Showing posts with label Ed Case. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ed Case. Show all posts

Friday, July 8, 2022

Case, Tokuda far out front in congressional races, Lassner gets positive revaluation, Navy investigating leaked Red Hill footage, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Civil Beat/HNN Poll: Case, Tokuda Far Ahead In Democratic US House Races. U.S. Rep. Ed Case is on course to easily win reelection in the Democratic primary Aug. 13. He leads political newcomer Sergio Alcubilla 65% to 8%. Jill Tokuda, a former state senator, is leading first term state Rep. Patrick Branco 31% to 6% for the CD2 seat. But a huge number of those surveyed — 63% are not sure who they favor. Civil Beat.

Democratic hopefuls soften tone, praise one another in second joint appearance. The kid gloves were firmly in place and their metaphorical oratory weapons were holstered when Lt. Gov. Josh Green, U.S. Rep. Kai Kahele and business entrepreneur Vicky Cayetano on Thursday night met face to face for the first time ahead of the Aug. 13 Democratic Party primary election and repeatedly praised one another’s political stances and their philosophical positions. Star-Advertiser.

Fewer visitors intend to return to Hawaii within 5 years, survey finds.
While overall satisfaction among Hawaii visitors has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in key areas, fewer visitors from the state’s top U.S. market say they’re likely to return in the next five years, according to the results of a state- commissioned survey. Star-Advertiser.

Snorkel Safety Study Sheds Light On Unexplained Drownings In Hawaii. The three-year project finds many snorkeling-related deaths aren’t from inhaling water, and that long flights beforehand may play a role. Civil Beat.

Education-related bills signed into law by Gov. David Ige. An unprecedented appropriation of $200 million to create more public preschool facilities across Hawaii, a bill devoting $10 million to installing more air conditioning in public school classrooms, and other measures to help solve Hawaii’s doctor shortage were among a raft of education-related bills signed into law Thursday by Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser. Tribune-Herald.  Hawaii News Now.

Ige signs bills aimed at retaining more health care professionals. To combat shortages, Gov. David Ige signed two measures  into law on Thursday, appropriating a combined $6.75 million for the 2022-23 fiscal year to the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News.

University of Hawaii president receives positive annual evaluation. University of Hawaii President David Lassner received a mostly positive annual performance evaluation from the UH Board of Regents on Thursday, giving him the green light to continue leading the 10-campus system through challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, changes on Mauna Kea, development of a new university strategic plan and more. Star-Advertiser. KHON2.

Hawaii Community Schools Seek To Support And Engage With Local Families. The schools are joining a national movement to create more community partnerships to help students thrive inside and outside of the classroom. Civil Beat.

Farmers Want Action From Hawaii Governor Candidates, Not Lip Service. Farmers and ranchers feel investing in agriculture has become more of a buzzword than an actual concern for the executive branch. Civil Beat.

Omicron subvariants continue to rise in Hawaii. Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 together now make up roughly 20% of variants circulating in Hawaii, according to the state Health Department’s latest variant report. The CDC, meanwhile, on Thursday kept Honolulu, Maui and Hawaii counties classified as orange, high-level communities for COVID-19 impacts even though the state’s average case counts and positivity rates have been on a downward trend. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Honolulu airport to get $10 million for upgrades. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu will receive $10 million in federal funding for upgrades to its runways, lighting and draining. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Navy investigating leaked footage of Red Hill fuel spill. The Navy is investigating the publication of video and photos this week showing fuel gushing from a Red Hill pipe on Nov. 20, according to a Navy official who said the person who released the footage to the media could face disciplinary action. Star-Advertiser.

Higher interest rates shackling Oahu’s housing market. Higher mortgage interest rates created ripple effects across Oahu’s housing market in June as sales volume decreased, asking prices were reduced and active listings stayed on the market longer. Star-Advertiser.

Bishop Museum revisits history of gender-fluid healers. More than 500 years ago, Hawaiians placed four boulders on a Waikiki beach to honor visitors from the court of Tahiti’s king who had healed the sick. They were “mahu,” which in Hawaiian language and culture refers to someone with dual male and female spirit and a mixture of gender traits. Associated Press.

Outrage grows as basketball coach accused of sex abuse still working with minors. A coach’s history of alleged sexual misconduct prompted a warning from several schools to parents — while stirring new frustration among accusers. Hawaii News Now.

Police capture live gopher snake at Kapolei Home Depot.
Honolulu police officers responding to a 911 call captured a live snake at the Kapolei Home Depot last night, according to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Star-Advertiser. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island


Council Nixes Bill That Sought to Create New Building Department. Council members on Wednesday, July 6, during their regular meeting killed Bill 174. The measure sought to amend the county charter to create a new department that would manage the duties and functions currently performed by the Building Division within the county Department of Public Works. Big Island Now.

Plans for new transit hub and bus route coming to Big Island. The state Department of Transportation and Hawaiʻi County’s bus system Hele-On have received federal funding to plan a new transit hub in downtown Pāhoa. Hawaii Public Radio.

Maui

Judicial Selection Commission reveals nominee list for judge vacancy on Maui. The judicial office has been vacant since December 2021, when former District Judge Kirstin M. Hamman was elevated to Circuit Judge of the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit. Maui Now.

Molokai woman is tapped to be county agricultural director. Rogerene ‘Kali’ Arce still requires council confirmation; Weston Yap named deputy. Maui News.

Maui hunters protest new contraceptive meant to control feral pig populations. For the second time this week, Maui hunters are protesting a new product aimed at controlling feral pig populations. The contraceptive HogStop is now being distributed on Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Joint pavement preservation pilot project begins on Kula Highway. The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation, in coordination with the County of Maui, will pilot the use of micro surfacing as a pavement preservation technique in the area.  Maui Now.

Maui median sales prices hit another all-time high at $1.25 million for single-family homes. Despite a slowdown in sales, Maui County median sales prices last month hit another all-time high for single-family homes at more than $1.25 million. Meanwhile, condo median sales prices in June set a new record at $832,500, according to the Realtors Association of Maui report released Wednesday afternoon. Maui Now.

Kauai

Grove Farm sues County of Kauaʻi over gifted land deeded for treatment facility. For nearly 20 years, the County of Kauaʻi has been working to open a drug treatment center for children and young adults on the island. Hawaii Public Radio. Garden Island.

