English sentenced to 40 months in prison for accepting bribes, Green leads Democrats in gubernatorial poll, former chief justice Moon dies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Former state senator is sentenced to 40 months in prison. The former majority leader of the state Senate expressed remorse and apologized Tuesday after he was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for taking bribes to manage legislation on behalf of a wastewater treatment and industrial machinery executive. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Associated Press. Big Island Now. Maui Now. Maui News. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Green Enjoys 30 Point Lead Over Kahele, Cayetano In Gov Race. According to a new Civil Beat/Hawaii News Now poll, Green has 48% of the vote compared to U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele with 16% and businesswoman Vicky Cayetano with 15%. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s Congressional District 2 Race: Veteran Tokuda Vs. Newcomer Branco. The CD 2 seat is open with the departure of Kai Kahele but the contest drew little interest from the state’s political office-seekers. Civil Beat.

Record number of Hawaii election observers, new ballot tracking planned. A record number of volunteer election observers are planning to monitor mail-in ballots as they’re opened and processed across the state, while voters this year also have new tools to track their ballots before they arrive at counting centers and as they’re being tallied. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s ‘clean energy future’ aided by new state laws. Hawaii is on an improved path toward lower electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions under new state laws enacted Tuesday that include a subsidy to develop hydrogen vehicle fueling stations. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Maui Now.

Biden awards Medal of Honor to 2 Hawaiʻi soldiers for Vietnam War heroism. President Joe Biden awarded the Medal of Honor to four Army soldiers, including two from Hawaiʻi, for heroism during the Vietnam War — bravery that he said had not diminished even with the passage of time. Associated Press. Maui Now. KHON2.

Sailors take on cybersecurity at RIMPAC. At this year’s iteration of RIMPAC, participants are holding their first cyberwarfare symposium as part of the biennial naval war game. Star-Advertiser.

More terminally ill patients are choosing aid-in-dying, but experts say obstacles remain. Hawaii’s “Our Care, Our Choice” Act went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, giving terminally ill patients the right to use prescribed end-of-life medications. Twenty-eight people died that year after being prescribed the medications. In 2020, the figure was 34. And in 2021, according to new state numbers, there were 49. Hawaii News Now.

Former Hawaii Chief Justice Ronald Moon Dead At 81. Moon served as chief justice for more than 17 years before retiring in 2010. He was the first Korean American to become the chief justice of a state supreme court. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.  KITV4.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Department releases footage of Rep. Matthew LoPresti’s DUI arrest. The Honolulu Police Department today provided media with body-worn camera footage of officers interacting with LoPresti, who was arrested on the evening of June 16 after officers found his vehicle stopped on the shoulder lane of Fort Weaver Road. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Honolulu Aquifer Likely Contaminated, According to the Board of Water Supply. By the Navy's report, there could be 5400 gallons of fuel unaccounted for from the Red Hill fuel spill last year. KITV4.

Navy reports no evidence of ‘chronic exposure’ from Red Hill fuel spill. The Department of Defense has set up a medical database to track the health impacts of jet fuel that leaked from Red Hill into the Navy’s water system, according to U.S. Pacific Fleet’s Capt. Michael McGinnis. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Councilwoman Takes Up The Fight Against Tour Helicopters. Tired of the long wait for action, City Council member Esther Kiaaina takes residents’ pleas for peace and quiet direct to helicopter companies. Civil Beat.

Seagull Schools to remain on city downtown campus. The city will temporarily relocate Seagull Schools in August 2023 from above the parking garage of the Frank Fasi Civic Center grounds to the Mission Memorial Center and the resource library — a reprieve for the early-childhood education center. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

Stadium plagues UH in big money musical chairs. An announcement on building the new Aloha Stadium could come next week, but time is of the essence as a shift in college football weighs on the future of the University of Hawaii’s athletics department. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Council seeks homeless plan: Housing office to detail how it will spend millions coming its way. The county housing agency is awash with money, and the County Council wants to know how it’s being spent. West Hawaii Today.

Council to Consider Overriding Roth Veto on Housing Program Revolving Fund. A measure that made the language in the county’s housing program revolving fund code more specific as to how it can be used was vetoed by Mayor Mitch Roth. The County Council on Wednesday, July 6, will revisit the issue — and could consider overriding Roth’s disapproval. Big Island Now.

Health care CEOs upbeat about merger: Bay Clinic, West Hawaii Community Health Center consolidating. The Bay Clinic and West Hawaii Community Health Center consolidated operations on July 1, forming a new health care organization for the Big Island known as Hawaii Island Community Health Center. Tribune-Herald.

Wastewater Discharged Into Hilo Bay. An obstructed sewer line on the July 4th holiday sent an estimated 3,000 gallons into a nearby storm drain, which empties into Hilo Bay. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

Firefighters respond to nine fireworks related incidents over the Fourth of July holiday. The majority of these incidents involved the discarding of spent fireworks in rubbish bins. All of these fires were quickly knocked down and extinguished, according to department reports.  Maui Now.

A fitting tribute is finally on its way for the residents of Kalaupapa. Gov. David Ige recently signed off on $5 million to fund a memorial dedicated to the thousands sent to the Hansen’s Disease colony. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Sen. Hirono day trips to Kaua‘i. Tuesday, Sen.Mazie K. Hirono squeezed out a short day trip to Kaua‘i with several stops, including the Wailua River Bridge Improvement project, a stop at the Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i, and the Boys &Girls Club, Lihu‘e before leaving on an afternoon flight. Garden Island.

