, Oahu, Thursday. KHON2.

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A state representative is speaking out after receiving a strongly worded, vulgar letter from a person who she says is a self-proclaimed Trump supporter. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association reported net income of $6.3 million for the quarter ending June 30, a 48 percent decrease from 2016’s comparable period, which saw net income of $12.3 million. Pacific Business News.

Depending how the legal fight over Abigal Kawananakoa’s $215 million fortune turns out, the 91-year-old princess’s foundation could enter the pantheon of Native Hawaiian trusts that today wield tremendous wealth and power on the islands. Civil Beat.

Scholarship money from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will be going only to students at the University of Hawaii system this academic year, officials said. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige will provide opening remarks at the 2017 Hawaii Annual Code Challenge (HACC) Kickoff on Aug. 26, welcoming hundreds of anticipated computer programmers, software developers and tech-minded innovators to launch the four-week, hackathon-inspired competition. Garden Island.

Hawaii’s household debt per capita was $68,500 in 2016, the highest among the 50 states but lower than the District of Columbia, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

According to data released by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, international students had an estimated direct, indirect and induced impact of $484 million during academic year 2017. This is 25 percent less than 2016, when international students contributed $649 million. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s nonprofit arts and culture sector is a more than $200 million industry, according to a study released by Americans for the Arts. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Auditor says probe of rail agency raised ‘red flags.' While he found no evidence of fraud while conducting an audit of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation last spring, “the red flags were there” to suggest there may have been. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council's Budget Committee on Wednesday approve a resolution calling for a follow-up audit of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, whose management was slammed by a similar audit last year. Hawaii News Now.

Smaller units, more housing, less space. That's the idea behind a new micro-unit apartment building proposed for Kakaako. Hawaii News Now.

A state board overseeing development in Kakaako is one step closer to overhauling its affordable-housing production requirements after a hearing Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Concrete removal mixed with high tides lead to brown water in Waikiki. The water near the Duke Kahanamoku statue raised concerns from environmentalist and beach goers this week after murky clouds were seen just off shore. Hawaii News Now.

Servco Pacific Inc. and Toyota have partnered to launch a smartphone-controlled car rental service in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Kailua Village Design Commission Tuesday deferred taking action on a proposed four-story hotel on Henry Street after commissioners raised concerns about the building’s color scheme and topography of the area where it would be built. Tribune-Herald.

Former police officer pleads no contest in road rage incident, receives 6 months probation. West Hawaii Today.

The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel will become The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort next year after Mauna Kea Resort LLC signed a franchise agreement with Westin Hotels &Resorts. West Hawaii Today.

Officials with the Hawaii Electric Light Company gave a presentation to the Hawaii County Council’s Agriculture, Water & Energy Sustainability Committee on Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Maui

A preliminary review of police body camera footage during a protest against a convoy of telescope materials headed to the Haleakala summit shows officers followed procedures and acted properly, Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu said Wednesday. Maui News.

The county water department’s call for voluntary water restrictions Upcountry moved into its fourth week this week with the department reporting Wednesday that “there has been no noticeable decline in consumption overall.” Maui News.

Kauai

The state is looking into a mysterious, tar-like substance reported in the tidepools on the eastern side of Mahaulepu. Garden Island.

Rail funding unresolved after 7-hour hearing, dog kills Kauai shearwaters, marijuana dispensaries plan reopening, employee retirement system rebounding, Kona well failure, no jail time for manager in deadly fireworks blast, Maui family sues Las Vegas police over deadly chokehold, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rail construction June 15, 2017, PC: HART

With the special session on rail looming in two weeks, legislators still don’t have a deal. But leaders from both chambers appeared open to raising the state’s hotel room tax to help rescue the beleaguered transit project during a marathon hearing Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Lawmakers Not Sold On Rail Tax Extension. Legislators attending a briefing Monday appeared more favorable to tapping hotel tax money to help pay for the $10 billion rail line. Civil Beat.

Joint Legislative Hearing on Honolulu Rail Transit Project Conducted. Hawaii Public Radio.

With a funding plan due to the Federal Transit Administration in just about a month, state lawmakers held a marathon hearing Monday to consider different ways of paying for the Honolulu's controversial rail project. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii's tourism industry is finally getting a chance to sound off on a plan to raise the hotel room tax. It's one solution to generating money to complete the city's rail system to Ala Moana. KITV.

A special session on how to pay for the rest of Honolulu’s rail project may be in jeopardy. State lawmakers told us they were committed to holding one, but now things are up in the air. KHON2.

Neighbor Island rail taxes still on the table. West Hawaii Today.

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The state Employees’ Retirement System, Hawaii’s largest public pension fund, chipping away at a $12 billion shortfall, nearly doubled the investment return targeted by its trustees and posted its best fiscal year performance since 2014. Star-Advertiser.

