Hawaii seeks legal help in teacher dispute, residents swamp Hanabusa office over deficit crisis, tourists decline but spending up, DLNR views Army landing zones, turtle back on Maui beach, more Hawaii news

Blackhawk on Mauna Kea (c) 2011 All Hawaii News

Officials with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources boarded Black Hawk helicopters Tuesday and visited six proposed landing zones on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, but said they weren't ready to comment on the Army's application to train pilots there. West Hawaii Today.

Col. Frank Tate

The state wants $50,000 worth of private legal help in its contract dispute with the public teachers union. Hawaii Reporter.

Last week, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed an executive order that establishes the Hawaii Interagency Council on Homelessness. Hawaii Independent.

The state will receive up to 13-million dollars in matching federal venture capital funding over the next two years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii residents concerned over the potential loss of Social Security, Medicare and other federal benefits if Congress is unable to reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling flooded a "telephone town hall" by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa to seek answers on what to expect if a compromise is not struck by Tuesday.Star-Advertiser.

The number of visitors traveling to Hawaii declined in June for the first time in nearly two years amid rising airfares, but visitor spending continued to rise at a near-record pace, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's green sea turtle expert felt "great excitement" when he learned this summer that "Maui Girl" had come to nest in Lahaina again. Maui News.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply could raise its rates soon. Even so, Oahu residents will still pay less than for their water than residents in other cities. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Postal Service has announced a list of more than 3,600 post offices across the country it may shut down, including four in Hawaii. KITV4.

One of Matson Navigation Co.’s containerships will be sailing onto U.S. Postal Service stamps starting Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Maui county officials want residents to know a phone survey regarding housing issues on the Valley Isle is not a scam. KHON2.

Darryl Oliveira is retiring as Hawaii County fire chief next Sunday, but he's not going anywhere. Tribune-Herald.

Operation Green Harvest raids this month resulted in one arrest and the removal of $1.38 million worth of marijuana plants on Kaua‘i, county officials said. Garden Island.

An overflow crowd and a panel of experts listen to opening remarks by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. on Tuesday evening at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center during the third meeting in a series about the county’s proposed site for an adolescent drug treatment center on Kaua‘i. Garden Island.

Faced with its first losing quarter in three years Hawaiian Airlines is raising the fee it charges for luggage on interisland flights. Hawaii News Now.

The Philippine navy's newest and biggest ship, a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter re-flagged as the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, will pull into Pearl Harbor this morning for a brief port visit before heading on to Guam and the Philippines. Star-Advertiser.

Patrick DeLeon, chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye in Washington, D.C., is retiring. Star-Advertiser.

A police narcotics dog in West Hawaii will retire Friday and live out his days in Waimea, according to the Police Department. West Hawaii Today.