Hawaii recovery slow, drastic changes in Honolulu redistricting, lava buyout program expands, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

 

Hawaiian Airlines at HNL ©2021 All Hawaii News

Despite Momentum, Hawaiian Airlines Forecast Signals Slow Recovery. In a sign of the challenge Hawaii tourism companies face recovering from the Covid-19 travel drought, Hawaiian Airlines said Tuesday it expects revenue to be down 32% to 37% during the last three months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019. Civil Beat. Maui Now.

Nominations of female judges to Hawaii Circuit Court applauded. Leaders of the state Senate’s Women’s Caucus today applauded Gov. David Ige’s nominations of four women to Hawaii’s Circuit Courts. A fifth woman also has been nominated by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald. Star-Advertiser.

Thirty Meter Telescope protesters oppose Biden’s U.S. attorney pick for Hawaii. Some Native Hawaiians are objecting to President Joe Biden’s choice for U.S. attorney for Hawaii, saying Clare Connors treated dozens of elders like criminals when her office prosecuted them for blocking a road while protesting the construction of a telescope in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Chemical Shortages Are Hitting Hawaii From Pools To Breweries. Supply chain snafus caused by the pandemic have pinched chemical supplies, leaving the city and businesses scrambling for alternatives or ways to get by with less. Civil Beat.

Central Pacific Bank triples earnings. Central Pacific Bank more than tripled its net income in the third quarter, increased its dividend and repurchased more of its shares as it continued to distance itself from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii sees 74 new coronavirus cases, bringing statewide total to 83,522. The new confirmed and probable infection count by island includes 36 new cases on Oahu, 19 on Hawaii Island, two on Maui, 12 on Kauai and five Hawaii residents diagnosed outside the state. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New City Council district map drastically moves neighborhoods. The Honolulu Reapportionment Committee on Tuesday night selected a map that would would drastically change the voter makeup of Council districts beginning in 2022. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Human error, not aging Red Hill tanks, caused May fuel spill, Navy says. The U.S. Navy has concluded that a May 6 spill at its Red Hill underground fuel farm was due to a control room operator’s failure to follow correct procedures. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

The Sierra Club wants transparency, emails, answers about recent Navy fuel leaks and Red Hill. The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi has filed a public records complaint with the state Department of Health after learning of an email trail it believes could change the outcome of a contested case hearing for the U.S. Navy’s permit to operate the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility. Hawaii Public Radio.

City Council wants to hike traffic fines to raise money for Honolulu Police Department. Currently, money collected from the fines goes to the state, all of it. Council members are looking to raise the fines in order for the city to get some of that. KHON2.
 
Initial phase of a three-tower senior housing project in Liliha-Palama will break ground in 2022. A state agency has committed to finance the first of three affordable senior housing towers planned on the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s outdated Liliha­-Palama administrative campus. Star-Advertiser.

5 Honolulu Police Department officers unjustly shot and killed car theft suspect, complaint alleges. The family of a 30-year-old man who was shot and killed by plainclothes police officers at a gas station in Kapolei in 2019 is suing the Honolulu Police Department for negligence and wrongful death. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Water power charges to increase. An increase in electric rates is leading to the highest power cost surcharge on county water bills in at least two years, with the Water Board on Tuesday approving a 16% hike in the power cost charge. West Hawaii Today.

Phase 2 of lava buyout program set to begin. Owners of secondary residences that were isolated, damaged or destroyed during the 2018 Kilauea eruption will be able to apply next week for the county to buy their properties. Tribune-Herald. KITV4.

Maui

Marine Institute has Documented 201 Sick, Injured or Dead Sea Turtles So Far This Year. The Maui Ocean Center’s Marine Institute has documented 201 sick, injured or dead sea turtles on Maui so far this year. According to the organization, 89% of the incidents involved turtles with injuries from fishing gear interactions. Maui Now.

Upcountry water shortage ends, but drought remains. A nearly four-month-long water shortage declaration for Upcountry came to an end due to recent rainfall, though many areas across Maui County are still experiencing severe drought and concerns over enforcement of water restrictions remain. Maui Now.

GoFundMe Account Set Up for Repairs of StoneWave Skate Park in Pā‘ia. A GoFundMe account has been set up to raise about $8,000 for fence restoration and repairs of the StoneWave Skate Park, a part of the Pāʻia Youth & Cultural Center. Maui Now.

Kauai

Controversial Seacliff development deferred again. A wave of resident testimony on the potential cultural and ecological impacts of a development within the gated Seacliff Plantation subdivision has caused the Planning Commission to defer any decision on the application until December. Garden Island.

Temporary Waimea skatepark expected to be up by next summer. The Kaua‘i Planning Department is planning to set up a temporary ramp and halfpipe at the Waimea Athletic Field. Garden Island.

Too many tourists, not enough doctors; lawsuit over abortion choices; Honolulu police chief drama drags on; Hawaii County hiring questioned; black band coral disease resurfaces, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Spam Jam © 2017 All Hawaii News

Too many tourists? Sustainability was the theme of this week’s “global summit” put together by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii anti-abortion pregnancy centers went to court to argue that a new law violates their right to free speech and religion. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s doctor shortage is worsening, except on the island of Kauai, according to the most recent data by the University of Hawaii Physician Workforce Assessment. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Commission is expected to whittle its list of police chief candidates down to a handful when it meets Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Morale a major problem at embattled police department, some say. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: It rankled when former police Chief Louis Kealoha, facing a federal corruption investigation for allegedly involving the department in a family legal dispute, was paid $250,000 by the Police Commission to go away. It stings even worse to see that while the taxpayer money went away, Kealoha really didn’t. Star-Advertiser.

Sgt. Kim Buffett, one of the high-profile faces of the Honolulu Police Department as the head of CrimeStoppers, will retire at the end of the month after 29 years and 10 months on the job and take her experience dealing with criminals, cops and journalists to Hawaiian Airlines as Hawaiian’s new head of guest services operations. Star-Advertiser.

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Ten years and $1 billion. That’s what it likely will take to replace the state’s aging Mayor Wright Homes low-income public housing complex in Kalihi with seven times as many rental apartments in a new high-rise community for residents earning a broad range of incomes. Star-Advertiser.

