Al Gore in Hawaii for Tuesday climate conference, Honolulu seeks to curb gambling machines, Kauai GMO law in federal court today, Hawaii County bill targets homeless, Monsanto could pay $3k for polluting Molokai, emergency powers coming to governor, mayors, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Ka'u freshwater stream meets the sea (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

House, Senate Disagree on Budget to Protect Hawaii's Clean Water Sources. Environmental groups, large landowners, ranchers and developers are calling on the Legislature to spend more money to protect a steady supply of fresh water. Specifically, they want funding for “The Rain Follows the Forest”, a Department of Land and Natural Resources initiative. Civil Beat.

Former Vice President Al Gore and U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer will be in town Tuesday to headline a conference about Hawaii's sustainability, clean energy and smart growth initiatives. Star-Advertiser.

Former Vice President Al Gore and other national environmental leaders will be scuttling around Honolulu this week. But don't expect the glitz and glamour that surrounds most other visiting dignitaries. The relative austerity underscores the theme of the conference: to help build a secure water and energy future for Hawaii in the midst of global warming and threatened natural resources. Civil Beat.

For political and emotional drama, it's hard to top this: U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, the most beloved and respected figure in Hawaii state history, makes a deathbed request to name his successor in Washington. But now Gov. Neil Abercrombie has challenged that much-told narrative, implying that it had been manufactured to pressure him into choosing Colleen Hanabusa. He questioned whether Inouye even wrote the letter, marked "personal" and dispatched just before he died, seeking Hanabusa's appointment. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz sure has good timing. He released a new campaign ad last week saying he finds the pay disparity between men and women to be “outrageous.” Civil Beat.

Hawaii lawmakers will be doing some heavy lifting this week as they meet to tackle the trickiest bills. Both chambers have passed hundreds of measures, but the finer details of many proposals will be hashed out in conference committees, which will begin popping up this week. Associated Press.

Hawaii’s governor and four county mayors may be granted unprecedented emergency powers during a crisis, such as a natural disaster like the 1992 Hurricane Iniki that hit Kauai and Oahu or a terrorist attack. The bill, HB 849, is designed to bring Hawaii’s emergency management plan to federal standards. It renames the state civil defense agency the "Hawaii Emergency Management Agency" and houses it under the state Department of Defense. Hawaii Reporter.

The Hawaiʻi State Senate advanced a list of more than 170 bills ahead of the legislative second crossover deadline, including a measure that would remove the cap on the transient accommodations tax revenues to be distributed to the counties. Maui Now.

A new, multifaceted evaluation system has sparked plenty of controversy since it went into development two years ago. Under the Educator Effectiveness System, teachers are evaluated on a range of rigorous metrics designed to assess the quality of their instruction and its impact on student achievement. To comply with each of five metrics, educators have to devote significant time over the course of the year collecting data, designing and implementing goals and meeting with administrators outside of class, among myriad other requirements. Teachers' performance on all of these requirements will ultimately affect their pay. Civil Beat.

A measure aimed at reducing the threat of identity theft and credit card fraud goes before three state senate committees Monday. Hawaii News Now.

A federal judge is not inclined to dismiss a lawsuit alleging Hawaii discriminates against those with limited English skills by making it difficult for them to obtain a driver’s license. Associated Press.

The value of Hawaii’s seed industry is estimated at $217 million for the 2012-13 season. This preliminary estimate represents an 10 percent decline from the 2011-12 revised estimate of $242 million, which was a record high. This decline is attributed to operating and organizational changes, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service — Pacific Region. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii residents will be treated to two total lunar eclipses this year, the first one Monday night. Roy Gal, assistant astronomer and outreach coordinator at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Institute for Astronomy, said it is uncommon for Hawaii to get two total lunar eclipses in one year. Star-Advertiser.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 14. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Monday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

A bill before the Honolulu City Council would make it illegal to own, operate or use a simulated gambling machine on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

How many years does it take to repair a public restroom? At least one case – at Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai - it took the City & County of Honolulu about four years to repair the public restroom facilities. Hawaii Reporter.

It started with a Boys & Girls Club several years ago. Recently, affordable rental housing was added. Next year the first piece of a retail center could be built, followed by a community services and education complex. These projects — planned for nearly two decades in Nanakuli — are helping crystallize a community vision to create a piko, or central gathering place, for residents in a region of Oahu often neglected by public improvement work. Star-Advertiser.

A handful of inmates indicted on charges of being part of a prison gang have waged a hunger strike to protest conditions at Honolulu’s Federal Detention Center. Associated Press.

Crumbling concrete along a walkway of famed Kuhio Beach has some local residents concerned. The walkway is the one behind the statue of Prince Kuhio, and divides the two enclosed swimming areas at Kuhio Beach, which draws thousands of visitors every day. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

The Hawaii County Council is preparing to tackle an issue that’s generated a great deal of controversy in Honolulu — clearing public areas of possessions owned by homeless people. West Hawaii Today.

The Hawaii County Council’s Finance Committee will discuss purchasing 1,264 acres in Ka‘u for public use Tuesday. The lands mainly run from Mamalahoa Highway to the coastline near Naalehu. Tribune-Herald.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is making one last push to increase participation in its nation-building efforts. With the passing of Act 195 in 2011, OHA and the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission have sought to register Native Hawaiians to allow them to participate in the selection of delegates for a constitutional convention. But participation has been below expectations and the deadline to register has been pushed back several times. Tribune-Herald.

VIDEO: OHA Nation Building Meetings Begin. Keaukaha Hawaiians speaks out. Big Island Video News.

Some Hawaii Island residents are concerned that a dry summer could increase the risk that fires set by lava could eat through the thick forest behind their houses. But Kilauea's sluggish Kahaualea 2 flow, less than two miles from some Puna homes, poses no imminent danger to residents, Hawaii County Civil Defense and community leaders are emphasizing. Star-Advertiser.

If you’re looking for an ultra-ritzy neighborhood in Hawaii, don’t bother with the Big Island. Big Island Now.

