U.S. Rep. Takai to lie in state today, Kilauea volcano adds 8 acres to Big Island, hepatitis lawsuit filed, university project lost in space, Maui senator's house burned twice, Honolulu ride-hailing bill becomes law, little medical care on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kilauea Volcano flows to sea, courtesy USGS

Geologists and national park officials are warning people not to get too close to the lava entering the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

The journey starts deep within Earth and ends in one spectacular collision. On the southeast coast of Hawaii Island, molten rock continues to spill into the Pacific Ocean, creating billowing clouds of steam and adding new land to the rugged coastline. Tribune-Herald.

USGS

A field excursion provided Hawaii news media an opportunity to meet and interact with staff from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense, and the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the three agencies that monitor the active flow and help manage public safety on Kīlauea. Big Island Video News.

The late U.S. Rep. Mark Takai will lie in state today at the state Capitol courtyard, where visitors can pay respects from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Public viewing will begin following a short program, and a book of condolence will be available for the public to sign. Star-Advertiser.

The public is invited to pay their final respects to late Hawaii Congressman and longtime state legislator Mark Takai. KHON2.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission has advised state employees and lawmakers that they can accept free passes to a major environmental conference Sept. 1-10 in Honolulu. The International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress is set to hold its quadrennial meeting for the first time ever in the United States. Civil Beat.

Hawaii regulators have set a schedule for Hawaiian Electric Co.’s major energy plans, which will set the agenda for the state’s energy industry. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s State Of The Environment: Good, Bad And Ugly. A new report highlights challenges and opportunities. Civil Beat.

NASA today said it lost the payload of a suborbital rocket carrying student experiments — including one designed by University of Hawaii students — as it returned to Earth, a rare occurrence that’s being investigated. Star-Advertiser.

A former assistant attorney general of Missouri is now the chief counsel for the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, replacing Thomas Gorak, who moved into the position of commissioner on the PUC. Commission Chairman Randy Iwase appointed Caroline Ishida as chief counsel effective July 26. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Department of Health officials said Wednesday that they have identified 38 new cases of hepatitis A, bringing the total of this summer’s outbreak to 206 statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii authorities are urging diners to be aware of the risks of eating raw and undercooked food after they traced a hepatitis A outbreak to frozen scallops served raw at a sushi restaurant chain. Associated Press.

It took only a day for the first lawsuit to be filed. Oahu resident Brant Mauk filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Genki Sushi and Koha Foods alleging negligence for serving him the likely source of Hawaii’s ongoing hepatitis A outbreak. Civil Beat.

Those seeking Hep A vaccine encounter long lines, waits. Hawaii News Now.

Local travel industry leaders are gathering in Honolulu to discuss industry trends. The Hawaii chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association plans to meet at a Waikiki hotel on Thursday. Associated Press.

Oahu

Embattled executive Dan Grabauskas’ fate with the largest public works project in Hawaii history could be disclosed today as the board overseeing rail resumes its closed-door discussions on his job performance. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell allowed a bill placing regulations on Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing companies to become law without his signature Wednesday, citing logistical problems that he maintains could put the public’s safety in jeopardy. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has decided to allow a bill to regulate ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to go into law without his signature, and said in a press release that he hopes the City Council will work with his administration to amend it this fall. Civil Beat.

The state Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation temporarily will issue revocable permits for two sites in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, which were intended to be developed by Honey Bee USA as part of a public-private partnership. Star-Advertiser.

Once city and state officials signed a right-of-entry agreement early Friday, it wasn’t long before Honolulu police and state Department of Transportation workers descended on a busy traffic triangle on Atkinson Drive near Ala Moana Center to evict the homeless couple who had occupied the state-owned property for the better part of a year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille appears set to get a seat at the table if the Hawaii County Council forms a panel tasked with reducing waste from food packaging and other consumer products. Tribune-Herald.

More than 40 teachers, administrators and others came out Wednesday evening for a town hall meeting about the Every Student Succeeds Act and the future of public education in Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources earlier this year approved a marine reserve at Kaupulehu, enacting a 10-year rest period and creating a no-take area spanning a 3.6-mile stretch of West Hawaii coastline. The decision produced a divergence of opinion within the Native Hawaiian community as it was met with substantial resistance, particularly from Palikapu Dedman of the Pele Defense Fund, who asserted the ban was a violation of his religion and Hawaiian gathering rights. West Hawaii Today.

The Kapiolani Street extension is set to open this afternoon. A blessing of the completed work, which closes a 0.5-mile gap between Lanikaula Street and Mohouli Street, is planned for 11 a.m. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State Sen. J. Kalani English says he is installing a security video system at his home in Hana after someone set fire to his house for the second time in four months. Star-Advertiser.

Maui County is a step closer to acquiring more than 250 acres near the world-famous "Jaws" surf break in East Maui after a Maui County Council committee recommended approval Tuesday of a resolution to acquire the lands owned by Alexander & Baldwin. Maui News.

Kauai

About one third of Kauai’s population has to leave the island for hospital procedures, according to Barbara Kim Stanton, AARP Hawaii State director. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council unanimously voted Wednesday to approve exemptions for the Lima Ola Workforce Housing project to help ease an affordable housing crisis. Garden Island.