Tropical Storm Ana veers south of Hawaii, Honolulu homeless law expanded, gas prices drop, cesspool rules irk testifiers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tropical Storm Ana 5 a.m. Oct. 17, Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Tropical Storm Ana intensified overnight and is just below hurricane strength as it nears Hawaii. At 5 a.m., the storm's winds remained at 70 mph with higher gusts, just below the category 1 hurricane status of 74 mph winds. The storm was 280 miles south of Hilo and 455 miles southeast of Honolulu, moving to the west-northwest at 14 mph. Forecasters said Ana could develop into a hurricane Friday as it passes south of the Big Island and Maui County. Star-Advertiser.

Living Hawaii: Is the Price of Paradise Getting You Down? The cost of living and our declining work environment are undermining the state's sense of well-being. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gas, which became the first utility in the state to begin shipping liquefied natural gas to the Islands in April, is making a move to bring in even more of this fuel to Hawaii to help it better manage its fuel costs. The state's only franchised gas utility said Thursday that it has filed an application with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to increase the volume of LNG shipments for its synthetic natural gas pipeline. Pacific Business News.

Ad Watch: Mark Takai Plays the Veterans Card. Again. There is fresh fodder from the candidates running for the U.S. Congress, and more negative spots in the race for Hawaii governor. Civil Beat.

Lowering tuition at University of Hawaii campuses can now be done more quickly under a revised policy approved Thursday by the Board of Regents. Previous rules required that any increase or decrease in tuition be presented at a public meeting at least one semester in advance. The board, which met Thursday on Maui for its monthly meeting, unanimously approved removing that requirement for tuition decreases. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
Owners of Oahu businesses who want a ban against sitting and lying down on sidewalks in front of storefronts in their neighborhoods need to step forward and argue that they should be included in islandwide legislation. A bill expanding the ban the Waikiki ban on lying and sitting on city sidewalks to 10 other business districts on Oahu was given a preliminary OK by the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department is doubling the amount of classroom time that officers receive annually on domestic violence issues and is working closely with victim advocacy groups on developing more stringent policies on how they should approach cases involving law enforcement officers as potential suspects, HPD Chief Louis Kealoha and other police brass say. Star-Advertiser.

A group of UH Mānoa faculty members have sent testimony to the Board of Regents urging the board to fix serious flaws at the System level. Hawaii Independent.

Average gas prices in Honolulu dipped below $4 a gallon Thursday for the first time since March and appear headed to their lowest level in nearly four years. Star-Advertiser.

More transportation options will be available for Honolulu residents as the second car-sharing company comes to Hawaii. Ulm, Germany-based car-sharing service car2go is looking to expand to Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Most people testifying Thursday evening about proposed rules aimed at reducing cesspools in the state agreed that protecting water quality is important. But many objected to what they considered draconian measures to accomplish it. West Hawaii Today.

People seeking treatment for addiction in West Hawaii have another option again. The Big Island Substance Abuse Council is reopening its Kealakekua office next month, 18 months after it closed that site and one in Waimea. West Hawaii Today.

The leading edge of the lava flow threatening Pahoa appears to have temporarily ground to a halt. Tribune-Herald.

In partnership with the Hawaii County Civil Defense, Hawaii Red Cross volunteers will be opening shelters on the Big Island in response to Tropical Storm Ana. Evacuation Shelters will open on Friday, October 17, 2014 at noon. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Two days after Wailuku Water Co. reportedly released 10 million gallons of water back into Iao Stream, residents claim the full amount is still not flowing from mauka to makai. Maui News.

A 2nd Circuit judge Wednesday deferred arguments and complaints about the development of the Central Maui Regional Sports Complex to the state Land Use Commission. Maui News.

Kauai

More than eight years after the Ka Loko Dam breached on Kauai’s North Shore killing 7 people and an unborn child, James Pflueger, the man the state said was responsible for causing the breach, was sentenced to 7 months in prison. Hawaii Reporter.