Recreational fishing licenses among bills signed to protect Hawaii's ocean, $9 for a loaf of bread highlights food supply chain upheaval, lawsuit filed over jail COVID conditions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

A wrasse swims over coral off Hawaii Island ©2021 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige signs 9 bills to commemorate World Oceans Day. To commemorate World Oceans Day on Tuesday, Gov. David Ige signed into law nine bills meant to preserve Hawaii’s marine resources which included those establishing fees targeted at visitors, recreational fishing licenses and additional protections for sharks. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Garden Island.

$9 For A Loaf Of Bread? Here’s Why It’s So Expensive To Eat At Home These Days. Bottlenecks throughout supply chains combined with rising demand are pushing up the cost of groceries. Civil Beat.

As business booms with hungry tourists, restaurants struggle to keep up. Approximately 37,000 people flew into and around the state on Monday, according to the Safe Travels program. Hawaii News Now.

Lawsuit alleges poor conditions at Hawaii correctional facilities contributed to COVID outbreaks. A new lawsuit against the state also says the Public Safety Department violated its own COVID policies repeatedly, including by having up to 60 inmates in a single room and mixing sick inmates with healthy ones. Hawaii News Now.

Restrictions could remain until October if pace of vaccinations doesn’t increase. There’s no sign yet that large numbers of unvaccinated residents have been rushing to pharmacies, clinics and other sites to get COVID-19 shots since the state on Friday unveiled its “Hawaii Got Vaccinated” campaign, replete with prizes and discounts at local businesses. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii reports 36 new COVID cases; no new fatalities. Of the new cases, 15 were on Oahu, 13 on Maui, two on Hawaii Island, and one on Kauai. There were also five residents diagnosed out-of-state. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Bomb threats lock down Pearl Harbor-Hickam for 4 hours. Two phoned-in bomb threats claiming an explosive device was on the destroyer USS William P. Lawrence in the shipyard’s Dry Dock 4 led to a lengthy Joint Base Pearl Harbor-­Hickam lockdown Tuesday, bottling up thousands who were told to shelter in place and avoid windows in the event of flying glass, officials said. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Family Of Man Killed By HPD Wants Officer To Face Criminal Charges. The decision will be up to Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm, but his office has yet to review the case even though it happened in 2019. Civil Beat.

Environmental Protection Agency fines 2 Hawaii companies over jet fuel release. The Environmental Protection Agency has fined two companies $150,000 for the release of 42,000 gallons of jet fuel in late 2014 at a bulk fuel storage facility on Sand Island. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. Star-Advertiser.

Kapalama Canal project OK’d in final impact review. A proposed $80 million city project that plans to turn a canal in Kapalama into a mile-long recreational area has completed its final environmental impact statement. Star-Advertiser.

Senior housing tower ready to rise in Chinatown. More than 150 senior households with low incomes should be calling Chinatown home two years from now at a soon-to-rise rental apartment tower on city land. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Aquarium industry submits revised EIS: Fishing permits, allowable species to be reduced. A revised environmental impact statement from a commercial aquarium collectors’ group states it will rely on fish population trend data and projected population trends to implement catch quotas along the West Hawaii coast. West Hawaii Today.

Department of Liquor Control to lease office space in Kona. Just a decade after opening, the West Hawaii Civic Center has reached its brim and a Hawaii County department is again leasing office space in Kailua Village. West Hawaii Today.

New eco-hotel in Hilo launches program to clean beaches. The Soul Community Planet Hotel in Hilo — formerly the Hilo Seaside Hotel — opened on June 1 and immediately launched the Pristine Makai program, which partners with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund to clear marine debris from the south shores of the island. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

Maui

Economist questions hotel moratorium. A Hawaii economist on Monday questioned the timing and the reasoning behind a Maui County Council bill that would temporarily halt building permits for visitor accommodations in the tourism hotbeds of West and South Maui. Maui News.

Maui Home Prices Soar Over Historic $1 Million Mark in May, Up 30% from Year Ago. In May 2021, with inventory low and buyer demand high, the median sales price for single family homes in Maui County increased to an historic high of $1,039,000 — a 30% increase from one year ago, according to data from the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui Now.

A little like the old days. The Upcountry Farmers Market draws a crowd reminiscent of pre-pandemic days on the morning of May 29 at the Kulamalu Town Center in Pukalani, shortly after Gov. David Ige lifted outdoor mask mandates statewide. Maui News.

Maui Bus Will Combine Certain Monthly Passes Into Single $25 Pass. Riders ages 55 and older, people with certified disability fixed-route cards, Medicare cardholders, and students ages 24 and younger will be eligible. Hawaii Public Radio. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hawaii Tourism Authority gives $100K to Kauai shuttle, offers other help after rental car shortage. HTA said today that it is supporting Kauai County’s development of a pilot shuttle program between Lihue Airport and resort areas, which is anticipated to start next month. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists Are Running Out Of Time To Save This Critically Endangered Kauai Bird. The new data suggests the population of akikiki — a honeycreeper bird found only on Kauai —  may be declining faster than previously thought. Civil Beat.

Candidates make last-minute pitches ahead of Saturday primary, tax breaks for accessory dwelling units, Land Board member contacted TMT judge, taro shortage looms following Kauai floods, no swag at Maui Jim invitational, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

No vote no grumble file photo

Candidates running in this year’s primary made their final pitches to voters this week ahead of election day on Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

In the final days before Saturday's primary election, candidates are trying to get a little creative to get attention from voters. Hawaii News Now.

Primary settles most races in Democrat dominated Hawaii. That's because the Democratic Party continues to overwhelmingly dominate Hawaii politics. The Republican Party isn't even fielding candidates in most state legislative districts. Associated Press.

Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Sign Wave to the Finish Line. Precinct voting sites are due to open Saturday and the Democratic contenders for Governor are making their final push to the finish line. Hawaii Public Radio.

False missile alert plays key role in Hawaii governor race. Hawaii Gov. David Ige wants voters to look at his four years of accomplishments, including his handling of Big Island’s erupting volcano, as reasons to give him a second term. But U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, his main opponent in Saturday’s Democratic primary in the heavily blue state, wants voters to look at 38 minutes in January as reason enough to send Ige packing. Associated Press.

