Maui seeks to regulate aquarium trade, kingmaker Inouye stays out of gubernatorial primary, Ku statues return to Hawaii, Big Island in budget turmoil, more

Maui County's coral reefs and colorful fish are under assault by permitted collectors - and outside poachers - who capture the fish to sell to aquarium owners across the globe, according to two Maui County Council members who presented bills on Wednesday to regulate the industry here.

From different corners of the world, the last three Hawaiian god or "Ku" statues known to exist have been brought together at Bishop Museum—two of them after an absence of more than 160 years.

History was made yesterday as the Bishop Museum debuted three ancient kū brought to the Islands from England and Massachusetts .

The White House on Thursday announced the dates for next year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu.

Senator Dan Inouye has no plans to throw his endorsement behind any candidate in the primary race for Governor.

A bill sitting on Gov. Linda Lingle's desk that seeks to strengthen prostitution laws by recognizing some prostitutes as human trafficking victims has drawn strong criticism from prosecutors and law enforcement, raising questions about whether the measure, if passed, would ever be put into use.

Hawai'i has the lowest gun death rate in the country, according to figures released this week by the Washington-based Violence Policy Center.

The price of summer school is going up. The Board of Education has agreed to raise next year's tuition by $30, to $190.

Six East Honolulu residents survived the first cut in the Honolulu City Council's selection of a ninth member.

Charlie Wedemeyer, one of Hawai'i's finest athletes, who defied the medical world with his 34-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, died yesterday morning in California.

Parents, principals and faculty of Haleiwa showed a united front as they spoke out against a proposal to shut down their school.

Mayor Billy Kenoi on Wednesday lashed out at "minority members" of the County Council for their eleventh hour budget amendments and said he'd "certainly veto" a budget containing them.

Should the County Council make deep cuts in the county budget that threaten core government functions, Mayor Billy Kenoi is ready to veto it.

Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law Tuesday a bill making it easier for police to enforce traffic laws on private subdivision roads that serve the public.

As Puna Geothermal Venture struggles to meet its contract with Hawaii Electric Light Co., a group met for the first time Wednesday to begin evaluating the potential for geothermal energy to serve as the primary source of electricity on the Big Island.

Geothermal is safe, clean and a gift of nature to residents of the Big Island, members of the 11-member Geothermal Working Group said.

Kaua‘i County Council members constantly deal with ordinances to improve the island’s ability to sustain itself regarding oil dependence.

In 1810, Kamehameha the Great unified the eight major islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii.