Showing posts with label obits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obits. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Aid in dying, gun restrictions, false service animals, Mauna Kea management among dozens of bills advancing in Legislature on crossover deadline, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hawaii House majority
Hawaii House chambers PC: House majority
House lawmakers voted Tuesday to legalize medically assisted death in Hawaii after an emotional floor debate in which some lawmakers recalled family members who suffered terribly before they died, and another told his colleagues the bill they were considering “is against God’s law.” Star-Advertiser.

After a round of emotional floor speeches, the Hawaii House voted 39-12 Tuesday in favor of legalizing medical aid in dying for terminally ill adults. Civil Beat.

A bill that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain medical assistance with ending their lives advanced Tuesday at the state Capitol in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

After a robust debate Tuesday, the full House approved a controversial medical aid-in-dying measure, sending the bill to the Senate. Hawaii News Now.

Bill to allow terminally ill patients to end lives passes House, moves to Senate. KITV.

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Tighter Gun Restrictions Among Hundreds Of Bills Moving Ahead. As a deadline fast approaches, scores of measures were sent from one chamber to the other Tuesday at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

A bill that would shorten the time a disqualified gun owner can surrender weapons to police was approved by the full Senate on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

The State Legislature is nearing the halfway point when bills must clear the first hurdle in that process. Hawaii Public Radio.

A bill that would make it a civil violation to falsely present an animal as a service animal passed the state Senate on Tuesday and now moves to the House. Tribune-Herald.

Dogs in service vests are an increasingly common sight in public spaces. But it may surprise you to learn that there is little legal regulation over the training and certification of service dogs and emotional support animals. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bills providing funding to combat rat lungworm disease and little fire ants are making progress this legislative session. Tribune-Herald.

The House of Representatives passed 128 bills on third reading today, moving them to the Senate for its consideration. Press release.

Hawaii State Senators today voted to pass 371 bills on third reading. 49 bills were passed earlier on third reading for a total of 420 measures that are now transmitted to the House for consideration. Press Release.

The former executive officer at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency is is questioning the state's investigations into the Jan. 13 missile alert mistake, particularly why the state's adjutant general has escaped criticism. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines announced Tuesday that it will purchase 10 Boeing Dreamliner aircraft in lieu of its original plan to purchase planes from Airbus Industries.  Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Goat Hunters Say State’s Aerial Shooting Threatens A Traditional Food Source. Concerns over damage to vegetation has the state taking flight to cull the goat population in the Waianae mountains. Civil Beat.

As housing prices continue to soar, would-be homebuyers on Oahu are turning to a more affordable alternative: Condos. Hawaii News Now.

February lived up to its tradition as a slow month for home sales on Oahu, producing a slight decrease in single-family home transactions, but other parts of Hawaii’s largest housing market achieved modest gains. Star-Advertiser.

Unusual shrimp found in mud pool near Kaena Point. KHON2.

Hawaii waterman and environmentalist George Downing, a celebrated big-wave pioneer, former Makaha champion and trusted teacher and adviser to generations of surfers, died peacefully in his sleep early Monday morning, his son Keone Downing said. He was 87 years old. Star-Advertiser.

Legendary waterman George Downing has died. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii Senate Approves Putting Mauna Kea Under New Management. The bill would limit the number of telescopes on the mountaintop and authorize the new manager to renegotiate leases and permits pertaining to the mountain. Civil Beat.

Mauna Kea Management Authority Bill Passes Senate. Big Island Video News.

The Kohala Center is moving forward again with plans to limit surf school operations at Kahaluu Bay, but local business owners say they still aren’t satisfied with what the nonprofit has planned for the popular surf spot, taking issues with fundamental components of the proposed management program. West Hawaii Today.

Joshua Franklin Alameda is suing the state Department of Education, saying his kids were beaten, harassed and discriminated against by fellow students because he is gay. Hawaii News Now.

A 45-year-old Kona man admits that he recorded sexually explicit images of a 15-year-old girl and the teen’s 2-year-old daughter. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

A volunteer morning cleanup event of the Lā‛ie Wetlands in Kihei is planned from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 10. Maui Now.

Nominees for the 2018 Mayor’s Small Business Awards were announced last week with the winners to be honored Friday at an awards dinner in the Waikapu Ballroom of the King Kamehameha Golf Club. Maui News.

Barnes & Noble said Tuesday it will open a new temporary store in a former Petco space at the Maui Marketplace in Kahului on Monday, a day after it closes its longtime store on the other side of the island at Lahaina Cannery Mall. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Wailuanuiahoano resident Debra Kekaualua has announced that she’s running for mayor. Garden Island.

Waiopili Stream, which meets the ocean at Mahaulepu Beach on Kauai’s South Side, has been officially dubbed an impaired waterway by the Environmental Protection Agency. Garden Island.

Monday, March 5, 2018

Legislature advances foam food container ban, minimum wage hikes unlikely, records request deadline killed, property taxes for Honolulu rail, vacation homes proliferating, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Polystyrene foam food containers ©2018 All Hawaii News
Senate committee advances a bill to impose a statewide ban on polystyrene foam containers. Star-Advertiser.

Don’t Count On A Minimum Wage Hike This Session. The Senate wants an analysis. The House wants to give employers the option of increasing pay or offering paid sick leave. Civil Beat.

Senator shelves bill for timely action on state records requests. A bill seeking to speed up the resolution of disputes over which government records should be open to the public appears to be dead for the session. Star-Advertiser.

State bills aim to make homes for disabled user-friendly. State researchers addressing issues faced by people with disabilities want every new home in Hawaii built with six basic features they say will benefit a disadvantaged group that includes an approaching “silver tsunami” of seniors. Star-Advertiser.

A bill before lawmakers would provide free tuition in exchange for a commitment to remaining a state government employee. Star-Advertiser.

Legislators Want Abandoned Cars Removed Quicker. Counties object to measures that would give them 10 days to move the vehicles off of roadways. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii House of Representatives passed 131 bills on third reading on Friday, March 2, moving them to the Senate for their consideration. Big Island Now.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission fined four Hawaii Tourism Authority employees for unethical travel practices but chose not to penalize two other HTA employees, including a state senator’s wife. Star-Advertiser.