The trick, says Sharon Schneider, is to keep Kaimuki “cool and funky, but not scruffy.” So some merchants are sprucing up the storefronts along the community’s Waialae Avenue business district — in some cases, beautifying those strips of land between sidewalks and curbs that belong to the city. Civil Beat.

Could permits to park on the street help curb trespassers entering the Haiku Stairs trail, also known as the Stairway to Heaven? KHON2.

Kiewit Construction has won the bid contract for the first construction phase of Honolulu Harbor’s Kapalama Container Terminal. Pacific Business News.

Oahu is booming with murals, but two recent disputes have highlighted the legal issues and bad feelings that can arise when building owners that originally allowed artwork later decide to do something different with their property. Star-Advertiser.

Aiea Intermediate will be closed Monday, Sept. 25, due to a power outage. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

‘POI’ creates sticky situation for HR: Merit Appeals Board to take up critical audit. For some county job seekers, the word “POI” — short for “person of interest” — represents their worst fears come true. The acronym on a request-to-fill form means there’s already a preferred candidate for the job, even before the position is advertised in an open recruitment. West Hawaii Today.

A recent federal court ruling allows criminal defendants who have not been proven guilty to appear in court without shackles, saying the restraints go against their constitutional rights. West Hawaii Today.

The state has fined a businessman who claims to have pioneered commercial sales of the bitter fruit noni, after he bulldozed a road to harvest a noni orchard planted illicitly on state land while claiming to own the property under authority of a nonexistent federal court. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim plans to sign a bill passed by the County Council that would ban the use of polystyrene foam food containers on the island in two years. Star-Advertiser.

Fewer Hawaii Island public school students met grade-level standards on state tests last year than their counterparts statewide, according to new data from Hawaii’s Strive HI Performance System. Tribune-Herald.

The Merrie Monarch Festival is close to finding solutions for housing hula halau displaced after Mayor Harry Kim informed the festival the troupes would no longer be allowed to sleep in county gyms. Tribune-Herald.

The friends and family of Peter Boy Kema got some closure on the Big Island this weekend. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A little over 200 snails from a dozen sites in West Maui, Upcountry, Kihei and Hana are being tested for rat lungworm disease in an attempt to track and combat the mollusks that caused an unparalleled outbreak on the island earlier this year. Maui News.

About 200 snails on Maui Island are being tested for rat lungworm disease in an attempt to track the mollusks that caused an unparalleled outbreak on the island this year. Associated Press.

Baldwin Beach – ‘back to its natural state’ With homeless camp gone, beach is available for parkgoers — but work is still needed. Maui News.

NOAA Fisheries announced it had released the 1,000th sea turtle (honu) that was rescued and rehabilitated in Hawai‘i at Tavares Beach on Maui’s North Shore. Maui Now.

Federal fisheries officials released the 1,000th sea turtle rehabilitated in the Hawaiian Islands, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Maui News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife will have application forms for the 2018 Lanai axis deer hunting season available at all DOFAW offices statewide beginning Monday, Oct. 2. Maui Now.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz will be the keynote speaker at the 11th annual Hui Holomua Business Fest, which will take place Oct. 11 at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu, the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Black band disease is once again spreading through some corals around Kauai, according to Hanalei researcher Terry Lilley. Garden Island.

Retail Shops On Hawaii Farmland: Kauai Dispute Could Set A Precedent. A company points to a 2012 state law as it sues for the right to sell its coffee beans and cigars on agricultural land. Civil Beat.

Proposed changes to commercial marine license fees will be explained by the Department of Land and Natural Resources in public hearing meetings set for Oct. 5 and Oct. 10 on Kauai. Garden Island.

Crime statewide lowest since 1975. Rape rises on Kauai; unclear if due to reporting change or actual increase. Garden Island.

The Deadliest Beach On Kauai Might Surprise You. A researcher analyzed drownings over 42 years. The beach with the most fatalities isn’t considered the most hazardous. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii to gain in Ige budget, Republicans dwindle in state Legislature, low pay, high credit card debt for residents, Honolulu Ethics Commission mulls PAC laws, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama's fish, courtesy National Geographic

Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have named a fish after President Obama. Hawaii Public Radio.

President Barack Obama, his family and some friends are spending the afternoon at a beach at a marine corps base near his Hawaii vacation rental. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige’s call for increased education dollars in his proposed state budget extends to higher education as well with a $44 million boost for operations at the University of Hawaii over the next two years. Star-Advertiser.

There are no more Republicans in the Hawaii state Senate, while the number of members in the House has dwindled to six. Civil Beat.

A Big Day For US-Japan Relations Tuesday At Pearl Harbor. Prime Minister Abe will join President Obama to honor Americans killed in Japan’s surprise attack on Oahu in 1941. Civil Beat.

Despite threats of an Obamacare repeal, 11,750 Hawaii residents signed up this year to renew or buy for the first time health insurance through the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov, for coverage starting on New Year’s Day. Star-Advertiser.

By some measures, employment is booming in Hawaii and the rest of the country. But the shortage of good-paying jobs — the kind where wages are high enough to afford a decent standard of living — is attracting top-level political attention in both Honolulu and the nation’s capital. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has the eighth-highest credit card debt in the nation, with customers owing an average $5,966, according to a new report by CreditCards.com. Star-Advertiser.

A former state representative has died. Mark Moses represented the Makakilo and Kapolei communities from 1996-2006. KHON2.

Oahu

Opening day for the state Legislature is still weeks away, but there's already a proposal to extend the .5 percent rail tax surcharge. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission considered a request today to curb the unfair influence of Super PACs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Acting Honolulu Police Chief Cary Okimoto may face uncomfortable questions come January as he attempts to explain to police commissioners his proximity to a growing scandal involving a missing mailbox. Civil Beat.

City prosecutor explains why he wants chief’s wife to stay on the job. KHON2.

Honolulu police are reporting a big drop in speeding tickets so far this year. Hawaii News Now.

