State budget office imposes 10 percent cutbacks, marijuana expo this weekend, UH's Lassner's term extended, lawmakers ask EPA involvement in Red Hill storage tanks, families feel burden of elder care, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Capitol interior © 2015 All Hawaii News

The Hawaii state Office of Budget and Finance is imposing a 10 percent restriction, amounting to some $200 million, on discretionary general fund spending across all state departments, including the University of Hawaii’s 10-campus system, for the fiscal year that started July 1, state officials said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s first cannabis expo opens this weekend at the Hawaii Convention Center. Hawaii News Now.

David Lassner will continue serving as president of the University of Hawaii system after receiving high marks Thursday from the Board of Regents on his first one-year performance evaluation. Star-Advertiser.

Advocates for the elderly in Hawaii are hoping a new study puts additional pressure on state lawmakers to pass legislation next session that helps overloaded family caregivers. Civil Beat.

One in four Hawai’i residents provides home care for elderly relatives, friends or neighbors.  That, according to state lawmakers who convened a working group today to look at care-giver training. Hawaii Public Radio.

The new U.S. commander of the Pacific Fleet assured allies Friday that American forces are well equipped and ready to respond to any contingency in the South China Sea, where long-seething territorial disputes have set off widespread uncertainties. Associated Press.

The result of almost two decades of jellyfish research in Hawaii waters has produced a product to provide relief from their painful and sometimes life-threatening stings. KITV4.

Oahu

Nineteen state lawmakers are calling for the Environmental Protection Agency to force the military to take more aggressive action to prevent further leaks at 20 underground jet fuel storage tanks at Red Hill that sit 100 feet above a major water aquifer. Star-Advertiser.


Wheeler Army Airfield expects to get 24 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters starting next spring amid ongoing budget uncertainty and a fight over Apaches the Army wants to pull from U.S. National Guard units to outfit active-duty units. Star-Advertiser.

It’s been a bumpy road recently for Nan Inc. in its bids to secure work on the Honolulu rail project, but the local firm has been awarded the latest contract to build stations for the island’s future transit line. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell says he is moving ahead with nine key projects to renovate and improve sections of Ala Moana Beach Park. The mayor says the city’s plans do not involve commercializing the park. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is postponing closures of the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail, but that means trail improvement work will also be delayed. Hawaii News Now.

Traffic worries along the west side of Oahu are nothing new. State legislators as well as administrators from a number of agencies want to hear from you about how to ease traffic along the busy Leeward corridor. KHON2.

A number of Hawai’i Kai business and community groups are outraged over a federal proposal to regulate Maunalua Bay.   And they expressed their disapproval at a meeting Tuesday night. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii
Asked if they could see a single redeeming quality in a plan for a massive solar project in a residential area, a room full of Ocean View residents gave a resounding no on Thursday night. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Community College - Palamanui will be open for the first day of class on Aug. 24, Director Kenneth “Marty” Fletcher said Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Several participants of the Mauna Kea movement that were arrested for blocking construction workers from reaching the Mauna Kea summit on June 24 appeared in court Thursday morning. Big Island Now.

Maui

Hundreds of South Maui residents will have their "3 Can Plan" curbside recycling reinstated next month, though they'll have to pay an extra $6 a month for the service, county officials confirmed Thursday. Maui News.

Maui Memorial Medical Center's cardiac unit got off to a slow, bumpy start and has not reached the volume of open-heart surgery patients initially projected when it received a permit from the state to operate in 2007. Maui News.

Kauai

A local marine biologist’s documentation of green sea turtles with torn and tattered flippers prompted state and federal scientists to gather on the North Shore this week to take a closer look. Garden Island.

Payment standards to accommodate Kauai veterans who are seeking affordable housing opportunities have risen slightly, according to The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday. Garden Island.

Kahoolawe

An international group of environmental scientists is calling on the federal government to provide much-needed funding for Kahoolawe. Maui News.

A group of international environmental scientists is asking the federal government to provide funding for the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission restoration project. Associated Press.

Hot weather harming coral reefs, unions tighten grip on Hawaii, groundbreaking today for one of world's largest telescopes, teachers union creates new PAC to fight ballot initiative, lava viewing curtailed, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Teardrop butterflyfish amid damaged coral © 2014 All Hawaii News

The hot, muggy weather that's stifled Hawaii in recent weeks appears to have spurred widespread coral bleaching across the state, and researchers say it's the most severe degradation of coral that they've ever observed in Hawaii waters. Star-Advertiser.

While people in Hawaii have been sweating out a lack of trade winds, corals underwater also are suffering. Scientists standing in the muggy heat at Heeia Small Boat Harbor in Kaneohe said Monday they’re seeing more evidence higher-than-normal ocean temperatures are causing near-shore bleaching across the islands. Associated Press.

A new law championed by Hawaii’s most powerful unions has tilted the balance in favor of organized labor in a critical arena, although the effects on employers — and possibly taxpayers — won’t be fully realized for a few years. With little public fanfare, the Legislature last session passed a bill that changes how the governor appoints people to the Hawaii Labor Relations Board, a quasi-judicial agency that resolves labor disputes involving private and public sector employees and the organizations that represent them. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association terminated its campaign to discourage voters from approving a constitutional amendment dealing with preschools last week after realizing it risked breaking the law by spending money on a ballot measure through its political action committee. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has named four nominees to serve on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents and fill vacancies triggered by the state's new financial disclosure law. Star-Advertiser.

Mufi Hannemann, the Hawaii Independent Party candidate for governor, has said if he wins election in November one of his top priorities will be to bring back an inter-island ferry system. He made a similar pledge during his failed bid for governor in 2010. Hannemann’s most recent financial disclosure report shows he owns stock in two companies that are working on the design and development of advanced ship hull forms and researching lifting hull technologies. Civil Beat.

