Elections chief in the spotlight, lawmakers mull recreational marijuana, Maui water woes, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Scott Nago's Bumpy Ride As Hawaiʻi's Chief Election Officer. He’s held the job longer than anyone else in state history and been at the center of controversy nearly every election cycle. Civil Beat.

Hawaii debates legalizing recreational cannabis. Rep. David Tarnas (D-Hawi, Halaula, Waimea, Makahalau, Waikii, Waikoloa, Kawaihae, Mahukona), chair of the House Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, and other lawmakers who support legalizing adult personal use of marijuana plan to come back with another bill next year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii visitors show high interest in weed tourism. Some 46% of likely Hawaii travelers are interested in experiencing the intoxicating effects of cannabis while on vacation as compared to 39% of likely U.S leisure travelers, according to newly released data from MMGY Travel Intelligence’s summer edition of its Portrait of American Travelers. Star-Advertiser.

Military conference in Waikiki tackles international law. At U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s annual International Military Law and Operations Conference, Adm. Samuel Paparo, the military’s top officer in the region argued that law is “strategic terrain.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Is Turning To Charters To Expand Free Preschool Options. Backers say charter preschools can encourage more teachers to work in early education if the state increases their funding. Civil Beat.

Kamehameha Schools prepares to defend admissions policy again. Kamehameha Schools, the private K–12 system founded by Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop to serve Native Hawaiian children, is facing a new legal push to end its long-standing admissions preference for students of Hawaiian ancestry, reigniting fierce debate over race-conscious remedies to past injustices, cultural preservation and the limits of private institutions’ missions. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Records Reveal 125 HPD Officers Logged More Than 1,000 Hours Of Overtime. Three years after a city audit revealed rampant overtime at the Honolulu Police Department allowed some officers to increase their pay by more than $100,000, the number of officers filing more than 1,000 hours of overtime a year has increased by almost 500%.  Civil Beat.

Honolulu ‘Downtown Business Improvement District’ measure progresses. A proposed revamp to a taxing entity involving downtown Honolulu property owners is being looked at as a way to increase public safety and promote economic revitalization in an area long known for crime, homelessness and shuttered businesses. Star-Advertiser.

Who owns the land under Waikīkī hotels? Last month, investors bought most of the land that's underneath the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa for $215 million. While the price is noteworthy, what's even more remarkable is how long the sellers had owned the ground lease. Hawaii Public Radio.

Kamaʻāina Sunday brings community back to ʻIolani Palace. Kamaʻāina Sunday is held once a month, giving local residents a chance to experience ʻIolani Palace and connect more deeply with Hawaiʻi’s history and culture. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Council to vote on resolution urging acquisition of Honolulu Landing. The County Council is preparing to vote on a resolution urging the Department of Finance to proceed with acquiring a 364-acre coastal property known as Honolulu Landing in the Puna district — a move strongly supported by Mayor Kimo Alameda, who emphasized the importance of preserving the area’s cultural and environmental significance. Tribune-Herald.

Ohtani’s lawyers say he was victim of likeness misuse in real estate deal, move to dismiss lawsuit. Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his agent, Nez Balelo, moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed last month accusing them of causing a Hawaii real estate investor and broker to be fired from a $240 million luxury housing development on the Big Island’s Hapuna Coast. Associated Press.

Nitta vs. HMSA sent back to lower court. The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled 5-0 Friday that an arbitration clause in its contract between physicians and Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state’s largest health care insurer, is enforceable. Tribune-Herald.

Underground Fuel Storage Tanks On Maunakea To Be Replaced. A draft Environmental Assessment is being prepared in order to replace three underground tanks with two smaller, above-ground tanks. Big Island Video News.

Public’s help sought in CRB battle. Combatants in the war against the coconut rhinoceros beetle on the Big Island said Wednesday night that their fight is still an effort to eradicate the pest on Hawaii Island, as opposed to managing the spread, as is being done on Oahu. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Residents, lawmakers seek solutions following upgraded water shortage in West Maui. On Friday, the Maui County Department of Water Supply upped the shortage to a Stage 2 because the anticipated demand for water in the area is expected to exceed supply by 16 to 30 percent.  Hawaii News Now.

County Weighs Moratorium On New Backyard Pools In West Maui. The Maui Planning Commission voted 5-2 in support of a moratorium — after members made a few amendments last week — on issuing permits to construct new private pools through at least 2030. The resolution now goes back to the Maui County Council for final approval. Civil Beat.

Real property tax reform focus of new Council special committee. The committee will be looking to make recommendations on updating the county’s real property tax laws based on input from property owners, housing advocates, business leaders and tax policy experts. Maui Now.

Open house to share plans for Olowalu site used for temporary storage of wildfire debris. As the transfer of Lahaina wildfire debris nears completion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is finalizing plans for the closure and restoration of the Temporary Debris Storage site. Hawaii News Now.

Youth mental health challenges keep mounting 2 years after Maui wildfires. The Hawaii Department of Education estimates more than a third of Maui students lost a family member, sustained a serious injury or had a parent lose a job after the fires, which killed 102 people and damaged more than 3,300 properties in Lahaina.  Associated Press.

State fines Hula Girl catamaran $30,000 for damage in Honolua Bay. On Friday, the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Land Board voted to fine the boat’s owners just over $30,000 for damaging coral and live rock inside the Marine Life Conservation District. KITV4.

Kauai

House Finance Committee walks the talk. When the members of the House Finance Committee visited Kauai last week, the committee did more than meet with members of the Coconut Marketplace Mobility Hub to talk about the first of four planned transportation hubs designed to reduce the number of cars on the road and rely more on shuttle services. Garden Island.

Planning Department holding final public workshop for East Kauaʻi long-range initiative. The county Planning Department is holding its final workshop about its long-range planning initiative for East Kauaʻi on Sept. 16 in Kapaʻa. Kauai Now.