Showing posts with label Hawaii State Hospital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaii State Hospital. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Dangerous mental patient already in California when Hawaii hospital officials raise escape alarm, seawater air conditioning coming to state buildings, ticket-fixing alleged in Honolulu prosecutor probe, City Council to take up foam food container ban, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

Henry Curtis Ililani Media
Hawaii state Capitol PC:Henry Curtis Ililani Media
State Capitol to get seawater air conditioning. The state Department of Accounting and General Services said Tuesday it has reached an agreement with Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC to air-condition eight state buildings, including the Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

The state of Hawaii on Tuesday said it reached a preliminary agreement with Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning to cool seven state office buildings and the state Capitol, a move that could save taxpayers more than $14 million a year. Pacific Business News.

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Hawaii State Hospital officials, citing patient privacy laws and a criminal investigation, offered no explanation Tuesday of how a killer in their care walked out of the Kaneohe facility and found his way to California even before the hospital reported him missing. Star-Advertiser.

Officials Still Silent About How Killer Escaped From Hawaii State Hospital. The AG’s office issued a $500,000 warrant for the arrest of Randall Saito, calling him a “dangerous individual” who needs to be off the street. Civil Beat.

Escapee had cell phone, change of clothes, paid in cash. Hawaii News Now.

Surveillance video shows escapee in taxi, dispatcher says ‘he sounded so nice’ KHON2.

All the way to San Jose. That is how far a Hawaii State Hospital patient, with a violent past, got before law enforcement was notified he escaped. KITV.

Documents: Hospital escapee had sexual relations with staff. Hawaii News Now.

Escapee married former hospital worker, allegedly threatened to ‘blow away the staff’ KHON2.

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Homeless safe zones are catching on — everywhere but Oahu. Hawaii News Now.

State and City leaders on Homelessness in Hawaii took part in a Housing Summit to discuss current homeless/housing issues and learn from others about different strategies used to combat the problem. KITV.

Oahu

City Council committee to discuss bill banning plastic foam containers Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A 31-year-old Niu Valley man says city Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha had his speeding ticket dismissed after he did some electrical work for her and her husband, former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha. Star-Advertiser.

The federal court has named the lawyers who will represent former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha against charges that they conspired to and obstructed justice, lied to investigators, and committed bank fraud and identity theft. Star-Advertiser.

Kealohas Get New Defense Attorneys In Federal Conspiracy Case. The couple could no longer afford to pay their long-time lawyers to defend them in one of the largest public corruption cases in Hawaii history. Civil Beat.

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Honolulu police officials Tuesday urged City Council members to provide funding for a permanent, departmentwide body-worn camera program. Star-Advertiser.

A Honolulu City Council committee decided Tuesday to defer a measure that would require the owners of approximately 150 Oahu residential high-rises to install automatic fire sprinklers throughout their buildings. Star-Advertiser.

New Council Proposal Cuts Back Fire Sprinkler Requirements. Only about half as many high rises built before 1975 would have to be retrofitted under an amended version of the measure. Civil Beat.

City May Get Tougher On Tour Vans In Waimanalo. A bill to establish permit fees for commercial stops at Waimanalo Bay Beach Park would help pay for monitoring compliance. Civil Beat.

The city is hiring someone to figure out what caused the lights to go out at a baseball field in Waipio. KHON2.

Hawaiian Electric Co. has struck a deal to buy renewable fuel at a lower price from a local company to produce power on Oahu. Star-Advertiser.

Earlier this year, 75 acres of East Honolulu land, in one of Hawaii’s wealthiest areas, sold for $380,000. The parcel is on the slope that stretches from the east side of Aina Haina up to the luxury homes of Hawaii Loa Ridge.  Star-Advertiser.

In unrelated cases, two Hawaii women have been charged after suspicion of welfare fraud. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu nonprofit Arc in Hawaii is suing its longtime bookkeeper, claiming she embezzled nearly $7 million. Star-Advertiser.

Cardax Inc.’s revenue soared last quarter as the nationwide launch of the company’s new anti-inflammatory product ZanthoSyn generated strong demand. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Island

The career ladder reaches only so far for Hawaii County firefighters, at least if they don’t want to take a pay cut. Concerns over a lack of interest from rank-and-file firefighters about rising to battalion chief have Fire Chief Darren Rosario and Acting Human Resources Director Bill Brilhante meeting with Mayor Harry Kim, asking for a classification study to determine whether the position should be moved up a few rungs. West Hawaii Today.

A discussion regarding Hawaii County Fire Department battalion chiefs’ pay grade was held on Tuesday during the Hawaii County Council Finance Committee meeting. Big Island Video News.

After circumnavigating the globe for three years, Hokulea’s historic Malama Honua voyage will officially come full circle in April when the double-hulled sailing canoe returns to Hawaii Island. Tribune-Herald.

A nonprofit from California is working to renovate youth baseball fields in Hilo this week with the help of some professionals: three Major League Baseball players. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui Planning Commission approved amendments Tuesday to a special management area use permit to allow ATC Makena Holdings to demolish the old Makena Beach & Golf Resort hotel and no longer pursue a separate 76-unit boutique hotel at the nearly 24-acre site. Maui News.

An affordable hotel in Kahului being modeled after the popular local Pagoda Hotel on Oahu is still in the works, although it will take a little longer to build. Maui News.

A Maui County Council committee has recommended that sunscreens containing certain chemicals be banned in the county. Associated Press.

A 10-year prison term was ordered Tuesday for a former jail guard convicted of sexually assaulting an inmate while he was working at the Maui Community Correctional Center three years ago. Maui News.

The Maui Police Department will conduct emergency preparedness exercises at two Kahului locations this week. Maui Now.

Voyaging canoe Hokulea sets sail for a return visit to county. Kick-off event is a ‘talk story’ Friday. Maui News.

Kauai

Dairy farm violated Clean Water Act, told to pay up. A federal court ordered Hawaii Dairy Farms to pay $506,000 to The Friends of Mahaulepu, an environmental watchdog organization. Hawaii News Now.

Hotel working with county. In August, the county Planning Department issued violations to Hanalei Bay Resort for illegal dwellings and insufficient parking. Garden Island.

The Kauai Community Alliance, Continuum of Care for homeless services, and the County of Kauai will host “Hope in the Park: Information and Free Lunch,” starting at 11 a.m. today on the lawn of the Historic County Building in observance of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Garden Island.

