Showing posts with label Hawaii Health Systems Corp.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaii Health Systems Corp.. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Permits required for Kaena Point, Air Force to stay strong in Hawaii, Rosen to head state hospital group, Big Island man busted with 85 marijuana plants, electric rates drop on Oahu, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Panorama of the Ka'ena Point Trailhead (also the end of the Dillingham Highway) on O'ahu's North Shore (past Mokule'ia Beach). You can park here and continue to Ka'ena point on foot just a few miles up!
Kaena Point panorama, courtesy Alaska Dave
After consulting with a community advisory group, the Department of Land and Natural Resources will implement a vehicle access permit system for the roads at Kaena Point State Park Reserve’s Mokuleia section. Civil Beat.

Ignoring signs, damaging natural resources and causing erosion. That's what the Department of Land and Natural Resources says careless drivers are doing at Ka'ena Point. KITV4.

Kaena Point has long been a favorite place for off-roading. Now, the state is hoping to get a better handle on vehicles in the area. In the coming weeks, a gate will be put up that can only be opened by people who have permits. KHON2.

Hawaii Department of Human Services officials say that their plan to reduce funding for medical coverage for roughly 7,500 adult migrants from the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands will save the state roughly $21.5 million while maintaining vital health care coverage. Star-Advertiser.

The Air Force is reducing its ranks overall due to budget cuts, but staffing in the Pacific will remain at 100 percent due to the re-balance to the region, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said Monday. Star-Advertiser.

The Air Force’s top boss said Monday she hopes to make all jobs in the service open to qualified women in the next year and a half. Seven jobs in the service are closed to women, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James told reporters during a visit to Hawaii on Monday. Associated Press.

Opinion: Hawaii stands to lose nearly 50,000 people, more than 25,000 jobs and $1.35 billion in total economic impact by 2020, if we do not step up to keep thousands of soldiers and their families here in the islands. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Health Systems Corp. announced Monday afternoon that Linda Rosen, M.D., M.P.H., will be its new chief executive officer. She will start her new position with HHSC on Dec. 16. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s board of directors has appointed Linda Rosen as chief executive officer of the public hospital system effective Dec. 16. Star-Advertiser.

New car and light truck registrations will rise about 8.8 percent in 2014, according to a forecast from the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

The Arizona Memorial ticket scandal has been brewing for a year but so far, the man at the center of the controversy, Frank Middleton, remains on the job. Two internal reports by the National Park Service show that Middleton and other memorial officials were aware that tickets intended to be distributed to the public for free were being diverted to tour companies that charged visitors anywhere from $39 to $89. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu customers will see the lowest electrical rates in more than a year this month as residential bills dropped more than $10 due to reductions in fuel prices. Star-Advertiser.

Sources tell Always Investigating that Honolulu city bus workers were involved in a long-time scheme to clock in and out for a staffer who barely showed up. The timecard scheme is said to have taken place at a maintenance yard of TheBus and centers around a mechanic. KHON2.

A plan to allow more Oahu homeowners to create second dwellings on their lots is gaining momentum at Hono­lulu Hale. Star-Advertiser.

Last summer, developers of seven new luxury condo buildings at Ala Moana held a groundbreaking for their $300 million project. Amid calls for more affordable developments in Kakaako, these “ultra luxury” towers are rising quietly without the need for public hearings or any units set aside for moderate or low-income people. That wouldn’t happen under Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s proposed islandwide housing strategy. Civil Beat.

A march, rally and sit-in were held at University of Hawaii's Manoa campus Monday to protest proposed budget cuts rumored to target teaching assistants and other areas that affect graduate students. Star-Advertiser.

The YMCA of Honolulu is making another move to get out of the housing business on Oahu by offering to sell or lease two historic Manoa residence halls occupied by University of Hawaii students. Star-Advertiser.

The YMCA of Honolulu Central branch across from Ala Moana Center will temporarily close on Feb. 28 for a redevelopment project that will result in a smaller Y building next to a 128-unit condominium on its 1.8-acre property on Atkinson Drive. Pacific Business News.

Homeowners in the Ewa communities of Ocean Pointe and Hoakalei are complaining that the man-made recreational lagoon serving their communities contains algae. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

Farmers will have to dedicate their property to agricultural use a minimum of three years to get tax breaks, under a bill to be considered today by the County Council Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

A perennial battle between aquarium fish collectors and conservationists will be played out in County Council chambers today, as a council committee takes up a measure regulating the transport of fish off-island. West Hawaii Today.

A 26-year-old Naalehu man accused of possessing 85 marijuana plants and 52 pounds of dried marijuana will stand trial on a half dozen felony charges, a Kona District Court judge ruled Monday afternoon. West Hawaii Today.

The June 27 lava flow offered little for geologists and Civil Defense officials to observe Monday around Pahoa as it focused its activity miles upslope from the town it has left on edge for the past few months. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

For years, Hawaii's public hospitals have relied on state subsidies to offset the rising cost of health care. That’s especially true on the Neighbor Islands.  But now hospitals are receiving less funding from the state, and on Maui, administrators are looking at other options. Hawaii Public Radio.

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.

The Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety today announced the promotion of five fighters including Firefighter III Chad Pacheco to the rank of Captain. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Invasive Species Committee confirmed that an unfamiliar plant growing along Kuhio Highway near Kalihiwai Bridge is an invasive mule’s foot fern. Garden Island.

