Tourism up, 2 Hawaii beaches make top 10, schools no longer graded, OHA secrecy irks beneficiaries, farm exchange program worries lawmaker, Oahu app replaces Nixle, low-income Maui renters face eviction, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists visit rocky black sand beach © 2017 All Hawaii News

A surge in travelers from the U.S. mainland, Canada and Japan fueled a 7.5 percent increase in visitors to Hawaii last month compared to the same month last year. Associated Press.

Visitor arrivals and spending in the islands increased for the 11th straight month in April, keeping Hawaii on track to reach its sixth consecutive year of record tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s four core visitor markets led to strong tourism gains in April, offsetting declines from all other international markets, according to preliminary statistics from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Maui, Big Island beaches make annual Dr. Beach top-10 list. Kapalua Bay Beach on Maui came in at No. 2 on the list, while Hapuna Beach State Park on Hawaii island came in at No. 8. Associated Press.

President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration “speaks with vague words of national security, but in context drips with religious intolerance, animus and discrimination,” a federal appeals court said Thursday in ruling against the travel ban targeting six Muslim-majority countries. Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin is spearheading the state’s effort to block President Donald Trump’s new executive order. Associated Press.

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said Thursday that not even President Donald Trump is above the Constitution following a Virginia federal appeals court decision against the administration's revised travel ban. Pacific Business News.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that President Trump's controversial travel ban should be kept on hold, maintaining a nationwide preliminary injunction that blocks key elements of the executive order from being enforced. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a nationwide injunction against President Donald Trump’s Revised Executive Order, dated March 6, 2017, banning travel from six Muslim-majority nations. Maui Now.

Hawaii public schools starting this fall will no longer be ranked against each other on how well their students perform on standardized tests and other academic benchmarks. Star-Advertiser.

As it deals with infighting in the boardroom and a criminal investigation into its contract awards, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is facing new questions over the secrecy of some of its investments. Hawaii News Now.

A farm-exchange program which provides housing in exchange for work on organic agricultural operations is the source of growing concern from some state lawmakers. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Honolulu is bracing for some of its highest tides in more than a century in a rare event scientists describe as a test-run for a future of rising sea levels. Star-Advertiser.

City crews have brought in sandbags in anticipation of high surf conditions at Oahu beach parks, where water levels are expected to rise tonight and peak Friday — bolstered by astronomical “king tides.” Star-Advertiser.

King Tides Are Providing A Glimpse Of Hawaii’s Future. Volunteers help to document what happens when some of the year’s highest tides combine with a south swell and ongoing sea level rise. Civil Beat.

Parts of the state's most famous beach all but disappeared Thursday, as a "king tide" coupled with a south swell pushed up surf along Waikiki's shoreline to well beyond the normal high water mark. Hawaii News Now.

The Department of Transportation announced Thursday that it will add a new freeway lane on Moanalua Freeway from Red Hill to the Aiea Heights drive overpass, making more use of the current space by re-striping the area and preserving the amount of road space. KITV.

Beginning in early June, the Hawaii Department of Transportation will be working on the H-201 Moanalua Freeway westbound from the Halawa Interchange to the Aiea pedestrian overpass on the H-1 Freeway. KHON2.

A new emergency messaging app is replacing Nixle. The city announced the HNL Info app at a news conference Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

City says goodbye to NIXLE alerts and came up with their new mobile app. KITV.

A government crackdown on Oahu basil farms and their pesticide use practices has led to a settlement with a Waianae farm that has agreed to pay a $26,700 penalty. Star-Advertiser.

Aloha Stadium officials said they are re-examining security plans in the wake of the Manchester concert bombing and other terrorist attacks. Star-Advertiser.

A former Honolulu nightclub is being fined for numerous violations that came to light after a violent clash between bouncers and customers last year. Hawaii News Now.

Three more cases of mumps have been confirmed on Oahu, the state Department of Health announced Thursday. Civil Beat.

The World, a luxury residential cruise ship, has docked at Aloha Tower during its year-long voyage that included stops at the four major islands. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

As the budget process winds down, Mayor Harry Kim is spending considerable time and effort meeting with various groups across the island to discuss the finer points of his office’s proposed $491.2 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. West Hawaii Today.

