Showing posts with label pesticides. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pesticides. Show all posts

Friday, December 10, 2021

Monsanto to pay $12M for illegal pesticide use in Hawaii, cyber attack shuts down Honolulu transit servers, teachers escape discipline, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Monsanto workers (from Monsanto Hawaii Facebook page)

Monsanto to plead guilty to illegal pesticide use in Hawaii; pay $12M in fines. The court filing said Monsanto agreed to plead guilty to 30 environmental crimes after workers were allowed to go into corn fields last year on Oahu after glufosinate ammonium-based product named Forfeit 280 was sprayed on the fields. The company will also plead guilty to two felony crimes related to the storage of a banned chemical on Maui. Associated Press. Civil Beat. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. and Japan continue to heal wounds of war in Ford Island ceremony. At the end of Pearl Harbor anniversary events, after the veterans who fought back that day and fought during World War II are rightly honored, after the 2,403 American service member and civilian casualties from the day of infamy are memorialized, there is another remembrance. Star-Advertiser.

How Does Hawaii’s DOE Deal With Teachers Accused Of Misconduct? One teacher was fired four months after being sentenced in a criminal case. Civil Beat.

Hawaii records 1 new coronavirus-related death, 143 additional infections. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 98 new cases on Oahu, 13 on Hawaii Island, 21 on Maui, eight on Kauai and three Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Cyberattack shuts down servers at theBus, Handi-Van.
Honolulu Police Department, the FBI and the Secret Service are investigating the incident, which city transit officials said might be a ransomware attack. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Transportation department seeking public comment about adding H-1 eastbound lane. The state Department of Transportation is seeking public comment for a proposed widening of the H-1 freeway. The DOT wants to add an eastbound lane to the interstate from the Ola Lane overpass to the Likelike Highway off-ramp. Hawaii Public Radio.

Chinatown May Get More Affordable Housing For Older Adults, Plus A Hotel
. The proposal comes as Honolulu is struggling to provide affordable housing on an island where the median price for a home rose above $1 million earlier this year. Civil Beat.

City removes benches, tables at Waikiki pavilions to curb crime. The City Department of Parks & Recreation removed the benches inside the pavilion to prevent illegal activities in the area, but not everyone is happy with their methods. KHON2.

Aiea-Halawa well doesn’t have detectable petroleum, Navy officials now say. A day after the Navy reported dangerously high levels of diesel fuel in water samples collected at its Aiea-Halawa well, officials said the contamination came from an unused segment of the distribution system and that the well does not have detectable levels of petroleum. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KITV4.

BWS says keeping Navy fuel out of aquifer will be a long-term challenge.
The Board of Water Supply warned Oahu households and businesses Thursday that its system could eventually be impacted by the Navy’s petroleum contamination. Hawaii News Now.

More than 322K gallons of sewage discharges on Oahu; multiple water advisories remain. The torrential rains and storm brought on by the “Kona low” earlier this week resulted in at least nine sewer discharges across Oahu, with water advisories that are expected to remain in effect for several more days. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ready for prime time: New County Council maps set for public hearings. New County Council districts proposed by the Redistricting Commission are now ready for prime time, and the commission has set hearings next week to see what the public thinks of its work. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo skatepark mulled. About 70 people, including members of the Hilo Skateplaza Coalition, attended a meeting best described as a brainstorming session about the design of a long-hoped-for skatepark to be built on about 2.5 acres of undeveloped county land across from the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, where the meeting was held. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Kula Water Restoration Underway, All Main Line Breaks Repaired. Parts of Kula remain without water this evening, but could have service restored by tonight into tomorrow, barring any further breaks to water lines, according to officials with the County of Maui Department of Water Supply. Maui Now.

Sale of Royal Lahaina Resort to BlackSand Capital is Complete.
BlackSand Capital, a locally owned and managed Hawai‘i real estate investment firm, completed the purchase of the Royal Lahaina Resort on Maui from Pleasant Travel Service on Dec. 9. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hanama‘ulu homeowners’ black-slime problem persists. Homeowners in a local housing development continue to fight chronic “black slime” biofilm and health issues they claim are caused by contaminated plumbing installed by the builder, nearly three years after some households first noticed the problem. Garden Island.

New Waimea substation without phone, internet. The Waimea substation relocated to the West Kaua‘i Technology Center at 9565 Kaumuali‘i Hwy. from its previous Ola Road locale, which had been used by KPD since 2013. Garden Island.

Thursday, November 18, 2021

Honolulu rail deficit less than feared, Honolulu advances hotel tax, Hawaii County advances pesticide ban, Bezos gives $2.5M for Maui homeless project, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

PC:HART
Honolulu rail construction PC:HART

Honolulu rail deficit estimate cut to $1.97B. The projected $3.5 billion deficit for the city’s troubled rail project is far less than feared — $1.97 billion, rail officials said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Electric vehicles are all over Hawaii roads. So why aren’t there more charging stations? In the past year, there was a nearly 32% increase in the number of passenger electric vehicles in Hawaii, according to the state. But there’s a big disconnect when it comes to charging those vehicles up. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Pacific Health ranks second in nation for cost-efficiency. Hawaii Pacific Health ranks second in the country for cost-efficiency among health care systems, according to Lown Institute, a nonpartisan think tank that advocates for making health care more effective and affordable. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii records 8 new coronavirus-related deaths, 142 additional infections. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 94 new cases on Oahu, 15 on Hawaii Island, 11 on Maui, 13 on Kauai and nine Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City Council committee OK’s Oahu hotel tax proposal. A measure that would establish a 3% city hotel tax advanced to final reading during a Honolulu City Council Budget Committee meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Vacation Rental Bill Could Starve Windward Businesses That Cater To Tourists. Already suffering from Covid-19’s blow to tourism and the continuing shut-down of travel from Japan, small businesses in Kailua are bracing for the impact of a bill to crack down on illegal short-term rentals. Civil Beat.

Reasons behind Honolulu's building permit backlog. Building permit applications have been piling up on Oahu, adding to project wait time for thousands of residents. The Department of Planning and Permitting has been hit with high turnover and has an overall vacancy rate of 25%. KITV4.

