Wetter than normal rainy season predicted, Hawaii signs agreement to share tech with Israel, commission favors ban on campaign contributions during legislative sessions, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Forecasters predict above-average rain for Hawaii this winter. Above-average rainfall is being predicted for Hawaii’s wet season — good news for a state locked in a prolonged drought. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii, Israel to share technology on range of shared issues. Hawaii and Israel on Wednesday forged a “historic” agreement to share technology that could help Hawaii with desalinization, creating water out of “thin air,” cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Star-Advertiser.

Ban On In-Session Campaign Donations Gets Thumbs Up From Hawaii Standards Commission. Currently, state lawmakers are banned from holding fundraising events while the Legislature is in session but can still accept donations to their campaigns. Civil Beat.

Gov. Ige appoints new leaders at DAGS, announces resignation of PUC commissioner. Gov. David Ige today announced the appointment of Audrey Hidano as the state’s new comptroller, and the departure of Jennifer “Jennie” Potter from the Public Utilities Commission. Maui Now.

Here's what your 2022 county ballot amendment questions mean. Every county does it a little differently, but for the most part, charter amendments can be proposed through a combination of council members, the mayor’s office, or other boards and commissions. Hawaii Public Radio.

University of Hawaii enrollment dips as graduation rates rise. Student enrollment across the University of Hawaii’s 10-campus system continues to fall, though not as dramatically as at colleges nationwide, while “on time” graduation rates for seven UH campuses have swelled to record highs — trends caused in part by the COVID-19 pandemic. Star-Advertiser.

New Research Shows Tuna Stocks Benefit From Expansion Of Papahanaumokuakea Monument. The spillover effect created outside the marine protected area seems to have benefited Hawaii’s commercial fishermen as well. Civil Beat.

Booster options grow as subvariants keep evolving. As winter approaches, health officials are watching troublesome new subvariants — all of them evolving simultaneously from omicron. Among them are BQ.1 and its descendant, BQ.1.1, which are both offshoots of BA.5 and rising quickly in the United States and Europe. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s COVID-19 death toll surpasses 1,700 with 3 new deaths; 2,211 infections reported for week. The state’s average positivity rate remained about the same, at 5.8% compared with 5.6% reported the previous week. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Oahu

Navy wraps up main break repairs; boil-water advisory still in place. The Navy has finished repairing the first water main that broke Friday, Capt. Mark Sohaney, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam commander, said Wednesday at a news conference on the base. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii Public Radio.

Board of Water Supply supplies emergency connection to Navy water system. On Tuesday, the Navy established an emergency connection to bring 1 million gallons of water a day from the Board of Water Supply to the Radford Terrace neighborhood, where pressure had been low for residents. Hawaii News Now.

Pu‘uhonua O Waianae Houseless community receives $250K donation. The First Hawaiian Bank Foundation said it will donate $250,000 to Pu‘uhonua O Waianae, an organized houseless community near the Waianae Small Boat Harbor. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

New fire code on hold. A bill updating the county fire code was temporarily set aside Wednesday to allow officials time to figure out a way to make an important component of the code compatible with the county’s online EPIC building permit system. West Hawaii Today.

Mauna Loa Meeting Set For Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. On Saturday, officials will provide an update and background information on Mauna Loa to the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates community. Big Island Video News.

Hilo mall at heart of Department of Hawaiian Home Lands dispute. The federal government is clashing with the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands over a move by DHHL to use a controversial year-old Hawaii law enabling long extensions of state commercial land leases. Star-Advertiser.

Police ordered to turn over records to slain Boy Scout’s family. The Hawaii Police Department has been ordered to turn over records of its investigation into the accidental fatal shooting of an 11-year-old Boy Scout on Aug. 28 to the parents of the slain boy. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now. KHON2.

Maui

King endorses Bissen in the mayor’s race; Victorino is ‘not surprised’. Maui County mayoral candidate Richard Bissen. Jr. was endorsed Tuesday by his former opponent and current Maui County Council Member Kelly King. Maui News.

Maui Charter Proposal Would Let Some County Employees Work From Home. The measure is geared toward helping the environment, but studies have questioned how much teleworking actually helps. Civil Beat.

FEMA approves $1.5M for COVID-19 protection measures by Maui Emergency Management Agency. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the release of more than $1.5 million to the County of Maui to reimburse the public funds it spent to test people for COVID-19 from October 2020 through September 2021. Maui Now.

