Hawaii flower sales at 14-year low, ballot problems spread to Oahu and state, OHA candidate collapses at Kauai meet and greet, Hannemann endorses Caldwell for Honolulu mayor, Maui opens self-help justice center, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii ginger flowers at farmers market (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Sales of flowers and nursery plants grown in Hawaii dipped 2 percent last year, but the small slip marked a fourth consecutive year of decline to a 14-year low. Hawaii's 970 flower and nursery plant farms reported $69.6 million in sales last year, down from $71.1 million the year before, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Star-Advertiser.

The value of Hawaii’s flower and nursery products sector fell 2 percent to $69.6 million in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service’s Hawaii Field Office. Pacific Business News.

A pair of ballot blunders are surfacing with less than three weeks to go until the general election. KHON2.

A "significant" number of registered voters in upper Manoa who requested absentee ballots were mailed two of them erroneously, city elections officer Glen Takahashi said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The weeks are winding down to Election Day, and some Oahu voters are scratching their heads why they received two absentee ballots in the mail instead of one. KHON2.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has asked one of his closest political advisors to head a working group created to fend off attacks on the controversial Public Land Development Corporation. Civil Beat.

The National Marine Fisheries Service has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by environmentalists and says it will issue new rules aimed at preventing Hawaii fishermen from accidentally hooking a rare dolphin species when they’re fishing for tuna and swordfish. Associated Press.

With less than three weeks to go before Election Day, Linda Lingle's U.S. Senate campaign has released a memo from its pollster saying the race against Mazie Hirono "is a very close race." Civil Beat.

Colleen Hanabusa outraised Charles Djou in the three-month period ending Sept. 30 on the strength of contributions from political action committees on the mainland. Civil Beat.

The faculty senate at the University of Hawaii at Manoa voted Wednesday to delay a vote of no confidence against UH President M.R.C. Greenwood. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood says UH independence is at stake because of the fallout from the failed Stevie Wonder concert. Star-Advertiser.

Before the University of Hawaii Board of Regents talks about President M.R.C. Greenwood’s future at UH and a task group presents its first report on what went wrong in the Stevie Wonder concert fiasco, regents will hear today from an expert on college boards about the best practices in governing a university. Star-Advertiser.

Local, local, local. Here it is: Our first special issue devoted to local food, its importance, its place today and its future tomorrow. Honolulu Weekly.

State roundup for October 18. Associated Press.

Oahu

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is putting his support behind Kirk Caldwell in the mayor’s race. Civil Beat.

The Pacific Resource Partnership has brought a new level of sophistication to this year’s Honolulu mayoral race, one that is unprecedented in Hawaii politics. Civil Beat.

An effort by a losing rail bidder to overturn the largest contract in city history has been rejected for a second time by the courts. The Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that a proposal submitted by Bombardier Transportation (Holdings) USA Inc. in an effort to win a contract to build rail cars for the Honolulu train system was "unresponsive" to city requirements. Star-Advertiser.

A state appeals court is upholding Honolulu's handling of a half-billion dollar contract for the construction of a commuter rail line. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s Board of Water Supply must replace hundreds of miles of pipes connecting Oahu’s 2,100-mile aging water system. Hawaii Reporter.

The state is asking the owner of the vehicle that sheared off a 30-foot section of the Aiea pedestrian overpass on Tuesday to pay for the repairs. Star-Advertiser.

A state judge has permitted a media organization called the Hawaii Guerrilla Video Hui to videotape a petty misdemeanor trial of a woman charged with disorderly conduct at Kapiolani Park on May 1. Star-Advertiser.

At least three surface ships are being retired, a new destroyer named after a Hawaii-based SEAL commando is on its way, a destroyer from San Diego will be traded for one here in a "hull swap," and more of the Navy's latest-generation Virginia-class attack subs will be sent to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Council members approved several amendments to a bill that would allow agricultural tourism on ag land, including one that would prohibit such tourist activities in Waipio Valley. West Hawaii Today.

A proposal to prohibit geothermal drilling at night ran into a snag Wednesday when the Hawaii County Council opted to hold a public hearing on the issue rather than take a final vote. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii Electric Light Co. official today told the County Council that a second independent power producer may be willing to reduce what it charges the utility for electricity. Big Island Now.

Waikoloa is a working community that can’t afford to see water and sewer rates more than double, scores of residents told members of the Public Utilities Commission Wednesday evening in South Kohala. West Hawaii Today.

Rep. Bob Herkes, a committee member who spearheaded the creation of the Interagency Task Force on Vog, said public turnout has been lower than expected for the quarterly gatherings, possibly leaving the group with little to report when the state Legislature reconvenes in January. Tribune-Herald.

New gun shops open in Hilo as demand for firearms surges. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island based telescopes have confirmed the discovery of a far-off planet that receives light from four stars. KPUA.

Maui

Hawaii Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald called the opening of a Self Help Center at Hoapili Hale "a huge step forward for the cause of justice" during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the state courthouse building. Maui News.

Kauai

Candidate collapses at OHA meet and greet. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney announced Wednesday that it has updated its website. Garden Island.

Lanai

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has denied a request from PBN reporter Duane Shimogawa for an unredacted copy of the Lanai sales agreement between David Murdock and Larry Ellison. Civil Beat.

Molokai

At the end of Seaside Place in Kaunakakai, tucked behind a string of houses along Molokai’s southern shoreline, is what might appear to be a large, vacant lot. Molokai Dispatch.

