Federal judge orders sex harassment training for Hawaii airports, new state auditor coming, Kauai pesticide study turned over to feds, Honolulu rail pivotal in mayoral election, low humpback whale sightings concern residents, police give fellow officer a pass on DUI test, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu International Airport © 2016 All Hawaii News

U.S. District Court Judge Michael Seabright ordered Hawaii’s Department of Transportation on Thursday to complete training within six months for all of its Airports division employees on preventing sexual harassment or discrimination. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Legislature is planning to vote to appoint a new state auditor, in a move that would direct the attention of an official who's viewed as a strict government watchdog from the Legislature to the executive branch. Associated Press.

The state will have the power to summarily suspend the licenses of doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists who lose their practicing privileges in other states under a bill adopted by the Senate on Friday and headed to Gov. David Ige for his consideration. Star-Advertiser.

After a busy week passing hundreds of bills before a major deadline, Hawaii lawmakers are facing another cutoff to send the final form of constitutional amendments to the governor’s office. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers are now considering a bill to create an independent review board in the Attorney General’s Office to oversee state and county investigations into all police killings and in-custody deaths to ensure the inquiries are comprehensive and fair. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a bill to close the gap in car insurance coverage for transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. Star-Advertiser.

Law says they can open as soon as July 15. But will the state’s medical marijuana patients actually see dispensaries by then? Some in the industry don’t think so. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists Model Future Of Oceans In A Changed Climate, And It’s Not Pretty. We know there’ll be problems on the shorelines, but global warming also poses big threats to life out at sea. Civil Beat.

A group is pushing to study the humpback whale population amid a season of lower-than-normal sightings. Associated Press.

Hawaii regulators have chosen to go with Virginia’s Leidos Engineering to continue running the state’s ratepayer-funded energy conservation and efficiency program called Hawaii Energy, which serves Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, Lanai and Molokai, a spokeswoman for Leidos confirmed to Pacific Business News.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is predicting a statewide uptick in employment in the near future, with a construction boom leading the way. Tribune-Herald.

State behind national average in incorporating special ed in classrooms. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

The agency responsible for planning and building Honolulu’s rail project is relying on outdated financial figures — and its latest estimates of how much over budget the project is are almost certainly too low and likely to climb, a report by the Office of the City Auditor concluded. Star-Advertiser.

Stung by criticism his agency is mismanaged, HART’s executive director continued a vigorous defense in a written response accompanying the final version of an audit released Friday. Civil Beat.

State law requires that law enforcement officers conduct breath, blood or urine testing on drivers involved in crashes resulting in injury or death, yet a Honolulu police officer arrested last week for alleged drunken driving was given a pass by fellow officers after he refused to submit to testing. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Councilman Trevor Ozawa wants to get a handle on all the shopping carts that are scattered around Honolulu. Civil Beat.

At the official opening of his Nimitz Center campaign headquarters, Mayor Kirk Caldwell told supporters that his re-election is about “plans, progress and people.” Civil Beat.

A 25-year-old Sumatran tiger at the Honolulu Zoo was euthanized Sunday due to complications from old age, city officials said. Djelita, who turned 25 on March 26, was the oldest living tiger in captivity, according to a post on the zoo’s Facebook page. Star-Advertiser.

Salt Lake residents are again raising concerns about a foul odor emanating from Honolulu Country Club’s water features, but just who is responsible for fixing the problem remains unresolved nearly two decades since efforts began to clear the air. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A rescue organization formed to ship dogs to mainland shelters is suing the Hawaii Island Humane Society and several other defendants, claiming the society stole credit for the air shipment of dogs off-island early last year, and that several individuals associated with the society conspired to smear the rescue organization. West Hawaii Today.

A well-connected Honolulu architect has been told to stop rebuilding a rock wall on the shore of Lalakea Pond. Tribune-Herald.

Residents and users of Keauhou Bay gave the Department pf Land and Natural Resources a piece of their mind on Friday during a hearing to gather input on a proposed offshore mooring project at the popular location. Big Island Video News.

Part of the years-long legal fight over Kawa Bay is now set to go to trial in federal court. Kittrena Morgan, a former resident of the area, sued Hawaii County and the police officers involved in her arrest on Oct. 25, 2012. West Hawaii Today.

The Hamakua Coast is looking to its past to plan for its future. It’s been more than five years since county planners along with residents began the process of creating a Community Development Plan for the region, part of a longterm effort to have CDPs in place for the entire county. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

After leasing Waiakoa Gym for more than four decades, Maui County closed on a deal to purchase the gym this week, for $1.2 million plus closing costs. County officials say the price tag was lower than the initial appraisal of $1.4 million. Maui Now.

The county Department of Water Supply will host hands-on community workshops for residents to identify and evaluate ways to manage, develop and use Maui's water resources to meet the needs of all water users, according to an announcement from the department. Maui News.

Free public beach access parking is available in Kaanapali, but finding it is like being on a hunting expedition. Maui News.

Pu'u Kukui in the West Maui Mountains, often described as one of the wettest spots in the world, is not all that wet so far this year with March rainfall totals the lowest on record. Maui News.

The Lahaina Honolua Kupuna Serenaders perform at the start of Saturday morning's blessing and kickoff event for the Lahaina Harbor street improvement project located next to Lahaina Harbor. Maui News.

Kauai

The state Department of Agriculture has turned over to the federal government its report on workers sent to a Kauai hospital after entering a Syngenta Inc. cornfield sprayed with a powerful pesticide. Star-Advertiser.

Consultants leading a highly controversial analysis of the environmental and public health impacts of genetically modified farming in Kauai County issued a statement late Saturday responding to recent criticism. Civil Beat.

Four county lifeguard towers were outfitted with new solar-powered PA systems this month and all lifeguard towers received high-powered megaphones, thanks to donations from community supporters. Garden Island.

Sandi Combs said she wants to represent District 14 because it’s time for her to lead by example. Garden Island.

GMO hearings planned for June, rail officials want Ala Moana station, bond sale saves state $32.8M, judges shun Kenoi case, OHA's Lindesey suffers stroke, PR for Honolulu police, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Store display in Hilo © 2016 All Hawaii News

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals may hold hearings in June on three cases related to genetically modified farming in Kauai, Maui and Hawaii counties. The appeals court hasn’t officially scheduled the hearings yet, but it notified parties recently that they may be held June 13-17 in Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Gov. David Ige’s plans to address Hawaii’s homelessness crisis and affordable-housing shortage are competing for funding with other priorities in the Legislature, and some advocates are concerned that lawmakers are not setting aside enough money to solve those pressing problems. Associated Press.