Child welfare agency shows no improvement in latest federal review. In the 14 categories that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services analyzed in 2017, the state agency showed no improvement from 2009. Star-Advertiser.

Hee: Allow schools to decide on arming security officers. A former state senator who is hoping to be Hawaii's next governor is offering his plan to prevent gun violence at schools. Hawaii News Now.

Surveillance is accepted practice in workers’ comp cases. It can lead to a cutoff of benefits, but things are not always as they appear. Civil Beat.

Community solar is poised to launch in Hawaii as early as this year, and putting the pieces together to make it happen is turning out to be quite a puzzle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Report: Navy admiral likely to head U.S. Pacific Command has little experience in Asia. U.S. military forces stationed in Hawaii will soon report to a new commander after President Donald Trump said last month that he intends to name current U.S. Pacific Command Commander Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. ambassador to Australia. Pacific Business News.

Despite talk of the Navy’s surface fleet losing its war-­fighting edge, the head of U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor said a two-year training success that’s only being revealed now challenged the status quo, injecting greater uncertainty — and a higher degree of risk of failure — into sea-based exercises. Star-Advertiser

Animal advocacy groups called it cruel and misleading. Local food producers called it humane and important for Hawaii’s food supply. Recently, however, the practice of shipping live pigs to Hawaii for slaughter ended. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu’s Share Of The Bill For Rail Just Got $54 Million Bigger. At a budget preview Friday, Mayor Kirk Caldwell acknowledged the city will have to cover more of the project’s cost. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Councilman Trevor Ozawa is again demanding the city step up its bulky-item pickup service in East Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor proposes fees for bulky item, residential trash pick-up. Hawaii News Now.

Feds: UH Manoa Violated Rules In Handling Sexual Harassment Cases. Complaints were mishandled and federal grievance procedures weren’t followed, investigators found. Civil Beat.

Sales of condominiums on Oahu rose 5 percent in February, as prices rose by the same percentage point, while single-family home sales recorded a slight decline in sales and a slight increase in prices, according to a report from Hawaii real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

After giving shade for 5 decades, iconic monkeypod in Manoa to be cut down. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s new bike-share program is getting popular, and expanding. To drum up more interest, Bikeshare Hawaii has been offering free 30-minute rides to new users today. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Vacation rentals: Changing the face of neighborhoods. West Hawaii Today.

Neighbors of a large vacation rental under construction in the oceanfront community of Leleiwi are appealing county Planning Department approval of a special management area permit. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii County Council member wants to rein in rooster farms. Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara is introducing a bill that would require anyone owning more than four roosters to keep them at least 75 feet from property lines. Tribune-Herald.

A Hilo developer is hoping to build a new housing project for a vastly underserved demographic: low-income seniors. Tribune-Herald.

The month of March kicks off the budget season in Hawaii County, and the preliminary numbers are presenting a bleak picture for Big Island government finances. Big Island Video News.

Needed Water Reuse Could Affect Planned Kona Park. Big Island Video News.

A historic Naalehu landmark remains in a sad state of neglect after years of failure by the property’s owners to maintain it. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Water Board is proposing an increase to its power cost charge and will hold a public hearing on the matter later this month. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The county Planning Department has begun charging fees for repeated reviews of building permit applications, with the first re-review costing $250. Maui News.

Longtime Hawaiian falsetto singer Richard Hoopii died early Saturday morning at home in his beloved Kahakuloa. He was 76. Maui News.

Beloved Maui musician, Uncle Richard Hoopii passed away early this morning at his home in Kahakuloa, family members have confirmed. Maui Now.

Maui’s state Highways Division is looking to add at least 10 workers to help clear out thick cane grass along the road and glycine — an increasingly pervasive vine that blankets guardrails, road shoulders and road signs, state Department of Transportation officials said. Maui News.

Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ocean Explorer, on the ultimate Ultimate Whalewatch with the Experts, recovered a placenta in Maui’s waters today. Maui Now.

Kauai

Six qualified candidates are vying for three positions on the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative board. The nonprofit co-op, Hawaii’s only member-owned electric utility, is making progress towards its goal of using renewable resources to generate 70 percent of Kauai’s power by 2030. Garden Island.

The first new shopping center on the North Shore in 30 years is about to open in Kilauea, but two things will be missing when it does: the anchor supermarket operated by Foodland and a long-awaited new access road to Kilauea Town. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

The restoration of Kahoolawe is a marathon, not a sprint. And we're on mile 1. Hawaii News Now.

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Hanabusa kicks off gubernatorial campaign; Rice, who fought race-based OHA elections, dies at 83; ferry not financially feasible; tax collections forecast to rise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hanabusa campaign
U.S. Rep. Hanabusa campaign kickoff Monday, courtesy photo
Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa officially launched her campaign for Hawaii governor Monday against Gov. David Ige, saying Hawaii needs new leadership at the top to tackle critical issues like lack of affordable housing and limited job opportunities for future generations. Star-Advertiser.

Hanabusa Launches Campaign With Swipe At ‘Rudderless’ Ige. The Hawaii congresswoman says state government is “adrift” and needs a course correction. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa on Monday launched her campaign for governor by criticizing the incumbent for a lack of leadership and saying the state should consider establishing safe zones for homeless people. Associated Press.

Colleen Hanabusa said she is tired of the Hawaii government’s same old song and dance. Garden Island.

Heating Up: Hanabusa vs Ige in Governor's Race. Hawaii’s Senior Congressional Representative officially announced her candidacy for Governor today.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hanabusa is officially running for governor and she isn't pulling any punches. Hawaii News Now.

Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa launched her campaign officially for governor of Hawaii Monday. KITV.

Hanabusa formally launches campaign for governor. KHON2.

Calling for leadership, a strong vision and action, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa formally launched her campaign to become Hawaii’s next governor on Monday. Big Island Now.