VoteVets Action Fund, a national veterans advocacy group, will spend $800,000 on an advertising campaign to boost candidates in three races across the country, including that of Hawaii state Rep. Mark Takai. Takai, a progressive Democrat running for the District 1 Congressional seat, will take on former Congressman Charles Djou, a Republican who served in 2010, in the November general election. Hawaii Reporter.

Rebuffed by the courts, six Palolo voters asked the state House on Monday to determine whether state Rep. and former House Speaker Calvin Say lives in the Palolo House district he has represented since 1976. Star-Advertiser.

The six Palolo voters challenging Calvin Say’s qualifications to hold office are not giving up, despite a court’s rejection of their lawsuit last week. Civil Beat.

Inmates who say they’re being denied their right to practice their Native Hawaiian religion at a private prison in Arizona have won class-action status for a lawsuit. U.S. District Court Judge Leslie Kobayashi granted class-action certification to inmates suing the state of Hawaii and the Corrections Corporation of America. Associated Press.

The new head of the Hawaii Health Connector, Jeffrey Kissel, said Monday that his first priority will be helping consumers smoothly get through the enrollment period starting Nov. 15. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: It is not always huge campaign donations that buy political candidates media exposure. Take the Hawaii governor’s race. Hawaii Independent Party candidate Mufi Hannemann and Libertarian Party contender Jeff Davis have found a way to get additional exposure on Hawaii media outlets at the same time they are running for office. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A University of Hawaii at Manoa student organization has passed resolutions voting no confidence in UH President David Lassner and the Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

The Navy plans a fourth controlled detonation at Kalaeloa this week to destroy various munitions and ordnances that have been found. Star-Advertiser.

Median home prices on Oahu remained flat in September, while the number of sales of single-family homes rose 5 percent, according to data released Tuesday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Sales statistics set for release Tuesday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors show that the median sale price for previously owned single-family houses on the island edged up by 0.5 percent to $678,500 in September from $675,000 in the same month a year earlier. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A groundbreaking and Hawaiian blessing ceremony launches construction on the summit of Mauna Kea to build one of the world's largest telescopes. The events for the $1.4 billion Thirty Meter Telescope project Tuesday will be shown via a live-stream webcast because of limited access to the construction site, which is in an area with harsh physical conditions. Associated Press.

After years of challenges, groundbreaking begins Tuesday on one of the world's largest optical telescopes, which will rise out of sacred Hawaiian ground at an elevation of 13,150 feet near the summit of Mauna Kea. Star-Advertiser.

USGS geologists with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory estimate the Puna lava flow could reach Apa'a Street in Pahoa in about 16 days, if it continues moving at its current rate of 390 ft/day. Hawaii News Now.

The June 27 lava flow sparked a brush fire as it continued its progress toward Pahoa on Monday. Meanwhile, Civil Defense officials, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, have restricted the airspace above the leading edge of the flow in response to increased traffic of sightseers and media personnel. Tribune-Herald.

The Puna lava flow is becoming big business for Big Island tour companies, but Hawaii County Civil Defense officials say tour groups were getting too close to the flow and to each other. Working with the FAA, civil defense has implemented new air space restrictions above the flow. Hawaii News Now.

An aerial survey Monday morning showed the June 27 flow front continues to be active and has advanced approximately 150 yards since Sunday, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. West Hawaii Today.

A former Hawaii County Council member will complete a vacated term on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

More than a month after the launch of an expensive TV campaign to persuade voters to reject a Maui County ballot initiative to temporarily ban genetically engineered crops, the Hawaii Center for Food Safety has formed a new group called the Coalition for Safer, Healthier Maui to campaign in favor of the measure. Civil Beat.

For the first time in more than a century, there will be a continuous flow of water from mauka to makai into the Wailuku (ʻĪao) Stream on Maui. Maui Now.

The Maui Tropical Plantation has embodied Hawaii's past and present for the past three decades as an agricultural and tourism destination. Maui News.

Kauai

Two Kauai County Council members will introduce a resolution Wednesday that would establish a committee to investigate the implementation of county laws dealing with the dedication of land for agricultural use. Maui News.

Nemo's Hawaiian cousins get no federal protection, administrative costs gobble up highway funds, higher premiums coming to HMSA Medicare plans, UH faculty senate censors president, lava pace quickens, first humpback whale of the season spotted off Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Endemic Hawaiian dascyllus © 2014 All Hawaii News

Finding Nemo may be getting harder to do, but the same can't be said for the Hawaiian dascyllus and blue-eyed damselfish, two Hawaiian cousins of the orange clownfish, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Star-Advertiser.

A new study says Hawaii has the worst-performing highways in the nation. The report by the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank in Los Angeles, said Wednesday that Hawaii also has the least cost-effective highway system. It also ranked Hawaii among the worst for congestion, deficient bridges and pavement conditions. The group says Hawaii spent $90,000 on administrative costs for every mile of state road, expenses that could be siphoning money away from road repairs. Associated Press.

The Children Left Behind: Kindergarten Age Cutoff Has Families Scrambling. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Medical Service Association, the state's largest medical care insurer, is closing its current line of Medicare plans, called Akamai Advantage, and will restart them as new plans with higher premiums due to loss of revenue from underwriting miscalculations and smaller reimbursement rates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii's poverty rate is better than most other states in the nation, according to new Census data. But advocates for the poor say that when the state's high cost of living is considered, the picture looks a lot different. Associated Press.

A record 492 students from public schools across Hawaii have earned awards for exceptional achievement in their college-level Advanced Placement courses, according to the College Board, the company that administers the exams. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is a world-class destination with real-world obstacles when it comes to building traction in China's growing outbound tourism market. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The University of Hawaii-Manoa Faculty Senate voted 43-16 Wednesday in favor of censuring UH President David Lassner over the group's displeasure with how Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple was fired. Star-Advertiser.

