Hawaii names ohia lehua official endemic tree, UH reinstates indoor masking, state misses out on $200M to feed children, more news from all the Hawaiian islands

Ohia lehua designated official Hawaii State Endemic Tree. State lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2059 during this year’s Legislative session to designate the tree, and Gov. David Ige Tuesday signed the bill into law at a ceremony at Washington Place. Star-Advertiser. Garden Island. KHON2.

Ige Extends Emergency SNAP Benefits Through July. The governor has signed a second emergency proclamation, extending the provision of federally increased allowances under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Civil Beat.

Health officials say lifted restrictions are not only driving up COVID cases, but also the flu. Health officials said flu cases are higher than it has been compared to the last couple of years when strict public health measures were in place. Hawaii News Now.

University of Hawaii reinstates indoor masking. Amid the statewide COVID-19 surge, Hawaii’s public schools have reported a ninth straight week of increases in campus cases, and the University of Hawaii, starting today, is reinstating an indoor mask requirement across its 10- campus system. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat.

Hawaii public schools may need to prepare for shootings, says head of state board. Hawaii’s public school system has no specific policy requiring schools to prepare teachers or students for an active-shooter scenario. However, the head of the state Board of Education said Tuesday that the time has come to consider one. Star-Advertiser.

Report: Hawaiʻi missed out on $200 million in federal funding to feed children since 2000. Since 2000, Hawaiʻi has missed out on more than $200 million in federal funding for the state’s school meal programs, according to a new joint report released Tuesday. Maui Now. KITV4.

State sees banner year for tax revenues, but faces highly uncertain future. The state Council on Revenues expects a strong end to this fiscal year. But there are concerns for fiscal year 2023, which starts in July. The council projects Hawaiʻi will end the current fiscal year with a 28% growth in tax revenues over FY 2021.  Hawaii Public Radio.

New Hawaii State Hospital faces more delays. State health officials say they face additional delays in moving patients into the Hawaii State Hospital’s new, 144-bed psychiatric facility, after assuring state lawmakers in early April that all the patients would be moved in by this month. The state Department of Health now says the target date is the end of June. Star-Advertiser.

Native Hawaiians Face High Rates Of Diabetes. That Means More Need For Dialysis. The number of dialysis centers in the islands is increasing to meet the need as more patients suffer from kidney failure. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Oahu rail recovery plan advances at City Council. The new rail recovery plan that would notably shorten the route and delay the construction of the Pearl Highlands parking garage advanced out of the Honolulu City Council Transportation, Sustainability and Health Committee on Tuesday. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Creation of Honolulu urban trail part of $14 million tourism recovery plan. The Hawaii Tourism Authority is working on a plan to spend $14 million in COVID-19-era federal funding from the Economic Development Administration that includes development of a Honolulu urban trail that would use virtual reality and other smart features to connect people to points of interest and businesses along the path. Star-Advertiser.

Mandatory water restrictions this summer now appear avoidable. The Board of Water Supply thinks mandatory water restrictions might be avoidable this summer. It’s a promising development for residents who were bracing for forced restrictions and developers who were warned their projects could have been delayed by the Navy’s tainted water crisis. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Federal Aviation Administration moves to strip local freight carrier’s certification. The Federal Aviation Administration announced Tuesday that it has proposed to revoke the air carrier certificate of Honolulu- based cargo airline Rhoades Aviation Inc. for what the agency called “numerous alleged safety violations.” Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

Council matchups shaping up: 2 weeks before filing deadline, two incumbents have no challengers. Of the nine County Council seats up for election this year, all but two incumbents have drawn challengers, with just two weeks remaining before the June 7 filing deadline. West Hawaii Today.

County seeks info about four torched Elderly Activities Division vehicles. Mayor Mitch Roth issued a statement Tuesday condemning the actions an arsonist or arsonists who on Sunday torched four Department of Parks and Recreation vehicles. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Video News. Big Island Now. Hawaii News Now

Drought unlikely to stop little fire ants. Pest species like little fire ants will likely not be deterred by the drought conditions expected for much of the island this summer. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Kuʻikahi Village’s plans for 202 workforce homes in Wailuku moves ahead. Kuʻikahi Village Project, which aims to build 202 workforce housing units on about 15 acres in Wailuku, cleared a significant hurdle recently.  Maui Now.

Maui Is Reconsidering What Constitutes ‘Affordable’ When It Comes To Housing. Even if families qualify for loans, monthly costs can be so high that they struggle to hold on to their homes in the long term. Civil Beat. Maui News.

Conservation-minded steward sought as future buyer for Maui’s Hāna Ranch. Bio-Logical Capital today announced it is seeking a new conservation-minded buyer to steward Hāna Ranch, a 3,600-acre working cattle ranch in east Maui. Maui Now.

Longtime Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Colette Machado dies at 71. Former Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chair Colette Ma­chado of Molokai was remembered Tuesday as a passionate warrior driven to public service and dedicated to the betterment of the Native Hawaiian community. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Kauai

Boulders block beach-goers near Burns Field. State Department of Transportation personnel have blocked vehicle access to the perimeter road at Port Allen Airport (also known as Burns Field), upsetting residents who recreate on the facility’s makai side. Garden Island.

Wilcox Emergency Department updates completed. Dr. Monty Downs, retired following 50 years of service to Wilcox Health and the first emergency room doctor at Wilcox Medical Center, said the first emergency room was just an 18-foot-by-18-foot room with a stretcher, not a gurney, in the middle. Garden Island.

Officials hold blessing for new emergency department at Wilcox Medical Center. The $5.1 million renovation project includes two trauma resuscitation suites and several specialized care rooms, along with a dedicated behavioral health room equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii in search of statewide schools superintendent, Honolulu landfill committee rejects all proposed sites, state hospital may soon open, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii student in class PC:Hawaii Department of Education

Deadline extended to apply for schools superintendent post. The application period has been extended in the search for Hawaii’s next permanent superintendent of public schools because only a little over a dozen candidates have applied, and only two are from Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. Maui Now.

