Thursday, May 12, 2016

Indictment likely for Honolulu police chief, Kauai kills general excise tax increase, China still set for RIMPAC, attorney general had investigated former state auditor, lawmakers quietly oppose marine protection expansion, state Supreme Court to hear 2014 election case, new rules for Hawaiian Home Lands, Maui lets lifeguards get raises, Honolulu's rising middle class, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Uptown shops in Waikiki © 2016 All Hawaii News
In cities across America, the middle class is hollowing out. However, Honolulu’s middle class appears to be increasing. Associated Press.

Amid the flurry of final votes on hundreds of bills last week, Hawaii lawmakers privately weighed whether to sign a letter to President Obama that Rep. James Tokioka was circulating during the last few days of the legislative session. The letter called on the president not to consider expanding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, stating that “there is no scientific justification or conservation benefit in doing so.” Civil Beat.

Hundreds of the world’s top ocean scientists will gather in Honolulu next month for the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium. It’s the first time the conference will be held in Hawai‘i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Senate President Ron Kouchi has a confidential report in his possession that involves possible wrongdoing in the state Auditor’s Office. The report is the result of a Hawaii Attorney General’s Office investigation. Civil Beat.

The federal government for the first time has developed an administrative rule to provide more clarity in implementing the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, the federal law that established a land trust to benefit Native Hawaiians. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige announced Wednesday that he has signed House Bill 1581 to help expedite the resolution of disputes on actions by state agencies. The new law, which takes effect Aug. 1, allows contested case hearings before the commissions on Water Resource Management, Land Use, Public Utilities, the Hawaii Community Development Authority and cases involving conservation districts to be directly appealed to the Hawaii Supreme Court, according to a release from the governor’s office. Civil Beat.

The U.S. invitation allowing China to participate in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific maritime exercises off Hawaii appears to be holding — even as American accusations fly that China is militarizing the South China Sea, while China maintains America has no business “provoking the new maritime order.” Star-Advertiser.

Struggling U.S. and international stock markets are dragging down Hawaii’s largest public pension portfolio. The state Employees’ Retirement System fund eked out a 0.6 percent gain in the first three months of 2016 but is in danger of finishing the fiscal year ending June 30 with its first loss since 2012, according to a report presented to ERS trustees Tuesday by Portland, Ore.-based Pension Consulting Alliance Inc. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s judicial system ranks among the top three in the country when it comes to access to justice, according to the National Center for Access to Justice’s latest state-by-state ranking. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, deputy city Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, have hired a prominent criminal defense attorney to represent them in the potential federal criminal case against them. In an interview Wednesday with Hawaii News Now, attorney Myles Breiner said he and the Kealohas expect there will be a grand jury indictment in the case.

Extra-tall towers are out, but the density of buildings could double and include less parking in some parts of Kakaako under new proposed rules for development tied to the city’s rail project. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators unveiled an update Wednesday for the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako’s transit-oriented development plan calling for diverse residential building types, ground-oriented family housing near transit stations, additional reserved housing, grocery stores, cultural and community amenities, food trucks and spaces for artists. Pacific Business News.

Ross Dress for Less on Ward Avenue in Honolulu is expected to be displaced by the Honolulu rail transit project that’s being built from West Oahu to Ala Moana Center. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii lawmakers sent a strong message last week to two brothers who claim to own portions of eight streets in Kakaako where they started charging for parking six years ago after decades of free public use. Star-Advertiser.

Repairs to a collapsed pier at Waianae Boat Harbor have finally been approved. KHON2.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Supreme Court has agreed to hear a complaint questioning the residency status of Ron Gonzales, who in 2014 unsuccessfully challenged Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille for the District 9 council seat. West Hawaii Today.

What started as a bill to increase County Council terms from two years to four has morphed through a series of compromises into a bill adding one more two-year term, so council members would be eligible to serve 10 consecutive years before being term-limited. West Hawaii Today.

Native Hawaiian activists drew closer to their goal of barring further geothermal development on Hualalai, following a hearing Wednesday in the Environmental Court. West Hawaii Today.

The design, engineering and potential capabilities of the Thirty Meter Telescope were front and center Wednesday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. Telescope system scientist Warren Skidmore walked about two dozen people through the technical aspects of the 180-foot tall, $1.4 billion project, which, if built, would be the second largest telescope on Earth, behind a 39- meter scope being constructed by European interests in Chile. West Hawaii Today.

For almost 16 miles of coastline stretching north from South Point, there is no public access to the shoreline. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

After hearing more than an hour of testimony from lifeguards and their supporters, the Budget and Finance Committee today recommended approval of funding for the ocean safety labor contract by a unanimous 6-0 vote. Maui Now.

Pay raises awarded to hundreds of lifeguards and law enforcement officers statewide cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

The 70 unit Waiʻale Affordable Housing project proposed for development on 10.36 acres just north of the Waikapū Gardens subdivision on Maui, surfaces for consideration at the Maui County Council’s Land Use Committee meeting at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, in the Council Chamber. Maui Now.

The Maui Planning Commission advanced two proposed Kihei projects Monday, approving the 129-unit Kamaole Pointe workforce housing complex and recommending a zoning change for the 22,000-square-foot Kihei Wellness Center. Maui News.

Maui County has agreed to pay $24,000 in damages and to enter into a three-year consent decree to settle an age discrimination lawsuit that alleged the Maui Police Department failed to hire a qualified 45-year-old Hawaii resident as a police officer. Maui News.

Kauai

After two hours of discussion during committee Wednesday, Kauai council members voted 4-3 to recommend killing a proposed bill that would increase the General Excise Tax. Garden Island.

Mason Chock is seeking re-election to the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Paul Cienfuegos, a community activist from Portland, Oregon, is on Kauai for one reason: he says there’s another way to shut the door on unwanted corporate industry. Garden Island.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

School superintendent snubbed for new standards panel, embattled IBEW chief retires, tax collections up, ethics panel demurs in Kenoi pCard case, Turtle Bay plans unveiled, new form of government going to Maui ballot, rail lawsuit dismissed, lifeguard pay at issue, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All HawaiiNews all rights reserved
Hawaii schoolchildren © 2016 All Hawaii News
In a high-profile snub that's raising eyebrows, the governor decided against appointing state schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi to a newly-formed task force charged with overhauling Hawaii's public school standards and testing. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s general tax fund deposits rose 6.4 percent during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year when compared with the same period in the previous fiscal year, according to a statement released by the state Department of Taxation. Pacific Business News.