Honolulu Fire Commission Restarts Search For Department Chief.
A new commissioner could deliver a tie-breaking vote sometime in 2022. Civil Beat.

HPD Says It Will Take A Fresh Look At Its Vehicle Pursuit Policy. Interim Chief Rade Vanic told the Honolulu Police Commission that the department will gather data on vehicle pursuits before deciding on any changes. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

State: Aloha Stadium redevelopment will provide nearly $1.5B economic boost. Construction to build a new Aloha Stadium ― which will begin in early 2023 ― is expected to add 12,660 construction jobs and more than $595 million in construction wages alone. Hawaii News Now.

No opioid epidemic talk at Honolulu ex-prosecutor’s brother’s trial. There will be no mention of the “opioid epidemic” at a trial against the pain physician brother of a former Hawaii prosecutor imprisoned in a corruption case that also took down her former police chief husband. Associated Press.

Oahu grand jury indicts adoptive parents in Isabella Kalua murder case. An Oahu grand jury on Wednesday indicted Lehua Kalua, 44, and Isaac “Sonny” Kalua III, 52, on charges of second-­degree murder, abuse and related charges in the death of their adopted daughter, Isabella “Ariel” Kalua. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Herbicide ban advances.
A County Council panel on Wednesday advanced a measure to ban the use of glyphosate-based herbicides at county Parks and Recreation facilities. West Hawaii Today.

Nearly 100 apply for Phase 2 of buyout program for lava-inundated properties. As of the end of last week, 90 people had applied for the second phase of the county’s Voluntary Housing Buyout Program, said Disaster Recovery Officer Douglas Le at a Wednesday meeting of the County Council’s Government Operations, Relations and Economic Development Committee. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Bezos Day One Fund Gifts $2.5 Million to Family Life Center in Kahului
, Maui. Family Life Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization serving the homeless population on the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi and on Kauaʻi, has been selected to receive a $2.5 million grant from the Bezos Day One Families Fund—the largest grant in Family Life Center’s history. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Alakoko “Menehune” Fishpond saved
; Chan, Zuckerberg make $4 million donation. The 102-acre Alakoko “Menehune” Fishpond has successfully been purchased by nonprofits The Trust for Public Land and Malama Hule‘ia for cultural and environmental stewardship in perpetuity. Garden Island.

Thursday, August 26, 2021

Hawaii reaches 76% vaccinated against COVID, Green targeted by anti-Semitic hate group, Maui council passes pesticide bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands


87.6% of Hawaii state workers fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As of last week, 87.6% of state workers were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and 92.4% had received at least one shot. The vaccination rates are significantly higher than Hawaii’s overall population, in which 76% of adults are fully vaccinated. Star-Advertiser. West Hawaii Today. Big Island Now. Maui Now. KHON2.

Lt. Gov. Josh Green target of hate campaign. Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green was the target of an anti-Semitic campaign by an unknown group aligned with protesters demonstrating outside of his condominium in opposition to COVID-19 vaccines and mask mandates. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii governor considering more restrictions, says COVID surge was ‘preventable’. Gov. David Ige said he is frustrated because he believes Hawaii’s surge in COVID cases and hospitalizations could have been avoided. KHON2. KITV4.

Governor says Hawaii’s digital ‘vaccine pass’ could be ready by Labor Day. Gov. David Ige said Wednesday that he hopes to have a “vaccine pass” system up and running for entrance to restaurants, bars, gyms and other venues by Labor Day. But he added that he has no immediate plans to mandate vaccinations for entry to businesses. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Senate Committee Considers A New Nominee For Appeals Court. Sonja McCullen, a Honolulu deputy prosecuting attorney, sailed smoothly through a Senate hearing on her appointment to the Intermediate Court of Appeals on Wednesday. Civil Beat. KHON2.

Final EIS published for dolphin swimming ban. Approaching and swimming with Hawaiian spinner dolphins is one step closer to being prohibited in Hawaii’s coastal waters. West Hawaii Today.

Lowen to continue pushing producer responsibility. State Rep. Nicole Lowen said she’ll continue pursuing increased producer responsibility for the waste their products produce, despite the failure to get her colleagues’ support of a bill she sponsored this year. West Hawaii Today.

Health officials look to field hospitals as potential relief amid surging COVID hospitalizations. COVID-19 hospitalizations hit another record high in Hawaii on Wednesday, Aug. 25, with 413 patients admitted to facilities statewide. KHON2.

Ventilators from Hawaii’s emergency stockpile now in use as more relief nurses are on their way. COVID hospitalizations in Hawaii hit another all-time high Wednesday with 413 patients admitted to facilities across the state. Records shows 87% are unvaccinated. Hawaii News Now.

COVID deaths are rising in Hawaii, and history shows it’s likely to get worse. Health officials said that the current death toll is the highest it has been since vaccines have become widely available, with more than 19 deaths over the past seven days. Hawaii News Now.

Char: COVID surge hasn’t peaked. Hawaii’s COVID-19 case numbers have not yet reached their peak, Hawaii Health Director Libby Char said Wednesday. Despite 625 new COVID cases being reported statewide Wednesday, with 100 on the Big Island, Char said during a livestreamed interview that case numbers are continuing to rise while hospitals’ resources are being strained to the breaking point. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii records 8 new coronavirus-related deaths, 625 additional infections. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 376 new cases on Oahu, 96 on Maui, 100 on Hawaii Island, 39 on Kauai, two on Molokai, two on Lanai and 10 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu Fire Commission Still Stalled On Hiring New Chief.
The two finalists were scheduled to address the panel but instead commissioners went into executive session. Civil Beat. KITV4.

$270 million Honolulu airport concourse set to open. The opening of the new $270 million Mauka Concourse at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Friday marks the first gate expansion in nearly three decades. Star-Advertiser.