The county has hired a consultant and selected properties for two new wastewater treatment plants as it works toward complying with a federal consent order requiring the closure of gang cesspools in Ka‘u. West Hawaii Today.

Waikapuna eyed for conservation. Tribune-Herald.

State raising awareness of hala scale. West Hawaii Today.

Part two of a series on the homeless population in North Hawaii, with possible solutions from local nonprofits, churches and community groups for how to tackle the problem. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island leads spending, arrivals gains for Hawaii tourism in April. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Hundreds Of Low-Income Maui Residents May Face Eviction. Their taxpayer-subsidized apartment building was supposed to be affordable for 50 years. But a loophole could end that arrangement far sooner. Civil Beat.

A procedural change in the way the county Department of Liquor Control processes permits to sell alcohol for one-day events is jeopardizing Maui nonprofit organizations’ fundraising efforts, according to a petition circulated via email this week by the Maui Non-Profit Directors Association. Maui News.

The transportation department has accrued some unusual help to manage weeds next to Maui roadways, goats. KHON2.

Maui County Parks are going organic. A pilot project to create pesticide-free county parks is underway on the Valley Isle. Hawaii Public Radio.

In addition to more parking, residents want food trucks, a plaza and a children’s museum in Wailuku town, according to an online survey that concluded earlier this month. Maui News.

With reports of the ocean washing over Honoapiilani Highway in Ukumehame on Wednesday and Thursday, the National Weather Service is warning of possible coastal flooding in Maui County due to record-level spring “king tides.” Maui News.

Kauai

The General Plan will keep land in Princeville zoned as resort. On Tuesday, the Planning Commission voted against the plan’s attempt to take away the resort designation, which it currently has. Garden Island.

Eleven people were arrested in the past two days for illegally camping in Kalalau Valley, according to the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources on Thursday. Garden Island.

Coco Palms takes spotlight at LBA meeting. Man tells legislators they have no authority over property. Garden Island.

State Reps. James Tokioka, Dee Morikawa and Nadine Nakamura, and Senate President Ron Kouchi offered a look at the highlights of the legislative session that wrapped up earlier this month. Garden Island.

‘King tides’ could be norm. Rising water offers chance for citizen science. Garden Island.

Pearl Harbor sub heading to Korea, state Legislature has full plate, new egg laws sought, protecting coral reefs, property taxes and vacation rentals irk Oahu, state won't fund Puna roads, Maui to mull flood plan, Kauai utility elects board, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USS Columbus PC: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cynthia Clark, courtesy news.navy.mil.

A Pearl Harbor-based nuclear submarine is part of a task force set to conduct maritime maneuvers around the Korean Peninsula as tensions with North Korea remain heightened. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are planning to tackle proposals aimed at protecting coral reefs, boosting recycling and taking care of the state's growing elderly population. Associated Press.

Research shows connection between watersheds, reefs. Garden Island.

Reefs struggling: Foundation of life in Hawaiian custom. Garden Island.

Ag Department seeks relief from egg inspection mandate. Star-Advertiser.

Full disclosure: Ige, some legal experts raise flags about constitutionality of measures forcing presidential candidates to release tax returns. Associated Press.

A federal judge on Sunday rejected the U.S. government’s request to clarify his temporary order blocking President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. KHON2.

Immigration issue is personal to Chin. Associated Press.

While the number of Hawaii public school students enrolling in college after high school continued to hover near three-fifths of last year’s graduating class, education officials say they’re encouraged that new data show students are better prepared for the rigor of college coursework. Star-Advertiser.

Veterans Choice, which was created in 2014 to address a national controversy over long wait times for VA appointments, still is marred by a convoluted bureaucracy — so much so that the department’s new secretary said a top priority is to simplify the system. Star-Advertiser.

Local animal rights activists are rallying behind legislation which they say is their last shot this year to bolster Hawaii’s dog tethering regulations. Tribune-Herald.

Commentary: Federal gov’s proposed belt-tightening will put huge squeeze on Hawaii’s budget. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Owners of properties classified as Residential A that are assessed at just over $1 million would benefit under a bill up for a final vote of the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

The spread of vacation rentals into neighborhoods is frustrating government officials and lawmakers who have spent decades trying to ensure zoning laws are upheld and taxes are collected. Star-Advertiser.