A medical marijuana dispensary with ties to Hawaii businessman Colbert Matsumoto is opening in the former Bank of Hawaii branch on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu, Pacific Business News has learned.

For years, families have been laying small plaques in the rocks at Pokai Bay to remember loved ones who've passed on. But state law says it's illegal to install these on any heiau without written permission. KITV.

Hawaii

More than three weeks after the first bout of winter weather hit Hawaii Island, the Mauna Kea Summit Access Road is still closed to the public. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The developer of the Pulelehua working-class community in West Maui and owner of the Maalaea Harbor Shops & Restaurants says he was exonerated in fraud case. Maui News.

The Maui Ocean Center is hosting a contest to seek help from the public in naming six baby sea turtles. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Department of Parks and Recreation officials are reminding the public that the deadline to provide input on the draft preferred master plan for Black Pot Beach Park is Saturday, Dec. 31. Garden Island.

Wind turbines planned in ocean off Oahu, Hawaii Tourism Authority wants more money, green sea turtle to remain protected, lead slows bridge repair, Kaho‘olawe records to be preserved, more grads college-bound, Honolulu racetrack bill revs up, state lags in budget transparency, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii green sea turtle, honu © 2015 All Hawaii News

The feds have denied a petition to take Hawaii green sea turtles off the list of threatened species. The honu news came Friday from the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Civil Beat.

The threatened green sea turtles around the Hawaiian Islands will be managed separately from other populations under a plan floated Friday by federal agencies. But the status of Hawaii’s turtles as threatened under the Endangered Species Act won’t change under the plan, despite a petition for delisting by an organization of Hawaii civic clubs. West Hawaii Today.

© 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s green sea turtles should continue to be classified as threatened because its population is small and nearly all of them nest at the same low-lying atoll, federal wildlife agencies said Friday. Associated Press.

Federal wildlife officials propose keeping Hawaii's green sea turtles' threatened status under the Endangered Species Act, meaning it would continue to be illegal to kill or hunt them. Maui News.

More than 300 people are expected to attend a conference featuring more than 25 sessions and professional development training courses on rising sea levels and other natural hazards. The theme is "The Rising Pacific: Currents of Change and Solutions for Resilience." Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority, the agency tasked with marketing Hawaii to the nation and the world, says it needs more money to cover its expenses. The HTA is asking state lawmakers to allow it to increase its administrative spending by as much as 30 percent a year. Star-Advertiser.

Even as legislators consider more stringent regulations, the state Department of Agriculture hasn’t complied with a law passed in 2013 that requires it to post sales records for restricted-use pesticides on its website. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers hope that a proposed bill would encourage more of Hawaii’s youth to become farmers. House Bill 853 passed through the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Education and Judiciary and Labor during a hearing Friday, and would teach students and teachers how to produce some of their own food. Civil Beat.

Hawaii state senators are taking up a proposal to develop a system of medical marijuana dispensaries, which would give patients legal access to the drug nearly 15 years after it became legal in Hawaii. Associated Press.

Hawaii's Department of Budget and Finance last year launched a new website designed to provide a one-stop source for state spending and financial information, but the state still earned only a grade of "C" on the latest "transparency scorecard." Hawaii trails 42 other states in the annual report on how well states provide spending data online, conducted by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers plan to tackle the state's troubled health exchange, public-housing issues and a slew of resolutions this week at the Legislature. Most of the action will be in committee rooms as lawmakers take up bills passed by the other chamber. Associated Press.

Opinion: One of the tax increase bills that is still afloat at our Legislature concerns the environmental response, energy, and food security tax, which we refer to as the barrel tax. This tax started off as the environmental response tax, imposed at 5 cents a barrel of imported petroleum product as a way to create a fund for environmental cleanup in case of an oil spill in Hawaiian waters. It was hoisted to its present rate of $1.05 in 2009, and the difference was used not only to shore up our general fund, but also to feed various special funds that pay for environmental conservation programs, energy and food security, and related activities. Civil Beat.

If HCR 90 passes through the House Committees on Education and Finance, it would ask the governor, Board of Education, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association to establish a minimum median teacher salary that would be adjustable to Hawaii’s cost of living. Civil Beat.

The state Ethics Commission will make public the detailed financial disclosure forms of members of 15 boards and commissions in June rather than next year. The powerful entities include the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Public Utilities Commission. A law that took effect in July makes those disclosure forms public, but the details could have remained confidential until 2016 because only short forms are required in odd-numbered years. Star-Advertiser.

After several years of stagnancy, the number of Hawaii public school graduates enrolling in college after high school has climbed amid efforts by the Department of Education to better prepare students for college and careers. Star-Advertiser.

Many Hawaii families have fallen into a cycle of debt precipitated by deceptively easy payday loans. The industry was legalized in 1999 when the Legislature passed a law exempting it from the state’s usury law, which caps the interest rate for loans at no more than 24 percent each year. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A Danish developer is planning to develop a major offshore wind energy project, which would include more than 100 turbines, in federal waters in Hawaii off Oahu’s northwest and southern coasts, according to a published report. Pacific Business News.

Oahu car-racing enthusiasts have picked up some traction on a drive to finance a new motor sports raceway on the island after the demise of two track facilities in the past eight years. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's Housing First initiative to provide shelter and related social services to the chronically homeless has achieved mixed results nine months after the Honolulu City Council dedicated $35 million toward the effort. Star-Advertiser.

On Friday, landowners, fed up with all the foot traffic for “Dead Man’s Catwalk,” asked various hiking websites to take down posts promoting the popular East Oahu trail and threatened further action if nothing was done. KHON2.

Martin Nesbitt, a Chicago businessman and President Barack Obama’s close friend, has been confirmed as the buyer of Hawaii beachfront estate known as the home of Tom Selleck’s 1980s television character “Magnum P.I.” Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Time to fix those leaky faucets. The less water you use, the more you’ll save, under a five-year rate plan to be considered Tuesday by the Hawaii County Water Board. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce is dusting off old plans to construct a cultural and education center in downtown Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

The discovery of lead in the soil below Umauma bridge near Hakalau likely will delay completion of the span’s ongoing $30.8 million rehabilitation project, state officials say. The lead, left from paint that fell into the gulch during past maintenance work, was found where new bridge footings need to be installed. Tribune-Herald.

