Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Legislature passes vacation rental tax bill, REIT tax; water rights bill dies, Maui mulls property tax hike, pilot in deadly copter crash was a newcomer, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

PC: Hawaii Senate Majority
Senators listen to debate PC: Hawaii Senate Majority
Vacation rental bill awaits Ige’s signature. A bill that critics say will aid the proliferation of illegal vacation rentals in Hawaii narrowly passed the Senate on Tuesday following an emotional floor debate that centered on whether the state was forsaking good public policy to go after $46 million in potential revenue from unpaid transient accommodation taxes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Senate Narrowly Votes To Tax Vacation Rentals. If signed by the governor, Airbnb and HomeAway could act as tax collectors on behalf of the state. Civil Beat.

State Senate Revives Vacation Rental Regulation. The State Senate revoted on and passed SB 1292 imposing short term rental taxes by a margin of 13-12. The bill, already approved by the House of Representatives, now goes to Gov. David Ige for signature or veto. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Senate narrowly passes vacation rental tax bill. The state Senate on Tuesday narrowly passed a bill that would require websites such as Airbnb to collect and pay taxes on behalf of short-term vacation rental hosts, sending the measure to the governor. Associated Press.

Hawaii Senate narrowly passes vacation rental tax bill. Hawaii News Now.

Taxing of vacation rentals could become law. KHON2.

Senate votes to allow tax collection on vacation rentals. Pacific Business News.

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Senate Takes No Action On Water Rights Bill. Leaders say House Bill 1326 is dead for certain in the 2019 session, which wraps Thursday. Civil Beat.

Iconic Hawaii Properties Could Soon Pay More Taxes. Hawaii legislators voted overwhelmingly to impose a new corporate tax on real estate investment trusts, but now it’s up to the governor to decide. Civil Beat.

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Investment firm offers to help Hawaii teachers buy homes. A company that helps educators buy homes in high-cost communities has “landed” in Hawaii with a $25 million bankroll envisioned to help improve chronically poor public school teacher retention. Star-Advertiser.

Partnership Aims To Help Hawaii Teachers Buy Homes. A San Francisco company unveiled a new partnership with state education and business leaders to help school teachers afford to buy homes here. Civil Beat.

A new program announced today aims to help K-12 teachers in the state purchase a home. It's the result of a partnership with local leaders and a mainland firm with a connection to Mark Zuckerberg. Hawaii Public Radio.

New program is aimed at helping teachers buy in Hawaii, but union urges caution. On Tuesday, Gov. David Ige, schools Superintendent Kristina Kishimoto and leaders with the Hawaii Community Foundation and Hawaii Executive Conference announced a partnership with San Francisco-based company, Landed, which helps a buyer get a shared home. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Ballard addresses abuse allegations against 4 officers. The Honolulu Police Department is stepping up counseling and training in the wake of recent arrests of four officers linked to separate misdemeanor domestic violence charges. Star-Advertiser.

Why Is It So Hard To Fire Honolulu Police Sgt. Darren Cachola? Every year, a number of Honolulu police officers are investigated and even charged with domestic abuse. Civil Beat.

HPD officers accused in federal corruption case still getting pay checks. Lieutenant Derek Hahn, Officer Bobby Nguyen and Sergeant Danny Sellers are still paid Honolulu Police Officers, more than two years after the Department of Justice sent target letters and about 18 months after they were indicted by a federal grand jury. Hawaii News Now.

HPD Sergeant Convicted In Corruption Scheme Will Stay On The Job. There’s a limit to the number of days a police officer can go on leave without pay so the chief wants him to perform administrative duties. Civil Beat.
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Pilot in deadly chopper crash had moved to the islands just 20 days ago. Family members said the 28-year-old pilot killed Monday when a tour helicopter slammed into a busy Kailua street had moved to the islands just 20 days ago. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu businesses plead guilty to more than 50 tax violations. Nine Oahu businesses pleaded guilty to dozens of counts of tax violations this week, according to the state’s Department of Taxation. Hawaii News Now.

Bulky-item pickup by appointment only debuts from Hawaii Kai to Foster Village. Starting May 15 residents from Foster Village to Hawaii Kai — including busy Waikiki — will have to go online to schedule appointments for bulky-item pickup service. Star-Advertiser.

High bacteria counts were found at various beaches in the Waikiki area including Kuhio Beach, Lanikai Beach shoreline, Kahanamoku Beach and Kuhio Beach. KITV.

Developer Irongate has set its sights on a lofty new expansion: The company is converting the penthouse floors in the Diamond Head Tower of the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, into an exclusive fractional-­ownership club. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

If department heads had their way, there would be 51 new positions added to the county workforce on top of the 72 already proposed by Mayor Harry Kim. But the final budget Kim will send to the County Council on Friday will contain just a fraction of that. West Hawaii Today.

Tentative deal reached in brewery lawsuit. The parent company of Kona Brewing Co. has agreed on a tentative settlement with the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed two years ago over allegations that the company’s packaging and advertising misleads customers. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island inmate to receive large settlement in case over a stolen lunch box. The state will pay a Big Island inmate more than $100,000 in a settlement after he claimed guards beat him up over a lunch box. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Council budget committee OKs across the board tax hike that nets $17.7M more than mayor’s budget. Public hearing on proposed property tax rates May 10. Maui News.

Maui Court Voids Final EIS Approval for Kahului Sludge Farm. The waste-to-energy project is proposed for development by the County of Maui with Anaergia Services and its subsidiary MANA at the Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility near Kanaha. Maui Now.

Maui Land & Pine reports $1.1 million 1st-quarter loss. Legal costs from lawsuits dating back 10 years contributed to loss. Maui News.

Kauai

BLNR lawsuit moves forward. A Fifth Circuit judge on Tuesday ruled that a lawsuit brought against the state Board of Land and Natural Resources by a Kauai concrete company over $1 million worth of sand can move forward. Garden Island.

County Council to consider audits. The Kauai County Council this morning will discuss authorizing the audits of several departments based on concerns about potentially illegal mismanagement of federal government funds, overtime abuse, pension spiking, low morale and managerial incompetence. Garden Island.

Legal TVRs can resume operations. Mayor Derek S. K. Kawakami has signed an eighth supplementary emergency proclamation for the County of Kauai, and has amended the emergency rule and order as it applies to legal Transient Vacation Rentals in the Lumahai, Wainiha, and Haena area. Garden Island.

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Kuhio Highway won’t reopen until late May. he reopening date for Kuhio Highway on the North Shore set for today has been postponed until the week of May 20. Garden Island.

Officials Postpone Kuhio Highway Reopening In Wake Of Community Concerns. State transportation officials plan to delay the full reopening of Kauai's Kuhio Highway until the week of May 20 following concerns raised by residents in the area. Hawaii Public Radio.

Controversial reopening of Kuhio Highway on Kauai is delayed. The state’s reopening of a 2-mile-stretch of Kuhio Highway, which has been closed to non-local traffic for more than a year, is now anticipated to take place May 20 — weather permitting. Star-Advertiser.

Full opening of Kuhio Highway is delayed by work on Waikoko bridge. KHON2.

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