Where does former House Speaker Calvin Say live? That is the central question of a lawsuit that has yet another court hearing Thursday. Civil Beat.

Construction of Honolulu’s 5.2 billion dollar Rail Transit System is moving toward the urban center at a steady pace.  The focus of the City Council’s Budget Committee yesterday was on the project’s impact on Kaka’ako businesses. Hawaii Public Radio.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha has called off a meeting set for Thursday with several members of the Hawaii Women's Legislative Caucus and three female members of the City Council. Star-Advertiser.

Despite a notice of violation from the city, the unapologetic and unrepentant organizer of a 70-foot fence blocking access from a private road to Laniakea Beach wants to replace the wooden fence with one made out of metal or rock. Star-Advertiser.

Fabio Osorio, who has called the streets of Waikiki home for five years, says three bills, signed into law Tuesday, won't change the homeless situation in Hawaii's tourist mecca. Hawaii News Now.

Opinion: Homeless Policy: Sand Island Camp Is a Waste of Money. The plan to relocate homeless to Sand Island runs counter to the successful practices developed by the federal Housing First program. Civil Beat.

Former defense contractor sentenced for mishandling classified documents. Federal Judge Leslie Kobayashi sentenced Benjamin P. Bishop to two 87-month terms for crossing the line with classified information. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A Civil Defense overflight Wednesday morning observed that the June 27 lava flow has picked up speed since the beginning of the week. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory have been monitoring every twist and turn of lava creeping unpredictably toward communities in a rural and isolated Big Island district. Their work can be dangerous and includes frequent flyovers in a helicopter, navigating precarious terrain and taking careful data measurements to give the public an accurate picture of the lava's progress. Associated Press.

More than a year after National Park Service officials filed their petition for a water management area designation for the Keauhou aquifer, they finally made their pitch directly to the state commissioners who will decide the request. West Hawaii Today.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees heard project updates, along with grievances, Wednesday evening at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Board of Ethics said that the "facts are insufficient" to support a claim that Council Member Don Guzman violated the Maui County Code of Ethics when he allegedly notarized a former employee's political nomination papers while on council time and in his council office. Maui News.

Three Maui residents are being considered for a vacancy on the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai County Council voted 5-1 Wednesday to approve funding to appeal a court ruling that County Ordinance 960 regulating pesticides and genetically modified crops on the island is pre-empted by state law, and therefore invalid. Garden Island.

Kauai's County Council took a step Wednesday toward appealing a federal judge's decision that struck down a Kauai law regulating genetically modified organisms and pesticides. In a 5-to-1 vote, the Council approved spending up to $12,750 for an appeal. Star-Advertiser.

The first of several political forums hosted by the Kauai Chamber of Commerce begins tonight. The forum will be from 6 to 9 at the Koloa Neighborhood Center, beginning with House of Representatives District 16 candidates, followed by Kauai mayoral candidates and ending with Kauai County Council candidates. Garden Island.

The first humpback whale of the Hawaii migration season has been observed in waters off Kauai. Star-Advertiser.

Saving Hawaii's native duck, HECO denies buyout rumors, Abercrombie and Ige set debate, USEEOC: Kauai police discriminated, Honolulu Council approves $2.14B budget, new corp counsel on Hawaii Island, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Koloa maoli duck pair on Hawaii Island © 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved

State, federal and University of Hawaii wildlife experts are undertaking a yearlong campaign aimed at ensuring the survival of the Hawaiian duck, or koloa. The chocolate brown koloa maoli is an endangered species largely due to its cross-breeding with the introduced common mallard duck. Star-Advertiser.

The native Hawaiian duck, koloa maoli, is being pushed out of existence. The population of the duck has been declining for years, and experts said they believe only about 2,500 are left in the wild. KITV4.

Even wildlife biologists have a tough time telling the difference between the endangered koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck) and the common mallard. Cross-breeding or hybridization between the two species is the primary reason the endemic koloa is endangered. West Hawaii Today.

Two Democratic candidates for Hawaii governor plan to debate later this month at the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce. The chamber said Wednesday that incumbent Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige would be featured at a lunchtime forum at the Japanese Cultural Center June 24. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Industries was never approached by any companies, nor did it receive any offers whatsoever to buy all of its shares, the head of one of the company’s subsidiaries told Pacific Business News on Wednesday, disputing a first-hand report this week to the contrary.

The university's longtime information technology chief says he's open to the possibility of dialing back scheduled tuition increases, but recognizes that many of the goals laid out in an agenda set by the Board of Regents come with a hefty price tag. Star-Advertiser.

August 9 is primary election day in Hawaii, so televised political debates will begin very soon. If the past is any guide, that is not a good thing unless you have an exceptional sense of civic duty, an enormous capacity for boredom or your remote is broken. Civil Beat.

The Race for Nationhood. Umi Perkins on what he sees as the race shaping up between Federal recognition and independence. Hawaii Independent.

Despite 88 percent of Hawaii’s public school principals reporting in a recent survey that they are dissatisfied with the leadership of Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi, the state Board of Education reappointed her to another three-year contract on Tuesday that goes into effect July 1. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council has passed a $2.1 billion budget and more than $48 million is going to the homeless. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council voted Wednesday to approve a $2.14 billion operating budget and $708.9 million package that avoids tax rate increases for most residential property owners, a fee for curbside garbage pickup and advertising on the sides of buses but directs $40 million toward homeless shelters and programs. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu City Council has boosted funding to combat homelessness for the 2015 fiscal year to $47.2 million. That marks, council members say, a new high. Civil Beat.

The Honolulu City Council passed the executive spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1st. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Navy said it will fly only two P-8A sub-hunting and surveillance jets out of Kaneohe Bay instead of the 18 it had contemplated at one time — meaning less jet noise for area residents. Star-Advertiser.

