Government employees lose retiree benefits lawsuit, property tax surcharge for education bill revived, Hawaii Democrats announce presidential primary candidates, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawai‘i AG prevails in class-action lawsuit involving state retiree health benefits. After nearly 18 years in court, the Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General has prevailed in a class-action lawsuit in which retired government employees sought to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in claims relating to retiree health benefits provided by the Hawai‘i Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund.  Big Island Now.

AG swamped with hundreds more cases after city prosecutor’s ‘unilateral’ decision. Honolulu City Prosecutor Steve Alm has ended the practice of prosecuting cases from state law enforcement agencies — a decision made late last year that’s resulted in about 600 additional cases for the state Attorney General’s Office. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiʻi Democrats announce presidential primary candidates for March 6 ballot. President Joe Biden and four other candidates will be on the March 6 Democratic Party presidential primary election ballot, the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi announced. Maui Now.

Bipartisan Maui wildfire legislative package focuses on prevention and preparedness. After the last legislative session, House Speaker Scott Saiki created six working groups to evaluate topics related to the Maui wildfires. The bipartisan group issued a package of 10 bills and two resolutions that aim to prevent wildfires statewide and be more prepared. Hawaii Public Radio.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Would Let Hawaii Use Property Taxes To Fund Schools. A measure that would have Hawaii voters decide on whether residential investment property valued at $3 million or more should be subject to a surcharge in order to increase funding for local public education passed out of the state House Education Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

House Majority introduces bill package for 2024 Hawaiʻi Legislative Session. The majority caucus of the Hawaiʻi House of Representatives has introduced nine bills aimed at addressing several critical issues throughout the state as part of its bill package for the 2024 Hawaiʻi Legislative Session. Big Island Now.

Working Families Legislative Caucus sponsors several bills aimed at boosting economic justice. A group of 14 state lawmakers focused on helping Hawai’i’s working families is sponsoring several bills during the 2024 legislative session intended to boost financial security for the state’s vulnerable residents. Big Island Now.

Republican bill would let only current, former residents buy Hawaii homes. Only current and former residents would be allowed to purchase homes under a House Republican bill designed to lower prices and make Hawaii housing more affordable across the state. Star-Advertiser.

State Health Department determines awa, also known as kava, to be safe. The traditional elixir is known as awa in Hawaii and was brought to the islands by the early Polynesian settlers. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

Officials say Hawaiʻi needs more plant quarantine inspectors. Officials who oversee the inspection of goods coming to Hawaiʻi say they can’t do it properly because of a staffing shortage. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

Condemned Waikiki walk-up is eyed for affordable housing. Following nearly two years of condemnation proceedings, Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s administration said in a news release Tuesday that the city finally assumed ownership of the derelict, 9,454-square-foot property at 1615 Ala Wai Blvd. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Rolling Power Outages On Hawaiʻi Island As Generators Trip Offline. 30-minute rolling power outages were initiated across the Island of Hawaiʻi on Tuesday, due to the unexpected loss of several large generators. Big Island Video News.

Bills introduced for dangerous dogs, involuntary manslaughter. Big Island lawmakers have introduced a pair of bills in the state House that would make the owners of a dangerous dog or dogs that fatally maul a person subject to felony charges. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Presentation on Permanent Disposal Site on agenda for Lahaina meeting, Jan. 31. The community is encouraged to learn more about the status and process of selecting a Permanent Disposal Site for ash and debris from the Lahaina wildfire at the County of Maui Disaster Recovery Community Update meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at the Lahaina Civic Center. Maui Now.

Maui’s Martin gets new post as Public Affairs Director; Abraham to lead Communications and Government Affairs. Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen announced today that Mahina Martin, his Chief of Communications and Public Affairs, will take on a new role as Director of Public Affairs. He also appointed his legislative liaison and executive assistant, Laksmi Abraham, as Director of Communications and Government Affairs.  Maui Now.

FEMA Is Developing A ‘Last Resort’ Plan To House Maui Fire Survivors In Kaanapali. Hawaii Sen. Angus McKelvey said "dignified" modular housing should be installed in this area near Lahaina to keep the community together. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.

