Hawaii unprepared to be coronavirus hub, Caldwell shelves $772M Blaisdell reno amid rising rail costs, Tupola running for City Council, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Photo by Ani Kolleshi on Unsplash

Coronavirus likely to appear in Hawaii ‘sooner or later,’ state official says. The state has identified a quarantine site at a military base at Pearl Harbor for any travelers who have been to Hubei province within 14 days or are considered high-risk, whether or not they show symptoms of the deadly coronavirus. Star-Advertiser.

Any Future Coronavirus Patients Will Be Quarantined At Pearl Harbor. Hawaii officials believe the likelihood of using the facility remains low, since many Chinese cities are on lockdown and most air travel is on hold. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Says It Can't Be Hub For Treating New Virus. Hawaii has only a modest healthcare system and can’t be a hub for accommodating people potentially exposed to the rapidly spreading new virus that emerged in China in recent months, Lt. Gov. Josh Green said Monday. Hawaii Public Radio.

Officials discuss response to virus: State lawmakers hold briefing on outbreak. The state House Committee on Health on Monday heard updates from the state Department of Health, the state Department of Transportation and the Healthcare Association of Hawaii in regards to an ongoing outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus — caused by a previously unidentified coronavirus first detected in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on Dec. 31. Tribune-Herald.

Coronavirus in Hawai‘i, ‘Only a Matter of Time’. No cases of coronavirus have been confirmed, or are even suspected, in Hawai‘i. However, state officials said Monday it’s all but an inevitability the deadly illness is on its way. Big Island Now.

State pushed back on plan to house U.S. citizens who left China in Waikiki. The state’s health director told lawmakers Monday that he blocked a federal plan to put hundreds of U.S. citizens who are leaving China in Waikiki hotels. Hawaii News Now.

State officials discuss coronavirus threat to Hawaii. There are still no cases in Hawaii, and state health officials said the risk remains low but it is possible Hawaii could get a case. KHON2.

More help for Hawaii, to prepare for Coronavirus. The Coronovirus is expected to make its way to Hawaii, which is waiting for more resources and personnel to prevent the outbreak from spreading across the islands. KITV4.

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Hawaii Medicaid Contract Award Stalled Amid Protest From Insurer. Hawaii’s Medicaid division has to temporarily suspend its insurance contract awards until a dispute is resolved. Civil Beat.

Bill that would ban tour buses and helicopters on Sundays dies in committee. A bill banning all helicopter and bus tours on Sundays was killed in the state legislature on Monday. KITV4.

Hawaii’s Push For Renewable Energy Could Stall Over Public Opposition To Facilities. Hawaiian Electric says it sees growing issues concerning land use and where to site projects. Civil Beat.

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Sixty-seven island police officers — including 37 from the Honolulu Police Department — were disciplined last year, along with 15 officers who were fired across the state. HPD terminated six of its disciplined officers. Star-Advertiser.

New Police Misconduct Reports Show A Range Of Bad Behavior. But the annual reports to the Legislature are lacking in the level of detail needed for meaningful public scrutiny. Civil Beat.

HPD report: 37 officers disciplined last year, 6 were fired. A report from HPD is detailing the number of disciplinary actions taken against officers last year. Hawaii News Now.

HPD incident report released: 13 officers disciplined, 6 fired. More than a handful of Honolulu Police officers were disciplined or fired for driving drunk in their police cars. KITV4.

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Andria Tupola to run for Honolulu City Council but still has eyes on governor’s seat. Former state Rep. Andria Tupola announced Monday she is running this year for the Honolulu City Council District 1 seat representing West Oahu — and still may run for governor in 2022 as she previously indicated. Star-Advertiser.

Republican Andria Tupola launches run for City Council while eyeing governor’s seat. Former state lawmaker Andria Tupola is running for City Council, but her sights are set on a higher office. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Blaisdell restoration halted due to cost of rail. Citing the ongoing woes with the city’s rail project as his biggest concern, Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Monday announced he is nixing plans for a major renovation that was to begin later this year. Star-Advertiser.

City Stops Planned $700 Million Blaisdell Renovation. Caldwell concedes the city should focus solely on rail instead with so much uncertainty still hanging over the transit project. Civil Beat.

Mayor: Blaisdell Renovation Suspended, Cites Rail Uncertainty and Election. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is suspending the Neal S. Blaisdell Center renovation project, citing the uncertainty over the financing and timing of the elevated rail project and the coming switch in city administrations. Hawaii Public Radio.

After spending $17M, city shelves pricey renovation plans for Blaisdell Center. In a surprising move Monday, the city announced that it will abandon a long-awaited, $772 million project to renovate Neal Blaisdell Center. Hawaii News Now.

City to put Blaisdell renovation project on hold due to unknown construction cost of rail system. Plans to tear down and reconstruct the Blaisdell's 22 acre campus would have cost an estimated $772 million. KITV4.

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New proposal to make Honolulu prosecuting attorney appointed by mayor. Honolulu City Council Member Tommy Waters introduced a new resolution to allow people to vote in this year’s ballot on whether or not they want the prosecuting attorney to become an appointed position by the mayor, instead of being voted in by the public, as it is now. KHON2.

Augie T officially files candidacy papers to run for City Council. Comedian Augie Tulba is running for City Council representing District Nine which spans from Waikele to Ewa Beach. KITV4.

Elderly homeless man testified against alleged carjacker. Then, he was confusingly arrested. His story is sparking concern and outrage over an apparent new policy from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Hawaii News Now.

