Friday, June 17, 2016

Train to nowhere: Honolulu rail could stop miles short of destination, Chinese RIMPAC warships on the way, Thirty Meter Telescope hearing today in Hilo, Kauai seeks road repair fund without GET, Schatz wants expanded marine sanctuary, Ige signs CARE Act, other bills, lawsuits challenges Thielen candidacy, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy HART, as edited
HART rail transit map, with edits
With rail facing a more than $1 billion budget hole, Honolulu’s top elected leaders now aim to stop construction four miles and eight stations short of what was planned, leaving crews to build the most challenging, expensive and critical stretch at some future date, if possible. Star-Advertiser.

In an abrupt turnaround, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Thursday he supports cutting the city’s rail line nearly five miles short and stopping the elevated guideway at Middle Street in light of an estimated $1.5 billion budget shortfall and pressure from the feds. Civil Beat.

In a significant shift, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says the city must live between "revenue boundaries" and should focus on shortening the rail route so that it ends at Middle Street rather than Ala Moana Center. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is urging the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to hold a public meeting that would consider ending rail at Middle Street, at least for now. KHON2.

Buildings have been knocked down and businesses have moved to make way for the rail. So now that it looks like rail will not make it past Middle Street, businesses that have already been bought out or forced to leave are left wondering what happens now. KHON2.

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A Chinese flotilla participating in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises left port Wednesday and will meet up with two U.S. Navy destroyers for the sail back into Pearl Harbor later this month, the Navy said. Star-Advertiser.

The Governor signed  the so-called Care Act into law, making Hawai'i the 31st state to mandate caregiver requirements for hospitals. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. David Ige Thursday signed Senate Bill 2453 authorizing alternative sentencing for aquatic violations. The new law provides clear legal authority to judges, allowing them to more effectively tailor sentences when aquatics statutes are violated. Associated Press.

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U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz made the proposal to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument official Thursday in a letter to President Barack Obama. Schatz called for the monument to grow to 582,578 square miles, which would make it the world’s largest marine protected area. Civil Beat.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz on Thursday joined Native Hawaiian groups and environmentalists working to expand Papahanaumo- kuakea Marine National Monument and make it the largest marine sanctuary on Earth. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is proposing to expand one of the world’s largest marine conservation areas in a way that preserves some fishing grounds for local fishermen. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz threw his support behind the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument Thursday in a proposal sent to President Barack Obama. Garden Island.

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Hawaiian Airlines’ pilots union, claiming that further mediation would be futile in its contract negotiations with the company, has petitioned the federal government to be released from mediation and instead be offered arbitration. Star-Advertiser.

The head of the military agency that searches for and identifies the remains of missing servicemen is resigning after just one year to take over a troubled nonprofit that cares for wounded troops. Associated Press.

Alternate Energy Inc., the Honolulu solar energy company that recently reached a $38,000 settlement with state regulators for allegedly misrepresenting information related to requirements for interconnecting solar energy systems, is blaming Hawaiian Electric Co. for creating the issue, one of its executives told Pacific Business News on Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A Democratic state senator is the target of a lawsuit that seeks to keep her name off the 2016 election ballot. Sen. Laura Thielen, who represents a district that includes Kailua, Lanikai, Waimanalo and Hawaii Kai, is accused of submitting incomplete nomination papers to the state Office of Elections. Civil Beat.

Djou Challenges Mayor To Call For Return of Honolulu Ethics Director. The mayoral challenger says Chuck Totto’s resignation was “the direct result of political pressure from the administration.” Civil Beat.

Portable toilets, public showers, better coordination between businesses and even a government-sanctioned tent city were among the ideas proposed by lawmakers Thursday to address concerns about a growing — and increasingly hard-core — homeless population in Iwilei. Star-Advertiser.

BIC Tacos will open its second location on June 27 in the former Bistro! Downtown ground-floor space at the Davies Pacific Center office building in Downtown Honolulu, its owner told Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

More than 80 demonstrators waved signs in support of the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hilo on Thursday. This comes just a day before DLNR is scheduled to hold a hearing in Hilo to decide whether or not to allow the telescope to be built atop Mauna Kea, land Native Hawaiians deem sacred. Hawaii News Now.

The management of a charter school on the Big Island faced criticism from the state teachers’ union and state education officials during a State Public Charter School Commission meeting Thursday. Civil Beat.

Ka‘u Learning Academy’s first year of operations was “very challenging” for the school and the state’s Public Charter School Commission, staff monitoring the school’s operations and finances said this week. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council passed a resolution Wednesday that authorizes the administration to negotiate for the purchase of land at Hakalau Point. Big Island Video News.

Internship program relies on Thirty Meter Telescope: Loss of key contributor would impact aspiring scientists, engineers. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A joint filing with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals by the state and the United Public Workers on Wednesday reports "productive discussions" on a possible settlement of a dispute stemming from Kaiser Permanente taking over operations of Maui County public hospitals. Maui News.

Testifiers urged the Maui County Council's Water Resources Committee Wednesday not to go forward with amendments that would revise water allocation standards in the "Show Me the Water" bill and to halt any related action until the water department's Water Use and Development Plan is completed. Maui News.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization will be meeting at 9 a.m. Monday to discuss its purpose and operational document and its budget. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai residents may decide how they want the county to pay for road repair. During the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday, the council unanimously voted to approve a resolution that proposed putting a County Roads Resurfacing and Reconstruction Backlog Fund on the charter, for residents to vote on in November. Garden Island.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Federal court hears GMO arguments, Honolulu ethics chief steps down, cesspool tax credit unpopular, Kauai council kills county manager plan, Ige asks courts to allow Maui hospitals room to breathe, one ballot initiative survives Hawaii County Council, residency complaint in Maui council race, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy federal court system
Screenshot of GMO hearings in U.S. District Court in Honolulu
A federal appeals court is weighing whether Hawaii counties have the right to regulate genetically modified crops and impose restrictions on how farmers apply pesticides. Three California-based judges flew to Honolulu to hear oral arguments Wednesday in a string of cases involving regulations on genetically engineered agriculture in Kauai County, Hawaii County and Maui County. Civil Beat.