Hirono paints Lingle with the Romney brush, hotel industry urged to treat Chinese like Japanese, Honolulu sewer work 5x estimates, Lanai residents say Ellison flouts boating law, Hawaii County election spurs ethics complaint, state fights public records penalty, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Senate candidates Linda Lingle, Mazie Hirono

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono focused on Linda Lingle’s ties to Republicans in a televised U.S. Senate debate Tuesday night, linking the former Hawaii governor to Mitt Romney and other GOP figures whenever given the chance. Associated Press.

Three weeks before the Nov. 6 general election, Linda Lingle and Mazie Hirono are still trying to convince voters they are the most able to work with the other party — even if they can't get along with each other. Civil Beat.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle said Tuesday that she, like most people in Hawaii, was proud of Hawaii-born President Barack Obama but that the president has not done enough to improve the economy. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Mazie Hirono and former governor Linda Lingle squared off in the KITV studio in a live debate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Daniel Akaka. KITV4.

Link to full debate video.

The almost $70,000 awarded to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser for attorney fees and costs for prevailing in its lawsuit seeking the release of the names of judicial finalists from Gov. Neil Abercrombie should be reduced, state lawyers said in an appeal of the award. Star-Advertiser.

It looks like it will be try, … again for the Public Land Development Corporation. Maui Now.

LETTER: Former Senator Explains Legislative Subterfuge of PLDC. Big Island Now.

The Hawai‘i State Association of Counties at its monthly meeting Friday voted to approve a resolution requesting the repeal of Act 55 to be submitted to each of the Hawai‘i’s four counties for approval. Garden Island.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii said it has fired 20 management and nonunion workers in an effort to streamline operations at the state's largest health maintenance organization. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Board of Education members spent hours Tuesday grilling Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and Chief Financial Officer Amy Kunz over the district's proposed operating budget for the next two years. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii faculty unhappiness with President M.R.C. Greenwood is on the agenda of a Manoa campus faculty senate meeting tomorrow and Greenwood “is tentatively planning” to attend the session, her office said today. Hawaii Reporter.

The Senate Special Committee on Accountability, chaired by Sen. Donna Kim, created a fascinating spectacle with its public probe of “the operational and financial management” of the University of Hawaii, triggered by the athletic department’s failed Stevie Wonder concert and the suspension of popular former athletic director Jim Donovan. Civil Beat.

If the Hawaii tourism industry wants to grow the China market, it needs to start catering to Chinese the way it does for Japanese visitors. Pacific Business News.

The state is taking steps to catch up on elevator inspections, but says it will take another year to do so. KHON2.

State roundup for October 17. Associated Press.

Oahu

Three major sewage construction projects the City & County of Honolulu administration planned to complete for $88 million, actually cost the taxpayers $473 million. Hawaii Reporter.

An oversized load on a truck trailer tore down a 30-foot, 5-ton section of a pedestrian overpass in Aiea, just a half-hour before dozens of schoolchildren would have been walking home on it. Star-Advertiser.

The community of Hawaii Kai has been almost completely developed over the last 60 years. But venture just a little bit off of Lunalilo Home Road and you'll find one of the last remaining farms in the area, owned by 74-year-old Edwin Otsuji. Civil Beat.

Immigrants accounted for almost one of every five residents in Honolulu and in Kapaa on Kauai last year, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Two Puna residents have filed an ethics complaint against Puna Councilman Fred Blas, alleging he lied about a polling place not opening on time for the Aug. 11 primary. West Hawaii Today.

Lawmakers on Tuesday punted on a bill that would allow Big Island residents to raise hens in residential areas, ensuring that the proposed law’s fate will rest with the new Hawaii County Council. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island police will hold a second South Kona community meeting to update area residents on actions to defuse a rash of property crimes and burglaries there. West Hawaii Today.

The trail to Papaikou Mill Beach took another step toward becoming public on Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Fifteen Big Isle species could receive federal protection based on a proposal expected to be published today by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Tribune-Herald.

New video from the U.S. Geological Survey shows the lava lake at the Kilauea summit at it's highest level ever. KITV4.

Maui

The humpback whales are back in Maui waters. Maui News.

West Maui state Rep. Angus McKelvey is hoping to pool state and federal funding to acquire Lipoa Point from landowner Maui Land & Pineapple Co. in an effort to preserve the coastal land in perpetuity. Maui News.

Readers of the Conde Nast Traveler magazine have named Maui the number one island in the world for the 18th year in a row. Maui Now.

Kauai

Matson Navigation recently donated two 40-foot shipping containers to the Kaua‘i Habitat for Humanity. Garden Island.

The public is invited to participate in safe beekeeping events at Kaua‘i Community College starting Friday. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison’s luxury yacht has no boundaries, including, apparently, prohibited nature preserves. Some angry Lanai residents say the island’s new billionaire owner dropped anchor in the Hulopoe Bay nature preserve this past weekend, but skipped out before state boating enforcement officers got out there. Civil Beat.

Hawaii drought lingers, Alaska Republicans stump for Lingle, voter rolls swell, elevators go uninspected, free flu shots for keiki, military to inspect for efficiencies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii drought (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Farmers and ranchers, especially in parts of Maui and Hawaii island, are hunkering down to survive a prolonged drought as federal weather officials forecast drier-than-normal weather through early 2013. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii added 18,168 voters to its rolls between the Aug. 11 primary and the Oct. 8 general election registration deadline, a 2.6 percent increase that brings the number of registered voters to 705,668. West Hawaii Today.