A construction zone accident has led to a lawsuit seeking medical and other damages. Narciso Nicolas, of Honolulu, is suing William Waialeale and his employer, Robert’s Tours and Transportation, Inc., for injuries incurred while working on Kokee Road in 2012. Garden Island.

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

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

courtesy photo
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
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.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Arizona Memorial ticket scam probed, Aiona would perform gay marriage, teamsters endorse Hannemann, medical marijuana dispensaries mulled, lava threat increases, Chinatown to house homeless, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy photo
USS Arizona Memorial courtesy photo
A report by the National Parks Service shows that commercial tour operators have been taking advantage of the Arizona Memorial's free passes policy to make a profit, while under the less-than-watchful eyes of the memorial's operators. Hawaii Independent.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism is surveying Hawaii residents this month to gather data on how much it costs to live in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

Hawaii bankruptcy filings plunged 18.5 percent in August to their second lowest level of the year. Star-Advertiser.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona, a same-sex marriage opponent and former judge who's performed weddings for 24 years, told Hawaii News Now he would reluctantly marry a same-sex couple as required by law. Aiona is a Catholic who's been clear that he opposes gay marriage, but it's not a major part of his campaign for governor. Hawaii News Now.

Should Hawaii follow the lead of some other states and restrict medical marijuana to large state-run dispensaries and massive growing operations? Or should it allow small farmers to obtain licenses to grow enough for themselves and a few other patients? West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii Teamsters & Allied Workers Union, Local 996, representing more than 6,000 members in Hawaii and Guam, has endorsed gubernatorial candidate Mufi Hannemann. Civil Beat.

This year marked the first time there was a primary contest for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the idea being to obtain a larger pool of candidates instead of the same trustees who seem to win election after election. Civil Beat.

Hawaii has about four times as many vacation rentals for travelers than the state’s tourism agency previously believed. Associated Press.

Island Air said Tuesday that David Pflieger will take over as president and CEO of the Hawaii interisland airline, effective Oct. 1. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaii State Department of Health has a newly renovated lobby and marriage license office. The department says the renovation was the vision of the department's former director Loretta Fuddy, who died after the plane she was a passenger in crashed-landed in the ocean off Molokai in December. Associated Press.

Oahu

Residents of Pauahi Hale, a low-income high-rise in downtown Chinatown, will be getting new neighbors in the coming months. The city plans to use a substantial portion of the building to house homeless people struggling with mental illness and alcohol and drug abuse. Civil Beat.

A busy 2.3-mile stretch of South Beretania Street, from University Avenue to Alapai Street, will get a major overhaul from the city during the next 13 months starting Monday, leaving area businesses and residents bracing for some delays and inconveniences. Star-Advertiser.

In the grand scheme that has become Honolulu’s $5.3 billion rail project, spending $223,000 on time-lapse video cameras may not seem like such a big deal. KITV4.

A recently retired career Army engineer was nominated to lead the city's Department of Design and Construction by Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The price tag for a new $2.3 million all-weather track at Radford High School ballooned to $10.3 million after the discovery of both contaminants and munitions in the soil of the athletic field it surrounds. Star-Advertiser.

It’s an ongoing challenge for state officials. How do you to stop contraband from getting into the hands of prisoners? KHON2.

New guests at a Waikīkī hotel are creating some buzz. 80,000 honey bees have taken up residence at the beachfront resort. Hawaii Public Radio.

Prominent East Oahu Realtor Sentenced for Money Laundering Scheme. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory plans to soon increase the lava threat level from a watch to a warning as a lava flow could be a week away from reaching Kaohe Homesteads. Tribune-Herald.

It was the question on everyone's mind Tuesday: Where will the lava go next? Star-Advertiser.

While Hawaii County Civil Defense announced its plans to give homeowners at least five days notice should evacuation be necessary because of the June 27 lava flow, that might not leave much time for residents looking to relocate large numbers of animals. Tribune-Herald.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Tuesday the release of $2.8 million for renovation projects on Hawaii Island as part of a larger $9.2 million allotment of capital improvement funds to upgrade and improve state hospital facilities and fund water treatment projects across the state. Tribune-Herald.

The Marine Mammal Center's Ke Kai Ola, a new hospital dedicated to the rescue and care of critically endangered Hawaiian monk seals, was blessed and its grand opening celebrated Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui Electric Co. has signed a 15-year agreement with FortisBC Energy to buy liquefied natural gas capacity, MECO has disclosed. Maui News.

Haleakalā National Park marks the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act tomorrow, a measure that gave public lands their highest level of protection when it was signed into law in 1964, park officials announced. Maui Now.

The Maui County Cultural Resources Commission will continue its discussion on proposed revisions to design guidelines for signs in the Lahaina Historic District at its Thursday meeting. Maui News.

The Maui Ocean Center in Māʻalaea welcomes six baby green sea turtles during a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony today, aquarium administrators announced. Maui Now.

Kauai

A total of 20 Hawaii Health Systems Corp. employees — 12 at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital in Kawaihau and eight at Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital in Kapaa — received layoff notices. Three other positions slated to be reduced were vacant when the layoffs were handed out on Tuesday and will be eliminated instead. Garden Island.

Anticipating ag ads. Hawaii Farm Bureau to spend $400K on PR campaign. Garden Island.

Kauai residents are invited to attend community meetings to ask questions and address concerns with the Kauai Fire Department. Garden Island.