Brian Ahakuelo, the embattled leader of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260, retired from his position Tuesday amid an investigation into the Hawaii union’s finances. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Some $43 million earmarked for critical sewage treatment projects is being held up by the Honolulu City Council Budget Committee because of concerns over the future of a substance and mental health treatment facility that is on land proposed to be used for expansion of the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant. Star-Advertiser.

A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit against Ansaldo Honolulu JV, a contractor for Honolulu’s $6.6 billion rail project. John McCaughey, a former employee, filed the complaint last year arguing the Italian-based company was putting its workers in danger by failing to hire enough safety workers. Civil Beat.

The head of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation says he hopes to have an updated financial plan by the end of the year. KHON2.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department slashed over half a million dollars for Honolulu’s Continuum of Care program participants even though Hawaii has the worst rate of homelessness in the nation. While the cutback is relatively small — a 5 percent decrease from $9.7 million last year to $9.2 million this year — HUD estimates the expiration of funds will remove funding for 465 homeless people who are currently relying on services. Civil Beat.

Turtle Bay Resort's expansion plans for the 880-acre resort on Oahu's North Shore include a 452-room hotel, two golf courses, a spa, a stables and a golf clubhouse, according to a map obtained by Pacific Business News.

The HCDA is proposing a $45 million redesign of the 53 acres it owns next to Kewalo Basin over the next 20 years. Hawaii News Now.

The state says new self-service machines at Honolulu International Airport have significantly reduced average customs wait times for passengers arriving from other countries. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Board of Ethics remained no closer Tuesday to hearing an ethics complaint regarding Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of a county purchasing card a year after it deferred the issue. Tribune-Herald.

Two recent actions by the County Council have ratcheted the county’s potential bond debt a little higher. But county officials say the authorization to float another $78.6 million in bonds isn’t likely to affect the county’s credit rating, or the annual payment made to debt service, because it is unlikely the bulk of that amount will go out to a bond sale. West Hawaii Today.

The legal fireworks over the Thirty Meter Telescope are expected to start up again Monday as retired Judge Riki May Amano called a pre-conference hearing in Honolulu for the attorneys representing all parties. Star-Advertiser.

A three-year effort to improve connectivity between upper Puna’s numerous subdivisions enters a new phase this week. Members of an ad hoc committee formed to address the connectivity problem will vote tomorrow on a draft report to be used by the Hawaii County Council and agencies such as the Department of Public Works for future planning. Tribune-Herald.

Boat moorings, dengue fever, land purchases and construction updates. Those were a few of the offerings Tuesday night as Kona Sen. Josh Green, Kona Rep. Nicole Lowen and leaders from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources addressed a standing-room only crowd at the West Hawaii Civic Center Council Chambers for a legislative update. West Hawaii Today.

The goal was straightforward: Determine the existing and future needs of the Kona-Kohala business community. The result was a complicated one, summed up in the Workforce Needs Study released Tuesday by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

After five months of deliberations, the Special Committee on County Governance recommended Monday that a new form of county government be placed on the ballot in November, though members remained deeply split in their support of a change. Maui News.

If Maui doesn’t sign off on a $1 million budget expenditure to pay an arbitration award, county officials say it could send everyone in the bargaining unit back to the table, based on their reading of a state attorney general’s opinion. So it wouldn’t just be the 55 lifeguards on Maui that would be affected, but several hundred public workers, including lifeguards on Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island, plus state law enforcement officers. Civil Beat.

Maui authorities are looking at ways to cut down on the number of people who become victims of financial crimes, an issue being dealt with in police departments across the state. Associated Press.

A 45-year-old man will receive $24,000 in damages from settlement of an age discrimination lawsuit filed against the Maui Police Department three years ago, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will hold two meetings on Maui this week, the agency announced. Maui News.

Some Maui County residents will receive a survey in the mail to identify how they use county parks and recreation facilities. Residents also may make recommendations for improvements to Maui County park facilities. Maui News.

Kauai

Transportation problems Kauai residents experience on a regular basis took center stage during the Community Advisory Committee meeting on Monday. Garden Island.

Hanalei Elementary School is growing. During a Planning Commission meeting Tuesday, commissioners unanimously voted to approve a planning director’s report detailing the construction of two classroom portables on the school campus. Garden Island.

Meet Ollie, a courthouse facility dog who joined the Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney as the newest team member Tuesday. Garden Island.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Hawaii counties count legislative blessings, IBEW taken over by parent as probe into nepotism widens, tax credits for organic farmers, 75th Pearl Harbor anniversary planned, University of Hawaii money has strings attached, no funding for UH Cancer Center, solar company cutbacks after incentive plan cut, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii elder hula © 2016 All Hawaii News
Hawaii ranks seventh among the 50 states in which to grow old, according to a new Caring.com report. The report looked at several factors affecting people age 55 and up. The ratings incorporated data on quality of life, health care, long-term care, support for seniors and family caregivers, affordability of senior care and more than 100,000 ratings of senior care providers. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii would become the first state to pass a plan that would set up tax breaks for farmers to offset the cost of becoming certified as organic. Under the plan farmers could get up to $50,000 in tax credits for qualifying expenses. The state Legislature approved the proposal this year. Associated Press.

New Political Parties Get Their Shot On Hawaii Ballots This Year. The Hawaii Constitution Party, the Hawaii Independent Party and the American Shopping Party have qualified. Civil Beat.

The state’s newly selected medical marijuana dispensary operators could be permitted to grow under natural sunlight, and advanced practice registered nurses might be allowed to certify new patients. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s solar industry continues to struggle after the state ended a popular solar incentive program in October. The Hawaii Solar Energy Association, a solar advocacy group, said Monday a survey of 11 member companies showed 73 percent have decreased staff since the incentive program ended. Star-Advertiser.

The takeover of one of Hawaii's largest unions by its international parent comes amid longtime complaints of nepotism in the office. A Hawaii News Now review of the IBEW Local 1260's filings with the U.S. Labor Department shows that the union employed at least four people related to business manager Brian Ahakuelo. Hawaii News Now.

Only half of Hawaii’s public high schools with football teams have access to the top-rated helmets, and even at the campuses with the best helmets available, your child may still be handed a lower-rated piece of equipment. KHON2.