Alaska Congressman Don Young, who endorsed Mazie Hirono in the Democrat primary, is now endorsing Governor Linda Lingle, for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat. Hawaii Reporter.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, Monday endorsed fellow Republican Linda Lingle for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat in the general election Nov. 6. The Alaska representative previously endorsed Democratic U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono in Hawaii's Democratic primary. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Monday that a bipartisan approach to governing is possible despite the political gridlock in Washington, D.C. The moderate Alaska Republican is campaigning in Hawaii for former Gov. Linda Lingle's Republican drive for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has kept her fundraising advantage over former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou in their campaigns for Congress. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Rarely Prosecutes for Campaign Spending Violations. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Association of Counties reports receiving more than 800 emails in opposition to the state’s Public Land Development Corporation. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo and Kapaa residents are the most stable people in Hawaii in terms of where they live, while residents of the Kahului and Wailuku area on Maui are slightly more transient, according to a new analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Pacific Business News.

There are up to 5,000 elevators, escalators and similar equipment in Hawaii that haven't undergone safety inspections this year. That’s more than 70 percent of the 7,000 such machines that the state is supposed to check annually for compliance with safety regulations. Civil Beat.

Hawai’i traffic laws have not kept pace with technological advancements to develop zero-emission vehicles. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii's Department of Health is once more offering free flu vaccinations at hundreds of public, private and charter schools. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Health expects to vaccinate more than 60,000 students through its Stop Flu at School program, which began Monday and continues in more than 300 schools statewide through Dec. 7. West Hawaii Today.

The Faculty Senate at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is considering a no-confidence vote on UH President M.R.C. Greenwood at its meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Miss a payment on your solar electric bill? You could be slapped with a bill for $28,000. That’s what Vivint Solar can charge customers who miss a payment on the electricity generated by a typical 4,000-watt solar system installed on their roof. Civil Beat.

Military installations’ electrical systems in Hawaii, Alaska, the mainland and U.S. Territories will be evaluated for efficiency, and recommendations for conservation will be made under new contracts awarded today. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's time-share industry is growing despite the severe visitor industry downturn from 2007 to 2009, according to Howard Nusbaum, CEO of the American Resort Development Association, who will present an overview of the time-share industry today at the Waikiki 20/20 planning conference at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 16. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city of Honolulu lost about $366,000 in camping permit fee revenues because it installed an online camping system last March that is not capable of collecting fees, according to an audit of the Department of Parks and Recreation's camping operations. Star-Advertiser.

Mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano says he would use revenue from the state general excise tax surcharge currently designated for rail to fund a new Bus Rapid Transit system, and do it without seeking special permission from the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council wants the authority to create special funds to ensure fees and taxes paid by the public are spent for the proper purposes, such as requiring fuel tax revenue to pay for road improvements. Star-Advertiser.

New wrinkle in natatorium volleyball plans. Land ownership of lands mauka of arch may limit state options. KITV4.

A drab low-rise office building put up 52 years ago in Kakaako is almost done being transformed into modern apartment lofts as the first major piece of a master plan by Kamehameha Schools to redevelop 29 acres in the area. Star-Advertiser.

Three executive positions need to be filled at the University of Hawaii. The UH Manoa Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs started the formal search for the appointment of the Director and Publisher of UH Press; Dean of the School of Pacific and Asian Studies/Assistant Vice Chancellor for International and Exchange Programs; and University Librarian. KHON2.

Hawaii

The National Defense Center of Excellence for Research in Ocean Sciences, also known as CEROS, announced Monday it had ended operations at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. West Hawaii Today.

Work to finish the Mamalahoa bypass should begin in fall 2013. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island is expected to see at least some relief this winter from the ongoing drought conditions that have produced lower than average rainfall since at least 2008. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii residents will have a chance Oct. 24 to weigh in on a six-year-old Ocean Resources Management Plan to see how to limit the impacts growth will have on the state’s marine areas. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Some drought recovery is expected on the Big Island of Hawai’i and in Maui County, but a full recovery may not occur due to the intensity and longevity of existing drought conditions, forecasters said. Maui Now.

The proposed West Maui Hospital and Medical Center appears to be arising as promised after the project was shelved about a year ago when the economic meltdown knocked down the hospital's champion. Maui News.

The Pacific Cancer Institute on Maui began use of a new form of radiation treatment today. Maui Now.

Kauai

During the next two days, elementary school students will release protected Hawaiian seabirds back into the wild. Garden Island.

With energy prices continuing to rise on Kaua‘i, businesses are committing to reduce their energy footprint in various ways. Garden Island.

Kilauea volcano rumbles, Hirono and Lingle prep for Tuesday debate, Kauai fights GMO, Monsanto donates $200k to Nature Conservancy, Public Land Development Corp. and University of Hawaii woes continue, Big Island looks to allow chickens in residential districts, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea Volcano (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

On trade wind days, which prevail much of the year, visitors to Kilauea’s summit are greeted by the majestic sight of a towering eruption plume that drifts to the southwest. At night, the deep red glow of the lava lake’s overturning surface is reflected by the fume above the vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater. Tribune-Herald.

Health officials insist the possibility is remote that radioactive debris will wash up on Hawaii shores from the 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan, but some residents maintain the state isn't doing enough to monitor the situation. Star-Advertiser.

With the 2012 general election just over three weeks away, the state will begin mailing absentee voting ballots on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, a Democrat campaigning for U.S. Senate, voted for the Budget Control Act because she thought it would stabilize the nation's fiscal situation and avoid plunging the economy into a double-dip recession. Former Gov. Linda Lingle, the Republican candidate, said she would have voted against the law because of the potential for "dangerous cuts" to the military and other federal spending that could harm Hawaii's economy. Star-Advertiser.

