Consumer spending fattens state budget, Obama vacation costs Honolulu police $277K in overtime, Hawaii banker named to federal reserve, schools lag under decentralization, manta rays suffer fin damage, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Shoppers in Waikiki © 2015 All Hawaii News

Increased consumer spending, spurred by savings from lower gasoline and heating fuel prices, should help the U.S. economy overall and in turn have a positive impact on Hawaii's economy, state economists predicted Tuesday. The improved economic outlook prompted the state Council on Revenues to revise upward its forecast for the current fiscal year, predicting revenue growth of about 4.5 percent, up from the 3.5 percent growth predicted in September. Star-Advertiser.

Gov. David Ige’s administration and state lawmakers have a little more money to work with as they develop the next biennium budget for the state in the coming months. The Hawaii Council on Revenues decided Tuesday to increase its revenue forecast for the current fiscal year, which started July 1. Its previous projection of a 3.5 percent increase in revenue was raised to 4.5 percent, which translates to roughly $53.7 million in additional revenues for the general fund. Civil Beat.

No new day for school empowerment. A pair of new studies show decentralization of the DOE saw little progress over the past four years. Will our new governor have more success? Hawaii Independent.

Allan Landon, the unflappable and unpretentious former head of the state's second-largest bank, is being summoned for another challenge. On Tuesday, President Barack Obama said he will nominate Landon, 65, to a seat on the seven-member Federal Reserve Board. If approved by the Senate, he would become the first banking executive from Hawaii to ever serve on the prestigious committee. Star-Advertiser.

President Barack Obama said Tuesday he plans to nominate retired Bank of Hawaii Chairman and CEO Allan R. Landon to the Federal Reserve's Board of Governors. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii’s largest health insurer says it’s still having substantial problems with the state’s health exchange. The staff at Hawaii Medical Services Association has spent 27,940 hours working on technical issues with the Connector, and a fifth of those hours were spent in the last two months. Associated Press.

Obesity task force seeks fee for sugar-sweetened drinks. KITV4.

FBI: Investment Scams on the Rise in Hawaii. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

The bill has come in for President Barack Obama and his family's holiday vacation in Hawaii. According to Honolulu police, the cost for HPD officers' overtime pay during the first family's visit was more than $277,000. Hawaii News Now.

President Barack Obama left Oahu over the weekend, but he left Honolulu taxpayers with the bill. KHON2.

The state has lost its appeal of a judge's ruling in which the state Department of Human Services was found negligent, along with a Navy diver based at Pearl Harbor, in the 2009 death of the sailor's 14-month-old boy. Star-Advertiser.

Developers of a wind farm set to break ground later this year in Kahuku are boasting of its low-priced energy, but Oahu residents will still be paying six times the national average for the wind energy produced from the 10 turbines. Civil Beat.

It was pretty certain before 2014 was over that Oahu home prices would set a record. And they did. Yet there also was a dip in the number of sales as limited inventory clashed a bit with buyer demand. The Honolulu Board of Realtors released for publication Wednesday its latest monthly sale report with December data that rounded out a year during which record prices were broken. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Creating more housing by allowing people to live in industrial-commercial mixed districts is proving a tough pill for the Hawaii County Council to swallow. The council Planning Committee on Tuesday lauded the goal of a measure advanced by the county administration, but said there are too many concerns to allow Bill 4 to go forward without more work. West Hawaii Today.

A Tuesday morning overflight of the June 27 lava flow showed that breakouts upslope of the stalled front advanced another 150 yards to the north in the past day. Hawaii County Civil Defense said the breakouts were about 1-1.5 miles upslope of the front, which has remained quiet for about a week. Tribune-Herald.

Lava flowing from Kīlauea’s Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Vent has left the lower Puna community in a state of limbo. The slow moving disaster has prompted one researcher to look at how residents are coping with the flow. Hawaii Public Radio.

Earl Bakken, the 91-year-old inventor of the pacemaker and a longtime Big Island resident, already has his 9-acre Kona Coast estate off the grid but now wants to power it without any fossil fuels. Now Bakken has started building one of the largest private residential photovoltaic systems in Hawaii not connected to a utility electrical grid. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island employers began paying the state’s new increased minimum wage last week, and the change is either long overdue or an unwelcome hardship, depending on whom you talk to. Tribune-Herald.

Opinion: Could an Airship Ferry Residents Stranded by the Lava Flow? A Hilo attorney and entrepreneur has a plan for the "Lava Ferry" if Highway 130 in Pahoa is taken out. Civil Beat.

Maui

A Maui research and conservation group says 10 percent of the more than 300 manta rays in waters south of Lahaina have amputated or severely damaged fins. The Hawaii Association for Marine Education and Research says the manta rays are injured when they get caught in fishing lines. Associated Press.

About 10 percent of 330 manta rays identified off Olowalu have an amputated or severely damaged fin used in eating, caused by entanglement in fishing lines. Maui News.

Coffee growers on Maui are bracing for a destructive beetle to eventually make its way to the island. Star-Advertiser.

Maui coffee growers are taking measures to belay the arrival of the coffee berry borer beetle that has been brewing trouble for farmers on the Big Island for years and that made its way to Oahu in December. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai legislators are preparing district and shared concerns as they get ready for their first session Jan. 21. Garden Island.

Community meetings will be held around the island next week to discuss the county’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan update. The discussions will be led by the Kauai Civil Defense Agency and two researchers from the University of Hawaii’s Social Science Research Institute, Dr. Cheryl Anderson and Dr. Sarah Henly-Shepard. Garden Island.

Honolulu Zoo loses another director, panhandler civil rights lawsuit settlement nears, Ige names more top staff, Maui harbor drains $7M from state budget, lava follows new path, state arts foundation audited, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Honolulu Zoo © 2015 All Hawaii News

Jeffrey Wilkinson, director of the Honolulu Zoo since April, announced his resignation to zoo staff Sunday. Wilkinson is the fourth zoo director to resign in the past five years, and the third since March 2013. Star-Advertiser.