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Masks now optional at airports, airlines, public transportation, still required at public schools, Blangiardi to sign short-term vacation rental limits, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Honolulu airport pre-COVID ©2022 All Hawaii News

Hawaii Airports, Airlines And Public Transportation Drop Mask Mandates. Masks will no longer be required at Hawaii’s airports and on public transportation after a federal judge struck down a national mandate that had been extended through May 3.  Civil Beat. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Public Radio. Tribune-Herald. Hawaii News Now.

Indoor masking to continue in Hawaii public schools through end of school year. Indoor masking to protect against COVID-19 will continue to be required at all Hawaii public schools through the end of the school year, state schools interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi has confirmed. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. Hawaii News Now.

Local COVID modeling group projects new variant will not cause hospitalization surge. The Hawaiʻi Pandemic Applied Modeling Group, or HiPAM, is projecting that a new subvariant of COVID will not produce a surge in hospitalizations like other strains before it. A COVID-19 omicron variant hybrid called XE has been detected in Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Public Radio.

Working class tax credit still alive. After taking a long, winding path through the Legislature, a bill making the Earned Income Tax Credit permanent and refundable has made it through both the House and the Senate, though disagreements over amendments mean that the bill will now go before a conference committee. Garden Island.

Bill to ban use of drones for fishing moves forward. Senate Bill 2065, which would prohibit the use of the “unmanned aerial vehicles” on, in or near state waters to take aquatic life, passed out of the House of Representatives on April 8 and will be discussed in conference hearings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii officials pursue stronger deterrents for illegal game rooms. A proposal before state lawmakers would elevate misdemeanor gambling offenses associated with game room activity to felonies. Star-Advertiser.

No One Is Raising Money Yet To Run Against Kahele, Case Or Schatz. Contributions to Kahele fell off in the first quarter of 2022 while Case saw more donations to his campaign and Schatz continued to bring in significant sums. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters Eyes Run For Congress. He has pulled papers for the 2nd Congressional District seat in case it becomes open. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Mayor Rick Blangiardi to sign short-term rental bill, return to work after recovering from COVID-19. Mayor Rick Blangiardi said he plans to sign a measure that would tighten rules for short-term rentals on Oahu as he announced he would return to Honolulu Hale today after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KHON2.

No salary increase this year for Council members, mayor and department heads. The mayor and City Council members will not get salary increases this year after a unanimous vote Monday by the Honolulu Salary Commission. Star-Advertiser.

Helicopters to drop citric acid solution over remote Waimanalo area to eradicate coqui frogs. Helicopters will spray a citric acid solution over a remote mountain area of Waimanalo on Wednesday in an attempt to eradicate invasive coqui frogs, according to the state Department of Agriculture. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council to talk taxes: Breaks for drivers, homeowners and businesses on agenda this week. Resolutions lowering gas taxes by a dime a gallon and granting homeowners a $250 credit on their property taxes, as well a bill capping property values for other classes of property, will all be considered by the council today and Wednesday. West Hawaii Today.

Construction on Phase 2 of Bayfront Trails begins. Work on the second phase of the Hilo Bayfront Trails project began Monday after years of delay. The first phase of the project was completed in 2016, and connected Mooheau Park, Pauahi Street, the Bayfront canoe hale, and the Bayfront soccer fields. Tribune-Herald.

Closing arguments to begin in trial of prominent doctor accused of drug crimes. Closing arguments are set to begin Tuesday morning in the federal drug trial against prominent Big Island physician Rudy Puana. Puana’s attorneys will get one last chance to convince jurors he was not illegally dealing drugs. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

Plans for warehouse in Maui Business Park move forward. Despite concerns over drainage and runoff, a 20,000-square-foot warehouse to be located near Costco in Kahului received approval of a special management area use permit on Tuesday. The Maui Planning Commission granted West Maui Construction Holdings LLC the permit to develop the warehouse building and conduct improvements on approximately 4.7 acres in the Maui Business Park at 72 Lauo Loop. Maui News.

Cat colony at the Grand Wailea resort may be eradicated amid lawsuit. The nonprofit Earthjustice recently filed a lawsuit against the resort, sighting lighting problems for endangered seabirds at the Grand Wailea. KITV4.

Kauai

Driver licensing, motor vehicle registration offices close early this week. The county Finance Department’s divisions of motor vehicle registration and driver licensing are closing at 3 p.m. all this week to accommodate staff training for a planned integration project. The integration project involves the combination of both the drivers licensing and motor vehicle registration divisions into one, full-service Department of Motor Vehicles. Garden Island.



Monday, October 22, 2018

Voting starts Tuesday, Case and Cavasso debate, rail audit pending, Maui and Kauai mayoral candidates profiled, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

©2018 All Hawaii News www.allhawaiinews.com
Hawaii ballot testing ©2018 All Hawaii News
Walk-in absentee voting for the general election begins Tuesday and runs through Nov. 3. Registered voters are allowed to visit any early walk-in voting location in their county to cast their ballot. Star-Advertiser.

Does Hawaii Need a Constitutional Convention? Every 10 years Hawaii voters are required to decide whether or not to call for a convention to amend the state constitution. A Constitutional Convention, or ConCon, hasn’t happened in Hawaii since 1978. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Friday threw off the November ballot a proposed constitutional amendment that would have established a surcharge on investment property to help fund public education. Associated Press.

Ed Case and Cam Cavasso bring familiar names to congressional race. Star-Advertiser.

Why GOP Congressional Candidate Cam Cavasso Won’t Quit Running. The former legislator hasn’t won an election since 1988, yet he keeps taking on Hawaii’s Democrats in federal races. Civil Beat.

Democrat Ed Case and Republican Cam Cavasso squared off with the general election just around the corner. It was a lively showdown between two candidates hoping to earn a seat on Capitol Hill. Hawaii News Now.

Who’s Who On The Ballot For The Office Of Hawaiian Affairs. Up for grabs are three OHA at-large seats, as well as seats representing Maui and Oahu. Civil Beat.

The contested case hearing alleging ethics violations against Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Rowena Akana will start Monday morning despite attempts in court last week to block or delay the proceeding. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Couple Faces Deportation Of Adopted Sons With Down Syndrome. A federal agency says their parents, Ryan and Francheska Grogan, failed to prove the adoptions met legal requirements. Civil Beat.