No bill sponsored by three-term Democratic congresswoman Mazie Hirono has ever become law, and just one of the 49 measures she's introduced has even passed the House of Representatives, according to GovTrack.us, a legislative research site. Civil Beat.

The Public Land Development Corp., the controversial new state agency designed to increase revenues from state lands using public-private partnerships is continuing its efforts to establish its administrative rules.Big Island Now.

The PLDC is looking to bring a combination of prosperity and protection to publicly owned land, but many concerned residents say this can’t be done without conflicts of interest. Hawaii Public Radio.

J.N. Musto, executive director of the University of Hawaii faculty union, looks at the hiring of former UH President Evan Dobelle in 2001 as the point when Hawaii joined the rest of the nation in granting high salaries and benefits to top public university executives. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Regents met behind closed doors to discuss the future of UH President M.R.C. Greenwood but adjourned after 90 minutes, saying the discussion would continue next week. Hawaii Reporter.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents held a special meeting at the School of Medicine Friday to talk about President M.R.C. Greenwood. KITV4.

State roundup for October 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

Supporters of mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano are fighting back against the $1 million barrage of advertising by pro-business and pro-labor groups that favor the rail transit project and Kirk Caldwell, Cayetano's opponent. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayoral candidate and former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano gave more details about his bus-rapid-transit plan during an exclusive interview with PBN Friday. Pacific Business News.

It's been just over a year since the owners of Aloun Farms were on trial for human trafficking. Their names have since been cleared and now their business is booming. KHON2.

Questions about bidding procedures taint a $142 million affordable housing deal that is the crowning achievement of Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle’s administration. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
Hawaii County voters will consider whether county redistricting commission members should be able to run for council office the year after they redraw the council district lines. West Hawaii Today.

It’s a chicken and egg debate: Should people in residential districts be allowed to raise a few chickens for fresh eggs? West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii's local and grass-fed beef industry will get a boost this week when Hawaii County breaks ground on renovations to a state-owned slaughterhouse on the Hamakua Coast. Associated Press.

Hilo Councilman Donald Ikeda is proposing $500,000 be spent on designing a new stadium. Tribune-Herald.

After months of political sparring and passionate testimony, opponents and supporters of geothermal energy may soon find themselves sitting at the same table. Tribune-Herald.

State public schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said the Department of Education is “working hard on a lot of things,” but she stressed the need for partnerships outside of the DOE to prepare Hawaii students for entry into colleges and job markets. Tribune-Herald.

This school year, Kealakehe Elementary began using a new system that allows students to use their finger to check in and pay for their meals, rather than holding up the line and searching for their meal tickets. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Wailuku Main Street Association and its board chairman have come under fire again by the state Department of the Attorney General after the organization and its top officer failed to comply with an order to provide additional financial and organizational records in an ongoing investigation into the nonprofit's operations and governance, a court filing details. Maui News.

Neighbors have been complaining of what one calls the "earthquakelike noise" of construction of a 28-unit, four-story affordable rental complex in Wailuku's Sand Hills area, but a Maui County spokesman said that Friday was expected to be the last day of the disruptive work. Maui News.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Friday that nationwide funding of more than $10 million in research grants will include a project on Maui to study the Haleakala silverswords. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai’s small, member-owned electric utility is quickly becoming a leader when it comes to renewable energy. Civil Beat.

Paul Massey, Kaua‘i Community Seed Bank manager and event coordinator, said the 10th Kaua‘i Community Seed and Plant Exchange focuses on GMO education and the impact to growers and to everyone as consumers. Garden Island.

The state Campaign Spending Commission at its meeting Wednesday dismissed a complaint against the re-election campaign of Kaua‘i County Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Monsanto Fund awarded a $20,000 grant to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) of Hawaii for watershed protection at Kamakou Preserve on Molokai. Molokai Dispatch.

Four months after a fire in June destroyed Hotel Molokai’s kitchen, rebuilding is scheduled to begin in January, according to the hotel’s General Manager Michael Drew. Molokai Dispatch.

Mother Marianne's road to sainthood started at a Syracuse church. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii zipline regulation costly, University of Hawaii wines and dines Honolulu newspaper staff, tries to silence critics, Land Development Corp goes back to public hearings, four Hawaii names on Boy Scout sex abuse list, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii zipline, Hawaii auditor report photo

A state proposal to regulate zip line tour companies in Hawaii would cost $400,000 to set up and $350,000 to implement each year, with unclear benefits to making rides safer, Hawaii's state auditor said Thursday. Associated Press.

Zipping thousands of feet over ravines is inherently risky, according to a new state audit on ziplines and canopy tours. Hawaii News Now.

Umauma zipline courtesy Damontucker.com

Hawaii’s auditor has issued a report critical of a plan to regulate the state’s zipline operators, saying they are “basically self-regulating,” and it would cost the state up to $400,000 to establish an inspection and permitting system. Big Island Now.

Full auditor's report on ziplines.

U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and former governor Linda Lingle will square off on Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 8 p.m. through 9 p.m. on KITV. 

A once-secret Boy Scout list of child sex abuse suspects includes several cases in Hawaii. KHON2.

