Showing posts with label voter registration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voter registration. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Tax hikes still on the table, automatic voter registration clears committee, legislator charged with DUI, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Hawaii state Capitol ©2021 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s Fiscal Picture Is Looking Up. So Why Do Lawmakers Still Want To Raise Taxes? House leaders say they will consider increasing capital gains and state income taxes on high earners in an effort to restore targeted cuts. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Senate Committee Passes Automatic Voter Registration. A bill advanced Tuesday by the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee would automatically register to vote eligible U.S. citizens who apply for a driver's license or state identification card, unless the individual declines to be registered. Associated Press.

Push to legalize ‘magic mushrooms’ dies. A bill that would decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms and require state health officials to develop treatment centers where people can consume their active ingredients in a controlled environment was shelved by state lawmakers Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Last call for booze tax bill: Legislation on beverages nearly dead for the session. One tax on beverages in the state Legislature is dead, while another is on death’s door. Tribune-Herald.

Legislator charged with operating vehicle under the influence. A 52-year-old state legislator, who was allegedly driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street, attributes her impaired driving Monday night to a combination of prescription cough medication and a beer. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

China cargo service catapults Matson’s earnings. Hawaii-based ocean cargo carrier Matson Inc. more than doubled its profit last year, largely on expanded China service that included transporting supplies to combat COVID-19 on the mainland. Star-Advertiser.

Health providers allowed to interpret DOH COVID-19 vaccine priority plan. Essential business owners are asked to submit a survey to help the state allocate doses and determine priority. But health providers are given latitude with how they distribute the vaccine. KITV4.

Feb. 23, 2021 COVID-19 Update: 47 New Cases (27 O‘ahu, 17 Maui, 3 Out-of-State). Hawai‘i’s COVID-19 deaths remained unchanged at 431 with no new deaths reported today. Maui Now.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi announces Oahu’s move to Tier 3
of reopening metrics. Oahu residents will be able to have larger gatherings starting Thursday after Honolulu Mayor Rick Blan­giardi announced Tuesday the island will move to Tier 3 of its reopening strategy, and Gov. David Ige approved the step. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.  Hawaii News Now. KHON2. KITV4.

HPD rolling out final body-worn cameras which have already been misused. After about 2-1/2 years the Honolulu Police Department is finishing rolling out the last of its body-worn cameras to police officers — and officers already have been misusing them. Star-Advertiser.

TheBus, TheHandi-Van welcome new leadership. Jenny Lemaota was appointed to the position of acting president and General Manager, Michael Randolf was appointed as the Vice President of Paratransit and Gloria Li was appointed as controller in the Finance and Administration Department. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Water Department plans 1% budget decrease: Rate hike, lower water use figure into $54.9M plan. The county water department plans to trim $459,400 to create its $54.9 million operating budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. West Hawaii Today.

Sites ID’d for Pahoa library. A draft environmental assessment published Tuesday has identified three possible sites for a new, and long-discussed, library in Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

150 MCCC inmates receive vaccinations. A total of 150 inmates at Maui Community Correctional Center were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Monday as officials work to contain an outbreak at the facility, according to the state Department of Health. Maui News.

Maui Health Expected to Re-Open Registry for First Dose Priority Group Appointments Soon. Maui Health reports it is nearing completion of rescheduled first-dose vaccinations for nearly 5,000 individuals whose appointments were canceled in January due to a vaccine shortage. Maui Now.

Kōkua Pool to Reopen for Lap Swimming on March 1. The Department of Parks and Recreation made the announcement saying reservations for lap swimming at the facility will be available Friday, Feb. 26, by calling the pool reservations line at (808) 270-6116.  Maui Now.

Businesses navigate mask exemptions.
As county officials push for more mask compliance, some businesses are having to make tough calls about who should be exempt from the universal mask rules. Maui News.

Kauai

Marijuana bills could bring money to Kaua‘i. Two marijuana-decriminalization bills are advancing through the state Legislature that could have economic ramifications for Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Input sought on Black Pot Master Plan. The county Department of Parks and Recreation is seeking public input on the draft master plan for Black Pot Beach Park, one of three county-owned beach parks on Hanalei, with roughly 13 acres in size. Garden Island.

Work to begin on next phase of the Eastside coastal path. The county Department of Public Works and Cushnie Construction Co. announced the start of construction on the next phase of the Eastside coastal path. Garden Island.


Monday, July 6, 2020

Hawaii COVID-19 cases top 1,000, Senate staffer, Summer Fun worker test positive, Kauai man arrested for refusing to wear mask, voter registration deadline nears, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Yellow tang on Hawaii reef, story below  ©2020 All Hawaii News
Hawaii Senate worker tests positive for coronavirus but legislative session to resume Monday. The Hawaii State Senate will reconvene on Monday, despite learning Saturday that a Senate staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s COVID-19 cases top 1,000 as lifting of some lockdowns leads to more spread. Coronavirus infections in Hawaii topped 1,000 on Sunday, the fourth day in a row with more than 20 new cases. Star-Advertiser.

Green urges caution, mask-wearing as COVID-19 case count hits 1,023. As Hawaii surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 cases Sunday, Lt. Gov. Josh Green said he is concerned about a potential surge in cases following this weekend’s holiday festivities. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii continues to see double-digit spikes in COVID-19 cases amid growing concern about community spread. Hawaii saw another double-digit spike in new COVID-19 cases Sunday, with 25 new infections — all on Oahu. The cases put the statewide total at 1,023. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige warns that without more federal aid, public worker pay cuts or furloughs are inevitable. Gov. David Ige is planning to borrow money from the federal government to raise cash to navigate the budget crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but said layoffs, pay cuts or furloughs of Hawaii public employees are inevitable if Congress and President Donald Trump don’t come through with more help. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Among Airlines To Reach Loan Agreements with US. American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and three smaller carriers have reached agreement with the government for billions more in federal loans, a sign of the industry’s desperate fight to survive a downturn in air travel caused by the virus pandemic. Associated Press.

