Intrigue at state Capitol: Souki, Tokuda expected to lose posts today, Ige rejects extended session, Bounty Hunter wife could help pick Honolulu police chief, senator accused of trying to influence police commissioner, Maui sand removal stopped, Banyan Drive revitalization bill killed, gun registration up, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Gov. David Ige press conference, courtesy Rep. Kaniela Ing

Gov. David Ige rejected the notion Wednesday of extending the 2017 legislative session to try to salvage a rail-funding deal, calling it a “waste of time” if state legislators don’t already have an agreement in place. Star-Advertiser.

With the Hawaii House and Senate unable to resolve fundamental differences over how to help pay for Honolulu’s beleaguered rail project, Gov. David Ige said Wednesday he will not extend the legislative session unless legislators can reach an agreement. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige rejected calls Wednesday to extend the Legislative session to break the deadlock over funding Honolulu's embattled rail project. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. David Ige said Wednesday he will not extend the session, which adjourns Thursday, unless lawmakers can come together. KHON2.

The state’s top-elected official said Wednesday an extension of the legislative session to resolve issues involving Honolulu’s rail project would be a waste of time.” Garden Island.

Mayors of all four Hawaii counties are asking Gov. David Ige to extend the 2017 legislative session to find funding for the troubled Honolulu rail transit project, but Ige says he’s not inclined to do so. Associated Press.

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House Speaker Joe Souki and Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Jill Tokuda are expected to be ousted from their positions of power today in an end-of-session leadership shakeup. Star-Advertiser.

House Speaker Joe Souki Expected to Lose His Post, Members Say. The expected shakeup in House leadership comes as the Senate is undergoing its own significant reshuffling. Civil Beat.

State Sen. Jill Tokuda is being forced out of her position as head of the powerful money committee in the midst of 11th-hour debate over funding for the Honolulu rail project. Civil Beat.

Sen. Jill Tokuda will be removed as chair of the Ways and Means committee. KHON2.

Retaliation blamed: Some legislators say a Big Island rat lungworm funding bill died because of a political fight between Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Jill Tokuda and Sen. Kai Kahele, who played a central role in trying to reorganize the Senate, including plans to oust Tokuda from her powerful position overseeing the budget. Star-Advertiser.

First Term House of Representative Members Talk About Their First Session. Hawaii Public Radio.

Why The Stakes Are So High In Hawaii Police Union Negotiations. There are huge financial ramifications, especially for Honolulu. Meanwhile, a state senator wants to make it easier to fire bad cops. Civil Beat.

Consumer Reports, the respected consumer product testing organization, on Wednesday unveiled a new study on home-sharing services such as Airbnb that should make the Hawaii hotel industry and the tens of thousands of people who work in the business more than a little nervous. Pacific Business News.

The Department of the Attorney General released new numbers from 2016 that show an increase in registered firearms in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

First-quarter profit at Matson Inc. tumbled 61 percent as the largest ocean cargo transportation company serving the state absorbed higher fuel prices and small cargo volume declines in Hawaii, Alaska and Guam. Star-Advertiser.

Shipping company Matson Inc. reported a 61 percent decrease in net income for the quarter ending March 31. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Beth Chapman, reality TV star and wife of Dog the Bounty Hunter, could help select the next police chief of one of the largest departments in the country. Civil Beat.

A Hawaii state senator tried to influence a Honolulu Police Commission member to vote against a pricey severance package for a retiring chief under federal investigation, according to a letter from the commission chairman. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii State Senator is accused of trying to influence a controversial vote with the Honolulu Police Commission. KITV.

Former Police Chief Louis Kealoha is threatening to complain to the Honolulu Ethics Commission about Police Commissioner Loretta Sheehan if she doesn’t disqualify herself from an upcoming vote. Civil Beat.

Environmentalists pushing for a ban on all plastic checkout bags to reduce litter and protect marine life maintain that a Honolulu City Council bill that was advanced Wednesday does not go far enough. Star-Advertiser.

A bill that would require stores to charge 10 cents for bags, while allowing businesses to continue offering thick plastic bags, passed out of a Honolulu City Council committee Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Oahu's residential real estate market has experienced the tightest supply conditions and shortest days on market in over 10 years in April, according to Locations. Pacific Business News.

A Waipahu cultural center troubled with overnight homeless campers. Hawaii News Now.

In a ceremony Wednesday, the city opened the South Street Protected Bike Lane to give bicyclists a mauka-makai route in the heart of Honolulu, improving access to downtown and Kakaako. Star-Advertiser.

Oceanit has been awarded a $750,000 Phase II contract by the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate to develop a prototype of a device for first responders. Pacific Business News.

The developer of Ward Village announced Wednesday that it sold an additional 34 condominium units among five towers in the emerging Kakaako community during the first quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Former Hawaii first lady Vicky Cayetano is in talks to expand her laundry business on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The state Senate rejected the last remaining Banyan Drive redevelopment bill Tuesday following the return of broad language intended to help extend land leases for Mauna Kea observatories. Tribune-Herald.

Of the eight bills introduced by East Hawaii legislators this year to address economic revitalization in Hilo, just one will make it to Gov. David Ige’s desk. Tribune-Herald.

It’s use it or lose it time for the County Council. Facing a possible cutback of contingency funds in next year’s budget, council members Wednesday polished off $73,060 for 19 projects as they rushed to meet the deadline to spend their 2017 largess. West Hawaii Today.

A parade of Bodacious Ladies and their supporters testified in favor of a Food Basket grant from the Hawaii County Council. Big Island Video News.

Still working to fill the gap left when its popular Senior Produce program ended this year, the Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank, is starting a new kupuna initiative and expanding other efforts to offer fresh fruits and vegetables. Tribune-Herald.

