Smoking ban looms for Honolulu, group wants Dems to drop closed-primary lawsuit, Maui dumps wind power from the grid, solar owners get big break, tax review panel gets off the ground, new home for Hawaii Five-0, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Lighting up cigarettes and other tobacco products at bus stops and city-run parks and beaches would be illegal come Jan. 1 under bills the Honolulu City Council passed unanimously on Wednesday. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said he expects to sign both bills, assuming they clear routine legal reviews. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is moving to ban smoking at city parks, beaches and bus stops. The council passed two bills covering the bans on Wednesday. Mayor Kirk Caldwell is expected to sign the measures. Associated Press.

The Honolulu City Council is sending a strong message against smoking. The nine members unanimously approved two measures that bans lighting up at all bus stops and city parks, beaches, athletic fields and facilities. Hawaii News Now.

With nine ayes for the two laws banning smoking in more public areas, it was clear Wednesday morning that the city is aiming for a cleaner environment. KHON2.

A national organization representing independent voters is calling for the Democratic Party of Hawaii to withdraw its federal lawsuit that seeks a closed primary election system. The lawsuit filed in federal court last month claims Hawaii's primary system that allows every registered voter to participate in the party's nomination process is tantamount to forced political association and is unconstitutional. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Health says the availability of tuberculosis testing solution is returning to normal. Health department clinics statewide will resume providing tuberculin skin tests on Monday. Associated Press.

Does the University of Hawaii even need a new president? That’s the argument being raised by the university’s faculty union — the University of Hawaii Professional Association. UHPA has for years urged UH to overhaul its governance structure, including eliminating the president's post, so it can better manage its finances and establish clearer, more efficient lines of authority. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Ethics Commission is taking a whack a free golf outings for state officials. In a July 3 advisory letter, the commission said that dozens of state contracting officials and lawmakers have accepted complimentary entry and green fees to charity golf tournaments from companies that do business with the state. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $1,204,918 in grant awards to 14 Hawaii health centers operating 79 sites to enroll the uninsured in new health coverage options made available by the Affordable Care Act.  In Hawaii, health centers served 144,427 patients last year, 24 percent of whom were uninsured. Hawaii Reporter.

HECO Says Residents With Solar Aren't Paying Their Fair Share of Costs. Civil Beat.

The Federal Communications Commission has fallen short in its effort to reform a government program that subsidizes telephone service in rural areas, including Hawaiian Home Lands, according to a report released Wednesday by a Las Vegas-based think tank. Star-Advertiser.

Car booting is now banned statewide.  It is illegal for any person, business—even the police department— to clamp a boot on vehicles.  The bill passed through the Hawai'i State Legislature in April and became law Tuesday without the Governor's signature. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s military still follows green building standards, despite 2012 law. Pacific Business News.

Federal officials say studies of white shark populations along the West Coast show no need to list the animal as threatened or endangered. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

The surveillance video that captured an altercation and subsequent fatal shooting at a McDonald's restaurant in Waikiki early Nov. 5, 2011, was shown Wednesday to help a Circuit Court jury decide whether U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy murdered a 23-year-old Kailua man or shot him in self-defense. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu police officer who testified in the Christopher Deedy murder trial was accused of bias Wednesday after defense attorneys found he'd posted information about the case to his Facebook page. Civil Beat.

Jurors in the murder trial of federal agent Christopher Deedy on Wednesday were finally able to view a much-talked-about security video of the shooting of Kollin Elderts inside a Waikiki McDonald's. But the video is of such poor quality that it does little to help jurors see what really happened in the early morning hours of Nov. 5 when the two men scuffled and Deedy shot and killed Elderts. Civil Beat.

As George Zimmerman’s second-degree murder trial for the killing of Treyvon Martin crawls to a close in Florida, Hawaii is in the midst of its racially charged murder trial. Claims of self defense and the right to bear arms are central in both cases. Hawaii Reporter.

With the cost of public worker pay raises expected to surge during the next fiscal year, Mayor Kirk Caldwell wants to begin a dialogue with Oahu residents about the creation of a tiered system for property taxes. KITV4.

The Honolulu City Council gave the go-ahead for the long-awaited update Ewa Development Plan on Wednesday but not before some three hours of heated testimony, mostly against the controversial 12,000-home Ho‘opili housing project. Star-Advertiser.

Six months after announcing an ambitious push to fix the city streets in most need of repair, Mayor Kirk Caldwell says work remains on course to repave 300 lane miles of degraded road on Oahu this year. Star-Advertiser.

Filming of the new season of "Hawaii Five-0" got underway Wednesday with the Hawaiian blessing of the production at the show's new home at the Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head. Star-Advertiser.

UH West Oahu, HCC Offer New Cybersecurity Degree. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Big Island residents will find themselves with a bigger bill the next time they register their car or truck. The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday voted 8-1 to approve higher vehicle taxes and registration fees, a move intended to support infrastructure and make costs more comparable with other counties. Tribune-Herald.

The confirmation Wednesday of Bobby Jean Leithead Todd as Environmental Management director hinged on the definition of “related field.” West Hawaii Today.

The fifth time proved to be the charm Wednesday, when the County Council finally agreed on the makeup of a task force to make recommendations on revamping the county’s property tax code. The resolution, introduced in December, was debated at four previous council sessions before its unanimous vote.  West Hawaii Today.

Hilo’s Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy will retain its accreditation following a late June meeting of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In the first five months of this year, more than a quarter of collected wind energy reported from three wind farms that deliver electricity to Maui Electric Co. has been dumped from the grid, according to the utility's website. Maui News.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, Harbors Division announced plans to host an informational meeting to discuss proposed improvements to Hāna Pier in East Maui. Maui Now.

Billionaire Larry Ellison's purchase of Island Air and his interest in go! airlines has garnered most of the headlines in recent months but flying under the radar has been Mokulele Airlines, which has been growing and expanding its reach and operations. Maui News.

The Hōlua area of Haleakalā National Park will be closed on Thursday evening July 11, 2013, as park biologists work to control the spread of non-native Argentine ants, officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

Just when it appeared that Coco Palms would never be rebuilt, there seems to be new hope for the iconic Wailua Beach resort. “A new, Hawaii-based group of investors has stepped up and is willing to restore the property to its former glory,” states an online petition launched by the Save Coco Palms Committee Wednesday.Garden Island.

Planning Director Michael Dahilig on Tuesday gave the Kauai Planning Commission an outline of efforts to enforce transient vacation laws. The Kauai County Council passed four ordinances in the last five years to stop new TVRs in residential neighborhoods and agricultural lands, and grandfather those that could prove they were operating in those areas and paying their taxes prior to March 2008. Garden Island.