Sewage Spill That Closed Waikiki Beach. Honolulu says it will upgrade its procedures for handling storm water discharges two years after massive sewage overflows made national headlines. Civil Beat.

The Roots Project, part of the nonprofit organization Kokua Kalihi Valley, is spearheading an effort to make locally grown produce more affordable and accessible to Kalihi’s low-income communities. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Defense awarded a $30 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract to Honolulu-based Design Partners Inc. for designing and engineering services for housing and other lodging type projects at various locations for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific’s area of responsibility. Pacific Business News.

Emotional Support Chickens Are Ruffling Feathers. A rise in questionable emotional support animals is concerning to condo associations and businesses that must accommodate them. Civil Beat.

Sculpture Brings Peace to Kaka‘ako. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

The mayor’s office has asked the Hawaii Police Department to once again look at ways to possibly trim its budget, according to a financial report delivered to the Police Commission on Friday. West Hawaii Today.

An overlap of state and county jurisdiction is contributing to a continuing controversy between Kahauloa Road residents and kayak rental operators who use the boat ramp into Kealakekua Bay at the end of the road. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Transportation’s response to Hawaii County’s request for release of $15 million appropriated for Puna roads could be summed up in two words — nice try. Tribune-Herald.

Kamehameha Schools remains in a holding pattern as it awaits approval of permits that will allow the organization to move forward with the removal of the Keauhou Beach Hotel, making way for a project-based educational complex dubbed Kahaluu Makai. West Hawaii Today.

Will Tiny Homes Help Big Island Farmers? Providing housing for farm workers is one way to attract employees. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii County Police Commission voted unanimously to approve a request for legal counsel for a former Hawaii County police officer charged with fatally striking a bicyclist. West Hawaii Today.

For the last six years there have been some nearly finished two-story town-home buildings overlooking distant ocean views at the Villages of Aina Lea, but completing and selling them has been an ordeal that recently became more challenging. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

A draft plan to ease flooding along South Kihei Road has taken almost 10 years to complete, but is close to fruition and scheduled to be presented to the public in the next several months. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources will hold a public information meeting Thursday on sea level rise vulnerability and adaptation. Maui News.

Pukalani residents universally opposed sewer rate increases proposed by Hawaii Water Service Co., calling them “outrageous” and “unfair” during a Hawaii Public Utilities Commission hearing Thursday night at Pukalani Elementary School. Maui News.

Maui Waena Intermediate School’s new classroom building — more than a decade in the making — is finally open. Maui News.

State officers have blocked off a section of shoreline on South Maui after someone found an aging piece of unexploded ordnance among rocks near the ocean. Star-Advertiser.

Bill Backing Maui Grown Coffee Advances. Maui Now.

Kauai

Two Kauai County Councilmembers have concerns about the proposed budget for fiscal year 2017-18. Garden Island.

Some county employees may be getting an increase in salaries in the upcoming months. Garden Island.

Incumbent directors Dee Crowell and Allan Smith have been re-elected and join newly elected former board member Jim Mayfield to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s (KIUC) Board of Directors. Garden Island.

Voters re-elected two members of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative board of directors, and a former board member, according to results released Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

State officials say Kauai’s honeybee population is strong and healthy. Associated Press.

Timbers Kauai Ocean Club & Residences, the $800 million master-planned development on the unfinished Kauai Lagoons master-planned community, has begun sales for its mix of oceanfront and golf course homes, condominiums and townhomes. Pacific Business News.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have contributed $50,000 dollars to the Aloha Angels endowed fund, which supports Kauai’s teachers and students. Pacific Business News.

Win for Hawaii attorney general as judge halts Trump travel ban, nobody wants to be Honolulu top cop, Hawaii House passes $28B budget, Amazon to start collecting Hawaii taxes, snorkeling masks studied after drownings, radios go online on Big Island, Kauai mayor touts tax hike, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin, left, with staff leaving federal courthouse Wednesday, Facebook photo

Rejecting arguments from the government that President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban was substantially different from the first one, judges in Hawaii and Maryland blocked the executive order from taking effect as scheduled today, using the president’s own words as evidence that the order discriminates against Muslims. Associated Press.

In a case of legal deja vu, President Donald Trump’s new executive order on immigration suffered a major setback Wednesday, when a federal judge in Honolulu issued a temporary restraining order to keep the travel ban from taking effect nationwide. Civil Beat.

