Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Video shows secret lives of Hawaiian monk seals, DLNR seeks director, Pearl Harbor to lose cruisers, Hawaii councilwoman sues county, Maui council joins social media, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Hawaiian monk seal (c) 2013 All Hawaii News
For years, scientists have tried to understand the secret lives of Hawaiian monk seals. A new video may answer some questions and help in the ongoing efforts to recover and protect them. KHON2.

Casting a nationwide net, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources put out a call Monday for applicants to fill the position of administrator of the troubled State Historic Preservation Division. Star-Advertiser.

Researchers who have spent nearly four months simulating what it's like to live on Mars are emerging from their experiment on a barren Hawaii lava field. The NASA-funded study is researching what foods astronauts might eat during a mission to Mars. Associated Press.

U.S. Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard, both Hawaii Democrats, were part of a 37-member House delegation that traveled to Israel and the West Bank earlier this month, a trip that concluded Sunday. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Councilman Breene Harimoto is looking at a new political office. On Monday, Harimoto told Civil Beat he is “seriously considering” a run at Hawaii Sen. David Ige’s seat at the Capitol.

Should Hawaii Education Officials Do More To Ensure Safe Bus Drivers? Civil Beat.

UH's Neon Rabbits, Pigs and Sheep Fetuses Spark Ethics Debate. Civil Beat.

Allegiant Air's flight attendants union has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a complete audit of the company's scheduling, crew rest and fatigue procedures. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for August 13. Associated Press.

Oahu

Pearl Harbor is expected to lose all three of its cruisers in coming years but gain four more destroyers and a troop- and equipment-carrying Joint High Speed Vessel similar to the defunct Hawaii Superferry, the chief of naval operations said during a stop here Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Federal budget cuts may force the service to defer $80 million of maintenance work on Hawaii-based ships in the upcoming fiscal year, the Navy’s top uniformed officer said Monday. Associated Press.

Honolulu began enforcing its Sidewalk Nuisance Ordinance early in July. As for the homeless affected by the sweeps, operators of homeless shelters have seen a small bump in the number of homeless seeking help.Hawaii News Now.

An attorney for ORI  Anuenue Hale Inc. says Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the city "caved in" to the demands of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in coming up with a proposed settlement of HUD demands to return about $8 million used to help construct the embattled Wahiawa nonprofit's Aloha Gardens project. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Hawaii refrigerated food warehouse with 63 health and safety violations and proposed fines of $251,330. The agency claims the Honolulu warehouse occupied by Unicold Corp. and nine tenants sealed exit doors and blocked emergency exit routes to gain additional storage space, placing workers in jeopardy. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines has apologized to an Oahu couple more than a month after their 11-year-old daughter was barred from boarding a flight back home to Honolulu in Los Angeles and ended up being sent back to Dallas, where her voyage started. Hawaii News Now.

Whole Foods Market is in negotiations to open a store at Ala Moana Center, as part of the mall’s $572 million redevelopment plan for the now vacant Sears space, sources tell Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Councilwoman Brenda Ford is asking a judge to rule that Department of Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd is not qualified to hold that position because she doesn’t have an engineering degree. West Hawaii Today.

Parker Ranch officials are still deciding where the long-awaited extension of a Waima connector road would run. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo cannabis minister who’s been jailed for three years without bail while awaiting trial will be able to use religion as a defense to federal marijuana distribution charges. Tribune-Herald.

A Hilo man has spent a year trying to do something about a fast-growing, invasive tree that looms over his home. Associated Press.

Maui

The Maui County Council has joined the social media age with its own blog, Facebook page and Twitter account, Council Chairwoman Gladys Baisa said Tuesday. Maui News.

Hiking and equestrian trails and bike paths for beginner and advanced riders are among the state Na Ala Hele Trails & Access Program's plans for a 452.6-acre Kahakapao Recreational Area on state land in the Makawao State Forest Reserve. Maui News.

Apparently the departure of an Israel-based company that installed various electric vehicle charging stations on Maui has not created a "major problem" in Maui County, where at least 235 electric vehicles are registered, said the head of the Maui Electric Vehicle Alliance. Maui News.

Kauai

Seven years later, and less than a month after dam owner Jimmy Pflueger was convicted of reckless endangerment, he's not only still blaming the state, he's demanding it pays up. KITV4.

A year-long study finds a proposed adolescent county residential drug treatment and healing facility on Kauai is feasible, and the mayor said he plans to select the preferred site for the facility by the end of the year. Garden Island.

Changes will be coming soon to a few Kauai public parks over the next few months as county-contracted workers install new lights aimed at curbing electricity costs and impacts on protected birds. Garden Island.

Last week, a military-grade ocean marker — or flare — used in air and sea rescue operations washed up on Marine Camp beach, on Kauai’s Eastside. Despite its hazardous warning label, the spent device remained on the beach until late Monday afternoon. Garden Island.

Molokai

Cinder — a porous, low-density rock material — is used commonly on track and road surfaces and for landscaping. In high demand on Molokai, there’s currently no cinder harvesting operation on the island. That could change soon, however. Last week, Tri-L Construction was granted a permit that will allow them to operate the Waieli cinder pit in West Molokai. Molokai Dispatch.

Lanai

Larry Ellison’s Pulama Lanai, which oversees development the Pineapple Island, has officially hired its legal team, consisting of Randall Ishikawa as senior vice president and general counsel and Harrilynn Kameenui as associate general counsel, the company said Monday. Pacific Business News.


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