Islands still getting drenched by Olivia remnants, super PACs gear up for education tax fight, Honolulu City Council kills bus fare hike, ethics board punts honesty bill, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Flooded Maui road PC: Hawaii Department of Transportation

Olivia made a rare double landfall over west Maui and Lanai as a tropical storm on Wednesday, triggering torrential rains and significant flooding in some areas. That brought down trees, closed roads and knocked out power to thousands. Hawaii News Now.

Isles appear to dodge major damage from Olivia. Tropical Storm Olivia blew through the Hawaiian Islands Wednesday but not before leaving a soggy trail of fallen trees, swollen streams, landslides and power outages.  Star-Advertiser.

Trump signs disaster declaration for Hawaii as weakened Olivia dumps rain on Islands. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige’s request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Tropical Storm Olivia has been granted, one day after the request was submitted. Maui Now.

Here are all the active weather alerts associated with Olivia. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County under flash flood warning; flash flood watch remains in effect for state. Star-Advertiser.

Things are slowly returning to normal now that Tropical Storm Olivia is moving away from the state. Hawaii News Now.

All public schools open Thursday except Kilohana Elementary on Molokai. KHON2.

The U.S. Postal Service announced that all Post Offices across the state will be open and mail will be delivered, weather and local conditions permitting, on Thursday, Sept 13. KITV.

Tropical Storm Olivia dropped almost 8 inches of rain on a part of Maui and lashed the Lanai airport with 51 mph wind gusts Wednesday, while the Big Island dodged a bullet. Tribune-Herald.

As Maui County weathered winds that wrenched trees from the ground and rains that raised the rivers Wednesday afternoon, people on Kauai watched the skies. Garden Island.

It’s shaping up to be an unpredictable hurricane season in Hawaii, with cyclones approaching from multiple directions — and there’s still six weeks left until it comes to a close on Nov. 30. Star-Advertiser.

Shelters offer storm cover for the few who turned up. There were a total of 75 people across 15 evacuation centers on Oahu, Hawaii island and Maui County as of Wednesday morning, according to the Red Cross. Star-Advertiser.

=====

Political action committees that can raise unlimited funds already have formed to try to persuade voters in the debate over whether to amend the Hawaii Constitution in November to allow the state to tax investment property to help fund public education. Star-Advertiser.

More than 80 candidates running for elected office this year have been fined by the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission for violating campaign laws. Star-Advertiser.

Bigger Fines Considered To Send Campaign Lawbreakers A Message. Candidates and political organizations may have to start paying more for filing their spending reports late or inaccurately. Civil Beat.

‘Fragile Aloha’: Why Hawaii’s Last Constitutional Convention Was Important. Delegates quickly broke into factions in 1978, but they ultimately made breakthroughs on Native Hawaiian issues. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council rejects proposed bus, van hikes. Honolulu City Council members Wednesday shot down a plan by Mayor Kirk Caldwell to raise TheBus and TheHandi-Van fares starting Jan. 1. Star-Advertiser.

A bill to dramatically increase the fines against those who flout city building codes won final approval from the Honolulu City Council Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ethics Board punts on honesty policy. Honesty may be said to be the best policy, but it’s not a policy the County Council, or the Board of Ethics, seems eager to see set in law. West Hawaii Today.

On Tuesday, the Hawaii County Board of Ethics reviewed a County Council bill that would require local government to be “accurate and factual.” Big Island Video News.

An autopsy on a 51-year-old tour guide who collapsed and died while leading a lava tour hike near Kalapana on Feb. 1 found the man’s death was accidental. The report found the immediate cause of death for Sean King was “thermal injuries and volcanic fume exposure.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

'We're very, very fortunate.' Maui's mayor optimistic despite damage from Olivia. While much of the rain from Olivia has moved off, the focus now is dealing with the damage left behind. KHON2.

VIDEO: Homes, cars swept away in Honokohau Valley flood. Maui News.

Tropical Storm Olivia made history Wednesday as the first such storm to make landfall on Maui in modern times. Thankfully for residents and visitors on the Valley Isle, it was a brief and not particularly hard landing. Star-Advertiser.

