'Stop the bleeding': Senate panel balks at paying Maui fire victim's rising costs, De Fries confirmed as Maunakea authority director, tourism arrivals and spending down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lawmakers: ‘Stop The Bleeding’ Of State Cash To Pay For Maui Fire Victims.  Hawaii state senators are demanding to know how much and how long the state will have to pay for hotel rooms for Maui residents who were displaced by the Lahaina wildfire, and what impact the escalating fire response costs will have on the state budget. Civil Beat.  Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2

UH Regents Interim Chair Vows To Fight For His Job. In spite of a Senate panel’s rejection, Alapaki Nahale-a wants to push ahead with his nomination “for our university and our state.” Civil Beat.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii visitor arrivals and spending down. In January some 763,480 visitors came to the Hawaiian Islands, down 3.6% from January 2023, according to DBEDT. Likewise, total visitor spending, without taking inflation into account, declined to $1.81 billion, a drop of 4.5% from January 2023. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now.

DOH adds more security measures to State Hospital. The Nov. 13 murder of State Hospital nurse Justin Bautista has prompted a serious look at security at the facility. KHON2.

Public Can Weigh In On Making Papahanaumokuakea A Marine National Sanctuary. The move aims to better protect the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and enhance the national monument that's been in place there since 2006. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu leaders focusing on several issues in Climate Adaptation Plan. A new climate adaptation strategy was recently released.  Wednesday the Honolulu City Council unanimously passed (9-0) Resolution 24-016 which adopts the climate ready plan. KITV4.

New ocean safety sector under city consideration. A plan to break up the city Emergency Services Department was formally announced in March 2023 during Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s 2023 State of the City address.  Star-Advertiser.

Avalon Group purchases former Fort Street Mall Walmart property. Avalon Group, a Honolulu-based real estate development, sales and consulting company, purchased the former Walmart property at South King and Bethel streets in downtown Honolulu, it announced Thursday. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio.

Autopsy results in homeless youth’s death put spotlight on dearth of treatment beds. In a distressing update, the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office has released the official cause of death for Acacia Brown, the 21-year-old who was found dead last summer in some bushes near a homeless encampment in Kailua. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

John De Fries’ selection criticized: Former HTA chief voted in as first Maunakea authority director. After more than a year, the state body that will take over management of the Maunakea summit region has a new director, though not without controversy. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

Decommissioning of Maunakea’s 2nd telescope begins in March. Hoku Ke‘a decommissioning to begin this month. The Hoku Ke‘a Observatory — which has been unused for more than a decade after the teaching telescope that it was meant to house was found to be faulty — will be demolished over the next five months, with the process to begin at an unspecified date in March. Tribune-Herald. KHON2.

Maui

County Council passes Bill 21 on first reading to expedite permits for wildfire rebuilding. Bill 21 would broaden emergency repair provisions of Maui County’s current building code and clarify repair and approval procedures for issuing emergency building permits. Maui Now.

East Maui Water Authority Chooses Water Resource Expert As Board’s First Chair. Former Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, who had opposed the authority's creation, was unsuccessful in his bid for the leadership role. Civil Beat.

State unveils first federally funded EV station on Maui. The state’s first federally funded EV charging station is now open at the Kahului Park & Ride on Maui. Star-Advertiser. Maui News.  Maui Now.

Kauai

NFL players judging this year’s Kaua‘i Poke Fest; ticket sales will go to Maui Strong Fund. This year’s celebrity judges will include Kaua‘i-born Nick and Nate Herbig, Pittsburgh Steelers professional athletes and brothers. Kauai Now.

Legislature mulls tax breaks, panel rejects UH Regents chair, Green releases $175M plan for Maui fire victims, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Counties Fight To Keep Excise Tax As Lawmakers Advance Other Relief Measures. Measures that won preliminary approval in the House Finance Committee would increase standard deductions and adjust tax brackets for inflation. Civil Beat.

Senate Panel Rejects Confirmation Of Interim UH Regents Chair. By a unanimous vote, the Hawaii Senate Higher Education Committee on Tuesday rejected the nomination of Alapaki Nahale-a to serve a four-year term on the University of Hawaii board of regents. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Hawaii News Now.

Maui Fires: Money For Victims, Housing For Survivors Are Hawaii Governor’s Priorities in $175M package. Gov. Josh Green renewed threats of a moratorium on vacation rentals in West Maui, citing a need for 850 long-term rentals. Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser.  Associated Press.  Maui Now.  KITV4.

A bill restoring counties’ regulation of tobacco products may die in state House. A measure that would restore the counties’ power to regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products and e-cigarettes appears to be stalled in the House Finance Committee, and it may die there Wednesday if no action is taken. Maui Now.

Report finds increase in Hawaiʻi's small farm closures, yet remaining prove profitable. Hawaiʻi lost hundreds of its smallest farms and thousands of acres in recent years, but local agriculture has been “significantly” more profitable. Those are some of the findings in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture, which was released this month. Hawaii Public Radio.

Agency disputes affordable housing loss projection. A risk assessment of potential Hawaii affordable housing losses presented Tuesday at the Legislature is overblown, according to a state agency that helps finance such housing. Star-Advertiser.

Legislature tries to play catchup on drone technology. A pair of bills in the state Legislature would establish “misuse of uncrewed aircraft” as a felony offense in Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

Lawsuit filed to protect midwifery in Hawaiʻi. A lawsuit was filed Tuesday by the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation an the Center for Reproductive Rights challenging a midwifery law that they say is preventing pregnant people in Hawaiʻi from using skilled midwives for their pregnancies and births, as they have for generations.  Maui Now.

