Barking Sands eyed for $1.98B ballistic missile system, resolution urges media restrictions on reporting suspects, whistleblower says FAA gave Southwest preferential treatment, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pacific Missile Range Facility ©2020 All Hawaii News

Kauai military site named as possible site for $1.9B ballistic missile radar. The Missile Defense Agency is now also eyeing Kauai as a potential site for its planned $1.9 billion high powered ballistic missile radar. Hawaii News Now.

PMRF eyed for missile defense system. The U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility is being considered as a new location of a ballistic missile defense radar that would take up between 50 and 80 acres at Barking Sands. Garden Island.

Kauai, not just Oahu, now being considered for $1.9B defense radar. The Missile Defense Agency confirmed it is looking at the possibility of siting a $1.9 billion Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai instead of at one of several spots on Oahu that had been considered since 2018. Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii lawmakers urge news outlets to use ‘no-notoriety’ approach. State Sen. Maile Shimabukuro of Oahu has introduced a pair of resolutions “encouraging the media, law enforcement, and information officers to adopt a no-notoriety approach to reporting on mass shooters and the perpetrators of other mass crimes.” Tribune-Herald.

Plenty Of Warning Signs But Few Treatment Options In Police Killer Case. Neighbors were well aware of Jerry Hanel’s bizarre behavior, but it’s hard to force unwilling people to get mental health treatment. Civil Beat.

Woman staying with Cain, Hanel Sunday says tragedy at Diamond Head was preventable. Sunday’s tragedy at Diamond Head that saw the deaths of two Honolulu Police Officers was the result of city and state agencies neglecting a warning about Jerry Hanel’s violence according to an acquaintance. KHON2.

Hawaii Eyes Closing Gun Loopholes, Bolstering Mental Health. Hawaii already has some of the nation's strictest gun laws, but the fatal shooting of two Honolulu police officers by a man his lawyer and neighbors believe had psychiatric problems has added new urgency to efforts to close gun control loopholes and bolster mental health care treatment. Associated Press.

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Democratic Party of Hawaii announces list of candidates appearing on ballot. Democratic Party of Hawai'i Interim Chair Kate Stanley announced the list of candidates who will appear on the ballot of Hawai‘i’s Party-run Presidential Primary. KITV4.

A dozen Democrats sign up for mail-in Hawaii party voting. A dozen candidates who are seeking the Democratic nomination for president have signed up and paid the filing fee to compete locally for delegates in what will be the Hawaii party’s first-ever mail-in balloting this spring to decide who will win the support of state Democratic Party members. Star-Advertiser.

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FAA gave Southwest Airlines special treatment for Hawaii flights, whistleblower alleges. Southwest Airlines received special treatment from the Federal Aviation Administration in expediting the approval process to begin Hawaii service last year, according to a whistleblower complaint. Star-Advertiser.

Whistleblower: FAA Improperly Rushed Southwest Approvals To Fly To Hawaii. FAA managers engaged in “abuse of authority” last year to help Southwest expedite service to the islands, according to a new Wall Street Journal report. Civil Beat.

Southwest responds after reports it got preferential treatment from the FAA to fly to Hawaii. Southwest Airlines says it followed all the rules to receive approval to fly to Hawaii. KHON2.

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Tour Helicopter Crashes — And Flights — Have Escalated In Recent Years. In Hawaii, 2019 was the deadliest year for tour helicopters in nearly two decades, with 10 people dying in two crashes, a Civil Beat review of federal records shows. Civil Beat.

Report: Fundamentals of Hawaii’s economy would need to change to ease cost of living. In a recent write-up, the Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawaii notes that residents are unlikely to get much relief from the price of paradise ― barring changes to the fundamental factors that drive high costs in the islands and modest incomes. Hawaii News Now.

Little relief from Hawaii’s high cost of living. Executive summary. University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization.

Volunteers gather for point-in-time count to get better sense of Hawaii’s homeless population. The point-in-time is a count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January that helps to determine the funding and resources that are committed to combating homelessness in our community. Hawaii News Now.

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Hawaii officials urge doctors to be on alert as deadly coronavirus spreads from China. A deadly new virus from China has spread to the U.S., prompting federal officials to expand screenings for the illness at major airports across the country. Hawaii News Now.

No Coronavirus Cases Reported In Hawaii But Officials Advise Flu Shots. Hawaii health officials are advising residents to get flu shots to help in the detection of cases of coronavirus that has affected over 400 people in China and killed nine. Hawaii Public Radio.

DOH urges vigilance, not panic as deadly coronavirus spreads. State health officials are urging Hawaii residents to be vigilant but not to panic after a deadly new virus from China reached the U.S. West Coast in recent days. West Hawaii Today.

Health Department issues China virus medical advisory. The state Health Department sent out a detailed medical advisory for health care providers Tuesday to be on the alert for patients who traveled from Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and may have pneumonia contracted from the novel coronavirus. Maui News.

State health department believes there's a small chance Coronavirus will be Hawaii bound. It's sill advising the community to be prepared. KITV4.

Hawai‘i Health Officials Offer Guidance on Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China. The Hawai‘i Department of Health is providing guidance to healthcare providers in the state for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China, which already includes more than 300 confirmed infections and several deaths in China. Maui Now.

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Hawaii Doctors Hopeful Over-The-Counter Drug Can Fight Rat Lungworm Disease. The Hilo Medical Center is recommending people take pinworm medicine as a precautionary measure if they accidentally eat slugs or snails. Civil Beat.


Oahu

Street where violent rampage happened reopens, but a sense of normal is likely years away. Three days after a man’s deadly rampage in the Diamond Head area, dozens of displaced residents were allowed to return to their homes Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Power restored, roads reopened in Diamond Head neighborhood. A neighborhood in the Diamond Head area continues to repair itself after a tragic event struck on January 19. KHON2.

'Shell shock’: As residents return to Diamond Head, coping with memories among challenges. Three days after triple-murder suspect Jerry Hanel torched his neighborhood in a hail of gunfire, resident Gisela King returned to the home where she was stabbed. Hawaii News Now.

Outpouring of support for grieving HPD. The names of Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama were added Wednesday to the Honolulu Police Department’s “Roll of Honor” plaque at the main police headquarters, joining 48 other officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Star-Advertiser.

