Councilwoman balks at paying HART legal fees, skydiving company had been ordered grounded before fatal crash, county police to enforce state action on Maunakea, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honouliuli station construction PC:HART

HART should pay its own legal fees, councilwoman says. Honolulu Councilwoman Heidi Tsuneyoshi says the agency tasked with building the $9.2 billion East Kapolei-to- Ala Moana Center rail line shouldn’t use additional city taxpayer money to hire a lawyer to deal with three federal subpoenas that are looking into wrongdoing at the agency. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu councilmember wants answers from rail officials about what she says is the use of $50,000 in taxpayer money for an outside attorney. Hawaii Public Radio.

Resolution introduced urging HART to pay its own outside legal counsel. A move by the Honolulu rail authority to have city tax payers pay for its legal fees isn’t sitting well with one council member. KHON2.

Resolution introduced ensuring HART pays for its own outside legal council. Council Member Heidi Tsuneyoshi introduced a resolution Friday urging HART to use the $3.7 million it has allocated for legal expenses to pay for counsel related to three federal grand jury subpoenas. KITV.

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State Sends Residents New Survey As It Assesses Foodborne Illnesses. People chosen randomly are being asked about their diets and where they purchase or grow their food. Civil Beat.

Abandoned tax licenses set to be purged. The state Department of Taxation announced July 1 that it has published a notice to revoke tax licenses due to abandonment. Maui News.

Oahu

Company was told to stop skydiving before fatal crash; now ordered to vacate.The company in charge of the airplane that crashed in Mokuleia last month, killing 11 people, had been ordered to stop its skydiving operation well before the fatal crash. KHON2.

Hawaii Governor Approves Funding For New Aloha Stadium. The new law allocates $20 million in general funds to improve the dstrict for public use. It also approves issuance of up to $180 million in revenue bonds and $150 million in general obligation bonds to build a new stadium. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ige signs into law bill that kicks off the redevelopment of Aloha Stadium. Governor David Ige signed into law Monday a bill that kicks off the process of redeveloping the 44-year-old Aloha Stadium into a mixed-use sports and entertainment district. Hawaii News Now.

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Petition for Kaneshiro’s impeachment dismissed. A setback Monday in state Circuit Court won’t discourage Oahu businessman Tracy Yoshimura from going back to the starting line in his quest to have Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro impeached, his attorney said Monday night. Star-Advertiser.

Judge dismisses petition to impeach City Prosecutor Kaneshiro. Oahu Businessman Tracy Yoshimura collected more than 500 signatures through his online petition, but a judge ruled the online signatures could not be verified. KITV.

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Council resolution demands agencies say how they’ll prevent more Kealoha-esque incidents. In the wake of the Kealoha corruption verdicts, one leading Honolulu councilman says he has grave concerns about the ability of city agencies to police their own employees ― and he’s demanding they prove they are capable of preventing corruption in their departments. Hawaii News Now.

'The world knows the truth;' Man framed by Kealohas speaks out for first time since historic verdict. Gerard Puana was set up in the famous 'mailbox' incident by Louis and Katherine Kealoha. Hawaii News Now.

A proposal to raise money for Hawaiian Home Lands turns ugly in Kapole. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants to develop about 100 acres in Kalaeloa for a solar energy project. Hawaii News Now.

City’s bulky item pickup system has led to mounds of rubbish. As part of the pilot, which is slated to run through the end of January, the city has shifted single-family and multifamily residents from Foster Village to Hawaii Kai, including Waikiki, from monthly scheduled bulky item collection to an appointment-based program. Star-Advertiser.

Never-Ending Waikiki Sidewalk Project Hurts Businesses, Obstructs Tourists. Work that began a year ago is still disrupting the south end of the bustling district. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Council committee hears concerns about police protecting TMT. Prayers, chants and tears — and an outburst or two — marked an afternoon of testimony Monday as more than 50 people shared their mana‘o about Maunakea and the impending construction of a massive telescope there. West Hawaii Today.

Council Questions County Involvement On Mauna Kea. Big Island Video News.

Residents push to preserve 70-acre parcel but landowner still plans to develop off Lako Street. West Hawaii Today.

Desk Duty For National Park Ranger After Hawaii Shooting. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park law enforcement officer who shot the driver of stolen vehicle is on desk duty while local and federal agencies investigate. Associated Press.

Maui

Koieie Fishpond holds community workday. Efforts follow calls to restore historic pond. Maui News.

Ban on Commercial Permit Operators at Hanakaoo Becomes Law. Maui Now.

Kauai

State to explain water study results.The Department of Health is making a trip to Kauai to explain their recent findings regarding the water quality in the Maha‘ulepu and Waikomo watersheds. Garden Island.

Highway to close at Waipa Bridge. The Hawaii Department of Transportation issued a reminder Monday that the upcoming full weekend closure of Kuhio Highway at Waipa Bridge is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Friday and continue through 5 a.m. Monday. Garden Island.

State seeks Airbnb records, nation's mayors visit Honolulu homeless, health department visiting Kauai homes, Molokai battles over water rights, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikiki king tides UH sea college grant program July 2017

It’s that time of year again. Another round of king tides will return to Hawaii shores this week. Scientists said the king tides will arrive on Tuesday and Wednesday — and they’re expected to peak between 3 to 5 p.m. both days. Hawaii News Now.

State again seeks to subpoena Airbnb records. The state Department of Taxation is again asking a judge for permission to force vacation rental giant Airbnb Inc. to turn over the booking records of operators in Hawaii who advertise with them. Star-Advertiser.

Bipartisan policy at 87th Conference of Mayors. Honolulu's Democratic Mayor Kirk Caldwell drew inspiration from Miami's Republican Mayor Francis Suarez's strategy for dealing with rising sea levels. KITV.

