Native Hawaiian elections near end as opponents appeal to U.S. Supreme Court, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani addresses South China Sea in Honolulu, CDC coming to study dengue, Oahu solar panels capped, Maui mayor wants $1.8M for homelessness, Four Seasons Resort Lanai remodeling, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Native Hawaiian protest in front of governor's mansion ©2015 All Hawaii News

Opponents of an election designed to be a significant step toward Native Hawaiian self-governance are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block votes from being counted in what they argue is an unconstitutional, racially exclusive process. Associated Press.

An election for delegates to a proposed convention is set to conclude November 30th, though concerns about the process persist among members of the Hawaiian community. Na’i Aupuni, an organization founded to help establish a path toward Hawaiian self-determination. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Board of Agriculture voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward on rules that would ban wild animals from being brought to Hawaii for use in circuses and fairs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii and its low rate of gun-related violence — even in the face of a remarkable surge in gun ownership here — has gotten the attention of one national publication that writes about the raging gun debate in America. Civil Beat.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani on Tuesday expressed his support for the U.S. Navy’s sailing of a warship close to one of China’s artificial islands in the South China Sea. Associated Press.

In his first visit to Hawaii as Japan’s defense minister, Gen Nakatani said it is important for the international community to “work more effectively” together to protect freedom of navigation, but he said Japan won’t be patrolling disputed islands in the South China Sea. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Last month, with little fanfare, the state Public Utilities Commission announced it will cap new residential and commercial solar projects at 25 megawatts or about 4,500 new systems on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Solving the housing crisis is not going to be easy or cheap, in part, say development experts, because of city officials’ longtime neglect of Honolulu’s basic infrastructure, particularly sewers. Civil Beat.

Three dogs and a cat became the first animals to be cleared for the new Sand Island transitional shelter Tuesday as the city tries to make it easier to get homeless pet owners off the street. Star-Advertiser.

You might think you know where the wealthiest people in Hawaii live. After all, the area of Oahu’s South Shore from Kahala to Portlock is consistently ranked as the state’s wealthiest area, with some of the highest real estate prices in the Islands. Pacific Business News.

Some elderly and disabled residents say they are trapped after the elevators in their seven story building stopped working. KHON2.

When real estate agents have open houses in Honolulu these days, they are putting out their usual signs. But more and more agents seem to be placing signs on sidewalks or on the city property between the sidewalks and the curbs. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

As Hawaii County dengue cases approach 100, a top CDC official is set to arrive on island next week to assess the handling of the outbreak here. West Hawaii Today.

A team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control will visit Hawaii island next week to assess the development of the dengue fever outbreak and review state and county efforts to contain the spread of the virus, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said Tuesday night. Star-Advertiser.

The Big Island’s tourism industry appears to have been spared the bite from the ongoing dengue fever outbreak, but some worry that could change if the number of infections from the mosquito-borne illness continues to rise. Tribune-Herald.

The U.S. Labor Department says an unregistered farm labor contractor deprived migrant workers picking coffee on the Big Island of federal protections such as minimum wage. Associated Press.

A woman is barred from work as a farm labor contractor for operating an unregistered company after a federal investigation. The U.S. Department of Labor filed its allegations on Nov. 3 against Tomasa Rincon-Ibarra, who was doing business as Tomasita Farm Service in 2011. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Mayor Alan Arakawa is recommending nearly $1.8 million be spent on mobile, lightweight and durable portable shelters for the immediate housing needs for Maui's homeless. Maui News.

Heeding a call to ease the island's pent-up demand for more housing, the Maui Planning Commission recommended approval Tuesday of A&B Properties' proposed Wai'ale South development in Central Maui. Maui News.

Maui County's unemployment rate for October fell a half-percentage point compared to October 2014 to 3.6 percent, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations reported Thursday. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative that has powered Kauai since 2002 is launching a one-year pricing plan that will offer 300 select households a 25 percent discount on electricity between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day. Civil Beat.

The stoplight at Kuamoo Road and Kuhio Highway has been throwing a wrench into Eastside traffic flow since Saturday, when heavy rains caused a short in the system. Garden Island.

Lanai
The Four Seasons Resort Lanai has started taking reservations for early 2016, following a multimillion-dollar renovation led by owner Larry Ellison that shut down both of the island's main hotels earlier this year. Pacific Business News.

Chinese Navy to visit Honolulu, Hawaii business is brisk, residents favor solar, Honolulu rail tax advances, dengue fever response slow, Maui Olowalu development opposed, Kauai finalizes legislative wish list, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol © 2015 All Hawaii News

The state of Hawaii plans to select a contractor for a major project to cool 11 of its Downtown Honolulu buildings, including the State Capitol — a total of nearly 1.3 million square feet of space — with a seawater air conditioning system in an effort aimed at reducing future costs. Pacific Business News.

Three Chinese navy ships will stop in Hawaii on the final leg of an around-the-world deployment meant to show China’s expanding global military capability, but also highlighting ongoing relations between the United States and People’s Liberation Army despite disagreement in the South China Sea. Star-Advertiser.

“China is testing us,” states a new report from Hawaii Pacific University that warns of a shortage of U.S.-flagged merchant ships and China’s ability to potentially withhold its own booming shipping to limit U.S. deliveries of consumer goods or troop supplies in a crisis. Star-Advertiser

A new poll done by SMS Research on behalf of The Alliance for Solar Choice reports that 97 percent of the respondents support more rooftop solar in Hawaii, and oppose state regulators’ recent decision to do away with net energy metering, a big reason for the record growth of this type of renewable energy in the Islands. Pacific Business News.