Molokai
The 36-passenger Safari Explorer yacht begins a new itinerary in the Hawaiian islands that includes one-way travel between Molokaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island, company officials announced today. Maui Now.

Ige to challenge Abercrombie for Hawaii governor, Abercrombie vetoes 3 bills, Schatz collects $911k, Deedy trial continues, Maui disabled transportation in turmoil, Kauai Coco Palms Resort rebuild hampered, tourist safety promoted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

David Ige, courtesy Hawaii Senate Majority

Hawaii’s Senate Ways and Means Committee chairman is running for governor in the 2014 election. Sen. David Ige is the first to step forward to challenge Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the Democratic primary. Associated Press.

State Sen. David Ige, a soft-spoken, deliberative engineer, has quietly navigated politics at the state Capitol for nearly three decades. His faction in the Senate is known as the Chess Club — policy wonks and liberal idealists who have stuck together while other factions frayed. So Ige's announcement Tuesday that he would challenge Gov. Neil Abercrombie in the Demo­cratic primary next year is an unusually risky move for a lawmaker respected for his judgment. Star-Advertiser.

Voters in Hawaii now have a choice about whether they want to keep their governor or replace him. That is because Neil Abercrombie has an official challenger: David Ige. Surprising colleagues and political analysts, state Sen. Ige announced Tuesday that he is stepping forward to face the governor in his bid for re-election next year. Civil Beat.

Governor Neil Abercrombie has to contend with a new challenger. Fellow Democrat and State Senator David Ige announced he will run for governor in 2014. David Ige is well known at the state Capitol but he'll have to work on introducing himself to people around the state. Hawaii News Now.

Sen. David Ige announced Tuesday morning that he will throw his hat into the race for governor and is, so far, the only challenger to incumbent Neil Abercrombie. KITV4.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie will have to fight to keep his seat in the next year’s election. Sen. David Ige, a Democrat and 30-year veteran of the legislature, wants the job and says the people of Hawaii want change. KHON2.

Oahu Sen. David Ige this morning announced that he will be a candidate for governor in next year’s election. Ige, a Democrat, has represented the Pearl City-Aiea area in the state Legislature for the past 28 years, including 19 years in the Senate. Maui Now.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Tuesday told lawmakers he would veto three bills but he signed another bill that outlaws the excessive feeding of feral birds as a public health nuisance. Associated Press.

Measures to stimulate economic investment and high-paying jobs, discourage feeding feral birds and give judges discretion in setting prison terms in some felony drug cases were among the bills signed into law by the Abercrombie administration this year as the governor's deadline to veto legislation passed Tuesday with only three measures rejected. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui signed seven bills into law on Tuesday while Gov. NeilAbercrombie was visiting Taiwan. Among them was House Bill 858, which appropriates $6 million for the Hawaii Strategic Development Corp. to implement the HI Growth Initiative. Pacific Business News.

After reviewing more than 290 bills passed by the 2013 Hawaii State Legislature, Gov. Neil Abercrombie today notified legislators of his decision to limit his vetoes to three. Hawaii Reporter.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz raised $911,000 in the past quarter for his Democratic primary for Senate against U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa, his campaign said Tuesday, bringing his total to more than $2 million. Star-Advertiser.

Every year at this time, public officials from the governor on down are required to report gifts valued at more than $200 received over the past year. These disclosures can be revealing, sometimes funny, sometimes boring, and occasionally suspect. Civil Beat.

Hawaii energy officials are raising questions about a recent analysis by Hawaiian Electric Co. that says Oahu can meet state renewable energy goals without using undersea cables to tap neighbor island resources. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii have created an online safety brochure for Hawaii’s visitors, residents and industry partners, the HTA said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

When the University of Hawaii signed a contract with the military five years ago allowing the U.S. Navy to develop a controversial research lab within UH, a key stipulation was that the results would be publicly available. But the university and Navy have disclosed few details about the research conducted over the course of the contract. And UH officials appear poised to sign off on a new agreement that would seal the deal on another five years before the public gets a chance to chime in. Civil Beat.

State roundup for July 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

In court Tuesday the defense attorney for U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy played parts of the McDonald's restaurant's security surveillance video showing the aftermath of the agent shooting a Kailua man. Star-Advertiser.

The murder trial of Christopher Deedy continued in Honolulu Circuit Court on Tuesday. Prosecutors showed a picture of Elderts, who was wearing a baseball cap, and six friends having dinner at a restaurant in Waikiki. KHON2.

Honolulu's bus drivers ratified a new five-year labor contract Tuesday with Oahu Transit Services Inc., the company that runs TheBus. Star-Advertiser.

The veteran Oahu Community Correctional Center sergeant who apparently suffered cardiac arrest while on duty was alone because the second guard assigned to work with him had been moved because of a staff shortage elsewhere in the prison, sources told Hawaii News Now.

City officials admit they "bit off more than they can chew" with their bulky item trash pick-up program, but they say they're not the only ones to blame.  Consistent, scheduled bulky item pick-up is unheard of in most cities, especially when it's offered for free as it is here in Honolulu. Hawaii News Now.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is asking the public to comment on a draft plan for managing nearly 500 acres of conservation land in Oahu's Waimanalo valley. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A bill aimed at curbing the invasive albizia tree in East Hawaii has residents of other areas worrying about an overreaching county government that could clear occupied lots of unpopular plants and bill the owners, placing a lien against their property if they don’t pay. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Council members agreed Tuesday that Puna residents need a safe place to swim at Isaac Hale Beach Park. Tribune-Herald.

A proposal to prevent nonprofits from tapping the County Council’s contingency funds narrowly received a favorable nod Tuesday from council members. Tribune-Herald.

A compromise that would bring a little more transparency to the process of creating a Planned Unit Development is being crafted by the County Council Planning Committee, which on Tuesday seemed closer to an alternative offered by the administration over a bill sponsored by a council member. West Hawaii Today.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui — in his role as acting governor in the absence of Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who is on business in Taiwan through Friday — signed a pair of bills on Tuesday that appropriate funds for programs affecting Hilo and Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hundreds of disabled Maui residents are finding their "lifeline to the outside world" in "serious jeopardy" due to a recent switch in paratransit service providers, according to a Kihei resident who uses the service. Maui News.

Mokulele Airlines has been awarded a four-year, $1.76 million federally subsidized contract to provide 12 round-trip flights a week between Wai­mea on Hawaii island and Kahului. Star-Advertiser.