When the Honolulu City Council approved a $1.4 million settlement last month in the death of Aaron Torres, it was the largest payout in recent history involving the police department or its officers. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council member Carol Fukunaga wants to make sure that there is a mix of incomes among residents in three high-rise buildings in Chinatown that the city wants to sell to a private developer as part of a major public housing deal. Civil Beat.

The developer of the planned 801 South St. Building B condominium tower does not have to seek a new development permit for the project in Kakaako under a court order clarification issued Tuesday, but does have to halt construction. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

An attorney pulled from within the ranks of the Office of Corporation Counsel is now the county’s top civil lawyer, following the County Council’s confirmation Wednesday of Molly Stebbins. West Hawaii Today.

The county clerk would serve for six years, under a charter amendment that squeaked through the Hawaii County Council on Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Hilo Medical Center is cutting staff positions and taking other cost-saving measures as it confronts a $9 million budget shortfall. Tribune-Herald.

Commentary: It looks like Puna Rep. Faye Hanohano has stirred up considerable interest in the Democratic primary race in District 4 in Puna. Hanohano, a Democrat whose controversial comments got her in hot water with her state House colleagues twice in the past 16 months, faces no less than five challengers in her primary. Big Island Now.

The estimated cost of decommissioning for what’s poised to be one of the world’s largest telescopes atop a sacred Hawaii mountain is $17.1 million. Tribune-Herald.

A judge on Wednesday lifted part of a temporary restraining order for construction work at Keauhou Bay, but left the order in place for a later phase of the project. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island veterans had a chance to air long-standing dissatisfaction with the health care they’ve received through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Wednesday night with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. West Hawaii Today.

The owners of a 25-acre Pepeekeo site of an electrical power plant under construction are looking to be dismissed from a $35 million mechanic’s lien filed by the former construction contractor. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Neldon Mamuad said he is not an angry man, but he believes he's found an opportunity to deny Mayor Alan Arakawa a third term in office. Maui News.

A Maui property management firm has reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over lead-paint disclosure violations. The company, Destination Maui, failed to notify its tenants about the potential hazard. But what’s unusual is the terms they’ve agreed to. Hawaii Public Radio.

The state elections office released an uncertified list of candidates running in the 2014 election after the filing deadline passed on Tuesday afternoon. Maui Now.

Kauai

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has determined the Kauai Police Department retaliated against a veteran police officer after she reported alleged sexual harassment by an assistant chief. Star-Advertiser.

A round of Kauai County furloughs, imposed in response to the lingering economic crisis in 2010, may not have been necessary and was not planned or executed as well as it could have been, according to a county auditor’s report released Tuesday. Garden Island.

JoAnn Yukimura seeks 10th term on Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council Planning Committee opted Wednesday to defer action on a bill that would amend the county’s shoreline setback ordinance. Garden Island.

Kauai's electric utility will issue refunds to its members this month. The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said Wednesday the money comes from funds the cooperative has left over after paying all its expenses and meeting lender expectations for financial stability. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii candidates are off and running, Mufi wants to bring back Superferry, pro surfer vies for Kauai mayor, Molokai fishing fight turns ugly, $2.4M settlement in Thai farmworker abuse case, hands-off at Halawa prison, no jail time for former Hawaii County councilman, Kauai council takes up GMO amendment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii campaign season takes off

With just two months left until the primary election, Hawaii’s political season has officially kicked into high gear. Tuesday was the last day for candidates to file for this year’s political races. KHON2.

See full list of primary candidates here.

Use this guide to track the 2014 Hawaii elections. Civil Beat.

What will the Hawaii State Legislature look like after the 2014 elections? Probably a lot like the 2013-2014 Legislature. Most incumbents will likely coast to re-election, as they typically do. That means Democrats are favored to retain majority control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Civil Beat.

Former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann says, if elected as Governor, one of his top priorities in office will be to restore the Superferry. Hawaii News Now.

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has tapped Les Chang, the city's former parks and recreation director, as his running mate in his independent campaign for governor. Star-Advertiser.

If Mufi Hannemann is elected governor he will bring back the Superferry. That’s the promise the former Honolulu mayor made Tuesday after taking his nomination oath and introducing his running mate, Les Chang. Civil Beat.

Two real estate associations have endorsed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz for Senate and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for re-election to the 2nd Congressional District of the House. Associated Press.

The state Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to retain schools Superintendent Kathryn Mata­yo­shi for another three years, but before her contract is finalized she has to come back to the board with steps she will take to address concerns raised in a scathing independent survey of pubic school principals. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii school board renewed Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi’s contract Tuesday, essentially guaranteeing her another three years on the job starting June 30. Civil Beat.

Inmates at Halawa Correctional Facility can no longer touch or kiss their loved ones now that the medium-security prison has become the state's first no-contact prison. Star-Advertiser.

A multi-million dollar settlement was announced today in the federal discrimination lawsuit on behalf of hundreds of immigrant Thai workers who were abused and mistreated by a labor contractor and local farms for 4 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Four Hawaii farms are settling a discrimination lawsuit for a total of $2.4 million for allegations they exploited hundreds of Thai workers. Associated Press.

Four Hawaii agricultural concerns have agreed to pay a combined $2.4 million to their former Thai laborers in a settlement of a lawsuit that named the farms as accomplices in worker harassment, racial discrimination and retaliation, federal officials announced Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii's next president will likely be paid less than the last three UH presidents, but several key provisions of his contract still must be negotiated that could leave taxpayers on the hook. Hawaii News Now.

The 35th America’s Cup may turn into a bidding war for prospective venue hosts such as Hawaii and San Francisco, where the last event was held, according to the protocol released this week between the Golden Gate Yacht Club, which is the current holder of the America’s Cup won by Larry Ellison’s Team Oracle USA last year, and Team Australia’s Hamilton Island Yacht Club. Pacific Business News.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, an Army veteran who has served two tours in the Middle East, asked President Barack Obama on Monday to use his executive power to allow veterans to access private medical care outside of the Veterans Affairs system without VA pre-approval and bureaucratic red tape. Hawaii Reporter.