State officials are testing emergency sirens on Kauai this week. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency says testing will be conducted Wednesday through Friday. Associated Press.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Big bucks pouring into GMO battle, homeless tent city planned for Sand Island, Supreme Court dismisses election challenge, Abercrombie to appeal FEMA rejection, group appeals Thirty Meter Telescope ruling, hospital layoffs loom, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

photo courtesy University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii GMO researcher James Brewbaker, courtesy photo
The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation is planning a $400,000 public relations campaign to generate support for farmers and persuade voters to support genetic engineering in agriculture. Civil Beat.

The Hawaii Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a primary election challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii, which had alleged that six voters on Hawaii island had been deprived of their constitutional right to vote by the state's actions in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Iselle. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii Supreme Court sided with the state today and dismissed an election challenge launched by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Big Island voters who were unable to cast ballots on Aug. 9 due to Tropical Storm Iselle. Civil Beat.

The state Supreme Court has rejected an ACLU lawsuit on behalf of voters in Puna. The American Civil Liberties Union and six Puna voters say they were denied their right to vote because the election was held when conditions after Tropical Storm Iselle made it impossible for them to leave their homes. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaii Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit seeking to allow voters on the storm-damaged Big Island to vote. The court said in an opinion released Thursday that it didn’t have jurisdiction to grant the relief sought by the American Civil Liberties Union with the lawsuit. Associated Press.

The financially strapped Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, which runs 13 state hospital facilities across Hawaii, announced Thursday it will lay off less than one percent of its workforce, but warned more layoffs may be looming. Hawaii News Now.

Dozens of people who work for Hawaii’s public hospital system are expected to receive official notices within the next week that they are going to be laid off. The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation said Thursday that it is implementing a system-wide reduction in force, eliminating positions as early as mid-December, to help address a $48 million shortfall for fiscal 2015. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s recent hearings in Hawai‘i revealed a number of those testifying believe the U.S. government does not have jurisdiction over these islands. The Interior Department hearings are a starting point for a broader discussion this coming Tuesday at the William S. Richardson School of Law. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii tourism officials are courting about a dozen airlines not currently serving Hawaii, which they hope will some day set up shop here. Star-Advertiser.

A federal judge in Hawaii says she won't consider approving $2.4 million in settlements for hundreds of Thai farm workers until the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission holds a news conference clarifying that the agreements are still subject to court approval. The EEOC is planning a news conference in Honolulu on Friday to comply with the order. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city is negotiating with the state to use vacant property at Sand Island as a temporary site for Oahu's homeless individuals and families to set up tents and receive help from service providers, Caldwell administration officials told members of the City Council Zoning and Planning Committee Thursday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu’s homeless may have a new housing option — tents on Sand Island. Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration has been working to procure a parcel of land on the small island off of Honolulu Harbor as a temporary housing solution for the street homeless population. Civil Beat.

State Rep. Calvin Say's residency in the district he represents and his ability to continue to represent that district in Hawaii’s state House is being threatened in state Circuit Court. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaiian Electric Co. President and CEO Dick Rosenblum defended the utility's proposed rate changes Thursday, including the $55 minimum rate for all customers and higher monthly charge for new solar owners. Star-Advertiser.

The USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., is looking at new markets to generate revenue to pay for improvements and maintenance for the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor, and has hired a sales manager within the past year to focus on the China and Japan visitor markets for one of Hawaii's most popular visitor attractions. Pacific Business News.

Members of the City Council on Thursday continued to explore Honolulu's nascent paid ride-sharing industry and openly asked whether it should be up to the city or state to impose regulations similar to the rules required of the city's 1,500 taxicab drivers. Star-Advertiser.

There could be fewer moderate-priced homes in the Ward Village master-planned community in Kakaako if the state approves a request from project developer Howard Hughes Corp. Star-Advertiser.

The books and computers are ready, but more than three years after construction began, students at Waialua Elementary School still can’t use their new library and media center. Construction began in Jan. 2011. Now, there’s a $3.3 million building on campus that looks ready to use, but sits empty. KHON2.

Hawaii

The state plans to appeal a decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency denying a request for a major disaster declaration that would provide federal aid to assist in the recovery from damage inflicted by Tropical Storm Iselle. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor Billy Kenoi said he is “very disappointed” by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s decision to deny the state’s request for a major disaster declaration in the wake of Tropical Storm Iselle. Tribune-Herald.

Six Kona Community Hospital employees are among 34 Hawaii Health Systems Corp. workers set to lose their jobs by December. HHSC Acting President and Chief Executive Officer Alice Hall said the number of affected employees is lower than some workers expected, based on HHSC officials’ warnings after seeing how much funding the state Legislature provided for this year. West Hawaii Today.

Civil Defense officials will call for an evacuation should a worrisome lava flow approaching neighborhoods near Pahoa appear to be within five days of encroaching on populated areas. Such a possibility is still a long way off, however, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge Jim Kauahikaua told a packed house Thursday night at the Pahoa Community Center. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists with U.S. Geological Survey say steam was spotted rising above a crack extending east beyond the end of the lava pad, suggesting that lava was once again advancing within a crack below ground. Hawaii News Now.

Four Big Island residents denied a contested case hearing for the Thirty Meter Telescope’s sublease are taking the issue to court. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

There was no clear consensus this week on how a federal judge's ruling against a Kauai County pesticides and bioengineered crops bill would affect a Nov. 4 vote on an initiative measure calling for a moratorium on genetically modified crops and activities in Maui County. Maui News.