The Maui Police Department has acquired a Lenco "Bearcat" armored vehicle that will provide the department's Special Response Team with armored protection and tactical capabilities during high-risk operations, officials said. Maui News.

Amid declining inventories, sales of single-family homes rose 10 percent to 485 units- with median prices jumping 20 percent to $542,000 - in the first six months of the year, compared with the same period last year, data released Saturday by the Realtors Association of Maui showed. Maui News.

The Maui Department of Water Supply continues an ongoing capital improvement project to replace waterlines in Wailuku. The latest phase of the project begins tonight, July 9, at 8 p.m. and continues until 6 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10, officials said. Maui Now.

Kauai

A senior engineer with the County Department of Water has filed an age discrimination suit against the Department of Personnel Services. Garden Island.

The Kauai Planning Commission unanimously approved Tuesday a bill to repeal the last surviving Iniki ordinance. The repeal would place a barrier that could make it difficult to rebuild the iconic Coco Palms Resort. Garden Island.

Hawaii to lose money on Superferry docks, Honolulu faces property tax hike, Hawaiian Airlines starts nonstop Taiwan flights, federal agent trial begins, ahi decline, Big Island council busts travel budget, Maui pushes solar, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Superferry dock on Oahu (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The last of the controversial Hawaii Superferry project will be auctioned off next week in an online auction whose starting bid of $250,000 for barges and ramps at harbors in Honolulu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island is a fraction of the $40 million the state of Hawaii spent to build them. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines became the only U.S. carrier offering nonstop service between Hawaii and Taiwan early this morning when it took off from Honolulu to the capital city of Taipei. Gov. Neil Abercrombie was among the passengers on the scheduled 1:55 a.m. flight that state tourism officials hope will lead to a jump in visitors from Taiwan to Hawaii. Other dignitaries on the flight included the governor’s chief of staff, Bruce Coppa; and V.C. Chu, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

More mahimahi may end up on your plate than ahi if the forecast made in a recent study holds true. Longline fishermen are reducing the amount of bigeye tuna, marlin and other large fish in the Pacific, according to a paper by NOAA scientists Jeffrey Polovina and Phoebe Woodworth-Jefcoats. Civil Beat.

Department of Defense sequestration furloughs took hold this week, forcing more than 16,000 civilian workers in Hawaii to start taking a day off without pay. Star-Advertiser.

The debate about genetically altered seeds and biotech has moved from picket lines at the state Capitol to heated public hearings on the Big Island and Kauai. Both county councils are debating bills that could have far-reaching impacts on Hawaii’s agribusiness and farming industries after state legislation requiring labels on imported GMO foods failed to pass this session. Civil Beat.

Families with students in public schools will be able to earn a little more and still qualify for free or reduced school meals, Department of Education officials say. The department recently released the revised income eligibility guidelines for the program, which subsidizes the costs of school meals. West Hawaii Today.

Projects for federal preservation program sought. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Faced with mounting bills for city worker raises, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is looking to increase some property taxes and city fees. Hawaii News Now.

A Honolulu police officer testified Monday that State Department special agent Christopher Deedy smelled of alcohol, had glassy eyes, slurred his speech and had a hard time balancing himself after the 2011 fatal shooting of a Kailua man at a McDonald's restaurant in Waikiki. Star-Advertiser.

A federal agent was fueled by alcohol, a sense of authority and a friend’s warning about hostility of locals when he shot and killed a man in a Waikiki McDonald’s, a prosecutor told jurors Monday. Associated Press.

After a day of opening arguments in the Christopher Deedy murder trial one thing is apparent: much of the case will rest on a choppy surveillance video and the perceptions of jurors. Deedy is a U.S. State Department special agent who was in Honolulu in November 2011 as part of a diplomatic security detail for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Civil Beat.

Before 29 year old Federal Agent Christopher Deedy even walked into court, and before any testimony was given, protestors outside the courthouse already had him pegged as guilty of the murder of Kollin Elderts. Hawaii News Now.

After a nearly four-year search and several pay boosts, the city announced Monday it has finally hired a new chief medical examiner. Dr. Christopher B. Happy, a forensic pathologist, is expected to take the helm of the city Medical Examiner's Office in several months, once he's licensed to practice medicine in Hawaii and confirmed by the Hono­lulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

A hospital and clinics, commissaries, and even a beach. Those are just some of the Oahu facilities affected by Department of Defense furloughs that began on Monday. KHON2.

It could be just a blip — or a sign of more to come — but Oahu's housing market got within a hair of breaking a price record in June.  Honolulu Board of Realtors report released Monday showed that buyers paid a median $677,250 for single-family houses on the island last month, just 1 percent shy of the peak for any month set in June 2007 at $685,000. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu is likely to continue to get "extreme" doses of ultraviolet radiation from the sun over the summer months, putting people at high risk for sunburns and increasing long-term risks for developing skin cancers, say weather and medical experts. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi is holding the line on travel. The Hawaii County Council, not so much. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo will sport a shiny new coat of paint after being named a winner of a promotional contest. Representatives from Benjamin Moore & Co. announced that Hilo will join a total of 20 towns across the U.S. and Canada in receiving a paint job free of charge as winners of its Main Street Matters competition. Tribune-Herald.

A state plan to reopen Kulani Correctional Facility cleared an environmental hurdle this week, when the Department of Health’s Office of Environmental Quality Control issued a finding of no significant impact for the project. West Hawaii Today.

Police were called to the Waiakea Intermediate School campus Monday morning after custodial staff found homemade bottle bombs there. State Department of Education spokesman Alex Da Silva said the devices appeared to be soda bottles filled with Mentos candies, while police Lt. Melvin Yamamoto of Hilo Patrol said that police don’t know the chemicals that were in the plastic bottles. Tribune-Herald.

Forest City Hawaii’s mostly affordable 2,330-home planned community on 272 acres in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island has recently begun its first phase, which includes building out roadways and infrastructure, the project’s developer told PBN. Pacific Business News.

Renovations worth $5.8 million are under way at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. Tribune-Herald.

A Hawaii Island minister in jail for three years on drug charges is treated more like a terrorist than a free-spirited minister whose religious beliefs include the cultivation and use of marijuana, some lawmakers and civil rights advocates say. Hawaii Reporter.

Maui

With a mere 30 solar water heating systems in Hana, a program teaching students how to install the systems and educate them about its benefits could prompt more East Maui residents to invest in alternative energy, with proponents saying that a household could save as much as 40 percent on its electric bill with the systems. Maui News.

