Hawaiian Airlines has best record for not kicking people off plane, Tulsi Gabbard big hit on Big Island, House passes Oahu rail tax extension, 100 rally against Maui 24/7 alcohol law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Airlines interior © 2017 All Hawaii News

In 2016, Hawaiian Airlines had an involuntary denied boarding rate of 0.05 per 10,000 passengers, the best out of the 12 reporting U.S. carriers, while United Airlines came in at No. 5 with a rate of 0.43, according to the 2016 Air Travel Consumer Report. Pacific Business News.

© 2017 All Hawaii News

Under Fire In DC, Tulsi Is Still A Hit On The Big Island. About 400 people turn out for Congresswoman Gabbard’s town hall, and seem unconcerned about her controversial stands on Syria. Civil Beat.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard held true to her unpopular doubts and criticisms surrounding war crimes in Syria and President Donald Trump’s military response at a town hall meeting at Kealakehe Intermediate School Tuesday night. West Hawaii Today.


Hundreds packed into the Kealakehe Intermediate School to hear from Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, as the Democratic representative began her statewide Town Hall Tour during the April District Work Period. Big Island Video News.

The Hawaii Senate zipped through a pile of bills ahead of a major legislative deadline looming Thursday, addressing airport contract reforms, jurisdictional issues with disputed roads and treating mentally ill patients against their will. But the House was a different story, with members tussling Tuesday over a measure to scale back pensions for state judges. Civil Beat.


A bill that decriminalizes the possession or sale of drug paraphernalia — downgrading the offenses from a felony to a civil violation — is sailing through the Legislature, despite fierce opposition from state and county prosecutors. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Why Condo Associations Are Sweating After A Judge’s Ruling. Improper foreclosure procedures were sometimes used, a federal judge found, and the stakes could be staggeringly high. Civil Beat.


Attorneys representing Hawaii in the state's challenge to President Donald Trump's revised travel ban are asking that the full panel of a federal appeals court hear the case. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear the case May 15. Associated Press.

Incoming Hawaii seventh-graders will need to schedule health checkups sometime before the 2017-18 school year begins in August. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

House lawmakers easily approved a two-year extension of the excise tax surcharge on Oahu on Tuesday to help bail out the financially strapped Honolulu rail project, but some charged that Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s dire warnings about raising property taxes to fund rail amount to “threatening” or even “blackmail” of the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.


State lawmakers advanced a measure today to provide more money for Honolulu’s Rail Transit Project. Hawaii Public Radio.


The city’s nascent Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency is on the chopping block pending the state’s approval of additional rail funding. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Resilience and Sustainability hasn’t opened yet, but it’s already on the City Council’s chopping board. Civil Beat.


Ancient human skeletal remains, or iwi, have been discovered at The Howard Hughes Corp.’s 466-unit Aeo mixed-use condominium site in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako that includes Hawaii’s flagship Whole Foods Market, an executive with the Texas-based developer confirmed to Pacific Business News.


In a deal that state officials hope will be the first of more to come, the Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to contribute financially to a public project aimed at helping to protect a remote watershed area that feeds the aquifer that serves a majority of Oahu’s drinking water. Star-Advertiser.


Mayor Kirk Caldwell has allowed a City Council bill permitting live Christmas trees in Honolulu Hale to become law without his signature, but said he will ask city departments to continue using artificial trees during Honolulu City Lights, citing safety concerns. Star-Advertiser.

A former Campbell High School softball player has filed suit against state Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and six school officials and athletics personnel, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii Island

As Mayor Harry Kim kicked off three days of department-by-department budget reviews Tuesday, he and members of the County Council Finance Committee agreed that some tax or fee hikes are probably inevitable. West Hawaii Today.


When it comes to government revenues and appropriations on Hawaii Island, its a wait-and-see situation. Big Island Video News.


Two former inmates at Hawaii Community Correctional Center are suing the state Department of Public Safety, alleging they were incarcerated longer than a judge ordered. Tribune-Herald.


Hawaii County police have arrested a school booster club leader for allegedly staging a burglary in a plot to steal money meant for kids. Hawaii News Now.

More than 7 tons of derelict fishing nets and fishing lines collected on Hawaii Island are being sent to Oahu to be converted into energy for the City and County of Honolulu, thanks to ongoing cleanup efforts by the nonprofit Hawaii Wildlife Fund. Tribune-Herald.


Maui

A public sign waving took place this afternoon in Kahului to oppose Maui County’s new 24-hour alcohol sales law. Nearly 100 residents showed up to repeal the law, including the founder of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaiʻi and a representative of the State of Hawaiʻi Organization of Police Officers. Maui Now.

About 100 people representing law enforcement, youth and substance abuse treatment organizations demanded that the Maui County Liquor Control Commission repeal new laws allowing the retail sale of alcohol 24/7 on Tuesday afternoon outside Queen Ka’ahumanu Center. Maui News.

Makena State Beach Park could lose its Maui County lifeguards if a law protecting them and the county from personal injury lawsuits isn’t extended by the state Legislature. Maui News.


A Maui County employee was assigned to non-driving duties after he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs Friday morning in a county Jeep. Maui News.

Maui County has inked a $1-a-year lease for 65 years with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. for 20 acres adjacent to the Lahaina Civic Center, Mayor Alan Arakawa announced Tuesday. Maui News.


The sudden increase in rat lungworm disease cases on Maui is already hitting some farm sales hard, and spurring growers to look for new ways to protect their crops from contamination. Hawaii News Now.


