Monday, April 9, 2012

Honolulu No. 2 vacation destination, lawsuit challenges election maps, zip lines not regulated, Lanai hunters miffed at film crews, Maui council ponders $626.8M budget, Merrie Monarch spotlights hula, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki (c) 2012 All Hawaii News
Honolulu was second on a list of the top five summer land vacation destinations led by the home of Disney World, Orlando, Fla., and that included Rome, London, and Anaheim, Calif., home to Disneyland. Pacific Business News.

A state legislator and five registered voters filed a federal lawsuit Friday charging that the state Reapportionment Plan violates the U.S. Constitution by excluding some 108,000 temporary residents who are military members, military dependents or university students from out of state. Star-Advertiser.

Six Oahu residents filed a lawsuit Friday in U.S. District Court in Honolulu, challenging the constitutionality of the new state House and Senate maps. West Hawaii Today.

A lawsuit filed Friday asks a three-judge federal court to enforce the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and require the State to count all residents of Hawaii. (commentary) Hawaii Reporter.

Building on the marquee value of movies such as "The Descendants" and television shows like "Hawaii Five-0," state lawmakers are discussing whether to enhance tax credits for film and digital media production and offer new incentives to hire local workers. Star-Advertiser.

A Senate bill to regulate the zip line industry died last week, about six months after a worker plunged 100 feet to his death in Paukaa near Hilo and another was critically injured when a tower toppled and the 2,300-foot zip line went slack. Star-Advertiser.

An eye-catching display at the State Capitol aimed to draw attention to the problem of child abuse in Hawaii. KITV4.

Charles Djou
Former Congressman Charles Djou is back from the war zone in Afghanistan and is focused on his race for Congress. Hawaii Reporter.

For Tulsi Gabbard, reward found in ‘serving others.' Maui News.

Wil Okabe and Paul Daughtery want to be president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association for different reasons. The former wants to continue the work he started three years ago when first elected to the position. The latter would like to see a profound shift in the union's direction. Civil Beat.

Employer-picked doctors not independent, critics claim. Injured employees receive evaluations from doctors hired by employers or insurers. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

In the weeks since two Hawaii polls showed the public opinion has turned against the controversial Honolulu rail project, council members — particularly those on the ballot this year — have asked sharper questions and expressed doubts about the future for rail transit. Civil Beat.

Starting Monday, HART CEO Dan Grabauskas, the highest paid city employee officially begins his new gig with a salary, plus bonuses, totaling $322,000. Hawaii News Now.

Some roads around downtown Honolulu will have lane closures as archeological survey work continues on the city’s rail transit project.  Associated Press.

Runner for political seat would be youngest ever to hold office in state, at 18. KHON2.

Those living near Bellows say this past week they heard marine training exercises taking place as early as four in the morning and lasting late into the night. KHON2.

Navy conducting training exercise on Oahu, Kauai. Hawaii News Now.

One-hundred and forty-seven soldiers were greeted on Easter Sunday by an overwhelming crowd of support from friends and family at the Wheeler Army Airfield. KITV4.

Hawaii

The hula arrived like the tide. Surging and retreating, ever changing, but never stopping, it heralded the return of spring and of the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

The list of unwelcome plants in Hawaii County sprouted recently after a four-year-long roadside survey found several more invasive species previously not known to inhabit Big Island soil. Tribune-Herald.

Gil Kahele and Donald Ikeda state House seat. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Lanai residents were miffed recently when a helicopter carrying a film crew "buzzed" a game management area on the opening weekend of the island's hunting season. Maui News.

The Maui County Budget for upcoming fiscal year 2013 is available online. The document depicts a local government with revenues and expenditures projected at over $626.8 million. Maui Now.

The Maui County Council will discuss proposals made by the Charter Commission, as well as council members' own proposals for charter amendments, at a meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday. Maui News.

Kauai

Members of the Kaua‘i delegation to the state Legislature will host a “Lawmakers Listen” meeting at 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Wilcox Elementary School cafeteria in Lihu‘e. Garden Island.

Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho said the changing dynamics of crime and threat to the island way of life has motivated her to run for a second term as Kaua‘i County prosecuting attorney. Garden Island.

Molokai
With projected Maui County funds even lower than last year, Molokai residents, from middle schoolers to kupuna, made their voices heard in asking for their share. Molokai Dispatch.

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