Wannabe voters for the first time will be able to register to vote — and vote — on the same day at all 235 polling places across the islands Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

It Looks Like Voter Turnout Will Be As Low As Ever For Saturday’s Primary. The pattern of absentee voting is similar to the 2016 primary, which ended up having the lowest turnout in state history. Civil Beat.

Rising Democratic star rallies for isle candidate. The special guest, and a major draw, was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an emerging progressive leader in the Democratic Party, who flew into Honolulu to lend some last-minute support to Rep. Kaniela Ing’s campaign. Star-Advertiser.

Ocasio-Cortez Brings Her Star Power To Hawaii To Boost Kaniela Ing. The democratic socialist who recently scored a big upset in New York appears at a rally for Ing’s congressional candidacy. Civil Beat.

Congressional candidate Kaniela Ing gains support from rising Democratic star. Hawaii News Now.

What's at Stake in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Race? While a lot of attention is focused on the Governor’s race, there’s a lot at stake for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as well. Hawaii Public Radio.

Take The Civil Beat 2018 Primary Election Quiz. Think you’re a political whiz? Test your knowledge of top candidates running for office in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

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Health Department to begin enforcing new food handler certification rule. Section 11-50-20(c), Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), requires that the person in charge of a food establishment during normal work hours (including during food preparation) complete training in proper food handling in order to obtain certification. KHON2.

The former Love’s Bakery in Kalihi, a billion-dollar Maui hotel and about 1,500 rental homes in Ewa Beach have put Hawaii commercial real estate sales this year on a blistering pace that already has topped last year’s total, according to a new report. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii to receive funding to remove more than a ton of debris from coastlines. NOAA will give $231, 660 to Hawaii Wildlife Fund for the project to remove debris from the coastlines of Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui and Lanai. KHON2.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will award more than $230,000 to the Hawaii Wildlife Fund to remove 112 metric tons of abandoned fishing gear and marine debris from the coastlines of the Big Island, Kauai, Maui and Lanai. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The state Office of Election said around 400 volunteers are still needed for polling sites across Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu homeowners who want to build accessory dwelling units would get annual tax breaks of about $200 under a bill proposed by Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

There could be more incentive for homeowners who build an accessory dwelling unit. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell introduced a new bill, that would give homeowners a $60,000 exemption on the value of their property. KHON2.

A state board gave the go-ahead Thursday for Howard Hughes Corp. to develop its sixth condominium tower at Ward Village in Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Crews complete repairs to 16-inch water main break in Haleiwa. Crews completed repairs Friday to a 16-inch water main break that shut down a major thoroughfare in Haleiwa and resulted in a school closure. Hawaii News Now.

Despite the initial threat of a hurricane bringing wind and rain, marine wildlife artist Wyland finished restoring a whale mural late Thursday afternoon that originally was dedicated 23 years ago by the late actor Pat Morita. Star-Advertiser.

Saint Francis School will be led by a male head of school for the first time in its 94-year history following the ouster in June of Sister Joan of Arc Souza. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A member of the Board of Land and Natural Resources who supports the Thirty Meter Telescope tried to contact state Supreme Court Justice Michael Wilson in violation of court rules. Star-Advertiser.

PGV to remain offline for at least 18 months. Ormat Technologies, owners of Puna Geothermal Venture, revealed in a Wednesday earnings call that reopening the power plant would take at least 18 months. Tribune-Herald.

A new restriction is in place for Hawaii Community Correctional Center inmate releases as Public Safety officials probe a July blunder that resulted in an accused murderer being erroneously released into the community. West Hawaii Today.

Aquarium fish industry says no significant impact in resuming netting. West Hawaii Today.

Queen Kaahumanu Highway Widening Celebrated In Kona. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Ethics board warns against accepting tournament gifts. For years swag from the Maui Jim Maui Invitational basketball tourney has been given to county officials. Maui News.

Maui ethics board warns against accepting tournament gifts. The Maui ethics board is advising county employees and elected officials to not accept swag or tickets from college basketball tournament officials, warning the gifts could be seen as intent to influence or reward in the performance of their official duties. Associated Press.

C-SPAN Bus Visits Maui August 21-23. C-SPAN, the Washington, D.C.-based public affairs network, in coordination with Spectrum, is heading to Hawaii August 15-25 as the next leg of the network’s 14-month 50 Capitals Tour. Maui Now.

Kauai

Early voting polls closed at 4 p.m., but voters still have an opportunity to cast their ballots Saturday. This election will decide which two Kauai mayoral candidates will move on to November’s general election. It will also decide the 14 council candidates who advance. Garden Island.

Could Hawaii face a taro shortage? Farms still fighting after April's floods. Taro farms along the North Shore of Kauai still have not recovered from the record rainfall and flooding back in April. Their setbacks could lead to a state-wide taro shortage. KITV.

Community cats are next in line for sterilization as September draws closer and with it the next step in the Animal Balance FIX Kauai project. Garden Island.

Honolulu Zoo struggling; schools superintendent, tourism officials, PUC appointee named; Maui and Kauai advance budgets; tropical storms, high seas expected for summer; Caldwell, Honolulu officials to get 5% raise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Zoo © 2017 All Hawaii News

A year after the Honolulu Zoo suffered an embarrassing loss of accreditation from the Association of Zoos &Aquariums, three zoo exhibits are shuttered and the facility lacks a permanent director. Star-Advertiser.

A rare convergence of rising sea levels with some of the highest tides of the year could cause episodes of serious coastal flooding in Hawaii over the next few months, scientists are warning. Star-Advertiser.

More than 30,000 online public comments have already poured into the U.S. Department of Interior’s web-based docket system since the agency opened a review of more than two dozen federally protected areas, including the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and Pacific Remote Islands, at the direction of President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

After years of legal wrangling, the state and advocates for foster parents thought they had a deal to help cover the cost of caring for foster children — but one state lawmaker torpedoed the settlement. Star-Advertiser.