A state corporation formed to raise revenue through public land development will be going through a second round of statewide hearings about its proposed rules after being blasted by critics in the first round. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii's Board of Regents meet in closed-door executive session Friday afternoon to discuss the future of embattled UH President M.R.C. Greenwood. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents has not yet released documents related to the annual evaluation of UH President M.R.C. Greenwood, despite a legal opinion that her evaluation and the president's performance expectations are public records. Star-Advertiser.

An analysis of almost five years of University of Hawaii Athletics Department expense reports that were reimbursed by the UH Foundation shows wining and dining of Honolulu's daily newspaper. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple attempted Thursday to clarify his testimony to a Senate panel last week when he said nearly all UH coaches "thanked him" after the removal of Jim Donovan as athletic director. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii Board of Regents could face criminal or civil penalties if they disclose to media or the public information they learned in closed door meetings. Hawaii Reporter.

When asked her thoughts on the ongoing controversy surrounding fallout from the botched Stevie Wonder concert at the University of Hawaii, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa told PBN reporters and editors that the community ultimately should be the ones who decide whether the self-governing structure currently in place is the best model. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s statewide gas price held at $4.41, the same average as last week, despite slight increases in several areas, according to AAA Hawaii’s Weekend Gas Watch. Pacific Business News.

Two cannons dating to Hawaii's turbulent revolutionary days are back in the hands of the Hawaii National Guard 117 years after they were first delivered to the governmental militia. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 12. Associated Press.


Oahu

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye has formally thrown his support behind Honolulu mayoral candidate Kirk Caldwell. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano spent about $30,000 this week on his first TV ad buys since the primary election. Civil Beat.

A union-backed group is exploiting a loophole to spend almost $600,000 on behalf of mayoral candidate Kirk Caldwell. Hawaii News Now.

Questions about bidding procedures taint a $142 million affordable housing deal that is the crowning achievement of Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle’s administration. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council voted 6-2 on Thursday to give the OK for Mayor Peter Carlisle's plan to sell the city's 12 affordable rental complexes for $142 million despite reservations raised by people from Chinatown and a competing developer who said the plan would force 700 tenants from their homes. Star-Advertiser.

Despite several concerns, the Honolulu City Council voted Thursday to pass a resolution approving a deal for the city to sell its affordable housing units to a private developer. KITV4.

The Honolulu City Council’s Transportation Committee held a discussion Thursday about the federal government’s new Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP-21, as it’s more commonly called. KITV4.

Hawaii

The candidates for Hawaii Island Mayor debated the issues during a televised forum. KHON2.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has set aside $100,000 to remove a large container from a remote Ka‘u shoreline. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council will take an offer for an alternative route to Papaikou Mill Beach under advisement, but it will need more details before making a decision, Chairman Dominic Yagong said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Film Office is making it possible for residents' properties to have a starring role as a location for an upcoming movie or television production. Maui News.

It was youth versus experience - and a few agitated exchanges - as Democratic state House candidate Kaniela Ing met side by side, and sometimes face to face, with Republican Rep. George Fontaine of South Maui. Maui News.

A group of volunteers on Maui spent National Public Lands Day caring for the historic Mokuʻula site in West Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

A portion of Kaua‘i’s energy needs will soon be met from burning woodchips. Green Energy of Kaua‘i received this week  a $72.9 million loan guarantee to build a $90 million state-of-the-art facility to burn woodchips from trees grown and harvested on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Kauai’s small, member-owned electric utility is quickly becoming a leader when it comes to renewable energy. By the end of 2014, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative expects to be generating 35 percent of its energy from sources such as solar, biomass and hydroelectric. Civil Beat.

A judge granted a motion to remove claim against a landowner in the case against a genetically modified seed grower on West Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Mounting discoveries of historic Native Hawaiian burials have created challenges for Kawaiaha‘o Church and the city's planned rail line in Kakaako, and now a third construction project in the area must deal with the sensitive issue. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu rail costs rise $114M, Kauai plans wood-burning power plant, Hawaii County council chairman clears election ethics charge, Oahu landfill decision delayed, remains found on military site, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail route courtesy photo

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation now estimates that contractor delay claims, change orders and new expenses tied to the court-ordered construction shutdown of the rail project will cost the city more than $114 million, the City Council was told Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The discovery of more human bones in Kakaako along the rail route will mean more delays and more costs to the $5.2 billion dollar project. Hawaii News Now.

Ben Cayetano says the bus rapid transit system he plans to implement instead of rail if elected mayor will be in line for some of the same federal funding as the project it's replacing. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners urged the head of the Honolulu rail authority on Wednesday to find a way to leave burials and other human remains in place when they are discovered along the rail route. Star-Advertiser.

The effects of a state law forcing foreclosure actions in Hawaii to go through the judicial system continued to slash the number of properties going through the process in September, as the number of foreclosure filings dropped 72 percent compared to the same month a year ago, according to RealtyTrac. Pacific Business News.

State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim said she has sent University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple a letter asking him to "clarify" some of the statements he made to the Senate Special Committee on Accountability on Oct. 2. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for October 11. Associated Press.

Oahu

A resolution urging Mayor Peter Carlisle's administration to proceed with plans to continue using the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill was shelved by the City Council's Public Works and Sustainability Committee after it received written testimony from West Oahu leaders opposing the idea. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilman Tom Berg was fined $250 by the state Campaign Spending Commission on Wednesday for failing to disclose that he had received 24 T-shirts from a campaign supporter. Star-Advertiser.

A former staffer for City Councilman Tom Berg has claimed in a sworn affidavit that he collected $28,643 in city salary for 77 days of work he actually performed for Berg’s political campaign. Hawaii Reporter.

