Where's the GOP? Campaigns kick off after filing deadline, entire neighborhoods lost to lava, Gabbard signs book deal, Japanese royalty visits Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Lava fills Kapoho Bay PC:USGS

Late Moves Shake Up Hawaii Races For Governor, Congress. While half of the state legislative seats have just one candidate in the primary, many others will be competitive. Civil Beat.

Isle GOP’s collapse makes primary critical. In a state where one party dominates as much as the Democrats do in Hawaii, the next 67 days of campaigning leading up to the primary will decide just about everything. Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Cedric Gates, the youngest state legislator in Hawaii, thinks the best way to get young voters to the polls is to put them in office. Hawaii News Now.

Ed Case joins crowded race for Congress, but some see him as a front-runner. Former Congressman Ed Case kicked off his campaign for Congress on Tuesday by sign waving in east Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

Former Democratic Congressman Ed Case has joined the race for the U.S. House of Representatives, an 11th-hour move that could shake up the contest for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is competing to become Hawaii’s next governor. Star-Advertiser.

Former Congressman Ed Case, a native of Hilo and a graduate of Hawaii Preparatory Academy, is lacing up his running shoes after six years on the political sidelines. West Hawaii Today.

Tulsi Gabbard Is Writing A Book. The Hawaii congresswoman has signed with a high-profile literary agency that says it represents “presidential contenders.” Civil Beat.

Hawaii has the ninth-worst state economy in the nation, according to a WalletHub report, “2018’s Best & Worst State Economies,” released Monday. Star-Advertiser.

While Hawaii has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation, its overall economy is the ninth worst among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to a new report. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

This Sludge Pit Plan Gets Little Love In Manoa. Critics question why the state didn’t conduct an environmental review for the Manoa Stream dredging project. Civil Beat.

Coco Palms developer Chad Waters was cited by the Department of Health in late March for a reported environmental infraction at his Sound Investments LLC development on Oahu. Garden Island.

Lawsuit filed against Zippy's restaurants after data breach. Associated Press.

Ride-hailing service Uber sent emails to customers and drivers urging them to reach out to the Honolulu City Council and push back on a bill that would place more restrictions on the transportation network company and similar operations. Hawaii News Now.

Federal investigators say the single-engine aircraft that crashed in a mountainous area on Oahu, killing all four people on board last year, was over its weight limit when it took off. Associated Press.

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii was full of hustle and bustle Tuesday in preparation for a morning visit by Prince Akishino, the second son of Japan’s Emperor Akihito, and his wife, Princess Kiko. Star-Advertiser.

Lime, the bike and scooter sharing company that created a stir in Honolulu before pulling out of the market, is raising about $250 million in a funding round led by Google Ventures. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

June 5 lava fountain PC:USGS

Gov. David Ige has signed a second emergency proclamation, focusing on housing needs and beefing up violations of emergency rules to criminal penalties during the ongoing Kilauea eruption. Star-Advertiser.

Big Isle mayor’s vacation home destroyed by lava, county confirms. Final confirmation came early this evening that Mayor Harry Kim’s Vacationland home has been destroyed, according to Hawaii island managing director Wil Okabe. Star-Advertiser.

After losing his Vacationland home the night before in the lava flow, Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim spoke to the public at the weekly meeting in Pahoa about the ongoing eruption. Big Island Video News.

A massive river of lava covered hundreds more homes overnight as it poured into the sea, filling all of Kapoho Bay and decimating entire neighborhoods. Hawaii News Now.

'Hang in people': Big Island Mayor Harry Kim offers words of encouragement to lava evacuees. Hawaii News Now.

Lava claims hundreds of Kapoho-area homes; destruction assessments continue. County agencies continued their assessments Tuesday of the destruction around Kapoho after most of Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland were buried by lava Monday night. Tribune-Herald.

Hundreds Of Additional Homes Lost To Lava. Most were in Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland. Meanwhile, lava has completely filled Kapoho Bay. Civil Beat.

Overflight Video: Lava Torches Hundreds of Homes. Big Island Now.

Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland Inundated with Lava. Hawaii Public Radio.

The lava flow that caused the sudden loss of Kapoho Bay in the past 48 hours has taken away properties, livelihoods and an iconic shoreline. Hawaii News Now.

Officials Create Housing Solutions for Displaced Residents. Big Island Now.

With lava from Fissure 8 pouring into Kapoho Bay, the current eruptive phase at Kilauea is pressing into its fifth week, and its effects are taking a toll. Hawaii Public Radio.

Lava from fissure 8 continued to fountain Tuesday night to heights consistent with those observed earlier in the day. Star-Advertiser.

A bill to regulate short-term rentals on Hawaii Island will get another go before the Hawaii County Planning Committee after more amendments were proposed on Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

After Eruption, Vacation Rental Bill Discussion Changes. The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee took up Bill 108, the day after lava destroyed almost all of Kapoho. Big Island Video News.

