All eyes on the state Legislature as the 2016 session begins -- a special news compilation with links to majority and minority speeches and more

Opening day in the Hawaii Legislature, courtesy House GOP

Lawmakers launched the 2016 session of the state Legislature on Wednesday with brief speeches and little fanfare while activists staged a daylong rally in the Capitol courtyard to draw attention to issues ranging from pesticides and genetically modified foods to the Thirty Meter Telescope and Hawaiian sovereignty. Star-Advertiser.

Leaders in the Hawaii Legislature moved beyond generalities on housing, homelessness and fiscal order to identify specific priorities in their opening-day speeches Wednesday. Leaders called for converting commercial leasehold lands to direct ownership, building a methane biodigester on Maui and giving a bigger slice of the hotel tax to counties, among other ideas.  Civil Beat.

The State Legislature convened today for the 2016 session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Homelessness and affordable housing will be key topics as the Hawaii Legislature begins its 2016 session, with Democrats and Republicans emphasizing the need for action. The House and Senate began their legislative session Wednesday, talking about the need to create a more economically viable community. Associated Press.

State lawmakers laid out their top priorities Wednesday morning as the 2016 legislative session was called to order. Hawaii News Now.

Singing and chanting outside the State Capitol marked opening day for the 2016 legislative session. Both the House and Senate have their own agendas this year, which include health care, education, and homelessness. KHON2.

Hawaii House Speaker Joe Souki plans to introduce a bill that would consider the conversion of commercial leasehold lands to fee simple ownership as a way to slow the closure of many small businesses because of the rise of leasehold rents in recent years. Pacific Business News.

Senate President Ron Kouchi expressed his desire to address quality health care in rural areas on neighbor islands in his opening speech of the 28th Legislative Session. Associated Press.

Lawmakers moonlight as attorneys, consultants, farmers. Star-Advertiser.

Who’s Who: The State of Hawaii 2016 Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

An East Hawaii lawmaker was absent from opening day of the 2016 legislative session and will remain out until further notice, his family says. State Sen. Gil Kahele, a Democrat who represents Hilo, checked into The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu on Monday to address medical issues and undergo testing. Tribune-Herald.

Speaker Joseph M. Souki 2016 Opening Day Remarks. Hawaii Majority House blog.

House Minority Leader's Opening Day Speech Jan 20, 2016. House Minority blog.

Members of the Hawai‘i State Senate began the 2016 Legislative Session with a renewed commitment to create a better life for those who call these islands home. Senate Majority blog.

Senate Minority Opening Day Remarks. 28th State Legislature, 2016. Senate Minority blog.

Hawaii state Legislature website.

Homelessness the focus as Hawaii legislative session begins today, search suspended for 12 Marines lost in crash, 26 sue Kamehameha Schools over sex abuse by psychiatrist, Supreme Court allows Native Hawaiian convention, court axes Maui water permits, Kona group seeks fishing ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu homeless © 2016 All Hawaii News

Gov. David Ige is asking the Legislature for nearly $11 million this session to finance an array of homeless programs. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are gearing up to tackle homelessness and affordable housing in the upcoming legislative session. Garden Island.

State lawmakers gather today for the 2016 legislative session, with the House and Senate convening at 10 a.m. at the state Capitol for what lawmakers say will be subdued opening-day proceedings. Star-Advertiser.

As in recent sessions, opening day of the 2016 Hawaii Legislature will be a “scaled back” occasion. It reflects the legislative branch’s focus on keeping spending and celebration under control in favor of attending to the business of the people. Civil Beat.

With the end-of-session Senate shakeup last May, power was consolidated among the members of the factions that supported Ron Kouchi to be the new president. Now, as attention turns to the start of the 2016 session Wednesday, there are concerns that too few have too much control over what legislation might advance in the 25-member chamber. Civil Beat.

The Grassroot Institute of Hawai’i hosted a panel discussion on the State Budget Tuesday, one day before the Legislature convenes for its 2016 session. Hawaii Public Radio.

The chairs of three committees in the Hawaii House of Representatives were accepting campaign contributions at MW Restaurant Tuesday night. Civil Beat.

The Native Hawaiian self-governance convention planned for next month cleared a legal hurdle Tuesday when the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an attempt to hold convention organizers in contempt of court. Star-Advertiser.

Vinegar and hot water really do work on jellyfish stings, according to University of Hawaii-Manoa researchers, while a popular home remedy — urinating on them — is no better than splashing on seawater.Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday evening for 12 missing Marines off Oahu after no survivors were found during five days of continuous searching in the aftermath of a two-helicopter crash. Star-Advertiser.

Officials Tuesday suspended the massive search for 12 Marines who were aboard two helicopters that crashed off Hawaii last week. Associated Press.

The massive, multi-agency search for 12 Marines missing after two choppers collided off Oahu’s North Shore late Thursday has been suspended, with no survivors found. Hawaii News Now.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday that at sunset, crews suspended the active search for 12 Marines missing after Thursday night’s double helicopter crash off the North Shore. KHON2.

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Twenty-six men — 24 former Kamehameha Schools students and two from other schools — alleged in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that as children they were systematically sexually abused and prescribed inappropriate prescription drugs by Kamehameha’s psychiatrist, who shot himself to death in 1991 when confronted by the allegations. Star-Advertiser.

Twenty-six former students alleged in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that they were repeatedly sexually abused by a now-deceased psychiatrist at a private school for Native Hawaiians. Associated Press.

Former Kamehameha Schools students filed a molestation lawsuit Tuesday morning against the school. KITV4.