Oahu

The Legislature passed 275 bills and appropriated more than 7 billion dollars in state general funds before it adjourned last week. But the UH Cancer Center did not receive a single cent of what it asked for. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lawmakers are trying to prohibit the University of Hawaii from spending any of the nearly $50 million the Legislature has budgeted for the university’s repair and maintenance backlog on the College of Education at UH Manoa — unless the college is relocated. Star-Advertiser.

Kakaako Waterfront Park has a reputation as a giant, uninviting grassy mound with crumbly walking paths and shade pavilions popular with the homeless. But the state’s biggest park in urban Honolulu would become a grand public recreation destination under a new master plan. Star-Advertiser.

Planners of the 75th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attacks on Oahu are optimistic that either an aircraft carrier or “big deck” amphibious assault ship and vintage aircraft will participate in the milestone commemoration, which likely will be the last major hurrah for a rapidly dwindling number of Pearl Harbor survivors. Star-Advertiser.

The ordinance that bans sitting and lying on public sidewalks has been a handy tool for Honolulu Police Department officers to clear the homeless and other sidewalk dwellers off of busy sidewalks in Waikiki and the downtown/Chinatown areas over the past two years. But in the 15 neighborhoods from Waimanalo to Wahiawa that were added to the sit-lie law by City Council members, the law does not appear to have been used. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Kona International Airport improvements and an expansion of the Hawaii Community Correctional Center are among the big ticket items lawmakers approved for the Big Island this session. In total, the state Legislature approved $389 million in capital projects for the island during the session that ended last week. Tribune-Herald.

State lawmakers are touting the $389 million in Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding secured for Hawaii Island under the state budget (biennium of Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 ) passed by the Legislature last week. The Big Island’s elected officials were also able to secure $8.5 million in Grants-In-Aid CIP for Hawaii Island nonprofit organizations. Big Island Video News.

Travel to and from Kahakai Elementary School will soon become smoother, and Principal Jim Denight hopes substantially safer after the State Legislature allocated $355,000 to improve safety conditions on Kahakai Access Road. West Hawaii Today.

Government and nonprofit groups are pitching in to keep the vision of botanist Amy Beatrice Holdsworth Greenwell alive. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Dozens gather in solidarity with Maui lifeguards fighting for better pay. KITV4.

In a follow-up to our March 6th MAUIWatch interview with Kai Pelayo, the new Monsanto Maui community affairs director, Pelayo forwarded a 32-page update to the company’s Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Maui for the year 2015.

The Department of Natural Resources was called to investigate the discovery of an unidentified object/device that washed ashore overnight at the beach in Spreckelsville off of Stable Road. Authorities say the item appeared to be some type of Naval sonar equipment, but the DLNR Maui Boating District Manager is looking into the case to assess what it is and how to get it removed. Maui Now.

Hana and Lanai high and elementary schools are among 23 schools statewide being added next school year to a U.S. Department of Agriculture free meal program, the state Department of Education announced Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai representatives secured over $141 million in Capital Improvement Project funding for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. Garden Island.

The Kauai Community Correctional Center will be receiving $15 million for new housing and support offices after Kauai lawmakers secured more than $140 million in Capital Improvement Project funding this week. Garden Island.

Senate President Ronald Kouchi frequently drives on Puhi Road, which means he knows about its condition firsthand. Garden Island.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Hawaii legislative recap, ethics complaint against Honolulu Mayor Caldwell, ballot parties set, Thirty Meter Telescope judge remains despite protests, Kauai marijuana business promises 40 new jobs, solar panels eat into county budget, Maui mulls commission changes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hawai Department of Public Safety
Hawaii Women’s Community Correctional Center, courtesy Department of Public Safety
Mother’s Day came early for children whose moms are doing time at the Women’s Community Correctional Center as a Kids’ Day event Saturday at the prison allowed them to get together, hug, play games and enjoy a meal. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers wrapped up the 2016 session of the Legislature Thursday after approving measures to provide $100 million to cool public school classrooms and tuck away $150 million in the state’s “rainy day” budget reserve fund. Star-Advertiser.

How Major Bills Fared at the Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

Criminal Justice Reform Fails To Get Much Legislative Love. Neighbor island facilities received some significant financial help, but the state’s main facilities on Oahu will remain overcrowded and crumbling. Civil Beat.

The parties will appear on the 2016 primary ballot as follows - Green Party of Hawaii, Non Partisan, Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Independent Party, American Shopping Party, Constitution Party of Hawaii, Hawaii Republican Party and Libertarian Party of Hawaii. Maui News.

The first audit in decades is coming for civil forfeiture, a state program that allows law enforcement to seize property without a conviction — and the administrator over the process is ready for whatever they may discover, while activist groups question its fairness. West Hawaii Today.

Regional Health Command-Pacific, which includes Tripler Army Medical Center and medical facilities in Japan and on the West Coast, will be getting a new leader, the Pentagon announced Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Two complaints have been filed with the Honolulu Ethics Commission against Mayor Kirk Caldwell. They concern a political rally held by the mayor on Wednesday afternoon on the grass fronting Honolulu Hale, the day that Caldwell filed his re-election papers. Civil Beat.

Here’s another possible candidate for mayor of Honolulu: Peter Savio. Savio, 67, is president and CEO of the Savio Group of Companies and has decades of experience in real estate development and sales in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The day after longtime state Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland announced she would not seek re-election, an influential House representative says he’s running to replace her. Karl Rhoads, chair of the House Judiciary committee, said Saturday that he will seek the Senate District 13 seat that represents Liliha, Palama, Iwilei, Kalihi, Nuuanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Lower Tantalus and Downtown. Civil Beat.

The city’s legal counsel is brushing off recent suggestions that Honolulu rail officials haven’t done enough to comply with federal flood-risk standards. Whether that move will lead to another rail lawsuit remains to be seen. Star-Advertiser.

Federal officials are holding back a half-billion dollars slated for Honolulu's rail project. The Federal Transit Administration has blocked release of the past two fiscal years' worth of funds as the wait continues for an updated financial plan covering current cost estimates as well as a new project schedule. Associated Press.

A Korean-American nonprofit group is exploring the idea of a cultural center and museum on the block that includes the state Department of Agriculture’s King Street headquarters. Star-Advertiser.