President Donald Trump says a federal judge in Hawaii demonstrated “unprecedented judicial overreach” when he ordered a temporary halt to Trump’s revised travel ban earlier today. Star-Advertiser.

PC: Joshua Wisch

For the second time, a federal court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump’s efforts to freeze immigration by refugees and citizens of some predominantly Muslim nations, putting the president’s revised travel ban on hold just hours before it was to take effect. Associated Press.

Hours before it was to take effect, President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban was put on hold Wednesday by a federal judge in Hawaii who questioned whether the administration was motivated by national security concerns. Associated Press.

A federal judge Wednesday granted a temporary restraining order filed by the State of Hawaii that puts the revised travel ban signed by President Donald Trump on hold. KHON2.

The judge who halted President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban is the only Native Hawaiian serving on the federal bench. Associated Press.

View the full opinion here.

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The Hawaii House passed the state’s $28 billion two-year budget at a time when state revenue projections are falling. Associated Press.

Using words like “prudent,” “cautious” and “conservative,” the Hawaii House on Wednesday unanimously passed the state’s operating budget, sending it over to the Senate for its review. Civil Beat.

Amazon said Wednesday it will begin collecting general excise tax on items sold in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

A tax credit that's offered to producers to film motion pictures and television shows in Hawaii may come with new requirements, including one to show respect and compliance with Hawaii's cultural beliefs and the environment. Hawaii News Now.

The Republican who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources has teamed up with a congresswoman from American Samoa to lobby President Donald Trump to open all marine monuments, including those in the Hawaii area, to commercial fishing. Civil Beat.

Counties To Track Equipment Used In Snorkeling Deaths. A woman’s drowning spurs officials to consider the possible hidden dangers of full-face snorkeling masks. Civil Beat.

Investing in a college education pays off with substantially higher earnings over a Hawaii graduate’s lifetime, according to a newly released report by economists at the University of Hawaii that underscores the value of a college degree. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

More than two weeks after the forced retirement of Honolulu's top cop, the department has not received any applications to become the city's next police chief — at least not yet. Hawaii News Now.

The city says an estimated $5 million from an approved charter amendment will help the Honolulu Zoo enhance its programs and its budget. Star-Advertiser.

Millennials in Honolulu pay some of the highest taxes in the nation compared to their counterparts in other cities, according to a new report by SmartAsset. Pacific Business News.

US soldiers train for jungle warfare at Hawaii rainforest. Associated Press.

The University of Hawaii Manoa has questioned the latest U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings, saying the Washington, D.C.-based publication did not consider the complete data for its business school ranking. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A long awaited overhaul of the communication systems used by Hawaii County’s public agencies began rolling out this week as the Hawaii Police Department switched its radios to a new bandwidth. Tribune-Herald.

The Intermediate Court of Appeals has sided with former County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong and former County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi in a 2012 defamation lawsuit filed by Elections Administrator Pat Nakamoto and one of her staff. West Hawaii Today.

A notice to proceed on the Lako Street extension could be issued later this year. West Hawaii Today.

Monk seal dies in fish pen off Big Island. KITV.

Maui

The proposed $354.5 million mixed-used Makena Resort project narrowly received enough votes from the Maui Planning Commission on Tuesday to allow the project to move forward without needing to prepare a lengthy environmental impact statement. Maui News.

The Hawaii Board of Agriculture on Tuesday expanded the coffee berry borer quarantine to Maui, effective May 1. West Hawaii Today.

Maui’s biggest coffee farm wants to double or triple in size, and would like some state help to get there. Star-Advertiser.

Kmart — the first big-box store to open on Maui over two decades ago — will close June 11 after sales have been cut in half since the opening of Target, a store manager said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

The county administration is seeking a $14 million increase and proposing tax hikes for the next fiscal year’s operating budget. Garden Island.

The mayor is seeking over $200 million for the operating budget and just under $15 million for capitol improvements. Garden Island.

The Department of Health says high levels of a harmful bacteria called Clostridium Perfringens -- an indicator of human and animal wastes -- were found during recent water testing in Waikomo Stream on Kauai's South Shore. Hawaii News Now.

Honeybee pollen study yields positive results. Some chemicals found in pollen raises concerns. Garden Island.