Green tops in approval rating, Blangiardi and Ige ratings low, Legislature mulls sunscreen ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii beach baby rinse ©2022 All Hawaii News

Hawaii bill banning more sunscreen chemicals advances. The Senate version, SB 3001, is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment Committee at 1:30 p.m. today, and the House version, HB 1519, is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Energy and Environment at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Josh Green’s approval ratings surge in Hawaii governor’s race. Lt. Gov. Josh Green, the leading candidate so far to become Hawaii’s next governor, has a commanding 65% overall approval rating among Hawaii voters — and an even more impressive 70% approval for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Hawaii Poll shows. Star-Advertiser.

Undecided votes critical in tight race for Hawaii lieutenant governor. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Hawaii Poll shows the five-way race to become Hawaii’s next lieutenant governor is tight, but a huge chunk of undecided voters means every candidate still has a path to victory. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Poll reveals isle voters’ attitudes toward Gov. David Ige, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi just started his second year in office and Gov. David Ige is in his final year, but approval ratings for both are among the worst of the nine island politicians included in the Honolulu Star-­Advertiser Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Secretary of State to stop in Hawaii following visits to Australia, Fiji. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to stop in Hawaii next week after a trip to Australia and Fiji, when he plans to push back on “aggression and coercion” in the Indo-Pacific region, a sign the administration is keeping China high on its agenda even as it finds itself focused on the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Bloomberg.

Lawmakers consider banning peer-to-peer car rentals amid overtourism concerns. State Rep. Sean Quinlan was one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill. He doesn’t expect it to pass but said it’s a signal to the industry that discussion over taxation and regulation is needed. Hawaii News Now.

Should Hawaii Gamble On Online Sports Betting? Measures that would regulate online sports betting could generate some tax revenues for the state, but experts worry easy access could fuel gambling addictions. Civil Beat.

House bill influenced by murder of 6-year-old Waimānalo girl moves forward. The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Homelessness passed a bill that would provide more protection for adopted children by allowing for more check-in visits from the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Civil Rights Agency Grapples With Solving Long-Delayed Cases. The commission already was dealing with a backlog when the pandemic hit, leading to budget woes and a hiring freeze. Civil Beat.

Board of Education weighs qualifications for tough superintendent job. Don’t read anything into the fact that it’s been six months and counting that Keith Hayashi has been acting as the interim state superintendent of Hawaii’s public schools. So says the head of the search for the next permanent superintendent. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s blood shortage triggers tax incentive bill for donors. The state Legislature is considering tax breaks for people who give blood because of low donor numbers in recent months. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii records 4 new coronavirus-related deaths, 916 additional infections. The  new confirmed and probable infection count includes 537 new cases on Oahu, 155 on Hawaii Island, 107 on Maui, 95 on Kauai, one on Molokai, three on Lanai and 18 Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Pressure to further ease COVID rules mounts as cases decline, hitting a 46-day low. Earlier this week, the city’s restrictions on large gatherings of 1,000 or more lapsed and the mayor said no new restrictions are planned. Hawaii News Now.

Shut down Red Hill fuel facility, most Hawaii voters say. An overwhelming majority of Hawaii voters say the Navy should permanently shut down its Red Hill fuel tanks, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser poll. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Police Commission Calls For Public Input On Next Police Chief. The commission plans to survey public opinion in the ongoing search for Honolulu’s next chief of police. Civil Beat.

Caldwell believes former city officials are innocent. Former Mayor Kirk Caldwell believes his one-time corporation counsel, managing director and chair of the police commission did not break the law while arranging a $250,000 retirement settlement for former police Chief Louis Kealoha that bypassed City Council review. Star-Advertiser.

Bill would establish state park along Kaiwi Coast. A bill to create a state park along East Oahu’s Kaiwi Coast is among a range of measures involving the state Department of Land and Natural Resources under consideration at the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

COVID testing contracts examined: County Council to get update Tuesday on testing and spending. TrueCare24 Inc., the company that last month lost more than 400 coronavirus test samples, was the lowest bidder of four vendors selected by the county and the least compliant with bidding requirements, according to an analysis of bid documents and purchase agreements West Hawaii Today received from the county in response to a public records request. West Hawaii Today.

Banyan Drive Redevelopment Bill Proposed. A new House Bill will create the Waiakea Peninsula Redevelopment District and planning committee for the redevelopment of public lands on Banyan Drive. Big Island Video News.

Effort to secure new hospital for Kona renewed. A bill in the state House to provide funding for a site assessment to find a viable location for a new hospital site in North Kona passed its first committee hearing Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County dropping booster requirement to be considered 'fully vaccinated' beginning Feb. 7. Maui County is relaxing its rule requiring business patrons to show that they’ve received a booster shot to be considered fully vaccinated. The revision goes into effect Monday, Feb. 7. KITV4.

Airbnb removes 1,300 unlicensed Maui rentals under new county agreement. Airbnb said it recently removed more than 1,300 vacation rentals without licenses under its agreement with Maui County. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the county last year. Hawaii Public Radio.

Study shows Maui's polystyrene ban had a limited impact on beaches. Of the five beaches studied, only two showed a minor reduction in polystyrene debris after the ban, said Dr. Jennifer Lynch, the co-director of the Hawaiʻi Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research and one of the scientists who worked on the study. Hawaii Public Radio.

Council mulls report outlining ways to manage tourism on Maui. Regulating peer-to-peer car sharing, setting a cap on tourist accommodations and banning transient vacation rentals in certain districts are among ideas to manage tourism on Maui that were presented this week by a county group. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauaʻi sponsors sought for summer food programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is seeking sponsor organizations on all islands to help provide children in low-income communities with free meals during the summer months. Garden Island.

Nonprofits invited to apply for funding from Kauaʻi United Way. Feb. 18 is the deadline for nonprofit organizations to contact Lori Almarza, acting director of the Kaua‘i United Way, indicating intent to apply for KUW funding. Garden Island.

