Outrigger tries to save coral reef, Ige to sign renewable energy bills, bullet hole in Mauna Kea telescope as TMT fight heads to Hawaii Supreme Court, Honolulu TV reporter quits after ethics charges, abortion drop highest in U.S., state 4th in police killings, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fish on Hawaii coral reef © 2015 All Hawaii News

A new initiative called Outrigger ZONE, or OZONE will help protect coral reefs across the Pacific. Outrigger Resorts announced the initiative and signed an agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Saturday at the Waikiki Aquarium in an advance celebration of World Oceans Day on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

In the not-too-distant future, massive mining operations may be stripping mineral-rich nodules from the ocean floor between Hawaii and the mainland. The International Seabed Authority, which has controlled mining in international waters since 1982, is moving ahead aggressively to create the rules that would govern extraction from such regions as the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, a mineral-rich area that starts 500 miles southeast of Hawaii and stretches in a gigantic swath toward the mainland. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is expected to sign into law four bills related to renewable energy on Monday at the state Capitol in Honolulu, including one that sets the goal of the state reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, according an announcement by his office on Friday. Pacific Business News.

A dramatic drop in the number of abortions performed in Hawaii over a recent five-year period has health and education experts wondering what caused the change. The number of terminated pregnancies fell nearly 30 percent in Hawaii from 2010 to 2014, representing the greatest abortion decline in the nation. Associated Press.

Camilo Mora has a simple plan to save the planet: Let’s have fewer children. Solve the overpopulation problem, the Earth recovers from nearly two centuries of abuse and climate change is crossed off the list of crises facing the world. Civil Beat.

University of Hawaii President David Lassner's salary last year ranked in the bottom third among 230 public college presidents, according to a new report by the Chronicle of Higher Education. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ranks fourth in the U.S. for the number of people killed this year by police on a per capita basis, according to data compiled by The Guardian newspaper. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Embattled TV news reporter Nestor Garcia says he has resigned his position at KHON2 News. Garcia, who recently agreed to pay thousands of dollars in fines related to ethics violations from his service as a Honolulu City Council member before he joined KHON last year, tells Civil Beat he resigned from the station, effective as of Friday.

Nearly six months after the Pearl City Public Library closed for major renovation work, branch Manager Vicky Bowie says she is eager to finally reopen on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii island police are investigating what appears to be a bullet hole in the door of the Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea's summit. Star-Advertiser.

The Mauna Kea protectors have issued a statement following news that a “bullet hole” was reported discovered on a door of Japan’s Subaru Telescope on the summit. Big Island Video News.

It’s been more than 70 days since tractor-trailers carrying heavy equipment ascended Mauna Kea’s summit to begin pre-construction of one of the world’s largest telescopes, sparking protests that ultimately brought the $1.4 billion project to a halt. Today, the standoff between the Thirty Meter Telescope and those fighting to stop it continues, with no end in sight. Tribune-Herald.

The Office of Mauna Kea Management will deliver its annual report Friday to the state Board of Land and Natural Resources. The 48-page document outlines ongoing efforts to protect natural and cultural resources on the mountain. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawai‘i Supreme Court has agreed to hear the ongoing court case involving the Thirty Meter Telescope proposed for Mauna Kea.  Richard Wurdeman, attorney for the Mauna Kea Hui, says this move indicates the court views the issues involved as important for the state. Hawaii Public Radio.

Mauna Kea lawsuit heads to Hawaii Supreme Court. The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court now has two telescope-related lawsuits on its plate, the other being the Solar Telescope case on Maui. Hawaii Independent.

Maui

Two well-known Maui leaders have announced their bids for Maui County Council seats that are being vacated next year because of term limits. Maui News.

Maui Managing Director Keith Regan announced his intention to run for the Maui County Council Wailuku residency seat, which will be vacated by Councilmember Mike Victorino next year due to term limits. Maui Now.

The $11.2 million Waikamoi flume replacement project has been completed, with the flume in full operation for the past couple of months. Maui News.

Kauai

Consultants hired by the county to assist with the development of a master plan for Hanalei’s Black Pot Beach Park are forming a community advisory board to help guide the process. Garden Island.

Kauai Community College has discontinued two journalism courses after the spring 2015 semester in light of low student enrollment, school officials said. Garden Island.

Lanai

Pulama Lanai, the company created by billionaire Larry Ellison to run his operations on the island of Lanai, has spent a total of about $3.7 million thus far to upgrade the Pineapple Island’s water infrastructure, according to a letter sent by the company to Hawaii regulators this week. Pacific Business News.

Kahoolawe

With just 10 days to go in their 30-day online crowdfunding drive, the Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission (KIRC) has raised less than one-third of the $100,000 they need to show the State of Hawaii that people care about the restoration of the island, their latest GoFundMe results show. MauiTime.