Observers packed a federal courtroom in downtown Honolulu on Wednesday to watch attorneys for several of the world’s agricultural giants and opponents of genetically engineered farming battle over three county laws that target GMO crops and pesticide use. Star-Advertiser.

The fight over regulating genetically engineered crops in three Hawaii counties was back in a federal courtroom Wednesday as some agricultural giants look to protect their farms from bans against modified food. Associated Press.


Fern Rosenstiel said Wednesday’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals hearing has been a long time coming. That’s because the federal appellate court heard three cases dealing with pesticide labeling and GMO laws created by Hawaii, Maui and Kauai counties. Garden Island.

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State efforts to phase out use of cesspools and encourage use of other wastewater systems are off to a slow start. A statewide ban on new cesspool construction began in March, two months after a law providing tax credits to help homeowners upgrade cesspools to a septic system or an aerobic tank system went into effect. Tribune-Herald.

The U. S. House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the Department of Defense 2017 appropriations bill that would provide $5 million to “initiate planning and design for a new ballistic missile defense radar in Hawaii,” Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said in a press release Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The embattled head of electrical workers union faces new allegations that he oversaw an improper union vote that doubled dues for hundreds of Hawaii union members. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists believe they found two new species of colorful reef fish and for the first time collected a male Hawaiian pigfish during a 25-day expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers in Hawaii have discovered three probable new species of fish while on an expedition in the protected waters of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Associated Press.


Oahu

Chuck Totto’s decision Wednesday to step down under duress as the city’s longtime ethics director ends a years-long saga of his butting heads with Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration, Caldwell’s recently appointed city Ethics Commission members, and even members of Totto’s own staff. Star-Advertiser.

The longtime executive director of the city agency responsible for ethics enforcement resigned Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The embattled executive director of the Honolulu Ethics Commission, Chuck Totto, has resigned, effective immediately. Totto had led the commission since April 2000. Hawaii News Now.

After more than 16 years, the head of the Honolulu Ethics Commission has resigned. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Kirk Caldwell. Hawaii Public Radio.

A desire to kick Kirk Caldwell out of office brought three top Hawaii Democrats together Wednesday at a press conference to voice their support for Charles Djou for mayor. Civil Beat.

Since November, the city has purchased and gutted a former private school in Makiki and plans to open it early next year as the first project of its kind in which the city will serve as landlord to as many as 75 low-income and homeless people. Star-Advertiser.

Howard Higa, president of The Cab taxi company, said Wednesday he has had enough of Hawaii politicians dillydallying when it comes to the regulation of app-based ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber. Civil Beat.

Biotech startup Cardax Inc., seeking additional capital as losses mount, has increased the pay of two of its top officers who previously had seen their compensation reduced to minimum wage of $8.50 an hour. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii businessman Duane Kurisu to partner with city, state on homeless housing project. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A charter amendment giving the County Council more control over department heads is unlikely to make it to the Nov. 8 ballot, following its postponement Wednesday in the face of scattered opposition and several proposed changes. West Hawaii Today.

Petitioners say the Thirty Meter Telescope, as well as the newly incorporated PUEO group, should not be allowed to intervene in the upcoming contested case hearing. Big Island Video News.

Persistent questioning Wednesday by County Council members eventually arrived at the cost of perks a developer is seeking to build affordable housing and a senior care facility on Hualalai Road: $1.8 million. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

For now, Maui Memorial Medical Center and its staff continue to cover shortages and to deal with uncertainties created by a federal appeals court injunction halting the operational transition of the public hospital to the private Kaiser Permanente, but the hospital's CEO warned that those efforts cannot be sustained for long and "will fall apart." Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission approved plans Tuesday for a hybrid seawall and rock revetment fronting the Hololani Resort, where residents, like many of their neighbors, fear for the safety of their homes perched precariously on the West Maui shore. Maui News.

The Maui County clerk's office is investigating a complaint about the residency qualification for Maui County Council candidate Alan Kaufman, an Upcountry veterinarian. Maui News.

South Maui Rep. Kaniela Ing's announcement of his endorsement by the Sierra Club of Hawaii has led to a political tit-for-tat with his Democratic primary opponent, Deidre Tegarden. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department advises motorists that the speed limit between has been temporarily reduced on the Mokulele Highway between the Maui Humane Society animal shelter and North Kīhei Road. Maui Now.

Kauai

Arguing that a council-manager form of government would not solve the county’s problems, the Kauai County Council unanimously voted Wednesday to kill a resolution that would have let the people decide. Garden Island.

Four council members voted to approve a bill that allows additional dwelling units to be built on ag land. Bill No. 2601 amends the county code relating to ADU’s by removing the deadline for those units to be built. Per the code, ADUs had to be built by 2024. Garden Island.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

June snowfall in Hawaii, Honolulu rail project short on cash, South Korean destroyers arrive ahead of RIMPAC, Island Air resumes Kona route, new Hilo pier advancing, Kauai affordable housing project commences, Maui citizen initiative fails to reach ballot, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy National Weather Service Honolulu
Snow atop Mauna Kea, courtesy National Weather Service Honolulu
Mauna Kea had a white cap once again this week, if only briefly. A moisture-rich weather system brought a dusting of snow to the summit Monday as it drenched lower elevations on the windward side. Tribune-Herald.