Marijuana dispensaries that ran out of product within days of opening are blaming the state Department of Health, which in turn is blaming the only marijuana testing lab, Steep Hill Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s only two medical marijuana dispensaries plan to reopen on Wednesday with more inventory. Civil Beat.

Roughly 900 people have drowned over the past 10 years in Hawaii, with the rate of visitor deaths continuing to far outpace that of local residents, according to the latest data from state and county officials. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Kahala Hotel &Resort is withdrawing its request to obtain a rare nonexclusive easement to use about an acre of public shoreline for commercial enterprises. Star-Advertiser.

Construction on the Airport Guideway and Stations segment of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project will begin Tuesday night near Aloha Stadium. Hawaii News Now.

Will Native Hawaiians Be The Victims In This Fight Over A Royal Fortune? The legacy of a Hawaiian princess who has spent her life supporting Hawaiian causes is at stake in a struggle over control of her $200 million estate. Civil Beat.

Six years after a deadly explosion at a Waikele bunker that killed 5 people, a company manager tied to operations at the site of the blast won't spend any time behind bars. Hawaii News Now.

The former project manager of a munitions storage and disposal company was sentenced Monday to probation and a fine of $250 for improperly storing explosive material. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based BAE Systems Hawaii on Monday received a $24 million modification to a previously awarded contract for scheduled maintenance on the USS Port Royal, the U.S. Department of Defense said. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has grappled with the question of why deepwell failure has been so widespread and simultaneous across North Kona over the last year, a development that has resulted in usage restrictions and sparked public fear and frustration. West Hawaii Today.

For the second time this year, water supply customers are under an emergency water restriction following the failure of the Honokohau Deepwell located in North Kona. It is the fifth off-line water well serving the Kona area. Big Island Video News.

Among the tenants at Hawaii Island's new homeless safe zone: The mayor's executive assistant. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A stay that temporary blocks Maui Lani Partners from conducting sand mining and excavation work at its development in Central Maui, remains in place as a hearing resumes next week. Maui Now.

Hawaii family sues Las Vegas police department after fatal officer chokehold. Hawaii News Now.

Some suspended school bus routes in West Maui could be back in service as soon as Monday. KHON2.

Employment in the arts, entertainment and recreation segment in Maui County grew around 33 percent in the second quarter as compared to the same time last year, resulting in 700 more jobs, according to state figures. Maui News.

The Central Maui Landfill and Olowalu Recycling and Refuse Convenience Center were operating normally Monday, following a stubborn fire at Maui EKO Systems green waste and composting operations that began Friday. Maui News.

According to a recent housing report by the Realtors Association of Maui, year-to-date closed sales for condominiums on Maui are up 7.3 percent, with the median price up 10 percent, while single-family home sales inched up only 1.6 percent. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

A stray dog killed 33 adult wedge-tailed shearwaters in a colony at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai’s Westside in early August. Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Monday it asked the state Public Utilities Commission to approve new ways to credit solar system owners on the island. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai’s Shifting Sands Offer Clues To Beach’s Future. A local scientist is trying to understand how development might affect Wailua beach near the Coco Palms resort site. Civil Beat.

Lihue Airport reported a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit that broke the Aug. 12 record of 88 set in 2007. Garden Island.

Hawaii growth slows, Hanabusa mulls gubernatorial bid, lab bottleneck closes marijuana dispensaries, battle over Kawananakoa's $200M estate, monk seal moved from Waikiki, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Undersea cable, Hawaiian Telcom

Testing for the $250 million Southeast Asia–United States undersea fiber cable system is complete, according to Hawaiian Telcom, one of seven investors in the 9,300-mile long cable connecting Indonesia to California, via Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

The state’s top economists are a little less bullish on Hawaii’s economy. The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism cut its growth forecast for Hawaii this year by a half-percentage point and projected the economy will continue to grow at a slower pace for the rest of 2017 and the three subsequent years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s economy is experiencing positive growth, but at a slower pace than during previous years, according to report by the Department of Business and Economic Development. Pacific Business News.

Leadership from both the state House of Representatives and Senate have been meeting over the last several months to discuss the over-time and over-budget Honolulu rail project, but lawmakers now want to hear from the public as they work toward an agreement on financing. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said Friday she may mount an election challenge to Hawaii Gov. David Ige in 2018. Civil Beat.

A years-long effort to begin taxing dividends paid out to investors by some of the largest commercial property owners in Hawaii was blocked this year by state Sen. Rosalyn Baker, a lawmaker who has received substantial campaign donations from lobbyists and executives who represent some of those same investors. Star-Advertiser.

New Hawaii Salary Database: How Much Do We Pay Our Public Servants? Here’s the first installment of our new Hawaii public employee salary database for fiscal year 2018. Civil Beat.

Growing up in low-income public housing in the Bronx and attending New York City public schools, Christina Kishimoto experienced firsthand the effects of learning in an uneven school system, where resources vary greatly between neighborhoods. Star-Advertiser.