Aloha Stadium seeks $7.7M or it might have to close sections. The warning comes as the state asks legislators for $7.7 million this session to help bridge the period between the 2020 football season and the projected fall 2023 opening of the new $350 million facility on adjacent land as an anchor of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. Star-Advertiser.

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Ala Moana park lights to be converted to LEDs to save energy. City officials announced Monday that the exterior lights at Ala Moana Regional Park are being replaced by more energy-efficient light-emitting diode — or LED — lights. Star-Advertiser.

City replaces Ala Moana Beach Park lights with LEDs. Ala Moana Beach Park might look a little different in the coming months. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Candidates are off and running: Filing period begins for state, local and federal races. Candidates for local, state and federal office streamed into county elections offices Monday morning, the opening day for candidates to pull nomination papers to begin the filing process. West Hawaii Today.

Contract awarded for second Puna roundabout. A $4.5 million contract has been awarded to a Honolulu-based contractor to install a roundabout at a Puna intersection. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea’s Lower East Rift Zone Heating Up In Areas. During a recent After Dark at the Park talk, a USGS geologist explained why some residents living near the inactive fissures of 2018 are experiencing an increase in heat and steam. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Asbestos abatement almost finished. 15 units at Lahaina property left to be cleared; bids invited for 12 2-bed units. Maui News.

County Breaks Ground on Wailuku Town Improvements Project. A groundbreaking ceremony was held today for the County of Maui’s Wailuku Town Improvement Project. Road improvements will begin this week on Church Street as part of Phase 1A of the project. Maui Now.

Kauai

Firefighters call for transparency. The Kauai Fire Department’s union representatives called for greater transparency in the long-delayed process of selecting a new chief and said the county Fire Commission may have overstepped its bounds by hiring former KFD Chief Robert Westerman on an 89-day contract to fill the role he left vacant after retiring a year ago. Garden Island.

FAA Abruptly Stopped Enforcement Action Against Hawaii Helicopter Tours. The Federal Aviation Administration disclosed Monday that in 2010 it revoked the license of the pilot of the ill-fated Safari Helicopters tour that crashed on Kauai on Dec. 26, killing all seven people onboard, after he tested positive for drugs. Civil Beat.

New permit requirements for commercial refuge tours. Beginning in 2020, commercial tour operators will be required to apply for and hold a Special Use Permit for operating commercial activities within the Kaua‘i National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Garden Island.

Pitted parking at Black Pot. It’s been six months since Black Pot Beach Park reopened its beach to residents and visitors. Garden Island.

Notable mistakes by county employees. Four times a year, county officials issue a report on claims filed by Kauai residents whose property was damaged by government employees. Garden Island.

No special session for veto overrides, police standards board falters, Blaisdell Center plans unveiled, Maui bans commercial activities at beach park, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol ©2019 All Hawaii News

Legislature Won’t Hold Special Session To Fight Possible Vetoes. Senate and House leaders had considered reconvening to try to enact some of the measures that Gov. David Ige says he’s likely to reject. The Hawaii Legislature will not convene a special session to override Gov. David Ige’s potential vetoes of bills after the Senate determined it didn’t have enough votes to overturn any of the governor’s decisions and legislative leaders couldn’t agree on which measures to try to save, according to memos circulated among lawmakers. Civil Beat.

No Special Session to Override Governor's Vetoes. Leaders in the state Senate and House of Representatives announced on Friday that lawmakers will not attempt to override any vetoes issued by Governor David Ige. Hawaii Public Radio.

State lawmakers won’t convene a special session to override governor’s vetoes. Governor Ige’s vetoes will stand after the House speaker decided not to hold a special session. Hawaii News Now.

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Agencies urge Gov. David Ige to veto civil asset forfeiture reform bill. Law enforcement officials said they’ve implemented key recommendations of a 2018 state audit of Hawaii’s civil asset forfeiture program as they urge Gov. David Ige to move forward in vetoing a bill aimed at reforming the program, which allows police to confiscate property believed to have been used in the commission of certain crimes such as drug offenses and gambling. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Ignores Deadline To Create New Standards For Cops. The Law Enforcement Standards Board has only met once. It was supposed to establish training and certification standards by July 1. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Provided ‘Inaccurate’ Data On Student Restraint And Seclusion. The state erroneously reported there were no such cases in 2015-16, the latest school year studied nationwide. Last school year, 66 Hawaii schools reported at least one restraint case. Civil Beat.

Medical cannabis raises issues in the workplace. Several of Dr. Clifton Otto’s medical cannabis patients are facing job termination or fear failing pre-employment drug screenings as Hawaii employers hold fast to zero-tolerance policies when testing workers for drugs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii has highest gap between wages, rent required for a 2-bedroom. Hawaii’s rent is so high, it is inaccessible to the majority of residents working in the state’s largest occupations, according to the 2019 “Out of Reach” report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group for affordable housing. Star-Advertiser.

Future uncertain for ‘golf ball’ radar ship. The Sea-Based X-Band Radar recently did yeoman duty in the Pacific watching for North Korean missiles and participating in testing as the Pentagon develops a web of new land-based radars and space-based sensors that are expected to make the seagoing vessel less necessary. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

City unveils what a $722M redevelopment of Blaisdell Center might look like. New renderings showing a dramatically redeveloped Neal S. Blaisdell Center are being released by city officials this month as they begin selecting a private partner for the $772 million project. Star-Advertiser.

HPD training videos show disgraced Kealohas lecturing officers about ethics. When Louis Kealoha was police chief, he made several training videos that all Honolulu Police Officers were forced to watch. Hawaii News Now.