Maui Land &Pineapple’s comeback efforts pay off. Shares of Maui Land stock have been surging over the past two months following a long slog after tumbling sharply in 2008. Star-Advertiser.


Kauai

Kauai Police Department closed access to the Port Allen Marina Tuesday afternoon following a bomb threat. Garden Island.

Kauai Humane Society has temporarily halted its spay and neuter program following the deaths of two feral cats in March. Garden Island.

Aquarium fish trade up for debate, police body cam bills die, Senate withholding public testimony, Oahu property taxes could spike to pay for rail, Ige meeting with bond rating agencies, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lowfin chub and parrotfish © 2017 All Hawaii News

 During the next two weeks, Hawaii lawmakers will be negotiating the final details of a bill to limit fishing for the commercial aquarium trade — potentially capping a decades-old battle that has pitted fish collectors against conservationists and tour operators. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s Department of the Attorney General says the state Senate improperly denied a person’s constitutional protected right to submit testimony for legislative hearings. An attorney general opinion says legislators cannot censor public testimony about proposed bills. But they did just that. Civil Beat.

Legislative measures to increase accountability and transparency at the Hawaii Tourism Authority are dead this session, but lawmakers have attempted an end run by asking the state auditor to deliver the agency’s 2018 management audit by the start of next session. Star-Advertiser.

There won’t be a law this year requiring Hawaii’s police departments to purchase and use vehicle and body-worn video cameras. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. David Ige and other state government officials began two days of meetings Monday in San Francisco with the three major credit agencies in a bid to obtain favorable bond ratings that will allow the state to borrow money at reduced interest rates. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard’s stance on Syria puts her back in the hot seat. Star-Advertiser.

Ten “town hall” events are scheduled to take place in Hawaii in the next two weeks, including seven scheduled by U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, two by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz and one conducted by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines’ stock soared more than 5 percent Monday after the company raised its revenue expectations for the first quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Oahu property taxes would need to jump 8 to 14 percent for the city to pay the remaining tab on an East Kapolei-to-Ala Moana rail line if state lawmakers don’t agree to a 10-year extension on the general excise tax surcharge, city officials told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

The Division of State Parks has launched a high-tech campaign to prevent homeless campers from returning to the Diamond Head State Monument. Civil Beat.

A company that was declared in default and removed more than a year ago from a state project to build a new hangar at Hono­lulu Airport now says it was wrongfully terminated from the job by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Hikers near the Kuliouou Ridge Trail are beginning to make some resident's homes their homes. Residents say they've been dealing with trash and even people trekking through front yards to borrow garden hoses. KITV.

One of two managers who was scheduled to go to trial next month on felony charges related to a fatal fireworks explosion in a former Navy munitions bunker in Waikele has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in U.S. District Court. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council members were briefed last week on plans to ease parking and delivery congestion in Waikiki. Hawaii Public Radio.

Transforming an empty Waikiki retail building that was once anchored by a NikeTown store into a seven-story hotel is projected to begin in 2018 and be complete in mid-2020. Star-Advertiser.

Michaels Development Co., one of the largest private sector affordable housing owners and developers in the United States, recently revealed details regarding its long-planned affordable housing project in Kapolei, including that the development could start construction by the end of this year. Pacific Business News.

Great Harvest Bread Co., a bakery and lunch restaurant in Downtown Honolulu, has closed for good. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

The state Land Board this week will consider approving a drone survey of forests affected by rapid ohia death and review proposed regulations that include restricting access to state forest reserves during emergencies. Tribune-Herald.

Alii bridge and culvert to be replaced at Kahului Bay. West Hawaii Today.

A $94,500 stewardship agreement for the county-acquired property by the Waipi’o Valley Lookout, Koaʻekea, will continue. Big Island Video News.

Debate rages in Waikoloa Village over homeowner subsidization of golf course. West Hawaii Today.

The agency charged with running Hawaii's small boat harbors blatantly mistreats and retaliates against residents who use the facilities, according to Hawaii County's prosecuting attorney. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Members of a group opposed to new laws allowing the retail sale of alcohol 24/7 are expected to appear at the Maui County Liquor Control Commission meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Trask Building in Wailuku. Maui News.

The closing of Hawaii’s last sugar mill on Maui was the end of an era. But there’s a new cadre of innovative food startups and entrepreneurs hoping to write a new chapter for the Valley Isle’s agricultural story. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s Kepaniwai Park at ʻĪao reopened today to increased visitor and residential traffic, after seven month closure. Maui Now.

County reopens Kepaniwai Park. Maui News.

Researchers are calling it an epidemic: a big spike in the number of people infected with rat lungworm disease in Hawaii. KHON2.

California couple contract rat lungworm disease during Maui honeymoon. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

A local cattle company that operates with 1,500 mama cows on the island recently received a six-figure investment from a Hawaii-based venture capital fund. Garden Island.

If all goes as planned, Lehua Island, a 284-acre state-designated seabird sanctuary less than a mile north of Niihau, will be rat-free in the near future. Civil Beat.

The concepts for five interpretive signs explaining the history and landscape of the Puna District will be unveiled at this year’s Earth Day celebration at Lydgate Beach Park. Garden Island.

AutoZone is opening its first store on the island of Kauai in the 8,575-square-foot former Blockbuster Video space at the Foodland-anchored Waipouli Town Center in Kapaa, the brokerage firm handling leasing for the center said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Lifeguard liability, high deductibles, gay fertility treatment mulled in Legislature, pot tax axed, Kaiser Permanente seeks Maui health-care workers, Kim unveils Maun Kea park plan, historic Ewa Battlefield trashed, more news from all the Hawaiian Island

Old lifeguard stand at Richardson Ocean Park © 2017 All Hawaii News

Counties Threaten To Pull Lifeguards Over Fear Of Lawsuits. The Legislature is debating whether to extend limited liability protections for lifeguards over the objections of a group of personal injury lawyers. Civil Beat.