Hawaii’s Interim School Chief Wants The Job Permanently. Is He Up To It? Keith Hayashi has been running the statewide school system for nearly a year, dealing with a pandemic, staffing shortages and other problems. Civil Beat.

New Hawaii State Hospital to open after lengthy delay. Officials overseeing the Hawaii State Hospital told state lawmakers Monday that their new 144-bed psychiatric facility is expected to open its doors to patients in about two weeks after more than a year of delays caused by a lack of policies and procedures, difficulty recruiting staff and flaws in shower floors, door handles and hinges. Star-Advertiser. Civil Beat. KITV4.

Hawaii Lawmakers Propose Raising OHA’s Share Of Ceded Land Revenue. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is poised to get more money generated by the use of lands once held by the Hawaiian Kingdom. Civil Beat.

Nearly half of isle keiki in financially insecure households, report finds. Nearly half of all children in Hawaii lived in financially struggling households three years ago, before the COVID- 19 pandemic surfaced, according to Aloha United Way. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii News Now.

State spent $37-million on Safe Travels Hawai'i program. While the final cost of the Safe Travels Hawai'i program is still being tallied, MG Kenneth Hara estimates the total cost will be about $37-million. KITV4.

Developers face lawsuit over lack of accessibility features at Maui, O'ahu housing properties. On Monday, the Department of Justice added eight new defendants to an existing lawsuit that alleges developers built five condo and apartment complexes without proper accessibility features. KITV4.

Oahu

Landfill Advisory Committee rejects proposed sites for new Oahu landfill. The city’s Landfill Advisory Committee voted Monday not to recommend any of the six proposed locations to replace the island’s only municipal landfill at Waimanalo Gulch on the West side of Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Three Honolulu Homeless Shelters Are Closing, Leaving Clients With Uncertainty. The service providers are vacating their current locations in Chinatown and Kakaako without a plan for where to go next.  Civil Beat.

Navy Captain Fired After Latest Red Hill Fuel Leak. The Navy admiral who relieved the captain touted “accountability for safety” in a staff email on Monday. Civil Beat.

Flesh-Eating Bacteria In The Ala Wai Canal May Triple Due To Climate Change. UH researchers said infections are rare, but officials and residents should start now trying to mitigate contamination in the canal to keep it that way. Civil Beat. Maui Now. Hawaii News Now. KITV4.

Hawaii Island

E-waste program suspended due to lack of funds. A county program to recycle electronic waste has been discontinued until at least July. Tribune-Herald. Big Island Now.

DHHL to break ground on Honomu ag project Friday. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will break ground this week on a new subsistence agriculture project in Honomu. Tribune-Herald.

Candidate filing for House seats gains momentum after a late start. Hawaii Island’s newly redefined and open District 6 seat in the state House of Representatives has so far attracted two Republican candidates seeking to represent the Kona district. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

State clears top Maui health official who faced widespread backlash over his COVID statements. Dr. Lorrin Pang, the state Department of Health’s Maui district health officer, faced major backlash last year for his support for controversial COVID-19 treatments. Hawaii News Now.

Maui Now Survey: 70% very concerned with the increase of out-of-state Maui homebuyers, 83% think Maui County should cap transient accommodations. Maui Now received 544 verified responses with 90% identifying as Maui County residents and 10% identifying as non-residents. A total of 86% of respondents identified as registered voters and 14% as non-registered voters. Maui Now.

Winners announced for small business awards. A baker, a farmer and the head of an equipment rental company were among the business owners honored at the 2021 Mayor’s Small Business Awards on Wednesday. Maui News.

Kauai

County, state set fair housing webinars. April is National Fair Housing Month, and the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency, along with other state and county agencies, is providing free training opportunities for landlords and tenants to learn about current federal and state fair housing laws. Garden Island.

Electric vehicles near 10K mark, Capitol threat resolved, feds offer Kealohas plea deals, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Electric vehicle powered by solar on Henk Rogers' Hawaii energy farm ©2019 All Hawaii News

Passenger electric vehicle registrations nearing 10,000 milestone in Hawaii. Hawaii is inching closer to reaching a milestone with 10,000 passenger electric vehicles registered in the state. To be precise, the state is just short of the milestone by 95, according to the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism’s monthly energy trends report. Star-Advertiser.

Will Hawaii Lead The Renewables Revolution? Hawaii has positioned itself as a pioneer in the quest to move toward a fossil-free future. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Health Department gets additional $4M to combat opioid crisis. The state Health Department announced Monday that it has received an additional $4 million in federal grant funds to address and prevent the opioid crisis in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Sheriff’s Office: No Threat To Hawaii State Capitol. The Honolulu Police Department located an Arizona man who apparently encouraged a mass shooting in a social media post. Civil Beat.

Hawaii State Hospital now under new leadership. There’s a new head of the Hawaii state hospital. Doctor Run Heidelberg took over for William May as the facility’s administrator on Tuesday. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

Cost for monthly housing in Honolulu not hurt by illegal vacation rentals, study finds. Illegal vacation rentals may have marred the fabric of residential neighborhoods around Oahu, but a new study concludes that they haven’t inflated primary rental housing rates. Star-Advertiser.

Louis and Katherine Kealoha offered plea deals from federal prosecutors. Federal prosecutors have made offers to Louis and Katherine Kealoha to avoid their upcoming trials. Hawaii News Now.

Whistleblower suspects Kealoha’s investigation into Board of Water Supply was a sham. New questions are being raised about an apparent investigation headed up by disgraced ex-deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha into the Board of Water Supply, and a whistleblower involved in the probe now believes it was all a sham. Hawaii News Now.

Neighborhood board sends letter to FAA, requesting tour helicopter ban over Kailua. The Kailua Neighborhood Board has passed a resolution asking for a federal ban of all tour helicopters over the beach community, and has sent a formal letter to the Federal Aviation Administration outlining details of that request. Star-Advertiser.

 =====

New Bags Required Of Chinatown Merchants To Combat Trash. Chinatown merchants are now required to use city-mandated yellow bags to dispose of their curbside trash, otherwise it won't be picked up by city trash collectors. Hawaii Public Radio.

Bright yellow garbage bags are the city’s solution to Chinatown’s trash problem. The city has started handing out big, bright yellow garbage bags to businesses in Chinatown to try and tackle the community's chronic trash problem. Hawaii News Now.

Chinatown businesses urged to use city-issued yellow trash bags. In an effort to keep trash off the streets of Chinatown, the city is re-emphasizing its new policy. KHON2.

New trash bag aimed at reducing illegal dumping, rummaging in Chinatown. A revised ordinance also makes it illegal to open garbage bags that have been put out for collection -- a tool for environmental inspectors to fine violators up to $2,500. KITV.

=====

Where A Developer Sees Houses, Enchanted Lake Residents See A Wetland To Protect. Residents adamantly oppose a housing development in Kaelepulu, an area that was once a fishery. Civil Beat.

It’ll take a bit longer to remove toxic soil buried beneath Kalihi street. Work to remove toxic soil buried beneath Factory Street in Kalihi is being pushed back a few weeks -- just as alarming new details are coming out about the lead contamination under the asphalt. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

Investigation into claims of retaliation in DLNR’s boating division comes up empty. Department of Land and Natural Resources chair, Suzanne Case, told Hawaii News Now she asked investigators from the attorney general's office to help her agency look into corruption and retaliation complaints. Hawaii News Now.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustees To Visit Mauna Kea, Ka'u and Hilo. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will hold a community meeting in Pahala on Wednesday evening. The next day they will meet in Hilo and visit Pu'uhuluhulu. Big Island Video News.

Second accomplice sentenced in fatal officer shooting. A second accomplice was sentenced Monday in Circuit Court for her role in aiding and abetting cop killer Justin Waiki. West Hawaii Today.

Big Island program gives hope to dwindling Hawaii fish populations. Generations of community leaders and Kupuna of Kaupulehu on the west side of Hawaii Island converged to devise a plan to replenish their coral reef fish, creating the Kaupulehu Marine Reserve. KHON2.

Maui

Maui County Hosting Community Meetings To Help Craft Next Budget. Community meetings throughout Maui County are being held to help Mayor Michael Victorino and his administration craft its first budget that will cover fiscal year 2020-2021. Hawaii Public Radio.

“What’s up in Ha‘iku?” Subject of Ha’iku Community Association Meeting. The meeting will feature updates on local infrastructure and community projects from county officials and local community members. Maui Now.

Kauai

Tensions rise over parking at Hanalei Bay Resort. When Ian Jung, the lawyer representing the Association of Apartment Owners of Hanalei Bay Resort pulled the microphone away from Jimit Mehta mid-sentence, it became clear that what they were discussing — the number of parking spaces at HBR — was a heated issue. Garden Island.

Fire chief search continues. Nearly a year and a half into the search for a new fire chief, the Kauai County Fire Commission is essentially starting again from scratch. Garden Island.

Psychiatric hospital employees cleared in killer's escape, state shorted in federal funds, CIO stepping down, pilot rescued in military 'Sentry Aloha' crash, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii road construction ©2018 All Hawaii News

Hawaii only state shut out of federal DOT grants. The federal Department of Transportation will disburse some $1.5 billion to fund 91 infrastructure projects around the country — none in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

State information chief Todd Nacapuy resigning at year’s end.  Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii’s Chief Information Officer Is Stepping Down. The state’s top technology official, Todd Nacapuy, was appointed by Gov. David Ige in 2014. Civil Beat.

=====

Hawaii State Hospital workers cleared in killer’s escape. The Hawaii State Hospital employees who were put on paid leave and suspected of possibly helping dangerous psychiatric patient Randall Saito make an infamous escape to Maui and California using cash and fake identifi­cation have been cleared and face no discipline, state officials announced Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

State Hospital Employees Won’t Be Disciplined For Patient’s Escape. Attorney General Russell Suzuki said no employee aided Randall Saito in the killer’s 2017 escape, but that hospital security was lax. Civil Beat.

State Hospital Staff Cleared of Wrongdoing in Randall Saito 2017 Escape. Hawaii Public Radio.

No state employees disciplined after investigation into admitted killer’s escape. Hawaii News Now.

State concludes no Hawaii State Hospital employee responsible for Randall Saito's escape. KHON2.

AG investigation concludes Hawaii State Hospital staff did not assist escapee Randall Saito. The AG and the Hawaii Department of Health held a press conference Wednesday to discuss the closure of investigation of Randall Saito’s escape from Hawaii State Hospital. KITV.

=====

Pilot rescued after small military training plane crashes off Oahu. Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam officials said in a statement that the jet was being operated by a civilian contractor flying in conjunction with the Hawaii Air National Guard’s “Sentry Aloha” exercises, which are scheduled through Dec. 19. Star-Advertiser.

Military exercises to resume as officials investigate cause of offshore fighter jet crash. Multiple agencies will meet Thursday morning to determine who will handle the investigation and salvage efforts following a fighter jet crash off Honolulu that seriously injured a pilot. Hawaii News Now.

Pilot Survives After Plane Crashes Into Ocean Near Honolulu Airport. The pilot was a civilian contractor for the Hawaii Air National Guard taking part in an exercise called Sentry Aloha. Associated Press.

=====

Hawaiian Airlines to offer cheaper seat option starting in 2019. Starting 2019, a fourth tier will be added: the addition of Main Cabin Basic. It's a bare-bones version: no ticket changes or standby; seats are assigned after check-in, and though you can earn HawaiianMiles, travelers who choose this option will not be eligible for bonus miles. KHON2.

The owners and officers of a Japanese-flagged fishing vessel were charged Tuesday with smuggling and trafficking 962 shark fins into and out of Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Ag tech and resource management offer opportunities for Hawaii-Israel collaboration. When it comes to agricultural technology and resource management, Hawaii is finding a partner in collaboration nearly halfway around the world. West Hawaii Today.

Oahu

Honolulu Police Corruption Probe Now Includes Katherine Kealoha’s Brother. A federal grand jury continues to expand its investigation, now delving into prescription pain medications that were seized during a 2015 drug raid. Civil Beat.

Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro is free to disclose that he is a target of a federal investigation into government corruption and owes it to the people who elected him to do so, several criminal defense attorneys told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Experts: Kaneshiro Can Talk About Federal Investigation If He Wants To. There’s no rule that prohibits Honolulu’s elected prosecutor from telling the public whether he is the target of a Justice Department probe. Star-Advertiser.

=====

Private Guards Help Keep The Homeless From Camping In Parks. Calling it a success, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell is extending a program in which the guards shuttle between nine parks. Civil Beat.

First of its kind renewable gas facility opens on Oahu. The purpose is to turn sewage into energy and hopefully eliminate the need for nearly 15,000 barrels of oil per year. KITV.

Opening of Hawaii’s first Daiso in Pearl City draws hundreds. The 5,000-square-foot Japanese discount store at the Pearl City Shopping Center is the first of three or four planned on Oahu by HouseMart, the parent company of Ben Franklin Crafts and Ace Hardware, which has an exclusive licensing agreement to open Daiso stores in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The county Board of Ethics is trying to add teeth to what has historically been a paper tiger, more than a decade after the County Council gave it authority to fine public officials who violate the ethics code. West Hawaii Today.

A Kalapana woman is headed to jail for failing to complete court-ordered community service stemming from a 2017 case of vandalism atop Maunakea. West Hawaii Today.

It’s not often that Hawaii Island gets to hear directly from top United States Cabinet officials when major legislation gets a vote in Washington D.C., but that’s what happened on Wednesday as Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue took questions on the passage of the 2019 Farm Bill. Big Island Video News.

Progress continues on the new Puna Kai shopping center in Pahoa, which is set to open next fall, months after original plans intended. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Central Maui’s inland sand in decline. Off-island exports have fallen since 2006, report says. Nearly 2 million tons of sand have been removed from Central Maui since 2006, leaving it either depleted or very soon to be depleted and unable to replenish the island’s beaches that need some 158,000 tons of sand, according to a new study released Tuesday on sand availability in the county. Maui News.

Council takes no action after day of public testimony.  Nearly 50 people testified before the Maui County Council on Tuesday during a meeting that featured a packed agenda, including more funding for the Wailuku civic complex and bills to construct a parking lot in Kihei and relating to sand mining. Maui News.

Planning panel rejects Paia Inn permit, again. The Maui Planning Commission voted once more to deny a hearing officer’s report and special use permit for the Paia Inn, a decision that Paia Inn attorney Terry Revere said was expected to be appealed in circuit court. Maui News.

A Zipline company in Haiku and the County of Maui have reached an agreement to end a dispute over permits and subsequent notices of violation. Maui Now.

County agrees to allow zipline to continue. Haiku neighbors plan to file suit to block operation. Maui News.

Kauai

Erosion sets back beach, road work. An ongoing million-dollar project to fix Weke Road and the surrounding Black Pot Beach Park area is already starting to erode now that the winter’s big swells have arrived. Garden Island.

County officials are reminding the public that the solid waste staging area located at Kepuhi Point is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Garden Island.

Military response formed for Kilauea volcano emergency as earthquakes rattle summit, plumes shoot into air, ash fallout warnings issued, plus $140M state psychiatric hospital plans unveiled, details on Akaka memorial service, new super PAC with rail ties, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Deputy Adjutant Gen. Gary Ishikawa, l, and Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara address the media. PC: Big Island Video News

Hawaii governor forms command to 'streamline military response' to Kilauea volcano eruption on Big Island. Pacific Business News.

Joint Task Force 50 in position to support county government. Tribune-Herald.

Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara spoke to media at the Keaukaha Military Reserve on Wednesday afternoon, announcing the approval of the request for the Joint Task Force 50. Big Island Video News.

Press Release: Gov. David Y. Ige has announced the formation of a Dual-Status Command, Joint Task Force 50 (JTF) in response to the Kilauea lava flow on Hawai‘i Island. Gov. Ige’s formal request to appoint Brig. Gen. Kenneth Hara was submitted on Tuesday, May 15 and approved by Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis earlier today. Governor's Office.

An explosive eruption from Kilauea's summit on Thursday morning sent an ash plume soaring some 30,000 feet into the air, and officials are warning that ash emissions will cover a large part of the Big Island. Hawaii News Now.

Explosive eruption at Kilauea summit; those in area advised to shelter in place amidst ash plume. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Volcano Observatory officials on Thursday confirmed that an explosive eruption occurred at the summit of Kilauea. As a result, the National Weather Service issued an ashfall advisory for the Ka'u District of the Big Island. Officials say the ash plume reached 25,000 feet. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that an explosive eruption at Kilauea summit has occurred at 4:17 a.m.. The resulting ash plume may affect the surrounding areas.  The wind may carry the ash plume north towards Kau, Volcano, Mt. View, Keaau and as far as Hilo. KITV.

A series of sharp, shallow earthquakes rattled the summit area of Kilauea volcano Wednesday morning, and the gray plume from an ash eruption at the summit crater continued to distribute volcanic ash as far away as Kau and Pahoa village. Star-Advertiser.

Earthquakes Batter Roads As More Ash Spews From Kilauea. The state is forming a joint task force to handle mass evacuations of the Puna district if lava flows cover major roads and isolates the area. Associated Press.

Emergency officials are keeping a close eye on Highway 11 after cracks appeared Wednesday on the road near the entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. KHON2.

Kilauea’s summit was rocked by shallow earthquakes Wednesday as the volcano’s caldera inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park subsides along with its magma chamber. Tribune-Herald.

Volcanic gas emissions remain elevated throughout the area downwind of the fissures, and magma continues to be supplied to the lower East Rift Zone. Big Island Video News.

Geologists: Kilauea is no Mount St. Helens. Hawaii News Now.

=====

A petition urging Hawaii Gov. David Ige to sign a bill into law that would prohibit the sale of sunscreens containing certain ingredients found to be harmful to marine life is gaining traction, having garnered close to its goal of 40,000 signatures. Pacific Business News.

New Super PAC With Pro-Rail Ties Emerges In Hawaii Elections. The group, All Hawaii Stand Together, has ties to the pro-rail Pacific Resource Partnership that has been a big player in past elections. Civil Beat.