Kauai

Over opposition, Kaua‘i County Council approves American Rescue Plan Act funding. After debate on Wednesday, the Kaua‘i County Council approved a plan which would spend the bulk of the latest round of American Rescue Plan Act funding on the renovation of the former Big Save space at the Lihu‘e Civic Center Pi‘ikoi Building in Lihu‘e into a child care and youth center. Garden Island.

Kaua‘i restaurant Tahiti Nui fined for labor violations. North Shore restaurant Tahiti Nui was ordered to pay more than $37,000 in back wages, damages and penalties after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found they failed to pay overtime wages and violated youth labor laws. Garden Island.

Hurricanes Iselle, Julio churn toward Hawaii, Democrats call off statewide rally, government, schools close Thursday, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hurricane Iselle track 5 a.m. August 7 Central Pacific Hurricane Center

At 5 a.m. on Thursday morning, Hurricane Iselle was located about 305 miles east-southeast of Hilo and was moving west-northwest at 15 miles per hour. It had maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour, weakened slightly from the 2 a.m. forecast, with higher gusts of up to 98 miles per hour. Iselle remains a Category 1 hurricane. Hawaii News Now.

After Hurricane Iselle surprised forecasters Wednesday by gaining strength, it may now become the first hurricane to make landfall in Hawaii since Iniki 22 years ago. Star-Advertiser.

Hurricane Iselle, the first hurricane that could hit the Big island in more than 20 years, was steadily churning toward Hilo and expected to make landfall Thursday. Civil Beat.

A hurricane warning has been issued for the Big Island and surrounding waters, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.  A tropical storm warning is also in effect for Maui County and Oahu. KITV4.

Hawaii residents were furiously stocking up on essentials as two hurricanes churned toward the islands Wednesday and weather officials asked the whole state to prepare for flash flooding. Associated Press.

Democrats, concerned about the approaching storms, have called off their traditional election eve rally on Friday in Hilo. For more than a half century, Democratic candidates have gathered at the Mooheau Bandstand in Hilo for a get-out-the-vote event the night before elections. Star-Advertiser.

State officials have released a list of emergency shelters in preparation for Hurricane Iselle. Officials say the shelters are a last resort if you have absolutely no place else to go, or if your home is not in a safe place. If you need to go to a shelter- bring emergency supplies with you. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hurricane Iselle

 All of Hawaii’s major utilities are working to make sure their customers have what they need to ride out the storms. KHON2.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie today signed an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the arrival of two tropical cyclones in Hawaii. Hurricane Iselle is forecast to impact the state Thursday evening through late Friday. Hurricane Julio is a few days behind Iselle and may impact the islands as soon as Sunday. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii’s governor is an incredibly powerful office, able to appoint more than 1,000 people to important executive offices, boards, and commissions. Hawaii Independent.

The race for the Democratic nomination for Hawai’i Governor is headed to the finish line Saturday.   If the initial tally of votes are close, meaning they are split down the middle, the neighbor island electorate will likely decide who the winner will be. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

As two hurricane-strength storms approach Oahu, the city has no comprehensive emergency plan in place for the densely populated, low-lying area of Waikiki, and a "statewide" plan addresses only Oahu. Civil Beat.

Honolulu officials are collaborating with emergency service providers and others to ensure Oahu's homeless population is well-informed about hurricane shelters and shuttle service as back-to-back storms approach. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Emergency Management advises Oahu residents that the following American Red Cross hurricane shelters will be available and open for evacuees on Thursday, August 7 at 10:00 p.m. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii retailers ready for whatever two hurricanes — Iselle and Julio — will bring. Pacific Business News.

Amid continued protests from University of Hawaii at Manoa students seeking the reinstatement of fired Chancellor Tom Apple, Board of Regents Chairman Randy Moore says he fully supports the decision made a week ago to terminate Apple two years into a five-year appointment. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The Big Island should brace for a pasting of rain and wind, and the leeward side is no exception. West Hawaii Today.

Eight people gathered Wednesday at the State Building in Hilo to announce they will request the state Attorney General’s Office investigate alleged voting and tax irregularities by Tiffany Edwards Hunt, who is running for the County Council District 5 seat. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council unanimously agreed Wednesday to ask the state Board of Agriculture to deny a local dairy the ability to sell milk at a lower wholesale price. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The mayor’s office announced that it will be sending home all non-emergency county employees at noon on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2014, with the possible exception of county elections employees. Maui Now.

Kauai

The County of Kauai is finalizing a list of potential shelter sites for people looking to bunker down if forced from their homes by hurricanes Iselle and Julio. Garden Island.