Early fundraising shows Hirono leading Case, Hanabusa, Hawaii County employees face monthly furloughs, Kauai garbage fee going up, green energy abounds and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mazie Hirono

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and former Congressman Ed Case had strong fundraising performances over the past three months in the Democratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate, according to their campaigns, but Hirono has the early cash advantage. Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case

The final numbers won't be official until late Friday, but preliminary data provided to Civil Beat show U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono leading her top Democratic rivals in fundraising for the U.S. Senate race. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed a bill into law that could make it easier for the cash-strapped state to renovate aging facilities or construct new buildings. KITV4.

A food safety plan passed by lawmakers has been vetoed by the governor.  Hawaii News Now.

In a stunning reversal of his recent, publically-stated intent to veto Senate Bill 1511, Governor Abercrombie signed into law the bill, which will increase lease terms for offshore factory fish farms in Hawaii’s waters from 35 to 65 years. Hawaii Independent.

The state's largest public-sector labor union has agreed to once-monthly furloughs in a separate deal signed Thursday with Hawaii County. West Hawaii Today.

First Wind LLC has completed an environmental impact statement for a proposed 70-megawatt wind energy project on former sugar cane land northeast of Haleiwa that would be the state's largest, generating enough energy to supply 14,500 homes. Star-Advertiser.

The Public Utilities Commission ordered Hawaiian Electric Co. Thursday to seek new bidders to develop half of the large-scale wind energy project proposed for Molokai and Lanai. Star-Advertiser.

Freezing water to make ice in Hawai’i is one of the most energy intensive businesses in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

A group of local investors is among several on Maui trying to harness the sun's power with the latest technology, photovoltaic, to create enough electricity to power hundreds of homes and businesses without making so much as a puff of smoke, said Doug McLeod, Maui County's energy commissioner. Maui News.

A county trash collection fee for property owners went into effect July 1, adding a few dollars per month to real property taxes. Garden Island.

The hassle of waiting in long security lines will soon be a thing of the past for some Hawaiian Airlines travelers. KHON2.

Authorities now have more resources to help find missing people - two dogs donated to Big Island and Oahu police. KHON2.

They may look cute and cuddly. But don't be fooled by their friendly and playful demeanor.Hawaii News Now.

The number of reports of coqui frogs on O'ahu has doubled in the last year, after more than half the island's agriculture inspectors were laid off. KHON2.

The Big Island Visitors Bureau announced plans for the Big Isle to reclaim its rightful name, and the word "the" would play a central role. No longer will residents live, work and play on "Hawaii's Big Island." From now on, it's "Hawaii, the Big Island." Tribune-Herald.

A Maui accountant who led a long-running Ponzi scheme that cost his investors $8 million was sentenced Wednesday to serve nearly 12 years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente’s ranked highest in employer satisfaction in the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Employer Health Insurance Plan Study for its fully-insured commercial health plan, Kaiser announced Thursday. Pacific Business News.

A nonprofit West Hawaii health clinic, started several years ago to recruit doctors to the Big Island, recently earned a profit and is reportedly on the turnaround. West Hawaii Today.

City Transportation Services Director Wayne Yoshioka says the city is not setting a precedent by moving a Kapiolani bus stop because of complaints about a homeless woman who had taken up residence at the shelter near Keeaumoku Street. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii economy upticks, Honolulu bus stop moved because of homeless smell, Big Island needs fire chief, China new tourism target, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Container ship (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

In sharp contrast to what is happening in the U.S. shipping market, Hawaii’s duopoly shipping companies continue to increase their prices for container cargo transported between the mainland United States and Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

Young Brothers Ltd.’s application to raise interisland shipping rates will be the subject of a series of Public Utilities Commission hearings to be held this month and next around the state. Star-Advertiser.

State tax collections dropped by 0.9 percent last fiscal year, a smaller decline than the state Council on Revenues had forecast, giving Gov. Neil Abercrombie more cushion in implementing the state budget. Star-Advertiser.

Consumers pulled out their credit and debit cards more liberally last quarter and increased spending at Hawaii hotels and restaurants as the tourism-led recovery continued to gain traction. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie Wednesday approved hiring 10 agricultural inspectors, restoring nearly 40 percent of the positions that were lost due to layoffs in 2009. Pacific Business News.

The state is hiring 10 agricultural inspectors, bringing back some positions that were cut in 2009 -- but none will be added on the Big Island, the state's agricultural breadbasket. West Hawaii Today.

A city bus stop has been temporarily moved so bus drivers and riders can get away from the smell of a homeless woman who's living at a busy Honolulu bus shelter. KITV4.

As of Tuesday, July 12 novelty cigarette lighters can no longer be sold legally in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Plastic bag ban draws small crowd, big passions. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii's state, city and business leaders are aggressively courting China in the months leading up to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting to give its leaders the message that the isles are open for business and travel and that local experts have clean energy and scientific knowledge to share. Star-Advertiser.

A glance through the $137,000 in gifts Hawaii lawmakers received over the past year shows a lot of local items — malasadas, kadomatsu plants and lei haku, to name a few. Civil Beat.