A new courthouse and hospital for Kona are among more than $200 million in Big Island projects in the $2.2 billion two-year capital improvement budget passed Wednesday by the state House. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Police Department Assistant Chief Henry Tavares said a spike in property crime in downtown Hilo is related to the city’s ongoing homeless problem. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

This Saturday, the 2015 Maui County Republican Party Convention will take place at Pu’u Kukui Elementary School. Registered Republican delegates are welcome to hear a featured guest speaker, conduct party business and elect new Executive Committee officers. MauiTime.

The recent agreement restoring water to four Central Maui streams has some parties in an East Maui stream restoration case optimistic that a "just ruling" will come to them as well. Maui News.

After the worst coral bleaching event ever recorded in Hawaii last fall, environmental groups are rallying to bring more community awareness to help protect the reefs. Maui News.

The 12-acre Maui Arts & Cultural Center opened its gates nearly 21 years ago. Today, it can accommodate up to 270,000 visitors a year, spans 22 acres, and generates $4.35 million annually, on average, in revenue to community businesses. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Kauai had the fewest applications for firearms of all state counties in 2014. But the number of applications on the Garden Isle increased for the fourth straight year — although county officials aren’t attributing that increase to a gun craze, but rather something that accompanies an uptick in population. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

This year hundreds of thousands of historic documents relating to Kaho‘olawe will be published in an online database. Hawaii Public Radio.

Warm oceans threaten green sea turtles, sex trafficking bills proposed, Maui won't defend GMO law, rail pay to play, officials mull backing out of Obamacare requirements, teachers seek better contract, Section 8 vouchers to resume in lava's path, more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii visitors pose with sea turtles © 2015 All Hawaii News

Green sea turtles may stop basking on Hawaii's shores as early as 2039 if climate change continues at its current rate, a new study concludes. Star-Advertiser.

For the 2015 legislative session, Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery and IMUAlliance are drafting and sponsoring a bill to ban sex trafficking in Hawaii. Currently, Hawaii is one of only two states that fail to outlaw sex trafficking in their criminal codes. Hawaii Independent.

More than a dozen bills seeking to regulate electronic smoking in some way have been introduced at the state Legislature, and proponents of the product appear ready to fight each of them every step of the way. Four of the proposals were heard by the House Health Committee on Friday. Decision-making is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

It’s 4 ‘o clock on a Friday. Pau hana, right? Wrong. It’s time for Gov. David Ige to reveal his latest Cabinet appointment — right at that moment when no one is looking. Since he started picking people in November to serve in his new administration, 11 were named on Fridays and another seven were disclosed on New Year’s Eve. Civil Beat.

A lawmaker from the Big Island wants to hold Hawaii’s Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago accountable for voting problems that she says denied residents of her district the right to vote.Associated Press.

Members serving on the state Board of Education would have four-year terms that run concurrent with that of the governor appointing them under proposed legislation filed this week. Star-Advertiser.

The union representing Hawaii’s public school teachers will be negotiating with the state for a pay increase. The Hawaii State Teachers Association told members in an email the union will return to the bargaining table in March to discuss additional salary and compensation for the remaining two years of the contract. Associated Press.

Hawaii residents may find it more difficult to see their doctor or medical specialist over the next few years. A study released by the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii found that 300 more physicians in primary care are needed statewide. All told, the state needs 3,690 doctors but has 2,800, the study found. Garden Island.

About 7,500 Micronesians and other Pacific islanders will lose their Medicaid health coverage on Feb. 28, but they will automatically be enrolled in an Obama­care replacement plan March 1, health officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering whether it makes sense to get out of some requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act so that they can make substantial changes to the state’s troubled health insurance exchange. States like Hawaii that run their own exchanges can apply for a so-called innovation waiver if they meet certain criteria. Associated Press.

More Hawaii residents are opposed to Florida-based Next­Era Energy Inc. buying Hawaiian Electric Industries than favor the sale, according to the latest Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

HEH. Hawaiian Electric Holdings will become the name of the new parent company of the Hawaiian Electric Cos. following the closure of NextEra Energy's $4.3 billion acquisition of the state's largest utility, according to the two companies' acquisition 374-page application sent to Hawaii regulators. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has unveiled an online system that allows customers and developers to see the status and progress of planned renewable generation projects, including rooftop solar and other types of wind and solar projects, the Honolulu-based utility said Friday. Pacific Business News.

While a majority of respondents feel there is not an overemphasis on athletics at the University of Hawaii, they also say the financially struggling athletics department should pay its own bills, the Hawaii Poll shows. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: When it Comes to State Taxes, You’ve Got to Consider the Source. Hawaii Legislature could improve the state's revenue situation by changing how real estate investment trusts are taxed. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Large Rail Contractors Dump $1.3 Million into Local Campaign Coffers. Companies making at least $1 million on the Honolulu rail project are donating heavily to local politicians. Some of the biggest beneficiaries include Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Hawaii Gov. David Ige and their predecessors. Civil Beat.

As the city struggles to pay for Honolulu's controversial rail system, the latest Hawaii Poll explores possible solutions. The controversial project topped the list (19%) as the most important issue facing Oahu this year in the survey conducted by Ward Research for Hawaii News Now and the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Traffic came in a close second (17%), followed by homelessness (15%) and the economy (14%). Education/public schools came in a distant fifth place (4%).

As Aloha Stadium moves into middle age, the state should continue to renovate the facility, a plurality of respondents in the Hawaii Poll said. Forty percent of those who were asked for the “best solution for a stadium on Oahu” said renovating the 40-year-old stadium was their preferred option. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu City Council member wants to meet with federal transit officials in Washington, D.C., to discuss the ballooning cost of the city's $5.3 billion rail transit project. Associated Press.

City Councilman Ernie Martin drafted a resolution that will allow him and three other council members to travel to Washington, D.C., on a fact-finding mission. Once Resolution 15-19 is approved by the full council, Martin expects to be in our nation’s capital from Feb. 21 through the 25. KITV4.