Elizabeth Kim, part of a senior leadership team that advises the U.S. secretary of labor, has been named state labor director, Gov. David Ige's office announced Monday. The governor also announced the hiring of Hono­lulu public relations professional Cindy McMillan as his administration's director of communications. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige has chosen Elizabeth Kim to head the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Cindy McMillan to be his communications director. Civil Beat.

The state agency responsible for helping the public access government-controlled information and ensure public meetings remain as open as possible has been mired in a backlog so big its rulings are often irrelevant by the time they’re issued. Yet relief appears nowhere in sight for the Hawaii Office of Information Practices as Gov. David Ige’s term begins and the Legislature gets set to work on his proposed biennium budget, which despite a modest increase only gives the agency half the resources it had 20 years ago. Civil Beat.

The Hawai‘i Health Connector — beset by delays, computer malfunctions and low enrollment since its inception in late 2013 — expects to be self-sufficient by 2022. Star-Advertiser.

On the eve of the 2015 legislative session, Hawaii Public Radio’s Noe Tanigawa takes a look at a recent auditor’s report on the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Oahu

State regulators have approved a wind farm planned for Kahuku despite objections from members of the North Shore community and concerns from Hawaii’s consumer advocate that the developer should have completed its environmental review of the project first. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu city councilman is looking for ways to boost regulation on vacation rentals on Hawaii’s most populous island. Associated Press.

For years, Kapaa Quarry Road has been used as an illegal dump site by people getting rid of trash, equipment, even furniture. Residents and lawmakers say it’s long been a problem with no clear solution and it sits right next to the Kawainui Marsh. KHON2.

The lei sellers at the Honolulu International Airport say their daily struggle to stay in business would be eased if they had 15-year leases like they did in the past, and more respect. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A settlement is in the works in a civil rights lawsuit filed against the county by a Kailua-Kona man cited for panhandling last year. West Hawaii Today.

The June 27 lava flow could begin following a new path as breakouts upslope of the stalled front advance to the north. Darryl Oliveira, Hawaii County Civil Defense administrator, said the most active breakout was located about 1.5 miles from Pahoa Marketplace as of Monday morning. It had advanced about 200 yards to the north in 24 hours. Tribune-Herald.

Daily nonstop flights between Kona and Haneda, Japan, could begin as early as June 1, if Hawaiian Airlines Inc. is successful in its application with the U.S. Department of Transportation. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Island health care providers are seeing a recent spike in cases of the flu. Hilo Medical Center reports that in the last month its influenza rate has risen about four times higher than normal, and Kona Community Hospital said Monday it has already confirmed 24 cases of the flu since New Year’s Day. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

It was supposed to be a part of the state's plan to revitalize the Maalaea Harbor on Maui. But for the past 20 years, the 1.1-acre dirt lot has remained undeveloped with Hawaii taxpayers footing the bill. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has paid more than $7 million -- or about $1,000 a day -- to lease the property that's used only to store old boats, buoys and other ocean equipment. Hawaii News Now.

The new year brought entirely new Maui County Council leadership–exactly what was predicted shortly after the November 2014 election. Mike White is the new Council Chairman and Don Guzman is the new Vice Chairman. Maui Time.

Kauai

Ulupono Initiative, the same investment company backing Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed dairy in Mahaulepu Valley on Kauai’s south side, has its sights on purchasing the last locally owned and operated large-scale dairy in the state. Garden Island.

Vacation rentals proliferate in Hawaii, DLNR scales back Obama protection, body cameras for Kauai police, Maui family sues state over sexually abused foster children, Hawaii County buys Ebola gear, snowy Mauna Kea predicted, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Waikoloa ocean and mountain view © 2014 All Hawaii News

Thousands of illegal vacation rentals have been allowed to proliferate throughout the islands, likely contributing to a reduction in state tax revenue and a tightening of local rental markets, a new report by the Hawaii Tourism Authority suggests. Civil Beat.

A recent study commissioned by the Hawaii Tourism Authority has identified tens of thousands more home-based vacation rentals advertised online than the agency thought were available. The HTA said the home-based rentals now represent 25 percent of all lodging units, with hotels accounting for 50 percent. Time shares and condo hotels contribute 12 percent each. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Health Connector is allowing residents more time to sign up for health insurance coverage that would begin Jan. 1. The original deadline to enroll for coverage that begins at the start of the new year was Dec. 15, but they've extended the deadline to noon on Dec. 31. Associated Press.

Local telecomunications executive Albert Hee appeared in U.S. District Court on Tuesday to face federal tax evasion and tax fraud charges. Hee pleaded not guilty. Hee is the president of Sandwich Isles Communications, which along with its two subsidiaries provides telephone and high-speed Internet service to customers living on Hawaiian homelands. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

As hundreds of Hawaii law enforcement officer take part in President Obama's security detail on Christmas and New Year's Day, one state agency will be conspicuously absent. Hawaii News Now has learned that the Department of Land and Natural Resources has pulled back its ocean safety officers for those two key dates because it does not want to pay for overtime.

Hawaiian Electric Co. is asking Hawaii regulators for more time to negotiate an updated power purchase agreement with AES Hawaii, the owner and operator of the state's only coal-fired power plant, as well as the single-largest generating plant on Oahu. Pacific Business News.

The city has sent its real property assessment notices for 2015, and the total assessed valuation of all taxable real property on Oahu has increased from $200.74 billion to $214.90 billion, an overall increase of 7.1 percent. Hawaii Independent.

Local communities struggling to battle crime are in danger of losing the money they depend on to carry on the fight. The Weed and Seed program — overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice — can be found in areas including Ewa and Ewa Beach, Waipahu and in an area that combines the communities of Kalihi, Palama and Chinatown. KHON2.

A coconut crab that somehow made its way to Oahu is causing concern about whether there could be others around. Star-Advertiser.

