Thursday, January 15, 2015

Honolulu council balks at $350M rail transit bonds, groups want Hawaiian Electric purchase delayed, wind to power Maui landfill, Kauai mulls clean air bill, state second-worst for taxing the poor, West Coast port problems could hurt Hawaii, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
Elevated rail construction, courtesy Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
Honolulu City Council members continue to harbor strong reservations about a deal that would pave the way for the island's cash-strapped rail transit line to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds leveraged against the city's general fund. On Wednesday, Council members spent much of a Budget Committee hearing grilling rail officials on the project's new financial challenges — and airing concerns that the Council lacks sufficient oversight over the largest public works project in Hawaii's history. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council's Budget Committee deferred a resolution that would allow the city to issue as much as $350 million in bonds to cover short-term financing for the elevated train. KITV4.

Clean energy advocates, solar trade groups and community organizations are asking Hawaii regulators to hold off on approving NextEra Energy’s acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Industries until there are firm plans in place outlining the state’s energy strategy. About half of the 12 groups go so far as to urge regulators to open up the sale of HEI to other bidders. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is the second-worst state in terms of taxing its lowest-income residents, according to a new study by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy and the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice. Pacific Business News.

The Joint Legislative Money Committees are continuing to review budget requests from state departments and agencies this week.   Today, lawmakers heard from the corporation responsible for operating neighbor island healthcare facilities. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ongoing contract negotiations with port workers on the West Coast are having an impact here in the islands. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shipping companies like Horizon and Matson, says due to the negotiations, longshoremen have begun to stage slowdowns at many ports on the West Coast. It’s been going on since October. KHON2.

Scott Topping has left his position as chief financial officer for Hawaiian Airlines. The state's largest carrier said Wednesday that he has been replaced on an interim basis by Shannon Okinaka, who had served as vice president-controller since 2011. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The union that represents city refuse workers wants to stop Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell from eliminating garbage disposal service for about 181 condominiums, apartments and other multifamily properties and nonprofit organizations, calling the move "an unlawful privatization" of a city service. Star-Advertiser.

The lawyer for the man once accused of stealing Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha's mailbox met Wednesday with the FBI about the police department's handling of the case. Star-Advertiser.

FBI investigators met with a federal public defender Wednesday to discuss the strange case of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s missing mailbox. But neither attorney Alexander Silvert or an FBI spokesman would say any more about what sort of case might be in the works involving the chief and the Honolulu Police Department. Civil Beat.

A former Honolulu police officer was sentenced Wednesday to nearly three years in prison for trying to extort $15,000 from the owners of a local hostess bar. Associated Press.

Former HPD cop will spend almost 3 years in federal prison for extortion. Hawaii News Now.

Since the U.S. Navy handed Kalaeloa Airport to the state nearly 16 years ago, the state's No. 2 airport has been home to dozens of commuter planes, flight schools and corporate aircraft. But the state is proposing to quadruple rents for many, forcing the departure of several businesses. Hawaii News Now.

Waikiki Elementary School teacher Catherine Caine is in the running for the 2015 national teacher of the year award — the first Hawaii finalist in more than a decade. Star-Advertiser.

Condo owners locked in fight with developer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Work at the Hu Honua Bioenergy LLC plant in Pepeekeo has resumed, with the facility set Wednesday to receive deliveries of equipment for installation. Meanwhile, the project was named this month the state’s top “Clean Energy Leader” by the Hawaii State Energy Office. Tribune-Herald.

A brush fire ignited by the June 27 lava flow has been contained after burning about 300 acres, said Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator. Tribune-Herald.

The hull of the wrecked sailboat Hawaii Aloha has been cut up and removed from the beach in North Kona. Salvage crews finished removing the 78-ton hulk from the shoreline near the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on Sunday, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources confirmed Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Central Maui Landfill Refuse and Recycling Center completed a monthslong project Friday to install three 65-foot wind turbines to generate electricity and thousands of dollars in annual taxpayer savings on power bills. Maui News.

Developers of a 68-unit town house complex in Wailea are finalizing their design plans, though there's no construction timeline yet, the project's planning consultant said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council will have at least another month to iron out the details on a proposed law that would declare air pollution that endangers public health or causes property damage a public nuisance. The seven-member board, by a 5-1 vote, gave their initial OK to the proposal outlined in Bill 2573 on Wednesday. Garden Island.

The Kauai Lagoons project, including the 27-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, has been sold to Honolulu developer Ed Bushor’s Tower Development, Inc. Garden Island.

When the state public charter school commission turned down her request last year to establish a charter school on Kauai, Deena Fontana Moraes was disappointed. But not deterred. Garden Island.

Lanai
The Maui County Council's Planning Committee will begin a review of an update of the Lanai Community Plan this week. Maui News.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Money sought to battle invasive species, Hawaii County mayor signs e-cig ban, FBI probes Honolulu police, UH seeks new AD, nene prompting Maui park closure dies, whale bumps watchers' boat, Hawaiian Host nuts over Mauna Loa macadamias, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Confiscated boa constrictor at Hilo zoo © 2015 All Hawaii News
Hawaii Invasive Species Council coordinator Josh Atwood said the council is seeking an allocation of about $6 million from the state Legislature for fiscal 2016 and 2017. It received $5.75 million for fiscal 2015. The council, which helps coordinate environmental activity in six state departments, is also asking for a larger allocation of conveyance tax revenues, which would help fund the fight against invasive species. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Chief of Staff Negotiates Revolving Door as Lobbyist. Bruce Coppa leaps from Governor's Office into a top spot with the state's largest lobbying firm, but the government ethics law limits what he can do for now. Civil Beat.