Residents on Hibiscus Drive allowed to return to homes. Raymond Teruya Sr. had the widest smile Wednesday as he returned to his family’s Diamond Head home after police pulled down most of the crime scene tape that has surrounded Hibiscus Drive since Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Landlord was quirky, caring. Lois Kiehl Cain was a quirky former belly- dancing University of Hawaii librarian who had a soft spot for taking in strangers to her home on Hibiscus Drive where they lived rent free, including defecting Russian fishermen, a family escaping Asia’s economic downturn and the man suspected of killing her and two Honolulu police officers on Sunday. Star-Advertiser.

Concerns discussed at Kaneohe cemetery expansion hearing. Supporters and opponents of a controversial Kaneohe cemetery expansion plan sounded off in about equal numbers Wednesday to start a quasi-judicial state hearing over whether forested conservation land can be developed with 30,000 new burial sites for Hawaiian Memorial Park. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

HELCO seeks OK to rebuild transmission lines to PGV. A public hearing regarding Hawaii Electric Light Co.’s application to construct portions of overhead transmission lines that will reconnect Puna Geothermal Venture to the HELCO grid will be held next week in Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

County set to put limit on one load of refuse a day. The county will soon limit the amount of waste residents can dispose at county transfer stations in a single day. Tribune-Herald.

Bus depot land buy paused. The County Council put the brakes Wednesday on a fast-tracked land buy for a bus depot, for at least two more weeks while more information is gathered. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Court: County cannot redefine ‘real property’. Code changed to allow wind turbines to be included in tax assessments. The Hawaii Supreme Court said Tuesday that Maui County did not have the power to include wind turbines as “real property” when it taxed major wind farms on Maui. Maui News.

Judge’s ruling shuts down vacation rental in Paia. Unpermitted Nalu Kai Lodge had $2.7M in fines, penalties. Maui News.

Kauai

Council amends TVR bill 2767. The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved amendments to a bill that would increase property taxes for certain vacation-rental owners. Garden Island.

Recycling biz rising. James Higginbotham has been operating Kauai Community Recycling Service for 17 years, the last 10 at 962 Kipuni Way in the Arzadon Industrial Center next to Gather Federal Credit Union. Garden Island.

Hawaii Dems opt for ranked-choice mail-in ballots for presidential primary, convicted ex-police chief Kealoha files for divorce, Hawaii County Council advances pesticide ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tulsi Gabbard ©2019 All Hawaii News

Tulsi Gabbard’s take on Syria gets slammed as ‘dead wrong’ during Democratic debate. Tulsi Gabbard came under attack for her stances on Syria during Tuesday’s presidential debate, marring what needed to be a strong performance for the Hawaii congresswoman, who has struggled to gain traction in her bid for the presidency. Star-Advertiser.

Tulsi Gabbard: ‘Blood Of The Kurds’ On Trump’s Hands. The Hawaii congresswoman continued to push for ending U.S. involvement in “regime-change war” during Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate. Civil Beat.

Gabbard Restrained In Debate But Questions Warren About Syria. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard did not have significant air time in Tuesday's crowded debate of 12 Democratic presidential candidates but she was most emphatic when arguing in support of the U.S. pullout from Syria. Hawaii Public Radio.

Federal Campaign Filings Show Gabbard Has Raised Another $3 Million. State Sen. Kai Kahele continues to rake in cash in his bid to oust the CD2 congresswoman. Civil Beat.

DNC approves delegate plan. The party-run presidential primary scheduled for April 4 will include vote-by-mail and ranked choice voting. Garden Island.

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Protests concern Hawaii business leaders. Hawaii often gets rapped as being unfriendly to business over regulations, taxes and litigation. Now a new layer to this perception may be forming as activists inhibit construction of three development projects. Star-Advertiser.

UH Pay Increases For Top Executives Drawing Scrutiny. The double-digit percentage pay increases are permissible under a UH policy giving discretion to the university president to elevate pay. Civil Beat.

Vaping Summit, Legislative Briefing Set As Lung Illness Count Continues To Rise Nationwide. An anti-vaping summit is planned this week in Honolulu and state lawmakers scheduled a briefing Thursday on the rising youth use of e-cigarettes. Hawaii Public Radio.

More Hawaiian homeland residents struggling with loan payments, face eviction. DHHL beneficiaries asked Lt. Gov. Josh Green and state legislators for the same loan mitigation programs offered to other citizens. They say current state law prohibits that. KITV.

Why Hawaii Still Has So Few Electric Cars. Only about 1% of cars here are electric vehicles. Advocates say boosting that number requires mandating builders install charging stations at new developments. Civil Beat.

$88 Billion: A New Price Tag For Fixing Hawaii’s Infrastructure And Retirement Systems. A new report from the Hawaii Executive Conference details the state’s worsening financial problems, but it doesn’t offer any solutions. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha files for divorce from wife Katherine. Louis Kealoha, the retired police chief and convicted felon, filed for divorce Monday from his wife, former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, also a convicted felon. Star-Advertiser.

Louis Kealoha Files For Divorce From Katherine Kealoha. The marriage is irretrievably broken, Louis Kealoha indicated in his court complaint. Civil Beat.

As both await sentencing, ex-police chief files for divorce from his wife. Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha has filed for a divorce from his wife Katherine, a former deputy prosecutor. Hawaii News Now.

Retired Police Chief Louis Kealoha files for divorce. Retired Police Chief Louis Kealoha has filed for divorce against his wife, Katherine, a former deputy prosecutor. KHON2.

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Gov. David Ige backs wind farm’s construction in Kahuku. The company planning to build a wind farm in Kahuku “should be allowed to proceed,” Gov. David Ige’s office said Tuesday as protesters continued to rally at the construction site. Star-Advertiser.

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State health officials fine bubble tea shop in Moiliili for removing yellow placard. The state Health Department has fined a bubble tea shop at Puck’s Alley in Moiliili $2,000 for unlawfully and intentionally removing a yellow placard, which stands for a conditional pass, from their facility. Star-Advertiser.

Popular bubble tea shop slapped with fine for removing yellow health placard. The Department of Health has fined a popular Oahu bubble tea shop after removing a conditional yellow health placard from their window. Hawaii News Now.