Pot tax, car value tax, axed. Judging from the growing list of dead or dying bills, the 2017 session of the state Legislature is shaping up to be a relatively cautious, low-risk round of lawmaking. Star-Advertiser.

Members of Hawaii’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are lobbying for equal access to the fertility treatment married, heterosexual couples enjoy under state law. Associated Press.

Hawaii employers may soon be allowed to offer workers high-deductible plans that critics say are financially risky health insurance plans that can result in families paying thousands of dollars out of pocket in any given year for medical care. Star-Advertiser.

A bill granting state agents access to private property to eradicate invasive species is headed for a floor vote in the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

A bill moving through the state Legislature aims to shake loose money frozen in a $150 million failed renewable-energy loan program and use it to offer rebates of up to $10,000 to residents who buy battery systems for their homes. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Is it possible that this is year the Legislature does mail-in ballots, something that has nearly universal support from both voters and government officials? Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui’s announced intention to leave his post to run for Maui mayor — possibly before his term ends — exposes a flaw in the way our state government is structured at the top. Star-Advertiser.

A new national ranking of the best-run airports has good news for Maui, bad news for Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, will hold town hall meetings across the state in April. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii officials are looking to their counterparts in Puerto Rico for advice as they seek to rebound from December’s aborted alala release, when three of the native Hawaiian crows perished in the first week of freedom — two apparently picked off by the io, or Hawaiian hawk, and another that weakened after getting caught in a winter storm, according to necropsies. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Below the H-1 viaduct Wednesday morning, a kiawe-fueled fire burned below thousands of commuters — a daily event that has some Oahu lawmakers concerned about the possibility of a disaster under Honolulu’s highways and bridges. Star-Advertiser.

Should Honolulu’s New Police Chief Be An Insider Or An Outsider? The police union leader is pushing for someone already in the ranks. But others, including law enforcement experts, say new blood might be the best. Civil Beat.

Honolulu's chief medical examiner is asking city officials for more financial support as his office struggles to deal with a heavy workload. Associated Press.

Passengers traveling through Honolulu International Airport these days must put up with barriers and diversions, from construction barriers to closed walkways and orange construction signs everywhere, as the state of Hawaii's $1.3 billion upgrade of the airport drags on. Pacific Business News.

Bill would limit liability for volunteers maintaining dilapidated Pearl City cemetery. KHON2.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled a case with the Navy involving illegal cesspools at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Historic Ewa Battlefield becomes target of trash dumping. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim on Saturday continued to promote his vision of a Mauna Kea “World Park,” announcing that Gov. David Ige has lent his support to the mayor’s vision for the mountain and that he is “pursuing how this can be done.” West Hawaii Today.

A debate over how Hawaii County Council members should use their discretionary money could be renewed as Mayor Harry Kim proposes to cut the expenditures in the next budget. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council members say their discretionary funds provide quick aid to nonprofit groups that provide services in their districts. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County has released sewage spill data in the aftermath of last Monday’s discharge into the Wailuku River and Hilo Bay, and a state microbiologist says the results are reassuring. Tribune-Herald.

As plans to upgrade the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant continue to materialize, so to do plans to develop a large regional park in the area. West Hawaii Today.

Hawai'i State Attorney General Doug Chin got a hero's welcome to North Hawaii, where he gave a 40 minute talk on his legal efforts to block the president's executive order. Big Island Video News.

An ironweed plant that grows wild on Hawaii island may offer new ways to combat deadly brain and breast cancers, and a University of Hawaii Cancer Center biologist has received $3 million in federal funds to study it further. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Plenty of jobs need to be filled at Maui County’s three public hospitals, and Kaiser Permanente officials are encouraging residents not to wait until the state facilities become private July 1. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente officials are encouraging Maui residents to apply for jobs at three public hospitals on the island as they scramble to fill positions before the state facilities become private this summer. Associated Press.

While the shortage of doctors statewide has improved, it grew worse on the Neighbor Islands in 2016, including Maui County, according to a University of Hawaii report to the state Legislature. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin is close to formalizing a partnership with a seed oil producing company on a 250-acre demonstration project to produce biofuels from the pongamia tree on old sugar fields with planting possibly to begin in mid-May. Maui News.

The County of Maui’s Kepaniwai Park at ʻĪao reopens Monday, according to a Parks Department announcement. Maui Now.

The county’s Kepaniwai Park in Iao Valley, which has been closed since the raging Wailuku River flooded the park and tore away a piece of the parking lot Sept. 13, will reopen Monday. Maui News.

A rescue tube initiative that started on the island of Kauaʻi in 2009 is now making its way to Maui as advocates combat alarming statistics surrounding ocean deaths in island waters. Maui Now.

Kauai

A coqui frog, a little problem with loud consequences was captured at a Lihue residence Monday, most likely a stowaway in a car recently bought from Hawaii Island. Garden Island.

Bill to criminalize trespassing on state land, Lt. Gov. Tsutsui 'pretty certain' he'll leave post, Hawaii County seeks to limit public in contested case hearings, H-POWER worker killed, state cooperates on immigration holds, rat lungworm worries Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohulu Valley lookout

The Hawaii House of Representatives approved a bill to make it a crime to trespass on all state lands despite concerns it could harm homeless people, cultural practitioners, protesters and hikers. Associated Press.