The next chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission will have big shoes to fill when Hermina Morita steps down from the agency, which charged with making key decisions affecting the industry's future in the Islands. Pacific Business News.

Commercial fishing fleets operating around the world are now doing so under the watchful gaze of environmentalists who are concerned with overfishing and other violations that have long been going on unnoticed far out to sea. But a new real-time tracking system built by two organizations — Oceana and SkyTruth — in partnership with Google promises to quickly blow the whistle on vessels that move into areas where they’re not supposed to be. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs made its pre-legislative session presentation to lawmakers last Tuesday, at which time Representative Gene Ward asked OHA CEO Kamana’opono Crabbe about the status of the Nation Building effort. Big Island Video News.

Honolulu-based Hawaiian Host announced Tuesday that it has agreed to buy Hilo-based Mauna Loa from candy-making giant The Hershey Co. for an undisclosed price. Hawaiian Host said it will maintain Mauna Loa as a subsidiary and separate brand. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

FBI investigators are expected to meet Wednesday with the federal public defender who has been insisting he has evidence of corruption in the Honolulu Police Department. It’s not the first time the FBI has investigated HPD. But it’s the first time its generally well-regarded chief, Louis Kealoha, has been at the center of any concerns. Whatever happens, the problems are as serious as any the chief has faced in his 32-year career. Civil Beat.

Video of HPD Chief's mailbox being stolen, is that Puana? Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation are seeking a memorandum of understanding to issue as much as $350 million in bonds to secure short-term financing for the project. Without the bond money, the project could be forced to stop construction at some point in the future, since state procurement law doesn't allow new contracts to be issued without the money to back it up. KITV4.

Micro-units, used shipping containers, prefabricated modular units and other nontraditional but low-cost concepts are being sought from developers wanting to create a mixed-income, mixed-use housing complex on the site of the Hawaii Public Housing Authority's administrative offices. Star-Advertiser.

Prostitution is a diverse, thriving industry in Honolulu, but misinformation about the highly varied nature of sex trafficking makes it harder to change laws that could provide protection to victims. Hawaii Independent.

Institute for Human Services officials say that since they kicked off their first full-time homeless outreach program in Wai­kiki on Nov. 3, the nonprofit has helped 63 of the district's homeless people into shelter or housing. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa has formed a committee to find a new director for the university’s deficit-mired athletics department. Associated Press.

University of Hawaii-Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman has announced the formation of an eight-person search advisory committee to find a new athletic director, who will be tasked with turning around a department that’s expected to end this year $3.5 million in the hole. Civil Beat.

The troubled Kalihi charter school facing closure by the Public Charter School Commission says it will challenge the decision to revoke its charter contract amid financial and operational problems. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi has signed a bill that makes Hawaii County the first in the state restricting the use of electronic cigarettes to the same places traditional tobacco cigarettes can be smoked. West Hawaii Today.

Hawai‘i County residents who smoke e-cigarettes will soon find fewer places where vaping is allowed. Hawai‘i Island Mayor Billy Kenoi signed the bill Tuesday, making it the only county in the state to ban electronic cigarettes from public places where smoking is already prohibited. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is considering whether to file charges against former County Council District 5 candidate Tiffany Edwards Hunt after police completed their investigation into alleged voting irregularities. Tribune-Herald.

The Waimea community wants its bypass. The Kawaihae Road bypass was on state Department of Transportation project lists for the past eight years — a safety measure the North Hawaii community has agitated for over a period of decades. However, the estimated $265 million road was dropped from priority last summer in favor of a $100 million extension of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway from Mamalahoa Highway to Queen Kaahumanu Highway. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Meadows residents hope that the county will reconsider cutting the South Maui curbside recycling project known as the "3 Can Plan." Maui News.

The nesting nēnē family that prompted closure of Hosmer Grove in Haleakalā National Park on Friday, Jan. 9, lost its young gosling, the park service reported. Maui Now.

Maui campground reopened after young nene found dead. Associated Press.

Passengers on a Maui whale-watching boat had an unexpected up-close-and-personal encounter with a mother and her calf. It happened around 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan.10, about four miles off Lahaina. KHON2.

One local teacher is taking a unique approach to highlight the issue of plastic waste in the ocean and to inspire Hawaii’s youth to be the catalyst for change. Lindy Shapiro, founder of the nonprofit Bodhi Education Project on Maui, plans to take a month-long 750 mile coastal expedition around the Hawaiian Islands by foot and bike. Garden Island.

Kauai

Better days may be ahead for the state’s public hospital system, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, following a year of tough financial decisions, said Interim HHSC Kauai Region CEO Scott McFarland. Garden Island.

Padraic Gallagher has been hired as the new Kauai County Director of the American Red Cross. He takes over the position on Monday and replaces Keri Russell, who left in October for a job with another nonprofit. Garden Island.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Chinese tourists flock to Hawaii, Morita out as PUC chair, attorney general, two board members fight transparency, $25M Punchbowl improvements advance, Dems mull Johanson party switch, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Shoppers in Waikiki © 2015 All Hawaii News
According to research by Hawaii Tourism China, Chinese visitor arrivals increased by more than 25 percent during the first 11 months in 2014. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's 2015 tourism campaign to leverage visitors’ social media content. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is working with a golf course membership company to bring high-spending Chinese golfers to Hawaii. Associated Press.

The state's Public Utilities Commission chairwoman, Hermina "Mina" Morita, resigned from her position Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Mina Morita, the embattled chair of Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission, has resigned, according to a press release from Gov. David Ige’s office. There’s no word yet on Morita’s replacement. Civil Beat.