Marriott, Kyo-ya to meet with hotel workers union over contract negotiations. About 2,700 Hawaii union hotel workers have been on strike since Oct. 8 after negotiating for higher wages, better benefits and job security. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Time is running out to resolve a series of disputes between the Hawaii State Auditor and staff at the Honolulu rail project, and that time crunch may limit how much the public will learn about what has gone wrong with rail. Star-Advertiser.

Former city Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha is faking an illness to delay her trial next month on multiple counts of bank fraud, according to federal prosecutors. Star-Advertiser.

Community and federal government in conflict over opposing plans for Aiea site. The state is trying to fast-track plans to develop a $70 million veterans home mostly funded by the federal government, but a last-minute decision on where to build the facility has created a backlash. Star-Advertiser.

Younger patients prefer urgent care clinics, and health care providers are delivering. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Ag survey reports nearly $28M in damages caused by eruption. Fewer than 50 Big Island farmers reported nearly $28 million in total agricultural damages in a survey of farmers affected by the Kilauea eruption published last week. Tribune-Herald.

Bulldozing begins on Highway 137; temporary road over lava rock to be used by landowners, area residents first. Tribune-Herald.

Salary Commission finds setting salaries a tricky business. Among their ranks are a physician, a retired stockbroker, two engineers and a tax manager. Four of the eight are former government employees and one works for a consulting firm doing business with the county. West Hawaii Today.

Innergex Renewable Energy wins two Hawaiian Electric solar-plus-storage project bids: Public presentations set for Oct. 29 and Nov. 1 to discuss Waimea project. West Hawaii Today.

A series of free presentations planned around the Big Island intend to educate residents and health care professionals about medically assisted death in the “Our Care, Our Choice” Act, which goes into effect Jan. 1. Tribune-Herald.

Trashing tires tiresome for county. Hawaii County doesn’t consider tires rubbish, but that hasn’t stopped residents from abandoning them on roadsides or dropping them off at transfer stations in defiance of official policy. West Hawaii Today.

Small farm homesteads are planned for a former sugar plantation site. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands wants to reduce a backlog of beneficiaries waiting for homesteads by offering a new kind of land lease: small farm sites. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Mayoral candidates give preview of administrations. In the lead-up to the Nov. 6 Election Day showdown, mayoral candidates Elle Cochran and Mike Victorino have dished on issues ranging from housing to agriculture to tourism and the economy. Maui News.

Hawaii’s only farmer serving as a lawmaker at the state Capitol is questioning Gov. David Ige’s pledge to double local food production by 2020, and Rep. Lynn DeCoite believes legislators should be shifting more taxpayer dollars from tourism into agriculture, which makes up less than 1 percent of the state’s total budget. Maui News.

An activity center with ziplines, a giant swing, tightropes and other challenges is being proposed for a portion of the former Experience at Koele Golf Course on Lanai. Maui News.

Kauai

In Kauai Mayor’s Race, Rapozo Faces Uphill Battle Against Kawakami. The County Council chairman looks for a turnaround after being significantly outpolled by the former state representative in the primary. Civil Beat.

The Elections Division of the Office of the County Clerk will begin offering late voter registration and early voting services in the basement of the Historic County Annex this week. Garden Island.

An abandoned Kauai church that transformed into a gym this June helped youth stay off of drugs and out of trouble; but without the proper permits, the facility had to shut down. Hawaii News Now.

And then there were 6. It was feeding time at the predator-proof nesting area on Kauai’s North Shore, but one of the Newell’s shearwater (‘a‘o) chicks didn’t show up for breakfast. Garden Island.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

More than half oppose education property tax in poll, Ige and Tupola debate, ballots in the mail, hotel strikers cited for trespassing, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii 2018 general election ballot © 2018 All Hawaii News
Civil Beat Poll: Hawaii Voters Oppose ConAm On Property Taxes. While there is sentiment to help schools and teachers, voters appear worried about how the ballot question is constructed. Asked how they would vote on the so-called “ConAm” question, 53 percent said they would oppose it compared to just 35 percent who would vote in favor. Civil Beat.

Parents will join teachers at dozens of public schools across the state on Tuesday morning to rally in support of a proposed constitutional amendment regarding education. The proposed constitutional amendment, set to go before voters on Nov. 6, reads: “Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?” Hawaii News Now.

Governor David Ige and state Representative Andria Tupola square off in first televised debate. KHON2.

Ige, Tupola spar in debate that includes running mates. Andria Tupola criticized Democratic Gov. David Ige for not doing enough to increase affordable housing, cool classrooms, make the state’s roads safer, reduce the waiting list for Hawaiian homelands and reduce homelessness, during a one-hour gubernatorial debate Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's Debate: Lieutenant governor candidates closing statements. KHON2.

Voting in the 2018 general election has begun now that the county clerks on three islands sent out tens of thousands of absentee mail-in ballots during the past week. Star-Advertiser.

Hirono Rakes In The Campaign Cash Following Kavanaugh Hearing. While the Hawaii senator doesn’t face much of a challenge in November, her campaign is raising and spending money like she does. Civil Beat.

CD-1: Democrat Ed Case on the Campaign Trail. Two veteran politicians are vying for the Congressional District One seat to represent urban Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio.

Strike leaves some guests grumbling. So far, there’s no end in sight for the strike, which began Oct. 8 when negotiations between Unite Here Local 5 and Kyo-ya Hotels &Resorts, which owns the Marriott-managed Sheraton Waikiki, The Royal Hawaiian, Westin Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Kaiulani and Sheraton Maui, reached an impasse. Star-Advertiser.

No Talks Scheduled Yet in Hotel Strike. Here in Hawaii, 2,700 workers are on the picket lines outside five hotels managed by Marriott and owned by Kyo-Ya. Hawaii Public Radio.

Sears has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection Monday and announced 142 stores across the country are closing, however none of the six stores in Hawaii are on that list. KITV.

While Sears’ bankruptcy filing won’t have an immediate effect on its four Hawaii stores, the potential closing of the four mall anchors would open up nearly 500,000 square feet of vacancy and have a dramatic effect on retail vacancy rates in parts of Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen died Oct. 15 in Seattle from complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He was 65 years old. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

City Mistakenly OK’d Permit For Site With Native Hawaiian Remains. A residential development is on hold while a developer devises a plan for the iwi — 12 years after the state warned the city of their possible presence. Civil Beat.

Lawsuit accuses Head Start operator of inflating enrollment with ‘ghost children’. The whistleblower alleges Head Start pre-K program defrauded the federal government of over $100M. Hawaii News Now.

Construction is set to start on a condominium tower in Kakaako that will begin to fill in the middle of the Ward Village community planned largely on old retail and warehouse property. Star-Advertiser.

A Hawaiian blessing ceremony held today in Kakaako for the groundbreaking of Ward Village's newest high-rise tower, Aalii. KITV.

Giant pothole blamed for sidelining 9 vehicles in Zipper lane. The state Transportation Department said Freeway Service Patrol crews helped nine drivers with tire damage after running over the pothole. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Charter Commission eyes PONC fund: Committee recommends cutting back property taxes going to land preservation. West Hawaii Today.

After widespread testimony against proposed administrative rules for Mauna Kea, changes are being considered by the University of Hawaii. Big Island Video News.

After nearly a decade in the making, new adult day center in Hilo is dedicated. The long-awaited Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Adult Day Center was dedicated Monday, nearly a decade after plans for such a facility were first discussed. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Strikers at Sheraton Maui Issued Trespass Citations. The three employees were passing out leaflets to guests in the hotel’s porte corchere, informing them of the strike which impacts their hotel and four other hotels in Hawaii. Maui Now.

Hotel employee on strike detained for trespassing. Last week, three people on strike over contract negotiations wanted to hand out fliers to guests staying at the Sheraton Maui hotel in Lahaina. They were detained for trespassing. KITV.

Maalaea condo groups working on wastewater alternatives. Health Department citations issued for three condominium complexes. Maui News.

Maui Police: 5 Unclaimed Remains at Forensic Facility. Department officials said they hope to get in touch with family members of the deceased. Maui Now.

Maui woman killed while sunbathing at popular beach park. A woman was killed while sunbathing early Sunday evening at Hookipa Beach Park on Maui's north shore. KHON2.

Hookipa Sunbather Dies After Being Run Over by Truck. Maui Now.

Kauai

Gov. David Ige signed a fourth supplementary proclamation extending the emergency relief period for the Kauai floods that occurred in April 2018. Garden Island.

A Kauai hula dancer has filed a lawsuit against a restaurant and hotel, stating she was retaliated against on the basis of her sex and for reporting sexual harassment and the failure to protect her from sexual harassment. Garden Island

Friday, October 12, 2018

Lab rejects 20% of medical marijuana, Caldwell signs homeless sidewalk encampment ban, feds seize Kealoha home, Kauai beach smoking ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Medical marijuana sign in Hilo © 2018 All Hawaii News
Lab: More than 20 percent of Hawaii medical marijuana products rejected for sale. The state requires rigorous testing of medical marijuana. Hawaii News Now.

A diverse and powerful coalition made up of unions, businesses and environmentalists are working together to urge residents to vote ‘no’ in the general election on whether to hold a state constitutional convention Star-Advertiser.

Can A Moderate Like Ed Case Still Thrive In Washington? The Hawaii Democrat is likely headed back to Congress. But his centrist views are definitely out of style in a U.S. Capitol split by partisanship. Civil Beat.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees suspended personal allowances for members last year. But the Board is contemplating taking action to resolve this matter. Hawaii Public Radio.

In what could prove a lasting black eye, visitors staying at five hotels where workers are on strike are taking to social media to complain about what they thought would be their dream Hawaii vacations. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii's unemployment rates are low, but businesses are suffering. KHON2.

The Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise arrived in Honolulu on Thursday morning as part of a global campaign to raise awareness about plastic pollution. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu


Federal authorities have seized the Hawaii Kai home of Honolulu’s former police chief and his wife, a former deputy city prosecutor. Hawaii News Now.

Today was the deadline for retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his former deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha to move out of their Hawaii Kai home to allow the government to sell it. Star-Advertiser.

Kealohas ordered to move out of Hawaii Kai home. KHON2.

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The city’s updated, 95-page action plan for tackling homelessness unveiled by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday calls for launching public safety initiatives and providing more health care services for the unsheltered. Star-Advertiser.

The mayor signed two bills into law Thursday that ban the homeless from sleeping or living on public sidewalks, but neither take effect right away. Hawaii News Now.

Two bills aimed at cracking down on homeless encampments are now law. KHON2.

Honolulu has two new laws to stop the homeless from blocking sidewalks. Enforcement is the issue. KITV.

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Most Of Oahu’s Shelters Are A Long Way From Hurricane Ready. The state is assessing the conditions of shelters and retrofitting some, but the work is expensive and slow. Civil Beat.

Par Hawaii broke ground Thursday on a $27 million distillate hydrotreater that will produce clean, ultra-low sulfur diesel and enable the Kapolei- based refinery to produce more jet fuel — two products that are in high demand in the state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's sole remaining refinery, Par Hawaii, on Thursday broke ground on a new production module that will enable the company to increase its output of clean-burning jet fuel and ultra-low sulfur diesel. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Big Island Dairy officials say steps are being taken to reduce the possibility of future wastewater discharges at the Ookala facility. Tribune-Herald.

A plan to make 766 acres of land in Honomu available for a Subsistence Agricultural Homestead Community by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is examined in a draft environmental assessment, or EA. Big Island Video News.

Former officer testifies in his defense. A former Hawaii Police officer accused of fatally striking a cyclist testified in 3rd Circuit Court he didn’t remember the moment the collision occurred the morning of March 1, 2015. West Hawaii Today.

Only a quarter of lava evacuees have found permanent housing. As many as 10 percent of affected households are believed to have left the state. Hawaii News Now.

Why A New Beach Created By Lava May Doom A Popular Boat Ramp. Pohoiki was home to a ramp heavily used by fishermen. Now officials must decide whether to restore it or preserve a black sand beach. Civil Beat.

Five months after the 6.9 earthquake occurred during the eruption of Kilauea, smaller-magnitude earthquakes in the same area are still occurring. Big Island Video News.

