Friday, July 11, 2014

Abercrombie-Ige debate heats up, gay marriage, Obamacare top topics in congressional forum, Deedy trial redux, raises for Hawaii County officials, Kauai GMO pesticide initiative faces almost certain death, Thirty Meter Telescope groundbreaking set, Maui pays fines for landfills, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii News Now screen shot
David Ige, Neil Abercrombie debate, Hawaii News Now screen shot
Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Sen. David Ige sparred over several issues, with both men trying to take credit for the state's successes and blaming the other for failures, in a debate between the two Democratic gubernatorial candidates on Hawaii News Now.

Watch video here.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie offered a strenuous defense of his first term in a debate Thursday night while state Sen. David Ige insisted there has been a lack of leadership from Washington Place. Star-Advertiser.

In the third debate between Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige, the Democrats again disagreed about who deserves the most credit for the state’s fiscal health and who is to blame for botching the Hawaii Health Connector. But the debate’s format, which featured the candidates sitting casually in chairs with Hawaii News Now’s Tannya Joaquin, gave the encounter the look of a talk show. The loose format also allowed the candidates to engage each other more directly. Civil Beat.

The Democratic gubernatorial candidates faced off in a televised debate Thursday night. KITV4.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie holds a massive fundraising edge over state Sen. David Ige, his challenger in the Democratic primary. Abercrombie raised $885,600 during the past six months for his re-election campaign, according to a campaign finance report filed Thursday, and about $4.7 million overall. The governor has spent $3.9 million. Ige raised about $242,700 during the past six months. He has brought in about $389,600 in total. The state senator's campaign also received a $10,000 loan from Keith Hiraoka, his campaign manager, for campaign expenses. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has $1 million in cash on hand as he heads into the final month of campaigning ahead of the Aug. 9 primary. Abercrombie, a Democrat, raised $885,000 between Jan. 1 and June 30 this year. Civil Beat.

For U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, the Democratic primary against U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz drills down to experience. The two Democrats both entered state politics in 1998, but Hanabusa rose through the leadership ranks to become state Senate president and, while in Congress, earned the respect of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye and the retired U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka as their choice for the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

Frontrunners Differ on Gay Marriage, Obamacare in Congressional Debate In the first televised CD1 encounter, seven candidates offered their views on GMOs, Native Hawaiian sovereignty and Obamacare. Civil Beat.

There are seven Democrats vying for the first congressional district seat and each is trying to distinguish themselves from the pack. KITV4.

Public File: As Election Nears, Ad Buys Increase. The Aug. 9 primary is less than a month away and Hawaii candidates are purchasing ads during a greater variety of shows. Civil Beat.

The Abercrombie administration has rejected a controversial $100,000 grant by the Legislature to state Rep. Rida Cabanilla's nonprofit organization. The Attorney General's office says the Ewa Historical Society isn't eligible for the grant because the IRS yanked its tax-exempt status last year. Hawaii News Now.

Senator Will Espero, chair of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, said he was disappointed about Governor Neil Abercrombie’s veto of SB2589, relating to the transfer of harbor police from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Public Safety- a bill he introduced. Hawaii Reporter.

Amelia Rose Earhart, a former Denver television news reporter who was named for the famous aviator, brought her single-engine Pilatus PC-12 NG aircraft into Honolulu Airport a few minutes after noon following a four-hour, 50-minute flight from Christmas Island. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Measures designed to prohibit lying and sitting on city sidewalks as well as urinating and defecating in public continue to move through the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

A day after Honolulu city council members approved a bill that would make it illegal for people to sit or lie on public sidewalks, opponents are raising concerns the 24-hour-a-day, island-wide ban will simply move a growing homelessness problem from one area to another. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu developers of the $300 million Park Lane Ala Moana project, a row of seven ultra-luxury, condominium towers planned for what is now a parking area at Ala Moana Center held a ground blessing on Wednesday morning and plan to start construction within a couple of months, an executive from the development team told Pacific Business News.

The state should not limit itself to a smaller seating capacity when replacing 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium, several speakers told the Aloha Stadium Authority during a public meeting at the facility Thursday night. Star-Advertiser.

The cast of characters and arguments are largely the same, but a pair of recent state Supreme Court decisions could color the retrial of State Department special agent Christopher Deedy. Star-Advertiser.

Explaining the Deedy retrial. Recapping the murder case and explaining what will be different in this retrial versus last year's mistrial. Hawaii Independent.

As a destructive pest that targets palm trees spreads farther west on Oahu, close to 170 trees at a military base on the island will have to be destroyed. The destruction left by the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle can be plainly seen at Mamala Bay Golf Course on Hickam Air Force Base. KHON2.

The City and County of Honolulu says it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out for commuters who traverse the formerly pothole-riddled Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki. Civil Beat.

For at least a year and a half, Waialae Avenue has more resembled an obstacle course -- with barriers and torn-up surfaces -- than an actual public street for commuters in Kaimuki. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A groundbreaking and blessing ceremony for the Thirty Meter Telescope could be a few months away, a project spokeswoman told education and business representatives Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

J Yoshimoto, as council chairman, is getting an 11.5 percent raise, bringing his annual salary to $58,008. Other council members will get 8.3 percent raises, bringing their salaries to $52,008. The raises were finalized Thursday by the county Salary Commission, which unanimously voted to increase top officials salaries retroactive to July 1. In addition to council raises, the commission also approved a $22,848 raise for Mayor Billy Kenoi, a 20.9 percent raise that brings his salary to $132,000. West Hawaii Today.

The purpose of the meeting was not to discuss whether the state should make users pay to park at small boat harbors. But that contentious issue was on the minds of people attending a Thursday evening hearing by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation. West Hawaii Today.

The CEO for the East Hawaii region of the state’s public hospital system has announced his resignation, effective Aug. 9.. Howard N. Ainsley will take on the role of CEO at Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden, North Carolina. Tribune-Herald.

More than 60 jobs with United Airlines will stay in Kona, under an agreement reached between the carrier and an employees union. West Hawaii Today.

Next week, area residents will have a chance to weigh in on plans to re-power a wind farm in South Kohala. The estimated $13 million project at the Lalamilo Wind Farm would generate renewable energy to power the County of Hawaii Department of Water Supply’s (DWS) operation of eight existing water wells. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) and the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management have reached a settlement on two enforcement cases concerning solid waste violations at the Central Maui Municipal Solid Waste Landfill and the Molokai Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility. Hawaii Reporter.