Bill To Speed Construction Of Ohana Houses On Maui Adopted. The legislation will make it possible for homeowners to get paid to build accessory dwelling units on their properties. Civil Beat.

Grand Wailea spa shakes up amid court fight. Counsel for spa workers who are part of an “upcoming mass layoff” of independent contractors at the Grand Wailea, a Waldorf-­Astoria Resort, said workers had until this morning to decide whether they would sign an arbitration agreement to keep their jobs, which are converting into W-2 positions. Star-Advertiser.

Maui Businesses Are Supposed To Have Priority For Wildfire Cleanup Jobs. Do They? The mainland contractor overseeing the work doesn't have to reveal who is getting hired even though it's a taxpayer-funded job. Civil Beat.

2 month road closure between Alelele and Lelekea Bridge in East Maui due to erosion. Motorists are advised that the highway in the Kīpahulu area of southeast Maui is closed near Mile 39 from Alelele Bridge to Lelekea Bridge due to erosion damage to the road caused by recent heavy rains.  Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai Residents Want Next County Budget To Address Housing, Disaster Preparedness, Environment. The public can weigh in on county spending priorities at six listening sessions scheduled islandwide through early March. Civil Beat. Kauai Now.

Attorney General releases draft recreational marijuana bill, Hawaii flights canceled after Boeing jetliners grounded, Miske organized crime trial begins today, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

AG releases draft bill for pot legalization; lists best practices to minimize risks. Attorney General Anne Lopez said Friday that if the state Legislature passes a bill in the upcoming session that would legalize the adult use of cannabis in Hawaii, it will do so without her office’s support. Tribune-Herald. KITV4.

Hawaii Hemp Growers Don’t Want To Be Regulated Like Marijuana. The Legislature is expected to consider a bill this session to create a new state entity that would oversee recreational and medicinal cannabis as well as industrial hemp. Civil Beat.

Stalled bills have second life in 2024 legislative session. Dozens of bills from the 2023 legislative session that failed to become law remain alive going into the Jan. 17 start of the upcoming session, including one that would eliminate the Hawaii Tourism Authority and create a new tourism entity.  Star-Advertiser.

Security at Hawaii’s state Capitol ramps up amid growing safety concerns. State officials are beefing up security at Hawaii’s top government building with additions that include metal detector scans for visitors and bag X-ray machines as the 2024 session of the Legislature nears its Jan. 17 opening. Star-Advertiser.

Solving Hawaii’s Housing Crisis: More Homes Per Lot? Rep. Luke Evslin’s idea for the upcoming legislative session seems simple: The new House Housing Committee chair wants to keep the country country, as the slogan goes, but also citify the city. Civil Beat.

More Hawaii flights canceled after scores of Boeing jetliners grounded. One Hawaii family said they were told it would be nearly a week before they’d be able to leave the islands. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Jetliner that suffered blowout restricted because of concern over warning light. The Boeing jetliner that suffered an inflight blowout over Oregon was not being used for flights to Hawaii after a warning light that could have indicated a pressurization problem lit up on three different flights, a federal official said Sunday. Associated Press.

Hawai‘i School Choice Week lays out options. While Gov. Josh Green has proclaimed Jan. 21-27 as Hawai‘i School Choice Week, officials say the proclamation does not indicate that he supports a policy shift toward school vouchers or other systems allowing public education funds to follow students into private schools. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiʻi Labor Board rules UH graduate assistants have right to be public employees.  The ruling makes a clear pathway for graduate students to have the right to collectively bargain for benefits, such as a living wage, grievance process, health insurance and other working conditions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Navy seeks permit for training areas off Hawaii, California. The Navy is preparing to conduct an environmental review of its Pacific training operations around Hawaii and California and is soliciting public feedback until the end of January. Star-Advertiser.

Jan. 25 grace period approaching to submit SBA disaster loan applications. The deadline to apply for federal disaster assistance has passed; however, Hawaiʻi residents and businesses have been granted a 45-day grace period, until Thursday, Jan. 25, to submit their US Small Business Administration disaster loan applications for property damage caused by wildfires.  Maui Now.