Following concerns from community residents and an environmental legal group, Marine Corps Base Hawaii agreed to reduce operations at North Kohala’s Upolu Airport. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Environmental and cultural preservation groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to invalidate the Maui Planning Commission’s approval of the proposed $354.5 million, mixed-used Makena Resort project. Maui News.

The Honolulu-based concrete production company that has been moving sand from Central Maui to other places off-site, including Oahu, has stopped transporting sand, following a formal notice from Maui County regarding permit issues on Monday. Maui News.

Small businesses are a favorite target of cyber criminals, and owners need to prepare for attacks as they would a flood, fire or other risk, experts said Wednesday at the Hawaii Small Business Conference. Maui News.

A notice has been posted in Baldwin Beach Park informing the homeless community they have until May 23 to vacate the area. Associated Press.

Kauai

Hawaii shouldn’t be held for “nuclear ransom” by North Korea and needs to activate its Aegis Ashore missile testing facility on Kauai in times of emergency to provide a layered missile shield for the isles, a defense expert told Hawaii state lawmakers Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Developers may be facing a ticking clock on the North Shore if a policy on resort-designated land is approved by the Planning Commission. Garden Island.

Neighbor Island budgets in the balance as state lawmakers dicker over rail, land lease bill killed, Legislature passes budget, Oahu hepatitis scare, Punahou president retiring, Maui to oust homeless from beach, Marines agree to cut back Upolu airport use, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea timelapse, courtesy University of Hawaii

The Hawaii Senate killed a bill Tuesday that would have allowed the state to lease land in perpetuity. House Bill 1469 raised alarm on social media Tuesday and among environmental organizations who feared it would allow the state to give away public land, particularly conservation land on Mauna Kea for the purpose of building telescopes. Civil Beat.

The state Legislature passed dozens of bills Tuesday, including measures that would decriminalize drug paraphernalia and limit prescriptions for painkillers. Lawmakers also tackled cost-of-living issues, agreeing this year to tax the rich at higher rates in order to give a tax break to low- and middle-income workers. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers voted Tuesday to spend $28 billion during the next two years in a budget that includes money for homelessness programs, improving school buildings and fighting rat lungworm disease. Associated Press.

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State House and Senate lawmakers extended their fierce disagreement today over how to bail out the financially strapped Honolulu rail project, with senators proposing to extend the half-percent excise tax surcharge for rail for another decade, and the House rejecting that idea. Star-Advertiser.

The House and Senate remain at a standoff on how to pay for rescuing Honolulu’s troubled rail project, with the two chambers passing competing tax proposals Tuesday. Civil Beat.

The State Senate and House today each advanced separate measures to fund Honolulu’s Rail Transit System. Hawaii Public Radio.

Rail tax in turmoil: Senate, House pass dueling bills. KITV.

Two days before the legislative session is set to end, a solution to fund Honolulu’s rail project is still up in the air. KHON2.

The tussle for Transient Accommodations Tax allocation is continuing. Garden Island.

Mayor Kim: Property Tax Increase Will be Necessary, Due To Rail. Big Island Video News.

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All Hawaii private homeowners, businesses and organizations with cesspools would have to stop using them by 2050, according to a bill passed Tuesday by the state Legislature. Tribune-Herald.

A quarterly report from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, the state agency tasked with overseeing the program, shows the multiple attempts made over the first three months of 2017 to lend funds have failed or are still pending. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii won’t start to get a previously announced 2,700 Marines from Okinawa, Japan, until 2027 in a move that is expected to cost $1.3 billion to $2.5 billion for infrastructure (in 2012 dollars), with training ranges a particular concern, the U.S. Government Accountability Office recently said. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s public schools chief told parents in a letter Tuesday the state has “serious concerns” about a popular new Netflix series called “13 Reasons Why.” Tribune-Herald.

As a new Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” grows in popularity, mental health professionals and schools across the country, including in Hawaii, are warning parents about the messages the show may be sending. Hawaii News Now.

For the second year in a row, Hawaiian Airlines topped the $100 million mark in fees for checked bags, canceled reservations and flight changes, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air, which has been expanding under new ownership, ended 2016 with its 15th straight quarterly loss as it began its change to larger, more efficient aircraft. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A city proposal could give back Oahu retailers the ability to use any type of plastic bag again, with a consumer fee. Hawaii News Now.

A Honolulu City Council committee Tuesday deferred action on a bill that would prohibit pedestrians from viewing mobile electronic devices while crossing a street or highway, after concerns were raised that the measure’s language might be too vague. Star-Advertiser.

The Legislature’s struggle to agree on a rail tax plan isn’t the only fiscal uncertainty facing Honolulu Hale, where officials also await word on negotiations for a new police contract. Civil Beat.

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Imported frozen raw tuna or ahi cubes distributed by Tropic Fish Hawaii LLC is being recalled after it tested positive for hepatitis A, the state Department of Health said today. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Health announced Tuesday that frozen ahi cubes distributed to a dozen grocery stores and food establishments on Oahu have tested positive for hepatitis A. Civil Beat.

Hawaii health officials say frozen raw tuna or ahi cubes sold at a dozen grocery stores and eateries on Oahu is being recalled after it tested positive for hepatitis A. Associated Press.

The state Department of Health is advising caution for Oahu residents who have recently eaten poke or ahi from a series of local stores and restaurants. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ahi poke sold at a dozen grocery stores and eateries on Oahu may have been contaminated with Hepatitis A, the state Health Department announced Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Imported frozen ahi cubes caused a health scare at several Oahu food establishments after it tested positive for Hepatitis A. KITV.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has been notified of imported frozen raw tuna or ahi cubes distributed by Tropic Fish Hawaii, LLC on Oahu that tested positive for hepatitis A. KHON2.