Heavy rains and strong winds from Tropical Storm Olivia pummeled Maui County on Wednesday, washing away homes, bringing down trees and utility poles, and triggering widespread power outages. Hawaii News Now.

Olivia Maui Photos: Historic Landfall Made on Maui and Lanai. Maui Now.

Despite concerns about water, wildfires and access to the Lahaina Pali Trail, the Maui Planning Commission gave a nod Tuesday to advance a 21-lot Maalaea agricultural subdivision. Maui News.

Kauai

Kalalau Trail closure redirects visitors elsewhere on Kauai. With Kee Beach and the Kalalau Trail closed, there are a few thousand tourists every day looking for somewhere else to go. Garden Island.

Photos, videos, news: All the latest on Hurricane Lane from media sources all across the state. Be prepared, stay safe!

Although Lane has been downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane, it still remains an extremely dangerous storm headed north toward Oahu. Packing maximum sustained winds of 110 mph and located about 180 miles south of Honolulu and 145 miles west-southwest of Kailua-Kona, Lane was headed north at 5 mph at 5 a.m. today, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Star-Advertiser.

Over 1,500 residents move to emergency shelters as Hurricane Lane triggers rains, flooding. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Lane is weakening as it continues its slow march toward the island chain, but forecasters warn the cyclone is expected to remain a hurricane as it moves over or comes "dangerously close" to portions of the state through Friday. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Lane weakens to category 2 as it continues to move north towards the state. KHON2.

Hurricane Lane weakens to Category 3 storm, rains still a concern. KITV.

LIST: Hurricane Lane impacts roads across the state. Hawaii News Now.

LIST: Active power outages reported across the state. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Lane: Live Updates. Civil Beat.

FEMA already on the ground with food, water and supplies. Brock Long, administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Thursday that his agency has made a lot of changes in the way it is responding to Hurricane Lane based on the lessons learned in Puerto Rico last year. Star-Advertiser.

State emergency officials have activated a disaster medical response team in anticipation of severe weather throughout the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Hospitals, Clinics Prepare to Provide Care During Storm. Hawaii Public Radio.

More than 800 people evacuate from hurricane. Star-Advertiser.

Drivers race for fuel as supply dwindles. Around 100 or more gas stations were closed Thursday largely for safety precautions ahead of harmful weather from Hurricane Lane that began to hit Hawaii island Thursday and is expected next for Maui County and then Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

What’s closed, postponed or rescheduled in Hawaii in anticipation of Hurricane Lane. Star-Advertiser.

Visitor industry prepares to hunker down. As Hurricane Lane, Hawaii’s most unwelcome guest, prepared to unpack dangerous wind and flooding across the state, the visitor industry scrambled to get hospitality workers to their jobs and get some 270,000 tourists back home or safe inside. Star-Advertiser.

Despite closure of Hawaii ports, supplies are waiting, ready to be delivered. Hawaii News Now.

State economists are forecasting that Hawaii will grow this year at a slower pace than projected. The economy is now expected to expand 1.5 percent in 2018, according to the latest quarterly report released Wednesday by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The previous forecast was for 1.9 percent growth. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Lane’s turn west not assured, so next 24 hours will be crucial for Oahu, meteorologist says. Star-Advertiser.

HECO responding to multiple power outages throughout Oahu. KHON2.

A call center has been set up for Oahu residents with questions or concerns ahead of Lane's strongest impacts. Hawaii News Now.

Fear The Hurricane? Not These Hardy Tourists. “We’re the hurricane that hit Honolulu,” says one visitor who arrived in Honolulu with a large extended family. Civil Beat.

As Hurricane Lane approaches Oahu, there are no safeguards in place if the Ala Wai Canal tops its banks and causes major flooding in Waikiki and the surrounding areas. Star-Advertiser.

Many Homeless People Are Choosing To Ride Out The Storm. Outreach workers ramped up efforts to alert the homeless about Hurricane Lane, but some opted to stay in encampments. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

The hurricane warning for Hawaii island was downgraded to a tropical storm warning late Thursday afternoon, but the torrential rain that soaked the windward side this week are expected to continue and might even drench portions of the island through the weekend. Star-Advertiser.