About a dozen candidates are running for seats in the state Legislature this year who political observers say make up an emerging progressive faction within the Democratic Party. What constitutes a progressive agenda isn’t easy to define, but for John Bickel, one of the movement’s leaders, it means “standing up for the little guy against the corporate interests.” Star-Advertiser.

Two South Korean destroyers arrived at Pearl Harbor on Tuesday for the Rim of the Pacific war games, while other ships are also heading to Hawaii from around the region for the world’s largest international maritime exercise. Star-Advertiser.

The only Republican woman who Hawaii voters have ever sent to represent them in Washington, D.C., believes she has found the right candidate to follow in her stead. On Tuesday at GOP headquarters in Honolulu, Pat Saiki announced her pick: Shirlene Ostrov, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. Civil Beat.

The fee Hawaiian Electric’s residential customers pay to finance clean-energy installations for low-income residents will decrease slightly starting in July. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu solar energy company Alternate Energy Inc. has reached a settlement with state regulators after allegedly misrepresenting information related to requirements for interconnecting solar energy systems, according to public records. Pacific Business News.

Kenneth Uemura, former vice president and chief financial officer at Hawaii Pacific University, has been appointed by Gov. David Ige to the state Board of Education. Civil Beat.

Federal judges from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals are in town this week and will hear oral arguments Wednesday for three lawsuits challenging county regulations on genetically modified farming. Civil Beat.

The Public Utilities Commission is considering Young Brothers Ltd.’s application to raise shipping rates by 4.36 percent, which will generate an increase in revenue by $3.13 million for the shipping company, according to a PUC public docket. Garden Island.

Oahu

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation is about to hit a cash crunch, and wants to borrow money that puts taxpayers on the hook. KHON2.

The rail isn’t going to make its way to Dillingham Boulevard any time soon, but HART is already meeting with businesses in the area to talk about what impact the project could have. KHON2.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Peter Carlisle. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Mayor Candidate Profiles: Charles Djou. Hawaii Public Radio.

The founder of a former Hawaii organization that encouraged the adoption of foster children has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting two girls. The girls were 11 and 16 at the time of the assaults in 2011. Associated Press.

A special investigator's report on sex assaults at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind provided chilling accounts of the way children were being treated and how the school's principal allegedly tried to cover up the scandal. Hawaii News Now.

It is the small Oahu village that time seemed to forget, and it looked like the city did too...until now. Varona Village was originally built for sugar plantation workers, but now its residents wonder who will live there in the future. KITV4.

Hawaii

Island Air flew from Honolulu to Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii for the first time in about four years on Tuesday, signaling an expansion plan that’s beginning to heat up. Pacific Business News.

Optimism blew in with Island Air’s first flight to Kona on Tuesday morning. West Hawaii Today.

The state initiative to upgrade Hilo’s port by constructing an additional pier remains on schedule, with the next significant construction step expected later this summer. Tribune-Herald.

A federal appeals court has upheld the convictions of Hawaii island marijuana advocate Roger Christie and his wife, Sherryanne, who contend that U.S. drug laws violate their right to freely exercise their religion. Star-Advertiser.

Attorneys for the county and for Kukuihaele residents opposing the county’s planned improvements — especially a fenced baseball park — argued Tuesday before Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura. Tribune-Herald.

Pahoa Village Road will be closed next week between Apa‘a Street and Post Office Road in order for the Hawaii Electric Light Company to relocate utility infrastructure and remove five utility pole protection measures that were installed in response to the June 27, 2014 lava flow. Big Island Video News.

Maui
There will be no citizen-driven initiative on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Farmland voter initiative falls short on signatures. Maui News.

A partnership led by a Dallas-based real estate investment firm has purchased the 304-acre Pulelehua working-class housing community in West Maui from Maui Land & Pineapple Co. for $15 million. Maui News.

About 80 acres of sugar cane burned Sunday afternoon in an unscheduled fire in Haliimaile, fire and Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. officials said Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

A 54-acre piece of land near the intersections of Kuhio and Kapule highways is being converted into a housing development. D.R. Horton, a national home construction company, is partnering with Kauai County to develop Ho‘oluana at Kohea Loa, a neighborhood that offers both affordable housing options and single-family homes. Garden Island.

The Ocean Course at Hokuala, a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course on Kauai, is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation. Pacific Business News.

About five months ago, the Hanalei Watershed Hui and several partners created Ahupua’a Explorations as way to engage, entertain, and teach the children of the North Shore when they weren’t in class. Garden Island.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Hawaii hotel revenues at record high, opinion: struggling GOP eats its young, Hee must report to prison, Kenoi trial scheduled for October, Honolulu nixes neighborhood board changes, Big Island land going to farm bureau, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hapuna Prince resort © 2016 All Hawaii News
April business showered Hawaii’s hotel industry with monthly records for revenue, average daily rate and revenue per available room. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge denied Hawaii businessman Albert S.N. Hee’s request Monday for more time to turn himself in to begin serving his prison sentence for tax fraud. In 1995 the Hawaiian Homes Commission awarded Waimana a nonbid, exclusive license to provide telephone and telecommunications services on state Department of Hawaiian Homelands properties. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: There is nothing sadder than watching Hawaii’s struggling Republican Party sink lower and lower. Everyone wants a healthy two-party system. But it looks like that’s not going to happen here anytime soon. Civil Beat.