Waikiki residents want to force owners to improve or sell long-vacant, blighted walk-up. According to public records, the 9,500-square-foot property is owned by Norman Nip, a small-business owner who was known for Nip’s Potato Chips Factory Inc., teacher Alvin Nip and their sister Donna Chang. Star-Advertiser.

New clinic for the homeless is in the works in Kaneohe. The new facility is a three year pilot project and will become Oahu's second outreach center. KITV.

Hawaii Island

Affordable housing challenges: Subsidized housing applications pile up, county closes wait-lists. Despite a waiting list of more than 2,000 applications — some going back nine years — Hawaii County hasn’t built any new affordable housing units since 2017. West Hawaii Today.

Council committee to get Maunakea update. Puna Councilman Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder wants to know what’s going on atop Maunakea. West Hawaii Today.

Stakes are sky high for contentious telescope project. A lot has happened in the four years since construction of the landmark Thirty Meter Telescope was stopped in its tracks by protesters and ultimately the Hawaii Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

Petition Grows In Support Of Pohoiki Boat Ramp. Over a thousand people have signed a petition to the State of Hawaii asking that a boat ramp be located at Pohoiki, as opposed to an alternative ramp at Kaakepa. Big Island Video News.

Boat ramp meeting set for Saturday. A community meeting will be held Saturday to discuss a recent engineering study that recommended a new boat ramp be built in Puna. Tribune-Herald.

New police rigs ready to roll. New marked police SUVs are hitting Big Island streets, the first additions to the Hawaii  Police Department’s fleet in over a decade. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Ban on commercial activities at beach park becomes law. Businesses await word from county on a new location for operations. Maui News.

Visualizing Sea Level Rise on Maui: Sea Grant scientist Tara Owens explains how computer modeling helps prepare for climate change. Mauitime.

West Maui offshore mooring permits are deferred. BLNR asks for public engagement; decision affects five businesses. Maui News.

Surfing Goat Dairy for sale. Owners of a local brand that put Maui goats on the map have announced that they will be selling the successful Upcountry business, land, infrastructure, equipment and livestock. Maui News.

Kauai

Black Pot meeting on reopening set. A public meeting regarding the reopening of Black Pot Beach Park is set for Thursday, July 11, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Hanalei School cafeteria. Garden Island.

Volunteers exercise visitor education initiatives on the North Shore. Amidst one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year, a new resident organization on Kauai implemented visitor education initiatives to relieve the resurfacing pressures of tourism on the communities of Haena and Wainiha. Garden Island.

‘The hearts of the people care for the land’. It’s the first Saturday of the month at the Lawai International Center, a 32-acre sanctuary that hosts an extraordinary restoration project of 88 Buddhist shrines that were constructed in 1904 by workers at the nearby Koloa Sugar Company, the likeness of which exist on Kauai and Shikoku, Japan. Garden Island.

Hot, hot, hot! Record temperatures, warming seas. Plus, news on Honolulu rail, OHA, U.S. Conference of Mayors, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii sunrise ©2019 All Hawaii News

Hawaii wilts under sweltering temps and there’s little relief in sight. Forecasters say the state has broken or tied 35 heat records since mid-May. The reason: Warmer sea surface temperatures and weak tradewinds. Hawaii News Now.

Blistering heat keeps setting records for Honolulu and Kahului. More record high temperatures have been set in early June, including 92 degrees on June 10 in Honolulu that broke the record set in 1982, according to weather officials. Star-Advertiser.

No end in sight to the sunshine and light trade showers for the islands. High pressure north of the islands will keep light to moderate trades in place through the remainder of the work week, with showers favoring windward and mauka areas, mainly at night and through the early morning hours. KHON2.

The world’s oceans will likely lose about one-sixth of their fish and other marine life by the end of the century if climate change continues on its current path, according to a new study. Associated Press.

Molokai, Kauai Groups Recognized For Restoring Sustainable Fisheries. This is the first time the prestigious Equator Prize has been awarded to indigenous communities in the United States. Civil Beat.

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Deaths in Hawaii from suicide, alcohol and drugs have spiked over the past 12 years. Deaths from suicide, alcohol and drugs have climbed substantially over the past 12 years in Hawaii, though the state tops the nation for overall health care, a new study shows. Star-Advertiser.

The Problem With Hawaiian Homestead Land? Much Of It Can’t Be Developed. Some senators question why the agency charged with providing homes for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries must also manage so much land where building can’t occur. Civil Beat.

Homestead Leaders Applaud OHA for Housing Program Investment. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded a 2-year grant of $484,114 to the nonprofit, Homestead Community Development Corporation also known as the Homestead Housing Authority. Maui Now.

OHA trustee in trouble for alleged disloyalty. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ Board of Trustees has a code of conduct policy that requires trustees to publicly support a board decision even though he or she might disagree with it personally. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu is prepping for a national gathering of mayors. But who’s footing the bill?  The U.S. Conference of Mayors will be held on Oahu later this month. It’s expected to cost the city about $5 million to put on. Hawaii News Now.

Caldwell and Anderson optimistic after FTA meeting about rail funding. Following a meeting with federal transit officials Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Mayor Kirk Caldwell and City Council Chairman Ikaika Anderson said they’re optimistic that a recovery plan for the city’s over-budget $9.2 billion rail project will be approved. Star-Advertiser.

Some council members concerned with cost of Blaisdell renovations. After gathering input and ideas for years, the Final Environmental Assessment for the Blaisdell Center Master Plan is out. However, will construction be put on the back burner because of rail? KHON2.