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Home and condo sales rise on Oahu. Home and condo sales are picking up with several regions seeing double-digit gains. KHON2.

Sea Life Park announces death of Kina the false killer whale. Sea Life Park Hawaii announced today the death of Kina, the false killer whale that had been a beloved part of its family since 2015. Star-Advertiser.

Kina, the beloved false killer whale at Sea Life Park, dies. A mainstay at Sea Life Park on Oahu has died. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Herbicide ban advanced: Bill prohibits county use of weed killers in parks, roadsides. Hawaii Island is moving toward banning county-applied herbicides on parks and roadsides. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaiʻi County Council Committee of Agricultural, Water, Energy and Environmental Management voted to advance Bill 101 to the full council with a positive recommendation. Big Island Video News.

Pesticide Ban Advances to Council. The Hawai‘i County Council Committee on Agriculture, Water, Energy and Environmental Management voted 7-0 today to advance Bill 101, a pesticide ban in Hawai‘i County, with a positive recommendation to the Council late Tuesday night. Big Island Now.

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Committee gets update on lava recovery efforts. Hawaii County Council members appeared pleased with the current state of the Kilauea eruption recovery efforts after an update provided Tuesday to the Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development. Tribune-Herald.

Kilauea Eruption Recovery Progress Report Delivered. It has been one year since the eruption of Kīlauea ended, but the recovery effort in Puna continues. Big Island Video News.

University of Hawaii regents panel pitches plan to improve Mauna Kea. Following a two-month examination of the issues related to Mauna Kea, a University of Hawaii Board of Regents committee did not recommend any change in its support for the controversial Thirty Meter Telescope. Star-Advertiser.

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Men’s shelter in old Hilo hospital accepts its first residents. The old Hilo Memorial Hospital has a new purpose: helping homeless men. Tribune-Herald.

Old Hilo Hospital Site Now An Ohana Zone. The goal is to improve access to needed services for those experiencing homelessness. Civil Beat.

Keolahou Shelter To Address Homelessness In Hilo. The shelter is on the site of the old Hilo Memorial Hospital near Rainbow Falls, and is made possible by state ʻOhana Zone funds. Big Island Video News.

Maui

State restricts access to cliff in West Maui. Concerns over rock climbing impacts have led the state to close a cliff face in the Lihau section of the West Maui Natural Area Reserve. Maui News.

Maui Marketplace seeing some new tenants, changes. Jollibee, a fast food chain from the Philippines, is coming to the center. Maui News.

Jollibee “Home of the Famous Chickenjoy” Coming to Maui Marketplace. Jollibee, a popular fast-food chain in the Philippines, will be opening a restaurant at the Maui Marketplace in Kahului. Maui Now.

Island home prices dip in September as purchases spike. 83 properties have sales pending, up 26 percent from September 2018. Maui News.

Kauai

Water rights contested. A case that began before the county planning commission and made its way to the highest court in the state continued Tuesday in Kauai’s circuit court, where a judge appeared on the verge of siding with a Koloa couple embroiled in the 13-year legal battle. Garden Island.

Southwest on the way. Southwest will launch service between Honolulu and Kauai, Maui and Sacramento on Nov. 10. Garden Island.

New endangered species rules worry Hawaii leaders, police dropped the ball on Mauna Kea arrests, Hawaiian Airlines adds Maui-Vegas route, Kona airport gets $40M boost, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Endangered nene goose in Hawaii ©2019 All Hawaii News

Isle leaders blast new rules on endangered species. Hawaii flora and fauna, already under stress from climate change, will have fewer protections under new Trump administration rules that weaken the Endangered Species Act. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Is Home To More Than 400 Endangered Species. Now the Trump administration is weakening the federal law that protects them. Civil Beat.

Trump admin moves to weaken endangered species protections. The rule would also create an exemption to critical habitats that exist because of the results of the climate crisis such as sea level rise. KITV.

Schatz 'sick' over Trump administration plans to weaken Endangered Species act. Local politicians made sure their voice was heard after the news broke. KITV.

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Hawaii Democrats Elect New Party Chair. Kate Stanley will hold the interim position until May 2020. Civil Beat.

Kahele Promoted, Gabbard Leaves For Active Duty. State Sen. Kai Kahele is now a Lieutenant Colonel, while U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is off the campaign trail for two weeks of active duty training. Big Island Video News.

Hawaii Legislature’s Top-Paid Officials Never Run For Office. The latest installment of Civil Beat’s public salary database includes employees of the Senate, House and Legislative Reference Bureau. Civil Beat.

New Technology to Reduce Land Court Records Clog. The Bureau of Conveyances has just awarded a $1.3 million contract to West Central Indexing to implement a highly specialized Land Records Management System to increase accuracy and improve efficiencies in recording these documents. Big Island Now.

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Officers: Police plans to arrest TMT protesters, clear road abruptly fell through. Honolulu Police Sgt. James “Kimo” Smith’s version of events sheds light on one of the most emotional days of the conflict, and raises new questions about the government response in the wake of the arrests. Hawaii News Now.

Mauna Kea telescopes coming back to life. Though not exactly fully functional yet, the telescopes atop Mauna Kea are starting to conduct science for the first time in nearly four weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Telescopes Employ Hundreds, Critics Say Astronomy Not Big Island Jobs Solution. Hawaii Public Radio.

Telescope confirms asteroid not a threat. Maunakea observatories returned to work last weekend and almost immediately discovered that the world will not end next year. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu

Extra Board Members Were Meant To Add Scrutiny On HART — But They Rarely Show Up. Only one Legislature-appointed member has attended a board meeting since February, making it hard for the Honolulu rail project to get routine business done. Civil Beat.

Rate Commission seeks testimony on bus and rail fares. The Honolulu Rate Commission will take public testimony on the future of mass transit fares at a meeting from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Mission Memorial Hearing Room. Star-Advertiser.

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How much time will the Kealohas spend in prison? The answer is not easy to figure out. Former deputy prosecutor Katherine Kealoha has already spent 45 days behind bars. Time that will be credited once she is sentenced for obstruction and conspiracy on Oct. 7. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu officer who pleaded guilty in Kealoha corruption case fights to keep job. Honolulu Police Officer Danny Sellers. pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in the Kealoha’s public corruption case. Hawaii News Now.