Maui

The Arakawa administration on Wednesday transmitted a request for funding and approval to Maui County Council members in order to purchase 8,764 acres of land and easements owned by Wailuku Water Company in the West Maui watershed. Maui Now.

Watershed lands purchase submitted to council. Arakawa pushing $9.5 million buy from Wailuku Water. Maui News.

About two dozen Maui residents asked the state Commission on Water Resource Management during a public fact-gathering meeting Tuesday night to release more water to Kahoma Stream, which could be “one of the most thriving freshwater ecosystems” on the island. Maui News.

Workshops on Effective Lobbying Comes to Maui Oct. 15-18. Several “How-To” workshops will be held on Maui to educate the public on effective lobbying at the legislature. Maui Now.

Maui Journalist Documents The Early Days of Activism.  Journalist Gary Kubota has covered news in the islands for  40 decades. Hawaii Public Radio.

The Trump administration’s $250 billion tariffs on goods exported by China is being felt on Maui, where Ceramic Tile Plus & EY Design, a supplier of tiles, countertops and cabinets, is expecting to see a 45 percent increase next month in the price of quartz countertops. Pacific Business News.

The sale in September of an oceanfront unit at the Montage Residences Kapalua Bay on Maui last month for nearly $9 million was the highest-priced condominium sale recorded on Maui in September, and the highest price for a condo in Kapalua Resort so far this year. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Former female employees of the Kauai Marriott Resort &Beach Club in Lihue have filed a lawsuit in Fifth Circuit Court against the hotel conglomerate, alleging a fellow employee recorded them using the bathroom and changing clothes in the female locker room. Garden Island.

Poipu Beach Park is now a designated, tobacco-free facility. The Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii and community partners worked with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and county Parks and Recreation Director Lenny Rapozo to prohibit tobacco use, including electronic smoking devices, in the park. Garden Island.

On Thursday, Oct. 11, Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho Jr. and community partners announced that Poipu Beach Park is now a designated, tobacco-free facility. KHON2.

Poipu Beach Park saying bye bye to butts, now tobacco-free. The park is completely tobacco-free, including e-cigarettes. KITV.

The Hammers N’ Ales fundraiser for the Kauai Habitat for Humanity is 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Poipu Beach Athletic Club. Garden Island.

Monday, October 1, 2018

Hawaii House seeks 200 temps for 2019 session, Caldwell signs monster home bill, humpback whale sightings down, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Window washers at Hawaii Convention Center ©2018 All Hawaii News
Hawaii Convention Center anticipates more robust 2019. Business at the Hawaii Convention Center, which turned its first profit in 2016, has softened as the facility celebrates its 20th anniversary. Star-Advertiser.

Construction industry enjoys unexpected growth to help boost Hawaii’s economy. Hawaii’s construction industry should provide a little more oomph to the local economy this year than previously expected, according to a report by economists released Friday. Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case And Cam Cavasso Far Apart On Kavanaugh Nomination. Hawaii’s top candidates for the 1st Congressional District found common ground on the Jones Act and the Honolulu rail project but disagreed about marijuana legalization and Native Hawaiian sovereignty during a forum Friday hosted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Mazie Hirono, the Hawaii senator in the national spotlight for her blunt criticisms of male behavior surrounding the controversial Supreme Court nomination said questions about one of her own male political allies with a checkered domestic past are nothing more than “more manufactured moral outrage led by the Republican leadership.” West Hawaii Today.

State House of Representatives Hiring for 200 Temporary Positions. The House of Representatives is accepting job applications for the 2019 Legislative Session. Maui Now.

Humpback whale sightings are becoming less common in the Hawaiian Islands. Associated Press.

State’s Hawaii Department Dashboard recognized by global company. KITV.

Air seats expected to increase 7% through October. Scheduled nonstop air seats to Hawaii between August and October increased 7.2 percent to 3.1 million seats, with a 24 percent increase in scheduled service to the Big Island to 282,542 seats. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Builders of so-called illegal monster homes and other city building code violators now face stiffer penalties under a bill signed into law by Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Second dock unusable at USS Arizona Memorial. The shoreside dock at the memorial’s visitor center is sinking, making it too risky for visitors to get onto the boats. Star-Advertiser.

Docks at the WWII Valor memorial partially submerged after taking on water. That led to the cancellation of boat tours Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Boat tours at Pearl Harbor suspended for at least a week while crews fix sinking dock. KHON2.

Families filled the Kapolei High Cafeteria this weekend hoping to be selected as awardees of land in an upcoming subdivision. Lots in this subdivision are a part of the East Kapolei 2 master-planned community being developed by the DHHL on the Ewa Plains. Hawaii News Now.

This Waianae Homeless Camp Is Going Legit. Residents, who fought off state plans to sweep the camp at the Waianae Boat Harbor, want to create a new self-made village for up to 300 homeless people. Civil Beat.

Can Hawaii’s Oldest Dive Bar Survive Chinatown’s Invading Hipsters? The owner of Smith’s Union Bar in Chinatown, opened in 1935, worries his landlord won’t renew the bar’s lease. Civil Beat.

Three Hawaii public school teachers were named today as finalists in a nationwide competition sponsored by Farmers Insurance and all three could win $100,000 each for their schools if they get enough support from the public. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

A lawsuit filed by a Big Island group seeking to limit helicopter traffic over the island will go before the U.S. Court of Appeals in November. Tribune-Herald.

A panel debated the upcoming November ballot question, “Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?”, during a forum in Hilo on Thursday night. Big Island Video News.

Proponents for and against a proposed amendment to the state constitution that aims to better fund public education debated merits of the upcoming ballot measure during a moderated panel forum Thursday at the Arc of Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

Years after the development of a preservation plan designed to protect historic properties at Laaloa Beach Park, a subcommittee of the county’s Cultural Resources Commission is pushing the county to make full implementation of that plan a priority. West Hawaii Today.

Puna Councilwoman Jen Ruggles sent a letter to the CEO of The Queen’s Health Systems stating the state’s largest private employer “may have committed the international crime of genocide against aboriginal Hawaiians.” Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Ocean Center has recently been named among the “Top 10 Aquariums in the World” by TripAdvisor 2018 Travelers’ Choice awards. Maui Now.