City-funded domestic violence shelter that was barely used is slated to close down. The decision came after the City Council rejected a funding request for the facility, a pet project for embattled city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, who has since gone on leave amid a federal investigation. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Residents Wary Of Subdivision After Bulldozers Damage Cemetery. They say some burial sites may remain undiscovered in the 1920s-era plantation graveyard near where a residential development is proposed. Civil Beat.

Complaint served to ‘two main individuals’ involved with problem homeless commune in Hilo. A lot located between Ponahawai and Mamo streets behind Agasa Furniture and Music Store near Hilo Farmers Market has become a fenced-off community of tents and other temporary structures, in defiance of multiple orders by county agencies to clear the lot. Tribune-Herald.

Injured hiker rescued on Maunakea. A 68-year-old grandfather from Arizona who suffered a broken thighbone while hiking off a Maunakea trail below the W.M. Keck Observatory was rescued Monday night. Tribune-Herald.

Man With Broken Leg Rescued From Mauna Kea Summit. Rescue crews located the injured man - said to be in his 60's, with an apparent femur fracture - approximately 1 mile from the nearest trail at the 12,500 foot elevation. Big Island Video News.

Charges dropped against former Hilo doctor accused of drug trafficking. Federal prosecutors are dropping all 40 charges against a Hilo doctor accused of ordering fake opioid prescriptions. Court-appointed doctors say Dr. Ernest Bade is not mentally competent to stand trial. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Victorino issues line-item vetoes to council budget. Mayor displeased spending not kept in check, requests more information. Maui News.

Hotel official: Time to ‘diversify tourism’. Hannemann says there is no other industry offering as many jobs. Maui News.

Warm oceans, no trades lead to heat wave on Maui. There have been 16 record-breaking days since May 16. Maui News.

Kauai

County attorneys push courts on TVR issue. County attorneys are taking increasingly aggressive legal action against the owners of short-term vacation rental properties who failed to renew annual permits on time. Garden Island.

A wedding at an off-limits area on Kauai’s North Shore is now under investigation. On Kauai, as the county continues to recover from last year's historic flooding, it has opened an investigation after an apparent wedding ceremony was held illegally at a popular North Shore beach park. Hawaii News Now.

Bankrupt Island Air grounded, taxpayers to fund Kealoha defense, Land Board allows Alexander & Baldwin to continue diverting streams, court rules in favor of Syngenta, Navy wraps up bombing meetings, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hilo Veterans Day parade © 2017 All Hawaii News

Complicated U.S. Relations Leave Veterans Without Full Health Benefits. This coming Veterans’ Day, we will likely hear stories of service from those who have been to the frontlines of war. As America honors those who served in the U.S. military, the conversation also centers on how the U.S. can serve its veterans.  HPR Reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi shares the story of an often overlooked group of veterans who are hoping the country they served will return that obligation. Hawaii Public Radio.

100-year-old WWII veteran sparks bill for Pacific War memorial. A 100-year-old Oahu veteran has inspired a bipartisan bill to add a commemorative display honoring U.S. service members who fought in the Pacific theater to the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, which is home to the USS Arizona Memorial.. Star-Advertiser.

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Island Air, the state’s second-largest airline, said today its last day of service will be Friday after having exhausted all options to remain flying. Star-Advertiser.

Bankrupt Hawaii interisland carrier Island Air will cease all operations as of midnight Friday after having exhausted all its legal options to stay in business. Pacific Business News.

Island Air announces abrupt shutdown; 100s to lose their jobs. Cash-strapped Island Air, Hawaii's second-largest inter-island carrier, has announced it will halt all service Friday. Hawaii News Now.

Island Air to shut down after 37 years. KHON2.

Island Air to cease operations after Friday. Island Air says it will close operations as of 12:01 a.m. Saturday due to legal pressures imposed by its aircraft lessors. KITV.

Interisland air carrier Island Air announced it will shut down operations as of Saturday, significantly diminishing the number of interisland flights available. In a Thursday afternoon statement, the carrier said “all Island Air passengers must make alternative arrangements for interisland transportation, effective this Saturday, November 11, 2017.” Tribune-Herald.

Island Air said Thursday it will cease interisland service Saturday, having exhausted all options to remain flying. West Hawaii Today.

On Saturday at midnight, Island Air will end 37 years of service to Hawaii "due to legal pressures imposed by aircraft lessors." Big Island Video News.

Island Air announced Thursday it will close operations at midnight tonight. The move ends 37 years of service in Hawaii, leaves passengers scrambling to find flights for interisland transportation and puts 400 employees out of work. Garden Island.

Island Air to Shut Down After 37 Years. Maui Now.

Island Air ends 37 years of flying today. Airline to file for Chapter 7 Monday, Hawaiian offers help. Maui News.

Looking beyond Island Air’s last day: what happens next? Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii Regulates Manicurists And Bartenders — Why Not Midwives? Several legislative proposals to license people who assist with births, often at home, have failed. Another may be coming next session. Civil Beat.

There have now been 557 cases of mumps in Hawaii this year. Hawaii has seen 557 cases of mumps in 2017, and 16 people have suffered from complications. Hawaii News Now.

Commentary: Don’t Ban Campaign Fundraising During Legislative Sessions. Some people seem to equate holding fundraisers during sessions to accepting bribes, but there’s a free speech issue here. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Taxpayers to fund defense team for ex-police chief, wife. Taxpayers will be funding attorneys to defend a former Honolulu police chief and his wife in a corruption case, a judge ruled Thursday. Associated Press.

Former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his city deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha will receive court-appointed attorneys in their public corruption case as early as next week, a federal judge ruled today after discussing the couple’s financial situation with them in private. Star-Advertiser.