The late U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka will lie in state at the Capitol rotunda Friday and Saturday and be eulogized during two public services and one private service before being laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. Star-Advertiser.

The family of the late Sen. Daniel Akaka released new information on Wednesday concerning the schedule for his memorial service. Hawaii News Now.

Plans for the construction of a new Hawaii State Hospital facility were unveiled today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Architects, designers and state health officials Wednesday pledged that a new Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe would be more secure, safer for staff and better suited to help patients with mental health issues who are court ordered for treatment. Star-Advertiser.

Security upgrades planned at State Hospital in wake of high-profile escape. Hawaii News Now.

Press Release: Governor David Ige and the Hawaii Department of Health today unveiled the security features for a new, $140 million, state-of-the-art Hawaii State Hospital building to enhance the safety of patients, employees and the community. Governor's Office.

Health department director Dr. Virginia Pressler looks forward to retirement. Dr. Virginia Pressler announced last week that she will be retiring after three and a half years with the state Department of Health. KHON2.

Oahu

Lawsuit: Managers Took Bribes At Low-Income Rentals. Executives at a Hawaii property management company say the allegations are false and upsetting. Civil Beat.

Pacific Office Properties considering shutdown. A local company that owns three Honolulu office tower properties lost more money in the first quarter and let investors know its board is considering alternatives that could include dissolution. Star-Advertiser.

‘Lime’ Rental Scooters Invade Honolulu With Mixed Results. The new motorized rental scooters are appearing on sidewalks in Honolulu, but the mayor is not pleased. Civil Beat.

Honolulu home prices rose by 4 percent in April, and Hawaii’s largest market was one of the few in the United States where inventory is growing, according to the May National Housing Report from Re/Max. Pacific Business News.

“Faith Betrayed,” a Honolulu Civil Beat story about Guam’s reckoning with the torturous legacy of decades of sexual abuse by local priests, has been awarded the Sally Jacobsen International Perspective Award from the Associated Press Media Editors. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Island

Lava burning up tourism: Economic impact to Hawaii Island could be worse than thought. West Hawaii Today.

No-Entry Zone Established for Hawaii Electric Light Crews in Leilani Estates. Big Island Now.

No-entry zone established for Hawaii Electric Light crews in Leilani Estates. KHON2.

The eruptions in lower Puna won't seem to let up as several older fissures continue to reignite, shooting lava into the air. Hawaii News Now.

Cultural practitioner performs oli (chant) in honor of goddess Pele. While the eruptions along the East Rift Zone and volcanic activity at Halemaumau Crater are awe-inspiring, they are also significant to the Hawaiian culture. KHON2.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald donated warehouse space to the American Red Cross for its ongoing lava disaster relief efforts. Tribune-Herald.

Oahu Publications Inc., the parent company of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, is providing warehouse space to the American Red Cross in Hilo for the storage of goods to be used at its shelters. Star-Advertiser.

Maui

Preparing to serve up environmentally friendly plate lunches. Ban on polystyrene foam products takes effect Dec. 31. Maui News.

Vodka maker purchases Maui pineapple farm. Principals of a California-based maker and distributor of distilled spirits have bought a pineapple farm on Maui that was once part of a more than 100-year-old plantation. Star-Advertiser.

New ownership announced for Haliimaile Pineapple Co. Company acquisition ensures Maui Gold pineapple will continue. Maui News.

The owners of Haliimaile Distilling Co. have purchased Haliimaile Pineapple Co., producers of Maui Gold pineapple in Hawaii. Pacific Business News.

Hawaiian Airlines started new daily nonstop flights Wednesday between Maui’s Kahului Airport and San Diego International Airport. Star-Advertiser.

Kauai

The County Council approved the purchase of property along the Hanalei River Wednesday. Garden Island.

Water quality has cleaned up in some areas on Kauai’s North Shore after the April floods, but the state Department of Health still has a brown water advisory for some places on the island. Garden Island.

Mud is smothering the coral in Hanalei Bay, according to one resident who explored the reef there Saturday. Garden Island.

Kauai's legislators are slated to be at the Lihue Business Association meeting 7:30 to 9 a.m. May 24 at Duke’s Canoe Club. Garden Island.

State tax director resigns after trying to alter report, medical marijuana registrants allowed to keep their guns, sunken ship that fired first Pearl Harbor shots found, new hotel for Maui, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

State Tax Director Maria Zielinski, courtesy Governor's Office

State Tax Director Maria Zielinski has resigned in the wake of reports that state tax officials instructed a consultant on which subjects “should and should not” be addressed in its supposedly independent monitoring reports on the progress of a new $60 million tax computer system. Star-Advertiser.

Tax director resigns as $60M computer upgrade project falters. The head of the state Tax Department has resigned amid ongoing concerns over a beleaguered $60 million project to modernize the state's outdated tax collection and filing computer systems. Hawaii News Now.

Temporary OK for travel ban puts focus on Wednesday hearing. While courts in Hawaii and Maryland had partially blocked the third ban, the Supreme Court on Monday stepped in and lifted those orders pending the outcome of legal challenges in the 9th as well as the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th Circuit, which is scheduled to hear arguments Friday. Associated Press.

Expedition finds sunken USS Ward, which fired first shots in Pearl attack. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s expedition team on Tuesday released the first underwater footage of the sunken destroyer USS Ward, whose captain famously radioed in on Dec. 7, 1941, “We have attacked, fired upon and dropped depth charges” on a submarine operating in Pearl Harbor’s defensive sea area. Star-Advertiser.

Extradition hearing set for state hospital escapee. A California Superior Court judge on Tuesday confirmed the identity of Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito, allowing prosecutors to move forward with extradition proceedings. Star-Advertiser.

Honolulu City Council Committee Advances Hawaii State Hospital Use Permit. Hawaii Public Radio.

City wants to add safeguards to state hospital to tighten security. After last month's escape at the Hawaii State Hospital by a patient with a violent past, some Honolulu City Council members want the Windward Oahu facility to become a secure one. KITV.

Board Of Education Seeks Public Money For Charter School Facilities. Despite “mixed” reviews of their performance last year, the charters deserve more taxpayer money, the board says. Civil Beat.

