Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Kauai lighthouse named for Inouye, ag inspectors face cuts, another blow to PLDC, fed court tosses Hawaii County aerial hunting ban, Hawaii Gas can't recoup upgrade costs from customers, Caldwell looks to campaigners for appointees, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye
Kilauea Point Lighthouse, U.S. Coast Guard photo

The Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kauai has been renamed the Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse. A formal ceremony to rename the lighthouse is scheduled for May 4. Star-Advertiser.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said Tuesday his department had renamed the Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kauai in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Associated Press.

The Kilauea Point Lighthouse on Kaua‘i’s North Shore will soon be renamed in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Garden Island.

State House and Senate leaders said Tuesday they are confident they have the money for a robust two-year state budget, but they are increasingly tentative about spending on tax incentives and new state programs because of the financial uncertainty in future years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii senators have voted to move forward a slew of bills including budgets for the judiciary and Office of Hawaiian Affairs, election reforms and a more restricted shield law for journalists. Associated Press.

State House Majority Leader Scott Saiki says it is highly likely that his chamber will agree to a bill that would dissolve the state's Public Land Development Corp., bringing the widely disliked agency one step closer to its demise. Associated Press.

State agriculture inspectors are worried about a move by State House leaders to stop the restoration of two dozen inspectors' positions. The Agriculture Department has been trying to recover from layoffs four years ago that cut the number of inspectors in half. Hawaii News Now.

The legitimate historical grievances of Native Hawaiians have become a fertile soil for frauds perpetrated on Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike. Civil Beat.

Board of Regents members told an advisory task group conducting a study of accountability in the University of Hawaii system that there may be a disconnect between their role and the public's perception of that role, but that they understand they have to improve efforts to be more transparent. Star-Advertiser.

A Washington, D.C. tea ceremony honors the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The head of the U.S. Pacific Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday that the military could intercept missiles fired from North Korea at Hawaii or the United States. Civil Beat.

On the 71st anniversary of the Bataan Death March, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz introduced legislation that would restore full veterans benefits to Filipinos who volunteered to serve with U.S. armed forces and allied soldiers during World War II. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators this week denied a request from Hawaii Gas to recoup from its customers through a future rate hike about $2 million in costs for upgrades the utility has already completed to portions of its gas transmission pipeline as part of the federally-mandated Gas Transmission Integrity Management program. Pacific Business News.

The US Department of Justice is threatening to take criminal action against the State Department of Transportation. It has to do with street lights, and their effect on wedge-tailed shearwaters. KHON2.

This is the second of a two-part series looking at dyslexia services in Hawaii's public schools. Civil Beat.

State roundup for April 10. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell appears to be helping out those who have helped him. Caldwell wants to appoint his campaign chairman Lex Smith to the Honolulu Zoning Board of Appeals. Civil Beat.

A group that helps prevent the spread of coqui frogs and other invasive species on Oahu will be forced to lay off staff if additional funding is not secured by the end of October. KITV4.

A 43-story condominium will be a new addition in Kakaako as part of a development plan that also includes townhomes, a couple of restaurants and retail on the former site of a Comp­USA store. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
A U.S. District Court in Honolulu ruled Monday Hawaii County’s aerial hunting ban cannot overrule the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ federal mandate to reduce grazing animals in palila habitat on Mauna Kea. West Hawaii Today.

Attorneys hired by former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong in what became a high-stakes lawsuit will not be paid for their work after action Tuesday by the new County Council. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s Food Basket is getting bigger, and that’s a great thing for the families who struggle to put food on their tables, say the nonprofit’s organizers. Tribune-Herald.

For the last time in the foreseeable future, the Social Security Administration offered satellite office hours in Kona Tuesday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A new 150-room, four-story, “select-services” hotel is part of a planned development proposed for construction along Piʻikea Avenue in South Maui. Maui Now.

The numbers for residential and condominium sales were down in first quarter of 2013 compared to the same quarter last year - but median sale prices and total dollar value of the sales were up. Maui News.

Kauai

A former state representative pleaded no contest to illegally receiving rocks from a historic preserve and heiau site in 2011. Garden Island.

About 2,500 gallons of sewage overflowed Tuesday morning from a manhole in Hanama‘ulu. This is the second sewage spill reported in the area in less than a week. Garden Island.



No comments:

Post a Comment