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Study: Ferry not feasible. Perhaps to no surprise, a report — mandated by the Legislature and published on the state Department of Transportation’s website Monday — says an interisland or intraisland ferry system won’t work without a state subsidy. Tribune-Herald.

State tax collections forecast to rise. Economic experts in charge of forecasting Hawaii’s tax collections say the state’s revenue will grow at a slightly higher rate than expected, citing in part an anticipated stimulus effect from the Republicans’ federal tax cuts. Star-Advertiser.

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About 9 percent of University of Hawaii students say they have been sexually harassed, and 6 percent experienced unwanted sexual contact on or off campus, according to survey results released Monday. Star-Advertiser.

How Safe Do UH Students Feel? New Survey Gauges Their Views. A report breaks down students’ opinions and experiences regarding sexual harassment and nonconsensual contact. Civil Beat.

More than 22 percent of female students at the University of Hawaii have experienced dating or domestic violence, and about 12 percent have been sexually harassed or stalked during their time there, according to an expansive new survey released Monday. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii survey results show most domestic/sexual assaults were not reported to campus officials. KITV.

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Health Department proposes disinterment rules. The state Department of Health is implementing new mandates for digging up human remains, but rules covering disinterment of ancient or historic graves regulated by the Department of Land and Natural Resources remain unchanged. West Hawaii Today.

Patients, Providers Aren't Waiting For Dispensaries. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to roll back protection of cannabis businesses last week left a cloud of uncertainty over Hawaii’s medical cannabis dispensary program. Hawaii Public Radio.

'This is a work choice': Advocate looks to decriminalize prostitution in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines said it will begin nonstop flights between Honolulu and Long Beach, Calif., beginning May 31 and that it finished 2017 by carrying a record number of passengers. Star-Advertiser.

First Hawaiian CFO leaving company. First Hawaiian Bank Chief Financial Officer Michael Ching is stepping down from his position effective Jan. 31 but will continue to assist the company on a consulting basis during the transition. Star-Advertiser.

Chipotle has no plans to open in Hawaii. Popular restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill will not be expanding to Hawaii any time soon, according to a recent update by the company. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Affordable-housing plan now aimed at seniors. A state agency has again scaled back a plan to build affordable housing on the Kalihi-Palama headquarters of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Rail Recovery Plan Remains A Work In Progress. HART’s board has declined to approve the plan for the $9 billion project until more details are fleshed out. Civil Beat.

Why Oahu’s Rural Homeless Have Often Been Undercounted. Getting a more accurate picture of the homeless population in remote areas is essential to providing services. Civil Beat.

Affordable housing community prepares to open for families in need. Kahauiki Village opens this Friday on 11.3 acres of land located between Nimitz Highway, Keehi Lagoon Park, and Sand Island. KHON2.

Security patrol newly reopened Kakaako Waterfront Park. After being closed for three months to repair damage caused by homeless campers, Kakaako Waterfront Park reopened Monday at 6 a.m., and by about 7:30 a.m. one person was already attempting to set up a tent. Star-Advertiser.

Online Anti-Crime Group Wants To Be A Political Force. “Stolen Stuff Hawaii” now has more than 100,000 Facebook followers on the lookout for each other’s property. Civil Beat.

DBEDT completes installation of largest solar PV system in Honolulu's business district. Hawaii's Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism said it has completed the installation of a 300-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system at its Pier 2 facility in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

More than 1 in 10 University of Hawaii at Hilo students say they’ve been sexually harassed at some point as a student, and more than 18 percent have experienced dating and domestic violence while enrolled, according to a survey released Monday by the university system. Tribune-Herald.

Talking crime in Puna. Violent crime seemed to be on the minds of people who attended a forum Saturday on crime and drug abuse in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Embezzler gets 9-year term, must pay school back $3.1M. As Chief Financial Officer Pablo Rivera was stealing more than $50,000 per month from the University of Nations, he was telling school officials that he had reduced spending at the Kona campus but that the nondenominational Christian school still needed $500,000 to stay afloat. Star-Advertiser.

First Hawaiian Paradise Park Public Park Master Plan Meeting Held. HPP residents and county planners got to work on Sunday, developing a master plan for a new county park in the Puna subdivision. Big Island Video News.

$3 Million in Improvements Slated for Honokaa High & Intermediate. Big Island Now.

Public response to Kona’s newly added low-income housing at Kamakana Villages was overwhelming, with several prospective tenants left on the outside looking in following the lottery process. West Hawaii Today.

Harold “Freddy” Rice, Big Island rancher and community activist, died at the age of 83, according to his family. In 1996, Rice challenged an OHA policy that limited voting eligibility for the office’s Board of Trustees to Native Hawaiians. Citing the 15th Amendment, which prohibits race-based voting discrimination, Rice sued. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County solar permits in 2017 dropped by 59 percent. The number of permits issued plunged 59 percent to 676 from 1,657 in 2016, according to data compiled by Marco Mangelsdorf, who tracks rooftop solar permits and is president of Hilo-based ProVision Solar. Star-Advertiser.

Two new infestations of little fire ants were discovered on Maui, the Maui Invasive Species Committee announced today. Maui Now.

Hawaiian Airlines is adding more flights to Kapalua, and an executive said that the airline is “constantly looking at” bringing back a direct flight between Maui and Las Vegas. Maui News.

Conference highlights benefits of cannabis. Maui News.

Haleakala National Park has awarded a maintenance contract to Maris Inc. for rock scaling work and vegetation removal at Oheo Gulch in East Maui. Park officials say the project will significantly reduce the potential for rock fall hazards or falling debris. Maui Now.

Construction is scheduled to begin at Honokowai Beach Park in West Maui, on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, for replacement of the outdoor shower and shower drainage improvements. Maui Now.

Kauai

Report: Occupants have no claim. The two leaders of a mainly Native Hawaiian group occupying the former Coco Palms resort in Wailua apparently have no ownership rights to the property, according to papers obtained by The Garden Island, despite their contentions in the civil ejectment case against them in District Court. Garden Island.

