Hawaii Supreme Court hears Thirty Meter Telescope case, Kilauea volcano simmers, teachers quitting at 'alarming' rate, Caldwell to decide budget and rail costs today, Hawaii County to reconsider GET, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Telescopes atop Mauna Kea ©2018 All Hawaii News

Once again the fate of the stalled Thirty Meter Telescope rests with the state Supreme Court following oral arguments on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Supreme Court Hears New Arguments Over Thirty Meter Telescope. Opponents say a state appeals judge had a conflict of interest when she granted a permit for the project. Associated Press.

After a three-year legal battle, the fate of the Thirty Meter Telescope will now be decided by the Hawaii Supreme Court. Hawaii News Now.

=====

Online tax law could open state to challenge. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday that online retailers can be required to collect sales taxes in states where they don’t have a physical presence appears to be a boon for Hawaii’s tax coffers under a bill Gov. David Ige signed into law last week stipulating that online businesses with significant sales are subject to Hawaii’s general excise tax. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states can levy sales taxes on purchases made through out-of-state online retailers, dealing a blow to Wayfair Inc. and other companies that have fought taxation. Pacific Business News.

Many on-line purchases will now be taxed after recent Supreme Court ruling. KHON2.

=====

Hawaii Farm to School program receives $100,000 of federal funding. KITV.

All 8 Lieutenant Governor Candidates Together for the First Time. The 5 Democrats and 3 Republicans running for Lieutenant Governor appeared together for the first time. Hawaii Public Radio.

Campaign Cash: A Tale Of Two Bert Kobayashis. Two longtime Honolulu political donors with the same name are going different directions in the Hawaii governor’s race. Civil Beat.

How Low Is Hawaii Voter Turnout? In the 2016 general election, turnout estimates ranged from 43 percent to 58 percent — depending on what formula is used. Civil Beat.

The number of teachers quitting their jobs in Hawaii’s public schools and leaving the state has shot up by 84 percent since 2010, and fewer local graduates are entering the profession, worsening the teacher shortage. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's high cost of living is spurring Hawaii teachers to quit their jobs at an alarming rate. Hawaii News Now.

Ongoing teacher shortage sparks debate. KHON2.

More students will get assistance with education costs after legislation expanding the Hawaii Promise scholarship program was signed by Gov. David Ige earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

An 800-pound chunk from the USS Arizona battleship that sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor is heading to Texas for display at a war memorial. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The recently completed $375 million Kaneohe-Kailua Wastewater Conveyance and Treatment Facilities project, which features the state’s first gravity-fed underground sewage tunnel, is expected to lower energy costs, reduce the risk for overflows during storms, offer odor relief for Aikahi area residents and possibly provide more sewage capacity for the area. Star-Advertiser.

A three-year, $375 million project to build a gravity sewer tunnel and make other infrastructure upgrades in Windward Oahu was officially wrapped up Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Caldwell to render decision on city and HART budget bills. KHON2.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell said a bill he submitted Thursday to the Honolulu City Council will “level the playing field” for ride-hailing companies and traditional taxicab companies. Star-Advertiser.

Child sex crimes, prostitution alleged at Hawaii home for naked parties. Hawaii News Now.

Marks Garage, the reliable Pauahi Street parking oasis and epicenter of the downtown arts scene, has been sold to a mainland real estate investment trust for more than $20 million. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

It ain’t over till it’s over. Baseball great Yogi Berra’s famous quote could well apply to the general excise tax hike in Hawaii County, which is coming back in a special June 29 County Council meeting, just one day shy of the state-imposed deadline to pass it. West Hawaii Today.

As the reality of the county’s budget crisis sank in Thursday, Mayor Harry Kim held an emergency Cabinet meeting seeking $5 million in cuts, and the Salary Commission voted to postpone discussion of a new round of top officials’ raises until August. West Hawaii Today.

Mauna Loa alert level lowered. Tribune-Herald.

Mauna Loa Alert Level Downgraded. Hawaii Island's massive volcano goes from an "advisory" to "normal" volcano alert level, and the aviation notice from "yellow" to "green". Big Island Video News.

After keeping many people on edge, the U.S. Geological Survey has dropped the alert level at Mauna Loa from “Advisory” to “Normal”. Big Island Video News.