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Public will have a chance to weigh in on the major overhaul of election rules. A big overhaul of election rules is on the table, and the public has a chance to weigh in on Monday, July 6. KHON2.

Voter registration deadline approaching. New Hawaii voters have until Thursday, July 9, to register to vote in the 2020 Primary Election. West Hawaii Today.

State elections office to hold drive-thru voter registration events. Voter registration can be done online at the state Elections website, through a Voter Registration Applications at the county election office, or through one of several drive-thru registration events this week. Hawaii News Now.

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Kahele Can’t Campaign For Congress Right Now. Does It Matter? The Democrat has to sit it out while on active National Guard duty, but he doesn’t face much of a threat anyway — something that has dumbfounded political observers. Civil Beat.

State seeks to give health director power to declare public health emergencies. The state wants to give the state Health director the authority, with the governor’s blessing, to declare public health emergencies to battle the coronavirus and future pandemics. Hawaii News Now.

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Federal judge rules Hawaii’s quarantine is reasonable during coronavirus pandemic. A U.S. judge will not stop Hawaii from enforcing a quarantine on arriving travelers, saying in a ruling that the emergency mandate is reasonable during the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. A group of Hawaii, California and Nevada residents tried to stop the quarantine by filing a lawsuit alleging it is unfair and unnecessary. It violates the fundamental right to travel freely, they argued. Associated Press.

Full order from federal court upholding Hawaii's quarantine policy found here.

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Hemp production bill advances, but fate uncertain. A bill that would fully legalize hemp production throughout Hawaii is only a few steps away from becoming law, although many are unhappy with its final form. Tribune-Herald.

Ways and Means passes measure banning flavored tobacco products. The state Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday unanimously advanced a bill banning flavored tobacco products. West Hawaii Today.

Proposed solar farms could power 200,000 Hawaii homes. About a dozen solar farm developers are preparing to soon hold community meetings about plans that could power around 200,000 Hawaii homes with photovoltaic panels covering more than 3,000 acres on three islands. Star-Advertiser.

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Breakthrough could boost yellow tang. Scientists in Hawai‘i have made breakthroughs in studies of the popular yellow tang aquarium fish that could lead to a shift to aquaculture for procurement instead of wild catching. Garden Island.

Roi, the misunderstood fish. Research reveals more about disliked, introduced species. Over the years, roi have been labeled as a culprit for the declining fish populations and reef health, but marine specialists say these fish may not be as bad as they seem. Maui News.

18 endangered monk seals born in main Hawaiian islands so far in 2020. A total of 18 monk seal pups have been born in the main Hawaiian islands so far this year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Star-Advertiser.

Beach Cleanups Prove Popular And Purposeful During Pandemic. People want to help or just stretch their legs, and groups are organizing events with safety guidelines in mind. Civil Beat.

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Hawaii Updates: State Exceeds 1,000 COVID-19 Cases; Summer Fun Worker Tests Positive. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiʻi COVID-19 Updates For Sunday, July 5: 25 New Cases. All of those new cases were reported on Oʻahu, bringing the cumulative total on that island to 744. Big Island Video News.

Number of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii is now over 1,000. Twenty-five new cases reported on Sunday, July 5, by the state Department of Health brings the statewide total to 1,023. KHON2.

Oahu

Waipahu Summer Fun employee tests positive for COVID-19. A city park employee who works at a Summer Fun site in Waipahu and had “minimal” contact with participants has tested positive for COVID-19, authorities said. Hawaii News Now.

City park staff member tests positive for COVID-19. The city has confirmed a staffer in the Department of Parks and Recreation has tested positive for COVID-19. KHON2.

Summer Fun employee tests positive for COVID-19. KITV4.

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‘Open Street Sundays’ in Waikiki extended through July. Kalakaua Avenue will continue to be closed to vehicle traffic on Sunday mornings, as the city has announced an extension of the ‘Open Street Sundays’ program. Hawaii News Now.

Envisioned vertical public school in Kakaako faces new delays. Three years after unveiling images of what Hawaii’s first vertical public school could look like, the pioneering project envisioned for Kakaako is in limbo. Star-Advertiser.

Kakaako condo tower construction upended by COVID-19. Production of a mainly midpriced Kakaako condominium tower has run into trouble because of COVID-19, but the developer believes several planned changes that include pricing more units for less will overcome setbacks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ola Brew expands to mainland: Company’s hard seltzers now available across Southern California. At a time when many businesses are seeing markets shrink, Kailua-Kona’s Ola Brew Co. has managed to extend its reach to the mainland. West Hawaii Today.

Puna retreat’s grant request delayed as pandemic stifles state funding. A battle between a group of Puna residents and a Puna retreat is delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Half of jobless filers had not received checks. More than half of Maui County residents who applied for unemployment benefits as of mid-May had not received payments and nearly half of Maui County households reported a decline in income since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, a Bank of Hawaii Foundation survey released Thursday showed. Maui News.

Kahului Airport’s Runway 2-20 to Temporarily Close for Taxiway Construction. The Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation advises Maui residents of the closure of Runway 2-20 for a taxiway reconstruction project scheduled to take place at the Kahului Airport on weekends from July 4 to Aug. 1. Maui Now.

More park space and fewer gentleman’s estates. Draft community plan covering next 20 years finished. Designating 500 more acres in West Maui for parks and open space and restricting gentleman’s estates and fast-track affordable housing projects in certain West Maui areas, are some of the highlights of the updated draft of the West Maui Community Plan. Maui News.