The state refinanced $345 million in general obligation bonds Thursday in a move that will save the state $32.8 million during the next eight years, according to an announcement from Gov. David Ige. Star-Advertiser.

A bill to allow the cultivation and distribution of industrial hemp for research was approved by the House Finance Committee on Friday. Civil Beat.

Hawaii spends roughly $17 million a year on the salaries of state employees whose main mission is to keep the islands safe from natural- and human-caused disasters. Civil Beat.

State utility regulators are weighing a switch to smart meters for thousands of Hawaiian Electric Co. customers. Associated Press.

Embattled telecommunications company Sandwich Isles Communications has asked the Hawaiian Homes Commission to certify it as an eligible telecommunications carrier so that it can potentially resume receiving millions of dollars in federal ratepayer funds to subsidize its phone and Internet service on Hawaiian homelands. Star-Advertiser.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson, Robert K. Lindsey Jr., suffered a stroke a few weeks ago, and the agency says he is now in the process of recuperating. Big Island Video News.

The University of Hawaii will be presenting its proposed tuition schedule for fall 2017 through spring 2020 to the community at public meetings statewide from Monday, March 28 to Thursday, May 5. KHON2.

Oahu

City rail officials appear to be massaging their construction schedule to preclude the Legislature, City Council and public from any temptation to stop the financially troubled $6.57 billion project at Middle Street instead of running to Ala Moana Center. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department will pay a public relations firm about $125,000 over a year to train its two police public relations professionals as well as leaders and officers. Associated Press.

When they were announced last year, accessory dwelling units were touted as a potential quick fix to help alleviate O‘ahu’s housing shortage. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

It appears no Big Island judge will hear the pending theft trial of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi. Tribune-Herald.

The state indictment charging Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi with theft and lying about purchases he made with his county-issued credit card does not include any of the more egregious allegations, including that he used the card to pay Honolulu hostess bar tabs, to buy a surfboard and bicycle or to pay his state lawyer association dues, according to an analysis of the credit card statements. Star-Advertiser.

Retired Hawaii Island Circuit Court Judge Riki May Amano has been chosen as the hearings officer to conduct a new contested case hearing regarding the proposed Thirty Meter Telescope project atop Mauna Kea, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Friday. Civil Beat.

A retired Hawaii state judge will serve as a hearing officer for a contested case hearing redo for the Thirty Meter Telescope land permit, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources said. Pacific Business News.

A bill to privatize Honokohau Harbor after years of disrepair is gaining steam at the Capitol. And the state agency which now oversees the facility is backing what could become a model for privatization of small boat harbors across Hawaii. West Hawaii Today.

A group of Papaikou mill beach users and their supporters stood along Highway 19 on Friday to again urge Hawaii County officials to make the only trail to the small black sand beach a public path.Tribune-Herald.

A Life Flight helicopter which has been allowed to permanently park on Hilo Medical Center’s helipad will soon be getting the boot. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Special Committee on County Governance voted 6-5 on Thursday afternoon to pursue some form of county manager government. Maui News.

Hawaiian Electric Cos., including subsidiary Maui Electric Co., is seeking to embark on a $340 million project to install smart grid technology which will allow customers to monitor their electricity use by computers or mobile devices and the utility to improve grid operations and integration of renewable energy. Maui News.

Kauai

Creating transportation alternatives that would decrease Kauai’s traffic congestion and carbon footprint is a long road. Garden Island.

State health officials are blaming the fecal waste of feral pigs, sheep, rats, birds and possibly a dozen land tortoises for polluting a stream that people frequent on the south shore of Kauai. Civil Beat.

In its continuing effort to maximizing efficiency, the Kauai Transportation Agency next month plans to implement new bus routes, resulting in savings of up to $120,000, according to the county. Garden Island.

Lanai

Technical difficulties in maintaining clear videoconference or phone communications with Lanai testifiers pulled the plug on the Maui County Council's attempt to pass the Lanai Community Plan update on first reading Friday. Maui News.

Thirty Meter Telescope could leave Hawaii; lawmakers mull general excise tax hikes, GMO fish bans, $100M for cool schools; charter school head to resign; Honolulu police has backlog of 1,500 untested rape kits; geothermal contract nixed; Maui sugar layoffs looming; lobbyist disclosure bill on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Conceptual drawing of Thirty Meter Telescope, courtesy photo

Thirty-Meter Telescope project officials say they’re beginning to review possible sites outside Hawaii, and say they could pull out of the state if they don’t get a clear path to approval soon. Hawaii News Now.

Ed Stone, Thirty Meter Telescope executive director, said in an interview Wednesday that the $1.4 billion project will need assurances from the state that it can obtain a permit for unhindered construction on Mauna Kea no later than September 2017 — or it will take its next-generation telescope to another mountain. Star-Advertiser.

When state Sen. Roz Baker announced in her committee room Wednesday that her colleagues had agreed to a plan to increase the general excise tax to help long-term care providers, supporters applauded and issued heartfelt thanks. Civil Beat.

Lawmakers gave initial approval Wednesday to legislation that would provide the tens of millions of dollars needed for Gov. David Ige’s aggressive plan to cool 1,000 public school classrooms by the end of the year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawmakers say they don't want genetically engineered fish grown in the islands. Lawmakers are moving forward with a bill to ban farming genetically engineered fish, which critics dub "frankenfish." KITV4.

The head of a state agency tasked with implementing sweeping legislative changes to Hawaii’s charter school system is resigning in the midst of pushback from school leaders who say they are being over-regulated. Civil Beat.

The House Transportation Committee unanimously passed a measure Wednesday to require annual inspections and registration for mopeds. Civil Beat.

The state Health Department’s selection process for medical marijuana license applicants is layered in secrecy. The department won’t identify the people who are deciding who will get the coveted licenses, and it also won’t say who appointed those people to a selection committee. Civil Beat.

The state is remaining tight-lipped about details surrounding its budding medical marijuana dispensary program — and so are most of the applicants. Tribune-Herald.

Twenty days into generally amiable regulatory hearings about NextEra Energy’s proposed $4.3 billion purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries, the tone of the hearings has become decidedly less civil. Civil Beat.