Inauguration lei and an occasional meal were the primary gifts reported by Hawaii County Council members in their annual gift disclosures. West Hawaii Today.

At a recent bill-signing ceremony, state Sen. Clayton was among several Native Hawaiian lawmakers applauding a new law recognizing Hawaiians as the state's indigenous people.Civil Beat.

North Shore residents have been battling with off-road vehicles at Kaena Point for years, and the heated debate over how to curb the illegal activity has passed it's boiling point. KHON2.

Honolulu mayor Peter Carlisle says what's done is done, and that the city council ignored overflow issues at Sand Island wastewater treatment plant.KHON2.

With time running out to choose a new fire chief, the Fire Commission began the search for a permanent replacement. Tribune-Herald.

The county Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a solar farm nearly three times the size of the state’s largest solar facility in operation. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative on Wednesday announced that an insufficient number of valid signatures was submitted on a second petition received by the cooperative on Monday. Garden Island.

Hawaii County has decided it made an error on Queen Liliuokalani Trust's tax bill, and it is refunding $89,991 in property taxes it says the trust overpaid last year. West Hawaii Today.

A blessing and groundbreaking ceremony was conducted today in Ewa Beach for O’ahu’s latest affordable rental housing project. Hawaii Public Radio.

An inflammatory website has hit the Internet that claims State Rep. Kymberly Pine stole money from a constituent then tried to cover it up. Hawaii News Now.

County officials announced Wednesday that Theodore “Teddy” Daligdig III, a retired colonel in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard, has been selected to manage the Kaua‘i Civil Defense Agency. Garden Island.

The Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a bed-and-breakfast application for the Bamboo Valley Inn in Haiku. Maui News.

Newly seated board members of the Aloha Tower Development Corporation voted to allow the leasehold transfer between the current owners of the marketplace to a company called Hawaii Lifestyle Retail Properties. KITV4.

Former Big Island Mayor Herbert Matayoshi died Monday of heart failure at Straub Clinic and Hospital in Honolulu. He was 82. Tribune-Herald.

Maui, Life of the Land to have say in Big Wind, Abercrombie signs, vetoes bills, Kauai takes dim view of energy-saving ideas, Big Island site of new 'Roseanne's Nuts' reality show, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

National Renewable Energy Laboratory courtesy photo

While it’s no secret that Hawaii holds claim to being the most fossil fuel dependent state in the nation, wind farms are becoming an increasingly viable option for Hawaii lawmakers who hope to take advantage of our islands’ trade winds. Hawaii Independent.

The County of Maui and the environmental group Life of the Land are now included in a crucial part of the conversation when it comes to Big Wind. Pacific Business News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill into law Tuesday meant to preserve the state's landmark Prepaid Health Care Act as the nation moves toward federal health care reform approved last year by President Barack Obama and Congress. Star-Advertiser.

Governor Neil Abercrombie Tuesday signed into law the last of the measures from the 2011 legislative session. Hawaii News Now.

It came down to the wire for Governor Abercrombie. KHON2.

Governor Neil Abercrombie today signed into law the last of the measures from the 2011 legislative session.  In total, Governor Abercrombie enacted 235 measures and vetoed 17; seven bills became law without his signature. Hawaii Reporter.

The state abandoned an effort to implement random drug testing for Hawaii's public school teachers in its "last, best and final" offer imposed July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Among the $137,000 in gifts Hawaii lawmakers received over the last year were three tickets to the governor's inaugural ball, valued at $250 apiece. Civil Beat.

Big Island lawmakers and other neighbor island groups urged the state Reapportionment Commission Tuesday to reconsider its decision to include nonresident military members and their dependents, along with nonresident students and incarcerated felons, in the population count for purposes of redrawing state political boundaries. Star-Advertiser.

If your child rides a yellow school bus to classes, you might be shelling out some more green. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Lawmakers Enter World of Cybercrime. Civil Beat.

Honolulu city councilman Tom Berg is proposing a change to the city Land Use Ordinance so homeless people can be moved into converted shipping containers on land zoned for agricultural use. Hawaii News Now.

Nearly half the units at a new affordable rentals apartment project for seniors in Ewa are still awaiting tenants. KITV4.

Maui police are looking for a possible military projectile that disappeared Sunday from a secured area. Star-Advertiser.

On average, one person is killed each month crossing a street on O’ahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Roseanne's Nuts, premiering Wednesday on Lifetime. Los Angeles Times.

Emmy Award-winning actress, comedienne and best-selling author Roseanne Barr returns to television tonight with "Roseanne's Nuts," her based-on-reality show about life on a Honokaa macnut farm. Tribune-Herald.

Photovoltaic panels will soon be installed atop the Waimea police and fire stations in an effort to save thousands of dollars in the coming years. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii's largest emergency homeless shelter has seen increased demand for meals since Gov. Neil Abercrombie urged groups and individuals in May to stop providing food in parks, beaches and streets and instead encourage homeless people to find food — and social services — at shelters. Star-Advertiser.

