Hawaii poll mixed on Trump immigration enforcement, Tulsi Gabbard says Hawaii in North Korea 'crosshairs,' Oahu poll shows airport authority opposition, resistance to pay more for rail, Green mulls lieutenant governor post, Kauai police chief seeks Honolulu job, Maui mayoral candidate in car crash, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Windward Oahu, courtesy Gabbard congressional office

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard faced a rowdy crowd in Kailua on Saturday night for one of seven town hall meetings that she’s holding throughout the islands. Star-Advertiser.

Gabbard Focuses On North Korea Amid Questions About Syria. At her most contentious of three town hall meetings so far, the congresswoman tells her Kailua audience that Hawaii is in the “crosshairs.” Civil Beat.

Despite assertions of widespread consensus, Hawaii appears to be divided over whether the state should be spending money challenging President Donald Trump’s revised ban on travel to the United States by individuals from certain countries. Star-Advertiser.

Should Hawaii Defy Trump On Immigration Enforcement? Lawmakers are debating whether Hawaii should join communities balking at cooperating with the crackdown on criminal immigrants. Civil Beat.

The chairmen of Hawaii’s House and Senate tourism committees expect to meet in the upcoming week to resolve differences over vacation rental tax bills that have passed their respective chambers. Associated Press.

When compared with four international vacation destinations, Hawaii hotels were more expensive and less occupied during the month of March. Pacific Business News.

State lawmakers are hoping to alleviate the cost of college for some students with House Bill 1594. The proposed legislation would set up a new scholarship program called "Hawaii Promise." KITV.

State Sen. Josh Green has already laid out an ambitious project he’d take on as lieutenant governor. The only thing he hasn’t quite done yet is announce he’s running. West Hawaii Today.

The Fight Over Papahanaumokuakea Just Escalated. It’s not just Wespac that’s lobbying President Trump to undo marine monument protections in the Pacific. Civil Beat.

The solar industry continues to contract on the neighbor islands. Star-Advertiser.

Four Marine Corps Ospreys are expected to fly nearly 6,000 miles from Hawaii to Australia this week, refueling in midair and stopping a couple of times — while demonstrating again the long range, speed and versatility of the unique tilt-rotor aircraft, the Corps said. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The latest Hawaii Poll by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser suggests a majority of likely Oahu voters want the city’s rail project to reach Ala Moana Center but are reluctant to pay more taxes to do so. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents are not particularly pleased with the condition of Honolulu International Airport, but a majority of them oppose the plan to create a new airport authority to try to better manage and maintain the state’s airport system. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents generally think homeowners should be able to rent part or all of their homes to visitors, but results of the latest Hawaii Poll were evenly split on whether online travel booking sites like Airbnb should collect taxes for clients. Star-Advertiser.

A bill introduced by two Honolulu City Council members would eliminate the city’s controversial Residential A tax category. Star-Advertiser.

A deadline has passed, but Gov. David Ige still could fill two upcoming vacancies on a state board regulating development in Kakaako using a controversial list of candidates from the Honolulu City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gas Co. said recently it expects to act on plans to integrate biogas from the city’s Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant into its pipeline. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Department of Education will receive a $70 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Economic Adjustment to make major improvements to Solomon Elementary School at Schofield Barracks in Central Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Many beachgoers in Lanikai returned to their vehicles on Easter Sunday with tickets left on their windshields. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Rail-financing controversy sure to take politicians’ futures for a ride. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: As the Legislature nears its crunch, key lawmakers are showing signs they finally mean what they say about holding Honolulu rail accountable for incessant mismanagement and budget deficits. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Tests find no depleted uranium threat: But critics file petitions challenging Pohakuloa Training Area radiation monitoring. Tribune-Herald.

Major Kahaluu development draws concerns. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo-based aerospace agency is on the chopping block as lawmakers sort out the state’s budget. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County collaborators are working on several fronts — making sure at least half of all police patrol vehicles per shift carry an automated external defibrillator, or AED, which can shock a heart back into normal rhythm — and teaching high school students hands-only CPR. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: Merrie Monarch Festival Begins In Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Merrie Monarch Festival schedule. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa took 34 county-funded trips costing about $33,800 in 2016. Maui News.

A $28 million Maui estate that hosted celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Prince and Mel Gibson has been listed by Hawaii Life. Pacific Business News.

The median price of a single-family home in Maui County soared to $769,000 in March, the highest monthly benchmark in more than a decade, the Realtors Association of Maui reported this week. Maui News.

Former Maui County Councilman and mayoral candidate Mike Victorino was involved in a collision Thursday night in Kahului that sent two teenagers to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries. Garden Island.

Lettuce and kale sales have dipped in recent weeks in response to an unusual number of rat lungworm cases on Maui that have left many visitors and residents questioning where produce is grown. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry wants to return to Oahu to run a department that he believes is in need of competent leadership after years of scandal. Civil Beat.

The federal government and the state have taken a step back on the regulation of the restricted-use pesticide chlorpyrifos, but activists on Kauai aren’t giving up. Garden Island.

Vehicles are now using the new steel bridge over Keahua Stream on “Loop Road” — and a few people have found it creates an advantage for them. Garden Island.

The state’s planned 4-foot-wide aluminum pedestrian bridge over Hanakapiai Stream on Kauai’s North Shore is up for discussion — a community meeting will be held Tuesday in Hanalei. Garden Island.

A young green sea turtle was reportedly attacked and injured by a man Thursday at Nawiliwili Harbor. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines has best record for not kicking people off plane, Tulsi Gabbard big hit on Big Island, House passes Oahu rail tax extension, 100 rally against Maui 24/7 alcohol law, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Airlines interior © 2017 All Hawaii News

In 2016, Hawaiian Airlines had an involuntary denied boarding rate of 0.05 per 10,000 passengers, the best out of the 12 reporting U.S. carriers, while United Airlines came in at No. 5 with a rate of 0.43, according to the 2016 Air Travel Consumer Report. Pacific Business News.

