Hawaii mulls new limits on fish, Honolulu mayor to sign amended plastic bag ban, Ellison gets $67.3M final Oracle paycheck, tuition increase may shrink, Ethics Commission resists disclosure law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Uhu, parrotfish, in Hawaii © 2014 All Hawaii News

State fishing regulators are considering new bag and size limits for parrotfish, or uhu, and types of weke, or goatfish, caught off the island of Maui. The Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider the rules at a meeting on Friday. Associated Press.

The state will consider approval of new fishing rules that would establish bag and size limits for uhu or parrotfish and kūmū or goatfish caught in Maui waters. Maui Now.

The state Board of Land and Natural Resources is considering adopting new fishing rules that would place bag and size limits for parrotfish (uhu) and goatfish in waters around Maui. Maui News.

New rules could be imposed for fishermen on Maui. Could the same limits be put into place on other islands? The Department of Land and Natural Resources will consider approving the new rules on Friday. KHON2.

The White House announced late Wednesday that President Barack Obama would prohibit fishing in three of America’s remote island territories in the Pacific by declaring them marine national monuments. In June, Obama had proposed closing five areas, which would have doubled the no-take zone. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission on Wednesday reaffirmed its decision to withhold the financial disclosure statements of more than 100 current state board members who filed their annual reports before a new law took effect July 8. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii students may see a smaller tuition increase than expected next year under a proposal being considered by the budget committee of the Board of Regents. Instead of the 7.5 percent increase now planned over the next two years, students would see their tuition rise annually by only 2 percent in the latest plan to help cover the university's huge deferred maintenance backlog. Star-Advertiser.

Saying changes need to be made to reduce their pain and inconvenience, patients and caregivers testified Wednesday evening in favor of establishing statewide medical marijuana dispensaries. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaiian business caucus. OHA will hold a new caucus for Hawaiian businesses owners at the upcoming Native Hawaiian Convention. Hawaii Independent.

Oahu

Changes to Oahu's plastic bag ban are coming as Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signs an amended version of the plastic bag ban bill that will go into effect next year. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Electric Co. said Wednesday that it has completed installing 5,200 smart meters in six different neighborhoods on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Police in Kapolei and Pearl City are investigating reports of three attempts to kidnap elementary school-age students in Ewa Beach and Waipahu within the past five days. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County is looking at its options should the June 27 lava flow cover Highway 130, from removing a portion of the road beforehand to use of a temporary span after the flow has moved through. Tribune-Herald.

The front of the June 27 lava flow may remain stalled more than 2 miles above Pahoa, but it has already resulted in the closure of at least two private schools in the community. Tribune-Herald.

Video: Recent Footage of June 27 Lava Flow. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A Paia political activist said that she has filed a complaint with the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission alleging disclosure violations by the Hawaii Carpenters Recovery Market Fund, which has supported Maui County Council candidate Ka'ala Buenconsejo's campaign through super PAC Forward Progress. Maui News.

Kauai

Four nonprofit organizations and Kauai County are appealing a federal judge's decision to invalidate a Kauai County law pertaining to pesticides and genetically modified crops. Ka Makani Ho‘opono, the Center for Food Safety, the Pesticide Action Network North America and the Surfrider Foundation — represented by Earthjustice and the Center for Food Safety — filed an appeal in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, challenging U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Kurren's decision that overturned Ordinance 960 (formerly Bill 2491). Kauai County filed its appeal Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Lanai

Larry Ellison, who owns Hawaii's island of Lanai and interisland airline Island Air, got his final paycheck from Oracle Corp. — $67.3 million in stock options and bonus cash — after stepping down from the CEO post last week. Pacific Business News.