An increasing number of Hawaii residents and tourists have been so determined to see flowing lava from the ground on Hawaii island that they have been risking fines and potentially jail by sneaking into restricted zones. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation has brought a Puna traffic resource back online, and is planning to create a new, alternative path around Highway 130. Big Island Video News.

Volunteers warm lava evacuees' hearts — by filling their stomachs. Hawaii News Now.

'We probably will not ever return.' Park official reflects on Kilauea's past, present, and future. KHON2.

Guardsman reflects on time spent in eruption zone. Tribune-Herald.

Free medical care available this weekend for Big Isle residents. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

One more meeting left to consider charter changes. Council panel loses quorum; July 2 last meeting to review proposed amendments. Maui News.

Wailea, Maui is a Top Emerging Summer Travel Destination. Maui Now.

Starting Sunday, July 1, the Maui Bus will begin a new Waihee Villager route #8 and will change service on Kula Villager route #39. Maui Now.

Kauai

While China put the kibosh on accepting plastic waste from other countries, Kauai Recycles drop bins have nearly doubled in the past fiscal year. Garden Island.

Special legislative session mulled for volcano response, no new tax to bail out Puna, Honolulu mayor vetoes ride-share caps, Pearl Harbor survivor gets sendoff, Kauai coral recovering, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lava fountains reach 200 feet in this June 19 photo PC:USGS

The new normal: Vigorous eruptions just keep going on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

A special session of the state Legislature to help lava-ravaged Puna is being mulled for mid-August, as Hawaii County works with local legislators to put a plan together. West Hawaii Today.

Saving Hawaii’s GOP: A Tough Job For 3 Candidates For Governor. A west Oahu lawmaker, a perennial candidate and a former education official are vying to become just the third Republican governor since statehood. Civil Beat.

Ohio-based telecommunications company Cincinnati Bell said on Tuesday that it received the final regulatory approval for its $650 million acquisition of Hawaiian Telcom. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Telcom on Tuesday cleared its final regulatory approval for its pending $650 million sale to Cincinnati Bell. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell today vetoed a controversial bill that would make Honolulu the first city in the United States to cap how much Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing drivers can charge during peak periods. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell vetoed a bill Tuesday that aims to limit how much Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies can charge customers when demand surges. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has decided to veto a bill that would have limited surge pricing for ride-hailing or transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft, a move that the two companies said would have made their business models unworkable. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell vetoed Tuesday a bill to regulate private transportation companies like Uber and Lyft. KHON2.

=====

Military officials address residents' concerns over location of missile radar. The thought of a new military installation next to the Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station is prompting some concerns on Oahu's North Shore. Hawaii News Now.

New Kakaako affordable-housing rules set. A state agency regulating development in Kakaako last week finished four years of work to improve the future supply of affordable housing in the area filled with luxury condominium towers. Star-Advertiser.

Mililani was especially popular for homebuyers last month, and in the past year the sales for single-family homes in the area increased by 87 percent. Hawaii News Now.

Rents for single-family homes in urban Honolulu declined in March, compared to the year before, making Hawaii’s largest city the only market among 20 metropolitan areas to see a year-over-year decline, according to a report by CoreLogic. Pacific Business News.

The Honolulu Fire Department introduced a new member of the department today — an arson dog named Kukui. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu fire investigators have a new tool at their disposal when investigating arson and other suspicious fires in the form of a highly-trained arson dog. Hawaii News Now.

Seven vandal-resistant surveillance cameras are now in service at Waialae Beach Park in Kahala in an effort to curb illegal activity. KITV.

Four cases of Legionella infection have recently been treated at Queen’s Medical Center. Star-Advertiser.

Pearl Harbor Survivor Who Worked To Identify Remains Leaves Hawaii. He was a young sailor at the time of the attack. Now 97, he’s moving from the islands to Boise, Idaho. Associated Press.

Pearl Harbor survivor Ray Emory gets special Navy sendoff. Star-Advertiser.

A Wisconsin sailor who died at Pearl Harbor will be laid to rest more than 75 years after his death. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Council kills GET: Administration looking for $5M in cuts. 4-5 vote kills plan to plug a $5 million volcano-blasted hole in the budget by instituting a temporary quarter-percent general excise tax surcharge. West Hawaii Today.