Seeking Third Term, Tulsi Gabbard Focuses On Defense, Foreign Policy. The Hawaii congresswoman continues to oppose “regime-change wars,” and pushes for better defense against North Korean missiles. Civil Beat.

When the filing deadline for Hawaii elections closed Tuesday, it turned out that Brian Schatz was facing 11 challengers in his re-election to the U.S. Senate. But many of the candidates are political also-rans who have lost previous races for a variety of seats or they are first-time contenders. And none currently holds office, let alone much of a campaign fund. Civil Beat.

In the months leading up to the December 2014 announcement that Hawaiian Electric Industries had reached a $4.3 billion merger deal with Florida-based NextEra Energy, Hawaii Gas officials said they were noticing an “unusual chilling” of the conversation they had been having with the state’s biggest electric utility about importing liquefied natural gas. Civil Beat.

As coral reefs disappear at a record pace in Hawaii and abroad, scientists and leaders from across the globe will meet on Oahu later this week to discuss potential solutions at what’s billed as the largest coral reef symposium ever. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian, Delta airlines lead in on-time arrivals; Spirit last. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Honolulu Charter Commission voted to not advance a proposal that would have asked Oahu voters to consider scrapping neighborhood boards and redirecting a portion of funding to other efforts aiming to increase civic participation. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s fire chief picked up high marks in his third annual performance evaluation from the Honolulu Fire Commission last month, according to the Fire Department. Chief Manuel P. Neves was appointed by the Fire Commission in February 2013. The chief is evaluated annually. Star-Advertiser.

A 10-year-veteran of the Honolulu Police Department, who triggered a manhunt last week, was released from the hospital Friday and charged today with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. Star-Advertiser.

Court papers allege deaf and blind school principal tried to cover up sex assault scandal. Hawaii News Now.

Shirokiya opened the doors to its long-awaited, $35 million Japan Village Walk on Monday for a preview at Ala Moana Center. The 44,860-square-foot space housing 56 shops and 900 seats will open next week. Star-Advertiser.

Shirokiya Holdings Inc. will open its new Shirokiya Japan Village Walk retail and restaurant complex on the ground floor of the Ala Moana Center’s new Ewa wing on June 25. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Jury selection in the trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi will start the week of Oct. 10, a clerk for Honolulu Circuit Judge Dexter Del Rosario said Monday. Tribune-Herald.

The county is poised to lease 440 acres of improved grazing land for $1 a year to the Hamakua County Farm Bureau. West Hawaii Today.

A longtime marijuana activist facing criminal charges of selling marijuana for running a now-defunct medical marijuana collective is suing in an attempt to stop the opening of state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. Tribune-Herald.

Homeless man attacked; Incident unites Pahoa to help victim find justice. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaii Gas buys Maui property primed for development. Pacific Business News.

Get Out and Vote at the Queen Ka`ahumanu Center this Saturday, June 18. Register to vote, meet Maui County candidates and prepare yourself for the upcoming elections. MauiTime.

Pavement marking, sign installations and traffic signal improvements will cause alternating lane closures on Kaahumanu Avenue and Main Street this week, according to the state Department of Transportation. Maui News.

Kauai

When the Kauai County Council meets Wednesday, it will discuss two resolutions which propose taking two pieces of legislation to the people, including a county manager form of government. Garden Island.

Three different county laws are going before the federal appeals court, including Kauai’s pesticide disclosure law, in a hearing that will decide how much authority Hawaii counties have within their own borders. Garden Island.

Organizers of a benefit concert to raise money for cancer treatment say police intimidated attendees by setting up a roadblock barricading the event and checking each car that passed through, ultimately affecting their ability to raise money. Associated Press.

Thomas Oi of Lihue filed his papers to be included on the ballot for the office of State Representative of District 15. Garden Island.

Kauai’s Kokee State Park is home to the Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve. At an elevation of one mile, it’s the world’s highest rainforest swamp. Hawaii Public Radio.

Monday, June 13, 2016

GMO bans slated for federal court, union to appeal Kauai police cameras, lawsuit filed over medical marijuana dispensaries, Oahu redevelopment spurs opposition, Honolulu ethics director under attack, Maui development nears settlement, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News
GMO papaya at Hilo farmer's market © 2016 All Hawaii News
Hawaii County’s failed ban on outdoor cultivation of genetically modified crops will be aired Wednesday in a federal court in Honolulu, one of three county cases being appealed after local laws were struck down. West Hawaii Today.

State officials are planning to amend a law that exempts certain agricultural structures from building permits, after U.S. officials warned that the law could jeopardize federally funded emergency and flood coverage for Hawaii. Maui News.

A $150 million ratepayer-supported renewable energy program remains almost entirely untapped. Associated Press.

About 2,500 people are expected to attend the International Coral Reef Symposium June 19-24 at the Hawaii Convention Center. It will mark the first time the Aloha State has hosted the quadrennial event, and only the third time it’s been held in the United States. Civil Beat.

Researchers with the University of Hawai‘i are measuring the impact of millions of tons of munitions dumped at sea over several decades.  In 1970, an international treaty better known as “The London Convention” stopped the Department of Defense from disposing of chemical weapons in the ocean. Hawaii Public Radio.

The annual removal of debris in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands hauled in the equivalent of six cars of garbage. West Hawaii Today.

Small boat fishermen have nothing to fear from the potential expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, according to a group of Native Hawaiians. Garden Island.

Hawaii Governor David Ige on Sunday ordered that the Hawaii state flag be flown at half-staff at the state Capitol and at other state agencies and locations until sunset on June 16. The action honors the victims of “the terrible attack” that occurred last night in Orlando, Florida,” the governor’s office said in a statement. Civil Beat.