The public is being asked weigh in on a proposed Maui affordable housing project for seniors. The Maui County Land Use Committee has scheduled a site inspection and meeting next week to consider the proposed Hale Mahaolu Ewalu Senior Residential Housing Project. Associated Press.

Maui Memorial Medical Center administrators said this week that they do not anticipate cutting staff positions other than those associated with the closure of the hospital's adolescent behavioral health unit, Molokini II, at least for now. Maui News.

A fever chart for Maui Electric Co.'s customer bills from 2014 to 2030 shows monthly residential prices dropping from the current average, nearly $230 per month, to a bit more than $160 per month in 2030. Maui News.

A former officer with the Maui Police Department filed a lawsuit alleging disability discrimination against the County of Maui and former Police Chief Gary Yabuta following the officer’s termination in December 2013, after 13 years of service. Maui Now.

Kauai

Garden Isle greenbacks. A look at the money being spent in Kauaʻi County’s legal battle to preserve Ordinance 960, regulating pesticides and GMOs. Hawaii Independent.

Arguing tax reform. Residents sound off, officials explain why changes were necessary. Garden Island.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Hawaii wage report released, tourism surges, Kauai health workers face layoffs, police investigate Hawaii County candidate, more solar panels planned, trash shortage could cost Honolulu $2M, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Coral in Hawaii © 2014 All Hawaii News
The federal government is protecting 20 types of colorful coral by putting them on the list of threatened species, partly because of climate change. Associated Press.

Federal authorities released a list of 20 corals they now classify as threatened. However, none are in Hawaii, meaning the blue rice coral — one of three species being impacted by an outbreak of black band coral disease on Kauai’s North Shore — will not receive federal protection. Garden Island.

Medical field tops wage ranking in Hawaii, labor report shows. The Labor Department collected the data in a semiannual mail survey over a three-year cycle. Star-Advertiser.

Read the full labor report here.

After achieving the highest July on record for the state in visitor spending and arrivals, Hawaii's visitor industry is trending ahead of last year's record-breaking pace for tourism. Star-Advertiser.

Opinion: Hawaii’s political polls are regularly erratic and wrong. As a recent Washington Post headline put it, Hawaii is a place “where good polling goes to die.” Civil Beat.

Opinion: Hawaii General Election Gubernatorial Candidates on the Jones Act. Hawaii Reporter.

State House Speaker Joseph Souki will not have to testify this week about when he first heard of a legal challenge to state Rep. Calvin Say's residency, a state Circuit Court judge ruled Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A new Hawaii law that makes domestic violence a felony if it’s committed in the presence of children has been criticized as excessive and vague. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co. released aggressive new energy plans on Tuesday that seek to increase the amount of energy derived from renewable energy sources from 30 percent to 65 percent by 2030, as well as triple the amount of solar energy on its electric grids on Oahu, the Big Island and in Maui County. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Companies submitted a plan to the Public Utilities Commission that is designed to achieve specific goals by 2030 for Hawaiʻi’s Energy Future. Maui Now.

Hawaiian Electric Company has released details of its vision for the state’s energy future, and part of the plan calls for 65 percent of all electricity generated on Oahu, the Big Island and Maui County to come from renewable sources. KITV4.

Hawaiian Electric has been under fire for its slow conversion to renewable energy, but its newly released long-term plan promises to change that. KHON2.

Monsanto, GMOs and the importance of independent research at the University of Hawaiʻi. Hawaii Independent.

USGS is working with other government agencies, the University of Hawaii and the American Red Cross to improve earthquake preparedness through the 2014 Great Hawaii ShakeOut, part of a worldwide event Oct. 16. Civil Beat.

The Army in the Pacific is starting a new deployment concept this week that sends soldiers out into the region for multiple exercises and longer stays in foreign countries that are intended to reassure partner nations and develop closer relationships as the United States continues its "rebalance" to the Pacific. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

The city could be on the hook for as much as $2 million for not handing over enough trash to the operators of the HPOWER waste-to-energy plant, a Honolulu City Council committee was told Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu’s top rail executive told members of the City Council Budget Committee on Wednesday that the project has a “healthy contingency fund” despite the fact that recent construction bids came in more than $100 million higher than expected. Civil Beat.

Honolulu City Council members questioned rail leaders about the budget and a recent contract coming in significantly overbid. The lowest bid to build the first nine transit stations was $110 million more than anticipated. Hawaii News Now.

A measure exempting compostable products from an upcoming Oahu plastic bag ban won key approval from a Honolulu City Council committee Wednesday while a bill requiring takeout containers to be more environmentally friendly was shelved in favor of more study. Star-Advertiser.

Move over, Kakaako. Honolulu planners have big dreams for another neighborhood. They want to transform Ala Moana into a more vibrant, inviting cityscape complete with bike lanes, green spaces and denser development. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Electric Co.'s new energy plan angered solar customers, who could face higher monthly bills, but pleased non-solar customers, who might see their costs drop. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co. plans to level the playing field when it comes to customers who have rooftop solar, and others who don’t, noting that the current net energy metering program utilized by rooftop solar customers is not sustainable. Pacific Business News.

A Honolulu planning board plans to revisit a controversial set of bills that would ban sitting and lying down on sidewalks in Waikiki. Hawaii News Now.