Bill to create alert program for missing kūpuna advances in the House. The House Finance Committee advanced a bill on Monday that would create a statewide alert system for missing kūpuna with cognitive impairments or developmental disabilities. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

HART postpones discussion on scrapping internal audit. A call to scrap a previously sought top-down internal review of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was postponed this week. Star-Advertiser.

Revised plan extends moving period for outgoing Ulu Ke Kukui tenants having to find shelter by late February. The Ulu Ke Kukui apartments, which sit on Hawaiian Home Lands, are being repurposed into long-term affordable rentals for Native Hawaiians on the DHHL waiting list. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Merrie Monarch organizers release 2024 list of participating halau, judges. On Tuesday, organizers announced on Instagram who will be competing and presiding over the world’s biggest Hula competition. Hawaii News Now.

Surveyors to assess topography of Waipi‘o Valley Road for future safety improvements. Safety improvements on Waipiʻo Valley Road are slated to begin March 4. Control Point Surveying will conduct comprehensive surveying work to facilitate the enhancement of safety measures of the county roadway. Big Island Now.

Fire Closes Puʻuʻeo Community Center In Hilo. The Pu‘u‘eo Community Center at Clem Akina Park in Hilo is closed for the week, following a fire that damaged the building over the weekend.  Big Island Video News. Big Island Now.

Certified global, drink it local: Beer pros place Keaau business among ‘Best New Breweries of the Year’. Wailuku Brew Works in Shipman Business Park has been in business only seven months.  Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Bill to establish a nine-member Lele Community District Board for burned Lahaina lands heads to decision making. While the measure puts key decision making in the hands of elected Lahaina community members, some opposed to the bill worry that establishing a new authority under the department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority lacks precedent and raises concerns about centralizing power away from the affected community. Maui Now.

Temporary Kamehameha III Elementary School campus transferred to DOE, set to open April 1. The US Army Corps of Engineers announced on Tuesday the successful installation and turnover of the newly constructed temporary campus for King Kamehameha III Elementary School students to the Hawai‘i State Department of Education. Maui Now. KHON2.

Kalaupapa Tours Remain Shut Down 4 Years After Pandemic Closure. One would-be tour provider said the National Park Service has revoked the application process for companies that want to reinstate tours of the isolated peninsula on Molokai. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Kauai Fire Deals $20 Million Blow To Affordable Housing. The controversial project was nearing completion when it burned down over the weekend. Civil Beat.

Tour helicopter crashes on remote Kaua‘i beach, injuring one passenger. According to a preliminary report, a Jack Harter helicopter carrying one pilot and four passengers crashed at Honopū Beach, with one passenger suffering a back injury. Kauai Now. Hawaii News Now.  KHON2.

Lt. Gov. Green, medical delegation off to Samoa to fight measles, pay hikes for hard-to-place teachers, Kauai councilman refuses to step down after arrest, more news from all the Hawaii Islands

Lt. Gov. Josh Green M.D. with child. Screen grab from campaign video.

Lt Gov. Josh Green assembles health care workers for emergency medical mission to Samoa. Lt. Gov. Josh Green has assembled 76 people, including 50 nurses, doctors and other Hawaii health care workers, for an emergency medical mission to Samoa to help vaccinate residents amid a severe measles epidemic sweeping the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Sends A Medical Mission To Help Samoa Measles Crisis. A group of at least 65 health care professionals are flying to Samoa early Wednesday morning to administer vaccines. Civil Beat.

Hawaii flying in vaccines, large medical team to Samoa as deadly measles outbreak worsens. Lt. Gov. Josh Green will travel to Samoa with a team of medical professionals early Wednesday to assist with a measles outbreak that’s already killed 55 people. Hawaii News Now.

DOH Advises Travelers: Be On Alert For Measles. The Hawaii Department of Health on Tuesday warned travelers to be on alert for measles “as international outbreaks around the Pacific and elsewhere continue to increase.” Civil Beat.

DOH Alerts Travelers of Measles. The Hawaii Department of Health is advising travelers to be on alert for measles as international outbreaks around the Pacific and elsewhere continue to increase. Big Island Now.

Lawmaker Wants Hawaii To Cap Prescription Drug Prices. The House Health Committee chairman plans to introduce legislation modeled after a new Maryland law that creates a prescription drug price monitoring board. Civil Beat.

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Statewide bankruptcies climb to 4-year high. With one more month still to go, the number of Hawaii bankruptcies in 2019 already has reached its highest total in four years. Star-Advertiser.

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Pay hikes proposed for rural, special education and Hawaiian immersion teachers. The proposal calls for pay differentials of $10,000 a year for special education teachers, $8,000 for Hawaiian immersion teachers, and $3,000 to $8,000 for teachers in hard-to-staff areas, depending on the severity of the need. Star-Advertiser.

Governor Ige announces 14.5 million dollar plan to raise teacher salaries. There are 800 teacher vacancies that need to be filled, according to the Hawaii Department of Education. KITV.

State unveils teacher pay plan aimed at ending shortage of qualified educators. The schools superintendent, governor and other education leaders pitched what they called a bold plan aimed at ending the teacher shortage. Hawaii News Now.

State proposes pay increase for certain teachers. Officials hope to increase pay for classroom teachers in three areas: special education, Hawaiian language immersion programs, and hard-to-staff geographic locations. KHON2.

A proposal by the state Department of Education aims to address Hawaii’s teacher shortage by increasing pay for classroom teachers in areas that faced the most severe shortages: special education, Hawaiian language immersion programs and geographically hard-to-staff areas. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Announces Aggressive Plan To Take-On Teacher Shortage. The Hawaiʻi Department of Education, with the support of the governor, today introduced a proposal to tackle the state's teacher shortage through pay incentives. Big Island Video News.