Hawaiian Airlines posted a 6.3 percent increase in revenue passenger miles, or traffic, to 1.3 billion in November, according to statistics released Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

Job fair attracts dozens of ex-Island Air workers. Star-Advertiser.

Former Island Air employees attend another job fair, no health coverage. KITV.

Island Air employees lost their jobs. Then they lost their health insurance. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

HPD won’t take guns from medical marijuana users. The Honolulu Police Department will not enforce a controversial policy requiring legal marijuana patients to turn in their guns. Star-Advertiser.

HPD Won’t Force Marijuana Patients To Give Up Their Guns Right Away. But the department will continue to deny new gun permits to medical cannabis patients. Civil Beat.

Police to pot card holders: You can hold on to your gun (for now). Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Police Officer’s Road Rage Results In Lawsuit Against City. The complaint states the incident resulted from a pattern of the HPD not addressing excessive use of force by officers. Civil Beat.

Commentary: New chief’s straight talk a remarkable change for HPD. Star-Advertiser.

=====

Council panel holds up tower over ‘poor door’. A proposed 41-story condominium tower in the Keeaumoku area is being held up because plans call for those living in the building’s affordable rental units to use a separate entrance from residents in market-priced units. Star-Advertiser.

Why Are Fewer People Riding TheBus? Passenger counts nosedived in recent years, but Honolulu’s mass transit system still enjoys some of the highest demand in the country. Civil Beat.

'A mess': Beachgoers, businesses seek solutions to Waikiki's disappearing shoreline. On Tuesday evening, beachgoers and business owners gathered to develop an action plan to combat erosion along Hawaii's most famous beach. Hawaii News Now.

Big wave surfer Clyde Aikau, brother of legendary waterman Eddie Aikau, sounded an alarm Tuesday about Waikiki Beach erosion during a community workshop to discuss efforts to restore and protect the famous strand. Star-Advertiser.

Security company awarded lucrative contract to keep Kakaako parks secure. KHON2.

New high rise project gets green light from zoning committee. The Hawaii City Plaza condominium got the green light from the City Council's zoning committee Tuesday afternoon. KITV.

Contractor battling developer seeks lien on ultraluxury Kakaako units. Nordic PCL Construction, the general contractor for the ultraluxury Waiea tower, filed an application for a mechanic’s lien in state Circuit Court on Friday, claiming a security interest in 18 units that include two unsold grand penthouses on the market for $35 million and $36 million. Star-Advertiser.

After serving nearly two terms in the state House of Representatives, Rep. Matthew LoPresti has his sights set on the Senate seat representing Ewa and Ewa Beach. Star-Advertiser.

Hotel promises action, but questions remain over growing trash heap in Waikiki. KHON2.

City’s tow contract to expire with hundreds of abandoned vehicles on the line. KHON2.

Environmentalists fight to save monkeypods at Manoa shopping center. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii Island

A $12.5 million bond issue for a new county prosecutor building in Kona met with quick approval Tuesday by the County Council, the first of what could be millions more in new county borrowing. West Hawaii Today.

VIDEO: Council, Attorney Disagree On Use Of Funds. The corporation counsel Joseph Kamelamela defended his position on the need for his staff to review the legality of council contingency relief grants, even after they have already been appropriated by a vote. Big Island Video News.

Coral is still suffering in West Hawaii, though considerably less following three straight years of bleaching that decimated the entire coastline, claiming 50 percent of the area’s coral reefs. West Hawaii Today.

Petition asks to halt plan to reorganize UH-Hilo’s largest academic college. The reorganization plan, approved earlier this year, would divide the College of Arts and Sciences into two separate colleges: the College of Natural and Health Sciences and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Tribune-Herald.

Condominium sales on Hawaii’s Big Island jumped 20 percent in November as prices of both condos and single-family homes rose, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of Hawaii Island Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Maui

Developer unveils Wailea Ike hotel proposal to panel. The California developer behind the Courtyard by Marriott in Kahului and the Residence Inn by Marriott in Wailea is proposing a new 110-unit hotel in Wailea. Maui News.

Council Seeks to Strengthen Sunscreen Ban Bill Before Final Vote. A measure prohibiting the sale and use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone and octinoxate surfaced for first reading in the Maui County Council. Maui Now.

The National Park Service will host a public meeting from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss proposed plans to rehabilitate the 9,324-foot-elevation Kalahaku Overlook at Haleakala National Park. Maui News.

County mulling having free WiFi in its facilities. Maui News.

With unanimous backing from the Maui County Council, a resolution in support of victims’ rights is headed to the state Legislature. Maui Now.

Kauai

Kauai War Memorial Convention Hall is scheduled to be closed six months starting Jan. 1 for removal of asbestos-laced floor tiles as well as for new flooring and ceramic tile installation, according to a county press release on Tuesday. Garden Island.

Home prices rose on Kauai last month, despite a drop in sales of both single-family homes and condominiums for November, compared to the same month last year, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service on behalf of the Kauai Board of Realtors. Pacific Business News.

Northwestern Hawaii Islands eyed for commerce, net neutrality at issue, governor praises Nimitz homeless cleanup, attorney general probes state mental hospital, Kauai’s Na Pali Coast cleared of squatters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Papahanaumokuakea Northwest Hawaii Islands

Should Papahanaumokuakea Be Open For Business? GOP lawmakers want restrictions lifted on fishing, mining and energy exploration — even though experts say there is no oil and gas there. Civil Beat.

Hawaii Lawmakers Call on FCC to Protect Net Neutrality. Hawaii lawmakers are among those voicing concerns with the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to dismantle landmark net neutrality rules. Maui Now.

Six investigators from the state Attorney General’s Office are looking into how killer Randall Saito escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe on Nov. 12 and made his way to Maui and then California while officials at the psychiatric hospital waited 10 hours to notify authorities, Gov. David Ige said Tuesday. Star-Advertiser.

They're dirty and they know it': Hawaii State Hospital worker speaks out about killer's escape. A Hawaii State Hospital employee is speaking out about the escape of a psychopathic killer from the facility, saying it underscores the need to "clean house."  Hawaii News Now.