An Arizona school district superintendent was tapped to serve as Hawaii’s next chief of public schools. Tribune-Herald.

The state Board of Education said Friday it has selected Christina Kishimoto as the new superintendent to lead the Hawaii State Department of Education. Pacific Business News.

Christina Kishimoto, superintendent of a public school district in Arizona, has been selected as the new Hawaii public schools superintendent, the state Board of Education announced Friday. Maui News.

Rep. Beth Fukumoto is expected to face tough questioning from members of the Democratic Party as she seeks their acceptance after ditching the Republican Party earlier this year amid a political dust-up over critical comments that she made about President Donald Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Friday appointed James “Jay” Griffin, a natural energy researcher at the University of Hawaii Manoa, to an interim seat on the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

Two business and tourism veterans will join the Hawaii Tourism Authority, the government agency responsible for statewide tourism marketing. The state Legislature has confirmed Sherry Menor- McNamara, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, and Kelly Sanders, area managing director of Marriott Hotels and Resorts Waikiki, as HTA’s newest board members. Star-Advertiser.

Investigators Try To Figure Out Why Man Tried To Disrupt Flight. The man who created a disturbance on an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu faces possible federal charges of interfering with a flight crew. Associated Press.

A University of Hawaii faculty member is causing a stir in conservative media circles by suggesting that white men need to quit their jobs to make room for minorities and women. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Souki’s House career lasted 35 years for good reason. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Salary Commission is recommending 5 percent raises for the mayor, police chief and other top city officials. Civil Beat.

Even with the official number of homeless people soaring in their communities, some state and city lawmakers on Oahu say the latest homeless census gives them a better idea of how to plan for possibilities that could include hygiene centers and even tent cities. Star-Advertiser.

A former employee of DuPont Pioneer on Oahu is suing the company, claiming she was retaliated against for raising concerns about its use of pesticides. Civil Beat.

A planned public school envisioned to be a “vertical” prototype for urban Honolulu areas near transit stations is on track to be built sooner rather than later as part of a Kakaako project with two residential apartment towers. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council is advancing a bill aimed at addressing long-standing concerns about foul odors emanating from waters around the Honolulu Country Club in Salt Lake. Star-Advertiser.

Public comments wanted for study on future of Haiku Stairs. KHON2.

A $300 million waterfront retail village would be a welcome amenity for many Hoakalei Resort and Ocean Pointe homeowners in Ewa Beach, but some of them still want something else: $27 million from a jury award two years ago and more in pending claims. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Transportation plans to begin resurfacing Farrington Highway from Kili Drive to Kaena Point in Makaha in the coming weeks. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu International Airport’s name will be officially changed to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at a ceremony on Memorial Day weekend, but the new sign is already up on the main airport building. Star-Advertiser.

AT&T workers in Hawaii continued their three-day strike on Sunday to fight for better wages and benefits. Four of Oahu's nine AT&T stores remained closed while workers rallied near Ala Moana Beach park. Hawaii News Now.

Resort Fees: A Hidden Pain For Tourists, A Windfall For Hotels. While consumer advocates decry costs for amenities like swimming pool access and in-room safes, the fees bring in an estimated $2.6 billion annually for hotels. Civil Beat.

Natives are recolonizing urban Honolulu. Native birds, that is. The white tern or Manu O Kū is thriving in Hawaiʻi’s most populous city, and so is its fan base – the Hui Manu O Kū. Hawaii Public Radio.

Commentary: Rail debacle should prompt developers, bankers to step up. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Chlamydia infections are circulating unchecked in Hawaii County, state Department of Health data shows. Tribune-Herald.

Kona led Hawaii Island in auto thefts in 2016 and is on track to do so this year, as well, according to data from the Hawaii Police Department. Tribune-Herald.

Dr. Sharon Bintliff left county councilmembers smiling after a vote in support of her nomination to sit on the ethics board. Big Island Video News.

In a case of justice grinding slowly but exceedingly fine, the Hawaii Island Board of Registration on Tuesday is scheduled to pick up a 2014 election dispute that first took a trip to the Hawaii Supreme Court. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo’s state senator says it “is really, really unfortunate,” that Hawaii County is still without an East Hawaii representative on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Big Island Video News.

The state Land Board rejected a petition from a Thirty Meter Telescope opponent seeking an online transcript of the project’s contested case hearing. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Office of Housing and Community Development has prepared its list of projects it plans to fund with allocations from a long-standing federal initiative, but it’s not clear how long that program will continue. Tribune-Herald.

After the rescue of more than 80 dogs from a South Kona property, the Hawaii Island Humane Society is looking to the community to give the animals temporary homes. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council passed on first reading Friday an approximately $705.2 million fiscal 2018 budget. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission will hold a hearing Tuesday on ATC Makena Holding’s application for a special management area permit, but under a court order last week the panel will only acknowledge and accept petitions to intervene. Maui News.

The National Weather Service is expecting an “above-average year” for tropical cyclones, which could destroy huge sections of Honoapiilani Highway and isolate West Maui residents from the rest of the island for months — possibly a year, a senior forecaster and hurricane specialist said. Maui News.

A pesticide-free pilot program will launch in four Maui parks over the coming year in the county’s quest to find greener measures that won’t break the bank. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council voted 6-1 to approve $201 million for the next fiscal year on May 12. Oahu, Maui and the Big Island councils are expected to make decisions on their respective budgets by mid-June. Highlights of Kauai County budget, which is the highest in a decade, include reducing the mayor’s original proposal by $2 million without increasing property taxes. Garden Island.

Even with the threat of being open to lawsuits, lifeguards will continue to man their respective towers this summer. Garden Island.

Seventeen health-care professionals on Kauai are adding their voices to a request that Gov. David Ige ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos in Hawaii. Garden Island.

Kauai’s lawmakers will recap the legislative session at the Lihue Business Association’s Thursday meeting at Duke’s Canoe Club. Garden Island.