Maui

An audit filed with Maui Land & Pineapple's annual report says there is "substantial doubt" the company can continue as a going concern, as the company prepares for its April 23 annual shareholder meeting and a May 1 maturity date approaches on two loans totaling $50 million. Pacific Business News.

While iconic island company Maui Land & Pineapple made strides in reducing its financial liabilities in 2013, a May 1 maturity date on two loans totaling about $50 million looms over the company as an auditor said there is "substantial doubt" about ML&P's ability to continue as a going concern. Maui News.

Maui Electric Co. is asking the Public Utilities Commission to approve a proposed change in what consumers are charged for the utility's "Revenue Balancing Account." Civil Beat.

Kauai
A hearing is scheduled on Monday in Hawaii’s U.S. District Court in the lawsuit filed by Syngenta and other biotech companies challenging Kauai County Ordinance 960. The court will hear oral arguments regarding the pending motion to intervene filed by Center for Food Safety, Surfrider Foundation, Pesticide Action Network North America and Ka Makani Ho‘opono seeking status as intervenor-defendants. The nonprofits, jointly represented by counsel from CFS and Earthjustice, seek an order granting them participation in the lawsuit in order to defend the County of Kauai’s pesticide and GMO disclosure law. Garden Island.

A plan to build the state's first grass-fed dairy, Hawai‘i Dairy Farms, on former Kauai sugar lands has heated up into a big-money battle pitting powerful — and somewhat unlikely — opponents over environmental and economic concerns. Star-Advertiser.

The County of Kauai sees no reason to intervene with Hawaii Dairy Farms’ proposed $17.5 million, 582-acre dairy in Mahaulepu. On Friday, County Engineer Larry Dill responded in writing to concerns voiced by a group of local biologists and residents. The group recently requested that the county step in and reconsider any decisions it has made or permit exemptions it has granted to HDF. Garden Island.

A civil rights lawsuit filed nearly two years ago against the County of Kauai by current Councilman Tim Bynum may be coming to a close soon. The County Council agreed Friday by a 4-2 vote to accept a $290,000 settlement for Bynum that was reached by Everest National Insurance Company, the county’s insurance carrier. Garden Island.

Molokai

Monsanto Co. would pay the state $3,000 to settle a case involving air pollution violations in 2012 at its Molokai operations, according to a proposed settlement. Maui News.

Tagging Kioea: Learning about Molokai’s Rare Shorebirds. Molokai Dispatch.

Dirty tricks in Hawaii Legislature, Democrats fight open primary, 2k acres of Maui farmland could go to bioenergy, state mental hospital under fire, safe harbor for child prostitutes, Obamacare health exchange seeks more money, Pfleuger trial delayed again, developer stymied by graves, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii state Capitol (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

A series of bills lawmakers passed in the Hawaii Senate were drafted without giving the public the proper chance to weigh in, following a “gut-and-replace” maneuver scorned by government watchdog groups. Associated Press.

The Democratic Party of Hawaii argues in a new legal filing that there is no important difference between Hawaii's open primary and a California blanket primary that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled was unconstitutional in 2000. The Democratic Party of Hawaii has challenged the state's open primary as a violation of the First Amendment right to free association. The party wants to restrict primaries to party members and voters who publicly choose to affiliate with the party before the elections. Star-Advertiser.

The head of the Hawaii Health Connector told a panel of lawmakers Wednesday that the troubled health exchange will need $4.7 million to be financially sustainable next year. Associated Press.

The Hawaii Health Connector, which has struggled to enroll Hawaii residents in health insurance plans, is proposing to shift a key part of the application process to the state Department of Human Services. Star-Advertiser.

The state Senate has passed a measure that would allow some child prostitutes to go free, in the hopes of sending them to so-called "safe harbors," such as social service agencies. Hawaii News Now.

Sens. Josh Green and Clayton Hee are certain nepotism runs rampant at the Hawaii State Hospital, they’re just looking for more proof. During an investigative committee hearing Wednesday, the senators peppered the hospital’s acting administrator William Elliott with questions about hiring practices and employee relationships at the facility. Civil Beat.

The acting director of the troubled Hawaii State Hospital admitted Wednesday that he lacks the minimum educational qualifications to head the facility and was grilled about charges that managers manipulate the hiring process to unfairly hire some of their relatives. Hawaii News Now.

The state Senate Education Committee unanimously voted Wednesday to recommend retired bank executive Don Horner for a second term on the board overseeing Hawaii public schools, crediting his leadership as chairman for recent strides in student achievement and more accountability within the Department of Education. Star-Advertiser.

The Senate Education Committee got an earful Wednesday about why Don Horner should not be reappointed to a new three-year term as chairman of the Hawaii Board of Education. Civil Beat.

Civil Beat obtained Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s travel records for August, September and October in response to a Uniform Information Practices Act request.

Hawaii state government no longer is failing when it comes to spending transparency. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund’s new report “Following the Money 2014: How the 50 States Rate in Providing Online Access to Government Spending Data” gives Hawaii a “C” this year. Hawaii Reporter.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 10. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Thursday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Honolulu city and rail leaders are in Washington, D.C., this week to discuss the latest on the island's 20-mile transit project with lawmakers and transportation officials. Star-Advertiser.

Three bills designed to significantly increase penalties and stiffen other language against illegal dumping, stockpiling and grading have been introduced by West Oahu City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine to stem a growing environmental problem along the Leeward Coast. Star-Advertiser.

The Palolo Chinese Home has received a $750,000 capital improvement grant from the state of Hawaii on Wednesday to support the fourth phase of the nonprofit’s $25.5 million master plan to build a progressive care complex. Pacific Business News.

King's Village, a retail complex in Waikiki designed to resemble Honolulu around 1900, along with Prince Edward Apartments and Hale Waikiki would be razed to make way for a project's 256-unit condominium hotel, parking deck, retail and office center, and a small park. Star-Advertiser.

Veteran Honolulu editor A. Kam Napier has been named editor-in-chief of Pacific Business News, Publisher Bob Charlet announced Wednesday.

