Pair of powerful storms approach Hawaii, Honolulu prepares for Obama visit, federal appeals court dismisses Hawaiian sovereignty lawsuit, Maui hospital deal collapses, Ige protective order fails in Thirty Meter Telescope case, foster parents get a raise, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Madeline 2 a.m. HST Tuesday, National Weather Service

At 5:00 a.m., the center of Hurricane Madeline was about 445 miles east of Hilo. Madeline is moving toward the west near 10 mph (17 km/h) and this motion is expected to become west southwesterly later today through early Thursday. KHON2.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Big Island while a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for Maui County as Hurricane Madeline draws nearer to the state as a Category 3 storm. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Madeline weakened slightly overnight but was still a powerful Category 3 storm and the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm warning for Hawaii island and a tropical storm watch for Maui County this morning. The Big Island is also under a hurricane watch. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Madeline now a Cat. 4 storm. KITV.

The National Weather Service says Hurricane Madeline could come dangerously close to the Big Island by Wednesday and may have impacts worse than Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Lester has weakened slightly, but remains a category 3 storm as it churns toward the Central Pacific. Hawaii News Now.

A federal appeals court Monday dismissed an appeal about whether a vote seen as a step toward self-governance for Native Hawaiians should be open only to Native Hawaiians or to all of the state’s registered voters, saying the issue does not merit consideration because the U.S. Supreme Court issued an injunction against such a vote. Associated Press.

Hawaii foster parents will see a boost in the amount the state pays them to care for foster children under an $85 million settlement announced Monday that’s expected to resolve a federal class-action lawsuit and related case filed in state court. Star-Advertiser.

Foster parents in Hawaii will get more money to help pay expenses for the children in their care under a lawsuit settlement announced Monday. Civil Beat.

The state’s largest labor union backed a slate of Democratic candidates heading into the Aug. 13 primary election, shelling out thousands of dollars in contributions and providing extra bodies to do campaign grunt work. The Hawaii Government Employees Association, which represents more than 42,000 state and county workers, endorsed the winner in most races. Civil Beat.

The director of such films as “Freedom,” which starred Cuba Gooding Jr., and “David and Goliath” is helming a new $50 million film about Hawaii’s beginnings that will be shot entirely in Hawaii and create hundreds of jobs in the state. Pacific Business News.

Oahu
President Barak Obama is headed to Honolulu where he’s expected to address members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – the I-U-C-N.    In the meantime, preparations for his visit are at a fevered pitch in a number of places on O’ahu. Hawaii Public Radio.

An incident on the H-1 freeway Aug. 1 that left three people with stab wounds and closed several lanes for five hours has prompted a Honolulu city councilman to introduce a bill to discourage road rage. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal investigators raided the Maile Sky Court in Waikiki on Monday in response to allegations of construction irregularities at a $25 million renovation project there. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii School Aide Said He Saw Abuse, Then He Got Fired. The Department of Education is silent about a claim that an educational assistant poured iced coffee over the head of a student. Civil Beat.

Promoters of a planned $25 million artificial reef containing cremated human remains off Hawaii Kai are dropping their “memorial reef” proposal but will push ahead with trying to establish a new fish habitat. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Kai Satellite City Hall and police substation at Hawaii Kai Towne Center will relocate to a different site in East Honolulu after the property owner more than doubled the rent. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A proposed order seeking to prevent Gov. David Ige from testifying in the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case was denied Monday. Tribune-Herald.

A breakdown in Maui hospital negotiations over the weekend could delay similar privatization plans for Kona Community Hospital. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard visited three East Hawaii farms and met with agriculture researchers Monday as part of a statewide tour during Congress’ summer recess. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Kaiser Permanente now plans to wait until July 1 to take over three state-run Maui County medical facilities, a decision that means further delays for the largest privatization effort in state history. It could also mean the Maui hospital operations will be scaled back in the months ahead, according to a top hospital executive. Star-Advertiser.

The much postponed transition of Maui’s three public hospitals to Kaiser Permanent management hit a new setback today with the news that Kaiser has written a letter to Governor Ige to postpone the official start date until July 1, 2017. Maui Watch.

Maui has made great strides toward saving some of its most vulnerable native plants, but many local habitats are still facing "desperate situations," environmental experts said Sunday. Maui News.

Kauai

Today is the last day to share feedback on two alternative plans for the Black Pot Beach Park Master Plan. Garden Island.

Over the past two years, Kauai Forest Bird Recovery Project has led expeditions into the forests of Kauai’s Alakai Wilderness Preserve, searching for the nests of two bird species: the akikiki and the akekee. Garden Island.