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The Roman Catholic Church in Hawaii is suing a local insurance company, alleging that the insurer won’t cover settlements arising from scores of past sexual abuses cases in the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige recently said the crumbling sewage system is the main contributor to Hawaii’s housing development problem, but the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services thinks this claim is unfair. However, while the city is spending $5.2 billion on upgrading the Oahu's sewage system, the money is not going toward expanding capacity. Pacific Business News.

What led a former Honolulu mayor and city prosecuting attorney to enter Hawaii’s burgeoning medical marijuana industry? Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and the U.S. Department of Energy said Tuesday they will invest a combined $4.8 million in a research project to look into how to increase rooftop solar and energy storage on Hawaii’s grid. Star-Advertiser.

The use of liquefied natural gas as a replacement for oil would have saved Oahu electric utility customers $132 million in fuel costs, according to an 18-month study commissioned by Hawaii Gas that was released on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Gas Promises To Save Us $1.3 Billion — If Only We Let Them As the gas company prepares to announce a possible liquid natural gas partner, it touts an analysis claiming big savings if Hawaii switches from oil to LNG to fuel power plants. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
If a local marine stewardship group prevails, a stretch of North Kona shoreline will be put off limits to most fishing for the next decade under a plan to create a new marine reserve at Kaupulehu. West Hawaii Today.

Keauhou aquifer resolution could be a long time coming. West Hawaii Today.

A Hawaii County Councilman tried reaching deeper into social media to find support for his state Senate run. Greggor Ilagan was asking people on Tinder, the mobile dating app, to help him win a seat this fall to represent Puna. Civil Beat.

Researchers at the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources are working with local growers to combat an introduced insect that damages macadamia trees. Tribune-Herald.

After a four-minute public hearing Tuesday attended by no one from the public, Hawaii County adopted new rules governing drug testing of successful job applicants. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

An Oahu judge has invalidated state water diversion permits to Alexander & Baldwin for its waning Maui sugar operations in a ruling that a member of the plaintiff's group called "a historic victory." The permits have been extended annually for 13 years without an official environmental review. Maui News.

An Oahu judge has invalidated a state practice of issuing permits to Alexander & Baldwin to divert millions of gallons of irrigation water daily from streams for its Maui sugar operations. Hawaii News Now.

"Challenging Global Impacts of the Agrochemical Industry: 2016 Food Justice Summit" and its international group of speakers addressed a packed house at McCoy Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Saturday night. Maui News.

Kauai

With today’s opening of the Hawaii State 2016 legislative session, county officials are setting their sights on reclaiming what they say is their fair share of the transient accommodations tax. Mike White, chairman of the Maui County Council, recently presented his research on the recent developments on the TAT to the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

While Kauai’s legislators have been solidifying goals and gearing up for the session, community leaders and residents have been formulating their own ideas on what should be paramount on the list of issues to tackle. Garden Island.

Ground is being broken for the Timbers Kauai Ocean Club and residences, a $140 million project which will cover nearly 20 acres overlooking Nawiliwili Bay. Garden Island.

Ige job approval at 48 percent, one year into office; homelessness big issue as legislative session begins Wednesday; no indication 12 Marines used life rafts but were wearing special gear; feral parakeets damage crops; Molokai ferry suffering from cutbacks; aerial hunting begins on Maui; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige © 2016 All Hawaii News

About half of Hawaii voters have a favorable impression of Democratic Gov. David Ige, but just one year into his administration, a significant chunk of people say he is not doing a good job. A statewide survey of registered Hawaii voters found that 48 percent approve of the job Ige is doing, while 41 percent disapprove. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s rampant homelessness clearly has the attention of island voters who aren’t pleased with how Gov. David Ige is handling the crisis, according to the latest Hawaii Poll. The poll found that 56 percent of registered voters statewide say Ige is not doing a good job on homelessness, while 34 percent approve of his handling of the crisis. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Gene Ward, a Republican representing Hawaii Kai in the state House, is urging his colleagues to oppose the position of House leadership and Gov. David Ige regarding payments to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Civil Beat.

The list of entities interested in becoming charter school authorizers in Hawaii is growing, as the state Board of Education prepares to weigh in on the increasingly contentious relationship between charter schools and the commission created in 2012 to oversee them. Civil Beat.

With the GOP presidential nomination still up for grabs, some say Hawaii's Republican Party could wind up having a greater say in who gets the nod. Hawaii News Now.

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Military personnel were working around the clock Monday, still on the search for the 12 missing Marines off Oahu's north shore. Recently three of four life rafts that were aboard the aircrafts were retrieved -- but the outcome is the same -- no survivors spotted. KITV4.

The 12 Marines missing after two choppers crashed off Oahu were wearing sophisticated life-saving gear that's being factored into how long officials think they can survive in the open ocean. Hawaii News Now.

All four life rafts confirmed to be aboard the two aircraft have been recovered. There is no indication from the sightings that any survivors have been aboard any of the life rafts. KHON2.

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People living in Hawaii, California and New York are the most likely to live paycheck-to-paycheck, even though the states have among the highest income levels. Star-Advertiser.

No one in Hawaii seems to have calculated the combined direct and indirect costs of all energy consumption for island farmers. But Matthew Loke, a visiting researcher at UH-Manoa’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, cited data from the 2012 Agricultural Census indicating that direct energy costs made up 9.3 percent of farm production costs in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Rising parakeet population imperils farms, native plants. Associated Press.

Three Hawaii hotels on Maui and the Big Island retained their Five Diamond rating from AAA on the organization’s 2016 list of the 118 hotels that have earned the rating, including six hotels that earned the rating for the first time this year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A new Hawaii Poll done in December and earlier this month shows Oahu voters are most concerned now with homelessness, the city’s rail project, the economy and traffic, in that order. Star-Advertiser.

