Hawaii, teachers union reach deal; University of Hawaii spends millions on PR; Kona courthouse funding slashed; Honolulu public housing residents asked to work 8 hours/month; Kauai coral in peril; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

HSTA and Abercrombie announce new contract, courtesy photo

The state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year pact that provides for pay increases, restoration of previous medical coverage premium percentages, and HSTA input on teaching evaluation policies. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii teachers will receive pay raises and better healthcare benefits under a new four-year contract that the state and union tentatively agreed to this weekend. Civil Beat.

After more than two years of negotiations, the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) has reached an agreement with the state Department of Education over a new employment contract. Hawaii News Now.

It's been more than two years since the Hawaii teachers union and the state started negotiating a new contract. And Sunday night HSTA and the governor announced they've come to a tentative agreement. KHON2.

State House leaders are interested in providing income tax relief — an idea that has not had currency at the Legislature since the state was flush with a record budget surplus. Star-Advertiser.

Despite the Hawaii Legislature’s failure to take up marriage equality legislation this session, gay rights groups say they hope that discussion scheduled today on two resolutions will yield progress on an issue whose time has come. Tribune-Herald.

The GMO debate comes as Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the Legislature are pushing the state toward greater food self-sustainability. Measures still alive in the 2013 session include ones that would create a "food resiliency" initiative under the state Department of Agriculture, increase feed subsidies to grow livestock production, improve irrigation systems and expand a DOA loan program for infrastructure improvements, new farming techniques and bio-security projects. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Senate Ways and Means Committee plans to hear a slew of proposals this week, including a much-debated one to raise state revenue by developing school lands. Associated Press.

Amid surging tuition rates, a shrinking state budget and a failed concert fiasco that raised concerns over the institution’s internal structure, the University of Hawaii this past year spent roughly $4 million of its $1.4 billion operating budget on public relations, marketing and outreach, according to a Civil Beat review of records provided by the university. Civil Beat.

MRC Greenwood has traveled for nearly one year out of her four-year tenure as University of Hawaii President, according to records obtained from the University administration. Hawaii Reporter.

Video news reports produced by University of Hawaii communications staff are popping up in hundreds of Hawaii newscasts, raising questions about the integrity of local journalism and whether broadcast stations are delivering fair, independently reported coverage. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s preschool proposal will likely be getting a boost from the state Senate Ways and Means Committee. Associated Press.

Lawmakers have downgraded some of this year's unsuccessful education bills to resolutions encouraging public school officials to instead study or consider certain initiatives rather than make them with new laws. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Friday that he has released more than $26.2 million for construction projects to improve public schools around the state. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines has signed a definitive agreement with Airbus to acquire 16 to 25 new A321neo jets, with the first deliveries in 2017. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for March 25. Associated Press.

Oahu

On Oahu many of the degraded streets and highways giving drivers headaches today stem from budget decisions made years earlier, where public officials opted to kick routine street maintenance down the road in favor of other priorities. Star-Advertiser.

A June 2005 audit of the city's road maintenance practices that was released shortly after Mufi Hannemann became mayor, shows the crisis over Honolulu's roads is nothing new. Star-Advertiser.

Keep your eyes on the ground when you're walking through Chinatown. Potholes on the sidewalk are upsetting local store owners. KITV4.

Unemployed folks living in federal housing are being asked to do community service or move out. It's a federal requirement that's been in affect for more than a decade, but there's a new push to enforce it here in Hawaii. KHON2.

A nonprofit is encouraging the city to reopen access roads to the Haiku Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, and implement a management program similar to the one at Hanauma Bay. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge plans to hear more evidence on whether a defense contractor accused of giving military secrets to his Chinese girlfriend should stay in custody while awaiting trial. Associated Press.

An estimated 800 people rallied outside the downtown post office Sunday afternoon to protest Postmaster General Patrick Dona­hoe's plans to end Saturday mail delivery. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The $90 million in funding sought for the long-promised Kona Judiciary Complex — previously deemed a high priority — has been slashed in half. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is about ready to make the final step to energy-efficient street lights. Next month, the Department of Public Works’ Traffic Division will bring a proposal before the County Council’s Finance Committee to replace the fairly dim low-pressure sodium lights with brighter light-emitting diode, or LED, versions. Tribune-Herald.

State lawmakers are halfway through this year’s legislative session, more than 300 bills were sent from one chamber to the other for further consideration, and there’s still much more work to be done, Rep. Cindy Evans told West Hawaii residents Sunday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County Council Member Riki Hokama spoke with dozens of key U.S. House and Senate committee members as well as met other national leaders to address county issues during the National Association of Counties' 2013 Legislative Conference held the first week of March in Washington, D.C. Maui News.

The blessing of a new, donated state fisheries enforcement boat, Kai'aiki, on Saturday and the launch of a pilot nearshore waters enforcement unit are both steps toward protecting ocean resources, said longtime fisherman Darrell Tanaka. Maui News.

Marching for health of kids, land, ocean. Maui News.

Island Air will re-launch service to Kahului and Lanai starting April 15, just prior to ending its Kapalua service May 31. Maui Now.

Kauai

The temporary solution for unforeseen roadblocks for Kekaha Landfill’s lateral expansion will be much cheaper than the original option, but will also turn the landfill into a 120-foot beachfront structure on the Westside. Garden Island.