Hawaii

Maile David can keep her position as deputy county clerk while running for the County Council, the Board of Ethics voted Wednesday after hearing about certain “shields” that have been put into place to protect the integrity of the election. West Hawaii Today.

The head of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources visited Honokohau Harbor on Wednesday to make the case that the island is not getting the short end of the stick. West Hawaii Today.

Keauhou Bay isn’t too shallow to accommodate planned expanded use there, several proposed new moorings won’t prevent Keauhou Canoe Club from operating in the bay and the Department of Land and Natural Resources isn’t in violation of Chapter 343, the state statute that requires environmental assessments for state projects. Those were just some of the denials DLNR made in its response to Keauhou Canoe Club’s lawsuit, filed in December, about the department’s plan to add moorings to the bay. West Hawaii Today.

Developers of a proposed timeshare and single-family home development just above Alii Drive say they’re working with families concerned about graves on the site and preparing a revised cultural impact statement before proceeding with their plans. West Hawaii Today.

The state House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill that looks to further implement the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Community College’s aviation programs on Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

Kona police officer delivers his own baby in squad car. Hawaii News Now.

Maui

A California-based renewable energy company hopes to revitalize about 2,000 acres of West Maui's fallow farm lands to grow a biocrop that could be used to generate electricity while using county wastewater for irrigation. Maui News.

The Maui County Council Budget and Finance Committee is considering deferring the mayor's proposed water service fee increases until it gets more input from the public. Maui News.

A grenade and 12-inch mortar shell, found by a man in his late father's belongings, were disposed of at the Ukumehame Firing Range on Tuesday night by a bomb disposal team in an incident that shutdown the Maui County Service Center, parking lots in the area and part of East Kamehameha Avenue for most of the afternoon and early evening. Maui News.

The public is invited to comment on the Maui Police Department's services and performance as a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will be visiting Maui County Monday to April 17. Maui News.

Kauai

Big changes, Kauai County officials say, are in store for Hardy Street as contractors fine tune the last details needed to kick off a multi-million dollar project aimed at improving connectivity in the area. Garden Island.

Sentencing has once again been delayed for James Pflueger. The retired car dealer pleaded no contest in July to first-degree reckless endangerment for his role in the deadly 2006 Ka Loko dam disaster on Kauai’s North Shore. Garden Island.

Long week ahead for Hawaii Legislature, state to pay Turtle Bay to conserve North Shore land, attorney general wants more money, Pacific Biodiesel leaves Maui, Hawaii County plans Mauna Kea park takeover, tipping fees to rise on Kauai, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii House of Representatives

Hawaii lawmakers are preparing for an onslaught of bills to move through their chambers this week, in advance of a legislative deadline to pass bills out of the second chamber. Associated Press.

A House committee approved a bill to outlaw eating cats and dogs in Hawaii, a measure supported by animal lovers who lobbied lawmakers with their pets. Associated Press.

Hawaii Attorney General David Louie asked the Legislature in December to give his office an extra $5.3 million for fiscal 2015, which starts July 1. But the latest draft of the budget, which lawmakers will finalize over the next few weeks, adds only $1.5 million. Civil Beat.

Rep. Bob McDermott is troubled about new classroom materials that are being tested out by some Hawaii public school teachers. The vocal, socially conservative Ewa Beach lawmaker recently wrote a memo to Hawaii Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi requesting that the department prohibit teachers from using any materials or lesson plans from the Southern Poverty Law Center’s Teaching Tolerance program in their classrooms. Civil Beat.

With affordable-housing and homelessness problems persisting, measures aimed at promoting affordable-housing construction, assisting the Hawaii Public Housing Authority with repair and maintenance, encouraging Housing First programs and funding the up-and-coming concept of micro-apartments continue to move through the Legislature. Star-Advertiser.

A measure that would have allowed rock climbers to resume their sport has been amended, catching outdoor enthusiasts by surprise. Hawaii News Now.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is canvassing communities in an effort to expand a roll of qualified Native Hawaiians interested in participating in their own government. Associated  Press.

Charles Djou, a Republican who served six months in Congress in 2010 after winning a special three-way election, has launched a campaign to reclaim his District 1 Congressional Seat. Hawaii Reporter.

Oahu

Time is running out for the state and the owners of Turtle Bay Resort to decide how much Hawaii should pay the hotel to conserve some of the land it owns on Oahu's North Shore. Civil Beat.

City officials are promising at least one public hearing in the coming weeks on rules governing how food trucks can operate in Hono­lulu's Capitol Special District under a two-year pilot program that became law last week. Star-Advertiser.

Selling rail. Yes, half of the audience at this public meeting were HART employees. Hawaii Independent.

Tuition at three of Hawaii's largest private schools — ‘Iolani School, Mid-Pacific Institute and Punahou School — will hit the $20,000 mark for the first time next school year as most schools plan hikes of between 3 percent and 7 percent. Star-Advertiser.

They were small, but price gains achieved by Oahu's housing market last month continued a rising trend reaching further into its third year. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Hawaii County will be able to improve and maintain its portion of the Mauna Kea State Recreation Area without a big budget increase or neglecting other county parks, officials assured the County Council Finance Committee on Friday. West Hawaii Today.

A bill establishing a temporary working group to help the state acquire lands in Waipio Valley was passed by the state House committees on finance Wednesday with amendments. Tribune-Herald.

Whether residents and business owners think it’s a good idea or not to limit commercial use of the ocean, they appear to agree on one thing — a package of proposed rules governing commercial use is convoluted and confusing. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui businesswoman and former vice chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Maui Del Rosario has been appointed the party chairwoman of the newly formed Hawaii Independent Party. Maui News.

Pacific Biodiesel has eliminated two employee positions and closed its biodiesel production plant at the Central Maui Landfill in Puunene, according to an announcement Friday from the pioneering Maui alternative fuel company. Maui News.

Sales of Maui condominiums soared by 31 percent last month, while prices of both condos and single-family homes in Maui County increased by double digits in March, according to statistics from the Realtors Association of Maui. Pacific Business News.