Mayors from across the nation take a peek at how the city is working to solve homelessness. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell was joined by other mayors from across the country Monday in examining a solution to homelessness. Hawaii News Now.

Experts warn of worsening fire conditions in Hawaii. Because of climate change, Hawaii’s wildfire season, previously confined to the summer months, is now year-round — which means the islands likely will see more wildfires. Tribune-Herald.

What Will It Take To Make Hawaii A Player In eSports? Cities around the world are holding eSports tournaments, hoping to attract younger visitors and become major destinations for the industry. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Deputy Investigated For Murder In Capitol Shooting. Delmar Espejo, 28, died of a gunshot wound to the back, an autopsy report said. Associated Press.

Oahu

Taxpayers Shouldn’t Expect Louis Kealoha To Pay Them Back Anytime Soon. The Honolulu Police Commission gave the former chief a retirement payment of $250,000 after he was named as the target of a federal criminal investigation. Civil Beat.

After guilty verdict, state moves to prevent Katherine Kealoha from practicing law.  Katherine Kealoha is behind bars after being found guilty in one of the state’s biggest public corruption cases. But technically, she could still practice law. Hawaii News Now.

Disciplinary counsel files to block Kealoha’s law license. KHON2.

Attorney says Katherine Kealoha needs surgery. Attorney Earle Partington visited Katherine Kealoha the day after she was placed in custody. KHON2.

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A place with 'so much local charm’ is razed to make way for a luxury tower in Waikiki. What was once a gathering place for many local families will now become a 32-story luxury tower. Those familiar with the area are used to seeing an iconic shopping center called King’s Village. Hawaii News Now.

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Pali repair work is extended 3 months. Emergency repair work on Pali Highway following February’s rockslides will continue three months longer than originally anticipated, until the end of November, state officials said. Star-Advertiser.

DOT Gives Update On Pali Highway Repairs With Completion Pushed To November. Civil Beat.

Pali Highway repairs to continue until November. Repairs to the Pali Highway will continue through November. Crews will continue repairs along the busy highway 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. KITV.

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Proposed Housing Development Gets A Rough Reception In Kaneohe. Honolulu City Council Chairman Ikaika Anderson, who represents the area, was harshly criticized for initially supporting the eight-home project. Civil Beat.

Board of Water Supply to increase the price of water based on meter size. Over the next five years customers will see gradual changes reflected on their bills. KITV.

Officials discourage floating, drinking on July 4. What has become the notorious July Fourth “Floatilla” off Waikiki has prompted early warnings from local officials hoping to discourage a large turnout and drinking in the water as a way to celebrate. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu radio acquisition creates statewide network for Pacific Media Group. Chuck Bergson, president, CEO and majority owner of Pacific Media Group, said the acquisitions cap what has been a 20-year vision for the company. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Safer days at Kua Bay: Lifeguards begin manning popular North Kona beach. Lifeguards are now patrolling the water at the popular, yet perilous Kua Bay. West Hawaii Today.

Leilani Estates Community Association exploring ways to curb tourist access to subdivision. Almost a year after the end of liquid lava in lower Puna, Leilani Estates continues to wrestle with packs of tourists attracted to the vestiges of last year’s Kilauea eruption. Tribune-Herald.

Council resolution seeks Bank of America cooperation on DHHL loans. A decades-old dispute over $150 million in home loans for Native Hawaiians has captured the attention of two Hawaii County councilwomen, who have sponsored a nonbinding resolution supporting Gov. David Ige’s attempts to bring Bank of America back to the bargaining table. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Sugimura Proposes Investigative Review of Water Resources for Upcountry Maui. Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura is requesting an exploration of options relating to East Maui water resources to ensure reliable water delivery for some 37,000 Upcountry water users. Maui Now.


State seeks input on plan for disadvantaged business enterprises. Maui meeting set for July 10. Maui News.


Kauai

DOH taking survey of residents readiness. The Kauai District Health Office of the Hawaii Department of Health will be conducting a door-to-door survey of Kauai residents from July 11 to 13 to assess their readiness for emergencies such as hurricanes, floods and other disasters. Garden Island.

Prosecutors try to seize $140,000. The Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is asking for court approval to seize roughly $140,000 in cash that police allegedly confiscated during a drug raid in Koloa two years ago. Garden Island.

King tides are here. King tides have returned, triggering flooding at Nawiliwili on Monday afternoon. Garden Island.

Molokai

Activists demand water diverted for Molokai Ranch be restored. Molokai Ranch has been diverting water for nearly 100 years from central Molokai to its land on the west side of the island. Hawaii News Now.

State population continues downward trend, Aila confirmed to DHHL, Honolulu cracks down on monster houses, Maui mayor names Honolulu rail engineer as Public Works deputy, new Honolulu-Princeville air route, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Population estimates as of July 1, data from U.S. Census Bureau

Big Island leads the state in population gains. While people continue to leave Oahu, dragging the entire state’s growth rate into the negative zone, people are still moving to Hawaii Island, according to estimates released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. West Hawaii Today.

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Senate OKs deputy director of DHHL. The full Senate voted 19 to 5 Wednesday to reconfirm William Aila as deputy director of the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Star-Advertiser.

Senate Votes To Keep Aila As Deputy DHHL Director. Five senators voted “no” on the renomination, saying the department needs to go in a new direction. Civil Beat.

Senate votes to reconfirm head of DHHL to another 4-year term. The full Senate voted Tuesday to reconfirm William Aila as the Deputy Director of Hawaiian Homelands. Hawaii News Now.

State Senators confirmed William Aila to serve another term as Deputy Director of DHHL. KITV.