The average price of regular gas in Honolulu hit an even $3 a gallon this week, the lowest it has been since June 2009, according to AAA Hawaii's Weekend Gas Watch. Pacific Business News.

Starting Monday, former low-income housing facility Pauahi Hale will operate as a service hub for Oahu's homeless population, as provided by a new five-year contract between the city and social service organization Mental Health Kokua. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

While NextEra Energy's $4.3 billion bid to buy Hawaiian Electric Industries dominates the local energy debate, a group of Hawaii island residents is quietly investigating another possible future for their utility. A Big Island Energy Utility Cooperative steering committee has been formed to discuss the idea further, but is keeping things low-key. Star-Advertiser.

A moratorium on the use of housing assistance vouchers in areas threatened by the June 27 lava flow will end Monday. The restriction, which prevented vouchers from being used on new leases in lower Puna, went into effect in October when it appeared that lava was going to cross Highway 130 sooner rather than later. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Medical Center was named the third safest hospital in the state and took first place in one key quality-of-care measure in a recent Consumer Reports comparison. The public “safety net” hospital, so-called because it is the only option for many people in East Hawaii, has long wrestled with public perception over its quality of care. Tribune-Herald.

A public information meeting will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday on Oahu regarding the proposed master lease for Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

The dispute over whether Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd is qualified for her position returns to a 3rd Circuit courtroom next month. Judge Ronald Ibarra is scheduled to hear motions for summary judgment in the case at 4 p.m. Feb 23, attorneys confirmed Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Hunters on Saturday ascended upon Puuanahulu for the fourth annual Keikis of the Aina Pig Hunting Tournament.West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County isn’t defending a moratorium on genetically modified farming despite more than 23,000 voters approving the bill last fall. In a court filing Friday, the county said that it is taking “no position” on a motion for summary judgment filed by attorneys representing global seed companies Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences, as well as several Maui County businesses and organizations. Civil Beat.

Democrats seeking to succeed Rep. Mele Carroll in the state House of Representatives have until 11 p.m. Friday to submit applications to the Maui County Democratic Party. Maui News.

Mayor Alan Arakawa will speak at the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce’s February Membership Dinner to outline the county’s current efforts in alleviating high housing costs affecting many Maui residents. Maui Now.

Native shrub cover increased from 3 percent to 82 percent over a 15-year period at the Auwahi dryland forest on the leeward flanks of Haleakala, thanks to the efforts of the largely volunteer-based restoration operation named for the forest. Maui News.

Kauai

Kuhio Highway may see a new traffic signal in Kilauea. Or a four-way stop sign. Or even a roundabout, which would be the first such traffic calming device on a state highway. Garden Island.

Lanai

Lanai retains state’s lowest percentage of unemployed. Tourism down during renovations but ‘gold mine’ awaiting island. Maui News.

Honolulu City Council members clueless about ethics code, 46,000 seniors to lose Medicare Advantage coverage, Royal Hawaiian wins award, micro-apartments for Kakaako, Ebola scare a wake-up call, Ellison may close both Lanai Four Seasons for renovations, Native Hawaiian government to be postponed again, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Royal Hawaiian Resort courtesy photo

The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort in Waikiki, was named Best Historic Resort at the annual Historic Hotels of America 2014 Awards of Excellence gala Thursday in Washington, D.C.  Star-Advertiser.

Pollution in Hawaii is giving turtles deadly tumors, a new study found. Researchers at Duke University, the University of Hawaii and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have determined that nitrogen runoff is polluting the algae that turtles eat, causing them to develop tumors in their eyes, flippers and internal organs. Civil Beat.

A group of organizations leading the process of building a Native Hawaiian government is considering postponing the election of officers until June. The board of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs heard the news at a meeting Thursday. Associated Press.

With the voter registration deadline approaching, the number of registered voters has ticked upward on neighbor islands and dipped on Oahu compared with figures tallied two years ago. The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association plans to discontinue its five Medicare Advantage plans for 46,000 seniors on Dec. 31. The state's largest health insurer, which covers the bulk of Hawaii's Medicare population, estimates it lost about $64.1 million last year on its plans -- called Akamai Advantage -- due to higher-than-expected medical claims as well as lower federal Medicare reimbursements. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of HMSA members may be in for a surprise. HMSA is ending its Medicare plan for thousands of residents next year. Coverage through HMSA’s Akamai Advantage is ending December 31, 2014 and if customers don’t choose a new plan before then, they could lose their prescription drug coverage and more. KHON2.

Though the state has ruled out what was feared to be Hawaii's first Ebola case, health officials are on high alert for possible new cases reaching the islands. Star-Advertiser.

How Did We Handle Hawaii’s Ebola Scare? What can we learn from a week when the deadly virus from Africa was discovered in the U.S. and inspired fears it had reached Oahu? Civil Beat.

The State of Hawai‘i has approximately 90,000 cesspools, the majority of which pose potential health risks to residents via water contamination. The Department of Health is proposing changes to its administrative rules that would begin to reduce the number of cesspools in the state through infrastructure upgrades. Hawaii Independent.

A state plan for homeowners to get rid of their cesspools the next time a property sells is receiving pushback. KITV4.

Oahu

The two longest-serving members of the Honolulu City Council, who are now caught up in an ethics investigation, claim they had no idea they were not allowed to accept free meals from lobbyists and they're asking for clarification of the rules. The city Ethics Commission is investigating if it was illegal for four former council members as well as current members Ann Kobayashi and Ikaika Anderson to accept pricey meals from lobbyists with business before the council. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and state officials are working on a plan to allow the city to take over the law enforcement role at Waikiki's Fort DeRussy Beach, where homeless campers are taking advantage of a jurisdictional loophole to avoid being cited for violating city regulations. Star-Advertiser.

As the City and County of Honolulu has begun enforcing a new law banning homeless from sitting or lying on sidewalks in Waikiki, more homeless are spending their nights at the Honolulu International Airport. State transportation officials say there's nothing they can do about it because there are no law against sleeping at the airport. Hawaii News Now.