Hepatitis A vaccination shots will be offered at the Hawaii State Capitol to state employees Wednesday in wake of the recent voluntary recall of ahi tuna cubes that were used to prepare ahi at businesses across Oahu. KHON2.

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Construction costs in Honolulu were the second-highest in the nation during the first quarter, but Hawaii’s largest city had the smallest annual increase in costs among 12 cities monitored by Rider Levett Bucknall for its first quarter construction cost report. Pacific Business News.

WCCC inmates convert shipping containers to homes for final college project. Hawaii News Now.

Punahou School’s longtime president, James Scott, announced today he plans to retire from the private school at the end of the 2018-19 school year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A bill to give the County Council more oversight of the administration’s temporary hires was unanimously endorsed Tuesday by the council Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

The Marine Corps has agreed to cut back its use of Upolu Airport on Hawaii island after residents complained about hundreds of tilt-rotor Osprey and helicopter operations there. Star-Advertiser.

In a media release issued today, the Hawaii Center for Food Safety announced they are joining with Kupale Ookala to take Big Island Dairy to court for allegedly polluting the waters around the Hāmākua coast village. Big Island Video News.

The Waiaka Bridge replacement project could be back on. Lawmakers approved a two-year state budget Tuesday that includes $6 million for planning and land acquisition. Tribune-Herald.

International Pacific Research Center researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa are predicting the permanent end of snowfalls on Big Island summits by 2100. Tribune-Herald.

An estate within the Big Island of Hawaii's Mauna Kea Resort, which is currently listed at $6.85 million, will be auctioned next month by New York-based Concierge Auctions. Pacific Business News.

Maui

The homeless community living at Baldwin Beach Park has until May 23 to vacate the area, according to a notice posted in the park Tuesday morning. Maui News.

The Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee finalized a proposed $704.8 million county budget for fiscal 2018, which includes saving the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course, increasing trash collection fees and dedicating funds to road resurfacing. Maui News.

Pacific Biodiesel has begun preparations for its first sunflower harvest this month and has purchased a combine harvester, which was delivered Thursday. Maui News.

The Kaupo Community Association, with support of the Jonathan Starr Foundation, Hawaiian Airlines and state Sen. J. Kalani English, gave away 680 Victor M210 rattraps at the East Maui Taro Festival at the Hana Ball Park on Saturday. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai gets $167.5 million in CIP funds. Garden Island.

A hub aiming to grow the island’s creative-technology market has received a $100,000 grant from the federal government. Garden Island.

Humane society turns 65. Garden Island.

Hawaii projects spared in federal budget, Chipotle finally coming to state, Honolulu seeks homeless sanitary stations, local outcry against raising transient accommodations tax for Honolulu rail, Maui Brewing company named top small business in nation, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

East-West Center © 2017 All Hawaii News

‘Hawaii Got Almost Everything We Sought’ In Federal Budget. Despite dismal expectations, the plan preserves spending levels for the Coast Guard, East-West Center and Native Hawaiian services while boosting defense spending. Civil Beat.

The East-West Center — its federal funding on the chopping block — was spared over the weekend in a bipartisan spending deal that also included additional funding for Native Hawaiian health and housing programs. Star-Advertiser.

Life And Death Drama— For Bills — At The Hawaii Legislature. A look at some of the survivors and casualties in the unpredictable waning days of the session. Civil Beat.

State health officials have begun investigating an "increasing number" of mumps infections across the state, and have confirmed two new cases on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings plunged to their lowest monthly total of the year as the state’s low unemployment rate appeared to be keeping consumers out of financial distress. Star-Advertiser.

Chipotle Mexican Grill could finally be coming to Hawaii, following the restaurant chain's registration of two business entities with the state Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs last month. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The city has imported an idea from San Francisco to convert two obsolete Honolulu city buses into Hawaii’s first “mobile hygiene centers” to give Oahu’s homeless a place to use the bathroom and clean themselves. Star-Advertiser.

Local rail officials released today their highly anticipated “recovery plan.” The 249-page report, which was due Sunday, leaves the main question of how to pay for the island’s cash-strapped transit project unresolved, but it looks to assure federal officials that the latest cost estimates and management are sound. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation on Monday released its new plan, submitted to the Federal Transit Administration late last week, for completing the 20-mile, 21-station rail line, which has been plagued by cost overruns and delays. Civil Beat.

In a recovery plan submitted to the Federal Transit Administration last week, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation said it is committed to the project’s original route. Pacific Business News.

What’s happening to dozens of vacated properties purchased for rail? KHON2.

Honolulu city officials and business leaders Monday asked lawmakers to reject last-minute proposed legislation to increase Hawaii’s hotel room tax by 30 percent to fund the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s 20-mile long, 21-station rail line, which has been plagued by cost overruns and delays. Civil Beat.

The mayor has withdrawn his support for a deal that would increase hotel room taxes to help pay for rail. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu City Council members have unanimously passed a resolution calling on Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration and the Honolulu Police Department to not spend city money assisting federal agencies tasked with enforcing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Museum of Art is increasing its admission price for the first time in 10 years — but only for visitors. Pacific Business News.

The University of Hawaii Foundation has closed on its purchase of the YMCA of Honolulu Atherton property for $8 million and plans to spend another $5 million upgrading the property. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu ranks in bottom half among best U.S. cities to start a business. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Federal officials plan to apply two rodenticides at Pohakuloa Training Area as part of a study, prompting concerns from hunting groups. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council is poised to authorize up to $50,000 plus expenses to defend former police officer Jody Buddemeyer, accused of fatally striking a bicyclist with his patrol car while on duty. West Hawaii Today.