Kauai

Businesses owners may soon be paying more to dump or haul their waste into County of Kauai landfills. That’s if the Kauai County Council chooses one of two options before it to raise the landfill tipping fee. Garden Island.

A Kauai councilman who sued the county for claims his civil rights were violated for going against political foes agreed to settle the lawsuit for $290,000. Associated Press.

Challenging times, state Department of Transportation consultants say, lie ahead for Kauai. The Garden Isle is expected to face a nearly $2.2 billion shortfall in transportation project funds at a time when it will also face a significant population and economic boom. Garden Island.

Thirty Meter Telescope gets the go-ahead, minimum wage hike advances, Hawaii Obamacare head testifies in Washington, Hagel shows war machines, Honolulu's secret budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Thirty Meter Telescope, artist rendering, courtesy photo

Hilo Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura ruled in favor of the Thirty Meter Telescope project Wednesday. Nakamura based his decision off four points, including one that found that the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ approval of a conservation district land use permit to the University of Hawaii at Hilo prior to holding a contested case hearing did not warrant reversal of the decision or order. Tribune-Herald.

A bill to protect the state from unlimited liability for accidents on public land is in danger of dying for the second year in a row if a key committee doesn’t take up the legislation this week. The proposal, Senate Bill 1007, has incited a groundswell of support from paragliders, bikers, hikers, rock climbers and others who worry about the potential closure of public trails if the state is left vulnerable to lawsuits. Civil Beat.

A key committee in the state House of Representatives advanced a bill that would increase the minimum wage to about $10 an hour, lower than the $10.10 that was previously called for in the proposal. Associated Press.

Is there still an argument to be made — either in favor of or in opposition to — an increase in Hawaii’s minimum wage that has not already been made? After four hearings on Senate Bill 2609, two floor debates and hundreds of pages of written testimony, it seems that there is nothing new to be said. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Reporter has obtained a copy of the testimony that Tom Matsuda, the Interim Executive Director of the Hawaii Health Connector, will present on April 3 to the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs and Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements during a hearing on “Examining ObamaCare’s Problem-Filled State Exchanges.”

Improved science and the vast distance between Hawaii and the magnitude-8.2 earthquake that rocked Chile on Tuesday helped the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to decide not to put the state in tsunami warning status, a move that would have likely triggered a costly evacuation and inconvenienced thousands. Star-Advertiser.

It took nearly four hours between the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's first bulletin to when it sent out a tsunami Advisory Tuesday. The Center's director Chip McCreery said scientists needed the time to evaluate data. Hawaii News Now.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel showed off a state-of-the-art $1.3 billion Navy ship for foreign defense ministers Wednesday and Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft zoomed overhead — not in a demonstration of combat firepower but as a sign of the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief the U.S. military can provide. Star-Advertiser.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 3. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Thursday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Things at Kailua District Park's pool haven't been so ducky. A sign posted Wednesday read: "CLOSED due to Duck Feces," and that's been the case since Saturday. Star-Advertiser.

State pest control officials on Thursday were moving to assess and eradicate an infestation of little fire ants in Waimanalo, but not before landing a scolding from a key state lawmaker. Star-Advertiser.

There's a new outbreak of Little Fire Ants in Waimanalo, and the state Agriculture Department is still trying to figure out the extent of the outbreak while some senators are critical of the state's response. Hawaii News Now.

The Caldwell administration is refusing to make public high-level budget documents that the mayor used to set his spending priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. These records show exactly how much money each department head — from the police chief to the managing director — asked for in 2015 along with the justification for those expenses. Civil Beat.

Who sits on the board of the Hawaii Community Development Authority historically has not been a contentious issue. But with the recent flurry of Kakaako condominium towers winning agency approval, the selection process is attracting more attention. Star-Advertiser.

Marilyn Lee has filed papers with the Office of Elections for the District 36 seat in the Hawaii House of Representatives.  Lee, a Democrat, served as the representative for Mililani, Mililani Mauka and Waipio Acres for 16 years. Civil Beat.

Renovation work on a new track field at Radford High School has been halted after debris and soil samples tested positive for contaminants including lead and arsenic, the state Department of Education announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

It’s Mayor Billy Kenoi’s biggest budget yet, and a full $18.4 million in a budget increasing by $18.3 million is going for employee raises and added benefits. Kenoi, presenting his budget Wednesday to the County Council Finance Committee, said the $412.6 million spending plan, 4.6 percent higher than last year, was accomplished without raising property taxes or user fees. West Hawaii Today.

After years of planning, an effort to build a network of mixed-use trails in Hilo will soon take its first steps along the winding path to completion. The Hilo Bayfront Trails project, spearheaded by a group of citizens working in partnership with the county and state, seeks to construct a multiuse trail system from the Wailuku River at Reed’s Island to Hilo Harbor’s cruise ship terminal, totaling about 6 miles, located on 700 acres of public land. Tribune-Herald.

The same Hawaii Island company known for its grass-fed hamburgers now wants to sell the electricity used to cook them. Parker Ranch Inc. CEO Neil “Dutch” Kuyper announced Wednesday the launch of Paniolo Power Company LLC, aimed at using renewable resources in Waimea to generate power. Tribune-Herald.

Parker Ranch on the Big Island, one of the oldest and largest ranches in the United States, has formed a new subsidiary called Paniolo Power Co. LLC to oversee its energy efforts. Pacific Business News.

University of Hawaii at Hilo officials say they are encouraged that this could be the year funding is secured for a permanent home for the university’s pharmacy school. Big Island Now.

The percentage of children in Hawaii receiving free and reduced lunch hit a new high in 2012, at the state level and in Hawaii County. That’s according to the annual Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count report, a national look at issues that affect children. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

The county Department of Parks and Recreation is hoping to add several new positions to its staff in the upcoming fiscal year, including park rangers, maintenance workers and administrative staff. Maui News.

The Maui Department of Water Supply today announced it has begun the long-awaited process of issuing water meters in the Upcountry area. Maui Now.