Hawai‘i State Department of Education announced its proposal today on its efforts to tackle teacher shortages through increased pay. During a press conference at Central Middle School on O‘ahu, Gov. David Ige spoke about his support to provide extra compensation for teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations and Hawaiian Language Immersion programs. Big Island Now.

Board of Education teacher increased compensation plan can be found here.

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Former UH regent sues state over ‘gut and replace’ maneuver to downsize board. Jeff Portnoy, in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Hawaii, argues that Act 172 unconstitutionally interferes with the university’s autonomy. Star-Advertiser.

New suit claims lawmakers sought to punish UH by reducing number of regents. Former University of Hawaii Regent Jeff Portnoy blasted state lawmakers over a new law shrinking the size of the UH board, calling it vindictive. Hawaii News Now.

Former UH Regent sues state over reduction in regents. A former University of Hawaii regent sues the state after lawmakers reduce the number of regents. KITV.

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Editorial: It’s Way Past Time For Independent Analysis Of The Cost Of Legislation. Nearly 30 years ago Hawaii passed legislation to create an independent legislative fiscal office, but it’s been ignoring the law. Civil Beat.

Oahu

WWII veterans given special welcome ahead of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ceremonies. Hawaiian Airlines hosted a special welcome for two World War II veterans Tuesday. KHON2.

USS Arizona survivor Lou Conter gets hero’s welcome as he arrives to mark attack’s anniversary. The men of daring and bravery who 78 years ago defended Oahu and fought through the world war that followed are faithfully returning to remember Pearl Harbor and the lives that were lost or forever altered in the deadliest conflict in history. Star-Advertiser.

Oldest living Filipino WWI vet on Oahu receives Congressional Gold Medal for 100th birthday. Francisco Benigno, Sr. survived the Bataan Death March and was 25 years old when he was honorably discharged. KITV.

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A letter sent out to parents Monday from a Wahiawa elementary school saying a student had the measles was wrong. State Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo says there is no new reported case of measles in the islands. Hawaii Public Radio.

A measles scare at an Oahu school turns out to be false. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can cause ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, brain swelling and even death. KITV.

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Health Officials OK With 2045 Deadline For Red Hill But Many Call For Action Sooner. The Hawaii Department of Health gathered public comments Monday on a proposal to require underground fuel storage tanks like those at the U.S. Navy's Red Hill facility to have a secondary containment system or be moved by 2045. Hawaii Public Radio.

Single-use plastic ban bill scheduled for City Council vote Wednesday. Bill 40 CD1, which bans prepared single-use plastics from food vendors, is set to be voted on Wednesday in the Honolulu City Council. KHON2.

Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation plans community green space in Haleiwa Town. Fallow agricultural lands and two adjacent, historic commercial buildings in the heart of Haleiwa town have been acquired by Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation, the nonprofit environmental organization co-founded in 2003 by musician and North Shore native Jack Johnson and his wife, Kim Johnson, a former schoolteacher. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Some council members want more info before approving state funds for reimbursing police costs on Maunakea. Despite deep misgivings from some members, a County Council committee on Tuesday recommended the passage of a resolution that would grant the county $10 million in state funds to pay for police enforcement on Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

New building permit system 3 months out. A multi-agency software system designed to streamline the planning and building permit process has been delayed another three months, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. West Hawaii Today.

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Recently formed lake in Halemaumau Crater the largest in at least 200 years. The greenish-blue, 520-foot long lake that recently formed at the bottom of Halemaumau Crater on Kilauea volcano amounts to the largest body of water inside the crater for at least the past 200 years, and U.S. Geological Survey scientists are keeping a wary eye on both the lake and what is happening below it. Star-Advertiser.

Council Gets Halemaʻumaʻu Crater Lake Presentation. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick gave the Hawaiʻi County Council a presentation today on the Halemaʻumaʻu crater lake at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Big Island Video News.

Entrance fees going up at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The current entrance fee of $25 per vehicle will jump to $30 on Jan. 1, 2020. Those entering on motorcycle will need to pay $25, and the cost of pedestrians or bicyclists will be $15. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii Island Humane Society appoints new CEO after unexpected resignation. The Hawaii Island Humane Society has a new CEO following the unexpected resignation of Charles Brown after just four months on the job. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

District tax could help fund erosion project. Council committee discusses levy on Kahana Bay owners. Maui News.

Mobile hygiene center open house held on Maui. On Maui, an open house was held Tuesday for the Ka Hale a Ke Ola mobile hygiene unit in the parking lot of the Kihei Community Center. KHON2.

Mayor’s chief of staff leaving post. Deidre Tegarden’s resignation set to take effect Dec. 15. Maui News.

Haleakala National Park Entrance Fees Increase January 1. Haleakala National Park, along with other national parks across America, will increase its entrance fees on Jan. 1.  Maui Now.

Mokulele contract for Hana extended to Jan. 31. Makani Kai to take over as Essential Air Service carrier. Maui News.

New battery system installed at island’s HI-5 recycling facilities. HiVE renewable energy storage units are providing safe and reliable backup power. Maui News.

Kauai

State AG to prosecute Brun. The Hawaii Attorney General’s office will be taking over for county prosecutors in the case against a Kauai County Councilmember charged with hitting a police officer with his car while fleeing the scene of a traffic stop a month ago. Garden Island.

You Won’t Need A Car If You Live In This New Urban Village. This former sugar town — Hawaii’s first plantation opened here in 1835 — is about to become the unlikely site of Kauai’s first urban village, a pedestrian friendly, small scale mix of shops, offices, restaurants and apartments. Civil Beat.