Dream of water meter can come with nightmare of added costs. Most homeowners find they can’t afford water system improvements. Maui News.

Lights that will be installed at Central Maui Regional Park in the upcoming months will be on fields farthest away from the Maui Lani subdivision and near the park’s parking lots, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which coordinates the planning and construction for the park. Maui News.

Kauai

The Kauai Chamber of Commerce interviewed 11 of 14 candidates for Kauai County Council, and has posted those interviews on YouTube. Garden Island.

They’re fuzzy, they’re endangered and there are now 19 of them growing in man-made burrows on Kauai’s North Shore. They’re Newell’s shearwater chicks, and they make up the third round of chicks translocated from Kauai’s mountain burrows to a protected nesting site within a predator-proof fence in Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. Garden Island.

Sunday, August 12, 2018

It's Ige, Tupola, Green, Case. Plus three incumbents toppled in Legislature, final official results for all counties, more primary election news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Gov. David Ige at election eve grand rally ©2018 All Hawaii News
Final statewide results here.

Ige defeats Hanabusa, will face Tupola in November. In a stunning reversal of political fortunes, Gov. David Ige brushed off opposition from much of Hawaii’s Democratic establishment Saturday on his way to defeating his top rival, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Star-Advertiser.

Ige Defeats Hanabusa In Democratic Primary For Governor. Incumbent Hawaii Gov. David Ige will be heavily favored in the general election against the GOP nominee, state Rep. Andria Tupola. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige won the Democratic primary in his bid for a second term in office Saturday, defeating U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who gave up her seat in Congress to run for governor. Associated Press.

Incumbent David Ige fought off a fierce challenge from U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa on Saturday night to win the Democratic primary race for governor in his bid for a second term. Hawaii News Now.

Gubernatorial candidate Colleen Hanabusa cedes race, asks supports to vote Ige next. KITV.


Tupola Wins GOP Primary For Governor. The state lawmaker defeated perennial GOP candidate John Carroll and former DOE official Ray L’Heureux. Civil Beat.
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Green’s well-funded campaign outpaces fellow senator Tokuda. State Sen. Josh Green edged out his Senate colleague Jill Tokuda Saturday, in the five-way Democratic race to be Hawaii’s next lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

Josh Green Prevails In Democratic Lieutenant Governor Race. Super PAC funding helped state Sen. Josh Green gain a significant advertising edge over state Sen. Jill Tokuda in the lead-up to the election. Civil Beat.

State Sen. Josh Green won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor on Saturday night, emerging as the top vote-getter in a crowded field of seasoned politicians. Hawaii News Now.

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In the hotly contested 1st congressional district primary race, late entry Ed Case soundly defeated his opponents in Democratic Party voting today. Star-Advertiser.

Ed Case Wins 1st Congressional District Primary Race. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard easily wins the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District. Civil Beat.
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Three incumbents in the state Legislature, one in the Senate and two in the House, lost their Capitol jobs after nearly all of the votes were counted in Saturday’s primary election. Star-Advertiser.

3 Incumbent Lawmakers Lose State Legislative Seats. Sen. Brickwood Galuteria, as well as Reps. Cindy Evans and Lei Learmont, lost their re-election efforts. Civil Beat.

19 incumbents secure seats after running unopposed in the primary. KHON2.

OHA Candidates Headed To General Election Runoff. Kalei Akaka and Esther Kia‘aina will face off for the Oahu trustee seat while three incumbents advance with three challengers to November. And three incumbents trustees — John Waihee IV, Lei Ahu Isa and Rowena Akana — will face three challengers for the three at-large positions on the OHA board. Civil Beat.

Commentary: Humble pie on the menu at post-election Unity Breakfast. There are bound to be some awkward moments at the Democratic Party’s Unity Breakfast this morning. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Final Oahu results here.

Incumbent Riviere beats Hee for Senate seat representing North Shore, Windward areas. Hawaii News Now.

In surprising twist, challenger beating incumbent in state Senate race. Incumbent Sen. Brickwood Galuteria is behind challenger Sharon Moriwaki. KHON2.

In City Council races, some candidates win outright while others head to runoff. Hawaii News Now.
Tommy Waters and Trevor Ozawa headed to November runoff. Political newcomer Heidi Tsuneyoshi and veteran politician Carol Fukunaga clinched victories in their respective Honolulu City Council races, while Councilman Trevor Ozawa will need to go head-to-head against former state Rep. Tommy Waters in November to win re-election. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Final Hawaii Island results here.

Sen. Lorraine R. Inouye, who represents North Hawaii in the state Senate, defeated challenger Heather Kimball in Saturday night’s Democratic primary. Because no other party fielded candidates in the race for the Senate District 4 seat, Saturday’s primary decides the election. West Hawaii Today.

Dru Kanuha appeared on track to defeat Brenda Ford in a hotly contested case Saturday for the Democratic nomination for the state’s 3rd Senate District. West Hawaii Today.

State Rep. Richard Onishi appeared certain of victory Saturday night, with a significant lead over his sole opponent in the Democratic primary election for House District 3. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council incumbents fared well in Saturday’s primary election except in District 4, where Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara was trailing challenger Ashley Kierkiewicz. Tribune-Herald.

Incumbent Councilwoman Maile David easily held her District 6 seat against two challengers Saturday, winning a third term without being forced to a runoff in the general election. West Hawaii Today.

Incumbent Kohala Councilman Tim Richards won his second term Saturday, holding off his lone challenger by claiming 2,531 votes, or 54.16 percent of the vote with all three precincts reporting Saturday night. Challenger Maya Parish won 2,142 votes, and 409 voters left the selection blank. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Final Maui results
here.

Former Maui County Council Member Mike Victorino took a strong early lead in the mayor’s race and held on throughout the night to advance to the general election along with Council Member Elle Cochran on Saturday night. Maui News.

Baker leads Amato by 89 votes for Senate seat. Yamashita holds on to slim lead over Lawrence with one precinct still out. Maui News.

Kauai

Final Kauai results here.

Mayoral race: The final readout of the primary election, with 16 of 16 precincts reporting, showed Derek Kawakami with 8,633 votes, Mel Rapozo with 3,925, JoAnn Yukimura with 3,480 and Lenny Rapozo with 1,003. Garden Island.