Resource Recovery Solutions, the operator of Puhi Metals Recycling Center, accepts e-waste at no cost to residents and businesses. Garden Island.

Molokai

Two women have been charged with embezzling more than $1 million from a Molokai federal credit union. Pacific Business News.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Hawaii Rep. Tsuji dies of heart attack, Honolulu taxpayers to foot police chief's $150k legal bill, education administrators to get raises, school tax scuttled along rail line, windows to be barred at state mental hospital, tainted seaweed sold on Mainland and Tokyo, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2016 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Rep. Clift Tsuji © 2016 All Hawaii News
State Rep. Clift Tsuji, a former disc jockey, banker and Big Island state lawmaker known for his warm personality and his deep, booming radio voice, died suddenly Tuesday at the Queen’s Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was 75. Star-Advertiser.

State Rep. Clift Tsuji died Tuesday at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, the House of Representatives said in a statement. He was 75. Tsuji’s son, Ryan Kalei Tsuji, said his father suffered a heart attack on Saturday, and died during heart surgery. Tribune-Herald.

Tsuji, Ige
Governor’s statement on the passing of Rep. Clift Tsuji.

Clift Tsuji, the longtime state representative for Hilo, passed away at the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu today. He was 75. Big Island Video News.

State Rep. Clift Tsuji died Tuesday at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. The Big Island lawmaker was 75. Civil Beat.

Big Island State Representative Clift Tsuji has died, according to family members. He was 75. KITV.
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Maui County state Rep. Joe Souki has retained his post as speaker of the House for the 2017 legislative session that gets under way in January, according to a news release from the House on Monday. Maui News.

The Board of Education approved merit-based raises averaging 3.5 percent Tuesday for nearly two dozen senior Department of Education executives. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii Failed To Take Steps Meant To Prevent Day Care Deaths. State officials promised lawmakers they’d draft new rules to protect infants, but more than three years later nothing’s changed. Civil Beat.

State looks to install bars over windows at Hawaii State Hospital. KHON2.

Ed Case, a former congressman who is the senior vice president and chief legal officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group, has joined the board of directors of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Pacific Business News.

James Takushi, who headed the state’s personnel and human resources departments under three Hawaii governors and was a one-time key lieutenant for Democratic Party of Hawaii , died Monday at his Alewa home, his family said in a release. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

A Honolulu City Council committee gave preliminary approval Tuesday for up to $150,000 to hire three sets of outside attorneys to represent Police Chief Louis Kea­loha in four cases against him and the Honolulu Police Department. Star-Advertiser.

City attorneys asked a federal judge Tuesday to reject a request for a deposition of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha in a lawsuit over the police killing of Sheldon Haleck, a military veteran who died in front of Iolani Palace last year. Civil Beat.

Responding to what was described as overwhelming community responses, the Honolulu Police Department said Tuesday that it has added more offenses, including violent ones, to its online crime mapping site. Star-Advertiser.

The Honolulu Police Department announced today that its Crime Mapping Website is fully operational, including data on violent crimes. Hawaii Public Radio.

Of the 16,000 arrests made on Oahu last year, 61 percent involved people who were severely mentally ill or abusing drugs, according to the Honolulu Police Department. Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu ranks among the worst in the nation when it comes to dealing with the homeless, that's according to a new national report. KITV.

Citing concerns about hindering affordable-housing developments, a Board of Education committee Tuesday tabled a proposal that called for charging builders of new homes more than $9,000 per unit to help pay for new schools in urban Honolulu. Star-Advertiser.

Kahuku sea asparagus and ogo that may be tainted with salmonella went to retailers and farmers’ markets across Hawaii as well as customers as far as Washington state and Tokyo. Star-Advertiser.

There will be more time to comment on a California wind-energy developer’s proposed $90 million-plus wind farm on Oahu’s North Shore. Pacific Business News.

Hawaii

More than two years after the County Council approved a public access trail as a condition of allowing development of a luxury subdivision, council members learned Tuesday the deal is not yet finalized. West Hawaii Today.

The state Land Board is urging the state Supreme Court to quickly dismiss an appeal by opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope. Associated Press.

Faith-based groups rally for West Hawaii summit to fight homelessness. West Hawaii Today.

Enrollment at Hawaii Community College - Palamanui has grown significantly after one full school year on the new campus. West Hawaii Today.

Maui

Gov. David Ige signed an extension to the emergency proclamation originally signed on Sept. 16, to provide relief for disaster damages, losses and suffering following September’s heavy rains and flooding on Maui. Maui Watch.

There’s new movement on plans to restore the Old Maui High School. Hawaii Public Radio.

New program seeks to bring CPR training to county’s high schools. Maui News.

Kauai

An update on the auction and relocation of the police substation at Kapaa Beach Park will be discussed during the Kauai County Council meeting today. Garden Island.

Michael Fleiss, creator of the hit ABC television series “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette,” is the buyer of Julia Roberts’ Hawaii oceanfront estate, Pacific Business News has learned.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Hawaii State Hospital revamp planned, no ho‘oponopono for Mauna Kea protesters, Thirty Meter Telescope fight costs University of Hawaii, Maui candidate files campaign spending complaint Pacific Resource Partnership, ACLU loses bid for restraining order against homeless sweeps, weather brings pumpkin shortage, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

photo courtesy asylumprojects.org
Hawaii State Hospital, courtesy asylumprojects.org
The Hawaii Department of Health is planning to overhaul the state’s psychiatric hospital in Kaneohe — more than doubling the number of beds and installing tighter security — in light of hundreds of reported assaults by patients against staff in recent years and a sharp increase in the number of people being committed to the facility. Star-Advertiser.

The Hawaii State Hospital would more than double its capacity while improving employee safety under an updated master plan unveiled Tuesday, health officials said. Civil Beat.

The state Department of Health is unveiling an updated plan for the Hawai‘i State Hospital, that would more than double the amount of available beds for patients. Hawaii Public Radio.

Six years after President Obama launched the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the commission created to support the initiative is making its first official visit to Hawaii. Civil Beat.

The State of Hawai‘i has ranked fourth in Kiplinger’s list of the country’s least tax-friendly states, topped only by California, Connecticut and New Jersey. Maui Now.