A proposal for a one-year restriction on stand-up paddleboards at select spots along Oahu's south shore has been withdrawn, but state officials could still consider changes. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Five months ago, Michael Kaha signed in as the Wheelabrator representative at a pre-bid conference for a waste-to-energy incinerator in Hawaii County. Last week, he was named to a newly created position as the county’s deputy solid waste division chief. West Hawaii Today.

Police will investigate a complaint alleging Hawaii County Council District 5 candidate Tiffany Edwards Hunt committed voter fraud by registering to vote from her husband’s surf shop in Pahoa rather than her home in Hawaiian Acres during the 2012 election. Tribune-Herald.

The National Park Service is stressing the importance of a “margin of safety” for its ecosystems, while acknowledging there is no evidence that current water pumping practices pose an immediate threat to the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Electric Light Co. is proposing to boost its use of renewable energy sources by 2030, providing for 92 percent of the Big Isle’s energy needs, but would also require customers with rooftop solar to pay more than they do now. Tribune-Herald.

While all but a relative handful of electrical customers have been restored service after the devastation of Tropical Storm Iselle, about 1,600 Hawaiian Telcom customers remain without landline telephone and/or Internet service. Tribune-Herald.

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey who have been carefully monitoring the lava flow heading toward lower Puna say Wednesday's aerial assessment indicates there is little to no activity in the area that once posed the greatest threat to the Kaohe Homesteads subdivision. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii’s largest health insurance provider is teaming up with a bestselling author to help communities here get healthier. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
The coral reefs offshore between Lahaina and Kaanapali may be some of the least healthy reefs along West Maui, possibly due to pollution from the Lahaina wastewater treatment plant and Olowalu landfill runoff, according to an expert hired by the state to conduct a West Maui reef study. Maui News.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife is looking to hire two planners to conduct outreach and provide technical assistance to new landowners participating in the department's Hawaii Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the department announced. Maui News.

Visitors to Maui Spend $206 Per Person Per Day, Up 10%. Maui Now.

Kauai
Officials from Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, which operates the island’s two public, critical-access hospitals and three primary care clinics, said they will institute a round of layoffs system wide as the struggling state-subsidized health provider seeks to offset its projected $48 million budget shortfall this fiscal year. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council gave their first stamp of approval to a Department of Public Works proposal that would create the state’s first pay-as-you-throw program, which charges all property owners variable rates that are based how much they discard each month. Garden Island.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

HI-5 recycling programs suspended, marijuana dispensaries mulled, Honolulu Hale could move to Kapolei, Kaui chamber hopes to limit charter petitions, Honolulu police problems, Hawaii County building inspector dinged for ethics, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Hawaii HI-5 recycling © 2014 All Hawaii News 
The state’s largest beverage container recycler Reynolds Recycling will not be collecting bottles and cans beginning Thursday, and there is no definite date on when it can resume. Reynolds says the state owes the company more than a million dollars, and without that money it cannot keep most of its staff on the job, about 100 people. That means no one will be manning the 40 redemption centers statewide on Thursday. KHON2.

The 21 members of the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Task Force met for the first time Tuesday to begin the work of developing recommendations to the 2015 Legislature for establishing a medical marijuana distribution system. Without dispensaries, patients must grow it themselves, have a caregiver to grow it for them or obtain it illegally. There are 13,000 people registered for the state medical marijuana program — among the first in the nation when formed 14 years ago. Star-Advertiser.

At the capitol, a series of public meetings began Wednesday so lawmakers can learn more about why Hawaii Health Systems Corp. is facing a $48 million shortfall. KITV4.

Federal hearings that began this week about a future relationship with a potential Native Hawaiian government have tapped deep emotions — spurring anger and fury among hundreds who have testified. But the first four sessions have also raised concern that not all Native Hawaiian views are being reflected in the process. Star-Advertiser.

A state senator is calling for lawmakers to override a potential veto by Gov. Neil Abercrombie on a bill requiring more financial disclosures from people serving on more than a dozen state boards and commissions. But Republican Sen. Sam Slom said Wednesday he doubts his colleagues will be inclined to override a veto even though the bill unanimously passed the Senate and House. Associated Press.

The waters off Hawaii Island are home to a half-million brightly-colored tropical fish that are scooped up into nets each year and flown across the globe into aquariums from Berlin to Boston. Scientists say the aquarium fishery off the Big Island is among the best managed in the world, but it has nevertheless become the focus of a fight over whether it's ever appropriate to remove fish from reefs for people to look at and enjoy. Associated Press.

Oahu

A measure now moving through the City Council would require the administration to study the feasibility of moving the City and County of Honolulu's seat of government — the familiar California-Spanish building on King and Punchbowl streets — to spacious new digs in Kapolei. Star-Advertiser.

A bill adding bags described as biodegradable and compostable to the list of plastic bags that retailers cannot give to Oahu customers starting in 2015 continues to move through the Hono­lulu City Council. Bill 38 advanced out of the Public Works and Sustainability Committee on Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

City Councilman Stanley Chang is behind a bill to ban foam food containers for environmental reasons. But the bill's opponents insist most containers are burned at HPOWER and don't go to the landfill. Hawaii News Now.

In June 2013, the Honolulu Police Department paid $238,988  for 12 automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) to help it recover stolen cars and solve other crimes. A year later, the department is still assessing the effectiveness of its purchase, and there are concerns about whether the technology is spying on innocent citizens under the guise of law enforcement. Civil Beat.

A Honolulu Police officer has been indicted on multiple federal charges. According to police sources, Roddy Tsunezumi was involved in an elaborate scheme involving stolen cars. Hawaii News Now.