Hearing set on bus stop rules. The County of Kauai Transportation Agency is holding a public hearing to receive comments on the proposed rules and regulations regarding county bus stops. Garden Island.

KCC enrollment on the rise. Kauai Community College opened its doors to the spring semester Monday, with an opening day census of 1,219 students, an increase of 9.5 percent over the same period a year ago when the college recorded 1,085 students. Garden Island.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Ige vetoes 13 bills including aquarium fish restrictions and lifeguard liability, Honolulu ordered to pay EMTs $1M overtime, Maui's $354.5M Makena Resort approved, THAAD missile test successful, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy photo Hawaii Governor's Office
Gov. David Ige veto news conference, courtesy photo
Gov. David Ige used his veto pen to reject 13 bills Tuesday, including a measure that would have limited and eventually shut down the aquarium fish collecting trade in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Governor Vetoes Aquarium Fishing Bill, 12 Others. Gov. David Ige faced a heavy lobbying campaign from both sides on a bill phasing out commercial collection of fish for the aquarium industry. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige vetoed 13 bills Tuesday, including a measure providing limited liability protection for county lifeguards, as a law with broader protections sunset on June 30. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige took the podium, spending around 10 minutes directly addressing a few of the 13 measures he chose to veto on Tuesday’s deadline for such action. West Hawaii Today.

Governor David Ige vetoed a bill that would have stopped new permits for aquarium fish collecting on Hawaii’s reefs, ending weeks of last-minute lobbying on the issue. Big Island Video News.

The Clift Tsuji Act became law on Tuesday with a stroke of Governor David Ige’s pen, ending an emotional journey for Ryan Tsuji, who helped shepherd the biosecurity-related bill through the legislature in fulfillment of his father’s dying wish. Big Island Video News.

Gov. David Ige signed a bill into law Tuesday that requires liability insurance for childcare providers. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii is home to two of the three most popular U.S. senators, according to approval rantings (69 percent for Brian Schatz and 67 percent for Mazie Hirono) in a new survey published by Morning Consult. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has seen some improvement in its fiscal condition, according to a new study by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. The Aloha State was ranked 27th among the U.S. states for fiscal health, a significant improvement from last year’s ranking, where it was ranked 45th. Pacific Business News.

A ballistic missile target simulating an intermediate-range North Korean threat that was launched by aircraft north of Hawaii was successfully intercepted Tuesday by a defensive missile in a key test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

In a video interview with aviation analysis site CAPA, Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley gave an update on competition, partnerships and attractive markets for the Honolulu-based airline, claiming that China will soon overtake Japan as Hawaii’s largest tourism market. Pacific Business News.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee has been bitten by an endangered Hawaiian monk seal while swimming at Midway Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s push to expand the list of relatives exempt from President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries is bogged down in court, where it has bounced from a federal judge to a federal appeals court and back to the same federal judge. Associated Press.

U.S. Department of Justice attorneys urged a judge to deny Hawaii’s renewed attempt to expand the list of relatives exempt from President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers from six mostly Muslim countries. Associated Press.

Kaiser grad accused of affiliation with ISIS made first Federal court appearance. KITV.

Forecasters are keeping a close eye on a new tropical storm in the East Pacific that has the potential to impact the Hawaiian islands. It is far too early to tell what kind of effects, if any, Tropical Storm Fernanda  will have on Hawaii, but early computer models show a track that moves in a direction toward the islands. Hawaii News Now.

This week, you'll be seeing an edgy new commercial targeting the Mormon Church in Hawaii, questioning its business practices. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is again ranked next to last among U.S. states for business. The islands are ranked first, however, for quality of life for the fifth year in a row, according to a study released Tuesday by cable TV network CNBC. Star-Advertiser.

Jurassic World filming comes to an end, film's stars leave Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

A federal judge has ordered the city to pay paramedics, emergency medical technicians and their attorneys $1.16 million for unpaid and late-paid overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Star-Advertiser.

There's an age-old problem in the valleys of Oahu, where experts estimate that more than 70,000 residents live in areas that have been geologically unstable since Hawaii’s peaks first burst through the Pacific Ocean. A legal battle over a landslide and sewer line break in the Nuuanu Valley is one example of the unstable ground many people live on. Civil Beat.

Hawaii business executive Duane Kurisu and a host of dignitaries broke ground Tuesday on Kurisu’s ambitious vision to use public and private resources to erect permanent homes near Sand Island for 150 homeless families — or 600 adults and children. Star-Advertiser.

The first-ever public-private partnership was launched today on Oahu to provide permanent housing for homeless families. Hawaii Public Radio.

A state representative and at least one community leader are accusing Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration of stalling on a long-discussed road improvement project in the upper part of Kalihi Street. Star-Advertiser.

A state lawmaker wants to see Kalihi Street widened so drivers will slow down, particularly where the it curves. KHON2.

Changes to Honolulu plastic bag ban will hurt a local family business. KITV.

A Honolulu ZIP code has come in at No. 6 in the nation on a list of the most expensive ZIP codes by state, according to GoBankingRates.com. Pacific Business News.

It's never been a secret that Honolulu has some traffic issues, and now Honolulu has been ranked as the seventh-worst city for driving in a newly released study by WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu had the 10th-most cranes in operation in the country at the start of the year, signaling a significant growth in construction projects, according to the 2017 Rider Levett Bucknall Crane Index. Rider Levett Bucknall is a global construction cost management, project management and advisory company based in Hong Kong. Star-Advertiser.

Traffic was shut down on both sides of the Pali Highway around noon Tuesday as a woman threatened to jump from the highway on the Kailua side of the tunnel, Honolulu police said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Part of Hawaii Island’s ambitious legislative package to revitalize two areas in Hilo was pulled back from the brink Tuesday when Gov. David Ige issued his final list of vetoed bills. Tribune-Herald.

More senior citizens are on the waiting list for units at a housing complex under construction in Hilo than the total number of units the complex eventually will offer. The second phase of construction at Hilo’s Mohouli Heights Senior Neighborhood, which is intended to provide high-quality, affordable housing for low-income senior citizens, is on track for completion in October. Tribune-Herald.