It wasn't close to a record, but the median sale price for single-family houses on Maui in June ticked up to its highest point for any month in almost five years. The Realtors Association of Maui issued its June sales report Saturday showing that houses sold for a median $615,000 last month. Star-Advertiser.

After living in the Sea Country subdivision in Maili for about seven years, Melissa Lauer said she's disappointed that the well-utilized, 11-acre city-run park in the center of the community remains mostly unchanged and still lacks restroom facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Mokulele Airlines will begin offering service next week between Kona International Airport on Hawaii island and Kapa­lua Airport on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

A 44-year-old Napili woman died Sunday afternoon as police said Monday she had shot herself at the Ukumehame Firing Range while taking a firearms education safety class. Maui News.

Kauai

A recent spike in burglaries around Kauai seems to be declining, police say, but victims say they fear thieves are spreading into more neighborhoods. Garden Island.

The Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai is getting a new commander this week. Associated Press.

Smoking ban coming to Oahu beaches and parks, federal report blasts JPAC, Hawaii Army National Guard on furlough, federal agent's murder trial starts today, Kauai addresses beach bathrooms, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki beach scene (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Lawmakers could get one step closer to making it harder to light up in Oahu. This week two smoking bills face final readings. Smoking at all city and county public parks could become illegal. KITV4.

A new state law allowing proof of ancestry to be taken from several sources is expected to make it easier to expand the roll of Native Hawaiians - a move that could help them form their own government. Associated Press.

Monday will not be a work day for some 1,100 full-time members of the Hawaii Army National Guard. It will be a furlough day, thanks to federal sequestration budget cuts. Hawaii News Now.

The Pentagon's Hawaii-based effort to account for tens of thousands of Americans missing in action from foreign wars is so inept, mismanaged and wasteful that it risks descending from "dysfunction to total failure," according to an internal study suppressed by military officials. The report paints a picture of a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, a military-run group known as JPAC and headed by a two-star general in Hawaii, as woefully inept and even corrupt. Associated Press.

Mere hours before the world was introduced to Edward Snowden, more than 400 people, many of them from Hawaii’s intelligence community, gathered for a gala inside the hangar of the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor at Ford Island. Civil Beat.

A Civil Beat review found at least eight high-level Public Utilities Commission employees who have left in the past several years for jobs at HECO, other utilities the commission regulates or law firms representing those companies.  The turnover is troubling in and of itself, but it’s of particular concern when PUC employees head down the street to Hawaiian Electric Co.

An arbitration panel has awarded a six-year contract with increases staggered in the fourth through sixth years of its term for members of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers. Maui News.

The state’s first performance contract with public charter schools will give the schools’ governing commission the authority to do more than threaten to revoke a school’s charter, the commission’s executive director said this week. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii teachers often struggle to incorporate art into their classes because of severely limited public funding and the demands of federal and state education requirements that place an emphasis on testing in core subjects such as math and reading. Civil Beat.

The number of initial unemployment claims filed in Hawaii dropped by 15.4 percent last week compared to the same week of 2012, according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for July 8. Associated Press.

Oahu

The trial for a federal agent charged with murder in the shooting death of a man at the Waikiki McDonald's begins Monday morning. Hawaii News Now will be live streaming the proceedings starting Monday at 10 a.m.

A mega church is changing the landscape of West Oahu. They are moving forward with purchasing more than 200 acres of Kunia farmland and building an entire church community. KHON2 sat down with the pastor of New Hope Leeward in an exclusive interview to find out what this $30 million expansion plan entails.

Hawaii

Hawaii Island is poised to become a major player in the U.S. oyster industry, as growers on the mainland wrestle with the effects of climate change. Tribune-Herald.

Now that each County Council member gets a $98,877 contingency fund, Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi wants to be sure the money goes for district necessities rather than donated to nonprofits. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee will hear two bills proposing reforms to the Planned Unit Development process at a 9:15 a.m. Tuesday hearing in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Council voted Friday to move forward with a formal investigation into the potential misuse of county funds appropriated for rehabilitation of the Old Wailuku Post Office.Maui News.

Agreeing that Maui County residents are "increasingly frustrated" with Maui Electric Co., Mayor Alan Arakawa has written to Public Utility Commission Chairwoman Hermina Morita to thank the commission for its recent decision to lower power rates. Maui News.

The Maui County Council gave initial approval on Friday to a bill that seeks to rename the Waiheʻe Ball Park on Halewaiu Road to the Richard “Pablo” Caldito Sr. Park. Maui Now.

Kauai

In response to the growing concern over the bathrooms at county parks, Mayor Bernard Carvalho has assembled a multi-agency team to address repairs and upgrades to county parks. Garden Island.

State officials are proposing nighttime construction to mitigate traffic impacts and fast track a project to improve flow for more than 27,000 vehicles that cross the old Lihue Mill Bridge daily. Garden Island.

Hawaii Convention Center gets new manager, public campaign finance program pau, Honolulu police investigate kickbacks, DOE facing $12M cut, state emergency fund restored, Dems party in Kona, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Window washers on Hawaii Convention Center (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

AEG Facilities will manage the Hawaii Convention Center starting in 2014 under a new five-year contract announced Wednesday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. says it is years ahead of schedule in meeting renewable energy goals. And it won't have to rely on controversial interisland cables to bring power from the neighbor islands to Oahu, the company says. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed bills to repay $100 million to the state’s hurricane and emergency reserves and set plans to fully fund future health benefits for state employees. Abercrombie on Wednesday said Hawaii is no longer a “pay-as-you-go” state. Associated Press.

The local AARP chapter is rallying its 148,000 Hawaii members and the public against a Social Security cut proposal for the next fiscal year. To reduce the budget deficit, a chained consumer price index, or CPI, would reduce the annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for recipients of Medicare and Social Security. Star-Advertiser.

The $174,000 a year members of Congress get seems like a decent salary. But many, including three members of Hawaii’s delegation, are doing even better. They're able to supplement their income with thousands more in in state pension benefits. Civil Beat.

More than 1,100 National Guard soldiers and airmen in Hawaii — and thousands in other states — will be living with 20 percent less pay over the next three months as the Defense Department carries out automatic federal budget cuts. Associated Press.