Jan TenBruggencate, Carol Bain and Allan Smith were re-elected to the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors Saturday afternoon. Garden Island.

A rapidly spreading coral disease discovered more than a year ago on Kaua‘i’s North Shore has now been documented at more than 60 locations around the island, according to Hanalei biologist Terry Lilley. Garden Island.

Hawaii Legislature kills GMO labling bill, more seats on the train, firearm registrations up, gun crimes down, $1.25M boost for Thirty Meter Telescope, state Senate seeks marijuana minister's release, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii farmers market (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Senators Thursday afternoon deferred for this session a bill that calls for genetically modified imported produce to carry labels, opting instead to pass a resolution that requests several state groups study the issue in more detail and report back to the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Three Senate committees tabled a measure that calls for labeling imported genetically engineered produce or else bans its distribution in the islands. Civil Beat.

After a packed joint hearing between multiple Senate committees, members voted to kill House Bill 174 in a session today at the state Capitol. Maui Now.

The state Senate committee on public safety has approved two resolutions urging the federal government to release a pro-marijuana reverend from federal prison until his trial. Roger Christie has been in federal prison without bail since his arrest three years ago for growing and distributing marijuana. Associated Press.

A bill that would provide more information about misconduct of county police officers still has life, but there’s little guarantee it will survive the legislative session. Civil Beat.

Hawaii firearms registrations shot up more than 70 percent in 2012, while gun violence continued a four-year decline, according to a new state Department of the Attorney report. Hawaii Reporter.

The number of firearm registrations in Hawaii reached a record high of 50,394 last year, matching a national trend toward more gun ownership as the nation's leaders debate stiffer laws. Star-Advertiser.

The state recorded a record high for personal firearm permit applications processed in 2012.  The findings were detailed in the annual Firearm Registrations report released by the Department of the Attorney General this week. Maui Now.

The state Department of Education this school year paid more than $12.7 million to independent education consulting companies to help revamp underperforming schools. But most of the money has gone to one mainland company that critics say has been largely ineffective. Civil Beat.

In a letter to an accrediting body Thursday, the University of Hawaii acknowledged rocky relationships with legislators in the wake of last year's Stevie Wonder concert debacle but said the situation is improving. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges had warned earlier this month that the episode had included inappropriate external interference from government officials and "revealed the fragility" of the university's autonomy. Star-Advertiser.

UH-Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple plans to ask the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to forgive the athletic department's $11.3 million — and escalating — accumulated net deficit as part of a major restructuring effort. Star-Advertiser.

Debris from the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 continues to accumulate on Hawaii’s shores, including oyster buoys, refrigerators, driftwood and a 28-foot fishing boat. Honolulu Weekly.

State roundup for March 22. Associated Press.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell released a report Thursday that identifies sites that pose rockfall hazards to city property, and announced that the city has warned about 1,000 private property owners whose land is at high risk of rockfall. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Thursday approved funding for additional passenger seats on the train cars for the city’s elevated-rail transit project. Pacific Business News.

A joint proposal by owners of the locally owned Foodland supermarkets and landowner Kamehameha Schools to build a new strip mall on 4.5 acres of preservation land in east Oahu has many Hawaii Kai and Niu Valley residents concerned. Hawaii Reporter.

Nearly two years after Foodland closed its Koko Marina location, Hawaii Kai residents turned out in huge numbers Thursday night to hear plans that could move the supermarket back into the neighborhood. Hawaii News Now.

A corrections officer at the Women's Community Correctional Center in windward Oahu has been indicted on four counts of alleged sex assault against an inmate.KITV4.

Upon his graduation from the University of Hawaii, Edwin S.W. Young entered the auditing profession through the arm of Congress that investigates the performance of the federal government. Many years later, he has returned to Honolulu as the city auditor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
Four years into the job, Police Chief Harry Kubojiri continues to get rave reviews from the Hawaii County Police Commission. West Hawaii Today.

The international Thirty Meter Telescope project on Hawaii’s Big Island is getting support from the United States in the form of a $1.25 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Pacific Business News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of State Parks will host a public information meeting to discuss parking and entry fees at Hapuna Beach State Recreational Area. West Hawaii Today.

All appeared well at the Waiopae tide pools on Thursday following a die-off of marine life earlier in the week. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui fishermen are invited to "talk story" with the chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, William J. Aila Jr., 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Maui Waena Intermediate School in Kahului. Maui News.

Maui's northern coast would be one of three Hawaii areas studied as possibly being nationally significant sites to include in the National Park System, under the first bill formally introduced in Congress by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Maui News.

Unlike their first legislative briefing during the holidays last December, South and West Maui Sen. Roz Baker (D) and South Maui's freshman Rep. Kaniela Ing (D) presented issues and answered concerns to a full and lively house. Maui Weekly.

Kaiser Permanente will build a new home for its rehabilitation specialty services on Maui next to its Maui Lani facility. Maui News.

Officials dedicated Maui County's first double-decker bus on Wednesday, March 14. Maui Weekly.

Kauai

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative members still have time to vote for three seats at the co-op’s Board of Directors. Voting began March 1, and will end Saturday at noon. Garden Island.

After spending hours under fire at a Kaua‘i County Council meeting Wednesday morning and afternoon, state officials and researchers went to Waimea and faced more than 150 Westside residents who were not convinced that Cleome gynandra, locally known as stinkweed, was what made students sick at Waimea Canyon School years ago. Garden Island.