North Hawaii residents packed the Waimea School cafeteria Tuesday anxious to hear from administrators of The Queen’s Health Systems and North Hawaii Community Hospital in the wake of reports of layoffs at the hospital. West Hawaii Today.

The Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo is asking for the public’s help with finding missing parts from a beloved sculpture at the corner of Kamehameha Avenue and Kalakaua Street. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island Pictures Future in Film and Video. Hawaii Public Radio.

Colin “Bud” Love, a community champion and longtime per diem judge, died July 1. Love died peacefully at his home at the age of 81. West Hawaii Today.

Maui


With a lawsuit against the project settled, the Maui Planning Commission unanimously approved a special management area use permit Tuesday for the $354.5 million mixed-use Makena Resort. Maui News.

A senior affordable housing project is being proposed for development in Kahului at the intersection of Kane and Vevau Streets. Maui Now.

Last month’s auction of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s mill equipment will be the last time the former company’s assets go on the auction block, company and auction officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

A Maui Community Correctional Center guard told an inmate she would lose her work furlough privileges if she reported having sexual contact with him, the woman testified Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui’s residential real estate market sizzled in June as home prices and sales achieved double-digit percentage gains from the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Sales increased by double digits on Maui last month for single-family homes and condominiums, growing 21.2 percent and 11.8 percent, respectively, according to the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

The Opaekaa Road bridge is on the road to being replaced and the single-lane bridge’s character won’t change much, thanks to input from the community. Garden Island.

Kauai Community Recycling Services, who owns and operates the HI5 bottle redemption center in the Arzadon Industrial Park in Kapaa, has changed the schedule of this facility. Garden Island.

Broken television sets, dilapidated tires and other past-their-prime household items dotted the grounds around Wailua Reservoir before Lori Stitt took action. Garden Island.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Absent owners pay one-third of property taxes, state to benefit from military spending, House kills pesticide disclosure bill, EPA probes pesticide effects on Native Hawaiians, Maui mayor jeered at state of county speech, North Shore surfer group protests wind turbines, former judge Burns dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2017 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Big Island aerial © 2017 All Hawaii News
A new report released by the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism estimates that close to one third of the state’s real property tax was paid by out-of-state owners in 2016. Pacific Business News.

U.S. military spending is on the rise, and Hawaii is likely to be a financial beneficiary, especially when it comes to expanded sea power. A $578 billion defense bill, up $5 billion overall from last year, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday on a bipartisan vote of 371-48. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Budget and Finance is reviewing the flow of federal funding into Hawaii to see what funds might be at risk from budget cuts or other actions by President Trump’s administration, Gov. David Ige said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are looking for ways to generate more state revenue by taxing foreign real estate investors. Hawaii Public Radio.

Leadership in the state House of Representatives killed a bill that would increase regulation over pesticide use in an 11th-hour move that’s attracting strong criticism from environmental activists who backed the measure. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii House of Representatives on Thursday quashed a bill that would have required large-scale agricultural operations to publicly disclose when and where they spray pesticides and insecticides. Civil Beat.

A bill that would require chemical companies to give notice before spraying restricted use pesticides around sensitive areas died on the Hawaii House floor on Thursday. Garden Island.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching an investigation into whether state agencies discriminated against Native Hawaiians on West Kauai and Molokai when licensing pesticide use on nearby farms. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture and its affiliated Agribusiness Development Corp. are being investigated for alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act. Garden Island.

Hawaii taxpayers are facing a legal bill of as much as $150,000 — and maybe more — to underwrite a campaign to topple President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would establish a working group to explore the use and best practices of blockchain technology in Hawaii has crossed over to the Senate. Blockchain technology is used to track digital money transactions by connecting “blocks,” or virtual bank statements and linking them chronologically on a “chain.” Pacific Business News.

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation said today that it has pulled back a $50,500 grant that had been awarded to help the Board of Education hire a search firm to recruit the next schools superintendent. Star-Advertiser.

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation has decided to pull its $50,500 donation for Hawaii’s search for a school superintendent out of concerns that the process is rigged in favor of Darrel Galera. Civil Beat.

Payment of a major grant to the Board of Education has been suspended over concerns a board member who quit to apply for the superintendent position could have an unfair advantage. KHON2.

Retired Judge James S. Burns, who served more than 30 years on the bench from state district court per diem judge to chief judge of the Intermediate Court of Appeals, died of throat cancer this morning at the Queen’s Medical Center. He was 79. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines' unexpected landing due to 'unruly passenger' was an expensive decision. This unscheduled landing may have cost the Honolulu-based airline tens of thousands of dollars due to costs incurred by dumping fuel, refueling, providing additional meals for delayed passengers as well as ground handling fees. Pacific Business News.

Commercial real estate sales in Hawaii dipped for a second straight year in 2016 but stayed above $4 billion thanks to the sale of roughly 2,500 hotel rooms by the largest local hotel company. Star-Advertiser.

Right now tax refunds are being delivered within four weeks. As things get busier, your state refund could take as long as 16 weeks. KHON2

Oahu

A new peer review penned by transit industry experts from across North America raises renewed concerns over the Honolulu rail agency’s ability to gauge the true cost and schedule for Oahu’s cash-strapped transit project. Star-Advertiser.

High turnover and distractions over old contract disputes are hampering Honolulu’s over-budget and behind-schedule rail project, according to a panel of independent transit experts commissioned to review the project’s management. Civil Beat.

A federal appeals court Thursday ruled in favor of the decision by Honolulu police to seize and hold 77 arcade machines as gambling devices in 2012. Star-Advertiser.

A battle is starting to swell between the developer of an on-shore wind energy farm that is planned for the area and a community group called “Surfers 4 Solar.” They are waging a battle over the effects the giant wind turbines may be having on the waves at one of the most-famous surf spots on the planet. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

East Hawaii legislators and business owners are urging the Hilo community to continue its support of a series of economic revitalization bills. Tribune-Herald.