Hermina Morita, who has played a major role in Hawaii's energy industry since becoming chairwoman of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission in 2011, has resigned from her post, Gov. David Ige's office said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Hermina “Mina” Morita has resigned as chair of the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, Gov. David Ige’s office said Monday. Garden Island.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige says he's accepting the resignation of Hermina Morita as the chairwoman of the state Public Utilities Commission. The governor said in a statement Monday Morita decided not to seek reappointment. Associated Press.

State Democrats on Friday will begin reviewing a request by state Rep. Aaron Ling Johanson to switch his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. Johanson, who last month announced he was switching parties over philosophical differences with some members of the state GOP, goes before the Executive Committee of the Demo­cratic Party's Oahu County Committee to present his case. Star-Advertiser.

Two State Board Members Fight Release of Financial Disclosure Statements. The Attorney General has asked the Hawaii Supreme Court to delay a Circuit Court order forcing the Ethics Commission to release of the records. Civil Beat.

After arguments pro and con, a task force on health care for seniors took no position Monday on a legislative resolution that would require hospitals to instruct family members in the proper care of relatives who are discharged. Star-Advertiser.

Matson Inc., the state's largest ocean shipper, is lowering its fuel surcharge for Hawaii and other Pacific islands by 4 percentage points as bunker fuel prices continue to drop. Star-Advertiser.

The number of new foreclosure lawsuits filed in Hawaii through November stayed under 200 for a seventh straight month in the wake of a tweak to state law that took effect in May. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

State housing officials want land developers to get creative and submit plans to redevelop a North School Street property, making a housing project featuring both low-income public housing and mixed-income rental units. Star-Advertiser.

The overtime costs incurred by the Honolulu Police Department to provide round-the-clock protection for President Barack Obama, his family and others traveling with him during his just-completed Christmas vacation have risen dramatically since the Hawaii native began spending the holidays here. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama and his family just spent their Christmas and New Year’s holidays in Kailua. Now it’s time for taxpayers to pick up the tab. While the Obamas and friends who accompany them pay for their own private vacation home rentals on or near Kailua Beach, taxpayers foot a multimillion dollar tab for everything from a stand-by ambulance to the fuel for Air Force One. Hawaii Reporter.

Four Oahu nursing facilities have been hit with flu outbreaks since last week, leading to restricted visits and — in one case — a temporary ban on accepting new patients. Star-Advertiser.

After two waves of rolling power blackouts, Hawaiian Electric Co. said no further outages would be needed Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

After several setbacks, a plan to expand a revered final resting place at Punchbowl is finally moving forward. The Department of Veterans Affairs just awarded a $25 million contract to Nan Inc. Hawaii News Now.

Opinion: Rail Ends at Ala Moana, But Will Tax Go on Forever? Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is being disingenuous when he claims extending a rail surcharge doesn't amount to asking the Legislature for a tax increase. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A state senator says an idea floated by a Hilo attorney to use a helium-filled airship to take passengers over active lava could be a viable solution if Kilauea volcano’s June 27 flow crosses Highway 130. Tribune-Herald.

The Kamakana Villages affordable housing development would get a more secure water source, if developer Forest City Hawaii is successful converting an existing exploratory well into a production well. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County has issued a finding of no significant environmental impact for the construction of a central sewer system in the Lono Kona subdivision. The $6.5 million sewer project will be built mauka of Kuakini Highway in an area residents have dubbed “Hamburger Hill.” West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii residents woke up Monday morning to find volcanic haze shrouding the landscape and a sulfuric smell and taste in the air, the odor reminiscent of a barbecue grill gone unattended too long. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Partnership talks are advancing between the operator of three Maui hospitals and Hawai‘i Pacific Health. The news comes as patients continue to pack the emergency room at Maui Memorial Medical Center. Maui Now.

State hospitals on Maui are pursuing a partnership with the privately-run Hawai‘i Pacific Health. The state’s publicly-funded facilities have been struggling for years and plan to seek approval from the legislature. Hawaii Public Radio.

While single-family and condominium sales numbers were both down in 2014, compared with the previous year, prices continued to climb and the percentage of foreclosure and short sales fell. Maui News.

Kauai

Former renters of Kauai Kalani Apartments near Lydgate Park are suing condo developers  in 5th Circuit Court for unlawful evictions and retaliation. Garden Island.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Native Hawaiians irked over Ige land policy, Oahu preps for plastic bag ban, public can comment on University of Hawaii Mauna Kea telescope plan, Kauai lighthouse cleanup under fire, overfishing worries Molokai residents, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Native Hawaiians guard the Hokulea canoe © 2015 All Hawaii News
Barely a month into his term, Gov. David Ige already is in hot water with some Native Hawaiians. Two key actions taken at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands since he took office have prompted some to question whether Ige will bring the change he promised during the campaign to the agency that manages the 203,000-acre land trust on their behalf. Star-Advertiser.

Where Real Estate Is King. A key driver of our cost of living is the high price of land. A collision of interests and actions push its value upward. Civil Beat.

Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s chief of staff Bruce Coppa has landed a lobbying job with Hawaii’s top lobbying firm, Capitol Consultants of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Nearly 14 years after the use of medical marijuana was legalized in Hawaii, medical marijuana patients may have a legal way to purchase it, rather than just grow it themselves, within the next few years. Garden Island.