The first audit out of the recently established County Auditor’s Office detailed the administration’s shortcomings on energy efficiency in part by reporting the progress it had made on a list of recommendations from the Cost Control Commission. Garden Island.

Maui County Council members said Monday that they were close to advancing a bill that would create new restrictions for landowners who want to build on steep slopes. Maui News.

Hawaii lawmakers report iPad, other pricy gifts, civil union applications to go online, Hawaii, Maui counties mull lawsuit over reapportionment, Honolulu police face court over OT scam, lawmaker fights Oahu sewage trucking plan, more Hawaii news

Honolulu civil union protest (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Civil unions in Hawaii begin Jan. 1, but in the meantime the state is creating an Internet-based system that will get those certificates to couples more quickly. Associated Press.

The Hawaii lawmaker who accepted an Apple iPad from a Hollywood film studio executive says she viewed the gift as a "good gesture" and a sign that the studio cares about Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Two neighbor island advisory councils are considering a lawsuit to ensure Hawaii County -- the fastest-growing county in the state -- doesn't lose its shot at a fourth state Senate seat. West Hawaii Today.

The state on Monday defended its decision to unilaterally impose a contract offer with wage reductions for teachers, saying that “collective bargaining remains important” but that the labor savings were needed to avoid lost instructional days or layoffs. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association's legal complaint against the state is really simple, says President Wil Okabe: "We want to bargain in good faith." Civil Beat.

In the State of Hawaii’s quest to get 70 percent of its power from clean energy by 2030, lawmakers are looking at all options, including nuclear power.Hawaii Independent.

Hawaiian Electric Industries’ Chairwoman Connie Lau has been nominated by President Barack Obama to become a member of the National Infrastructure Advisory Council. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu cannot begin trucking of raw sewage into Kailua, or other communities, until an environmental assessment is completed to examine secondary impacts, a state lawmaker contends. Star-Advertiser.

Four Honolulu Police officers charged with falsifying records to accumulate overtime are scheduled to be arraigned in court today. KITV4.

A complaint accusing City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro of ethical misconduct has been filed with the state Bar Association’s disciplinary board but Kaneshiro said the accusation is baseless and comes from a former deputy prosecutor “with an a axe to grind.” Hawaii Reporter.

Thirty teachers from Hawaii, Guam and Saipan are to meet with World War II veterans and civilian survivors during a five-day Pearl Harbor workshop. Associated Press.

Star light, star bright, this orange laser will help Subaru telescope see better at night. West Hawaii Today.

The issue of streamlining, and legalizing, the short-term rental process has been a hot-button issue for a long time. Maui News.

Kauai's electric power company says it is reviewing a petition calling for a member meeting to discuss hydropower development. Associated Press.

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative on Monday received a petition calling for a member meeting on the Board of Directors’ May 29 decisions relating to the member vote certified Friday. Garden Island.

County boards and commissions, control over the Department of Water Supply and the creation of a county auditor are some of the early topics being floated before the county Charter Commission. Maui News.

The drop in visitors after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in Japan is not deterring Hawaiian Airlines. KHON2.

58 people died in O’ahu traffic accidents last year. Hawaii Public Radio.

A 43-year-old Puna man is missing after a brief but heavy downpour swelled the Kawainui Stream in Pepeekeo on Sunday night. Tribune-Herald.

When tsunamis threatened the state in 2010 and again this year, the first priority for some county employees wasn't saving themselves, but rescuing the moldering piles of paper stuffed in boxes in the basement of the county building. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii mulls school impact fees, pedophilia bill faces veto, recycling program losing money, Maui vets lawsuit advances, Kaui dredging project stirs concerns, military promotes Big Island training area expansion, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Community College mural courtesy photo

A spectacularly vivid and colorful mural was unveiled Thursday at Honolulu Community College in Kalihi, a massive work nearly the length of a football field and reaching three stories high on the side of the JBL Hawaii warehouse on Kokea Street along Kapalama Stream. Hawaii Independent.

A bill on Gov. Neil Abercrombie's veto list would lift the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits by victims of child sexual abuse, which is now two years from the victim's 18th birthday or, in certain instances, two years from the time the victim discovered the injuries or damage arising from the abuse. Star-Advertiser.

There was a time not long ago when the idea of ruthless, spiteful Mufi Hannemann running the state seemed scary and Neil Abercrombie, neatly combed and acting avuncular, appeared the more reasonable choice. Star-Advertiser.

Two of 28 Hawaii board members are telling Gov. Neil Abercrombie they'll obey his request for them to resign. Associated Press.

Peanut butter sandwiches, all-expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C., and an iPad were among the gifts Hawaii lawmakers accepted during the last year, a Civil Beat analysis of gift disclosure filings has found. Civil Beat.

Members of the Hawaii House of Representatives will host an Informational Briefing on Cybercrime on Tuesday, July 12 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room 309. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii's recycling incentive program that pays consumers a nickel for each drink container redeemed has begun losing millions of dollars every year, likely leading to an increase in government-imposed costs of every can, plastic drink container and beer bottle sold in the state, The Associated Press has learned. Associated Press.