Green very popular in poll, 63% vaccinated, facial recognition comes to Honolulu airport, lumber prices more than double, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

An apparently exhausted Lt. Gov. Green on July 29, 2020

Hawaii Voters Really, Really Like Lt. Gov. Josh Green. But Gov. David Ige gets low marks as does Speaker Scott Saiki, the Legislature and former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. Of those surveyed in the latest Civil Beat/Hawaii News Now poll, 63% said they had a positive view of Josh Green, who has all but declared his intention to succeed the term-limited David Ige next year. Civil Beat.

How major bills in Hawaii fared at the Capitol in 2021. The 31st state Legislature adjourned Thursday and forwarded over 200 bills to Gov. David Ige, including ones that would make it illegal to capture or kill sharks, require state departments to identify facilities that are vulnerable to sea level rise and allow advanced practice registered nurses to perform abortions. Star-Advertiser.

Historic, divisive state land lease extensions pending. A highly divided Legislature recently passed a heavily contested bill that would let tenants on state-owned public land maintain leases for roughly a century, up from 65 years, without competition. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmaker apologizes for words ‘reported out of context’. Under fire for what one Native Hawaiian group described as hate speech, Hawaii island state Sen. Lorraine Inouye issued an apology for comments she made in a television news interview and pledged to consult with Hawaiian cultural practitioners to help educate her on related issues. Star-Advertiser.

Bringing Back The Pork: Case, Kahele Make Their Pitch For $57 Million. Earmarks were banned in 2011 after a series of scandals involving congressionally directed spending. Now Congress has decided to bring the process back with more transparency. Civil Beat.

Ed Case Revives Ambitious Pacific Island Foreign Policy Bill. The bill would authorize $1 billion in aid to Pacific Island nations and boost trade, diplomatic and military relations across the region. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric to End Moratorium on Disconnections for Nonpayment. The moratorium, established about a year ago due to financial hardships inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic, is scheduled to end on May 31. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lumber prices more than double. The cost of building a new home in Hawaii has jumped during the pandemic, largely because of the huge increase in lumber prices. KITV4.

Zippy's offering cash incentives for new hires. Some businesses hard-pressed for new hires during the pandemic are offering certain incentivesPopular restaurant, Zippy's, launched a new recruitment bonus program offering up to $3,000 cash for those looking to fill manager spots, or up to $500 for other positions. KITV4.

As Demand Wanes, Hawaii Reduces Its COVID-19 Vaccine Order For The First Time. The slowdown comes as Hawaii reached a milestone, with nearly 63% of the 16-and-older population fully vaccinated as of Tuesday. Civil Beat.

May 4, 2021 COVID-19 Update: 80 Cases (60 O‘ahu, 11 Maui, 2 Hawai‘i Island, 1 Kaua‘i, 6 Out-of-State). Maui Now.

Oahu

Homeless concerns growing in Chinatown. Four months into the administration of Mayor Rick Blangiardi and hopes are dimming that any meaningful and quick change is coming to Chinatown to reduce homelessness in Honolulu’s oldest neighborhood. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

City Prosecutor Steve Alm On Tackling Crime, Police Investigations. Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm just marked 100 days in office. Hawaii Public Radio.

Facial recognition technology goes live at Honolulu’s airport as part of federal program. Simplified Arrival for International Arrivals to Begin at Honolulu's Airport. Honolulu will be the latest U.S. city to use facial biometrics to scan international arrivals. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii News Now.

Access gate at a popular West Oahu spot to reopen after lengthy closure. After being closed for more than year, the DLNR announced the Keawa’ula Section of Kaena State Park will be reopening this weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Skydiving gets 6-month extension at Dillingham airfield. Oahu’s only skydiving operations can continue to operate at Dillingham Airfield at least until Dec. 31 under an extension granted by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

City Pays $365,000 To Motorist In Crash With HPD. Police initially said the driver hit the police car. But witnesses disputed that. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Perruso says farmland infamous for chop shop, shooting, trafficking still marred in crime. There are calls for change as concern grows over a large piece of land in Wahiawa that some say is once again becoming a hotbed for crime. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Another reprieve for Van Pernis: Council members balk at taking the unprecedented step of removal. A bare majority of County Council members remained unwilling Tuesday to take the unprecedented step of removing a sitting planning commissioner, and instead by a 5-4 vote deferred Mayor Mitch Roth’s request until August. West Hawaii Today.

Le updates council on launch of Kilauea recovery housing buyout program and next steps to be taken. More than 100 people have submitted applications for Hawaii County to buy their lava-damaged properties in lower Puna. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Post-Arrival COVID-19 Testing Soft Launch Begins at Kahului Airport. Maui County’s new post-arrival testing program for unvaccinated trans-Pacific arrivals from the continental US debuted Tuesday with hundreds of travelers undergoing rapid COVID-19 testing at Kahului Airport. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

War Memorial Complex Facilities to be Closed to General Public, May 21-22 for Graduations. War Memorial Complex facilities will be closed to the general public on May 21 and May 22 for graduation ceremonies hosted by Baldwin and Maui high schools, the Department of Parks and Recreation announced. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai to move into modified Tier 3 after spike in COVID-19 cases. If approved by Gov. David Ige, the amendments will cut indoor social gatherings to five people from 10 in Tier 3, although outdoor gatherings will be expanded to 25 people from 10. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island. KITV4.

Reaching out to the houseless of Lydgate. The park is set to shutter at the end of May to its current houseless residents, who have been able to shelter in place for over a year. Garden Island.

Bad behavior, spiraling COVID-19 cases, has Hawaii officials clamping down, rethinking lifting quarantine, may close parks and beaches again, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Kai on Sunday. PC:JW Facebook post

Large weekend gatherings cause concern over enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions. Several large gatherings across the state are drawing criticism. KITV4.