© 2017 All Hawaii News

Under Fire In DC, Tulsi Is Still A Hit On The Big Island. About 400 people turn out for Congresswoman Gabbard’s town hall, and seem unconcerned about her controversial stands on Syria. Civil Beat.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard held true to her unpopular doubts and criticisms surrounding war crimes in Syria and President Donald Trump’s military response at a town hall meeting at Kealakehe Intermediate School Tuesday night. West Hawaii Today.


Hundreds packed into the Kealakehe Intermediate School to hear from Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, as the Democratic representative began her statewide Town Hall Tour during the April District Work Period. Big Island Video News.

The Hawaii Senate zipped through a pile of bills ahead of a major legislative deadline looming Thursday, addressing airport contract reforms, jurisdictional issues with disputed roads and treating mentally ill patients against their will. But the House was a different story, with members tussling Tuesday over a measure to scale back pensions for state judges. Civil Beat.


A bill that decriminalizes the possession or sale of drug paraphernalia — downgrading the offenses from a felony to a civil violation — is sailing through the Legislature, despite fierce opposition from state and county prosecutors. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Why Condo Associations Are Sweating After A Judge’s Ruling. Improper foreclosure procedures were sometimes used, a federal judge found, and the stakes could be staggeringly high. Civil Beat.


Attorneys representing Hawaii in the state's challenge to President Donald Trump's revised travel ban are asking that the full panel of a federal appeals court hear the case. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear the case May 15. Associated Press.

Incoming Hawaii seventh-graders will need to schedule health checkups sometime before the 2017-18 school year begins in August. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

House lawmakers easily approved a two-year extension of the excise tax surcharge on Oahu on Tuesday to help bail out the financially strapped Honolulu rail project, but some charged that Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s dire warnings about raising property taxes to fund rail amount to “threatening” or even “blackmail” of the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.


State lawmakers advanced a measure today to provide more money for Honolulu’s Rail Transit Project. Hawaii Public Radio.


The city’s nascent Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency is on the chopping block pending the state’s approval of additional rail funding. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Resilience and Sustainability hasn’t opened yet, but it’s already on the City Council’s chopping board. Civil Beat.


Ancient human skeletal remains, or iwi, have been discovered at The Howard Hughes Corp.’s 466-unit Aeo mixed-use condominium site in the Honolulu neighborhood of Kakaako that includes Hawaii’s flagship Whole Foods Market, an executive with the Texas-based developer confirmed to Pacific Business News.


In a deal that state officials hope will be the first of more to come, the Coca-Cola Co. has agreed to contribute financially to a public project aimed at helping to protect a remote watershed area that feeds the aquifer that serves a majority of Oahu’s drinking water. Star-Advertiser.


Mayor Kirk Caldwell has allowed a City Council bill permitting live Christmas trees in Honolulu Hale to become law without his signature, but said he will ask city departments to continue using artificial trees during Honolulu City Lights, citing safety concerns. Star-Advertiser.

A former Campbell High School softball player has filed suit against state Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and six school officials and athletics personnel, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii Island

As Mayor Harry Kim kicked off three days of department-by-department budget reviews Tuesday, he and members of the County Council Finance Committee agreed that some tax or fee hikes are probably inevitable. West Hawaii Today.


When it comes to government revenues and appropriations on Hawaii Island, its a wait-and-see situation. Big Island Video News.


Two former inmates at Hawaii Community Correctional Center are suing the state Department of Public Safety, alleging they were incarcerated longer than a judge ordered. Tribune-Herald.


Hawaii County police have arrested a school booster club leader for allegedly staging a burglary in a plot to steal money meant for kids. Hawaii News Now.

More than 7 tons of derelict fishing nets and fishing lines collected on Hawaii Island are being sent to Oahu to be converted into energy for the City and County of Honolulu, thanks to ongoing cleanup efforts by the nonprofit Hawaii Wildlife Fund. Tribune-Herald.


Maui

A public sign waving took place this afternoon in Kahului to oppose Maui County’s new 24-hour alcohol sales law. Nearly 100 residents showed up to repeal the law, including the founder of the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawaiʻi and a representative of the State of Hawaiʻi Organization of Police Officers. Maui Now.

About 100 people representing law enforcement, youth and substance abuse treatment organizations demanded that the Maui County Liquor Control Commission repeal new laws allowing the retail sale of alcohol 24/7 on Tuesday afternoon outside Queen Ka’ahumanu Center. Maui News.

Makena State Beach Park could lose its Maui County lifeguards if a law protecting them and the county from personal injury lawsuits isn’t extended by the state Legislature. Maui News.


A Maui County employee was assigned to non-driving duties after he was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs Friday morning in a county Jeep. Maui News.

Maui County has inked a $1-a-year lease for 65 years with the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corp. for 20 acres adjacent to the Lahaina Civic Center, Mayor Alan Arakawa announced Tuesday. Maui News.


The sudden increase in rat lungworm disease cases on Maui is already hitting some farm sales hard, and spurring growers to look for new ways to protect their crops from contamination. Hawaii News Now.


Maui Land &Pineapple’s comeback efforts pay off. Shares of Maui Land stock have been surging over the past two months following a long slog after tumbling sharply in 2008. Star-Advertiser.


Kauai

Kauai Police Department closed access to the Port Allen Marina Tuesday afternoon following a bomb threat. Garden Island.

Kauai Humane Society has temporarily halted its spay and neuter program following the deaths of two feral cats in March. Garden Island.

Lifeguard liability, high deductibles, gay fertility treatment mulled in Legislature, pot tax axed, Kaiser Permanente seeks Maui health-care workers, Kim unveils Maun Kea park plan, historic Ewa Battlefield trashed, more news from all the Hawaiian Island

Old lifeguard stand at Richardson Ocean Park © 2017 All Hawaii News

Counties Threaten To Pull Lifeguards Over Fear Of Lawsuits. The Legislature is debating whether to extend limited liability protections for lifeguards over the objections of a group of personal injury lawyers. Civil Beat.

Pot tax, car value tax, axed. Judging from the growing list of dead or dying bills, the 2017 session of the state Legislature is shaping up to be a relatively cautious, low-risk round of lawmaking. Star-Advertiser.

Members of Hawaii’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are lobbying for equal access to the fertility treatment married, heterosexual couples enjoy under state law. Associated Press.

Hawaii employers may soon be allowed to offer workers high-deductible plans that critics say are financially risky health insurance plans that can result in families paying thousands of dollars out of pocket in any given year for medical care. Star-Advertiser.

A bill granting state agents access to private property to eradicate invasive species is headed for a floor vote in the Senate. Star-Advertiser.

A bill moving through the state Legislature aims to shake loose money frozen in a $150 million failed renewable-energy loan program and use it to offer rebates of up to $10,000 to residents who buy battery systems for their homes. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Is it possible that this is year the Legislature does mail-in ballots, something that has nearly universal support from both voters and government officials? Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui’s announced intention to leave his post to run for Maui mayor — possibly before his term ends — exposes a flaw in the way our state government is structured at the top. Star-Advertiser.

A new national ranking of the best-run airports has good news for Maui, bad news for Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, will hold town hall meetings across the state in April. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii officials are looking to their counterparts in Puerto Rico for advice as they seek to rebound from December’s aborted alala release, when three of the native Hawaiian crows perished in the first week of freedom — two apparently picked off by the io, or Hawaiian hawk, and another that weakened after getting caught in a winter storm, according to necropsies. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Below the H-1 viaduct Wednesday morning, a kiawe-fueled fire burned below thousands of commuters — a daily event that has some Oahu lawmakers concerned about the possibility of a disaster under Honolulu’s highways and bridges. Star-Advertiser.

Should Honolulu’s New Police Chief Be An Insider Or An Outsider? The police union leader is pushing for someone already in the ranks. But others, including law enforcement experts, say new blood might be the best. Civil Beat.

Honolulu's chief medical examiner is asking city officials for more financial support as his office struggles to deal with a heavy workload. Associated Press.

Passengers traveling through Honolulu International Airport these days must put up with barriers and diversions, from construction barriers to closed walkways and orange construction signs everywhere, as the state of Hawaii's $1.3 billion upgrade of the airport drags on. Pacific Business News.

Bill would limit liability for volunteers maintaining dilapidated Pearl City cemetery. KHON2.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled a case with the Navy involving illegal cesspools at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Historic Ewa Battlefield becomes target of trash dumping. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Mayor Harry Kim on Saturday continued to promote his vision of a Mauna Kea “World Park,” announcing that Gov. David Ige has lent his support to the mayor’s vision for the mountain and that he is “pursuing how this can be done.” West Hawaii Today.

A debate over how Hawaii County Council members should use their discretionary money could be renewed as Mayor Harry Kim proposes to cut the expenditures in the next budget. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council members say their discretionary funds provide quick aid to nonprofit groups that provide services in their districts. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County has released sewage spill data in the aftermath of last Monday’s discharge into the Wailuku River and Hilo Bay, and a state microbiologist says the results are reassuring. Tribune-Herald.

As plans to upgrade the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant continue to materialize, so to do plans to develop a large regional park in the area. West Hawaii Today.

Hawai'i State Attorney General Doug Chin got a hero's welcome to North Hawaii, where he gave a 40 minute talk on his legal efforts to block the president's executive order. Big Island Video News.

An ironweed plant that grows wild on Hawaii island may offer new ways to combat deadly brain and breast cancers, and a University of Hawaii Cancer Center biologist has received $3 million in federal funds to study it further. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Plenty of jobs need to be filled at Maui County’s three public hospitals, and Kaiser Permanente officials are encouraging residents not to wait until the state facilities become private July 1. Maui News.

Kaiser Permanente officials are encouraging Maui residents to apply for jobs at three public hospitals on the island as they scramble to fill positions before the state facilities become private this summer. Associated Press.

While the shortage of doctors statewide has improved, it grew worse on the Neighbor Islands in 2016, including Maui County, according to a University of Hawaii report to the state Legislature. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin is close to formalizing a partnership with a seed oil producing company on a 250-acre demonstration project to produce biofuels from the pongamia tree on old sugar fields with planting possibly to begin in mid-May. Maui News.

The County of Maui’s Kepaniwai Park at ʻĪao reopens Monday, according to a Parks Department announcement. Maui Now.

The county’s Kepaniwai Park in Iao Valley, which has been closed since the raging Wailuku River flooded the park and tore away a piece of the parking lot Sept. 13, will reopen Monday. Maui News.

A rescue tube initiative that started on the island of Kauaʻi in 2009 is now making its way to Maui as advocates combat alarming statistics surrounding ocean deaths in island waters. Maui Now.

Kauai

A coqui frog, a little problem with loud consequences was captured at a Lihue residence Monday, most likely a stowaway in a car recently bought from Hawaii Island. Garden Island.

Legislature looks to ban insecticide chlorpyrifos, Oahu and Maui top destinations for gay travelers, home care inspections fail, Honolulu airport renovations hit snag, Molokai may be first island to go off grid, feral pig disposal at issue in Hilo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo farmers market © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii lawmakers who oversee committees on agriculture and the environment indicated a new resolve last week to ban the commonly used insecticide chlorpyrifos that could be harming the brains of fetuses and young children, as well as farm workers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii produces less than 15 percent of the food it consumes, and some lawmakers want to help change that by studying the feasibility of “vertical farming.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers this week will take up clean transportation, disruptive public-records requests and involuntary psychiatric treatment. All bills have to be passed out of their final committees by Friday. Associated Press.