Honolulu City Council member Tom Berg tongue-lashed his former chief of staff Wednesday morning as he defended himself during a tense Campaign Spending Commission meeting. Civil Beat.

A new federal study of security failures at Honolulu International Airport in 2010 partially blames Transportation Security Administration officers for the lapses but mostly faults top TSA managers for poor planning and supervision. Hawaii Reporter.

Three residential high-rises could start coming out of the ground at Ward Centers in 2014 as part of a revised master plan transforming 60 acres of retail and industrial businesses into an almost entirely new neighborhood dominated by condominium towers and twice as many shops and restaurants. Star-Advertiser.

A pre-20th Century linear fish pond once owned by Victor Ward is the inspiration for an open-air plaza that's the centerpiece of redevelopment plans for 60acres of Kakaako land owned by the Howard Hughes Corporation. Star-Advertiser.

Waihonua at Kewalo, a half block from Ala Moana Center, has been under construction for months. In recent weeks, workers came across a burial site with 18 sets of human remains some believe are of historic significance to Hawaii. KHON2.

Beginning Monday, the Haleiwa-bound lane of Karsten Thot Bridge in Wahiawa will be open for afternoon rush-hour traffic as major repairs continue. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will conduct controlled underwater explosions of unexploded ordnance on Thursday that will close Mâlaekahana State Recreation Area. Hawaii News Now.

Unexploded Ordnance Found Off Oahu’s N. Shore. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A divided county Ethics Board couldn’t muster the votes Wednesday to proceed on a request forwarded by state Chief Elections Officer Scott Nago for an investigation into County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong’s involvement in the county Elections Division. West Hawaii Today.

The county Board of Ethics today deadlocked on whether it should pursue an investigation into whether County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong may have been inappropriately involved in the operations of the county Elections Division. Big Island Now.

Human skeletal remains have been discovered at Pohakuloa Training Area, an Army spokesman said Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

A call has been issued for Native Hawaiian individuals or organizations with ancestral claims or cultural affiliation with human remains found recently in the US Army’s Pohakuloa Training Area. Big Island Now.

The two men running for Hawaii County mayor highlighted actions their administrations took to help the island’s poorer residents at a forum Wednesday night in Waimea. West Hawaii Today.

The owners of the only trail to Papaikou Mill Beach have made an offer that may be hard for Hawaii County to refuse. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A hui of beachfront homeowners in Spreckelsville wants to move ahead with installing rock groins at a beach along Stable Road, replacing temporary sand-filled "geotubes" that were laid two years ago to slow beach erosion. Maui News.

A project is being proposed to protect a stretch of beach along Stable Road in Central Maui. Maui Now.

A conversation on plastic pollution comes to Maui this week in a series of presentations planned across the island. Maui Now.

Maui hotel rooms were occupied at a rate of 75 percent in August, a 3.9 percent increase over the same month in 2011, Hospitality Advisors reported. Maui News.

Kauai

A company plants to generate electricity for Kauai by burning wood chips from trees grown and harvested on the island. Garden Island.

A renewable-energy developer building a wood-fired power plant on Kauai has finalized its financing plans and is scheduled to begin construction early next year on the facility that will provide an estimated 11 percent of the island's electricity needs. Star-Advertiser.

The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday by a 4-2 vote approved a request of the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney to apply for a federal grant to establish a Keiki POHAKU program. Garden Island.

U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai‘i, was honored Wednesday on Kaua‘i for a lifetime of public service in Washingont, D.C. Garden Island.

Hawaii coffee production drops, Waikiki restrooms no longer 24/7, human remains could change Honolulu train route, Maui groups sue to stop development, endangered shearwater rebounding on Kauai, Kilauea lava lake popping, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii coffee cherries (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

Hawaii coffee farmers suffered production setbacks this past season due to bugs and dry weather, but higher prices offset some of the decline, according to a preliminary estimate in a government report tracking the industry. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Governor Gets F Grade in Cato's Fiscal Reform Study. Hawaii Reporter.

Hokulea, the famous Hawaiian canoe that has navigated the Pacific, will soon have a sister to help it sail farther than ever. Civil Beat.

In the almost five years he headed the University of Hawaii athletic department, Jim Donovan and his staff spent more than $800,000 in private discretionary donations on a wide range of goods and services, including taking staff members to the NCAA Final Four basketball tournament, paying for dinners to entertain donors and corporate sponsors, and hiring a limousine service to ferry Norm Chow around town when he was introduced as UH's new football coach, according to expenditure records. Star-Advertiser.

Documents released by the University of Hawaii show former UH Athletics Director Jim Donovan spent more than $622,000 of donated UH funds on travel, meals, drinks and other events for himself, his staff, the media, supporters and athletic boosters over the last four and a half years. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for October 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city of Honolulu said it will no longer keep any public restrooms in Waikiki open around the clock, fueling debate over how the city's park closure law affects tourists and residents in the state's top destination. Star-Advertiser.

More human remains were found Friday and Saturday at two sites in Kakaako along the route of the city's rail project, and one of those sets of remains is a complete burial that might prompt the city to design the rail line around the site to avoid it. Star-Advertiser.

More human remains have been discovered along the Honolulu rail route. Civil Beat.

More human remains were found late last week during archaeological survey work along the route for Honolulu's rail-transit project, according to a report by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Pacific Business News.

More human remains have been found along Honolulu's rail route -- this time they include a completely intact burial. KHON2.