A surge in COVID-19 cases causes state officials to consider tighter restrictions. Ige also said he might delay the state’s plan to waive on Sept. 1 the 14-day quarantine for transpacific visitors who test negative for the coronavirus. State officials said Monday they’re aiming to step up enforcement of COVID-19 rules against social gathering — especially at the beaches — following what Gov. David Ige called a tough week of more than 500 cases, including a single-day record of 207 announced on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Health Dept.: Hawaii residents acting ‘like there isn’t a pandemic we are dealing with’. With another record-setting number of new cases reported in Hawaii this week, coronavirus is now ‘entrenched in our community,’ state officials said Monday ― and Hawaii residents, they claim, are letting down their guard at the worst possible time. Hawaii News Now.

As state plans reopening, Health Director says COVID-19 ‘endemic’. Gov. David Ige indicated Monday the Sept. 1 date to allow trans-Pacific air travel without a 14-day quarantine for visitors who get a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding a Hawaii-bound plane isn’t written in stone. Tribune-Herald.

State Health Director Warns Coronavirus Is Widespread On Oahu. The governor says more needs to be done to slow down the spread of COVID-19 in Hawaii, but did not announce any new actions on Monday. Civil Beat.

Quarantine loopholes continue as more visitors, residents enter the state. Despite the state’s ongoing mandatory quarantine, there was a big jump in visitor numbers over the weekend. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, 1,701 visitors arrived in the state between Aug. 1-2, 2020. KHON2.

Hawai‘i Health Director on COVID-19: “Weak Link is Prevention”. The governor pointed out it is a result of community spread and that people have been relaxing and letting their guard down. Maui Now.

Gatherings On Oahu Limited To 10 Or Fewer. People who gather in groups larger than 10 risk a $5,000 fine or up to a year in jail. Civil Beat.

DOH director meets with Honolulu officials, beach closures could be next. As tens of thousands of tourists would be doing in any other given year, Hawaii Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson set his sights on beaches Monday. KHON2.

COVID-19 hospitalizations increasing across Oahu. After multiple days of COVID-19 numbers in the hundreds, major hospitals in Oahu like Queen’s Health Systems, Hawaii Pacific Health and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii all say they have seen a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations over the past few weeks. KHON2.

Officials threaten to close more state parks if people continue large gatherings. State officials are threatening more enforcement on Hawaii’s beaches and at state parks after seeing large gatherings on shorelines over the weekend.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawai‘i counted 207 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, shattering the statewide record for daily coronavirus figures, but it won’t change day-to-day life on the Big Island. Big Island Now.

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Members of State House of Representatives and state economist say public should know 'where' and 'how' people are contracting COVID-19. On Monday members of the State House of Representatives COVID-19 team stated publicly that they want the Department of Health to release more information about where and how people are getting sick with the coronavirus in Hawai'i. KITV4.

House COVID-19 Committee: We Need More Info From Health Department. House Speaker Scott Saiki says he is concerned that the state Department of Health is refusing to release the kind of information people need to make good decisions. Civil Beat.

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Governor Ige Questioned On Pandemic Restrictions. Representatives of various Hawaiʻi business associations on Monday had the chance to directly question Governor David Ige on some of the State's COVID-19 policies. Big Island Video News.

State needs additional contact tracers, critics say. As Hawaii’s COVID-19 counts surge — there were more than 500 new cases over the past week, including 207 on Monday alone — frustrations are mounting that the state doesn’t have enough contact tracers to prevent officials from reverting to lockdowns to contain the spread. Star-Advertiser.

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State has another record reporting day. The highest, single-day record of new positive COVID-19 cases is being reported by the Dept. of Health today, at 207. Garden Island.

VIRUS TRACKER — Aug. 3: 207 New Cases, More Than Half From Delayed Results. Nearly all the cases are on Oahu, where there have now been 2,083 cases identified since March. Civil Beat.

The Latest: 207 Cases; 9 First-Responders COVID-19 Positive; Lag In Tests Impacting Contact Tracing. Hawaii Public Radio.

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30,000 isle workers may have opted out of job market in July. With COVID-19 cases surging and Hawaii’s economy struggling, as many as 30,000 workers could have taken themselves out of the state’s labor market last month. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines possible layoffs revealed. Employees could be laid off as early as October. Employees from Daniel k. Inouye, Hilo, Kahului, Kailua-Kona and Lihu'e airport are expected to be affected along with employees from the corporate headquarters in Honolulu. KITV4.

Hawaii students create a youth-oriented voter guide. A hui of college and secondary school students known as Ho‘ohuli have created an online voter guide geared toward their generation and the mission embodied in their name, which means to turn, to change or to reform. Star-Advertiser.

Vintage warbirds populate Navy flattop for 75th anniversary end-of-WWII events in Hawaii. Fourteen vintage warbirds, including a polished aluminum 1944 B-25 bomber, are headed to Hawaii courtesy of U.S. Navy lift on the amphibious assault ship USS Essex for aerial flyovers commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Blangiardi Holds Double-Digit Lead In Honolulu Mayor’s Race. But Hanabusa and Amemiya are tied for second and will likely force a runoff in November. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Steve Alm Still Ahead In Race For Honolulu Prosecutor. Building on a lead that was clear in May, former judge, prosecutor and U.S. attorney Steve Alm is well ahead of his five main competitors for Honolulu prosecutor. Civil Beat.

Andria Tupola, Calvin Say lead Council candidates in campaign spending. Two candidates for Honolulu City Council who have extensive political track records are the ones collecting and spending the most, according to financial reports filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission last week. Star-Advertiser.

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Sacred Hearts Academy confirms student tested positive for COVID-19. Sacred Hearts Academy revealed a student tested positive for COVID-19 on Aug. 2. KHON2.