Council Rejects Tax Hike To Replace Revenue Lost To Eruption. The increase would’ve generated about $25 million a year. Instead, the 5-4 vote means service cuts are likely. Civil Beat.

A bill that would have raised the general excise tax on Hawaii island has died. KHON2.

Public lava viewing area far-off; officials still in ‘emergency mode’.A close-up view of the lower Puna eruption is currently reserved for the bold and those willing to risk a citation. Tribune-Herald.

The emergency response to the ongoing Kilauea eruption that has destroyed at least 577 homes and displaced several thousand Puna residents so far has racked up more than $5.8 million in unanticipated costs for state and county agencies. Star-Advertiser.

Volcano Watch: Colorful plumes — can we see volcanic gases? Tribune-Herald.

Lava output far outpaces previous eruptions. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory deputy scientist-in-charge Steve Brantley, speaking at a community meeting Tuesday night at the Pahoa High & Intermediate School cafeteria, said the current lower East Rift Zone eruption has put forth an estimated 145 million cubic meters of lava over 47 days. Star-Advertiser.

New Tools Benefit Geologists in Lava Flow Study. The eruption at Kilauea continues to send ash plumes into the sky and push lava into the ocean. While that has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced scores of people into shelters, it is also providing an unprecedented opportunity for scientific research. Hawaii Public Radio.

The ongoing eruption of the Kilauea volcano is not causing crystals to rain from the sky despite reports of residents finding little green gems in the area. Associated Press.

With fissures releasing sulfur dioxide, volcanoes producing vog, and ocean lava flows creating laze, adjusting to a life of toxic gases is something many Puna residents have had to do since eruptions began. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii County Civil Defense said that 817 people have so far registered for federal assistance amid the ongoing eruption of Kilauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Free medical clinic opens at Keaau High School. Over nine days the Tropic Care health clinics will be offered by the Oahu-based 1984th U.S. Army Hospital, offering medical health screening, school sports physical exams, dental services, eye exams, hearing screenings, nutritional consultation, veteran services and prescription eyeglasses. Star-Advertiser.

Tropic Care 2018 offering free health care services through the end of the month. Tribune-Herald.

Trial postponed until next year for marijuana activist. Jury selection was to begin Monday in the trial of longtime marijuana activist Mike Ruggles, accused by authorities of operating an unlicensed medical cannabis dispensary at his Fern Acres home. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Councilors seek update on two county projects with Anaergia. Concerns expressed over proposal changes, deadline extensions. Maui News.

The Lahaina Restoration Foundation is seeking the public’s help in finding information about a hit-and-run accident that resulted in damage to the exterior wall of the Old Lahaina Prison. Maui Now.

In an effort now to deepen their work, a halau is establishing a cultural center and joining in a larger effort to create a regenerative community on Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

DLNR, residents partner to clean up large ball of fishing nets on Molokai. On Molokai, a clean up has begun of a large ball of nets in Halawa Valley. KHON2.

Kauai

The revised cost estimate for the emergency flood repairs on Kuhio Highway on the North Shore and the upgrade of three bridges is $80 million, according to a Tuesday press release. Garden Island.

Incumbent Mason Chock, 47, of Wailua, has filed for reelection to the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

There are bright spots in the world’s coral reefs, places where corals are thriving even though scientists say we’ve lost half the world’s reefs in the last three decades. The coral in Anini Bay and at Waipa on Kauai are examples of rebounding reefs according to the scientists and underwater enthusiasts that visit the reef. Garden Island.

Hawaii economy pumping, Board of Education no longer links teacher pay to test scores, Honolulu ride-sharing rules advance, Hawaii Council approves mayor's $462.9M budget, Kauai kills general excise tax hike, Ala Moana hotel sold, new stamp for Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo zoo volunteer feeds bananas to rescued feral donkeys © 2016 All Hawaii News

The days of the Waikoloa nightingales are almost over, as the last 50 of the feral donkeys left in the area are prepared for adoption. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s economy was pumping in the first quarter, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s economy experienced an excellent first quarter, according to a new report by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

The state Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved revising its teacher evaluation policy to remove student test scores as a required measure of student learning and growth. Star-Advertiser.