First Hawaiian Bank, the largest financial institution in the state by assets, is assuring customers that the potential $10 billion fine that its Paris-based parent is facing will not affect local operations. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiaries are seeking regulatory approval to modify a rule that deals with connecting renewable energy systems, namely rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, to their grids, according to a 438-page filing this week with the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu City Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the city’s 2015 fiscal year budget, capping off three months of debate that has included adjustments to Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s funding priorities. Civil Beat.

Residents would have to pay the city to take away sofas, refrigerators and other bulky trash from their curbside, under a bill scheduled to get its first airing before the Hono­lulu City Council on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A lengthy environmental battle over a planned oceanfront hotel and condominium tower next to the Moana Surfrider Hotel in Wai­kiki is moving to the Hawaii Supreme Court. Star-Advertiser.

A four-year-old fight between the city and a hui of environmental groups over a 2010 variance granted to Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts for a 26-story hotel and condo tower in Waikīkī is expected to be taken up by the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court later this year. Hawaii Independent.

In the next 100 days advocates will assess 1,000 homeless people in urban and leeward Oahu and put 15 of them in an apartment. The overall goal is to have the chronic homeless, the most difficult with the highest needs, in a home in just two years. Hawaii News Now.

Tom Rounds, a legendary broadcasting executive and one of the original "Poi Boys," who helped put island station KPOI on the map, died Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 77. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Six County Council members will ask voters for another two-year term. Following a deadline Tuesday, more than half of the nine-member panel filed for re-election. Two council members — Brenda Ford and J Yoshimoto — face term limits, while one freshman representative is choosing not to run again. Tribune-Herald.

Thirty-two candidates are seeking to represent Big Island residents at the state Capitol. Ten of the isle’s 11 state House and Senate seats will be on the Aug. 9 primary ballot, with all but one contested. Tribune-Herald.

Environmental Management Director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd will have to justify in court her authority to head the department, following a ruling by 3rd Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra. West Hawaii Today.

Former County Council member Kelly Greenwell won’t serve jail time after all. Greenwell, 74, was sentenced to five days in jail in 2010 on a charge of resisting arrest during a traffic stop in Kailua-Kona. Greenwell appeared before 3rd Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra Tuesday afternoon, on a motion by the county’s Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to see Greenwell’s sentenced imposed. West Hawaii Today.

A 3rd Circuit Court judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt construction work at Keauhou Bay, pending a hearing on a lawsuit filed late last month. West Hawaii Today.

The public is invited to a meeting tonight in Hilo about a National Park Service study about World War II internment sites in Hawaii. The session is set for 6-8 p.m. at the Hawaii Japanese Center at 751 Kanoelehua Ave. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County will see several competitive races in the upcoming elections as veteran council members try to reclaim their old seats relinquished because of term limits and as former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana seeks to get back into politics at the state level. Maui News.

It is still yet to be seen if a citizens' initiative calling for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County will be placed on the general election ballot on Nov. 4, Maui County Clerk Danny Mateo said Tuesday. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. customers who are not on solar power will see their rates rise following the Public Utilities Commission's approval Friday of "sales decoupling" tariffs for the utility. Maui News.

A resort condominium in Lahaina plans to replace an old seawall to protect the property from winter storms. Associated Press.

Kauai

The window for candidates to file for public office in this year’s election has closed. Thirty-three Kauai residents have thrown their hat in the ring to run for 11 state and county seats up for re-election this year, including all 11 incumbents. Garden Island.

Professional surfer, environmental activist, mixed martial arts fighter and North Shore native Dustin Barca filed Monday to run for Kauai County mayor in the 2014 election. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council will consider today whether the proposed charter amendment to further regulate genetically modified organisms and pesticides on the island should be amended or put to voters in its current form. Garden Island.

Kapaa will lose a piece of its history when doors to the Kojima Store close at the end of the month. Garden Island.

Molokai

The state Dept. of Land and Natural Resources is investigating a confrontation that turned ugly between Molokai residents and a group of Honolulu divers. The state said the incident apparently stems from a long-running dispute between residents and outsiders who come to fish and hunt at the island. KHON2.

Lassner picked as UH president, electric bills rise statewide, Maui injection wells violate Clean Water Act, court clears way for Waimanalo landfill expansion, Hawaii County Council passes $416.9M budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Board of Regents courtesy Hawaii Public Radio, Molly Solomon

The University of Hawaii’s regents selected David Lassner as the institution’s next president Monday after lengthy debate about whether the board should delay selecting a candidate. Associated Press.

After a nearly year-long search, David Lassner was chosen as the new president of the University of Hawaii by the school’s Board of Regents on Monday. Lassner, UH’s longtime information technology executive, has been serving as the university’s interim president since September 2013. Civil Beat.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted Monday to hire its longtime information technology chief to lead the university as its 15th president, saying David Lassner will be able to hit the ground running and help mend the university's bruised reputation while working toward strategic goals to improve UH's delivery of higher education. Star-Advertiser.

In a split vote, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents selected Interim UH President David Lassner as the permanent UH president Monday, while two regents abstained from the vote saying they wanted the university to re-open the presidential search. Hawaii News Now.

David Lassner, courtesy UH

Dr. David Lassner will be the next University of Hawai'i president.  The UH Board of Regents selected interim president Lassner over retired Army Lt. General Frank Wiercinski in a 11 - 2 decision, with two other abstaining from the vote -- insisting instead that UH should start over and re-open the search. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted Monday to choose David Lassner as the next president of the state's 10-campus university system. Pacific Business News.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents by a vote of 11 to 2 with 2 abstentions appointed David Lassner as the next President of the University of Hawaii System at a special board meeting today.  The board discussed extensively its thoughts on the 11-month search process for the next president, which involved extensive community outreach and feedback from the public on what it wants to see in the next university leader. Hawaii Reporter.