Kenoi found not guilty in theft trial, HART executive director to be Hanabusa's chief of staff, PACs fuel fight in Honolulu mayoral race, Maui council defers polystyrene bill, building permit gripes in Hilo, Kauai fishnets feed H-Power, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kenoi hugs supporters after acquittal, pool photo by Hollyn Johnson/Tribune-Herald

In a stunning and unanimous verdict Tuesday, a Hawaii island jury took 24 hours to find Mayor Billy Kenoi not guilty of all charges related to personal and alcohol purchases that Kenoi billed to the county — and later repaid — from 2011 to 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Billy Kenoi was acquitted of all remaining charges Tuesday in his criminal trial in Hilo Circuit Court. Tribune-Herald.

Jurors have found Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi not guilty of all theft charges against him. Civil Beat.

A Big Island jury found Mayor Billy Kenoi not guilty on all counts today on his alleged misuse of his county issued purchasing card. Hawaii Public Radio.

The decision, read in a Hilo courtroom at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, declared Kenoi not guilty on all counts. The mayor mouthed the words “thank you” to the jury. KHON2.

Not guilty. That's the verdict a jury handed down in Mayor Billy Kenoi's theft trial. KITV.

Mayor Billy Kenoi is not guilty. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Island Mayor Billy Kenoi has been found not guilty on all counts for his alleged misuse of his county-issued purchasing card in a trial that questioned whether spending hundreds of dollars on whiskey and pineapple juice is a legitimate government expense. Associated Press.

The most sensational example of how Mayor Billy Kenoi used his county purchasing card never made it into the courtroom. Star-Advertiser.

Billy Kenoi’s future in politics is a hot topic again after the Big Island mayor was acquitted on all counts in his felony theft trial. Hawaii News Now.

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Mike Formby, acting executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, will become Colleen Hanabusa’s chief of staff if she wins the general election Tuesday to fill the seat left vacant by U.S. Rep. Mark Takai, who died from cancer in July. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Board of Education voted Tuesday afternoon to begin the search for a new schools superintendent to replace Kathryn Matayoshi. KHON2.

Hawaii voters have an opportunity to change the state’s constitution in ways that would affect how surplus tax revenues are used and the threshold for jury trials in civil cases. Civil Beat.

More than 100 foreign fishermen who work on Hawaii longline vessels that bring in tuna and swordfish to Honolulu piers have been sent back to their countries by U.S. Customs and Border Protection over the past decade for offenses such as drinking alcohol, performing work that they are not authorized to do, or straying too far from the piers. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

More than $2.5 million has been spent in the Honolulu mayoral campaign since the Aug. 13 primary election, about half of it from independent political action committees seeking to sway voters both for and against incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Super PACs Raise Over $1 Million In Honolulu Mayor’s Race. Two political action committees favor Kirk Caldwell while a third, funded by engineer Dennis Mitsunaga, is backing challenger Charles Djou. Civil Beat.

Until now, the money and the people behind an anti-Kirk Caldwell political action committee has been kept secret. Hawaii News Now.

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A new Hawaii Army National Guard unit took delivery of three Black Hawk medevac helicopters Friday at Kalaeloa Airfield, paving the way for a new capability within the islands’ reserve force. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says it expects to hire two more employees at Kaena Point State Park Reserve to better protect nesting albatrosses that were attacked last year and help curtail other violations. Civil Beat.

As the supply of housing continues to diminish on Oahu, the cost of renting continues to climb, according to a report released Tuesday by real estate consultant Ricky Cassiday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

It’s been a little more than a year since the county beefed up its staff and overhauled its building permit review process in an effort to speed up permits. But about a dozen people — primarily design professionals and construction contractors — on Tuesday laughed off a Public Works official’s contention that things are much better now. West Hawaii Today.

After being approved by Hawaii County Council late last month, a plan to improve connectivity in Upper Puna is now in the hands of the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Public Works. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two proposals that would extend the ban on plastic bags to reusable ones and polystyrene food container products in Maui County were deferred Monday afternoon by a County Council committee. Maui News.

Most of the content in Mayor Alan Arakawa’s five bills aimed at curbing behavior by homeless people, such as going the bathroom in public or drinking in parks, is already enforceable by other county or state laws, said Maui County Prosecuting Attorney John D. Kim on Monday. Maui News.

An investigation of Hawaiian Airlines baggage handlers accused of stealing items from checked luggage in Maui has widened. Hawaii News Now.

Major Maui solar farms starting construction within weeks. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

A former psychiatric social worker at Kauai Community Correctional Center was forced out of her job for trying to protect female inmates from a warden who allegedly subjected them to sexual humiliation and discrimination, her attorney told jurors at the start of trial in her lawsuit Tuesday. Associated Press.

Protecting Earth’s oceans is paramount to survival on Kauai and two local organizations are providing an opportunity for residents to have a say in preserving their place. Garden Island.

It took just seven months to fill up another 20-foot Matson container with nets scavenged from Kauai’s beaches, and Saturday the debris will be shipped to Oahu. Garden Island.

Lanai

 Hokama faces political rookie for Lanai seat on the council. Maui News.

Bill encourages native tourism, feds seek ocean noise measures, lights off for seabirds on Kauai, new hepatitis A case in Honolulu restaurant worker, PUC kills solar array plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii luau © 2016 All Hawaii News

A bill to help native peoples showcase their cultures in travel, recreational and tourism initiatives, and to give native peoples greater input into national tourism planning, has been approved by Congress. Star-Advertiser.

Fish Council Votes Against Ocean Protection Measure. The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Council was only of only two U.S. organizations to oppose a broad new conservation measure. Civil Beat.

30 by 30 is a new conservation target for the state. Governor David Ige wants to protect 30% of the island's critical watersheds, and effectively manage 30% of our near shore waters by the year 2030. KITV.

The federal government says a new strategy to address the issue of noise in the ocean will better protect the safety of marine mammals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its Ocean Noise Strategy Roadmap on Tuesday. The agency says the roadmap will guide it in managing ocean noise and its effects on ocean life through the next 10 years. Associated Press.

With the release of a formal strategy on Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is aiming to minimize the effects of ocean noise on marine life. Star-Advertiser.