New details have emerged regarding Florida-based NextEra Energy's planned $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., including the fact that talk of a deal first began as early as May 2014, when NextEra Chairman and CEO Jim Robo first requested a meeting with Connie Lau, president and CEO of HECO parent Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., according to a document filed with federal regulators on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Starting July 1, Oahu will join the growing list of places that have banned the plastic checkout bag. Businesses will be prohibited from giving out plastic bags and nonrecyclable paper bags to their customers at the point of sale for carrying groceries or other merchandise. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal officials are pursuing the possibility of designating a part of Kaneohe Bay as a research-focused estuarine reserve. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Hawaii Reporter’s Malia Zimmerman Bids Aloha. The loss of the longtime local investigative reporter is another a blow for independent media — and the citizens of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The former Porlock madam who said she ran an elite prostitution business for 10 years servicing celebrities, politicians and law enforcement, has been convicted on federal drug charges. A federal jury on Jan. 9 found Malia Elena Arciero guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count of distribution of some quantity of methamphetamine. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

The University of Hawaii issued its first document exploring a new master lease for astronomy facilities on Mauna Kea. The 160-page environmental impact statement preparation notice was published Thursday and explores its proposal for a new 65-year lease covering the Mauna Kea Science Reserve and Halepohaku mid-level facilities, and potential alternatives. Tribune-Herald.

The public has 30 days to comment on the environmental impact of UH's proposed new master lease for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve. Hawaii Independent.

The University of Hawaii has taken its first steps toward a new Mauna Kea "master lease" for astronomy facilities on the mountain. Associated Press.

It took almost five years of negotiating between the state and county, but an almost 8-foot boa constrictor, the latest addition to the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo &Gardens, was settling in Friday, its distinctive tan and black geometric patterns undulating as it stretched to its full length for perhaps the first time in that many years. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will be holding a public hearing to discuss proposed management changes to areas on Maui in the state forest reserve system, including three state parks, at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hannibal Tavares Community Center's upstairs room in Pukalani. Maui News.

Economist Paul Brewbaker predicted that Maui's struggling housing construction industry will benefit from the Maui County Council's action last month to ease the county's affordable housing requirement for developers from 50 percent to between 20 to 25 percent. Maui News.

Maui region hospitals seek solutions for hospitals’ longevity. HHSC Maui region to enter into partnership discussion with Hawai‘i Pacific Health. Hawaii Independent.

Jet pack rides off Kaanapali proposed. Maui News.

Kauai

State and federal officials are trying to determine who is responsible for cleaning up areas around Ninini Point Lighthouse, which has been blighted by a pair of stripped, abandoned cars and other discarded trash for several months. Garden Island.

Molokai

Opinion: Since statehood, the people of Molokai have relied on state government to manage Molokaiʻs ocean resources. We are currently witnessing profound shortages in our subsistence gathering sources, which island families rely heavily on. We have fewer income opportunities and higher costs of living than most of the other islands. Molokai Dispatch.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Army grows in Pacific, Tulsi Gabbard to marry videographer, big fight over Big Wind, Hawaiian Electric CEO to get $10M in buyout, study looks at geothermal impact on Native Hawaiians, Maui hospital wants private partners, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Pohakuloa Training Area  © 2015 All Hawaii News
Under a still-developing U.S. Army Pacific deployment concept called "Pacific Pathways," the Army is becoming more expeditionary — like the Marines. Rather than shuttling smaller groups back and forth as in the past, the Army is keeping larger numbers of troops west of the mid-Pacific dateline for extended periods — and adding to security in the region in the process, it says. Star-Advertiser.

One of Hawaii's most eligible singles is tying the knot. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, the popular Hawaii Democrat who easily won re-election to a second term in November, confirmed Thursday she is engaged and planning an April wedding. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. CEO Connie Lau will get an estimated $10.66 million in compensation if the company is sold to Florida-based NextEra Energy Inc. later this year as planned, according to a federal filing Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

On Monday political science professor Monique Mironesco will walk on to the West Oahu campus of the University of Hawaii and resume the job that was taken away from her 18 months ago. An arbitrator ruled last month that the university wrongfully fired the 10-year "temporary" faculty member in what the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly describes as a landmark decision that will affect hundreds of nontenured UH professors who might face the same situation now or in the future. Star-Advertiser.

The commission overseeing public charter schools agreed Thursday to begin shutting down the financially strapped Halau Lokahi Public Charter School, ending a months­-long struggle to keep the Hawaiian culture-based school afloat. Star-Advertiser.

Environmental attorneys say that Hawaii’s Public Utilities Commission likely erred in approving a wind farm before its environmental review was completed. Last week, the PUC approved a contract between Hawaiian Electric Co. and Champlin/GEI Wind Holdings, based in Santa Barbara, Calif., for a new 10-turbine wind farm to be built in Kahuku on Oahu’s North Shore. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said it does not foresee any impact on the development of NextEra Energy's planned 15-megawatt Ka La Nui Solar project in Leeward Oahu from the Florida company's $4.3 billion acquisition of the state's largest utility, according to a public filing. Pacific Business News.

January electric bills at 4-year low thanks to oil. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Windward Planning Commission on Thursday approved the allocation of $293,760 for a study on the impact of geothermal development on Native Hawaiians. The request, which taps Hawaii County’s geothermal asset fund, came from geothermal critics and others who say the state’s indigenous population has been ignored during discussions surrounding the contentious issue. Tribune-Herald.

Palikapu Dedman with the Pele Defense Fund addressed the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday (Jan. 8, 2015), demanding the commission release funds for a study on the possible adverse impacts upon Native Hawaiians associated with the development of geothermal energy generation facilities on the island. Big Island Video News.

Stubborn ice deposited by Friday’s storm continues to keep the summit of Mauna Kea closed to the public. Snow storms typically close down access for a day or so, said Office of Mauna Kea Management Director Stephanie Nagata, but the current conditions are unlike anything seen before at the summit. Tribune-Herald.

When flash flooding crippled the Kohala Ditch last month, it spelled the end of one Kapaau business and forced rationing for other users. It also helped force the question of what to do with a historic water system that barely sustains itself but still serves a critical function — albeit not the one for which it was created. West Hawaii Today.