While Kakaako is better known for luxury condos than affordable housing, the growing urban district in Honolulu could soon see a new kind of residence: tiny studio apartments no bigger than 300 square feet, or about 15 by 20 feet. Civil Beat.

A credit-rating agency has added a negative tinge to its outlook on bonds sold by Hawaii Pacific University last year to finance the redevelopment of parts of the Aloha Tower Marketplace retail complex in downtown Honolulu for university use. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police will not release the full surveillance video showing an off-duty sergeant assaulting his ex-girlfriend as initially planned. The full video was supposed to be shown to everyone at a briefing on Tuesday, but some lawmakers did not like that idea and decided to watch it at a later time in private. Now, they won’t get that chance. KHON2.

When it comes to key policy issues facing the city of Honolulu, not a lot separates the two attorneys running for the District 4 Honolulu City Council race. Civil Beat.

How Safe Has the Honolulu Rail Project Been? Worker injury rates have been well below state and national average. But concerns remain over excavation procedures. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Hawai'i County Civil Defense officials say a breakout upslope of the Puna lava flow has advanced another 100 yards since overtaking the stalled leading edge on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

A breakout on the lava flow encroaching on Pahoa advanced ahead of the former flow front Thursday, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. The breakout advanced about 100 yards between daily overflights, according to Civil Defense. Tribune-Herald.

One of the concerns of Hawaii County officials and residents is how the recent and current disasters —Tropical Storm Iselle and the lava flow —will affect Hawaii Island's economy. Hawaii Public Radio.

Big Island health care facilities remain on the lookout for Ebola symptoms following the announcement Thursday that state health officials determined a patient in isolation on Oahu was not carrying the deadly virus. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A gubernatorial debate hosted by the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce is slated for this morning. Associated Press.

Though Maui County is not currently in a state of drought, Upcountry reservoir levels dipped low last month, prompting water department officials to call for a 10 percent voluntary cutback on Upcountry water usage for the next two to three months. Maui News.

Kauai

A former member of the Kauai Police Commission is being sentenced for running a sports gambling business. Bradley Chiba is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in federal court in Honolulu. Associated Press.

Some Kauai residents are at odds over proposed changes to state Department of Health regulations that would prohibit new cesspools from being built and require existing ones to be upgraded when properties are sold. Garden Island.

An anticipated revival in construction could boost Kauai’s economy and compensate for a projected decline in tourism. That was the message from economist Dr. Jack Suyderhoud, who spoke at First Hawaiian Bank’s 40th Economic Outlook Forum Thursday at Kauai Beach Resort. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison’s Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay and The Lodge at Koele, the two major resorts on the island, may be closed at the same time next year as renovations take place at one of the properties. Pacific Business News.

NOAA probes grant fund misuse in efforts to delist green sea turtle, University of Hawaii could lose deep-sea submersibles, cost of militarization, affordable housing mulled for Honolulu, lava forces plans for new road routes, new sirens for Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Green sea turtle in Hawaii © 2014 All Hawaii News

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has directed the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Wespac) to investigate the extent to which federal grant funds might have been misused by council staff members involved in preparing the pending petition to remove the Hawaiian green sea turtle from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa is in danger of losing its two deep-water submarines unless the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, the program that runs the subs, can come up with $3 million in the next month. Pacific Business News.

Opinion: The true cost of Hawaiʻi’s militarization. A thorough examination of the costs and benefits of housing the U.S. military dispels the mythos that Hawaiʻi would not survive without it. Hawaii Independent.

Creating homeless encampments to alleviate the state’s growing problem of homelessness is a bad idea, according to a 2012 report submitted to the Legislature by the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness, a 24-member task force created by Gov. Neil Abercrombie and composed of state and city officials, homeless providers and community leaders. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to revamp the city’s affordable housing policy to provide more rental spaces and more units that low-income people can afford. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell's ambitious plan to bump up Oahu's affordable-housing count by more than 4,000 in the next five years is already generating myriad questions and a lot of discussion from City Council members and homebuilders alike, just as he predicted. Star-Advertiser.

14 years of disciplinary data compiled and analyzed by Civil Beat shows the Honolulu Police Department has a long history of leniency with cops found to have threatened, beat or otherwise hurt significant others and family members.

A group of lawmakers chided the Honolulu Police Department on Thursday for its handling of a possible domestic abuse case involving a police sergeant that was captured on video. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Water Supply is getting heat after a city audit report said rates should go down. KHON2.

The State Department of Health is investigating the underground release of thousands of gallons of oil on Sand Island. It was found in a construction trench on the street that leads to the Keehi Boat Harbor. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Crews started building two alternate routes Thursday as a lava flow continued its advance toward Pahoa and Highway 130. Tribune-Herald.

Lava concerns on Hawaii's Big Island are shifting from it reaching a sparsely populated subdivision to it crossing over a heavily used highway. Associated Press.

Work crews began clearing the first of two little-used dirt roads on Hawaii island that may be pressed into service if lava should overrun the main highway into and out of the lower Puna district, where 8,000 people would otherwise be trapped. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii County officials are considering issuing an evacuation notice for Kaohe Homesteads after the June 27 lava flow changed direction Wednesday. Kevin Dayton, executive assistant to Mayor Billy Kenoi, said Thursday morning such an order could come within the next 24 hours. Tribune-Herald.

As the lava flow from Kīlauea Volcano’s Pu’u ‘O’o Vent continues to advance toward Ka’ohe Homestead and Pāhoa Village, Hawai'i County Civil Defense is addressing some basic infrastructure needs. Hawaii Public Radio.

Marijuana ministry advocate Roger Christie emerged from four years in federal custody Thursday and said he's looking forward to his first hit of marijuana -- "when I'm legally allowed to do so." Star-Advertiser.

Saturday’s grand opening of the new Hilo High School gymnasium has been put on hold as one of the final parts of the project has yet to be completed. Big Island Now.

Maui

A group that supports GMO farming on Maui has filed a lawsuit in Second Circuit court seeking the removal of a GMO initiative from the November ballot. Maui Now.

Kauai

Timeshare owners on Kauai will receive a temporary reprieve from higher property taxes, at least for the next year. Garden Island.