Judge: Kealohas Are Too Broke To Pay For Their Own Defense. A federal judge will assign new, publicly funded counsel to represent the former Honolulu police chief and his prosecutor wife. Civil Beat.

Former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife will get taxpayer-funded attorneys to battle charges in a public corruption case. Hawaii News Now.

Judge approves court-appointed attorneys, taxpayers to fund Kealohas’ costly defense. KHON2.

Federal judge approves court-appointed counsel for Kealohas. A high profile public corruption case will soon be costing taxpayers. KITV.

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Is a ‘big house’ coming to your neighborhood? Plans in the works as officials weigh fixes. Honolulu’s mayor is asking his administration to take action as the “big house” trend continues to spread on Oahu. KHON2.

Honolulu moving ahead with Blaisdell redevelopment, but questions linger for business. The City and County of Honolulu is moving forward with its plan to redevelop the 50-year-old Neal S. Blaisdell Center and plans to submit a draft environmental assessment in the first quarter of next year, but residents and business owners are concerned the plan won’t provide enough parking. Pacific Business News.

Despite high-profile sweep, parts of Nimitz Viaduct still overrun with squatters. As crews hired by the state work to clear massive piles of garbage from one side of the Nimitz viaduct, many of the squatters who created that mess are making themselves at home on the opposite side. Hawaii News Now.

Boat’s grounding points up risks of fishing fleet’s labor practices. Associated Press.

Hawaii Island

Despite Navy assurances that the military is using the latest science to protect marine mammals during bombing and sonar training exercises, most of the approximately 75 people attending a public meeting Thursday evening remained skeptical. West Hawaii Today.

On Thursday, the owners of a lot in a Pepeekeo shoreline subdivision took their objection over a recently issued violation to the Board of Appeals. Big Island Video News.

University of Hawaii researchers need the help of Big Island residents to gather information about the natural cycles of breadfruit trees. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Arakawa ‘leaning very strongly’ at run at council seat. Mayor hasn’t ruled out bid for governor, lieutenant governor. Maui News.

Land Board: Alexander & Baldwin Can Keep Diverting Maui Water. Opponents say water drawn from streams by the Hawaii land company harm the environment. Civil Beat.

First Amendment right to record video of police officers at work at the center of a court case. Thomas Russo of media outlet Maui Time, shot the video back in 2012 and got arrested for it. KITV.

Kauai

Court rules in favor of state, Syngenta. A lawsuit calling for environmental review of Syngenta seed company operations was dismissed by Judge Randal Valenciano on Thursday. Garden Island.

Honolulu jail site selected, Office of Hawaiian Affairs sues state over Mauna Kea management, Kealoha judge wants proof they can't afford lawyer, Sen. Kim announces congressional bid, high cost to retrofit high-rise sprinklers, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Concertina wire over Hawaii jail © 2017 All Hawaii News

Animal Quarantine Station site marked for new Oahu jail. The preferred location for Oahu’s new jail is the Animal Quarantine Station site in Halawa Valley, and the latest cost estimate for the project is $525 million, according to the project’s draft environmental impact statement. Star-Advertiser.

‘Preferred’ Jail Site Currently Houses Animal Quarantine Station. The Halawa Valley project’s $525 million price tag includes $17.5 million for a new quarantine facility. Civil Beat.

Hawaii reveals preferred location for new Oahu jail. An underused animal quarantine facility near the confluence of two freeways on Oahu is the state of Hawaii’s preferred site for Honolulu’s new jail, a $525 million project that would replace the aging and overcrowded Oahu Community Correctional Center. Pacific Business News.

OCCC Relocation: $525M. The state reached a major decision-point in its plan to replace the outdated Oahu Community Correctional Center. Hawaii Public Radio.

State selects Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa as preferred location for OCCC. Gov. David Ige announced on Wednesday that his administration has selected the Animal Quarantine Station in Halawa as the preferred site for the relocation of the Oahu Community Correctional Center. KITV.

Construction at Halawa prison stirs up rats. Recent construction work at Halawa Correctional Facility has stirred up the rat population at the state’s largest prison, but Department of Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda says the department has contracted with exterminators who have the situation under control. Star-Advertiser.

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Why Gov. Ige’s Secret Talks With Airbnb Have So Many People Upset. A backlash is brewing against a potential deal for the company to collect Hawaii taxes — in part, because no one knows what’s in the agreement. Civil Beat.

Donna Mercado Kim enters race for US Congress. Veteran State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim is making another run for U.S. Congress. Hawaii News Now.

Attack Warning Siren Tests Begin in December. The Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency will begin testing its Attack Warning Signal or “Wailing Tone” next month as they continue preparedness and consequence management plans related to potential attack scenarios. Maui Now.

Judge ‘troubled’ as Island Air seeks cash infusion. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Faris expressed concern Wednesday about Island Air’s dire financial condition and gave the company a one-week extension to use its cash and provide more evidence of its financial situation before he decides how to proceed with the case. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Ballard names 2 HPD captains as her top deputies. Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard has named HPD captains John McCarthy and Jonathon Grems as her two deputy chiefs. Star-Advertiser.

Attorneys ask to be removed from case; Kealohas to file financial disclosures. A federal judge has continued a hearing to Thursday morning on whether the attorneys representing Louis and Katherine Kealoha should be removed from the couple’s high-profile public corruption case. Star-Advertiser.

Judge To Kealohas: Show Me Your Finances. A federal judge says he won’t consider taxpayer-funded attorneys for the former Honolulu chief and his prosecutor wife until he verifies their financial situation. Civil Beat.