Enforcement of city codes to crack down on illegal vacation rentals on Oahu will escalate with the hiring this month of five inspectors to form a unit tasked with investigating housing and zoning code violations. Star-Advertiser.

A number of Honolulu-based high-tech startup companies opened their doors last week to attendees from the 2nd annual East Meets West Conference. Hawaii Public Radio.

A local nonprofit is seeking a special liquor license for Queen’s Beach in Waikiki to speed up possible approval for a National Football League event slated for Jan. 29-30. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

As they prepare for the regular legislative session that starts Wednesday, state lawmakers representing West Hawaii are balancing their priorities between statewide and local issues. West Hawaii Today.

The 2016 legislative session doesn’t begin until Wednesday, but a couple of East Hawaii lawmakers appear to be getting a head start. Tribune-Herald.

As Hawaii Island’s dengue fever outbreak marches on, some isle residents have been critical of efforts by state and county agencies to contain the mosquito-borne virus. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Public access to some state forest reserves and natural area reserves on Maui will be restricted while the state conducts aerial shooting to control populations of feral cattle, pigs, goats and deer. Maui News.

Kauai

The final version of a plan to manage the monk seal population in the Hawaiian Islands has been released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, but officials on Kauai have been using many of the strategies outlined in the plan for years. Garden Island.

Kauai County is looking at solidifying rules as enforcement officials shut down transient vacation rentals operating illegally. Six illegally operating single-family transient vacation rentals have been closed outside the visitor destination area so far this year. In fiscal year 2015, officials shut down 71. Associated Press.

Molokai

Since the Molokai ferry began cutting its routes last September, the athletes and local commuters who once rode the boat now have mostly turned to air travel. Maui News.

Marines still hold hope for survivors following collision of helicopters carrying 12; Hillary Clinton, Duke Aiona, Thirty Meter Telescope, Honolulu rail tops in polls; Maui mulls private electric utility; Kauai recycling challenged, Banyan Drive redevelopment plans; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Window washers at Hawaii Convention Center © 2016 All Hawaii News

Over the past two decades taxpayers have paid about $450 million toward the cost of the Hawai‘i Convention Center, but lawmakers were told last week the Hawaii Tourism Authority still owes almost as much for the center as when the state first started paying for it in 1995. Star-Advertiser.

The search continues for 12 missing marines after two military helicopters crashed late Thursday off O‘ahu’s north shore. Coast Guard Captain Jim Jenkins said there are no plans to call off the mission and still believes there’s hope for survivors. Hawaii Public Radio.

The search for 12 Marines who were on board two helicopters that collided off Oahu's North Shore has entered its fourth day on Monday, with rescuers scouring a widening search area in hopes of finding survivors.  Hawaii News Now.

The ongoing search for 12 Marines who are missing after two helicopters crashed off Hawaii entered the third day with no plans Sunday to call off or suspend the massive effort, the Coast Guard said. Associated Press.

Federal, state, and county officials are searching for a third day today for 12 Marines who are missing after the two helicopters they were in crashed off Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Far beyond Hawaii's shores, family and friends of the Marines refuse to give up hope. KITV4.

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Creating more affordable housing, helping the homeless and seeking greater fiscal accountability top the Legislature’s 2016 agenda.  On Friday, House and Senate leaders provided more details of their agenda this session. Civil Beat.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is clearly the most popular candidate for president among Hawaii voters early in the 2016 election season, with 35 percent of those surveyed saying they would cast their ballot for her if the election were held today, according to a new Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

A substantial majority of Hawaii residents supports the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, while a plurality opposes a convention that aims to form a Native Hawaiian government. But it’s a different story for Native Hawaiians, most of whom oppose the telescope while a narrow majority supports the Na‘i Aupuni convention, or aha. Star-Advertiser.

A state legislator is taking issue with comments made at a legislative hearing Wednesday by a top state land department official that implied the agency’s law enforcement officers need semi-automatic weapons to guard against fishermen from the Philippines and Indonesia working in local waters who may be Muslim. Civil Beat.

Opposition to NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed $4.3 billion purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries is growing among Hawaii residents, according to the latest Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

More people are working in Hawaii than ever before, and the additional income being generated is keeping card machines whirling. Star-Advertiser.

The final quarter of 2015 was the 24th consecutive quarter of growth in credit and debit sale transactions in Hawaii, meaning sales in the state were up 7 percent for the year, according to First Hawaiian Bank’s Business Activity Report. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Bishop Museum is selling off land. HC&S is ending sugar operations. The University of Hawaii is shelving plans for a building in Sen. Dan Inouye’s honor. More stark reminders of what Hawaii is like without Inouye. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Former Hawaii Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona insists he has not made up his mind about running for Honolulu mayor, but the latest Hawaii Poll may give him encouragement. Aiona, who on Friday acknowledged that he is considering a run, came out on top in a three-way poll question asking registered voters whom they’d select as mayor if the election were to occur today, beating out incumbent Kirk Caldwell and the second-most powerful person at Honolulu Hale, City Council Chairman Ernie Martin. Star-Advertiser.

With nearly 300 concrete columns planted firmly in the ground from East Kapolei through Central Oahu and nearly six miles of guideway built on top of them, most Oahu residents now say they think rail construction should proceed, the latest Hawaii Poll shows. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell is scheduled to leave tonight to attend the United States Conference of Mayors annual winter meeting in Washington, D.C. and to meet with federal officials on homelessness and the Honolulu rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu voters might have the chance to enact meaningful police reform when they cast their ballots this November. On Friday, the Honolulu Charter Commission was supposed to make decisions on several measures that would toughen up police oversight in the city. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Candidates can start pulling papers for this year’s election in just two weeks, but who plans to run for the county’s most important seat is still a big question mark. West Hawaii Today.