Oahu

The Miske Trial Is Finally Beginning. Some Potential Jurors Are Worried. The trial of accused racketeering boss Michael Miske Jr. begins Monday with jury selection, more than three years after the longtime Honolulu business owner was arrested in a federal case that may involve more than 900 witnesses and several former co-defendants who agreed to plea deals. Civil Beat. Bloomberg.

Hawai‘i Convention Center focuses on future offshore bookings. The Hawai‘i Convention Center is on track to achieve one of its strongest revenue-generating years since opening in 1998. Star-Advertiser.

New Housing Is Rising Along the Rail Line. Transit-oriented development brings homes, stores, jobs and transit service together. Hawaii Business magazine.

High mortgage rates, limited supply weigh on Oahu’s housing market. High mortgage rates and limited inventory caused Oahu’s housing market to cool in 2023 — and the number of homeowners locked into mortgages under 6% could continue to discourage listings even if rates go down, some experts say. Star-Advertiser.

Kapiʻolani Medical Center nurses authorize a strike as contract negotiations drag on.  Daniel Ross, president of the Hawai‘i Nurses Association, says no strike date has been set yet. If a strike is called, a 10-day notice will be given. Hawaii Public Radio. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

Dog bite reports on the rise: Number of cases have spiked dramatically since 2020. The charge of negligent failure to control a dangerous dog is now a Class C felony that carries a potential five-year prison term and up to a $10,000 fine. Tribune-Herald.

UH plans to expand IFA facilities, offer more STEM opportunities. Using $2 million in state funds awarded last year, the university will begin designing an expansion to Institute for Astronomy facilities on the UH-Hilo campus, with plans to eventually establish a “space engineering and instrument development center” that designs and builds precision instruments for astronomical facilities. Tribune-Herald. Maui Now.

Planning commission to address four properties in Kona, Waikoloa. The Leeward Planning Commission will address four applications, including two developments less than a block apart, at the Jan. 18 meeting in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island Police Seize Drugs After A Fatal Overdose At The Hilo Jail. Two inmates were found unresponsive in their cell, and one of them died in an apparent fentanyl overdose. Civil Beat.

New gym in works for Hilo Intermediate: School receives funds to replace termite-damaged facility. Hilo Intermediate School has received $1 million in state funds to begin the process of replacing its gym.  Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Officials Unveil $500 Million Agreement To House All Displaced Maui Households By July. If successful, the Maui Interim Housing Plan will avoid the need for a moratorium on vacation rentals that some are calling for. Civil Beat. Maui News.

West Maui Housing Developer Is Being Sued By Downwind Neighbors. Residents say red dust from excavation activity at the Pulelehua project is infiltrating nearby properties, causing a range of health and nuisance issues. Civil Beat.

Moratorium on electric service disconnections for Maui customers extended through March 5.  Suspension of service disconnecations for all Hawaiian Electric customers on Maui has been extended through at least March 5, 2024, in accordance with the extension of Gov. Josh Green’s emergency proclamation. Maui News.

Kauai

Plan for largest Hawaii hydroelectric plant is downsized. An ambitious plan to develop a renewable energy project on Kauai that would have been the biggest hydroelectric power plant in Hawaii has been scaled back and may not go forward at all. Star-Advertiser.

Laboratory services coming to Mahelona. The opening of the Diagnostic Laboratory Services outpatient Patient Service Center on Tuesday in the Kawaiola Medical Building triggered the announcement by the Hawai‘i Health Systems Corporation (HHSC) of its new partnership with DLS to operate hospital laboratory services. Garden Island.

AG nominee Lopez endorsed by committee, indicted ex-prosecutor can keep her lawyer, DLNR orders Waikoloa cat feeding stations closed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Committee endorses Hawaii attorney general nominee. A Senate committee on Wednesday voted to recommend that Anne Lopez become Hawaii’s permanent attorney general after she pledged to brainstorm ideas to legalize recreational marijuana and come up with constitutional ways to allow more local residents to buy homes, among other issues important to committee members. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

New Department of Health director starting out with a 24% staff vacancy rate. Hawaiʻi's new health director, Dr. Kenneth Fink, is the former Med-QUEST director for the state and most recently served as vice president of Medicare and Medicaid Programs at HMSA. Hawaii Public Radio.