The Supreme Court rejected an appeal today from a group of American Samoans who say the United States should grant full citizenship to people born in the U.S. territory. Associated Press.

Oahu

The Paradise Park redevelopment plan in Manoa is emerging as a flashpoint in a primary challenge to House Higher Education Chairman Isaac Choy, a Democrat who has represented the state House district that includes Manoa since 2009. Star-Advertiser.

After waiting decades for promised renovations, residents of a former sugar plantation village are being asked for input on redevelopment plans. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu officials are moving forward with plans to redevelop a former sugar plantation village built in the early 1900s after promising renovations to residents of the largely neglected area decades ago. Associated Press.

Dan Grabauskas, executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, and Brennon Morioka, deputy director, recommend that the new elevated rail system terminate Downtown as the board reconsiders options for the over-budget project. Pacific Business News.

A Civil Beat review of Ethics Commission records, meeting minutes, emails, correspondence and interviews with those familiar with the commission’s work show that city Ethics Director Chuck Totto has been under attack by Kirk Caldwell and those he’s appointed ever since the mayor took office in 2013.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Downtown Honolulu to ‘Iolani Palace on Sunday as part of community rally and cultural event E HUI ANA NA MOKU: ‘Aina Protectors Unite. KITV4.

Hawaii

The embattled president of a now-defunct medical marijuana collective is suing to block the opening of state medical marijuana dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s medical marijuana dispensary law isn’t perfect — far from it — but it’s a start, and the state needs to begin somewhere. That’s how lawmakers characterized the up-and-coming dispensary system Thursday evening to a fired up crowd in Pahoa, many who pointed out what they called flaws in the way the law was written. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille withdrew her proposal to repeal a section in the Hawaii County Code that allows a real property tax exemption for island credit unions. Big Island Video News.

General contractors on Hawaii Island are staying busy even as the construction sector is easing down from last year’s peak. Tribune-Herald.

Melissa Takahashi said that when she graduated from Waiakea High School on Hawaii island in 2000, she enjoyed chemistry and did well in mathematics but never thought she would be working on cutting-edge research to prevent the spread of global diseases like the Zika virus. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

After a revised archaeological survey and pending approval of a habitat conservation plan, the Honua'ula project is nearing settlement of a more than 3-year-old lawsuit in which the Sierra Club and Maui Unite challenged the adequacy of the South Maui development's final environmental impact statement. Maui News.

Hawaii Commercial & Sugar Co. is not admitting fault under a proposed settlement that reduces a $1.3 million air quality and reporting fine tied to Puunene Mill to $600,000. Star-Advertiser.

Solar companies and industry groups say that the cap on residential rooftop photovoltaic system hookups to the power grid on Maui could be reached by this week "and almost certainly no later than the end of the month." Maui News.

An approximately $26 million renovation of Whalers Village is "timely" and sorely needed for the nearly half-a-century-old shopping center, a Kaanapali resort official said Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers said it will appeal a ruling by the Hawaii Labor Relations Board that Kauai police did not need the union’s approval prior to implementing body-worn cameras. Garden Island.

Kauai high school students are making some of the right choices when it comes to their health and well-being, but some improvement is still needed. Garden Island.

Daynette “Dee” Morikawa (D-16, Niihau, Lehua, Koloa, Waimea) is seeking her fourth, two-year term as a state House representative for Kauai. Garden Island.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Hawaii Supreme Court rules for more open police disciplinary records, National Park Service improperly demolishes historic Pearl Harbor home, depression and vaping rises in teens, Honolulu $1.4B short on retirement funds, lava heading to ocean, sugar workers laid off, feral cats infecting endangered nene, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii police © 2016 All Hawaii News
The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Honolulu police officers don’t have an absolute right of confidentiality regarding their disciplinary suspension records, and that their privacy interests should be weighed against the public interest in determining whether to release their names and details of their misconduct. Civil Beat.

The National Park Service said Thursday it demolished a historic home at Pearl Harbor without consulting historic preservation authorities as required. Associated Press.

Nearly 1 in 3 high school students in Hawaii report feeling depressed on a regular basis, and 1 in 6 students say they have seriously considered attempting suicide — statistics that haven’t improved in the past five years, according to new survey results released Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii On The Hill: Keeping The Islands On Washington DC’s Map. The third annual event sponsored by Sen. Mazie Hirono and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii shows off island businesses in the nation’s capital. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard issued a statement Thursday saying there has been “speculation that I might be interested in becoming Chair of the Democratic National Committee,” but said she isn't interested. Civil Beat.

When the filing deadline for Hawaii elections closed Tuesday, it turned out that Brian Schatz was facing 11 challengers in his re-election to the U.S. Senate. But many of the candidates are political also-rans who have lost previous races for a variety of seats, or they are first-time contenders. And none currently holds any office, let alone much of a campaign fund. Civil Beat.

Colleen Hanabusa, a former Hawaii congresswoman who is running for a congressional seat in the upcoming election, said she will step down as chair of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board of directors when her campaign heats up. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii, which was ranked the No. 5 state in solar energy installations just two years ago, has failed to make the top 10 for the second straight year, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

A former University of Hawaii- Manoa scientist is leading a NASA-funded, $15 million project that aims to take the study of coral reefs to whole new heights. Star-Advertiser.

NASA takes 23,000-foot view of the world’s coral reefs. Associated Press.