The Department of Education says it's facing a $12 million budget shortfall during the next year under an imposed budget restriction that could undermine the school system's ability to pay for utilities, bus transportation, school lunches and substitute teachers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Department of Education is making some changes in its execution of the four-year, $75 million federal Race to the Top (RTTT) program. Hawaii Independent.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has named his former chief of staff and a University of Hawaii education professor to serve as interim appointments on the Board of Education, effective July 15. Amy Asselbaye, who previously served as longtime aide to Abercrombie in Congress and at the state Capitol, was named to the nine-member board's Oahu seat. Patricia Halagao, an associate professor in curriculum studies at UH-Manoa's College of Education, was named to an at-large seat. Star-Advertiser.

Keeping track of who's Native Hawaiian is about to get easier and cheaper as the state gets rid of some major paperwork hassles. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Department of Health announced Wednesday the release of the state’s first statewide Community Health Needs Assessment. Under the federal Affordable Care Act, nonprofit health-care facilities are required to conduct individual Community Health Needs Assessments every three years. Pacific Business News.

A touching moment between a grandfather and his only grandchild. While most people called him Sen. Inouye, 3-year-old Maggie called him “pa” or “Grandpa Dan.” KITV4.

State 7/5. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Department conducted internal investigations into former Major Carlton Nishimura and delayed his promotion because of long-time rumors that he was extorting money from gambling parlors, sources told Hawaii News Now.

A committee is reviewing hundreds of submissions to create public art in stations of Honolulu's planned rail system. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation says more than 400 art submittals were received by last week's deadline, which was extended by a week. Associated Press.

A local teen took it upon himself as his Eagle Scout service project to improve the Utah Memorial, and the result was a collaboration of Scouts, contractors and other businesses who pitched in hundreds of hours of work and more than $16,000 in materials. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A program aimed at leveling the playing field by providing public funding for Hawaii County Council candidates will not continue next year, after the program’s bank account dipped below the $3.5 million threshold set by state law. West Hawaii Today.

Three of Hawaii’s four Congressional delegates landed in West Hawaii Thursday afternoon to meet with fellow Democratic Party members and march in the Kailua-Kona Fourth of July parade. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County’s Mass Transit Agency is reminding the public that Hele-On bus drivers will begin collecting an extra dollar from riders next week. Tribune-Herald.

The Fourth of July is usually reserved for celebrating our nation’s independence with fireworks, parades and cookouts, but on Thursday five turtles celebrated their freedom as they waded into the Pacific Ocean for the first time at the Mauna Lani Resort’s 24th annual Turtle Independence Day. Stephens Media.

Specialized teams of rangers from Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park rappelled nearly 200 feet into a remote pit crater last week, but they weren't looking for an injured hiker. The mission was to save four endangered native plant species from extinction. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii County Council will have to wait until the end of the month to consider any action on a bill to limit the use of genetically modified crops. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County's community health needs are topped by respiratory diseases, followed by injury prevention and safety and mental health and mental disorders, according to the Hawaii Hospitals Health Needs Assessment released Wednesday. Maui News.

A bill that would give the county water director, with the consent of the mayor, the power to impose higher rates during water shortages was deferred yet again by members of the Maui County Council's Water Resources Committee on Wednesday. Maui News.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard met with stakeholders in the Native Hawaiian education community on Maui today to gather input and provide an update on efforts to save programs made possible under the Native Hawaiian Education Act. Maui Now.

Mayor Alan Arakawa recently visited Hangzhou, China, capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province, where he attended the Second Annual World Cultural Forum from May 17 to 19. Maui Weekly.

Kauai

Some Kauai residents aren’t happy with a recent Department of Water rate hike to fund future infrastructure projects and pay off existing bonds. Garden Island.

All is well with Kauai’s drinking water, according to David Craddick, manager of the Kauai County Department of Water. Garden Island.

The executive director of a Kauai foundation trying to prevent drownings says rescue tube kiosks that have worked on the island are coming to other parts of Hawaii. Associated Press.

Lanai

Reporting “Larry’s Lanai,” which appeared in the June 28 print edition of PBN, took me through quite a journey on the Pineapple Island, where I found that most businesses, such as Hotel Lanai, owned by the husband and wife team of Tom Kiely and Mary Charles, are way better off than a year ago. That’s when Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison bought most of the island for a reported $300 million from fellow billionaire and Castle & Cooke CEO David Murdock, which during the last few years of his ownership, cut down on investing into the island, according to some in the community. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Proud to be Hawaii's #1 solo news blog, three years in a row!

I am beaming.

The judges for the Society of Professional Journalists 2012 Excellence in Journalism awards recognized what I already know-- maintaining All Hawaii News day in and day out is a lot of work:

"This site represents an impressive amount of work for a single blogger. And it's incredibly informative. Nice job."

All Hawaii News, which will celebrate its 5th anniversary later this year, has become for me a labor of love. That's a good thing, as it certainly hasn't made me a millionaire.

This blog is how I read the day's news each morning. It's a way for me to share my passion for government and political news with the world.

All Hawaii News is a boutique blog. It appeals to a small but steadily growing group of decision-makers and media types. It attracts readers from across the state, the Mainland U.S., China, the South Pacific and Russia.

This blog will never get as many Google hits as someone's obese cat. It will never embrace the "If it bleeds, it leads" mentality.

But if one person is better informed about government and politics across our tiny island chain in the middle of the Pacific, my mission has been accomplished.

Don't let that stop you from dropping a buck or two in the collection box to the right, however.

:)
N

Head of Hawaii historic preservation resigns, public hospital group ousts CEO, Roseanne Barr, hundreds more testify on GMO at county council meeting, Kauai ignores lobbyist law, Hanabusa-Schatz Senate race in the spotlight, four-star general takes over Pacific region, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ancient Hawaiian checkers, or Konane, lies unprotected at Kawa Bay (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

The federal government did not pressure the state to replace the head of its embattled historic preservation office, but after a critical assessment of that office, management changes needed to be made, according to William Aila, director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Pua Aiu, the head of Hawaii's State Historic Preservation Division, has resigned amid strong criticism from federal officials that she failed to address operational problems that have put the department's federal certification and funding at risk. Civil Beat.

The administrator of Hawaii's state Historic Preservation Division has resigned after a federal report criticized the way the office was responding to operational problems that threaten federal funding. Associated Press.

The Abercrombie administration says it remains optimistic about the state's economic recovery but will continue to withhold 5 percent of discretionary spending from state departments as a precaution. The 5 percent restriction will be used as a contingency reserve in case the recovery is not sustainable. A budget memo sent to state departments Friday said the state's tourism-driven economy is vulnerable to national and international factors, including a contraction in federal spending, economic volatility in Europe, slowdowns in Asia and unrest in the Middle East. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Health Systems Corp., the state public hospital system, has ousted its chief executive officer, Bruce Anderson, amid pressure to keep up with technological demands and secure new cash for the struggling facilities. Star-Advertiser.