‘Terrible’ Report On Care Home Inspections Is Finally In. Hawaii lawmakers delayed doing unannounced inspections to get reports on the health department workload. Civil Beat.

Legislation aims to repeal interisland electric cable act. Tribune-Herald.

HB 606 gives the counties in Hawaii the authority to enter private property for the purpose of eradicating and/or controlling invasive species or pests. Garden Island.

Beckie Stocchetti has been named executive director of the Hawaii International Film Festival. She will succeed Robert Lambeth effective Aug. 1. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines’ top executives received pay increases in 2016, according to an annual proxy statement filed Friday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Mark Dunkerley, the airline’s chief executive officer, received a total compensation of $3.7 million last year, a 13.9 percent jump from the $3.3 million he received in 2015. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: State governor’s practice of low expectations mires us from moving forward. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Another major piece of the long-delayed Honolulu Airport modernization program is stuck on a snag, this time involving a pair of smaller airlines that need to move but as yet have no place to go. Star-Advertiser.

A Civil Beat analysis of police disciplinary records from 2014 to 2016 found at least 16 HPD officers who were terminated by police officials but are still going through the process to have that decision reversed. Dozens of officers who are fired or suspended succeed in having the punishment overturned as part of a union-backed grievance process. Civil Beat.

It’s been open only six months, but the Honolulu prosecutor’s safe house for female victims of domestic violence, sex assault and human trafficking already is a flashpoint for criticism locally and nationally. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell again made between $200,000 and $299,999 in 2016 from his side work as a Territorial Savings Bank director, he reported in his annual financial disclosure. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell appointed former Bank of Hawaii executive Peter Biggs as deputy director of the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services on Thursday. Biggs starts today and replaces Gary Kurokawa, who was tapped to serve as Caldwell’s chief of staff. Star-Advertiser.

A 42-year-old woman who was shot by an off-duty Honolulu police officer in a King Street bar two years ago says in a federal lawsuit that the officer’s supervisors knew the officer had drinking and emotional problems but failed to take steps to prevent him from carrying a firearm. Star-Advertiser.

It was move-in day Tuesday for five chronically homeless people who are part of a massive, all-hands-on-deck effort by the state, city and social service agencies to get 30 homeless people off the street and into Chinatown apartments by June. Star-Advertiser.

Parts of Kailua Beach Park will be closed starting Monday as City and County of Honolulu crews work to remove sand to reduce the risk of flooding. Hawaii News Now.

A California-based English-Japanese bilingual preschool is expanding to Hawaii with its first location planned for Honolulu, the architect working on the project confirmed to Pacific Business News.

A veteran Hawaii architect is seeking to build a 300-foot residential tower in Kakaako and expects it will be subject to the current affordable-housing rules, although those rules could soon change. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday that could help improve conditions at Sunset Memorial Park in Pearl City after concerns were raised that the cemetery has been neglected and is in disrepair. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii

West Hawaii Republicans came together Saturday in Waikoloa, re-electing Chairman Dave Ross and setting forth plans for strengthening the party. West Hawaii Today.

As Mayor Harry Kim announced late Friday he’s reopened negotiations on a multimillion-dollar composting contract he’d canceled, County Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter said she’d still like a council resolution to go forward giving the council authority to hire an outside attorney to look over the contract and make recommendations. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island residents are preparing to meet with Gov. David Ige to address ongoing pollution concerns about a large dairy farm. Hawaii News Now.

Legislators gathered Thursday evening in Kona at a Community Enterprises forum to engage with more than 100 residents on issues that matter to West Hawaii communities. How to pay teachers more money to help them absorb Hawaii’s substantial cost of living was discussed at length. West Hawaii Today.

Now that a grant-funded county program to combat little fire ants has wrapped, Hawaii County invasive species specialists and legislative representatives once again are hoping to secure state funding to address the issue. Tribune-Herald.

Disability advocates are considering a lawsuit against Hilo Medical Center after an Americans with Disabilities Act complaint failed to get the U.S. Department of Justice involved. Tribune-Herald.

Restricting access to popular manta ray viewing sites will radically affect business, many local tour operators said Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

Kaumana residents are worried that feral pig carcasses being dumped near a stream at Akolea Road are contaminating the water — though the state says the problem is being addressed and the public’s health is not at risk. Tribune-Herald.

Keanalele, located in Kiholo State Park Reserve, and commonly referred to as “Queen’s Bath,” gives visitors the rare opportunity to dip into and swim in a lava tube. At least it would, but a sign at the park warns visitors with a $1,000 fine for anyone who enters any cave or lava tube. West Hawaii Today.

There are no clear-cut solutions when it comes to topics of legalizing, decriminalizing or regulating prostitution, but one theme sounded louder than others during a Saturday panel discussion hosted by the Zonta Club of Hilo: Empathy matters. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui is the second-most visited island for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers from the United States, but it is top amongst Canadians and third among Australians, according to a study released by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority in March. Maui News.

Saying a law applies to pedestrians as well as drivers, a state appeals court vacated a Wailuku District Court order that had dismissed a charge against a weekly tabloid publisher who was detained when he used his cellphone to videotape a police traffic enforcement operation five years ago. Maui News.

A general map showing possible uses of now fallow sugar fields — including areas for possible biodiesel-producing tree orchards, coffee and cacao crops and livestock-irrigated pastures — was projected on a screen as the former general manager of Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. gave a presentation at the Maui Energy Conference last week. Maui News.