Kauai

Man arrested after refusing to wear face mask. Kaua‘i police arrested Ryan Buley, 34, of Kapa‘a, Saturday afternoon, for terroristic threatening and harassment following his refusal to wear a mask in a North Shore store. Garden Island.

Kauai man arrested for harassment after refusing to wear a mask. Kaua‘i police arrested Ryan Buley, 34, of Kapa‘a, Saturday afternoon for terroristic threatening and harassment following his refusal to wear a mask in a North Shore store. KITV4.

Kauai County, Airbnb Inc. agree to limit rentals. Kauai County has partnered with Airbnb Inc., the online travel platform, to help weed out illegal vacation rental properties on the Garden Isle. Star-Advertiser.

Monday, September 18, 2017

Papahanaumokuakea spared in Trump cuts; study recommends sugary drink, 'sin' taxes to balance budget; a few leave voter rolls after Trump commission data request; $1.4M for Honolulu electric buses; Kauai protestors stop Hanalei gate, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy photo NOAA
Papahanaumokuakea Marine Monument, PC: NOAA
Papahanaumokuakea Marine Monument spared from Trump cuts. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke is recommending that two marine national monuments in the Pacific and four other national monuments be reduced in size. Star-Advertiser.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has recommended that President Trump modify 10 national monuments created by his immediate predecessors, including shrinking the boundaries of at least four western sites, according to a copy of the report obtained by The Washington Post.

Higher liquor, tobacco and marijuana taxes, fees on sugary drinks among proposals. A consultant hired to study the Hawaii tax code is recommending a potentially controversial package of tax cuts and increases as a way of rebalancing the state tax system and potentially raising hundreds of millions of extra tax dollars for the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii voters aren’t leaving the rolls in droves over the prospect of some of their information being sent to a commission impaneled by President Donald Trump, but there have been a few. West Hawaii Today.

Helping Those Who Help Their Kupuna: State Aid Program Takes Shape. The Legislature approved a $600,000 effort to help people who give up their time, work and financial security to help relatives. Civil Beat.

The recent hurricanes in Texas, the Caribbean and Florida are a reminder of just how vulnerable Hawaii is to disaster. That includes the islands’ food supply. Last year Governor David Ige called for a doubling of food production in the Islands by 2020. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is one of the few congressional Democrats who broken from a consensus in the party to hold fire on climate change politics while hurricane victims in Florida and Texas recover. Star-Advertiser.

Another Growing Threat To Hawaii’s Coral Reefs: Invasive Algae. Several years ago, the state stopped the infestation of leather mudweed by pulling up 3 million pounds of the algae. Now it’s back. Civil Beat.

Scientists are asking the public for help tracking green sea turtles as they return to Hawaiian islands after their nesting season. Associated Press.

Shipping companies’ expansion in isles could go bust for some. A glut could result if the company, TOTE Inc., executes its plan to haul containers on four new ships while two existing carriers, Matson Inc. and Pasha Hawaii, maintain or increase their fleets. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines, one of the state’s largest private employers with a workforce of about 6,500, is increasing its ranks by 300 as part of a major expansion. Star-Advertiser.

Travelers will now have more options when heading to New Zealand. Hawaiian Airlines is expanding its weekly service to Auckland in response to high demand for the 5-year-old route. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu will receive more than $1.4 million in federal funds for electric buses in an effort to reduce carbon pollution, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz announced Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation spokesman Bill Brennan said that the local rail agency sent its complete “recovery plan” to the FTA’s Washington, D.C., and San Francisco offices late in the afternoon on Friday, the latest deadline to submit that report. Star-Advertiser.

Final approval for a major expansion of the city’s Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant in Ewa now rests with the state Land Use Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Proposal advancing to form dedicated group to oversee traffic, ease congestion in Waikiki. KHON2.

Water wagons set up for east Oahu residents as BWS works to fix leak. A transmission line leak in east Oahu is causing low water pressure in Kalama Valley and Queen's Gate. Hawaii News Now.

Low water pressure for some East Honolulu communities due to leaking transmission line. KHON2.

Permanent shutdown of Waialua kitchen foils farmers. Waialua Community Kitchen was forced to shut down in June over what some thought was a correctable permit problem. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Green Holdings Inc. is changing its name to Aloha Green Apothecary. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Wait For Drug Treatment On Big Island Can Stretch Months. For those coming out of prison, there are only a handful of residential treatment centers. Civil Beat.

Japan Airlines returns, daily flights resume between Kona, Narita. The airline suspended service to Kona in 2010 as part of a corporate reorganization. West Hawaii Today.

Six NASA-backed research subjects who have been cooped up in a Mars-like habitat on Mauna Loa since January emerged from isolation Sunday. They devoured fresh-picked tropical fruit and fluffy egg strata after eating mostly freeze-dried food while in isolation and some vegetables that they grew during their mission. Associated Press.

Return to Earth: Mars simulation participants leave dome after 8 months. West Hawaii Today.

After eight months sequestered away in a geodesic dome on the slopes of Mauna Loa, the six HI-SEAS crew members “felt the sun and wind on their faces and ate fresh tropical papaya, pineapple and bananas with friends and family,” University of Hawai‘i officials report. Big Island Video News.

Several hula halau are scrambling to find alternate accommodations for Hilo’s Merrie Monarch Festival, now that Hawaii County has ruled out overnight stays in county-owned gyms, citing fire code violations. Star-Advertiser.

Jim Channon, corporate shaman and basis for Hollywood character, dies at 77. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

New documents reveal state system that failed abused boy. Star-Advertiser.

Having affordable rentals, hot showers, a place to do laundry and a resource center are some ideas that around 35 people, some homeless, came up with Saturday as ways to help the homeless population in South Maui. Maui News.

Maui Disposal reported that six tons of materials were collected from Lahaina streets, harbors and beaches from Puamana to the Māla Boat Ramp by over 300 volunteers, including residents and visitors and members of school groups, civic clubs and local businesses. Maui Now.