A public charter school’s academic and financial performance for the first time will determine whether its contract with the state should be renewed when the first round of performance-based contracts expire in 2017 — a move that has some schools anxious. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii lawyers must not provide legal services to clients seeking a license to run the state’s first medical marijuana businesses, according to a new formal opinion released by the Disciplinary Board of the Hawaii Supreme Court. Pacific Business News.

Oahu

A federal judge on Tuesday denied the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawai‘i’s request to stop the city from using its sidewalk enforcement laws to remove the homeless from Honolulu streets. Star-Advertiser.

A federal court has denied a request for a temporary restraining order to halt city sweeps of homeless encampments in Honolulu. U.S. District Court Judge Helen Gillmor ruled Tuesday that the court lacked “sufficient information” to determine whether the continued enforcement of the stored property and sidewalk nuisance ordinances would cause “irreparable harm.” Civil Beat.

The civil rights battle for those who live on the streets hit a major speed bump on Tuesday. A federal judge denied a Temporary Restraining Order that would have prevented the City from removing personal belongings from public sidewalks. KITV4.

A federal judge has denied the American Civil Liberties Union's request to immediately stop Honolulu officials from clearing homeless encampments. Star-Advertiser.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation plans to recommend on Friday that the state terminate its lease with Honey Bee USA Inc., the developer of the planned Waikiki Landing at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, for nonpayment of more than $425,000 in back rent and for failing to pay the nearly $1 million performance bond and keep the lease free of encumbrances and liens. Star-Advertiser.

Sidewalk cafes are rare in Honolulu, despite the city’s famously good weather. That’s because a city ordinance doesn’t allow them anywhere except in Waikiki. Kakaako, a state redevelopment district, is also exempt from the ban that’s in place by default because the city defines sidewalks as places for walking, not dining. Civil Beat.

Honolulu architecture firm Ferraro Choi and Associates Ltd. has been tapped to design a part of the 5.5-acre “Kakaako Makai Innovation Block,” a partnership between the Hawaii Community Development Authority and the High Technology Development Corp. Pacific Business News.

O’ahu’s over-budget rail transit project is completing mile 5 of its elevated guideway and making its way through the heart of Waipahu.  Officials announced the resolution of a major issue that impacted a number of businesses there. Hawaii Public Radio.

Tanioka’s Seafoods & Catering and about 20 other Waipahu businesses along the rail line will get a partial reprieve from construction now that the left-turn lane into their shopping complex is back, surprisingly. Star-Advertiser.

Aloun Farms has reported a pumpkin shortage due to recent storms and frequent heavy rain. Production has dropped nearly 50 percent. KHON2.

Hawaii

It’s back to court for 10 Thirty Meter Telescope opponents arrested on Mauna Kea after state officials declined to participate in a Hawaiian mediation process known as ho‘oponopono. Tribune-Herald.

The financial impact from legal and other challenges to the Thirty-Meter Telescope at Mauna Kea and the Dan K. Inouye Solar Telescope at Haleakala is beginning to be felt on the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. The UH has already spent $2.2 million in attorney fees defending the construction of the telescopes. Hawaii News Now.

Residents now have a better idea of the cost of protecting water quality and ensuring healthy reefs at Puako Bay. The cost to build private aerobic wastewater processing systems would run about $6 million for Puako residents, and a sewage plant would be $9 million, according to an engineer’s study completed last month. West Hawaii Today.

Leaky pipes can cost big bucks, not only for residents who don’t catch them in time, but also for the Water Department, which generally picks up half the cost of overages, provided the resident fixes the leak. Property owners are allowed one such forgiveness every three years. West Hawaii Today.

The final environmental assessment (EA) for a proposed development mauka of Kahalu’u Beach Park has been published with a Finding of No Significant Impact. Big Island Video News.

Vehicles will be banned from Hilo’s Bayfront Beach beginning Friday. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Maui County Councilwoman Elle Cochran filed a state Campaign Spending Commission complaint Tuesday against the political action group Pacific Resource Partnership/Forward Progress, alleging that it plotted illegally with a political opponent to unseat her. Star-Advertiser.

An eight-bed special treatment facility for alcohol- and drug-dependent men in a Kihei neighborhood moved closer to reality after receiving a key approval from the state Health Department last week. Maui News.

Maui County's population has grown 5.3 percent in the last five years, pacing ahead of other counties in the state, according to newly released 2014 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Maui News.

Haleakala National Park’s Headquarters Visitor Center, near the park’s entrance, closed down Sunday afternoon for roof repairs that began Monday. The center will be closed until late November. Maui News.

Kauai
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will start a pilot program that offers discounted rates to a group of residential customers to encourage them to shift their energy use to the daylight hours to take advantage of the utility’s robust solar resources, the nonprofit co-op said Tuesday. Pacific Business News.

The number of falling endangered seabirds has slowed. A Save Our Shearwaters organizer said only two birds have fallen at Kokee Air Force station since early last week — a big drop off from the 126 reported felled from mid-August to mid-September. Garden Island.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Ige widens lead in new poll, federal judge to hear Big Island GMO complaint today, Hawaii not ready for Ebola, commission undecided on PAC spending complaints, Senate panel advances judge nominees, Steven Tyler Maui nightclub plan falters, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Ige © 2014 All Hawaii News
State Sen. David Ige has the advantage in the campaign for governor, a new Hawaii Poll shows, scoring well with Japanese-Americans, seniors and union families who are among the most likely to vote in November. Ige, the Democrat, leads former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the Republican, 47 percent to 35 percent. Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the independent, is at 12 percent, while Jeff Davis, the Libertarian, is at 1 percent. Six percent remain undecided. Star-Advertiser.

Early voting has begun and the general election is just under two weeks away. Who will win the big races in Hawaii — for governor, the U.S. Senate, the 1st Congressional District and the 2nd Congressional District, according to the national experts? In short, Democrat David Ige has the edge over Republican Duke Aiona for governor, as does Democrat Mark Takai over Republican Charles Djou in the CD1 contest. Democrats Brian Schatz and Tulsi Gabbard, meanwhile, need not fear Republicans Cam Cavasso and Kawika Crowley in their Senate and CD2 races, respectively. Civil Beat.