With two medical cannabis dispensaries now selling products, the Hawaii Department of Health is bracing for a surge of patients signing up for the state's medical cannabis registry. Hawaii News Now.

After a one-day delay because of bad weather, a NASA rocket containing experimental payloads from 15 collegiate institutions — including four University of Hawaii community colleges — launched Sunday from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kaimana the monk seal was swept off to her new home Saturday morning with only a few barks of protest. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaiian monk seal pup born on a Waikiki beach has been moved so that it can remain a wild animal and won't become accustomed to interacting with people. Associated Press.

Video from Civil Beat's live camera, of Kaimana being removed from the beach at around 8am Saturday morning by NOAA officials. KITV.

First rail land trial ends in condemnation. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation is proposing to make several safety improvements along Farrington Highway, including eliminating and relocating some bus stops and crosswalks. Hawaii News Now.

Aloha Green Holdings Inc., one of Oahu’s three licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, said it has sold out its initial stock after just three days in business. Pacific Business News.

If a bill requiring older residential towers to install sprinklers becomes law, the city could offer no-interest loans to condominium owners who might need help to pay their share, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said last week. Star-Advertiser.

Marco Polo get-together like ‘big hug’ after tragedy. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department is finally ready to begin testing body cameras. The pilot project will be rolled out in mid-September. KHON2.

Ex-Cop Sues Honolulu For Not Paying To Defend Him In Assault Lawsuit. The Police Commission rejected Nelson Tamayori’s request for legal aid, but approved it for another officer facing the same allegations. Civil Beat.

With Hawaii’s unemployment rate so low, finding workers can be hard to come by, but the struggle isn’t just felt by employers. KHON2.

An increasingly bitter legal battle over the $200 million estate of Abigail Kawananakoa intensified over the weekend as the 91-year-old Campbell Estate heiress, in a letter transmitted by her longtime partner, accused her former attorney of ignoring her wishes and mismanaging her financial affairs. Star-Advertiser.

The $200 million estate of a 91-year-old descendant of Hawaiian royalty has become the topic of a legal dispute between her lawyer and her longtime partner. Associated Press.

In an explosive letter sent to Hawaii News Now, Abigail Kawananakoa says her longtime attorney is improperly trying to take control of her fortune. Hawaii News Now.

A new tribute to iconic island musician Don Ho was unveiled at the International Market Place Sunday.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has lost yet another water source in North Kona, prompting a revised water usage restriction with the most stringent mandates the department has issued since the saga began in January. West Hawaii Today.

Once again, a fifth water well is down in West Hawaii, leading to a new Emergency Water Restriction notice for North Kona. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County officials say they could be a year away from relaunching an online building permit tracking system. Tribune-Herald.

The County of Hawaii is on the hook for improvements at a Kailua-Kona housing project years after discovering that sidewalks and showers aren’t compliant with federal accessibility guidelines. West Hawaii Today.

David Tarnas, who last year suffered a whisker-thin primary loss in his campaign to unseat state Rep. Cindy Evans, is ready for a rematch. West Hawaii Today.

About a dozen food and bike vendors have set up shop each night at the county-maintained parking lot at the end of Chain of Craters Road, located near the start of the more than 4-mile-long gravel emergency road that leads to the lava flow. Tribune-Herald.

Additional pavilions are in the works for Wailoa River State Recreation Area. Tribune-Herald.

Daughter of deported coffee farmer trying to keep operating afloat while waiting for dad’s return. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Anti-tobacco activists are hoping Maui County will follow Hawaii and Kauai counties in outlawing smoking in vehicles when children are present. Maui News.

Maui’s first state-licensed medical marijuana dispensary to open for business will be closed Monday and Tuesday and will change its operating hours. Associated Press.

Representatives with Hawaiʻi’s first medical cannabis dispensary say lab delays are forcing the business to suspend sales. Maui Now.

‘Bottleneck’ temporarily closes pot dispensary. ‘High demand’ leads to sold-out first batch of certified product. Maui News.

Maui school bus driver Cheryl Kuanoni was recently forced to leave five children behind because of a shortage of buses. KITV.

Traffic congestion and parking in Paia still generate headaches for residents and visitors of the bustling former plantation town hugging Maui’s north shore, but now property crime — especially vehicle break-ins — are a rising concern. Maui News.

Kauai

If Pierre Omidyar gets his way, 699 dairy cows will soon enjoy a glorious view of the Pacific Ocean, framed by a pristine beach. Omidyar, the founder of eBay, wants to build a dairy farm on Kauai. New York Times.

There are 106 vacant positions at the County of Kauai. However, 12 of them are dollar- funded, meaning 94 are vacant funded positions. Almost 30 of them are posted on the county’s website. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council voted Wednesday to approve an access easement in Koloa. Garden Island.

The Kapaa Public Library will be reopening on Tuesday and resuming its normal public service hours. Garden Island.