The preservation of lands in Hakalau was once again on the Hawaii County Council agenda. Big Island Video News.

A bill that could boost safety at a popular swimming spot in Puna is moving through the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

Another lawsuit filed in a federal court in California is accusing Craft Brew Alliance Inc., which owns Kona Brewing Co., of misleading shoppers into believing they’re buying beer made in Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Alaska Airlines announced Thursday 13 new nonstop routes from the Bay Area, including its first between San Francisco and Kona, which will run daily and is set to begin on Dec. 14. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In his annual ‘State of the County’ address on Thursday, Mayor Alan Arakawa called Maui’s housing crisis his “most immediate priority,” vowing to find new ways to make it affordable to live in the county — and to find new ways to make the islands sustainable for future generations. Hawaii News Now.

Protesters seek to drown out Maui mayor's State of the County address. Hawaii News Now.

A group of demonstrators held signs outside the venue for the Mayor’s State of the County Address on Thursday, calling for respect of the Hawaiian Culture, accountability, and an apology for comments made about rocks some consider to be sacred at ʻĪao Valley. Maui Now.

Mayor Alan Arakawa presented an array of ambitious plans for the county, including buying more shoreline property to prevent development, creating an affordable housing fund and shutting down the 87-year-old Waiehu Municipal Golf Course during his State of the County address on Thursday. Maui News.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa announced the proposed closure of the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course due to continued operating losses. Maui Now.

ATC Mākena Holdings, LLC will be completing several projects that will significantly expand coastal access and recreational opportunities for the public within the Mākena Resort area. Maui Now.

Kauai

An agreement between the County of Kauai and a land developer for the use of land to provide access and parking was deferred Wednesday during the Kauai County Council meeting. Garden Island.

A 55-year-old pavilion at Kapaa Beach Park was taken down last month. Garden Island.

The public is invited to attend the mayor’s State of the County address. Garden Island.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Thirty Meter Telescope opponents raise $250k, medical marijuana cultivation to start in March, Oahu property values increase 5.9%, Hawaii loses Tom Moffatt, 'Uncle Herb' Weatherwax, new DLNR facilities planned for Hawaii, Maui counties, electricity hike unpopular, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Occupy Hilo media
Thirty Meter Telescope protesters 2015, courtesy Occupy Hilo Media
Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope have raised $250,000 to pay for the travel costs for Native American and other protesters from the mainland to come to the islands, Hawaii News Now has learned.

The University of Hawaii called its last witness Tuesday, but the Thirty Meter Telescope’s contested case still has a long way to go. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Health is expecting Hawaii’s eight medical marijuana dispensary contractors to begin cultivation in February and start sales a few months later — after an online tracking system is installed. Star-Advertiser.

Here are a few tidbits about Hawaii gleaned from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey, based on a four-year period dating to 2011. Civil Beat.

Four Democratic congressmen have written to officials at the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration claiming that Hawaii’s longline fishing fleet is operating illegally by employing — and in some cases possibly abusing — foreign fishermen. Civil Beat.

The state Public Utilities Commission has opened up a possibility for solar customers to get credit on their electrical bills, but that depends on grandfathered customers of a more lucrative program forfeiting their place in line. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Hawaii $3.1 million in funding to combat invasive species across the state. West Hawaii Today.

After months of deliberation and collecting community input, the Hawaii Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the update and extension of its strategic plan. Garden Island.

In a career spanning more than 60 years, Tom Moffatt became one of the biggest and most popular figures in Hawaii’s entertainment industry. Moffatt died Monday night at home after several months of declining health. He was 85. Star-Advertiser.

Tom Moffatt, the legendary Honolulu radio DJ and concert promoter who introduced such acts as Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson to the Islands, has died. He was 85. Pacific Business News.

Today the Aloha State learned that local concert promoter and radio personality Tom Moffatt had passed away Monday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The total assessed value of taxable property across Oahu is rising 5.9 percent in 2017, with residential owners seeing an average increase of 5.2 percent, city tax officials said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Sixty-four military families have now filed suit over fears of pesticide contamination near their homes at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe. Civil Beat.

“Uncle Herb” Weatherwax, one of a handful of remaining local Hawaiʻi Pearl Harbor military survivors, passed away Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Maui Now.

How many trees would you have to plant to offset the amount of carbon you put into the atmosphere? A UH Manoa professor is leading an effort to help answer that question. Hawaii News Now.

The president of a Honolulu-based oil, gas and real estate company will step into the shoes of his nonagenarian father at the end of this year to lead Barnwell Industries Inc. as CEO. Star-Advertiser.

Former office manager accused of embezzling $1.3M, indicted on 311 counts. KHON2.

Hawaii

Hawaii Public Utilities Commissioners heard testimony in opposition to the Hawaii Electric light Company’s proposed rate increase during a public hearing on Tuesday evening. Big Island Video News.

Former Mayor Billy Kenoi was no longer the mayor when the Clerk’s Office received his veto of a bill giving the County Council more say over the hiring and firing of the county’s civil attorneys. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is planning to consolidate its West Hawaii services in a new administration building and baseyard near Honokohau Small Boat Harbor in Kealakehe. West Hawaii Today.

The new Haihai Fire Station construction project is more than halfway complete and is expected to be finished in early spring. Tribune-Herald.

The state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals Tuesday dismissed a Hawaii man’s claim that he is “not subject to the governance” of the state, instead arguing he is a national of the Hawaiian Kingdom.West Hawaii Today.