A few thousand dollars here, a few thousand there. Pretty soon it starts to add up. In the case of a special County Council fund for contingencies, it adds up to $900,000. Each council member at the beginning of the fiscal year received $100,000. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Planning Director Duane Kanuha announced the state and local governments have entered into a cooperative agreement that will enact a Banyan Drive redevelopment agency, similar to the Hawaii Redevelopment Agency that helped Hilo recover following the 1960 tsunami. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii County is looking to take the wheel on revitalizing Hilo’s beleaguered Banyan Drive with a new planning agency that could largely take over the state’s role in overseeing leases and development on the Waiakea Peninsula. Tribune-Herald.

Access to Waipio Valley could remain restricted for 8-12 weeks even after no new cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in the area, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense officials. Tribune-Herald.

A state-funded project to upgrade the Big Island’s largest port facility has reached its final phase. On Friday morning, state Department of Transportation officials and lawmakers broke ground on the interisland cargo terminal of Hilo Harbor’s Pier 4 project. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii state Office of Aerospace Development is anticipating that environmental assessment for Kona International Airport will be completed in the coming weeks. Pacific Business News.

Torrential summer rains knocked out construction work for several weeks, and the discovery of shabby fill material on Highway 11 sent a 500-foot retaining wall back to the drawing board to the tune of $900,000. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Homelessness, energy, public school infrastructure needs - such as cooling hot classrooms - the economy, health care issues, penal reform and perhaps even a statewide lottery are among top issues expected to confront Maui County's state lawmakers in this year's lawmaking session that kicks off Wednesday. Maui News.

An independent operator should run Maui County’s power utility — not Hawaiian Electric, according to a study of utility ownership models released on January 15. Civil Beat.

A consultant hired by the administration of Mayor Alan Arakawa recommended that Maui County seek a new private entity to oversee Maui's electric grid while leaving power generation and transmission in the hands of Maui Electric Co. Maui News.

The owner of a plantation on Maui who is looking to turn the property into a development with small businesses and more than 1,400 homes expects for the project's environmental impact statement to be submitted for review this week. Hawaii News Now.

The developer of Waikapu Country Town, a development of more than 1,000 homes and acres of farmland surrounding the Maui Tropical Plantation, expects to submit the project's draft environmental impact statement to the state Land Use Commission this week. Maui News.

With approval for the site plan in hand and many procedural hurdles already cleared, the physical work on West Maui's long-awaited hospital is soon to begin. Maui News.

Kauai

Citing rising costs and inadequate funding, Reynolds Recycling is making cuts around the island. Garden Island.

The seawall fronting the Pono Kai Resort in Kapaa has been dedicated — below budget and ahead of schedule. Garden Island.

Incoming ninth-graders and their parents got a surprise recently when they learned advanced classes will not be offered at Kapaa High School next year. Garden Island.

State sells public hospitals, rescuers search for 12 Marines downed in Oahu helicopter collision, court records sealed in Big Island DLNR probe, Maui mulls new governance model, Kauai police officer arrested on embezzlement charges, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. Ige, hospital officials sign transfer agreement, courtesy Governor's Office

Gov. David Ige has signed an agreement transferring operation of three financially struggling Maui County hospitals to Kaiser Permanente in the first privatization of Hawaii public hospitals ever. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Y. Ige, the Maui Regional Board and the corporate board of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation on Thursday signed an agreement that transfers operation and management of several Maui area health care facilities from the state to Kaiser Permanente. Civil Beat.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii on Thursday signed an agreement to take control of the state-owned hospitals on Maui and Lanai in what will become the first private acquisition of a Hawaii state hospital in history, and pledged to spend a minimum of $20 million on upgrades over the next five years. Pacific Business News.

Governor David Ige today signed a transfer agreement for the operations and management of the Maui Region Hospitals that effectively transfers responsibility from the state to Kaiser Permanente. Maui Now.

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In the first six months of this fiscal year, to the end of December, Hawaii’s general tax fund jumped 9.5 percent from the same period last year, thanks mostly to increased general excise use and tax collections. Pacific Business News.

It’s time once again for another session of the Hawaii Legislature, and you know what that means: Lawmakers will ask for political contributions so they can run for re-election. Civil Beat.

It's a new year with an old problem involving volunteer boards and commissions in Hawaii. KITV4.

How To Save Lives Without Scaring Tourists Away. Ocean safety experts, tourism officials, lawmakers and families who have lost loved ones have definite ideas about keeping visitors safe in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The U.S. Coast Guard and Honolulu Fire Department are searching this morning for survivors after two Marine helicopters, with a total of 12 people on board, collided off Oahu’s North Shore late Thursday night. Star-Advertiser.

Rescue crews are searching for 12 passengers on board two U.S. Marine Corps helicopters that crashed off Oahu’s North Shore late Thursday night. Hawaii News Now.

Two U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters are missing off the North Shore of Oahu late Thursday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. USCG is searching for survivors, Marine Maj. Christine Devine said Friday. KHON2.

Plans to build a $50 million center on the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus to honor the late U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye have been shelved indefinitely, in part because the school’s growing $503 million repair and maintenance backlog is hampering the university’s ability to secure public funds for new projects. Star-Advertiser.

Today the Honolulu City Council Committee on Zoning and Planning extended a bill providing extra enforcement on illegal bed and breakfasts. KITV4.

About 100 businesses located along the rail construction route participate in the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation's Shop and Dine on the Line program, designed to help make up for business lost because of rail construction. And many say the program just isn't working. Hawaii News Now.