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Two Ethics Reform Measures Clear House-Senate Conference Committee. But a campaign finance measure is on hold after the Campaign Spending Commission complains that amendments would result in less transparency rather than more. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers push to reduce number of unnecessary hospital visits from homeless. Helping the homeless and saving money. The state is trying to do both by addressing the issue of unnecessary hospital visits.  KITV.

Who owns aloha? Hawaii eyes protections for native culture. A resolution calls on state agencies and Native Hawaiian organizations to form a task force to develop a legal system to “recognize and protect” Native Hawaiian cultural intellectual property and traditional cultural expressions. Associated Press.

Few local contributors to Gabbard’s presidential bid. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has attracted little financial support locally for her presidential bid, with just 3% of the $1.95 million she raised in the first quarter of this year coming from residents of her home state. Star-Advertiser.

ANA completes first A380 test flight at airport. All Nippon Airways brought the state’s largest airport one step closer to accommodating the world’s largest passenger airliner with the completion of the first of two test flights of its colorful A380 “Flying Honu” Wednesday.  Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Council passes bill to crack down on monster homes. A bill aimed at addressing the issue of monster houses in the long term won final approval from the Honolulu City Council Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Tensions rose at a Windward Oahu meeting held to discuss a controversial road usage tax Wednesday night. The state transportation department is considering taxing drivers by the mile, rather than by the gallon. Hawaii News Now.

Road closures begin as rail construction reaches the airport. According to the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transport or HART, closures began on Monday. The closures will mostly take place at night. KHON2.

Landfill decree will cost city about $233,000. The city will pay a $125,000 fine and spend about $108,000 in upgrades and improvements for its role in the spillage of contaminated storm water from the only municipal landfill into the ocean in December 2010 and January 2011. Star-Advertiser.

A ‘Vicious’ Battle Over The Future Of Koko Crater Stables. Two sides are feuding over what type of riders the nearly 60-year-old stables should serve — and whether the city is awarding the contract fairly. Civil Beat.

A once impressive boat seen in Hollywood productions now sits in disrepair. The state recently impounded the Navatek II for back rent. Hawaii News Now.

Low-income status extended for senior housing. A mid-rise apartment building in Moiliili recently turned 40, but today is commemorating the next 45 years as affordable housing for seniors with low incomes. Star-Advertiser.

Some parts of Oahu see double-digit drops in home sales in March, others double-digit gains. Some of Oahu’s largest single-family home neighborhoods recorded double-digit drops in home sales last month, while the Waipahu neighborhood saw a 31 percent increase, according to the local market report from the Honolulu Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Changes To Proposed Mauna Kea Rules Explained. The Office of Maunakea Management wants to hold a second round of public hearings on a new draft of proposed administrative rules. Big Island Video News.

Airport-Style Security Comes To Hilo Hospital After Stabbings. A man attacked four employees last month, and now the emergency room has adopted measures usually found in bigger cities. Civil Beat.

State launches aquaculture accelerator program at NELHA. A three-year aquaculture accelerator pilot program the state hopes will make Hawaii a bigger player in the global aquaculture industry is poised to kick off this summer. West Hawaii Today.

Kona Aquaculture Accelerator Launched. HATCH, the world's first sustainable aquaculture accelerator, will operate the accelerator and run the investment fund. Big Island Video News.

County to dismantle two homeless encampments in Kailua Village. In the wake of a substantial state effort to clear a sprawling homeless encampment near a busy Kona intersection, Hawaii County on its own is addressing two smaller campsites in Kailua Village. West Hawaii Today.

UH-Hilo launches its own food bank. The goal of Hale Pai Ai is to help students who have “food insecurity,” said Kalei Rapoza, interim vice chancellor for administrative affairs. Tribune-Herald.

Specialty License Plates A Big Moneymaker For Damaged Park. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and, to a lesser extent, Haleakala National Park, are benefitting from the state-authorized program. Civil Beat.

Maui

Victorino taps engineer who worked on Oahu rail. Welling is named Public Works deputy. Maui News.

Water Conservation Extended to April 24 in West Maui. A water conservation advisory has been extended for West Maui customers as crews continue ongoing construction at the Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Facility. Maui Now.

Economist: Maui ‘maxed out’ of housing units. There is not enough affordable housing, said Brewbaker. Maui News.

Condominium supply tight with a median price at $525,000. Homes were $735K in the first quarter. Maui News.

Kauai

Highway reopening dominates Schatz town hall. The May 1 reopening of Kuhio Highway on the North Shore was the main topic at Wednesday’s town hall meeting held by Sen. Brian Schatz at Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall. Garden Island.

Starting next month, Makani Kai Air will begin air service between the Princeville Airport and Honolulu. Garden Island.

Makani Kai offering Princeville-Honolulu flights. Direct air service between Princeville and Honolulu will begin next month after a nearly 25-year hiatus. Star-Advertiser.

Direct flights from Honolulu to Princeville set to begin next month. Hawaii News Now.

High bacteria closes Hanauma Bay, 'gender X' could appear on state IDs, licenses, attorney general drops charges against Maui corporation counsel, Oahu pedestrian plan hearings set, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Elevated bacteria level closes beach at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. The beach at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve will be closed Wednesday following reports of an elevated bacteria level by the State Department of Health Clean Water Branch. Star-Advertiser.

Hanauma Bay To Close Wednesday Following Elevated Bacterial Reading. City parks officials are planning to close Hanauma Bay Wednesday after the state health department found bacterial levels exceeded its established threshold. Hawaii Public Radio.

High bacteria levels force closure of Hanauma Bay. The city said levels of the enterococci bacteria were nearly twice the threshold allowed. Hawaii News Now.

Elevated bacteria level at Hanauma Bay, park closed Wednesday. KHON2.