An outbreak of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus appears to have spread on Waianae pig farms. Star-Advertiser.

Derrick DePledge, the state government and politics reporter for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, is leaving the newspaper. Civil Beat.

A California real estate investment firm, which owns the 2,742-acre Dillingham Ranch on Oahu's North Shore that was founded more than a century ago by Hawaii railroad tycoon Benjamin Franklin Dillingham, plans to develop 934 acres of the Waialua ranch into a 91-lot agricultural subdivision at a cost of $30 million. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

County Finance Director Nancy Crawford, who had a hand on the county purse strings for two mayors, is retiring at the end of the month. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Fire Department was given permission Tuesday to purchase better equipment to protect emergency medical services workers from the Ebola virus, even though the equipment will cost more than that offered by the lowest bidder. West Hawaii Today.

It’s weather Santa would approve of. The Big Island’s two summits are braced for Hawaii’s answer to that proverbial howling nor’easter — with wind gusts to 90 mph expected to drive up to a foot of snow hard into the mountain faces by today. Temperatures on the peaks were forecast to dip to a frosty 23 degrees tonight, according to the Mauna Kea Weather Center. West Hawaii Today.

The June 27 lava flow, after stalling less than a half-mile from businesses just in time for Christmas, is giving merchants a much appreciated holiday reprieve. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The state Department of Human Services is facing a lawsuit after placing two minors in the custody of a foster parent who sexually assaulted them from 2009 to 2011. Maui News.

A pilot project on Maui that allows primary care physicians to send photos of suspicious moles, lesions and rashes to dermatologists for evaluation has been expanded to all patients of Kaiser Permanente. Maui News.

Watching whales from the shoreline will have a unique spin this year—and you can win a prize. Starting now through mid-May, Pacific Whale Foundation will have trained naturalists stationed at key points along Maui’s coastline to help nature enthusiasts locate and learn about whales from the shore. Maui Time.

Kauai

The Kauai Police Department could become the first law enforcement agency in the state to use body cameras next summer. The department plans to buy 141 cameras for $134,000 and begin using them by June or July, Police Chief Darryl Perry said. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai is set to receive one of the 30 deputy sheriffs that graduated Friday in a ceremony on Oahu. Garden Island.

With the annual return of humpback whales to the Hawaiian Islands comes a need for fresh sets of eyes to monitor their behavior. Registration is now open for the 2015 Sanctuary Ocean Count, themed “Keep Calm and Count Whales.” Garden Island.

Hawaii is healthiest state, health exchange faces $2.5M shortfall, lobbyist laws lacking, Honolulu police chief to be questioned after mistrial, waste-to-energy incinerator delayed, Molokai fishermen attack Oahu boat, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii kupuna hula © 2014 All Hawaii News

Hawaii is the healthiest state in the country, claiming the top spot for two years straight in America's Health Rankings, released annually by United Health Foundation. Star-Advertiser.

In a place where sunshine and the outdoor lifestyle have long been treasured, it’s no surprise that Hawaii once again comes out on top of the rankings for the healthiest state. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Health Connector's top executive confirmed that the state's online health insurance exchange currently faces a $2.5 million budget shortfall during the fiscal year that ends in June 2015. Pacific Business News.

CGI Group Inc., the embattled information technology vendor for the Hawaii Health Connector, will continue its contract with the state's health insurance exchange for at least another year. Star-Advertiser.

NextEra: Efficiency, Expertise and a Penchant for Getting What it Want. The company looking to buy Hawaii's electric utilities will likely seek to own and operate sustainable energy projects, experts say. But that will require the approval of state regulators. Civil Beat.

Robert K. Lindsey Jr. of Hawaii island was unanimously selected chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees on Tuesday, and he didn't waste any time responding to criticism leveled at the agency by a former member. Star-Advertiser.

University of Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay resigned Tuesday after a two-year tenure marked by failed efforts to stop the university’s athletic department from losing money. Associated Press.

Aniruddha Sherbow, 44, was sentenced Monday to 33 months in federal prison after threatening to “beat” and “decapitate” U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii.Hawaii Reporter.

Opinion: The Problem With Lobbyists — and Their Regulators. The state's lobbyist law still falls short of providing accountability and transparency. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Embattled Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha should face tough questions next week from the people who control the fate of his job. If he doesn’t, state lawmakers are poised to rewrite the rules to ensure there’s more accountability for him and his department. Civil Beat.

Officials with the Honolulu Marathon say security will again be increased for the race that has already attracted nearly 30,000 entrants. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A planned waste-to-energy incinerator for Hawaii County is almost five months behind schedule, after the three finalists for the project asked for more time to complete their proposals. West Hawaii Today.

An intersection that has been a thorn in the side for South Kona drivers is showing signs of the transformation to come. West Hawaii Today.

‘It’s been a long time coming’; Hilo High’s new gym open for competition Tribune-Herald.

The June 27 lava flow advanced another 225 yards as of Tuesday morning but it wasn’t clear yet which path of steepest descent it might favor. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Makila Land Co. is seeking to develop 11 agricultural lots on 214 acres north of 186 acres of oceanfront at Launiupoko that the landowner sold to Maui County for $13 million earlier this year. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission unanimously approved Tuesday a special management area permit for the Cove Beach Village project, a 32-unit apartment complex located on an acre along Kanani Road in Kihei. Maui News.

The Federal District Court in Hawai’i will decide if the Maui County ballot initiative on Genetically Engineered Crops is legal. In his ongoing series, Hawaii Public Radio’s Wayne Yoshioka asked Maui residents on both sides what actions can be taken to resolve this issue.

Kauai

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. has nominated two-year Kauai resident Allan Parachini for the county Charter Review Commission. Garden Island.

A Hanalei man fined by the county for running a non-permitted bed and breakfast pleaded no contest to the criminal charges Tuesday in 5th Circuit Court. Ed Ben-Dor, 63, received a second fine for illegally operating a single family transient vacation rental outside of a visitor destination area. Garden Island.