The state Department of Health and Maui’s Department of Environmental Management have reached a settlement on two enforcement cases concerning solid waste violations. Maui Now.

As Malama Maui Nui prepare for another mass clean-up campaign on July 19, the community group said that the main source of litter by Maui roadways — unsecured vehicle loads — was thanks to drivers breaking the “uncovered truck law.” Maui Now.

Compared to the six shark bite incidents confirmed on Maui during the last six months of 2013, the first six months of this year have been relatively quiet with no bites so far, though experts aren't sure why. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Councilman Mel Rapozo says it is unlikely that he will support receiving Kauai Rising’s proposed charter amendment regulating GMOs and pesticides, meaning the measure may be headed for defeat and would not appear on the November ballot. Garden Island.

Native Hawaiians on Kauai will have an opportunity to give feedback to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs at a community forum next week. The annual forum is intended for OHA officials to listen to community concerns and highlight efforts to improve conditions within Hawaiian communities. Garden Island.

Ever since she was in high school, Tiana Laranio believed the best way to serve her community would be to run for political office. Garden Island.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Honolulu affordable housing plans mulled, Schatz rakes in campaign funds, Ellison plans Lanai wine and food fest, no tuition hike for University of Hawaii, dead fish litter Oahu beach, starving monk seals hospitalized in Kona, gubernatorial candidates to debate tonight, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News
Honolulu Hale © 2014 All Hawaii News
Honolulu City Council leaders say they now want to seriously consider scrapping plans to sell off the city's rental housing stock and instead resurrecting a full-fledged housing department that would oversee buildings and programs that assist the homeless and others who need affordable housing. Star-Advertiser.

When Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed Brian Schatz in December 2012 to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, the rationale was that Schatz was the best choice for Hawaii's political future. Star-Advertiser.

As the race for Hawaii's U.S. Senate seat heats up, the big money is beginning to pour in. Preliminary figures show that Sen. Brian Schatz has raised more than $820,000 during the second quarter 2014, it's best quarter in a year. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz raised about $822,000 during the past quarter in the Democratic primary for Senate, sending his fundraising total over $4.8 million for the campaign. Star-Advertiser.

Several U.S. Senate Democrats are fast-tracking a bill,  the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act, they say will counter the U.S. Supreme Court's  Hobby Lobby decision. Those senators include Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Mark Udall, D-Colo. Hawaii Reporter.

This may be the last chance for Hawaii television viewers to see the two major Democratic candidates for Governor face-off in an hour-long, live prime-time debate. It's at 7 pm Thursday on all three Hawaii News Now stations -- KGMB, KHNL and KFVE.

University of Hawaii campuses will need to assume flat tuition rates — not the previously approved annual 7 percent hikes — when planning their operating budgets for the next two fiscal years. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission will be without its longest-serving member and chair for the last two years when it meets July 23 to tackle the implementation of a public financial disclosure law that has so far prompted the resignations of 18 board members. Leolani Abdul was denied her request to serve another four-year term on the commission. Civil Beat.

Resignations over a new law requiring public disclosure of financial interests for members of various state boards and commission have forced the cancellation of at least three board meetings this week. The number of resignations is now up to a total of 18. Star-Advertiser.

Sheila Weinberg, founder and CEO of the Chicago-based fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting, said Hawaii can’t claim it's being fiscally prudent because the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund is “drowning in debt.” Hawaii Reporter.

Living Hawaii: The Surprising Price Tag for New Car Buyers in the Islands. Long-distance shipping affects the cost of many goods in Hawaii, but that's not the case for our vehicles. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The $54.6 million the University of Hawaii at Manoa is slated to spend on basic repair and maintenance work this year will hardly make a dent in the school’s notorious backlog, officials say. Civil Beat.

It’s a sight not often seen on the shores of Oahu — dead fish, by the thousands, washing up on the south and west shores. KHON2.

Thousands of people jammed the new Downtown Honolulu Walmart on Wednesday, the first day of business for Hawaii's 10th Walmart store, to buy everything from art supplies, to slippers to DVDs. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Four malnourished Hawaiian monk seals from remote atolls northwest of Hawaii's main islands arrived Wednesday for emergency care at a new seal hospital in Kailua-Kona. Associated Press.

For the last 50 years, the Big Island Substance Abuse Council has served Hawaii residents by treating individuals who abuse alcohol and drugs. Tribune-Herald.

North Hawaii Community Hospital will participate in the Rim of the Pacific maritime drills on Friday. West Hawaii Today.

Commentary: Six Myths About County’s Waste Incineration Plan. Big Island Now.

Maui

AARP Hawaii will sponsor a gubernatorial debate between Governor Neil Abercrombie and state Senator David Ige at the Maui Beach Hotel in Kahului on Friday, July 18. Maui Now.

On Maui, activists are trying to create a temporary moratorium on GMOS. An organization called The Shaka Movement has put together a ballot initiative for a temporary moratorium on growing genetically modified crops. Hawaii Pubic Radio.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa plans to triple the size of its ballroom, enlarge its spa and build a three- to four-story parking garage. The Kaanapali resort is seeking permits for the $55 million project. Associated Press.

The Maui County Council has rejected a resolution for a charter amendment proposal limiting the powers of a public commission that reviews county operations. The measure would have placed the commission under the control of the county auditor. Associated Press.

Maui County received an average 2.6 percent interest rate on 20-year bond sales that netted a total of $75.4 million, county Finance Director Danny Agsalog has announced. Maui News.

Maui’s own voyaging canoe, the Moʻokiha o Piʻilani, is scheduled to launch on Friday, July 11, from Māla Wharf in Lahaina. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai Rising’s proposed charter amendment aimed at regulating the island’s genetically modified crop industry may not be a charter amendment after all. And whether it will end up on the November ballot is questionable. Garden Island.

Three of the four candidates vying to be the next mayor of Kauai kept things civil during this election season’s first forum on Wednesday. Garden Island.

The "littoral combat ship" that was to make up one-sixth of the U.S. Navy fleet continues to be a work in progress as one of the vessels heads out from Pearl Harbor to take part in a "sink exercise" off Kauai during Rim of the Pacific war games. Star-Advertiser.