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Aiona © 2014 All Hawaii News
Fresh poll numbers for Hawaii’s top political races (sans the federal offices) are expected any day now, but by another metric there is already a clear frontrunner: David Ige, the Democratic Party nominee for governor, has held 15 campaign fundraisers since the Aug. 9 primary. Civil Beat.

Gubernatorial candidates James "Duke" Aiona and David Ige were treated like celebrities — cheered on by scores of screaming fans decked out in red, white and blue, toting hand-painted posters — at a student pep rally Wednesday at Maryknoll School. Star-Advertiser.

The state Campaign Spending Commission decided Wednesday to defer until November a complaint that former Hawaii Gov. Ben Cayetano filed against the super PAC that crushed his bid for mayor in 2012. Pacific Resource Partnership, a political action committee funded by contractors and unionized carpenters, spent over $3 million on a coordinated attack to keep Cayetano out of office after he pledged to end Honolulu’s $5.2 billion rail project if elected. Civil Beat.

The state Campaign Spending Commission on Nov. 19 will vote again on whether two complaints against the Pacific Resource Partnership Political Action Committee should be reviewed by state attorneys for criminal prosecution. The commission voted 2-1 Wednesday, failing to muster three votes to make a decision on whether to refer for review the two complaints — one by former Gov. Ben Cayetano and the other by commission Executive Director Kristin Izumi-Nitao. Star-Advertiser.

Officials said Wednesday Hawaii health care workers need more training to be sufficiently prepared to handle an Ebola virus outbreak. Star-Advertiser.

A Senate investigative committee is calling for major reforms to the Hawaii State Hospital in an effort to curb violence and restore trust in a mental health system that has been mismanaged for many years. On Wednesday, the committee, which is co-chaired by Hawaii Sens. Clayton Hee and Josh Green, issued its final report after holding nearly a dozen hearings in which top officials from the hospital and state Department of Health were subpoenaed to testify under oath. The report’s recommendations are wide-ranging and include everything from building a new state hospital — something that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars — to sending the most troublesome, violent patients to an out-of-state facility to receive treatment. Civil Beat.

A special State Senate committee convened to investigate problems at the Hawaii State Hospital Wednesday released a lengthy report about its findings and recommendations to improve the troubled facility. The 88-page report calls the state's only mental hospital outdated and overcrowded. It also said the facility suffers from bad management, a lack of training and chronic overtime and sick leave abuse, leading to assaults by mental patients against the staff. Hawaii News Now.

Scientists have found evidence of a massive tsunami that slammed into Hawaii nearly 500 years ago. That’s according to a new study released this week, that’s prompting state officials to re-examine their tsunami evacuation plans. Hawaii Public Radio.

Oahu

The contractor hired to dispose of seized commercial-grade fireworks in Honolulu says it will find another site for the job after residents of Nanakuli objected to blowing them up in their community. Michael De Sousa of URS Federal Services Inc. says the company will honor the state Department of Health's request to find another site. Associated Press.

A government contractor will find another site to dispose of 39 pallets of commercial-grade fireworks from a Waikele storage bunker after Nanakuli residents voiced strong opposition to setting them off on a property in their rural neighborhood. Star-Advertiser.

The city has been stockpiling hundreds of pounds of trash collected by street sweepers right in Kapiolani Park. The debris piles, located near the Waikiki Shell next to a city no dumping sign, includes asphalt, oil, gravel and plain old trash that's exposed to the elements. Hawaii News Now.

An accident that left an Ewa Beach man dead has now become even more tragic for the loved ones left behind because of a mistake by the Honolulu City Prosecutor’s office. KHON2.

Matson Terminals Inc., the company responsible for spilling 220,000 gallons of molasses into Honolulu Harbor in September 2013, has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor violations of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, court records show. Hawaii Reporter.

Hawaii

A federal magistrate judge will be hearing arguments a lawsuit seeking to invalidate Hawaii County’s law restricting the use of genetically modified crops. Big Island agriculture groups and farmers filed a lawsuit in federal court in June seeking to overturn the law, which went into effect in December. Thursday’s hearing will be on the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment, which argues that the law is invalid on the grounds that it’s pre-empted by federal and state law. Associated Press.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee gave its unanimous approval Wednesday to the confirmation of Margaret Masunaga as a district judge in Kona, despite a negative rating by the Hawaii State Bar Association. West Hawaii Today.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is in Pahoa offering low-interest loans to victims of Tropical Storm Iselle. Loans are available to homeowners, renters, nonprofit organizations and businesses in Hawaii County that received damage related to the storm from Aug. 7-9. Tribune-Herald.

Big Island hunters will have more opportunities to bag feral pigs, goats and sheep under a package of changes to hunting rules set to go before the state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday. West Hawaii Today.

Some Ocean View residents aren’t waiting around for a new county garbage disposal facility. Instead, large quantities of trash are being dumped along the access road to the future site of the transfer station. West Hawaii Today.

A narrow finger of lava  along the southern edge of the main flow has now become the leading edge of the flow and advanced about 100 yards since Tuesday, Hawaii County Civil Defense officials said after an overflight Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Maui
The Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission on Wednesday dismissed two complaints filed by a Paia political activist, one against a nonprofit industry trust fund and the other against a related super Political Action Committee, which have poured thousands of dollars in at least the Maui County Council West Maui residency race. Maui News.

State and county officials Wednesday closed down beaches from the Old Suda Store to Kalama Park in South Maui after a shark encounter — the third since Saturday on the Valley Isle. Star-Advertiser.

A plan to develop a new restaurant and nightclub in Hawaii involving Aerosmith frontman and part-time Maui resident Steven Tyler has likely been shelved, one of the operating partners told Pacific Business News.

The non-profit Lokahi Pacific community development corporation broke ground on a new affordable housing complex in Happy Valley on Maui. Maui News.

Veteran candidates vie for East Maui council seat. Maui News.

Kauai

Kauai County Councilman Tim Bynum says Kapaa New Town Park is a place that has not necessarily lived up to its name. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council plans to rename the Kapaa New Town Park Facility the Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Complex. Associated Press.

Benches built to accommodate visitors to Kauai Veterans Cemetery were stolen just weeks after they were installed. Garden Island.

A former Department of Land and Natural Resources official pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Kauai Circuit Court to 30 counts of sex assault — a majority of which are alleged to have occurred when the female victim was a minor. Star-Advertiser.