The beach at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve will be closed Wednesday, April 3, following reports of an elevated bacteria level by the State Department of Health Clean Water Branch. KITV.

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Beyond Hotels And Beaches: Can Hawaii Really Diversify Its Economy? Hawaii’s economy is thoroughly dominated by tourism. But alternative energy and research-and-development offers some of the best chances for creating new, higher paying jobs. Civil Beat.

Gender 'X’ could soon be an option when applying for IDs, drivers licenses. A measure toward furthering gender equality in the state is moving forward at the legislature. Hawaii News Now.

Lawmakers lose sleep over controversial water rights bills. The bills would extend for seven years temporary permits to divert water from streams. Hawaii News Now.

A Senate committee voted in favor Tuesday of Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Deputy Director William Aila’s confirmation — despite opposition to his nomination. The move comes days after the Ige administration decided not to nominate DHHL Chair Jobie Masagatani to another term. Hawaii News Now.

After Humpback Whale Count, Researchers Say It's Too Early To Determine Trends. A total of 109 humpback whales were counted in Hawaiian waters on Saturday as over 430 volunteers finished data-gathering from the shores of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and Hawaii Island. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaiian Airlines adds California route, expands Oceania code-share agreement. Competition between Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii’s largest carrier, and Southwest Airlines, one of the U.S.’s top four carriers, is rising. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

ACLU pushes back against ex police chief’s attorney who called for firing of Kealoha critic. The Hawaii ACLU fired back against Rustam Barbee, the taxpayer funded attorney for ex police chief Louis Kealoha on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

ACLU tells Kealoha attorney to back off. The University of Hawaii Law School and the ACLU are standing behind by a faculty member who's been asked to stop commenting on legal cases. KHON2.

Navy’s new high-tech destroyer USS Zumwalt arrives in Pearl Harbor. A striking and controversial Navy destroyer pulled into Pearl Harbor for the first time this morning, garnering attention for its sheer size (610 feet long), stealth features, and unorthodox wave-piercing “tumblehome” hull on its first operational sail from San Diego. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers look to reduce helicopter noise, but how to do so is up in the air. Residents along the coastline from Waikiki to Diamond Head and Kahala have been raising their voices for years to complain about noise from tour helicopters disrupting their neighborhoods. Hawaii News Now.

Public meeting coming up on Oahu's First Pedestrian Plan. The City and County of Honolulu is hoping taking pedestrian safety a step further by creating Oahu's First Pedestrian Plan. KHON2.

Feeding The Homeless When The City Says Not To. A nonprofit bringing food and hot shower services to Kakaako Gateway Park is sparking a debate about the downside of free meals in parks. Civil Beat.

With repairs on schedule, state shoots down idea of adding Pali contraflow hours. The state transportation department says it's "on schedule" to complete repairs to the landslide-damaged Pali Highway by the end of August. Hawaii News Now.

Pali Highway repairs on schedule; contra-flow hours to remain the same. State transportation officials said today that current contraflow hours for Pali Highway will remain the same, as emergency repairs continue in the wake of damaging rockslides in mid-February. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

$3M Settlement After Rock Slide Adds To Taxpayers’ Legal Bill. The state Department of Transportation is set to pay a $3 million settlement in a 12-year-old case brought by a Big Island couple injured when falling rocks smashed into their car.  Civil Beat.

Ka'u ranchers and farmers find themselves once again stuck in the middle of a contentious legislative fight over Hawaii water rights. Big Island Video News.

Tuesday’s Mauna Kea Management Board meeting – the first one held since May 2018 – began with a report from Office of Mauna Kea Management director Stephanie Nagata. Big Island Video News.

Another botched transport: Kailua-Kona man charged with attempted murder not released by HCCC for hearing. A preliminary hearing was rescheduled after a Kailua-Kona man, accused of assaulting a police officer, was not transported by deputies from the Hilo jail to the Kona courthouse. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Charges dropped against top civil lawyer. Attorney general won’t prosecute Patrick Wong. The state attorney general’s office said Monday that it will not prosecute Maui County Corporation Counsel Patrick Wong over domestic violence allegations. Maui News.

Dagdag-Andaya, Nakagawa named to director posts in administration. Confirmation still required by council. Maui News.

MCCC staff were ‘scared for our lives’. Letter describes chaos during March 11 riot. Maui News.

Kauai

The Hawaii Community Foundation announced Monday that more than $600,000 in grant funding is being distributed to Kauai nonprofits from the Kauai Relief and Recovery Fund that was created following the storm and flood of April 2018. Garden Island.

Upgraded sirens sound off. Several new Kauai outdoor warning sirens were included as part of Monday’s statewide outdoor warning siren test. Garden Island.

Nude photos link Big Island firefighter to Honolulu deputy prosecutor's phone, lobbyist first to get medical aid in dying prescription, Honolulu Council in disarray, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Jesse Ebersole, Katherine Kealoha

Feds recover nude photos on Kealoha’s phone. When Hawaii County firefighter Jesse Ebersole pleaded guilty last July to lying about his relationship with former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, the federal prosecutor said investigators found Ebersole’s name on some of Kealoha’s credit card charges and had records of phone conversations between the two. Star-Advertiser.

Evidence of affair between Katherine Kealoha and firefighter included sexually explicit photos. The affair between ex-police chief Louis Kealoha’s wife and a Big Island firefighter was already one of the more salacious aspects of the ongoing case against the Kealohas. Hawaii News Now.

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He Fought For Hawaii’s Aid In Dying Law. Now He Wants To Use it. Prominent Honolulu lobbyist John Radcliffe, whose colon cancer has spread, became the first state resident Wednesday to start the application process. Civil Beat.

John Radcliffe became the first Hawaii patient with terminal cancer to request a lethal prescription to end his life under the state’s new medical- aid-in-dying law. Star-Advertiser.