Lanai

Another wine and food festival is being planned for Hawaii, this time on the island of Lanai, which will be spearheaded by Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison, the tech billionaire who owns 98 percent of the island. Pacific Business News.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Kauai coral disease spotlighted, Abercrombie vetoes bills, IDs of jailed homeless destroyed, Hilo judge deals blow to GMO disclosure bill, developers flee boards, feds wrap up Native Hawaiian recognition hearings, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

divers study diseased coral
Coral researchers, file photo

The story of Kauai’s diseased and dying coral reefs may soon be brought to life via a major 3-D IMAX documentary film. Dean Lyon, best known for his work as visual effects supervisor of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, announced plans to assist several Kauai groups in producing a film about the pandemic facing coral reefs both on Kauai and around the world. Garden Island.

Scientists are using drones to survey endangered Hawaiian monk seals and other wildlife in Hawaii, officials said Tuesday. Associated Press.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has vetoed seven bills from the Legislature, disagreeing with lawmakers on issues of tourism, funds and crime victims. Associated Press.

State agency board members resign en mass. After Governor Abercrombie let the new financial disclosure law pass without his signature, the tally of state officials that have resigned has risen to 16 members of five separate agency boards. Hawaii Independent.

The clock is ticking for Hawaii residents who have one more day to register to vote in the August primary elections. Hawaii Public Radio.

Government contractors provided thousands of dollars in free golf outings for more than a dozen state workers who deal with their projects. Hawaii News Now has learned that the state Ethics Commission is winding down its year-old investigation into golf perks, which targets a number of employees at the University of Hawaii and the Department of Transportation.

Attorneys and service providers say the identification documents of homeless people, including state ID and social security cards, are being routinely thrown out after they’ve been in jail for 30 days, making it harder for them to gain access to health care, jobs and housing once they are released. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Did Native Hawaiian Hearings Set Up a Political Train Wreck? Civil Beat.

Oahu

On the heels of an Aloha Stadium Authority consultant's recommendation for a stadium with 30,000 to 35,000 seats, the University of Hawaii athletic department has unveiled its own concept of a 30,585-seat multipurpose facility. Star-Advertiser.

The founder of Hawaii's first commercial open-ocean fish farm plans to get back into the business after the initial venture went belly-up. Randy Cates is proposing to lease 75 acres of state marine waters adjacent to Honolulu Airport's reef runway to raise moi in submerged cages. Star-Advertiser.

More senior citizens have been killed in pedestrian crashes on Oahu so far this year than all of 2013, prompting officials to urge senior citizens to change their pedestrian behavior. Star-Advertiser.

Kona Brewing Co., one of Hawaii’s largest craft breweries with locations in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island and in Hawaii Kai on Oahu, is looking to expand to Honolulu's growing Kakaako neighborhood, a spokeswoman for the Kailua-Kona-based company told Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Judge Greg Nakamura granted a preliminary injunction Tuesday preventing Hawaii County from disclosing the identity and specific location of farms growing genetically engineered papaya. The order in Hilo Circuit Court allows the county to maintain a registry of genetically modified organisms, but prevents information that could identify papaya growers from being released publicly. Tribune-Herald.

A company growing food fish in giant pens off the North Kona coast proposes to more than double its operation by increasing both the number and size of its pens. West Hawaii Today.

This afternoon, some East Hawaii oncology patients will begin being treated by the state’s newest, high-tech weapon in the fight against cancer. The new Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator, which began being installed at Hilo Medical Center’s Hawaii Pacific Oncology Center in March, replaces a previous model that was about 13 years old, according to radiation oncologist Dr. Kevin Wilcox. Tribune-Herald.

The board of apartment owners of a Banyan Drive condominium has gone on the offensive against an apartment owner who tried to assume control of the building by ballot and in court. Tribune-Herald.

Maui


The last of 15 public meetings hosted statewide by the U.S. Department of the Interior ended on Maui on Tuesday with a resounding message from the Native Hawaiian community: a'ole, or no. Maui News.

Dozens of Maui residents Tuesday night echoed the staunch opposition heard around the islands against possible federal recognition as U.S. interior officials held their 15th and final meeting exploring the possibility of re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser.

Since the early 1990s, Maui County has been aware of a probable connection between the wastewater it injects into the ground below the Lahaina sewage treatment plant and the nearby coastal waters. And for almost as long, it has clung to the position that despite growing evidence of the connection, it did not need to obtain the permit under the Clean Water Act that would allow it to legally discharge pollutants. Civil Beat.

A resolution proposing an amendment to the Maui County Charter that would greatly limit the powers of the Cost of Government Commission and place the panel under the control of the county auditor was voted down by the Maui County Council on Tuesday. Maui News.

Recognizing that their first attempt to modify the circuit breaker property tax credit had deficiencies, Maui County Council members Tuesday approved on first reading a new bill that modifies the eligibility criteria for the tax credit and establishes an appeals process for those who do not qualify. Maui News.

During election years, the Kihei Community Association serves as a forum where voters have the opportunity to meet candidates up close. At the Tuesday, June 17, meeting, state Sen. Roz Baker, state Rep. Kaniela Ing and Maui County Councilmember Don Couch spoke about their track records. Maui Weekly.

A third case of the feline panleukopenia virus has been confirmed, this time in Kahului, according to the Maui Humane Society. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council will consider a trio of bills on Wednesday that finance officials say will help clean up current real property tax policies and narrow inequalities in assessing property values. Garden Island.

The capture of a single coqui frog on Kauai will result in months of routine monitoring for more of the loud, invasive pests. Garden Island.

Molokai

In a world full of fast-food, imported groceries and processed snacks, a Molokai organization is combating the food norm to promote eating local. Molokai Dispatch.

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Hanabusa fires up debate, board members quit over disclosure law, Hawaii sustainability advances, Hilo to get fireworks redo, Diamond Head souvenir kiosk opens, Coco Palms developers vow to rebuild, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kirk Caldwell, Billy Kenoi, Alan Arakawa, Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr., Kamana'opono Crabbe
Abercrombie, county mayors, OHA CEO, courtesy photo
Gov. Neil Abercrombie, joined by the four county mayors and Office of Hawaiian Affairs CEO Kamana‘opono Crabbe, on Monday launched the Aloha+ Challenge, a series of targets for the state to reach in various sectors of sustainability, renewable energy and natural resource management. Star-Advertiser.