Users of the public Kapa‘a Swimming Pool could be faced with the possibility of having to use “interim toilets” for several years — or until the pool is relocated elsewhere — according to county officials. Garden Island.

Schatz bill would expand national parks, priest admits molesting boys, Steven Tyler bill stalls in House, Hanabusa mulls governership, Senate, Honolulu council kills mayor's gas tax hike, Pro Bowl returns, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ka'u coastline (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The Ka‘u coast and areas on other Hawaii islands would be candidates for an expanded National Park System under a bill announced Wednesday by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz introduced a bill Wednesday that seeks to expand Hawaii's national parks while preserving the state's special places and bringing in more tourism dollars. Associated Press.

In the scheme of things, a bill proposing to direct a study of creating more national parks in Hawaii, may not seem like the most monumental of issues. But in addition to it being an “exciting moment” for Hawaii’s economy and environment, as Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz described the measure on Tuesday, it was the latest sign that Schatz, a mere year and a half from a special election to keep his seat, is placing an emphasis on environmental issues. Civil Beat.

Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Brian Schatz on Wednesday could lead to the creation of new national parks on three islands in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Passed over in December for an appointment to the state’s vacant Senate seat by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in favor of now-Sen. Brian Schatz, Democratic Rep. Colleen Hanabusa is deciding whether to challenge one of them in a primary next year. Civil Beat.

The future is looking bleak for a celebrity privacy bill in Hawaii known as the Steven Tyler Act. Associated Press.

Hawaii senators took action this week to advance bills that boost campaign spending transparency and improve voter turnout. But the biggest surprise came when they cut themselves out of plan to create a public funding program for legislative candidates starting in 2016. Civil Beat.

Proponents of solar energy rallied at the state Capitol Wednesday to show their support for a renewable energy tax credit program that lawmakers are proposing to scale back. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii Senate bill to establish a Private-Public Partnership Authority is making leaps through the state House. Associated Press.

Two Senate committees have approved a bill to prohibit employers from requiring employees or job applicants to provide access to personal social media accounts. Associated Press.

Hawaii is the only state without a single entity to oversee police officer training and performance standards, raising questions about the qualifications of Hawaii’s law enforcement officers. Civil Beat.

Cash-based businesses could be facing more pressure from Hawaii tax collectors. Tribune-Herald.

Popular travel sites are appealing a Hawaii court decision to fine them $70 million for unpaid taxes. Associated Press.

An Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee has filed a formal ethics complaint against a fellow trustee over what she says are shady dealings in a $21 million property purchase. Civil Beat.

The National Weather Service says a storm in the North Pacific has generated a large west-northwest swell that is on Thursday afternoon and will continue to through the evening. Hawaii News Now.


Oahu

A priest who taught at Damien Memorial School in the early 1980s admitted in a sworn statement last year that he engaged in sexual conduct with teenagers and adolescents in Hawaii and other U.S. locations where he worked, but that he didn't consider his attraction to youth perverted or abnormal, according to portions of his videotaped deposition played Wednesday at a news conference here. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell's plan to increase the city's share of the per-gallon fuel tax by a nickel was shot down by a 6-3 vote by the Ho­no­lulu City Council on Wednesday despite a direct, last-minute plea by the mayor to keep the measure alive. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council today voted down a proposal by the Mayor to fund road repairs and public transportation by increasing the tax on gasoline. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell's ambitious road repaving plan hit a big bump today.  The plan that would've increased the gas tax by five cents a gallon failed to even make it past the first vote in the City Council. Hawaii News Now.

Smoking at Kapiolani Park, Kuhio Beach Park, Duke Kahanamoku Beach Park, Sandy Beach Park and the beach side of Ala Moana Regional Park will likely soon be a thing of the past, under a bill approved 8-1 by the City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to ban smoking at some beaches on Oahu, including Waikiki and Sandy Beach in Hawaii Kai. Pacific Business News.

An overnight camp-out on the Honolulu Hale lawn by (de)Occupy Honolulu supporters failed to dissuade the Honolulu City Council from advancing a bill on Wednesday making it tougher for people to stay on city sidewalks for long periods of time. Star-Advertiser.

A civilian defense contractor accused of giving his Chinese girlfriend military secrets worked on developing military plans to deter potential U.S. enemies when the two began their romance, according to his online professional profile and court documents. Associated Press.

Our aging Honolulu airport is set to get a major multi-million dollar makeover. KHON2.

Federal employees rallied in downtown Honolulu Wednesday to protest across-the-board budget cuts, known as sequestration. KITV4.

The National Football League said Wednesday the Pro Bowl will returning to Hawaii in 2014. Pacific Business News.

A gas spill brought hazardous material crews to Kewalo Basin, and a billionaire has to foot the bill for the cleanup. It is not often a pair of yachts belonging to billionaires are docked in the islands, but at Kewalo Basin, Larry Ellison's Rising Sun is just across the water from Google co-founder Larry Page's mega-ship Senses. KITV4.

Hawaii


The Department of Environmental Management’s wastewater division is facing more than $11 million in repairs to its aging infrastructure and may need to consider a rate hike, Acting Director Dora Beck told Environmental Management Commission members Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

The Public Utilities Commission has accepted a settlement between Hawaiian Electric Company and the State Division of Consumer Advocacy, resulting in HELCO canceling its request for a rate increase on the Big Island. Big Island Now.