One Senator’s Prescription For Making The State Hospital Safer. Officials say they’re already taking steps to make the facility more escape-proof by adding fences and suspending patient privileges. Star-Advertiser.

Another mental patient is on the run from state custody. Prior to the highly publicized Nov. 12 escape of Hawaii State Hospital patient Randall Saito, acquitted of murder by reason of insanity, another patient under Department of Health custody disappeared, and he remains on the run. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Has Fewer Certified Teachers This Year. Board of Education members want state officials to rethink how they plan to recruit and retain new teachers in the long run. Civil Beat.

HECO, University of Hawaii partner to develop new renewable energy tariff. Hawaiian Electric Cos. and the University of Hawaii have joined forces to create a renewable energy initiative that could help the university achieve its net-zero energy goal and bring more renewable energy resources online. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

Massive viaduct cleanup complete. It cost the state $516,000 to remove 180 homeless people, their belongings and trash from below the H-1 freeway viaduct last month in what Gov. David Ige described Tuesday as a “new approach” to addressing homeless encampments on state land. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii DOT

Crews wrap up Nimitz Viaduct clean-up, hauling out 4M pounds of trash. After nearly a month, the state says it's wrapped up a massive clean-up of entrenched homeless encampments under the Nimitz Viaduct. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige: Clean-up of homeless camp on Nimitz Hwy. complete. Gov. David Ige announced Tuesday that a clean-up of a massive homeless encampment under the Airport Viaduct on Nimitz Highway is complete. KITV.

State promises regular enforcement to keep homeless out of restricted areas. The state is touting significant progress in keeping the homeless out of public areas, saying the pieces are in place to enforce the law. KHON2.

Kahauiki Plantation-Style Village: Jobs First. Hawai’i’s first public-private rental housing project for homeless families should be completed in 2 months. Hawaii Public Radio.

Advocates in 'race' to keep pimps from preying on homeless teens. Youth outreach experts in Waikiki are battling the clock to reach homeless teenage girls before they fall into prostitution as a way to survive. Hawaii News Now.

20 arrested as police raid suspected game rooms in Punchbowl area. Honolulu police conducted a crack-down on illegal gambling operations in a Punchbowl neighborhood on Saturday, arresting at least 20 people for various warrants and gambling-related offenses. Hawaii News Now.

Former city worker gets jail and probation in sex assault. Fired city parks groundskeeper Harold Villanueva Jr. insisted at his sentencing in state court for misdemeanor sexual assault Tuesday that he did not grab the victim’s buttock. Star-Advertiser.

City asks governor to hold off on Airbnb tax deal. Mayor Kirk Caldwell said the city reached out to the governor, to ask that he not rush into any deal with Airbnb, to collect taxes until the city can come up with a possible enforcement fix. KITV.

Hughes Corp. sues over alleged deficiencies in Waiea tower. As the first residential tower in a proclaimed model 21st-century urban Honolulu community, the ultraluxury Waiea high-rise was supposed to be a showcase for Ward Village. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu solar permits declined 16% in October. In October, the city Department of Planning and Permitting issued 307 permits for solar electric systems, down from 367 in the same month last year, a drop of 16 percent. Star-Advertiser.

Three-bedroom homes on Oahu accounted for nearly half of all single-family home sales so far this year, and more than a third of those three-bedroom homes sold in 2017 were bid up over asking price, an increase of 8 percent from last year, according to a mid-month report by Locations. Pacific Business News.

Demand high for three-bedroom homes on Oahu. Hawaii's housing market remains hot especially for three-bedroom homes. KITV.

Ward Warehouse’s demolition yields a trove of materials for reuse. Storefront doors, restaurant kitchen sinks, light fixtures, railings and maybe even a worn trolley car from inside the former Old Spaghetti Factory are among items being salvaged by Re-Use Hawaii, a nonprofit that recycles construction materials. Star-Advertiser.

Shuttered Snappers seeks protection from creditors. A more than 25-year-old Waikiki sports bar that had been trying to deal with disruptive sewer and storm drain flooding along with a federal sexual harassment lawsuit has filed for bankruptcy after closing two weeks ago. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

New 3rd Circuit Court Judge Robert Kim sworn in; heavy caseload ahead. New 3rd Circuit Court Judge Robert D.S. Kim won’t spend his first day meeting co-workers, mingling and filling out HR paperwork — quite the opposite. West Hawaii Today.

Company to expand amphibious tours. Big Island Duck Adventures, a Kailua-Kona company, considers adding more tours on the windward side. Tribune-Herald.

Reporter to be honored for breaking story about former Mayor Billy Kenoi.  West Hawaii Today government reporter Nancy Cook Lauer is being honored for her work in breaking the story of former Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of a county-issued credit card, known as a pCard. Associated Press.

Maui

The Maui Police Department is conducting a citizen survey to evaluate the public’s attitudes and opinions pertaining to the level of law enforcement services currently provided. Maui Now.

Flood-ravaged Iao Valley to finally reopen Wednesday. Just more than a year after major flooding wreaked havoc on parts of the Iao Valley State Monument on Maui, state officials say the park is set to reopen on Wednesday – nearly a month ahead of schedule. Hawaii News Now.

Man accused of harassing interracial teen couple. Two teenagers testified they were “shaken” and “scared” when a stranger used a racial slur and yelled at them while they were waiting for food at a Pukalani restaurant earlier this year. Maui News.

Kauai

Sweeps show improvement in Kauai’s Kalalau Valley. During their latest sweep of Kauai’s Kalalau Valley, state conservation officers cited three campers without permits, dismantled a squatter camp and spotted a handful of illegal camps hidden in the forest. Star-Advertiser.

State’s consistent enforcement cleans up Kalalau. Fewer people are squatting in Kauai’s Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park than there were a few months ago. Garden Island.

Beach, trail cleanups set Saturday. Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter and B*RAD Foundation are hosting a cleanup at Donkey Beach, north of Kapaa. Garden Island.

Molokai

Over the next week the voyaging canoe Hokulea is in Molokai as part of its "Mahalo Hawaii" sail. KITV.