In its final quarterly forecast of 2015, the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism said Wednesday that it is slightly revising upward its visitor arrival projection for 2016 and noted that labor market conditions improved through the first three quarters with civilian labor force, employment and payroll jobs hitting historically high levels during that period. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii state economists predict 1% inflation and 2.4% economic growth this year, after their revising their forecast with summer data. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii is in the midst of a construction boom with cranes dotting the skyline throughout the islands. KITV4.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given Hawaii a $660,422 award for the exemplary performance of its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Navy is expected to prepare a new environmental impact statement for sonar training and testing exercises in the Pacific Ocean in response to concerns for the safety of whales, dolphins, turtles and other marine life. Maui News.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would extend Oahu’s 0.5 percent surcharge on the general excise tax through 2027 to help pay for the $6.57 billion rail project. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council Budget Committee passed a measure Wednesday to extend for five years a 0.5 percent surcharge on the general excise tax to pay for the escalating costs of the $6.6 billion rail project. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council’s Budget Committee today focused on financing for Honolulu’s rail transit project. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu officials have approved a bill that would extend a tax surcharge to pay for the $6.57 billion rail project. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii-Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman has initiated a search for a permanent director for the financially struggling UH Cancer Center, the university announced this afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

Almost exactly a year after Michele Carbone resigned as director of the struggling University of Hawaii Cancer Center, the UH is initiating a formal search process for his replacement. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee deferred action this week on two bills pertaining to the last undeveloped phase of Haseko’s Ewa Beach development after several community members raised concerns about building near the shoreline. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s Section 8 program got a “High Performer” rating from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which funds the rental subsidy program that’s officially known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program. Civil Beat.

The city's new facility to help the homeless officially opens Thursday in Sand Island. Hawaii News Now.

Businessman Duane Kurisu has been looking at a 13-acre parcel just off Nimitz Highway — and seeing a lot of promise. In Kurisu’s vision, the state-owned land could be the perfect place for a “plantation-style” village for homeless families and single mothers with children — up to 300 of them. Civil Beat.

A group of 20 protesters joined The Alliance for Solar Choice, a solar activist group, at the King Kamehameha statute on King Street on Wednesday to rally against the recent Public Utilities Commission decision to end a popular solar incentive program. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Two West Hawaii lawmakers are calling for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization to send medical experts to help quell the dengue fever disease before it becomes endemic. West Hawaii Today.

As the number of confirmed cases of dengue fever rises on Hawaii Island, two doctors-turned-lawmakers are challenging state officials – in writing and on video – to step up the response to the outbreak. Big Island Video News.

The state Department of Health says it addressed issues which, in some cases, slowed the delivery of results from dengue fever blood tests to Hawaii Island residents. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Health confirmed Wednesday that 72 people have contracted dengue fever on Hawaii island, up by seven from Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hilo garbage soon will be making its way across the island to the West Hawaii landfill at Puuanahulu, thanks to a unanimous vote Wednesday by the Hawaii County Council. West Hawaii Today.

A 13-acre Ka‘u property that once hosted Native Hawaiian sporting events came closer to being preserved Wednesday. In a 9-0 vote, the Hawaii County Council gave final approval to a resolution authorizing Finance Director Deanna Sako to negotiate acquisition of the land near Naalehu. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A proposed development of a small town at Olowalu with 1,500 homes, hundreds of potential ohana units, stores, schools, parks and a mauka realignment of Honoapiilani Highway ran into a buzz-saw of opposition Wednesday before the state Land Use Commission. Maui News.

As of noon on Wednesday, Nov. 18, the state Land Use Committee heard from 31 of the 84 Maui residents who signed up to testify at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s McCoy Studio Theater regarding acceptance of the Olowalu Town LLC and Olowalu Ekolu LLC’s Final Environmental Impact Statement, a 3,000-page document made available to the public 18 days ago. Maui Now.

Maui County has fully recovered from the Great Recession and is breaking previous records in labor force, employment and job count, as well as generating three-quarters of a billion dollars' worth of construction work over the past year, a state administrator and county official said Wednesday. Maui News.

It’s been six months since Always Investigating first told you about a fancy kitchen in a Maui County building, paid for with tax dollars on a county credit card. Now, we’ve finally gotten a look inside and learned more about how long it’s been there. KHON2.

Widening work has started on Old Haleakala Highway in Pukalani. BCP Construction of Hawaii Inc. is the contractor for the more than $1 million county sidewalk improvement project. Maui News.

Commentary: Dust can be a big hassle. Even a health hazard. Ask the good people at Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar (HC&S), which runs Pu`unene sugar mill–the last one in the state. State health officials recently busted the mill for producing too much dust in one of its fields. But a warning to those members of the public who wish to complain about it: you’re in for a long and frustrating duel with bureaucrats if you do. MauiTime.

Kauai

The county has finalized a $7 million list of five projects that will be seeking state funding in January. Garden Island.

A master plan that will set a vision for Black Pot Beach Park over the next 20 years was the topic of a public discussion attended by Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., members of a Honolulu-based planning agency hired by the county and more than 100 community members. Garden Island.

Mark Oyama was recognized and congratulated by the County Council for his induction into the 2015 Hawaii Restaurant Hall of Fame in ceremonies on Sept. 21. Garden Island.

Public Utilities Commission curtails solar credits, criminal charges dropped against Mauna Kea protesters, Micronesian immigrants seek better life, Health Department pushes medical marijuana laws, new Navy chief says U.S. could patrol South China sea, Maui panel drops cane-burning plan, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Solar panels in Honolulu

A controversial program that has been one of the main drivers behind the record-breaking growth of rooftop solar in Hawaii is getting curtailed, according to a ruling this week by state regulators. Pacific Business News.