Public comments on Alii Drive culvert project. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo lawmaker wants the University of Hawaii at Hilo to beef up its new enrollment growth plan by adding more specifics and raising the targeted student goal. Tribune-Herald.

UH 2.2-meter Telescope Repairs Set To Begin. Big Island Video News.

Commentary: A House bill has morphed into a sweetheart deal to create perpetual leases for tenants on state land,  possibly including the Thirty Meter Telescope. Civil Beat.

Maui

On Monday morning, demonstrators rallied in front of Kahului Harbor, calling for an immediate halt to sand excavations and barge shipments. KHON2.

The owners of Maui Brewing Co. have been named the 2017 National Small Business Persons of the Year for transforming their small brewpub into the largest craft beer producer in Hawaii. Maui News.

The husband-and-wife team who started Maui Brewing Co. were recognized today as the most outstanding small business operators in the nation, and were congratulated in Washington, D.C., by Vice President Mike Pence. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Brewing Co.'s husband-and-wife duo Garrett and Melanie Marrero on Monday were named the 2017 National Small Business Person(s) of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Local officials react: Hawaii lawmakers are expected to make a decision today on a bill that seeks to reduce the counties’ cut of the Transient Accommodations Tax. Garden Island.

Gov. David Ige will be here for the Kauai Chamber of Commerce’s 19th annual Governor’s Luncheon on June 1. Garden Island.

Legislature's budget agreement to raise hotel taxes for Honolulu rail, give less to counties; more union raises; immigrant protections; Ige gears up for re-elecion bid; trouble-shooter hired for Hele-On buses; new police cars for Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Legislature 2017, courtesy Hawaii House majority

Rail and the political turmoil that surrounds it helped steer the state Legislature into dramatic new positions last week on some longstanding, contentious issues, with results that startled even some of the politicians involved. Star-Advertiser.

Senate conferees agreed to the House conference draft of Senate Bill 1183 to scrap a proposed two-year extension to Oahu’s general excise tax surcharge and instead boost Hawaii’s transient accommodations tax to 12 percent, from the current 9.25 percent, starting Jan. 1. Pacific Business News.

Lawmakers Strike Deal to Fund Honolulu Rail Project With Higher Hotel Taxes. Negotiators agreed on a plan Friday to increase the hotel tax, but the deal must still be approved by the full House and Senate. Civil Beat.

New Public Union Deals Will Be Costly For State. A handful of union contracts have yet to be finalized, but the state’s top budget official says the estimated cost so far tops $460 million. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers decided not to pass a bill Friday that would have mandated the state Department of Health post inspection reports for day care centers. Civil Beat.

State lawmakers passed a resolution to help protect immigrants in Hawaii. House Resolution 76 asks local law enforcement to not execute an immigration arrest unless they have a warrant from the federal government. KITV.

All-Mail Balloting Bill Dies In Final Hour Of Conference. The measure’s author says it’s only a matter of time before it becomes law. Civil Beat.

A bill that would have appropriated tax money for a study regarding the effects of sunscreen on coral reefs was rejected at a hearing Friday, as lawmakers refused to release the state funds required by the measure. Star-Advertiser.

Invasive species bills see mixed results. Tribune-Herald.

Rat lungworm, a disease long endemic to Puna, has gained national attention after Maui residents and two tourists from the mainland have become ill. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Senate rejected Gov. David Ige’s nomination of Tom Gorak to the three-member Public Utilities Commission on Friday night on a 15-10 vote. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii state Senate has rejected Gov. David Ige’s nomination of Hawaii Public Utilities Commission commissioner Thomas Gorak — who was appointed as an interim commissioner last year two weeks before the agency voted to reject NextEra Energy’s $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co. — to serve a full term until 2022. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s 13 largest publicly traded companies rewarded their CEOs last year by increasing their total compensation an average 13.8 percent to $2.2 million, according to a Hono­lulu Star-Advertiser analysis of Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Six officers, including the non-CEO, received a pay package of at least $3 million. Star-Advertiser.

Visitor spending in Hawaii jumped 12.3 percent to $1.4 billion in March, partially due to a surge in spending by visitors from the Japan market, according to preliminary statistics released Friday by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

A comeback from the Japan visitor market helped boost statewide March tourism numbers, including the industry’s highest monthly spending increase since December 2012. Star-Advertiser.

Were These ‘Local’ Products Really Made In Hawaii? Firms connected to the mainland like to evoke Hawaii in their marketing. Many have island origins, but have found it’s hard to expand here. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s American Savings Bank reported first quarter net income of $15.8 million, a 24.7 percent increase from net income of $12.7 million during the first quarter of 2016. Pacific Business News.

Trump May Try, But Only Congress Can Undo National Monuments. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Ishii ramps up policy effort for Ige’s re-election drive. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Voting began Friday for Oahu’s 33 neighborhood boards in what the Honolulu Neighborhood Commission Office hopes will be a largely paperless process. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu International, the state’s busiest airport has been renamed after the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is seeking 3.1 million gallons of sustainably produced, renewable biofuel per year for three years to power biofuel-capable power plants on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds marched in Waikiki on Saturday morning in a demonstration to fight climate change, joining similar marches across the country. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The wheels come off: Chaos at Mass Transit baseyard reflects turmoil in agency. West Hawaii Today.

A May 30 deadline has been set for submitting final arguments in the Thirty Meter Telescope contested case hearing, but project foes contend it’s not enough time considering the volume of documents, exhibits and transcripts generated by the proceeding. Star-Advertiser.

Several bills introduced by Hawaii Island legislators died in the final hours of conferencing Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Appropriations aim to alleviate homelessness, invasive species in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Researchers hopeful biocontrol measure will help protect Kona coffee. West Hawaii Today.