A Puna man whose ramshackle three-story home in Kalapana Seaview Estates dubbed the “House of Cards” burned down more than 2 1/2 years ago is back at it again. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday at the Maui Annex state building on Mahalani Street in Wailuku, as the state prepares to make way for demolition of the 57-year old building, and construction of a new building starting in early 2017. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Department of Water has scheduled an eight-hour water shutdown for Kalaheo residents in the Brydeswood Subdivision and on Kaumualii Highway between Papalina Road and Halewili Road. Garden Island.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

One inmate costs more than $50k annually, Tulsi Gabbard won't debate, Ige may veto bill protecting employees on social media, feds may grant Honolulu rail plan extension, more on Zuckerberg's wall, lava rises on Big Island, late Maui mayor remembered, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Corrections officer oversees inmates © 2016 All Hawaii News
The amount it takes to house one prison inmate for a year is more than many Hawaii residents make in a year. According to the Hawaii Department of Public Safety, the state spends about $140 per inmate per day, which includes program services, food, health care, and administrative costs. When you add it up, that amounts to $51,100 per year per prisoner locked up in Hawaii. KHON2.

Nearly half of the states in the U.S. have adopted laws to prevent employers from accessing their employees’ private social-media accounts. But Gov. David Ige this week announced his intent to veto such a bill for Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking public input on sea level rise adaptation in Hawaii. The DLNR will hold its first public informational meeting on this topic on Wednesday night. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is being taken to task by her opponent in the Democratic primary for refusing to debate her after the congresswoman blasted the leadership of the Democratic National Committee last year for limiting the number of debates in the presidential primary. Star-Advertiser.

One day after 170 Democrats ended their sit-in on the House floor over a lack of movement on gun control, a bipartisan group of representatives that included Tulsi Gabbard sprang into legislative action. Gabbard (D-Hawaii) joined eight other House members Friday, including four Republicans, in the introduction of legislation aimed at restricting the sale of firearms to individuals placed on the No-Fly list and Selectee list, subsets of the broader Terrorism Screening Database. West Hawaii Today.

A typical household in the County of Kauai spends more than an average household on the Big Island and Oahu, according to a new study by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The County of Kauai results include survey data from the islands of Kauai and Lanai. Pacific Business News.

A favorable settlement has been reached for Volkswagen owners in 43 states including Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Federal officials said Tuesday they’re weighing whether to give the city an additional 10 months to deliver its rail recovery plan, an extension that would buy Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and rail leaders more time to pursue the dollars they hope will be enough to finish the full 20-mile line. Star-Advertiser.

Less than two weeks after Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell backed a focus on getting rail to Middle Street, he’s telling the feds he still wants to get it all the way to Ala Moana and asking for more time to find the funds to get there. KHON2.

City contractors have successfully bored a 3-mile tunnel beneath Oneawa Hills, a critical component of the $371 million Kaneohe-Kailua Waste Water Conveyance and Treatment Facilities Project, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The tunnel boring machine called "Pohakulani" is expected to complete its 3-mile journey from Kailua to Kaneohe on Tuesday in an underground sewer tunnel. KITV4.

Nearing its one-year anniversary, a program in Kalihi that helps Micronesians connect to health, social, education and employment services has now served more than 2,000 people. But it has also come in for some criticism lately. Civil Beat.

As many as 100 working-yet-homeless families across the islands will each be eligible for up to $9,000 over the next year, beginning July 15, with the funds aiming to get them off the street and into rental housing as fast as possible. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Charter Commission is holding a series of community meetings this week to accept testimony on proposed city charter amendments. Civil Beat.

Hawaii officials are asking websites and blogs to stop pointing people to the off-limits crumbling remains of a Hawaiian monarchy palace. Officials said last week vandals etched crosses on 180-year-old walls of King Kamehameha III's former summer palace in Honolulu. Associated Press.

Castle Medical Center plans to buy Hawaii Pacific University’s sprawling Windward Oahu campus to expand its health-care offerings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Smoke from burning trees and open channels of lava could easily be seen Tuesday from Kalapana as the lava flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent traveled down Pulama pali. Tribune-Herald.

The nonprofit company trying to build the Thirty Meter Telescope is continuing with its pledge to donate $1 million annually for educating students on Hawaii Island, where the project is planned, even though its future in the state is in limbo. Associated Press.

Eight candidates for Hawaii County Mayor – Eric Drake Weinert Jr., Timothy Waugh, Shannon McCandless, Wally Lau, Harry Kim, Pete Hoffmann, Marlene Hapai, and Paul Bryant – are asked about how they would handle the Big Island’s budget, including personnel and capital improvement projects. Big Island Video News.

If poverty is an island, Hawaii Community College Chancellor Rachel Solemsaas said she wants to be captain of the boat sailing over to help. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Local politicians and others remembered former Maui Mayor and House Speaker Elmer Cravalho as a strong negotiator and great businessman who will be dearly missed. He died Monday at age 90. Civil Beat.

Maui’s first mayor, Elmer Cravalho, who moved the Valley Isle from plantations to a top visitor destination and served as speaker of the Territorial House of Representatives during the fight for statehood, died Monday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Elmer F. Cravalho, who served as Maui County chairman and mayor for 12 years, died Monday afternoon under hospice care after a long illness. He was 90 years old. Maui News.

Food Network’s popular "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" will premiere its "Soakin’ Up Maui" episode on July 1 featuring Da Kitchen in Kahului, Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse in Kihei and the Like Poke? food truck, the owner of Fat Daddy’s Smokehouse told Pacific Business News.

The installation of the 24 streetlight fixtures on Maui Lani Parkway is part of a three-month pilot project by the utility. Maui News.

Kauai

An assistant chief of police with more than 20 years with the Kauai Police Department filed a civil lawsuit Monday against the police chief, the department and the county of Kauai. Garden Island.

Some of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s neighbors are grumbling about a rock wall he’s having built on his property on the north shore of Kauai. Associated Press.

Facebook’s billionaire founder Mark Zuckerberg made a big splash on Kauai two years ago when he bought about 700 verdant acres for more than $100 million, but now he’s begun to change the landscape on his property and some neighbors don’t like it. Star-Advertiser.

With demolition of Coco Palms underway, officials turned their attention to permitting for the $175 million hotel. Garden Island.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Ige signals veto of social media, Airbnb tax, seven other bills, signs Maui stream diversion bill, Maui's first mayor dies, Djou gets rare union endorsements for Honolulu mayor, Hawaii Island police switching to Glocks, Kauai police files lawsuit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy office of the governor
Gov. David Ige singles vetoes, courtesy photo
Gov. David Ige said he plans to veto nine bills. Among the nine is a bill that would prohibit employers from accessing or obtaining employees’ social media accounts and passwords. Associated Press.