Governor David Ige announced last week that he would like to double food production in Hawai’i by 2020, and subsequently extended that deadline to 2030.   The Chamber of Commerce of Hawai’i hosted a forum to address that issue. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Federal investigators appear to be closing in on Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his prosecutor wife, Katherine, in an ongoing public corruption investigation stemming from the 2013 theft of their mailbox. Civil Beat.

Critics say the mayor is missing chances to bring in new Honolulu police commissioners to push for reform at the Honolulu Police Department. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii’s flagship Manoa campus ranked No. 169 out of 310 public and private four-year institutions nationwide, according to U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best Colleges rankings. Star-Advertiser.

Whole Foods has suspended buying fish from the Hawaii fish auction amid concerns over the labor practices of some fishing vessels. KHON2.

James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach in West Oahu, the largest high school in Hawaii, is set to get some relief from its overcrowding issues. The state Department of Education said a 27-class building estimated to cost between $37 million and $38 million is currently in the design phase and should be ready for bids by the end of this year, Pacific Business News has learned.

When it comes to improving Hawaii’s aging stock of prisons and jails, all sides agree on one thing: One way or another, the crumbling Oahu Community Correctional Center, a century-old jail in Kalihi, will have to be replaced. But the state may be getting ahead of itself in moving forward with a plan for a new OCCC. Civil Beat.

A food service worker at Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38 who was on the job as recently as Monday has come down with hepatitis A, according to the state Health Department. Star-Advertiser.

The recent opening of a contra-flow lane on Farrington Highway in Nanakuli is generating a mixed response: Some area residents are pleased that it eases the westbound afternoon commute, while others are frustrated and concerned about eastbound traffic congestion. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A new classroom building is being proposed at Kealakehe Elementary School in anticipation of increased enrollment at area schools. West Hawaii Today.

The state Public Utilities Commission halted the construction of 6.75 megawatts of solar power on Hawaii island by suspending the application of a needed transmission line on Friday. Star-Advertiser.

DNA proves wild pigs’ pedigree; Research finds ancestry of animals can be traced back to Polynesians. Tribune-Herald.

A group of Native Hawaiians, fishermen and divers made known earlier this week its intention to restock marine life at the recently established Kaupulehu Marine Reserve, where a 10-year no take period was implemented out to a depth of 20 fathoms, or 120 feet. West Hawaii Today.

The former Hilo Hattie building at Prince Kuhio Plaza is being torn down to make way for new commercial space. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Current construction on locked gates that would restrict vehicle access to Kanaha Beach Park at night isn't sitting well with fishermen, who say the gates will deter night fishing at one of the most easily accessible fishing grounds on Maui's north shore. Maui News.

The Maui Department of Water Supply is recommending customers in the Central and South Maui areas to boil water before consumption due to possible contamination from flooding. Maui Now.

Kauai

Artificial lights are mesmerizing for many of Kauai’s endangered seabirds. Starting Thursday, experts are asking people to keep outside lighting to a minimum for their safety for the next few months. Garden Island.

Happy dogs, and owners, too. Users of the dog playground say maintenance, cleanliness has improved. Garden Island.

University of Hawaii cleared to import zika virus, Department of Education seeks contractors for $100M school cooling project, biggest RIMPAC yet coming to Hawaii, most ocean debris not from Japan, tourism chief laments Pro Bowl loss, solar capacity varies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Dr. Vivek Nerurkar, chairman, Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, courtesy University of Hawaii

The Board of Agriculture voted unanimously Tuesday to allow University of Hawaii scientists to import the Zika virus to Hawaii for vaccine trials, paving the way for local researchers to join the growing clamor among companies and scientists worldwide to develop methods to control the virus, which is linked to devastating birth defects in newborns. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education has reopened its request for contractors to prequalify to bid on cooling projects, including the installation of air conditioners at public schools, as part of the state’s $100 million initiative to cool 1,000 classrooms this year. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Navy says 27 nations will participate in the world’s largest maritime exercises in coming weeks. This is an all-time high for the Rim of the Pacific exercises, which date to 1971. They drills are held every two years. Associated Press.

A study of the eight main Hawaiian Islands shows that ocean debris regularly accumulates around the archipelago, and that most of it is not linked to the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, state officials said Tuesday. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has picked up a superdelegate vote in Hawaii, but he still faces a steep uphill battle in his quest to overtake Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Industries and Florida-based NextEra Energy each have until Friday to walk away from their $4.3 billion merger deal without paying a $90 million termination fee and up to $5 million in related expenses. Civil Beat.

Oahu is half full. Maui County is 70 percent full, and the Big Island is 38 percent. That’s how close each county is to reaching its capacity for residential solar systems that can export excess power to the grid and receive credit. Star-Advertiser.

The head of Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s largest utility, had some choice words aimed at some in the solar photovoltaic industry, a sector that was once one of the fastest-growing industries in the state but has slowed since the ending of net energy metering. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: For the second time in just six years, a class action lawsuit brought by a group of retired state and county employees challenging what they say were unconstitutional cuts to their health benefits upon retirement is back before the Hawaii Supreme Court. Civil Beat.

Jimmy Borges, Hawaii’s gentleman of jazz, died Monday at age 80, having faced his recurring cancer with the same gutsy attitude that propelled him from hardscrabble Kalihi to the glittering stages of Las Vegas. Star-Advertiser

Hawaii jazz singer Jimmy Borges died of cancer Monday, two days before his 81st birthday and two days after he won four Na Hoku Hanohano awards. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The president of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association said Tuesday the departure of the NFL’s Pro Bowl for Orlando, Florida, is a black eye to the state’s sports tourism sector. Mufi Hannemann said it will be difficult to get the game to return. Associated Press.

The Pro Bowl’s relatively low return on the $5.2 million price of bringing it to Hawaii sparked years of debate about whether the money would be better spent elsewhere. According to HTA statistics, the 2016 Pro Bowl generated $26.2 million for the state’s economy, second only to the PGA Tour, which brings in $55 million. Star-Advertiser.

Planning the future of a popular Honolulu park, by looking to its historic past. Thomas Square is set to get a major makeover, but after unveiling improvements to the public -- city leaders got an earful Tuesday evening over the plans. KITV4.

