Big boost planned for military spending in Hawaii, Honolulu judge expands family members on travel ban immigrant list, Hurricane Fernanda still far away, solider pledging IS support claims mental illness defense, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii Island © 2017 All Hawaii News

Schatz Announces Big Increase In Military Spending For Hawaii. If a subcommittee’s Thursday vote holds up, the islands would see $266 million in spending in fiscal year 2018, up from $197 million. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is set to receive more than $266 million in federal funding for military construction and upgrade projects across the state after the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge in Honolulu has expanded the Trump administration’s list of family relationships needed by people seeking new visas from six mostly Muslim countries to avoid a travel ban. U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson ruled Thursday that the travel ban exemptions should include grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and other relatives. Star-Advertiser.

In another setback for President Donald Trump, a federal judge in Hawaii has further weakened his already diluted travel ban by vastly expanding the list of family relationships with U.S. citizens that visa applicants can use to get into the U.S. Associated Press.

A federal judge in Honolulu on Thursday expanded the list of family relationships needed by people seeking new visas from six mostly Muslim countries to avoid President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Associated Press.

The Hawaii judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration in March placed limits Thursday on how the scaled-back version of the travel ban should be enforced. Civil Beat.

Fernanda strengthens into major hurricane far east of islands. It is still too early to tell what kind of effects, if any, this storm will have on Hawaii, but early computer models show a track that moves in a direction toward the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Fernanda in the Eastern Pacific continued strengthening today, reaching major hurricane status. Star-Advertiser.

Fernanda reached hurricane strength Thursday and the storm’s expected to continue rapidly strengthening as it marches west toward the Hawaiian Islands. West Hawaii Today.

The lawyer for an Army soldier accused of pledging his support and allegiance to the Islamic State says the government knew or should have known that Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Erik Kang was suffering from mental illness but, instead of helping him, continued to exploit Kang’s condition until he committed a crime. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. soldier accused of wanting to commit a mass shooting after pledging loyalty to the Islamic State group believed the moon landing was faked, questioned the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and thought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were an inside job coordinated by the U.S. government, according to a former Army bunkmate. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s public school system, which employs more than 13,000 teachers, has struggled for years with a chronic teacher shortage. A licensed first-year teacher in Hawaii makes $47,443. A new contract signed in April provides for a cumulative salary increase of 13.6 percent over four years. Civil Beat.

No Relief In Sight For High Cost Of Prison Phone Calls. After a federal court overturned a national limit on the price of the calls, activists turn to state and local governments. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Plans to modernize Blaisdell Center could cost upwards of $500M. Hawaii News Now.

Big, expensive changes are proposed for the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. On Thursday, nearly 150 people attended the city's second workshop to weigh-in on the city's "Master Plan" for the center. KITV.

Public weighs in on the future of Neal S. Blaisdell Center. KHON2.

A proposed charter school to serve Ewa Beach families got the green light Thursday from the state Public Charter School Commission, but two other Oahu schools were rejected. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents saw a dime shaved off their electricity bills in July primarily due to lower fees collected for energy efficiency programs. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with Matheson Tri-Gas to close three cesspools at its Kapolei facility on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A fallen chunk of concrete is raising safety concerns under the H-1 viaduct. State Department of Transportation officials say they checked out the site and believe it is structurally safe. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Audits of county hiring and cash-handling practices should be completed in the next few months, legislative Auditor Bonnie Nims said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii residents had the chance to discuss the impacts of upcoming changes to the region’s flood insurance rate maps during an open house session Wednesday evening. Tribune-Herald.

After a malfunction at the recently repaired Keahuolu Deepwell put North Kona on the edge of water service disruptions, Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has pulled the system back from the brink. West Hawaii Today.

The former Uncle Billy’s hotel is attracting its last customers — for a liquidation sale. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission was split Tuesday on a proposed construction materials recycling facility in South Maui, which some say would help handle future projects on island but that others think should be located elsewhere. Maui News.

One by one, the island’s eucalyptus trees are dying. Maui News.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Luncheon with the Mayor from noon to 2 p.m. July 28 at the Maui Beach Hotel. Maui News.

Lloyd Loope, who became Haleakala National Park’s first research scientist in 1980 and went on to become one of the state’s leading advisers in the war against invasive species, has died at the age of 74. Star-Advertiser.

The cane is long gone but the sugar museum continues to grow. Maui News.

Kauai

The Land Use Commission will vote this month on changing the land designation at Kauai Community College from ag to urban, and officials say the recently approved university district will help streamline that process. Garden Island.

Nawiliwili Yacht Club is fighting for its lease of the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, set to expire in September and go up on the block for public auction. Garden Island.

There is no date set for the next community meeting regarding the proposed change of address for the Lihue post office, according to Duke Gonzales, USPS spokesman. Garden Island.