As the state embarks over the next six months on Justice Reinvestment — a data-driven approach to reducing corrections spending and decreasing crime successfully used in more than 10 states — it is not only a first step but relatively inexpensive and easy step toward criminal justice reform. Civil Beat.

Hawai‘i Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Randal Valenciano warned six felony probationers last week that positive testing for drug use would result in mandatory jail time. Garden Island.

A school impact fee that was to have been imposed in West Hawaii last July could be back on soon. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii has attracted its second major mainland solar system provider in two years, broadening options for consumers and businesses interested in tapping the sun’s energy for electrical generation without upfront costs. Star-Advertiser.

The Coast Guard rescued 25 people who were on tour boat that hit some rocks near a cave entrance off Maui. Star-Advertiser.

The county spent more than a decade securing the necessary permits to dredge Morgan’s Ponds at Lydgate Beach Park. Now that the work is done, some long-time users are raising concerns about the finished product. Garden Island.

The Army plans to remove unexploded munitions from the ocean floor off the coast of Waianae over the next three weeks. Associated Press.

The Army is undertaking an environmental impact study for the expansion and modernization of Pohakuloa Training Area. It is expected to be completed by fall, said Lt. Col. Rolland "Chris" Niles, PTA commander. West Hawaii Today.

The city is trying a new approach to providing a public service that in recent years has generated major controversies, lawsuits, fines, scores of consumer complaints and an ongoing criminal fraud investigation. Star-Advertiser.

Major sewer line work will likely cause a major traffic jam on on Ala Moana Boulevard. Starting at midnight with one lane of Ala Moana in Kakaako will be closed around the clock for two weeks. KHON2.

Molokai Veterans Caring for Veterans’ lawsuit against the County of Maui is still moving forward, according to a federal judge’s order last week. Molokai Dispatch.

A federal judge in Honolulu has ordered that a lawsuit filed by Molokai veterans over the county's handling of their building permit application can continue. Maui News.

Uninhabited areas of Puna have become dumping grounds for the gutted and burned-out remains of stolen vehicles. Tribune-Herald.

The stocks for Maui Land & Pineapple Co., Barnwell Industries Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.were the only local issues to record gains Friday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Gov. Abercrombie pledges protection of islands' bees

(News release)

She stood unfazed as a swarm of busy bees buzzed all around her. Everyone else was covered head to toe in oversized, white bee suits. She wore a sleeveless gray top and black pants. The only protective gear on her was a beekeeper’s hat.
Danielle Downey, the State of Hawai'i’s bee expert, has a special relationship with the creatures that are more often feared than appreciated for their vital contributions to our food supply and environment.

Bees are a central part of Hawai'i’s economy. And while most of us are oblivious to this fact, our environment and food supply rely on bees to pollinate plants, to fertilize seeds and to produce fruit and vegetables. Without bees, we would not have fruits such as watermelon, which is entirely dependent on bees. In 2009, watermelons brought about $1.4 million in revenue for the state. Other dependent crops include other melons, mango, lychee, avocados, macadamia nuts, squash and cucumbers.

“It’s a simple but imperative relationship between pollinators and the food at our table,” said Downey, Apiary Specialist with the Hawai'i Department of Agriculture.

Since 2007, these local bees have been threatened with the discovery in Hawai'i of parasitic mites called varroa mites. The mites crawl onto the bees and suck their blood and, at the same time, spread viruses, bacteria, and diseases. Another pest, the small hive beetle, arrived in Hawai'i last year and with the varroa mite, they have decimated local bee populations. The small hive beetles – which are attracted to weak, stressed bee colonies – leave a slimy film over everything, covering the bees and ruining beekeepers’ equipment and ruining the honey. The invasive beetles can fly for many miles, live over a year, and lay hundreds of eggs that hatch into maggots.

In December 2010, Russell Kokubun was appointed as the Chairperson of the Agriculture Department and recognized that the state needed to hire a specialist to handle the magnitude of the problems caused by these two pests. The state had secured a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Chairperson Kokubun immediately put these federal funds to use by hiring Downey to help local beekeepers and farmers.
“My ultimate goal is keeping healthy bees and ensuring pollination needs of agriculture are met,” said Downey.

Protecting the essential and indispensable insects from destructive pests is what drives the 38-year-old Downey at work. Her fascination with bees began almost 20 years ago during her undergraduate years at the University of Minnesota, where she conducted research on bees.

One of the most important components of Downey’s job is to educate other beekeepers on these pests and techniques and pesticides to keep their bees and hives prosperous. She travels to all the islands to meet with beekeepers, listening to problems they encounter and offering assistance and information.  Downey hopes that her work will complement work that has been ongoing by the University of Hawai'i at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to assist local beekeepers.

So what can the public do to help the bee industry in Hawai'i? Downey suggests buying local honey – honey collected in different areas taste different depending on the flowers in that area.  Homeowners can plant habitats that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies.  Simple actions, such as not spraying pesticides and other chemicals when flowers are in bloom, reduce harm to pollinators.

“I like helping people see bees in a new way, for their gentleness, complexity and value to us,” said Downey. “It’s great to have a job that allows me to be outside doing field work in addition to office and lab work. Hawaii is a great place for that.”