The University of Hawaii has a new president. David Lassner was selected by the Board of Regents on Monday, winning by a vote of 11 to 2 with two abstentions. Hawaii Public Radio.

Electricity bills for most Hawaii residential customers will increase by nearly $5 a month, starting immediately. On Friday the state Public Utilities Commission approved the increase requested by Hawaiian Electric Co., the Hawaii Electric Light Co. on Hawaii island, and Maui Electric Co. as part of an annual adjustment designed to compensate the utility for increased capital expenditures and declines in sales over the past year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii officials will have millions of dollars less than expected to run state government services over the next several years if the Council on Revenues’ latest fiscal forecast holds true. Civil Beat.

Hawaii is ahead most other states in accomplishing President Barack Obama's goals to cut carbon levels. Associated Press.

As Hawaii's humpback whale and green sea turtle populations have bounced back, a Big Island lawmaker has called on the federal government to take them off of the endangered species list. Hawaii News Now.

Chronic overcrowding and an inappropriate infrastructure have put a strain on the staff at the Hawaii State Hospital and added to the risks of working there, hospital officials say. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa sticks up for her stance on Social Security and Medicare, resurrecting an issue she previously downplayed. Civil Beat.

Commentary: OHA’s controversial and heavily contested strategy to “facilitate [Kānaka Maoli] self-governance” has manifested itself in a number of questionable endeavors; most recently, Kana‘iolowalu (the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission established through Act 195 of the ‘State of Hawai‘i’) and a “re-establishment of a government-to-government relationship” under the Obama administration and without congressional approval. Civil Beat.

Houston-based Par Petroleum, which acquired Tesoro Corp. Hawaii last year, is buying the parent company of Mid-Pac Petroleum, the exclusive licensee of the “76” brand in the state and owner of more than 80 retail sites and four terminals across Hawaii, for $107 million, the companies said Monday. Pacific Business News.


Oahu

The state Intermediate Court of Appeals has determined that the final environmental impact statement the city filed for expansion of the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill is valid, clearing one of the legal issues clouding continued operations at Oahu's only municipal and solid-waste dump. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has lost another battle in her decade-long fight to shut down the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill on Oahu’s Leeward coast, where the city dumps the bulk of its garbage. Civil Beat.

West Oahu-bound drivers will get a reprieve this week from the latest round of nightly roadwork shutting down Ewa-bound lanes on the H-1 freeway. Star-Advertiser.

Many neighborhoods across Oahu deal with the same problem — piles of junk sitting on the curb, sometimes for weeks. Honolulu City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi has introduced Bill 41, which is aimed at solving the bulky item problem. KHON2.

Private equity giant Blackstone and a team of undisclosed financiers plan to invest $415 million to add a 350-foot time-share tower to the Hilton Hawaiian Village, which is the state's largest single resort property. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell says a new law would help get homeless off the streets in Waikiki. Civil Beat.

Hawaii
Facing very little testimony from an apparently apathetic public, the Hawaii County Council made quick work Monday of an operating budget for the new fiscal year, unanimously passing the $416.9 million spending plan Mayor Billy Kenoi proposed to them. West Hawaii Today.

A Native Hawaiian group suing two state agencies over plans to reopen Kulani Correctional Facility has filed a motion in an attempt to prevent the state from enacting its plans to reopen the prison. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A federal judge in Honolulu has ruled that Maui County's use of injection wells at its Lahaina sewage treatment plant violates the federal Clean Water Act, setting up the county for potential fines reaching into the millions of dollars. Associated Press.

The county’s use of injection wells at the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility in West Maui violates the federal Clean Water Act according to a federal district court ruling on Friday, the environmental law firm Earthjustice announced. Maui Now.

Hana Water Co. and Hana Water Resources have submitted their application to Hawaii regulators regarding the transfer of ownership of the two utilities as part of the thousands of acres bought by a subsidiary of Colorado-based Bio-Logical Capital earlier this year. Pacific Business News.

The final environmental assessment for a project to construct a replacement seawall, drainage improvements and a beach access path at Kahana Sunset has been accepted and published by the state. Maui News.

Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration have released an audio recording that features a Hawaiian Airlines pilot talking to air traffic controllers after realizing a teen had stowed away on a flight from San Jose to Maui. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard met with about 40 veterans at the Kauai Veterans Center Monday to discuss what she described as “deep and systematic issues” affecting the Department of Veterans Affairs. Garden Island.

There will be no launch Tuesday of a saucer-shaped test vehicle from the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, NASA announced. Star-Advertiser.

Ige, Abercrombie differ on preschool funding, Maui GMO foes submit more signatures, church-state lawsuit advances, Kim leads #HI01 race, Kauai talks trash, Hawaii County's traveling mayor, regents interview UH presidential prospects, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

David Ige, Neil Abercrombie © 2014 All Hawaii News

In a stark policy difference with Gov. Neil Abercrombie, state Sen. David Ige said Tuesday he opposes a constitutional amendment that would allow public money to be spent on private preschool. Ige, who had been undecided on the issue, said he has philosophical concerns about taxpayer money going to private preschools. Star-Advertiser.

An activist group that focuses on issues of separation of church and state won a judge's approval Tuesday to continue its lawsuit against two churches accused of underpaying by more than $1 million for use of Hawaii public school facilities. Star-Advertiser.

A lawsuit accusing two churches of underpaying rent for school facilities is moving ahead. But an attorney for the churches says the suit only hurts the schools and its students. Hawaii News Now.

Donna Mercado Kim continues to lead the crowded contest for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District, according to a Civil Beat Poll. But Mark Takai remains in the hunt, trailing Kim 30 percent to 24 percent among voters who said they intend to vote Democrat in the primary.