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Honolulu Officials Say Bulky Trash Program Is Starting To Work. Honolulu officials say the city's bulky item pilot program is beginning to work despite ongoing complaints. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bulky item pickup program improving, Caldwell announces. Two months in, public participation in the city’s revised bulky item trash pickup system is growing, and the pilot project is on its way to being a success — despite some glitches along the way, Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

To crack down on illegal dumpers, city wants your help.  The city’s controversial bulky item pickup pilot is in its third month, and officials say they’re now planning to ramp up efforts to catch illegal dumpers. Hawaii News Now.

Bulky item pilot pickup program seeing increase in appointments. KHON2.

Mayor’s office, Waimanalo Park renovation opponents disagree on park findings. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is planning to cut back on master plans for a renovation of Waimanalo Bay Beach Park. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

Ige releases $40.4M for airport improvements. Gov. David Ige has released $40.4 million for improvements to the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, state Sen. Lorraine Inouye announced Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Holiday Inn to get signs. More than five years later, the Holiday Inn in Kailua-Kona is about to get its signs. West Hawaii Today.

Influx of permit applications alters Kona office hours. As part of an ongoing effort to address a backlog in the processing of applications and permits at the Planning Department’s West Hawaii office in Kailua-Kona, the department said Monday it will begin to limit service hours with the public on a temporary basis. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hawaiian Airlines to Launch New Maui to Las Vegas Flights in December. The airline will inaugurate its newest narrow-body Airbus A321neo aircraft on the route. Maui Now.

Hawaiian Air adds Maui to Las Vegas in new route. Hawaiian Airlines announced Monday that it’s launching direct service between Maui and Las Vegas in December on its Airbus 321neo, whose midrange capabilities have allowed the carrier to beef up service to smaller, secondary markets throughout the western United States. Star-Advertiser.

Affordable rental community in Kihei taking applications. Kaiwahine Village holds 120 units, amenities. Maui News.

Public Invited to Last Open House for Baldwin Beach Park Masterplan. The public is invited to view the final concept for the Baldwin Beach Park master plan on Aug. 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Paiia Community Center. Maui Now.

Kauai

Tax exemption amendment goes to council. Bill No. 2756, if approved, would allow family members to apply for real property tax exemptions based upon their own eligibility, as long as there is no living person on title. Garden Island.

Coral bleaching could be on the way. Another coral bleaching event could hit Hawaii in the next four months, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Coral Reef Watch. Garden Island.

Poll: Majority support Thirty Meter Telescope, Air China suspending Hawaii flights amid trade war, state Democratic chairwoman resigns, Honolulu to mull single-use plastics ban, Kauai judge to rule on vacation rental ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Tourists view telescopes on Mauna Kea ©2019 All Hawaii News

Civil Beat Poll: Strong Support For TMT But Little Love For Ige. Two-thirds of Hawaii voters polled want the telescope built on Mauna Kea. But Native Hawaiians and residents under 50 were more likely to oppose the project. Civil Beat.

Exploring the Native Hawaiian Belief in the Sacredness of Mauna Kea. According to some Hawaiians, Mauna Kea is the gateway to the heavens. Hawaii Public Radio.

Employees of existing telescopes say they’re ‘collateral 'damage’ in TMT conflict. For a fourth week, the existing telescopes atop Mauna Kea are sitting idle. Technicians say they can’t get reliable access to them. Hawaii News Now.

Local contractors lose revenue during Mauna Kea demonstrations. Local construction companies are seeing a slump in business since demonstrations began on Mauna Kea. According to Mauna Kea Observatories scheduled projects on the summit are on hold for now. KITV.

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Air China to suspend Beijing-Hawaii flights amid escalating US-China trade war. The announcement came at a sensitive time in U.S.-China relations as the world’s two biggest economy are locked in a year-long trade war. KITV.

Tough Laws, Cultural Differences Give Hawaii A Low Rate Of Gun Violence. A recently passed “red flag law” is expected to help keep Hawaii’s per capita rates of gun deaths one of the lowest in the country. Civil Beat.

Caldwell, other mayors across the nation ask Senate for stricter gun safety legislation They're calling for stronger background checks for anyone buying a firearm. KITV.

Gov. Ige Extends Homelessness Disaster Emergency. Homelessness is still cause for a state of emergency in Hawaii, as declared again by Gov. David Ige on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Big Island Now.

Tulsi Gabbard’s presidential campaign is interrupted by National Guard service. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will be in Indonesia for two weeks for National Guard training, ABC News reported, disrupting her campaign for the presidency at a time when Gabbard is struggling to make the third Democratic primary debates in September. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Democratic Party Chair Leaves To Run AARP. Kealii Lopez took over running the party last year, winning the election over the progressive’s choice. Civil Beat.

The US Military Wants To Coordinate Health Care Solutions In Pacific Islands. The Indo-Pacific Command is partnering with the University of Hawaii to improve health care outcomes in the Pacific islands. Civil Beat.

Oahu

City Council bill aims to ban single-use plastics. Expect Oahu business organizations and environmental groups to once again battle it out over a proposal to rid food service establishments of single-use plastics — from takeout containers, utensils and straws to carry-out bags. Star-Advertiser.

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Vacation rental citations coming, Mayor Caldwell says. City officials Tuesday said they will be issuing notices to violators of the new vac­ation rental law, despite saying Monday that no notices had been issued due to a pending lawsuit. Star-Advertiser.

'We Are Going To Be Enforcing,' Says Caldwell On Vacation Rental Law. The City and County of Honolulu will enforce its new vacation rental law, despite an ongoing legal challenge. Hawaii Public Radio.

City: Number of illegal vacation rentals has dropped sharply in wake of new law. Since the city approved a new law aimed at regulating short-term vacation rentals, the number of illegal rentals on Oahu has dropped sharply, city officials say. Hawaii News Now.

City cites problem in sending short-term rental notices of violation. The city is in the process of issuing notices of violation for those breaking the new vacation rental law. KHON2.

Hickam airman rebuffs flak for speaking Spanish in uniform. A 27-year-old Air Force senior airman’s shock at getting a rebuke for speaking Spanish in uniform in a Starbucks near Hickam and her subsequent stand against discrimination have gained some fervent support on social media. Star-Advertiser.