The state Public Utilities Commission cut the credit amount that new rooftop solar owners on Oahu will receive for the excess energy their photovoltaic systems send to the grid. Star-Advertiser.

Advocates of Net Energy Metering call it the most successful method so far to get people off fossil fuels. Now the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has ended the program for new solar customers. Hawaii News Now.

There’s a major shake-up in how homeowners are paying for solar systems. Some homeowners will now have to pay more for keeping their systems on the grid, thanks to a new pricing structure approved by the Public Utilities Commission. KHON2.

New Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson said that if international law allows freedom of navigation near China’s man-made islands in the South China Sea, then it should come as no surprise that the United States would exercise that right. The U.S. government is said to be preparing to send a surface ship within 12 nautical miles of the artificial islands China has created in the contested Spratly Islands as a freedom-of-navigation demonstration. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s first system of medical marijuana dispensaries are slated to open next summer, but certain rules adopted this past July are already in effect for current patients and caregivers. Pacific Business News.

Medical marijuana plants are to be tagged with the patient’s state registration number and expiration date, under rules adopted by the state in July. West Hawaii Today.

Outnumbered by Democrats 24-1, Sen. Sam Slom can’t even make a motion on the state Senate floor without a Democrat’s help; otherwise it will die for lack of a second. Civil Beat.

An Untold Story of American Immigration. First we nuked their islands and then we took control of the whole region. In exchange, Micronesians can move to the U.S. without restriction. And they are coming  — by the tens of thousands — for health care, education and jobs. Civil Beat.

It’s hard to miss the growing numbers of Micronesians pitching tents and temporary shelters in Honolulu’s burgeoning homeless camps. Why are so many moving to Hawaii and ending up in what seems like worse conditions than they left behind in their islands? Civil Beat.

Despite pending litigation and concerns about disrupting international agreements, the U.S. government has decided Hawaii’s longline fishing fleet can reel in an extra 1,000 tons of bigeye tuna by making payments one of the Pacific island territories. Civil Beat.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Commission is trying to figure if it has the legal authority to put Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha on paid leave while he's under federal investigation. Hawaii News Now.

City crews completing a block-by-block sweep in Kakaako cleared the remaining two dozen homeless people from Ohe Street on Tuesday morning. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center has received $5.5 million from the National Cancer Institute for its collaborative research with the University of Guam. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Criminal charges under the now-defunct Mauna Kea emergency rules will be dismissed, Hawaii County’s top prosecutor said Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to drop charges against seven individuals arrested Sept. 8 for violating the state’s emergency rule that prohibited camping near the summit of Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

Some low-lying major roadways and beloved landmarks on Hawaii Island are destined to sink beneath the waves, according to a new study on sea-level rise. Tribune-Herald.

The state director of the Humane Society of the U.S. says the county should be denied a state permit to acquire two Bengal tiger cubs for the Panaewa Zoo and Gardens, while the zoo’s director says the organization is basing its opposition on misinformation. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission denied a petition Tuesday that would have the panel consider sugar cane smoke when evaluating special management area use permits for projects near shorelines. Maui News.

The burning of large sugar cane fields on Maui has been linked to acute respiratory distress in a new study by health professionals. The study was the first of its kind to separate symptoms caused by cane burning from vog, said Dr. Lorrin Pang of the Maui Department of Health, a co-author. Civil Beat.

Shan Tsutsui restless as Lt. Gov, but will there be a Maui Mayor job for him in 2018? MauiTime.

Windward Community College is preparing more graduates to enter Hawaiʻi’s veterinary work force by expanding its Vet Assisting Certificate program to Maui. Maui Now.

Rising sea levels in the next 200 years could swallow up the homes of nearly 10,000 current Kihei residents, according to a study published online Monday that analyzes how cutting carbon emissions could protect millions of homes in the U.S. Maui News.

Reducing carbon emissions might be the only way Maui residents and visitors can help reduce the devastating effects from unprecedented levels of coral bleaching the island has seen in the last two years. Maui News.

Another “Aloha Aina Unity March” is being planned Sunday in Lahaina, Maui, organizers announced Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Kauai

Lepeuli Beach, popularly known as Larsen’s, has for years been the center of a dispute over a controversial fence that went up in 2011, blocking off the easiest access to the narrow strip of sand on the North Shore. Beachgoers eventually tore the fence down. Garden Island.

Young birds and young people came together at Lydgate Park Tuesday for the ceremonial release of fledgling Native Newell’s Shearwater birds. Garden Island.

Counties must define dancing, Hawaii-based military warns about South China Sea claims, humpback whales arrive early, whistle-blower lawsuit in Honolulu rail work, unions settle state hiring grievance, Maui mulls mayor-less government, enterprise zones advance, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Dancing at a Kona hotel pool party © 2015 All Hawaii News

What is dancing? That’s the question that the four county liquor commissions in Hawaii are asking now that the state has forced them to define dancing if they want to continue regulating it in bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels. Civil Beat.

Another Hawaii-based military leader has stepped up the rhetoric against China’s island-building and territorial claims in the South China Sea, this time ahead of what could be a bolder U.S. military demonstration of air and sea navigation rights through the area. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige is traveling to Japan and China to promote educational partnerships, energy cooperation and investment in Hawaii. Associated Press.

The state is phasing out the use of private contractors for highway landscaping and other maintenance work, costing taxpayers more money and settling two long-time class-action grievances filed by one of the state's most powerful unions, the United Public Workers. Hawaii News Now.