Two former governors, a retired U.S. senator, a retired state Supreme Court chief justice and the widow of U.S. Sen. Daniel Ino­uye stood with U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa on Tuesday night in a show of strength for her Demo­cratic primary campaign for U.S. Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Two former Hawaii governors, a former chief justice and a former U.S. senator heartily and publicly endorsed Colleen Hanabusa for Senate Tuesday, arguing that leadership trumps Senate seniority. Civil Beat.

The 2014 Hawaii Senate primary launched an early polling war Tuesday, as allies of both Democratic Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Sen. Brian Schatz moved to define perceptions of who has the advantage in the race. POLITICO obtained surveys taken for both the Schatz campaign and the Hanabusa-backing group EMILY’s List, which show markedly different pictures of the race.

The Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate are hanging on very different information.  More than a year from the primary the campaigning is well underway. Hawaii News Now.

City Councilman Stanley Chang, the only declared candidate in the race for the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, raised $158,000 in the second quarter of the year, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law two bills intended to rein in the state's spending on school bus transportation. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education has finalized details of its new "educator effectiveness" system — a redesigned teacher evaluation that takes into account student academic achievement — as it prepares to unveil the rating system statewide when school starts Aug. 5. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii increased its number of executive managers by 14 percent from 2006 to 2012, costing taxpayers millions more a year during the recession when many businesses experienced layoffs or job freezes and the university dealt with massive budget cuts. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents' Presidential Committee took its first steps Tuesday toward hiring the UH system's next leader. The nine-member committee discussed presidential selection criteria, the composition of the selection committee that will be tasked with vetting and proposing candidates to the board, the use of a search firm and/or presidential search consultant, and community outreach strategies. Star-Advertiser.

By a more than 2-to-1 margin, Hawaii voters want a ban on semi-automatic military-style assault weapons in the islands, according to a Civil Beat poll.

For the first time in nearly four decades, the U.S. Army in the Pacific is again being run by a four-star general, reflecting the pendulum swing of the nation's attention back to the region after 12 years of war in the Middle East. Star-Advertiser.

A four-star general took command of the Army in Asia and the Pacific for the first time in nearly four decades on Friday as the military’s national security focus shifts to the region. Gen. Vincent Brooks succeeded Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski, a three-star general who retired after leading U.S. Army Pacific for the past two years. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s ranking among best American highway systems — we’re No. 48 — was a surprise to Cliff Slater, a transportation expert who runs HonoluluTraffic.com. Hawaii Reporter.

“It is a terrible time to be a journalist,” First Amendment lawyer Jeff Portnoy told several dozen Hawaii journalists Friday, during a Society of Professional Journalists awards dinner here. Hawaii Reporter.

The union representing Allegiant Air flight attendants said Tuesday the airline is eliminating nearly half its Hawaii-based jobs. Associated Press.

State roundup for July 3. Associated Press.

State 7/3. Associated Press.

Oahu

In two weeks, crews will start to remove the massive bypass pipe from the Ala Wai Canal. It’ll take them about 45 days to finish. As part of the project, some other changes are coming to Ala Wai Community Park, but some of the changes aren’t sitting well with some of the paddlers. KHON2.

Honolulu-based renewable energy firm Hoku Corp. and two of its affiliates filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Tuesday, ending a long downward spiral that began with the company's ill-fated attempt to develop a polysilicon plant in Idaho. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. State Department special agent Christopher Deedy is expected to testify during his murder trial in the 2011 shooting of a Kailua man in Waikiki, his lawyer disclosed in court Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Actress Roseanne Barr criticized genetic engineering before the Hawaii County Council on Tuesday. Barr, who owns a farm in Hamakua, spoke in favor of a bill to limit the use of genetically modified crops on the Big Island, saying people need to listen to independent research on the biotech industry. Tribune-Herald.

So many people signed up to testify on a GMO bill ban in Hawai'i County, it was impossible to hear from them all.  Opponents and advocates will both have to return Wednesday if they want to address the City Council. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii County Council reserved a full day Tuesday to testimony on a bill to limit the use of genetically engineered crops. But even that fell short of what they needed. Tribune-Herald.

When the state and county Civil Defense agencies conducted their monthly check of the emergency notification system on Monday, many in coastal East Hawaii heard the sounds of silence instead of the sounds of sirens. County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said that 18 sirens, primarily in Hilo and Puna, failed to activate during the test, which always occurs at 11:45 a.m. on the first government work day of the month. Tribune-Herald.

At the behest of Hawaii residents and politicians, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened the public comment period on a proposal to list nearly 19,000 acres between Palani Road and Waikoloa on the Big Island as critical habitat for three plant species. It is also seeking to list 15 species as endangered. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Though Maui's tourism industry has enjoyed double-digit growth in the past three years, Maui Visitors Bureau Executive Director Terryl Vencl said businesses should expect those gains to "level off" soon. Maui News.

By December, wastewater from the county's Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility will be further treated with ultraviolet disinfection, according to the county and a federal annual water report released last week. The ultraviolet disinfection will help remove matter from the wastewater that is injected into wells that eventually make their way to the ocean through underwater seeps. Maui News.

The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development announced a new grant assistance program designed to help small businesses in Hāna, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi, by providing 40/60 matching grants. Maui Now.

The Maui council’s Budget and Finance Committee discussed a proposed budget amendment to add a fee for advertising inside county buses. Maui Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill last month to dedicate $2.2 million toward forest watershed protection in Maui County during fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Maui News.

Kauai

Thirty-five years ago, Hawaii voters approved an amendment to the State Constitution strengthening the regulation of ethics, and requiring state and county ethics codes to meet certain minimum standards, including the registration and regulation of lobbyists. But Kauai County apparently never got the message. Kauai still has no system for regulating lobbyists, and county officials seem blissfully unaware they have been ignoring a key constitutional provision for decades. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard greeted around 20 North Shore constituents at a “Tulsi in Your Town” outreach at the Hanalei Community Center Tuesday. Garden Island.

Nearly three months behind the original schedule, the Wailua portion of the Ke Ala Hele Makalae, or the path that goes along the coast, quietly opened Friday. Garden Island.

Lanai

Hawaii State Energy Office Administrator Mark Glick said Tuesday that the 200-megawatt portion of the so-called “Big Wind” project on Lanai isn’t essential for helping the state reach its renewable energy goal. Pacific Business News.

Larry Ellison’s Lanai Resorts LLC has been renamed Pulama Lanai, which means “to cherish,” or “to treasure” Lanai, according to a source close to the company. Pacific Business News.