State to install 4 raised crosswalks on Farrington Highway in Waianae. The state will install four raised crosswalks on Farrington Highway near Waianae High to slow traffic in the area. Hawaii News Now.

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Oahu home prices hit new highs. New median sale price high marks were set for single-family houses at $835,000 and for condominiums at $461,500, according to Honolulu Board of Realtors data released Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

Median price of single-family home on Oahu shatters old record. Hawaii News Now.

Single-family home sales, prices rise in July. KHON2.

Hawaii Island

One Year After Eruption End, Residents Still Find Recovery Difficult. People from Leilani Estates and Kapoho shared their frustration during public testimony before the County Council on Tuesday. Big Island Video News.

Scientists say water in Halemaumau crater heated by volcano. Temperature readings taken during the weekend show that a growing pool of water in the crater, the former home of a popular lava lake, is about 158 degrees. Associated Press.

Maui

Meeting in Paia on Short-Term Rental Home Limits. The Planning and Sustainable Land Use Committee will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Paiia Community Center regarding transient accommodations on Maui’s North Shore, Committee Chair Tamara Paltin announced. Maui Now.

UPW places ad that is critical of current hospital management. Maui Health System ‘surprised’ by union action, says its hospitals providing ‘excellent care. Maui News.

Maui businesses and agencies add up losses after recent wildfires. Maui’s recent wildfires are taxing county resources while also taking a toll on businesses and community groups that suffered serious damage. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Judge to rule in TVR case. The Kauai County Planning Department may be on the verge of losing its legal battle against the owners of vacation rental homes who refused to stop operations after their permits were revoked two years ago. Garden Island.

Hawaii mops up after winter storm, Senate rejects marijuana edibles, Honolulu public-private rail partnership 4 months behind schedule, Big Island gets half the recovery money, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Strong winds are expected to ease on Monday after a potent winter storm pummeled the state just a day prior, toppling trees onto cars, sending waves washing onto roadways and triggering widespread power outages throughout the day. Hawaii News Now.

Although a statewide high wind warning has been canceled, a high surf warning is in effect for all islands along with scattered weather warnings and advisories as the low-pressure system passes north of Hawaii Island this morning. Star-Advertiser.

The bulk of the windy conditions is over for the islands. As a strong area of low pressure will lift northeastward and away from the state over the next couple of days, resulting in diminishing winds. KHON2.

PHOTOS: Wild winds and surf rock the Aloha State. KITV.

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Senate committee rejects sale of marijuana edibles. Star-Advertiser.

Should Hawaii Tax Carbon Emissions To Combat Climate Change? Several measures in the Legislature give the public a chance to weigh in on what could be a sweeping environmental policy reform. Civil Beat.

A bill to create a Hawaii Aerospace Development Corporation appears grounded for this legislative session. Tribune-Herald.

A  Senate panel Friday deferred a decision on whether to advance a controversial bill that would shut down the commercial collection of aquarium fish in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

The gender of Hawaii residents would no longer be included on limited-purpose driver’s licenses under a bill Hawaii lawmakers advanced Wednesday that aims to protect transgender people from discrimination. Star-Advertiser.

Taxpayers Hit With $1.1 Million Tab After State Settles Lawsuits. Civil Beat.

DOE, OIA respond to ACLU's federal lawsuit alleging Title IX violations. An update on the federal lawsuit the ACLU filed against the state Department of Education on December 6, 2018. KITV.

Commentary: As U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard struggles to right her faltering campaign for president, deafening in their silence are fellow Hawaii Democratic politicians who have been slow to back the hometown candidate. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city’s critically important effort to launch a public-private partnership to complete the Honolulu rail project is running nearly four months behind the schedule mapped out by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation last year, but the head of the rail authority says the effort is still on track. Star-Advertiser.

The city’s two newest tools aimed at curbing homeless activity have unspecified legal problems that are preventing their enforcement, nearly four months after they became law. Star-Advertiser.

Homeless at Oneula Beack Park, also known as "Hau Bush,” say they were warned on Friday to get their vehicles out because the area will now be blocked off by boulders. The announcement comes the day after a sweep and heated town hall meeting, in which Ewa Beach residents complained that the park is overrun with rowdy squatters, dumping, and crime. Hawaii News Now.

Three Oahu areas named 'Worst cities to live in America'. The cities that made the list are said to have high crime rates, poverty, "weak job markets and little in the way of entertainment options or cultural attractions." KITV.

Hawaii lawmakers have reopened a debate over Kakaako building heights by proposing to allow at least two exceptionally tall towers. Star-Advertiser.

Birds escape from zoo enclosure after wind knocks tree onto cage. Two African ground hornbills escaped from their enclosure at the Honolulu Zoo in Waikiki Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Calls for a shakeup at the Hawaiian Humane Society. Thirty current and former employees are calling for CEO Lisa Fowler's resignation. They formed a group called "People for Animals First." KITV.

East Honolulu school goes green with culture shift in the cafeteria. It’s lunch time at Mary, Star of the Sea School in Kahala. Plastic forks and water bottles are no where sight. Instead the kids use stainless steel trays and utensils. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A bill to provide $60 million in additional disaster aid to Hawaii County cleared four state House committees Friday with some strings attached. Tribune-Herald.

House lawmakers Friday approved a lava and flood disaster aid package for Hawaii County that includes $20 million the county can use as the local match for federal disaster assistance, and another $40 million in loans from the state to the county. Star-Advertiser.

A joint House Committee today voted to amend a bill to provide disaster relief funding for Hawaii County in the amount of $60 million, less than half the amount requested by the County at the beginning of the 2019 legislative session. Big Island Video News.

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Years of neglect led to Hawaii County spending $618,000 to rent last-minute daily substitute buses in December alone, but the Mass Transit Agency is working hard to stop the bleeding, Administrator Brenda Carreira told the County Council last week. West Hawaii Today.

A charter amendment that would have cut the annual open-space preservation set-aside from 2.25 percent of property tax revenues to 1 percent will not be on the 2020 ballot, following a failing vote Friday by the county Charter Commission. West Hawaii Today.

A proposal to put a land fund reduction to a public vote in 2020 failed at the Hawaii County Charter Commission on Friday. Big Island Video News.