Written by Amy Lee
Video by Puanani Akaka

Furloughs begin for Hawaii teachers, UH gains full accreditation, FBI breaks ground, solar company to create 100 Oahu jobs, Hawaii County building codes advance, Kauai seeks bay protections, more Hawaii news

Ala Wai Canal (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Residents near Ala Wai Promenade raise concerns about homeless campers. KHON2.

Even as the nation struggles to bounce back from the recession, most state governments — including Hawaii's — are increasing their spending. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa was recently reaccredited for a full 10 years -- the maximum reaccreditation period granted. Hawaii News Now.

While public school teachers took a five-percent pay cut starting July 1, some 3,700 University of Hawaii faculty members saw their pay cuts restored and they have a raise on the way. KITV4.

Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi has not been forthcoming with the public about the details of the hotly contested new contract she and Gov. Neil Abercrombie imposed on teachers. Civil Beat.

Teacher furloughs began today as thousands of kids near the start of classes at Oahu's multitrack public schools. KHON2.

Today, a new generation of politician is serving in elected office. Hawaii Public Radio.

The FBI will centralize different operations of its Honolulu bureau by building a state-of-the-art facility on 10 acres of dusty brush that was part of the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station. Star-Advertiser.

The FBI will become the first federal agency to be headquartered in the Kapolei area of Oahu and groundbreaking for the agency’s new $65 million home was held today. Hawaii Reporter.

Halfway into 2011, Oahu's housing market is on pace to give back 2010 gains that previously were viewed as the start of a rebound. Star-Advertiser.

With numerous factors tugging the market in different directions, Maui real estate concluded the first half of 2011 with prices down a little and volume up a little for single-family homes. Maui News.

Foreclosures may have fallen off the front page, but for those facing the loss of their homes it’s still the leading story. Hawaii Independent.

New solar company to create 100 jobs on Oahu. Pacific Business News.


New homes must be designed to protect occupants from hurricane-force winds, the County Council decided Thursday in advancing new building, plumbing and electrical codes. Tribune-Herald.

Major revamps to county building, plumbing and electrical codes moved forward Thursday on 8-0 votes by the Hawaii County Council. West Hawaii Today.

An airline that connects smaller cities with leisure destinations has received federal certification to fly a bigger plane, a step toward providing future service to Hawaii. Associated Press.

Almost everyone present at a state Department of Land and Natural Resources meeting in Hanalei School Cafeteria Wednesday evening agreed there is a need for rules regulating commercial activities in Hanalei Bay and River. Garden Island.

Accusations of improper legislation on both sides of a proposed plastic bag ban stymied the Hawaii County Council on Thursday and delayed a proposal to cut public hearings short. West Hawaii Today.

The Kauai Police Department is the first in the state to post surveillance videos of crimes on a website. Star-Advertiser.

A bill pending before the County Council Policy Committee would update the county's record-keeping laws and help determine which documents could be stored electronically and which eventually could be thrown away. Maui News.

An attempt to improve the County Council's decorum was thwarted Thursday by minority members' "obstructionist" actions, alleged South Kona Councilwoman Brenda Ford. Tribune-Herald.

A voluntary coalition of private landowners and state land managers hopes to preserve and propagate a rare Hawaiian plant species presumed extinct until it was discovered last summer in a North Kohala upland forest. West Hawaii Today.

A video taken last month atop Mauna Kea has astronomers, online space geeks and conspiracy theorists all playing the guessing game. Tribune-Herald.

Native Hawaiian recognition moves forward, Hawaii team seeks Pacific garbage patch, civil defense sirens to be mandatory in Hawaii County, 911 fails on Kauai, Oahu sewage problems increase, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian bill signing courtesy photo Governor's Office

A new state law recognizes the first people of Hawaii and lays the foundation for Native Hawaiians to establish their own government. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Wednesday signed a bill into law recognizing the first people of Hawaii. KITV4.

With historic Washington Place as the backdrop for a ceremony that included conch-shell blowing, traditional Hawaiian music and hula, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law a bill that formally recognizes Native Hawaiians as "the only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli population" of the islands and begins a process to create a registry of qualified members to work toward the reorganization of a native government. Star-Advertiser.

As of Wednesday Native Hawaiians have confirmation from the state of something they knew all along. Wednesday Governor Neil Abercrombie signed a bill into law officially recognizing Native Hawaiians as the "only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli population of Hawaii." Hawaii News Now.

In one session, the 2011 Hawaii Legislature was able to do what the U.S. Congress has not been able to do in a decade's time: recognize Native Hawaiians as the indigenous people of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

A bill intended to move in concert with the Akaka Bill was signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Wednesday, July 6 at Washington Place amid praise and protest. Hawaii Independent.

Unwilling to wait for federal recognition of the Hawaiian people, Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Wednesday signed into law a bill providing for recognition and eventual self-governance. Tribune-Herald.

The team onboard the Sea Dragon, a 72-foot steel-hull racing sloop expects their mission to find the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" will take a week. KITV4.