A couple of humpback whales have arrived early to the Hawaiian Islands this humpback whale season, which generally runs November through May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said today. Star-Advertiser.

The number of Hawaii residents attempting to use fake urine to trick workplace drug tests is at its highest point since 2012, according to recent drug test data from Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Inc. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gas’ parent will invest $6 million in two solar energy projects in the state in a deal that is expected to close before the end of October, a company spokesman confirmed to Pacific Business News.

Opinion: Implementing a high-tech tax credit more than a decade ago was well-meaning and helped jumpstart the technology sector in Hawaii, but there was little thought put into measuring its costs and benefits. It will likely become a costly lesson for state lawmakers. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Native Hawaiian Election Throws Out All the Rules. None of the customary election laws apply to the high-stakes selection of delegates to a constitutional convention regarding a new government. Civil Beat.

Oahu

John McCaughey quit as the head of Ansaldo Honolulu's construction safety program in July because he thought the company was jeopardizing workers' safety. In a lawsuit filed last week, McCaughey said the company -- which is being paid $1.4 billion to build the trains and operate them -- cut corners by not hiring the required safety experts. Hawaii News Now.

The completion this month of steel framing for the International Market Place puts the redevelopment on track to reopen in August, creating jobs for an anticipated 2,500 employees and contract workers. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu and its renaming in honor of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. Civil Beat.

The Trump International Waikiki in Hawaii is one of seven in the The Trump Hotel Collection where guests may have been affected by payment system hacks that lasted nearly a year. Pacific Business News.

Residents at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe who are suing a developer over a possible connection between health problems and pesticide contamination got a big boost from the state Health Department last month. The state wants the developer to test for soil contamination in anticipation of turning the matter over to the federal agency that assesses toxic waste sites. Star-Advertiser.

State land officials are touting their latest efforts to shield Oahu residents and their homes from potential rockfalls, with a new protective fence going up on the hillside below the popular Lanikai pillbox trail. Star-Advertiser.

Good news from the Hawaii Department of Transportation Tuesday. Work on the Wilson Tunnel won’t take as long as initially expected. KHON2.

Inside University of Hawaii's College of Education are Hawaii's future elementary school teachers.  Students conducted experiments Monday while the building where they learn crumbled around them. Hawaii News Now.

Fourteen Honolulu homes purchased for more than $2 million apiece last month helped Hawaii’s main housing market break another record. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Opposition from some County Council members has resulted in a scaled-back enterprise zone plan that doesn’t swallow up large conservation areas in West Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County on Tuesday took a step toward purchasing land in Ka‘u that once hosted Makahiki events. County Council members, meeting as the Finance Committee, advanced a resolution that would authorize negotiations to acquire the 13 acres assessed at $179,000. Tribune-Herald.

A Hualalai Road condominium project for middle-income families could break ground in two months and have its first units ready within three years, following a favorable vote Tuesday by the County Council Planning Committee. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co., the Big Island subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Co., which is involved in a $4.3 billion sale with NextEra Energy Inc., is valued at just over $700 million, the head of the state’s Division of Consumer Advocacy confirmed to Pacific Business News Tuesday.

Construction has been completed on a mobile slaughterhouse geared specifically to the island’s smaller producers. The unit contained in a 36-foot trailer is in Tacoma, Wash., waiting to be shipped, said Mike Amado, president of the Hawaii Island Meat Cooperative. West Hawaii Today.

On Monday, a small group of cultural practitioners, government officials, and project contractors gathered by the edge of the hardened lava flow on Cemetery Road to take part in a Hawaiian blessing. Following the ceremony performed by Kahu Moses Kaho’okele Crabbe and Pi’ilani Ka’awaloa, Ludwig Construction crews began removing the lava, which burned across the road almost an entire year ago. Big Island Video News.

Maui

A Maui County Council committee has been assigned the task of establishing a special committee on county governance to consist of community and government officials, who would consider different forms of government, including an already proposed council-hired county manager system without a mayor. Maui News.

The Mayor’s Maui Homeless Initiative, a task force put together to address solutions to homelessness and affordable housing in Maui County, held its first meeting today. Maui Now.

Maui County Liquor Control Director Frank Silva retiring after 22 years. MauiTime.
More Upcountry residents may be getting their long-awaited water meters as the Maui County Council passed a bill Tuesday that offers exemptions from expensive street and fire protection improvements for some on the waiting list. Maui News.

The Maui Demolition & Construction Landfill is seeking a solid waste management renewal permit from the state Department of Health for its ongoing operations in Maalaea. Maui News.

Kauai

The turbine is back together, but it will still be another six to eight weeks until Green Energy Team’s $90 million biomass-to-energy facility in Koloa starts producing steam. Garden Island.

The median price of a condominium unit on Kauai rose by 62 percent year-over-year last month to reach $390,000, while actual sales only saw a slight uptick in activity, according a monthly report compiled by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Tulsi Gabbard's plan to stay in U.S. House changes state political dynamic; budget, open-government bills in state Legislature, voter turnout up, invasive species feared from Japan tsunami, Hong Kong investment capital, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tulsi Gabbard campaigns in 2012 file photo © 2015 All Hawaii News

Scratch all the talk that Tulsi Gabbard might challenge Brian Schatz for his U.S. Senate seat in 2016. Schatz, the senator from Hawaii, is co-hosting a fundraiser for the representative of Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District next month. Civil Beat.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii was eyed as a rising political star even before she was elected to Congress in 2012 — she spoke at the Democratic National Convention that year just weeks after winning a primary election. But her profile on the national stage has risen to a new level in recent months. Civil Beat.