Hawaii Cooperates With Feds On Immigration Holds, Even As Other States Balk. A recent study shows that Hawaii is one of just seven states that fully complied with federal requests to hold immigrants in custody beyond their release dates without a warrant. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers have found that life expectancy in the Aloha State exceeds averages, and continues to increase, compared to those who live on the mainland. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

The state has agreed to pay $875,000 to settle a lawsuit filed in connection with the death of 4-year-old Zion McKeown, a known victim of child abuse who was killed after state Child Welfare Services staff returned him to his family. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu police are investigating the death of a 41-year-old man at the H-POWER plant Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

The company behind H-POWER says an employee was killed in an accident at the facility. KHON2.

Some 182 acres overlooking the rugged East Oahu coastline have been conveyed from the Trust for Public Land to the nonprofit Livable Hawai‘i Kai Hui, which will oversee stewardship of the Ka Iwi Coast land, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

After four decades, efforts have paid off for people trying to protect a beloved East Oahu shoreline. Thursday, City and State Representatives announced the purchase of Ka Iwi Coast Mauka Lands. KITV.

A man is facing deportation to China after being convicted of trafficking Chinese women to work as prostitutes in Hawaii massage parlors. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin is reviewing the 2015 assault of a toddler at an Ewa Beach day care after Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro declined to pursue the case, saying he had received no new information from the Honolulu Police Department despite the department taking a fresh look. Civil Beat.

Despite its reputation as a safe snorkeling spot, Hanauma Bay is actually one of Hawaii's deadliest beaches. Hawaii News Now.

The median price for both condominiums and homes on Oahu increased 4 percent last month, while interest rates are up almost 12 percent from last year. Pacific Business News.

The $1 billion, 217-unit Park Lane Ala Moana luxury condominium project in Honolulu opened on Wednesday to its first residents, an executive with one of the developers of one of the most luxurious condos in Hawaii confirmed to Pacific Business News.

More details have been revealed regarding the planned medical marijuana dispensary at the former Bank of Hawaii branch on Kapahulu Avenue in Honolulu with ties to well-known Hawaii businessman Colbert Matsumoto, including why the company behind it chose this location. Pacific Business News.

Wet’n’Wild Hawaii is changing owners again. EPR Properties, a Kansas City, Mo.-based specialty real estate investment trust, said Thursday it is buying the Kapolei water park from CNL Lifestyle Properties Inc. as part of a $455.5 million deal involving the Northstar California Ski Resort, 15 water and amusement parks, and five small family entertainment centers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

New rules for the Planning Department would reduce public participation in contested case hearings, while increasing public participation in planned unit developments. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo moved one step closer to having the state’s first Neighbor Island community economic district on Thursday after a bill creating the district cleared its final committee in the state Senate. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island homes and condominiums ended the first quarter on a high note, with prices up 20 and 33 percent, respectively, according to Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, the 45-year-old Wailuku resident and former Senate president confirmed that he’s “pretty certain” he won’t seek re-election as lieutenant governor, and he’s thinking about running for mayor. Maui News.

The Maui County Council will be holding a public hearing on the proposed budget for the next fiscal year at 6 p.m. April 18 in Council Chambers on the eighth floor of the county building in Wailuku. Maui News.

The chairman of the Maui County Council’s budget committee said Thursday that he is not looking to close the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course, but added that privatization could be an option. Maui News.

A meeting in the remote East Maui community of Hāna to discuss the threat of rat lungworm disease, drew a standing room only crowd to Helene Hall on Thursday evening. Maui Now.

Maui health officials said six cases of rat lungworm disease have been reported over the past three months after the island had seen just two cases of the disease in the previous decade. Associated Press.

Kauai

Cooperation between residents and government, environmental impacts of planes and quality education were concerns voiced at a community meeting Thursday hosted by Gov. David Ige. Garden Island.

Hawaii Dairy Farms has agreed to write a $125,000 check for streambank restoration and endangered species protection at the Makauwahi Cave Reserve. Garden Island.

Kauai real estate sales dropped in March, while median sales prices increased, with condominium prices jumping nearly 20 percent. Pacific Business News.

Molokai

Community-based subsistence fishing area designation sought for Molokai. ‘Our resources are depleting’ Maui News.

Another $1.2B for Honolulu rail, homeless program in jeopardy, Honolulu council nixes trash fee, 20-year-old Big Island murder case solved, Aloha Stadium downsizing, Maui council seeks to save golf course, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail project construction, by Musashi1600 - Own work via Wikipedia

The House Finance Committee voted late Wednesday to provide an additional $1.2 billion to financially bail out the Honolulu rail project, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said that won’t be enough to get the job done. Star-Advertiser.

House Panel Ponies Up Another $1.2 Billion For Honolulu Rail. It’s not as much as the city wanted, but the Finance Committee chair said it should be enough to finish construction. Civil Beat.

A state-funded program that in less than a year helped 1,515 island families stay in their homes — or get off the street and into housing — faces an uncertain future on Friday. Star-Advertiser.

When it comes to one of the most high-profile issues before the Legislature — medical aid in dying — most House members are remaining silent about their position. The House Health Committee’s deferral of the bill let other members off the hook on making their position on the issue known to the public. Civil Beat.

Native Hawaiian Culture Overcomes Incarceration. Hawaii Public Radio.