The Primary Election is less than 75 days away and the once “sleepy” contest for Lieutenant Governor has been energized by a veteran Democratic challenger now in the race. Hawaii Public Radio.

The first state Democratic Party chairwoman from Maui and the first Neighbor Island woman to hold the post said Tuesday that "we'll have to wait and see" on the party's legal challenge to Hawaii's open primary system. Maui News.

The two men vying to become the next University of Hawaii president interviewed for the job Tuesday, amid criticism over one of the finalists’ qualifications and the search process. The university’s Board of Regents interviewed the finalists, retired Lt. Gen. Frank Wiercinski and interim President David Lassner, during a meeting that was open to the public. Associated Press.

The two finalists vying to be the next University of Hawaii president tried to distinguish themselves as the better candidate for the job Tuesday in separate public interviews before the Board of Regents. Star-Advertiser.

The search for the University of Hawaii’s next president could end as early as next week. David Lassner and Frank Wiercinski are the remaining candidates competing for the job. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs and other supporters of federal recognition for Native Hawaiians are applauding a proposal that came down from the Secretary of the Interior. The advanced notice explores the possibility of a government-to-government relationship between the federal government and the Native Hawaiian community. Hawaii News Now.

The new We Vote Hawaii has a new logo. An online voting process was held to select a design to represent the nonprofit organization formerly known as Kids Voting Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Company’s CEO Richard Rosenblum says he will retire from the company within a year. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co. President and CEO Richard Rosenblum has notified the company that he plans to retire within a year.  Rosenblum, 64, has headed up the state's dominant utility since 2009. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaii-based military command responsible for finding, recovering and identifying missing-in-action service members is being investigated for money spent on a gravel road in Papua New Guinea. Associated Press.

State roundup for May 28. Associated Press.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Department reports on officers’ use of force suggest that such incidents have increased in recent years. Among those affected are some of the most disenfranchised citizens in the islands, including Native Hawaiians, the homeless and the mentally ill. But the reports, obtained by Civil Beat under a public records request, are heavily redacted and police officials refuse to explain the increased use of force and what, if anything, is being done about it.

City officials say they're close to reaching an agreement with the union representing roughly 200 emergency services workers on a scheduling plan that they hope will curb staff shortage and overtime problems that forced them to shut down shifts at four ambulance stations during Easter weekend last month. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply, under fire in recent years for rate hikes and errors in customer billing, is fighting back against an effort by the Honolulu City Council to exert greater control over its operations and change the composition of its policy-making board. Civil Beat.

The surfing world's first billionaire has charged into the lineup of landowners with prime oceanfront views of Oahu's North Shore surf mecca. Nicholas Woodman, the surfer who founded camera maker GoPro Inc., has bought two properties in the Sunset Beach area — including one parcel that has set a rec­ord price for residential property on the North Shore. Star-Advertiser.

The city will have to pay a Palolo woman $25,000 after she hit a pothole while riding her bicycle. But that’s actually a small amount compared to what the city pays every year to settle lawsuits. KHON2.

Air Canada said Tuesday that its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge, is expanding to Hawaii with what will be the only nonstop flight between Toronto and Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

As he has in recent years, Mayor Billy Kenoi spent on average one day a week someplace other than in the county he governs. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County Civil Defense will test its ability to communicate during disasters as part of this year’s statewide hurricane drill, said Administrator Darryl Oliveira. Tribune-Herald.

Faced with a petition for state management of water taken from the Keauhou aquifer, the Hawaii County Water Board is putting money into measures that would shore up its own monitoring of the resource. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The Maui County Clerk's Office has 10 days to verify 9,376 additional signatures submitted Tuesday in support of a citizens' initiative for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County. Maui News.

Members of the SHAKA Movement rallied in front of the county building in Wailuku today before delivering a final list of signatures to the County Clerk’s office in support of a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically-engineered organisms or GMOs in Maui County. Maui Now.

Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa is keeping a neutral stance on the GMO debate as a petition has surfaced seeking a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically-engineered organisms or GMOs in Maui County. Maui Now.

Holding stacks of papers, members of the SHAKA Movement (an anti-genetically modified organism or GMO group) confidently marched into the Maui County Clerk's office Tuesday afternoon. The effort marks the final push to get a proposed GMO ban on the general election ballot in November. Hawaii News Now.

The Maui County Council on Tuesday unanimously passed on first reading a $604 million budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Maui News.

A proposal to redevelop Makena Beach & Golf Resort cleared a major hurdle Tuesday as the Maui Planning Commission voted to grant owner ATC Makena Holdings LLC a special management area use permit for the proposed project. Maui News.

Kauai

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it has reached a legal settlement with Tahiti Nui Enterprises for its “longstanding failure” to close three large capacity cesspools at its Hanalei restaurant and bar nearly eight years after discovering the violations. Garden Island.

There was a bit of trash talk exchanged between county and state officials during a state Board of Agriculture meeting held Tuesday. the discussion focused on how county officials are seeking to address the island’s disposal needs for the next several decades as space in the county’s landfill in Kekaha gradually shrinks. Garden Island.

Abercrombie files for reelection, Hawaii's clean streams, health insurers lament Obamacare, Civil Beat wins attorney fees in public records lawsuit, missile to be tested off Kauai, UH allows pamphleteers, Honolulu rail bleeds $76M in change orders, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Abercrombie visits campaign table © 2014 All Hawaii News

He began his re-election push last year with a soft and hard launch. This year he reopened his campaign headquarters, which never really closed. And he's run political advertising and raised money hand over fist. But just to make sure everyone knows how serious he is about wanting a second and final term as governor, Neil Abercrombie really made it official Thursday by formally filing candidate paperwork at the Hawaii Office of Elections. Civil Beat.