Molokai

A single initiative on the November election ballot has the Molokai community in such a heated debate that “vote yes” and “vote no” only refer to one thing: whether or not the cultivation of all genetically engineered crops in Maui County should stop while studies are done examining effects on human health and the environment. Molokai Dispatch.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Hawaii state psychiatric hospital in the cross-hairs, military cuts feared, US-Japan military ties, Honolulu Handi-Vans, EMS under fire, beleaguered super PAC training Big Island candidates, dairy wants lower milk prices, Kauai resort fights dairy farm, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

courtesy watchdog.org
Hawaii State Hospital, photo courtesy watchdog.org
The Hawaii Senate's special investigative committee on the Hawaii State Hospital has subpoenaed adult mental health division Administrator Mark Fridovich, acting Hawaii State Hospital Administrator William Elliot, and Linda Rosen, director of the Hawaii State Department of Health, to testify at a hearing in Honolulu on Friday. Pacific Business News.

Three state hospital administrators will testify before a state Senate investigative committee Wednesday in connection with allegations of workplace hazards and administrative misconduct. Star-Advertiser.

From charges of overcrowding, assaults by patients on staff, to being an outdated facility, the Hawaii State Hospital has been under the microscope lately. A legislative committee went on a tour of the hospital recently and found it lacking in several areas. KHON2.

Hawaii’s state-run psychiatric hospital has a new chief, whose job is to operate a facility that has come under intense scrutiny for mismanagement and safety concerns. Civil Beat.

Addressing staff shortages and safety are among the top priorities for the new administrator of the Hawaii State Hospital, the state's predominant mental institution. Star-Advertiser.

On Tuesday evening, Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, will face off in a live debate on KHON2. The debate will begin at 7 p.m. and live-streamed on KHON2.com.

Former U.S. Rep. Charles Djou, bidding to return to the job he held for seven months in 2010, announced Monday his GOP campaign has raised $435,000 since launching his campaign in early April. Star-Advertiser.

It's a crowded race to fill Hawaii's first congressional district seat. Stanley Chang is trying to reach every voter in the first congressional district with a personal pitch that helped him win his city council seat on back in 2010. KITV4.

U.S.-Japan naval cooperation is deepening, top U.S. and Japanese admirals said Monday as they met on the sidelines of the world’s largest maritime exercises. Associated Press.

Department of Defense spending, the 2nd largest source of revenue for the state behind tourism, is facing potential budgetary cuts which could hurt Hawai’i’s economy. Hawaii Public Radio.

State Rep. Rida Cabanilla wants Gov. Neil Abercrombie to reconsider an idea that his administration has already shot down. In a news release Monday, Cabanilla urged the governor to release $100,000 that the Legislature approved in 2013 for a three-year “Return to Home” pilot program. The initiative provides money for one-way tickets so eligible homeless individuals from the mainland can return to their families. Civil Beat.

Political candidates will be changing the way they report their expenses online to make it easier to track how they’re spending their election dollars. The state Campaign Spending Commission has instituted rules requiring candidates to file each expenditure under one of eight categories. Associated Press.

Oahu

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam will lose 238 positions in a move announced Monday by the Air Force to cut costs and eliminate nearly 3,500 positions worldwide over the next five years. Star-Advertiser.

Fires that destroyed two city Handi-Vans used to transport the disabled were caused by the excessive age of the vehicles, according to the city’s top transportation official. Civil Beat.

The accident at Ala Moana Center on Saturday is prompting calls for the city to fix the chronic staffing shortages at the Emergency Medical Services department. Hawaii News Now.

A veteran registered nurse in need of back surgery said Honolulu paramedics did not follow common sense for her injuries when they allegedly sat her upright in her husband's truck and had him drive to the hospital on his own. Star-Advertiser.

The state Health Department has launched the Choose Healthy Now initiative at eight snack shops on Oahu. Food and beverages have been flagged with green, yellow and red stickers to help customers identify healthier items, while printed materials explain the system and benefits of healthful eating. Star-Advertiser.

Hundreds of concerned Oahu residents filled the seats of Mililani-Mauka Elementary School cafeteria Monday evening to brainstorm a plan of eradicating the little fire ant, a tiny species creating a big problem. Hawaii News Now.

State roundup for July 15. Associated Press.

Hawaii

A Honolulu political action committee under investigation for questionable campaign practices has spent thousands this year training six Hawaii County Council candidates how to campaign. West Hawaii Today.

The state’s largest milk producer is seeking the state’s permission to sell its milk at a price lower than the law currently allows. A public hearing on that request is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the state Department of Agriculture’s Waimea Irrigation System Branch conference room at 66-1220B Lalamilo Farm Lots Road. Tribune-Herald.

Next month, Hawaii Island’s 1,400 restaurants and other establishments serving food will begin being issued new food safety inspection placards, making it easier for customers to decide where they want to eat. Tribune-Herald.

A public hearing to gather input on the planned merger of Time Warner Cable and Comcast Corp. yielded one comment Monday. West Hawaii Today.

Maui
Kahului state Rep. Justin Woodson is financing his campaign mostly from money donated by political action committees and labor unions while opponent and former Maui County Mayor James "Kimo" Apana and members of his family are paying for most of his campaign expenses, state Campaign Spending Commission reports show. Maui News.

Maui County has agreed to a settlement with the state Health Department totaling $140,000 for violations at the Central Maui and the Molokai landfills in 2011, the Health Department said. Maui News.

Kauai

A neighboring resort filed suit to stop a proposed dairy farm. Garden Island.

Victoria “Vickie” Franks said she has wanted to be involved in government since she was a girl. Garden Island.

Molokai

After years of effort, UH Maui College, Molokai (UHMCM) has completed its Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) 2013, which was approved and received in June 2014.  The purpose of the LRDP is to guide the development of the Molokai Education Center to the year 2027, beginning with the transition from the existing two-acre campus and expanding to a five-acre campus utilizing the land to the west along the main road to Duke Maliu Regional Park. Molokai Dispatch.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Don't touch the turtles, VA clinic, state mental hospital in disarray, Kauai anti-GMO pesticide charter petition rejected, pay hikes for mayor, council, Maui mayoral candidates opposed, high defaults at community colleges, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

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Hawaii green sea turtle © 2014 All Hawaii News

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources is reminding the public to respect Hawaii’s sea turtles by viewing these protected animals responsibly. Associated Press.