A large fish kill reported Tuesday at the Waiopae tide pools in Kapoho may have had a human cause, according to senior health officials. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has nominated Eugene Bal III, the executive director of the Maui High Performance Computing Center, to serve in one of two Maui County seats on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Maui News.

A self-described "turtle team" captured a turtle at sea - with the guidance of state officials - and removed a large fishing hook from the animal's fin off Poolenalena Beach in Makena on Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

The State Supreme Court of Hawai‘i will hear arguments today on a two-year-old case involving the destruction of historic sites along the Hapa Trail access in Koloa. Garden Island.

The County of Kaua‘i and the state Department of Agriculture released a report Wednesday on environmental health issues in Waimea. Garden Island.

A federal judge acquitted retired car dealer James Pflueger Wednesday of tax fraud and related conspiracy charges related to a failure to report certain income on his tax returns. Star-Advertiser.

“Happiness.” That is what retired auto dealer Jimmy Pflueger told reporters he felt as he left the U.S.District Court House today, just after U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi found him “not guilty” on four federal tax fraud charges. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii Senate to hear GMO bill, agencies decry personnel cuts, judge rules online travel sites owe state $70M, Honolulu mayor to tackle ethics, Volcano House opens, editor named to Kaui newspaper, alleged spy caught in honeytrap, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

GMO protestors, courtesy GMO Justice Coalition

State senators, buckling to public pressure, agreed Tuesday to hold a hearing on a bill that would require the labeling of genetically modified produce imported to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Heads of Hawaii state departments urged senators to reverse the state House’s decision to cut more than 900 vacant positions from department budgets. Associated Press.

Hawaii Board of Education members at a budget hearing Tuesday urged officials to get a better handle on the millions of dollars that could be chopped from the state’s education budget in July should predicted sequestration cutbacks and preliminary state funding proposals take effect. Civil Beat.

The Department of Education says it has serious concerns over its ability to meet student achievement goals and special-education needs under the reduced state budget moving through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

State librarian Richard Burns says the house draft would cut $2 million from his budget and eliminate 47 positions. KITV4.

The Hawaii State Board of Education and state Department of Education are launching a new initiative to focus on developing effective school leadership in the nation’s only statewide school system. Pacific Business News.

Thousands of kids are arrested each year in Hawaii for cutting class, only to be thrown through the revolving doors of the juvenile justice system, officials say. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii judge has ruled that online travel companies such as Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Orbitz, Travelocity and Priceline owe the state of Hawaii $70 million in penalties and interest for failing to file Hawaii general excise tax returns or paying the taxes over a 10-year period. Pacific Business News.

The University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine has been addressing the state’s doctor shortage and need for primary care physicians, and efforts seem to be paying off. Pacific Business News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has nominated the former head of Kaneohe Ranch, a retired Hawaii Island businessman and the executive director of the Maui High Performance Computing Center to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents has a proposal for helping retire the athletic department's $11.3 million deficit. Hawaii News Now.

State briefs 3/20. Associated Press.

Oahu

The deep spending cuts coming out of Washington, D.C., known as sequestration could mean a reduction in federal dollars spent this year on Hono­lulu's elevated rail project, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

A spike in ethics complaints spurred an ambitious funding request to Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and it appears he might deliver. Civil Beat.

The city Department of Planning and Permitting on Tuesday gave conditional approval to a controversial condominium-hotel project in Waikiki, ordering its developers to make significant design changes to "soften the appearance of the tower and reduce its apparent mass" before they can proceed. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is expected to make a historic decision tomorrow … by confirming the appointment of a person who is considered the 4th most powerful government official in the state … behind the governor, lieutenant governor and the Mayor of Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Members of (de)Occupy Honolulu are holding a 24-hour slumber party protest at City Hall. They've set up tents on the front lawn to protest new sidewalk bills they call unconstitutional. Hawaii News Now.

Benjamin Pierce Bishop's arrest for allegedly passing classified information has left neighbors stunned at the accusations leveled at the "nice guy" they knew, and wondering about a possible other side of Bishop that they never saw. Star-Advertiser.

What happened to turn Benjamin Pierce Bishop -- an Army Reserves lieutenant colonel and defense contractor -- into an alleged conduit of secret information for China? KHON2.

University of Hawaii at Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple is defending the decision to set the proposed salary for Manoa's incoming head librarian at $195,000, saying the candidate was being pursued by other institutions and the salary is commensurate with peer universities. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Almost 10 years after it was constructed, a $1.9 million water tank still sits unused at the corner of Komohana and Kawailani streets in Hilo, as contractors try to repair yet another problem with the ill-fated project. West Hawaii Today.

Legislation seeking to change regulations regarding geothermal development remains alive though it’s not quite the same bill with which lawmakers started. Tribune-Herald.

Federal officials say a DNA-based water quality test, recently approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, could save health departments and other governmental agencies time, allowing government officials to close beaches more quickly in the event of a bacterial outbreak. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island residents and visitors will once again have the opportunity to test their mettle, when Volcano House opens its guest rooms this month to the public as it completes renovations that began last year after a near three-year search for a concessioner that left the historic facility closed since Jan. 1, 2010. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A draft environmental assessment has been filed for the planned Consolidated Rental Car Facility proposed by the state Department of Transportation for the Kahului Airport. Maui Now.