County Council incumbents were poised to easily move on to November’s general election, holding four of the top five spots with all 16 precincts reporting in Saturday’s primary election. Garden Island.

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Pence arrives in Hawaii for Korean war remains transfer, Ige and Hanabusa both support lifting county cap on TAT, Case has big lead in congressional poll, big profits for Matson, lava-struck college student recovering in Honolulu hospital, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2018 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii hotel pool party ©2018 All Hawaii News
Vice President Mike Pence touched down on Oahu late Tuesday night ahead of a ceremony to receive the possible remains of over 50 American soldiers killed in the Korean War. Hawaii News Now.

NKorea provided just 1 dog tag with 55 sets of war remains. When North Korea handed over 55 boxes of bones that it said are remains of American war dead, it provided a single military dog tag but no other information that could help U.S. forensics experts determine their individual identities, a U.S. defense official said Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Ige, Hanabusa Want Cap Lifted On Counties’ Share Of Hotel Tax Revenue. The Democratic candidates for governor faced off Tuesday night for perhaps the final time before the Aug. 11 primary. Civil Beat.

Gubernatorial Campaign Stop: Obon Festivals. The two Democratic candidates for Hawaii Governor are working hard to secure their base – Americans of Japanese Ancestry or AJAs.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Civil Beat Poll: Case Has Big Lead In 6-Way Race For Congress. And U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is poised to win re-election by a landslide — again. Civil Beat.

Sherry Campagna’s Quest To Unseat Hawaii’s Most Popular Politician. The challenger must overcome U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s high poll numbers, fundraising prowess and national profile. Civil Beat.

The state says Hawaii's election system is secure. The Office of Elections says they're ready for the voting to begin. They've set up tests for the ballot systems and are working with the office of enterprise services to make sure the ballot process goes smoothly. KHON2.

Multinational Beach Assault Marks Completion of RIMPAC. Hawaii Public Radio.

Chicago poke company stands by divisive 'removal of aloha' trademark policy. Hawaii News Now.

Matson profit soars due to tax break. A big income tax cut helped Hawaii’s largest ocean cargo transportation firm, Matson Inc., produce 36 percent more profit in the second quarter. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu-based shipping giant Matson Inc. on Tuesday reported net income of $32.6 million, or 76 cents per diluted share, for the quarter ending June 30, an increase of 35 percent compared with $24 million, or 55 cents per diluted share, during the same period in 2017. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Source of attack ads is a mystery. A series of mailers attacking Honolulu City Council candidate Robert “Bobby” Bunda calls for constituents of Council District 2 (Mililani Mauka to Kahaluu) to instead vote for Dave Burlew, one of the other three candidates in the race. Star-Advertiser.

Louis Kealoha's attorney requests separate trials for charges. A new motion filed in court Tuesday by the attorney for former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha is asking that several counts against him be tried separate from his wife. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige has appointed former Honolulu City Council member Jon Yoshimura to fill the state Senate seat vacated by Will Espero, who stepped down this year to run for lieutenant governor. Star-Advertiser.

Kailua Community Responds to Vacation Rental Bill. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell last week announced his plan to tackle the problem which has been festering for close to 30 years. Hawaii Public Radio.

Statue of Kamehameha III marks restoration of Thomas Square. Tuesday’s dedication of a 12-foot-tall statue of King Kamehameha III in the middle of Thomas Square celebrated Hawaiian pride, provided a lesson in island history and honored a king who gave up his monarchy in the belief that justice would prevail. Star-Advertiser.

$250K Statue of King Kamehameha III unveiled at Thomas Square. Hawaii News Now.

Cadets lost in Wahiawa forest ate ants to fight off hunger. Strawberry guava and ants was what two Army ROTC cadets subsisted on while lost overnight in a jungle warfare course in Wahiawa, said a Mililani man who helped the men find their way back to civilization. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu's not the best place to flip houses, but it's not the worst. Urban Honolulu was ranked 155th out of 172 cities for a WalletHub analysis of the best places to flip houses in 2018, places where a buyer can make a profit from buying and selling a fixer-upper. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

HTA pumps $1.2M into marketing Big Island. After a 5 percent drop in visitor arrivals to the Big Island in June, Hawaii’s tourism marketing officials want to change the existing consumer perception from “It’s not the right time to visit” to “Now just may be the best time ever to visit.” Star-Advertiser.

Although total visitor spending to date this year on the Big Island remains higher than 2017, spending and visitors to the island declined in June. Tribune-Herald.

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‘I Thought I Was Dying’: Injured Tourist Recalls Hawaii Lava Blast. The 20-year-old woman from Illinois suffered a broken thigh bone and pelvis, as well as several other injuries. Associated Press.

From a hospital bed, woman hit by lava describes horrifying experience. Hawaii News Now.

Illinois student describes being struck by lava bomb. Moments before 20-year-old Jessica Tilton was struck July 16 by a lava bomb that broke multiple bones in her body, she heard an explosion and saw a big cloud that kept coming toward the tour boat she was on. Star-Advertiser.

Woman badly injured in lava tour boat thought she was going to die. KHON2.

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Boat ramp remains despite ocean entry, delta at Pohoiki. Tribune-Herald.

Mayor Kim undergoes procedure to install heart defibrillator. Tribune-Herald.

The highest ranking state sheriff on the Big Island has agreed to pay a $6,000 fine for two alleged ethics violations. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission says a deputy sheriff has agreed to pay $6,000 after he was accused of receiving overtime pay for hours he didn't work. KHON2.

Police announced scheduling changes for Saturday’s services for fallen Officer Bronson Kaimana Kaliloa, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on July 17. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Controversial Maui seawall project gets green light in court. The Kahana seawall project in West Maui will start this week as planned. Hawaii News Now.

Visible work on Kihei High set to begin. Roads, plumbing and grading kick off phase one of construction. Maui News.

Maui Police to Enforce Traffic Violations in School Zones. Maui Now.


Kauai

Food distribution at Kapaa beach draws crowds. The line of people next to the Toyota pickup stretches 15 deep on a Wednesday morning at the parking lot fronting Kapaa Beach Park. Garden Island.