No less than Gov. David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell have pleaded with Oahu landlords to open their rental properties to homeless tenants, but a group of McKinley High School students wants to add a more intimate and personal appeal. Star-Advertiser.

Navy Poised To Clean Pearl Harbor Sediment Contamination. The $60 million cleanup is an effort to create an environment that may make it again safe to eat the fish. Civil Beat.

Zoo parking improves, but City still looking to add more parking for Waikiki. KHON2.

The median price of a condominium on Oahu increased by 5 percent in April to set a new record, while the median price of a single-family home on the island jumped by 7 percent, compared to last year, on flat sales, according to statistics released by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Lower oil prices and increased use of rooftop solar panels are hitting the county budget. And not necessarily in a good way. West Hawaii Today.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources is sticking with Riki May Amano. The retired Hilo Circuit Court judge was selected in April to oversee the next contested case hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope’s land use permit. Tribune-Herald.

Mammography procedures at the Hilo Women’s Imaging Center are on track to resume in the coming weeks. Tribune-Herald.

A plan to create additional moorings at Keauhou Bay is off the table. The Department of Land and Natural Resources and its Division of Boating and Recreation announced today that it will select the “no-action” option in a controversial Draft Environmental Assessment for the proposed Keauhou Bay Offshore Moorings project. Big Island Video News.
Maui

Maui County officials have mixed feelings over a potential state law that would allow transient accommodations brokers such as Airbnb to collect state taxes from rental operators and ensure the operators know that they must adhere to land-use laws. Maui News.

Maui County Council Member Elle Cochran has proposed charter amendments to require attorneys to sit on the county Board of Ethics and environmental and Native Hawaiian leaders on the county planning commissions. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin is considering cattle grazing and energy crops as sugar production phases out on Maui. Associated Press.

The discovery by the Pan-STARRS telescope atop Haleakala of an asteroid believed to come from a cosmic cloud far from the sun could hold answers to the questions of how the Earth with its richness of life and the solar system were formed. Maui News.

Kauai

Two proposed bills to increase taxes were voted down during the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. The bills, which would raise vehicle weight tax and fuel tax were introduced by Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura as a possible solution for funding $100 million worth of backlogged road repairs. Garden Island.

Surfrider Kauai has met with Zero Waste Kauai and members of the County Council, who have voiced interest in the possibility of putting forward a bill to ban polystyrene products from the island. The mayor’s administration also supports the idea, but Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. said the county’s focus isn’t currently on creating new programs. Garden Island.

With the approval of a medical marijuana dispensary on Kauai, officials with Green Aloha, Ltd., hope to add 40 jobs on the island. Garden Island.

It is unacceptable to approve large raises for $100,000 county positions while also looking to create a regressive General Excise Tax that would hurt already struggling families, said KipuKai Kuali‘i, a candidate for the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Friday, May 6, 2016

Sine die for Hawaii Legislature, Ige signs cool schools bill, group pushes expansion of Papahanaumokuakea marine monument, new Maui Metropolitan planning group forms, geothermal bills die, study coming for interisland ferry, abused Kauai monk seal gives birth, $20M for UH to study water quality, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Hawaii Senate Majority
Hawaii Senate chambers, courtesy Senate Majority
2016 Session: AC For Schools, Help For Housing And Homeless. The House and Senate also killed bills to let psychologists prescribe drugs and fund a new jail on Oahu, but did hand water permits to A&B on Maui. Civil Beat.

The 2016 Hawaii legislative session has ended, and Hawaii lawmakers have passed dozens of bills including those to ban sex trafficking and combat homelessness. Associated Press.

The 2016 Legislature adjourned today but not before participating in a ceremony to enact one of the state’s top priorities this session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii lawmakers set aside more money to tackle the highest rate of homelessness in the nation — a crisis that has left families with children living on sidewalks alongside the beaches of paradise. The Legislature allocated $12 million in new funding during the session ending Thursday. It will go toward social services and clearing out homeless encampments. Associated Press.

The Department of Education on Thursday issued its first bid request for work to begin installing air conditioning in at least 1,000 public school classrooms — the same day Gov. David Ige signed legislation to fund the $100 million initiative. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige signed into law on Thursday legislation that spends $100 million to fund equipment and installation costs for air conditioning in public schools statewide, as well as heat-abatement and energy-efficiency measures. Civil Beat.

Will a state-owned ferry system prove seaworthy? Transportation officials are expected to find out after lawmakers approved funding a study on establishing a publicly owned fleet similar to Washington State Ferries, the largest ferry system in the United States. Tribune-Herald.

Two Hawaii nonprofits are urging Gov. David Ige to sign a bill that makes it easier for health care providers to distribute medicine that reverses opioid overdoses. Civil Beat.

Local environmentalists, scientists and lawmakers banded together Thursday to announce that the Obama administration has responded to their proposal to expand Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and make it, once again, the largest marine sanctuary in the world. Star-Advertiser.

A group of roughly 20 Native Hawaiians, local fishermen, scientists and conservationists rallied Thursday morning at Kewalo Marine Laboratory, armed with a 43,000-signature petition urging President Barack Obama to expand federal protections around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Civil Beat.

A Native Hawaiian proposal that calls for the expansion of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is picking up steam and this week a delegation from the Obama Administration is meeting with stakeholders to discuss the possibility. Garden Island.

The University of Hawaii has been awarded a $20 million grant for its clean water research project. The money comes from the National Science Foundation. KITV4.

Hawaii will receive $3 million in new funding from the National Housing Trust Fund to pursue affordable rental housing. Star-Advertiser.

Schatz Takes On D.C., Homelessness And The Donald. The U.S. senator says he wants to help local, state and federal officials boost the housing stock. He also calls Trump “dangerous.” Civil Beat.

Oahu

Engineering experts raise quality concerns over Honolulu’s rail construction. KHON2.

U.S.VETS this fall will take over the city’s efforts to find 100 permanent homes for some of Honolulu’s chronically homeless households through a model known as Housing First. Star-Advertiser.

Virgin America today expands its Hawai‘i service with the launch of daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Honolulu International Airport, with connecting flights from most Virgin America markets. Maui Now.

Hawaii

The Big Island’s fights against rapid ohia death and the spread of invasive albizia trees will get much-needed booster shots of funding in the coming fiscal year. Tribune-Herald.