A 10-unit oceanfront development at mile marker 19 in Ninole got the thumbs-up from the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday, despite concerns by neighbors that the upscale community will make housing less affordable along the Hamakua coast. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The head of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s Maui region plans to discuss a partnership with Hawaii Pacific Health during a news conference Friday morning, but the state-owned hospital network will still need legislative approval to partner with the private nonprofit hospital network, which oversees Kapiolani, Pali Momi, Straub, and Wilcox hospitals. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge last month ordered the now defunct Maui Pineapple Co. to pay a portion of an $8.7 million settlement to Thai farm laborers who suffered hostile and deplorable living conditions after being brought to Hawaii more than a decade ago. Maui News.

Former Maui mayoral candidate Nelson Waikiki Jr. is scheduled to be sentenced in a securities fraud case next month, after he was arrested Tuesday night on a warrant. Maui News.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Police probed on Oahu and Kauai, WWII-style planks may bridge lava flow, salary hikes nixed on Kauai, nene geese close rifle range, no corporate taxes for REITs, Carroll steps down as committee chair, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii police © 2015 All Hawaii News
Honolulu police Chief Louis Kealoha on Wednesday dismissed a recommendation issued by four state senators that calls for assembling a team of co-chiefs to run the department. Star-Advertiser.

Four state lawmakers are calling on the Honolulu Police Commission to appoint someone to help Police Chief Louis Kealoha run his department in light of recent events involving his mailbox, a mistrial, his prosecutor wife and her estranged uncle. Civil Beat.

Four state senators say Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha needs help running the department. Hawaii News Now.

A handful of our states senators are challenging Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha. They're questioning whether the chief can do his job alone, or if he needs some help. KITV4.

A Multimillion-Dollar Tax Loophole Bigger Than Ala Moana Center. Real Estate Investment Trusts don't pay corporate income tax in Hawaii, despite benefiting from local infrastructure. Civil Beat.

Hawaii state Rep. Mele Carroll has relinquished her chairmanship of the Committee on Human Services in the Hawaii House of Representatives. Carroll said Wednesday that she asked House Speaker Joseph Souki to reassign the chairmanship because she's having health issues. Associated Press.

Maui Representative Mele Carroll, D–13th District, is stepping down as chairwoman of the House Human Services Committee, according to a news release just sent out from the state House of Representatives communications office. Her reason: undefined “health issues.” Maui Time

A University of Hawaii Cancer Center researcher on Wednesday joined the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology in calling for federal, state and local governments to not only regulate e-cigarettes but also to ban all youth-oriented e-cig advertising and marketing. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
Despite grim statistics, industry representatives remain optimistic for 2015 as Hawaiian Electric Co. begins to approve customers who have been waiting to install rooftop photovoltaic systems. The City and County of Hono­lulu issued 6,554 rooftop solar building permits in 2014, compared with 13,303 in 2013. Star-Advertiser.

A local ice rink is tapping into the sun to keep its facilities cool. Ice Palace Hawai‘i announced the completion of a rooftop solar power project that could cut down their energy bill by 25%. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council on Wednesday voted in favor of borrowing up to $20 million for emergency road projects in lower Puna as the county waits to see how much disaster relief the federal government will provide. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Transportation is considering using the same material that allowed the military to rapidly build airstrips in World War II to reopen Highway 130 if it’s covered by lava. Tribune-Herald.

After an hour-long closed-door session Wednesday, the Hawaii County Council unanimously agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a homeless panhandler who said his civil rights were violated when police officers cited him for “aggressive solicitation.” West Hawaii Today.

A man affectionately known as Hilo's welfare doctor for aiding the underserved stands accused of fraud. But many on the Big Island are rallying to his defense. In September, the state cut off Medicaid reimbursements to Dr. Frederick Nitta, saying he overbilled the program more than $1.2 million when he gave drug screening tests to patients. Hawaii News Now.

The dean of Hilo’s College of Pharmacy plans to remain at the school until the end of the academic year. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui region of the state public hospital system wants to engage in formal talks with Hawaii Pacific Health to address its financial difficulties. Hawaii Health Systems Corp. Maui Region and Hawaii Pacific Health must seek the state Legislature's approval to enter partnership discussions and provide solutions. Associated Press.

A Civil Air Patrol plane that had been stationed at Kahului Airport for missions hasn't been on Maui since March, leaving an empty hangar and concerns about providing adequate tsunami and hurricane warnings to remote areas of Maui County. Maui News.

A nesting nene goose has prompted the closure of the rifle range at Maui's Ukumehame Firing Range. The county Department of Parks and Recreation said the goose, a member of an endangered species, was spotted wandering around the rifle range Sunday by a firearms instructor. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s only public rifle range is temporarily closing after an endangered goose was spotted wandering around the property. A biologist also found a nene nest in the area. Associated Press.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council on Wednesday narrowly rejected a Salary Commission proposal that would have increased the maximum salary limit for 22 department heads, including Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., County Engineer Larry Dill and County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask. Garden Island.

Police body cameras are getting support, but there are privacy concerns and labor contract issues to deal with before they become a reality. The Kauai Police Department briefed the Kauai County Council Wednesday on the department’s $134,000 request to purchase 142 police body cameras, and the committee said it was in favor of equipping officers with electronic surveillance. Garden Island.

Deadly pedestrian crash involving Kauai police vehicle under investigation. KHON2.

Local dive companies say the state Department of Land and Natural Resources cost them tens of thousands of dollars by implementing — prematurely, and with little or no notification — a new rule requiring businesses to obtain permits for commercial shoreline operations. Garden Island.