Laysan albatross chicks still fledging. There are still a few awkward young Laysan albatross wandering around Kauai with their wild feathers and wide wingspans, but Oahu’s albatross have all fledged and set record numbers while doing it. Garden Island.

Molokai

State believes recent Hawaiian monk seal deaths on Molokai caused by humans. The investigation continues into the recent deaths of three Hawaiian monk seals on Molokai, and officials believe their deaths were caused by human-inflicted trauma. KHON2.

Monday, June 11, 2018

Tourism officials push for lava-viewing areas, public meetings on new Oahu missile defense post, Ige signs $200M more for affordable housing, Maui cabinet bails as mayor ends term, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

USGS
June 10 lava flow from Kilauea Fissure 8 PC:USGS
While state and county officials have stepped up efforts to get residents out of Lower Puna’s lava-ridden neighborhoods, tourism officials are pushing them to create lava viewing areas where tourists can watch the dramatic fissure action. Star-Advertiser.

Lodging industry opposes tax hike. Visitors to Hawaii hotels, who are already paying the nation’s top prices, should get ready to dig deeper into their wallets to offset a broader application of the state’s transient accommodations tax. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige on Friday signed into law a bill that injects more than $200 million into two state funds for affordable housing in Hawaii, and expands a tax exemption for affordable units. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s corn-dominated seed industry plunged 19 percent in value during the 2017-18 season, according to a preliminary government estimate. Star-Advertiser.

Here’s What Candidates For Governor Say About Public Information Policies. But there are differences in how they would deal with high public records fees and requiring public commission members to disclose conflicts. Civil Beat.

How Tulsi Gabbard’s Fight Against War Is Affecting Hawaii. The Hawaii congresswoman has voted against the key military policy bill as a way to protest the U.S.’s decision to enter conflict in places such as Iraq, Yemen and Syria. Civil Beat.

A new law means harsher penalties for anyone found guilty of negligent homicide and failing to render aid. KHON2.

Nicknamed “Kaulana’s Bill,” SB2582 authorizes the courts to extend prison terms for offenders convicted of first-degree negligent homicide when the offender fails to stop to render aid to the injured. Hawaii News Now.

The University of Hawaii Cancer Center is the leader in a groundbreaking national study that found that early-stage breast cancer patients with the most common form of the disease do not benefit from chemotherapy. Associated Press.

Commentary: So far, the big surprise of this political year is former Congressman Ed Case jumping into the race for the 1st Congressional District. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: Top-2 system offers better choices than party primaries. With each election cycle, it becomes more difficult to take Hawaii Republicans seriously as a major political party. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Public meetings to be held on missile defense radar. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency will hold public meetings starting June 19 for the placement on Oahu of a powerful radar facility to better defend against North Korean missile threats. Star-Advertiser.

The Debate Over ‘Safe Zones’ Is Heating Up In West Oahu. As the homeless population increases on the Leeward Coast, a new plan for legal encampments is getting mixed reviews. Civil Beat.

Developer Plans To Convert 200 Hawaii Kai Rentals Into Condos. The changeover for units built just two years ago illustrates the economic difficulties that make for an apartment shortage in Honolulu. Civil Beat.

State Changes Its Manoa Sludge Pits Plan After UH Faculty Outcry. The Department of Land and Natural Resources finds a new temporary site for sludge it will dredge from Manoa Stream. Civil Beat.

Visitor assistance agency holding fundraiser to support growing needs. Star-Advertiser.

An Illegal Rock Barrier Blocks This North Shore Beach Access. Now the property owner who built the barrier without authorization is seeking after-the-fact permits, angering nearby residents. Civil Beat.

A sea wall in Waialua has divided a community. Some neighbors want it gone while the property owners who had the wall built are fighting to keep it. KHON2.

This week, Honolulu officials recirculated the draft master plan for redeveloping the Blaisdell Center, prompting us to check in on its progress. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Island

Volcanic gas emissions remain high as tradewinds shift to southwest. Star-Advertiser.

Emissions from fissure double, prompting new air quality concerns. Hawaii News Now.

More micro-housing units planned for evacuees. One man who helped spearhead the micro-unit project is committing to adding another 30 units on an undeveloped piece of the same property owned by Sacred Heart Church in Pahoa town. Star-Advertiser.

Volunteers spring into action to build micro-housing for evacuees. Tribune-Herald.

Work continued on the Hope Services Hawaii micro-shelter project behind Sacred Heart Church in Pahoa on Saturday. Big Island Video News.

As Hawaii Volcanoes National Park continues into its fourth consecutive week of closure, the hospitality industry in the hamlet of Volcano faces unprecedented lean times. Tribune-Herald.

Shelter fatigue: Stress takes toll on lava evacuees. Tribune-Herald.

A 36-year-old Pahoa man who faced down the barrel of a handgun that fired at least two gunshots in lava-ravaged Leilani Estates on May 29 testified he was “afraid for his life” during the incident. Tribune-Herald.

The impact the lava flowing into the ocean on Hawaii island has on coastal waters and marine life. KHON2.

How Kilauea Strengthened Kamehameha’s Rise. Hawaii Public Radio.

The safety and integrity of collected police evidence has been called into question as reports of lost and stolen evidence from storage lockers have come to light. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Job hunting in twilight of Arakawa administration. And, for those who remain, there’s work to do until the end. Maui News.

Latest phase of bypass gains some acceptance. West Maui traffic improves after rocky start for new roadway. Maui News.

The Maui Ocean Center will soon house a 3D digital theater, the first of its kind in Hawaii. Maui Now.

A wastewater overflow of approximately 1,944 gallons occurred on Thursday, June 7, 2018 on Maalo Street in Kahului. Maui Now.

Court dismisses charge in traffic stop recording. The state’s high court says Maui police did not have sufficient reason to arrest a man for taking cellphone video of officers at a traffic enforcement checkpoint. Star-Advertiser.

Sales in Maui County’s housing market jumped in May, but the median prices for single-family homes and condominiums were flat to down amid shrinking inventory. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

Voter numbers rising.  In just more than two months, Kauai voters will head to the polls to vote in the primary election that will decide which candidates will move on to November’s general election. Garden Island.

Apalla making another council run. Juno Ann Apalla ran for a seat on the Kauai County Council in 2016. She fell short, but isn’t giving up. Garden Island.