A bill aimed at giving the state sole regulatory authority over geothermal power plants died in conference committee. Tribune-Herald.

Critics of geothermal development in Puna left a Windward Planning Commission on Thursday a little more hopeful that they can break through a bureaucratic logjam that has held up a study on impacts to Native Hawaiians. Tribune-Herald.

All three legacy bills signed by the late state Sen. Gil Kahele have died at the Legislature. However, efforts to preserve land at Kapua Bay — an issue which was perhaps most near and dear to the Hilo Democrat’s heart — might still move forward. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Airlines on Wednesday requested U.S. Department of Transportation Sec. Anthony Foxx to immediately approve its application to provide service between Kona and Haneda Airport in Tokyo. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The newly formed Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization elected the chairman and vice chairman of its policy board at its first meeting Wednesday. Maui News.

A 300-pound male spinner dolphin beached itself and died on a rocky Kuau shoreline early Wednesday afternoon, officials said. Maui News.

Kauai

Major strides were made in many areas during Hawaii’s 2016 Legislative session, but some Kauai officials are saying they feel slighted by the state. Garden Island.

Low-income families on Kauai who are searching for affordable housing are about to get help from the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation. Garden Island.

Ross Kagawa is running for another term in the Kauai County Council because he wants to be sure the less fortunate people of Kauai are represented. Garden Island.

The Hawaiian monk seal that was caught on camera being beaten by a man last week on Kauai gave birth on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Hawaii's national parks bring in tourist dollars, Ige gives Legislature a 'B,' National Transportation Safety Board reports on Molokai crash that killed state health director Fuddy, rail lawsuit ends in apology, Kondo begins job as state auditor, senior housing coming to Chinatown, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park © 2016 All Hawaii News
Visitors who travel to the Aloha State to experience its national parks are spending more, according to a new analysis by the National Park Service. Last year, park visitors spent approximately $364.5 million during trips to NPS lands in Hawaii, supporting 4,500 jobs, $170.5 million in labor income, $289.4 million in value added, and $448.3 million in economic output for the Islands’ economy. Pacific Business News.

Gov. David Ige praised the Legislature on Wednesday for moving to solve problems that have long plagued the state but become mired in governmental inertia, including cooling sweltering classrooms, renovating the state psychiatric hospital and pouring millions into homeless and affordable housing programs. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Wednesday said he gives state lawmakers a “resounding B” as a grade for their work this legislative session, which started in January and ends Thursday. Civil Beat.

Ige gives lawmakers a 'B' grade for session. KITV4.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission is seeking applicants to fill Les Kondo’s shoes as executive director. He started his new job as state auditor this week. Civil Beat.

Transgender advocates are calling on the Hawai‘i State Department of Education to move more quickly on creating specific guidelines for transgender students. An online petition supporting those plans has already received more than 5,600 signatures over the past two weeks. Hawaii Public Radio.

Two decades after Hawaii passed its first charter school law, many charter school leaders say finding, maintaining — and paying for — basic school facilities remains a frequent, pressing problem. Civil Beat.

The parent of Hawaiian Electric Co., which is being acquired by NextEra Energy Inc. in a $4.3 billion deal awaiting state approval, spent $1.6 million in the first quarter on costs associated with the pending sale, about a third of what the Honolulu-based company spent in the same quarter of last year, according to Hawaiian Electric Industries' first-quarter earnings report. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. (HE) on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit of $32.8 million. Associated Press.

The Army will stay at about 80,000 active-duty soldiers in the Pacific, and 106,000 total personnel with reserve soldiers and civilian employees, as part of the rebalance to the region, the new four-star head of U.S. Army Pacific said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Democrats tout closed primaries in Oregon election. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Standing in front of dozens of supporters outside Honolulu Hale, many of them City and County employees, Kirk Caldwell made it official Wednesday: He’s running for another four years as mayor. Civil Beat.

The developer of a senior affordable rental tower in Chinatown won a major victory today when the Honolulu City Council voted unanimously to support a development agreement for its River Street project. Star-Advertiser.

Rail Contractor Gets ‘Public Apology’ After Bitter Lawsuit Ends. Contractor who accused Nan of defrauding federal government now says it was a mistake and a misunderstanding. Civil Beat.

The spending scandal surrounding the Bishop Museum's ousted CEO is widening. Hawaii News Now.

Kapiolani Community College Chancellor Leon Richards will step down after commencement exercises May 15, a decision that followed calls by faculty, staff and student groups to remove him from the post. Star-Advertiser.

Radio’s power pair will part ways, as Larry Price will step away from co-hosting the long-running, top-rated “Perry and Price” morning radio show on KSSK-FM 92.3/AM 590 at the middle of this month. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is poised to become the first county in the state to have a full-scale composting facility capable of taking green waste, food-contaminated paper and restaurant waste and turning it into salable compost for the public. The County Council paved the way Wednesday for the new organics processing facility by unanimously approving a $10.6 million bond to pay for it. West Hawaii Today.

Much to the delight of some Hawaii Island drivers — and to the chagrin of law enforcement — the speed limit on Saddle Road might be raised from 55 mph to 60 mph starting next year. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii has canceled permits for geothermal exploration on Hualalai, and a lead researcher on Wednesday said the university has no plans for future scoping of the dormant volcano’s potential for producing geothermal energy. But that doesn’t mean plaintiffs plan to back down on a lawsuit originally launched to block the exploration. West Hawaii Today.

A financially troubled Puna charter school is under investigation by the state Ethics Commission, according to a letter obtained by the Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Transportation is wrapping up final restriping of the bike lanes on Queen Kaahumanu Highway between Makala Boulevard and Henry Street, a project which has moved segments of the bike lane back to the right side of traffic over the past few months. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Demolition of the Old Kahului Store, some 100 years old, has begun near Kahului Harbor to make room for future cargo and shipping containers, county officials said. Maui News.

A much debated bill allowing Alexander & Baldwin to continue to divert water from East Maui for at least three years under current lease terms passed the full Senate on Tuesday and is currently undergoing legal and policy reviews before heading to Gov. David Ige's desk. Maui News.

Kauai

A Honolulu attorney suing DuPont Pioneer wants to stop representing three plaintiffs who refused to sign a waiver that would prevent them from suing the seed company for medical issues associated with dust from the company’s fields on Kauai. Civil Beat.