A Hawaii law center is suing the Centers for Disease Control to release a safety report critical of a University of Hawaii biolab. Civil Beat.

Businesses with strong financials are being listed for sale across the nation and Honolulu businesses are ahead of the pack, according to data from BizBuySell. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A state judge at the request of county prosecutors Thursday sealed documents in the high-profile case involving a Department of Land and Natural Resources officer who has been charged with sexually assaulting a minor while on the job. Star-Advertiser.

Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, an educational and cultural gem in Captain Cook, will close its doors to the public at the end of the month. West Hawaii Today.

A California investment group has purchased the Big Island Country Club for an undisclosed amount. West Hawaii Today.

Last spring, the nonprofit Hope Services Hawaii launched a pilot program to help recently released prisoners by partnering them with volunteer mentors. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Mall has been sold to an affiliate of a global real estate giant for $91.1 million, and the company plans to spend a few more million dollars to expand Whole Foods, according to disclosure documents filed last month. Maui News.

Mayor Alan Arakawa and Mark Hyde of South Maui Citizens for Responsible Growth will be presenting their views on a possible change in the system of county governance at the Kihei Community Association meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. Maui News.

A development of 112 multifamily, condominium and vacation rental units and 46 single-family lots and cottages as well as nearly 35,000 square feet in commercial space is proposed for 47 acres in the Makena Resort. Maui News.

Kauai

It’s been a year of cat and mouse games for the planning department, according to Michael Dahilig, county planning director. That’s because they’ve been cracking down on illegal single-family transient vacation rentals outside of the Visitor Destination Area. Garden Island.

A Kauai police lieutenant, who was once nominated for Hawaii officer of the year, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Thursday for alleged embezzlement of government funds and money laundering. Civil Beat.

A former Kauai Police Department lieutenant was charged and arrested by the FBI Thursday for allegedly embezzling $75,000 in county funds. Garden Island.

The FBI has arrested a Kauai Police Department lieutenant for allegedly stealing $75,000 in federal grant money meant for undercover drug buys. Lt. Karen Kapua, who was once named KPD's Officer of the Year, was a 16-year veteran of the KPD. She was indicted on federal theft and money laundering charges. Hawaii News Now.

Board seeks bridge over Ala Wai, dengue closes Waipio Valley, state lawmakers mull homelessness, budget, lottery, Kasich added to GOP ballot, Maui could swap hemp for sugarcane, DLNR warned not to hire officer accused of rape, Kauai advances barking dog ordinance, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Along the Ala Wai © 2016 All Hawaii News

The Waikiki Neighborhood Board is urging the city and state to kick-start a plan to build a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that crosses the Ala Wai Canal linking Waikiki to the University of Hawaii at Manoa and nearby neighborhoods. Star-Advertiser.

Homelessness And Housing Top Legislative Agenda. Fiscal accountability is also a major concern for majority Democrats and minority Republicans as the opening of their 2016 session nears. Civil Beat.

The joint Senate and House money committees conducted another pre-session budget hearing today and lawmakers focused on homelessness -- one of the key issues in the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Powerball mania nationally is reigniting discussions about bringing the lottery to Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is the third Republican presidential candidate to land on Hawaii’s caucus ballot. The March 8 vote already includes real estate mogul Donald Trump and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Civil Beat.

Growing issues with emergency sirens prompt state to take action. KHON2.

Is Hawaii Doing Enough To Oversee Commercial Tour Operators? It’s difficult for consumers to check up on tour companies, including their safety record or whether tour guides are qualified and trained. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The U.S. Labor Department has found the Honolulu Board of Water Supply violated federal labor law by routinely denying its investigators lunch breaks for a two-year period in a case that could have implications for government and private sector employers across the state. Hawaii News Now.

The head of the City Council’s Committee of Public Works, Infrastructure and Sustainability demanded answers Wednesday from the Department of Environmental Services to questions raised in a scathing report that found HPOWER’s contracts and procurement practices appear to have violated city policies and state procurement rules. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is closer to approving a five-year extension of a general excise tax surcharge to pay for cost increases on the municipal rail system, but there are still questions about just how much revenue will actually go to the project. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council now has before it a new version of a bill that it hopes will satisfy federal funders to release needed money to pay rail contractors going forward. KITV4.

After a year of heightened debate over bike lanes in Honolulu, local transportation officials on Wednesday pitched to the public their latest plans to gradually make the city’s car-saturated urban core more bike-friendly. Star-Advertiser.

Staff at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility in Kailua continues to rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime pay annually even though the number of inmates at the facility has dropped to just 23 youths, down from 80 to 90 several years ago. Star-Advertiser.

SunEdison Inc. is selling three of its major solar energy farms in Hawaii that are worth $350 million to a group that includes D.E. Shaw Group, Madison Dearborn Capital Partners IV LP and Northwestern University as part of a larger effort to get rid of $336 million of its debt. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Hawaii County Civil Defense announced Wednesday afternoon that it had shut down traffic access to Waipio Valley as a precaution in the ongoing fight against the dengue fever outbreak. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Civil Defense shut down the Waipio Valley Access Road and valley area to all traffic effective 2:30 p.m. today, and a message from the agency says the access will be limited to valley residents only. Big Island Video News.

The Honolulu Police Department recommended that the state not hire an officer who had been fired by the police force in 2012, but the Department of Land and Natural Resources did so anyway, according to information released Wednesday in a sexual assault case. Ethan Ferguson, 39, of Hilo was arrested last week and charged with multiple criminal counts for allegedly sexually assaulting a female minor while on the job Jan. 1 at a Hawaii island beach park. Star-Advertiser.