Kauai has nine new civil defense sirens thanks to a statewide modernization program. Star-Advertiser.

Don't touch the turtles, VA clinic, state mental hospital in disarray, Kauai anti-GMO pesticide charter petition rejected, pay hikes for mayor, council, Maui mayoral candidates opposed, high defaults at community colleges, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii green sea turtle © 2014 All Hawaii News

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is reminding the public to respect Hawaii’s sea turtles by viewing these protected animals responsibly. Associated Press.

Chinese ships steamed Tuesday toward waters near Hawaii to participate for the first time in the world’s largest naval exercises hosted by Washington — a rare opportunity to build trust with the U.S. and regional rivals, including the Philippines and Japan. Associated Press.

With most eyes on the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, the two Republican candidates vying for their party's nomination have much work ahead of them as they try to gain name recognition and get their messages out to voters in a historically blue state. The contest pits Warner "Kimo" Sutton, a Honolulu renewable energy entrepreneur, against Elwin Ahu, a former Honolulu District Court judge and senior pastor with New Hope Metro. Star-Advertiser.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, which has endorsed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, has sent a mailer to Hawaii residents that implies Hana­busa might privatize the entitlement programs. Star-Advertiser.

Former University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood will not be returning this fall as a tenured professor with a six-figure salary, and instead says she will retire at the end of the month, marking the end of a five-year career at the university. Star-Advertiser.

In a state that’s less prone than most to student loan payback problems, some of Hawaii’s two-year colleges are showing alarmingly high rates of default. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Energy is spending $500,000 on a project to boost electric grid reliability in Hawaii. Associated Press.

State administration officials are planning to develop strategies to cope with the impact of climate change and rising sea levels in the Hawaiian Islands. Star-Advertiser.

If coming up with the money to pay public employee pensions gives Hawaii state and local governments fiscal indigestion, providing additional benefits such as health, life, dental and even chiropractic care to retirees is causing a multi-billion-dollar budgetary migraine. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Veterans Affairs officials told representatives of Hawaii's congressional delegation that military veterans only had to wait 30 days to see a primary care physician for the first time — just before a scathing audit revealed that new patients in Honolulu actually had the worst wait times in the entire system, 145 days. Star-Advertiser.

Veterans seeking care at the VA Medical Center here in Hawaii wait an average of 145 days. Maybe more striking, some 64,000 veterans enrolled in the system for at least 10 years have yet to see a doctor, says a Department of Veterans Affairs audit released Monday. Hawaii Reporter.

The Honolulu City Council is committing $32 million in bond money to house the homeless — on top of the nearly $24 million that Mayor Kirk Caldwell had earlier proposed for his Housing First initiative. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor and Council Chair disagree on grant money. Hawaii News Now.

A class-action lawsuit is being drawn up on behalf of injured psychiatric workers at the State Hospital in Kane­ohe amid allegations of nepotism and numerous assaults against employees, state Sen. Clayton Hee said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A class-action lawsuit representing hundreds of State Hospital employees will be filed in the next several weeks, as the acting head of the troubled hospital announced he plans to retire after two decades there. Hawaii News Now.

State Sen. Clayton Hee’s inquiry into conditions at the Hawaii State Hospital took him to Kaneohe on Wednesday where he toured the mental health facility with top administrators, including Department of Health Director Linda Rosen. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined Hawai‘i Gas $155,000 for violations of risk management plan regulations and chemical release reporting involving its Kapolei facility. The fine represents a settlement between the EPA and the company. Star-Advertiser.

The Oahu Burial Council is calling for closer scrutiny of the controversial redevelopment of the old Honolulu Advertiser building in Kakaako.Hawaii News Now.

Dole Plantation, one of Hawaii’s most-visited attractions with more than 1 million visitors each year, has gone solar to help it reduce its energy costs by 30 percent, a spokeswoman for the Oahu pineapple plantation told Pacific Business News.

Kelli Keawe, an office assistant with the Dept. of Public Safety, said for 10 years she was banned from all but one restroom in the building, because she is physically a man but identifies as a woman. The state now lets her in the women’s room and a federal anti-discrimination agency is also stepping in. KHON2.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi will get a $22,848 raise next month, and top county managers and County Council members will also see pay hikes, under a plan advanced Tuesday by the county Salary Commission. West Hawaii Today.

On Friday the Board of Land and Natural Resources will address the proposed Mauna Kea sublease between the University of Hawaii and the Thirty Meter Telescope  LLC. Of particular importance is the sublease rent amounts UH is proposing to collect from the TMT LLC. Hawaii Independent.

Kona airport fire station dedicated. West Hawaii Today.

Honomu residents were given an early morning wake up call Wednesday when a tsunami warning siren activated on its own. Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said the siren began malfunctioning at or shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Developers of the long-awaited West Maui Hospital and Medical Center expect to begin construction in the next 13 to 14 months, but residents and local medical officials wonder where the new hospital will find the physicians and the money to pay them. Maui News.

The developer of the planned Maui Medical Plaza next to the Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary has avoided Maui County's threat of foreclosure on the project's 2.5 acres adjacent to Hana Highway. Maui News.

The Maui County Clerk's Office received letters Tuesday objecting to two mayoral candidates - Neldon Mamuad and Nelson Waikiki Jr. Maui News.

The Maui County Council's Budget and Finance Committee is making changes to the circuit breaker tax credit program and may extend the credit application deadline to Sept. 15 for this upcoming tax year to allow for more to qualify under the committee's proposed changes. Maui News.

Kauai

If those behind a charter amendment aimed at regulating the island’s agrochemical industry want it to appear on the ballot in November, they will have to start over. That means recollecting 2,037 voter signatures, this time by July 2. Kauai County Clerk Ricky Watanabe rejected Kauai Rising’s petition, citing technical errors because the group failed to follow the proper format. Garden Island.

Large agriculture companies and landowners are opposing a bill that would establish “agronomics” as a new and separate real property tax class and exclude lands used primarily for crop research or parent seed production from the county’s definition of “agricultural use.” Garden Island.