UH Board of Regents approves Mauna Kea rules, Gabbard qualifies for DNC debate, Honolulu lifeguard hours extended, Big Island to ban county herbicide use, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists view Mauna Kea telescopes ©2019 All Hawaii News

Controversial rules passed to protect Mauna Kea’s natural resources. The proposed Mauna Kea administrative rules were battered and bruised over eight hours of testimony Wednesday, but the University of Hawaii Board of Regents unanimously approved them anyway, with one substantial provision. Star-Advertiser.

UH Board of Regents Approve Mauna Kea Resolution and Rules. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents approved the latest draft of rules yesterday governing activities on Mauna Kea. Hawaii Public Radio.

UH regents amend, approve draft administrative rules for Maunakea. After eight hours of impassioned opposition from community members, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents ultimately voted Wednesday to amend and approve a draft of administrative rules governing Maunakea. Tribune-Herald.

UH Regents approve stewardship resolution, rules on management for Mauna Kea. The guidelines aim to limit the amount of vehicles and commercial activity on the mountain. Hawaii News Now.

UH regents approve resolution on Mauna Kea stewardship, proposed administrative rules. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents approved the latest draft of the administrative rules for University of Hawaiʻi-managed lands on Maunakea at a special meeting on November 6 on the UH Hilo campus. KHON2.

UH Board of Regents passes Mauna Kea administrative rules with one change. The UH Board of Regents has passed administrative rules related to Mauna Kea but has made one change: removing the section regarding group use registration. KITV.

UH Regents Approve Mauna Kea Admin Rules. The University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents voted unanimously in favor of the rules with one amendment after a marathon meeting in Hilo. Big Island Video News.

Regents agenda and rules (page 627) can be found here.

Mayor on Maunakea impasse: ‘If we work on it, we can do it’. Mayor Harry Kim remains steadfast in his commitment to finding a way forward as the standoff over the Thirty Meter Telescope on Maunakea continues. West Hawaii Today.

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Tulsi Gabbard qualifies for November presidential debate, defying predictions. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has qualified for the November presidential debate, defying predictions that her performance last month in Westerville, Ohio, would mark the last time she would be on the national debate stage. Star-Advertiser.

Gabbard Qualifies For November DNC Debates. She has yet to meet the criteria for December, however. Civil Beat.

Gabbard meets criteria to participate in next Democratic presidential debate. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has met the qualifying criteria for the next Democratic presidential debate and is poised to join nine other candidates on stage later this month. Hawaii News Now.

Gabbard Says She Won't Mount 3rd-Party 2020 Presidential Bid. Longshot presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard says she will not launch a third-party bid for the White House if she fails to secure the Democratic nomination. Associated Press.

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Judge Considers Whether To Allow Hawaii To Subpoena Airbnb. A judge on Wednesday ruled Hawaii tax authorities may subpoena Airbnb for records of its hosts as part of an investigation into whether operators of vacation rentals have been paying their taxes. Associated Press.

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Singapore Is An Affordable Housing Model, But Can Hawaii Follow? Hawaii’s challenges include divided state and county governments and no overall coordination. Civil Beat.

Housing experts weigh in on affordable housing plan based on Singapore’s model. State Sen. Stanley Chang wants to take a page from Singapore's public housing playbook and apply it to Hawaii's affordable housing shortage. Hawaii News Now.

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DOT has a long-term fix for Hawaii’s roads. The Department of Transportation has a solution that could double the life of their roads. It’s called stone matrix asphalt, a stronger and more flexible aggregate that could last up to 25 years. KHON2.

Flying into the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Midway Atoll appears out of the vast blue Pacific as a tiny oasis of coral-fringed land with pristine white sand beaches that are teeming with life. But on the ground, there’s a different scene: plastic, pollution and death. Associated Press.

Political Feuding Over The Border Wall Is Stalling Military Housing Reform. Grim housing conditions on military bases in Hawaii and elsewhere remain as Congress continues to argue over diverting military dollars to pay for Trump’s proposed border wall. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Council OKs extending workday of lifeguards. Lifeguard service on Oahu beaches will be extended to sunrise-to-sunset from the current 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. hours under a measure adopted by the Honolulu City Council Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

City Council votes to extend lifeguard hours, but the change won’t go into effect immediately. On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council voted to pass Bill 39. It begins the process of extending lifeguard hours from sunrise to sunset. Hawaii News Now.

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New Ala Moana Pedestrian Bridge Planned Near Fatal Crash Site. Kakaako developers hope the new bridge will also serve as a “linear park” for pedestrians, similar to New York City’s High Line park. Civil Beat.

State awarded $20M in federal funds for Ala Moana pedestrian bridge. Federal transportation officials have committed to $20 million in funding to help the state build a pedestrian bridge over Ala Moana Boulevard, according to U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz. Star-Advertiser.

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City Plastics Ban Bill Undergoing Changes But Businesses Want Statewide Approach. A bill banning single-use plastic items on Oahu has been moved back to a City Council committee for more discussion but that’s not stopping business owners from wanting a statewide approach to the issue.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Major project begins to tackle erosion hotspot on Oahu’s most famous shoreline. Crews have started working on a new fix for an erosion hotspot in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Herbicide ban advances. A ban on the county’s use of weedkillers in parks and along its highways advanced Wednesday on an 8-1 vote, although some members of the County Council asked for more clarification before its final vote later this month. West Hawaii Today.