Four years after Puu Kukui Elementary School opened its doors, its students finally have a playground to play on. Maui News.

Kauai

Residents stop county from erecting gate in Hanalei. Community members stop gate installation at Black Pot Beach Park in Hanalei. Garden Island.

Bacteria levels in Hanalei Bay have spiked again and the state Department of Health has issued another advisory for the bay. Garden Island.

The executive director of Animal Balance is on Kauai for the next week with a team of 16 people — including five veterinarians — to do 600 spay and neuter surgeries in six days. Garden Island.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Hawaii moves to Election Day voter registration, financial disclosure bill to become law, Waihee endorses Schatz, China at RIMPAC draws media attention, Coco Palms seeks foreign investors, cellphone fines reach $307, Abercrombie gets star endorsement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii early voting file photo © 2014 All Hawaii News
With the state's voter turnout foundering among the lowest in the nation, a measure signed into law Monday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie could boost the state's rating by as much as 10 points by 2018, advocates say. House Bill 2590 allows voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016. Same-day voting registration would be allowed starting in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

Saying “every vote is precious,” Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed into law legislation that seeks to improve voter turnout. House Bill 2590 allows for voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016, and late voter registration — including on election day — beginning in 2018. Civil Beat.

A measure taking aim at Hawaii's worst-in-the-nation voter turnout is now law. Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed a bill making Hawaii the 12th state in the country where late registration could be done on the day voters head to the polls. But same-day voting registration won't begin until the 2018 elections to give state election officials time to phase in the program. Hawaii News Now.

A new law will allow voters to register at absentee polling places in 2016 and at all polling places on election day in 2018. Big Island Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed House Bill 2590 (Act 166), a measure that will allow voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016 and late voter registration, including on Election Day, beginning in 2018. Hawaii Reporter.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he will allow pending legislation to become law that adds members of 15 state boards and commissions to the list of public officials whose financial interests are publicly disclosed. The decision comes one week after signaling his intent to veto the legislation, but instead he is allowing it to become law without his signature. Star-Advertiser.

The public can expect a much closer look at the financial interests of powerful state board members after Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s decision Monday to not veto a disclosure bill that has already been cited as the reason for two resignations. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Monday that he would allow Senate Bill 2682, which expands the number of state boards and commissions that require public financial disclosure statements of board members, to become law without his signature after previously indicating that he planned to veto it. Pacific Business News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie will allow Senate Bill 2682 Relating to Financial Disclosure Statements to become law, the governor said today in a letter to Senate President Donna Mercado Kim and House Speaker Joe Souki. Hawaii Reporter.

University of Hawaii regents John Dean and Saedene Ota have resigned over pending legislation that would require them to make their financial disclosure statements available to the public as well as to the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. Pacific Business News.

Governor Neil Abercrombie signed 16 bills into law today, a majority of them relating to aging and health. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former Gov. John Waihee has endorsed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary for Senate, arguing that the appointed senator has already put himself in strategic positions to help move Hawaii forward. Star-Advertiser.

Daniel Dae Kim, star of the CBS series "Hawaii Five-0," is endorsing Gov. Neil Abercrombie in his re-election campaign, noting his longtime support of the arts as a key to Hawaii's tourism industry. Hawaii News Now.

The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet said Monday China’s first-time participation in the world’s largest maritime exercises in Hawaii will help Beijing and other nations work together in a crisis. Associated Press.

Although 22 nations are participating in the largest-ever Rim of the Pacific exercise getting underway in Hawaii, media questions at an opening news conference Monday at Pearl Harbor focused primarily on just one: China. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education is reminding parents that the upcoming new school year comes with changes in kindergarten requirements. Starting this school year, children must be 5 years old by July 31 to enter kindergarten. Previously, children could enter kindergarten if they turned 5 by December 31. Kindergarten is now mandatory in Hawaii. Associated Press.

A new Hawaii program will allow former foster youth to voluntarily extend foster care until they turn 21. Associated Press.

The Federal Department of the Interior continues public meetings this week, gathering testimony on whether they should propose establishing a government to government relationship with Native Hawaiians. Hawaii Public Radio.

A little-publicized change in the state law banning the use of cellphones and other mobile electronic devices while driving takes effect today, the first day of the new fiscal year. Penalties now range to $307. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. said on Monday it will not seek a rate increase in the current three-year rate cycle. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the Power of Incumbency. In bill-signing ceremonies, Hawaii governor honors lawmakers, pleases advocates and acts like a leader — one running for re-election. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Relief is in sight for Oahu drivers. The state’s H-1 Freeway Rehab Project, which started last September, is almost finished. But until then, drivers will still have to deal with lane closures. KHON2.

Residents should anticipate increased traffic congestion as construction workers begin laying a column in July that will support the elevated rail line as it crosses over the H-1/H-2 freeway merge between Waipahu and Pearl City, according to a news release issued Monday by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. continues to negotiate with the nine solar energy firms to develop large solar photovoltaic projects that could be up and running quickly to provide electricity on Oahu at a lower cost, but sources tell Pacific Business News that the process has become unfair.

American taxpayers have so far paid $4.3 million to defend former Schofield Barracks soldier Naeem J. Williams against the death penalty, according to data the U.S. District Court here released Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Locals speak first. That’s the new rule for hearings about Native Hawaiian sovereignty being held by the U.S. Department of Interior, following complaints that the same group of people was traveling meeting-to-meeting and monopolizing the conversation. West Hawaii Today.