Chinese ships steamed Tuesday toward waters near Hawaii to participate for the first time in the world’s largest naval exercises hosted by Washington — a rare opportunity to build trust with the U.S. and regional rivals, including the Philippines and Japan. Associated Press.

With most eyes on the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, the two Republican candidates vying for their party's nomination have much work ahead of them as they try to gain name recognition and get their messages out to voters in a historically blue state. The contest pits Warner "Kimo" Sutton, a Honolulu renewable energy entrepreneur, against Elwin Ahu, a former Honolulu District Court judge and senior pastor with New Hope Metro. Star-Advertiser.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, which has endorsed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz over U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, has sent a mailer to Hawaii residents that implies Hana­busa might privatize the entitlement programs. Star-Advertiser.

Former University of Hawaii President M.R.C. Greenwood will not be returning this fall as a tenured professor with a six-figure salary, and instead says she will retire at the end of the month, marking the end of a five-year career at the university. Star-Advertiser.

In a state that’s less prone than most to student loan payback problems, some of Hawaii’s two-year colleges are showing alarmingly high rates of default. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Department of Energy is spending $500,000 on a project to boost electric grid reliability in Hawaii. Associated Press.

State administration officials are planning to develop strategies to cope with the impact of climate change and rising sea levels in the Hawaiian Islands. Star-Advertiser.

If coming up with the money to pay public employee pensions gives Hawaii state and local governments fiscal indigestion, providing additional benefits such as health, life, dental and even chiropractic care to retirees is causing a multi-billion-dollar budgetary migraine. Civil Beat.

Oahu

Veterans Affairs officials told representatives of Hawaii's congressional delegation that military veterans only had to wait 30 days to see a primary care physician for the first time — just before a scathing audit revealed that new patients in Honolulu actually had the worst wait times in the entire system, 145 days. Star-Advertiser.

Veterans seeking care at the VA Medical Center here in Hawaii wait an average of 145 days. Maybe more striking, some 64,000 veterans enrolled in the system for at least 10 years have yet to see a doctor, says a Department of Veterans Affairs audit released Monday. Hawaii Reporter.

The Honolulu City Council is committing $32 million in bond money to house the homeless — on top of the nearly $24 million that Mayor Kirk Caldwell had earlier proposed for his Housing First initiative. Star-Advertiser.

Mayor and Council Chair disagree on grant money. Hawaii News Now.

A class-action lawsuit is being drawn up on behalf of injured psychiatric workers at the State Hospital in Kane­ohe amid allegations of nepotism and numerous assaults against employees, state Sen. Clayton Hee said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

A class-action lawsuit representing hundreds of State Hospital employees will be filed in the next several weeks, as the acting head of the troubled hospital announced he plans to retire after two decades there. Hawaii News Now.

State Sen. Clayton Hee’s inquiry into conditions at the Hawaii State Hospital took him to Kaneohe on Wednesday where he toured the mental health facility with top administrators, including Department of Health Director Linda Rosen. Civil Beat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined Hawai‘i Gas $155,000 for violations of risk management plan regulations and chemical release reporting involving its Kapolei facility. The fine represents a settlement between the EPA and the company. Star-Advertiser.

The Oahu Burial Council is calling for closer scrutiny of the controversial redevelopment of the old Honolulu Advertiser building in Kakaako.Hawaii News Now.

Dole Plantation, one of Hawaii’s most-visited attractions with more than 1 million visitors each year, has gone solar to help it reduce its energy costs by 30 percent, a spokeswoman for the Oahu pineapple plantation told Pacific Business News.

Kelli Keawe, an office assistant with the Dept. of Public Safety, said for 10 years she was banned from all but one restroom in the building, because she is physically a man but identifies as a woman. The state now lets her in the women’s room and a federal anti-discrimination agency is also stepping in. KHON2.

Hawaii

Mayor Billy Kenoi will get a $22,848 raise next month, and top county managers and County Council members will also see pay hikes, under a plan advanced Tuesday by the county Salary Commission. West Hawaii Today.

On Friday the Board of Land and Natural Resources will address the proposed Mauna Kea sublease between the University of Hawaii and the Thirty Meter Telescope  LLC. Of particular importance is the sublease rent amounts UH is proposing to collect from the TMT LLC. Hawaii Independent.

Kona airport fire station dedicated. West Hawaii Today.

Honomu residents were given an early morning wake up call Wednesday when a tsunami warning siren activated on its own. Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said the siren began malfunctioning at or shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Developers of the long-awaited West Maui Hospital and Medical Center expect to begin construction in the next 13 to 14 months, but residents and local medical officials wonder where the new hospital will find the physicians and the money to pay them. Maui News.

The developer of the planned Maui Medical Plaza next to the Kanaha Pond Wildlife Sanctuary has avoided Maui County's threat of foreclosure on the project's 2.5 acres adjacent to Hana Highway. Maui News.

The Maui County Clerk's Office received letters Tuesday objecting to two mayoral candidates - Neldon Mamuad and Nelson Waikiki Jr. Maui News.

The Maui County Council's Budget and Finance Committee is making changes to the circuit breaker tax credit program and may extend the credit application deadline to Sept. 15 for this upcoming tax year to allow for more to qualify under the committee's proposed changes. Maui News.

Kauai

If those behind a charter amendment aimed at regulating the island’s agrochemical industry want it to appear on the ballot in November, they will have to start over. That means recollecting 2,037 voter signatures, this time by July 2. Kauai County Clerk Ricky Watanabe rejected Kauai Rising’s petition, citing technical errors because the group failed to follow the proper format. Garden Island.

Large agriculture companies and landowners are opposing a bill that would establish “agronomics” as a new and separate real property tax class and exclude lands used primarily for crop research or parent seed production from the county’s definition of “agricultural use.” Garden Island.

There may be a new selection process for an outgoing County Council member the next time around. The Kauai County Council approved a resolution on Tuesday that would let county voters decide whether the process to fill a vacancy on the seven-member board should be changed. Garden Island.

The Kauai County Council struck down a pair of charter amendment proposals on Tuesday that would have let county voters weigh in on the seven-member board’s fee-setting authority at the Wailua Golf Course and eligibility requirements for county Cost Control Commission members. Garden Island.