Over the past decade, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has transferred millions of dollars of its real estate holdings, including its ownership of Waimea Valley and a poi mill on Kauai to private, nonprofit companies that it controls. But critics say those nonprofits were created to shield OHA from public scrutiny, and to conceal mismanagement. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii has the second-highest individual tax burden in the U.S., behind New York, according to a study released Wednesday by WalletHub. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is condemning the Paris auction of what is being billed as the world’s largest private collection of Hawaiian art and will ask the seller to stop or delay the sale in order to negotiate a “morally appropriate resolution.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii workers’ use of methamphetamine dropped slightly in the first quarter, but the use of synthetic urine rose. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee rejected a bill that would have created a $10-a-month fee for residential curbside trash pickup, with members suggesting they’d rather look at raising property tax rates for the bulk of Oahu’s homeowners if there’s not enough money to pay for services.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents worried about Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s proposal to make them start paying for trash collection can breathe a sigh of relief. Civil Beat.

A City Council committee gave tentative approval Tuesday to pay out an additional $300,000 to three downtown law firms to represent the city Ethics Commission, its former executive director and former commission investigator in a suit filed by former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

More than 30 qualified candidates have applied to become the Honolulu Police Department’s next chief, the Honolulu Police Commission said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Commission will have at least 30 candidates to choose from for the next police chief, according to Chairman Max Sword. Civil Beat.

Oahu’s solar industry continues to tank, as bills designed to help revive it move through the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

The development of a new, smaller stadium that seats between 30,000 and 40,000 people, which would replace Aloha Stadium, along with the 2.6 million square feet of mixed-use development of the 100-acre site of the Honolulu stadium’s surrounding property could create $1.5 billion in economic output over 25 years, according to a new report released Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Entering its 43rd year, Aloha Stadium has, “… served its useful life and is now a liability to fan experiences, a potential danger to public health and safety and a financial burden for maintenance and operations,” a consultant’s report warns. Star-Advertiser.

Video: Aloha Stadium Conceptual Redevelopment Report Press Conference. Civil Beat.

The CEO of a nonprofit organization that supports the National Park Service’s operations in Pearl Harbor has been suspended while the group’s board investigates allegations made in an anonymous letter. Associated Press.

Builder gets extension on year-late affordable homes. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Business News has launched Crane Watch Honolulu to keep track of all of the development and construction taking place. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Expressing frustration with what they called a lack of communication from Mayor Harry Kim over a multimillion-dollar composting contract, members of the County Council took unanimous action Wednesday on two measures to try to keep a hand in contract negotiations. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Health cleared all remaining Hilo Bay beaches still affected by a sewage spill Monday to reopen Wednesday afternoon after tests showed the water to be safe to enter. Tribune-Herald.

The father of Peter “Peter Boy” Kema Jr. pleaded guilty to manslaughter and hindering prosecution in Hilo Circuit Court today, accepting a plea deal in the murder of his young son two decades ago and agreeing to reveal where the body is located. Star-Advertiser.

Peter Kema Sr. pleaded guilty today to manslaughter and first-degree hindering prosecution in the death of his son. Tribune-Herald.

In a groundbreaking development to one of Hawaii's most well-known murder cases, Peter Kema, Sr. pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Wednesday for the 1997 death of his 6-year-old son, Peter Boy. Hawaii News Now.

A planned cleanup at Old Kona Airport Beach Park later this month has been postponed because a solution on where to move the homeless currently camping in the area has not yet been reached. West Hawaii Today.

The lava ocean entry once again can be seen up close from the sea after the Coast Guard granted four tour operators access within its temporary safety zone. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A bill proposed by the Planning Department to regulate drive-through signs in Maui County for the first time was passed out of a council committee. Maui Now.

Several Maui County Council members say they want to find ways to keep the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course open, despite Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposal to mull over the closure of the 87-year-old course due to millions of dollars of losses in the past decade. Maui News.

Medical marijuana products could be available by July at one of Maui’s two licensed medical marijuana dispensaries, a company official said Wednesday. Maui News.

The Maui Invasive Species Committee and state Department of Health will hold a community meeting Thursday night on rising concerns over a recent outbreak of rat lungworm disease in East Maui. Maui News.

There are four confirmed cases of rat lungworm disease on Maui. KHON2.

Kauai

A day after four men were arrested for trespassing, Wainiha community members and county officials met Wednesday to discuss community safety, kuleana lands and Native Hawaiian rights. Garden Island.

The County Republican Convention for Kauai is scheduled Saturday at the Lihue United Church parish hall. Garden Island.

Talking about climate change as a way to generate awareness and solutions is the goal of a new Kauai hui, the Kauai Climate Literacy Initiative. Garden Island.

Statehouse politics: Joe Souki for lieutenant governor? Bills for vacation rentals, medical marijuana, child care advancing in Legislature; Honolulu tops in solar installs; 'Peter Boy' father set for plea deal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Speaker Joe Souki in House chambers, from joesouki.com

Will Joe Souki Be Hawaii’s Next Lt Gov? There’s a lot of speculation about how the dominoes could fall if Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui resigns to run for Maui mayor. Civil Beat.

Affordable housing advocates fear the Legislature won’t allocate enough money this year to have a meaningful effect on Hawaii’s housing shortage. Civil Beat.

Two bills to allow online vacation rental sites like Airbnb to collect taxes from hosts and remit them to the state moved forward Tuesday, including one that emerged after a task force bill to study vacation rentals was gutted and replaced. Star-Advertiser.

A couple of bills seeking to amend laws regarding medical marijuana are passing through the Legislature. Garden Island.

Two bills that supporters say will make parents feel their kids are being properly taken care of in child care facilities are nearing the finish line at the Hawaii Legislature. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii bill that would have required beauticians to undergo training to spot signs of domestic violence has died. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu ranks first in the United States when it comes to solar energy installations per capita, according to a new report released Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

The private security company whose officer shot and killed a pet dog at Honolulu Airport last week said the pit bull was loose and tried to attack the officer, who was injured trying to avoid contact during the incident. Star-Advertiser.