Lanai

Life on Lanai: Still a Good Place to ‘Just Be’. On this island, it's the small things that count most toward a good life. Civil Beat.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Consumer spending fattens state budget, Obama vacation costs Honolulu police $277K in overtime, Hawaii banker named to federal reserve, schools lag under decentralization, manta rays suffer fin damage, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Shoppers in Waikiki © 2015 All Hawaii News
Increased consumer spending, spurred by savings from lower gasoline and heating fuel prices, should help the U.S. economy overall and in turn have a positive impact on Hawaii's economy, state economists predicted Tuesday. The improved economic outlook prompted the state Council on Revenues to revise upward its forecast for the current fiscal year, predicting revenue growth of about 4.5 percent, up from the 3.5 percent growth predicted in September. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige’s administration and state lawmakers have a little more money to work with as they develop the next biennium budget for the state in the coming months. The Hawaii Council on Revenues decided Tuesday to increase its revenue forecast for the current fiscal year, which started July 1. Its previous projection of a 3.5 percent increase in revenue was raised to 4.5 percent, which translates to roughly $53.7 million in additional revenues for the general fund. Civil Beat.

No new day for school empowerment. A pair of new studies show decentralization of the DOE saw little progress over the past four years. Will our new governor have more success? Hawaii Independent.

Allan Landon, the unflappable and unpretentious former head of the state's second-largest bank, is being summoned for another challenge. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama said he will nominate Landon, 65, to a seat on the seven-member Federal Reserve Board. If approved by the Senate, he would become the first banking executive from Hawaii to ever serve on the prestigious committee. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama said Tuesday he plans to nominate retired Bank of Hawaii Chairman and CEO Allan R. Landon to the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s largest health insurer says it’s still having substantial problems with the state’s health exchange. The staff at Hawaii Medical Services Association has spent 27,940 hours working on technical issues with the Connector, and a fifth of those hours were spent in the last two months. Associated Press.

Obesity task force seeks fee for sugar-sweetened drinks. KITV4.

FBI: Investment Scams on the Rise in Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The bill has come in for President Barack Obama and his family's holiday vacation in Hawaii. According to Honolulu police, the cost for HPD officers' overtime pay during the first family's visit was more than $277,000. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama left Oahu over the weekend, but he left Honolulu taxpayers with the bill. KHON2.

The state has lost its appeal of a judge's ruling in which the state Department of Human Services was found negligent, along with a Navy diver based at Pearl Harbor, in the 2009 death of the sailor's 14-month-old boy. Star-Advertiser.

Developers of a wind farm set to break ground later this year in Kahuku are boasting of its low-priced energy, but Oahu residents will still be paying six times the national average for the wind energy produced from the 10 turbines. Civil Beat.

It was pretty certain before 2014 was over that Oahu home prices would set a record. And they did. Yet there also was a dip in the number of sales as limited inventory clashed a bit with buyer demand. The Honolulu Board of Realtors released for publication Wednesday its latest monthly sale report with December data that rounded out a year during which record prices were broken. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Creating more housing by allowing people to live in industrial-commercial mixed districts is proving a tough pill for the Hawaii County Council to swallow. The council Planning Committee on Tuesday lauded the goal of a measure advanced by the county administration, but said there are too many concerns to allow Bill 4 to go forward without more work. West Hawaii Today.

A Tuesday morning overflight of the June 27 lava flow showed that breakouts upslope of the stalled front advanced another 150 yards to the north in the past day. Hawaii County Civil Defense said the breakouts were about 1-1.5 miles upslope of the front, which has remained quiet for about a week. Tribune-Herald.

Lava flowing from Kīlauea’s Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Vent has left the lower Puna community in a state of limbo. The slow moving disaster has prompted one researcher to look at how residents are coping with the flow. Hawaii Public Radio.

Earl Bakken, the 91-year-old inventor of the pacemaker and a longtime Big Island resident, already has his 9-acre Kona Coast estate off the grid but now wants to power it without any fossil fuels. Now Bakken has started building one of the largest private residential photovoltaic systems in Hawaii not connected to a utility electrical grid. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island employers began paying the state’s new increased minimum wage last week, and the change is either long overdue or an unwelcome hardship, depending on whom you talk to. Tribune-Herald.

Opinion: Could an Airship Ferry Residents Stranded by the Lava Flow? A Hilo attorney and entrepreneur has a plan for the "Lava Ferry" if Highway 130 in Pahoa is taken out. Civil Beat.

Maui

A Maui research and conservation group says 10 percent of the more than 300 manta rays in waters south of Lahaina have amputated or severely damaged fins. The Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research says the manta rays are injured when they get caught in fishing lines. Associated Press.

About 10 percent of 330 manta rays identified off Olowalu have an amputated or severely damaged fin used in eating, caused by entanglement in fishing lines. Maui News.

Coffee growers on Maui are bracing for a destructive beetle to eventually make its way to the island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui coffee growers are taking measures to belay the arrival of the coffee berry borer beetle that has been brewing trouble for farmers on the Big Island for years and that made its way to Oahu in December. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai legislators are preparing district and shared concerns as they get ready for their first session Jan. 21. Garden Island.

Community meetings will be held around the island next week to discuss the county’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan update. The discussions will be led by the Kauai Civil Defense Agency and two researchers from the University of Hawaii’s Social Science Research Institute, Dr. Cheryl Anderson and Dr. Sarah Henly-Shepard. Garden Island.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Honolulu Zoo loses another director, panhandler civil rights lawsuit settlement nears, Ige names more top staff, Maui harbor drains $7M from state budget, lava follows new path, state arts foundation audited, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Honolulu Zoo © 2015 All Hawaii News
Jeffrey Wilkinson, director of the Honolulu Zoo since April, announced his resignation to zoo staff Sunday. Wilkinson is the fourth zoo director to resign in the past five years, and the third since March 2013. Star-Advertiser.