Ocean currents that might have carried radioactive materials from Japan to Hawaiian shores never made direct contact with the near-shore environment of the Hawaiian Islands, and so ocean water and sediment samples collected by the researchers off Oahu never showed a spike in cesium levels. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Honolulu is short more than $1.4 billion in what it must pay to cover future public-employee retirement benefits. And, according to city financial reports, Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration has not set aside any money to cover that shortfall in Honolulu’s account at the Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System. Civil Beat.

A proposal by Best Hospitality LLC to build a 350-foot tower on a Waikiki site with a 25-foot height limit will have to complete a more arduous round of city vetting. Star-Advertiser.

A planned condominium-hotel project at the former Kyo-ya Restaurant site on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki is still aiming to start construction in the second quarter of 2017, with a completion date estimated for the end of 2019, according to its recently published final environmental assessment. Pacific Business News.

Opinion: Oh, man. Rod Tam. He’s back, like one of those viruses that hang out at the base of the spine and flare up when defenses are down. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Almost half of Big Island public high school students have tried electronic cigarettes, according to data from a survey released Thursday by the state Departments of Education and Health and the University of Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Developers of Hualalai Kai, a senior housing project planned for Hualalai Road, are asking for a pass on a long list of permit fees and concurrency requirements to help keep their project affordable. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii airline Island Air has hired 22 employees to accommodate its new daily service to Kona International Airport on the Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Lava could again reach the ocean if breakout from P‘u ‘O‘ continues flowing. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. has laid off 158 employees so far, as the company winds down its sugar operations this year. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department issued a total of 1,596 citations during a two-week Click It Or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign that ran from May 23 to June 5, 2016. Maui Now.

Kauai

The connection between nene and feral cats is the subject of a new study, published in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, which focuses on the prevalence of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii among Hawaii’s state bird. The study found that 21 percent of nene have tested positive for past infection on Kauai. Garden Island.

Thursday, June 9, 2016

Honolulu considers alternatives for over-budget rail, solar slump continues with loss of incentives, Maui mayor up on ethics charges, Kauai dairy farm releases environmental assessment, Big Island students truants, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii coral reef with bird wrasse  © 2016 All Hawaii News
NASA and top scientists from around the world are launching a three-year campaign Thursday to gather new data on coral reefs like never before. Associated Press.

The once-booming solar industry continued its slump in May due to the removal of a state incentive program, according to a report released Wednesday by the Hawaii Solar Energy Association. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has appointed a new director of cultural affairs about six months after the abrupt ouster of the previous director drew criticism from the Native Hawaiian community. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Local rail leaders will have until Aug. 7 to tell federal transit officials what they plan to do about Oahu’s massively over-budget transit project — even though they don’t like any of the options presented to them and say they don’t yet have the details or faith in the numbers needed to make an informed choice. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu rail project may cost as much as $7.967 billion to build and will likely won’t be completed until April 2024, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation acknowledged Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said the city's proposed rail route will likely be shorter or have fewer stations with the revenue it expects to have. Hawaii News Now.

Hart officials are now saying the rail project may not be completed until April 2024 and will cost just under $8 billion. The figures are slightly different from estimates released by the Federal Transit Authority last month. But the HART board learned that Honolulu will not lose its federal funding even with the cost overruns and money budgeted to date. KITV4.

Rail is expected to cost nearly $8 billion and could have a deficit of $1.1 billion. After consulting with the federal government, HART learned without more funds, it needs to consider options for construction with the expected revenue. KHON2.

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Duke Aiona wants Charles Djou to be mayor of Honolulu. The former lieutenant governor came out in support of the former congressman in the wake of his own decision Monday to not run office for himself this year. Civil Beat.

The search for a Honolulu police officer who allegedly sexually assaulted a teenage girl Tuesday night, ended Wednesday when police apprehended the 37-year-old on the North Shore. Star-Advertiser.

Some 747 homeless military veterans on Oahu have found housing since January 2015, but the pipeline refills at a rate of 24 new homeless veterans each month. Star-Advertiser.

The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs plans next week to sweep the last remnants of a homeless encampment from the agency’s property in Wahiawa near some historic birthing stones. Star-Advertiser.

The governing board of the Myron B. Thompson Academy public charter school is scheduled to meet today for the first time since the state attorney general filed criminal charges last month against the school’s principal and elementary school vice principal. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The summer just got a whole lot easier for Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter. The second-term District 1 incumbent on Tuesday won outright her seat for another two-year term after no candidate filed to run against her. West Hawaii Today.

For the past two days, the Keaau High School campus has been transformed into home base for Tropic Care 2016, a joint effort of the U.S. Army Reserve’s Innovative Readiness Training program, the state Department of Health and the County of Hawaii. The program, which continues through Saturday, offers a host of medical services provided by more than 170 military physicians and medical providers. Tribune-Herald.

Students on the Big Island missed more school in a single academic year than most of their peers around the state and country, data from the U.S. Department of Education shows. Tribune-Herald.

With Kamehameha Day in North Kohala just days away, community groups remain upset that several large trees were cut down at the park that hosts the annual Kamehameha Day ho’olaule’a. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Maui County Board of Ethics is calling Mayor Alan Arakawa to appear before the panel to answer questions about money he received from a company leasing property rights for a potential photovoltaic farm on Upcountry land owned by Arakawa and his brother. Maui News.

As the candidate filing deadline came and went Tuesday, the political dust cleared and races were set for primary and general elections this year. Maui News.