Chimpanzees at the Honolulu Zoo will be kept in a pen near their sleeping quarters until an investigation is done into how one of the primates escaped from the exhibit for a short time Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

The latest piece of a master-planned community of residential towers by Kamehameha Schools in Kakaako has been fleshed out with details that include a putting green, guest suites and unit prices projected to start at $900,000. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii developers the Kobayashi Group and The MacNaughton Group have received approval from the Ala Moana/Kakaako Neighborhood Board to move ahead with its Vida at 888 Ala Moana luxury condominium high-rise on a 3.5-acre site in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

As the state's largest private landowner, Kamehameha Schools prides itself as a good steward of its land and natural resources. But just several hundred yards from its flagship Kapalama Heights campus, an illegal dump site has been discovered. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii
A county construction inspector who became too involved in a Holualoa neighborhood dispute was found Wednesday to have violated the county ethics code. West Hawaii Today.

Puna County Council candidate and former Councilwoman Emily Naeole gave the Board of Ethics a piece of her mind Wednesday after the board voted it had no jurisdiction over an ethics complaint against her. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii County is drafting a request for proposals for a study on whether geothermal development in Puna is having an impact on the health of residents. The study is one of the recommendations made by the Geothermal Public Health Assessment Study Group in its report to the county last year. Tribune-Herald.

The Environmental Protection Agency is giving Puna Geothermal Venture another month to respond to a report that alleged Clean Air Act violations. The 14 violations cited in the April report apply to the act’s general duty clause and risk management program requirements. Tribune-Herald.

A plan to recommission the Lalamilo wind farm to power county water wells could save ratepayers $1 million a year. A draft environmental assessment released this month found no significant impacts to repowering the old South Kohala site with five Vestas 660 kilowatt wind turbine generators. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Hawaii’s rising movement against genetically modified farming has seen successes in Kauai County and Hawaii County, but the latest proposal in Maui County will test how far residents are willing to go to get rid of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The Maui County Council — which represents Maui, Molokai and Lanai — recently began considering the county’s first-ever citizens initiative, which seeks to temporarily ban genetically modified farming until biotechnology companies pay for a study to analyze its health effects. Civil Beat.

A Maui man who sued the county then attempted to run for mayor was blocked from the race Wednesday because of how he filed financial disclosure statements. Associated Press.

Judge Peter Cahill today ruled to uphold the invalidation of Neldon Mamuad’s mayoral nomination, which the County Clerk’s office had determined was incomplete. Maui Now.

Second Circuit Judge Peter Cahill disqualified Neldon Mamuad as a candidate for mayor on Wednesday afternoon. Maui News.

A Final Environmental Impact Statement for proposed ferry pier improvements at Lahaina Small Boat Harbor will be discussed during a public informational meeting on Wednesday, July 2, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources announced. Maui Now.

Kauai

The Kauai Chamber of Commerce hopes to succeed where the County Charter Review Commission did not. It wants to quadruple the number of signatures required to put a proposed amendment to the Kauai County Charter to a public vote. And it’s organizing a petition drive to do just that, one week after the review commission killed off similarly proposed legislation. Garden Island.

Officials from the state’s public health care provider say they are working to develop financial plans to stabilize operations on Kauai and reverse the region’s cash-strapped path. What that could mean, however, are cuts or consolidations in services and medical staff, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation officials from Kauai acknowledged to state lawmakers. Garden Island.

A NASA flying saucer designed to test Mars lander technology could be launched on Earth this weekend. Associated Press.

Molokai

For the first time as the state’s new Department of Health (DOH) Director, Dr. Linda Rosen visited the Kalaupapa settlement last week and was warmly welcomed by residents. Molokai Dispatch.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Chinese warships arrive in Hawaii, Abercrombie and Ige debate, tobacco purchase age turns 21 on Hawaii Island, Honolulu to ban sitting on sidewalks, Maui sugar mill fined $1.3M, Native Hawaiians continue recognition opposition, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Chinese Navy in Hawaii RIMPAC
Chinese destroyer Haikou, courtesy Chinese navy
Four Chinese navy ships arrived at Pearl Harbor on Tuesday as the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise gathers steam as the biggest ever held. The missile destroyer Haikou, flying Chinese and American flags, pulled in at Kilo pier just before 9 a.m., while the hospital ship Peace Ark tied up at 9:45 a.m. The missile frigate Yue­yang and supply ship Qian­daohu followed. Star-Advertiser.

The military's Rim of the Pacific exercise, or RIMPAC, which will bring 25,000 people from 23 nations to Hawaii starting on Thursday through the end of July, is expected to have an initial economic impact of $52.5 million based on the number of exercise participants and their time in port, according to a state report. Pacific Business News.

The U.S. Navy has dispatched numerous ships to Hawaii as it prepares for Rim of the Pacific 2014, the world’s largest international maritime exercise. It will involve 49 surface ships and six submarines from 23 countries this year, but the inclusion of one — China — will get an inordinate amount of attention. The People’s Liberation Army of China will participate in the exercise for the first time, sending ships that include the missile destroyer Haikou, the missile frigate Yueyang, the oiler Qiandaohu and the hospital ship Peace Ark. Washington Post.

John Takase has been in the garage door business in Hawaii for 15 years, and as the biennial Rim of the Pacific military exercise, or RIMPAC, gets underway around the Islands on Thursday for the next five weeks, he expects he'll be inundated with phone calls from homeowners complaining that the garage doors he sells are not working properly. Pacific Business News.

