Top Hawaii Headlines: Friday morning edition

On a day rich in political theater, Gov. Linda Lingle stood before several hundred people in the state Capitol and vetoed tax increases she warned would further damage the state's sagging economy.

State lawmakers return to work today -- one day more than usual -- poised to override three of Gov. Linda Lingle's vetoes.

Legislation that would ease the way for implementation of the 4 percent general excise tax on all Internet purchases made from Hawaii is on its way to the governor.

Hawaii's congressional delegation has decided to turn to the past to advance a measure that would give native Hawaiians federal recognition similar to that of American Indians.

Pilot error caused a Cessna to crash June 17 into Mauna Loa on the Big Island, killing all three on board, the National Transportation Safety Board reported yesterday.

O'ahu's latest swine flu victims did not have contact with any of the first three patients and appear to have contracted the disease here, state health officials announced yesterday.

The state Senate briefly revived civil unions yesterday but then quickly voted to amend the bill, a move that killed the bill for this session but led to new promises from majority Democrats that they would try again next year.

Maui County Council members will look at maintaining cuts in the county budget, and setting aside some or all of the hotel tax revenues they now expect to get from the state, when they meet to restore $18 million to the budget next week.

Hawaii County wants to work with its three counterparts in pursuing a single, statewide solution to each county's garbage-disposal challenges.

A tiny high school on the Big Island that provides a free college-preparatory education to students from Pacific island nations expects to shut down at the end of the academic year for lack of funds.

Target is hiring up to 300 people to work in its Big Island store.

Maui Police Commission members heard testimony from 13 people Wednesday morning on the panel's pending decision on the successor to police Chief Tom Phillips, who retires June 1.

To help prevent the extinction of Kaua‘i’s native flora and fauna, the State of Hawai‘i recently added 486 acres of preserved land to the system’s Waimea district, bringing the total size of the Hono O Na Pali Natural Area Reserve to 3,579 acres.

Who says it's only for banks? More than 194,000 island residents are getting a little economic stimulus of their own. The federal government is mailing nearly $55 million in checks to Hawaii Social Security recipients.