Maui County state senators indicated that major projects were spared the ax in the state Senate's version of the budget approved Monday. Maui News.

Kauai
More than 50 Kauai teachers showed up Tuesday night to Wilcox Elementary School with complaints about a pilot program that evaluates their classroom effectiveness. Garden Island.

A Native Hawaiian charged with commercial vending in a state park says he was only practicing his religious and cultural rights. Garden Island.

Kauai residents have a chance to weigh in on the future of transportation on Kauai tonight. The state Department of Transportation will host a public meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihue. Garden Island.

Lanai

Larry Ellison, the billionaire owner of Hawaii's island of Lanai, on Tuesday announced plans for the Lanai Documentary Film Festival, which seeks to "ignite and lead conversations for worldwide change by empowering the individual." Pacific Business News.

The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawaiʻi partnered with the Blue ʻĀina program of Trilogy Excursions this weekend to collect a total of 300 cigarette butts from Hulopoʻe Beach Park on Lānaʻi. Maui Now.

You say Kailua, we say Kailua, Micronesian migrants to get less health care, ACLU sues over religious pre-K, Gabbard named to Armed Services Committee, Maui leads in solar panels, Kauai reforestation advances, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Kailua-Kona (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

State lawmakers are considering a resolution this week to urge Facebook to distinguish between the communities of Kailua and Kailua-Kona on the social networking site. Associated Press.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii is suing the state, arguing a child care assistance program that provides preschool tuition subsidies for low-income families violates the state and U.S. constitutions by providing public funds for religious observations and teachings. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii isn’t required to fund Medicaid for migrants from three Pacific Island nations in Micronesia to make up for a reduction in federal funding, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. - Associated Press.

The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday issued a ruling that will likely have a dramatic impact on Micronesians living in Hawaii. The appellate court determined that the state is not required to fund Medicaid for migrants from island nations in Micronesia including the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Civil Beat.

A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled Tuesday that the state can resume offering fewer health care benefits to Micronesian migrants than those given other Medicaid recipients. The decision vacates a 2010 preliminary injunction handed down by U.S. District Judge J. Michael Seabright that prohibited the state from denying migrants full Medicaid benefits. Star-Advertiser.

A law that aimed to equalize instructional time across Hawaii's regular public schools was implemented a few years ago and is gradually being phased in, but now lawmakers are revisiting questions about how much time the state should require public school students to spend in the classroom. Civil Beat.

A bill aimed at reducing the interisland spread of invasive species was deferred in a state House Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection Tuesday. Tribune-Herald.

It's looking less likely that teenagers in Hawaii will be allowed to hit the tanning salons before going to the beach. A key Senate committee in the Hawaii Legislature approved a bill Tuesday that bans minors from using tanning beds. Associated Press.

Hawaii was the first to commit to rollout of an insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act, but the last to get up and running. On Tuesday, Governor Neil Abercrombie told Hawaii News Now that execution was fundamentally flawed by a Legislature decision to set up a nonprofit.

The Pentagon is overhauling its efforts to find and identify missing service members from past wars, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Monday. Civil Beat.

Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief are providing common ground for Southeast Asian defense ministers meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Honolulu. Hagel, who arrived Tuesday afternoon at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, will be in Hawaii for three days as the U.S. for the first time hosts a meeting of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) defense ministers. Star-Advertiser.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has been named to the Armed Services Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. Associated Press.

Hawaii scientists and emergency personnel kept watch on a tsunami generated by a magnitude-8.2 earthquake off Chile on Tuesday, the anniversary of the 1946 tsunami that devastated Hilo. Star-Advertiser.

When the Board of Directors of the Hawaii State Bar Association recently rated Judge Michael Wilson as “unqualified” to serve as a member of the Hawaii Supreme Court, based on its confidential review, it placed bar association representatives, legislators and the nominee in very awkward positions. They all had to deal with the allegations, however veiled, but had little real data to work with because the substance and sources of many charges remained behind a curtain of confidentiality. Civil Beat.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie made it official Tuesday: Jan. 23 will be known as Saint Marianne Cope Day in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Biotech, which is focused on the research and development of vaccines for established and emerging infectious diseases, thinks that the next major outbreak of the West Nile Virus could happen next year, and when and if that happens, the Aiea-based firm will be positioned to help put out this deadly virus, its CEO, Dr. Elliot Parks, told Pacific Business News.

President Barack Obama has inserted himself into Hawaii’s most contentious political race, endorsing U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz over challenger U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa in the state’s upcoming U.S. Senate election. Hawaii Reporter.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: April 2. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Wednesday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Low-income apartments with ocean views don't get built every day in Hono­lulu. Nearly 200, however, are just about finished in Kaka­ako and are getting ready for occupancy after 15 months of construction. Star-Advertiser.

A key House committee approved a bill on Tuesday evening that would allow the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to build condos on part of its land in the area known as Kakaako Makai.  OHA is already allowed to build commercial buildings in the property, but says that residential development would allow the agency to maximize its revenue for the land. Civil Beat.

A local hospitality and healthcare union has enlisted two Honolulu City Council members in its ongoing fight with Kaiser Permanente over pension benefits. Unite Here Local 5 has spent tens of thousands of dollars on three 15-second TV ads featuring Stanley Chang and Joey Manahan. They are airing on KFVE, KGMB, KHNL and KITV during the morning and evening news hours. Civil Beat.

Hawaii

More salary bumps are on the horizon for county staff. Two of Mayor Billy Kenoi’s top aides will see double-digit percentage increases and others will get slightly less under the 2014-15 budget he is scheduled to present today to the County Council Finance Committee. West Hawaii Today.

A small grass lot has stirred up a big controversy for Hawi residents, who are divided on whether the county should purchase it for open space or allow its owners to build an art gallery. West Hawaii Today.

The Democratic Party on the Big Island is in the process of refining the procedures for replacing midterm vanacies in the State House and State Senate.  This follows some controversy about the selection of the replacement for State House Rep Denny Coffman when he resigned. Hawaii Public Radio.

