Prepping for RimPac, lava forces more evacuations, election signup deadline nears, $220M Honolulu airport addition planned, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Leaving Rumut, Malaysia, for RimPac. The Air Times Network

The Navy said Wednesday that 26 nations, 47 surface ships, five submarines and more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate in this summer’s big Rim of the Pacific exercises June 27 to Aug. 2, mainly in in Hawaii but also in Southern California. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Pacific Command, the oldest and largest of the military’s major commands, officially received a name change Wednesday, reflecting evolving priorities, including a “great power” competition with China. Star-Advertiser.

Pentagon Salutes US-India Ties With Pacific Command Name Change. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis announces the change at Pearl Harbor as he welcomes a new commander. Civil Beat.

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. announced on Wednesday that he officially submitted his nomination for the Lt. Governor seat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Is Short On Poll Workers As The Primary Approaches. The state is trying to fill almost 3,000 one-day positions for the Aug. 11 primary, and it’s only about halfway there. Star-Advertiser.

The deadline to file nomination papers to appear on the 2018 Election ballot is Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. Maui Now.

Hawaii tour company to pay $570k to settle sexual harassment suit. KHON2.

State takes first step toward lucrative hemp industry with new research program. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Winner Of Governor’s Race Will Have Stronger Hand In Rail Project. Colleen Hanabusa and David Ige have played varying roles in moving the project forward, while Clayton Hee wants to curtail construction. Civil Beat.

Ex-police chief, wife plead not guilty to financial, obstruction charges. Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday to financial and obstruction charges. Hawaii News Now.

New Indictment Against Kealohas Focuses on Bank Fraud, Identify Theft. Defense attorneys had wrongly hoped federal prosecutors were dropping conspiracy charges involving an alleged mailbox theft. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Transportation broke ground Wednesday on a $220 million, two-level Mauka Concourse at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to begin the next phase of Hawaii’s airport modernization plan. Star-Advertiser


$220M Airport Modernization Project Launched. The next phase of the long-awaited airport modernization project was launched on Oahu today. Star-Advertiser.

First look at new Mauka Concourse at Daniel K. Inouye Airport in Honolulu.  KHON

State officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the Mauka Concourse on Wednesday morning, marking a new step in a series of renovations at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Hawaii News Now.

The new operator of the Kuhio Beach concession stands that provide surf lessons, board rentals, umbrellas, chairs and canoe rides has encountered resistance from opponents since opening Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo said it is looking to hire up to 200 workers for its new store at Ala Moana Center, slated to open this fall. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

State Rep. Joy San Buenaventura said she believes Gov. David Ige can make it easier for Lower Puna residents displaced by the Kilauea eruption to find emergency housing by issuing two executive orders and allowing “ohana zones.” Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Harry Kim signed a second supplementary emergency proclamation on Thursday due to to the ongoing Kilauea eruption. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Kim Announces Change in Emergency Procedure. Big Island Now.

A shortage of rental housing in East Hawaii has become part of the ongoing crisis caused by the lava from Kilauea volcano, which has destroyed homes and forced hundreds of lower Puna residents to evacuate. Tribune-Herald.

Police launched a dramatic house-to-house evacuation of the Vacationland and Kapoho Beach Lots subdivisions in Puna early Wednesday morning as fast-moving lava threatened the last route out for residents of those communities, but the flow slowed later in the day without blocking the coastal highway. Star-Advertiser

Nearly four weeks after eruptions started in lower Puna, lava has wiped out at least 75 homes, active flows continue to cover major thoroughfares and threaten properties, and the volcanic activity still shows no signs of stopping. Hawaii News Now.

The Latest: Kilauea Eruption Update. KITV.

Lava Speeds Up And Forces More Evacuations As Despair Grows. More refugees are likely headed for the Pahoa Community Center, where hundreds already reside. Some have been there for weeks. Civil Beat.

Kapoho area under evacuation, lava approaching Beach Road. KHON2.

Bulldozers began digging their way through lava rock on Chain of Craters Road on Wednesday as molten rock continued to threaten the “Four Corners” area in Kapoho. Tribune-Herald.

Goodfellow Bros. Inc. began work on Wednesday to clear nearly a mile of solidified lava to prepare an evacuation route through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in the event the only highway leading from the coast is cut off by the latest eruption of Kilauea volcano. Pacific Business News.

The Pride of America canceled its Wednesday visit to Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Despite vog, half-Ironman race on Kohala Coast will go ahead. Star-Advertiser.

Explosive eruptions at Halemaumau Crater have overwhelmed Ka'u neighborhoods on the Big Island for weeks, and residents in the area say more needs to be done to inform them about how the emissions are affecting them. Hawaii News Now.

Lava scientists’ drone guides lost resident through jungle. Star-Advertiser.

Stranded Leilani Estates Man Instructed to “Follow the Drone to Safety”. Maui Now.

An eleventh-hour escape from a lava-doomed home was more sedate than might be expected, recounted a Leilani Estates resident who was rescued by emergency responders Sunday night. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Council gives final approval to fiscal 2019 county budget. The Maui County Council approved a $758.3 million county budget for fiscal 2019 on Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui Professor Selected for 2018 Omidyar Fellows Program. Maui Now.

Kauai

North Shore seeks balance between locals, tourists. Residents on Kauai’s North Shore don’t want life to go back to the way it was before the April floods. Garden Island.

Kauai County rolls out updates on transportation, garbage collection for residents affected by severe flooding. Hawaii News Now.

Tiny homes tucked into backyards of existing houses could be the answer to Hawaii’s housing crisis. Garden Island.