Kauai residents and visitors may have to wait a little longer before they can see the Hokulei Village shopping center in Lihue come to fruition. Garden Island.

Molokai

A growing dispute between Oahu and Molokai fishermen leads to arrests and indictments. Four Molokai men are out on bail Tuesday night accused of boarding a Honolulu boat and attacking everyone on board. Hawaii News Now.

Friends of a Molokai fisherman are scrapping plans for a memorial service now that he was rescued after being missing at sea for nearly two weeks. Star-Advertiser.

Fisherman's Wharf demolished, unemployment back to pre-recession levels, group sues over ahi rules, military says marine exercises not hurting wildlife, sharks studied off Maui, Oahu to ease second homes, Hawaii council names new leaders, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Fisherman's Wharf in better days

The iconic Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant building in Honolulu, which stood along Ala Moana Boulevard for nearly seven decades, was demolished on Thursday to make way for a redevelopment of the property. Pacific Business News.

Fisherman's Wharf, courtesy OHA

The former Fisherman's Wharf restaurant at Kewalo Basin was demolished Thursday morning as part of a redevelopment plan by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii hotels, which set a record of $4.06 billion in total hotel revenue for the first nine months of the year, achieved the nation's second-best average daily rate and revenue per available room behind New York. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.1 percent in October, from 4.9 percent during the same month a year ago, the state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

The state's jobless rate declined in October for the third month in a row to hit a six-year low of 4.1 percent, matching its lowest level since the early stages of the recession. Star-Advertiser.

A new report from State Budget Solutions, a national nonprofit organization focusing on states’ fiscal responsibility, warns it’s time for newly elected state officials in Hawaii and throughout the country to address unfunded liabilities in the retirement system. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii’s holiday sashimi could be in short supply this year if conservation groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, get their way in a lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday. Civil Beat.

Environmental groups on Thursday sued the National Marine Fisheries Service to challenge a new rule for fishing bigeye tuna, a popular species for sushi and fish steaks. Associated Press.

Environmental groups sued the National Marine Fisheries Service on Thursday to challenge a new rule for fishing bigeye tuna, a popular species for sushi and fish steaks. Star-Advertiser.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Hawaii says it collected more than $6.5 million in fines and penalties this fiscal year. U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni says the collections included nearly $5.7 million from criminal cases and more than $800,000 from civil cases. Associated Press.

The head of Hawaii's troubled health exchange says he wants more oversight for the institution. Executive Director Jeff Kissel says he plans to expand the scope of some of the contractors that verify how well the Connector website is functioning. Associated Press.

A Department of Land and Natural Resources worker serving time for child pornography charges will soon be released from prison, and will go back to working for the state. At the time of his arrest earlier this year, Randy Honebrink was the education coordinator for the department’s aquatics division. KHON2.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority is appointing an interim CEO to take the place of Mike McCartney, who is leaving office to become the new governor's chief of staff. Atlantis Adventures CEO Ronald Williams takes over on Friday. Associated Press.

Oahu

Plans to ease up the rules to allow for more secondary dwellings on Oahu's residential lots got mostly positive public feedback at a hearing before the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

A resolution allowing property owners to rent out ohana units — currently reserved for family members —  to the general public was moved forward Thursday by the Honolulu Zoning and Planning Committee. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu City Council Committee passed a Resolution today that would enable the Administration to develop rules to build more affordable rental housing for lower income residents. Hawaii Public Radio.

A plan to set aside city parking stalls for car-sharing vehicles has won a preliminary approval from the Hono­lulu City Council Budget Committee. Star-Advertiser.

A quarantine on the movement of pigs was issued for Oahu on Thursday following the outbreak of a serious swine disease never before seen in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Nuuanu Reservoir will be open for fishing for one day next month, the Board of Water Supply has announced. The board wants anglers to help remove fish from the reservoir in advance of an improvement project slated for mid-2015. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

A West Hawaii majority emerging from the Nov. 4 election is poised to name Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha chairman and Hamakua Councilwoman Valerie Poindexter vice chairwoman. West Hawaii Today.

Red Cross volunteers will be going door-to-door on Friday to survey Pahoa residents in the immediate evacuation area of the June 27 lava flow. West Hawaii Today.

Lava activity along the upper reaches of the June 27 flow has remained “fairly consistent” during the last few days, Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said Thursday. Breakouts were as close as 4 miles from Apa‘a Street that morning with little to no activity seen closer to Pahoa. Tribune-Herald.

Puna lava flow breakouts develop near abandoned geothermal well site. Hawaii News Now.

Since early September, UH-Hilo’s Spatial Data Analysis and Visualization Laboratory has worked in partnership with Civil Defense and the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, outfitted with a high-resolution camera to map the flow. Tribune-Herald.

Conventional wisdom holds that shield volcanoes like Mauna Loa and Kilauea don't blow their tops like Mount St. Helens. But new research is bolstering the little-known fact that Kilauea can explode and did so to deadly effect as recently as 1924. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

A total of 24 tiger sharks off of Maui are now being tracked with satellite tagging devices as researchers with the University of Hawaiʻi continue to study their movement following an increase in the number of unprovoked shark bite incidents last year. Maui Now.

An unprecedented spike in shark attacks over the past two years prompted state officials to fund a study to tag and track the movement of tiger sharks in the waters off Maui. Hawaii News Now.

The state Land Use Commission declined Thursday to schedule a hearing or issue a declaratory order to address neighbors' complaints about development of the Central Maui Sports Complex. Maui News.

The Maui Planning Commission on Wednesday unanimously approved needed zoning changes to move the long-awaited West Maui Hospital and Medical Center one step closer to reality. Maui News.

Kauai

The U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor says community concerns that the Rim of the Pacific maritime exercise and Kauai’s Pacific Missile Range Facility are negatively impacting marine life are unfounded. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council, by a 4-2 vote, passed a measure on Wednesday that will separate agricultural lands on Kauai into three categories — pasture, diversified agriculture and biotech research — when county officials are calculating real property tax assessments. Garden Island.