Opinions were mixed Wednesday as Kauai residents spoke during a public hearing that concerned a proposed bill that will allow property owners to build additional rental units, or ARU’s. Garden Island.

Affordable housing, health and the environment, food and energy self-sufficiency, traffic congestion, and “keeping a lid on local taxes”: these are Gary Hooser’s top priorities. Garden Island.

An Eleele man accused of beating a monk seal at Salt Pond Beach, an incident that sparked massive public outcry statewide, will have his preliminary hearing next week. Garden Island.

The trial for a former Department of Land and Natural Resources officer charged with 30 counts of sexual assault has been continued to late October. Garden Island.

Molokai

A National Transportation Safety Board report says the pilot of the small plane that crashed off Molokai in December of 2013 did not give a federally mandated safety briefing to his eight passengers on board, including former state Health Director Loretta Fuddy, who later died from a heart condition after exiting the Cessna 208B that crashed in the water. Hawaii News Now.

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its findings for a deadly crash off Molokai that killed then-state health director Loretta Fuddy. KHON2.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Whale migration down, Legislature passes $13.7B budget, Big Island council kills general excise tax hike, nurses can prescribe marijuana, rats in UH-Manoa dorms, lawsuit looming in Kauai pesticide case, Maui passes $659.5M budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy NOAA
Whale migration patterns, courtesy NOAA
The number of whales that made the annual migration to Hawaiian waters this past winter appears to be at its lowest level in five years, according to officials with the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers have passed the state's $13.7 billion budget for 2017, providing funding for affordable housing development, new classroom facilities and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Associated Press.

House and Senate lawmakers gave their final approval to a new, $13.7 billion budget for next year as well as bills to ease jail overcrowding, collect taxes from vacation rental operators, allow an industrial hemp pilot project and permit Alexander & Baldwin to continue using Maui stream water — but not without some spirited debate on the floors of the Senate and House on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

With the 2016 legislative session set to end Thursday, drama arose Tuesday in the Senate over taxing Airbnb tourist accommodations; and in the House a Republican lawmaker was nearly booted from the chamber over his stance on funding Hawaiian Home Lands. Civil Beat.

The Senate voted on a number of key House Bills yesterday. Hawaii Public Radio.

After years of dealing with sweltering classrooms where classroom teachers spritzed their students with water to keep them cool, the Hawaii Legislature has approved $100 million to cool 1,000 classrooms throughout the state. Associated Press.

Gov. David Ige has already brought out his veto pen, spiking a measure that would let terminally ill patients try investigational drugs before the federal Food and Drug Administration approved them. Civil Beat.

A bill that would allow online alternative accommodations companies such as Airbnb to act as tax brokers on behalf of the state has passed the Hawaii Legislature and is on its way to Gov. David Ige’s desk for his signature. Pacific Business News.

Lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday allowing companies like Airbnb to collect and pay taxes on behalf of hosts who list their properties. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii lawmakers approved a bill Tuesday that reforms many aspects of the state’s medical marijuana dispensary law but left enough on the table that medical marijuana advocates are likely to be back at the Capitol lobbying next session. If Gov. David Ige allows HB 2707 to go into law, advanced practice registered nurses, in addition to physicians, will be able to certify patients to use medical cannabis. Civil Beat.

Local transgender community leaders and supporters are calling on education officials to implement policies and staff training to ensure the safety and fair treatment of transgender students in Hawaii public schools. Star-Advertiser.

Some 17,000 public school students will be eligible to receive free meals at their schools regardless of their family’s ability to pay, under plans announced Tuesday by the state Department of Education to expand a pilot program that launched last fall. Star-Advertiser.

Are you getting what you pay for? State struggles to keep scales in check. KHON2.

A California-based labor contracting company that was ordered to pay millions in a discrimination and human trafficking lawsuit in Hawaii has been smacked in a similar case in Washington state. Star-Advertiser.

Bank of Hawaii said it expects to save $439,591 annually from 2,670 photovoltaic panels it has installed on its buildings throughout the state as part of its ongoing energy-saving programs. The company now produces about 30 percent of its statewide energy from PV systems. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Students at University of Hawaii-Manoa are ramping up efforts to end unsanitary living conditions in several residence halls. Photos provided to Hawaii News Now show holes in the ceiling, molded walls and dirty light fixtures at Hale Anuenue, a co-ed dormitory. A video shows a rat scurrying around Frear Hall in April.

It’s one of the fastest growing places on Oahu, but the Ewa area did not get all the money requested to help overcrowded schools. KHON2.

Honolulu police will begin strictly enforcing no parking rules on the bike lane side of the Lanikai loop beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the city announced in a news release. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Facing a June 30 deadline to have an unpopular ordinance in place or lose the opportunity to do so, the County Council Finance Committee voted 8-1 Tuesday to postpone a bill indefinitely that would raise the general excise tax by one-half percent. West Hawaii Today.

More than 40 people, most supporting a ban on polystyrene foam food containers, on Tuesday came before the County Council Committee on Environmental Management. Choosing between a menu of two bills — one banning the so-called “Styrofoam” containers outright and one conducting an islandwide survey and educational campaign — most testifiers chose the former in almost three hours of testimony. West Hawaii Today.

Thirty Meter Telescope opponents say retired Hilo Circuit Judge Riki May Amano still should be disqualified as the next TMT contested case hearings officer after officially declaring her ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center membership. Tribune-Herald.

A state purchase of 8,000 acres at Kapua Bay may still get to move ahead sooner rather than later. In a rare move, the Senate Committee on Water, Land and Agriculture has agreed to resurrect a bill directing the Department of Land and Natural Resources to lay the groundwork for purchase of the pristine and historically significant stretch of South Kona makai lands. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian cultural practitioner, preservationist and educator, revered kupuna, licensed practical nurse — Winifred Pele Hanoa was a force of nature, not unlike her namesake volcano goddess. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council's budget committee Monday hammered out a $659.5 million budget for full council approval - about $50 million less than Mayor Alan Arakawa's proposed budget for the next fiscal year - completing its part in the arduous rite of spring. Maui News.