VIDEO: Hurricane Lane – Flash Flood Dangers Continue For Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

Tropical storm conditions and hurricane conditions continue to be a possibility today and tonight as Hurricane Lane churns its way toward the islands. The category 3 storm is expected to pass close to the main islands today, still as a hurricane, bringing damaging winds, according to the National Weather Service. West Hawaii Today.

Civil defense administrator Talmadge Magno gave a rundown on impacts - thus far - from Hurricane Lane, churning to the south southwest of the Big Island. Big Island Video News.

Deluge from Hurricane Lane prompts rescues, road closures. Tribune-Herald.

Seven rescued from Hurricane Lane flooding. Tribune-Herald.

A Windward Drenching, But No Wind Damage Yet. UPDATED: The drenching closes some roads and causes landslides, but strong winds had been reported as of 6:30 p.m. Civil Beat.

Deluge brings water-gawkers out in force. As rain from Hurricane Lane doused the island Thursday, curious onlookers drove over half-flooded streets to watch swollen rivers churn into the ocean despite repeated warnings from county officials to stay off the roads. Tribune-Herald.

Wave riders take advantage of rare opportunity in West Hawaii waters. The National Weather Service office in Honolulu said surf on the island’s west side topped out at roughly 6 feet, based on reports. West Hawaii Today.

Heavy rain from Hurricane Lane caused a wastewater pond at Big Island Dairy to overflow Thursday, sending untreated effluent into a nearby gulch. Jake Mecham, dairy business manager, said the farm, located mauka of Ookala village, received nearly 25 inches of rain in 24 hours. Tribune-Herald.


Maui

As Hurricane Lane continued its agonizingly slow approach toward Hawaii, an untold number of Maui visitors scrambled Thursday to deal with storm-related impacts that included canceled flights and closed parks, beaches, shops and restaurants. Star-Advertiser.

Lahaina brush fire forces relocation of storm shelter, prompts evacuations. Hawaii News Now.

Brush fire on Maui forces evacuation of Lahaina emergency shelter, residents. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Electric Power Outage Updates: 1,990 Lose Power Upcountry. Maui Now.

Stormy weather stalls affordable housing project. Maui News.

Kauai

Waiting for the storm. It was a quiet Thursday around the island as traffic was light and most residents stayed home and visitors stayed in hotels. Garden Island.

When many visitors on Kauai heard Hurricane Lane was barreling their way, they decided to stick it out rather than flee for home. Garden Island.

Red Cross rises to the challenge. After a 12-hour flight from Ohio and a three-hour layover in Honolulu Wednesday, Jan Dayton deboarded the plane at Lihue Airport and headed straight for the Red Cross shelter at Church of the Pacific in Princeville. Garden Island.

Due to Hurricane Lane, cargo flights between Oahu and Kauai have been grounded Thursday and Friday night. Because The Garden Island is printed at Oahu Publications Inc.’s press in Kapolei and delivered to Kauai on those cargo flights, it means TGI’s Friday and Saturday newspapers will not be delivered to homes or available at news stands. Garden Island.

Cat 4 Hurricane Lane about 200 miles from Hawaiian Islands, Trump issues presidential disaster declaration, emergency shelters open, FEMA arrives, seaports close, here's what you need to know to stay safe

Hurricane Lane track 5 a.m. Thursday Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Hurricane Lane continued to weaken slightly overnight but is still moving closer to the islands. Clocking in with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph and moving northwest at 7 mph, Lane was located about 210 miles south-southwest of Kailua-Kona and 305 miles south of Honolulu at 5 a.m., according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Star-Advertiser.

Heavy rains pound Big Island as Cat 4 Lane barrels toward Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Trump issues presidential disaster declaration as Lane marches toward Hawaii. Hawaii leaders are ramping up preparations for Hurricane Lane as the ferocious Category 4 storm continues to march toward the island chain. Hawaii News Now.

Islands remain vulnerable as category 4 Hurricane Lane continues to move northwest. KITV.

Hurricane Closes Hawaii’s Harbors, Freezing A Fragile Supply Chain. If Hurricane Lane strikes Oahu, officials say they have a plan in place to clear roads for emergency access as soon possible. Civil Beat.

Depending on hurricane track and scope of damage, Hawaiian Electric says customers should anticipate power outages from Hurricane Lane. KHON2.