Cancer patient John Radcliffe poised to be come first to use medical aid-in-dying law. KHON2.

Terminal cancer patient and medical aid-in-dying advocate John Radcliffe, today went on record as Hawaii’s first individual to request a prescription for aid-in-dying medication under a new law that took effect on Jan. 1. Maui Now.

It’s now law, but ‘Death With Dignity' still faces opposition while supporters push for acceptance. The day after Hawaii’s ‘Our Care, Our Choice Act' went into effect, supporters of the controversial medical aid in dying law said they’re making progress in getting hospitals to honor patients’ end of life decisions. Hawaii News Now.

Medical-aid-in-dying law gets a web page. State DOH sets up site to answer questions, provide required forms. Maui News.

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Masagatani, Aila Retained To Lead Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Governor David Ige on Wednesday announced that he is reappointing the director and deputy at Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Big Island Video News.

A Hawaii delegation recently returned from the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland. Despite President Trump’s announcement to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, Hawaii and 16 other states committed to abide it. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Attorney General is opposing a change that a 92-year-old Native Hawaiian princess has made to her trust to ensure her wife receives $40 million and all her personal property. Associated Press.

The state is looking for information on how to operate housing programs over the next 20 years. To gather data, the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation will be calling homeowners and conducting phone surveys for the Hawaii Housing Planning Study. Hawaii News Now.

Southwest Airlines has moved one step closer to starting its long-promised service from the Mainland to Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Council delays picking leaders, assignments and schedule. The turmoil is caused by legal challenges against the election of Trevor Ozawa, who won re-election to the Council District 4 seat by beating former state Rep. Tommy Waters by 22 votes. Star-Advertiser.

Most of Honolulu’s city council has been sworn in, but one seat is still open (technically). That's because the Hawaii Supreme Court is still reviewing Trevor Ozawa's 22-vote victory over opponent Tommy Waters. Hawaii News Now.

City Council meeting in recess, Supreme Court issues another order. District 4, from Hawaii Kai to Ala Moana Beach Park, will have to wait longer for a City Council representative. The Supreme Court issued another order Wednesday that gives election challengers more time. KHON2.

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Honolulu Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga wants to crack down on people who abandon their cars on Oahu, but city officials say her proposed solution wouldn’t work. Civil Beat.

Honolulu police and prosecutors declined to press charges against Bobby Curran following the local sports broadcaster’s Dec. 27 arrest for allegedly assaulting his 15-year-old son. Star-Advertiser.

The Ritz-Carlton’s ocean-facing skyscrapers are glaring bright all night, every night. For more than two years, the residents of the Four Paddle condominiums on Kuhio Avenue have been blinded by the light. Civil Beat.

One project that will get more attention in the new year in Honolulu is a plan to build a bridge over the Ala Wai canal. The proposal would include room for pedestrians and for cyclists, but not for cars. Hawaii Public Radio.

It was business as usual for most federally funded tourist attractions in Hawaii Wednesday despite the partial government shutdown continuing for the 12th day. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The Leilani Estates Community Association plans to drop its lawsuit against Hawaii County over control of Leilani Avenue. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island residents have the opportunity to participate in a series of training courses later this month to assist the county in responding to emergencies, in case 2019 proves as turbulent as 2018. Tribune-Herald.

Public access lacking – Kaupulehu project coming to County Council. It’s taken 20 years to get this far, but full build-out of the 1,079-acre Kaupulehu project in North Kona may need 20 more. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

During the first half of fiscal year 2019, the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development issued more than $9 million in grant funds to various local organizations. Maui Now.

Kapalua Golf's Plantation Course on Maui, which regularly ranks as one of the best golf courses in the world, will temporarily close on Feb. 11 to undergo a multimillion-dollar enhancement project aimed at revitalizing the 27-year-old sports facility. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Recent rains didn’t damage or delay the rebuilding project on Kahiliholo Road and the project is on schedule, according to county officials. Garden Island.

State officials are gearing up to extend trial pig hunting on Nounou Mountain (Sleeping Giant) after a six-month trial hunt yielded 13 harvests, and more archers are signing up. Garden Island.

DLNR land policies scrutinized, PUC chair Iwase retiring, new homeless camp for Waianae, lawsuit over Leilani access, Molokai plan advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pololu Valley lookout ©2018 All Hawaii News

Booming market, idle lands. Hard up for cash, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources nearly a decade ago identified 14 mostly vacant properties as having the best potential among its inventory of idled lands to start generating badly needed funds for park maintenance. Star-Advertiser.

Examples raising questions about DLNR’s oversight of state land. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has a poor track record of leasing idled lands on several islands that it described nearly a decade ago as having the best revenue-generating potential. Star-Advertiser.

Lease extensions stir controversy. When a ground lease expires, the buildings or other improvements on the land typically become the property of the landowner. Star-Advertiser.

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New Shipping Rules May Drive Up Hawaii’s Power Bills. But experts say there is a silver lining: higher fuel prices will make renewable energy sources in Hawaii even more competitive. Civil Beat.

Hawaii PUC Chair Iwase to retire in late December. Hawaii Public Utilities Commission Chair Randall Iwase is retiring from public office in late December to spend more time with his family. Pacific Business News.

Commentary: Lt. Gov. needs a real job or save us the big salary. If Lt. Gov.-elect Josh Green wants to make a difference, he should convene a working group to conceive a real job description for the office, with meaningful constitutional responsibilities independent from the governor, and sell it to the Legislature and voters as a constitutional amendment. Star-Advertiser.

$1 Million Grant Keeps ‘Super Coral’ Research Alive. Scientists will continue the work of the late Ruth Gates to develop corals that are more resistant to the effects of climate change and create reefs that provide natural coastal protection. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii hotel workers strike, now at day 42, is likely to continue for at least another eight days. Star-Advertiser.

