Monday, August 24, 2015

Hawaii schools seek more money, Office of Hawaiian Affairs spends beneficiary funds protesting Thirty Meter Telescope, Maui chancellor undecided about Haleakala telescope, bikeshare coming to Honolulu, councilwoman seeks Ethics Board change, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy Google screenshot
Google screenshot of Duke Kahanamoku tribute
In celebration of the 125th anniversary of Duke Kahanamoku’s birth, Google changed its search banner in his honor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii public schools could see a boost in funding next school year under a committee's recommendation to increase the state's pot of per-pupil funding by $26.5 million.Star-Advertiser.

First-Ever Head of Hawaiian Education Foresees ‘Revolutionary’ Changes Dawn Kaui Sang’s new role brings big challenges as she looks to redefine language immersion programs and make sure every student in the state learns about Hawaiian culture — something long mandated by a constitutional amendment but with “varying degrees of implementation.” Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs spent almost $5,000 to support a massive public demonstration in Waikiki earlier this month, one focused on land use in the islands in general but opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope in particular. Many organizations contributed to the march. What’s different about OHA’s support is that it is a quasi-state agency using money designated for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. and NextEra Energy Inc. might be forced to respond to further questioning about their proposed $4.3 billion merger. In a Wednesday filing with the state Public Utilities Commission, the Hawaii Division of Consumer Advocacy requested the PUC subpoena HEI President and Chief Executive Officer Constance Lau and NextEra Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James Robo to compel their testimony. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Department plans to launch a program that would provide first responders with medical, health and other information on callers to help improve response times. Star-Advertiser.

Bike-share programs can be found in major cities all over the world, and soon one will debut in Honolulu in May 2016, but the president of Bikeshare Hawaii says, although it’s meant to ease traffic and promote fitness, riders say there are still concerns.KHON2.

The Blood Bank of Hawaii could soon find itself free of the threat of eminent domain for its main donor site in Kalihi — and in a better position to negotiate with Honolulu rail officials. Star-Advertiser.

With just nine days left before the deadline, the Ka Iwi Coast Coalition announced they had raised the $500,000 needed to buy the 182 acres mauka of the Ka Iwi Shoreline. KITV4.

After being in the works for nearly two decades, the Culinary Institute of the Pacific in Hawaii is slated to break ground within the next month after receiving the necessary building permits needed to begin construction. Pacific Business News.

State Department of Transportation officials say that due to safety and maintenance concerns, they plan to soon replace Maipalaoa Bridge, which spans Maili Stream. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille wants to see a larger, more independent Board of Ethics, and she’s working on a charter amendment to do just that. Wille said she’s sponsoring a bill for a charter amendment to change the current selection process from a five-member board appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the County Council to a nine-member board with each council member appointing a representative, subject to confirmation by the full council. West Hawaii Today.

For nearly five years, James Borden has been a fixture of Kinoole Street. His signs’ messages have ranged from anti-President Obama invectives and anti-Islam rhetoric to a more recent anti-abortion focus, the latter a result of what Borden recently deemed a “spiritual prompting.” Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii’s Makai Ocean Engineering has completed the world’s largest operational ocean thermal energy conversion power plant at its facility in Kona on the Big Island. The OTEC plant, which produces electricity from the ocean using the temperature difference between deep, cold and warm water surface seawater, marks the first plant of its kind to be connected to a U.S. electrical grid. Pacific Business News.

An ex-Kamehameha Schools Hawaii employee fired almost a year ago for alleged improper use of a purchasing card is suing the private school, claiming she was wrongfully terminated. Tribune-Herald.

One year after Tropical Storm Iselle toppled hundreds of albizia trees and caused millions of dollars of damage in Puna, the fast-growing tree species remains a major threat not only on Hawaii island, but across the state. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

The chancellor of University of Hawaii Maui College calls educational grant funding the college receives from construction of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope "a good thing," even as the telescope is facing stiff public opposition, including protesters who are among the college's faculty and students. Maui News.

Speaking the same day as eight activists were arrested last week protesting the ongoing construction of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz sought a middle ground in which the beliefs of protesters are respected while the rule of law is upheld. Maui News.

The chancellor of the University of Hawaii Maui College says he is grateful for the grant funding the school receives from construction of a controversial solar telescope, but that overall he is neutral on the issue. Associated Press.

Mayor Alan Arakawa and his administration will hold a series of community meetings in September and October to receive comments and suggestions for the proposed budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year. Maui News.

Kauai

Uluwehi Falls kicked back on Wednesday after two weeks without water. “The waterfall has miraculously begun to flow again,” Kevin Katzmann, owner of Wailua River Guides, told The Garden Island Thursday. “The waterfall is flowing stronger this morning than it has in weeks.” Garden Island.

Due to press malfunctions, there will be no delivery of Sunday's print edition of The Garden Island.

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