The descendants of a family with ties to the gunner for King Kamehameha I at the battle of Kepaniwai and Kihapi'ilani, one-time king of Maui, will be caring for a family grave site March 30 in West Maui as part of the 21st annual Celebration of the Arts cultural festival at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Maui News.

Kauai

The Garden Island has hired Bill Buley as its editor-in-chief. He will assume the new post April 15. Garden Island.

A new view for Wailua Beach is under way, and should be ready sometime in April. Much of the view of the beach from the highway will be obstructed by a three-foot, six-inch-tall cement wall extending almost the entire length of the beach. Garden Island.

County Department of Water officials announced Monday the completion of a large scale capital replacement project for the Lihu‘e water system. Garden Island.

Pay raises for government officials, more racism in the Hawaii capital, Lt. Gov. Tsutsui seeks $200k Maui office, defense contractor charged with spying, tourist tax deferred, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea lava flow, USGS courtesy photo

South winds permitted clear views into one of Hawaii's natural beauties recently: the lava lake from Kilauea Volcano's active flow on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

The state salary commission voted Monday to recommend pay raises for the governor, judges and legislators, concluding that higher salaries are justified to attract the "best and brightest" to public service. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers could soon get a huge pay increase. The state salary commission recommended legislators get a 21 percent raise this summer. KITV4.

Hawaii Fight Over GMO Labeling Turns Ugly. Environmental activist tells committee chair, "Go back to Japan." Civil Beat.

The attorney general is cautioning state senators that a House bill requiring genetically modified imported produce to carry labels would likely be struck down by the federal government if it becomes law. Star-Advertiser.

House Tourism Committee Defers Hotel Room Tax Hike. Hawaii Public Radio.

The record-breaking tourism industry has the Honolulu Mayor and the governor asking for a bigger piece of the pie. On Monday, they asked the state legislature to raise the hotel room tax. KHON2.

The Senate Education Committee voted Monday to move forward a bill that would allow the state to develop public school lands through private-public partnerships. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s three early education proposals are sailing through the Legislature, but the money he originally proposed to pay for the initiative’s first phase — the School Readiness program — got scrapped by the state House last week. Civil Beat.

Opponents of decriminalizing marijuana has a new partner -- a powerful national figure who has made it a point to fight legislation through education. KITV4.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking to shore up its rules regarding coral damage in order to help protect the marine invertebrates. Tribune-Herald.

Push to create a statewide cell phone ban. KHON2.

State roundup for March 19. Associated Press.

Oahu

A defense contractor who works in intelligence at the U.S. Pacific Command has been charged with giving national security secrets to a 27-year-old Chinese woman with whom he was romantically involved, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Monday. Associated Press.

A civilian defense employee in Hawaii charged with leaking classified information about nuclear weapons, early-warning radar systems and other secrets to a Chinese national who was his girlfriend may have been targeted because he had access to such information, the FBI says. Star-Advertiser.

Benjamin Pierce Bishop, 59, a former U.S. Army officer who works as a civilian employee of a defense contractor at U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) in Hawaii, has been arrested on charges of communicating classified national defense information to a person not entitled to receive such information. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu's residential electricity rates were higher in February and March largely because a coal-fired plant that provides the island's cheapest source of power was down for maintenance, Hawaiian Electric Co. officials said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The city Board of Water Supply is offering up its sprawling main base of operations in Honolulu for lease and redevelopment in a move to earn income that helps pay for agency expenses and possibly reduces customer costs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is poised to issue a 10-year contract to divert most of its waste from the county’s two landfills, a contract that would all but close the door on the prospects for a waste-to-energy facility that has been endorsed by Mayor Billy Kenoi. West Hawaii Today.

Campus administrators are keeping their fingers crossed after the Legislature dropped from a working version of the state budget a request for $38 million to fund a new pharmacy school building at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

There are conflicting reports over whether the Kohala Watershed Partnership is using aerial hunting during its current feral goat eradication efforts. However, the partnership, which is helping to restore native forests in the watershed above Pelekane Bay, denies using such a method. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Plans to open a Maui office for the state of Hawaii's no. 2 executive will cost nearly $200,000. Hawaii News Now.

The Pan-STARRS space program, which operates the powerful PS1 telescope atop the summit of Haleakala on Maui is the recipient of an anonymous $3 million gift. Maui Now.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii plans to open a 9,300-square-foot rehabilitation center in Central Maui this fall. Pacific Business News.

The drought watch for Upcountry Maui was officially lifted on Friday, March 15, after nearly four years of voluntary restrictions, said County Water Department officials. Maui Now.

Kauai

Approximately 150 people, mostly county officials and staff, gathered at the Mo‘ikeha building’s rotunda Monday morning for Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s fifth State of the County address. Garden Island.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho’s State of the County Address was presented Monday, March 18, 2013 in Moikeha Courtyard. Hawaii Reporter.

Recent samples taken from the inner wall of a Princeville water tank — part of a private water system — have been confirmed to contain the organic chemical polychlorinated biphenyls, according to state officials. While they say the water remains safe to drink, the source of contamination has yet to be determined. Garden Island.

Hawaii Legislature mulls food, ethics, hospitals, poor, power; state senator backs off child sex comments; Kauai mayor trims budget; Maui tackles feral chickens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii local food (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Key industry leaders put together the Local Food Coalition several months ago to spearhead and back efforts to get farm-related legislation passed by state lawmakers this year. More than a dozen bills originating from the coalition, along with a few independent of the group, have passed the halfway point in the legislative session, crossing from the House to the Senate or vice versa. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers want to give the working poor some relief this legislative session through targeted tax credits, rent subsidies and upping the minimum wage. Civil Beat..