Conference spotlights Hawaii’s budding hemp industry. Hawaii has eight farms growing industrial hemp under a state-regulated project exploring the viability of the versatile plant as a commercial crop, and an upcoming conference aims to expand and share knowledge on the subject. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

New location discussed for Waianae homeless. Discussions are under- way to move the 270-person homeless encampment next to the Waianae Small Boat Harbor to unspecified, privately owned land farther mauka, and to erect wooden “tiny homes” for its residents. Star-Advertiser.

City Council Takes On Building Permit Backlog. The Honolulu City Council has given final approval to a bill that aims to streamline the process for getting a building permit. Hawaii Public Radio.

All aboard: HART invites public to explore rail cars. HART hopes to begin operations and welcome passengers aboard by Dec. 2020. Hawaii News Now.

Pearl Harbor shipyard changes planned to meet submarine need. The Navy says it wants to spend $5 billion over 20 years to improve Pearl Harbor shipyard’s aged infrastructure and to accommodate an expected increase in Virginia-class attack submarine work. Star-Advertiser.

City asks windward Oahu residents to weigh in on plans for aging bridge. Waiahole Stream bridge is 96 years old. Hawaii News Now.

The Battle Over the Waikiki Natatorium Continues. A new round over what to do about the Waikiki Natatorium has been touched off with a new alternative for a swim basin replacing the crumbling walls with a fiberglass mess. Former war veterans weighed in on the controversy over the weekend on veterans day...against the backdrop of the war memorial and ceremonies held there. Hawaii Public Radio.

Police, abuse victims call for stronger court system to end domestic violence. The state auditor found, over a four year period there were more than 7,000 arrests by Honolulu police for misdemeanor and felony domestic violence. KITV.

First-time buyers crowd seminars on The Central tower near Ala Moana. Technically, they’re not for sale yet, but condominiums in a planned tower next to Ala Moana Center are in high demand, and potential buyers are facing long odds in getting one of the designated affordable units. Star-Advertiser.

Dockless bikeshare rolls into Honolulu, but smooth ride not guaranteed. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Lax oversight by DLNR allows businesses to use state land for free at a Kona harbor. The Department of Land and Natural Resources for years has allowed fishing charters, a submarine tour operation and other private businesses at a public boat harbor on Hawaii island to use state land without paying rent, a Honolulu Star-Advertiser investigation has found. Star-Advertiser.

Judge calls inspections at Pohakuloa training area ‘grossly inadequate’. The spotty inspection record came to light as a result of a lawsuit Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners Clarence “Ku” Ching and Mary Maxine Kahaulelio filed against DLNR in 2014, alleging the department and its governing board breached their trust duties by failing to enforce the Pohakuloa lease. Star-Advertiser.

‘Local boy’ wants PTA to be a good steward. Self-proclaimed “local boy” Lt. Col. Loreto V. Borce Jr., commander at U.S. Army Garrison Pohakuloa Training Area, hit the ground running when he took over PTA in late May, with goals of readiness, workforce and community. West Hawaii Today.

Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara has introduced a resolution urging Hawaii County to grant temporary control of Leilani Avenue to the Leilani Estates Community Association. Tribune-Herald.

Leilani Estates homeowners are asking the federal courts to order Hawaii County officials to maintain the security checkpoint that keeps out nonresidents, and to order the Federal Emergency Management Agency to continue paying for it. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiians concerned DHHL housing development dragging. The Department of Hawaiian Homelands issued a request for proposal in February of 2016 to develop 163 single-family lots across two sections of the Villages of Laiopua Hawaiian home lands properties. West Hawaii Today.

The state Department of Health will hold a series of public hearings next month on the Big Island to discuss proposed changes to the state’s immunization requirements for school attendance. Tribune-Herald.

Funding for next step in Kealakehe Regional Park up for council vote this week. West Hawaii Today.

Updated county website in the works. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The 324-unit Wailuku apartment project planned across from Longs Drugs in Kehalani advanced Thursday as the Maui County Council approved a resolution and a bill to pave its way. Maui News.

The state Department of Health will hold public hearings next month in Maui County to get community input on proposed amendments to state requirements for health examinations and immunizations for school attendance in Hawaii. Maui News.

In recent years, West Maui community members have been organizing to protect their shorelines. From 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7, the broad umbrella group Na Papai Wawae Ulaula and the West Maui Preservation Association, along with other sponsoring organizations, will host a one-day symposium, “Disappearing Shorelines and Managed Retreat: A Conversation,” at Wai Ola Church. Maui News.


Kauai

Free meals for Thanksgiving. Garden Island.

The Blood Bank of Hawaii announced its schedule of upcoming blood drives, calling on Kauai residents to give “the ultimate gift this holiday season.” Garden Island.

Molokai

Updated Molokai island plan closer to final approval. New plan calls for maintaining Molokai’s rural character, farming. Maui News.

Hawaii revising union laws following Janus decision, ballot testing and election updates, Maui council aide gets $100k county grant, volcano still simmers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Union rally, 2009 All Hawaii News file photo

State Moves to Stop Fee Collection for Non-Union Employees. The policy, outlined in a memo from the State Comptroller, was spurred by last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Janus v AFSCME. Hawaii Public Radio.

How Gov Candidates Would Grow Hawaii’s Economy. The next governor will face the challenge of not just creating new jobs, but creating high-paying jobs that allow people to afford to live in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige wins over environmentalists. It wasn’t more than two months into his term as governor when David Ige ignited the ire of environmentalists by nominating a development lobbyist for Castle & Cooke to lead the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Hawaii News Now enables Tulsi Gabbard’s campaign hypocrisy. Hawaii News Now.