Elizabeth Kim, part of a senior leadership team that advises the U.S. secretary of labor, has been named state labor director, Gov. David Ige's office announced Monday. The governor also announced the hiring of Hono­lulu public relations professional Cindy McMillan as his administration's director of communications. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has chosen Elizabeth Kim to head the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Cindy McMillan to be his communications director. Civil Beat.

The state agency responsible for helping the public access government-controlled information and ensure public meetings remain as open as possible has been mired in a backlog so big its rulings are often irrelevant by the time they’re issued. Yet relief appears nowhere in sight for the Hawaii Office of Information Practices as Gov. David Ige’s term begins and the Legislature gets set to work on his proposed biennium budget, which despite a modest increase only gives the agency half the resources it had 20 years ago. Civil Beat.

The Hawai‘i Health Connector — beset by delays, computer malfunctions and low enrollment since its inception in late 2013 — expects to be self-sufficient by 2022. Star-Advertiser.

On the eve of the 2015 legislative session, Hawaii Public Radio’s Noe Tanigawa takes a look at a recent auditor’s report on the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Oahu

State regulators have approved a wind farm planned for Kahuku despite objections from members of the North Shore community and concerns from Hawaii’s consumer advocate that the developer should have completed its environmental review of the project first. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu city councilman is looking for ways to boost regulation on vacation rentals on Hawaii’s most populous island. Associated Press.

For years, Kapaa Quarry Road has been used as an illegal dump site by people getting rid of trash, equipment, even furniture. Residents and lawmakers say it’s long been a problem with no clear solution and it sits right next to the Kawainui Marsh. KHON2.

The lei sellers at the Honolulu International Airport say their daily struggle to stay in business would be eased if they had 15-year leases like they did in the past, and more respect. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A settlement is in the works in a civil rights lawsuit filed against the county by a Kailua-Kona man cited for panhandling last year. West Hawaii Today.

The June 27 lava flow could begin following a new path as breakouts upslope of the stalled front advance to the north. Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator, said the most active breakout was located about 1.5 miles from Pahoa Marketplace as of Monday morning. It had advanced about 200 yards to the north in 24 hours. Tribune-Herald.

Daily nonstop flights between Kona and Haneda, Japan, could begin as early as June 1, if Hawaiian Airlines Inc. is successful in its application with the U.S. Department of Transportation. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island health care providers are seeing a recent spike in cases of the flu. Hilo Medical Center reports that in the last month its influenza rate has risen about four times higher than normal, and Kona Community Hospital said Monday it has already confirmed 24 cases of the flu since New Year’s Day. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

It was supposed to be a part of the state's plan to revitalize the Maalaea Harbor on Maui. But for the past 20 years, the 1.1-acre dirt lot has remained undeveloped with Hawaii taxpayers footing the bill. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has paid more than $7 million -- or about $1,000 a day -- to lease the property that's used only to store old boats, buoys and other ocean equipment. Hawaii News Now.

The new year brought entirely new Maui County Council leadership–exactly what was predicted shortly after the November 2014 election. Mike White is the new Council Chairman and Don Guzman is the new Vice Chairman. Maui Time.

Kauai

Ulupono Initiative, the same investment company backing Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed dairy in Mahaulepu Valley on Kauai’s south side, has its sights on purchasing the last locally owned and operated large-scale dairy in the state. Garden Island.

Monday, January 5, 2015

Record low temps chill Hawaii, climate change studied, Ige plans belt tightening, Kauai police run over pedestrian they were sent to help, Obama has left the islands, $90M wind farm cleared for Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Snow-topped Mauna Kea on Saturday © 2015 All Hawaii News
Temperatures in Hawaii dropped into the 50s, setting records on three islands and tying a record in Honolulu Sunday morning. Star-Advertiser.

Snow blanketed the summit areas of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii while morning temperatures dipped into the 50's Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Last month, as he submitted his budget for the next two-year cycle, Gov. David Ige noted that government spending would grow over the next two fiscal years due primarily to nondiscretionary spending requirements such as health benefits and raises negotiated by the previous administration. To him, that means one thing: The state will have to live within its means. Star-Advertiser.

New rules regarding dentists and sedatives were put into place shortly after her daughter's death, But Ashley Boyle has started a web site, finleys-law.org. She's pushing for a law allowing parents to be in the treatment room with their children during dental procedures, or at least to have a window available so they can observe. She also wants a law that says any drug must be administered by the dentist or an equally-certified staff member. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama and family left Honolulu Saturday evening following a two-week vacation. Star-Advertiser.

President Obama and his family departed from Oahu’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam at 9:43 p.m., marking the end of their annual Hawaiian winter vacation to the islands. The President and the First Lady arrived to the take-off zone at 9:27 p.m. on Saturday and were greeted by state dignitaries, including Gov. David Ige, Senator Mazie Hirono, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, and General Vincent Keith Brooks. KHON2.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced that its Pacific Islands Climate Science Center will award universities and other partners over $600K for studies that will assess the potential effects of climate change in and around Hawai‘i. Maui Now.

A University of Hawaii researcher has received a $104,477 grant to see whether resources from Hawaii waters can be used to ward off sepsis, an often fatal complication of infection. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin has made no secret of his aspirations to be mayor and political insiders say he’s worked to undermine Caldwell’s political agenda — something Martin denies — as he positions himself to challenge Caldwell in the 2016 mayoral race. Civil Beat.