The regulatory hearings regarding NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., recessed on Wednesday and are scheduled to resume on the last day of the month for one week, the chairman of the Hawaii Public Utilities said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Department has 1,500 rape kits dating back more than a decade that haven’t been tested, a spokeswoman for the department confirmed Wednesday afternoon. Star-Advertiser.

More than 1,000 rape kits are sitting at the Honolulu Police Department’s crime lab, waiting to be tested. KHON2.

The State dedicated a refurbished rental building overlooking historic Pearl Harbor today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Thousands of spectators gathered at Waimea Bay early Wednesday for “The Eddie,” but the monster waves that were expected didn’t arrive on time — prompting organizers to cancel the competition’s highly anticipated run. Star-Advertiser.

City officials say a “no tolerance” parking ban will be in place along all streets and road shoulders in Lanikai this Presidents Day weekend. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Nevada’s Ormat Technologies, which was awarded a contract by Hawaii Electric Light Co. to develop a 25-megawatt geothermal energy project on Hawaii’s Big Island, has withdrawn from contract negotiations with the utility, HELCO said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

After a year of negotiations, Ormat has withdrawn from contract talks with Hawaii Electric Light Co. for providing the next 25 megawatts of geothermal power on Hawaii Island, the utility announced Wednesday. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative has produced a plan that it says could satisfy nearly 100 percent of the Big Island’s electricity needs with renewable energy before 2045. Civil Beat.

Puna Councilman Dan Paleka was cleared by the county Board of Ethics on Wednesday to accept a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with a nonprofit group on alternatives to incarceration for the mentally ill. West Hawaii Today.

A new dengue fever risk map shows the Captain Cook area of South Kona has been downgraded from “red” – or high risk – to “orange” – or moderate risk for acquiring the mosquito-borne disease. Big Island Video News.

Three years after it closed its doors for renovations, the 18-hole oceanside golf course at Kona Country Club is now open for business. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaiian Style Cafe, a popular Hilo restaurant will pay more than $53,000 in unpaid wages and damages to employees after being found in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Tribune-Herald.

Maui
Warren Haruki, chief executive officer of Maui Land & Pineapple Co., sees Maui at an “inflection point” and talked to Pacific Business News about some of the challenges that will face Alexander & Baldwin Inc. after sugar.

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co., which will be shutting down operations at the end of the year, has announced its first set of layoffs. Ninety-five workers will lose their jobs on March 7, company officials said Tuesday. Maui News.

Kauai

Two Kauai residents testified against proposed legislation that sets up regulations for lobbyists on the island at a public hearing on Wednesday, and the County Council received 55 written testimonies on Bill 2614. Garden Island.

By Tuesday afternoon, thousands of dead fish were reported along the beaches, according to Don Heacock, Kauai district aquatic biologist with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. The aquatic carcasses were also reported at the mouths of Kinikini Ditch, which follows along the Pacific Missile Range Facility, and MacArthur Park Ditch. Garden Island.

Hawaii bills tackle GMO fish, Superferry, animal rights, hemp, wrongfully imprisoned reparations, funding of innovation, elderly programs; Maui GMO ban heads to appeals court; 66 apply for medical marijuana dispensary licenses; fire chiefs claim losses; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kampachi fish at local market © 2016 All Hawaii News

House Bill 686 would prohibit “propagating, cultivating, or farming genetically engineered fish” in state marine waters. The bill, sponsored by Democrat Reps. Kaniela Ing and John Mizuno, has a hearing Wednesday at the Capitol. Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers are tackling issues from animal rights to police accountability as lawmakers head into their third full week of the 2016 legislative session. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Department of Health on Friday released a list of 66 applicants, including actor Woody Harrelson and local technology entrepreneur Henk Rogers, who submitted proposals for the state’s first medical marijuana dispensary system. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Department of Health posts medical marijuana dispensary applicants online.

Lawmakers considered a bill Friday that would legalize and set rules for growing industrial hemp. The law would require growers to register with the state and would clarify the difference between hemp and marijuana. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a proposal that would require the state to pay $50,000 to the wrongfully convicted for each year they were imprisoned. Associated Press.

The state Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy passed a bill late last week requiring the Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study of establishing a ferry system. Civil Beat.

Two state Senate committees are set to hear a bill Thursday that would establish a collective bargaining unit for graduate student assistants working at the University of Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The Kupuna Caucus, which looks out for senior citizens at the Legislature, last week unveiled its package of bills for 2016, including measures to provide caregiver training, long-term care services and funding for resource centers statewide. Star-Advertiser.

Testimony backing a bill to allocate money from the corporate income tax to the innovation sector has received support from several groups in the Startup Paradise ecosystem. Pacific Business News.

The top-ranked doctors in Hawaii Health Systems earn far more than other state workers, even Supreme Court justices. Civil Beat.

Oahu

There’s a straightforward way to transform Oahu’s crumbling, pothole-plagued roads into the smoother ones that drivers in other parts of the country enjoy, asphalt-pavement industry experts say, but it’s a solution that has eluded the state and city for decades. Star-Advertiser.

For decades, Oahu and the neighbor islands have grappled with hundreds of miles of so-called “roads in limbo,” and the issue continues to affect some local road maintenance, officials say. Star-Advertiser.

The North Shore Chamber of Commerce is urging businesses to share their thoughts about the Laniakea parking situation with state Department of Transportation officials, according to a letter sent last week to chamber membership by its executive director. Hawaii News Now.

A new homeless shelter in Honolulu is banking on the idea that fewer rules could lead to more people off the streets. The Sand Island facility, called Hale Mauliola, has been in business for three months now. Hawaii Public Radio.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of Kapolei Hale, which was regarded in 2001 as a pivotal investment in development and growth of the Ewa region. Star-Advertiser.

One person has been arrested and dozens more cited during a law-enforcement operation at Kalalau Beach in the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauai. KHON2.

The deaths of at least three albatross and the destruction of 15 nests at Kaena Point back in December has prompted state lawmakers to call for heightened security at the remote nature reserve. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Police issued almost 700 more speeding tickets on the Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Highway, also known as Saddle Road, in 2015 than in the previous year. Tribune-Herald.

State Sen. Russell Ruderman gave his re-election bid a boost at last year’s end with a $25,000 loan, helping him maintain a sizable fundraising advantage over challenger Greggor Ilagan. Campaign finance records show Ilagan, a Hawaii County Council member representing Puna, raised $8,412 during the last half of 2015, with $5,500 of that coming from a fundraising event in Honolulu. Tribune-Herald.