There may be a new selection process for an outgoing County Council member the next time around. The Kauai County Council approved a resolution on Tuesday that would let county voters decide whether the process to fill a vacancy on the seven-member board should be changed. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council struck down a pair of charter amendment proposals on Tuesday that would have let county voters weigh in on the seven-member board’s fee-setting authority at the Wailua Golf Course and eligibility requirements for county Cost Control Commission members. Garden Island.

Hawaii eyes undersea mining, Honolulu transit deputy worked for winning bidder, Maui preps for GMO fight, state ends year in the black, state struggles with new safety check rules, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

NOAA whale watching ship and humpbacks, courtesy photo

A scientific study says humpback whales in the North Pacific should be looked at as at least five distinct populations, rather than just a single species undergoing recovery. The study, including genetic analysis, goes against the traditional way humpback whales have been counted as one group in evaluating their recovery as an endangered species. The study comes at a time when a Hawaii group is petitioning to remove humpback whales in the North Pacific from the endangered species list. Star-Advertiser.

With the return of the wintering whales to Hawaii, officials from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary are reminding the public to keep a safe distance from the protected and endangered animals. Maui Now.

An unprecedented era of undersea mining deep in the Pacific Ocean is poised to begin, University of Hawaii researchers say, and they aim to help protect the region's biodiversity once that mining starts. Companies and countries around the world have secured at least 12 mining exploration claims across a vast swath of ocean several hundred miles south of Hawaii called the Clarion Clipperton fracture zone, according to a UH news release. Eventually, they could scrape the sea floor in those areas for manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel and other resources. Star-Advertiser.

Brown Water Advisories following heavy rain are not to be ignored or taken lightly, according to Watson Okubo, the monitoring and analysis section chief of the state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch. Garden Island.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Hawaii ended the most recent fiscal year $844 million in the black. The governor said in a statement Friday the administration has worked diligently to stabilize and grow Hawaii’s economy. Associated Press.

Five weeks into the new program, auto mechanics and vehicle owners are reporting lengthy delays and confusion surrounding the way vehicle inspections are now conducted and documented. The Hawaii Department of Transportation, working with the county motor vehicle departments, rolled out the program Nov. 1 and simultaneously upped the fees for car and truck inspections to help pay for it. Civil Beat.

The two youngest members of the U.S. Senate are co-sponsoring a bill aimed at lowering college costs that includes withholding federal funds from schools that don't meet affordability and quality standards. Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Brian Schatz of Hawaii are planning to introduce the legislation this week. The two are still paying off their college loans. Associated Press.

Oahu
The man who is second in command of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was until earlier this year a vice president with CH2M Hill, the company that recently edged out other bidders for a $46.1 million engineering contract for the Honolulu rail project that HART is overseeing. But HART officials say Deputy Executive Director Brennon Morioka had no involvement with the agency's decision to award the contract to his former employer. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has a hefty household income when you factor in his city salary, his paid position on a local bank board of directors, his state pension and the paycheck his wife pulls down. Caldwell earns nearly $130,000 a year as mayor, but also gets paid between $200,000 and $299,999 thousand as a director of Territorial Savings Bank. He also has between $400,000 and $499,999 worth of stock in the company. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell will be taking questions from the public Monday in a virtual town hall meeting. Hawaii News Now.

A hui of North Shore community members gathered near Laniakea Beach on Sunday to protest the state Department of Transportation's proposal to stop traffic snarls and safety problems in the area by blocking off access to a strip of land along Kame­ha­meha Highway that beachgoers use as a parking lot. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens turned out at Laniakea Beach Sunday to protest the state's plans to barricade the beach's parking lot. And many said the Department of Transportation's proposal to install concrete barriers and shut down the parking lot will worsen the community's already severe traffic problems. Hawaii News Now.

Regardless of what the state eventually decides to do about the volume of visitors stopping to see the turtles basking on the shores of Laniakea Beach on Oahu's North Shore, a group of volunteers continues to watch over the reptiles. Malama na Honu, translated as "care for the turtles," is a nonprofit group created in 2007 to protect Hawaiian green sea turtles, a threatened species protected by federal and state laws. Star-Advertiser.

For the past decade, Waimanalo homeowner Tom Grande has battled the city to try to get a large mound of fill material removed from the hillside just above his residence and in the middle of a dam inundation zone. But Grande, an attorney, thus far has been unsuccessful, and his legal fight has exposed what he says is a troubling gap in the law dealing with dumping of fill on agriculture land. Star-Advertiser.

More wealth shifts to Oahu neighborhoods. Four Oahu ZIP codes crack top 10 wealthiest in Hawaii for the first time. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Democrat representing Hawaii's 2nd District, will be the keynote speaker at Hawaii Pacific University's graduation ceremonies Dec. 18. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The economy hasn’t always cooperated, nor has the County Council, but as he finishes his fifth year in office, Mayor Billy Kenoi sees more in his win column than he’s lost. Kenoi, who first took office Dec. 1, 2008, and entered his second four-year term Dec. 5, 2012, likes to recount a laundry list of accomplishments. West Hawaii Today.

Forest land boasting one of the largest old-growth koa stands is up for grabs in Hamakua. Known as the “Ohana Sanctuary” by its current owners, the land consists of 3,127 acres of largely untouched forest near Akaka Falls. And it fetches a hefty price of $22 million. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council on Friday may have ruined the county's opportunity to purchase 186 acres in Launiupoko for a long-envisioned coastline parkway by failing to take a vote on the deal as an end-of-the-month deadline loomed. Maui News.

Some environmentalists and farmers on Maui appear poised for a conflict on a bill to add more regulations on those using pesticides commercially, including businesses involved in producing genetically modified organisms. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County could be joining Hawaii and Kauai counties in creating an ordinance to regulate pesticides and genetically modified organisms by commercial agricultural companies. Maui News.

Current executive assistant to the mayor and former Maui County Council Chairman Danny Mateo was appointed by the Maui County Council on Friday to be the county clerk. Maui News.

Maui Economic Opportunity's paratransit system has, again, come under fire for delays in service, said riders at a meeting last week at the nonprofit. Maui News.

Kauai

Seed companies bolster Keiki Toy Ride gifts. Garden Island.