UH research: North Pacific hottest on record, e-cigs curb smoking. Child abuse cases drop, statewide planning meetings set, Oahu plans for extreme tsunami, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii sunrise © 2014 All Hawaii News

Heat is the fuel of hurricanes, and the North Pacific last summer was the hottest on record, a University of Hawaii climate scientist has calculated. Star-Advertiser.

State regulation of pesticide use is hampered by a lack of money despite aggressive measures passed by neighbor island counties demanding more disclosure about spraying. Civil Beat.

President Barack Obama made a brief stop at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam base Sunday morning after the G20 Summit in Australia. Associated Press.

Where many might see a deep divide and bitter partisanship that has led to congressional gridlock, U.S. Rep.-elect Mark Takai sees an opportunity. Star-Advertiser.

When Duke Aiona campaigned for governor against the state's high cost of living, he was speaking from personal experience.Civil Beat.

Hawaii’s health insurance exchange enrolled more than 40 people on the first day clients were able to sign up to be covered next year. Another 60 applied for financial assistance to pay for premiums as of mid-afternoon, Jeffrey Kissel, the CEO of Hawaii Health Connector, said Saturday. Associated Press.

Tapering off tobacco cigarettes can be a challenge, but research released by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center found some smokers can get a kick-start to kicking the habit with e-cigarettes. KITV4.

The state Office of Planning is holding meetings across Hawaii to hear from interested stakeholders on the effectiveness of the state's land use system. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii Office of Planning is holding a series of meetings to gather public input on the state’s land use regulations. The public meetings are part of the agency’s comprehensive analysis on how to make Hawaii’s land use process more effective and efficient. Civil Beat.

The number of confirmed child abuse cases in Hawaii has dropped by more than half since 2005. The steep decreases have been attributed in part to the state's switch in late 2005 to a new but controversial program for determining how child welfare authorities respond to reports of suspected abuse.Star-Advertiser.

Oahu
New research has prompted Honolulu to add an "extreme tsunami" evacuation zone to its maps and change its evacuation plans, including for high-rises in Waikiki. The maps represent "an unlikely worst-case scenario" and will not replace current, standard tsunami evacuation maps, Department of Emergency Management officials said. Star-Advertiser.

UH budget crisis hits Mānoa graduate students especially hard. Hawaii Independent.

Graduate students at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa are protesting possible cuts to their departments. They’re leading a protest today in hopes of some answers. Hawaii Public Radio.

Some 24,000 Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to attend their international convention in Honolulu over two weekends, making it one of the largest conventions this year in Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The breakouts above the front of the lava flow threatening Pahoa town remained active on Sunday morning, but “very sluggish,” according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. Tribune-Herald.

A newly released plan for the island’s highways drives home the fact there is significant growth ahead and not enough money to pay for the roads to support it. West Hawaii Today.

Crews worked to mop-up a fire that broke out early Saturday at the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill in Puuanahulu. The fire, located in the dump’s green waste area, was still smoldering Saturday evening, and firefighters said it was not clear what caused the blaze. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

A federal judge said Friday that Maui County may not implement a new law banning the cultivation of genetically modified organisms until he considers arguments in a lawsuit against the measure. Associated Press.

Now that the state has completed its acquisition of Lipoa Point from Maui Land & Pineapple Co., the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is calling on the public to be diligent stewards of the land. Maui News.

Maui High School Band Director Kerry Wasano admits there's "a little bit of pressure" as the Maui High School Band & Color Guard prepare to perform in the Rose Parade. Maui News.

Kauai

A Hawaii developer plans to build a private resort on Kauai’s North Shore that will have its own airport. Associated Press.

There aren’t even blueprints, let alone construction plans, but the idea of another South Shore resort already has neighbors and county officials concerned. They say they are wary of plans to designate a 13-acre section of Mahaulepu for future resort development over the next 20 years. Garden Island.

North Shore shuttle up and running. Garden Island.

Kauai's electric utility has won approval to pursue a new pumped water energy storage project on the island's west side. Associated Press.

Shipping company buyouts to change Hawaii's commerce, HUD investigates public housing, Supreme Court to hear gay marriage, lava reaches garbage transfer station, Maui 'coup' changes council leadership, Sheraton fined for coastal work, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Matson shipping company courtesy photo

The domestic shipping business that is Hawaii's main lifeline for goods is reverting to a duopoly next year after nearly a decade of three-way competition, though local consumers and businesses are not expected to see significant price or service changes. Star-Advertiser.

Two business transactions announced Tuesday will significantly change the seascape of the shipping industry in Hawaii. Matson Inc., which has the largest share of the U.S. mainland-to-Hawaii market, said it will buy Horizon Lines Inc. for $69 million. Matson also will acquire Horizon’s debt. Tribune-Herald.

Matson Inc., which has the largest share of the U.S. Mainland-to-Hawaii market, said it will buy the Alaska operations of Horizon Lines Inc. for $69 million. Matson will also acquire Horizon’s debt. Separately, Horizon will sell its Hawaii operations to The Pasha Group for $142 million and shut down its Puerto Rico business. Garden Island.

Commentary: State Senate will lean left, House will go right. In analyzing the power shifts in leadership and committee assignments for the upper house of the Hawaii State Legislature, we predict a more liberal Senate in the 2015-16 Legislature. But the House will likely shift right. Hawaii Independent.

The state Supreme Court will hear arguments in December on a state House lawmaker's legal challenge to Hawaii's marriage equality law. Star-Advertiser.

A federal investigation is underway into whether tenants at 68 federal housing projects across the state are violating the rules and taking advantage of taxpayers, sources told Hawaii News Now. The U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department, known as HUD, began an Inspector General's investigation into tenants at federal housing projects across Hawaii several months ago, sources said.