State reacts to killer's escape from mental institution, 7 employees on unpaid leave, hospital history examined; Honolulu rejects polystyrene ban; neighbor islands tackle homelessness, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii State Hospital courtesy photo

The California capture of an escaped killer from the Hawaii State Hospital resulted in seven hospital employees being suspended without pay on Wednesday as Gov. David Ige ordered an investigation of how Randall Saito was able to get the money and means to escape after 38 years in confinement. Star-Advertiser.

A dangerous psychiatric patient who escaped from the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe and flew to California before being captured Wednesday has prompted an investigation into why employees appeared to fail to do their jobs. Associated Press.

Saito

'Fault on our side': State officials take blame for killer's escape. Seven Hawaii State Hospital employees have been put on leave without pay — and others could follow — as authorities investigate why it took 10 hours for personnel to alert authorities of a psychopathic killer's escape Sunday. Hawaii News Now.

Gov. Ige on state hospital escapee: "His escape should never have happened" KITV.

Atty Gen: Saito’s Escape was “Premeditated, Intentional and Planned”. The escape of a mental health patient from the Hawaii State Hospital and the lengthy time it took to report the incident is being called “unacceptable,” according to comments made by state authorities this afternoon. Maui Now.

Hawaii State Hospital Wasn’t Built For The Type Of Patients It Serves. Some lawmakers want tighter security at the psychiatric hospital, where seven patients have escaped since 2014, until new facilities are built. Civil Beat.

More than a dozen escapes have occurred over the past eight years at a Hawaii psychiatric hospital where a patient described as dangerous walked off the grounds and made it to California before he was captured this week. Associated Press.

Kaneohe lawmakers: State hospital escape is unacceptable. They want answers, and they want improvements. KITV.

Saito captured, San Joaquin County Sheriffs Dept

Killer's escape shines spotlight on the controversial judge who acquitted him. The Circuit Court judge who deemed Randall Saito mentally unfit to stand trial and committed him to the State Hospital in 1981 was a controversial figure, and one of his decisions even prompted hundreds of people to protest at the state Capitol. Hawaii News Now.

What will happen to state hospital escapee when he returns to Hawaii? Once Hawaii State Hospital escapee Randall Saito is back in Hawaii, he won’t go directly back to the hospital. KHON2.

An alert taxi company employee on Wednesday helped deputy sheriffs in California nab a dangerous Hawaii murderer who had escaped by walking out of the Hawaii State Hospital Sunday — chartering a flight to Maui, and taking a commercial airliner to the mainland before ever being reported missing. Star-Advertiser.

Randall Saito's escape started in a cab and three days later, it ended in one too. A tip from the Yellow Cab Company in Stockton California led to Saito's arrest Wednesday morning near a local gas station. Sheriffs swarmed the cab the 59-year-old was riding in. KITV.

=====

There have been 90 traffic deaths in Hawaii this year through Monday — 10 fewer than reported at the same time last year, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Transportation. Star-Advertiser.

HMSA’s third-quarter profit drops; Kaiser posts loss. The gains of the state’s largest health insurer were down from $17.8 million in the year-earlier quarter. HMSA’s main competitor, Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, lost $300,000 in the quarter, reversing a year-earlier profit of $7.7 million. Star-Advertiser.

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii sponsored its 3rd Summit titled, “Still Houseless in Hawaii.” Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

A Honolulu City Council committee on Wednesday deferred a bill that would bar food vendors from using polystyrene foam food containers and require them to instead use compostable ones. Star-Advertiser.

Will Rail Go To Manoa and Waikiki After All? The HART board may be resurrecting a route plan far more ambitious than the one submitted to federal transit officials. Civil Beat.

Council Panel Votes To Prohibit Lying Down At Honolulu Bus Stops. But the committee postponed action on a measure to extend the sit-lie ban to areas around schools and libraries. Civil Beat.

New HPD Chief Shares Her Goals For A Department In Turmoil. Susan Ballard outlined what she wants to accomplish in the coming years in her first regular meeting with the Honolulu Police Commission. Civil Beat.

Starting fresh: Chief Ballard outlines plans to revitalize HPD. Chief Sue Ballard had her first chance to share her new ideas with police commissioners and the public Wednesday afternoon. Hawaii News Now.

Restoring community trust among new police chief’s goals for HPD. KHON2.

The state Senate voted Wednesday to confirm four judges to fill vacancies in Oahu’s circuit and district courts. Star-Advertiser.

Former band director indicted in sex assault. The sexual assault charges against fired Damien Memorial School band director Peter Rucci stem from a three-month relationship the 62-year-old Rucci had with a 15-year-old girl, Deputy Prosecutor Ayla Weiss told a state judge Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Parents claim students reprimanded for speaking up after bleach attack. KHON2.

Ward Warehouse demolition begins; luxury condos slated for site. Hawaii News Now.

The Hawaiian Humane Society has appointed Lisa Fowler as its new president and chief executive officer. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii Island

Scientist says chemicals create ‘zombie’ coral, add to reef decimation. Craig Downs, a Ph.D. and executive director of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory, gave a presentation on the topic Tuesday night at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Gateway Center at the request of Rep. Nicole Lowen, D — Kailua-Kona, Holualoa, Kalaoa and Honokohau. West Hawaii Today.

Hawaii Community College is looking to either renovate its current campus on Manono Street or move to a larger site elsewhere in Hilo. Tribune-Herald.

32 Die on Hawaii Island Roadways So Far This Year. Big Island Now.

Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel under renovation. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel will be renamed the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in February after Mauna Kea Resort LLC signed a franchise agreement with Westin Hotels and Resorts in August. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Housing First is making a dent in homelessness. Program’s aim is to get people off the streets first, then provide the needed social and medical services. Maui News.

Maui Seminar Explores How to Increase Exports. The State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism announced the launch of a program designed to help local small businesses increase their exports. Maui Now.

Kauai

The County of Kauai may establish a safe zone to help the homeless population. Garden Island.

Hawaiian Airlines held an open house Wednesday for former Island Air employees who lost their jobs after the airline’s recent shutdown. Garden Island.