Farms Under EEOC Scrutiny in Hawaii and Washington Receive Federal Aid. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a proposed business model for the development of geothermal energy as a statewide resource for electrical production. Hawaii Independent.

An ordinance requiring civil defense sirens as a condition of development moved forward Wednesday with a positive vote from the County Council Planning Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Waikiki residents and leaders are stepping up efforts to get the first city park built in central Waikiki after the death of community activist William Lee Sweatt, who worked for more than a decade to turn the derelict lot behind his condominium into a place where his grandchildren could play. Star-Advertiser.

The City & County of Honolulu, which is working to construct a $5.3 billion steel on steel elevated rail system from Kapolei to Honolulu, has leased premium office space in the midst of Honolulu’s pricey downtown civic center. Hawaii Reporter.

Rail project officials meet with Kakaako residents about pre-construction noise. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines Thursday will change the type of aircraft it uses to operate its daily, nonstop flights between Honolulu and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Pacific Business News.

Don Ho's Island Grill is "not closed," said owner Phillip Johnson, who established parent company PJJ Restaurant LLC to buy the Aloha Tower Marketplace restaurant in September. Star-Advertiser.

In just a few weeks, raw sewage sludge will start to be trucked from downtown Honolulu to treatment plants in Kailua and Ewa Beach. KHON2.

Leeward Oahu residents say they've seen a rise in staph infections and they fear the source is one the more popular beaches on the westside. KHON2.

Inside the Nawiliwili Council Chambers on Wednesday morning, Kauai Police Department Chief Darryl Perry spoke about the dangers of driving while holding a cell phone. Garden Island.

Mayor Alan Arakawa and Maui County Council Chairman Danny Mateo are leading a delegation of county representatives to South Korea to encourage tourism, and cultural and educational exchanges between Hawaii and the emerging Asian economic powerhouse. Maui News.

A group of business and political heavyweights pitched Wednesday to a receptive County Council a public-private partnership for handling East Hawaii garbage, but Mayor Billy Kenoi said after the meeting the administration is proceeding with its own plans. West Hawaii Today.

Molokai community leaders Kanoho Helm and Walter Ritte told PBS Hawaii Insights moderator Dan Boylan last night that Molokai doesn’t want the billion-dollar undersea cable and Molokai doesn’t want Big Wind. Molokai Dispatch.

For five hours beginning Tuesday night, the Kauai Police Department's 911 emergency dispatch telephone system and its backup failed, Kauai County officials said. KITV4.

Two investors have partnered with the owners of Waiakea Waterfront, bringing much-needed capital into the troubled commercial development in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Collecting on delinquent accounts, charging more fees, curbing property tax abuse and reviewing procurement and employee contracts are just a few avenues proposed by a commission tasked with reducing the cost of our island's government. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii tax burden 4th highest in the nation, school lunches, bus fees to increase, Native Hawaiians to protest bill signing, Freddie Mac foreclosures go judicial route, more Hawaii news

USS Constellation U.S. Navy courtesy photo

The USS Constellation needs a new home, and several Big Island residents want to take advantage of the naval vessel's potential to foster new jobs and an economic boon for the entire state. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii will be hit with a one-two punch of summertime surf for south and west shores. KITV4.

Vast quantities of natural minerals necessary to produce everything from iPhones to electric cars to military weapons systems have been discovered across the Pacific by Japanese researchers, leading to concerns that a modern-day gold rush could contaminate waters around Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The Board of Education is being asked by the Governor to consider further program cuts amidst a projected 50-million dollar annual state-wide budget shortfall. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i will receive $115,257,706 in federal funds for education this fiscal year including more than $39 million for education programs targeting children living with disabilities and more than $47 million for the improvement of existing state programs, Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, and U.S. Reps. Mazie Hirono and Colleen Hanabusa announced Tuesday in a press release. Garden Island.

Looks like more of the same with runaway school bus costs. Civil Beat.

Hawaii families could soon see changes in prices for school meals and bus fares.  Hawaii News Now.

Students would pay $1.25 for a one-way school bus ride, or 50 cents more, under a fare increase proposal aimed at helping make up a $9 million legislative cut in funding to student transportation. Star-Advertiser.

We’re an island chain in the middle of the Pacific trying to feed the energy needs of over a million people—and the millions more who visit Hawaii each year. Hawaii Independent.

A plan to harvest 13,000 acres of Ka'u scrubland to convert plant material into energy is moving forward, following the signing of a law paving the way for electric customer cost-sharing and the establishment of a construction management partnership. West Hawaii Today.

The Institute for Truth in Accounting recently announced completion of a significant, comprehensive study of all 50 states’ assets and liabilities, including pension and retirement healthcare obligations. Hawaii Reporter.

A group of Native Hawaiians has announced a four-hour protest today in Honolulu, opposing a bill they say would “try to revive and jump-start the now defunct Akaka Bill.” Garden Island.

The state has toughened up the law protecting firefighters and water safety officers. KHON2.

Government-backed lender Freddie Mac says it too will convert all of its new and pending non-judicial foreclosures in Hawaii to judicial foreclosures effective immediately.  Civil Beat.