In a rare move, Gov. Neil Abercrombie will sign a collection of legislative bills in Hilo this morning. Tribune-Herald.
copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hamakua Ditch © 2014 All Hawaii News

Several miles of the Lower Hamakua Ditch may still be put into a pipe. Last week, the state Department of Agriculture re-issued a bid request for the project, which would channel 3.7 miles of the 26-mile-long open irrigation system into high-density polyethylene pipe. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating a report of another sailboat dropping anchor chain on coral in Kailua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County as of now prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under age 21, becoming only the fourth municipality in the country to do so. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Veteran state Sen. Rosalyn Baker faces opposition from three first-time candidates from different political parties in her bid for a sixth term in Maui's 6th District. They are Democrat Terez Amato, Libertarian Bronson Kekahuna Kaahui and Republican Jared P. Dubois. Star-Advertiser.

The Maui Police Commission announced the recruitment for a chief of police to fill the vacancy being created by the retirement of Chief Gary Yabuta in July. The recruitment notice indicates that the job pays $135,000 per year, and that applicants must be a citizen of the US and a resident of the state for at least one year preceding appointment. Maui Now.

The mayor of Maui ordered an end to direct communication between his staff and members of the Maui County Council. Associated Press.

Paramedics asked to vacate clinic in Hana. For nearly two decades, Hana residents have known exactly where to go when they have had an after-hours medical emergency - the Hana Health hale where American Medical Response paramedics live. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of the Interior came to accept comment on five specific questions related to whether — and how — it should proceed with re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians on Monday. Garden Island.

Supporters of an independent Native Hawaiian nation were out in force Monday night to reject the possibility of federal recognition of a native government in the first of two meetings on the Garden Isle. Nearly 200 people filled the Wai­mea High School cafeteria after the meeting was relocated from the smaller Wai­mea Neighborhood Center to accommodate a larger crowd.  Star-Advertiser.

Officials seeking to rebuild Coco Palms Resort say they will likely rely on an infusion of loans from foreign investors to support the project during the hotel’s first years in operation. Garden Island.

Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital's budget is now facing more intense scrutiny as HHSC board members on Kauai seek to address a projected $11 million budget shortfall facing the region by cutting costs and streamlining operations. Garden Island.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Thousands march against GMO, Big Island to mull fracking, malls block voter registration, Hawaii taxpayers subsidize religious schools, Honolulu bill bans lying down on sidewalks, lobbyist law flouted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kauai anti-GMO march courtesy photo
Thousands of Kauaians — doctors, environmentalists, farmers, parents and concerned citizens from all walks of life — poured into the streets of Lihue in a sea of red Sunday to participate in what organizers are calling the largest march in the island’s history. Garden Island.

On the normally placid main street on Sunday afternoon, thousands of people marched in protest. As they snaked down Rice Street, toward the Kauai County Building, they chanted, "No More GMO! No More GMO!” Civil Beat.

Thousands on Kauai marched the streets to show their support of the “Right to Know” Bill, a bill that would require agricultural companies working with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to disclose the chemicals they’re using and take extra steps to keep the chemicals contained. KHON2.

Much attention has been turned in recent months to the fact that the agro-chemical/GMO industry -- corporate giants Dow, Pioneer DuPont, Syngenta, Monsanto, BASF -- have been using Hawaii since the 1990s as one of their main testing grounds for experiments engineering new pesticide-crop combos. On the "Garden Island" of Kauai, the industry controls over 15,000 acres of prime agricultural land, which they drench with over 17 tons of restricted-use pesticides each year, and likely at least five times that amount in non-restricted pesticides that may be equally as harmful (such as glyphosate). HuffPost Hawaii.

The Hawaii Legislature is contributing $1.5 million to a private Roman Catholic school to help fund construction of a new athletic complex, library and student services building, among other renovations. The allocation to Kalihi’s Damien Memorial School is one of roughly three dozen private capitol improvement projects that the 2013 Legislature agreed to subsidize through what are known as grants-in-aid. Civil Beat.

The rapid growth in residential solar power systems could mean Hawaiian Electric Co. will have to pass on to customers the cost of upgrades that allow the energy into the grid. The utility is contacting contractors and customers who plan to install solar panels to make sure they know about equipment upgrades they might have to pay for. The utility is asking to be contacted before customers make arrangements to install the panels. Associated Press.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. customers looking to install solar panels on their homes may no longer have to pay for an interconnection study. Hawaiian Electric Industries, HELCO’s parent company, announced the change Friday as one step toward making it easier and less expensive for customers on the Big Island, Oahu and Maui to install rooftop photovoltaic systems generating 10 kilowatts or less. West Hawaii Today.

With three members of Hawaii's all-Democrat congressional delegation having already spoken out against a military intervention in Syria, the fourth, Sen. Mazie Hirono, told Hawaii News Now on Monday that she was still undecided about how she will vote when asked to authorize an attack on the Assad regime. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for September 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

Lying down on Oahu's public sidewalks would be banned except in certain circumstances under a bill introduced by a Honolulu City Council member last week. Bill 59, introduced by Councilman Stanley Chang, will get its first airing before the Council at its meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Sleeping on a public sidewalk in Honolulu could soon result in a $50 fine. Honolulu City Councilman Stanley Chang has introduced a bill that will make sleeping, lounging or otherwise lying on the city’s walkways illegal. Civil Beat.

Malls refuse to allow voter registration on site. Pearlridge and Ala Moana seem to be confused on the difference between politics and civic duty. Hawaii Independent.

An international conference on clean energy in Honolulu is expected to draw 1,200 attendees from more than 30 countries. The 5th annual Asia Pacific Clean Energy and Expo begins Monday at the Hawaii Convention Center. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s property that is the site of its soon-to-be-deactivated Downtown Honolulu power plant isn’t for sale and won’t be for a “large amount of time,” despite sitting on some prime piece of waterfront real estate, a HECO spokesman tells PBN. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Kai residents have tolerated a messy stinky dredging operation in the Hawaii Kai Marina for months. Hawaii Reporter.