Kealohas claim they can't afford attorneys; judge says prove it. The Kealohas will have to turn over financial information before a U.S. District Court Judge will order taxpayer-funded attorneys for the couple fighting a 20-count federal indictment. Hawaii News Now.

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Rail costs cast shadow over Blaisdell plan. As the plan to make over the Neal S. Blaisdell Center moves ahead, one prominent state lawmaker continues to question whether the city should tackle that nearly $700 million endeavor before it finishes funding rail. Star-Advertiser.

Bringing the Blaisdell Center into the 21st century could cost $530M. Community members had their third and final opportunity to weigh in on the future of the Neal S. Blaisdell Center on Wednesday evening. Hawaii News Now.

City holds final public workshop on Blaisdell Center Master Plan. KHON2.

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Fire safety panel recommends retrofitting sprinklers in 150 older Honolulu buildings. Five months after the deadly fire at the Marco Polo Building, an advisory committee formed in response to the tragedy is making a recommendation to the Honolulu City Council. KITV.

Here's what it would cost to retrofit high-rises with fire sprinklers. A residential fire safety panel led by Honolulu Fire Chief Manuel Neves is recommending that only older residential high-rises with interior hallways should be required to install automatic fire sprinklers. Hawaii News Now.

New report whittles down older high-rises in need of new sprinkler systems. In the wake of the deadly Marco Polo fire, the mayor called for older residential high-rises to be retrofitted with sprinklers. KHON2.

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North Shore safety, traffic frustrations continue with solutions overturned, unenforced. The bottleneck on Kamehameha Highway near Laniakea Beach has long been a source of frustration for Oahu’s North Shore residents. KHON2.

Leader of Kakaako development agency resigning. Jesse Souki, head of the Hawaii Community Development Authority, notified the agency’s board and staff last week that he is stepping down Nov. 30 after one year on the job. Star-Advertiser.

NRG Energy seeks $350M in financing to build solar farms in Hawaii. NRG Energy acquired the three solar farm projects from bankrupt SunEdison last November. Pacific Business News.

Cat sterilization non-profit seeks new home after losing lease. After seven years, the non-profit CatFriends lost the lease for their facility in Kalihi. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

OHA sues UH over Mauna Kea; Attorney says agency willing to work with DLNR on new management structure. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Honolulu Circuit Court, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs is alleging the University of Hawaii is in violation of its general lease for the Mauna Kea Science Reserve and asks for the agreement to be cancelled. Tribune-Herald.

OHA sues to end UH’s stewardship of Mauna Kea summit. After threatening to go to court for months, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs finally pulled the trigger, accusing the University of Hawaii of aggressively developing the Mauna Kea summit for astronomy at the expense of its environment and cultural significance. Star-Advertiser.

OHA Sues State, UH Over ‘Longstanding Mismanagement’ Of Mauna Kea. The legal action follows a ruling allowing the Thirty Meter Telescope project to go forward on a mountain considered deeply sacred by many Native Hawaiians. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs says it is moving forward with its lawsuit over the management of Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

OHA: State incapable of giving Mauna Kea 'level of aloha' it deserves. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is suing the state, claiming "longstanding and well-documented mismanagement" of Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

OHA sues state over management of Mauna Kea. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the state and the University of Hawaii for what the group calls the "longstanding and well-documented mismanagement of Mauna Kea." KITV.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs sues state, University of Hawaii over Mauna Kea. The state Office of Hawaiian Affairs is suing the state of Hawaii and the University of Hawaii for what it calls “their longstanding and well-documented mismanagement of Mauna Kea,” and seeks to terminate the university’s lease of the land on the mountain, which is home to a dozen observatories. Pacific Business News.

University Of Hawaii, State Respond To OHA Mauna Kea Lawsuit. Big Island Video News.

Memorial service, music program mark 100th anniversary of Liliuokalani’s death. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Navy expands zone limiting sonar testing around county. The U.S. Navy has expanded its no-sonar-testing zone around Maui County by about 50 percent, according to its latest draft environmental impact statement for personnel and weapons systems training between Hawaii and California, officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Liquor department faces new gripes. Boys & Girls Clubs ‘Little Chefs’ not allowed with ‘Big Chefs,’ to receive awards on stage; no alcohol allowed at VFW luau. Maui News.

Man On Trans-Pacific Voyage In Ocean Rowboat Rescued Off Maui. He was headed from California to China aboard an 18-foot vessel, according to the Coast Guard. Civil Beat.

Progress made in converting old sugar cane lands. Half of company’s 36,000 acres may be leased more quickly than expected – A&B. Maui News.

Maui home sales jump 35% in October as prices rise. Home sales on Maui increased by more than 35 percent in October, when compared to the same month last year, while median prices rose for both single-family homes and condominiums, according to statistics released by the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Sammy Hagar Lists Haiku Oceanfront Retreat for $3.3M. Maui Now.

Kauai

Navy outlines plans for future activity. Weapons and whales came head to head in Lihue Wednesday afternoon as the U.S. Navy presented its newest evaluation of the impacts training and testing activities have on the environment. Garden Island.

Housing, safety at forefront of county requests. On Wednesday, the county committee meeting began dialogue regarding the priorities for formulating the 2018 Kauai County Legislative Package. Garden Island.

