Hawaii lava flow beautiful but unpredictable, outside money pours into negative campaign ads, Hawaiians evicted from homelands, outreach to Waikiki homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii lava Wednesday Oct. 29 afternoon, courtesy Hawaii County

The unpredictable lava that's invading Pahoa came within 100 feet of a two-story home Wednesday and then suddenly stalled, underscoring the difficulty of predicting what the flow will do next. Star-Advertiser.

After consuming a shed and a pile of tires the day before, the June 27 lava flow moved within 100 feet of a home Wednesday and continued to threaten a cluster of residences on Pahoa Village Road. The stream of 2,000-degree molten rock continued its descent at an average rate of 10 yards an hour as it advanced within 280 yards of Pahoa’s main road. Tribune-Herald.

On Wednesday evening, people were already waiting by the post office to witness the lava crossing Pahoa Village Road. They came from all over the island, brought their lawn chairs, and camped out next to the police road block, hoping to have a good view of the flow’s arrival. Nearby smoke could be seen above the trees. Big Island Video News.

Lava ignited small fires behind Pahoa Village Road on Wednesday night while a resident stood with her Pahoa neighbors and watched in awe. Star-Advertiser.

Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, moves gradually and persistently as she deposits lava across the Big Island of Hawaii. People in the small town lying in its path say the lava will reshape the community yard by yard as it slides toward the ocean. Associated Press.

Hawaii County Civil Defense officials say the Puna lava flow is now approximately 200 yards from Pahoa Village Road. They say the flow front is moving through a private residential property in a northeast direction at a rate of approximately 5 to 10 yards per hour. Hawaii News Now.

The molten river of lava flowing from Kilauea volcano continued its slow advance toward Big Island homes in the community of Pahoa on Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The flow continues to remain active and has advanced approximately 55 yards since 6:30 this morning and is currently approximately 202 yards from Pahoa Village Road. KHON2.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard surveys lava

Lava that has entered a rural Hawaii town has been described as a disaster in slow motion. After months of creeping through uninhabited areas of the Big Island, it reached Pahoa this week, crossing a residential street, burning down a garden shed and inching toward homes and a main road that goes through downtown. Associated Press.

Lower Puna residents who receive government housing assistance, already stressing over the threat of lava consuming their homes, are facing a new fear. They may have to leave their beloved community. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island residents are feeling the throat-scraping effects of the approaching lava flow, just one more aspect of this creeping disaster. KITV4.

As the Puna lava flow advances closer and closer to the homes here along Pahoa Village Road, most residents can do nothing more than watch and wait - wondering what direction it will take and when it will pass through. Hawaii News Now.

Did state Sen. David Ige really want to tax pensions? Was former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona actually behind teacher furloughs? The answer to both questions is "no." But that is not the impression left by a flurry of negative advertisements sponsored by mainland political action committees, also known as super PACs, trying to influence voters before the November election for governor. Star-Advertiser.

Democrat David Ige leads in the polls in the race for Hawaii governor, and he’s raised more money than Republican Duke Aiona. In another category often overlooked, Ige has also held nearly twice as many campaign fundraisers as Aiona since the Aug. 9 primary. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Venture Capital Association will hold a gubernatorial forum on Thursday. All four candidates for governor are expected to attend the event at the Plaza Club in Honolulu. Associated Press.

Hawaii super PACs eclipsed a record this year for spending on local races, according to the latest Campaign Spending Commission data. So far this election cycle independent expenditure committees — better known as super PACs — spent $5.9 million supporting or opposing various candidates for office. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie has been largely out of the public eye ever since his historic loss in the August primary, but his appearance at an advocacy event for affordable housing earlier this week showed the lame duck governor hasn’t lost his passion. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has nominated the former head of the now-defunct Public Land Development Corporation to serve on the Agribusiness Development Corporation, a state board tasked with diversifying Hawaii’s farming industry. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers today convened a second Department of Health update on preparations for the Ebola Virus, should it strike Hawai’i.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Governors of New Jersey, New York and Illinois have imposed mandatory quarantines for health care workers who treated Ebola patients in West Africa. But Hawaii Department of Health officials said Tuesday no such plan will be implemented in the islands. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

State deputy sheriffs have evicted six families from a Hawaiian homestead property in Waimanalo that has also been used as a farm for abandoned animals. Star-Advertiser.

Developers, unions, prominent attorneys and Realtors have thrown tens of thousands of dollars into the Honolulu City Council races this year, in which Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga is challenged by Sam Aiona for the District 6 seat and Tommy Waters and Trevor Ozawa are competing in District 4. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has chosen a design team to develop a plan for the 30 acres in Kakaako Makai the state agency acquired two years ago from the state of Hawaii in a deal meant to resolve a dispute that dates back to when it formed in 1978. Pacific Business News.

The Institute for Human Services, with support from the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, is starting a full-time homeless outreach program in Waikiki in the hopes that it will bring stability to the district's homeless population and end the litany of complaints that threatens the health of the state's key visitor industry. Star-Advertiser.

The Institute for Human Services is launching a full-time homeless outreach program aimed at reducing homelessness in Waikiki. Associated Press.

Tripler Army Medical Center held its first large-scale Ebola response exercise Wednesday, simulating a patient showing up there and at the Schofield Barracks Health Clinic with symptoms of the disease. Star-Advertiser.

The JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina will be renamed Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina and is scheduled to be reopened under the Four Seasons flag in December 2015. Pacific Business News.

Half a century of time wasn't kind to a cluster of low-rise apartment buildings on the edge of the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus. But today the small neighborhood along Kolo Place between the H-1 Freeway and UH's athletic complex has a fresh look following a $6.6 million renovation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The new Hawaii Community College - Palamanui is on course to be completed in May, according to the project’s superintendent. West Hawaii Today.

National Park Service officials are seeking feedback on a plan to quadruple the entry fee to the popular Puuhonua o Honaunau site in South Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management announced Wednesday that required "in-stream flows" have been returned to required levels to Iao and Waikapu streams, but members of Hui O Na Wai Eha remained unconvinced. Maui News.

Maui's spike in visitor spending for the first three quarters of 2014 - the only island to log double-digit increases compared to 2013 - reflects growing consumer confidence and the abundance of opportunities for visitors to shop, eat and play on the island, according to the Maui Visitors Bureau executive director. Maui News.

More bad news for print media. The Maui Weekly was closed by its publisher, Joe Bradley, on Monday. The weekly went to press this week with its last edition and its web site is no longer available. Civil Beat.

The Maui Weekly newspaper published its last issue on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, and its online version is no longer accessible via the internet. Maui Now.

Kauai

Voters on Kauai and Niihau will have three opportunities in the general election to amend sections within the Kauai County Charter, the county’s governing document. Garden Island.

A blessing held Tuesday in Kapahi marked the start of the construction phase of the county’s islandwide bus shelter project. Garden Island.

An appeal regarding an arbitration grievance over a police promotions process dating back to 2007 was sent back to 5th Circuit Court with a partial union victory.  The state Intermediate Court of Appeals on Oct. 16 affirmed in part and vacated in part a 5th Circuit order to confirm an arbitrator’s award, and denied in part the county’s motion to vacate the award. Garden Island.