Unplugged. That will likely become reality for many in Hawaii as Hurricane Lane triggers power outages, the Hawaiian Electric companies warned Wednesday as they urged customers to prepare. Star-Advertiser.

Power outage tips: Keep your refrigerator closed, unplug other appliances. Hawaii News Now.

FEMA workers arrive in Hawaii; airports remain open. About 150 FEMA workers are spread out across the state to help out with Hurricane Lane. Hawaii News Now.

Here’s a list of Hurricane Lane emergency shelters. Star-Advertiser.

Forecasting Hurricanes In The ‘Cone Of Uncertainty’ Is A Rough Challenge. Meteorologists get plenty of data to predict a storm’s path, but even minor fluctuations in models can mean a world of difference. Civil Beat.

Category strengths of a hurricane and wind shear ... How do they relate? Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Lane impacts U.S. Postal Service operations, mail delivery. KHON2.

State investigating reports of price gouging as Hurricane Lane nears. KHON2.

Insurance commissioner authorizes assistance of unlicensed adjusters due to Hurricane Lane. Pacific Business News.

Real estate contributes to Hawaii's empty shelves as hurricane approaches. The empty supermarket shelves Hawaii residents are finding this week as they try to prepare for Hurricane Lane are a byproduct of the cost of shipping and industrial real estate in the Islands. Pacific Business News.

Storm likely to further curb September hotel performance. Star-Advertiser.

Ige Relaxes Rabies Rules for Hawaii-Bound Pets. Owners will be allowed to bring their dogs and cats to the islands 30 days after completing tests and vaccines, instead of 120 days. Civil Beat.

State's Plans To Deal With Abandoned and Derelict Cars. The problem of abandoned and derelict vehicle varies from island to island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Mayor says slow-moving storm could cause major problems. Mayor Kirk Caldwell, flanked by first responders, urged Oahu residents to prepare for the coming of Hurricane Lane and to shelter in place. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Designates 20 Schools As Hurricane Shelters. The shelters — to be used as a last resort — have a total capacity of 55,000, according to city officials. Civil Beat.

Pearl Harbor ships and subs head to sea ahead of Lane. Navy ships and submarines based in Hawaii — excluding those undergoing maintenance — began an exodus from Pearl Harbor Wednesday as Hurricane Lane, still packing 145 mph winds, swirled ever closer to the state. Star-Advertiser.

Last-minute shopping a challenge. Don Quijote was one of the stores that had sold out of water, butane and flashlights, but were expecting an emergency shipment Wednesday night of additional pallets of water and butane. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors to Oahu brace for Hurricane Lane, tourism impacted. Gusts of wind blew through Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Wednesday as travelers braced for the unknown. KHON2.

Hundreds of residents on Hawaiian Homelands are without phone and internet service as Hurricane Lane threatens the state. KHON2.

Honolulu police officers, state officials and outreach workers canvassed various communities on Wednesday to warn Oahu’s homeless population about Hurricane Lane and urge them to seek shelter. Hawaii News Now.

Art Ushijima, president and CEO of The Queen’s Health Systems, said Wednesday he will retire in January 2020 after nearly 30 years on the job. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Bracing for Lane: County, state prepare as significant rain, flooding and high winds are expected from hurricane. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim stressed Wednesday that West Hawaii residents need to remain vigilant as Hurricane Lane remained on course to pass very close to the Hawaiian Islands. West Hawaii Today.

Storm-tested East Hawaii residents take Lane in stride. Despite the approach of Hurricane Lane, residents on the east side of the Big Island were largely unperturbed Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

No panic in Kailua-Kona as residents prep for hurricane. West Hawaii Today.

Disaster-Weary Big Island Braces For Lane’s First Effects. South- and west-facing coastal areas are considered at greatest risk in Hawaii County. Civil Beat.

Hawaii County won’t even begin collecting its share of the general excise tax for more than four months, but there’s already disagreement over how to spend it. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa hosted a press conference on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Hurricane Lane as it continues its approach up the island chain. Maui Now.

Maui County officials are preparing for the worst that Hurricane Lane might bring — and are bracing for a long recovery. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County residents, tourists and businesses are preparing for Hurricane Lane and the possibility of stores running out of supplies due to the anticipated closure of all ports statewide when the storm hits. Maui News.