Top Hawaii state and county leaders, with the support of leading businesses and nonprofit groups, launched what’s called the Aloha+ Challenge: A Culture of Sustainability – He Nohona ‘Ae‘oia. Civil Beat.

The State and Counties’ Chief Executives and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs signed a joint declaration today to launch a sustainability effort that will take place over the next 16 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new state law that makes public the financial interests of members serving on more than a dozen state boards and commissions has prompted the resignations of at least 14 volunteer members, including four regents from the University of Hawaii's governing board. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers gave the resource-strapped Ethics Commission what it wanted last legislative session — the public’s help in sifting through hundreds of records to weed out financial conflicts of interest among dozens of powerful state board members. But with all that promise has come controversy — and a growing number of resignations. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa may be changing gears in her Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate against incumbent Brian Schatz, shifting to a more aggressive approach as the final month of the campaign approaches. Hanabusa repeatedly confronted Schatz on several issues during a televised debate on Monday night, slamming her rival on his experience, appointment and ability to read bills. Associated Press.

In a taut and punchy performance, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa on Monday night sought to depict U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz as unprepared for the legislative rigor of the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa still doesn’t have anything nice to say about U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Hanabusa, who’s trailing in the polls and in fundraising, took several swipes at the sitting senator during their first televised debate Monday on KITV. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa may be changing gears in her Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate against incumbent Brian Schatz, shifting to a more aggressive approach. Hawaii News Now.

In the first ever televised debate between Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, the candidates had plenty of chances to show the public who would be the better candidate in 2014. KITV4.

CD1 Speed Date. Progressive Democrats of Hawaii and Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii will hold a speed dating forum with democratic candidates running in the first congressional district primary election. Hawaii Independent.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie on Saturday enacted into law a bill that opens farm dwellings to child care programs. West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Department of Education has listed three University of Hawaii community colleges in its index of the 95 public two-year institutions with the lowest net prices in the country. The net price factors in the average cost of attending college — including tuition, fees and other expenses — as well as the average amount of institutional and federal financial aid provided by the campus. Civil Beat.

Oahu
Officially licensed T-shirts, souvenirs and other items went on sale to hikers coming from the Diamond Head crater trail Monday following the opening of a new kiosk at the Diamond Head State Monument in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Aerial Banners North insists a federal waiver allows it to fly commercial banners over Hawaii, but a new statement by the Federal Aviation Administration suggests otherwise. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is trying to give the public a better statistical understanding of Kaka­ako as the area undergoes accelerated residential development. The agency released a report Monday filled with characteristics of Kakaako's population largely drawn from U.S. Census data. Star-Advertiser.

It's a hazardous stretch of Honolulu road where many kupuna often cross the street or look to catch buses in the early morning hours. Now, with the recent deaths of three older pedestrians hit by vehicles along North King Street in Kalihi, city leaders say they'll install some brighter streetlights there in the coming days to help better illuminate that area. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County property owners who want to claim the homeowner’s exemption to reduce their property taxes may soon be required to file a Hawaii state income tax return annually in order to qualify. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo will get another fireworks show to make up for the mishap on Independence Day, Hawaii County confirmed Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Fears that the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy’s accreditation might be lost, jeopardizing the future of the school, as well as its graduates’ ability to find work, were largely laid to rest this week. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Agriculture is providing $200,000 and the Hawaii Invasive Species Council has awarded a grant of $175,000 that will allow the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation to establish a little fire ant control program at county parks and facilities. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

All but one of the more than 100 people who spoke before a federal panel Monday night rejected the idea of possible federal recognition of a future Native Hawaiian government, arguing the U.S. has no jurisdiction over Hawaii. U.S. Department of the Interior officials held the 14th of 15 public meetings statewide at Kame­ha­meha III Elementary on Maui. Star-Advertiser.

Department of Water Supply customers on Maui and Molokai soon will receive the 16th annual Water Quality Report in the mail. Maui News.

Kauai

Come learn about your candidates. All 27 of them. The Kauai Filipino Chamber of Commerce is hosting a political forum at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall to give voters an opportunity to understand more about those seeking office. Garden Island.

The signature drive to increase thresholds has come up short. The Kauai Chamber of Commerce’s petition, aimed at quadrupling the number of signatures required to put a proposed amendment to the Kauai County Charter to a public vote, died when it failed to earn enough signatures before the July 2 deadline. Garden Island.

By year’s end, the county is slated to begin work on approximately $22 million worth of capital improvement projects around the island. Garden Island.

Numerous projects - ranging from bridge repairs to park improvements to road reconstruction - will be put out to bid during the first quarter of the new fiscal year, according to Keith Suga, the county’s CIP program manager. Hawaii Reporter.

As fire investigators continue to sift through what remains of the Coco Palms Resort in Wailua, the Honolulu-based developers who are seeking to reopen the shuttered hotel say they intend pick up the pieces and move forward with their vision for the iconic Kauai landmark. Garden Island.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Rapes on campus, Hawaii candidates take to the airways, Big Island monk seal dies from fish hook, Oahu home prices hit record, former Maui mayor making comeback, Kauai newspaper goes 7 days, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
University of Hawaii at Manoa © 2014 All Hawaii News

Is UH Doing Its Part to Combat Sexual Assaults on Campus? Critics say the University of Hawaii's approach to sexual violence ends up discouraging victims from reporting incidents. Civil Beat.

Several Pacific island officials are opposed to President Barack Obama's proposal to create the world's largest marine sanctuary in the Central Pacific, which would greatly expand protected fishing areas. Star-Advertiser.

The National Marine Fisheries Service on Thursday classified as endangered and threatened four distinct populations of a shark species whose fins are favored as an ingredient in shark fin soup. Associated Press.

With just five weeks to go before primary elections, campaigns in Hawaii are picking up speed. Associated Press.

At 9 p.m. Monday most Hawaii voters will have their first chance to see and hear from U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa as they debate the issues side by side. Civil Beat.

VIDEO: Schatz, Hanabusa Agree On Jones Act. Big Island Video News.

Commentary: Former Gov. Ben Cayetano is using the attention he's getting as a victim of negative campaigning by Pacific Resource Partnership to fuel his own negative campaign against U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Cayetano, who backs U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa against Schatz, demanded that Schatz fire Andy Winer as his chief of staff because Winer advised PRP in its campaign against him for mayor. Star-Advertiser.