Oahu’s busiest satellite city hall and driver licensing operations at City Square will relocate two blocks to the new Kapalama Hale in the coming weeks, about nine months later than originally anticipated. Star-Advertiser.

The distributor of arcade machines, deemed gambling devices by a federal judge, and two former arcade owners pleaded not guilty Tuesday to state racketeering and gambling promotion charges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
More than two dozen people and groups filed to intervene in the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case by Tuesday’s deadline. The motions are scheduled to be considered during a June 17 hearing in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Abandoned vehicles littering the sides of Mamalahoa Highway and elsewhere throughout the island are slowly disappearing, thanks to new contracts inked last month by Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

A much-anticipated mauka-makai connector along Alii Drive is one step closer to reality, following final publication last month of a finding of no significant environmental impact. West Hawaii Today.

Over half of all marine debris on Hawaii Island shores is plastic, according to the results of a state wide aerial survey, and is concentrated on the southeastern tip of the island, particularly around Kamilo Point. Big Island Video News.

On Hawaii Island, 2,200 pieces of marine debris were mapped during the August to November 2015 time period. Fifty-two percent of that was plastic. Most was concentrated at Kamilo Point in Ka‘u. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Workers are concerned about the water coming out of the faucet at a school on Maui.KHON2.

The cost of the yet-to-be-built Iao water treatment plant has grown more than 43 percent from an estimated $15 million to nearly $21.5 million. Maui News.

Mayor to discuss ongoing projects.Ongoing county projects will be discussed on the TV show “Your County with Mayor Arakawa” at 7 p.m. Wednesday on Akaku Channel 55. Maui News.

Kauai

Hawaii’s voters have chosen the people they will be sending to the Republican and Democratic national conventions this summer and Kauai has a few of her own who will be visiting the mainland to cast their votes. Garden Island.

The waters in the United States are relatively safe for swimming, according to the 2015 Clean Water Report released Thursday by the Surfrider Foundation. Garden Island.

Marine debris on the coastlines of Hawaii is predominately plastic, according to an aerial survey of the eight main Hawaiian Islands. On Kauai, the imagery analysis identified 2,878 pieces of marine debris. Nearly half of it was plastic, and most of the debris was concentrated on the eastern shores of the island. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Department of Hawaiian Home Land's refusal to pay a $15,000 bill could wind up costing taxpayers hundreds of thousand of dollars. Back in July, the DHHL hired Red Dirt Construction to build a dirt road through six miles of rugged terrain in Hoolehua on Molokai. Hawaii News Now.

Niihau

More discarded plastic, stray fishing nets and other marine debris is washing up on Niihau than on any of the other eight main Hawaiian Islands, according to a recent, first-of-its-kind study by state officials. Star-Advertiser.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs inducts new trustees, Kauhou aquifer plan delayed, lava turns toward shopping center, Pearl Harbor workers killed, youth e-cig use climbs, coffee beetle comes to Oahu, oceans clogged with plastic, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Office of Hawaiian Affairs investiture, photo courtesy HA

Though Native Hawaiians have made progress in education, health, economic self-sufficiency and other areas, there remains work to be done on nation building and overall community improvement, Kama­na‘o­pono Crabbe, chief executive officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, said Wednesday in his State of OHA address. Star-Advertiser.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees will be “servant leaders at our people’s table,” said newly elected chairman Robert Lindsey at an investiture of board members Wednesday in Honolulu. West Hawaii Today.

A new study estimates about 269,000 tons of plastic — enough to fill more than 38,500 garbage trucks — is floating in the world’s oceans. Associated Press.

Allowing Aloha United Way to solicit donations from state workers gives the private charity an "unfair advantage" over other nonprofits and is inconsistent with the fair treatment provision of the state ethics code, the staff at the state Ethics Commission has concluded. Star-Advertiser.

Reform measures and high returns on investments in recent years have helped Hawaii start to crawl out of its $20 billion hole in retirement benefits promised to thousands of public workers. But the state still has a long way to go — 26 years to be exact, based on the latest actuarial report for the Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System. State senators are set to learn more about the financial status and valuation of the public pension system Thursday morning during a legislative briefing at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

State health officials and a community organization are alerting the public to what they call an alarming increase in the use of electronic cigarettes among Hawaii's youth. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii has won a $14.8 million multiyear federal grant to launch public preschool programs at charter schools statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
Two civilian contract workers were killed and two others injured Wednesday while working on a barge at Pearl Harbor's Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility off Waipio Peninsula. Star-Advertiser.

Two men were killed when a 10,000-pound buoy fell from a crane onto contractors in Pearl Harbor. Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins says the men were on a barge that was servicing the Navy's fleet of inactive ships at the time of Wednesday's incident. Associated Press.

The City Council postpones a vote on Bill 62, which would ban sitting and lying on sidewalks and planters in five downtown Honolulu and Chinatown malls. Civil Beat.

The Queen's Medical Center, Hawaii's largest private hospital, has signed an agreement with Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC to use the long-planned $250 million project that will cool Downtown Honolulu office buildings and condominium towers with cold water from the ocean. Pacific Business News.

The invasive coffee pest with which Hawaii Island growers have struggled for the last four years now has been found elsewhere in the state. The state Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday the coffee berry borer was discovered last week on farms owned by Dole Foods in Waialua, Oahu. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Wright Homes may be the last place you'd expect to see a hotel, but developers are floating the idea to help pay for the aging housing project's redevelopment. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Hawaii County can stay in the driver’s seat of the Keauhou aquifer — but the reprieve is only temporary and comes with conditions. After nine hours of testimony in Kailua-Kona on Wednesday, the state Commission on Water Resource Management delayed making a decision on whether to put the aquifer under its control. West Hawaii Today.

The June 27 lava flow appears to have chosen which path it will follow. And it’s not good news for Pahoa’s main shopping center. Tribune-Herald.