Newly reopened Waialua bridge needs replacement within 10 years, city says
. Bridge 605 that crosses over Kiikii Stream at Waialua Beach Road must be replaced in the next five to seven years due to extensive damage in its 69 years of use, the Honolulu Department of Design and Construction said in a recent news release. Star-Advertiser.

Covid-19 Is Surging Again At Hawaii Prisons. The Oahu Jail Is Especially Hard Hit. The Oahu Community Correctional Center is once again the epicenter of Covid-19 cases within state correctional facilities, and some staff at the jail complain the Department of Public Safety has done little since the last major outbreak there to modify its procedures to prevent the new surge now underway. Civil Beat.

Punahou school and former students settle sex abuse lawsuit. Punahou School and former students who filed lawsuits against the school and a former coach alleging sexual assault and abuse jointly announced Wednesday that all the cases have been settled. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Parents sue Hawaii County after police kill their son in shooting. The parents of a 31-year-old man, shot multiple times and killed by police inside a vacant Hilo house, sued the County of Hawaii Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Mandate for HMC: Vaccinations or testing for Hawaii Health Systems Corp. facility employees. Employees at Hilo Medical Center and other Hawaii Health Systems Corp. facilities in East Hawaii have until early September to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or face weekly testing. Tribune-Herald.

Record number of COVID patients in HMC. Three dozen COVID-positive patients were hospitalized as of Wednesday at Hilo Medical Center, an all-time high. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Pesticides and fertilizers to be reduced and managed. A bill that would reduce and manage pesticides and fertilizers used on county property, including parks used for youth sports, was approved on second and final reading Tuesday by the Maui County Council. Maui News.

Maui Senator: The County’s State Health Director Should Be Fired. Dr. Lorrin Pang is being widely criticized for acknowledging that he has promoted controversial alternative drugs to treat Covid-19. Civil Beat.

Maui Mayor Michael Victorino condemns off-label use of drugs to treat COVID-19. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino strongly condemned the off-label use of malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and the veterinary dewormer ivermectin as treatments for COVID-19 on Wednesday, following a story in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that reported a local doctor and health official had been promoting their use. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now. KHON2. KITV4.

Forecast models predict COVID-19 case surge will hit Maui County next. Based on the latest forecast model issued Sunday, the number of daily new infections on Maui County is expected to grow by more than 30% in the next seven days, and peak at 175 cases on Sept. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

County to draw $475K for rare special election. The county is moving to allocate $475,000 for a special election prompted by the retirement of Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar. Garden Island.

Councilmembers hear concerns from For Our Rights members. It’s been nearly a year and a half since the Kaua‘i County Council held meetings open to the physical public, but following Wednesday’s special council meeting, around 60 residents met representatives outside. Garden Island.



Thursday, January 30, 2020

First light: Maui Haleakala telescope captures closeup of the sun, plus Oahu voters to decide prosecutor term limits, TMT protest nonprofit must release records, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands


 The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope has produced the highest resolution observations of the Sun’s surface ever taken. In this movie, taken at a wavelength of 705nm over a period of 10 minutes, we can see features as small as 30km (18 miles) in size for the first time ever. The movie shows the turbulent, “boiling” gas that covers the entire sun. The cell-like structures – each about the size of Texas – are the signature of violent motions that transport heat from the inside of the sun to its surface. Hot solar material (plasma) rises in the bright centers of “cells,” cools off and then sinks below the surface in dark lanes in a process known as convection. In these dark lanes we can also see the tiny, bright markers of magnetic fields. Never before seen to this clarity, these bright specks are thought to channel energy up into the outer layers of the solar atmosphere called the corona. These bright spots may be at the core of why the solar corona is more than a million degrees. National Science Foundation.

Solar telescope atop Haleakala captures first detailed images of sun’s surface. The National Science Foundation has released the first, close-up images of the sun’s surface from its Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, which fittingly sits atop the summit of Haleakala – the house of the sun — on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

First-Of-Their-Kind Images of The Sun From New Haleakala Telescope. Never-before-seen images of the Sun were released today, revealing cell-like structures the size of Texas roiling on its surface. These are the very first images observed by the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) atop Haleakala on Maui. Maui Now.

UH astronomers capture stunning images of the sun’s surface. From the House of The Sun, on Maui comes the most detailed look at the sun to date. Images captured by scientists at the Daniel K. Inouye Telescope on Haleakala provided a stunning view of the sun. Hawaii News Now.

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Annual visitor arrivals to Hawaii exceed 10 million for the first time. Visitors to Hawaii went over the 10 million benchmark, but spending growth in 2019 didn’t keep up with the pace of arrivals growth, according to statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii housing demand high, supply still low. Hawaii needs 50,156 new homes — for sale and rent — over the next five years to meet demand, but only a small fraction of that number likely will be built. Star-Advertiser.

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No sign yet of coronavirus in Hawaii but officials are on alert. Hawaii has no cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus so far and officials say the risk of infection here is very low. Star-Advertiser.

DOH: Coronavirus Risk In Hawaii Still Low. At a press conference Wednesday, state officials said no cases of the novel coronavirus have been documented in our islands. Civil Beat.

No Cases of Coronavirus Confirmed in Hawai‘i. State officials reassured the public that risk to the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is low and, no cases have been confirmed up to this point. Big Island Now.

Hawaii Officials Say Don't Travel To China, Get A Flu Shot As Coronavirus Spreads. There is still no reported case of novel coronavirus in the state and screenings of arriving visitors have begun at the Honolulu international airport, the Hawaii Department of Health confirmed at a Wednesday press conference. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i Health Department Prepares for 2019 Novel Coronavirus: Advising Against Travel to China. “Although the risk to the general public is low,” officials with the Hawai‘i Department of Health say they are working with state, county and federal partners to “actively prepare for possible cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).” Maui Now.

State Health Officials urge people not to travel to China amid growing concerns with coronavirus. There are now more than 7,000 confirmed cases worldwide but a majority of them are in China. More than 170 people have died. KITV4.

Rating Agency: Coronavirus Could Hurt Hawaii Tourism. Moody’s says impact will be limited is virus if contained within a few months. Civil Beat.