A murder charge against Alexandria Duval was dropped Wednesday when a judge concluded that she did not intend to kill her identical twin when their SUV plunged over a 200-foot cliff on the Hana Highway. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Hawaii Dairy Farms has published a 2,607-page Environmental Impact Statement in hopes of addressing community concerns about potential water pollution from cow manure or other sources at a proposed 557-acre dairy farm on Kauai. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Dairy Farms, a proposed 699-cow operation on the island of Kauai being funded by eBay billionaire founder Pierre Omidyar’s Honolulu investment firm Ulupono Initiative, could be operational by 2018. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Dairy Farms says its planned operation in Mahaulepu Valley will provide a model for sustainable agriculture and help protect the environment. Those in opposition of the dairy aren’t buying it. Garden Island.

A Kapaa woman has filed nomination papers to become a candidate for state Senate of Kauai County. A first-time candidate in politics, Kanoe Ahuna hopes to use her 17 years of experience in the fields of public and private health and education to serve the community. Garden Island.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

One-fourth of legislative seats up for re-election already decided, draft NextEra/Hawaiian Electric sale document circulating at PUC, public school condom ban continues, rail becomes central issue as Djou enters Honolulu mayoral race, 13 vie for Hawaii County mayor, Civil Beat drops paywall, goes nonprofit, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii County Election Administrator Pat Nakamoto helps last-minute state Senate filer © 2016 All Hawaii News
Sixteen sitting members of the Legislature are effectively re-elected outright as no one filed to run against them by Tuesday’s deadline to enter Hawaii’s state and federal election contests. Those who won simply by filing for office included one Republican and 15 Democrats. Those uncontested seats amount to about one-fourth of the seats in the state Legislature that were available in this year’s elections. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will likely be easily re-elected to Congress this year with no major candidates opting to challenge them as the filing deadline for candidates running for election closed Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Will NextEra Energy be allowed to buy Hawaiian Electric? That decision is in the hands of three people who are circulating a draft decision as we speak, according to the head of the Public Utilities Commission. KHON2.

Shelter managers in Hawaii are scrambling to figure out how to keep a roof over the heads of hundreds of homeless people, and similar cuts are being made across the nation this month as the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development shifts its grant money to programs that focus on permanent housing. Associated Press.

Transgender students’ options for the use of bathrooms and locker rooms, dress codes and counseling are mapped out in a set of guidelines and policies created by the Hawaii Department of Education for the upcoming school year. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Education will begin training principals and school staff over the summer on new guidelines aimed at providing consistent support for transgender students in Hawaii public schools. Star-Advertiser.

A Board of Education committee was briefed today on guidelines to support transgender students. Hawaii Public Radio.

Outreach workers and health care providers say many children and teens struggle to find proper mental health care. The state Health Department often ends up sending severely mentally ill children and teens to the mainland for treatment, away from the support of friends and family. Associated Press.

Reflections on the impact of crystal methamphetamine on life in Hawaii have begun appearing in local theater and literature. Civil Beat.

Oahu

With former Congressman Charles Djou entering the mayor's race, the future of rail is again at the forefront of a mayoral election. Hawaii News Now.

Djou Jumps Into Mayor’s Race
; Aiona Opts Not To Run At All. Many Hawaii legislators will be unopposed, especially the most influential ones. But some lawmakers face tough contests. Civil Beat.

Charles Djou stepped up to file for mayor because of what he sees as mismanagement of rail-- a project not on time, and way over budget. KITV4.

Tuesday was the last day for candidates in Hawaii to file nomination papers for the primary election. Among those who formalized their campaigns: former Congressman and Honolulu City Councilmember Charles Djou. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Tuesday it is seeking more renewable-energy projects to generate power for Oahu by 2020. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is looking for developers to build new renewable energy projects on Oahu as part of its effort to get the state closer to its 100 percent renewable energy goal by 2045, the Honolulu-based utility said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

It was a packed house at the Lanikai Community Center, Tuesday night as city officials, HPD and residents met to discuss the ongoing traffic and parking issues in the area. Hawaii News Now.

The Board of Water Supply said the swing on top of the Haiku Stairs trail, also known as the Stairway to Heaven, was removed by about 12:30 p.m. The board, which owns the land, hired a contractor, The Nakoa Companies, for the job at a cost of $23,000. Associated Press.

The city is pursuing a court order to clear a Pensacola Street property littered with trash and derelict vehicles that building and fire officials say pose health and safety hazards. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: The Honolulu Charter Commission commission is poised to vote on two proposed amendments to the city charter described as enhancing public participation by changing and eliminating neighborhood boards and commissions. But that bit of political doublespeak conceals the reality that the proposals would dismantle important structures providing opportunities for active participation in city government. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat is transitioning to a nonprofit entity, drops subscription paywall and vows to continue news coverage.

Hawaii

Candidate deadline passes: The popularity of the mayor's office has left business and civic groups scrambling to decide how to cram as many major candidates as possible into the limited time and limited space onstage during planned candidate forums. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Civil Defense is hiring a University of Hawaii at Manoa professor to model dispersion of hydrogen sulfide from gas releases at Puna Geothermal Venture. The $362,719 study will provide a “comprehensive dispersion and plume modeling program” aimed at improving risk assessments from venting at the power plant. Tribune-Herald.

A Special Permit to allow the establishment and operation of a “Hawaiian Sanctuary” retreat center for health and well-being was approved by the Windward Planning Commission on Thursday, June 2. Big Island Video News.

Fewer than half of Big Island teens used condoms the last time they had sex, one survey shows, but a policy that bans the distribution of prophylactics in Hawaii’s public schools isn’t going away just yet. The state Board of Education voted Tuesday to keep the condom prohibition intact, withdrawing a previous motion to overturn it. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui Land & Pineapple has sold a 304-acre planned workforce housing project in West Maui for $15 million to an undisclosed buyer, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pacific Business News.