Bills take on helicopter noise. Helicopter noise has long been a concern for many Big Island residents. Tribune-Herald.

The Kona Historical Society is moving forward with plans to construct a community gallery at its main campus in Kealakekua. West Hawaii Today.

A federal program could bring new money to parts of Kailua-Kona and Hilo by encouraging investment in low-income communities across the country dubbed Opportunity Zones. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Multiple Parking Violations at Hookipa Amid Mega Surf. Maui Now.

Restoration of forest key to fire control, expert says. Over the past century, there’s been a fourfold increase in the annual amount of acreage burned in Hawaii. Maui News.

A piece of Maui's housing market slumped in January, but median prices for homes sold last month were up modestly, according to industry data. Star-Advertiser.

40 years later, mystery still surrounds the Sarah Joe and its five Hana fishermen who didn’t return. Maui News.

Kauai

A proposed measure in the state House aiming to change the state’s water-use permitting system passed through a committee hearing on Friday, and the hearing’s public testimony threw the spotlight onto Kauai Island Utility Cooperative. Garden Island.

The Kauai Lifeguard Association’s goal is to help save lives. And they do so while trying to further an “Ocean-Minded Community.” Garden Island.

Two abandoned cars have been taking up space in the dirt parking lot by Wailua Beach Park. Garden Island.

Hawaii election aftermath: lone GOP senator raring to go, House reorganization show little change, voter turnout up, 22 votes won Honolulu council seat, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol, photo by Charles Freedman

For the first time in two years, a Republican will have a seat in Hawaii’s state Senate. Kurt Fevella squeaked out a win in Ewa Beach, beating Democratic rival Matt LoPresti by just 117 votes. Hawaii News Now.

Fevella’s win gives Republicans a state Senate caucus of 1. Kurt Fevella, the newly elected Republican senator from Ewa, won’t have the benefit of senior leadership teaching him how to wrestle earmarks into the state budget or how to navigate the arcane procedural rules of floor sessions when the Legislature convenes in January. Star-Advertiser.

The 2018 General Election delivered huge wins for Democrats on the top of the party ticket. Hawaii Public Radio.

Ed Case ready to return to Congress. Case says he sees the new Democratic majority in the House as an opportunity for Democrats and Republicans to come together. KHON2.

Toppled after 28 years at OHA, Akana says she was a target. Rowena Akana won a seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees in 1990 and was re-elected seven straight times stretching across three decades. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii saw an uptick in the number of people who voted Tuesday compared to the last two midterm elections. The 398,398 residents represented 53 percent of all registered voters — showing up in greater numbers than the 2010 and 2014 midterms. Star-Advertiser.

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Hotel strike enters its second month. The Unite Here Local 5 hotel workers strike, which has become the union’s longest running Hawaii hotel strike in nearly three decades, is now a month old. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.’s earnings rose 9.7 percent in the third quarter as the holding company’s utilities benefited from higher rates and its bank posted a strong performance. Star-Advertiser.

An entity owned by Hawaii businessman Duane Kurisu spent more than $16.7 million purchasing four ground leases on Oahu and the Big Island, including the land beneath a Honolulu office building and the ground beneath the headquarters for the West Hawaii Today newspaper. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Waters not conceding to Ozawa in Council race. Former state Rep. Tommy Waters declined Wednesday to concede the race for District 4 of the Honolulu City Council to incumbent Trevor Ozawa. Star-Advertiser.

A Loss For Tommy Waters Is A Loss For Mayor Caldwell. Incumbent Trevor Ozawa’s narrow victory over his challenger blocked the mayor from having a majority of allies on the City Council. Civil Beat.

Trevor Ozawa keeps his city council seat by 22 votes. If you need proof that in an election, every vote counts, look no further than the East Oahu City Council race between incumbent Trevor Ozawa and challenger Tommy Waters. KHON2.

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Avalon Group became the first local developer Wednesday to agree to a city requirement to set conditions that will keep the affordable units in its proposed mixed-use residential and commercial project affordable for 30 years. Star-Advertiser.

HPD Chief: Police Not At Fault In Closing Of Domestic Violence Program. The Domestic Violence Action Center denied Chief Susan Ballard’s contention that their partnership failed because the center couldn’t meet promised quotas. Civil Beat.

HPD’s partnership with a domestic abuse service for victims to abruptly end. Commissioners agreed that the systematic issues should’ve been figured out months ago. Hawaii News Now.

A state agency is getting closer to enforcing a new Hawaii law aimed at a private company charging for parking along several streets in Kakaako long used by the public. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council shrinks another member. With former Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha officially off the council upon his election Tuesday to the state Senate, and Puna Councilwoman Jen Ruggles not participating in council meetings or legislation because of her concerns about the Hawaiian Kingdom, the nine-member body is effectively down to seven members. West Hawaii Today.

Proposal would give County Council power to censure absent members. Should Hawaii County Council members lose pay if they don’t do their job? Tribune-Herald.

Turnout in Hawaii County for Tuesday’s election was among the lowest in this county’s history as well as the lowest of any county in the state this year. West Hawaii Today.

A plan to develop a veteran’s center across from the University of Hawaii-Hilo was back before the Windward Planning Commission on Wednesday. Big Island Video News.

Maui

Priority No. 1 for Maui County’s mayor-elect: Getting along with his county council. Mike Victorino beat out Councilwoman Elle Cochran by more than 5,000 votes in a hotly contested battle for current Mayor Alan Arakawa’s seat. Hawaii News Now.

After election shakeup, dust begins to settle for new council. Council members-elect downplay 5-4 split between ‘Ohana-endorsed and ‘establishment’ candidates. Maui News.

No leadership overhaul expected at Capitol. Maui County’s state lawmakers eye their roles the upcoming legislative session. Maui News.

Maui’s Justin H. Woodson has secured a house leadership role as one of nine majority whips.  He was also identified as chair of the House Committee on Education under a list released today by House Speaker Scott Saiki. Maui Now.

Voter Turnout Down, Maui at 52%. In Maui County total turnout was 50,475 or 52.2% of the 96,721 registered voters. Maui Now.

