Democrats debate tonight, fewer women judges, Hawaii County passes general excise tax surcharge as lava claims mount, Honolulu plastic bag ban goes into effect, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii children at play ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii landed in the middle of the pack, ranking 24th for child well-being among the 50 states, according to the 2018 Kids Count Data Book released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s population is projected in a state economic report to increase gradually and reach 1.65 million people by 2045, with the fastest growth occurring on the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Super Debate to feature Democratic candidates for 3 key races. Hawaii News Now.

Pivotal Oahu Seat Is Up For Grabs In OHA Elections. Peter Apo is leaving the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board, setting up a seven-way race to replace him. Civil Beat.

Fewer women are applying for judge positions in Hawaii. Today, women make up 39 percent of the 80 bench seats, compared with 36 percent in 2004. Star-Advertiser.

Insurer rescinds pot payout. Hawaii’s workers’ compensation insurers are grappling with reimbursements for medical marijuana claims that are slowly trickling in as more doctors certify patients to use cannabis as an alternative to opioids. Star-Advertiser.

New state law makes credit security freezes free for Hawaii residents. A new state law that went into effect on Sunday will allow Hawaii consumers to request free security freezes. Hawaii News Now.

Proposed bans on plastic straws run into resistance in Hawaii and dozens of U.S. cities. Associated Press.

Exhibitors showcase latest technology trends at RIMPAC's inaugural innovation fair. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Struggle For Power In Honolulu Is Coming To A Head. New taxes and other fees. More money for rail. Even monster houses. The fate of contentious city issues hinges on who’s elected. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat Wins Right To Intervene In HPD Arbitration Case. The news outlet has been seeking the report that gave Sgt. Darren Cachola his job back. Civil Beat.

No cleanup help for ‘floatilla’. Revelers at the annual Independence Day “floatilla” off of Waikiki are on their own this year as far as cleanup efforts are concerned, according to local nonprofit Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Protesters rally against zero-tolerance immigration policy. On Oahu people rallied at the state capitol and marched to the federal building. It was just one of hundreds of Families Belong Together events planned this weekend. KHON2.

Hundreds show up for the keep families together rally in Hawaii. KITV.

Don’t forget your reusable bags. Starting Sunday, Honolulu businesses will charge at least 15 cents per bag provided to customers at checkout. Star-Advertiser.

Stores react to new bag fee. KHON2.

Oahu DMV lines expected to get longer this summer. The state has a seen a surge of license renewals, leading to long lines at many centers. While the wait has increased for many, it is expected to be get even worse as renewals peak later this year. KITV.

After several delays, city to move forward with redevelopment of Varona Village. Long-awaited plans to revitalize a former plantation town are finally moving forward after several delays. Star-Advertiser.

A hearing on the possible eviction of former longtime employees of Campbell Estate heiress Abigail Kawananakoa from their Pearl City home will take place this week after being delayed. Star-Advertiser.

A failed business deal between the YMCA of Honolulu and a real estate development firm has descended into another legal dispute after the developer was ordered to pay the nonprofit $2 million. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Business Picked as Best Regional Business Magazine in the Country. Hawaii Business.

Civil Beat Named Best News Website In Hawaii. Journalism awards for Hawaii media were announced at the annual SPJ banquet Friday night. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

A one-quarter-percent surcharge will be added to the general excise tax in Hawaii County starting Jan. 1, following action Friday by the County Council. After teetering on both the winning and losing side of a 5-4 vote for months, the bill passed 7-2 just one day before the state-imposed deadline. West Hawaii Today.

Councilmembers voted to resurrect a failed bill on Friday, enacting a one- quarter (.25) percent general excise and use tax surcharge at the county level. Big Island Video News.

Mayor Harry Kim asked the council to pass the new general excise surcharge as Hawaii County faces a fiscal struggle made worse by the eruption of Kilauea Volcano in Puna. Big Island Video News.

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State Sen. Lorraine Inouye is proposing that Hawaii County officials prohibit new construction on thousands of lots in the two highest risk lava inundation zones to try to prevent another disaster on the scale of the ongoing May 3 eruption of Kilauea Volcano. Star-Advertiser.

County, state and federal lawmakers took part in a public forum on Saturday to discuss the future of the Puna district in light of the ongoing eruption of Kilauea Volcano. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Department of Health Expands Air Quality Monitoring on Hawaii Island. Maui Now.

Community organizers celebrated the spirit of collaboration Saturday as they officially dedicated a new micro-housing facility for residents displaced by the ongoing lava flow in Lower Puna. Star-Advertiser.

During a blessing of 20 small shelters for those displaced by the Kilauea eruption, Hope Services CEO Brandee Menino said it’s hard to put a price tag on the value of all the donated supplies and labor for the first transitional village. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reported Sunday that fissure No. 8 in Kilauea volcano’s lower East Rift Zone continues to be active and feeding a lava channel to the ocean at Kapoho, producing a broad ocean entry at Kapoho Beach Lots. The spatter cone was said to be about 180-feet high. Tribune-Herald.

What causes the collapse/explosion events at Kilauea’s summit? Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea eruption has shaken Volcano village. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii County is asking two companies to hold their bid prices for the Lono Kona sewer project until the U.S. Department of Agriculture approves the awarding of a contract. West Hawaii Today.

The state Public Utilities Commission voted 3-0 to give Hawaii Electric Light Co. a reduced rate increase so that the utility can meet its revenue requirement of $290.7 million. Star-Advertiser.

Nearly 2.3 million gallons of rain and wastewater were discharged from Big Island Dairy in Ookala over three days in May, before heading into nearby gulches. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Atay’s assistant is barred from Council Services floor, ag offices. Bardellini deemed to have violated policy on workplace violence. Maui Now.

The firefighter’s chief. Jeff Murray retires as second longest serving chief, willing to get into the mud and smoke. Maui News.

Maui hotels and resorts posted a rosy May with visitor arrivals by air up 7.3 percent over the same month last year, visitor spending up double-digits and revenues per room at $259 — the highest in the state — the Hawaii Tourism Authority said in two reports last week. Maui News.

Maui News staffers earn 16 awards from journalism professionals group. Maui’s Last Harvest nets journalism prize. Maui News.

Primates Find a Home in Upcountry Maui. For 34 years the Maui’s Pacific Primate Sanctuary has been home to monkeys - -marmosets and tamarind monkeys- which are not native to the islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Ensuring the government is in compliance with the ideal of capitalism is why Ana Mo Des is running for mayor. Garden Island.

Kauai Fire Department officials are reminding the public that a permit must be obtained by Tuesday to purchase and ignite firecrackers on the Fourth of July. Garden Island.

Plum season officially opened this weekend at Kauai's Kokee State Park. The sweet plums are an island favorite for many, and families enjoy making the trek up the mountain to pick the fruit. Hawaii News Now.