University of Hawaii president stepping down, $48.4M in welfare overpayments, Honolulu Police Department database hacked, GOP rebuffed in Legislature, state officials gain from Hawaiian Home Lands, vog lingers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

UH President MRC Greenwood at Board of Regents meeting (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

M.R.C. Greenwood, who drew high praise and strong criticism during her four years at the helm of the University of Hawaii system, has announced she will retire in September to spend more time with family and deal with her health problems. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood will retire this summer after four years as the head of the state’s university system. Pacific Business News.

After a number of high profile battles with key Hawaii lawmakers in 2012 and 2013, University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood announced Tuesday she will retire in September, before her $475,000-plus annual contract with the University expires in 2015. Hawaii Reporter.

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood will retire in September, an announcement from the university Monday said. Maui News.

MRC Greenwood

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood plans to retire two years before the end of her contract, a departure she claimed had nothing to do with the failed Stevie Wonder concert that brought her leadership under scrutiny.  Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii President MRC Greenwood is resigning her post in September, according to Gov. Neil Abercrombie. KITV4.

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood announced on Monday — she’s retiring from the presidency in September, two years before her contract expires. KHON2.

Hawaii's historic preservation agency has missed a major deadline for making federally mandated improvements to its program, and could still lose its federal certification and funding, officials said. Civil Beat.

Unfair welfare: Investigation reveals $48.4 million in overpayments. KHON2.

The Hawaii Association of Realtors was the top donor to Hawaii lawmakers in 2011 and 2012, with the association donating $110,100 to 83 percent of the state's 76 lawmakers. Hawaii Reporter.

The new power granted Republicans in the state Legislature this year did not translate into getting caucus bills passed; many never received a hearing. Civil Beat.

State Sen. Malama Solomon, former Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Commissioner Stuart Hanchett and about 20 other Native Hawaiians are members of an exclusive group. While on DHHL waitlists for ranching or farming homestead lots, they obtained month-to-month revocable permits for pastoral or agriculture land from the agency, according to a Star-Advertiser analysis of DHHL data.

Kamehameha Schools CEO Dee Jay Mailer has announced plans to retire at the end of 2014, giving the school's board of trustees ample time to recruit a successor. Star-Advertiser.

For most people who live in Hawaii, dealing with vog is just another part of daily life. But for those with breathing difficulties, volcanic smog can complicate health issues. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The names, email addresses, cellphone numbers and passwords for about 3,500 people who signed up for email or text message alerts from the Hono­lulu Police Department's former "HPD Alerts" system may have had their personal information compromised after the server was hacked by "an unauthorized person or persons" over the weekend. Star-Advertiser.

HPD has confirmed one of their databases containing information about the public has been hacked. Officials say anyone who has ever signed up for an "HPD alert" using their email address or phone number has been exposed. Hawaii News Now.

Angst abounds after last week’s joint announcement from Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell about demolishing the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial, highlighting deep rifts that don’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Civil Beat.

Federal budget cuts are forcing Pearl Harbor to cancel its July 4 fireworks and the Marine Corps to cancel its annual Bayfest event at Kaneohe Bay. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Dominic Yagong's and Jamae Kawauchi’s request to investigate the county’s Elections Division was part of a larger conspiracy to take over the county’s elections, an attorney argued Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Both of the state’s 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholars attend school in Waimea — Zoe Sims at Hawaii Preparatory Academy and Paul Gregg at Parker School. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For the past 17 years, James and Jane Sakugawa have rented roughly 5,000 acres of ranch property on Maui from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. That is 80 percent of all land DHHL is leasing to tenants on that island through its revocable-permit program. Yet the Saku­ga­was are not Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. Star-Advertiser.

As part of a statewide crackdown on distracted driving, Maui police officers gave out more than 1,000 citations to drivers using cellphones last month, nearly doubling the total for the previous four months. Maui News.

Kauai

Gov. Neil Abercrombie triggered a round of joy when he signed a check Monday for the Kaua‘i Philippine Cultural Center. Garden Island.

The state Legislature has approved a bill authorizing the administration to issue up to $1.3 million in bonds to Sunrise Capital’s shrimp farm in Kekaha to protect its hatchery against shoreline erosion. Garden Island.

A plan to update Kauai’s single-lane Opaekaa Bridge has officials and residents discussing how much of the bridge’s history should be preserved while structural changes are made to enhance safety. Associated Press.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s board of directors said Monday that it wants its 23,300 active members to offer their comments and ideas for the utility’s updated 2013-2025 strategic plan. Pacific Business News.

Most Hawaii families are the mom and pop type, state mulls federal waiver for welfare-to-work, unions can force employees to campaign, Kauai drought brings disaster declaration, Molokai man's DNA lawsuit explored, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii mom (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Almost three quarters of all families in Hawaii are literally "mom and pop" operations, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Pacific Business News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s administration is considering whether to accept a waiver that would allow states to develop their own welfare-to-work programs under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program with a decision expected by the Department of Human Services as soon as November. KITV4.