Members of the Hawaii Senate Health Committee have approved a bill that would explore whether some of the state’s public hospitals should become private. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz describes himself as a "pragmatic progressive" who has passion for Demo­cratic values but understands politics is about compromise. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard discussed U.S. missteps in Iraq and the failure of the Department of Veterans Affairs to clear its backlog of obligations during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

With the rhetoric coming out of North Korea heating up and its military capabilities advancing, is Hawaii adequately protected? According to Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East-West Center, parts of Hawaii and Alaska already may be in range of North Korean missiles, so it could make sense to add some anti-missile defenses here. Pacific Business News.

While the state's four mayors and county councils worry about retaining transient accommodations tax revenue, the counties also face another threat - the loss of half their current public utility franchise tax revenues. Maui News.

A proposal to legalize casino gambling in Hawaii is not likely to pass into law this legislative session. But elsewhere in the Pacific, the industry is growing—and this weekend marks a new level. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers last year granted themselves broad exemptions from the state ethics code in a move that was framed as an accident, an oversight made during the sometimes messy process of bill writing. But this year, efforts to fix it have so far proved fruitless. Tribune-Herald.

The union contract that helps keep police officer misdeeds under wraps is now in the hands of an independent arbitrator who is expected to release a decision soon. Civil Beat.

Lobbyists serving on the Mortgage Foreclosure Task Force could be cleared of potential ethics violations with the help of lawmakers. Tribune-Herald.

The House Labor Committee passed a bill Friday that strays from the Senate's approach to managing state funds needed to cover employee and retiree benefits in the future. Associated Press.

The Public Charter School Commission has approved a new contract with the state's 32 charter schools that is designed to measure their performance from year to year. Star-Advertiser.

Two House representatives from Maui joined colleagues in introducing resolutions this week that seek alternatives to a proposed inter-island undersea transmission cable system powered by wind generation on the outer islands. Maui Now.

Rep. Mele Carroll (13th District) voiced many Molokai residents’ concerns in Honolulu today, urging the Governor and the public utilities commission to find alternatives to proposed wind turbines and undersea cables on the island. Carroll introduced House Concurrent Resolution 189, which urges that island-specific alternatives be considered in order to reduce negative impacts on Molokai and Lana`i. Molokai Dispatch.

Sen. Slom explains controversial comment that "an underlying cultural problem here where some of our diverse cultures actually don't see any problem or any crime in having sexual relations with young children." UH Sociology Chair: No evidence child sexual abuse is viewed as acceptable in any social group, community. KITV4.

Oahu

The biggest beach replenishment project ever undertaken in the state is taking shape at Iroquois Point, where nine big T-shaped rock groins are going in along nearly a mile of shoreline. Star-Advertiser.

With nearly 460 units, the Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach, also known as 2121 Kuhio, will go up right behind Kalakaua Avenue's luxury row. Hawaii News Now.

Starting next year, the American Cancer Society will discontinue its support of camp opportunities nationwide for children who have been diagnosed with cancer, including three camps in the islands, to focus more funding on cancer research. Star-Advertiser.

Aiea residents are one step closer to getting a new library. KHON2.

For 20 years Challenger Center Hawaii has been providing middle school students from across the state with the opportunity to experience simulated space missions, despite budget cuts two years ago that could have spelled the end for the learning center. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Protesters begin their walk toward downtown Hilo from the Kamehameha statue for the March in March to Evict Monsanto on Saturday morning. Hundreds of people protested Monsanto’s leasing of land in Hawaii to grow genetically modified food.Tribune-Herald.

Hundreds of Big Island residents took part in a “March to Evict Monsanto” this morning along Kamehameha avenue. Big Island Now.

The State of Hawaii is in negotiations with the US Army for a new lease for Pohakuloa Training Area. Hawaii Independent.

Maui

The Maui County Council gave first-reading approval Friday for $3.25 million in additional bond funding for the new Kihei police station over the objections of two council members who questioned the need for and the amount of the money. Maui News.

Maui County's administration has asked the Maui Humane Society to develop a response to the feral chicken problem that a county official said may be a "mild nuisance" now but could be "something worse" if it's not addressed soon. Maui News.

Tails were wagging and mouths were drooling as pooches and their owners excitedly waited for Central Maui's first off-leash dog park to officially open Saturday at Keopuolani Park. Maui News.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. released Friday the county’s proposed $158.51 million operating budget for Fiscal Year 2014, which is $7.87 million less than the current fiscal year’s budget of $166.39 million. Garden Island.

The results of two studies regarding environmental health issues in Waimea that were funded by state and county agencies will be presented at an informational meeting this week. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i County Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution supporting the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust’s efforts to secure a state grant to set in motion a planning process to acquire the Coco Palms Resort for the public benefit. Garden Island.

The public is invited to attend a presentation this week by representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a Hanapepe levee project. Garden Island.