Autopsy: Maui man who breached Honolulu airport security had used meth. Star-Advertiser.

State Attorney General Douglas Chin is asking lawmakers to earmark more than $10 million to settle claims by subcontractors who were never paid for materials or work they did on a Honolulu Airport cargo and maintenance hangar project that stalled in late 2015. Star-Advertiser.

One of five employees at the women’s prison named in a lawsuit filed last week by 10 inmates alleging varying degrees of sexual assault and harassment said he was exonerated of all charges by the state. Star-Advertiser.

A state judge said Tuesday the hearing of a former Kamehameha Schools teacher accused of videotaping students in his shower will be public. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has launched a pilot program that offers a $20 discount on monthly electrical bills to 2,000 customers who are dependent on life-support equipment. Star-Advertiser.

Two new cultural markers erected in February near the hula mound at Kapolei Regional Park are part of a growing effort by community groups that hope not only to educate residents about places of historic significance, but to help deter vandalism. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's second Holiday Inn Express hotel recently opened in the former Maile Sky Court in Waikiki following a $30 million rebranding and renovation. Pacific Business News.

The Holiday Inn Express Honolulu-Waikiki, the largest Holiday Inn Express in the U.S., held its grand opening Monday following the completion of a $30 million renovation and re-branding. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Hawaii Community Correctional Center might be the cause of a sewer main clog that unleashed up to 41,000 gallons of untreated sewage into the Wailuku River and Hilo Bay on Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Beach advisories for Kahaluu and the Kamakahonu side of Kailua Pier have been dropped. West Hawaii Today.

After informally agreeing to lift some road requirements and have the developer meet with local union representatives, the County Council Planning Committee gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a planned shopping plaza at Mauna Lani resorts. West Hawaii Today.

As requested by the Administration, the Department of Parks and Recreation is postponing its planned clean-up operation at Old Airport Park in Kona, while the County seeks an alternative site for homeless people camping at the facility. Big Island Video News.

One week after establishing a “Safety Zone” keeping boats a distance away from the Kamokuna lava ocean entry, the U.S. Coast Guard says vessels can now request entrance into the area. Big Island Video News.

Peter Kema Sr. to change plea in ‘Peter Boy’ case. Tribune-Herald.

The father of Peter “Peter Boy” Kema Jr. is scheduled to appear today in Hilo Circuit Court and is expected to accept a plea deal in the murder of his young son two decades ago. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The immigration policies of the Trump Administration played out today in Honolulu. It involves the deportation and removal of a Mexican immigrant. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui woman facing deportation to Mexico gets temporary reprieve. KITV.

Eight years of growing losses have prompted Wailuku Water Co. to ask the state Public Utilities Commission for permission to sell about 4,500 acres of its land in the West Maui Mountains. Maui News.

TEACH Development, which was planning to turn Old Maui High School into a center for agriculture, technology and education, has ended its pursuit of the project, citing “strong opposition to nonlocal for-profit companies receiving public land.” Maui News.

Six cases of rat lungworm have been reported on Maui over the past three months — tripling the amount of cases the island has seen in the past decade, Maui District Health Officer Dr. Lorrin Pang said Tuesday. Maui News.

A recent case of a Maui woman contracting rat lungworm has brought attention to a disease that can be caught by eating from your yard. Maui Now.

Kauai

Four people claiming ownership of land by right of royal patent were arrested Tuesday in Wainiha following a demonstration to protect a Hawaiian burial site. Garden Island.

Four men were arrested Tuesday after blocking access to private property in Wainiha. Hawaii News Now.

Group aims to perpetuate Hawaiian culture, restore historical sites. Malama Koloa aims to perpetuate Hawaiian culture, restore historical sites. Garden Island.

Tiny house draws big interest in accessory dwelling units, Maui to close power plant, Mauna Kea limits stargazing, subsistence fishing on Molokai, sewer spill on Big Island, Aloun Farms to offer ag plots, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Accessory dwelling unit at Capitol grounds, courtesy Hawaii Association of Realtors

Affordable housing advocates have erected a small home on the grounds of the Hawaii state Capitol. Associated Press.

State and city officials Monday urged people to walk through a 408-square-foot accessory dwelling unit temporarily erected on the grounds of the state Capitol to see whether it could help them generate rental income while easing Oahu’s housing shortage. Star-Advertiser.

A little home that was recently constructed on the State Capitol lawn is attracting lots of attention. Hawaii News Now.

A tiny house on the lawn at the State Capitol is attracting some big attention. Lawmakers are hoping it'll stir up enough talk to get homeowners to seriously consider purchasing accessory dwelling units, or ADU's. KITV.

An accessory dwelling unit (ADU), or tiny home, has been built on the Hawaii State Capitol lawn to raise awareness about statewide housing needs. KHON2.

Affordable housing advocates fear the Legislature won’t allocate enough money this year to have a meaningful effect on Hawaii’s housing shortage. Civil Beat.

Hawaii drivers arrested on a repeat DUI offense would have to agree to stop drinking alcohol for at least 90 days and wear an ankle bracelet that would alert a private company if they have a drink if they want to be released from jail on bail, under a bill that has so far this year sailed through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A key Senate committee passed a bill Monday that sets a goal of having all ground transportation in Hawaii run on renewable fuel by 2045. Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Andria Tupola on Monday confirmed her intent to run for chair of the Republican Party in Hawaii, setting up a showdown for the seat Republicans hope will help resuscitate the party before the 2018 mid-term elections. Hawaii News Now.