Ballot machines tested ahead of primary election. KHON2.

Important dates you should know for the upcoming election. Hawaii News Now.

'Broken Promises': Documentary on Department of Hawaiian Homelands to release at Capitol. A new documentary centered around problems within the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will be released at the State Capitol on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

Public schools could soon be open for business. SB2051 would not only help students learn about business, but allow public schools to generate their own revenue. KHON2.

Private schools across the state are raising tuition by an average of 4 percent this fall, with the bill reaching $24,780 at Punahou School, the state’s largest independent campus. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has issued the first licenses to growers under the state’s Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. Garden Island.

Program Fighting Childhood Obesity Secures $2 million in Funding. Maui Now.

Big Island, Kauai see higher home prices in first half of 2018. Condominium prices on the Big Island rose by double digits during the first half of this year, while Kauai saw double-digit gains in sales for both single-family homes and condominiums. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The latest vision of Laie’s future will get its first public airing at today’s City Council Planning Committee meeting, and the draft’s author expects the sparks to fly again in a dispute that’s dragged on for years. Star-Advertiser.

A proposal for more housing in Laie, BYU expansion garners mixed reaction. On Monday, city council members will hold a special meeting that is expected to draw supporters and opponents of a controversial development plan for part of Oahu's North Shore. Hawaii News Now.

What Honolulu Rail Planners Can Learn From Puerto Rico. San Juan’s Tren Urbano, an elevated, heavy rail system like that planned in Honolulu, has struggled with low ridership and cost overruns. Civil Beat.

A Navy captain on active duty at Pearl Harbor has been censured for “repeatedly and improperly” accepting gifts from a Singapore-based defense contractor. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s Bright Retail Outlook May Not Linger.  Retail on Oahu has been growing over the past six months, but that could change as retailers confront two unfavorable conditions. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Marco Polo high rise almost one year after the fire. The deadly Marco Polo Condominium fire is considered one of the most destructive fires in Honolulu's history. KHON2.

Mobile phone company Sprint hitches gear to city light poles. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu home prices dip but stay close to record. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Challengers in some Hawaii Island political races say the public is missing out on the back-and-forth of debates and candidate forums because the incumbents are no-shows. West Hawaii Today.

The Pahoa Community Center will open as a polling place on primary election day, Aug. 11, to allow residents hardest hit by the ongoing Kilauea eruption to register and vote on the same day. Star-Advertiser.

As a Puna geothermal plant enters its third month of a lava-triggered shutdown, its parent company affirmed its commitment to re-opening the facility and has told the 30 full-time workers they will remain on the payroll for at least a year. Star-Advertiser.

No significant change in volcanic activity. Tribune-Herald.

Community watches anxiously as lava closes in on Puna charter school. Hawaii News Now.

Several residents are determined to stay in their Leilani Estates homes. Star-Advertiser.

Kilauea eruption downsizes one of the Big Island’s largest orchid growers. Star-Advertiser.

While most of East Hawaii is seeing a wetter-than-average year so far, much of West Hawaii is parched. That’s particularly true for the Kona coffee belt — potentially bad news for this year’s coffee crop. Tribune-Herald.

Residents in the Laaloa Avenue area are one step closer to having a park of their own. A final environmental assessment with a finding of no significant impact for the long-planned project was published Sunday in the July 8 edition of the Office of Environmental Quality Control’s twice-a-month Environmental Notice. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Atay grant for queen’s events under review. $100,000 awarded to council member’s executive assistant. Maui News.

Ige signs bill to help tenants at Lahaina complex. Law begins process to condemn land under Front Street Apartments; provides $30 million for new construction. Maui News.

Pulehunui Industrial Park, Maui’s first and only subdivision to offer M3 Industrial zoning, is now complete and available to Maui businesses. Maui Now.

Maui Leads State in Timeshare Occupancy at 96%. Maui Now.

Kauai

Candidates at WKBPA meeting. The candidates for state representative for Kauai County District 16, Stephanie Iona and incumbent Dee Morikawa, will present their platforms. Garden Island.

County talks beach repair. April’s historic flooding brought in about 70,000 cubic yards of sand to Hanalei Bay, according to a study from the University of Hawaii. That damaged Weke Road, destroyed the comfort station at Black Pot Beach and left erosion up to 12 feet deep in some areas. Garden Island.

It could be months before reconstruction starts on Hanalei’s Weke Road — the sinkhole is still there and the road is still closed after April floods wiped it out. Garden Island.

Judge rules for developer in Coco Palms dispute, paves way for Kauai resort. A Hawaii developer will be able to lay groundwork for a resort in Kauai, ending court dealings in a lengthy property dispute. Associated Press.

Condominium sales jumped on Kauai last month, along with prices, while single-family homes posted a more modest price gain on flat sales, according to data from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Inouye, Kamehameha Schools sex scandals revisited, huge raises for Hawaii County officials, no new landfill for Oahu, Maui group sues DLNR over boat traffic, mental hospital escapee fights extradition, Kauai whale beaching hearing held, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

File photo: late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye © 2017 All Hawaii News

Would Dan Inouye Have Survived 1992 Sex Allegations Today? Accusations against the revered Hawaii senator didn’t generate much of a public outcry 25 years ago. Civil Beat.

The Kamehameha Schools administration in the 1990s dropped the ball by not investigating allegations of sexual abuse against a psychiatrist who had treated hundreds of students from the late 1950s to the early 1980s, a board member from that period told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Kamehameha Schools sex abuse victims: 'Monster' stole our childhoods. Hawaii News Now.

Kamehameha Schools responds to sex abuse scandal. Hawaii News Now.

PHOTOS: Hidden Betrayal: Kamehameha Schools Scandal. Hawaii News Now.