Top Hawaii officials say they knew accused rapist Ethan Ferguson had been fired by the Honolulu Police Department before offering him a job in 2013 to be a law enforcement officer on the Big Island. They hired him anyway. Civil Beat.

West Hawaii lawmakers polled this week generally seem to support the idea of a lottery here — with certain conditions to minimize societal damage and maximize the social benefit of gambling profits. West Hawaii Today.

This Saturday, a hui made of telescope operators and the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center will host the first official tour of the Kama‘aina Observatory Experience, a new program established exclusively for Hawaii residents. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Rep. Kaniela Ing (Kīhei, Wailea, Mākena) today announced via change.org that he and “hemp warrior” Rep. Cynthia Thielen (R-Kailua) are putting forth a bipartisan proposal to “transition HC&S’s cornerstone crop from sugar to industrial hemp.” Maui Now.

Two legislators are crossing party lines and a generational gap to join hands in support of rapid action to enable the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company to transition to hemp production as it ceases sugar cane farming later this year. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Barking dogs beware: the law could soon have some teeth when it comes to you, and your owners will be getting a notice from the Humane Society if you’re too noisy. Garden Island.

Legislative panel mulls more money for jails, universities, tourism; EPA fines Puna Geothermal Ventures; Honolulu council spars over rail tax cap; Kona courthouse out for bid; task force formed to help displaced Maui sugar workers; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Community Correctional Center © 2016 All Hawaii News

Hawaii’s overburdened jail facilities could get $45 million for expansion under Gov. David Ige’s supplemental budget proposal. The governor’s plan calls for the Hawaii Department of Public Safety to pump $15 million to each of the three jails on the neighbor islands — the Hawaii Community Correctional Center, the Kauai Community Correctional Center and the Maui Community Correctional Center — to make more room for inmates. On Thursday, members of the House and Senate public safety committees will hold an informational briefing to learn more about the department’s plan for such a move. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers don’t appear eager to deliver the more than $16 million the University of Hawaii says it needs for operations next year. Star-Advertiser.

A bill expected to be introduced in the Hawaii Legislature this year would offer universal long-term care to the state’s senior citizens. Civil Beat.

The state legislative money committees are continuing their pre-session supplemental budget hearings this week. Today, the focus was on business, economic development and tourism. Hawaii Public Radio.

In a move that will likely make it easier for citizens and the media to follow their state government, the Hawaii Legislature plans to launch a video-on-demand channel. Civil Beat.

State Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland wants to tap “the wisdom of the Hawaiian people” to come up with environmentally friendly and low-cost ways to house some of Hawaii’s homeless, possibly in rural, agricultural areas. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are considering using traditional Native Hawaiian housing to house the homeless. Thatched huts, though they don’t necessarily need to be thatched. KITV4.

A new report by the state breaks down just how much a person needs to earn to live in Hawaii. In 2014 statewide, about 18.5 percent of couples with no children, 45.5 percent of couples with two children, and 45.3 percent of single adults had incomes below the self-sufficiency standard. KHON2.

Hawaiian Airlines employees represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have ratified tentative five-year contracts with the airline. Pacific Business News.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has awarded $500,000 in support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress to be held in Hawaii later this year. Garden Island.

A presently creeping section of the Aleutian subduction zone fault could potentially generate an earthquake great enough to send a large tsunami across the Pacific to Hawaii according to recent fieldwork in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. Garden Island.

Oahu

Gov. David Ige’s administration hopes to fast-track relocation of the Oahu Community Correctional Center, the state’s largest prison, as public safety officials continue to grapple with perpetual overcrowding and deteriorating conditions. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council leaders continue to seek a cap on the amount of general excise tax surcharge money that can go toward the construction of the contentious, 20-mile rail transit project. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council Committee on Executive Matters and Legal Affairs adopted a resolution Tuesday to study public electrical utility ownership as a potential alternative to NextEra Energy Inc.’s purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries. Star-Advertiser.

Two months after obtaining building waivers and exemptions from the Honolulu City Council in exchange for constructing a mostly affordable 45-story residential tower, a Kakaako developer wants to alter the agreement. Star-Advertiser.

The deaths of at least three albatrosses and the destruction of 15 nests at Kaena Point last month may have been caused by teenagers. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that Puna Geothermal Venture agreed to pay a civil penalty of $76,500 for chemical safety violations the EPA uncovered in a 2013 inspection. Tribune-Herald.

Puna Geothermal Venture has entered into a consent agreement taking steps to prevent accidental releases of hydrogen sulfide gases and settling safety violations with a fine of $76,500, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Star-Advertiser.

Puna Geothermal Venture, the operator of Hawaii’s sole geothermal power plant on the Big Island, has been fined $76,500 for Clean Air Act chemical safety violations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement today with Puna Geothermal Venture for Clean Air Act chemical safety violations that occurred three years ago at the energy plant in Pohoiki. Big Island Video News.

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With a proclamation Tuesday from auctioneer Antonio Roldan, a historic North Kona church was saved to continue hosting religious services another day. West Hawaii Today.

The astronomy community in Hawaii has taken its lumps over the past year, from the Native Hawaiian-led rebellion against the Thirty Meter Telescope to the state Supreme Court ruling invalidating the project’s construction. Now the observatory community on Mauna Kea is fighting back. And it begins Saturday. For the first time in its 50-year history, the world-class telescopes on Hawaii’s tallest mountain will be opening their doors to the public for tours. Star-Advertiser.

The Kona Judiciary Complex has been put out for bid, and officials expect to award the $90 million project by the end of March. West Hawaii Today.