Obama in town, Galera withdraws schools superintendent bid, House reorganizes committees, forecasters drop economic prediction, Ala Moana mall to spend $4M on railings after fatality, Kauai cellphone tower disguised as clock tower, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Obama at World Conservation Congress Honolulu September 2016, media pool photo

Former President Barack Obama is back in the islands. KHON2.

Coming off a string of high-profile meetings, former President Barack Obama made an unannounced return to Hawaii today. Star-Advertiser.

Former President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Oahu this week. Hawaii News Now.

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Darrel Galera — the retired public school principal who has been the center of controversy in the state’s search for a new schools superintendent — has withdrawn his application amid complaints that he had an unfair advantage as a former Board of Education member and friend of Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

Former Board of Education member Darrel Galera is withdrawing his application for schools superintendent. KHON2.

The Hawaii Board of Education is starting up its search for a superintendent again now that former board member Darrel Galera has decided not to apply. Civil Beat.

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In the coming weeks Hawaii lawmakers will be wrestling with ways to cut roughly $250 million from the state’s overall budget for the next two years thanks to lower than expected general fund revenues. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's economic growth is slowing down according to an economic forecast from the Council on Revenues. KITV.

The state House of Representatives voted Monday to remove Rep. Angus McKelvey as chairman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee, a powerful post that holds sway over issues relating to business in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Angus McKelvey was removed from his chairmanship of the House Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee on Monday after hours of behind-the-scenes networking. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Angus McKelvey was removed from his position as chairman of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Committee on Monday amid controversy over how the Maui lawmaker handled certain bills. Maui News.

The U.S. government Monday responded to Hawaii’s legal challenge to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban affecting six predominantly Muslim countries, saying assertions that the order will hurt the state’s tourism industry and universities are mere speculation. Star-Advertiser.

The Trump administration on Monday asked the U.S. District Court in Honolulu to deny Hawaii’s request for an immediate injunction against the newly revised travel ban, arguing that the state “lacks any actual or imminent concrete injury” on which to base its challenge. Civil Beat.

Until this year, Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin had never sued the federal government. Civil Beat.

Florence Nakakuni, U.S. attorney for Hawaii, has retired after the Justice Department asked her and other prosecutors held over from the President Barack Obama’s administration to step down. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Telcom, which has invested aggressively in its infrastructure over the past six years, cut its fourth-quarter loss in half after achieving strong growth from its TV and broadband internet services and reducing overtime and contractor costs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii ranks No. 10 among states with the highest individual income tax collections per capita, according to a new study by the Tax Foundation. Pacific Business News.

6,500 state taxpayers may be owed a refund for ’13; deadline to file nears. Maui News.

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.

Oahu

Hawaii regulators have issued Ala Moana Center a $4 million building permit to replace existing railings throughout the state’s largest shopping mall after a railing gave way near the Hookipa Terrace on the mall’s fourth floor last year, killing one man and critically injuring another, Pacific Business News has learned.

Work began Monday at Ala Moana Center to replace rusty railings five months after a man fell to his death and another was seriously injured. KHON2.

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The Honolulu Police Department is investigating after an officer was charged with committing multiple counts of theft and identity theft at the Navy Exchange at Pearl Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu police officer has been charged after allegedly using a stolen credit card and military ID at the Navy Exchange. Hawaii News Now.

A veteran Honolulu police officer has been charged with multiple felony counts, including theft and credit card fraud. KHON2.

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A state judge Monday dismissed a misdemeanor tampering charge against Myron B. Thompson Academy Principal Diana Oshiro, three months early. Star-Advertiser.

A meeting in Nanakuli on Monday gave elected officials an opportunity to meet with community members to explain and clarify plans intended to alleviate traffic woes on Oahu’s leeward coast. Hawaii News Now.

A fundraising effort is kicking into high gear to bring a park to Waikiki, which has limited green space outside of Kuhio Beach and Fort DeRussy. Star-Advertiser.

An Oahu after-school and summer program for youths with disabilities is shutting down at the end of the month due to a lack of funds, leaving families scrambling to find alternatives. Associated Press.

Hawaii

Some $1.86 million is sitting in a special account to maintain property purchased with open space funds, yet only two organizations have so far been awarded grants to spend the money. West Hawaii Today.