Krishna Cult Rumors Still Dog Tulsi Gabbard. The Hawaii congresswoman’s national rise is inviting closer scrutiny of her family ties to a fringe sect. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii House of Representatives is poised to pass a state budget that includes slightly less spending than what was requested by the governor, who had warned that there was no extra money for increases to programs in the upcoming two years. The House Committee on Finance combed through the budget and recommended $12.7 billion in spending for fiscal year 2016, which begins July 1, and $13.1 billion in 2017. Associated Press.

Open-meetings advocates make gains at Capitol. A state Senate bill would have public boards report about private decisions. Associated Press.

Opinion: How good a friend do you have to be before you can tell your buddy "no"? When the full state Senate votes on the nomination of Carleton Ching as chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, it will also be weighing its very real friendship with Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s voter turnout last year ranked it at No. 32 across the country. That’s up from the No. 36 position we held in 2010, according to a new analysis from Nonprofit VOTE. All told, Hawaii had a turnout of 36.5 percent among citizen eligible voters in 2014. Civil Beat.

Debris from the Japanese tsunami four years ago is still washing up on Hawaii shores and elsewhere around the Pacific. And there's still fears that invasive species hitching a ride on the debris could become established where they've washed up. Hawaii News Now.

Hong Kong’s Commissioner to the United States says more investment capital from his home city could be headed for Hawai‘i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

More than half of the buyers in The Howard Hughes Corp.'s first two luxury condominium towers in Honolulu are from Hawaii, with the remaining buyers from Japan, Canada, China, Korea, Australia and the Mainland, the Texas-based developer said Friday in a letter to its shareholders. Pacific Business News.

A hairy green-leaf Cyanea with a brilliant purple flower — is being recognized as the state's newest species described to science. The researchers named the rare find Cyanea konahuanuiensis, which pays homage to the place it was found: near the summit of the 3,150-foot Kona­hua­nui, the tallest peak in the Koolau Range in East Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Demolition of elementary classrooms at Punahou School is the latest project of Re-use Hawaii, a nonprofit organization that tears down buildings and sells the salvageable materials. Star-Advertiser.

Members of the Koolau Loa Neighborhood Board could not reach an agreement over who should fill a vacancy for Hauula District at last month’s meeting. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii

Protesters plan to make their presence known at the Waikoloa resorts this weekend, where the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations are underway. Big Island Video News.

A U.S. Geological Survey geochemist has confirmed that the ongoing eruption at Kilauea Volcano gets its supply of lava from two small sources beneath the earth's crust, not one large one. Star-Advertiser.

A 1,000-acre swath of South Kona mauka forestland has been placed under protection from development. The land, located in the Kaawaloa Forest between 2,300 and 4,300 feet in elevation, is rare native wet forest with a diversity of indigenous plants, trees and birds, said Greg Hendrickson, real property administrator for Hokukano Ranch, the property owners. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

While Maui County officials mull what to do about erosion to an unprotected section of South Kihei Road, they are wrestling with forces of nature - rising sea levels and El Nino. Maui News.

A standing-room-only crowd of residents voiced concerns about a proposed leach field at Kapueokahi, or Hana Bay, during a community meeting Thursday. Maui News.

Maui’s real estate market is continuing to show signs of returning to normalcy, following the upheaval of the recession several years ago that left in its wake widespread foreclosures and short sales in Maui County. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County officials say they have done their fair share of listening over the past year. During that time, one key theme arose consistently when the county's finances were discussed. Garden Island.

Two incumbents and a former member won seats to the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative Board of Directors on Saturday. Dennis M. Esaki, Karen Baldwin and Patrick Gegen outpaced the eight-candidate field in the election that started Feb. 19. Garden Island.

Serious problems nearly shut down the Civil Air Patrol’s Hawaii Wing. Civil Air Patrol Regional Commander Col. Brian Bishop met with CAP members on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauai last week to listen to concerns regarding the squadrons that have experienced unease recently. Garden Island.

County looks to expand Black Pot Beach Park. Garden Island.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is seeking applicants to serve on an advisory council for Kokee State Park. The nine-member council advises the department on issues related to the management of Kokee and Waimea Canyon state parks. Garden Island.

Kauai’s South Shore will become a miniature underwater video observatory, offering a fish-eye-view of coral, marine life — and a possible swimmer or two — in a grant-funded pilot project geared to help students learn more about the underwater world. Garden Island.

Puna Lava flow burns first home, Abercrombie starts new business, Honolulu named best place to retire, state sues Hawaii County over hunting, raises for Kauai officials, Patsy Mink awarded posthumous Medal of Freedom, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

First house torched by lava courtesy Ena Media Hawaii and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

The destruction of her grandparents’ house Monday brought the reality of the June 27 lava flow home for Kanoe Pelfrey. Tribune-Herald.

First video of the house fire ignited by lava in Pahoa, filmed by Mick Kalber of Tropical Visions Video aboard Paradise Helicopters. Big Island Video News.

 

 Lava from Kilauea Volcano's so-called June 27 flow ignited its first house in Pahoa on Monday and threatened more destruction in the days ahead. Star-Advertiser.

The slow moving lava flow on Hawaii Island has set fire to its first home, making contact with the residence just before noon.  The home’s renters had already left the residence. Hawaii Public Radio.

The first home has been claimed by the Puna lava flow, just across the street from the Pahoa Transfer Station along Cemetery Road/Apaa Street. Hawaii News Now.