A bill seeking to help Hawaii County combat little fire ants in its parks will face its last committee today. SB 2920 would grant the county an unspecified amount of funding as part of a pilot project for fire ant containment. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

In the last couple of years, Maui County has installed more solar rooftop photovoltaic systems per capita than nearly anywhere else in the nation, and now industry professionals are looking to Hawaii as a pioneer in solving some of the challenges with integrating more renewable energy. Maui News.

Nearly 40 Maui Lani residents have signed a petition opposing the state's 65-acre Central Maui Regional Park, also known as the Central Maui Sports Complex, saying that the facility will negatively affect their neighborhood with noise from sporting activities and nighttime lighting. Maui News.

Student volunteers from two mainland universities spent their spring break on Maui, assisting in the construction of Habitat for Humanity’s Kahawai Street affordable housing project in Happy Valley. Maui Now.

Kauai

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is finalizing plans for a major reforestation on 1,000 acres of forest reserve land in and around Kokee. Garden Island.

Hawaii native Ernest Kanekoa, Jr. filed his nomination papers Tuesday to run for Kauai County Council. Garden Island.

Obama endorses Schatz, Hagel to attend Asian conference in Honolulu, Maui pushes anti-GMO ballot amendment, state cedes Mauna Kea park management to Hawaii County, Kauai council worried about big budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Brian Schatz and Colleen Hanabusa

President Barack Obama is endorsing Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz in his primary race against Hawaii Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. In a news release, the Schatz campaign said Obama is endorsing Schatz because of his work to protect Social Security and promote clean energy. Associated Press.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz wants to make Social Security a defining issue in the Democratic primary against U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, a tactic Hanabusa contends unnecessarily alarms seniors. Star-Advertiser.

Monday marks the end of the latest campaign finance reporting period for candidates running for federal office. That means that in about two weeks, at midnight April 15, those finance reports will need to be filed with the federal government and the public will be able to get another look at the source of all the money that’s fueling some very hot races this election year. Civil Beat.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will be in Hawaii this week as the United States hosts a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for the first time. Pacific Business News.

Police in Hawaii would no longer be legally permitted to have sex with prostitutes under a bill passed Friday by a state legislative panel that would end the unusual exemption in state law. The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a larger bill that cracks down on prostitution after amending it to nix the exemption involving police conduct. Associated Press.

Just under a week before Hawaii Health Connector interim Executive Director Tom Matsuda will testify before a Congressional sub committee in Washington, D.C. about Hawaii’s troubled Obamacare system, a state senator has filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Office, asking for an investigation into the Connector’s spending of a $204 million federal grant. Hawaii Reporter.

A Maui coffee farmer said controlling invasive species such as the notorious coqui frog and fire ant is a Big Island problem. Becker is a supporter of state Senate Bill 2347, which soon will be taken up by the House Finance Committee. The legislation, written as an attempt to control the interisland spread of invasive species to the local agriculture industry, was amended last Friday. Parts of the bill would prohibit the transportation of the pests and establishes penalties for violations, including language that would require any commercial entity that transports the invasive species to pay a fine equal to the value of the infested shipment. Tribune-Herald.

Island geography, a politically balanced commission and dominance in all politics by Democrats means redistricting and reapportionment issues are different in Hawaii than in other U.S. states. Associated Press.

Lawmakers in Hawaii have been pushing and prodding hundreds of bills through the Legislature, and this week is no exception, as the Legislature enters the final month of the session. Here are five things ahead at the Hawaii Legislature this week. Associated Press.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: March 31. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Donors linked to contractors, developers and landowners involved with the increasingly controversial rebuilding of Kakaako have contributed more than $680,000 since 2009 to Gov. Neil Abercrombie's two gubernatorial campaigns, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser analysis of state data.

The surge of new construction projects in Kakaako over the past year made the development in the urban district a highly debated issue in the Hawaii Legislature this year. But with just a month left in the 2014 session, it’s still unclear what kinds of changes the Legislature will impose on the state agency that manages development in the neighborhood and whether or not lawmakers will allow new condos on the area known as Kakaako Makai. Civil Beat.

It is a lawsuit that draws attention to the intersection of Hawaii's political and real estate worlds. The plaintiff is Close Construction Inc., a contractor hired last year by the Hawaii Community Development Authority to renovate the historic but long-vacant American Brewery building in Kakaako. The defendant is HCDA. Star-Advertiser.

A high-level squabble between an Oahu regional transportation planning organization and the state Department of Transportation is jeopardizing millions of federal highway dollars at a time when Honolulu’s traffic congestion is as bad as it’s ever been and about to get a lot worse. The Hawaii DOT is refusing to pass some $2 million on to the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization as required by federal law. That’s forced OMPO, as it’s known, to operate on reserve funds since October and prevented it from finishing transportation projects tied to 2014 appropriations. Civil Beat.

If you have driven down Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki at night lately — or over the last year and a half — you may have felt some unexpected things: Confusion about which lane you should be in; disorientation amid the maze of orange cones that are supposed to guide you; surprise at the illuminated construction dust clouds; or fear, as you realize that the headlights of cars coming from the other direction are pointed directly at you. Civil Beat.

Efforts by two Korean community groups to set up a cultural monument park on a small patch of green in one of Hono­lulu's busiest neighborhoods have been stymied in recent years by the presence of homeless encampments. The community groups and the roughly 20 people camped in and around Pawaa In-Ha Park say they've had a relatively peaceful coexistence. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric Co.'s recently deactivated Downtown Honolulu power plant, which occupies a prime piece of real estate near Honolulu Harbor, won't be demolished to make way for commercial uses such as a restaurant or bar — at least for the time being, a HECO official recently said. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

A portion of the Mauna Kea State Recreation Area is expected to be put in Hawaii County’s hands after the state Board of Land and Natural Resources authorized the signing of a management agreement Friday. Under the agreement, which the state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to sign, the county will be responsible for maintaining and improving the developed park area. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaiian Telcom Inc. plans to install rooftop solar on 24 of its buildings around the Big Island as part of a larger, 7.5-megawatt effort to cut its energy costs across the state. Tribune-Herald.