One of the biggest players in Hawaii’s Kona coffee industry is in shambles after a legal battle that has left many small farmers unpaid along with questions about what happened to a business whose coffee retailed for up to $69 a pound. Star-Advertiser.

Visitors traveling to the Big Island spent $203.3 million last month, a 25.3 percent jump from last year, caused by double-digit growth in visitor arrivals from U.S. West, U.S. East, Japan and Canada, according to preliminary statistics from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui Land &Pineapple Co. is only $1.2 million away from being debt free after selling a three-hole practice golf course in February for $7 million. Star-Advertiser.

After an anxious month and steep learning curve about how to co-exist with invasive slugs carrying rat lungworm disease, Hana celebrated itself at the 25th East Maui Taro Festival. Civil Beat.

DOH to hold community meetings on Maui to discuss rat lungworm disease. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department will be getting new patrol cars. The Kauai County Council unanimously approved a budget request from Chief Darryl Perry last week to spend $178,000 a year for five years to lease new Ford Explorers. Garden Island.

Grant limits could be placed on a $200,000 county allocation distributed to Kekaha residents. Garden Island.

Kaui projects included in state operating budget for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. Garden Island.

Lanai

For the third time in three decades, the state Land Use Commission has come to a different conclusion on whether Larry Ellison, owner of Lanai is using a proper source of water to irrigate its luxury ocean-view golf course. Star-Advertiser.

More unions get pay boost, Senate may ditch Ways and Means chairwoman in rail battle, bills in the balance as Legislature reaches crucial deadline, Maui mayor wants Oahu sand shipments stopped, LUC gives nod to Ellison's Lanai golf course, lifeguards lose lawsuit immunity, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Road work in the rain © 2017 All Hawaii News

An arbitration panel has awarded 6 percent to 7 percent raises to about 27,500 public employees in six bargaining units of the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the union announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of state employees to get 4.25% raise as part of arbitration settlement. Hawaii News Now.

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Hawaii Government Employees Association Unit 6 and the state, which includes a salary raise of 13.53 percent over the next four years. Hawaii News Now.

On Friday, HGEA’s Unit 6, which represents educational officers, will vote cast ratification votes for a four-year contract made with the employer, which includes a salary increase of 13.53%. KHON2.

Hawaii public school teachers overwhelmingly voted in favor Thursday of a contract that will boost their pay by 13.6 percent over the next four years. Star-Advertiser.

Teachers voted to ratify a new contract in overwhelming fashion Thursday. Hawaii News Now.

Public school teachers voted to ratify contract that gives them a 14% raise in the next four years. KITV.

Public school teachers ratify new contract, will receive 13.6% raise over four years. KHON2.

Lawmakers are once again eyeing a possible reorganization of the state Senate to try to clear the way to provide more funding for the city’s embattled rail project. Star-Advertiser.

A new twist in the rail drama is unfolding as lawmakers prepare to meet to decide how much longer to extend the half percent excise tax. KITV.

State lawmakers scrambled to move dozens of bills ahead of a Thursday night deadline for gaining approval from key House and Senate negotiators on measures that don’t carry a price tag. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lifeguards will lose immunity from lawsuits this summer after the Senate announced Thursday night that they are going along with a House bill that allows the protection to expire. Hawaii News Now.

A committee of Hawaii lawmakers is moving forward with a bill that would allow the Honolulu Police Commission to hire a chief from out of state and permit Micronesian immigrants to serve on state boards and commissions. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers prepare to take final vote on bill that holds child care providers accountable. KITV.

Critics: Water Bill Could Hurt Customers And The Environment. The Sierra Club is mounting a last-minute push amid worries the measure will remove private water distribution companies from state regulation. Civil Beat.

Neither Linda Chen or Christina Kishimoto, the two finalists for state schools superintendent, have ever worked in Hawaii's public education system – or even lived here in the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Defenders and opponents of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are moving back into their familiar battle stations as Republican President Trump reopens the review process that led to the preserve’s expansion by President Obama last summer. Civil Beat.

A handful of police misconduct cases came to a close this week with a $30,000 legal settlement, a not guilty verdict and a 10-year prison sentence. Civil Beat.

First Hawaiian Bank’s loans rose to a record high but net income fell 13.4 percent in the first quarter because of $25.7 million in securities sales made in the year-earlier period. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

By a 5-4 margin, the Honolulu City Council gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that lifts the ban on using property taxes to finish the city’s $10 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser.

A measure that is key to moving ahead on a replacement for Aloha Stadium goes down to the wire at the Legislature today. Star-Advertiser.

Elections are underway for members of the island’s 33 neighborhood boards. Civil Beat.

More than 1,000 people stood in line in Chinatown on Thursday to get on a waiting list for an affordable apartment. Hawaii News Now.

Native Hawaiian practitioners are vowing to try to stop what they've dubbed the 'Coca Cola fence.'  Hawaii News Now.

An ambitious plan will soon get underway to restore a long-lost native forest near Laie by replanting massive numbers of koa, milo and sandalwood trees. Civil Beat.

The International Market Place’s newest dining concept, The Street, A Michael Mina Social House, will bring 13 food and beverage vendors together in a 6,900-square-foot space that is slated to open next month. Pacific Business News.

Eddie Flores Jr., founder of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, donated $1 million to the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Hawaii County could get a better view of its budget gap today as legislators meet one last time over how much of the hotel tax to share with the counties. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy wants the council to get a heads-up when the administration hires people on nonemergency 89-day contracts worth $5,000 or more monthly. West Hawaii Today.

Budget chairwomen for the House and Senate allocated $1 million earlier this week to the state Department of Health to combat rat lungworm disease, but in doing so they diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars in hoped-for funding away from researchers at the University of Hawaii at Hilo who have been leading research into the disease and spearheading public education efforts. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui mayor demands halt after mountains of sand stripped, shipped for Oahu development. KHON2.