The prosecutors have moved to dismiss a citation against Sean “Peaman” Pagett after he was cited for running an unpermitted race at the Kailua Pier in December. West Hawaii Today.

University of Hawaii at Hilo students could receive more financial aid next year than ever before. The campus predicts awarding close to $50 million in aid for the 2017-18 school year, up from $43.1 million in 2016, $42.4 million the year prior and about $46 million in 2014. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii developer Brian Anderson plans to develop a 410-home project along the Big Island’s “Gold Coast” that would become the first off-grid community of this magnitude, he said Monday. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Maui County is looking to sell 51 lots in Maui Lani obtained as part of a legal settlement with a developer a decade ago in a dispute over land filling to increase the heights of homes that ended up towering over neighboring Palama Drive homes. Maui News.

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.

A humpback whale entangled in hundreds of feet of heavy-gauge cable in waters off Maui has a new lease on life thanks to the efforts of an interagency team of rescuers. Star-Advertiser.

Maui fisherman spends an hour at sea with great white circling kayak. Hawaii News Now.

Sales prices for homes and condos in Maui County continued to rise in February, compared to 2016, with the median price of a home at $672,575 and condos at $465,000, the Realtors Association of Maui reported last week. Maui News.

The median price of a single-family home in Maui County rose 13 percent last month, while condominium prices increased by 8 percent, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

A cellphone tower designed as a clock tower is approaching completion. Garden Island.

Opposition to closing of Rice Street post office continues with 100 message-bearing coconuts. Garden Island.

More than half of Kauai’s students who eat school lunch receive free or reduced-priced meals. 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.

Hawaii sues Trump over travel ban, House panel trims Ige's budget, foam food container ban bill paused, 10-cent checkout bags for Honolulu, renewable energy ahead of schedule, Arakawa cancels controversial lease, Kona makeover, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin, with members of the Muslim Association of Hawaii, at March 7, 2017, news conference. Credit: James Walther

A federal judge in Honolulu said Wednesday that Hawaii can move forward with filing what would be the first lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban. Associated Press.

Hawaii has filed for an immediate injunction against President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, becoming the first state in the country to wage a legal fight over the newly revised travel ban. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is boldly challenging President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban to “protect its residents, its employers, its educational institutions, and its sovereignty against illegal actions,” according to the state’s lawsuit filed Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawai‘i has become the first state to sue President Trump over his revised temporary travel ban. Hawaii Public Radio.

In anticipation of a lowered economic forecast coming out next week, the House Finance Committee called for shaving $500 million from the governor’s $14 billion budget proposal Wednesday. Civil Beat.

Economists say a shortage of housing is driving up housing costs, contributing to Hawaii’s high cost of living. Hawaii has the second-highest consumer debt in the nation and 77 percent of the debt is from mortgages. Associated Press.

Economists say Hawaii’s high cost of living tied to housing. West Hawaii Today.

A House bill backed by Airbnb that would enable the online vacation rental platform to act as a tax broker and collect and remit taxes on behalf of its hosts in Hawaii has crossed over to the Senate. Pacific Business News.

A bill seeking harsher punishments for people found guilty of child abuse has passed the House and will continue to the Senate. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Electric Co. says it’s ahead of schedule in reaching the state’s renewable energy goal, largely due to the popularity of rooftop solar systems. The state’s dominant electric utility said Wednesday that 25.8 percent of its electricity came from renewable energy resources last year, up from 23.2 percent in 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. received nearly 26 percent of its energy from renewable resources in 2016, up from 23 percent in 2015, the company said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Ethics, insider edge, and governor’s role questioned in top school job switch. KHON2.

A complaint over the cost of a $10 blanket aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Honolulu — and a comment about taking someone “to the woodshed over this” — led the pilot to dump the plane’s fuel and make an unscheduled landing in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning that likely cost the airline “tens of thousands of dollars.” Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

An effort to stiffen Oahu’s contentious checkout bag ban came down to agreement on a single issue before City Council members Wednesday — charging shoppers a minimum 10-cent fee for each bag. Star-Advertiser.

Residents would be able to pay for a permit to park directly in front of their driveways under a bill advanced by a City Council committee Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The city's proposal to double the cost of metered parking has residents up in arms, while others say it will increase the availability of those valuable stalls. Hawaii News Now.