Debbi Sale lives under a makeshift shelter of tarps in Kona. She and her husband Vance cook on a one-burner stove and use public restrooms across the street. They live on Vance’s Social Security check and improvise the rest. So the Sales were grateful for a couple of hot meals and the chance to get vision screening and new glasses at the Old Kona Airport events pavilion on Saturday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Maui County supporters of a ballot initiative to force growers of genetically engineered food to prove their crops' safety made their "last push" Sunday afternoon before they have to submit 8,500 signatures to the county clerk's office next week. Maui News.

Maui County's Service Center may soon get a new home at Kehalani Village Center in Wailuku or in the Maui Business Park II in Kahului. Maui News.

The North Shore Greenway, a pedestrian and bike path from Kahului to Paia, is on its way to being completed after more than 20 years of planning, with the project's final phase under review for government permits. Maui News.

Kauai

A decision on whether to impose penalties against the head of the Public Utilities Commission and her husband for allegedly operating illegal vacation rentals on Kauai won't be made for at least another 45 days. The state Land Board on Friday deferred action on recommendations to impose penalties against PUC Chairwoman Hermina "Mina" Morita and her husband, Lance Laney. Star-Advertiser.

Some council members have major concerns with the mayor’s proposed fiscal year 2015 county budget. They see the $180 million finance plan as a trend in the wrong direction. Garden Island.

Some health care providers know their finances need to be put in order. How they get there is still up in the air. In the meantime, several providers on Kauai are left asking the Legislature for emergency funds to support their operations, although a recent state proposal is asking the hospitals to cut costs themselves. Garden Island.

Nene return to Oahu, labor contractor liable for worker abuse, Kauai stays with at-large council elections, Hilo judge hears GMO lawsuit, Maui court clears cops in shooting, privatizing prisons, Legislature mulls sex ed, medical marijuana, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Nene on Big Island (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

Endangered Hawaiian geese have been seen in the wild on Oahu for the first time in centuries, indicating the chances of survival for the native birds are improving, federal and state officials said. A pair of nene that migrated to Oahu has nested and hatched three goslings at the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge in Kahuku, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday. Star-Advertiser.

Endangered nene have been spotted in the wild on Oahu for the first time in centuries, a federal agency said Monday. Associated Press.

Critics of the state's controversial middle-school sex education pilot program, Pono Choices, expressed concern Monday that a working group convened to study the material has been meeting in secret and comprises members who might not deliver a fair and unbiased report. Star-Advertiser.

A Republican lawmaker in Hawaii has taken issue with one of the state's sex education programs, saying it "sexualizes the innocent" by teaching 11-year-old children about anal sex. Associated Press.

Hawaii lawmakers are considering a measure to improve the state's struggling correctional system by turning to the private sector for help. State Sen. Will Espero introduced a resolution on public-private partnerships for jails, prisons and other correctional facilities. A Senate panel listened to testimony from supporters and opponents during a hearing on Monday. Hawaii News Now.

A federal judge has found a California-based labor contractor liable for discrimination and abuse of hundreds of Thai workers at Hawaii farms. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Monday announced the ruling against Global Horizons, which placed the workers at six farms across the state. Associated Press.

A federal judge has ruled that a labor recruiting company that was previously accused of human trafficking did harass, discriminate and retaliate against hundreds of Thai workers in Hawaii. The ruling Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi leaves for a jury to decide the amount of money Global Horizons owes 530 Thai workers it imported to work on farms on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island and what measures it needs to implement to prevent future abuses. Trial is set for November. Star-Advertiser.

Four years after Global Horizons was implicated in the largest human trafficking case in U.S. history, a federal judge has found the California labor-contracting company liable for harassing, discriminating against and retaliating against more than 500 Thai laborers working on Hawaii farms. Civil Beat.

The Beverly Hills-based farm labor contractor, Global Horizons, Inc., is liable for “harassing, discriminating, and retaliating against hundreds of Thai workers in the U.S., in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws,” the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Monday. Hawaii Reporter.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is up with his first TV spot of the 2014 campaign season. The spot, titled "Commitment," has one primary message: Schatz is devoted to protecting Social Security. Civil Beat.

The Smart Approaches to Marijuana Project will brief state House and Senate lawmakers at 10:30 a.m. in Room 423. Civil Beat.

Supporters of medical marijuana dispensaries in Hawai’i brought a new face to the Legislature.  Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii Senate to Decide on Aaron Mahi for the Land Use Commission. Civil Beat.

A new report says Hawaii is the most expensive state in the country for renters. The National Low Income Housing Coalition says a renter would need to make a least $31.54 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment, with a fair market rent of $1,640 a month. KHON2.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: March 25. A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Tuesday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

State roundup for March 25. Associated Press.

Oahu

The city broke ground Monday for the underwater portion of a project that will help transport sewage from the Ala Moana Wastewater Pump Station across Honolulu Harbor to the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in what the contractor called the most expensive microtunneling project in U.S. history. Star-Advertiser.

Former U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has lashed out at Hawaiian Electric Co., saying that the Honolulu-based utility needs a “better business model” when it comes to integrating more solar energy into its grid, according to a recent Forbes article. Pacific Business News.

The House Committee on Water and Land approved a resolution Monday to require a financial and management audit of the Hawaii Community Development Authority.  The agency in charge of managing land in Kakaako, Kalaeloa and Heeia has been under fire from critics who are worried about the fast pace of development in Kakaako. Civil Beat.

A long-awaited project to re-do Moanalua High School's main athletic field has been delayed for two years because of problems obtaining city and state permits. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

Does requiring farmers growing genetically modified crops to register with Hawaii County result in the release of proprietary information? That’s the question Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura will consider after hearing from witnesses and attorneys on both sides of the issue Monday. Tribune-Herald.

Improvements to Hawaii Island’s two airports take up the bulk of the $436 million in capital improvement projects the state House is proposing for the island this year. West Hawaii Today.