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Hawaii tourism, jobs, economy perking, powerless principals peeved, lawmakers fret over hemp seed supply, state rep charged with campaign spending violations, Hawaii County deputy clerk in hot seat over her campaign, state mental hospital in the cross-hairs, Kauai council hikes fees in budget, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Hawaii hotel pool party © 2014 All Hawaii News
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism projects stable economic growth in 2014 and beyond. Civil Beat.

Despite a sharp drop-off in room rate growth in March, Hawaii's hotel market hit a first-quarter hotel revenue record of $1.44 billion and ended its first three months with the nation's highest room rates and revenue per available room, and the second best occupancy after Miami/Hialeah, Fla. Star-Advertiser.

The tightening of Hawaii's job market was clearly evident Wednesday at the state's largest job fair. Employer turnout for the WorkForce job fair at the Neal Blaisdell Center was the strongest in more than five years, and several companies' representatives said they were recruiting at the event for the first time because they are having a difficult time finding qualified workers. Star-Advertiser.

Some 3,300 job seekers met up with 187 Hawaii employers Wednesday during the WorkForce 2014 job fair at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. Pacific Business News.

A Hawaii lawmaker hopes U.S. Customs won't stop the shipment of hemp seeds from China that will launch a research project in Hawaii after a hold was put on seeds headed to Kentucky this week. Star-Advertiser.

Officials with the state Campaign Spending Commission charge that state Rep. Romy Cachola misused his campaign funds for an SUV, as well as questionable public relations efforts and meals, and want him to pay reimbursements and fines totaling nearly $70,000. Star-Advertiser.

The state launched a $95 million online eligibility system late last year to streamline the Medicaid process. But state Department of Human Services eligibility workers, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said the system is not working properly and cannot verify income to determine whether people actually qualify for the program. Star-Advertiser.

An overwhelming majority of Hawaii public school principals who responded to an independent survey about their working conditions say they lack the needed support and autonomy to act in the best interests of their schools, but hesitate to speak out for fear of retaliation. Star-Advertiser.

Thousands of rock climbers, para gliders, bikers and other aficionados of extreme sports are feeling a little let down after the latest legislative session. A group of outdoor enthusiasts urged Hawaii lawmakers to strengthen a law that limits the state’s liability for accidents on public land. Civil Beat.

The vetting of allegations of misconduct at the Hawaii State Hospital by the state Senate Special Investigative Committee continued on Wednesday with the questioning of a nursing office clerk whose job is to fill vacancies when staff call in sick and two psychiatric technicians who have been assaulted by patients. Star-Advertiser.

The Senate Committee conducting a special investigation of the Hawai’i State Hospital questioned employees about over-time practices today. Hawaii Public Radio.

Elwin Ahu, senior pastor at New Hope Metro church, today announced his candidacy for Hawaii lieutenant governor. Ahu will run in the Republican primary. If he wins, he will likely be on a ticket headed by former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona. Civil Beat.

Leading up to the November election, hundreds of Hawaii Republicans from around the state will gather on Saturday, May 17 to vote on the Party’s platform, listen to Legislative updates from incumbents, and rally with candidates. The “Back to Basics” themed convention, held at the Ko’olau Ballrooms and Conference Center in Kaneohe, is the Hawaii Republican Party’s first major event since former Congresswoman Pat Saiki assumed the Chairmanship in March. Hawaii Reporter.

VIDEO: Controversy Follows UH President Candidate Wiercinski. Big Island Video News.

Dan Inouye and Patsy Mink are two of modern Hawaii's greatest political leaders. To honor their memory, last year the Hawaii Legislature passed a bill calling for the commissioning of works of art of the late U.S. senator and late U.S. representative "to use their examples to inspire current and future generations." Civil Beat.

Scientists say there's a 65 percent chance that El Nino conditions will develop in the central and eastern Pacific this year, increasing the chance for tropical cyclones in the central and eastern Pacific. Hawaii News Now.

Oahu

A new softball stadium and locker room at McKinley High School have been sitting idle even though construction was completed last December. While there’s nothing wrong with either facility, it will be a several more months before they’ll be used, school officials said. KHON2.

Former Kaiser High School Principal John Sosa, who was abruptly placed on leave last fall as the Department of Education conducted an internal investigation, says he still hasn't been told of the accusations against him. Star-Advertiser.

Hawaii

Deputy County Clerk Maile David found herself the topic of discussion on both sides of the hallway Wednesday, as the Ethics Board finalized an advisory opinion allowing her to keep her job while running for election, and the County Council mulled cutting her salary in half because her duties are curtailed. West Hawaii Today.

County road striping crews will continue doing their work the old-fashioned way, following a 2-7 County Council vote Wednesday denying the lease of a road-striping truck. The amendment was one of a handful of amendments council members mulled while moving Mayor Billy Kenoi’s $416.9 million budget forward on a 9-0 vote. West Hawaii Today.

Third Circuit Court Judge Greg Nakamura issued the final judgment in the Thirty Meter Telescope case May 5. The release of the final judgment, where Nakamura ruled in favor of the Thirty Meter Telescope project, means the six petitioners arguing the state erred when issuing a conservation district land use permit for construction of what is poised to be one of the world’s largest telescopes atop Mauna Kea will have 30 days to file a notice or intent to appeal to the Hawaii Supreme Court. West Hawaii Today.

East Hawaii bowlers are expecting the worst after Hilo Lanes abruptly closed about two weeks ago. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

Two meetings are planned on Maui following public concerns raised over a letter sent from the top executive at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to the US Department of State, seeking an opinion on the legal status of Hawai‘i under international law. Maui Now.

Diana Crow, a horticulturist at Ulupalakua Ranch, has helped release more than 10,000 Madagascan fireweed moths and larvae over the past year on Maui to combat a toxic plant overwhelming island pastures. Maui News.

A group gathering signatures for an initiative to ban genetically modified organisms on Maui is being criticized for posting private voter information on its website. Associated Press.

Complaints have surfaced about a SHAKA Movement effort to gather thousands of voters' names on a petition seeking a citizens' initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms in Maui County. Maui News.

After a less-than-60-day closure, West Maui's Mala Ramp is slated to reopen to boaters this morning, state officials said. Maui News.

Kauai

On the third day, increases continued. The Kauai County Council on Wednesday approved a set of tax and fee hikes intended to balance the county’s budget and avoid projected dips in funding for public access and open space projects over the next fiscal year. Garden Island.