A home is burning after coming into contact with the June 27 lava flow. Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator, said he received confirmation at about 11:55 a.m. that the home off Cemetery Road had ignited after lava reached the vacant 1,152-square-foot residence. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Civil Defense says that an upslope lava breakout on Cemetery Road destroyed a home and shed at around noon Monday.  This is the first residence claimed by the June 27th lava flow. KITV4.

With just weeks left in his 44-year career of public service, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie is listed as the sole officer of a new company called Pacific Strategies LLC. The business was registered with the state Oct. 3, about two months after Abercrombie’s re-election effort was derailed by state Sen. David Ige in the Democratic primary. Civil Beat.

Some 1,853 of Hawaii’s 13,505 marriages held since Dec. 2, 2013, were between same sex couples. But Hawaii’s same sex marriage law, passed by the Hawaii Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Neil Abercrombie in Nov. 2013, could come to an end if the Hawaii Supreme Court rules the law invalid. On Dec. 18, the state’s high court will hear oral arguments in the challenge brought by Rep. Bob McDermott, a Republican in the Hawaii Legislature. Hawaii Reporter.

The U.S.-China agreement to extend short-term visas for tourists and business travelers from one to 10 years drew applause from Hawaii business leaders and politicians, including Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley, who called it a "significant step in the right direction." Pacific Business News.

Starting today, a reciprocity agreement will extend short-term business and tourist visas to-and-from China to 10 years, and student and exchange visas to five years. The move is aimed at providing economic benefits in tourism, trade and investment. Garden Island.

President Barack Obama on Monday named Patsy Mink one of 19 people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Star-Advertiser.

Health insurance rates for nearly 13,000 individuals will rise Jan. 1, while close to 33,000 people may be pleasantly surprised to see premium decreases. The state Insurance Division has approved an average 9.2 percent rate hike for 9,600 individuals covered by Kaiser Permanente Hawaii and 3.8 percent increase for 3,141 members with the Hawaii Medical Service Association. Star-Advertiser.

The state Health Department says a restaurant can have roaches and rodents and still pass inspection. Hawaii News Now.

Switching from diesel oil to liquefied natural gas for electric power generation could drop Hawaii's highest-in-the-nation electric rates from 6 to 25 percent by the year 2040, according to a working paper posted online last month by the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii. Maui News.

The longtime head of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly says he’ll leave the organization next August. The search is underway for a replacement for J.N. Musto, who has been with the union for more than 35 years. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Association of Independent Schools Board of Directors has named Robert Landau the organization’s new executive director, replacing longtime Executive Director Robert Witt, who is retiring. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Livability.com has named Honolulu a Best Place to Retire, 2014. Honolulu, the website says, “offers access to affordable and quality health care, practical cost of living, retiree-friendly businesses and services, as well as several amenities to help keep residents active.” Star-Advertiser.

Luxury high-rise condominiums planned in Kakaako have been big sellers this year. Really big. So big that a single developer has sold $783 million worth of residences slated for completion in 2016 and 2017. Star-Advertiser.

Cash, cars, jewelry. All kinds of property are taken by law enforcement every year and sometimes, there are no arrest or criminal charges. But authorities get to keep the goods, and it’s legal. KHON2.

Former state prison guard Mark Damas was sentenced Monday to just shy of five years behind bars for accepting bribe money to smuggle meth­am­pheta­mine, cigarettes and other contraband into Halawa Correctional Facility and for scheming with inmates to do so. Star-Advertiser.

An additional 6,000 hatchery-raised sea urchins were recently placed in Kaneohe Bay on Oahu by Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Aquatic Invasive Species team divers in the battle against invasive seaweeds that threaten to smother coral patch reefs. West Hawaii Today.

Unanticipated costs and delays might doom Mayor Kirk Caldwell's controversial plan for a temporary transition center for up to 115 homeless people at Sand Island. Star-Advertiser.

Starting Wednesday night, state transportation officials plan to make full and partial lane closures in both directions of the H-1 freeway in Kalihi from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The state is suing the county over its aerial hunting ban. The suit, filed Thursday in Hilo Circuit Court by the Office of Attorney General David Louie, seeks to exempt state employees and private contractors hired by the state to eradicate feral sheep, goats, swine, cattle and axis deer from the 2012 county ordinance prohibiting aerial hunting. Tribune-Herald.

Kawaihae South Small Boat Harbor, the first new harbor opened in the state in 34 years, was dedicated Monday. West Hawaii Today.

New court program gives veterans a second chance. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
A standing room only crowd showed up to testify at an informational briefing and hearing on Maui focused on the state health system and district plans to address anticipated budget shortfalls. Maui Now.

It's been a week since the controversial initiative calling for a moratorium on the cultivation of all genetically engineered crops in Maui County managed to squeak by in one of the closest races of this election. Now that the campaigning is over, its passage has left residents wondering, “What now?” Hawaii Public Radio.

Kauai

Raises may be on the horizon for some top county officials whose salaries have been frozen for nearly five years. The county Salary Commission, by a 6-0 vote, approved a measure that would raise the maximum salary limit for 22 department heads by a total of $150,265. Garden Island.

The Missile Defense Agency released video of the Hawaii-based destroyer USS John Paul Jones shooting down a simulated ballistic missile and a "raid" of cruise missile targets Thursday off the coast of Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Legislature is down to the wire, state's first death penalty case since 1944 troubles rights groups, Chinese tourists seen as 'economic salvation,' ID, please, in GMO lawsuit, Sunshine Law exemption broadens, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Merrie Monarch hula festival © 2014 All Hawaii News

Merrie Monarch hula contest, festival continues. See more here.