Construction of Hawaii Island’s first roundabout could begin as soon as August. Salvador C. Panem, state Department of Transportation Hawaii district engineer, said Isemoto Contracting Co. Ltd. won the bid for the Pahoa roundabout earlier this month. Tribune-Herald.

Hawaii County is preparing to ask a federal bankruptcy judge to lift a stay and allow corporation counsel to initiate foreclosure proceedings on 80 acres of oceanfront land in South Kona. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Ruling that Maui police officers used reasonable force in firing shots at the driver of a fleeing truck that had struck a police officer at Honolua Bay, a judge dismissed a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by two men who were in the bed of the truck when they were hit by bullets. Maui News.

Several state transportation projects are planned this week that will result in lane closures or detours in Pukalani, Kāʻanapali, and Māʻalaea. Maui Now.

Maui Paving LLC has begun work on two road resurfacing projects in Pukalani, according to an announcement from the contractor. Maui News.

Kauai

The voting map won’t be carved up. The Kauai County Charter Review Commission rejected three proposals Monday that would have let county voters determine whether County Council districts, and the election of those seats, should be changed. The decision to forego a ballot question on County Council redistricting, at least for now, followed several months of discussions on whether it was time to change how the seven-member board is elected and represented on the island. Garden Island.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said they support the Kauai County Council’s call to lawmakers to stop initiatives regulating coastal and marine resources around the island of Niihau. Garden Island.

One of the largest solar energy farms in Hawaii is about halfway done and is expected to be completed in early July, the project’s development team told Pacific Business News on Monday.

GMO still hot Hawaii topic, Honolulu cops have sex with prostitutes, UH presidential finalists to be public, Kauai mayor seeks 3rd term, Hawaii wants piece of Obama library, birth control for chickens and more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii store sign (c) 2014 All Hawaii News

 Honolulu police officers have urged lawmakers to keep an exemption in state law that allows undercover officers to have sex with prostitutes during investigations, touching off a heated debate. Associated Press.

An effort to require labels on genetically modified foods in Hawaii was brought back to life in the state Legislature, but it died in committee on Thursday almost as quickly as it was revived. Associated Press.

State Rep. Jessica Wooley on Thursday unsuccessfully attempted to resurrect a proposal to require labeling for genetically modified food sold in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

In an attempt to get a GMO-labeling bill heard this session, Rep. Wooley turned to a legislative strategy that most would agree is, usually, a less-than-savory tactic. Hawaii Independent.

GMO’s and Pesticides in Hawai’i. Hawaii Public Radio.

Hawaii lawmaker introduces chicken birth control measure. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii may end up working with Chicago as the process moves forward to choose a site for the Barack Obama Presidential Library. Hawaii officials Thursday acknowledged meeting with their counterparts from the Windy City regarding possible ways to collaborate in the building of the library complex. Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz visited Civil Beat on Tuesday for a wide-ranging discussion on everything from climate change and college affordability to local values and his race against U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, who is challenging him in the Aug. 9 Democratic primary.

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted today to make public the names of its top three presidential candidates. Civil Beat.

Hawaii's lone Republican senator is preparing to ask the federal government to investigate the state's use of $204 million in Affordable Care Act grants meant to fund the troubled Hawaii Health Connector. Star-Advertiser.

Another Dental Nightmare Renews Call for Stronger Oversight in Hawaii. Civil Beat.

A federal appeals court is giving a Hawaii man another chance to argue that he should be allowed to have a rarely given license to carry a gun in public. Associated Press.

Hawaiian Electric Co. expects a cost-savings of up to $500 million each year for its customers when it begins utilizing liquefied natural gas as a replacement fuel for power generation on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Lanai, a top official from the state’s largest electric utility said Thursday. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has put online graphs that show how much solar and wind power is being generated on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island throughout the day and how much the renewable sources contribute to total power consumption. The utility wants consumers to understand the variable nature of solar and wind power and the important role of the so-called "firm" power generated at HECO plants. Star-Advertiser.

United Airlines is looking at outsourcing neighbor island ground operations, which could result in the layoff of 223 employees at the Kona, Kahului and Lihue airports. Star-Advertiser.

On Tap at the Hawaii Legislature: March 21 A selective list of bills, resolutions, hearings, briefings and events for Friday at the state Capitol. Civil Beat.

Oahu


A bill making it easier for shoreline property owners to put up retaining walls and other structures is advancing through the Honolulu City Council, although some members said they want more information before they'll give it final approval. Star-Advertiser.

A controversial bill that would make it easier for homeowners to build retaining walls along their shoreline properties passed out of the Honolulu City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee on Thursday. Civil Beat.

Renovations at Honolulu Hale are drawing major health concerns. There’s fear that city leaders and the general public may have been exposed to asbestos. KHON2.

State and city officials announced plans on Thursday to protect the Hāwea heiau complex and Keawawa wetland in East Honolulu. Civil Beat.

Construction on Farrington auditorium to start in summer. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

The University of Hawaii at Hilo has received a second $5 million grant to study how plants, animals and microbes respond to climate change. Associated Press.

From courts to classrooms to Kona tourists, the Big Island stands to gain lots of funding from the budget passed last week by the state House of Representatives. Big Island Now.

Finance Department officials say a regular review cycle of all Hawaii County parcels, developed and unimproved, would realistically take at least 7.3 years. West Hawaii Today.

The first students could graduate from Hawaii Community College at Palamanui in 2017. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
House lawmakers from Maui today issued an announcement saying they have secured more than $460 million in capital improvement project funds, including $130 million for the construction of the long-awaited Kīhei High School in South Maui. Maui Now.

The library at Paia School is scheduled to reopen today after being used primarily as storage space for the last five years. Maui News.

Kauai

On the west side of Kauai, many acres of former sugar cane fields have been converted to a major testing area for genetically modified seeds. Hawaii Public Radio.

Two-term incumbent  Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., who was first installed in 2008, made good on that promise Thursday, when he filed his nomination papers with the Office of the County Clerk’s Elections Division. Garden Island.

‘A desire to be of service’ U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard honored at ‘Women of Inspiration’ Garden Island.