'Lava bomb' pierces roof of tour boat, injures 23; Case out front in congressional race poll; Green widens lead for lieutenant governor; voters want Gabbard to debate; feds pledge $345M to prevent Waikiki flooding, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

VIDEO: Huge Explosion At Lava Ocean Entry, Injuries Reported. Big Island Video News.

‘Lava bomb’ through roof of tour boat injures 23 off Hawaii island. Lava Ocean Tours, the lava boat tour operator whose 23 passengers were injured Monday morning by lava bombs, had a special permit to come within 50 meters of the lava’s ocean entry point, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Star-Advertiser.

DLNR

A basketball-sized lava bomb slammed through the roof of a tour boat near an active fissure of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano early Monday morning, showering the vessel with debris and injuring 23 people, according the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency. Hawaii Public Radio.

An explosion caused by lava oozing into the ocean sent molten rock crashing through the roof of a sightseeing boat off Hawaii’s Big Island, injuring 23 people Monday, officials said. Associated Press.

The captain of a lava tour boat hit by what authorities called a “lava bomb” Monday morning near the Kapoho lava ocean entry said he never saw the explosion that rained molten rocks down on top of his boat. Tribune-Herald.

23 injured after explosion hurls 'basketball-sized' lava bomb onto tour boat. Hawaii News Now.

'We're just covered in lava.' Couple on boat tour describes moments after lava bomb hits. KHON2.

Lava bomb hits tour boat, injures 23 people. KITV.

Coast Guard, DLNR investigate lava tourism agency after boating accident. KITV.

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Former Congressman Ed Case has established a commanding lead in the race for the congressional seat representing urban Oahu, apparently siphoning off enough potential votes from state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim as to knock her down to a distant third place in the Democratic primary, according to the latest Honolulu Star-Advertiser Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

Kim Outspends The Pack In Crowded Race For Congress. The state senator spent $350,000 in the last three months, while former congressman Ed Case loaned himself $150,000. Civil Beat.

Donna Kim winning race for cash in battle for Congressional seat. Hawaii News Now.

Heading into the final month of the campaign, state Sen. Josh Green has substantially widened his lead over four other Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor, the latest Honolulu Star-Advertiser Hawaii Poll shows. Star-Advertiser.

A large majority of neighbor island and rural Oahu Democratic voters in U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s district think she has an obligation to debate her less famous opponents this election year, according to a new Honolulu Star-Advertiser Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

KHON2 and AARP Hawaii present "The Race for Governor," a live, televised debate between Democratic candidates Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa and incumbent Gov. David Ige. KHON2.

A clear majority of the state’s registered voters remain supportive of the idea of safe zones for homeless encampments where people could stay without fear of getting repeatedly removed, according to the results of the latest Honolulu Star-Advertiser Hawaii Poll. Star-Advertiser.

Survivors Of Childhood Abuse Urge Others To Seek Justice. The state has again extended the statute of limitations for filing lawsuits in cases of alleged childhood sexual abuse. Civil Beat.

A year-round medication drop-box program is being implemented on the Big Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Feds Will Spend $345 Million To Prevent A Devastating Waikiki Flood. Every year there’s a small chance a flood will engulf Waikiki, destroying buildings and throwing Hawaii’s tourist mecca into mayhem. Civil Beat.

The City of Honolulu's Climate Change Commission presented the "Sea Level Rise Guidance and Climate Change Brief" to Mayor Kirk Caldwell on July 16, prompting him to sign a directive requiring all departments and agencies under his jurisdiction, to take action to prevent sea level rise. KHON2.

Mayor Caldwell issues directives to take action against climate change. KITV.

Meat seen on a Chinatown sidewalk was being made into char siu, restaurant says. Hawaii News Now.

Rocky, the Hawaiian monk seal who last year gave birth on Waikiki Beach, returned to a more isolated site to give birth Monday to her 11th pup. Star-Advertiser.

Weekend closure of the Kipapa Stream Bridge begins July 20 for bridge rehabilitation work. KHON2.

Honolulu sees 33% increase in businesses for sale in Q2 2018. There are more businesses for sale in Honolulu than there were at this time last year, but the median revenue and cashflow of those businesses is on the decline, according to a recent report from BizBuySell.com. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Two Big Island legislative incumbents are raising less money than their challengers, while most are socking away solid funding advantages over those running against them. West Hawaii Today.

Accident could hurt lava boat tours. Despite the news that 23 people were injured Monday when a lava bomb hit a Lava Oceans Tours boat, the isle’s other three certified lava boat tour operators reported they were still getting calls from customers wanting to venture close to the lava flow. Star-Advertiser.

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory said this morning’s explosion at the main ocean entry near Ahalanui was the typical result of an interaction between hot, molten lava and cool seawater. Star-Advertiser.

Figures at the front line of the opioid fight. West Hawaii Today.

Pop-A-Lock of Oahu has expanded to the Big Island with Pop-A-Lock Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui County Water Supply Director Dave Taylor has resigned to become the county’s energy/countywide capital improvements project coordinator with the Department of Management, ending an eight-month saga that began when Mayor Alan Arakawa tried to remove Taylor but the County Council refused. Maui News.

Work to replace Kahakuloa Bridge along the Kahekilli Highway will separate the Wailuku and Kapalua sides of Kahakuloa Village for 10 days, during which time no motor vehicles will be able drive across. Maui Now.

A female hiker reported being assaulted at Haleakala Crater at Haleakala National Park on Sunday, according to the National Park Service. Star-Advertiser.

The number of solar permits issued in Maui County plunged 23 percent during the first six months of the year. Star-Advertiser.

Maui’s Road to Hana made FlightNetwork’s top 50 list of the World's Best Travel Journeys in 2018. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Derek Kawakami, Kauai Council councilman and mayoral candidate, reported contributions of $204,071 to his campaign, the most of those seeking the highest office on Kauai. Garden Island.

Why Hanalei Has Turned Into A Traffic Nightmare. With the North Shore’s marquee destinations still off-limits to tourists, the small town has become a packed daytime destination. Civil Beat.

Some members of the Westside Watershed Council and concerned citizens say a Westside beach park that’s sacred to them is being neglected and they are calling for immediate repairs. Garden Island.

Applicants for FEMA aid can appeal decision. Kauai County and the City and County of Honolulu residents who have registered with Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance have the right to appeal any of the agency’s decisions made about their eligibility or the assistance they received. Applicants have 60 days from the date on FEMA’s decision letter to file an appeal. Garden Island.