Construction is set to resume soon on the controversial Honolulu rail project and rail officials have been making the rounds of editorial boards and reporters to talk about the biggest public works project in Hawaii history. Civil Beat.

A price peak for Oahu's housing market has stood tall for six years, but increasingly the record appears poised to fall. The latest home sales data set to be released today by the Hono­­lulu Board of Realtors shows that August was a hot month for the market, adding further momentum to topple the annual median price peak for single-family houses and condominiums set in 2007. Star-Advertiser.

The Makakilo-Kapolei Neighborhood Board vote rescinding support for the Ho‘opili development project and ‘Ewa Development Plan highlights the fact that the six new members of the board all ran on anti-development platforms and do not intend to break their promises. Hawaii Independent.

A smoking ban has been enforced at Kapiolani Beach, Kuhio Beach, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Beach, Sandy Beach, sandy areas of Ala Moana Beach Park, and Kapiolani Park. KITV.

Hawaii

A West Hawaii Today analysis of records kept at the County Clerk’s Office found that only two of the county’s 34 registered lobbyists filed the required expenditure disclosure by the most recent deadline. And an untold number of the lobbyists meeting with county officials on controversial issues such as zoning, land use and genetically modified organisms haven’t registered as lobbyists at all.

The Hawaii County Council took its first bite out of legislation on genetically altered crops Friday, voting down an overall ban but deferring a more limited bill to another day during a lengthy and at times contentious discussion. Tribune-Herald.

First, there were GMOs. And now there’s fracking. The Hawaii County Council will take on another controversial issue this month when it discusses a proposed ban on hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking. Tribune-Herald.

Looking to create a hedge against rising electricity prices, Parker Ranch has hired a team of consultants to determine whether the 130,000-acre ranch could meet its energy needs with renewable sources and have enough power left over to supply the neighboring town of Wai­mea and possibly other parts of Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Companies has again increased the amount of home photovoltaic systems that can be used by its net-metering customers before triggering interconnection studies. Big Island Now.

Saddle Road realignment -- renamed the Daniel K. Inouye Highway -- opens to the public. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii Island middle school teacher will take the ride of a lifetime this week aboard the world's only flying astronomical observatory — which also houses the world's largest flying telescope. Star-Advertiser.

Maui
Maui mayor launches effort to curb feral cats, chickens. A public forum will be held Wednesday in a Wailuku auditorium. Star-Advertiser.

A new study says that Maui could see some of its beaches completely disappear over the next few decades due to sea-level rise, following a trend of erosion at more than three-quarters of Valley Isle beaches in the last century. Maui News.

The County of Maui website was recognized with a second place award in the County Portal category of the 2013 Best of the Web awards. Maui Now.

Tattered smokestacks spewing thick ribbons of steam hint at life inside Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.'s nondescript factory, where sugar has been made for more than a century. At the HC&S plantation, generations of Maui residents helped shape the island's economy. And it's still one of the largest employers today, with an annual payroll exceeding $35 million for 800 full-time employees ranging from field and irrigation workers to lab technicians and mechanics. Star-Advertiser.

A $15 million settlement has been reached in a products liability and medical malpractice lawsuit brought by the family of a Kahului man who died after he received about two and a half times the appropriate dose of radiation to treat his cancer. Maui News.

Citing the declaration of a drought watch Upcountry, the U.S. Geological Survey in its "National Drought Summary" released last week said that very dry trade winds the previous three weeks had lowered stream flow diversions from the northeast-facing slopes of Haleakala that feed water supply reservoirs. Maui News.

The business outlook for Maui is positive in the next year, according to economists who spoke at the 39th Annual Maui County Business Outlook Form, held Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului. Maui Now.

Kauai
More than 200 people from four seed companies who turned out for a beach cleanup, which spanned the area from MacArthur Park through the Second Ditch. Garden Island.

The State Department of Health says the 100-gallon tank that washed ashore last week on Kauai’s Eastside contained trace amounts of kerosene, a fuel commonly used for heating and cooking. Garden Island.

Homegrown teachers Program provides support for locals seeking career in education. Garden Island.

Friday, July 27, 2012

Hawaii's largest newspaper endorses Hirono for U.S. Senate, rail transit defines Honolulu mayoral race, tourism, economy ticking upward, Hawaii County clerk investigates voter fraud, Kauai electric co-op celebrates, Colt Brennan arrested, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mazie Hirono campaign photo





Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case took an assertive tack Thursday night in the final debate with U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono before the Demo­cratic primary for U.S. Senate, casting Hirono as a fringe liberal who considers the federal budget deficit "an inconvenience." Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case and Mazie Hirono traded jabs and took every opportunity to outline the differences between them in their only major televised debate before the August 11 primary election. Hawaii News Now.

Case Versus Hirono, But Lingle's In the Mix. Civil Beat.

Ed and Audrey Case (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Ed Case and Mazie Hirono had no one to focus on but each other. KITV4.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser endorses Mazie Hirono for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

EMILY's List, a political action committee based in Washington, D.C., this week spent $121,600 to air a commercial endorsing 2nd Congressional District candidate Tulsi Gabbard. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii economists are predicting Hawaii’s economy will grow 2.4 percent next year as more tourists visit the islands and the travelers who come spend more. Associated Press.

State roundup for July 27. Associated Press.

Oahu

Primary voters on Oahu could decide the fate of the city’s $5.26 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Supporters of Ben Cayetano on Thursday launched a round of radio ads aimed at Pacific Resources Partnership and its executive director, John White, defending themselves against the pro-rail group’s ad campaign opposed to the former governor’s mayoral campaign based on killing the city’s rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Rail Makes Caldwell The Man In The Middle. Civil Beat.

Former University of Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan is facing possible drug and drunken-driving charges following his arrest late Wednesday in Kailua. Star-Advertiser.