‘Attack’ siren to sound Friday. Schoolchildren statewide won’t be scurrying for shelter Friday when officials sound an “attack warning” siren in the first test of its kind in decades. Star-Advertiser.

State Hospital escapee fights extradition to Hawaii. Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito today contested extradition to Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Island Air just one of several airport tenants that owe the state rent money. KHON2.

Craigslist: Where Desperate Hawaii Renters Plead For Help. Online postings show the dire straits would-be renters face in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Project to provide 160 homes for Native Hawaiians. More than 100 Native Hawaiians are inching closer to homeownership as the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands works to complete a long-planned subdivision in Kapolei. Star-Advertiser.

The judge in the federal criminal case against former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his prosecutor wife, Katherine Kealoha, and four former members of the Honolulu Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit has pushed back the trial by six months. Star-Advertiser.

New Kealoha Defense Tactic: Going After ‘Mainland Prosecutors’ A federal judge pushed back the trial date until June due to the complexity of the case and sheer volume of the evidence. Civil Beat.

City wants to extend landfill’s life. The city will move forward with its plan to continue using the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill into the near future with the hope that it won’t need a new location down the line, Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Despite new rankings for alternate landfills, mayor opposes opening new site. The city released a consultant's report on Monday that includes new rankings for the 11 sites identified as possible alternatives to the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill. Hawaii News Now.

A new report shows the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill may only have 20-years left, but Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday afternoon, he does not want another landfill on Oahu. KITV.

Accessory dwellings touted as alternative to ‘monster’ homes. The leader of the Honolulu Board of Realtors said Oahu homeowners looking to help family, friends or even strangers with housing should look into the idea of creating an accessory dwelling unit on their properties. Star-Advertiser.

Many huge homes not illegal under current city laws. While they’re getting a ramped-up number of complaints from Oahu residents about the large-scale houses that are creeping into their neighborhoods, Honolulu City Council members are learning that existing zoning and building laws allow for much more than people think. Star-Advertiser.

A public hearing will be held Tuesday in the hearing room of the Mission Memorial Building on the Honolulu Hale municipal ground to discuss quiet times at the 17 campsites the city maintains across Oahu. KHON2.

Tempers fray over parking fees, maintenance on private Kakaako roads. Hawaii News Now.

Retail plan near Sharks Cove advances. The public has another opportunity to comment on a developer’s plan to build a “rural” retail complex on Oahu’s North Shore as part of a state environmental review. Star-Advertiser.

Two More Condo And Hotel Towers Proposed For Ala Moana. The city planning department has given the green light to the builders as long as they add more community benefits. Civil Beat.

Ex-officer gets 6-month sentence for seeking sex to fix case. Former University of Hawaii volleyball player and fired Honolulu police officer Maulia LaBarre is going to jail for six months for offering to help a woman get her prostitution case dismissed in exchange for sex. Star-Advertiser.

Ex-Cop Sentenced For Helping Prostitute In Exchange For Sex. Judge cites “abuse of your position of power” in sentencing Maulia LaBarre to six months behind bars. Associated Press.

A former University of Hawaii volleyball player and former Honolulu Police Department officer was sentenced Monday to 6 months in prison for federal wire fraud. KITV.

OCCC clearing out contraband. KITV.

Sleep Number to open first Hawaii store in December. U.S. mattress and bedding brand Sleep Number will open its first Hawaii store on West Oahu. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for some top county officials who will see double-digit raises as high as 39.7 percent. West Hawaii Today.

An underground leak slowed motorists Monday but didn’t create a significant impact on the water-sensitive region. West Hawaii Today.

Six Rescued From Sinking Vessel Off Hawaii Island. The Coast Guard, and good Samaritans rescued six fishermen from the 57-foot fishing vessel, Jane, reportedly taking on water 110 miles southeast of the Big Island of Hawaii on Monday. Big Island Now.

Prominent San Diego couple, George and Gladys Novinger, swept away in Wailuku River. The couple owns Vineyard Hacienda, a Spanish hacienda-style inn on a 9-acre property with a Bordeaux wine grape vineyard in Rancho San Diego. Tribune-Herald.

Winter arrives on Big Island summits. Snow fell Monday on the summits of Mauna Loa and Maunakea after the National Weather Service declared a winter storm warning. Tribune-Herald.

A winter wonderland! Mauna Kea sees heavy snow (and more is on the way). Hawaii News Now.

Coffee Theft on Hawaii Island. Agriculture theft has been a problem on Hawaii Island for decades. Hawaii Public Radio.

Most Hilo locations already sold out of cut Christmas trees. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

A lawsuit has been filed against the state Department of Land and Natural Resources over the current permitting system for tour boat operators off of Kaanapali Beach. Maui Now.

Fire-damaged Kahului school to reopen Thursday. Kahului Elementary School will remain closed to students until Thursday as staff work to cope with the aftermath of a suspected arson fire. Star-Advertiser.

Kahului Elementary Remains Closed Until Thursday, Nov. 30. Maui Now.

Kahului Elementary School remains closed today after a suspicious fire Friday night burned six classrooms, damaged the school’s waterlines and left parents and students frustrated and saddened. Maui News.

Kauai

A briefing to discuss findings regarding the October beaching of pilot whales on Kauai is scheduled at 10 a.m. today at the State Capitol building. Garden Island.

Samples taken from 45 mullet-like fish found in Lehua tide pools during the summer 2017 rat-eradication project are too degraded to point to what killed the animals. Garden Island.

Loop Road in Wailua has been closed past the point known as “Jurassic Gate” temporarily, after recent rains created muddy conditions and caused trees to fall over the dirt road. Garden Island.

More abandoned dogs being found at Kokee kennels. Garden Island.