Maui Electric Co., a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Co., has been named one of the top utilities in the nation for connecting energy storage to the grid, according to the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Pacific Business News.

When the state Supreme Court convened in the Baldwin High School Auditorium on Thursday morning to hear arguments in a Molokai drunken-driving case, more than 500 high school students were in the audience. Maui News.

Kauai

The United States Postal Service is reconsidering a plan to relocate its operations of the Lihue post office from Rice Street to the annex facility near the airport. Garden Island.

The Department of Parks and Recreation will hold a meeting next week regarding the Anahola Village Park playground. Garden Island.

Lanai

The state Land Use Commission on Thursday adopted a hearings officer’s recommendation and found that Lanai Resort Partners did not violate a condition regarding golf course irrigation set by the commission in 1991. Maui News.

Humpback whale count concludes, over-the-counter birth control advances, counties count budget blessings, Ellison's Lanai golf course up for LUC decision, Honolulu seeks comments on transit development plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Humpback whale breach, courtesy  Kohala Sail & Sea PC: Michael Faughn

More than 380 volunteers gathered data from the shores of Hawaii Island, Oahu and Kauai during the final count of the 2017 Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count. Tribune-Herald.


Women would no longer have to make a trip to the doctor to get a prescription for birth control pills or other forms of hormonal contraception under a bill that gained approval from negotiators in the House and Senate on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Passage Of State Budget Bill Breaks The Legislative Logjam — For Now. Negotiations continue on the rail-tax measure during the secretive home stretch when Senate and House leaders meet in conference committees. Civil Beat.

Advocates Fear Hawaii’s Sick Leave Bill Abandons Workers In Need. But industry groups say bills that mandate paid sick leave for workers and expand the state’s current family leave law will push prices higher. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are in the midst of intense negotiations about what bills to pass this year. But with only three days left to make decisions, some committees haven’t even met yet. Bills to increase public input about new seawalls, ensure media access in disaster zones and protect lifeguards from lawsuits may die without negotiations. Civil Beat.

A new course of relief for residents plagued by little fire ant infestations or concerned about falling albizia trees is nearing the finish line in the state Legislature. House Bill 606 allows county employees or authorized county agents to enter private property in order to manage invasive species or pests on the land. Tribune-Herald.

State officials reassure visitors after rat lungworm cases. Associated Press.

President Donald Trump is ordering a review of the designations for more than two dozen national monuments, including ecologically rich marine preserves in the Pacific such as Papahanaumokuakea, Marianas Trench and the Pacific Remote Islands. Civil Beat.

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order Wednesday that could end up shrinking — or even nullifying — some large federal national monuments on protected public lands, as established since the Clinton administration. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The city is seeking input on its draft plan for transit-oriented development around the three rail stations in the Hono­lulu Airport area, including proposed new mixed-use communities not primarily centered on housing. Star-Advertiser.

Some residents on Oahu’s North Shore want to stop tour bus companies from dropping off passengers at beaches in the area. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige joined dozens of kindergarten and first-grade students, along with faculty and state officials, to dedicate a new one-story, air-conditioned building at Ewa Elementary School on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Is a DLNR officer harassing a North Shore businessman? KITV.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is looking for a “few good men and women” to fulfill its goal of making military veterans and military family members 7 percent of all their new hires in the next three years. Star-Advertiser.

Waikiki center seeks more aid as costs and services grow. Star-Advertiser.

Even though there have been no cases of rat lungworm on Oahu, fear about the disease is hurting sales for growers of leafy greens. Hawaii News Now.

Kahala Resort plan: Privatization of public beach? KITV.

Honolulu-based Island Air and South Korea's Jin Air have entered into an interline partnership, which allows travelers to book connections between Jin Air’s network throughout Korea and Southeast Asia and Island Air’s destinations in the Hawaiian Islands. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Leaders in the state House and Senate agreed to a budget deal that includes funding for extending Saddle Road to Queen Kaahumanu Highway, responding to rat lungworm disease and containing rapid ohia death. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii is currently using less than 40 percent of what scientists have determined is the sustainable yield of water in the Keauhou Aquifer system. If current population growth trends continue, that amount will top 60 percent by 2035. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Residents Step Up Resistance To Solar Project. Residents of Hawaii Ocean View Estates are upset about having no formal way to oppose or have input into plans for a large solar farm in their subdivision. Civil Beat.

Peter Kema Sr., as part of a condition of a plea deal, led police on Sunday to a site in Puna where he claims he dumped his 6-year-old son’s body in 1997. Tribune-Herald.

Bird excrement annoying post office goers in Waikoloa Village. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The $1.1 billion in capital improvement projects that state House and Senate conferees agreed upon Monday for the biennium budget include $63 million for the Kihei high school, which should be enough to open the school by 2022, education officials and state lawmakers said Tuesday. Maui News.

An approximately $90 million, 217-condominium unit project behind the Kamaole Shopping Center along South Kihei Road moved closer to fruition Tuesday as the Maui Planning Commission granted a Special Management Area use permit for the project. Maui News.

The former Maui Film Studios will be converted into a 23,000-square-foot trampoline park to open in July or August in the Maui Lani Village Center, the park’s owner said Tuesday. Maui News.

A non-profit dance academy in Kula is scrambling to vacate the Old Kula Community Center building that is being condemned by County officials due to the discovery of chipped and deteriorating lead paint. Maui Now.