Police responded Thursday afternoon, following an outburst by Councilman Tom Berg during a public hearing. KITV4.

Democratic primary voters will have to choose between two longtime state legislators who suddenly find themselves battling one another to represent the new state Senate 11th District seat covering Makiki, Tantalus and Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

It's hard to find a vacant spot on Waikiki Beach or a beachfront hotel with available rooms since June ushered in the best summer season that Hawaii's visitor industry has seen in about five years. Star-Advertiser.

The number of homeless people living on the streets of Honolulu has remained level, while more people are getting help at shelters, according to an annual count released Thursday by the city. Star-Advertiser.

The first Affordable Housing Project in Wai’anae opened a year ago and has been full ever since. Hawaii Public Radio.

An opossum turned up Wednesday in a trap set for feral cats near Sand Island. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii


A possible voter fraud case on the Big Island is the subject of an investigation, a law enforcement source told Hawaii News Now Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii County Elections Division will send out new voter information cards to nearly 175 voters because of a ZIP code error, County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi said Thursday in a news release. Star-Advertiser.

The state’s top election officer has sent a letter to the official in charge of Hawai`i County’s Elections Division saying he is concerned that her recent actions may have shaken the public’s confidence in the upcoming primary election. Big Island Now.

County offices in both Hilo and Kona are now closed to new building permit applications a half-day a week to help Public Works clerks clear up backlogs. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s tourism economy is on pace for a record-breaking year in 2012 with double-digit increases in visitor arrivals and expenditures through June. Tribune-Herald.

Residents from Wainaku up through the Hamakua Coast have a few fresh faces to choose from in this year’s Hawaii County Council District 1 contest. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County has awarded a $6.4 million contract to ABHE and Svodoba Inc. for reinforcing the Reed’s Island bridge. Tribune-Herald.

Governor Neil Abercrombie has released $14 million in airport revenue bonds to finance an incomplete Capital Improvement Project at the Hilo International Airport. KHON2.

Maui

State Rep. Mele Carroll, who represents East Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, has been flagged for again failing to report campaign contributions and expenses on time. Maui News.

Democratic candidates for the South Maui 11th House District seat expressed opposition Tuesday night to Eclipse Development's work on two mega-malls in Kihei, with one candidate taking some flak for seeking to accommodate anticipated heavy traffic and for not opposing the projects outright. Maui News.

Olive Garden and Trader Joe’s, two of the most talked-about national brands that have yet to enter the Hawaii market, could be among the mix of retailers and restaurants to open at a large retail development under development on Maui. Pacific Business News.

The Maui County Council's General Plan Committee will meet earlier than scheduled to continue deliberating on proposed growth boundaries for West Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative celebrated its 10th anniversary by outlining its accomplishments during the year and anticipating its coming year, Thursday before about 200 members who attended the annual membership meeting at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center. Garden Island.

A Lihu‘e postal worker was arrested Wednesday on a federal complaint related to selling unregistered guns that were shipped through the U.S. Postal Service, a Department of Justice press release states. Garden Island.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Hirono leading Case in poll, Sierra Club fights Hannemann, Chinese tourists to double, Honolulu mayor vetoes beach business ban bill, Hawaii County resending yellow voter cards, Kauai kicking vendors off beach, Hawaiians distrust roll commission, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ed Case, Mazie Hirono
Poll: U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, lifted by the strong support of core Democratic voters, has a double-digit lead over former U.S. Rep. Ed Case in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

The Sierra Club says it will "pour a lot of money" into a targeted mail campaign criticizing congressional candidate Mufi Hannemann's environmental record. KITV4.

Social media are the meat and potatoes of today’s political campaigns. And it's no different here in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

While China is still a small market for Hawaii tourism, the number of Chinese visitors to the Islands is projected to nearly double by 2015. Pacific Business News.

After spending 40 years in the trenches of the sovereignty movement, Native Hawaiian Roll Commissioner Mahealani Wendt says she fully understands why some Hawaiians are suspicious of the panel’s efforts to identify who should be involved in forming a self-governing entity. Honolulu Weekly.

The new agency tasked with developing state lands is hoping to move forward on its first projects — even though it hasn't finalized rules that govern its operations and establish the criteria by which projects are chosen. Civil Beat.

A new office at the state capitol is focused on Hawai`i’s youngest students and getting more keiki into preschool. Hawaii Public Radio.

A state lawmaker plans to introduce legislation to stop high-speed training by police in residential neighborhoods. KHON2.

State roundup for July 26. Associated Press.

Oahu
A beach ban for businesses on beaches on Oahu’s windward coast was vetoed by Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Mayor Peter Carlisle vetoed a bill on Wednesday designed to stop all commercial activity at Kailua Beach Park and clarified that most of the business conducted there is already illegal under a separate measure that became law on July 1. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council Budget Committee on Wednesday approved a resolution asking the city administration to restore recent cuts made to TheBus services. Star-Advertiser.

Just as the University of Hawaii is proposing a new bio-safety lab in Kalaeloa, it's having problems with its existing lab at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kakaako. Hawaii News Now.

The city's Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, which is acquiring private property in the way of the city's 20-mile elevated steel on steel rail system, maintains its officials have treated private property owners along the route with respect and paid them the full value for the land the city has acquired. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

Errors in assigned polling places on voter registration notices have prompted the County Elections Division to resend more than 101,000 of the yellow cards to voters next week. Tribune-Herald.

A trash-hauling study by the county Department of Environmental Management shows it is even less expensive to haul garbage from Hilo to Kona than first thought, and the hauling option is significantly less costly than either a new Hilo landfill or a waste-to-energy incinerator. West Hawaii Today.