Some worry ‘there’s no contingency plan’ for COVID at Hawaii’s public housing. An employee at Mayor Wright Public Housing has tested positive for COVID-19 and some are concerned about how the Hawaii Public Housing Authority is handling the situation. Hawaii News Now.

Ward Village condo sales still rising despite COVID-19. Honolulu’s biggest condominium tower producer is selling more new homes despite the coronavirus pandemic that has sapped much of Hawaii’s economy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

South Kohala Court Closes After Employee Tests COVID-19 Positive. The courthouse, located in the Waimea Civic Center complex, will be closed on Tuesday, after the first confirmed case of a Judiciary employee statewide. Big Island Video News.

South Kohala District Court Closed After Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19. A South Kohala District Court employee has tested positive for COVID-19, the Hawaii State Judiciary announced today. This is the only confirmed case of any Judiciary employee statewide. Big Island Now.

Responsible tourism: County lays out five-year plan for visitors, residents. Hawaii County last week released its five-year strategic tourism plan, a guiding document to help ensure responsible tourism that respects the Big Island’s communities and natural and cultural resources. Tribune-Herald.

Site of former homeless camp draws just one bid at auction. A lot in downtown Hilo that was the site of a troublesome homeless camp received only one extremely low bid at auction last month, but that sale will likely be blocked, a county official said. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Interview: “We Need a Few Good Weeks to Get Us Back On Track”. Maui Mayor Michael Victorino continued to express frustrations over large gatherings and drum circle activity as the state continues to record new COVID-19 activity.  His comments come on the heels of new rules that went into effect in Maui County on Friday that limit indoor and outdoor social gatherings to no more than 10 people, and prohibit the use of large structures that may attract gatherings, such as tents and pavilions at parks and beaches. Maui Now.

Lanai sees boost in census response. Greater participation is needed in East Maui, on Molokai. Maui News.

Kauai

Sustainability search. The agriculture and tourism industries were two of the hardest hit and are prominent local industries that have a significant economic impact on Kaua‘i’s economy. Garden Island.

Superintendent Paul Zina gets busy with official duties. It’s been a month since Paul Zina started his official duties as the new Kaua‘i Complex Area Superintendent, and he has already given back to the community through various events and faced COVID-19 issues head-on when it came to reopening public schools on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

KHS, COK still negotiating details for FY2021. Kaua‘i Humane Society is currently operating on a short-term contract with the County of Kaua‘i that is extending the Fiscal Year 2020 services through August, and is providing more time for the two entities to negotiate their contract for the FY 2021. Garden Island.

Hawaii-Japan travel bubble on the horizon, schools may delay reopening, Honolulu may close bars amid COVID-19 outbreak, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki street scene pre-COVID ©2019 All Hawaii News

Travel Bubble With Japan Inches Closer To Reality. Hawaii is among a dozen destinations that received the green light for travel by Japan’s government, but no date is set. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is included on Japan’s list of travel sites. Hawaii officials have been working for months on forming a “travel bubble” with Japan that allows for relaxed travel restrictions between the two destinations as a way to help tourism safely start rebounding from the 98.9% plunge that it took in May. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii makes list of destinations Japan considers opening up international travel with. Hawaii is among the international destinations Japan is considering allowing travel to and from in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hawaii News Now.

Hawai'i is on Japan's list of safe destinations for international travel. The country is working on a new program that includes pre-travel testing and an examination of travelers upon entry to Japan. KITV4.

Japan Considers Hawaii For List Of 12 Destinations To Resume Travel. Hawai‘i officials say they are honored to be considered by Japan to be on the list of global destinations to resume safe international travel in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i Included on Japan’s list of 12 Global Destinations to Resume International Travel. Hawaiʻi is included on an exclusive list of a dozen countries and regions identified by leaders of Japan as areas they are looking at to resume safe international travel. Maui Now.

Hawaii included in list of 12 possible travel partners for Japan. Hawaii is among just 12 destinations that Japan has identified as possible international travel partners. Pacific Business News.

Travel to Japan could resume. Hawai‘i has been included on an exclusive list of 12 countries and regions to resume safe international travel to Japan. Garden Island.

Mayor Kim, others optimistic about restarting Japan-Hawaii travel. Mayor Harry Kim said an announcement by Japanese officials that Hawaii is on a list of 12 countries and regions being considered as safe destinations for international travel is very good news for both the Big Island and the state. Tribune-Herald.

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HSTA, DOE Strike Deal To Push Back Start Of New School Year. The Hawaii State Teachers Association, joined by other school-affiliated labor unions, struck a provisional deal with the Department of Education on Monday to push back students’ return to school to Aug. 17. Star-Advertiser.

Dept. of Education agrees to ask school board to delay return of students until Aug. 17. Superintendent Christina Kishimoto has agreed to ask the members of the state Board of Education to delay the time frame in which students would return to Hawaii’s public school campuses. Hawaii News Now.

Board of Education to vote on start date for Hawaii public schools. The Board of Education is holding a special meeting at 1 p.m. Thursday to consider postponing the start of the new academic year for public school students and allow staff more time to prepare. Star-Advertiser.

DOE Will Ask Education Board to Delay Start of School for Nearly 2 Weeks. The Hawai‘i Department of Education will ask the state Board of Education to delay the start of in-person instruction at public schools this fall semester until Aug. 17, 2020. Big Island Now.

Department of Education agrees to push back the reopening of public schools. The Department of Education is submitting the recommendation to the Board of Education. KHON2.

Status of schools uncertain, Hawaii families explore homeschool options during pandemic. With plans for reopening public schools still up in the air, more Hawaii families are considering homeschooling their children. Hawaii News Now.