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Governor Calls For More Renewable Energy Development, Including Hydropower, Offshore Wind. Hawaii’s chief executive says, under current industry estimates, there is not enough land to cover the state’s energy needs solely using photovoltaic solar. But he sees promise in other options for the state to reach 100 percent renewable energy. Hawaii Public Radio.

New proposal to ban tour bus and tour helicopter operations on Sunday. Tourism is the biggest industry here in Hawaii. However, a new bill created by Senator Laura Thielen could put limits to it. KHON2.

Lawmakers seek to boost minimum wage. Lawmakers have once again proposed an increase to the state’s minimum wage this year, after a similar proposal died in committee last year. Tribune-Herald.
New mental illness bill aims to tackle involuntary hospitalization. A new bill hoping to tackle Hawaii’s mental health problems is scheduled to be heard next week, but enforcement and rights of citizens could pose roadblocks to change. KHON2.

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Proposal Could Hand New Property Tax Authority To School Board For Teacher Salaries. A proposed Hawaii constitutional amendment would give the state Board of Education power to impose taxes on real property to pay for teacher salaries. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposal would give BOE taxing authority. Proposed legislation introduced by state House Speaker Scott Saiki would allow residents to vote on an amendment to Hawaii’s constitution that would give the state Board of Education “concurrent real property tax authority” to help fund teacher compensation. Tribune-Herald.

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Philippines-based church with ties to Hawaii involved in immigration, fundraising fraud, FBI says. The FBI arrested three administrators of a Philippines-based church in California and Virginia today in connection with a years-long alleged fundraising scheme that stretched across the Pacific to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

A church with offices in Hawaii is accused by the feds of running a massive immigration fraud scheme. According to officials, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the Name Above Every Name Church would bring in workers from the Philippines claiming that they’re helping with church activities. KHON2.

Federal authorities raid Filipino mega-church as part of massive investigation. Federal authorities raided several churches and homes in Hawaii and on the mainland Wednesday connected to controversial Filipino evangelist Apollo Quiboloy as part of a massive human trafficking and immigration fraud investigation. Hawaii News Now.

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Former high-ranking union leader sentenced to 30 months in prison. The former head of the powerful Longshoremen’s union was sentenced Wednesday to two and half years in prison for identity theft. Hawaii News Now.

Former union official sentenced 30 months for identity theft, failure to file tax returns. A former union official was sentenced to 30 months in prison for identity theft and failure to file tax returns. KHON2.

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Helicopter Fishing For Ghost Nets In Hawaii. Nonprofits have banded together to explore a new way of removing abandoned fishing gear before it damages reefs or ensnares whales, dolphins, seals and turtles. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Voters Will Decide On Two-Term Limit For Prosecutor. The Honolulu prosecutor currently has no term limit. Civil Beat.

Voters to decide on term limits for city prosecutor amid scandal. Keith Kaneshiro is in his fifth term as city prosecutor. The public corruption scandal surrounding his office has led to a resolution that would limit future prosecutors to two consecutive four-year terms, the same term limit as the mayor and councilmembers. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu prosecutor candidates tout need for reform. At a debate Tuesday night, five candidates for Honolulu prosecuting attorney all agreed about the need to restore trust and accountability in the prosecutor’s office after its recent troubles but also carved out their own visions for tackling the job. Star-Advertiser.

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Homeless Man Forced To Lick Urinal By Police Files Civil Lawsuit. Two officers pleaded guilty in the case last year and are now being sued. Civil Beat.

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Honolulu councilwoman urges to increase gender equality in surf contests. Resolution 2012 urges officials to adopt new rules relating to city and state permits issued to surfing contest promoters to allow the same amount of women and men to take part in surfing events held on Oahu’s North Shore. KHON2.

Honolulu City Council passes gender equity surfing Resolution 20-12. The Honolulu City council approved a resolution this afternoon designed to change the landscape of the competitive surfing industry. KITV4.

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State proposes $35M highway realignment plan to ease Laniakea gridlock. After years of gridlock, state transportation officials say they finally have the money to fix the North Shore traffic problem caused by visitors trying to catch a glimpse of turtles. Hawaii News Now.

Council OK’s shorter hold times for stray pets. A bill allowing the Hawaiian Humane Society to shorten the length of time it must keep a microchipped cat or dog to five days from nine days before deciding whether to euthanize it won final approval from the City Council Wednesday despite lingering protests from advocates of a no-kill policy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island


Judge appears willing to allow subpoena of anti-TMT group’s financial records. A Circuit Court judge today said he was inclined to allow the state Attorney General’s office to subpoena financial records of a non-profit group devoted to Hawaiian issues, including raising funds to provide bail and other support for people opposed to the planned Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Judge: Attorney General Can Get Bank Records Of Mauna Kea Protest Group. A state judge has said he’s inclined to limit the scope of a subpoena filed against an activist organization leading protests of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Civil Beat.

Ethics Board to take on Maunakea road block. The fences blocking Maunakea Access Road came down more than a month ago. But the debate over whether the government applied the law discriminately by not removing protesters and reopening the road is as robust as ever. West Hawaii Today.

34% hike questioned. The air was polite, but testimony before the state Public Utilities Commission Tuesday night in Hilo was overwhelmingly opposed to Young Brothers’ request to raise interisland ocean freight rates by 34%. Tribune-Herald.

24 Big Island officers either fired or suspended in 2019. There were 12 police officers fired and 12 others suspended in 2019 on Hawaii island, according to a recent report by the Hawaii Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

Charter school focuses on future after inundation, alleged embezzlement. The founder and director of Kua O Ka La Public Charter School said Wednesday the school’s administration and governing board can’t comment on a federal embezzlement complaint against the school’s former financial officer “as it is still pending court action". Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Visitor Spending, Arrivals on Maui up in 2019, Report Finds. Visitors on Maui spent a total of $5.12 billion in 2019, a 3 percent rise from the year before, the Hawai’i Tourism Authority reported today. Maui Now.