A University of Hawaii professor is taking on a high-altitude water study that could open thousands of acres on Mauna Kea for farming and ranching, as well as bring more fresh water to Pohakuloa Training Area and Mauna Kea State Park. West Hawaii Today.

A Maryland-based ocean thermal energy developer is poised to build a test plant at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Police Department is about to enter its final phase of efforts to achieve accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Tribune-Herald.

One of Hawai`i’s most popular eateries will be coming to Hilo next year when Zippy’s Restaurants opens its 26th Hawai`i location at the Prince Kuhio Plaza. KPUA.

Maui

The master-planned Honua'ula project in Wailea received a key approval Tuesday by the Maui Planning Commission that will allow development of the luxury golf community to move forward. Maui News.

Several boating accidents in the past year, including two in which people died, have prompted state officials to propose that boaters be required to take a safety course and that an advisory committee review ocean recreation safety rules in West Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Democratic candidates for the South Maui 11th House District seat expressed mostly opposition Tuesday night to Eclipse Development's work on two mega-malls in Kihei, with one candidate taking some flak for seeking to accommodate anticipated heavy traffic and not opposing the projects outright. Maui News.

Maui County will receive $800,000 in federal funds to build 10 new bus shelters in Wailuku, Kahului and Kihei. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County officials on Tuesday and Wednesday told commercial tenants operating on the property immediately behind Black Pot Beach Park in Hanalei to vacate the land by today, as the county would be taking possession of the land. Garden Island.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed a disaster declaration that will allow the state to make emergency repairs to a critical highway on Kauai that was damaged by waves last week. Associated Press.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Hawaii voter registration up, state plans for Medicaid cuts, legislators don't report stock ownership, FBI coming to Hilo, Honolulu pig removal costly, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

2010 voters All Hawaii News file photo
The number of registered voters statewide has increased steadily over two decades to 684,481 people in 2010 — the most recent year for which data are available — from 436,323 people in 1990. But voter turnout for primary elections during those decades fluctuated between a high of 309,700 in 1994 and a low of 246,299 in 2008. Star-Advertiser.

The last day for new voters to register to vote in the Aug. 11 primary election is July 12, the state Office of Elections said. Maui News.

A review of lawmakers' most recent financial disclosures shows that remarkably few report owning stock or mutual funds, similar to last year's finding. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s spending on Medicaid under the federal health-care law will drop by $28 million during the years 2014-19, as federal financing under the law kicks in. Pacific Business News.

The Affordable Care Act is moving forward with some additional certainly after last week’s Supreme Court ruling. As part of ongoing coverage, HPR is speaking with health care providers to find out what’s next in Hawai`i. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii State Department of Health will receive a $6.8 million federal grant to increase preparedness for public health threats. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii State Board of Education today unanimously approved an updated Hawaii State Department of Education Strategic Plan that builds on key strengths and reform initiatives to ensure all students graduate ready to succeed in college or careers. Hawaii Independent.

Randy Moore, 73, retired last week after serving the past six years as assistant superintendent for the Office of School Facilities and Support Services. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's Birds Threatened by Invasive Predators, Habitat Loss. Hawaii Reporter.

The Royal New Zealand Navy’s exclusion from docking at Pearl Harbor during this month’s Rim of the Pacific international naval exercises has created a kerfuffle among political commentators in that country. Tribune-Herald.

State roundup for July 5. Associated Press.

Oahu
In the last five years, the city has paid the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services branch $305,000 to trap, shoot and kill 233 feral pigs that root around in the gardens, dropping feces and damaging the tropical and native flora that grow there. Civil Beat.

An engineering firm with the contract to design the first three stations for the city's $5.26 billion rail project has bought a consulting firm that has a key role in overseeing the project. Star-Advertiser.

Kakaako's waterfront will have a new look on Sept. 1 with the opening of a $16 million Mediterranean-style wedding venue marketed to Japanese couples on the site of the former John Dominis restaurant. Star-Advertiser.

With this year's primary election just five weeks away, politicians and their supporters pushed the number of units in this year's Kailua Independence Day Parade to 108, an increase of 20 more than last year. Hawaii News Now.

Romy Cachola's eight years on the Honolulu City Council is coming to a close, and the next generation of leaders is poised to step into the void. Civil Beat.

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii gathered on Waikiki Beach Wednesday with a 5-foot by 10-foot iMat serving as the perfect platform for their trash-fighting endeavor. KITV4.

The race for Honolulu Prosecutor will go straight to the November general election with just two candidates. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Democratic Party’s annual Independence Day Picnic on Wednesday drew scores of Big Islanders who reveled in the smorgasbord of Democratic candidates vying for county, state and federal offices this fall. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council approved a request for the Federal Bureau of Investigation to set up an office in the Hilo police station. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

South Maui beachgoers would be able to park for longer periods of time at the end of South Kihei Road under a bill advanced Monday by a County Council committee. Maui News.

Maui residents could end up paying as much as $30,000 for a new water meter under one of four "funding philosophies" the county's Department of Water Supply says is needed to handle future growth. Maui News.

The fight over the fate of two malls planned for Kihei in South Maui has turned into a battle of dueling letters, filings with official county and state administrative bodies and organized community protests. Maui Now.

Kauai
As July 1 rolled in, Kauai County’s Fiscal Year 2013 officially started, and with it, the possibility for Kaua‘i’s top police and fire officials to receive almost $7,000 more in annual salaries. Garden Island.

Three Kaua‘i residents whose essays were selected from 15 responders recently won an hour of flight instruction. Garden Island.

Molokai

In an attempt to aid west end Molokai residents paying some of the highest water rates in the nation, Maui County filed an appeal last year in the state Intermediate Court of Appeals against the utilities of Molokai Properties, Ltd. (MPL), better known as Molokai Ranch. That appeal was recently denied, leaving ratepayers struggling under rates that have been called outrageous. Molokai Dispatch.