A debate between Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige on Tuesday revealed few major differences in their visions of Hawaii's future. Both Democratic candidates want to solve Hawaii's housing problems, support Native Hawaiian sovereignty and improve the state's troubled health exchange. They also both want to keep gambling out of Hawaii and improve its public education system. But the primary rivals are split more on who's to blame for Hawaii's issues than they are on how to solve those problems. Associated Press.

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
David Ige, Neil Abercrombie
Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige on Tuesday set the contours for their Democratic primary, with the governor reminding voters of the state's economic rebound during his first term and Ige offering himself as a more thoughtful, sensible alternative as chief executive. Star-Advertiser.

For much of 90 minutes Tuesday, Neil Abercrombie reminded a lot of folks why they may have voted for him all these years. The occasion was a Democratic gubernatorial candidate forum at the Japanese Cultural Center in Moiliili. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and state Sen. David Ige faced off in a debate Tuesday at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, as the two gear up for a primary election showdown. KHON2.

It was a rare event, seeing the two 2014 Democratic candidates for Hawaii governor square off in the same venue. Gov. Neil Abercrombie and his primary election challenger, state Sen. David Ige, are scheduled for only two more joint appearances. Civil Beat.

A federal panel hearing opinions on a possible relationship with a potential Native Hawaiian government has heard the passion pouring out over two days of testimony, a Justice Department official said. Star-Advertiser.

Obama administration hearings in Hawaii incite racial disputes. A proposal by the Obama administration to create a new relationship with ethnic Hawaiians backfired on the administration Monday as native Hawaiians rallied in force against the proposal to reestablish a “government-to-government relationship” between the United States and the Native Hawaiian community. Hawaii Reporter.

Overthrow redux? An American Indian scholar asks if the lure of federal benefits is worth Hawaiians' cession to the U.S. of Hawaiian political and territorial claims. Hawaii Independent.

Native Hawaiians meet in West Oahu over self-governance. Video only. KITV4.

State lawmakers want to hear the Hawaii Health Systems Corp.'s plan to streamline operations and address anticipated budget shortfalls in preparation for next legislative session when they expect to once again consider proposals for potential privatization of the financially strapped system. A series of statewide briefings, which will include details from members of the various regional boards, is scheduled to begin Wednesday before heading to Kauai on Monday. Briefings are expected to be held on Hawaii Island and Maui in July and August. Star-Advertiser.

Despite recent efforts to cool down Hawaii’s most sweltering classrooms, just one school has gotten the go-ahead to install campus-wide air conditioning since that campaign intensified nearly a year ago. Civil Beat.

Oahu

With the Honolulu City Council scheduled to hear bills Thursday that make it illegal to sit and lie on sidewalks in two parts of Hono­lulu, Councilman Ikaika Anderson said he will press to have colleagues consider a third proposal that imposes the same prohibition throughout Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu residents will pay more for sewer and water service come Tuesday as a result of rate hikes approved in previous years. Star-Advertiser.

A bill allowing Oahu consumers to set off sparklers and fountains on New Year's Eve has been deferred by a Hono­lulu City Council committee. Star-Advertiser.

A chimpanzee made a brief escape from its enclosure at the Honolulu Zoo Tuesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A county ordinance raising the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21 goes into effect in less than a week and Big Island retailers are gearing up to comply with the new law. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii Island could be completely powered by renewable sources within 10 years, an advocate said Tuesday evening. West Hawaii Today.

Attendees of Monday’s Tech Pau Hana got a glimpse of off-the-grid living at Puu Waawaa Ranch, as well as a look at a test of hydrogen fuel cells in action. Blue Planet Research, which has a laboratory at the ranch, hosted the monthly technology gathering, with Director Paul Ponthieux giving the tour and explaining what the organization has been working on here on Hawaii Island. West Hawaii Today.

University of Hawaii researchers were set this morning to kick off an exploration of the deepest reaches of the erupting undersea volcano located about 20 miles southeast of the Big Island. Including scientists from the University of Minnesota, France’s IFREMER Centre de Brest and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, the expedition will seek to map the largely unexplored base of the volcano. Tribune-Herald.

A Honokaa plantation development that has languished almost 40 years is being reborn as a retirement community, thanks to action taken Tuesday by the county Water Board. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The primary election for the West Maui County Council seat is a litmus test for how Maui feels about the genetically modified organism (GMO) issue. Maui Weekly.

The state of Hawaii is seeking $1.3 million in fines from Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Co. for 400 alleged violations over a five-year period at its Maui sugar plantation. Pacific Business News.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health Clean Air Branch today announced that it cited Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company for excess emission and reporting violations for alleged incidents between 2009 and 2013 in Puʻunēnē on Maui. Maui Now.

Suspensions ranging from one to 10 days were ordered for five Maui Police Department officers as part of internal investigations concluded in March and April, police reported. Maui News.

Kauai

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nihoku, also known as Crater Hill, this week within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge in preparation for the construction of Kauai’s first predator-proof fence. The project will create a seven-acre refugium for native plant and animal communities, and enhance existing seabird colonies on the refuge by using the latest technology in predator-proof fencing. Garden Island.