The Volcano transfer station will be expanded and undergo structural repairs as part of a $1.06 million project that broke ground Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

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

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

Kauai

The Kauai County Council will decide next week whether they want to override a vetoed law that would use lease rents, rather than fair market values, to calculate the real property taxes of biotech research land users. The seven-member board, by a 5-0 vote, decided to revive the killed law during their meeting Wednesday, paving the way for a final vote on it to take place during their Wednesday meeting. Garden Island.

Developers aren't saying why a planned Lihue shopping center is being delayed. Associated Press.

Investigating the death of an endangered species — in this case, a Hawaiian monk seal pup — is exactly what you might expect in any homicide investigation. Garden Island.

The Federal District Court in Hawai’i struck down Kaua’i and Hawai’i County ordinances that sought to restrict cultivation of genetically engineered crops. Both cases are being appealed. In his final report on the Maui GMO debate, Hawaii Public Radio’s Wayne Yoshioka asked residents what actions can be taken beyond the Courts.

Molokai

Four fishermen from Molokai have been indicted for allegedly boarding another fishing vessel and robbing and harassing the people on board. The four men will be arraigned in Maui Circuit Court later this month, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said Wednesday. Associated Press.

Four Molokaʻi men were arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in a confrontation between two groups of fishermen in Molokaʻi waters earlier this year. Maui Now.

University of Hawaii AD quits, Tulsi Gabbard stalker sentenced, Honolulu food trucks compete for space, Maui GMO law could be decided this week, Kauai law to restrict coastline construction, students tour lava flow, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Photo courtesy Hawaii Wildlife Fund

The Hawaii Wildlife Fund ended its 2014 marine debris season Friday by loading 4.5 tons of net and line, most of which was collected from the southeast Ka’u coast, into a container for shipment to Oahu. The 40-foot trailer was provided by Matson Navigation’s Ka Ipu Aina program. The container will be shipped to Honolulu, where Schnitzer Steel will chop it into pieces and then be burned at the Covanta H-Power plant. West Hawaii Today.

Strong investment returns and steps taken over the past four years by the pension plan's trustees, former Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the state Legislature, helped increase the fund so as of June 30 it was at 61.4 percent of where it needs to be to pay all the pensions promised, according to an independent actuarial report by Dallas-based Gabriel Roeder Smith & Co. That's up from 60 percent as of June 2013 and 59.2 percent as of June 2012. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge is dismissing a lawsuit by a former nonpartisan candidate for U.S. Senate that said Hawaii television stations discriminated against her for not allowing her to appear in a televised debate. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay will resign Tuesday, sources told the Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser. The resignation is expected to be made at a news conference on campus, along with the decision to retain football coach Norm Chow for a fourth season. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii Athletic Director Ben Jay will resign from his position Tuesday, sources have confirmed with Hawaii News Now.

The man who had stalked U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard since she was on the Honolulu City Council has been sentenced to 33 months in prison after pleading no contest to two counts of transmitting threats. Civil Beat.

Former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee talks about problems at agency. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Transportation announced Monday the appointments of former DOT interim director Ross Higashi as Airports Division deputy director and Ed Sniffen, current executive assistant to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, as Highways Division deputy director. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission approved, with certain conditions, a joint plan for the administration of the Feed-In-Tariff program queues to address important issues and promptly move shovel ready projects to completion, according to a media release issued Monday. West Hawaii Today.

A University of Hawaii professor said the recent announcement that American Savings Bank will be spun off by parent company Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. will make operations and goals clearer for both the bank and analysts. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Oahu food truck operators will need to bid for one of 10 on-street "super stalls" at five locations in order to operate in the Honolulu Capital Special Design District during lunch hours under a two-year pilot project expected to begin soon. Star-Advertiser.

A city plan calls for revitalization near future station sites, especially around Kapalama Canal. Some people fear rising rents and displacement. Civil Beat.

The popular Route E CountryExpress! that starts and ends in Ewa Beach is once again traveling as far east as Wai­kiki as part of restored and expanded bus service that began Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Days after being put into use, the King Street cycle track is already a hit with cyclists. KHON2.

Opinion: Vacation Rental Scofflaws, Beware. There are hundreds of illegal vacation rentals in Honolulu. The city is discussing a new effort to shut them down. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

There was a soft, rhythmic crunching of the glassy crust underfoot as the group of about 20 journalists trudged their way across the stalled lava flow. Having crossed Apa‘a Street just south of the Pahoa transfer station Oct. 25, the flow crusted over and inflated from its original height of 1 foot to between 6 and 10 feet, and even higher in some places. Tribune-Herald.

Crackling sounds resonated underfoot while geologists walked along the stalled lava flow along the fence line of the Pahoa Recycling and Transfer Station on Monday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

State officials and gun enthusiasts are hoping the third time’s a charm to persuade dubious neighbors that a shooting range at Puuanahulu won’t be within earshot. West Hawaii Today.

NextEra Energy, a Florida-based company that agreed to purchase Hawaiian Electric Industries for $4.3 billion, is finding a lot to like about the Big Island. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists say an emerging infectious disease is afflicting a forest bird native to the Big Island. The University of Hawaii said Monday the disease sometimes called scaly leg was first detected in the Hawaii amakihi in 2007. Associated Press.

Maui

A federal judge is scheduled to rule as early as Friday on the legality of a Maui County ballot initiative that calls for a moratorium on Genetically Engineered Crops. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Old Kahului Railroad Building, one of the last remnants of Maui's rich plantation past, is one step closer to being immortalized in the state and nation. Maui News.

Maui Police found that 43% of truck drivers did not have their cargo loads properly covered and secured during a three hour educational effort held at the Central Maui Landfill on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014. Maui Now.

Kauai

A new, more stringent Kauai law aims to protect the island's coastline by folding erosion data into calculations used to set limits on shoreline construction. A shoreline setback bill was signed into law last week. Star-Advertiser.

Friends of Mahaulepu will host its second meeting in as many months on Thursday opposing Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed $17.5 million, 578-acre dairy in Mahaulepu Valley. Garden Island.

Creepy Crawlers. Employees miss work after being bitten by reclusive island spider. Garden Island.