Maui County’s Ho’aloha Park is home to hundreds of Hawaiian and Na Kai ‘Ewalu canoe club paddlers, but in recent months it’s been a hot spot for trouble with homeless people and vagrants. Maui News.

A rare sighting of a Whale Shark was observed near Molokini Crater Saturday. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Air Force has agreed to reduce exterior lighting at a mountaintop radar facility on Kauai to better protect endangered and threatened seabirds. Star-Advertiser.

State and federal officials have moved a Hawaiian monk seal on Kauai due to concerns for the animal's safety. Associated Press.

A 10-month-old female Hawaiian monk seal was moved Friday from the Lihi canal in Kapaa to a beach on Kauai’s Westside. Garden Island.

Molokai

Thanks to a new battery storage system, Molokai may be the first Hawaiian island to go entirely off the grid. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Senate panel advances budget, judge continues blocking Trump travel ban, shave ice as state snack, tour companies could get monopoly over Maunawili Falls hike, airport investigates dog shooting, Sunshine Law complaint over Maui liquor rules, protest over Pohakuloa Training Area bombing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, courtesy Hawaii Senate majority

 Senate Committee Unveils A Streamlined State Budget. The general fund spending plan approved by the Ways and Means Committee is $114 million lower than what the governor proposed. Civil Beat.

Senate Committee Adds $628M to State Biennium Budget. Hawaii Public Radio.

A federal judge in Hawaii decided Wednesday to extend his order blocking President Donald Trump’s travel ban, preventing the government from suspending new visas for people from six Muslim-majority countries and halting the U.S. refugee program. Associated Press.


A federal judge in Hawaii decided Wednesday to extend his order blocking President Donald Trump’s travel ban. U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson issued the longer-lasting hold on the ban just hours after hearing arguments. Associated Press.

The Hawaii judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration two weeks ago extended his nationwide stay Wednesday, brushing aside the administration’s argument that the scope of his ruling was too broad. Civil Beat.

A resolution that at least one state legislator says is tantamount to rendering Hawaii a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants was adopted by the Hawaii House of Representatives Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

President Donald Trump’s executive order pumping up coal production and undermining climate change regulations is being roundly criticized in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Women in Hawaii may soon be able to obtain birth control pills and other forms of hormonal contraceptives directly from a pharmacist, cutting out the need to make a doctor’s appointment to obtain a prescription and increasing access to birth control for women with limited access to health care providers. Star-Advertiser.


It’s a favorite among locals and tourists, now some state lawmakers want to designate shave ice as the official snack of Hawaii. KHON2.


While the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands moves forward with housing plans, the relatively new Homestead Housing Authority says it can help, too. Civil Beat.

Fueled by an 11.5 percent increase in total daily spending, total visitor spending in Hawaii rose 8 percent in February, despite a modest gain of 2 percent in total arrivals, according to preliminary statistics released by the Hawaii Tourism Authority Wednesday. Pacific Business News.


Visitors to Hawaii in February rose nearly 2 percent to 700,426 and spending increased nearly 8 percent to $1.3 billion, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii visitor spending outpaces inflation. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority says average daily spending by visitors jumped 11.5 percent last month compared to the year before. Associated Press.

Despite years of talks between the two ridesharing companies and the Hawaii State Department of Transportation, Uber and Lyft are still not allowed to do business at any of Hawaii’s airports. Pacific Business News.

For the past three years, Hawaii residents have paid a small surcharge on their electric bill for clean energy funding. Now lawmakers want to make modifications because they feel the GEMS program has lost its luster. KITV.

Scientists Race To Help Hawaii Corals Survive. Some corals are starting to rebound on their own and scientists have plans to help other species survive global warming. Civil Beat.


Protest against Native Hawaiian items up for auction in Paris. KITV.

Oahu


Legislators in the state Senate are proposing that the state build a new prison and a new jail at Halawa to ease overcrowding in the correctional system, earmarking $66 million in the Senate draft of the state budget to jump-start that plan. Star-Advertiser.

Reservations to hike? Proposal limits Maunawili Falls trail access. Hawaii News Now.

It’s getting harder for Hawaii employers to find good help. With the state’s jobless rate now tied for the second lowest in the nation at 2.8 percent, about 150 employers set up booths Wednesday at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall hoping to find a few good men and women. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation says it is launching an investigation after a security guard at Honolulu International Airport shot a passenger’s dog during an incident at the airport’s interisland terminal on Tuesday evening. Pacific Business News.

The shooting of a family dog by a Securitas private security officer at Honolulu International Airport is another black eye for the private security company paid $35 million a year by the state, a state lawmaker said. Hawaii News Now.

Leisha Ramos was looking forward to her return to her home island of Oahu after living on the Big Island, when a series of events led to a security guard fatally shooting her dog Kai’ele at Honolulu International Airport Tuesday night. Star-Advertiser.

Marriott has opened its newest Hawaii property under its Autograph Collection Hotel brand, the Laylow Hotel, after completing a $60 million renovation. Pacific Business News.

The shuttered 30-room Waikiki Prince budget hotel near the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa is reopening in July, its owner confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

The developer of the Thirty Meter Telescope signed a 75-year agreement with officials in the Canary Islands Wednesday giving the international consortium the right to construct and operate the giant telescope on the island of La Palma if Mauna Kea doesn’t work out. Star-Advertiser.

Their oli were loud, but the teeth-rattling boom of sporadic mortar rounds was louder, as more than 50 protesters employed Native Hawaiian chants to express their opposition to the latest series of training exercises at the U.S. Army garrison. West Hawaii Today.

A group of Native Hawaiians, environmentalists and peace activists gathered at the gate of Pohakuloa Training Area along Saddle Road on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

Ookala residents concerned about pollution from the large dairy farm mauka of the village have gotten the attention of the state Department of Agriculture. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo physician fights to prove he is a primary care provider. Tribune-Herald.