Archeologists surveying the 20-mile route of the planned Honolulu rail transit line over the weekend discovered what appears to be ancient Hawaiian burial sites in Kakaako. Hawaii Reporter.

Human remains were found at two sites on the route of the city's rail project in Kakaako on Friday and Saturday, according to the State Historic Preservation Division. KITV4.

The expansion at the Honolulu Program of Waste to Energy Recovery or H-POWER, which broke ground on Dec. 21, 2009, added another boiler capable of burning 300,000 tons of mass per year. Hawaii News Now.

A second attempt to force the Hawaiian Humane Society to announce publicly its intent to euthanize animals failed to garner enough support before the City Council Parks and Recreation Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General has finished an audit looking into the improper screening of checked baggage at Honolulu International Airport. KHON2.

Former Hawaii Gov. and mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano has a knack of getting people to come to his defense.Civil Beat.

Aviation enthusiasts, history buffs and military veterans fear that Ford Island is under a new threat. The Navy plans to use a swath of the famous airfield for a solar power plant with 60,000 photovoltaic panels. Los Angeles Times.

The vog that obscured views over the long weekend lay in a heavy band over Oahu before largely dissipating Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is owed more than $4 million in past-due landfill fees and sewer bills, a number that’s creeping upward even as Environmental Management officials implement new procedures to recoup the bad debt. West Hawaii Today.

For the last few nights, visitors to the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum overlook at the summit of Kilauea have been hearing constant “booming and popping sounds” from the glowing lava lake. Tribune-Herald.

Kona Community Hospital ended last fiscal year with $1.6 million in revenue, its first positive bottom line since 1997. West Hawaii Today.

A large metal container found on a remote Ka‘u shoreline last week, possibly debris from the Japan tsunami, may not be going anywhere soon. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two environmental and cultural groups have gone to court to challenge the Maui Planning Commission's approval of a final environmental impact statement for the Honua'ula project in South Maui. Maui News.

Maui hotel rooms were occupied at a rate of 75 percent in August, a 3.9 percent increase over the same month in 2011, Hospitality Advisors reported. Maui News.

Widespread haze is in the forecast for yet another day as voggy conditions prevail across much of Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kaua‘i Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a farm-worker house at Ned and Marta Whitlock’s 28.5-acre organic farm in Moloa‘a. The Whitlocks are the first farmers on Kaua‘i to benefit from a  bill that the Kaua‘i County Council passed more than two years ago. Garden Island.

At least 11 breeding or prospecting pairs of ‘A‘o, or Newell’s Shearwater, have been recorded at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge this year, the highest number ever found on the refuge. Garden Island.

Surf's up! Hirono and Lingle debate heated, UH West chancellor retiring, protests around Hawaii against Land Development Corp., Honolulu rail PAC funds Big Island candidates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii resort pool party (c) 2012 All Hawaii News

A high surf warning starting at noon today has been issued by the National Weather Service for the north and west shores of all islands. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Senate candidates Lingle, Hirono

Mazie Hirono and Linda Lingle went after each other Monday night in their second of five debates before the Nov. 6 election, and the first debate broadcast on television statewide. Civil Beat.

Former Gov. Linda Lingle said Monday that U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono has attacked national Republicans during their U.S. Senate campaign because she does not "have a record of her own to stand on." Hirono countered that Lingle's bipartisan theme is a facade and that had she been in the Senate, there would be no federal health care reform law. Star-Advertiser.

The Democratic and Republican nominees for US Senate squared off in a live televised debate Monday night in our KHON2 News studio. KHON2.

US Senate candidates Linda Lingle and Mazie Hirono have been challenging each other on the airwaves for weeks, and faced off on live television Tuesday. KITV4.

New online tools may soon help the public determine how well state agencies comply with records requests filed under the Uniform Information Practices Act. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed former congressional candidate Esther Kia'aina to be the deputy director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Associated Press.

Leaders of the Hawaii State Teachers Association will be heading to schools soon to talk to teachers about the union's next steps in attempting to end a protracted labor dispute. Star-Advertiser.

UH Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple sent a campus-wide letter on Monday calling the past few weeks rough times for the university. KHON2.

Amidst Controversy Over Management, UH Chancellor Assures Faculty, Students. Hawaii Reporter.

We’ve got the last quarter moon, three major planets on view, another meteor shower to look for and a discovery over at the Mauna Kea summit as HPR’s Dave Lawrence speaks with Shawn Laatch from the Imiloa Astronomy Center for this week’s Stargazer report. Hawaii Public Radio.

State roundup for October 9. Associated Press.

Oahu

Gene Awakuni, the man in charge of the newest campus in the University of Hawaii system, plans to retire months after opening the UH West Oahu campus which suffered a "cash-flow" problem because of change orders to the project. Hawaii News Now.

Former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano has a knack of getting people to come to his defense. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning plans to take deep ocean water through pipes that will chill the city's downtown high rises. The plan calls for driving about 100 piles about a quarter to a half mile offshore. KITV4.

Waikiki resident Richard Perez found out the hard way that using a city restroom in a closed park at night is serious business. Star-Advertiser.

Tourists: Little Action Taken On High Rate Of Oahu Rental Car Theft. Civil Beat.

The median price of a single-family home on Oahu rose 12 percent in September on higher sales, while prices of condominiums were flat on lower sales, according to statistics from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Several Hawaii County Council candidates are receiving unexpected, but nonetheless welcomed, support from a Honolulu political action committee mostly associated with Oahu’s rail dispute. Tribune-Herald.