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Bar closures and the 14-day interisland quarantine could return as virus cases continue to spread. The recent surge in coronavirus cases in Hawaii has prompted officials to consider reinstating the 14-day interisland travel quarantine, prohibiting gym classes, closing bars and restricting gatherings to 10 people on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

‘Modified’ lockdown sought for WWII event. Planners of the upcoming 75th anniversary of the end of World War II are seeking a “modified quarantine” and travel bubble for World War II veterans, dignitaries, warbird pilots and crew and media arriving in Hawaii from the mainland or other countries. Star-Advertiser.

VIRUS TRACKER — JULY 27: 28 New COVID-19 Cases; Bar Clusters Emerge. State officials said the drop in new cases is likely because fewer tests were conducted over the weekend amidst a hurricane threat. Civil Beat.

Hawaii sees 28 new cases of coronavirus; health officials advise patrons of 2 Oahu bars to get tested. The number of new cases dropped todaybecause the Department of Health’s State Laboratories Division was closed Sunday due to Hurricane Douglas and private labs also did not conduct all of their coronavirus testing, the DOH said. Star-Advertiser.

The Latest: 28 New Cases, Bar Patrons Alerted; Douglas Now History, Ige Looks To Lessons Learned. Health officials say the surge in cases that the state has been seeing recently are threatening the state's reopening. There are calls for rollbacks to restrictions that had been imposed when daily cases were even lower than where they are now. Hawaii Public Radio.

28 New COVID-19 Cases on O‘ahu; Health Investigators Search for Bar Patrons for Contact Tracing. Maui Now.

Oahu

After COVID-19 Clusters, Caldwell Asks Ige To Close Oahu Bars Again. Oahu has taken several steps toward reopening, but a step back is necessary, the mayor said. Civil Beat.

Amid COVID-19 surge, Mayor Caldwell considers rolling back bar reopenings. The state is asking anyone who recently patronized two Honolulu bars linked to clusters of COVID-19 to contact their physicians. The state is also investigating a cluster of at least 36 cases associated with recent funerals. Hawaii News Now.

Caldwell plans to close bars again amid COVID-19 spread. The state Department of Health wants to monitor possible COVID-19 symptoms of customers who visited Brix and Bones and Arena 808 between July 16 to July 26, this announcement comes as a dozen cases were linked to the bars. KHON2.

Foodland employee tests positive for COVID-19, closing School Street store. Foodland closed the store at 1:30 p.m. after notifying its 50 employees of the COVID-19 case and hired a professional sanitization service for thorough cleaning and sanitation, the company said in a news release. Star-Advertiser.

Foodland confirms employee at School Street store tested positive for COVID-19. The store let its 50 employees know that one of their coworkers tested positive, then it closed the store at 1:30 p.m. July 27. KHON2.

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New Super PACs Pour Money Into Honolulu Races. The independent expenditure committees are taking out ads for mayoral and council candidates as voters cast their mail-in ballots. Civil Beat.

About one-third of ballots on Oahu for primary vote may have been submitted. An estimated one-third or more of those casting votes in this year’s first-ever all-mail primary election may have already voted, Honolulu City Clerk Glen Takahashi said. Star-Advertiser.

Getting A Ballot In The Mail For Your Dead Relative Is Not As Weird As It Seems. Elections officials are reluctant to purge voter rolls. But cases of people actually voting on someone else’s behalf almost never happen. Civil Beat.

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A majority of Oahu residents believe that the Honolulu Police Department should get the same amount of funding it has been receiving — no more and no less, according to the results of the Hawaii Poll taken last week. *Star-Advertiser.

Oahu homelessness has gotten ‘worse’ in past year, poll finds. The official annual homeless census, known as the nationwide Point in Time Count, does not match the dramatic response that was measured in The Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

64% polled say Chinatown still feels safe. Honolulu’s original neighborhood — the 52.2-acre parcel of land known as Chinatown — still feels “safe” to 64% of registered voters despite complaints about homelessness, crime and concerns early this year that it could be the source of COVID-19. Star-Advertiser.

Off-Roaders Could Soon Be Blocked From This East Honolulu Beach. Illegal vehicles at Wawamalu Beach are threatening monk seals and endanger native plants. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Concerns raised about quarantine enforcement as number of mainland travelers to Hawaii increases. Hawaii’s traveler quarantine has been touted repeatedly as a significant reason the state has contained the coronavirus more effectively than any others in the nation. West Hawaii Today.

Results Negative for 499 KCH Employees Retested for COVID-19. The third and final round of facility-wide testing for COVID-19 at Kona Community Hospital yielded all negative results, officials announced Monday afternoon. Big Island Now.

County seeks applicants for PONC lands stewardship grants. The county Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking applicants for a stewardship grant program to maintain and preserve key lands around the island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Humane society over capacity with cats. Kitten season and the COVID-19 pandemic have put the cat population at Maui Humane Society at a “critically high level beyond shelter capacity,” the organization said. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County limits the size of social gatherings again as statewide cases rise. Mayor Derek Kawakami said Gov. Ige approved his orders to re-limit the size of indoor gatherings like parties, and other social events. Hawaii News Now.

Opening Kai Bar, pandemic or not. The opening of Kai Bar in Kilauea has been a long process, beginning about seven years ago when the Garcias chose the Kilauea Lighthouse Village for their new location. Garden Island.

Lanai

New focus put on indoor farm venture on Lanai. The billionaire owner of Lanai and a business partner announced changes to their indoor farm venture on the island Thursday, including a new leader and severance from resort operations. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Douglas dodges Hawaii, Maui mayor calls for inter-island quarantine as Oahu COVID-19 cases spike, polls kind to Ige, Caldwell, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

C-17 aircraft delivers FEMA supplies to Maui Saturday night ahead of Hurricane Douglas. PC: Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.

Hawaii avoids direct hit from Douglas. Star-Advertiser.

Douglas quickly moving away from state as stubborn Cat 1 hurricane. All hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches for the Hawaiian Islands have been dropped as Douglas moves away, sparing the islands of any major damage. Hawaii News Now.