Lana`i Resorts on Tuesday announced that it has changed its name to Pulama Lana'i, which means "cherish" Lanai, to reflect part of the company's mission to take care of the island and its people, said Chief Operating Officer Kurt Matsumoto. Maui News.

Abercrombie's job approval same in poll, legislators get $12k raise, Honolulu evicts homeless, Ellison airlines buy still a go!, laws fight sex trafficking, protect children, University of Hawaii to digitize Inouye's life work, sequestration hits Kauai military, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu H1 traffic, courtesy Danny de Gracia II

Hawaii has the smallest state highway system in the nation and spends nearly the most among all the states to maintain its roads. But the Aloha State still ranked 48th out of 50 in overall performance and efficiency for its state highways, a new study by a Los Angeles-based think tank found. Star-Advertiser.

A Civil Beat Poll shows that 48 percent of registered voters disapprove of his job performance while just 45 percent approve.  Abercrombie's approval rating is about where it was in January, when Civil Beat last conducted a survey. In other words, he hasn't seen his numbers drop.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed three pieces of legislation into law Monday aimed at combating sex trafficking in Hawaii and increasing services for victims. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's prostitution and human trafficking laws just got a lot tougher. Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed four bills into law this year — three on Monday — that increase services for victims and heighten penalties for those who solicit prostitutes. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a domestic workers bill of rights Monday, making Hawaii the second U.S. state to give nannies, housekeepers and others protections on wages and other labor issues. Associated Press.

Currently, Hawaii legislators receive $46,273 per year for their part-time position at the legislature.  But that is about to increase by $10,000. As of July 1, legislators’ salaries will rise to $55,896. On January 1, 2014, lawmakers will receive another $2,000 pay hike. Hawaii Reporter.

The life work of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye will be digitized through a partnership between the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Library of Congress. A ceremony was held Monday at Hamilton Library to celebrate the collaboration as Ino­uye's widow, Irene Hirano Ino­uye, and representatives of UH and the Library of Congress signed an agreement on the partnership to establish the Daniel K. Ino­uye Project, honoring his legacy in public service. Star-Advertiser.

Will Hawaii Guava Jelly Win Friends and Influence Members of Congress? Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co., the largest power provider in the state, unveiled Monday a five-year plan that includes shutting down the Honolulu power plant near Aloha Tower, incorporating more renewable energy on its grids and converting customers to smart meters. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaiian Electric Cos. said Monday that it is shutting down its Downtown Honolulu power plant, as well as others on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island as part of its plan to meet future electricity needs, which it recently submitted to the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

HECO Releases New Five-Year Energy Plans. Civil Beat.

The federal Housing and Urban Development offices will be closed nationwide, including Hawaii, on Friday, as part of spending cuts, the agency said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Reporter received six awards at the Society of Professional Journalists awards banquet on Friday, June 28, including three first places awards.

State roundup for July 2. Associated Press.

Oahu

City employees and private social workers will spend this week implementing the county's new law designed to remove homeless campers and others from Hono­lulu sidewalks. On Monday the city raided three spots used by the homeless campers: the Ala Wai Promenade at the Ewa entrance to Waikiki, Hono­lulu Stadium Park and Moiliili Field. No one was arrested in the three sweeps. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens of homeless campers are off of Honolulu's sidewalks and on the move. The city used a new law to seize their belongings without warning in Waikiki and Moiliili on Monday morning. Hawaii News Now.

Last week, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said enforcement of the city's new sidewalk nuisance law would involve "compassionate disruption." On Monday, the mayor lived up to his promise more than two months after Bill 7 was signed into law. KITV4.

Too much crime pushes business out of Chinatown. KHON2.

The Honolulu Police Department has begun an internal affairs investigation into the actions of a veteran police officer who was caught on video in a confrontation with a man trying to file a complaint against him. The police union confirmed the officer had been previously fired by HPD in another incident but regained his job. Hawaii News Now.

More than 400 artist applications were submitted for the chance to decorate Honolulu’s 21 future rail stations. Civil Beat.

Labor union Unite Here and Hyatt Hotels Corp. have announced an agreement to resolve a long-standing contract dispute and end a 2-year-old global boycott against the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa. Star-Advertiser.

Waianae family waits 5 months for solar power switch, blames HECO & City. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Agricultural Foundation said Monday that it is now accepting applications for 11 acres in the second of several parcels in the 182-acre Kunia Agricultural Park. Pacific Business News.

State government and military officials broke ground Monday at Hale Kula Elementary campus at Schofield Barracks where a planned $33 million renovation project for the 54-year-old school is now underway. Star-Advertiser.

As a state representative and a stalwart pillar of the Democratic Party, Ernest "Juggie" Heen Jr. was a tireless worker for civil rights and workers' rights, tracing his passion to the 1940s, when as a teenager he accompanied his father, Ernest Sr., to his job as city clerk. Star-Advertiser.

On O'ahu, the Kailua fireworks display is back! And communities across the state are gearing up for their own 4th of July festivities. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

The debate over genetically modified organisms has Big Island farmers sitting on both sides of the fence. Tribune-Herald.

Stephens Media Hawaii newspapers took home 11 trophies, including four first-place honors, in the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii chapter 2012 Excellence in Journalism awards, presented Friday in Honolulu. West Hawaii Today.

A real-life accident didn’t interrupt a disaster drill, but it did provide valuable insight for the employees at Hale Hoola Hamakua, a 77-bed hospital and long-term care facility in Honokaa. West Hawaii Today.

Pahoa High and Intermediate School leads Big Island schools in the number of cases of serious misconduct committed by students over the last five years. Tribune-Herald.

An open ocean aquaculture company has received another international patent for its fish pens. Hawaii Oceanic Technology Inc. received a Canadian patent for its oceanspheres, CEO Bill Spencer said Monday. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii Island senator will be taking over a new committee this legislative session. The state Senate’s leadership selected Sen. Gil Kahele, D-Hilo, to chair the newly formed Tourism Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Second Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza denied a motion by Public Access Trails Hawaii on Friday morning to expedite the discovery period in an ongoing lawsuit against Haleakala Ranch. The ranch, which has sought to retain ownership of Haleakala Trail from the state for the past two years, was granted 90 days to respond to expert reports yet to be provided by the hikers' group. PATH has until July 17 to produce the documents. Maui News.

Water customers on Maui will see their rates increase by an average 5% when the Maui Department of Water Supply implements a planned water rate increase on July 1, 2013, official said. Maui Now.