About the only thing Neil Abercrombie and David Ige seemed to have in common during a debate in Honolulu Thursday night were colorful aloha shirts. The incumbent governor and the state senator who is challenging him in the Democratic primary disagreed on many of the issues discussed live on PBS Hawaii’s “Insights.” The arguments were especially heated over who deserves credit for the state’s economic recovery and whether the administration or the Legislature was more fiscally responsible. Civil Beat.

A new campaign video offers a personal look at Gov. Neil Abercrombie, from his first impression of Hawaii when he arrived as a university teaching assistant in 1959 to his fondness for Japanese cinema and Hawaiian music to his emotional bond with Agnes "Aggie" Kalaniho‘okaha Cope, his hanai mother. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai’i’s 1st Congressional District had the only Asian-majority in the U.S. for decades …a distinction it now shares with San Jose, California.  But as HPR’s Wayne Yoshioka reports, the seven candidates vying for the democratic nomination in the primary election are reaching out to the district’s Asian majorities from Waipahu to Hawai’i Kai.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A plan to create pedestrian walkways and other improvements along the main commercial strip of historic Haleiwa is advancing four years after the city appropriated more than $2 million for the long-envisioned project. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu median home price rises to record $700,000. Low interest rates and rising personal income are among the factors driving up demand. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

As the United States celebrates its declaration of freedom from Britain’s tyranny this Independence Day, it continues to illegally occupy Hawaii — an independent nation that deserves self-determination and restoration by its people — Native Hawaiian testifiers said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Mostly forgotten heiau may be last left in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

A monk seal pup that was found bleeding from the mouth two days ago on the Big Island has died.  Marine mammal experts have confirmed that the seal pup's death was caused by a fishing hook. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana is looking to return to politics with a bid for the state House seat representing Central Maui against incumbent Justin Woodson. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Brewing Co. and other small Hawaii producers of beer, liquor and wine rejoiced Saturday as Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law a bill that removes and increases manufacturing caps on their yearly productions. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is moving forward with revised plans to build a new pier at Lahaina Harbor for interisland ferries. Maui News.

Kauai

The Elections Division of the Office of the County Clerk will be providing drive-thru voter registration services in the parking area fronting the Historic County Building and Annex Building from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on July 9 and July 10. Hawaii Reporter.

Damaged Coco Palms building torn down. Garden Island.

The Garden Island newspaper announced today that it will bring back its Saturday edition beginning July 12.  Editor-in-Chief Bill Buley said he and his staff are “thrilled to again be putting out a print edition every day.”

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Department of Interior meetings highlight Native Hawaiian gripes, Schatz, Hanabusa continue debates, Abercrombie signs bills easing youth punishments, state departments face budget cuts, environmental activist says cars fire-bombed, few women on Honolulu Police force, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii Rep. Faye Hanonhano sings at DOI meeting © 2014 All Hawaii News
In the heart of Keaukaha, one of the most Hawaiian communities on one of the most Hawaiian of the islands, speakers were polite but firm: They will create their own government, thank you very much. More than 130 people signed up to testify Wednesday evening to a panel of Department of the Interior, Office of the U.S. Attorney General and other Obama administration officials. Hundreds more crowded into the Keaukaha Elementary School gymnasium to listen. West Hawaii Today.

Native Hawaiians on Hawaii island got their first of three opportunities Wednesday night to yell at federal officials for even considering the idea of starting a process to create a new relationship with a future Native Hawaiian government. Department of the Interior officials moved their two weeks of hearings to Hawaii island Wednesday, but the angry sentiments they heard echoed previous sessions on Oahu, Lanai, Molokai and Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Video: Rep. Faye Hanohano testifies at the DOI Hearing in Keaukaha July 2, 2014, including a rousing heart-felt singing of Hawai`i Pono`i with the whole crowd! Nanci Munroe.

The U.S. Department of the Interior is holding meetings around Hawai’i, asking how the federal government should be involved in creating a Hawaiian nation.   Should the interior secretary propose establishing a government to government relationship with Hawaiians and help set it up? Or should the DOI leave it to the state, with possible federal requirements?  Some who have been studying the issue say, neither. Hawaii Public Radio.

Candidates running in a closely watched Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate checked their tone Wednesday night in a forum at Sangha Hall in Hilo. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said that he will not go negative in the campaign, but U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa came across as ready to fight. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa used a debate Wednesday evening to outline their leadership abilities, with Schatz describing the relationships he has built so far with Senate leaders and Hanabusa saying she has proved she can earn the trust and respect of her colleagues. Star-Advertiser.

Social Security Takes Center Stage at Second US Senate Debate. Sen. Schatz and Rep. Hanabusa also tangle over military training on the Big Island. Civil Beat.

U.S. Senate candidates Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa faced off Wednesday in their only Big Island showdown. Held before a capacity crowd at Sangha Hall in Hilo, the 90-minute debate exposed few major policy differences between the top Democratic candidates. Tribune-Herald.

US Sen. Brian Schatz and US Rep. Colleen Hanabusa squared off tonight in Hilo as they looked to garner support for their bids in the Democratic primary to fill the remaining term of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Big Island Now.

The Abercrombie administration is restricting discretionary spending by state departments by 10 percent, or about $14 million, as a precautionary step until the economy has shown measurable signs of improvement, the state budget director said. Star-Advertiser.

The public will likely have to wait longer than promised before gaining free and easy access to the inspection reports of more than 1,600 long-term care facilities in Hawaii. Despite an 18-month lead time and receiving all its requested funding, there are doubts that the state Health Department will be ready to start posting inspection reports online by Jan. 1 as required by law, according to government officials and lawmakers. Civil Beat.

Life sentences without parole for minors are now abolished in Hawaii. Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a bill Wednesday recognizing that children convicted of first-degree murder should be treated differently than murderous adults. Associated Press.

A bill Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed into law Wednesday, Act 201, attempts to improve the juvenile system by reserving the 56 beds at Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility for serious juvenile offenders and diverting less serious offenders to group homes or other private institutions. Abercrombie also signed a law that bans sentencing children to life in prison without the possibility of parole in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a pair of bills Wednesday aimed at juvenile offenders. One, House Bill 2490, will focus space at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility on Oahu for the state’s most serious young offenders while strengthening probation practices to better manage those who committed lower-level offenses. The other, House Bill 2116, eliminates the sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for juvenile offenders. Tribune-Herald.