A Campbell High School teacher has been disciplined after claiming in a staff-wide email Wednesday that he would not teach immigrant students who are in the country illegally. Star-Advertiser.

An educator at Campbell High School is in hot water for stoking the flames of how President Donald Trump's travel ban could impact his students. KITV.

Honolulu residents have the second highest credit score in the United States among large cities with a population of more than 300,000, according to a new report by WalletHub. Pacific Business News.

A proposal to allow a Waikiki nonprofit group to set parking fees, oversee freight and passenger deliveries, and make other transportation rules in the state’s No. 1 tourist destination garnered a mixed response from the public during a meeting Wednesday night. Star-Advertiser.

The attorney for a man suing former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, claims lawyers for the two are avoiding being served papers on the complaint, and wants to be able to serve them through a general publication instead. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

It’s back to the drawing board for a proposed ban on foam food containers. West Hawaii Today.

Mayor Harry Kim defended his decision to cancel a 10-year compost agreement before the Hawaii County Council on Tuesday evening. Tribune-Herald.

A $65 million proposal to construct hundreds of residential units and hotel rooms, as well as commercial and community space, in Kailua-Kona is making headway. West Hawaii Today.

The Queen Liliuokalani Trust plans to develop a nearly 70-acre mixed-use project in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island that would include 300 residential units, 220 rooms in two hotels, a 50,000-square-foot community performance facility and 470,000 square feet of commercial space, according to public documents filed Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii County Council Public Works and Parks and Recreation Committee on Tuesday discussed plans for upgrading several of downtown Hilo’s aging streets, particularly Waianuenue Avenue. Tribune-Herald.

A tour group was caught in closed area near Hawaii’s active Kilauea volcano, and now the tour guide in charge of the visit faces a possible penalty. Big Island Video News.

Maui

A lease between Mayor Alan Arakawa’s family and a Hong Kong-based company seeking to build a photovoltaic farm on his family’s land in Kula that came under fire last year has been canceled, county and state records show. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to develop a 285-acre business park on former Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. lands on Maui that would include light industrial and other commercial businesses, according to public documents filed Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

A development group has scrapped plans to develop a long-planned mixed-use Puunani Subdivision project in Wailuku on Maui that would’ve included a total of nearly 600 homes, according to public documents filed Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

A former Maui Police Department officer was ordered to pay $1,500 in fines and was placed on one year’s probation Wednesday for issuing false parking and speeding tickets, in what the prosecution called “a breach of the public trust.” Maui News.

Kauai

Education, affordable housing, infrastructure and sustainability were among the topics Gov. David Ige told The Garden Island are top priorities for Kauai.

Post office resolution divides council. Proposal calling for Postal Service to leave Rice Street site open is deferred. Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, whose grid has maxed out on the amount of solar it can take, has connected Tesla Powerpacks to get the island’s largest solar system online. Star-Advertiser.

Tesla Energy, a division of entrepreneur Elon Musk’s Tesla, and SolarCity, which recently was acquired by Tesla, unveiled its major solar farm and energy storage project on the Hawaiian island of Kauai Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Federal court stays Hawaii Trump travel ban lawsuit; Coast Guard cites unauthorized lava boat tours; state Legislature tackles tax hikes, fines, vacation rentals, pesticides, homeless, invasive species; Ellison seeks permission for Lanai parties, Dunkin’ Donuts returning, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii driving © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaii drivers be on alert: State lawmakers are considering huge increases to the fines for at least six different motor vehicle violations ranging from cellphones and seat belts to excessive speed and drunken driving. Civil Beat.

A federal judge in Honolulu is suspending Hawaii's lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's travel ban on people from seven majority-Muslim countries. Associated Press.

The federal court has granted an emergency motion to put on hold Hawaii’s lawsuit against the Trump administration, a decision that will remain in place as long as a nationwide stay on President Donald Trump’s travel ban is in effect. Civil Beat.

State's Lawsuit Against Trump Stayed. Hawaii Public Radio.

Audit: Some Department of Education Employees Still Start Work Before Being Cleared. A new report reveals that hiring practices for some employees have gotten worse, not better, in the past four years. Civil Beat.

Bills to Use Medicaid Funds for Homeless Rent Payments Advance in the Legislature. Hawaii Public Radio.