Food Basket to receive nearly $1M to help low-income families. The Food Basket, Hawaii Island’s food bank, will receive nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help more low-income families throughout Hawaii access locally grown produce and healthy food, it was announced Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

Farmers market canopy to be constructed ‘soon’. While the actual building of a permanent canopy over Hilo Farmers Market’s produce area hasn’t yet started, a sign was posted saying construction will start soon. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

US Supreme Court Hears Maui Pollution Case As Mayor, Council Fight Continues. The high profile case is now in the hands of the justices, but if the Maui County Council gets its way a decision may never come. Civil Beat.

Justices Seem Uncertain About Reach Of Clean Water Act In Maui Case. The justices heard arguments Wednesday about whether a sewage treatment plant needs a federal permit when it sends treated wastewater deep underground, instead of discharging the sewage directly into the Pacific Ocean. Associated Press.

Supreme Court hears debate in Maui injection well case. Maui County Council members who tried to stop a case involving wastewater injection wells from being heard before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday say they still hope Maui Mayor Michael Victorino will withdraw the case before justices can come out with a ruling sometime next year. Star-Advertiser.

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Water supply impacted by redirection of river. County says plant shutdown coincides with fish kill incident. Damage to diversions and redirecting of stream flow in the Wailuku River reduced water intake to the county treatment plant to the point that it had to shutdown three times since Oct. 28, the county water director said. Maui News.

Special Counsel Sought in County’s Climate Change Lawsuit. The County of Maui is seeking to hire special counsel in a lawsuit that alleges fossil fuel companies are responsible for the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. Maui Now.

Kahului Airport terminal expansion project under way. DOT submits SMA application for 27,300 square foot, 400 seat growth. Maui News.

DLNR completes new Maui annex building. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources held a blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday to mark the completion of its new 8,000-square-foot Maui annex building, which will house four divisions. Maui News.

Two meetings on Pulelehua project set for Saturday. Community open house for the 304-acre Pulelehua community in West Maui will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Princess Nahienaena Elementary School Cafeteria. Maui News.

Kauai

Bringin’ back the ‘o‘opu. For three years, hydrologist and water resources engineer Matt Rosener has been heading up a stream-restoration project in the North Shore Waipa watershed. Garden Island.

Molokai

CEO of Molokai’s only health center not stepping down despite residents’ demands. Tempers flared on Molokai Wednesday night at a meeting about the island's only health center. The CEO of the Molokai Community Health Center is resisting demands for her to step down. Hawaii News Now.

Hee announces gubernatorial bid, medical aid in dying bill draws emotional testimony, Honolulu's homeless hygiene center, councilwoman wants business sponsorship of county facilities, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Clayton Hee Facebook photo

Longtime Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and former state Sen. Clayton Hee has announced he is running for governor, a relatively late entry into the Democratic primary that could dramatically alter the dynamics of the race. Star-Advertiser.

Former Sen. Clayton Hee Is Running For Governor. The longtime Hawaii lawmaker says Honolulu rail has been mismanaged and the money should be spent on other things. Civil Beat.

Former state senator Clayton Hee is joining the race to be Hawaii governor. Associated Press.

Clayton Hee seeks millennial, working class vote in race for governor. He enters the race as an underdog to incumbent Gov. David Ige and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Hawaii News Now.

Former Democratic state Senator Clayton Hee is the latest candidate to enter the race to be Hawaii's next governor. KITV.

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Hawaii’s powerful public-sector unions are bracing for a U.S. Supreme Court decision that could weaken their collective bargaining efforts for tens of thousands of local workers and, ultimately, their sway on the islands’ political landscape. Civil Beat.

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State lawmakers delay vote after hours of testimony on medically assisted death. More than 100 people testified over four hours for and against a bill that would allow terminally ill adults to obtain prescriptions for lethal doses of medication. Star-Advertiser.

Medical Aid In Dying Bill Generates An Emotional 5-Hour Hearing. House lawmakers deferred a vote on the measure until Wednesday. Civil Beat.

The House Health and Human Services and Judiciary Committees heard public testimony today on medical aid in dying legislation. Hawaii Public Radio.

After hours of passionate testimony, lawmakers delay vote on medical aid-in-dying bill. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii's "Our Care Our Choice" bill would allow terminally ill patients to end their lives. KITV.

The issue of medically assisted suicide is once again on the table. Lawmakers listened to more than a hundred people testify for over five hours Tuesday morning. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige is supporting a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to end their own lives if they choose. Tribune-Herald.

Bill on medical aid in dying assessed. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii May Switch To All-Mail Elections In 2020. A bill requiring the conversion in hopes of increasing voter turnout is headed to the House floor. Civil Beat.

Teachers who pay for classroom supplies could soon get tax deductions. A bill moving through the state legislature looks to ease the financial burden for teacher who pay for classroom supplies out of pocket. Hawaii News Now.

Senate Ways & Means Chair is blocking a bill to increase Hawaii's minimum wage. Hawaii News Now.

Consumer debt in Hawaii rose faster than the national average in 2017, increasing 4.1 percent compared with 3.5 percent across the country. Star-Advertiser.

Total consumer debt increased 4.1 percent for Hawaii consumers between the first and fourth quarter of 2017, higher than the 3.5 percent experienced at the national level, according to a report by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency confirmed there will be no ballistic missile “attack warning” monthly siren test on Thursday — reversing this month’s practice and going against a recommendation from the state’s deputy adjutant general. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Cos. is now accepting competitive bids to add 300 megawatts of renewable energy production on three islands, after receiving approval from the state Public Utilities Commission last week. Star-Advertiser.

