Teachers rally for education tax, Norwegian Cruise Line promotes post-eruption tourism, Navy responds to Red Hill concerns, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Teachers rally in Honolulu, Hawaii State Teachers Association Facebook photo

On Citizen Initiatives, Courts — Not Voters — Often Have The Last Word. Statewide citizen initiatives aren’t authorized in Hawaii. But each of the four counties allow voters to place proposed laws directly on the ballot. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Guess Which Agency Can Impose A State Tax? As voters weigh ballot question on property taxes, keep in mind that the DOE can collect what’s know as “school impact fees.” Civil Beat.

Commentary: There Are Good Reasons To Support The Education Tax. For one, it could reduce home prices. For another, teachers would be paid more. Civil Beat.

The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii donated $600,000 Monday to a political action committee formed to encourage residents to vote “no” on a ballot measure in the general election that asks whether the state should be empowered to levy property taxes in support of public education. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Chamber of Commerce is donating $600,000 against the amendment that teachers will likely be voting for. KITV.

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Norwegian Cruise Line is offering a bodacious airfare promotion to help stimulate travel to islands in the aftermath of the Kilauea eruption. Star-Advertiser.

NCL: The Big Island is ‘open for business’. In the hope of bringing more tourists to the Big Island, Norwegian Cruise Line invited dozens of travel professionals and journalists to an event celebrating the culture and history of the island. Tribune-Herald.

Norwegian Cruise Line launches promotion to encourage travel to Hawaii. Starting Thursday, Oct. 4, the cruise line is offering customers free and reduced airfare from 37 airports across the country and Vancouver, British Columbia, to encourage travel to Hawaii as a new, limited-time Free At Sea offer. KHON2.

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The Office of Elections and County Clerks will be conducting drive-thru voter registration at various locations statewide. KHON2.

Should Psychologists Be Able To Prescribe Drugs? Lawmakers have confronted the question for decades. Proponents say it could boost access to treatment, while opponents warn of opening up patients to subpar care. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Pearl Harbor museums hoping for resumed USS Arizona Memorial access. It’s not been the best of summers for the four public museums and memorials in Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Judge forces changes to private Moiliili road. A state judge kind of played the role of traffic cop Tuesday, allowing a private landowner to finish widening a road that is largely owned by a neighboring property owner but open to public use. Star-Advertiser.

Navy Responds to Concerns Over Red Hill. January will mark five years since 27,000 gallons of fuel leaked out of a massive underground facility at Red Hill and we still don’t know where it all went. Hawaii Public Radio.

Red Hill meeting canceled due to lack of timely notice. An annual meeting called to monitor safety improvements at the Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility near Pearl Harbor has been canceled after Hawaii Department of Health officials failed to provide adequate public notice of the meeting in violation of Hawaii’s Sunshine Law, which governs public meeting requirements for government boards and commissions. Star-Advertiser.

A major change is in the works for Hawaii’s only women’s prison. State lawmakers set aside $40 million to expand the Women’s Community Correctional Center. Hawaii News Now.

A vacant 6.8 acre parcel in Kailua in two years could become the first park of its kind in Hawaii — dog friendly and complete with water features, rock climbing apparatus, playground equipment, workout machines and a community garden. Star-Advertiser.

Resurfacing of Kamehameha Highway to begin. Pearl City commuters will face more lane closures in coming weeks but they will have a smoother surface to drive on before the holidays. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City will soon go back to 3 lanes each way. For roughly two years, the commute along Kamehameha Highway has been a rough ride for drivers, residents and businesses because of rail construction. Hawaii News Now.

A Filipino evangelist and big supporter of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is being accused by a former church follower of running a “child sex ring.” Kristina Angeles came to Hawaii on a religious visa in 2014 working for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church in Waipahu. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Lava viewing site takes shape.  “Managing expectations” will be key to the success of a public-private partnership to create a lava viewing area now that the lava flow has subsided. West Hawaii Today.

Despite Eruption, No Support For Pahoa, Volcano Business Tax Breaks. Resolution 690 is requesting amnesty for commercially zoned properties in Pahoa and Volcano Village by assessing them the minimum property tax rate. Big Island Video News.

Governor David Ige has signed a fourth supplementary proclamation to support Hawaii Island’s recovery from the Kilauea Volcano’s lava flows and activity. Maui Now.

County will hold off on clearing Highway 137 near Pohoiki. Despite discussion last month about possibly reopening Highway 137 in lower Puna, Mayor Harry Kim said Tuesday that lava cannot be cleared from the highway until more than six months have passed since Kilauea eruption’s pause. Tribune-Herald.

Teachers, others show support for amendment. A number of teachers, along with some students and parents, lined sidewalks in front of Hilo High and Hilo Intermediate schools early Tuesday morning. Tribune-Herald.

Aggressive strain of rapid ohia death detected at Kalopa State Recreation Area. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee continues to mull over what to do with 50 residential lots the county acquired in a legal settlement seven years ago, following a failed attempt earlier this year to sell the lots at a discounted price for affordable housing. Maui News.

Wristbands for Pools of Oheo are considered. Haleakala National Park is considering a wristband reservation system at the Pools of Oheo in the Kipahulu District due to increased visitor traffic and concerns about rockfalls and flash flooding. Maui News.

Wastewater disposal in Maalaea is topic. The Maalaea Village Association will hold a town meeting at 5 p.m. Friday at the Pacific Whale Foundation’s downstairs classroom at the Maui Harbor Shops in Maalaea. Maui News.

Calls to support schools. Maui High School and Maui Waena Intermediate School teachers wave signs along Lono Avenue in Kahului on Tuesday morning in support of a constitutional amendment on taxation on the Nov. 6 ballot that would allow the state Legislature to place a surcharge on investment properties to support public education. Maui News.

Maui Teachers Join Statewide HSTA Walk-in Protest. Frustrated by the lack of funding in Hawaii’s schools and by Hawaii being ranked worst in the country for teachers just last week by a national survey, educators around the state are participating in a walk-in protest today, Tuesday, Oct. 2 from 7 to 8 a.m. Maui Now.

Kauai

Teachers rally for funding. About 40 teachers from Elsie Wilcox Elementary School were joined by about 10 students and one mother in holding signs on Hardy Street Tuesday morning. Garden Island.

Voters can learn about county council and mayoral candidate stances on the environment thanks to nine Kauai organizations posing a few questions. Garden Island.

Anahola group works out new community gym. What was once a place for unsavory riffraff in Anahola is now a gym, where community members are working out together. Garden Island.