Ed vs. Mazie battle intensifies, Hawaiian Airlines starts nonstop flight to NYC, 5-year-olds to evaluate their teachers, Hanalei farmers market closes, 400lbs kalua pork recalled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands for smartphone and web

Democratic Senate candidates Ed Case and Mazie Hirono

U.S. Senate Democratic candidates Mazie Hirono and Ed Case have a lot in common. But Case and Hirono are two very different people with different backgrounds, personal and professional, and starkly different personalities. Civil Beat.

Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate, Ed Case and Mazie K. Hirono, will participate in an hourlong debate, sponsored by AARP Hawaii, on June 12 in the Maui Beach Hotel Elleair Room. Maui News.

Hawaii is being billed as one of the best vantage points in the world for viewing the transit of Venus tomorrow because the entire transit will occur before the sun sets. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii will be one of the best spots to see the transit of Venus this Tuesday. KITV4.

Hawaiian Airlines is about to be the only carrier offering year-round flights between Honolulu and New York City. Associated Press.

According to Hawai`i’s constitution protecting and preserving Hawai`i’s best farmland is the duty of state leaders. Decades after rules were written, what makes up the state’s top farmland remains ambiguous. Hawaii Public Radio.

Public school students as young as 5 are being asked to consider their classroom experiences in surveys that will soon become one of the high-stakes measures used to evaluate teachers.Star-Advertiser.

Just over half of Hawaii’s public school teachers cast ballots in the re-vote last month on the tentative January contract agreement with the state, according to the results certified late Saturday. Civil Beat.

The chancellor of Kapiolani Community College says he is committed to ensuring instructors in its noncredit program are paid on time and has asked anyone who is overdue paychecks to call the administration. Star-Advertiser.

The state's highest court took the extraordinary step last month of abandoning its earlier stance on eyewitness identification. Misidentification, the court said May 17, is "one of the leading causes of wrongful convictions." Star-Advertiser.

The Rising East: Pacific Command Theme Might Be 'On the Road Again' Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources will receive a $6 million federal grant to continue its work to convert grass and other biomass into biofuel. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

If elected, Cayetano has plan for killing rail. Pacific Business News.

Several bus routes on Oahu were changed or eliminated Sunday as the city tries to meet increased fuel costs without raising fares. Hawaii News Now.

Part of the Pagoda Hotel in Pawaa could become a residential condominium under a plan by Kamehameha Schools and developer Peter Savio to satisfy an affordable-housing requirement tied to building new condo towers in nearby Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Wahiawa is known as the Gateway to the famous North Shore but the town's reputation has been an infamous one. KHON2.

About 400 pounds of Keoki's Lau Lau 12 and 48 ounce tubs of kalua brand pork are being recalled due to possible listeria contamination.  Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

On the heels of an intense state Elections Commission inquiry into the readiness of the Hawaii County Elections Office, Hilo Councilman Dennis Onishi is now seeking to have the county clerk and elections administrator update the County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Former Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim is poised to make this year’s mayoral race a lot more interesting. West Hawaii Today.

The governing board of a Mauna Kea telescope says it is “very disappointed” with the decision of the United Kingdom to cease funding after September 2013. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light Co. have launched an upgraded computer system to maintain customer records and manage billing. Tribune-Herald.

Just outside Kailua-Kona there’s a place where a short walk can take you back to Hawaii old. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A federal scientist said Maui residents shouldn't be too concerned about the risk of earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, and officials are looking to expand the network of monitoring stations on the island in the next few years. Maui News.

More than likely, there will be no body parts or radioactive materials among the Japan tsunami debris that may begin washing up along the main Hawaiian Islands this year, federal officials said last week. Maui News.

Kauai

Vendors at the Hanalei Farmers Market got a shock Saturday when the board of Hale Halawai ‘Ohana O Hanalei, which operates the market, announced the market would close immediately until permitting issues could be resolved. Garden Island.

A new generation is taking control of Kauai's struggling Maka­weli Poi Mill with the dream of inspiring young taro farmers to continue producing a brand of poi they consider more appealing to traditional Hawaiian tastes throughout the islands. Star-Advertiser.

The LEED green building certification program, a nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of green buildings held its first Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design training workshop on Kaua‘i in April with another planned for June. Garden Island.

Molokai

Residents participate in Historic Preservation Plan update. Molokai Dispatch.