Fourteen applicants are vying to open the first medical marijuana dispensaries on Hawaii Island, according to information released Friday by the state Department of Health. Tribune-Herald.

West Hawaii Battalion Chief Ty Medeiros claimed Friday he lost $3,000 to $4,000 in overtime every two weeks when he was put on seven months paid leave last year for publicly criticizing Fire Chief Darren Rosario. During a daylong Merit Appeals Board hearing, Medeiros said he was humiliated when he was stripped of his badge and his rank insignia in front of his peers. West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is looking for more public input on its September proposal to list 49 species of plants and animals in the Hawaiian Islands as endangered species. The federal agency will offer an informational meeting and a public hearing Tuesday in Hilo to gather input. During the informational meeting. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to hear arguments on a Maui County moratorium on farming genetically modified crops, which was struck down by a federal judge in Hawaii last year. Civil Beat.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments about whether to overturn a federal judge's ruling last year that struck down a Maui County voter-approved moratorium on genetically modified organisms. Maui News.

A legal attempt by a group seeking to halt cane burning by Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. continues in 2nd Circuit Environmental Court, though a judge struck down two claims in a ruling Friday. Maui News.

Maui officials are looking to encourage residents who are illegally operating vacation rentals to go through the permitting process. Associated Press.

The County Council Planning Committee drew closer Thursday to the completion of a bill that would change several portions of the county's short-term vacation rental home law to support tourism while pushing local rental operators to comply with permit laws. Maui News.

A 2nd Circuit judge Friday granted a preliminary injunction against further work on the 113-unit Ma'alaea Plantation housing subdivision - with the developers announcing after the ruling that they would commission an environmental impact statement as requested by project opponents. Maui News.

Officials in Mayor Alan Arakawa's administration are holding "high-level discussions" with Alexander & Baldwin officials about taking more water out of the Wailoa Ditch system for Upcountry customers as A&B's subsidiary Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. phases out production at the end of the year, Department of Water Supply Director Dave Taylor said. Maui News.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education Maui District Office will conduct a community meeting to provide information on school attendance boundaries for Maui Waena Intermediate, ʻĪao Intermediate, Baldwin High and Maui High Schools. Maui Now.

Kauai

Election season has begun and candidate filings are coming in. Three candidates have put their names in the hat for Kauai County Council: Juno-Ann Apalla of Lihue, Matthew Bernabe of Kapaa and incumbent KipuKai Kuali‘i. Garden Island.

Law enforcement and cleanup operations at Kalalau Beach over the past month resulted in dozens of citations, an arrest, and the airlifting of tons of trash from the area. Garden Island.

Lanai

Maui County Council members approved a recommendation Friday to take the Lanai Community Plan update to Lanai for a public hearing March 12. Maui News.

Looking for the most luxurious Lanai experience you can find? The Four Seasons Resort Lanai may have what is the most expensive luxury suite in the state — the rate for its three-bedroom Alii Suite is $21,000 a night. Pacific Business News.

Legislative leaders question why federal funds unspent, Maui group appeals GMO ruling, Kauai pesticide study under wraps, Ellison seeks buyer for Island Air, sewage settlement costs Maui $1M, cocaine use up, pCard use audited, guns in schools, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House and Senate money committees, courtesy House majority office

Gov. David Ige’s top staff was warned Tuesday that lawmakers expect them to find out why state government has been so slow to spend federal funds, and find a way to fix the problem pronto. House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke said the state departments of Health, Transportation and Hawaiian Home Lands are “terrible at utilizing federal funds.” Star-Advertiser.

The state agency responsible for enforcing and processing child support payments is facing a $1.3 million hit to its budget for the 2017 fiscal year that begins in July — a loss that will hamper customer service and overall operations, according to officials who oversee the department. Star-Advertiser.

Commentary: A high-profile nonprofit organization that advocates for health and human services in Hawaii has agreed to pay a $2,000 penalty to settle charges it violated the state’s lobbying law by failing to disclose its lobbying-related expenditures over the past three years, according to a summary of the case made public last month by the Hawaii State Ethics Commission. Civil Beat.

Hawaii should set aside $2.2 million in state general revenue funds to maintain and restore civil legal services for low and moderate income individuals, according to a working group of interested government agencies and community entities. Pacific Business News.

Nearly twice a month, a child is caught with a firearm at a Hawaii public school. That’s according to the Department of Education, which is required to report these incidents to the state. KHON2.

Cocaine use in the workplace doubled in the fourth quarter from the year-earlier period while marijuana still remained the drug of choice. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii regulators have struck down a request by the Department of Defense to withdraw as an intervenor in the regulatory review of NextEra Energy Inc.’s proposed $4.3 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Electric Co., according to a ruling this week. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Congressman Mark Takai pushes to compensate military personnel exposed to radioactive soil and debris in the Marshall Islands. Civil Beat.

Island Air, the Hawaii interisland airline that billionaire Larry Ellison bought nearly two years ago, may be up for sale again. Pacific Business News.

Many Hawaii residents were thankful for plentiful platters of ahi tuna they were able to enjoy over the holidays. But few realized the critical role the late Sen. Daniel Inouye played in making sure Hawaii fishermen could get it to them. Associated Press.

Oahu

The planned $300 million golf resort community for Leeward Oahu's Makaha Valley will include a 300-room, four-star hotel. Pacific Business News.

Just months before completion, the state has fired the contractor for the $66 million cargo and maintenance facility that's being built for Hawaiian Airlines. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A bill allowing the “little guy” to engage in agricultural tourism without going through a complicated and costly permitting process faces another round of changes in the County Council Planning Committee, following council concerns Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

The current program of tax breaks for agricultural land won’t be changing anytime soon, and those who hold vacant land in agricultural zones shouldn’t expect a new tax break just yet. West Hawaii Today.

It’s been almost a month since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weighed in on the public health response to the Big Island’s dengue fever outbreak, and officials say that as a result they have instituted a number of changes to the way they are combating the mosquito-borne virus. Tribune-Herald.

The Hawaii County Council on Tuesday advanced a proposal to build a community park in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision, but with strings attached. Tribune-Herald.