The Kona Community Aquatic Center is a victim of its own success. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Sunshine Law complaint has been filed against the Maui County Liquor Control Commission for allegedly providing insufficient notice to the public about recent rule changes that include eliminating dry hours for liquor sales at retail stores countywide. Maui News.

The Maui County Council may choose not to fund 12 percent pay raises for Mayor Alan Arakawa, his department heads and deputies. Maui News.

Council panel mulls sale of Maui Lani lots. Bulk sale of 51 lots won in legal settlement could boost affordable housing fund. Maui News.

The 2nd Annual Maui County Carnival that was scheduled for April 6-9, 2017, has been cancelled. Representatives from E.K. Fernandez Shows say that the shipping rates for neighbor island fairs and carnivals have risen over 40% in the past three years, making it almost impossible to ship the equipment necessary to produce these events. Maui Now.

Kauai

With a royal land patent in his hand, Noa Mau-Espirito said he walked into the Coco Palms last spring to make claim of the property. Almost a year later, Mau-Espirito, who says he is a descendant of King Kaumualii, and a group of about 25 of his formerly homeless family members, continue to live on 17 acres of land in Wailua on Coco Palms property. Garden Island.

A study released Tuesday by the Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute has named Kauai County as the healthiest in state. Hawaii News Now.

Do you know what moku and ahupua‘a you live in? You will soon find out, as ahupua’a signs are now being installed along Kaua‘i’s roadways. Garden Island.

Visitors to Kauai are spending more money. Lots more. Garden Island.

Jobs for homeless, taxes, green fuel and Oahu ferry on Legislature's agenda, Haleakala rules rile native practitioner, Abercrombie blasts committee for killing aid in dying bill, coffee season promising, Kauai trail to open, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo homeless man reads up on money-making © 2017 All Hawaii News

A measure before state lawmakers would launch a day laborer program to give Hawaii’s homeless alternatives to panhandling. Star-Advertiser.

Former Gov. Neil Abercrombie is blasting a House committee for shelving a high-profile bill that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain prescriptions for lethal doses of medication and says lawmakers should resurrect the measure through a rarely used clause in the state Constitution that would allow for a full floor vote on the bill. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are exploring progressive taxes, green fuel and a potential Oahu ferry route in the upcoming week at the Legislature. Associated Press.

The state Public Utilities Commission is giving the solar industry more time to add customers who are looking to get credit on their electrical bills for the excess energy their rooftop systems produce. Star-Advertiser.

The 2016-17 Hawaii coffee season looks promising statewide with preliminary estimates calling for an increase in production, yield and value. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii may not often appear as itself in movies but as a shooting location, it has been on a hot streak. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines and its 670 pilots agreed on a 63-month contract amendment, resulting in a one-time cash payment of $55 million to $60 million, according to a filing the airline made with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines’ pilots, ending more than two years of contentious negotiations, have ratified a new 63-month contract worth 42 percent more than the existing agreement. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Hawaii’s ailing GOP won’t grow more popular while riding the coattails of Trump. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A year and a half after Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed the accessory dwelling unit ordinance into law, interest has been growing, with more than 1,280 homeowners submitting “pre-check” forms to see whether their lot qualifies for the addition. Star-Advertiser.

The city is proposing several short-term projects in Waipahu, some of which are already funded, in an effort to build on existing transit-oriented development plans and to prepare the area for rail’s arrival. Star-Advertiser.

Using your cellphone while behind the wheel is against the law, but one Honolulu City Council member is looking to take that a step further. His proposal would make it illegal for pedestrians to use an electronic device while crossing the street. KHON2.

The state Department of Health’s Clean Water Branch reported that the its water quality alert notification for Sans Souci Beach in Waikiki has been cancelled. Star-Advertiser.

A multi-million dollar Honolulu safe house meant to be used by victims of domestic violence is being criticized by advocates at both the local and national levels for failing to live up to its mission. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Saturday marked the first-ever East Hawaii Republican County Convention, where party members gathered to select committee officers and delegates for the upcoming state party convention, to be held in May on Kauai. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council and Mayor Harry Kim remain at odds over the canceling of a composting contract. Tribune-Herald.

Lack of state funds threaten to discontinue Veterans Treatment Court. The Big Island Veterans Treatment Court is now facing an unknown future as funding to continue the program has not yet been determined. West Hawaii Today.

If the county truly supports sustainable agriculture, says Fred Housel, it will lower the tax rate on agricultural property. Now the highest rate in the state, the agricultural rate was increased by 31.5 percent in 2010. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. says in its latest filing to the state Public Utilities Commission that it can achieve the state’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy, possibly even before the state-mandated deadline of 2045. Tribune-Herald.

The cost of your future electric bill rests, once again, with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Tribune-Herald.

More Big Island high school students enrolled in college and participated in dual-credit programs last year, but four-year high school graduation rates dropped slightly. Tribune-Herald.

The contractor in charge of a project to provide aeration pump upgrades and sludge removal at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant has defaulted, and dredging of the facility’s sludge ponds has come to a temporary halt, according to the Department of Environmental Management. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A Haleakala National Park ranger and a teacher from an Oahu public charter school got into a heated argument over cultural practice conflicting with park safety, and a video of the recent exchange is going viral on social media. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Medical Cannabis Dispensary to Open this Summer. Nearly 100 well-wishers attended Friday’s blessing of Maui Grown Therapies, one of two medical cannabis dispensaries on Maui. Maui Now.

Maui County’s unemployment rate continues to tick downward. Maui News.

UH-MC students swap coral-killing sunscreens for ‘reef safe’ versions. Maui News.

Kauai

Council OKs use of trail to Koloa shoreline. Kauai residents will soon be able to legally access a dirt trail in Koloa to get to the shoreline. Garden Island.