Protests Don’t Overcome East Maui Water Diversion Bill. Legislators hand former Big Five sugar company Alexander & Baldwin water for its lands in Central Maui. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Earthjustice, a U.S. nonprofit environmental law firm, notified Hawaii’s Agribusiness Development Corporation on Tuesday that it will sue the agency for allegedly allowing pesticides and chemicals to contaminate a 40-mile-long drainage ditch system on the Mana Plain of Kauai’s west side.  Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Agribusiness Development Corporation could be facing a lawsuit for allegedly illegally polluting the ocean on Kauai’s westside. That’s because several community organizations have discovered that the state organization didn’t renew their National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit last August. Garden Island.

A $4.1 million project to capture the methane gas coming out of the Kekaha landfill is in the works, thanks to a low-interest loan secured from the State Revolving Fund program, administered by the state’s Department of Health. Garden Island.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Honolulu unveils first rail cars; Legislature kills trespassing, crosswalk, media access, smoking in cars bills; dengue and Zika protections advance; Hawaii County Democrats want Roundup ban; Coco Palms developers get money for project; 'Styrofoam' ban looming, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Office of the Mayor
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell in new rail cars, courtesy mayor's office
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation unveiled the first four-car train on the tracks at the rail operation center next to Leeward Community College today. Star-Advertiser.

Local island leaders and rail advocates got a tour Monday of Honolulu’s first public transit train — a transportation option that they’re betting thousands of Oahu commuters will eventually use to avoid daily gridlock heading in and out of town. Star-Advertiser.

Here’s A 360-Degree View Inside Honolulu Rapid Transit’s First Train Car. What does $6.6 billion and counting buy you in Honolulu? This, for a start. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation unveiled the city's first train car on Monday at the rail operations center next to Leeward Community College. Pacific Business News.

The media got its first look at the first train for Oahu's rail project. KITV4.

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The Senate leadership plans to kill a bill backed by Gov. David Ige aimed at making it easier for state officials to enforce criminal trespass laws on state land. That’s because senators from Hawaii island expressed constituents’ concerns that the measure targeted protesters of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope project. Star-Advertiser.

Among the many bills that died Friday, the last day of conference committee at the Hawaii Legislature, was a measure that would have forbidden smoking in a motor vehicle when people under 18 are present. Civil Beat.

The state legislature will have marathon floor sessions Tuesday to pass bills on final reading before adjournment May 5th. These bills include the executive budget and a few controversial measures. Hawaii Public Radio.

Gov. David Ige joined U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono on Monday in urging the release of emergency federal funding that could bring hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hawaii to prevent a major Zika virus outbreak. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono and Hawaii Gov. David Ige joined forces on Monday to continue the fight against the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Civil Beat.

Rep. Gregg Takayama's legislation, House Bill 1344, would have allowed journalists and newscasters to cover a hazardous situation, including accessing areas closed by emergency order from the governor or county mayors. But Takayama’s conference committee counterpart, Sen. Clarence Nishihara, told him Friday that the bill would be deferred — that is, killed. Civil Beat.

Airbnb visitors spent more per day than guests of any other accommodations category in Hawaii, a total of $353 million last year, according to an economic impact study conducted by Hospitality Advisors LLC on behalf of Airbnb. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii lawmakers have advanced a bill that would allow online brokers such as Airbnb to collect taxes on behalf of people advertising private rentals on the websites, but they removed part of the proposal that would have targeted illegal camping ads by requiring online brokers to verify the legality of their listings. Associated Press.

Hawaii may waste less food per person than any other U.S. state; but we still wind up throwing out, or wasting, about a quarter of our food supply, according to a recent research report. Civil Beat.

A rare seabird whose population was wiped out of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands is now hatching healthy chicks on the atoll. Associated Press.

Oahu

Open-government supporters say the Honolulu Ethics Commission is in shambles. There are critical staff shortages and a board keeping close watch on its executive director. KHON2.

The University of Hawaii Sold Three Marine Mammals To Sea Life Park Without A Permit. More than seven months after the transfer, state officials retroactively granted the required permit. Civil Beat.

The president and CEO of Honolulu's Bishop Museum is resigning amid a state investigation into whether he illegally gave himself a loan of more than $14,000. Associated Press.

As graduation approaches for local high school students, transgender advocates are pushing the Hawaii Department of Education for policies to prevent incidents such as one last year in which a transgender student at Kahuku High School said she wasn’t allowed to  participate in her graduation ceremony. Civil Beat.

Proposals aimed at creating a dedicated fund for the Honolulu Zoo and kick-starting development of a multistory parking structure are scheduled for votes at the City Council’s monthly meeting Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Authorities struggle to curb drag racing at historic Ewa Field. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council is considering approving a $1 million settlement in a case involving a 2-year-old boy who was permanently injured during a city-sponsored Easter Egg hunt in 2008. Civil Beat.

A federal jury awarded a 19-year-old woman and her family $810,000 Monday after it found Hawaii's public school system failed to protect her from a classmate's sexual assault in 2012. Hawaii News Now.

A jury has found that Hawaii’s public school system failed to protect a special education student who says she was raped by a classmate. Associated Press.

Hawaii

One County Council member wants to study the use of so-called “Styrofoam” containers on the island, while another council member wants to ban them outright. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii senators have scheduled a last-minute public hearing Wednesday on a proposed resolution that calls on the Department of Land and Natural Resources to “engage in earnest negotiations” for the state to acquire nearly 8,000 acres in south Kona. Civil Beat.

During a party convention on April 30, Hawaii County Democrats passed a resolution to stop Hawaii government from spraying the glyphosate herbicide in public places.Big Island Video News.

Calling in the big guns; National Guard troops assist in dengue fight by removing tires. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Developers of the proposed Hoku Nui Maui community planned on 258-acres in Piʻiholo seek approval for a sustainable agricultural project with components that include affordable housing and a hula hālau. Maui Now.

Environmental Coordinator to Discuss Coqui Frogs, Zika at Kiwanis Meeting. Maui Now.

Jerome "Tiger" Metcalfe, a candidate for the Maui County Council's South Maui residency seat, will be holding a series of events this month and will be accepting donations of canned food for the Maui Food Bank along with campaign donations. Maui News.

In a follow-up to our March 6th MAUIWatch interview with Kai Pelayo, the new Monsanto Maui community affairs director, Pelayo forwarded a 32-page update to the company’s Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Maui for the year 2015. Maui Watch.

A Maui-based program that allows students to study under award-winning local musicians is now in the running for awards of its own. Maui News.

