Federal recognition plans for Native Hawaiians draws mixed reviews-- 10 articles and an opinion. Plus, civil rights lawsuit at Department of Education, Maui coqui frog invasion, Sandwich Isles Communication loses money to tax evader, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Department of the Interior 2014 sovereignty hearing © 2015 All Hawaii News

More than a year after holding hearings in Hawaii where most speakers rejected U.S. government involvement in their Native Hawaiian sovereignty discussions, the Department of the Interior announced Tuesday a proposal to create a procedure in case a unified government comes forward seeking federal recognition. West Hawaii Today.

Proposed rules announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of the Interior emphasize that Native Hawaiians — not the federal government — would decide how to reorganize a Native Hawaiian government and determine any relationship it would have with the United States. Star-Advertiser.

Faye Hanohano © 2015 All Hawaii News

The U.S. Department of the Interior has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding “Procedures for Re-establishing a Government-to-Government Relationship with the Native Hawaiian Community.” Civil Beat.

The U.S. Interior Department is moving forward with a proposed rule that could lead to federal recognition of Native Hawaiians. The announcement comes one year after Department officials led a series of listening sessions across the state and on the mainland. Hawaii Public Radio.

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced Tuesday a proposal to create an administrative process by which a Native Hawaiian government could seek a formal government-to-government relationship with the United States. Garden Island.

The United States Department of the Interior today announced their proposal for “re-establishing a government-to-government relationship with the Native Hawaiian community.” The controversial Notice of Proposed Rulemaking follows a series of public meetings held in the summer of 2014 in which most of those who testified spoke out against the Interior’s involvement in Hawaiian sovereignty affairs. Big Island Video News.

© 2015 All Hawaii News

It will be up to the Native Hawaiian community to create its own government — if it chooses to do so, federal officials said as they outlined a proposal to establish a possible government-to-government relationship. Associated Press.

In a 74-page document, the U.S. Department of the Interior set a framework for a Native Hawaiian government's relationship with the U.S. Government if that's what Native Hawaiians want. Hawaii News Now.

Some say it is all about protecting $450 million worth of programs that support Native Hawaiians against race-based legal challenges. It's about federal recognition and a "special political status"-- government to government. KITV4.

The U.S. government proposed Tuesday a process to reorganize a Native Hawaiian government. The proposal creates a process or procedure that would be followed if Native Hawaiians formed a unified government. KHON2.

Opinion: The casual racism and the more ominous state-sponsored oppression that the TMT episode has brought to the surface are reminders that, like oppressed people throughout America and the world, Hawaiians are still fighting for civil liberties and equality under the law. Hawaii Independent.

A telecom company that serves about 3,600 residents of Hawaiian Home Lands is facing mounting financial difficulties following a Monday ruling by the state Public Utilities Commission that cuts off its federal subsidies through at least March. Star-Advertiser.

Why Can’t the State Make Developers Keep Their Promises? The state Land Use Commission often lacks the power to enforce the conditions that developers agree to. Civil Beat.

The former head of the Department of Education's civil rights office has sued her former bosses, alleging that the DOE suppressed civil rights investigations, improperly shredded important documents and mishandled the department's policy for reporting child abuse. Hawaii News Now.

The former head of the Hawaii Department of Education's civil rights office has filed a lawsuit against her former bosses, claiming the department suppressed civil rights investigations, improperly shredded important documents and mishandled the department's policy for reporting child abuse. Associated Press.

Hawaii is ranked among the worst places to be a teacher in the nation, according to annual rankings by the website WalletHub released this week. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii’s Institute for Biogenesis Research is just 15 years old but has already made a serious impact on the local and national health landscape. The institute, which focuses on reproductive and developmental biomedical research, has attracted $40 million in outside funding over the past decade and a half. Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will host a "Bleachapalooza" event Saturday to spread awareness of the damaging effects of coral bleaching. Maui News.

Bank of Hawaii Corp. is exiting the aircraft leasing business and is disposing of six aircraft and a lease it has on another, according to a company filing Tuesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City officials are proposing zoning changes for about 282 acres around Waipahu’s two rail stations to facilitate development of mixed-use neighborhoods patterned after the city planners’ concept of “live, work and play.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers will be on the hook to pay for an increase in internships made available if the $4.3 billion sale of the Honolulu-based utility to NextEra Energy Inc. goes through, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

A state judge is giving former Honolulu police officer Danson Cappo, who pleaded no contest to theft, assault and property damage charges, a chance to eventually clear the offenses from his record. Star-Advertiser.

The fifth phase of the city’s enforcement in Kakaako happened Tuesday, and another block is now clear of what had been a massive homeless encampment. KHON2.

Hawaii

Trial began Tuesday morning over the claims of Native Hawaiians that the state is neglecting its duty to watch over the Army's lease of the huge Pohakuloa training area on the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Robert Emmett “Bob” Bethea, a retired attorney and prominent business and community leader, died Sept. 18 at Yukio Okutsu State Veterans Home in Hilo. He was 85. Tribune-Herald.

Star creation is a messy but spectacular process as an image released by Hawaii’s Gemini Observatory shows. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A heavy infestation of coqui frogs in Maliko Gulch has migrated toward Haliimaile and thousands of the critters have spilled onto neighboring properties, causing at least one homeowner to warn the public. Maui News.

Aided by increased air seats to Kahului, Maui's robust visitor industry continued to grow faster than any other county in the state in August, according to statistics released Monday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Maui News.

This Thursday, Oct. 1 is the ostensible deadline for the County of Maui to get its act together in regards to Act 136, the new state law that requires county Liquor Commissions to define dancing (since they’re so insistent on enforcing dancing restrictions). MauiTime.

Kauai

Life’s Choices Kauai, which is part of the Office of the Mayor, is conducting a survey about services for an adolescent treatment and healing center (ATHC) that will be built off Maalo Road in Kapaia. Garden Island.