Fat and molting, Kauai’s yearling Hawaiian Monk Seal RH38 has returned to Kauai waters after spending two months at Ke Kai Ola, a dedicated Marine Mammal Center hospital for monk seals on Hawaii Island. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Telcom to be sold; Kealoha attorneys want out; Big Island, Maui bomb training could resume, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Old Hawaiian Telcom building in Hilo © 2017 All Hawaii News

Hawaiian Telcom shareholders approve sale. The state’s largest technology and telecommunications company received overwhelming approval Tuesday morning from its shareholders to be acquired by Cincinnati Bell. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Telcom's shareholders have approved a $650 million cash-and-stock sale to Cincinnati Bell. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Telcom shareholders vote in favor of acquisition by Cincinnati Bell. Hawaiian Telcom’s shareholders voted in favor of the company’s acquisition by Cincinnati Bell during a special meeting on Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

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Attack warning siren tests will begin next month. Hawaii, one of the first states to initiate a nuclear preparedness campaign, was previously depicted as a target by North Korea, and Oahu is home to the Navy’s U.S. Pacific Command. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii joins state coalition calling for taxation of out-of-state online retailers. Pacific Business News.

Medical Tourism: Not Ready For Prime Time? The first-ever Pacific Regenerative Medical Conference in Honolulu conducted a panel discussion today to explore ways to attract visitors to the islands for healing and medical cures. Hawaii Public Radio.

New online tool monitors students’ progress. A new online tool launched Tuesday allows easy tracking of how Hawaii’s public school students are faring on various measures that are in the state’s strategic plan for education. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs announced Tuesday that the status of new and existing vocational licenses is now searchable online. Star-Advertiser.

Rat lungworm on agenda. The state Department of Health has been working with the Governor’s Joint Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease to better provide widespread education about the risks associated with this debilitating disease and how to prevent it, as well as address issues around diagnosis and treatment. Garden Island.

United Airlines bids farewell to 747s by re-creating its first Honolulu flight. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai ranch sale helps Alexander & Baldwin turn a profit. Selling 566 acres of land on Kauai and Maui helped Alexander & Baldwin Inc. earn $6.6 million in the third quarter and reverse a year- earlier $1.4 million loss that included heavy costs to close Hawaii’s last sugar cane plantation. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Kealoha Attorneys Want Out Of Police Corruption Case. The three defense attorneys say the Kealohas can’t afford to pay them. Civil Beat.

Attorneys for Kealohas ask to be removed from case. The three attorneys for Louis and Katherine Kealoha want permission from a federal judge to be removed as legal counsel for the high-profile couple in the public corruption case that’s led to the indictments of the retired police chief, his wife the deputy city prosecutor, and four other current or former Honolulu Police Department officers. Star-Advertiser.

Kealoha attorneys dump case, say couple can't afford them for defense. All three attorneys representing former Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife are seeking to withdraw from a public corruption case focused on the couple, saying the two can't afford to pay them for their defense. Hawaii News Now.

Attorneys file motion to withdraw as counsel, Kealohas ‘can no longer fund a defense’. The three attorneys representing Louis and Katherine Kealoha have filed to remove themselves from the case. KHON2.

The Case Against Katherine Kealoha Just Keeps Getting Worse. A new FBI report says the now-indicted prosecutor leaned on a witness to help cover up alleged criminal activity in a private guardianship case. Civil Beat.

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Steps taken to reduce crime in Waikiki, Chinatown, but glaring disparity remains. Waikiki and Chinatown are neighborhoods that serve very different purposes and attract different crowds. KHON2.

Par Pacific Holdings Inc., the owner of Kapolei-based oil refinery Par Hawaii, on Monday reported net income of $18.8 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to a net loss of $27.8 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, for the same quarter in 2016. Pacific Business News.

Oahu residents have one more chance to offer up opinions on the city’s draft Neal S. Blaisdell Center Master Plan at a meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall Pikake Room. Star-Advertiser.

Is Ala Moana The New Kakaako? A lot of new developments are planned for the neighborhood, making some residents worry about whether they’ll be priced out. Civil Beat.

Waianae homeless without water nearby.  The state shuts down access to widely-used Waianae water spigots, leaving nearby homeless residents high and dry. Those taps will remain turned off, until the end of the year. KITV.

Coast Guard officials are still working on a plan to salvage a 79-foot fishing boat that’s been stranded on a reef off Waikiki’s Kaimana Beach for almost a month, even as people endanger themselves by sneaking onto the leaking wreckage at night. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The U.S. Navy wants to resume deploying sonar and explosives around the Big Island and Maui where it cut back after a 2015 lawsuit. West Hawaii Today.

Jobie Masagatani, the Chair of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, joined Governor David Ige for a Facebook livestream on Tuesday. One of the topics of discussion was the Subsistence Agricultural Homestead Community being planned for Honomū. Big Island Video News.

Someone removed a large concrete barricade and broke through a fence to access the closed Hakalau Beach Park, according to the Hawaii County Department of Public Works. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island bus ridership down big over 4 years, experts say. Associated Press.

The County of Hawaii’s Mass Transit Agency held its final in a series of Transit Master Plan community meetings at the Aupuni Center Conference Room in Hilo on Monday night. Big Island Video News.

CVS Health is moving its Longs Drugs store in Keaau to a new space in the Big Island town, which is being built on the five-acre site of the former open-air Keaau Village Market. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Water testing program expands to South Maui.  Hui O Ka Wai Ola, a volunteer-based water quality testing program, has expanded to South Maui and will be measuring ocean clarity and nutrients on South Maui’s shores, the group announced. Maui News.

Open House on the Future of Honolua Bay and Lipoa Point, Nov. 8. The open house will provide an opportunity for the community and area residents to learn about the planning process, view informational exhibits and contribute their ideas at their own pace. Maui Now.

Tourism industry plan calls for improvements. The visitor industry lobbying for infrastructure improvements and improving communication between industry officials and cultural practitioners and residents are some actions suggested in a new tourism industry strategic plan for 2017 to 2026. Maui News.