U.S. government attorneys want Hawaii’s lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s travel ban paused while a ruling blocking key sections is appealed. Associated Press.

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard announced the schedule for her statewide Town Hall Tour during the April District Work Period, which includes meetings on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and in Hilo and Kona on Hawaii Island. Garden Island.

The University of Hawaii was awarded a $1.4 million grant to support minority students in science, technology, engineering and math programs. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Legislators lay groundwork for local 5G phone service. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines' nonstop service between the Aloha State and New Zealand has generated more than $247 million in total visitor spending over the past four years, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Aloun Farms is announcing today that it is offering to sell 427 acres carved up into 35 farmland “condominiums” in Wahiawa that buyers can use themselves, lease back to Aloun or have Aloun farm under a service contract. Star-Advertiser.

Lawsuit: Police Officers, Union Tried To Cover Up Bar Shooting. At least 10 Honolulu police officers were disciplined for their failure to properly investigate a high-profile shooting that involved a colleague. Civil Beat.

HPD Major Retires Amid Justice Department Corruption Probe. Gordon Shiraishi was a part of an elite surveillance unit at the center of the federal case involving Honolulu’s former police chief. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Police Chief Applications Are Rolling In. The number of candidates is in the “double-digits,” but details won’t be revealed until the Police Commission meets Wednesday. Civil Beat.

A jury has found a woman guilty of bribing federal agents in exchange for protecting her Hawaii massage parlor from prostitution raids and help with the U.S. citizenship test. Associated Press.

Kailua Beach sand project gets underway, triggers stream pollution fears. KITV.

The former executive director of a nonprofit organization that shelters and helps homeless people in Leeward Oahu find permanent housing is going to jail for a year for stealing more than a half-million dollars from the organization. Star-Advertiser.

At least 135 students and staff at Waipahu High will be tested after coming into contact with someone who was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Gov. David Ige made the 4:30 p.m. Friday deadline to submit nominations for three seats on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents to the state Senate for confirmation. But he missed one important to the Big Island.  West Hawaii Today.

A blocked sewer pipe sent an estimated 41,000 gallons of untreated sewage into the Wailuku River and Hilo Bay on Monday, causing the closure of the entire bay area to fishing, swimming and other water activities until further notice. Tribune-Herald.

Old Airport Cleanup Postponed, County Must Relocate Homeless. Big Island Video News.

Citing costs of operating the popular program each night, the Maunakea Observatories Support Services announced Monday it will limit guided stargazing to four nights a week starting April 17. The visitor center at 9,200 feet will remain open until 10 p.m. each night. Tribune-Herald.

Citing public safety and budget concerns, the free program at the Visitor Information Station will be reduced from seven nights a week, to four nights a week. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Maui Electric Company has filed an Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice as it plans for the retirement of its Kahului Power Plant and a modernization of its grid to accommodate more renewable energy. Maui Now.

Approximately 4,125 gallons of wastewater overflowed on Alamaha Street in Kahului on Monday. Maui Now.

The leasehold interest in the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, which sits on 12 oceanfront acres along Ka’anapali Beach, has sold for approximately $317 million. Star-Advertiser.

A Maui woman says she was in more pain than childbirth after getting sick from rat lungworm disease. KHON2.

Kauai

In the first test of its kind, the Navy’s “next generation” ship-based air and missile defense radar, known as the SPY-6, successfully tracked a short-range ballistic missile target launched from Kauai last month, Naval Sea Systems Command said. Star-Advertiser.

If the Lihue post office is moved, new owners wanting to make changes to the Rice Street building would be subject to a review process. Garden Island.

Plants, bugs and other pests will be in the spotlight at the Courtyard Marriott at Coconut Beach on April 20 and 21 at the first Hawaii Invasive Pest Symposium. Garden Island.

Molokai

A proposal to set aside an area on the north shore of Molokai for subsistence fishing will be heard during a public scoping meeting this week, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced. Maui News.

Lanai

A long-planned 100-acre agricultural park on the island of Lanai, which is owned by Oracle Corp. billionaire founder Larry Ellison, is finally starting to gain some traction. Pacific Business News.

Legislature looks to ban insecticide chlorpyrifos, Oahu and Maui top destinations for gay travelers, home care inspections fail, Honolulu airport renovations hit snag, Molokai may be first island to go off grid, feral pig disposal at issue in Hilo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo farmers market © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii lawmakers who oversee committees on agriculture and the environment indicated a new resolve last week to ban the commonly used insecticide chlorpyrifos that could be harming the brains of fetuses and young children, as well as farm workers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii produces less than 15 percent of the food it consumes, and some lawmakers want to help change that by studying the feasibility of “vertical farming.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers this week will take up clean transportation, disruptive public-records requests and involuntary psychiatric treatment. All bills have to be passed out of their final committees by Friday. Associated Press.

‘Terrible’ Report On Care Home Inspections Is Finally In. Hawaii lawmakers delayed doing unannounced inspections to get reports on the health department workload. Civil Beat.

Legislation aims to repeal interisland electric cable act. Tribune-Herald.

HB 606 gives the counties in Hawaii the authority to enter private property for the purpose of eradicating and/or controlling invasive species or pests. Garden Island.