A former employee of the county Department of Finance Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division pleaded no contest Tuesday to embezzling from the county. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa said Tuesday that his office and Alexander & Baldwin have created a “sugar operators work assistance task force” to aid more than 600 Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar employees who will be displaced by the closure of A&B’s 36,000-acre plantation on Maui. Pacific Business News.

In conjunction with Alexander & Baldwin, Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa today announced the creation of a task force to assist Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar employees who will be displaced as the plantation ceases sugar operations and transitions to a diversified agriculture model. Maui News.

A task force organized by Mayor Alan Arakawa has been formed to assist more than 650 Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. workers who will be losing their jobs when the plantation shuts down at the end of the year. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission approved a two-year permit extension Tuesday for a construction and demolition landfill in Maalaea, giving the site operators until Feb. 1, 2018, to fill and close the landfill. Maui News.

Maui software developer Code Rebel Corp. could be in for a difficult 2016 as it may come under regulatory scrutiny and investors should be cautious about holding shares of the company, according to a report by hedge fund group Dane Capital Management, LLC. Pacific Business News.

A Honolulu-to-Kapalua route and more direct Mainland flights could be headed Maui's way over the next few years as Hawaiian Airlines expands its fleet and operations, said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines and its parent company, Hawaiian Holdings Inc. Maui News.

The president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines says more flights could be headed to Maui over the next few years as the company expands its fleet and operations. Associated Press.

While shovels met the dirt on the site of the long-awaited high school in Kihei on Monday, the celebration was tempered as state and community officials said that there still is much work to be done. Maui News.

Kauai

A recent assessment of residential materials disposed at county refuse transfer stations and in refuse carts has prompted officials to issue a reminder about the proper disposal of household hazardous waste. Garden Island.

Hawaii may return to the little grass shack, lawmaker seeks better vetting of state officers following rape, Honolulu incinerator procurement violations probed, bid window opens for marijuana dispensaries, Kauai to consider lobbying law, Bishop Estate to sell Waipio Valley, expert doubts NestEra purchase will happen, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Little grass shack, Hana, Maui, courtesy Forest & Kim Starr

State lawmakers are considering a unique solution to the housing crisis: They want to make it possible for people to live in traditional Hawaiian grass huts. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmaker proposes grass huts to help homeless. KHON2.

A state senator is raising questions about the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ employment practices after the agency hired an officer who had been fired about a year earlier from the Honolulu Police Department and was arrested last week on allegations he sexually assaulted a female minor while on the job. Star-Advertiser.

A state law enforcement officer charged with five counts of sexual assault of a minor on the Big Island is a former Honolulu policeman who was fired in 2012 after falsifying reports and lying to investigators about his whereabouts when he was transporting an underage runaway. Civil Beat.

The vice president of the state Senate said he plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session requiring all state and county law enforcement agencies to list in a database all officers fired or forced to resign from their agencies. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will host a meeting Friday regarding the future of more than 80 commercial and industrial parcels in Hilo, but there is one site in particular expected to garner a lot of attention. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Health opened an 18-day bidding window today for companies interested in competing for medical marijuana dispensary licenses. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc. will not win state approval for its $4.3 billion buyout of Hawaiian Electric Industries, according to UBS Financial Services Inc., a Zurich-based investment research firm.Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. won’t go through because of the current challenges the Florida energy giant is facing, according to a recent analysis by financial services giant UBS. Pacific Business News.

Several bills are being drafted to clarify the current mandatory peer review for accountants, according to the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Supreme Court started its January session today by listening to arguments in a case that could have huge ramifications for unions in Hawaii. Friedrichs V. California Teachers Association, challenges the ability of unions to collect mandatory dues. Civil Beat.

The number of two-year degrees awarded through the University of Hawaii’s community colleges has doubled in recent years thanks in large part to an initiative that tracks transfer students who move on without an associate degree. Star-Advertiser.

Measures Adopted To Protect Fishery Observers In Western, Central Pacific. Following another recent disappearance, a regulatory commission finally takes steps to discourage abuse of observers aboard fishing vessels. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A City Council committee will hold a public hearing Wednesday on findings from the city auditor that the Department of Environmental Services violated policies and procurement laws in awarding contracts to build and operate the HPOWER waste-to-energy plant. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council enters the new year with push coming to shove on the $6.6 billion commuter rail project. For months, Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation officials have appeared before the full council and its budget committee urging the leaders to approve a five-year extension of the 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge for rail. Civil Beat.

Mayor weighs in on alcohol park controversy. KITV4.

A Waialua bakery will pay a $6,000 settlement for food safety violations that prompted the state Department of Health to temporarily close the store. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Bishop Museum is committed to include Waipio Valley community members in the process as it works to find a new owner for its land within the historic agricultural community and popular tourist attraction, museum CEO Blair Collis said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

The commission charged with prioritizing county land purchases isn’t ready to commit to buying a popular Kaloko trailhead, despite advocates’ concerns the land could slip from the public’s hands. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii residents interested in seeing and learning more about the telescopes on Mauna Kea’s summit will soon get a closer look through a new program ready to launch on Saturday. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

After decades of petitioning and planning, the long-awaited Kīhei High School in South Maui broke ground off Pi‘ilani Highway at 9 a.m. this morning, Monday, Jan. 11. Maui Now.

When Don Medeiros was hired as the county's first transportation coordinator in 2002, there was no Department of Transportation and no public county bus system. Now, the man who had a hand in building both from the ground up is back at the helm of county transportation issues. Maui News.

Rep. Angus McKelvey and Sen. Rosalyn Baker will hold their annual Pre-Legislative Session Community Talk Story meeting on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, beginning at 10 a.m. at Kaunoa West Maui Senior Center in Lahaina. Maui Now.