The Hawaii Health Connector has quadrupled the number of call center workers at the state's insurance exchange to make it smoother for residents to enroll in medical coverage after a disastrous rollout a year ago. Star-Advertiser.

The nonprofit Faith Action for Community Equity is hosting a summit on Saturday focused on Hawaii’s affordable housing crisis. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Voters Didn’t Show Up Because the Election Was Boring. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Service to the country by veterans past and present — including a legacy of contributions by Hawaii's sons and daughters — was remembered Tuesday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Star-Advertiser.

More than 400 homeless people have died on Oahu in the past eight years, a Civil Beat review of medical examiner’s death records has found. Civil Beat.

State and city agencies want the Navy to either double-line its operational underground fuel storage tanks at Red Hill within the next 10 years or shut them down, according to a draft report issued last week by the Red Hill Fuel Storage Facility Task Force. Star-Advertiser.

PBS Hawaii held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning morning on the site of its future home — 315 Sand Island Access Road in Kalihi. The public television station’s lease with the University of Hawaii at Manoa is expiring. Thus far, PBS Hawaii — it’s a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — has raised more than 75 percent of its $30 million capital campaign goal. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

A day after the June 27 lava flow claimed its first Pahoa home, Hawaii County Civil Defense reported that the leading edge of the flow remained stalled 480 feet from Pahoa Village Road. But activity taking the form of a number of breakouts further up slope behind the flow front continued. Tribune-Herald.

courtesy Hawaii County

Lava from Kilauea Volcano flowed through a fence surrounding Pahoa's $3.5 million waste and recycling center Tuesday afternoon, one day after it burned a nearby house. Star-Advertiser.

As the lava flow from Kīlauea’s Pu’u ‘O’o Vent continues to creep through Puna just outside of Pahoa, Hawai'i County officials are facing a series of decisions. A major one concerns roads. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawai‘i County Civil Defense officials say they're very closely monitoring three active Puna lava flow breakouts in the Apa‘a Street vicinity. Hawaii News Now.

A local resort is scrambling to get an after-the-fact permit after it was cited by the county Planning Department for unauthorized construction and landscaping work. West Hawaii Today.

The new Hawaii Community College — Palamanui center must become its own master while pushing the envelope to develop innovative offerings. That was the message at a community forum Tuesday evening at Old Kona Airport Park, with several speakers saying the West Hawaii population has lacked proper access to higher education for too long. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Council Member Mike White announced Monday that he will chair the Maui County Council in the next term, unseating current Chairwoman Gladys Baisa, who characterized her deposing as a "coup." Maui News.

The Maui region of Hawaii Health Systems Corp., which includes Maui Memorial Medical Center, Kula Hospital and Lanai Community Hospital, could plunge into a $46.4 million cash-flow deficit by fiscal 2017 if it continues on its current financial trajectory. Maui News.

A standing room only crowd showed up to testify at an informational briefing and hearing on Maui focused on the state health system and district plans to address anticipated budget shortfalls. Maui Now.

Kauai

Company officials from ABC Stores, a popular Honolulu-based convenience store chain, are seeking to build a fourth store on Kauai. Garden Island.

Kilauea lava creeps onward, Maui United Way battles anti-GMO group over name, Gabbard slammed for surf shoot, Ige blamed for hospital mess, bill seeks to name Oahu beach for Obama, would Warren Buffett want HECO, candidate residency cleared, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Pahoehoe lava from Kilauea courtesy USGS Oct. 3, 2014

The resurgent June 27 Kilauea lava flow has advanced another 100 yards since Saturday, according to Hawaii County Civil Defense. The flow has moved downhill approximately 440 yards since it resumed its advance Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Democratic state Sen. David Ige is defending his record as Senate Ways and Means chairman from his gubernatorial opponents' charges that he deserves blame for the state's failure to fully fund public hospitals that face a $30 million deficit in 2015, even after layoffs. Maui News.

The politics of the governor's race could be an unexpected catalyst for policy changes at the state's troubled public hospital system. State Sen. David Ige, the Demo­cratic candidate, former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the Republican, and former Hono­lulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the Hawaii Independent Party candidate, all maintain that the next governor should drive the discussion on stabilizing the Hawaii Health Systems Corp., the $650 million network of 12 public hospitals that functions as the health care safety net for many neighbor island and elderly patients. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard skipped an August hearing on veterans care in Hawaii so she could go surfing for a Yahoo News profile. Despite telling Civil Beat at the time she missed the hearing because she was delayed in another meeting, Gabbard’s staff acknowledged last week that she was instead tied up with a Yahoo News reporter in Waikiki where she was surfing for a video the news outlet was shooting. Civil Beat.

Hawaii needs to step up if it wants to keep thousands of soldiers and their families and $1.3 billion in annual soldier-related sales, the former head of U.S. Army Pacific said. Star-Advertiser.

The former CEO of Hawaii Gas was selected to take over as the new director of Hawaii’s federally mandated insurance marketplace. The Hawaii Health Connector board voted Friday to hire Jeffrey Kissel. Associated Press.

Jeffrey Kissell will take over as head of the state’s beleaguered health insurance marketplace, known as the Hawaii Health Connector, according to an announcement from the board Friday. Kissell, who spent his career working for energy companies, most recently as CEO of Hawaii GAS, replaces interim Executive Director Tom Matsuda. Civil Beat.

Could Warren Buffett, the third richest man on the planet, be interested in buying Hawaiian Electric Co., the state’s largest utility? There are signs that show certain connections to the Islands by the billionaire businessman. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Resolution to rename Sandy Beach after Obama, reaction mixed. Chang and fellow council member Ernie Martin are hoping to change that by renaming Sandy Beach Park to President Barack Obama Sandy Beach Park. It comes after a video was taken of the President bodysurfing back in August 2008. KHON2.

While state laws and the Honolulu Police Department's policies regarding domestic violence cases need some improvement, experts say it is HPD's poor enforcement of these laws and policies that is the real factor in continuing cycles of domestic violence in Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Independent.