Hawaii lawmakers are confronting a deadline to pass the state budget, but they’re still deciding how to work out key issues that include a historic land-preservation deal and funding for a slew of nonprofits. Legislative appropriations committees have until Friday night to reach agreement on all aspects of the state’s $12 billion budget. Associated Press.

House and Senate lawmakers have agreed to carve out a new exemption in the Sunshine Law for county councils to get together outside their regular meetings. Civil Beat.

There were surprises Thursday as the clocked ticked toward a Friday 6 p.m. deadline for bills to advance to a final round of votes next week. Civil Beat.

Giving victims of childhood sexual abuse more time to seek justice, state lawmakers agreed Thursday on a bill that would extend a unique window to file lawsuits for another two years and include the state and counties among the potentially liable. Star-Advertiser.

A conference committee of state lawmakers passed House Bill 1926 Thursday to plug the legal loophole that lets police have sex with prostitutes. The committee, chaired by Rep. Karl Rhoads and Sen. Clayton Hee, also reached agreement on House Bill 1750 to combat revenge porn. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie is taking Sen. David Ige to task over failing to put $40 million in the state budget to pay the state's share of a sensitive land deal with Turtle Bay Resort. Civil Beat.

The outcome of a decades-long battle to protect O’ahu’s North Shore from development will likely be decided on the last day of state budget deliberations at the State Capitol tomorrow.  Lawmakers have yet to decide on whether to fund the state’s portion of the offer to purchase the coastline property. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state Department of Education supports the annual 4.5 percent raises an arbitration panel awarded to principals and other educational officers earlier this week, according to a statement released Wednesday by the department. Star-Advertiser.

US Senate race in Hawaii pits opposing wings of Democratic Party. Los Angeles Times.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz’s latest reports with the Federal Election Commission show he’s using his considerable cash advantage to keep him in front of voters while driving even more money to his campaign bank account. The senator, who’s locked in a tight race with U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, is spending his cash on media, polling, fundraisers and political consulting, among other campaign essentials. Civil Beat.

The civil rights compliance director for public schools across the state is under investigation for complaints that she conducted biased investigations and did campaign work for a gubernatorial candidate on state time. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Airlines CEO Mark Dunkerley called China the "economic salvation" for Hawaii tourism but said the state is ill-equipped to handle the expected surge of tourists who are likely to come in future years. Star-Advertiser.

A majority of Hawaii residents support the installation of more rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, while also believing that Hawaiian Electric Co. is slowing these installations to protect its profits, a new poll says, although the state’s largest electric utility pointed out that its rooftop solar policies are not about the financial impact on the Honolulu-based company. Pacific Business News.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 25. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A federal jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday for the first person in the state to stand trial for a death penalty crime. Star-Advertiser.

The possibility that former Hawaii soldier Naeem Williams could face execution is troubling for some folks in a state where the death penalty has not been imposed since 1944. Star-Advertiser.

A Marine who admitted killing a prostitute in his Waikiki hotel room last year was found guilty Thursday of "murder while engaging in an inherently dangerous act," a crime punishable by a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole, the Marine Corps said. Star-Advertiser.

Residential towers in Kakaako makai of Ala Moana Boulevard would be permitted to rise on eight large parcels -- or just two -- under competing proposed amendments to one of the most controversial bills at the Legislature this year. Star-Advertiser.

The City Council Transportation Committee is moving forward with plans to audit the Handi-Van program. But the committee also agreed to a request to delay the start of the audit to allow the impact of planned improvements to be assessed. Star-Advertiser.

For a second consecutive year, the rail project's top executive will receive a $35,000 bonus. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A Big Island papaya farmer will have to identify himself to continue as part of a lawsuit against Hawaii County’s registration program for genetically modified crops, Judge Greg Nakamura said Thursday. Tribune-Herald.

Faced with a May 5 deadline to present his final budget proposal to the Hawaii County Council, Mayor Billy Kenoi said Thursday he’s crafting a spending plan that doesn’t take any increases in the county’s share of the hotel tax into account. West Hawaii Today.

Legislators in a joint conference committee opted Wednesday to include a $2 million appropriation in the state’s budget next year for Hilo Medical Center’s fledgling Primary Care Residency Program. Tribune-Herald.

The family of a man who died after being tased by a Hawaii Police Department officer intends to file a lawsuit against the department, their attorney said Thursday. -  West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Hilo man guilty of first-degree attempted murder and first-degree assault in the shootings of two police officers Jan. 2, 2013. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

East Maui Irrigation Co. and The Nature Conservancy agreed on a deal that will add 3,721 acres of rain forest to Waikamoi Preserve, creating the largest private nature reserve in the state. Maui News.

A portion of the Hāmākua Ditch across the Kailua Gulch in East Maui broke on Thursday, April 24, resulting in a “mud plume” in the ocean near Baldwin Beach Park, officials at Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company said. Maui Now.

Kauai

In a recent online poll question, The Garden Island asked readers, “Who should pay the cost of rescue operations for people who are hurt or stranded on the Kalalau Trail?” Sixty percent voted for the hikers because they were being careless or not paying attention, while 35 percent said the state because it manages the trail.

U.S. and China military train in Hawaii, state responds to Philippine disaster, same-sex marriage bill heads to Senate, Tulsi Gabbard getting lots of Mainland support, HECO mum on power plans, vets recognized, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S.-China naval exercises Sept. 2012 DOD courtesy photo

Army officials from China and the United States are meeting in Hawaii for an annual disaster relief exercise that will include field training for the first time this year. Specifics of the exercise scenario starting Tuesday have not been publicly released. U.S. Army Pacific officials have only described it as a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operation requiring U.S. and China military cooperation in a fictional third country.  Associated Press.