The County of Maui Department of Environmental Management, Solid Waste Division, announced that due to a staff shortage, a residential refuse collection route in the Kahului area was not picked up today. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai is the only county in Hawaii that doesn’t have an ordinance governing lobbying. On Wednesday, the county will be taking a first look at a draft for an ordinance doing just that. Garden Island.

Even though the county’s barking dog bill is back before the County Council for a second reading — the last step in the process before it becomes law — Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura doesn’t believe there’s enough information to make a good decision. Garden Island.

Risky behavior puts tourists at risk, Native Hawaiians in foster care, tax returns slow, Hawaiian activist group wants own political party, Bishop Estates selling Big Island landmarks, Maui mayor happy with salary, more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Visitor climbs fence protecting Waimea Canyon, Kauai © 2016 All Hawaii News

Death In Paradise Is All Too Frequent For Visitors To Hawaii. Yet state, county and even tourism officials are doing little to try to reduce what’s become one of the highest rates of visitor deaths in the nation. Civil Beat.

‘Bigger And Stronger Waves’ Are Perilous For Visitors. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii’s unique topography, currents, winds and other conditions often catch tourists off guard. Civil Beat.

Breaking Bad: Dozens Of Tourists Suffer Spinal Cord Injuries. Too many people are ignoring or simply not understanding the warning signs posted at many public beaches. Civil Beat.

Founders of a new political party are hoping to turn voter angst into action at the ballot box this year on a range of issues from homelessness to Hawaiian sovereignty. But before the Aloha Aina Party can field candidates, organizers need to make the group official, which means gathering 707 signatures from registered voters by Feb. 25. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin says that the courts overstepped their authority in ordering the state to boost funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands by about $18.4 million this year. Star-Advertiser.

For years the percentage of Native Hawaiians in the state’s foster care system has significantly topped the percentage of Hawaiians in the overall population of children statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiians at risk: Healing efforts return to roots. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii residents who expect state income tax refunds in 2016 may have to wait. State Tax Director Maria Zielinski says it will again take up to 16 weeks to process refund payments this year because the state is continuing to aggressively scrutinize tax returns in its ongoing crackdown on fraudulent filings. Star-Advertiser.

A bill is likely to be introduced in the upcoming Hawaii legislative session that would raise the monthly salary required to be exempt from minimum-wage law, according to an attorney with the Hawaii Employers Council. Pacific Business News.

Eight years after the start of the worst economic crisis in modern American history, incomes in the islands are rising and unemployment is just 3.2 percent, which is scratching at modern lows for Hawaii. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Mark Takai  wants Aloha wear to be allowed on the House floor on Fridays, a change from the current rule that requires full business attire. Associated Press.

Oahu

The military housing allowance rate for Oahu in calendar year 2016 is dropping 8.6 percent — the biggest dip in the country — even with rising rent and a housing shortage here. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Bishop Museum plans to sell two properties on the Big Island of Hawaii valued at more than $10 million as part of its new operating model, the Honolulu-based museum confirmed with Pacific Business News on Friday.

A man arrested while blocking telescope construction crews on a Hawaii mountain was acquitted Friday after a trial that was conducted in Hawaiian. Associated Press.

Kaho’okahi Kanuha was found not guilty by Judge Barbare Takase at the Third-Circuit District Court in Waimea. Big Island Video News.

A local church property is headed for tax auction following a decades-long dispute over ownership. Mauna Ziona Church, established by the early missionaries who came to Hawaii more than a century before statehood, is scheduled for tax sale Tuesday in Hilo. West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Forest Service is moving ahead with plans for a science and education center at Puu Waawaa. West Hawaii Today.

The discovery in Milolii of a swarm of mosquitoes more efficient at transmitting the dengue fever virus than Hawaii’s common mosquito is prompting state officials and entomologists to look at other areas on the Big Island as they assess the spread of the illness. Star-Advertiser.

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is producing organically raised oysters on Hawaii island for use at all six restaurants on the property. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Former Maui County Council Member Dain P. Kane will seek his old position for the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu residency seat in the 2016 election, he has announced. Maui News.

Mayor Alan Arakawa told the Salary Commission on Friday that he is "satisfied" with the level of his pay and will not be seeking salary increases for his department heads - even if they deserve them. Maui News.

The development team spearheading the $354.8 million redevelopment of the Makena Resort in South Maui into a mixed-use golf course resort community has revealed more details about the 158-unit project, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

Alexander & Baldwin's announced shutdown of sugar cane operations by the end of the year has caused a ripple effect for state and county water officials, with one official calling it the "single biggest change in water resource management in this generation." Maui News.

A proposed new planning organization that could bring in millions of federal dollars for county transportation projects is raising concerns among Maui County Council members who worry that the organization would not be held accountable. Maui News.

A presentation on the proposed West Maui hospital and speeches by Maui County lawmakers are on tap Thursday at the West Maui Taxpayers Association meeting in the Lahaina Civic Center Social Hall. Maui News.

Kauai

Something is working over at Kauai Community Correctional Center. That’s what Lt. Thomas Weston Keolaikepapalua Lindsey Jr. will say if you ask him about the culture surrounding Kauai’s prison, its guards and the inmates who live there. Garden Island.

Underwater titans surround Kauai every winter. But the pods of North Pacific humpback whales rarely share much more of their lives than an occasional spout or breach seen off-shore. Garden Island.

A Hawaiian green sea turtle was rescued from a storm drain Friday morning. Garden Island.

Lanai

Billionaire Larry Ellison’s Four Seasons Resort Lanai, at Manele Bay, is scheduled to open on Feb. 1, with the Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koele reopening later this year after it undergoes a renovation. Pacific Business News.