Despite growing public concern about pesticide use in Hawaii, a new study by the state Department of Health found very small amounts of pesticides in streams on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. The study, which analyzed water from 24 streams, found that the areas with the greatest number of pesticides were not near large farms but rather in urban Oahu. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations and Gov. Neil Abercrombie recently announced the launch of a multilingual public education campaign for domestic workers. Signed by the governor last year, Act 248 provides for minimum wage, overtime, discrimination and harassment protections for domestic workers. Previously, domestic workers were excluded from these basic protections of state wage and hour and fair employment laws afforded to others. West Hawaii Today.

A filmed underwater confrontation between an environmentalist who wants to shut down the aquarium fish industry in Hawaii and a collector who gathers the fish and sells them for a living has put a spotlight on a long-running conflict over the business. Associated Press.

The state's two largest health insurers are blaming substantial losses in the first quarter on a combined $54.1 million in fees related to Obama­care. Star-Advertiser.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents on Thursday defended its presidential search proc­ess, saying it still plans to make a selection sometime next month between finalists David Lassner and Frank Wier­cin­ski despite calls to reopen the search. Star-Advertiser.

The race for Hawaii's 1st Congressional District seat got hotter this month, with two more candidates buying ad time. Civil Beat.

State House Majority Whip Romy Cachola, D-Kalihi, has hired Honolulu criminal defense attorney Michael Green to represent him, as the state and county step up their investigation into Cachola’s financial records and reporting. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s top executive sees the state’s largest electric utility’s role in running its grid as being like the Amazon.com of energy as it continues on its energy transformation to a more clean energy future. Pacific Business News.

State roundup for May 16. Associated Press.

Oahu

A Hawaii Circuit Court judge awarded more than $43,000 in attorneys' fees Thursday to The Civil Beat Law Center for the Public Interest in a lawsuit involving disclosure of police misconduct records. Civil Beat.

Rail construction delays dating back to when Honolulu city officials awarded contracts to start building the proj­ect before they had the federal say-so to proceed have so far cost taxpayers $76 million — and that amount will likely grow. Star-Advertiser.

Environmental groups are worried a proposal to include parks in the city's Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund would hamper efforts to buy areas in dire need of protection. Star-Advertiser.

Pacific Business News’ print edition won first place in nondaily newspaper excellence and PBN’s website won first place in general website excellence Thursday in the Hawaii Publisher’s Association's annual Pai Awards competition, which recognizes the best in Hawaii publications.

Hawaii

Students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo no longer have to get permission from the school prior to free speech activities and can engage in them anywhere on campus, according to a new interim policy that was implemented today. The new rules were developed in response to a lawsuit that was filed by two UH Hilo students in federal court late last month alleging that the school violated their First Amendment rights because an official told them they couldn’t distribute copies of the Constitution at an outdoor event on campus. Civil Beat.

A lawsuit filed last month accusing the University of Hawaii at Hilo of infringing on students’ constitutional rights has prompted the university to adopt an interim policy on speech and assembly. Big Island Now.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident in which a passenger jetliner had to take evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision with another jet near the Big Island. The FAA said the incident happened April 25 about 200 miles northeast of Kona and about 33,000 feet in altitude. Hawaii News Now.

Thousands of Hawaii County property owners claiming the homeowner’s exemption and agricultural land owners claiming they’re farmers will be hearing from the Real Property Tax Division over the coming months, as the county purges unqualified tax breaks from the rolls. West Hawaii Today.

A bed and breakfast warned in 2011 that it was operating without the correct permits has continued to do so while pursuing a special permit, Leeward Planning Commissioners learned Thursday. West Hawaii Today.

Rising cost of state’s health care tackled. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald won eight awards for outstanding journalism during the 29th annual Pa‘i Awards held Thursday in Honolulu.

West Hawaii Today won five awards at the Hawaii Publishers Association’s 29th annual Pai Awards held Thursday on Oahu. The awards were among 13 given to Stephens Media Hawaii, the parent company of West Hawaii Today and Hawaii Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A majority of Maui County residents who attended two Office of Hawaiian Affairs meetings on Maui this week appeared to support the organization's chief executive officer who recently sent a letter on his own to the U.S. State Department asking if it believes that the Hawaiian Kingdom still exists. Maui News.

A standing room-only crowd gathered at the J Walter Cameron Center in Wailuku on Thursday morning, as Trustees from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs heard often heated testimony relating to native Hawaiian rights to self-governance, the Kana’iolowalu registry, and all encompassing question relating to the legal status of Hawai‘i under international law. Maui Now.

The state Department of Education announced that its newest school, Puʻu Kukui Elementary School in Wailuku, will celebrate the completion of its milestone first year with a school-wide celebration and dedication ceremony on Friday, May 16, 2014. Maui Now.

Two photos by Maui News photographer Matthew Thayer impressed the judges at the 29th Pa'i Awards, bringing home two first-place trophies for the newspaper.

Kauai

A planned ballistic missile defense shield for Europe will take the next step with a missile flight test on Kauai next week. Star-Advertiser.

Some county departments may have to do more with less funding over the next year following a second round of budget cuts. These cuts, passed by the Kauai County Council on the final day of preliminary budget deliberations, include a 17 percent reduction in future travel budgets across nine county departments, a 5 percent reduction in specific overtime costs for all county departments and a 2 percent reduction in county electricity costs — all of which amounts to a $333,558 cut in costs from Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s latest budget proposal submitted last week. Garden Island.

A lot has changed, but the importance of Rice Street as a focal point in Lihue has not, said county planning officials, who are working with transportation and planning staff from Smart Growth America to determine how the nearly 2-mile long roadway should adapt to changes around it over time, especially when it comes down to parking. Garden Island.

After serving four terms as a County Council member, Tim Bynum has fought his share of battles and gleaned some experience along the way. Garden Island.