Beckie Stocchetti has been named executive director of the Hawaii International Film Festival. She will succeed Robert Lambeth effective Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines’ top executives received pay increases in 2016, according to an annual proxy statement filed Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mark Dunkerley, the airline’s chief executive officer, received a total compensation of $3.7 million last year, a 13.9 percent jump from the $3.3 million he received in 2015. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: State governor’s practice of low expectations mires us from moving forward. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Another major piece of the long-delayed Honolulu Airport modernization program is stuck on a snag, this time involving a pair of smaller airlines that need to move but as yet have no place to go. Star-Advertiser.

A Civil Beat analysis of police disciplinary records from 2014 to 2016 found at least 16 HPD officers who were terminated by police officials but are still going through the process to have that decision reversed. Dozens of officers who are fired or suspended succeed in having the punishment overturned as part of a union-backed grievance process. Civil Beat.

It’s been open only six months, but the Honolulu prosecutor’s safe house for female victims of domestic violence, sex assault and human trafficking already is a flashpoint for criticism locally and nationally. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell again made between $200,000 and $299,999 in 2016 from his side work as a Territorial Savings Bank director, he reported in his annual financial disclosure. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell appointed former Bank of Hawaii executive Peter Biggs as deputy director of the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services on Thursday. Biggs starts today and replaces Gary Kurokawa, who was tapped to serve as Caldwell’s chief of staff. Star-Advertiser.

A 42-year-old woman who was shot by an off-duty Honolulu police officer in a King Street bar two years ago says in a federal lawsuit that the officer’s supervisors knew the officer had drinking and emotional problems but failed to take steps to prevent him from carrying a firearm. Star-Advertiser.

It was move-in day Tuesday for five chronically homeless people who are part of a massive, all-hands-on-deck effort by the state, city and social service agencies to get 30 homeless people off the street and into Chinatown apartments by June. Star-Advertiser.

Parts of Kailua Beach Park will be closed starting Monday as City and County of Honolulu crews work to remove sand to reduce the risk of flooding. Hawaii News Now.

A California-based English-Japanese bilingual preschool is expanding to Hawaii with its first location planned for Honolulu, the architect working on the project confirmed to Pacific Business News.

A veteran Hawaii architect is seeking to build a 300-foot residential tower in Kakaako and expects it will be subject to the current affordable-housing rules, although those rules could soon change. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday that could help improve conditions at Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City after concerns were raised that the cemetery has been neglected and is in disrepair. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii

West Hawaii Republicans came together Saturday in Waikoloa, re-electing Chairman Dave Ross and setting forth plans for strengthening the party. West Hawaii Today.

As Mayor Harry Kim announced late Friday he’s reopened negotiations on a multimillion-dollar composting contract he’d canceled, County Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter said she’d still like a council resolution to go forward giving the council authority to hire an outside attorney to look over the contract and make recommendations. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island residents are preparing to meet with Gov. David Ige to address ongoing pollution concerns about a large dairy farm. Hawaii News Now.

Legislators gathered Thursday evening in Kona at a Community Enterprises forum to engage with more than 100 residents on issues that matter to West Hawaii communities. How to pay teachers more money to help them absorb Hawaii’s substantial cost of living was discussed at length. West Hawaii Today.

Now that a grant-funded county program to combat little fire ants has wrapped, Hawaii County invasive species specialists and legislative representatives once again are hoping to secure state funding to address the issue. Tribune-Herald.

Disability advocates are considering a lawsuit against Hilo Medical Center after an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint failed to get the U.S. Department of Justice involved. Tribune-Herald.

Restricting access to popular manta ray viewing sites will radically affect business, many local tour operators said Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

Kaumana residents are worried that feral pig carcasses being dumped near a stream at Akolea Road are contaminating the water — though the state says the problem is being addressed and the public’s health is not at risk. Tribune-Herald.

Keanalele, located in Kiholo State Park Reserve, and commonly referred to as “Queen’s Bath,” gives visitors the rare opportunity to dip into and swim in a lava tube. At least it would, but a sign at the park warns visitors with a $1,000 fine for anyone who enters any cave or lava tube. West Hawaii Today.

There are no clear-cut solutions when it comes to topics of legalizing, decriminalizing or regulating prostitution, but one theme sounded louder than others during a Saturday panel discussion hosted by the Zonta Club of Hilo: Empathy matters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui is the second-most visited island for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers from the United States, but it is top amongst Canadians and third among Australians, according to a study released by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority in March. Maui News.

Saying a law applies to pedestrians as well as drivers, a state appeals court vacated a Wailuku District Court order that had dismissed a charge against a weekly tabloid publisher who was detained when he used his cellphone to videotape a police traffic enforcement operation five years ago. Maui News.

A general map showing possible uses of now fallow sugar fields — including areas for possible biodiesel-producing tree orchards, coffee and cacao crops and livestock-irrigated pastures — was projected on a screen as the former general manager of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. gave a presentation at the Maui Energy Conference last week. Maui News.

Maui County’s Ho’aloha Park is home to hundreds of Hawaiian and Na Kai ‘Ewalu canoe club paddlers, but in recent months it’s been a hot spot for trouble with homeless people and vagrants. Maui News.

A rare sighting of a Whale Shark was observed near Molokini Crater Saturday. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Air Force has agreed to reduce exterior lighting at a mountaintop radar facility on Kauai to better protect endangered and threatened seabirds. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal officials have moved a Hawaiian monk seal on Kauai due to concerns for the animal's safety. Associated Press.

A 10-month-old female Hawaiian monk seal was moved Friday from the Lihi canal in Kapaa to a beach on Kauai’s Westside. Garden Island.

Molokai

Thanks to a new battery storage system, Molokai may be the first Hawaiian island to go entirely off the grid. Hawaii Public Radio.