Tanning salons are no longer for minors in Hawaii, according to a bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie. The act, which began as House Bill 611, makes it illegal for a tanning salon to allow a person younger than 18 to use any tanning equipment. Star-Advertiser.

Election watchdogs are concerned Hawaii's new law, which allows same day voter registration by the year 2018, will heighten the chances of voter fraud here. Hawaii Reporter.

Inspectors with the Hawaii Department of Health this month will begin assigning color-coded placards to restaurants across the state intended to inform diners of any food safety violations.Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A man known for his environmental investigations in Hawaii says his cars were fire bombed overnight, and the victim says he believes he knows who committed the crime. Hawaii News Now.

Is aerial advertising in Hawaii legal or against the law? According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Aerial Banners North is allowed to fly despite a city ordinance against aerial advertising. The FAA said Wednesday that the company was granted a certificate of waiver that trumps any law on the state or county level. KHON2.

Less than 24 hours after Honolulu police swept the sidewalk of homeless camps across from the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kaakako, the same stretch was filled with 20 tents again Wednesday, as some UH employees said the homeless make them uneasy after hours. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Police Department Pushes to Increase Number of Female Officers On the Force. One in 10 cops in Honolulu are women. The department aims to boost their numbers to nearly one in eight — for good reasons, deputy chief says. Civil Beat.

More than half of the Honolulu Police Department's 2,000 officers have begun turning in their Smith & Wessons for Glock 17 semi-automatic handguns. Star-Advertiser.

Ala Moana Center's massive redevelopment project that eliminated 2,000 parking stalls is putting a damper on this year's Fourth of July celebration. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County voters will get an opportunity in the Nov. 4 General Election to decide whether the county clerk should serve a four-year term, even though council members are elected for just two years. The ballot amendment passed 7-1 Wednesday by County Council is a compromise from the original bill that would have had the clerk serve a six-year term and be removed only for cause. West Hawaii Today.

If the state’s Commission for Water Resource Management decides to designate the Keauhou aquifer a water management area, well owners and developers are looking at a potentially lengthy and expensive process to determine who has the right to use water in the area. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii cable customers stand to benefit from a planned merger of Oceanic Time Warner and Comcast Corp., according to a joint filing by the companies. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Neldon Mamuad may have lost his court appeal to remain on the ballot - yet his name still will be on the ballot. Maui News.

With a list of conditions, the Maui County Council's Land Use Committee on Wednesday recommended approval of community plan amendments and zoning changes to allow for the development of A&B Properties' proposed 600-unit housing project in north Kihei. Maui News.

Work continued on the Kahului Airport access road last week. Construction on the Puunene Avenue to Hana Highway side of the project is nearing 50 percent completion, according to Derek Inoshita of the state Department of Transportation. Maui News.

The events stadium being built at Lahainaluna High School in West Maui will be named in honor of Sue D. Cooley, its primary benefactor and part-time Maui resident, the state Department of Education announced today. Maui Now.

Kauai

The state Department of Health is urging people to stay out of Wailua River and Bay following a landslide near Mount Waialeale earlier this week. Garden Island.

This week’s public meetings on Kauai to discuss whether the federal government should pursue federal recognition of Native Hawaiians were dominated by emotional and often angry testimony from dozens of community members. Garden Island.

When it came time for the public to comment on a report on how to address the island’s feral cat population, Kauai County Councilman Mel Rapozo said there certainly was no dearth of it. Garden Island.

Molokai

Across Hawaii, tensions are rising as the federal Department of Interior (DOI) proposes establishing a Native Hawaiian government. Last Saturday, Molokai residents joined in the widespread opposition. The slick floor of Kaunakakai Elementary School cafeteria was strewn with symbolic red ribbons, also pinned to the shirts and blouses of dozens of community members to show their disapproval. Molokai Dispatch.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

First Hanabusa-Schatz Senate debate of the season, Monsanto warns of job loss if GMO banned, 1st Congressional debate features five candidates, mom allowed to breastfeed in homeless shelter after outcry, Abercrombie opens Kulani prison, Kauai worker sues over ADA rules, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii U.S. Senate candidates 2014
Brian Schatz, Colleen Hanabusa
For Democratic rivals Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa, politics is all about relationships. Schatz says he’s been surprised at how many friends he’s made as a freshman U.S. senator. Hanabusa says her time in state government before getting to the U.S. House shows how she’s earned respect and confidence of peers. And Hawaii needs those relationships, both candidates said during their first debate Tuesday night on Kauai. Schatz and Hanabusa are vying to fill the final two years of deceased U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye’s term through 2016. Associated Press.

After circling each other for more than a year, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hana­busa met Tuesday evening in their first debate in the Demo­­cratic primary, a detailed dialogue on federal policy that revealed fissures between the Democrats on veterans affairs, early childhood education and genetically modified organisms. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Senate candidates Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa went toe-to-toe here Tuesday night in the first of five scheduled joint appearances. For all the talk of the intensity of the race, the Kauai forum was rather relaxed and less an exchange of differences than it was a contrast in styles and philosophies. Civil Beat.

Two Democrats walked into the Lihue Convention Hall on Tuesday and made their way to the front of the room, where a table on an elevated stage waited for them. By all accounts, both candidates, Senate Incumbent Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, came from humble family backgrounds and had distinguished track records in state and federal offices — accomplishments that either contender could attest to. But the difference between them, Hanabusa contended, "is in our values and our perspectives, and our perspectives are shaped by a lifetime of experience and hard work."Garden Island.

Five candidates for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District seat tried to distinguish themselves from each other on support for the tourism, military and construction industries at a forum at the Japa­nese Cultural Center of Hawaii on Tuesday night. Star-Advertiser.

Candidates hoping to represent Hawaii in the U.S. House are sharing their positions on military intervention, veterans care and improving Hawaii's economy. Five candidates running for the seat said in a Tuesday forum that they would not support military intervention in Iraq. Associated Press.

The U.S. Department of the Interior is holding meetings around Hawai’i, asking how the federal government should be involved in creating a Hawaiian nation. Should the interior secretary propose establishing a government to government relationship with Hawaiians and help set it up? Or should the DOI leave it to the state, with possible federal requirements?  Some who have been studying the issue say, neither. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Department of Education is looking to adopt a new model for social studies classes that goes beyond tests and textbooks and aims to teach students how to be problem solvers and active citizens in their communities. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A Honolulu homeless shelter won't take action against a mother who is refusing to cover up while breast-feeding or use a private room, its executive director said Tuesday. Associated Press.