Honolulu City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine and leaders in the Makaha community don't want to just expand the city's traditional Adopt-a-Park program; they want to turn the concept on its head. Star-Advertiser.

Efforts are underway to restore the remnants of a Hawaiian community that dates to around the year 1450. The Hawaii Community Development Authority is working with the Kalaeloa Heritage and Legacy Foundation on the proposed 77-acre Kalaeloa Heritage Park on the plains of Ewa. Associated Press.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County clerk has cleared District 9 County Council candidate Ron Gonzales to continue his challenge against incumbent Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. Clerk Stewart Maeda, in a four-page decision letter dated Wednesday, said he is satisfied that Gonzales’ legal residence is in Waikoloa, and therefore he is properly registered to vote in District 9. West Hawaii Today.

Candidates for state House and Senate seats discussed cesspools, high taxes, broken hospitals, flowing lava and other pressing issues at a forum Thursday in Kailua-Kona. Hopefuls in three races floated the concept of using state lands to relocate businesses and homes affected by the current lava flow in Puna. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz plans to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Friday to discuss the creation of a two-lane alternate route into the park for lower Puna residents impacted by the June 27 lava flow. So far, the park has authorized only a one-lane, gravel emergency evacuation route along a portion of Chain of Craters Road buried by recent lava flows. Tribune-Herald.

The state Department of Agriculture will scale back its plan to pipe a portion of the Lower Hamakua Ditch after several landowners offered to help maintain the open irrigation system through their properties. Tribune-Herald.

Home sales in Puna plummeted nearly 23 percent in September after Tropical Storm Iselle blew through Hawaii island — and they continue to remain sluggish as a river of 2,100-degree lava cuts its way toward Pahoa. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Maui United Way has written a "cease and desist" alleging trademark infringement to "Maui United," an anti-GMO group that has launched an advertising campaign in favor of the Nov. 4 initiative for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County. Maui News.

A moratorium on genetically modified crops is impractical, incumbent Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa said. A proposed moratorium would make it illegal to cultivate, grow or test genetically modified crops in the county until companies complete environmental and public health studies to show their practices are safe. Associated Press.

The Maui County Council unanimously approved at its Friday meeting a proposal to build a 61-unit affordable senior housing project in Pukalani. Maui News.

Kauai

In February, the state Supreme Court — in what has been called a landmark decision for Hawaii’s Public Trust Doctrine — sided with the County of Kauai by striking down a 2008 circuit court ruling that the Kauai Planning Commission “exceeded its jurisdiction” in denying Kauai Springs, Inc. permits for its operation. Seven months later, and contrary to that ruling, the Koloa-based water bottling and distribution company’s doors remain open. Garden Island.

A divided Kauai County Council committee on Wednesday approved a scaled down version of a proposal that would charge county residents variable trash collection rates based on how much they throw away. By a 4-1 vote, the seven-member board’s Environmental Services Committee approved an amendment to Bill 2551 that would charge residential customers a monthly, flat $6 fee for access to the county’s five refuse transfer stations and an additional $4 fee, if residents opt to have a 64-gallon trash cart, or two 32-gallon carts, for weekly pick up. Garden Island.

Tense moments, punctuated by sometimes combative exchanges, stood out in the debate between current mayoral incumbent Bernard Carvalho, Jr. and his challenger, Dustin Barca, during Thursday night’s political forum at the Kauai Memorial Convention Hall. Garden Island.

The two Democratic and Republican candidates vying for a single state House District 15 seat agreed that the state’s current tax structure should be revamped but were divided on other issues, including marijuana legislation during a political forum Thursday night in Lihue. Garden Island.

Federal judge says Hawaii can't deny guns to immigrants, gubernatorial candidates agree health exchange a mistake, Hawaii congressional candidates have key differences, recycled glass piling up on Oahu, lava flow slows, spreads, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii federal courthouse

A federal judge says a Hawaii law that prohibits immigrants from getting a firearms permit is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Michael Seabright granted a motion last week, which allows Steve Fotoudis, a permanent resident in Honolulu, to apply for a firearms permit. KHON2.

Three candidates competing to represent Hawaii as governor agreed that Hawaii made mistakes in the way it built its troubled health exchange. Associated Press.

Civil Beat Poll: Public-Private Preschool Amendment Divides Voters. In other constitutional questions on ballot, voters oppose increasing the retirement ages of judges, but want the names of nominees made public.

First Congressional District candidates Charles Djou and Mark Takai on Tuesday night mixed it up for the first time, restating their Republican and Democratic party philosophies to a predominantly pro-business audience at a Chamber of Commerce Hawaii forum. Star-Advertiser.

Djou and Takai: Similar Backgrounds, Vastly Different Style. The congressional candidates differ over Jones Act and war on ISIS in Tuesday night event. In a bonus bout, the candidates for governor go after each other. Civil Beat.

The debate is on between Republican Charles Djou and Democrat Mark Takai.  For the first time Hawaii's Congressional Candidates for district one squared off face to face in front of 100 of the state's top business leaders from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. Hawaii News Now.

Political activist Karen Chun of Maui has filed a complaint with the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission alleging that the Hawaiʻi Carpenters Recovery Market Fund has violated state law by not disclosing the original source of their funds. Maui Now.

State agrees to revise public demonstration rules. An ACLU first amendment lawsuit has been settled with the state promising to change its rules concerning public demonstrations on state property to make it easier to exercise first amendment rights. Hawaii Independent.

Hawaii business executives Chris Eldridge, who founded Hawaii's largest mattress supplier and is a partner in a local biofuel project, and Dustin Sellers, who was co-president of one of Hawaii's largest HR services provider, are moving from the operational side of business and getting into investments. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Honolulu Police Department's criminal investigation into the alleged domestic abuse case involving Sgt. Darren Cachola has been completed and turned over to city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro, according to HPD Chief Louis Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

An unusual look behind the scenes of a corporate public relations campaign has been provided by an ongoing class action lawsuit pitting homeowners in a major planned community in Ewa against the developer of the project. Civil Beat.