Koloa Rum Company is one step closer to finding a new home and expanding its operations. The seven-member Kauai County Planning Commission unanimously approved a pair of permits on Tuesday that will allow officials from the Kauai-based rum maker to move forward with plans to construct a new company hub across the street from Anne Knudsen Park in Koloa. Garden Island.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Fear the frog: coquis invade Oahu, bill limits state liability on public land, Monsanto employees rally on Maui, Molokai, Djou runs for U.S. House, record firearm registration, Honolulu mulls banning sweepstakes machines, upgrades for military at Pohakuloa, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Waipio Valley trailhead (c) 2014 All Hawaii News
A key state House committee advanced a bill Thursday evening that limits the state's liability on public lands, relieving outdoor enthusiasts worried that litigation fears could lead to parks being shut down. Associated Press.

In a last-minute hearing Thursday, a key House panel passed a bill to protect the state in the case of lawsuits over accidents on public land. It was a surprise victory for fans of extreme sports in Hawaii, particularly rock climbers who have been frustrated by the state's decision to close all rock-climbing sites two years ago over liability issues. Civil Beat.

A bill establishing a framework to allow partnerships between the Hawaii Health Systems Corp. and private health care providers is headed to a conference committee, after the House Finance Committee unanimously passed it Tuesday. West Hawaii Today.

U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi has ruled that a lawsuit brought by eight Native Hawaiian inmates alleging a violation of religious rights can proceed to trial. The ruling issued Monday by Kobayashi clears the way for a trial that could affect the way prison administrators handle Native Hawaiian religious practices. Star-Advertiser.

A record number of firearms were registered in Hawaii last year, prolonging a run of steady increases since 2000, the state attorney general’s office said in a report released Thursday. A total of 60,757 firearms were registered in 2013, marking a 21 percent increase from the 2012 record of 50,394, the report states. Associated Press.

Jason Bryant says there are two major factors driving an increase in Hawaii’s firearm registration: Individuals who move to Hawaii and bring their firearms with them, and the general populous that is increasingly interested in personal defense measures in this rocky economic climate. Garden Island.

Longtime state lawmaker Romy Cachola is facing a new investigation into claims that he abused his taxpayer funded car allowances. Hawaii News Now.

GOP candidate U.S. House HI01 Hawaii 1st district
Djou
Frustration over the obstacles faced by survivors of soldiers killed in Afghanistan seeking benefits during last year's federal government shutdown helped persuade former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou to enter the Republican primary for the seat he once held. Star-Advertiser.

As was widely expected, Charles Djou is once again running for Congress. Civil Beat.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wrapped up the ASEAN defense ministers gathering Thursday, saying the group held "an extremely valuable meeting here in Hawaii." Star-Advertiser.

Six state health exchange directors, including the head of Hawaii’s Obamacare exchange, were grilled Thursday by multiple U.S. House committees trying to determine why the websites aren't working properly. Hawaii Reporter.

State roundup for April 4. Associated Press.

Oahu

State agricultural crews have been busy attacking invasive species on Oahu this week, capturing three coqui frogs and taking 1,000 samples from a newly discovered infestation of little fire ants in Waimanalo. Star-Advertiser.

Two crews from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture captured three coqui frogs last night in separate areas of Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

The Honolulu City Council is proposing to reallocate $41 million in the fiscal year 2015 capital budget to fund a range of projects. This would cut into some of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s top priorities, including his homeless initiative. Civil Beat.

Sweepstakes machines have been the target of numerous raids by Honolulu Police. Now there’s a new push to make the controversial machines illegal. KHON2.

State Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees voted Thursday to commission a master plan that will guide the agency in developing 31 acres in Kakaako makai of Ala Moana Boulevard. Star-Advertiser.

So who's buying in Kakaako? The answer surrounding one of the most burning questions regarding Oahu's so called “Third City,” at least in one condominium, is mostly locals. Pacific Business News.

A new city law bans rainbow shower and monkeypod trees from being planted on city property. The city must plant indigenous or Polynesian plants, brought over to Oahu prior to western contact, at new or renovated facilities whenever “feasible.” Civil Beat.

A bottled water program at UH West Oahu is not gaining much support from state lawmakers. KITV4.

Hawaii

A new $29 million battle course at Pohakuloa Training Area has gone out to bid, and U.S. Army officials expect to award a contract by May 25. West Hawaii Today.

Days after announcing the selection of their first class of four medical residents, organizers of Hilo Medical Center’s Primary Care Residency Program got word that their request for operations funding had been thrown out of the state budget bill. Tribune-Herald.

A major technology overhaul for Hawaii County government will bring in 600 new desktop computers, 100 laptops and network and security upgrades. West Hawaii Today.

Citing a perceived lack of openness of process and failure to adhere to the state’s environmental rules, the Keauhou Canoe Club is taking legal action against the Department of Land and Natural Resources. West Hawaii Today.

A Circuit Court judge has rejected an attempt by opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope to overturn a construction permit issued by the state. Big Island Now.

Maui

The Maui County Planning Department expects to spend more money in the next fiscal year to accommodate overnight stays on Lanai for planning staff, instead of chartering late-night flights back to Maui. Maui News.

Hundreds of Monsanto employees turned out this morning to demonstrate their support for Monsanto and Hawaiʻi agriculture at rallies on Maui and Molokaʻi. Maui Now.

The county Department of Water Supply has begun issuing Upcountry water meters, a long-awaited announcement for hundreds of property owners who've been on a waiting list for years for water service. Maui News.

Kauai

A large crowd is expected to gather at Poipu Beach Park on Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., for a community-organized celebration to honor the late Stella Burgess. Garden Island.