Molokai

Molokai has the highest unemployment rate in the state, but now there’s an economic bright spot on the island — a once-thriving coffee industry is making a comeback. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Capitol rallies include preschoolers, teachers; Legislature advances gun control, marijuana bills; Kamehameha Schools teacher fired for nude student photos, 7th anniversary of Kauai dam disaster, Honolulu mayor seeks fuel tax hike, atrazine targeted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii preschoolers (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hundreds of children, parents and education advocates descended on Hawaii’s Capitol Thursday to spur lawmakers to vote for Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s preschool initiative. Associated Press.

Thousands of Hawaii public school teachers rallied and chanted around the state Capitol on Thursday to protest the lack of a new labor contract. Star-Advertiser.

The president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association announced to teachers late Thursday that the union and the state have received approval from the Hawaii Labor Relations Board to go to mediation. Hawaii News Now.

The state is confident it has found a way to fill a void and fund much-needed after-school programs for intermediate and middle schools through community involvement and private donations, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The state has a new plan to fill that important gap in intermediate students' days—they're calling it the Hawai'i Intermediate/Middle School Challenge. Hawaii News Now.

A bill to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana is making its way through the Hawaii House of Representatives. Associated Press.

The Hawaii House Committee on Public Safety is moving forward a bill to require background checks for people who bring in guns from outside the state. Associated Press.

FACT CHECK — Solomon: Hawaii 'On The Verge Of Bankruptcy' Half-True. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is being hit by two amendments U.S. Senate Republicans are trying to attach to a temporary spending bill needed to prevent a government shutdown. Civil Beat.

Scheduled nonstop air seats to Hawaii are expected to jump 11.8 percent through the next three months from the year-earlier period as the tourism industry takes aim at a second straight record year for visitor arrivals. Star-Advertiser.

A state analysis of new U.S. Census data shows Hawaii’s population grew by 1 percent per year in the two years spanning mid-2010 through mid-2012, with growth distributed relatively evenly throughout the islands. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s population grew 1 percent from July 2011 to July 2012, driven primarily by a relatively high birth rate and people moving from foreign countries, the state said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s population reached 1.39 million as of July 2012, up 2.4 percent from the 1.36 million residents in April 2010, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Pacific Business News.

A new health insurer is poised to do business in Hawaii this year, boosting competition in the market dominated by Hawaii Medical Service Association and Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for March 15. Associated Press.

Oahu

With opposition mounting against his proposal to increase the city's fuel tax by 5 cents a gallon, Mayor Kirk Caldwell is urging City Council members to keep an open mind to the idea. Star-Advertiser.

A hearing on House Bill 276, which calls for issuing about $10 million in bonds to build what is being called the Senior Residence at Piikoi, was scheduled for Thursday afternoon. Pacific Business News.

The Honolulu City Council will convene a special meeting this afternoon (Friday,1:30pm) to discuss homeless housing and services on O’ahu in an effort to look at solutions for this growing problem. Hawaii Public Radio.

State eyes encroachment at Kahala Resort. Complaints prompt closer look at beach use. KITV4.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is walking back from a threat last summer to ban offshore parties in Waikiki known as floatopias or flotillas. KITV4.

EXCLUSIVE: Nude student images alleged in fired Kamehameha Schools teacher investigation. KHON2.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Water Supply officials say levels of atrazine in island wells are far below safe thresholds, even as 19 members of the state House on Thursday called for a task force to investigate the effects of the herbicide on human health. West Hawaii Today.

The story of Haumea, as told by astronomer Mike Brown, is a detective tale in space. West Hawaii Today.

Puna Geothermal Venture was back to normal operations Wednesday night after it was shut down that afternoon, causing a plume of steam to be released into the air. Tribune-Herald.

The population of the Big Island is currently growing at a rate of about 1% per year or five new residents per day, according to estimates released recently by the US Census Bureau. Big Island Now.

Maui
Citing questions and concerns by the public and council members, the Maui County Council's Water Resources Committee chairman called for a night meeting to allow for more public input on a bill that would give the water director, with the consent of the mayor, the power to impose higher rates during water shortages. Maui News.

The state House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve $65 million in funding to begin construction of a new Kihei high school. Maui News.

Ask the Mayor: 7 a.m. Leaf Blowing; Feral Chickens, DMVL. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai Dam Breach Tragedy Still Not Resolved 7 Years After 7 People Were Killed. Hawaii Reporter.

Candidates for the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors gathered in front of an audience of about a dozen people Wednesday evening at the Waimea Neighborhood Center during the final panel discussion leading up to the March 23 vote. Garden Island.

The Kaua‘i Humane Society has a new executive director, and one who has a lifetime of working with animals all around the country — and says she wouldn’t want to do anything else. Garden Island.

Revenue Council upgrades forecast, shield law in peril, corrections officer recruitment halted in wake of prison problems, state overpays workers $1.5M, feds investigate deaf/blind school, CIO lauded, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii economic workshop (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The state Council on Revenues predicted Wednesday that private-sector economic growth in Hawaii would offset the drain from federal budget cuts due to sequestration, boosting the state's revenue forecast. Star-Advertiser.

A resurgent construction industry and booming tourism market have spurred the Council on Revenues to slightly upgrade its fiscal forecast for the state despite the uncertain impacts of pending federal budget cuts. Civil Beat.

The state Council on Revenues revised its forecast for Hawaii’s economic growth Wednesday upward by 1.6 percentage points to 6.7 percent for the current fiscal year. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii House has passed its version of a $23.25 billion state budget for fiscal years 2013-2015 that secures funding for state departments and capital improvements but falls about $600 million short of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s proposal. Associated Press.