Hawaii News Now has learned that more than 14,000 tons of crushed glass wound up in a Mililani farm -- even though the city paid more than a million dollars to process it for recycling.

Honolulu City Council District Four is home to some of the richest residents in the state.   Stretching from Hawai’i Kai to Waikiki, the district has the highest property values on O’ahu.  The Kahala Business Association hosted the two candidates running to represent the area. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii

If lower Puna is cut off from the rest of the island because of lava, more than 250 businesses and more than 9,400 residents could be severely impacted. Tribune-Herald.

Puna Geothermal Venture Plant Manager Cliff Townsend and Director of Hawaiian Affairs Mike Kaleikini discuss contingency plans at a meeting held Monday night at Kua O Ka La Charter School. Big Island Video News.

Maui

More than a dozen dogs have been roaming the Front Street area of Lahaina for the past couple of months, killing pets and feral cats and prompting residents' calls for help from the Maui Humane Society and Maui police. Maui News.

ACLU sues over Hawaii election, Ige pulls out of gubernatorial debate, Abercrombie asks Obama for disaster declaration, fired DOE official sues, regents approve interim UH-Manoa chancellor, new Obamacare vendor, incinerator bidders want more time, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii County polling place © 2014 All Hawaii News

A group of Pahoa residents, working with the American Civil Liberties Union in Hawaii, have filed a complaint with the Hawaii Supreme Court, asking the state’s top judges to allow every resident affected by Tropical Storm Iselle to cast a ballot in the primary. West Hawaii Today.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii on Thursday filed a legal challenge to the primary election on behalf of six voters in Puna on Hawaii island who said they were unable to vote because of the damage left by Tropical Storm Iselle. Star-Advertiser.

Big Island voters who were unable to get to the polls because of Tropical Storm Iselle may get an opportunity to cast their ballots if the American Civil Liberties Union prevails in a lawsuit filed with the Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday. The ACLU of Hawaii levied the complaint against the state on behalf of six Big Island voters, all of whom live in the rural, storm-ravaged Puna district and all of whom were not allowed to vote because they were trapped by fallen trees and power lines. Civil Beat.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii Thursday filed a legal challenge to the primary election with the Hawaii Supreme Court on behalf of voters in the Puna area of the Big Island who couldn’t vote in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Iselle. Hawaii News Now.

A new lawsuit is asking the State Supreme Court to allow people who weren’t able to vote because of the storm to do so in a special election before Sept. 20. KHON2.

The ACLU and a group of Pahoa residents have filed lawsuit over alleged voting rights violations that came as a result of bad legislative practices in the wake of Hurricane Iselle. Hawaii Independent.

A lawsuit was filed in state Supreme Court today challenging the makeup election held on Friday, August 15, for two Hawaiʻi Island precincts that were closed on primary election day due to the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Iselle. Maui Now.

Hawaii’s Democratic candidate for governor has pulled out of the first debate of the general election because of a disagreement with the forum’s organizers about video distribution. Associated Press.

The company that fixed the federal Obamacare health insurance exchange is preparing to replace embattled contractor CGI Group Inc. as the main technology vendor for the faulty Hawaii Health Connector. Star-Advertiser.

Former DOE official sues department. As the Department of Education's chief procurement officer, Andrell Aoki managed over $100 million in contract awards each year. But in March, the Mililani resident said the DOE fired her because she questioned the legality of several multi-million dollar contracts relating to the DOE's "Race to the Top" program. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Environmental Council’s annual strategic planning meeting on Thursday started with weighty discussions of two major problems confronting the state: climate change and invasive species. Civil Beat.

Opinion: Meet Some of Hawaii’s Civic Hackers. Are you digging into campaign finance data? There are apps for that. Here are the local geeks who built them. Civil Beat.

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake woke some residents up early Friday morning. No tsunami was generated. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Despite calls from University of Hawaii at Manoa students and faculty for the reinstatement of Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple, the Board of Regents unanimously voted Thursday to approve an interim replacement. Robert Bley-Vroman, dean of Manoa's College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature, was named to a one-year term, effective Sept. 1, with a $275,016 salary. Star-Advertiser.

As University of Hawaii president David Lassner and the Board of Regents listened, testifiers vented their frustration over a lack of information on the firing of former Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple. Hawaii News Now.

The sale of Waikiki's largest shopping center in June contributed to a record level of Hawaii commercial real estate purchases during the first half of the year as institutional investors continued a buying binge that took hold last year. Star-Advertiser.

The area around Ala Moana Center has a lot going for it, according to Nate Cherry, a California architect who has created a new vision for the neighborhood through a new Transit Oriented Development plan for Honolulu's rail system that will be presented to the public next week. Pacific Business News.

The stranding of flying gurnard fish in July on various Oahu beaches was prompted by a natural life-cycle event, the Department of Land and Natural Resources said Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii
Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a request seeking a Presidential Disaster Declaration for federal assistance in recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Iselle. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed a request Thursday for a presidential disaster declaration for individual assistance for Hawaii island to pay for damage caused by Tropical Storm Iselle. Star-Advertiser.

Finalists for a waste-to-energy incinerator at a pre-bid conference Thursday asked county officials for more time to prepare their proposals, but Mayor Billy Kenoi, on a fast track to get a facility on the ground before he leaves office in late 2016, said three months is long enough. West Hawaii Today.

The Konawaena High School library’s doors remain open. Despite a reduction in the librarian position to part time, the facility is open to students over lunch and recess and to groups of students under the supervision of teachers during class times, Principal Shawn Suzuki said. The library is also used for after-school tutoring, he said. West Hawaii Today.

Kauai

Dillon St. Clair doesn’t ride the school bus. His mother is troubled by the logistics of his transportation from their home in Kalaheo to Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School. If the sixth-grader rode the bus, he would be away from home 10 hours every day. Garden Island.