Expect a papaya shortage as lava destroys more farms. The Puna area is one of the largest producers of papayas. With farms there either destroyed or cut off by the lava, the price of the popular fruit could soon double. KHON2.

Along with the homes being destroyed, the latest lava flows have also cut off or covered cultural sites, important habitats and even popular recreation sites. KITV.

W.M. Keck Observatory officials on Monday notified the state Department of Health that they detected “a small seepage of oil” from the hydraulic system supporting the Keck I telescope and acted to contain the oil, according to a news release from the observatory. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii island’s housing prices soared in May, but the real estate market has taken a back seat to the daily drama affecting the livelihood of its residents. Star-Advertiser.

Sales of single-family homes on Hawaii’s Big Island fell 17 percent last month, compared to May 2017, but the median price of those homes jumped by 26 percent, while the median price of a Big island condominium soared 45 percent on 19 percent fewer sales. Pacific Business News.

Maui
There will be some changes to the paratransit fares and passes beginning July 1, according to Maui Economic Opportunity, which has the Maui County contract for the transportation service. Maui News.

Kauai

By Tuesday’s filing deadline, 24 candidates had officially filed to run for the Kauai County Council, while seven filed for the mayor’s seat. Garden Island.

A political forum featuring candidates for the lieutenant governor’s seat is set for Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort. Garden Island.

Sales of single-family homes on Kauai declined in May, while sales of Garden Island condominiums grew and prices dropped, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Japan's emperor visits Big Island and other news

It was over almost before it began. But even after standing in a reception line for about an hour Thursday, most of the 130 or so who caught a glimpse of the emperor and empress of Japan said it was well worth the wait.

Japan's royal couple watched Hawai'i-style cattle roping yesterday before returning to their homeland after a two-week tour of Canada and Hawai'i.

With the imperial couple of Japan looking on, 10 paniolo on horseback set about to demonstrate calf roping yesterday on the dry, open pastureland of sprawling Parker Ranch.

With labor talks between the state and the public worker unions still stalled, Gov. Linda Lingle put some pressure on the unions yesterday by announcing that her Cabinet would be taking a pay cut equal to two furlough days a month through two years.

Gov. Linda Lingle, seeking leverage with public-sector labor unions, said yesterday that she and her Cabinet would take two furlough days a month starting in August to help with the state's budget deficit.

This year marked the second year of dramatic increases in the number of schools failing to meet the federal goals, known as "adequate yearly progress." Only 34 percent of schools — or 97 campuses — made AYP this year compared with 42 percent a year ago.

Public school students performed better on the Hawaii State Assessment again this year, moving up another few percentage points in reading and math, but it was not enough to meet the requirements of federal law.

The state Board of Education last night voted unanimously to defer a decision on the proposed closure of five Hawai'i libraries to allow State Librarian Richard Burns and his staff time to propose a budget-reduction plan that would not include library closures.

A judge Wednesday afternoon denied a motion for an injunction to prevent developers from conducting construction activities within 50 feet of historic Hapa Trail.

Safe shark tours, trash and other top Hawaii news

Because of the re- moteness of North Shore shark encounter tours and other con- ditioning factors, researchers say the tours do not pose a threat to public safety.

Amid the hundreds who gathered at Kapi'olani Park yesterday for a brief glimpse of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, perhaps none appreciated the bittersweet implications the imperial visit would have for Japanese-Americans in Hawai'i more than 70-year-old Helen Wadahara.

State officials plan to slash funding for Healthy Start, a nationally recognized child-abuse prevention program that serves thousands of children in the Islands, limiting services to East Hawai'i and Leeward O'ahu, and forcing the layoffs of dozens at nonprofits with Healthy Start programs.

Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a bill yesterday that would allow workers to organize labor unions if a majority sign union cards, an alternative to secret-ballot elections.

A Seattle-based company has all the parts in place to begin shipping Oahu's trash to the mainland — with or without a city-approved contract.

Bright side to down economy: The Hawaii Police Department, which was understaffed for years, is now nearly at full strength.

As El Nino returns to the Pacific, signaling a more active hurricane season, Hawaii County Civil Defense this week is renewing its emergency notification system with a $71,800 two-year contract to the current provider.

After riding a wave of prosperity, Maui County residents are struggling to cope with a recession that has swept through the islands. In The Maui News' continuing series of stories on the islands' financial crisis, today's report tells the personal stories of residents surviving these tough times.

The Kauai County Board of Ethics renewed with a vengeance its discussion on conflicts of interest and the infamous Section 20.02(d) of the County Charter, rejecting a County Attorney opinion, repeatedly declining to go into executive session, and changing its rules to provide public discussion of county employees’ disclosure statements in a wild meeting at the Mo‘ikeha Building.

One of two former Moanalua Golf Club workers who admitted butchering a pet dog of a golf club member in 2007 started serving three months of a one-year prison term yesterday.