Housing markets on Kauai and Hawaii island were relatively weak in June with mostly lower prices and sales, though activity over the first six months of this year has been more mixed with lower prices and mostly higher sales. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island real estate sales are lagging -- if just a bit. West Hawaii Today.

More of Hawaii's homeless are being fed in shelters instead of public spaces during the first half state's 90-day plan to help move people into housing. Associated Press.

The Army will demonstrate on Friday underwater technology that will be used over the following three weeks to gauge whether old, discarded munitions can be removed from relatively shallow waters off the Waianae Coast. Star-Advertiser.

Councilman Fred Blas is his own faction regarding his vote on Hawaii County's $367.3 million operating budget, he said. Tribune-Herald.

Alien species: "It would help if we had more staff and more people." Hawaii News Now.

Duplication of health services is not an issue for Molokai, said Loretta Fuddy, state Director of Health, last week. Molokai Dispatch.

After a week-and-a-half of haggling over terms, developer Jeff Stone’s proposed gift of 300 acres of land in Leeward Oahu is no closer to its intended recipients, Kamehameha Schools and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Pacific Business News.

An alert guard at the Oahu Community Correctional Center thwarted a daring escape off the rooftop of a third story building. KITV4.

Forty-five Japanese citizens affected by March's deadly earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis arrived on the Valley Isle on Monday to have some time to rest and recuperate. Maui News.

That's some snake! Boa constrictor captured

courtesy photo Hawaii Department of Agriculture

HONOLULU – A boa constrictor was captured yesterday and held overnight at the Honolulu Zoo.  Agricultural inspectors picked up the snake this morning and it is being safeguarded at the Plant Quarantine Branch of the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA).

The female snake measures nine-feet, three-inches, which is an adult size for boa constrictors.
HDOA does not have official information on the circumstances of the capture, which was initially reported by the Honolulu Police Department and involved personnel from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the Honolulu Zoo.

DLNR reported that one of their enforcement officers was called at about 6:30 p.m. last night by hunters who had spotted a snake near the Waiawa Correctional Facility.  The DLNR officer picked up the snake and dropped it off at the Honolulu Zoo.

Boa constrictors are non-venomous and are native to Central and South America.  They can grow up to 12 feet in length and have a normal diet of small mammals such as mice and rats.  Snakes have no natural predators in Hawai`i and pose a serious threat to Hawai`i's environment.  Many species also prey on birds and their eggs, increasing the threat to endangered native birds.  Large snakes can also be a danger to the public and small pets.

Individuals who have illegal animals are encouraged to turn them in under the State's amnesty program, which provides immunity from prosecution. Illegal animals may be turned in to any HDOA Office, Honolulu Zoo or any Humane Society - no questions asked and no fines assessed.  Anyone with information on illegal animals should call the PEST HOTLINE at 643-PEST (7378).

Abercrombie to sign Native Hawaiian recognition bill Wednesday, Hawaii welcomes Japanese earthquake survivors, Molokai mulls tourism benefits, Kona forests preserved, more news from the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian protest (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

A 118-year-old deep-rooted obligation to formally recognize Native Hawaiians as “the only indigenous, aboriginal, maoli people of Hawaii” will take a major step forward when Gov. Neil Abercrombie signs Senate Bill 1520 into law on Wednesday, July 6. Molokai News.

Six years ago this month, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, the state's largest industrial employer, barely escaped inclusion on a Pentagon list for possible base closure. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii families welcomed 68 Japanese residents into their homes Monday, providing them respite from the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. Star-Advertiser.


More than Half of Lingle Appointees Won't Resign. Civil Beat.

Hawaii teachers are upset not only over the contents of the state's "last, best, final" contract offer, but also with the tactics used to present them, says a union representative with the Hawaii State Teachers Association. Civil Beat.

While many around the nation celebrate America's 235th birthday, Oahu residents are observing the first Fourth of July under the newly imposed fireworks ban. Hawaii News Now.

The fireworks show at the beach park combined with a free concert at Ala Moana shopping center draws a crowd of thousands every year. KITV4.

As people across Hawaii celebrated July 4th on Monday, more than 4,000 families at Schofield Barracks were separated from their loved ones because of deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. KITV4.

For the third straight day, state and federal police were on patrol at Heeia Kea Pier in Kaneohe, checking boats for the proper paperwork and gear even before they hit the water. KHON2.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents welcomed two members Friday. Pacific Business News.

The demand for parking in Wailuku town is 3,491 spaces, but the amount available is only 2,743 - a deficit of 748 spaces, a parking management study shows. Maui News.

Molokai continues to teeter on the balance between the economic benefits from tourism and the desire to maintain the island’s pristine and undeveloped flavor. Molokai News.

Island School graduated 32 seniors June 11, the largest graduating class in the school’s history since its founding in 1977. Garden Island.

A Wisconsin businesswoman has donated $2 million to establish an endowed deanship at the University of Hawaii- Manoa's Hawaii'inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge. Associated Press.

More than 10,000 acres of state lands along the South Kona Coast are now protected from development thanks to the work of Hawaii Island's newest senator. Tribune-Herald.