A boatload of decision makers visited waters offshore of Maui on Friday to see firsthand how land-based pollutants and unsustainable fishing practices are killing coral reefs. Maui Now.

For single-family homes, the median sales price countywide was $620,000, down 6.7 percent from $665,000 in April but still up 2.1 percent from $607,098 a year earlier. Maui News.

Maui resident Kaulana Mossman and Molokai resident Kamaka Purdy have been named to the five-member board of a nonprofit that plans to address affordable housing on Hawaiian homelands. Maui News.

Kauai


Sen. Ron Kouchi is running for re-election as president of the state Senate because he wants to make sure Kauai will be recognized in the national political arena. Garden Island.

Rats suspected of eating endangered endemic Hawaiian honey creeper ‘akikiki eggs. Garden Island.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Researchers find schools of endemic fish at Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Kure Atoll, Department of Education to submit draft transgender plan today, Honolulu council chair not running for mayor, Ala Wai Harbor plan founders, Big Island police officer kills man and his pit bull, Maui twins crash plot thickens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

in Northwestern Hawaiian Islands courtesy NOAA
Male Hawaiian Pigfish (Bodianus bathycapros)at Kure Atoll, courtesy NOAA

A study documenting deep coral reef fish communities composed exclusively of fish unique to Hawaii, which represents a globally significant reservoir of biodiversity, was recently published in the scientific journal Marine Biodiversity. Associated Press.

Scientists have discovered a new locale in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands with a truly astounding level of endemism. Kure Atoll is the northernmost coral atoll in the world, situated at the other end of the Hawaiian Islands about 1,300 miles northwest of Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

The study: 100% endemism in mesophotic reef fish assemblages at Kure Atoll, Hawaiian Islands. Marine Diversity

Sharks are eating onaga and other fish faster than fishermen can reel them in, compromising the quality and amount of fish that can be harvested in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, according to the territory’s acting governor, Victor Hocog. Civil Beat.

Conservationists and others are crying foul over letters that state lawmakers recently sent President Obama that urged him to not consider expanding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. Civil Beat.

Experts have a good handle on the issues surrounding coastal hazards — like sea level rise and climate change – but what to do about these problems is another animal. In order to help address these coastal hazards, the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program has created a new center for excellence. Garden Island.

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The state Department of Education plans to submit draft transgender student guidelines to the Board of Education today. Tribune-Herald.

The Aloha State has again received failing grades for manufacturing and logistics, according to a report from Ball State University. Pacific Business News.

The cost of a private school education in Hawaii is on the rise again as the state’s largest independent schools are charging 3 percent more in tuition, on average, for the upcoming school year, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser analysis.

The head of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii is running for an at-large trustee seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou and former Mayor Peter Carlisle are the seasoned politicians so far who will challenge incumbent Mayor Kirk Caldwell for the city’s top electoral post. Star-Advertiser.

Former Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle has officially filed his candidacy for his old job, but City Council Chair Ernie Martin is staying out of the race. Civil Beat.

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin announced Monday that he will not run for the office of Honolulu mayor. KITV4.

A floundering plan to build retail, boating and wedding facilities on state land at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor received another blow in U.S. bankruptcy court Monday. Star-Advertiser.

State and city officials are ramping up efforts to alleviate traffic woes along Oahu's Leeward coast. Hawaii News Now.

The city is in the running for a grant to get a fleet of all new electric buses. KHON2.

A helicopter will ferry a work crew to the top of the Haiku Stairs this morning to remove a makeshift swing from the ridgeline, where hikers have been swinging over the edge of a cliff that soars thousands of feet. Star-Advertiser.

Of 11 pharmaceuticals commonly found in sewage, University of Hawaii graduate student Jeffrey Murl has recently determined that seven of them have the potential to leach into Oahu’s groundwater, one poses an uncertain risk, and the remaining three — which are perhaps the most likely to impact humans and animals at low doses — are unlikely to leach into Oahu aquifers. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A police officer shot and killed a man and his dog late Monday afternoon at a home near the corner of West Kawailani Street and Kanoelehua Avenue in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

A state Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officer accused of a New Year’s Day sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl at a Hilo beach was granted a postponement of his trial. Tribune-Herald.

Kona dentist Cliff Kopp plans to pound the pavement in the name of homelessness one final time. Kopp’s fourth walk around Hawaii Island is slated to begin June 12 and is scheduled to end around June 20. West Hawaii Today.

The owner of Hakalau Point says he is sticking to his last offer after the Hawaii County Council advanced a resolution last week seeking to preserve the site, formerly part of the Hakalau Sugar Plantation Co. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Travel Plaza Transportation is converting its entire fleet to zero emission commercial tour buses by 2020 in an effort to set a new clean air standard and fulfill a goal to be Hawaii’s leader in offering tour vehicles that promote sustainability. MauiTime.

Maui County Council members gave final approval Friday to a bill to designate Sept. 15 as the deadline for claimants to file for a remnant parcel exemption for the tax year ending June 30, 2017, according to an announcement. Maui News.

Paving work will cause alternating lane closures on Mokulele Highway this week, according to the state Department of Transportation. Maui News.

Maui prosecutors have charged 37-year-old Alexandria Duval with second-degree murder in the death of her identical twin on May 29. According to witnesses, the sisters were arguing in a parked Ford Explorer when the driver accelerated the vehicle through a retaining wall and down a 200-foot cliff. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Plastic-free dining. Surfrider announces campaign to certify restaurants as Ocean Friendly. Garden Island.

Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura wants to make life better for the citizens of Kauai. Garden Island.