A Waimea towing company was evacuated Tuesday morning after a possible explosive device was found attached to the front fender of a vehicle that had been towed to the yard following a weekend “Freedom Ride” rally. West Hawaii Today.

Military bomb squad determined the device strapped to the gray car in a Waimea tow yard is a fake bomb. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A federal judge erred last year in striking down a voter-approved moratorium on genetically engineered crops in Maui County, according to a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals brief filed by attorneys for the citizens group behind the county's first successful voter initiative. Maui News.

In the wake of media investigations and statewide crackdowns on the use of government purchasing cards, known as pCards, auditors have started to look into Maui County pCard accounts, and they expect to report their findings in June, county Department of Finance officials said. Maui News.

The federal court settlement over penalties for releasing partially treated wastewater into injection wells from the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility could cost Maui taxpayers an additional $1 million. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

State and county officials have asked a consultant to hold off on releasing the initial draft report on pesticide use by large-scale agribusinesses on Kauai to allow more work on the health chapter, according to an update Tuesday. Civil Beat.

Bronson Bautista, owner at PD Designs & Armory, said the discussion about new gun restrictions proposed by President Barack Obama has already led to higher gun sales. Garden Island.

The office of the governor released additional funds to support two criminal justice programs maintained by the County of Kauai Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Garden Island.

The president and CEO of Hawaiian Airlines said Tuesday he recognizes Kauai residents want low airfares. And he believes Hawaiian Air is providing them. Garden Island.

Molokai

A ceremony commemorating the 150th anniversary of when the first 12 people were sent to Kalaupapa in 1866 will be held at Hoaloha Park in front of the Hawaiian Canoe Club hale at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2015. Maui Now.

Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard disinvited from today's Democratic presidential debate, Maui to fly its homeless one-way elsewhere, state senator says Honolulu police chief should be on leave pending ethics probe, Puna group fights Hualalai geothermal drilling plan, newspaper tours Syngenta secret seed research facility, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Rep. Tulsi Gabbbard promoted to major, courtesy photo

The Democratic National Committee has taken the highly unusual step of disinviting one of its own leaders from Tuesday’s presidential debate: U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who serves as one of five vice chairs of the organization. The reason for the very public slap at the second-term Hawaii congresswoman? Apparently, it stems from her call earlier this fall for more debates. Civil Beat.

For the past several weeks, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been outspoken in her calls for more Democratic Party presidential debates. But after renewing that point during an interview with MSNBC on Saturday, she said officials with the Democratic National Committee told her not to show up for first presidential debate Tuesday in Las Vegas. Hawaii News Now.

Comparing it to childish games by those still in high school, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard spoke out against DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz Monday after she says she was disinvited from the Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas Tuesday evening. KITV4.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D, Hawaii, is making national headlines for saying she has been asked not to attend Tuesday’s Democratic debate in Las Vegas. KHON2.

Representative Tulsi Gabbard, a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said she was disinvited from the first Democratic presidential primary debate in Nevada after she appeared on television and called for more face-offs. New York Times

Democratic U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was promoted from captain to major in the Hawaii Army National Guard on Monday morning in a ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Army National Guard promoted U.S. Congressional Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, to the rank of major. At a ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on Oahu, former U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka led her in taking her oath of office, according to a a news release sent out by her office. MauiTime.

The proposed sale of Hawaii’s electric company to a giant energy firm based in Florida has played out publicly since the deal with announced last December. At times, it’s felt more like an election campaign than an agreement between two utilities that must clear regulatory hurdles, not win a majority of voters’ hearts. Civil Beat.

Voter registration for one of the biggest elections for Native Hawaiian self-governance will close this week. Nearly 100,000 Hawaiians have been certified by the state-sanctioned Native Hawaiian Roll Commission to vote in a private election for delegates who will gather in Honolulu this winter at a constitutional convention. The governing document these delegates write will form the foundation of a new government by and for Native Hawaiians. Garden Island.

Oahu

State Senate Vice President Will Espero said HPD Chief Louis Kealoha should step aside from his leadership role until the FBI completes its criminal investigation over allegations that he abused his power. Hawaii News Now.

A proposed modular housing project for homeless families in Waianae is drawing criticism from residents who contend that it is not a good fit for their community. Star-Advertiser.

The last vestiges of the Kakaako homeless encampment are expected to be removed from Ohe Street beginning at 7:30 a.m. today — a day later than had been anticipated. Star-Advertiser.

One of the longest-lived military airplanes in Hawaii — the P-3 Orion turboprop — is starting to fade away, with the Navy deciding its sub-hunting jet replacements could be more economically based in Washington state. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A group that has long fought geothermal development in Puna plans to challenge a geothermal survey on Hualalai for lacking an environmental assessment. Terri Napeahi, Pele Defense Fund vice president, thinks the state erred by not requiring the review for the exploration project, which will measure very low-frequency electromagnetic waves underground, and plans to file a lawsuit. Tribune-Herald.

The public has a right to read emails exchanged between Hawaii state legislators and the agribusiness industry, Ashley Lukens, program director for the Hawaii Center for Food Safety told scores Thursday night in Kona. West Hawaii Today.

South Kona paniolo should see about $3 million in improvements to the Honaunau Rodeo Arena by this time next year, as the county begins sprucing up the old arena to better serve the public. West Hawaii Today.

Higher education enrollment on Hawaii Island continues to dwindle, leading University of Hawaii administrators to look for ways to boost revenue. The last three fall semesters at University of Hawaii at Hilo have begun with consistent dips in enrollment, with overall numbers dropping by 328 students, or 7.9 percent, since 2012, according to head counts provided by the University of Hawaii Institutional Research Office. There currently are 3,829 students enrolled. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Hawaiʻi Lodging and Tourism Association will donate a $25,000 grant toward a new project to fly an estimated 120 homeless individuals on Maui back to the mainland. The non-profit, statewide trade organization will present a check to Kahului’s Family Life Center this weekend as part of its initial neighbor island funding for the repatriation program. Maui Now.

As Hawai‘i continues to wrestle with the highest rate of homelessness in the nation, one Maui group has come up with a creative solution to alleviate the problem. Hawaii Public Radio.

The burning of large sugar cane fields on Maui has been linked to acute respiratory distress in a new study by health professionals. Civil Beat.

A Final Environmental Assessment has been filed for the proposed Kuhua Street Extension project that is designed to provide an alternate local transportation corridor parallel to the Honoapiʻilani Highway between Front Street and Keawe Street in West Maui. Maui Now.