When Hawaii passed a new law with extensive protections to prevent residents from losing their homes, it was hailed as the nation's strongest foreclosure law -- maybe too strong, many warn. Associated Press.

All Hawaii News named best in Hawaii and getting better every day

Mahalo for your support! All Hawaii News was recently named the top one-person produced news website in the state by the Society of Professional Journalists. It's an honor, but it's also a call for more. Since 2008, All Hawaii News has practiced kaizen, so the changes you see are gradual, but always for the better. This site is not a big money-maker, and there are no deep pockets keeping it going. Just a lot of early mornings and hard work.

The goal is to sweep the state -- not with spiders and bots and other nonhuman workers, but with a human eye and a practiced hand and a seasoned journalist’s news sense – to find the top news stories of the day from all of the Hawaiian Islands. All Hawaii News is not Oahu-centric, so you’ll see breaking stories from Maui, Kauai, Hawaii Island and Molokai before they catch the attention of other news curators.

Most of the site’s content is fresh by 7 a.m. HST every weekday. Updates come throughout the day via Google news feeds, tweets and the state’s top bloggers. There’s a heavy emphasis on government news at the state and county levels, as well as issues involving the environment, green energy and Native Hawaiians. If you’re looking for the “if it bleeds, it leads,” crime stories, better look elsewhere. Photos are selected to illustrate a news story and show the range of the breath-taking beauty of our state.

All Hawaii News is on Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to follow us there for low-volume updates that don’t spam you with what you already know. You can also subscribe via RSS and email.

One of the best ways to use All Hawaii News? Bookmark it on your smartphone! It’s like having a news-reader in your hand, going beyond the headlines to give you a solid sentence or two about all the day’s news, with links to the original sources to find out more.

Have ideas to improve All Hawaii News? Feel free to drop me a line, send a tweet, a Facebook comment or email. All Hawaii News is open to improvements!

Hawaii teachers consider next move, new laws, new fees in effect today, Kauai explores hydro power, Hawaii County Council fails budget veto override, homeowners pay too much insurance, more news from the islands

rare Hawaii orchid courtesy photo, The Nature Conservancy

More than 30 years of research has led to a major victory in protecting one of Hawaii's rarest plants—a native orchid of the Islands’ high forests and bogs that was down to fewer than 50 known individuals. Civil Beat.

Board members of the newly created entity that's due to oversee the city's planned rail line are to conduct their first meeting. Associated Press.

On Friday, all of the laws listed below will become effective throughout the state of Hawaii. KITV4.

Five percent wage reductions and increased health insurance premiums for Hawaii's 12,700 public school teachers were to be unilaterally implemented today, in an extraordinary move that the state says is necessary under a tight budget. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association was not able to stop the State from implementing a pay cut. KHON2.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association has said it is exploring legal options to stop the contract from going into effect. KITV4.

It is summer break but special education teacher Bryantt Bernardo is in his Moanalua Middle School classroom catching up on paperwork. Hawaii News Now.

They are both Japanese-American women in their early 60s, married Buddhists with no children who represent the state of Hawaii 5,000 miles away in the U.S. House of Representatives. Civil Beat.

Hawaii homeowners pay “excessive rates” for insurance, according to state Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii hotels’ occupancy levels dropped during the week ending June 25, but average room rates were higher than last year, according to Smith Travel ResearchbizWatch and Hospitality Advisors. Pacific Business News.

A controversial plan to build 11,750 homes on Ewa farmland was given new life Thursday as a state commission agreed to resume the case after it was stopped nearly two years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Developer D.R. Horton-Schuler Division wants to build the $4.6 billion Hoopili Project, that includes nearly 12,000 homes, along with businesses to create jobs.  Officials say they also want to make it sustainable. KHON2.

Dozens of labor advocates, environmentalists, and Oahu small farmers crowded into today’s Land Use Commission meeting regarding D.R. Horton’s proposed Hoopili development in Ewa. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii County will reinstate full open-space funding but not prepay certain retirement costs because the County Council fell one vote short Thursday of overriding Mayor Billy Kenoi's budget veto. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Billy Kenoi's $367.3 million budget goes into effect today the way he proposed it, following the County Council's failure Thursday to override his veto. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Billy Kenoi has asked the state's largest public-sector labor union to strike a separate deal with Hawaii County, allowing 13 furlough days a year for the next two years. West Hawaii Today.

Just barely making a tight deadline, the Maui County Council Policy Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to move a bill forward that would allow the mayor to negotiate a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency over allegations that injection wells in West Maui violate the Safe Drinking Water Act. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources issued a statement Tuesday in support of hydroelectricity and Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative’s exploration of hydro power development. Garden Island.

A full 2 percent of county property tax revenues will be earmarked for land buys this year, following the withdrawal Thursday of a bill that would have cut it to a minimum of 1 percent. West Hawaii Today.

The Honolulu City Council's new chairman, Ernie Martin, has announced new committee assignments for the council's nine members. Associated Press.

Despite being from Jamaica, Bob Marley has become one of the most influential music figures in our Hawai`i ohana. Hawaii Public Radio.