Pickups, SUVs and vans ruled the road in 2017 as Hawaii’s new-vehicle registrations increased for the seventh consecutive year. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Ex-HPD Major Wants Separate Trial In Corruption Case. An attorney for Gordon Shiraishi says he shouldn’t be lumped in with the other defendants in the Kealoha case. Associated Press.

Waikiki stakeholders are growing increasingly concerned that serious criminal activity like murders, youth gangs and prostitution could mar the state’s top tourist district. Star-Advertiser.

The drive to require sprinkler systems in older residential high-rises in the wake of the deadly Marco Polo fire has come down to final City Council votes today that if approved would mean a break on taxes and fees as incentives to defraying what many owners consider unreasonable costs. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s first mobile homeless hygiene center hits the road. A nonprofit group has imported a 26-foot trailer equipped with bathrooms and toilets and is already towing it around Oahu to provide homeless people a place to get clean — and perhaps lead them off the streets. Star-Advertiser.

Injured man says 'booby trap' was set up to deter hikers from Haiku Stairs. Hawaii News Now.

Parents and students rattled by elementary school lockdown. Ahuimanu Elementary School was placed on lockdown for about an hour while police pursued an auto theft suspect, spotted running through the area, police said. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based Oceanit only Hawaii recipient of federal research grant. Pacific Business News.

H Mart, a Korean grocery chain with several dozen stores in 12 Mainland states, is opening its first Hawaii location in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Colin Nishida, founder and chef at Side Street Inn, a beloved gathering place for many of Honolulu’s top chefs, died Sunday at age 61. Star-Advertiser.

Award winning Hawaii chef Colin Nishida, owner of the Side Street Inn, died on Sunday. He was 61 years old. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Commercial sponsorships of county facilities, programs considered as revenue source. Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy said her intent is to give the county another option as it likely faces tough decisions about making cuts or raising taxes going into the next budget cycle. Tribune-Herald.

The University of Hawaii selected three finalists to fill an open Hawaii County seat on the Board of Regents. Tribune-Herald.

Efforts to replace an 86-year-old bridge in Waimea are gearing up again. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa gave his state of the county address on Tuesday. He said the county is financially stable, environmentally secure, and tourism is booming. KHON2.

Kauai

Business is booming and consumer confidence is growing — including on Kauai. Garden Island.

A career of service to children and families has led Koloa resident Norma Doctor Sparks to throw in her bid for County Council. Garden Island.

While two landslides have been cleaned from Kuhio Highway on the North Shore and traffic is flowing again, the state is planning some safety measures in the area. Garden Island.

Sunscreen ban, aquarium fish limit posed by state Legislature, Thirty Meter Telescope hearing concludes, Honolulu bikeshare advances, minimum wage hikes dying, growth forecast slows, more on Caldwell, Kim budgets, Kauai mayor returns from Phillipines, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rinsing off baby at Kona beach © 2017 Al Hawaii News

The Hawaii Senate is on track to pass a bill banning the use of sunscreens that contain oxybenzone, which studies have shown harms coral reefs. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers have advanced a bill that would limit aquarium fish collecting. KITV.

Hawaii workers who are paid the minimum wage will see it grow from $9.25 to $10.10 in January. But it won’t be going higher than that any time soon. Civil Beat.

A University of Hawaii economic group is dialing back its growth forecasts for the state amid an ongoing slowdown in tourism and construction that is expected to continue for at least the next three years. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's correctional facilities grapple with a 'silver tsunami.' The state's population is aging, including behind bars. Hawaii News Now.

Another Hawaii bill that sought more oversight of the state’s commercial fishing industry is dying. The bill would have required boat operators to provide contracts between foreign fishermen and employers. Associated Press.

Lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require hospitals, before transferring a patient to another facility via air ambulance, to first call a carrier contracted with the patient’s health insurer in an effort to prevent excessive medevac charges. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing to provide firefighters -- diagnosed with cancer on the job -- with expanded medical coverage, disability benefits, and compensation equal to 100 percent of average weekly wages. Hawaii News Now.

Eight finalists are in the running to fill three seats on the voluntary 15-member University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

In the last fiscal year, Hawaii paid $197,057.21 to settle 535 claims that cost $10,000 or less. KHON2.

The state’s monthly outdoor warning siren test will take place Friday after severe weather prompted officials to reschedule it. Hawaii News Now.

The shipping company Pasha Group is hiring charter barges to reduce delays in deliveries to neighbor islands that resulted from a labor shortage Wednesday night and Thursday morning, Pasha spokeswoman Laurie LaGrange said. Star-Advertiser.

Shipping company Pasha Hawaii says there’s been a work stoppage at Honolulu Harbor by its stevedores. KHON2.

Costco Wholesale announced Thursday it plans to raise membership fees on June 1. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Mayor Kirk Caldwell defended his proposals for a trash pickup fee, higher bus fares and an increase in property taxes Thursday against criticism from some City Council members. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell devoted much of his annual budget presentation Thursday to trying to persuade state lawmakers and the public that it makes sense to extend a half-percent general excise tax surcharge to help fund construction of the city’s rail system. Civil Beat.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell unveiled his 2018 budget today.  He is proposing to raise property taxes for investors and hotels, charge more for trash pickup and increase fuel and vehicle weight taxes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu's mayor unveiled his budget plan for next fiscal year. It calls for hikes in everything from bus fares, property taxes and a new fee to pick up your trash. KITV.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell presented Thursday his Fiscal Year 2018 budget request. KHON2.

A Hawaii bill would give more power to the state board that regulates Aloha Stadium in Honolulu and its surrounding land that’s primed for development, including residential and commercial projects. Pacific Business News.