Researchers who examined Maui’s nearshore waters in a study of changing sea depths discovered a remarkable amount of seafloor and coral reef erosion — enough sand, rock and other material over nearly four decades to fill up the Empire State Building 81 times. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers have approved a budget bill providing funds for the transfer of operations of Maui Memorial Medical Center and two other state-owned Maui County hospitals to private health care provider Kaiser Permanente. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

When it comes to Kauai’s General Plan, Planning Commissioner Glenda Nogami-Streufert wants to make sure future lawmakers are not locked into policies they cannot enforce. Garden Island.

Dow Chemical is asking members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet agencies to “set aside” results of federal studies that say three pesticides may pose a risk to the health of endangered species and humans. Garden Island.

The water conservation request for Wainiha and Haena residents has been lifted as of 4 p.m., April 25. Customers may return to normal water use. Garden Island.

Lanai

The state Land Use Commission could make a decision this week regarding the water usage at Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison’s Manele Golf Course on Lanai, which could lead to the billionaire shutting down the course. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii House, Senate conference committee reaches budget agreement, Pence dines with troops, paraphernalia decriminalized, Hawaii County transit administrator steps down, Makiki homeless apartments opened, Haiku Stairs may come down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

House, Senate conference committee, courtesy Senate majority

House and Senate lawmakers reached agreement on a new two-year, $28.4 billion state operating budget Monday that would increase state spending over this year’s level but would trim the overall budget somewhat from what Gov. David Ige originally proposed. Star-Advertiser

When a conference committee of Hawaii House and Senate leaders reached agreement on a state budget bill Monday — sooner than is typical — it was in marked contrast to the sense of stalemate that permeated the Capitol days earlier. Civil Beat.

Governor’s Political Fortunes May Rise With New Teachers’ Contract. Many other union contracts are still being negotiated, but David Ige is being praised by the teachers union after it reached a deal with the state. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's public school teachers are asking tough questions at informational meetings about their new contract proposal. Hawaii News Now.

Some East Hawaii educators say they’re “pleasantly surprised” with a new tentative contract agreement that would gradually bump their annual pay by more than $6,000 and boost the state’s contribution to their health care. Tribune-Herald.

Vice President Mike Pence dined with about 120 service members this afternoon at Joint Base Pearl Harbor/Hickam on an abbreviated stopover in the islands before returning to Washington from a week-long trip to Asia and Australia. Star-Advertiser.

House and Senate negotiators agreed Monday morning on a bill that would decriminalize possession of drug paraphernalia, reducing the penalties for being caught with items such as a marijuana pipe or cigarette papers to no more than $500. Star-Advertiser.

The Legal Services Corp., Microsoft Corp. and Pro Bono Net have named Hawaii as a state partner in a pilot program to develop online, statewide legal portals to direct individuals with civil legal needs to the most appropriate forms of assistance. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply is moving forward with a plan to demolish the Haiku Stairs, although both supporters and opponents of the plan insist the fate of the popular — but now illegal — hiking trail is far from decided. Star-Advertiser.

Should Haiku Stairs be torn out or managed? KITV.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has contracted to build the state’s largest solar farm near Haleiwa with up to 500,000 solar panels on 100 acres. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and New Jersey-based NRG Energy Inc. have struck a deal on a power purchase agreement for the Honolulu-based utility to buy power from the Kawailoa Solar farm on Oahu’s North Shore, the two companies said Monday. Pacific Business News.

At least 15 people were treated for exposure to ammonia Monday after a major leak at Pier 38. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Prosecutor Could Be A Witness For The Defense. In an unusual move, a defense attorney wants Keith Kaneshiro to testify about a prosecutor’s investigation into “ghost tickets.” Civil Beat.

Within a few weeks the first homeless families are expected to move into newly renovated rental apartments in the heart of urban Honolulu as the city continues to find homes for people living on the street. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu To Open Makiki Apartments For Homeless People. Applicants for the 42 units must earn less than $35,200 per year for an individual or $50,250 for a family of four. Civil Beat.

City takes legal action to clean Makiki property neglected for years. KHON2.

A Honolulu company headed by a Hawaii solar energy executive has racked up fines totaling $22,000 for multiple violations at its Haleiwa property on Oahu’s North Shore, including doing unpermitted work. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Mass Transit Administrator Tiffany Kai is stepping down and Mayor Harry Kim is bringing in a retired U.S. Marine to whip the struggling Hele-On bus system into shape. West Hawaii Today.

A former Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement officer was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison for the New Year’s Day 2016 sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl on a beach in Hilo’s Keaukaha neighborhood. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island visitors traveling via the popular home sharing website Airbnb this past week for the 54th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Hula Competition were expected to generate $5.2 million in economic activity through guest spending and host earnings, according to Airbnb. West Hawaii Today.

A new National Park Service report shows almost $200 million in economic benefits associated with visitation to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Hawai‘i Island. Big Island Video News.

Scientists are looking to man’s best friend for help in the fight against rapid ohia death. Dogs already are used to sniff out a fungus in Florida avocado trees, and researchers in Hawaii think they could be trained to detect the ohia disease before trees show symptoms. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

State House and Senate conferees agreed Monday on a biennium budget that includes $33.4 million for a Kaiser Permanente subsidiary to run Maui County public hospitals as well as capital improvement funds for extending the Lahaina bypass in the Kaanapali direction and for holding room expansion at Kahului Airport. Maui News.

Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Riki Hokama has proposed keeping the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course open, raising some county rates and fees and a mixed bag of increases and decreases to property tax classifications, compared to the proposed budget of Mayor Alan Arakawa. Maui News.

The Maui County Council will hold a public hearing Wednesday on real property tax hikes that Mayor Alan Arakawa has proposed for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Maui News.

Kauai

Computer, Internet services at public libraries might be lost under Trump’s proposed budget. Garden Island.

Kauai still free of rat lungworm. Health officials advise caution. Garden Island.