County in top 3 worldwide for revenue, rates, occupancy in 2019. Maui County hotels ranked in the top three in “sun and sea destinations” worldwide in revenue per available room, average daily room rates and occupancy in 2019, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Thursday. Maui News.

Groups intervene on resort expansion. Grand Wailea’s plans on pause while groups, hotel turn to mediation. Maui News.

Kauai

Pesticide-free parks may be county goal. The nonprofit organization Beyond Pesticides got the green light Wednesday from the Kauai County Council to partner with the county Department of Parks &Recreation on a project to train staff on alternative pest-management strategies. Garden Island.

County backs Hawaiian homesteaders. The County Council on Wednesday passed unanimously a resolution to urge the state Legislature to fix defects in laws that govern the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands that have led to stubbornly high mortgage delinquency and foreclosure rates among Native Hawaiians living on DHHL lands. Garden Island.

Crosswalks, no-parking updates discussed at council. Roads and recycling were up for discussion at the Wednesday Kauai County Council meeting. Garden Island.

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Hawaii to ban 'gay panic' defense, allow 'Gender X,' herbicides banned at schools, Honolulu hires criminal defense in rail probe, Karen Pence to visit military families, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii gay pride parade ©2019 All Hawaii News
Hawaii to Become 6th State to Ban “Gay Panic” as Affirmative Defense for Murder. Hawaii's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual community is awaiting the governor’s signature on bills, that when signed into law today, will advance rights and protections of those who identify as such. Maui Now.

Gov. Ige to sign bill allowing ‘Gender X’ on Hawaii driver licenses. In an effort to reduce discrimination against transgender and gender fluid individuals, Hawaii driver licenses will soon sport ‘Gender X’ as an option. Hawaii News Now.

Bill to add more gender categories on Hawaii driver’s licenses to be signed into law. A bill to expand gender categories on Hawaii driver’s licenses will be signed into law today. KHON2.

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Herbicides banned on Hawaii public school campuses, superintendent says. Superintendent Christina Kishimoto, after hearing that Roundup was being used on some campuses, sent a memo Tuesday to all principals stressing that herbicides are banned at Hawaii public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Vague guidelines on pesticide use at schools has community calling for change. Parents alongside concerned members of the the community are challenging school officials over the chemicals being used to kill weeds on campus. Hawaii News Now.

Two mothers are suing the Hawaii Department of Public Safety on behalf of their children, over what their lawsuit describes as “repeated and deliberate indifference towards the safety and well-being of inmates with serious mental health issues.” Garden Island.

More than 1,000 pieces of stolen mail found in late postal worker’s storage unit. In an email confirming the discovery, the USPS said there were about 1,000 pieces of stolen mail from about 13 to 15 years ago, along with roughly 11,000 USPS Return Receipt post cards. Hawaii News Now.

Karen Pence visits Hawaii. The Second Lady will speak to military families to highlight the Blue Star Museum program, which she serves as honorary co-chair. KHON2.

Oahu

Mayor Caldwell signs vacation rental policy bill. It took roughly three decades, but the city now has a broad-ranging policy regulating vacation rentals. Star-Advertiser.

City Will Use ‘Digital Stings’ To Nab Illegal Vacation Rentals Starting Aug. 1. But the full effect of Oahu’s new law severely limiting Airbnb-type rentals and imposing stiff fines on violators won’t start until late 2020. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Signs Measure To Regulate Short-Term Rentals. Mayor Kirk Caldwell vetoed one short-term rental measure and signed another that will restrict the operation of the rentals on Oahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Caldwell signs ‘historic’ bill regulating vacation rental industry on Oahu. Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed a bill into law on Tuesday that will enact some of the toughest new regulations for Oahu’s vacation rental industry in nearly 40 years. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Caldwell signs vacation rentals bill 89, vetoes bill 85. The mayor signed the bill at a press conference at Honolulu Hale on Tuesday. KITV.

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City hiring lawyer to address rail subpoenas. The city is hiring an outside attorney to help handle issues related to a federal criminal investigation of the Honolulu rail project, and has budgeted up to $50,000 to cover the cost of that legal work. Star-Advertiser.

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Closing arguments in Kealoha corruption trial begin. Prosecutors have said Katherine Kealoha wanted to frame Gerard Puana to keep him from revealing fraud that financed the couple's lavish lifestyle. KITV.

The Kealoha conspiracy case is a story of “greed and manipulation,” a federal prosecutor says. Lawyers for the two remaining defendants, Nguyen and Shiraishi, are scheduled to give their closings this morning; then the government gets the last word with rebuttal remarks. Star-Advertiser.

Kealoha Conspiracy Trial: ‘Power, Greed And Manipulation’. Closing arguments began Tuesday in the trial of Louis and Katherine Kealoha and three Honolulu police officers. Civil Beat.

Defense calls government’s allegations in Kealoha mailbox trial ‘imagination’. In fiery closing arguments Tuesday, a federal prosecutor in the closely-watched public corruption case against the Kealohas told jurors that the case isn’t about a mailbox but about why the defendants would try to frame a Kealoha relative with its theft. Hawaii News Now.

30 HPD Officers Assigned to Watch Kealohas' Relative, Prosecutor Says In Closing Arguments. A U.S. prosecutor says 30 Honolulu police officers conducted 24-hour surveillance on the uncle of former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha the week she claimed he stole her mailbox in 2013. Associated Press.

Hawaii Island

E. Kalani Flores testified in opposition to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit renewal for the Thirty Meter Telescope construction on Mauna Kea, one of many to speak out at a public hearing held Tuesday night in Kona. Big Island Video News.

Kailua-Kona’s first medical marijuana dispensary opens Sunday. Hawaiian Ethos, one of only two businesses licensed to sell medical marijuana products on the Big Island, plans a grand opening celebration Sunday at its Olowalu Street dispensary in the Kaloko Light Industrial Area. West Hawaii Today.

Island’s two major well-diggers have work galore. The Big Island’s two major well-drillers continue to ask for more time to complete their projects, even as new contracts are awarded to them. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Final EIS released for Pulehunui master plan. Plan outlines water, wastewater, roads for major state projects. Maui News.