A coalition of media outlets set out in January to simply make the state’s Shield Law permanent by removing its sunset provision. But three months and a few House amendments later, the group is faced with a watered-down version of the original bill and an uncertain future in the Senate. Civil Beat.

A Native Hawaiian filmmaker who was one of the first non-traditional journalists to use Hawaii’s 2008 journalism shield law to protect his work, is asking Hawaii lawmakers to make permanent the journalism shield law before it sunsets this year. Hawaii Reporter.

Steven Tyler can feel more comfortable at his favorite vacation spot now that Hawaii's Senate has passed a bill known as the "Steven Tyler Act." USA Today.

State lawmakers will not prevent an increase in the unemployment insurance tax, a choice that will cost businesses $66 million for the next year but could strengthen the unemployment reserve. Star-Advertiser.

The state House Education Committee on Wednesday advanced a pair of bills intended to help the Department of Education regain control of skyrocketing school bus costs. Star-Advertiser.

Third- and fourth-graders in Hawaiian language immersion programs could soon be taking state assessment tests developed in Hawaiian — instead of controversial English translations — under a bill moving through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The ability for the public to access the track record of adult care homes got a boost this week from a state Senate committee. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii House Committee on Health has voted to push forward a bill to stop people under the age of 18 from buying electronic cigarettes. Associated Press.

State Public Safety Director Ted Sakai has suspended recruitment of new corrections officers and postponed the start of the latest recruit class to beef up testing and training of the people who work in state prisons. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii residents and businesses, rushing to take advantage of a solar tax credit before it was reduced, added 108.7 megawatts of solar energy generating capacity to the grid last year, up 169 percent from 40.4 megawatts installed in 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Despite decades of efforts to trim the tab on costly payroll mistakes, some have still been able to walk away with a bundle. The state is chasing more than $1.5 million from its own staff who got paid too much. KHON2.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s office announced today that Hawaii’s Chief Information Officer Sanjeev “Sonny” Bhagowalia would be receiving a “Federal 100 Award” by Federal Computer Week magazine. Big Island Now.

Recent moderation in bunker fuel prices has prompted Matson to decrease its fuel-related surcharge by 3.5 percentage points. Tribune-Herald.

There is debate over a new energy experiment that could start on Oahu next month. According to Hawaii Gas, formerly The Gas Company, liquefied natural gas (LNG) will reduce the state's dependence on imported oil. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii astronomers are using a $5 million federal grant to build a giant camera they say will be able to snap pictures of asteroids headed for Earth and warn of impending danger. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Justice Department is conducting an investigation of allegations of assaults at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind, the state Attorney General says in federal court records. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine moved up 17 places on a list of the nation's top medical schools to tie with four other schools at No. 66 in U.S. News and World Report's 2014 best graduate schools rankings. Pacific Business News.

The Honolulu Police Department will begin issuing a new type of semiautomatic pistol to its officers for the first time in more than two decades, Police Chief Louis Kealoha told the Honolulu City Council's Budget Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County firefighters worked Wednesday evening to assess whether any threat was posed to area residents in Kapoho after the Puna Geothermal Venture plant went offline and vented steam for 15-20 minutes. Tribune-Herald.

Puna Geothermal Venture’s geothermal power plant released about 125,000 pounds of steam, resulting in a brief power outage in the Puna area this afternoon, a spokesman said. Star-Advertiser.

For the last four years, a Big Island doctor received more money in speaking fees than any other Hawaii physician from drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. West Hawaii Today.

After discussing whether a Hawaiian name would be more appropriate and if the public would ever break its habit of calling it anything but “Saddle Road,” the County Council on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution in support of renaming the island’s east-west connector “Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Highway.” West Hawaii Today.

Big Island commercial operators disposing scrap metal and those getting rid of motor vehicles will have to find another outlet starting March 28. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The $72 million Downtown Kihei project cleared its environmental review Tuesday. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission granted a special use permit Tuesday for a bed-and-breakfast business in Launiupoko to host weddings, although the panel set more than a half-dozen restrictions. Maui News.

Several key Capital Improvement Projects on Maui were included in a budget appropriation approved today by the state House. Maui Now.

Maui hit a new high for the month of January with an average daily room rate of $289.98, which was in keeping with a record-setting month statewide, Hospitality Advisors and Smith Travel Research reported. Maui News.

Real estate, construction, politics and the development of Maui. Maui Weekly.

Kauai

Workers have removed an altar built two years ago where a shoreline path is being constructed in Wailua, Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

The sacredness of Wailua Beach is now gone, according to James Alalem, 55, of Wailua. Garden Island.

As the Lihu‘e Town Core Urban Design Plan moves forward, Lihu‘e will slowly change to accommodate more pedestrian traffic. Some of the changes just around the corner will include the elimination of parking alongside Rice Street, giving way to bicycle lanes. Garden Island.

The Electronics Benefits Transfer program will be back at select participating sunshine and farmers markets as early as March 25, said Frank Ranger, director of the Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, Tuesday. Garden Island.

Molokai

A Talking Circle for Molokai practitioners, mediators, family members and anyone else interested will be March 19 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Molokai Community Health Center. The Talking Circle will allow everyone to share and compare different ideas related to the broad spectrum of problem-solving methods available in our multi-cultural community. Molokai Dispatch.