Environmental impact of popular Waikiki fireworks show being studied. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu’s long-awaited bike-share system is finally slated to launch this summer, now that its organizers say they have a major deal signed to help fund and run the service. Star-Advertiser.

Bikeshare Hawaii has signed an agreement with Secure Bike Share as its financing and operating partner. Pacific Business News.

Conservationists are trying to establish a Black-footed albatross colony on Oahu’s North Shore. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

Thirty Meter Telescope hearing concludes: Decision on contested case could still be months away. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Harry Kim and members of his cabinet laid out parts of their vision and listed priorities for economic development in West Hawaii at the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Mayoral Luncheon Thursday at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay. West Hawaii Today.

A University of Hawaii at Hilo professor says he wants a full UH college curriculum taught in Hawaiian. Tribune-Herald.

Kahaluu Beach Park will likely remain closed at least until the end of this month as crews work to reroute pipes in the park. West Hawaii Today.

The bottle might say “Liquid Aloha,” but two California residents say the company that owns Kona Brewing Co. is misleading shoppers into believing they’re buying beer brewed in the Aloha State. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A state Senate bill that would give fire and county building permitting inspectors the power to enter private property, with notice, to investigate possible violations of agriculture building codes “could be very helpful to us,” said the Maui County deputy planning director. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department introduced its newly acquired scent-tracking dog at a media meet-and-greet held Thursday at the Honolulu Police Department’s training academy on Oʻahu. Maui Now.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Council Chair Mel Rapozo returned to Kauai last week after leading the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s 26th trade mission to the Philippines. Garden Island.

ABC Stores’ Island Country Markets, which will be the anchor of the newly renovated 66,000-square-foot Coconut Marketplace in Kapaa on Kauai’s Eastside, is expected to open in July, the firm handling leasing for the marketplace confirmed to Pacific Business News.

The state has ordered Hawaii’s only dairy company to put a halt on the sale and distribution of some of its milk, but health officials say milk on Kauai is safe to drink. Garden Island.

Lanai

Shelter for domestic violence victims opens on Lanai. Maui News.

Mauna Kea telescope protestors shut down state website, invasive fire ants spotted at Thirty Meter Telescope protest site, Hawaii could be first state to raise smoking age, Sea-Based X-Band Radar could move to mainland, Kalaupapa plan released, Maui mulls recycling, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Mauna Kea sunset in the clouds © 2015 All Hawaii News

Hawaii state government’s official website went down Sunday, along with the main site for the organization building the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea. A group of hackers associated with Anonymous claimed responsibility for the cyberattack that began at 9:21 a.m. and lasted for several hours. Civil Beat.

The hacking group Anonymous claimed responsibility today for shutting down the websites for the Thirty Meter Telescope and state of Hawaii. Tribune-Herald.

The official website of the Hawaii state government was allegedly hacked by an online group opposed to construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea.  A Hawaii Community Affairs official confirms the telescope's website was hacked as well. Hawaii News Now.

Mauna Kea protesters who want to stop the Thirty Meter Telescope apparently brought with them a potentially destructive force of a different kind — invasive ants. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents listened to more than four hours of testimony Sunday from speakers opposing the Thirty Meter Telescope, with many Native Hawaiians expressing their spiritual and cultural connection to Mauna Kea where the $1.4 billion observatory is planned to be built. Tribune-Herald.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will meet again on Thursday, April 30 where they are expected to (again) take a position on the Thirty Meter Telescope planned for the summit area of Mauna Kea. OHA voted to support the project in the past, but with the emergence of a vocal and determined opposition from beneficiaries, the Board of Trustees is entertaining the demand to reconsider. Big Island Video News.

As protests against the Thirty Meter Telescope continue, many critics say they’re worried that the $1.4 billion project will damage Mauna Kea’s pristine environment. Thirteen observatories have already been built on the top of the state’s tallest mountain, but the TMT will be by far the largest. Once completed, the observatory and its support building will span 1.4 acres. Civil Beat.

Putting a stop to the Thirty Meter Telescope also would mean losing $1 million a year for Native Hawaiian scholarships and other programs provided by the project’s education fund, an issue that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board chairman is keeping in mind as the state agency faces pressure from protesters to change its endorsement. Tribune-Herald.

The author of a violent, profanity and hate-filled rant on Facebook that targeted supporters of the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island now says he's sorry. Hawaii News Now.

A bill that would make Hawaii the first state to raise the legal smoking age to 21 cleared the Legislature on Friday and is headed to the governor. The bill would prevent adolescents from smoking, buying or possessing both traditional and electronic cigarettes. Associated Press.

There’s a proposal in the State Legislature that could ban something you probably have in your home. Lawmakers are pushing to ban the manufacture and sale of personal care products that contain synthetic plastic microbeads, saying they’re harmful to marine life, possibly even carcinogenic. KHON2.

It's the final rush in the Legislature, and major decisions are looming on several issues, including the Hawaii Health Connector. All state-run insurance exchanges are required to be financially sustainable this year, and the federal government has been in discussions with the state about whether the Health Connector will be partially taken over by federal officials. Associated Press.

Suzanne Case, who has been with The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii for 28 years, won confirmation from the Hawaii state Senate to serve as the chair of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. Pacific Business News.

The Jones Act Pays Off — in Politics. The state’s delegation in Washington, D.C., enjoys outsized donations from maritime lobbyists, but several members told Civil Beat this doesn't affect their stances. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu's rail project faces a new challenge against its construction bid process, and the officials overseeing the project say this latest bid protest could create a ripple effect that might delay the project's completion and opening. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Fire Commission gave Fire Chief Manuel Neves an excellent rating on his annual performance evaluation despite ongoing tensions between the chief and the firefighters union. Star-Advertiser.