Kapaa High School saw one of the highest increases in student enrollment in dual-credit courses in the state, from 8 percent to 23 percent. Garden Island.

Department of Water officials announced the completion of the Halewili Road Main Replacement Project in Kalaheo, and recently held a dedication ceremony at the project site. Garden Island.

Assisted suicide bill dies in Legislature, Trump judge threatened, 24/7 alcohol purchases now allowed on Maui, bacteria at Waikiki beach, fuel tax bill killed, hope for coral reefs, utilities model mulled by potential buyers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ornate butterflyfish with damaged coral © 2017 All Hawaii News

New information could be on the horizon for the world’s declining coral reefs, as well as a more complete picture of their health. Garden Island.

The FBI says authorities are aware that the federal judge in Hawaii who ruled against President Donald Trump’s travel ban has received threatening messages. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers defeat a bill allowing terminally ill patients to end their own lives.The action comes after decades of debate, which culminated in hours of testimony Thursday morning.  Associated Press.

A bill that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain prescriptions for lethal doses of medication is dead for the year after the House Health Committee deferred the measure, saying, in part, that there were too many kinks to be worked out before the legislative session ends in May. Star-Advertiser.

A lack of specifics in the current draft of the controversial 'Death with Dignity' bill is partially the reason some lawmakers decided to table the issue. Hawaii News Now.

The House Health Committee killed a bill Thursday that would have made it legal for Hawaii adults diagnosed with a terminal illness to take medication that would end their lives. Garden Island.

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The state House and Senate separately — and unanimously — passed bills earlier this month to extend and expand tax credits for low-income people while raising taxes on the wealthy. Civil Beat.

A bill that would have increased Hawaii’s fuel tax to fund state highway improvement projects is dead. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii legislative committees have passed new versions of bills addressing vacation rentals. Lawmakers have been keen to devise ways to make sure vacation rental operators are paying transient accommodation taxes just like hotels. Associated Press.

Another attempt to consolidate management and planning for Hawaii’s airports is making its way through the state House of Representatives. Tribune-Herald.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a proposal to hire an independent certified public accounting firm to conduct a wide-ranging financial audit and management review of the agency and its subsidiaries. Star-Advertiser.

Firefighters’ meal allowance among points of discussion as contract negotiations continue. KHON2.

Companies are lining up to possibly buy Hawaiian Electric Co. subsidiary Maui Electric Co., the mayor of Maui County confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Washington D.C.-based Twenty First Century Utilities, a company looking to own and operate regulated utilities, proposed a business model that could be used in Hawaii at the Maui Energy Conference. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Energy Conference: ‘What Type Of Place Are We Trying To Create?’ Experts discussed Hawaii’s move away from fossil fuels amid buzz about another potential buyer for Hawaiian Electric. Civil Beat.

The Maui Energy Conference, which is currently underway in its fourth year, reports the highest amount of attendees in its short history, a conference organizer confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The state Health Department is warning the public about elevated bacteria levels at popular Kaimana Beach in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

State health officials are warning beach lovers in Waikiki about a spike in an “indicator bacteria” in the waters off Sans Souci Beach that could lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Star-Advertiser.

Sick beachgoers say 'cesspool' at Pokai Bay is source of infections. Hawaii News Now.

Some City Council members are trying to block transferring oversight of Thomas Square to the Department of Enterprise Services from the Department of Parks and Recreation amid concerns the move could commercialize the historic site. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers discuss homeless concerns as retailers prepare to open in Iwilei. KHON2.

If you park in front of your own driveway, you could get a ticket.  But, a proposal from Honolulu Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi could change that. KITV.

A scary encounter involving two female city workers and a homeless man is highlighting the need for increased security at Honolulu Hale. Hawaii News Now.

It might only be a temporary grass lawn, but construction of a “central plaza” at Ward Village in Kakaako is slated to move forward by the end of this year with the demolition of several warehouse buildings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Planned upgrades at the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant won’t only offer recycled water to irrigate growing Kona developments, they can also drastically reduce the discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus — two nutrients that can be harmful if they get into groundwater. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Residents on Maui can now purchase alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Maui is the first county in the state to relax existing liquor laws that restrict the sale of alcohol between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. Hawaii News Now.

Maui County is the first in the state to allow stores to sell alcohol any time of the day. KHON2.

The Department of Liquor Control on Maui has lifted the time restriction on the sale of alcohol at retail locations and hotels in Maui County. Maui Now.

In addition to eliminating dry hours for alcohol sales at retail stores and hotels, the Maui County Liquor Commission approved rule changes allowing home delivery of alcoholic beverages and removing the more than three-decade-old cap on the number of hostess bars in the county. Maui News.

Work has begun on buildings in the first phase of Alexander & Baldwin’s Kamalani project in Kihei with the first affordable units expected to be completed in the summer, an A&B official said Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The blessing of Koloa Landing, Phase III marked the completion of the $100 million expansion project on 25 acres leading to the rocky coastline adjacent to the Koloa Landing small boat launch site. Garden Island.

A claim filed by Kauai Police Department Chief Darryl Perry was discussed in executive session during the Kauai County Council meeting Wednesday. Garden Island.

Pesticides play politics in state House, advocates want Hawaii to be sanctuary state, DLNR seeks criminal probe at Kona boat harbors, bill could require Honolulu building inspections, Maui mayor's plan to sell golf course irks golfers, Kauai monk seal killing reward upped to $50k, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pesticide spray in Hilo, special to All Hawaii News

Lawmaker May Lose Committee Chair Over Pesticide Bill. Hawaii Rep. Angus McKelvey’s effort to push through a contentious pesticide disclosure bill could lead to his ouster as head of Consumer Protection and Commerce. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has started posting data on what kinds of restricted-use pesticides large agricultural companies apply each month and in what amounts. Civil Beat.