Kauai

The End Of An Era For Election Day Polling Places. When the Garden’s Isle’s 14 precinct stations shut down Tuesday night, it might have been for the last time. An all-mail ballot experiment begins in 2020. Civil Beat.

County overwhelmingly votes to keep term limits. Garden Island.

Derek Kawakami, a Kauai county councilman, was elected mayor decisively, 16,797 votes, 65.1 percent, to 7,969, 30.9 percent for Council Chair Mel Rapozo. Garden Island.

The celebrations are over. Now the new mayor of Kauai is ready to get to work. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai mayor-elect seeks applicants to fill new administration. Kauai Mayor-Elect Derek Kawakami has hit the ground running. KHON2.

Felicia Cowden’s campaign party was over by the time she found out she snagged the last seat on the Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Kauai's New Program for Renewable Energy. Hawaii Public Radio.

It's Election Day! No vote, no grumble. Here's what candidates and committees have been up to going down the home stretch, plus everything you need to know about voting in all the Hawaiian Islands

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz at Democratic Party rally in Hilo ©2018 All Hawaii News

Lack of hot races suggests turnout might lag. This is one of the most exciting and suspenseful midterm elections in years on the mainland, but a lack of hotly contested local races suggests voter turnout could remain low in Hawaii today. Star-Advertiser.

Early Voting Is Way Up Nationwide, But Not In Hawaii. There’s a lot of drama on the mainland with control of Congress up for grabs. Hawaii’s races hold less suspense. Civil Beat.

Hawaii General Election: 180K Votes Already Cast. Hawaii Public Radio.

Despite easier registration rules, early voting figures remain low. Hawaii’s voter turnout is the lowest in the nation. Hawaii News Now.

Democrats from across the state gathered at Mooheau bandstand Monday evening for their traditional pre-election Grand Rally, where several hundred of the party faithful ate chili, enjoyed entertainment and heard speeches from federal, state and local candidates. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii’s GOP focusing on conservative-leaning districts in battle against blue wave. There are only five elected Republicans in the state. Hawaii News Now.

Advocates rally to push Native Hawaiian voters to the polls. ‘They say Hawaiians don’t vote. We want to prove them wrong.’ Hawaii News Now.

Candidates for Hawaii’s top elected office are focusing on a persistent problem that has only gotten worse: the high cost of housing on the islands. Associated Press.

A coalition of powerful unions, business interests, environmentalists and others has raised $740,000 in its effort to defeat this year’s ballot measure asking voters whether they want to convene a state constitutional convention, according to the latest campaign spending reports filed Monday. Star-Advertiser.

High-Profile PR Firm Is Getting Involved In Hawaii Politics. A company that made a big splash by hiring away public officials has aided the campaigns of the teachers union, an OHA candidate and a Maui super PAC. Civil Beat.

Here’s what you need to know for Tuesday’s Midterm Election. Hawaii Public Radio.

Are you a first-time voter? Here’s all you need to know for Election Day. Polls open statewide Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Hawaii News Now.

Reminders, tips to know before you vote in Tuesday's general election. KHON2.

Election Day Hawaii Information. If you're headed to the polls here are some things you need to know. KITV.

Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft both said they will offer discounted rides to the polls in Hawaii on Election Day. Star-Advertiser.

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Some Progress Made on Strike Negotiations. Leaders of the hotel workers union Unite Here! Local 5 met with management of five hotels owned by Kyo-Ya over the weekend to try and bring an end to a four week worker strike. Hawaii Public Radio.

Matson’s earnings surge on tax cuts. Matson Inc. operated on a fairly even keel in the third quarter balancing higher revenue and expenses, but the Honolulu company benefited from lower taxes to boost its profit 22 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Short-term bonds to help fund rail. Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell said Monday that his administration will use proceeds from the sale of short-term commercial paper to supply the city’s beleaguered $8 billion-plus rail project with $44 million to show “skin in the game” being required by federal transit officials and the state Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu To Take Out Short-Term Loan Of $44 Million To Keep Rail Going. This marks the first time that city property tax revenue will be used for the project. Civil Beat.

Mayor Caldwell reveals preferred funding mechanism to secure $44M for Honolulu's rail project. Pacific Business News.

Here’s how the city plans to pay $44M for the rail project. ‘We’re probably taking the safest route, the least painful route.’ Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu unveils latest rail plans. Beginning in January, homeowners on O'ahu will start paying for rail through property taxes. KITV.

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Council committee hobbles sidewalk-clearing bills. Honolulu City Council members are doubling down on their insistence that Mayor Kirk Caldwell submit more detailed reports on how he’s tackling homelessness before they’ll allow him to implement two new sidewalk-clearance laws. Star-Advertiser.

Victim Advocates Withdraw From Partnership with Honolulu Police. The Domestic Violence Action Center will return $400,000 in grants because HPD didn’t use its services when responding to domestic violence calls. Civil Beat.

There's a big increase in crime due to 15 cents bag fee on Oahu, says Retail Merchants of Hawaii. KHON2.

Honolulu will be under increasing risk of flooding and other damaging storm impacts as climate change shifts the historical pattern of hurricane tracks and raises the ocean level to make the islands more vulnerable, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Star-Advertiser.

Sales dip, but Oahu home prices rise 4%, Locations report says. Home prices on Oahu rose by 4 percent over the 12-month period that ended Oct. 31, while sales of single-family homes declined by 3 percent, and condominium sales declined by 1 percent, according to a report by Honolulu real estate firm Locations. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Thurston Lava Tube likely to remain closed until 2019. While much of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has reopened since its historic closure earlier this year, some parts likely will remain closed until at least next year. Tribune-Herald.

Improvements planned for rodeo arena in Honokaa. Honokaa Rodeo Arena will close from Nov. 14-Jan. 14 so improvements to the facility can be made. Tribune-Herald.

Humpbacks arrive fashionably early off Kohala Coast. West Hawaii Today.

The median price of a condominium on Hawaii’s Big Island rose by more than 26 percent last month despite fewer sales, compared to a year ago, while both sales and prices declined for single-family homes, according to statistics provided by Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Polls will open starting at 7 a.m. Tuesday as voters statewide cast their final ballots for county, state and congressional races. Maui News.

Spending report: Victorino paid D.C.-based media consultant $50K. Cochran’s largest expenditure was just under $3,000 during same period in Maui County mayoral race. Maui News.