The $90 million Na Pua Makani wind farm being built by California's Champlin Hawaii Holdings LLC on public and private lands on Oahu's North Shore has been approved by Hawaii regulators this week, according to a public filing. Pacific Business News.

Diamond Head, the extinct volcano that has become synonymous with Waikiki Beach, isn’t going anywhere, but much of the sand that both locals and visitors enjoy has vanished. Associated Press.

Opinion: Urban Hawaii: What Does the Future Hold for Honolulu — and Us? It is time to explore what the transformation of Kakaako says about the evolution of our city. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

One of the three bond rating firms has reaffirmed Hawaii County’s solid financial status, even as the County Council is poised Wednesday to add $20 million to the debt to  pay for lava-impacted Puna roads. West Hawaii Today.

Motorists fuming about changes to the acceleration lanes on Queen Kaahumanu Highway may only have to drop it in neutral and wait a bit; things could change yet again. State Department of Transportation engineers are returning to the drawing board on a restriping project between Makala Boulevard and Henry Street — a redesign of traffic flow that eliminated acceleration lanes and drew protest from not just motorists but also some cyclists. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

In his third and final term as mayor of Maui County, Alan Arakawa hopes to work with the state to expand airport facilities in Kahului, to create a facility for the mentally disabled and drug and substance abusers at the Old Maui High School in Hamakuapoko and to work with the Maui County Council amicably over the next four years. Maui News.

Doug McLeod has stepped down as Maui County's energy commissioner and appears to be on the verge of working as a consultant to Florida-based NextEra Energy, which announced plans last month to absorb Hawaiian Electric in a multibillion-dollar merger deal. Maui News.

The Maui County Council on Friday welcomed the new year with new leadership. Maui News.

Kauai

A pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle, then struck again by the police officer responding to the accident, died Saturday night. Garden Island.

Commercial businesses operating in the ocean are now required to have a permit. But some Kauai companies lost money when they were forced to close unnecessarily during the holidays. Hawaii News Now.

A Westside company is suing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for breach of contract and fraud in its operation of the former Makaweli Poi Mill that it purchased and operated from 2008 until it ceased operations in 2012. Garden Island.

With the first phase of the Rice Camp Senior Apartments set for completion in March, rental applications are now being accepted by the project’s management company, EAH Housing. Garden Island.

Friday, January 2, 2015

New faces lead GOPs in Hawaii Legislature, governor's administration, Honolulu City Hall, Obama library competition intensifies as Obama Hawaii vacation nears end, Puna senator seeks lava relief, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2015 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii state Capitol © 2015 All Hawaii News
House Republicans have organized behind Rep. Beth Fukumoto Chang as minority leader for the upcoming legislative session. New Rep. Andria Tupola was chosen as minority floor leader, the caucus announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Just in time for 2015, Gov. David Ige has announced seven new members of his Cabinet. The governor named Col. Arthur “Joe” Logan from the Hawaii Army National Guard as adjutant general. Nolan Espinda, the warden at the Halawa Correctional Facility, is the new director for the Department of Public Safety. Carty Chang, an engineer from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, will serve as the acting director for department. Civil Beat.

Snorkeling and shave ice filled the first family's 13th day of their holiday vacation Thursday. President Barack Obama and his family began the New Year under mostly sunny skies as they left their rental home in Kailua for a snorkeling excursion. Star-Advertiser.

In the contest to host his presidential library, two public universities that serve needy communities are pitted against a pair of elite, private schools with seemingly endless money. Associated Press.

Two Chicago universities competing to host President Barack Obama’s presidential library are scrambling to address major concerns raised by the foundation picking the future site, with Chicago’s mayor stepping in to ensure his city stays competitive. Associated Press.

Medical marijuana production centers and dispensaries could become part of the Hawaii landscape as soon as 2017, under recommendations a task force is sending to the state Legislature. West Hawaii Today.

The Affordable Care Act's temporary payment-increase program for Medicaid physicians is set to expire nationwide on Jan. 1, but Hawaii plans to extend the primary care rate beyond Dec. 31, according a study released by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Pacific Business News.

Bigeye Tuna Remains on Hawaii’s Menu — But for How Long? There's been a lot of talk among power players about dangerously declining fish stocks in the Pacific, but action has been insubstantial. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Incoming Honolulu City Councilman Trevor Ozawa will head the Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee, and fellow freshman Councilman Brandon Elefante will lead the remixed Business, Economic Development and Tourism Committee under new committee leadership assignments announced in a memorandum this week by Council Chairman Ernie Martin. Star-Advertiser.

A longtime city refuse worker alleges that employees at the Pearl City baseyard were allowed to drink at the workplace during holiday events. Hawaii News Now.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has released a request for proposals for a contractor to replace approximately 52,000 low pressure sodium (LPS) city streetlights with light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights.  A 2013 pilot project by the city demonstrated that retrofitting streetlights to LEDs provides significant cost savings, greater efficiency and increased visibility. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Legislation to provide insurance relief for Puna homeowners and emergency funds for Puna Community Medical Center and two charter schools are among the lava-related bills state Sen. Russell Ruderman says he will pursue this session. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A judge Wednesday dismissed all claims except one brought by a group of Maui Lani homeowners who sued over development of the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex. Maui News.

This was a year of great storms, both political and climatic. Maui Time.


Kauai

The calendar has turned to 2015, and County of Kauai officials are looking at the new year with a list of fresh — and sometimes ongoing — goals. Tackling drug use, citing a new landfill, creating more job opportunities, funding sustainable transportation alternatives and reforming the county’s real property tax system are just a few that individual officials say they want to tackle over the next year. Garden Island.

Kauai will host 900 of the world’s leading information technology specialists this week as they converge for the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. Garden Island.