Unions and corporations are prohibited by federal law from coercing employees to make financial contributions to candidates, but UPW's attorneys argued — and the three Republican appointees to the FEC agree — that employees can be required to participate in activities such as sign-waving, telephone banking and canvassing for candidates as they did in 2010 for congressional candidate Colleen Hanabusa. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu Democrats will meet Saturday to act on a complaint against state Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz that could lead to his censure. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has no official plan for dealing with Japanese tsunami debris that has begun showing up in offshore waters, no task force to help coordinate federal, state and city response efforts and virtually no funding to deal with the issue. Civil Beat.

The Federal Aviation Administration has put up money to help search for the best site in Hawaii for a commercial spaceport, and to study the environmental impacts of launching and landing commercial spacecraft from Hawaii airports. Star-Advertiser.

A team from the University of Hawaii's accrediting agency that visited earlier this month supports a plan to form a working group to review "delegations of authority" in the wake of a botched benefit concert, and wants to be apprised of any report or legislation resulting from the concert fallout, according to a draft synopsis of the team's conclusions. Star-Advertiser.

The aftermath of the Stevie Wonder blunder has caught the attention of the agency that accredits the University of Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Epic Talent LLC - the company that took a $200,000 deposit on the promise of staging a Stevie Wonder concert at the University of Hawaii in August but had no authority to do so -bills itself as “reliable consulting source for accessing big name entertainment for public concerts, corporate events and fundraisers around the world” amd promises to look out for their “clients’ best interests.” Hawaii Reporter.

With less than a week before the 11th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention opens on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at the Hawaii Convention Center, registration has hit 600 participants during the three-day event. Hawaii Reporter.

Today the Army is shutting down regular operations to focus everyone’s attention on a “silent enemy”. The stand down day will train soldiers of all ranks in preventing suicide,  the Army’s fastest growing threat, and military leaders are asking for everyone’s help. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former state lawmaker Kenneth Koon Leong Lee 'compassionate,' 'tough'. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for September 27. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayoral candidates Kirk Caldwell and Ben Cayetano will meet in a live, televised setting on two consecutive nights next week, the only chances the public will have to see the two candidates face off against each other on television before the Nov. 6 general election. Star-Advertiser.

The pro-rail group that spent more than a million dollars this election season has launched its first ad since the primary election. KHON2.

Roads, sewers and homelessness. That's what's on the minds of leading contenders for Tulsi Gabbard’s vacant Honolulu City Council seat. Civil Beat.

Green thumb or not, Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto has been busy recently working to transform another one of his Kahala Avenue home lots into a public garden — this one a Japanese tea garden. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is adjusting its game plan for the Nov. 6 general election in order to avoid the problems that plagued the primary. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Transportation won’t be starting construction on Queen Kaahumanu Highway this month, and just when construction will begin is unclear. West Hawaii Today.

When it comes to politics, Russell Ruderman and Daryl Smith might as well be from different worlds. Tribune-Herald.

State House District 3: Race features community activist, former teacher and man of ideas. Tribune-Herald.

A worldwide shrimp breeder is moving its headquarters from Florida to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority and expanding its Hawaii operations. Tribune-Herald.

A 12-year-old dolphin at Hilton Waikoloa Village gave birth to a female calf that seemed to instantly recognize her mother. Associated Press.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission unanimously approved Tuesday a permit for the University of Hawaii Maui College to expand its ongoing investments in renewable, photovoltaic energy. Maui News.

An environmental group wants to put an end to cane burning on Maui. StopCaneBurning.org says smoke from operations at HC&S, Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar company, is making residents sick and could potentially cause life-threatening illness. On Wednesday, the two sides met to discuss concerns at the HC&S office in Puunene. Hawaii News Now.

Officials at Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company responded today to a cane burning petition presented by members of an opposition group on Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i County Council candidates have already gone through a series of public meetings during this year’s election season, but Tuesday night was the first time they participated in a debate leading to Nov. 6 General Elections. Garden Island.

The U.S. Agriculture Department has designated Kaua‘i County as a natural disaster area due to a “severe” drought, which has lasted for more than eight straight weeks during the growing season. Garden Island.

Federal officials said Wednesday that based on wind and currents, the floating dock suspected of being 2011 tsunami debris from Japan could be headed toward Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

A list of recommended rules that would regulate commercial boating and commercial surf activities at Hanalei Black Pot Beach Park were presented to the mayor on Wednesday. Garden Island.

Molokai

A Molokai man has filed a lawsuit seeking to use DNA to prove his ancestry so he can qualify for the Hawaiian homelands program. Star-Advertiser.

A Molokai man has filed a lawsuit seeking to use DNA to prove his ancestry so he can qualify for the Hawaiian homelands program, which leases land at almost no cost to Native Hawaiians. Associated Press.

Kukui nuts have long been used by Hawaiians for food and medicinal purposes, but it may soon be also used for fuel –specifically, biodiesel fuel. Wayde Lee, who created the Molokai Sustainable Farming Project (MSFP) last year, has been exploring biodiesel initiatives that he said may lead to economic stability and energy security for Molokai farmers. Molokai Dispatch.