An interim arrangement has been reached to address the issue with HI5 bottle redemption and commercially generated recyclable services. Garden Island.

Legislature begins conference committees, homeless efforts stall, few use cesspool replacement tax credit, Kauai water agreement restores stream, Maui audit shows post office demolition errors, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Legislative conference committee, courtesy Sen. J. Kalani English

The Legislature’s critical conference committee period kicked off Tuesday at the Capitol with Hawaii lawmakers making earnest statements about how they have found a lot to agree on when it comes to the state’s $28 billion budget. Civil Beat.

The traditional Hawaiian value “hookipa” prompted state lawmakers to push a resolution to make Hawaii a sanctuary state, honoring Hawaii’s history as a home to a diverse group of immigrants who dramatically shaped the island state’s economy and culture. Associated Press.

Homelessness: A Lot Of Talk But No ‘Game-Changer’ At The Legislature. Some bills are still alive, with their fate to be decided in conference committees. Civil Beat.

There's nearly 90,000 cesspools across Hawaii, and many could be polluting our groundwater. That fact prompted the state to offer tax-credits to home-owners to clean up and clear out their sewage, but very few have switched to safer septic systems. KITV.

A new poll sheds light on some of the most controversial issues facing the state, and shows opinions aren't as divided as some might think. Hawaii News Now.

The Department of Education closed out 19 employee misconduct investigations during the first three months of the year, resulting in six terminations and five resignations or retirements in lieu of termination, according to data shared Tuesday with the state school board. Star-Advertiser.

New school lunch program emphasizes fresh local fare made from scratch. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Airlines said a shift in the wind blew it off course in February and resulted in the worst monthly on-time performance in more than a decade. Star-Advertiser.

Federal legislation to improve tsunami detection and climate forecasting, long championed by Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Commentary: The United Public Workers, the union which represents some 13,000 state and county blue collar workers, including about 1,200 prison guards, believes the Department of Public Safety is violating the state constitution and state law by refusing to promote prison guards into supervisory positions if they have been suspended from their jobs within the previous two years. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Commission said late this afternoon that it had received 38 applications for police chief, roughly 25 to 30 percent of them from out-of-state candidates. Star-Advertiser.

Dozens are applying to be the next chief of the embattled Honolulu Police Department. Associated Press.

Under a new lease deal, the Missouri memorial will stay in Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

As sit-lie ban expands, businesses wonder: Where will volatile homeless camp go next? Hawaii News Now.

Waimanalo Gym Closure Leaves A Town Feeling Sidelined. Residents are frustrated by the long wait to start a $3.12 million repair job on the damaged gym, which was a “safe haven” for kids. Civil Beat.

Manoa residents want their rough roads fixed, and some would rather not wait for the city to get around to fixing them. They’re offering to do the work themselves. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s time-of-use program, which makes energy use cheaper during the day and more expensive at night, is proving popular among retirees. Star-Advertiser.

PacRim Marketing Group, one of the largest public relations firms in Hawaii, is rebranding following its acquisition by Vector, Inc., a Tokyo-based communications firm. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Substance abuse programs, elderly transportation, domestic violence and Native Hawaiian health care took top billing Tuesday as a Hawaii County Council panel recommended disbursing $1.5 million to 85 community nonprofits. West Hawaii Today.

Kolekole Park has been closed due to lead levels in excess of safe amounts, according to Mayor Harry Kim’s office. Tribune-Herald.

Hilo Medical Center received a top grade from the nonprofit Leapfrog Group — a leading proponent of patient safety. Tribune-Herald.

Veterans troubled over newly tapped director of Hawaii VA health system. West Hawaii Today.

Moanike‘ala Akaka, longtime Hawaiian activist and advocate, former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and a founding mother of the renaissance of Hawaiian language and culture in the 1970s, died Saturday at Hospice of Hilo Pohai Malama Facility after a monthslong battle with cancer. She was 72. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A 47-page audit was released today by the Maui Office of the County Auditor on the demolition of the Old Wailuku Post Office. Maui Now.

Another 6 megawatts — enough for possibly 850 residential rooftop photovoltaic systems — will become available for hookup to the grid on Maui, according to Maui Electric Co. Maui News.

VIDEO: Support Waiehu Golf Course Rally. Maui Now.

Controlling snail and slug populations is one of the most important steps in fighting the spread of rat lungworm disease, health and agricultural experts said Monday evening during a meeting at the Haiku Community Center. Maui News.

The new California owners of the Safeway and Longs Drugs-anchored Lahaina Cannery Mall on Maui plan to spend $18 million to renovate the 15-acre mall that will include nearly doubling the size of the Safeway store, the company said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

In a move all sides are calling historic, the Hawaii State Water Commission on Tuesday approved a mediated settlement that restores tens of millions of gallons of water a day to the Waimea River on Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

In what’s being dubbed a “historic” agreement, groups representing cultural, environmental, agricultural and development interests have reached a settlement in a longstanding dispute over the diversion of millions of gallons of water on the west side of Kauai. Civil Beat.

After more than 100 years, water is being returned to the Waimea River. Garden Island.

Access and safety at Kee were among the top concerns at the Hanalei School Cafeteria on Tuesday, as community members gathered to hear updates about the Hanakapiai Bridge project and the Haena State Park Master Plan. Garden Island.

The state has cited a 39-year-old Lihue man after he allegedly tried to pry open the shell of a live Hawaiian green sea turtle using a knife and rock. Star-Advertiser.

Two gardeners said they were evicted from Kalihiwai Community Garden because they refused to sign a contract they claim didn’t match their original agreement. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle Corp. and majority owner of the Hawaiian Island of Lanai, is looking for someone to run the operations of the 21 resort residential properties he purchased three years ago near the Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay. Pacific Business News.