County Council Candidates talk trash and more. West Hawaii Today.

Teachers, family and supporters came out Monday morning along Palani Road and Queen Kaahumanu Highway intersection for the Hawaii State Teachers Association Kona Chapter’s Unity Day rally. West Hawaii Today.

The Public Land Development Corporation is a terrible mistake that should be abolished, protesters across Hawaii said in sign-waving demonstrations Monday. Tribune-Herald.

A first-of-its-kind demonstration project to stabilize the Big Island electric grid while creating hydrogen for public transportation could be off and running by the first quarter of 2013. West Hawaii Today.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is looking for answers to two important questions regarding the giant yellow metal object that recently washed ashore four miles south of Naalehu on Hawaii island: Where did it come from? Where is it going? Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island home prices rose substantially in September with the price of single-family homes up a whopping 13%. Big Island Now.

Maui

Scientists have confirmed that a whale found stranded in East Maui in 2010 was of a species that is among the rarest and least known in its family. Prior to 2010, scientists had little information about the Longman's beaked whale in Hawaii, said researchers with Hawaii Pacific University. Star-Advertiser.

New research from Hawai'i Pacific University on a rarely documented whale has central Pacific scientists on alert for a disease which may affect the mortality rate of dolphins and other marine mammal species. KHON2.

Kauai

For a few hours Monday afternoon, the entire state connected through simultaneous events linked by one moving force: Repeal Act 55. Community members on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu and Big Island got together from 2 to 4 p.m., and on Maui from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., to protest against the controversial act. Garden Island.

The Hawai‘i Army National Guard announced members of Troop C, 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be conducting Small Arms Live Fire Exercises on Saturday between 6 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. at the Kekaha Rifle Range. Garden Island.


Molokai

Thousands of Molokai residents were without power for more than seven hours Sunday night and early Monday morning after an islandwide power outage that began at 10:04 p.m., Maui Electric Co. officials said. Maui News.

With the upcoming Oct. 21 canonization of Mother Marianne at the Vatican, and their numbers dwindling, the remaining 17 leprosy patients banished to the remote peninsula of Kalaupapa are eager to make sure their stories are recorded and their home preserved. Associated Press.

Kayaks could be halted at famed Captain Cook monument, protecting seals, turtles, Honolulu permitting director resigns, Hawaii identifying tsunami debris, restaurant jobs on the uptick, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kayaks at Kealakekua Bay

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, citing concerns about impacts to Kaawaloa, compliance and under-reporting of commercial activities, as well as worries about public safety, has issued a de facto ban on kayak tours in Kealakekua Bay, starting next year. West Hawaii Today.

State and federal officials are asking fishermen to quickly call a hotline when they see a hooked or entangled Hawaiian monk seal. Associated Press.

De-listing the Hawaiian green sea turtle as an endangered species would still keep the animal protected, according to a presentation at Kapa‘a Public Library Wednesday. Garden Island.

Democrats are on track to begin the 2013 session with dominant majorities in the Hawaii Legislature. Civil Beat.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Hanabusa has looked for signs of optimism in her re-election campaign in urban Honolulu's 1st Congressional District. Former Congressman Charles Djou, the Republican, sees a starkly different picture. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Campaigning In The 21st Century. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Office of Elections is reminding citizens Monday is the last day people may register to vote in November’s general election. Associated Press.

Hawaii taxpayers are suffering a crippling tax load due to the state debts, particularly the unfunded retiree health care and unfunded pension costs.Hawaii Reporter.

The federal government now has a much clearer understanding of how serious a problem bullying and suicide is for Hawaii kids, especially among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Civil Beat.

Hawaii had the third-highest growth in the number of restaurant jobs in the past year, according to an analysis by the National Restaurant Association that shows the restaurant industry has been posting job growth at more than twice the rate of the overall economy. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for October 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

Sirens are going to become more reliable. A statewide siren modernization project is under way. KITV4.

City director of planning and permitting David Tanoue resigned. KHON2.

Hawaii

State officials have yet to determine if a large metal object that washed ashore near Naalehu on Hawaii island is a piece of debris from last year’s tsunami in Japan. Star-Advertiser.

Former Mayor Harry Kim is quick to point out the tough economic straits Hawaii County was in when he took office in 2000. Perhaps it’s a reaction to his opponent for the office, incumbent Mayor Billy Kenoi, equally as quickly noting how his office dealt with declining property tax revenues the last four years, something Kim never faced in his eight years at the county’s helm. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Ethics Board on Wednesday is scheduled to hear a complaint against Jamae Kawauchi, the Big Island’s embattled clerk, alleging she violated county code in her handling of the island’s elections. Civil Beat.

Maui

Rapid development, fallow plantations and byproducts - like herbicides and pesticides still in the soil and abandoned dirt roads - as well as animal feces, landscaping fertilizer, treated wastewater and open storm water drains are all damaging West Maui's coral reefs, members of a multiagency nonprofit community task force announced last week. Maui News.

Members of the Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission will hold hearings on Oahu and Maui this month to hear public input on how to preserve a large, flat, petroglyph-inscribed boulder perched at the edge of an eroding gully on Kahoolawe. Maui News.

Farmers and ranchers have an opportunity to sign up for federal funds to install conservation practices through the West Maui Coral Reef Initiative, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Maui News.

The latest marine debris to arrive in Hawai’i from the Japan tsunami was recovered in waters off of Maui. Maui Now.

Kauai

County officials announced the acquisition of two Lihu’e parcels that will be used to develop affordable housing units for seniors. Garden Island.