Maui Bus to Reduce Fares for Seniors, Disabled and Others, July 1. The County of Maui Department of Transportation announced that beginning Monday, July 1, 2019, the Maui Bus is implementing reduced single boarding fares of $1.00 for fixed route service. Maui Now.

Kauai

Hundreds rally for salt ponds. A Kauai County Planning Commission meeting drew a crowd of well over a hundred local residents, who showed up at the county government building in Lihue on Tuesday morning to speak on behalf of their culture, their heritage, their land and their salt. Garden Island.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

State, EPA agree on pesticide use, court approves Zuckerberg land sale, Katherine Kealoha's grandmother testifies, tourism industry opposes Honolulu tax, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2019 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Kauai taro fields ©2019 All Hawaii News
HDOA, EPA reach resolution about impact of chemicals. Tuesday, Earthjustice announced an informal resolution agreement between the two agencies, one that forces the state Department of Agriculture to start implementing restricted-use pesticide reporting, annual public disclosure of the reports, maps that indicate buffer zones around schools and public notice of the prohibition of chlorpyrifos use. Garden Island.

State, EPA reach agreement on how to implement law aimed at regulating pesticide use. The Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with the state Department of Agriculture on how to implement Act 45, which was signed by the governor last year. Hawaii News Now.

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To help solve Hawaii’s housing crisis, some leaders are looking to Singapore. An affordable housing delegation from Hawaii -- made up of lawmakers, state and city housing officials, developers, architects, entrepreneurs, and community advocates -- traveled to Singapore last month to learn how the island nation overcame a major housing crisis and now touts one of the highest home ownership rates in the world. Hawaii News Now.

Federal Fisheries Council Has A Long History Of Secrecy. Wespac has for years resisted releasing information, fighting public records requests, lawsuits and even congressional inquiries. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Katherine Kealoha’s grandmother gives tearful testimony. Florence M. Puana, a 99-year-old great-great-great-grandmother with an eighth-grade education, testified in a videotaped deposition aired Tuesday that she trusted her attorney/granddaughter, Katherine Kea­loha, to manage a reverse mortgage on Puana’s home only to discover that $23,976.69 of the money went to a lavish breakfast for then-Police Chief Louis Kealoha at the Sheraton Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

She Says She Was Betrayed By Her Granddaughter, Katherine Kealoha. Jurors watch the video testimony of Florence Puana, 99, in the public corruption trial of the Kealohas and three police officers. Civil Beat.

She said to trust her’: Kealoha’s 99-year-old grandma tells her story to jury. In an emotional, hours-long video deposition played for jurors Tuesday, Katherine Kealoha’s 99-year-old grandmother talked about how she trusted her granddaughter -- and how devastated she was to learn “she wasn’t the person I thought I knew.” Hawaii News Now.

KEALOHA TRIAL: Jurors watched video testimony of Florence Puana, Katherine Kealoha's grandmother. KHON2.

Katherine Kealoha's grandmother says that she 'didn't know' about a joint checking account. Florence Puana did not have a card, nor a checkbook for the bank account. KITV.

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Hawaii Tourism Industry Opposes Proposed Property Tax Increase, Say It's Paying For Rail. Members of the Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association, opposing Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s proposal to raise real property taxes for hotels and resorts, say they're being made to bear the burden of the $9 billion rail system. Hawaii Public Radio.

Last ditch effort afoot to quash proposed property tax hike for hotels. Leaders from the hotel industry gathered on the lawn of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Tuesday in a last ditch bid to block an increase in their property taxes. Hawaii News Now.

Leaks detected in deck of Honolulu rail line. The concrete deck of the elevated Honolulu rail line has cracks in a “handful” of areas that have been allowing rain to leak into the hollow interior of the structure, according to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's homeless: Dying on the streets. For many homeless residents, death is just part of life on the streets. KITV.

Project To Help Homeless Imperiled By Major Donor’s Bankruptcy. A local philanthropic organization formed to reduce homelessness may never get on its feet following a recent bankruptcy case involving its first major donor, a one-time violent criminal turned entrepreneur. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Raises for firefighters. With more than 30 black-shirted firefighters crowding into council chambers and watching them closely, three County Council members switched their votes Tuesday to give unanimous support to their raises. West Hawaii Today.

State wants case involving cop closed off. Prosecutors are looking to have a felony drug case thrown out at the request of the police chief because a key witness is a sworn police officer under internal investigation. West Hawaii Today.

Disaster bill packed with aid for Big Island, including funds for HVNP, HVO, farmers and more. The long-delayed $19.1 billion disaster relief bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday contains some “sorely needed” funds for Hawaii Island and other parts of the state struggling to recover from natural disasters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Carlos, Alexa PenaVega caught up in Maui’s vacation rental housing debate. Acting couple seeking short-term rental permit for Kihei home. Maui News.

A popular Maui beach is the subject of a turf war between paddlers, businesses. A county council committee considered a measure that would ban commercial activities at Lahaina’s Hanakao’o Beach Park, otherwise known as Canoe Beach. Hawaii News Now.

New invasive caterpillar threatens rare native plants on Maui. State officials are warning of a new, invasive insect destructive to mamaki plants – the Ramie caterpillar — which has been detected on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Construction down on Maui since rental car facility finished. Most still employed but no more large jobs in pipeline. Maui News.

Kauai

Land auction involving Facebook CEO gets court’s OK. A retired University of Hawaii professor Tuesday bid nearly $2.2 million to wrest 2 acres of land on Kauai from a few hundred family members in a forced court auction initiated partly by Facebook’s billionaire CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Star-Advertiser.

Andrade buys all four kuleana. Carlos Andrade, a retired history professor and partial heir to several small land parcels on Mark Zuckerberg’s North Shore estate, outbid a group of his distant relatives during a court hearing on Tuesday, purchasing all four of the contested lots for just over $2 million. Garden Island.

Former Las Vegas Captain Adapts To New World As Kauai Police Chief. Todd Raybuck commanded one of nine patrol divisions packed into a single city. Civil Beat.