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Gov. David Ige, Mayor Kirk Caldwell beat Trump in handling pandemic, poll finds. While nearly 70% of Honolulu residents disapprove of President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, they mostly approve of the job by state and county officials. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu opens ballot dropoffs early, neighbor islands protest. Voters on Oahu have greater access to the polls than those on the neighbor islands, as the City and County of Honolulu has already opened its ballot dropoff boxes to the public while neighbor island counties are using the Aug. 3 date set in state law. West Hawaii Today.

Poll shows slice of optimism about Hawaii’s economy. Local economists informed Hawaii residents in May that the state economy won’t likely recover from COVID-19 impacts for more than two years, but a lot of Oahu residents disagree. Star-Advertiser.

Results of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Hawaii Poll show that 52% of the 625 Oahu registered voters surveyed had not shopped at a mall since they reopened in May. Star-Advertiser.

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Some Hawaii Teachers Will Still Get An Extra Pay Boost Despite Looming Budget Cuts. Salary increases for teachers in certain hard-to-staff positions that kicked in early this year will remain in place for the upcoming school year. Civil Beat.

DLNR opposes regional fishery council’s request to allow commercial fishing in Papahanaumokuakea. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has sent a letter to President Donald Trump opposing a request by a regional fishery council to allow commercial fishing in the Papahanaumokuakea and Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monuments. Star-Advertiser.

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VIRUS TRACKER — JULY 26: 64 New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii. State officials are discussing whether to return to previous restrictions on activities. Civil Beat.

Hawaii sees 64 more COVID-19 cases on Sunday. The Department of Health recorded 64 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the statewide number of infections since the start of the outbreak to 1,683. On Saturday there were 73 new cases — the third consecutive day of record cases in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii reports 64 new COVID-19 cases; statewide total swells to 1,683. The surge of new COVID-19 infections in Hawaii continued Sunday, with 64 new COVID-19 cases reported. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The Feds Are Back In Hawaii As Corruption Probe Picks Up Steam Again. COVID-19 shut things down for a bit. But prosecutors are back in town and recently called former police commissioner Max Sword before the grand jury. Civil Beat.

Rick Blangiardi, Colleen Hanabusa lead Honolulu mayoral field, poll finds. Blangiardi and Hana­busa are running neck-and-neck atop the poll, with former insurance executive Keith Ame­miya, former Mayor Mufi Hannemann and Honolulu City Councilwoman Kym Pine clustered in a second grouping. Star-Advertiser.

Steve Alm out front in Honolulu prosecutor race, poll finds. Steve Alm, a former U.S. Attorney and Circuit Court judge, is the preferred choice to be Honolulu’s next prosecutor, with support from 24% of registered voters participating in the Honolulu Star- Advertiser Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

Candidates In District 7 Race Tout Community Ties To Kalihi. All three candidates to replace Councilman Joey Manahan have experience in government. Civil Beat.

Homelessness, Housing Are Top Issues In District 3 Council Race. The diverse pool of candidates includes those with backgrounds in management, education, government, construction and activism. Civil Beat.

COVID-19 claims 900 Honolulu businesses, survey finds. Nearly 900 businesses in Honolulu have shut down either temporarily or permanently since the beginning of March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

State Land Use Commission takes up Hawaii County’s STVR law. The question of whether Hawaii County can prohibit short-term vacation rentals on land classified as agriculture is now in the hands of the state Land Use Commission. West Hawaii Today.

Ready, set, vote! Several options for casting your ballot. Ballots have arrived in Hawaii voters’ mailboxes. Now it’s decision time. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County prosecutor candidate: Jared “Kamaka” Auna. Currently a private defense attorney, Auna has been a deputy prosecutor on Hawaii Island, as well as Maui and Kauai. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County prosecutor candidate: Christopher Bridges. The 48-year-old Bridges, who’s been a lawyer for two-plus decades, graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law and has worked as a public defender in San Diego and a deputy prosecutor on Kauai and the Big Island before starting his own private practice as a defense attorney in Hilo in 2011. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County prosecutor candidate: Kelden Waltjen. Asked why he’s running to succeed mayoral candidate Mitch Roth as Hawaii County prosecutor, Deputy Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen emphasized he has spent his eight years as a practicing lawyer in the Hawaii County prosecutor’s office. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor seeks renewed interisland travel quarantine. Calling recent Oahu COVID-19 numbers “extremely dangerous,” Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino said Friday that he asked the governor to reinstate the 14-day interisland travel quarantine. Maui News.

Maui mayor asks Gov. Ige to restore quarantine restrictions on inter-island travelers. After two consecutive record-setting days when it comes to new coronavirus cases in Hawaii, the mayor of Maui County is asking Gov. David Ige to re-instate a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone who travels on an inter-island flight. Hawaii News Now.

Farmer takes on veteran Upcountry House member. Voters in the district will have to decide between Makawao resident Simon Russell, a second-generation farmer who advocates for sustainable agriculture and water systems, or Kyle Yamashita, who has held the House of Representatives District 12 seat since 2004. Maui News.

Program helps homeless people get rides, do their laundry. Share Your Mana, MEO offer services to people without transportation. Maui News.

Kauai

County returns to 5-day work week. The county’s implementation of a four-day, 10-hour work week always had temporary intentions. Garden Island.

Island crime down 35%. Crime on the island is down about 35% compared to last year, according to Kaua‘i Police Department Chief Todd Raybuck. Garden Island.

Residents frustrated at boating-rule enforcement. Thus far this year, no citations have been issued at Hanalei Bay for breaking boating rules. Garden Island.