Student test scores may no longer be linked to a teacher’s job performance. The Hawaii State Board of Education unanimously approved recommendations that would get rid of standardized testing from the evaluation process. That’s a big deal for educators, who say the evaluations are unfairly tied to teacher pay and impact retention. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii State Board of Education unanimously approved recommendations Tuesday effectively removing standardized test scores as a requirement in the measurement of teacher performance, according to a press release from the Hawaii Department of Education. West Hawaii Today.

Did Hawaii Lawmakers Do Enough To Protect The Elderly? The state Health Department got only a fraction of what it sought, and now the online posting of care home inspection reports may stop. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric officials announced Wednesday that they’ve negotiated a huge deal to import liquefied natural gas from Canada that could mean slightly lower utility bills for customers on Oahu, Maui and Big Island. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Attorney General’s office has begun an inquiry into the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 after the parent union started its own investigation into the local organization’s finances. Star-Advertiser.

Slom Sorry For Campaign Error. The Republican state senator said he did not intend to announce his re-election using state resources. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii researchers say there's a 9 percent chance that an earthquake measuring magnitude 9 or greater will strike Alaska's Aleutian Islands within the next 50 years and send large tsunami waves to Hawaii. Associated Press.

Oahu
A City Council bill requiring drivers of both taxis and ride-hailing companies to obtain “private transportation services” certificates appears to be gathering support. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell still wants the rail project to go all the way to Ala Moana Center. KHON2.

Honolulu Police Commission Chairman Ron Taketa said Wednesday that the commission can suspend Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha if he is indicted after a federal grand jury investigation into alleged corruption. Star-Advertiser.

Totto Tells Ethics Commission To Scrap ‘Silly’ Time Sheet Rules. The Honolulu Ethics Commission forced its executive director and staff to start filling out time sheets to show what they do every six minutes. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii beachfront estate that’s located near President Barack Obama’s winter vacation rental home has been sold for $17.4 million, one of the highest-priced sales of an Oahu home in recent years. Pacific Business News.

Mantra Group Ltd., the largest hotel and resort operator in Australia, is buying Outrigger Enterprises Group’s interest in the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu for $52.5 million. Pacific Business News.

An alleged Honolulu brothel owner tried to bribe federal agents in exchange for protection from raids, help with the U.S. citizenship test and recruitment of prostitutes, Homeland Security investigators said. Associated Press.

A woman awaiting trial in state court for allegedly operating a prostitution business is now also accused of bribing a federal agent. Star-Advertiser.

They’re a key component in saving lives, but we’ve learned the city’s ambulance fleet is now stretched thin. KHON2.

Hawaii

The topic of the day Wednesday was Hawaii County’s nearly half a billion dollar annual budget. But the issue most on the mind of testifiers was the removal of a dozen trees from Kamehameha Park in North Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council got an earful from residents of North Kohala who are upset about the work done at Kamehameha Park in Kapa'au. Big Island Video News.

Regulars at the Hilo Municipal Golf Course once again can play a full 18-hole round. Play at the course, which has been undergoing renovations since last summer, was restricted to the front nine holes and a temporary green since February. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Organizers of the Maui Community Organic Farmland Initiative are laying out their vision for Maui's post-sugarcane future, one in which a network of farmers turns Central Maui into a self-sustaining organic farming operation. Maui News.

The very first US Postal Service stamp to ever depict a Maui locale, will be unveiled at a special event on June 2, 2016. The Forever Stamp will depict Maui’s famed Haleakalā National Park, featuring an image of a rainbow within the crater. Maui Now.

The Stop Cane Burning group announced Tuesday that it has settled its lawsuit against the state Department of Health and Alexander & Baldwin. Maui News.

A 9th Circuit Court of Appeals order put the brakes Tuesday on the transition of three Maui County public hospitals to Maui Health System, a subsidiary of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. Maui News.

Kauai

An increase of the General Excise Tax will not be imposed on Kauai residents. In a 4-3 vote Wednesday, the Kauai County Council voted against a bill that would have increased the 4 percent GET by a quarter of a percent. Garden Island.

The federal government is taking a look at how the island’s population of ‘a‘o (Newell’s shearwater), an endangered seabird found only in Hawaii, is being managed. Garden Island.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency successfully tested the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System’s tracking capabilities Tuesday night on Kauai in an exercise that MDA representatives said went “very well.” Garden Island.