The state Senate has split the Committee on Tourism and Hawaiian Affairs into two committees, with Central Maui Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran appointed as vice chairman of the Senate Tourism Committee. Maui News.

Kauai

Overall sequestration efforts by the Department of Defense will affect up to 13 percent of employees at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kekaha, who will have an additional 11 days off from now until mid-September. PMRF Public Affairs Matthew Diendorf said the facility employs about 1,000 people, including about 800 contractors, 70 military and 130 government employees. Garden Island.

Two months after the Hawaii Army National Guard announced and later withdrew its proposal for an expanded danger zone in the waters fronting the shooting range in Kekaha, the U.S. Navy has followed suit. Garden Island.

Kauai County Managing Director Gary Heu announced Monday that he will be retiring effective Oct. 31 after serving more than a decade as the county’s second-in-command and a brief stint as mayor. Garden Island.

Kauai County’s Managing Director Gary Heu announced that he will retire in October. Star-Advertiser.

To improve access to public services, the county recently began making modifications to the parking lot at the Lihue Civic Center. The work, which consists of several concurrent projects that follow the LCC master plan, is expected to be completed by the end of January 2014. Garden Island.

Lanai

The sale of go! airlines to the majority owner of Lanai, Larry Ellison, is still happening, despite the lack of an official announcement, Pacific Business News has learned.

Early Hawaii poll gives Schatz edge over Hanabusa for U.S. Senate, Hawaii shippers reach contract, federal public defenders in budget crunch, 'Rainbow' returns to Warriers' name, axis deer worry Maui and Big Island, Kaui upping dog license, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Brian Schatz, Colleen Hanabusa vie for U.S. Senate

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz has a narrow lead over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic Senate primary, 36 percent to 33 percent, according to the latest Civil Beat Poll. But with a 3.3 percent margin of error and nearly one-fourth of voters surveyed saying they are undecided, neither candidate has a clear advantage in a race that will be decided just over a year from now, on Aug. 9, 2014.

A four-year contract agreement reached this weekend between Matson Inc. and three unions that represent workers on its cargo ships does not include any cutbacks for workers, a president of one of the unions said Sunday. The new contract, which is subject to ratification by members of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, the Seafarers International Union and the Marine Firemen’s Union, was agreed upon Saturday, less than a day before Sunday’s midnight strike deadline. Star-Advertiser.

Three seagoing unions, the Sailors' Union of the Pacific, Seafarers International Union and Marine Fireman's Union, reached an agreement with the shipping giant Matson Saturday afternoon.  Hawaii News Now.

To avoid a projected budget deficit, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state lawmakers made the painful choice in 2011 to temporarily suspend general excise tax exemptions on nearly two dozen business activities. The move was supposed to generate $173 million in fiscal year 2012 and $220 million in fiscal year 2013, the largest tax adjustment taken by the state during the recession. But the state does not know how much money was actually generated. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie plans to sign two bills designed to prevent human trafficking. Abercrombie’s office says the governor will sign a bill that puts children who are victims of sex and labor trafficking within the scope of the Child Protective Act. Associated Press.

Fiscal years begin July 1 on most financial calendars, and a slew of state government spending regulations kick in each year on that date. Policy laws also hit the books in a wave, though states often mark their independence by enacting such legislation on their own time. Associated Press.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission has for years wrestled with how to make sure people abide by the gifts law. It’s finally come to the point that commissioners on Wednesday realized they need to do a comprehensive review of the statute and all the advisory opinions surrounding it. Civil Beat.

A third or more of the Hawaii federal public defender's staff might have to be laid off in coming months as a result of sequestration and other budget cuts, said Peter Wolff, the federal public defender for the District of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

In an effort to improve the state's educational system, the Hawaii Department of Education is working to trade expensive management consultants for teams of specialists with specific knowledge of local schools. Civil Beat.

The 'Rainbow' is making its return to Manoa on Monday, as previously announced name changes for University of Hawaii athletics teams have officially gone into effect. In May, University of Hawaii at Manoa Athletics Director Ben Jay announced that all men's teams at the school—including football—would be known as the Rainbow Warriors, effective July 1. Hawaii News Now.

New findings from the University of Hawaii about how molten rock pushes against Earth's crust could help better predict earthquakes across the globe and shed new light on the Hawaiian Islands' geological origins, university officials say. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for July 1. Associated Press.

Oahu
Starting today, Oahu's popular — and free — Freeway Service Patrol will expand its coverage of the H-1 freeway three miles eastward to Aina­koa Avenue in Wai­alae, the Department of Transportation announced Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Starting Monday, July 1, Oahu’s sidewalks will start to look a lot cleaner because the city will start enforcing the new sidewalk law. The new law will allow city crews to immediately remove personal property deemed a “sidewalk-nuisance.” KHON2.

The City and County of Honolulu’s Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing in July on a proposed land use change for Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii Inc.’s planned 5,000-home Koa Ridge development in Central Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Flight crews from the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade conducted training with divers from the U.S. Navy Sea, Air, Land Delivery Vehicle Team One, Naval Special Warfare Group 3 here June 18. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii
East Hawaii healthcare providers say that their decision to make an early conversion to an electronic medical record system has saved them both money and trouble, compared to other Hawaii facilities. Tribune-Herald.

It’s part of a reverse birthday tradition. In celebration of its 52nd anniversary of establishment, Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park gives priceless presents of culture and experiences, said Chief of Interpretation Eric Andersen. West Hawaii Today.

Hunters hired by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee have killed their fourth axis deer. The deer was hunted last May in Ka‘u, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi says he's confident a plant that burns solid waste to generate electricity can be built before he leaves office in 31⁄2 years, but the Big Island's newly appointed environmental management director says the life of Hilo landfill should be extended in case it is not. Associated Press.

Maui
The Maui Axis Deer Harvesting Cooperative, known for its rifle-hunting operations, has found a more cost-effective way to capture deer that could create a new market for meat. Maui News.

Maui News staffers snapped up 13 awards, including five first-place honors, from the Society of Professional Journalists' 2012 Excellence in Journalism Awards held Friday night on Oahu. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Humane Society’s executive director says a proposal to increase dog license fees is “fair and equitable across the board to all people that own dogs.” Garden Island.

In observance of Independence Day, County of Kauai offices will be closed on Thursday along with all refuse transfer stations, all HI-5 bottle redemption centers and the Kekaha Landfill. In addition, the Kauai Resource Center, Puhi Metals Recycling Center and the Kapaa and Waimea swimming pools will be closed. Garden Island.