Gubernatorial debate a go, Marriott workers strike, first humpback of season spotted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige and GOP challenger Andria Tupola ©2018 All Hawaii News

Tupola agrees to include lieutenant governor candidates in debate. Democratic Gov. David Ige and his Republican challenger, Rep. Andria Tupola, will participate in a live televised debate hosted by KHON at 9 p.m. Oct. 15 that will include their lieutenant governor running mates. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige is offering a second plum judicial appointment to his high school friend and former campaign manager Keith K. Hiraoka, nominating Hiraoka to one of six seats on the state Intermediate Court of Appeals. Star-Advertiser.

Marriott workers strike for higher wages. In Hawaii’s largest hotel strike in nearly 30 years, 2,700 Unite Here Local 5 hotel workers from five Marriott-operated hotels in Waikiki and on Maui walked off the job Monday, demanding better wages and job security. Star-Advertiser.

2,700 Workers Strike At Popular Waikiki Hotels. The work stoppage comes despite management agreement to subsidize worker housing. Civil Beat.

2,700 Marriott Hotel workers went on strike this morning in Waikiki and Maui. Hawaii Public Radio.

Thousands of Marriott Hotel workers on strike across Maui and Oahu. KHON2.

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Hawaii Immigrants Seek Legal Help to Secure U.S. Citizenship. More than 50,000 immigrants in Hawaii are eligible to become American citizens but have not yet applied. Hawaii Public Radio.


The Hawaii Department of Health received a $3.9 million Health Resources and Services Administration grant over a two-year period to continue its proactive, voluntary, preventive home visiting program. Garden Island.

The 17th annual "Native Hawaiian Convention" kicked off Monday. The theme this year was Ke'au Hawaii or "Year of the Hawaiian." KITV.

Oahu

Convention Center seeking more cash for maintenance. The Hawaii Convention Center, which opened in 1988, has approximately $53 million worth of repairs to complete by 2024 and will likely need an appropriation this year from the state Legislature to help with the fixes, officials said. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmaker: City moving too slowly on project that would help mentally ill on the streets. One day after an officer-involved shooting that left a homeless man dead, state Sen. Josh Green criticized the city for moving too slowly on a project that would help the mentally ill living on the streets. Hawaii News Now.

The latest fatal shooting by a Honolulu Police officer is igniting a renewed call to do more to get help for homeless people who may be mentally ill. KHON2.

Federal judge awards former OCCC inmate $30K for 2015 beating. A federal judge has awarded a former Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate $30,000 for a December 2015 beating by an adult corrections officer. Hawaii News Now.

Are We Ready? Or Not? Civil Beat explores how vulnerable Hawaii’s most populous island is if a hurricane hits — and what’s being done to make us more prepared. A 7-Part Special Report. Civil Beat.

How The Ala Wai Canal Puts Honolulu’s Most Valuable Real Estate At Risk. Congress has authorized $345 million to strengthen the aging canal to protect against flooding in Waikiki and nearby neighborhoods. Civil Beat.

If The Big One Hits, Honolulu Harbor Is A Fragile Lifeline. The isolated islands would rapidly burn through food and supplies should the port close. Plan B is to bring limited goods through Pearl Harbor. Civil Beat.

Most Of Oahu’s Shelters Are A Long Way From Hurricane Ready. The state is assessing the conditions of shelters and retrofitting some, but the work is expensive and slow. Civil Beat.

Monkeypod in Moiliili honors Japanese immigrants. City officials held a dedication ceremony Tuesday morning for a monkeypod tree that was planted in place of a banyan removed at Moiliili Triangle two months ago. Star-Advertiser.

A dedication ceremony was held Monday at Moiliili Triangle for a newly planted monkeypod tree. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Leilani residents mull how to control entry into lava-ravaged area. A plan to erect a permanent gate controlling access to Leilani Estates threatens to divide subdivision residents both figuratively and literally. Tribune-Herald.

Waikoloa Highlands development to face Land Use Commission. A 731-acre project that’s languished for a decade is at risk of being reverted to an agricultural land reclassification. West Hawaii Today.

UH-Hilo equine class pairs students with lava-displaced animals. Tribune-Herald.

Ironman week is upon us. Approximately 2,500 athletes ready to take on the Ironman World Championship joined by their family, friends and crew are piling into Kailua-Kona for the event’s 40th installment that gets underway Saturday morning. West Hawaii Today.

Public access to Maunakea lands will be closed for two days this month while the Department of Land and Natural Resources conducts animal-control activities. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Pacific Whale Foundation on Maui said it spotted its first humpback whale of the season Monday morning. Star-Advertiser.

The Pacific Whale Foundation’s Ocean Explorer vessel reported spotting its first whale sighting of the season with assistance from Maui Diamond this morning, Oct. 8, 2018 at 8:08 a.m. Maui Now.

325 Sheraton Maui Hotel Workers on Strike. More than 2,700 Hawaii hotel workers are on strike in five hotels operated by Marriott and owned by Kyo-ya, including the Sheraton Maui in Kaanapali. Maui Now.

Prosecutors reach plea deal with Maui minister in child sex assault case. Hawaii News Now.

A new guided tour in Makawao town is taking a stroll through history. Trial walkabout tours set for the first Sunday of the month through December. Maui News.

Maui home, condo prices soared in September. Real estate prices surged on Maui in September but sales for single-family homes and condominiums were lower than the same time a year ago due to shrinking inventory. Star-Advertiser.

The median price of a single-family home on Maui jumped 16 percent in September, compared to a year ago, and the median price of a condominium jumped 18 percent, compared to September 2017, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Blackstone buying Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui. Blackstone Group, which paid more than $1 billion at the beginning of 2018 to buy the Grand Wailea resort, is continuing its Hawaii buying spree this year with the acquisition of The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Ready to be counted. Today is the last day to register to vote in the general election. The county’s drive-thru voter registration booth will be in the parking lot behind the Election’s Division office. Garden Island.

The County of Kauai Planning Department was recognized last week for professional excellence in planning by two professional societies regarding its work with the Kauai General Plan Update (2018) and the South Kauai Community Plan (2015). Garden Island.

Sales of 8 condo units help push Kauai median price up 80% in September. Pacific Business News.