The Governor today released the list of bills he intends to veto or needs more time to look over. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige announced Monday that he intends to veto nine bills, including a measure that would allow vacation-rental companies to collect taxes on behalf of the state. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige expects to veto a hotly contested bill that would allow transient accommodations brokers, such as Airbnb, to act as tax collection agents for the state, as well as eight other bills that he’s determined to be legally questionable, fiscally unsound or generally problematic. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige said Monday he intends to veto a bill that would allow Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and other alternative accommodations companies to act as tax brokers on behalf of the state. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige detailed his "Intent To Veto" list in a press release Monday.  On the list are nine bills. KITV4.

Gov. David Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers Monday that he intends to veto nine bills. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige notified legislative leaders and key lawmakers that nine bills are on the Intent to Veto list. The Hawai‘i State Constitution requires the governor to give notice to the Legislature by Monday’s deadline. Maui Now.

Young Brothers, Hawaii’s largest interisland cargo service provider recently invested tens of millions of dollars in four new tugs — the first to be delivered to the state in 2018 and the fourth by 2019. Garden Island.

Oahu
The city wants 10 additional months to submit to federal transit officials a plan for how it intends to proceed with its increasingly expensive rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Officials overseeing Oahu's billion-dollar rail project have expressed concern in recent months about staffing issues that could potentially delay progress on the rail. Associated Press.

The images of the mural taggers left on the rail cars were jaw dropping not just because they're elaborate... But for the apparent easy access to Honolulu's very expensive train. KITV4.

Rail officials hope the cleanup of a rail car vandalized by graffiti is done by the end of the week. KHON2.

A 1st Circuit Court of Hawaii judge ruled Monday that state Sen. Laura Thielen properly filed her nomination papers for re-election this year. Civil Beat.

Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday that the Navy’s plan to secure and prevent future leaks at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility is moving forward and making progress. Star-Advertiser.

Three monitoring wells will be built near where 27,000 gallons of fuel spilled from the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill fuel storage tanks in January 2014. Civil Beat.

In seven months the Hale Mauliola homeless shelter on Sand Island has managed to get 61 individuals into permanent housing, but perhaps the greatest benefit is the lessons learned from the first-of-its-kind project that can be translated to other homeless projects in the future, according to Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayoral candidate Charles Djou scored endorsements Monday from five organized labor unions that had backed incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell in two previous bids. Star-Advertiser.

Charles Djou’s campaign acknowledged the novelty of the occasion of having received union endorsements in his campaign for Honolulu mayor. After all, the Republican politician had not received labor backing since 2006, and Democrats have historically sided with Democrats. Civil Beat.

The owner of a company that sells Hawaiian-themed souvenirs was sentenced to six months in jail this afternoon and fined $40,000 for smuggling walrus ivory and whale teeth into and out of the country and for importing black coral without a permit. The company, Hawaiian Accessories Inc., was also fined $50,000. Star-Advertiser.

Column: A Rare Chance To Explore Chinatown’s Mysterious Lofts. History is preserved in the apartments and businesses that most people will never see above street level in Honolulu’s Chinatown. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Police Department is going the way of many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and exchanging officers’ clunky old Smith &Wessons for sleek, new Glock 9 mm semiautomatic handguns. West Hawaii Today.

The latest lava flow from Kilauea’s Pu‘u ‘O‘o vent has begun to peek over the pali, providing curious onlookers an early glimpse of its glow from Kalapana. Tribune-Herald.

Things just got a lot louder at Kahaluu Beach Park, not to mention safer, thanks to a recently gifted long-distance communication system. The system lets lifeguard messages reach surfers 300 yards away from the north tower. West Hawaii Today.

Construction on the Waimea District Park continues, with the frame of the initial structure visible from Ala Ohia Road. A metal roof in nearly completed on one side of the covered play courts building that can be seen from the southeast side of town, atop exposed beams. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County consumers spent an average of $51,700 per household in 2014, with the bulk of those expenditures falling in three categories: housing, transportation and food. The number is less than both Oahu’s average ($62,280) and the nationwide average ($53,495). Hawaii County spends more on housing and food, but less on transportation as compared to the U.S. average. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Elmer F. Cravalho, who served as speaker of the state House, Maui County chairman and mayor for 12 years, died Monday afternoon under hospice care after a long illness. He was 90 years old. Maui News.

Elmer Cravalho, Maui’s first mayor, has died, county officials confirmed. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige on Monday signed a bill allowing Alexander & Baldwin to continue its more than century-old practice of diverting water from East Maui streams for at least three more years under current lease terms to the jeers of East Maui taro growers and environmentalists. Maui News.

Among the nine bills Gov. David Ige put on his list of potential vetoes Monday is one that aims to help Maui County public hospital employees as the facilities move to become privately operated by Kaiser Permanente. Maui News.

With some using Brexit as a cautionary tale of rushing a vote, dozens of testifiers made their case to a Maui County Council committee on Monday on a new form of county governance, which could be placed on the general election ballot in November depending on what council members decide in the coming weeks. Maui News.

California-based U.S. Realty Partners Inc. said Monday that it has acquired the Lahaina Cannery Mall in West Maui from an affiliate of Safeway for an undisclosed price. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

An assistant chief in the Kauai Police Department is suing the department and Kauai County. The civil court filing by assistant chief Mark Begley claims he was harassed and intimidated for following department procedures after a female officer accused another assistant chief of inappropriate behavior. KHON2.

Salvaging of the Coco Palms property is wrapped up, and demolition has begun. On Monday, heavy demolition equipment took to the 46-acre lot, tearing down the former cottages. Garden Island.

With Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump the presumptive presidential nominees for the Democratic and Republican parties, many voters on Kauai have mixed feelings on who they’re supporting to be the next president of the United States. Garden Island.