State lawmakers look at locations for homeless campers this legislative session, including allowing camping in private yards and driveways. KITV.
Isle caregivers relate financial, health pain in calling on state for aid. Star-Advertiser.

State lawmakers are exploring a measure that would implement a wholesale tax on nicotine e-cigarettes and related products that would likely be passed on to retailers and consumers. Hawaii News Now.

A Hawaii House committee on Tuesday passed two bills that would allow the state to collect more tax revenue from the state's proliferating vacation rental and bed-and-breakfast properties while the state's counties figure out how to regulate them. Associated Press.

Two bills designed to let vacation rental companies, such as Airbnb, VRBO and Homeaway, collect taxes on behalf of those who rent out short-term accommodations on those platforms were heard by the state House Tourism Committee on Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

A bill that would give counties more authority for invasive species management passed through the House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection Tuesday. Garden Island.

Six pesticide-related bills passed through the House Committees on Agriculture and on Energy and Environmental Protection Tuesday. Garden Island.

New bill aims to hold local animal shelters accountable to treatment. KHON2.

As promised, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has paid for her recent trip to the Middle East out of her own pocket, records show. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines and its pilots union have reached a tentative agreement on a six-year contract that will increase the wages for some of its pilots by as much as 40 percent the first year and 2 to 3 percent in subsequent years. Star-Advertiser.

BNP Paribas raised $800 million from its secondary offering of First Hawaiian Inc. stock, selling 25 million of its shares in First Hawaiian Bank’s holding company at $32 a piece. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Hawaii lawmakers plan to consider a bill Wednesday to require the Navy to upgrade aging underground fuel storage tanks at Red Hill by July 2027 or shut down the facility by July 2030. Civil Beat.

No more surprises — that’s the goal for the new head of the Honolulu rail project. KHON2.

City officials are seeking input on preliminary designs for a park and other improvements along the Kapalama Canal as part of transit-oriented development efforts. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu City Council committee has approved a resolution asking the city to maintain Thomas Square as a public park. Civil Beat.

Homeless living under Makiki bridge draw safety concerns. The camp sits underneath the Anapuni Street bridge near Wilder Avenue. Hawaii News Now.

The man who left a state government job dealing with homelessness five years ago is now working for the city government on the same issue. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is hiring former state homeless director Marc Alexander to lead the city Office of Housing. Civil Beat.

A former industrial site near Honolulu Airport is slated to soon become a destination for doughnuts, coffee, pancakes, snacks and gasoline as part of a retail development project that will re-establish Dunkin’ Donuts in Hawaii after a more than 10-year absence. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County spent more than $280,000 on overtime costs to rush completion of the Hilo Municipal Golf Course and Ka‘u gym projects, Parks Director Charmaine Kamaka told County Council members Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

A plan to preserve the Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden is slowly moving forward, as the county awaits its pending sale before moving to purchase a conservation easement. West Hawaii Today.

The state has appealed a judge’s order requiring the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to hold a contested case hearing on the sublease between the University of Hawaii at Hilo and the Thirty Meter Telescope. Star-Advertiser.

After several years on the drawing board, a planned shopping center in Pahoa is expected to begin construction next month. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii-based Cellana is partnering with Living Ink Technologies to develop sustainable algae inks. Pacific Business News.

As the lava “fire hose” at the Kamokuna ocean entry continues to thrill visitors at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, authorities are noticing an increase in unlicensed tour operators who visit the spectacle by boat. Big Island Video News.

Maui

A pair of bills in the state Legislature aim to keep affordable rents at the Front Street Apartments in Lahaina from rising to market rates in 2019. Maui News.

Alexander & Baldwin has sold a 339-acre parcel in Paia to a California businessman for nearly $10 million. Hawaii News Now.

Maui cultural leaders say they were shocked to see county contractors truck tons of what they consider sacred rocks out of Iao Valley recently, as part of repairs in the area following September's major flooding. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

A network of trained responders seeks to discover how and why whales become entangled, how it affects the individual and the population as a whole, and response methods. Garden Island.

Lanai

Billionaire Oracle Corp. co-founder Larry Ellison, who is the majority owner of the Hawaiian Island of Lanai, plans to hold up to 40 special events hosting hundreds of guests each year on two locations at the golf course he owns on the Pineapple Island, Pacific Business News has learned.