Except for a double-digit jump in single-family home sales, little has changed significantly in Maui County residential and condominium real estate when comparing the first nine months of this year with the same period in 2014, according to statistics released last week by the Realtors Association of Maui. Maui News.

Opinion: Oh, to be a fly on the wall in Mayor Alan Arakawa’s 9th Floor county office today. You guys saw The Maui News’ huge front-page story yesterday on the dramatic Mar. 5, 2013 meeting at Starbucks in Kahului between then-Maui Film Commissioner Harry Donenfeld (who secretly recorded the meeting because he was worried about his job) and three key aides to Mayor Alan Arakawa: Managing Director Keith Regan, Chief of Staff Herman Andaya and Communications Director Rod Antone. It’s quite the tale of power and influence, concerning the Maui Film Studio (the island’s first locally financed and run film studio, which has since gone out of business) and big-time Hollywood producer Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity Media (which recently declared bankruptcy). MauiTime.

Kauai

On a recent sun-drenched afternoon at Syngenta’s seed research facility, tidy rows of spring green leaves peered out of cracks in the earth. Garden Island.

ACLU to sue over Honolulu homeless sweeps, rail shortfall tops $1B, year delay; most students not proficient in reading, math; Mauna Kea stone alter removal protested; GMO discussed on Big Island; more sewage than first thought; electric power dispute on Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu rail project, courtesy HART

n a letter sent Tuesday to the mayor and the City Council chairman, two of rail’s top leaders said the project could cost an additional $200 million to build on top of the $910 million budget shortfall that it already faces. That would push rail’s shortfall above $1 billion and its  total price tag well above $6 billion. Also, the 20-mile, 21-station system could take about a year longer to complete, opening at full capacity sometime in 2021 instead of 2020, they said. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu will likely have to push back the opening of its full 20-mile commuter rail line by at least a year due construction delays and changes in how the project will be built. The elevated rail line could also cost up to $200 million more than currently projected, which would push its growing shortfall to more than $1 billion. Civil Beat.

Four miles of rail guideway are competed, with 16 more to go. KITV4.

In a letter, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation told the mayor and city councilmembers that the project is facing a $900 million shortfall. HART now believes that number could grow another $200 million, which would mean a shortfall of more than $1 billion. KHON2.

Fewer than half of Hawaii public school students tested proficient in language arts while roughly 2 in 5 students met or exceeded benchmarks in mathematics on the new, more rigorous Smarter Balanced Assessment, according to scores released Tuesday by the state Department of Education. Star-Advertiser.

Less than half of the state’s keiki are currently making the grade in English and mathematics, according to new public school assessment scores. The Hawaii Department of Education reported Tuesday afternoon that 48 percent of third- through 11th-graders met or exceeded standardized test benchmarks in English language arts, and 41 percent did the same in math. Tribune-Herald.

A total of $8,610,632 in federal grants were awarded to 11 projects in Hawaiʻi to support Native Hawaiian education. Maui Now.

Hawaii Department of Education officials say the effort to cool overheated classrooms is being treated as a crisis, likening the matter to its response to the lava flow threat on the Big Island last year. Associated Press.

Randy Iwase, chairman of the state Public Utilities Commission, said Tuesday recent statements from politicians — including Gov. David Ige and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz — will not affect his decision on whether to approve NextEra Energy Inc.’s purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The City and County of Honolulu’s recent sweeps targeting homeless populations will face a legal challenge after the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii said Tuesday it will file a federal lawsuit against the city. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s largest emergency homeless shelter recently settled a civil rights complaint after it allegedly turned a disabled woman away. Other disabled people experience similar discrimination when seeking housing. Civil Beat.

A state-owned industrial property next to the Pier 38 Honolulu Fishing Village on Nimitz Highway is being eyed as the site for a state transitional homeless shelter, state homeless services coordinator Scott Morishige told the Honolulu City Council on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu City Council Committee was briefed today on affordable housing options for people who are one step away from being homeless. Hawaii Public Radio.

Crews will start installing sections of a fence along the Kapalama Canal on Wednesday in an effort to prevent homeless from camping out in the area that was once lined with tents on both sides. Hawaii News Now.

A mathematical error caused city engineers to underestimate by about 200,000 gallons the size of a massive sewage spill that closed Waikiki Beach and Ala Moana Beach Park last month. The spill, now estimated at 587,150 gallons, with 462,050 gallons reaching the ocean, occurred Aug. 24 during heavy rainfall. Star-Advertiser.

Less than a year since the protected bike lane on South King Street opened to the public, City Councilman Joey Manahan wants to build another one on North King Street. KITV4.

The battle between the city and a company claiming to own portions of streets in Kakaako is nearing a deadline. KHON2.

The State Executive Committee of the Hawaii Republican Party has voted to remove Tito Montes “for cause” from the office of chair of House District 40 (Ewa Beach, Ewa Gentry, Iroquois Point). Civil Beat.

Hawaii retailer Hilo Hattie will close its flagship Honolulu store on Nimitz Highway after more than 30 years in the same location and plans to relocate the company's office and warehouse within the next two months as a part of its attempt to re-emerge from bankruptcy for a second time. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii
It may be a small island, but folks on the two sides of the GMO debate seem to be worlds apart. When Margery Bronster took the podium at an annual meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture in Keauhou to sketch out the reasons she’s fought with the counties over the cultivation of genetically modified organisms, she did so as GMO opponents pointed to the one-sidedness of hearing only from Bronster and not the other side of the GMO debate. West Hawaii Today.

The destruction of an ahu on the side of Mauna Kea Access Road has angered Thirty Meter Telescope opponents who dedicated it to the god Kane more than two months ago. Tribune-Herald.

Opponents of building a giant telescope on Mauna Kea are decrying the destruction of a stone altar they built near the construction site. Star-Advertiser.

People protesting the construction of a giant telescope on a Hawaiian mountain they hold sacred are decrying the destruction of a stone altar they built near the construction site. Associated Press.

A couple’s plans to subdivide their Holualoa property so their daughter can build a house there has met with so much opposition that they’ve asked that it be pulled from today’s County Council agenda. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Two renewable energy projects proposed by California-based Anaergia Services are on hold until Maui Electric Co. agrees to buy the energy that would come from the projects. Maui News.