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Hawaii on the Hill mixes promotion with politics, super PAC stirs up lt. gov. race, Ige signs pesticide bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Sen. Brian Schatz
Hawaii on the Hill PC:U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz
UPDATE: This entry has been edited to remove references to an article about gems being produced by Kilauea Volcano after debunking Thursday by scientists.

National Politics Percolate At ‘Hawaii On The Hill’ Event In DC. It’s not all about poke bowls and Spam musubi. The annual Chamber of Commerce event gives some island leaders a firsthand look at national issues. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Congressional delegation joined local government officials, small business owners, and educators at the 5th annual Hawaii on the Hill events on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Unite Here Local 5, which represents about 11,000 Hawaii hospitality, health and food service workers, endorsed Kim Coco Iwamoto for lieutenant governor on Wednesday.  Star-Advertiser.

Super PAC Dumps A Quarter-Million Dollars Into LG Race. The pro-rail carpenters union is backing state Sen. Josh Green, but one political analyst questions whether it’s payback against another candidate. Civil Beat.

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The state of Hawaii is banning a pesticide scientists have found could hinder the development of children’s brains. Associated Press.

Hawaii became the first state in the country to ban pesticides containing chlorpyrifos, a chemical that has been linked to disruptions in the brain development of babies and young children, with Gov. David Ige signing the measure into law on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige signed SB3095 Wednesday, which bans the use of pesticides containing the potentially harmful chemical chlorpyrifos starting in 2023. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii became the first state in the nation to ban chlorpyrifos with the Wednesday signing of SB3095 by Gov. David Ige. Garden Island.

Hawaii Becomes First State to Ban Neurotoxin, Chlorpyrifos. Hawaii Public Radio.

Governor David Ige signed a law Wednesday, banning the use of pesticides containing chlorpyrifos. KITV.

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Gov. Ige Asks FEMA to Reconsider Request for Kauai & Oahu. Big Island Now.

Gov. David Ige is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reconsider its initial denial of the state’s request for individual assistance for Kauai and Oahu residents affected by April’s severe storms and flooding. Garden Island.

The Hawaiian Electric Cos. have filed their Electrification of Transportation Strategic Roadmap (“EoT Roadmap”) with the state Public Utilities Commission. Star-Advertiser.

The mayors of Hawaii’s four counties are pushing ahead in their pursuit of electrifying the state’s transportation sector by signing a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to formally join Drive Electric Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Pasha Hawaii receives 600 new refrigerated containers as part of expanded Hawaii service. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Blood Bank Paying A High Price In Its Dispute With Honolulu Rail Officials. The nonprofit wants to abandon its headquarters long before trains start rumbling nearby. But the city is offering to buy only a strip of landscaping. Civil Beat.

More frustration for Oahu residents trying to renew their driver's licenses. KHON2.

The state is investigating a case of Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially deadly form of pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection. Star-Advertiser.

Six isolated cases of Legionnaires' disease confirmed in Hawaii this year. KHON2.

The state Department of Health announced on Wednesday that they are investigating a new case of legionellosis on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Union hopes nonprofit, trust fund will help its members buy homes. Star-Advertiser.

Longtime leader of St. Francis School ousted. Sister Joan of Arc Souza, who led St. Francis School in Manoa for 27 of its 94 years as its head of school and principal, was no longer employed at the school as of Monday. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu-based hotel company has sold six of its Asia-Pacific properties to a Thai-based property development and investment holding company for $310 million. Associated Press.

Solar permits issued on Oahu rose 42 percent in May to mark the fifth straight month of increases. Star-Advertiser.

‘The Last Wild Place’ Wins National Honors. Civil Beat took readers on a visual journey through one of the most remote parts of the planet. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Ige seeks assistance from federal programs. Gov. David Ige said Wednesday that Hawaii County estimates lava has destroyed approximately 455 dwellings in Leilani Estates, Lanipuna Gardens, Vacationland and Kapoho Beach Lots, of which 192 are primary residences. Many other homes throughout Puna have been cut off by lava or are uninhabitable due to poor air quality from volcanic gases. Star-Advertiser.

Federal aid for people affected by the Kilauea eruption might be approved soon after Gov. David Ige signed a request for such assistance Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii governor asks FEMA to OK individual assistance for lava claims. State agencies, the county government and nonprofit organizations have been providing assistance to individuals so far; the state has no individual assistance programs, the governor’s office said. Pacific Business News.

County hoping Disaster Assistance Center can open by weekend. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim is hoping to have a conceptual plan for a Kaikoo-style redevelopment project to help those displaced by the Kilauea eruption drafted within a month. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii mayor wants to relocate those displaced outside zones one or two. KITV.

Website aims to provide displaced lava evacuees with housing. KITV.

The incredible scope of the Big Island eruptions, a disaster with no end in sight. Hawaii News Now.

Farmers among hardest hit by eruptions with losses of more than $14M. Hawaii News Now.

Overflight Video: Rivers of Lava. Big Island Now.

VIDEO: Drone Captures Dramatic Drop At Kilauea Summit. Big Island Video News.

The National Weather Service reported Wednesday that light winds will bring vog inland and to the south, wrapping around to the Kona area. West Hawaii Today.

Distant Eruption Has Major Impact On Kona-Kohala Coast. West side residents and businesses are dealing with vog and a downturn in business, including some people cancelling their visits. Civil Beat.

Relief greets Pride of America’s return to Hawaii Island ports. West Hawaii Today.

Hundreds of animals among lava refugees. The humanitarian crisis in its sixth week on Hawaii island, forcing more than 400 people into shelters and away from erupting lava, also has taken a toll on animals in the area. Star-Advertiser.


Maui

Maui Renters Need to Work 123 Hours a Week to Afford 2-Bedroom Apartment. Maui Now.

DLNR Seeking Comments on Draft EIS for Business Park. The 280-acre DLNR Industrial and Business Park is located along Maui Veterans Highway (formerly known as Mokulele Highway) adjacent to the Hawaii National Guard Armory and the County Raceway Park in Central Maui, in the vicinity of the former Naval Air Station Puunene and Maui Humane Society. Maui Now.