A proposed bill to increase the counties’ allocation of money generated from the transient accommodations tax passed in the Hawaii Senate. Garden Island.

A bill to replace the term “medical marijuana” with “medical cannabis” in state law is moving through the Legislature, though most other marijuana-related measures have died. Tribune-Herald.

Senate Bill 518 and companion House Bill 680 would mandate all those with barber, beauty operator and instructor licenses under the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology complete a one-time, three-hour training program on domestic violence awareness and education. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Board of Education has suspended its search for the next state schools superintendent after a foundation pulled back from a large donation to support the effort. Civil Beat.

The search for the next schools superintendent is delayed over concerns about fairness. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in nearly 10 years. Star-Advertiser.

While hotel occupancy rose only slightly in January, the industry saw record revenue of $561 million. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii tourism had another record year of arrivals in 2016, but statewide sales of homes typically bought by visitors barely budged, a new report shows. Star-Advertiser.

Advocates for immigrants are ramping up efforts to make Hawaii a sanctuary state. Hawaii News Now.

State Attorney General Doug Chin, who filed the nation’s first state lawsuit Wednesday to block President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, said the executive order still discriminates against residents of Muslim-majority countries in spite of the watered-down language. Star-Advertiser.

A new technical report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests that climate change-induced sea level rise over the course of this century, especially in Hawaii, may be far worse than predicted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change scenario that has been serving as a guide for a number of local efforts to address climate change impacts. Civil Beat.

Growth in out-of-state investment in Hawaii real estate is prompting the state to take a closer look at property tax rates. Tribune-Herald.

A bill seeking to ban foam containers was shelved this session, despite sizable public support. Star-Advertiser.

Catherine Ngo, president and chief executive officer of Central Pacific Bank, earned $1,051,039 last year, $45,071 less than she did in 2015, despite an increase in salary, according to the bank’s annual proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines unveiled an Airbus A321neo full-flight simulator to train pilots ahead of the airline’s full incorporation of the fleet starting next year. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Two bills that would require most Oahu commercial buildings, condominiums and apartments to be inspected every five years moved out of a City Council committee Thursday, despite concerns raised by both a condo association group and the Department of Planning and Permitting. Star-Advertiser.

Building 800 affordable homes annually on Oahu is a goal Mayor Kirk Caldwell laid down last month. It is ambitious. And he said he has an aggressive strategy to get it done. But a close look at his plan suggests it will be tough to realize. Star-Advertiser.

The first phase of a 320-unit affordable rental apartment complex in east Kapolei could break ground at the end of this year or early next year, Michaels Development Co. officials say. Star-Advertiser.

As the University of Hawaii works to modernize buildings on the aging Manoa campus, officials want to move away from static learning and research spaces toward facilities that foster collaboration across fields. Star-Advertiser.

When Salem Partners first inquired about building a condominium-hotel tower across from the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, little did the Los Angeles-based investment bank and wealth management firm know that several other towers would be joining its project along Kapiolani Boulevard. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaiian Humane Society this spring plans to start building Hawaii’s first high-volume spay-and-neuter clinic focused on “free-roaming” cats to reduce their numbers on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has joined Hawaii County Prosecutor Mitch Roth in asking the state attorney general to investigate the ethics issues and allegations that continue to roil the waters at West Hawaii small boat harbors. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has taken the first step toward starting a contested case hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope’s sublease on Mauna Kea by seeking applicants for a hearing officer. But it remains unclear when or if the quasi-judicial hearing — the third so far — will be held. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will soon begin work to determine the extent of munitions and explosives of concern remaining from military training and on more than 1,900 acres on Kohala Mountain’s flanks. West Hawaii Today.

Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter has called a meeting over runoff dispute between dairy, neighbors. West Hawaii Today.

Demolition by neglect: Fate of Naalehu Theater remains in limbo, even as it deteriorates. Tribune-Herald.

Work on the Hilo Bayfront Trails continues despite an unexpected setback in the grant cycle that caused organizers to shift priorities. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposed shutdown of the 87-year-old Waiehu Municipal Golf Course drew the ire of Maui golfers, who praised the course for its beauty and affordability. Maui News.

Golfers are criticizing a plan by Maui County’s mayor to shut down an 87-year-old municipal golf course. Associated Press.

A 285-acre business park is being proposed by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources on former sugar lands in Pulehunui. Maui News.

Maui County could see a small increase in its share of the hotel room tax and money for an agricultural park in South Maui, and there may be hope for 250 low-income residents who are looking at being priced out of their Lahaina apartments as the Legislature cleared a key deadline Thursday. Maui News.

Maui hotel room rates jumped 10 percent last week with other Islands experiencing similar gains compared to last year, according to the Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR weekly hotel report. Pacific Business News.

Undocumented immigrants on Maui are unsure of future. Given the changing policies, some worry they’ll get caught up in deportation fervor. Maui News.

Hawaii Gas is planning to build a new storage facility for propane tanks near Kanaha Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary in Kahului, company officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Planning Commission to discuss General Plan Update. General Plan Update goes to Planning Commission Tuesday. Garden Island.

The state plans to once again take on the rats that have colonized Lehua Island. Details will be presented Tuesday at the Waimea Neighborhood Center. Garden Island.

The state wants to eradicate rats on a small island off Niihau to create a refuge for threatened and endangered seabirds as rising sea levels threaten low-lying atolls. Star-Advertiser.

A total of $50,000 is being offered for information about the killings of five Hawaiian monk seals, including the February death of a 15-year old female known as R4DP on Kauai. Garden Island.

The Hawaii Department of Health will reconvene public hearings statewide to introduce amendments to Chapter 50 of the state’s Food Safety Code. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines starts direct service from Lihue to Kona. Garden Island.