Several County Council committee meetings have not been aired live recently because of a fire in a county building broadcast room and a video switch "inadvertently" being turned off, county and television officials said. Maui News.

When you’ve already lost the same election twice in a row, I guess you need to try some unusual campaign tactics. In his third attempt now at winning the Wailuku-Waihee-Waikapu Maui County Council seat, land broker Joe Blackburn has already told the press that he and his people would pluck weeds from Eha Street in Wailuku and give out free pancakes. Now he’s trying donuts. MauiTime.

Coral bleaching has been reported along the coastline from the Ahihi Kinau Natural Area Reserve in South Maui to Kapalua Bay in West Maui and off Molokini and is expected to be "the worst we have ever seen," a state Department of Land and Natural Resources official said. Maui News.

Kauai
The Kauai County Council will meet at 8:30 a.m. today in the council chambers at the Historic County Building. The council will consider a bill for an ordinance to amend the county’s fiscal year 2015-2016 budget to revise the amounts in the general fund, highway fund, liquor fund, solid waste fund, sewer fund and golf fund. Garden Island.

One of the biggest elections for Native Hawaiian self-governance is set to take place in November, and certified Kauai County voters will have a chance to elect two representatives in a 40-member delegation. Garden Island.

The Department of Agriculture could not determine the exact cause of death for more than 10 chickens that died last week in front of the Historic County Building, but have ruled out avian flu. Garden Island.

Biotech, GMO spotlighted at national agriculture conference in Kona, Navy trims sonar use in whale lawsuit settlement, Honolulu allows extra units in residential neighborhoods, Hawaii County settles panhandler, urinalysis lawsuits, Schatz weighs in on NextEra plan, Kaui parents protests oust principal, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

University of Hawaii GMO researcher, courtesy photo

As lawyers defending Hawaii County’s ordinance regulating genetically modified crops work toward an Oct. 1 deadline to file their final brief, a key attorney challenging the new law is scheduled to speak about the issue at a national gathering today in Kailua-Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Biotech companies have spent at least $160,000 to sponsor a four-day national convention of state agricultural officials hosted by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture in Kailua-Kona this week. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Navy agreed to limit its use of sonar and other training that inadvertently harms whales, dolphins and other marine mammals off Hawaii and California in a settlement with environmental groups approved Monday. Associated Press.

Whales, dolphins and other marine mammals swimming off the coasts of Hawaii and Southern California will be more protected from the Navy’s use of sonar thanks to a settlement Monday. Two cases brought by environmental groups were resolved in federal court after a years-long battle to limit the military’s sonar training and testing as well as its use of explosives. Civil Beat.

The Navy agreed to limit its use of sonar and other training that inadvertently harms whales, dolphins and other marine mammals off Hawaii and California in a settlement with environmental groups approved Monday. Garden Island.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said he wants the state Public Utilities Commission to focus on NextEra Energy Inc.’s renewable energy and cost-cutting capabilities when deciding whether the Florida-company is fit to purchase Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. Star-Advertiser.

There’s been plenty of press about Hawaii’s first-in-the-nation policy of “100 percent renewable energy by 2045″ but a lot less talk about what the law really means, especially its loopholes. Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s highest earners are working in the medical field, according to a recent report by American City Business Journals, but there's a catch. When you consider the high cost of living in Hawaii, it can actually be challenging to attract professionals to work in the health care sector, experts say. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s insurance premiums are on the rise, and it’s due to a combination of circumstance and new federal regulations, according to a new report by the Hawaii Health Information Corp. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Under a bill signed Monday by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, homeowners with residential and agricultural lots are able to put up accessory dwelling units if they meet certain criteria. An ADU is a second smaller housing unit, either attached or detached, that can be rented out to either family members or outside parties. Star-Advertiser.

Lawmakers say it could be the change that opens up to 20,000 places to live on Oahu. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell signed what's called the "Accessory Dwelling Unit Bill" into law on Monday. Some are calling it a game changer in the battle against homelessness. KITV4.

A measure to address affordable rental housing on O’ahu was signed into law today at a bill signing ceremony. Hawaii Public Radio.

The brother of a Waipahu man fatally shot by police is suing the Honolulu officer who he says is responsible for the death, alleging that the officer didn’t follow proper procedure for handling people with mental illness. Civil Beat.

The Makapuu Lighthouse Trail and parking lot will close Tuesday through Friday and again Monday through Sept. 23 for repaving in an ongoing $2.7 million improvement project. Star-Advertiser.

State crews, including 70 inmates, began a cleanup of the homeless encampment beneath the H-1 freeway viaduct Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Officials are planning to clear a second section of the large homeless encampment in Kakaako. Mayor Kirk Caldwell announced Monday that the next phase of the camp clearing will happen Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

If you hike the popular Koko Head Crater Trail, it’s common to see a few bees, but lately hikers say there are a lot more. KHON2.

Hawaii
Hawaii County has agreed to pay $80,000 and rewrite its panhandling laws to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by a Kailua-Kona man. West Hawaii Today.

Little did Justin Guy know that holding a sign that read “Homeless Please Help” on a Kailua-Kona street corner would spark a free speech case resulting in changes to the law that protects everyone’s First Amendment rights on Hawaii island. Star-Advertiser.

The ACLU-assisted settlement in a houseless Hawaii County man's free speech case has lead to revisions of several ordinances now found to be unconstitutional. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii County will pay $115,000 and cease the requirement of urinalyses and other medical screenings as a condition of employment for most positions under a federal lawsuit settlement announced Monday. West Hawaii Today.

An 'ahu or altar that was built along the Mauna Kea summit road has been bulldozed by a Mauna Kea Support Services (MKSS) employee. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A public briefing on health care initiatives by Gov. David Ige that include a waiver from the federal Affordable Care Act and improved services for behavioral health and long-term care will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at the Cameron Center Auditorium in Wailuku. Maui News.

RAM Reports Good News for Real Estate Buyers. Maui Now.

Flash floods stranded 20 hikers last month on the Commando and Bamboo trails in East Maui, including one man who was caught on camera being swept 30 feet down the side of a waterfall. Maui News.

Kauai

Step one, done. That’s what the Save Hanalei School group said about Superintendent Bill Arakaki’s decision to remove Hanalei Elementary principal Lisa McDonald effective Monday. Garden Island.

The U.S. Air Force said it is still working to address a lighting issue at its Kokee station that has led to more than 120 fallen endangered seabirds. Garden Island.