Kauai

In the wake of the Kauai floods and volcanic activity on Hawaii Island, Kahuku Medical Center has raised $15,000 for the American Red Cross of Hawaii to support disaster relief efforts and those affected by recent natural disasters. Garden Island.

The southbound lane of Kuhio Highway between Nuku Street and Kapaia Road will be closed from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Wednesday, June 20, and Thursday, June 21. The closure is necessary to allow the Wastewater Management Division to continue a sewer main repair in the area. Garden Island.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Hawaii to be first state to enact pesticide ban with bill signing today, HGEA endorses Hanabusa, Kilauea volcano settles into earthquake pattern, state sued over child death, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Monsanto Facebook photo
Hawaii agriculture PC:Monsanto Facebook photo
Hawaii will become the first state to prohibit the use of pesticides containing the chemical chlorpyrifos, after Gov. David Ige signs a bill into law on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

President Donald Trump arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Tuesday afternoon aboard Air Force One, and although no one disembarked to greet base residents, the summit with North Korea — if implemented — will have its own impact on Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Government Employees Association, Hawaii’s largest union, representing more than 42,000 government workers, took several swipes at Gov. David Ige as it announced Tuesday its decision to support Colleen Hanabusa in the governor’s race. Star-Advertiser.

Why This New Hawaii Super PAC Has Already Changed Its Name. The backlash over using a Hawaiian song title without permission has been building for weeks and surfaced at the state Democratic Convention. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Juvenile Justice Information Committee is working to help as many underage offenders as possible to become productive citizens. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Crusade To Keep Hawaii Kids Fed This Summer. While the Department of Education provides meals on summer school campuses, other efforts are afoot to deliver food to nonschool venues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s mortgage delinquency rate improved by 0.5 percentage points in March, and was a full percentage point lower than the national average for loans that were 30 days or more past due, according to a monthly report by CoreLogic. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Study: Honolulu Workers Need $39 An Hour To Afford A 2-Bedroom Rental. At the state level, Hawaii residents need to earn more than anywhere else in the U.S., researchers say. Civil Beat.

Rents for two-bedroom apartments in Honolulu fell by 3.9 percent from a year ago, ranking Hawaii’s largest city at No. 99 among the 100 largest cities in the U.S. for year-over-year rent growth, according to a report from Apartment List. Pacific Business News.

The "Hawaii Emergency Management Agency" and the City and Council of Honolulu will be conducting siren tests between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday. KITV.

Windy Kaukonahua Road will close from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today through Friday as the city converts streetlights along the Wahiawa-­North Shore thoroughfare to LED lamps from traditional lamps. Star-Advertiser.

For the second time this month, a live snake has been captured in Hawaii. KHON2.

State agricultural officials picked up a stowaway snake from Honolulu Harbor on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Large earthquakes and steam explosions at the summit of Kilauea have been occurring on an almost daily basis in the past few days, with one happening approximately 24 hours after the next, and scientists say the activity is in fact following a "fairly reliable pattern." Hawaii News Now.

Lava spewing in 160-foot-high fountains in lower Puna and flowing to the sea has now created at least 250 acres of new land in Kapoho. Hawaii News Now.

With scores of businesses around the island impacted by the Kilauea eruption, county, state and federal agencies are investigating ways to help struggling employers and employees alike. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: Scientist Shares Kilauea Eruption Update. Big Island Video News.

The Latest: Kilauea Eruption Update. KITV.

USGS caldera collapse
Lighter winds toward the end of the week could send vog and sulfur dioxide from Kilauea’s eruption “over more populated areas,” including Hilo, the National Weather Service said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Volcanic gas emissions very high from fissure 8. KHON2.

Influx of new people has brought more crime, shelter residents say. A growing number of people who were homeless or living in unstable situations before the volcano disaster have joined the makeshift community and are responsible for an increase in thefts, domestic disturbances and other trouble that has required police intervention. Star-Advertiser.

As eruptions continue, land swap eyed for hundreds of evacuees. An old idea to relocate part of Puna is getting a new push amid ongoing eruptions, which have destroyed at least 700 homes on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

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Aunt of girl who starved to death sues state. Star-Advertiser.

The maternal aunt of a 9-year-old Hilo girl allegedly starved to death almost two years ago by her parents and maternal grandmother has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the state, the girl’s parents and her maternal grandmother. Tribune-Herald.

A new lawsuit blames the state for the death of a nine-year-old Hilo girl who died of starvation in 2016. Hawaii News Now.

The family of a 9-year-old Big Island girl who starved to death is suing the state of Hawaii as well as her parents and grandmother for wrongful death. KHON2.

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The Board of Ethics on Tuesday cleared a retired county employee to hold a county contract overseeing a project replacing the county’s problematic online building permit application system. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch is evaluating information collected last month during an investigation into wastewater discharges from Big Island Dairy. Tribune-Herald.

The number of photovoltaic permits issued in Hawaii County nearly tripled in May despite Kilauea Volcano erupting and thousands of people evacuating their homes on the east side of the island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Council candidates challenged. Haiku resident maintains term limits disqualify them from seeking council seats. Maui News.

Panel advises settlement in director’s suit. Details not released publicly. The lawsuit filed by Department of Water Supply Director David Taylor against Mayor Alan Arakawa over Taylor’s dismissal last year may be winding down with the parties nearing a settlement. Maui News.

Maui County is preparing to advance $250,000 to help fund an appraisal of the ground lease for the affordable Front Street Apartments, where rents are set to go to market rates in 2019. Maui News.

Kauai

Lawsuits behind, Coco Palms rebuild to continue. Garden Island.

Feral conflict rising. Wild Hawaii cats, like the one in this photo, and their impacts to the state’s endangered species are the fodder for FERAL, an upcoming documentary on the Hawaiian cat conversation. Garden Island.

Molokai

Authorities Investigate Death Of Young Monk Seal On Molokai. She’s believed to be the sixth killed by people since 2009. Associated Press.