Ige, Caldwell unpopular in poll; UH makes SAT, ACT optional; big beach party busted at Kaena Point State Park, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Gov. David Ige, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Voters Have Negative View Of Ige, Caldwell. Voters have cooled on U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, too. But Lt. Gov. Josh Green is very popular. Civil Beat.

In 2019, Hawaii saw 10M visitors. This year, the state projects visitor arrivals won’t top 3.5M. As the governor seeks to reboot Hawaii’s economy, the question of how to reopen tourism safely remains unanswered. The state is ramping up efforts to screen incoming arrivals and brainstorming other possible ways to keep coronavirus out as tourism picks up, including requiring that visitors be tested to avoid quarantine. Hawaii News Now.

Lt. Gov. Josh Green hopes to reopen Hawaii’s tourism industry by July. The UNITE HERE Local 5 union is demanding personal protective equipment for workers, along with better training, and they want to ensure that everyone gets their jobs back. Hawaii News Now.

Head of Labor Department: 190,000 could remain unemployed through end of year. A staggering 242,000 people are unemployed in Hawaii. And economists are predicting that less than half of those residents will be back in the workforce this year. Hawaii News Now.

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University of Hawaii makes SAT, ACT optional for Fall 2021 applicants. SAT and ACT scores will be optional for students applying to enter the University of Hawaii as freshmen in the fall 2021 semester, given the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

SAT and ACT scores now optional for first-time college students applying to UH. SAT and ACT scores are now optional for first-time college students applying to University of Hawaii at Manoa. KITV4.

UH Manoa makes SAT. ACT scores optional for new student applications. The university is allowing this one-time exemption to incoming undergraduate applicants, for the fall semester. KHON2.

New, flexible Hawaii scholarship fund aims to give these kids hope. Seniors graduating from Hawaii’s public schools this month can get a boost toward their careers through a $2 million scholarship fund to be announced today that will offer flexible aid tailored to each student’s needs. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii’s Hotels Are Bleeding Cash Amid Shutdown. Flushing toilets and cleaning pools costs money, plus there are looming taxes. Civil Beat.

Puhahonu tops Mauna Loa as the world’s largest shield volcano. Below the reef that surrounds Gardner Pinnacles is a shield volcano that University of Hawaii-Manoa scientists have proclaimed the largest in the world. Star-Advertiser.

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VIRUS TRACKER — MAY 25: No New COVID-19 Cases In Hawaii — Again. Hawaii health officials reported no new cases of the coronavirus on Memorial Day. Civil Beat.

DOH: No new COVID-19 cases on Monday. The state Department of Health reports no new cases of COVID-19 in Hawaii, with the statewide case count standing at 643. Tribune-Herald.

DOH Reports Zero New COVID-19 Cases Overnight. Hawai‘i Department of Health officials reported zero new cases of coronavirus for the second consecutive day on Monday, leaving the statewide total at 643. Big Island Now.

Oahu

Weekend parties leave Oahu beaches trashed and raise concerns about spread of virus. On this Memorial Day, as the nation honors fallen service members, some soldiers could be in trouble for breaking all kinds of rules at the beach. Hawaii News Now.

Large beach gatherings leave trash and break emergency rules. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources reported more than 200 beachgoers late into the night at Kaena Point State Park, officers said it was a violation of emergency rules and it took hours to clean up the mess left behind. KHON2.

Environmental group noticed less trash at Oahu's beaches on Memorial Day. Non-profit Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii had volunteers picking-up trash at four beaches on the island on Monday. KITV4.

Law enforcement breaks up party of 200 people at Kaena Point State Park overnight. Law enforcement broke up a large beach party of approximately 200 people accused of violating emergency rules at Kaena Point State Park on Oahu’s North Shore late Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

200 People At Kaena Beach Park Prompt Police Crackdown. Law enforcement broke up the gathering in the early hours Monday. Civil Beat.

Officers clear more than 200 from huge party at Kaena State Park. Officers broke up a huge party with more than 200 people at Kaena Point State Park on Sunday night, and said a number of other large gatherings were reported islandwide. Hawaii News Now.

Stay clear of Sacred Falls, the state warns hikers. Star-Advertiser.

Preliminary projections have Honolulu facing another sweltering summer. 2020 could be delivering another miserably hot summer to the state of Hawaii, with ocean surface temperatures projected to be normal or higher than usual by the National Weather Service. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

CIP funds slated for Hilo medical facilities. A capital improvement project budget passed Thursday by the state Legislature includes funding for Hilo Medical Center’s Cardiac Center and the Hawaii Pacific Oncology Center. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Hospital Sees Big Drop In Patients — And Revenue — Amid Pandemic. Total admissions have shrunk by a third, causing a significant financial shortfall. Civil Beat.

Iconic Hawaiʻi Hotel Undergoes Enormous Tent Fumigation. Kamaʻaina Termite and Pest Control has completed one of the largest fumigations in the state of Hawaiʻi at the historic Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui hair, nail salons welcome back clients with new safety measures in place. Salon owners say while beauty appointments may seem superficial in a time like this, the industry is important because when people feel good on the outside, they feel good on the inside. Hawaii News Now.

A county government’s acquisition of a private water delivery system for Maui’s drinking water may be delayed because of budget cuts resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. Maui County Water Director Jeff Pearson said his department had allocated $2.5 million to evaluate the Wailuku Water Co. water delivery system in a possible purchase. Associated Press.

Kauai

How to participate in council public hearings. While public meetings are physically closed to the public per an emergency rule by Gov. David Ige, the Kaua‘i County Council is offering another way for constituents to join in. Garden Island.

Economic rebuild recommendations offered. The Kaua‘i County Council heard about 45 economic-recovery recommendations from Mayor Derek Kawakami’s Kaua‘i Economic Recovery Strategy Teams last week, including how to support local businesses, the importance of communications, the need for broadband and improved infrastructure and the long-term need to diversify the economy. Garden Island.