Obama seeks Pacific Ocean protections, UH gets $40M oceanic research grant, Kauai ex-police commissioner pleads guilty to gambling ring, Aiona offers homeless plan, Hawaii teens improve health habits, Maui mayor trims budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilo Moana, courtesy NOAA

The University of Hawaii will take the lead on a global oceanographic research project that comes with $40 million in funding — representing the largest-ever philanthropic gift to the university. David Karl and Edward DeLong, professors in UH-Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, were awarded the funds by the Simons Foundation to lead the newly launched Simons Collaboration on Ocean Processes and Ecology, or SCOPE. Star-Advertiser.

A private foundation is awarding two University of Hawaii scientists $40 million to research microscopic organisms in the ocean. The award from the Simons Foundation is the largest private foundation gift ever received by the university. Associated Press.

Kilo Moana

President Obama on Tuesday will announce his intent to make a broad swath of the central Pacific Ocean off-limits to fishing, energy exploration and other activities, according to senior White House officials. Washington Post.

President Barack Obama on Tuesday will announce his intent to make a broad swath of the central Pacific Ocean off limits to fishing, energy exploration and other activities, according to senior White House officials. Associated Press.

With a congresswoman out for his head and a U.S. senator calling for an investigation, the new director of the Hawaii VA vowed Monday to stay on the job and, within three months, dramatically reduce the time it takes military veterans to see their doctors. Star-Advertiser.

The Veterans Affairs director in Hawai’i wants to assure veterans and the public that he is working hard to provide better access to primary care. Hawaii Public Radio.

Republican candidate Duke Aiona placed homelessness at center stage in Hawaii gubernatorial campaign Monday by proposing two novel ideas. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii National Guard would reach out to homeless veterans and guide them toward counseling and services under a proposal by Republican gubernatorial candidate James "Duke" Aiona to reduce homelessness in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Today, at Kaka‘ako Makai Gateway Park, Duke Aiona outlined a plan to address the houseless crisis in Hawai‘i. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii tea party leaders are outraged over the news the Internal Revenue Service has lost emails of its former director, Lois Lerner, during a critical time when the agency admitted to targeting conservative groups for additional scrutiny. Hawaii Reporter.

During an interview with Keahi Tucker on Hawaii News Now, Honolulu City Councilman Ikaika Anderson, a Democrat, said his No. 1 priority representing the First Congressional District of Hawaii will be to focus on middle-class families.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is appointing two Oahu executives to state boards. Kailua resident Wesley Furtado is being appointed to serve on the Board of Land and Natural Resources.The governor is appointing Sean Dee of Honolulu to the Hawaii Tourism Authority board of directors. Associated Press.

Hawaii's newest medical insurer is ramping up to gain more market share as the bulk of small businesses renew health plans in July. Family Health Hawaii, which launched Oct. 1 as a nonprofit mutual benefit society, has roughly 4,000 employees so far on its rolls, or about half of its annual enrollment goal, said former state Insurance Commissioner J.P. Schmidt, who is heading the startup insurance firm. Star-Advertiser.

Teenagers are smoking less, fighting less and having less sex than a decade ago, a Hawaii Department of Health report indicates. Civil Beat.

Innovate Hawaii, a program of the High Technology Development Corp., has given a total of $248,310 to four local companies as part of the Hawaii Small Business Innovation Research matching-grant program. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

An Obama presidential library located in Hawaii would generate $556 million in economic activity and create 2,130 new jobs, in the construction phase alone, according to officials who submitted a bid by Monday's deadline. Star-Advertiser.

Two escapes in one week from the Oahu Community Correctional Center. Hawaii News Now.

Daniel Skelton, the inmate who escaped from the Oahu Community Correctional Center on Monday morning, is still on the loose. That’s two escapees for OCCC in as many weeks. KHON2.

Some Ewa Beach residents are fed up with the plane noise from Honolulu International Airport. That's because a construction project is diverting planes from one runway to another that's in line with homes. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Hawaii County middle school students were more likely to try smoking cigarettes last year than students anywhere else in the state, according to new findings reported Monday. Tribune-Herald.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization spent nearly $8 million last year lobbying federal officials, making it one of the top 50 spenders on national lobbying, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Now the influential global trade group that includes more than 1,000 biotechnology companies has turned its sights on Hawaii. The organization joined nine local groups and individuals from the Big Island last week to challenge Hawaii County’s ban on genetically modified farming. Civil Beat.

Produce thefts have some isle farmers on edge. West Hawaii Today.

Surrounded by chain link fence is a little pond fringed by greenery. The pond is fed by a white pipeline, from which water gushes out at a rate of about 1.5 million gallons daily. This site, not far from the Kealakehe Police Station, is the destination of the sewage treated at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kona and one West Hawaii resident is hoping to see it closed down sooner rather than later. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa on Monday issued eight line-item vetoes, cutting $29.7 million in capital improvement projects proposed by the County Council. Star-Advertiser.

No state has a worse voter turn out than Hawai'i, and no districts have more apathetic voters than South and West Maui. Recent reports rank them right at the very bottom of the list, but this year both areas have become a hotbed of political activism. Maui Weekly.

The county Public Works Department submitted a final environmental assessment for the final phase of the North Shore Greenway . Maui Now.

A final environmental assessment has been submitted for the final phase of the proposed North Shore Greenway, a pedestrian and bike path that would connect Kahului to Paia. Maui News.

The county Department of Housing and Human Concerns submitted a Final Environmental Assessment for the 64-unit Kulamalu affordable housing project in Pukalani. Maui Now.

Kauai

A Department of Corrections program manager and former Kauai Police Commissioner pleaded guilty to federal gambling charges on Monday in U.S. District Court, District of Hawaii. Garden Island.

A Kauai police commissioner who resigned in the midst of an FBI gambling investigation admitted in U.S. District Court on Monday that he ran a sports betting operation from his home and lied on his taxes. Bradley Chiba, 37, pleaded guilty to owning and running an illegal gambling business with eight others and to failing to report to the Internal Revenue Service that he earned $39,779 in 2012 from the business. Star-Advertiser.