Commentary: Win for public’s right to know. The Maui News won an important court battle Thursday when the three psychiatrist/psychologist reports were released by 2nd Circuit Judge Peter Cahill in the Ashley Wellman case. Maui News.

Maui visitor numbers slowed but still up in wake of Olivia. Vistor spending in September also up but only 2nd time this year with less than $400 million. Maui News.

The Kula Forest Reserve, Waipoli access road, Kahikinui Forest Reserve – Papaanui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area reopened on Friday following completion of a two-month project for road repairs, road safety improvements, and fuel mitigation work. Maui Now.

Kauai

An islandwide power outage that struck early Monday afternoon affected all 25,800 Kauai Island Utility Cooperative members. Garden Island.

Kauai Island Utility Cooperative said it has been able to restore power to all of its 25,800 members on the Garden Isle after a trip at its Kapaia Power Station caused an islandwide power outage. Pacific Business News.

Crews from the Department of Public Works finished laying a new sewer pipe at Kuhio Highway and Leho Drive Sunday night and began demobilizing as they wrapped up a days-long effort to repair and clean up a sewage spill and get traffic back to normal. Garden Island.

Single-family home prices on Kauai rise as sales drop. The median price of a single-family home on Kauai rose 6 percent last month, compared to a year ago, as the median price of a condominium dropped 13 percent and sales for both categories dropped, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News

Hawaii Democrats make up at unity breakfast, Republicans plan next move; analysis of election results; dirty politics in lava district; Maui mayor trails in bid for council seat; more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii Democrats unity breakfast, courtesy photo

On The Day After, Democratic Dominance On Display. As always, winners and losers came together in the same room just hours after the primary for the biennial Unity Breakfast. Civil Beat.

Democrats reflect, press on at Unity Breakfast. After months of battling on the campaign trail, Hawaii democrats gathered Sunday morning to break bread and move forward at the party's traditional Unity Breakfast. KHON2.

After a fierce battle in the primaries, Hawaii's Democratic party candidates woke up early Sunday to come together in unity. KITV.

Democrats, Republicans unite to strengthen parties into general election. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Republicans gather with high hopes for the general election. KHON2.

Gov. David Ige swept two-thirds of the House districts across the state on his way to a win over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the Democratic primary election Saturday, with Hanabusa claiming half of the neighbor islands and a sizable portion of Leeward Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Inside Ige’s Political Turnaround — And How Hanabusa Helped Him. Two natural disasters and an opponent whose overconfident campaign tried to run out the clock helped the governor secure a second term. Civil Beat.

Political analyst recaps election night surprises. Some landslide victories in Saturday's primary election - and some surprises, too. KITV.

What Happens to All Those Campaign Signs? Hawaii Public Radio.

Hickam C-17 crews participated in historic N. Korea mission. The three Hawaii-based C-17s flew west days apart and landed at Osan Air Base in South Korea for what would be the rarest of missions. Star-Advertiser.

Last year was the best year in a decade for Hawaii flower and landscape plant farmers, according to a recent report. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Surprise upsets in Honolulu City Council race. In the Honolulu City Council, Trevor Ozawa came out on top for District Four, Carol Fukanaga was the winner in District Six and Heidi Tsuneyoshi took the most votes in District Two, which covers Mililani all the way to Kahaluu. KITV.

State Senator Brickwood Galuteria loses seat in primary election. He represents District 12 which includes Waikiki, McCully and Kakaako. KHON2.

New prosperity envisioned for downtown’s Wo Fat building. What is described as the “most iconic building” in Honolulu’s historic Chinatown district is slated for restoration and return to restaurant use under a plan that also envisions a boutique hotel on the property. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Bad blood in Puna: Ousted councilwoman cries foul. When the dust settled on the Hawaii County Council District 4 primary election race, the final returns showed a political newcomer winning a 20-point landslide as a result of what she called an “aloha-driven, clean, positive campaign” and the ousted incumbent saying it “was anything but that.” Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County Council District 7 race headed for runoff in November. Hawaii’s primary elections were over as of today, but the race for Hawaii County Council District 7 is far from the finish line. West Hawaii Today.

Commentary: Political snits snarl recovery from Big Isle eruption disaster. House Speaker Scott Saiki and Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke are out of line in their political bullying of Big Island officials trying to recover from an ongoing volcanic disaster that has crippled a major quadrant of the island. Star-Advertiser.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation donated $300,000 to the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Hawaii Island Volcano Recovery Fund. Pacific Business News.

A six-bedroom estate in Kukio Golf and Beach Club recently sold for $18.5 million, the second sale in the exclusive resort community on the Big Island of Hawaii to sell for more than $15 million this year. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Baker’s win came by mail. But home districts also provided strongholds for this rematch from 2014. Maui News.

Home district voters key for Victorino and Cochran. Both candidates want to counter the stereotypes and reach more voters. Maui News.

Voters snub Arakawa in primary election for Kahului council seat. With all but one precinct reporting, mayor trails, but assured place in general election. Maui News.

A controversial new seawall in West Maui is starting to take shape. The project is moving forward after a judge denied an injunction to block construction late last month. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Congratulations and a shared desire for the well-being of Kauai were on tap at the Democratic Unity Breakfast, held at the Kauai Veterans Center on Sunday afternoon, as about 70 candidates and supporters gathered to celebrate the successes of the party. Garden Island.

There May Be No Stopping Derek Kawakami’s Mayoral Campaign. Meanwhile, a political newcomer emerges in the County Council race on a day when some of the island’s few voters were inspiring. Civil Beat.

Sunday morning the fifth and final printout for Hawaii’s primary 2018 primary elections was released, solidifying who is moving on to campaign for November’s general election. Garden Island.

Families that harvest salt from salt beds in Kauai fear current conditions in the unincorporated community of Hanapepe and climate change are threatening their important cultural practice. Associated Press.

Lanai

Air Charter Service Offered at Four Seasons Resort Lanai. Tourism executives say guests of the resort can now bypass airport waits and enjoy private daily air charter service from Honolulu’s Daniel K Inouye International Airport to Lanai City on one of two Pilatus PC-12 Lanai Air two-pilot aircraft operated by Mokulele Airlines. Maui Now.