Kauai

Coco Palms developers have secured funding for demolition, representatives reported Monday. Garden Island.

Honolulu-based Coco Palms Hui LLC went before the Kauai County Planning Commission on Monday to present an update on the Coco Palms project. Pacific Business News.

After nearly four months, today marks the re-opening of the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, just in the nick of time for their annual Lighthouse Day celebration. Garden Island.

Monday, May 2, 2016

Schools shortchange local producers, Legislature moves into final week, Kauai mulls vehicle tax hike, Big Island tax burden uneven, Honolulu Zoo rebuilds after accreditation loss, Maui explores new kind of governance, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hilo farmers market workers © 2016 All Hawaii News
The “buy fresh, buy local” movement has caught on at high-end restaurants and grocers across the islands, where customers are willing to pay a premium for locally grown fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat. That’s not yet the case in the public schools with their limited food budget, but the Farm to School initiative is gaining momentum. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers negotiated final details on dozens of bills ahead of a major legislative deadline, rushing around the capitol and huddling in groups and trying to reach last-minute agreements. Associated Press.

In a frenzied finish to meet a 6 p.m. deadline Friday, Hawaii lawmakers negotiated agreements to pass a slew of bills out of conference committee and on to the full House and Senate for final approval next week. But they also left a lot on the table during an all-day marathon of meetings, and inserted last-minute amendments to effectively make other measures moot. Civil Beat.

It was do or die time Friday for bills that had not yet passed out of conference committees ahead of a vote by the full Legislature on Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Certain high-profile contested case appeals, such as the one that set back the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope, could come to a speedier conclusion under a bill nearing its final vote. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii could soon have an independent review board to oversee all police killings and in-custody deaths to determine whether officers should face prosecution, although the board will not be able to force a prosecutor’s hand. Civil Beat.

Brian Schatz has $3 million in cash on hand for his 2016 re-election campaign — a formidable amount, politically speaking. Civil Beat.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has taken steps toward acting on 15 of the 20 recommendations made by the state auditor in 2013, but has not actually implemented any of them, according to a follow-up report released Friday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s dependency on for-profit prisons on the mainland shows no signs of waning. Within weeks, if not days, the Hawaii Department of Public Safety is expected to award a new contract to continue housing hundreds of the state’s excess prisoners on the mainland for up to five more years. Civil Beat.

The Hawai‘i state health department has named the first eight licensees who will grow and sell medical marijuana. The winning companies now face the challenge of cultivating the product in time for dispensaries to open as early as July 15. Hawaii Public Radio.

Fire forecasters say Hawaii, Alaska and the Southwest will face an increased threat of wildfires this summer. Associated Press.

It’s curtains for Sports Authority. The Englewood, Colo., company will close or sell off its 450 stores nationwide, including eight stores in Hawaii, possibly affecting hundreds of employees in the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The 42-acre Honolulu Zoo is a tangle of construction, closed exhibits, broken pavement, dirty bathrooms, overgrown landscaping and dog-eared signage. Observers say that’s because years of internal feuding, political wrangling and unstable operations have taken their toll. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums recently pulled the zoo’s accreditation, which could result in the loss of some animals and hamper access to grant money. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Zoo’s failed application for reaccreditation included internal memos from animal keepers expressing concerns about how shortcomings at the Waikiki attraction were endangering the welfare of its inhabitants. Star-Advertiser.

In a major blow to one of Gov. David Ige’s top legislative priorities, Hawaii lawmakers killed a measure that would have financed the relocation of the crumbling Oahu Community Correctional Center. Civil Beat.

Bishop Museum President Blair Collis Steps Down. The president and CEO of the financially troubled museum was being probed for taking a personal loan from museum funds. Civil Beat.

A Kapolei wood treatment company has been fined $33,750 for producing and selling a mislabeled pesticide on five occasions in 2013 and 2014, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

If West Hawaii property owners feel sticker shock when they open their tax bills, they may have good reason. West Hawaii’s three council districts — home to a third of the island’s roughly 196,000 population — will be shouldering more than two-thirds of the property tax burden this year. West Hawaii Today.

Mayoral candidates Harry Kim, Wally Lau, and Pete Hoffmann give short speeches in Kona during the Hawaii County Democratic Party convention on Saturday. Big Island Video News.

The retired judge who was selected to preside over the upcoming Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing is denying allegations that she maintains a bias in favor of the $1.4 billion project. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources says it is responding to complaints over a seawall built on the shore of Hilo’s Lalakea pond. Tribune-Herald.

Democratic Party delegates, alternates, students and observers came together Saturday at Hawaii Community College Palamanui for the Hawaii County Committee Convention. West Hawaii Today.

Governor David Ige addressed the crowd at the Democratic Party of Hawaii County’s annual convention on Saturday, and he dove right into the nation’s political discussion. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Special Committee on County Governance on Friday afternoon voted to recommend to the Maui County Council a council-manager system of government which would keep an elected mayor. Maui News.

Saying he wants to make way for upcoming changes, Wesley Lo will step down as head of Maui County's three hospitals and its parent regional organization on July 1. Maui News.

The head of Hawaii Health Systems Corp. is stepping down as the collection of Maui County hospitals is transferred to new private operators. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Land & Pineapple is under contract to sell a 304-acre planned workforce housing project in West Maui for $15 million to an undisclosed buyer, according to the company’s first quarter report. Pacific Business News.

The Hoku Nui Maui development proposes to combine market-priced and fast-tracked affordable housing, farming and a hula halau facility for kumu hula Keali'i Reichel's Halau Ke'alaokamaile on 258 acres abutting the intersection of Piiholo Road and Makawao Avenue and mauka of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin has fully restored water to three of the eight streams in East Maui at Wailuanui as promised last month, but full restorations of the other five streams offer some logistical challenges that may take several months to resolve, the general manager of A&B subsidiary Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. said last week. Maui News.

Kauai

A bill that would raise the vehicle weight tax to fund road repairs will be considered by the Kauai County Council Wednesday. Bill No. 2613 was introduced by Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura. Garden Island.

A Hawaii businessman selected Friday to run medical marijuana dispensaries on Kauai is being sued in civil court for allegedly stealing more than $375,000 from a business partner last October. Civil Beat.

The heavy hum of several hundred honeybees got a little louder when John Nelson popped the top of one of six bee boxes at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Garden Island.