The maze of Hawaii’s homeless services is such a mess that a state initiative to provide housing for 100 chronically homeless individuals stalled at 16. Homeless czar Colin Kippen, aided by members of Hawaii’s Interagency Council on Homelessness, essentially started from scratch last year to develop a new system for driving down the state’s homeless rate, which ranks second in the nation. Civil Beat.

Hawai'i has the second highest rate of homelessness in the nation, but the state has a plan to end what officials are calling an epidemic in a quick, strategic way by identifying what people’s needs are and matching them to resources that can help. Hawaii News Now.

Absentee ballot applications will be sent out to Windward Oahu voters who used to cast early walk-in ballots at Pali Golf Course. Citing money and manpower issues, the city decided not to operate an early walk-in voting site in Windward Oahu – a site that was used by nearly 5,000 voters. KITV4.

The Waikiki Landing, a controversial public-private partnership to develop a commercial and boating-services complex at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, has lost its major funder, leaving developers scrambling to find 11th-hour financing to meet contract obligations. Star-Advertiser.

Waipahu Public Library will temporarily close to replace its air-conditioning system, Hawaii State Public Library officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Halau Lokahi Public Charter School has a new lease on life after its governing board and director Laara Allbrett agreed to resign as required by a new contract with the state Charter School Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Tuesday morning he hopes to see Hawaii Island residents end the debate and embrace geothermal energy as an important resource for the state’s future energy needs. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie called the reopening of Kulani Correctional Facility “an opportunity to reclaim lives.” The 280-acre facility about 20 miles southeast of Hilo was closed in 2009 as a cost-cutting measure by former Gov. Linda Lingle. Until recently, the facility was used by the Hawaii National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy. Tribune-Herald.

Before Tuesday’s grand reopening of the Kulani Correctional Facility, Big Island legislators and community members gathered at the Hilo Yacht Club to witness Gov. Neil Abercrombie sign five new bills approved by legislators this session. Tribune-Herald.

An irritated Mayor Billy Kenoi took Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille to the mat Tuesday, publicly chastising her for questioning his bid solicitation for a waste reduction facility. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s Intermediate Court of Appeals has upheld a 3rd Circuit Court judge’s ruling that a Heeia Bay church property project was not exempt from some permitting regulations. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than 600 jobs and millions of tax dollars could be lost if a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically engineered organisms passes, two Maui County seed companies say. Associated Press.

Upward of 500 jobs and millions of tax dollars could be lost if a ballot initiative to place a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically engineered organisms either passes the Maui County Council or is ratified by voters in the Nov. 4 general election, officials of two Maui County seed companies said. Maui News.

Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told members of a Maui County Council committee reviewing a voter-initiated anti-genetically modified organism measure Tuesday that they have not heard of any health issues related to eating genetically engineered rainbow papaya, developed on the Big Island to combat a commercially devastating virus. Maui News.

During election years, the Kihei Community Association (KCA) serves as a forum where voters have the opportunity to meet candidates up close. At the Tuesday, June 17, meeting, state Sen. Roz Baker, state Rep. Kaniela Ing and Maui County Councilmember Don Couch spoke about their track records. Maui Weekly.

The Maui Department of Water Supply has updated its Water Meter Priority List for Upcountry Maui. The list, dated June 30, 2014, is 35 pages long and includes 1,852 requests dating back to Jan. 4, 1999. Maui Now.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa has filed a Draft Environmental Assessment for site improvements at their Kāʻanapali property in West Maui. Maui Now.

Saedene Ota, who officially becomes a University of Hawaii regent emeritus today, said Monday that her decision to resign a year early from her Maui County seat last week was to prevent disclosure of her latest financial statements currently on file with the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. Maui News.

Kauai

Defiant and emotional testimony dominated yet another Department of Interior meeting Tuesday night as federal officials continued to gather opinions about whether the United States should pursue a formal relationship with a potential Native Hawaiian government. As it did the night before in Waimea, the meeting featured passionate testimony connected to the grievances that have festered in the Hawaiian community since the 1893 overthrow of the monarchy. Star-Advertiser.

Tuesday brought to a close a pair of public meetings on Kauai to discuss whether the U.S. Department of the Interior should re-establish a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians. Much like the meeting Monday in Waimea, the majority of those who spoke before press time at Kapaa Elementary School voiced similar opposition to the idea. Garden Island.

A former County of Kauai employee is suing the county for wrongful termination, claiming she lost her job for following state and federal rules. Christina Pilkington worked as Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the county from 1999 until June 30, 2012.  The suit, filed June 25, says she lost her job and was berated by Office of Mayor administration because she adhered to ADA guidelines that cost money to comply with. Garden Island.

An electric utility in Hawaii is experimenting with using lasers to protect migrating seabirds. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Tuesday it's attaching 30 lasers to transmission poles. The lasers will shine beams across six spans next to coffee fields. Hawaii News Now.

A mysterious substance is appearing at beaches across Hawaii.  It even caught state health officials by surprise. They say the brown substance seen on the shoreline on Kauai is a Trichodesmium algae bloom. KHON2.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Hawaii moves to Election Day voter registration, financial disclosure bill to become law, Waihee endorses Schatz, China at RIMPAC draws media attention, Coco Palms seeks foreign investors, cellphone fines reach $307, Abercrombie gets star endorsement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii early voting file photo © 2014 All Hawaii News
With the state's voter turnout foundering among the lowest in the nation, a measure signed into law Monday by Gov. Neil Abercrombie could boost the state's rating by as much as 10 points by 2018, advocates say. House Bill 2590 allows voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016. Same-day voting registration would be allowed starting in 2018. Star-Advertiser.

Saying “every vote is precious,” Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed into law legislation that seeks to improve voter turnout. House Bill 2590 allows for voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016, and late voter registration — including on election day — beginning in 2018. Civil Beat.

A measure taking aim at Hawaii's worst-in-the-nation voter turnout is now law. Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed a bill making Hawaii the 12th state in the country where late registration could be done on the day voters head to the polls. But same-day voting registration won't begin until the 2018 elections to give state election officials time to phase in the program. Hawaii News Now.

