Thursday, June 7, 2018

Kilauea eruption sends ash miles into air, Hawaii County Council advances general excise tax, Honolulu to cap ride-share prices, political races firm up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USGS
Volcanic activity on June 6 PC:USGS
An ash eruption at the Kilauea summit sent a plume 10,000 feet above sea level Wednesday to punctuate a devastating 24-hour period in which lava covered the subdivision of Vacationland, leaving hundreds of homes likely destroyed. Star-Advertiser.

An explosive eruption at the summit of Kilauea Volcano sent an ash plume 10,000 ft above sea level at 4:07 p.m. on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano may be disrupting life in paradise with its bursts of ash and bright-orange lava, but it also has scientists wide-eyed, eager to advance what's known about volcanoes. Associated Press.

One U.S. Senate seat in Hawaii and both of our U.S. House seats will be on the Aug. 11 primary ballot. All 51 House seats are up for election along with 13 of the 25 state Senate seats. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Professional Assembly endorsed Beth Fukumoto to represent Hawaii's First Congressional district in the Democratic Primary. Hawaii News Now.

Why Women Lack Power In Hawaii’s Legislature. Men hold most of the leadership positions, setting the agenda and passing legislation. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council on Wednesday passed a $2.6 billion executive operating budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Star-Advertiser.

Feds May Require Honolulu To Sell Bonds For Rail Project. The City Council’s latest plan to demonstrate a willingness to help pay for rail construction has hit a snag. Civil Beat.

A bill that would lead to a cap on how much Uber, Lyft and other transportation network companies on Oahu could charge during peak hours won a 6-3 approval from the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

City Council Votes To Cap Uber And Lyft Prices. The restriction would be the first of its kind in the nation, the ride-sharing companies said. Civil Beat.

New bill caps surge pricing on ride sharing companies. KHON2.

City Council shoots down mayor's plan to change parking at Ala Moana Beach Park. KHON2.

A Waikiki beach stand ordered to explain why it's not complying with its contract. According to the Department of Environmental Services, concessions at Kuhio Beach are required to provide daily canoe rides to customers. KITV.

The U.S. House has approved a measure that includes $199 million for a flood control project in the Ala Wai watershed, including the Ala Wai Canal that borders Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu’s $4 Million Food Fight. The City Council approved funding for a facility to turn table scraps into compost, but others want the waste used for pig feed. Civil Beat.

Woman faces more than 100 years in prison for stealing millions from non-profit. KHON2.

Staff members and clients of The Arc in Hawaii, a nonprofit organization that provides services to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, packed a state courtroom Wednesday to hear Lola Jean Amorin plead no contest to two counts of first-degree theft, two counts of computer fraud, money laundering and 13 tax evasion charges. Star-Advertiser.

Lola Jean Amorin, 70, accused of embezzling nearly $7 million from the local non-profit, changed her plea to "No Contest" Wednesday. KITV.

UH-Manoa rises in another ranking of world’s universities. The University of Hawaii at Manoa is ranked No. 302 in the 2019 QS World University Ranking (QSWUR) by London-based Quacquarelli Symonds, according to the university in a news release today. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii has awarded a $33.3 million design-build contract to general contractor Kiewit Building Group and architecture firm Next Design for the design and construction of the Academy for Creative Media building on the UH West Oahu campus. Pacific Business News.

Oahu housing prices moved up slightly in May but sales continued to lag during the spring homebuying season amid concerns that rising interest rates may be starting to have a dampening effect. Star-Advertiser.

Home sales on Oahu declined by 8 percent in May, compared to a year ago, as the median price of a single-family home and condominium rose by more than 4 percent, according to separate reports from the Honolulu Board of Realtors and the Locations real estate firm. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island


Council passes GET-lite. It took a volcanic eruption and a few compromises to convince them, but a majority of County Council members now supports a half-sized version of the previously ill-fated general excise tax surcharge. West Hawaii Today.

A neighborhood called Vacationland had disappeared by Wednesday as lava poured into two oceanfront subdivisions, smothering hundreds of homes and filling an ocean bay, turning it into new land that now juts into the sea. Associated Press.

Mayor reflects on destruction of Kapoho. In the course of three days, hundreds of homes, farms and vacation rentals in Kapoho became buried under a relentless aa lava flow that turned lives upside down and erased an entire community from the map, leaving its iconic tide pools and gentle bay to live on in the memories of those who cherished them. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Lava Flow Swallows 279 Homes In 2 Coastal Subdivisions. An oceanfront subdivision known as Vacationland is the latest to be swallowed by lava flows as the Kilauea volcano continues to reshape the landscape on Hawaii's Big Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

After taking out entire neighborhoods and hundreds of homes in Kapoho, lava continues to reshape the coastline of the Big Island, cascading into the water and forming new land. Hawaii News Now.

Video Overflight: 300 Homes Destroyed in 48 Hours. Big Island Now.

Psychological Fatigue Sets in as Eruption Continues. Kilauea Volcano has been erupting for more than a month now. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tiny houses offer glimmer of hope — and home — for lava evacuees. As Hawaii County and the state discuss what to do about hundreds of lava evacuees, the first temporary housing project is already being built — without government help. Hawaii News Now.

20 micro-unit structures will go along along with some ancillary support facilities - such as restrooms and common area for meeting and dining - to be managed by HOPE Services. Big Island Video News.

Residents feel safe despite lava but chafe at government controls. Star-Advertiser.

Confusion, apprehension and frustration, along with a greater-than-capacity crowd, spilled out the open doors of the West Hawaii Civic Center’s County Council Chambers Wednesday night at a meeting to discuss deteriorating air quality in the region. West Hawaii Today.

A community meeting about volcanic ash and vog will take place today in Volcano. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Cooper Center. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently published a notice of intent to prepare a draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement addressing the potential effects of operations and maintenance activities on the endangered Hawaiian hoary bat, Hawaiian goose and Hawaiian petrel at four wind farms in the state, including one in Kau. West Hawaii Today.

W. M. Keck Observatory officials on Tuesday disclosed the discovery of an oil leak from the hydraulic system supporting the Keck I telescope. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

A Maui committee has approved a charter amendment that would increase the penalty for illegal vacation rentals to $20,000. Associated Press.

A charter amendment to establish a $20,000 penalty for illegal transient accommodations and a proposal to streamline the processing of legal claims against the county were recommended for approval by a Maui County Council committee Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui County Council Member Elle Cochran pressed for answers Wednesday about the extent to which county directors, including Managing Director Keith Regan, contributed money to Mayor Alan Arakawa’s campaign. Maui News.

Maui candidates set for competitive election races. Seven vie for mayor’s seat; all council races contested. Maui News.

Gov. David Ige has signed a bill that will provide $700,000 for scholarships to help students attend community colleges in the University of Hawaii system, including UH-Maui College. Maui News.

Kauai

Emergency permitting bill passed. Due to April’s historic flooding and landslides that left many homes destroyed or damaged, the Kauai County Council passed an emergency bill Wednesday that would expedite the permitting process for impacted homesteads, residential and agricultural buildings. Garden Island.

Nearly 2 months after historic floods, recovery on Kauai has just begun. Hawaii News Now.

First 2018 Kauai Hawaiian monk seal pup is a female. Kauai’s first monk seal pup of the season has already been weaned and the large pup is learning to forage for her own food on the South Side. Garden Island.

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