Kauai’s chicken die-off has scientists trying to rule out avian influenza. Necropsy to test for bird flu and botulism. KITV4.

The next phase of the Hauaala Road project in Kapaa near the Kuhio Highway intersection will begin this week. One lane of the roadway will be closed Wednesday and Thursday to allow reconstruction work to take place. Another is planned for next week. Traffic will be contra-flowed during the lane closures. Garden Island.

Molokai

The Molokai Ferry has adopted a new sailing schedule. The owner says this month’s changes will help stop the financial “hemorrhaging” the ferry has seen in the last two years.  But not everyone is happy about the new plan. Hawaii Public Radio.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs officials visit Mauna Kea amid protests, arrests; few affordable homes built under Honolulu plan; councilman cleared to accept pro-GMO trip; Campaign Spending Commission fines scofflaws; new solar deal on Kauai; disputes on Maui over energy, cane burning; monk seal rescued off Niihau, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Earl DeLeon speaks about Mauna Kea and Thirty Meter Telescope, courtesy Big Island Video News

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ administrator offered his commitment, though few specifics, to protecting indigenous rights and proper stewardship of Mauna Kea after meeting with Thirty Meter Telescope opponents Wednesday morning at their camp site near the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station. The meeting, which also included four OHA trustees, was held only hours after Hawaii County police and state Department of Land and Natural Resources officers arrested eight camp occupants during their second nighttime sweep to enforce emergency rules that prohibit people from staying there between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. Tribune-Herald.

Earl DeLeon, who in the past has stood for Aloha Aina on Kaho’olawe and Hilo Airport, speaks to Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees during Wednesday’s site visit to Mauna Kea and Hale Kukia’imauna. Big Island Video News.

Eight people were detained early Wednesday in the latest round of arrests in an ongoing battle over construction of a giant telescope atop a mountain many Native Hawaiians consider sacred. Associated Press.

State conservation officers arrested eight protesters on Mauna Kea early Wednesday morning in only the second enforcement action since the Board of Land and Natural Resources enacted a new emergency rule prohibiting camping on the mountain two months ago. Star-Advertiser.

Protesters aren't leaving Mauna Kea, and the state's not backing down on its camping ban. On Wednesday morning, eight protesters were arrested, including a man who was atop a structure at a campsite across the road from the Visitor Center. KITV4.

Seven women and one man were arrested early Wednesday morning for allegedly violating the Board of Land and Natural Resources' emergency rule, which prohibits access in the overnight restricted area along Mauna Kea Observatory Access Road. Hawaii News Now.

Eight people were arrested early Wednesday morning at a protest camp across the road from the Mauna Kea Visitors Center on Hawaii Island. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission on Wednesday approved a total of about $8,000 in fines for 13 political candidates and noncandidate committees, including former Hawaii island Rep. Faye Hanohano and the Castle & Cooke Inc. Legislative Committee, for filing late campaign spending reports. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra Energy Inc. and Hawaiian Electric Co., the two firms involved in a $4.3 billion acquisition, have completed a federal pre-merger notification program, one of the requirements they needed to meet prior to closing the transaction, the two companies said Wednesday. Pacific Business News.

The Department of Education is trying to expedite the purchase of as many as 1,000 portable air conditioners in hopes of bringing temperatures to tolerable levels in the hottest public school classrooms. Star-Advertiser.

The Department of Education is setting aside half-a-million dollars to buy air conditioning units to bring relief to students and teachers suffering in the heat. KHON2.

An abandoned Hawaiian monk seal pup found Monday on Niihau is the first from the main Hawaiian Islands to be admitted to the Marine Mammal Center’s Ke Kai Ola Hospital. Star-Advertiser.

An abandoned monk seal pup is now being cared for in Kona. Hawaii Public Radio.

A new survey ranks the Aloha State at No. 4 for best places to have a baby in the nation, and No. 1 for “baby friendly environment.” Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu’s affordable housing policy requires that any developer seeking approval for a zone change set aside 30 percent of their units for people earning moderate incomes or less. Thirty percent may sound like a lot, but in fiscal year 2014, only 33 units were produced under that policy, known as inclusionary zoning. Civil Beat.

A Japanese firm’s 350-foot mixed-use condominium-hotel tower being planned for the former property of the Kyo-ya Restaurant in Waikiki was met with strong opposition by some community members and the area’s neighborhood board. Pacific Business News.

Honolulu Police Department officials are touting the launch of a service that can help first responders handle emergencies quicker and more efficiently. Star-Advertiser.

Behind the homes on Iliaina Street and just down the road from Kalaheo High School lays 10 acres of unused land. The city owns it and it doesn't need to sell it, but it’s an option it's looking into. KITV4.

The city has owned a ten-acre parcel of land above Iliaina Street in Kailua since 1961. Originally the Department of Education was going to build an elementary school on the site. But that idea died. The undeveloped land along Kalaheo Hillside is zoned residential and is now on the city's surplus list. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

One County Council member was cleared by the county Board of Ethics on Wednesday to accept a free trip to New York paid by a pro-GMO group later this month, while the acceptance of two free trips to Honolulu last year from anti-tobacco lobbyists by another council member remains pending before the board. West Hawaii Today.

A new science and technology building two decades in the making will soon be a reality at Waimea Middle School. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Anaergia Services LLC has filed a complaint with Hawaii regulators against Hawaiian Electric Co. and its subsidiary Maui Electric Co. over a proposed energy project on Maui, according to public documents. Pacific Business News.

The legal firestorm that is Maui Environmental Court’s new cane burning lawsuit. MauiTime.

Kauai

State Attorney: Public May Need Doctor’s OK to Visit Kauai Irrigation Sites. The water commission is planning a field trip to look at ditches and other waterways but state legal advisors are worried about the public tagging along. Civil Beat.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative has signed a power purchase agreement with SolarCity for electricity from the first utility-scale solar array and battery storage system designed to supply power to the grid in the evening, when demand is highest. Garden Island.

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative has struck a deal with California-based SolarCity to develop what would become one of the first utility-scale systems in the United States to provide the utility with electricity whenever it needs it. Pacific Business News.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of State Parks will continue to accept public comments on the master plan and draft environmental impact statement for Haena State Park through Oct. 8. The required public comment period of 45 days, ended Tuesday, but State Parks will continue to accept comments in response to requests from the public to allow more time to review the large and complex document. Garden Island.