Chinese troops are taking part in disaster relief exercises in Hawaii today, in what China's state media billed as the first time the country's soldiers have drilled on U.S. territory. People's Liberation Army soldiers are taking part in humanitarian assistance drills in Hawaii until Thursday with their U.S. counterparts, simulating relief operations after an earthquake hits a third country. Star-Advertiser.

At the request of the Philippines, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel directed the U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith to support humanitarian relief operations in the Philippines. Associated Press.

Hawaii organizations are offering ways for Hawaii residents to reach friends and relatives affected by Typhoon Haiyan. West Hawaii Today.

How to donate or help Philippine typhoon victims. Hawaii News Now.

The state Senate is poised to approve a same-sex marriage bill today and send it Gov. Neil Abercrombie for approval, setting up Hawaii to become the 15th state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. Abercrombie is expected to sign the measure into law soon after, and the state Department of Health says it is ready to implement the law by its Dec. 2 effective date. Star-Advertiser.

The jubilation is expected to continue for same sex marriage supporters. The Senate already voted 20 to 4 backing the bill and the amendments aren't expected to change any minds in Tuesday's final vote. Then it goes to the Governor for final approval. Hawaii News Now.

Civil union versus marriage. Some wonder what's the difference? Supporters of gay marriage say the rights and benefits. There are more than 1,000 federal benefits for same-sex couples, if they're allowed to marry. And it's not just federal tax benefits. KHON2.

In the past three years, the total number of homeless residents in Hawaii seeking help from publicly funded services has dropped slightly, indicating modest gains in the effort to curb homelessness across the state, a report released today shows. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard (c) 2013 All Hawaii News

Hawaii candidates for federal office love to play up their local support. But a Civil Beat analysis of U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's most recent campaign filing shows a candidate who has been traveling a lot and raising money throughout the country. The filing, covering July 15 through Oct. 15, with the Federal Election Commission shows that Gabbard had three times as many donors on the mainland — 146 total — as compared with Hawaii.

Severe assaults on employees at the state's only public mental hospital have resulted in some of them being out of work for months and even years, a Hawaii News Now investigation revealed. Four employees came forward to say the State Hospital is understaffed and they don't feel safe going to work.

Hotel revenue through the third quarter rose above $4 billion for the first time ever, putting Hawaii's hotel industry on track to set an annual revenue record, according to a hotel flash report set for release today by Hospitality Advisors LLC. Star-Advertiser.

International students contributed $108.5 million to Hawaii's economy in tuition and living expenses in the 2012-13 academic year, an institute reported Monday. Star-Advertiser.

State roundup for November 12. Associated Press.

In brief | State Nov. 12, 2013. Associated Press.

Oahu

Hawaiian Electric Co. is hoping to fast-track nine solar farms on Oahu that could mean hundreds of thousands of solar panels stretching across areas equivalent to 40 Ala Moana Shopping Centers. The power is expected to lower consumer electricity bills, in addition to moving Hawaii away from its dependency on oil-fired generators. But where will all of these solar panels go? HECO won’t say. Civil Beat.

About 1,000 people — many of them current or former service members — came to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl on Veterans Day to pay respect to past and present military members for their service to the nation. Star-Advertiser.

Twelve additional sets of video cameras are expected to be placed at intersections through Waikiki and other neighborhoods that will be traveled by Honolulu Marathon runners next month. The new cameras are part of a series of security measures being put in place by the city in advance of this year's marathon, which runs Dec. 8, in the wake of April's Boston Marathon bombing. Star-Advertiser.

Soon Honolulu residents will get a chance to own a piece of Genshiro Kawamoto. Alexander and Baldwin Inc. is planning to soon auction off all the naked women and lion statues it removed from Kawamoto’s Kahala Avenue properties. Civil Beat.

24 violate Department of Hawaiian Home Lands rules, review finds. Star-Advertiser.

Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children began demolition of the 35-year-old Bingham parking garage on Monday, marking the start of a multi-phase master plan to rebuild the hospital, starting with a $120 million five-story tower that will house new neonatal intensive care and pediatric intensive care units. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

Hundreds of people gathered Monday at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in North Kona, where they paid tribute to Americans who have given selfless service to our country in times of war and peace. West Hawaii Today.

On November 6, Hawaii Public Radio initiated broadcast of its HPR-2 programming stream on KAHU-FM 91.7, serving the southernmost district of Hawai‘i Island. KAHU had gone off the air earlier this year and ownership of the broadcast license for this community radio station was transferred to HPR in August 2013. Yesterday’s resumption of service also returns to the communities of Pahala and Na‘alehu critical access to emergency information.

Maui

Attorney files appeal, challenges Rock & Brews’ minor SMA permit. Maui News.

While Maui veterans are hopeful that the Department of Veterans Affairs will soon eliminate the disability claims backlog, some say more needs to be done, especially for those disabled veterans who need the help the most. Maui News.

Kauai

As Philippines President Benigno Aquino III declared State of National Calamity Monday in the aftermath of super typhoon Haiyan, Kauai residents had already been at work trying to raise relief funds for those affected. Garden Island.

About 10 percent of Kauai’s population, said Capt. Bruce Hay, is composed of former and current soldiers. “That’s a pretty impressive statistic that no other town of equal size, that I am aware of, has,” said the commanding officer of the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana. “So Kauai, in particular, answers the call of service and continues to do so.” Garden Island.

A group of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative members wants to reverse a utility decision to charge $10.27 per month to customers who chose not to have a wireless smart meter installed at their home. Star-Advertiser.