A new law will allow voters to register at absentee polling places in 2016 and at all polling places on election day in 2018. Big Island Now.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed House Bill 2590 (Act 166), a measure that will allow voter registration at absentee polling places beginning in 2016 and late voter registration, including on Election Day, beginning in 2018. Hawaii Reporter.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he will allow pending legislation to become law that adds members of 15 state boards and commissions to the list of public officials whose financial interests are publicly disclosed. The decision comes one week after signaling his intent to veto the legislation, but instead he is allowing it to become law without his signature. Star-Advertiser.

The public can expect a much closer look at the financial interests of powerful state board members after Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s decision Monday to not veto a disclosure bill that has already been cited as the reason for two resignations. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Monday that he would allow Senate Bill 2682, which expands the number of state boards and commissions that require public financial disclosure statements of board members, to become law without his signature after previously indicating that he planned to veto it. Pacific Business News.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie will allow Senate Bill 2682 Relating to Financial Disclosure Statements to become law, the governor said today in a letter to Senate President Donna Mercado Kim and House Speaker Joe Souki. Hawaii Reporter.

University of Hawaii regents John Dean and Saedene Ota have resigned over pending legislation that would require them to make their financial disclosure statements available to the public as well as to the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. Pacific Business News.

Governor Neil Abercrombie signed 16 bills into law today, a majority of them relating to aging and health. Hawaii Public Radio.

Former Gov. John Waihee has endorsed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary for Senate, arguing that the appointed senator has already put himself in strategic positions to help move Hawaii forward. Star-Advertiser.

Daniel Dae Kim, star of the CBS series "Hawaii Five-0," is endorsing Gov. Neil Abercrombie in his re-election campaign, noting his longtime support of the arts as a key to Hawaii's tourism industry. Hawaii News Now.

The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet said Monday China’s first-time participation in the world’s largest maritime exercises in Hawaii will help Beijing and other nations work together in a crisis. Associated Press.

Although 22 nations are participating in the largest-ever Rim of the Pacific exercise getting underway in Hawaii, media questions at an opening news conference Monday at Pearl Harbor focused primarily on just one: China. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Education is reminding parents that the upcoming new school year comes with changes in kindergarten requirements. Starting this school year, children must be 5 years old by July 31 to enter kindergarten. Previously, children could enter kindergarten if they turned 5 by December 31. Kindergarten is now mandatory in Hawaii. Associated Press.

A new Hawaii program will allow former foster youth to voluntarily extend foster care until they turn 21. Associated Press.

The Federal Department of the Interior continues public meetings this week, gathering testimony on whether they should propose establishing a government to government relationship with Native Hawaiians. Hawaii Public Radio.

A little-publicized change in the state law banning the use of cellphones and other mobile electronic devices while driving takes effect today, the first day of the new fiscal year. Penalties now range to $307. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. said on Monday it will not seek a rate increase in the current three-year rate cycle. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the Power of Incumbency. In bill-signing ceremonies, Hawaii governor honors lawmakers, pleases advocates and acts like a leader — one running for re-election. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Relief is in sight for Oahu drivers. The state’s H-1 Freeway Rehab Project, which started last September, is almost finished. But until then, drivers will still have to deal with lane closures. KHON2.

Residents should anticipate increased traffic congestion as construction workers begin laying a column in July that will support the elevated rail line as it crosses over the H-1/H-2 freeway merge between Waipahu and Pearl City, according to a news release issued Monday by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. continues to negotiate with the nine solar energy firms to develop large solar photovoltaic projects that could be up and running quickly to provide electricity on Oahu at a lower cost, but sources tell Pacific Business News that the process has become unfair.

American taxpayers have so far paid $4.3 million to defend former Schofield Barracks soldier Naeem J. Williams against the death penalty, according to data the U.S. District Court here released Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Locals speak first. That’s the new rule for hearings about Native Hawaiian sovereignty being held by the U.S. Department of Interior, following complaints that the same group of people was traveling meeting-to-meeting and monopolizing the conversation. West Hawaii Today.

In a rare move, Gov. Neil Abercrombie will sign a collection of legislative bills in Hilo this morning. Tribune-Herald.
copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hamakua Ditch © 2014 All Hawaii News

Several miles of the Lower Hamakua Ditch may still be put into a pipe. Last week, the state Department of Agriculture re-issued a bid request for the project, which would channel 3.7 miles of the 26-mile-long open irrigation system into high-density polyethylene pipe. Tribune-Herald.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources is investigating a report of another sailboat dropping anchor chain on coral in Kailua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County as of now prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under age 21, becoming only the fourth municipality in the country to do so. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Veteran state Sen. Rosalyn Baker faces opposition from three first-time candidates from different political parties in her bid for a sixth term in Maui's 6th District. They are Democrat Terez Amato, Libertarian Bronson Kekahuna Kaahui and Republican Jared P. Dubois. Star-Advertiser.

The Maui Police Commission announced the recruitment for a chief of police to fill the vacancy being created by the retirement of Chief Gary Yabuta in July. The recruitment notice indicates that the job pays $135,000 per year, and that applicants must be a citizen of the US and a resident of the state for at least one year preceding appointment. Maui Now.

The mayor of Maui ordered an end to direct communication between his staff and members of the Maui County Council. Associated Press.

Paramedics asked to vacate clinic in Hana. For nearly two decades, Hana residents have known exactly where to go when they have had an after-hours medical emergency - the Hana Health hale where American Medical Response paramedics live. Maui News.

Kauai

The Department of the Interior came to accept comment on five specific questions related to whether — and how — it should proceed with re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with Native Hawaiians on Monday. Garden Island.

Supporters of an independent Native Hawaiian nation were out in force Monday night to reject the possibility of federal recognition of a native government in the first of two meetings on the Garden Isle. Nearly 200 people filled the Wai­mea High School cafeteria after the meeting was relocated from the smaller Wai­mea Neighborhood Center to accommodate a larger crowd.  Star-Advertiser.

Officials seeking to rebuild Coco Palms Resort say they will likely rely on an infusion of loans from foreign investors to support the project during the hotel’s first years in operation. Garden Island.

Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital's budget is now facing more intense scrutiny as HHSC board members on Kauai seek to address a projected $11 million budget shortfall facing the region by cutting costs and streamlining operations. Garden Island.