Noise-detecting camera bill heads back to Senate. Senate Bill 588 would create a pilot program to use noise detection traffic cameras in urban areas, in each participating county.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Government wants 30-month sentence for ex-union officer. The 64-year-old former executive officer of the Hawaii Longshore Division should spend the next 30 months in federal prison and pay a $150,000 fine after he was found guilty of falsifying records and embezzlement that cost his union $95,000, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii reports 959 new COVID-19 cases, 4 more deaths. The metrics show a leveling off after two consecutive weeks of increases in daily average cases and positivity rates. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Indicted Honolulu Official Can Keep Her Lawyer, Judge Rules. Donna Leong, Honolulu’s former corporation counsel, is fighting federal charges that she conspired with two others to improperly grant a $250,000 severance payment to former police chief Louis Kealoha.  Civil Beat.

Early discussions on how to fix Honolulu's permitting backlog begin. One proposal would codify a program allowing industry professionals to review and certify plans. Currently, the department allows third-party reviewers to certify plans, which is done by using administrative rules. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal grand jury conducting criminal probe into Red Hill fuel spills. A number of military and civilian officials have been subpoenaed in recent months to testify about the 2021 spills, which contaminated the drinking water of more than 90,000 military personnel and civilians. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu inflation shrinks to 3.3%. Honolulu consumers may be finding prices more affordable as inflation continues to ease under the weight of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive campaign to increase interest rates. Star-Advertiser.

More arrests being made in Waikiki to get habitual criminals off the street, but many are still violating geographic restrictions. Over the past six months, Honolulu police have made over 700 arrests in Waikiki, but residents say there's still much more that needs to be done. KITV4.

Oahu Inmate Kills Himself After Jail Staff Fails To Put Him On Suicide Watch. Jimuel Gatioan hanged himself at OCCC despite warnings by a prosecutor and a defense lawyer that he was suicidal, court records show. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Mauna Kea Authority Nominees Receive Thumbs Up From Senate Committee. The appointees include Richard Matsuda, Gary Kalehua Krug, Kamanamaikalani Beamer, Paul Horner, Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, John Komeiji, Joshua Lanakila Mangauil, and Pomaikalani Bertelmann. Civil Beat.

State Orders End To Cat-Feeding Stations At Waikoloa Shopping Center. DLNR has directed the removal of cat-feeding stations located at a Hawai‘i Island shopping center, following complaints that the endangered Hawai‘i state bird, the nēnē (Hawaiian goose), are being negatively impacted by the consumption of cat food and close contact with feral cats. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Maui

DOH looks into cases of sickened students at school. The state Department of Health is in the midst of an investigation at Maui Preparatory Academy to try to determine what may have been causing some fourth-grade students to experience symptoms, including nausea and headaches, in recent months. Maui News.

ʻĪao Valley State Monument remains closed, reopening postponed until further notice. The closure went into effect on Aug. 1, 2022 to allow crews to complete the final phase of a slope stabilization project and parking lot improvements. It was initially slated to reopen on Jan. 15, 2023, but the closure was extended until April 15, 2023 to allow for continued slope stabilization work.  Maui Now.

Study warns of Molokini islet overuse. A new study of the marine life at Molokini islet suggests the popular snorkeling destination off Maui is being overused and in need of additional management to improve not only ecosystem health but also the visitor experience. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Maui cheeseburger eatery ordered to close because it doesn’t have hot water. The state has temporarily ordered the Lahaina location of Cheeseburger in Paradise to close because the eatery does not have hot water. Hawaii News Now. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kaua‘i council chair plans to fund tax breaks with reserves. Under a plan proposed by Chairman Mel Rapoza, the county would allocate 27 percent of the previous year’s general fund revenues toward the reserve fund instead of the 30 percent that it traditionally puts aside. Garden Island.

This Nonprofit Helps Kaua‘i’s Farmers Start Up and Grow. Mālama Kaua‘i’s network increased sales by almost 6% in a year, with one farmer reaching six figures. Hawaii Business magazine.