Puunene Shopping Center filling up. Planet Fitness, Massage Envy and Ulta Beauty to open outlets on Maui. Maui News.

Kauai

County checking on alleged zoning violations. Mason Chock, County Council Planning Committee chair, said he was asked to look into a situation where a restaurateur was being charged several thousand dollars per month for parking by its hotel and timeshare counterpart for visiting patrons. Garden Island.

Wilcox Medical Center unveiled its new simulation lab on Monday with a blessing ceremony and tours for invited guests, physicians and staff. Garden Island.

Big boost planned for military spending in Hawaii, Honolulu judge expands family members on travel ban immigrant list, Hurricane Fernanda still far away, solider pledging IS support claims mental illness defense, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii Island © 2017 All Hawaii News

Schatz Announces Big Increase In Military Spending For Hawaii. If a subcommittee’s Thursday vote holds up, the islands would see $266 million in spending in fiscal year 2018, up from $197 million. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is set to receive more than $266 million in federal funding for military construction and upgrade projects across the state after the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018. Pacific Business News.

A federal judge in Honolulu has expanded the Trump administration’s list of family relationships needed by people seeking new visas from six mostly Muslim countries to avoid a travel ban. U.S. District Court Judge Derrick Watson ruled Thursday that the travel ban exemptions should include grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and other relatives. Star-Advertiser.

In another setback for President Donald Trump, a federal judge in Hawaii has further weakened his already diluted travel ban by vastly expanding the list of family relationships with U.S. citizens that visa applicants can use to get into the U.S. Associated Press.

A federal judge in Honolulu on Thursday expanded the list of family relationships needed by people seeking new visas from six mostly Muslim countries to avoid President Donald Trump’s travel ban. Associated Press.

The Hawaii judge who blocked President Donald Trump’s revised executive order on immigration in March placed limits Thursday on how the scaled-back version of the travel ban should be enforced. Civil Beat.

Fernanda strengthens into major hurricane far east of islands. It is still too early to tell what kind of effects, if any, this storm will have on Hawaii, but early computer models show a track that moves in a direction toward the islands. Hawaii News Now.

Hurricane Fernanda in the Eastern Pacific continued strengthening today, reaching major hurricane status. Star-Advertiser.

Fernanda reached hurricane strength Thursday and the storm’s expected to continue rapidly strengthening as it marches west toward the Hawaiian Islands. West Hawaii Today.

The lawyer for an Army soldier accused of pledging his support and allegiance to the Islamic State says the government knew or should have known that Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Erik Kang was suffering from mental illness but, instead of helping him, continued to exploit Kang’s condition until he committed a crime. Star-Advertiser.

A U.S. soldier accused of wanting to commit a mass shooting after pledging loyalty to the Islamic State group believed the moon landing was faked, questioned the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and thought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were an inside job coordinated by the U.S. government, according to a former Army bunkmate. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s public school system, which employs more than 13,000 teachers, has struggled for years with a chronic teacher shortage. A licensed first-year teacher in Hawaii makes $47,443. A new contract signed in April provides for a cumulative salary increase of 13.6 percent over four years. Civil Beat.

No Relief In Sight For High Cost Of Prison Phone Calls. After a federal court overturned a national limit on the price of the calls, activists turn to state and local governments. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Plans to modernize Blaisdell Center could cost upwards of $500M. Hawaii News Now.

Big, expensive changes are proposed for the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. On Thursday, nearly 150 people attended the city's second workshop to weigh-in on the city's "Master Plan" for the center. KITV.

Public weighs in on the future of Neal S. Blaisdell Center. KHON2.

A proposed charter school to serve Ewa Beach families got the green light Thursday from the state Public Charter School Commission, but two other Oahu schools were rejected. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents saw a dime shaved off their electricity bills in July primarily due to lower fees collected for energy efficiency programs. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with Matheson Tri-Gas to close three cesspools at its Kapolei facility on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

A fallen chunk of concrete is raising safety concerns under the H-1 viaduct. State Department of Transportation officials say they checked out the site and believe it is structurally safe. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Audits of county hiring and cash-handling practices should be completed in the next few months, legislative Auditor Bonnie Nims said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii residents had the chance to discuss the impacts of upcoming changes to the region’s flood insurance rate maps during an open house session Wednesday evening. Tribune-Herald.

After a malfunction at the recently repaired Keahuolu Deepwell put North Kona on the edge of water service disruptions, Hawaii County Department of Water Supply has pulled the system back from the brink. West Hawaii Today.

The former Uncle Billy’s hotel is attracting its last customers — for a liquidation sale. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission was split Tuesday on a proposed construction materials recycling facility in South Maui, which some say would help handle future projects on island but that others think should be located elsewhere. Maui News.

One by one, the island’s eucalyptus trees are dying. Maui News.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Luncheon with the Mayor from noon to 2 p.m. July 28 at the Maui Beach Hotel. Maui News.

Lloyd Loope, who became Haleakala National Park’s first research scientist in 1980 and went on to become one of the state’s leading advisers in the war against invasive species, has died at the age of 74. Star-Advertiser.

The cane is long gone but the sugar museum continues to grow. Maui News.

Kauai

The Land Use Commission will vote this month on changing the land designation at Kauai Community College from ag to urban, and officials say the recently approved university district will help streamline that process. Garden Island.

Nawiliwili Yacht Club is fighting for its lease of the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, set to expire in September and go up on the block for public auction. Garden Island.

There is no date set for the next community meeting regarding the proposed change of address for the Lihue post office, according to Duke Gonzales, USPS spokesman. Garden Island.