Bees have buzzed their way into the budget. The Kauai County Council voted unanimously Wednesday to fund a measure to protect the island’s black and yellow pollinators. Garden Island.

Atrazine expert and University of California Berkeley professor Tyrone Hayes returns to Kauai to speak on the polarizing issue of pesticides. Known for his research related to Syngenta’s chemical herbicide atrazine, Hayes will take the stage for the free event at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Kauai Community College Performing Arts Center in Puhi. Garden Island.

An open house and public information meeting will be held next week to discuss a proposed road that would run from Hanamaulu to Puhi. If pursued, it would be built in phases on former cane haul roads. The meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the King Kaumualii Elementary School cafeteria, 4380 Hanamaulu Road. Garden Island.

Molokai

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard visited the Friendly Isle of Molokaʻi on Tuesday where she recognized students, visited with veterans, and talked story with business owners. Maui Now.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Hawaii to consider statewide beach smoking ban, Tusli's re-election video, Hilo judge sides with DLNR in fencing lawsuit, homeless bill of rights, Herding cats: Kauai's licensing bill, public-private hospital bill aims to heal ailing centers, more news from all the Hawaiian Islands

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
Waikiki (c) 2014 All Hawaii News
House lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban smoking at all of the state's public beaches. Laws banning smoking at nearly 300 parks and roughly 4,000 bus stops around Oahu took effect on Jan. 1. Hawaii County parks, beaches and recreational facilities have been smoke-free since 2008, supporters of a ban said at a hearing Wednesday at the state Capitol. Star-Advertiser.

A ban on smoking on all public beaches in Hawaiʻi will be considered at a joint hearing before two House committees today. Maui Now.

More than 40 percent of workers compensation claims filed by employees at the state mental health hospital in Kaneohe in recent years involved assaults on staff members, a top state official told a legislative committee on Wednesday. Yet hospital administrators did little, if anything, to stop the attacks on state employees, staff members say. Civil Beat.

State Rep. John Mizuno has introduced a bill to create a "Homeless Person's Bill of Rights." Star-Advertiser.

Republican leaders in the Hawaii House say they’re hopeful their package of bills proposing everything from voter referendums to limits on fee increases will be heard in a chamber dominated by Democrats. Associated Press.

The leadership battles among Hawaii House Democrats have been well-publicized, culminating in Joe Souki taking back his speakership from Calvin Say a year ago. Much less has been said about power struggles among the seven Republican representatives. And yet, right smack in the middle of the fall special session on same-sex marriage legislation, broadcast live for all the state to see, Bob McDermott attempted a coup. Civil Beat.

Discussion of private nonprofit organizations partnering with the state public hospital system is likely to take center stage among health care concerns this Legislative session, according to state Sen. Josh Green, chairman of the Senate Health Committee. Tribune-Herald.

While the governor's call to bring home more Hawaii convicts from the mainland is a positive step, it does little to fix the root problems with Hawaii's prison system. Hawaii Independent.

copyright 2014 All Hawaii News all rights reserved
(c) 2014 All Hawaii News
U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's campaign distributed a new re-election video on Wednesday. The spot clocks in at just under three minutes, and it's exactly the kind of message we've come to expect from Gabbard: Poised, ambitious, and savvy. Civil Beat.

The installation of solar photovoltaic panels across areas served by the Hawaiian Electric Companies rose last year at the slowest rate since 2010, the utility reported Wednesday. Star-Advertiser.

Oahu

Two Honolulu City Council members seeking to add sparklers and fountains to the list of permitted fireworks on special holidays say they are hoping a new law can be in place by Dec. 31, if not by Independence Day. Star-Advertiser.

Former state Rep. Marilyn Lee will take out nomination papers on Monday, Feb. 3, 2014, for the seat she previously held. Lee had served as a representative for Mililani Town, Mililani Mauka and Waipio Acres for 16 years. Hawaii Reporter.

San Francisco-based Coastwood Capital Group LLC, a partner in the International Market Place redevelopment, confirmed Wednesday that it has bought the leasehold interest in the adjacent Waikiki Trade Center for an undisclosed sum. Star-Advertiser.

An affordable rental housing nonprofit organization is honoring the late union and social activist Ah Quon McElrath with a plaque. Associated Press.

The 36th annual Pacific Telecommunications Council’s conference wrapped up on Wednesday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, and the conference’s 1,734 registered attendees are expected to make an $8.75 million economic impact in Hawaii, according to an estimate from the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Pacific Business News.

Giant waves with 40 to 50 foot faces pounded north shore beaches on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now.

Hawaii

A shroud of secrecy continues to surround the selection of a new legislative auditor, 13 months after the previous auditor resigned to take a job with the United Nations. The County Council ended an hourlong executive session Wednesday with no decision, following months of such sessions and a closed meeting Jan. 7 where it interviewed two applicants. West Hawaii Today.

A Hilo Circuit Court judge granted a summary judgment in favor of the state Wednesday in a legal challenge of the Ka‘u Forest Reserve Management Plan. The order effectively dismisses the lawsuit the Pele Defense Fund and four other plaintiffs filed in November 2012. The plan includes fencing 12,000 acres, about 20 percent of the reserve, for conservation. Tribune-Herald.

Maui

The Maui County Council's Budget and Finance Committee gave its approval Tuesday to various funding requests, including those to support raises for firefighters and other county employees, along with more funding for trash collection and landfill operations. Maui News.

Hawaii chefs and restaurant owners will help to decide the winner of Bravo’s “Top Chef” as guest judges on the two-episode season 11 finale, which was filmed on Maui in October. Pacific Business News.

An Oahu lawmaker is proposing to name the new Kihei high school in honor of the late Democratic Congresswoman Patsy Mink. Maui News.

A Brown Water advisory has been issued for Honokahua Bay on Maui. The Clean Water Branch is investigating the cause of the brown water. Hawaii News Now.

Kauai

Purring along: Cat licensing law heads to council on Wednesday. Garden Island.

There was a lot more than cocktails and pupus on the minds of Kauai’s Chamber of Commerce Wednesday night as they mingled with visiting University of Hawaii Interim President Dr. David Lassner. Many of them were parents of children they want to attend college or adult children who weren’t able to complete their education. Garden Island.