Maui visitors deal differently with approaching storm. Star-Advertiser.

Feels Like Hana Of Old After Hurricane Threat Chases Tourists Away. The iconic but usually congested Hana Highway is quiet as confident residents get ready to hunker down. Civil Beat.

C-SPAN bus visits Maui with Lane looming. Mobile TV studio parked at county building, mall. Maui News.

Kauai

In this together. Stores like Times, Costco, The Home Depot and Longs weren’t quite as busy Wednesday, but residents and visitors alike were stocking up on essentials before the possibility of Hurricane Lane wreaking havoc on Kauai. Garden Island.

Wainiha-Haena residents are being advised to evacuate the area today due to the possibility of tropical storm force winds and heavy rains. Garden Island.

Water diversion plan contested. A move to amend the Interim Inflow Stream Standard for the Waikoko and North Fork Wailua streams by State of Hawaii Commission on Water Resources Management Tuesday has been delayed due to a request for a contested-case hearing filed by Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

Seafood found safe after Fukushima disaster, Hanabusa political aspirations questioned, audit blasts Big Island hiring practices, entire island of Kauai loses electricity, hurricane shelters lacking, new rules for boat harbors, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Slicing ahi at Hilo fish market © 2017 All Hawaii News

It’s OK to keep salivating over seafood. A new study from an international research team has found that migratory marine predators in coastal waters near Japan and Hawaii had negligible contamination from the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that caused a Fukushima power plant to release large quantities of radioactive material. Star-Advertiser.

Saving Coral: Researchers in Hawaii are involved in cutting-edge science aimed at countering the effects of climate change on the world’s oceans. Civil Beat.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources Friday approved amendments to a wide range of state boating rules intended to improve management of state small boat harbors and ocean recreation-related activities in state waters. Associated Press.

Reversal by Hanabusa prompts criticism. Colleen Hanabusa said she will soon file papers to form a new campaign committee to run for governor, confirming long-standing speculation in Hawaii political circles that she would challenge fellow Democrat and incumbent Gov. David Ige in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

Immigration and Island Dreamers: The cancellation of DACA could cost Hawaii more than half a billion dollars. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Prison Warden’s Case Shows Firing A Public Worker Isn’t Easy. Despite dozens of sexual harassment and discrimination concerns, appeals board says her prior clean record counts for a lot. Civil Beat.

Twenty-five years after Hurricane Iniki pummeled Kauai, Hawaii has made substantial progress in some ways to prepare for the next major hurricane. But the state remains significantly ill-prepared in other areas, including not having adequate facilities to house everyone who would likely seek public shelter from an Iniki-like storm. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s students are making strides in their ACT college exam scores, though their performance as a whole still trails behind some of their counterparts nationally, according to test score data for the class of 2017 released this week. Tribune-Herald.

Alexander &Baldwin Inc. is about to join a special group of companies — mostly mainland firms — that funnel almost all their profits to stockholders and qualify for a unique tax break known as Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The typical household electrical bill for Oahu residents in September declined 40 cents from the previous month. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Officials Push For $200 Million Ala Wai Canal Makeover. Devastating storms on the mainland are prompting a renewed effort to finally fix the Ala Wai’s potential for flooding that could wipe out Waikiki. Civil Beat.

As the search for Honolulu's next police chief continues, two more names have emerged as candidates. Sources confirmed for Hawaii News Now that Gary Yamashiroya and Paul Putzulu are in the running for the position. Hawaii News Now.

The redevelopment of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s Mayor Wright Homes into a mixed-income, mixed-use project would add more than 2,000 new residential rental units to what is currently a 15-acre public housing project near Downtown Honolulu, according to a draft environmental impact statement filed with the state. Pacific Business News.

A $100 million public housing project has been further delayed after Hawaii officials voted to end a partnership with a private developer. Associated Press.

Some investors question claims over partially submersible vessel. Curtiss Jackson, owner and CEO of Semisub Inc., says he expects his partially submersible vessel to start commercial tours in Hawaii’s waters next month. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County’s hiring practices, long a source of complaints of unfairness and favoritism, are sharply criticized in a report released last week by the county’s legislative auditor. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Transportation might need to keep its options open for how it spends $40 million added to the state’s capital budget for improving Highway 130. Tribune-Herald.