Some in Congress want to move the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, otherwise known as the floating golf ball, from Pearl Harbor to the East Coast to provide greater missile defense over the Atlantic and a hedge against attacks from Iran. Star-Advertiser.

More than 40 veterans have been in limbo because they haven't been able to use their Housing Choice vouchers, which would cover all or most of their rent, due to the lack of affordable housing in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

A rekindled effort is underway to build homes with golf course views on a strip of land in Hawaii Kai once intended to become a city road. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The University of Hawaii at Hilo will receive $800,000 from the state Department of Transportation as part of the agreement forged around the widening of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway. West Hawaii Today.

When it’s not an election year, only the most faithful of the party faithful show up for the convention, as was the case Saturday when the Hawaii County Democratic Party held its annual event. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Innocence Project has taken up the case of one of three men convicted for the 1991 rape and murder of Dana Ireland. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Dozens of Maui Meadows residents had expressed a willingness to pay an extra $5 or $6 per month to keep their curbside recycling program, but cost estimates released last month by the Maui County Solid Waste Division have some residents reconsidering. Maui News.

House Speaker Joe Souki said Friday afternoon that he was "very confident" a version of the much-debated, public-private partnership bill for Maui Memorial Medical Center and the Kula and Lanai Community hospitals would be passed by the state Legislature. Maui News.

Mike Atherton, owner of Maui Tropical Plantation, has big plans for the small town of Waikapu and is looking to build thousands of homes and businesses in the area over the next decade. Maui News.

A group of youth volunteers spent recent weeks planting thousands of native trees on the leeward slopes of Haleakalā as part of an effort aimed at restoring dryland habitat for endangered native plant and bird species including the Kiwikiu or Maui Parrotbill bird, which numbered only 500 at last report. Maui Now.

Kauai

Providing quality service under a balanced budget is the goal. Kauai County officials say they’re hashing out their proposed fiscal year 2016 budget with both of those components in mind, but with collective bargaining raises coming online, that task has been difficult — and will require that some positions go unfilled. Garden Island.

County of Kauai officials say rough portions of several highly traveled roads are scheduled to be smoothed out over the next two years as a part of a $3.5 million initiative to address those in most need. Garden Island.

Kauai North Shore Community Foundation member Lorraine Mull and others are pushing for a public middle and high school on the North Shore. There are elementary schools in Hanalei and Kilauea but no public school on the North Shore that goes beyond the sixth grade. Garden Island.

Island residents and visitors still have an opportunity to view rare prints of plants collected during Capt. James Cook’s first of three Pacific voyages. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Kalaupapa National Historical Park Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement is now available for public review. Molokai Dispatch.

Thirty Meter Telescope opponents outnumber proponents at Hilo hearing, Honolulu rail bed cracking, retiree benefits could become undone, more government and political news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Overflow crowd at Hawaii Board of Regents Thirty Meter Telescope hearing, photo courtesy UHH

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents left its meeting Thursday with an overwhelmingly clear message to take home from the Big Island — no Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. As operator of the mountain’s astronomy precinct and the entity that subleases the land to TMT for the project, opponents say the university must reconsider its support for the $1.4 billion project. Tribune-Herald

The Thirty Meter Telescope took a mighty verbal beat-down Thursday at a special meeting of the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. Hundreds of mostly Native Hawaiians joined hands at UH-Hilo to raise a chorus of opposition before a panel whose members largely weren't in their positions when the $1.4 billion project was approved in 2010 on land subleased by the university. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents heard hours of testimony during Thursday’s special meeting on the campus of UH-Hilo. The speakers voiced overwhelming opposition to the Thirty Meter Telescope, currently in its construction phase on the summit of Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

Hundreds of people packed a special University of Hawaii Board of Regents meeting at UH Hilo Thursday to sound off on plans to build one of the world's largest telescopes at Mauna Kea. Hawaii News Now.

With a time-out announced by the governor, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents heard from both opponents and supporters of the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope project. KHON2.

Supporters of Bill Requiring Autism Coverage Say This is the Year. This is the four straight session in which the Legislature has considered requiring insurance companies to help pay for treatment. Civil Beat.

Led by Rep. Romy Cachola, House lawmakers have pushed forward a plan to effectively undo a law passed in 2013 that forces Hawaii to finally get serious about paying down its massive unfunded liability in retiree health care benefits promised to thousands of public workers. Civil Beat.

Hawaii cannot afford to wait for the Hawaiian Electric Cos. to transform themselves, NextEra Energy Hawaii’s top executive said in a public filing this week with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News

Oahu

State Attorney General Doug Chin says former state representative and former Honolulu prosecutor Jon Riki Karamatsu has been charged with driving under the influence. Associated Press.

Many of the concrete segments on Honolulu's rail transit system are only a few months old but already cracks are beginning to show. Hawaii News Now.

Rail board meetings will be broadcast on local cable television starting next week, thanks to a push by the public and lawmakers for more transparency into the cash-strapped transit project. Star-Advertiser.


Hawaii

A meeting slated for next week at which Mayor Billy Kenoi typically would appear to make his county budget request before the Hawaii County Council could also serve as an opportunity for Big Island voters to ask questions about his personal use of the county's purchasing card, but the embattled mayor might not show up. Star-Advertiser.

A  large national laboratory has joined forces with the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority for the installation of an energy storage demonstration system in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Kauai

A $224,050 contract for materials, labor, transportation, tools, equipment, machinery and services needed to install and complete repairs to the Kilauea District Park gymnasium was awarded on Tuesday to Pacific Blue Construction, LLC, a Lihue-based general contractor. Garden Island.