A community forum on Puna roads was held at the Hawaiian Paradise Park Activity Center on Saturday. Big Island Video News.

The Kailua Village Design Commission this week signaled its approval for Kona Brewing Co.’s proposed brewery, recommending only some minor changes to the proposed plan. West Hawaii Today.

One year after its inception, Kona’s bikeshare program is rolling right along. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim recently sat down with Sherry Bracken to discuss his decision to bar a handful of visiting hula halau from staying overnight in county gyms during the Merrie Monarch Festival. Big Island Video News.

Kailua-Kona has been named one of the top foodie towns in the United States, according to a new rankings. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Meeting set to discuss Iao Valley State Monument closure, stabilization. Maui News.

Almost a year has passed since one of the largest floods in Maui County’s history destroyed homes, properties and swept up entire landmasses in Iao Valley. Maui News.

For the first time in four years, Newell’s shearwaters have started laying eggs in an artificially created seabird colony in West Maui. Maui News.

Central Maui, consistently the busiest housing market in Maui County, hit a 12-month-high median housing price at $650,000 in August as median prices countywide held steady at $700,000. Maui News.

Maui’s residential real estate market was mixed in August as the median price and sales of single-family houses rose during the month but condominiums saw decreases in both categories. Star-Advertiser.

Condominium sales dropped 11.3 percent to 110 in August, while the median price decreased 4.8 percent to $400,000, from $420,000 last year, according to statistics by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kaanapali Beach and Lahaina Beach have just been named as two of America’s favorite beaches in 2017. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai residents were without power for some time Sunday as Kauai Island Utility Cooperative officials worked to restore an island-wide blackout. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai is suffering. A 2017 suicide epidemic is increasingly worrying police and service organizations with the death toll so far this year already nearly double the number reported in all of 2016 and far higher than any year since at least 2012. Garden Island.

Reflections on the past decade of Hawaiian monk seal conservation will be offered Wednesday at the Princeville Library in a program that will focus on the research and conservation efforts to help the species. Garden Island.

Monday marks 25 years since Iniki pummeled Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Iniki made landfall on Kauai on Sept. 11, 1992. Garden Island.

Actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have sold a Kauai compound above Secret Beach that was once owned by NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for $12 million, according to a report in Variety. Pacific Business News.

Gimme Shelter

Gov. Linda Lingle, along with State Comptroller Russ Saito, who also serves as the state’s homeless solutions team leader, beginning at noon today will dedicate two new homeless transitional shelters on Oahu’s Leeward Coast.

The two facilities -- Kumuhonua (formerly Building 36), a former military building at Kalaeloa, and Ulu Ke Kukui (formerly Villages of Ma‘ili) in Ma‘ili -- are the final shelters to be developed under an emergency proclamation Lingle declared to address health and safety issues due to so many people living in parks and beaches along Oahu’s Leeward Coast.

The two shelters to be dedicated have the capacity for about 450 people, in addition to the more than 1,500 people Lingle says have been served in other transitional shelters since 2006.

The University of Hawaii last month released its “Homeless Service Utilization Report,” a study that attempts to get a handle on the breadth of the homelessness problem on the islands and how best to address it.

Affordable Housing on the Agenda

The House Committee on Housing was scheduled today to hear from a range of experts on the state’s housing problems. Hawaii is known as one of the most expensive states to live in, with its cost of living currently 8 percent higher than Los Angeles and 30.9 percent higher than Chicago, according to Move Inc.

That’s one reason the U.S. Census shows that only 56.5 percent of Hawaii residents own their own homes, compared to 66.2 percent nationwide. The 2000 median home value in Hawaii of $272,700 was more than twice the U.S. average of $119,600.

Among the experts invited to present housing data to the committee:

• Kathleen Hasegawa and Sherrilee Dadson, directors, Habitat for Humanity
• Karen Seddon, executive director, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation
• Jo-Ann Ridao, deputy director, Department of Housing and Human Concerns, Maui County
• Nani Medeiros, executive director, Housing Hawaii
• Chad Tanaguchi, director, Hawaii Housing Authority